Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 51

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 51
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 51

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Robert Harrison, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Alvord, was the second son of a wealthy Englishman, but did not inherit any of his father's property. When quite young, he was taken by his brother, and placed on board an English man-of-war, and was kept in the service seven years. About the time of the breaking out of the Revolutionary War the ship and crew came to America, and were captured by the Americans; and, after being kept prisoner for a time, Mr. Harrison was given his choice of returning to England or of fighting against his native country. His sympathies being with the colonists, he en- listed in the army, and fought until the close of the war, after which he settled in Saratoga County, where he resided for several years.

He afterward bought a farm in the town of Bath, Steuben County, where he spent his de- clining days. He married Fannie Andrus, who bore him children, one of whom, Mary, was the mother of six children, one of them being Mrs. Alvord. The parents of Mrs. Alvord were members of the Baptist church; and in political matters her father was in his earlier years a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party became an earnest sup- porter of its principles.

Mr. Alvord is recognized as one of the most skilful and enterprising farmers of this sec- tion of the county, and is a business man of excellent ability, upright and honorable in all of his transactions and an esteemed citizen. Politically, he is a straight Democrat, and fraternally is a member of Mount Morris Lodge, No. 122, A. F. & A. M.

ETER D. JONES, an extensive fruit grower and apiarist, residing in Mount Morris, was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies, the date of birth being September 3, 1829. He is a practical, well-educated man, possess- ing sound judgment and good business talents, which have made him unusually successful in his present enterprise. Mr. Jones comes of Welsh antecedents, his paternal grandfather having been born in New Jersey of Welsh parents. He was a soldier, and during the famous Whiskey Rebellion, in 1794, caught cold from exposure, and soon after died from the effects. His widow, who subsequently married Peter Dilts, lived to a good old age.

Jesse B. Jones, the father of the subject of this sketch, was but an infant when his father died, and was reared to mature years by his mother and step-father. He learned the trade of carpentry, and at the age of twenty years came to New York State, locating at first in Seneca County. After a few years' residence there he came to Livingston County, and was a pioneer settler of Mount Morris. Here he bought one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, twenty of which were partly cleared and had been still farther improved by the erec- tion of a small log house. It was in this

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log cabin that his son, Peter D., was born; and twenty-four years later it was the home to which he brought the bride of his choice. For many years after his settlement here, there were no convenient means for transpor- tation, railways and canals being unknown; and Rochester was the nearest market for sup- plies. He was a man of resolution and per- severance, thrifty and industrious, and in the course of time succeeded in wresting a farm from the forest, on which he made substantial improvements, among the most noticeable being the erection of a good set of frame buildings. He added fifty acres to his origi- nal purchase, making in all one hundred and seventy-six acres.

Jesse B. Jones lived to be over fourscore years of age, and watched with genuine pride and satisfaction the wonderful growth and ad- vancement of the town and county, and to this great change gave able assistance. He mar- ried Eliza Christopher, a native of Seneca County, and a daughter of Nathan and Eliza- beth Christopher, natives of New Jersey, and pioneers of Seneca County. She departed this life in 1876 at the age of seventy-six years, leaving five children.

Peter D. Jones was reared and educated in the town of his birth, and remained upon the home farm until after his marriage. In 1854, following the march of civilization westward, he made a trip to Iowa, going by rail to Ga- lena, Ill., which was then the terminus of the railway, and thence by boat to Dubuque, where he hired a conveyance to take him to Delaware County. He there bought a tract of government land, paying one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. After making the purchase, Mr. Jones returned home, and for a time worked his father's farm on shares. In 1858 he removed to Illinois, locating in Linn- ville township, Ogle County, where he worked land on shares for three years, and then traded his Iowa property for a farm in Linnville, where he engagel in general farming for a time. In 1867 Mr. Jones once more became a resident of Mount Morris, and on the death of his father succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, which he now occupies. He has been eminently successful in his opera-

tions, and has a valuable farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres. He has made a study of the life and habits of bees since a young man, and is an extensive raiser of these busy insects, averaging about two hundred swarms a year. He makes a specialty of fruit grow- ing, and has a productive vineyard of twelve acres, besides an orchard containing a varied assortment of peach, apple, pear, and other trees. He has also fifty registered Shropshire sheep, the head of the flock being imported.

