Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 45

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 45
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 45

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A speaking likeness of Mr. Sackett will be found among the portraits of men of mark in Livingston and Wyoming Counties that illus- trate this volume.

B URTON C. NICHOLS, a prominent citizen of York, was born in Ben- nington County, Vermont, August 3, 1816. His grandfather, James Nichols, was a clergyman of the Church of England, and had to make a voyage across the Atlantic in order to be installed in priestly office, there being at that time no bishop in America. The father of Burton C. Nichols, Charles Nichols, was a native of Vermont, who came with his wife and three children in a wagon to Genesee County. He took up his abode in Bethany, where he plied his cobbler's trade, remaining there until his death, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife was Mary Bristol, of Vermont; and she be- came the mother of nine children; namely, Mary, Marshall, Gaylord, Chloe, Cyrus, Hor- ace, Amy, Anna, and Burton C. Cyrus has children living in Genesee County.

Burton C. Nichols was educated in the schools of Genesee County and at Wyoming Academy. After reaching man's estate he went into the produce business in Piffard, supplying the demands of the Genesee Valley Canal for twenty-eight years. When the canal was abandoned, he gave up this busi- ness, and became a farmer. For thirteen years he has been in the employment of the Craig W. Wadsworth estate, the length of this engagement being conclusive proof of his efficiency. About fifteen years ago Mr. Nichols's house was destroyed by fire. Since that time he has erected another handsomer residence, which he has occupied since Au-

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gust 3, 1887. On the 18th of February, 1840, he married Miss Charlotte Hallack, daughter of John D. and Sarah (Bartholf) Hallack, of Bethany, Genesee County. They have reared four children, as follows: George A., Ellen, Charles B., and Marshall H. George A. married Miss Kitty Fish; and they have a family of four sons - Lee, Burton, Theodore, and Harold. Marshall married Miss Nellie Carroll.

Burton C. Nichols has held prominent offices in the town and county. He has been Assessor for twelve years, Justice of the Peace nine years, and Highway Commissioner for several years. He has been a faithful adhe- rent to the Republican party since 1840, when he cast his first vote for William H. Harri- son in the "Tippecanoe " campaign.

NDREW J. BURROUGHS, a substan- tial and enterprising agriculturist of the town of Portage, is engaged in general farming, to which he de- votes his entire attention, and is meeting with unbounded success. He is an extensive real estate owner, being the possessor of one hun- dred and sixty-four acres of choice land, all of which is under a good state of improvement, the whole constituting one of the finest pieces of property in the community. A native of the Empire State, Mr. Burroughs first opened his eyes to the light of this beautiful world in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, on the 24th of April, 1835, being a son of Philip Burroughs, who was born in New Jersey. The latter removed with his family from Sen- eca County to Portage in 1837, making the three days' journey with teams. He bought fifty acres of land from William Marks, and to this added other land by purchase, at one time being the owner of three hundred acres. In addition to farming he was for several years the proprietor and manager of a good hotel, which was well patronized, and added many dollars to his purse. Soon after becom- ing a landholder, his property was damaged by the canal; and he was awarded eight hun- dred dollars by the canal company as indem- nification. From the days of his youth he

was an ardent patriot, and during the War of 1812 served as a volunteer soldier. To him and his wife, Anna ( Parker) Burroughs, seven children were born; namely, Carlton, Jona- than, Samantha, Jerzine, Aaron, Alma, and Andrew J. Aaron served in the late Rebell- ion for a term of three years.

The subject of this brief biographical notice was so young when he came with his parents to Portage that he remembers no other home. He received his education in the public schools, and as soon as physically able began working on the farm, and has continued thus employed the greater part of the time since, having remained on the paternal homestead. After the death of his father Mr. Burroughs inherited the farm which he now owns, and in its care and cultivation has spared neither pains nor expense. He has erected conven- ient and commodious farm buildings, besides adding other necessary improvements; and his home, with its surroundings, denotes to the most casual eye the supervision of an intelli- gent farmer and a capable business man.

