Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 46

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 46
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 46

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Buffalo, and also studied with Dr. B. H. Dag- gett of that city, and later with his father and W. B. Preston, of Dansville, following this with a full medical course at the Cincinnati College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1876. After another season of careful study under Dr. St. John, of Wayland, Steu- ben County, with whom he also practised one year, he located his office in Conesus Centre, Livingston County, where he practised three years, and from whence he moved to Bliss, Wyoming County, where he was a resident physician for a period of eight years; and after four years of constantly increasing prac- tice at Varysburg, Wyoming County, during which time he was attending physician at the county almshouse and asylum there, he came in 1892 to Arcade, where he has since resided, having a very extended practice. In 1885 he was elected County Coroner, was re- elected in 1888 and again in 1894, the term of office being three years. Politically, he is a Republican, and served as Town Clerk of Eagle while residing at Bliss. He is a mem- ber of Arcade Lodge, No. 698, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is Noble Grand of this lodge, having assisted in its organization, being one of five members who formerly be- longed to Sheldon Lodge. He is also a mem- ber of Arcade Lodge of A. F. & A. M. and of Wyoming Chapter, No. ISI, at War- saw, and of the Maccabees. Besides these he is an active member of the County Medi- cal Society, member of the fire department, and treasurer of the hook and ladder com- pany.

Dr. Sharp's wedded life began in 1877, in which year he was united in marriage to Miss Eva Hall, daughter of William Hall, a farmer of Mount Morris. After six years of devoted attachment Mrs. Eva Sharp was called to her rest in 1883, at the age of twenty-six years; and later the Doctor married for his second wife Elma L. Hall, who was born at Wethers- field, where her parents, William and Eliza- beth (Curtis) Hall, were early settlers, her mother having been born in Middlebury, Wy- oming County, and her father in Cayuga County. Mrs. Sharp was one of seven chil- dren, and has herself borne two children;

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namely, Harry J. and Ollie P. Sharp. This family is a most estimable one, and Dr. Sharp is socially as well as professionally popular.

R ICHARD WILLIAMS, one of the self-made men who are prominently identified with the agricultural in- terests of Mount Morris, occupies an honored position, which socially and finan- cially is the result of his own unaided in- dustry, coupled with the sound sense and excellent business capacity with which nature endowed him. Although having passed the threescore and ten years allotted to man, he is still bright and active, enjoying to the ut- most the comforts of life, and, like the patri- archs of old, is surrounded by his children and grandchildren, who honor and revere him. He was born in Varick, Seneca County, N. Y., December 13, 1818; and his father, William Williams, was a native of the same county, the date of his birth being September 24, I792.

John Williams, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he emi- grated to this State, coming with teams to Sen- eca County, where he purchased a timbered tract, from which he improved a homestead ; and there be and his wife, whose maiden name was Starritt, spent their declining years. They reared a large family, consisting of seven sons and four daughters.

William Williams, the father of Richard, was a shoemaker, but after working at his trade for a number of years removed from the county in which he was born and bred to Liv- ingston County, settling in the town of Mount Morris in 1831. Here he bought a tract of woodland, and having built a log cabin re- turned to Seneca County for his family, and in April, 1831, brought them to their future home. He superintended the clearing of the land, and having it well under cultivation re- placed the log cabin with a comfortable frame house, and put up a good set of farm build- ings, living there in comfort until his death, November 6, 1866. He married Sarah Phil- lips, who was born February 9, 1796, in New Jersey. She survived her husband many

years, dying September 9, 1881. Seven chil- dren were born to her, as follows: Richard, Mary A., Clarissa, John, Belinda, Isaac, and William.

