USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Rochester and Monroe County, New York : pictorial and biographical > Part 6
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For more than half a century the parents traveled life's journey together. In the interim were many years of intense and well directed activity and par- ticularly was Mr. Clarke known in connection with the latter days of the whig party and the earlier years of the republican party. In 1850 he was vice presi-
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Freeman Clarke
dent of the whig state convention and acted as its chief presiding officer. In 1852 he was a delegate to the whig national convention and two years later was chosen vice president of the first republican convention of the state of New York. In 1862 he was elected a representative from New York to the thirty- eighth congress, serving on the committees on manufactures and pensions. In 1865 he received from President Lincoln appointment to the position of comp- troller of currency and during his incumbency some of the most important financial legislation of war times was enacted, including the organization of the national banks. In 1867 he was a member of the constitutional conven- tion and in 1870 was elected a representative to the forty-second congress, where he did much important constructive work in committee rooms. He served as a member of the committee on foreign affairs and was ever a close and discriminating student of the political situation and its possibilities, bring- ing to bear in his public service the same spirit of insight and of mastery that characterized him in his business life. He served on the commission that had the Central Railroad tracks elevated in Rochester and he was a trustee of the University of Rochester. Local advancement and national progress were both causes dear to his heart and he had no sympathy with that spirit which sees in a public office opportunity for self-advancement or aggrandizement. He held to high ideals of citizenship and regarded a public office as a public trust. He was a statesman in his broad knowledge of affairs and a patriot in his devotion to the general good. Living in Rochester for more than forty years during the middle of the nineteenth century, which by reason of the war constituted a formative period in every state in the Union because of the new questions which came up for settlement, he stood among the leaders who looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the needs and the possibilities of the future and labored not alone for the present generation. His business life, too, was one of intense and unwearied industry, bringing him into close touch with financial leaders of the Empire state, who recognized him as a peer.
Charles J. Ham.
Charles Crafton Tam
N OT THE good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success, and when judged in this light Charles Trafton Ham was an extremely successful man. He founded and developed one of the important indus- trial enterprises of Rochester, but it was not alone the extent of the trade which he secured that entitled him to distinction. The course which he followed in his relation to his employes might well serve as a model to the business man of the present, who regards results rather than means and frequently puts aside all thought of individual responsibility in his dealings with those who serve him. Mr. Ham was most highly respected by all of his employes and they knew that faithful, meritorious service would win promotion. He was quick to acknowledge the good in others and remem- bering the struggles of his own youth, did everything in his power to aid those who were honestly and diligently striving for advancement.
A native of Maine, Mr. Ham was born on the 25th of September, 1824, near Stateline, and also near Great Falls, New Hampshire. His educational privileges were somewhat limited, owing to the fact that financial reverses over- took his father, forcing him to start out in the world empty-handed when a boy of fourteen years. He began earning his living at farm labor, but later decided to learn the machinist's trade and to this end went to Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, and later to Great Falls, that state. At a subsequent date he was employed in the Hinckley Locomotive Works in Boston. He thoroughly mas- tered his tasks, continually broadening his knowledge along mechanical lines, and when twenty-three years of age became an engineer on a run between Lowell and Boston. While thus engaged he made a remarkable record, run- ning the engine known as the Whistler at great risk to his own life, making a record of seventy-two miles an hour. Because of this feat he became known all over the country and "the boy and the Whistler" were for some time house- hold words in engineering circles. This run was indicative of a strong trait in his character-to always keep ahead, to do in any line of business the best thing possible. Right after the Civil war he was appointed master mechanic of Lit- tle Miami Railroad, at the age of twenty-three years.
Subsequently Mr. Ham was engaged in the car foundry business with Morey & Company of Cincinnati, and afterward was appointed mas-
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Charles Crafton Ham
ter mechanic for the Northern Cross Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with headquarters at Quincy, Illinois. From that place he went to the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company at East St. Louis and was there promoted to general master mechanic, acting in that capacity during the period of the Civil war. On account of ill health he then returned to New Hampshire, where he engaged in farming for three years, completely regain- ing his health during that period. He then took a position as superintendent of machine power on the New York Central Railroad, under Commodore Van- derbilt, and the work which he accomplished in that connection was of a most excellent and serviceable character. He completely reorganized the depart- ment, changing all the engines from wood burning to coal burning, and while filling the position he saved to the company over one million of dollars in this way. Commodore Vanderbilt gave him a large increase in salary and offered him more if he would continue, also agreeing to hire two assistants for him, but Mr. Ham wished to engage upon an independent business career, having already decided to embark in the manufacture of lamps. He joined James H. Kelly and the Kelly Lamp Company of Rochester was formed. Later he sold out and joined the firm of Ray, Marvin & Ham in Buffalo in the manufacture of headlights and steam gauges. This firm was afterward changed to Ray, Marvin, Ham & Bunnell, at which time they took in the firm of Parmelle & Bunnell, con- solidating the two businesses. It was not long afterward when the entire busi- ness was removed to Rochester under the firm name of the Buffalo Steam Gauge & Lantern Company. Still later they bought out the Dennis-Wheeler Manu- facturing Company of Chicago and also moved that business to Rochester. Mr. Ham acted as president for four years, on the expiration of which period he sold out and organized the C. T. Ham Manufacturing Company, manufac- turing tubular lanterns and lamps and railroad lanterns. This company was organized in 1886, at which time Mr. Ham admitted his son and others to an interest in the business, of which he became president, his son, George W. Ham, secretary and treasurer, and John W. Orphy and Charles Bergener, manufacturing superintendents. The business was established on Allen street in the Bishop building and in 1890 was removed to the present location at No. 731 Oak street, their buildings now covering three hundred by one hundred and forty-five feet, while three times the amount of business is being carried on.
