USA > New York > Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I > Part 90
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Children of Henry Jones and Julia Harper (Blinn) Yates: 1. Blinn, born July 9, 1868; married, June 12, 1889, Frances Clark, and has a son, Blinn Francis, born February 22, 1891. 2. Leonora F., born November 8, 1873, died unmarried, June 9, 1903. 3. Henry Jones, born May 23, 1875, died September 26, 1901. 4. Ellen P., born August 18, 1882. 5. Anna B., born January 11, 1891 ; a student at Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts. Two children, Rob- ert and Erdman died in infancy.
TAYLOR Rev. Alexander Taylor was born in a little village called Port Glasgow on the river Clyde, in Scotland, October 31, 1816. His parents were Presbyterians and he was bap- tized in the parish kirk. When he was eight years old he came with his parents and their little family to St. John, New Brunswick, in September, 1823. He attended the Presbyte- rian Sabbath school there and very early showed promise of ability as a public speaker in reciting before the Sunday school. He also attended services at the Methodist chapel and doubtless received there the foundations of the faith and doctrine that he preached so elo- quently in later years.
In his fourteenth year his mother died, and at a critical time in his boyhood he lacked the restraints and influence of a mother's care and love. He was employed in St. John by a man who after receiving many months of faithful service failed to pay the wages due the boy, who left St. John for Fredericton, feeling ut- terly friendless and discouraged. Failing to
find work there he went to Woodstock, where he was employed as a lumberman, though he was then but sixteen years old. In the follow- ing spring he attended evangelistic services near Richmond, conducted by Rev. Samuel Wormwood, and here made the decision that became the turning point of his life. Ever afterward he was an earnest and consecrated Christian. Largely by private study he equipped himself for the ministry and he was eventually drawn into the profession for which he was well fitted naturally. His ministerial work extended over a period of fifty years in the Free Baptist denomination, and he preached and worked in nearly every parish in New Brunswick. His was eminently the missionary spirit, and he became one of the best-known evangelists of his day. From 1853 to 1856 he was engaged in missionary work in various places: In 1856 he conducted evan- gelistic services in St. John North, then at Portland, Maine. In the same year he went to Campobello to baptize the converts made there during a revival conducted by Cyril Doucette, then a licentiate, and afterward Mr. Taylor was called to the pastorate of the church there. He built a house and made his home there for five years. In 1861 he resumed missionary work in the fourth district. In the following year he conducted revival services at Campo- bello and baptized sixteen converts. In the same year he organized a new church at Beaver Harbor with seventeen charter mem- bers. In 1863 he was appointed conference missionary to work among the churches hav- ing no pastor, and during the following three years he visited and labored in many churches on the St. John river and also at Beaver Har- bor. From 1868 to 1870 he was pastor of churches on the islands, including Grand Ma- nan, White Head and Campobello. In 1871-72 he was again engaged as home missionary by the conference, and in 1873 he became pastor of the Hampstead churches, remaining there for three years. In 1873 he was moderator of the conference, and for six years afterward pastor of the Tracey Mills Church. In 1880 he conducted an extensive and fruitful revival during which sixty converts were made. In 1884 Mr. Taylor became pastor of the Wake- field church and in the following year removed to Tracey Mills, again takng charge of the churches of that pastorate. In 1886-87 he gave his time to visiting churches without pastors, at Bath, Perth, Arthurette and other places in
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the first district. Although his early educa- tional opportunities were limited, he made up for its deficiencies by constant reading and study and became a man of broad and thor- ough learning. His mind was clear and log- ical, his reasoning sound and convincing. Earnest, pious and fervent, he put his soul into the work of the church, and his preaching was forcible' and stirring. To his denomina- tion he was always loyal and faithful. His personality was attractive and he possessed a strong individuality and a well-rounded Chris- tian character. He died at Hampstead, Jan- uary 4, 1888.
He married Abbie Sommes Spiller, born at Old Town, on the Penobscot river, Maine, of English parentage. Children : Phileria E., Edward H., Benjamin U., Alice A., Anna E., Charles A., Frank E., and two who died in in- fancy.
(II) Benjamin Underhill, second son and third child of Rev. Alexander Taylor, was born at Linneus, Maine, September 11, 1854. He attended the public schools of his native state. He served an apprenticeship in the general building trades in the employ of a prominent firm of Boston contractors, and spent three years in studying mechanics and science. After finishing his technical training in Boston, he went to Western Pennsylvania and engaged in the oil business. In 1887 he established himself as a builder and con- tractor at Olean, New York, and he has con- tinued in business there with great success to the present time. He erected many of the best buildings in the city, including hotels, business buildings, manufacturing plants and tanneries. He took contracts for street con- struction and built up incidentally a large trade in building materials, extending into several states in this section of the country. His business was incorporated February I, 1904, and since then it has grown to even larger proportions. The present officers are : President, Benjamin Underhill Taylor; vice- president, H. M. Taylor ; secretary and treas- urer, J. S. Hunt; general superintendent, C. A. Taylor ; assistant manager, A. McFarland. The offices are at 254 North Union street, Olean. The company owns extensive ware- houses on the Pennsylvania railroad and does an annual business of $150,000 or more.
