Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 86

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

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setts, where he married Elizabeth Fish, born June 20, 1725. Elisha was a soldier under Wolfe, at the taking of Quebec in 1759, and had passed through Cambridge, New York, on their march. After returning from the war he went into that town and took title to land there in 1762. John married Phoebe Deuel, IIth mo. 22, 1772, and settled near his father. When the Hessians under Baum were on the way to defeat at Bennington, they passed through Cambridge, where they camped over night. Upon the approach of the Hessians, this young couple buried many of their scant possessions and fled to Dutchess county, where her parents were then living. Here they suf- fered the privations and depredations which fell to the lot of all those who lived along the borders of the "Neutral Ground" during the revolution. They did not return to Cambridge until peace had been declared; in 1810 they removed to Peru, New York. Phoebe Deuel was the daughter of Joseph Deuel (DeVol), born January 9, 1735, in Dartmouth, Massa- chusetts, and his wife, Rachel Smith, born No- vember 20, 1738, in Dartmouth, Massachu- setts. Phobe was an unusual woman; born Ist mo. 21, 1757, married 11th mo. 22, 1772, became a mother 9th mo. 12, 1773, bore fif- teen children, all of whom lived to have fam- ilies of their own, and she had one hundred and twenty-seven grandchildren. She lived until 3rd mo. 16, 1845, and bore with patience and cheerfulness all the burdens of life until she laid them down. Joseph Deuel, her father, settled in Greenfield, New York, where he bought a farm in 1788, in a then unbroken. wilderness. Here he lived until his death in 1818, acting for many years as the agent of the owners of that part of the Kayaderossis Patent.

Samuel Churchill, Mr. North's father, lost his mother by death, when young, and was brought up in the family of his uncle, Abijah North, of Champlain, New York. He learned the trade of blacksmith in Keeseville, New York, and followed that calling in Chazy, New York, in connection with farming until 1852, when he moved to 'Avon, New York, carrying on a wagon shop there, and then a general store until 1879, when he moved to Colorado, where, overcoming the disabilities arising from his service in the civil war, he followed the business of contractor and builder until his death at Aspen, February 18, 1897. Mr. North's mother was Jemima Deuel Jack-

Itorace Briggs

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offer at an advanced salary, to undertake a private school for several boys, in what is now known as Rumsey Park, in a building front- ing on Tupper street, recently demolished to make way for the extension of Elmwood ave- nue. This school prospered and broadened into "The Buffalo Classical School," which Professor Briggs conducted until 1885, when, having taught for upwards of fifty years, he concluded he would retire and spend a little time in visiting those parts of the world which had become familiar to him during his years of teaching. Professor Briggs has since been an extensive traveller ; he has visited western and southern Europe, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Mexico, Alaska, Japan, and the Hawaiian Islands, drawing much interest to most of these through many letters published in the Buffalo Commercial, and now, at the age of ninety- four, takes as much interest in things terres- trial as at any time in his life.

Professor Briggs has now been a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Buf- falo over twenty-five years, and clerk of its session since 1892. He has been many times to the Presbytery, to the Synod of New York, and three times as a delegate to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He has been one of the trus- tees of the "Jesse Ketchum Fund" for many years, and of late years its president, distribut- ing each year the medals and diplomas to the scholars in the various public schools in Buf- falo. He is an honorary life member of the University and Buffalo clubs; a life member of the Buffalo Historical Society, and of the Buffalo Public Library, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Roches- ter University in 1862, and of Ph. D. by Will- iams College in 1875.

From 1863 until 1885 almost every young man who went to college from Buffalo, was graduated from Professor Briggs' Classical School, besides a large number of others who took only a business course, and these, together with those from his former schools, have given him the continued acquaintance and friendship of many Western New York men who all re- member with pleasure the days they passed under his tuition.

Professor Briggs was married, July 3, 1849, at five o'clock in the morning, to Catharine, daughter of James Harvey and Lydia (Wat-

kins) Morse, of Orangeville, by whom he has one daughter, Dora C., now the wife of Charles J. North, of Buffalo, New York.

WILNER The immigrant ancestor of this family was one of the conscripts furnished by the Duke of Bruns- wick to King George III. He sailed from Plymouth, England, in 1776, with the force of Brunswickers, under command of Baron Fried- rich Adolph von Riedesel, was with Burgoyne's army and later in the detachment under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Baum, which was defeated at the battle of Bennington by General Stark. Wilner was among the prisoners. He took the oath of allegiance, settled in Western Massa- chusetts and married there. Children : George, mentioned below; Henry, killed at the battle of Plattsburg, 1814; David, served in the war of 1812, from Northampton, Massachusetts ; James.

