USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 10
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(III) William, son of David and Dorothy (Turnbull) Beattie, was born on the family homestead, December 16. 1830, and died there, Janu- ary 14, 1893. He was engaged in farming throughout the active years of his life, and for many years served as a trustee of the Presbyterian church, of which he and his wife were devout members. He married. June 9, 1858, Mary E. Barnes, who was born in Yates county, New York, January 22, 1827, and died May 10, 1900.
(IV) Herbert, son of William and Mary E. ( Barnes) Beattie, was born on the family homestead in Ontario county, New York, March 23, 1866. For a time he attended the district school, but as the health of his father was impaired, he was frequently obliged to remain away from the school sessions, and take charge of the farm management, while still at a very early age. This interfered with the acquisition of knowledge from books, but he has overcome this difficulty in a great measure by his keen powers of observation, and the deep thought he has
Herbert Beattie
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given to all matters of importance since his early youth. To a certain extent it was beneficial to him to be obliged to depend upon his own re- sources from earliest youth, as it strengthened his inventive faculties and executive ability, and this is, in a great measure, the foundation of his successful career as a farmer and fruit grower. The farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres, fourteen of which are devoted to orchard pur- poses, and the entire acreage is cultivated with the greatest care and in the most progressive manner. Modern methods are adopted wherever practicable and the results of this course have been most satisfactory. The dwelling house, which is commodious and comfortable, and all the outbuildings are kept in excellent condition, and it is one of the most pro- ductive farms of its size in the county. Like his father, he has been a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has served as town assessor for two terms. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Beattie married, September 27, 1893, Emma, born in Seneca county, New York, April 5. 1871, daughter of Matthew and Hannah Simpson. Children : Harold G., born March 27, 1896; Donald S., born June 26, 1902; and Walter S., born February 17, 1907.
DOUGHERTY.
When De Nonville and his French army, in 1687, destroyed the In- dian village of Gannagaro and Gaudougarae, the inhabitants were driven eastward and formed a village near the foot of Canandaigua Lake, which village and lake have since then borne that name. Among the Indian inhabitants in those days were many Catholics, some of them Senecas and most of them Hurons and Algonquin captives, the result of fifty years of missionary labor of the zealous Jesuits. Even in our day the beads and crucifixes given the Indians by the missionaries are still picked up on the sites of the old Indian towns.
Following the revolution and the white settlement of western New York, Canandaigua became a prominent center of commerce and govern- ment, and no doubt many Catholics were among the pioneers. The fam- ily of Hugh Collins came as early as 1823, others followed, and there are traditions of lumber wagons leaving here Saturday afternoons to bring the people to the Sunday mass at St. Patrick's in Rochester. About 1840 Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, of Rochester, said the first mass in Canandaigua
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in the Patrick Doyle house on Antis street. Mass was celebrated in vari- ous homes for the following few years. At length, in 1844, a lot was pur- chased by Father O'Reilly from Thomas Beals, and in the fall of 1846 the pew books give the following list of pewholders. On the south side of the church : Bernard Scandling, Bridget Garvey, Hugh Collins, Patrick White, Patrick Doyle, Michael Coyle, Catherine Hanavin, Agnes King, John Whalen, William Lysaght, Eleanor Gannon, James Ryan, Patrick Sherry, Matthew Carroll, Hugh Keefe, James Gleason, James Cooney, Thomas Eccles, James Cass, Miss Eagan. On the north side of the church : John Classey, John Callahan, Walter Corcoran, James Coyle, Martin White, Charles Murphy, Thomas Walsh, Peter Cowan, Bernard Coyle, Maria Connell, Peter Moore, Matthew Walsh, Jerry Mahaney, William Day, Patrick Leddy, Catherine Kilkelly, John Smith, Cornelius Hurley, Neil Connelly, Connor Kelly, Jerry Noonan.
After the two brothers, Rev. Bernard and Rev. William O'Reilly, of Rochester, ceased their attendance at the Canandaigua Mission, Rev. Patrick Bradley, of Geneva, for one year took care of the little church as his out-mission. He purchased books for church records, since which time all records of baptisms, marriages and burials have been kept in the local parish archives. In 1849 Rev. Edmund O'Connor was made first resident pastor, and he continued in that office for nine years. He en- larged the church, established a school in the basement, brought the sisters of St. Joseph from St. Louis, Missouri, built a rectory, and purchased the first part of the cemetery. There was considerable anti-Catholic prejudice in those days, and rumors of church burning caused much excitement and alarm. Father O'Connor controlled the situation with a strong hand, and gradually won the respect of all parties. St. Mary's Academy and Orphan Asylum was founded in 1855 on Saltonstall street.