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An earnest Christian since the age of seven- teen, he joined the church a year later and has been active in the Methodist Episcopal church
ever since and is among the foremost in the councils of this denomination in his conference. He is a member of the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Olean, and he served two years as president of the Genesee Conference Epworth League, display- ing rare executive ability and leadership in administering this office. He was twice chosen delegate by the Lay Electoral Conference to represent the Genesee Conference, first in Chi- cago and second at Los Angeles, California. He has been a constant student of the history, policies and religious affairs of his church, and is exceptionally well qualified as its representa- tive. În politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Bolivar Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Bolivar Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and the Scottish Rite bodies at Olean; Olean Lodge, No. 471, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, also member of Allegany Encampment, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is president of Olean Chamber of Commerce.
He married, April 19, 1882, Harriet May McFarland, of Grand Manan, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of James McFarland, of Grand Manan. Children: Amy A., married Arthur C. True, one child, Arthur; Clarence, Florence E., married J. H. King, professor in Oil City, Pennsylvania; Alta M., Grace A., Alice M., Bernard W., Laura J., Thalia G.
STRONG That the Strongs of Ireland, Scotland and England are of a different origin, respectively,
would seem to be manifest from the variety of their family crests. The crest of the Strongs of Ireland is a lion rampant azure, supporting a pillar argent; of those of Scot- land, a cluster of grapes stalked and leaved ; while those of England have three from which to choose. Which belongs to the Strongs of America, Benjamin W. Dwight, the historian of the Strong family, says is a matter of doubt. The Strong family of England was originally of the county of Shropshire. One of the family married an heiress of Griffith, in the county of Caernarvon, Wales, and took up his residence there in 1545.
(I) Richard Strong, of this branch of the family, was born in Caernarvon, Wales, in 1561. In 1590 he removed to Taunton, Som- ersetshire, England, where he died in 1613, leaving a son John and a daughter Eleanor. The name is said to have originally been Mc-
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Strachan, passing through the various forms of Strachan, Strachn, becoming finally Strong. (II) John, son of Richard Strong, was born in Taunton, England, in 1605. He removed to London and afterward to Plymouth. Having a deeply religious mind, he was in fullest sym- pathy with the Puritans, and when in 1630 a company of one hundred and forty were sail- ing for the New World, he accompanied them, sailing in the ship "Mary and John," landing after a passage of seventy days at Nantasket (Hull), Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 30, same year. They prospected for a location several days, finally deciding upon a spot he called Dorchester, after the English home of many of the settlers. John Strong was accom- panied by his sister Eleanor, who was several years his junior, he then being about twenty- five years old. She married Walter Deane, a tanner, of Taunton, Massachusetts, previously of Taunton, England, and they are the ances- tors of a numerous family. In 1635 John Strong left Dorchester and settled at Hingham and took the freeman's oath at Boston, March 9, 1639. He tarried but a short time at Hing- ham, for on December 4, 1636, he is found an inhabitant and proprietor of Taunton, Massa- chusetts, where he was that year made a free- man, and was a deputy to the general court in 1641-43-44. He removed to Windsor, Con- necticut, and in 1659 to Northampton, Massa- chusetts, of which town he was one of the first and most active founders. Here he lived forty years, becoming a leading man in town and church affairs. He was a prosperous tanner and a large land owner. From the church records of Northampton we quote: "After solemn and extraordinary seeking to God for his direction and blessing, the church chose John Strong ruling elder, and William Holton deacon."
