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 83
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Clark, Charles H., was born in Yates, Orleans county. December 14, 1842. His father, Lambert Clark, settled in that town about 1830, was one of the founders and
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supporters of the old Yates Academy, and died there in 1889. After receiving his education in the district schools and pursuing a course of study at the local academy Charles H. Clark came to Rochester, where he began active life in a machine shop on a very small salary. Since then he has followed, in one capacity or another, the machinist's trade, rising through all its branches to proprietor and employer. For seventeen years connected with the firm of Sargent & Greenleaf, lock manufacturers, working in their establishment as contractor and foreman. In 1804 he started in business for himself manufacturing machinery, special tools, punches, dies, formers, and metal specialties. He originated a kerosine oil heating system for machinery and also many other devices of practical and general utility. Since 1890, when his brother, Morris F Clark, was admitted to partnership, the business has been con- ducted under the style of the Clark Novelty Company. July, 1895, the firm moved to its present quarters at Nos. 380 and 382 Exchange street. Starting in a small way with limited facilities, the concern has grown into one of the important manu- facturing industries in Rochester, and commands a trade extending over a wide ter- ritory. In 1868 Mr. Clark married Sarah A., daughter of Humphrey Jones, a retired woolen manufacturer of Rochester. They have had two sons: C. Herbert, born November 24, 1874, a graduate of the Rochester Free Academy, class of '93, and Laurens M., born June 12, 1888.
Warner, J. Foster .- The Warner family in America of which J. Foster Warner, of Rochester, is a representative, descends from Amos Warner, sr., a resident of Con- necticut, who served three years in the Continental army during the Revolution. He was the father of Amos, jr., whose son, Andrew J. came to Rochester in 1847. The latter was a draftsman in the office of his uncle, Merwin Austin, architect, and made the drawings of the old court house, which was torn down to give place to the new structure in 1894. J. Foster Warner, son of Andrew J., was born in this city May 5, 1859, and received his education in the schools of his birthplace. Deciding upon architecture as a life profession he entered the office of his father, to whose artistic conception many of the earlier buildings of Rochester and vicinity are in- debted; afterwards he was for one year in the office of Charles H. Marsh, architect, of Detroit, and upon returning to this city formed a partnership with his father, which continued successfully until 1889. Since then he has practiced alone. Mr. Warner is one of the leading architects in Western New York and has acquired a wide reputation. Possessing in a high degree the finer qualities of an artist he has exemplified the conceptions of a master in many handsome structures which grace the city of Rochester and other centers of activity. In purity of outline his designs are clear, concise, and forceful, while in style and finish they are at once beautiful and striking. Among the numerous buildings that stand as monuments of his skill are the Rochester State and Homeopathic hospitals and the Granite building, the handsome new Monroe county court-house and the present George Eastman and William H. Gorsline residences on East Avenue; many others might also be men- tioned. In 1883 Mr. Warner married Mary L. Adams, of Rochester. He is a mem- ber of the Genesee Valley Club, the Rochester Yacht Club, and the Society of Sons of the American Revolution.
Garson, Charles, was born February 16, 1862, and received a common school edu- cation. He began the study of designing clothing, for the product of which Roch-
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ester has a world-wide reputation. Mr. Garson has made a great success of his avocation and is regarded as one of the leading designers of the country. In 1889 he started an extensive clothing factory of his own, and is now one of the foremost manufacturers of this city.
Atkinson, Hobart Ford, son of William Atkinson, a prominent miller of Monroe county, was born in Rochester, N. Y., October 5, 1825, and was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native city. At an early age Mr. Atkinson began his banking career as clerk in the old Commercial Bank, and was gradually promoted until he became cashier, which position he filled until the closing of that bank. After its reorgani- zation he was elected president and served for several years. In .888 he was elected vice-president of the Bank of Monroe, and the same year was appointed one of the executors of the large estate of Hiram Sibley. In 1855 Mr. Atkinson married Miss Louise, daughter of the late Hiram Sibley, who died in 1865, leaving two daughters. In1 1875 he married for his second wife Miss Harriet, daughter of James P. Apple- ton. of Manlius, N. Y.
