Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 50

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 50
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 50

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still gives personal attention to his fine farm, in which he takes great pride.

His marriage to Miss Harriet Dole in 1846 was crowned by the birth of an only child, who died at four years of age. Mrs. Vincent died in the March of 1871, deeply and sin- cerely lamented by al those who knew her worth and goodness. "She was a devout mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Vin- cent's second marriage was to Miss Ada A. Chaddock, a daughter of Calvin Chaddock. Mrs. Vincent's grandfather, Willard Chad- dock, of the same descent as Miss Frances Willard, was one of the early emigrant farmers to Genesee County. He had a son and only child by his first marriage, and by a second marriage was the father of several children. Her father was educated in the district schools, and taught for many years. After coming of age he had moved to Erie County, Pennsylvania, where in the township of Elk Creek he bought a large tract of land, and began life in a log cabin, enduring all the hardships of pioneering. Having cleared his farm, and put it into a state of cultivation, he disposed of it, and moved to the village of Cranesville, where he began the business of carriage manufacture. He died at seventy- nine years of age. His first wife, Louise Baker, a daughter of John Baker, of Genesee County, reared four children - Willard Ro- manzo; Louisa, the wife of Eli Weaver, a druggist of Boonsboro, Ia .; Esther Jane, who married Mr. Loren Davenport, a farmer in Erie County, and is, like her sister, an able writer, having been for years on one of the prominent Buffalo papers; Ada, who married Mr. Vincent, of whom this sketch is written. Mrs. Vincent's mother died at thirty years of age, at her home at Elk Creek. Both parents were in the communion of the Baptist church. Her father married a second time a Miss Harriet Haggerty, who bore him two children.

Mrs. Ada A. Vincent, who is a Daughter of the Revolution, was educated in a normal school and in a female seminary in Mount Carroll, Ill., and was a teacher for several years before her marriage to Mr. Vincent. They have one daughter, Harriet Louise, who is a graduate of the Buffalo Normal School,

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and despite that she is a wife, having married William C. Dunham, a prominent citizen in Alfred, Allegany County, whose great-uncle, George V. Dunham, assembled the people to hear the Declaration of Independence read, keeps up her accomplishments, and is taking lessons in music, drawing, and china paint- ing, and has charge of the advertising depart- ment of the Alfred Sun, an eight-page paper. She is one of the Daughters of the Revolution.

Mr. Jeremiah HI. Vincent is fond of relating the family tradition of his father's powers as a marksman, who brought down three hundred deer during one year in Chautauqua County, when the country was little more than the roaming-ground of wolf and bear and deer and rabbit. Mr. Vincent is a Mason, and has al- ways taken an active interest in politics, being a stanch supporter of Democracy. He is a regu- lar attendant of the Presbyterian church, in which he has occupied a pew for fifty-one years.

ILLIAM BEGOLE, deceased, was a worthy and honored representative of the early pioneers of Livingston County, and a true type of the energetic, hardy, and courageous men who actively assisted in the development of this prosperous region. He was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1784, and was the son of a French emi- grant, William Begole, Sr. The latter was born in France, where he spent the earlier years of his life. Coming to America, he located in Hagerstown, Md., and was a resi- dent of that place for several years, later re- moving to this State, and settling at Bath, Steuben County. He was a man of wealth and a slave-holder, and took his slaves with him to Bath. From there he came to Living- ston County, and, being pleased with the ap- pearance of the surrounding country, located in the town of Groveland, where he passed his declining years.

William Begole, to whom we refer in this brief biographical record, was reared to farm- ing pursuits, and during the days of his mi- nority became familiar with farm labor. In 1815 he purchased a tract of wild timber land in the town of Mount Morris, about two miles

from the site of the present village, and in the midst of the forest erected a log cabin, the customary dwelling of the early settlers. There were neither railways nor canals tra- versing the country at that time; and Roches- ter, the nearest marketing and milling point, thirty-six miles distant, was accessible by teams only, three days being consumed in making the round trip. Wheat was then worth but twenty-five cents a bushel, and other pro- ductions of the soil brought a corresponding price. For many years after his settlement deer, bears, wolves, and other wild animals roamed through the forests, and were often a terror to the inhabitants. He labored with unceasing industry to clear his land, and by his unerring judgment, sagacious forethought, and wise management became the owner of a valuable homestead, which he had redeemed from its primitive wildness. After living there many years Mr. Begole removed to the village of Mount Morris, where he lived, re- tired from active pursuits, until his death, at the ripe old age of seventy-four years.

