Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 29

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 29
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 29

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mained at home until 1862, when he joined the Union army in the month of August, entering as a private Company K, One Hun- dred and Thirtieth New York Volunteer Infantry. In July, 1863, the regiment was transferred from the infantry to the cavalry, called First New York Dragoons. Mr. Sutfin remained in the service for three years, and participated in many sanguinary conflicts, coming out unscathed, but with his health seriously impaired, his death, in his fifty- third year, being attributable to the priva- tions and hardships inseparable from army life in time of war.

Previous to the war and for four years suc- ceeding, he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits; but, finding his health not equal to the hard work attendant upon farming, he took the business of insurance, and moved into Dansville, where he built up the largest in-

surance business in Livingston County, being engaged with one company for over twenty- one years. He was a very prominent Grand Army man, and associated himself with the Seth N. Hedges Post, No. 216, Grand Army of the Republic, of Dansville, N. Y., of which he was Commander for five successive terms, holding that position at the time of his death. He was also a member and at the time of his death was President of the Veterans' Associa- tion of Livingston County, and also held the office of President of the Regimental Associa- tion of New York Dragoons. He was at one time on the staff of the State Commander, and was well known throughout the Grand Army circles in this commonwealth. He belonged to the Canaseraga Lodge of Odd Fellows, and was County Deputy for some time.

September 10, 1868 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Sharp, a native of Dans- ville, N. Y., and daughter of Henry Sharp. Her father was born on Staten Island, where his father, William Sharp, was a prom- inent merchant. Mr. Henry Sharp came to Dansville in 1830, and resided there until his death, in 1877. Mrs. Sutfin's mother, Han- nah Preston, was a daughter of Amos Preston, of Connecticut. Her paternal grandfather, also named Amos, was a surgeon and physi- cian, and served on the field in his profes-

sional capacity during the War of the Revolution. Medical talent seems to be hereditary in the family; for two of his grand- sons, five of his great-grandsons, and two of his great-great-grandsons have been physi- cians. Mrs. Sutfin survives her husband. She has no children. The excellent likeness which appears in connection with this brief biographical sketch will be of special interest to many readers of this volume, who knew him personally or by reputation as a man "without reproach."

" None knew him but to love him, None named him but to praise."

A kind-hearted, pure-minded man, pains- taking and successful in business, modest in self-estimate, and uniformly courteous in man- ner, Mr. Sutfin is well said to have "honored every station he was called to occupy."

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HOMAS W. FLOWERS has been an industrious and successful farmer in the town of Warsaw, N. Y., for over thirty-six years. He was born November II, 1825, son of Thomas and Hannah (Mowbery) Flowers, in Lincolnshire, England, where his ancestors were probably natives for many ages back. His father was a gardener. The par- ents died, leaving but two children - Betty and Thomas W., the latter being the youngest.

He was educated in the common schools of England, and at the age of a little over thir- teen years was apprenticed to a carpenter, of whom he acquired the trade, serving seven years, at the completion of which time he began work for himself. He thus continued until 1856, when he came to the United States, accompanied by his wife and four chil- dren, and settled at Warsaw, where he followed his trade, at the same time engaging in agri- culture, on a small scale at first, but rapidly advancing as circumstances would permit. His first land, which he purchased about thirty-six years ago, and which he still owns, consisted of one and one-half acres; and here he commenced the independent life of a farmer, living frugally, and industriously laboring to increase his property, which stead- ily rose in size and value, his present farm of one hundred and five acres being exceedingly well cultivated and productive. He carries on general farming, and has solved the prob- lem of whether agriculture can be made successful or not. He has made many fine improvements, the work of his own hands, and has a very comfortable residence, together with well-constructed and spacious farm buildings.

In 1848, previous to coming to the United States, Mr. Flowers was wedded to Mary Ann Skinner, daughter of John and Elizabeth Skinner, who were also natives of Lincoln- shire, England, and are now deceased. She was one of nine children, six of whom are still living. One brother and two of her sis- ters have died.

