Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 50

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

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(IX) Lansing H., son of Rev. William (5) Wilcox, was born January 7, 1809, died March 27, 1895. He helped cultivate his father's farm and later purchased a one hundred acre tract in his own right, which he cleared and operated as a dairy and stock farm. He was a Methodist, serving his church as steward and trustee. He was a member of the school board of Napoli, a Whig and Republican. He married, September 15, 1830, Miranda Holmes, 17-W

born June 14, 1808, died June 15, 1867. Chil- dren : Mary S., born July 12, 1831 ; Alvin H., January 21, 1834, died June 29, 1908; Charles P., June 1, 1835 ; Helen S., July 7, 1838; Eliza, June 2, 1841 ; Zelotis, January 18, 1845, died March 11, 1852; Hosmer H., see forward.

(X) Hosmer H., youngest child of Lansing H. Wilcox, was born in Napoli, Cattaraugus county, New York, September 10, 1847, died August 27, 1911, at Little Valley, where he was living. He was educated in the public schools, worked on the farm, and for two winters taught school. He learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked for a number of years. He went west, remaining two years, working at his trade on the Indian reservation in Minnesota for the government. He then returned to Napoli and took the old home farm, also engaging in other lines of activity. He was justice of the peace sixteen years and as "Squire" Wilcox was widely and most fav- orably known. He lived a life of activity, and until 1910 was always in the harness. In that year he retired, removed to Little Valley where he purchased a commodious house on one of the principal streets. He was held in high esteem among his townsmen and was a man of influence. He was always a warm friend of the cause of education and for thirty years was on the school board. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he served as steward and trustee. Politically he was a Republican and Prohibitionist.

He married, May 12, 1875, Ella S. Burt, born September 17, 1854, daughter of Jairus N. Burt, born June 29, 1828, died February . 19, 1906; married, October 11, 1853, Emma Bigelow, born April 15, 1833, daughter of John Spencer Bigelow, born March 14, 1807, married, November 11, 1829, Caroline Amanda Wells, born February 12, 1810, daughter of Asa and Betsey (Treadwell) Wells.

Jairus N. Burt was the grandson of Samuel Burt and son of Oliver P. Burt, born June I, 1787, married, January 21, 1808, Thankful Clark, born April 2, 1787. John Spencer Bige- low was a son of John and Temperance (Spen- cer) Bigelow. Children of Jairus N. and Emma (Bigelow) Burt: I. Ella S., married Hosmer H. Wilcox. 2. John Lewis, born April 19, 1866; married, February 19, 1891, Effie A. Wright, born June 10, 1866, daughter of David Wright; children: Lewis Randall, born Feb- ruary 4, 1894; Thora Elizabeth, June 27, 1896; Ralph Lee, June 5, 1905.

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Children of Hosmer H. and Ella S. ( Burt) Wilcox : 1. Burt L., born September 15, 1877 ; married (first), September 17, 1901, Jennie Vining, who died September 8, 1908; child: Arthur D., born July 27, 1902. He married (second), July 28, 1910, Phoebe Pratt ; child : Margaret, born July 11, 1911. 2. Itha May, born May 7, 1879. 3. Walter J., born May 5, 1883; married, August 27, 1906, Catherine Lewis ; children : Elizabeth C., born March 16, 1908; Gordon Lewis, November 24. 1910. 4. Carrie Miranda, born December 1, 1886; mar- ried, June 27, 1907, Lewis Waite ; he died Au- gust 28, 1907. 5. Charles Alvin, born July 6, 1889; married, December 2, 1908, Velma Hin- man; child, Marion Cedric, born October 9, 1909. 6. Helen Josephine, born April 14, 1896.

SEEKINS The first of this family to set- tle in Cattaraugus county was Ezekiel Seekins, born in Staf- ford, Vermont, July 7, 1798, died in Leon, Cat- taraugus county, New York, October 10, 1865. He was a farmer in both Vermont and New York. He married, in Middlebury, Genesee county, New York, April 2, 1820, Sylvia Judd, born in Stafford, January 1, 1803. Children : 1. William, born in Middlebury, Vermont, July 18, 1824; married Sally Wright; children : i. Rose, married Floyd Vincent; ii. Walter; iii. Ella, married Everett Hunt; iv. Alonzo; v. Minnie. 2. Edwin, born in Dayton, New York, June 18, 1834. 3. John Alonzo, see forward. (II) John Alonzo, youngest child of Ezekiel and Sylvia (Judd) Seekins, was born in Day- · ton, Cattaraugus county, New York, July 29, 1840. He attended the public schools, and worked on his father's farm until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted October 15, 1861, in Company K (Captain Fancher), Sixty- fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer In- fantry. He was mustered into the service of the United States, October 29, 1861, served three years, and was honorably discharged Oc- tober 29, 1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment. His military career was unusually meritorious ; although the Sixty-fourth was one of the hardest fought regiments of the Army of the Potomac Mr. Seekins in his three years of service never had a wound, was never a prisoner and never had a furlough or sick leave. His service was continuous. He won promotion to corporal, and was commissary sergeant at brigade headquarters. After the wor he returned to Dayton, married and set-