(II) George Wilner was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, January 1, 1797, died October 6, 1864. He enlisted in 1813, in a company raised by Captain Perkins, and took part with his regiment in the battle of Ston- ington, Connecticut, in 1814. After the war he emigrated to Western New York, settling in what is now the town of Portage, Living- ston county, where he lived for the remainder of his life, except about three years, when he was a resident of Indiana. He was a lieuten- ant and captain in the militia, and a justice of the peace. He married, February 17, 1822, Betsey, born August 6, 1797, died June 8, 1857, daughter of Elisha and Hannah (Mer- rell) Moses. She was descended from John Moses, who came from England in 1632, set- tled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and re- moved to Windsor, Connecticut, in 1635 or 1636. Children : I. Hannah Maria, born No- vember 5, 1823 ; married, December, 1844, Ho- bart A. Twichell, died November 16, 1877. 2. Marcus Willoughby,. born January 4, 1825; married, September 12, 1850, Susan Adams, died January, 1897. 3. Malcolm George, born February 13, 1826; married, November 29, 1854, Marion Wallace Weaver. 4. Merriman Jasper, mentioned below. 5. Flavia Moses, born December 28, 1834; married, December 8. 1858, Nathan Sage Butler, died April 2, 1890. 6. Henry Mortimer, born October 4, 1839. died January 30, 1845.

(III) Merriman Jasper, son of George Wil-

Marton 2 Wiener

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ner, was born December 12, 1827. He was a farmer and lived at Portage, Livingston coun- ty, New York. He held the offices of super- visor, highway commissioner and assessor. He married, December 24, 1856, Sarah Maria, born March 8, 1828, daughter of David and Esther (Staples) Sanford, of Redding, Con- necticut, and descendant of Thomas Sanford, of Milford, Connecticut. Children : I. Estella Jane, born November 7, 1864; married, May 20, 1890, William P. Wilder; child, Ruth Es- telle, born January 17, 1894. 2. Merton Merri- man, mentioned below.

(IV) Merton Merriman, son of Merriman Jasper Wilner, was born May 2, 1867. He was educated at Nunda union school and two years in Cornell University. He became a newspaper man, worked for three years on the Binghamton Republican, and since 1890 has been an editorial writer on the Buffalo Express. He is a member of the Buffalo Historical Soci- ety, the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the National Geographic Society and the Amer- ican Historical Association. He is the author of a chapter on Erie county, in "Fitch's Official New York from Cleveland to Hughes"; ad- visory editor for Erie county of "Genealogical and Family History of Western New York." He married, May 13, 1890, Edith Lucile, born October 21, 1866, daughter of Lewis and Amanda (Stone) Whitehead, of Nunda, New York, and descendant through colonial and revolutionary ancestors of William Stone, an original settler of Guilford, Connecticut, who was the son of the Rev. Samuel Stone, of Hereford, England, and immigrated in 1639 with William Lette and the Rev. Henry Whit- field. Children : Dorothy Edith, born Septem- ber 25, 1891 ; Ortha Leslie, January 27, 1894; Margia Crittenden, March 8, 1898.

This family dates back many BECKER generations to German ancestors and a soldier of the allied armies before whom the great Napoleon went down in defeat at the battle of Waterloo.

(I) The earliest of whom there is record is Charles Samuel Becker, born in Germany, son of Frederick William Becker. Charles Samuel was a soldier in the army of Blucher and was with that great commander when he arrived on the battlefield of Waterloo, turn- ing the fortunes of that great battle against Napoleon and forever closing his career as a monarch and disturber of the peace of Europe.

He married and had children: Rebecca, Mar- garet, Frederick, Charles Samuel, Alfred Aus- tin.

(II) Charles Samuel (2), son of Charles Samuel (1) Becker, the soldier ancestor, was born in Germany. He was a farmer of that province, a Conservative, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah, daughter of Peter Irish. Children: Charles Henry, Sarah Annetta, Adah Maude, L. Scott, Alfred Austin.

