USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Rochester and Monroe County, New York : pictorial and biographical > Part 11
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After retiring from the field of manufacture Mr. Graves, accompanied by his wife, traveled quite extensively, visiting many points of interest in this country and also making three trips to Europe. They likewise visited the Holy Land and various sections of Asia. Mr. Graves was always deeply interested in historic research and during their travels he and his wife gathered many interesting relics of all kinds in various parts of the world, Mrs. Graves now
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having in her home two large, fine cabinets well filled with shells, stones and other interesting relics of their trips.
In his political views Mr. Graves was a stalwart republican who took much interest in the party and its growth. He was frequently solicited by his friends to become a candidate for office but always refused. He built a large and beautiful residence at No. 257 Lake avenue, where his widow yet resides. There in the spring of 1903 he became ill and his death occurred on the 21st of April, 1905. Mrs. Graves belongs to the Central Presbyterian church. Theirs was a most congenial married life and the very close companionship made the death of the husband an almost unbearable blow to Mrs. Graves. His loss was also deeply felt throughout the city where he had resided for more than forty-five years-honored as one of its leading business men and prom- inent citizens. He was one of the ablest and best known manufacturers of Rochester, was genial in manner and, though his time was largely occupied by the details of extensive business interests, he always found time and oppor- tunity to devote to those of his friends whose calls were purely of a social character. He was a thorough exemplification of the typical American busi- ness man and gentleman.
Hungerford Smurf
Jay Hungerford Smith
J AY HUNGERFORD SMITH, of Rochester, New York, is the founder, promoter and upbuilder of what is today the most extensive and best equipped plant in the world devoted to the preparation of fruits and fruit syrups for soda fountain use. The business is conducted under the name of J. Hungerford Smith Company. He has displayed in his business career such fertility of resource, marked enterprise and well defined plans as to deserve classification with the "cap- tains of industry" who are controlling the trade relations of the country. More- over, he is further entitled to distinction from the fact that he is a worthy scion of his race. Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ances- try honorable and distinguished and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. The ancestral history of the family to which Mr. Smith belongs is indeed a creditable one and the record is one of which he has every reason to be proud. The line is traced back to England, as follows :
(I) Silas Smith, born and married in England, came to America with the "Plymouth Company" and settled at Taunton, Massachusetts.
(II) Silas Smith (2), son of Silas Smith (1), married Hannah Gazine, daughter of Daniel Gazine, who came over with the London Company. Their children were: Isaac; Elijah; Silas; Cornelius; Elkanah; Bial; Samuel; Han- nah, who died in Oneida county, New York; Rachel; and Sally.
(III) Samuel Smith, seventh son and child of Silas (2) and Hannah (Gazine) Smith, served in the Continental army during the Revolution. He married Abigail Wright, daughter of John Wright, and died at Henderson, New York, April 17, 1827. Their children were: Amasa, who died at the age of one and a half years; Daniel; Mary; Abigail; Sylvester; Lydia; Polly; Samuel, Jr .; Sally; Mercy; Anna; and Amasa (2). Of these children Abigail married Rev. Elisha P. Sangworthy, of Balston Springs, New York; Sylves- ter married Nancy Kniffin, of Rutland, New York, March 19, 1806; Lydia mar- ried Sylvester Skellinger; Polly married Dr. William Priest; Sally married Samuel Mills; Mercy married Henry Millard; Anna married Jonathan Ruff; Amasa (2) married Sally Sykes of Watertown, New York.
(IV) Daniel Smith, born in Spencertown, Columbia county, New York, February 26, 1775, was educated in the common schools, was a farmer by occupation and in 1802 came to Ellisburg, Jefferson county, and spent the
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summer there "clearing lands." In the fall of that year he went to Schuyler, Herkimer county, where he married, and in December, 1803, with his wife and infant daughter, came to Rutland, Jefferson county, and purchased a farm near Burr's Mills. Two years later he moved to Hounsfield, same county, purchased some land and erected a sawmill, the place being known for some time as Smith's Mills, later Camp's Mills. From Hounsfield he returned to Rutland, purchased another farm, built a frame house, where he lived until 1818, when he purchased and removed to a large farm in Rodman, where he spent the remainder of his life, and which is still owned by his descendants. He was a lieutenant in the war of 1812-14, and distinguished himself by his bravery at the battle of Sackett's Harbor, when their house was practically a hospital for sick soldiers.
