USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 43
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(II) John Arthur Spengler, M. D., son of John and Elizabeth (Von Huben) Spengler, was born in Geneva, March 10, 1868. His preparatory studies were pursued at the Geneva high school, from which he entered Hobart College and was graduated in 1893. He subse- quently studied at Cornell University, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1895; he attended medical lectures at the University of Buffalo, graduating a Doctor of Medicine in 1899. He also received from Hobart College the degree of M. L. in 1897, and that of D. C. L. was conferred upon him by the University of Nashville (Tennessee), in 1899.
Being thus fully equipped as a physician and specialist in ophthal- mology, Dr. Spengler began the practice of medicine at Geneva in 1899, making a specialty of ophthalmology, and the encouragement he has re- ceived during the past twelve years from a large and constantly increas- ing practice is not only sufficient to warrant his expectation of remaining there for life, but is eminently conclusive of his professional success. Having attained a position of high rank in his special field of science, his practice necessarily covers a wide expanse of territory, extending from New York City to Pennsylvania, and the larger part of it comes from out of town. His office furnishings and laboratory equipments are unsurpassed in any similar establishment in the state, and in the grinding and finishing of his lenses he uses the finest instruments and appliances obtainable. He and his brother Fred were the founders and incorporators of the Spengler Optical Company, at Geneva, New York, which was incorporated in 1901, our subject being the president and treasurer; they manufacture various kinds of optical goods and novelties.
Dr. Spengler is a leading member of the Geneva Medical Society and has served as its secretary for seven years. He is well advanced in the Masonic Order, being a member of Ark Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Geneva Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Geneva Commandery, Knights Templar, of which latter he is past treasurer ;
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Grotto Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the New York Con- sistory, thirty-second degree. He is ex-president of the Delta Sigma fraternity and has held all of the other offices in that body; is fleet surgeon of the Geneva Yacht Club; a member of the University Club of Geneva, and is secretary of the board of trustees of the Endymion Military Academy, located at Maple Hill, Geneva. In addition to the above-mentioned organizations he is actively identified with religious work, being a trustee and recording steward of the Methodist Episcopal church; has served as soloist of the choir for the past twenty years; teaches a Bible class in the Sunday school ; and is chairman of the build- ing committee having charge of the erection of a new church edifice which will be in process of construction in the spring of 1911, at a cost of sixty thousand dollars. He is also active in the Young Men's Christian Association.
Dr. Spengler married, June 17, 1907, Edna MacVicar, born in Clyde, New York, June 20, 1874. She is of Scotch descent and a daughter of John D. MacVicar, a veteran of the civil war and at the present time connected with the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York. Dr. Spengler has one daughter, Mabel Cecilia, born Novem- ber 24, 1909. After the death of his sister, Mrs. Vernon S. Stone, he assumed the care of his niece, Marian Elizabeth, and is rearing and edu- cating her as his child.
GARDNER.
Jacob Janse Gardinier, also Flooder, was the progenitor of Gar- diner and Gardner families, or the greater part of them, in 1790. In 1790 the heads of families of these surnames, included in Columbia county. Dirck, Peter A., Peter H., Peter J., Samuel H., Andrew, Gideon, Godrey, James, Labon and John. Jacob J. was at Beverwyck as early as 1638 and came from Holland. In 1656 he owned land on the north side of Wall street from William to Pearl street, New Amsterdam, and he divided this tract into house lots and sold them through his agent. Sander Leendertse Glen. He bought land early in Kinderhook together with Goyer's Kill opposite or near Apje's Island and his imme- diate descendants settled very generally in this section. Three families of descendants were in Kinderhook in 1790, Dirck, Peter A. and God- frey being the fathers. Jacob J. married (first) Jospyna , who died February 16, 1664; (second) Barentje Stratsmans, widow of Hans Coenraatse. In 1688 she was again a widow, having then living ten
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children by her first husband and five by the second. Children of Jacob J. Gardinier: Jan ; Samuel; Andrew ; Hendrick; Albert; Aeltje, mar- ried Adam Dingman.
(I) Benjamin Gardner was a farmer in Columbia county and is believed to have been of this family.
(II) Hanson A., son of Benjamin Gardner, was born in Columbia county, New York. He came to the town of Phelps, Ontario county, in 1864, and bought a farm, which he conducted until 1875, when he removed to Newark, New York. Earlier in life he resided at Nassau, Rens- selaer county, New York. At Newark he was a prominent and influential citizen. For a number of years he was president of the incorporated village and he held other offices of trust and responsibility. He mar- ried, August 22, 1861, Mary Ferguson, who died March 23, 1898, daughter of Palmer Ferguson. Children: Charles H., mentioned below ; Frederick, born August 22, 1865, died September 10, 1910.
