Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > New York > Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I > Part 18

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).

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a tantitul red sand stone Futchin on Mem .- :'' Chapel, erected by Mr. Hutchison and a cted to the society as a memorial. He is eymen of St Paul's Episcopal Church. chairman of the finance committee. IT rap. in the welfare of St. Paul's ampel. ! r Hochir con to have built and inst died :: 'e durch a magnificent pipe organ, said to be what a peer in the United States for & n. o.i the variety of its mechanical attacianen :. The organ is in sections, in di ferent parte a : : « church, electrically connected, and all & 1 :- to find by one keyboard. Its range is remark die, varying from the flutelike notes of air & the grandest, deepest volume. Under the watrol of the skillful organist, Mr. Web-ter. th s organ foris a most delight ful addition :> 'e impressive services of St. Paul's. The organ was presented to the church in the name of Me. Hutchinson and his wife.

A. president of the Buffalo City Counter . Mr. Hutchinson has done a great deal to serve ional facilities for the old soldiers of Befar. toul on the walls of his office is a certificate . . associate membership in Chapin Post. Cion ! A. try of the Republic, acknowledging the . favors and expressing their gratitude. He he" al: avs raken a deep interest in the early f. mn- ily home. Withamsville, having donated the -ite upon which the village ball and ho . forse now strands, and where the fire department to which he has been mos generous, he- named a company in his heart. He has ade. been intimately connected with the fire depart r.ert of Buffalo. in iSor he was appointe : the commissioner by Menor Bishop, and. it igo, by Mayor back! a member of the f .: union station commission, serving two Jeres anl leing reappointed by Mayor Knight. .. Hatebinson engot - the unione hopor of having been the only Democrat ever dlected to offre from the old tenth ward, always known as . c strongest Republican ward in Latinlo. In Is- he was a candidate of his party for all'erman. and was elected, running one thousand vous ahead of bis achet. He refused a rengini tion, and. shortly afterwar i, the city was ie distel and cid ward lines swept away. I. is a tively interested in the success of his part. and bas servi as a member of the executiv. committee of the Democratic general context- tee of Erie county. He is an honorary me ber of the Exempt Fireman's Association : Av. member of the Veteran Volunteer Firer. r's Associa, in; life member of the Butti. ..

EN. Hutchinson.

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ety of Natural Sciences, Buffalo Historical Society, Buffalo Free Library Association and Buffalo Orphan Asylum ; member of the Church Home League, and of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association. He holds life membership in the Masonic bodies of Buffalo; Ancient Landmarks Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Adytum Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Key- stone Council, Royal and Select Masters ; Hugh De Payens Commandery, Knights Templar, and is a member of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

A valuable gift by Mr. Hutchinson and his wife to the city of Buffalo and to the cause of education is the recent donation of a valuable site, on Chippewa street, for the erection of a new Central High School, to be known as the Hutchinson High School. This gift to their alma mater was duly accepted and acknowl- edged in a handsomely engrossed and bound resolution, adopted and signed by the boards of aldermen and councilmen of the city, and pre- sented to the joint givers. Mr. Hutchinson has spent an active, busy life, and has cause for con- gratulation as he takes a retrospective view of his past life. He is held in highest esteem, and has lived a life of usefulness that deserves the highest commendation.

He married, September 25, 1872, Jeanie Blanche, daughter of Corneal and Allison ( Bath- gate) Ganson, of a prominent Buffalo family. She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and auxiliary societies, and equally interested, with her husband, in good works. Children, born in Buffalo: 1. Martha Williams, graduate of the Ogontz School, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania ; married, October, 1896, Geoffrey M. Purcell, and resides in San Gabriel, near Los Angeles, California; children, two died in in- fancy, living : Howard Geoffrey, born October, 1897, and Ganson. 2. Blanche, graduate of Buffalo Female Seminary ; married, October 24, 1900, John Henry Baker ; children : Sarah Hutchinson, born October 15, 1901 ; Jean Wat- son, born April 27, 1903; John Hutchinson, born July 9, 1905, and Edward Folsom, born July 13, 1907.

