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 24
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THEIR NEIGHBORS, THE SHEPARDS
Hiram, Harvey and Aaron Shepard were brothers. Hiram was a bachc- lor, Harvey married and moved to Baltimore, while Aaron raised a large family of boys and girls of that choice quality that pioneer families in Nunda often produced. Copied by the Nunda News. Aaron Shepard died in Nunda in 1867, Mrs. Shepard in 1852, Parker in 1905, Melissa in 1988, Thomas in 1857
The family located at Chautauqua Hollow first but exchanged farms with a farmer from the Myers district several years later. Peter De Puy changed to Chautauqua Hollow about the same time. The sons of Aaron were Parker, Myron, a civil engineer, Thomas who died in early manhood, Harvey, Louis, Cyrus and James. The daughters were Melissa ( Mrs. Emmons) and Martha Jane ( Mrs. Foster ). Mr. Foster was at one time a produce dealer in this vil- lage. Myron, Harvey, Louis and Cyrus, were all soldiers of the Civil War. Louis was wounded at Antietam and while on his way North , his train was wrecked and his injuries were increased to such an extent that he died before reaching home. He was one of the very best young men who went from our town to the front. The family went west where their skill and integrity were appreciated and they rose to high and important positions ; Cyrus as Land Com- missioner, received a salary of $3,000 a year. They visit Nunda frequently and "Home Week" will probably bring these Nunda veterans to the front ranks as "boy pioneers" of Nunda.
Mr. Aaron Shepard was connected with the M. E. church of this place. Parker Buell Shepard the oldest son died at Moscow, Mich., aged 76 years. We clip the following from the North Adams ( Mich. ) Advocate.
DEATH OF A FORMER RESIDENT
Parker B. Shepard, a former Nunda resident, died at Moscow, Mich., Sun- day. The North Adams ( Mich). Advocate says: "Parker Buell Shepard was
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born in Livingston County, New York, September 13, 1828. and died at his late home in Moscow township, April 16, 1905, aged 76 years, 7 months and 3 days. He was united in marriage with Elmyra Rynex in 1853. To them were born five daughters and two sons, who survive them.
Mr. Shepard came to Michigan and settled in Moscow township in 1856, where together with his wife they made a home and family name to be honored Dy all who knew them. Mr. Shepard leaves beside his own family four broth- ers and one sister to mourn his loss. He was a good man, a good citizen, a good neighbor and a devoted father, and will be sadly missed by his family and friends."
Myron was a civil engineer, begun practice between Dalton and Portage Station, worked on railroad near Cincinnati, became city engineer at Stillwater. Minn., enlisted in Ist Minn. Inf., served three years, was mustered out as first lieutenant.
A Mr. Morrison and one of the Hill boys shared his experience in practi- cal surveying on the Erie railroad, all from the Institute, they also were en- gaged together at Cincinnati about 1857 to 58. Harvey Shepard also attended the Nunda Literary Institute about 1859, went to Stillwater, Minn., and en- listed in 1861, in Ist Minn. Battery, served about two years, returned to Nunda and attended school here another term. Returned in 1867 to Stillwater, Minn., engaged in lumbering. was County Surveyor and County Treasurer. Resides Nunda, Adams, Mich.
Lewis attended the Institute, studied law with W. S. Coffin, enlisted in 1861 in Company A, 104th N. Y. Infantry., was woudned in the battle of Antietam, and while on his way home was in a railroad collision and received additional injuries. He died January 20, 1863, one of the best young men Nunda ever produced. James lives in North Adams, Mich., Mar- tha attended the Nunda Literary Institute, in 1867, she married H. L. Foster. also a soldier in the 104th, and who lost a leg at Antietam died at Stillwater, Minn., where Mrs. Foster still resides. Cyrus Shepard went west in 1861, after looking about in several states, enlisted at Lacrosse, Wis., in Co. D, 14th Wis. Infy., as a private soldier, among strangers served more than four years continuous service, was in all the marches, engagements and battles of that regi- ment, and was mustered out as captain, was in 100 engagements great and small, including the siege, assault and capture of Vicksburg. Returned to Nunda after the war, taught school in the log school house on East Hill one year. In 1868 went west again, settled at Stillwater, Minn., and followed mer- cantile business several years, was appointed by Grover Cleveland, Registrar U. S. Land office at Northington, Minn. Re-appointed Registrar U. S. Land office at Marshall, Mich., serving 13 years, till the office was closed. Capt. Cyrus P. Shepard gives me by request these facts concerning his family, with impaired health he looks forward in hope to see his friends again in 1908. Be- sides these he hopes also to see his boyhood home.
