Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 83

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 83
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 83

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J. Samuel Johnson studied in the Warsaw Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He began the study of law with General Thayer, with whom he read for six months.

He next studied under Judges Comstock and Healy, whose office he left in August, 1862, to enlist in Company D of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York Infantry. From the rank of Orderly and Sergeant he rose to that of Lieutenant, and was for eighteen months in the Armies of the Potomac and Cumberland. He was at last discharged on account of failing health, and returning home was admitted to the bar in May, 1864, begin- ning practice with Mr. M. E. Bartlett, of Warsaw, under the firm name of Bartlett & Johnson. Two years later he changed his place of residence to Arcade, where, in part- nership with A. K. Knight of that town, he pursued his profession for a decade. At the dissolution of this partnership in 1876 Mr. Johnson returned to Warsaw, where, either alone or in partnership, he has ever since con- ducted a large practice. Mr. Bartlett, with whom he was connected for a time, went to Dakota; and Mr. Johnson's subsequent col- league was Mr. H. E. Deane. The present firm, known as Johnson & Corell, has been in- corporated for the past nine years. Mr. John- son is a Royal Arch Mason and a Past Master of the Arcade Lodge. He is a member of the Mystic Shrine at Rochester, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In civic relations he has filled many offices, among them that of village President of Ar- cade; and during his residence in Warsaw he has been Village Trustee and District Attor- ney. He was elected a member of the As- sembly of 1890-91, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1894, which was so strongly supported by the people in No- vember of that year, and which was one of the strongest and most efficient bodies in the State. He was also a member of the Judi- ciary Committee of 1890, and was one of the Commissioners on Finance, Taxation, and Charities. This fact has a deep significance, for this State is conceded to be pre-eminent in the dispensation and management of its charities. He is a Past Commander of Gibbs Post of the Grand Army, and is a stanch Re- publican.

Mr. Johnson was married May 5, 1865, to Miss Mary McFarland, who was born at

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Twinsburg, Ohio, a daughter of Mr. H. Mc- Farland, a merchant of that town. Mr. Mc- Farland died in 1885. His widow survived him six years. Both lived to be nearly ninety. The McFarland estate was divided between two sons and four daughters, namely : Gilbert, living near Cleveland, a man of some property; Edwin, a shipper and real estate owner in Cleveland; Cordelia, the wife of Mr. Myron E. Bartlett, of this place; Mrs. Johnson; Sarah, the widow of Mr. Smith, who is living in Cleveland; and Amelia, now Mrs. Elbert Newell, of Delta, Ohio.

Mrs. Johnson, who was educated at the Twinsburg Academy, is a graceful hostess in her pleasant home on Elm Street, where they have lived since 1876. They have no chil- dren, and perhaps for that reason are more closely drawn together in mutual and interde- pendent companionship.

RANK E. WADE, editor and proprie- tor of the Wyoming County Tribune, and one of the leading young journal- ists of Wyoming County, was born in Castile, January 8, 1869, and is a son of James L. and Jennie S. (Cooper) Wade.

Mr. Wade finished his education at Perry Academy; and, having a taste for journalism, he set himself to acquire complete knowledge of the printer's trade, in order that he might be thoroughly versed in all departments of newspaper work. The "art preservative," which fascinated Benjamin Franklin, and de- veloped the inherent greatness in Horace Greeley, has its votaries in all walks of life; and, once within the sanctum sanctorum and familiar with its enthralling mysteries, one rarely forsakes this vocation for another. So Mr. Wade, after some experience in different offices, settled in Castile, his native town, where in 1892 he started the weekly Tribune, a successful Republican sheet, having a circu- lation of nine hundred copies, and rapidly growing in public favor. It is a bright and newsy paper, up to date in its relation of current events, and filled with articles of in- terest to its various readers. In fact, it re-

flects great credit upon its young editor and proprietor.

