USA > New York > Wyoming County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 80
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 80
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RANKLIN J. CLAPP, a practical farmer of the modern type, was born in York, in the western part of Living- ston County, in 1842, and from that time to the present has been a resident of the town, although he has not always lived in the same place. The first farm purchased by him was at Greigsville, where he resided for three years. In 1870 he bought the farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the south-west part of the town which he now occupies.
His grandfather, Nathan B. Clapp, who was born in Connecticut, emigrated from that State to New York, and settled in Livingston County. He brought his wife and six chil- dren, the journey being made in a lumber wagon, in which were packed all their worldly possessions. Mr. Clark bought fifty acres of uncultivated land, which he cleared, and built thereon a frame house, one of the first in this section of the country. He was industrious and energetic, and at the time of his death, when eighty-two years of age, was the posses- sor of a fine farm of one hundred acres. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Eunice Durfee, were the parents of the following children : Charles, Erastus, Lucy, Emily, Carrie, George W., James D., Thomas B., and Lowell H. Erastus Clapp, the second
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son of Nathan and the father of the subject of this biography, was engaged in farming throughout his life, owning one hundred and forty acres of land. He married Mary A. Rippey, daughter of Hugh Rippey, of York, and died at the age of forty-nine years, leav- ing two children - Franklin J. and William HI. Clapp.
Franklin J. Clapp was educated in the dis- trict schools of his native town and at Temple Hill Academy at Geneseo. In 1876 he mar- ried Helen McElroy, the daughter of Samuel McElroy, of York ; and they have reared three children - Minnie, Ena, and Clarence E. Mr. Clapp is a useful and valued citizen. He is a member of the Equitable Aid Union and also of the Select Knights. He has always been a Republican, having cast his first Presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
ORACE ENGLISH was born Decem- ber 26, 1814, at Norway, Herkimer County, N. Y. His mother, of German descent, her maiden name being Mary Spraker, was born and reared at Sprakers, Fulton County. She married
Thomas English, and was the mother of four children - Rachel, Horace, Elizabeth, and Sarah. The father dying and leaving his family in very reduced circumstances, the mother was forced to take upon herself the heavy burden of supporting and caring for the children, duties which she discharged faithfully and well. She was a devoted Christian, of more than ordinary intelligence and ability, with a very retentive memory and untiring energy.
Horace's early life was passed in poverty and toil, with very few advantages for getting an education. His mother taught him his early lessons. When he was ten years old, he went to live as a farmer's chore boy with a Mr. Richards, who was to clothe him and send him to school three months the first year. He proved to be a very hard master. The boy went without shoes long after the frosty nights in the fall; and, being obliged to arise in the morning at the dawn of day to bring up the cows, he would warm his nearly
frozen feet by standing on the ground where the cows had lain through the night. In the fall, when he commenced going to school, he was considered well equipped for business, being the possessor of a Willet's Geog- raphy, Murray's Grammar, and a spell- ing-book. These he studied until he could repeat them from beginning to end. The next year he fared somewhat better. He had ten dollars in money, and his mother fur- nished some of his clothing. The third year he had thirty dollars, and gave his mother fif- teen of it to buy a cook-stove. From that time he gave her a liberal portion of his earn- ings as long as she lived, or till she was over eighty years of age.
He left Mr. Richards after the third year, and worked for farmers summers and pursued his studies winters, at first in the district school and later at the Fairfield Academy, then a flourishing institution of learning. He and another young man from his neighbor- hood roomed together and boarded themselves. After leaving the academy he taught school for some time, giving great satisfaction, espe- cially in grammar and mathematics. He, however, soon tired of this, on account of the custom in those days of teachers "boarding around," which was to him very disagreeable, and came to Newport, and was engaged as a clerk in the dry-goods store of Perry Brothers for several years. They, being anxious to dispose of the store on account of the death of one of the brothers, persuaded Horace and Leonidas Benchley to take it. Horace soon found that the business required more capital than he could command, and having an offer for his interest accepted it. He then went to Columbus, Pa., where he engaged in the tan- ning business with his brother-in-law, Will- iam Weller, as a partner. He did not remain in company with him very long, but bought out his partner's interest, and shortly after added the manufacture of boots and shoes. There was very little money in circulation at the time, business being mostly transacted by exchange, with shingles and lumber for cur- rency. Men would build rafts with their lumber, then pile the shingles on to the rafts, and float them to market on the Allegany and
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Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati and other points along the river. The business was quite profitable, but very hazardous. Some lost their lives by being washed off the rafts, while others would come home suffering from rheumatism caused by the great exposure.
