BIOGRAPHY: John Choate; Auburn, Cayuga co., New York

transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com)

=========================================================

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm

=========================================================

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA
COUNTY NEW YORK
BOSTON
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894

JOHN CHOATE, senior member of the firm of Choate Brothers, dealers in
hardware, Auburn, N.Y., was born in Lansingburg, Rensselaer County, N.Y.,
October 25, 1824, son of Joseph and Sarah (Nelson) Choate. His father, a
manufacturer of machine cards at that place, was of New England ancestry,
being born in Massachusetts, and was a lineal descendant of John Choate, who
came to this country from Essex, England, in 1645. Joseph Choate came to
Cayuga County in the first half of the present century, purchasing a farm
near the city of Auburn in 1835, moving to Auburn in 1840, and establishing
a hardware business there in 1843, under the firm name of Choate & Sons, the
subject of this sketch being one of the members of the firm. The founder
continued in active business until 1854, when he retired. He was a member of
the First Baptist Church of Auburn, and in politics was a strong and active
Whig, afterward becoming a Republican, but was never an aspirant for public
office. He died in November, 1876, leaving a family of seven children,
namely: Amanda, wife of Alonzo Cornell, of Williamsport, Pa.; Helen Upton,
now deceased; Emily Choate; Joseph H., a resident of Washington, Kan.; John,
the subject of this sketch; Thomas N., one of the present firm; and George
R., of White Sulphur Springs, Mont.

 John, who was the second son, was educated at the public school of Auburn,
and on the completion of his studies went into his father's store. The firm
has been in business in Auburn for fifty-one years; and Mr. John Choate, now
its senior member, is the oldest merchant, in point of continuous activity,
of any in the city. In 1854 the firm name was changed to Choate Brothers,
which has been its style ever since. They have occupied the same location
since 1871, having a fine block, one hundred and thirty feet deep, with five
stories and basement, also occupying two stories over the adjoining
building.  They are extensive handlers of all kinds of heavy and shelf
hardware, stove-heaters, and tinware, having the largest selection of stock
in this county, and giving employment to eight people. Mr. Choate enlisted
in Company H, Seventy-fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, September, 1861,
going to the seat of war as Captain, he having been the means of raising the
company. They first went to the Department of the Gulf, being stationed
successively at Pensacola and New Orleans. Forced to resign on account of
ill-health after a little over a year and a half of service, he returned to
the store, which had continued business during his absence.

 Mr. Choate was married January 7, 1851, to Miss Rachel Chappel, of
Aurelius, daughter of Russell Chappel. He is an attendant of the First
Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Choate is also a member, and has been a
supporter and active worker and Trustee of the church for thirty years, and
was one of the Trustees of the Building Committee when the church was
erected. Mr. Choate has occupied several prominent public positions, being
Alderman of the Third Ward for six years. He was also Chairman of the
Republican County Committee in 1876, during the Hayes campaign, and filled
the same position in 1878. In 1879 he was nominated and elected Sheriff of
Cayuga County, which position he held in a highly efficient manner for one
term. He is a member of Crocker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 45.
During the volunteer fire brigade period he was fireman and foreman of the
company for six or seven years.

It is owing to such public-spirited men as Mr. Choate that the city of
Auburn has attained its present degree of prosperity, men of his mental and
moral calibre being necessary adjuncts to the well-being of any community.
Mr. Choate, during his life-long residence in Auburn, has always enjoyed to
a high degree the respect and esteem of its citizens, a tribute which is
never withheld from those who worthily deserve it.