USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 42
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In the War of 1812 their nearness to the frontier, and their unpro- tected condition, rendered them naturally fearful and watchful, and when the report came that the Indians were on the "war path " and coming from 'Buffalo they were panic stricken, and with almost the entire neigh- borhood started for places of more security. He and his family, by ox- team and sled, went by Stafford, main road, as far as a hotel, between Le Roy and Caledonia, where they found soldiers quartered. They staid there until the next morning, when the good news came that they were in no immediate danger, and the third day found them again at home, there being about 18 inches of snow on the ground. Here, under these circumstances, in an almost unbroken forest, with few and scattered neighbors, he commenced the establishment of a Christian home, and the efforts toward a living or a fortune. Being a shoemaker by trade, as neighbors appeared he found employment and opportunity to earn some- thing toward his support, and by industry and economy secured his home.
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TOWN OF BYRON.
Mr. Cook and his wife became members of the First Congregational Church of the town, thus identifying themselves with the religious interests of the community. He was born in 1760, and died in 1834, aged 74 years. The three brothers, on reaching maturity, associated together in the manufacture of potash quite extensively, on the lot on which they lived, using the ashes they made in clearing their own property, and also gath- ering them from the country surrounding, finding a market for the potash in Batavia and at the canal The two brothers, David and Reuben, finally located on lots adjoining the eldest, retaining the original lot and also adding another of about the same size.
Elias Cook started about the first-if not the first-nursery (mostly apple stock) grown in the county, from which many thrifty bearing trees are now standing in different parts of the county. He also, in 1862, commenced the planting of one of the largest apple orchards in the county, on the original farm which 50 years before was covered by dense forests. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Holmes, in 1833. Three children were born to them, two of whom are now living, viz .: Mrs. Dr. G. U. Gleason and Charles E. The latter still retains the homestead, on which he resides. Besides regular farming Mr. Cook is engaged quite extensively in the cultivation of standard fruits, having about 50 acres, 2,000 bearing apple trees, 2,000 dwarf and standard pears, and quince and other fruits. Mr. Cook is also the inventor of a fruit gatherer.
Irving D. Cook, son of David and Tabiatha (Ballard) Cook, was born in Byron, May 5, 1829, in the house where he now resides, and where he has always lived. He was reared a farmer, and was educated in the common schools and the academy of Alexander. November 10, 1859, he married Julia A. Holmes, of Illinois. Mr. Cook's father died when he was but four years old, and his mother, a lady of great energy and a fine manager, kept her family together and educated them. He was her oldest son, and at the early age of 18 years the management of the farm was placed in his hands. When Mr. Cook was about 21 years of age he, in company with his brother, Marshall N., bought the interest of their sisters in the farm, and conducted it and another farm, which they had purchased in company, until the close of the war in 1865, when he bought his brother's interest in the homestead, and is now its sole owner. Mr. Cook is a thorough farmer and a close thinker. He has contributed to the New York Tribune, the Cultivator, the Rural New Yorker, and the Ohio Farmer. He is one of the reliable and trusted cit- izens of Byron, and has a large acquaintance with leading citizens and agriculturists in Genesee County, by whom he is highly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are parents of five children, viz .: Edwin I., who has been in the employ of the U. S. postal service the past six years; Clara H., who married William S. Greene, a farmer in Byron ; Ella F., a music teacher in Cottage Seminary, Clinton, N. Y .; Julia E., who resides with
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her parents; and Irving C. H., a student at Oberlin College, Ohio, where his brother and all of his sisters have been educated.
Capt. Marshall N. Cook, son of David, was born in Byron in 1833, and was educated in the common schools with a few terms in the acad- emies. His youth was spent on the farm in Byron and at the old home until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. I, 129th N. Y. Inf., and went to the front as first lieutenant of his company. He was promoted captain June 3, 1864, led his command until the close of the war, and was mustered out of service and honorably discharged June 12, 1865. In the winter of 1862 and '63 the 129th Regiment was transferred from the infantry to the artillery service, and became the 8th N. Y. H. A., and remained in Baltimore until May 15, 1864, when the regiment joined the Army of the Potomac. Capt Cook led his company in the battles of Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and Hatcher's Run, was at the siege of Petersburg, followed the retreating army of Gen. Lee until his surrender, and was nine consecutive days under fire in a severe engage- ment at Clover Hill. Capt. Cook received a severe wound at the battle of Cold Harbor, and barely escaped with his life. At the same engage- ment his captain and seven men of his company were killed and 30 wounded. At the close of the war he returned to Byron, engaged in farming four years, was a general merchant the ensuing five years, was in Albany 14 months as assistant superintendent of tool boys, was a gen- eral agent and traveling salesman for agricultural implements, and has for the last two years given his attention to fruit growing and gardening on his fine place in South Byron, which he has owned the past 12 years. February 13, 1867, he married E. Maria Clark, by whom he has two daughters.