But Mr. Wade does not devote all his time to literary work. He is Secretary of the Board of Trade of Castile, an office which re- quires financial knowledge and some skill in the manipulation of figures; and he is Secre- tary of the Wyoming County Editorial Asso- ciation. He is a firm supporter of the Republican party, and is respected and es- teemed by the citizens of Castile and vicinity, not only for his journalistic enterprise, but because of his enthusiastic interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the town.

In 1893 Mr. Wade married Miss Belle Bis- sell, who was born in LeRoy, July 3, 1872. She is a daughter of Levi P. and Belona (Anderson) Bissell, the former a prosperous farmer, who during his later years was en- gaged in the real estate business in LeRoy, where he died at the age of seventy years, leaving a widow and one child, the latter now Mrs. Wade. Another daughter, Eunice, died at an early age. Mr. and Mrs. Wade have one child, Bissell L., born May 11, 1894.

LEXANDER EDWARDS, a promi- nent citizen of Livingston County, was born in Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., October 13, 1823, son of George C. and Hannah (Carpenter ) Edwards. His paternal grandfather, Edward Edwards, a native of Stockbridge, Mass., removed from Stockbridge to Broome County, N. Y., but later went to Michigan. He reared a large family. His son George acquired a superior education for the times, and studied law, which he practised first in Elmira, N. Y., and afterward in Bath, Steuben County, where he was County Judge for many years, and occu- pied a high position in the regard of his fel- low-citizens, both on account of his legal knowledge and because of his sterling per- sonal character. He died at the age of fifty. He and his wife Hannah reared seven children out of a family of eight; namely, Mary, George, Jesse, Clarissa, Alexander, Mason, and John. The mother spent her last years in Bath, and died at the age of eighty-three.

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Alexander Edwards remained in Bath until the age of eighteen. Having received his early education in the district school, he en- joyed the additional advantage of attending a select school in that place. He then went to Hornellsville, and engaged as clerk in a large country store, where he remained three years, and acquired a knowledge of business methods. He then went to Penn Yan for a year, and from there to Hammondsport for the same period, after which he returned to Bath, and passed a year amid the scenes of his boyhood. On September 1, 1847, he came to Dansville, and obtained a position as clerk, at which occupation he remained until 1849, when he went into business for himself, tak- ing as partner Mr. Matthew McCartney. The firm continued in trade until 1855, when Mr. McCartney withdrew, and Mr. Edwards con- ducted the business alone for two years. His health beginning to fail, he sold out, and practically retired from active work for a while. In 1865 he began to look after the business interests of his wife, who is the owner of con- siderable property in farm lands in North Dansville and adjoining towns, and has occu- pied himself in this way to the present time. His capacity for business matters has been recognized by his neighbors and fellow-towns- men, and his opinion is often sought in affairs of consequence. He also occupies the posi- tion of Superintendent and Treasurer of the Dansville Cemetery Association.

Mr. Edwards was married in 1849 to Eliza- beth G. McCurdy, daughter of James Mc- Curdy, further mention of whom may be found in the sketch of John T. McCurdy. Mrs. Edwards was one of seven children, the others being: William Gray; Mary Ann, who married Samuel Sturgeon; Margaret, who became the wife of David McNair; John; Hugh T .; and James M., all of whom are now living except William Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have two children - James McCurdy and Eliza- beth, now Mrs. Albert Sweet. Faithful to their convictions of religious duty, the family are active and valued members of the Presby- terian church, in which Mr. Edwards is an Elder. The annexed portrait of Mr. Edwards will be appreciated by many friends.

D EXTER S. DAVIS, a well-known merchant of Varysburg, N. Y., and brother of Chester W. Davis, was born in the town of Java, in the same county of Wyoming, June 5, 1841. His father, Salem Davis, a native of the town of Wales, Hampden County, Mass., was the son of Moses Davis, a farmer of that State. The family ancestors were both Welsh and Eng- lish. The wife of Moses Davis was a Miss McIntyre, a native of New England, who be- came the mother of three sons and two daugh- ters, all of whom married, had children, and have passed away. Moses Davis died at the age of eighty-six, and his wife at over eighty years. Two of their sons, Jephthah and Salem Davis, came to Varysburg in 1832, and here established themselves as carders and cloth dressers.

