Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 23

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 23
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 23

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Henry L., one of the younger sons of Ephraim and Anna (Johnson) Sharp, was but an infant when his parents removed to Mount Morris, and having continued to reside here since that time remembers no other home. Having no inclination for a sedentary employ- ment, he was reared to farm life, and has followed that healthful, useful, and honorable occupation with untiring energy and with gratifying success from his youth. In 1855 he married Miss Mary Emmons, who was born in Nunda, daughter of John and Zilpha (Met-

ler) Emmons, of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have two children - Eva A., wife of David McHerron, and Charles N. In politics Mr. Sharp is a supporter of the Democratic party.

HESTER A. COLE, who died at his home in Warsaw, N. Y., December 3, 1894, having almost reached seventy-seven years of age, was born in Gorham, Ontario County. His father, Southwert Cole, one of the early set- tlers of Ontario County, married Miss Mary Adams, who belonged to the well-known fam- ily of which President Adams was a member. Of their thirteen children six sons and six daughters grew to maturity. Three of the former and two of the latter are still living, though in widely separate regions of the coun- try. Mr. Southwert Cole died in Gainesville in 1850, at sixty-eight years of age. His widow survived him fifteen years, living to the age of seventy-six years.

Chester A. Cole married Miss Lucia Amelia Fargo, a daughter of Allen and Polly (Merchant) Fargo. She was born in Warsaw in the old house on the corner of Main and Livingston Streets, the oldest portion of which was built by her father. Mr. Fargo was a native of Connecticut, born in 1802, and was an infant of two years of age when his parents came to Warsaw. His parents, Nehemiah and Mary (Chapman) Fargo, were among the first emigrants, taking up a tract of land which extended for a mile along the val- ley, and upon which a large proportion of the present village stands. Nehemiah Fargo set out the first orchard that was ever planted in the wilderness of Wyoming County, and the abundant crop of delicious plums and apples that are to-day enjoyed by his de- scendants bears testimony to his thrift and foresight. He died in 1829, at the age of sixty-four years. His widow outlived him ten years, dying in 1839. They reared six children, all of whom are now dead. Six generations of the family lie at rest in the village cemetery.

Lucia was the only daughter of her parents

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who grew up. Two sisters died in early child- hood. An older brother, Marvin, died in 1878, at fifty-two years of age; and Wheeler, another brother, died in 1863, aged thirty. Lucia A. Fargo completed her education under the care of Miss Sill of the village seminary, and under her mother's tutelage at home afterward became versed in those equally essential arts of housewifery, which are so necessary to the woman who intends to take upon herself the responsibility some day of a home and family. She was married at eighteen, and her wedded life extended over a period of forty-seven years of tender devotion and congenial companionship. Chester A. Cole, who won her maiden heart and hand, was when a young man a stove merchant at Cuylerville on the Genesee Valley Canal. Some years after marriage they moved on to their farm near Warsaw, where they remained for twelve years. At a later period they occu- pied a farm which he owned just outside the village, living there a score of years, or until they moved into Warsaw. In 1889 they took possession of their commodious and attractive new home, at No. 12 Grove Street. Here since the death of her husband Mrs. Cole has continued to reside with her unmarried son, John. The other surviving children of this family are: Mary, now Mrs. L. De Wist Johnson, living near her mother; Charles Sumner, who married Miss Ida Murrey, and has one son, Frank Murrey Cole, a promising lad of eleven ; Emma J., who married Charles Owen, and lives in the neighborhood. Be- sides these was an infant daughter, whose little life gladdened the home of her parents only for the brief space of sixteen months. Mrs. Cole is much respected for womanly virtues, and is universally beloved for her kind heart and gentle manner.

Mr. Cole, who was a man of careful and methodical habit, and equable temperament, was a firm Republican in politics. Though usually engaged in business requiring his per- sonal attention, he yet found some time to serve the public in the capacity of Under Sheriff. On a preceding page may be seen a portrait of this industrious, loyal, and order- loving citizen, whose departure is so recent

that his friends hardly realize as yet that he is gone hence to return no more.

ILLIAM NORMAN VAN ORS-

DALE, a worthy citizen of Mount

Morris, was born in this town, and has here lived throughout his entire life. He is a son of Henry Van Orsdale, a native of Cayuga County. The parents of the latter came from Pennsylvania to York State on foot. They had but one horse; and across its back they put a bedtick, and put the children in each end of the tick "to balance." They settled in Cayuga County.

