USA > New York > Seneca County > Fayette > Centennial historical sketch of the town of Fayette, Seneca County, New York > Part 9
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In 1818, he was elected supervisor of Fayette and served as chairman of the board of supervisors in that year.
Two of his sons, James and Alexander, Jr., were afterwards elected as supervisors of the town.
He died Dec. 27, 1832, and his mortal remains repose in the Burgh Cemetery. His wife and several children survived him- all since deceased.
JAMES RORISON, the eldest son of Alexander and Mary Rorison, was born in Centre County, Pennsylvania, Dec. 18, 1788, and was in the tenth year of his age when his parents removed to Fayette. He assisted his father in clearing and improving his farm. Early taking an interest in military affairs, he served with the Fayette Rifle Company, in the first year of the War of 1812, upon the Canada frontier. He also served a second campaign in this war, in the year 1814, in the defense of Fort Erie, on the Niagara frontier. He afterwards rose to the rank of captain of this Rifle company. His commission, dated April 24, 1818, is signed by Gov. De Witt Clinton.
In his town, he was repeatedly elected as collector, constable and justice of the peace, and in the years 1832, 1834 and 1835, he was elected supervisor of Fayette.
After serving several years as deputy sheriff and court-crier, he wasin November, 1828, elected sheriff of Seneca County, and served a full term in that capacity. During his term of sheriff he was called upon to execute the sentence of death, by hanging, upon George Chapman at Waterloo, May 28, 1829, on con- viction of the murder of Daniel Wright, at a tavern at the foot of Seneca Lake near the county line, in the Town of Waterloo.
Residing near the county poor house and conversant with its wants, Mr. Rorison was elected one of the county superin- tendents of the poor in November, 1848, as one of the first elective board of county superintendents.
He also served as one of the building committee appointed to erect the present stone county poor house in the year 1852-53 from plans adopted by the board of supervisors-upon that part of the county farm lying in the Town of Fayette.
Mr. Rorison died March 3, 1872. He was twice married, and
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two sons by his first marriage survived him, one of whom Alexander Rorison 2d, a well known and respected citizen, died Aug. 31, 1896 at the age of seventy-three years, in the town of Seneca Falls.
ALEXANDER RORISON JR., youngest son of Alexander Rorison, Senior, was born in Fayette, July 12, 1813.
He was brought up a farmer and upon arriving at early man- hood married Elizabeth Wilkinson of Waterloo. Having a taste for military affairs, he connected himself with the Fayette Rifle Company, in which he rose to the rank of captain.
His life was spent chiefly in quiet rural pursuits and in the companionship of home and friends.
He served his town as commissioner of highways and in 1852 was elected supervisor of Fayette and served one year. He died June 24, 1861, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Waterloo.
His wife survived him to November, 1893.
BENJAMIN HENDRICKS, was born in Northumberland County, County, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1775.
He removed to the present Town of Fayette in or about the year 1804, and located on a farm near South Waterloo.
Enduring all the trials, privations and labors of a pioneer settler, he lived to see the people of the town and county of his new residence, a prosperous and well ordered community.
He took his part also in bearing the public burdens, beginning in an humble way as a constable of his town in 1806, and after- wards serving as commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, and town clerk.
He was elected supervisor in the years 1820, 1821 and 1822. Mr. Hendricks also served his county in the State Legislature at Albany, as Member of Assembly in the year 1826.
He died April 26, 1834, aged 59 years, survived by his wife and several children.
One of his grandsons bearing his name, is still living in South Waterloo, and is a magistrate of his native town.
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HENRY SCHANKWILER, was born in Lehigh County, in east- ern Pennsylvania, Sept 22, 1771.
In his early manhood, while a resident of Pennsylvania, as a friend and partizan of Thomas Jefferson, he took an active inter- est in public affairs, in opposition to the Federal party and the sedition and tax laws of the national congress, which brought upon him for a time the disfavor of the administration of Presi- dent John Adams in 1800, the seat of the national government, being then still at Philadelphia, Pa.
He removed to the Town of Fayette and purchased a fine farm near the center of the town in May, 1813, where he resided until his death.
The interest he took in the management of public affairs in his native State, soon induced him in his new home, to familiar- ize himself with the local government of his town and he was early chosen one of its commissioners of highways and overseer of the poor.
In 1823, and again in 1824, he was elected supervisor of Fay- ette, one of the first of the sturdy Pennsylvania Germans who served the town in that capacity.
