USA > New York > Wyoming County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 5
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
ing the one of logs, and substantial barns re- ceiving the bounteous harvests, gave evidence of the prosperity of the owner. He died when seventy-five years of age, and his wife when she was eighty-seven. They left six children - J. William, Harriet N., Eliza A., Mary HI., Timothy T., and Amos S.
Izra A. Kelsey by his second wife had five children, who may be here briefly mentioned as follows: William A. married Sarah Her- rick, has three children, and lives at Fort Cov- ington, N. Y. Jennie S. married Warren J. Fisk, has three children, and resides in Cas- tile. Clara E. married F. O. Adams, a station agent of the D. & H. R.R. at Unadilla, Otsego County, N. Y., and has two children. Mary died at the age of eighteen. Charles E. married Minnie A. Wade, and has two children. The youngest son resides on the old homestead in the town of Castile, and cultivates a fine farm of two hundred and fifty acres, pleasantly located on the east side of Silver Lake. This property formerly included other land bordering on the lake, which has re- cently been sold to summer residents, who are erecting cottages and otherwise improving the spot, making it a most inviting summer resort. Mr. Kelsey in his early years owned three hundred acres in St. Lawrence County, which he sold in 1868, buying the estate just de- scribed on Silver Lake. In his later years he took much delight in the improvement of his land and buildings, and at his death, when seventy-two years of age, left one of the best farms in the town of Castile. He invariably voted the Republican ticket, and was always an interested member of that party. Ile was extraordinarily energetic and ambitious, and, being honorable in all his business dealings, was held in high regard by his many friends.
OHIN M. MILNE, A. M., PH. D, prin- cipal of the Geneseo State Normal School, one of the most learned and efficient educators in the Empire State, was born in Scotland, March 3, 1850. His father, Charles Milne, by occupation a miller, who had received a common-school educa- tion, came to America in 1852, settling at
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
West Rush, Monroe County, N. Y. After a residence there of two years he engaged for a time in the milling business; but he moved to Holley, where, as in Rush, he lived in re- tirement for some years before his decease, which occurred at the age of seventy-nine years.
Charles Milne was a man of strong charac- ter and of much worth to the community, hav- ing gained the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, who sincerely regretted his loss. The maiden name of his wife, Dr. Milne's mother, was Jean Black. She was also a native of Scotland, where she married Mr. Milne. She was a most estimable lady, possessing many rare Christian qualities, and was the mother of six children, five of whom were born in Scotland and came to this coun- try with their parents. The eldest, William J., who was a resident of Geneseo from June, 1871, to 1889, is now President of the Nor- mal College at Albany. Charles D. is a manufacturer at Rochester. Jean F. is the wife of E. D. Bronson, a builder at Holley. Edward B. is in the United States army. John M. is the subject of this sketch. Mar- garet married Dr. Charles H. Glidden, of Little Falls, N. Y. Dr. Milne's mother passed her declining years at Holley, where she died at the age of seventy-two. Both par- ents were members of the Presbyterian church, and the father was a Republican in politics.
John M. Milne arrived in America at the age of about three years, and resided with his parents at West Rush, and afterward at Holley. He attended the public schools winters, and in the other seasons did farm work at monthly wages. Agricultural pursuits, however, were not to be the destiny of a young man of his scholarly tastes and aspirations and his great capacity for acquiring knowledge. He had de- termined early to follow a professional or cleri- cal life; and after four years at labor as a farm hand he began the foundation of his future career by entering the normal school at Brock- port, where after four years of diligent applica- tion he was graduated with high honors, in 1871, as qualified to be a teacher. He then entered Rochester University, remaining there one year. Having already acquired a high reputation as a scholar, he now received the
appointment of instructor of Greek and Latin at the Geneseo Normal School, which position he held for seventeen years. In 1889 Dr. Milne became principal of this well-known seat of learning, which is one of the very best educational institutions in the State, having an average attendance of eleven hundred stu- dents, and graduating an average of one hun- dred annually. Under his able administration the school has made rapid advancement both in its curriculum and its attendance, being at present the largest and ranking the highest of any school of its kind in the State. Dr. Milne has a corps of twenty-one efficient in- structors under his direction.
