Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 40

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

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(VIII) William V., son of Phineas H. and Elvira (Sawyer) Corwin, was born at Tecum- seh, Lenawee county, Michigan (then a terri- tory), September 5, 1832. He was two years of age when his parents returned to Niagara county, New York, settling in the town of Newfane, where William V. was educated in the public schools and at Wilson Academy, Wilson, New York. He was his father's as- sistant until the death of the latter, when he purchased the homestead from the other heirs. Here he has since resided. Besides his farm- ing investments Mr. Corwin has other business interests. He was one of the first to agitate the construction of an electric line from Lock- port to Olcott; was one of the organizers of the Lockport & Olcott Electric Railroad Com- pany; secured the right of way, was a mem- ber of the first board of directors and is local- ly known as the "father" of the enterprise. After the road had been in operation one year it was leased to the International Railway Company, of Buffalo, who now operate it. For the first five years of its operation he was

in charge of the freight department and of fruit shipments, organizing a system that is yet in operation, Corwin, a station, of the road, was named in his honor, and opened for busi- ness in August, 1900. In 1905 Mr. Corwin resigned and has since lived a quiet, retired life on his farm near Corwin. He was for some time interested in a firm at Clyde, New York, engaged in building of steam engines. He also dealt extensively in real estate. He has proved himself a most excellent man of business; has capably and successfully man- aged his private affairs, and in public positions been a most satisfactory official. He has served the town of Newfane four terms as supervisor, also as commissioner of highways. He is a Republican in politics, and for thirty years has been trustee, and for sixty-three years a loyal, devoted member of the Baptist church. He is prominent in the Masonic order, belonging to Lockport Lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons; Ames Chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons, and Genesee Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, all of Lockport, New York. He stands high in the estimation of his breth- ren who delight to do him honor. He is a man of strict integrity and is highly esteemed in the community where his nearly four score years have been passed.

He married, September 21, 1853, in New- fane, Jane E. Moshier, born September 4, 1832, at Princeton, Schenectady county, New York, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Shan- non) Moshier, later of the town of Newfane. Children : 1. Ida J., born August 24, 1856; married DeLisle Brookins; children : William Van Rensselaer ; Alice J., married Glen Cor- win, of Newfane. 2. Alice A., born May 26, 1861, died March 30, 1893; married Lorenzo Freyburger ; child, Ida Marie, now living with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Corwin. 3. Roland H., born August 8, 1868; married Lot- tie Utley ; children : Helen Jane and Willis B. 4. Willis V., born January 5, 1874, died May 28, 1896.

(VIII) Phineas H. (2), son of Phineas H. (1) and Elvira (Sawyer) Corwin, was born March 9, 1835, died January, 1905. He was educated in the public schools of Newfane and attended the academy at Lima, New York. He became a leading farmer of Newfane and prominent in public affairs. He first purchased a farm on the Hatter road in 1862-63, which he devoted to fruit culture and general farm- ing. To this he added eighty-four acres pur-

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chased from his brother, William V. He did not confine his activities to agriculture, but was active in all town enterprises. He was post- master of Newfane eight years; director of Orleans and Niagara County Fire Insurance Company; president and director of the Niag- ara County Agricultural Society and interested in other affairs. He was supervisor of the town two terms and also assessor. Politically he was a Republican, and in religious faith a Baptist and a deacon of the Newfane church. He belonged to Lockport Lodge, No. 63, Free and Accepted Masons, and to John Hodge Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was held in high esteem in the town and his death was deeply regretted. He married Mary A. Philips, born 1843, died January 22, 1901. Child, Charles D.

(IX) Charles D., son of Phineas H. (2) and Mary A. (Philips) Corwin, was born in Newfane, Niagara county, New York, Febru- ary 4, 1862. He was educated in the public schools, and assisted on the farm until he ar- rived at legal age. He then took the manage- ment of the home farm, operating it for his father on the share plan. After a few years he purchased a farm of fifty acres on the Coomer road, which he cultivated for six years. Making an advantageous sale of his property he next purchased a small tract of six acres on the Creek road, which he afterward disposed of and bought a large tract of fifty acres on the Hess road, where he remained eight years. He next bought a farm of seventy-seven acres in East Newfane, on which he lived until 1905, when he purchased the old Corwin homestead. This is a beautiful farm of eighty-four acres well situated and devoted almost exclusively to fruit. Mr. Corwin is well qualified to profit- ably operate such a farm, having an intimate knowledge of fruit culture gained by long ex- perience, careful observation and study. He is a Republican in politics and served New- fane as poor master four years and justice of the peace four years. He is a member of the Baptist church, and of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lockport Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and Ames Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

He married, October 11, 1882, at Sche- nectady, New York, Stella Mudge, born April 16, 1862, daughter of John and Elizabeth Mudge. Children: Glenn, born January 8, 1885; Phineas H. (3), July 19, 1889; John J., September 28, 1891 ; Leon D., August 4, 1900.

