Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 31

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 31
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 31

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He was nearly twelve years old at the date of the battle of Lexington ; and it is not surpris- ing that his blood was aflame with military ardor, and that he enlisted, while a boy of six- teen, in the Bedford Rangers, for the Revolu- tionary contest. In the very heart of the war, 1779, the year when Washington's army was encamped near Morristown, N. J., our lad was captured by the Indians, and taken into the Genesee valley. He was forced by his cap- tors to run the gauntlet of their blows, but accomplished his painful task with so much agile bravery as to win the lasting friendship of the red men, who accordingly adopted him into one of their tribes; for he could outrun and outjump any of their youth. Such was his knowledge of Indian languages and affairs that at the close of the war Horace was ap- pointed by General Washington to the impor- tant post of interpreter for the Six Nations, a place which he held continuously for the next forty years.

In 1785, at the age of twenty-two, he married a lady named Whitmore, from Schenectady, N. Y., and about the same time established a trading-post at Schauges, now called Water- loo, in Ontario County, where he became asso- ciated in the fur trade with John Jacob Astor, the celebrated millionaire, who then and there was laying the foundation of his colossal fort-

une. In 1789, at twenty-six years of age, Horatio Jones became the first white settler in the Genesee district, a locality with which he had been familiar during his sojourn among the Indians, and set himself to the task of making a home in what is now Livingston County. Securing land in the present town of Geneseo, he erected a log house in the wilder- 'ness, miles away from the habitation of other civilized people, and in the very midst of wild beasts and wilder men.

Captain Horatio Jones had three brothers who also came to this county, one, John Hunter, coming with him from Geneva, mak- ing the journey with a yoke of oxen and a cart, the first vehicle ever seen in this region. John H. Jones located in what is now called Leicester, which was then within the lines of Genesee County, and became very prominent in public affairs, serving for a time as County

Judge. Hle erected a saw-mill, wherefrom he was able to furnish lumber to the Indians, in accordance with a government contract. An- other brother, George W. Jones, was a black- smith, and employed by the general govern- ment to do certain lines of iron work for the Indians; his last years were not spent in this valley, but in the State of Indiana. The fourth brother, William Jones, was a civil engineer by profession, and was employed also by the government, his last years being spent in Leicester.

Other settlers soon followed the example of such enterprising leaders; but no one of them acquired more land than Captain Jones, who here made it his home till death translated him to a higher realm, in August, 1836. His first wife died many years before ; but he again married, and in all had sixteen children. One of this large household was Hiram, the father of our special subject. He was born in Geneva, Ontario County, in 1789, just before the Jones family removed to the Genesee val- ley. Here Hiram grew up from infancy amid the stirring scenes of pioneer life, and seeing far more Indians than white men. Young Indians were his playmates, especially the half- breed children of Mary Jemison, who had been brought up and married among the Indians, and was known as the "old white woman. " Hiram was, of course, reared to farming. After marriage he established himself in Leicester, where he passed almost all his days till his death, at eighty-one years of age, in 1870, though not always in the same house ; for he owned and carried on two different estates. His wife, the mother of James W., was Verona Shepard, who was born in Ver- mont in the first year of our century, the daughter of Otis and Grace ( Everett) Shepard, both New England people. Mrs. Verona Jones was nearly a dozen years younger than her hus- band, and died at the age of seventy-eight, leaving three children. Two of them, George Whitmore Jones and Sarah Everett Jones, are no longer on earth.

The other child was James W. Jones, to whom this sketch specially relates. In boy- hood he attended the district school and W'y- oming Academy. At the age of twenty he

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became uneasy and went to sea, taking ship from New York City on board the "Nesto- ria," engaged in the China tea trade. They touched first at Hong Kong, and then at Shanghai, reaching New York again after a lapse of thirteen months. The young advent- urer did not care for further seafaring experi- ments, and was glad to be once more at home. At the age of twenty-three, in 1854, he began farming for himself on one of his father's places, where he remained till 1862, eight years, when he took another farm, making it his permanent home. This formerly belonged to his grandfather, Captain Horatio Jones, and is called the Pine Tavern farm, taking its name from the fact that an inn was kept here in the early days. Being situated on the main road, the house was a favorite resort of travel- lers from all points of the compass. In the division of the grandfather's estate the heirs were allowed to bid for a choice of his farms ; and thus Hiram Jones came into possession of this one of two hundred and fifty acres, which his son, James W., afterward inherited.

