USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 37
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Mr. Milne laid the foundation of a happy household by his mar- riage on May 30, 1889, to Miss Hannah Haggerty, a daughter of Jeremiah and Katherine Haggerty. Three children are growing up beneath their roof, these being: Chester, born in 1900; Mary, born February 28, 1905 ; and Julia Ann, born on December 18, 1908.
The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Milne is Catholic. The head of the house gives his support to the men and measures of the Democratic party and is interested in the issues of the day. He holds membership in the Royal Arcanum. He is a thoroughly self- made man. His father died when he was a boy and left his mother with eight small children. Every one who was old enough, and some who were not, had to help in the struggle to keep the wolf away from the door and all of them have been prospered by their hard work, industry and integrity. Mr. Milne is a respected citizen and commands the respect of all who know him. A brother of Mr. Milne is an Episcopal clergyman, and another brother is a dentist in
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Rochester, New York; one brother is in the gas and plumbing busi- ness, and there are two unmarried sisters.
IRA EGELSTON has been a resident of Steuben county from the time of his nativity and is a scion of one of the old and honored families of this county, with whose history the name has been identified for more than a century. He is the owner of a fine landed estate, in Pulteney township, and he still gives a general supervision to its work, though he maintains his residence in the village during the winter seasons.
Mr. Egelston was born in Pulteney township on the 9th of May, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Betsey M. (Clark) Egelston. His father was likewise born in Pulteney township, in the year 1812, and was a son of Benjamin Egelston, who likewise was born in the same township, a fact that clearly indicates that the family was founded in Steuben county in the very early pioneer epoch. The parents of Mr. Egelston continued to reside in Prattsburg township until their death and were folk of sterling characteristics, ever hold- ing a secure place in popular confidence and esteem in the com- munity.
Ira Egelston was reared to the discipline of the home farm . and he has never found it expedient to sever his allegiance to the great basic industry of agriculture, in connection with which he has achieved distinctive success and carried forward the work instituted by his father and grandfather in the earlier days. His educational advantages were those afforded by the district schools of his native township and he has long been numbered among its successful farm- ers and stock-growers. He is a substantial capitalist and he takes a lively interest in all that touches the welfare of the county that has so long represented his home and to the development and up- building of which he has contributed his due quota.
In politics Mr. Egelston has been actively identified with the Republican party from the time of attaining to his legal majority and he has been influential in connection with its affairs in his home county. He served from 1901 to 1909 as supervisor of his native township but has never been ambitious for public office. Though not formally identified with any religious organization he attends and is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a zealous member. He is affiliated with Hornell Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the village of Hornell.
Mr. Egelston was married to Miss Anna DeKay, who was born and reared in Pulteney township. Mr. and Mrs. Egelston have one son, P. T., who was born in April, 1872, and who now has practical charge of his father's farm; he married Miss Eva Gibson, of Pul- teney township.
GILBERT K. ELLIS, M. D .- Though he has been engaged in the practice of his 'profession but a short time in Pulteney township Dr. Ellis has gained distinctive popularity both as a physician and
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surgeon and as a citizen of utmost loyalty and public spirit. He maintains his home in the village of Pulteney and his practice is of a distinctively representative character, giving him prestige as one of the successful physicians and surgeons of Steuben county.
Dr. Ellis was born at Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, on the 29th of May, 1857, and after availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native town he continued his studies for some time in Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan, to which state his parents removed when he was very young. In preparation for the work of his chosen profession he entered the medical depart- ment of the celebrated University of Michigan, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887, and from which he received his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the practice of his profession in Erie county, New York, and there- after followed his professional work at different points in the west. He finally returned to his native state and in April, 1910, he estab- lished his home at Pulteney, Steuben county, where he has since continued the work of his profession with unqualified success. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society and the Amer- ican Medical Association. The doctor is a close student of his pro- fession and keeps in touch with the advances made in both medicine and surgery. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he is affiliated with Pulteney Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In the year 1879 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Ellis to Miss Sparks, who was born and reared at New York, and the three children of this union are George L., Belle J. and R. A.
HENRY R. BARDEEN .- This life long citizen of Steuben county was born in the town of Prattsburg, November 17, 1837, a son of Moses and Margaret (Edson) Bardeen. His parents, natives of Mas- sachusetts, were early settlers there and acquired about three hun- dred acres of land. His father was a soldier under the stars and stripes in the War of 1812 and became a man of recognized influence in this part of the county. He was twice married. His second wife bore him nine children, as follows: Edna, Mary Ann, Luther, Catharine, Moses, Edmund, Olive, Letitia and Henry R. Edna is dead. Olive is the wife of Thomas Cornish, of Rochester, New York.
