USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 51
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Mr. Colvin stood high in the estima- tion of his friends and acquaintances, and was possessed of the strietest integrity. He mar- ried, and reared seven children, three sons and four daughters. Stephen Colvin was the grand- father of our subject. He was born in Danby, and married Mary Merrithew, when he settled on his father's homestead and reared a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. He died in 1804. Benajah Colvin was born in Danby in 1787, and as he developed, showed a fine and sturdy physique and a strong and sta- ble character. He was a successful man, and by careful management and good judgment amassed a competence. He was killed in 1867, when eighty years of age, while felling a tree in the woods. He married Ruth Irish, and had four children, three sons and one daughter.
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His first wife died, and he then married Han- nah Palmer, who bore him one daughter.
Joel Colvin was educated in the public schools, and reared at Danby, Vermont. That he understood theoretical, as well as practical farming, is shown by the competence he had accumulated when the grim reaper took him away on March 15, 1882. In 1869 he bought the finc property in Ripley where his widow now resides.
On September 25, 1835, he married Almira Staples, a daughter of Ellery Staples, and they had five children : Charles, married Mary Green, and lives in Vermont ; Ahira, first mar- ricd Hannah Kirk, and for his second wife took Mary Wisner. He is in the grape-grow- ing business ; Albert N., married to Luella Cheney, is now a farmer in Ripley ; James, married Sarah Hardinger, now dead, lives in Ripley with his mother; and Lizzie, wife of Charles Brown, a butcher at Ripley.
Politically Mr. Colvin was a republican, but his gentle disposition and retiring nature much preferred the quiet of his home and the com- pany of his family, to the bustle and deceit of politics and the hilarious companions which often accompany it, so that he never entered political life. He passed away mourned and regretted by his family and a large circle of friends.
J UDGE DANIEL SHERMAN. One who has held with credit during the last half century many offices of trust and responsibility, both by election and appointment, is Judge Daniel Sherman, the present surrogate of Chau- tauqua county. He is a son of Daniel and Eunice (Clark) Sherman, and was born in the town of Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, November 29, 1821. Judge Sherman's grand- father, Humphrey Sherman, was a Quaker resident of Amherst, Mass., where he mar- ried and reared a family of three sons and three daughters. The Clarks, like the Sher-
mans, were of English descent, and the Judge's maternal grandfather, Henry Clark, was born and reared at Hoosick, N. Y. He was a farmer, a whig, a congregationalist. Daniel Sherman (father) was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1784 and came to what is now Chautauqua county in 1816. Hc first settled on the site of Lakewood, in the town of Busti, where he purchased of the Holland Land company 415 acres of land, which he owned at his death. He was one of the first directors of the Chautauqua County Bank at its organization. The town of Busti was or- ganized in 1824, and he was its first supervisor, and continued to hold that office during six suc- cessive years, and was chairman of the Board in 1828. His eldest daughter, Harriet, married Pardon Hazeltine, of Busti, who was super- visor from 1836 to 1840. His eldest son, Henry C., married Hepsaba Steward of Con- necticut, and was supervisor of Busti town from 1841 to 1846. One son, Ebon G. Sherman, resides at Tidioute, Penna. Another son, My- ron C., married Harriet Robertson, is a thrifty farmer and resides on part of the old Sherman homestead at Lakewood, has one son Edward. Another son, Humphrey, a physician, died many years ago at Stockton, leaving a widow residing in Fredonia. Daniel Sherman, Sen., was elected on the Anti-Masonic ticket sheriff of Chautauqua county, and served as such from 1828 to 1832. He died April 11, 1834, aged fifty years.
Surrogate Daniel Sherman attended the James- town and Fredonia academies, and prepared in Burr Seminary, Vermont, for the sophomore class in college. Afterwards he read law with Haz- eltine & Warren, of Jamestown, was admitted on July 4, 1848, at the only general term of the Supreme Court ever held in Chautauqua county, as an attorney-at-law, and lias been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since, except when serving in some public capacity. In 1851 he was elected on the republican ticket, as dis- triet attorney of Chautauqua county, served in
Daniel Sherman
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that office for three years and then became at- torney for the Seneca Nation of Indians, which position he held for twelve years. He also served for many years as U. S. agent for the Six Nations of New York, by appointment of the President of the U. S. In 1882, when in the midst of an active practice, he was elected surrogate of Chautauqua county, and at the end of his term of six years he was re-elected for an additional term of six years, which will expire in 1894. He has conscientiously dis- charged the many duties of that office in an ac- ceptable manner to the public whose approval has been bestowed upon his labors as surrogate.
