Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 1256

USA > New York > Wyoming County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 16
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 16

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Francis Marion Perine passed the care-free and happy years of boyhood in Dansville, where he attended the public school and acad- emy. At twenty he was sent to college, in 1855 graduated from Buffalo Medical Uni- versity, and in the following spring began practising his profession in West Sparta. Six years later he came to Dansville, where he has been actively engaged in professional duties for thirty-three years. In 1855, the year that he received his medical degree, he was married to Miss Emily P. Bingham, a daughter of Nathaniel Bingham, a piano manufacturer of Rochester. Mr. Bingham, who had been an invalid for some years of his life, and had been greatly benefited by water cure at Clifton

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Springs, was a strong promoter and advocate of that system of treatment. Being thor- oughly acquainted with the advantages that this locality offered, and having strong faith in the success of such an institution in Dans- ville, he built and established the old sanato- rium which occupied the site of the present large and elegant building.

Dr. Perine's public spirit has manifested itself in various directions, and he has for a number of years taken a leading part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the village of his birth. He has been for five years High Priest of Dansville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 91, and is a member of the Phoenix Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Hle belongs to the Livingston County Medical Society, of which he has been President, is a member of the Central New York Medical Society, and is also a permanent member of the State Medical Society. He was one of the founders of the Livingston County Historical Society, which he has served as President, was President of the vil- lage of Dansville for a year; and for twenty years he has held the office of Coroner. He hs led a life of constant and varied activity and usefulness, that has endeared him to the community ; and he has thus acquired an influence stronger and more widespread, per- haps, than any other one individual in this vicinity.

In the multiplicity of professional and social obligations, religious duties have not been neglected. He was Chairman of the Building Committee of the Presbyterian church in this place, of which both he and his wife are mem- bers, and of which he has been for many years the Trustee. His political creed is formu- lated in the enunciated principles of the Re- publican party, to which he strongly adheres. Besides his professional, civic, and other ser- vices, Dr. Perine has rendered himself a pub- lic benefactor to the people of Livingston County by the introduction of grape culture here --- an industry hitherto untried, and which has proved of great value.

Through all the coming years Of shade and sun, He shall live remembered In works well done.

EVERETT S. BAKER, now living in retirement in the village of Bliss, in the county of Wyoming, has been a thrifty and successful farmer; and the tranquil life he now leads is a just reward for his many years so laboriously spent in turning to good account nature's bountiful re- sources. He was born June 26, 1834, in this same town of Eagle, of New England parent- age, his father, Philip, and his grandfather, Elisha Baker, having been natives of Vermont. The latter, who was a life-long farmer, resided in that State from his birth to his death ; and the former, while yet a boy, removed with a brother to Wyoming County, New York. They came the whole distance on foot, with knapsacks containing bread and bacon on their backs, travelling by day and stopping at night on account of the wolves, the whole expense of their journey not exceeding twenty-five cents.

Settling at Eagle, he began life with noth- ing to assist him save his New England cour- age and perseverance. These, however, were sufficient ; for at the age of eighteen he pur- chased a tract of timber land, which he pro- ceeded most diligently to clear and improve, bringing the wild soil into a state of cultiva- tion, and undergoing the many hardships of a pioneer life. Through prudent husbandry and patient toil he was enabled to erect in due time, opposite the primitive log shelter, a commodious frame house, the transit from one to the other being like coming from the dark - ness into the light. Philip Baker occupied the substantial farm-house for many years, during which his possessions continued to in- crease ; and at the time of his death, when he was seventy-six years old, he owned two hun- dred and eighteen acres of valuable land, all the result of his own unaided exertion.

Philip Baker was twice married. His first wife, Lucy Rogers, died at the age of twenty- two years, leaving two children, one of whom, Vertulon S. Baker, was born March 2, 1826, married Jane Lyon, and now lives near Bliss, a retired farmer. Mr. Baker's second wife, Betsey Leavenworth, daughter of Samuel Leavenworth, reared seven children, three of whom are still living, namely : Leverett S., the subject of this brief record; Emily, wife

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of James Flint, of Pike; and Mary, wife of Albert Gage, of Eagle. The mother passed her declining years at the home of her son Leverett, and died at the age of seventy-six years, having been a faithful member of the Methodist church.