KNAPP This family was planted in Amer- ica by Nicholas Knapp, born (it is supposed) in Bury St. Mary's, Sussex, England, died in Stamford, Connecti- cut, April 16, 1670. He came to New Eng- land in Winthrop's fleet, 1630, settled at Water- town. Massachusetts, where he is listed as a

proprietor in 1636-37. He was fined March I, 1631, by the court, five pounds for taking upon him to cure the scurvy by a water of no value, which he sold at a dear rate ( Colonial Rec- ords). In 1648 he removed to Stamford, Con- necticut, where he had land in 1649. He died in April, 1670, his will being dated April 15, of that year. His first wife Eleanor died June 16, 1658. He married (second), March 9, 1659, Unica, widow of Peter Brown, who had also been the widow of Clement Buxton. Chil- dren, born in Waterford : Jonathan, December 27, 1631 ; Timothy, December 14, 1632 ; Joshua, January 5, 1635; Caleb, of further mention ; Sarah, January 5, 1639; Ruth, January 6, 1641 ; Hannah, March 6, 1643; Moses and Lydia, probably born in Stamford.

(II) Caleb, son of Nicholas Knapp, born in Watertown, Massachusetts, January 20, 1637, moved to Stamford, with the family, in 1648. His wife was Hannah. His will, bearing date of October 3, 1674, names children : Caleb; John, of further mention; Moses; Samuel; Sarah, and Hannah.

(III) John, son of Caleb and Hannah Knapp, was born in Stamford, Connecticut, July 25, 1664. He married, June 10, 1692, Hannah Ferris. Children : Samuel, born August 27, 1695; John, of further mention; Hannah, March 10, 1698-99; a son, August 15, 1701 ; Charles, March 9, 1703; Deborah, June 28, 1705.

(IV) John (2), son of John (1) and Han- nah (Ferris) Knapp, was born in Stamford, Connecticut, August 14, 1697. He married and had issue.

(V) John (3), son of John (2) Knapp, was born about 1730. He settled in Danbury, Con- necticut, where others of the family preceded him. He is credited in the history of Stam- ford with two hundred and twenty-three days military service during 1776. He married Ruth Gregory. Children : Samuel, born 1760, mar- ried Mary Lindsey; Elizabeth, married Ezra Nichols ; Jehu, of further mention; Ruth, mar- ried Baker Bass; John, born May 13, 1772, married Lucy Merwin; Chloe, married Joseph Mansfield : Levi, born May 1, 1777, married Elizabeth Hamilton.

(VI) Jehu, son of John (3) and Ruth (Gregory) Knapp, was born November 17, 1767. He left Massachusetts, and, in Novem- ber, 1821, settled on lot 49, town 2 (Harmony), Chautauqua county, New York, and is buried at Panama, in the same town. He married

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Lois Wood. Children: 1. Noah, died March 30, 1866. He came to Harmony with his father, settled on lot 41, and afterward had the homestead farm. He married and had : Laura, John, Clarissa, Lucy, Hannah, Mary, Levi, Emmeline, Charlotte and Cornelius (twins), Cornelia. 2. Lucy, married -- Kirkpatrick. 3. Levi, married and had a son Levi (2), who was living in Eugene, Iowa, in 1879. 4. Lu- cinda, married Haines, and lived in Panama ; son, Austin. 5. Nancy, married - - Joslyn ; sons, Frank and Fred, who lived near Conneautville, Pennsylvania. 6. Jehu, died in Auburn, New York; daughter, Ann Eliza. 7. Darius, of further mention. 8. Orrin, married and removed to Sheridan, Montcalm county, Michigan. 9. Cyrus, killed by a falling tree, in Panama, aged eighteen. 10. Harriet, mar- ried Hiram Smith; lived at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where she died.

