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 81
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on which to such large degree the success of Rochester's future in music must depend."
The Park Band won recognition as one of the best military and concert bands in the country, comparing in size and in formation with those of Sousa, Pryor and even the Marine Band. During the summer months the Park Band plays three or four times a week regularly, alternately in the different parks of the city, and in the winter is heard in a series of free concerts given for the people in Convention Hall. This free music is an element of education that is invaluable to the people, and it has been a matter of pleasing interest to note the rapid progress in good taste manifested by the public, the demand being for a constantly better and higher class of programs. He was very proud of the fact that his band escorted the soldiers of the World war when they went from Rochester; also when they came back after the war.
On the 17th of October, 1898, Mr. Dossenbach was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Eldridge, daughter of Christopher and Linda (Horton) Eldridge, the former an agriculturist of Cuylerville, New York. Mrs. Dossenbach obtained her education at Cuylerville and at Geneseo. Mr. and Mrs. Dossenbach have a daughter: Adeline Mae, who is now the wife of Marvin M. Wheeler.
Fraternally Mr. Dossenbach was a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Genesee Falls Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Hamilton Chapter, R. A. M .; Monroe Com- mandery, K. T .; Damascus Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and Lalla Rookh Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R. He was made a member of the Shrine Patrol, an honor bestowed only on one who has filled the chairs. He was likewise identified with the local organi- zation of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the members of which were very devoted to him during his illness; also belonged to the Royal Jesters, to the Automobile Club of Rochester and to Central church. The members of the Park Band attended his funeral in a body, six of their number being the active pall bearers, while honor- ary pall bearers included men who had been associated with him in the park depart- ment. The services were conducted by Genesee Falls Lodge of Masons.
The following resolutions beautifully engrossed were presented to Mr. Dossen- bach's family:
"Theodore Dossenbach, Park Band leader and director for twenty years, died January 25, 1924. His aim in life was to render high class music to the people of Rochester at all times. He made an honorable record and had hosts of friends. He made a lasting impression with the citizens of Rochester and the children who loved him so well. His great devotion to his family and home was one of the outstand- ing characteristics of his life. His friendship was sealed with every member of the Department of Parks, who loved him and feel sorely grieved in our great loss. He left the city better than he found it.
"Be it Resolved: That, the heartfelt sympathy and condolence of this depart- ment be extended to his family, and signed by all the members of the Park Board."
PAUL WILLIAM FRIEDLER.
A lifelong resident of Rochester, Paul William Friedler was prominent in business, civic, social and fraternal circles of his community, and left the impress of his indi- viduality for good upon the history of his city. He was a useful and influential member of society and his death, which occurred on the 30th of December, 1923, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was born April 5, 1866, a son of Paul and Mary (Sauers) Friedler, who lived in Rochester for many years, and of their children, the only one living is Leonard Friedler. After her husband's death Mrs. Friedler was married to Helmuth Knapp, and their surviving children are: Herman, Mrs. Dora Smarcz, Mrs. William Beitling and Mrs. Caroline Wagner.
Paul William Friedler attended Henry Lomb School, No. 20, and when he was a boy of two years his father died. He obtained work in the bottling plant of Klein & Hoffheinz and there gained a practical knowledge of the business. In 1887, at the age of twenty-one, he formed a partnership with his brother John, opening a bottling works at No. 4 West Lowell street. A few years later the brother died and Paul W. Friedler conducted the business alone until his death, specializing in the bottling of soda and mineral water. For some time he had a plant at No. 93 Martin street and then removed to the present location at No. 80 Lowell street. The business was conducted under the name of the Paul W. Friedler Bottling Works, of which he was the president, and by hard work and good management he built up an enterprise of substantial proportions. He was one of the leaders of this industry in
PAUL W. FRIEDLER
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western New York and was honored with the vice presidency of the New York State Bottlers Association. His life from an early age was one of unremitting industry and his success was the legitimate reward of earnest, systematic effort and honorable, straightforward dealing.
