Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 91

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 91
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 91

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Washington W. Whitney, when a young man, purchased thirty acres of land from his father, and at the death of the latter became the owner of the paternal estate, where he now lives, his farm consisting of two hundred and ten acres. In 1852 he was married to Miss Susan Clements, who was born August 14, 1833, the daughter of Mr. Samuel Clements, a Vermont farmer. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitney - Frank J., Wilber, and Jennie. Frank J. married Miss Lucy York, and they have five children, namely : Maud, who is now Mrs. Edward Gillespie, and the mother of one child, Pearl; Carle; Mary- ette; Edith; and Walter. Jennie, who mar- ried Mr. John Griffin, has one son, Charles WV. Griffin. Wilber Whitney, the second child, is at home. All of the family connec- tion are engaged in farming; and they are joined in the bonds of a common political faith, being warm Republicans.

Mr. Washington W. Whitney served as a volunteer in the Federal army during the last two years of the War of the Rebellion, and was in eighteen prominent engagements, in several of which he was severely wounded ; and indeed he still suffers from the result of the exposure incident to campaigning. A taste for military life seems to be hereditary in the Whitney family; for, besides the four brothers who fought with chivalrous valor in the Civil War, Mr. Whitney's grandfather and three of his uncles served under the American flag during the Revolution. Joshua Whitney was one of the Assistant Surgeons during the

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Civil War, but did more in the line of inflict- ing wounds than healing them, as he was usually on the field of battle as a soldier rather than a surgeon. One brother lay down his life for the cause of American freedom and a perpetual union, and each one served with honorable distinction.

Civic affairs have since that period engaged Mr. Whitney's attention; and he has effi- ciently filled the offices of Overseer of the Poor, Assessor, and other places of trust.

AMES BIGGART, one of the long- established residents of the town of York, Livingston County, N. Y., was born in Ireland, June 11, 1828, and was twenty-five years old when he embarked for America. He was young and full of cour- age; and with wife and three months' old baby the long voyage of five weeks and three days on the close, confined ship were passed in patience and with that animation which springs from a hope in the future. On his arrival he came to the town of York, and for six long years worked by the month for wages. He then rented land for two years; and after that he was able to purchase the same farm, which contained ninety-six acres. He re- mained there for six years. Then he came back to York, and bought a farm of one hun- dred and thirty acres, where he continued to reside until about three years ago. At that time, 1891, he resolved to locate himself and his family in a home which was more in ac- cordance with his circumstances of financial prosperity. Accordingly, he has erected a fine large dwelling-house, with all modern conveniences, in which they now reside. Mr. Biggart now has in all one hundred and eighty-five acres of land under cultivation.

Mr. Biggart was married to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, the daughter of Mr. William Thompson, of North Ireland. They have had six children - William J., deceased, at the age of forty-two; Duncan, who also died, aged twenty-eight; James; Elizabeth; Jane; and Emma. James married Miss Emma Town- send; and they have two children - Georgie A. and Mabel E. Elizabeth married Mr.

Earl E. Hudson; they reside in Genesee County, and have one child - George D. Hudson. Jane was married to Frank Shan- non; they reside in York, and their only child is christened Bertha. Emma married Hamilton Rippey, a resident of York.

Mr. Biggart's father came from the old country to the Dominion of Canada, but re- turned to Ireland, and died there, being too strongly attached to his early home to make a contented emigrant. Endowed with the ster- ling qualities of industry, perseverance, and honesty, which have been so often reproduced on this American soil to the great advantage of the State and nation, Mr. James Biggart stands as a representative of what Ireland's sons can achieve when given the opportunity. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he has always voted the Republi- can ticket, and he has creditably filled the office of Commissioner of Highways.