Henry R. was reared on the home farm and sent to the common school near by. In September, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Regi- ment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and was in active warfare till the end of the struggle. He participated in six engagements, includ- ing that at Stony Creek. Returning to Steuben county in October, 1865, he began farming on the land he now occupies and has made a notable success which marks him as one of the best farmers in the north part of Steuben county.
December 29, 1860, Mr. Bardeen married Ellen Smith, a native of Schuyler county, New York, who has borne him children as fol-
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lows: Charles, Emma, Herbert, Elmer, Orpha, Ella May, Bertha, Carrie. Ella May and Bertha are dead. Carrie is the wife of Frank Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Bardeen are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Prattsburg, and are among the foremost of those who contribute to its support and promote its advancement. Mr. Bardeen has been active in connection with Grange No. 12, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is proud. In his political alliances he is stanchly Republican. He owns two hundred acres of land four miles northwest of Prattsburg, well improved and with a good residence and ample barns and other storage facilities. Until his retirement he worked at various times as a carpenter.
STERLING T. BOYD is one of the popular native sons of Steuben county, where he is now incumbent of the office of game and fish commissioner, in which he is giving most discriminating and effect- ive service. He resides on the fine old homestead on which he was born, in Pulteney township, and here gives his attention to diversi- fied agriculture, the while he finds ample demands upon his time in connection with his official duties. He is a young man of marked ability and enjoys unalloyed popularity in the county which has been his home from the time of his nativity.
Sterling T. Boyd was born in Pulteney township on the 26th of May, 1884, and is a son of George and Adell (Wagener) Boyd, the former of whom was likewise born in Pulteney township. George Boyd became one of the successful agriculturists and grape-growers of Pulteney township, where he continued to reside until his death. on the 13th of January, 1910, and his wife still resides in the old homestead. George Boyd was a man of sterling character and was influential in legal affairs of a public nature. He made his life count for good in all its relations and his death was uniformly de- plored in the community which had been the place of his abode throughout his entire life. He was Republican in his political pro- clivities.
Upon the homestead where he now resides Sterling T. Boyd was reared to maturity and after completing the curriculum of the district school he continued his studies in Cook's Academy. After leaving school he was employed for a time as clerk in a hardware store at Bath and later there came due recognition of his popular and specific eligibility when he was appointed to his present office of fish and game commissioner of Steuben county. He was reared in the faith of the Republican party and has never deviated from his allegiance thereto. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and he still remains with his widowed mother at the old homestead, which is endeared to him hy the memories and associa- tions of the past.
MRS. MARION (HAMPTON) WEBB, of Hornell, is a native of Liv- ingston county, New York, and was born July 1, 1854, a daughter
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of Philo and Clarissa (Wright) Hampton. Her father, also a native of Livingston county, New York, born in 1831, was a fine mechanic who gave his attention to mill-wrighting as a specialty. In his polit- ieal affiliations he was a Republican. Of a domestic turn of mind, he never aspired to a publie life and never sought or accepted polit- ieal office. He united with the Baptist church when he was eighteen years old and was a consistent member of that great religious body as long as he lived. Mrs. Clarissa (Wright) Hampton was born in Rochester, New York, February 5,. 18?9, and is living at Batavia, New York, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Philo Hampton was one of eleven children of his parents' family. The others were named Polly, John, Sabia, Thaddeus, Isaae, Sally, Fanny, Benja- min and Andrew, and one who died young. All of them are now deceased.
Marion Hampton and Shepherd Webb were married May 8, 1875. The following information concerning their children will be interesting in this connection. Wade Hampton Webb, born August, 1876, is a farmer. He enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York Regiment, but got no nearer to the seat of hostilities than Camp Alger, where he was honorably discharged and mustered out. Her- bert Webb was born Mareh 3, 1879, and married Miss Alma McCre- vey May 7, 1909. He is a locomotive engineer and they live at Fitzgerald, Georgia. Anna was born April 23, 1881, and died January 8, 1886.
PETER BRICKS .- A respected farmer and a man well known not only in Perkinsville, where he now makes his home, but throughout the county, is Peter Bricks. He is a native of Germany, in which country he was born in 1843. His parents, Anthony and Mary (Baekus) Brieks, became citizens of the United States in 1846, Mr. Bricks being but three years old at the time they erossed the Atlantic. They lived for a while in South Dansville, but eventually the father bought fifty acres of land west of Wayland in Wayland township, where he farmed on a limited seale. He lived here until his death in 1873, his widow surviving him for twenty-two years. This couple were the parents of five children, Stephen, Margaret, John, Peter and Elizabeth, Peter being the only one alive at the present time.
