USA > New York > The men of New York: a collection of biographies and portraits of citizens of the Empire state prominent in business, professional, social, and political life during the last decade of the nineteenth century, Vol. I > Part 54
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While possessed of more than average determina- tion, Mr. Miller had too much sense to sit down, Indian-like, on the track of modern progress. He accepted the inevitable, and sold out his omnibus line to the railway company, which gladly made him superintendent. He remained with the com- pany four years, when his independent spirit asserted itself, and he resumed the coach and livery business. Eight years later he purchased the stables of Cheese- man & Dodge on Pearl street, and removed to that location. Buffalonians will recall the well-known structure, built in twenty-one days, in order to escape the operation of an impending law extending the fire limit against wooden buildings in the business part of Buffalo. Predictions were numerous that the structure would some day go up in smoke, and its many narrow escapes caused it to be known for years as "the only fireproof building in Buffalo."
It was the year after this purchase that Mr. Miller began the coach and baggage-express business. He obtained from Commodore Vanderbilt the privilege of placing agents on the New York Central trains en- tering Buffalo ; and in time secured the same rights on all roads entering the city. Later he opened a union ticket office, where a traveler can purchase a ticket to any part of the United States, and have his baggage checked through to destination. Few cities can boast a similar convenience. As Buffalo con- tinued to grow, Mr. Miller opened an uptown stable on Delaware avenue, equipping it with the finest horses and carriages for public use seen in the city up to that time .: This stable Mr. Miller subsequently disposed of. As a citizen with proper pride in one of the noted residence avenues of the country, he appreciated the fact that the street should not be invaded for business purposes. Moreover, his many
enterprises made it advisable to concentrate all departments under one roof. For this purpose he built the magnificent stables on Huron street. This establishment he justly maintains to be one of the best appointed of its kind in the United States. Here all the repairing incident to his business is done by skillful employees ; and Mr. Miller has facilities for turning ont finished carriages if he saw fit to do so.
Mr. Miller's operations are not confined to Buf- falo. He is the senior partner in the Miller-Brun- dage Coach Co., which revolutionized the carriage service at Niagara Falls. Despite fierce opposition, this field was won from extortionate and irresponsible carriers. Mr. Miller furnishes also the transporta- tion equipment for the famous Ponce de Leon hotel at St. Augustine, Fla., and for the Bon Air hotel. Augusta, Ga. An adequate idea of the vast extent and proportions of his business may be obtained by a summary of his force and expenses. All told, he employs more than two hundred vehicles - coaches. victorias, coupés, omnibuses, and moving vans-over five hundred horses, and nearly four hundred men. His pay roll amounts to not far from $4000 a month. It is said that Mr. Miller's entire plant could not be duplicated for less than half a million dollars.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Charles II. Miller was born at Buffalo January 19, 1837 ; was superintendent of the Buffalo Street Railway Co .. 1860-64; married Louise L. Noxon in 1861; has carried on a general coach and livery business in Buf- falo since 1864, and has recently extended his opera- tions to Niagara Falls, Georgia, and Florida.
francis S. TRoot was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1869. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old, attending district schools, however, in winter, and finally graduating from the literary department of the Port Byron Academy in 1889. The next year he went to Cornell. After taking a scientific and literary course for a year, he entered the law school, and graduated therefrom with the degree of LL. B. in 1893. From the time he left home to go to college Mr. Root was dependent entirely on himself for the means of support. He was fortunate enough to obtain a state scholarship, which gave him free tui- tion ; and he worked in various ways during vacation time to defray the rest of his expenses. It is a remarkable fact, worthy of permanent record, that Mr. Root was able to spend three years at Cornel! at a total cost, including board, clothing, books, and everything else but tuition, of $546. In connection
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with this fact it is interesting to note that he attained distinction in college in both the ways open to students - in scholarship and in athletics. His graduating thesis, entitled " A History of the Evo- lution of the Modern Law of Real Property," won the first prize in competition with a class of sixty- three members, and was afterward pub- lished in the New York Law Review. Mr. Root was a member of the freshman crew that defeated Columbia at New London in 1891, and the next year he was on the Cornell " varsity " crew.
