USA > New York > Wyoming County > Warsaw > History of the centennial celebration : Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, June 28-July 2, 1903 : 1803-1903 > Part 13
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having left this goodly town for other parts of the world. Now I am sure that we would all be glad to add to our Centennial invitation a long welcome to every prodigal son and daughter. What you see here provided for these few Centennial days is only the "fatted calf;" there is left a whole herd which we are willing to slaughter in your interest.
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HON. AUGUSTUS FRANK
DR. AUGUSTUS FRANK: REV. JOSEPH E. NASSAU
Angustus Frank, born at Warsaw, July 17, 1826, was the son of Dr. Angustus and Jane Patterson Frank. His early education was seenred in the schools of Warsaw and from private instruction. At an early age his at- tention was turned to the mercantile business, first enter- ing his father's store. But in 1847, when he was twenty- one years of age, he established a business for himself, which he pursned with usual success. His natural interest in publie matters and his desire to promote the general welfare, combined with his eminent fitness for such service, early called him into a broader field of activity.
Ilis father, Dr. Augustus Frank, was born in Canaan, Conn., January 12, 1792. In early life the family moved to Granville in this state where he completed his educa- tion. He studied medicine at Dorset, Vermont, and be- gan the practice of his profession at Victor, New York, where he remained three years. In 1817 he came to this village and formed a partnership with Dr. Sheldon, first in a professional and soon afterward in a mercantile business. This partnership was dissolved in 1822. Dr. Frank continued in the mercantile business until his death. He was also largely interested in varions manu- facturing establishments and real estate transactions. IIe took an active part in the measures designed to promote the prosperity of the town, and the moral and intellec- tual improvement of the community. His efforts in the cause of temperance were unremitted to the last, and contributed largely to its advancement. He was among the first to take part in the anti-slavery movement and aided in the formation of a society in this town. In 1842 Dr. Frank was appointed an Associate Judge of Wyom- ing County, which office he held until 1846. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a liberal
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contributor to that and other religious and benevolent institutions.
He was married to JJerusha H. Baldwin, at Dorset, Vt., September 12, 1816. She died March 15, 1825. They had three children. Two died in infancy. The third, Hen- riett, became the wife of Edward A. MeKay, a lawyer of Naples, New York. Dr. Frank married for his second wife Miss Jane Patterson of Londonderry, New Hampshire. To them were born seven children: Augustus; Elizabeth W., who became the wife of Rev. Joseph E. Nassau; George Washington, who now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Jennie P., who became the wife of Edward K. Greene, of Montreal, Canada; Mary A. who became the wife of Philo D. Browne and lives in Oakland, California.
Dr. Frank died January 26, 1851, at the age of fifty- nine years. Mrs. Jane Patterson Frank died February 19, 1867, at the age of seventy-one years.
Rev. Joseph Eastburn Nassau, D.D., who married Dr. Frank's eldest daughter, was born in Norristown, Pa., Marchi 12, 1827. He eame of distinguished Presbyterian aneestry, his father being a minister and his grandfather an elder in that denomination. He was graduated with honor from the elass of 1846 in Lafayette College, and acted as tutor for two years in his Alma Mater. He then taught the classies for three years in a seminary for young women at Lawrenceville, N. J. After graduating in 1852, from Princeton Theologieal Seminary, he founded an institute for young women in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and remained as its principal for two years. Having accepted a call to the Presbyterian church of Warsaw, N. Y., he was there installed as pastor by the Presbytery of Gen- esee River, October 24, 1855, and remained in this, his only pastorate, until his death in 1894. In 1872 he re- ceived the degree of Doetor of Divinity from his Alma Mater. Dr. Nassau was for more than 38 years Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Genesee, several times Com- missioner to the General Assembly, and was twiee Mod- erator of the Synod of New York. He acted for many years as a trustee of Ingham University at Le Roy, and of the Academy at Geneseo.
He was of a genial, lovely disposition, of great intel-
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lectual ability and strength of character-a man whose influence will long remain helpful in the town and church he loved so well. On October 16th, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth W. Frank, who was a true "Pastor's wife" in every sense of the word, and a fitting helpmeet to this man of God. Mrs. Nassau, with two daughters, Mrs. Z. J. Lusk, and Mrs. Wm. E. Miller, survive him.