"An old lane, an old gate, an old house by a tree, a wild wood, a wild brook, they will not iet me be. In my boyhood I knew them, and still they call to me."
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THE COLLISTERS
Loren and Rice Collister, were pioneers and neighbors of the Shepards and Craige's and Johnson's. They both married sisters of Marsh Johnson and moved to Granger-the Collisters of that town are merchants and their sons have been graduates of our High school and of college.
Marsh Johnson lived and died in Nunda, one of his sons John T. Johnson served in the Civil War and returned but died before the great strife was ended.
THE HAYS
The one distinction between this family and that of many of the pio- neers is their posterity are with us still.
(1) Warren, married Miranda Shute; Jonathan, married Julia Collins; Almond, married Charlotte Shute: Horace; Theodocia, married Alden Shute.
II. I. Children of Warren; Lemira, married Henry King; 2. Milo Eld- ridge, Sr .; Caroline, married - Preston; Flora, married William Holmes ; William ; and Hiram, a veteran Mich. Regt.
II. 2. Children of Jonathan; I. Mary Jane; 2. Ann Eliza; 3-4. Ellen Maria and Helen Sophia (twins) ; Joseph; Martha Josephine; and John Murray ; the last name suggests that this family of Hays were Universalists, and named their youngest after the first preacher of Universal salvation, in America.
Children of Almon: II. 3. Aurilla, married James Woodworth; Grant. Children of Horace: II. 4. Orren and Warren, (twins.)
II. 5. Children of Theodocia Shute, Clarissa and Martha.
III. Children of Lemira King; Deleino, married Robert Holmes; Mary, married Hay.
Children of Aurilla Woodworth; Mary married Dr. Wisner; Helen is an M. D., resides in Boston.
IV. Children of Dell and Robert Holmes; Belle, married Harry Kellogg ; Grace ; Clarence Holmes, married Kate Marsh.
V. The Kellogg children. I. Robert. 2. King. 3. Ethel Laura.
THE HAVENS FAMILY
*Stephen P., soldier killed; * Cassius, married, veteran, died 1907; John; Della, married *Adello Slocum, western editor.
1830
I. Daniel Pittinger, married Pratt, aunt to Mrs. Arch McArthur ; II. Gertrude Pittinger, married Alfred Swain; Roselle Pittinger, married Josephus Schuyler ; Joshua Pittinger, married - - Chandler.
I. Isaac Pittinger brother to Daniel lived on East Hill. Mr. and Mrs. P., left their young children alone one evening while they made a call on a neighbor. The house burned to the ground and the two children perished.
1821-THE PAGES, SERGEANTS AND HANDFORDS
The Page families came from Paris. Oneida County. Albert Page and his brothers and sisters were the children of Eli Page, who with two of his sons remained there. Those who came to Nunda were Albert, Eli Jr .; Her-
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mon L .; Elvira ( Mrs. Peck) and Louisa (Mrs. Sergeant ). Albert Page was born in 1800 and when 21 years of age came to Nunda, selected fifty acres of land, built a log house, cleared some land near it, and returned. He married Miss Jerusha Tyler and brought her to Nunda. Her father soon followed and settled on the farm now known as Elmwood, his other three daughters were soon married. (See Tyler Family). Mr. Page prospered as a pioneer and added adjoining lands till he had 185 acres. He with H. D. Gardner built the Emporiam block, with its three stores. East Street in 1835 or possibly a year or two earlier. He was a Baptist and one of the trustees and treasurer of the Nunda Literary Institute for many years. He was thrice married. He mar- ried Ist Jerusha Tyler, their children were Orson Albert, Hermon D., Ava E. Abigail Hanford was the second wife. Edward E., John A., and Mary L .. completed the list of his children that were living in 1880. Three others had died. He married late in life Eliza Weeks. He died August 22. 1876. His widow has since died. (See photo).