Daniel Smith married Susan Holmes, of Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, who, for some time previous to her marrige, lived with her aunt, Mrs. Lucy (Holmes) Wheeler, wife of John Wheeler, of Keene, New Hamp- shire. Their children were: Abigail, born November 6, 1803, who passed away March 14, 1854; Laura, who was born January 30, 1805, and died in 1891; an infant son, who was born August 1, 1806, and died the same day; Nancy M., who was born September 1, 1807, and passed away February I, 1887; Almira H., whose birth occurred May 2, 1809, and who died December 25, 1896; Daniel, born February 26, 1811, who was called to his final rest December 19, 1813; William P., who was born February 7, 1813, and died January 5, 1899; Daniel, Jr., born March 19, 1815, who passed away August 2, 1896; an infant daughter, who was born April 19, 1817, and died the same day; Susan H., born May 6, 1818; Lucy Ann, whose birth occurred Septem- ber 15, 1819, and who died March, 1900; Eveline M., born May 2, 1821, who passed away March 13, 1905; Emeline L., born September 10, 1823; Mary M., born May 5, 1825, who died August 14, 1845; Nelson Slater, born July II, 1827; Martha Jane, born June 19, 1829, whose demise occurred October 12, 1867. Daniel Smith, Sr., died March II, 1854. His wife, Susan ( Holmes) Smith, died August 5, 1864.
Thomas Holmes, father of Susan (Holmes) Smith, was born in Wood- stock, Connecticut, in 1756, and died in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
The following items were copied from "Record of Connecticut Men" in War of Revolution, State House Library, Boston, Massachusetts. Thomas Holmes enlisted May 15, 1775, discharged December 17, 1775. Ninth Com- pany, Second Connecticut Regiment, Colonel Spencer, Captain John Chester, of Wethersfield. This regiment was raised on first call for troops by state in April, 1775, marching by companies to the camps about Boston, it took part at Roxbury and served during the siege till expiration of term of service. Detachments of officers and men were in the battle of Bunker Hill and with Arnold's Quebec expedition September to December, 1775. His name appears in list of Knowlton's Rangers, 1776, Connecticut, by Lieutenant Colonel
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Knowlton. He was detached from Wyllys Connecticut regiment and was taken prisoner at surrender of Fort Washington, New York island, Novem- ber 16, 1776. Thomas Holmes, of Wethersfield, sergeant in Captain Whit- ing's company, Colonel Webb's regiment, enlisted March 1, 1777, for the war. Colonel Webb's regiment was one of sixteen infantry regiments raised at large for "Continental Line" of 1777 and served in Parson's brigade under Putnam the following summer and fall. In October crossed to west side of Hudson and served under Governor Clinton of New York, for a time. In summer of 1778 was attached to Varnum's brigade and went to Rhode Island commended in battle there August 29, 1778. Wintered in Rhode Island, 1778- 9. In the fall of 1779 marched to winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. Assigned to Stark's brigade at battle of Springfield, New Jersey, June 23, 1780, and during summer served with main army on the Hudson. Thomas Holmes was sergeant in Captain Riley's company, Wethersfield, Third Regi- ment, Connecticut Line, 1781-83. Recorded as paid from January 1, 1781, to December 31, 1781. Sergeant Thomas Holmes is reported as a Revolution- ary pensioner on list of Connecticut pensioners in 1818. His name is among pensioners dated 1832 and recorded as residing in Hartford, Connecticut. His name appears on list of pensioners as returned in census of 1840. Resi- dence, Wethersfield, Connecticut, age eighty-four. His name appears on list of applicants for pension on file in county clerk's office, Hartford, Connecticut. Residence Wethersfield.
Thomas Holmes married Tamar Harris, and their children were: Sally, who married Eldad Granger; Lucy, who became the wife of John Wheeler; John; Mary; Rachel; Joseph; Lydia, who married Ashael Cleveland, in Buf- falo, about 1814; Abigail, who became the wife of Jonathan Slater, of Cham- plain, New York; and Susan, who married Daniel Smith, afore mentioned.