In 1814 Mr. Begole was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Bowles, a native of Ha- gerstown, Md., and a daughter of Captain Bowles, a brave soldier of the Revolution. She survived her husband, and departed this life in Michigan, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Begole the following-named children were born : Josiah W., a resident of Flint, Mich., was formerly Governor of that State; Frederick is also a resident of Flint, Mich .; Thomas is deceased; Philo resides at Mount Morris, Mich. ; Frank is a resident of Wayne County, Michigan ; Sarah married H. H. Brinkerhoff ; and Cornelia is the wife of Hiram P. Mills, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume.

ILLIAM BAILEY, a prosperous and progressive agriculturist of this county, is the owner of a well-ap- pointed farm in the town of Nunda, where he has resided for nearly half a century. A na- tive of the Empire State, he first opened his eyes to the light of this world October 14,

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1822, in Allegany County, being the son of Alexander Bailey, who was born in Vermont.

Alexander Bailey, having been reared, edu- cated, and married in the Green Mountain State, removed from there to this State, and settled in Allegany County at an early day. He had learned the trade of carpenter when a young man, and this was of great use to him in his pioneer life. He was likewise engaged in mercantile business a portion of the time, but his principal attention was devoted to farming pursuits. He took up one hundred acres of wild land, and in the midst of the dense wilderness built a log house, in which all of his children, with the exception of the eldest, were born, they being among the first native-born children of that district. Having cleared up the major part of his land, he sold it, and bought another farm in the same neighborhood, where he built a fine house, which he occupied until the death of his faith- ful wife, when he disposed of his property, and went to live with his daughter, making his home with her until his decease, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. He mar- ried Rhoda Harmon, who also lived to an ad- vanced age; and by her side he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Dalton. They reared six children; namely, Louis (deceased), Clark, Laura, William, Hiram, and Asahel. Laura married Hiram Merithew, of Living- ston County; and they are the parents of two sons - Seneca and William.

William Bailey acquired a substantial com- mon-school education in his native district, and in the earlier years of his mature life was engaged in the lumber business, owning and operating a large saw-mill for some time. After his marriage, following in the footsteps of his father, he entered upon an agricultural life, buying his present farm in the town of Nunda, where he has since been extensively engaged in general farming, and is now living surrounded by the comforts that make life desirable and pleasant. He is well known throughout the community as a thrifty and successful business man, possessing in a high degree those sterling principles of character which constitute a good citizen.

Of his union with Miss Susan Teeple, of

Nunda, five children were born, three of whom died in infancy. The two living are Volney T. and Wesley. Volney married Miss Aleida Newville; and they are the parents of three children, two daughters and a son. Wesley remains at home with his father. Mrs. Susan T. Bailey died January 23, 1890. In politics Mr. Bailey was in former years a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk in 1844; but he is now a strong adherent of the Democratic party.

Portraits of a goodly number of worthies of Livingston and Wyoming constitute an inter- esting feature of the " Biographical Review " of the two counties. Among these will be recog- nized the likeness of Mr. William Bailey, of Nunda, whose life history is here briefly set forth.

