USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 34
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Colonel Ezra Wood's regiment in 1778, as appears from the Massachusetts Revolutionary Rolls. He was one of the early settlers of Ontario county, New York. Children, born in Richmond: Jirah, mentioned below; Mindwell, born February 28, 1755; Mary, April 13, 1757; Seth, July 29, 1759, a soldier from Great Barrington and Richmond in the revolution. Moses and Aaron Rowley, relatives of John, were also soldiers in the revolution from Richmond.
(VI) Jirah, son of John (2) Rowley, was born at Richmond, Massachusetts, June 15, 1753. He was also a soldier in the revolution, a private in Captain Joseph Bacon's company in 1782 and in Captain Amos Rathbun's company with his father John, in 1777, under Major Caleb Hyde. He came with his father to Ontario county and in later years used to drill the militia there. He died December 23, 1835. at Victor, New York.
(VII) Andrew, son of Jirah Rowley, was born in Victor, Ontario county, New York, August 27, 1800, died there November 12, 1877. He was a carpenter by trade and a builder and contractor as well as farmer by occupation. He took several contracts in the construction of the Erie canal and built several miles of the Auburn branch of the New York Central & Hudson River railroad. He had the contracts for building many of the houses and large buildings in Victor and vicinity. He married Sarah Bigelow, of Waterloo, born September 2, 1803, died November 1, 1855. Children : Franklin, mentioned below ; Sarah, mar- ried Walter Van Wechter ; Elizabeth, married Don Van Demburgh ; Bige- low, married Charlotte Talmage, children: Edward, of Joliet, Illinois : Frank, of Victor.
(VIII) Franklin, son of Andrew Rowley, was born in Victor, October 14, 1822, died December 24, 1899. He had a common school education, and has always followed the life of a farmer except for short periods. In 1852 and again in 1855 he made trips to Pike's Peak to engage in mining and was successful in both his ventures. For a time he owned a ferry across the Platte river and carried freight as well as pas- sengers. He was a Methodist in religion and a Republican in politics. He married, December 23, 1858, Jeanette Wilder, born January 15, 1830, died December 8, 1895, daughter of William Wilder, of South Bristol, New York. Children: Dr. Charles A., mentioned below; Calvin, William Wilder, Frank, Clark Brace, George Daniel. All the six sons are living and have prospered in business.
(IX) Dr. Charles Andrew Rowley, son of Franklin Rowley, was born in Victor, January 13, 1863. He attended the public schools and
Charles Andrews Nowley
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the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York. He entered the Cleveland Medical College in Ohio, and was graduated in due course, March 10, 1888. Since then he has practiced at Victor and has been very successful, especially in the diseases of women and children, of which he has made a specialty, and in surgery. His practice is exten- sive and his calls are numerous at a distance from his home, as well as in Victor. His office practice also is large. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society, the Western New York Medical So- ciety, and the Ontario County Medical Society. He has been for several years health officer of Victor, and member of the Board of Education. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Presbyterian.
He married, January 6, 1897, Stella Power, born at Farmington, New York, July 13, 1866, daughter of Mark Sibley and Alyda (Shaw) Power, of Farmington. They have one child, Gladys Jeanette, born September 22, 1898.
RAINES.
Senator John Raines, whose recent death when scarcely past the prime of life, who has been prominently before the public for many years, and whose strong and intellectual personality left its impress on so many measures for the public benefit, traced his lineage directly to the Nor- man barons, and the original homestead of Ryton Grange, in Yorkshire, England, is still in the possession of members of his family.
(I) Rev. John Raines, the first member of the family to make his home in this country, emigrated to America in 1817, with his fortunes badly shattered by the Napoleonic wars, and for some years resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About the year 1830 he settled with his family on a farm near Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York. He was a Methodist minister.
(II) Rev. John, son of Rev. John Raines, was also a prominent clergyman in the Methodist denomination, holding important charges in the western part of New York state. He married Mary, a daughter of Colonel Thaddeus Remington, of Canandaigua. Children: I. John, see forward. 2. Thomas, who served as state treasurer, 1871-74, and is now a resident of the city of Rochester. 3. George, represented the Monroe district in the state senate, 1878-79, gained a widespread repu- tation as a criminal lawyer, and died in Rochester, November, 1908. 4. William G., was a prominent lawyer in Washington, District of Co-
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lumbia, and in New York City, and now lives in retirement at Wheeler Station, Ontario county, New York. 5-6. Thaddeus and Eugene, died in early manhood. 7. Mary, married the late Hon. George F. Yeo- man, of Rochester, in which city she now resides.
