USA > New York > Livingston County > Nunda > Centennial history of the town of Nunda : with a preliminary recital of the winning of western New York, from the fort builders age to the last conquest by our Revolutionary forefathers > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Mary Alward Barber was born March 6, 1807, in Basking Ridge, N. J .. and came with her parents to Scipio. in 1809. and removed from there in 1836 to Oak Hill, Town of Portage, where she died August 15, 1850. On November 29, 1836, she married John Failing Barber (his second wife) son of Samuel B. and Madelane Failing Barber of Canajoharie, Montgomery County, N. Y. He was born September 2, 1809. in Canajoharie and removed to Oak Hill, Town of Portage, N. Y., about the year 1832, where he acquired a large farm and erected a fine residence called Chestnut Place, where he died February 7, 1883. The graves of himself and his wife, Mary, are in the Barber family lot in the cemetery at Oakland, Town of Portage. Mr. Barber had no children by his second wife, Mary.
Betsey Ann Alward Van Dusen was born August 9, 1810, in Scipio, N. Y., and died September 17, 1899, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Van Dusen Burroughs, in Beloit, Wis .; grave in the cemetery in that city. On June 18, 1829. she married John Dykeman Van Dusen, son of Abraham and Eleanor Van Brummel Van Dusen of Scipioville, N. Y. He was born Septem- ber 30, 1798, in Scipioville and died August 22, 1885, at the home of his daugh- ter, Mrs. Mary Van Dusen Burroughs, at Crowlake, South Dakota ; grave at that place.
After their marriage Mr. Van Dusen kept a hotel in Scipioville for seven years, until 1836, when they removed to the territory of Michigan and were pioneer settlers of Jacksonburg, now Jackson, but after enduring four years of sickness and privation they returned to New York State in 1840 and located on a farm formerly owned by Nathaniel Alward, situated on the Oakland and Portage Road near the Short Tract Road, where they resided for about 35 years, when they removed to a residence situated on the north side of Center Street in the Village of Nunda, where they resided until 1883, when they re- moved with their youngest daughter to Crowlake, Jerauld County, South Dakota. After the death of Mr. Van Dusen the widow and daughter removed to Beloit, Wis. John D. Van Dusen had three children : George and Ellen, born in Scipioville, and Mary, born in the Town of Portage.
Sarah Alward Guthrie was born August 23, 1790, in Basking Ridge, N. J .; married George Guthrie and moved to Seneca County, N. Y., where they located on a farm and resided there until middle life, and where all their chil- dren were born. About the year 1826 they removed to Nunda, N. Y., and in 1837 to the Territory of Michigan and located on a tract of land near Dixboro, Washtenau County. not far from Ypsilanti. She died December 29, 1841, and her husband died on January 2. 1842.
184
They had six children: Elizabeth, William, Abbie, Joseph, George and Phoebe. The eldest, Elizabeth. born August 23, 1808, married, June 19, 1828, John Gearhart. They resided in the town of Portage, near Dalton (after 1827), where she died July 13, 1879.
March 10, 1908, 20 Nassau Street, Borough of Manhattan, New York City, N. Y.
THE THOMPSONS-1822
. Robert Wilson Thompson, son of Wilson Thompson of Colorain, Mass., who died there at the age of 96. He was said to be a Revolutionary soldier. His wife's name was Wilson. Robert W. Thompson, better known as Wilson Thompson, married Fannie Burffee.
The children of Wilson Thompson were:
Joseph Calvin, Jonathan, Margaret Mary, Nancy, Electa. Luther and Rob- ert W., the latter is described as a skilled workman in wood and iron, a handy man in the settlement. He married before coming to Nunda. Of these Electa (Mrs. Newton), Luther and Robert W., are known to have come to Nunda.
I. The children of Robert Wilson Thompson (two died), were Nancy, (Mrs. Peleg Hewitt). Roxana ( Mrs. J. Clark Button ), Robert W., William Ed- win, Eliza A., and Melissa ( Mrs. Sanford Hewitt), who recently died, 1908 Mrs. Nancy Hewitt, wife of Peleg Hewitt was six years of age when she came to Nunda in 1822. She died in 1881. Their children were Wilson, Cornelia, Alice, Edwin and Mary. The family have always resided in Portage.