Capt. Nathan Cash, son of Daniel and Mary (Tracy) Cash, was born in Orange County, N. Y. His father was from Pittston, Pa., a survivor of the celebrated Wyoming massacre. He had volunteered to go to Connecticut, and was thus saved, as were also his family. Nathan Cash married Par- nell Southworth, came to the Holland Purchase about 1812, and settled in the north part of Stafford and engaged in farming. Being a carpenter he erected his own buildings. He lived there until his death in 1856. His granddaughter, Mrs. Bennett Waterman, occupies the old homestead. He was a public-spirited man, was a promoter of schools and churches, and was trusted to offices of responsibility. A daughter, Mrs. Phœbe Bassett, lives in Stafford, aged 83 years. Erastus, a son, born in 1798, came with his parents to this town, and frequently had as high as 100 acres of wheat harvested with sickles and cradles. He married Achsah Deming, of Livingston County, whose father settled here in 1805. Mr. Cash settled in Stafford in 1826, and in 1836 located in South Byron, where his daughter Ella (Mrs. George G. Chick) now lives. He died in 1875, and his wife in 1887. Their daughter Anna married John H. Rapp, of Byron. and Celinda, widow of James M. Bower, lives in Byron. Mr. Cash, besides cultivating over 400 acres of land, was engaged in the man-
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TOWN OF BYRON.
ufacture of fertilizing plaster. In 1847 he built a large stone flouring- mill in South Byron, which was soon burnt. He was the first postmaster of South Byron, was a temperance man, and an anti-slavery Democrat, but joined the Republican party and supported all war measures. He was a man of great weight in all benevolent and worthy enterprises, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his family. Andrew, D. Cash, a son, married Sally F. Ward, and died in 1858, aged 32 years. She died in 1885. Parnell, a daughter of Andrew, married James Bower, and died in 1859.
William H. Deming was born November 6, 1804, in Berkshire County, Mass., and emigrated to Monroe County, N. Y., with his parents in 1812. He learned the trade of building fanning-mills of his brother-in-law. About 1827 or 1828 he married Sally Costelin, and settled in Byron Center, engaging in wagonmaking. He finally enaged in farming in con- nection with wagonmaking, and removed to the farm now owned by Mrs. George McDaniels, where he built the farm buildings. Here he spent the most of his business life. He again sold out, and removed to a farm north of Byron Center, where he resided until his death in May, ·1889, aged 84 years. Mr. Deming was one of the prominent men in the society where he resided, and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He held the office of assessor several years, was a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and for years was one its trustees. Three of his six children are living, viz .: Henry D., Sophronia, and Sarah Helen. Henry D. married Delia A., daughter of Nat Spafford, who died in 1864. She bore him one son, William H., who resides with his father. In 1866 Mr. Deming married, second, Marion L. Hume, who bore him a daugh- ter, Fanny Edith, and a son, Charles Hume, both of whom reside with their father. Mrs. Deming, second, died June 30, 1887. Mr. Deming has always given his attention to cultivating and improving his farm.
Andrew Dibble, born in Massachusetts, March 23, 1777, married Piercy Dodge, October 24, 1799, who was born May 20, 1783. He settled on a farm, where he resided until 1816, when he removed to Byron and located on a farm three-quarters of a mile east of Byron Center, where he resided until about 1833, when he built a comfortable house for the An- drew brothers, who were Thompsonian doctors who practiced on a con- tract for him by the year. Mr. Dibble learned their system of practice, received a diploma, practiced with and succeeded them, and continued in practice over 40 years. He died at the great age of 98 years, February 6, 1875. He possessed great physical vigor, energy, and courage, and led an active life. His wife died November 6, 1864, after a married life of 65 years. They had born to them 17 children, II of whom grew to maturity, and only Joseph D., born February 13, 1817, resides in Byron, on a part of the old homestead.
