GENERAL HENRY BRINKER

Major General Henry Brinker was born in Hanover, Prussia, March 17, 1831, and attended the common schools of his native province. He started from Europe for this country on February 10, 1851, and reached New York April 10, after a voyage of sixty days' duration. He began working as a clerk in a grocery, saloon and meat market, where he was employed during twenty-one months at low wages. But he saved his earnings and on January 4, 1853, when he had accumulated one hundred dollars, began business on his own account. In 1855 he engaged in ship-building and in 1859 built the steamer Henry Brinker, which he afterwards sold to the United States government, and which did good service during the war. While he was a resident of New York he established business relations with Utica, Rome, Fairport, Pittsford, Rochester, Spencerport and Medina, aud carried on extensive transactions in produce. It was in New York city that he acquired his title of General, having enlisted in the Third Cavalry V. G. S. N. Y. in 1855 and advanced through all the minor grades. General Brinker is interested in ten railroads. He started the Germania Fire Insurance company of New York and has been a director of the Sun, St. Nicholas, and Amsterdam fire insurance companies. He also started the Rochester German Insurance company of this city and was for a long time one of its directors. He has been president, vice-president and director in over forty corporations. General Brinker moved to this city in 1871, and in 1877 had command of the militia at the Hornellsville strike. He has visited every country in the world excepting China and Australia and intends to see those lands also. In 1868 he made a visit to Emperor William of Prussia and was for six weeks a special officer on the staff of General Von Fogtzate, in which capacity he was present at several great inspections. General Brinker was married February 2, 1863, to Annie M. Bruns of New York.

HENRY BARTHOLOMAY

Henry Bartholomay, founder of the Bartholomay Brewery company, and perhaps the best known brewer in America, was born at Frankfort, Germany, December 5, 1829, and received his education at Heidelberg. His ancestors were brewers and he engaged in the brewing business at an early age, and was manager of several breweries before he attained his majority. In 1850 he caune to this city and in company with the late Philip Will began brewing lager beer. The first beer from their brewery was sold December 7, 1852. The product of the plant that year was 300 barrels; it is now 600,000 barrels. The partnership between Messrs. Bartholomay and Will continued for several years, and on its termination Mr. Bartholomay organized the Bartholomay Brewery company, which is now universally known as one of the most successful in the world. The brewery is of itself a monument to its founder; situated on the east bank of the Genesee river at the angle formed by the junction of St. Paul street and Vincent place, it is the largest in Rochester, and has no superior in equipment in any part of the world. Mr. Bartholomay has every reason to he satisfied with the result of his enterprise and industry. His success in business has been most marked and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

HOBART F. ATKINSON

The city has now but few residents who were living here when Rochester was a village, and have umude it their home uninterruptedly ever since, takiug an active part in promoting its growth and prosperity Hobart Ford Atkinson is one of that number. He was born in Rochester, October 5, 1825, in a house that stood on the north side of Main street a short distance east of St. Paul street. His parents were William and Elizabeth Atkinson. After attending school until he was seventeen years old, he became a clerk in the Commercial bank and remained with that institution twenty-three years, until it went into voluntary liquidation in 1866. In that time he became successively teller, assistant cashier, cashier and general manager. When the present Commercial bank was organized in 1875 Mr. Atkinson was elected as its president. In 1889 he was elected vice-president of the Bank of Monroe, and resigned the presidency of the Commercial bank to accept the new position. In 1871 he was elected as a trustee of the Rochester Savings bank, and in 1892 was chosen as its vice-president. During his business career Mr. Atkinson has had such important financial trusts in his keeping that he had no time to devote to outside matters, and he never sought or held political office. He was married October 12, 1854, to Louise, daughter of Hiram Sibley, by whom he had two children. His wife died June 16, 1868, and on December 9, 1875, he married Harriet Appleton, daughter of James Appleton of Manlius, New York. Mr. Atkinson is a charter member of the Genesee Valley club, of which he was first president. He resides at 223 East avenue.

H. F. ATWOOD

Horace Franklin Atwood, secretary of the Rochester German insurance company, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 5, 1850, of American parents. His education was obtained in the Boston puhlic schools, on leaving which he became a bookkeeper and was engaged in that occupation until 1873, when he first became interested in the insurance business. He has been a resident of Rochester since 1879. Mr. Atwood has been president of the Rochester Academy of Science for two term, and vice-president of the American Society of Microscopy. He is now a fellow of the Royal Microscopical society of London. He is a trustee of the Rochester club and chairman of the house counmittee. Mr Atwood was married September 1, 1873, to Miss Nellie Roberts, daughter of Owen Roberts of Treborth Farm, North Wales.