The next pastor was Rev. Charles McMullen, who officiated for a year and was then transferred to Seneca Falls. He is described as an eloquent man, of striking appearance. Then came the scholarly Father Purcell, who was a brother of Editor William Purcell, of the Rochester Union, and who is best remembered as the priest who read his sermons. Rev. James M. Early was pastor during the first days of the civil war and served for two years before being transferred to the pastorate of St. Mary's Church in Rochester. While at Canandaigua he enlarged the old church to its present dimensions. He was a good writer and preacher, and always interested in the young people. Rev. Joseph McKenna suc- ceeded him, and for the following six years faithfully performed his duty until an injured knee forced him to retire. He was assisted during the
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latter part of his pastorate by Rev. David O'Brien. Shortly after the formation of the new diocese of Rochester in 1868, Bishop McQuaid appointed Rev. Dennis English, of Penn Yan, as pastor, and for a period of years corresponding to the lifetime of our Blessed Lord, he presided over the destinies of this parish. In 1874 he purchased the Granger property on upper Main street, at a cost of $20,000, to which he trans- ferred the new orphanage and school. The Rev. D. English was ably as- sisted by Rev. Thomas B. O'Brien, 1890-91, and by Rev. John H. O'Brien from 1896 to 1901. Father English lies buried beneath the great granite cross in Calvary Cemetery, in the midst of the people whom he loved.
The records of the past nine years, since 1901, are fresh in the minds of the people of Canandaigua. They include the construction of a new stone church at a cost of $90,000, a new rectory, $18,000, and a new parish hall and enlargement of the school at a probable cost of $20,000. The pastor during this time has been the Rev. James T. Dougherty ( see forward), and in his work he has enjoyed the priestly co-operation of Rev. Andrew Byrne, Rev. Bernard J. Gefell, Rev. James J. Clark (de- ceased ). Rev. John B. Baier and Rev. John E. Masseth, the present assist- ant. Among the young men who have gone forth from the parish into the ranks of the priesthood are Rev. William Mulhern, Rev. John J. Don- nelly, Rev. Richard T. Burke, Rev. L. Augustine Smith, Rev. Dennis J. McCormick, Rev. John A. Conway, Rev. Edward G. Widman, Rev. Daniel P. Quigley and Rev. John B. Sullivan. The parish also has a lesser claim upon Rev. William Payne, Rev. Francis E. McCrone and Rev. John P. Brophy. Numerous young ladies have gone out from here to devote their lives to religion. Among others, the Bagley, Raftery, Caplise, Fitzgerald, Clancy, Turner, Hines, Fahy, Keefe, Casby, Wyffels, Doran, Coogan, Powers, Corcoran, Richardson and Donnelly families have been thus honored.
Canandaigua was the first place in New York state for the Sisters of St. Joseph to work in. Three members of the order, which had come from France in 1834 and located in Missouri, came to Canandaigua upon invitation of Father O'Connor and Bishop Timon, of Buffalo. They occupied the O'Reilly house in Saltonstall street, beginning their work, December 8, 1854, the day the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was defined at Rome. Canandaigua was for three or four years the mother house of the order, and some of her older parishioners recall the religious receptions of the Sisters, held in the old church, one of the novices upon those occasions being Miss Hendrick, of Penn Yan, sister of Mgr. Hendrick, of Ovid, and the late lamented Bis-
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hop Hendrick, of Cebu, and known in religion as Mother Aloysia. Among the early sisters were Mother Agnes Spencer, Sisters Frances Joseph, Theodosia, Stanislaus, Anastasia, Julia, Nativity, Nicholas and Alphonsus. The present teaching staff consists of Sisters Bernadette, Ambrosia, Antoinette, Albina, Florence Marie, Esther, Angelita, Miss Helen Buckley and Miss Mary McDonald.
Rev. James T. Dougherty was born in Fayette, Seneca county, New York, April 23, 1863, son of Patrick and Mary ( Bannon) Dougherty, who were born in West Meath, Ireland. Patrick Dougherty emigrated to the United States in 1846, and his wife preceded him by one year, their marriage occurring in this country. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, four of whom attained years of maturity, namely: Bernard, a resi- dent of Waterloo, New York; Patrick and James T., twins, the former a resident of Kendaia, Seneca county, New York, and Mrs. Anna Hamil- ton, of Kendaia. Patrick Dougherty followed the occupation of farming. He died in 1904, and his wife in 1889.
