Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 54

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 54
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 54

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ELSON JANES, for many years agent for General Wadsworth's estate, and now living in retirement at Gen- eseo, Livingston County, N. Y., where he has long been identified with public affairs, was born in Conesus, in this county, January 3, 1819. His grandfather, Heman Janes, was a native of England. He emi- grated to America, and, after spending about forty years in the United States, removed to Canada, where he died.

Elijah Janes, son of Heman, was a native of New York State, where he was reared a farmer. He married, and resided in Conesus until his son Nelson was about five years old, when he removed to Canada, where he re- mained for a time; but in 1840 he went to Indiana, and there passed his declining years, dying at the age of eighty. His wife, Polly Clark, a native of Cayuga County, was the mother of eight children, two of whom died young. The others were: Nelson, the subject of this sketch; Laura; Adeline E. ; Ann Eliza; Sarah; and William C. Mrs. Janes died at the age of sixty years.

The early life of Nelson Janes was passed in the vicinity of Woodstock, Canada, where, besides attending school, he was employed in farm work until reaching the age of nineteen,

at which time he came to Geneseo, his uncle then being Sheriff of Livingston County. In 1841 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, in which capacity he served three terms, or nine years in succession, having been reappointed for two terms after the expiration of his first. He was also Constable for the town of Gen- eseo at this time. From 1849 to 1855 he was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and from 1850 to 1855 he was manager for the estate of William II. Spenser. In 1855 he was en- gaged by General James S. Wadsworth to superintend his affairs in Buffalo, which he did until 1863, when the General induced him to assume charge of the entire estate with headquarters at Geneseo. His new duties re- quired him to not only manage the Geneseo and Buffalo affairs of the Wadsworth estates, but also several outlying interests in Alle- gany County and in the States of Michigan and Ohio. This position he held until Jan- uary 1, 1889, when on account of failing health he was compelled to practically retire from active responsibility. He, however, still remains in the employ of the estate, as his long experience of forty-nine consecutive years at the head of its vast interests makes him of untold value to the heirs at the present time.

In 1842 he married Philena E. Baker, daughter of Timothy Baker, of Livonia, and has three children - Mary A. ; Laura L., a graduate of Temple Hill Academy; and Will- iam S., the latter educated in the normal school, and now in a manufacturing establish- ment at La Porte, Ind., where he is express agent, time-keeper, and pay-master. He mar- ried Flora Miller, of the above-named city; and they have four children - -- Nelson, Shelby, Catherine, and May, the first two mentioned being twins. Mrs. Janes, who was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, died in the month of April, 1874, her decease being the cause of much regret by the entire commu- nity, in which she held a very high place.

During his long residence in Geneseo Mr. Janes has held many positions of public trust. He has been a Trustee and Secretary of the Cemetery Association for thirty years, and a Trustee of the union school for twenty- eight years. He was also a Trustee of the

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village, and its President for several terms, besides being its Treasurer for four years. He was Clerk of the village two terms, and in 1869 was Supervisor of the town of Geneseo. Since 1863 he has been a Director of the Genesee Valley National Bank. Mr. Janes has many times been obliged to decline impor- tant public offices on account of business press- ure. He was a stanch supporter of the Whig party, supporting General Harrison in 1840, and was one of the founders of the Republican party in New York State.

Mr. Janes has led an exceptionally well- regulated life, faithfully and steadfastly adher- ing to the right in all his transactions, always vigilant in the discharge of his duties, both public and private, and enjoying the highest respect and esteem of his employers and the public generally. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Janes having been a Trustee thereof for twenty-five years, during the period from 1864 to 1889.

ON. EDWIN A. NASH, of Avon, N. Y., County Judge, and ex-District Attorney, was born in Bedford, Canada; but his claim to American citizenship is unquestionable.

His father, Adolphus Nash, was a native of Dorset, Vt. His mother, although born in Canada, was of American parentage. Her father and mother were Dutchess County, New York, people. He traces his paternal ancestry back to the Nash family of Herefordshire, Eng- land. The following is an extract from a volume in the British Museum entitled, "Gen- ealogies and Pedigrees of Herefordshire Fami- lies, collected by William Berry" : "Margery Baker and Thomas Nash, married and went to New England." The paternal ancestry is further traced in a genealogy of the Nash fam-

ily published some forty years ago.