Richard Williams was a Jad of twelve years when he came with his parents to Mount Mor- ris, which was then comparatively undevel- oped. There being no convenient facilities here for the transportation of the surplus pro- ductions of the soil, the farmers were obliged to haul their grain to the Genesee River, where it was loaded on flatboats, and thence taken to points of distribution. Mr. Williams assisted his father in clearing a farm until twenty-four years of age, and then started out for himself. In consideration of having worked over time, his father sold him twenty- five acres of land for five hundred dollars, which was about one-half its value. He had no ready money with which to pay for it, but worked the land and other land on shares, in that way saving enough to make the final pay- ment. He subsequently bought ten acres of adjoining land, paying fifty dollars per acre. Two or three years later, Mr. Williams bought another ten acres, and his next pur- chase consisted of thirty-five acres. His next landed acquisition was an inheritance of forty- four acres, and to this aggregation he subse- quently added seventy-one more by purchase. About the time of the breaking out of the late Civil War, Mr. Williams removed to the farm of his father-in-law, where he lived five years, at the expiration of that time returning to his own farm, where he has since resided, carrying it on with marked intelligence and success.

On the 12th of December, 1851, Mr. Will- iams and Elizabeth Miller, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of William and Mary Miller, were united in marriage. Their happy wedded life has been made bright by the birth of three sons. Charles has been twice married, his first wife, formerly Alice Jones, dying in 1883, leaving two children - Harvey and Eva; of his second marriage, when Miss Dora Rowe became his wife, one child has been born - Harry. Willard married Flla Brown, and they have one son - Roy. Elmer married Adell Creveling. Politically, Mr.

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Williams is a sound Republican, having been a stanch supporter of the principles of that party since its formation.

"A" NDREW W. BUTTERWAY, a retired merchant of Geneseo, was born No- vember 2, 1825, in a part of Phila- delphia which was then one of the suburbs, but is now included in the city. Ilis father, Jesse Butterway, an agriculturist, was of carly Holland ancestry, and was born in the same place where he lived until 1832, in which year he removed with his family to Allegany County, New York State. Not lik- ing the country, which was then a wilderness, and being unaccustomed to pioneer life, he remained but one year, and then returned to Philadelphia, where he lived until his death, passing away at the age of sixty-nine years.

His wife, a native of that part of Phila- delphia which was then called Germantown, was Catherine Williams. Her father, An- drew Williams, was born in Holland, and on coming to America settled in Germantown, and married a lady from that place, who lived to be ninety-eight years old. He attained nearly that age, dying at the age of ninety-six, on the farm he had cleared for himself in Avon, Livingston County, New York, he hav- ing moved from Germantown thither. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Butterway had five children - Edwin, Eliza, Andrew W., Mary A., and Adeline. Mrs. Butterway died at the age of sixty.

Andrew Butterway commenced, when six- teen years old, to learn the trades of cabinet- making and undertaking in Philadelphia, where he served an apprenticeship of five years. He was then employed at "jour " work until 1847, when he removed to Roches- ter, and was engaged there one year, after- ward coming to Geneseo and doing "jour " work for one year. In 1849 he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business on his own account, building up a large and lucrative trade, and continuing actively engaged in business until March, 1893. During that long period of time almost the entire business population of Geneseo changed to such a

degree that, when he retired from active life, there were but two men still continuing in business who were merchants when he came here.

December 12, 1849, Mr. Butterway married Mary E. Johnson, a daughter of Jasper John- son, of Geneseo, N. Y. They have had six children, only two of whom, Cora and Hattie, are now living. Willie died at the age of seven, Edward when thirty-five, and two others in infancy. For the past few years the family have made their summer home at Co- nesus Lake, where Mr. Butterway owns two cottages. His son Edward was the first sum- mer resident there, taking up his abode in a tent, and afterward occupying part of a boat- house, which he finally enlarged into a cottage.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Butterway are members of the Presbyterian church, and are ever will- ing to do all in their power for its benefit. During his long business career Mr. Butter- way has gained many friends by his honesty and upright dealings.

RS. JULIET (LEE) DORRANCE, a woman of culture and refinement, whose mental activity has not been dulled by the frosts of time, has been a resident of Attica for upward of half a century, and is the widow of the late Gardiner Dorrance, M.D., who departed this life October 12, 1873, at the age of seventy- four years. Mrs. Dorrance is of New Eng- land birth, and is a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Lee, who for many years was settled over a parish in Colebrook, Conn.