On the 17th of September, 1885, Mr. Friedler was married to Miss Mary A. Snyder, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Buck) Snyder of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Friedler: Albert J., the oldest, was married to Mary A. Boschert and they have two sons, Raymond Paul and Gene Kenneth; Paul William, Jr., was married to Anna M. Ludwig, by whom he has two children, Paul (III) and Grace Marian; Walter, the third son, is deceased; Flossie is the wife of Ralph E. Wilkinson and the mother of a daughter, Mary Ann.
Mr. Friedler was a conscientous member of St. John's Lutheran church and his religion was carried into his daily life. He belonged to the Chamber of Commerce, the Erie Social Club, and for eight years was president of the Rochester Maennerchor. He was also connected with the Rochester Turnverein, the Liederkranz and the United German-American Societies. He was very active in fraternal affairs and stood high in Masonry, belonging to Germania Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. M .; the Germania Lodge of Perfection; Rochester Consistory, A. & A. S. R., in which he attained the thirty-second degree; and Damascus Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He was likewise a member of the Elks Lodge No. 24, Monroe Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, Siegel Tent of the Knights of The Maccabees, and served as president of Aerie No. 52, of the Order of Eagles.
In politics Mr. Friedler was a lifelong republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party, but was not an office seeker, the only public position which he ever held being that of alderman of the fifth ward. He was elected in 1915 and filled that office for eight years, rendering valuable service to the city as chairman of the committee on parks and a member of the special committee on the standardization of salaries. He was one of the most popular members of that body, which at a special meeting on the day following his death unanimously adopted the following resolution, offered by Alderman Martin B. O'Neill:
"Our friend and colleague, Paul W. Friedler, died yesterday. His going greatly grieves us. For the past eight years he served as representative of the fifth ward.
"He was born in our city, April 5, 1866, and although he was often urged to accept public office, we were denied the beneficent influence in public position of his personality save only for these past eight years. His term of office would have expired today. He was not a candidate for reelection. He served as chairman of the committee on parks during the time when the parks have so wonderfully developed. He was a member of the salary standardization committee, the committee on rail- roads, the Mount Hope cemetery committee, and one of the representatives of the Common Council in the Rochester Industrial Exposition Association. At all times his work was characterized by conscientious planning and wise judgments for the good of all of our citizens.
"Our associate evidenced a sincere interest in the welfare of our community, not only in public life, where his influence was directly manifested, but in private life, where his love, beginning in his family, encompassed the broad range of human activities. He was a member of a large number of fraternal and social organiza- tions. He was all that the term true friend means. Our lives have been enriched by the opportunity which we have had to work with Paul W. Friedler and to know him.
"Be it resolved, That as an expression of our sorrow and our love for our com- rade this memorial be spread upon our records and a copy thereof sent to his family, to whom our heartfelt condolence is extended."
BERT C. CATE.
Bert C. Cate, principal of Cook Academy of Montour Falls, has been active as an educator since leaving college and has met with well-merited success in his work. He is a native of Wyoming county, New York, and son of Clarence T. and Nora (Butler) Cate. The father, born in 1856, is a well known resident of Warsaw, New York.
Following the completion of a high school course in Wyoming, New York, Bert C. Cate entered Williams College of Williamstown, Massachusetts, from which insti- tution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Thereafter he spent
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one year as an instructor. in the Northside Preparatory School of Williamstown and subsequently became vice principal of Cook Academy in Montour Falls, New York. He later served as acting principal and has been principal of the institution since 1918. Mr. Cate is keenly interested in the various activities of the Academy and was the organizer of the school band and orchestra, which has played at numerous local functions. His work as principal has been attended with splendid results and has gained him an enviable reputation as an educator.
In August, 1912, Mr. Cate was united in marriage to Ruth Spencer of Pennell- ville, New York. They are the parents of three daughters and a son, namely: Dorothy, Margaret, Louis and Barbara. In politics Mr. Cate is a stanch republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and he is a worthy exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the craft. He also belongs to the Rotary Club, to the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, to the Elmira Century Club and to the State Principals and Teachers Association.
ALFRED BRUCE BATHO.