IIon. Augustus Frank became identified with public matters in his very early manhood. In 1850-1852 he took an active interest in the construction of that branch of the Erie Railroad which connects Hornellsville with Buffalo, was made one of its directors and afterwards was elected Vice-President. In 1856 he went to Philadelphia as del- egate to the first National convention of the Republican party. In 1858, when he was thirty-two years of age, he was elected representative in the United States Con- gress from his district which then comprised Allegany, Wyoming and Genesee Counties. His business capacity, his uniform courtesy and his sterling integrity carly won for him a place of importance in the affairs of the nation.
In 1860 his constituents testified to their admiration for their representative by returning him to the thirty- seventh Congress by a majority of nearly eight thousand. In 1862 the district had been changed to Wyoming, Genesee and Niagara counties from which he was elected to the famous thirty-eighth Congress. He was thus in Congress during and previous to the whole period of the Civil War. He was a strong supporter of the policy of the Administration, and an assiduous laborer for every measure for the suppression of slavery.
The crowning act of his national career was the service which he rendered towards the passage of the XIIIth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited slavery anywhere within the national domain. The press through- out the country gave the credit for the final passage of the measure to Mr. Ashley of Ohio and to Mr. Frank of Warsaw. The New York Tribune in its issue of February 1, 1865, said, "To two Republicans in particular does the nation owe a debt of gratitude-to James M. Ashley of Toledo, Ohio, and Augustus Frank of Warsaw, New York,
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They held the laboring oars." The Washington corres- pondent said at the time, "It will not be out of place for me to say here that the supervision and direction of this policy was confided to the Honorable Augustus Frank, to whose clear insight and discreet management there is perhaps more due than to any other member, in the work of securing this grand consummation. In this connec- tion I have good reason to know that his services were invaluable. IIe watched the progress of the measure, improved opportunities, and pressed upon every doubting one the duty and expediency of an affirmative vote. The result is all that we could ask. It reflects honor on an able representative who has performed his duty faithfully and well. Let me add, upon one too, who retires from his position in the present Congress, after three terms of successful service, with an honorable record, and with the regrets of many friends who have been cognizant of his influence and usefulness."
In 1867 Mr. Frank was chosen one of the delegates-at- large to the Constitutional Convention of this state. The other names on the ticket were such eminent men as Charles Andrews, Sanford E. Church, George F. Com- stock, George William Curtis, Samuel J. Tilden, William M. Evarts, Charles J. Folger, Horace Greeley, Francis Kernan and William A. Wheeler. In 1870 he became one of the managers of the State Hospital for the In- sane at Buffalo. In 1888 he was a member of the Electoral College which elected Harrison and Morton. In 1894 he again became delegate-at-large to the State Con- stitutional Convention. In this convention he made few speeches, but exercised a strong influence on his as- sociates and in committee work because of his ability, integrity and large experience in public matters. He was the chairman of the committee on banking and cur- rency, and was a member of the committee on preamble and bill of rights. Mr. Frank was one of the commis- sioners for the preservation of the public parks of the State of New York, and held positions as trustee or on the board of managers of several benevolent, charitable and educational institutions. Soon after his retirement from Congress Mr. Frank established a banking business in Warsaw. The Bank of Warsaw was established by
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him in 1871. His broad influence, his well established integrity, his exceptional executive ability, and his large experience well fitted him to carry this business suc- cessfully for a quarter of a century. He had previous- ly helped to organize the Wyoming County National Bank of which he was for several years a director. Hle was also a director of the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He was one of the projectors and a director of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad. Many other branches of business in and near Warsaw rceeived the touch of his personal influence.
His regard for the soldiers of the Civil War was shown by his efforts to sceure the Soldiers' Monument for Wyoming County. Hc contributed liberally towards its purchase and gave mueh time and thought to its erection. He was vice-president of the Monument As- sociation, of which Hon. William P. Letchworth is president.
Mr. Frank was deeply interested in the material, moral and spiritual welfare of his own community. He was for several years the President of the Wyoming County Pioneer Association. He gave much time and foresight to the development of the salt industry in this valley. He agitated constantly, by addresses and newspaper arti- cles, the importance of publie improvements and the cause of temperance in Warsaw. Many of the advanta- ges which make Warsaw an attractive village in which to live are duc to his unwearied advoeaey.
