Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 26

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 26
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ILLIAM W. WISE, the subject of this sketch, was born in Groveland, Livingston County, N. Y., August 2, 1841. His parents were Andrew and Lydia (Sutfin) Wise, natives of New Jersey, who came to this county in 1830, and bought a farm in Groveland, on which they resided until the year 1865. They then purchased another farm in the town of Geneseo, and lived thereon for two years, when they re- moved to East Groveland, called also Hunt's Corners, where the father died the same year, 1867, aged sixty-three years. He was a suc- cessful farmer, and acquired a fair compe- tence. Mrs. Lydia S. Wise continued to live in the same place until January, 1892, when

she died at the ripe age of eighty-nine years, greatly respected by all who knew her. She was a devoted member of the Methodist church, and did herself credit in zealously doing her part to help make the world better.

Eight of the ten children born to this couple grew to maturity; namely, Celina A. Buck, Abram S., Sarah J. Gray, Mary L .. Bridges, Jerome, Walter S., William W., and Weltha G. Ward. Two others died in in- fancy. All are still living except Abram S., who died in Michigan in 1891. Celina and Mary reside in Michigan; Jerome and Walter in Washington, D.C .; Sarah and Weltha in Groveland. There are at the present time twenty-five grandchildren and fifteen great- grandchildren of Andrew and Lydia Wise.

William W. Wise purchased the homestead farm soon after the death of his father, and still owns it. He was married in 1869 to Frances Magee, daughter of Colonel John Magee and his wife, Mariet Patchen Magee. The former died in 1891 and the latter in 1893. Each had an inheritance of good blood, and both were leading characters in -every noble enterprise. They were successful in amassing property, owning at their death about eight hundred acres of land in Grove- land. From their union five children are liv- ing out of ten born - Dr. Charles M. ; Walter W., a lawyer in Syracuse; John C .; Edward M. and Evangie Gray in Groveland.

To William W. and Frances M. Wise five children were born, all, except one who died in infancy, still living. Blanche was born October 16, 1871; Edward R., September 4, 1873; John M., August 10, 1876; and Charles W., January 25, 1879.

All are attending the State normal school at Geneseo, Edward R. being in the class of 1895 and Bianche in the class of 1896. The mother, Mrs. Frances M. Wise, died May 26, 1893, after a brief illness of pneumonia. She was greatly esteemed in her native town, a devoted member of the Presbyterian church for over twenty years, a woman of decided convictions, and exerted considerable influ- ence in her community. For a while she was at the head of the Ladies' Missionary Society, and she taught a Bible class for several years.

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Mr. Wise removed to Geneseo in 1893, to give his children the advantages of the nor- mal school here, conceded to be the best in the State. In politics he has always been identified with the Republican party, and has held some offices of trust, such as that of Highway Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. He is at present Deputy County Clerk.

A LLEN MERCHANT, late of Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, was born in Washington County, April 10, 1814. Ilis father, Josiah Mer- chant, a native of Massachusetts, moved to Warsaw in the early years of the century, and bought sixty acres of partially improved land, upon which there was already a log house and barn. There was still wild game in this vicinity ; and the busy housewife could evolve a dinner fit for royalty after a day's hunt, when the sportsman of even ordinary skill was sure to bag a wild turkey, grouse, partridges, or even a fat buck.

Josiah Merchant married Miss Polly Camet, a native of the State in which he was born. They were both in the communion of the Presbyterian church, and both died at the home of their son Allen, at the respective ages of sixty-eight and seventy-eight. Ten children were born to them, three of whom grew up - Orrin, who is a farmer in Wiscon- sin; Allen, the subject of this memoir; Eleazer, a farmer in South Warsaw. In poli- tics the father was a Whig.

Allen Merchant was a little boy of eight years when he came with his father to War- saw; and he continued to live in the same town, giving his whole attention to practical farming, and, as the result, at the time of his death he owned one of the largest farms in Warsaw. In 1843 he was married to Miss Olive Barnard, who was a native of the vil- lage. She died in 1846; and Mr. Merchant married for his second wife Lucy Asenath Bryant, who was born in Weathersfield, Vt., on the 8th of December, 1820. She now sur- vives her husband, whose death occurred No- vember 30, 1894.