(III) Charles H., son of Hanson A. Gardner, was born in the town of Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, July 12, 1863, and was educated in the public schools of Phelps and Newark, graduating from the Newark high school. Since leaving school he has been engaged in farming in Phelps and he is among the most representative and pro- gressive citizens of that town. He is a member of Newark Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. In politics he is Republican. His family attend the Universalist church.
Mr. Gardner married, December 23, 1885, Nettie E. Percey, born June 2, 1865, in Arcadia, Wayne county, New York, daughter of Henry and Amanda Louise ( Harmon) Percey, of Arcadia, New York. Chil- dren : Percey, born January 4, 1895 ; Edith, December 29, 1899. Mrs. Gardner is a great-granddaughter of David Harmon, who lived in the town of Phelps. Simeon, son of David Harmon, and grandfather of Mrs. Gardner, lived in Phelps, married Sophia Crothers and had children : Almira, married Melzer Burgess; Amanda Louise, married, May 5, 1863, Henry Percey, and they were the parents of Mrs. Gardner ; Simeon, killed in civil war: William, married Alice Snyder and were the parents of seven children : Ella, Albert, Ada, Simeon. Percy, Hugh, Alice.
NEVILLE.
Rev. P. A. Neville, rector of St. Bridget's Church, East Bloom- field, New York, has been an indefatigable worker in the interests of
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his religion and the church of which he has charge, and his life is so closely connected with that institution that a history of the one must of necessity be a history of the other.
When the Rev. Bernard O'Reilly and his brother William, in turn, visited the village of East Bloomfield in 1846, the Catholics in that section numbered only about forty. Three years later, Father Quigley received permission to visit the section and minister to the wants of the poor Catholics of the vicinity. After his departure the little fold was attended by the Rev. Edward O'Connor, of Canandaigua, and in 1852 he prevailed upon the still small community of Catholics to subscribe for the erection of a frame structure, thirty by forty feet in extent, to be used for divine services, and this was accomplished in the course of one year. Rev. Nicholas Byrne became the first resident pastor in March, 1856, and ministered to the dependencies-Victor, West Bloomfield, Honeoye Flats and East Mendon-and the little building was enlarged in order to hold the increased congregation. Rev. Patrick Lee was appointed in the latter part of April, 1857, by Rt. Rev. John Timon, was successful in the discharge of his duties, and Rt. Rev. John Timon, July 1, 1861, appointed Rev. William Hughes to assume charge of the
mission. The Catholics of this community had no cemetery of their own in which to bury their dead, and in 1864 Rev. William Hughes purchased a site for that purpose. This piece of land, consisting of five acres, was purchased of Benjamin Bradley, and in three years the sum of twenty-four hundred dollars was paid for it. The first burial in this consecrated ground took place April 17, 1866, the body interred being that of William Mountain.
Rev. Hughes made an earnest appeal to his congregation to erect a building worthy of their religion and themselves, and in February, 1874, commenced to solicit subscriptions to further this end. He paid a visit to each family at the homestead, and in four days had received promissory notes amounting to thirteen thousand dollars, of which all except two hundred were paid within the course of two years. This amount was subscribed by one hundred and five people, and bishops and priests have declared that it is exceptional in the largeness of the amount subscribed, the short time of collection and the small number of subscribers. The corner-stone of the brick church of St. Bridget's, whose exterior dimensions are one hundred and ten by forty feet, was laid August 2, 1874, and the dedication took place June 13, 1875. At that time everything necessary for the proper performance of divine service according to the Catholic ritual was provided, and even the
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magnificent grand organ was in place. The young ladies of the congre- gation, who numbered thirty-nine, had contributed enough money to build the altar, provided the necessary adornments thereto, and the car- peting of the sanctuary, sacristy and the aisles of the edifice, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. A number of persons, not of the Catholic faith, assisted them in this worthy object by contributions, and it is to be hoped that their names will be held in reverence. In 1879 Father Hughes was requested by Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid to relinquish the charge of West Bloomfield, which has since that time been ministered to from Lima. A resident pastor was sent to Victor in 1882, and thus East Bloomfield alone remained in the charge of Father Hughes, and he administered the spiritual and temporal affairs of East Bloomfield parish until his death, November 21, 1891, a period of more than thirty years. His illness commenced in August of the last named year, and during its course and until the appointment of Rev. M. J. Garvey in 1896, the parish affairs were in charge of Rev. J. J. Donnelly, the pastor of Victor. Rev. M. J. Garvey took up the pastorate in May, 1896. He was a conscientious, strong and energetic young priest, the first to be sent from St. Bernard's Seminary of Rochester, and he was received with warmth and good feeling by his new congregation. The first manifesta- tion of this was their refusal to permit him to dwell in the old pastoral residence which had seen service for so many years, and which was destroyed by fire the following year. A subscription was immediately taken up in the parish, and from the money thus collected the present beautiful rectory was built. Father Garvey immediately had the in- terests of the church at heart. One of his first and very early steps towards its improvements was the substitution of a steel ceiling for the plaster one in use, which was a source of continual danger to the wor- shippers. Another improvement was the mode of heating, which he had changed from the old unsatisfactory furnace to the modern style of hot-water heating, which has been installed and which is as nearly perfect as it is possible to have. Father Garvey was in office but two short years when he was promoted to the larger field of Livonia and its de- pendencies, and July 7, 1898, Rev. P. A. Neville, the present incumbent, who was also a graduate of the celebrated St. Bernard's Seminary, was appointed.