Religious institutions received a large share of his in- terest and beneficence. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church of Warsaw, and for more than forty-five years was active in its Board of Trustees. The present church building was made possible by the contributions both from himself and his friends in New York whom he interested in the movement. It was his policy to contribute liberally to every branch of the work of this church ineluding its missionary and benevolent canses. But he was generous also of his time, never being too busy to consider any question which would help the re- ligious life of his community and in any denomination. Ilis attractive personality, his genial disposition, his high
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ideals, his broad knowledge of public matters and his large interest in living questions; his sterling integrity, his strong and persistent devotion to the right, his kind- ness and sympathy towards those needing his assistance, and his deep spirituality made him the center of a host of friends and acquaintances. His death at the Murray Hill Hotel in New York on April 29th, 1895, at the age of sixty-eight years, was deeply regretted by all who knew him.
Mr. Frank was married in 1867, to Miss Agnes McNair, the daughter of William W. MeNair of Groveland. Of their two children William Angustus died in childhood, and Mary Louise is now Mrs. George D. Miller, of Rochester.
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CORNER MAIN AND BUFFALO STREETS
HON. WOLCOTT J. HUMPHREY
Wolcott Julius Humphrey, son of Deacon Theophilus and Cynthia Hayden Humphrey, was born on November 11, 1817, at Canton, Connecticut-one of seventeen children. When he was two years old the family moved to Sheldon, New York, where the home was a large farm, and not only agriculture was pursued, but also the trades of tan- ning, shoemaking and harnessmaking. Wolcott was given a common school education supplemented by study with a neighboring clergyman. He was brought up with a thor- ough knowledge of all the home industries. Later he be- came a merchant, and followed that business for twenty- four years at Varysburg, Sheldon Center, North Java, and Bloomington, Illinois.
Early in life Mr. Humphrey began public service. When twenty years old he entered the New York State Militia; in 1840 he was chosen Colonel of the 9th Regiment, 8th Brigade, New York State Artillery and resigned in 1844. IIe held various town offices; in 1850 was Census Marshal in six towns of his county; in 1849, '53, and '60, was post- master of his town, which position he resigned. In 1850 he was elected to the Assembly, and returned in 1851, his political talents and constant activity giving him a lead- ing position in that body. He was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Railroads, and reported the Central Railroad Bill authorizing the consolidation and establishing the existing restrictions of that road. He was also chosen by caucus to take charge of the Prohibitory Liquor Law passed at that session.
During the Civil War he was enrolling officer for the U. S. Government, and was mobbed while in discharge of his duties. He served two terms in the New York Senate, being first elected in 1865, and again in 1867 from the Thirtieth District, (Wyoming, Livingston and Allegany Counties) by a majority of 5,240. In the first term he became a member of the Committees on Railroads, Inter-
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nal Affairs, and Printing, and Chairman of the Commit- tee on Roads and Bridges. In the latter session he was a member of the Committees on Finance and Banks, and Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Navigation ; and on a Joint Library. He was a faithful, indefatiga- ble worker, and was recognized as one of the most able of the non-speech-making Senators. He was an acknowl- edged leader in his section of the State, being a member of the Republican County Committee for thirty years, and for twenty years of that time its Chairman. During those years he was a delegate to more than half the Re- publican State Conventions, and was a member of the Na- tional Conventions of 1876 and 1880. Ile was a Whig so long as that party existed, and then a Republican of the staunchest fibre.
In the history of Warsaw, Mr. Humphrey was a prom- inent figure from 1864, the date of his removal to that place, until his death. In 1869 he became interested in the Wyoming County National Bank and two years later was elected President, holding that position throughout the remainder of his life. IIe was President of the Warsaw Water and Gas Companies, and of the Cemetery Associa- tion. He was a Trustee of the Congregational Church for twenty years. For eight years he was a member and for three years President of the Board of Trustees of the State School for the Blind at Batavia, New York.
Mr. Humphrey died on January 19th, 1890-but in the memories of those who knew him he lives-a courageous, enltured, courteous gentleman; a gentleman of fine pres- enee, great nervous energy, warm friendships, and good impulses; a man of wisdom, ability, integrity and honor; a generons and noble man.
HIe was married on March 30th, 1841, to Miss Amanda Martindale, daughter of Major William A. Martindale of Dorset, Vermont. She died June 17th, 1873, at Sonora, California. No children were born of this marriage. On July 8th, 1874, he was married to Miss Hannah Adams, daughter of Hugh Mulholland of Parma, N. Y. Mrs. Humphrey has continued her husband's work at the School for the Blind at Batavia, having been appointed a Trus- tee in 1893 by Gov. Flower, re-appointed in 1898 by Gov.
