Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 94

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 94
USA > New York > Livingston County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y > Part 94

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P. S. Goodwin was educated at Western Re- serve University, Cleveland, Ohio, receiving a diploma from that institution February 25,

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1885, and the following July came to Perry Centre and began practising. After eight very successful years in that place he removed to Perry, where he bought a large residence on Main Street, and continued his practice with an ever-increasing circle of patrons, both in the village and in the surrounding country.

In 1886 Dr. Goodwin married Hattie L. Ball, who was born November 30, 1865, at Perry Centre, daughter of Charles S. and Har- riet (Seymour) Ball. Charles S. Ball was a native of Perry Centre, born July 13, 1843, son of Daniel and Jane E. (Higgins) Ball, and grandson of Jabez and Abigail (Bristol) Ball. Jabez Ball was born in Connecticut, May 30, 1780, and by trade was a carpenter and joiner. March 11, 1807, he married Abi- gail Bristol, born January 27, 1791 ; and soon after their marriage they came to Wyoming County, and bought a farm in the town of Perry, where they spent the rest of their lives. Jabez died when seventy-two years of age, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-nine. They had nine children - Alanson, Reuben, Daniel, Almira, Samantha, Chloe, Mary J., Phebe, and Dorcas. Daniel, the third son, was born in the town of Warsaw, Wyoming County, March 3, 1819. In 1842 he married Jane E. Higgins, who was born June 16, 1820, and died in March, 1894. After his marriage he followed the shoemaker's trade, and was also Postmaster for twenty-eight years. For twenty-one years he was Justice of the Peace, and has been Trustee of the Congregational church. He still lives, and enjoys the au- tumn of a useful life. His two children were : Charles S., the father of Mrs. Goodwin; and M. Ball, who died at the age of sixteen. Charles S. Ball was Deputy Postmaster and clerk, also book-keeper for his father, and at one time was occupied as clerk in a drug store at Perry. He now follows the trade of carpen- ter and joiner at Perry Centre. His wife died at the age of forty years, leaving one daughter, who is the wife of the subject of this biog- raphy.

Dr. Goodwin is a member of Consolation Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M., of Perry ; and both he and his wife are members of the

Presbyterian church. He is a stanch Repub- lican, and is ever active in town affairs. His large practice in Perry occupies the greater part of his time; and in addition to this he has many patients at the Centre who were formerly patrons of Dr. Rudges, the well-known and highly esteemed physician whose practice Dr. Goodwin bought out when the former removed to Hornellsville, N. Y. It is often said that it is the busiest people who find the most time to devote to others; and this is most plainly demonstrated in the life of Dr. Goodwin, who, in spite of his large practice, is always ready to interest himself in all that pertains to the welfare of the town or his fellow-men.

ILLIAM GOULD MONINCH, an energetic, thrifty, and well-to-do farmer of Ossian, comes of Scotch ancestry, and is the descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the county. His grand- father, William McNinch, Sr., was born in Scotland, and was reared to a farmer's life, his father having been a small landholder there. Emigrating to the United States when a young man, he settled in Livingston County, being one of the first to take up land in the town of Conesus. He married Hannah Pickles, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, who bore him one child, William, the father of the subject of this writing. After the death of the grandfather, his widow formed a second marriage, becoming the wife of a Mr. Carter; and of her second union eight children were born. She spent the last years of her life with her eldest son, the only child of her first marriage.

William McNinch, Jr., was born in Cone- sus, Livingston County, October 7, 1812, and was but two years old when his mother re- moved to West Sparta, where he lived until of age. He then began working by the month, continuing thus employed for six years. In 1839, in company with one of his step- brothers, he engaged in general farming. In 1843 he removed to the town of Ossian, where he purchased a farm on which he lived some ten years before he bought his present fine es- tate, which contains one hundred and sixty acres of as fertile and productive land as there

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is in this locality. On October 4, 1841, he was married, and has reared four children, of whom the following is chronicled : William G. is the subject of this brief sketch. Louis J. married Mary Mosier. Louise is the wife of Garrett Smith, of Dakota. Harriet is the wife of John Passage.