Next to Jones, Smith and Robin- BROWN son, this is a most common name, One hundred and twenty-three Browns had emigrated to America before 1700. Over thirteen hundred, a regiment in itself, served in the revolution from Massachusetts. According to the Heralds College the Browns have been granted one hundred and fifty-six coats-of-arms ; one hundred and thirty-nine had graduated from Yale prior to 1904. The or- thographic changes in the name have been: Boown, Bown, Braun, Broan, Brione, Broon, Brownn and Brune. The first Brown was so named on account of a swarthy complexion. Browning was the son of Brown. Brownell was the mighty Brownell coming from neil, meaning the mighty. Brownly or Brownlee was the Brown who lived in a pasture and Brownlow, from lowe, meaning a hill, was the Brown who lived on a hill. Among the many distinguished of the family are: B. Gratz Brown, candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with Horace Greeley; Justice Henry B. Brown, of the United States supreme court; Senator Joseph E. Brown, of Georgia; Jacob Brown, commanding general of the United States army; John Brown, the great abolition leader ; Charles Brockden Brown, the novelist ; Henry Kirk Brown, the sculptor; Charles Fairae Browne (Artemus Ward) and J. Ross Browne, the war correspondent.

There is no record searched that reveals the ancestry of the family herein traced. They first appear in Wayne county, New York, where Samuel C. Brown was born (it is sup- posed), in 1804, died in Newfane, Niagara county, New York, 1867. He was a farmer of Newfane, owning a farm of fifty acres of fer- tile, productive land. He held several of the local offices. Married (first) Sophia Steele; (second) Frances Dickson. Children of first wife : George A., Laura, D. Steele, and Har- riet. Child of second wife : Harriet.

(II) D. Steele, son of Samuel C. Brown by · his first wife, was born in Wayne county, New York, December 7, 1836, died in Newfane, Niagara county, New York, April 12, 1900. He was quite voung when his parents came to Niagara county where he secured his edu- cation in the schools of Newfane and Lock- port. He went west when a young man, join- ing an uncle in Detroit, Michigan. Here he learned typesetting and the printing business. In a few years he returned to Newfane and worked with his father on the farm. Later he

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purchased in his own right a farm of fifty acres on the Hess road, on which he resided until death. He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and a Republican. He married, June 18, 1863, in Newfane, Mary F. Corwin, born June 8, 1839 (see Corwin VII). Child, W. Ellsworth.

(III) W. Ellsworth, only child of D. Steele and Mary J. (Corwin) Brown, was born in Newfane, Niagara county, New York, Febru- ary 16, 1870. He was educated in the public schools, and has devoted his mature years to agriculture, owning and operating the old Steele farm. He is a man of intelligence and worth, keeping well in touch with modern methods in his business. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Baptist church, and of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Lockport. He married, June 1, 1898, in Newfane, Mary J., born December 1, 1871, daughter of Sam- uel and Catherine (Caladay) Smith, of Hart- land, Niagara county, former residents of Pittsfield, Vermont. Children: Lois, born March 17, 1905; Stuart E., March 3, 1907.

SMITH This branch of the Smiths came into the United States by way of the West Indies, where the father of the present generation was born. Thomas Lee (2) Smith, son of Thomas Lee (1) Smith, was a resident of the city of Hamilton, Island of Bermuda, West Indies. He married Cath- erine Nelius and had issue.

(III) Dr. Julian G. Smith, son of Thomas Lee (2) and Catherine (Nelius) .Smith, was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, 1844, died in Sala- manca, New York, 1907. When a young man he came to the United States, settling in New York. He was educated at Clinton College and decided to become a physician. After graduating at Philadelphia he came to Sala- manca, New York, where he was employed in a drug store. He began a course of study, later attended a medical college at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated M. D. He then returned to Salamanca where he was the first settled physician in the village. He remained there in active practice until his death. Dr. Smith was not only a skillful phy- sician, but a most charitable and high-minded gentleman, and had a host of warm friends who were loyal and devoted to the last. He served on the hospital and school boards of the village, but devoted himself almost exclu-

sively to his profession. He was a member and trustee of the Protestant Episcopal church, and belonged to the Masonic order. Politically he was a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He married, Sep- tember 2, 1873, Sarah E. King, of Greenwood, New York, born 1854, died 1904, daughter of Delancy and Serepta (Porter) King. Chil- dren : I. Cora H., born March 11, 1875; mar- ried, June 2, 1897, Guy Parkell, born June 27, 1874. 2. Louise, born February 17, 1878; married, April 2, 1904, Charles G. Vreeland, of Salamanca; child, Oliver S., born Novem- ber 15, 1906. 3. Frederica O., born May 9, 1880. 4. Julian King, of further mention. 5. Sydney L., born December 11, 1884; married Edna Jamison; children, Thomas Lee, born August 6, 1907; Julian G., September 13, 1909. 6. Ida Grace, born June 27, 1891. 7. J. Edwin, born July 18, 1893.

(IV) Julian King, eldest son of Dr. Julian G. and Sarah E. (King) Smith, was born in Salamanca, New York, October 17, 1882. His education was obtained in the public schools of the village, where after finishing the complete courses he was graduated from the high school, class of 1904. After leaving school he secured a clerical position in the United States postoffice, where he is now chief mail- ing clerk in charge of all outgoing mail. With the vast amount of mail that goes through the office, handled by the different railroads center- ing at Salamanca, this position is one requir- ing skill and experience. Mr. Smith is a mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal church, the Masonic order and the Royal Arcanum.

He married Frances Inman, born February 8, 1888, daughter of John J. and Carrie D. Inman. Child, Adelaide, born July 5, 1907.

BEDELL The Bedell family were early in New England, where the name is found as Bedle, Bedel, Beadle and Bedell. A branch of the family settled in New Jersey and descendants are still numerous and prominent in that state, one of the family, Judge Bedell, having been governor. Another branch settled in Long Island, but a common ancestor cannot be found. The family were seated in New York state prior to the revolu- tion, in Dutchess and Albany counties, many of the name appearing on the militia rolls of these counties as serving in that war. A branch settled in Schoharie county during or soon

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after the revolution, from whom the Bedells of Cattaraugus county spring. In the first cen- sus ever taken in the United States (1790) there appears thirty-eight Bedells as heads of families in New York state, under the different spellings, the most common being Beedle. A branch of the Albany county family settled in Lewis county, New York, in the town of Denmark, headed by William Bedell, born 1790.

The earliest definite record of the family herein recorded is of Seneca Bedell, born in Schoharie county, New York, 1808, lived there until after his marriage. He then settled in Binghamton, New York, where he died in 1880. He was a mercantile jobber and ope- rated a farm. He was a member of the Pres- byterian church and a Democrat. He mar- ried Lucy Counselman. Of their eleven chil- dren three are living at the present time (1911). Children: Caroline, married Dane Rogers; Maria, married Abraham Faulkner ; Ira, married Sarah Main; Thomas, Mark, John A., Emmeline, married Richard Oliver ; removed to California, where she died; he re- turned to New York, married, and went again to California; Jane, married Richard Oliver (second wife) ; Catherine, Alfred and Richard Oliver, of further mention.

(II) Richard Oliver, youngest son and child of Seneca and Lucy (Counselman) Bedell, was born December 13, 1841, in Broome county, New York. He attended the district schools, and as a boy and young man worked on his father's farm, clearing the land of timber and stumps. In August, 1864, he en- listed in Company M, First New York Vol- unteer Cavalry, serving through the civil war. He served with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, being discharged with honor in Wheeling, West Virginia, at the close of the war. He returned to Binghamton, New York, after his army days were ended, and for ten years followed teaming in that city, and for a time worked in sawmills and farming. The next ten years he kept a hotel at Great Bend, Pennsylvania. After two years spent in the lumber woods and ten years in the employ of the Erie Railroad Company, he located in Sal- amanca and engaged in the wholesale and re- tail tobacco business with his son, Arthur D. Bedell, and is now treasurer of The A. D. Bedell Company. He is a member of Sher-

wood Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and serves on the Salamanca board of health. Po- litically he is a Democrat. He married, 1861, Sarah Jane Doughan. Child, Arthur Doughan, of further mention.