FORGE W. WHITNEY, who with his partner is carrying on an exten- sive nursery business under the firm name of George W. Whitney & Co., has charge of the retail department of the same, his office being located in Dansville. He is a native of the Empire State, and was born in New York City, November 19, 1865. Some of the best blood of the earlier settlers of New Eng- land flows through his veins, he being de- scended from the Whitneys of Massachusetts, in which State his grandfather, Dr. Jonathan Whitney, was born and bred. The latter was educated for a professional career, and having there obtained his diploma from a medical college began the practice of his profession in Auburn, this State. The village of Ca- yuga was then but sparsely populated; but, the indications pointing toward a rapid open- ing of the pathless forests, it seemed a favor- able place for the ambitious young physician to establish himself in business. Becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Cayuga, he soon found himself the leading practitioner of that part of Cayuga County, as well as one of its most respected citizens, making it thereafter his abiding-place until death. He reared a large family of children, of whom Charles H., the father of our subject, was the youngest.

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of Cayuga, and in its schools obtained a prac- tical education. When a young man he en- gaged in mercantile business, finally settling in Chicago, where he lived for many years. He subsequently purchased an orange grove in Florida, and is now living retired from business activities, devoting his time to the raising of tropical fruits. He married Eliza- beth Lowe, a daughter of Samuel Lowe, of Chicago, a former resident of New York City ; and they are the parents of two children - Francis L. and George W. The former mar- ried E. F. Gorton, of Chicago; and the latter is the subject of this brief personal narrative.

The boyhood of Mr. Whitney was spent in the city of Chicago, and in the excellent pub- lic schools of that famed Western city his early knowledge was acquired. He subse- quently accompanied his parents to Florida, and there faithfully assisted his father in his plantation labors for several years. In 1884 he returned North, and made his way to Liv- ingston County, and being well versed in the methods of fruit culture found no difficulty in securing employment with Mr. George A. Sweet, of Dansville. He was soon appointed foreman in the nursery, and after a few years was made an equal partner in the retail branch of the business. The substantial firm thus established is one of the most enterprising and sagacious in this section of the county, employing about one hundred agents, who dis- tribute the products of the nursery through- out the entire country. Mr. Whitney has achieved a well-merited success in his chosen vocation, and gives his personal attention to the large spring and fall shipments.

Mr. Whitney is a member of Canaseraga Lodge, No. 123, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to Union Hose Com- pany, No. 1. He usually supports the Demo- cratic ticket, but is bound by no political ties, and with the courage of his convictions votes for the man best fitted for the position.

ALTER H. CUMMINGS, a pros- perous farmer residing at Silver Springs, in the town of Gainesville, Wyoming County, which lies directly north

of Gainesville, was born in Warsaw, May 18, 1852. Ilis father, Almon Cummings, is also a native of Warsaw; and his grandfather, Henry Cummings, was born at Shaftsbury, Vt., where he was reared to agricultural pur- suits.

Henry Cummings came to Warsaw in 1820, and purchasing a tract of land began life in a log house as a pioneer. After having made everything ready for a start in his new home, he returned to Vermont, and brought back his wife and family, arriving at Warsaw in mid- winter, the journey having been made with their household effects in a covered wagon. Mr. Henry Cummings cleared and improved his farm to a considerable extent, and had re- sided thereon for many years when he sold his property in Warsaw, and moved to East Gainesville, now Silver Springs, where he purchased a large farm. He presented all his sons with a farm in Warsaw, and spent his declining years in retirement at Silver Springs. He died at the age of eighty-four, after having reared and well provided for a family of five children, two of whom - Almon and Nelson - are still living. The deceased are: John, Mary E., and Eliza A.

Almon Cummings was reared a farmer. He conducted the farm given him by his father until 1888, when he sold his property, and moved to Silver Springs, where he and his wife are now residing in retirement. They are members of the Free Will Baptist church. The maiden name of Mrs. Almon Cummings was Jane Miller. Her father operated a mill at Castile, where she was born, being one of a family of six children. John W. Miller, a farmer of Monson, Mass., and David A. Miller, of Silver Springs, re- tired, are brothers of Mrs. Cummings, who is still living at the age of sixty-seven. The Miller family were early settlers in Castile.

