USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 8
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He married (first), November 27, 1889, Margaret, daughter of John and Matilda Brophy, of Phelps, New York, who died in 1900. Children : John Francis, born August 27, 1890; Edmund A., March 28, 1891 ; Margaret M., January 19, 1896. He married (second) Alice A. Brophy.
NAGEL.
Many historiographers of the present day have acquired the habit of giving prominence to lawyers, doctors, and others whose paths in life lie in the learned professions to the exclusion of those who are really the bone and sinew of the country in which they live, namely, those who give employment to, and consequently feed, the masses, and whose efforts in life have tended to build up the towns in which they live and give the proper tone to the community. Of this most worthy and honorable class. Samuel Nagel, of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is an exceptionally
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fine example, having worked his way to his present eminent position in his town by his own unaided efforts.
Samuel Nagel, born in Germany, September 15, 1855, was the son of George Nagel, who was also a native of Germany, followed farming all his life and died at the age of eighty-four years, was the possessor of a comfortable fortune, and held in high esteem in the town in which he lived. Samuel Nagel was educated in his native town and at the age of twenty-one years came to this country, thinking it offered better chances for advancement for a young man of energy and ability. Upon his arrival here he located at Seneca Falls, New York, and worked for a time for John Bauer, a mason, having learned that trade before leaving Germany. At the end of a year there was a great falling off in the building industry in this country, and Mr. Nagel accepted a position on a farm, making the engagement from month to month, and remaining for two years. He then rented this farm for a period of five years and was reasonably suc- cessful in its cultivation. He next moved to Seneca Falls, where he was employed to run the elevator in the Gleason Knitting Mills, and at the expiration of fourteen months abandoned this work, removed to Geneva and returned to his calling as a mason. He worked for one year steadily without the loss of a single day, and then established himself in business as a contractor, with which line he has since been closely and prosperously identified.
The most important buildings which have been erected in Geneva and the vicinity during the past twenty-four years have been erected under Mr. Nagel's direction and supervision, and have given eminent satisfaction, not alone by the beauty of their appearance, but by their artistic and excellent workmanship. He has obtained a reputation for doing work of the finest character and work that will bear the closest investigation, every detail having received its proper share of attention. Among the structures he has erected may be mentioned : The Masonic Temple in Geneva; Schneirel building, which is the highest building in Geneva; Dwyer, Hill and Prospect Avenue School buildings, the latter the largest high school building in Geneva ; the electric light plant build- ing ; a fine block on Main street for himself; and about two hundred other buildings in the town of Geneva. At present he is engaged in erecting the new Tuberculosis Hospital, at Holcomb, Ontario county. In 1904 Mr. Nagel bought a tract of land in Geneva, and he is now having it laid out in streets, is improving the property in various ways, and is erecting a number of fine residences, making this an exclusive and desirable resi- dential section of the town. His own home, which was erected under his
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personal supervision, is a model of its kind, containing, as it does, every conceivable improvement of the present day, and it is beautifully and artistically furnished throughout. Politically, Mr. Nagel is a Republican, and he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
While Nr. Nagel owes his remarkable success in a great measure to his natural ability and to the methods he has acquired by earnest en- deavor, he never fails to ascribe a due share of his success in life to the influence and good advice of his wife, who has entered into all his plans with her whole heart and soul.
Mr. Nagel married in America, December, 1879, Anna Katie Lou- denslacker, born in Germany, 1859. Children : 1. Minnie, married Rev. Henry C. Haag, resides in North Dakota. 2. Katherine, married Dr. C. W. Grove, of Geneva. 3. George J., resides in Elmira, New York, and is a bookkeeper for the La France American Fire Engine Company. 4. Louise, lives at home. 5. Edward, seventeen years of age, a student in the high school.
KNICKERBOCKER.
