Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 89

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 89
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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tinued to work at this in different parts of the country till 1887, when he came to Gaines- ville with his brother-in-law, W. F. Johnson, a dealer in general merchandise, for whom he worked as a clerk three months. He re- mained with Mr. Johnson four years longer, having charge of his store two years and being in partnership with him the last two years. Mr. Mason then bought out his part- ner's interest, and since 1889 has conducted the business alone and with marked success, having a large and well-appointed establish- ment, his stock consisting of boots, shoes, dry goods, hardware, and gentlemen's fur- nishing goods.

In 1887 Mr. Charles R. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Luella F. Riley, daugh- ter of Reuben Riley. She was born in Har- rison, Me., where her father worked in the shoe manufacturing business. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have one child, a daughter, Lila. Mr. Mason was formerly President of the Silver Springs fire department. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Castile and of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows at Silver Springs, also a member of the Maccabees at this place and of the Foresters; and he takes great interest in these fraternal societies. Mr. Mason is a Republican in politics, but has never sought office, preferring to devote any time which he could spare from his busi- ness to church work and the cause of Chris- tianity. In this he is ably seconded by his worthy wife, who like himself is a member of the Methodist church, of which he is a Trus- tee and Treasurer. He is also President of the Young People's Society of Christian En- deavor of Silver Springs and assistant super- intendent of the Sunday-school.

ELVIN R. HAMILTON is a well- known and respected farmer of the town of Avon, residing upon and O operating one of the finest farms in Livingston County, located one mile north of East Avon. He was born in Lima, Liv- ingston County, N. Y., February 16, 1857, son of William Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton is one of the most progres-

sive and successful farmers of the county, and takes a natural pride and interest in the beautiful farm he is operating, and which he is fast bringing into a high state of cultivation. He is practical and scientific in his methods, having made a careful study of agriculture, and is prompt to see and quick to adopt new and improved methods and machinery.

February 20, 1889, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Crouse, of Lima, daughter of James H. and Frances A. (Carey) Crouse. Mrs. Hamil- ton's father is one of the largest land owners in Livingston County, owning nearly two thousand acres in farm lands in the county and vicinity, besides property in Michigan.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have three bright and promising children - Mabel, Helen, and William James. The family attend the Bap- tist church of Lima, of which the parents are

members. Theirs is a well-ordered and Christian household, thoroughly representa- tive of the best agricultural element of the State.

UY P. MORGAN, a farmer residing near the village of Hermitage, in the eastern part of Wethersfield, N. Y., was born in this town September 14, 1830. Mr. Morgan's great-grandfather, Edward Mor- gan, was for many years a resident of New London, Conn. ; and both his grandfather, Guy Morgan, and his father, Justus Morgan, were born in that State. Grandfather Morgan came from Connecticut to Wyoming County, N. Y., and first bought a tract of wood land near Java Lake, but was there only a short time before he came to Wethersfield, being one of the first settlers in the town. Ile built a log house, and proceeded to clear and improve his land. Some years later he removed to Ohio. He was Justice of the Peace in Wethersfield for a number of years, and was elected County Judge in Ohio, but died before his official term began, aged forty-six years.

Justus Morgan was the eldest of Guy Mor- gan's nine sons. Upon coming of age he bought his father's farm ; and this he managed

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until 1850, when he bought property in the eastern part of Wethersfield, where he passed the remainder of his natural life, which ex- tended over a period of seventy-five years. Mrs. Justus Morgan, Miss Celesta Pickett before marriage, was a daughter of Mr. Rod- ney Pickett, a millwright in Onondaga County; where she was born. She was of Dutch ancestry, and her forefathers were among the early settlers of the Mohawk valley. Of her seven children, five are now living - Guy P., of this memoir; Nancy, who married Mr. R. Landon; Lucius, whose first wife was Mary Eastman, his second Augusta Peck ; Lucy, who married Mr. Volney Smith ; Mary, who became the wife of Mr. Dayton Eastman. Their mother died in Wethersfield at seventy- five years of age.

