Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 102

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1160

USA > New York > Monroe County > Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history > Part 102

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Leddy, Thomas J .- Thomas Leddy, senior, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and in early life came to Toronto, Canada, where he married Miss Ellen Montgomery, and

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later came to Rochester, N. Y., where Thomas J., the subject of our sketch, was born in 1861. While a child his parents lived in Rush and Caledonia, where he received the greater part of his education, in the common schools, which was finished at one of Rochester's parochial schools. After leaving school Mr. Leddy returned to Caledonia and worked on a farm by the month for several years. When about twenty one he went to Michigan, but not finding a great opening returned to Rochester, and in 1883 commenced to learn the stone mason and brick laying trade. In 1884 he bought property and built a house in the town of Gates, where he now lives. In 1887 he commenced business on his own account, as a contractor, which is his present busi- ness. In 1888 Mr. Leddy married Miss Margaret O'Brien of Canandaigua, and they have three children; May, Frank and Adelaide. He is a member of St. Patrick's church, Politically, Mr. Leddy is a Democrat and has held several minor offices, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of the town of Gates, and also represents his town as a member of the County Central Committee. As a man, Mr. Leddy is successful; the same energy and patience which enabled him to work so long and faithfully on a farm in his youth, when applied to his business is not only winning him success financially, but the confidence and respect of all who know him.

Tennison, John, jr., was born in Ogden, Monroe county, November 13, 1856. He was educated in the public schools and Rochester Business University, and is now engaged in farming. November 21, 1881, he married Hattie A. Bush, of Parma, and they had one son. Allen, who died in infancy. Mr. Tennison's father, John, was born in Greece, in August, 1824. He was educated in the public schools and then en- gaged in farming. He married Betsey Butts, of Greece, by whom he had eight chil- dren: two died in infancy, Frankie, John, Edward, Emeline, Anna and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Tennison reside in the town of Parma. Mrs. Tennison, jr.'s, father, Edward Bush, was born in New Jersey, December 2, 1805, and came to Western New York when a young man. May 11, 1842, he married Mary Bennett, by whom he had ten children: Elizabeth, Edward, Peter, George, Louie, Wesley, John, Harry, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Bush died January 22, 1887, and his wife, De- cember 28, 1890. Mr. Tennison's grandfather, John, was one of the first settlers in the town. Mr. Tennison is a member of Clio Lodge, No. 779, F. & A. M., Roches- · ter, N. Y. The family is of English, German and Scotch origin.

Aman, Joseph, was born on the old homestead, in the town of Irondequoit, N. Y., October 14, 1851. He was educated in the district schools, and is a small fruit grower, market gardener, and nurseryman by occupation. May 30, 1876, he married Jose- phine Marchand, formerly of Buffalo, N. Y., by whom he had six children: Flora S., Frederick J., Reuben E., William H., Gertrude B., and Joseph F. Mr. Aman is a justice of the peace, serving his second term. Benedict Aman, father of Joseph, was born in Alsace, France (now Germany), February 26, 1810, and came with his parents to the United States in 1831. They located in the town of Irondequoit, where his father bought a small farm. March 8, 1837, he married Barbara Moser, by whom he had eleven children: George S., Martin, Annie M., Benedict, Barbara G., Joseph, who died in infancy, Joseph No. 2, as above, Jacob, Margaret, Emma, who died in infancy, and John C. Mr. Aman died April 30, 1882. Mrs. Aman's father, Jacob Marchand, was born in Besancon, France, in 1827, and came to the United States when a young man, locating in Buffalo, N. Y. He married Frances Perriard, form-

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erly of France by whom he had these children, Josephine, Eugenie, Mary, Fred- erick, Louis, Celcalia, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Marchand died in 1871, and his wife in 1889.

Allen, John, was born in Sweden, in 1825. Philemon Allen, father of John, came from Massachusetts and settled in Sweden, where he engaged in farming and spec- ulating. John Allen lived for some time in Brockport, where he was justice of the peace for eight years, and later moved to Clarkson, where he was justice for four years. In 1889 he moved to Hamlin, where he is now engaged in farming. He married Livona, daughter of Amos Stickney of Sweden, by whom he had one son, F. J., and one daughter, Mrs. Alexander Ferguson. Mrs. Allen died, and he mar- ried for his second wife, Lettie Bragg, who died in 1894, by whom he had two sons, Leonard and Charles H., and one daughter, Lottie M.