Thomas

Nash and family landed at Boston, July 26, 1637, in the ship "Hector" from London. The line of descent from Thomas Nash : Tim- othy Nash, born in England, 1626; John Nash, born in Hadley, Mass., 1667; Stephen Nash, Stockbridge, Mass., 1704; Moses Nash, First Lieutenant in Revolutionary War, born

in Westfield, Mass., 1741; Peletiah Bliss Nash, Stockbridge, Mass., 1770; Adolphus Nash, born in 1813; Edwin A. Nash, born October 26, 1836.

Adolphus Nash, the father of the subject of our sketch, received his education in the dis- trict schools of Massachusetts, and learned the trade of cabinet-maker at Troy, N. Y., and then went to Canada, married, and set up business for himself. He located in a small place in Upper Canada near Kingston, built up a good business, and might perhaps have remained in Canada permanently; but a few years after his arrival the relations between the United States government and the Prov- inces became so strained that the Canadians made things decidedly unpleasant for such Yankees as were unfortunate enough to be within their dominion, and the upshot of it was that Mr. Nash had to choose between loss of life and property, and loss of property only.

Of course, he took the latter alternative; but, as even the surrender of his earthly possessions would not have entirely satisfied the enraged populace, he silently stole away with his fam- ily at night, leaving house, store, and stock of furniture. So, when he stood once more under the protection of the stars and stripes, he was in decidedly reduced circumstances, having but two dollars with which to practically begin life over again. He took up his abode at Canandaigua, and entered the employ of Eldad Clark, doing cabinet work, and being paid by the piece. He continued in Mr. Clark's employ for two years, when he removed to Reed's Corners, and from there to West Bloomfield. In 1849, ten years after his hasty migration from Canada, he removed from West Bloomfield to Lima, where he resided until his death in 1884, at the age of seventy-one. His widow survived him, and continued to reside in the town of Lima until her death, which occurred in August, 1894, at the age of eighty-one. Her maiden name was Harriet Smith. The subject of this sketch was the first child born to them; and, although he was followed by a brother and a sister, he is now the only survivor, as his brother died in early youth, and his sister, Mary A. Nash, died at Lima in 1886, a member of the faculty and

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teacher of art in the Genesee Wesleyan Semi- nary.

Edwin A. Nash was educated at the Lima district schools and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He studied law in the office of the late Harvey J. Wood at Lima, was admitted to the bar in 1860, and was associated with Mr. Wood in the practice of law until the death of the latter in 1871. Mr. Nash continued the law business at Lima alone until 1878, when he removed to Avon, where he has since re- mained. Some nine years after he was ad- mitted to the bar he was chosen as District Attorney, holding that position for two terms from January, 1869, being chosen again in 1872. In 1878 he was elected County Judge, was elected again to the same office in 1884, and again in 1890.

The above facts tell their own story as to the standing of Judge Nash at the bar and on the bench, and his standing as a citizen, so that any extended eulogy here would be as unnecessary to the public as it would be dis- tasteful to him. The Hon. Edwin A. Nash was married in 1862 to Miss Frances A. Mor- gan. But one child blessed the union, a daughter, who died at the age of seventeen. Judge Nash cast his first Presidential vote in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln, and has been a Republican from the beginning.

ENRY J. McNAIR, of Arcade, Wy- oming County, N. Y., long and favor- ably known to the community as book-keeper and clerk in the estab- lishment of L. A. Davis, was born in the town, May 21, 1860. He is of Scotch ancestry, his father, William McNair, being a native of Portpatrick, Scotland, where he lived in his youth, and commenced life as a sailor in the employ of various coasting-vessels cruising off the coasts of the British Isles. At the age of thirty-three he gave up navigation and came to America, and remained two years with a brother in New Jersey, and then went to Arcade, where he purchased a farm and took up his residence for a time; but in 1894, get- ting somewhat advanced in years, he leased the place and went to the village, and has

since resided with his son. He is now sev- enty-eight years old. The wife of William McNair was before her marriage Mrs. John Simpson, formerly Miss Margret Miller, who in early life emigrated to this country, and spent her life in Arcade. Their marriage took place November 1, 1854. The six children resulting from this marriage were: Samuel R., of Ellicottsville, Cattaraugus County, of the firm of Laidlaw & McNair, lawyers; Henry J., of this sketch ; George W., formerly of the Arcade Bank ; one brother who died in March, 1893 ; and a brother and sister who died while children. The mother finished her term of years in October, 1894, having been a member, as also the father, of the United Presbyterian church of Freedom, Cattaraugus County.