(III) Hon John Raines, eldest child of Rev. John and Mary ( Rem- ington) Raines, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, May 6, 1840, and died December 16, 1909. His early education was re- ceived in the public schools, and he then became a student at the Albany Law School, from which institution he was graduated. For a short time he taught school, then established himself in the practice of his profes- sion in Geneva. He abandoned this toward the end of 1861 in order to raise a company of volunteers for the war, and was commissioned cap- tain of Company G, Eighty-fifth New York Regiment. He served in the Army of the Potomac and in North Carolina until July, 1863, then returned to Geneva, and resumed his legal practice. In 1867 he removed to Canandaigua, where he opened a law and insurance office. It was during his continued residence in Canandaigua that his eminent public career commenced. As a member of the Republican party he was elected to the assembly in 1880, and his discernment, shrewdness and wisdom as a public leader were immediately recognized. In 1883 he was again the candidate of his party for election to the assembly, his opponent being Hon. Frank Rice, who had been nominated to succeed himself, and Mr. Raines was defeated. In the following year he defeated the Demo- cratic candidate, Hon. Nathan Oaks. Mr. Raines was elected as repre- sentative of the old Twenty-eighth district in the state senate in 1885, was re-elected in 1887, was representative in Congress from the Twenty- ninth district in 1889, remaining there until 1893, when, the state having been reapportioned, he retired from his district in favor of Hon. Sereno E. Payne. A special election was held December 20, 1894, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. Charles T. Saxton, who had been elected lieutenant-governor, and Mr. Raines was again elected to the state senate, carrying every election district in this county. in 1895 he represented the Forty-second district, being elected against a strong and bitter opposing force whose candidate was Hon. J. Henry Metcalf. From 1898 Mr. Raines was the unanimously renominated candidate of his party, and each term won the election, although in each case his opponents were the strongest men of the Democratic party. His devel- opment as a notable leader and an orator of high rank was speedy and constant. The efforts to secure a new ballot law had been thrown into confusion by the differences which existed between the Democratic gov-
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ernor and the Republican Legislature, and in 1895, when Mr. Raines returned to the state senate, he formulated and introduced the blanket ballot bill, which was made a law at the same session, is in use up to the pres- ent time with slight amendments, and which has been recognized as the most efficient measure for obtaining a fair election and an unimpeach- able count. In 1896 he introduced the law known as the liquor tax bill, and his eloquent pleas for its adoption and masterly management of the forces necessary to secure its passage, resulted in its being placed upon the statute book. This important law, having thousands of op- ponents in the liquor dealers, large and small, throughout the state, was the cause of his being held up to public ridicule in every conceiv- able manner, and the downfall of Republican state control was predicted for the near future, but it was not long before the measure was com- pletely vindicated and its wisdom and its feasibility proven. Senator Raines was the originator of many other important laws, among which may be mentioned the unification act, which wiped out all antagonism between the various educational systems in use in the state and made the new system harmonious and efficient. He was a prime factor in formulating and passing laws controlling banking, insurance, highways, race track gambling, and many others. His work was particularly effective in the committee room, where he allowed no time to be wasted in useless controversies over minor points, and thus interfere with important af- fairs. His acquaintance with parliamentary procedure was remarkable, and hard work, indefatigable energy and a desire to serve the public to the fullest extent of his powers had given him a mastery of state affairs which his associates freely and openly recognized. He was in succession the trusted confidant and efficient lieutenant of a number of governors of the state, including Morton, Roosevelt, Odell, Higgins and Hughes, although he opposed the latter in the Kelsey matter and the direct primaries question. It may be taken for granted that, had his life been spared, he would have been the medium to reconcile the views of party leaders regarding the necessary legislation for primary reform. His length of service as a member of the state senate is the longest on record, and the number of times he has by successive elections been president of that body has never been surpassed, the office taking rank next to that of lieutenant-governor of the state; he was the first presi- dent of the senate to be elected by the unanimous vote of that body. Senator Raines had been identified with the Republican party from early manhood, and his support was staunch and never-failing. The highest offices in the state were within his reach yet, feeling that he
