Adrian Adelbert Schenck was born on 26. Mar. 1842 at Plainville, Onondaga County, New York. He was the son of
Dr. Benjamin Baird Schenck and
Harriet Sullivan. Adrian Adelbert Schenck married
Harriet Parthenia Robinson, daughter of
Horatio N. Robinson and
Emma Tyler, on 23. Oct. 1866 at Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Adrian Adelbert Schenck died on 25. Feb. 1909 at Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, at age 66. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.
Adrian Adelbert Schenck was born in Plainville, N. Y., March 26, 1842. His education was obtained at the Monroe Collegiate Institute, at Elbridge, N. Y., which at that time was an academy of very considerable reputation. After leaving Elbridge he went to Syracuse in 1864, entering the office of the Provost Marshal, where he remained until obtaining a position in 1865, in the canal office.
The next ten years were devoted to work in the offices of the Internal Revenue Service and County Clerk of Onondaga County. From 1876 to 1880 he held the important position of clerk of the courts. In 1880 he returned to the Revenue Service, being Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Twenty-fifth District. This position he held until the election of Cleveland to the Presidency in 1887, when he resigned. During the sessions of the New York Legislature of i888 and 1889, he was clerk of the Committee on Cities of the Senate, spending four days each week in Albany. During these years he was prominent in politics in the Republican party, in whose tenets he was an uncompromising believer throughout his whole life.
On October 6, 1888, he was instrumental in the organization of the Engelberg Huller Company, becoming its first secretary and general manager, a position which he held continuously until his death, a period of over twenty-three years. The success which attended this organization was largely due to his efforts and he was rewarded by seeing it grow into one of the most stable and prosperous of the manufacturing industries of Syracuse.
After the marriage of Mr. Schenck and Harriet P. Robinson, a daughter of Horatio N. Robinson, LL. D., in 1866, they resided on Montgomery Street until May, 1869, when they removed to .a residence which they built at No. 8 Holland Street. In 1894 a second home was built at 615 Park Avenue.
Mr. Schenck was a member of the Central City Lodge No. 305, F. and A. M., of the Royal Arcanum and many other organizations. He was much interested in manufacturing and industrial questions and in 1907 and 1908 was the vice-president for the State of New York of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Board of Directors of which passed the following resolution:
At a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, held at Niagara Falls, New York, on July ibth, 1909, the following minute was unanimously adopted and spread upon the records:
Resolved : That in the death of our honored Vice-President for the State of New York, Mr. Adrian A. Schenck, the association sustains a severe and deplorable loss.
The elevation of Mr. Schenck to the Vice-Presidency having taken place at the instance of the delegates of his State at the annual convention of 1907 and his re-election following, gave abundant evidence of his popularity with his fellow members. The performance of his official duties during his term of office was such as to win for him the approval and admiration of his fellow members of the Board of Directors.
As a man of excellent judgment and unblemished character in his private and business affairs, he won the sincere affection and regard of all whose pleasure it was to know him.
We shall cherish his memory and the recollection of his virtues and the inspiration of his example will remain as a stimulus to others in the pursuit of lofty ideals and worthy achievements.
And we extend to his sorrowing family this token of our high regard for him whose loss to them, to us and to mankind at large is felt with deep affliction.
J. Kirby, JR., Pres't. GEO. T. BONDINOT, Sec'y. Committee:
LUDWIG DESSEN, C. C. HANCH. ENOS PAULLIN.
During May, 190S, Mr. Schenck's health failed, but he was able to attend to his business affairs until the day of his death, the 25th. day of February, 1909.
The gentleness of his character, combined with his high ideals, lifted him above the petty trials of every-day life, seeming to cause him to radiate good cheer, helpfulness and optimism wherever he went. To him no one ever appealed for help in vain. He lived for others and died mourned by a host of sincere friends. The esteem in which he was held by his intimate business associates is. attested in the following:
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Engel-berg Huller Company, held Monday, March 1st, at their office in Fayette Street, the following preamble and resolutions relative to the death of their late Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. A. A. Schenck, were presented and approved :
'Whereas, For the fourth time during the history of this Company, we are called upon to mourn and record the death of a Director ; and, in the death of our coworker, Secretary, Treasurer, and friend, we have lost the greatest of them all ; for while others had different interests, Mr. Schenck gave twenty of the best years of his life, with undivided devotion to the welfare of this organization. During all this time he worked for its interests and battled for its success. We alone know of its success and that no one has done more to achieve it, and we alone can measure our loss. As time has gone on we have learned to respect and love him and as time goes on we shall miss him more. Our loss and sorrow can only be exceeded by that of his family. Therefore, as an evidence of our appreciation and respect be it
Resolved, That his chair as Director remain unfilled; that a copy of this tribute be engraved, signed by the Board and presented to his family, and these proceedings recorded in the books of this Company and its purport be published in the daily papers.
J. R. MONTAGUE JOHN E. SWEET
J. P. CROWELL C. P. REMORE
C. E. HUTCHINSON W. C. LIPE F. P. FELL.