CHAUNCEY B. WOODWORTH

Chauncey B. Woodworth, merchant and financier, is one of the leading citizens and business men of Rochester. His father, Spencer Woodworth, one of the pioneers of Monroe county, came from South Coventry, in Tolland county, Connecticut, to the town of Gates, in the Summer of 1819; he located about a mile and a half west of the city of Rochester, on what is known as the Chili road. The family made its journey from Connecticut in one of the large covered wagons used in early days, there being then no other means of travel to this section. On June 9, 1819, they arrived at the tavern of Oliver Culver, in Brighton, where they halted for the night. The whole of the following day was spent in reaching their new home so little had been done towards opening a road that they were obliged to travel by way of "The Rapids," following as best they could a line of marked trees. In the family of this pioneer was his infant son Chauncey, who had been born on February 25, 1819, and was consequently about four months old at the time of the migration. The youth remained at the parental home, devoting a share of each year to the acquirement of such education as was available, until he was twenty-one years of age. He then engaged in the grocery business in Rochester on the corner of East Main and North St. Paul streets, thus for the first time identifying himself with the interests of the city which has since felt in so many ways the influence of his energies. About 1841 he abaudoned the store, purchased a farm in Irondequoit and established there a large saw-mill, which he operated for several years, supplying the lumber for many of the buildings which were being erected in the rapidly growing city of Rochester. In 1853, in company with Jones & Osburn, he built the Crystal Palace block on East Main street. A few years later he removed to his present place of residence on South Washington street. It may he said that Mr. Woodworth had, by virtue of industry, energy and unusual business sagacity and judgement, met with continued smuccess in all of his undertakings, and now, with increased capital, he embarked in new lines of business. One was the manufacture of perfumery and glassware, and this was also a success and developed into one of the largest trades of its kind in the country; it is still carried on by the C. B. Woodworth Sons company. The present extensive and efficient street railway system of Rochester is largely the outgrowth of Mr. Woodworth's enterprise. In 1868 the railroad company's property and franchise were sold under mortgage foreclosmure and Mr. Woodworth purchased the plant entire; he reorganized the company and extended its tracks and other facilities until there were few cities in the country more thoroughly and satisfactorily supplied with street railroad accommodations than Rochester. In 1889 he and his associates sold their interests to a syndicate. Mr. Woodworth is not without clearly defined political convictions, and while he has never sought public office he was once, in 1852, induced to accept the nomination for sheriff of Monroe county on the Whig ticket, and was elected. He has been a trustee of the Mechanics Savings bank, and since 1864 has been a director and is now vice-president of the Flower City National bank. He is also vice-president of the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit company. He has been a member of the Second Baptist church for about forty-one years and was one of its trustees for about forty years. He is also a trustee of the Rochester Theological seminary. A man of public spirit, he has always exhibited a deep interest in all measures for the general advancement and welfare of Rochester, and both in his social and in his business relations he enjoys the esteem of the community. January 5, 1841, Mr. Woodworth was married to Martha J. Smith of Boston, Massachusetts. They have had five children, three of whom are sons, and all, except one daughter, deceased, are now living in Rochester.

RUFUS KEELER

Rufus Keeler was one of the early residents of Rochester who won a position in the city that will long perpetuate his name. He was a native of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, where he was born March 7, 1808. His parents were of English descent and his early education was obtained at Ballston. After leaving school he worked ot his father's farm until 1828, in which year he came to Rochester. He first engaged in the leather business on North Water street, where he was successful, and he next opened a bank in the Minerva block, southeast corner of East Main street and South St. Paul street. He also carried on transactions in real estate in the Metropolitan block, which stood on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Main streets, where his heirs, in 1894, erected in his memory the twelve-story steel and terra-cotta fire-proof building occupied by the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Keeler was a Democrat of the old school and in 1857 was mayor of the city. Previous to the date of his elevation to the mayoralty his popularity was demonstrated by his election as foreman of fire engine company No. 2, an honor which in early times was conferred only upon liberal and public-spirited citizens. Mr. Keeler was also a member of the Masonic and the Odd Fellows societies and a trustee of the Rochester Savings bank. He was married on October 15, 1833, to Miss Phebe Valleau of Le Roy, and died January 20, 1875, at his residence, 114 South St. Paul street.