Mann, Frank C., was born in West Bend, Wis., May 14, 1867, and was educated in the Schoharie Academy, and Gloversville High School. His first venture in the business world was as a newsboy, which he began at the age of ten years. This occu- pation he followed for about five years. At the age of eighteen he went on the road as a commercial traveler and continued two years. In January, 1888, at the age of twenty he took up life insurance work, and two years later was sent to Roch- ester by the National Life Insurance Co. of Vermont, to assume the duties of general manager of their agency, the successful establishment of which in a city and territory that was already apparently overcrowded by representatives of that line, marks Mr. Mann as an adept at the business. From the smallest agency on the company's list, under Mr. Mann's management it has grown to be one of the largest. His head offices at Rochester are said to be as beautiful and complete as any in the United States. June 11, 1890, Mr. Mann married Maud L., daughter of George E. Camm, of Johnstown, N. Y. They have one son, Herbert A. Mann, and reside at No. 14 Harper street.

Titus, Adelbert .- German Titus, father of Adelbert, was born in Canada, March 3, 1822, and came to the United States with his parents at the age of two years. He was educated in the district schools, and has had a variety of occupations, among others farming, and in 1870 he began market gardening, his gardens being in ten- acre lots fenced with evergreen hedges. August 23, 1846, he married Augusta Roberts, of the town of Mendon, and they have three children: Adelbert, George B., and Seymour G. Adelbert married Eugenia Titus, and they have one daughter. Adrienne. George B. married Emma S. Sherry, of this town, and they have three children . Leone, Carrie L., and German ; and Seymour G. married Eudora B. Maw- hinney, of Onondaga county. N.Y. Adelbert worked with his father in the market garden business until he was twenty-three years old, when he began on his own account. His methods are of the most approved style, and his hot houses are the best. He has one of the largest in the State, its dimensions being 50x234 feet, and it has twenty-three ventilators, which are operated with a crank on each side, and heated by a low pressure boiler, which heats 4,000 feet of inch and a quarter pipe. The entire cost of this greenhouse was $3,000. (For full history of Titus family see George Cooper's sketch.)

Cooper, George, was born in Yorkshire England, June 2, 1827, and came to the United States with his parents in 1830, settling in Rochester, where he was educated

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in the common schools. They came to Irondequoit in 1837, where he now has a lot of twenty acres fenced with evergreen. Mr. Cooper is a gardener of rare taste. December 4, 1849, he married Phoebe J. Titus, of this town, formerly of Scottsville, and they have three children: George, jr., G. Titus, and John M. George, jr., mar- ried Alice Johnson, and they have had eight children, seven of whom survive: Maud M., Florence L., Richard W., Winfred S., Anneta, Edith E., and George C. G. Titus married Anna Hendricks, of Rochester. John M. married Harriet E. Whitney, of Rochester. Mr. Cooper's father, Richard, was born at the old home, where he was born in 1801. He married Mary Gardam, of his native place, and they had six children: George, Anna, Sarah, Mary, Richard, and William. Mr. Cooper died in 1. 54, and his wife in 1838. Mrs. Cooper's father, Stephen B. Titus, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., April 28, 1796. He married Mary Whitney in Hudson, N. Y., and they went to Canada, and they were the parents of eight children, four of whom died in infancy. They returned to Monroe county in 1823, and to the town of Irondequoit in 1834, where he died in 1877, and his wife in 1872. Both branches of this family have done much for the growth and prosperity of the town of Ironde- quoit.

Gates, Henry P., was born in Ogden in 1841, son of Henry Gates, born August 3, 1808, who came from Schoharie county, N. Y., to Ogden, where he engaged in farm- ing, and later moved to Gates, where he died February 10, 1877, leaving one son and two daughters. Henry P. settled on the homestead, and is a farmer and carpenter. He married Elizabeth, daughter of D. A. Campbell, and they have three sons: Samuel W., William H., and Charles A .; also two daughters: Isabel W. and Edna L.

Standemnaier, Mary .- Her first husband, George Serth, was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, in 1823 and came to the United States in 1849, locating in Rochester, N. Y. In 1852 he married Mary Schneck, formerly of Germany, by whom he had eight children: Barbara, John, William, Catherine, Moneca, George, Louis, and Theresa. Mr. Serth died in 1869. In 875 Mrs. Serth married John Standem- naier, of Wurtemburg, Germany, and they have one daughter, Louisa R. L. Mr. Standemnaier died in 1886. Mrs. Standemnaier's father, George Schneck, was born in Germany in 1800. He married Magdalene Leoffel, of his native country, by whom he had seven children: Mary, Jacob, Frank, John, Louis, Charles, and Anthony. The family came to the United States in 1851. He died in 1891 and his wife in 1852. Mrs. Standemnaier has a fine hotel near the Boulevard at the Rifle Range, situated on the Genesee River.