Mr. Bricks gained his education in the public schools of Steuben county and while a lad learned the trade of harness maker, which he followed until his enlistment at the time of the Civil war. This was in 1864, in which year he became a member of the military band attached to the Second Brigade, Twenty-second Army Corps. He received honorable discharge at the close of the rebellion. Upon his return home he abandoned his trade and took up agriculture, in which he has proved eminently successful. He has accumulated one hundred and ninety-seven aeres in three separate traets, this consti- tuting a very valuable property. Mr. Bricks operates his farms in the most modern style, using scientifie methods and the most im- proved implements. He also has various other holdings.
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Mr. Bricks has been excise commissioner four times and four times assessor, the latter office being held by him at the present time. He is an enthusiastic Grand Army man, being post commander of Theodore Slick Post, No. 314, of Wayland, New York. After he returned from army life he organized the Perkinsville Cornet Band of fourteen pieces, and he has held the leadership of this for over thirty years. This band is known far and wide for its excellence, this quality being in large part due to the vigilance and inspiration of its guiding spirit.
Mr. Bricks assumed marital ties on June 3, 1866, when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gross. Their union has been blessed by the birth of thirteen children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Nicholas, Elizabeth, Catherine, Joseph J., George, Mary, Theresa and William.
GEORGE P. ELLIS, Hornell, was born in Steuben county, Au- gust 28, 1860, a son of Albert and Matilda (Newson) Ellis, the former a native of Livingston county, New York. He was educated at Mt. Morris, Livingston county and began life on his own account as a farmer at the age of twenty years. His present farm of ninety- six acres he bought of Dr. Walker. He is a Republican in his polit- ical convictions, but takes little active part in political work and has no aspirations for office holding.
March 12, 1880, Mr. Ellis married Miss Diana McMichael, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Hyde) McMichael, both of whom are dead. The McMichaels are an old Pennsylvania family, and it was in the Keystone state that Mrs. Ellis' parents passed their lives, busy and useful people in their community. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have been born six children, named as follows in the order of their nativity : Mary, Lorin, Esther, Ira, Lee and Leo. The last men- tioned is dead.
Mr. Ellis is a man of public spirit, who is ready at any time to do his full share for the advancement of any cause which in his opinion promises good to any considerable number of his fellow citizens. As a business man he is progressive and successful. He is of the type of man sometimes referred to as "forehanded," as is evidenced by the fact that he carries a good policy on his life in the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company.
NANCY S. CLARK was born at Naples, New York, November 21, 1833, a daughter of John L. and Sophia Clark, who were born in Ontario county of that state. The death of the father in 1835 and the passing away of the mother shortly afterward left the little daughter an orphan when but two years old, and she was then taken into the home of Mrs. George Wheeler and reared to the age of maturity. Of the eight children which were born to her foster parents, only a son, Jackson Wheeler, survives, and his home is in Kanona, New York, but he spends his winters in Florida. The Wheeler place, which is one of the oldest family estates in Steuben
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county, is managed by a granddaughter of Mr. Wheeler, whose home is in Illinois. Miss Nancy S. Clark is a member of the Methodist church at Kanona, and is prominently associated with its Ladies' Aid and Missionary Societies.
PHINEAS G. WARREN is a sterling representative of one of the fine old pioneer families of Steuben county and it is interesting to note here that the homestead on which both he and his father, Francis M. Warren were born, has been in the possession of various members of the name for more than a hundred years. On the 4th of March, 1865, in Bath township, this county, occurred the birth of him to whom this sketch is dedicated. He is a son of Francis M. and Sophia Willis ( Howard) Warren, the former of whom was born on the 19th of August, 1838, and the latter on the 26th of March, 1841. The father was reared a farmer and his preliminary educa- tional training included a course in the high school at Bath. He has now reached the venerable age of seventy-two years and now maintains his home with his son on the fine old ancestral estate, where resides also his wife, who is sixty-seven years of age. Francis MI. Warren is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities and he and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church, in whose faith they were reared. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Warren are three, namely: Evangeline, who is the wife of F. E. Bradley, a farmer in Bath township; Adeline, who married James Little, also resides in Bath township; and Phineas G. is the immediate subject of this review.
The Warren family traces its ancestry back to stanch English extraction and the original progenitor of the name in America was one John Warren, who was born and reared to young manhood in England, whence he immigrated to the New World, in 1630, settling at Waltham, Massachusetts, where he hecame a prominent rcal estate and business man and where he wielded a potent influence for good in community affairs. His grandson, Jonathan, was born at Waltham, was a gallant soldier in the war of the Revolution and he died on the 4th of October, 1824, at Marlboro, Vermont. The latter's son Phineas was a major in the Twelfth Massachusetts Militia in the War of 1812 and in 1836 he was a colonel in the Ninety-sixth Massachusetts state militia. Dwight Warren, a brother of Francis M. Warren and an uncle of him to whom this sketch is dedicated, was first lieutenant in the One Hundred Eighty-ninth. New York Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war and he is now living in retire- ment at Three Oaks, Berrien county, Michigan. The foregoing shows the remarkable loyalty and public-spirited interest ever mani- fested by members of the Warren family in matters affecting the wel- fare of the nation from earliest Colonial times.