Henry Van Orsdale came to Mount Morris when a young man, and was among the early settlers of the town. Purchasing a tract of land about four miles south of the village, he erected a log house, and with his wife com- menced housekeeping. There were no rail- roads or canals in the State at that time; and he was obliged to take his wheat by team to Moscow Landing, where it sold for thirty cents per bushel. For many years he used only oxen on the farm, which year by year he improved, erecting substantial buildings. He was a hard worker, never spending a moment in idleness, and, after working all day at clear- ing the land or putting in crops, would spend the rest of his time in his cooper-shop. He also made all the shoes for his family. Here he resided until his death, which occurred sud- denly, while he was sitting in his chair at breakfast on the morning of Good Friday, 1886. He had attained the venerable age of eighty-three years, and was the oldest settler in the town. When he came to Livingston County, he possessed but three hundred dollars in money, but at his death owned two hundred and three acres of land in a body, his home, and eighty acres in the State of Ohio, and did not owe a dollar. He married Ann Selover, a native of Cayuga County; and during their early wedded life, in addition to her household duties, she spun all the flax and wool for both the clothes of the family and the bedding. They became the parents of eight children - Peter, Rebecca, John, Betsey A., Mary J., George, Charles, and William Norman.

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William Norman Van Orsdale received his early education in the district school, and later attended Alfred Centre Academy. At the age of twenty-one he taught school for one term, and then engaged in business in Mount Mor- ris, continuing for six years. In 1878 he married Miss Sarah A. Van Orsdale, of Co- lumbia City, Ind., a daughter of Curlus Van Orsdale; and of this union there are five chil- dren - Emma D., Harry H., Walter N., Mable E., and Ruth. Soon after his marriage Mr. Van Orsdale settled on the farm that he now occupies, about four miles from Mount Morris; and here he is engaged in general farming.

Mr. Van Orsdale was for many years a Democrat, but now supports the People's Party. He is universally respected in social and political life.

J OSEPH D. LEWIS, a widely known wool dealer and auctioneer of Geneseo, N. Y., was born at York, Livingston County, April 13, 1833. His father, Samuel Lewis, who was a native of Salem, N.J., came to Livingston County about the year 1817, and was here trained to agricult- ural pursuits. Having been a pioneer in the early days of the settlement of the town of York, he lived for a time in a log house, which was eventually replaced by one of brick. While quite young, however, he went to Philadelphia, where he learned the mason's trade, after which he settled in Geneseo, and established himself as a contractor and

builder.

Samuel Lewis followed this occupation in Geneseo for many years, erecting all of the brick buildings for the Wadsworths and other prominent founders of industrial enterprises in the town and vicinity, becoming closely identified with public affairs, and being active in forwarding all important measures of inter- est to the general community. He was a Whig in politics, later a Republican, and exercised considerable political influence. He was Justice of the Peace for sixteen years. He was a leading member of the Episcopal church, in which he served as Vestryman,

Warden, and Treasurer. The old church may be said to have been the work of his hands, he having the contract for putting up the building; and, when it outgrew its seating capacity, and another was necessary with which to accommodate the rapidly increasing attendance, Samuel Lewis, though perhaps too advanced in years to complete the struct- ure, laid the first twelve bricks in its founda- tion. He died in 1877, at the age of eighty- two years.

The maiden name of Mr. Joseph D. Lewis's mother, wife of Samuel Lewis, was Anna Maria Knisell. She was a native of Ger- many, and came to America with her parents, who settled in Philadelphia. Her father be- came prominently engaged in the milling business, but suffered severe losses, having in all five mills swept away by floods. The parents died in Philadelphia. Mrs. Lewis herself died at York at the age of seventy years, having reared ten out of fourteen chil- dren. She was a member of the Episcopal church fifty years. The following is a list of the brothers and sisters of Joseph, all of whom are now deceased: Martha, Rachel, Marie, Lizzie, Sarah, Belle, Hobart, Samuel, and George. Four died young.

