Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 70

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 70
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 70

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His son Patrick, who amassed a fortune of fifty thousand dollars as an oil operator and contractor in Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, and whose success was phenomenal when the fact that he began life as a day laborer is considered, died August 2, 1893, aged forty-nine. The next son, Thomas,

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married Margaret McDonald, who died bear- ing one daughter, Maggie Ann, now living with her uncle. Thomas was also an oil operator. He died at forty-two years of age November 16, 1889. His widow, whose maiden name was Halligan, lives in North Java with her five children. Edward Galli- gan, a farmer at Wethersfield, has a son and daughter. The fourth son is Timothy Galli- gan of this biography. A daughter, Bridget Galligan, died in Wethersfield in 1864. The mother, Mrs. Catherine Prior Galligan, died in the February of 1888, aged seventy-six years.

Timothy Galligan received a district-school education in his boyhood, and remained with his parents on the farm, a hundred acres of which he now owns besides the handsome vil- lage property, which was a legacy from his brother Patrick. His aunt, Mrs. Rosanna Healey, presides over the attractive home, and is chaperone of his niece Maggie. Mrs. Healey was left a widow in 1864 with three children, of whom two are living; namely, Edward Healey, a farmer in Java, and Kate, the widow of David Murphy. Mr. Galligan was married June 20, 1888, to Miss Mary Conley, a daughter of John and Ann (Ben- nam) Conley, both of Ireland. Her parents, who were married in Warsaw, lived in Weth- ersfield, where Mr. Conley was a farmer. Mrs. Galligan lived only fourteen months after her marriage. She died at the birth of her child, for whose life her own was given on the 2d of October, 1889. The infant daughter thus bereaved of a mother's love is now a lovely child of five years old, who lives with her grandmother Conley, and is a pet in both families. Mr. Galligan is a supporter of the Democratic party, and in religion is loyal to the faith of his forefathers, being a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church.

R EUBEN HUMPHREYS FARNHAM, a malt dealer of Attica, N. Y., was born in this town, October 5, 1827, son of Moulton Farnham, who was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., in 1798. His grand- father, Reuben Farnham, a native of Brim-

field, Mass., resided for a time in Vermont, and afterward moved to Onondaga County, New York, where he was a farmer. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and fought in the ranks at the battle of Long Island. He died at an advanced age at Marcellus, having raised a family of seven sons and two or three daughters.

Moulton Farnham married Perintha Hum- phreys, daughter of the Hon. Reuben Hum- phreys. Her father was born in West Sims- bury, Conn., in 1757. As a Revolutionary soldier he took part in the battle of Long Island, and after the war was an officer in the Connecticut militia, becoming Brigade In- spector. Hle married Anna Humphrey, of West Simsbury, and continued for some time to reside in Connecticut, having been a Jus- tice of the Peace at the age of twenty-five years. He later removed to Onondaga County, New York, where his many useful attainments brought him into prominence. Hle was appointed by Governor Morgan Lewis in 1804 the first Judge of Onondaga County, and later became State Senator and member of Congress. After ably and faithfully filling various positions of trust and responsibility, he died about the year 1832. Moulton Farn- ham was a graduate of the old Onondaga Academy and a fine scholar, especially skilled in Latin and mathematics and in the use of language. When a young man he was ap- pointed with others to survey the swamps of

Syracuse, to lay out the city of that name. He was a firm Republican, a Justice of the Peace for many years, and actively assisted in the election of party candidates, but was not a money-maker. Mrs. Perintha ( Hum- phreys) Farnham died in the prime of life in 1845, leaving two sons, Reuben H., subject of this sketch, and Moulton G. Farnham, a resident of Buffalo.

Reuben Humphreys Farnham was educated in the academy of Attica, and studied law with his father. In 1857 he entered the real estate business in Kansas. When the land office was removed to Topeka, he went there, and for a number of years did a large busi- ness, handling great sums of money for others. While he was in the State, during the drought

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of 1859 and 1860, the population diminished twenty-five per cent. Although Mr. Farn- ham was admitted to the bar at Buffalo in 1852, he has never practised. For thirteen years past he has been an extensive malt pro- ducer in Attica, where he has erected his large malt houses, which have a capacity of one hundred thousand bushels per year.