Mrs. Lucy A. Merchant's maternal grand- father was a Revolutionary soldier. Her father, Martin Bryant, was a native of Massa- chusetts, who moved to Vermont, where he farmed. Her mother, Rhoda Bixby Bryant, was born in Vermont. Both parents were conscientious members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bryant, who was a stanch Whig, scarcely reached the meridian of life, dying at forty years of age. His wife attained the age of sixty-four years. Three of their five children are now living - Lucy (Mrs. Merchant); Lydia, who resides in Warsaw; and Calvin, a farmer in the same town. Mr. Merchant by his first marriage had one son, Wesley. who is a farmer. Three children were born of the second union - a daughter, Helen, now Mrs. George Burns, of Warsaw; Edwin J. Mer- chant, who lives at home, and is unmarried; and Olive A., who died aged ten years.

It is needless to make further comment upon Mr. Merchant's life-work than to say he commenced without the aid of capital or influ- ence, and that his success was attained by dint of his own unaided efforts. After reach- ing his twenty-first year it is recorded of him that he did not disdain to work out for one season at twelve dollars a month; and his tract of land consisted of only fifty acres, which gradually expanded into a finely culti- vated farm of four hundred.

Mr. Allen Merchant, like his wife, was lib- eral in religious views, not bound by any particular creed; and he was politically a Democrat.

This brief sketch is happily supplemented by a portrait of the respected citizen whom it commemorates,

" Who. having won The bound of man's appointed years, at last. Life's blessings all enjoyed. life's labors done. Serenely to his final rest has passed."

ERRIMAN J. WILNER, a well- known and highly esteemed farmer of Portage, Livingston County, N. Y., was born in this town, De- cember 12, 1827. He commenced his educa- tion at the district schools of his native village, and supplemented his primary studies

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with a course of advanced instruction at Pro- fessor Buck's select school. He has always followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood, and his entire life has been passed within the locality of his birth.

Mr. Wilner married Sarah Sanford, who is the daughter of David and Esther (Staples) Sanford, of Redding, Conn., and a sister of Mr. Hiram Smith, of Portage. Two children have been born to them - Merton M. and Es- tella J. The latter is now the wife of W. P. Wilder, and resides at Warsaw, having one child, Ruth. Their son, Merton M. Wilner, a most capable and promising young man, is now associate editor of the Buffalo Daily Express. He married Miss Edith Whitehead, of Nunda; and they have two children - Dor- othy and Ortha.

Mr. Wilner, although past his sixty-seventh year, still continues actively engaged in the cultivation of his extensive and well-managed farm, and enjoys not only a well-earned pros- perity, but the sincere respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He has held many positions of public trust, among them that of Supervisor for two terms, Highway Commis- sioner for five years, and Assessor for three years. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics Mr. Wilner has been a stanch supporter of Republican principles ever since the organization of that party. He cast his first Presidential vote for General Winfield Scott in 1852. Considering the fact that a farmer's lot is not all sunshine, and that difficulties are constantly arising which must be coped with and surmounted in order to reach a position of ease, Mr. Wilner has every reason to look with pride at his prosperous circumstances, which are the result and just reward of a busy and satisfactory career.

ARTIN VAN BUREN ALVORD, a leading and influential member of the farming community of Mount Morris, is a grandson of the original proprietor of the farm which he now owns and occupies. As early as 1823 Stephen Alvord, formerly of Vermont, wended

his way into the wilderness, and built a log house near the spot where the present family dwelling now stands. The location is most beautiful and picturesque, overlooking the Coshaqua Creek valley, and the view from the residence embracing many miles of territory. An extended history of the Alvord family will be found in the sketch of George P. Alvord, on another page of this volume.