An important event in the life of Mr. Jones was his marriage in March, 1853, to Jane E. Van Sickle, a native of Mount Morris, and a daughter of John and Rebecca (Grey) Van Sickle. To this union there were born four children. Lucius B. married Dora Edick; Jesse B. died at the age of eleven months; Elida died when twelve years old; Jennie, the wife of Edward McHerron, has three chil- dren - Minnie, Jesse, and Julia. Politically, Mr. Jones is a stanch supporter of the princi- ples of the Republican party, and is also an earnest advocate of the temperance movement. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and is a member of the Excise Board. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

ARLE S. WHITE, the efficient, courte- ous, and popular Cashier of the State Bank of Pike, Wyoming County, N. Y., was born in Hinsdale, Cattaraugus County, on August 22, 1863. His grand- father, John White, who was a blacksmith by trade, came from New England to Cattaraugus in 1841, and settled in Hinsdale. John White was the father of seven children, of whom the third was the father of the young man whose name opens this sketch.

This third son, Henry K. White, learned his father's trade when a boy, and em- barked in mercantile business as he grew older. He secured a position as clerk in a large general store early in life, and, proving himself very capable, by diligence and econ- omy amassed a sum sufficient in a few years to purchase a store of his own, which he con- ducted in partnership with his late employer.

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In 1872 he became a travelling salesman, and for eighteen years canvassed New York and Pennsylvania. In 1889 he returned to Olean, where he still lives. His wife, whose name before marriage was Sarah J. Smith, died at Hinsdale in 1887, aged forty-nine years. Two children were born of their union - Earle S. and Edith, who acts as clerk for her brother. Both parents were in the commun- ion of the Methodist church.

Earle S. White received his early educa- tion in the common schools, and completed his studies at Chamberlain Institute in Ran- dolph. He was for a short time engaged in the drug business, but in 1881 accepted a position as book-keeper in the First National Bank of Olean, which he held until 1884, when he moved to Buffalo, where he was for two years connected with the auditor's office of the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. In the spring of 1886 he resigned his position to become teller of the Farmers' National Bank of Franklinville, where he re- mained until March, 1889, at which date he came to Pike, and assumed charge of the banking office of Adams, Weed & Co. He retained the management of its affairs until it was reorganized into the State Bank of Pike; and it is certainly largely owing to his effi- cient direction that the small private exchange office has grown into a financial establishment with a paid-up capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and surplus and undivided profits of six thousand dollars. Through the period, not long past, of financial depression through- out the country, this institution enjoyed the entire confidence of the people of Pike.

The delightful manner which makes Earle S. White a social success and general favorite has had much to do with his business success ; and the even courtesy which is always ex- tended its patrons has been largely influential in making the Pike State Bank popular. In his home Mr. White, aided by his charming wife and attractive sister, dispenses a cordial hospitality. On the 21st of September, 1887, he was married to Estella S. Gould, of Hins- dale, daughter of the late John H. Gould, of that place. Two daughters, Alice M., aged five years, and Florence E., aged one year,

have been born of this union. Mr. White is a member of Triluminar Lodge, No. 543, and Nunda Chapter, R. A. M. He has held most of the prominent offices in Triluminar Lodge, and at the commencement of the present Ma- sonic year was unanimously elected its Mas- ter. llis political faith is pledged to the Republican party.

RANK J. ALVERSON, attorney-at- law, is a resident of Dansville, and is making headway along the pathway to success, being possessed of energy and tact, and having a clientage among all classes. He is a type of the native-born citizens of Livingston County, Dansville being the place of his birth, which occurred July 20, 1867.

The Alverson family have been connected with the history of the Empire State for sev- eral generations. Uriah Alverson, the grand- father, was born and bred in Utica, Oneida County, and was the representative of a well- known family, his mother's maiden name hav- ing been Donaldson. When a young man, Uriah Alverson, who was an extensive dealer in lumber, came to Dansville, that he might have the benefit of the canal in the transpor- tation of his lumber, and was from that time until the close of the canal a dealer in lumber.

