Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 59

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 59
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 59

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Mr. and Mrs. Tozier have had eleven chil- dren, eight sons and three daughters, of whom three sons are now deceased. Charles died at the age of two years, Edwin at eleven years, in 1862, while Mr. Tozier was serving with his regiment, and Lucian died at the age of six. The following are now living: Lester H., superintendent of the salt works at War- saw, having a wife and three daughters; An- nette, the wife of Alexander Rood, residing in Sinclairville, Chautauqua County, having two daughters and one son; Alice J., wife of Ami J. Warren, of Johnsonsburg; William S., who assists his father, having a wife, three sons, and three daughters; Orange L., Jr., a farmer of Pittsfield, Vt., who has three sons and one daughter; Charles M., also of Pittsfield, who has two sons, and who, in company with his brother, owns fifteen hundred acres of land, which they operate jointly; Harriet, wife of Edwin Hoy, residing at home, having one son and one daughter; and Hayden Humphrey, an attorney, who was admitted to the bar at Buffalo, January 3, 1894, married, but as yet not located, residing at home.

FORGE D. DOOER, a noted farmer and stock-raiser of Livingston County, present President of the vil- lage of Avon, is a native of Canandaigua, but has resided in Avon practically all his life, his folks having removed from Canandaigua to Avon shortly after he was born, and he having remained there ever since. He is of English descent, both his father, George Dooer, and his mother having been born in "Merrie England."

The nationality of their first-born child may be looked upon as somewhat uncertain from one point of view, although it was plain enough from a legal standpoint, for he was born on the high seas when his parents were immigrating from England to this country. As his father and his mother were both of English birth, and as he was born aboard a vessel flying the English flag, he was born an English citizen, according to law; but, as he was born in no particular country, but on a portion of the earth's surface which is com-

mon to all countries, and as his father and mother had practically renounced allegiance to England, although they had not yet be- come citizens of the United States, it would appear to the average man, unlearned in law, as if Joseph Dooer was born neither English nor American.

The Dooer family arrived in America in 1834, and took up their abode at Canan- daigua, where Mr. Dooer went to work for one of the early settlers and extensive land owners, Mr. Gregg, remaining in his employ about two years. During this time the sec- ond child of the Dovers, George D., the sub- ject of our sketch, was born, his birthday being July 20, 1836. Near the end of that same year the Dooer family removed to Avon, and it was in that town that the head of it passed the rest of his days. The maiden name of the mother of the family was Eliz- abeth Shaw; and she gave birth to five chil- dren - Joseph, born at sea; George D., born at Canandaigua; and Mary E., William B., and Jane H., all of whom were born at Avon.

George D. Dooer was educated at the Avon district schools, and since attaining manhood has made the butcher's business his chief oc- cupation, although he has also carried on farming to a considerable extent, and makes a specialty of raising stock for the market. He has been identified with the butcher's business for the past forty years, and some idea of the magnitude of his operations and of the extent to which he is engaged in stock- raising may be gained from the fact that he has a tract of two hundred acres in the west- ern part of the town devoted exclusively to raising stock for the market. He also carries on an extensive and highly cultivated farm.

He was married in 1859, his bride being Miss Mary J. Campbell, the daughter of Hiram Campbell, of Avon. Eight children have been born to them - George E., Will- iam J., Herman A., Bessie, Maud E., Mary Louise, James S., and Georgiana. Mr. Dooer has been a widower for some three years, his wife having been removed by death January 30, 1892. His daughter, Maud E., married A. A. Barnhart, and is a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has two children, and

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named the first one after her father, George D. The second one is named Archibald A. George E. Dooer married Jessie Knight, and has had one child born to him, Onnolee.

Always an active and stirring man, of quick intelligence and decision, Mr. George D. Dooer has gained prominence in public as well as in business affairs. He held the posi- tion of Collector four years, served as Super- visor during the years 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, and 1885, has long been a mem- ber of the Board of Village Trustees, and at the present writing is President of that body. He was President of the water-works in 1888. Mr. Dover cast his first vote for President in 1860, when he voted in favor of Stephen A. Douglas.