Guy P. Morgan was educated in the district schools and at the Warsaw Academy; and, shortly after attaining his majority, he left the paternal roof, and came to his present farm, which at that date, 1854, was only partially cleared. The original boundaries of his estate have been greatly enlarged since his first pur- chase, and the land under his careful and in- telligent tillage brings forth abundant crops. In the same year that he became a land owner Mr. Morgan acquired another dignity, for in 1854 he was married to Miss Sophia Wolcott, of Wethersfield. This lady's grandfather was one of the early settlers of the place, coming hither in 1810. Her father died here, and her mother is still living Two children have been born of this marriage, a son and a daugh- ter. Augustus Morgan married Miss Carrie Stearns, of Warsaw, is the father of two chil- dren -- Eva and Elva -and lives on a farm adjoining that of his father. The daughter, Flora Morgan, married Mr. Fred Gill, and died at twenty-six years of age, leaving two chil- dren - Lulu and Lena.

Mr. Morgan is a Republican in politics. He has held the offices of Collector and As- sessor for seven years, that of Justice of the Peace for a decade, and has presided in the judicial chair of the Warsaw court. Mr. Mor- gan is an attendant of the Baptist church at Hermitage, and is a man whose influence extends in various directions.

m ATTHEW WIARD, having first seen the light of day in Avon, on the 8th of September, 1813, is now nearly eighty-two years of age. His father, Thomas Wiard, was a man of strong individuality, with great force of char- acter, and was not at all afraid to depart from beaten paths and strike out for himself in order to attain any honorable end. He was a native of Connecticut, but soon left that State to become one of the early pioneers in Livingston County. He first settled at Gen- eseo, where he remained some twelve years, at the end of which time he removed to Avon, bought a farm, and added farming to his regu- lar trade, which was that of a blacksmith.

But Thomas Wiard was no ordinary me- chanic, being decidedly superior to the average even in those days, when the blacksmith had to make "everything out of nothing," and never thought of refusing a job just because he had not the best facilities for doing it. The farm he bought in Avon was almost en- tirely unimproved, the only building on it being a tumble-down log cabin, and there was a good deal of clearing to be done before there could be much land to cultivate. For some years he carried on the blacksmith-shop as subordinate to the farm; but, when he had got the latter fairly under cultivation, and his sons had become old enough to help him out on farm work, he began to rapidly build up his mechanical business. Starting with ox and horse shoeing, he soon added the repairing and the building of wagons, then the manufactur- ing and repairing of guns, farming tools, etc., until finally many of his productions attained a much more than local reputation ; and before his death he was running a large factory at East Avon entirely devoted to the manufacture of ploughs and other agricultural implements. Some of his sons were associated with him in this business; and to one of them, Thomas, Jr., is due the invention of the celebrated WViard plough.

Thomas Wiard, Sr., married at quite an early age, taking for his wife Miss Susan Hall, of Connecticut. Their first-born child was Matthew, the subject of this sketch; and eight more children were born to them in the

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

following order: Henry, George, Thomas, William, Seth, Mary A., Margaret, Rachel. The father of the family remained in Avon as long as he lived, served as Justice of the Peace, as Supervisor, and in other public ca- pacities, and died at the age of sixty seven.

Matthew was educated in the district schools of the town; and most of his life has been passed as a farmer, although he has had no little experience at mechanical work, and at one time resided in Canada, where he was as- sociated with a brother in the manufacture of ploughs. All together, Mr. Wiard has been identified with that branch of industry for about a score of years. He has never taken to himself a wife, apparently preferring the free- dom of celibacy to the comforts of matrimony. Firm and steadfast in his political affiliations, he has always voted with the Republican party since its organization. As a Whig he cast his first Presidential ballot in 1836 for the great defender of the Constitution, Daniel Webster.

