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 43
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Col. Simeon B. Jewett was born at Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn. August 12, 1801, and resided at Sharon, where he received his educa- tion. In 1820 he removed to Skaneateles, Onondaga county, N. Y. He became a student at law in the office of his brother, Judge Freeborn G. Jewett, and was admitted to the bar in 1823. He settled at Clark- son, Monroe county, N. Y., and opened an office in the same year and continued to reside there and practice his profession most of his life. He was married in 1831 to Miss Nancy Cook, step-daughter of Capt. William Peck. In 1834 he formed a co-partnership with Judge Henry R. Selden, under the firm name of Jewett & Selden, which continued to 1858, when Judge Selden removed to Rochester, Monroe county. He was engaged for a short period during the years of 1835 and 1836 in a business enterprise in the state of Georgia, and organised a large
lumber industry. He early became interested in politics and took an active interest in town, county, state and national elections. Always a Democrat, lie was always more interested in the success of his party and in his friends than in his own advancement. He was appointed surrogate of the county of Monroe in 1845, and served during two years in that capacity; was appointed marshal of the Northern district of New York by President Buchanan soon after his inauguration, and served in that capacity for four years. He early became what was known as a Freesoiler and became identified with that wing of the Demo- cratic party. He was a man of wonderful executive ability, of untiring industry. For quickness of perception and boldness of execution he had no superior ; formed opinions at once and never afterwards hesi- tated ; always had the courage of his convictions and fought to the end both in politics and law.
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As a lawyer, he had few superiors, and as a collector was known throughout the state. He was prominent in all state and national con- ventions, well acquainted with the men of note in both the state and nation. Few men could accomplish more in moulding the policy of his party and in selecting its candidates. Socially, he was always pleasant and courteous ; was a fine conversationalist and was popular with all with whom he came in contact. He was a good husband, kind father and faithful friend.
He was stricken with paralysis in 1867, and after that date retired from active business. He died in Clarkson in July, 1869, aged sixty- eight years. He left surviving him his wife, who died in April, 1883. His daughter and only child, Mary W. Jewett, is still living in the homestead at Clarkson, Monroe county, N. Y.
Denton G. Shuart was born in 1805, at Plattekill, Ulster county, N. Y., and in 1807 came whith his parents to Mendon, Monroe county, one mile from Honeoye Falls. His father, Abraham Shuart, was one of the pioneers of this section of the county. Denton G. received an aca- demic education and in 1825 he returned to Ulster county for the pur- pose of studying law. In 1832 he was admitted to the bar in New York city, and shortly after began practicing at Honeoye Falls. From 1852- 1856 he was surrogate of Monroe county, and for nearly half a century was one of the prominent members of the county bar. His wife was Mary Elizabeth Barrett, daughter of Stephen Barrett, of Honeoye Falls. He had four children : Denton Barrett, who died in 1866, William H., of Rochester, N. Y., Clarence A., of Honeoye Falls, N. Y., and Irv- ing J., of Chicago, Ill. He died at his home in Honeoye Falls, N. Y., August 29, 1892.
William Dean Shuart was born in the town of Mendon, Monroe county, August II, 1827, received an academic education, and at- tended Genesee Wesleyan seminary at Lima, N. Y. He read law with D. G. Shuart, George P. Townsend, and Smith & Cornwell, of Lyons, N.Y., and afterwards entered the law school at Ballston Spa, from which place he was graduated and was admitted to practice in Schenec- tady, N. Y., in 1850. The following year he opened a law office in Rochester, and in 1863 was elected city attorney by the Common Council. In June, 1864, he was commissioned in the army as pay-
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master, with rank of major, served until the close, and mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in November, 1865. He returned to Rochester and resumed his practice, and in 1867 was nominated and elected surrogate of Monroe county, twice re-elected, and served in all sixteen years. January I, 1884, he formed a partnership with Hon. William A. Suth- erland, under the firm of Shuart & Sutherland, to which Hon. Arthur E. Sutherland was subsequently admitted, but has since withdrawn. Mr. Shuart is a very successful practitioner, is authority on all cases in- volving the settlement of estates, and his decisions while surrogate were seldom reversed by higher courts. He is one of the most popular men and promising lawyers in Western New York.