Having obtained at Ithaca an excel- lent training in the theory of law, Mr. Root rounded this out with practical work in the actual dispatch of legal busi- ness. Entering first the office of John 1). Teller at Auburn, N. Y., he after- ward continued his study in Buffalo with Wilcox & Miner and with Harvey L. Brown. Thus amply prepared, he passed the bar examinations easily at New York in January, 1895. He then opened an office at Buffalo, and has since followed his profession in that city. He prac- ticed alone until April 1, 1896, then associated himself for several months with James Harmon in the firm of Har- mon & Root, and since September 1, 1896, has carried on his work without partnership assistance.
Mr. Root has been greatly interested in politics and in various economic and sociological questions. He is an ardent advocate of civil-service reform, an in- come tax, state ownership of railroads and natural monopolies, direct legisla- tion, the single tax, and absolute free trade. In 1895 he was the nominee of the People's party for justice of the Supreme Court, and his nomination was endorsed by the Prohibition party. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Bryan and Sewall and the Chicago platform in the presi- dential campaign of 1896, and made a few speeches in behalf of the Democratic candidates. He is liberal in religious belief, and is a member of the Unitarian church.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Francis Stanton Root was born at Port Byron, N. Y., Novem- ber 4, 1860 ; graduated from the literary department of the Port Byron Academy in 1889, and from the law department of Cornell University in 1893 ; was admitted to the bar in March, 1895, and has practiced law since then in Buffalo.
Oscar ff. Price is a true son of Jamestown, · having been born there fifty-odd years ago, and having spent all his life there thus far. He may also be regarded, not less truly, as the father of the modern city of Jamestown, since to him more than to any other one man must be ascribed the
FRANCIS S. ROOT
evolution of the place from the thriving village of a dozen years ago.
Mr. Price attended the Jamestown schools and academies, and when his general education was completed he took up a course of law study. This legal knowledge has been of great service to him, both in his extensive real-estate dealings, and in his public duties as the chief executive officer of a new city. After completing his law studies Mr. Price embarked in the real-estate business, and in this field did good service to the community. Jamestown well deserves the epithet of "City of Homes," and this is due in no small degree to Mr. Price's efforts. He has built hundreds of houses, and placed them on the market on terms so easy that those who
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wished to secure homes have been enabled to do so ; while in many other cases he has sold the land, and advanced money for those who wished to build for themselves.
In addition to this very practical work for the building up of the city, Mr. Price has always taken
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an active part in public affairs, for which his charac- ter, at once progressive and conservative, renders him peculiarly well fitted. For a number of years he served as a member of the village board of trustees, and in 1882 and 1883 he was the president of the board. His townspeople were not slow in recogniz- ing his ability for public affairs and his devotion to their interests, and in 1883 and 1884 they sent him to Albany as their representative in the state legis- lature.
About this time Mr. Price became impressed with the fact that Jamestown had outgrown the conditions of a village, and was prepared to take its place among the cities of the state. He set himself to educate public opinion in this regard, and to over-
come the prejudices of those ultra-conservatives who are never ready for a change. Finally, in February, 1885, a petition was presented to the village trustees urging them to call a meeting of citizens to consider the proposal for a city charter. The meeting was called, and a committee of ten was appointed to draft the new charter. Mr. Price was a member of this cominittee, and had a large part in preparing the charter and in securing its passage by the legislature a year later. When the first election of city officers was held, April 13, 1886, Mr. Price was elected mayor ; and he held that trying and responsible position for four consecutive terms. During that time many problems had to be solved by the new city. The questions of paving, electric lighting, street railroads, water, and sewers all demanded attention ; and in every case Mayor Price took his stand on the side of the people, and secured for them an economical and satisfactory adjustment of the matter under consider- ation. During all the years of his ad- ministration no whisper of scandal was ever breathed against the city govern- ment, no accusation of political trickery was ever dreamed of ; and when, at the close of his fourth term of office, he refused to allow his name to be used as a candidate for re-election, he left a record for unselfish devotion to the pub- lic welfare that has seldom been equaled in the annals of city government. So great was his popularity that, after an interval of two years, he was again called to preside over the affairs of the city. and in April, 1896, he began his fifth term as mayor of Jamestown.
