Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 90

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 90
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 90

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Mr. Humphrey during his long business career amassed a large fortune, which he ex- pended with a generous hand. In private and public life he was large-minded and liberal, and many an orphan relative owed his success in life to the sympathetic interest and finan- cial aid he was always ready to bestow. A liberal supporter of the gospel, he was espe- cially generous to that particular branch of the religious body ---- the Congregational church --- to which he was attached, and was for twenty years the Trustee. The last years of his life were spent in a futile quest for the vigor of health and strength, which neither money nor effort could discover. In the relations of father, husband, friend, and citizen, he was a lofty example and worthy model; and the death of few men has been regarded as such a public calamity as was his. Noble, gener- ous, just, and kind, his deeds live after him, and "blossom in the dust."

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RS. HANNAH ADAMS HUM- PHREY is of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion. Her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland, came to America when they were young children.

Mrs. Humphrey was educated in Rochester, where for fifteen years she taught in the schools, five of which she was principal of the Glenwood School, a position she filled with marked ability and success. She was married to the Hon. Wolcott J. Humphrey, July 8, 1874, and passed the first year of her married life in travelling on the Pacific Coast. She then with her husband returned to War- saw, where the remaining years of their wedded life were spent. Two children, a son and daughter, blessed this marriage. Anna- bel, the daughter, is now at the far-famed Ogontz School near Philadelphia; and Wol- cott Julius, who bears his father's name, is a student at the Hill Preparatory School at Pottstown, Pa.

Mrs. Humphrey resides in her spacious and delightful residence, "The Elms," where she dispenses hospitality with gracious and charming cordiality. Energetic, capable, and public-spirited, she holds various offices rarely filled by women, being a Director of the Wyo- ming County National Bank, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institution for the Blind at Batavia, President of the Society for Village Work, and also of the Board of Trustees of the Industrial School. Few women have taken such a prominent part in the local affairs of their village and county as Mrs. Humphrey, whose name is a synonym of womanly strength and beneficent influence.

FC OWLAND SHERMAN, a well-known citizen of the town of Avon, was born in Pawling, Dutchess County, N. Y., April 12, 1872. He is a di- rect descendant in the ninth generation of Philip Sherman, who came to Massachusetts in 1633, and settled first at Roxbury, and a few years later was an associate of Roger Williams in the founding of Rhode Island. He was Secretary of that colony in 1639,

Deputy in 1665-67, and was a man of much courage and ability. The great-grandfather of Howland Sherman, Benjamin Sherman, was born in Dartmouth, Mass. When a young man, he made a voyage on a whaling-ship, and with other members of the crew was for five days lost in the fog in a small boat with- out food, and when rescued was in a perishing condition. This experience sufficed for a sea- faring life; and upon arriving at his home Benjamin Sherman started for Dutchess County, where he settled at the foot of Quaker Hill in 1764. His house was for a time the headquarters of General Washington, and it was under his roof that the trial of General Schuyler was held. He and his son Abiel were wagon-makers and farmers, Whigs in politics, and always interested in public affairs, Abiel serving as a member of the State Assembly. The wife of Abiel was Joanna Howland, of Dutchess County.

Henry Sherman, father of Howland, fol- lowed the trade of his ancestors, and in 1836 came to this vicinity to seek a new location for his home. The journey was made in a wagon ; and in the following year he returned with his family, sailing up the Hudson from Poughkeepsie as far as Albany in a sloop, then going by way of the Erie Canal to Pitts- ford, and thence by teams to the town of Rush, Monroe County, where he bought land. He died at the age of seventy-six. His wife was Emma Halloway, of the town of Pawling, Dutchess County, daughter of Joseph Hallo- way and grand-daughter of William Halloway, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War.

Howland Sherman was in his sixteenth year when he left the old home with his parents, and on a pleasant Sunday morning landed at Pittsford. The rest of the journey of ten miles to the future home of the family was then made on foot. Being a natural me- chanic, he learned his trade in his father's shop, and when ready to begin housekeeping made much of the furniture himself. He bought a small farm at first, improved it, and then sold it to good advantage, and bought another. In 1856 he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies ; and on it he has erected buildings of the best and most

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substantial kind, and carries on a thriving business.

