USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume II > Part 9
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(IV) William Stoddard, eldest son and second child of John and Ruth ( Merritt) Frary, was born October 26, 1808; died March 14. 1846. He was occupied as school teacher and surveyor, was a member of the Whig party, and of the Baptist church. He was commissioned colonel of the One Hundred and Seventy-third Regiment, New York State Militia, May 14, 1839, by Governor William H. Seward, of New York. He married, October 26, 1834, Lydia Ann, daughter of John and Abigail (Volentine) Warren, her father having served in the militia during the war of 1812, and was a son of Obed Warren, who served from Massa- chusetts during the revolutionary war. Children: Helen Jane. born September 16, 1836, died August 22, 1851 ; Edward Harrison, see for- ward ; Isabel Adelaide, born September 5, 1845, died June 19, 1893.
(V) Edward Harrison, only son and second child of William Stod-
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dard and Lydia Ann ( Warren) Frary, was born at Lyndon, Cattaraugus county, New York, April 25, 1840. He received his education in the common schools and the Rushford Academy, from which he graduated. His occupations have been varied and successful ones. He has been farmer, carpenter, hardware clerk and census enumerator. Having always taken a decided interest in the public affairs of the town, and been a staunch supporter of Republican principles, he has been elected to fill a number of public offices. He was elected justice of the peace in 1887, and reelected in 1891-95-99-1903-07, his present term expiring in 1911. He was appointed collector of the Union Free School District, No. I, Canan- daigua, August, 1887, and with the exception of three years, has held the office continuously to the present time. He served as town collector 1869 ; constable, 1870-71-72-73 ; and as village collector, 1880-81.
His record during the civil war, while brief, is notable and credit- able. He enlisted, August 15, 1863, in Company A, Ninety-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, at a time when the struggle centered around Gettysburg. During the following winter his regiment suffered much loss by reason of cold and exposure, and they then went into camp west of Culpeper, Virginia, remaining there until May 4, 1864. They crossed the Rapidan river, and were in the thick of the fight which raged for the next few days. Mr. Frary was wounded in the same engagement in which General James S. Wadsworth was killed. A minie ball penetrated his neck, passing through his body in such a manner as to break a rib, injure the spinal cord, sever the nerve leading to the left arm, and finally passed through the upper part of the left lung. This happened just as the regi- ment fell back, and Mr. Frary was carried by his comrades for a mile or more till he became unconscious from loss of blood which was flowing freely from his nose and mouth, and was left on the field for dead. Toward nightfall he recovered consciousness, was carried back by stretch- er-bearers, then by ambulance to the field hospital, whence, after a few days, he was transported by army wagon to Fredericksburg, Virginia. This journey caused him excruciating suffering, as the roads were in ex- ceedingly bad condition, and the jolting of the wagon became almost intolerable. After three months spent in the Fort Schuyler General Hos- pital he received a furloughi. As soon as strength would permit him to do so he rejoined the army, which was not until October, but as he was de- clared unfit for duty, he was discharged February 15, 1865. He returned home almost a helpless cripple. It was nearly a year before he recovered even a partial use of his left arm, for fifteen years he suffered from severe hemorrhages from the lungs, and for more than thirty years suffered
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almost constant pain in his spine and head, which at times became very nearly unbearable. Since 1895 his condition has in some respects im- proved, but, as he himself says, it is not so much what he did for his country as what he has suffered for it. While on picket duty in Novem- ber, 1863, at Bristow Station, he was captured, and recaptured the same day by a cavalry scouting party. Mr. Frary is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has served as adjutant senior vice- commander and commander. He and his family are members of the Baptist church.
