Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 73

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 73
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 73

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ORLA PARKER, well-known as a retired farmer and merchant, residing at Rock Glen, in Gainesville, Wyo- ming County, N. Y., was born in this town, November 30, 1830. His father, Ira Parker, was of good New England stock. He was born in Washington County, in the carly part of the century, being the son of

Asapah Parker, a native of Massachusetts, who had settled as a pioneer in that county, where he remained for several years, but re- moved thence to Cayuga County, and finally from there to Gainesville.

Ira Parker was educated in the district schools, and reared to agricultural pursuits. He remained with his parents until attaining his majority, and then being ambitious and enterprising purchased a farm for himself in Gainesville, which he cleared and improved, passing the remainder of his life there, and dying at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Acha Nichols, was a daughter of Daniel Nichols and a native of Whitehall, N. Y. She had three children -Orla A .; James; and Ira Nichols, who died, aged five years. Mrs. Ira Parker died in Gainesville, at the age of seventy-nine.

A. Orla Parker attended the district schools of Gainesville, and followed the paternal foot- steps in devoting himself early to practical agriculture, taking possession of the home farm at his father's death. He subsequently purchased another farm in Gainesville, which he conducted for some time, together with his original property. In 1886, desiring a change of occupation, and having a taste for mercan- tile affairs, he engaged in the grocery busi- ness at Rock Glen. In this he prospered so well that after continuing in trade seven years he sold out, and is now released from active cares. In 1863 Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Mira Wiseman, daughter of Ed- mund Wiseman, who was born in Gainesville, where he was a farmer for many years. Mrs. Mira Parker was one of seven children. Her father was a teacher and class leader in the Methodist church for many years. He died at the age of sixty-three years and her mother at thirty-seven.

Mr. Parker is a Democrat in politics, and is a citizen of influence and public spirit. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for three terms of four years cach, and has been a Notary Public for several years. He is a member of the Masonic Order at Warsaw, and has held several offices in the lodge. Both he and his wife attend the Methodist church, as did her parents.

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Toiling patiently with hand and brain for many years, both as a farmer and a merchant, Mr. Parker has well maintained the good reputation of his family as useful members of society, and enjoys to-day with his well- earned rest the esteem and friendship of his fellow-townsmen. His portrait, which ap- pears on another page, adds much to the interest and value of this scant record of a quiet, unostentatious life, in which thought, feeling, and aspiration have been slowly wrought into character.

RANK J. McNEIL, the present Sheriff of Livingston County, was born in Dansville, November 30, 1860, and is of Irish descent on the paternal side, being a grandson of Bernard McNeil, who came from Ireland in his youth, and settled upon a farm in Allegany County, New York, where he lived until his death. Martin McNeil, son of Bernard and father of Frank J., was born in Roscommon, Ireland, and was a young child when his father emigrated to America. His youthful years were spent in Allegany County; but later in life he removed to Dans- ville, where he established a nursery, which has proved a financial success, and ranks as one of the largest nurseries in this section. He married Anna Gilroy, a daughter of Mi- chael Gilroy, of Dansville; and they reared three of their six children.

Frank J. McNeil assisted his father in the nursery during his youth, though the father was conscientious in the discharge of paternal duty, and gave him excellent educational ad- vantages, sending him to a select school for four years after the district-school course had been assimilated. When young McNeil left school, he immediately took employment in a large paper-mill in Dansville, where he worked steadily for five years, after which time he started in the nursery business. The care of the young trees and plants absorbed much of his attention and time until in the fall of 1891 he was called to civic duty by the voice of the community, which elected him County Sheriff, a position he has filled faith- fully and creditably. Although he no longer

gives himself up to the study and practice of arboriculture as formerly, he still retains his interest and partnership in the nursery enter- prise. Having been Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Gilbert and a succeeding sheriff be- fore his own election, Mr. McNeil was thor- oughly versed in the details of his work, and has therefore been especially efficient in the discharge of the duties of the office.

In September, 1886, he consummated his dearest wish, and was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Maggie Rowan, a daughter of Thomas and Anna Rowan. Three daughters have crowned and blessed the marriage of Frank J. and Maggie McNeil -- Marguerite, Frances, and Ruth. Mr. McNeil belongs to the Cath- olic Mutual Benevolent Association. He supports the Republican ticket, and is a church member. His delightful social quali- ties render him very generally popular, his genial manner endearing him to all with whom he comes in contact.

