Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 86

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 86
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 86

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Coridon S. Thomson resided with his ma- ternal grandfather, Amos Spring, a farmer of LeRoy, until arriving at the age of twelve years, when he began to support himself by working on the farm for his uncle, Willard Weld, at Lockport, N. Y .; and at the age of seventeen he began to learn the trade of a tanner and currier in Lockport, serving three years and receiving fifty dollars per year. Having mastered his trade, he went to Roch- ester, where he worked for six months as a splitter, and then accepted a position as fore- man of a tannery at Churchville, Monroe County, at three hundred dollars per year and expenses. He remained there four years, and in 1846 came to Attica, forming a partner- ship with James H. Loomis, for the purpose of conducting the tanning and currying business, under the firm name of Loomis & Thomson. Their tannery was situated about

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one-quarter of a mile east of the village, and they did a very prosperous business for that period. Mr. Thomson managed the tannery, while his partner was at the head of the boot, shoe, and harness factory, which was estab- lished in conjunction with the former enter- prise and carried on in the brick building where the Loomis Bank is now located. This firm conducted a very prosperous business for three years, when it was dissolved, Mr. Thom- son becoming sole proprietor of the tannery, and Mr. Loomis continuing the manufacturing enterprise. Mr. Thomson purchased the prop- erty of James Loomis, Sr., and successfully operated it for twenty years, during which time he enlarged its capacity, added many improvements, and in 1865 fitted up the estab- lishment with steam-power apparatus, which placed his enterprise upon an equal footing with any similar factory in the country.

After the completion of the improvements he sold the entire establishment to Benjamin W. Leland, and remained out of business for one year, during which time he travelled a great deal, visiting different parts of the coun- try. In 1867 he engaged in the banking business with his late partner, James H. Loomis, the firm being Thomson & Loomis, private bankers, Mr. Thomson managing the bank and Mr. Loomis attending to the hard- ware business, which was his private busi- ness. This firm was in successful operation for a period of six years, at the end of which time failing health compelled Mr. Thomson to relinquish active cares for a time; and he sold his interest in the firm to the Loomises, a son of his former partner, Mr. Charles E. Loomis, taking charge of the bank. One year later, in improved health, Mr. Thomson purchased the grist-mill at Alexander, Gen- esee County, which is a full roller mill with two run of stone for feed, etc., and eight sets of rollers, with a capacity of forty barrels of flour and some three hundred and fifty bushels of grain. The mill receives its power from two turbine wheels of seventy-five horse- power.

On May 10, 1847, Mr. Thomson married Miss Sarah A. Fargo, of Stafford, Genesee County, daughter of Isaac Fargo, a farmer,

whose father, Robert Fargo, was an early set- tler of that locality. Isaac Fargo died in 1858, leaving a family of eight sons and one daughter, who inherited from him a good estate. Six of these sons are still living, two in Wisconsin, one in Des Moines, Ia., one in Dakota, and two in Genesee County. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have no children of their own, but adopted a daughter, who became the wife of Albert W. Leland, a resident of Knoxville, Tenn. She died at the age of thirty-one, in 1885, leaving one son, now a young man of nineteen, Willard C. Leland, who resides with his grandparents, and has received a good business education, being a graduate of Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. The family reside in a large sub- stantial brick mansion at No. 90 Main Street, which they have occupied for twenty-five years, and which was erected in 1871. Its spacious rooms have been the scenes of many famous social gatherings, but of late, owing to the retiring habits of the family, are seldom opened.

Mr. Coridon S. Thomson is the oldest busi- ness man in Attica with the exception of his former partner, Mr. Loomis, who was in busi- ness four years earlier than he.

Mr. Thomson is a Republican in politics, and has served as Assessor and a member of the village board. He owns some valuable real estate in Attica, consisting of a large lot at the corner of Main and Water Streets, upon which is a brick block, and also the warehouse opposite. Mrs. Thomson is a member of the Baptist church, which Mr. Thomson attends, and to which he renders much financial support.