April 28, 1852, he married Mary Colvill. They had five children : Daniel, who married Grace Greenwood, and is a prosperous farmer in Minnesota ; Elizabeth and Mary deceased ; William, a photographer ; and Julia D. Mrs. Sherman is a daughter of William Colvill, Jr., who was born in Scotland in 1797, had Thomas Carlyle for one of his teachers and came, in 1820, with his father, to Forestville. He mar- ried Mary Love, of Nashville, N. Y., and reared a family of five children, one of whom is Gen. William Colvill, receiver of the land office at Duluth, Minnesota, by appointment of Pres- ident Cleveland. He is a lawyer by profession, and went into the last war as captain of one of the companies of the 1st Minnesota regiment of Vols. He was successively promoted until he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry at Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded in the side and foot. On the second day of that great battle, just after General Sickles' corps had been routed by Longstreet and the latter was making his supreme effort to capture Little Round Top, the pivotal point commanding the field and the Union lines, General Hancock noticed where the Federal lines were break- ing, and ordered Col. Colvill's regiment to hold the breachi, which they bravely did by one of the most brilliant charges of the war. Col. Colvill charged with two hundred and forty-
seven men, held the Rebel line in check until reinforcements came up, captured the enemy's colors, leaving 200 of his regiment killed and wounded on the field. The charge is justly noted as one of the most famous in history. After the war the people of Minnesota elected him attorney-general of the State, which office he lield one year.
Judge Sherman is a republican in politics, and an earnest friend of education. He aided in securing the annual State academic appropri- ation of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in 1871 and 1872, served as town super- intendent for several years, and was president of the board of education of Forestville free academy over twenty years. While attorney for the Seneca nation, he successfully secured in the court of appeals one of the true boundaries of their reservation, which had been decided ad- versely several times in the lower courts. He also acquired, in the same court, for the Seneca Indians, their title to the Oil Spring reserva- tion, which title had been omitted in the Big Tree treaty of 1798, and by this omission had passed through Morris to the Holland Land company and their grantees.
In liis address, delivered in Jamestown, Jan- uary 29, 1885, on "The Six Nations" before the Chautauqua Society of History and Natural Science, Judge Sherman threw light on many obscure points in the history of that won- derful Indian confederacy which he so ably and clearly traced, and especially in their past and present land ownership in western New York. In concluding his valuable and interesting ad- dress, he said : There is a public sentiment in this country that the Indian tribes are fast dying out. However this may be true with other In- dian tribes, it is not true as to the original Six Nations of New York. Statistics show the Six Nations in Canada, this State and the west to be increasing in population. They (statistics) show a vitality in this people, emerging from barbarism to civilization, that is,
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under all the adverse circumstances surround- ing them remarkable indeed, if not unprece- dented."
Judge Daniel Sherman gives untiring at- tention to his profession, and every case which he has tried always received his full and care- ful attention. The grasp of his mind is strong and comprehensive, and he is well-known for his patience, dignity and perspicuity, while his legal efforts are indicative of much re- search and discrimination.
F RANKLIN J. HOUGHTON is a promi- nent advocate of the third party move- ment, who believes that practical temperance can soonest and best be realized by statutory enactments prohibiting the manufacture, sale or use of intoxicants, and whose definition of tem- perance is moderation in things useful; total abstinence of things harmful. He is a son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Lamphere) Hough- ton, and was born May 14, 1846, in Constable- ville, Lewis county, New York. His grand- father was Richardson Houghton, a native of Massachusetts, from whence he came to Lewis county and engaged in farming. He aided the Whig party and married Sarah Bennett, the daughter of a prominent Revolutionary officer. They had four sons and two daughters. Thomas B. Houghton was born in Saratoga county, this State, in 1822. From there he cmigrated to Lewis county about 1840. He married Elizabeth Lamphere about the same time, and became the father of two sons and five daughters. He was a strong Union man ; no sentiment for State rights found sympathy from him, and when the flag on Fort Sumter was desecrated by rebel shot and shell, he re- sponded to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men. He entered Co. H, 140th regiment, N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served three months, when he died of fever, November 17, 1862. Thomas B. Houghton was a painter by trade, but enlisted as a farmer as he had
been paying more attention to the latter for some years prior to entering the service. Polit- ically he favored the young Republican party. Mrs. Houghton is still living at South Ripley, being sixty-seven years of age. Of the sons, Henry R., entered the regular army after the close of the war, and was discharged in 1872.