Martin V. B. Alvord, to whom we refer, was born on the twenty-first day of April, 1835, being a son of Phineas and Rachael (Lemen) Alvord. He was reared to habits of industry and thrift, and as soon as physically able began to assist his father on the home farm. He remained with his parents until his marriage, and then settled on a farm in West Sparta, where he lived five years. After spending the next five years on the old homestead, Mr. Alvord removed to Kent County, Michigan, and purchased a farm in the town of Ada, twelve miles cast of Grand Rapids. One year later he sold it at an ad- vance, and, changing his place of residence to Grand Rapids, remained there a year. Re- turning then to the scenes of his childhood, he became once more an occupant of the homestead, to the ownership of which he suc- ceeded after the death of his parents, and where he has since been actively and prosper- ously engaged in general farming, his time and energies being fully occupied in the prosecu- tion of his chosen calling. His father left an estate of five hundred and ninety-seven acres.

On December 25, 1861, Mr. Alvord was united in marriage with Abbie J. Daniels, a native of the town of Nunda and a daughter of Warner Daniels, who was of New England birth, Vermont being the State of his nativity. He was a son of John Daniels, who was one of the earliest settlers of Cayuga County, where his last years were passed. Ezra Daniels, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Alvord, was a resi- dent of the Mohawk valley at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and at one time, when returning from the mill with grist, was captured by the Indians, and kept a prisoner for some time. He finally made his escape, and afterward served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army.

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The father of Mrs. Alvord was quite young when he came with his parents to the Empire State. He was reared and married in Cayuga County, residing there until 1823, when, ac- companied by his young wife, he came with teams bringing his household effects to Liv- ingston County. At that time there was but one house where the village of Nunda now stands, the surrounding country being in its original wildness. Mr. Daniels there took up his abode for a while, and then removed to Hunt's Hollow, where he followed his trade of a fuller for about ten years, going from that place to Covington, Wyoming County, where he purchased a home. He was employed at various kinds of work during the years that followed, but finally came to live with his daughter, Mrs. Alvord, and died at her home September 24, 1881. The maiden name of the wife of Warner Daniels was Mary Cox. She was born in Scipio, Cayuga County, and was a daughter of Jacob Cox, a pioneer of that town. Mrs. Daniels passed to the higher life October 7, 1882, leaving ten children - John, Lucy, Gordon, William, George, Clinton, Abbie J. ( Mrs. Alvord), Seneca, Julia, and Hiram.

Into the pleasant household of Mr. and Mrs. Alvord eight children have been born, namely: Mary; Phineas; George; Julia; James; and Burt; Frank C., the eldest child, who died September 19, 1873, aged ten years and nine months; and Lewis, the fourth child, who died February 4, 1873, aged five years and nine months. In religious affairs Mr. Alvord is identified with the Protestant Methodist church, of which he and his wife have been consistent members for many years. Entirely independent in politics, he is bound by no particular platform, and votes for men, not measures.

RANK WILSON, a stationer, book- seller, and druggist in the town of Warsaw, Wyoming County, N. Y., was born in Geneseo, Livingston County, July 28, 1846. His father, William J. Wilson, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1808. He died in Geneseo in 1891. He was

in early life a farmer, but became a grocer in Geneseo. He was a stanch Democrat always, and held the office of Under Sheriff in the county of his adoption. Mr. William J. Wil- son married Miss Mary Garvin, of Vermont, whose father was a participant in the famous battle of Lake Champlain. They reared only two children - George B. and Frank, whose name is the text of the present sketch.

The former, who was in his youth a pupil of the Geneseo Academy, went to Tennessee when he was but eighteen years old, as a teacher. He afterward was engaged as a dealer in general merchandise, and won many friends during his long commercial career in the South. A short time before his death he, with his wife and daughter, went to Dawson Springs, N. Y., hoping that the waters and climatic change, together with complete rest, would restore his health. It was a vain quest, for on the 30th of May, 1894, he died, aged fifty-six years. The resolutions drawn up by the bank officers and the general sincere regret that was manifested by those who had been his business associates, as well as the sorrow of a large circle of friends, attested the profound respect and esteem in which he was held. The other son, whose career is chroni- cled herein, began his business life when a lad of seventeen, as a drug clerk. In 1867 he came to Warsaw, where he has since re- mained, and entered the apothecary shop as a salesman. Two years later he was employed by James O. McClure in the same capacity, and in 1871 formed a partnership with Dr. Smith. This firm was dissolved eight years after by the death of its senior member, and Mr. Wilson has conducted the business from that time alone.