I. Orson Albert, born in Nunda about 1825, is still living at Saranac, Mieh. He married Tamerson Remington, who died in March. 1908.
2. Hermon D., who succeeded his father on the homestead was born at Nunda December 10. 1828. He married Margaret Consalus, who died May 20. 1855. They had one child, Carrie M., now Mrs. Hector Sinclair of Jamestown : October 27, 1867. he was married to Mary Octavia Warner by whom he had three children, George W .. Roy A., and Albert H. Mrs. Page and her sons George and Albert reside in the village. H. D. Page was supervisor of his town for six terms. He died in Nunda. (See Photo). Roy A. Page is a phy- sician and is located at Geneseo, N. Y. The other sons are mechanics, which occupation they prefer to farm work, the farm is rented. 3. Ava E., married Miss Mary Robards, they reside at Roswell, New Mexico, he was a soldier and! officer during the Civil War, was commissioner from New Mexico at the Colum- bian Exposition and is a man of influence in the community. Edward E., and John E., located at Appleton, Mo. ; Mary L., the youngest of the family has al- ways lived in Nunda, she was married to Charles Giddings and they have three daughters. Blanche (Mrs. George Gillett ) of Perry, Maude and Anna; all have been teachers.
Elvira Page, married ( I) Thomas Peck who had two children, John and Esther Peck. The only child of Thomas and Elvira Peck was Sarah Man- ette Peck an Institute girl, who became a teacher of District Schools, many be- sides the writer of these 'Annals" have attended her schools. She wrote poems for publication in the village and city papers. The writer remembers that under this influence he wrote a scrap of verse, the first he ever attempted. He was ten years oid only, so it was not a love ditty. Sylvanus Ellis secured the pretty school ma'am and carried her away to Rochester, and no doubt their life was a poem of adoration and appreciation. He completed his college course at the University, and was for years the superintendent of the schools of that city. Both are resting from their tasks in our Oakwood, and a grand- son of theirs is now as old as when Mrs. Ellis, by example taught me to poetise. Mrs. Peck, married (2) Solomon Donaldson.
Eli Page had three children. Sarah ( Mrs. Andrew Sabin), Wallace and Charles, who lived here during their minority. Eli Page became a '49 Califor-
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WILLIAM D. PAINE
WELLS PAINE
LITTLE
HERMAN D. PAGE Ex-Supervisor
ALBERT PAGE Pioneer 1821
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nian and died there, the family then returned to Oneida County. Hermon I .. Page and his brother-in-law, John Sergeant came to Nunda after the stores were built around "The Plaza" and they engaged in the merchantile business. Their advertisements in the local papers, when there were any, makes it easy to locate their place of business, it was No. 5 Merchants Row. Now perhaps you don't know but that's what local historians are for, to tell you of forgotten things. Merchants Row was east side and the numbers counted from north to south, so No. 5 was at our present city drug store. The west side of the street was called "Farmers Exchange" and there the groceries were located mostly.
Hermon L., married Miss Maria Camp, whose father lived on the David- son place, and made pipe organs. It is said the family had higher expecta. tions, (most people estimate their children about 100 per cent. above other peo. ples children) but, "all is well that ends well," and when some years later, the young merchant had amassed a fortune and became Mayor of Milwaukee, there was no one more proud of sounding the praises of my son-in-law Page, the Mayor, than Father Camp. While traveling in Germany, on one of their European tours, he, (Mr. Page) sickened and died.