LBERT O. SKIFF, a prominent citi- zen and merchant in Pike, Wyoming County, was born in the town where he now lives, on January 2, 1839, being a great-grandson of Stephen Skiff, who came to Pike in 1816. Stephen's parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth E. Skiff, were of Puritan descent. They moved from the town of Kent, Litchfield County, Conn., to Fort Spring in the Wyoming valley, Pennsylvania, and were witnesses of the terrible Wyoming massacre, in which so many unfortunate set- tlers met fearful deaths. The Skiffs escaped through the aid of a friendly Indian, and re- turned as soon as possible to Connecticut. Benjamin Skiff died at Hartwick, N. Y., to which place they had moved. His widow passed the latter part of her life at Pike, and was buried in the cemetery at East Koy, N. Y.

Their fourth son, Stephen Skiff, entered the Continental army at sixteen years of age, and served for seven years in the Revolution. He was in General Sullivan's expedition up the Genesee valley. He married Adah Bates, who was born May 24, 1762, and died Febru- ary 2, 1849. Seven children were born of this union. Samuel B., the fourth child, was

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born in Connecticut, January 4, 1790. He came to Otsego County, New York, when he was a young man; and there married Esther Pride, born May 30, 1788. In 1813 they came to Pike, N. Y., and settled on a farm now in the possession of their grandson, John A. Hopkins. Here they spent the rest of their lives. Their log cabin stood upon the bank of the creek, three miles south of the vil- lage and in the midst of a vast forest. Mr. Skiff cleared a large tract of this land, and left a farm in a good state of cultivation at his death. There was quite a family settlement of Skiffs here, for six brothers owned adjoining farms.

Samuel B. and Esther (Pride) Skiff had three children, of whom the eldest, Micajah, was the father of Albert O., of Pike. Mica- jah Skiff was born in Otsego, January I, 1816. He married Miss Mary S. Hopkins, a daughter of Alfred and Huldah Hopkins, of Hartwick, Otsego County. Miss Hopkins's birth date was March 16, 1817; and her mar- riage to Mr. Skiff was solemnized on April 17, 1835, in the town of Pike, which was then in Allegany County. In 1857 they moved from the old homestead to the village of Pike. Four children were born to them, one of whom was the subject of this sketch.

Albert O. Skiff, having attended the dis- trict school of the neighborhood during his early years, entered the Pike Seminary, and later graduated from the Poughkeepsie Busi- ness College. At twenty-two years of age he was a farmer, but early in the Civil War he enlisted in the ranks of the Ninth New York Volunteer Cavalry. At the expiration of a year he was promoted to be Sergeant. He re-enlisted December 19, 1863, as a vet- eran, received a commission as First Lieuten- ant in the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and was promoted to be Captain in February, 1865. On the fifteenth day of May, 1865, Captain Skiff was discharged. During three years and eight months of service he passed through fifty-five engagements with the enemy, and received a severe wound at the time of General Lee's surrender at Appo- mattox, Va., April 9, 1865, he being one of General Custer's troopers who received the flag of truce. Captain Skiff has the distinc-

tion of being the last person wounded in the Army of the Potomac, and he carries visible marks of the last battle scars of the war upon his face and neck to-day. One of the bad effects of this wound has been the serious im- pairing of his hearing, which has prevented him from accepting more important town offices, often and heartily tendered him, than that of Town Clerk, which he has held for several years successively. He has held the office of village President, also is a charter member of Garfield Post, No. 229, and has been a Trustee of Pike Seminary since 1884.

He was united in marriage to Celestia E., daughter of Lester H. and Nancy Sweet, Sep- tember 23, 1868. Mrs. Skiff was born June 20, 1843, at Hume, Allegany County, N. Y. Her parents came to that place from Oppen- heim, Fulton County N. Y., residing there until 1856, when they removed to Pike, Mr. Sweet at that time being a retired wealthy farmer. Mrs. Skiff was educated at the Pike Seminary, and afterward devoted part of her time to teaching. A talented woman, she has been an intelligent helpmeet to her husband. Since the war Mr. Skiff has conducted a vari- ety store, in which boots and shoes are a spe- cialty, keeping the best-made stock. He has held the office of Postmaster for the past four years, but is now devoting his time to his store and to his duties as Notary Public and United States Claim and Pension Attorney. As citizen as well as soldier Captain Skiff has an honorable reputation.