(VII) Darius, son of Jehu and Lois (Wood) Knapp, was born April 24, 1805, died January 24, 1866. He was educated in the public schools and became a prosperous farmer of Panama, Chautauqua county, New York. He was of prominence in the town of Harmony and held some of the town offices. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Polly Ed- wards, born November 3, 1807, died Decem- ber 5, 1877, daughter of Ebenezer and Sybil (Seeley) Edwards. Children: I. Ebenezer, born April 19, 1831, died August 7, 1831. 2. Elpha, August 8, 1834, died March 24, 1835. 3. Charles, May 16, 1838, died September 10, 1868; married Alice Berry. 4. Mary, May 31, 1840; married Henry C. Steward. 5. James, of further mention.

(VIII) James, son of Darius and Polly (Edwards) Knapp, was born in the town of Harmony, Chautauqua county, New York, September 23, 1841, died at Jamestown, New York, March 20, 1910, and is buried in Lake- view cemetery. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and was educated in the public schools. He lived in the village of Panama, and conducted his farming operations there until 1889, when he removed to Jamestown, where he engaged in the real estate business, continuing the remainder of his life. He in- herited considerable wealth to which he added substantially through his own efforts. He was charitable and kindly-hearted, never distress- ing his tenants when unable to meet their obli- gations. He held a large amount of city and

suburban property, and had many calls upon his charity. He was extremely public-spirited, but so very unassuming that few knew the extent of his influence in his city. He took no active part in political affairs, but always sup- ported the Republican party. He took an espe- cial interest in the preservation of family his- tory and had carefully preserved his own from the earliest days in America. He was an at- tendant of the Baptist church, but held no mem- bership in secret orders or clubs, being essenti- ally a home man. He married, at Panama, January 6, 1869, Ellen Lewis, born there, Oc- tober 24, 1846, daughter of Perrin and Lury (Cook) Lewis (see forward). Children: I. Lewis D., born at Panama, New York, Octo- ber 8. 1872; educated in the public schools of his native village, Jamestown high school and Jamestown Business College ; was five years in the drug business, in Jamestown, now is engaged in the management of the family estate; he is a Republican and a member of the Baptist church. 2. Mabel, born February 28. 1874, died April 16, 1903 ; she was educated in the Jamestown grammar and high schools ; was a member of the Baptist church and a devoted Christian ; she married, September 14. 1893, Royal C. Burnham; son, Kenneth K .. born October 9, 1894. Mrs. Knapp survives her husband, a resident of Jamestown, New York.

(The Lewis Line).

This is one of the oldest names in English history and one of the most numerous and dis- tinguished in American history. It is claimed by many genealogists that the name was origin- ally spelled Louis, and was known in France as early as the eighth century, when that coun- try was a part of the Roman Empire. Gene- alogists also attempt to establish the fact that all of the Lewis name in America descended from one common stock of Huguenot re- fugees, who fled from France, on the revoca- tion of the "Edict of Nantes," in 1685 ; but the records show that in many counties of England there were many of the name to be found cen- turies before that event, and indeed there were many of them in Virginia previous to 1685. The name of Louis in continental Europe and Lewis in England is too old and too numerous to be traced to a common origin. Indeed, the name Lewis is too widely dispersed in Amer- ica and traceable to too many different sources to admit of any "common origin" theory even here.

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It is asserted that General Robert Lewis was the first of the name in America known to history or genealogy. He was a native of Bre- con, Wales, and came here, in 1635, with his wife Elizabeth, sailing from Gravesend, Eng- land, in April, of that year, and settling in Gloucester county, Virginia. These facts are all denied and even his existence is doubted. But the proofs are substantial, and he may be accepted as a fact. The records of Massachu- setts Bay Colony name Humphrey* Lewis in May, 1629. William Lewis and his wife and only son William came to Boston in 1632, in the ship "Lion." The family is exceedingly numerous in New York, there being several associations and a periodical published called The Lewis Letter. In the Mohawk Valley David Lewis kept an inn, near Schenectady, in 1713. Lewis county, New York, is named in honor of Major-General Morgan Lewis, of French ancestry, son of Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a famous general of the revolutionary and 1812 wars with Great Britain, and governor of New York, 1804-07, defeating Aaron Burr.

