Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 9

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 9
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 9

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Bertrand G. Foss, who is an only son, at- tended the graded school at Canton, and grad- uated therefrom in 1877, delivering the valedictory address of his class. He was afterward employed as a teacher in the same school. In 1882 he came to Dansville as the agent for the Ithaca Piano and Organ Com- pany. In 1883 he commenced the study of law in the office of Faulkner & Bissell, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester in March, 1886. In 1889 Mr. Foss entered into a copartnership with Charles J. Bissell, Esq., for the practice of law under the firm name of Bissell & Foss. This association was termi- nated in 1889 by the removal of Mr. Bissell to Rochester, since which time Mr. Foss has con- tinued the practice of law in the same office where he began his clerkship.

Mr. Foss, as a firm believer in the princi- ples of the Democratic party, has taken an active interest in the politics of Dansville and Livingston County. Since the year 1885 he has been Justice of the Peace of the town of North Dansville, and a portion of the time

Police Justice and attorney of the village. In 1889 he was the candidate of his party for District Attorney of Livingston County, and was defeated by a small majority in a county strongly Republican. He has repeatedly rep- resented his party upon the County Committee, and was a delegate from Livingston County to the Democratic State Convention in 1894. Mr. Foss and his wife, whose maiden name was Hattie J. Bradley, and to whom he was united in marriage at Dansville in 1886, are attendants upon the Episcopal form of wor- ship. Mr. Foss, besides enjoying professional distinction, is closely identified with various benevolent and social fraternities of Dansville, being a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 113, A. F. & A. M., Canaseraga Lodge, No. 125, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dans- ville Camp, No. 64, K. O. T. M., and Pro- tectives No. 1, Fire Company.

ARL G. CLARKE, editor and pro- prietor of the enterprising weekly known as the Perry Record, having his office in the Sutherland Building, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 2, 1864. Ile is the son of Ephraim M. and Sophie (Tybell) Clarke, and a great-great-grandson of Abraham Clarke, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a native of Springfield, N. J.

Ephraim M. Clarke was born in Conesus, Livingston County, N. Y., in March, 1812. When a lad he served an apprenticeship at tailoring, and, after working as a journeyman for a time, entered into business for himself as a merchant tailor, first in Buffalo, N. Y., and next in New York City, where he remained several years. In 1870 he moved to Livonia, Livingston County, being there continuously engaged till the spring of 1880, when he re- moved with his family to the thriving village of Perry. Here he successfully carried on his business of merchant tailoring until failing health compelled him to retire from active labors. He was twice married. By his first wife, Louisa Bruen, he had nine children, five of whom are now living. Some years after her death he married Sophie Tybell, who

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was born in Gefle, Sweden. One son, Carl G., the subject of this sketch, was the fruit of their union. The death of Ephraim M. Clarke occurred on December 14, 1891.

Carl G. Clarke was educated at Livonia Union School, St. Paul's Military Academy at Riverdale-on-the-Hudson, and at Perry Union School. At the age of sixteen years he began preparing for his life's work by entering the printing-office of the Wyoming County Herald, published in Perry by Lewis E. Chapin, who afterward sold the business to George C. King. Having remained for some time in the employ of the new proprietor, in 1882 Mr. Clarke went to Buffalo, where for a period he worked as compositor on the Buffalo Courier. Later he went to Rochester, and worked in several of the largest job printing-offices in that city, being also at different times a com- positor on the Democrat and Chronicle, the Morning Herald, and the Sunday Herald.

Returning to Perry on September 6, 1885, he assisted the Rev. John F. Gates in estab- lishing the Perry Weekly News, and was in partnership with Mr. Gates for two years.

In March, 1889, the year after his marriage, Mr. Clarke entered into partnership with his wife's father, Edwin M. Read, who purchased the Akron Bresse, a weekly newspaper pub- lished at Akron, Erie County, N. Y. ; and the two families removed from Perry to that place. Under their management the business was largely increased, and numerous improvements were made in the paper. Mr. Clarke, desir- ing to embark in business on his own respon- sibility, the partnership was dissolved in De- cember, 1893; and he returned to Perry, where on January 24, 1894, he printed the first number of the Perry Record. Mr. Clarke was given a cordial welcome at his old home, and within a short time secured a good list of subscribers, which has steadily increased. The Record is now a welcome visitor in hun- dreds of homes, and is prized as a represent- ative, up-to-date paper, independent in every respect.

