Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 4

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 4
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 4

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the concern to Mr. Neff, who continues to be Mr. Williard's partner. The firm has been for some time known by the name of Williard & Neff.

Mr. Andrew J. Williard was married October 3, 1855, to Miss Ophelia Bush. Their chil- dren, four in number, are all living save Jen- nie, who died early. Willis A. married Miss Nancy Scoville, and is at present located on a farm in Geneseo. Clara, the only daughter, married Mr. John Lowry, a cigar-maker of the town, and has one child, named Walter. The other son, Fred, who after a course of study was graduated from the medical college in Buffalo, N. Y., is now a practising physician of that large and enterprising city. Mrs. Ophelia B. Williard died in 1877. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. A. J. Williard married for his second wife his brother's widow, Mrs. Susan Williard, a daughter of Miner Jones, a prominent farmer of Portage, her native town.

Mr. Andrew J. Williard, the circumstances of whose life are here briefly reviewed, is so highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen for his intelligence, enterprise, and good. under- standing of men and things, that he has been elected Supervisor of the town at three sepa- rate elections, his Republican opponents help- ing to give him, a Democrat, a majority of one hundred and fifty votes. Mr. Williard has filled other important offices, including that of Highway Commissioner, as well as serving as President of the Board of Education for three years past. Hle attends and liberally helps support the Presbyterian church in Geneseo.

OHN MARKEY, proprietor of a hotel at Java Centre, is a most genial host, and is also an important factor of the agri- cultural interests of Wyoming County, where his entire life has been spent, he having been born in the town of Java, April 27, 1847, and here bred and educated. He is of Irish parentage, being the son of James Markey, who was born in County Louth, Ireland, in 1810.

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

estate by kind friends. At the age of twenty- one he sailed for America, and was landed on the shores of New York after a stormy voyage of nine weeks. He was an industrious and ambitious young fellow, and in the city worked at any honorable employment he could find until coming to this part of the State. In Wheatland, Monroe County, he worked as a farm hand by the day or month, and by great economy saved enough money to warrant him in buying a tract of land. His first purchase consisted of fifty-six acres in Java, which he bought in 1840. A small clearing had been made, and there was a partially built frame house on the property. He cleared and im- proved a farm, to which from time to time he made substantial additions, until his property aggregated three hundred and sixty acres of land, besides an acre and a half in the village, where he built a home, living there until his demise in 1873. His widow survived him, dying in December, 1880, aged seventy-six years. While a resident of New York City, in 1834, he married Margaret Kerwin, a native of Ireland. Of the five children born to them all are now living, as follows: Ann, the wife of John Mooney; Mrs. Kate Gallagher, a widow; Thomas, a farmer; Mary, wife of Thomas Murray; and John, of whom we write.

John Markey was reared to habits of indus- try and thrift, and after leaving the home farm spent some three years in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, whither he went in 1865. Re- visiting the place in 1869, in the month of July, he began drilling for oil, working by the day, and the subsequent year took contracts for drilling. In 1873 Mr. Markey returned to the place of his nativity, and purchased two hun- dred and thirty acres of land from his father, paying eight thousand one hundred and twenty dollars, but being obliged to go heavily in debt. In the fall of 1874 he disposed of all but sixty-two acres. The following year he sold the remainder of his land and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres which his father had formerly owned. In less than a year he again sold out, and subsequently bought a farm of eighty acres, on which he carried on general farming for six years. In 1880 Mr. Markey bought his present village

lot, and, erecting a commodious house and barn, opened his premises to the travelling public, December 22, 1880. The farm prop- erty which he then owned he sold in 1882; and in 1889 he bought a farm of one hundred acres near the village, this farm being now managed by one of his sons, George A.

Mr. Markey was united in the holy bonds of matrimony February 9, 1869, to Anna E. Twite, a daughter of James Twite, a native of Erin's Isle. Two daughters and three sons have been born of their union; namely, James W., George A., Andrew J., Estelle G., and Anna E. Mrs. Markey passed to the bright world beyond February 26, 1893, at the age of forty-five years. Mr. Markey has usually voted the Democratic ticket; and he has served as Constable and Collector for two years, and as Highway Commissioner two years. Socially, he is a member of the Select Knights.