Arthur E. Sutherland was born at Geneva, N. Y., September 20, 1862, and is the youngest son of Rev. Andrew Sutherland, a prominent clergyman who for many years was presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the western part of this state. He attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and in 1885 was graduated from Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., after which he read law in the office of Shuart & Sutherland in Rochester. Admitted to the bar in October, 1887, he filled for a time the position of managing clerk for his preceptors and then became a member of the firm. This partner- ship continued until his appointment as county judge of Monroe county. In November, 1893, he was elected special county judge on the Repub- lican ticket for a term of three years beginning January 1, 1894, and on January 10, 1895, was appointed county judge by Governor Morton to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of County Judge William E. Werner to the Supreme court bench. On September 21, 1895, he was unanimously nominated by the Republicans for the office of county judge for a term of six years, beginning January 1, 1896.
In June, 1888, he was married to Miss Nellie Reed, daughter of Frederick Reed, of Nunda, N. Y. They have three children.
Judge Sutherland occupies a foremost position among the younger members of the bar of Western New York, while the firm with which he has been associated holds a prominent place in the jurisprudence of the state. The senior member, W. Dean Shuart, was for many years sur- rogate of Monroe county, and the other partner, William A. Sutherland, elder brother of the judge and the present Republican national com-
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mitteeman for New York, is widely known as one of the leading lawyers of the commonwealth. Judge Sutherland's professional connection with these eminent counsellors has afforded him unusual opportunity for practice in the courts and given him a wide experience in litigation of all kinds, which has been invaluable to him in presiding at the trial of causes. As a judge he has officiated with dignity and ability ; his services on the bench have been characterised by sound judgment, thorough knowledge of law, and careful research. He has always manifested considerable interest in public matters and political affairs, taking an active part in movements that concern the general welfare and promote the material advancement of the city. He is a prominent member of various social, athletic, and fraternal organisations, and with many of them has held important and responsible official relations.
Thomas Raines was born at Canandaigua, Ontario county, N. Y., August 13, 1842. His father, John Raines, was born at Hull, England, in 1818, but came to Philadelphia in his infancy ; later he was a farmer until his twenty-seventh year, when he entered the Methodist Episcopal ministry and became widely known in Western New York among the foremost of his religious brethren. Mrs. Raines, the mother of Thomas Raines, was Miss Mary Remington of Canandaigua. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the common schools. He began his business life as a clerk in a store at Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y. At the age of twenty-one in connection with a number of capi- talists, he organised a national bank at Geneva, which was one of 'the first institutions of that kind in the country. In 1867 he came to Roch- ester, and at twenty-four became the cashier of the Farmers' and Me- chanics' National bank. At the Republican state convention, held in Rochester in the autumn of 1871, Mr. Raines was nominated for state treasurer, and in the election following he ran largely ahead of his ticket, particularly in Monroe county. He was re-elected in 1873 as a Liberal Republican, on the Democratic ticket. He was vice-president from New York of the Cincinnati convention which nominated Horace Greeley in 1872. He was a member of the Canal board from 1872 to 1876, and as state treasurer was a commissioner of the land office and commissioner of the canal fund. Retiring from political life at the close of his second term of office, Mr. Raines took up the study of the law,
Roma Rainil
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at an age beyond that in which the calling is usually entered upon, and was admitted to practice at the bar in 1879. Soon after he formed a partnership with his brother George, which continued for fifteen years. His rise in his profession was rapid, and he was frequently engaged in the argument of important cases in the appellate courts. In 1884 he was appointed by Governor Cleveland special county judge of Monroe county. He was appointed by Governor Hill, in May, 1890, a member of the com- mission created by the legislature to revise the judiciary article of the state constitution. In the early part of this present year he became associated with ex-Judge P. H. Van Auken, formerly of Seneca Falls, under the firm name of Raines & Van Auken. But with all his devotion to the profession of the law and his compliance with the demands made upon him by his extensive practice, Judge Raines is not willing to divorce himself from the service of the public. Having been appointed by Gov- ernor Cleveland, in 1883, one of the managers of the Western House of Rufuge, a child's prison, situated in this city, he became one of the most active members of the board and a powerful advocate of the advanced methods which have caused the institution under its new name of State Industrial School, and as a military and trade school, to become one of the model establishments of its kind and a potent instrument for the well- being of the community.