The ceremony uniting the destinies of An- drew J. Burroughs and Ellen H. Guptill, of Allegany County, took place January 6, 1866; and one child has been born to them, Inez I., who is the wife of Fred Willett, of Portage, and the mother of a bright little boy, named Claude L. Socially, Mr. Burroughs is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is closely identified with the Democratic party, having cast his vote with that organization since 1856, when he threw his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan. He has never aspired to political office, but has served one term as Supervisor, giving excellent satisfaction to his fellow- townsmen.

OHN HOWDEN, a resident of Silver Springs, Wyoming County, foreman for the Worcester Salt Works, and manager of the farm connected with these works, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 12, 1847. His father, James Howden. was also a native of Yorkshire, as was his grandfather, who was a laborer. James How-

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den commenced life as a farm laborer in England, and later became a farm super- intendent, which position he held until his death, at the age of sixty-eight. Mr. How- den's mother, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Pigott, reared five children. She is now (1895) sixty-five years old, and lives in Yorkshire, England, as do four of her children, namely: Henry, who resides in England, and was formerly a miner; Diana; Anthony, a miner; and Emma. A daughter, Harriet, is the wife of Thomas Kemp, of Perry, N. Y.

John Howden spent his early years in Eng- land, where he followed the vocation of a farmer, and later that of superintendent of a coal mine, having charge at the surface. For some length of time before coming to Amer- ica, which was in 1869, he worked within the mine. Immediately after his arrival in New York he went to Allegany County, and there worked for a farmer on shares. In 1875 he went to Perry, where he also did farm labor, and later engaged as a mechanic in the reaper works, remaining three years. After this he resumed farming in Castile, which he con- tinued for five years, moving from there to Silver Springs, where he carried on a rented farm for five years more. After vacating this farm he purchased the site of his present fine building, which is sixty-five by ninety feet, two stories high, and is devoted to stores, offices, and apartments. In 1893 he entered the employ of the Duncan Salt Company, where he has since remained.

In 1868 Mr. Howden was united in mar- riage to Mary Ann Whardell, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Goddard) Whardell. She was the only one of a family of five chil- dren who ever came to America, the rest re- maining in England, where the mother died at the age of eighty-two. Her father was a wood-worker by trade, and died at the age of sixty-two. Her parents were members of the Methodist church.

Mr. and Mrs. Howden lost their only child, a son, Hiram, at the age of twenty-six. He commenced his education at the Perry Acad- emy, where he graduated, and then, after studying at Lima two terms, went to the Uni-

versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating after a four years' course in 1893 as a mechan- ical engineer. He returned to his home only to be stricken with a disease which caused his death, October 31, 1894.

Mr. Howden was formerly a Republican in politics, but is now a Prohibitionist. He is a Forester, and a member of the Silver Springs Lodge, in which he has been Vice- Chief Ranger one term, and is now one of the Trustees. Hle is President of the Cemetery Association, also head of the committee for the incorporation of the town of Silver Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Howden are members of the Methodist church, of which he is a Trustee and a leader in the Bible class. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the church. Mr. Howden is in every way a self- made man, and is a good example of what industry and energy will do toward making a man successful, as he arrived in the United States with no capital, and has attained his present position solely through his own efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Howden have enjoyed a most happy wedded life; and the sad afflic- tion which befell them in the untimely taking off of their only son, of whose future they had every reason to expect so much, was their first sorrow. He was an exceedingly intelligent and promising young man, and his death is a loss to the community.

ORMAN C. ARNOLD, a citizen of Mount Morris, Livingston County, N. Y., was born in Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y., April 23, 1832. Mr. Arnold is a lineal descendant of one William Arnold, who was born in England in 1589, and who emigrated to America about the year 1620, becoming one of the carly settlers of Rhode Island. He married and reared three sons - Benedict, Thomas, and Stephen.

His son Stephen Arnold, born 1623, mar- ried Sarah Smith, daughter of Edward Smith, November 24, 1646. His son, Israel, born October 30, 1649, married Mary Smith, a widow, and a daughter of James Barker. His son, Elisha, married Harriet, daughter of

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Timothy Carpenter, December 9, 1709. His son, James, born September 3, 1719, married Freelove, daughter of Josiah Burlingame, De- cember 3, 1740.