The father of the subject of this brief chronicle, Augustus Alverson, was born in the town of Nunda, and was reared to agri- cultural pursuits. He is now in the prime of life, bearing his fifty-six years of age with ease. He married Marie Cole, a native of Wis- consin, and a daughter of John Cole, of that State. Two sons were born of their union; namely, Frank J. and James A., the latter an enterprising young man of seventeen years.

Frank J. Alverson obtained his elementary education in the public schools of Dansville, and, being endowed by nature with mental powers fitting him for a professional career, began the study of law, entering first the office of J. M. McNair, and afterward com- pleting his reading with Bissell & Foss. He passed a creditable examination, and was ad- mitted to the bar at Rochester in March, IS92. He began the practice of his profession in the

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place of his nativity, and has been very suc- cessful. IIe stands well in his profession, and has the reputation of being honorable and manly, winning and retaining the confidence of those with whom he is brought in contact.

On the 19th of July, 1893, Mr. Alverson was married to Miss Maria Remmell, a daugh- ter of Frederic Remmell, of Corning, Steuben County, N. Y. Mrs. Alverson is a member of the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Alverson is a hearty supporter of the grand principles promulgated by the Republican party, and socially is influential in Masonic circles, belonging to Lodge No. 115, A. F. & A. M., and Dansville Chapter, No. 91, Knights Templars.

ARSENA DRAKE, an extensive cattle and wool dealer in Arcade, Wyoming County, N. Y., was born in Clarkson, Monroe County, December 25, 1827. His father, Francis Drake, was a New Englander, who came to Monroe at an early period of that county's settlement, and lived for many years. He died in his seventy-eighth year, at the home of his son, who at the time was a resi- dent of Eagle. Francis Drake married a Miss Kelsey Dimmes; and of this marriage eight children were born, of whom two are still living - Marsena and Charles, a resident of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Francis died in Iowa, where he had gained considerable prominence in mercantile circles, in the au- tumn of 1894. Both parents were members of the Baptist church, in which faith Mr. Drake was reared.

Until about five years of age Marsena Drake lived on his father's farm in Monroe County. Thence they removed to Niagara County, and three or four years later to Wyoming County. When twelve years old he began to work for his brother-in-law, in whose employment he remained until he was eighteen. In the mean time he attended the district schools of his neighborhood, exercising the faculties of mind and body, and keeping the even balance of a simple, well-ordered life. Contented with the meagre earnings received for farm

labor, Mr. Drake worked on patiently, and in a few years was able to purchase the property in Eagle which he still owns, and which is under the management of his son at present. From Eagle he came to Arcade in 1884, and purchased his present pleasant home on Main Street. Here he continued dealing in wool, which was a remunerative line of trade. For thirty years Mr. Drake has been a large cattle dealers, buy- ing stock from the neighboring farmers and shipping to Buffalo and New Jersey, where a satisfactory profit was generally realized.

Mr. Drake was wedded June 5, 1851, to Miss Eliza M. Nott, of Sardinia, Erie County, where her father, Ezra Nott, was one of the first settlers. Ezra Nott was a prominent man in his day. He served in the War of 1812, and was promoted to be Captain before its close. After the war he was connected with the militia, and rose to the distinction of General, a name he was familiarly known by. His wife was Hannah Hardy, by whom he had six children, as follows: Samuel E., Sampson H., William P., Hannah W., Eliza M., and Angelette J. Two sons were the issue by this union - Fred Ezra, who married Miss Jennie Daggett, the daughter of an inn- keeper at Springville, and is engaged in con- struction of iron bridges ; and Charlie M., who married Miss Ellen Willson, of Arcade, and has one child -May Eliza. Mr. Charlie Drake has the management of his father's farm at Eagle.

Mr. Marsena Drake's popularity in the community is evidenced by the fact that he has for five consecutive years held the office of Supervisor, a longer period than any other incumbent of the position has ever officiated. He has also been Town Commissioner, and was at one time President of the village. In political faith he is strongly and zealously Republican. Mrs. Drake is a member of the Baptist church of Arcade, of which her husband is a regular attendant and liberal supporter.

