History of Brockport, (Monroe County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

John Dykeman Conley, scientist, was born at Brockport, N.Y., Sept. 14, 1843; son ot John Ward and Pamelia Elizabeth (Johnson) Conley; grandson of Thomas and Margaret (Warner) Conley, and of William F. and Lucy (Hamlin) Johnson. His maternal grandfather was the son of Edmund Johnson, a soldier in the war of 1812, and grandson of a Revolutionary soldier. John Dykeman Conley received his preparatory education at Canastota, N.Y., was graduated at the Albany state normal school in 1863, and taught school at Roslyn, N.Y., until 1865. He was graduated at Hamilton college in 1869, and until 1876 was principal of the preparatory department of Blackburn university, Illinois. He was also professor of chemistry and natural science in that institution from 1871 to 1887, when he was elected to the chair of geology, chemistry and physics in the state University of Wyoming. During his connection with the university he was its vice-president, and for nearly one year its acting president. In 1896 he resigned his position and in 1897 was elected to the chair of physical sciences in Blackburn university. He was married in 1873 to Virginia C., daughter of S. T. and Elizabeth (Palmer) Mayo of Carlinville, Ill., and niece of Senator John M. Palmer. He is the author of two large geological charts, and five bulletins on geology, artesian wells and meteorology.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Herbert Alonzo Howe, educator, was born at Brockport, N.Y., Nov. 22, 1858; son of Alonzo J. and Julia M. (Osgood) Howe, and grandson of Charles and Jane Ann (Pettingill) Howe and of Sewall M. and Elhira (Brown)Osgood. He was graduated from the University of Chicago in 1875 and was elected professor of astronomy there in 1880, and director of the Chamberlin observatory at the University of Denver, Col., in 1890. He was made a member of the Astronomische Gesellschaft and of the American Mathematical society in 1891. He received the degree of A.M. in astronomy from the University of Cincinnati in 1877, and the degree of Sc.D. from Boston university in 1884. Ite ist the author of: A Study of the Sky (1896); Elements of Descriptive Astronomy (1897), and contributions to scientific periodicals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Elias Bellows Holmes, representative, was born in Fletcher, Vt., May 27, 1810; son of Joseph and Diantha (Bellows) Holmes; grandson of Zephaniah and Barbara (McLucas) Holmes; great grandson of Nathaniel and Sarah (Whittington) Holmes, and a descendant of English ancestors, who settled in America in 1610. He was educated at the St. Albans, Vt., academy, taught school in his native state and in 1827 removed to Pittsford, Vt., where he engaged in the study of law with his uncle, Judge Ira Bellows. He was admitted to the bar in 1830, and practised law in Brockport, N.Y., 1831-44. He was a representative in the 29th and 30th congresses, 1845-49. He was married in 1835 to Maria, daughter of Hiel and Phebe Brockway, of Brockport, N.Y. Hiel Brockway was one of the founders of the village, and was engaged in the packet business on the canal. Elias and his brother, Joseph Holmes, succeeded to the entire packet business of the original firm, continuing it until the railroad was constructed between Rochester and Buffalo. He engaged in projecting and building the Rochester and Niagara Falls railroad, and the Toledo and Wabash railroad. He was one of the directors of the former until the consolidation of the railroads between Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Albany, as the New York Central railroad, He was also a director of the Toledo and Wabash railroad. He was a director in the Third National Bank of Chicago; president of the Brockport Union Agricultural society, and a trustee of the Collegiate institute. He died at Brockport, N.Y., July 31, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph Clinton Cary, inventor, was born in Brockport, N. Y., in 1829;son of Albigence Waldo Cary. For twenty years he operated as a speculator in Wall street, and in 1860 built two steam fire-engines, to which the Cary steam rotary force-pump, invented by his father, was attached. These powerful engines were used in New York city, and at large fires were very effective. He died at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., Aug. 7, 1884.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor