USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 46
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
and then returned to Darien. January 14, 1873, he married Ella Burns, of Pembroke, and she is the mother of his son George M., and daughters Winnie and Jennie, who live at home. Mr. Morgan has been highway commission and collector of taxes.
Col. Abraham Matteson, son of Abraham and Lydia (Hopkins) Mat- teson, was born in Bennington Vt., in 1781. He married Betsey Wood- ard, of the same town, and came to Onondaga County, thence to Darien with an ox-team with a horse ahead, in 1808, and settled in the woods north of Darien, where he built a log cabin. Having little means he took the land on contract. He was a private in the War of 1812, and was mustered out as colonel. He was prominent in civil affairs, was a member of Assembly, a magistrate for 16 years, and held other offices. He died in 1831. Mrs. Matteson died in 1870. They had nine children. The father, Abraham, Sr., came to Darien soon after his son, and resided near hint. He died in 1819. His wife died in 1829. Norman, fourth son of Abraham, was born in Darien, May 21, 1810, and has always lived in the county. He had a common school education, married Sarah Ann Smith, and has always been a farmer. In addition he has been for about 15 years an extensive dealer in cattle and hogs, shipping from his: vicinity and Chicago to Albany, New York, and Boston. He has been: supervisor two terms. Their only son was accidentally killed by a pis- tol-shot at the age of 26 years.
David Nay was for many years a resident of Darien. He was a poor boy, and worked hard as a farmer. He taught school winters, and married into the North family, of Alexander. He was the first superintendent of common schools. His son Bruce was with Gen. Butler at New Orleans, and received the thanks of President Lincoln for his bravery in some hazardous undertakings.
Joseph Peters, one of the first settlers, in 1808, purchased land on the. Buffalo road, west of the village, and was a hard working man. He was, twice elected to the Assembly, and was influential in the interests of the Agricultural Society. His son, T. C. Peters, was educated for the law, but followed farming, and has been a prominent and influential man in. the western part of the State.
The Riddle family of Genesee County are of Irish and Scotch descent. Thomas Riddle, of Ireland, came to New England when a child, married Rebecca Moulton, of Massachusetts, and died in 1807. John Riddle, his oldest son, born in Massachusetts in 1761, married Olive Blodgett, and came to Alexander in 1807. He was a justice of the peace and super- visor many years. He died in 1849, aged 88 years. Thomas Riddle, third son of John, was born in Vermont in 1804, married Elois A. John- son in 1834, and settled in Darien. In early life he followed mercantile pursuits ; was postmaster, town clerk, and justice of the peace for 28 years He was a man highly respected in his community, and died at his home in Darien, September 3, 1889.
Henry Saulsbury's father emigrated from Holland and settled in Scho-
27
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dack, Rensselaer County, N. Y., where Henry was born in 1790, as near as can be ascertained. He married in Connecticut, and removed to Darien (then included in Batavia) in 1810, where he remained to the close of his life. Mrs. Saulsbury survived him. Mr. Saulsbury, besides carrying on his farm of 114 acres, was engaged in buying cattle and sheep for the Buffalo market. He was a Whig until the organization of . the Republican party, which he at once joined. He held the offices of highway commissioner, overseer of the poor, and town clerk. In relig- ion he was a Methodist, and many years was a consistent member of that church. Mr. and Mrs. Saulsbury reared eight children, all of whom resided in their native town, and four are living, viz .: Samantha (Mrs. Tuttle), David, Sylvia, and Sarah (Mrs. Samuel Lathrop), of Bata- via. David Saulsbury was born in Darien, December 12, 1815, and spent his youth on his father's farm and in attendance at the district school. After his ninth year he only had the winter season for schooling. February II, 1846, he married Mariah H. Adams, of Darien, and set- tled on lot 9, in the southeast part of the town, which he sold in the spring of 1889. In 1869 he removed to his present location in the vil-
lage of Darien. He has always been a farmer, although he has some- times been engaged in selling specialties, and was one season, like his father, a drover. Mr. Saulsbury left the Democrats in Buchanan's ad- ministration and joined the Republican party. Mrs. Saulsbury died in April, 1856, and in October following Mr. Saulsbury married Phebe A. Hickox, who died in October, 1863. His first wife was the mother of two sons : Nelson L., born January 11, 1847, who married Alice Shaw, and is a grower of small fruit in Batavia ; and Charles F., born August 4, 1850, who married Sarah Grant, and resides with his father. He has three daughters.
Arunah Sawens, born in Massachusetts in 1784, married Sarah Mahen in Washington County, N. Y., and a few years later removed to the Hol- land Purchase and worked at shoemaking in Le Roy. He located in Darien, where his son Hiram now lives, and cleared quite a portion of the farm before removing his family to it in 1818. He died January 20, 1835. He was an enterprising man, and accumulated property rapidly. Mrs. Sawens died July 20, 1843. The postoffice there is named " Saw- ens" in honor of this family. They had 10 children, five of whom are now living. Hiram Sawens was born in the house where he now lives, June 28, 1825. He was educated in the common school of his district; and December 31, 1847, married Euphemia Sutherland. They have an only daughter, Florence H. Sawens, who resides with her parents. Mr. Saw- ens has always been a farmer. He is a man of sterling integrity, indus- trious, honest, upright. In politics he is a Republican, and has the con- fidence of the voters of his town and county who have elected him to the offices of county superintendent of the poor six years, town assessor six years, and collector one year. He is now over 60 years of age, and has so carefully conducted all his business relations that he has never
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
been sued nor sued any man. His son William, born on the homestead April 17, 1827, received a common school education, and December 15, 1847, married Atassa Foster. He inherited and purchased the west I IO acres of the original farm, and built a new set of buildings. Here he has always resided as a farmer. They have four children living : Flora A. (Mrs. Asher Graves), of Kansas ; Mary I., wife of Charles Johns, of Ne- braska; Hattie E. (Mrs. Henry J. Cleveland), of Illinois; and Dora, the youngest, who lives at home.
Eben P. Strong was born in Warren, Conn., January 28, 1794. He served in the War of 1812 and went from his native town with a detach- ment of soldiers to Sackets Harbor. After his discharge in 1813 he came to Darien, then a part of Pembroke, and located a farm of 160 acres, and obtained for it a contract, or " article," from the Holland Purchase land office. January 16, 1822, he married Margaret Johns, who was born in Lancashire, Eng., January 11, 1799. He immediately removed his bride to his humble home. He was highly respected as a man of sterling in- tegrity, honest, and industrious. He died on the place where he first set- tled, March 23, 1843. Mrs. Strong survived him until October 7, 1888.
John Simonds, born in Williamstown, Mass., in 1779, was well edu- cated, and taught school several seasons. He then read law one year, but abandoned that profession for surveying, which was more to his taste, as he had a natural gift and desire for the study of mathematics. He began surveying in Jefferson County, N. Y., and was at one time six weeks in the woods without seeing a house. In 1807 he married Sabra Cole, and in 1814 moved to the Genesee country with his wife and three children. He purchased a small farm in Leicester, Livingston County, which he cultivated until 1824, when he moved to Genesee County and located on a farm in North Alexander. This was the commencement of his pros- perity, which was largely due to the industry and economy of his family. He was quite negligent in looking after the odds and ends of his business affairs, being too credulous for his own interest. He was a man of ster- ling integrity, a firm believer in the teachings of the scriptures, but not a member of any sect. His children obtained as good an education as his means would allow. He resided in Alexander until his death, September 4, 1862. His wife survived him 10 years, and died at the home of her oldest daughter, Mrs. Warner, in Dane County, Wis., with whom she re- sided. She was the mother of II children.
Benjamin C. Simonds, son of John and Sabra (Cole) Simonds, was born in Geneseo, Livingston County, N. Y., April 7, 1817. He came to Alexander in 1824 with his parents, spent his boyhood on his father's farm, and attended the common schools and academy in Alexander. At the age of 18 he began teaching district school and followed it six winters. In 1839 and '40, he traveled three times over the State of Ohio, and made in all a journey of more than 10,000 miles with a pair of horses and carriage. He returned home and in 1843 married Almira H. Wait, of North Darien, and soon after purchased 100 acres of his
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father's farm. In 1854 Mrs. Simonds's father, Russel Wait, was killed by the cars, and Mr. Simonds purchased his farm in North Darien, where he removed and now resides. Mr. Simonds has been a great reader. Early in life he was a thorough temperance worker. In the anti-slavery movement he was a pioneer worker, when it cost a man his popularity and sometimes the respect of his best friends. He remained with the Liberty party until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a Republican, and so remained till the Prohibition party was or- ganized, when he at once gave it his hearty support. In 1841 he united with the Baptist Church, with which he remained until 1849. After several years' careful investigation of the scriptures he and Mrs. Simonds. became convinced that immortality is conditional and obtained only through Christ at the resurrection. Mr. Simonds has been instrumental. in organizing a church which is in accord with his views. With his in- fluence and his means he has for 40 years labored to sustain it. He is a natural leader of men, of great intelligence, decidedly radical, and has many sharp points and keen edges, but is not aggressive. He is always able to give a good reason for the faith within him, and is also a noted. peacemaker.
John Sutherland came from Onondaga County to the Holland Pur- chase in 1812, and settled in Darien on the farm where J. Beck now lives, and where he lived until his death, and was buried there. He was a practical surveyor as well as a farmer, and took a prominent part in the affairs of his town. He reared four sons : John, James, Amaziah, and David. John resided with his father, unmarried. James married and settled in the village of Darien, was for a long time a magistrate, con- ducted a harness shop, and reared seven children. About 1843 he re- moved with his family to Green County, Wis. Amaziah was always a. farmer, not a politician, but he possessed the confidence of his towns- men, and served as overseer of the poor 10 or 12 years. He married Lucy Horr about 1823, and settled on the homestead, where he resided until 1833, when he removed to a farm across the road, and later sold the homestead. He died March 7, 1882, and Mrs. Sutherland Septem- ber 27, 1877, both at the home of their son James H. They had three sons and three daughters, viz .: William, James H., Mary, Adaline, George, and Helen. David went to Florida, and while returning died at Lan- caster, Pa. William, son of Amaziah, married Cytheria Dimock, settled in Darien, and died in June, 1863.
James H. Sutherland was born on the homestead December 16, 1827, was educated in the common schools, and at the age of 19 began teach- ing, which he continued four winter seasons. He was engaged in general mercantile business at Darien village from 1852 to 1867, when he be- came station agent at Griswold depot, and was also engaged in the coal, grain, and lumber trade. In the spring of 1887 he resigned his position as station agent, and is now continuing his other business with the aid of his son-in-law, Giles Ranger. They are also building a factory for cutting bar-
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
rel headings. In politics Mr. Sutherland has been a life-long Democrat, and though his town is Republican by a small majority he has held the offices of supervisor four years and justice of the peace 12 years, which latter position he now fills. He has been postmaster eight years and notary public four years. In all these positions he has given his atten- tion to the interests of all concerned. July 4, 1853, he married Emma Carter, by whom he has had two children, viz .: Charles L., who died March 15, 1879, in his 24th year, and May L. (Mrs. G. Ranger).
John and Ephraim Sumner came from Vermont with a team of horses in 1810, settling where Winslow now lives. They had to cut their way through the woods from Batavia on the old Buffalo road. In a few years Ephraim sold his farm to his brother and moved to Olean John Wins- low cleared his farm, planted orchards, erected the building where his son now lives, aided in school enterprises, and was prominent in town affairs. He married Clarissa Winslow, of Halifax, Vt., and died in 1836, aged 50 years. His wife died 15 years later.
Jerome Sumner, son of John, was born January 9, 1811, had a meagre schooling, and with his brother Winslow settled on the homestead. April 20, 1843, he married Clarissa, daughter of James and Esther Bentley, of Steuben County. In 1846 he exchanged his interest in the homestead with his brother Tyler, and settled where his nephew, John W. Sumner, now lives. He built a saw-mill, and was a lumberman and farmer until 1864, when he moved to Corfu, where he died June 7, 1887, and where Mrs. Sumner still resides. He was highly respected and held several town. offices. Winslow Sumner was born October 30, 1812, received a common school education, and worked in his father's mill and on the farm. He married Phila Freeman, of Darien, in 1839, and settled on the farm where he was born and always resided. He is a progressive farmer, honest and upright, and at the age of 77 is mentally and physically well preserved, and with the aid of his son, Dallas A. Sumner, still conducts his fine farm of 150 acres. Their children are John W., a farmer adjoining his father, who married Clara Kimball, and his three sons ; Lewis, a farmer, who mar- ried Anne Barney, and has three daughters; Wilder E .. who resides in Corfu and deals in produce, and who married Augusta Kinsey and has one daughter, Phila (Mrs. A. K. Carrier), whose husband is a large farmer near Corfu; and Alice D., who resides with her father.
John Sumner, son of John the pioneer, was born November 3, 1814, on the homestead, had a limited education, and September 15, 1836, mar- ried Emeline Hughes and settled in the neighborhood, where he remained until 1841, when he sold out and bought where he now lives. Mrs. Sumner died December 31, 1876. Their children were Cecilia (Mrs. J. W. Dunbar), of Attica ; Clara P. (Mrs. H. R. Dunbar), of Alexander ; and Emeline O. (Mrs. C. S. Pettibone). Mr. Pettibone is joint owner with Mr. Sumner in the farm whereon they live. Mr. and Mrs. Pettibone have one son. Mr. Sumner has been elected supervisor two terms, assessor 19 years, and has been constable and collector. His son Horace, born on
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the homestead, married Almira Marsh, of Alexander, settled in Darien, and now lives in Batavia.
Tyler Sumner, another son of John the pioneer, was born on the homestead March 19, 1821, and received a common school education. October 20, 1850, he married Mary Reed, who died December 24, 1877. He married, second, in 1879, Mrs. Jane Anthony, who died June 28, 1886. He settled on a portion of the homestead, where his son Charles now lives. He died May 22, 1888. His surviving children by his first wife are Elsie, wife of L. B. Cadugan, the proprietor of a flouring-mill in Osceola, Pa .; Charles, who was born on the place where he now resides, and married Emma Shaw, January 23, 1878, and has a son and a daugh- ter ; and Jerome, a farmer, who married Hattie Anthony, has two daughters, and settled opposite his brother Charles.
Ephraim Sumner, youngest son of John the pioneer, was born on the homestead March 23, 1825, received a common school education, and at the age of 21 received a portion of the homestead. June 2, 1852, he married Flora A. Kendall, who died in July, 1853. In November, 1855, he married Mary M. Lamb, who died two weeks later. November II, 1857, he married, third, Julia A. Way, of Michigan, and their children are Emmett E., born September 9, 1858, who owns a farm in the north- west part of Darien, but resides in Corfu, where he has a meat market, and who married Maggie Bennett; and Ernest T., born March 19, 1870, a student, who resides with his parents. Ephraim Sumner has been a successful farmer, raises good stock, has all the improved implements, and is an influential, kind, and obliging friend and neighbor. His sister Delphia W. was born on the homestead October 20, 1878, and married Calvin Topliff (deceased). She resides with her brother.
Jotham Sumner (son of Daniel, of Massachusetts) came to Darien in 1810, and died in 1847. He settled where Earl Sumner now lives. He was a carpenter and built many barns in the neighborhood. He had six children, among whom was Seth, who died in 1882. He was a promi- nent contractor and builder.
John Seaver was born in Hebron, N. Y., in 1810, and came to Darien in 1816. He was an apprentice in the harness business from 1825 to 1830, when he moved to Byron.
Henry Schrader was born in Germany, June 24, 1820, married Char- lotte Miller, and emigrated to America in 1857, first settling in Erie County, but removed to Darien in 1859. In 1875 he settled on the farm in the southwest part of the town where his son, Fred A. Schrader, now lives. He died June 7, 1888. Mrs. Schrader still survives and lives with her son. They were parents of three sons. Fred A., born in Alden, N. Y., November 11, 1857, received a good common school edu- cation, and became a farmer. He married Tracy Shaffer, May 8, 1889. Mr. Schrader is a Democrat He was elected collector in 1882 and assessor in 1886, filling both offices acceptably to the people.
Jonas Stickney came to Alden, N. Y., in 1812, clearing a place where
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
that village is located. He removed to the Sumner settlement, Darien, soon after, engaged in farming, raised a large family, and died aged about 65 years. His son, A. McCall Stickney, was born in Darien, June 13, 1824, and married Sarah Marvin, who was the mother of three of his children. She died about 1864. In 1866 he married Caroline Lathrop, his present wife, by whom he has three children. Mr. Stickney has been a trader, and is now engaged in farming and carrying the mail from Fargo postoffice to Corfu.
Warren Stiles, son of Warren, was born in Hawley, Mass., in 1804, and received a common school education. He began his business life early selling watches and jewelry through New England. He married Betsey E. Holcomb, of Granby, Conn., and soon after came to Darien, settling on a farm now owned by N. Hartshorn, where he resided until 1860, when he moved to the place now occupied by his son, John F. Stiles. He died August 14, 1875. He was a decided Republican, and did his share to promote the welfare of society. His wife died December 31, 1879. Three of their five children are living, viz .: Mary E., who resides with her niece, Mrs. Orlando Reed, in Pembroke; Cornelia (Mrs. Charles Jones), of Pembroke ; and John F., who resides on the homestead. John F. Stiles received a good education, and enlisted in the army at the age of 18 years, but being in poor health was soon honorably discharged for disability, and was brought home an invalid. He is a staunch Republican, is liberal in his religious views, and contributes liberally to his society. November 29, 1877, he married Mary E. Boyce, of Pembroke, and they have four children. Henry Stiles, son of Warren, was born in Darien, and responded to the first call of 75,000 troops, but finally enlisted August 14, 1862, in Co. K, 127th Ill. Vols., and served until January 27, 1863, when he died of disease contracted in the army. In 1859 he went on foot and drove a team to the gold regions of Pike's Peak.
