Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 41

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

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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).

(V) Permelia B., daughter of William C. and Lucy Ann (Hubbard) Lusk, was one of eight children. She married Robert Forbes (see Forbes I).

The emigrant ancestor of the Bell

BELL family herein recorded was John Bell, born in the parish of Bally Halbert, county Down, Ireland, in 1753, sec- ond son of Benjamin and Jane (Goudy) Bell, who did not emigrate. In 1772 John Bell came to the American Colonies (being then nineteen years of age) on the ship "James and Mary." When war was declared against Great Britain he at once enlisted and served six and a half years in the struggle for inde- pendence. He served under General Wash- ington, and was engaged at the battles of Mon- mouth, Brandywine, Germantown and many others, and went in the expedition under Gen- eral Sullivan against the western Indians. After the close of the war he engaged in farming, and at one time ran a coasting ves- sel. He married, at the close of the revolution, Keziah Mapes, who bore him ten sons and one daughter, most of whom settled in Orange

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county, New York. After the birth of the eleven children, triplet boys were born, died and were buried in the same casket with the mother at Mount Hope cemetery, Orange county, New York. Jane, the only daughter, married Lebbeus Godfrey, and with him set- tled in Batavia, New York.

(II) Gabriel, ninth son of John and Keziah (Mapes) Bell, was born in Orange county, set- tled in the village of Jordan, Onondaga county, New York, where he followed farming and his trade of stone mason. Among his workmen was Charles, son of John Bell, fourth son of the emigrant ancestor. Charles Bell learned his trade with his uncle, Gabriel Bell, married in Jordan, later returned to his native Orange county, where he died in 1900, aged eighty-five years. His daughter, Helen M., married J. A. Laird, and resides at Mohawk, New York. Gabriel Bell was a Whig in poli- tics. He married Jane Hastings. Children : George W., of further mention ; Frank, James, Jane and Sarah.

(III) George W., eldest son of Gabriel and Jane (Hastings) Bell, was born in Jordan, New York, October 3, 1839, died November 25. 1907. He was educated in the public school and at Jordan Academy. He followed agricul- ture all his davs, owning a farm of two hun- dred acres. He was a man of high character, honorable and just in all his dealings and a Christian gentleman. He married, at Jor- dan, November 12, 1862, Mary J. Stone, born August 8, 1841. Children: Frank G., born September 23, 1865; married, September 16, 1896, Hermoine S. Dennison ; Thomas Stone, of further mention.

(IV) Thomas Stone, youngest son of George W. and Mary J. (Stone) Bell, was born at Jordan, Onondaga county, New York, January 27, 1869. He attended the public school and prepared for college at Jordan Academy. He then entered Syracuse Univer- sity, whence he was graduated A. B., 1892. After leaving the university he began his career as an instructor in Salamanca, first as teacher, then as assistant principal in the high school. When the principal resigned Professor Bell was appointed to the vacant position. He was retained there two and one-half years, then appointed superintendent of schools for the district. He has under his daily charge one thousand pupils, twenty teachers in the grades and eight in the high school, and two special teachers. He has placed the Salamanca 13-W

schools upon the highest plane of efficiency, has been largely instrumental in having mod- ern buildings erected with every convenience for health and comfort of the children. The new building contains a large electric program clock, a telephone system, lavatories on every floor, a well-equipped gymnasium, an audito- rium seating seven hundred and fifty, and the building itself is practically fireproof. Many of the leading features are well thought out ideas of Professor Bell, and are even in ad- vance of contemporary educators. His exec- utive ability is of the highest, and Salamanca schools and methods are worthy of emulation. He has so inspired his teachers with his own enthusiasm and modern spirit that he has a corps of instructors devoted to their work and following closely the plans laid down by their chief. The course of study is so ar- ranged that diplomas from the high school ad- mit to all colleges. Professor Bell is a member of the National Educational Association and Academic Principals of the State of New York. He is one of the directors of the Sala- manca Trust Company and a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Cattaraugus Lodge, No. 239; Salamanca Chapter, No. 266, and Salamanca Commandery, No. 62, all of Salamanca. He is a charter member of Miz- pah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and past worthy patron, having held that office three successive terms. His fraternity is Phi Delta Theta (Syracuse University). Polit- ically he has always been a Democrat, but is thoroughly independent. He is a member of St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, which he has served as vestryman, junior and senior warden.

Professor Bell, after a visit to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, published an article on the subject in the University News. He also, in company with Miss Floy Hotchkiss, edited a text book, "Civics Eight Grades," which was published by Bacon & Vincent, of Buffalo. In 1904 he wrote the "History of the Sala- manca Public Schools," which appeared in the annual report of the superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York.

