USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 37
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New York, September 8, 1896; Elwyn C. Lewis, January 18, 1897; Genevieve Kathryn Lewis, born at Ingleside Station, Steuben county, New York, May 31, 1898; Lina Sophia Lewis, born at Lynn, Steuben county, New York, February 28, 1901; Clarissa Joy Lewis, born in Geneva, New York, February 18, 1905.
(THE FORCE LINE).
(I) David Force, immigrant ancestor, was born about 1758 in France, and, being left an orphan during the French revolution, or in the troubles preceding, was cared for and brought to America by a Quaker with whom he was living, a youth of nineteen, at Princeton, New Jersey, at the time of the battle of Princeton, in 1777. Restrained from enlisting in the American army in the revolution on account of the non-combatant principles of his guardian, he was at that time im- pressed into the service to help care for the wounded and dead. Among those who were conveyed from the danger zone between the armies was Jerusha Opdyke, a Holland Dutch girl, whom he afterward mar- ried. Both his home and hers were between the firing lines, and the Opdyke house was converted into a hospital. Among the descendants of this couple were many physicians and surgeons. Children: John, a soldier in the war of 1812, died in the service; Benjamin, mentioned below. The name in France was La Force, and some of the descendants still retain that spelling.
(II) Benjamin, son of David Force, was born in 1793, died in 1873. He spent his youth in his native place in New Jersey and was a pioneer settler at Steuben county, now Schuyler county, New York, where he followed farming all his active life. In politics he was a Whig and afterward a Republican. An intense Abolitionist, he was prominent in all anti-slavery movements and his house was a station of the Under- ground Railroad. His grandson and namesake was instantly killed while serving in the Union army in the civil war in Sherman's "March to the Sea" in 1864. He married (first) Sophia Caswell, born in 1796, died in 1836, daughter of Thomas Caswell, who was born in 1756, died in 1831. Her mother, Miriam (Smith) Caswell, was born and raised in Massachusetts. A number of the descendants of Thomas and Miriam Caswell were prominent business men in Ohio. Children of Benjamin Force: John, Lodencia, Dr. Lyman, Dr. Alfred, Chester B. Benjamin Force married (second) Sarah Russell, by whom he had three children : Eliza, Julia, and David.
(III) Chester B., son of Benjamin Force, was born at Kendall,
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in Altay valley, Steuben county, New York, now in Schuyler county, in 1832, died in 1906. He was educated in the public schools. He was a gifted musician, but his principal business through a long and active life was farming. His home was near Geneva, Ontario county, New York. In politics he was a Republican; in religion a member of the Christian church. He married, in 1860, Catherine Cromwell Winter, born in Ontario county, in 1832, died in 1893, daughter of Joel Winter, born 1799, died 1872. Her father was a native of Danbury, Con- necticut, a farmer by occupation, and a carpenter by trade ; a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her mother, Lina ( Witter) Winter, was born in 1805 in Orange county, New York, died in 1859, and resided from her second year until her death upon the homestead in Ontario county, near Geneva, New York, and was buried on the old homestead. Abner Winter, father of Joel, was born in Connecticut or Massachusetts; was a soldier in the revolu- tion and died at Sodus Bay, New York. The father of Abner Winter came to this country from France; married Anna Miner, of an old Connecticut family, and while he was in the service during the revolu- tionary war she cared for the family, harvesting the grain with a sickle and doing the other work of the farm. Ezra Witter, father of Lina (Witter) Winter, purchased a tract of "new country" in Ontario county, New York, near Geneva, in 1807, and this estate was held in part by his descendants until the fifth generation. He married Patience Green, of Orange county, New York, and they have many descendants. Most of the Witters of the later generations have been Republicans in politics, and Baptists in religion. Children of Chester B. and Catherine C. (Winter) Force: Ida Agnes (who uses the spelling La Force), born June 22, 1861, in Ontario county, near Geneva; Susie E., born March 29, 1873, married (first) Charles W. Lewis and ( second) William Henry McKelvie (see McKelvie) : Lewis.
O'BRIEN.
Patrick O'Brien was born in county Galway, Ireland, March II, 1832, died August 14, 1908, in the town of Manchester, New York. He came to this country when a young man, landing at Castle Garden, New York, and came after a short time to Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, where he found employment. Being blessed with a happy
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disposition and abundant good nature, he made many friends. Indus- trious, frugal and honest, he made his way and prospered. He became the owner of a good farm, which he conducted the remainder of his life. He was an upright, earnest citizen, a staunch Democrat in politics, and a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church. He was married, February II, 1858, at Geneva, New York, by Rev. Father O'Connor, to Anne McGrath, who was also born in county Galway, Ireland, and who died in the town of Manchester, New York, February 4, 1906, aged seventy-two years. Children: Daniel R., mentioned below; John J., born December 23, 1861 ; Mary A., November 28, 1863, married Thomas Fitzgerald, of Hopewell, November 28, 1888, and died Jan- uary 28, 1890; Patrick W., November 17, 1865; Julia, December 22, 1868, died December 23, 1888; Francis, July 9, 1872; Martin E., July 5, 1876.