In 1859 he married Miss Frances E. Hum- phrey, daughter of Hector and Hannah Humphrey, of Batavia; and they have five children. Their daughter Alice, after grad- uating from the Philadelphia Women's Medi- cal College, became a pupil of Dr. Charcot in Paris, and was subsequently for some time on the medical staff of the Willard Insane Asy- lum, and later at the Insane Asylum of New York City. She is now the wife of Dr. John A. Leader, and a successful practitioner with her husband at Lewiston, Me. Her sister, Anna E., is the wife of Clarence N. Dwight, of New York City. The third daughter, Edith, is a student of physical culture at the Emerson College of Oratory in Boston. The only son, Reuben H., Jr., of Watertown, is engaged in the civil engineer's department of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Rail- road; and Jessie, the youngest child, is pur- suing her general studies in Attica.

Mr. Farnham has served as Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. He resides in a com- modious frame house on Main Street, which is one of the largest residences in Attica, and was erected by him in 1868 and 1869. He enjoys the reputation of being an honorable business man, and his substantial prosperity is the result of honest and successful business methods. During his residence in Batavia he organized the First National Bank of that city in 1864, and was its first President. It may be worthy of mention that Mr. Farnham's mother was first cousin to the mother of John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame, the strong old Abolitionist.

DGAR L. GRAY, a most successful farmer of Geneseo, Livingston County, N. Y., and a representative of one of the pioneer families of this town, was born

February 20, 1849. His father, Thomas Gray, a native of Pennsylvania, being born August 11, 1798, was the son of Duncan Gray, who was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and emigrated to America about the year 1780, settling in the Keystone State. Grandfather Gray married Hannah McBride, also of Scotch ancestry, and for- merly a resident of the north of Ireland. They resided in Pennsylvania until 1806, then removed to New York State, making the jour- ney with an ox team, the usual mode of travel in those early days, and settled upon a farm in the present town of Geneseo, in what was then Ontario County. At the breaking out of the second war with Great Britain in 1812 he enlisted in the United States service, and lost his life at the memorable battle of Chippewa. His wife survived him a number of years, and reared eight children - John, Hugh, Daniel, James, Mary, Thomas, William, and Jane, all of whom have passed away.

Thomas Gray made the best of his opportu- nities to obtain an education at the pioneer schools, and also in his boyhood assisted his mother upon the farm and in the support of a large family. In spite of many drawbacks he finally began life for himself even with the world; and, being naturally industrious be- sides possessing prudence and judgment, he in course of time procured for himself a hand- some competency. In 1827 he purchased a tract of timber land, which is included in the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Edgar L. Gray. He cleared and cultivated his farm, erected good substantial buildings, and resided here until his decease, which occurred July 16, 1887, when he was eighty-nine years old. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Wynn, was a daughter of Benjamin and Isa- bella (Hunter) Wynn and widow of James Haynes. She died aged seventy-eight, hav- ing reared six children - Catherine, Daniel Harvey, Lydia Maria, Josepha, Leonora Elizabeth, and Edgar L., the subject of this sketch. Thomas Gray joined the Republican party at its formation, and continued to act with it up to the time of his decease.

Edgar L. Gray attended the district schools, following this with a course at

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Temple Hill Academy and the Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary at Lima. Being the young- est son, he always remained at home with his parents, assisting his father in carrying on the farm and acquiring an experimental knowledge of husbandry, that has since proved of untold value in developing the success with which his patient and untiring efforts have been crowned. At his father's decease he in- herited as his share of the property the home farm, which is beautifully situated on the west shore of Conesus Lake, commanding a broad view of the surrounding country, is ex- tremely healthy and in every way a most de- sirable possession.

On March 14, 1872, Mr. Gray married Miss Martha Dieffenbacher, of Geneseo, a most estimable lady, who is a daughter of John and Martha C. (Knight) Dieffenbacher. They have one son, Clyde D. Gray. Mr. Gray is one of those active, highly intelligent coun- try gentlemen of whom the Empire State is proud to boast.

