USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume IV > Part 54
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In Rochester, on December 5, 1906, Mr. Van Voorhis was married to Miss Nellie A. Sike, a daughter of William Sike, a prominent resident of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis have become the parents of four children: Catherine Elizabeth, who was born in 1907 and is attending the East high school; Robert Field, born in 1909 and also a student in that school; William Howard, who was born in 1912 and is a grammar school pupil; and Richard Ward, who was born in 1919.
Mr. Van Voorhis is a Knights Templar Mason and has taken the thirty-second degree in the consistory. He is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Automobile Club and in religious faith is a member of the East Side Presbyterian church. Mr. Van Voorhis stands high in business, social and fraternal circles of Rochester and what he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents. He resides at No. 201 Beresford road.
JAMES I. MORRALL.
James I. Morrall, founder and owner of the Morrall Studio in Rochester, owns and operates photographic studios in various large cities of the country and the high standard of work established by Morrall Studios is indicated by the professional prestige the name enjoys in Rochester, the photographic center of the world. He was born in Chicago, April 18, 1887, a son of Edward and Ellen (Barry) Morrall, the latter a native of Ireland, and the former born in Illinois. They had a family of five children: Charles, Edward, Emma, Caroline and James I.
James I. Morrall was reared in Chicago, attended the public schools and after- ward spent two years as a student in the Kent College of Law. The profession of law did not appeal to him, and for a time he was engaged in other business pursuits. In 1912 he was the democratic nominee for alderman from the eighteenth ward in the city of Chicago, but was defeated at the polls. Shortly afterward he entered the employ of Matzene, Chicago's leading photographer, where he received valuable train- ing, particularly as an operator. Subsequently Mr. Morrall was for some time engaged in special work, in the line of making photographs of prominent people throughout the country, and during that period he probably photographed more personages of note than any other man in the business. In 1916 he established a
HOWARD VAN VOORHIS
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business of his own, selecting Rochester as the scene of his activities, since which time the wonderful success he has met with is one of the outstanding achievements in photographic studio circles of western New York. The parent studio is located in the Seneca Hotel, where also are the general headquarters of Mr. Morrall's various activities and from there he directs their operations. He has established Morrall Studios in Syracuse, Buffalo, Utica, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto, Canada, and other cities. In connection with these he maintains a large art department and his opera- tions are conducted on an extensive scale. Mr. Morrall is sole owner of the business and its remarkable development reflects not only his vision and enterprise, but his business ability as well. He started in a modest way, utilizing at first the services of two assistants, but since then his employes have numbered as many as fifty. He has a highly specialized knowledge of the business, to which he has devoted much thought and study, and was one of the pioneers in the development of artificial light for the use of the camera. Morrall Studios, wherever located, specialize in work of a character that appeals to the class of patrons who want the best. Among his other business interests, Mr. Morrall is president and treasurer of the Morrall Realty Company of Rochester.
On February 12, 1913, Mr. Morrall was married to Miss Pearl Eller of Traverse City, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Eller, prominent residents of that city. Mr. Morrall has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and is a Shriner and also an Elk. He belongs to the National Association of Photographers, and to the Rochester Athletic Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Automobile Club of Rochester and the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Morrall is an excellent example of the enterprising and up-to-date business man, with a native genius for organization. He has achieved a most creditable success and is accorded a position among the city's strong, capable business men.
GEORGE WALKER WATSON.
George Walker Watson, an able and successful attorney of Batavia, where he has followed his profession for more than a quarter of a century, has been a lifelong resident of the city. He was born on the 9th of November, 1872, his parents being William C. and Jeannette (Walker) Watson. The father, long a successful repre- sentative of the legal profession in Batavia, passed away in 1911. A sketch of his life will be found elsewhere in this publication.