Mr. and Mrs. Flowers have had seven chil- dren, four of whom were born in England and the others in this country. One son, Thomas W., Jr., who was born in England, died in

Dakota, September 1, 1883. The others, who are all married, are as follows: William, con- nected with the salt works in Warsaw ; George, a farmer at Warsaw; Almena, wife of Charles King, a farmer at Covington; John, a farmer at Wyoming; Frank, employed at the salt works; and Albert L., residing at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Flowers were early settlers in the part of Warsaw in which they reside, and are well-known residents, having the respect and esteem of their neighbors. When Mr. Flowers arrived in Warsaw, his only capital consisted of an English shilling and his own native energy, which has bestirred itself to such good purpose that he now enjoys a very fair competency. He is a Republican in pol- itics, and both himself and family attend the Methodist church. Albert L. Flowers, who now manages the home farm, is a very pro- gressive young man, full of life and ambition, who will no doubt repeat his father's success in agricultural pursuits.

RANK A. NORTHWAY, a worthy representative of the mercantile inter- ests of Tuscarora, and a veteran of the late Civil War, is a man whose good princi- ples, sound common sense, and vigorous and able management of his affairs have availed to lead him to prosperity, placing him in an honorable position among his fellow-men. He is a favored son of Livingston County, Mount Morris being the place of his nativity, and April 29, 1836, the date of his birth.

Mr. Northway comes of substantial New England stock. his father, Asahel Northway, having been born in Colebrook, Litchfield County, Conn., of which State his grand- father, Abijah Northway, was likewise a na- tive. Abijah's father, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in England. He came to America in early Co- lonial days, and fought in the French and Indian War, and was later a soldier of the Revolution. He reared a family of thirteen sons and three daughters, and seven of his sons were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. His son Abijah was the youngest child of the family and a life-long resident of Connecticut.

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He there married Polly Grant, who bore him several children.

Asahel, son of Abijah and Polly (Grant) Northway, was bred to a farmer's life, but when a young man made use of his mechanical ability by learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1830, when he came with his wife to Mount Morris. They made the journey by stage to Albany, thence via the canal to Rochester, where they took teams to their point of destination. Buying a tim- bered tract about a mile and a half from Tus- carora, he erected the first frame dwelling in that section of the county. He continued to work at his trade, carrying on a flourishing business and hiring laborers to carry on his land, and remained a resident of his home- stead until the time of his demise, at the age of seventy-four years. He married Lucretia Griswold, a native of Colebrook, Conn .; and she, too, died on the home farm, passing away when sixty-one years old. They were the parents of five children - Mary, Eliza, La- vina, Frank A., and Lorana.

The subject of this sketch acquired his edu- cation in the district schools, between ses- sions assisting in the farm labors until twenty years of age, when he began teaching. For a while he still worked at farming in seed-time and harvest, and taught school winters. In 1859 Mr. Northway visited Ohio, and for one season was engaged in teaching in Franklin County. Removing thence to Kentucky, he was principal of a select school until the breaking out of the late Rebellion, when he returned to the place of his nativity, and re- sumed his agricultural pursuits. In August, 1862, inspired by the patriotic spirit of his paternal ancestors, Mr. Northway was enrolled as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York Volunteer Infan- try, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged with his regiment in June, 1865. Ever brave and faithful, he was an active participant in twenty-three dif- ferent battles, among them being some of the most decisive conflicts of the Rebellion. Re- turning to civil life, Mr. Northway once more took up farming, continuing thus employed until 1872, when he entered upon a mercan-

tile career, opening his present store, which is well stocked with an excellent assortment of general merchandise.

In 1868 Miss Belle Whitenack, a native of West Sparta, being the daughter of Cornelius and Lucinda Whitenack, became the wife of Mr. Northway; and their pathway through wedded life has been brightened by the birth of four children, three of whom are now liv- ing; namely, Edward, William H., and Lib- bie. One child, Freddie, the pet of the household, ended his earthly life at the tender age of one year. Three years ago, in 1892, Mr. Northway removed with his family to Nunda, in order to give his children the bene- fits of its excellent system of public-school education. He is a member of the Nunda Presbyterian church, and as a citizen takes a hearty interest in the welfare and advance- ment of the community.