Matthew Wiard held a commission as Jus- tice of the Peace for a score of years, served four terms as Supervisor of the town of Avon, and might easily have had many other public offices had he desired them; for he has long enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow-citi- zens, and they appreciate his ability as well as his sterling integrity. His standing in a com- munity where he has lived more than eighty years of busy and useful life affords the best possible testimonial to his character, and ren- ders mention of him necessary in a work treat- ing of the representative men of these parts. The presentation herewith of his portrait also, we are confident, will meet the especial ap- proval of our readers.

HARLES E. LOOMIS, a banker of Attica, of the firm of Loomis & Sons, was born in this town, December 14, 1851. He is the third son of James H. Loomis and his wife, Janette Howe, daughter of Jacob and Azuba (Sprout) Howe. (See sketch of James H. Loomis elsewhere in this volume. )

Charles E. Loomis was educated at the Al- legany College, of which his uncle, George

Loomis, was President for thirteen years. On finishing his education he returned home, and was engaged at once in the banking busi- ness with his father, who had established it and continued it as a personal enterprise. Charles E. went into partnership with his father, and still continues to hold the position of partner and Cashier.

Mr. Charles E. Loomis was married to Miss Amy Wicks, daughter of the Rev. John Wicks, of the town of Attica. Mrs. Loomis was a graduate of Wells College at Elmira, N. Y. Their union has been blessed with three children, one of whom died in infancy. Two bright boys remain - Charles W., born May 15, 1890; and Van Wick, born December 16, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis have taken three different tours abroad. In 1877 they went through Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, and Germany. In 1882 they made a classical tour, going into Spain, Northern Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In 1888 they again crossed the Atlantic, to wander awhile among the historic cities and towns of the old world.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Loomis built for themselves in 1889 a fine residence on Main Street, which they continue to occupy. Mr. Loomis is President of the water company. His political principles are like those of his father and brother. He votes the Republican ticket. Although he has thus far been too closely occupied with other interests to under- take municipal offices, his influence is felt in local public matters and in social affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lcomis are Presbyterians, and Mr. Loomis is an Elder in the church and also one of the Trustees.

HARLES J. GARDNER, of Warsaw, was born in Attica, May 12, 1843. His grandfather, Asher Gardner, came to Attica from Massachusetts in 1808 with his two brothers, Roswell and Adolphus, his brother Parley following a few years after. Asher took up one hundred acres of wild land from the Holland Land Com-

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pany, half a mile south from the village of Attica, on the Creek Road. Two or three years later he went back to his former home in Massachusetts, and on his return brought with him a bride, whose wedding journey was made in a wagon, and who began housekeeping in a log cabin built by her husband's hands for her habitation. His wife's maiden name was Philinda Patrick, and she must have had a loyal and brave heart to have dared such a hardy life for love's sake. Here they made a permanent home for themselves and the group of children who were gradually gathered about their knees, and, as the years passed, enlarged their ' little domain and grew more prosperous.

Patrick Gardner, the son of Asher, and father of Charles J., married Miss Jenette E. Munger, of Attica, a daughter of Hiram Mun- ger, of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gardner were life-long residents of Attica, where the former was an industrious farmer and held the office of Assessor and Justice of the Peace for several years, and was a Repub- lican in politics. Eight children were the issue of this marriage, three sons and five daughters. Two daughters died in childhood. Three of the daughters and three sons are now living in the vicinity of Attica. Patrick R. Gardner died June 15, 1870, aged fifty-eight years ; and his widow died in Attica, June 20, 1894, aged seventy-four years.

Charles J. Gardner, after leaving the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood, entered the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, where he was a student for two years. The Civil War was now at its height ; and at the age of nine- teen he entered the ranks of the Union army, enlisting August 6, 1862, in Company C of the One Hundred and Thirtieth New York Volunteers. A few months later the regiment was changed to a cavalry regiment, and was afterward known as the First New York Dra- goons. On the organization of the company at Portage, N. Y., Mr. Gardner was made Cor- poral, and later was promoted to Sergeant. In the fall of 1864, in the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah, in Virginia, which Sheridan's invading forces so devastated that the "crows had to carry their rations" through its war-