On January 24, 1888, Mr. Clarke married Carrie D. Read, daughter of Edwin M. and Mary M. Read, of Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are the proud parents of three children,

namely: Josephine, born February 8, 1889; Read, born March 12, 1891; and Mary, born April 15, 1893.

ON. JONATHAN B. MOREY was born in Dansville, Livingston County, N. Y., November 26, 1836. His grandfather, Harcourt Morey, was a native and farmer of Dutchess County, whence he went to Schoharic County, and from there to Dansville, bringing with him a wife and three children, and was one of the pioneer farmers of this section. Purchasing a large tract of timbered land, he cleared and culti- vated it, and in course of time erected a house and barn. His final place of residence was Erie County, Pennsylvania. There on the State line he kept an inn, which was the sta- tion for the negroes from the South who were fleeing to Canada. Mr. Morey was a Whig, and in sympathy with the Abolitionists.

Milton Morey, son of Harcourt and father of Jonathan, was inured to the toils of a farmer's life from his early boyhood, when he assisted in the heavy task of clearing away the dense and almost impenetrable forest growth. But his father, realizing the advantage of every man's having a special line of work upon which to rely for a livelihood, apprenticed the boy to a tanner, that he might become one of the hide and leather guild. Young Milton Morey applied himself diligently to the vari- ous branches of the trade, in due time becom- ing both skilful and expeditious, and finally purchased the tannery which occupied the space on the corner of Main and Milton Streets in Dansville, the last-named street being so called in honor of him. He remained in the business a number of years, was prominent in local public affairs, being one of the incor- porators of the village, and was held in high esteem throughout the county. In 1855, after selling his tannery, Mr. Morey migrated to Southern Minnesota, where he bought a large tract of timbered land twenty miles from human habitation, and for thirteen years en- gaged in the lumber trade. He next went to Yankton, and, investing in land, cleared a good farm. He died in 1886, aged seventy-six years.

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Milton Morey's first wife was Eva Barn- hart, of Dansville, who was of German par- entage, and was of a family of three children. She was a member of the Methodist church, and died in 1837, leaving one child, Jonathan B. Morey, the subject of the present sketch. Her father, Frederick Barnhart, came from Germany. He was a well-read man, and earned his living as a shoemaker. By his second wife, Eliza Ribbey, Mr. Morey had four children --- Priscilla, Perrilla, Permilla, and Daniel - all of whom are living in Dakota. Mrs. Eliza Ribbey Morey died in Dakota.

After the death of his mother, little Jona- than, then an infant of ten months, was taken to live with his uncle, Jonathan Barnhart, with whom he remained until 1860. The best edu- cational advantages that the vicinity afforded were given the boy, who was sent to the dis- trict school of the neighborhood and afterward to the normal school in Albany in 1858. He began teaching when he was seventeen, and taught in the same district school four terms, proving both his competency and popularity, and after leaving Albany taught in Dansville for two years. At this time his uncle died, and the farm to which he fell heir now claimed his attention. In 1871 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. George A. Sweet, in the nursery business. Ten years later Mr. Morey sold out his interest to Mr. Sweet; and then was established the nursery firm of J. B. Morey & Son, who are among the largest dealers in trees in this part of the State, and have one of the finest places on Main Street, the father owning also another farm in this locality. Mr. J. B. Morey's influence is felt in many directions, and he has been connected with both local and national politics. He is President of the Dansville Fair and Trotting Association, of which he has been a member since its organization; and he designed and laid out its present fine track, said to be the first in the State. He is also President of the gas company of the town, and is a stockholder in the National Bank of Dansville. In his political career Mr. Morey has displayed rare tact and keen perception, and is known far and near as one of the strongest Republicans in his

section. He was elected to the Assembly of 1864, and re-elected in 1865, when there were two districts, and again in 1872 and 1876. He has been President of the village, and has been three times elected Trustee. He was sent as a National Delegate to the convention that nominated General Grant for President for the second term.