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Black, and re-appointed again in 1903 by Gov. Odell. She is also the vice-president of the Wyoming Connty Na- tional Bank. Children by second marriage, Annabel, born February ist, 1876, a graduate of Ogontz School; Wol- cott Julius, born October 29th, 1877, a graduate of Wil- liams College and now President of the Wyoming County National Bank, having been elected to that position in 1902.
HON. L. H. HUMPHREY
Lester Ilayden Ihumphrey was born in Sheldon, Wyo- ming County, January 22, 1850, the youngest child of Lester II. and Hannah Blakeley Humphrey. When sixteen years of age he removed with his parents to Warsaw, where he resided until his death in 1902, and where he was honored and esteemed in the highest degree. At the age of nineteen years he engaged in tanning and the leather trade, which he sold out in 1872 to accept a po- sition in the Wyoming County National Bank.
On January 22nd, 1873, Mr. Humphrey was elected vice- president of the bank, and from that time until 1888 was its executive officer. In 1885 he became associated with Dr. W. C. Gouinlock in the manufacture of salt at War- saw, and in 1887 they erected a salt plant at Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1888 Mr. Humphrey resigned his position in the bank at Warsaw in order to devote himseif more closely to his salt interests, and for the next two years he spent fully one half of his time in Hutchinson, having especial charge of that branch of the firm's business until it was sold out in 1890.
On January 22nd, 1890, his fortieth birthday, Mr. Humphrey was elected president of the Wyoming County National Bank to succeed his uncle, the Hon. Wolcott J. Humphrey, who had just died. This position he still held at the time of his death.
In 1891 he disposed of a portion of his salt interests in Warsaw, and in 1893 his partnership with Dr. Gouin- lock was dissolved, Mr. Humphrey retiring from the firm. Previous to this he became associated with M. E. Calkins in the erection of a salt plant at Pavilion and also had large interests in salt works at Ithaca, all of which he sold to the National Salt Company in the spring of 1899. He had large business interests in Warsaw and was ident- ified with all movements for the advancement, growth and improvement of the town.
Mr. Humphrey was the acknowledged leader of the
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Republican party in Wyoming County for a long time, as well as a strong factor in state politics. For twelve years he had been chairman of the county central com- mittee, and a zealous and efficient worker for the interests of his party. In the fall of 1895 he was elected Senator from the forty-sixth district, the term being then three years. He was again elected in 1898, and re-elected in 1900, and was known as one of the most careful, conser- vative, honest and courteous gentleman who ever sat in the State Senate.
Senator IIumphrey died in Albany on March 17th, 1902, after a brief illness, aged 52 years. He is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Harriet Gates, to whom he was married on September 1st, 1898, and by three children, Onias S. Humphrey, Mrs. Elizabeth Humphrey Dibble and Miss Mande S. Humphrey.
Senator Humphrey's first wife and the mother of his children, was Miss Maude Wilton Skinner, only child of Judge O. C. Skinner of Quincy, Ill., to whom he was married on May 18th, 1875, and who died on February 25th, 1897.
Part Four MONUMENT DEDICATION and GRAND ARMY DAY Wednesday. July Ist. 1903
COUNTY BUILDINGS AND SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
A beautiful granite shaft, erected in memory of the soldiers of Wyoming County has stood in the center of this village since 1877, and it was decided that its formal dedieation and transfer should have a prominent place in the proceedings of Centennial week.
On the 30th of May, 1872, an association was organized called The Wyoming County Soldiers' Mon- ument Association, with Hon. William P. Letchworth, President ; IIon. Augustus Frank, Vice-President ; Col. Abram B. Lawrence, Secretary ; and Loyd A. Hayward, Treasurer. On March 3d, 1873, an act was passed by Congress appropriating captured Con- federate cannon and sixteen iron balls for the use of the Association. By an act of the Legislature of New York State passed May 9, 1873, the Wyoming County Mutual Insurance Company was authorized to sell and dispose of 110 shares of the stock of the Warsaw Water Works Company and to pay over the same or the proceeds thereof to the Treasurer of the Wyoming County Soldiers' Monument Association, to be used and employed by said Association for the erection of a monument to the soldiers of Wyom- ing County who fell in the War of the Rebellion.
Through the efforts of this Association and others
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interested in the matter, voluntary subscriptions were obtained until the monument fund was completed.