He married (first) in England,
who died on the voyage or shortly after land- ing ; she was the mother of two children. He married (second) Abigail Ford, of Dorches- ter, with whom he lived fifty-eight years. She was the mother of sixteen children, and died July 6, 1688, aged eighty years. Elder John Strong died April 14, 1699, aged ninety-four years. At his death he had one hundred and sixty descendants-eighteen children, fifteen having families; one hundred and fourteen grandchildren, and thirty-three great-grand- .children. Thomas Ford, father of Abigail (Ford) Strong, was one of the company who
came in the "Mary and John" in 1630. He was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut, which town he represented in the general court in 1637-38-39-40. Children of Elder John Strong, by first wife: John, and an infant who soon died : By second wife : Thomas, Jedediah, died aged ninety-six years; Josiah, Return, died aged eighty-five years; Elder Ebenezer, died aged eighty-six years; Abigail, Elizabeth, died aged eighty-nine years; Experience, Sam- uel, died aged eighty years; Joseph, twin with Samuel; Mary, died aged eighty-four years ; Sarah, died aged seventy-seven years ; Hannah, Hester, Thankful, Jerijah, died aged eighty- eight years. The oldest and youngest chil- dren were thirty-nine years apart in age, the eldest born in England, 1626, and the young- est in Connecticut, 1665. Two sons and a daughter died young. The daughters all mar- ried, one of them twice. The sons all mar- ried, and from these fifteen children sprang nearly all the numerous Strong families in the United States.
(III) Thomas, son of Elder John Strong, was born about 1635, died October 3, 1689. He was a trooper in 1658 at Windsor, Con- necticut, under Major Mason. He moved to Northampton with his father in 1659. Of his fifteen children all but one was living at the time of his death, all young. He married (first), December 5, 1660, Mary, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Hewett, of Windsor. She died February 20, 1670. He married (second), Oc- tober 10, 1671, Rachel, daughter of Deacon William Hallon, of Northampton, who sur- vived him and married (second) Nathan Brad- ley. This marriage took her with her younger children into southern Connecticut. Children, five by first wife: Thomas, Maria, John, Hew- ett, Asahel, Joseph, called "Justice Joseph," of whom further; Benjamin, Adino, Waitstill, Rachel, Selah, Benajah, Ephraim, Elnathan, Ruth, Submit (posthumous).
(IV) Justice Joseph Strong, son of Thomas Strong, of Northampton, and his second wife, Rachel (Hallon) Strong, was born December 2, 1672, died at Coventry, Connecticut, Decem- ber 23, 1763. He moved from Northampton to Coventry in March, 1716, seven years after the first settlement of that town. He was a farmer and a man of unusual prominence. He was town treasurer, 1716; selectman six years and justice of the peace for many years. In 1721 he represented Coventry in the colonial legislature, which until 1819 held two sessions
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yearly. Justice Strong was elected fifty-two times a member, and including extra sessions was a member for sixty-five sessions of the Connecticut general assembly, elected the last time in May, 1762, when eighty-nine years old, his son Phinehas being the other member from Coventry at that time. "He and his son," says Dr. Porter, "were persons of property and standing." He married (first) Sarah Allen, born August 22, 1672, daughter of Nehemiah Allen, of Northampton, Massachusetts, and granddaughter of Samuel Allen, from Brain- tree, Essex county, England, in 1632. He mar- ried (second) Ruth -, who survived him. Children, all by first wife: Sarah, married Ebenezer Root; Captain Joseph, Rachel, died young; Deacon Phinehas, Simeon, Jemima, Keziah, married Noah Rust; Rachel, married Aaron Strong; Elizabeth.
(V) Deacon Phinehas Strong, son of Jus- tice Joseph Strong, was born about 1704. He was a farmer of Coventry, Connecticut, a member for fifty-three sessions of the gen- eral assembly (including extra sessions), hav- ing been elected thirty-eight times to the legis- lature; was selectman six years, justice of the peace and deacon of the church for a long period. He married, November 5, 1724, Mary, daughter of Deacon Thomas Parker, of Co- ventry. Children: Phinehas, Mary, Sarah, Azubah, married Thomas Page; Oziah, Je- rusha, Jranah, Elijah, Elisha, twin of Eli- jah ; Beulah, died aged nineteen years.
(VI) Elisha, son of Deacon Phinehas Strong, was born in Coventry, Connecticut, August 15, 1743, died April 13, 1805, killed by the kick of a horse. He was a farmer in Coventry and Sharon, Connecticut, finally in Ashland, Greene county, New York, where he owned a large tract of land. He married, in 1746, Anna, daughter of Deacon James Pinneo, of Lebanon, Connecticut, and grand- daughter of James Pinneo, a Huguenot refu- gee from France. She died November 18, 1818, at Ashland. Children : Azubah, married Deacon Argulas White, of Ashland; James, Jarius, of whom further; Deacon Elijah, Sil- via, married Nathan R. Strong; Elisha, Anna, married James Chase, of Ashland; Betsey, married Jacob Reynolds, of Allen, Allegany county, New York.