It will thus be seen that the early ambition of Dr. Milne has been realized, and he has become a leader in a leading profession. Dr. Milne is a devoted member of the Masonic fra- ternity, being connected with Geneseo Lodge, No. 214, and a member of Royal Arch Chap- ter and Monroe Commandery, No. 12, of Rochester. He has held many offices in the fraternity, and has been District Deputy Grand Master, the district over which he presided in- cluding four counties. He is a member of Alpha Delta Phi of Rochester University, and received the degree of Ph. D. from the Univer- sity of the State of New York in 1890. Dr. Milne is an educator of advanced ideas, ever striving by the best means to accomplish the most perfect results. In politics he is a Re- publican, and possesses ample knowledge upon all political subjects. His portrait, which is presented in connection with this brief sketch of his career, will be recognized with pleasure by many to whom he is known by name and fame.
OHN W. DALRYMPLE, a prosperous farmer of Perry, Wyoming County, N. Y., was born in New Jersey, June 8, 1822, son of Asa and Elnora (Balkes) Dalrymple. The Dalrymple family were among the Scotch pioneers of the State of New Jersey; and Thomas, the grandfather of John W., was a native of that State, where he occupied himself with farming throughout his life. He died leaving seven children -
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John, Jessie, James, Asa, William, Elizabeth, and Minor.
Asa, fourth son of Thomas, was also born in New Jersey, and there received his educa- tion. In 1826 he came to Livingston County, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of uncleared land in Mount Morris, whereon he resided the remainder of his life. He cultivated his farm with great care, devot- ing himself diligently to the care and im- provement of his estate, and at his death, when eighty-six years old, left one of the most flourishing farms in the vicinity. His wife died in her eighty-fourth year, having given birth to ten children. Their son Thomas married Euphemia Weller; and they both died in Nebraska, aged about sixty-two, leaving four children. Eli and Samuel died in infancy. Isaac married Mary Sherman ; and both are now dead, having left four chil- dren. Susanna married Aaron Moyar, and is now dead, four boys surviving her. Amos O. married Frank Darling, had nine children, of whom five are now living, and resides at the old homestead in Mount Morris. John WV. is the subject of this sketch. Hannah married Stephen Wisner, has three children, and lives at Mount Morris. Ellen married John Hunt, has one child, and resides at Mount Morris. Levi is now dead.
John W. Dalrymple, after receiving an education in the schools of Mount Morris, adopted the occupation of farming, in which he has been deservedly. successful. One hundred and fifty acres of land, one mile and a half distant from the village of Perry, constitute the estate to which he has given his time and attention, and where he resides with his wife and son. He has recently remodelled the house, built two large, sub- stantial barns, and added all the modern im- provements which characterize the well-reg- ulated farm of to-day. Mr. Dalrymple's short-horn Durham cattle have won quite a reputation, and he winters also about two hundred and fitfy sheep each year.
When twenty-nine years of age, John W. Dalrymple was united in marriage to Caroline M. Gladding, daughter of John and Margaret (Sutton) Gladding. Her father was a native
of Greene County, and removed to Mount Morris in the early days of that town. He died when eighty years of age, having been throughout his life a stanch Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was four times married, Margaret, the mother of Mrs. Dalrymple dying at the age of forty. Mrs. Dalrymple had three half brothers and sisters, but is the only child of the family now living. She is the mother of three children: Edward, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Emma, who was married in 1876 to Willis Dalrymple, and passed away in her twenty-seventh year, leaving three children; John, who married Eliza Kempt, and lives at the homestead, assisting his father in the management of the farm.
The Dalrymples have always been allied to the Democratic party, and John W. Dalrymple follows in the footsteps of his ancestors in politics; nor has he deserted the precedents of his forefathers in religion, but, like them, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ile is a man of foresight and good judgment, by means of which he has gained success in business; and he is held in high esteem by his many friends.
