USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 2
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He married, in 1899, Jennie Sassaman, of Milton, Pennsylvania, born in Union county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Joseph Miller and Har- riet (Moore) Sassaman. Her father was of a colonial family that came with the first settlers from Alsace to Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1712 (see "History of Berks County, Pennsylvania," page 1043, also Mont- gomery's "History of Berks County," page 67). Her mother was of early Philadelphia Quaker ancestry. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Robin- son served as principal of the high school of Milton, for many years. Mrs. Hetty Green, the well known business woman is of the same Robin- son family, both being direct descendants of Rowland Robinson, a native of Long Bluff, Cumberland, England, who came to America in 1675. Mrs. Hetty Green is descended from Sylvester, son of Governor Robin- son, of Rhode Island, and Robert H. Robinson from John, youngest son of Governor Robinson (see "History of the Robinson Family of Rhode Island.")
KENNEDY.
Grant Maitland Kennedy, who was for a number of years identified with educational matters in the state of New York, and who has since then been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, is of Scotch ancestry.
(I) James Kennedy was born in Kells, Kirkcudbright county, Scotland, June 12, 1791, died October 13, 1888. He was a surveyor of taxes in Scotland, and a farmer after he came to America. He attended the Protestant church. He married, October 11, 1824, Margaret Hous- ton, born September 15, 1806, died June 19, 1881. Children: 1. Mary, married Matthew Henderson, of Yates county, New York. 2. Francis M., see forward. 3. David, married Sarah Barker. 4. John, married Emerette Barker. 5. Robert, lived in Geneva, New York, and married Emma Robson. 6. Barbara, married Joseph McConnell, of Italy, Yates county, New York. 7. Jane, married Niram Squire, of Yates county, New York.
(II) Francis M., son of James and Margaret ( Houston) Kennedy, was born in Kells, Scotland, May 30, 1830. His whole life after coming to this country was spent on his farm in Italy, New York, with the excep- tion of the last six years, when he lived retired from active work, in Canandaigua, New York. He was a member of the Protestant church, and adherent of the Republican party. He married (first) in Italy, Yates
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county, New York, 1853, Phoebe J., daughter of James and Rachel Fisher. Children: James M., born September 23, 1854, deceased ; John A., born May 19, 1857, deceased; Grant Maitland, see forward. Mr. Kennedy married (second) Lillie I. Griswold. Children: Margaret, born July 7, 1873 ; Mary J., November 25, 1875; Frances E., September I, 1880; Frederick G., December 16, 1884; Ralph H., April 20, 1887.
(III) Grant Maitland, youngest child of Francis M. and Phoebe J. (Fisher ) Kennedy, was born in Italy, Yates county, New York, January 3, 1866. His early education was received in the district school of Italy Hollow, New York, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the Naples Academy, at Naples, New York, spending three years in that institution, and finishing with one year at the State Normal School at Genesee, New York. His early years were spent upon the homestead farm, and in the fall of 1885, he made his first appearance as a teacher of district schools, commencing in the Segar district in the town of Italy. For six years he was thus engaged, being in turn in the schools of Lazalieers Hollow (now Guyunoga), the County House district, both in the town of Jerusa- lem, also Italy Hollow, Italy Hill and West Italy schools, all located in Yates county, New York. August 7, 1891, he went to Canandaigua and formed a partnership with Darwin Cheney in the undertaking business, this continuing until November 25, 1901, when Mr. Kennedy purchased the interests of Mr. Cheney. December 1, 1901, he took Amos Gillett, of Canandaigua, as a partner, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Gillett & Kennedy until the death of Mr. Gillett, February 26, 1903. The business was continued under the same name until July 19, 1904, when Mr. Kennedy purchased the interest of his late partner from his widow, and since that date has been the sole owner and manager of the business, which had combined furniture with the undertaking branch. It is located at Nos. 9, 11 and 13 Bristol street, Canandaigua. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Republican party, and attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He is connected in various capacities with the following organizations: Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, Free and Accepted Masons; Canandaigua Chapter, No. 164, Royal Arch Masons, in which he has filled the office of king; Zenobia Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar ; Canandaigua Lodge, No. 236, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the chairs, including the office of noble grand. March 16, 1910, at the most recent district meeting of past grands of Ontario district, Mr. Kennedy was elected district deputy grand master of Ontario district.