The first active work accomplished by Father Neville after his arrival was the erection of the present sightly and substantial barn, the building of a board walk, extending from the street in front and around the south side of the house, and thence to the church. This was much
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needed, as the grounds were newly laid out, and added much to the beauty and perfection of the newly made lawn. After seven years of service the walk was replaced by a substantial cement walk which was at this time extended all along the front of the church property, and at a cost in the neighborhood of three hundred dollars. About this time also, Father Neville installed a new and large hot water boiler in the church basement, and decorated the interior of the church, both improve- ments costing about seven hundred and fifty dollars. His attention was also given to the beautifying and decorating of the cemetery. The unsightly raised lots and mounds were leveled, the ground throughout plowed and worked, and newly seeded, and a beautiful, level, green lawn was the result. Besides the many improvements he made and paid for, Father Neville reduced the debt of the church from three thousand two hundred dollars (two thousand six hundred of which was a mortgage held by the Cayuga County Savings Bank of Auburn, New York, and for over thirty years it had remained the same, with only the annual interest paid, and six hundred dollars of which was a floating debt ), to one thousand five hundred dollars, the present indebtedness. The annual first com- munion for children is given on the first Sunday in July, and the Bishop visits the parish every third year for confirmation. The parish does not grow in membership for the reason that the young people as soon as they reach the age of maturity go elsewhere to seek employment, there being no means of livelihood except the farm, which many. especially the young men, exchange for the more attractive, but more often ill-paid positions in the cities. However, there are about five hundred members of the parish who are content to remain at home. and the farms which they do not disdain to till render them good returns and give to their tillers a free and independent life.
BURNETTE.
The first member of this family of whom we have definite infor- mation is Thomas Burnette, who married Mary Woodin. Among their childen was Hiram, referred to below.
(II) Hiram, son of Thomas and Mary (Woodin) Burnette, was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, died March 29. 1893. He was a farmer and a member of the local Masonic lodge. He was also a member of the Universalist church and took a great
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interest in its affairs, being instrumental in building their new church at Newark, New York, of which he was a trustee. He married (first) Mary Ruperts and (second) Eliza Ann, daughter of Milton Parsons, of Columbia county, New York, who died January 13, 1910. Children by first marriage: Andrew J. and Mary L. Children by second mar- riage : Ada A., married Charles E. Kelly, of Newark, New York; Milton T., died in 1892, married Margaret Van Eetton; Jennie E. : Ulysses Grant, referred to below ; Frank H., referred to below.
(III) Ulysses Grant, son of Hiram and Eliza Ann (Parsons) Burnette, was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York. October 1, 1865, and is now living there. He received his education in the Union school of Phelps, and then worked a farm for twenty years. In 1907 he came to the village of Phelps, where he engaged in the coal and produce business with Charles D. White, under the firm name of White & Burnette. He was road commissioner for three years. He is a member of Sincerity Lodge, No. 200, Free and Accepted Masons, and at one time master of the lodge ; also a member of Geneva Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons; of Geneva Commandery, No. 29, Knights Templar ; of Damascus Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of Wide Awake Grange, No. 447. He is an attendant of the Universalist church. In political belief he is a Repub- lcan. He married, in March, 1890, Anna May, daughter of Horton and Mary E. Crosby. One son, Robert Crosby, born February 1, 1903.