Leverett S. Baker received a common-school education, and at home, working with his father from early boyhood, was practically trained in every department of agriculture. After his marriage he assumed full charge of the farm, residing there until 1882, when he erected his present comfortable residence at Bliss, and has lived in this village since. The old home farm of two hundred and eighteen acres, which he still owns and carries on, has been possessed by the family upward of seventy . years, and is still exceedingly productive.

Mr. Baker on September 11, 1859, was united in marriage to Miss Wealthy, daughter of Norman Howes, of Eagle. They have two daughters - Henrietta and Belle, ladies of talent and varied accomplishments, who re- ceived their education at Pike Seminary. The former is the wife of Leonard Uttley, of Canandaigua, now a farmer in Dakota, having two daughters -- Frank and Nola. Belle Baker married Wilbur Rugg, son of Henry Rugg, and has two daughters - Berta and Jessie. Mrs. Baker herself was very liberally educated, and before marriage taught school with marked success. She is a lady of refined and cultured tastes, being a valued helpmate to her husband, and a most tender and affec- tionate mother to her children.

Mr. Baker is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and a Republican in politics, taking a lively interest in public affairs without seek- ing office ; and the family, which is a promi- nent one in this locality, enjoys much social distinction.

AMUEL CRAIG CULBERTSON, who died at his home in the town of Groveland, Livingston County, N. Y., January 24, 1858, was born in 1799, in what is now the town of Conesus. lle was a son of Andrew Culbertson, who was born, it is thought, in Pennsylvania.

Andrew Culbertson was the son of James and Ann McNair Culbertson, both natives of Pennsylvania. The Culbertson family suffered greatly from the hostilities of the Indians, as did so many of the white settlers, while the Revolutionary War was in progress. During an attack from these savages in 1777 James Culbertson and his son John were killed. The widow of James survived him many years, and in 1790 came to Livingston County, New York, where she spent the remainder of her life. Her son, Andrew Culbertson, married Elizabeth Craig, came with his wife to Liv- ingston County, and lived for a short time in Conesus, but finally purchased a tract of tim- bered land in the southern part of Groveland, and here made for himself a home, clearing the farm upon which he resided until his death, his wife surviving him but a few years. They were the parents of nine children - John, James, Craig, Samuel, Maria, Ann, Margaret, Eliza, and Robert.

Samuel Craig Culbertson bore his mother's family name. He was reared and married in his native town, and for a period of four years had charge of Judge Carroll's farms, which was no small undertaking, and showed the abil- ity of the man in this line of work. At the end of this time he settled on the farm, where he spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of two years. He was well known and highly esteemed as an industrious, up- right, and honorable man. When he first took up his residence on this farm in Groveland, it was but a little removed from its natural wild- ness, a log house and two or three acres of cleared land constituting the improvements; but, by giving his undivided attention to clear- ing off the forest and preparing and tilling the soil, in a few years he made vast alterations for the better, so that at his death Mrs. Cul- bertson was the possessor of a far different home from that which at first greeted her.

In April, 1828, Mr. Culbertson married Nancy Johnson, who was born in the town of Geneseo, Livingston County, N.Y. Her father, Michael Johnson (formerly "John- ston "), was born in County Derry, Ireland, and was of the race called Scotch-Irish, having been of Scotch ancestry. Michael Johnson's