John Sergeant the husband of Louisa Page and the partner of H. L. Page had become a widower, and his children were cared for by relatives. He boarded at Horton's Hotel. He died there. He was a Universalist, but preju- dice ran so high at this early date, about 1841, that the relatives or some of them refused to attend, if Rev. W. E. Manley, his pastor conducted the services, and so a preacher not in sympathy with his views officiated. The four orphan children were adopted into the homes of the four Page families and were kindly cared for. As three of these families moved away it left only one of their children, after a time in Nunda. The children were George, Adella, Mary L., and William P. Adella lived with her uncle Albert and married Alfred W. Skinner, both husband and wife have died during the last decade.
There were other Pages, Ralph and his sister Emily. They were early set- tlers. Ralph Page owned a part of the E. O. Dickenson farm, and married Rhoda Rawson. He also lived on the Elias Rawson farm (the Balty Farm ) with his father-in-law. Leua Page his sister married to Palmer Rawson. Mrs. Minerva Rathbun of Church Street, is their daughter. Emily Page, an- other sister, was one of the pioneer teachers of Nunda. She has a place in local history as the first teacher in Grove ( in 1826) then in Nunda. She married Josiah Bradley (see Bradley Family ). Ephraim, married Louisa Keith, a daughter of Mark Keith and a sister of Mrs. F. H. Gibbs; Hiram married Fanny Spafford: Joseph Elliott, married Catherine Parker : Rachel Elizabeth died at 24; Clarissa, married Alexander Greig.
The children of Ralph Page were Ephraim and Caroline.
III. Dr. Nelsor Page is a grandson.
THE HANFORDS
They were early settlers in Portage while it was still in Nunda. Besides Mrs. Abigail Page there were Charles. a tailor here and at Tuscarora ; Jesse. who went to California for gold. but died there; Maria ( Mrs. Nathaniel Clark ) ; and two half sisters, Mrs. James Bailey, who lived in Portage, (Mr.
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Bailey died in 1908) ; and Mrs. Lucian Doolittle of Granger. Mrs. Bailey has a son and two daughters born in Portage. The grandsire of her children was Jonathan Bailey, a veteran of the War of 1812-14.
1821 SETTLERS-THE BARKERS OF BARKERTOWN; CLOUGH, WILSON AND MERRILL
This year Livingston was formed from towns in Ontario and Genesee Counties. Nunda was solicited to join but declined.
I am certain that Seth Barker the senior pioneer of that name was a good man, for having selected the farm from which Pepper fled from a snake, AS narrated in a former chapter, he fixed the house some, and then returned and not only brought a wife with him, but a mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Durfee, this break all records for courage and chivalry. It seems this pio- neer could not be frightened either by rattlesnakes or that object of modern dread, an energetic Yankee mother-in-law. Good, skillful and industrious as this man was, I am inclined to believe his wife was fully his equal in all the qualities that distinguish pioneer character. This pioneer housewife who toiled from sixteen to twenty hours a day, was a weaver by trade, having in her youth when only eleven years old. during the year wove 1, 100 yards of check dress cloth for a factory in Fall River. She was also a tailoress and did work for her neigh- bors at her two trades, and even exchanged cloth of her making at the stores for groceries. Mr. and Mrs. Barker were married February 8, 1821, and for or over 63 years "they kept the even tenor of their way." Seth Barker, was skilled in mechanical arts, and made many of the implements he needed on his farm. Even in that day when it was so difficult to get reading matter, he kept well informed on State and National affairs. His three sons grew to man- hood, married and settled near him. and so there were of this household, four
SETH BARKER
MRS. MARIAM LOWELL BARKER
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families of Barkers at Barkertown. Munson O., a surveyor, married Adeline Rawson, Orlando W., married Mary E. Swain, and Justus L., married Olive L., daughter of Richard Bowen. Seth Barker and Sarah Durfec were mar- ried February 8, 1821 ; the husband soon after shouldered his knapsack and started from Oriscany Falls, N. Y., to seek a home on the frontier. In Au-, gust, 1821, he arrived in Nunda and chose the farm on East Hill because the trees were so large. In November, 1821, he brought his bride and Mrs. Dur- fee her mother, to a log cabin destitute of doors and windows; but Mrs. Seth soon wove blankets and curtains to keep out the cold. Good buildings in proc- ess of time took the place of the log cabin where this worthy trio lived long useful lives. Mrs. Elizabeth Durfee was born in 1768, died in 1853, aged 95 : her daughter Mrs. Sarah Barker, died in 1884, aged 82; and the patriarch of untold generations. born in 1801, who lived to see the nineteenth century nearly completed, died in 1893, aged 92 years. A dozen farms were owned by Barkers in Nunda, when he died.