Mr. Frary married (first) at Canandaigua, New York, July 8, 1860, Emily A. Cross, a native of New York state. She was the daughter of Joseph and Fidelia ( Babcock) Cross, who had children: William, Hark- ley, Emily A., Lemina, Abigail, Marilla and Alsadena. Mr. and Mrs. Frary had children : I. Nellie Ann, born July 2, 1861 ; died September 2, 1898. 2. Edward Warren, born July 11, 1863; married, 1886, Jennie Palmer. Children : i. Nina Belle, born in 1887 ; married, January, 1910, Roland Bellis. ii. Ethel Starr, born 1889; married, 1907, Howard Robin- son, and has : Bessie, born in 1908. iii. Alice E., born 1897. iv. Warren E., born in 1902. v. Harold, born in 1907. 3. Minnie B., born Novem- ber 25, 1865; married, 1896, Frank Dexter. Mr. Frary married (sec- ond ) at Centerville, New York, June 17, 1896, Maryette Laura, daughter of Nelson and Alida ( Vrooman) Farmer. Nelson Farmer was a farmer. a lieutenant in the New York State Militia, and died in 1883.
FOSTER.
Dr. Henry Foster was born in the town of Norwich, Vermont, Janu- ary 18, 1821. He was the son of Henry and Polly ( Hubbard) Foster, who were the owners of a farm of six hundred acres of intervale land, and were apparently established for life in a beautiful home. As one of a family of seven children, Dr. Foster spent a happy and healthful child- hood. When he was fourteen years of age financial reverses came to the family and they removed to western New York and from thence to Ohio, where the boys of the family made a home and cared for the others.
.Dr. Foster was graduated from Milan Academy and the medical department of the Western Reserve College. After his graduation he went to a water cure with an invalid brother, and became so much inter- ested in the system that, for three years, he was the physician in a similar
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establishment in New Graefenberg, New York. Dr. Foster was con- verted in childhood and his religious life deepened and became the center of his being and action. He asked: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?" The outcome of his prayerful waiting was his coming, in 1849, to Clifton Springs, where he had learned of a sulphur spring and a tract of land reserved by the purchasers of the "Holland Patent," and Dr. Foster bought this tract and received the first deed for this plot after the original purchase by Messrs. Phelps and Gorham. He had come to a cross roads settlement, where everything was to be done if the work he proposed was to succeed. Dr. Foster felt that God had called him to build a house where help could be given to ministers, missionaries and teachers, and where God should be honored and the health of soul and body be given equal prominence. God enabled him to build a modest wooden structure, crude enough, but the best of its kind in the country then, and "The Clifton Springs Water Cure" was opened in September, 1850. The story of those early days is one of hard work, faith and prayer, and by God's bless- ing, success. Dr. Foster rebuilt, of brick, and enlarged the sanatarium three different times, the work of the institution never ceasing. He finally rebuilt and enlarged the entire sanatarium, and in July, 1896, the new fireproof building was dedicated to the work of God in healing and ministering to the sick. Dr. Foster's life motto had been: "This one thing I do," and with the completion of this building, and fireproof recon- structions of other portions, he felt that his work was done on earth. After two months' illness, on January 15, 1901, he passed to his heavenly home. "The workers fall, but the work goes on," and the Clifton Springs Sanatarium still performs its helpful mission and the name of Henry Foster is loved and honored.
Dr. Foster married, June 19, 1872, Mary Edwards, a native of Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of William W. and Helen ( Mann) Edwards.
BOLGER.
Thomas J. Bolger, who has attained and holds a place in the fore- most ranks of the nurserymen of Ontario county, New York, and who is prominently identified with the political and social affairs of that section of the state of New York, is of Irish descent, and has inherited many of the excellent traits which distinguish that people.
Andrew Bolger, father of Thomas J. Bolger, was born in Ireland in
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1844, and came to this country in early manhood. He commenced work as a laborer and has always followed that occupation. By means of his thrift and industry he succeeded in acquiring a moderate capital, pur- chased a home in the town of Seneca, and has lived there more than forty years. He married in Geneva, New York, in 1873, Honora Buckley, born in Ireland in 1851, died aged thirty-six. Children : Thomas J., see for- ward; Andrew, born in 1877; Mary, born in 1880, married Ernest J. Mosey.