This branch of the family came to New York from Vermont, where Enos Lewis re- sided in Rutland county. He was born April, 1773, died April 26, 1861, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife Eunice, born 1772, died May 15, 1862. Their son, Perrin Lewis, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, April 2, 1803, died January 29, 1890. He was well educated in Vermont, and learned the cabinetmaker's trade. In 1832 he settled in Chautauqua coun- ty, New York, where he conducted a farm and worked at his trade.

He married (first), October 27, 1825, Emily Francis, born November 30, 1806, died No- vember 25, 1826. He married (second) Feb- ruary 7, 1827, Lury Cook, born December 8. 1803, died January 30, 1892, daughter of Fran- cis and Susannah Cook, of Hamburg, Erie county, New York. Francis Cook died 1810, leaving a widow and seven children at the home in Hamburg. During the war of 1812 their home was visited by the Indians. Lury Cook was sent, by her mother, to summon help, and it was not until after the burning of Buffalo, in 1813, that the family were reunited. Children of Perrin and Lury (Cook) Lewis: Emily, born February 18, 1828, died Septem- ber 26, 1839; Cherlina, March 23, 1830, married (first) Dr. John R. Bush, (second) William Walrodt : Martha, December 20, 1831, died

September 1, 1849, married Moses Bush; Eunice, died age two years; Alta, September 12, 1835, married Rev. Austin D. Bush ; Eunice, December 7, 1837, died October 27, 1840; Will- iam Henry, April 2, 1840, living at Winterset, Iowa; Perrin Francis, May 26, 1844; Ellen, October 24, 1846, married James Knapp; Charles Albert, July 5, 1849, living at Free- land, Michigan.

LEET The immigrant ancestor of the Leets of Chautauqua county, New York, was William Leete, born in Hunt- ingtonshire, England, in 1611, where he was bred to the law, and served for a considerable time as a clerk of the bishop's court, at Cam- bridge. In this capacity he saw much of the oppression and cruelty practiced upon the con- scientious Puritans, and was led to examine thoroughly their doctrines and practice. The result was that he himself became a Puritan, and resigned his office. He came to New Eng- land with Rev. Henry Whitfield's company. signed the plantation covenant, June 1, 1639, and, for forty years, served his brethren in the stations which his ability and education hap- pily fitted him for. He was an assistant, 1643- 57, and from 1651 to 1658 the magistrate of the town, and one of the court of magistrates for the jurisdiction of the New Haven colony for a much longer period. In 1658 he was chosen deputy governor of the colony, which dignity he held until the union with the colony of Connecticut, in 1664. Upon the union he was elected magistrate, and then in Connecti- cut, from 1669 to 1676, deputy governor. On the death of Governor Winthrop, in 1676 he was chosen governor, which office he held until his death at Hartford, Connecticut, April 16. 1683. Dr. Trumbull says of him:

A man of figure a rigid Puritan, and a stern Re- publican. For forty years he was magistrate, deputy governor or governor of one of the colonies. In both colonies he presided in times of the greatest difficulty, yet always conducted himself with integrity and wisdom, so as to meet the public approval.

He was the chief magistrate of the county court of New Haven county after its forma- tion in 1664, and held that office until his re- moval to Hartford on his election to the office of governor. After that time he remained there, managing the affairs of the government of the whole colony until his death in 1683. full of years and honors. His tombstone was discovered about 1830, at Hartford, while re-

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moving some earth that had been allowed to accumulate in the ancient burial yard at that city. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Guilford, with Rev. Henry Whitfield, "a great divine and a man of wealth," and was one of the pillars of his church.