Richard Monroe Knickerbocker, an energetic and capable repre- sentative of a family which has for many years been identified with the agricultural interests of the state of New York, has adhered, as far as changing conditions would permit, to the ideals of his forefathers, and considers it one of the most noble occupations for mankind to follow to obtain from the bosom of mother earth the rich products she is so ready to give to those who love and care for her.
(I) Hebram Knickerbocker, grandfather of Richard Monroe Knick- erbocker, was born at Naples, Ontario county, New York, on land which had been in the possession of members of the family for a great length of time. His success as a farmer became proverbial in the county. He married a Miss Whetmore, and by her had one child, Sidney, mentioned below.
(II) Sidney, son of Hebram Knickerbocker, was born in Naples, New York, March 21, 1832; died in Ontario county, New York, January 14, 1899. As a tiller of the soil he was as successful as his father had been, and improved the property in his possession in many directions. He was one of the organizers and builders of the Baptist church of his community, was elected a trustee of this institution, and served in this office up to the time of his death. He took an unusually active interest
:
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in all matters relating to the education of the growing generation, and served as a trustee of the Hopewell school for many years, he having removed his place of residence to that town.
He married Helen, daughter of Murdo McCiver, who was born in Scotland, January 1, 1800, was a watchmaker by trade, and had been a schoolmate of Gladstone. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Knickerbocker were: Richard Monroe, see forward; Adelbert C., born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, served as deputy postmaster for seventeen years; George B., manager of the Garlock Packing Company, of New York City, and served in the post office at Clifton Springs for eleven years; Amanda G., deceased ; Frederick, who died in infancy.
(III) Richard Monroe, son of Sidney and Helen ( McCiver ) Knick- erbocker, was born in the town of Hopewell, Ontario county, New York, October 14, 1865. He attended the public and high schools of his native township, and assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm dur- ing the summer months. At the conclusion of his school days his entire time was devoted to this occupation under the direction and supervision of his father, and he thus became thoroughly well acquainted in a prac- tical manner with all the details connected with farm culture. He made farming his life work, as was but natural, and has introduced the most modern and approved methods of scientific farming, with the most grati- fying results. His farm and the buildings upon it are kept in the finest condition, and the best use is made of all available material. Like others of his family he has taken a deep interest in all matters which concern the welfare of his community, and is always ready and among the first to shoulder the burden of introducing and forwarding plans which tend to the advancement of the town in any direction. As collector for the school district of his section, he filled the office most capable and acceptably, and in all probability will be called upon for further service. In political matters he keeps well abreast of the times, and has the courage of his convictions.
Mr. Knickerbocker married, March 24, 1904, Jennie, daughter of John Dewey, of Clifton Springs, New York.
GULVIN
Reuben H. Gulvin, chief of the fire department of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is a fine example of a self-made man, in the truest
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sense of the word, rising entirely by his own unaided efforts from a posi- tion of dependence in England to that of the proprietor of the finest jewelry store in Geneva and its vicinity, and to a foremost position in the community in which he resides.
Reuben H. Gulvin was born in Kent county, England, November 20, 1869, son of George Gulvin, who is still living in his native county, and is considered an expert in the manipulation of a threshing machine and in the thatching of houses. The mother of Mr. Gulvin died when he was but six years of age, and he has one brother, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and who came to this country through the assistance of Reuben H. Gulvin.
Mr. Gulvin's school education was a very limited one, but he has supplemented it amply by study in later years, utilizing all his spare time for this purpose, and he is of a keenly observant nature, thus making up for his lack of advantages in his early youth. At the age of nine years he was obliged to spend all the time not taken up with school and its tasks in following the threshing machine, making the wimble or straw rope, which is termed straw bands in England. When he was eleven years of age he was compelled to leave school altogether and devote his entire time to this business, continuing in it until he had attained the age of eighteen years. He then continued faithfully at his labors until one Sat- urday evening, when he decided that the time had come for him to attempt to better his condition. The following morning, Sunday, he borrowed sufficient money to serve his purpose and left his native town in order to sail for America. After a voyage of eleven days he was landed in New York City, and immediately left for Petersborough, Canada. He stayed there but three weeks and then came to Geneva, New York, where he has resided since that time.