The children of his son Munson O. Barker, are: Herbert S. Barker, born in 1863, who married Blanche Chandler : Fiora G. ( Mis. Jacob Veley) and Lil- lian ( Mrs. Victor Craig), all of Nunda.
The children of Orlando W. Barker are: S. Inelle (Mrs. Ray Durfee ) : and Ethel, who married Prof. C T. Hood, M. D., Hom. Hospital, Chicago. Ill.
The children of Justus L. Barker are: Mertye (Mrs. Henry Gormal) ; Fred L .; and Ernest D., who married recently Miss Alida Thompson. Not to be outdone by any of his posterity, Munson Barker, Sr., father of Seth, and grandfather of Munson, Jesse, Amos and all the other Barkers of Barkertown, made a trip to Nunda. and married the widow of Silas Tyler. the mother of Mrs. S. Donaldson, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Hills and Mrs. Albert Page. The old man must have been at least 75 at the time of his second marriage. But these four families of Barkers were not the only ones of that name at this East Hill hamlet. Six cousins of Seth, the pioneer, came a few years later than he, and settled in this neighborhood. Their names were Jesse, Amos, Cyrus, Lydia, Elizabeth and Esther ( Mrs. Tyler), the mother of Hemingway Tyler. Both of his parents dying young, his uncle Cyrus and his aunts, Lydia and Elizabeth, adopted and cared for their orphan nephew. The children of old bachelors and old maids are said to be perfect, and this explains the general excellence that characterizes this worthy ward of these excellent people.
The children of Amos Barker are, Edward Gustavus, James, John Fitch, Joseph, Mary and Julia. Mary became the wife of H. Tyler, her cousin, and Julia married Alonzo, a son of George W. Merrick.
The children of Jesse were. Esther, Amelia, and our townsman Newton S. Barker. Esther married a soldier of the Civil War, Henry F. Fuller, son of William C., and they and their two noble sons, Ellsworth and Ora have all died while young. Ellsworth edited a Sons of Veterans paper in the far west. Amelia became Mrs. William Magee, and spent a winter here recently.
Newton S. Barker has been for the last twenty years a potent force in this town and village. His lumber yard and lumber mills supply a need that few but mechanics realize. Besides supplying lumber for the constant repairs and improvements that for the last fifty years have changed this village.
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from a place of 100 small cottages plain and unattractive, with a dozen or possi- bly twenty-five large and commodious dwellings, to a village of 300 dwell- ings, 200 of which are large and attractive, and at least half the others cozy and well kept homes of comfort. A few houses are praying piteously to their own- ers for a much needed coat of paint, but there are less of these now than there were of good houses a half century ago. Mr. Barker as a builder of houses on the street where he lives in an attractive mansion, has had no rival in the num- ber of houses he has built or owns. Mr. Monroe Myers is close second. May they have in this respect many zealous imitators, for there is still a need of houses in our growing village. This Barker from Barkertown, I mention last. because he lives here, and because a few years ago, he added another worthy member to this large and excellent family. He recently married the widow ot his former pastor and friend. Rev. W. C. Phillips; and the entire community will, I am sure endorse my estimate of this worthy man as a citizen of useful- ness, and certainly of excellent judgment. In 1906 he was appointed Super- visor, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Supervisor Platt C. Halstead to the office of Sheriff of Livingston County.