ILLIAM GRANT, an early pioneer of the village of Moscow, in the town of Leicester, Livingston County, N. Y., was born on the present site of the State prison at Auburn, N. Y., in May, 1804. His father, Daniel Grant, was born, it is thought, in Connecticut, and came from there to New York State, locating in Auburn when that locality was known as Hardenburgh Corners. He remained but a few years, and then went westward, penetrating the wilds of the Genesee valley. After living for a while at Caledonia, he pushed on to Castile, where he secured a tract of land, cleared a farm, and here resided until, advanced in years, he removed to Mos- cow, to spend his last days with his son Will- iam. Daniel Grant served in the War of 1812. His wife's maiden name was Eunice Blanchard.

William Grant was reared to habits of in- dustry amid the scenes of pioneer life, and in young manhood went to Moscow to establish himself in business. He was so successful that in a few years he became a prominent manufacturer of wagons and carriages. His business soon increased to such an extent that he purchased property in Moscow, including a farm near the town, upon which, however, he

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

never lived, but retained his residence in the village until his death, November 10, 1887. Mr. Grant married Julia A. Gorham, who was born in 1807, in Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y., and was the daughter of James and Ma- rissa (Morris) Gorham, who were early pio- neers of Seneca County. Mrs. Grant died August 26, 1883. She was the mother of seven children - William Murray, Phebe Eliz- abeth, Daniel W., Helen M., Margaret A., Mary Marissa, and Justina E., two of whom died in childhood. William Murray Grant enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Indiana Bat- tery, New York Volunteers. He died in the hospital at Newbern, N. C., September 14, 1863, after a short illness, thus escaping the terrors of Andersonville Prison. Phebe E. was married at the age of twenty to Richard Woods; and he and his only sons, Frank M. and Frederick, are now successful business men in Pasadena, Cal., Mrs. Woods having died since their removal there. Helen M. is the only representative of the family now re- siding in Livingston County. She was born in Moscow, receiving her carly education in this place, and, showing exceptional literary ability, was sent away to school, and afterward taught for a time. She was married to Beriah M. Coverdale; and she and her husband are the parents of four children - Eugene M., Nellie, Thomas, and W. Grant Coverdale. Margaret A. and Justina E. remained with their parents, tenderly caring for them until severed by death, after which they sought to build them a home in the sunny lands of Cali- fornia, where they now reside. For fifty-two years Mr. and Mrs. William Grant were per- mitted to enjoy life together. Mrs. Grant won by her gentle disposition and warm heart a host of friends. Mr. Grant sustained through- out his life a reputation for integrity and up- rightness of character, and by his death the community lost a valued member.

EORGE M. WOLF, retired from ac- tive business life, and spending his declining years in pleasant leisure in the village of Varysburgh, has accumulated a comfortable competency, and is the owner of a

valuable farm of one hundred and three acres not far from the village, besides which he has twenty acres of land connected with his resi- dence. His birth occurred in Alsace, Franco- Germany, March 12, 1832; and his parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Wolf were natives of the same province. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Wolf emigrated to Amer- ica, settling in Canada in 1834; and with him came several members of his large family, many of whom are still living there, although the grandparents have long since passed to their final rest.

Philip Wolf left France in 1846, emigrating with his wife and two children to the United States. They were ninety-nine days on the water, the ship running short of provisions, and being obliged to stop at the Portuguese Islands for food. Mr. Wolf was a tailor by trade, and worked at that occupation a year in New York City. The following spring he started westward with his family, having made a contract with the Erie Canal Company to be taken to Buffalo. Arriving in Albany and finding that the canal was not open, he shipped his goods to Attica by rail. He settled in the town of Orangeville, renting a house from his wife's brother, Michael Shoemaker, who had come there six years before. He subsequently bought a farm of sixty acres a mile cast of Varysburgh, which he occupied for several years. Later he opened a shop in the village, and there continued in business until 1868, when he bought a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres a mile east of the village, where he farmed until his death in 1882, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother of the sub- ject of this sketch died in 1852; and the father married again, his second wife, the widow Smith, being a native of the old country. Of that union two sons and three daughters were born, making a family of three sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, excepting Kate, a daughter of the second marriage, who married a Mr. Burlingame, and subsequently died in lowa. The following are the remain- ing children : George M. ; Sarah, widow of George Bauer, of Varysburgh; Augustus, of lowa; a daughter in Orangeville; and a daugh- ter in Perry.