In private as in public life Mr. Price possesses a manner unassuming and courteous, yet dignified withal. His fellow-citizens know him as a man whose sound and accurate judgment can be relied upon, and whose rare kindliness of heart makes him the friend of all who need his aid.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Oscar F. Price was born at Jamestown, N. Y., September 11. 1840 ; was educated in Jamestown schools and acad .- mies ; was a member of the board of trustees of James- town for several years, and served as president of the board, 1882-833 ; was member of the state assembly. 1883-84; was the first mayor of Jamestown, hold- ing the office, 1886-94, and was elected again in 1896.
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Edward A. Skinner, for twenty years past president of the First National Bank of Westfield, N. Y., and its successor, the National Bank of West- field, was born in the town of Aurora, Erie county, in 1841. His father, who was a Presbyterian clergy- man at that time, had moved to western New York from Oneida county five years earlier, and the family another generation back was to be found in Berk- shire county, Massachusetts. When Mr. Skinner was thirteen years old his father moved to Westfield, to fill the position of a bank cashier. Between that date, 1854, and the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Skinner spent most of his time acquiring an educa- tion in the Westfield Academy.
In October, 1861, the 9th regiment, New York volunteer cavalry, was organized in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and was rendezvoused at West- field; and in November, 1861, while still under age, Mr. Skinner entered the service. In the same month his regi- ment joined McClellan's army near Wash- ington, and served there and on the Peninsula, unmounted, until May, 1862. Having returned to Washington at that time to be mounted and equipped, the regiment was assigned to Siegel's corps under Pope's general command in July, 1862, and participated in the unsatisfac- tory campaign of that summer. After Pope's retreat to Washington Mr. Skin- ner's regiment became a part of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Poto- mac, and served therewith throughout the campaign of '63 in Virginia, Mary- land, and Pennsylvania. Early in his army life Mr. Skinner was detailed to act as regimental quartermaster, and was soon commissioned such ; and during much of the time he discharged the duties of brigade quartermaster. He left the service, owing to ill health, in March, 1864.
In the fall of 1864 the First National Bank of Westfield was organized, and Mr. Skinner, becoming assistant cashier of the institution, began his long career as a banker. The fact that he had made no mistake in choosing his vocation was soon apparent, and he was promoted in a few years to the position of cashier. In 1870, however, consistently with the unrest of youth, he decided to try his fortunes beyond the Mississippi. Kansas was then one of the most prom- ising states of the West, and in the city of Ottawa
Mr. Skinner assisted in organizing the First Na- tional Bank. He remained in Kansas several years, and then, after spending some months in Europe, once more took up his residence in Westfield, in the summer of 1874, becoming vice president of the First National Bank, and taking an active part in its management. Two years later his father died, and he succeeded him in the presidency of the bank. Since then Mr. Skinner has remained at the head of the institution, and has attained a high reputation as a progressive and conservative banker.
Aside from his banking interests Mr. Skinner's chief business connection has been with the fraternal organization known as the Royal Arcanum. Joining this society in 1878, he participated in the organiza- tion of the Grand Council of the State of New York in 1879, and was sent as its first representative to
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EDWARD A. SKINNER
the Supreme Council of the order. In 1880 he was elected Supreme Treasurer, and has held the posi- tion continuously since. The importance of the office may be understood from the statement that
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the Royal Arcanum now has 190,000 members, dis- burses annually five million dollars, and has paid in death claims since its organization nearly forty mil- lion dollars.
In the social life of Westfield Mr. Skinner has naturally been prominent. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian Church there. He be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Loyal Legion. He is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, but has held no political office except that of supervisor of the town of Westfield for three years.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Edward Alburn Skinner was born at Griffin's Mills, Erie county, N. Y., May 10, 1841 ; was educated at West- field (N. Y.) Academy; served in the Union army, 1861-64; was assistant cashier and cashier of the First National Bank of Westfield, 1864-70 ; engaged in banking at Ottawa, Kans., 1870-73; married Frances M. Barger of Westfield October 20, 1864, who died June 16, 1872; married Augusta Wheeler of Portville, N. Y., August 19, 1873; became vice president of the First National Bank of Westfield in 1874, and has been president of that bank and its successor, the National Bank of Westfield, since 1876; has been Supreme Treasurer of the Royal Arcanum since 1880.