Franklin J. Houghton was educated in the public schools. At the age of eleven years he left home and began boating. In 1864 he joined Co. D, 89th regiment, N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served until sickness compelled his dis- charge. Upon leaving the service and recover- ing his health he worked at day laboring until 1867. One year later he came to Chautauqua county and located in South Ripley, where he still lives upon a farm containing fifty-five acres of fine land. Mr. Houghton is a prohi- bitionist, having changed from the Democratic party some years ago. He has served as jus- tice of the peace for four years, and was post- master at South Ripley for two years.
On September 9, 1869, he married Harriet E. Chace, daughter of James Chace, of Mina, and their union has resulted in the birth of two daughters: Gertrude, who married Fred Rundell, of Mina, and has one child, Harriet ; and Fannie E., now attending school.
F. J. Houghton is a gentleman who makes many friends and possesses characteristics that retains them.
W ILLIAM B. YOUNG has been a resident of Chautauqua county for nearly three- quarters of a century, and his fund of reminis- cences, if compiled and placed in book form, would make an interesting volume. He is a son of Charles P. and Rebecca (Higbee) Young, and was born in the town of Chautauqua, Chau- tauqua county, New York, August 29, 1817. Joseph Young, the grandfather of subject, was a native of Long Island, this State. He was an accomplished cabinetmaker and joiner, which he followed after his removal to Herkimer
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county. He was twice married, first to Chloe Griswold, and later to Elizabeth Short, both of whom bore him a total of fourteen children. They have all passed away excepting one, a child by his last wife. All lived to an advanced age, longevity being a family trait. He was a member of the Methodist church and died in 1837. Sylvester Higbee (maternal grandfather) came from Connecticut to the town of Ellery, where he died, was a deacon in the Baptist church and a whig. His wife was Esther Hines, by whom he reared fourteen children. Charles P. Young (father) was born in 1790 at Killing- worth, Conn., and after a brief residence in both Herkimer and St. Lawrence counties he came to Chautauqua town in 1812 and settled a short distance from Mayville, but in 1836 he moved over into Westfield, and again, in 1845, into Ripley, where he has since lived. His son, William, bought a farm of seventy one acres, upon which it is supposed an Indian fort had stood. From graves and mouuds Mr. Young seeured a collection of Indian relics of extra- ordinary value. He was a democrat and served the town of Chautauqua two terms as justice of the peace. He was a prominent member of the Methodist church, and helped to organize the first M. E. society at Mayville, being the record- ing steward. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. He married, first Rebecca Higbee, and had eight children who grew to maturity, but all are now dead, except four : Julia, mar- ried Harmon C. Wade, a farmer at Madison, Ohio; Maria L., lives in Ripley, and is the wife of Philip A. Rice, who was formerly a wagon- maker but is now a farmer; Rebecca H., widow of Samuel P. Howard ; and William B. For his second wife he united in marriage with Polly Hammond. He died on January 8, 1883.
natural bright intellect, to carry him successfully through life, and then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1846. He re- built a saw-mill, and operated it for twenty-five years while timber was plentiful, and then dis- posing of it he engaged in farming and growing grapes which he has since pursued. The prop- erty is beautifully located on the shore of Lake Erie, and includes a vineyard of seven and one- half acres.
On December 25, 1846, he married Julia Beadle, a daughter of Hoel Beadle, who was born March 20, 1820, and died May 10, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters: Julia A., born July 12, 1849, married Edwin M. Conley, who is a prosperous and well-known farmer in the town of Ripley-they have one son, Charles, and two daughters, Bessie and Julia ; Mary S., born January 27, 1854; and William A., born June 4, 1859.
