Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 53

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 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1800 he first visited the Genesee country, where he had purchased 640 acres. In September of the same year, with Col. William Fitzhugh, Major Charles Carroll, and Colonel Hilton, he bought large tracts of land in Livingston county near Dansville, and in 1802 himself, Colonel Fitzhugh, and Major Carroll purchased the "100-acre or Allan tract" for $17.50 per acre. This last named tract largely comprises the present business portion of the city of Rochester. He closed up his interests in Maryland and in May, 1810, he became a resident of Dansville, N. Y., where he re- mained five years, building a large paper mill and making many improvements. Disposing of his business there in 1815 he removed to an improved farm in Bloom- field, Ontario county. Meanwhile he constantly visited his property at the falls of the Genesee and laid it out into suitable lots, which were placed on the market, the town being called after him-Rochester. In April 1818, he took up his residence here, and died, in the city he had founded, after a long and painful illness, on the morning of May 17, 1831.

Colonel Rochester was always a very active man and almost constantly connected with some office or public enterprise. In 1816 he was for the second time a presi- dential elector, In January, 1817, he was secretary for an important convention

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

held at Canandaigua to urge the construction of the Erie Canal, and the same year he went to Albany as agent for the petitioners for the erection of Monroe county, but was not successful in this undertaking until 1821, when he became the first county clerk and also the first representative in the State Legislature, being re-elected to the latter office in 1822. In 1824 he was a member of the commission to take sub- scriptions for the capital stock of the Bank of Rochester, of which he was elected the first president, but resigned in December of that year on account of ill health and infirmities of age. This was the last of his numerous public and corporate trusts. He was a life-long Episcopalian and was one of the founders of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal church, Rochester. His career was one of which any man might well feel proud. Starting for himself at the youthful age of sixteen, without means, but with great self-reliance, laudable ambition, perseverance, and native energy, he accom- plished work of the largest magnitude and widest usefulness, accumulated a fortune, and indelibly stamped his name upon posterity as the founder of the city. He had twelve children: William Beatty, Nancy Barbara, John Cornelius, Sophia Eliza, Mary Eleanor, Thomas Hart, Catherine Kimball, Nathaniel Thrift, Anna Barbara, Henry Elie, Ann Cornelia, and Louisa Lucinda.

JOHN H. ROCHESTER.

JOHN H. ROCHESTER, vice-president of the Board of Park Commissioners, is the last male representative residing here and bearing the name of the famous family by which Rochester was founded and after whom it is named. He was born here April 20, 1828. He was educated in the schools of this city and at the age of eighteen entered upon his life work in the Rochester City Bank of which his father, Thomas Hart Rochester, was president. He subsequently carried on a private banking busi- ness for five years with his brothers under the name of John H. Rochester & Bro. Then he became cashier in the Flour City Bank for three years. When the Me- chanics' Savings Bank was chartered and entered upon its career, John H. Rochester became its secretary and treasurer, a position he has filled ever since for a period of over twenty-eight years, being the oldest banker in active service in this city. He has been connected with social, religious and public institutions throughout his career. He is a member of the Genesee Valley and Whist Clubs and was for three years president of the Rochester Club. He is the oldest baptized member of St. Luke's church in point of years of membership. He has been treasurer of the church home for twenty-five years; treasurer of St. Luke's for many years; treasurer of the Red Cross Society and yellow fever fund; is president of the Rochester Historical Society and as stated above, vice-president of the Board of Park Commissioners. He has traveled extensively and is a well informed and public spirited citizen. He has always taken a deep interest in the public affairs of his native city, but has never sought or held public office. He married, in 1853, Elizabeth L. Moore, of Vicksburg, Miss. He has two sons: Thomas M., a practicing physician in Brooklyn, and Paul A., in the railroad service in New York. Mr. Rochester is one of the foremost citi- zens in Rochester and one of the hardest working of the park commissioners. He

BIOGRAPHICAL.

has always taken an interest in the parks and is a man of practical ideas. His selec- tion to the board was a wise one and he was honored at the first meeting by an elec- tion as vice-president. John H. Rochester is the kind of a man who honors a city by public spirit and enterprise.

FREDERICK E. GOTT.