In 1846, having been in Columbus about ten years, Mr. English sold his property, and in the fall took a trip through the West as far as Kansas, and was very favorably impressed with the appearance of the country. He formed the acquaintance of several gentlemen living there, who were very much interested in inducing people to settle, and made him some offers which he thought were quite gen- erous, so concluded to accept them. He pur- chased a lot, let the job of building a ware- house; and in March, 1856, he with his wife and her brother, Jerome Weller, removed to Quindaro, Kan., on the Missouri River, and engaged in the forwarding, commission, and wholesale grocery business. Besides being very dangerous, the business was very hard and unpleasant on account of so many steam- boats landing in the night. The slavery question was being hotly contested at this time, and every free-State man was a target for the slave-State men to shoot at. Mrs. English left Quindaro with some friends from Cincinnati the Ist of November; but Horace remained until navigation closed on the river, when he joined his wife in that city, and re- mained until spring, boarding in the family of Freeman Cary, brother of the Hon. Samuel Cary.
When the time came for him to return to Quindaro, his evil star seemed to be in the as- cendant. In going from the hotel to the sta- tion in Cincinnati, his valise was taken from the top of the omnibus, probably with the expectation that it contained money, as he drew quite a sum from the bank the day be- fore; and it was never seen again. When he reached St. Louis the boats had not com- menced running, and he was obliged to take the stage. When near Boonville the stage tipped over, and his head was so badly cut that he had to remain there for some time. Upon arriving in Kansas he was not feeling well, but kept around until the middle of the
summer, when he was stricken down with a fever, and remained ill for a long time. As soon as he was able to be about, he arranged his business as best he could, and returned to Cincinnati, a mere shadow of his former self. There are now among his old papers notes for large amounts due him from men who were at that time holding high positions in the Terri- tory. These notes and accounts were put into the hands of a lawyer for collection; but nothing was collected, and they were left until outlawed.
In 1859 he went to Freeport, Ill., where he took the contract of fitting up the State fair grounds, which proved very successful. In 1860 he came to Arcade, and engaged in the tanning business, which he continued for about ten years, when his health was so im- paired that he sold out to Wilson & Clough, and remained out of active business for five or six years. He then engaged in the jewelry business with A. H. Carter, which partner- ship was continued three years, when he pur- chased Mr. Carter's interest, and took his son Harlow in company with him. They carried on the business very successfully together until the infirmities of old age were quite heavy upon Mr. English, when he sold out to his son, who now carries it on.
In 1887 Harlow D. W. English, his only child, married Sarah E. Schutt, whom he brought to the parental home, where they lived for some time; and in December, 1889, a son was born to them - Stuart Gordon Eng- lish. Horace English was passionately fond of children, and was often seen to place his hand upon a child's head and ask God to bless it. When he came to have a grandchild of his own, his joy and thanksgiving were be- yond description. He watched over him with the greatest solicitude, and could hardly be separated from him. His home was the pleasantest place on earth to him. He was always striving to add to it some new comfort or convenience, and never had any time to hang around grog-shops and saloons.
He was a practical business man of large experience, with the principles of honesty and righteous dealing firmly implanted in his nature. He was a member of the Congrega-
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tional church, of which he acted as Treasurer for several years. He was a Republican in politics, neither seeking for or caring to hold office. The last three years of his life were very enjoyable. He was a great reader, al- ways keeping himself abreast of the times. He departed this life March 4, 1893, at the age of seventy-eight years. In his last ill- ness he received the kindest and tenderest care, not only from his own family, but from his neighbors and friends, who seemed to vie with each other in showing their love and respect.
RS. SARAH A. ENGLISH, widow of Horace English, who is passing her declining days very quietly at her residence at Ar- cade, where she enjoyed a most happy wedded life for over thirty years, was born at New- port, Herkimer County, and is of New Eng- land ancestry, being on her mother's side the descendant of a pioneer in that county. Her father, Israel Weller, established himself suc- cessfully at Newport in the hatter's business, but had the misfortune to lose it through an act of generosity in the indorsement of notes for the accommodation of fellow business men, who eventually failed, carrying their kind- hearted helper with them in the wreck. Mr. Weller afterward located at Fowlerville for a time, and later removed to Farmersville, Cat- taraugus County, where he died at about the age of seventy, leaving a widow and a large family of children, the former proving her love and womanly devotion by being a patient and ready helpmate in the hour of his affliction.
The mother of Mrs. English was a daughter of Uriah Hawkins, a Revolutionary patriot and a native of Rhode Island, who settled in Herkimer County, residing at first in a log house and undergoing the many vicissitudes of a pioneer. He made a good use of the vast resources which, until the advent of the pio- neer in the Empire State, lay dormant, and died at an advanced age upon the farm he had industriously brought to a state of fruitful cultivation. His wife, Mrs. English's grand- mother, whose name before marriage was
Mary Keith, was a native of Scotland. She reared a family of nine children.