Pierson B. Hulett was born in Brighton, Monroe county, N. Y., No- vember 17, 1837. He became a student of law and was admitted to the bar December 18, 1858, at the general term in Rochester, where he has been a successful practitioner. In 1875 Mr. Hulett was elected special county judge and served in that capacity for three years, and was re-elected in 1879. In the fall of 1884 he formed a partnership with Vincent M. Smith, as Smith & Hulett, which terminated with Mr. Smith's death in May, 1886. About two years ago the present firm of Hulett & Gibbs was formed. Mr. Gibbs was a student of Mr. Hulett's.
George Alexander Carnahan was born in Ravenna, Ohio, May 21, 1862. He received his early education in his native town, and was graduated from the Wesleyan university of Middletown, Conn., in the class of 1884, after which he entered the office of Morgan & French, of Rochester, for the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in this city in 1886, and immediately afterward opened an office here. In 1894
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he was elected judge of the Municipal court of the city of Rochester, and served on that bench until January, 1895, when he resigned to accept the appointment by Governor Morton of special county judge of Monroe county, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Arthur E. Sutherland. Judge Carnahan is also a member of the board of managers of the State Industrial school of Rochester.
George E. Warner was born in New Haven, Cayuga county, N. Y., November 7, 1855, came to Rochester when an infant, and was edu- cated in the public schools of this city. He afterwards entered the office of H. H. Woodard as a student at law, and was admitted to the bar at the general term in Syracuse, in January, 1877, and opened an office in Rochester for the practice of general law. In 1881 he was elected judge of the Municipal court, and re-elected in 1887 and again in 1893. Mr. Warner is one of the best known attorneys in the county.
John Martin Murphy was born in Lima, N. Y., March 24, 1859, and received his education at the Genesee Wesleyan seminary, from which he was graduated in June, 1870. The same year he began the study of law in the office of D. C. Feely, of Rochester, and was ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1883, when he at once commenced the general practice of his profession. Mr. Murphy has built up a good reputation as a lawyer. In 1895 he was appointed a judge of the Mu- nicipal court, at a meeting of the common council, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Judge Craig.
Charles B. Ernst, police justice of the city of Rochester, is a son of the late Col. Louis Ernst and was born here August 16, 1854. Re- ceiving a liberal education in the schools of Rochester and graduating from Mount St. Mary's college of Maryland in 1878, he was graduated from the Albany law school in 1880, and entered the office of Judge Angle. After his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with Frank J. Hone, under the style of Hone & Ernst, which still continues. He has always taken an active interest in politics. For two terms he represented the old Fourth ward on the board of supervisors, and in 1888 was appointed city attorney by the common council and reappointed in 1890. In March, 1893, he was elected by a large majority to the office of police justice, which he still holds. In all these positions Judge Ernst has won the commendation and esteem of all
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classes and parties. He is zealous member of the C. M. B. A. and I. O. R. M., and one of the best known and most popular young attor- neys of Rochester.
The preceding have held judicial office in this county or city. The following have not.
William F. Cogswell was born in the town of Perinton, Monroe county, September 26, 1824, was admitted to the bar in May, 1846, and has practiced his profession in Rochester ever since. William N. Cogs- well, son of William F., was born in this city July 9, 1858, was gradu- ated from the university of Rochester in 1878, and studied law with his father. He was admitted to the bar in 1881, since which time he has practiced in partnership with his father, the firm being Cogswell & Cogswell.
Theodore Bacon, senior member of the firm of Bacon, Briggs, Beckley & Bissell, was born at New Haven, Conn., May 6, 1834, and received the degree of B. A. from Yale college in 1853 and that of M. A. in 1856. He studied law at Clarkson, Monroe county, with the late Hon. Henry Rogers Selden and was admitted to the bar in September, 1856. In 1861 he entered the Union army as captain in the 7th Conn. Vols., one of the famous regiments of the rebellion. Since 1865 he has practiced law in Rochester, and for many years has been recognised as one of the most eminent lawyers of Western New York.