In 1861 Mr. Morey was united in marriage to Miss Laura Sweet, a daughter of Mr. Sid- ney Sweet. Mrs. Morey is a native of Michi- gan, but came with her father to Livingston County in 1841. They settled in Sparta, where her father bought a saw-mill. He was afterward interested in the foundry works of Livingston, which he continued until he opened an exchange office known as "Sweet's." This he conducted for some time, and then founded the National Bank of Dansville. Mr. Sweet left New York State during the latter part of his life, and became a resident of Vine- land, N. J. After three trips to Europe he returned to Dansville, and died at the home of his daughter. Mrs. Morey was one of four children, and has two brothers, George A. and Edwin T., now living. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morey. The eld- est son, Edwin S. Morey, was a graduate of Hamilton College, and was admitted to the bar at Buffalo. After beginning to practise in Dansville, he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he entered the law office of an uncle, and in a short time was made attorney for the Michigan Trust Company. From the brilliant career which seemed to lie before him he was suddenly cut off, dying of typhoid fever at thirty-one years of age. Fanny Morey is in the seminary at Dansville. Jonathan B., Jr., a graduate of the normal college at Roches- ter, and Sidney S. are with their father in the nursery business. The family attend the Episcopal church.

R EV.

JOSIAH EDWARDS KIT- TREDGE, D. D., pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Geneseo, Living- ston County, N. Y., was born on Washington Street, Boston, Mass., October 12, 1836. He is descended from a long line

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of English ancestors, the first of the family to come to America being John Kittredge, a ship-master, who arrived here in 1660, re- ceived a grant of land in Billerica, Mass., and married Mary Littlefield, daughter of Francis Littlefield, of Woburn, Mass.

Their son John was born January 24, 1666, and married Hannah French, daughter of John French. He died April 27, 1714, and his widow in 1725. They were the parents of twelve children, one of whom, Francis, was born September 14, 1686, and be- came a physician, dying September 1, 1756. His son Solomon, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, resided for a time in Tewksbury, Mass., and from there removed to Mount Vernon, N. H., where he died August 24, 1792. His wife was Tabitha Ingalls, and she became the mother of twelve children. One of these, Josiah, the grandfather of the subject of this biography, was born in Mount Vernon, N. H., July 6, 1761, and learned the trade of a blacksmith, following that in con- nection with farming throughout his life. His last days were spent with his son at Nashua, N. H., where he died May 24, 1852, aged ninety years. He was married Oc- tober 13, 1792, to Mary Baker, who was born May 23, 1762. She was the daughter of Tim- othy and Mary (Dakin) Baker. She died Sep- tember 16, 1828, the mother of seven children, of whom Josiah, the father of the Rev. Josiah E. Kittredge, was the eldest.

Josiah Kittredge, the second of the name, entered Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., March 11, 1813, and later studied medicine with Dr. Spaulding, of Amherst, N. H. He afterward attended medical lectures at Dart- mouth and Harvard, and became a practising physician in the State of New Hampshire, being elected a member of the State Medical Society, June 6, 1820. He was one of the incorporators of the Pembroke Musical Soci- ety, and for a time was President of the State Medical Society. From 1817 to 1833 he practised as physician and surgeon in Pem- broke, N. H., from 1833 to 1838 in Boston, Mass. ; thence in 1838 he removed to Concord, N. H., and the following year to Nashua in the same State, practising in both these places.

In 1856 he moved to South Hadley, Mass., and was physician for Mount Holyoke Seminary for four years. In 1860 he settled in Mont Clair, N. J., where he resided until 1869, when he removed to Glastonbury, Conn., and there died in 1872. He was three times mar- ried - first, on May 24, 1825, to Mary Blan- chard Stuart, of Amherst, N. H., who died at the age of twenty-five years, in 1828, leaving one daughter, Mary Clarke. In April, 1830, he married Sarah Whiting French, of Bed- ford, N. H., who died June 10, 1842, leav- ing three children -- Charles Stuart, Sarah French, and Josiah Edwards. Dr. Kittredge's third wife was Susan Baylies Brigham, of Grafton, Mass., whom he married May 7, 1844. She passed away at Geneseo, N. Y., January 22, 1892. Josiah Edwards Kittredge was graduated from Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., in the class of 1854, and from Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in 1855. The next fall he entered Yale College, grad- uating in the class of 1860, a classmate of Professor O. C. Marsh, of Yale, the late Hon. William Walter Phelps, and others. For a year he taught a select school in Mont Clair, N. J. He studied theology a year at Union Seminary, New York, and two years at An- dover, Mass., graduating there in 1864. In 1866, for benefit of health and general advan- tage, he travelled in Egypt and Palestine, and pursued the study of language and philosophy in Paris and in Heidelberg. He returned to America in 1868, and settled in Glastonbury, Conn., where he was pastor of the Congrega- tional church for about four and a half years. On June 28, 1871, he married Miss Emma McNair, of Groveland, Livingston County, N. Y., daughter of Robert and Amelia (War- ner) McNair. Together they journeyed to the Pacific Coast, and in 1873 went to Europe, accompanied by Dr. Kittredge's mother. For two years he was pastor of the American Union Church in Florence, Italy. He re- turned in the autumn of 1876, and entered upon the pastorate of the Presbyterian church of Geneseo, April 18, 1877. Dr. and Mrs. Kittredge have four children: Robert Josiah, born in Glastonbury, Conn., July 24, 1872; Charles Firenze, born in Florence, Italy, Jan-