William Gould MeNinch was born in Al- mond, Allegany County, N. Y., July 28, 1842, but acquired his education in the public schools of this county, his parents having re- moved here when he was quite young. Like many of the farmers' sons, he followed in the footsteps of his ancestors in regard to choosing his life occupation, and has devoted his atten- tion chiefly to the pursuit of agriculture, re- maining with his father until twenty-seven years of age. He had in the mean time, how- ever, bought a farm, and for four years worked both his father's and his own land. He sub- sequently purchased. one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, to which he has since added another purchase of fifty-five acres, so that his homestead now includes two hundred and fifteen acres of land. This he devotes to general farming, in which he has met with rare success, the excellent results of his methods of work being so apparent to even the most casual observer that he is considered one of the model farmers of this section of the county. Mr. McNinch is a wide-awake, progressive man, and in his political views is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, the same political organization that his father has always supported. In their religious belief the McNinch family are regular worshippers at the Presbyterian church, toward the support of which they give generously.

An important event in the career of Mr. Mc- Ninch was his union with Annetta Grey, which was celebrated in 1867. Mrs. Mc- Ninch is a native of Ossian, being the daugh- ter of the late Andrew and Jeanette Grey, who were prominent among the pioneer settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. McNinch have been blessed by the birth of three children, namely : Carrie, who married James Covert, a well- known farmer, and the representative of an old and honored family of Ossian; Grey ; and Lester.

J AMES L. EDMUNDS, a late well-to- do farmer and prominent citizen of Por- tage, Livingston County, N. Y., who died April 28, 1893, esteemed and re- gretted by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances, was a native of Dutchess County. His father, Henry, and his grandfather, Ken- nedy Edmunds, were born and reared as farmers, the latter owning and operating a large farm, upon which he lived until his de- cease. Henry Edmunds moved from Dutchess to Livingston County in the month of April, 1856, and settled upon a farm of eighty acres in the town of Portage, which was in a high state of cultivation, and contained good and substantial buildings. Here he resided for the remainder of his life. He was married three times, his first wife being Sally Orton, who died young and without issue. His sec- ond wife was Eliza Wing, by whom he had two children; and, she dying, he wedded Jo- hanna Wing, by whom he had four children - Ellen, James L., Eliza, and William H.

James L., the subject of this sketch, whose birth occurred on February 4, 1826, was edu- cated in the district schools, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1848, while still a young man, he went to California, arriving there in the very midst of the excitement of the gold fever, and remained about three years. Upon his return East, he came to Livingston County, and settled in Portage in 1855. In 1845 he married Mary M. Griffin, daughter of Bartholomew and Sarah (Filkins) Griffin, of Dutchess County. Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds reared four children - Dona, Frederick, Ar- thur, and Carol. Dona married Milton Griffin, and resides in St. Paul, Minn., where Mr. Griffin is Professor of Languages at Hamlin College; they have two children -- Lawrence and Marion. Frederick married Levancha Dryer, of Victor, N. Y. ; he is a lawyer, and was formerly Postmaster of that place, after- ward becoming one of the pioneers of the Cherokee strip. Arthur married Almy Will- iamson, of Cameron, N. Y., and is now a ranch- man in Kansas ; he has one child, John. Carol married Henry Averall, and resides at Portage.

Nirs. Edmunds survived her husband, and still lives at the old homestead, one of the

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handsomest houses in the village. Mr. Ed- munds was a man of rare worth, a true friend and exemplary citizen. He was for many years a member of the Methodist church at Dalton, as was his wife. He had served three terms as Assessor of Portage. Previous to the election of Abraham Lincoln he was a Demo- crat, but had ever since been a stanch adherent to the principles of the Republican party.