Dr. Gardiner Dorrance was the only son of the Rev. Gordon Dorrance, a Congregational minister of marked ability, whose last days were passed in Attica. He married Hannah Morgan, a woman well fitted by nature and education to assist him in his pastoral duties and to rear their only child to a useful and honorable life. After leaving school Gardiner Dorrance studied with his father, and later in Plainfield, Mass., under the tuition of the Rev. Moses Hallock, the father of Gerard Hallock, editor of the Journal of Commerce of New York. The two boys studied together, and

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were afterward classmates at Williams College in Massachusetts, they being two of the one hundred and thirty boys fitted by Mr. Hallock to enter that famous institution.

After receiving his diploma Dr. Dorrance spent some time in Virginia, and while a resident of that State became more and more confirmed in his antislavery convictions, and worked with zeal and ardor in the cause of the oppressed. Returning to New England, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Peet, of New Marlboro, Mass., and in 1826 was grad- uated from the Berkshire Medical College. Locating in Sunderland, Mass., the Doctor commenced the practice of his profession, re- maining there until 1834, when he removed to Amherst, the same State, and continued his career some seven years, winning a fine reputation for skill and ability. In 1843 Dr. Dorrance came to Wyoming County, and set- tled in Attica, where he met with the same success that had characterized his previous efforts, remaining here until called to the higher life. He was a well-educated and able practitioner, possessing a warm and generous heart and a ready sympathy, that won for him true friends among all classes of people; and his memory will ever be cherished through- out his locality with feelings of regard and esteem.

ARON BARBER, although a native of Rush, Monroe County, N. Y., has passed nearly all his days in the beautiful town of Avon, Livingston County, in which he now resides, occupying a leading position among the representative citizens. He has been closely identified with its development during that period, for, al- though his main business is that of farming, he is prominent in financial circles as Presi- dent of the Avon Bank; and his influence in political affairs is indicated by the fact that for four years he has held the responsible office of Supervisor. It is a notable fact that he bears the same name that was borne by both his father and grandfather, and which, therefore, figures conspicuously in the chron- icles of the Barber family.

The grandfather was a native of "the Land of Steady Habits," as Connecticut used to be called in the earlier days of this country's history, when each State was supposed to have peculiarities of its own. He was a black- smith by trade, a good mechanic and a hard worker, perhaps too hard, for he died at a comparatively early age, leaving a young fam- ily and a widow. The eldest of the children was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was called Aaron Barber, Jr., before the death of his hard-working sire rendered the " Jr." unnecessary.

The bereaved family removed from Connect- icut to New York, first sojourning in Onon- daga County, and thence coming to Lima, Livingston County. Here the new head of it -- the oldest male member of a family then being always considered the head of it in those days, if he had passed early boyhood - went manfully to work to help support it as best he could. He worked out by the day or by the month at any honest employment that he could find, and by a combination of industry and enterprise forged onward to suc- cess. Finally he went into the butchering business, and followed it for three years. Then he sold out, and removed to Ogden, Monroe County, to a one-hundred-and-sixty acre piece of timber land that he had bought and had partially cleared before his marriage, which occurred just before his removal from Lima. After living two years at Ogden, he removed to Rush, where he bought a fifty-acre farm, and remained five years, when he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of improved land located in the town of Avon. A log cabin and a frame house were on this property ; and they served him for about nine years, when he built the fine residence now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and here resided until his death, at the age of sixty- four, in 1868.

Ilis wife was Lois Stevens, daughter of Phineas and Mary ( Williams) Stevens: and his children were Mary L., Aaron, and F. Amanda. Mary married Dr. James E. Jenks, of Avon, is now a widow, and has two children - William and Louisa M. Jenks. Amanda married Holliday Williams, of

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Prattsburg, Steuben County, N. Y., and had three children - Frank, Aaron, and Lois Williams, and like her sister is now a widow.

