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(From the Rochester Trades Assembly’s 1897 publication, Illustrated History of the Rochester Trades Assembly and the Building Trades Council, Rochester, N.Y.)
John T. Richardson, President of the Rochester Trades Assembly, was born in Waterloo, N.Y., December 13, 1858. He attended the public schools in his native city and at an early age he was employed as a foundryman, but his present occupation is that of an Iron Moulder. He joined his union in 1882 and has held his present office for five terms. He was the financial secretary for one term and a delegate to the American Federation of Labor, State branch, held at Albany in January, 1897. He was the president of the Iron Moulders’ Union, No. 109, at Geneva in 1890 and has held various offices during the past ten years. He is Vice-president of Iron Moulders local, No 11. He is a member of Monroe Lodge 380, K. of P. Is married and resides at 80 Spencer street.
Each of the many varied interests demand the most careful attention, and it is only by the exercise of constant vigilance that the executive of an organization can hope to make a creditable record. If this be true of a single society, how much more so is it applicable in the case of the Rochester Trades Assembly, an organization with which such a large number of unions are affiliated. It is an office, the leader of which must have a cosmopolitan idea of all shades of character and temperament. It is an office, the character of the leader of which must be beyond reproach and he must possess firmness and stability with which to carry him through the trying emergencies which are liable to arise at any time.
It is but due and fitting to state that Mr. Richardson has done much in the labor ranks of this city to better its condition. He has served his fellowmen with unswerving loyalty and his long and unremitting struggle in the interests of the working classes has reaped its reward in having caused him to be placed for so long a term as the executive of the Rochester Trades Assembly. Confident in his own acquirements and judgment and well equipped with the knowledge of his official duties he takes a prompt and firm stand upon all questions affecting the welfare of his varied organizations. It need scarcely be said that he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and esteem of all members of organized labor, both at home and abroad, for his uniformly successful career justly merits that implicit confidence and high esteem ever accorded an honest official. His work as President of the Rochester Trades Assembly has brought him into contact with the different labor organizations, and that his efforts in that office have proven satisfactory is attested by the fact of his repeated election.
Robert D. Runyan, Vice-President of the Rochester Trades Assembly, was born at Lavonia, Livingston county, N.Y., May 17th, 1867. He attended the Lavonia public schools, after which he mastered the printing trade. He is at present holding a responsible position with one of the Rochester daily papers. He joined the Typographical Union, local 15, in February, 1891, and has held his present office of Treasurer since July, 1891. He was for two years on the executive committee, and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Trades Assembly for two terms. He is a member of the Court, city of Rochester, No. 35, Foresters of America and Lincoln Conclave, No. 94. He is married and resides at 43 Finch street.
H.W. Sherman, Treasurer of the Rochester Trades Assembly, was born in Richmond, Va., November 3rd, 1857, where he acquired his early education. He began life as a stone-cutter, relinquishing the same for the electrical profession. He is a member of the Electrical Workers Union, local 44, having joined the same in 1891, and is a charter member. He is a delegate, representing his local, to the central body, and has held the office of recording secretary. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and Maccabees. He is married and holds the office of grand president of the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Mr. Sherman enjoys the confidence of all his fellow associates, and the best evidence of his integrity, is in his selection for treasurer of the Rochester Trades Assembly.
James T. Farlow, Recording Secretary of the Rochester Trades Assembly, was born in Smithville, Chenango county, this State, September 17th, 1868. He attended the country school in his native county and in 1886 and ‘87 attended the Smithville Free Academy. He is a cigar maker by trade and is a member of local 5. He joined his organization October 24th, 1890, and is a member of the auditing board. He has held many offices of trust in the gift of his fellow men and has worked earnestly, faithfully and conscientiously in the discharge of his duties, the outcome of which has reflected great benefit to the vast body of men with whom he is associated. He is a Maccabee. Is married and resides at 226 Bronson avenue.
Peter Fox, Financial Secretary of the Rochester Trades Assembly. He is a native of this city, having been born July 12th, 1860. He received his early school education in this city and, at an early age learned the cigar maker’s trade, which vocation he has since followed. He joined his union May 23rd, 1880, and has held the office of Treasurer of Cigar Makers Union, local No. 5, since July 1st, 1897. He has also held the office of recording secretary of the finance committee. He is a delegate to the Trades Assembly from his local. He is also a member of Court General 387, I.O.F., and Aurora Lodge 466, I.O.O.F. He is married and resides at No. 40 West Orange street.
Richard H. Curran, Corresponding Secretary, was born in Seneca Falls, New York State, in 1864. At an early age he moved to this city which has been his home ever since. He attended the public schools of Rochester and his first occupation was that of a machinist after which he learned the iron moulders trade. He joined his union in 1885 and has held his present office for the past six years. He is a delegate representing his local, to the Rochester Trades Assembly. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of Red Men. He is married and resides on Reservoir avenue. He has represented the moulders in 1890 at Detroit, in 1893 at Syracuse and in 1895 at Chicago at the National Conventions, and in 1894, ‘95, ‘96 and ‘97 at the State Conventions. He was elected the State Secretary and Treasurer of the New York state Branch of the American Veterans of Labor in 1894 and has been re-elected each succeeding year up to the present time. Mr. Curran takes an active interest in all labor matters and his repeated election to the high position which he has filled with credit is evidence of his sterling worth.
Charles H. Harrington, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Rochester Trades Assembly, was born in Utica, this State, June 10th, 1850, where he attended the local public school. His first occupation was that of a shoemaker, which vocation, with that of a musician, he has since followed. He became affiliated with his local August 1st, 1890, and is a delegate representing the Musicians Protective Association to the central body, which office he has held for several years. He has also served on the Good and Welfare Committee for several terms, and has acted on the various committees in almost every capacity. He has represented local 27 at the National League of Musicians at their sixth and seventh conventions. He is an Odd Fellow, also a Maccabee; is married and resides at 77 Hawley street.
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