EONARD NOYES, a highly successful and wealthy farmer of Folsomdale, in the town of Bennington, Wyoming County, N. Y., is a native of this town, having been born here on June 17, 1823. His father, Moody Noyes, was born at Haverhill, Mass., in 1793, and was the son of Moody Noyes, a farmer, who was also a native of that place. The ancestors of the family emigrated from England, the three traditional brothers settling together on these Western shores. Moody Noyes, Sr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as were likewise his two brothers. His wife's maiden name was Mary Pike. She was a daughter of Simeon Pike, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Grandfather Noyes was a farmer. He removed with his wife and family from Mas- sachusetts to Lebanon, N.H. They reared twelve children, seven sons and five daugh- ters, all of whom attained their majority; and all but one daughter married and had families. The last one died in April, 1876, at about seventy-six years of age. She was the wife of Hiram Rowley.

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setts, and settled about one-half mile east of Bennington in 1817. He was unmarried, and came with a yoke of oxen and a sled, being twenty days on the way, and arrived in the month of February. He had three or four hundred dollars, with which he purchased seventy acres of timber land, whereon he erected a log house. In the spring he went to Canada, where he worked in order to pro- cure funds to enable himself to carry on his farm. Soon after his arrival at Bennington he married Mary Aldrich, a native of Oneida County, whose father, Thomas Aldrich, moved to Bennington about that time. Moody Noyes immediately proceeded to clear and improve his tract of land, in the course of time building a modest frame house and a good barn, which is still in existence. In 1836 he sold that property, and purchased another tract of one hundred acres above Fol- somdale, which he cleared and improved, making a fine farm, upon which he lived many years, and died there in 1864, in his seventy- second year. His wife survived him seven years.

They had in all ten children. Five sons and three daughters attained their majority, of whom three are now deceased, leaving three sons and two daughters still living. One of the daughters is Elizabeth, widow of George Scott, now residing at Buena Vista, in the State of Oregon, at the age of seventy- three. She and her husband went to Wiscon- sin many years ago, and later to Grand Forks, Dak., from which place they moved to Ore- gon. The others are: Leonard, the subject of this sketch; Hannah, widow of Anthony Potter, who came from New Hampshire in 1836, and now resides in Cowlesville; John, an extensive farmer in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, where he owns fifteen hundred acres of land; and James F. Noyes, a specu- lator in Wetmore, Kan.

Leonard Noyes received his education in the old log school-house, and after finishing his studies commenced life by working for monthly wages, which he continued to do for fifteen years. He was first married in 1853, at thirty-one years of age, to Miss Bailey, daughter of Amos Bailey. She died in 1859,

leaving one son, George, now a farmer in Ok- lahoma, having a wife, three sons, and two daughters. In February, 1865, he married for his second wife Miss Harriet Parker, daughter of Charles Parker, of Alden, Erie County. She died June 27, 1883, of inflam- matory rheumatism, at the age of forty-five, leaving two children, both daughters; namely, Charlotte, who presides over her father's household, and Clara, who is residing with her half-brother in Oklahoma, where she is a teacher.

Mr. Noyes possesses two farms, the small one upon which he resides and the old farm of one hundred acres that his father cleared and improved. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought nor held office. He successfully carries on general farming, and deals somewhat largely in blooded cows. He has labored hard and unceasingly for the ben- efit of his children, and, having by honest in- dustry acquired a substantial competency, at present lives a life of case and serenity, at leisure from carking cares.

R OBERT L. MERRELL, a photog- rapher in the village of Geneseo, is one of the most successful members of his profession in the county, possessing in an eminent degree the artistic ability required to place him among the fore- most men in his line of effort. He is a native of New York, Macedon, Wayne County, having been the place of his birth, and April 12, 1871, the date of his entrance upon this stage of existence.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Merrell, whose name was Robert S. Merrell, was for many years a resident of Macedon, but passed the evening of his life in Geneseo. Jay Mer- rell, son of Robert S. and father of Robert L., having acquired a good education in the days of his youth, took lessons in practical photography in Batavia, and opened his first gallery in the village of Fairport, where he remained five years. In 1878 he established himself in Geneseo, and during the years he labored in his studio was largely patronized. On the Ist of January, 1894, he retired from

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active pursuits, still making his home in the village of Geneseo. He married Henrietta Carpenter, the daughter of Lott Carpenter, a prosperous farmer of Macedon; and they are the parents of three children, as follows : Gertrude, the wife of John M. Gibbs, a school teacher in Livonia; Charles Edgar; and Rob- ert L. Both of the parents are people of deep religious convictions, and are members of the Presbyterian church, in which the father was chorister for many years.

