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 44
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John Charles O'Brien was born in Rochester, N. Y., May 8, 1838. In June, 1856, he was graduated from Hobart college with the degree of B. A., and in 1881 received the degree of Master of Arts. He read law with Judge Charles J. Folger, of Geneva, N. Y., and in 1863 was graduated from the Albany law school, where he received the degree of LL.B., and also passed the general term examination, and subse-
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quently was admitted to the United States District and Circuit courts. He was acting assistant district attorney under William H. Bowman and C. C. Davison. He was the first supervisor of the Fifteenth ward, and for the second term was nominated on both the Democratic and Repub- lican tickets, but declined to accept the office. January 31, 1867, he married Agnes E. O'Leary, of Ontario, by whom he had six children. Two of his sons have been graduated from the university of Toronto, and one from Cornell university. The oldest son is to be associated with his father in the practice of law in this city. Mr. O'Brien's prac- tice has been chiefly in the drawing of wills, the settlement of estates, and as referee.
Daniel Beers Beach was born in Temple street, New Haven, Conn., November 14, 1822, and received his preliminary education in his native city. Reared under the influences of that historic seat of learn- ing, he became a private tutor in families in Brunswick county, Va , and Rockingham county, N C. He was graduated from Yale college in the class of 1842 and from the law department of that institution in 1845, being admitted to the bar of that state in August following. The same year he removed to Rochester, N. Y., and was admitted to the New York state bar at Albany in January, 1847. He began the practice of his profession at Rochester immediately afterwards. In 1867 he temporarily returned to his old home in New Haven and prac- ticed law there till the spring of 1871, when he again came to Roches- ter, where he has ever since resided and followed his chosen profession. He served as supervisor of the then Seventh ward of Rochester in 1865, being elected on the Republican ticket. Except this, he has given his attention almost exclusively to his business. June 1, 1853, Mr. Beach married Miss Loraine Rogers, of Lockport, and has had two sons and four daughters, of whom three daughters are living.
John Hampden Hopkins was born in Rochester, June 20, 1852, and in 1872 was graduated from Hamilton college. He read law in the office of Cox & Avery, of Auburn, N.Y., and later entered the Albany law school, from which he was graduated in 1875. Returning to Auburn he practiced law until 1877, when he came to Rochester, where he has since followed his chosen profession.
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John N. Beckley was born in Clarendon, Orleans county, N. Y., De- cember 30, 1848, and was educated at the Brockport Collegiate insti- tute, the Genesee Wesleyan seminary, and Genesee college. After leaving college he became principal of the public schools of Lanesboro and Rushford, Minn., where he remained two years. In 1872 he began the study of law with Wakeman & Watson at Batavia, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar at Buffalo in June, 1875. He returned to Batavia, where he practiced his profession two years, and then removed to Roch- ester. In 1882 he was appointed city attorney and was reappointed in 1884 and again reappointed in 1886, and after the last reappointment he became a member of the law firm of Bacon, Briggs & Beckley. He was one of the prime movers in the reorganization of the street railroad system in this city and upon the incorporation of the Rochester Rail- way company was elected its first vice-president and secretary. In 1890 he became president of the company and still holds that position. In 1875 he was married to Miss Belle, daughter of Stephen M. Corwin, of Brighton, N. Y. Mr. Beckley has proven his ability as one of the most able attorneys in Rochester.
Adolph J. Rodenbeck, corporation counsel, was born in Rochester, and has always lived in the old Twelfth ward. He was graduated from the Free academy in 1881, and from the university of Rochester in 1885, taking at the latter institution the Dewey prize in declamation in his sophomore year, and the first oratorical prize and first scholarship upon graduation. He then began the study of law in Rochester in the office of Henry G. Danforth, and finished in an office in New York city, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn in 1887. After an extended trip abroad he settled permanently in Rochester, where he has since prac- ticed his profession with signal success. He is one of the most brilliant young lawyers of the city, and has achieved no little distinction. Prom- inent and popular in political and social circles, he was appointed second assistant under city attorney Ernst, and first assistant under C. D. Kiehel, and on April 1, 1895, received the appointment of corporation counsel a position he fills with rare ability. He is a member of the D. K. E college fraternity, Genesee Falls lodge F. & A. M., Aurora lodge I. O. O. F., Down Town Republican club, the Genesee Valley, Monroe, and Rochester Whist clubs, the Monroe County Historical society, and the 58
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New York State and Rochester Bar associations, a trustee of the Memorial Lutheran college, and secretary of the Central Republican club.
