Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 72

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 72

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).

Benjamin Lawrence, born in Jaffrey, N. H., in December, 1800, mar- rien Roaney Gowan, of his native town, and came to the Holland Pur- chase in 1826, settling on the farm where his son, Edwin L. Lawrence, now lives, and where he died in 1868. He was a captain of militia, and had the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. Mrs. Lawrence died in 1880. Edwin L. Lawrence, born in 1831, received a common school education. In 1860 he married, first, Abigail Hoyt, and they had three

children. She died in 1868, and in 1870 he married Eliza Reed, who is the mother of eight children. Mr. Lawrence was reared on a farm. His oldest daughter married Frank A. Day and resides in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a Democrat in a Republican town, and has been honored with the office of highway commissioner for three years.

Samuel Pratt, born May 3, 1758, married Abigail Caswell, April 13, 1780, who was born April 28, 1760. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army. In 1830 he came to Darien with his youngest son, Harvey, and resided with him until his death, November 23,' 1831. His wife survived until October 12, 1844, and died at the home of her daughter Peddy (Mrs. Carruth), of Wyoming County. Harvey Pratt was born December 11, 1796, and in the early part of 1816, with a knap- sack on his back, he walked from Oneida County to Bennington, then a part of Genesee County, and located a farm in the woods. He married Orpha Hills, and settled there, where they remained until 1823, when he returned to Oneida County to administer to the wants of his aged par- ents. In 1830 the entire family settled in Darien, where Harvey Pratt resided until 1855, when he removed to Michigan, and died in February, 1856. Charles P. Pratt, son of Harvey, was born in Bennington, Janu- ary 16, 1818, and married Ellen M. Humphrey, of Darien, in 1846: He was a manufacturer of and dealer in lumber in Darien from 1839 to 1849, when he engaged in the manufacture of shingles in Alden for six years, and later was a merchant in Alden village for three years. In 1859 he moved to Marilla, and was again a lumberman, until 1864, when he purchased a grist and flouring-mill at Indian Falls, where he removed his family in 1865, and where he now resides (1889). He successfully con- ducted the mills until May, 1872, since which time he has been a farmer

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TOWN OF PEMBROKE.

and general merchant. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have had two sons, Charles T. and William F., who are enterprising farmers.

Daniel Peck, son of Daniel who was a Revolutionary soldier, and a descendant of the Peck family who emigrated from England to America, came from Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1830, and settled near East Pembroke. He was always a farmer, and was twice married, first to Hannah, daughter of David Woodward, and second to Bathsheba, daughter of Reuben Gould. By his second wife he had 12 children, of whom four are living. Mr. Peck died July 28, 1886. His eldest son, William, born at Sand Lake, August 19, 1811, came to this town with his parents in 1830. He married Celinda Ryckman, March 5, 1837, and settled on a farm on the Buffalo road, where his widow now resides. He had a son and a daughter, and died September 23, 1885. He was a man of good judgment and accumulated a fair competency. His son, Joel Peck, married Lizzie Crawford, and settled on the Barden farm. He has dealt some in farm produce, and has always been a farmer. His wife died September 13, 1886, leaving an only daughter, Lydia, who married William Cleveland, a farmer near her old home, by whom she has nine children.

E. Chapin Richardson, M. D., son of Rev. C. C. and Eliza (Rabel) Richardson, was born in Sherman, N. Y., May i, 1862, and commenced the study of his profession under the preceptorship of Dr. I. V. Mullen, in Alexander. He graduated at the University of Buffalo, February 26, 1884, and commenced practice in Warsaw, but settled permanently in the practice of his profession at East Pembroke in the spring of 1886. Dr. Richardson has a high reputation as a physician. September 29, 1887, he married Augusta E. Cummings, of Pembroke, and they have one child, a daughter.

Lewis C Read, born in Batavia, September 24, 1831, married Helen A. Gould in 1858. In 1866 he located on the farm where he now re- sides, about half a mile south of the village of East Pembroke. Besides cultivating his farm he is an extensive dealer in grain and other produce, agricultural implements, phosphates, and live stock. He has an extensive acquaintance in his large business, and is known as a shrewd buyer and fair dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Read have a daughter, E. Corinne, who mar- ried G. H. Dennison, an enterprising merchant of East Pembroke, and a son, Nathaniel M., who is a farmer with his father. Mr. Read has held the offices of assessor, justice 20 years, supervisor, and county superin- tendent of the poor. He came to this State and taught school two years at Onondaga Hollow.