The central subject of this brief record was but five years of age when his parents removed from Fairport to Geneseo, where he received his elementary education. After leaving the district school he pursued higher studies and received excellent mental training at the nor- mal school. Then, entering the studio of his father, he learned the art of the photographer, becoming thoroughly versed in every branch of the work during the three years he re- mained with him. He was subsequently away for a year; but, returning to Geneseo, he took charge of the photographic rooms here in January, 1894, as above mentioned, and is carrying on a flourishing business. Mr. Rob- ert L. Merrell is a rising young man, very popular with all classes of people. He is a member of Wadsworth Hose Company of Gen- eseo. Politically, he supports the principles of the Republican party; and he is an es- teemed member of the Presbyterian church.

APTAIN ELON P. SPINK, a well- known farmer of Attica, was born in Orangeville, Wyoming County, N. Y., February 4, 1842. His father, David A. Spink, was a native of Ben- nington County, Vermont, born May 28, 1808. His grandfather, Whitman Spink, was a farmer of that locality, but left his land to serve in the War of 1812. He was fortunate, however, in returning safe and sound to his family, and died in his own home at the age of forty-eight. He and his wife, Cynthia Weaver, were blessed with sixteen children, thirteen of whom reached adult age. Three sons and one daughter are still living, the youngest about sixty-two years of age,

namely: William Spink, an aged resident of Attica; Daniel, living at Varysburg; Edwin, at Orangeville Centre; and Mrs. Jane Wil- cox, at Varysburg.

David A. Spink was married in the town of Orangeville about the year 1833 to Miss Mary Jones, daughter of Aaron Jones, of New Eng- land. David had learned in youth the trade of tanner, currier, and shoemaker, but decided on farming for an occupation, and eventually gave up the "cobbler's last." He carried on a farm in Orangeville till 1852, and then re- moved to Attica, where he finally purchased a farm of eighty acres, which became the home of the family, and which is now incorporated in the farm of his son, Captain Spink. David A. Spink was married four times, and was the father of seven children - Beda, now Mrs. Chester Lindsay, of Trempealeau, Wis. ; La- vina C., now Mrs. Henry Walbridge, of Te- kamah, Neb .; Eliza A., now deceased; Elon P., the subject of this sketch; Betsey, who died at the age of four years; Mary, who died at the age of two years; and Alice, now Mrs. Robert Earll, of Batavia, N. Y. The father was a stanch Republican.

Elon P. Spink was brought up to a farmer's life of industry. He attended the district school in his boyhood days; but, when he reached his twenty-first year, he heard his country's call for volunteers, and responded by enlisting, August 31, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Sixtieth New York Vol- unteers. He went out as a private; but was soon promoted to be Second Sergeant, going to New Orleans under General Banks. The regiment in which he served was mustered into the United States service at New York City, November 21, 1862. They went by boat to New Orleans, and reached that point about Christmas. Their first engagement was with the rebel gunboat "Cotton," January 14, 1863. The second was at Fort Bisland, April 12 to 14, 1863. Next the forces were at the siege of Port Hudson from May 27 to July S, when it surrendered to the Union army. There were several hot engagements during this siege, in one of which Sergeant Spink received a wound in the leg. General Banks had succeeded General Butler in command of

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the Department of the Gulf, a very important position, and involving constant aggressive work and many fierce engagements. On the 14th of June, 1863, during the siege of Port Hudson, Sergeant Spink was detailed to carry a message to Brigadier-general Weitzel, over what was called the "Hog's Back." The dead and wounded were lying all about, and two messengers previously sent had been wounded and disabled from fulfilling their errand; but he, the third, got through without harm. At this time he and his companions were placed in an advanced and very danger- ous position, from which retreat by daylight meant almost certain death; but soon after dark he escaped from the trap, bearing a wounded companion upon his back. After the assault of June 14 General Banks called for volunteers to storm the port; and about one thousand men volunteered, Spink being among the number.