Among the portraits which enrich the pres- ent volume of biographies will be found a very good likeness of this enterprising citizen of Attica, who, having no direct heirs to his name and virtues, does well thus to give to the world a counterfeit presentment of himself.

m RS. ELIZABETH ACOMB, widow of Thomas Acomb, late of Dans- ville, was born in Springwater, daughter of Henry Flora, one of the pioneers of that locality. Mrs. Acomb's

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father spent his early days in Scottsburg. He afterward owned a large farm in Sparta, which is still in possession of the family, and carried on by a son. Her father in his latter years removed to Wayland, where he died in 1880, aged eighty years. Mrs. Acomb's mother was Catherine Hanly, a native of Germany. She was a lady of intelligence and strong character, a member of the Lu- theran church up to the time of her death, which occurred when she was seventy-three years old. She was the mother of eight chil- dren, as follows: John, Elizabeth, William, Mary, Henry, Harriet, George, and Rhoda. On May 15, 1851, the subject of this sketch was married to Thomas Acomb, a wealthy farmer of Dansville; and she has since re- sided in that village. Her husband was of English birth, and came to America with his father, who brought his family with him, and settled upon a farm in South Dansville, be- coming a pioneer of that town. At the time when the cholera swept over this country, he volunteered to take charge of patients, and succumbed to the dread disease, and died, leaving a wife and four children. Thomas Acomb was his eldest son, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He was educated at the district schools, and on reaching manhood took possession of the homestead, eventually becoming a successful farmer and acquiring a large property. At the time of his decease, which occurred in 1893, when he was sixty- six years old, he owned one thousand acres of land. Mr. Acomb was a prominent man in the town, and was Supervisor for two terms. With his wife he was a regular attendant at the Presbyterian church.

Mrs. Acomb has reared a family of nine children, as follows: William H., Mary E., Franklyn J., Annie, Minnie S., Jennie F., Fred, Daniel, and Nellie F. The Acomb family for many years have been residents of Dansville, Steuben County, where they en- joyed the highest respect and esteem of their neighbors. One daughter is still at home, and she and her mother are professing mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.

Of her many children, who are all indus- trious and highly intelligent, her son Daniel

G. remained in business at Dansville. He is a boot and shoe dealer, carrying on a lucra- tive trade, and is also engaged extensively in buying produce. He was born at South Dans- ville, October 30, 1868, and has shown re- markable business ability since entering mercantile life.

m ARSHALL J. COWDIN, a retired farmer and at the present time Justice of the Peace of Varys- burg, was born in Orangeville, August 3, 1821, and is the only survivor of ten children of John S. Cowdin, who was born at Fitchburg, Mass., in 1785. His paternal grandfather was Craig Cowdin, a well-to-do Massachusetts farmer, who reared seven sons and four daughters, four of the sons becoming pioneers of Wyoming County.

John S. Cowdin, son of Craig, journeyed from Massachusetts on horseback to Buffalo by way of Rochester; but the fever and ague caused him to relinquish his intention of set- tling at either of these places, although he was urged to purchase for one thousand dollars one hundred acres within the present city limits of Buffalo. He brought with him from Massachusetts twelve hundred dollars in cash, and declining to invest his money at the above named places came by the old Buffalo Road to Wyoming County, where he purchased one hundred acres near the present fine county farm, paying four hundred dollars for it, two hundred of which was rendered in boots and shoes. The tract was provided with a small log cabin and an ox barn. In 18IT three other of the Cowdin brothers came and ac- quired each a tract of land adjoining, making in all six hundred and sixteen acres. Their names were: Craig, Putnam, and Nathaniel, the latter unmarried.

