Geneva, Ontario County, NY in 1859 from Library of Congress
Geneva, New York was a beautiful place to grow up. When Henry Brother, the father of Civil War Marine Charles Brother, decided to put off Tom Dudley’s offer to go into business in a bigger city, he understood he might miss a golden opportunity to see traffic that brought excitement. But after spending a summer on Sodus Bay and growing up on the Finger Lakes, Henry just could not go off on some amusement. He felt attached, somewhat, knowing that his father mapped out the towns and roads. His own sweat was connected to the dams and bridges now.
So, Henry Brother wanted to bring the excitement to him. Turning 17 in 1817, he took a job as a clerk for the Colt & Bailey store in Geneva and followed construction news for any new roads or buildings, including a contract given to tavern operator Tomas Metcalf and Ira Pratt, both of Bath, New York, to build a dam across the Canisteo River in Steuben County, south of Geneva. This would open a line from Pen Yan down over the Crooked (Keuka) Lake, moving goods.
If he could get there first, then he would attach himself to the movers and shakers, like Metcalf and Pratt, and build some trust.
Traveling down to Bath on the Sabbath, Henry knew that he would have to avoid the dust and wear his best suit, attending the first church that looked to be overflowing. Although he grew up with the Presbyterian Church, he was much relieved to find a crowd entering the Episcopal Church, which was tolerant of Freemasonry and beer. A crooked path, perhaps, to track down Metcalf and Pratt, but it worked and soon enough was enjoying pleasant introductions after the service.
Ira Pratt’s daughter, Mary Ann, was, sadly, too young for Henry to think about but she, too, agreed, that they were at that moment of greeting, attached.