Thomas J., son of Andrew and Honora (Buckley) Bolger, was born in Seneca, New York, November 28, 1875. He was but eleven years of age at the time of the death of his mother, and immediately was obliged to assume heavy responsibilities. He took full charge of the household cares and at the same time, devoted a portion of his time to outside work, to assist in the support of the family. These manifold duties deprived him of the necessary time for the acquisition of a school education in his youth, but he was determined to acquire knowledge and spent all his spare moments in home study. Later in life he became a student in the Geneva high school, utilizing his vacations by working in nurseries and about his own home. He thus attained, at a comparatively early age, a practical knowledge of tree growing, and was so quick in absorbing these ideas that, at the age of sixteen years, he was made the foreman of a large nursery located on the state road. About three years later he entered the employ of John Sweeney, who owned a nursery on William street, and it was but a short time when his natural abilities for this industry were recognized, and the most important duties were entrusted to him, culmi- nating in his being made manager of the entire nursery. After serving in this capacity for three years, Mr. Bolger bought the Sweeney property, carried it on in his own interest, and also acted as manager of the pack- ing grounds of O. K. Gerrish, in High street. At the end of three years he purchased the Gerrish business and property and merged the two con- cerns, carrying them on together very successfully. As his capital in- creased he commenced to interest himself in real estate matters, and at the present time is extensively concerned in this line of business. His nursery holdings alone are about thirty acres. In 1911, the Bolger interest in the nursery business was incorporated as the Universal Nurseries, with F. J. Conboy, president, and T. J. Bolger, secretary and treasurer. This con- cern, which does a thriving business, handles a first-class line of nursery stock in fruits and ornamental plants.
Mr. Bolger has earned the distinction of being the first alderman elected in the second ward, after the ward had been controlled by the Re-
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publican party for many years. He was elected to this office in 1905, and reelected in 1907. His efforts in the council were most laudable ones and he was rewarded by being the nominee of his party for supervisor in 1909, and was elected by a large majority over a strong opposing candi- date. He has also served as delegate to the state and county Democratic conventions, and has served as county committeeman from Geneva. While serving on the board of supervisors, he was frequently called upon to serve on the most important committees, and also as chairman of the board. Mr. Bolger is still a comparatively young man, and his past career gives promise of a brilliant future. He is a member of the Geneva Coun- cil, Knights of Columbus; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Geneva; and of the Hydrant Hose Company. His religious affiliations are with the Catholic church.
FORSTER.
Clark Forster, whose family has been closely identified with the agri- cultural interests of Ontario county, New York, for many years, is con- sidered one of the most successful fruit growers of the district, making a specialty of apple culture.
William Forster, father of Clark Forster, was born in England in 1792, and came to this country in 1817. For somewhat more than a year he lived in Massachusetts, then, for a period of two years, made his home in Clyde, New York, and finally decided upon Seneca, Ontario county, New York, as his permanent home. He obtained employment on the farm of Edward Hull, whose farm he managed for ten years, and then purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land a half mile east of this farm, and occupied it until his death. He was very successful in its culti- vation and left it in a fine condition to his sons.
Mr. Forster married, September, 1823, Mary, daughter of George and Mary ( Wilson) Caward, both English, the former born October 2, 1775, died June 8, 1867, the latter born August 14, 1778, died April 15, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Forster had children: 1. George, born November 24, 1826; died April 16, 1843. 2. Mary Jane, born July 26, 1828; died July 17, 1888. 3. William D., born March 29, 1830; married, May I, 1867, Matilda J. Britt, and resides at Stanley. 4. Edward H., born Feb- ruary 28, 1832; died June 13, 1905. 5. John, born September 27, 1833: died February 18, 1911. 6. Ursula A., born September 15, 1835; died
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July 14, 1860. 7. Thomas W., born January 7, 1838; died December 31, 1893. 8. Clark, see forward.
Clark, youngest child of William and Mary (Caward) Forster, was born in Seneca, Ontario county, New York, September 5, 1840. He was educated at the district schools of Geneva and Macedon, Ontario county, New York, and at an early age commenced to assist in the cultivation of the homestead farm. Upon the death of his father this descended to him and his brothers, Thomas W. and Edward H., and they worked in har- mony for many years, until the death of the latter. They added to the extent of the farm by a purchase of an additional thirty acres, making in all one hundred and sixty acres, and devoted a considerable portion of this to fruit culture, especially apples, in which they have attained a very satisfactory amount of success. Public matters have always been a sub- ject in which Mr. Forster has taken a decided interest and he is an active supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. His religious affilia- tions are with the No. 9 Presbyterian Church, of which he and his family are devoted members.