HARLES A. TOAN, one of the lead- ing business men of Perry, Wyoming County was born in Aurora, Cayuga County, N. Y., July 4, 1861, son of John S. and Hannah (Kendall) Toan. He was educated in the district schools of his town, and at the age of sixteen began his busi- ness career as clerk for W. A. Ogden, at King's Ferry, Cayuga County. He remained there four years, at the end of which time he went to Silver Springs, where he assisted in the erection of a salt plant, of which he was afterward Superintendent. Later he accepted a position with the Silver Lake Ice Company in Perry. Mr. Toan married Hattie Davis Smith, who was born in Perry, February 22, 1864, and is the daughter of Marvin and Mi- randa (Millspaugh) Smith. (See sketch of Clarence M. Smith. )

RS. REBECCA C. WHITEMAN, of Dansville, was born in Sparta, Livingston County, N. Y., in 1824. Her father, Telemachus Clemons, a native of New York, came from Rome, Oneida County, to Sparta during his childhood to live with a sister, who resides in that place. Here he remained until he reached his majority, when he started out to earn his own livelihood. By industry and economy he was at last able to purchase a small estate, which was enlarged by frequent additions to an expanse of four hundred acres. Mr. Clemons was one of the first settlers of this locality, and cleared the dense forest growth from the land upon which he built his house. As the population of Sparta increased and the evolution from hamlet to town was in

progress, his recognized abilities placed him in a prominent position in the community. He was Justice of the Peace for many years, and was held in universal respect and esteem. After some years he sold his estate in Sparta, and moved to Dansville, where he bought a house and lot, although the last four years of his life were spent beneath his daughter's roof, where filial £ tenderness and care smoothed the rough places of infirmity, and brightened the dimness that shadows the long stretch of more than fourscore years.

Mrs. Telemachus Clemons, whose maiden name was Rhoda Roberts, belonged to a Jersey family who were among the early settlers of Springwater. Twelve sons and daughters were born to these parents, seven of whom are still living - Mary; Lydia; Rebecca, of whom this biography is written; Samuel; Abner; George; and Eliza. The mother died in 1884, at eighty-three years of age. 1 Both Mr. and Mrs. Clemons were in the communion of the Methodist church ; and the former took an ac- tive part in church work, being a class leader for many years

Rebecca Clemons was married in 1845 to Reuben Whiteman, whose father was a farmer in Sparta. Jacob Whiteman was a native of Pennsylvania, but was of German parentage. He removed to Sparta in 1824, and remained there until his death. Mr. Reuben Whiteman was educated in the district school; and after coming of age he became a land owner in Wayland, Steuben County, where he farmed until 1852, when he came to Dansville, and established a lumber yard, of which he con- tinued the head until his death in 1888. He was prominent in the business circle, and favorably known throughout the entire commu- nity in which he lived. Five children have been born to Mrs. Whiteman, two of whom are still living -- Alonzo J., who married Julia Nettleton, of St. Paul; and Clara J., who mar- ried A. Lester Gibbs, and has one child.

The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. White- man was an ideal one. Both sprang from old families, evidently inheriting the sort of a's- theticism that makes attractive homes; and in their costly and beautiful residence in Dans- ville are everywhere seen the traces of intel-

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lectual cultivation. Mrs. Whiteman's superior intelligence, together with her charm of man- ner, make her the fit mistress of this handsome mansion, a most gracious hostess and a leader in the social life of the picturesque little city of the Genesee valley.

A LEXANDER REID, a farmer and mer- chant, one of the prominent residents of York, Livingston County, was born in this town, November 22, 1828. His father, who also bore the name Alexander, was a native of Ayrshire, Scot- land. He left his native heath for the broad continent of America in 1819, and after a voyage of thirteen weeks landed in New York. From that city he sailed up the Hudson River to Albany. He was not alone in this new land, for a company of friends from his native country were with him; and they drove in wagons from Albany to Genesee County, where they made quite a settlement in what was then Caledonia.

Alexander Ried, Sr., bought for himself a farm of about ninety acres at Fowlerville, in the present town of York, and immediately set to work to improve the land and set up build- ings. Time was required to get the fields ready for ploughing, and then to sow and reap, before the crops could be exchanged at the markets for the other comforts of life which do not grow from the soil. The grain and prod- uce were taken in those days on flatboats down the river, and this must have been an entertaining journey for the backwoodsman. Mr. Reid spent the remainder of his life in this new home, his death occurring here at the age of fifty-eight years. He married Mrs. Jane (McKerrow) Nichols, who was born in Scotland, but was married in this country. She had one child, Jane Nichols, by a former marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Reid had one child, Alexander Reid, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Reid died in the town of York, at the age of seventy-four years.