James T. Dougherty was educated in the Miller district school, town of Romulus, and at the Ovid union school, after which he taught for one year in the Ayers district, town of Varick. He then entered St. An- drew's Preparatory Seminary, at Rochester, New York, and later St. Joseph's Theological Seminary, at Troy, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood, October 28, 1887; placed in temporary charge of Honeoye Falls and East Rush parish during the summer of 1888; assigned as assistant at St. Mary's Church, Auburn, October, 1888; sent as pastor to Stanley and Rushville, September, 1890; promoted to the pastorate of St. Patrick's Church, at Dansville; Holy Name, at Grove- land, May, 1893 ; appointed to St. Agnes' Church, at Avon, June, 1901 ; and upon the death of Father English, September, 1901, became the pastor of St. Mary's Church, at Canandaigua. He is earnest and zealous in his work, ever looking to the spiritual and temporal welfare of his parishioners, and is greatly beloved by all who have come under his benign influence.
DORSEY.
George C. Dorsey, owner of a large wholesale produce business in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is the son of Upton Dorsey, who was born in Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, in 1814. He removed from Seneca county to Geneva, New York, in 1838, and took a
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prominent part in the public affairs of his day, having served as justice of the peace for a number of terms. He died in 1856.
George C. Dorsey was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, in 1834, and received his education in the common schools of Geneva, New York. For a number of years he worked on the home farm, then com- menced his business career at the age of twenty-six years as a clerk in a grocery store. Subsequently he entered into a partnership with his elder brother, William A., in the grocery business, the firm operating under the name of W. A. Dorsey & Brother. This association was in force until 1866, when Mr. Dorsey bought out his brother and became the sole pro- prietor and manager of the business. In 1882 he retired from the grocery business and established himself as a wholesale produce merchant, with which enterprise he is identified at the present time ( 1910). The busi- ness is in a very flourishing condition, and the integrity and upright and progressive business methods of Mr. Dorsey are evidenced in the fact that the annual sales show an ever-increasing amount. Mr. Dorsey is in- dependent in his political views, and a member of the Episcopalian church.
He married, 1864, Emma Bradley, born in Onondaga county, New York, 1845. Children : Charles B., born in Geneva, 1865, resides in Geneva, New York ; Florence, married Arthur G. Dove, and resides in Westport, Connecticut.
DE GRAFF.
Frank A. De Graff, manager and one of the proprietors of the lead- ing stationery and book stores in Canandaigua, New York, is, as his fam- ily name indicates, of Dutch descent, and has inherited the thrifty and businesslike traits of his ancestors.
Groat A. De Graff, father of the man whose name heads this sketch, for some years followed the occupation of farming in Gorham, New York, and removed to Canandaigua about the year 1870. He established himself in the book and stationery business, in which he was eminently successful, and with which he was connected for many years.
Frank A., son of Groat A. De Graff, was born in Gorham, Ontario county, New York, August 4, 1864. He was educated in the common schools of Canandaigua and in Canandaigua Academy. The first step in his business career was an assistant to his father in the book and station- ery business, of which he thus acquired a thorough knowledge in every detail. He then became associated as a partner with T. M. Emerick, and
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succeeded to the business of his father. In 1894 he sold his interest in this concern to his partner, and was a commercial traveler for the whole- sale stationery trade for a period of ten years. In 1904 he formed a partnership with McGreevey & Sleght, establishing the firm of Mc- Greevey-Sleght-De Graff Company, dealers in stationery, books, etc., and Mr. De Graff is the manager of this concern. They have branch stores in Elmira, and Batavia, New York, and they have the reputation of being one of the leading and most reliable business houses in Canandaigua. Mr. De Graff is a member of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He married at Canandaigua, October 14, 1891, Minerva H., daughter of Edward Parsons, of Canandaigua. Only child : Har- riet A., born October 15, 1896.
BEAN.
Charles Danford Bean, attorney and counselor at law in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is a member of a family that has been domi- ciled in New York state for several generations, and their history and that of the family seat is a more than usually interesting one.
Maple Hill, the homestead, derives its name from the thickly-wooded land upon which the house stands, and has many historic associations. The mansion was originally erected in 1834, and was at that time a two- story structure ; successive owners added wings and rebuilt and remodeled the house, which has sheltered and extended hospitality to many distin- guished guests, among them being: Gideon Lee, General John B. Mur- ray, ex-Governor Myron H. Clark, George H. Stayner, of New York, and the Rev. Joseph W. Walker, of England. The eastern front of the grounds is laid out to form a monogram of the Greek letters, Phi Kappa Psi. The "Indian Oak," a magnificent specimen of forest growth which received its name from the fact that it was formerly a favorite meeting place of the Indians, was blown down in 1876. The enormous trunk was removed and a granite rock placed on the site and this will be later re- placed by an appropriate monument to Chief Red Jacket and his contem- poraries.