Being keenly interested in stock-raising and in farming, it naturally follows that Mr. Dooer is also interested in societies which have to do with those occupations. He has been awarded many premiums at cattle shows, and he believes in encouraging such exhibi- tions in every legitimate way ; for the way to attain the best possible results at the least possible expense is to compare notes with your neighbor, and that is just what cattle shows are for. Mr. Dooer was a director of the Western New York Agricultural Society, and is Vice-President of the e Livingston County Agricultural Society.

OHN R. STRANG, a prominent attor- ney of Livingston County, residing at Geneseo, was born at Galt, Canada, January 8, 1840. His father, James Strang, was a native of Scotland, where he resided until he reached manhood. He was well educated, and upon ataining his majority decided to enter the ministry of the Presbyte- rian church. After graduating from a theo- logical seminary, he came to America about 1830, and for some time supplied various pul- pits in the churches of the Associate Presby- terian Presbytery of Stamford, which at that time included all of Western New York, and the eastern part of Canada now known as Ontario, spending a number of months in York, Livingston County, N.Y. He was

called to the pastorate of the Associate Pres- byterian church at Galt, Canada, in 1833, continuing as pastor there until his decease, which occurred in October, 1857, at the age of sixty-three years, after having preached the gospel in one church for a period of twenty- four years. The maiden name of his wife was Rosanna Innis. She was a daughter of Hugh Innis, a farmer, who about 1812 removed from Delaware County to York, in Livingston County, becoming one of the early settlers of that town, and passing the remainder of his life there. She married the Rev. James Strang in 1838, and resided with him at Galt until her decease in 1848. Five children were born to them, of whom three are still living, namely: John R., the subject of this sketch; Hugh, now principal of the Collegiate Institute at Goderich, Canada; and James, a farmer, also living in Canada.

John R. Strang attended the schools at Galt, and at the age of sixteen commenced teaching. He taught one year in the town of his residence and two years at Berlin, Canada, after which he entered the law school at Albany, N. Y., remaining two terms, and coming from there to Geneseo for the purpose of reading law with Judge Scott Lord. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteer Regiment, and at its organization, on March 8 of that year, was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company G, and immediately went to the front with the regiment, remaining with it throughout its long service, which closed July 29, 1865. During this period he was re- peatedly promoted, being commissioned First Lieutenant of the company in September, 1862, Major of the regiment in November, 1862, and Lieutenant Colonel in December, 1863. While holding his commission as Lieutenant, he also served as Adjutant of the regiment for several months and as Assistant Adjutant-general on the Brigade Staff for some time. After April, 1862, he took part in all the engagements of the Army of Vir- ginia, to which his regiment was attached, closing with the second battle of Manassas; and after his regiment was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, September 3, 1862, he

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participated with it in the battles of South Mountain, Antictam, Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, and most of the en- gagements of Grant's campaign in Virginia during the summer of 1864, at one period dur- ing which his regiment was under fire daily for forty successive days. At the battle of Weldon Railroad, August 17, 1864, Colonel Strang was severely wounded, and was taken prisoner and removed to the Confederate hos- pital at Petersburg, Va., from which place he was eventually taken to the hospital at the famous Libby Prison at Richmond, Va. About the last of October he was paroled; and in December, having recovered suffi- ciently from his wound, he was placed in com- mand at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md., and later of the District of Annapolis. He was finally exchanged on March 25 of the follow- ing year, and about the same time was com- missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, but was unable to reach his troops until three days after Lee's surren- der. He remained in command of the regi- ment until its final muster out, July 29, 1865.

After his return to Geneseo he resumed his law studies with Judge Lord and also his course at the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in December, 1865, being ad- mitted to the bar in the same month. After spending a number of months in the Southern States, he returned once more to Geneseo, in July, 1866, and began the practice of law, in which he has been actively engaged ever since. From 1866 to 1876 he was associated with James B. Adams as his partner, and since January 1, 1882, Lockwood R. Doty, Esq., has been associated with him under the firm name of Strang & Doty. Besides his law practice he is engaged in other business enterprises, being one of the proprietors of the Livingston Republican, one of the leading weekly newspapers published in the county, and also serving as executor and trustee of large estates. In 1878 Colonel Strang was elected District Attorney of Livingston County, and held the office for two terms. In 1872 he was elected Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, serving four years, in 1876, 1877, 1885, and 1886 was Supervisor of the

town of Geneseo, and has been actively inter- ested in all local public matters, educational, social, and political. In politics he is and always has been a pronounced and active Re- publican. He has been an active friend of the public schools and of higher education, was long one of the Trustees of the Geneseo Academy, and is now serving as a member of the local Board of Trustees of the State normal school at Geneseo.