Daniel R., son of Patrick O'Brien, was born at Hopewell, Feb- ruary 5, 1859, and was educated there in the public schools. He has followed farming for an occupation. In 1888 he bought the Knapp farm, now known as the Orchard Grove Farm, which is nicely located in the town of Hopewell, a mile and a half southeast of Shortsville village, and one of the best cultivated and most productive fruit and grain farms in Ontario county. He is a progressive and up-to-date farmer, and energetic and industrious. His barns and other farm buildings are models in construction and of tasteful design. The house was built in 1824, but has a modern appearance and is cosy and homelike. Mr. O'Brien is generous, open-hearted and charitable, and commands the esteem of the entire community. He is a member of St. Dominick Roman Catholic church. He is a member of K. O. T. M., Tent No. 119, . and C. M. B. A., No. 142. In politics he is a Democrat. He married, February 27, 1889, Anna McMahon, of Victor, Ontario county, a daughter of Michael and Margaret ( Marrinan) McMahon. Children : Margaret A., born September 5, 1890; John Emmett, September 6, 1891, graduate of Shortsville high school with honor, June 21, 1910; Walter P., June 17, 1893 ; Francis M., September 9, 1897, died October 30, 1905. Mrs. Anna (McMahon) O'Brien was educated at Victor, Ontario county, and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York, and for several years before her marrige was a successful school teacher.
The parents of Mrs. O'Brien were natives of county Clare, Ireland. Her father, Michael McMahon, was born September 20, 1834. Her mother, Margaret (Marrinan) McMahon, was born April 1, 1834-
Mary J. Mot
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They were playmates and schoolmates in Ireland. Mr. McMahon came to America when fifteen years of age ( 1849), landing in Charlotte, New York, after a voyage of seven weeks. He found employment with different families, who were all very kind to him, he having no friend or relatives other than his brother and three sisters, who came over with him, and the lot of this boy was by no means an easy one. However, he was industrious and honest, and by diligence was soon able to accumu- late money, and after a few years he was enabled to buy a small farm in Victor. His old playmate came to America in the early fifties, and on February 5, 1855, they were married, and lived to celebrate their golden wedding in 1905. Mrs. McMahon died October 24. 1908. Children : Ella, who married Owen Murphy, February 22, 1881, died August 3, 1884, leaving two children, William and Francis; Anna, who became Mrs. O'Brien; Margaret C., wife of William Murray, of Victor, three children, Loretta, Leo and Vincent; Julia, married John J. Lynaugh, eight children : Margaret, Henry, Helen, Howard, Beatrice,. John F., George and Paul J. In religion the family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
MOTT.
Philander Mott, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, lived in Chatham, Columbia county, New York. The family is believed to have been of French refugee origin, and the name has been common from early times in county Essex, England, on Long Island and in Westchester and other counties of New York. In 1851 Philander Mott, with his wife and children, moved from Chatham to Phelps, Ontario county, New York. He married Mary Ann Baker. Children : Antoinette L., married Orren Gifford; children: Mary, George Mott and Helen; Mrs. Gifford died at the early age of thirty. Philander A., referred to below.
Philander A., son of Philander and Mary Ann ( Baker) Mott, was born in Chatham, Columbia county, New York, March 14, 1829, and died in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, March 6, 1909. His early life was spent at the home of his ancestors on the banks of the Hudson, and as a young man he accompanied his father to Ontario county and settled in the town of Phelps. By his keen insight and remarkable business ability, coupled as it was with an ever broadening knowledge of affairs and a judgment that seldom erred. Mr. Mott added steadily to his estate
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and amassed a large and varied property, which with the large business connections he formed in the course of his career made him a well-known man, not only in neighboring cities but also throughout the state. He was noted and pointed out for his habit of looking out personally after all the smallest details of his business, and as an example of one whose wealth had been created by old-fashioned, rugged business principles and conserved by his simple life, good health and temperate frugal habits. His success was all the greater because it was achieved in a small com- munity where business opportunities were not plentiful and, had his opportunities been greater, those who knew him say that he would have more than held his own with the ablest American financiers. Mr. Mott was a Republican in politics.