THE ancestors of Frederick E. Gott were among those who early came from Eng- land to America to seek that freedom of religious belief, and a broader field of use- fulness, which were denied them beyond the ocean. On the ship Abigail Captain Henry Gardner, which sailed sailed from Weymouth, England, on June 20. 1628, for Salem, Mass., were Charles Gott and his wife, whose maiden name was Thankful Palmer, and two daughters. Charles Gott was born on March 12, 1598, and had children named Remember, Bethiah, Charles, and Daniel. Daniel was born June 20, 1646, settled at Hebron, Conn., where he married. He had five children, only one of which, named John, lived until 1749. John had three children, of which one only lived to maturity. This one, named John after his father, married Esther Story, and they had three children, whose names were John, Story, and Daniel. Daniel Gott was born September 5, 1735; married Charity Russ. They had seven children, the third of whom was Samuel Gott, grandfather of Frederick E., who was born September 19, 1775, in Hebron, Conn., and died there March 31, 1851. His son, who was second out of a family of thirteen children, also named Samuel, father of Frederick E., was born in Hebron, Conn., February 26, 1798. He was a man who gained a better education than the average for that time, and taught school in his early life. He married Chloe Gilman, learned the carpenter's trade, and about the year 1828, removed to the town of Ogden. In 1832 he bought and settled on the farm now owned by his son, where he spent the remainder of his life, and died on June 1, 1886. He was father of nine children, of whom seven lived to maturity; they were Horace G., George S., Emma E., Henry E., Eliza A., Lucy J., and Fred- erick E.

Frederick E. Gott was born in Ogden on October 13, 1851. He enjoyed excellent opportunities for obtaining an education, which he earnestly improved. His studies in the common school were supplemented with terms in the Institute at Parma, N. Y., and in the Normal School at Brockport, leaving the latter in 1870. In pursuance of his early formed intention he immediately began the study of medicine, but was forced to abandon that profession by the necessity of his presence and services at home. Since that time Mr. Gott's chief occupation has been farming on the family homestead, in connection with which he has for some years carried on a box manu- factory.

Mr. Gott early showed a natural aptitude for politics, and has long been prominent in the local field as a Republican. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace. has held the office ever since, and was re-elected in 1895. In 1891 he was elected super- visor, and still holds the office. In this capacity he has served on various commit- tees-equalization, treasurer's accounts, military affairs, etc., often as chairman, and

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

has several times been chosen to act as temporary chairman of the board. In 1892 Mr. Gott was sent as delegate to the Republican National Convention at Minneapo- lis, and he has on many occasions acted as delegate to County Conventions. In all of these positions Mr. Gott has earned the commendation of his constituents, and has proved worthy of the trust reposed in him. Mr. Gott is a member of Etolian Lodge F. & A. M., of which he was Senior Warden in 1895. He is a member of the Spen- cerport Congregational church, and is prominently connected with numerous busi- ness, political, and social organizations in his town and county.

JOHN W. HANNAN.

JOHN W. HANNAN, sheriff of Monroe county, was born in the town of Perinton, September 19, 1847. His grandfather, James Hannan, came from Florida, Mont- gomery county, N. Y., in 1810, and settled on a farm in Perinton, where he died; he participated in the War of 1812, serving on the Niagara frontier. On the homestead Cyrus P. Hannan, son of James and father of John W , was born in 1820, and upon it he spent his short but active life, dying in 1848. The old farm is now owned and occupied by the widow of the late Jesse B. Hannan, another son of the pioneer James. The family has always taken considerable interest in local affairs and for years has ranked among the leading agriculturists of the county.

John W. Hannan was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools of his native town. He early manifested an aptitude for politics, in which he took a keen, wholesome interest, and affiliated with the Republicans from the first. His active participation in political matters brought him into contact with many of the influential party leaders, with whom he soon formed the most friendly relations. In 1865 he was appointed messenger and superintendent of documents in the State Senate, a position he held continuously for ten years. There he acquired a wide and enviable reputation for faithfulness and fidelity to duty. In July, 1875, he received the appointment of United States gauger, an office he satisfactorily filled for eight consecutive years, when he resigned to engage in the wholesale and retail liquor business in Rochester. In all these capacities he made hosts of friends. In the fall of 1881 he was elected sheriff of Monroe county on the Republican ticket by a large majority, and at the expiration of his term of office (three years) became pro- prietor of the National Hotel in Rochester, where he continued a landlord until 1892. In the fall of 1893 he again received the election of sheriff of the county for another three years beginning January 1, 1894. On March 1, 1876, he was married to Miss Mary E. Hommel, of Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y.

