Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 55

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 55
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 55

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Mr. Letchworth's business enterprises grew to large proportions, and were crowned with gratifying success; but all this meant arduous and protracted labor and impaired health, and he was at length compelled to relax his efforts in the direction of business, and seek rest at his country home on the Genesee. Always in active sympathy with that which is best in thought and purest in sentiment, in the partial retirement of his rural retreat he now had leisure to indulge his taste for polite lit- erature and to extend his knowledge of human works and human needs. An ardent lover of the beautiful, he gladly gave time to the en- couragement of the fine arts. In 1874 he was elected President of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, a position held by him for three years. During this time the member- ship was increased, the annual exhibitions were made more interesting, the gallery was enriched by the addition of new pictures, the debts were paid off, and an endowment fund was created whereby the Academy was placed on a firm financial basis. Mr. Letchworth has also served as President of the Buffalo Historical Society, as Trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank and of the Buffalo Female Academy, and has been steadfast in his de- votion to the various charities of the city.

With a view to giving himself more fully to philanthropic work, in 1869 Mr. Letch- worth withdrew from the firm in which he had been so prosperously and happily associated

for a quarter of a century. In April, 1873, he received from Governor Dix the unsolicited appointment of Commissioner of the State Board of Charities, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Samuel Eastman, an office he has held by successive reappointments for twenty-two years. His attention was soon directed to the condition of the children in the almshouses, whom he found subjected to the most degrading associations and in a way to grow up as paupers and criminals. Mr. Letchworth secured an appropriation of three thousand dollars from the legislature for the purpose of making, through the State Board of Charities, an inquiry into the causes of pau- perism and crime. He was then empowered by the State Board to obtain statistical infor- mation relating especially to the unfortunate children in the poorhouses and almshouses. He entered systematically upon his work, and made extended and thorough visitations to these institutions throughout the State, and prepared a faithful and comprehensive report of his work. By means of an ingenious chart, with the use of colors he showed with the utmost clearness the various influences that affected the physical, mental, and moral con- ditions of these pauper children. He also recommended such action by the legislature as would break up the system of rearing children in almshouses. His report, which, with the general report of the Board, was sent to the legislature in January, 1875, became the basis of subsequent legislation, resulting in the en- actment of a law for the better care of pauper and destitute children, under which thousands of little ones were removed from the poor- houses and placed in families, asylums, and other institutions remote from the contaminat- ing influences to which they had been sub- jected.

It being deemed by many impracticable to dispense with the almshouse care of children in New York City, a bill exempting New York County from the operation of this man- datory law was prepared and presented to the legislature, indorsed by the Commissioners of Charities of the city, and supported by the city press. Mr. Letchworth was now ready with a special report on this new question,

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which was sent to the legislature in January, 1876, showing in its true light the want of economy in the system, its inhumanity, and the moral and physical degradation it worked upon those living within the circle of its baneful influences. This proved so effective that a strong revulsion of feeling followed. The press condemned what it had lately approved, and public sentiment became pro- nounced against the evil. Mr. Letchworth's recommendations were accepted; and the Ran- dall's Island Nurseries, which had long been a reeking source of corruption and demoraliza- tion, were abolished, and their patronage, in the form of salaries, amounting annually to about twenty thousand dollars, was extin- guished.

In the following year Mr. Letchworth visited personally nearly all the child-saving and reformatory institutions of the State, con- tinuing his good work of investigation and recommendation, which he embodied in a third carefully prepared report.

On January 1, 1874, Mr. Letchworth was elected Vice-President of the State Board of Charities, and on April 21, 1877, was reap- pointed by Governor Robinson Commissioner for the full term of eight years. On March 14, 1878, he was elected President of the Board, which highly responsible position he held until his resignation of the office ten years later. His time has been given, with- out compensation, to the work of the Board, work requiring rare discretion and unlimited patience; and in its prosecution he has visited institutions in nearly all the Northern, Western, and Middle States, and has also carried his spirit of investigation into other countries, studying closely wherever he went the care and treatment of the dependent and delinquent classes. During the years 1880 and 1881 he devoted seven months to travel in England, Ireland, Scotland, and on the Continent, gathering such information as would aid him in the discharge of his duties.