A LEXANDER MCFARLAND, a for- mer resident of Caledonia, Livingston County, N. Y., son of a worthy Scotch settler, was born in Mont- gomery County, February 14, 1812, at the time when this country was drifting into the second war with Great Britain. He pursued his elementary studies in his native county, and learned the trade of tanner and currier, at which he worked for some years; but, desir- ing a more liberal education, he entered Rochester University, where he was an car- nest student, and where he received a mental training that served him well in later years.

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On leaving the university he returned to his trade, and establishing a tannery in Caledonia was engaged in that business for some years.

Here he met his future wife in the person of Miss Margaret Simpson, a resident of the town. They were married, and in 1850 moved to Michigan, where Mr. McFarland engaged in the lumber business, then the leading industry of that State. He was suc- cessful in his business pursuits, and took up his residence in the city of Flint, of which thriving community he became so prominent a citizen that he was elected Mayor, holding the office several years. He was President of the Citizens' National Bank of that place from its incorporation until the close of his life. He died at the age of seventy years, greatly respected for his high personal quali- ties, which had endeared him to many. His career was typically American. Entirely un- aided, dependent upon his own resources, he made his way through the world and won a place of distinction among his fellows, besides providing a comfortable home for his family.

Mr. and Mrs. McFarland reared four chil- dren, as follows: Jeannette, who died in Flint, Mich. ; Mary, now a resident of Flint, Mich. ; Alexander, named for his father, also a resident of Flint; and Anna, now Mrs. Barks.

Anna McFarland received her education in the public schools of Flint, and came from that place to Caledonia, N. Y., the former home of her parents, in 1883. In 1885 she was united in marriage to John H. Barks, of Caledonia; and they have since continued to reside in the village. Mr. Barks has been the foreman of the fire company for several years, and is a popular man in Caledonia and the vicinity. He is a member of the Order of Maccabees, and in politics is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Barks have two children - John McFarland and Robert W., both bright boys of great promise.

OSEPH GEORGE, a retired farmer and hotel keeper, residing at Frink's Cor- ners, in the town of' Sheldon, is a practical, intelligent man, whose dili- gent application to business in the years of

his manhood's prime has placed him in casy circumstances for the days of his waning ener- gies. He was born in Belgium in 1817, and came to this country in 1834 with the other members of the parental household.

His father, Peter George, was born in Bel- gium in 1777, and in the year 1809 married Anna Kettle, who was born in 1783. After the birth of their nine children they left their native land, June 16, 1834, to come to Amer- ica, being fifteen days on their journey to Havre, whence they sailed on a merchant ship for New York. Arriving in that city after a voyage of forty-two days, he proceeded by rail to Schenectady, over the first railway built in this country, the cars, then called fire-wagons, being the first they had ever seen. The journey was continued to Buffalo by the canal, thence to Wyoming County, where said Peter George bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, making the payment of fourteen dollars an acre out of his store of twenty-five hundred five-franc pieces which he had brought with him. He labored per- severingly and successfully to improve his farm and support his family, residing on his place until his demise in 1847. His widow survived him seventeen years, dying at the age of eighty-five years. One of their chil- dren has since passed to the higher life; namely, Catherine, who married Mr. Rohr.

The subject of this sketch was reared to agricultural labor, and in the days of his youth picked up a fair education, and was especially fond of mathematical studies. After his marriage with Hannah George, his cousin, he settled near the parental home- stead, on fifty acres of unimproved land, for which he paid two hundred dollars, beginning his wedded life in a log shanty. He cleared his land, raised good crops, and seven years later built a substantial frame house, at a cost of five hundred dollars. Mr. George sub- sequently paid three hundred and fifty dollars for another fifty acres of adjoining land; and this entire farm is now owned and occupied by his son, Nicholas. In 1857 Mr. George bought his present homestead of fifty-four acres, including the tavern; and nine years later he removed here. For about fifteen

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years he kept a public house, which was known far and wide as one of the best in the vicinity; and even now, although practically retired from active business, he occasionally entertains travellers.