In 1861, at the age of thirty, when the great rebellion was beginning, Mr. James W. Jones married a kinswoman, Elizabeth L. Jones, a native of Leicester, a daughter of Judge Johns H. and Julia Jones, and a grand-daughter of Captain Horatio Jones. Though no children cheered the home, it was still a centre of attraction to many friends, Mr. and Mrs. Jones being in the enjoyment of that calm which follows a stirring and prosperous career. In politics Mr. James W. Jones was a Demo- crat, and cherished an interest in all sorts of public matters. The loss of his presence and influence is deeply felt.

A® NDREW J. BACKUS, a venerable and highly respected member of the farm- ing community of Livonia, Living- ton ston County, was born in Washing- County, New

York, on the 6th of February, 1815. His grandfather, John Backus, built the first grist-mill in Washing- ton County, where he lived until past middle age. He finally moved to Freetown, Onondaga County, where he remained until his death.

Ebenezer Backus, son of John and father of Andrew J., was born in Massachusetts. He received a somewhat limited education in the district school of his native town, and, coming to New York, was a farmer in Fort Ann, Washington County, before coming to Living- ston County. He came to Livonia in 1830, when his son Andrew was a lad of fifteen. His farm here consisted of sixty acres, and the house in which he lived and died is now owned by his son whose name heads this memoir. Mr. Ebenezer Backus was seventy-four years old when he died. His wife was Miss Jemima Chandler, a daughter of Joseph Chandler. They had a large family of children, and reared three daughters and five sons.

Mr. Andrew J. Backus, who is now the only survivor of the paternal household, is a "seventh son," wherefore the superstition of many ages would attribute to him an inherent aptitude for mystic research and occult sci- ence. As a matter of fact, however, he has displayed most practical sense and judgment, as is evidenced by his successful career. After his father's death he continued to work on the home farm; and finally, having bought out the interests of the other heirs, he became its sole owner. He then invested in adjoining land, until the property now covers one hun- dred and ninety acres. In 1837 Mr. Backus married Miss Ann Patterson, a daughter of Alexander and Lucy (Lewis) Patterson, who were among the early settlers of Conesus, in Livingston County. The Patterson family consisted of eleven brothers and sisters, six of whom are still living.

Four of the five children born to Andrew and Ann Backus lived to maturity - Andrew J., Jr., deceased; Theodore; Alexander ; and George, deceased. Theodore married Gloanah S. Ganung, of Lima, and has two children - Tennessee and George. Alexander married Helen M. Harvey, and has reared a family of ten children - Henry, Annie, Lizzie, Donald, Nellie, Jennie, Bernice, Cora, Roy, and Alline. Mr. Andrew Backus has held the office of Highway Commissioner satisfactorily to his neighbors and with credit to himself. He cast his first Presidential vote for Mr. Van Buren in 1836, but has been a Republican

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since the establishment of that party about forty years ago.

ARLON P. WILLIAMS, one of Ar- cade's prosperous farmers, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, March 19, 1851, where his father, Benja- min F. Williams, was also a native, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. The latter when of age came to New York State, bring- ing his wife and family, consisting of three children, and settling in Cattaraugus County, where he purchased one hundred acres of wild land, upon which he constructed his log house and began as a pioneer to establish a home. He cleared and improved his farm as rapidly as possible under the circumstances, later erecting a frame house, together with other farm buildings, and resided there for nineteen years. At the end of that time he removed to Townsend Hill, Erie County, having pur- chased a piece of farm property there of four hundred and thirty-six acres, which he carried on for a period of sixteen years. He owned property in Buffalo for a time, and from that city went to Springville, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was an educated and well-informed man, and a leader in local public affairs. He built the first school-house and organized the first school in the section where he first made his home. Mr. Benjamin F. Williams was a Republican in politics, and served as Supervisor several years in Catta- raugus County, and also as Highway Commis- sioner. He died at the age of sixty-six years, being the first to break the family circle. His wife was, before her marriage, Sarah A. Harrison. She was a daughter of Charles Harrison, her parents having been of English birth; and she became the mother of nine children.