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father reared fourteen children, of whom five sons and two daughters came to America, namely : James, Campbell, Alexander, Mi- chael, Robert, Sarah, and Margaret. Michael, the father of Mrs. Culbertson, grew to man- hood in his native land, married Margaret Crossett, of County Derry, and with his bride crossed the Atlantic, making the voyage in a sailing-vessel, which was three months on the water. They landed at New York, went from there via Hudson River to Albany, and then to Geneseo, making this journey in a lumber wagon. After residing in Geneseo about two years, Mr. Johnson bought a tract of land cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber in the east- ern part of the town of Groveland near Lake Conesus, and devoted his time to farming for the remainder of his life. The work at first was hard and tedious, as trees had to be felled for building material and to make room for the log cabin to be erected, for which boards must be split to cover the roof. For a time there was no door to this temporary home, a quilt having to do service in that capacity. As was the custom in all the families of those early days, the wife spun and wove the wool with which the members of her household were clothed. Mr. Johnson died when about seventy years old, and his wife at the age of seventy-six, both having spent their last days on the farm. There were five children in their family - Nancy, Margaret, Matilda, John, and Richard. Of these Mrs. Culbertson is the only one now living. She resides on the old homestead with two of her children, Edward and Matilda, and is undoubtedly one of the oldest of the native-born citizens of Livingston County. Both she and her husband joined the Presbyterian church after their marriage. They had nine children -- John, Frank, Margaret Samuel, Elizabeth, Michael, Nancy, Matilda, and Edward. (A sketch of Captain Samuel Culbertson appears elsewhere in this volume. )

EWIS M. CLOSE, a progressive and prosperous farmer of Livingston County, is the owner of a well- improved farm, pleasantly located within the limits of the town of Nunda, where

he has spent his entire life of nearly three- score years, his birth having occurred here July 3, 1838.

John Close, the father of him of whom we write, was a native of Pennsylvania, and there grew to the estate of manhood. His parents, of whom very little is known concerning their antecedents, were in straitened circumstances ; and he was bound out when quite a boy, and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1825 he started on foot for Livingston County, coming as far as Geneseo, where he lived as a farm laborer for about six years. Coming then to the town of Nunda, he bought fifty-eight acres of land on East Hill; and after clearing an opening he built a log house, in which the elder children of his household were born. He labored with well-directed, untiring energy, and after getting his land into a pro- ductive condition erected a frame house, con- venient barns, and out-buildings; and there he and his faithful and wise helpmeet passed the remainder of their lives. Farm work in those days was laborious and slow, the machinery that now lightens the toil of the agriculturist not then having been even thought of. The same was true in other kinds of work. Mr. Close, who carried on quite an extended lum- ber business, used to make shingles by hand. John Close married Rebecca Van Dyke, a daughter of William and Rebecca (Van Scoick ) Van Dyke; and they reared the fol- lowing children: Sarah A., Mary E., Will- iam, Eleanor, Lewis M., David, Rebecca, Harriet, and Ruby A. One son, David, was killed during the late Civil War, in one of the hotly contested battles fought on Georgia's soil. Both parents were strongly imbued with true religious fervor, and were active mem- bers of the Methodist church.

Lewis M. Close, the second of the sons named above, was reared upon the parental homestead, and during the seasons of seed- time and harvest assisted his father on the farm. In the winter he attended the district school, his services not being needed at home. After his father's death, on the settlement of the paternal estate he received seven hundred dollars as his portion ; and this he invested in twenty-seven acres of land, which are now

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included in his present estate. Industriously and sagaciously continuing his agricultural labors, he has achieved good results, and has been enabled to buy additional property, his farm now containing one hundred and seventy acres of as valuable and fertile land as can be found in this part of the county. On it he has made essential improvements, including a fine set of farm buildings; and his land is under a high state of cultivation.

The marriage of Mr. Close and Miss Clara J. Brown, the daughter of Aaron and Martha ( McCoy) Brown, of Allegany County, was solemnized in the year 1867, and their happy home has been brightened by the birth of six children; namely, Murrell E., Anna M., William E., Charles, Mary M., and Jessie I. All of these children are still members of the parental household, with the exception of the eldest, Murrell E., who married Lillie Wildy, and established a home of his own, into which two little daughters have been born - Louisa M. and Helen M. In politics Mr. Close is a steadfast Republican and an earnest advocate of the temperance movement. Religiously, both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist church, and take a lively interest in religious work.