II. 3. Robert Wilson Thompson, born 1821, became a farmer, he was twice married. He married Sarah E. Van Slyck. They had two children.
III. I. Elletta V., married John A. Carter. Anita Carter is with her aunt Mrs. Mills in China.
III. 2. Annetta, a Missionary to China, to teach the deaf and dumb to con- verse by speech. She married Charles R. Mills, since deceased. See "Mis- sionaries from Nunda and Vicinity."
R. W. T., married second, Cynthia Andrus, daughter of Chester.
Their children. III. 3. Charles W., farmer, married Effie M. Wilson. 4. Sarah E. 5. Lincoln (a deaf mute) who married Emma C. Larson (also a deaf mute). 6. Luther R., married Elizabeth Northway, daughter of F. A. Northway. 7. May, died in 1872.
Children of Sanford and Melissa Thompson Hewitt.
Jason, married Nellie Marshall : Frank, a photographer, married Carrie Marshall ; Charies, married Minnie Marsh.
I. 2. Electa Thompson, married Jacob Newton. Their daughter, Electa Newton, married Miles Wakeman of Dalton.
I. 3. Luther Thompson family s. 1837, wife, Martha Holland. Children : J. Luther and Cordino S., both soldiers, died in the service. (See 104th Regt. N. Y.) 3. Joseph A : 4. Henry Allen ; 5. Jonathan T .: 6. Direxa V.
Henry .. married Town, has a son. the only grandson of Luther Thompson.
Hugh Robert and Elinor Thompson, cousins to Robert Wilson Thompson.
Hugh Sr., married Elinor Patterson and Elinor his sister married John Patterson.
185
!
!
i ----
1
11.
2. * Hugh Jr., son of Robert, married Emma Allen, daughter of Major Allen. No children, adopted Ella and Arthur Frink.
I. * Margaret married Abner French. See Arad French Family 1817. She was born in Nunda in 1819.
3. William P. Thompson, married 1. Jane Devoe ; 2. Mary Ames; 3. Mrs. Elizabeth McCray.
III. Laura, Allen, George.
II. 6. Mary married Foster Whittaker.
Children : Alice, married Lewis Wescott ; * John ; Lizzie, married Clark R. Brewer of Nunda.
7. Adolphus. 5. Josiah. 8. Jane, married Edgerly. 9. Lucy Jane, mar- ried Myron Patterson.
I-2.
Robert Thompson and wife. II.
Eben son of John and Elinor ( soldier) died during the war.
Children of Robert.
Children of Oliver. 1. Fred. 2. Fletcher. 3. Jessie.
Children of Ann Thompson Dickens. Edgar J., Frank and Maylon.
Hugh Thompson and Robert Thompson were cousins of Wilson Thompson.
Oliver married Helen Dailey. Firm of Hunt & Thompson, millers. Ann married Charles H. Dickens.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DAKE FAMILY
By Dr. Wm. Dake, 1819-1830. Revised by B. Frank Dake, Esq.
T HE Dake or Deake family have long been an important factor in the history of Livingston County and are among the real pioneers of Western New York. The paternal stock was English, but the family originally came from Hungary, the first of the name locating at Hopkinton, R. I., in 1639. but to make the spelling and the Americanized pronunciation cor- respond the name was changed to Dake. William Dake being the first to locate in Nunda was born in Daketown. Saratoga County, N. Y., July 25, 1792, son of William Gould and Margaret Moshier Deake. He married Orpha Miller December 20, 1815, of Galway, N. Y. In 1820 he with his wife and two small children started out with Indians as guides to locate in what was to be a per- manent home in the town of Portage, known as Oakhill on the river road, and what was then thought to be the wilds of the far West. Nunda had then but a few log houses, and the Indians roamed at will through the forest paths. The writer of these lines has often heard William Dake and his wife tell of the long tiresome journey from Daketown, Saratoga County, N. Y., to the new home in the forest, the Indians acting as guides. The brother of his wife, who was a Methodist minister was the only white friend on the way. An ox team being their only means of transportation. Guided by marked trees and Indian trails to designate the highway. They entered upon a quarter section of land
186
1
!