Weisner, Adam, was born in the town of Irondequoit, now Rochester, N. Y., No- vember 1, 1843, and educated in the common schools. He is a dairy farmer, keeping thirty-three cows for the wholesale milk trade of the city of Rochester. May 23, 1867, he married Catherine Heberger, of Rochester, and they have had twelve chil- dren: Anne B., who died in her sixth year; Martha J., Lawrence J., Henry P., Josephine E., Elizabeth E., Emma B., Mary L., George M., Cecilia A., Joseph L., and Frances A. Josephine married William Allenby of Rochester, and they have one son, Lawrence J. Martha J. is a sister in a convent in New York city. Mr. Weisner's father, Lawrence, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1812, and came to the United States when a young man, and located in Irondequoit. He married

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Catherine Hinz of his native place, and they were the parents of five children: Catherine, Adam, as above noted, Barbara, Joseph, and Theresia. Mr. Weisner died March 24, 1871, and his wife September 28, 1890. Mrs. Weisner's father, George M. Heberger, was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 15, 1815. He married Anna M. Bieck, of his native place, and came to the United States in 1841, locating in Rochester, N. Y. They were the parents of nine children: John, Mary A., Catherine, as above, Jacob. Valentine, Elizabeth, Eva, Phillip, and Barbara. Mr. Heberger died in 1882, and his wife in 1877. Mr. Weisner and family are members of the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic church of Rochester. In politics he is a Democrat.

Curry, John C., was born on the farm where he now resides, in 1838, son of Robert Curry, who came from Ireland to Rochester in 1811, and kept the first black- smith shop in Rochester, where he worked until 1830, when he bought the farm where his son now resides. Mr. Curry married Margaret Lynn, and they have two sons, John and Lynn, also five daughters.

Yawman & Erbe .- This firm was organized in 1880 and consists of Philip H. Yaw- man and Gustav Erbe, the former a machinist by trade, the latter a scientific instru- ment maker. They first began in a small way the manufacture of various articles and employed five hands; now they manufacture light machinery, metal specialties, etc., consisting of fishermen's automatic reels, bottle washers, bottlers' supplies, etc., and employ nearly 300 operatives. They erected their present building at 340- 348 North St. Paul street in 1884 and since then have enlarged it materially. Their trade extends not only throughout the United States and Canada but into Mexico, South America, Australian colonies, Great Britain, and Europe. Mr. Yawman, the senior member, was born in Rochester on September 1, 1839, and is a son of Nicholas Yawman, a cooper, who came here from Germany on the canal in 1832, being among the first German settlers of the city. Mr. Erbe was born in New York city May 23, 1852, and came to Rochester in 1877. He is a director in the Office Specialty Manu- facturing Company and a member of German American Bowling Club, the Manne- chor, and the Monroe and Rochester Clubs. The firm is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Mechanics' Institute.

Whitcomb & Downs .- Alonzo G. Whitcomb was born in Pittsford, Monroe county, N. Y., June 24, 1824, and while still a young man began the business which subse- quently made his name a synonym for hospitality throughout the Eastern States. His youthful life was passed in the country. After reaching his maturity he engaged in hotel keeping in Parma, afterward in Clarkson, and later in Brockport, whence he came to Rochester, where he first was proprietor of the old Exchange Hotel at 80 to 84 West Main street. He was afterward for nine years landlord of the old National which occupied the northwest corner of West Main and Fitzhugh streets. In 1872 he erected the present Whitcomb House and conducted it until his death on Decem- ber 13, 1880. Here he made a name which has ever since clung to that popular and widely known hostelry, and closed a career that placed him foremost among the landlords in Rochester. No hotel enjoys a better reputation among the vast army of commercial travelers. Since his death Mr. Downs, for a time his partner, has been its active manager. Mr. Whitcomb was supervisor one year and member of the Common Council several terms. He was one of the organizers of the Rochester Driving Park Association, for several years president of the Western New York

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Agricultural Society, and a member of Genesee Falls Lodge, F. & A. M. February 13, 1844, he married Miss Tursey S. Tillotson, of Parma, who survives him.