In 1867 Colonel Strang was united in mar- riage to Miss Louise Whitcomb, daughter of Walter Whitcomb, a merchant and banker of Nunda, N. Y. They have four children -- Louise, a graduate of the Genesco Normal School, and now a teacher; Walter Whit- comb, now attending the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons in New York City; Arthur Innis, a student in Cornell University; and Sophia, who is attending the normal school. Both of the sons are graduates of the aca- demic department of the Geneseo Normal School.

Colonel Strang has been a Master Mason since 1864, and has been Secretary and Junior Warden of Genesco Lodge, No. 214, A. F. & A. M. He is a comrade of A. A. Curtis Post, No. 392, Grand Army of the Republic, of Geneseo, and has been Post Commander for four terms, besides holding other offices in the same order, and is also a member of the Loyal Legion, New York Commandery. He is identified with the Presbyterian church, being a member of its Board of Trustees, and having also been an Elder since 1872.

AMUEL B. CARR, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Benning- ton, and a life-long resident of this town, was born upon the farm he now occupies, July 6, 1851. His father, Moses Carr, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1803, and was the son of David Carr, a sol- dier of the War of 1812, who later in life came to New York State, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-seven years, smart and active both mentally and physically to the day of his death.

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Connecticut in 1824, and came to this State, first locating at Bridgewater in Oneida County, from which place they removed to Orleans County, finally settling in Wyoming County about the year 1833 or 1834. Mr. Carr purchased a tract of wooded land in Ben- nington, which had been improved to the ex- tent of having a small log house erected for temporary habitation. He diligently applied himself to work, and in the course of a few years cleared over one hundred acres, and erected a substantial house and farm build- ings, thus establishing a permanent home for himself and family. Of the three sons and six daughters born to them, two sons and four daughters are still living, namely: Sarah, wife of Frank Reed, residing in Wisconsin; Elizabeth, wife of George W. Wright, of Beloit, Wis .; Hannah, who married Albert Allen, of Orleans County; Sophronia, wife of Jacob Suiter, of Genesee County; Marcus, a farmer in the vicinity of Bennington; and Samuel B., the subject of this sketch. The other son, James Carr, enlisted as a volunteer at Union Square, New York City, in 1861, in the Eighty-seventh Regiment, New York Ar- tillery. He was made a prisoner at the battle of Fair Oaks and confined at Hogg Island, coming home to die, at twenty-two years of age, of blood-poisoning and other bad effects caused by ill treatment and exposure. His sister Laura, wife of Seymour Lewis, died at Palmyra, leaving one son, Charles Lewis. The mother died March 12, 1891, aged eighty-six, and the father in July, 1894, at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

Samuel B. Carr has been a life-long resi- dent of Bennington, never having left his na- tive town except for short visits. He received his education at the district schools, and ac- quired a thorough knowledge of agriculture in assisting his father on the home farm. On June 16, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Lina Jones, of Folsomdale, daughter of Orson Jones, now deceased, who was an early settler in Bennington. Mrs. Carr died March 12, 1894, at the age of forty-eight, leaving three children. The eldest of these, Orson, a young man of twenty-two years, who mar- ried Ann Rice, resides at home. Warren,

aged fifteen, and Lucy, in her thirteenth year, are attending school. Mrs. Carr left one brother, Irving Jones, of Darien, and a sister, Mrs. Aurelia Winship, of Ashtabula, Ohio.