Another forest giant on this estate has a very curious origin and inter- esting historic association. At the present time ( 1910) it is with one ex- ception the largest tree in the state of New York and it is more than a century old. Its history is as follows: During the early days of the
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settlement of Geneva, Ephraim Lee, a pioneer, traveled several times over the Albany and Buffalo turnpike, around the foot of Seneca Lake, west- ward through the village over what is now Hamilton street. One day he reached the shores of the lake and to lessen the fatigue of walking cut himself a cane. During the afternoon hours he reached a maple grove on the hill one mile west of the village, stuck his cane in the ground, lay down and fell asleep. Later he awoke and hastened on his way, for- getting the cane. He came to the same spot during his journeyings the following year and was amazed to find the cane he had carelessly placed in the ground had taken root and was covered with foliage. It continued to thrive and in later years when the grove was cut down this tree was spared because of its history. A former owner of Maple Hill had diffi- culties with the roadmaster in 1843, as the latter insisted that the tree be removed. The owner with practical ingenuity caused the tree to be driven full of spikes from the ground upward, thus rendering the application of an axe a matter of impossibility. Tree experts ascribe the wonderful growth, age and beauty of the tree to the presence of the iron, which ex- ercises revivifying influences. An accurate measurement of the tree was taken in August, 1892, which gave the height as one hundred and twenty feet, the diameter of the foliage as one hundred and fifteen feet and the circumference of the trunk as twenty-four feet. The road on which it stands was originally an Indian trail, but was made a state road in 1794. It stands on the north side of the street near the intersection of Hamilton street with the old Pre-emption road ; the branches of the south half hang over the entire street, and several times its ample shade has been used by congregations for the holding of divine service. To the northwest is an ancient building of gray stone which is used as a museum of relics and a fraternity chapter hall. It has a mural tablet on the south wall. Many interesting relics are to be found here, among them being a collection of old furniture and a Masonic desk which was made in 1799, a tablet above it giving its history. The collection is known by the name of "The Museum of Classical Archaeology." One of the most pleasing incidents in the his- tory of this famous tree is the visit of General Lafayette, June 8, 1825. A letter of invitation had been sent to General Lafayette by the citizens' committee of the village of Geneva and had been accepted. On the ap- pointed day Captain Manning's company of artillery, Captain Ruggle's detachment of cavalry, Captain Van Auken's company of riflemen and Ensign Brizee's company of light infantry, together with a number of officers of neighboring regiments, all in full uniform, were stationed within a few feet of this tree in order to welcome the general. He came
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from Canandaigua in a carriage drawn by six grey horses, accompanied by his son and his secretary. When the carriage came in sight a signal gun was fired and the general was welcomed with all honors. From that memorable day this magnificent balsam poplar has been known as the "Lafayette Tree."
Charles Bean, father of Charles D. Bean, was born in Holme, Eng- land, February 2, 1826, and was but ten years of age when his father de- cided to go to America with his family. They sailed from Hull for Quebec, Canada, on the ship "New Harmony," Captain Cookman in com- mand. The voyage was a calm one until they were within sight of the banks of Newfoundland, when a severe storm wrecked the vessel and the passengers and crew were in the gravest danger. They were at length taken to land from the dismantled hulk and finally reached Quebec. They remained there but a few days, embarking on a vessel on Lake Ontario which took them to Sodus, Wayne county, New York, where young Charles made his home for a period of eight years, taking his due part in all the labors, privations and trials of those early pioneer days. His father with other members of the family had gone on to Geneva, New York. Opportunities for obtaining a good school education were few and far between in those days, but Mr. Bean was intelligent and observant far beyond his years and having an earnest desire to acquire knowledge, he soon outstripped the teachers in the common or district school and when he went to Geneva in 1844, was able to take up his studies in the Geneva Academy with advantage. Five years later he entered the employ of Chauncey Ackley, who was engaged in the hardware business, remaining with him for a period of seven years. He then went to New York, where he was actively engaged in the wholesale dry goods business for almost a quarter of a century. He became associated with many well-known firms during this long period, among them being: Kirtland, North & Platt ; Lawrence Brothers, who have since become eminent bankers ; T. J. Roberts & Company ; Buckley, Murphy & Cecil ; and Buckley, Welling & Company, one of the members of this firm being Police Commissioner De Witt C. Wheeler, the noted United States Indian contractor.