W. B. Young has seen many changes in this great county. The first census taken after his advent into the county showed a population of twelve thousand, five hundred and sixty-eight souls ; to-day it probably exceeds ten times that number ; then the traveler found himself sur- rounded by almost boundless forests, bumping over rough and muddy roads with only the comforts of an old springless stage-coach ; to- day he can glide through the broad acres of fine farms ou rails as smooth as a glare of ice, enjoy- ing the luxuries scarcely afforded by the fiuest palaces. Education has taken the place of ignorance, and many virtues have superseded old-time vices. Mr. Young is a democrat and served as excise commissioner for three years. He is a genial and entertaining old gentleman, and to visit him is a pleasure.
William B. Young was reared on his father's . farm, and being the oldest son was accorded but J OSEPH ABBOTT is oue of the respected eitizens and progressive men of Hanover town, Chautauqua county, New York; his poor educational advantages, his services being needed at home. Through many adversitics he managed to acquire enough, coupled to his parents were Stephen and Lois (Spalding) Ab-
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bott. He was born in the town of Edmeston, Otsego county, New York, October 24, 1818. Mr. Abbott's grandfather was also a native of New York State, and spent his last days at Bullstown, Saratoga county. Grandfather Levi Spalding was, however, born in the State of New Hampshire, and emigrated to New York State, Otsego county, just prior to his death at the advanced age of ninety years. He followed farming for a livelihood, and during the war of the Revolution served as a captain in the colonial army under General Washington. His ancestors were of English birth. Stephen Ab- bott was born in Saratoga county, New York, and died in Chautauqua county, August 16, 1864, at the age of seventy-eight years. By occupation he was a farmer; in religion an active member of the Baptist church, and in politics a Jeffersonian democrat. His wife, Lois Spalding, bore him eight children, four boys and four girls : Stephen Abbott, Jr., died July 13, 1891, at the age of cighty-two years ; David G., died in June, 1886, aged seventy years; Andrew, died 1838, aged thirteen years; Ami, Mary, Phoebe and Joseph, now living.
Joseph Abbott acquired his education through the common schools, and in youth and early manhood labored upon the farm. This he con- tinued to pursue, and has been practically a life-long farmer and stock-raiser; to the latter interest he has devoted considerable time. He came to the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, in February, 1865, purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and on this he has built, made improvements and lived ever since.
Joseph Abbott was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Ruth Cooper, who bore him three children: Frank J. (married to Arlie Brown), a farmer and stock-dcaler residing at Nashville, Chautauqua county, New York ; they have, one son,-Julian B. Abbott, born April 25, 1890; Evan C. (married to Lotta Pratt) now lives with subject, and is a lawyer
by profession, having, besides reading law, been graduated from the Albany Law School in 1888 ; Mary R. lives with her parents at home.
Joseph Abbott's political connections have always been with the Democratic party, at the hands of which he has served as highway com- missioner for a number of years. He was also- elected to the office of magistrate for the town of Villanova, but did not assume the functions. of that office. He is a member of the Equita- ble Aid Union. Mr. Abbott has a comfortable home, lives a quiet, contented life, and enjoys the highest confidence of his neighbors. His demeanor toward those with whom he meets is- kindly and pleasant, while he is still firm and resolute when occasion so demands.
J AMES H. SHAVER, an active and ener - getic citizen of Ripley, New York, is a son of John and Huldia (Hempstead) Shaver, and was born in the village of Ripley, Chau- tauqua county, New York, October 16th, 1836. He was of Dutch extraction, his ancestors be- longing to the early Knickerbocker families of eastern New York, whence they had come from Holland. His great-grandfather, Frederick Shaver, lived during his life-time in the Mo- hawk valley, while his son, Henry J. Shaver, grandfather of James H., emigrated to Chau- tauqua county in the year 1812, where he passed his life and died. He was possessed of considerable real estate, voted with the Whig party and was four times married. His uncle, Calvin Hempstead, was a resident of Oneida county, near Rome, the greater part of his life, and still lives in Walworth county, Wisconsin, aged nearly ninety-three years and is enjoying good health. He was a com- bined farmer and pioneer lay preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which latter capacity he exerted a wide influence in that early day, organizing churches and generally promoting the cause of religion. John Shaver,
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father of subject, was born in the Mohawk valley in the year 1796 and died in 1843. He early removed to Chautanqna county and plied his trade of coopering, turning out the first butter firkins ever made in the county. His political views were democratic; his religious views those of the Methodist Episcopal church. His marriage with Miss Huldia Hempstead resulted in the birth of three children : Henry J., a soldier in the late civil war from the State of Wisconsin, where he now resides ; Fanny (dead), wife of James Lewis; and James H.