tled in the town of Leon, same county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres which he later sold, purchas- ing a smaller farm of one hundred and fifty acres, near Leon Center. This farm he later sold and purchasing a still smaller farm en- gaged in butter and cheese, as a shipper to New York City. This not proving profitable he sold out and until 1873 cultivated a small farm of fifty-three acres, which he purchased. While living at Leon he was in 1872-73 super- visor for one term, and also town collector. In 1873 he began the operation of a saw and grist mill, continuing until 1877, when he sold out. He then went to the oil fields near Brad- ford, Pennsylvania, where for seven years he was actively engaged in teaming, and in drill- ing, buying, selling and operating oil wells. He then went to Bolivar and Cherry Grove, Pennsylvania, where he continued like opera- tions. He was very successful in the oil fields, where he remained until 1884, then located in Little Valley, New York, where for ten years he was proprietor of a hotel, after which he retired from active business life.

He has served as president of the village, trustee and collector. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is now serv- ing his seventh consecutive term as commander of Fuller Post. This post has lost so many members by death that there are now but four- teen of the old veterans left. Commander Seekins bids fair to continue in office for life as his recent reelections have been unanimous and without opposition. When one reads the history of the Sixty-fourth Regiment the mar- vel is that any are left or that any returned. At Fredericksburg their number was reduced to two hundred, one company having only four privates left. They also suffered terribly at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In fact, at the close of the war, there were very few of the Cattaraugus boys left in the regiment, the additions which kept it up to fighting strength being from other counties and even states, in- cluding many foreigners. Even this little rem- nant of fourteen are not all Sixty-fourth vet- erans, but served in other regiments. Mr. Seekins is also a member of the Masonic order and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is known to everybody in his community where he is held in highest esteem. His life has been a long and busy one, filled with honest effort, and has brought him a generous return of this world's goods. He is an attendant of

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both village churches, to whose support he is a liberal giver.

He married, January 1, 1865, Ellen S., daugh- ter of Daniel and Fannie (Parens) Brown, whose six children are : Ellen S., married John A. Seekins; Harriet, married William S. Eas- ton; Jeannette, married Dinzel Ingersoll; Jo- sephine, married Walter Ballard; Julius, mar- ried Ida Easterly; Ellis, married Sadie Will- iams. Children of John A. and Ellen S. See- kins : Georgia, born February 3, 1866, married, December 5, 1893, Rollin H. Pratt; Persis, born June 25, 1881.

WHIPPLE Matthew and John Whipple, brothers, were among the earli- est settlers of that part of Ips- wich, Massachusetts, called the Hamlet, where they received a grant of land of more than two hundred acres, in 1638. They may have been sons of Matthew Whipple, of Bocking, county of Essex, England, whose will proved January 28, 1618, mentions sons, Matthew and John. Another record speaks of "John Whip- ple, son of Matthew, is said to have been bap- tized in Essex, England, 1632." The descend- ants of Matthew Whipple seem to have set- tled in Northern New England largely, among them being General William Whipple, born in 1730, died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 28, 1785, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and general of a New Hampshire brigade, and in civil life judge of the supreme court of New Hampshire. Other noted descendants of John and Matthew Whip- ple are statesmen, soldiers and scholars, whose names are found in army records of every war, in college posters, legislative reports and in high positions in the church, probably among the latter Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota.