Her daughter, Sally Hawkins, Mrs. Israel Weller, the mother of Mrs. English, had twelve children, ten of whom reached matu- rity, among them being the following: Fred- erick U .; Sarah A .; John II .; Ralph; and Jerome B., who was a Captain in the Civil War, and was badly wounded in the shoulder. Ralph was also in the war, and was shot through the hand, the cords of three of his fingers being severed. Lloyd Weller, a nephew, and a mere boy, was so fired with patriotism that he volunteered, and held the rank of Corporal. When on picket duty, he was shot through the body, and died in a few hours. The other children have all passed away. The mother was tenderly cared for during the sunset of her life by her affection- ate daughter, at whose residence she died at the age of eighty-four, having been a member of the Congregational church for many years.
DWARD A. PIERCE, a highly esteemed citizen and ex-Postmaster of Castile, Wyoming County, N. Y., was born in the town of Brooklyn, Conn., January 12, 1841. His grandfather, Jacob Pierce, was born in Connecticut, and was of Welsh descent. He carried on a farm in that State, and died there before reaching old age, leaving a family of seven children; namely, Henry, Charles, Jacob, George, Marcia, Lucy, and David.
David Pierce, the eldest of these children, and father of Edward A., was born in Con- necticut, November 5, 1787. At the age of twenty-five, the War of 1812 having been de- clared, he entered the army as a private; and at its close he returned to his former occupa- tion in the tanning and shoe business, which he had been learning since leaving school, and which he now practised with unusual success. In 1844 he sold out, and with his family moved to the town of Castile in New York State, where he purchased about sixty acres of land, which had been already put under partial cultivation. He remodelled the various buildings, and improved the land, creating for himself and family a comfortable
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and attractive home. Here he peacefully ended his days, January 6, 1874.
In May, 1832, David Pierce was married to Elizabeth Allen, who was born in 1802, and whose father, Ephraim Allen, was a native of Rhode Island. He was a sea captain; and at the time of the French War he fell into the enemy's hands, and was kept in prison for a long period of time, but finally, being lib- erated, he returned to home and friends, and died serenely among them at last of old age. He was the father of four children - Eliza- beth, Ephraim, Abbie, and Julia. David and Elizabeth Pierce had three children. George, born June 2, 1834, was a member of Company E, Second New York Mounted Rifles, was mortally wounded in the battle of Petersburg, and died soon after, June 30, 1864, in Mount Pleasant Hospital at Washington; Edward A. is the principal character of this sketch ; Abbie, born May 1, 1838, died October 7 of the same year. Mrs. Pierce lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, both she and her husband being active members of the Presbyterian church in Castile. In politics David Pierce was a Republican.
Edward A. Pierce was three years old when his father removed from Connecticut to New York State, and had the advantage afforded of attending the district schools in this locality in his boyhood. On reaching his eighteenth year he went to Massachusetts to learn the machinist's trade; but, as in the case of his father, the emergency of the country in the breaking out of a war called for his sympathy and aid, and accordingly he enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Seventh Massachusetts Volun- teers, under Captain Bliss. He served as a private three years, in 1864 being in the Army of the Potomac, which was then under the command of General Grant, and was in the sanguinary battle of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6 of that year. After his discharge in June he did not return home immediately, but spent three years in railroad operations in the West. He went home later, however, and in 1868 took charge of the farm, remaining there for about six years. His father's death at that time gave opportunity for a change; and, aban- cloning farming, he engaged in the insurance
business, until in 1888 he was appointed Post- master at Castile. He was succeeded in that office after his term had expired by L. G. Cole- man, by whom he was made Deputy Postmaster.
Edward A. Pierce was married in 1867 to Miss Jennie Lynch, who was born August 8, 1850, in Thomasburg, Ontario. She was a daughter of Francis and Rachel ( Needham) Lynch, who were the parents of eight children - Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas, Francis, Walter, William, Jennie, and John. Mr. Lynch, who was a progressive farmer, lived to be seventy- eight and his wife to be sixty-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have two children - Cornelia M., born March 6, 1868, whose home is at Castile; and Frederick G., born April 22, 1872, who is the head book-keeper at the Union Car Company's works in Buf- falo. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Presbyterian church in Castile.