UELL D. WOODRUFF, a well- known farmer, stock dealer, and mill owner of Livonia, Livingston County, N. Y., was born July 14, 1830. His grandfather, Solomon Woodruff, who was the first white settler in Livonia, came here in 1789, and bought a tract of land on what was known in those days as the " Big Tree Road," about three-fourths of a mile south of Livonia Centre. When the humble and rudely fashioned little log house, which he immediately began to build, was com- pleted, he went back to Connecticut for his wife and children. On the return journey, in 1790, he left them at Bristol, while he came forward alone, in order to prepare a welcome for them in that new home: but, as he ap- proached the clearing where he had recently been busy in his labor of love, what was his consternation to find that the Indians had burned the log cabin to the ground! But the brave heart was undaunted, and he immedi- ately set to work to rebuild.

While he was thus engaged, Mrs. Woodruff remained in Bristol with her children; and during his absence one of them was stricken with an illness of which he died, so that it was with heavy hearts that the new-comers en-

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tered their forest habitation, which was seven miles distant from their nearest neighbors. All the grain and farm produce had to be- conveyed by team to Albany, and visiting was of course done at rare intervals when one had to go all the way to Honeoye Flats to enjoy a gossip over a cup of tea. Mr. Wood- ruff's son Phillip was the first white child born in this locality, and the "pale-face pappoose " was doubtless an object of great in- terest to the Indians. One of their chiefs grew so fond of little Austin, an older son, who had been brought by his parents from Connecticut, that he made every effort to pur- chase the boy. Finding all inducements vain, he attempted to steal him, and had almost effected his purpose when he was discovered by a man in Mr. Woodruff's employment, who rescued the frightened child from the hands of the savage kidnapper.

Austin Woodruff grew up and became the most extensive drover and cattle dealer in this part of the country, travelling hundreds of miles with his herds, and meeting no doubt the strange adventures in his annual journeyings through a comparatively thinly populated country. He married Miss Julia Smith, the he daughter of Mark Smith; and they reared a family of ten children, five of whom are still Deliving, their names in the order of their birth Hle being as follows : Almira N., Myron S., Col- lins, Orlando S., Love S., Wayne J., Austin, Jr., Buell D., Ann S., and Lucia M. Mr. Woodruff finally settled upon a farm, and spent his last years quietly. He lived to be seventy years old. His wife died at sixty years.

Buell D. Woodruff, who is the namesake of Myold Mr. Buell, the first schoolmaster who ever taught in this locality, was the first child born in the frame house built by his father in the place of the earlier and more humble abode. After completing his education in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, he pur- chased a farm of a hundred acres in Conesus, which he cultivated for ten years. He then sold it, and bought out the interests of the other heirs to the homestead, of which he is now sole owner; and about the same time he also purchased the grist and saw mill at Hem-

lock Lane, which is now under the super- vision of his son.

Buell D. Woodruff married for his first wife Miss Hortense Harding, of Steuben County; and the offspring of this marriage were three children -- Herbert S., Edward B., and Frank H. Herbert S. owns a cattle ranch in Ne- braska, and is Treasurer of the county in which he lives. By his first wife, who was a Miss Quackenbush, Edward B. Woodruff has two children - Emma and Artie. Emma rep- resents the fifth generation of Woodruffs who have lived on this estate. By his second mar- riage, with Miss Flora Naracong, Edward B. has one infant child, Berta. Frank HI. Wood- ruff married Miss Florence Morton, and has a family of four children - Julia, Buell D., Austin, and Morton. They live on a place adjoining the homestead. Mrs. Hortense Woodruff departed this life January 19, 1869; and Mr. Buell D. Woodruff was a second time married, February 26, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth A. Coe, a native of this town, being the daughter of Lewis and Rhoda (Bacon) Coe, early settlers of Livingston County.

Mr. Buell D. Woodruff, whose first vote was cast for Franklin Pierce in 1852, is a stanch Republican. He has been Justice of the Peace for four years and Supervisor for two years. Mr. Woodruff's name has been identified with that of Livonia since the be- ginning of that village's existence, and the people of the county feel pride and interest in the success of the family who for five genera- tions have been sons of the soil.