Herbert M. Smith is a son of Rev. Alonzo Smith, who has been an active itinerant minister in the Methodist Protestant Church for the past 21 years. Herbert M. was born in Amboy, Oswego County, N. Y., November 24. 1868, and came to Corfu with his father in September, 1885. June 15, 1887, they formed a copartnership in the jewelry busi- ness, which he is successfully conducting.

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GENESEE COUNTY.

Col. Jesse Safford, a pioneer of Pembroke, was born in Hartwick, Mass., in 1755, and married Abigail Damon, who was born in 1763. They settled where their grandson Fred M. now lives, in the cold sea- son of 1816. He was a Revolutionary soldier and a colonel in the army. Mr. Safford died in 1834, aged 80 years. He had seven children. John D., a son, was a lawyer in Allegany County, was a justice for 30 years, a supervisor for several terms, and died in 1875.

George B. Seamans, son of Benjamin and Abigail (Brown) Seamans, was born in Connecticut in 1812, and married * Matilda Howard in 1836. In 1840, with his father, he came to Pembroke. Charles Seamans, son of Benjamin, of Connecticut, was born June 30, 1815, came to Pembroke in 1840, and settled adjoining his brother George. He learned the trade of shoemaker, and served as poormaster of the town. He married Han- nah Howard, of Connecticut, a sister of Mrs. George B. Seamans, and they had six children, four of whom lived to mature age. He died in 1888, and his wife a few years earlier.

Ezra A. Seamans, son of Charles and Hannah (Howard) Seamans, was born in East Pembroke, July 12, 1849, and was reared on his father's farm, where he continued until about 25 years of age, when he learned the trade of tinsmith. He soon engaged in the general hardware busi- ness, and now has a lucrative trade. December 29, 1875, he married Esther, daughter of Edward Smith, and they have three children. Mr. Seamans is a Republican, has served as postmaster six years, and has just received a commission for another term.

Joel Sutherland, son of Joshua and Sarah (Wolcott) Sutherland, was born in Batavia, September 5, 1811. His father came from Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1800, and followed an Indian trail through the Hol- land Purchase to Canada. The next year (1801) Mr. Ellicott, the agent of the Holland Land Co., located an office in Batavia, and Mr. Suther . land and his brother Isaac returned to Genesee County, and were resi- dents of Batavia the remainder of their lives. Joel Sutherland was reared on his father's farm, and received such an education as the primitive schools of that early day afforded. In 1841 he married Phebe M. Per- kins, in Bushville. He was a carpenter and millwright until 1848, when he purchased a farm and engaged in farming until 1865, when he re- moved to East Pembroke, where he still resides (1889). Mr. Suther- land has seen about two generations come and go. He gives a vivid description of the event of filling the Erie Canal with water for the first time. The men in charge of the feeders, from Buffalo to Albany, were signalled to open the gates, beginning at Buffalo, by the booming of can- non along the entire waterway. He and all others in early days were clad in homespun, and he well remembers when the luxury of " cotton factory " (cloth) was introduced at 50 cents per yard. Mr Sutherland is an honorable representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of Genesee County. He is the father of two sons: Homer J., born in 1843, who died in 1873, and Herbert, born in 1850, who died at the age of II years.

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TOWN OF PEMBROKE.

George W. Thayer, born in Alabama, this county, September 23, 1839, was reared upon a farm and educated in the log school-house, sup- plemented by an attendance at Cary Academy in Oakfield. In 1860 he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. May 26, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 28th N. Y. Vols., and was mustered out in 1863. He reënlisted January 2, 1864, in Co. M, 2d N. Y. Mounted Rifles, and remained with his regiment until August 10, 1865, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. He participated in 17 general engagements and 20 cav- alry skirmishes, and was once captured by the enemy., He remained a prisoner about one hour, was taken by guards to a cafnping- place, and while his captors were forming the camp he mounted his own horse and escaped to the Union lines. Two sabre wounds were all that he re- ceived just before he was captured. He participated in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antie- tam, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Petersburg, June 17, 1864, and July 30th, Pegram Farm, Stony Creek, Dinwiddie Court

House, High Bridge, and Appomattox. He returned home, disabled by being thrown from his saddle, for which he receives a small pension. In 1865 he settled at Indian Falls, and in 1866 he built a plaster and shin- gle-mill on Tonawanda Creek. In the fall of 1867 his right arm was cut off by the saw in his shingle-mill. He is now engaged in the business of fire insurance, auctioneer, and dealing in agricultural implements. In 1858 he married Mira E. Van Buren, of Alabama, a native of St. Law- rence County, N. Y.