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In 1862 George M. Wolf enlisted in the ser- vice of his country, in Company H, One Hun- dred and Thirty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, remaining with his regiment until he received his honorable discharge in 1865, being a large part of the time regimental butcher; and during the whole period he was never away from his regiment nor in a hos- pital. Returning to civil life, Mr. Wolf re- joined his family in Varysburgh, and soon. afterward settled on a farm in Orangeville, where he carried on fifty acres of land. In 1870 he disposed of that property, and the fol- lowing year moved on to his present estate in the village of Varysburgh and opened a meat market, which he conducted profitably until 1885, when he sold his interest to his two sons, who are now carrying on a very success- ful business.

In 1854 Mr. Wolf was united in marriage with Catherine Laninger, a native of France, being the daughter of George Laninger, who came over to this country in 1838 with his wife and two children, the other child being Sarah, widow of John Donhauser, who died at Waukegan, Ill. The record of the two chil- dren born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wolf is as follows: George W. married Miss Lany Broadbrooks, and they have one daughter. John married Catherine Hoffower, and they are the parents of one child. In politics Mr. Wolf has always been identified with the Dem- ocratic party ; and he has served the town most ably as Assessor for three years, and during the years of 1883 and 1884 he was Supervisor. In his religious views he coincides with the belief of the Presbyterians.

EROME SLATER WHEELOCK, a re- tired merchant residing in Cuylerville, and for twenty years Postmaster of this place, was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., August 9, 1823. His father, Joseph Wheel- ock, was a native of Worcester, Mass.

His grandfather, Joseph Wheelock, Sr., was born in Mendon, Mass., and was the son of Benjamin Wheelock, a farmer of that town, and Abigail Ransford, of Boston, Mass., he being one of seven children. Hle was a miller

in his native town until he moved with his wife, Sally Slater, of Boston, Mass., to Shafts- bury, Vt., and here they spent their last days.

The younger Joseph Wheelock, who was but eleven years old at the time of the death of his parents, then went to live with Judge Olin, in whose family he was reared. In 1828, several years after his marriage, he, with his wife and children, left Shaftsbury for New York State, travelling by means of wagons to Troy, and thence by canal to Rochester. The household goods were taken on a flatboat on Genesee River directly to Leicester, while the family were obliged to take the stage to Geneseo, and then hire a team to complete the journey to the town of Perry, Wyoming County. Here Jo- seph Wheelock bought land, and resided until 1831, when he sold out and purchased a farm adjoining the Pine Tavern estate at the west part of the town of Leicester. This farm was a forlorn-looking place, with only log build- ings; but in a few years many improvements were made and frame buildings erected. At the end of two years Mr. Wheelock rented the Pine Tavern, the property of Captain Horatio Jones, including a large tract of land, where, in connection with tavern-keeping, he engaged extensively in farming. In 1839 he sold out his interests and went to Mount Morris, where he leased the American House, which he car- ried on for two years. He then came to Cuy- lerville, bought property, and engaged in mer- cantile business. In 1855 he went to Cali- fornia, joining two of his sons who had previ- ously gone there. Returning to Cuylerville the following year, he here led a retired life, and died when eighty years of age. He mar- ried Anna F. Chappell, who was born in Mid- dlefield, Otsego County, and died in 1893, when ninety-four years of age, having been the mother of eleven children - Jerome S., Rich- ard, Nahum, Martin, John, Margaret, Anna, Martha, Hosea, Mary, and William.

Jerome S. Wheelock was but five years old when he came with his parents to New York ; and he clearly remembers many incidents of the journey, and the pioneer life during the early years in the new home. He assisted his father with the farm and hotel work until he was twenty-one, when he started for himself in

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the grocery business. Soon after, he gave this up for a short time and engaged in buying standing timber, which he cut, and then rafted the lumber through the Genesce and Eric Canals to Albany. He again took up the gro- cery business for a period of five years, after which time farming occupied his attention; but, as this was not entirely satisfactory, he resumed mercantile business, carrying a gen- eral stock, continuing in this until 1884. At that time he was owner of a farm at Conesus Lake; and, as he had sold out his business, farming interested him for a number of years, until, finding a suitable purchaser, he sold out, and has since lived practically retired.