At a meeting held in this village on September 8, 1877, a committee was appointed to select a site for the monument within the limits of the county, and the village of Warsaw was decided upon for its location. The memorial chosen was the beautiful granite shaft which was on exhibition at the Cen- tennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. The column is of the Corinthian order, surmounted by a bronze statue of an American soldier, of heroie size. The shaft rests upon a fortress-shaped base of nearly twenty fect, with salient angles, upon which are laid as trophies the four captured cannon donated by Congress. These cannon are of brass and were cast at Macon, Ga., at a time when the Confederacy was in dire need of artillery, and the material from which they were cast was obtained from church bells given to the Confederate authorities for that purpose. The cost of two of the guns was paid into the monu- ment fund by President Letchworth, he taking them to his own place, Glen Iris, and the money being used to procure the bronze figure which surmounts the shaft. Under the principal granite base are de- posited many valuable records, including the names of 1,575 Wyoming County soldiers.
In the winter of 1903 a bill was passed by the Legislature authorizing the transfer of this monument from the Wyoming County Monument Association to a board of perpetual trustees, consisting of the
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County Judge, County Clerk, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and President of the Village of War- saw, and their successors in office.
Wednesday, July Ist, 1903, was Grand Army and Monument Dedication Day in the Centennial program, the veterans, their wives and families being guests of Gibbs Post and the Woman's Relief Corps. At 11:30 A. M. a fine dinner was served in the opera house to more than five hundred visitors, and at 5 o'clock a supper to at least one hundred.
The entertainment was in charge of the follow- ing committees :
GIBBS POST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-John W. Hatch, Hon. I. Sam Johnson, J. M. Smith, HI. O. Holly, W. H. Cornell, E. M. Jennings, HI. W. Burlingame, M. W. Norton.
GIBBS POST RECEPTION COMMITTEE-John W. Hatch, 11. W. Burlingame, Wilson Agar, John T. Knox, Charles II. Crocker, E. M. Jennings, I. Sam Johnson.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS RECEPTION COMMITTEE-Mrs. John W. Hatch, Mrs. Mary Harman, Dr. Cora Cornell, Mrs. Mary Gray, Mrs. Irving B. Smith, Mrs. E. R. Rob- inson.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE : Mrs. Florence E. Smith, Mrs. Frank Davidson, Mrs. Flo- rence Kidder, Mrs. Emma Smith, Mrs. Charles Holly, Mrs. Emma Martin, Mrs. HI. S. Baker, Mrs. Porter B. Munger, Mrs. H. W. Burlingame, Mrs. Frances Bixby, Mrs. Sarah Richards, Mrs. John Gayer, Mrs. Charles H. Crocker.
The Monument Association and Dedication Com- mittees were as follows :
MONUMENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-HION. William Pryor Letchworth, LL. D., Col. A. B. Lawrence, Maj. II. A. Dudley, Capt. Francis Murphy, John W. Hateh.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE-Hon. E. E. Farman, LL. D.,
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Col. A. B. Lawrence, Hon. James E. Norton, Hon. James 11. Loomis, Col. James O. MeClare, Dr. W. C. Gouinlock, President J. C. Buxton, Prof. Irving B. Smith, Mrs. Angustus Frank, Mrs. Wolcott J. Humphrey, Mrs. Henry Page, Miss Agnes Cleveland, Mrs. Chauncey S. Pettibone, Mrs. John B. Crossett.
DEDICATION COMMITTEE-Arcade. William Howard ; Attica, A. G. Rykert; Bennington, Eugene Plumley : Castile, Frank Thomas; Covington, William II. Clark; Eagle, J. D. Eager; Gainesville, M. W. Marchant; Gen- esee Falls, Robert Rae, M. D .; Java, Hiram Carpenter; Middlebury, Simeon Howard; Orangeville, James Tilton; Pike, E. Newcomb; Perry, William B. Tallman; Sheldon, John M. Jones; Wethersfield, Hon. Daniel B. Whippie; Warsaw, Prof. Irving B. Smith.
GIBBS POST CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE -- John W. Hatch, Commander ; Hon. 1. Sam Johnson, Jacob M. Smith, Homer O. Holly, William H. Cornell, Col. A. B. Lawrence, Maj. II. A. Dudley.
The Veteran Parade formed on East Buffalo Street at 12: 30 o'clock. At its head were State Depart- ment Commander John S. Koster, of Port Leyden ; Charles A. Orr, Past Department Commander, of Buf- falo ; Samuel MeAuliffe, Inspector-General, of Roches- ter and the Warsaw Concert Band.
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