Mr. Kennedy married, at Italy Hollow, New York, September 28,
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1892, Nettie L. Geer, born in that town, September 6, 1865, daughter of George L. and Jane B. Geer, the former a farmer, and they had children : Charles Leroy, Herbert, William, Mary, Emma and Nettie L., men- tioned above. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have had children : Bertha Jane, born September 15, 1899; Howard Geer, born March 19, 1901.
KENNEDY.
Robert M. Kennedy was born in Italy, Yates county, New York, August 26, 1848. In his earlier years he was a farmer and was thus occupied until 1877, when he engaged in the undertaking business in his native town, and from there removed to Middlesex. In 1893 he came to Geneva, Ontario county, New York, thinking this a better field for the conduct of his business, and established himself there, the firm being known as Kennedy & Kennedy, and embracing Mr. Kennedy and his son, James M. They now occupy a position in the first ranks of embalmers and undertakers, and control by far the largest amount of business in this line, in Geneva, and still manage a branch in Middlesex. They occupy one of the oldest buildings in the town, which was erected by the Bank of Geneva, and occupied by that institution for many years. It is still in perfect condition and is honored as one of the old landmarks. Mr. Kennedy married in Yates county, New York, 1869, Emma O. Robson, born in Italy, New York, in 1850. Children: James M., see forward; Alice B., married Fred Witter, head bookkeeper at the patent cereals office, and resides in Geneva.
James M., son of Robert M. and Emma O. (Robson) Kennedy, was born in Italy, New York, August 13, 1870. For the past sixteen years he has been his father's partner in the conduct of the above described business. He commenced active work in this line at a very early age, taking charge of one funeral at the age of fourteen years, and conducting it in a manner worthy of one far his senior in years. Mrs. James M. Kennedy is head of the department of embalming and is one of the first women in that line of business in the State. Mr. Kennedy is a member and one of the trustees of the Methodist church, a director of Y. M. C. A., and a staunch Republican. He is also a member of the following organizations: Damascus Temple, of Rochester, Knights Templar, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Iroquois Club of Geneva.
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Mr. Kennedy married, June 27, 1894, Lizzie M. Underwood, of Middlesex, New York. Children : Harold Leo, born January 3, 1897; Ruth M., January 22, 1899; Emma K., August 30, 1900; Robert A., June 27, 1904. These children all attend school in Geneva. Mrs. Ken- nedy graduated from the Middlesex high school, while Mr. Kennedy was a graduate of the Naples high school, of New York.
LAPHAM.
Nathan D. Lapham, attorney and counselor at law in Geneva, On- tario county, New York, has not alone gained a reputation as a civil and criminal lawyer, but has for a number of years been prominently iden- tified with public affairs in his section of the country. It is owing to the energy, ambition and progressive ideas of men of this stamp that many greatly needed improvements are introduced into the commonwealth, and their influence is a widespread one, extending far beyond the confines of their own generation and lives.
(I) Nathan Lapham, grandfather of Nathan D. Lapham, and the ancestor for whom he was named, was a descendant of ancestors who held membership in the Society of Friends of the Massachusetts branch. Nathan Lapham was the owner of a fine homestead in Wayne county, New York, which was in the possession of the family for many years. He was a farmer of the old school, with a decided readiness to adopt modern ideas wherever they proved practicable.
(II) De Witt C., son of Nathan Lapham, was born in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, in 1846, and died on the family homestead in 1909. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the active years of his life, and was prominent in the public affairs of the com- munity, having filled with ability a number of local offices. He was a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and his religious affiliations were with the Methodist church. He married Amelia J. Finley, born in 1847, now residing in the village of Macedon, daughter of David Finley, of the same town.