He married, in 1856, Mary J. Brush, who died May 5, 1904. Chil- dren : 1. George P., married Carrie Vosburgh and has three children : George Everett, Hazel, Ethel. 2. Alice L. 3. Mary G. 4. Emma, married Abraham Garlock, of Newark, N. Y .; two children : Alice M. and Mott A. 5. Antoinette, married Lyndon E. Adams, of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and she has one son, George M.
KEATING.
John Keating was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1795, died in 1885. He married. Ellen Roach, who was also born in county Cork. She died in 1890, aged ninety years.
(II) John (2), son of John ( I) Keating, was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1844. He came to America when he was fifteen years old. He followed farming all his active life. He made his home in Victor, New York. In politics he was a Democrat; in religion a Roman Cath- olic. He married, in 1870, Margaret Moore, born in East Bloomfield, New York, July 8, 1845, died February 17, 1909. Margaret Moore was a daughter of Michael Moore, born in Ireland in 1805. died in 1895 ; married Margaret Mahoney, born in county Cork, in 1810, died in 1894. Children of John Keating: I. William F., mentioned below. 2. Elizabeth, born at Victor, March, 1873, married John J. Brady. 3. Frederick B., born at Victor, February, 1874, married Catherine Tobin. 4. Mary, born at Victor, November 19, 1885, never married. 5. Henry, born at Victor, November 19, 1887, died March 29, 1888.
(III) William F., son of John (2) Keating, was born in East
Home of Philander Mott, Phelps, N Y
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Bloomfield, New York, November 5, 1871. He was educated in the district schools and the high school at Victor, New York, and at the Rochester Business College. From 1893 to 1895 he was in the employ of Loomis & Woodworth, produce dealers at Victor, as bookkeeper for ten years. In 1904 he entered the employ of the M. W. Burke & Com- pany, real estate and insurance brokers, at Victor. He bought the busi- ness of his employers, March 1, 1905, and has conducted it successfully to the present time. In politics he is a Democrat. He has served the town one term as collector of taxes. He is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is a communicant of the Catholic church, and belongs to St. Patrick's parish. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He married, September 1, 1902, Honora Tobin, born at Victor, July 15, 1875, daughter of James and Mary (Burke) Tobin. Her father was born in county Cork, Ireland, August 15. 1840, and came to America in 1862 and to Victor in 1864. He is a farmer. In religion he is a Catholic and in politics a Democrat. Mary ( Burke) Tobin was born in county Cork, Ireland, in March, 1843, married, Feb- ruary 14, 1862, the same year in which she came to this country. Peter Burke, father of Mary, came to this country in 1862; his wife, Catherine (O'Brien) Burke, died in February, 1888.
O'MALLEY.
Hon. Patrick O'Malley was born in Lyons, New York, February 25, 1858, and attended the public schools of Lyons and Geneva, New York, and the Geneva high school. He came with the family from Lyons to Geneva when he was a boy of nine and his first work was in the employ of Maxwell Brothers, nurserymen, weeding for the modest wages of fifty cents a day. He worked in various nurseries in Geneva until he was sixteen, when he became clerk in the grocery store of Flynn & Dorsey for a year. He then entered the employ of Mr. Higgins in the trucking business and, as the business increased, he was given more re- sponsibility, in the course of time becoming foreman. When his em- ployer died, Mr. O'Malley was admitted to partnership by the widow. Two years later the entire plant of the firm was destroyed by fire. Mr. O'Malley made a new start on his own account, beginning in a small way and adding gradually to his equipment as his business and capital increased. At the present time his equipment is designed to handle all
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kinds of trucking from light express work to the heaviest. He has sixteen horses employed and a considerable force of men. Most of his business is in Geneva. He has for many years had charge of the Standard Oil business and the Pillsbury flour business in Geneva; of the transportation for Granger & Company's warehouses ; of the delivery of all the goods shipped by boat or rail to the merchants of Geneva from the Crouse Grocery Company, from the grocery house of G. Thal- heimer ; from F. L. Walrath & Company; Hudson Brothers; Bentley & Settle; G. C. Buell & Company of Rochester, New York; and from Cahill Brothers, cracker manufacturers of Syracuse. The deliveries and freight of the Herendeen Manufacturing Company of Geneva are also handled by him. He keeps two teams constantly employed in de- livering freight from the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad freight house and from the Lehigh Valley road. He has an unequalled reputation for promptness and reliability in his line of work. In addi- tion to his own extensive business, he is a stockholder in the Fay & Bowen Engine Company; a director in the Geneva Cutlery Company; in the Geneva Glass Company; the Geneva Furniture Company; the Ontario Coal Company ; the Empire Coke Company; and the Summitt Foundry. He is also a director of the Geneva Savings Bank. He has always been interested in politics and, possessing the public confidence to a remarkable degree, he is a leading influence in the Democratic party in Geneva. He was appointed alderman some years ago, was formerly tax collector of the city, and on November 5, 1909, he was elected mayor of the city for a term of two years. His administration has been eminently satisfactory and his personal popularity has increased. In June, 1910, he attended the conference of mayors of the state of New York, where he delivered an interesting address entitled, "The Pre- vention of Disease by the Elimination of Dust," which was received with hearty commendation and embodied in the report. He also at- tended the conference of mayors at Poughkeepsie, New York, May 25-26-27, 1911, where he spoke on the subject, "Paving and Care of Streets." He was chairman of the 1910 conference. His administra- tion as mayor speaks for itself, and no man in the city of Geneva is held in higher esteem. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus ; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Eagles. Mayor O'Malley has been a faithful Catholic and is trustee of the St. Frances de Sales church.