In 1847 Mr. Wheelock married Fannie J. Howell. By this marriage there were eight children - Emmer J., Richard, Elizabeth, Anna, John, Willie, Etta, and Effie. Emmer J. married Chauncey Duryea, and has two children - Frank and Grace. Elizabeth mar- ried Livingston Howell, and has three children -- Willie, Mabel, and Jennie R. Etta mar- ried Angus McDonald, and has two children - Annie and Elizabeth. Effie married David Reed, and has three children - Annie, Mary, and Jesse.

Mr. Wheelock cast his first vote with the Democrats for Polk and Dallas, and his next with the Free Soil party, for Van Buren. Then, being one of the first to realize the benefits to be derived from a change in poli- ties, he assisted in the organization of the Re- publican party. He was appointed Postmaster under Lincoln's administration, his commis- sion bearing the signature of Montgomery Blair; and the length of time he held this post shows the efficiency with which he has served the public, and the high esteem in which he is regarded.

SCAR WOODRUFF, editor and pro- prietor of the Dansville Express, a paper devoted to the interests of the Democratic party and the people, is prominent in the social, literary, political, and religious life of Livingston County, of which he is a native, having been born in Geneseo, September 17, 1839. He comes of New Eng-

land antecedents. His paternal grandfather, Oliver Woodruff, an honored pioneer settler of this county, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1755, and, when nineteen years old, entered Yale College; but a week after he enlisted in the Continental army. Having served six months, he re-enlisted, and assisted in build- ing Fort Lee on the Hudson River, which was captured by the British a month after it was finished. He and others were taken pris- oners, confined in New Bridewell in New York, and kept there all winter, with but little food, without fire, and every window in the build- ing broken. An exchange of prisoners took place in the spring ; and, when released, thirty- three out of the thirty-five men in Mr. Woodruff's company died in one night from over-eating.

Oliver Woodruff was among the original set- tlers of the town of Livonia, having emigrated to that town from Connecticut nearly a century ago, bringing with him his wife and seven children. He purchased a tract of heavily timbered land, which during the busy years that succeeded he converted into a fine and productive farm, where he lived until his death, at the venerable age of ninety years and eight months, December 24, 1845. Of his seven children that grew to adult life, nearly all attained advanced age. Sidney, who mar- ried Oliver D. Stacy, lived to be ninety-seven years old, and retained her faculties to the last. Hardy lived to the age of eighty-eight years. Bushrod Washington, the father of Oscar, at- tained the age of eighty-seven years. Ann Sedgwick lived to the age of eighty-seven. Olive and Birdsey lived to the age of three- score and ten years. Steptoe passed away when but sixty years old. Of this family, whose longevity is noticeable, all of the sons were named after military officers. The mother died while yet in the prime of life, at fifty years of age.

Bushrod W. Woodruff was born in Livonia, May 26, 1806; and until. fourteen years old he assisted in clearing and improving the home farm. Going then to Geneseo, he entered the office of one of the first papers published in this county, and learned the printer's trade, remaining there seven years. Beginning his career as a journeyman printer, he worked at

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

his trade and as a publisher in Geneseo and adjacent towns, continuing at his occupation until 1860, when he retired from active pur- suits. He departed this life at Dansville in 1893, aged eighty-seven years. He had great force of character, was of a deeply religious nature, and was a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church. His widow, who is now an active woman eighty-one years of age, makes her home with her son Oscar. Her maiden name was Sally A. Rose; and she was born in the town of Bath, of which her father, James Rose, was an early settler. She reared ten of the thirteen children born to her and her husband ; and of these six are now living, Oscar being the eldest. She is also a sincere Christian, and an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church.

Oscar Woodruff received a little education in the public schools of this county, and at the age of seventeen years took a stool at the com- positor's case, in the office of the newspaper which he now owns, and which was then known as the Dansville Herald. He be- came thoroughly proficient in the business of the office, following the printer's trade until 1861, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the call of the President for volunteers in de- fence of the Union. He enlisted in the Tenth New York Cavalry, which was connected with Gregg's Cavalry Division, and, having served for three years, re-enlisted and served until the close of the war, when he received his hon- orable discharge at Syracuse. He actively par- ticipated in many of the battles of the war, and was three times promoted - first to the rank of Second Lieutenant, then to that of First Lieu- tenant, and afterward to the rank of Captain. Returning to civil life, Mr. Woodruff once more became a citizen of Dansville, where he has since passed the most of his time, although from 1873 until 1875 he was paymaster's clerk in the United States Navy. Having a decided inclination toward journalism, for which he was well fitted, Mr. Woodruff bought the Dansville Express in 1877, and has since then de- voted himself to its management. It is a bright, newsy, and original sheet, and has a large circulation, that is by no means confined to party lines. This paper was formerly called the Dansville Herald, and was started in