Aaron Barber, the third of the name, was born in the town of Rush, July 6, 1836. He is well educated, having pursued his studies in boyhood and early youth in the Avon dis- trict schools, in Lima Seminary, and in the Rochester Academy. He has made a business of farming from the very first, and has con- tinued to reside on the Avon homestead. Mr. Barber has greatly improved the property ; and the farm buildings, which were built by him, are the finest ones to be found in the beautiful and prosperous town of Avon. For the past twenty-five years he has been engaged in breeding short-horned cattle, of which he has one of the finest herds in the United States.

Mr. Barber was married on December 22, 1862, to Caroline B. Hall, daughter of Will- iam E. and Esther M. Hall, of Broomfield, Ontario County. He cast his first Presiden- tial vote in 1860 for Stephen A. Douglas; and, with that firm purpose and consistency of action which have always been marked charac- teristics of him, he has never changed his political faith, but has steadily supported the Democratic party. As the owner of one of the finest estates in the county, containing seven hundred acres, as the President of the Avon Bank, and as a citizen of sterling worth who has the best interests of the town at heart, he holds a prominent position in the community, is known to all, and by all re- spected. His portrait will be found on a neighboring page.

ENRY K. COOPER, one of the prom- inent and influential residents of Springwater, was born in the his- toric town of West Springfield, Hampden County, Mass., October 21, 1830. Whoever has read the histories of old Colo- nial days will have noted the account of the gallant military commander of the Springfield settlement, Lieutenant Cooper, who lost his life in its defence during King Philip's War in 1675. This ancestor of two hundred and

twenty years back deserves honorable mention at the beginning of this sketch, as being a worthy progenitor of this worthy son of New England. Mr. Cooper's life has been in part within earshot of the war, and his record is that of one who has likewise taken an active interest in the welfare of those connected with it.

The towns of Springfield and West Spring- field deserve more than passing notice. They are situated on the banks of the Connecticut, which is acknowledged to be the most beauti- ful stream in New England, bordered through- out its entire length of over four hundred miles by rolling hills, cultivated farms, and fertile meadow lands. It divides what was originally the one settlement of Springfield into two parts. The river is here spanned by graceful arched bridges; and merchant and scholar alike find on the lands skirting the western shore a lull from the busy hum of the city and an environment akin to the very heart of the country, making attractive any location for a suburban home. Ancient maples, elms, willows, and other deciduous trees shade the streets; and plants in summer and evergreens in winter adorn the quiet streets and picturesque drives. It was indeed a favored spot in which Henry Cooper began his notable career.

Levi Cooper, father of Henry, was born in this same neighborhood. He received an edu- cation in the district schools of the time, and as he grew up began to devote himself to agri- culture and general farming. The lands on the borders of the Connecticut have been, since the time of the colonists, of special excellence because of their alluvial deposits; and, as the miner seeks with fascination for gold in the rushing streams of the Sierra Nevada, so does the farmer dig this treasure- house under foot, looking with eager expecta- tion for rich returns in his fertile fields. Levi Cooper followed this occupation through- out his brief life, finishing his course in the home of his youth at the age of thirty-seven.

Henry Cooper's mother before her marriage was Miss Julia Ashley. She was a daughter of Solomon Ashley, a well-known and enter- prising farmer of the town. Mrs. Cooper

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was one of seven children, whose names were: Caroline, Harriet, Lucretia, Lucinda, Julia, Meribah, and Solomon. None of these are now living. It is pleasant to record that of her family of four children two lived to give her comfort and joy -- Henry, the narrative of whose life is here given, and his brother Solomon. Lewis died in infancy, and an- other son of the same name also died in child- hood. Mrs. Cooper lived until the age of forty-three, and died amid the familiar sur- roundings of her early home. The parents were, it is thought, members of the Congrega- tional church in that town.