While a railroad man Charles T. Ham was considered the best mechanic in the service and was offered numerous positions as president of railroad com- panies, the principal one being with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He refused the offer, although the salary was very large and directed his energies into the channels of trade indicated. Mr. Ham was a man of very strong char- acter, fearless in defense of what he believed to be right and never following a course that his judgment did not sanction as the honorable one between him- self and his fellowmen. He was very charitable and considerate of his employes, paying every man what he believed him to be worth. He did not
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Charles Crafton Ham
wait to be asked for an increase of salary, but gave according to the merit of the individual. He could walk through the factory and apparently without looking would know just what each man was doing and how well he did the work. He never had a strike or any labor trouble and paid higher wages than other men in similar lines of business. He refused to enter into any agreement with competitors in regard to the prices to be paid his men and employes of other companies frequently sought positions with him. He deserved much credit for what he accomplished, owing to the fact that he was a penniless youth when he started out in the business world.
About 1842 Mr. Ham was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wentworth of Great Falls, New Hampshire, and they had seven children: George Washing- ton, who died at the age of five years; Frederick, who died when a year old; Charles H., who died at the age of forty-two years; Edgar, who died when thirteen years of age; George William, now president of the company; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Charles F. Crandall, an architect of Rochester, and Jennie, who died in infancy.
The death of the husband and father occurred September 27, 1903, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and at all times he stood for progressive citizen- ship. He was actuated in all that he did by high and honorable motives and his every-day life commanded for him the respect and good will of all with whom he came in contact. It is not from the few conspicuous deeds of life that the blessings chiefly come which make the world better, sweeter, happier, but from the countless lowly ministries of the every-days, the little faithfulnesses that fill long years. It was in this daily performance of duty that Mr. Ham became known as one who contributed to the sum total of the world's happi- ness and advancement. While he prospered as the years went by, he never allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way affect his manner toward those less fortunate. He had sympathy with those in his employ and it was this which won their loyal support. This lack of sympathy is the great cause of all the world's labor troubles. It causes the feeling that the employer is arrayed against those in his service, that class is against class. Those who served Mr. Ham grew to know that a sincere interest in his fellowmen prompted him to recognize their capability and to reward their skill and faithfulness. Such men are the real philanthropists of the world and if more would follow his example the question of capital and labor would be forever at rest.
George William Dam
G J
EORGE WILLIAM HAM, in business his fath- er's successor, was born in 1855, and in his youth received a thorough business training. Entering his father's employ, he was not favored because of this relationship, but went through the practical training of the factory in the same manner as any other employe. He applied himself assiduously to the mastery of every task assigned him and in the course of years became recognized as a strong business man. He has inherited those sterling traits of character which characterized his father in building up the industry of which George W. Ham is now the head. He is both president and treasurer of the company, while James Barnes is sec- retary; Fred Mccutcheon, assistant treasurer; Charles Bergener, superin- tendent, and Charles W. Bergener, assistant superintendent. Mr. Ham is also president of the Seneca Camera Manufacturing Company and is the owner of large mining interests in California. He has made judicious investments and his business and property holdings are annually bringing to him a very grati- fying financial return, which if it continues will gain for him financial inde- pendence.
On the 17th of February, 1876, George William Ham was married to Miss Alice Cora Mccutcheon, a daughter of Robert Mccutcheon, of Roches- ter. They have three daughters: Beula, at home; Florence E., the wife of John E. Hartfolder; and Ethel S., at home. The parents are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Ham is a Scottish Rite Mason. He is also connected with the Knights Templar commandery and with the Odd Fellows society. In politics he is a democrat in principle, but at local elections votes for the clean- est man on either ticket, being opposed to misrule in municipal affairs, desir- ing always a clean, good government. For thirty years he has been in business and, like his father, is looked up to as a model business man. He is energetic and determined and it has been not because of inheritance or any favoring cir- cumstances, but because of close application and firm purpose that he has gained his present creditable position in the commercial world.