OHN T. MCCURDY, an adjusting agent of the Caledonia Fire Insurance Company of New York, was born in Barkhamsted, Litchfield County, Conn., on the 30th of March, 1850. His

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grandfather, James McCurdy, was born in the parish of Cavan, County Antrim, Ireland, May 10, 1782, though he was of Scotch ances- tors. James McCurdy's father, John Mc- Curdy, was a son of Robert McCurdy, whose wife's maiden name was Mary Moore. His grandmother was Margaret Ferrier, a daughter of Hugh Ferrier.

James McCurdy, the grandfather of John F., with his mother, who had married a sec- ond time, came to America in 1788, landing at Wilmington, Del., thence going by way of Buffalo to Northumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, where they remained for seven years, coming from thence to Dansville in 1795. James McCurdy was the first settler in the town of Dansville, and lived for sixty-five years on the farm he then purchased. He accumulated a large property, and at his death in 1863, at the age of eighty years, left his family of seven children in comfortable cir- cumstances. Of this family six are now liv- ing in Dansville, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. McCurdy was for many years Supervisor of the town, and was always inter- ested in the political questions of the day.

John McCurdy, the father of John T., was born in Dansville on the 16th of January, 1820. He was educated in the district school, and remained with his father until he reached his majority, when he came into possession of a farm of his own, which he cultivated for many years. In 1884 he gave up the cares of farm life, and has since lived in the village. He has been an extensive and successful grain speculator, and has occupied a prominent place in the community. He married Miss Elsie A. Case, a native of Barkhamsted, the date of whose birth is January 27, 1823. Mrs. McCurdy belonged to a large family, most of whom were farmers. Five children were born of this marriage, two of whom are living - John T. and Sarah A. The latter is the wife of Thomas E. Gallagher, a fire insur- ance agent of the Eastern New York Company and a resident here. Three children died in early childhood; namely, Sheldon, Elsie, and Elizabeth. Both parents attend the Presby- terian church of the village.

John T. McCurdy lived with his parents

until he was twenty years of age, and attended the district school and Dansville Seminary. Going West, he secured a position as clerk with the Pacific Insurance Company of Cali- fornia in their Chicago office, which he held until the great fire in that city in 1871, which utterly ruined the company. After that dis- aster he went to Youngstown, Ohio, and en- gaged in coal mining for a time, and later in the grain and coal business for himself. A desire to return to the haunts of his boyhood grew strong upon him as the years of absence accumulated; and so he returned at last to Dansville, and joined his father in establish- ing a coal and grain business, in which enter- prise he continued until 1877, and then became special agent of the Lancaster Insur- ance, and later one of the managers of the Washington Fire and Marine Insurance Com- pany of Boston. This position led to that of general agent of the New York Continental Company, and finally to an engagement with the Niagara and Caledonia Fire Insurance Company of New York, of which he is now adjusting agent.

Mr. McCurdy was united in marriage in 1874 with Miss Henrietta Reno, a daughter of Francis Reno, a merchant and civil engi- neer of Youngstown, Ohio. Mrs. McCurdy was one of six children. There is one child of this union, a son, James R., a lad of eigh- teen, who, after receiving the best educa- tional advantages that the village afforded, was sent to Dr. Lyon's Preparatory School on Fifth Avenue, New York. Mr. McCurdy is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Phoenix Lodge, No. 115, and Dansville Chapter, No. 90. The family are attendants of the Episco- pal church of Dansville.

OVETTE P. WEST was born in the town of Livonia on December 24, 1841. His paternal grandfather, Hezekiah West, a native of Connect- icut, was killed at an early age by the falling of a tree. He left a widow and a family of nine children, who after his death moved to the State of New York.

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Erastus West, the third of the nine, was born in Hartford, Conn., in the latter part of last century. He received a plain, practical education, and at an early age developed a very decided talent for mechanism. Follow- ing the natural bent of his mind, he secured a position in a spinning-wheel manufactory in Pennsylvania, where he found some scope for his native ability as well as congenial occupa- tion. Among the articles made in the factory were carding-machines of his invention. He continued in this line of business until 1813; and two years later, in 1815, he came to Livonia. The journey was made in wagons; and upon his arrival he found only a few white families in this locality, which was still a favorite hunting-ground of the aboriginal American. The land was, for the most part, wild; and the life of the new-comer was nec- essarily an arduous one. He had the misfort- une, just at the point when he needed the cheer and encouragement that only a loving and faithful wife can give, to lose her who had given her young life into his keeping.