(III) Nathan D., son of De Witt C. and Amelia J. (Finley) Lap- ham, was born in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, November 14, 1871. From his earliest years he was of a studious nature and made the best possible use of the educational advantages afforded by the Macedon Academy, of which he was a graduate. Subsequently he was a student in the Cornell Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of
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1895, this institution awarding him a post-graduate scholarship. He was admitted to the bar December 26, 1895, and he established himself in the practice of his profession in the spring of 1896, at Lyons, New York, in association with Clyde W. Knapp, who is at present the county judge of Wayne county, the firm being known as Knapp & Lapham, and being dissolved after a period of two years. During 1897-98 Mr. Lapham served as clerk of the board of supervisors, and after the dissolution of his partnership with Mr. Knapp he practiced independently at Lyons until 1902, when he sold his interests to B. S. Rude. On November 13, 1904. he removed to Geneva, New York, where he commenced practicing his profession and won almost immediate recognition for the excellence of his methods. During his six years practice in Geneva he has been called upon to serve as the counsel in seven murder trials, in three of which he gained acquittals for the prisoner ; of the other four cases one was sen- tenced to the electric chair, but is now ( 1910) under sentence, pending application for a new trial, one was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for nineteen years, and the other two received short sentences. Mr. Lapham has gradually withdrawn from the criminal law practice and is devoting more attention to civil cases. As an assistant to Commissioner Clement, of Albany, he has been engaged in special work of prosecu- tion of excise cases, and is now engaged in prosecuting franchise tax cases under special assignment from Attorney-General O'Malley. His political support has always been earnestly given to the interests of the Republican party, and he has a brilliant future before him. Mr. Lapham is a man of more than usual sagacity and sound judgment and is noted for his many excellent characteristics. He is forceful and eloquent in his manner of addressing a jury, which fact carries considerable weight in the decisions rendered, and his services are in great demand as an orator in political campaigns. As a citizen he is universally esteemed, always sustaining the character of a true man. His business transactions are conducted on the principles of strict integrity, and he has fulfilled to the letter every trust committed to him. His social and fraternal affiliations are numerous, among them being the following: Macedon Lodge, No. 665. Free and Accepted Masons; Delta Chi Chapter of Ithaca, New York: Kanadasaga Club; and he served as president of the Taft and Sherman Club during the campaign of 1908.
Mr. Lapham married, October 14, 1903, Rose E., daughter of Har- vey and Kate B. Case, formerly of Clyde, New York, now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Lapham. Mr. and Mrs. Lapham are members of the North Presbyterian Church.
9.7. Forden
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FORDON.
George Frederick Fordon, a member of the third generation of his family in this country, is a well known farmer and fruit grower in Gen- eva, Ontario county, New York. He is descended from a family engaged in agriculture in England for many generations. Continuing the excel- lent and proven methods in vogue in that country for many years, he has supplemented them by adopting the most modern ideas that have been evolved in the cultivation of the soil and bringing its products to the high- est state of perfection. In this direction, Mr. Fordon has been especially progressive, and the excellence of the output from his farm has earned him more than a merely local reputation, and his methods have found many imitators.
(I) William, great-grandfather of George Frederick Fordon, was born in England, October, 1757, and spent his life in his native country, engaged in farming. He married, January 28, 1792, Sarah Mary Duns- lee, who was born in December, 1770.
(II) George, son of William and Sarah Mary (Dunslee) Fordon, was born near Whitby, Yorkshire, England, April 23, 1803, and died near Geneva, Ontario county, New York, February 12, 1876. Having come to the conclusion that the "New World" offered better chances for advancement than the old, he sailed from England for this country, land- ing at New York City, June 1, 1831. During the entire year following he traveled through what was at that time the "far west," now compris- ing the states of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, in search of a locality suitable for a home for his family, but he decided that that section of the country was still in too wild and unsettled a condition. He returned to the East, and purchased a tract of land of two hundred and twelve acres, near the present town of Geneva, and resided on it until his death. Mr. Fordon, the subject of this sketch, distinctly remembers his grandfather telling of walking, in the summer of 1831, a distance of thirty-five miles along the sandy beach of Lake Michigan, and seeing no white man with the exception of his traveling companion. They stopped that night in the now great city of Chicago, which was then a mere trading post, and the proprietor of the best and only hotel in the place was a Frenchman, who had married a squaw. George Fordon was the pioneer of under drainage in Ontario county. In place of the clay tiles which were unknown in that vicinity at the time, he constructed wooden sections, and the ditches lined with these wooden tiles or pipes were in good and con- tinuous use for many years. His neighbors, many of whom had consid-
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ered him a fool for his peculiar methods, became convinced of the utility of his contrivance and followed his lead in the end, when they saw the excellent results that followed. He and his family were members of the Episcopalian church, and his political views were those of the Republican party. He married, November 8, 1822, in England, Hannah Stephen- son. Children : William, see forward, Hannah, Frances Emma, Sarah Mary and George Archer.