Charles M. Williams was born in Rochester, N. Y., April 30, 1851, eldest son of Charles H., and grandson of Rev. Comfort Williams, the first settled pastor of Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Williams received his early education at the Free academy of this city and was graduated from the university of Rochester in 1871, at which time he entered the office of E. A. Raymond, as a student at law ; he was afterward in the law office of Hon. John Van Voorhis, and was admitted to the bar in 1875, at which time he entered into co-partnership with J. R. Fanning, for the practice of general law. In 1879 he was elected school commissioner of the Sixth ward, being nominated by both parties. In 1888 Mr. Williams was elected a member of the board of trustees of the univers- ity of Rochester, and has been its secretary and treasurer since 1891.
Horace G. Pierce, son of Samuel Pierce, was born in Webster, Mon- roe county, August 24, 1853. Samuel Pierce, a native of Penfield, was a son of Seth Pierce, who came here from Vermont and died suddenly in the old New England House about 1840 ; he was a farmer and con- tractor, and constructed the Dugway roads near Irondequoit. Samuel Pierce resides in Webster, where he formerly took a very active interest in political affairs. Horace G. Pierce prepared for college at the old Doolittle institute, at Weathersfield Springs, N. Y., and at Wilson's Collegiate institute, in Rochester, from which he was graduated in 1870. Graduating from the university of Rochester in 1874, he read law with A. J. Wilkin, and was admitted to the bar at the Rochester general term in April, 1877, after which he formed a partnership with Thomas D. Wilkin, as Wilkin & Pierce, which continued for ten years. Since then he has practiced his profession alone. Mr. Pierce is an active Republi- can, and since 1878, excepting two years, has been a member of the county committee, representing the Fifteenth (formerly the Eleventh) ward, and serving as chairman in 1890, 1891, and 1892. He is also a member of the West Side Sewer commission, and has always mani- fested a deep interest in the prosperity of the city. July 25, 1889, he married Miss Nettie, daughter of George M. Sellinger, of Rochester.
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Elbridge L. Adams is a son of Hon. William H. Adams, of Canan- daigua, N. Y., a justice of the Supreme court and one of the eminent lawyers of the state, and was born in that village September 17, 1866. He was graduated from Canandaigua Academy in 1882 and from Will- iams College in 1887, and is a member of the Delta Psi Fraternity. He read law in the office of Smith, Oliver & Smith in Rochester and was admitted to the bar in this city in 1889. The same year he began the practice of his profession and has since successfully con- tinued it. He is a member of the New York State Bar association and one of its committee on law reform ; was a charter member of the Rochester Bar association, its first secretary, and one of its com- mittee on judiciary and legal reform; and a member of the Genesee Valley club and the examining board of Civil service of Rochester.
Anson Stuart McNab was born in Toronto, Canada, July 17, 1863, of Scotch American parents. His parental grandfather was for many years prior to his death attorney-general for the province of Nova Scotia, and his mother's father was a native of Middlebury, Schoharie county, N. Y. His parents both died when he was very young, and he was reared and educated by his maternal grandfather. In 1878 he moved to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where he read law in the office of Hon. John R. Putnam, now justice of the Supreme court for that dis- trict. He subsequently studied with Hon. Amasa J. Parker, formerly judge of the court of Appeals, at Albany, and in the latter part of 1883 came to Rochester, where he finished his legal studies in the office of Hon. John S. Morgan, then county judge of Monroe county. He was admitted to the bar October 17, 1884, and has since continued in the practice of his profession. His most active attention has been given in criminal law. Since his admission he has won five homicide cases, two of which were won this year (1895), namely, the Covert murder trial at Spencerport, and the trial of Patrick Gavin, who was held for the mur- der of Howard I. Abbott, at Charlotte.
Mr. McNab is a member of the Supreme lodge Knights of Pythias of the world, and of the Supreme Castle Knights of the Golden Eagle of the world, and the present representative of that order for the state of New York. He is also a member of Cyrene commandery, K. T., and Rochester consistory, 32ยบ ... of the Masonic fraternity. On March 21,
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1888, he married Miss Cora Eliza, youngest daughter of Henry S. Hebard, of Rochester, who died August 15, 1895, leaving an infant son, Henry Anson.