-- - -
1
upon which they commenced their battle of forest life. A log house was soon constructed and in this they lived for some years. Later they moved into a large and commodious frame house, where they lived and worked together for nearly fifty years. The forest about them soon gave way to waving fields of golden grain. The door of their home was ever open to their Indian friends who paid them freqnent visits. Mr. Dake was widely known as a man of judg- ment and of strict integrity. He held at various times offices of trust and honor in town and county. He died May 1. 1873, in Nunda, N. Y., at the home of his son, Dr. Jabez W. Dake, where he and his wife had come but a year pre- vious, having left the home upon the hill. His remains were laid in Picket Line Cemetery besides those of his father and mother. William Gould Deake and Margaret his wife, who had also come to this section of the country a lit- tle later than their son, in 1828. and bought up a large tract of land in Oakhill a short distance from his son. He settled in 1828.
William Gould Deake or ( Dake as the name is now more generally spelled ) was born in Hopkinton. R. I., March 6. 1761. He was a soldier of the Revolu- ionary War. he served as private in Captain Lewis Von Woerts Regiment 16th of Cambridge, Captain William Brown's Company of Albany County. N. Y., and served during most of the war. Shouldering his gun when he was but fourteen years old at the battle of Bennington. he followed his father into the battle field. the battie taking place upon part of their land and the adjoining farm of Elder Wait's. An interesting fact is that the first Red Cross work done in this country was done by his mother who went upon the field after the battle and ministered to the wounded and suffering soldiers until their strength failed, her name now being enrolled as a patriot of the Revolutionary War for the services rendered. Her name was Anna Gould Deake.
In 1830 William Gonld Deake sold his farm in Daketown, Saratoga County, and moved onto the farm which he had purchased in the town of Portage, and which joins that known as Latham Coffin farm where he lived till after the death of his wife in :841, when he removed to the village of Nunda where he lived with his daughter Abbie Dake Northop. He was a man of genial mind and greatly loved. His last illness was short and he quietly passed out to join the larger family waiting on the other side. He was a man of sterling charac- ter whose word was his bond by all who knew him. He died in Nunda, N. Y .. August 1, 1843. His remains were laid in the Picket Line cemetery near his old home.
He reared a large family of children their names being Elizabeth. Anna. Charles, Jabez. William, Benjamin. Lucy, Eunice . John E., and Margaret. Charles the oldest son lived many years in Nunda. Later moved to Penn Yan where he died. Jabez who was born at Saratoga and later served in the War of 1812, became a physician. being the first M. D., to locate there, where he lived and raised a large family of children. many 'of whom followed his chosen pro. fession. He was a man ever ready to answer to the call of the sick or those in trouble. His home still stands. although remodeled. on the corner opposite the Baptist church. He died May 11. 1846, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery where a monument was erected to his memory. His wife was Sophia Bowen and their children were Louisa. Lydia who married Lyman Hoppins, and had two sons who were physicians. David was a physician and surgeon of promi-
187
-
nence and had a son who, also, won distinction as a physician, and one daughter who graduated in medicine and married a Dr. F. W. Skiles. Chauncey M., was the first homoepath in Western New York, and located at Geneseo Livingston County, N. Y. He had a son who practiced medicine, Abram B. Dake who married Elvira Herrick of Nunda, and after his death she married a Mr. Wiley. William Henry who graduated in medicine and located in Pitts- burg, later moved to Rochester where he lived many years. His wife was Laura Barrett of Nunda. Both he and his wife are buried at Oakwood Ceme- tery. Anna Eliza, who married J. D. Crank has two sons who are physi- cians, J. P. Dake. Jabez Jr., who became noted as a professor in medicine and a writer of many standard works on medicine. He had four sons who were physicians.
