Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 17

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 17
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 17

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An excellent portrait of this well-known, influential, and progressive citizen claims the reader's attention on another page, where it will be recognized with pleasure by many friends.

RED W. FROST, a successful farmer and well-known citizen of Mount Mor- ris, was born in this town, October 19, 1859. He is a lineal descendant of Sam- uel. Frost, who many long years ago came from England to this county, and settling on a farm in Framingham, Mass., lived there till his death. He left the farm to Samuel Frost, Jr., and it descended to the eldest son Samuel for four generations. The fifth Samuel mar- ried a Miss Lydia Bixby, of the same place, and then removed to Newfane, Windham County, Vt. There were born to them seven children, as follows: Artemissa B., Amasa T., Samuel, Jr., George S., Daniel E., Wil- lard A., and John B. In 1825 they came to Western New York, sojourning in Allegany County for two years, then removing to Gene- see County, township of Covington, where five children were added to their household; namely, Almon B., Lydia L., Louis A., Franklin B., and Marshall M., numbering in all twelve children.

In 1841 they all moved to Michigan except Willard A., who finally settled in Mount

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Morris, N.Y. Here learning the mason's trade, he followed it some twelve years, seven years of which he worked for one man by the name of Thatcher. His first day's work at his trade was done on the basement of a build- ing at the river guard lock, then known as the Red Jacket, now used for a dwelling-house. Mr. W. A. Frost next purchased a farm on the State Road, where he resided a few years, after which he removed to the old homestead of his wife's family, and engaged in agricult- ! ural pursuits, remaining there until his death, December 15, 1890, at the age of seventy years. His wife, Sarah Ann Miller, was born in Warren County, New Jersey, October 16, 1827. Her father, William Mil- ler, was a native of the same county and a son of John Miller, a life-long resident of that State. In 1831 William Miller migrated with his wife and five children and all their earthly possessions to the State of New York, which he had previously visited, purchasing a tract of land. Part of this land was cleared, and a log house had been erected; and the new owner at once began to clear the re- mainder and cultivate a farm, residing there until his death, when sixty-two years of age. William Miller's wife was Mary Potts, a native of New Jersey, and daughter of Joseph and Catherine Potts. She died in her sixty-ninth year, leaving a family of eight children -- Catherine, John, Elizabeth, Sarah A., Daniel, Harriet, Joseph, and Charles.

Fred W. Frost is the only child of his par- ents, the late Willard A. and Sarah A. Frost, was reared to farm life, and succeeded to the management of the property after the death of his father. Here he lives with his family and his mother, the farm being one of the finest in the town, and containing with the old Miller homestead two hundred and thirty- four acres. On December 17, 1890, he mar- ried Miss Mary L. Alvord, who was born in West Sparta, daughter of Martin and Abbie Alvord. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have one son, Willard A., born January 7, 1893. Mr. Frost is a Republican, a firm supporter of the principles of that party ; and, wherever he is known, he is most highly esteemed.

BED THORNTON, an honored and revered citizen of Arcade, Wyoming County, N. Y., has outlived by three decades the allotted span of earth life, and has already spent more than a cen- tury of years on this planet, seemingly taking no note of "the god of bounds, who sets to seas a shore," although he realizes with the poet of old that "the port, well worth the cruise, is near." Mr. Thornton was born in Richmond, Cheshire County, N. H., January 30, 1794, being a son of Laban and Elizabeth (Fisher) Thornton, and the second child in order of birth of their fourteen children. Of these children one died in infancy, thirteen grew to maturity, and Daniel. the eldest child, died during the War of 1812. Laban Thornton was a native of Rhode Island, born in 1758; and his wife was of Massachusetts birth. They began their wedded life on a farm in New Hampshire, where in addition to tilling the soil he owned and operated a saw- mill. He lived to the age of sixty-two years, and his faithful wife survived him some eleven years.