Mr. McNab has the reputation of being one of the brightest criminal lawyers in Western New York, on a number of occasions having been called away from home to defend important cases. His power is due to oratorical ability, easy manners, fine physique, and great command of language. which carry his hearers with him on themes that he debates, and makes him a dangerous opponent in any contested legal proceeding.
Philetus Chamberlain was born in Rose, Wayne county, N. Y., April 14, 1854, and received his education at the Genesee Wesleyan semi- nary, of Lima, N. Y., and Syracuse university. Choosing law as his profession he began his studies in the office of Martindale & Oliver, of Rochester, and was admitted to the bar at the general term in October, 1870. He began practice in this city, and has been more than success- ful. He is a leading factor in and a hard worker for the Republican party, and is actively identified with a number of charitable societies and various other organisations of the city, where he is well and popu- larly known.
Richard E. White was born in Mansfield, Mass., June 12, 1848, and in 1855 removed with his parents to the town of Wheatland, Monroe county. He received his education in the district schools of that town, at Falley seminary in Fulton, Oswego county, and at the Brockport Normal school. He read law in the office of Joseph A. Stull, of Roch- ester, and was admitted to the bar at the general term of the Supreme court in Buffalo in June, 1875. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Rochester, where he has since been eminently success- ful. While George A. Benton was district attorney of Monroe county Mr. White was associated with him in partnership. He has been an elder of St. Peter's Presbyterian church for the past fifteen years and clerk of the session for six years.
Charles Roe is a native of Long Island. He received an education at Oberlin college and Johns Hopkins university. He read law in the office of Theodore Bacon and J. B. Perkins, attended the Columbia law school and was admitted to the bar at New York city in 1883 He
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returned to Rochester in 1884 and commenced the practice of law, which he has since followed.
Jacob Spahn was born in the city of Wartzburg, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, February 24, 1849, of military stock and the second son of Andrew Spahn, soldier and revolutionist, who was compelled to flee from his native land the same year and was himself the son of a veteran under Napoleon who survived the retreat from Moscow. He received his primary education in the public schools of New York city. The elder Spahn was for many years a manufacturer of mouldings, in busi- ness with the late overseer of the poor, Joseph Schutte, on State and Water streets, prior to 1875. He settled in Rochester in 1862, where Jacob Spahn entered college and graduated from its university in 1870, having made his mark to some extent in literature, for in his junior year a sketch, "The Prince Suwarow," which he had written, appeared in the Galaxy Magazine. Like his brother, Louis Spahn, of the Chicago bar, he secured the first Davis medal of his year for oratory in his class on commencement day. During his college course he joined the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and was its orator twice in 1873 and 1883. He was appointed major and engineer of the 25th Brigade National Guard April 21, 1877, by Governor Lucius Robinson. Upon leaving college he became a journalist, working successfully upon the staffs of the Union and Advertiser and the old Chronicle, whose city editor he became and remained until that paper's consolidation with the Democrat in 1872. He was admitted to the bar in Buffalo, N. Y., June 21, 1871, after read- ing law with Hon. Francis A. Macomber, afterward a justice of the Supreme court. In 1878 he became one of the organisers and secre- tary of the big Genesee Brewing company at Rochester. At about the same time he began to take an interest in local politics and was nomi- nated unanimously for member of assembly by the city convention, but declined the honor. The same year he was appointed to write and deliver the poem before the associate alumni of the university of Roch- ester. From 1878 to 1881 he officiated as military editor of the Sun- day edition of the Democrat and Chronicle. As such he allowed many criticisms upon the local military to appear and was in consequence court-martialed and cashiered from military rank after a long trial, cov- ering thirty sessions of the court, prosecuted against him by Hon. George