William Dake who located there. in 1820, had children who located in Nunda and near by places. His oldest son Jonathan M. Dake located in Nunda and opened a hardware store, in 1863, where with his son Moses, and later. Abram Dake, he was in business until his- -, dying at the age of 84. He was for a time a prominent figure in the Baptist church. He had several chil- dren ; Moses, Maria, Frank, Charles and John. John still resides on the home- stead, caring for the widowed mother. The others of William's family were: C. Alonzo, a physician of Warsaw. Dr. Jabez W., of Nunda, later of Rochester : Clara who married John Dixon and lived between Nunda and Picket Line : and B. Frank Dake who was a very successful physician in Pittsburg. later moving to Pasadena. California. He died in 1908, age 75. A cousin of William Gould Dake located on the River Road where he lived many years, acting as postmas- ter a greater part of the time at what is known as the River Road Forks.
I am unable to give you the first name of father's first wife. She was a Hagadorn. She bore father two children, Mathilda and Moses William. Ma- thilda died at the age of fifteen years. Father's second wife was Mary Ann Town. She bore him one child. Maria Ann. Maria married Dr. Frank A. War- ren. She died February 7, 1895, leaving surviving her four children, Grace A. Harsh, Harriet A. Warren, Jennie B. Warren and Howard D. Warren, all of whom are now living. Howard D. Warren became twenty-two years of age the 15th of March, 1908. For nearly one year he has been the cashier of a large trust company in Aberdeen, Washington. Father's third wife was Sarah Imogene Burgess. She bore him three children, Abram Miller, Benjamin: Franklin, and Charles Morton. all of whom are now living. Father's fourth wife was Fanny Melissa Andrus, who bore him one child. John Andrus. Moses' son. Millard H. Dake, was born in Nunda. All of the rest of the grand- children were born out of Nunda with the exception of the children of Abram and John. Charles M. Dake has one child, Charles Crawford, who was born in Buffalo.
Father's father. William Dake Jr., was married to Orpha Miller. Deeem- ber 20, 1815. In 1820 in an ox cart with their two sons. Jonathan Miller and Charles Alonzo, aged four and two years, they started out from Greenfield. Saratoga County, N. Y., and drove to and settled on a farm on Oak Hill in Portage, which he had purhcased in 1819, and on which they resided together fifty-two years.
William Gould Dake was the father of William Dake Jr. In 1871 William Gould Dake was married to Margaret Mosher. He was a soldier of the Rev-
188
olution. The battle of Bennington was fought in part on the farm of his father in White Creek. Washington County, N. Y., and on the adjoining farm of Elder Waite. William Gould Dake lived with his wife until the death of nis wife in 1841. William Dake Jr., lived with his wife until his death May 1, 1873. Dr. Charles Alonzo Dake, a son of William Dake, Jr., was married to Maria Roberts, June 2, 1840. They lived together until his death in July, 1905. The father, son and grandson lived with their wives during an aggre- gate period of marital union of one hundred and eighty-two years.
My knowledge does not extend beyond these, but you will see most of them have done much to perpetuate the cherished memory of dear old Nunda which is ever dear to the hearts of those who have had the good fortunes to look through the fertile valley upon those sioping hillsides. We wish, all who live there, a happy, prosperous and blessed life. B. FRANK DAKE.
Abram Dake son of Jonathan and Imogene ( Burgess) Dake, has resided in Nunda for many years. He married Jennie Hungerford, daughter of \irgi! Hungerford, son of Amos. Their children are Virgil, who married Fred, who married Lena Vandusen. daughter of Milton E. and Rose ( Clark) Vandusen. They now reside in Denver. John A., son of Jonathan and Fanny (Andrus) Dake, married Sophia, daughter of J. B. and Aletha Kendall Willett. They have two children born in Nunda. Hazel who married Glenn McMaster. and resides at Dansville. N. Y., and Walter a school boy.
THE NASHES-1822
The Nashes bought out Ephraim Kingsley ( Nunda's third settler), and secured one of the finest farms in Portage, which is still in possession of the family. The family consisted mostly of adults and were soon married and settled.