He survived his wife several years and died August 24, 1858, leaving three sons and three daughters, none of whom are now living. His mortal remains were interred in the churchyard at Jerusalem Church in Fayette.
ENOCH CHAMBERLIN ( son of Col. William Chamberlin, an officer of the Revolutionary War), was born in Hunterdon County in the State of New Jersey, Oct. 30, 1774.
When about eighteen years of age he removed with his father to Buffalo Valley in Northumberland (now Union) County in the State of Pennsylvania.
In or about the year 1805, Mr. Chamberlin, with one of his brothers (Ten Broeck) removed to the present Town of Fayette, and located on a farm southwest of South Waterloo.
The town records show that he was repeatedly chosen to serve as assessor and commissioner of highways, and in 1825-26 and 1828 he was elected supervisor of Fayette. He also served as coroner of the county in 1829.
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He died May 29, 1834. His wife, four sons and four daugh- ters survived him, all of whom with the exception of one daughter (Mrs. Garry Loveridge of Fayette), removed to the State of Michigan, and all are now deceased.
Although not strictly within the scope of this sketch, some interesting facts may be mentioned in the life of his father, Col. Wm. Chamberlin, who was four times married, and was the father of 23 children, dying in the year 1817 at the age of 81 years. His youngest son, Moses, born Nov. 8, 1812, was still living a few months ago, December, 1899, at Milton, Pa., at the advanced age of 87 years. Lewis Chamberlin, the oldest son of Col. Wil- liam, a brother of Enoch, was killed in the Revolutionary War at the battle of Germantown, Pa., Oct. 4, 1777, when eighteen years of age.
BENJAMIN WOODRUFF was born near Morristown, State of New Jersey, July 31, 1783.
After serving an apprenticeship at the saddle and harness making trade, in accordance with the custom of those days, he worked in several towns and cities of his native State, and in this State, as a journeyman, and came to Seneca County soon after its organization in the year 1804.
He worked for a time at his trade at Bridgeport, as the vil- lage at the west end of Cayuga bridge was then called. A few years later he removed to the Town of Fayette, and after sev- eral changes of location, purchased a farm near the center of the town, where he reared his family.
He served Fayette in a number of public positions, his towns- men thus attesting the esteem in which they held him, by elect- ing him repeatedly as school inspector, town clerk, justice of the peace, and in 1829 and in 1830 he was elected supervisor of the town. In 1835 he served also as town census enumerator.
In November, 1830, he was elected Member of Assembly for Seneca County, and served in the Legislature of 1831. In 1836 he removed with his family to the State of Michigan and located upon a farm at Pittsfield, in Washtenaw County. He died at Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 16, 1874, in the ninety-first year of his age. He was the father of five sons, all of whom were residents of the State of Michigan.
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One of his sons, Henry Woodruff, born in Seneca County, N. Y., Feb. 13, 1813, served in his western home as county sheriff, and also represented Clare County, Michigan, as Mem- ber of Assembly for four years, 1881-1884, and in the State sen- ate for two years, beginning with 1885, and while thus serving, celebrated his seventieth birthday at the State Capitol. He died at his farm at Bridgeport, Mich., Aug. 6, 1897.
Another son, Charles Woodruff, born in Fayette, Feb. 7, 1816, .
in his youth was educated at the district school, and learned the tailor's trade with Daniel Yakely, at Bearytown, which trade he followed while fitting himself for college. Entering Alleghany College at Meadville, Pa., in 1837, he graduated there in the full college course in 1841, and subsequenly located at Ypsilanti, Mich., where he established a classical high school, which he carried on successfully for several years.
In 1844 Prof. Woodruff entered upon editorial work, and for fully half a century edited and published the Ypsilanti Sentinel, a leading newspaper of that city, in which pursuit, his son, Milo T. Woodruff, succeeded him. Prof. Woodruff served many years as a member of the school board of Ypsilanti. He died April 8, 1896.
Other sons of Hon. Benjamin Woodruff, all of them residents of Michigan, were Benjamin F., born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1808, died in 1893. Peter D. Woodruff, born in Fayette, in 1819, died in 1894, and Dr. Francis Woodruff, born in Fayette in 1821, died in 1883.
WILLIAM HOSKINS was born in the town of Genoa, Cayuga County, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1797.
In 1821 he removed to Bearytown and engaged in mercantile `business with his brother Charles L. (who died April 17, 1897 at Seneca Falls in his 98th year).