Silvanus Dillingham, of English descent, son of John, was born June 6, 1771. He was twice married, and was the father of 12 children. In 1824 he went " West " from Saratoga County, N. Y., and settled on a new
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farm in Caledonia, where he resided until his death, October 17, 1830, aged 59 years. He was a member of the Society of Friends, was a worthy citizen, and carried on the dual occupation of farmer and carpen- ter. His son, Stephen Dillingham, was but 15 years old when he settled in Caledonia. He remained with his father, and at his death he assumed the debts against the farm, which he paid off and gave a home to his mother and younger brothers and sisters. He married Mrs. Anna (Shotwell) Hoag, a few years after which he sold the homestead and set- tled on a farm in Elba. Several years later he sold a portion of the farm, including the buildings, and built a new set on the remaining 100. acres, where he resided until he died, April 9, 1881, aged over 72 years. Mr. Dillingham was an exemplary member of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Dillingham survived her husband about six months. They were parents of nine children, six of whom lived to mature age, viz .: Mary J. (Mrs. Lewis Genung), of Orleans County ; Maria L. (Mrs. L. B. King), of Lockport, Niagara County ; Isaac Oscar, who married Miss Sarah Thistlethwaite, and is a farmer in the east part of Elba; Stephen, who married Emeline E. Porter, and is a farmer in Oakfield; and Rosetta, who married Wilbur F. Curtis, and resides at Independence, Iowa. Isaac Dillingham is a farmer in Byron. He married Martha Hosmer, of Elba, and they have one son, George. Mr. Dillingham is a staunch Republi- can, and is now serving his town as supervisor. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer, and a worthy citizen.
Levi Fisk came to Byron from Shelburne, Mass., in 1818, and settled where John S now lives. He carried on the business of wool-carding and cloth-dressing, and was a farmer. He married Cynthia Coleman, of Buckland, Mass., in 1819, and reared six children, viz .: John S., Clarissa, Cynthia, Abigail, Euseba, and P. B., all of whom are living except Euseba. Levi took an active part in public affairs, was supervisor of the town, and was an active member of the church and assisted in its organi- zation. John S. Fisk has always resided in the town, and for a time was engaged at wool-carding. He is a farmer.
Benoni Gaines came to Byron from Connecticut about 1807, settling in the north part of the town. About 1826 he built the house where his son Solomon now lives. He was a millwright and made the first thresh- ing machine used in this vicinity. He died in Canada.
Jesse Goodwin, born April 22, 1781, married Dolly Watkins, of Can- andaigua, who was born April 14, 1790. Mr. Goodwin emigrated from New England as early as 1812, and drove the first stage coach through from Canandaigua to Buffalo, loaded with army officers, just before Buffalo was burned. He was in the employ of Mr. Powell, proprietor of the stage line, as a driver several years. In 1817 he settled in Riga, where he made himself and family a good home. In 1850 he and his son James M. sold the homestead in Riga and removed to the northwest part of the town of Byron, where he spent the remainder of his long life. He died March 18, 1867, aged 86 years. His son, James M. Goodwin,
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TOWN OF BYRON.
has added to the farm of 190 acres from time to time, until he now has one of the best farms in Genesee County, of about 400 acres. October 28, 1858, he married Ellen M., daughter of Zeno S. Terry, and they have a son, Charles T., and a daughter, Jenny L., who reside with their parents.
Galette B. Gilbert, M. D., was born in Darien, July 24, 1845, and re- ceived his education in the common schools and at Alden Academy, with two years at Ann Arbor University. He then studied medicine at the Buffalo Medical College, where he graduated in 1868. He began prac- tice in Wyoming County, where he remained three years, and practiced in Rochester in 1872-73, where he also conducted a drug store. In the fall of 1873 he located in Marilla, and in 1877 came to Byron Center, where he has built up an extensive and successful practice. He is a pro- gressive man in his profession, giving all his spare time to study, and is well up in the improved methods of practice. He is a member of the Genesee County Medical Society, In 1868 he married Mary M. Moore, of Wyoming County, and they have two sons.