Mr. Letchworth's comprehensive volume entitled "The Insane in Foreign Countries," a book noble in purpose, scientific in state- ment, and scholarly in style, is replete with valuable information and suggestion, espe-

cially in reference to the provision made abroad for the insane poor, and may be said already to have been a means of ameliorating the condition of that wretched class of unfort- unates in the United States. It has received high commendation from influential medical journals and other periodicals and newspapers, including among others the American Journal of Medical Sciences, Journal of the American Medical Association, the Medical Analectic, the Sanitarian, the Medico-Legal Journal, the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, the New England Medical Gazette, the New York Trib- une, World, Sun, Post, and the American Journal of Insanity.

In order to preserve the natural features of the wildly beautiful scenery of the upper Gen- esce from the ruthless hand of land specula- tors, Mr. Letchworth purchased a tract of about seven hundred acres lying along both sides of the river, and including the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. The water of the Upper Falls dashes down a height of seventy feet, while the Middle cataract rushes with a tumultuous roar over a perpendicular precipice of one hundred and ten feet. The current of the Lower Falls, whose descent is ninety feet, is very rapid; and its erosive action has cut a ravine fifty feet deep through the solid rock.

The natural beauty of the immediate sur- roundings of Mr. Letchworth's home is in- geniously heightened by artistic effects, among which should be mentioned a fountain supplied with clear water from the hills, which sends up through the long days of sum- mer a sparkling column terminating in a cloud of foam. Swiss cottages upon the cliffs near by suggest thoughts of Alpine ranges and mountain airs. An ancient Indian coun- cil house occupies an eminence overlooking the grounds. Within these rude walls the chiefs of the Iroquois held their war councils or smoked the calumet, and distributed the spoils of the hunt. Here also parties of the Senecas, returning from predatory excursions south and west, held their feasts; and here many war captives haye run the gauntlet, including among their number the brave soldier and noted prisoner, Major Moses Van Campen.

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Within doors a library, which includes an extensive collection of books relating to his special work, objects of artistic household adornment, rare lots of bric-à-brac and curios from various countries, evince the intellectual and artistic tastes of the proprietor of Glen Iris.

In contemplating the life work of the man and noting its results, one feels that a single, unswerving, indomitable principle must have been the mainspring of his being - the love of humanity. The inarticulate cry of the alms- house children and the silent plaint of the poor and the unfortunate reached his sympa- thetic heart, and he determined to ameliorate their condition. To this his personal efforts through long years of his life have been directed. Inspired by a courage born of ten- derness, he has been enabled to effect some of the great social reforms of the age.

It is gratifying to note that the services of this faithful worker in the cause of humanity have been recognized by the Board of Re- gents of the University of the State of New York, which in 1893 conferred upon Mr. Letchworth the degree of LL. D., "in recog- nition of his distinguished services to the State of New York as a member and President of the State Board of Charities and as an author of most valuable contributions to the literature pertaining to the dependent classes." This is a distinction rarely bestowed, the degree having been conferred by the Board of Regents only in a few extraordinary instances during the one hundred and ten years of the existence of the university.

R UFUS K. TAYLOR is a well-known and much respected resident of the town of York, Livingston County, N. Y. Ilis father, Jasher Taylor, was of good old English descent, and was born in Buckland, Mass. From that beauti- ful, quiet New England town on the banks of the Deerfield River, whose waters, then un- contaminated by the waste of the modern fac- tory, reflected the passing cloud or the leafy shrub on its shore, Mr. Taylor migrated in 1827 to Covington, Wyoming County, N. Y.

Although the pioneer work of clearing the forest, making roads, and erecting buildings had already been accomplished, still Mr. Taylor found there was plenty to do in per- fecting the farm of eighty-five acres which he bought, and getting his land under good culti- vation. The life of an ambitious farmer is always a busy one and full of activity, and Mr. Taylor's was no exception to the rule. He died at the age of seventy-two years, leav- ing a record of honest and honorable endeavor, which, although perhaps not showing brilliant achievements, shows much useful service, well rendered and worthy of emulation.