wasted boundaries, Mr. Gardner lost his right leg. He was taken to Baltimore, where, at the Camden Street Hospital, the limb, which had been fractured by a minie-ball, was ampu- tated seven inches below the knee. Gangrene developed after the operation, which had to be performed a second time. Mr. Gardner was discharged from the army April 28, 1865, and on July 30, 1865, was married to Miss An- nette R. Terry, of Batavia, a daughter of William M. Terry, of that place. Soon after his return from the army he was appointed a postal clerk on the Erie Railway, and held that position for three years. He removed to Warsaw, January 1, 1874, to accept the office of County Clerk, to which he had previously been elected. He held the office two terms. He- was afterward appointed Postmaster at Warsaw, N. Y., by President Chester A. Ar- thur, and resigned that office, December 1, 1887, to accept the office of Sheriff of Wyo- ming County, to which he had previously been elected. He is a member of Gibbs Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 130. Mr. Gardner has three children - one daughter, Martha, now Mrs. Edward T. Montgomery, of Warsaw, N. Y. ; and two sons, William P. Gardner and George W. Gardner. Since Jan- uary 1, 1874, the family has resided in the pleasant house on West Court Street, pur- chased at that time.

ILLIAM H. GROVES, a well- known farmer occupying a fine es- tate in the town of York, Living- ston County, was born in that place, Septem- ber 13, 1863. His father, Mr. Robert Groves, was born in the picturesque and beau- tiful part of Ireland commonly termed the north, whence have come the ancestors of some of our greatest men - men noted for pluck and perseverance. The climate, being so cold, perhaps adds something of hardiness to the inhabitants. Perhaps, also, the fierce and terrible Danes and Northmen, who rav- aged the island in olden times, and left traces of their Celtic tongue in the rich brogue of the inhabitants, may have left traces likewise in their strength and prowess. The salt seas

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which rave perpetually in the caves of the rugged shores of Ireland, and the storms and tempests of its winters, which are so bitter, but symbolize the storms of adversity which have for long and weary years won the people of the entire country to a patience and cheerful endurance which signalizes them everywhere as a nation.

Mr. Robert Groves came of Scotch ancestry, and he had the brave spirit which always char- acterizes the Scotch-Irish. He was a poor laborer when he set out with wife and two children to find a home in the land of the free. This was in 1841. After reaching New York he made his way up into this section of coun- try; and, when he arrived in York, he had but eighteen cents in his pocket to start in his new career. But the worst was over. His strong arm was his capital, and he soon found a home and bread for himself and family. He worked for a time by the month, then for a number of years on shares, running a farm with Mr. Alex Reid, of that town. After a time he, suc- ceeded in buying a small place, in which he lived for a while with his family. Later he sold this; and in 1883 he bought one of the most attractive residences in York village, commanding a beautiful view across the Gen- esee valley to Geneseo. In connection with this he also bought twenty-eight acres of land. This place was long and familiarly known as the Bowden estate. It was here that Robert Groves spent his later years, and here he died at the age of sixty-eight. As he took out naturalization papers at an early day, he was soon able to vote ; and this he always did on the Republican side.

Mr. Robert Groves married Miss Margaret McFadden. Her death occurred ten months before that of her husband, on April 14, 1888. Seven children were born to them, whose names are here given : Mary A., Agnes, John H., Susanna, Elizabeth, Margaret D., and William H. These parents suffered a terrible bereavement in 1861. Within two weeks the first five of the children were taken from them by that malignant disease, diphtheria. Phy- sicians did not then understand the nature of it so well as now; and, though science has not found the preventive, much has been done

through scientific investigation to cure many and to relieve the sufferings of those whose lives are doomed.

This was in the old home. The new one is very pleasant, and Mr. William Groves resides there with his sister Margaret alone. The brother carries on the farm work, and his sis- ter keeps the house. William Groves is a faithful and capable steward, who spares no pains in preserving and improving his inheri- tance; and in many things. he follows the ex- ample set by his father. Like him, he votes the Republican ticket. His first Presidential vote was in 1884 for James G. Blaine.