He had three wives, the first, Ann

being the mother of his children. They were married in England, and his son John is said to have been the first white child born in Guilford. This was in 1639, shortly after its settlement. He married (second), 1671, Sarah, widow of Henry Rotherford, (third) Mary, widow of Rev. Nicholas Street, and former widow of General Francis Newman. Children : 1. John, of further mention. 2. An- drew, an early commissioner, justice of the peace, assistant, 1677, and annually reelected until his death, October 31, 1702. He is said to have had the principal agency in recovering the charter of the colony during the time of Governor Andross, who usurped the govern- ment, and that he kept it for a season at his house. He married a daughter of Thomas Jordan, one of the principal settlers, and after the return of his father to England, about 1660, occupied his estate and dwelling house on the northwest corner of the Guilford Green. 3. William, freeman, 1671; representative, 1677; died June 1, 1687, leaving a widow Mary, and a daughter Mary. 4. Abigail, mar- ried Rev. John Trowbridge. 5. Caleb, born Au- gust 24, 1651, died aged twenty-one years. 6. Graciana, born December 22, 1653. 7. Pereg- rine, born January 2, 1658, died young. 8. Joshua, died February 22, 1660. 9. Ann.

(II) John, eldest child of Governor Will- iam and Ann Leete, was born 1639, died No- vember 25, 1692. His was the first English birth in the new town of Guilford, Connecti- cut, of which his father was a founder and where the life of John was passed. He was made a freeman, 1671, and elected representa- tive to the general court in 1685. He married, October 4, 1670, Mary, died March 9, 1712, daughter of William Chittenden. Children : Ann, born August 5, 1671 ; John, June 4, 1673 ; Joshua, July 7, 1676; Sarah, December 16, 1677; Peletiah, of further mention ; Mehitable, December 10, 1683; Mary, December 26, 1686: David, December 23, 1689, died young.

(III) Deacon Peletiah Leete, son of John and Mary (Chittenden) Leete, was born in Guilford, 1680, died there October 13, 1768,

aged eighty-eight years. He was the owner of Leete's Island, which was fortified with a block house in 1778, for which service the town of Guilford voted thirty shillings on De- cember II, of that year. He was deputy to the general court, 1723-26-27-35-36-39-40. He was elected deacon of the Congregational church, December 30, 1754, holding that office until his death. (The office of deacon was held by generation after generation of the family from the time of Governor Leete). Leete's Island was originally granted to Gov- ernor Leete, but remained a horse pasture until Peletiah, a grandson of the governor, settled there in 1706. He was a prominent man, and is said to have owned one hundred head of cattle. He married and had issue, including Peletiah, of further mention.

(IV) Peletiah (2), son of Deacon Peletiah (1) Leete, was born about 1720. He inherited the Leete's Island homestead, and erected the block house in 1778, spoken of in the preceding generation, as a means of defense against the British and refugees. The members of the Leete family were intensely loyal to the cause of independence and suffered much loss of property through depredations of the enemy. Peletiah lost a son, Simeon, in one of the fights the militia of Guilford had with a party that attacked the settlers, in 1781. Peletiah (2) married and had issue.

(V) Simeon, son of Peletiah (2) Leete, was born 1753, at Guilford, killed in the revo- lution at the age of twenty-eight years. On June 18, 1781, a party of one hundred and fifty British and refugees landed from vessels at Leete's Island, Guilford Harbor, and burned a house and two barns belonging to Daniel Leete. In a skirmish which took place, Simeon Leete (then the head of a family) was mortally wounded and died the next day. He was one of the five persons who served from Guilford that were killed in the battle. He married and had issue, including a son Anson.