(III) Arthur Doughan, only child of Rich- ard Oliver and Sarah Jane (Doughan) Bedell, was born in Binghamton, Broome county, New York, September 1, 1862. He was educated in the public schools of Great Bend, Pennsyl- vania, and after completing his studies learned the cigar makers' trade. He worked as a jour- neyman for a short time, and in 1883 located in Salamanca, New York, where he engaged in the tobacco business for himself, under the name of A. D. Bedell. In 1899 his father joined him and in 1907 The A. D. Bedell Com- pany was organized, with Arthur D. Bedell, president ; J. M. Maloney, secretary, and Rich- ard O. Bedell, treasurer. The company has a handsome store on Main street, and transact a large wholesale and retail business in im- ported and domestic cigars, tobaccos and smokers' goods of every kind. They are man- ufacturers also and employ many men in their making and selling department. Mr. Bedell is a thorough business man as well as a prac- tical worker in tobacco. He has been success- ful in business and stands high in the esti- mation of his community. In the trade his goods take precedence, while his pleasing per- sonality makes him welcome everywhere. He is a director of the Salamanca Trust Com- pany and member of the Board of Trade. He is a Democrat. He has served two terms as president of the village corporation of Sala- manca; four years as supervisor of township of Salamanca ; six years as chairman of the board of water commissioners, and is now (1911) treasurer of the village. He is prom- inent in the Masonic order, and when the Ma- sonic Temple was erected was a member of the committee that financed and was in charge of the erection of the Temple. He belongs to Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in Sala- manca and Ismailia Temple, Mystic Shrine, Buffalo. He is also a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks.

He married, September 30, 1885. Allie F., daughter of Fayette and Mary (Crawford) Page. Children: Fayette R., born June II. 1887 : Flossie M., born April 21, 1891 ; Arthur Page, born March 18, 1893; Charles C., born March 5, 1896.

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This is an old-established fam- FORBES ily of Scotland, where they hold conspicuous place in history. The first of this branch to come to the United States was Robert Forbes, born in Thurso, Scotland, December 29, 1829, died in Lisle, New York, May 30, 1903. He was educated in his native land, emigrating to the United States at the age of nineteen years, in 1848. He remained here two years, then emigrated to Scotland. After some time spent there he returned to the United States, settling at Ful- ton, New York, where he learned the trade of carpenter. In 1851 he joined a party of "gold seekers" bound for California. Their route was by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. They suffered great hardships, finally arriv- ing in California with but few of the original party, many dying on the journey. He re- mained in California five years, then returned to New York state, coming by vessel around Cape Horn. In 1858, two years after his re- turn, he married and lived for four years in the village of Centerlisle. He then removed to a farm he had purchased about three miles west of the village. Here he lived for thirty- five years until the spring of 1898, when he retired and located in Lisle, New York, where he died in 1903. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being one of the charter members of Centerlisle Lodge, No. 235, and was a past grand. He was highly esteemed by his brethren, who at- tended his funeral in a body. He served the town of Lisle as justice of the peace, assessor, commissioner of highways and supervisor, fill- ing each office with unusual fidelity to his oath of office. He was an upright, manly character, and had many warm friends.

Robert Forbes married, in Centerlisle, May 12, 1858, Permelia B. Lusk, who survives him and yet resides in Lisle ( 1911) (see Lusk V). Children, all born in Centerlisle: I. Pomeroy Hubbard, born July 6, 1859; married Ada Ireland, removed to Topeka, Kansas. 2. Mary Permelia, May 28, 1861 ; married Sam- uel Wells : living at Halstead, Pennsylvania. 3. Sarah L .. August 6, 1865; married George W. Allen ; living at Lestershire, New York. 4. Arthur William, November 26, 1868: married Laura Hayes; removed to Stanton, Nebraska. 5. Harriet Anna, August 20, 1870; married Arthur Woodford; living at Candor, New York. 6. Clara R., July 26, 1872; married

Ellis Sparrow, of Lisle, New York. 7. Robert Norman, of further mention.

(II) Robert Norman, youngest child and third son of Robert and Permelia B. (Lusk) Forbes, was born in Centerlisle, New York, November 30, 1874. He was educated in the public school, Lisle Academy and Chamberlain Institute. He received his professional educa- tion at the University of Michigan, being grad- uated as valedictorian of class of 1898, with the degree of D. D. S. He at once opened his practice in the office of Dr. J. N. Cowen, of Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York, re- maining about one year. In 1899 he moved his practice to Salamanca, New York, where he opened his offices March 20, of that year. He is an expert dentist and commands a good clientage, his appointment book being dated weeks ahead. He is modern, progressive and active in business, public-spirited and most pleasing in personality. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Cattaraugus Lodge, No. 239, Salamanca Chapter, No. 266, and Salamanca Commandery, No. 62, Knights Templar. He is greatly interested in the Or- der of the Eastern Star, of which he served as patron for three years and past assistant grand lecturer, and is now district department grand master of the Thirty-ninth Masonic District; also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Uni- form Rank, and is past grand of Salamanca Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1908 he was elected village trustee. He is a member of the Congregational church, which he served as trustee, and in politics a Repub- lican.