On September 5, 1871, Mr. Frank Wilson was married to Miss Frances Julia Buxton, a daughter of Mr. Timothy H. Buxton. The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson has not been altogether free from the "shadow and thorn" of life; for they have lost one child, Mary, a little girl of ten years, who, after three days of acute suffering with that fatal scourge, diphtheria, died October 30, 1885.

Another daughter was sent to gladden the desolated hearts of the parents, and is now a

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bright, merry little girl of eleven. Mr. Wil- son has held the offices of village President and Treasurer, and is a stockholder in the Electric Light Company and the Empire Dairy Salt Company. He is a Master Mason and politically a Democrat. Their pleasant home on North Main Street was built in 1887, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are among the popular householders of the town of Warsaw.

EORGE W. JACKMAN, a retired farmer, living in Geneseo, has borne an active part in developing the agri- cultural resources of Livingston County, and is held in much respect as a man of high moral principles and a useful citizen. He was born in Sibleyville, in the town of Men- don, Monroe County, February 19, 1826, and comes of excellent New England ancestry, being a grandson of Moses Jackman, who was born and reared in New Hampshire. He was a tiller of the soil, and spent a part of his life in Vermont, but removed to Boscawen, N. H., where he passed his last days.

Moses Jackman, Jr., son of the elder Moses, when a young man migrated to this State, and worked for a while in Mendon at the carpen- ter's trade, but later, in 1828, removed to Livonia, in this county, on to a farm belong- ing to his wife, and resided there until his death in 1861, at the good old age of eighty- six years. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Rhoda Collins, had five chil- dren, all now deceased. His second wife was Betsey Beecher, a daughter of Hezekiah Beecher. Her father came to this county with his family from Litchfield, Conn., when she was seventeen years old, and took up a tract of timber land in Livonia, the tract being one mile square, if we except one hun- dred and fifty acres which had been previously taken; and the farm of Mr. Jackman is a por- tion of the original claim. Seven children were born to Moses, Jr., and Betsey (Beecher) Jackman; namely, Emerett Eliza, who mar- ried Joel A. Booth; Moses Lyman; Matilda A .; Rachel B., who married William Cal- vert; Hezekiah R .; Charles A. ; and George

W .; and of these four are still living. The mother spent her last years on the old home- stead, where she died in 1869, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. She was a sincere Christian woman and an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church, while her husband, who was equally devout and true in his relig- ious convictions, belonged to the Baptist church.

George W. Jackman, the youngest of this family, was two years of age when his parents moved to Livonia; and he remained a resident of that town for nearly threescore years. In the district schools he obtained a practical education in the common branches of study, and on the home farm was well drilled in the various branches of agriculture. He assisted his father in the pioneer labor of clearing a farm from the forest, and after the death of his parents bought out the interest of the re- maining heirs in the homestead, where he en- gaged in general farming until his retirement from the activities of life. His farm, which he still owns, but which is under the super- vision of his eldest son, is one of the finest in this region, and as regards its equipments is one of the best in the county. In 1886 Mr. Jackman moved to his pleasant home on Prospect Street, Geneseo, where he is living, surrounded by the comforts that make life enjoyable.

The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Jack- man, to whom he was united in 1858, was Jane E. Cowles. She was born in Brighton, Monroe County, being a daughter of Benjamin Cowles. The home was brightened by the birth of seven children; and of these four are now living. George Washington Jackman, Jr., a graduate of the Rochester Business College, married Harriet E. Tyler, the daughter of Byron A. Tyler, and they have three children -- Ruth, Walter Fisk, and Donald Tyler; Lizzie Marie, who was graduated from the Geneseo Normal School, has won distinction as a very successful teacher in Steuben and Allegany Counties; Rellie E., who graduated in art under Professor Wiles. of Perry, has superior native talent, and exhibits much skill in painting; L. Ward B., the youngest son, is a student in the normal school. In politics

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Mr. Jackman is a strong supporter of the Pro- hibition ticket, and an earnest worker in every movement tending to advance the welfare of the town or county. Religiously, he belongs to the Livonia Presbyterian church.