George Arnold son of James preceding, born October 12, 1754, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and for his services therein was awarded a tract of land, which is now included within the limits of Venice, Ca- yuga County, N. Y. He married Mary Hop- kins, September 7, 1781, who was born in Rhode Island, August 15, 1760. They set- tled upon a farm in Rhode Island about eight miles from Providence, near the head of the Pawtucket River, and the nails used in the construction of his buildings were made by a blacksmith on the anvil.

He lived on the farm nineteen years, and in 1800 left the State of Rhode Island, hoping in the undeveloped country of New York, which was then a border State, to acquire a homestead for himself and family. The re- moval was made with a cart and oxen; and on reaching Stephentown, Rensselaer County, he bought one hundred and sixty acres, princi- pally timber land, which with his sons he cleared and improved. He resided there until his death, March 22, 1829. His wife, Mary, died April 15, 1803. Fourteen children were born of their union, six sons and eight daugh- ters; and each child grew to maturity, mar- ried, and reared a family.

Joseph H. Arnold, son of George and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rhode Island, February 17, 1789, and came with his father to Stephentown in 1800. In ISHI he and his brother, Benjamin, and wife, made the journey with a pair of horses and lumber wagon to Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y., and hired a log house to live in near the eighty acres deeded to them by their father. They purchased more land in after years, until they had in one piece three hun- dred and twenty-five acres. In 1812 a call was made for volunteers, and Joseph H. Ar- nold was the first volunteer from south of Auburn in Cayuga County. The same sum- mer Benjamin was drafted, and went to Fort Erie. Joseph was a member of Captain

Burche's Company, and marched to Lewiston, being under the command of General Van Rensselaer. On October 13 General Van Rensselaer ordered the attack on Queens- town, and about one thousand men crossed the river in flat-boats. John Boles and Joseph H. Arnold were the only ones able to land on the Canadian shore, and Arnold received two wounds. In the charge made by the British, when General Brock received his death wound, Mr. Arnold was shot in the body and taken prisoner. When the British surgeon came to dress their wounds, he found Mr. Arnold was a Mason, and had him taken to the house of a brother of the same order and kindly cared for; and through the Masonic Order word was sent to Cayuga County, and a Mason by the name of Tabor rode on horseback to Buffalo, leading a horse, upon which Mr. Arnold returned to his home.

On February 4, 1813, Joseph H. Arnold was united in marriage in Rensselaer County, N. Y., to Susanna Gardner, a native of Rhode Island, where her birth occurred June 24, 1793. Her parents were of Quaker descent. The wedding trip was made in a wagon to the farm in Cayuga County. In a humble cabin they began their wedded life, which was fraught with as much happiness as falls to the common lot of mortals. Many trials and tribulations beset the pathway of the early pio- neer; but with the bravery and courage typi- cal of the early settler each obstacle was overcome, and as time rolled by the land was subdued, and a fine agricultural region was developed from the wilderness. When Joseph H. Arnold settled in Venice, there were neither railways nor canals spanning the country, the Erie Canal not being built until many years later; and he was obliged to team his surplus grain and product to Albany. But notwithstanding all these disadvantages he succeeded in clearing his land, and there resided until his departure from this life, September 16, 1834. His wife, who survived him, lived until May 11, 1882, when she passed away, full of years and honors. She bore him ten children, all of whom grew to adult life.

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Norman C. Arnold, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the family, being only two years old when his father died; and he was reared in paths of wisdom and virtue by his good mother, who instilled into his mind those sturdy and self-reliant qualities which have been his distinguishing traits through life. At the age of seventeen he took charge of the home farm; and, when he reached the estate of manhood, he and his brother Simon bought the old homestead, and carried it on in partnership for years. In December, 1862, Mr. Arnold was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector for the South Dis- trict of Cayuga County, and November II, 1871, was appointed Agent of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad Company by D. C. Littlejohn, President of the road, with authority to purchase right of way and mate- rials to construct the road. In March, 1876, Mr. Arnold went to Philadelphia, having charge of the Auburn Manufacturing Com- pany and Empire Wringer Company exhibits at the Centennial, and was on the grounds every day during the six months of the Cen- tennial. In the winter of 1876 he went to Kansas, and became interested in the sale of lands of the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Com- pany, which lands included the larger portion of the six south-east counties of the State; and for a number of years he conducted excur- sions to Kansas, which resulted in taking many settlers into the State. In 1877 he moved to Mount Morris, where he has since resided.