Mr. Forster married, March 10, 1887, Mary E., daughter of John Ritchie. Children : 1. Florence Bell, born May 4, 1888, died March 17, 1891. 2. Mabel Ursula, born June 4, 1890, died April 22, 1892. 3. Marvin Thomas, born February 7, 1893 ; attending school at Penn Yan, New York.
FORSTER.
William B. Forster, who is engaged in general farming in the town of Seneca, Ontario county, New York, occupies a high position in the literary circles of that section of the country and is also prominently iden- tified with its religious life.
William D. Forster, father of William B. Forster, was born at Halls Corners, Ontario county, New York, March 29, 1830, and is the oldest living person born at that place. He attended the common schools of his native township and supplemented this education by attendance at the sessions of Alfred Academy. He then engaged in teaching, and tauglit schools in the south for a period of two years. With the exception of these two years, all the active years of his life have been occupied in culti- vating the soil, in which pursuit he has been remarkably successful. He has owned, and resided on, the farm on which he now lives for forty- four years, and the products have always been of the finest quality of their
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kind. A considerable portion of it is devoted to the growing of fruit, for which the soil seems to be especially adapted. Although advanced in years, Mr. Forster is keenly alive to all matters of importance which arise, and takes great pleasure in following the course of events. He mar- ried, May 1, 1867, Matilda J. Britt, born in the town of Catskill, Greene county, New York, March 3, 1837, died February 10, 1910. Children : William B., see forward; Elizabeth May, and George F.
William B., son of William D. and Matilda J. (Britt) Forster, was born May 16, 1869. His elementary education was acquired in the public schools of his native town, and he then became a student at the Canan- daigua Academy, which, however, he was obliged to leave before finish- ing the complete course. In later years, however, he again took up a course of systematic reading which he has continued up to the present time. He and his sister, who attended the Geneva high school, are well known members of the Chautauqua Literary Society. The farm, which is now under his personal supervision, and has been for some time, con- sists of ninety-five acres, and Mr. Forster introduces, as opportunity offers, the most advanced, improved and scientific methods, with excellent results. The entire property is kept in fine condition and it is one of the most productive, for its size, in that section. Mr. Forster is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and is a member of No. 9 Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as treasurer, and is a member of the board of trustees.
FAY.
Walter L. Fay, who has been prominently identified with manufac- turing interests for many years, is a son of Edmund B. Fay, who was born in Fulton, Oswego county, New York, and was finally engaged in the wholesale dry goods business in New York City.
Walter L. Fay was born in Auburn, Cayuga county, New York, his mother's home, February 5, 1859. He was educated in the Pingry School, Elizabeth, New Jersey, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. He immediately entered upon his business career, working for his father for a short time, then, in 1879, entered the employ of D. M. Osborne & Company, Auburn, as an office boy, receiving a salary of fifty cents a day. He commenced at the bottom of the ladder. and by his faithful attention to the duties entrusted to him, he mounted
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steadily until he had attained an important position in the office. At the expiration of four years he accepted a position with A. W. Stevens & Son, the senior member of this firm being a pioneer in the field of thresher and steam engine building. After working for this firm for thirteen years, Mr. Fay started in business for himself, associating him- self in a partnership with Ernest S. Bowen, the firm doing business under the name of Fay & Bowen, and manufacturing bicycle spokes and spoke nipples at Auburn. They operated this business very successfully for five years and then made a cash sale of the enterprise to an eastern combina- tion. Under the same firm name they commenced the manufacture of gasoline engines and launches in Auburn, and in the fall of 1903 the busi- ness was incorporated, and in the following year removed to Geneva, where they are manufacturing internal combustion engines, both marine and stationary, operated on gasoline, kerosene; natural or artificial gas. They also manufacture launches, and employ an average of ninety men. Their sales extend to all parts of the world, and they ship to nearly every foreign country. The plant has a frontage of two hundred and thirty- five feet on a paved street, and five hundred feet on the lake and canal, which makes it admirably adapted for the building of launches and boats of all kinds, as they can be easily run through to the Great Lakes, the Hudson and the St. Lawrence rivers. Mr. Fay has served as president of the chamber of commerce for two years, and as a director for four years ; president of the Automobile Club for one year ; has been trustee of the Kanadasaga Club; and is a member of the Auburn City Club. His political opinions are those of the Independent party, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Fay married, 1888, Minnie G., born in Auburn, New York, 1867, daughter of J. A. Gordinear. Children : Mildred, born September 8. 1892; Lester Thorpe, born August 8, 1897.