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uary 5, 1875 ; William McNair, born January 7, 1877, at Mount Morris, N. Y. ; and Mary Emma, born September 14, 1879, at Genesco, N. Y.

Dr. Kittredge is an enthusiastic student in Biblical archæology, and has perhaps one of the most valuable collections of publications relating to researches in Egypt and other lands in the East to be found in any private library in Western New York. He is a member of the London Society of Biblical Archaeology, Associate of the Victoria Institute, and Local Secretary of the Egyptian Exploration Fund. The University of the City of New York con- ferred on him the degree of D. D. in 1884. The church of which he is the pastor is a large and vigorous one. Four Presbyterian churches in Western New York alone exceed it in membership.

T® ORTER T. B. MUNGER, a native- born citizen of Warsaw, where his birth occurred September 15, 1839, is worthy of representation in this biographical volume, being the descendant of an honored pioneer family of this town, his grandfather, Samuel Munger, having migrated from Connecticut to Wyoming County in the early part of this century.

This part of the State was then in its pris- tine wildness; and the intervening country was traversed through the vast forests with a team of horses which drew a wagon contain- ing his wife, five children, and all of their earthly effects. Mr. Munger took up fifty acres of heavily timbered land in the south- west part of the town of Warsaw, and set to work to fell a few trees, which he soon con- verted into a log cabin to shelter the family. In the course of a few brief years he was en- abled to erect a small frame house, which was far more roomy and convenient than the rude log dwelling. The huge fireplace, before which all of the cooking was done, was kept well supplied with great logs, which served to light as well as heat the room. Four sons and two daughters were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Munger, further mention of whom may be seen elsewhere in connection with the sketch of Mrs. Ruth Cleveland.

Morgan M., eldest son of Samuel Munger, was born in the year 1800, during the resi- dence of his parents in Connecticut; and he was sixteen years old when he accompanied them to this county. In the pioneer labor of improving a farm from the wilderness he was an important factor, and after the death of his parents he succeeded to its ownership. He bought other land, increasing his farm, which is still owned by his heirs, from the original fifty acres to three hundred acres. In 1844 he built a more commodious frame house, the material used in its construction being drawn from Rochester, forty-nine miles away; and this is now used as the farm residence. In 1832 Mr. Morgan M. was united in marriage to Miss P. E. Kingsley, who was born in Ver- mont, and reared to years of maturity by a family named Scoville. They became the parents of eight sons and three daughters, all of whom are living except three, one son being Porter T. B., the subject of the present sketch. The second son died at two and a half years of age. The youngest son died from accidentally stabbing himself, at the age of ten years. The eldest daughter, Annie, who married Marion Belden, died in September, 1888; and her husband and the two sons born to them have also passed to the bourn from which no traveller returns.

Porter T. B. Munger was reared on the pa- rental farm, and attended school until seven- teen years of age, when an acute inflammation of the eyes compelled him to abandon his studies. Inheriting the patriotic spirit that stirred the blood of his ancestors, he served during the late Rebellion in defence of his country, enlisting August 11, 1862, in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Thirtieth New York Volunteer Infantry. The following July he was transferred to the Nineteenth New York Cavalry, which was later known as the First New York Dragoons; and until the close of the war Mr. Munger was in active service, but was never wounded nor taken prisoner, al- though he received a serious injury. Much of the time he was on special duty, for eight months being in Lincoln United States General Hospital, as mounted orderly, hav- ing been detailed to the position by Dr.