Brewster, Henry C., son of Simon L., was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 7, 1845, and was educated in the public schools. In 1863 he entered, as clerk, the Traders National Bank, was appointed cashier in 1868, and, after faithfully serving over twenty-six years in that capacity, was elected vice-president in January, 1895. October 5, 1876, he married Alice E., daughter of the late Louis Chapin, of Roch- ester, N. Y. Mr. Brewster has always been prominently identified with the Repub- , lican party and in the fall of 1894 was elected, by an overwhelming majority, member of Congress; he is also commissioner of Mt. Hopecemetery, director of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Company, vice-president of the Alliance Bank, vice-presi- dent of the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit Company, trustee of St. Peter's Pres- byterian church, director of the Eastman Kodak Company, governer of the Rochester Homœopathic hospital, director of the Rochester and Irondequoit Railroad Com- pany, and the Rochester and Lake Ontario Railway Company, vice-president of New York State Bankers'Association, a member of the Genesee Valley Club, and Roch- ester Whist Club, and is one of the most popular and enterprising men in Rochester. He was one of the originators and a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was for two years first vice-president and for one term president. He was also for four years president of the Rochester Clearing House Association, and has long been prominently identified with the material growth and prosperity of the city.
Gibbs, Everett O., son of Warren S., who came to Rochester about 1860, was born in this city April 1, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of Rochester and Syracuse, and later was under the private tutelage of Prof. E. M. Sparling. In Sep- tember, 1887, he entered the office of ex-Judge P. B. Hulett for the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at the Rochester General Term, March 30, 1893. The same year he formed a partnership with his preceptor, under the firm name of Hulett & Gibbs, which still continues. He is a member of the Flour City Democracy, and one of the rising young attorneys of Rochester.
Fenn, Albert O., was born in Rochester, September 5, 1861, and son of William W. and grandson of Harvey C. Fenn, who came to this city in 1826. He received his
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early education in No. 5 School, and in 1878 was graduated from the Rochester Free Academy. Mr. Fenn has been connected with the banking business from the first, starting in as messsenger boy for the Commercial Bank, then located in the old Wilder building, corner of Main and Exchange streets. In 1880 he became connected with the Traders' Bank as collection clerk, and during his fourteen years' service occupied each position successfully up to that of paying teller. In 1893 he severed his connection with this bank and became interested in the formation of the Alliance Bank, accepting the position of cashier, which he still holds.
Murphy, Judge John Martin, 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 admitted to the bar in October, 1883, when he at once com- menced the general practice of his profession. Mr. Murphy has built up a good reputation as a lawyer. In 18/5 he was appointed judge of the Municipal Court, at a meeting of the Common Council, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Judge Craig.
Taylor, Zachary P., 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 teaching 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 posi- tion in the Central High School of Cleveland, Ohio. In the meantime he read law in the offices of Wadsworth & White, of Buffalo, and Judge Jesse P. Bishop, of Cleve- land, and was graduated from the Cleveland Law School in 1872, being valedictorian of his class, which comprised 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 Rochester. 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 senator, in 1887, when he received a very flattering vote. He was lay delegate 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.
Heughes, Frederick Lee, was born in Rochester in 1850, and is a son of William Heughes, one of the first publishers of books in this city, who settled here in 1843. Mr. Heughes served an apprenticeship in his father's printing office and received his education at the public schools, graduating from the old High School in 1866. After leaving school he returned to the printing business, and being of a mechanical turn, he invented and patented a press for printing in colors, a working model of which is
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now in the patent office. In 1871, after a severe illness, he entered the employ of W. H. Cheney as bookkeeper and later became general manager, and it was here that Mr. Heughes saw the general use that could be made of rolled beams, as girders, joists, etc. In 1878 he became an iron contractor, and since the fall of 1879 has been very successful, having finished and erected the Wilder building, the Granite and Sibley, Lindsay & Curr buildings, the Powers Hotel, the German Insurance building, the new Chamber of Commerce, the new Court House, and hundreds of other fire-proof structures throughout Central and Western New York. He has been eminently successful and has accumulated a fortune. Commencing active life with no capital but perseverance, energy and shrewd foresight, he has attained through his own efforts the highest position among the leading manufacturers of the country. Prompt, upright and candid in business transactions, he has never given or received promissory note, his word being always considered as good as his bond. Few men have ever enjoyed the wide and enviable reputation which Mr. Heughes has ac- quired, and fewer still have ever ranked higher in their chosen calling. He is largely interested in Rochester real estate and has built up, literally speaking, more of the city than any other man. In politics he has always been a Republican and is an ad- vocate of sound money on a gold basis. His home life is especially happy, and his leisure is spent amidst the social environments of his family. In 1883 he was mar- ried to Miss Effie M. Kinne, of Lockport, N. Y., and they have had three sons: Herbert F., Walter Lee, and Benjamin A.