ILLIAM A. FERRIS, a well-known citizen of Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., the former Postmaster at this place, was born in Carlisle, Schoharie County, September 8, 1840. His grandfather, Will- iam Ferris, who was born in Wexford, Ireland, came to America with an older brother when but seven years of age. They landed in Nor- folk, Va., where the brother remained, while William worked his way up to New York State, finally settling in Carlisle. In that new and uncultivated country he purchased land and spent the remainder of his life. He was the first Supervisor of the town, hold- ing the office for several years. He died in 1835 at the age of seventy.
Peter Ferris, son of William the emigrant, was born in Carlisle, where he attended the district school. He became Colonel of the State militia, and is known in the history of
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that county as Colonel Ferris. He worked on the home farm until 1855, after which he moved to East Bloomfield, Ontario County, remaining there four years, and then, coming to Lima, spent his last days in this town, dying at the age of seventy-two years. He married Sarah Van Every, daughter of Cor- nelius and Maria Van Every; and they were the parents of six children, namely : Corne- lius, a resident of Ontario County ; Thomas, of Oswego County; Eleanor, who died at the age of forty-eight years; Nancy M., who lives in Canandaigua, Ontario County ; William A .; and Cornelia J.
William A. Ferris attended the district schools in Schoharie and Ontario Counties, and finished his education at Lima Seminary in 1861. He taught school the following winter in East Avon, after which he learned the carpenter's and joiner's trades. July 19, 1862, he enlisted in One Hundred and Thir- tieth New York Infantry, which was after- ward changed to cavalry, and known as the First New York Dragoons, and served under General Sheridan till the close of the war. Ilis regiment participated in thirty-one en- gagements, in all of which they lost heavily. He was in the color guard for over two years, and was Color Sergeant during the last year of his service. He was mustered out July 19, 1865, at Rochester, after which he re- turned to Lima, and entered mercantile busi- ness, being employed as clerk for H. & O. S. Gilbert. In 1866 Mr. Ferris went to Shepherdstown, W. Va., where he was married to Mary F. Smurr, with whom he had become acquainted while his corps were fighting Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley. Miss Smurr was a daughter of John Smurr, a native of West Virginia, who was loyal to the Northern cause. She mended the torn fringe on the flag which Sergeant Ferris car- ried; but, as the Union troops were driven from the town on the following day by the rebels under General Early, he did not meet her again until his return to the South to receive her hand in marriage.
They became the parents of two children : Stella M., who teaches school at Glovers- ville, Fulton County; and J. Howard, who is
a graduate of the seminary at Lima and a carpenter in Buffalo. Mrs. Mary E. Smurr Ferris died in October, 1871; and Mr. Ferris again married, his second wife being Ann E. Ollerenshaw, daughter of Thomas Ollerenshaw, who was a resident of Lima and a native of England. By this second marriage is one daughter, Mary E. Ferris.
Mr. Ferris was appointed Postmaster by President Harrison in 1889, and served until June, 1894. He has always been a pro- nounced Republican, having cast his first vote for President Lincoln in 1864. He has been a Trustee of the village, and is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order of Lima, and also of the American Order of United Workmen. The family attend the Presbyterian church, of which they are valued and respected members.
J OIIN M. BRYSON, dealer in hardware in the village of Varysburgh, in the town of Sheldon, Wyoming County, N. Y., is an alert, wide-awake man, possessing good business tact and enjoying a large patronage. He is a native of Varys- burgh, where he was born September 29, 1854, of Irish parentage, his parents, Thomas and Jane (Crawford) Bryson, having emigrated from Ireland with their two elder children in 1848. They had a long and tempestuous voyage of six weeks' duration, and after land- ing in New York City came directly to Wyoming County, settling at first in the village of Orangeville. There the father worked for a number of years at his trade of shoemaking, which he had learned in County Antrim, Ireland, where his birth occurred in 1822. Subsequently removing to Varys- burgh, he here departed this life in March, 1891. His wife, who survived him, dying September 20, 1893, bore him nine children, six of whom are now living, as follows: James, a resident of Varysburgh; Anna, wife of William Libby, of Varysburgh; John M., of whom we write; Mary, wife of Joseph Beattie, of Mackeyville, Pa .; Sarah, wife of Fred Austin, of Alden, N. Y .; and Hattie M., a dressmaker. James Bryson, the father
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of Thomas, followed him to America, coming here in 1850, and bringing with him a part of his family, who have since been residents of the Western States.