Joseph D. Lewis, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood in York, and was educated at York and the high school of Geneseo. He remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he went to Cohoes, where he became agent and overseer of the woollen mills in that place. He bought the raw material, handled the products of the mills, and had entire charge of the industry for five years. He then settled in Geneseo, where he has since been engaged as a wool dealer and auctioneer. He has also been a dealer in real estate, buying and selling as opportunity offered. He owned the farm where the salt shaft is now located, which is one of the larg- est salt mines in the United States, and is known as the Retsof mine.

In 1864 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Donnan, daughter of John Donnan, she being one of five children. Her father was a prominent man and a Republican. Mr. Lewis is a Republican in politics, and

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has been Trustee of the village for some years and Assessor for three years. Both himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lewis has given much time to the collection of relics of antiquity and other curiosities, in which he is deeply interested, and as a result has gathered a large number of rare and valuable objects of varied character and description. He has weapons represent- ing the different stages of civilization, powder-horns of quaint workmanship, dating from the sixteenth century down to the pres- ent, all kinds of head-dresses and ornaments, also a large and varied numismatic collection, embracing coins of almost every age and country. These he has carefully arranged and classified, the whole making a most unique and valuable private museum, well worth the trouble of travelling a considerable distance to examine.

m RS. JULIANN BUXTON, the widow of Mr. Timothy H. Buxton, late of Warsaw, N. Y., was born in Hampton, Oneida County, N. Y. Her father was a carriage manufacturer by the name of Joseph Clark, who married Sarah Smith, of Utica. Mrs. Buxton's ma- ternal grandfather, Captain Amos Smith, came from Massachusetts to Utica, N. Y., when that locality contained only one log house, and when the nearest grist-mill was at Troy. Her father, Joseph Clark, built the first brick building in Utica, which was a paint store.

Mrs. Buxton's mother died in 1824, at thirty-two years of age, leaving three daugh- ters - Cornelia, who died at eight years of age; Juliann, of this memoir; and Betsey, who died at sixteen, a lovable girl, full of promise of womanly charm, and a favorite among teachers and school-fellows. Two years after his wife's death Mr. Clark came to Batavia, and opened a carriage factory. Here he was again married, his second wife being Polly Miller, of Trenton, Oneida County. Four children were the issue of this marriage, of whom the youngest, David G., died in infancy. The three daughters are:

Sarah C., Mrs. C. B. Willey, a widow, who lives in Newark valley, New York; Martha, who resides in Batavia, and is the widow of Mr. Franklin Buxton, youngest brother of Mr. Timothy Buxton; and Mary, widow of David R. Williams, of Chicago.

Juliann Clark was educated at the Pratts- burg Academy in Batavia. She was married to Mr. Timothy HI. Buxton on July 15, 1839. Her husband was born in Orangeville, July 9, 1815, and was the son of Deacon William Buxton, a native of Belchertown, Mass., born in 1783. He came to New York with his wife and three children in 1811, driving all the way to Orangeville and from that point to Attica in his own conveyance. Mr. Timothy H. Buxton's mother was Lydia Smith before marriage and the grand-daughter of Philip Smith, a Revolutionary soldier. William Buxton came to Warsaw in 1824, where he engaged in the manufacturing of ploughs, in which line of work he was already experienced and competent. He held various town offices, and was active in the local public affairs. He died at the age of seventy-two, leaving seven children, of whom the only surviving one is Harriet, the first-born, now the widow of David Burr. She lives in Conneautville, Pa.

Mrs. Lydia Buxton outlived her husband nineteen years, dying in August, 1865, hav- ing almost reached the age of eighty years. Their son, Timothy H. Buxton, was a man of strong character and iron nerve. Holding the office of County Sheriff during the fifties, when the Erie Railroad was being built, he came in contact with a violent element among the unruly workmen, with whom he had some exciting encounters, in which he displayed in- trepid daring and courage. He was a very strong temperance man ; and on one occasion, when in a difficulty with some insubordinate drunken fellows, a number of liquor barrels were broken open, and their contents spilled. He was Supervisor and Assessor and for forty years an active member of the Presbyterian church, in which he was an Elder.