John Van Voorhis is a direct descendant of Stephen Coerte Van Voorhees, who was born in Hego, Holland, in 1600, and came to America with his wife and seven children in the ship Boutekoe (spotted cow) in 1660, settling at Flatlands, L. I., where he purchased of Cornelius Dirksen Hoogland thirty. one "morgens" of land for 3,000 guilders. He also bought a house and lot with a brewery in the village of "Ames- foort en Bergen" (Flatlands), and died in 1702. A grandson, Johannes Coerte Van Voorhis, in 1730, settled in Fishkill, Dutchess county, on a farm of 2,700 acres, for which he paid £70, and died in 1757. A great-grand- son of the latter was the father of John Van Voorhis and a farmer and local Methodist preacher, and settled in Decatur, Otsego county, N. Y., where the subject of this sketch was born October 22, 1826. The family later resided in Scott, Cortland county, and Spafford, Onondaga
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county, and in March, 1843, located in Mendon, Monroe county, where the father died March 26, 1867. John Van Voorhis was reared on the farm, completed his education at Genesee Wesleyan seminary, and taught district school in Victor until 1840, when he entered the law office of Hon. John W. Stebbins. He also taught Latin and mathe- matics in the East Bloomfield academy till the spring of 1852 and was admitted to the bar in December of that year. The following spring he opened a law office in Elmira in partnership with Hon. Gilbert O. Hulse and on July 4, 1854, removed to Rochester, where he has ever since resided and practiced his profession, having been for many years one of the leaders of the bar of Western New York. He was a member of the board of education from the Fifth ward in 1857, city attorney in 1859, internal revenue collector of this district in 1862, delegate to the National Republican convention at Baltimore in 1864, and elected rep- resentative in congress in 1878, 1880, and again in 1892. For thirty- five years he practiced law in partnership with his brother, Quincy Van Voorhis, the firm name being J. & Q. Van Voorhis, and for the past few years with his sons Eugene and Charles, under the style of John Van Voorhis & Sons. In 1858 he married Frances Aristine, daughter of Martin Galusha and granddaughter of Jonas Galusha, governor of Ver- mont for nine consecutive terms.
Nathaniel Foote, son of Nathaniel Foote, was born in Morrisville, N. Y., November 15, 1849. He received his early education in his native town, after which he entered the Cazenovia seminary, where he remained for two years, when he entered the Genesee Wesleyan seminary at Lima, N. Y., and was graduated in 1866; in 1870 he was graduated from Hamilton college as bachelor of arts ; he then became instructor of classics at the Monticello academy, where he remained one year, after which he began the practice of law in his native town and formed a partnership with John E. Smith, which continued until July, 1873, when he came to Rochester and opened an office Mr. Foote is recog. nised as one of the leading attorneys of Western New York. January 10, 1872, he married Charlotte, daughter of the late James C. Campbell, of this city. Mr. Foote was for three years a member of the law firm of Foote & Haven, with offices in the Granite building of Rochester. He was one of the delegates from this senatorial district to the con-
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stitutional convention, which made and submitted to the people the revised constitution of the state which was adopted in 1894. On the organisa tion of the Rochester Bar association in 1893, Mr. Foote was chosen as its president and was re-elected to the same office the follow- ing year.
Charles S. Baker, who was born February 18, 1839, at Churchville, Monroe county, N. Y., received his early education in the district schools of this county, at Oakfield, Genesee county, Cary Collegiate seminary, and Genesee Wesleyan seminary at Lima. During 1857 he taught school, at the same time studying law, preparing himself for his future profession. For several years prior to his admission he pur- sued his studies in the office of Judge Danforth up to 1860, when he was admitted to the bar and immediately commenced practice in Roch- ester. At the opening of the war he entered the service and served during the first year as first lieutenant of Co. E, 27th N. Y. Vols. He was disabled at the first battle of Bull Run, in consequence of which he was compelled to resign from the service. Returning to Rochester he resumed the practice at which he has been successfully engaged ever since.
Mr. Baker has always taken an interest in affairs of state. He was a member of the board of supervisors for 1879, 1880 and 1882, elected to the state senate and served with distinction during 1883-4, and then elected to congress, serving through the 48th, 49th, and 5 Ist sessions, winning additional fame and honors. In 1861 he married Miss Jane E., only daughter of Silas A. Yerkes, of Lima, formerly of Rochester. They have five sons: Charles A., a graduate of Rochester university ; Leigh Y., a graduate of Michigan university and a practicing physi- cian in Washington as a specialist of the eye and ear ; Cornelius B., of Kansas ; and William J. and Harold Hill.