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Raines, then the judge advocate ; but he secured a review of the case by . writ of certiorari from the Supreme court, which reversed the sentence and reinstated him." From this decision an unsuccessful appeal was taken by the adjutant-general. Major Spahn had for a short period theretofore officiated as temporary judge advocate of the local military and is still an officer in the National Guard S. N. Y., having been hon- orably retired from active service by order of Adjutant-General Josiah Porter in 1886. His court-marshal case now constitutes a precedent in military law. He has a commission as colonel. Since his retirement from journalism he has written many sketches and done general literary work for the magazines, among others the Galaxy, Harper's, Green Bag, Albany Law Journal, &c., besides the local papers. His law practice is general and mainly confined to Germans, among whom it is very extensive and must have been successful because he is a large tax-payer. As the oldest practitioner of German extraction in Monroe county he is the dean of that nationality among the lawyers. One of his principal cases was to defeat the Rochester and Glen Haven Railroad company from condemning the premises of Ferdinand Grisbel under the right of eminent domain in a proceeding begun in the Supreme court, which is always a rare victory under the railroad law. The case is reported in 14 N. Y. Supplement 848. He also established the pioneer precedent in the state with reference to the police powers of cities as to shade trees on streets and their removal under city ordinance, in the case of Ellison vs. Allen reported in the 67 State Reporter 274. For many years he has been a discriminating book buyer, and now possesses not only a law library containing with one exception every decision pub- lished in the state, but one of the largest collections of standard miscel- laneous literature in the city. As a tax-payer his frequent denuncia- tions of alleged municipal extravagance and mismanagement have fur- nished him quite a political following Nominations for office are from time to time tendered him by his friends and neighbors, but up to date he has shown no inclination for public life.' At present he figures as chair- man of a permanent good government club irrespective of party, formed from among the leading citizens in the 6th, 8th and 16th wards, and as such he was authorised to call a meeting any time for action at the election polls in these wards.
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James S. Garlock was born in Parma, N. Y., January 4, 1836. He attended the public schools and later became a student at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., then entered the Genesee College, and later attended the Satterlee & Dexter Collegiate Institute in Roch- ester. Upon choosing law as his profession he entered the office of Joseph A. Stull, and was admitted to the bar in 1860, at which time he began to practice in Rochester. In 1863 Mr. Garlock raised a company of cavalry for the 24th Regt. New York State Vols., and was mustered in as first lieutenant and commissary of the regiment. In 1864 he re- signed his office and resumed the practice of his profession. He is re- garded as one of the leading attorneys of the county.
William Butler Crittenden was born in Deerfield, Mass., August 5, 1861, at the Memorial hall, which was then Deerfield academy, of which his father, Cotton M. Crittenden (formerly librarian of the court of ap- peals library at Rochester), was principal. He received his education from his father, who moved to Rochester in 1853. He studied law in the Boston University law school, was upon the reportorial staff of the Boston Journal from 1872 to 1874, and was admitted to the bar in 1875, at Rochester, N. Y., where he has since practiced his profession.
Frank J. Hone was born in Rochester, August 9, 1857, and is a son of Alexander B. Hone. His early education was received in private schools of this city ; in 1879 he was graduated from Seton Hall college, of South Orange, New Jersey, at which time he began the study of law in the office of Rowley & Johnson, of Rochester, and was admitted to the bar at the general term in October, 1881. In 1884 he formed a co- partnership for the practice of law with Charles B. Ernst, which has since continued, and upon Mr. Ernst being appointed city attorney Mr. Hone was associated with him as assistant city attorney, and while holding that position he was acting counsel for the board of park com- missioners of Rochester, and of the board of health of this city. Upon retiring from the office of assistant city attorney he was appointed at - torney of the board of health, which position he still retains.
John A. Barhite was born in Auburn, N. Y., January II, 1857, and when quite young moved with his parents to Hopewell, N. Y. He at- tended the Canandaigua academy and was graduated in June, 1876. Remaining at home until the fall of 1877, he then entered the uni-
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versity of Rochester, from which institution he was graduated in 1881. He then read law in the office of Theodore Bacon, of Rochester, and was admitted to the bar at the Buffalo general term in 1883. Mr. Bar- hite is an active worker for the Republican party and was a delegate to the national convention in Minneapolis in 1892. He has held a num - ber of prominent offices and many positions of trust, which, by his ex- tensive knowledge of public affairs, he has honorably and efficiently filled. He was a delegate from the old Twenty-eighth senatorial dis- trict, comprising the county of Monroe, to the constitutional convention in 1894 and is a member of Frank R. Lawrence lodge, F. and A. M., Hamilton chapter, and Monroe commandery, Kislingbury lodge, No. 257, K. of P., the Rochester Whist club, etc.