Mr. Carr is a Democrat in politics and an admirer of President Cleveland. He has served as Highway Commissioner for three years. In 1891 he erected his fine barn, a structure thirty-two by seventy feet, sixteen- feet posts, and in the same year rebuilt his residence. He keeps several cows, cheese being the principal dairy product. His farm is exceedingly fertile and free from weeds and brush, as he is an exceptionally neat and par- ticular farmer. It is situated upon high ground, but is very smooth and level, being without doubt one of the most valuable pieces of farm property in the town. He has toiled incessantly for many years; and the compe- tency which is the result of his exertions allows him to enjoy a much-needed recreation, although he is still strong and robust. In his latter years Mr. Carr has travelled consider- ably in the West, being absent from home during short intervals, but finds no part of the country so agreeable to him as his own pleas- ant and healthful home in Western New York.

m RS. MARY JACKSON OLIN, a highly respected resident of Perry, widow of the late German B. Olin, was born in that town near the village of La Grange, May 31, 1836. She was the daughter of John and Esther (Tillou) Martin, and grand-daughter of James and Mary ( Jackson) Martin, the grandfather a native of Ireland and the grandmother of Scotland. They were married in Ireland, came to America, and settled in Scipio, Ca- yuga County, N. Y., when the country was new, and reared four children --- Mary Ann, who married Joshua Cornwell; Elizabeth, wife of Junius Butler; William; and John. Mr. and Mrs. James Martin, after a long life of prosperity, died at an advanced age in Scipio. It may be worthy of mention that the mother of James Martin lived to reach the unusual age of one hundred and one years.

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the age of one month was brought by his par- ents to America. He was educated in Scipio, and came to East La Grange when a young man, and purchased a large tract of wild land, upon which he began a pioneer's life in a log cabin. He cleared and improved a valuable farm, and later erected a substantial resi - dence, which is still standing. Although a man of indomitable purpose and iron nerve, he was remarkably cheerful and jovial in his disposition. He died at the age of fifty-three years, leaving a widow, Esther Tillou Martin, and three children - Mary J., the subject of this sketch; Martha M., born July 16, 1840, who married Charles S. Read, residing in Perry, having two children; and John J., who married Eliza Wiggins. She died, leaving two sons- John B. and Charles G., the younger of whom his aunt, Mrs. Olin, has reared, educated, and started in business. John J. Martin married for his second wife Mary Keeton, by whom he has one son, William K.

Esther Tillou, Mrs. John Martin, was a daughter of James Tillou, who was born in New York City, November 2, 1766, and died in the town of Perry, Wyoming County, near Burke Hill. His children were as follows: Betsey, Jacob, Sophia, Jane, Phebe, Corn- burry, Esther, Ann Maria, Rufus, Mary, James, Rachel, Clementine, and John B., by first wife, and Mary Frances, by second wife. James Tillou's first wife was Fanny Dayton, and his second Mary Donaldson, widow of William Lester. Both wives were born in New Paltz, N. Y.

Mary Jackson was educated in the district schools and LeRoy University. In 1858 she was united in marriage to German B. Olin, who was born in Perry, April 6, 1837, and was a son of Truman and Betsy ( Hoyt ) Olin, grandson of Ezra Olin, great-grandson of John Olin, and great-great-grandson of John Olin, Sr., who came to America from Great Britain in the year 1700, and settled in East Green- wich, R. I., where he died June 10, 1745. The following are descendants of John, his second son, born September 17, 1741, who died, leaving nine children. Ezra, second son of John, born in Rhode Island, March 23,

1772, came to Perry in 1829, where he lo- cated in the eastern part of the town on a large tract of land, became a very prosperous farmer, and died November 5, 1858, having had fourteen children. Truman, son of Ezra, born in Rhode Island, October 16, 1810, was there educated ; and in 1824 he came to Perry, where he taught school, and on August 28, 1834, was married to Betsy Hoyt, who was born in Otsego County, April 9, 1814. He was a practical farmer, and by diligence and judicious management accumulated quite a large fortune. Ile died March 23, 1882, leaving a wife and two children, one having preceded him to the other shore, namely - Helen, who was born February 9, 1839, and died February 4, 1842; German B. is now deceased; Milo H., born December 3, 1842, married Mary B. Chapin, resides in Perry, and is a banker, having five children - Mary E., Carrie A., Walter T., Richard M., and German L.