For three years he worked as a farm hand, but his ambition would not allow him to remain satisfied with this class of work. The second winter he did chores as an equivalent for his board, and became a regular attendant at the Sand Hill district school. At the end of three years he entered the employ of Dr. Covert, driving for him and taking care of the horses for two years. By this time he was entering his twenty-fourth year, and he determined to learn a trade. He accordingly formed a con- nection with Edwin Harris to learn the jewelry and watchmaking busi- ness, commencing with a salary of three dollars per week. His spare time he employed in doing miscellaneous chores, and in this manner earn- ed sufficient money to pay his board. Six years passed in this manner, and the connection was severed by the death of Mr. Harris. Mrs. Harris,
m. M. Buck.
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the widow, engaged the services of Mr. Gulvin as a manager of the busi- ness for her, and at the end of one year he borrowed a sufficient sum of money to enable him to purchase the business outright. His able conduct of it put it in a very flourishing condition, and at the end of three years he increased his business capacity by borrowing sufficient funds from the Geneva National Bank to purchase the business of M. C. Haight, who had been the pioneer jeweler of Geneva. The combination of these two inter- ests has given Mr. Gulvin the finest jewelry store in Geneva and that sec- tion of the country, and his customers come from far and wide. He is thoroughly conversant with all the details of his business and energetic in all his commercial transactions. Honorable and high-minded as he is in all phases of life, he has earned and deserves the confidence of all with whom he has business or private dealings. He constantly carries a large stock, and his store is fitted up with an artistic beauty which is not often met with. His reliable business methods make it a foregone conclusion that his trade must steadily increase, and he has five people in his employ who are kept busy continually.
In addition to these interests Mr. Gulvin is active in all matters con- cerning the town in which he resides. As above stated, he is a member of the fire department ; he has participated actively in the work of the de- partment for at least twenty years, having passed the civil service exami- nation with a high rate of standing. His political support is given to the Republican party and while he has never held public office, he has always been keenly alive to the events of interest in his town, state and country. He is a member of the Methodist church, and his fraternal affiliations are of a high order. For many years he has been connected with Free- masonry, having held offices in the Blue Lodge, and in all the inter- mediate lodge grades up to and including the Shrine; he is a charter member of Lodge No. 1054, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and served as its treasurer for a number of years; at present he is a member of the house committee, also a member of the Maccabees. For some years he was a member of the cemetery commission.
BUCK.
Myron M. Buck was born in Shortsville, Ontario county, New York, January 16, 1835. His ancestors settled in central New York, when the state was wild and uncultivated, his maternal grandfather, Theophilus
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Short, in whose honor Shortsville, New York, was named, having been a member of the "Old Holland Land Purchase Company," and prominent in every way in the affairs of the community. Attracted by the fertility of the soil in this undeveloped district, the company purchased a large por- tion of central New York. They at once proceeded to establish homes for the pioneers who were the leading spirits. The venture was a daring one, but it proved so successful that not only did the settlers establish homes for themselves, but they were able to leave valuable legacies to their de- scendants.