Mrs. West died in 1815, leaving three chil- dren - Perry, De Forest, and Experience. Mr. West continued the manufacture of card- ing-machines, but, in order to buy his prop- erty, was obliged to contract a debt of two hundred dollars; and shortly after, through the depreciation of the currency, which in- volved many people in absolute ruin, he lost all that he had accumulated. Returning to Pennsylvania, he was married there to Miss Lucy M. Burns, of that State, who was born May 6, 1800. The young bride accompanied her husband to his home in New York State on horseback, in truly mediaval fashion. She was the mother of Lovette, of whom this is a memoir; Ziba HI. ; Covil G., who died at the age of nineteen; Lucy M .; Elisha; Jonathan B. ; and Erastus N. The mother died at the homestead on February 23, 1888, aged eighty- eight years. The father was seventy years of age at the time of his death.

After completing his course of study at the business college at Poughkeepsie Mr. Lovette P. West, who had obtained his elementary education in the district schools at Livonia, became travelling salesman for the firm of

Johnson & Co., with whom he remained for eighteen months. At this time he bought out the interests of the other heirs to his father's estate, of which he became entire owner. He then went to Jeffersonville, Ind., where he entered the employment of Hall, Semple & Co., as foreman of their manufacturing estab- lishment, which position he held for three years. On returning to Lakeville, he em- barked in a mercantile enterprise, which he conducted for eleven years. The business was sold finally ; and Mr. West, who still retained his real estate, devoted himself to larger pur- poses and ends. He was prime mover in accomplishing the building of the railroad from Lakeville to Conesus Lake Junction, a work which was completed in July, 1882, and which has been of inestimable advantage to the whole community. This road, of which he was President, was sold to the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad, which took possession of it in 1886, since which time Mr. West has been actively engaged in the culti- vation of his estate. He is still President of the branch road, which has never had any other executive head, and is also agent at its station.

In 1869 he was married to Miss Hattie M. Dimmick, daughter of Shubael and Mary W. (Clawson) Dimmick, of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. West's paternal grand- father was an officer holding the rank of Cap- tain in the Revolutionary army. Mr. and Mrs. West have reared five children - Harry F., Erastus L., Charles S., Florence L., and Livingston D. Harry holds the position of head clerk of the Division Freight Agency of the New York Central & Hudson River Rail- road at Rochester; and Erastus, who is at school still, is telegraph operator at the Lakeville station. The other children are at home, attending school.

Mr. Lovette P. West, who has always been a Republican, casting his first Presidential vote for the martyred Lincoln, has held some of the most important offices in his town. He was Postmaster until change of administration, and since that date (1870) has been Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Masonic Order, which lays upon the wearers of its en-

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sign the burden of their fellow-creatures who are in need, and declares the law of mutual obligation and universal love. A lifelike portrait of this worthy craftsman of the mystic fraternity may be found among the illustra- tions of the present volume.

OSEPH M. DUNCAN, President of the Duncan Salt Company, whose works are located at Silver Springs, Wyo- ming County, was born at Syracuse, N. Y., April 17, 1846. His father, William Duncan, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, where he carried on the business of a stone- mason, and came to the United States soon after marriage. He settled at Oswego, N. Y., and was for some time employed in erecting a pier and light-house at that important lake port. He at length removed with his family from Oswego to Syracuse, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He assisted in the erection of the Presbyterian church and other prominent buildings, and died at the age of sixty. The maiden name of William Duncan's wife was Mary Wood. She was also born near Aberdeen, Scotland. They reared six chil- dren, four of whom are living - Elizabeth, who married Dr. A. H. Tanke, of Syracuse; William A. ; Joseph M. ; and John H. Duncan. The mother died at Syracuse, aged seventy years. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 51

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

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