Mr. Bean has always been an indefatigable worker and in order to recuperate during these trying years he spent the summer months in Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York. This village is one of the finest of its size in the state, and his real estate interests there were extensive. His home, which was a large and commodious colonial mansion, was noted for its open-handed hospitality, and Mr. Bean took especial delight in country work of all kinds, it being his greatest pleasure to give his
Charles D. Beau
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personal assistance in a part of the work. The greater part of the brick which has been used in the construction of the village house was made on the farm of Mr. Bean. When he decided to remove to Geneva he sold his house in Prattsburg. This was in 1874, and at that time he pur- chased the Maple Hill estate of which mention has been made above. In the course of time he has acquired extensive lumber holdings in the south- ern part of the state. He has always taken a lively interest in the public affairs of the community in which he lived and in 1876 was elected justice of the peace. In 1878 he was associated with a New York lawyer as an expert to hunt up evidence in an important patent suit pending in the United States court. They were successful in their quest and this led to a settlement of the case. Mr. Bean joined the Masonic fraternity more than twenty years ago and has served his lodge twice as master. At the dedication of the Masonic Temple in New York he was appointed one of the marshals by his friend Edward E. Thorne, grand master of the state. He was a charter member of Geneva Lodge and Encampment, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the board of trade, and of sev- eral other organizations, in all of which he takes an active interest.
Mr. Bean married, February 29, 1860, Cloa Maria, daughter of the late Samuel Danford, Esq., and they have one son, Charles Danford, see forward. He and his family went abroad in 1882 for four months. While in Europe he visited Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Tyng. April 7, 1876 (Easter), he and his family were confirmed in St. John's Church, New York City, by Bishop Potter, through the ministrations of Rev. W. H. Cooke, president of the Oratorio Society of New York, who had been a friend for many years prior to his death.
Charles Danford, only child of Charles and Cloa Maria (Danford) Bean, was born in Marion, Wayne county, New York, 1861. His early years were spent in New York City, where he was a pupil at St. John's Trinity Parish School and North Moore Grammar School ; he also attend- ed the Franklin Academy, of Prattsburg; and he received his prepara- tory education for college at the Union School, of Geneva. He then matriculated at Hobart College, from which he was graduated in a class of eighteen. He was one of three chosen by the faculty to speak twice at commencement. While attending college he was a member of the choir and several of the societies, and then accompanied his father on a pleasure trip to Europe. Upon his return to this country he took a post-graduate course at Hobart, and about the same time commenced the study of law under the preceptorship of his uncle Major Bean, and of Judge Folger. He became a member of the Hobart Cadets and commenced the study of
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military tactics under the auspices of a United States officer. He has been honored by a number of institutes of learning in recognition of his articles in various legal publications and his writings on the laws of fra- ternities and societies. Syracuse University conferred upon him the de- gree of Bachelor of Philosophy: Allegheny College, that of Master of Arts; and the Southern Normal University College of Law has honored him with the degree of Doctor of Laws. In 1887 he was elected justice of the peace for four years ; in 1889 he was elected justice of sessions, and was reelected in 1890. For many years he has been known as "Judge." He has served as a delegate to several county conventions and is chair- man of the general executive committee of his law class. He is president of the Endymion Military Preparatory School Corporation, the object of which is to establish and permanently endow a military academy and boarding school which shall have especial advantages and facilities for the instruction of young men. His business, social, fraternal and club connections are varied and numerous. Among them may be men- tioned : Membership in the Geneva Chamber of Commerce; the Geneva Bar Association; the Geneva Political Equality Club; the Masonic Temple Club : New York State Historical Association ; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Geneva Lodge, No. 1054, Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Umarken Grotto, V. P. E. R. For three years he served as secretary of the board of trustees of the New York Delta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, of Geneva ; is now an active member of the Phi Kappa Psi Syracuse Alumni Association; also of the Phi Kappa Psi Homestead Association and the Society of Wayne, of New York; he is ex-president of the Delphian Historical Society; was an active member of the Trinity Chapter of St. Andrew's Brotherhood, which was after- ward consolidated with the Trinity Boys' Club; vice-president and presi- dent of the Young Men's Christian Association Outing Club. For six years he served as a member of the reception committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, during a part of this time was also a member of the athletic committee, and for five years was one of the judges at the annual field day. At the present time ( 1910) he is historian of the Del- phian Historical Society, and treasurer of the Delta Sigma Fraternity. In 1893 he was elected to the office of junior warden of Ark Lodge, No. 33, Free and Accepted Masons, and was reelected to the office in the fol- lowing year; he was elected master of Ark Lodge in 1895, and reelected in 1896; he is a member of Geneva Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons, and of Geneva Commandery, No. 29, Knights Templar. Mr. Bean is un- married and devotes all his time that is not occupied with business matters
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