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could be of most service to the greatest number as a member of the sen- ate, he never aspired to higher state office. As an alternate delegate at large he represented the state in several national conventions, and for many years he was at the head of the Ontario county delegation to the Republican state conventions. He frequently acted as chairman of important committees at these gatherings, and his influence was always a beneficial and decisive one. While Senator Raines was considered by some as old-fashioned and too conservative in his ideas as a politi- cian, the modern ideas and progressive laws he originated amply dis- prove this opinion. In supreme moments of activity, when matters came to a crisis, he was never excited, surprised or disconcerted, but simply aroused to cool and intrepid action. Few men studied more closely the public questions of the hour, and his mind was well stored with information on all topics. He deemed no sacrifice too great to ad- vance the cause on which he was engaged, and his perfect mastery of the subject enabled him to handle it with the greatest ease. His un- doubted devotion to the interests of his voters gained and retained for him their unswerving faith in his ability. Senator Raines was one of the most bitterly criticised members of the senate, yet even his oppon- ents entertained the highest respect for his force of character and the sincerity and purity of his motives. Although his career was not entirely free from mistakes, he was the first to recognize them, and to rectify them wherever this was possible. He was closely identified with every movement which tended to the betterment of his village and county, especially those matters pertaining to public education. October 13, 1874, he was elected clerk of old School District No. II and, with the exception of one year, served until the formation of the Union School District in 1887. He was the most prominent factor in organizing this movement, and served as president of the board of education from 1887 until his death. Under his regime the Union School building. the primary buildings and the Academy building were erected. He was a most loving husband and father, as is clearly evinced in his devotion to his wife, who was an invalid for a number of years, and in the affec- tion shown toward his children and grandchildren. He was a true friend. faithful to the convictions of duty, and with a sympathetic heart and an open hand. His charities were far-reaching but unostentatious.
Senator Raines married, at Geneva, 1862, Catherine A. Wheeler, who died in Canandaigua in 1879. Children: I. John, of whom further. 2. Edith, married Dr. W. E. Sylvester, who is a member of the State Board of Alienists, and resides in New York City. 3. Grace,
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married W. H. Welch, supervisor of the Northern Central Railway at Canandaigua. 4. Charles T., who fills a responsible position in the office of the New York State Comptroller. 5. Kate, married J. H. Kessler, a well known civil engineer, who resides in Philadelphia. 6. George R., see forward.
(IV) John Raines, eldest son of the Hon. John Raines, was born in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, June 6, 1863. He is classed among the men whose lives and personal exertions have done so much to- ward the material and commercial prosperity of Canandaigua. His busi- ness transactions are conducted on the principles of strict integrity, and he fulfills to the letter every trust committed to him. As a citizen he is universally esteemed, always sustaining the character of a true man.
When four years of age, John Raines Jr. accompanied his parents to Canandaigua, New York, where he was reared, obtaining his educa- tion in the public schools, Canandaigua Academy and University of Rochester. During his vacations he spent his time in his father's office, he being engaged in the insurance business, and thus became familiar with all branches of that profession. Upon the completion of his studies, in June, 1884, he entered the employ of his father, and in 1889 became a partner in the firm of J. Raines & Son, this being the oldest established business in this line in Canandaigua. The business increased in volume and importance with the passing years, father and son continuing their business relationship until the death of Mr. Raines Sr., when his son succeeded to the business, retaining the old firm name, and is still con- ducting a successful and lucrative trade, making a specialty of fire in- surance. In 1898 Mr. Raines received the appointment of postmaster of Canandaigua from President William Mckinley, was reappointed by President Theodore Roosevelt, and is the incumbent of the office at the present time (1910), having served in that capacity for twelve years, during which time he has given general satisfaction to the public. He became connected with the Canandaigua fire department in 1886. continuing his service for à period of seven years, also served as secre- tary, trustee, president, holding the latter office two years, of the Mer- rill Hose Company, and has been treasurer of the Red Jacket Club since 1902. He has always been an active Republican in politics, though never aspiring to holding elective office, preferring to devote his time and attention to business pursuits. He attends St. John's Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Raines is a member, although he still retains a pew in the Methodist Episcopal church, this being the religious prefer-
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ence of his ancestors for several generations. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Raines married, December 23, 1885, Caroline E., a native of Waterloo, New York, daughter of Captain John and Marietta ( Cooper) Stevenson, the former of whom served during the civil war. Children : 1. John (5), born July 11, 1887; a graduate of Canandaigua Academy ; served for three years as stenographer for the president pro tem of the New York state senate, Hon. John Raines; graduated from Albany Law School, June, 1909 (his grandfather's alma mater), and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1909; at the present time ( 1910) en- gaged with the law firm of Raines & Raines, of Rochester, New York. 2. Frederick Stevenson, born March 23, 1891. 3. Guy Mitchell, born June 16, 1897.