Arthur C. Wlade has won success in both law and commercial life. He possesses the capacity, the activity, and the resolution so characteristic of the modern man of affairs. His experience as a lawyer and business man has been diversified, and of an intensely practical kind. He has been a pro- moter of new enterprises, an encourager and a sup- porter of mechanical skill and ingenuity. At the same time he has not allowed private affairs to absorb all his attention, but has been actively en- gaged in political and public matters that demand the participation of all patriotic citizens.
Mr. Wade is a native of Chautauqua county, and attended its excellent district schools, receiving higher education at Ellington Academy and Cham- berlain Institute. He early became desirous of making the law his profession, and pursued a course of study at the famous Albany Law School, from which he graduated twenty years ago. He was ad- mitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1877, and opened an office at Ellington, N. Y., the same year, becoming a partner of Theodore A. Case of that town, for inany years a prominent lawyer and citizen of western New York. This connection lasted for six years, and was valuable to Mr. Wade in bringing him into contact with a greater volume
of business than ordinarily falls to the lot of a beginner in the law. In 1883 the partnership was dissolved, and he associated himself with Orsell Cook and Jerome B. Fisher of Jamestown, N. Y., with whom he continued to practice until the death of Judge Cook twelve years later. Since then his partners have been Mr. Fisher and M. R. Stevenson. Mr. Wade's legal career has been marked by care- ful study of his cases, elaborate preparation for trial, and faithfulness to the interests of his clients. Since the days of Madison Burnell the Chautauqua- county bar has not known an abler cross-examiner or a more successful advocate than he. In these qualities he stands conspicuous among the foremost lawyers of western New York. His well-known talent for investigation and his practical knowledge of street-railway management, commended him to the legislative committee that investigated the sur- face and elevated railways of the state in the sum- mer and fall of 1895 ; and his skillful and thorough conduct of the investigations elicited the cordial con- mendation of the ablest lawyers throughout the state.
Mr. Wade's business enterprises have been mainly in the line of manufacturing and transportation. He is president of the Fenton Metallic Mfg. Co., the Jamestown Felt Mills, the Ulster Oil Co., and the United States Voting Machine Co. He is sec- retary of the Waverly, Sayre & Athens Traction Co., and secretary and treasurer of the Chautauqua Steamboat Co. The mere recital of the names of these organizations indicates the practical bent of Mr. Wade's energies. He is also extensively en- gaged in real-estate transactions, and has figured in many land-improvement enterprises.
A man so prominent at the bar and in business naturally acquires such influence and prestige in a community as will commend him for political prefer- ment. Mr. Wade is a strong Republican in his political faith, but he has too many interests to find much time for the diversions of politics. For several years, however, his services have been in great demand during campaigns ; and he has made numerous tours of the state, and is one of the favorite campaign orators. He is an aggressive, logical. vote-getting speaker, and eloquent enough to con- trol even a hostile audience. His party associates have at various times sought to induce him to become a candidate for public office, and in 1891 he was nominated for state comptroller. He had excellent qualifications for this office, and would doubtless have discharged its duties most acceptably, had he been elected. It happened, however, not to be a Republican year, and he suffered defeat with the rest of the ticket.
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As may be easily inferred from the foregoing, Mr. Wade is a progressive force in his community, and has had a large part in the recent development of Jamestown and Chautauqua county. His career is an inspiration to the younger members of the bar, and is a 'striking example of what brains, energy, and patience can accomplish in this country. Having experienced some of the difficulties with which young men have to contend, he is ever ready to lend them a helping hand. Many young lawyers owe their first impetus to success to his kindly interest and substantial aid.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY -- Arthur C. Wade was born at Charlotte. N. Y., December 12, 1852; was edu- cated at Ellington ( N. Y.) Academy, and Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, N. Y. ; graduated from the Albany Law School in 1877, and was at once admitted to the bar; married M. Franc Briggs of Ellington August 22, 1877 ; practiced law at Ellington, 1877-82 ; was- Republican candidate for comptroller of the state of New York in 1891 ; has practiced law in Jamestown, N. Y., since 1883.