(VI) Captain Anson Leet, son of Simeon Leete, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, died at Point Chautauqua, on Chautauqua Lake, New York. He came to New York state in 1811, settling first in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county, where he remained two years. He then secured from the Holland Land Company the tract of land including Point Chautauqua, where he resided until his death. His old farm was sold to the Point

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Chautauqua Association, and is now one of the most noted resorts on the lake. He bought, for four dollars and fifty cents per acre, in the spring of 1817, the tract now known as Point Chautauqua, then and for long afterward known as Leet's Point. The homestead where some of his children were born was not sold to the association, but was reserved by the own- er, William Leet, as a residence. Captain An- son Leet was a Whig in politics and took active interest and part in county affairs. He mar- ried, in Connecticut, Abigail Dudley. Chil- dren : Jonathan, Simeon, Lewis, Marie; Frank- lin, of further mention; Caroline, Mary Eliza ; William, born in the old homestead at Leet's Point, June 24, 1818, a farmer, and, for two terms treasurer of Chautauqua county, mar- ried (first), December 27, 1840, Eliza Ann Strang, (second) December 21, 1852, Harriet S. Belden. A son of William, Willis D. Leet, also served as treasurer of Chautauqua county.

(VII) Franklin, son of Captain Anson Leet, was born at Leet's Point ( Point Chautauqua), New York, July 20, 1815, died in Jamestown, December 11, 1907. He was a farmer and owned one hundred acres of the original farm on which he was born and now owned by the Chautauqua Point Association. . He was one of the founders of the Christian church, at Dewittville, and all his life a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. He was a Re- publican in politics, was justice of the peace, town auditor, and held several minor offices. He was a man of high character, quiet and re- served in manner, a worthy descendant of the old Puritan governor, William Leete.

He married (first), Sally Sumner, born in Ellery, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1819, died April 4, 1865, daughter of Darius and Desire (Marsh) Sumner. Children : 1. Sarah Eliza, born December 10, 1840; married Charles E. Young, and resides at Point Chautauqua. 2. Carrie A., born November 23, 1843 ; married David H. Geddes, and resides at Knoxville, Tennessee. 3. Fayette G., born May 15, 1847; married Helen Olds ; children : Mattie, Frank and Merton; Frank is the only living child. 4. Charles Sumner, of further mention. 5. Martha, born March 27, 1854, died December 4, 1865. 6. Emma C., married John L. Bag- ley, the present postmaster at Point Chau- tauqua (1911). 7. Elsie E., for the past twen- ty-five years a teacher in the Jamestown high school. 8. Lizzie M., born May 1, 1860; mar- ried Daniel W. Levier ; children : Ethel, Will-

iam and Lucy. Franklin Leet married (sec- ond), April 1I, 1867, Louisa, daughter of Festus Jones, of Ellery, New York; she died at the age of sixty-five years. Children : 9. George F., born September 16, 1869; married Alma Scofield; children: Esther and Allan. 10. Harriet L., born December 14, 1871 ; super- intendent of a department in the Cleveland Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.

(VIII) Charles Sumner, son of Franklin and Sally (Sumner) Leet, was born at Dewitt- ville, now Point Chautauqua, New York, May 14, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of Dewittville and Mayville, and grew to early manhood on the farm. In 1870 he went to Mayville and began an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, but ill health com- pelled him to give this up and to return to the farm. He remained home until he was twen- ty-five, then, for two and one-half years, work- ed at milling for Amos K. Warren. In 1882 he removed to Jamestown, where, for a year, he was engaged with Partridge & Breed, furni- ture dealers. For the next ten years he was engaged in the portrait business, then, for three years, was local and travelling salesman for James G. Smith, paper dealer. He was then, for one year, with the Jamestown Candy Com- pany : six years bookkeeper for the Johnson Ice & Coal Company, and one year for the Chautauqua Refrigerating Company. In 1910 he became keeper of records of Jamestown Tent, No. 9, Knights of the Maccabees, with offices at No. 101 East Third street. He has been a prominent member of that order for nineteen years, holding many offices of trust, including that of trustee for three tents that are now consolidated. He is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Repub- lican in politics.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680