(III) Alfred Austin, youngest child of Charles Samuel (2) and Sarah (Irish) Becker, was born at Brighton, province of Ontario, Canada, November 9, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of Brighton, Canada, and Jamestown, New York, and the University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, where he received his degree of M. D. in 1898. Before engaging in professional work he held various clerical positions; he was cashier of Scofield & Dins- more from 1889 to 1895; bookkeeper of the Fenton Metallic Company, 1896. In 1898 he began the practice of his profession in James- town, where he still continues in successful practice. He is a member of the New York State, Chautauqua County and Jamestown Medical societies, and of the Unitarian church.

He married, December 24, 1902, Maude Jane Burch, born January 27, 1882, daughter of Charles E. and Carrie (Paddock) Burch, whose children are: Edwina Mary, Maude Jane, Charles C. and Finley M. Dr. and Mrs. Becker have no children.

CAMP The Jamestown, New York, repre- sentative of this family, Albert N. Camp, is a grandson of William Camp and son of Eder Camp, of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Eder Camp was a farmer of Erie county, who died during the civil war. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an Abolitionist. He married Caro- line, daughter of William M. Miner.

(III) Albert Newell, son of Eder and Caro- line (Miner) Camp, was born at Harbor Creek, Erie county, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1852. His early education was obtained in the public schools, after which he entered the State Normal School at Edinborough, Penn- sylvania, whence he was graduated, class of 1877. After completing his studies he taught school for a few years and gradually acquired a good knowledge of photography, an art then almost in its infancy. In 1881 he opened a

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photographic studio in Mansfield, Ohio, con- tinuing there in successful business until 1885, when he disposed of his studio, and in the fall of 1885 came to Jamestown, New York. He purchased the business of J. W. Upham, at 207 Main street, where for a quarter of a cen- tury he has conducted a successful business in photography. He has kept pace with the de- velopments in photographic art, placing his work in competition with the best artists; al- ways with results satisfactory to himself. Mr. Camp conducted his business alone until May, 1910, when it was incorporated as The Camp Art Company, with Albert N. Camp, president and treasurer. The studio continues the same high quality of work, and shows several prizes won at competitive exhibitions, the latest a silver cup won for the best exhibit in color photography. A specialty is fine portrait work and a line of commercial work. Mr. Camp is an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, and an uncompromising opponent of the legalized liquor traffic. He is a lover of his fellowmen and interested in all that per- tains to their betterment.

He married, in 1882, Alice, daughter of Rich- ard E. Brown, of Farmington, Warren county, Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Presbyterian church. Child : Paul Brown, born February 8, 1889; now entering his junior year at Yale University, class of 1913.

HOPKINS This name dates from the first English settlement in America, Stephen Hopkins coming in the "Mayflower" in 1620, with wife and chil- dren. According to Burke's "Landed Gentry" the name was originally written Hopkyns, being so spelled by John Hopkyns, who filled a civil office in the city of Coventry, England, in 1567.

One branch of the family settled in Vir- ginia, but whether the emigration came direct from England or was one of the Puritans of Massachusetts, is not known. The very first ships that came to the mouth of the James river, says the historian Neill, brought Puri- tan families, and they wrote back inviting their friends to follow. In 1642 a coasting vessel from Virginia arrived at Boston with Philip Bennett on board, who had been sent north to obtain "faith ministers" to be sent by them to their Puritan brethren in Virginia. About 1649 one thousand Puritans from Virginia emigrated to Maryland. The Hopkins family of Maryland, whose greatest descendant was Johns Hopkins,

philanthropist and capitalist, of Baltimore, sprung from William and Garrard Hopkins, who may have been of this Virginia emigra- tion. The records of the land office at Annap- olis show warrants were granted for land to twenty-three persons named Hopkins, and mention five others to whom land was granted prior to 1690. Whether they came from Eng- land, New England, or the West Indies is problematical, as after 1634 coasting vessels traded from colony to colony exchanging pro- ducts.

Bishop Meade says concerning the ancestry of Rev. William Hopkins, of Virginia: "Toward the close of the seventeenth century three broth- ers emigrated from Wales to America. One settled in Massachusetts, one in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia, from whom it is probable that great numbers of the name Hopkins have sprung." In 1789 Rev. Hopkins was chosen minister of a parish in Albemarle county, Vir- ginia, and continued such until his death in 1807. Tradition says that he was ordained by Bishop White at a time when the congress of the United States and the general convention of the Episcopal church were both in session at Philadelphia. Being called upon to preach before the dignitaries of the church and nation, especially with General Washington in full view, he was for a time overwhelmed, but rousing to boldness and remembering "that a greater than Washington was there" preached with great power. He died aged seventy years, greatly beloved. (It should be stated here that the supposed Virginia progenitor, Rev. Hop- kins, of Virginia, was a Methodist minister for many years, leaving because of dissension and joining the Episcopal church). His first wife was a Miss Pollard; his second a Miss Ander- son. He had twenty-two children, eleven by each wife.