February 24, 1849, Mr. Sherman married Mary Price, of the town of Rush, Monroe County. She was born September 26, 1823, and was the daughter of George Price, a native of Frederick, Md. Her grandfather, Philip Price, was an early settler in Mary- land, where he resided until 1801, when, ac- companied by his family, he moved to New York State, making the journey, according to the custom of the times, with ox teams. He settled first in Lyons, then in Hopewell, and afterward came to Halford, now Avon. Later he went to the town of Rush, bought a large tract of timber land, and built his log house, living the primitive life of the wilder- ness, five miles away from his nearest neigh- bor and with only bridle paths to connect him with civilization. Here he died in 1826. The maiden name of his wife was Susanna Layman. She was a native of Maryland, and was the daughter of Philip Layman. George Price, the father of Mrs. Sherman, was very young when he came to New York; and, being the third son, much of his life was spent with his parents. He died at the age of seventy years. His wife's name was Elizabeth Martin. She also was born in Maryland, and was mother of eleven children.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have three children --- Amanda J., wife of Horace L. Bennett, of Rochester; Frances C., wife of John A. Munson, of Savannah, Wayne County; and Walter H., who married Harriet C. Mitchell, and resides in Rochester, N. Y.

ORTIMER N. COLE, of the firm

of Cole & Andrus, dealers in hardware and carriages, Castile, N. Y., was born in Devonshire, England, September 1, 1853. His great- grandfather, Philip Cole, who was a farmer in England, died in his eighty-seventh year, having reared thirteen children - Thomas, William, Abraham, Philip, John, Samuel, Ann, Joseph, Mary, Jane, Eliza, Susan, and Hannah. Thomas, the eldest of the family, was born in England, and there spent his

life, engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He was eighty-six years of age at the time of his death ; and his wife, Mary Joshlin, passed away at the age of sixty-two. They left six children - Samuel, Alexander, Eliza- beth, and Elias, who came to America; and Maria and Joseph, who remained in England.

Samuel, the father of the subject of this sketch, received his education and spent the early part of his life in his native land, where he married Ann Rudd. In 1854 he came to America, and settled in Perry, where his wife died in 1873. She left two children - Morti- mer N., and his sister, Elizabeth M., who was born in Perry, and died when twenty-two years of age. Samuel Cole's second wife, Lida Gray, was born in Castile, December 10, 1838, daughter of Richard and Mary (Coleman) Gray. Samuel Cole is a Republi- can, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They live a retired life in their pleasant home in Perry.

Mortimer N. Cole was educated at Perry Academy, after which he entered the employ of R. E. Merdorff, of Perry. Here he re- mained as clerk for five years, at the end of which time he was engaged in the same ca- pacity by C. P. Andrus, a merchant of Perry, with whom he served a term of seven years. In 1885, in connection with D. S. Andrus, he bought the hardware store of Davidson Brothers at Castile. They have enlarged their business and extended their trade, until now they occupy a spacious store on the cor- ner of Main and Washington Streets in Cas- tile; and here they display a fine line of hardware, wagons, stoves, and furnaces, in connection with which they have a large ware- house for carriages.

In 1877 Mr. Cole married Gracia Andrus, daughter of C. P. and Clarissa (Billings) Andrus. C. P. Andrus was born in Shafts- bury, Bennington County, Vt., September 8, 1822, son of David and Mary ( Parks) Andrus and grandson of Isaac Andrus, a native of Connecticut, who after his marriage had re- moved with his family to Bennington County, Vermont, the journey being made with ox teams. Isaac carried on farming, besides which he kept a tavern for many years. He

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died at an advanced age, leaving a large fam - ily. His son David, who was born in Con- necticut, March 29, 1779, continued the hotel business at Shaftsbury for forty years, during which time he made frequent trips to Cayuga and Wyoming Counties in this State, assist- ing the early pioneers in moving their fam- ilies to their new homes. While here in 1810 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land where the village of Wyoming is now located, and in 1812 removed his family hither. His uncle Isaac had previously set- tled in that section, and kept a small log tavern. Having some trouble with the Ind- ians, and feeling the effects of the war, David shortly returned to Vermont with his family for safety, sending instructions to his uncle to sell his land. He engaged in farming in Vermont until 1833, when he removed to the town of Castile, Wyoming County, N. Y., and buying a farm on the west side of Silver Lake resided there until his death, February 8, 1861. His wife, Mary Parks Andrus, born January 9, 1787, died March 2, 1839, leaving a family of nine children.