Salem Davis about that time married Miss Julia Dodge, of Charlton, Worcester County, Mass., daughter of Gibbs Dodge, who was of English parentage. Two years later he rented his interest in the business, and settled upon a farm of one hundred and fifty acres situated south of the village of Java, where his son, Dexter S. Davis, was born. Seven years later Salem Davis returned to Varysburg, and pur- chased his brother Jephthah's interest in the carding business. He continued to conduct the establishment until 1856, when he sold out, and in company with his son, Chester W. Davis, engaged in mercantile business, which they continued one year. Salem Davis then bought out the other member of the firm, and continued it alone till 1863, when his son, Dexter S., the subject of this sketch, bought out the business. Mrs. Salem Davis died in 1883, at the age of seventy-two, having borne eight children, four sons and four daughters, two sons and two daughters attaining majority. George G., the first-born, died at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving a wife and four children. Mr. Dexter S. Davis has two sis- ters living - Mary J., wife of Samuel Ken- nedy, of St. Anne, Canada; and Helen L., widow of Edward Madden, late of Varysburg. Salem Davis died in March, 1885, aged about seventy-five years, both himself and wife having been members of the Free Will Baptist church. Dexter S. Davis was educated in the district

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schools, and from a very early age assisted his father in business, remaining with him until 1862, when he went to Massachusetts, where he worked about a year in a shoe factory. In December, 1863, he returned and purchased his father's business, his brother, Chester W., having gone to California. Mr. Davis con- ducted the business alone for about seven years, when his brother returned and bought a half- interest in the firm, continuing two years, as per agreement. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Dex- ter S. Davis refitted the store, putting in new goods, and making much needed improve- ments. He owns one-half interest in a farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres, and two other small tracts of land. He also owns the post-office block.

On December 13, 1870, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Parker, daughter of Nelson Parker, of the neighboring town of Orangeville. Her father died in May, 1887, at the age of sixty-nine; and her mother is now living, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children - Charles N., a young man of twenty-one years, a graduate of Lima Academy, who is employed by his father in the store; and a girl of nine years, named Blanche M. Mr. Davis is a Master Mason. He is a Republican in politics, and was Postmaster twenty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are Free Will Baptists, he having joined that church twenty-seven years ago. He erected his pleasant residence the year previous to his marriage, and has spent his married life beneath its comfortable roof. He is a busy, energetic merchant, and in every way a capable business man.

ASHINGTON IRVING VAN ALLEN, a leading member of the legal profession of Livingston County, and a prominent and influential citi- zen of the town of Mount Morris, is the lincal descendant of one of the original Dutch pio- neers, one of his ancestors having emigrated from Holland about the year 1640, and located in the town of Kinderhook, Columbia County, which was then largely populated by people of that sturdy race.

John Jay Van Allen, the grandfather of the subject of this brief biographical notice, was born in Kinderhook during the latter part of the last century, and there grew to man's estate. He was a tanner and currier by trade ; and after his marriage to Betsey Cooper he removed to Allegany County, where he carried on his trade, and was also interested in agri- cultural pursuits. He was a most loyal and patriotic citizen, and fought for his country throughout the War of 1812, afterward return- ing to his homestead in Allegany County, where he and his worthy wife remained until called to their eternal rest.

His son, who was also named John Jay Van Allen, was a native of the town of Birdsall, and received his preliminary education in the district schools of that place, and afterward attended the Geneseo Academy. During the days of his early manhood he was engaged a part of the time as a teacher, subsequently being employed as a clerk, both at Angelica and at Waterloo. Preferring a professional life to any other, and being well adapted for the legal profession, he pursued the study of law in the office of Hathaway & Woods at Elmira, and since his admission to the bar has practised law for upward of forty years, hav- ing been located the greater portion of the time in the town of Watkins, Schuyler County, where he has a reputation as an able and ear- nest jurist, second to none in that vicinity. He has always taken a leading part in public affairs, and was the first District Attorney ever appointed in Schuyler County. During the administration of Governor Seymour he was a member of his staff, holding the rank of Colonel. He married Sophia Downer, a daughter of Joseph G. Downer, of Vermont, and they became the parents of four children ; namely, Charlotte I., Althea A., Margaret, and Washington Irving.