Harlon P. Williams was carefully trained by his father to agricultural life, and at an early age began to assist him in attending to the farm duties. His education, however, was not neglected. He attended the district schools, and also the Springville Academy ; and, after completing his course of studies, he taught school during winters in the various

towns throughout the locality. Later he pur- chased one hundred acres of land from his father, which he carried on for three years. Moving from there to Arcade, he purchased his present farm of one hundred acres, which he proceeded to improve and bring to a high state of cultivation. That he has labored to good purpose is apparent when it is known that his hay crop, which in the first year was but four tons, has increased to seventy-two tons. He erected his comfortable and substantial house, together with his other buildings, and at the present time has a perfect equipment of modern agricultural implements. His farm, which is one of the very best in this section, consists of ninety-five acres of tillable land, all cleared by himself.

In September, 1875, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Lula Jones, daugh - ter of Evan Jones, a farmer of Arcade, who was born in Steuben, Oneida County, and spent his last years at the former place, dying at the age of sixty-five years. The mother of Mrs. Williams, who before marriage was Lydia Ward, was born at Floyd, Oneida County, of New England parentage. She belongs to that religious sect known as Seventh-day Advent- ists, and now resides at Springville. Mr. and Mrs. Harlon P. Williams have five chil- dren, as follows : Milton Claude, Leora Pearl, Onnolee, Leeo Netto, and Harlon P., Jr.

Mr. Williams has been Past Master of the Maccabees at Arcade, and is a Republican in politics. His parents were earnest Christian people of the Baptist faith ; but Mr. Williams attends the Methodist church, having sung in the choir for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iams visited the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876, and also the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1894, where their time and money were profitably spent in view- ing the wonders of the "White City. "

D AVID PIFFARD, who died at his home, Oak Forest, Piffard, N. Y., on June 27, 1883, had been a well- known land owner and a prominent and philanthropic citizen of Livingston County for nearly sixty years. He was born on the

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9th of August, 1794, in Pentonville, parish of Clerkenwell, Middlesex County, England, and bore his father's name, the family being of French Huguenot extraction. At the age of eight years he went to France, and, besides the usual course of study pursued in the schools of Versailles and Paris, he took up architecture, a profession in which he per- fected himself in London after his return to that city in 1813. In his twenty-ninth year, and in the December of 1822, Mr. David Piffard came to America, bearing letters of introduction from his father to the gentlemen of the firm of Le Roy Bayard & Co., with whom he remained during the summer. In 1824 he came to the Genesee valley, far famed for its beauty and fertility, and purchased from Mr. John Brinton, of Philadelphia, a tract of land containing about six hundred acres, a part of this land being now covered by the village which bears his name. Mr. Piffard henceforth devoted himself to the care of his home farm and five thousand acres which he owned in Flint, Mich.

Mr. Piffard was a man of wide experience and deep insight. He had witnessed three forms of government in France, having lived there during the successive conditions of the Consulate, the Empire, and the re-established dynasty of the unfortunate Bourbon family in Louis XVIII. He had been a subject of George III., had lived in England during the regency of the Prince of Wales, and had seen the coronation of King George IV. In Amer- ica he lived through thirteen Presidential administrations. Few men, perhaps, ever had a wider acquaintance with the vicissitudes of governments ; and it was after much delibera- tion upon the political situation of the day that he joined the American political party known as the "Old-line Whig," which in 1856 was merged in what is now known as the Republican party. Although an ardent advo- cate and firm supporter of this party, he never allowed his name to be used as a candidate for office.