Professor Bell married, August 6, 1896. Emma H. Fordyce, daughter of John For- dyce, son of George (2) and Agnes (Chap- man) Fordyce, of Renfrewshire, Scotland. George Fordyce came to the United States with his family in 1835 and located in Pater- son, New Jersey, where he was employed at

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his trade of machinist in the Rogers Loco- motive Works. John, his son, learned the trade of machinist in the same works, where he remained until 1862, then entered the em- ploy of the Erie Railroad Company, working for them as expert machinist in their differ- ent shops, finally settling in Salamanca. He married, January 1, 1855, Elizabeth Hayes, born September 6, 1833, died August 10, 1909, daughter of Robert and Anna (Sexton) Hayes. Children : 1. Robert, born October 19, 1855; married Daisy Hindle; children, Eliza- beth, Beatrice and Donald. 2. Samuel, born June 8, 1859; married Della Healley ; child, John. 3. Emma H .; married Professor Thomas S. Bell. 4. Richard, born February 1, 1872 ; married Anna Russell; child, Marion. 5. Anna, born December 3, 1873; married, April 4, 1900, John J. Spencer, born May 4, 1873, died January 8, 1906; children, John, born December 4, 1900; James, July 26, 1903.

(The Stone Line).

Mary J. (Stone) Bell, wife of George W. Bell, and mother of Professor Thomas Stone Bell, is a daughter of Thomas Stone, born in England, December 21, 1802, died in Jordan, Onondaga county, New York, January 25, 1872. He was a miller by trade. In 1849 he came to the United States with his family, landing in New York City, after a voyage of six weeks. After some change in location he finally settled in Jordan, New York, where he followed his trade, later purchasing a farm, which he conducted successfully until his death. He married, at East Quantoxhead, England, September 21, 1836, Ann Wake, born December 8, 1816. Children, all born in Eng- land: 1. Sarah, born December 8, 1837; mar- ried Charles Briggs, February 27, 1862. 2. Robert A., born August 25, 1839, died Decem- ber 3, 1872; married Elizabeth Masten, March 27, 1865. 3. Mary J., married George W. Bell (see Bell III). 4. James A., born Octo- ber 30, 1843; married Helen M. Warner, De- cember 26, 1865.

The name of Norton is of an- NORTON cient French origin, and the many distinct families in America bearing it are undoubtedly de- scended from the same source. Their lineage can be traced back to Le Signeur de Noruile (Norvile), who crossed the channel with the Norman conqueror and subsequently served

as the latter's constable. This de Norvile mar- ried a lady of the famous house of Valois. A descendant of Constable de Norvile in the sixth generation anglicized the name into its present form of Norton. Professor Charles Eliot Norton, of Harvard University, is a lineal descendant of the constable in the twen- ty-first generation. In addition to Norton street, a prominent London thorughfare, there are in England several important rural com- munities of this name-Clipping Norton, Sed- bey Norton, King's Norton and Philip's Nor- ton, all of ancient origin, and doubtless deriv- ing their name from some prominent family or individual.

Several immigrants of this name are men- tioned in the early colonial records of New England. Captain Walter Norton arrived in America in 1630. George Norton, of Salem, Ipswich, and other places, who came from London, was made a freeman in 1634 and died in 1659. William Norton, of Hingham and Ipswich, born in England, 1610, came in the "Hopewell" in 1635, and took the free- man's oath the same year. Rev. John Norton, brother of William, born in 1606, probably in London, emigrated to Massachusetts Bay in 1635, shortly after graduating from Cam- bridge, and located in Ipswich. In 1656 he became pastor of the First Church in Bos- ton, and was noted for his piety and learning.

(I) Nicholas Norton, who is thought to have come from the county of Herts, was of Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1638, removed to Martha's Vineyard, and his descendants are still found there. A Francis Norton was admitted a freeman at Weymouth in 1642. A Joseph Norton was married in Salisbury, Massachusetts, March 10, 1662, to Susanna Getchell. Major Peter Norton, an efficient of- ficer in the revolutionary war, was son of Ebenezer, grandson of Joseph, and great- grandson of Nicholas, the Martha's Vineyard settler.

(II) Benjamin, son of Nicholas Norton, born in 1610, died 1690, came to America from Shorpenham, England, in 1630, and settled at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachu- setts. He was a relative of Rev. John and of William Norton, and others of the early Nor- tons of Massachusetts.

(III) Nicholas (2), son of Benjamin Nor- ton, was born 1659; married Martha Dag- gett.