James H. Shaver benefited by the common schools of his day and then learned the trade of carriage blacksmithing. At the outbreak of the civil war, in 1861, he entered the 4th regi- ment Wisconsin Volunteers for three months. He was wounded at the battle of Manassas, but this did not deter him from re-enlisting. This he did and served three years longer in the Army of the Potomac and under Gen. Butler at New Orleans.
James H. Shaver was united in marriage to Miss Catherine, daughter of Robert and Ma- hala (Beaman) Melhuish. (Mr. Melhuish was a native of England, emigrated to America when about twelve years of age and first located in Wyoming county, Pa. He subsequently re- moved to Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, engaged in farming and there spent his declining years. He had a family of two sons and four daughters.) Mr. and Mrs. Shaver have two sons : Ulysses Grant, married to May Bean and now lives in Wisconsin-a station agent ; and John E., at home, a telegraph oper- ator by profession.
Ever since the war Mr. Shaver's health has been very much impaired. He is a democrat politically and a regular member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
S TEPHEN H. YORK, a man who has been variously and extensively engaged in busi- ness pursuits in the town of Hanover, is a son
of Warren D. and Sarah (Crumb) York. The date of his birth is December 12, 1840, and the place Brookfield, Madison county, New York. His grandfather, Yeomans York, belonged to an old Revolutionary family of Connecticut, where he was born and from whence he emi- grated to the State of New York. Upon his arrival in New York State he took np his resi- dence in Brookfield, Madison county, where he died in the year 1860 at the age of ninety-three years. He cast his vote with the Whig and Republican parties and religiously affiliated with the Baptist denomination. His brothers, who were all older than himself, enlisted and served in the Revolutionary war. He was twice married ; first to Miss Rogers, by whom he had two children ; his second wife was Miss Catherine Collins, who bore him a family of seven children-six boys and one girl. Warren D. York, father of subject, was born in Madi- son county, New York, in the year 1819, and is still living at Barnston, Nebraska. He emi- grated to Chantauqua connty, New York, and settled in the town of Hanover in 1868 ; here he engaged in the manufacture of cheese until 1885, when he went to the State of Nebraska. He was a republican and filled the office of as- sessor in his town for two terms. His wife, who is still living, at the age of seventy-two years, bore him a family of six children-fonr boys and two girls-all living : Stephen H. (subject), oldest ; Lewis, a farmer, now living in Nebraska; Warren Y., also a farmer, living in Nebraska, a partner with his brother in the manufacture of cheese; Selah, who lives at Unadilla, Otsego county, and is engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese; Lucy, wife of George Crumb, of Madison county, N. Y .; and Eliza, married to Frank H. Morrison, of Dallas, Oregon.
Stephen H. York, on January 7, 1866, was united in marriage to Josephine Ramsdell, a daughter of John Ramsdell, of Madison county, New York.
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He was educated in the common schools and academy, and, like many other successful men, gained a good physical basis for his after career by working upon a farm. His farming expe- rience, however, lasted only three years when he abandoned it and went into the manufacture of cheese, wagons and lumber at Forestville, under the firm-name of House & York. He remained in that business about a year, when he retired from the firm and joining with his father, went into the same business, which, under the latter management, became successful and Incrative. In 1873 he sold his interest in the manufacturing enterprises and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits at Villanova, under the firm- name of Maples & York, but at the expiration of three years returned to Forestville and again engaged in the lumber business in conjunction with his cousin. Three years was the limit in this business also, and in the spring of 1881 he removed to Smith's Mills, built a large store- room and again engaged in merchandising, which now claims his attention. Mr. York has been a life-long republican, an earnest advocate of its principles, and has been called to fill the offices of collector and town-clerk under its juris- diction, the latter of which offices he has held continuously since 1885. He is a member of the Equitable Aid Union. Mr. York is a pleasant, agreeable man in his general demeanor, possessed of good business qualifications and a laudable ambition.
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