In 1825 Mr. David Piffard was married to Miss Ann Matilda Haight, a daughter of David L. Haight, of New York. Five chil- dren were born of this union. The eldest,

David Haight, who married Constance Theall, died in 1881, leaving four children --- D. Hal- sey, Nina HI., Charlotte O., and Emma M. Sarah Eyre died in 1881. Ann Matilda resides at the homestead. Charles Carroll, who has been an extensive traveller in the West, is now living on a ranch in California. Henry G. Piffard, M. D., is a prominent physician in New York City. Dr. Piffard married Helen H. Strong, a daughter of General William K. Strong. They had four children - Henry H., who died in 1892; Helen, who married Everett Oakes; Charles H. ; and Susan F.

Mr. Piffard was a member of the First Ves- try of St. Michael's Parish, Geneseo, and was on the building committee of the first church building of that parish. A love of scientific study led him to read medicine, in which he became very skilled. He practised, receiving no remuneration for his services, and was in verity a true friend to the poor and needy, to whom his ready sympathy was always offered. He was universally loved and respected during his life, and his memory is affectionately held in the hearts of the many who were recipients of his kindness.

EIL STEWART, who died in the town of York on the thirtieth day of April, 1893, had been for many years one of the leading citizens, and perhaps the most prominent business man in that town for more than thirty years prior to his death. He was of Scotch descent, his father, Alexan- der Stewart, having been born in the High- lands of Scotland in the year 1778. When he attained the age of about thirty years, Alexan- der Stewart married Margaret MeDougal, of the same neighborhood; and, emigrating to- gether to the United States, in the year 1810 they settled among the then almost unbroken forests of the town of York. This place, then forming a part of the town of Caledonia, was largely settled by emigrants from Scotland ; and they naturally drew to their vicinity others of the same nationality, both from Scotland and from the eastern part of New York State, particularly from Fulton and Delaware Coun- ties. Alexander Stewart, at the time of his

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settlement in York, was poor in money, but rich in the virtues of industry and economy ; and by perseverance and toilsome manual labor he soon made himself a home amid the forests, which year after year were cleared away, their sites becoming productive farms and homes of families worthy of such an ancestry. He raised to maturity a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, and died in the town of York, in February, 1845, his wife Margaret surviving him fifteen years.

Neil Stewart, the subject of this sketch, was born on his father's farm in the town of York, July 12, 1811, and remained until the time of his death a citizen of that town. His early years were filled with hard work and strict economy; and thus, under the supervision of his father, he laid the foundation of what was a successful and prosperous life. For those times he acquired a fair education, studying first in the common schools near his home, and afterward at a select school in Caledonia, and then became a teacher for several years in the district schools of those towns, performing the duties of that vocation with credit to himself and great satisfaction to the district by which he was employed.

As Mr. Stewart grew to manhood, he devel- oped an unusual capacity for business, and at the age of about twenty-three years he entered. the employ of Messrs. J. H. and E. S. Beach, millers at Rochester and Auburn; and so well were his business qualifications appreciated by his employers that he was given full charge of their large warehouse and boats at York Land- ing, on the Genesee River, and continued as manager of such business for about six years. HIe then located himself at the village of York, and engaged upon his own account, and also upon commission, in the purchase of grain and wool. For a number of years in his early life he was also engaged in mercantile business at York Centre, a part of the time carrying on the business alone, and at other times in co- partnership, severally, with James McPherson and with Edward Brown and Charles Stewart, dealing in dry goods, groceries, and all the other various departments usually found in a prosperous country store. During a portion of this time he was also the Postmaster at

York. He began by purchases of land to lay the foundation for what afterward became his chief occupation; namely, farming upon the most extensive scale, being the owner and active manager of nearly two thousand five hundred acres of land, a large part of which was held under his own immediate direction, assisted by his three active sons, Alexander N., Charles N., and William N. During these active business years Mr. Stewart was also at one time the owner of the fouring-mill at York Landing, and was largely engaged in other business.

In the year 1870 he began to deal largely in grain, wool, and lumber, a part of this busi- ness being carried on in the town of York, and a considerable portion of it at Livonia Station in the County of Livingston, under his super- vision, but under the direct management of his son, Alexander N. Stewart. His purchases of grain and wool were very large, and at many points upon the railroads, and also upon the Genesee Valley Canal, which was then in operation through the county of Livingston; and for ten or fifteen years succeeding this period he was undoubtedly the largest pur- chaser of wool and grain in the county.