The engagement at Donaldsonville soon fol- lowed, succeeded by the Red River campaign in the spring of 1864. The fight of April 8 at Mansfield and of the 9th at Pleasant Hill were the hottest of their experience. Their regiment was afterward complimented for bravery by the general; and Sergeant Spink was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, his commission bearing that date. Their next encounter was at Cane River Crossing and later at Sabine Pass and later still at Deep Bottom, on the James River. On September 19 they were at Winchester, Va., under Phil Sheridan, next at Fisher's Hill, and then at Cedar Creek, when General Sheridan began his famous ride "from Winchester, twenty miles away." Lieutenant Spink was captured by the enemy at Cedar Creek, and was held from daylight until dark; but about eight o'clock he made his escape, and returned to his regiment in time to stack arms with the company as usual. During the entire period of his service in the army Captain Spink was ever on hand in the discharge of his duties. He never missed a march or battle of his regi- ment, and never failed to be present to stack arms with his company at night. Lieutenant Spink was made Captain in June, 1865, at Washington, D.C. He served in the army

for three years two months and fourteen days, was mustered out at Elmira, November 14, 1865, and returned to his home in Attica and to the old farm life.

Elon P. Spink was married five years later, September 28, 1870, to Clara A. Ainsworth, of Varysburg, a daughter of Wyman H. Ains- worth, of that place. She died March 9, 1874, leaving two children, Antoinette and Leon D. Spink. On June 3, 1875, Captain Spink was again married to Miss Augusta P. Rudd, of Johnsonsburg, N. Y. She was the daughter of Jabez Rudd. Her father was from Massachusetts and her mother from Jefferson County, New York. This marriage has been blessed with five children. The parents mourn the loss of twin infants and also a daughter named Helen, a beautiful girl nine years of age, who died April 26, 1891. The remaining children are Harry R., a youth of sixteen, who attends school in Attica, and Mary E., a child of six years.

Captain Spink built his present residence in 1893. In 1891 he erected his commodious barn, forty-two by ninety-six, with basement, to which he has quite recently added an I. ex- tension, while at the end is a double silo, six- teen feet square and twenty-nine feet deep, holding about two hundred tons of ensilage. He has added one farm of forty acres and one of one hundred and thirteen acres to his father's original eighty acres. He has a fine dairy of thirty cows, grade Jersey and Hol- steins, and ships his milk to Buffalo.

Captain Spink is a Republican in politics. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having been for several years connected with Rowley P. Taylor Post, No. 219, of Attica.

J AMES B. PECK, a prosperous farmer and horse dealer of Lima, Livingston County, N.Y., was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario County, May 4, 1825. His grandfather, Thomas Peck, re- moved to New York State in the early days, and settled in Lima, where he purchased three hundred and twenty-one acres of land, building a stone house, which is still stand-

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ing, and is one of the finest residences on the road. In this pleasant home, surrounded by his family, he passed the remainder of his life. llis son Richard, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was educated in the dis- trict schools of Lima, after which he adopted the life of a farmer, and helped to clear the home farm. His first wife was Elizabeth Case; and she became the mother of two chil- dren - Asabel and James B. Mrs. Elizabeth (Case) Peck died in the prime of life; and her husband married for his second wife Re- becca Jeffards, by whom he had one daughter, Elizabeth, who is the wife of Samuel Bonner, of Lima, a sketch of whose life is given else- where in this work.

James B. Peck received his education in the district schools of Lima, the Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary, and a select school at Avon, which he attended for one term. In 1858 he bought seventy-five acres of his father's farm, built a dwelling-house, and has since con- tinued to reside here with his family, success- fully engaged in farming and dealing in horses. In 1857 he married Juliet Sprague, daughter of Grotius Sprague, of Lima; and they have one child, Fannie, who is a teacher of painting. Mr. Peck has been a Republi- can since the formation of that party, having cast his first Presidential vote, however, for Zachary Taylor in 1848. He has held several offices of trust, among them those of Con- stable and Collector; and the high regard in which he is held testifies to his ability and integrity.