Walbridge, Edward N., was born in Rochester, where he has always resided, October 11, 1859. Silas Walbridge, jr., his grandfather, came here with his family from Vermont about 1830 and kept tavern at the junction of East avenue and Main street; afterward he conducted a tavern at Clarkson, and with his son ran a stage line from Rochester to Gaines. He died at the age of eighty-two; his father was a Revolutionary soldier. Silas Dewey Walbridge, son of Silas, jr., and father of Edward N., was born in Bennington, Vt., May 28, 1815, and succeeded his father in the stage and hotel business at Clarkson. Later he had a store at Eagle Harbor and finally came to Rochester, where he conducted a livery stable and afterward the Mansion House where the Mansion House block now stands. He purchased the old Eagle Hotel on the site of the Powers buildings and kept it twenty years, and there Edward N. was born. He sold this property to Mr. Powers about 1863, and since then has been largely interested in real estate. Edward E. Walbridge was gradu- ated from the Free Academy in 1878 and after a short course at the Williams Busi ness University entered the hardware store of Hamilton Matthews, where he re- mained about a year. Since then he has been associated with his father, and for a time was engaged in the wholesale grain business. September 29, 1891, he enlisted in the 2d Separate Naval Division, N. Y. S. N. G., and on November 22, 1891, was elected and commissioned lieutenant, which position he still holds. May 1, 1895, he was appointed special agent of canals of the State under the superintendent of public works. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Rochester Yacht Club, in which he has held all the offices, being now chairman of the regatta com- mittee. He is also a member of the United States Naval Institute of Annapolis, Md., the Oswego Yacht Club, the Rochester Whist and Genesee Valley Clubs, the Rochester Athletic Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Rochester Historical Soci- ety, and the Sons of the Society of the American Revolution, of both State and National organization. He is especially prominent in yachting circles. For several years he was librarian and secretary of the Sunday school of the First Presbyterian church, of which he also a member. December 2, 1884, he married Helen Velnette, daughter of Solomon F. Hess, senior member of the tobacco firm of S. F. Hess & Co., of Rochester. They have three children: Arthur Hess, Elsa, and an infant.

Teall & Sons .- Isaac Teall, the leading caterer of Rochester, is a son of Philip Teall, and was born in England, April 3, 1844. He came with his parents to America in 1847 and settled in Rochester, where his father died in August, 1888, and his mother in August, 1895. His education was limited to the public schools of the city. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. E, 54th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the Re- bellion. In 1867 he began active life for himself in a very modest way as a retail dealer in ice cream, and about three years later opened a small catering establish- ment in Plymouth avenue. From this insignificant beginning he gradually enlarged his business until it eventually became one of the chief enterprises in Rochester. In 1872 he moved to his present quarters at 25 North Fitzhugh street, and in 1893 his sons, William H. and George Nelson, were admitted to partnership under the firm name of Teall & Sons. Mr. Teall is not only the foremost caterer in the city, but enjoys a reputation which extends throughout the State, He has had charge of 11

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many notable gatherings, banquets, parties, etc., catering on such occasions to dis- tinguished men of the United States and the best society in various centers of popu- lation, and probably doing more in this line than any other caterer between New York and Chicago. His business through his individual efforts and personal popu- larity has developed into the largest of its kind in this end of the State. He is a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, and takes a quiet interest in the pro- gress and welfare of the city.

Spader, Willard B., has been engaged in business in Rochester as a dealer in in- vestment securities for several years. He has private wires with New York and Chicago, and is represented on the New York Stock Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. He buys and sells outright all classes of local securities, and makes a specialty of traction stocks and bonds.

Security Trust Company of Rochester was incorporated November 1, 1892, with Edward Harris, president; Granger A. Hollister, vice-president; and William L. Mercer, secretary, all of whom retain their respective offices. The company trans- acts a general trust business, acts as trustee, receiver, administrator, executor, and guardian, allows interest on deposits subject to check, and has offices in the Granite building. It has a capital of $200,000 and a surplus aggregating $150,000.