On October 1, 1871, he engaged in the banking business at Livonia Station, being the sole proprietor of the business carried on at that point under the name of "Bank of Li- vonia " until a few years prior to his death, when he associated with him as a copartner in the bank his son, Alexander N., under whose direction and control the business had been hitherto largely conducted. This business was successful from the beginning, and under the careful supervision and prompt, methodi- cal, and courteous management of Messrs. Stewart, father and son, contributed in no small degree to the fortune which Mr. Neil Stewart acquired as a result of his business capacity and enterprise. As has been the case with others similarly engaged, his dealings in wool and grain were not always successful; and at times in his extensive business career he met with several severe losses. But, as a result of his whole life, it can positively be said that no man ever lost a dollar by Neil Stewart.

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His political principles were like his per- sonal integrity - firm, consistent, and known of all men ; and he was always frank and out- spoken in his enunciation of them. In early life he was a member of the Whig party; but upon the organization of the Republican party he became an intelligent and somewhat enthu- siastic member of that party, and continued to adhere to its principles and policy during the remainder of his life. He never sought pub- lic office, but at times consented to serve his fellow-citizens in the discharge of the duties of local office; and in that way he held many positions of public trust during his lifetime. In addition to the office of Postmaster, to which he was appointed and served for many years, as we have before stated, he was Super- visor of his town for three years, and also held the office of Assessor and Justice of the Peace for several terms, thus revealing the trust and confidence which his neighbors and fellow-citi- zens, who knew him best, reposed in his sagac- ity, honesty, and wise judgment.

On the 12th of March, 1840, Mr. Stewart married Miss Jane Nichol, daughter of Will- iam and Jane Nichol, of York, who proved a capable helpmeet and wise counsellor to him for over half a century, living to celebrate their golden wedding in 1890. Ten children were born to them, namely: Margaret, the widow of Homer McVean, late of York ; Jane R., the wife of George K. Whitney, now of Geneseo; Eliza, the wife of John Sinclair, of Caledonia; Ella, the wife of Edward C. Cald- well, of York; Alexander N. ; Agnes, the wife of George D. Smith, of New York City; Charles N. ; William N. ; Mary K., the wife of George A. Donnan, of York; and Neil Stewart, Jr. These children are all living, excepting Neil Stewart, Jr., who died in New York City, March 30, 1891, while engaged in business there, that being the first death which had occurred in the family. Mrs. Stewart died May 20, 1891. Each of these children received a good education ; and all have be- come prosperous and useful citizens and mem- bers of the community in which they live, revealing in every instance the results of their sound early training, coupled with the substan- tial traits of their Scottish ancestry. They

have all established homes of their own, ex- cepting Mr. Charles N. Stewart, who is un- married and occupies the comfortable residence where his father and mother spent their last years, the old homestead being occupied by William N. and his family, Alexander N. liv- ing in Livonia, of which town he is a promi- nent resident and business man, having there held the office of Supervisor and other local positions. Charles N. is largely engaged in buying and selling grain, wool, and other produce. These three sons follow in their father's footsteps in holding the respect and confidence of the community in which they live, and, like him, seem to take great pleas- ure in carrying on and adding to the large farms which they received from him, in addi- tion to which Alexander N. has now the entire management and control of the banking busi- ness established by his father at Livonia Station.

RANK J. BONNER, a model farmer residing in Ossian, Livingston County, N. Y., two and a half miles from Dans- ville, was born on his present farm, March 9, 1853, the year Franklin Pierce was elected President. His father and his grandfather each bore the name Samuel Bonner. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being October 18, 1795. The grandfather's birthplace was Ireland. He came to America with his wife and one child, settling at first on a farm in Pennsylvania. From there he moved to Dansville, and later was found among the pioneers of Sparta, where he died after rearing a large family. Before that, however, he had returned to Dansville, and taken up land where the present Main Street is now located.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 31

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

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