Obed Thornton was reared within sight of old Monadnock's brow; and, although de- prived by reason of imperfect vision from the advantages of a school education, his quick and comprehensive mental powers readily retained such information as came within his reach, and he became very apt at figures. After leaving the parental roof, he spent one year in Rhode Island and three years in Mas- sachusetts, working by the month at farming or in a brick-yard. In 1818 Mr. Thornton came to Wyoming County, driving two yokes of oxen, which were hitched to one large wagon, containing three families and their household goods. He walked the entire dis- tance, which occupied a period of twenty- eight days, receiving from his companions no compensation for his services as driver, and paying his own expenses. Arriving in Gainesville, he and Solomon Gage continued their journey to Arcade, the present home of Mr. Thornton, where he bought a tract of wild land, paying twenty-five dollars down, and keeping his remaining twenty-five dollars for living expenses. He worked for the

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neighboring farmers, and began the improve- ments on his own property in the meanwhile, continuing thus six years, when he married and moved into the small log house, eighteen feet by eighteen feet, with a small loft over- head. In 1835 he removed into the first frame house built in that locality, living there until 1858, when, on the day before Thanksgiving, he took possession of the house he now occupies. His farm contains one hun- dred acres of land, and is well improved and highly cultivated.

Mr. Thornton was united in marriage Sep- tember 26, 1824, to Clarissa Lord, a native of Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y., daughter of Freedom Lord, who became a resident of Wy- oming County in the spring of 1818, locating in what was then known as Sheldon, but is now known as Java. Eight daughters and four sons were born of their union, of whom eight children grew to adult life, and three are now living, as follows: Louisa, widow of Nathaniel French; Eunice; and Freedom. These children, of whom the two latter never married, are all living with the father, form- ing a harmonious and happy household. The children that passed away after reaching years of maturity were Sarah, who died October 28, 1851, at the age of twenty-two years; Mary E., in November, 1852, aged nineteen years; Dorcas Jackson, July 12, 1868, aged thirty years; Diana French, September 29, 1890, aged sixty-five years; Laban, June 2, 1891, at the age of sixty-three years. Mrs. Thornton passed to the life eternal on February 25, 1864: and since her decease Mr. Thornton has been tenderly cared for by his children and grandchildren, of whom there are nine, besides eight great-grandchildren. He is still remarkably vigorous for a man of his unusual years, frequently walking to and from Bliss, besides attending to the chores about the house.

OHN CRAIG, M.D., a physician of Geneseo, N. Y., and a member of the Livingston County Medical Society, was born June 3, 1809, in Antrim County, Ireland. His ancestors on the pa-

ternal side were Scotch, on the maternal English.

William Craig, the doctor's father, was born in Paisley, Scotland; but, when he was two years old, his parents moved to Ireland, buying land in the county of Antrim. He there grew to manhood, and married. A number of years afterward, in 1832, he came to New York, and bought a farm in East Sparta, and resided there till his death. By his wife, Ellen Taylor, daughter of James Taylor, of Yorkshire, England, he had nine children. Those now living are Dr. Craig, the subject of this biography, and his sister, Ellen, who married James W. Roberts, of Nunda, N. Y., a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.

The early education of John Craig was ob- tained in his native country, where he attended Ballycastle Academy and later Ballymena Academy. He came to America in 1831, sailing from Belfast on the ship "Jessie," arriving after a voyage of five weeks. He worked for three months as clerk in a dry- goods store in Scottsburg, Livingston County, N. Y., and was next engaged for a few months in a Dansville drug store, an occupation which he doubtless found more congenial than his previous calling. Being shortly thrown out of employment by the failure of the proprie- tor, he took up the study of medicine, attend- ing lectures at Yale College, New Haven, Conn .: and some time later he received his diploma from Bellevue Medical College. He began the work of his profession in March, 1840, in the town of York, N. Y., continuing there till May, 1865, when he removed to Geneseo, where for many years he had an extensive and successful practice. Now at about eighty-six years of age this ven- erable physician attends only to office work.