(I) John Whipple, born in 1617, died May 16, 1685, was of Ipswich and Dorchester, Mas- sachusetts, and in July, 1659, of Providence, Rhode Island, where he was received as a pur- chaser. He took the oath of allegiance, 1666, and was chosen deputy, 1666-69-70-72-74-76- 77. In 1674 he was licensed to keep an ordin- ary. August 14, 1676, being one of those "who staid and went not away," he had a share in the disposition of the Indian captives of King Philip's war, whose services were sold for a term of years. His will proved May 27, 1685, disposes of quite a large amount of land. He and his wife were buried on their own land, but their bodies were afterward removed to

the North Burial Ground. His wife Sarah was born in 1624, died 1666. Children : 1. John, was town treasurer of Providence, Rhode Island; town clerk; deputy and assistant to the governor; married (first) Mary Olney ; (second) Rebecca, widow of John Scott. 2. Sarah, born 1642; married John Smith. 3. Samuel, born 1644; was constable and deputy ; married Mary Harris. 4. Eleazer, born 1646; was deputy ; married Alice Angell. 5. Mary, born 1648; married Epenetus Olney. 6. Will- iam, born 1652 ; married Mary . 7. Ben- jamin, born 1654; married Ruth Matthewson. 8. David, of further mention. . 9. Abigail, mar- ried (first) Stephen Dexter; (second) William Hopkins. 10. Joseph, born 1662; was deputy twenty terms ; member of the town council six- teen terms; assistant and colonel of a militia regiment ; married Alice Smith. 11. Jonathan, born 1664; married Margaret Angell. These children all settled in Providence, Rhode Island.

(II) David, son of John and Sarah Whipple, was born in 1656, died December, 1710. He was of Providence, but seems to have removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, late in life. He held the military rank of ensign. His will proved January 8, 1711, disposes of real and personal estate. He married (first), May 15, 1675, Sarah, died April 2, 1677, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (White) Hearnden, who bore him a son David, see forward. He married (second), November 11, 1677, Han- nah, daughter of John and Margaret Tower, who bore him seven children.

(III) David (2), only child of David (1) and his first wife, Sarah (Hearnden) Whip- ple, was born in 1676; married and had issue. (IV) David (3), son of David (2) Whip- ple, was born about 1707, died 1776. He re- moved to Cumberland, Rhode Island. He mar- ried, July 7, 1737, Martha Reed, and had sons.

(V) David (4), son of David (3) and Mar- tha (Reed) Whipple, married Joanna Jones. (VI) Joseph, son of David (4) and Joanna (Jones) Whipple, was born December 27, 1787, settled in Pennsylvania, 1810, where he died at Silver Lake. He married, September 19, 1813, Betsey Finch, born December 9, 1795. Chil- dren: 1. Patty A., born February 19, 1814; married (first) a Mr. Sould; (second) James Gage; six children. 2. Jonathan J., born Sep- tember 7, 1815; married, May 27, 1841, Susan Tracy; three children. . 3. Nancy, born Sep- tember 21, 1817; married Edward Stewart; four children. 4. Henry Francisco, of further

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260 mention. 5. Joanna, born September 7, 1821. 6. Sarah, born May 28, 1824. 7. Alpheus, born December 13, 1826. . 8. Lydia, twin of Alpheus. 9. Dorcas, born July 19, 1829. 10. Elizabeth, born March 2, 1832. II. David Spencer, born May 28, 1834. 12. Joseph War- ren, born December 10, 1837. These children were all born at Brackney, Susquehanna coun- ty, Pennsylvania.

(VII) Henry Francisco, fourth child of Jo- seph and Betsey (Finch) Whipple, was born October 20, 1819, died in the Andersonville prison pen, July 9, 1864. He removed from Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, to Catta- raugus county, New York, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. He cleared a farm in Sternburg and another at Salamanca. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, leaving his wife and six chil- dren to struggle on the farm. He saw hard service with the Army of the Potomac, was in the battle of Chancellorsville and at Gettys- burg, Pennsylvania, where nearly the entire One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment was taken prisoners. At that time he was ranking as sergeant. He was confined in the prison on Belle Isle for six months, from there taken to Libby Prison, thence to Andersonville, Georgia. He suffered all the horrors of that prison with thirty thousand other Union prisoners who had unfortunately fallen under the inhuman treat- ment of the fiend Wirtz, until July, 1864, when he died a victim of starvation. He was buried in what was then an abandoned cotton field with fourteen thousand other boys in blue who shared the same fate. Their place of sepulchre is now the beautiful Andersonville National Cemetery, where, on each recurring Decora- tion Day the Sons of Veterans of Massachu- setts place a small United States flag at the head of each of the fourteen thousand graves.