John M. Bryson is essentially a self-made man, having begun the battle of life at the age of thirteen years, when he entered a store of general merchandise as a clerk, being first in the employ of Mr. Ainsworth and after- ward in that of D. S. Davis. Having ob- tained a practical knowledge of the business, in 1874 and 1875 Mr. Bryson engaged as a commission merchant on his own account, partly for the sake of the profit, but more especially on account of his health, which was being seriously impaired by indoor life. The succeeding two years he was again em- ployed in the store of D. S. Davis, and while there bargained for the stock and trade of B. Marzolf & Son, of whose store in the south end of the village he took possession on January 1, 1878. In 1880 Mr. Bryson built his present store, locating it on the opposite side of the street, and eight years later moved it to its present site. He carries a large and well-selected stock of tin and hardware, valued at from forty-five hundred to six thousand dollars, and does a substantial business.
On the Ioth of December, 1879, Mr. Bry- son and Miss Lora A. Godfrey were united in marriage. Mrs. Bryson is a daughter of Stafford J. Godfrey, who since the death of his wife, formerly Phebe Ward, has made his home with her. Mrs. Phebe Godfrey passed to the life eternal in 1884, being then fifty- two years of age, leaving besides her daugh- ter, Mrs. Bryson, one son, Frank A., who is a clerk in Mr. Bryson's store. Mr. and Mrs. Bryson have two children, namely: Charles G., born December 3, 1883; and Bernice, born December 16, 1893. Socially, Mr. Bryson is a Chapter Mason, and has passed the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being now Past District Grand Master. He is entirely independent of party lines in his political views, voting for the man best fitted for the office to be filled. He has no official aspirations, but is now serving as Notary Public.
LIJAH KENNEY, a retired farmer, liv- ing in the village of Byersville, West Sparta, is deserving of honorable mention in this volume as a worthy repre- sentative of the agricultural interests of this part of Livingston County and as the descend- ant of a well-known and respected pioneer of West Sparta, where his father, Elijah Ken- ney, Sr., cleared a farm from the wilderness. Mr. Kenney is an octogenarian, having been born in Montgomery County, April 20, 1811. Having started life for himself with but five shillings in his pocket, he has gradually added to his capital, till he is now in the pos- session of a comfortable competency, which he has accumulated by years of diligent toil and a judicious management of his affairs.
His father was of Connecticut birth, and lived in that State as a boy on a farm, at length removing to Montgomery County in this State, where he worked on a farm for several years. While there he married Hannah Ament, who was born in Schenec- tady, of English antecedents. In 1817 he came to Livingston County, bringing with him his wife and five children; and, buying one hundred and sixty acres of heavily tim- bered land, he built a log house, and began the improvement of a farm. The country hereabout was then clothed with all the gran- deur of the primeval forest, in which roamed deer, bears, and prowling beasts of prey. With the energy typical of the New Eng- lander, he labored to clear his land, and with the assistance of his older children made substantial headway in his efforts, living there until his death, at the age of eighty. Of the fourteen children born to him and his faithful companion, twelve grew to maturity, and six are now living; namely, Elijah, Margaret, Susan, Louisa, Celia, and Lester B. The mother spent her last days in Illinois, passing away at the age of eighty- three years, at the home of her son Richard.
Elijah Kenney spent his early years on the parental homestead, working faithfully for his father until twenty-two years old, when he began working out by the month. With the money he thus earned he went to Saginaw, Mich., some four years later, but after a
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
residence there of three years returned to West Sparta. Mr. Kenney soon began buy- ing and selling barrel staves, which proved very remunerative. After his marriage he bought land, and carried on general farming until 1882, when he retired from active labors, and, moving to Byersville, left his farm in charge of his son. In the interven- ing time, however, he had bought other land, and has now two hundred and fifty- two fertile acres, well improved and sup- plied with all the conveniences for carry- ing on agricultural work after the best-known modern methods. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
The marriage of Mr. Kenney with Lucy Ann Pickard, who was born in 1817, took place in 1844, in Nunda. Two children have been born of their union, Celia Ann and Carson K. The latter, who lives on the old homestead, married Isabella Gray, the daughter of Andrew Gray, a well-known farmer of Ossian; and they are the parents of seven children; namely, Maggie Bell, An- drew Gray, Lucile, Carl, Janett, Clyde, and Basil. Mr. Kenney is well informed and much interested in local and national matters, and is a zealous worker in the interests of the Prohibition party and a regular attendant of the Methodist church.