ALTER EUGENE GREGORY, M. D., one of the managing physi- cians of the far-famed Jackson San- atorium of Dansville, N. Y., was born in Win- field, Wis., on September 18, 1857. Dr.

Gregory's father, Oscar Gregory, was a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, in which town Ezra Greg- ory, his grandfather, was also born. At the age of thirty-five Ezra moved to Wisconsin, where he lived until his death. He reared a family of seven children, three of whom are still living. Two followed the medical pro-

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fession, and one was killed at Chalk Bluff, Mo., during the Rebellion.

Oscar, the second son of Ezra Gregory, and the father of Dr. Gregory, of whom this is a memoir, was brought up as a practical farmer, and received a plain education in the district schools of the neighborhood. Upon arriving at his majority, Oscar Gregory, with that inde- pendent spirit which is characteristic of Amer- ican republicanism, purchased a place of his own and became a landed proprietor in Win- field, Wis., where he remained until 1866, when he sold his farm, and, moving to Marsh- field, Mo., purchased a tract of land and be- came a dealer in real estate. After some time he removed to Carthage, Mo., where he is now living. His wife, Agnes Cottington, who died in Carthage in 1879, was one of a family of three daughters and four sons of Jesse Cottington. She came from England to America when she was sixteen years of age, the two months' voyage being made in a sail- ing-vessel. One of her brothers was a physi- cian. Mr. Cottington had been engaged in the hop industry in his own country, and established a similar industry in New York. A few years after his emigration to New York he moved to Winfield, Wis. Here he cleared a tract of land, and built a log cabin, and brought the land into a fit state of cultivation. Hle died in the spring of 1893, at the age of seventy-six years.

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gregory reared six chil- dren out of a family of seven, the eldest of whom is the original of this sketch. The others are: Robert; Mary; Fanny F., who married Aaron Mecker; Jessie, who married A. G. Fish; and Winfield, who, like his brother Robert, is a farmer in the West.

Walter E. Gregory attended in his child- hood the graded schools in Missouri, and on returning to Wisconsin, at the age of sixteen, continued his studies in the district school, where he prepared for the high school course, which was completed in his twenty-first year. Two years afterward his health began to fail, and he came to the Jackson Sanatorium. The treatment at this institution proved so beneficial that at the end of a year he found himself restored to health and vigor and able

to accept the position of Assistant Superin- tendent of the establishment. This place he filled so efficiently that after two years he was appointed General Superintendent.

Possessing a remarkable aptitude for medical science, as well as a natural inclination toward that branch of research, he entered the Buffalo University for a three years' course of study, spending his vacations at the Sanatorium, which was in itself a system of practical edu- cation in the various branches of hygienic sci- ence. Graduating in 1889, Dr. Gregory at once began to practise his profession, and was appointed one of the three managing physi- cians of the Sanatorium. His talents, attain- ments, social qualities, all combine to fit him for the position he holds. The unfailing con- sideration, the tender care, the unselfish effort to promote the well-being and happiness of those around him, have won the loving regard of all who know him, as well as the recipients of his kind offices.

On April 24, 1889, Dr. Walter Eugene Gregory married Miss Helen C. Davis, of St. Andrews, Canada. The young lady is of Scotch descent through her mother, whose maiden name was McMartin. Her father, Theodore Davis, is the representative of a very old and honored family. The patients at the Sanatorium divide their affections be- tween the Doctor and his wife, whose grace- ful little courtesies to the invalids are almost as efficacious as are her husband's more offi- cial and professional attentions. In politics Dr. Gregory is a Republican.

R OBERT VALLANCE, a substantial farmer of Scotch descent, residing in York, Livingston County, District No. I, was born in this town on June 21, 1841. His father, Robert Val- lance, Sr., came to America from Scotland in 1820, when he was only twenty years of age. The voyage occupied seven weeks, and no doubt the young Scotchman's heart grew heavy many times as the vessel each day bore him farther and farther from the land of the purple heather and the associations of his childhood.