The death of Alfred Bruce Batho on the 5th of August, 1924, deprived Rochester of a citizen of worth and an enterprising, straightforward and successful business man who for thirty years maintained a position of leadership in connection with the harness trade. He was a native of Canada, born in Kenilworth, Ontario, October 18, 1869, a son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Hayward) Batho, whose surviving children are: Mrs. Irving Jones, Mrs. H. St. Clair Potter, Miss Jessie Batho, and George, Herbert, Stephen and R. Hayward Batho, all residents of the Dominion.
Alfred Bruce Batho received his education in the public schools of Kenilworth and afterward went to Toronto, Canada, where he entered the employ of an uncle, under whom he served an apprenticeship to the harness-maker's trade, which he subsequently followed in Georgetown and at Lananaqua, in the Thousand islands. He was employed for a time by the firm of Pierce & Hough of Detroit, Michigan, and in 1894 came to Rochester, purchasing the Reddick business. This he operated for a year and then moved across the street, opening an establishment at No. 1822 East avenue. Mr. Batho remained at that location until his demise and his business kept pace with the development of the city, growing steadily from year to year, for he was alert, energetic and progressive, as well as thoroughly reliable. He had a highly specialized knowledge of the harness business, also handling tires and driving gloves, and likewise conducted a large mail order business under the name of the Pioneer Whip Company. He was a very capable executive and became recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city, while his integrity was never open to question.
In Rochester, on the 3d of March, 1902, Mr. Batho was married to Miss Mar- garet Reome, a daughter of Louis and Anna (Leonard) Reome. Emily Harriet was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Batho. The widow and daughter survive and reside in an attractive home at No. 510 Cedarwood terrace. Mr. Batho attended the Brighton Presbyterian church and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. He was influential in its local councils and served on the ward committee. He was a member of the Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association of Brighton and acted as secretary and treasurer of the Harness Dealers Association. Mr. Batho was an exemplary rep- resentative of the Genesee Falls Lodge of Masons, and the funeral service was conducted by his brethren of that order. He had a wide acquaintance and his integ- rity in business affairs, his civic spirit, his fidelity and devotion to the ties of home and friendship, were qualities which won him the high and enduring regard of those who came within the sphere of his influence.
JAMES McCALL.
James McCall, an older member of the bar at Bath and for many years one of the best known lawyers in Steuben county, is a native son of Bath and with the exception of a few years spent in Avoca in the earlier days of his practice he has always been a resident of that village. He was born July 17, 1864, a son of Ansel James and Mary Ellas McCall, the latter of whom also was born in Bath, August 26, 1825, a member of a family that came into Steuben county from Brattleboro, Vermont,
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about the year 1815. Ansel James McCall, who also was a member of one of the pioneer families of Steuben county, was born in Painted Post, in that county, Janu- ary 14, 1816, a member of one of the old colonial families of Massachusetts, the McCalls of this line in America having had their origin here as early as 1684, with the coming of James McCall, a member of one of the Scottish families in the north of Ireland, who effected a settlement in the Massachusetts colony and whose family in the present generation is numerously represented throughout the New England states, as well as in other sections of the country.
Reared in Bath, James McCall, who bears the name of his first American an- cestor, completed the work in the high school in that village and then entered Cornell University, from which institution he was graduated (A. B.) in June, 1885, a month before he had attained his majority. The quality of his scholarship attainments in Cornell is attested by the fact that in 1884, the year prior to his graduation, he was awarded the coveted key of Phi Beta Kappa, honorary college fraternity. Thus quali- fied for further studies in law, to which profession he early had devoted himself, Mr. McCall entered the Cornell University Law School and in 1888 was graduated (LL. B.) from that institution. In that same year he was admitted to the New York state bar and in the following year (1889) engaged in the practice of law in Avoca. Two years later he opened an office for practice in Bath, the county seat, and has ever since been in practice in that village. Mr. McCall not only has been successful in his professional practice but he has other interests of a substantial character, in- cluding his place on the directorate of the Bath National Bank, a sound financial
institution which he helped to organize in 1912 and of which he has been a director from the beginning. He is a democrat, long recognized as one of the leaders of that party in Steuben county, and in 1896 was honored by his party when nominated for district attorney and in 1912 for state senator in his home district.