1850 by E. C. Daugherty and J. G. Sprague, under the firm name of E. C. Daugherty & Co., and was published in the interests of the Whig party. About January 1, 1857, it passed into the hands of the Know-nothing party, and was under the management of E. G. Richardson & Co. for three months. In April, 1857, H. C. Page assumed control of the paper; and at the end of that year it was purchased by George A. Sanders, and changed to an advocate of Republicanism. On August 1, 1865, it was sold to Frank J. Robbins and L. D. F. Poore, who on August 9 changed its name to the Dansville Express, and en- larged it from a six to a seven column paper. In October, 1870, F. J. Robbins became the sole proprietor, and further enlarged it to an eight-column paper, which he conducted in the interest of Horace Greeley until the close of that famous campaign, when he continued it as a Democratic journal. On June 1, 1877, the paper was bought by Oscar Woodruff and A. H. Knapp ; and they conducted it in partnership until Mr. Woodruff purchased the interest of Mr. Knapp in 1882, since which period he has managed it himself, greatly increasing its circulation, and bringing it up to its present high rank among the leading newspapers of the county.

Mr. Woodruff has been twice married. In 1869 he was united in wedlock to Mary Betts, daughter of John Betts, a pioneer settler of Dansville. Mrs. Mary Woodruff died in 1870; and in 1892 Mr. Woodruff married Miss Nettie Carney, daughter of William G. Car- ney, of Sparta. Mr. Woodruff has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of the town and county wherein he resides, and is now serving as Supervisor, a position he has held since 1890, having been Chairman of the Board one year. Politically, he is a strong advocate of the Democratic principles. So- cially, he is a prominent member of Canase- raga Lodge, No. 123, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held every office in the lodge. He is also a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 115, A. F. & A. M., and a charter member and one of the organizers of the Seth N. Hedges Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was Commander for two years, and Adjutant for seven years.

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ZRA A. KELSEY, a late and much re- spected citizen of Castile, the central town on the eastern border of Wyo- ming County, New York, was a native of Whiting, Vt., and the son of Charles C. and Sally (Allen) Kelsey. His grandfather, whose Christian name was also Ezra, was born in Killingworth, Conn. He there occupied himself with farming during most of his life, and died at a ripe old age, leaving eight chil- dren - Daniel, Henry, Charles C., Phebe, Charlotte, Mary, Clarissa, and Eliza. Charles C. Kelsey removed early in life from Killing- worth, his native place, to Vermont, where he was married, and very successful in the pursuit of agriculture. His wife, Sally Allen, left at her death four children - Ezra A., Giles C., Clarissa, and Mary E. His second wife was Elmina Lake, by whom he had two children - Charles and Sarah A. After her death he he lived with his son in St. Lawrence County, New York, and died when sixty years of age.

Ezra A. Kelsey was married at Whiting, Vt., to Jane Kimball, who died at the age of twenty-four, leaving one daughter, Har- riet A., born May 11, 1846. This daughter is now the wife of Edward F. Smith, a carpen- ter and joiner of Perry, and has four children. For his second wife Mr. Kelsey married Har- riet N. Kimball, daughter of James and Sophia (Taft) Kimball. Her grandfather, Amos Kimball, was a native of Connecticut, whence he removed to Pittsfield, Vt., where he carried on his trade of miller. His wife died in the prime of life; but he lived to be seventy-five years old, and died at Rutland, Vt. His chil- dren were: James, William, Samuel, Edwin, Lucy, Mary, Lucinda, Lucretia, Charlotte, Martha, Eliza, and Lydia. James Kimball, the father of Mrs. Kelsey, experienced in his young days all the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. Setting out for St. Lawrence County, he made his way without other guide than the marks on the trees, and at length reached that part of the wilderness where he determined to settle. He bought one hundred acres, erected his rough and primitive log house, and proceeded to clear the land. Grad- ually the aspect of this wild region became changed. A comfortable frame house replac-

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 4

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

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