Their store was the first one opened in that village, and was kept for a time in the south end of the old inn of Henry Beary. Upon the establishment of Fayette post office at Bearytown, Feb. 25, 1826, Mr. Hoskins was appointed as postmaster.
He was repeatedly chosen commissioner of common schools and justice of the peace, and in 1831 was elected supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
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When it was decided by the board of supervisors of the county, Jan. 12, 1830, to purchase a farm and conduct a county poor house, thereon, Mr. Hoskins was appointed one of five county superintendents of the poor, a position which he held for a short term.
In the fall of 1836, he removed to Canoga, where he was engaged for several years in mercantile business, and in 1845 removed to the State of Michigan, where he engaged in farming.
He died at Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan, April 9, 1870.
While a resident of Bearytown, he married Miss Sarah Beary, daughter of Henry Beary (from whom the village takes its name), who is still living in Michigan, with several children.
DANIEL HOLMAN was born July 4, 1801, in Perry County, State of Pennsylvania.
He removed in his youth to the Town of Fayette, and was married in the year 1824 to Miss Catherine Frantz, daughter of John Frantz of Canoga.
For many years, Mr. Holman was the foremost business man at Canoga, being largely interested in the Canoga flouring mills, and in mercantile and other pursuits at that locality.
He served his town as one of its assessors and in the spring of 1833, was elected supervisor of Fayette.
In November, 1840, Colonel Holman was elected Member of Assembly for Seneca County, and served in the Legislature of 1841.
In military circles he served as colonel of the 102d militia regiment and advanced to the rank of brigadier-general.
He died at La Salle, Illinois, in June, 1850, in the 49th year of his age. His wife survived him until Sept. 7, 1890, when she died at Geneva, N. Y., at the age of eighty-five years. Several children still survive.
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REUBEN D. DODGE, was born at Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1802.
He was educated at East Cayuga, and was married Oct. 15, 1821, at Union Springs, Cayuga County. Here he engaged in milling business until the spring of 1824, when he removed to the Town of Fayette and engaged in mercantile business at Canoga for ten years, when he located on a farm on the bank of Cayuga Lake, a little north of Canoga.
Mr. Dodge was elected in the year 1831 and re-elected in 1832, to the State Legislature at Albany, serving as Member of Assembly for Seneca County.
In the spring of 1836, he was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
In 1843 he removed to Lake County in the State of Illinois, and died at Waukegan in that State, March 23, 1871.
DAVID B. DODGE (brother of Hon. Reuben D. Dodge) was born at Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., April 28, 1807. In early manhood he removed to West Fayette, where he engaged for a time in mercantile business near the present West Fayette railroad station, afterwards removing to South Waterloo.
He served for a time as justice of the peace, as town superin- tendent of common schools, and in other public capacities, and in 1843 and 1847 was elected supervisor of the town of Fayette.
In the year 1850, Mr. Dodge moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he served for many years as justice of the peace and as a mem- ber of the board of education of that city.
During the administration of President James Buchanan, Mr. Dodge served for several years as U. S. deputy collector of cus- toms of the port of Detroit, Mich.
He died at Ypsilanti, Mich., Feb. 16, 1873.
Mr. Dodge was married in early life to Susan B., daughter of John Markel of Fayette, and left one son, S. H. Dodge, a resi- dent of Ypsilanti, and one daughter, Mrs. Jennie Dodge Whit- ney, a resident of Lansing, Mich., surviving.
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WILLIAM YOST, son of Casper and Rachel (Edington) Yost, sturdy pioneer settlers of the Town of Fayette, was born in that town Nov. 4, 1804. His grandfathers Yost and Edington are both understood to have served in the Revolutionary War. He spent the early years of his life as a farmer and in working as a carpenter and builder. He was for a time also engaged in mer- cantile business in the villages of Canoga and South Waterloo.
He served his town as town clerk and justice of the peace, and in the spring of 1837 was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette. In the local military forces, Mr. Yost advanced to the position of brigade inspector with the rank of major, receiving his commission as such from Gov. William L. Marcy.
In 1853 he removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., and afterwards to a farm in the town of Pittsfield, Washtenaw Co., Mich. While a a resident of that county, Maj. Yost served several years as super- intendent of the poor of Washtenaw county.
He died Feb. 20, 1881. His wife, Melinda Rathfon of Fayette, died Nov. 14, 1882.