(V) William Priest Smith, born February 7, 1813, at Hounsfield, New York, died January 5, 1899. He was educated at Rodman, New York. He was at one time colonel of the old time Thirty-sixth Regiment, New York State Militia, which was composed of men from Jefferson and Lewis counties. After his marriage he removed to St. Lawrence county, engaging in the busi- ness of manufacturing lumber, and became the owner of valuable farming and timber land. He served as justice of the peace and supervisor, being chair- man of the board of supervisors. Later in life he was for three successive terms elected associate judge of the county court. In politics he was a repub- lican from the very organization of that party and by his voice, efforts and vote contributed to its success. William P. Smith married July 9, 1843, Sarah Porter Hungerford, born April 18, 1823, who traces her ancestry to Sir Thomas Hungerford, who in 1369 purchased from Lord Burghersh, Farley Castle, county of Somerset, England, which castle for more than three hun- dred years continued to be the principal seat of his descendants, down to 1686. Sir Thomas was steward for John of Ghent, Duke of Lancaster, son of King
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Edward III, and in the thirty-first year of that king's reign was elected speaker of the English house of commons, being reputed to be the first person chosen to that high office. He died December 3, 1398. His son, Sir Walter, after- ward Lord Hungerford, K. G., was the first to adopt the crest of a garb, or wheat-sheaf, between two sickles erect, with the motto "Et Dieu Mon Appuy" (God is my support). This has since been the crest of the Hungerford fam- ily.
John Hungerford, a lineal descendant of the above named, resided at South- ington, Connecticut, where he died December 24, 1787. He served with distinction in the colonial wars, holding the ranks of ensign, lieutenant and captain. He took an active part in the siege of Crown Point on Lake Cham- plain. His son Amasa served in the Revolutionary army, participating in the battle of Bennington, where he served as colonel. His son, Amasa, Jr., was the father of Sarah (Hungerford) Smith, was enrolled as one of the "minute men" in the war of 1812. He resided in Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, and was a prosperous farmer and widely known. At one time he was interested in ship building at Stony Point on Lake Ontario. He died Decem- ber 18, 1859, aged seventy-nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. William P. Smith were attendants at the Baptist church. They had eleven children, as follows: Lois Elizabeth, married William G. Brown and passed away December 10, 1882. Amasa Daniel, chemist and druggist of Manchester, New Hampshire, married Josephine L. Jones on the 18th of September, 1883. Annie Eliza died February 26, 1873. Frances Sally died January 12, 1899. George William, attorney and counsellor at law of Keeseville, New York, wedded Harriet P. Wells on May 19, 1887. Jay Hun- gerford, Ph. C., manufacturing chemist, president of J. Hungerford Smith Company, resides at Rochester, New York. Mary Louise died March 27, 1857. Jennie Venila, of Manchester, New Hampshire, married Edgar Ellsworth Cas- tor, May 9, 1894. Joseph Brodie, vice president and general manager of the Manchester Traction, Light & Power Company, of Manchester, New Hamp- shire, was born April 6, 1861. Frank Robbins, manufacturing chemist of Toronto, Ontario, married Ada Margaret Perkins, May 6, 1903. May Lillian, of Manchester, New Hampshire, is the youngest member of the family.
J. Hungerford Smith was born at Fine, St. Lawrence county, New York, February 20, 1855, and after obtaining a common-school education in Rich- ville, New York, he pursued a course in the Hungerford Collegiate Institute prior to entering the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1877 with the degree of Pharmaceutical Chemist. In 1880 he entered the wholesale and retail drug business at Ausable Forks, New York, and the enter- prise proved a profitable one. His skill and interest in chemistry led him to experimenting with fruit syrups with the idea of improving the various bever- ages dispensed from the soda fountains, and he thus became the originator of cold process true fruit fountain syrups, now so universally used. He is the
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recognized authority on fruit syrups in the world and his efforts and experi- ments have led to a high degree of perfection. Removing to Rochester in 1890, Mr. Smith organized the J. Hungerford Smith Company and began the manufacture of "True Fruit" syrups, which are today known throughout the world. He has been the president from the beginning and the splendid suc- cess of this enterprise, now grown to mammoth proportions, is attributable to his efforts. The syrups have won the highest awards at various expositions and the sale is not confined to this country but includes export trade. The company owns their elegant factory buildings on North Goodman street, hav- ing one hundred and fifteen thousand square feet floor space. The plant is splendidly equipped with everything needed to promote perfection in manufac- ture, and the sales of the house more than double those of any other enterprise of the character in the world.