Mr. George met with an irreparable loss in the death of his wife in 1883, in the fifty- eighth year of her age. Their union was blessed by the birth of thirteen children, and of those living we record the following: John, a veteran of the Civil War, is in the Soldiers' Home at Bath, N. Y .; J. Nicholas, on the home farm, has seven children; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Lindsay, of Bennington, has four children; Anna, wife of Mike Domenisy, has two children; Jane, wife of Fred Schwab, has five children; Margaret, wife of Joseph Wochtery, has two children; Theresa is the wife of James LaFuey; Mary, wife of Peter Wochtery, has one daughter; Joseph died at the age of three years from a burn; William lives at home with his father and his sister Catherine, who is the housekeeper. Mr. George has served his fellow-townsmen as Assessor, Constable, and as Collector, faith- fully performing the duties of each position. Politically he is a sound Democrat, and re- ligiously is a Catholic,

ILLARD W. WHEELER is

a prosperous farmer and grain dealer of Livonia, in Livingston County, New York, his native town. The birth date and birthplace of his grandfather, Peter Wheeler, are alike unknown. His home, however, during a part of his life, if not all of it, was Vermont, in which State his son, Warner Wheeler, was born. The family had probably lived in New England for several generations, and were doubtless of English ancestry.

In 1807 Warner Wheeler turned his back on the green uplands and picturesque dales of his native State, and started on a tramp trip westward, seeking a new home and better op- portunities for advancement in prosperity. He walked all the way to South Livonia, where he bought a few acres of land, and set- tled. Gradually accumulating money, he in-

vested it in land until he was the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres. This he cleared, planted, and improved by buildings, displaying great industry and practical sense. Here he spent the greater part of his life, which extended over a period of eighty-six years. His wife was Miss Lorinda Baker, a daughter of Mr. Timothy Baker, of Livonia. Three daughters and one son were born of this marriage; namely, Maria, Willard W., Jean, and Della.

Willard W. Wheeler was educated in the district schools, and has followed his father's example in being an energetic and prosperous farmer, his acres numbering two hundred and ten. For twenty-five or thirty years he has also been engaged in the grain business in Livonia. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza McDonald. They have no chil- dren. Mr. Wheeler has been a zealous Re- publican ever since the formation of that party.

AJOR JACOB W. KNAPP, who died a few years since at his home in Warsaw, N. Y., where he had spent the larger part of his entire life, having been born in this town August 20, 1813, was a descendant of sterling pioneer stock, his father, grandfather, and several other members of the Knapp family having settled in this section of the county in the early part of this century.

His grandfather, William Knapp, was born in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y., January 4, 1758, and died in Warsaw in 1817. He married Olive Rowley, who bore him ten chil- dren - Daniel, Olive, William, John R., Mima, Sally, Esther, Orson S., Bethiah, and Harley. Daniel, the eldest child, was the first one to make his way to this part of the State. He had previously spent a short time in Orville, Vt., coming from there to Warsaw in 1806, and bringing with him a part of his numerous family, he having been thrice mar- ried. He and two of his brothers, William and John R., were engaged in the War of 1812, the two former as officers. All of the children rounded out a full period of years;

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and Esther, who married Abel Taylor, of At- tica, lived to the venerable age of ninety-four years.

John R. Knapp, the fourth child named above, was born in Canaan, N. Y., July 7, 1787, and removed from the place of his na- tivity to Rutland, Vt., where he was united in wedlock to Melinda Wilson. In 1812 he joined his father and brothers in Warsaw, bringing his family and goods with teams, often cutting a path through the woods. For thirty years he lived in Warsaw, then removed to Marion, Ohio, where the death of his wife occurred in 1848, when fifty-seven years old. She bore him six sons and three daughters, of whom the following are now living : William L., a retired wagon manufacturer in Howell, Mich. ; and John R., Jr., who was a Lieuten- ant in the late Civil War, and has since held a position in the Second Auditor's office in Washington, D.C. On June 24, 1849, Mr. Knapp was married to Lydia Bradfield; and of their union one son was born, James B. Knapp. The father died at his home in Marion, March 8, 1864; and his widow still occupies their Ohio home.