Samuel Van Alstine, son of Peter Van Alstine, was born in Oakfield, July 4, 1844, and received a good education. August 22, 1862, he was mustered into the U. S. service in Co. H, 8th N. Y. H. A., and served three years. He was in the battles of Cold Harbor, Wilderness, and sev- eral others. He suffered from an attack of small-pox, and received a gun-shot wound in his left arm, which is badly crippled. Mr. Van Al- stine returned to his home with an honorable discharge. He is now the postmaster of North Pembroke, and is the proprietor of a country store. In 1865 he married Anna M. Martin, and they have two sons.

Daniel Ward, son of Levi and Nancy (Whitney) Ward, was born in Keene, N. H., February 1, 1818, and came to Pavilion with his parents in 1819. At that time good wheat sold for two shillings and sixpence per bushel in Rochester (the nearest market), and a pair of coarse boots cost from $6 to $7. He was educated in the old log school-house with the old Dutch fire-place and stick chimney. Sometimes the scholars carried raw meat (sausage) for their dinner, and roasted it, Indian-style, over the roaring fire, on a long, sharpened stick. Mr. Ward remained on the home- stead with his parents until 26 years of age. In 1844 he removed to Pembroke and settled on the Indian Reservation, but was warned off by the Indian chiefs. A few weeks later he met the " chief" at a feast and dance, and told him that he should return to his claim. Mr. Ward's face- tious remarks so amused the chief that when he did return he was never

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seriously molested by his redskin neighbors. He was an ambitious, hard working young man, and soon made for himself a good home, where he remained until the fall of 1883, when he removed to his present home in the village of Indian Falls. Mr. Ward married, first, in 1840, Cath- erine Phelps, who bore him a son and a daughter, and died in 1847. In 1848 he married, second, Harriet Wilcox, who was the mother of six chil- dren. Mrs. Ward died in 1871, and in 1872 he married for his third wife Mrs. Caroline N. (Bibbins) Phelps. Mr. Ward is a man of sterling integrity. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being one of the first in its. organization.

Oliver Wakeman was born in Vermont, January 30, 1797, and came to Batavia with his parents when young. He married Lucinda Reed, of Batavia. In 1860 he moved to East Pembroke, where he died March 7, 1876. Mrs. Wakeman survives her husband, and is in her 86th year. They were parents of 12 children. She resides with her youngest son, Orsemus Wakeman, in the village. He married Demaris Burdick, Aug- ust 12, 1871, and they have two sons. Mr. Wakeman is a painter and farmer.

Rev. Hugh Wallis, of Massachusetts, came to Pembroke about 1816, and settled on 200 acres which he purchased of John Long. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Corfu, and late in life moved to Rochester. He died in Gates, over 80 years of age. He was a graduate of Yale, and was a sound and acceptable preacher. His oldest son, Hugh, lived on . the old homestead until his death in 1881.

Seth Wakeman, at one time a prominent lawyer of Batavia, resided in Pembroke. He attended the district school. The family were very poor, the father dying in 1813. Seth removed to Batavia in 1837, and began the study of law. He was county treasurer at one time, and also a mem- ber of Assembly.

STAFFORD.

S .TAFFORD has the best claim, we think, of being the locality of the earliest settlement on the Holland Purchase. James Brisbane, the first merchant on the Purchase, came here in 1798, with a load of goods, or supplies, for the surveyors employed by Mr. Ellicott, and opened a store-house or station at this place, from which event it was called Tran- sit store-house. The location of the store-house cannot now be clearly de- fined, but it is believed to be on the west side of the creek, and north of the present bridge, in the village of Stafford. In the spring of 1799 James Dewey, one of the surveyors, was waiting there with a gang of hands to

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TOWN OF STAFFORD.

start upon an expedition as soon as the weather would permit. At the request of Mr. Brisbane he cleared 10 acres of land west of the Transit, which was mainly sowed with oats. This is supposed to be a portion of the land now owned by I. M. Peck, whose father, Richard, bought the property from Joseph Ellicott.

Upon an old map made by Joseph Ellicott in 1800, for the Holland Land Company, we find the name "Walther," as indicating a settlement at this place. Walther was induced to settle here by reason of a propo- sition made to him by Mr. Ellicott for the Holland Land Company, who appreciated the importance of places of entertainment for the early land seekers and settlers. Mr. Busti, the agent, gave authority "to contract with six reputable individuals to locate themselves on the road from the Transit line to Buffalo Creek, about 10 miles apart, and open houses of entertainment for travelers; in consideration for which they are to have from 50 to 150 acres of land each, at a liberal time for payment, without interest, at the lowest price per acre." Three persons accepted the offer, one being Frederick Walther, who was then residing on the land, who took 150 acres west of and adjoining the eastern Transit, including the company's store-house. Because of his officiousness he proved to be an undesirable settler for those days, and soon left the county. Thus was begun the actual settlement of the town and village of Stafford, but the name "Transit" was retained and a postoffice of that name kept until 1841. It is said that Ira Gilbert was the first postmaster. Orin De Wolf was his deputy. Gilbert also at one time kept the old Churchill tavern, long known as the temperance tavern, on the road to Batavia.

The town was formed March 24, 1820, being taken from parts of Le. Roy and Batavia. It contains 20,000 acres of land, is undulating in char- acter, and has a very productive soil, upon which good crops of wheat, beans, potatoes, and general farm produce are always grown. Portions of the town are underlaid with limestone, much of which is used for build- ing purposes. The town is well watered by Black Creek, flowing north through the central portion, and Bigelow Creek, which flows through the west portion into Byron. Horseshoe Lake is situated on the latter creek, and has become a pleasant summer resort.

In 1802 Col. William Rumsey, from Hubbardton, Vt., came and settled on " Stafford Hill," the highest point of land in the town. He was a sur- veyor in the employ of Joseph Ellicott, and a colonel of militia, and rep- resented the county in the legislature. Joseph E. Rumsey also came with his father the same year, and eventually moved to Chicago. Na- than Marvin bought a large tract of land at Transit (Stafford) in 1803, comprising farms now owned by Mrs. Bagot, the former proprietor be- ing Richard Radley, who bought the property in 1831. Marvin moved to and died in Ohio. John Debow settled on the Webber farm in 1804. General Worthy Lovell Churchill located near Rumsey. His wife died in . 1803, and soon after occurred the birth of a child, being respectively the first death and birth in the town. Gen. Churchill' was in the War of

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GENESEE COUNTY.

1812, was in command of the 164th Regt. of State militia, and was sheriff of the county from 1820 to 1825. In 1836 he owned the place (now the Mead estate) near Horseshoe Pond, and died there. Zenas Bigelow, in 1804, located the farm now owned by the Dowd estate, near the creek that bears his name. Other settlers came in the years following, among whom were D. Hall in 1808, and in 1809 Eben Eggleston, who kept tav- ern on the Big Tree or Leicester road. The same year Leonard King, who settled in the east part of the town, came in, as did also Josiah Churchill and H. Rumsey, the latter of whom located on lot 5, where Ar- thur Prole now lives. In 1810 we note the advent of Malachai Tyler, Phineas White (who married Polly Beswick), and John Bean. Mr. Tyler settled east of Beech Creek. He had a wood turning shop, and made chairs, bowls, and spinning-wheels, and was a blacksmith. In 181I Amos Stow built a saw-mill on Bigelow Creek, and Seymour Ensign a grist mill. He also carried on wool-carding and cloth-dressing, being assisted in the latter work by a Scotchman, named Falconer, who after- wards was taken prisoner in the War of 1812. The same year (1811) came Nathan Bannister and Betsey Bigelow, the latter locating on lot II, near school-house No. 2. In 1812 came Elisha Prentice and Capt. Nathan Cash, and in 1813 Merritt King. Peter Stage, in 1814, located on lot 7, where John Webber now lives. In 1815 Eden Foster and Noble Dan- iels came in. The latter located where Perry Randall now resides. In 1816 came Adget Lathrop and David McCracken. Abel Cross came in 1817. In 1818 came Chester Scott, who also located land in Elba, and as late as 1833 kept a distillery. B. Clark, Joel Philleo, J. J. Reynolds, and John S. Blair came in 1819. On the old Genesee road, neighbors to the Rumseys and Churchills, were B. Bristol and Mr. Van Alst, who came in 1821.

Upon the Craigie tract, in the southeast portion, of the town, the per- sons who first took up land were J. Bushnell, in 1815, and D. Biddle- .cum. Following them were C. Sweetland in 1817, D. Laid in 1821, E. Wright in 1823, S Plant in 1824, E. W. Cobb in 1827, E. Northrop in 1820, Mr. Sweetland and Mr. Lent in 1825, and Mr. Bannister and Mr. Coon in 1826. Others from 1827 to 1835 were Tanner, Snow, Tomlin- son, Beckley, Pratt, and Lewis. On the old Genesee road east of the vil- lage the early settlers were as follows: In 1823, J. Reynolds; 1824, Z. Terry, Otis Drury, A. Hubbard, and A. Bangs; 1825, J. Stage ; 1826, C. Kelsey ; 1827, J. Ellis; 1829, Ira Danolds; and 1830, O. H. Kendall, T. Judd, R. Blish, J. Iden, Mr. Stutterd, Moses Smith, and Hinsdale and Smith Kellogg.