On November 19, 1857, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage to Mary E. Bills, daughter of Benjamin Bills, of Mount Morris, and a lady of great personal worth. Her death oc- curred November 5, 1885. Both she and Mr. Arnold were members of the First Baptist Church of Auburn. January 23, 1888, Mr. Arnold married Carrie F. Noble, a native of Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., and youngest daughter of the late Dr. W. H. Noble, of Mount Morris, who emigrated from Clinton to Mount Morris in 1856.

Mr. Arnold has always commanded the re- spect and confidence of all those with whom he has had business relations.

RTHUR SEWELL AND ALFRED CLARKE GILBERT, residents of the town of Avon, are natives of this town, Arthur having been born here on the twentieth day of July, 1856. while Alfred was born on the tenth day of January, 1858. They are the proprietors and managers of a mill property, which came under the control of their father forty years ago, in 1855, and are probably best known to most of the residents of this section as Gil- bert Brothers, for that is the style under which they carry on the old-established and popular enterprise of which they are the proprietors.

Their father, Charles Sewell Gilbert, was an Englishman by birth, he having been born at Mutford Hall, Suffolk, England, January 5, 1817. The grandfather, Charles Gilbert, passed all his life in England, and died in the city of London, December 12, 1857, in his sixty-fourth year. His wife, Hannah Barrett, was also of English birth, and a life-long resi- dent of her native land. She gave birth to eleven children, but one of whom, Charles Sewell, came to America. He came to this country in 1837, at the age of twenty, and as a matter of course made the voyage in a sailing- vessel, being six weeks on the ocean. He landed at the city of New York, whence he proceeded by the Hudson River and Erie Canal direct to Rochester, which at that time was the leading city in this country, engaged in the manufacture of flour. Mr. Gilbert had been apprenticed at the age of fourteen to learn the trade of milling, and had seen four years of service in a grist-mill operated by a wind engine.

From Rochester he went to Pittsford, Mon- roe County, and there secured a situation with a Mr. Beers, and later with John Agate, who agreed to pay him but ten dollars per month, but, finding him competent, soon raised his wages to one dollar per day. His next em- ployer was Andrew Lincoln, of Penfield; and this engagement was a long one, as he re- mained in the employ of Mr. Lincoln for eighteen years. Some idea of the confidence that his employer had in him almost from the very first may be gained from the fact that

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Mr. Gilbert was given full charge of the mill after a year's trial. In 1855 he bought a mill property in Avon, which has since been known as Gilbert's Mills, although the Gil- bert's Mills of to-day are identical with the Gilbert's Mills of forty years ago only in lo- cation. It is a thoroughly modern establish- ment, equipped with an elaborate plant of machinery of the latest improved type, and capable of turning out as choice flour as the market affords.

Charles Sewell Gilbert was married January 30, 1839, to Miss Mary Clark, daughter of John and Hannah ( Goodwin) Clark. She was born in Suffolk, England, January 29, 1817, and came to America with her brother Lewis and her sister Esther in 1837. Later two other brothers, William and John, came to this country. Six children were reared by Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, as follows: John W., born January 5, 1840; Harriet E., March II, 1845; Martha A., March 28, 1851; Charles B., December 1, 1853; Arthur Sewell, July 20, 1856; and Alfred Clarke, January 10, 1858.