Mr. Hannan is also prominently identified with various social, political, and fra- ternal organizations, with which he has held responsible official relations. For sev- eral years he was president of the Lincoln Club. He is a 32d degree Mason, being a member of Genesee Falls Lodge F. & A M., Monroe Commandery K. T., Roch- ester Consistory, and Damascus Temple Mystic Shrine. He is past commander of the commandery, and is also a member of Central Lodge, No. 666, I. O. O. F., of Rochester City Lodge, No. 212, K. P., of Wahoo Tribe, 228, I. O. of R. M., of Roch- ester, Tent. No. 8, K. O. T. M., and of the Chamber of Commerce.

JohnM Haunan

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JUDSON F. SHELDON.

JUDSON F. SHELDON, of English descent, was born upon his present farm in the town of Mendon, Monroe county, November 30, 1826, and is a grandson of Abner Sheldon and Rebekah Frary, his first wife, who came to that part of the Genesee country in 1801. Abner Sheldon's ancestors were among the earlier settlers of Mas- sachusetts. Coming to Mendon he located first on what is known as the Ball farm, but in 1802 settled upon the present homestead, which has ever since remained in the family. He was one of the early magistrates of the town and held the office several years. His wife died about 1807; he survived until 1823, when his death occurred at the age of seventy-one. Their children who attained maturity were Ab- ner, jr., Zelotes, Electa, Rebecca, Henry A., William F., Ptolemy, Timothy F., and Lucy. Ptolemy Sheldon was wounded in the War of 1812, in which Henry A. and Zelotes also served, all on the Niagara frontier.

Henry A. Sheldon, father of Judson F., was born in Deerfield, Mass., April 24, 1792. He came with his parents to Mendon in 1801, and died on the homestead Feb- ruary 24, 1864. He succeeded to the old farm by purchasing the interests of the other heirs and spent his life upon it, inaugurating improvements as occasion de- manded and making it one of the best and most attractive rural homes in the neigh- borhood. He was always a farmer. In politics he was first an old line Whig and afterward a Republican, and throughout life manifested a keen but quiet interest in local affairs. His wife, Eliza, daughter of Charles Gillett, of Mendon, was born in 1797, and died October 24, 1862. They had seven children, namely. Charles A., who died April 5, 1841, aged twenty-five; Ransom T., a farmer in Mendon; Louisa E. (Mrs. Levi Carter), who died a widow, in Mendon, July 21, 1894, aged seventy-four; Horace W., who died at Honeoye Falls, April 16, 1893; Judson F., the subject of this memoir; Lucina M. (widow of William W. Potter), of Medina, N. Y., who died in Mendon November 16, 1893; and Laura R., who died May 29, 1841, aged nine years.

Judson F. Sheldon was reared on the family homestead and received his education at the district schools and at a select school held in his father's house. He also attended Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima for a time. Remaining on the farm he finally became its owner by buying off the other heirs, and there he has spent his life. This homestead is historally interesting and has often been the subject of the historian's pen. The north part long contained evidences of having at one time an Indian village, which was called To-ta-ac-tum. Within a hundred rods of this point is an eminence known as Fort Hill from the supposition that it was once crowned by a fortification constructed and occupied by the French who came in by way of Canada. The road passing the house was for many years called " Abram's Plains" and is now often spoken of as "Sheldon's Plains."

Mr. Sheldon has been prominently identified with political affairs, not only in the town, but in the county. He has always affiliated with the Republicans, and few men have served their party more faithfully or efficiently. In 1878,1879, and 1880 he repre- sented his town in the Board of Supervisors, where his labor won for him a large meas- ure of popularity and public approval, which found general expression in his election to the State Legislature from the first district of Monroe in the fall of 1881, and to this office he was again elected in 1889. In the assembly he served on such important

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

committees as State Prison, Grievance, Roads and Bridges, etc., and his work in that body was characterized by unswerving fealty to constituents and public inter- ests. He is a member of the Association of Supervisors and ex-Supervisors of Mon- roe County, is a director in the Patrons' Fire Relief Association of Monroe County, and has for several years taken an active part in organizing and maintaining the Grange, being a charter member of Honeoye Falls Grange, No. 6, Mendon.