(III) William, eldest child of George and Hannah (Stephenson) Fordon, was born near the city of Hull, England, April 15, 1824. He was the last of the family, and died April 29, 1911. He followed in the footsteps of his father as a farmer, keeping well abreast of the times in his management of the land entrusted to his care, and was unusually suc- cessful. His religious affiliations were with the Episcopalian church, and he gave his political support to the principles of the Republican party. He married in Geneva, New York, December 21, 1848, Honor Matilda Dur- rant, born in Syracuse, New York, September 17, 1831. She is the daughter of Isaac and Amelia ( Pye) Durrant, the former born in Lowe- stoft, Suffolk county, England, April 20, 1802, the latter born in the same town, October 20, 1808. Children: George Frederick, see forward; Fanny, born March 25, 1852; Mary, born December 1, 1854.
(IV) George Frederick, eldest child and only son of William and Honor Matilda (Durrant) Fordon, was born in the town of Seneca, On- tario county, New York, January 11, 1850. His education was acquired in the country district schools and in Geneva high school. As he had always been of an ambitious disposition, it is needless to say that he made the best use of his time in these institutions. His spare time was spent in supplementing the education thus obtained, and the habits of study acquired in his youth have been retained throughout his life. After his graduation he commenced teaching in Country District School No. 7, in the towns of Geneva and Seneca, during the winter months, while his summers were spent in assisting his father in the cultivation of the home- stead farm. This period covered the years from 1869 until 1876. He then purchased a farm of his own, removed to it, and engaged in general farming and fruit growing, in which field he has been eminently suc- cessful. While retaining the methods which time has proved to be best suited to that latitude and climatic conditions, he makes a study of scien- tific farming and grafting, and, in some instances, has achieved results which are little short of marvellous. For many years he took charge of the entire farm alone, but in more recent time he has admitted his eldest son to a partnership, and they now work hand in hand. He is a staunch
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supporter of the Republican party, but has held no public offices with the exception of those of school trustee and inspector of elections. He and his family are members of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Fordon married in Geneva, New York, November 1, 1876, Caroline Elizabeth, born in Seneca, New York, a daughter of William and Eliza (Newberry) Tills, the former a farmer and nurseryman, and whose other children are: Edward R., Lucy Alice and William N. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Fordon: 1. William Frederick, born October 8, 1877; graduated from Geneva high school, and is now in partnership with his father. He married, January 30, 1901, Jessie Baxter, and has children: Christine Honor, William Frederick Jr., Helen Dorothy and John Cameron. 2. Lucy Eliza, born October 18, 1879, was graduated from Geneva high school, and resides at home. 3. Sarah Frances, born July 30, 1882; graduated from Geneva high school and Geneseo Normal School, and is now occupied in teaching in the Amsterdam public schools, New York. 4. George Edward, born November 13, 1883; graduate of Geneva high school, now in the employ of the White Springs Farm Dairy Company. 5. Caroline Matilda, born July 20, 1886, graduated from Geneva high school, and from Elmira College in the class of 1910; she is now a member of the faculty of Miss Brownell's Private School for Young Ladies, at Utica, New York. 6. Fanny Butler, born July 10, 1896, is a pupil at Geneva high school.
KANE.
Chief of police, Daniel Kane, of Geneva, is not only one of the oldest guardians of the peace in the State, in point of service, having held that office for more than twenty consecutive years, but also enjoys the distinction of being one of the most efficient detectives between New York city and Chicago. His rapid advancement in the police department was the result of his close attention to duty, and his long continued reten- tion in his present office is a fitting recognition of his earnest endeavors to protect the community from the agressions of law-breakers.
Daniel Kane was born in Geneva, New York, November 27, 1854. His parents were liberty-loving Irish people, who, in the middle of the last century, sought a home in the United States, where the laws and reg- ulations more fully coincided with their ideas of political and religious freedom. He was educated in the Geneva public schools, and after con- cluding his attendance at the high school he engaged in the grocery busi-
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ness. A year later, 1874, he sold his interest in the business to his part- ner, and going to Michigan was for fourteen months employed upon a farm. He then returned to Geneva, but a year later he once more turned westward with a view of obtaining lucrative employment, and found an acceptable position in the Chicago packing house of Libby, McNeil and Libby, where he remained for one year. Dissatisfied with his sur- roundings he again returned to Geneva, and entered the employ of his brother, T. A. Kane, who was in the grocery business. May 16, 1882, he was appointed a patrolman on the Geneva police force, and in that capac- ity he found ample opportunity for the exercise of his natural ability and keen intelligence. His untiring devotion to his duties, together with the thoroughly able manner in which they were executed, won for him the confidence of his superiors and the general public, and in the short space of eight years he attained the highest position in the department.