George Walker Watson attended the public schools of his native city until he had completed the high school course by graduation in 1891. He then began the study of law in his father's office and also read in the office of the firm of LeSeur & Lent, while subsequently he matriculated in the Buffalo Law School, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1898. Admitted to the bar in June of that year, he entered upon practice in association with his brother, William Henry Watson, and following the death of the latter, in 1904, he formed a partnership with his father, under the firm name of Watson & Watson. Since the demise of his father in 1911, George W. Watson has been alone in law practice, maintaining his office at No. 53 Main street, in Batavia. He is one of the largest owners of real estate in Batavia, including the widely known Hotel Richmond, which is operated under his direction.
On the 20th of November, 1913, Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Anna McCormick, a native of Alabama, Genesee county, New York, and their attractive and interesting colonial residence is at No. 4 Mix place in Batavia, it formerly being the Ebenezer Mix homestead, erected by him in 1809. A public-spirited, progressive and influential citizen, Mr. Watson was chosen president of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce for the year 1923. He likewise belongs to the Holland Club, the Batavia Club, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Stafford Country Club and other organizations.
ALVIN HIRAM DEWEY.
Alvin Hiram Dewey, widely recognized as one of Rochester's foremost citizens, is active in the control of an important public utility as president and general manager of the Rochester & Lake Ontario Water Company and is likewise officially identified with a number of other corporate interests. He was born in La Fargeville, Jefferson county, New York, on the 5th of August, 1859, his parents being Hiram and Delia
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(Sylvester) Dewey. In the acquirement of an education he attended the schools of Watertown, this state. The success which has attended his well directed efforts and rewarded his ability is indicated by his present position as president of a public utility corporation of Rochester and as an officer in leading business enterprises of the city. He is a director of the Upton Cold Storage Company, secretary and treasurer of the Victor Plaster Company, Incorporated, and vice president and managing director of the Genesee Mining Company, Limited, of Cobalt, Ontario. Thus he is demonstrating his capability in positions of administrative direction and executive control, and Roches- ter accords him merited recognition as a representative and prominent citizen.
On the 28th of January, 1886, Mr. Dewey was united in marriage to Miss Grace Townley of Watertown, New York, and they are the parents of two children: Elliott Townley and Hugh Sylvester. Mr. Dewey is a consistent member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, while fraternally he is identified with the Red Men of America, belonging to Wahoo Tribe, and the Elks. His name is also on the membership rolls of the Rochester Club, the Rochester Ad Club, the Old Colony Club, the Automobile Club of Rochester and the Empire State Society, Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Dewey is a fellow of the Rochester Academy of Science and president of Lewis H. Morgan Chapter of the New York State Archeological Association, and president of the New York State Archeological Association. In 1918 he received the Cornplanter Medal for original research work, which was awarded by the Cayuga County Historical Society and which was an honor greatly sought by students of archeology. When Major Van Zandt created a Municipal Museum Commission in March, 1925, he appointed Mr. Dewey president. Mr. Dewey is also a member of upwards of ten state and national scientific associations.
Mr. Dewey rendered valuable service to the municipality as representative of the twelfth ward in the common council from 1892 until 1898, acting as president during the years 1896 and 1897. In the fall of the latter year he was the republican candidate for member of the executive board, but the entire city ticket was defeated. During his term in the common council he served on many important committees and participated actively in the promotion of all measures looking toward the city's best interests. Under his direction all of the city ordinances were revised, reintro- duced and adopted. In his capacity as chairman of the committee on electric light Mr. Dewey was responsible for the change in the old system of "arc light" to the then modern system of "incandescent arc light". He is a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce and of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, in which for two years during the period of the World war he acted as chairman of the com- mittee on military affairs. His foremost interest is the welfare and upbuilding of the city and the direction of activities into those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number. His cooperation has therefore been gven along many lines of activity for the city's benefit and his strong purpose, his energy and his zeal in public affairs have been far-reaching and resultant.
JOHN M. QUIRK, M. D.