C. P. Andrus was educated in Vermont, and in 1834 came to Castile, spending his summers in farming and his winters in teach- ing. In 1846 he bought ninety acres of land west of the lake in the town of Castile, and there made a home for his young wife, Cla- rissa Billings, whom he married in that year. She was the daughter of Asa and Nancy (Ga- lusha) Billings, natives of Vermont. Nancy Galusha was the daughter of John Galusha, the fifth Governor of that State. Asa Bill- ings was a Whig and an active politician in Vermont. He died at the age of fifty-six, leaving a family of ten children. Some time after his marriage Mr. Andrus engaged in the livery business, and later in the grocery busi- ness, from which he retired at the end of twenty-seven years. He is a stanch Republi- can, and has held several offices in the town.

Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer N. Cole have one child - Lawrence A., born February 26, 1883, who is now in college. Mr. Cole is a Republican, and is at present Supervisor of the town of Castile, a member of the Ancient Order of Workmen, of the Select Knights,

and one of the fire department of Castile. He is Secretary and Superintendent of the Cas- tile water-works and President of the Elitsac Manufacturing Company. Mrs. Cole is organ- ist at the Baptist church, of which society she is a member. Mr. Cole is among the most successful business men of Castile. His pleasant and genial manner, as well as his good judgment and interest in the public wel- fare, have won for him the good will of all.

RANK B. DODGE, M.D., of Mount Morris, is an able representative of the medical fraternity of Livingston County. He was born on November 7, 1857, in the town of Leicester, in this county, son of James L. and Mary E. (Budrow) Dodge, and comes of New England antecedents, his great- grandfather Dodge having been born and reared to maturity in the State of Connecticut. A few years after marriage that ancestor re- moved to Western Massachusetts, settling in the town of Hawley, where he bought a farm, and among the rocks and rills of that hilly country engaged in general farming during the remaining years of his earthly existence.

His son Thomas, from whom the Doctor is descended, was born in New London, Conn., April 16, 1793, and was but an infant when the family removed to Massachusetts, he being carried in the arms of his mother, who made the journey on horseback. He was educated in Hawley, and assisted in tilling the home farm until 1816, when he wended his way on foot to the Western frontier, proceeding as far as Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he was employed during the winter season in chop- ping wood. In the spring he began to jour- ney homeward, walking as far as Canandaigua, when he came across a farmer who was on his way to Albany with a load of wheat, and with him he secured a ride. After a short visit at the parental homestead Thomas again started for New York State; but this time he was accompanied by a fair young bride, whom he had induced to leave her parents, and with him establish a home in the wilder- ness. Purchasing a tract of heavily timbered land in the town of Leicester, Livingston

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County, he cleared an opening and proceeded to build a log cabin in which to begin house- keeping. There being no sawed lumber in the vicinity, he split shakes to cover the roof, and hewed planks for the floor. The furniture was home-made, and of the humblest descrip- tion, stools taking the place of chairs. He was brave of heart and strong of constitu- tion ; and in the years that followed he cleared and improved a valuable farm, erected a good set of frame buildings, making the homestead which he had reclaimed from the wilderness his abiding-place until his decease, April 14, 1876. In 1817 was solemnized his union with Phoebe Forbes. She was a native of Buck- land, Franklin County, Mass., being the daughter of Jotham Forbes, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a pioneer of the town of York, in this county. Her husband, Thomas Dodge, was also a soldier in the War of 1812. She bore him five children ; namely, Jotham, Amelia Louisa, James L., Thomas A., and Kate.