Mayor O'Malley is a typical self-made man, starting with nothing but a vigorous constitution and ambition, tireless energy and high purposes,
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native shrewdness and ability. He has shown the public spirit of a loyal citizen, working for the betterment of the city, and has interested himself in many projects that have tended to develop and improve the munici- pality, adding to its wealth and prestige and making for its present and future prosperity. His judgment in investing his savings has been exceptional, and he has been fortunate in real estate operations. He has the wit, humor, geniality and resourcefulness that are sometimes called characteristic of his race and ancestry, and he has the high ideals and sterling common-sense of the self-made American.
He married, in Geneva, August 15, 1874, Mary, born in Ire- land, January 1, 1858, daughter of Owen White. Children: 1. John F., born September 9, 1885, bookkeeper of the Empire Coke Works and city clerk. 2. Mary E., June 29, 1887, assistant city clerk. 3. Ellen, November 25, 1888. 4. William P., June 12, 1890. 5. Kathaleen, February 8, 1892, student at Nazareth Academy, Rochester, New York. 6. Joseph M., November 9, 1893. 7. Alice, June 15, 1895. 8. Norine, May 8, 1897. 9. Charles, January 10, 1899. 10. Pauline, June 12, 1901. John, Mary, Ellen, Kathaleen, Joseph M., and Alice, have all graduated from St. Francis Parochial School with high honors.
Michael O'Malley, father of Mayor O'Malley, was a native of Ire- land, and came to America in the year 1860. He was employed in rail- roading until 1856 when he died from injuries received in the railroad yards at Lyons, New York, where he was struck by a locomotive.
COYE.
Among the Scotch-Irish who came to this country in 1718 and the years following in great numbers, were several of the name, variously spelled Coe, Coy, Coye, Cohee, Cowee, and the variation still exists in different branches of the same family. The name Coey is found in Antrim and Down counties, of Ulster, Ireland, whence the immigrants came to this country. Although the families are called Scotch-Irish, it is believed that the origin of the family is really English, and that Coe is the common English spelling in recent years. But possibly the family belongs to the Cowie family of Buckie, Scotland, the surname being taken from Cowie, an ancient fishing village (p. 390, vol. ii., Hanna's "Scotch-Irish").
(I) Nehemiah Coye or Coy (which at first was the more common
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spelling), was of Scotch ancestry, and settled in Windham county, Con- necticut, probably as early as 1735. The "History of Union" says he came from Scotland, but it is practically certain that he came from Scotch ancestry that had been for a few generations, at least, in the north of Ireland.
(II) Nehemiah Mark, son of Nehemiah Coye, was born before 1720, doubtless in the north of Ireland, and came with his father to Windham county, Connecticut. He lived in Pomfret, Connecticut, re- moved with various other Scotch-Irish families to Union, Connecticut, where they were near their kindred in Brimfield, Palmer and Pelham, Massachusetts. He bought land at Union, April 6, 1749, of Samuel Chamberlain. He married (first) Sarah Church, (second) Mary Buck. Children : Nehemiah, was a soldier in the revolution; Amasa, died November 6, 1776; Archibald, mentioned below; Abigail; Margaret; Mary, born 1752.