John S. Cowdin was married in 1810 to Miss Rhoda Hall, of Coxsackie, N.Y. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, stationed at Buffalo, and was present when the village was burned. He was hotly pursued by a blood- thirsty Indian, and when very nearly ex- hausted managed to elude the savage by dodging beneath a bridge, having the satisfac-

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tion of hearing his enemy, who had lost sight of him, pass over above his head. In this ad- venture he contracted rheumatic fever, which affected him for the remainder of his life. HIe at one time owned one hundred and eighty-eight and one-half acres of land, but was so crippled by rheumatism as to be inca- pable of conducting farm operations. He and his wife had ten children, two of whom died in California, a daughter in Wisconsin, and a son, William, of yellow fever in Mississippi ; the remains of five others are interred at Orangeville. The father died suddenly of apoplexy in 1861, at the age of seventy-six, and the mother after a short illness in May, 1864, at the age of seventy-five.

Marshall J. Cowdin remained at home, as- sisting his father. He was married June 21, 1848, to Sybil Richards, who was born at the county house farm, which her father first settled in 1811, having come from Rutland, Vt., on foot, and purchased about one-half of a square mile of that productive land at four dollars per acre, first buying one hundred and twenty acres, and later the balance. There were four brothers of the Richards family who came to New York State from Vermont, and Paul Richards became a Judge of Wyoming County. Mrs. Sybil Richards Cowdin died very suddenly in 1872, leaving four children, namely : Marilla, widow of George Pettibone, having three sons; Frank, who is married, and resides at the old home, having one son and one daughter; Lafayette, a resident of Sturgis City, S. Dak., who has a wife and two daughters; and Irwin, a resident of Warsaw.

Mr. Cowdin married for his second wife in 1874 Mrs. Louise Colby, widow of Theodore Colby, and daughter of Frank Horton, of Wy- oming County. Mrs. Cowdin has three chil- dren by her first husband - Jasper, a resident of Ypsilanti, Mich., having two sons and one daughter; Frank, residing at Currier's Cor- ners, having one son; and Nellie, wife of Earl Jones, a railroad man at Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Cowdin settled in their pleasant home at Varysburg in 1882. He is serving his third term as Justice of the Peace, an office he would willingly relinquish if his con-

stituents would permit. He is a member of the Methodist church, and also a Steward. He comes of a stalwart race, having a very commanding presence, standing six feet and well-proportioned. He was a model farmer, and still keeps one or two fine horses and other stock on his village farm.

AMUEL FISHER, late of Warsaw, N. Y., was born in Londonderry, N. II., May 8, 1808. The advent- ures of Mr. Fisher's grandfather, who was the emigrant ancestor to this coun- try, are as thrillingly interesting as the record of a hero of fiction. The facts are as follows : Samuel Fisher, who was born of Scotch an- cestry in the north of Ireland in the year 1722, embarked for America in 1740, in the nineteenth year of his age. The vessel was so scantily supplied with food that it was called the "Starved Ship." As the rations were gradually reduced to a tablespoonful of oatmeal and a proportionately small allowance of water for each individual's daily suste- nance, the sufferings of the men were well- nigh intolerable. One day Mr. Fisher went to the officer in charge for a tablespoonful of water with which to moisten his meal, and was refused. There were only two-thirds of a quart bottle of water on board the vessel and a distance of several days' sailing before the coast of America would be reached. The sit- uation was appalling. Many of the crew sickened and died, and the miserable sur- vivors were at last compelled to subsist upon the dead bodies of their companions or perish. For fourteen days the starving passengers and ship's crew thus preserved their lives, but at last this resource failed. Lots were cast, it being decided that one must give his life for the others; and the fatal number was drawn by Samuel Fisher. "Providentially, how- ever, a vessel hove in sight; and, their sig- nals of distress being observed, they obtained relief, and were saved. So deep an impres- sion did the horrors of that passage make upon the mind of Mr. Fisher that in after life he could never see without pain the least morsel of food wasted or a pail of water

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thrown carelessly on the ground." Having landed at length on the shores of the New World, which had been reached by such an amount of sacrifice and suffering, Samuel Fisher was content to spend his life in Lon- donderry, N.H., where he settled and planted a posterity. He was a Ruling Elder of the church in the West Parish. He died at Lon- donderry, April 10, 1806. His son John was born in Londonderry, where he lived until 1834, when he moved to Warsaw, to which point he came on the canal. Upon his arrival here with his family, he purchased a tract of land which was at that time covered with forest trees, but which is now included in the vil- lage limits; and here he died October 13, 1838. In 1798 he was married to Miss Bet- sey Dean, who was born June 24, 1776, and died November 20, 1858. They were both members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Fisher was for many years a Deacon. They reared nine children, three of whom studied for the ministry.