Andrew Hunter Green, a native of Montgomery County, was born in 1797, and came to Genesee County in 1809 with his father, Joshua. The year previous Joshua had purchased 3,000 acres of land at 22 shil- lings per acre, in the towns of Bergen and Sweden. Andrew attended school in 1811, which was distant seven miles. In 1812 he hauled flour from Le Roy to Buffalo. His father shortly after moved to Byron. Andrew H. returned East and lived with his maternal grandfather, near New Lebanon. In 1821 he married Lavina Gould. His father died in 1822, leaving a family, and he moved to Byron and resided with his mother until his death in 1875. He was owner of a grist and saw-mill, was a land surveyor, assisted in running the first line of the N. Y. C. Railroad, was active in public affairs, and represented his county in the legislature of 1838-39. Loren, the oldest son of Andrew, was born in New Leba- non in 1822. While a young man he took charge of his father's farm and property, and resided here all his life. In 1852 he married Abigail, daughter of Hon. Levi Fisk. He served as supervisor for several years, and was a member of Assembly in 1863-64. He died February 12, 1879, on the old homestead. A daughter of Andrew H. married John H. Steel, of Byron.
Moses Gillett was born in Connecticut in 1799, and came with his father from Ovid, N. Y., to Byron in 1818, settling on a new farm in a log house about a mile west of the village of South Byron, where he re- sided until his death, December 17, 1860. February 28, 1828, he mar- ried Polly Gillett, a native of Connecticut, who was born October 27, 1803, and died on the homestead October 6, 1865. Their children were Seth, born December 4, 1828; Silva A., born June 18, 1830; Jerome, born September 2, 1833 ; John, born May 26, 1835; Cleaveland, born June 16, 1838; and William H. H., born April 16, 1840. Mr. Gillett was an industrious man, and gave his attention to his own business. In
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politics he was a staunch Whig, but declined office. His son Jerome was reared on the homestead, and learned the trade of mason, which he followed some years. He also dealt in fruit and live stock, made a trip to the " West " with the intention of settling there, but returned to his native town, and for five years he engaged in dealing in live stock and country produce. In 1873 he bought the hotel which bears his name, and which he is still conducting, being also engaged in farming and dealing in horses and all kinds of marketable property. March 13, 1862, he married Hattie M. Gardner, of Stafford, who was born in Batavia, June 14, 1841. They have had four children, of whom three sons are now living. Their only daughter died in early childhood. Their oldest son, Cleveland M., born December 19, 1862, has been a general merchant a year or two, has conducted a meat market one winter, and traveled one year in the West. He is now a farmer with his father.
Andrew J. Hall was born in Sodus, N. Y., about 1826. His father, Jo- seph Hall, settled in Rochester about 1828, and there invented the first cylinder threshing machine, the first one being a cylinder of hard wood, with hickory teeth. The concave was only a four-inch scantling, with teeth of the same kind, and driven by a rope that passed over a grooved pully attached to the cylinder. He continued improvements until he perfected his machines, and erected the Joseph Hall works in Rochester, and for 50 years his machine was the standard model for all implements of this kind built in the United States and Canada. Andrew J. Hall learned the trade of machinist in his father's manufactory, and remained there until the latter's death in 1865. In the spring of 1866 he removed to the farm, about a mile and a-half east of South Byron, where he now resides. In 1842 Mr. Hall married Mary A. Fitzpatrick, a native of Ennismon, Ontario, Canada, and they have three children, viz .: Minnie, (Mrs. Newman Culross), a widow, whose husband was of the firm of J. R. Culross & Co., manufacturers of the celebrated Culross cracker; William T., a farmer with his father; and Joseph E., who also resides with his father.
Seth C. Langdon, born in Berkshire County, Mass., moved to Verona, N. Y., with his parents, where he married Elizabeth Avery, and settled on a farm. He was a captain of militia in the War of 1812. In 1815 he emigrated to this town, bought the improvements of three acres of Joseph Barker, and took a contract for the farm where he spent the re- mainder of his life, and where his son Gordon now lives. He lived in a log cabin until 1826, when he built a frame house. He lived plain and wore clothes which were spun and woven by his wife. He gave his in- fluence to build school-houses and churches, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church and did his share towards its support. His wife became a member at its organization. He died in March, 1862, aged 77 years, and his wife in August, 1863, aged 81 years. They had nine children, three of whom are living. His youngest son, Gordon, was born on the homestead, February 26, 1826, and received his education in the common schools. March 21, 1849, he married Sarah Hudson, of Byron.
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TOWN OF BYRON.