Mrs. Juliann Buxton has lost two infant children, and has five sons and daughters, who comfort her old age. They are: Mary Cor- nelia, wife of Judge Byron Healy; Lucy

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Mariah, wife of Dr. James McLeod, of Scran- ton, Pa., a Presbyterian divine; Frances, wife of Frank Wilson, a druggist in Warsaw; Jo- seph Clark Buxton, also of Warsaw; and Edward Timothy Buxton, a resident of West Superior, Wis., where he is President of the Bank of Commerce. This son married Miss Mary E. Chase, of Chicago, a daughter of Samuel B. Chase. Mr. Timothy H. Buxton died in Warsaw, November 3, 1883, aged sixty-eight, and his memory is held in tender grief and loving recollection by her who in her bereavement may quote Dean Stanley's beautiful lines : ---

" Till death us join ! A voice yet more divine, That to the broken heart breathes hope sublime. Thro' lonely hours And shattered powers, We still are one. despite of change and time.

.. Death with his healing hand Shall once more rend the band Which needs but that one link which none may sever. Till thro' the only good. Heard, felt, and understood. Our life in God shall make us one forever !"

® OBERT J. CULLINGS, a well-known manufacturer and farmer of the town of York, was born in that town November 22, 1833. His father, James Cullings, was a native of Duanesburg, Schenectady County. His grandfather, John Cullings, was born in Scotland, and came to this country in 1775, when about ten years of age. It was a long and tedious journey of six weeks; but the family were courageous and inspired by the hope of a free and happy home in the broad lands of America, and so were willing to bear any burdens to attain that end. They settled in a place called New Scotland, in Albany County; and there the boy John grew up. As soon as he had reached manhood he desired to start for himself in the world; and, without waiting for some one to make the way easy for him, he set out on his own responsibility, and made a journey twenty miles into the interior of Schenectady County, and took a tract of what was termed wild land. This was part of a section which was granted : County, where they reside.

to favorites of King James of England, and was rented on a perpetual lease. A farm of two hundred acres in that section is owned to this day by heirs of the Collings family, on which they pay but a nominal rent of fourteen dollars a year.

John Cullings spent the remainder of his life in this his adopted home. His son, James Cullings, father of Robert J. Cullings, in turn left his father's home, and at the age of twenty-five, with his young wife, he came to Livingston County, where in 1822 he settled in the southern part of the town of York. He bought eighty acres of new land, and at first erected a log house; but later, when he had cleared the land, and secured proper surround- ings for a better habitation, he built a commo- dious frame house, which is still standing, and is owned by one of his sons. James Cullings added to his land from time to time, and at his death owned two hundred and twelve acres, all cleared and in fine condition. His wife was Margret Simpson. They had six children - Ebenezer, Sarah A., Eliza Jane, Robert J., John, and William. All of these children have lived to grow up, and are now married and living with their families in and about York.

Robert J. Cullings received his education at the district schools when very young and later at the Temple Hill Academy of Genesco. He then studied civil engineering, but after practising for a while was obliged to give up the profession on account of ocular weakness. Mr. Cullings taught school for six years, after which time he concluded to employ him- self in the healthful occupation of farming. He has also been engaged in mechanical work, being the first person in the locality to manu- facture tile. In 1883 Mr. Cullings bought the Deacon MeNabb place, where he has since resided. Mr. Cullings was married in 1865 to Miss Jane D. Darrow, of Princetown, Schenectady County. Their children have been five in number - George H. ; James II. ; William B., who died December 21, 1894; Emily J. ; and Elizabeth D. George H. mar- ried Flora McCorkindale. They are both I teachers in the public schools of Wayne

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Mr. Cullings is a man who has seen some- thing of the world, having travelled extensively in the West and having spent two years in the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. He is an independent voter. The family are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of York.

LFRED WADSWORTH, a baker and confectioner in Warsaw, N. Y., was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1844. His father, John Wads- worth, was born in 1819, and came to Amer- ica in 1858 with a wife and seven children, four sons and three daughters. The sons are: Alfred, of whom this is written; John, a contractor and builder in Brockport, N. Y .; Robert, a physician in Rochester; Frank, who lost his right arm during the Civil War, and has since been in the custom-house in San Francisco, Cal. Their sister Annie is the wife of Albert Hatch, and is a practising phy- sician in Sauk Centre, Minn. John Wads- worth died in Brockport in 1892, aged seventy-three years, having lived to see his children holding useful and honorable posi- tions. Ilis grief-stricken widow survived him only two months, dying in the seventy- fourth year of her age.