(IV) Jabez, son of Nicholas (2) Norton,

1. boston

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was born October 16, 1714. He removed to Rochester, Massachusetts, from Edgartown, in 1762. He married, February 9, 1739, Eliza- beth Allen.

(V) Captain Elijah Norton, son of Jabez Norton, was born in 1739, at Martha's Vine- yard, Massachusetts. He was a coast guard during the revolutionary war, remaining in service six months. He afterward followed the sea as a business, and for twenty years was a sea captain. He later settled in New Braintree, Massachusetts. He married (first) Freelove Burroughs; (second) Hannah West, November,: 1776, at Dartmouth, Massachu- setts. Children: Zaddock, born February 8, 1778; Nabby, May 9, 1780; Elijah, of further mention; Abithia, October 13, 1784; Hannah, December 10, 1786; Melintha, September 24, 1788; Allen, September 2, 1790; Fletcher, August 7, 1792; Jessie, September 12, 1796.

(VI) Captain Elijah (2) Norton, son of Captain Elijah (1) Norton and his second wife, Hannah West, was born May 9, 1782, died April 2, 1839. He was captain in the war of 1812, commanding a company from Richfield, Otsego county, New York, stationed at Sacketts Harbor for the protection of the northern frontier. He was a carpenter by trade and after the war removed to Batavia, Genesee county, New York, later returning to Otsego county. He removed somewhat later in life to the town of Ellington, Chautauqua county, New York, where he died. He married, December 23, 1804, Mary Moon Beardsley, born March 9, 1788, died at Cherry Valley, New York, May 15, 1837, daughter of Obadiah (2) Beardsley and Eunice Moore, daughter of David and Elsie (Lucas) Moore. (Obadiah, son of Obadiah (1) and Amy (Cal- kins) Beardsley, Obadiah (1), son of John B. (2) and Keziah (Wheeler) Beardsley, John B. (2), son of John B. (1) and Abigail (Wake- lyn) Beardsley, John B. (1), son of Joseph, son of William Beardsley, the Puritan ancestor from England). Children of Captain Elijah Norton (2): 1. Merritt Milton, born Decem- ber 1, 1805, died October 17, 1846; married Mary Jane Cleveland. 2. Morris, of further mention. 3. Sullivan Sedgwick, born Feb- ruary 5, 1809, died August 31, 1811. 4. Eu- nice Beardsley, born April 23, 1811, died April, 1830. 5. Frances Malvina, born April 20, 1813; married Dr. Potter, of Cape Vincent, New York. 6. Mary Moore, born January 31, 1815; now (1911) living, aged ninety-six

years; married Robert J. Merrill, 7. Samuel Herman, born July 6, 1817, died May 7, 1864; married Mary Howard. 8. Levi Warren, born October 17, 1819, died 1900; married Elizabeth Leonard.

(VII) Morris, son of Captain Elijah (2) Norton, was born in Richfield, Otsego county, New York, June 9, 1807, died at Jamestown, New York, October 23, 1878. He received a good common school education, and learned the cabinet makers' trade in Buffalo, New York. He was persuaded to study law by his uncle, and henceforth his life was devoted to the law and literature. He read and studied with such purpose that his mind was well stored with the best knowledge to be obtained from books. Though largely self-taught, he was none the less a cultivated, educated gen- tleman. He was a frequent contributor to the magazines and periodicals of his day, his articles dealing mainly with political subjects of vital importance and interest. Many of his contributions were sent to the Jamestown Journal, and a search of old files of that paper will reveal them. He was also a well-known local poet. Some of his verses brought forth high encomiums from competent critics. He was most highly esteemed by his townsmen, who delighted to do him honor. He was for thirty-seven years justice of the peace of Ashville, New York, and superintendent of the poor for many years. He married, Sep- tember 8, 1833, in Buffalo, New York, Rev. William Shelton, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, officiating, Olivia Kent, born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, December 25, 1810, died August 1I, 1880, at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, daughter of Warren Kent, who came from Foxboro, Massachusetts, to Sack- etts Harbor and Rome, New York, later set- tling at Grand Island, Erie county, New York, where he died. While residing in Oneida county he was elected sheriff. His second wife was Lois Dorrill, died at Grand Island, New York, aged forty-two years, daughter of William and Mary (Chase) Dorrill. Warren Kent was a descendant of John Kent, of Ded- ham and Charlestown, Massachusetts, born in England, came to America, 1645. He was re- ceived into the Dedham church, May 16, 1652; made freeman, 1654; moved to Charlestown, 1673; was "tythingman," 1678-79; married, March 21, 1662, Hannah Grizold, Grizwold or Grissell, as it is variously recorded. Eleven children. The descent is through John (2),