In 1836 Dr. Craig married Margaret Robin- son, who was born in Ireland in 1813. Her parents were of Scotch ancestry, and were also natives of Ireland. Dr. and Mrs. Craig have had five children - Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Ellen A .; Mortimer, who graduated from Buffalo Medical College. and commenced practice in Rochester, but died at the beginning of a promising career, at

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the age of twenty-three; William, who was a successful commercial traveller, and who also died in the prime of life, at the age of thirty- two, leaving his wife, Anna M. Doyle, and one child, Marie; Margaret, who married Charles H. Knowles, of Minneapolis, and has one child, Ethel Craig Knowles. During Dr. Craig's long period of professional activity, he has been remarkably successful, and has made many warm friends. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

A" MOS O. DALRYMPLE, who is a well- to-do agriculturist, is a worthy repre- sentative of the native-born citi- zens of Mount Morris, Livingston County, where his birth occurred September 6, 1831. He comes of sturdy Scotch ancestry, being the descendant of one of three brothers who emigrated from Scotland to America in early Colonial times, and settled in New Jersey. In that State, his paternal grandfather, John Dalrymple, was born, bred, and died.

Asa Dalrymple, son of John and father of Amos, was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and was there reared to the honorable occupation of farming, residing in the place of his nativity until after his marriage. In 1826 he started with his family for Livingston County, performing the entire journey with teams, and being eight days on the road. At that time there were but three frame houses on the site of the present village of Mount Morris, and the surrounding country was a dense wilderness, populated entirely by the bears, deer, wolves, and other wild animals that roamed about at their own sweet will. Mr. Dalrymple bought a heavily timbered tract, and in the midst of the forest erected a hewed log house, which was much the finest dwelling in the vicinity. The facilities for transporting his surplus grain and other pro- ductions were then very meagre, as before the completion of the Genesee Valley Canal or any railroad he had to do his marketing and milling in Rochester or Canandaigua, hauling his produce by teams. Laboring with the energy and industry characteristic of the early pioneer, he cleared a good farm, on which he

made substantial improvements, among others being the erection of a complete set of frame buildings, and there lived until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Belles, was a daughter of John Belles, who served five years in the War of the Revolution. She also lived to a ripe old age, dying in her eighty-fourth year. She and her husband reared ten children - Thomas, Eli, Isaac, Samuel, Susan, Levi, John W., Mary E., Hannah, and Amos O.

It fell to the lot of Amos, the youngest of this large family, to be the recipient of excel- lent educational advantages. After leaving the district school, he pursued his studies at Mount Morris and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima. When eighteen years old he began teaching, being thus employed for eight terms, four of which were in one dis- trict, the latter fact indicating in some meas- ure his success and popularity as an instructor. At the time of his marriage Mr. Dalrymple settled down to farming on the homestead in which he was born, and subsequently suc- ceeding to its ownership has since resided here, energetically and ably engaged in its manage- ment. He has served as Assessor three terms and as Highway Commissioner two terms.

An important step in the advancement of the prosperity of Mr. Dalrymple was his mar- riage to Frances M. Darling, which was sol- emnized June 28, 1854. Mrs. Dalrymple was born in the town of Nunda, November 29, 1832. She is of New England antecedents, and the descendant of a well-known pioneer family of this county, her paternal grand- father, Willard Darling, a native of the old Bay State, having been an early settler of Nunda. He died while visiting a son who resided in Cayuga County. Otis Darling, the father of Mrs. Dalrymple, was born in Massa- chusetts, and when a young man came to this State, locating in Cayuga County, where he married. In 1828 he and his wife came to Livingston County, where he bought a tract of land, situated about four miles from the village of Nunda. The log cabin, which was his first home, he at length replaced with a fine frame house; and this he occupied until

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after the birth of his children. In 1857, fol- lowing the advancing steps of civilization, he removed to Wisconsin, and buying a farm in Columbia County lived there a number of years. He subsequently took up his abode in Milford, Winnebago County, Ill., where he rounded out a long and useful life. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of Mrs. Dalrymple, was Electa A. Young. She was born in Cayuga County, New York, being a daughter of Israel and Sarah Young, who were among the original settlers of that county. She, too, closed her earthly life in Milford, Ill., living to an advanced age. To her and her husband nine children were born; namely, Henry O., Frances M. (Mrs. Dalrymple), Margaret J., Mandeville, Janette, Emma, Hattie, Ella, and Electa A. Darling.