In Dr. John M. Quirk, Schuyler county, New York, has recognized a natural leader and in consequence the Doctor, who practices in Watkins, has been made chairman or trustee of so many different organizations or institutions that it would dismay almost any other man. But the Doctor has found time to administer these trusts and likewise carry on a large private practice, and in so doing has endeared him- self to that section of New York where ability and service to the community are held in exceptionally high regard. Dr. Quirk is the son of Charles and Mary (Murphy) Quirk, his father having come from Canada after going to the far west in the early days, and settling in Geneseo. About the time of the Civil war Charles Quirk was a carpenter and builder. Dr. Quirk's mother was a native of Ireland but came here when only eleven years of age. Her family moved from Boston to Livingston county.
Born in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, John M. Quirk attended Geneseo Normal School and Syracuse University Medical College, receiving his M. D. degree in 1894. He later studied at the New York Post Graduate School and the Chicago Post Graduate School. He first practiced in Montour Falls, New York, but came to Watkins in 1915, where he has since resided. Dr. Quirk served for twenty-one years on the board of education of Montour Falls. He also was a trustee of the village, and is now serving his third term as a trustee of the village of Watkins. He is a
DR. JOHN M. QUIRK
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trustee of Cook Academy, Southern Tier Association for the Blind and the Willard State Hospital in Willard, New York, having held this post for ten years. He is an ex-president of the Schuyler County Medical Board and a member of Elmira Academy of Medicine. He belongs to the New York State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Association of Industrial Surgeons of New York State, as well as the Pennsylvania Railroad Surgeons Association. He was president of Keuka Lake Medical and Surgical Association in 1922, and president of the sixth district branch of the New York State Medical Society, 1921-1923. He also belongs to the Health Officers Association of New York. The Rotary Club and the Masonic body count him among their members. In politics, too, he has been active as state democratic committeeman for Schuyler county for twelve years and chairman of the democratic county committee for ten years.
On July 3, 1889, Dr. Quirk was married to Athelia Clawson of Montour Falls, the daughter of Dr. C. D. Clawson. Dr. and Mrs. Quirk have one son: Charles E. Quirk, who is on a farm on account of ill health. He was born March 17, 1892, and attended the Watkins schools, Starkey Seminary and Syracuse University. He mar- ried Ella Bowldy of Montour Falls, and they have four children, Frances Robert, born April 12, 1918; Mary Elizabeth, born January 6, 1920; Margaret Athelia, born December 16, 1922, and John Maurice (II), born September 12, 1924.
CALEDONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
In March, 1873, a meeting of the women of Caledonia was held at the Brick Hotel for the purpose of organizing a public library. An association was formed of eighteen members, to which the name of the Ladies' Circulating Library Society of Caledonia was given. Each member contributed five dollars and one hundred and twenty-six dollars was appropriated from a fund which had been started to build a town hall. One hundred and sixty-three books were purchased and the library was opened in May, 1873, in a store, with Miss Christine Cameron acting as librarian. One year later it was moved to a private house and in 1875 moved to the post office, where it remained until 1883. In 1877 a charter was granted to the association. During the next five years the library was housed in various quarters, finally being placed in the town building. During these years Mrs. Adelaide Mckay was librarian. In 1895 Miss Anna B. Mullin became librarian, a position which she holds at this writ- ing-1924. In the fall of 1909 it was decided that more commodious quarters must be secured to meet the ever-increasing demand upon the library, which now had added a free reading room to its privileges. A property known as the Blakeslee home- a picturesque old stone building, one of the landmarks of Caledonia, erected by Gad Blakeslee in 1828, was at this time offered for sale. A bid of two thousand, two hundred dollars was placed by the library, which was accepted, and though the treasury was low, by the untiring efforts of the members and the interest and gen- erosity of friends and the public the needed amount was secured, and in October, 1910, the new rooms were opened to the public and the library installed in its perm- anent home and it is now known as the Caledonia Library.
REV. DAVID LINCOLN FERRIS, D. D., L. H. D.
Rev. David Lincoln Ferris, D. D., L. H. D., bishop coadjutor of the diocese of western New York of the Protestant Episcopal church, is a native New Yorker, a fact of which he never has ceased to be proud, and has been a continuous resident of this state with the exception of a short period when his labors as a clergyman took him over into Connecticut and later when he was for a time stationed in Pitts- burgh. He was born at Peekskill, Westchester county, New York, December 31, 1864, and is a son of James Augustus and Catherine Sophia (Clark) Ferris.