Samuel Fisher, son of Deacon John Fisher, was educated in his native town, and moved to Warsaw when he was about twenty years of age. Much of the surrounding country was wild and uncultivated, and Warsaw was at that time included in Genesee County. Mr. Fisher entered the employment of Dr. Augus- tus Frank, with whose family he made his home until his father's arrival in 1834. Father and son joined in the purchase of a farm, which afterward became the property of the son. This year was the date of his mar- riage to Miss Armina Dryer, which was solemnized on the ioth of June. After one brief year of wedded happiness she died, on August 27, 1835. Three years later he mar- ried Miss Lucy Woodward, who died Septem- ber 17, 1853, leaving three children - James Ellis, Phineas D., and John C. Mr. Fisher's third wife was Mrs. Lucy M. (Woodruff) Phillips, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Fisher was a prominent citizen of War- saw, and was closely identified with the best interests of his town and county, holding vari- ous local offices and for many years being a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian church in

Warsaw. He died May 30, 1885. The farm is now, 1895, in possession of his son, Dr. John Crocker Fisher, who after a residence of five years in Beirut, Syria, as a medical mis- sionary, came home, and established on the beautiful west hill the Sanitarium known as the Warsaw Salt Baths. Dr. Fisher was mar- ried May 11, 1880, to Miss Mary Shaw, of Grinnell, Ia. They have three children - Edith, John C., and Albert Shaw. James Ellis Fisher married in May, 1872, Elizabeth MeMasters. They have two sons - Charles Samuel and Phineas McMasters. Phineas Dean Fisher married in 1876 Eunice Pinck- ney. They have had three children - Mattie, Phineas D., and Frank Wyman.

ILLIAM F. LEWIS, one of the leading men of the town of Arcade, and a progressive and thriving farmer, was born in Freedom, N. Y., October 15, 1835. He is the son of Laban Lewis, a native of Chesterfield, N. H., and grandson of Reuben Lewis, who also was born in New Hampshire. The latter was a farmer in his native State, and at an early date removed with his wife and family to Freedom, N. Y., where he settled. His son, Laban, was brought up a farmer, and after his marriage came to Jefferson County, bringing his wife with him. He worked at farming for some time in Jeffer- son County, then removed to Freedom, Catta- raugus County, where he purchased a farm, upon which he resided for many years. He died at the age of seventy-three. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Sarah Tarbull, a native of Massachusetts. She removed to the State of Michigan after the death of her husband, and died there, after attaining the remarkable age of ninety-nine. She reared a family of thirteen children, four of whom are still living, namely: Nelson; Jane, who married Elihu Austin; Lester; and Will- iam F.

William F. Lewis spent his early years on his father's farm in Freedom, obtaining a knowledge of agricultural methods, and acquir- ing a fair education at the district school. He lived at home until attaining his majority,

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then went to a farm in the town of Eagle, Wyoming County, and found employment there for about fifteen years. At the end of that time he removed to Arcade, and was em- ployed on different farms until coming to his present estate in 1890. Here he has a well- cultivated and productive property, its condi- tion and appearance showing thrift, industry, and good judgment on the part of the owner, and fairly entitling him to rank among the intelligent and progressive agriculturalists of the county. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Arcade Lodge, No. 698, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as Highway Commissioner one year and Excise Commissioner three years, and in both offices has manifested business ability and sound judg- ment, giving full satisfaction to his townsmen.