James L. Dodge was born in the town of Leicester, N. Y., July 24, 1825, and, after receiving a good education in the place of his nativity, commenced his career as a teacher, being thus engaged for six winters, one of which he taught in Ohio. He afterward en- gaged in agriculture, and, having succeeded to the ownership of the old home farm, has since resided there, following that pleasant and healthful occupation. He has been twice mar- ried, his first wife, Mary E., the daughter of James and Louisa Budrow, was born in Leices- ter, August 4, 1830, and remained with her parents until the time of her marriage, No- vember 7, 1851. She passed to the higher life November 15, 1865, leaving four children - Fred B., Frank B., Mary, and Thomas E. The maiden name of the second wife of Mr. Dodge, to whom he was united November 14, 1866, was Lucy B. Blakeslee. She was born in the town of York, daughter of Seneca and Lucy (Hull) Blakeslee, and of this union four children have been reared; namely, Bertha, Harry, Irving, and Robert. In politics Mr. Dodge is a sound Republican, and he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist church.

Frank B., son of James L. and Mary E. Dodge, received his elementary education in the district school, and was afterward a stu- dent at the Genesee Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1877. He began the study of medicine with Dr. F. H. Moyer, of Moscow, and, after attending lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Balti- more, received his diploma from that institu- tion with the class of 1880. Dr. Dodge spent a year in Baltimore as Resident Physician at the City Hospital, and then located his office at Mount Morris, where he has since been en- gaged in the active practice of his profession, having won in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of the community.

In 1884 Dr. Dodge was united in marriage with Miss Anna Chamberlain, a native of West Sparta, and a daughter of Harlan G. Chamberlain, of whom a sketch appears in another part of this volume. Two children have come to bless this union - Eloise and Mary. The Doctor is a member of the Liv- ingston County Medical Association, of the Central New York Medical Society, and of the Western New York Medical Association. He is also a prominent Free Mason, being Master of Mount Morris Lodge, No. 122, A. F. & A. M. Both he and his excellent wife are valued members of the Baptist church. In politics Dr. Dodge is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and a member of the Republican Town Committee. During President Harrison's administration he was a member of the Board of Pension Exam- iners. He takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the town in which he lives, being especially inter- ested in the education of the young, and is now President of the local Board of Education.

AJOR WILLIAM WALBRIDGE, who was born in Attica, N. Y., November 21, 1812, is the oldest native resident of the town, where he is now passing his declining years in pleas- ant retirement. His father, Justus Walbridge, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born in Brimfield in 1778. In 1804 he visited

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this section of New York, but did not make a permanent settlement here until 1808, when he again came to this county, and bought one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land of Ben- jamin Nelson. This land was heavily tim- bered; but he labored with persistence until he had improved a valuable homestead, and had become one of the most substantial and influential citizens of the town. Unlike the larger part of the pioneer settlers, he was a man of some means, and not only paid cash for his land, but loaned money to new-comers and neighboring friends.

In ISIo Justus Walbridge married Eunice Osborne, a native of Oneida County, who came here with her parents in 1804, her father, a Baptist minister, having been called to preach in Attica. Four children were born to them, the following being their record: William is the subject of this brief sketch. Harriet died at the age of seventeen years. Reuben, born in 1817, died in 1852, leaving a widow and two children, who are now living in Iowa. Malvina, widow of Paulinus Chaddock, lives on her farm in Middlebury. Mr. Walbridge passed to the life beyond in 1840; and Mrs. Walbridge, who subsequently became the wife of Willard Thompson, of Massachusetts, died in 1876, and her body was laid to rest in the new cemetery in Attica, beside that of her first husband and two of their children, who had preceded her to the better land.

William Walbridge lived at home with his parents, attending the district school and working on the farm, until he attained his majority, when he married Lois Lindsay, a daughter of Caleb Lindsay, a history of whose life may be found in connection with the sketch of Martin Lindsay. The pathway of Major and Mrs. Walbridge has been bright- ened by the birth of seven children, as fol- lows: Henry W., a farmer, who has two children; Myron E., a resident of Attica, who has a wife and two children ; William M., a far- mer and stock dealer, residing near his father, who has a wife and six children; Harriet E., who is the wife of Michael Laricker, of Attica ; Ellen H., the wife of Oscar D. Hamlin, of Batavia, who has three children; John; and Frank E., who is married and had one daughter.