Arthur and Alfred Gilbert commenced to help in the mill at an early age, and became thoroughly familiar with the trade in every. detail. They succeeded their father in the ownership of the property, and Gilbert's Mills has not lost one jot of its high and extended reputation since it passed into their hands. They have completely re-equipped it, not by renovating old machinery, but by putting in new; and they may to-day safely challenge comparison of outfit as well as of product. Their father died December 27, 1888, and their mother August 11, 1885. Charles Sew- ell Gilbert was a "self-made man " in the best sense of that oft-used expression. He came to this country poor and unknown. He died rich and well known, and by far the most val - uable of the riches he left behind him was a reputation for strict integrity. After he de- veloped his mill property, he built a good house, planted fruit and shade trees, and in various other ways improved and adorned the estate, which is now occupied by his sons - Arthur and Alfred, Arthur occupying the old homestead, while Alfred has built a house for the accommodation of himself and family.

The Gilbert brothers married sisters, most appropriate and happy unions. Arthur was married on the 19th of November, 1890, when he took for his wife Miss Jennie Jack- son, who was born in the county of Yorkshire, England, and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Cooper) Jackson. They have one child - Mary Frances. Alfred was married on the 22d of October, 1891, to Miss Annie Jackson, a sister of his brother's wife, and also a native of Yorkshire, England. One child has been born to them -- Charles William.

William Jackson was born in Lincolnshire, England, a son of Robert and Ann (Wingate) Jackson, life-long residents of England, and was the only son who came to America. With his wife he embarked in 1870 on the steamship "City of Paris," and went directly to Monroe County, where his uncle, William Wingate, lived. Mr. Jackson was engaged in various lines of business for about a year and a half in and near Rochester, and then came to Avon, where he resided for a time, follow- ing farming as an occupation. He now oper- ates a farm located in the town of Rush, Mon- roe County. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Cooper. She was born in Yorkshire, England; and her parents, Robert and Rachel ( Metcalf ) Cooper, were life-long residents of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have five children living - Jennie, Annie, William R., Frances E., and George A.

Arthur Sewell and Alfred Clarke Gilbert, or the Gilbert Brothers, to give them their firm name, are good citizens, devoted husbands and fathers, and enterprising business men. They stand well in the community, are as highly respected as they are well known, and are certainly most worthy representatives of the honored name they bear.

ENRY P. SHARP, M.D., since es- tablishing his residence at Arcade, has acquired a very large and lucra - tive practice, and enjoys the repu- tation of being a skilful physician. He was born at Parma Centre, Monroe County, N. Y., June 16, 1854, and is the son of a veteran

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medical practitioner, Dr. James J. Sharp, a native of South Dansville, Steuben County, whose father, Henry A. Sharp, was born on Staten Island in 1802. William A. Sharp, the father of Henry A., was a merchant on Staten Island, of which he was a native. His wife was Ruby Tucker, who was born in Con- necticut. Grandfather Henry A. Sharp mar- ried Hannah Preston, of Connecticut. He was reared to agriculture, and for a time car- ried on a farm on Staten Island, but later pur- chased another and more extensive one at Dansville, which he carried on for the re- mainder of his life. James J. Sharp passed his early boyhood in the above-named town, and at the age of seventeen years began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. E. S. Preston. He first opened his office for prac- tice in Parma Centre, remaining there five years, and thence removing to the State of Michigan, where he practised three years, then returning East to Tuscarora, in the town of Mount Morris, N. Y., where he resided and continued as a physician for fifteen years. After a further practice of ten years in the healing art at Nunda, he relinquished the pro- fession, and now resides with his son, Henry P. Sharp, at Arcade. His wife, whose name before marriage was Eliza Russell, and who was a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Merri- field) Russell, was born in the city of Au- burn, N. Y., where her father was an early settler, dying at the age of sixty-two years. She was the younger of two daughters, her sister Helen being the widow of Gurdon Mer- rifield. Mrs. Eliza Sharp became the mother of two children, namely: Eugene, who mar- ried Flora Riber; and Henry P., the subject of this record. Mrs. Sharp passed away at Tuscarora on the anniversary of her birth, in the thirty-fourth year of her age, her mother having lived to the age of seventy-eight years. HIer father was a member of the Congrega- tional church.

Henry P. Sharp inherited his father's love for the healing art, and at the age of seven- teen entered the Temple Hill Academy at Geneseo, and passed a Regents' examination at the age of eighteen. He later commenced his medical studies by attending lectures at

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 45

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

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