Henry J. McNair lived during his boyhood on his father's farm, and attended the district school in Eagle Village. At the age of seven- teen (1877) he took a position as clerk in the establishment of W. W. Davis, where he has remained during the past eighteen years, grad- ually growing in the estimation of the head of the concern, and being given more and more of its responsibility. Mr. McNair has charge of the book-keeping, and in the absence of Mr. Davis has supervision of the various de- partments, including the purchase and sale of goods, which is done on a large scale, requir- ing good judgment and keen business ability; and it is doubtless owing to these qualifica- tions in Mr. McNair as his chief manager that Mr. Davis's business is so successfully and firmly established.

Henry J. McNair was married in May, 1885, to Miss Alice Spencer, daughter of Bur- ton ' Spencer, a well-known resident of the town of Arcade, moving to Prophetstown, III., about the year 1857, where he died. This union has been blessed by two children - Julia A. and William G. MeNair. Although giving devoted attention to his chief business, Mr. McNair has manifested a true citizen's inter- est in the local matters which concern the town and its neighborhood. He served as Town Collector during one term, Village Col- lector on three separate elections, and Town Clerk two years; he was elected Supervisor in

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1894 for two years' service, and has been some years on the School Board. This is always an important office, as its work deals with the interests of education, and demands of its offi- cers men of broad views, keeping in line with the rapid development of the times. He is a member of Arcade Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 491, of which he has been secretary four years, a charter member of China Lodge, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 698, a seven years' member and four years' secre- tary of the Chemical Engine Company in Arcade, Wyoming County, also Chief of Fire Department. And, not overlooking religious matters, he attends with his wife the Congre- gational church in Arcade.

The chief point indicated by Mr. McNair's success in the preceding narrative has been continuance in his chosen career and improv- ing its opportunities for an understanding of the business. This happily follows the line of Mr. Longfellow's words: "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what one can do well, and doing well what one must do, without thought of fame." And, in con- clusion, since "there is no chance in results," the law of compensation here has proved that more responsibility is the award of carrying a little well.

IRAM BOSTWICK WARNER, an energetic farmer of Lima, Living- ston County, N. Y., was born in that town August 7, 1826, the year when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, on Independence Day. Mr. Warner's grand- father, William, came from Canaan, N. Y., to this section of the country in company with his brother, Asahel, in 1794. They first located a claim, and in the fall of that year went back, and were married in the winter of 1794-95. In the spring they and their wives, joined by two other brothers, migrated with ox teams, crossing Cayuga Lake on the ice in the month of March, a dangerous undertaking at that sea- son of the year. Daniel and William Warner settled first in Richmond, Ontario County, where they remained from 1795 to 1811, when they came to Lima, then known as Charleston,

William bringing seven children. They trav- elled by marked trees, as there was then only one road -- the old road from Albany to Buf- falo ---- in this section.

The four brothers Warner built log houses, and, in clearing the land, burned many acres of fine, heavy timber. Indians were numer- ous and to a certain extent troublesome. The Warners raised flax and wool, and made all their own clothing. Seed potatoes were brought with them for future crops. Later on William Warner was Captain of the militia at Lima. His wife was Lois Bristol, belonging to another pioneer family. Grandfather War- ner was one of fourteen children, and with seven of his brothers served in the Revolution. He and his wife reared a family of nine, as follows: Henry Warner, born October 9, 1797, died April 26, 1877. Polly Warner, born December 24, 1798, died in September, 1875. Miles B. Warner, born July 31, 1800, died May 20, 1877. Amelia Warner and Amanda Warner, twins, were born March 26, 1803 ; Amelia died March 1, 1823, and Amanda on January 4, 1865. William Warner, born August 10, 1807, died February 4, 1850. Albert, born November 13, 1809, is still liv- ing. Abel, born January 29, 1812, died Jan- uary 15, 1832. Lois N., born September 14, 1813, died December 23, 1831.