AMUEL HORACE JACOBS, who operates a large and well-cultivated farm near Mount Morris, Living- ston County, was born in Barnstead, Belknap County, N. H., December 20, 1839.

His grandfather, Samuel Jacobs, was, so far as is known, a native and life-long resident of the same town. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, his widow, whose maiden name was Sally Tuttle, and who was a native of New Hampshire, receiving a pension for his ser- vices. Daniel Jacobs, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was also born in Barn- stead, N.H., and was brought up to farm life. From Barnstead he removed to Sanborn, N. Y., where he died in the seventy-fifth year of his life. He married Dorothy Tuttle, daughter of Joseph and Phebe Tuttle, of Barnstead, N.H. She died at the age of fifty-three years, and was the mother of the following children - Samuel H., Mary, Abigail, Lu- cinda, Albert, and Eugene.

Samuel HI. Jacobs was educated in his na- tive town, where he resided till September II, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and served about a year. From a wound re- ceived at Port Hudson he was confined to the hospital for some weeks, and on the expira- tion of his term of service joined the regular army, and was honorably discharged August 13, 1863. Returning home he resumed farm- ing as soon as he was able, remaining in his native place till 1867, when he came to Mount Morris, Livingston County, N. Y. Here he farmed for ten years, and then removed to Leicester, where he spent another ten years at the same occupation, in 1887 renting the Wadsworth farm near Mount Morris, where he has since resided, operating three hundred acres of land.

In 1871 he married Sally J. Nichols, daughter of Orrin and Lucy Nichols. They

have a family of five children; namely, Charles, Bert, Elmer, Ella, and Ethel. Mrs. Jacobs is an active member and earnest worker in the Baptist church. Mr. Jacobs is a mem- ber of the J. E. Lee Post, No. 281, Grand Army of the Republic, and also of Belwood Lodge, No. 315, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man highly regarded by his fellow-townsmen for his sterling qualities of honesty, industry, and intelligence; and both he and his wife have no lack of warm friends and well-wishers.

OHN SOWERBY, a farmer of Castile, Wyoming County, N. Y., noted for his superior ability and progressive ideas, was born in this picturesque location, January 19, 1834. He is a son of John and Jane (Brown) Sowerby; and his ancestral line goes back to the grandparents' time in the mother country, the native place of George and Elizabeth Sowerby being the city of Hull, Yorkshire, England. Though this grand- father was fixed by fate to live and die a sub- ject of the realm, yet he doubtless lived long enough to realize that America would furnish a republican government for whatever farmer might choose to emigrate to its virgin soil. The date of the death of George Sowerby is not easy to verify at this distance; but it is recorded that he left eight children, whose names are: John, George, Dorothea, Eliza- beth, Francis, Jacob, Thomas, and Martha.

Mrs. Sowerby married for a second husband James Clark, a native of Yorkshire, who came to America five years before his wife, and died at Hudson, N. Y. She came with her five children in 1832. His son, Thomas Clark. who was a miller, found work at differ- ent places, and finally settled at Oswego, N.Y .; but later, there being a promising opening for him in Buffalo, he removed to that city, where he became an extensive grain dealer, and built some large elevators in con- nection with the grain interests. His death occurred while living in that city.

John, the father of the subject of this nar- rative, and the eldest son of George Sowerby, was born at Hull, Yorkshire, England, Octo-

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ber 27, 1803. He had a fairly good education in his youth; and, after reaching an age in which he could act for himself, he came to America, and bought fifty acres of land in the town of Castile, Wyoming County, on the west side of Silver Lake. Awhile after, be- coming prosperous, he was able to add one hundred and six acres to the first fifty, mak- ing an inviting tract of cultivated land of one hundred and fifty-six acres in all. This at- tractive estate he cultivated from year to year till his death, which occurred at the age of eighty years, when he passed it on to his son.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 26

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

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