Mr. Jasher Taylor's wife was before her marriage Betsey Bryant. Her lineage is un- known to the present writer, but the opinion may be hazarded that she was a descendant of Stephen Bryant. They had seven children - Asenath, Eliza, William, Henry (deceased), Rufus K., Charles, and Mary. All are still living except two, and three have homes in the vicinity of Covington, William and Rufus residing not far from the old place, in the next county and the next town of York.

Rufus K. Taylor was born in Covington, May 4, 1838, and was educated in the district schools of Wyoming County. Upon leaving school he chose the occupation of farming, and has since continued to follow agricultural pursuits. After living for eighteen years with his brother William on the home farm, which they cultivated together, in 1874 Mr. Taylor bought the old A. Stewart place in South West York.

In 1883 Mr. Rufus K. Taylor married Julia Miller; and their home is brightened by the presence of two children who have been born to them, both daughters, Mabel and Mary. Although Mr. Taylor lived in his early man- hood through the stirring events of the war times, he did not enter in active service him- self, but paid for a substitute.

Mr. Taylor has always been a strong advo- cate of the Republican principles in politics, and has always voted the Republican ticket. He was fortunate enough to reach manhood and obtain the right to vote when one of the nation's greatest leaders was nominated to the

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Presidency, and his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

ROVE BARNUM, a popular musician of Wyoming County, New York, who resides upon his farm near the vil- lage of Cowlesville, in the town of Benning- ton, was born at Alden, Erie County, July 4, 1847. His father, Salmatious P. Barnum, a native of Vermont, was born in 1815. His paternal grandfather was the Rev. Luther Barnum, a Methodist preacher, who came with his ox team from Vermont, and settled in the woods at Sheldon as a pioneer, about the year 1820. He was an itinerant much of his life, and also a manufacturer of potash. The maiden name of his wife was Dorcas Pat- ten; and they reared two sons - Salmatious and Chamberlain Barnum, both now deceased. The Rev. Luther Barnum survived his wife, and died at about the age of sixty years. Their graves are in the burial-ground at Cowlesville.

Salmatious P. Barnum was a merchant in Cowlesville for some twenty years previous to the Civil War; but during that eventful period he settled upon a hundred-acre farm, where he resided the remainder of his life. He was a thorough musician, and organized the band of which he was leader and director for many years, his son, the subject of this sketch, assuming that position after his father's death. This band is composed mostly of stringed instruments, and is more properly an orchestra of eight pieces. In 1845 Mr. Barnum married Odell Rathburn, a native of Onondaga County; and they reared two sons and one daughter, Grove, the subject of this sketch, being the eldest son. . Ida Bar- num, his only sister, was a very talented artist, who made a specialty of portrait paint- ing, at which she was remarkably proficient, having executed a very praiseworthy effort in that line at the age of seven years. She died at the age of thirty-nine, deeply mourned by all who knew her.

Grove Barnum received a common-school education, and also attended Bryant & Strat- ton's College at Buffalo. He resided at

home, assisting in the farm duties until his first marriage, which occurred October 19, 1871, to Maria Fulton, of Alexander, Gen- esce County, a teacher, and a daughter of Charles Fulton. Mrs. Maria Fulton Barnum died at Cowlesville in 1881, at the age of thirty-two, leaving two sons and one daugh- ter. Pliny, the elder son, an assistant teller of the Third National Bank at Syracuse, has a wife and one daughter. The other son, Charles, is now a young man, aged nineteen years, residing at home. His sister, May Bar- num, an interesting and bright young lady, also resides at home. Mr. Barnum was mar- ried the second time in 1885 to Miss Kate Goldburg, of Sardinia, Erie County, by whom he has three living children - Florence, aged eight years; Grove, a lively boy of six; and an infant son. They have lost two children, one aged four years and the other eighteen months.