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son of John Kent (1), born 1668; married, December 22, 1692, Sarah Smith. He was called John Kent, "gentleman;" was repre- sentative to the general court from Marsh- field, Massachusetts, and selectman. Fourteen children, of whom Elisha was the eleventh. Elisha, son of John Kent (2), was born about 1710; was ensign of the militia ; a "mariner," in 1744; a "yeoman" in 1759; in 1767 "gentle- man." During the revolution he was appointed one of a committee to consider what should be done "in the alarming crisis of affairs." He was selectman of Marshfield, Massachusetts, 1776-77-80-81 ; January 19, 1776, he was ap- pointed a member of the "committee on cor- respondence." The records show him to have been a leader in public affairs during the revo- lution, although years prevented active mili- tary service. He married, June, 1741, Su- sanna Ford. Twelve children. Warren (I), tenth child of Elisha Kent and Susanna Ford, was born December 20, 1764, died May 28, 1834. He married Bethiah Turner. Their third child, Warren Kent, was born about 1785; married (second) Lois Dorrill. Their daughter, Olivia, married Morris Norton. Six children, all born in Ashville, Chautauqua county, New York : I. Helen Olivia, born July 25, 1834, died March 7, 1874; married Dr. William P. Bemus ; children : Morris and Hel- ena L. F., married Fred E. Hatch of Jamestown. 2. Mary Jane Elizabeth, of further mention. 3. Theressa M., born December 21, 1839, died February 7, 1894; married, 1862, William W. Partridge, born December 13, 1834, died 1871; children : i. Rossamond O., died aged about two years; ii. Bertha G., born February 14, 1866; iii. Morris William, born September 17, 1868, married (first) Sarah Campbell, child, Morris Norton, born January 26, 1894; mar- ied (second) Louisa Perselle. 4. Eunice Ger- trude, born January 10, 1842 ; married, in Ash- ville, New York, Charles Thomas Douglass, born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, April 10, 1837, died November 9, 1907, son of Stephen Douglass, born October 30, 1803, died May 16, 1890, a native of Griswold, Connecti- cut; married Emma. Stewart, born in Gris- wold, October 15, 1809, died May, 1899, in Buffalo, New York. Stephen was son of Wil- liam and Hannah (Wilkinson) Douglass ; Emma Stewart was daughter of Thomas and Maria (Fanning) Stewart, the latter daughter of Hon. Charles Fanning and Ann Brewster, who was a lineal descendant of Elder William

Brewster, of the "Mayflower." Children of Charles Thomas and Eunice Gertrude (Nor- ton) Douglass: I. Stewart Norton, born in Jamestown, August 3, 1864; married, Feb- ruary 8, 1885, in Harmony, New York, Elsie Curtiss, born in Busti, New York; children : Amy S., Roswell B., James Wallace, Stewart, Estelle, Ruth, Marvin, Orlin, Charles. 2. Olivia Gertrude, born in Busti, New York, August 26, 1867, died February 8, 1900; mar- ried Edward Allen Hill, of Syracuse, New York; children : Hope, born January 7, 1893; Charles, February 16, 1895; Allen, October 15, 1897. 3. Charles Carroll, born November 22, 1872, at Busti; married Maud Campbell. 5. Ida Imogene, born January 21, 1844, died December 20, 1864. 6. Alice Isabella, born May 31, 1848, died November 28, 1884; mar- ried Thomas H. Agnew.

(VIII) Mary Jane Elizabeth, second child of Morris and Olivia (Kent) Norton, was born in Ashville, New York, April 25, 1836; married, at her home in Ashville, Octo- ber 3, 1855, Major Enoch Arnold Curtis, of further mention. Children : 1. Isabelle K., born in Ashville, August 9, 1856; married Frank C. Chatsey, of Fredonia. New York; children : i. Ruth Isabelle, born May 29, 1880, died August 4, 1907; married Henry L. Cumming. and had: Ruth L. and Winfield J .; ii. Alice Norton, born June 13, 1885. 2. Edith, born in Fredonia, New York, September 30, 1871 ; now a teacher in Fredonia State Normal School.

(The Curtis Line).