The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple has been blessed by the birth of several chil- dren and grandchildren, of whom we chronicle the following: Melvin I .. , born May 18, 1855, married Hattie Phillips, and they have one son, Lloyd E .; Ida M., born August 14, 1856, married John H. Knappenberg, and they have one child living, Vera D .; Nellie M., born November 1, 1857, lives at home; Asa C., born June 29, 1859, married Minnie Bergen, and they are the parents of three chil- dren - Evangeline D., Theron E., and Carrie V .; Frankie A., born February 10, 1861, passed to the higher life August 5, 1880; Jennie E., born October 3, 1862, died Octo- ber 13, ISSI; Carrie E., born January 23, 1865, married Malcolm R. Vanderbilt, and after a short wedded life died May 9, 1894, leaving one son, Howard L .; Amos H., born January 3, 1867, is single and lives at home; Delia E., born October 15, 1868, passed on- ward February 9, 1882.

ROFESSOR SILAS L. STRIVINGS, the efficient principal of the Gaines- ville Union School, was born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, N. Y., May 1, 1865.

His grandfather, James Strivings, was among the early pioneers in that town, where he cleared a tract of land and resided for a

time, but finally removed to Moscow, in Liv- ingston County. He was the father of seven children, namely: three living in the West ; Leander, who died in the War of the Rebell- ion; Eunice, also dead; Sarah; and Sher- man, father of Silas L.

Sherman, the youngest of the children, was born in Wethersfield Springs, Wyoming County, N. Y. He assisted his father on the farm when not engaged with his studies at the district school; and, when he was of age, he went to work for himself by the month, later working a farm on shares. On the first farm that he bought, situated near Dansville, Liv- ingston County, he lived four years, and then sold it and purchased the farm on which he now resides in West Sparta. Sherman Striv- ings married Miss Eliza Lowrey, one of a large family of children of Richard Lowrey, of West Sparta, formerly of West Union, Alle- gany County, where she was born. Mrs. Striv- ings became the mother of two children - Silas L., of this sketch, and Minnie, who is the wife of William Green. Both parents are mem- bers of the Methodist church in West Sparta.

Silas L. Strivings passed his early years in Mount Morris, near Dansville, attending the district school and helping on the farm out of school hours. Later he went to the Geneseo Normal School, where he spent the most of four years. He then went to Portageville, Wyoming County, and taught the village school four years. During these years he took the State examination at Buffalo, com- pleting the course and securing a State di- ploma. At the end of that time he changed his sphere of work to the new school in Gainesville, of which he became principal and head master, continuing till the present time, a period of five years. Three years ago he put the school under the regents of the State of New York, increasing the number of teachers, and now has a school extending to its pupils a superior grade of scholarship, and offering every facility for the acquirement of a good education.

In 1888 Professor Strivings was married to Miss Mae Townsend, a daughter of David A. and Sarah (Dewey) Townsend, her father being a farmer of Pike, where she was born and spent her carly life. Her maternal grand-

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parents were originally pioneers in Pike, where the grandfather located in 1808 on a tract of one hundred and ninety acres, and built the log house in which the children were nearly all born, subsequently, however, erect- ing a more convenient and comfortable home for the family. He died there at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, Beulah Abel, was from Whitehall, on the southern extrem- ity of Lake Champlain. She was well edu- cated, and taught the first school opened in Pike. Her death occurred at the old home- stead late in life. From being a farmer in early years David A. Townsend in middle life became a merchant, and lived in Pike in that capacity for two years, and then went to Kansas, and became interested in the raising of sheep, at the same time attending to other enterprises; but later he went to Michigan, where he has since resided on a farm. His wife was born in Livingston County, and reared a family of six children. She died at Genesee Falls, aged forty-one. Both she and her husband were Baptists.

Mrs. Strivings received her education in her girlhood, as Mae Townsend, at Pike Sem- inary, and afterward taught both district and graded schools in Portageville. By her mar- riage she has become the mother of two chil- dren - Roy Townsend and Frank Irving. Professor Strivings is a devoted class leader and Sunday-school teacher in the Methodist church, of which he is a member. He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees and In- dependent Order of Good Templars, is a Republican in politics, and is one of the fore- most citizens in the community in which he lives, being one who in the instruction of the young represents the educational force which is to shape the thought and career of many in the future; for, as Emerson has said, "'Tis the fine souls who serve us, and not what is called fine society."