Myron T. Bly, son of John E. Bly, was born in Henrietta, Monroe county, N. Y. He prepared for college at the Genesee Wesleyan sem- inary, and entering the university of Rochester in 1876 was graduated in June, 1880 He paid the expenses of his education by his own labor. During the first part of his collegiate course he filled a reporter's position on the Rochester Morning Herald. Later, he became editor of the Sunday Morning Herald, which post he continued to hold until his graduation. Immediately after graduation he began the study of law, and was admitted to the Monroe county bar in 1882. He began to practice in Rochester immediately afterward, and has built up a large and lucrative business. Mr. Bly's journalistic work, originally entered upon for the purpose of paying college expenses, has produced other results. During his senior year in college, besides attending to his col- lege work and editing a weekly paper, he contested for and won the highest literary prize of the university. While studying law he pre- pared a series of articles on " Milling Law and Legislation," which were published in the American Miller during the year 1881. In the same year he wrote for the American Tanner a serial story entitled " My Tan- nerville Client." During the four years from 1885 to 1889 he wrote monthly articles for the Boston Path-finder, under the title: "Legal Hints for Travelers." He has written two text-books for use in acade- mies. The first, " A Treatise on Business Law," was published in 1891. In 1893 came " Descriptive Economics." The latter has attracted wide attention among educators. Mr. Bly is one of the esteemed business men of Rochester and is known as a careful, conscientious attorney.
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Zachary P. Taylor was born in Oneida county, N. Y., February 8, 1846, removed with his parents to Clarendon, Orleans county, and was educated in the Brockport Collegiate institute, now the State Normal school, from which institution he was graduated in 1864. After teach- ing school one year he entered the university of Rochester and was graduated in 1869. He was then for two and one- half years instructor of classics in the Buffalo Central high school, and later held the same position in the Central high school of Cleveland, Ohio. In the mean- time he read law in the offices of Wadsworth & White, of Buffalo, and Judge Jesse P. Bishop, of Cleveland, and was graduated from the Cleve- land law school in 1872, being valedictorian of his class, which com- prised twenty six members. He was principal of the West and Central high schools of Cleveland until 1883, when he came to Rochester as principal of the Free academy, which position he acceptably filled until the fall of 1886, when he resumed the practice of his profession in Roch- ester. He is now senior member of the law firm of Taylor & Marsh. Mr. Taylor has been actively identified with the Prohibition party, working and speaking for its cause, and was its candidate for state sen- ator in 1887, when he received a very flattering vote. He was lay del- egate to the general conference of the M. E church held in New York city in May, 1888, and was a member of the committee of five which prepared a resolution to be submitted to the subordinate conferences as to whether women should be admitted as lay representatives to the general body. December 29, 1875, he married Miss Mary E , daughter of the late Hiram Davis, of Rochester, and they have had four children: Mortimer D. (who died August 2, 1892, aged fifteen), and Herbert R., Helen, and Marion, aged respectively fourteen, eight, and six years.
Darius A. Marsh was born in Geneseo, N. Y., December 19, 1866, and is a nephew of the late Darius A. Ogden, of Penn Yan, N. Y., who was twice appointed minister to Honolulu under Democratic adminis- trations. He was graduated from the Geneseo State Normal school in 1886, being president and valedictorian of his class as well as president of the Delphic society, the oldest fraternity of the school. He afterward took a special course at the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and then began the study of law in the office of Judge Solomon Hubbard, of Geneseo, and was admitted to the bar, shortly after he became of
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age, at Grand Rapids, Mich., where he practiced two years, when he came to Rochester and resumed his practice, holding the position of managing clerk in the office of Judge George F. Danforth and Henry Danforth until January 1, 1894. He then became the junior member of the firm of Taylor & Marsh, doing business in the German Insurance building. Mr. Marsh is attorney for a number of large corporations, and is an extensive dealer in real estate. He is a member of Rochester lodge, No. 660, F. & A. M., the Rochester Whist club, and the Mon- roe County Bar association. Unlike his distinguished uncle, Mr. Ogden, Mr. Marsh is a staunch Republican.
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