Shantz, Moses B., was born in Berlin, Canada, August 24, 1852, where he received his early education, later attending a business college for a few months, after which he entered the employ of his father as a bookkeeper and business manager, in which capacity he remained for a number of years, making a study of the business in which he is now engaged, the manufacturing of buttons. In 1887 Mr. Shantz came to Rochester and in a small way began the manufacture of buttons, which has since in- creased until at the present time it is one of the largest plants of its kind in the United States. In 1891 the stock company of M. B. Shantz & Co. was organized and incorporated with a capital of $150,000 and with Mr. Shantz, president; H. E. Wheeler, vice-president; H. K. Elston, secretary and treasurer, all of whom still hold their respective offices. The company has branch salesrooms in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Bly, Myron T., son of John E. Bly, was born in Henrietta, Monroe county, New York. He prepared for college at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and entering the University of Rochester in 1876 was graduated in June, 1880. He paid the ex- penses of his education by his own labor. During the first part of his college 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 ad- mitted to the Monroe county bar in 1882. He began to practice in Rochester immed- iately afterward, and has built up a large and lucrative business. Mr. Bly's journal- istic 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 college work and editing a weekly paper, he contested for and won the highest liter- ary prize of the university. While studying law he prepared a series of articles on
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" Milling Law and Legislation," which were published in The American Miller dur- ing the year 1881. In the same year he wrote for the American Tanner a serial story entitled "My Tannerville Client." During the four years from 1885 to 1889 he wrote monthly articles for The Boston Path-finder, under the title: "Legal Hints for Trav- elers." He has written two text-books for use in academies. 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 at- torney.
Davis, William G., was born in New York city and finished his education at the Wilson Collegiate Institute in Niagara county. At the age of fifteen he began his active life as a clerk in the old dry goods house of S. B. Chittenden & Co. in New York city, where he remained until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he en- listed in the 1st R. I. Inf., Col. (afterward general) A. E. Burnside, and served three years, being promoted to the rank of major. Returning to New York he engaged in the dry goods business until 1880, when he removed to Rochester, where he has been associated with the firm of Burke, Fitz Simons, Hone & Co. until 1889. He then en- gaged in his present business as a general dealer in real estate. He is a member of the Rochester Real Estate Exchange, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar.
Menzie, Herbert J., was born at Riga, N. Y., June 19, 1862. He attended the public schools of his native town and later became a student at the Brockport Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1881. He then entered the University of Rochester and was graduated from that institution in 1886, receiving the degree of B. A., winning the senior mathematical prize (Stoddard medal), being one of the commencement speakers, and being elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. From 1886 to 1888 he was principal of the 17th district school of Milwaukee, Wis., and while there received a State life certificate for teaching. He then entered the law department of Yale College and remained one year, when he came to Rochester and began the study of his chosen profession in the office of McNaughton & Taylor. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and since then he has practiced law in this city, where he has been successful. He is a member of the Rochester Lodge, No. 660, F. & A. M., the Alpha Delta Phi, and of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.
Chamberlain, Philetus, was born in Rose, Wayne county, N. Y., April 14, 1854, and received his education at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, 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 Gen- eral Term in October, 1879. He began practice in this city, and has been more than successful. 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 organizations of the city, where he is well and popularly known.
Keenan, Edward Arthur, was born at East Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y., August 1, 1861. Receiving his rudimentary education in his native town he became a student at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, from which institution he was gradu- ated with honor in June, 1877. Hc engaged in teaching in the public schools, and in
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the spring of 1889 entered the office of William W. Mumford, of Rochester, N. Y., as a student at law. He was admitted to the bar at the General Term in the fall of 1892, and immediately afterwards formed co-partnership with his brother-in-law, Judge John M. Murphy, for the practice of general law, which still continues.
Hamilton. John B., was born at Avon, Livingston county, N. Y., January 10, 1843, and is of Scotch parentage. He received his early education in his native town and subsequently attended the schools of Poughkeepsie and New York city. He spent some time in the West and in 1872 removed to West Rush, Monroe county, where he engaged in the produce business. Mr. Hamilton has always been actively identified with the Republican party and was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago in 1888. He was a member of the Advisory Council on cereal industry at the World's fair in 1893, and in the fall of the same year was elected county treasurer by a large majority, and still efficiently fills that responsible position. He is a member of Hen- rietta Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the Rochester Whist club. In 1868 he married Mary C. McMillan, of York, Livingston county.