Mr. Pierce is a Republican, and served as a member of the legislature in 1886 and 1887. Besides being Postmaster, he has been Super- visor seven years, a Trustee of the corporation in successive terms, and has taken an active part in all social and public improvements of the town. He is a member of the Oakland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 379, at Castile, Wyoming Chapter, No. 181, at Warsaw, the DeMolay Commandery, No. 22, at Hornells- ville, Steuben County, N. Y., a member of the Corning Consistory of Corning, the Is- mailia Temple of Buffalo, and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. I, of Rochester, and Pierce Post, No. 488, Grand Army of the Republic, of Castile. Mr. Pierce has a pleasant residence on Wash- ington Street in Castile, where he has gath- ered the refinements of life about him. He is a well-read man, evidently holding that edu- cation is a continuous process, and that he who would uplift as well as cheer his fellows must often hold converse with the world's great thinkers.
ILLIAM O. THOMPSON, son of George Thompson, a Livingston County farmer, is a well-known, enterprising, and prosperous native citizen of
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the town of Ossian, Livingston County. He made his entrance to this world on the 9th of April, 1866, being of Scottish ancestry on the paternal side.
George Thompson was born in Scotland, and when a mere boy started with his father and mother for America. Both parents died on the passage across the ocean; and he was left an orphan without means, having but twenty-five cents in his pocket when he landed. He spent his early years in Canada, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked until about twenty-five years old. Having accumulated some money, he came to New York State in 1861, and buying his present property engaged in mixed hus- bandry. Inheriting in a marked degree the habits of industry and thrift common to his Scotch ancestors, he made great progress in his labors, and continually added to the im- provements of his farm, which is now one of the best in the locality. He married Jane Hewes, a daughter of Owen Hewes, an enter- prising farmer, and one of the early settlers of the town. Mr. Hewes was one of the brave men that Ossian sent to the front dur- ing the late Rebellion, having enlisted in 1862 in Company G, Thirteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served twenty months, being an active participant in many engagements. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Thompson -- William O., of the present sketch; and George G. Both parents are practical Chris- tian people and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, of which the father is a Trustee.
William O. Thompson has passed the major part of his life on the paternal homestead. After leaving the village school, where he ac- quired his elementary education, he attended the Canaseraga Seminary, and has since de- voted his attention to agricultural pursuits, he and his brother assisting their father in the management of his two farms, one of which comprises seventy-five acres and the other eighty-three acres of fertile and rich land. In addition to. general farming they do a profitable business in the surrounding country during the harvesting season, threshing grain
and pressing hay, their machines being oper- ated by means of a steam-engine. A sketch of his brother, George G. Thompson, will be found elsewhere in this biographical work.
In 1885 Mr. William O. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Jennie E. Blank, a daughter of Perry and Mary Jane Blank, the former of whom was born in Dans- ville, and the latter in Ossian. Mr. Blank is well known throughout this section of the county as an able and skilful farmer and a man of influence in his community. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson has been brightened by the birth of one child, a boy, whom they have named La Verne. In his political views Mr. Thompson affiliates with the Republican party, and is now serving as Justice of the Peace, having been elected in 1893 for a term of four years. He is a man of deep religious convictions, and is a valued member of the Presbyterian church.
AMES RAFFERTY, of East Java, a well-known railroad contractor, was born in Paterson, N.J., April 3, 1828. His parents, John and Mary ( McGuire) Rafferty, were from Ireland, his father being a native of County Louth, born in 1789. They came to America in 1825, bringing with them their two children; and upon set- tling in New Jersey the husband and father soon received employment with a silk manu- facturing company in Paterson, taking charge of the water-power of the factory. A few years later, in 1832, he came to Java with a horse team, and settled on a hundred acres of wooded land near Java Centre. Here he built a rough cabin of unhewn logs as a habitation for wife and bairns; and the grace of home was gradually added to the humble abode as the years sped, bringing new cares and joys. Mrs. Rafferty's three brothers - Lawrence, Owen, and Richard McGuire - had come to Java some time before the arrival of the Raffertys. These brothers had drifted into Pennsylvania on the Maunch Canal, which was being built at that time, and from there had come to Java Centre, where they bought fifty acres of land apiece and one hundred
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
acres adjoining for their brother-in-law. They were industrious and frugal, and in a comparatively short time had cosey homes for their families.
Mr. and Mrs. John Rafferty lost one little daughter. The children who grew up were: Julia, the wife of John Quinlin, a farmer near Java; John, a conductor on the Grand Trunk Railroad, who was knocked from the top of a car by a bridge and killed instantly in 1857, when he was but twenty-one years of age; Peter, a stock breeder in Finney County, Kansas; Mary, the widow of Michael Murphy, who died in Racine, Wis. ; and James, of this sketch, who was a child of five years of age when his father moved to Java, and remembers distinctly the arrival at his uncle's house - how they left the wagon in the road three- quarters of a mile from the cabin, through the cracks of which the glint of the fire in the old Dutch fireplace gave a cheerful welcome to the wayfarers as they approached.
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