AMESON N. WITHEREL, an exten- sive land owner and a prominent and influential resident of Arcade, Wyo- ming County, N. Y., was born in this town, February 27, 1849. His father, Nel- son Witherel, was one of the early settlers; and his grandfather, Jared Witherel, was a pioneer from New England, and came to the western part of New York in 1810. All was then a wilderness. No smoke of hospitable chimney gladdened the eye. No sound of welcoming voices broke the stillness. The nearest grist-mill was at Batavia, thirty-six miles distant; but here, in the log house speedily constructed, was established the home, and with the home and wife and chil- dren the pioneer felt courageous in facing his difficulties. After the house other buildings were erected, and in time the pioneer was able to see the result of his long toil and rejoice in the blessings of his labor. Jared Witherel resided on this property during the rest of his life, ending his days there at the age of eighty. One of the farm buildings still stands, a model to the modern builder

for strength of timber and firmness of foun- dation.

The family consisted of ten children. Nel- son, the fifth child and the father of Jameson, the subject of this sketch, applied himself to farm work, helping his father about the place till he reached manhood, when he married, and set up his own homestead on a farm which he purchased at that time. He lived in a log house in his first essay at housekeeping ; but, as he brought his fields gradually under cultivation, be erected additional farm build- ings and improved the homestead property, and at the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-six years old, the estate was in fine condition. Nelson Witherel was a Republican of decided views, and was a Commissioner of Highways during two terms of service. As the early settlers generally lived in isolated localities, among the awe- inspiring influences of nature, they naturally drew near to the Maker of all, and were sel- dom neglectful of membership with some re- ligious body. Nelson Witherel and his wife connected themselves with the Baptist church which had taken root in the little community, and died in that faith. Mrs. Witherel was Miss Sarah Wilbur, of Arcade, whose rela- tives were originally settlers in that town, and spent their later years in the locality.

Nelson and Sarah Witherel had several children, two of whom are still living - Ade- line (deceased), wife of Addison Ryder, of Holland, Erie County; Monroe Witherel (deceased); Imogene, wife of J. H. Rhodes, of Bradford, Pa .; James M. and Jameson N., twin brothers. James M. died January 22, 1895.

Jameson N. Witherel lived in the village of Arcade in his childhood. As he developed into a sturdy youth, he went to reside with his father on the farm, remaining with him dur- ing the remainder of his life. He received his education in Arcade, and put it into prac- tical use in agricultural pursuits. He has at the present time a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and in addition one-half of his father's farm, which consisted of two hundred and sixty acres. This was divided by the father at his death between his twin sons, James M. and Jameson N.

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Mr. Witherel is a Republican in his politi- cal preferences, and stands well in the county for his integrity of purpose and his good char- acter. He has held the office of Commis- sioner of Highways during two terms of service, was also Assessor for two terms of three years each, and Deputy Sheriff one term of three years. He is a member of the Ar- cade Lodge of A. F. & A. M. and of China Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows in Arcade. He also belongs to the An- cient Order of United Workmen, being a prominent man in each of these societies, be- sides which he has seen active service in the fire department, and has been President of the popular Arcade Driving Park Association for five years in succession.

Jameson N. Witherel was married in Ar- cade, January 27, 1876, to Miss Callie Hausauer, daughter of Fred and Polly (Bondy) Hausauer, of Marilla, Erie County. Mrs. Witherel's ancestors were originally from Germany. Her paternal grandfather was Michael Hausauer, born in that country, May 24, 1801. Her grandmother, Margaret Hausauer, was born February 28, 1803. Her maternal grandparents were early set- tlers in Schoharie County, her grandfather, Harry Bondy, being born there May 23, 1793, and her grandmother, Nancy Bondy, being born September 11, 1796.

Mrs. Witherel's father was Fred Hausauer, born in Germany, January 28, 1831. He came to this country with his parents in child- hood, and was brought up a farmer, living in Wales till his marriage, when he went to Marilla. There he died at the early age of twenty-eight. He was a God fearing man, and was a member of the Disciples' church of Marilla. Her mother, Polly Hausauer, who is still living, was born in Marilla, Erie County, May 22, 1835. Mrs. Witherel has one sister, the wife of James Garry, of Buffalo.