Mr. Smith was married on the 17th of May, 1882, to Miss Jean Dawson, of Ausable Forks, Essex county, New York, a daughter of John A. Dawson. Their children, six in number, are: James Hungerford, Anna Dawson, Flor- ence (who died in infancy), Jay Elwood, Lois and Helen Hungerford.
Because of the prominence which Mr. Smith had attained as a chemist and pharmacist, he was appointed when only twenty-eight years of age one of the five members of the state board of pharmacy and served eight years. He is a republican in politics but without desire for official preferment as a reward for party fealty. Deeply interested in Rochester's welfare and progress, he co-op- erates with all the progressive movements for municipal improvement insti- tuted by the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a member and trustee and in other ways gives his aid and influence to the city's development.
He is vice president of Cascade Lakes Club, in Adirondack preserve, direc- tor of Masonic Temple Association and president of Masonic Club of Roches- ter, and one of the best known Masons in this state. He was raised in Rich- ville lodge, No. 633, F. & A. M., in 1880; demitted to Frank R. Lawrence lodge, No. 797, in 1892; and served as worshipful master in 1897-8. He is a member of Hamilton chapter, No. 62; Doric council, No. 19, R. & S. M .; Mon- roe commandery, No. 12; and Rochester consistory, S. P. R. S., of which he is now commander in chief. He received the thirty-third degree A. A. Scottish rite September 15, 1896. He has again and again been a member of the grand lodge; was senior grand deacon in 1898;chairman of committee on work and lectures in 1899, introducing two important additions to the monitorial work which are now a part of the ritual. He was commissioner of appeals of the grand lodge 1905, 1906 and 1907, and has been the grand representative of the grand lodge of Canada from the grand lodge of New York since April, 1900. He is now a custodian of the work.
His interests are varied and each organization, enterprise or movement with which he becomes connected feels the stimulus of his indefatigable energy and progressive spirit. His opinions carry weight in social, fraternal and
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political circles and in business life he has attained a measure of success that classes him with New York's most prominent manufacturers.
In the Scottish rite especially, his dramatic ability has had free scope and won ready and glad acknowledgement. Many of its degrees have been illum- inated by a new meaning because of his talent in adding those details which are not to be found in rituals-but in the master mind. Under his administra- tion the rite has grown not only in numbers but its personnel has taken on a luster which shines throughout the state, judges, lawyers, clergymen and phy- sicians have been led to give him such a support as has lifted Scottish rite Masonry in one empire jurisdiction into a prominence that has demanded and received a fitting recognition.
His administration has opened the way for Masonic advancement and Ma- sonic distinction. The lines of national boundaries have been wiped out, and Mr. Smith has received well merited honors from the official leaders in the grand lodge of Canada, bearing the title and consequent honors of grand rep- resentative. Masonry counts him one of her most highly esteemed sons and Masonry has written his name on the pages of her history in characters that time cannot fade nor years forget.
2MB Willen
Talilliam B. Miller
W ILLIAM B. MILLER, who devotes his time and energies to farming and stock-raising in Chili town- ship, was born in Gates, Monroe county, New York, March 18, 1853. His parents were Ransom and Fannie (Warner) Miller, the latter a sister of Judge Warner's father. The paternal grandfather, Eli Mil- ler, came from Connecticut to Rochester when the present city contained only one house. Since that time the family has been identified with the development of the county in various phases of its growth and activity. Eli Miller bore his share in the work of reclaiming this district for the purposes of civilization. He settled where the Monroe county poor house now stands, owning and operating a farm there, his time and energies being given to gen- eral agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. He mar- ried Miss Polly Loomis and to them were born five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom have now passed away.
Ransom Miller, father of William B. Miller, was born on the site of the Mon- roe county poor house at what was then the old family homestead and spent his boyhood and youth in this part of the state, the educational privileges afforded him being those offered by the common schools. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Fannie Warner, and they reared six sons and a daughter. Ransom Miller spent most of his life in Gates but his last years were passed in Rochester.
William B. Miller began his education in the public schools of Gates and afterward attended the Williams Business University. He has spent his life as a farmer and in association with his brother, Milton M. Miller, he bought a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in the center of Chili township. This he cultivated for a number of years but eventually sold that property and in 1891 came to his present place of residence. This he has greatly improved and now has one of the finest farm properties in the township. His landed possessions aggregate two hundred and sixteen acres and he carries on general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the raising of thor- oughbred Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs, all registered, some of which have been imported from England. His opinions are largely regarded as authority on the matter of sheep-raising and he is well known as a repre- sentative of the live-stock interests of the county.