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Coming to York, which had been formed not long before from Caledonia and Leicester, he settled on a farm west of the village of Fowlerville. Here he built a log house, in which he lived for ten years. The nearest market was Rochester, and the farm produce had to be conveyed thither in order to get family supplies for domestic use. Those journeyings were made at a great expense of time and labor, and the farmer in this section in the early days of the settlement must needs be a man of strong determination and endur- ance who would successfully cope with the difficulties of the situation. After a decade of such vicissitudes as the isolation of the set- tlement necessitated, Mr. Vallance sold his farm, and purchased another, upon which he passed the remainder of his life, and which is now occupied by his son and namesake, Rob- ert. His wife was Elizabeth Matthews, of Pittsford, N. Y., who survived him. He died at seventy-two years of age, while she was eighty-six at the date of her death, on June 24, 1892. Their six children were born in the following order: Henry, Jane, Robert, Mary, John A., and Martha E.

Robert, the third child, and the original of this sketch, was educated in the district schools and at Brockport Academy. He worked on his father's farm until his first marriage, after which he bought two hundred and ten acres of land from his father, and finally bought the homestead from his brother- in-law, H. C. Root. 1868 was the year of his marriage to Miss Mary J. Mckenzie, whose father, Simon Mckenzie, was one of the early Scotch settlers of York. Two chil- dren, both daughters, were born of this union - Elizabeth C. and Cora S. Mrs. Mary J. Vallance died October 20, 1870; and Mr. Vallance's second wife was Miss Rachel Clunas, who was the mother of three sons and one daughter -- Robert B., Charles A .. Al- bert B., and Mary J. Being left a widower for the second time, Mr. Vallance formed a third matrimonial alliance with Miss Anna Hunter, by whom he had no children. The heavy hand of bereavement was again laid upon Mr. Vallance, and he was for the third time a widower. Miss Margaret Hamilton,

of Caledonia, became his fourth wife and the mother of two sons -- William R. and Henry M. Vallance.

Mr. Robert Vallance is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fowlerville, of which he is a stanch supporter. He is in political faith a Democrat, having been loyal to that party since casting his first Presiden- tial vote in 1864 for the martial hero who was at that time a candidate, General George B. McClellan.

AMES EDWIN REID, a prominent real estate and insurance agent of War- saw, Wyoming County, was born in Markham, York County, Ontario, Can- ada, April 25, 1862. His paternal grand- father, Samuel Reid, a native of Suffolk County, England, came to Canada in 1837, bringing with him a wife and five children, all of whom grew up and became heads of fam- ilies excepting one daughter, who died in early youth. Only one of the sons is now living.

George Reid, the father of James Edwin, was born in England, March 24, 1823, and came to Canada with his parents, being then a boy of fourteen. He married Miss Sarah Press, a native of Ontario, near Markham, and of American parentage. Four children were born to them, two of whom are now deceased - Perry, a baby of a year and a half ; and Mary A., a lovely girl of twenty-one, who died in the autumn of 1877. William Francis Reid, the only brother of the subject of this sketch, is a boot and shoe dealer in Chicago, Ill. The mother of these children, after her husband's death, became the wife of J. H. Armstrong, and now resides in the State of Michiga 1.

James Edwin Reid received a liberal educa- tion in Markham, New Market, and the high school of Belleville, Ontario. He became an expert telegrapher, and, obtaining in 1882 a position as operator on the Erie Railroad, he was engaged in this employment for three years. He came to Warsaw, September 16, 1883, and was married two years later, January 1, 1885, to Miss Edith Adele Main, daughter

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of James A. Main, a jeweller of Warsaw, N. Y. This marriage has been blessed by the birth of twin sons . Louis Raymond and Law- rence Main Reid -born September 1, 1887. The parents of these boys are justly proud of their bright, active minds and engaging man- ners, which are remarked by all who meet the children.

Mr. Reid opened his present office in 1886, and has since that time established a large and flourishing business. He is also engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in War- saw, under the firm name of Davis & Reid. He is a man of enterprise and ability ; and, as he is still young, he may well look forward to more than an ordinary share of worldly success.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 29

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

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