1821-NATHANIEL CLOUGH FAMILY
I. Nathaniel Clough and Mrs. Polly Clough. Their children : II. *Nathaniel Clough, Jr., was a book clerk, Oregon; Sarah, married Chauncey Joslyn; Mary Ann was second wife of Palmer Rawson; Angeline, mar- ried Piett of Michigan; Dorcas, single; Asher, married I, Caroline Rawson ; 2, Crandall; Luther, married Martha Morley; Martha Jane, married Calvin Rodgers : Clarissa. married Thomas Atwood, Jr .: Victoria, mar- ried ( I) Hiram Rathbon, (2) Silas Rawson; John Clough, was a soldier, in the west.
Nathaniel Clough, a pioneer of 1821, with considerable means for those times, went into the Mercantile business at Messenger's Hollow (now Oak- land) with Azel Fitch, and afterward with Dr. W. Z. Blanchard. It is the usual fate of farmers, who change their vocation and engage in business of which they have no experience, to obtain after a time a surplus of experience, at a cost of the farmi. Nathaniel Clough a most excellent man, was no exception to the rule above stated. Some men are too good, to become good business men.
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THE REYNOLDS FAMILY OF PIONEERS-A PIONEER INCIDENT 1828
As Seth Barker, pioneer, went to his work felling trees, one morning after he had settled some years, he heard in the distance east of him, the crow- ing of a rooster. Unaware he had any neighbors in that direction, he deter- mined when time permitted to ascertain who they were. Fortune favored him. for the Paine boys, Judson and Lucius, came along and he gave them the direc- tion and they went and found a family by the name of Reynolds settled there. with two boys, William and Beklen. There was also a young lady in the fam- ily named Julia Ann, but whether daughter or sister, Mr. Munson Barker, my informant could not say. The family lived there until the boys became men.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE CREEK ROAD PIONEERS
T HE farms along the Creek Road, leading through the best farming lands of the town, were for a century or more before the settlement of the very earliest of the pioneers, tilled by the Indians, from, Nunda Junction to the Keshequa, on both sides of that stream, and through the pres- ent village of Nunda. There are abundant evidences of Indian occupancy. Some of the pioneers avoided these lands as already worn out, but others took advantage of their small clearings, to plant crops.
Among those who are mentioned as first settlers on Judge Carrolls orig- inal map, are ; nearest to the village, Deacon Bassett, (at Elmwood) ; William Huffman, (Stillwell-Marshall farm ) ; Jonathan Barron (Sturgeon-McMaster farm) ; Daniel Ashley ( John & R. G. Bennett farm) ; Abram Porter (The Jones Homestead), Samuel Rockefellow soon succeeded him on a part, and then on the whole of it: Granville Sherwood. and Alphens Herrick next to the town line, Sherwood soon after owned both these farms. The succession of owners to "Elmwood" the Dowling farm has been numerous, Bassett in 1826 Silas Tyler, 1823 (died in 1826). Enos Dickenson, Lyman Herrick ( Her- rick and Cobby had nursery there). This brings it up to a time when citizens of the present time remember, Alward, Ashleys, the Martins and Dowlings. The Huffmans preceded the Stillwells who left it to their nephew. Rev. Dr. James Marshall. Barron. also sold to Nathanie! Chandler about 1836, who had lived on the State Road for about four years, previous to 1836. The Stur- geon family came next. Daniel Ashley sold a large estate to John Bennett and sons. The A. Porter farm passed through the hands of Samuel Rockefellow. to Silas Angier and his grandson John, and through them within the writer's recollection to his cousin. Joseph Russell, and from him to Samuel C. Jones. from Granger. and though it has had three owners since. it has been since 1850 and is still the Jones Homestead. The Sherwood farm became the Parkard farin. and has remained so until recently. The lands from or east of the road, that were changing frequently. ( 1840-1852), came into the hands of Silas G. Rob erts, and remained there until recently. Mr. C. N. Yencer is the last pur- chaser of the Roberts, and the Sherwood farms.
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