Walter H. Cummings passed his early boy- hood upon his father's farm, and was educated in the district schools and at Perry and War- saw Academies. He left home at sixteen to work in a large grocery store at Silver Springs. Three years later he returned to Warsaw, where he is still engaged in the grocery busi- ness. He was for some time employed in

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settling affairs connected with his wife's estate, after which he moved to his present home at Silver Springs. He has a large farm of six hundred acres, upon which he carries on agriculture in all its branches. The maiden name of his wife, whom he married in 1875, was Grace A. Woodruff. She is a daughter of the late Merritt Woodruff, whose father, John Woodruff, settled in Gainesville in 1816. having moved from Connecticut. Grandfather Woodruff cleared and improved a farm, upon which he resided the remainder of his life, and which is now owned by his grand-daughter, Mr. Cummings's wife. Mer- ritt Woodruff, who was a farmer, a large land- holder, and also interested in pine timber lands in Michigan, died at the present home of his daughter. He was a Justice of the Peace for many years, and was widely known as Squire Woodruff. His wife, Mrs. Cum- mings's mother, was Elizabeth B. Tinker, of Henrietta, Monroe County, N.Y. She also died at the home of her daughter, at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Cummings was an only child. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have one daughter, Ivy Grace, a young lady of sixteen.

Mr. Cummings is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Warsaw, and is a Republican in politics, as is his father, his wife's father also having been of that party. Mr. Cummings was a Justice of the Peace for three years; but, when elected Supervisor in 1890, he im- mediately resigned the former office, and has held the latter two terms of one year each. Mr. Cummings is a member and also a Trus- tee of the Methodist church.

R. A. LA BOYTEAUX, a surgeon dentist, located in the town of Dans- ville, is one of the most eminent men of his profession in Livingston County, and has a far more than local reputa- tion for ability, knowledge, and skill. He is a native of Covert, Seneca County, N. Y., where his birth occurred July 28, 1828.

The Doctor comes from honored stock, and is a grandson of one Peter La Boyteaux, who was for many years a respected citizen of New

Jersey ; and it was in that State that Abraham La Boyteaux, the Doctor's father, was born in the year 1788. Abraham removed to this State when a young man, locating in Seneca County, where he followed the trade of car- pentry, to which occupation he also added agriculture, being the owner of a good farm, on which he resided until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. He mar- ried Mary Anten, a daughter of John Anten; and they became the parents of seven chil- dren; namely, Margaret, Catherine, Peter, Arthur, Susan, Delia, and William. The mother survived her husband, and died at the home of Dr. La Boyteaux, in the sixty-third year of her age. She was a woman of great personal worth, and a sincere member of the Methodist church, to which her husband also belonged.

Dr. A. La Boyteaux spent the earlier years of his life in Seneca County, where he at- tended school until twenty years old, and then took up the study of dentistry, for which he had a predilection, spending a year at Corn- ing, and afterward completing his studies in Seneca County. He began the practice of his profession in Romulusville, remaining there until 1862, and then removed to Rushville, Yates County, where he built up a large and lucrative practice. Coming to Dansville, he opened his present office in the month of April, 1874, and has since been constantly engaged, his extensive patronage keeping him busy. The Doctor has had a wide experience in his branch of business, and is probably one of the best-known dentists of Central and Western New York. While a resident of Seneca County, he won premiums at several fairs, his work surpassing that of his many competitors. In 1857 he took the first prize for dentistry at the Seneca County Agricult- ural Fair, two years later securing the first premium at the same fair, and in 1860 re- ceived the first prize for the finest specimen of plate work at the Mechanics' Fair. This specimen of his handiwork is still in his pos- session, and shows in a marked degree his great mechanical and artistic ability. In the medical world Dr. La Boyteaux has won fame and distinction, also having been very suc-

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cessful in the removal of tumors in several cases when other physicians had given them up as hopeless.

The Doctor was united in marriage in 1853 with Martha Tobias, a daughter of John Tobias, of Springport, Cayuga County; but after nine years of happy wedded life she died, leaving one child, Rebecca, who is married and the mother of three children. Dr. La Boyteaux subsequently married Sarah A. Leg- gett, a daughter of John Leggett, of Blood's Corners, Steuben County; and the only child of their union is Dr. Charles J. La Boyteaux, a prominent dentist of Buffalo. This son is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Dansville Lodge. Politically, both the Doctor and his son are firm supporters of the Democratic ticket. In their religious views the entire family are broad and liberal, and are regular attendants of the Universalist church.