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RANK H. WILSON, now a resident of the village of Bliss, in the town of Eagle, Wyoming County, and Presi- dent of the Bliss Manufacturing Company, is well known in these parts as having been for a number of years one of the most extensive produce dealers in Western New York. He was born in the town of Middlebury in this county, April 11, 1837, son of Heman Wil- son, a native of Middlebury, Vt., who came to Wyoming County at a very early age with his parents.

Ileman Wilson attended the district schools, making the best of the opportunities within his reach for procuring a good educa- tion, also assisting his father in clearing and improving a farm, continuing to reside at home until his marriage. After that he was engaged in mercantile business till 1837, when he moved to the town of China, where he

acquired possession of one thousand acres of land, some of which he sold; but he cleared a large tract himself, and resided thereon for many years. He was a man of sound judg- ment, and attained a leading position in his community, serving as Supervisor several terms, and was a Justice of the Peace for thirty-six years. He was largely interested in the Attica & Allegany Valley Railroad, of which he became Vice-President. He passed his declining years in the village of Arcade, where he died at the age of eighty-six years.

His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Vanepps, was born in ISoo at Schenectady, N. Y., her parents afterward coming to be early settlers in Middlebury, Wyoming County. Mr. and Mrs. Heman Wilson reared seven of nine children, four of whom are still living -- Truman, a retired farmer, residing in Bliss; Ziba, wife of Stafford Wade, a resi- dent of Arcade; Henry W .; and Frank H. Wilson, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Wilson spent her last years in Arcade, where she died in 1852, having been a member of the regular Baptist church, of which her hus- band was for many years a Deacon.

Frank H. Wilson received his education in the district schools of Arcade and the Perry and Wyoming Academies. After completing his studies he taught school for one year, and at the age of twenty-two went to Perry, where he engaged in the cattle business, also run- ning a number of meat wagons through the various villages in the vicinity. Selling out at the end of two years, and removing to Wethersfield, he there carried on a similar business for three years more, but finally sold out his meat wagons for good, and gave his entire attention to the shipping of cattle to New York, Philadelphia, and other cities. This business he followed extensively and successfully until 1880, when, retiring from that, he engaged in the purchase and sale of hay, together with all kinds of country prod- uce. In 1885 he removed to Bliss, where he purchased his present residence, also owning a large block situated on Main Street. In 1893 he sold a great part of his business, since which time he has lived practically retired from active pursuits.

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In politics Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. He served as Supervisor at Wethersfield two years, and held the office of town Auditor four years, or until it was dispensed with. After his removal to Eagle, which may always be depended upon for a Republican majority of one hundred and thirty votes, he was elected Supervisor in 1887 by a majority of one hundred and one, and re-elected the fol- lowing year by one hundred and fifteen major- ity. While officiating as Supervisor the second year, the County Board stood ten Republicans to six Democrats, yet he was elected Chairman. In 1889 the Republican county officers were elected by fourteen hun- dred majority; but Mr. Wilson was chosen as County Superintendent of the Poor by a ma- jority of four hundred and forty-one votes on the Democratic ticket, and held the office three years. On being renominated he de- clined to serve further. He is at present a member of the County Committee, upon which he has served for several years, and has been Chairman for the last two years, and continues to maintain an active interest in county, State, and national affairs.

On April 10, 1859, Mr. Wilson was very happily married to Miss Ellen A. Jenkins, daughter of William and Mary A. (Jaynes) Jenkins, of Arcade, where her father was an early settler, being a prominent farmer and Master Mason. Her mother was a New York lady, and had in all thirteen children.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been called upon to mourn the untimely decease of their son and only child, a remarkably intelligent and active young man, at the age of twenty- two years, a sad and an irretrievable blow to their happiness. He graduated from Pike "Seminary at the age of nineteen, and at once entered business with his father, although he held the county scholarship at Cornell Uni- versity. He was born May 2, 1866, and died after a brief illness, May 16, 1888. He was very highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, especially so by the members of his class and the faculty at the seminary, where he stood pre-eminent both as a scholar and a gentleman; and, al- though time may soften or subdue in a meas-

ure the bitterness of his parents' affliction, the vacancy in the family and the warm place he occupied in their hearts can never be filled.