Henry Cooper was but fourteen years old at the time of his mother's death; and he then went to live with an uncle, Solomon Ashley, until he should attain his majority. He was a student at the local district school, afterward at Munson Academy, and also at the academy at Westfield, which takes its pupils through high branches of study. - On leaving the scholar's desk Mr. Cooper was able to teach others, and accordingly taught for a time in Agawam, which is adjacent to Springfield. After coming of age he gave up teaching, and, as he had devoted considerable attention to the science of civil engineering, went out to Springwater, in Livingston County, New York, accepting a position on what is now the Corning Branch on the Rochester Division of the Erie Railroad. He entered into this new undertaking with an ardor that made success a foregone conclusion, and after two years went to Ohio as resident engineer on the Spring- field, Mount Vernon & Delaware line. At the expiration of eighteen months he took charge of the Marietta & Cincinnati Road, doing the engineering work there.

Two years later Mr. Cooper went to the State of Illinois, on that great highway to the West, the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, at that time the Sterling & Rock Island Rail- road. After a time he undertook the respon- sible position of contractor; but the Civil War culminated before he had been long en- gaged there, and he threw aside this enter- prise, and went directly to Washington as Superintendent in the Quartermaster's De- partment at the Washington Arsenal. This

new position called for the exercise of all his best powers, but his previous experiences had qualified him in just the line required. Keen observation, perceptive powers, discrimina- tion, attention to endless detail, cool, steady judgment, and unswerving loyalty to the country, then trembling with the dread of an uncertain future- these were qualities which alone made the Quartermaster Super- intendent fit for his arduous and responsible position.

But, as men of capacity are seldom allowed to remain long in one kind of labor, Mr. Cooper went into the military railroad office at the end of a year, then, taking up his pre- vious line of work, acted as agent in the Quartermaster's Department for a time, but in 1882 returned to Springwater. Here he bought a farm and settled down, soon after purchasing a lot in the village, on which he erected the fine residence which he now occu- pies, and which was completed in 1887. Since his return to Springwater he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In 1853 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage with Miss Mary Putnam, a daughter of Peter Putnam, of Springwater. Of this union there were two children, both of whom died young. Mrs. Cooper died in 1870. For his second wife Mr. Cooper married Mary Snyder, a daughter of Alonzo Snyder, and a native of Springwater. There are two children living by this marriage - Bessie, who first took a course of study at the district school, and later for a year attended a private school in New York City, and then entered Wells College, being a member of the class of 1899; and Henry. One child died in youth. Mrs. Cooper departed this life in July, 1894, aged thirty-nine years. She was a devoted member of the Methodist church.

The foregoing sketch claims special atten- tion, showing how a youth, by making an es- timate of his leaning toward one particular line, may be able to decide for himself what course in life he is fitted for, and, once having decided his bent, may find, if he has pluck and perseverance, a steady uphill road to progress, which in the end proves to be success and achievement. Mr. Cooper evidently did this.

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His ancestor, Lieutenant Cooper, acted a noble part ; and his descendant made his bold stroke for a broader life and a wider experi- ence on the same ground. The result has been personal honor and the benefit to the community of a praiseworthy example.

Mr. Cooper has always been an ardent Re- publican, but in no sense an office-seeker. Ile is a Trustee of the Methodist church, a Trustee of the district school, and also fills the offices of Superintendent and Trustee of the Cemetery Association in Springwater.

AMUEL S. MILLER, M.D., a resi- dent physician in Java, Wyoming County, for the past twenty-six years, was born in Wales, Erie County, N. Y., September 3, 1826. Dr. Mil- ler's father, Hunting S. Miller, was born in 1792 in Franklin, Delaware County, whence he emigrated to Erie in 1813. He was married to Miss Hannah Seeley, of Franklin, whom he brought as a bride to the rough wild home he had prepared for her, making the journey thither by team, and having a family by the name of Russell for travelling companions. Hunting S. Miller was a minute-man during the War of 1812, and was a witness of the burning of Buffalo. He lived in the humble home where the first years of his married life had been spent until his death from a stroke of paralysis, with which he was stricken in 1867. In his last illness he was attended by his son, Samuel S., who officiated in the double capacity of nurse and physician. The patient was a large man, weighing two hun- dred and forty pounds, and it took a person of herculean strength to perform the office of nurse; but with filial love and tenderness the son devoted himself to his duty.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 46

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

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