Miles Bristol Warner, their third child, father of the subject of the present sketch, was educated at the district schools of Richmond and Lima, and was a singing-teacher nearly all his early life. He carried on the farm purchased in 1811, and lived in Lima all the remainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy-seven, at the home of his son Hiram in the village of Lima. His wife was Jane R. Clark, the daughter of Thomas Clark, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Said Thomas Clark emigrated from Drumore town- ship, Lancaster County, to Ontario County, New York, in 1799, and, as he wrote in his Bible, "No road out, no road in."

Their son, Hiram Bostwick Warner, with the exception of a sister who lived to the age of sixteen, was the only child. Hiram was educated at the district schools of Lima, and later attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary

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in that town, working at the homestead farm until late in life. He removed to the village of Lima in 1876, but continued to carry on the farm until 1879, when he sold out and retired from active life. April 27, 1854, he married Harriet Horner, daughter of Hugh and Sarah E. (Humphrey) Horner, of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have never had children of their own; but their affectionate natures have prompted them to adopt two, who are grown up, married, and are now living in comfortable homes of their own. The Warners are much respected mem- bers of the Lima Presbyterian church. Mr. Warner has been a Republican in politics since 1864, casting his first Presidential vote for General Taylor, the Whig candidate, in 1848, the year the Mexican War closed.

"Oh, blest retirement, friend to life's decline ! How blest is he who crowns. in shades like these, A youth of labor with an age of case ! "

So writes that graceful poet, Oliver Gold- smith; and his lines are illustrated by such a career as those herein chronicled.

USTAV KREBS, a popular resident of Dansville, widely known as a tal- ented and accomplished musician and a man of superior worth, was born in Germany, April 9, 1829. His father, David Krebs, was an educated man, and was long engaged in teaching in his native country. In his last years he was the principal of a school. He died while yet in the midst of his usefulness, at the age of fifty-six years. He was twice married, his first wife bearing him two children - Gustav, of whom we write; and Carl.

Gustav was but six years old when his mother died, and he remained under the in- struction of his father until fourteen years of age. Having given evidence of his musical genius, he was placed under the tuition of competent teachers of that art, and while still a resident of Germany became famous for his skill as a player of the flute. At the age of twenty-five years Professor Krebs came to America under the auspices of the Mendels-

sohn Quintette Club of Boston, Mass., and remained with them seven years, playing throughout the New England States, although he spent the larger part of his time in Boston. He was subsequently a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for several years, and then turned his attention to the teaching of music, remaining in that city until his health failed, and then joining his brother in Web- ster, Mass. He came from Massachusetts to this county in 1874, and for a time was at the Jackson Sanatorium in Dansville. Deciding to establish himself permanently in this town, he built the fine house which he has since occupied, and where he welcomes his large circle of warm friends with a true and gener- ous hospitality. He has engaged in his chosen and loved profession a portion of the time since coming here, among his pupils being the son of Dr. Jackson, the manager of the Sanatorium. The Professor's brother, Carl Krebs, who was associated with him as a teacher for a time, died in Dansville.

Professor Krebs has been twice married, His first wife, whom he wedded in 1862, died in May, 1874. Her maiden name was Helen M. Davis; and she was born in Newport, Herkimer County, N. Y., being the daughter of Amasa and Sally Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of five children - Eliza, Harriet, Helen, Sarah, and Esther B. The youngest is the second wife of Professor Krebs, and presides over his household with a kind and genial courtesy. Professor Krebs is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics uniformly supports the principles of the Republican party.

ARLEY GARDNER, a retired farmer, who lives on his estate near the village of Attica, N. Y., was born on this place, January 8, 1818. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Gardner, was a man of note in Massachusetts, rising to the rank of Major in the Continental army during the Revolution, and afterward serving as a member of the State legislature. His two sons -- Asher, the father of Mr. Parley Gard- ner, and Adolphus . - came from New England

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to this part of New York, where they settled in 1808, before there were roads on this side of Attica. Asher was the owner of the one horse they had with them, and during the long journey hither the brothers rode alter- nately.