(IV) George R., son of Hon. John and Catherine A. (Wheeler) Raines, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, March 1, 1878. His preparatory education was acquired in Phelps' Union and Classical Academy, and he then matriculated at Cornell University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Law. He commenced the practice of his profession in Rochester, New York, and is now a member of the firm of Webster, Meade, Strauss & Raines, in that city.
He married, in Canandaigua, Lola, daughter of Ziba C. Curtis, of Canandaigua, formerly an undertaker of that town. They have 110 children.
WILBUR.
Samuel Wilbur, immigrant ancestor, married in England, Ann, daughter of Thomas Bradford, of Doncaster; York county or York- shire. The first record of him is on December 1, 1633, when he and his wife Ann were admitted to the First Church at Boston. He was made a freeman in Boston, March 4, 1634. He owned much property in Taun- ton, Massachusetts, as well as in Boston, and probably in both places. In November, 1637, he was among those banished from the colony on account of religious views. Acting on the advice of Roger Williams, he went to Providence, where he and the others who fled with him negotiated with the Narragansett Indians for the purchase of the Island of Aquednek, now Rhode Island. Early in 1638 he removed with his family to the new location. In 1645 he returned to Boston. Later, he
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built an iron furnace at Taunton, the first in New England. In 1638 he was clerk of the town board, was constable in 1639, and in 1644 was sergeant. He married (second) Elizabeth Lechford, widow of Thomas Lechford. She was admitted to the church, November 29, 1645. He died July 24, 1656. His will, dated April 30, 1656, was proved November 6, 1656, and his widow and son Shadrach were execu- tors. His widow married Henry Bishop, December 20, 1656; he died in 1664 and she probably about July, 1665. Children : Samuel, born 1614; Joseph, died August 27, 1691 ; William, mentioned below ; Shadrach, born 1632.
(II) William, son of Samuel Wilbur, was born in 1630, died in 1710. He married Martha -, in 1653. He settled at Little Comp- ton, Rhode Island, about 1654. Children : Mary, born 1654; Joseph, 1656; John, 1658; Thomas, 1659; William, December, 1660; Martha, 1662; Samuel, 1664, mentioned below ; Daniel, 1666; Joan, 1668; Ben- jamin, 1670.
(III) Samuel (2), son of William Wilbur, was born in 1664, died in 1740. He married, 1689, Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Stokes) Potter. Children : Martha, born October 22, 1690; Samuel, November 7, 1692; William, January 6, 1695; Mary, October 29, 1697; Joanna (twin), June 8, 1700; Thankful (twin) ; Elizabeth, December 23, 1702; Thomas, December 29, 1704; Abial, May 27, 1707; Hannah, February 9, 1709; Isaac, mentioned below.
(IV) Isaac, son of Samuel (2) Wilbur, was born August 24, 1712, died September, 1793. He married, March 10, 1735, Mary, daughter of John and Mary Brownell. Children: John, born October 2, 1738; Mary, May 30, 1740; Samuel, September 28, 1747; Deborah, February 24, 1749; Elizabeth, July 27, 1751 ; Susannah, May 29, 1754; Brownell, December 15, 1755, mentioned below; Hannah, July 24, 1759.