Alexander Reid, the younger, the narrative of whose life is here given, was educated in the district school and at Temple Hill Acad- emy in Geneseo. When a young man he

started in mercantile business at York, and was occupied in that enterprise for nearly twenty-five years. He then sold out his inter- est, and bought a farm of ninety acres. He has also about ninety acres in another farm in York, and has since devoted his time to farming. In 1860 Mr. Reid was married to Miss Ellen J. Bryce, the daughter of James and Sarah C. (Dickey) Bryce, of the town of York. Her father, James Bryce, came from Scotland with his parents when a boy of fourteen, and resided at the homestead on which his father had set- tled during the rest of his life. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, Mrs. Sara C. (Dickey) Bryce, survived him several years. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Dickey, who were among the early settlers of York, came here from Londonderry, N. H., in the same way as other pioneers - with an ox team and covered wagon. The exhilaration afforded by such a trip is the aim of many summer health-seekers in modern times on northern hills and mountain sides every year. John Dickey was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a son of Matthew and Janet (Wallace) Dickey, of Londonderry, N. H. He carried the mail on horseback many years from Mos- cow to the town of York. He and his wife brought up a large family, mostly boys; and they early in life emigrated to the West.

Mr. Alexander Reid has held many offices of trust, and has probably settled more estates than any one else in this section of the country. He has been Justice of the Peace for many years. He was the Clerk of the town for eight years, and was Assessor of the place when the memorable lawsuit on account of taxation was going on with the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad, in which it will be remembered the latter was defeated. Mr. Reid has been a Re- publican since the formation of the party. His first Presidential vote was cast for Major- general Winfield Scott in 1852.

W. TEWKESBURY, a well-known and much respected citizen of Perry Centre, N. Y., was born in that part of the original Genesee County which is now Livingston County, July 23,

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1820, son of Samuel and Phebe W. (Shepard) Tewkesbury. His grandfather, Jacob Tewkes- bury, who was a native of Tewkesbury, Eng- land, upon coming to America settled in Hopkinton, Mass., where he married Anna Ice, sister of General Lee, of that State. He bought five hundred acres of land, and engaged in farming and in working at the trade of cooper. His death occurred at the age of ninety years; and he left a family of eight children -- Betsey, Martha, Mary, Anna, Sam- uel, Jacob, Thomas, and William.

Samuel was born in Hopkinton, December 22, 1794, and, like his father, was a farmer and cooper. In 1816 he set out with five other settlers, each with a pack on his back, for Rochester, N. Y., which at that time was scarcely a village; and its inn, kept by A. Reynolds, was but a log house in the wilder- ness. From Rochester they continued their journey as far as the Ohio River; but, being better pleased with what they had seen in New York State than with any other land over which they had journeyed, they returned and settled in Wyoming County. Samuel Tewkes- bury bought fifty acres cast of Perry Centre, and here he started his cooperage. In 1818 he married Phebe W. Shepard, who was born De- cember 2, 1797, daughter of Otis and Grace (Everett) Shepard, her father being a farmer in Connecticut. Samuel Tewkesbury lived to be seventy-three years old, his wife having died when she was but forty-nine. He was a member of the Baptist church, and in politics a Whig. Of his three children but one, S. W., the subject of this biography, grew to maturity.

S. W. Tewksbury is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary. At the age of seventeen he began his career as a teacher, which profession he followed for several years, afterward engaging in commercial pursuits. In 1842, on Decem- ber 21, Mr. Tewkesbury was united in mar- riage to Mary Benedict, a native of Manches- ter, Vt., where she was born September 8, 1821. She is the daughter of Truman and Hannah Benedict, who settled shortly after her birth in the town of Perry, N. Y., where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Bene- dict lived to be sixty-three years of age, and

his wife died when she was sixty-five. He was a stanch Republican, and in 1843 and 1844 was a member of the legislature. Their three children were: Charles, Mary, and William.

Mr. and Mrs. Tewkesbury have had six chil- dren. Emma E. married Lee Gross, and lives in Grand Rapids, Mich. Byron B. married Addie S. Nichols, and lives on a farm adjoin- ing the homestead. Mary married Alfred Kershaw, and died, leaving one son, Charles E. Kershaw. The other children died at an early age. Mr. Tewksbury was a member of the Assembly in 1874 and 1875, and has shown much interest in public affairs. His wife is a member of the Universalist church ; and both are well-known in the community as people of high moral principles, useful citi- zens, and pleasant neighbors.