Mr. Wilson attends and contributes toward the support of the Free Will Baptist Church, of which his wife is an earnest member.

Mr. Wilson is a Master Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge at Pike and of the Royal Arch Chapter at Warsaw. He is also connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the best-known men in Wyoming County, being the owner of four well-cultivated farms in this vicinity, aggre- gating eight hundred and thirty-four acres, and three hundred and twenty acres of land in the State of Kansas. He is very popular with all classes, being a valuable citizen, a stanch supporter of American institutions.

EORGE L. KREIN, general insurance agent, and one of the foremost young business men of Dansville, was born in this village on December 6, 1866. He is of French and German extraction, his father, James Krein, having been born at Merelbach in the Canton de Forbach, Arrondissement de Sarreguemines, Département de la Moselle, France, February 25, 1825. His paternal grandfather was also named James, and was a native and life-long resident of the same de- partment.

Mr. Krein's father received a liberal edu- cation, and taught school in his native can- ton. At the age of twenty-one he emigrated to America, going first to Rochester, N. Y., and later to Nunda, Livingston County, where he taught the French language during the years 1848 and 1849 in exchange for his edu- cation in the English language. In 1850 he came to Dansville, and was employed as a clerk by the firm of Sikes & Wood, remaining with them in this capacity for some time. He then established himself in the grocery business, in which he continued successfully until 1876. During his career as a merchant he struggled manfully against many discour- agements, the greatest of which was the loss of all he possessed by fire, his store being burned soon after its establishment. He

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again started in business, only to again suffer a second time from the same cause. Persist- ing, however, in his efforts, he ultimately became a prosperous merchant, well known and highly respected. After his retirement from the grocery business in 1876 he engaged in the insurance business, which he conducted up to the time of his death, which occurred January 21, 1892. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Lander. She was a na- tive of Germany, daughter of Frederick Lander. At the age of three years she came to America with her parents, who settled upon a farm in Steuben County. James and Cath- erine (Lander) Krein had nine children, six of whom lived to become of age, namely; Mary C., Frederick W., Adina H., Elizabeth, George L., and James E. Frederick W. died at the age of thirty. Adina H. married Charles H. Rowe, former postmaster of Dansville. Mrs. Krein now resides with her son George at his pleasant home in Dansville. She is a member of the German Lutheran church, where the father was for many years organist, and also very prominent in church matters.

George L. Krein passed his early boyhood in Dansville. He received his education at the Seminary, and after leaving school en- tered his father's store. Later he was en- gaged as a clerk for Dyer Brothers, in the dry- goods business. He then entered the office of the Erie Railroad as agent, clerk, and tele- graph operator, remaining seven years, after which he was chief billing clerk at the com- pany's offices in Rochester for one year. In 1889 he returned to Dansville, and was em- ployed as an assistant in his father's office. Since the death of his father he has conducted the business alone, and the large amount transacted by him is the best evidence of his success. Mr. Krein is noted for his business energy and promptness. Socially, he is a general favorite, and is an active member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 115, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Master, having passed through all of the chairs. He is also a member of Dans- ville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 91, having held some of its offices. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in

which he has also held all the important offices, and is now Deputy Grand Master of the district. He is President of the Protec- tive Fire Company, also the President of the Dansville Fire Department, Chairman of the Protective Club, and Secretary of the Board of Trade. Hle is now serving his third term as Town Clerk, having been re-elected in 1893 for two years. Mr. Krein is interested in the Geiger, Acme, and Hoffman Land Company, of which he is Secretary. He is alive to all matters of interest in the village and ever ready to lend his aid in the furtherance of any movement which tends to benefit the community at large. Mr. Krein is a sup- porter of the Democratic party in politics, and is a member of the German Lutheran church.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 16

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Number of Pages: 1256

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 1256