July 1, 1890, Mr. Kane became the official head of the Geneva police force, and during his twenty-one years of continuous service in that responsible capacity, he has received the cordial support and hearty commendation of his fellow-citizens. His superior executive ability and sincerity of purpose enabled him to bring his department up to a high standard of efficiency, thus making it an effective instrument in protecting the lives and property of all within his jurisdiction, and his alertness in the never ending struggle between the civil authorities and the criminal class, has been the means of bringing many notorious malefactors to justice. Nor have his efforts been wholly confined to local police duty, as he has won an enviable reputation as a detective, and one of his notable achievements in that line was the furnishing of information which caused the arrest and conviction of the five desperate yeggmen who were con- cerned in the robbery of the Shortsville Bank. He is a charter member and past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and attends St. Francis (Roman Catholic) Church.
Mr. Kane was married, May 26, 1881, to Elizabeth Tannian, born in Geneva, December 12, 1854; died September 3, 1906. Children: I. Thomas C., born April 9, 1882 ; married Katherine McAniff, a teacher in the high school at Phelps, New York ; one child, Helen. 2. Josephine, born December 12, 1883. 3. William A., September 18, 1888. 4. Eliz- abeth A., September 27, 1890. 5. John A., May 18, 1893. 6. Daniel F., August 31, 1895. The majority are graduates of the Geneva high school and the others will complete their studies there. The youngest daughter, Elizabeth A., is now attending the State Normal School at Geneseo.
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JOHNSTON.
James Johnston was of Scotch-Irish stock, born in 1813 in Ulster Province, north of Ireland. He had two brothers and two sisters. IIe married Mary Graham, also of Scotch descent, and born in the north of Ireland. They were married in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 1833. Johnston came to Ontario when a young man, and in 1843 settled at Bar- rie, Canada. He was a stone mason, following the masons' trade all of his active life. Children: John, mentioned below; William, born at Kingston in 1838; Robert, born at Kingston in 1841 ; James B., born at Barrie, 1844; Thomas, at Barrie, 1847.
(II) John, son of James Johnston, was born at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, March 29, 1834, and died May 12, 1909. He was a farmer ; a Conservative in politics, and a Methodist in religion. He married in Oro, March 13, 1861, Jane Jamieson, (by Rev. J. C. Slater). (See Jamieson). Children : 1. Margaret, born January 10, 1862, died young. 2. Margaret Elizabeth, born at Dalston, January 11, 1863; married at Minesing, April 18, 1883, Harry Wyles, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, England ; children : Annie Wyles, born at Minesing, February 24, 1884; Edith Wyles, May 18, 1886, died June 22, 1887; Ethel Jean Wyles, Sep- tember 21, 1889; Florence Margaret (twin), June 3, 1894; John Law- rence Wyles (twin of Florence ) ; Constance Muriel Wyles, December 9, 1898. 3. Mary Graham, at Minesing, January 6, 1865 ; married, Decem- ber 27, 1882, Isaac Sommers, and she died March 5, 1904; children, born at Minesing: William Henry Sommers, April 23, 1884: Archibald Jamieson Sommers, June 17, 1886; Walter Burton Sommers, June 6, 1888; Myrtle Belle Sommers, March 17, 1891 ; John Johnston Sommers, August 8, 1893; David Graham Sommers, September, 1896; Herbert Allen Sommers, June, 1899; Mary Graham Jean Sommers, July 26, 1901. 4. William James, mentioned below. 5. Frances Jean, October 13. 1868, a trained nurse in the Blackwell Island Hospital, New York city. 6. Angeline Ann, October 1, 1870. 7. Belvia May, August 24, 1872; married Albert Gibson. 8. John Thomas, August 6, 1876; married Mary Hamilton ; child : William S., born July, 1907.
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