09/02/2026
ISAAC SHIPLEY HOUSE – A NEW HOMEOWNER & A FRUIT EMPIRE
FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS (didn't happen)...Fred Teats grew up on his father's farm 1 mile south of the Shipley house. The oldest of 4 boys, being a farmer was not in his plans. Rochester,NY city life drew his attention, leaving the family farm. Over the years that followed he established himself as a commissioned traveling salesman of ci**rs & typewriters, state & countrywide. On one of his trips to Chicago he met Mary Berry marrying her March 15, 1889. Rochester remained his home keeping his ties to family, he frequently visited his father's farm, Frederick Hamilton Teats became the 2nd owner of the Shipley property in 1896.
HIS FATHER'S FARM...Fred's father, John Henry grew up in Duchess County (Poughkeepsie,NY). He was raised in the milling business. At 18 he left to go out on his own, remaining in the New York City area. In the late 1850s his travels brought him to Williamson,NY. It was February 5,1860 when he married Martha B. Cooper. Martha's father Alexander recently deceased, his widowed wife Rebecca and Martha left with the family 40 acre farm. John moved into the Cooper homestead with Martha, caring for her widowed mother and taking over the duties of farming. Fred was born November of that year. 1862 & Civil War, John volunteered and returned. John's 2nd son Sylvester followed Fred's footsteps also leaving the farm, John's 2 youngest sons remained. It was1895, those sons now in their 20s working the farm that was now 80 acres.
FRED TEATS HAD A PLAN...Fred bought the Shipley property in 1896. He was now a successful business man, having perfected his marketing skills in his established territories, the results showing in his financial status and his association with the elite society of Rochester. His father, John Teats and Fred's 2 youngest brothers doing well but Fred knew they could do better. Fred Teats began using his marketing skills and connections to help sell his father's produce.
A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING...Although Fred bought the Shipley house in 1896, he remained with his wife in Rochester for 4 years while changes were made to the Shipley house and structures added, all the while continuing to market his father's farm produce. The demand exceeded what the farm could produce.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT...A calculated buying frenzy of land and local farms took place over the years starting in the 1890s & 1900s by the Teats brothers. As the demand for Teats produce kept growing in the markets that Fred already dealt with, so did the farm. Fred became known as a 'Gentleman Farmer' doing the marketing for the Teats farms, his farm, 'Lake View Fruit Farm' remained at 100 acres, which was what he originally purchased with the house. His father's farm, 'J. H. Teats & Sons' grew. In its 'Hey Day' a massive 1,100+ acres, going by the name 'Lake Avenue Fruit Farms'. It was a joint father/son ownership. Fred did the marketing. The bookkeeping and agricultural knowledge handled by his younger brothers and father. Tree nurseries were added, at one point 80,000 nursery trees were available. The Teats family as a whole managed the entire fruit empire themselves, said to be the largest family owned fruit farm & nursery in NYS during the first decades of the 1900s. The Peach market pricing was controlled by them for several years. John Teats mother-in-law, Rebecca died in 1899 never to see John & Martha's new house completed in 1900 where the original Cooper homestead once stood. John passed in 1907. After his death the farm continued with a slight name change as 'J. H. Teats Sons', not only selling their own produce but that of surrounding farms that met their high quality standards under their name. The farm empire came eventually came to an end after the last of the 4 brothers died.
Fred Teats was the first brother to die in 1913 but the Shipley House story doesn't end here...
(for 1st time readers, my wife and I purchased the Shipley property in total disrepair in 2012, restoring, researching and now preserving its history... it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.)