Stephen Hopkins, the signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, in 1707. He was for many years chancellor of Brown University, chief justice of the court of common pleas, governor of Rhode Island, member of congress, a wise patriot and a trusted leader.

The family now represented in Jamestown. New York, by Frank C. Hopkins, descend from Canadian forbears who went to that country from Virginia. The indications are strong that the three brothers who went into Canada from Virginia were sons of the Epis- copal minister Hopkins, previously mentioned.

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(I) The first definite name and record is of Silas Hopkins, son of one of the three brothers from Virginia, of Stony Creek, province of Ontario, Canada. He was a man of fine edu- cation and was a professor of deep learning, occupying a position in one of the schools of Ontario. After retiring from his profession he adopted farming as an occupation. He died in middle life, aged about forty years, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Katherine A. - who came to Canada from Ireland. Children: 1. Willard B., a practicing physician, now living at Hamil- ton, Ontario. 2. John, a practicing physician at Denver, Colorado. 3. Marshal, a surveyor of Dominion lands, now a resident of Alberta, Canada. 4. Ephraim, deceased, formerly a practicing physician of Hamilton, Ontario. 5. Edd, a farmer of Stony Creek, Ontario. 6. Silas Franklin, of whom further.

(II) Silas Franklin, son of Silas and Kath- erine A. Hopkins, was born at Stony Creek, Ontario, Canada, died at Hamilton, Canada, August 14, 1894. He was a well educated and most popular man in his adopted city, Hamil- ton. He was a successful manufacturer of preserves, pickles, relishes, etc. He was the first to make and introduce the brand of Wor- cestershire sauce, called in earlier years "To- ronto Relish." He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and a Conservative in Dominion politics. He married Hannah Amelia, born in Hamilton, Canada, daughter of Robert and Mary (Lutz) Crawford. She survives her husband and resides at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Children: Agnes Maud, married James B. Mundie, and resides at Ham- ilton; Harry Lutz, deceased; Frank C., of whom further; Gladys Amelia, married John Gardiner ; Crawford, resident of London, On- tario, Canada.

(III) Frank C., son of Silas Franklin and Hannah Amelia (Crawford) Hopkins, was born at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where he grew up and was educated. His first years of business life were spent on the road as travel- ing salesman. At present time is president and general manager of the Office Supply Com- pany, Jamestown, New York. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally connected with the Loyal Order of Moose, and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He married, April 8, 1909, Eva Cresman, daughter of Frank Acker, of Tonawanda, New York. Child, Ruth H., born November 23, 1910.

The surname of Chapman, CHAPMAN which signifies merchant, oc- curs among the earliest of surnames, and the family in many of its branches was somewhat distinguished at an early period. In the year 1298 a John Chap- man was returned to parliament as burgess for Chippenham.

Sir John Chapman, Knight, of Tower street, in London, was elected alderman in 1679, and served in the office of high sheriff in the same year. He was the heir of Sir William Chap- man, Bart. "The Chapman family," says Young, in his history of Whitby, England, "resided at Whitby and Yburn Dale prior to the year 1400, as appears from the rolls and registers of Whitby Abbey." Sir Thomas Chapman, of Ireland, and Admiral Chapman, of Sweden, belonged to this family. This family settled at or near Whitby in the time of Henry III., as appears on ancient records, and in the time of Richard II. Some of them were prosecuted and imprisoned by the abbot of Whitby for maintaining their just rights, but were soon set at liberty without fines. They increased much in a century or two, and many of them were in the parliamentary army. Robert Chapman and John Chapman were at Yburn, near Whitby, county York, in 1387. Names of Robert and John Chapman are found through nearly every generation. The Whitby family of Chapmans bore arms, per chevron, ermine and gules, a crescent, counterchanging in chief, three amulets of the second. Crest : Two spear heads, saltier, in front of a dexter arm embowed in arms, the hand gauntleted and grasping a broken tilting spear proper, entitled with an amuletor. Motto "Crescit sub pondere Virtus." (Virtue grows under the imposed weight). This idea owes its origin to the palm tree which grows the more under propor- tion to the incumbent weight. The history of the Chapman family both in England and America bears out this idea. There were sev- eral families of Chapmans among the early New England immigrants, many of whom achieved distinction in their several localities. The patriotism of the family is shown in the fact that seventy-seven are found on the Con- necticut Roll of Honor, who had served in the war of the revolution. Most of those who settled in New England are probably related.