Reared in Peekskill, David Lincoln Ferris prepared for college at the Peekskill Military Academy and entered Hobart College, Geneva, New York. He was gradu- ated in 1888 and later was elected to the honorary fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa. Pursuing his studies after receiving his Bachelor's degree, Bishop Ferris was awarded his Master's degree and upon completion of the course in his theological studies, the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. For distinguished service to the church he was awarded in 1920 the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Hobart College and in 1921
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was further honored by being made the recipient of the honorary degrees of Doctor of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School and Doctor of Letters from St. Stephen's College.
In 1893, in St. Paul's, Syracuse, Bishop Ferris was ordained to the Diaconate of the Episcopal church and in the following year was advanced to the priesthood. His first parishes were St. Matthew's, Horseheads, in Chemung county, this state, and St. John's, Big Flats. For four years he served as senior curate of St. John's, Stamford, Connecticut. In 1900 he became the associate rector of Calvary church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1912 he accepted the call to Christ Church, Rochester, and was its rector for nine years. Since 1912 his residence has been in that city. In the year 1920 he was consecrated bishop suffragan of the diocese of western New York, and in 1924 was elected and instituted as the bishop coadjutor. For many years Bishop Ferris has been a student of Freemasonry and an ardent advocate of its principles and practices. He is a member of all the bodies and has had conferred upon him the highest Masonic honor in his election to the honorary thirty-third degree of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. In addi- tion to his honorary membership in Phi Beta Kappa he also is a member of the national college fraternity, Theta Delta Chi. In his political affiliation Bishop Ferris has ever held to the tenets of the republican party and takes a good citizen's interest in all movements having to do with the advancement of the general civic interests.
On October 24, 1893, in Norwalk, Connecticut, Bishop Ferris was married to Miss Mary Eversley Stuart, daughter of Edward William and Mary Elizabeth (Ben- nett) Stuart, who has ever been a useful and sympathetic helpmate to him in his parochial labors. Bishop and Mrs. Ferris have a son: Eversley Stuart Ferris, who was graduated from Hobart College in 1923, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and for excellence of scholarship was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society. Eversley Stuart Ferris is now a student in the General Theological Semin- ary, New York, intending to follow his father's profession.
JAMES J. CARMICHAEL.
Business development and activity in Rochester have received strong impetus from the enterprising spirit and well-directed efforts of James J. Carmichael, who ranks with the foremost realtors of the city and owes his success to a highly special- ized knowledge of the business in which he is engaged. He was born in Caledonia, Livingston county, New York, September 9, 1884, a son of James J. and Jean Isabel (McIntyre) Carmichael, the former also a native of that county. The mother was born in Argyle, Scotland, and was a child of four when her parents came to this country. She attended one of the district schools of Livingston county and while residing in that locality met and was married to James J. Carmichael, a prosperous agriculturist. He was born in 1823 and passed away in 1903, at the age of seventy- nine, while her demise occurred six years later. The paternal great-grandfather was also a native of Scotland and migrated to the United States in his youth. He lived for a time in Johnstown, New York, and subsequently came to the Genesee valley, becoming owner of a well improved farm in Livingston county. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael, namely: Ira J. of Batavia. New York; Peter R., a resident of Caledonia; W. George, whose home is in Buffalo; James J., of this review and Daniel D. of Le Roy, this state.
James J. Carmichael obtained his elementary education in Le Roy and completed his education in Cornell University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. Since entering the business world he has been connected with real estate opera- tions, first going to Buffalo. New York. and thence to Toronto, Canada. He now has one of the large agencies in Rochester and has negotiated many important realty transfers, displaying notable foresight and keen sagacity in the conduct of his affairs. He is an expert valuator and is therefore able to direct the investments of his clients, who have profited by his sound advice. He has been called to the presidency of the Rochester Real Estate Board and is now serving as vice president of the state' board.