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In 1884 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Voke, who was from Chili township and was a daughter of William Voke, who came to Mon- roe county from near Portsmouth, England, crossing the Atlantic with his par- ents in 1833. His father was Edward Voke, a shipbuilder, who, coming to the new world, established his residence in what was then the town of Roches- ter with little indication of the advantages of the city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born two sons and a daughter: William R., who was born in April, 1885, and is at home; Lotta A., who was born March 12, 1887; and Alfred V., born in September, 1889.
Mr. Miller votes with the republican party but has no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success.
pm. 7. Been
Walilliam Farley Peck
W
ILLIAM FARLEY PECK, of Revolutionary ances- try on the father's side, of Pilgrim descent on the mother's, was born at Rochester, New York, Febru- ary 4, 1840, the son of Everard and Martha (Far- ley) Peck. After studyining at private schools in this city, he went to boarding school in Connecticut, whence he returned in 1857 to enter the University of Rochester. Having remained here one year, he went to Williams College, where he was graduated in 1861 with the degree of A. B. He then studied law in the office of Danforth & Terry, in this city, for one year, going afterward to the State Law School at Albany, where he was graduated in 1863 with the degree of LL. B. and was a little later admitted to practice at the bar of Monroe county. He did not, however, enter actively into the legal profession but was soon drawn into jour- nalism, which, with its kindred forms of writing, became his life work. After a short experience upon the Express (now the Post Express) he became, in 1867, the city editor of the Democrat. Going thence on to the Chronicle he was the telegraph editor of the latter journal during the whole of its exist- ence, from November, 1868, to December, 1870, when the merger of the paper into what became the Democrat & Chronicle threw him out of a position. He soon became the editor of the Sunday Tribune-a portion of the time as part proprietor-and continued in that capacity until, some twenty-five years ago, he abandoned the field of direct journalism. Since that time he has devoted himself to writing of a desultory character, such as club papers, articles for the magazines and more particularly for encyclopedias and biographical diction- aries, besides preparing several works covering the local history of this region -the "Semi-Centennial History of Rochester," published in 1884; a compre- hensive sketch of the city and of the county, in "Landmarks of Monroe County," 1895; "A History of the Police Department of Rochester," 1903; and, finally, this "History of Rochester and Monroe County," 1907.
The following are the organizations with which he is connected and is more or less prominently identified: The Fortnightly, a literary club of which he was one of the founders; the board of directors of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, of which he has been the corresponding secretary from the beginning; the board of managers of the Rochester Historical Society, of which he has always been the recording secretary; the board of trustees of the
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Reynolds Library, of which he is the secretary; the Society for the Organiza- tion of Charity, of which he is one of the vice presidents; the Unitarian church; the Genesee Valley Club, of which he was one of the charter mem- bers; the Rochester Whist Club; the Genesee Whist Club; the Society of May- flower Descendants in the State of New York; the Society of the Genesee, in New York city; and corresponding member of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.
Ceobell Brothers Mer Yark
OfA Moore
Talilson . Moore
S UCH WAS the personal worth of Wilson H. Moore, such his business activity and his public-spirited devotion to and labor for general good, that the news of his demise brought with it a sense of personal bereavement to all with whom he had been associated either in business, political or public relations. His birth occurred in the town of Clarkson in 1859, upon the farm belonging to his father, James M. Moore. There he was reared to the age of eighteen years, pursuing his education in the public schools, while upon the homestead he was carefully trained in habits of industry, integrity and progressiveness. He pos- sessed in unusual degree the creative spirit, recognizing the possibilities for the co-ordination and utilization of forces to evolve new conditions and intro- duce broader fields of activity in the business world. In 1878, while still a resident of Clarkson, he established the Newspaper and Magazine Subscrip- tion business which bears his name and from the beginning the new enterprise met with success. So rapidly did the business increase that in 1882 he removed it to Brockport to secure better facilities, and at the time of his death he undoubtedly conducted the largest business of that character in the world. Mr. Moore was the first to develop and and introduce the clubbing system of subscribing for magazines, by means of which circulations were multiplied, and good reading furnished for American homes at reasonable prices.
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