(III) Frank H., son of Hiram and Eliza Ann ( Parsons) Burnette, was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, March 21, 1867, and is now living there. He was educated in the district school and in Cornell University. For eighteen years he was engaged in the state experimental work, having charge of the horticultural work in Louisiana until 1907. In that year he returned to the town of Phelps, where he is engaged in farming. He is a member of the American Pomological Society ; a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science ; a member of the National Geographical Society, of Washington, D. C .; and of the National Nut Growers' Society. He is a member of the Universalist church of Newark, New York. He married, in 1898, Elvia M., daughter of George L. Rice. who died in 1899.
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WHITNEY.
(VI) Jonas Whitney, son of Captain Jonathan Whitney, (q. v.), was born May 12, 1775, died September 27, 1823. He married, Novem- ber 29, 1795, Catherine Parker. Children : Walter, born January 21, 1797 ; Wealthy, March 12, 1799; William Morris, January 5, 1802; Minerva, January 27, 1804; Harriett, March 16, 1806; Henry Harrison, May 9, 1814, mentioned below : Jefferson ; George.
(VII) Henry Harrison, son of Jonas Whitney, was born at Oak- well, New York, May 9, 1814. He married Sarah Ann Hill and among their children was Oscar J., mentioned below.
(VIII) Oscar J., son of Henry Harrison Whitney, was a farmer at Phelps. He married ; among his children was Henry B., mentioned below.
(IX) Henry B., son of Oscar J. Whitney, was born in Phelps, New York, June II, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, at the Geneva high school and at Cornell University. In 1900 he engaged in the manufacture of baskets at Phelps and con- tinued for eight years. In partnership with A. S. Vincent in 1904 he built the pickle and sour-kraut factory at Phelps. The firm was dis- solved and the business sold in 1907. He was appointed postmaster of Phelps, January 10, 1898, and reappointed at the end of his term, serving in this office for eight years. From May 1, 1907, to September I, 1909, he was employed in the collection department of the Inter- national Harvester Company. Since October 1, 1909, he has been con- fidential agent under John Williams, commissioner of labor, of the state of New York. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity of Cornell University.
Mr. Whitney is widely known as a crack rifle shot. He was an expert at trap shooting when but thirteen years old and took first prize at the shooting tournament at Syracuse, New York. In the winter of 1890 he was one of the five members of the eastern team to cross the continent and participate in various tournaments, in which he won a number of individual trophies. He won the R. E. Pierce diamond badge at Buffalo, New York, in 1884. This trophy alone is valued at $850. In that contest he killed twenty-five birds without missing. He has won several first prizes at the state shoot at Saratoga and New York City and was classed among the best shots in this country.
He married, January 11, 1893, Emma May, daughter of Henry and Ella I. Bishop, of Lyons, New York. They have one child, Edna, born April 22, 1897.
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WARNER.
The Warners of New England are principally descended from three heads, never as yet connected on this side of the water, though very likely all of one family in England in times remote. These heads were: Andrew, one line of whose descendants are herein traced. William, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, from Boxtet county, Essex, Eng- land, whose descendants, like those of Andrew, are widely scattered throughout the United States. John, of Farmington, Connecticut, an- cestor of Colonel Seth Warner, of revolutionary fame, and of a long line of Warners who settled in Litchfield county. In Virginia was Colonel Augustine Warner, whose daughter Mildred became the wife of Lawrence Washington and grandmother of George Washington. Many prominent Southern families are of this blood.
(I) Andrew, son of John Warner, of Hatfield, England, was born there in 1595. He came to America in 1630 and in 1632 was a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He removed to Hartford, Con- necticut, with the party of original proprietors, and was chosen deacon of the First church there, October, 1633. He held this office con- tinuously until 1660, when, owing to an unhappy and protracted quarrel in the church, he removed with others of the church to Hadley, Massa- chusetts. An agreement to go was signed "at Goodman Ward's House in Hartford, April 18, 1659," among them being Andrew Warner. He was living in Hatfield, October 8, 1660, as a meeting was held at his house there on that date, which passed resolutions of government. This was the beginning of the settlement. He later was an early settler of Hadley, Massachusetts, where he died. The name of his first wife, who was the mother of all his children, is unknown. He married (second) in 1659, before leaving Hartford, Esther, widow of Thomas Selden, who survived him until 1693. Children: 1. Andrew, married Rebecca Fletcher and died in Middletown, Connecticut, January 26. 1681. 2. Robert. married (first) Elizabeth Grant; (second) Mrs. Deliverance Rockwell; he died in Middletown, April 10, 1690. 3. Jacob, married (first) Rebecca -; (second ) Elizabeth Goodman ; he died Sep- tember or November 29, 1711. 4. Daniel, of further mention. 5. Isaac. married Sarah Boltwood; he died 1691. 6. Ruth, living in 1677, and was presented to the court on the charge of wearing silk. 7. A daugh- ter, married John or Daniel Pratt. 8. Mary, married (first ) John Steel; (second) William Hills. 9. John, lived in Middletown, Con- necticut.
