~ ROCHESTER'S HISTORY ~
AN ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE
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GEORGE ELLWANGER
December 2, 1816 - November 26, 1906
One of the most esteemed and prominent citizens of Rochester is Mr. George Ellwanger, who was born December 2, 1816, at Gross-Heppach, in the Remsthal, one of the beautiful valleys that extend in every direction through the Kingdom of Wfirtemberg, in Germany. In accordance with the law and practice in his native country he passed the period of his youth at school. The intervals of study, vacation, etc., he spent with his father and brothers in the vineyards which constituted the family patrimony. After completing his studies he entered a leading horticultural establishment at Stuttgart, where he remained four years, until he had perfected himself in all the arts of horticulture and landscape gardening. He then sought a proper sphere for its profitable use and sailed for this country, arriving in New York in 1835. Pushing westward he first settled at Tiffin, Ohio, but his expectations not being realized he turned his face eastward and came to Rochester in the Spring of that year and entered the horticultural establishment of Reynolds & Bateham. In 1839 he began business for himself, seeing an opening in this then new country for planting fruit and ornamental trees. He bought out the establishment of Reynolds & Bateham and also purchased eight acres of land on Mt. Hope Avenue. In 1840 he made the acquaintance of the late Patrick Barry and entered into a partnership under the firm name of Ellwanger & Barry, which continued for fifty years, or until Mr. Barry's death. For a long time Mr. Ellwanger has been identified with the banking interests of the city, being successively director in the Union bank, the Flour City bank, trustee in the Monroe County Savings bank and the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit company since their organization. He is still a director of the Flour City bank, of the Monroe County Savings bank, and a trustee of the Eastman Company. As a citizen of Rochester Mr. Ellwanger has constantly exercised a helping and elevating influence on its material prosperity and business integrity. He is always prominent in every public enterprise, giving freely of his time and means. In 1846 he married Miss Cornelia Brooks, a daughter of General Brooks of Livingston, one of the pioneers of Western New York. Four sons, three of whom survive, were born of this marriage; they received advantages of education afforded in the best schools of this country and in extended study and travel in Europe.
Biographical Sketch from 'Rochester and the Post Express' 1895