The first few years after their marriage the Major and his wife lived on the parental home- stead, which joins his present property on the south. In 1838 he bought the farm where they now reside, the area of which was for- merly much larger than now, he having owned at one time two hundred and two acres. Hay- ing improved the land until it was all in a productive condition, he has sold portions at different times, and is now the owner of a fine estate of sixty-eight acres. His unique and attractive dwelling, built of cobblestones, was erected thirty-six years ago. Major Walbridge has always taken an active and intelligent in- terest in the welfare of his town and county. He has served with fidelity as Assessor and Supervisor, and has held the offices of High- way Commissioner and Town Collector. H has always been a sound Democrat, and an influential man in his party ; and he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than forty years.

RUSSELL STONE, a well-known farmer and lumber dealer of Livonia, his native town, was born on April 19, . 1858. The first of the family who settled in Livonia was his grandfather, Joel Stone, who came here in 1804. He was a native of Connecticut; and the journey from that State to Livingston County, New York, occupied three weeks, coming as he did by slow stages, the rough wagons which conveyed his family and household goods over the lonely and almost untravelled highways of a sparsely settled country being drawn by oxen. The hundrea acres of wild land which he took up had to be cleared of the forest growth, and a log house built of the felled trees. With that energy which is the characteristic of the man who dares to enter a new field of effort, the work of establishing a home was steadily car- ried forward. The pioneer farmer and builder at length died beneath the roof of the house his hands had fashioned.

His son and namesake, Joel, who was born in the humble cottage of the pioneer farmer. acquired a more liberal education than the average country youth of that time and section

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usually boasted, attending both the district schools and Canandaigua Academy. He was a farmer and spent his life on the old home- stead; but he was also a civil engineer and surveyor, and was for several years Supervisor of the town. He married a relative of the same name, Miss Anna Stone, by whom he had five children - Lucy M., Estella, J. Rus- sell, Ellis, and Frank. The first-named died at eighteen years of age. Estella died in 1871. Ellis was married twice, his first wife being Hattie Marsh, of Rochester, who be- came the mother of one son, Howard. His second wife was Miss Jennie Short, a daughter of Truman and Delia (Stevens) Short. There was one son born of this second marriage, who bore the name of Truman in honor of his ma- ternal grandfather. Frank Stone married Miss Alberta Fowler, of Livonia. Their three children were : Elmer, Marion, and Lucy.

J. Russell Stone was educated, as was his father, in the district schools and Canandaigua Academy. He has been a farmer and lumber dealer ever since he entered the arena of inde- pendent life, and has been successful in both lines of business. His residence, which is one of the handsomest and most attractive homes in Livonia, was completed in 1881. He owns, besides the village property, a hun- dred and sixty acres of land near the old place. In 1882 he was married to Miss Nellie E. Carey, the daughter of Hubbard G. and Mary (Hurlburt) Carey. They have two children - Albert and Mabel. In religious faith Mr. Stone is a Presbyterian. He has always been a Republican in politics, and his first Presidential vote was cast in 1880 for James A. Garfield.

ASHINGTON W. WHITNEY, a farmer residing in the town of S Eagle, Wyoming County, N. Y., where he was born on the 18th of November, 1827, is of New England ancestry, his father and grandfather both having been natives of New Hampshire. The latter, Joshua Whit- ney, bought a farm in Eagle, and established his home where his descendants are now liv- ing. His son and namesake, Joshua, who was born in 1795, was a diligent student at the

district school, and, after finishing the course there, taught school for some time. Upon attaining his majority, he purchased land in Pike, which he cleared and sold, investing the money received in a farm, where his son, Washington W., was born. This he sold in turn, and he moved to East Pike. Mr. Joshua Whitney died at his son's home in the seventy- fifth year of his age. His wife, who formerly was Miss Elmira Fuller, was born in 1800, her native home being on the banks of the beautiful Genesee River. Of the nine children born of this union there are two now living - Washington W., at whose home the mother died; and Mary C., Mrs. Mead.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 90

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

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