He married, March 19, 1844, Martha Al- vira Hatch, born March 19, 1826, daughter of Stephen and Mary Hatch, of whom her son writes :

She was an exceptional woman. She was of Mo- hawk Valley Dutch descent, well educated, a hand- some, wholesome woman, who displayed the same bravery, in keeping her family together, as her hus- band did on the field of battle. She did the work for a large family of her own, and kept from ten to sixteen boarders, woodsmen, cooking and doing the housework for them all. It was a task well done and an example of industry to her children that they have never forgotten and seem to have followed.

She died February 14, 1896, at Salamanca, aged sixty-nine years. When Mr. Whipple en- listed in 1862 the eldest child was sixteen years of age. There was no other means of support, and all who could assisted the mother in caring and providing for the family. Chil- dren : 1. Alfred A., born October 31, 1845; attended the public school until his father's en- listment, worked in a sawmill later, and for several years on the railroad. He later decided to become a physician and entered Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was graduated an M. D., and for three years prac- ticed his profession at Randolph, Cattaraugus county. He then took a course in Homco- pathy at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chi- cago, Illinois, later going to Quincy, Illinois, where he now (1911) resides. He has risen to the topmost round in his profession. Was president of the State Medical Society, and is a noted contributor to the medical journals. He became prominent in the Masonic order attain- ing the highest degrees, and is well known as an authority on Masonic law and work. He married, October 6, 1869, Lydia E. Learned, deceased, daughter of Dr. Henry Learned. Children : Harry, captain of the Fifth Illinois Regiment during the Spanish-American war; Merrill, died aged five years; Arthur, Willis and Grace. 2. Sally G., married Andrew Harkness, and is now (1911) living in the state of Washington; children : Henry, Edith. Martha, Laura, Truman, Lee, Ella, William and Oliver. Of Sally G. Harkness her brother, James S., says :

She, in some respects, is a remarkable woman. She is now (1911) sixty-three years of age, in per- fect health without a gray hair and able to do much more work than many young women of to-day. She was married at the early age of fifteen, bore ten children, cared for them until they were grown up, did the work for a number of laborers most of the time, during all the time the children were with her, her husband being engaged in lumbering, and at the same time studying, covering a wide range of sub- jects, and to-day is the best read woman of my acquaintance. Although a small woman yet she has accomplished all of these things, and is to-day an active, well and happy woman, getting much pleasure and enjoyment out of every day.

3. Stephen J., a locomotive engineer, now on the New York, Pittsburgh and Ohio railroad; resides in Greenville, Pennsylvania ; married (first) Florence Seaver; after her death he married (second) a Miss Blockley ; children : Lloyd, Charles, Juva and Josephine. 4. James

James . Whipple.

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S., of further mention. 5. Fred D., a farmer of Kalkaski, Michigan; married (first), June 3, 1879, Lois M. Bailey (deceased) ; (second), December 25, 1894, Lena W. Wells; children : Alfred M., Beulah B., Burr W., Bethel and Ruby. 6. Willis Walton, graduated from Ran- dolph Academy, entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Company and is now manager of the East Salamanca stock yard; married Nellie Burroughs ; children : Una and Ava.

This record of the six children of Henry F. and Martha A. (Hatch) Whipple is one that excites admiration. Left to the care of their mother, on a woods farm, by their father in 1862, all have become successful and well-to-do and two at least famous. The widowed mother builded wisely and well and much of their suc- cess is due to her wise teaching and example.

(VIII) James S., third son of Henry Fran- cisco and Martha Alvira (Hatch) Whipple, was born in Steamburg, Cattaraugus county, New York, October 1, 1852. His education was obtained in the public schools of Sala- manca and through a constant and wide course of reading. He early bore his share of the family burden imposed through the tragic end of his soldier father. He was first employed in a sawmill, after which he worked as a steam- fitter with Davis & Shaw, of Toledo, Ohio, then for several years on the railroad. When he decided to study law he was employed in the yards at Salamanca, and after his five hours study in a law office during the day, he made his required hours at night in the rail- road yards. Naturally and always a student and possessed of such determination and spirit it is not strange that during his long and active life he has acquired so broad and complete a knowledge of many subjects. He was admit- ted to the bar during the June term of the supreme court held at Buffalo in 1881. He practiced his profession for a time but soon became interested in politics and public life.