A son, C. L. Yost, of Ypsilanti, Mich., is still living.
Lee Yost, born in Fayette, a brother of William, was recently (Dec. 1899) still living at Hudson, Mich., at the age of 85 years.
LEWIS OAKLEY was born at Lansingburg, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1800. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Orange County in this State, near Goshen.
His early education began at Lenox Academy, Mass., and was continued afterwards at Blooming Grove Academy, in Orange Co., N. Y.
It was the design of his father to educate him for the legal profession, but the son, preferring to study medicine, began his preliminary studies under Dr. Valentine Mott of NewYork City, and others, and in his twenty-third year graduated from the Medical College of New York, and was licensed to practice medicine.
After graduation, he practiced his profession for about two years in New York City, and afterwards for a time in Orange County.
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In 1826, Dr. Oakley married Miss Mary Bradner Halsey of Fayette, and located in medical practice in West Fayette.
Although a man of great influence and ability, he did not allow himself to embark in a general political career.
He served his town for several years as inspector of common schools. In 1838 he was elected supervisor of Fayette, and in 1840 he was appointed one of the county superintendents of the poor of Seneca County, and served a short term as such.
In 1850 Dr. Oakley removed to a farm at Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y., where he spent his remaining years.
He died Dec. 6, 1880, while absent on a visit to his eldest son at River Falls, Wis., the death of his wife having occurred dur- ing the preceding year. Several children survived him.
JOHN SHOEMAKER, son of Henry and Susan (Fenner) Shoe- maker, was born in the eastern part of the State of Pennsyl- vania, near Easton, in October, 1813, removing in early youth with his parents to this county, -who lived for a time at Farmer Village and afterwards at Seneca Falls, where his father died Jan. 10, 1874, aged 84 years.
Mr. Shoemaker married Miss Rebecca, daughter of Henry Beary, and engaged in mercantile business at Bearytown in the year 1834, with his brother-in-law William Beary, under the firm name of Shoemaker & Beary.
In the year 1836 he was elected town clerk of the town of Varick, and in the spring of 1839 was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
He removed to Seneca Falls in 1841, where he was extensively engaged in milling and distilling business, and for a time was a partner with H. C. Silsby in the manufacture of steam fire engines. He removed to Buffalo in this State in 1857, where he died in October, 1861, aged 48 years.
A son, Edson D. Shoemaker, resides in Buffalo, N. Y.
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DAVID SCHÆFFER, son of George and Elizabeth Schæffer, was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1801. He removed with his parents, first to Northumberland County, Penn- sylvania, and afterwards, about 1820, to the locality known as the " Burgh," in Fayette.
In March, 1827, he married Miss Susan, daughter of John Frantz of Canoga, and engaged in business in that place, becom- ing a partner with Col. Daniel Holman in the milling business. In 1841 and 1842 he was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette. In 1850 he removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he died Dec. 14, 1859. His wife survived him many years, and died in the same city, Sept. 2, 1894, in the ninetieth year of her age. Several children survive.
EDWARD B. MICKLEY, son of Henry and Mary Mickley, was born in Whitehall, Lehigh County, State of Pennsylvania, Dec. 17, 1808, his ancestry being of Huguenot descent.
Early in life he removed to the Town of Fayette, and locating at South Waterloo, engaged in mercantile pursuits and after- wards as a miller and grain shipper.
He served as town clerk, and in the spring of 1840 was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
He died Feb. 11, 1885, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at Waterloo.
Several children survive him.
His brother, the late William B. Mickley, died Oct. 30, 1897, at his residence in the Town of Seneca Falls, at an advanced age.
SAMUEL FATZINGER, son of Jacob and Catharine Fatzinger, was born near Allentown, State of Pennsylvania, Dec. 19, 1801. He removed with his parents to a farm in the Town of Romulus (now Varick) in the year 1818. His father subsequently removed to the Town of Seneca Falls, where he died Feb. 10, 1852, aged 75 years.
Early in life, Samuel engaged in mercantile business at Bearytown, which he afterwards transferred to South Water- 100. In 1839, he was elected a justice of the peace of the Town of Varick, but did not accept the position. In the spring
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of 1844, he was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
At a later period of his life, Mr. Fatzinger removed to the State of Illinois and afterwards to Michigan, where, near Ypsi- lanti, his active career was terminated by death, Dec. 9, 1858, and his mortal remains were interred in Maple Grove Cemetery, at Waterloo.