Phineas G. Warren carly availed himself of the advantages afforded in the common schools of his native place and then at- tended the high school at Bath, Steuben county. He has passed his entire life thus far on the old homestead farm on which he was
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born and in addition to his general farming he makes a specialty of the raising of breeded poultry and of Holstein cattle. While he endorses the cause of the Republican party in all matters of national import he maintains an independent attitude in local affairs, pre- ferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment. Although reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church he usually attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees and with the Grange.
On the 8th of March, 1894, at Fairport, Monroe county, New York, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Warren to Miss Lottie J. Havens, the only child of Francis M. and Phoebe (Hart) Havens, the former of whom was a mechanic in early life but who is now . a retired farmer. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebel- lion, participating in many of the important conflicts marking the progress of that sanguinary struggle, in which he served for a period of four years. Mrs. Warren is a high-school graduate and was af- forded an excellent musical education in her girlhood. She is a woman of most pleasing personality and is deeply beloved by scores of admiring friends. To Mr. and Mrs. Warren have been born three children, namely: Hazel C., whose birth occurred on the 17th of March, 1895; Hilda, born February 22, 1898, and Dwight Francis, born on the 17th of September, 1904.
Mr. Warren is a man of broad and liberal views, there being nothing narrow or intolerant in his nature. He is enterprising and progressive in all the terms imply, lives in the present, and, taking a pardonable pride in his community and state, has faith in their future and uses his power and influence to make this faith realize the largest possibilities. Socially, he is an affable gentleman, genial in manner, agreeable in conversation, courteous to all with whom he mingles, and he impresses those with whom he has business or other relations as possessing a power of mind and force of personality in- dicative of the natural leader in large and important undertakings.
EMERY A. ROBINSON .- It is pleasing to record in this publica- tion that many of the native sons of Steuben county have here found ample scope for successful effort along industrial and commercial lines of enterprise and among this number is Mr. Robinson, who has been actively identified with agricultural pursuits from the time of his youth, save for a brief interval. Emery Adelbert Robinson was born in Dansville, this county, on the 5th of September, 1860. and is a son of Eliphalet and Susan (Kridler) Robinson, the former
of whom was born in Steuben county, on the 31st of December, 1820, and the latter in Pennsylvania, in the year 1838. The father died on the 16th of December, 1893, and the mother passed away in the preceding year. The Robinson family is of stanch English extraction and was founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our national history. The Kridler family found representatives among the early citizens of the state of Pennsylvania and the
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lineage is traced back to German origin. Eliphalet Robinson de- voted his entire active business career to agricultural pursuits and he was one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of Steu- ben county for many years, having been the owner of a well improved farm in Dansville township. Of the children two sons and four daughters are now living.
Emery A. Robinson was reared to the sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm, which was the place of his birth, and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the district schools of Dansville township. He has never broken his allegiance to the great basic art of agriculture except for a period of five years, during which he was employed in the oil refinery of the Standard Oil Company at Franklin, this state. When he was seventeen years of age he initiated his independent career and for a long time he was employed by the month at farm work. In politics though never an aspirant for public office Mr. Robinson is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and he shows a distinctive interest in local affairs, doing all in his power to further such measures and enterprises as tend to advance the general welfare of the community.
On the 3d of July, 1885, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Came, who was born in Wayland township, Steuben county, on the 22nd of November, 1864, and who is a daughter of Reuben and Charlotte (Koash) Came, who were residents of Dans- ville township at the time of their death. Reuben Came was born in the year 1827 and his wife was born in 1828; she came with her parents from Germany when ten years of age and the family settled in Wayland township, Steuben county. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have three children, concerning whom the following brief data are given : William Frederick, who was born on the 27th of August, 1886, married Miss May Loohn and resides in Hornellsville; Charles E., who was born November 8, 1888, died on the 24th of January, 1892; and John E., who was born on the 13th of March, 1893, is now attending the district schools near the parental home.
MOSES DAVISON .- He whose name initiates this review has long held prestige as one of the representative business men of Steuben county and is still actively engaged in the mercantile trade, at Bath, where he has a large and well equipped establishment devoted to the handling of dry-goods, carpets, boots and shoes, groceries, etc. It was his to give loyal service as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war and his sterling integrity of purpose in all the rela- tions of life has retained to him the inviolable confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
Moses Davison was born in County Cavan, Ireland, on the 17th of October, 1845, and is a son of William and Margaret Davi- son, who were born and reared in the Emerald Isle and who were representatives of stanch old families of County Cavan. In 1846 they emigrated to America, and soon after their arrival they estab-
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