Alfred Wadsworth attended school in Eng- land until he was thirteen, at which time his parents came to America. He went into a machine-shop in Portland, and followed that line of work until the firm was thrown out of business shortly after the firing on Fort Sum- ter by the confusion attendant upon the dis- tractions of the Civil War. Going to Houl- ton, Me., he engaged in the milling business, which he followed for seven years. In 1868 he left Maine, and went into a bakery in Brockport, N. Y., which he afterward gave up to take charge of a mill at Avon Springs. In

1870 he came to Warsaw, Wyoming County, where he bought a small bakery, and estab- lished a flour, feed, and grocery store. He is still engaged in this business at Nos. 15 and 16 Main Street. In 1893 Mr. Wadsworth again took up the milling business in addition to his other affairs, and also aided in the form- ing of a flour-barrel and hoop manufactory.

The 29th of September, 1868, was the date of the happiest event of his life, his marriage to Miss Florence Miller, of Brockport, a daughter of Aaron and Abigail ( Miner) Mil- ler. Her parents came from Connecticut, and were among the early settlers of Brockport. Her maternal grandfather, Hiram Miner, came to New York in pioneer style, driving an ox team through the woods. He died in the town of Brockport, having attained the extreme age of ninety-three years. This old gentleman was a fine specimen of manly strength and with a corresponding vigor of moral and mental nature.

Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have five children living - Frank Herbert, a recent graduate from Princeton College, and now a law stu- dent; Arthur Holland, also a graduate of Princeton, of the class of 1894, graduating at twenty-two years of age, and becoming a teacher of the classics and literature at Rutgers Institute, New York; Emery Miner, a clerk in his father's establishment, and reading medicine; Morton Miller, a lad of eighteen, attending school, and also engaged as a clerk for his father; and Walter Alfred, a boy of nine years. Mr. Wadsworth is a Royal Arch Mason, and is in political faith an ardent Republican. The members of his family are in the communion of the Presby- terian church.

EORGE L. RIBAUD, an Assistant Superintendent of the Duncan Salt Works, and a highly respected mem- ber of the community in Gainesville, was born in Syracuse, N. Y., February 7, 1855. Although a native of America he had French ancestors, his father, Louis Ribaud, and his grandfather, Charles, who was a school teacher, being both natives of that interesting country, the latter a life-long resident.

Louis Ribaud, who was one of seven chil- dren, at twenty years of age found himself treading the soil of a free land, under a free flag, with doubtless a heart swelling at the thought. After reaching New York, he set out at once on another long journey to reach

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California, and, when he had come to that favored spot, went to work searching for the yellow dust and nuggets in the sand of its rivers; but the gold fever spent itself before consuming his best manhood, and at the end of two years he returned to the East, exchang- ing his claim, his tools, and general outfit for the implements belonging to his old trade of cooper, in which he soon established himself in the city of Syracuse. He worked at this employment until 1878; and then, having found an opening in the Morey Barnes pork- packing establishment of Syracuse, he went there as fireman and engineer, where he re- mained fifteen years. At that time he became disabled from an accident to his foot, and on recovery was placed in charge of the spacious cellars of the establishment, in which position he has remained to the present time. His wife, whose name is Catherine, was born in France, being one of several children of Jo- seph Bushy, a worker in the salt fields of France, who afterward came to Syracuse in this State, and there remained till his death, which occurred in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ribaud are the parents of seven children, the eldest, George L., of this narrative; Charles L .; Marie I., who married R. J. Maynard, of Syracuse; Albert J .; Frank L .; Rosella F. ; and Lucy M. All this family are members of the French Catholic church.

George L. Ribaud, inheriting the enterpris- ing qualities of his father, followed the trade of cooper after getting his early education at the graded schools in Syracuse, beginning to work when old enough to handle the tools with judgment. When twenty years of age, he left the narrow sphere of the shop for a broader view of the world than he before had experienced, by taking the position of fireman on the Syracuse Northern Branch of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad, keeping on with this business for eight years, at the end of which time he entered the Amer- ican Dairy Salt Company's works as engineer, holding the position till February 1, 1886. He then changed his occupation, going to a new locality, where he undertook the work of setting up the boilers and vacuum pans in the Duncan Salt Company's works at Gaines-

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 23

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

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