March 18, 1857, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Mary Davis, daughter of Martin Davis, of Mendon. She died January 28, 1889, leaving a daughter, Antoinette B., wife of William J. Kirkpatrick, and an adopted son, Charles Frederick, both of Mendon.

CHAUNCEY G. STARKWEATHER.

CHAUNCEY G. STARKWEATHER, eldest son of Chauncey G. and Mary W. (Bardin) Starkweather, was born in Burlington Flats, Otsego county, N. Y., March 20, 1840, and moved with his parents to Chester county, Pa., in 1856. His early youth was spent on the parental farm. When thirteen years of age his father hired him out for $4 a month to work for a farmer summers and go to school winters, and in this capacity he remained until eighteen. Determining then to become master of a trade, he took up pattern making, at which he worked with unvarying success till July 21, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. G, 124th Regt. Pa. Vols., for nine months. He partic- ipated in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville, was in Burnside's march through Virginia, and received an honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Pa., May 16, 1863. He then entered the government employ as foreman of a force of carpenters and held that position continuously until the close of the war, when he returned home.

Meanwhile, in 1861, his parents had settled on a farm in Brighton, Monroe county. Returning from the army he formed a partnership with his father and only brother (Jeremiah) under the firm name of Starkweather & Sons, and engaged in growing garden seeds for the wholesale market. This business proved very successful and was continued by the firm as thus constituted until 1871, when it was divided among the three partners. Afterward the sons became sole owners, and on February 9, 1894, the father died while in search of health at Lake Helen, Fla., at the age of over seventy-seven. He was born in Connecticut October 20, 1816, and possessed the thrifty characteristics and native energy of old-time New Englanders. Throughout life he devoted his attention mainly to business interests, yet he always manifested a deep regard for the prosperity and advancement of his town and county.

Chauncey G. Starkweather, the subject of this memoir, settled upon his present farm in the town of Henrietta in 1868, and since 1871 has successfully continued his portion of the old seed growing business alone, being now the largest grower of gar- den seeds in that section of the county. He has long taken an active part in political affairs and for several years has held responsible official positions. A staunch Re- publican he has commanded the respect of a large constituency and in the councils of his party is a recognized leader. In 1878 he was elected commissioner of high-

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ways for three years, and in 1880, 1881, and 1882 he represented his town on the board of supervisors. In the spring of 1892 he was elected supervisor for the fourth time and by successive elections still holds that office, being now on his seventh year. In 1893 he was made a member of the building committee to superintend the construction of the new county court house in Rochester, and on January 30, 1895, was appointed by Gov. Levi P. Morton, one of the board of managers of the Roch- ester State Hospital. He has been an influential member of the Republican County Central and District Committees for about ten years, and has frequently served as delegate to county, district, and State conventions. He is also a member of Valley Lodge, No. 109, F. & A. M., Rochester, and for four years was vice-president of the Western New York Agricultural Society.

March 28, 1867, Mr. Starkweather was married to Miss Emily L. Lewis, daughter of Zachariah Lewis, and a native of Brighton. They have one son, Lewis C., born July 25, 1882, and an adopted son, Albert J. Fisk, born February 26, 1874, whose parents, A. Judson and Alvira (Lewis) Fisk, died leaving him an orphan at the age of five years; he came to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather, by whom he was reared and educated, finishing at the Geneseo State Normal School; he is now engaged in the bicycle business in Rochester.

[Zachariah Lewis, father of Mrs, Starkweather, was born in Saybrook, Conn., and came to Brighton, Monroe county, in 1812, where he died December 25, 1867, aged seventy-six. ]

GEORGE BENTON WATKINS.