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William L. Ormrod
W
ILLIAM L. ORMROD, a man of prominence, is the owner of one of the most beautiful country estates in New York, comprising two hundred acres at Churchville. The land, naturally rich and fertile, has under the care of able supervisors, been rendered productive, while the work of improvement that has been carried on has made this estate one of the most beautiful in all New York. In the midst of grounds showing the high art of the landscape gardener, stands a magnificent palatial residence, equipped with every convenience known to the city home and supplied with all the furnishings and adornments that wealth can secure and refined taste suggest. While Mr. Ormrod feels a justifiable pride in his beautiful home, his interest also centers in large meas- ure upon community affairs and his labors and influence have been potent factors in promoting public progress and improvement here.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, William L. Ormrod was born September 8, 1863. In the public schools of Cleveland he began his education, passing through successive grades until he became a high school student. At a youth- ful age he began his business career as telegraph operator in the old Forest City Hotel. In the evenings he attended the Spencerian Business College and in this way prepared for the practical duties of a business life. Abandoning telegraphy, he obtained a position as clerk and subsequently went to New Orleans, where he became clerk of the old St. Charles Hotel. A year later he was made manager of the Hotel Royal, and in that capacity remained in New Orleans for about ten years during the winter seasons, while in the summer months he was manager of the famous old Clifton House at Niagara Falls for nine years, and then entered into partnership with George M. Colbrun in con- trol of the Monmouth House at Spring Lake Beach, New Jersey, which was the largest summer resort hotel on the Atlantic coast. This relationship con- tinued for two years, when Mr. Ormrod retired from business.
On the 23d of October, 1899, was solemnized the marriage of William L. Ormrod and Miss Harriet E. Brooks, a native of Monroe county, New York, and a daughter of the Rev. Lemuel Brooks, a pioneer minister of this locality. In the year of their marriage Mr. Ormrod took up his abode in Rochester, be- coming a heavy stockholder in the Flour City National Bank and having a voice in its active management. It was not alone private business interests,
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William I. Ormrod
however, which claimed his time and attention, for in the study of interests bearing upon the city's welfare, he became deeply aroused concerning the smoke nuisance and was largely instrumental in agitating this question to a point where his efforts were finally crowned with success in its abolishment.
In 1905 Mr. Ormrod decided to take up his residence in Churchville, the birthplace of his wife, and purchased the fine property of Henry W. Davis, now deceased, comprising one hundred and forty acres of splendid land. (To this he has added sixty acres, making in all two hundred acres.) In the midst of this he has erected a magnificent residence, containing thirty rooms, thor- oughly equipped with all modern conveniences. It is a beautiful home, ideally situated and lacking in none of the modern appointments which promote the comforts and ease of life. It is adorned, too, with many beautiful works of art and rich furnishings. He has fine stables upon his place and a fine herd of blooded Jersey cattle of seventy-five head. The raising of fine cattle is one of his chief interests and he owns some of the most splendid specimens of Jerseys to be found in the country. Indeed, his is one of the finest estates in this entire section of the country and is in full accord with the taste of the owner.
Since taking up his abode in Churchville, Mr. Ormrod has not only co-op- erated in the progressive measures and plans for its benefit and upbuilding, but has been the promoter of many of these, taking an active and helpful part in the town's development. He organized the telephone system, one of the finest and most complete in the state. He has been the constructor of the cable sys- tem, and his company was the first to adopt the continuous service plan, of any rural company. Because of the expense of building, his idea met with consid- erable opposition, but its practicability was soon demonstrated and numerous subscribers are now found upon the roll of its patrons. Mr. Ormrod is presi- dent of the company and was also an active factor in the development of the Churchville Light & Heating Company, organized in 1905, of which he is like- wise the president. This modern idea also met with some opposition, but with persistent effort it was finally overcome and streets were piped and homes fur- nished with this modern convenience, the venture now proving a success. Ormrod Road, named in his honor, is a thoroughfare two miles in length, bor- dering his new home. It is an object of special interest to him, upon which he has at his own expense built an excellent new bridge at considerable cost. In 1905 Mr. Ormrod was elected township supervisor, in which connection he has labored persistently and effectively forthe best interests of the locality.