Ira J. Tisdale, son of William and Clarissa (Goodwill) Tisdale, was born in Willington, Conn., January 21, 1812. His parents (the father of Welsh and mother of Irish descent) came from Connecticut to the Holland Purchase in the cold season of 1816, and settled in the north- west part of Darien, then included in Pembroke. They suffered the hardships and privations incident to pioneer settlements. Mr. Tisdale died in 1819, leaving Mrs. Tisdale with seven children. She was born July 12, 1786, and died December 10, 1873. Ira, after his father's death, and at the age of 16, learned the carpenters' trade, which he followed as He also owned and cultivated
his chief occupation until his 75th year.
a farm. April 26, 1840, he married Rhoda M. Williams, and they had two sons. Mrs. Tisdale was born December II, 1812, and died October 9, 1885. Their son Homer L., born February 19, 1841, married Julia A. Robinson, October 25, 1870. He served in the war in Capt. J. D. Newman's Independent Battery, and died September 20, 1878. His wife died May 22, 1873. Their only child, Bertha R. Tisdale, now re- sides with her aged grandfather. William T. was born August 22, 1843,
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and died April 22, 1848. Mr. Tisdale commenced his political life an " old line Whig" and is now a Republican. He held the offices of magistrate and school superintendent.
Major Amos Tyrrell and his son Amos, Jr , emigrated from Washing- ton County, N. Y., to Newstead, Erie County, in 1816. About 1823 they removed to Darien (then Pembroke), settling on the north line of the town, now the south line of Corfu village. The homestead is still in
the Tyrrell name. Amos Tyrrell was an active partisan. He was a prominent Anti-Mason during the existence of that party, and was afterwards a Whig. He was elected a representative to the legislature of 1834-35. Upon the organization of the Republican party he became one of its staunch and decided supporters. He was an independent thinker, a hard worker, and a natural leader. During the years of the old State militia he was appointed a major, hence his appellation. He married Salome Harroun, and they reared five sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. One son, William Tyrrell, is an attorney of Batavia, and a recognized leader in the affairs of the Republican party of Western New York Maj. Tyrrell died in 1860, and his wife in 1872.
James G. Tiffany, son of James and Ruth (Durkus) Tiffany, was born in Randolph, Vt., October 2, 1794, and came with his parents to the Holland Purchase, June 26, 1809, settling on what is known as the "Tiffany farm," about half a mile east of Darien Center, then a part of the town of Batavia. The year preceding his father came from Ver- mont. Mr. Tiffany was a mechanic as well as a farmer, and built carts, wagons, sleds, and wooden plows for his pioneer neighbors. He met an untimely death in June, 1830, by being thrown from his wagon, while hauling goods from Brockport to Darien. James G. Tiffany married Martha Matteson in 1815, located in Alexander, and engaged in wool- carding about two years, when he removed to a farm of 120 acres, a mile and a half north of Darien City, where he resided until after his father's death, when he sold out and purchased the old homestead, where he resided till his death, April 5, 1874, in his 80th year. He was a man of sterling integrity, trusted and honored by his townsmen, and his good judgment was sought to settle many difficulties. His children were Sarah Ann, Juliette, Delieu, Richelieu, James D., Harriet, Ruth, Laura, Maria, and Mary. Of these only five are living, and Delieu alone in this town He married Elizabeth C. Babcock, of Delevan, Wis., settled on the homestead with his father, and there resided until 1880. He now resides with his son. Mrs. Tiffany died March 7, 1884. Their children were Henry C. and Frances A. (Mrs. James H. Kinsey). The latter died November 25, 1886, in her 30th year. Henry C. Tiffany married Ella Smith in 1879, and is now an enterprising merchant and the post- master of Darien Center.
Abram Thomas, son of Simmons and Lucy (Felton) Thomas, was born in Lafayette, N. Y., April 29, 1821, and moved to Alden in 1832 with his parents, settling on a portion of the Indian Reservation. His parents lived
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