Mrs. Callie Hausauer Witherel was born at Marilla in 1856. After the death of her father, which occurred when she was a very young child, she came to Arcade, and resided in the family of Frederick Hubbard up to the time of her marriage, which took place when she was nineteen years old. She is the

mother of three children - Fred Harry, Mac Flossie, and one that died in infancy. Fred H. was born April 7, 1879. The boy who died was born September 25, 1880, and passed away October 26, 1880. Mae F. was born November 29, 1883.

Mrs. Witherel and her family are members of the Congregational church in Arcade, and are active in the Sunday-school.

Frederick Lane Hubbard, in whose care Mrs. Witherel grew to womanhood, was one of the pioneers of Sardinia, Erie County In that place he was married to Eunice Shedd, and some time after his marriage moved to Arcade, where he is now living in good health at the age of eighty-one.

J OHN O. VANDERBELT, of Geneseo, N. Y., a manufacturer of harnesses and dealer in saddlery, valises, and leather bags, was born in Mansfield, Amster- dam County, N.J., March 1, 1826. His father, Cornelius Vanderbelt, a native of Milford, N.J., was a blacksmith by trade, and was also noted as an expert in breaking colts and training horses for the turf. He made a specialty of manufacturing hand made snaps, which were quite celebrated at the time and much in demand. He died in 1833, at the age of thirty-two. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Olp, was a daughter of John Olp, also of New Jersey. Of the three children to whom she gave birth she reared but one, John O., the subject of this sketch. After the death of her husband Mrs. Mary A. Vanderbelt with her son, in company with her father and sister, the latter having eight chil- dren, moved to Mount Morris, to which place Mrs. Vanderbelt walked nearly all the way, making the journey in about two weeks. This somewhat remarkable event in his carly history Mr. Vanderbelt now remembers very distinctly. John Olp, his maternal grand- father, purchased a farm in the vicinity of Mount Morris, and became one of the early settlers in that section.

John O. Vanderbelt passed his early boy- hood on his grandfather's farm, and received his education at the district schools, and at

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home was reared to agricultural pursuits. He inherited his father's fondness for horses, which showed itself at an early age, it being his chief delight always to ride or drive to the mill or do any other part of farm work necessitating the use of horses. At the age of sixteen, at Mount Morris, he commenced to learn harness-making, serving there one year, and in the spring of 1843 came to Geneseo, where he continued as an apprentice at the same trade, serving four years at thirty dollars per year. After thoroughly acquiring his trade, he worked as a journeyman in Caryville for ten months, then returned to Geneseo, where in 1848 he opened business, and at the same time purchased a residence. Mr. Van- derbelt has followed his calling in Geneseo ever since, and has therefore become widely and favorably known through the entire sec- tion as a skilful and reliable workman. At present he is the oldest dealer in his line now living in the village, having conducted trade here nearly fifty years. His early fondness for horses still survives, and he now conducts a stage and livery business as an annex to his original occupation.

On December 31, 1849, Mr. John O. Van- derbelt married Helen M. Reed, daughter of Mortimer Reed. They have had in all six children, as follows: Delia M., now a widow; Elizabeth R., the wife of A. R. Scott of the Republican Journal at Geneseo, having three children - Jeannette, Walter Scott, and Reed; John A., a druggist in Rochester, who married Lucy Maples; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-four, an accomplished young lady, especially skilled in music, whose un- timely death was the cause of much regret ; Charles R., a dentist of Rochester, a graduate of Michigan University at Ann Arbor; and Hattie, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Vanderbelt is a musician of considerable repute, having led the village band for many years, and is not excelled in these parts as a cornet player. His son Charles is also a skilled master of that instrument, and has led the band in Genesco. Mr. Vanderbelt is an attendant and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is an active adherent of the Republican party.