He has always resided on the old homestead, but has found time to fill some of the offices of his town. Mr. and Mrs. Langdon are members of the Presbyterian Church of North Bergen. Their children are Guil ford A., who is married and resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Mary E., who lives with her parents ; Estelle S., who married D. Sheldon and resides in Rochester; Herbert E., a carpenter in Byron ; William H., who mar- ried Anna Frear, and works the home farm ; and Carrie E., who resides with her parents.
Gottlieb Mayback, a native of Germany, came to Buffalo in 1845, and in 1863 he removed to Oakfield, where he now resides. He married Christina Donerwort, of Pine Hill, Erie County, and their children were Charles W., Caroline, Jacob H., Julia, and Emma. Charles W., who was born in Buffalo and came to Oakfield with his father, married Rose, daughter of Nelson K. and Julia (Dikeman) Reed, of Knowlesville, N.Y., and is now a resident of Byron. Jacob H. Mayback was born in Ala- bama in 1859, and married Cora Haxton, by whom he had two children, Ernest and Harry, both deceased. Ernest was run over by a land-roller and killed April 13, 1889. Mr. Mayback is a general merchant and keeps the East Oakfield postoffice. He also carries the mail from Oak- field to East Oakfield. His wife is assistant postmaster.
Aaron Miller about 1759 moved from Weathersfield, Conn., to Pitts- field, Mass. He had a son, Aaron, who fought at Bunker Hill, German Flats, and Stillwater, and was at the siege of Yorktown. After leaving the army he became a Methodist preacher, a blacksmith, and an edge- tool maker. He was the father of Dewey Miller, whose narrative of his life, in his own words, is as follows :
" I was born October 8, 1787, at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Mass. My father was born in Connecticut and was brought up in Pittsfield when there were no schools. His mother taught him to read in words of two syllables, which was his only schooling. He was a blacksmith by trade and a maker of edge tools. I helped him when quite young, and we made the hoes and some other tools which I afterwards used on my farm here in Byron. When I was between five and six years of age we came to Burlington, Ot- sego County, and after eight years removed to Brookfield, Madison County. It was from there, in 1811, that I started with an ox-team and sled, and after a two weeks' journey reached this town. I purchased from a man named Gillam land, which is now a part of the Warboys farm, for $50. While grinding my axe at Asa Merrill's a young man named Sanford, from Vermont, came along and I sold him my land for $50. I
sold because I found that the land was not crossed by Black Creek, as I had supposed when I bought it. In March, 1812, I took up the land upon which I am now living.
" There are many things that occurred at about that time which I well remember. A man named Shepherd, living about where James Mills does now, wished me to go in with him and build a new mill. I refused, as I did not think it would pay. He built it himself, and the mill cleared expenses and paid for itself the first year. Our nearest grist-mill then was Churchville, and the nearest market Rochester, where we had to take two shillings sixpence per bushel for our wheat and $2.50 per hundred for pork. The cotton cloth which we brought home cost us 50 cents per yard, cotton yarn a dollar a pound, salt $5 a barrel, and other things in proportion. When I came here there were no roads marked out ; only paths here and there. There was no church service about here. When I went back to Brookfield I attended the Methodist Conference, about 20 miles from father's. There I fell in with a circuit preacher named Loren Grant, who came here to preach for us. The first store that I can remember was in the building which Mr. Knapp now uses for a barn. In 1813 I fenced off a piece of land
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and planted a peach pit in every corner of the fence. I recollect a scare which we had here during the War of 1812. A neighbor who came from Batavia brought home the report that 1,500 Indians were at Black Rock, and would come down through here to butcher us all. The people gathered and took measures for defense. It was afterwards found that the 1,500 Indians were awaiting their revenue from the British government and had no intention of coming this way. I was married, August 1, 1813, to Miss Electa Sanford, of Pownell, Vt. I lived with her, with never a cross word, for seven years, seven months, and seven days. I had two children by this wife-Aaron, now a machin- ist in Brockport, and Lucy. One year after the death of my first wite I married her sister, Mrs. Merrill, by whom I had four children, three of whom-Albert, John, and Emily-are now living. The fourth, Electa, is dead. I lived four years with my daughter Electa, who married Benjamin Squires, of Wyoming County. My daughter Emily married Mr. Agard, who was then a clerk in Rochester, but removed soon after marriage to Rockford. Ill., where they now live. I was converted 90 years ago, and four years later joined the Methodist Church. After marrying my second wife I became a Freewill Baptist, in which church I have since remained. { have always been a Repub- lican."
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