Martin W. Cooke, son of William W. Cooke, was born in the village of Whitehall, N. Y., March 2, 1840, attended the Whitehall academy and a grammar school in Rochester, and at the age of fifteen entered the university in this city, from which he was graduated with degree of A.B. in 1860, and from which he received the degree of A. M. in 1863. He studied law under the late Judge Henry R. Selden, was admitted to the bar in 1863, and in 1865 formed a partnership with Hon. Sanford
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E. Church, which continued until 1870, at which time Mr. Church was elected chief judge of the court of Appeals. In 1880 he was appointed one of the examiners of applicants for admission to the bar, a position he held by reappointment for fourteen years, being chairman of the board most of the time. He is a member of the executive committee of the New York State Bar association, of which he has been treasurer and president. He is the official attorney of the university of Rochester and for many years a member of its board of trustees and of the Phi Beta Kappa society ; a close student of art, literature, and science, and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1888 he published a book entitled " The Human Mystery in Hamlet," and has contributed numerous other writings meeting with much favora- ble comment. In the fall of 1889 he was nominated by the New York Republican convention for the office of state comptroller, and, although defeated, his vote greatly exceeded that of the head of his ticket. Mr. Cooke has successfully practiced his profession in Rochester since 1863, and has long been recognised as one of the prominent members of the New York state bar. In 1866 he married Miss Augusta W. Buell, daughter of Mortimer Buell, of Rochester.
David Hays was born in Rochester, N. Y., November 28, 1858. At an early age he attended the grammar schools in New York city, and in 1874 the Free academy of Rochester, and graduated from the Roch- ester university in 1878, after which he took a course in political science at the university of Berlin, and was a graduate of the Columbian law school in the class of 1881, at which time he was admitted to the bar. In January, 1883, he became a partner of James B. Perkins, which partnership continued until the removal of Mr. Perkins to France in August, 1890, and was renewed in August, 1895, on the return of Mr. Perkins to Rochester.
Walter S. Hubbell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 24, 1850, and is a son of Charles Hubbell, now of San Diego, Cal., and Anna M., his wife, who was a daughter of Oren Sage, formerly of Rochester. When he was three years old his parents moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he lived until 1866, when he came to Rochester and entered the university, from which, after winning a number of prizes, he was grad- uated in 1871, being first in his class. A few years later he received
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the degree of A. M. He studied law with Hon. George F. Danforth, late judge of the court of Appeals, and was admitted to the bar in Jan- uary, 1876. He practiced his profession alone until December 1, 1890, when he formed his present partnership with Horace McGuire. Mr. Hubbell was elected member of assembly in 1884 and again in 1885, and next to General Erwin was the strongest candidate for speaker of the session for the latter year. By Speaker Erwin he was made chair - man of the committee on general laws, and also placed upon the judi- ciary committee. He has always taken a firm stand upon the important questions of municipal reform, taxation, and high license, of which he was the recognised leader in the assembly of 1885, and through which he has since received such universal accessions of strength. He is a trustee of the university of Rochester, the New York Baptist union for ministerial education, the Rochester Orphan asylum, and the First Baptist church of Rochester. In June, 1877, he was married to Leora, daughter of Judge D. B. De Land, of Fairport, and they have five daughters.
George Harvey Humphrey, son of the late Judge Harvey Humphrey (which see), was born in Rochester on March 21, 1830, and received his rudimentary education in the public schools under Professor Perry. He studied law in the office of his father, for whom he acted as manag- ing clerk, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. The same year he formed a partnership with his father, which continued until his father's death in 1877 ; since then he has practiced his profession alone. Mr. Humphrey has attained considerable distinction as an author, and is a frequent contributor to magazines and other periodicals. He is the author of "The Law of the Protestant Episcopal Church and other Prominent Ecclesiastical Bodies," which was first issued in 1887, and is now in its fourth edition. As an essayist and poet he has won no little fame at home and abroad ..
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