(I) Josiah Chapman, of this family, was born in Connecticut, where he grew to man- hood. He came to New York state, settling

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in Seneca county, in the town of Ovid, where he died. He married and among his children was a son James.

(II) James, son of Josiah Chapman, was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, about the year 1804, died at Gasport, Niagara county, New York. He was educated in the public schools of Ovid, and in early manhood came to Niagara county, locating in Wilson, where he opened a grocery store, continuing for two years. He then purchased the Wilson Albright farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, situated on the Youngstown road. Here he conducted general farming for about twelve years. He prospered in business and later purchased the old, Wisner farm of two hundred acres, lying on the Lake road, town of New- fane, on which he resided until his death. This farm is now the property of his son Josiah B. James Chapman was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and in politics a Dem- ocrat. He held several local offices and was greatly respected by all who knew him. He married (first) Elizabeth, died December 28, 1866, daughter of Stephen Wilson. He mar- ried (second) Charlotte A. Wilson. Children of first marriage: Hugh, born February I, 1848; Horace, June 22, 1850; Josiah B., of whom further; Stephen, January 1, 1854, de- ceased ; Howard, January 21, 1857, deceased. Children of second marriage: William and Fay.

(III) Josiah B., third son of James and Elizabeth (Wilson) Chapman, was born in Wilson, Niagara county, New York, October 13, 1852. He was educated in the public school, Lockport union school and at Gasport Acad- emy. After completing his studies and arriv- ing at maturity he joined with his brother Hugh in the operation of one of the farms owned by his father. Later the two young men purchased the farm and conducted it as a partnership for ten years. In the spring of 1882 Josiah B. purchased Hugh's interest, the latter removing west. Since 1882 Mr. Chap- man has been sole owner. The farm consists of two hundred acres of very fertile land, well improved, with commodious buildings, and operated along the best modern lines. There is an abundance of fruit, a fine chestnut grove and springs of cold, running water. The farm house, of Medina sand stone, is one of the finest in the county, and the whole estate be- speaks the prosperous, modern, American farmer. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. He

is held in the highest regard in the county where so large a portion of his life has been spent. His beautiful home is always open to his friends and a warm-hearted hospitality is extended to all.

He married, May 25, 1880, Nellie Stout, born October 29, 1861, died December 22, 1910, daughter of Martin Stout, of Olcott, New York. Children: 1. James B., born May 15, 1890; educated in the public schools of Olcott and Lockport, Ovid high school, and took a course in horticulture at Cornell University. He is now at home. He married Esther Get- singer, of Hornell, New York, June 8, 1911. 2. Josiah Victor, born May 24, 1898; was a student at Ovid, New York, and now at home with his father.

Ezekiel Olds, the first member of OLDS this family of whom we have defi- nite information, lived in Vermont. The original emigrant, his ancestor, came from England in the seventeenth century. Child, Ebenezer Canfield, referred to below.

(II) Dr. Ebenezer Canfield Olds, son of Ezekiel Olds, was born in Vermont, and moved to Bradford, Mckean county, Pennsylvania. He was a tanner and established a tan yard at Bradford. Later he studied medicine, and practiced this profession also. He was one of the trustees of the Regular Baptist church at its organization in 1852. His religion was genuine, and his life such as should flow from it, so that Dr. Olds was generally beloved. He was a Republican in politics. He married Jane De Golier. Children: James, Robert, John E., referred to below; Sibyl, Warren, Marilla, Rachel.

(III) John E., son of Dr. Ebenezer Can- field and Jane (De Golier) Olds, after attend- ing the district school at Bradford, engaged in the tanning business and also had a small farm. In 1858 he removed from Bradford to Farmers Valley, Mckean county, Pennsyl- vania. He was a Baptist in religion, and a Republican in politics. He married Elizabeth Tubbs. Children : 1. Frederick C., referred to below. 2. Francis, married Orrin W. God- frey ; children : i. Myra, married Roy Amsden; ii. Mina, twin of Myra, married Clayton Searle, children : Frances, Robert, Marian : iii. Eliza- beth. 3. John A., married Laura Sanderson; children : Frances, Harriet. 4. Abner, died at about the age of sixteen. 5. Charles, married Emma Cooper ; child, Myrtle.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 86

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