Alfred Nash married Hoyt.
II.
The sons were: I. Anson. 2. Camillas.
Enos H., married Ellen Stockwell. William, married Delana Hill, a niece of Dr. Chittenden of Nunda.
The daughters were: * Almira, married Martin Stockwell : Catharine and Caroline (twins), Catharine married Wells Mc Nair. Castile; * Caroline married Norman Dopkins; Anna married Martin Stockwell, Rochester, N. Y.
III
Children of Enos and Ellen Nash.
Adelia married Augustus W. Chase, son of William Chase, farmer; Enos Adelbert, a veteran, married Augusta Williams, daughter of Solomon Wil- liamıs, Jr.
John Augustine was drowned while skating on the Andrus pond. He was seventeen years of age. His companion Edward F. Knibloe, sixteen years old. succeeded in getting him out of the icy water, but he died from the chill and exposure. He was one of the author's favorite scholars, and was esteemed highily by all who knew him.
The other member of the family was Fanny Nash, the daughter of Wil- liam and Delany Hill Nash, an adopted daughter of Enos H. Nash.
189
4
IV.
The sons of E. Adelbert Nash, are Arthur and Elbert.
The sons of A. W. and Adelia Chase
John, who died in early boyhood; William, married, and who resides in Rochester : Roy, married, who lives on the Chase homestead, and who suc- ceeded his father as Rural Mail Carrier.
Augustus W. Chase died from being chilled to death while performing his duties as Mail Carrier, his route was over the Granger and Grove hills, the day was a very cold one, causing his death.
Enos Adelbert Nasli, who enlisted at 18 was a prisoner of war and paroled just in time to save his life. He has been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace five or six terms.
THE SMITHS FROM CONNECTICUT
Four brothers, Lyman. Ammon, Hiram and Norman Smith settled in Port- age ; the first two in 1825, the others later.
*Ammon Smith. married *Julia Nash : one son Adelbert A. Smith, married Eliza Jennings.
Lyman Smith had two daughters: Emma married *Luke Robinson . *Anie married Lorenzo D. Gifford. son of *Robert Gifford, pioneer.
Albertus C. Robinson, son of Emma, married Mary Stanton, resides on the homestead, and has filled several town offices. The children of L. D. and Anie Smith Gifford: Mamie. married Reuben Wheeler ; Nellie at home.
The children of *Hiram Smith and *Jane Sanford are: Gertrude, a teacher for many years : * Cynthia ( Mrs. Samuel Davis) ; Ella (Mrs. Gilbert Bliss) : Cora ( Mrs. George W. Botsford).
Sanford married May Wheeler, owns the homestead, but lives in Perry.
The children of *Norman Smith and Louisa Quick: William H. Smith. stage driver, and baggageman, married Mary Townsend; Maria, a skilled tail- oress ; * Edward, jonrneyman printer: Julia, home decorator for special festivi- ties ; Lydia. Normal School teacher, married Charles E. Hamlin; Mamie died when a young lady.
Grandchildren : Harvey N. Smith, Louise Hamlin, Louis, *Stanley, Carl and Mildred Smith.
The grandchildren of Ammon Smith: Carrie A., married Edward Reed; Everett, produce dealer, married Florence Hare; Eva, a teacher.
CHAPTER VII. GROVE AND GRANGER-NUNDA FROM 1818-1827.
T HE present town of Grove had no settlers during its first decade as an eighth of the town of Nunda. If we include that part of Grove that afterward became Granger, then we might find from 1816-1818 per- haps ten families.
There being no high line fences of either Church or State, separating the different town plots that formed Nunda. It is natural that. the writer of these "Annals of the pioneer settlement of the Nunda" that existed between 1818 and 1827, rear none, but treat every settler of this time as Nunda citizens.
190
In 1827, Grove, including Granger, became a separate town and ceased to be within the scope of these Annals.
There is a sense, however. in which Grove never has been entirely dis. tinct from Nunda. Her first citizens came from Nunda, and many of them re- turned again.