Washington Irving Van Allen was the youngest child, and made his appearance upon this stage of his existence on July 5, 1856, in the town of Watkins. He was a bright and studious youth ; and, having finished his aca- demic studies in the village of his nativity, he took a course at Cornell University. Inherit- ing in a marked degree the legal and intellect-

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ual ability that has characterized his honored sire, he began the study of law in the office of his father. This he gave up for a time, in order to pursue the study of medicine; but, resuming his legal work, he was admitted to the bar in Schuyler County in 1877, and con- tinued the practice of his chosen profession in that county for eight years. Mr. Van Allen has since then been successfully located at Clifton Springs and in Utica, and in 1890 was appointed District Attorney in Schuyler County. He has devoted a part of his time to writing on legal subjects, and has worked in that connection with his father-in-law, Will- iam Wait, who is renowned as one of the best authorities on the legal questions of the day, his works on civil law being highly spoken of throughout the country. In January, 1894, Mr. Van Allen opened his present office in Mount Morris, and in the prosecution of his calling is meeting with unquestioned success. On Memorial Day of that year he was chosen to deliver the commemorative address, which was pronounced by all who had the pleasure of listening to it one of . the finest oratorical efforts ever delivered in this section of the county. In politics Mr. Van Allen has uni- formly cast his vote with the Democratic party, and he is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Van Allen was united in marriage in 1878 to Miss Harriet E. Wait, the daughter of William and Caroline (Van Allen) Wait, the latter of whom is a native of Kinderhook, N. Y., and a cousin of Mr. Van Allen's father. Three children have been born into the happy household thus established, as follows: Caro- line, John Jay, Jr., and William. Since com- ing to Mount Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Van Allen have won an assured position in its social cir- cles; and their pleasant home is the centre of true refinement and genial hospitality.

AMES A. STOWE, an independent, enterprising, and practical agriculturist of Wyoming County, is the owner of three farms, aggregating three hundred acres, and is one of the valued citizens of the town of Warsaw. He was born in Attica, in

this county, July 4, 1825, and is a son of Heman Stowe, who was born in Massachusetts in 1782, and died in Attica in 1827. Heman was a son of Harrison Stowe, who served throughout the entire seven years of the Revo- lutionary War.

After arriving at years of manhood Heman Stowe left the State of his nativity, and, in company with four other men, came with an ox team to this county. The land was then an unbroken wilderness, and they were obliged to cut their way through the tangled underbrush and thick forests with their axes. Mr. Stowe took up a tract of land from the Holland Pat- ent, about two miles west of Attica, in what has since been included in the town of Ben- nington. By persevering industry he cleared a part of his one hundred acres; and soon after his union with Sally Gookings he moved to the village of Attica, where he resumed his trade of shoemaking, which he had learned in Massachusetts. He was a patriotic and public- spirited man, and during the War of 1812 he served with characteristic zeal. Of the three children whom he reared the following is re- corded : Harriet, widow of D. L. Cook, re- sides at Silver Springs, Gainesville. Emily, the wife of Marvin Hill, the proprietor of a fine ranch in Los Angeles, Cal., has been a practising physician for twenty-five years, and has a wide reputation for skill and ability. James A. is the subject of this sketch. One daughter, Phoebe, married Valentine Parker ; and both are now deceased. Mrs. Stowe sur- vived her husband for a long period, dying in 1866, in the seventieth year of her age. Soon after her husband's death she lost her reason, and for fourteen years was an inmate of the asylum for the insane at Batavia, where she regained the use of her faculties ; and she spent the remainder of her life with her children.