EORGE P. ALVORD, an important factor of the agricultural region of Livingston County, is a representa- tive of one of the early families of New York, and is himself a native-born citizen of Mount Morris, where his birth occurred March 25, 1830. His father, Phineas Alvord, was born on a farm two miles from Montpelier, Vt., in 1800; and his father, Stephen Alvord, was a native of New England, and for a number of years owned and occupied a farm in Northern Vermont. Unfortunately, he indorsed notes for a friend, and was obliged to sacrifice his farm. In order to retrieve his lost fortune, he emigrated to Canada, but finding the win- ters too cold remained there but a few years, and coming to the State of New York lo- cated in East Bloomfield, where he labored until 1823, in which year he came to Mount Morris, and contracted for a piece of timber land. He at once erected a log house, and expected to soon make a home, but very shortly after was taken sick and died.

Phineas Alvord was but a boy when his par- ents removed to this State; and he soon after began working for Henry Buell, a farmer re- siding in East Bloomfield, continuing in his

employ for seven years. In 1823 he pur- chased a pair of steers and a wagon, and with the latter loaded with apples, which Mr. Buell had given him, started for Mount Morris, and located on the land for which his father had contracted, assuming the entire indebtedness. He soon afterward built another log house, in the construction of which there was no sawed lumber used. He rived with his own hands the shakes which covered the roof, and split and hewed the planks for the floor. For want of better transportation facilities he teamed his surplus grain to Rochester, some thirty-five miles away, and from there brought back the store commodities needed for family use. He was very industrious and an excel- lent manager, and in a comparatively short time paid for his land, and to the original homestead property added other land, at the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years old, being the owner of three hundred acres of good land. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Lemen, was born in Dansville, N. Y., in 1800, and was a daughter of William C. Lemen. She bore him ten children; namely, Sarah, Amanda, Cordelia, George P., Wealthy A., Lucinda J., Mary, Martin Van Buren, William T., and Diana.

George P. Alvord was reared to the pursuit of agriculture, and under the able tuition of his father received an excellent drilling in its various branches. When twenty-six years old, he left the parental fireside, and located on the farm which he now owns and occupies. His estate includes two hundred acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land, amply supplied with convenient farm build- ings and all the necessary implements and machinery for conducting his labors after the most approved modern methods.

Mr. Alvord was united in marriage in 1856 with Miss Josephine Roberts, who was born at Oak Hill, Mount Morris, being a daughter of Reuben and Mary ( Harrison) Roberts, na- tives of Saratoga County. Mrs. Alvord comes of Welsh ancestry, her paternal grand- father, Noah Roberts, having been born, it is thought, in Wales. He emigrated to Amer- ica, and settling in Saratoga County, this

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State, engaged in general farming, remaining a resident there until his decease. He mar- ried Elizabeth Rhoades, a native of Rhode Island; and they reared a family of seven children.

The father of Mrs. Alvord was reared and married in Saratoga County, living there until 1823, when he removed to Livingston County, his family, consisting of his wife and one child, accompanying him. He made the jour- ney with two ox teams, and the latter part of the way was obliged to cut a path through the dense forest. Settling in the town of Mount Morris, Mr. Roberts bought a timbered tract on Oak Hill, and there built the log house in which Mrs. Alvord was born. There being no convenient markets, he and his family, in common with their neighbors, lived on the products of the soil, and clothed their families in homespun garments, the material for which was spun and woven by the thrifty housewife. After getting a large portion of his land under culture, Mr. Roberts sold his farm, but subse- quently purchased another in the same local- ity, and there lived until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, formerly Mary Harrison, was a daughter of Robert Harrison, who was born in England, and was the only member of his family to emigrate to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were the parents of six children -- William Priestley, Elmina, Maria, Adelia, Josephine, and Burt.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 50

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

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