Grove never had any large villages, so her citizens patronize Nunda stores. Her Baptist church was also the Baptist church of Nunda and of Portage until 1828, her soldiers mostly enlisted in Nunda companies, and even to-day, the people of Grove make Dalton, which is an important part of Nunda, their cen- ter of trade.
Their produce is shipped from that business center, in fact, with the excep. . tion of picking their own political plums from their own political plum trees, and shipping them to Belmont, instead of Geneseo, the towns are virtually one. To our Union and High Schools their advanced scholars come, and no doubt many still worship in the Dalton churches.
From 1818 to 1820, Grove-Nunda, where good titles to land could be ob- tained (when they could not in Nunda) led to an exodus of the early settlers to the lands of the "Church Tract."
John White, set the example, and the "White Settlement" is sufficient proof that he became one of the permanent settlers. He was a man who cut out a way for himself and his oxteam whenever such a highway was needed. In May, 1818, after having lived two years in Nunda, he cut a road into the forest leading to lot 35, which he had purchased. This was no small task, but he was at his best, being at the time 32 years of age.
He brought his wife with him from Herkimer to Nunda, with his oxteam and now when his new log house should be habitable he would try founding a settlement in a new section where for a time they would be "The Eve and Adam of a race renewed." He did not purpose however, to raise "Cain" in the wilderness but to raze the trees from the forest near his house, and then raise turnips and wheat and vegetables. He did still better, he raised a large family.
These, like himself, had good staying qualities-for two of these children are still living. Mrs. Nancy White Passage, now 87 years of age, and her youngest sister, Mrs. William Townsend who recently celebrated her golden wedding day.
This story of the first family that settled in Grove-Nunda is interesting and unique.
John White had to take a grist of wheat from Grove to Dansville, as he wanted to bring back a door to keep out the wolves-he had to go with his oxen. as he had to cut the road, or widen it nearly all that distance, it would take him many days, possibly two weeks. His wife had to stay alone, and only one neighbor nearly a mile away. They had no door to their log cabin, and the wolves were numerous. The wife consented to stay alone if he would only bring home a door. He went and was gone many weary days. The wretched- ness of this solitude was mingled with fears for the safety of her husband and the necessity of keeping a bright fire burning to keep off the wolves. It was twelve days before he returned and the solitude and solicitude of those twelve days she could never forget.
191
We present the picture of her daughter born in 1820; who told me this story.
1
MRS. NANCY WHITE PASSAGE - At 86 years Only 94 years old
THE LATE BETSEY STEVERS MYERS
MATILDA SHERWOOD RUSSELL Only 82 years young
MRS. FANNIE ADAMS OLNEY
·
192
Both of these sisters however, have come to Nunda to complete their earthly pilgrimage, and as an intermediate state between Allegany and Heaven, it has no equal.
Mr. White induced a new settler at Nunda, Alexander Bailey, to buy part of lot 35, and here on this first settled lot, in this new settlement was born, on Chirstmas 1819, the first white child born in what is now the town of Grove, Laura Bailey, who became Mrs. Hiram Merithew and who died in Portage, in 1907, in her 88th year, spent in this vicinity. In the August following, the first "White" child born, was, Nancy White now Mrs. Daniel Passage, the second child born in the present town of Grove. Both were born in Nunda. In the log house of John White in 1821. the first religious services were held. There were other Whites, for Joseph White a brother, settled and remained in Nunda. and Elijah White was married in 1822 to Lucy Dana, and William White was the first person to die in this settlement.
John Eisamon, also tried Nunda for a year or two, and then in 1822. moved to what is known as the Dutch settlement. Others who came from Nunda to this locality were James Brewer, in 1820, and later Sylvester Heath, Samuel Swain, Jr., Jolin Boughton, and Elias Alvard and Curtis Coe came from Portage-Nunda. Brewer's Corners, was for a time quite a hamlet, but failed to become a village. The Brewers many of them returned to Nunda as did Swain, after founding Swainsville.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.