THE successful establishment and management of such a business as that of W. H. Glenny & Co., in Rochester, is a task requiring so much commercial ability that the guiding mind in control must be possessed of rare qualifications; and a sketch of George Benton Watkins's career supports that view. Born in Utica, N. Y., August 12, 1852, of sturdy English descent, the youngest of ten children, his mother having died in his early infancy, he lived with an uncle on a farm until twelve years old. It was now that the elements of his future success began to manifest themselves. The farm could not hold him, and with the two-fold purpose of taking advantage of the more advanced educational facilities and opportunities afforded in the city for mak- ing his own way in the world, he returned to his father's home. He attended the Utica High School, graduating therefrom at sixteen. While at school in the early mornings he delivered papers, and in afternoons worked in the newspaper office. Having secured a position in the leading crockery store of the place, with character- istic energy, he applied himself to master the details of the business. His advance- ment in five years to the leading position in the store is an index of his success. His ambition still unsatisfied, he looked for a position offering larger opportunities. This was secured with the firm of W. H. Glenny, Sons & Co., Buffalo, N. Y., one of the largest importing houses in the country, their receiving, packing and shipping de- partments with its force of twenty men and ten boys being placed under his super- vision. Strict attention to business and untiring energy brought further preferment, and soon he was in charge of their wholesale department. In 1876 the financial em-

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

barrassment of a Rochester house, largely indebted to Glenny, Sons & Co., necessi- tated the sending of a representative here to look after their interests. Mr. Watkins was chosen, and so well did he fulfill his trust that the local firm were enabled to pay all their indebtedness and continue their business. While attending to the com- pany's interests here Mr. Watkins was impressed with the desirability of Rochester as a point for the establishment of a permanent trade. He suggested the idea to Mr. Glenny, who, after mature deliberation, decided to open a store, and did so un- der the style of W. H. Glenny & Co., with Mr. Watkins as manager. From its ear- liest inception the business here has been under the entire control of Mr. Watkins. Established on the broad basis of equity and integrity its growth has been one con- tinuous success. In 1886 the present elegant commercial building which the firm at present occupies at 190, 192 and 194 East Main street, was erected, and its seven floors are required for their constantly increasing trade, In 1891 Mr. Watkins was admitted to partnership, a well merited reward for his faithfulness and success.

Of a retiring disposition he is seldom identified with public interests, though often sought after. He is a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, was five years director of the Y. M. C. A., and for ten years has been trustee and treasurer of the First Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Watkins was married, at the age of twenty- one, to Carrie, daughter of Sanford Peckham, of Madison, Oneida county, N. Y. He is a Republican, and resides at 626 East Main street.

MERRITT A. CLEVELAND

MERRITT A. CLEVELAND was born at East Houndsfield, Jefferson county, N. Y. His father, Philander Cleveland, was a native of Jefferson county and his ancestors were among the pioneers of the Black River Valley. Philander married Mercy, daughter of Stephen Richardson, and of six children four survive.

The family are well known as engineers, contractors of railroads, canals, and other public works. In 1870 our subject occupied a position on the Engineer Corps of the Carthage, Watertown & Sackett's Harbor Railroad, and later was appointed divis- ion engineer of the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad. In 1873 took charge as engineer of construction of the Kingston & Pembroke Railway of Canada. In 187+ formed the firm of Hunter & Cleveland, and completed the Lake Shore Railroad In 1876

he examined the route of the present Canadian Pacific Railway in Manitoba and the Canadian North West, making the trip overland with mules and along the rivers and lakes with Indians and canoes. In the same year the firm of Hunter, Murray & Cleveland was formed and engaged in the construction of the locks and works at Port Colborne, Welland, Port Dalhousie, and other points along the route until the completion of the Welland Canal. The firm of Hunter, Murray & Cleveland were among the largest contractors of that great work. They also built a portion of the Murray Canal, connecting the Bay of Quintie with Lake Ontario, and engaged in deepening and improving many of the harbors along the lakes. In 1883-84 the firm of Warren & Cleveland built the Pittsburg, Cleveland & Toledo Railroad in Penn- sylvania and Ohio, now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad system,

Engraved by d. K Campbell, NY.

MACleveland

BIOGRAPHICAL.

In 1886 the firm of Murray & Cleveland entered into contract with the Dominion Government to build the Galops Canal around the Galops Rapids, which is a part of the system of canals to make the St. Lawrence River navigable for large vessels.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 53

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