Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 85

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 85
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 85

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THOMPSON HALL, who in his younger days was a surveyor and in his latter days was also a farmer, was born at Livonia, Livingston County, N. Y., October 22, 1817. His father, Isaac Hall, was one of the pioneers of that town, but removed to Geneseo, where he settled upon a tract of land, a small part of which was cleared. He devoted his time to clearing and cultivating his farm, upon which he resided during the rest of his days. He married Mary McNeil, daughter of Robert and Jane McNeil, she being the widow of William Hanby, and reared six children - Elizabeth, Dorothy L., Mary W., Robert J., James Thompson, and Eli H. Hall.

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James Thompson Hall was educated at the Lima Academy, and became a surveyor, or civil engineer. He surveyed and laid out several sections and towns. In 1850 he went to California, drawn there, no doubt, by the gold fever, which reached its height in the period of the early fifties. From Cincinnati he proceeded down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, thence across the Isthmus of Panama and up the Pacific coast to San Francisco. He surveyed and mined in California, and also owned and conducted a train of pack mules, remaining in that State, however, but two years, when he returned to look after his interest in the old homestead. He rented the farm, and followed his profession, being one of the most reliable surveyors in Livingston County, and continued thus until his death, which occurred March 28, 1880. He added considerably to the old homestead, and at the time of his death owned two hundred acres of land, with good and substantial buildings. He never married. The old homestead is now owned and conducted by his niece, Miss Nancy C. Hanby, daughter of John Hanby, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Hall was a Republican in politics and a stanch supporter of the principles of that party. He served for some years as Su- pervisor, and during the war was enrolling officer.

ERBERT I. COUNTRYMAN, the able editor and proprietor of the Sil- ver Springs Signal, was born in Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y., October 20, 1862. His father, Asa, and his grandfather, Nicholas Countryman, were both natives of Herkimer County, the latter being a mason by trade and following that occupa- tion during life. He was born in 1800, and died in 1874. The grandmother, Mrs. Ecla Countryman, was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, some of whom are still living.

Asa Countryman grew up on the farm, and when but a boy made an agreement with his father for a small sum of money, by which he was able to hire out to neighboring farmers, and so in time create a little capital for him-

self. He attended school in winter, and worked in summer after the country custom ; but on reaching maturity he relinquished farming as an occupation, and after a brief stay in Livonia, Livingston County, en- tered the ministry, going West and preaching in Iowa, Ohio, and other places. For many years he labored as a Universalist clergyman ; but in 1894 he gave up his profession, and is now occupied in the real estate business. Asa Countryman was twice married, his first wife being Sabra Lapham, who reared two children, now living. His second wife was Sarah Elizabeth Putnam, daughter of John Putnam, a merchant of Orange, Mass., an ac- tive man in business, who built the first saw- mill in the town, and whose life was passed in that locality. Her grandparents, of the name of Cook, were of Scotch-English de- scent, and spent most of their married life in Illinois, where they reared a family of three children. Mr. Cook was a man of ability, and much esteemed in the Methodist society, to which they both belonged. Mrs. Country- man is still living, and resides with her son, Herbert I. Asa and his wife had four chil- dren to add to their happiness - Herbert I., Halle B. (deceased), Rollin P., and Carl C.

Herbert Countryman spent his early life in various places, accompanying his father as he went here and there to preach and carry on evangelistic work. He attended the common and graded schools in the States of Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa, and began farm work, but soon relinquished that occupation for the printing business, which he learned in Iowa. There he was employed in his father's office on the paper known as the Iowa Falls Regis- ter. Soon after this he took an interval of a year, and travelled in the West and South; and then in 1891 he joined his father in the pur- chase of the Perry News, published at Perry, Wyoming County, N. Y. This they con- ducted for a short time, and then concluded to establish their enterprise in Silver Springs, where the outlook was more promising for journalistic work. The transfer was accord- ingly made; and the Silver Springs Signal, the only paper published in the town, soon made its appearance, and continues to be re-

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ceived as a constant guest in the business offices and in the homes of the town and neighboring villages. The Signal is indepen- dent in the line of politics, giving a fair show on both sides, and consequently has a good class of appreciative readers. Mr. Country- man is now sole proprietor, having bought his father's interest in 1893.