Martin, Bernard F., was born in the town of Gates, Monroe county, January 12, 1852. His father, Anthony H. Martin, came from what is now Alsace, France, to the Genesee Valley in 1812, and with Ezra Mason cut off the timber and opened a corduroy road from the upper falls to their farms along the present Lyell avenue. He died in 1853, leaving seven children: Anthony H., jr., alderman and poormaster, who died in 1883; George W., for several years engaged in wood turning and scroll sawing, who died in 1881; Andrew W., who went to Pike's Peak in 1855 and was never afterward heard of; Bernard F., and three daughters. H. F. Martin, after attending the district schools and Williams & Rogers' Business University, engaged in business as a machinist, mastered the trade, and continued for several years, con- tracting and manufacturing considerable machinery, In 1876 he opened the "Cen- tennial Novelty Store" on State street, and in the fall of 1878 engaged in his present business in the Powers building, in which he has met with unqualified success. At first he had only a retail trade, but in 1881 added a wholesale grocery line, mainly teas, coffees, and spices, which has since developed into one of the largest enterprises of the kind in Rochester. Mr. Martin started in a small way, with little capital, but with an energy and enterprise which characterized his race, and from this modest beginning he has established a business which covers the entire city. He is a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Whist Club, and was one of the originators and a director of the Rochester & Glen Haven Railroad.

Lindsay, Alexander M., member of the widely known dry goods firm of Sibley, Lindsay & Curr, was born April 27, 1841, in Scotland, where he received a common school education. Before he had reached his fourteenth year he was apprenticed to the dry goods trade in Kilmarnock, where he served about six years, when he went to Glasgow and was for three years associated with a large retail dry goods house there. In 1865 he came to this country and accepted a position as clerk in Boston, where he remained until the spring of 1868, when he came to Rochester and organ-

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ized the firm of Sibley, Lindsay & Curr, which has developed into one of the most extensive dry goods syndicates in the country. Mr. Lindsay is a talented business man, and thoroughly identified with the progress and welfare of the city of Roch- ester.

Laney, Calvin C., superintendent and engineer of parks of the city of Rochester, was born in Waterloo, N. Y., February 18, 1850, and received his education at the Friends Academy in Union Springs, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and at the Waterloo Union School. He taught school two years, and later was engaged with the en- gineer corps for about two years on the survey of the Pennsylvania and Sodus Bay Railroad. He was for a similar period assistant engineer on the construction of the four-track line of the Hudson-Central Railroad between Batavia and Rochester, and successively engaged on bridge building in Buffalo, on the topographical survey of the city of Rochester, and in locating a narrow guage railroad in Vermont. He went to Corning, N. Y., as assistant engineer in charge of the construction of a division of the Geneva and Corning Railroad, and had charge of the building of a part of the Geneva and Lyons Railroad, made the surveys for a line in Illinois run- ning south from Chicago, and was engaged for three years in double tracking the Erie lines between Buffalo and Hornellsville, residing meanwhile in Warsaw and Castile. In these he served in the capacity of assistant engineer. As locating en- gineer he made surveys for the Bradford, Eldred and Cuba Narrow Guage Railroad; as division engineer he had charge of part of the construction of the Pine Creek Railroad between Wellsboro, Pa., and Williamsport, Pa .; and as superintendent of construction he had charge of part of the work on the Beech Creek Railroad from Jersey Shore to Clearfield in Pennsylvania. In 1886 he opened a surveyor's office in Rochester and the same year assisted in surveying the Lehigh Valley line from Buffalo to Geneva, but in the fall became locating engineer for the Kansas City and Omaha Railroad in Nebraska. He thence went to California, where he engaged for several months in surveying. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Laney returned to Roches- ter and reopened a surveyor's office, and in June of that year was appointed engineer for the newly organized Park Commission. In 1889, when the work of the Park Commission commenced, Frederick Law Olmsted, the celebrated landscape architect, recommended him for the position of superintendent, to which he was immediately appointed, and since then he has filled both offices. The park system of Rochester is recognized as one of the finest in the United States. During the year 1894 the various smaller parks and squares and trees of the city were placed under Mr. Laney's supervision.

Hutchison, Merritt L., the well known superintendent of mails at Rochester, and son of William Hutchison, was born in Waterport, Orleans county, N. Y., where he received his preliminary education. He removed with his parents to Lyndonville, N. Y., and was graduated from the old Yates Academy in 1872. He learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed for eleven years in Lyndonville. He then received the appointment of United States mail clerk, running between Syracuse and New York, which position he filled for eight years, when he was transferred to Rochester as superintendent of the mails, which position he now holds. November 26, 1876, Mr. Hutchison married Lizzie E., daughter of Francis Daniels, of Lyndon-

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Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 102

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1160

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1160