(II) Daniel, son of Andrew Warner, "the Emigrant." died April
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30, 1692. He may have lived for a time at Milford, but later was a
resident of Middletown, Connecticut. He married (first) Mary - -, who died September 19, 1672; married (second) April 1, 1674, Martha, daughter of Robert Boltwood, sister of Sarah Boltwood, wife of his brother Isaac. She died September 22, 1710. Children: 1. Mary, died young. 2. Daniel, married Mary Hubbard. 3. Sarah, born Novem- ber 25, 1665, married Isaac Sheldon. 4. Andrew, born June 24, 1667. 5. Anna, November 17, 1669, married Isaac Hubbard. 6. Mary, born September 19, 1672, married Samuel Sheldon. 7. Hannah, born Jan- uary 24, 1675, married Samuel Ingram. 8. John, died aged thirty-eight years. 9. Abraham, born December 20, 1678. 10. Samuel, of further mention. II. Ebenezer, born November 5,. 1681, married Ruth Ely. 12. Mehitable, October 1, 1683, married Preserved Clapp. 13. Eliza- beth, married, December 26, 1705, Thomas Wells. 14. Esther, born December 15, 1686, married Samuel Henry. 15. Martha, born April 3, 1688, died November 25, 1689. 16. Nathaniel, born October 15, 1690.
(III) Samuel, tenth child of Daniel and Martha (Boltwood) Warner, was born April 13, 1680. He married (first) May 1, 1715, Hannah Sackett; married (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Morton. Children: I. Rebecca, born May 6, 1716. 2. Jesse, May 6, 1718. 3. Samuel, October 27, 1722. 4. Nathan, no further record. 5. David, born February 15, 1732. 6. Joshua, December 12, 1733. 7. Hannah, died in infancy. 8. Elizabeth, married Israel Chapin. 9. Abraham, lost at sea. 10. Sarah, married Elijah Waite.
(IV) Jesse, son of Samuel and Hannah (Sackett) Warner, was born May 6, 1718. He resided in Belchertown and Conway, Massa- chusetts. He married Miriam Smith, born October 30, 1718. Children : I. Elisha, born April 1, 1740. 2. Hannah, August 28, 1741. 3. Miriam, July 21, 1743. 4. Rebecca, September 16, 1745. 5. Jesse (2), of further mention. 6. Philotheta, born February 21, 1749.
(V) Jesse (2), son of Jesse (1) and Miriam (Smith) Warner, was born in Conway, Massachusetts, February 1, 1747, died in Orleans county, New York, October, 1833, aged eighty-six years. He, no doubt, served in the war of the revolution, but Massachusetts records give four of the name Jesse Warner who served, and he cannot be posi- tively identified. Twelve pages of "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution" are required to register the names and services of Warners in the revolution from Massachusetts alone (volume XVI). In 1796 he settled on what was afterward known as Warner Hill, two
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miles east of the village of Orleans in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, where he resided until his death. He was a rigid Baptist and fond of theological argument, and very positive that his belief only was orthodox. In 1812, when an epidemic of fever swept the country he was sorely stricken and so near death that his son Lewis measured him and went to Geneva (the nearest point) to obtain a shroud. On his return with it his father was on the road to recovery, while Lewis himself was stricken and died, the shroud being used for him instead of his father. He married Sarah Warrener, born September 14, 1745, at Longmeadow, Hampden county, Massachusetts. Children: I. Elijah, born 1770, settled in Ontario county. 2. Lewis, born 1772, died young. 3. Rufus, of further mention. 4. Jesse (3), a soldier of the war of 1812; shot in the hip, captured by the Indians, taken to Canada, made his escape and returned home. 5. John, came to Ontario county in 1800; was a tanner, had a tannery in Phelps, manufactured boots and shoes, and kept a tavern for the accommodation of teamsters with their six and eight horse teams engaged in the transportation of freight between Albany and Buffalo. 6. Oliver, killed by a stroke of lightning. 7. Jesse (4), born 1786, died in Ontario county, 1812-13. 8. Lucinda, born 1796, married a Mr. Peck.
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