On December 27, 1899, in Bath, James McCall was united in marriage to Miss Edith Shepard and they have one child: A daughter, M. Josephine McCall, born April 10, 1907. Mrs. McCall was born in Bath, November 26, 1869, and is a daughter of William H. and Adelaide (Church) Shepard. She has long given her special attention to local educational interests and has been for several terms a member of the board of education of the Haverling high school. The Shepards of this line are of the New London (New Hampshire) family of that name and are of colonial stock.
ROLLIN O. BAKER, M. D.
Dr. Rollin O. Baker is a well known and successful physician of Montour Falls, where he has been actively engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery since 1915. His birth occurred at Lockport, Niagara county, New York, on the 1st of October, 1882, his parents being Flavius J. and Ilsa (Oliver) Baker. The paternal grandfather, Thaddeus Baker, settled in the vicinity of the present site of Andover in Allegany county, New York, about 1820. His son, Flavius J. Baker, who was there born on the 17th of July, 1842, was graduated from New York University with the degree of M. D. and was a successful representative of the medical profession for forty-three years. He practiced in Buffalo, in Lewiston and in Lockport, becoming widely recognized as one of the skilled physicians and surgeons of western New York.
Rollin O. Baker pursued a high school course in his native town and continued his studies in the University of Buffalo, while his professional training was acquired in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York city, which institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. Subsequently he served on the staff of Bellevue Hospital in the eastern metropolis and did postgraduate work in the Phipps Institute. Dr. Baker engaged in the practice of medicine at Lockport in association with his father from 1908 until 1915 and in the latter year came to Montour Falls, which has since remained the scene of his professional labors. His patronage has steadily increased as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to re- store health and prolong life. At all times he keeps in close touch with the most advanced methods and discoveries of the profession through his membership in the Elmira Academy of Medical Science, the Schuyler County Medical Society and the New York State Medical Society. During the period of the World war he was a lieutenant in the Medical Corps at Camp Dix.
In 1911 Dr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Mary Louise Shutt of Rochester, New York, and they have become the parents of two children, Rollin
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Erwin and Robert Oliver. The Doctor is a member of the Rotary Club and frater- nally is identified with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He enjoys an extensive acquaintance in his adopted county and his social qualities as well as his professional ability have made for popularity among his many friends.
LOCKWOOD LYON DOTY. By Gordon K. Miller.
Noteworthy among the names of Livingston county's honored and respected citizens will be found that of the late Lockwood Lyon Doty, whose life, while regret- tably less in duration than the allotted span, was yet replete with accomplishment, with indefatigable labor, with Christian acts, and with inspired association with his fellows. He left left a distinct impression, an indelible record, upon the history and traditions of his home county. Lockwood Lyon Doty was born May 15, 1827, in Groveland, Livingston county, New York, the son of William and Mary (Harrison) Doty. He was descended from one of the oldest American families having been the sixth in descent from Edward Doty, who was a passenger on the Mayflower.