German B. Olin, whose portrait accom- panies these memoirs, was educated in the schools of Perry and at Lima Seminary and Andover. After completing his studies he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, upon which he erected a new residence, and remod- elled the other buildings. He lived there eight years, then sold the place, and moved to Perry, where he engaged in mercantile busi- ness, which he afterward sold, and purchased thirty-five acres of land, located at the north end of the village on Main Street. He here went into the nursery business, tastefully fit- ting up his grounds and establishing a beauti- ful home. He later went into partnership with W. H. Tuttle and others in manufactur- ing the patent spring tooth harrow. In this business he continued until 1881, when on account of feeble health he went South in hope of recovering, but died in Aiken, S.C.

He was a very active member of the Pres- byterian church and a Republican in politics, always taking an intelligent and hearty inter- est in public affairs. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Olin adopted Walter Weld at the age of eleven years, a relative of the family, whom they educated and started in life. He is now a railroad agent in De-

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troit, Mich. He married Minnie Sheldon, and has two children - Winifred and Flor- ence. Since her husband's decease Mrs. Olin has remodelled her house, erected a new and well-appointed barn, and made other improve- ments. She is an active member of the Pres- byterian church.

HARLES B. MONAIR, a representa- tive of one of the earliest settled fam- ilies of Livingston County, is a practical and progressive agricultur- ist, owning and occupying an excellent farm in Mount Morris. A native of Livingston County, he was born in Groveland, January 29, 1829, being a son of Robert McNair, who was born in Northampton County, Pennsyl- vania, May 29, 1793.

Mr. McNair traces his ancestry back to the hardy race of the Scotch-Irish, a people who are essentially Scotch in their inherent quali- ties of thrift and industry, Ireland having been to them but a temporary abiding-place. His great-grandfather, John McNair, was born in Scotland, and emigrated from there to County Donegal, Ireland, in 1690. He re- mained in the Emerald Isle until after the birth of some of his children, and then in 1738, desirous of a better field of labor for his offspring, came to America, locating in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remaining days of his life. In 1794 two of his sons, John and Hugh McNair, came to the Genesee valley to assist in the survey of this section of the country; and two years later another son, William, the grand- father of our subject, and a native of County Donegal, Ireland, came hither with his fam- ily, making the overland journey with teams.

William McNair located in what is now Groveland, Livingston County, but was then included in the limits of Ontario County, and was one of the actual original settlers of this portion of the State. He was an intimate friend of Colonel Williamson, the land agent, who gave him his choice of land; and he selected three hundred acres of heavily tim- bered land, for which he paid five dollars per acre, and in the dark depths of the primeval

forest reared a log house, and at once began to clear a farm. On that homestead he lived until called to his eternal rest, at the extreme age of ninety-six years. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Horner, and by her he had four children.

Robert McNair, the father of Charles B. McNair, was a small child when he came with his parents to this county ; and he witnessed the wonderful transformation of the wilder- ness into a well-developed country, teeming with the productions of the farmer, mechanic, manufacturer, and merchant. In the days of his youth, deer, bears, wolves, and smaller game were abundant, and besides furnishing sport for the hunter and trapper supplied the pioneer with a large part of his subsistence. Railways and canals were then unheard of ; and, markets being far distant and almost in- accessible, the early settlers raised their own food products, and made sugar from the sap of the maple. Robert McNair lived with his parents until his marriage, and after that time occupied a part of the old homestead. With characteristic Scotch energy and industry he carried on general farming, and in addition thereto dealt extensively in cattle. He was prospered in all of his undertakings, added to his landed estate, and at the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-one years old, was the owner of upward of two thousand acres of land, all lying within this county. He married Amelia Warner, a na- tive of Richmond, Ontario County, and a daughter of William Warner, of Lima. She died at the age of sixty-three years, leaving nine children, as follows: William R., Sarah A., Henry W., Charles B., Miles B., Mary J., Amanda W., Emma, and Augusta C. One child, Robert Augustus, was drowned at the age of eighteen months.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 59

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

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