JOHN H. ROCHESTER

John Henry Rochester, the last male representative in Rochester of the famous family by whom the city was founded, and after whom it was named nearly a century ago, was born in this city April 20, 1828. Mr. Rochester was educated in the best schools of this city, and at the age of eighteen entered umpon the work of his life it the Rochester City bank, of which his father, Thomas H. Rochester, was president. The valuable training he received in these early years served him admirably it his subsequent career as a banker. After leaving the Rochester City bank Mr. Rochester carried on a private banking house for a period of five years under the firm name of John H. Rochester and Brother. Subsequently he was cashier of the Flour City bank for some three years. When the Mechanics' Savings bank was chartered and entered on its career Mr. Rochester became its secretary and treasurer, a position which he has held ever since, during a period of twenty-seven years; in other words Mr. Rochester has been a leading banker before the public for some forty-eight years, thus being the oldest banker by continuous service in this city. Mr. Rochester has throughout his life been closely associated with the social, religious and public welfare of his native city. He is a member of the Genesee Valley club, the Whist clntb, and was for three successive years president of the Rochester club. Mr. Rochester has always been actively identified with St. Luke's parish, of which he is at present the oldest baptized member. He has been the treasurer of the Church Home for twenty-five years; treasurer of St. Luke's church for many years; treasurer of the Red Cross society; treasurer of the Yellow Fever fund, and is now vice-president of the Park commission and president of the Rochester Historical society. Mr. Rochester has traveled extensively, not only in the United States and Canada, but in Europe. In 1853 he married Miss Elizabeth L. Moore of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He has two sons, both married; one, Dr. Thomas M. Rochester, is a physician in Brooklyn; the other, Paul A. Rochester, is in the railroad service in New York. Mr. Rochester is one of the few survivors of the famous California argonauts. He belongs to that courtly type of manhood, the old-school gentlemen. His home is on South Washington street, and is one of the most pleasant to be found in the Flower city.

CHARLES W. BRIGGS

Ex-Mayor Charles W. Briggs was born in Mile Square, town of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, October 6, 1820. His grandfather owned a mile square of land and the place derived its name from this tract. The family, with Samuel Briggs at its head, removed to Solon, Cortland county, New York, and came thence, late in December, 1833, via the Erie canal, from Syracuse to this city, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Briggs has achieved rank and respect in business, social, and political circles during his sixty-one years residence in Rochester. The late Ellery S. Treat was his first school teacher in this city and the school was located in a small building where the Free Academy now stands. Out of school hours Mr. Briggs was one of the attendants of the old bathing house that was situated on Buffalo street on the south side just west of Plymouth avenue, and was conducted then by K. H. Van Rensselaer. He graduated from the old High school on what is now called Cortland street, where Lindley Murray Moore and Professor Dewey were his preceptors. He commenced his business career as a clerk in the seed store of Reynolds & Batham, located in Reynolds arcade. The firm name was changed to Batham & Crossman, and then to B. F. Smith & Company, and in 1845 Rapalje & Briggs started in the business on their own account, showing the rapid progress made by the clerk. The firm continued under this name for five years and then blossomed out under the title of Briggs & Brother. The firm's business prospered and extended at a tremendous pace, and was ranked as the largest seed firm outside of New York city. The firm is now Briggs Brothers & Company and has its large seed warehouses in the rear of the Government building on Church street. A large store for the sale of flowers and seeds at retail is located at 29 South Clinton street and large conservatories have been established on Hawley street. The ex-Mayor was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Government building at the site it occupies. Mr. Briggs in early life was a Democrat, but in 1848 he became a Free Soiler. He was elected mayor as a Republican in 1871. Prior to that he was elected Alderman of the First ward, and was the first Republican to reach that office for thirteen years, a fact which attested the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He assumed the mayoralty in 1871, being elected by five hundred majority over such a popular citizen as the late Henry E. Rochester. While mayor of the city he vetoed a resolution of the Common Council authorizing the purchase of the old Methodist church property, southeast corner of Main and South Clinton streets, for the site of the new City hall. He also vetoed an ordinance passed by the Common Council to improve Lake avenue with wooden block pavement. Both vetoes were sustaited by the Common Council. From boyhood up the ex-Mayor has been a devotee of field and outdoor athletic sports and has wide renown, even in his old age, as a fisherman and expert rifle-shot. To see him now tramping through roads and fields and rowing on the waters, one would think he had not passed the heyday of youth. He is a shining example of abstemiousness, having never smoked a cigar or pipe and for fifty years has not drank a drop of coffee or tea. This is a record that few men can equal. He is remarkably vigorous for a man of his age and takes time keenest interest in all public and municipal affairs. He is the head of the great seed, vegetable, and flower house of Briggs Brothers & Company, and honor to Rochester and one of our leading industries.