B ENAJAH M. WARNER, the de- scendant of an honored pioneer family of Wyoming County, is iden- tified with the manufacturing inter- ests of this section of the county, having car- ried on a successful business as harness-maker in Strykersville for more than twoscore years. He was born about two and one-half miles from his present home, in the town of Wales, Erie County, August 8, 1824. His father, Hymen Warner, was a native of Rutland, Vt., born in 1797; and his grandfather, Omri Warner, was of Scottish birth.
Omri Warner and an elder brother, who was a Scotch Presbyterian minister, came to this country prior to the Revolution; and during that struggle for liberty the brother bore his musket as a private soldier in the
patriotic forces, but on Sundays conducted divine services. After serving for two years, he died from disease there contracted; and his brother Omri held his place in the ranks until the close of the war. The grandfather was twice married, and reared a large family of children, cach of whom had numerous descendants, so that, when the subject of this sketch was pursuing his studies in district school No. I in Wales, twenty-one Warners were there enrolled as pupils. Hymen Warner was reared a farmer's son amid the mountains of Vermont, where he lived until after his marriage, in 1817, with Sally Richards, who was born in Connecticut, of Welsh parents. In 1820 he came to this State with his wife and two children, and settled on a small farm of sixty-five acres in the town of Wales, paying four dollars an acre for the land, and turning in as part pay- ment the team of horses with which he had made the journey. His family circle in- cluded fourteen children, an equal number of boys and girls, of whom five sons and six daughters grew to maturity. One son, Francis, now occupies the old homestead. A daughter, Harriet, died at the age of fifteen years, of typhoid fever, the same disease from which the father died ten days later, in March, 1851. The mother was accidentally killed by a runaway team the following November. The parents were honorable, upright people, held in high esteem, and, although not strictly orthodox Christians, sent their children to Sunday-school.
Benajah was the recipient of good educa- tional advantages, attending the Springville and Albion Academies after leaving the dis- trict school, and subsequently was engaged in teaching one term. Attaining his major- ity, he sought the newer country of the West, going to Allegan County, Michigan, where he was employed for six months in carrying lumber across the lake to Chicago on a sail- ing-craft. He became a victim of ague, which lasted him for more than a year after his return to New York. In 1848 Mr. Warner began working at his present trade, serving one year in Penfield, and subsequently as a journeyman for two years in Pavilion and
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Fairport. In 1851 he removed to Strykers- ville, opening a shop in his dwelling-house, where his wife, who was a dressmaker and tailoress, also plied her needle. Thus they had a good start in life.
Mr. Warner was married April 17, 1848, to Alma Hipp, who was born in Penfield, Monroe County, N. Y., in 1825. Her par- ents, John and Alma (Spencer) Hipp, both died on their farm in Monroe County in 1880 within a period of two weeks. They left two sons and three daughters. One son, Spencer Hipp, was a soldier in the late Civil War, and while a prisoner contracted consumption, from which he died in 1867. The other son, Albert, is a resident of Penfield. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have three children, a son and two daughters: Hymen, a resident of Buffalo, married Julia Havens, and they have one son; Hattie, wife of Frank Martin, a farmer, has one son; and Effic, a dressmaker, lives at home. The son learned his father's trade when a young man, and later became a black- smith. He is a man of versatile talent, and for some twelve years was employed on the railroad, being an engineer nine years, and is now a stationary engineer.
Mr. Warner, who is an intelligent reader and thinker, a fluent conversationalist, and a man of broad and liberal views, is a most pronounced agnostic, bound by neither sect nor party, and claims the world as his home and all mankind as his brethren. He is in general. an advocate of the principles of the Republican party, although he never hesitates to vote for the men whom he con- siders best fitted for office, and for whatever measures he deems conducive to the public welfare.
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