OHN KARCHER, a retired merchant of Attica, Wyoming County, who died January 22, 1895, was a native of France, and was born at Colmar, in the valley of the Upper Rhine, July 5, 1824. His father, George Karcher, was a miller of that town, where he spent an active life, and died in 1833, at the age of fifty-eight years. Mrs. George Karcher was before her marriage Miss Mary Deisler. After being the mother of a large family she died at her home in 1842, aged forty-three years.

John Karcher was the latest surviving son of fourteen children, of whom ten grew to matu- rity. He had but a limited education, and at fifteen went to learn the trade of currier, in- cluding the making of gloves and mittens. He served four years at this business, and then went to learn the hatter's trade, the apprentice to which, as in the case of the glove-making, has to pay for the privilege. At the age of twenty-one he was drafted into the French army, drawn as "No. 50," and soon found himself under marching orders for the South of France, going afterward to Northern Africa. He served his time, which was fully six years, and was glad enough when it ended. The French nation had settlements on the Senegal River, on the western coast of Africa, as early as 1662. They have made explora- tions into the interior, and "to the French the world is indebted for much valuable informa- tion concerning the northern provinces and the neighboring parts of Sahara." But those who first went there paid with their sufferings, and often their lives, for what posterity enjoys. The soldiers with whom John Karcher was drafted had to endure great privations. In the years of 1847 and 1848 they were set to the construction of roads and other severe labors, for which they were paid the pittance of from eleven to thirteen cents a day, the common soldier receiving but two cents a day. Mr. Karcher worked on the road called the Omal Road, which was named from the Duke Omal, whose deserted castle he saw and had a chance to enter. The soldiers often suffered for want of good water; and on this account, and from other climatic causes, many were sick and large numbers died.

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The men would stoop and drink, in their frenzied thirst, warm and muddy water that had gathered after a shower in the camels' deep tracks.

On leaving the army, Mr. Karcher spent a year with his brother in France, and then set out for America. He sailed from Havre, May 26, 1852, on the "John Curtis," an Ameri- can vessel, and landed in New York, July 19, having been fifty-four days on the passage. During twenty-two days of the time they saw neither land nor other vessel, their Captain being incompetent through drink, and the craft practically lost on the wide sea. On arrival John Karcher found himself in a strange city, whose language he could neither speak nor understand. He had in money about eighty-five dollars, but was obliged to employ an interpreter. He had brought to this coun- try from his brother, who was a manufacturer of Berlin-wire jewelry, some wares, of which he sold but a very few, as they were somewhat injured by the long journey. The merchants wanted him to furnish them consignments on approval, as the goods were a novelty to the trade. So he wrote to his brother, who re- turned the answer, "Wait a little" ; and, while he waited, his funds diminished. He finally set out for Buffalo, and there found work at his old trade as hatter, getting but fifteen dol- lars a month. For the second month he was to receive twenty dollars, but within five months his brother sent him a small stock of goods in Berlin-wire jewelry and purses. He then went to New York, disposed of a small part of the goods, and bought a small stock of "Yankee notions " and other jewelry, and, re- turning to Buffalo, opened a store on his own account on Main Street, near Genesee Street. After continuing in trade there two or three years, Mr. Karcher moved to Attica in April, 1855, and opened a store for ready-made cloth- ing, gentlemen's furnishing goods, with mer- chant-tailoring in connection. From this he built up a large and successful business, which he continued many years.

Mr. Karcher was married in March, 1854, to Miss Catherine Kriegelstein, a daughter of John Kriegelstein, who was a native of France, and an old friend of his father. He came to

America about the year 1828, and went first to Syracuse, where he was engaged for a year in the salt works. He then went to Buffalo and opened a bakery, which was one of the first to do business there after the old-country methods. A few years later he moved to Attica and remained here till his death, which occurred in 1878, at the age of eighty years. John Kriegelstein's wife was Catherine Gang- loff, of the Rhine valley. Her father, Peter Gangloff, came to this country and settled near Buffalo, where he was a small farmer. Mrs. Kriegelstein became the mother of seven sons and one daughter, and lived to be eighty years old, dying in the year 1884. One son lives in Nebraska, and the others are farmers in the neighborhood of Attica.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 70

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

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