It was there that Myron M. Buck, founder of one of the largest rail- road supply houses in the country, was born and spent his earlier years. His education, which was a good one for the time, was received in the public schools of his district, and at the age of eighteen years he was in a position to make his way in the world. He traveled extensively through western New York and Canada, locating finally in New York City, where he secured employment in a manufacturing establishment. He showed great natural aptitude for this line of work, but, as it had always been his ambition to build up a business of his own, it was but natural that he should look farther west as the field best adapted to this idea. He re- moved to Chicago, where he spent three years in the acquisition of much valuable knowledge. In 1858 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and en- gaged in the manufacture of car trimmings, and, acting on the policy that what a man wants done well he must do himself, Mr. Buck gave his per- sonal attention to the superintendence of every detail of his business and was soon the owner as well as manager of a depot for the sale of all kinds of railroad supplies. This was the first establishment of its kind in the Mississippi Valley and it has held its own during the past thirty-two years against all competitors. It attracted attention to St. Louis in a very practical manner during the railroad building period of the seventies, and the amount of business that this industry brought to the city was enor- mous. The house is one of the largest in the country, and St. Louis has just cause to be proud of it. Mr. Buck had control of a number of im- mense contracts, all of which were executed without the slightest incon- venience to those most interested. He went to the west with the fixed idea of growing up with the country, and he certainly achieved his object. Although his business interests occupied the greater portion of Mr. Buck's time, he was too broad-minded and unselfish to neglect the welfare of the city in any particular, and was always an important promoter of any movement that would benefit it. Among the many institutions with which Mr. Buck was actively connected, and in which he was a director,
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may be mentioned : The Union Trust Company, Continental National Bank, and the Commercial Bank of St. Louis. He was also a member of the Mercantile, Noonday, St. Louis Commercial and Fair Grounds Jockey clubs. Although naturally devoted to the interests of St. Louis, Mr. Buck did not forget the home of his youthful days. He was the owner of a very handsome villa in Clifton Springs, Ontario county, New York. where he annually spent several months with his family. He said: "A few weeks' sojourn in this fragrant valley inspires me with new life and health to enter upon the duties of life once more."
Few men succeeded as signally as Mr. Buck. To build up a busi- ness such as he owned was a task which not many venture to attempt, and in which even fewer would succeed. He mapped out his ambitious career in his early years, and never swerved from the path he had marked out for himself. His unflagging industry and unfailing integrity combined with his unusual executive ability enabled him to attain the reputation which was most justly his-that of being a self-made man in the best sense of the words-and one of whom St. Louis was justly proud. He died March 30, 1906.
Mr. Buck married Velma Sawyer, a native of Orleans, Ontario county, New York, August 12, 1875. She is a daughter of James Mos- ley and Anginette (Short) Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer was one of the well-to- do farmers of Ontario county, New York, and lived retired for many years. He died in Michigan, 1889.
GROVE.
Dr. Chauncey W. Grove, a physician and surgeon in Geneva, On- tario county, New York, and throughout that section is descended from an old family of Germany. The family name was originally spelled Von Graffe, and this by successive changes has finally developed into Grove. From the earliest times the family has adhered to the Protestant denominations, and it was during the very early days of the settlement of the colonies that the first members came to this country and made their homes here.
(I) Jacob Grove, grandfather of Dr. Chauncey W. Grove. was one of the pioneers in the settlement of Pennsylvania.
(II) Jay C., son of Jacob Grove, was born in Pennsylvania, August 8, 1858, and resides in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the present time. He is the
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agent for the United States Steel Corporation, operating a system of rail- ways. He married Zettirah, daughter of William H. Fry.
(III) Dr. Chauncey W. Grove, son of Jay C. and Zettirah (Fry) Grove, was born in Fredonia, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1879. His elementary education was obtained in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and he was graduated with honor from the Erie high school. His next step was to enter the University of Buffalo in 1900, and he was graduated from this institution in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then spent one year as the house physician in the Erie County Hospital, of Buffalo, and in July, 1905, established himself as a physician and surgeon in Geneva, Ontario county, New York. He is affiliated with the following organizations : Masons, Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templar ; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Omega Upsilon Phi; Geneva Medical Society; Ontario County Medical Society; New York State Medical Society ; American Medical Association.
Dr. Grove married, June 14, 1905, Kathryn, born in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, November 12, 1884, a daughter of Samuel Nagel, a prominent contractor of Geneva.
FULTON.