Mr. Barnum in politics is a Democrat, and has rendered some public service. He was Supervisor three terms, and was defeated for the Assembly by his friend, Vangorder. He is now State Inspector in Agriculture. Mr. Barnum is not a member of any church, but supports the different religious denomina- tions. He is recognized through this section as a skilful musician and band leader. As people say hereabouts, "Everybody knows Grove Barnum, and everybody likes him."

OBERT RAE, M. D., a highly es- teemed physician and prominent citi- zen in Portageville, N. Y., was born in Scotland, December 10, 1835. His father, Thomas Rae, was a native of that country, as was also his grandfather, who bore the same name of Thomas, and who followed farming, cultivating the soil, and providing in this way for a large family of children. Thomas, Jr., was the second son of his par- ents, and was brought up to his father's occu- pation, remaining at home in his early years, while he attended the parish school and learned methods of farm work. In 1852 he journeyed to Canada, and was employed for several years as contractor on the railroad be- tween Montreal and Ottawa, as one of the firm

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of Sykes, Deberg & Co. After closing his engagement there, he returned to Scotland, and lived in retirement until 1861, in which year he again set sail for this country, and on his arrival came to Portageville, where he spent the rest of his life, his age being fifty- six at the time of his decease. The wife of Thomas Rae was before her marriage Miss Mina Grey. She was a native of Scotland, and the only one of a family of three children who came over to this country. Her father was a native of Scotland, and never left the land of his birth. The children of Thomas and Mina Rae were nine in number, four of whom are still living - Robert; Mary, mar- ried to the Rev. Dr. Allison, a missionary in Africa; Jane, Mrs. Price, of Michigan; and Anna, not married, living in Michigan. Mrs. Rae lived to the age of fifty-two. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and spent her last days with her son in Portage- ville.

Robert Rae lived in Dumfriesshire, Scot- land, till he was twenty years of age, in boy- hood attending the parish school, and later the school known as Wallace Hall. He began his professional studies at the Edinburgh Medical College, and continued them in the University of Medicine in the city of New York, which he entered in 1858. After graduation he en- gaged at once in the active practice of his pro- fession. Shortly after the beginning of the war, in 1862, he enlisted in the First New York Regiment of Dragoons; and during the campaign he was promoted to the office of Major. On June 11, 1864, he was made pris- oner at Trevilian, Va., and was held for some time in confinement in various places, spend- ing seven months in the prison at Charleston, S.C. His term of service ended in July, 1865. In all the chief engagements his regi- ment was prominent, and stood high in the estimation of the Military Department at Washington for courage and discipline.

At the close of the war Dr. Rae resumed the practice of his profession, coming to this neighborhood and establishing himself with good success, and rising to the office of Presi- dent of the Medical Association, being also a member of the County Association, besides

which he has held many minor offices in the county. Dr. Rae married Miss Jane Porteous Herkness, a daughter of James Herkness, a merchant of Canada. Mrs. Rae was born in Scotland. Her father was a native of Canada. Dr. and Mrs. Rae have one child, Mary L. Rac. In politics the Doctor is a Republican. He has been County Coroner, Pension Sur- geon, and Examiner, holding these offices sev- eral years; and as a man of ability and distinc- tion in his profession, and as an upright and loyal citizen, Dr. Rae is a valuable member of the community in which he lives.

ARTIN LINDSEY, a prosperous farmer, whose well-tilled acres lie in District No. 9, town of Attica, N. Y., is a native of Warren County, where his birth occurred March 3, 1821. His father, Kiliab Lindsey, who was born in the same town, April 30, 1786, was a son of Archibald, also a native of that local- ity. Archibald Lindsey was a Revolutionary soldier, and died about 1837, at the age of ninety-one. He was thrice married, his first wife, grandmother of Martin Lindsey of this notice, bearing him nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom arrived at maturity and became the heads of as many respective households.