Mr. Lewis was married in 1861 to Miss Wilson, daughter of Ezra Wilson, a farmer of the town of Freedom. She died April 6, 1890, at the age of fifty-two, leaving six chil- dren, as follows: Wilson; Fred, who married Nettie Haskell; Addie, who became the wife of Joseph Duncan; Rena; Frank; and Lulu. Mr. Lewis has since married Mrs. Rosalind Weir, daughter of W. P. Day, a physician who came from Ohio, where Mrs. Lewis was born, to the town of Eagle when she was six years old. After practising in this vicinity for some years, he settled in Great Valley, Cattaraugus County; and there his last days were spent. Mrs. Lewis is a lady of many domestic virtues, and is a member of the Methodist church. The children have all re- ceived a practical education, qualifying them to make their way in the world; and Rena has spent some time teaching school.

ENRY S. BREWER, a prominent miller and farmer of the town of Springwater, Livingston County, N. Y., was born in Sparta, Octo- ber 24, 1862. His father, William Brewer, was also a native of that town. His grand- father, Abraham Brewer, came from Vermont to this part of New York State as a pioneer,

clearing a tract of land, and living for some time in a log cabin. Subsequently he moved to Springwater and became a prominent farmer in that town. He purchased a farm, and car- ried on a system of cultivation till his death, which occurred at an advanced age.

William Brewer, his son, father of Henry S. Brewer, lived at home in his youth, attend- ing school, and later employing himself about the farm. When he became of age, he pur- chased a farm in Sparta, and resided there some years, later moving to an estate known as the Brewer farm, which was situated on the line between Springwater and Sparta. From there he went to a farm near the home of his son, at the same time leasing a mill, but fol- lowing farming in the main. Finally he pur- chased the present mill and the farm connected with it of his son, and here his last years were spent. At the time of his death he was in possession of three farms containing three hundred and fifty acres. He died July 7. 1891, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Brewer was highly esteemed by his townsmen, and held the office of Highway Commissioner for many years in Sparta and also in Springwater.

The wife of Mr. William Brewer was Miss Nancy Spencer, daughter of a well-known farmer of Portage, Livingston County, where she was born. Her parents were among the early settlers of Portage. Mrs. Brewer is still living on the old homestead, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. and Mrs. William Brewer were blessed with five children - Henry S. ; Florence, who married Dr. Becker, a practising physician of Springwater; Hannah, a school teacher in Springwater, Maud, who is connected with the local newspaper, the Springwater Enter- prise; and one other daughter named Lizzie.

Henry S. Brewer spent his early life on his father's farm in Sparta, going with the family to Springwater when he was seven years old. He attended the district school, and later the normal school, teaching during one winter; but after that he concluded to leave the desk, and purchased a farm in Springwater. This he carried on for several years, also conducting his father's farm at the same time. When his father's death occurred, he took control of the

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mill and of the other farms, and has kept all in a prosperous condition. An extensive busi- ness is carried on at the mill, buckwheat flour being the leading product, and some flour being produced for the local market. Mr. Brewer is a member of the Maccabees, hold- ing the rank of Sergeant in the Springwater branch. He is a Republican in politics, and is a very popular young man, constantly add- ing to his host of friends, though so busy in developing the large estate under his care, and also taking part in local interests. It is a pleasant feature, one prognosticating the future well-being of a town, when younger men, as in this instance of Mr. Brewer, indicate that they have the qualifications which are requisite to the material advancement of the locality in which they live.

Henry S. Brewer was married February 16, 1888, to Miss Emma Willis, a daughter of Nelson Willis, a representative of one of the old families of Springwater. Her father was a native of the town, and her grandfather was one of the pioneers of the locality. Mrs. Brewer died in March, 1894, at the early age of thirty-three years. She was a member of the Methodist church, and was the mother of four children; namely, Willie, Fitch, Ried, and Charley.

IRLING OSGOOD, a retired farmer and an old resident of Bennington, near Folsomdale, was born at Lancas- ter, Worcester County, Mass., January 27, 1808, and is now eighty-seven years old. His father, Moses Osgood, was born at Lancaster in 1779, and was the son of a Massachusetts farmer, who lived and died on his farm in that State. The maiden name of his first wife, the grandmother of Virling Osgood, was Rugg. She bore four sons and several daughters. By a second mar- riage Mr. Osgood's grandfather had two sons.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 86

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

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