Houck, George H., was born in Rush, Monroe county, N. Y., October 30, 1844. He was educated in his native town, and later entered the Genesee Wesleyan Semi- nary, from which institution he was graduated in 1862. He was then called home to manage the farm on account of the death of his father, which occurred in December, 1862. In 1873 he was elected supervisor and re-elected for three consecutive years. In March, 1895, he was appointed by President. Cleveland as collector of customs of the port of Genesee. Mr. Houck still resides in Rush in the house in which he was born.
Buell, Jesse W., M.D., was born in Geneseo, N. Y., and was reared from childhood in Rochester. He was a member of the class of '74 of the University of Rochester, and took his degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from that institution. After graduation he entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1887. Since that time he hasbeen in active practice in Roch- ester, and has been, from its organization, one of the staff of the Homœopathic Hos- hital, having done service in both the medical and surgical sides of the house. He is a member of the New York State, Western New York, and Monroe County Medical Societies and was in 1885 president of the last named organization.
Barhite, John A., was born in Auburn, N. Y., January 11, 1857, and when quite young moved with his parents to Hopewell, N.Y. He attended the Canandaigua Academy and was graduated in June, 1876. Remaining at home until the fall of 1877, he then entered the University 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. Barhite is an active worker for the Republican party and was a delegate to the National Conven . tion in Minneapolis in 1892. He has held a number of prominent offices and many positions of trust, which, by his extensive knowledge of public affairs, he has honor- ably and efficiently filled. He was a delegate from the old Twenty-eighth Senatorial - District, 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.
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Hofheinz, Dr. R. H., was born in Heidelberg, Germany, and received his educa- tion at the Gymnasium of his native city. In 1870 he came to America. He studied dentistry in Rochester and entered the New York Dental College, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1878, after which he located in Rochester and began the practice of his profession. In 1883 he took a trip to Europe and remained two years, after which he returned to Rochester and resumed his practice. In 1893 he went to Berlin, where he remained eighteen months. January 4, 1884, he married Catherine, daughter of Henry Bartholomay. He is a member of the Monroe Club, the Roches- ter Dental Society, the Seventh District Dental Society, and the New York State Dental Society.
Lamb, George W., was born in New London, Conn., in August, 1840. His early schooling was received at Penfield, Monroe county, after which, on account of an accident he was obliged to finish his education at home under the instruction of his sister. He became a law student in the office of John W. Willson, at Penfield, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He is well known throughout this section of the State on account of his extensive practice as pension attorney. He practiced in Pen- field and Fairport, N. Y., each two years, and since 1871 in Rochester. He is a Mason, and is prominently identified with various other organizations.
Weeks, William H., was born in Penfield in 1832, son of John and grandson of Benjamin Weeks, who came from Danbury, Conn., to Penfield in 1797 and in 1800 ran a hotel, it being the first public house in Penfield. Benjamin Weeks built a tannery in what is now Pittsford, which he ran for several years and then sold to Stephen Lusk. In 1812 he bought the farm where William Heffer now lives, where he reared a large family and died in 1840, aged sixty-nine. His sons were John R., George W., Benjamin B., and David, all of whom settled in or near Penfield. John P. settled on the farm where William H. was born and lives, where he died in 1873 leaving two sons, George M. and William H. In 1857 William H. married Augusta M., daughter of Joseph N. Ferry, of Lewis county, N. Y., by whom he has two sons, Frank D. and D. M. Ferry Weeks, and one daughter, Lucy A. Mr. Weeks is ex- tensively engaged in the culture of choice fruits and is one of the best informed men of the town. The family trace their ancestry back to their coming from England in 1635.
Gray, David S., was born on the farm where he now lives. His father, Clark Gray, settled on the farm in 1824 and died in 1865, leaving two sons, David S. and Clark, and three daughters. Mr. Gray married Alice Miller, of Ontario county. He has always been engaged in farming. His mother was Samantha, daughter of Rev. Selden Graves, who is mentioned as among the prominent settlers of Pen- field.
Coggswell, William F., was born in the town of Perinton, Monroe county, Septem- ber 26, 1824, was admitted to the bar in May, 1846, and has practiced his profession in Rochester ever since. William N. Cogswell, son of William F., was born in this city July 9, 1858, was graduated 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.
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