DWARD DOTY TOLLES, a hardware merchant of Attica, Wyoming County, was born in Bennington, the adjoin- ing town on the west, in 1841, and is the son of Roswell Tolles, whose birth date was Octo- ber 25, 1804, he being the first white child born in that town. Roswell was the son of John and Catherine (Sibley) Tolles, the former a native of Orwell, Vt., and the latter of Con- necticut, and a niece of General Israel Putnam.

The grandparents came to New York State with several children in 1803, journeying with an ox team over the rough roads, crossing the

Hudson River at Albany, and following the Mohawk valley to Avon, thence to Batavia, and finally settling in the vicinity of Attica, which was then called Phelps's Settlement, in honor of its founder, who erected a grist-mill here in 1802. John Tolles and a Mr. Wright cut their way through the woods to the town of Bennington, about three miles. Wild animals were plenty; and the Indians, who were friendly to the white settlers, were frequently seen passing from Buffalo to Mount Morris, crossing the creek on driftwood near the vil- lage. Here the grandfather erected a log cabin, and proceeded to clear and improve a farm, living in the most primitive manner. When Roswell, the father of Mr. Tolles, was born, the nearest physician was at Batavia.

"The lost boy, " well known in pioneer his- tory, was Hiram, son of David Tolles, and a cousin of Roswell Tolles. He was sent to bring up the cows at night, and is supposed to have strayed away and to have perished. Al- though the Holland Land Company and others took extraordinary measures to find the child, and his father searched all his life for him, he was never found.

In the War of 1812 John Tolles joined the defenders of his country, leaving his sons, aged respectively eight and twelve, to care for and assist their mother, and keep a good fire in the old-fashioned fireplace, built of sticks and mud, which nearly covered one side of the room, the huge logs that fed the fire being hauled by the old white horse, a most important member of the pioneer's family. During the latter years of his life John Tolles was a cripple, his infirmity having been caused by exposure while serving in the war. He died in 1847, aged seventy-three years, his wife following about two years later. Their remains now lie in the beautiful Forest Hill Cemetery, having been removed there from Bennington.

John Tolles reared a family of four children, two sons and two daughters - James S., a sur- veyor and farmer, who had a family of ten children, all deceased but one daughter, Mrs. A. L .. Norton; Roswell, the father of Edward D. Tolles; Samantha, who married Carlo Vorse, and moved to U'tah; and Sarah, wife of Levi Phillips, of Attica.

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In 1831 Roswell Tolles married Eliza Doty, daughter of Nathaniel K. Doty, of Durham, Greene County, N. Y., who came to Benning- ton in 1815. They resided upon the old farm in Bennington many years, rearing but two children, two others dying in infancy. Ellen, the only daughter, is the wife of William Cross, of Raymond, Wis., where their father died in 1878, their mother having died in 1854, aged forty-four years.

The son, Edward Doty Tolles, lived with his parents upon the farm until he was eleven years of age, at which time his parents moved to Attica. Here he attended the district school, and later the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary at Alexander. At the age of fifteen he was thrown upon his own resources, his father having failed in business and gone West, leaving him clerking in the dry-goods store of John S. Putnam. Shortly after the breaking out of the war he enlisted, in August, 1861, in Company F, Fifth New York Cavalry, serving until the fall of 1863, when he was discharged on account of physical disability, being at the time First Lieutenant of his company, which was organized by Captain Washington Wheeler. On his retirement from the service he engaged in the grocery business with his uncle, Leonidas Doty, of Batavia. This firm continued business for three years, when Mr. Tolles purchased the entire business, which he conducted for two years. Selling out in 1869, he accepted a position as clerk for J. H. Loomis, with the intention of entering the hardware business, and at the end of a year's clerkship he engaged with Pratt & Co., of Buffalo, as commercial traveller for the sale of hardware throughout the North-western States. He was upon the road two years, and afterward had charge of their wholesale trade in the city for one year. In 1873 he returned to Attica, and became a member of the hard- ware firm of Loomis & Tolles, successors to Loomis & Son. This partnership existed until the year 1884, when Mr. Tolles purchased the interest of his partner, and has since continued alone.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 73

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

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