He served as justice of the peace, super- visor, being chairman of the Cattaraugus coun- ty board. In 1887 he was elected a member of the state assembly, serving four terms until 1891. He was United States commissioner for several years, and clerk of the New York state senate, 1898-1905, inclusive, a longer term of service in that position than held by any other man in the state. While a member of the assembly he served on important committees : Was chairman of general laws, chairman of insurance and a member of the judiciary com-

mittee. He was chairman of a special com- mittee appointed in 1888 to investigate the Indian problems of the state. After an ex- haustive investigation of the subjects commit- ted to them, they laid before the legislature in 1889 a report that is yet an authority on In- dian life, habits, land, titles, etc., with recom- mendations far in advance of public thought, but now generally approved by nearly every student of the Indian question. In 1905 he resigned the clerkship of the senate to accept the office of commissioner of forests, fish and game, of the state of New York. This position he held for six years, giving such close atten- tion and careful study to the duties and needs of the service as to attract the attention of those in charge of similar departments in other states and in Canada. During his term great progress was made in the work of preserving the forests and in creating a public sentiment for conservation of all the natural resources of the state. As a lecturer on forestry he has few equals, and during his six years in office he delivered more than six hundred addresses on . forestry and conservation of natural re- sources. He was then unable to meet all the demands made on him for addresses. Those who know Mr. Whipple best agree that as a convincing speaker he has few equals. The present dean of the Buffalo Law School says in regard to his public addresses, "his forte is that of a teacher, as he possesses the faculty of making all who hear him understand and believe what he says." He has always been more the orator, pleader and teacher than the business man, his years of public service hav- ing allowed him to gratify his natural tastes and disposition. October 3, 1910, Mr. Whip- ple resigned his office of commissioner of for- ests and returned to the practice of law in his native village with his son, Burdette D.

He has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his home town, and has con- tributed to every charity and business enter- prise to the full extent of his ability. He was for a long period an active member of the leading literary societies of the village. He belongs to lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order in Salamanca, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Ismailia Temple, Buffalo. He also belongs to the Salamanca Lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His clubs are : The City of Salamanca, Albany of Albany, New

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York, and The Republican of New York City. He holds honorary membership in many soci- eties throughout the state for the conservation of natural resources, and is a member of the American Forestry Association. His public speaking and his office of commissioner of forests has gained Mr. Whipple a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and has made him one of the best known men in the state.

He married, November 25, 1873, Sarah R. Dean, born July 10, 1851, daughter of Sey- mour and Margaret (Everts) Dean. Children : I. Gurth A., born September 5, 1874; married Olga McGuire. He served as a private in the Seventy-first New York during the Spanish- American war. Was for several years con- nected with the business affairs of the Bell Telephone Company in New York City, and is now connected with the Knickerbocker Ex- press, a daily paper published in Albany, New York. 2. Burdette D., born April 5, 1876; a lawyer now in practice in Salamanca ; married Laura S. Vreeland; children, James Vreeland and Elizabeth Olive. 3. Willis Walton, born February 16, 1882 ; prepared for the profession of dentistry at Michigan University, class of 1906, and at the New York School of Den- tistry. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Salamanca. He married, October 7, 1908, Wilhelmina Edith Sander ; child. Vivian Olive, born February 15, 1910.

PEASLEE This family is traced through its varied spellings : Peaselee, Peasely. Peasle; Peaslee, Peas- ley, Peaslie, Peasly. Peslee, Peisley (Irish ) and Paisley (Scotch). These variations are more numerous in the first and second generations, later Peaslee or Peasley was generally used, while the majority of the present generation spell the name Peaslee.

The American family was founded in Mas- sachusetts about 1635 and from there has spread to every state and territory in the Union. Many distinguished men have borne the name or inherited the blood through intermarriage. One of the latter is John Greenleaf Whittier, the poet. Two governors of New Hampshire have borne the name, a chief justice of the Massachusetts supreme court and several mem- bers of congress. Few men have attained high- er honor in the medical profession than Dr. Edmund Randolph Peaslee, of New York City, while judges, clergymen, lawyers, physicians, educators, eminent business men and farmers

may be named without number. The family furnished its full quota of soldiers to the revo- lutionary army (although many were Quak- ers), and in the "Anti Rent" war that raged in the counties of the Mohawk valley. Thomas Peaslee was a strong, fearless leader and to his wise council and grim determination to never yield may be largely attributed the suc- cessful result of the strife in Schoharie county. Whoever opens for examination the old book of town records of Haverhill, Massachusetts, will find on one of its first pages, "Joseph Peasley and Mary, Joseph, born September 9, 1641," and further search will disclose repeated mention of Joseph Peasley, father and son, through the records of three-quarters of a cen- tury.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 50

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