James P. Fulton, postmaster at Stanley, Ontario county, New York, and who has held a number of other positions under the government of the United States, has served his country bravely and well, as will be found detailed further on in this sketch. He is a descendant of the dis- tinguished Fulton family, of Ireland, and it seems but natural that his name should be found in the lists of those who fought so gallantly during the civil war, as he but displayed the traits inherited from a number of his ancestors. Among these was his maternal great-grandfather, Captain John Rippey, who was in active service throughout the revolutionary war, was brevetted major, shared the hardships endured at Valley Forge, and participated in all the battles in which Washington was personally engaged.
James S. Fulton, father of James P. Fulton, was born in Seneca township, New York, in 1813, and died there, May 6, 1887. He was occupied as a farmer throughout the active years of his life. He married Margaret Ann, who died January 2, 1892, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Rippey ) McCauley. Among their children were: John M., who
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was graduated from Hobart College, and studied law at the Albany Law School, and is now a prominent lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri; and James P., see forward.
James P., son of James S. and Margaret Ann ( McCauley ) Fulton, was born in the town of Seneca, Ontario county, New York, August 17, 1843. He attended the district school and from there he went to the Cooperstown high school, from which he was graduated, finally taking a course at the Binghamton Commercial College. In July, 1862, Mr. Ful- ton enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, Captain Shimen, Colonel Sherrill. His service ex- tended over a period of three years and he was honorably discharged at Baltimore in April, 1865. He was an active participant in the three days' fight at Harper's Ferry, and in the three days' engagement at Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the foot. He took one prisoner single-handed, and assisted in the capture of a number of others. He was also at the engagements of Morton Ford, Auburn Ford and Bristow Station, Vir- ginia. During the second day of the battle of the Wilderness he was severely wounded and lay on the field of battle without attention for twenty-four hours; he was then taken a prisoner, remaining at the seat of war as a captive for three months, and was then removed to a hospital in Gordonsville, Virginia, where he remained for about six weeks. Early one morning he was taken to a train before breakfast, removed to Rich- mond. Virginia, placed in the Libby Prison Annex, and after several weeks spent in that place of horror was exchanged. Upon the close of the war he returned to his native county, and after a time was appointed a railroad postal clerk between Canandaigua, New York, and Baltimore, Maryland, an office he filled for thirteen years. He was then appointed postmaster at the Stanley post office, a position he has filled with ability for the past twelve years, serving under two appointments. He also served one term as collector for the town of Geneva, Ontario county, New York. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Fulton married, May 27, 1874, Sarah M. Frost, born in Putnam county, New York, in 1847. Child : Maud F., married, December I, 1897, Harry A. Thompson, who died December 12, 1905. They had children : Gordon F., born in October, 1898, and Helen M., born in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1903.
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FRARY.
Edward Harrison Frary, who served with bravery in many of the engagements of the civil war, inherited his gallantry from a long line of ancestors who fought with credit in defense of their country. His father was a colonel of the New York State Militia, his maternal grandfather served in the war of 1812, his maternal great-grandfather served in the revolutionary war, and a number of his ancestors on the paternal side were soldiers in the revolution.
(I) John Frary, immigrant ancestor of this family, came to Amer- ica from England, in 1638, and settled at Dedham, Massachusetts. The family originally lived in France, from which country they were driven by religious persecution at the time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew (Ref. "Genealogical Dictionary of New England" and "Adjutant Goss' Records").
(II) Eleazer, Seth, Elisha and Isaac Frary, were brothers, all of whom served during the revolutionary war. Many of the records of those early days having been lost or destroyed, it is not possible to say with cer- tainty which of these brothers is the direct ancestor of this line, but one of them had children : John, see forward ; Job, and Betsey.
(III) John Frary was born in Massachusetts and served in the war of 1812. He was engaged in farming and was evidently a man of promi- nence in his day. He supported the Whig principles, was supervisor and school commissioner, and served as justice of the peace. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist denomination. He married, in 1805, Ruth Merritt. Children : Ruth, died in 1839; William Stoddard, see forward; Isabel, died 1851 ; Joshua P., died 1848.
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