Settlements upon the Pultney lands of the Connecticut tract were de- layed, and the earliest we can get any trace of are Nathaniel Watson and Daniel Prentice in 1812, and the family of Stephen Randall, who came in 1815. Mr. Randall had nine children to help him maintain a home in the wilderness. They started from New Hampshire in the winter, were on the road three weeks, and reached Le Roy February 2d. He bought

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TOWN OF STAFFORD.

the farm now occupied by Perry Randall, upon which he moved within 24 hours after their arrival. There were 15 acres, of which only three acres had been cleared, but happily a log house had already been built. There was no road to the place, so they left their teams and luggage one and a half miles away. Clark Daniels also came in 1815, as did also John, the father of Jay Lathrop. The Mosses located here in 1826, and others scat- tered along in the years following, until about 1831, when the settlements- were rapidly made by Englishmen who were attracted to the lands in this. section.

Three separate tracts, or large original divisions of land, are represented in the town. The first in order of settlement is the Holland Purchase, forming the western part; the Craigie tract, of 46 lots, varying from 87 to 115 acres each, in the southeast portion ; and the Pultney lands of the Connecticut tract, in all 80 lots, from 100 to 120 acres each, located in the- northern and eastern portions of the town.

The town is well laid out, the drainage good, and the death rate for 1888 only seven per 1,000. Two physicians are located in the town, but are not kept very busy, owing to its healthful location. Since 1803, and. to within a few years, the village has been quite prosperous. It is mainly settled by English people, and partakes of the character of an English. village. Most of the village residents are farmers, and with their near- ness to each other form a happy society of their own entirely unlike that of any other village in the county. The first English settler was John Webber, who came in 1817. He was followed by a Mr. Stutterd in 1830, and soon a large and influential colony of Devonshire people were congregated in the town, thousands of miles from their native land, to make new homes for themselves and families. A fair business is trans- acted in the village. The buying and shipping of grain and produce of all kinds is extensively carried on, assisted by excellent railroad facilities, there being two depots for that purpose. During the busy season it is not uncommon to ship 1,000 car loads of the products of the soil from this village.

The first school was kept and taught by Esther Sprout in 1806. At one time Richard Radley kept a private school in the building east of the Episcopal Church, which was very prosperous, and of great utility to the English settlers in carrying out their ideas of instruction to the young. The district schools are generally well built, and the educational facili- ties for teaching the young are of a good and practical order. There are IO district schools, with a school population of 612, employing 14 teachers. The site of school No. 8, on lot 124, in the north part of the town, was deeded in 1822 to " Walter Campbell and others, in trust," for school purposes. Upon the same lot, in 1824, a small portion was set apart for a burying-ground. The old cobblestone school-house, in the northwestern part of the town, was built over 50 years ago.

Early merchants .- As has already been stated the first settlement of the county was made in Stafford, and with it was the advent of trade. Mr.

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GENESEE COUNTY.

Brisbane seems to be the first merchant, coming in 1799 from Williams- burgh, on the Genesee River. His clerk was John Thompson. He dealt in all kinds of goods necessary for the new settlement. Mr. Brisbane re- moved to Batavia in 1802, it being decided to establish the county seat there. Settlement in the village progressed on the opening up of the adjoining lands, making it a center for trade, and an inducement for me- chanics, merchants, and tavern-keepers to pursue their callings. In 1820 Samuel A Bigelow opened a store, and remained until 1826. Ira Dan- olds came in 1827 and engaged in trade, and in connection with his brother operated a distillery. They built the stone structure (still stand- ing) in 1827, which they used as a store, and later added a third story to be used as a lodge room. It was so used by Olive Branch Lodge, and it was here that David C. Miller, editor of a Batavia paper, was taken, when arrested, and rescued by his friends. Robert Stage followed in 1829, and others in succession until 1843. That year came the March family, consisting of three brothers-William, Samuel, and Isaac. C. W. March, another brother, came in 1869. In 1864 Stephen Crocker and his brother George and Dr. L. M. Haynes came in, and they were all engaged in trade. John Burden and J. & E. B. Sanders were also early merchants.

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Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 72

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co. Number of Pages: 920

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920