James A. Stowe was but two years old when his father died; and the following year he en- tered the home of Lyman Brainard, with whom he lived until thirteen years of age. Coming then to Warsaw, he worked on a farm for three years, receiving four dollars a month for his labors. Mr. Stowe then learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner; and, having a good deal of native mechanical ability, he became

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very skilful at his work, which he followed with good pecuniary results for thirty years, when he turned his attention to farming, which has since been his occupation. He has made additions to his first purchase, and is the owner of three fine farms, which in point of im- provements and equipments will compare favor- ably with the best in the vicinity. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, who were ever loyal and patriotic, fighting in defence of their country, his grandfather in the Revolu- tion, and his father in the War of 1812, he also abandoned civic life during the late Re- bellion, and on August 15, 1862, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was elected Corporal of the company. He was wounded by a shell in the left hand, at the battle of Chancellorsville; but he continued with his regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. Mr. Stowe is an active Republican, and he is a charter member of Gibbs Post, No. 130, Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Methodist church, where dur- ing his membership of forty-one years he has filled the various offices of the church, occu- pying every position excepting that of pastor. As a man of sterling integrity, honorable and upright in all of his transactions, he is held in high respect, and regarded as a valued and trusted citizen.

The marriage ceremony uniting the desti- nies of Mr. James A. Stowe and Miss Fanny M. Howe was performed in 1849 by the young Justice of the Peace, William Bristol, that being his first official act. Two children have been born of their union, one of whom died in infancy ; and the other, Harry, now a sturdy young man of seventeen years, assists his father in the management of his farms.

DWARD G. MATTHEWS, a resident farmer of Perry, was born in the town of Leicester, Livingston County, N. Y., September 28, 1824, a son of John and Susannah (Taber) Matthews, his father having been born in Wales, September 10, 1797. The latter was the son of Edward and Mary

Matthews, natives of Wales, who came to America about the year 1800, and settled at Pittsford, Monroe County, N. Y., which was then a wilderness. Grandfather Matthews ac- quired about eighty acres, most of which he cleared and improved, erecting substantial farm buildings, and becoming a well-to-do farmer. He lived to an advanced age. His first wife died, leaving one child, John ; and he married a second, by whom he had another son, Elias.

John Matthews received a limited education, and was bound out to a Mr. Haines, of Geneva, with whom he stayed till he was twenty-one, and learned the carpenter's trade. He then came to Perry, where he worked six years. On December 18, 1823, he married Susannah Taber, who was born November 1, 1802, at Scipio, Cayuga County, daughter of Gideon Taber. Her father was a farmer, who died at a good old age in the town of Castile, Wyo- ming County. After his marriage John Mat- thews removed to Centreville, Allegany County, where he purchased a small farm, which he conducted in conjunction with his regular trade. He remained there until his death, which occurred February 13, 1862; and his wife, who survived him, died in the town of Perry, Wyoming County, October 23, 1871. They were members of the Baptist church. John Matthews was a Whig and afterward a Republican in politics, having served as As- sessor and Poor Master. He reared a family of eight children, namely: Edward G., the sub- ject of this sketch; Sarah M., born January 3, 1826; Helon T., born March 16, 1829; Orvil, born January 26, 1833; Susan M., August 5, 1835; John, July 14, 1837; Cornelia, August 28, 1839; Mary R., January 29, 1842; and Elias, born November 29, 1844, who died Oc- tober 10, 1846.

Edward G. Matthews received his education in the common schools, and at the age of four- teen began working with his father at the car- penter's trade. At twenty-one he commenced work for himself as a wagon-maker during the season and as a carpenter in the summer. He was in company with a Mr. Blanchard at Pike, Wyoming County, for five years. In April, 1868, after relinquishing his trade, he pur-

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chased his present farm, which is situated one- half mile from the post-office at Perry, and consists of one hundred acres under good culti- vation. He has rebuilt and renovated all of his farm buildings, which present a very neat and prosperous appearance. Besides being largely engaged in grain-raising, he has an orchard of various kinds of fruit-trees, keeps some very fine horses and cattle, and makes a specialty of feeding sheep winters, keeping as many as from three hundred to four hundred and fifty head.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 83

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

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