ETER CAMPBELL, a veteran of the Civil War of 1861-65, a citizen of Caledonia, the north-west corner town of Livingston County, was born in LeRoy, Genesee County, N. Y., March 25, 1818. His father, James Campbell, was born in Scotland, and came to this country in 1815, landing in Nova Scotia. He later removed to New York State, and took up a grant of one hundred and sixty-five acres of woodland, on which had been built a log hut. He proceeded to clear the land by felling the trees and burn- ing the timber. The soil thus prepared for the plough soon smiled with its yearly harvest, and Mr. Campbell and his growing family long lived on the productions of his farm. He married Mary Taylor, of Wheatland, daughter of Daniel Taylor, a Scotchman, and they reared eleven children ; namely, Jane, Peter, Christie, Jeannette, Daniel, Margaret, May, Catherine, James, Nancy, and Duncan. Dan- iel died while confined in the prison at Ander- sonville during the war. James Campbell died when sixty-one years of age, and his wife passed away in her forty-third year.

Peter Campbell was educated in the district schools of LeRoy, and adopted the life of a farmer. He enlisted to serve in the Civil War at the age of forty-four years, being one

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of the oldest volunteers at that time in West- ern New York. He served under Colonel Porter in the Eighth New York Heavy Artil- lery, which lost many men in the battle of Cold Harbor, where the commander was killed. Mr. Campbell was two years and four months in the service, being mustered out at Fort Mellenry, Md. He has never enjoyed good health since that time, and now receives a pension from the government. In 1846 he came to Caledonia; and here he bought ninety-four acres of land, twenty-eight of which he afterward sold. He is still occupied with agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Campbell has never married. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church at Wheatland for over forty years, and is also a member of the MeNaughton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Caledonia. He has always supported the platform of the Republican party since its organization, his first Presiden- tial vote, however, having been cast for Will- iam Henry Harrison in 1840. Mr. Campbell is a man of energy and perseverance, and is interested in all matters pertaining to the wel- fare of the town in which he resides.

R. GEORGE W. SHEPHERD, for many years a highly successful medi- cal practitioner in Dansville, N. Y., now retired, was born at Albany, September 28, 1816. His grandfather, Will- iam Shepherd, who was an Englishman by birth, came to America when a young man, and made his home in Albany. He was a sea captain, and followed that vocation until his death.

His son, George Shepherd, who was born in Albany, one of six children, was reared and educated with a view to entering mercantile life, but forsook the paths of trade, and, going to Otsego County, settled in a town called Butternuts, where he purchased a farm, and for some time engaged in its cultivation, but sub- sequently removed to Schenectady, where he lived in retirement until his decease, which occurred at the age of fifty-four. George Shepherd was twice married, the Doctor's mother being his second wife. Her maiden

name was Sarah Hanson. She was of Sche- nectady ; and she reared sis children, as fol- lows: Richard, George W., Robert, Nicholas, Mary C., and Sarah 1 .. Mary C. is living with Henry D. Varick, of Poughkeepsie. Sarah 1. was twice married, her first husband being Mr. Elrey Palmer, of Canada, and her second Edward Goodman, a lawyer of Hartford, Conn., where she still lives. Mrs. Sarah Hanson Shepherd spent her latter years in Otsego County, and died there in 1820.

George W., second son of George Shepherd, passed his early boyhood on his father's farm in Otsego County, and at the age of thirteen went to Schenectady to attend school. At the time of his father's decease he was employed in a drug store at Albany, where he remained a few years, and then went South. After pass ing the winter, he returned, and for a time continued to travel. In 1838 he entered the drug business in Montgomery County. Later he sold out his business, and began the prac tice of medicine in New York City, remaining there, however, but a short time, after which he practised his profession for four years in Ontario County, whence he came to Dansville in 1846. He continued to practise with suc cess, both pecuniarily and professionally, for many years, at the same time attending to the duties of clerk in a drug store, and thus fol. lowed a life of activity until his retirement about the year 1870. His present beautiful home was erected by himself.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Livingston and Wyoming counties, N.Y, Part 94

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

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