(V) Brownell, son of Isaac Wilbur, was born December 15, 1755. He married, September 1, 1776, Esther, daughter of William Wilbur. Children : Nancy, born August 31, 1777; Patience, June 11, 1779; Thankful, December 21, 1781 ; Wright, May 19, 1783, mentioned be- low ; Esther, October 4, 1786; Phebe, November 6, 1788; Hannah, Au- gust 15, 1793; Isaac, April 11, 1795; Lois, December 20, 1796; Mary, February 17, 1799; Martha ; Emlin; Benjamin.
(VI) Wright, son of Brownell Wilbur, was born May 19, 1783, died when a young man. He settled in Madison county, New York, and was a farmer. He married, , who died in 1849.
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Children : James, Owen, Christopher, Gideon, George, Brownell, Will- iam, Patty, Maria and several others.
(VII) Brownell (2), son of Wright Wilbur, was born in Madi- son county, New York, in 1809. He was educated in the district schools and always followed farming for an occupation. He had a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Wayne county. In politics he was a Demo- crat ; in religion a Baptist. He was active in the church. He retired from active labor in 1876 and died in 1880. He married Elizabeth Rowell, born in eastern New York, died in 1885, at Victor, daughter of Amasa and Katherine (Graham) Rowell. Her father lived to the age of ninety; her mother to seventy years. Children: Marvin A., mentioned below; Helen A., born in 1844, died in Victor in 1906, mar- ried T. T. Moffitt, who died in 1902 at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.
(VIII) Marvin A., son of Brownell (2) Wilbur, was born at Hamilton, Madison county, New York, January 9, 1837. He attended the public schools and was graduated from Madison (now Colgate) University. He taught in Rose Valley, Butler and North Rose public schools. In 1858 he gave up teaching on account of ill health and lo- cated on a farm in Victor, also assisting his father in conducting the home- stead there in connection with a milling business. From 1860 to 1862 he was in the oil fields of Pennsylvania. He afterward conducted the farm until he sold it, and moved to a house in the village of Victor, October I, 1864. He then bought the mill and business of a Mr. Brown in Victor and continued in that business for ten years. He became a dealer in horses, buying and selling thoroughbreds. Five years later he purchased a one-half interest in the banking firm of Parmele & Hamlin, later known as Higginbotham & Wilbur, in Victor, and from 1888 to 1898 the firm enjoyed a flourishing business. He retired from the firm in 1898. In politics he is a Democrat ; in 1866 he was highway commissioner, was trustee of the first school district of Victor six years; trustee of the in- corporated village two terms; supervisor of the town eight years and chairman of the board. In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleve- land deputy collector of internal revenue. In religion he is a Presby- terian and was formerly chairman of the board of trustees. He is a director of the Canandaigua National Bank, of which he was one of the founders. He married, in Victor, in 1871, Ida M. Dewey. Chil- dren : Lee J., born December 17, 1872; Laura E., born in Victor, Au- gust 12, 1887, resides with her parents in Victor.
....
Merusie, s, Halber
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BURLING.
George W. Burling, secretary and assistant treasurer of the Alling & Cory Company, is descended from a Burling who was the first of the name to settle on Manhattan Island, and was one of the first settlers there. According to an old history of New York he owned all the prop- erty in the vicinity of Burling Slip, New York City, and the slip was named in his honor.
Thomas C. Burling, father of the subject of this narrative, was a farmer and carpenter by occupation. He was a Quaker, and a member of the Orthodox Society, Farmington, Ontario county, New York. He married Cynthia Averill.
George W., son of Thomas C. and Cynthia ( Averill) Burling, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, March 12, 1858. His education was acquired in the district schools and the Canandaigua Academy. His first business position was with Hubbell & Gillett, dry goods and carpet merchants, who succeeded the well known firm of John C. Draper, and he remained with them for a period of eight years. He removed to Rochester, New York, in 1880, and for seven years was with A. S. Mann & Company, being manager of the office. He then, in 1879, formed a connection with Alling & Cory, wholesale paper merchants, also as manager of the office. This firm was incor- porated in 1908 as the Alling & Cory Company, and Mr. Burling was elected secretary and assistant treasurer, a position he holds at the pres- ent time. He has always been a staunch supporter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to holding public office. His religious affiliations in Canandaigua were with the Old Congregational church, and at present they are with the Third Presbyterian church of Rochester.
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