The brothers felled the trees from seventeen acres of forest-covered land, and began at once to build a small log cabin. Four years previous to their coming, in 1804, a few pio- neers had settled in this region, among whom Benjamin Nelson and a man by the name of Randall were the first, followed by Lora Phelps and Major Adams. Asher Gardner's family made the journey thither in a covered wagon drawn by two oxen and a horse. He and his good wife had laid by the snug little sum of six hundred dollars, four hundred dol-

lars of which he invested in fifty acres of land. Mrs. Gardner, who was before her marriage Philinda Patrick, was a faithful wife, and became the mother of five children - Reuben Patrick, born in 1812; Samantha, born in 1814, and now living in Attica; William, who died in 1878, owner of a fine farm of three hundred acres in the eastern part of Attica; Parley, of whom this is a memoir; and Josiah, who is also deceased.

Parley Gardner was early inured to farm labor, making himself generally useful even when he was but a little fellow of ten years old, and learning the lessons which were so useful in later years. He attended the dis- trict school, and worked on the farm between terms, until he attained his majority, at which time he engaged to give a year's labor on the farm for a new suit of clothes and two hun- dred dollars. In 1848, when he was thirty years of age, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Ann Wales. Her parents, Ros- well and Anna (Gardner) Wales, were among the early settlers of Attica, and like her hus- band's people came from Massachusetts.

Only one child was born of this marriage, a son, who bears the name of Blake, and is himself a family man. Blake Gardner was married November 29, 1877, to Miss Ellen A. Pratt, her parents being A. Sidney Pratt and Jane (Showerman) Pratt, of Massachu- setts and New York respectively. Mr. and

Mrs. Blake Gardner have one child, a son, Parley Van Gardner, now a boy in school.

ON. WILLIAM P. LETCHWORTH, LL.D., of Buffalo, N. Y., Commis- sioner of the State Board of Chari- ties, resides during the summer at his beautiful country seat, Glen Iris, on the picturesque bluffs of the Genesee River in Wyoming County, New York. He was born at Brownville, Jefferson County, May 26, 1823. Ilis father, Josiah Letchworth, came of English ancestry, and was born and reared in Philadelphia. His mother was a native of New Jersey. Both were members of the So- ciety of Friends. For a few years after their marriage they lived in Burlington, N. J., whence they removed to Auburn, N. Y. Jo- siah Letchworth was a man of positive char- acter, large intelligence, and philanthropic spirit, and became identified with many affairs of public interest. He devoted much thought and energy to the development of the public school system, and was outspoken and elo- quent in his advocacy of temperance and his opposition to human slavery. For many years he was an intimate friend of William H. Seward.

William P. Letchworth entered early upon a mercantile career, holding a confidential po- sition in one of the largest importing houses in the country. Declining an offer of part- nership, in 1848 he went to Buffalo, where he formed a connection with Samuel F. and Pascal P. Pratt, under the firm name of Pratt & Letchworth, taking the position of managing partner in a wholesale business of importing and manufacturing saddlery hardware. About this time was established in Buffalo the work- house now known as the Erie County Peniten- tiary, to which large numbers of both sexes were sentenced for short terms. Mr. Letch- worth's attention being called to the demoral- ization resulting from enforced idleness in close confinement, he conceived the plan, which proved practicable, of employing the prisoners in making goods which were then generally imported, rendering their services available for short periods of time, by so sub-

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dividing the work and multiplying processes that each person would be required to deal with a part of an article instead of the whole. Prior to this time convict labor had been util- ized only in State prisons, where the length of sentence gave cach prisoner opportunity to learn a trade. In the business of Pratt & Letchworth a pressing necessity being felt for the manufacture by themselves of malleable cast iron, Mr. Letchworth bent his energies in this direction, and with such good effect that a process was developed for the produc- tion of iron of a superior quality. The result was the establishment of the Buffalo Malle- able Iron Works, which in a few years be- came one of the largest works of its kind in the country.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 54

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

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