His wife, Fanny Cook, daughter of Abiel Cook, of Waterloo, N. Y., survived him with three children.
He was a brother of the late Thomas, Levi and Edward Fatzinger, prominent citizens and business men of Waterloo.
His youngest brother, Edward, the last survivor of his father's family, and born in Romulus in 1818, is still living at Waterloo.
JACOB REED, son of William and Sophia Reed, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Aug. 2, 1800, and removed with his parents in 1808 to the farm in the Town of Fayette, still owned by members of his family.
His father dying August 21, 1810, the responsibility of rear- ing the family in a new country, and clearing and developing the farm rested largely upon the mother. In this she was aided by her sons, Jacob succeeding in time to the ownership of his father's farm.
Mr. Reed served his town a number of years as assessor and in the spring of 1845, he was elected supervisor of Fayette. A few years later, November, 1850, he was elected one of the super- intendents of the poor of Seneca County, for a term of three years.
He was a careful business man, especially active and vigilant as one of the building committee appointed by the board of supervisors in the rebuilding of the county poor house in 1852- 53, giving much oversight and direction thereto, after plans had been prepared and adopted by the board of supervisors.
He died Nov. 17, 1869, and his mortal remains repose in the Burgh Cemetery.
Early in the year 1823, Mr. Reed married Miss Catharine Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Romulus, who survived him several years.
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Three sons and one daughter still survive. One of the surviv- ing sons, John S. Reed, born June 29, 1824, served as supervisor of Fayette, in 1859 and 1862.
GEORGE KIDD, was born in the eastern part of the State of Pennsylvania near Bethlehem, in the year 1803.
He removed to the Town of Fayette and settled on a farm near the present West Fayette Station of the Lehigh Valley Railway in the year 1832, where he engaged in farming.
He was frequently called by his townsmen to serve in official positions, and in the spring of 1846, was elected supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
He died March 21, 1876, in the 73d year of his age, and his mortal remains rest in the West Fayette Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
One son, Henry C. Kidd, of Fayette, and two daughters survive him.
SAMUEL HOLENBECK, was born in Columbia County, State of New York, Dec. 8, 1800. He removed to Seneca County in his youth, and in early manhood married Anna, daughter of Philip Jolly, one of the pioneer settlers of the Town of Fayette, and engaged in business as a farmer and hotel-keeper.
He served his town as town clerk, justice of the peace, assessor, constable, overseer of the poor, and in other public capacities, and in the spring of 1848, was elected and served as supervisor of the Town of Fayette.
He also served by appointment for a period of seven years, commencing in 1854, as keeper in charge of the Seneca County poor house and farm.
He died Aug. 2, 1877. A son, Maj. Andrew S. Holenbeck, residing at Waterloo, still survives.
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WILLIAM HOGAN, son of Dennis Hogan, was born in Fayette, April 15, 1822.
His grandfather, Martin Hogan, was one of the pioneer set- tlers of Fayette, several years prior to 1800.
Mr. Hogan received a good education in the public schools of Fayette and at Waterloo Academy and the University of St. Louis, Missouri.
In early life he devoted much time to teaching, and also gave attention to the management of his farm.
Becoming interested in public affairs, he was early elected superintendent of common schools of histown, and as justice of the peace. He was elected supervisor of Fayette in 1849, 1856, 1857 and 1874. Mr. Hogan was appointed county superinten- dent of schools in 1847 and served a short term as such and was elected county school commissioner in 1857 and again in 1869, for full terms of three years each. In the fall of 1874, he was elected Member of Assembly for Seneca County and served in the Legislature in 1875.
After an active and useful career, Mr. Hogan died Dec. 13, 1892. He was never married.
FREDERICK SCHOTT, 2d, son of the pioneer settlers Andrew and Margaret Schott, was born in the Town of Fayette, Feb. 21, 18II.
In his youth he was educated in the public schools and after- wards learned the tailor's trade, and locating in South Waterloo engaged in that and other pursuits.
On the 31st of October, 1849, Mr. Schott was appointed by the town board of Fayette to fill a vacancy in the office of super- visor, under which appointment he served until the town meet- ing in March, 1850. He also served his town in other public positions.
In early life, Mr. Schott married Catharine Belles, daughter of Uriel and Catharine Belles of Fayette, who with three sons and a daughter are still living.
He died May 31, 1888, and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at Waterloo.
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DANIEL H. BRYANT, was born in Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Sept. 24, 1800.
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