>From the official program for the Geneva NY Sesqui-Centennial Celebration The Geneva Story August 1957 Here follows a list of persons noted for their activities in Geneva during the period 1835-1900, and who are the founders or members of families well-known and still represented in Geneva today. Nathan D. Lapham, famed trial lawyer, judge and public benefactor. William Graham McKelvie, nurseryman and civic leader. William Whitwell, merchant and president of one of the oldest continuously run department stores in America. James R. Vance, Scottish emigrant, inventor of a number of patented devices in the brick manufacturing industry, founder of the J.R. Vance Iron Works. Edward H. Palmer, head and leading spirit of numerous financial and industrial enterprises in Geneva. Samuel Nagel, emigrant from Germany, contractor who built more than 200 homes and buildings in Geneva, including the Masonic Temple. Reuban H. Gulvin, merchant and chief of the fire department, Mayor of Geneva. Louis Klopfer, merchant. Charles Henry Sweeney, industrialist and realtor. Dr. Nelson B. Covert, physician and one of the founders of Geneva City Hospital. Matthew D. Bennett, farmer and founder of large Geneva family. John Boynton Dixon, tile and brick maker, inventor of valuable improvements in the manufacture of clay products. William H. Williams, emigrant from Massachusetts, lumberman and civic servant. Henry Cook, emigrant from England, farmer. Dr. James Carlton Carson, physician and educator. Lemuel Herendeen, nurseryman, early president of the village of Geneva. David H. Henry, nurseryman and manufacturer, a founder of the Geneva Cutlery Co. Alfred George Lewis, for many years proprietor of the magnificent White Springs Farm. Charles, George and Frank Fairfax, all prominent in civic affairs, were founders of a wall-paper industry in the late 1800's.