Mr. Countryman is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 162, of the Knights of Pythias, at Marseilles, Ill., also of Aurora Lodge, No. 667, of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, at Silver Springs, N. Y., being at pres- ent Secretary; and he is President of the Worcester Hose Company of Silver Springs. In politics he is a Republican, and is very liberal in religious matters.

He was married in 1892 to Miss Lydia Hackshaw, daughter of William and Ellen (Dobson) Hackshaw, whose parents resided in Illinois, where she was born, one of a family of eight children. Her father was a farmer there, and died in the West in 1881. Her mother, of Scotch descent, died July, 1893, at the age of seventy years.

Mrs. Countryman understands the art of printing, and assists her husband in the office of his paper. Mr. and Mrs. Countryman have one child, Isabella Frances.

RLANDO C. CLEVELAND, a well- known and successful farmer of Gen- esco, was born in Webster, Monroe County, N. Y., January 24, 1837. He traces his genealogy back to Moses Cleve- land, who came to America in Colonial times, and settled in New England. One of Moses Cleveland's direct descendants was Chester Cleveland, grandfather of Orlando C. Ches- ter Cleveland emigrated from Vermont to New York State previous to the War of 1812, and settled near Cherry Valley, on a farm which he had purchased, living there a num- ber of years. As old age approached, he dis- posed of his property, and went to the town of Webster, to reside with his children. His son, Calvin Cleveland, came from Vermont, his native State, with his father to Cherry Valley, and as soon as he was old enough

began to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. After reaching maturity, he went westward, and located in the town of Web- ster. Here he purchased a home, and carried on his trade during the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty-nine.

The maiden name of Mrs. Calvin Cleve- land, mother of Orlando C. Cleveland, was Mary A. Morrison. She was a native of Monroe County, and was a daughter of Samuel Morrison, a pioneer in this State. He was born in New England, and was one of the first settlers in the town of Penfield, N. Y., where he purchased a tract of timber land, erected a log house, and proceeded to get the soil ready for cultivation. It was a herculean task. He was seven miles from the nearest neighbor. Deer, bears, and other kinds of wild game abounded in the vicinity; and Indians still lingered. But, undaunted by difficulty, the pioneer went bravely to work, and in time re- deemed a fine farm. He erected a good house and other frame buildings, and was able at length to enjoy the fruits of his labors, living to the advanced age of ninety-three. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Cleveland had a large family, of whom five are still living. Their names are: Elizabeth, Orlando C., Amanda, Mary, and Sarah.

Orlando Cleveland commenced when quite young to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, working at it until 1876, when he went to Geneseo, where he located on the farm which he now owns, and which he has put under extensive cultivation. There he suc- cessfully carries on general farming, and he ranks among the most prosperous men of this sectio ...

Mr. Cleveland votes the Democratic ticket, and with his family attends the Methodist church.

Mr. Cleveland was married in 1862 to Miss Sarah A. Strong, a native of Perrington, Monroe County, N. Y. Her father, Mr. De- witt C. Strong, was a native of Oneida County. Her grandfather, Enoch Strong, was born in New England, but migrated to the Black River country in New York State. and from there moved to Perrington, where he was one of the carly settlers. Enoch Strong

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was a lawyer, and in addition to practising his profession was engaged in farming, resid- ing in Perrington till his death. He was prominent in public affairs, a man of note among his townsmen, and filled various local offices, besides serving as a member of the Assembly. The maiden name of Enoch Strong's wife was Reuhamy Benedict.

Dewitt C. Strong, his son, father of Mrs. Cleveland, followed agricultural pursuits in his youth. After his marriage he moved to the town of Victor, but remained there two years only, when he took his family to Web- ster, and was engaged in farming there for many years. He spent his last days with his daughter, Mrs. Cleveland, dying at the age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Cleveland's mother before her marriage was Miss Joanna Bennett. She died at the age of sixty-seven years, leav- ing six children - Sarah, Emeline, Enoch, Mary, Amy, and Edith.

Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Cleveland have a family of six children --- Mary, Amy, Dewitt C., Willie, Emeline, and Cora. Mary is the wife of George Pfaff. Dewitt C. married Miss Celia Griswold, and has one son, Lewis. Willie married Lucile Bills.

ERDINAND FROMHOLZER, M. D., a physician of Strykersville, and a member of the firm of Griggs & From- holzer, was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 16, 1862, and is a son of Alois and Theresa (Zeller) Fromholzer. His father was a dyer and printer of cloth, and died in Germany in 1880, at the age of forty-eight years. Mrs. Fromholzer's mother was before her marriage Mary Stahl, born in America, her father, Joseph Zeller, having immigrated from Ger- many and become a farmer in Erie County. He raised a family of four sons and five daugh- ters. Mr. and Mrs. Fromholzer had five sons and four daughters, three sons and three daugh- ters of whom are now living. The mother also is still living, in Germany. The Doc- tor's brother Casper came to the United States in 1875, and is now a translator of German on a newspaper in Pittsburg, Pa. Another brother, J. H. Fromholzer, a Catholic clergy-

man, came in 1876, and died near Buffalo, March 4, 1893.

Dr. Fromholzer received part of his educa- tion in Germany; and, when he came to the United States, he had with him the necessary means with which to pursue his professional studies. This he did to the fullest extent, finally entering the medical department of the Buffalo University, from which he graduated in 1885. He commenced practising in Shel- don shortly after; and there he continued until locating in Strykersville, in March, 1893. Dr. Fromholzer has been a close student, and is familiar with both European and American methods of practice. His familiarity with the German language gives him easy access to the scientific writings of his fatherland; and this, added to his American training, has made him a very successful practitioner, and he is recog- nized as a skilful and reliable physician. The firm of Griggs & Fromholzer has an extended practice. Their large and commodious office is located near their residence in Strykersville, and has the appearance of a well-stocked phar- maceutical dispensary, as they carry a full line of medicines.

July 15, 1885, Dr. Fromholzer married Miss Rhoda Marzolf, of Erie County ; and they have had six children, one of whom, an infant daughter, died. The remaining five are as follows: Frank, Matilda, Florence, Otto, and Helen B.

OSEPH C. BUXTON, a salt manufact - urer of Warsaw, was born in that vil- lage, May 1, 1850. At the age that most boys are pursuing their studies, Joseph Buxton was compelled to earn his own livelihood. The period of his school life was brief, and the advantages of the ordinary school at that time were somewhat limited; but the lad possessed energy and perseverance, and at the early age of fourteen secured a clerkship in the hardware store of Messrs. Morris & Lewis, in whose employment he remained for six years. At twenty-one he made an indepen- dent business venture in the establishment of a coal trade, which proved a financial success, and in which he continued for five years. He

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was after that the station agent for the Roch- ester & State Line Railroad for about seven years, and subsequently became Assistant Su- perintendent of the Warsaw Salt Works, under General Superintendent J. M. Duncan. He held this position for two years, and then en- gaged in salt manufacturing. The Pearl Salt Company, of which Mr. Buxton is Secretary and Treasurer, has its works on Pearl Creek, Covington, and employs a force of forty men. One hundred and fifty barrels are shipped per week to the market. This enterprise, which is very thriving, is owned by a stock company, and is on a firm basis. Mr. Buxton is also interested in the Watkins Salt Works, and is Vice-President of the Glen Salt Company, of which Mr. George C. Otis is President. The capital stock of this new enterprise, which is already winning a wide reputation, is one hun- dred thousand dollars; and it bids fair to be one of the commercial successes of the United States. Both companies are incorporated under the laws of New York. Mr. Buxton is a fine example of the self-made man. He takes an interest in public affairs, and at the polls votes the Republican ticket.

On December 16, 1874, Mr. Buxton was married to Miss Alice F., daughter of Roswell and Marilla ( Beckley) Gould. The bride's father was a native of Vermont, and her mother's place of birth was LeRoy, N. Y. The house Mr. and Mrs. Buxton now occupy, No. 8 Court Street, was built by Mr. Gould about half a century ago; and in it Mrs. Bux- ton was born and reared. Her parents came to Warsaw in 1843, and from that date up to 1851 Mr. Gould was a dry-goods merchant. He afterward dealt in produce, and during his residence in Warsaw was County Treasurer, Supervisor, and Justice of the Peace.