In politics, Mr. Ormrod is a republican, taking an active interest in the party. He is an earnest worker in the Congregational church, in which he holds membership, contributing generously to its support. He is especially interested in, and recently presented a fine church organ to, the First Congre- gational church of Riga, the oldest church in Monroe county, where the Rev. Lemuel Brooks was ordained in 1828. Mr. Ormrod is a successful man, not only carrying forward to completion whatever he undertakes in a financial way
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William I. Ormrod
but also accomplishing what he undertakes for the good of the community. A man of large heart, easily approachable, he possesses a most benevolent spirit, combined with humanitarian principles and generous purposes. The question of public improvement would be solved if the men of wealth would follow the course Mr. Ormrod has pursued for the substantial development of Church- ville. He has agitated good roads and it is through his efforts that the first state roads in the town of Riga are now under construction, namely, the Buffalo road from the east to the west town line, and the Ormrod road from the four corners in Churchville to Riga Center.
Henry Chambly
Henry Lomb
H ENRY LOMB was born November 24, 1828, at Burg- haun, in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where his father was a prominent lawyer of the district. His mother died when he was five, his father when he was nine years of age, and he had to leave his home when twelve years old to live with an uncle. With him he remained about six years, being apprenticed part of this time with a cabinet-maker. In March, 1849, when about twenty years old he sailed from Bremerhaven for America and after a voyage of forty-two days arrived in New York on the Ist of May. He left the same day for Rochester, expecting to meet friends there. Here he worked at his trade of cabinet-maker until 1853, when his friend J. J. Bausch offered him a partnership in his optical business, which offer he gladly accepted, appreciating, however, that the advantages he could bring to the business would be rather moderate, his financial possessions being limited to sixty dollars. The business was conducted as a retail optical store, Mr. Bausch and Mr. Lomb making, besides, occasional trips to neigh- boring towns, partly for the purpose of selling their goods and especially to make their business better known in the surrounding country.
In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he responded to the first call of President Lincoln and on April 23 enlisted in Company C., Thirteenth New York State Volunteers for a term of two years. At the first election of officers he was elected first sergeant, and later during the term of service promoted by the state authorities to first lieutenant and then captain of the company, serving with his regiment in the Virginia campaign of the Army of the Poto- mac until the expiration of its two years' time of service. Returning with it to Rochester in command of his company, he was mustered out with his regi- ment May 13, 1863.
After returning from military service Mr. Lomb resumed his previous busi- ness activities. He was married in 1865 to Miss Emilie Klein of this city. In 1866 the firm decided to dispose of its retail business and to give its entire time and attention to the manufacture of optical goods. The firm at the same time decided to make New York city the selling place for all goods manufactured, and Mr. Lomb went there as manager of the sales department of the business, Mr. Bausch remaining in Rochester as manager of the manufacturing depart- ment. From June, 1866, Mr. Lomb remained in New York until 1880, when
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Henry Lomb
he returned to reside in Rochester, it having then been arranged to concentrate all departments of the business in this city.
He has been living in Rochester since then, making himself useful in busi- ness where best he could and having the satisfaction of seeing the business grow and prosper, and having in 1903 the exceptionally great satisfaction, granted to so comparatively few, of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of forming business connections between the two original partners, and to have on that occasion the great pleasure of seeing that the firm enjoys the hearty good will of its many employes.
Outside of his business Mr. Lomb has been mostly interested in matters of health, education, veterans of the Civil war, Grand Army of the Republic and associations affiliated with the Grand Army, the German-American Society and in some other charities.
He is a member of the American Public Health Association and offered through this association prizes for the best essays on the following subjects, for which the awards were made at the Washington meeting in 1885 :
Healthy Homes and Foods for the Working Classes, The Sanitary Condi- tions and Necessities of School-Houses and School Life, Disinfection and Indi- vidual Prophylaxis Against Infectious Diseases, The Preventable Causes of Disease, Injury and Death in American Manufactories and Workshops, and the Best Means and Appliances for Preventing and Avoiding Them. In 1888 he offered another prize also through the same association on the following subjects : Practical Sanitary and Economic Cooking Adapted to Persons of Moderate and Small Means. All these essays have been published by the American Public Health Association, and large numbers of them have been distributed, to the great benefit of the people in different parts of the coun- try. Mr. Lomb was elected a life member of the association at one of its annual meetings.
On the occasion of the celebration of the late Dr. E. M. Moore's eightieth birthday anniversary, Mr. Lomb proposed with others to organize on that day the Rochester Public Health Association, with Dr. Moore as its first president, which proposition was carried out shortly afterward in a public meeting and where Dr. Moore accepted the presidency. The association has by different means accomplished much good.
In 1885 Mr. Lomb assisted in organizing the Mechanics Institute and was elected its first president. After holding that position until 1891 he declined a re-election and has continued to be one of the directors since, working for the institute in various ways which seemed the most practical to him.
Mr. Lomb has established in the Mechanics Institute a scholarship entitled: The American Citizen Soldiers Scholarship, to give forever to the descendants of the veterans of the Civil war opportunities to obtain some use- ful instruction in some of the most practical classes of the institute.
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henry Lomb
For a number of years Mr. Lomb was also a member of the board of man- agers of the State Industrial School.
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