In Geneseo, New York. on December 15. 1908. Mr. Carmichael was married to Miss Mabel D. Sleggs. a daughter of George T. Sleggs. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael have become the parents of four children: . James .I ... . Jr .. who was born in November, 1909; Ruth O., born in 1915. George S .. horn in 1916: and .Joan. horn in 1921. All are natives of Rochester. Mr. Carmichael is a Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner.
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He also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the Cornell Club of Rochester, the Rochester Club, the Ad Club and the Kiwanis Club and has served as president of the last named organization. The sterling qualities of his Scotch ancestors are mani- fest in his character and his labors have been of much benefit to his city, as well as a source of individual prosperity. Mr. Carmichael's residence is at No. 1211 Kis- ligbury street.
JAMES GARRETT COMERFORD.
While many owe their success to intense concentration upon one single line of effort, yet among the real leaders of business affairs there often appears a man so endowed by nature that he is able to direct simultaneously a variety of important undertakings. James Garrett Comerford achieved this distinction, for in every direc- tion in which his inclination led him success crowned his labors, and in business circles of Rochester his name was synonymous with enterprise and probity, His activities have been of a constructive character, guided into those channels which have for their object public improvement and the advancement of the general wel- fare, and his life was a beneficial force for good. Rochester is proud to claim Mr. Comerford as one of her native sons. He was born January 9, 1853, of the marriage of William G. Comerford and Bridget Fahy, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They were married in this country, having come to the United States in their youth, arriving in Rochester, New York, in the late '40s. A few years later they removed to Buffalo, where William G. Comerford embarked in the retail meat busi- ness, and was thus engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war. He offered his services to the Union and while in Louisiana contracted yellow fever, from which he never recovered, passing away in a New Orleans hospital. His remains were in- terred in a cemetery at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The mother died in Rochester when a young woman of twenty-five years.
Their only son, James Garrett Comerford, attended the Christian Brothers Col- lege in Rochester until he reached the age of twelve and was then obliged to earn his own livelihood, learning the meat business. When a youth of fifteen he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he spent a year and a half, working at that occupation, and then started for the southwest, locating in one of the small towns of Texas. There he opened a meat market and soon afterward acquired a cattle ranch, on which he slaughtered beeves for his trade, selling in large quantities to the railroad camps in that vicinity. Having decided to return to Rochester, Mr. Comerford placed his business affairs in order, and upon his return to Rochester he became con- nected with the Fahy Meat Market, acquiring control of the business, which was incorporated in 1908, and from that time until his death on April 8, 1925, he was its president. During the intervening period the business has grown steadily and is now the largest of the kind in this section of the state. Mr. Comerford showed his faith in Rochester's future by investing heavily in real estate and was the owner of some of the most valuable property in the heart of the business district. He possesses the unusual power of scattering his energies without lessening their force, and was president of the Sagamore Apartment Hotel, and president and a director of the Reserve Bond & Mortgage Company. He displayed marked executive force in the management of his various interests and his physical and mental energy were so happily poised as to enable him to turn readily and rapidly from one subject to another without any sense of confusion. Long before those of less foresight discerned the approach of an emergency it had become apparent to him, and its arrival found him already prepared to deal with it.
On September 21, 1888, Mr. Comerford was married in Rochester to Miss Mary Elizabeth Agnes Twaig, who was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Twaig, and death terminated their union in 1909. Mrs. Comerford was the mother of five children, three of whom survive: James G. Comerford, Jr., acts as manager for the Fahy Market Company and has inherited much of his father's business acumen and ability. He is married and has three children, James Garrett, (II), and Margaret Claire and Mary Jean; Alice Claire became the wife of George T. Sullivan of Rochester, and they also have a family of three children, James T., Mary Virginia and Elizabeth; Mary Elizabeth is unmarried and resides at home. In 1915 Mr. Com- erford was married to Mary Louise Madden, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Madden of Rochester.
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