(III) Archibald, son of Nehemiah Mark Coye, was born May 6, 1741, and died at Union, April 19, 1794, aged fifty-two years. He settled in Union, and became a prominent citizen and town officer. From this family comes the name of Coye Hill in Union. He was a soldier in the revolution, a sergeant in the Union company that turned out on the Lexington alarm under Captain Thomas Lawson. He married, December 25, 1760, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Badger Jr. She died May 28, 1808, aged sixty-six years. Children : Perley, born June 28, 1661, died in the service, in the revolution, 1781 ; Levi, March 31, 1763; Luke, mentioned below ; Chloe, December 25, 1766; Rufus, November 26, 1768; Molly, February 5, 1770; David, March 2, 1772; Irene Kinney, June 3. 1775; Abigail, January 25, 1778; Nehemiah, March 5, 1780; Elizabeth, May 31, 1782.
(IV) Luke, son of Archibald Coye, was born at Union, Con- necticut, January 27, 1765. He died February 16, 1859. He married, in 1786, Sebra Chapman, of Ashford, Connecticut. She died in April, 1799. He married, in the autumn following, Mercy Haviland. He resided in Ashford until about 1817, when he settled in Ontario county, New York. His second wife's family was of Rensselaerville, New York, though they were married by Solomon Wales, Esq., a justice of the peace of Union, Connecticut. A letter written to Luke Coye by his brother Rufus, from Ashford, Connecticut, is in the possession of Elmer N. Coye of Naples, mentioned below. It is dated November 5, 1796, and relates to family affairs of that time. Luke was then living in Ashford.
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Luke Coye
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Elmer N. Coye is now living on the Luke Coye farm which was cleared before 1817 in Naples, Ontario county.
(V) Nathan H., son of Luke Coye, was born May 22, 1817, in Naples, New York ; died April 6, 1859. He had the homestead at South Bristol. He married, February 24, 1842, Lydia L. Brown, born June 8, 1819, died June 14, 1897, daughter of Joseph and Sarah ( Browne) Brown. Her father was born in Stonington, Connecticut, September 18, 1788, and died July 17, 1875. He lived at Bristol, New York. Her mother was born August 10, 1794, and died at Coxsackie, New York, November 4, 1886. Elmer N. Coye has a book which his great-grand- father, Luke Coye, bought in Rensselaerville, New York, in 1799, cost- ing forty-six cents, containing a receipt from Israel Walker for one pound twelve shillings, under date of 1796.
Thomas Brown, father of Joseph, was born in Connecticut, April 28, 1754: married there, June 1, 1776, Caty Cooper, and settled at Ston- ington, Connecticut, where they lived until December 1788, when they moved to Washington county, New York, and lived until 1796. Then they came to Herkimer county, New York, and resided until about 1830, when they moved to the north part of the state, near the Black River ; in 1834 they moved again to South Bristol, Ontario county, New York, and lived with their sons, Warren Joseph and Denison, one year with each. Thomas Brown died in 1848, his wife in 1846. The mother of Caty (Cooper) Brown was a sister of Governor Hancock of New York. Thomas Brown was a soldier in the revolution, in 1775, in Captain Samuel Prentice's company, enlisting May 8, 1775, discharged December 17, 1774. (see Conn. Rev. Rolls, p. 74).
Nathan H. Coye and wife were members of the Christian church. He was a farmer at South Bristol all his active life. Children of Nathan H. and Lydia L. (Brown) Coye: Almina L., born May 3. 1843, died October 15, 1852; Sabina E., born January 12, 1845, died October 24, 1852 ; Ella I., born September 25, 1846, died October 18, 1852; Milo J., born August 15, 1848, died October 20, 1852; Irene E., September 18, 1850, died October 17, 1852; Elmer N., 1853, mentioned below ; Elma E., born October 1, 1857, died April 8, 1858.
(VI) Elmer Nathan, son of Nathan H. Coye, was born at South Bristol, New York, two miles from Bristol Springs ( North) Cheshire, October 22, 1853. He attended the public schools of his native town, and was for four terms a student in the Naples Academy. He has de- voted his energies mainly to farming on the homestead at South Bristol, where his grandfather, Luke Coye, first made his home. The farm is
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in sight of Canandaigua Lake, and beautifully located with respect to scenery. Mr. Coye has made the cultivation of grapes, berries and other fruits a specialty. At the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo he received a silver medal for grapes. He is progressive, enterprising and pros- perous, keeping up with the advance in horticulture and agriculture, and taking advantage in good season of new methods and apparatus. He is a staunch Republican, and is active and influential in his party councils. He was elected supervisor of the town of South Bristol in 1893, and again in 1909. He has been assessor for three terms, a period of nine years ; collector of taxes two terms; highway commissioner three years ; justice of the peace four years. He is a member of John Hodge Lodge, No. 815, Free and Accepted Masons; of the K. O. T. M., No. 197, of Bristol Springs, and has been commander and record keeper of the K. O. T. M. since 1893; and of Academy Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry. He and his family belong to the Bristol Springs Union church.
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