Kiliab Lindsey, on attaining his majority, selected a wife in Miss Eleanor Loop, of War- ren County. Their marriage occurred January 15, 1807, the bride being a year younger than her husband, April 20, 1787, having been the day of her birth. Sixteen years after, in the fall of 1833, in company with two other fami- lies, they moved to the town of Attica, Wyo- ming County, making the journey through the woods with horses. The country was wild, and deer and other game were plentiful. On arriving in Attica, Mr. Lindsey invested in sixty acres of "articled " land, and later added fifty more. The improvements on the land were few, consisting chiefly of a small clearing and a log house and barns. But Mr. Lindsey was an energetic man, and well acquainted with farm work; and it was not long before the results of his industry were apparent in the

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changed aspect of the place and the home com- forts by which they were gradually surrounded. Four years after arriving in Attica Mr. Lind- sey's father, Archibald Lindsey, came to re- side with them, and here passed the remainder of his days. The new homestead witnessed the growth of a large family; for twelve chil- dren came to Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, two of whom, however, died in infancy. The other ten all reached manhood and womanhood, and had families of their own, six of them being still alive. The living are as follows : Lois, wife of William Walbridge, a farmer of At- tica; Martin, the subject of this sketch; Will- iam R., a farmer near Attica; Eleanor, wife of J. P. Washburn, a farmer of Attica; Al- mira, who married Lorenzo Burlingame, and resides in Holland, Erie County, N. Y. ; and C. V. Lindsey, a farmer living in the neigh- borhood of his brother Martin. The father of these children died in 1876, at the age of eighty-nine.

Martin Lindsey was brought up on his father's farm, and early became accustomed to agricultural work. He acquired a district- school education, and on January 31, 1844, was married to Miss Lovina Smith, of Attica. Mrs. Lindsey's parents were Henry and Lydia (Whaley) Smith, the former of whom was born in Otsego County, and the latter in Mar- cellus, Onondaga County. Mr. Smith came to Attica in 1814, a youth of thirteen years, with his parents, Isaac and Hannah (Hawley) Smith. Mrs. Lindsey was the eldest of their fourteen children, the family consisting of five sons and nine daughters. Six of these brothers and sisters besides Mrs. Lindsey are now living in Wyoming County. Mrs. Lind- sey is a lady of well-cultivated mind, having received her education in the Attica Semi- nary, and having taught school some five terms before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey have been called to mourn the loss of two chil- dren -one a son, who died in infancy; the other a daughter, Mary, who was the widow of George Matteson. She died in 1882, leaving one daughter, Minnie, who resides with her grandparents. The living children are : Lydia, wife of Franklin J. Eastman, a neigh- boring farmer; and John Q., who married

Zemira Spink, and is also engaged in farming in this vicinity.

Mr. Martin Lindsey has a fine, productive farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres, of which he purchased seventy-three acres in 1846 and fifty-two acres in 1865. He built both the dwellings and the barns. He is engaged in general farming, keeping eighteen cows, and taking the milk to the factory. He is one of the leading farmers of the county, and the most of his present property has been acquired by the united industry of himself and his faithful wife. They are now enjoying the fruits of their labors, are still active and strong, and may be fairly described as "youth- ful old folks. " Mr. Lindsey is a Republican, but has not figured much as an office-holder, with the exception of serving about three years as Assessor.

RI S. JENKS, an industrious farmer of Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., was born in Smithfield, R. I., July 20, 1822. The Jenks family, or Jenckes, as spelled by some of its branches, has been prominent from Colonial times in "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. " In 1669 one Joseph Jenckes had a grant of land at Warwick, R. I., for a saw-mill. His son Joseph in 1720 was appointed agent for the colony in London, and after that he held vari- ous important offices, being Governor of the colony six years. About the middle of last century several of the name were living in Smithfield, which was incorporated in 1730. The roll of the "Smithfield Grenadiers, " a military company chartered in 1791, included Nicholas, George, David, and Daniel, and Second Lieutenant John Jenckes, Jr. ; while the Library Association, formed in 1797, included Adam, William, Joshua, and Nicholas Jenckes.

Members of the Jenks family were among the leaders in developing the manufacturing industries in that part of the State, Stephen Jenks being in 1806 the principal owner of the water-power at Central Falls, where a mill was built in 1824 by David and George Jenks. Stephen Jenks in 1811 held a government con- tract to manufacture ten thousand muskets at

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 55

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

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