ANIEL J. WALKER was born in Madison County, New York, on May 15, 1815. His father, James Walker, a Scotch emigrant from Perthshire, came to America, and settled in

Johnstown, Montgomery County, when that portion of the State was but thinly populated, and the life of a farmer was one of incessant struggles and unremitting toil. He did not remain permanently in Montgomery, but moved to Madison County, where he made but a temporary residence. In York, Livingston County, he found an abiding-place to his mind; and in this town in 1833 he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Here he lived the remainder of his life, died, and was buried. His wife, Catherine Mc- Naughton, was a Scotch lassie; and their children may lay a just claim to an inheri- tance of industry, thrift, sturdy independence, and loyalty of faith from their ancestry on both sides. James Walker lived to be eighty- five years of age, and his wife died at an age which added one year more to its mortal ac- count than that of her husband. Their nine children were: Gilbert, Jane, Mary, Jean- nette, Daniel J., Alexander, Elizabeth, Char- lotte, Catherine.

Daniel J. was the second of the three sons in this family group. He was educated in the district schools of Madison County, and after leaving school stayed on his father's farm until he was thirty years of age. There seems to be an element of calm strength about the man who is content to stay in one region and do what his hand finds to do, undisturbed by illusory visions of brilliant achievement in far-off quarters. Of such a temperament is Mr. Walker, who has been a farmer all of his life, and who has never left his native State. For six years he lived in the adjoining town of Caledonia, but after the expiration of that period returned to York, and purchased an estate, upon which he now resides. This place was bought in 1855.

The realization of the Biblical enunciation, "It is not good for man to live alone," ap- pears, as all great simple truths seem to be more clearly apprehended by those who live simple natural lives, to come as a matter of course and beyond disputation to the man who tills and plants and gathers; and one rarely finds a bachelor farmer. Following the brave old fashion, clearly the better way, Mr. Walker sought a "helpmate" betimes, and

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was married to Miss Asenath Calvert, a daughter of Robert Calvert, of York. They have only one child, a daughter, Beldenia, who married Mr. Watson G. Mallett, of Or- leans County; so the father and mother are living alone, like a young couple, on their farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker are both members of the United Presbyterian Church of York. The former has been a loyal Republican since the formation of the party, but cast his first Presidential vote for the Whig candidate in 1836.

RTEMUS L. HUNT, M.D., is a well-known and highly esteemed phy- sician living in Springwater, Liv- ingston County, N. Y. He was born in this town, June 24, 1826. Dr. Hunt's grandfather, Aaron, and also his father, Aaron J. Hunt, were natives of Massachu- setts, belonging to the good old New Eng- land stock, from which so many are justly proud of having sprung. Aaron Hunt, al- though born in Massachusetts, came out as pioneer to Ontario County, New York State, in middle life, and settled in a place after- ward named for him, Hunt's Hollow.

Aaron J., the son, on reaching manhood, followed his father's example, and became a farmer, living first in Hunt's Hollow, where he had been brought up, then moving to Naples, Ontario County, and later to Spring- water. At this town, in 1823, he purchased a neck of land on the Cohocton River, built a mill, and settled down for twenty-five years. Then, following the pioneer instincts of his father, he pushed westward, and, finding a suitable place to settle, near Dansville, Mich., he bought a farm, and resumed the agricult- ural pursuits of his early years. He died after fifteen years of continuous labor in till- ing the soil, having reached the age of eighty- six years.

The wife of Aaron J. Hunt, Miss Lucy Garfield, before her marriage was a daughter of Solomon Garfield, an uncle of the late noble President of that name. She, too, was a New Englander, born in Worcester, Mass.,

where she spent her early life on her father's farm.

There were eight children as a result of that marriage - Eliza, who married Rens- selaer Paine, and has already passed away ; Joseph ; Catharine, who married Levi Robin- son, and after his death Mr. Miller, of Michi- gan; Andrew; Marietta; Artemus L .; Sarah Jane, who married Charles Smith, and is now dead; and Sarah Ann, who lived but a few years. Mrs. Hunt lived to see her children well started in life. She died in Springwater at the age of fifty-nine years, leaving a good record for faithful and helpful service. Both parents were members of the Christian church.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 17

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

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