EISELINE.
Dr. Daniel A. Eiseline, who has filled a number of public offices in connection with his professional career, is of the first generation of his family to have been born in this country, his ancestors having lived in Germany. John Eiseline, father of Dr. Eiseline, was born in Bavaria, Germany, from which country he came to America in 1867, bringing his wife with him, and located at Canandaigua. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation until his death, in 1897. He married
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Elizabeth S. Lindner, and had six children, of whom three died in in- fancy. Those living at present are : Daniel A., see forward; Elizabeth, and Harold D., the two last named living with their mother in Canan- daigua.
Dr. Daniel A. Eiseline, son of John and Elizabeth S. (Lindner) Eiseline, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, June 10, 1868, and was named in honor of Daniel F. Alverson, a prominent citi- zen of that town. His preparatory education was acquired in the public schools of Canandaigua and Canandaigua Academy, and he then matricu- lated at the University of Buffalo, from the medical department of which he was graduated in 1896. For four years prior to becoming a student at the Buffalo University he was employed as a clerk in various drug stores in Canandaigua, and immediately after his graduation he removed to Shortsville and established himself in the practice of his profession. In this he has been eminently successful and now has a large and lucra- tive practice. His political views were those of the Republican party and he has been chosen to hold various public offices. He was appointed coroner to fill the unexpired term of the late Dr. W. W. Archer, and was subsequently twice elected to the office, his present term expiring in 1911. He is a member of the committee from the fourth district of the town of Manchester, is health officer for the village of Shortsville and surgeon to the Shortsville Wheel Company. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is connected in various capacities with the fol- lowing organizations: Alpha Omega Delta Fraternity; Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, Free and Accepted Masons ; Excelsior Chapter, No. 64, Royal Arch Masons, of Canandaigua; Zenobia Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar, of Palmyra, New York; Damascus Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Parlor Village Lodge. No. 88, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; has been secretary and treasurer of Ontario County Medical Society since 1897; secretary and treasurer of Ontario County Sanitary Officers' Association ; secretary of the Training School for Nurses of Canandaigua Hospital of Physicians and Surgeons ; member of the Society of Physicians of the Village of Canandaigua ; Medical Association of Central New York; Medical Society of the State of New York; American Medical Association.
Dr. Eiseline married at Shortsville, New York, July 18, 1901, Mabel E., born in Shortsville, daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Stafford) Brown, and granddaughter of Hiram L. and Hester Brown, the former one of the founders and original proprietors of the Empire Drill Com- pany.
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BEATTIE.
Herbert Beattie, whose family has been well known in New York state for a number of generations, belongs to that class of citizens of this country, who form the bone and sinew of the entire body. They are de- scended from Scotch ancestry, and have brought the sturdy bodies of that country, as well as the thrifty and practical habits of their ancestors, and combined them in the manner best adapted to the needs of their new home with the modern methods which are so rapidly introduced into agricul- tural pursuits in America.
(I) James Beattie, the immigrant ancestor of Herbert Beattie, was born in Scotland in 1764, and died in this country in 1840. He was evi- dently a man of authority in many directions in his day, and was one of the founders of No. 9 Presbyterian Church, in 1807, served as an elder for many years, and was holding that office at the time of his death. He married Jane Grieve.
(II) David, son of James and Jane (Grieve) Beattie, was born in Scotland, April 6, 1799, and died on the family homestead in Ontario county, New York. He was but three years of age when he came to this country with his parents. In 1828 he purchased the land, for farming purposes, which has since been considered the family homestead. He married Dorothy, daughter of Adam Turnbull. Their grandson, Herbert Beattie, has at the present time in his possession a "peace pipe," dated 1671, which was dug up by Adam Turnbull on the farm now owned by William Tuttle.
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