ON. WOLCOTT J. HUMPHREY, who died at his home in Warsaw, N. Y., on January 19, 1890, aged seventy-two, was born in Canton, Conn., November 11, 1817. He was but an infant when his father moved to Sheldon, which was then in Genesee County, so that all of his earliest recollections and associa- tions were of New York State. Here he grew up, and became a farmer, and later in life fol- lowed the trades of tanning and shoe and har- ness making. His great-grandfather, Sam- uel Humphrey, was a native of Connecticut, as were his grandfather, Theophilus, and his father, who bore the same name. Mr. The- ophilus Humphrey, the younger, married Cynthia Hayden, of Torringford, Conn. ; and they became the parents of seventeen chil- dren, Wolcott J., of this memoir, being the sixth son.

Besides the district-school education Wol- cott J. Humphrey received a brief course of instruction from a Congregational clergyman of the neighborhood. His mind was naturally a studious one, and by observation and a varied experience in life he became a man of culture as well as of deep insight. That quality of mind called common sense was one of his chief characteristics, and insured him success in his business ventures. For

twenty-four years he continued in mercantile business, being successively engaged at Varys- burg, Sheldon Centre, North Java, and Bloomington, Ill., from which place he re-

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turned to his native town. Some successful land speculations in the West added consid- erably to his fortune. Coming to Warsaw in 1864, he here conducted a large tanning busi- ness until 1869, in which year he became a stockholder in the Wyoming County National Bank. In 1871 he was chosen President of the bank, a position he held until his death. He was for many years President of the town water-works and gas company, in both of which he held stock. Amid the multiplicity of his business affairs he still found time to devote to the interests of suffering fellow- creatures, to whom his warm heart went out in tender sympathy, and for whom his gener- ous nature expended itself in deeds of loving charity. He was for eight years Trustee of the Institution for the Blind at Batavia and President of its board for three years, and was always identified with the best interests of his town and county. As a young man he took a lively interest in military training, and was at twenty years of age a member of the State militia. In 1840 he was elected Colonel of the Ninth Regiment of the Brigade of New York State, but resigned his commission in 1844.

For political sagacity, remarkably good judgment, and firmness of purpose he had no superiors and but few equals. In politics Mr. Humphrey was active and efficient. He served his party faithfully and well. Of him it could be fitly said : -

". A strong man ; For where he fixed his heart he set his hand To do the thing he willed, and bore it through."

Mr. Humphrey held during his life many offices of trust, and was a man of wide influ- ence in the community. He was several times Supervisor, Postmaster in 1849, 1853, and 1860, and was marshal in charge of the census taken in 1850. In the same year he was elected to the Assembly of New York and again in 1851, and was Chairman of the Com- mittee for Railroads, and reported the bill for the consolidation of the Central Railroad with valuable restrictions. He was in charge of the Prohibition Liquor Law passed that ses- sion, and made an able speech in its behalf,

and was elected to the Senate from the Sixty- third District, which included Wyoming, Livingston, and Allegany Counties, in 1865, and again, 1867, by a majority of five thousand two hundred and forty.

During his service in the Senate he was recognized as one of the most able Senators, was Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Bridges and on Commerce and Navigation, also a member of the Committee on Internal Affairs, Printing, Finance, and Banks. He was always acknowledged as a leading man in his section of the State, having been a mem- ber of the Republican County Committee for thirty years. Also during the last twenty years he was a delegate in more than half the Republican State Conventions that have been held, and he was a member of the National Republican Conventions of 1876 and 1880.

On March 30, 1841, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Amanda Martindale, a daugh- ter of Major William S. Martindale, of Dor- set, Vt. She died in California June 17, 1873. He was married a second time to Hannah Adams, a daughter of Hugh and Isa- bella (Adams) Mulholland, of Parma, Monroe County, N. Y. The two children born of this union were Annabel and Wolcott Julius.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 89

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

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