He married. June 28, 1899, Maud Louise Fenton, born in Randolph, January 1, 1875, daughter of George W. and Loraine (Dock- stader) Fenton, of Randolph. Children : Rob- ert Fenton, born November 13, 1907, and Lo- raine Permelia. September 17, 1910.

(The Lusk Line).

This branch of the Lusk family in America springs from John Lusk, who is the first of the name found in New England records. He came with his brothers, Thomas, William (and possibly James) and settled in Connecticut, where they were of New Britain, Newing- ton and Wethersfield. The records show that John Lusk bought and sold a great deal of land between 1740 and 1752. The family is of Scotch origin, but settled in Ireland for a

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time before coming to America. John Lusk, born May 5, 1702, died July 24, 1788. He mar- ried (first) Janet ,who died in 1742. He married (second), in 1743, Jane

born 1705, died February 5, 1788. She was the mother of all his children.

(II) William, son of John and Jane Lusk, was born September 12, 1744, married, March 30, 1769, Elizabeth Gibbs, and lived in Weth- ersfield, Connecticut.

(III) William (2), son of William (1) and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Lusk, married Lydia Niles. They were early settlers of Spencertown, New York. Lydia Niles was a daughter of Joseph Niles, born January 7, 1750, married Dorothy Ingraham, and settled early in Spencertown, New York. Joseph was a son of Rev. Ben- jamin Niles, of Groton, Connecticut, a de- scendant of the pioneer settler, John Niles, of Braintree, Massachusetts. Rev. Benjamin Niles married, June 30, 1743, Lucy, daughter of Joseph Sill, of North Lyme, Connecticut. She was a descendant of the emigrant, John Sill, who, with his wife Joanna, came from Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1637. She also descended from Thomas Lord, who, with his wife Dor- othy, came to America in the "Elizabeth and Ann" in 1635. He was one of the original proprietors of Hartford, Connecticut. His wife Dorothy is supposed to have been a daughter of Edward Bulkley, D. D., of Odell, Bedford, England, through whom a line of descent is traced to Robert, Lord of Bulkley. Other lines of descent of Lucy Sill lead to George Clark, of Milford, Connecticut; Thomas Lee and William Brown, from Rup- port, Essex, England, and to William Hyde, one of the original settlers of Norwich, Con- necticut.

(IV) William C., son of William (2) and Lydia (Niles) Lusk, was born at Centerlisle, New York, January 15, 1804, died there March 15, 1892. He was a lumberman and a farmer. He married, October 30, 1833, Lucy Ann Hub- bard, born at Lisle, New York, December 12, 1812, died at Centerlisle, March 5, 1891. Lucy Ann Hubbard was a descendant of Wil- liam Hubbard, who came from England to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1630. She was a great-granddaughter of Captain Daniel Hubbard, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a rev- olutionary officer, who changed his name when a young man from Hulburd to Hubbard; his revolutionary service is "Hubbard" and the

family has since been "Hubbard." Grand- daughter of Zadoc Hubbard, of . Westfield. Massachusetts and Lisle, New York, also a revolutionary soldier, and a daughter of Dan- iel Hubbard, born at Lanesboro, Masschu- setts, June 1, 1783, died at Rathbone, New York, June 21, 1867. He was one of the early settlers of Lisle, New York, later moving to Cameron's Mills, New York, where he was extensively engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber.

He married Fannie Stearns, born August 26, 1786, died November 16, 1852, daughter of Captain John Stearns, and his second wife, Lucy (Merill) Stearns, of Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, the former named a prominent sol- dier in the revolution, the war of 1812 and a pioneer settler of Brunswick, Ohio. She was a descendant of the emigrant Charles Stearns, who came to Charlestown, Massachusetts, about 1630, and settled near Watertown. His wife was Rebecca Gibson, daughter of John Gibson, of Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. Other lines of descent are from Ebenezer Chadwick, of Medford, Massachu- setts, Jonathan Sanderson and George Law- rence, both of Cambridge. Her grandfather. Elijah Merill, of Hartford, Connecticut, was a revolutionary soldier.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 40

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