Mr. Gould died in 1868, aged sixty-two. His wife reached the age of seventy-two, and died in 1882. They rest in the Warsaw cem- etery. Mrs. Buxton had two sisters, who died in their youth - Helen L., a little girl of ten years; and Caroline, aged sixteen, whose per- sonal charm of manner and lovely nature en- deared her to all who came within her gentle influence, and from whose death the bereaved parents never recovered. One brother, Frank

C. Gould, is living in Warsaw. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Buxton has been blessed by four children - Kate C., a girl student at Rochester, where her mother also was edu- cated; Helen L., who is at school in Warsaw ; Alice, a little lassie of ten, whose interests are still centred in dolls and fairy tales; and Edward Homer, a bright little fellow of three and a half years.

ARREN P. HASKINS was one of

the best-known and most highly re- spected citizens of Avon; and since his death, which occurred April 11, 1894, he has been seriously missed by many of the resi- dents of this town and its vicinity, although he had some years previously retired from active business life. His father was Solon Haskins, a native of Vermont; but the subject of this sketch came to New York State at a comparatively early age, and took up his resi- dence in the town of LeRoy, where he carried on a saw-mill and a grist-mill in company with a brother. They remained associated in that business for several years, when he disposed of his interest in the property to his brother, and removed to Avon.

Here he bought a well-equipped mill prop- erty, which he carried on successfully for a long period, improving it in various ways, and finally increasing its utility by the addition of a cider-mill. He retired from active business some six years before his death, which was undoubtedly hastened by domestic troubles; for, although Mr. Haskins was one not easily discouraged, still he had sorrows, disappoint- ments, and rebuffs to overcome, which were severe enough and frequent enough to strain even the strongest nature, and, although he manifested courage, endurance, and unselfish- ness in his battle with them, they must have sapped his strength and shortened his days.

He was married twice, his first wife being Louise Cushing, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Cushing, of Vermont. No children were born to them; and they adopted a little girl, now Mrs. Fred Hall, of Avon. They gave her a comfortable and loving home, and could not have treated her more kindly and

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tenderly had she been their daughter by birth. The most interesting book that was ever written tells us, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it will return after many days." In this case it was not a very great number of days before it returned, and it returned in such a manner as to thrice bless those who had cast it forth. A great deal of sickness came to the house, visiting both the father and mother; and the little girl had to leave school at the early age of twelve to minister to the wants of her par- ents, and to keep house for them. This she did, not only willingly, but gladly and skil- fully ; and she never returned to school, for her constant presence at home was indispensa- ble. She married Fred E. Hall, who is in the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company, and is stationed at Avon; and they have had one child born to them whose name is Ida L.

Warren P. Haskins was a religious man, not simply in form and in profession, but in every-day life. He was a member of the Baptist church when he resided at LeRoy; and, after he came to Avon, he joined the Methodist church. His whole life was act- uated by a true religious spirit. Not but that he had his weaknesses, as all of us have; but, to use a colloquial but most expressive phrase, "his heart was in the right place, " and few men were more earnest and constant in their adherence to the principles of the Golden Rule.

ARLE D. KEENEY, a popular and en- terprising druggist of Arcade, is a na- tive as well as resident of Wyoming County, having been born in Attica, Novem- ber 3, 1846, son of Austin D. Keeney, a native of Middlebury, Wyoming County, N. Y. Austin D. Keeney married a Miss Sayres, who was born in Attica in the same county, where her parents were early settlers. Mr. Keeney's grandfather on the paternal side was a farmer of Middlebury, so the fam- ily may well be considered as representative citizens of Wyoming County.

Austin D. Keeney, the father, was a boot and shoe maker by occupation, and spent his early years in Middlebury. He now lives

retired in Johnsonsburg, in this county. The mother died at the early age of twenty-eight, when the subject of this sketch was but two years old, so that he was deprived in early childhood of that loving care that only a mother can bestow. Three other children were left to mourn her untimely death, namely : Sarah, who on attaining womanhood became the wife of George Jones; Kate, who married A. P. Ward, a substantial farmer of North Java; and Addie, whose life came to a close at the age of thirteen.