Jerome JB. ffisber is known to the bar and people of western New York as one of the safest counselors and ablest trial lawyers in that section of the state. He was born in the village of Russell, Warren county, Penn., about forty-six. years ago, removing to Jamestown in 1864, where he has since resided. His early education was obtained in the com- mon schools of Pennsylvania, and was continued at the Jamestown Union School and Collegiate Institute, from which he graduated in 1872. He also attended Cornell University two years, taking an optional course. After leaving Cornell, he began the study of law in the office of Bootey & Fowler at Jamestown, and was admitted to the bar in 1878.
He began practice alone, but soon formed a partnership with Marvin Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Fisher. This partnership continued till August, 1881, when he became the junior member of the firm of Cook, Lockwood & Fisher. In 1882 Mr. Lockwood retired from the firm, and in 1883 Arthur C. Wade was admitted to membership, the style being Cook, Fisher & Wade until the dissolu- tion of the firm upon the death of Judge Cook in July, 1895. Fisher & Wade continued the business,
and in September, 1895, they associated with them M. R. Stevenson.
In political matters Judge Fisher has been a par- tisan of the strictest sort, but has enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of men of all parties. He has virtually been in public life since his admission
ARTHUR C. WADE
to the bar. Even while studying law he was twice elected clerk of the village of Jamestown, and after- wards represented the city on the board of super- visors. In 1884 he was chosen alternate delegate to the Republican national convention, where he favored the nomination of Blaine ; and he was an ardent supporter of Harrison in the national con- vention of 1888, to which he was a delegate. After the election of President Harrison Judge Fisher was a prominent candidate for the office of United States district attorney, and received the united support of the organization and leaders of the party in the state. Owing to an unfortunate factional fight, he was defeated in 1890 for the position of county judge of Chautauqua county. In 1896 he
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received the unanimous nomination of the Repub- lican county convention for the same office, and was elected by more than 7000 majority. He has been on the bench only a short time now, but already long enough to demonstrate his impartiality, fairness, and fidelity.
Judge Fisher has had few equals in western New
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JEROME B. FISHER
York in recent years as a trial lawyer. Two notable recent cases in which he was conspicuously success- ful were the Broadhead-Lister suit, involving several hundred thousand dollars, and the case of the People against James Rainey, whom he succeeded in acquit- ting of the charge of murder.
Not only has Judge Fisher been conspicuous in the courts and active in politics, but for many years he has been prominent in lodge and social circles, and identified with many business enterprises. He is president of the Jamestown Shale Paving Brick Co., and of the Lakewood Ice Co., and is a stock- holder in other business enterprises. He is a mem- ber of Mt. Moriah Lodge, F. & A. M., and of
Western Sun Chapter, R. A. M. ; and he was the first Eminent Commander of Jamestown Command- ery, No. 61, K. T. He is a Past Exalted Ruler of Jamestown Lodge, No. 263, B. P. O. E., and is chairman of the board of Grand Trustees of the order in the United States. He is a prominent member of the Jamestown Club.
Judge Fisher's services are in almost constant demand for public addresses. As an aggressive campaigner he has acquired a well-deserved fame, while a> an occasional orator and after-dinner speaker he ranks with the foremost of the Empire State. From an early period in his career Judge Fisher enjoyed the friendship of the late Governor Fenton, and was named by him as one of his executors, and was made a legatee under his will.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Jerome B. Fisher was born at Russell, Warren county, Penn., February 133, 1851 ; moved to Jamestown, N. Y., May 8, 1864; was educated at Jamestown Union School and Collegiate Institute, and Cornell University ; was admitted to the bar in 1878 ; married Julia E. Hatch of Jamestown December 19, 1878 ; was alter- nate delegate to the Republican national convention in 1884, and a delegate in 1888 ; was elected county judge of Chau- tauqua county in November, 1896; has practiced law in Jamestown since 1878.
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