Major Enoch Arnold Curtis descends from one of the early New England families of the name. The word Curtis is derived from a Norman-French word, Curteis or Cortois, meaning courteous, civil. The family settled very early in Kent, England. The coat-of- arms of the family of Kent and Sussex is: Ar- gent, a chevron sable between three bulls' heads cabossed gules. Crest: A unicorn pas- sant or between four trees proper. The genealogy of the Curtis family of Scituate. Massachusetts, from whom it is believed Major Curtis descends, is traced to Stephen Curtis, of Appledore, Kent, England, about 1450. Several of his descendants were mayors of the town of Tenterdon, from which come some of the first settlers of Scituate. Four brothers-Richard, William, John and Thomas Curtis, settled in Scit- uate, Massachusetts. From one of these

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the New Hampshire branch sprang, al- though John Curtis appears to have left no descendants. The first of the family to appear in Western New York was Rev. Enoch Cur- tis, born in New Hampshire, who spent his life as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He came to Chautauqua county, New York, about 1812, and founded the family that has been identified with the best interests of the county for nearly a century.

(II) Isaac, son of Rev. Enoch Curtis, set- tled in Jamestown, New York, with his young wife, in 1829. Later he purchased of the Holland Land Company one hundred acres of improved land in the town of Busti, Chau- tauqua county. Here he built the primitive log house of the pioneer, and cultivated his acres until 1848, when he sold and removed to a farm he had purchased in Ashville, in the town of Harmony. This was his home until death. He married Susan Hunter, who bore him six children.

(III) Major Enoch Arnold, eldest child of Isaac and Susan (Hunter) Curtis, was born in Busti, New York, July 19, 1831, died in Fre- donia, New York, October 4. 1907. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies with a term at Jamestown Academy when he was seventeen years of age. He as- sisted with the farm labor during the sum- mer months, both at the Busti and Ashville farms owned by his father, and the latter years of his minority in teaching school during the winters. Arriving at legal age, he learned the carpenter's trade and took up the study of architecture. He was engaged in building opera- tions until the outbreak of the civil war, when he closed up his business in the spring of 1862, enlisting for three years service. He recruited a company of volunteers, of which he was elected captain. This was Company D, 112th Regiment New York Volunteer In- fantry, which he commanded throughout the various campaigns in which the regiment was engaged until the battle of Cold Harbor, fought in June, 1864, during which he re- ceived such severe wounds as to unfit him for further military service. He was honorably discharged September 13, 1864, with the brevet rank of major, conferred by Governor Fen- ton, of New York, for gallantry at the battle of Cold Harbor. As a soldier and officer he gained honorable distinction, having the love and esteem of his company and the fullest con- fidence of his superior officers.

After returning from the war he located at Fredonia, New York, where for five years he engaged in the hardware business. Not finding mercantile life congenial, he returned to his profession of architect, which he prac- ticed very successfully until his death. Many of the finest residences, churches and public buildings of Western New York and North- ern Pennsylvania were designed by him and erected under his supervision. During his residence in Fredonia he interested himself and took an active part in all movements for the advancement and improvement of his com- munity. To this end his time and money were freely given, and when he became interested in a cause he was persistent in carrying it to success. He was one of the first to agitate and most tenacious in securing the erection of the village water works and sewerage system. He served successive terms on the board of water commissioners, the board of village trustees, and was president of the village cor- poration. While not a politician from an of- fice-seeking standpoint, he felt that the duties of good citizenship required all to take an active and intelligent interest in public affairs. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention at St. Louis, in 1896, that nom- inated William Mckinley for president, and took an active part in the ensuing campaign. He was an active, useful member of the Grand Army of the Republic, E. D. Holt Post, No. 403, which he joined in 1885, serving several terms as commander. He was a member and served as president of the Northern Chau- tauqua Veteran Association, and a frequent delegate to state and national encampments. In 1901 he was appointed by Governor Odell a member of the New York state board for the erection of a monument to the mar- tyred president, William Mckinley. His last days were spent in Fredonia, where he en- joyed the respect and highest esteem of the entire community.

He married, in Ashville, New York, Octo- ber 3, 1855, Mary Jane Elizabeth Norton. (See Norton). Children: Isabelle K. and Edith.

This name was generally written

BEALS Beal or Beale by the early gen- erations of the family in America, and many branches of the family still retain the original form. The town of Hingham was settled largely by emigrants from Hing-

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ham in the county of Norfolk, England. The ship "Diligent," John Martin, master, brought a number of families who were prominent in the early annals of Hingham and whose de- scendants are found in nearly every hamlet of the country. John Beal, while a resident of Hingham, England, married Nazareth Ho- bart, a sister of Rev. Edmund Hobart, the first minister of Hingham in New England. With his wife and eight children he sailed in the "Diligent" in 1638. He settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, where he was admitted free- man in March, 1639. His wife died Septem- ber 23, 1658. He married (second), March 10, 1659, Mrs. Mary Jacob, widow of Nich- olas Jacob. She died in 1680. He died April 1, 1688, aged one hundred years.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 41

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