Earle D. Keeney spent his early years up to the age of sixteen in Arcade, where he attended school. The Civil War, which was then raging, diverted his mind from the chan- nels of every-day affairs, and inflamed his youthful patriotism to such an extent that he enlisted in Company K, Ninth New York Cavalry, as a private, and served one year, or until the close of the war. He took part and served with credit in a number of engage- ments, among them that of Harper's Ferry and the capture of Early's men, and was honorably discharged at Frederick City, Md. He then returned home, and was fur- nished employment by his father for about two years, after which he went to Skaneateles, Onondaga County, where he had an uncle in the grocery business, with whom he worked as clerk for two years, later spending a year at Bricksburg, N.J., where he was engaged in the fruit business. He then spent five years in the State of Georgia, engaged in the for- eign export business, and while so engaged made several trips to England, crossing the water in 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1875, mak- ing one trip each year. At the end of this time he returned to the North, and went into the drug business, opening a large store in Lancaster, Erie County, N. Y., and remaining there three years. In November, 1880, he came to Arcade, and purchased the largest store in the place at that time. This he kept until 1892, when he bought the building he now occupies, which has the finest location in Arcade, and fitted up a store according to his own ideas, which were of a rather aspiring nature, as may be seen from the amount and value of his stock. His supply of patent

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medicines is large, and includes all the best- known and most useful compounds of that class. He also carries a line of fine station- ery, perfumes, and toilet articles, besides school books and lighter literature. The wants of the sporting element in this town have not been forgotten, for his assortment of fishing tackle and other sporting goods is well up to the times and of standard quality; and the juvenile portion of the community who frequent his store find it hard to withstand the tempting array of fine candies, confec- tions, etc., which make deadly havoc in their finances. In fact, his drug store is said to be the finest in Wyoming County, and will bear comparison with any in Western New York.

From 1884 to 1890 Mr. Keeney was exten- sively engaged in the apiarian business, keep- ing between three hundred and four hundred colonies of bees, and shipping annually from ten thousand to fourteen thousand pounds of boxed honey. He also made a specialty of raising and shipping to all parts of the country queen bees, and took first prizes in all of the large fairs. That Mr. Keeney is an alert and wide-awake business man may be gleaned not only from the foregoing, but also from the fact that he is now extensively engaged in real estate operations in the city of Buffalo, being a director in several land companies engaged in the buying and selling of city lots. Mr. Keeney naturally occupies a high position among the prominent citizens of Arcade. He has served as a Trustee of the School Board two years, and is Chief of the village fire department. He is a member of Torbett Post, No. 218, Grand Army of the Republic, and was twice Adjutant; and he is a member of the Yorkshire Lodge of the An- cient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Keeney is a stanch Republican in his political views, and he and his wife are popu- lar members of the best society of the village.

Mr. Keeney was united in marriage March 30, 1879, to Miss Hattie M. Morehouse, only daughter of Myron Morehouse, of Johnsons- burg, N. Y. Mrs. Keeney was born in Wethersfield, Wyoming County, where her father was at one time a grain and produce

dealer, and where the family were early set- tlers. She is a refined and cultured lady, and is the mother of one child, a daughter, Jessie M., now thirteen years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keeney attend the Congrega- tional church, of which Mrs. Keeney is a member.

ORIDON S. THOMSON, a well- known and highly successful business man of Attica, Wyoming County, was born May 13, 1823, at LeRoy, Genesee County, N. Y., where his father, Asahel Thomson, a native of Scotland, had settled as a farmer when a very young man. Asahel Thomson died about the year 1826, at the age of thirty years, leaving a widow and four children, the youngest of whom died when two years old. There are now living William H. Thomson, residing in New Buffalo, Mich., a retired farmer about sev- enty-seven years of age; Warren A., a retired railroad man of Columbus, Columbia County, Wis. ; and Coridon S. The widow married again in 1838, her second husband being Chapin Farnham, by whom she had one son, George Farnham, now a resident of Chicago, Ill. She died in Columbus, Wis., in 1885, at the age of seventy-nine years.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 85

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

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