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J. C. McKee, who is now on the retired list at Butler, Pa.

Mr. Munger was married in July, 1860, to Maria B. Hoisington, who died ten years later, leaving two children - Blanche P., wife of Frank Martin, of Warsaw, and the mother of one child, William; and Lillian B., who mar- ried Adelbert Crocker, of Warsaw, and has one child, Lulu. Mr. Munger was again mar- ried, in 1873, to Miss Agnes F. Tuttle, of Warsaw. Her father, Hervey Tuttle, was born in Vermont, but removed from there to this State, settling in Washington County. Later he removed to Warsaw, where he mar- ried Esther Rogers, a native of England. They made their home in Warsaw till they departed this life, leaving two daughters and three sons, the latter of whom are living in the West.

Mr. Munger takes an intelligent interest in all matters concerning the welfare of the gen- eral public, and, although he has never aspired to office, served for six years as Constable. Socially, he is an influential member of the Gibbs Post, No. 130, Grand Army of the Re- public, in which he has served as Officer of the Day and as Junior Master. He is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and has occupied most of the chairs excepting that of Master. Both he and his wife are esteemed members of the Congregational church.

RS. JOANNA FOOTE is the rep- resentative of a well-known pio- neer family of Livingston County, and is held in high esteem throughout the town of Mount Morris, wherein she has so long resided, faithful in her duties as wife, mother, and friend. Her maiden name was Joanna Sturges. Her parents, Ebenezer and Mary (Howard) Sturges, were natives of Cayuga County, but were in early life numbered among the pioneer settlers of this county, where they were well-to-do mem- bers of the farming community.

Mrs. Foote has been twice married, and is now the second time a widow. Her first hus- band, Christopher C. Thorp, departed this life in 1873. Her second husband, Giles W.

Foote, whom she married some years later, died in 1885. Mr. Christopher C. Thorp was a son of Osborn and Mary (Criss) Thorp, who came to Livingston County at an early period of its settlement, when it was but sparsely populated. In common with their neighbors, they lived on the productions of their land, and carded, spun, and wove the material for all of their clothing. When a young man, Mr. Thorp learned the carpenter's trade; and he worked at that occupation until 1860, when he bought a farm in the town of Mount Mor- ris, which he operated successfully until the time of his death. He built a substantial frame house, with convenient barns and out- buildings, and otherwise improved his home- stead, devoting his time and attention to increasing the value of his property, which included eighty-seven acres of rich and produc- tive land. Of his union with Joanna Sturges two children were born ; namely, Hattie and Edward, the former of whom married Charles Brown, of Mount Morris, and has one child, a daughter named Helen.

Edward Thorp, Mrs. Foote's only son, was born in Mount Morris, August 8, 1855, and, after completing his education in the district schools, assisted his parents in the labors of the farm, obtaining a practical knowledge of agriculture. On the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of the estate, and this he has since carried on with ability and success. In 1877 he was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Case, the daughter of Will- iam Case, of Mount Morris; and their happy home has been enlivened by the advent of two bright and active children --- Mabel and How- ard. In politics Mr. Thorp has followed in the footsteps of his father, and uniformly casts his vote with the Democratic party. His ex- cellent wife is an esteemed member of the Methodist church.

OHN BLUM, the well-known shoe man- ufacturer of Dansville, N. Y., and founder of the retail boot and shoe store now conducted by his sons, was born in Germany, September 1, 1822. His father, John Blum, Sr., who was a shoemaker, was in

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the army of Napoleon in 1813, in the Russian campaign, and was detailed to make shoes for the soldiers. After serving three years, he returned to his native town, and in 1817 mar- ried and settled upon a small farm, which he conducted, at the same time working at his trade. He died in 1838, at the age of forty- four years. His wife was Mary Seybold, daughter of Matthias Seybold, and they had nine children, five of whom lived to become of age; namely, Melchior, Catherine, John, Jo- seph, and Frank. Catherine and John are the sole survivors. John was the only one who came to America. The mother was of the German Catholic religion, and died in her native country, at the age of seventy-five.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 9

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

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