Lockwood Lyon Doty received his education in the country schools. This brief academic training was but a bare foundation for the broad learning which he found for himself later; he was ever studious and, perhaps, acquired knowledge with a facility denied many men. In 1847, when twenty years of age, he entered the law office of John Young in Geneseo, and, when the latter became governor of New York state young Doty followed him to Albany and was appointed to a position in the office of the canal appraiser. In the first year of Governor Young's administration, however, he was named for the position of deputy state treasurer under Alvah Hunt. His efficiency and meritorious work there were given quick recognition, and when the New York Central Railroad Company was formed through consolidation Mr. Doty was asked by the president of the company to undertake the clerical work of this organization. This duty performed, he returned to Albany and was reappointed deputy state treasurer under Mr. Spaulding and later under Stephen Clark. When Mr. Clark became president of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company, Mr. Doty was appointed secretary and treasurer of that corporation. This posi- tion was not to his taste, and he resigned and returned to Albany to accept the office of chief clerk in the executive department proffered to him by Governor Edwin D. Morgan. When Governor Morgan entered upon his second term he appointed Mr. Doty his private secretary, with honorary rank of colonel. He worked unceas- ingly at Governor Morgan's side during the years of the Civil war, which meant months of arduous, punishing labor, leaving its mark upon a constitution none too robust. The question of personal comfort or health was never reckoned by Colonel Doty; he attacked his tasks with that earnestness which was his characteristic, with- out heeding the physical strain which it involved. After the close of Governor Mor- gan's administration, he was tendered the appointment of consul at Nassau, N. P., but this he declined, and remained for a time in the capacity of private secretary to Governor Seymour, at the same time serving as chief of the Bureau of Military Record, then recently established, to which office he had been appointed by Gov- ernor Morgan just before the latter went out of office. The work of this bureau included the collection and preservation of all records and documents pertaining to New York's participation in the war of the Rebellion. Colonel Doty's natural aptitude for historical research well qualified him for the task he assumed. Upon giving up this work Colonel Doty returned to Geneseo, with the intention of remain- ing there, but he was soon prevailed upon to accept the position of deputy collector of customs at New York city. He soon resigned this position to become the private secretary of Edwin D. Morgan, then representing New York in the United States senate. Colonel Doty remained with the senator during his term of office.
In 1869 he was appointed by President Grant assessor of internal revenue for the sixth district of New York. Suffering a recurrence of ill health he surrendered this connection and again returned to Geneseo, entering the newspaper field through the purchase of the Livingston Republican and resuming his historical work, men- tioned in a later paragraph. Colonel Doty, in 1869, was elected secretary of the republican state committee. About this time Edwin D. Morgan, then interested finan- cially in the New Orleans, Mobile & Chattanooga Railroad, offered the position of treasurer of that company to Colonel Doty, which he accepted, but remained at this post a few months only.
LOCKWOOD L. DOTY
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His next office was that of pension agent in New York city, which place was formed by the consolidation of the two then existing pension agencies. Colonel Doty was appointed to this place by President Grant, in April, 1871. Again he was in the service of the veterans, a task which appealed to his heart, and he entered upon his work with intense interest, but the physical conditions under which he worked accelerated the disease which struck him down at his last post of service, and his death occurred in Jersey City on January 18, 1873. He was buried in Temple Hill cemetery at Geneseo.
Colonel Doty was married March 21, 1852, in Esperance, New York, to Sarah Abell, the daughter of William Abell, and to this union the following children were born: Dr. Alvah H. Doty, of New York city; Lockwood R. Doty, Martha A. Youngs and Mary L. Scheffer of Geneseo; Edwin M. Doty, the fifth child, is deceased.
Perhaps the outstanding work of Colonel Doty's life was his original work in historical research, resulting in the preparation of the first comprehensive history of Livingston county, New York, and which was published posthumously in 1876. In a biographical foreword to this volume A. J. H. Duganne writes: "No historic basis was ever built with more care, upon facts, than the foundation of this modest chron- icle of a New York county, from its early pioneer life, to its place among the most prosperous shires of our state. . Whatever could throw intelligent light upon the primitive social condition of this portion of our commonwealth, Colonel Doty, in his thorough research, collected together as materials for his book. To say that he was painstaking, is to say little; he was indefatigable. He ransacked libraries, and corresponded with men and women of Livingston county antecedents; tracing their whereabouts, out of the county, as well as in, and often to remote towns in our re- public. If he heard of an old resident, possessed of records or reminiscences, he has- tened to obtain data from such sources. If a centennial relic of some Indian tribe was to be 'interviewed', he journeyed to make that aboriginal acquaintance. Seeking 'light', as I have said, he was eager to find breath anywhere, to enliven whatever old brands of tradition might be buried under ashes of council fires on the site of perished wigwams, or of watch fires, once blazing on fields of fight in Revolutionary days. Such a delver after facts was fitted to write a history; and, although his term of mortal years could not witness the publication of these annals, his busy life yet gave him opportunities of personal supervision; so that nearly half the work was printed under his eye."
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