Jacob W., son of John R. Knapp, was edu- cated in Warsaw, and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for some years, but afterward established a grocery busi- ness in the town of Warsaw, and from 1852 until 1861 was the village Postmaster. Dur- ing the recent civil conflict his valuable ser- vices as a brave commanding officer won him his title of Major. Through his efforts Com- pany D, of the famous First New York Dra- goons, was recruited, in September, 1862; and he was elected Captain of the company, serv- ing as such until January, 1865, when for his brave conduct he was promoted to the rank of Major, being subsequently in command of the regiment more than half of the time In De- cember, 1864, while still a captain, he led the regiment into battle, and won distinction as a commander; and his intrepid charge at Cul- peper, Va., is noted in the war records. Three of the sons of Major Knapp - Augus- tus, Lucien, and Thomas, all now deceased - were members of his regiment.

In 1837 Major Knapp was united in mar-

riage to Miss Elvira Putnam, of Warsaw, a daughter of Edward and Rachel (Hutton) Put- nam; and their happy wedded life extended over a period of fifty-one years. Three daugh- ters and four sons were born of their union, of whom the following are not living : Augustus, Lucien, Thomas, John R., and Margaret. The surviving are: Miss Caroline Knapp; and Harriet, the widow of Orson C. Knapp, who died April 16, 1877, leaving three children --- Clarence Wilson, Frederic H., and Edward M., the first of whom is engaged in the laun- dry business, while the other two sons are stu- dents at Hobart College, in Geneva. The sisters occupy the family home on Geneseo Street. Orson C. Knapp was also a soldier in the late Rebellion, having enlisted as a pri- vate in the Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and being afterward promoted through the various grades to the rank of Captain, hav- ing command of Company I. He was for- merly Indian Agent at Fort Klamath, Fla., and after the close of the war was a soldier in the regular army until the fall of 1870, when he resigned; and in the following December his nuptials with the daughter of Major Knapp were celebrated. In politics the Major was always a stanch Democrat, and for more than forty years was a Justice of the Peace. He and his family were communicants of the Episcopal church.

OHN H. BROWN, who materially assists in maintaining the reputation of this section of Livingston County as one of the finest agricultural and fruit-growing regions of the Empire State, is one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of Mount Morris. He is a native of New York, having been born May 18, 1853, in the town of Andover, Allegany County. His father, John W. Brown, was a native of Truxton, Cortland County, being one of a family of eleven children. His parents were for many years residents of Cortland County, going from there, however, to Allegany County, and thence to the State of Wisconsin.

John W. Brown was bound out when a boy of eleven years to a farmer, with whom he

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lived until reaching his majority, receiving for compensation of his services his board and clothes and twenty-five acres of land. The land was in Truxton; and he carried it on until 1842, when he removed to Allegany County, settling in the town of Andover. Buying a farm he carried on mixed husbandry some sixteen years, then migrated to South Dansville, Steuben County, where he engaged in the lumber business, renting a saw-mill, in which he manufactured the lumber. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-first New York Volunteer Infantry, but after a few months' service in the army was discharged for physical disability. Return- ing to Steuben County, he once more became a farmer, residing there until 1869, when he sold his farm, and wended his way to Michi- gan. Locating near Bay Rapids, Osceola County, he purchased a farm, on which he has since been actively engaged in general farm- ing. The maiden name of his wife was Eliza Perkins. She was born in Andover, Allegany County, being a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucetta (Stewart) Perkins. The latter was descended from a family noted for its lon- gevity, her mother, Mrs. Stewart, having lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and eight years. John W. and Eliza (Per- kins) Brown reared three children, as follows : Edgar W., who fought in defence of his coun- try during the late Civil War, serving for three years and three months in the same regiment to which his father belonged; Ben- jamin F .; and John H., the special subject of this brief sketch.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 91

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

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