(VII) Jarius, son of Elisha Strong, was born in Sharon, Connecticut, May 4, 1774, died at Ashland, New York, June 12, 1838. He was a merchant for a short time, later moved
to Ashland, Greene county, New York, where he owned and operated tanneries. In 1818 he represented Greene county in the New York state legislature. He married, January 9, 1799, Dosha, born in East Windsor, Connecticut, April 26, 1777, died June 6, 1865, daughter of Daniel and Beulah (Rockwell) Bissell. Chil- dren : Austin, of whom further; Olivia, Clar- inda, Aurelia, Maria, Minerva, twin of Maria; Elvira, Colonel Daniel Bissell, Louisa, Major Elisha Pinneo.
(VIII) Austin, son of Jarius Strong, was born at Ashland, Greene county, New York, December 14, 1799. He owned and operated extensive tanneries at Black Lake and Wood- bourne, Sullivan county, and Allegany and Cat- taraugus counties, New York, and was a man of much prominence. He married Elizabeth Bigelow, born in Greene county, New York, July 14, 1805, daughter of Foster and Lois (Gilbert) Morss, of Ashland. Children : Clar- inda, Evalina, died young; Foster Morss, died young; Jarius Bissell, of whom further ; Lois Morss, married Levi H. Alden; Harriet Eliza- beth, Dosha Bissell, died in infancy ; Dosha Bissell (2), died aged seventeen years; Austin Foster, settled in Kansas; Isabella.
(IX) Jarius Bissell, son of Austin Strong, was born at Woodbourne, Sullivan county, New York, September 13, 1834, died in Olean, Cattaraugus county, New York, February 8, 1878. He was well educated, and at the age of nineteen years his father's failing health and eyesight compelled the son to assume the entire financial charge and oversight of the large tannery at Black Lake. This heavy re- sponsiblity was cheerfully assumed and the business successfully conducted until 1864, when he moved to the village of Allegany, Cattaraugus county, New York, and there es- tablished large tanneries that he operated un- til his death. In the summer of 1877 his plant was destroyed by fire, but with characteristic energy plans were at once made for rebuilding and before his death in 1878 the establishment was again in successful operation. He was also interested in the oil business which was also managed with signal judgment and suc- cess. While his principal place of business was at Allegany, his home after 1873 was at Olean, where he purchased a residence in keeping with his wealth and cultivated taste. While never a politician he took the liveliest interest in public affairs, nor shirked any of. the responsibilities of citizenship. He was sev-
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eral times elected supervisor while living in Allegany, and in 1875 was elected treasurer of Cattaraugus county over a normal Republican majority of fifteen hundred, he being the Dem- ocratic candidate. Mr. Strong was held in the highest esteem wherever known. His sunny, genial nature inspired all with a confidence that closer acquaintance only strengthened. He radiated sunshine yet had a quick sympathy for those in trouble. Generous to a fault he bestowed his charities so quietly that none sus- pected the volume of his benevolence.
He married, May 31, 1859, Helen G., only daughter of Gideon Howard, of Tannersdale, Sullivan county, New York. Gideon Howard married, November, 1831, Mona M. DeWitt, sixth child of John DeWitt, of Oak Hill, New York, a large land owner. Gideon and Mona M. Howard had two children: Helen G. and Edwin C., the latter born November 20, 1837, married, December 20, 1867, Ellen Bennett, and has a son, George Bennett Howard. Chil- dren of Jarius B. and Helen G. Strong: I. Gideon Howard, born December 10, 1860; married, January 12, 1887, Anna McIntosh; children: Helen Evans, born September 27, 1889, and Marian, died in infancy. 2. Louie Gilbert, married John R. Fobes, now de- ceased; one son, Kenneth De Witt, resides with his mother in California. 3. Bertha Morse, married Dr. Elgin McCray, of Watertown, New York; two children: Donald, deceased, and Helen Howard. Mrs. Helen G. Strong survives her husband, a resident of Olean, New York.
The Robertsons of Chau- ROBERTSON tauqua county, herein re- corded, descend from David Robertson, of Touchie, Scotland, the first Robertson "Laird of Touchie." He mar- ried Beatrice Whyte.
(II) James, eldest son of David Robertson, was born at Kinrossshire, Scotland, 1679. He married, about 1710, Margaret Niving.
(III) David (2), eldest son of James Rob- ertson, was born at Touchie Mill, Kinrossshire, Scotland, October 28, 1711. He married, De- cember 28, 1733, Christian, daughter of John Brown.
(IV) Robert, son of David (2) Robertson, was born at Touchie Mill, Kinrossshire, Scot- land, October, 1755, died at North Argyle, New York, November 6, 1840. He came to 31- W
the United States, 1793, and in 1796, married Isabel, daughter of Nicholas Mills.
(V) Schuyler, son of Robert Robertson, born May 15, 1808, died April 20, 1898. He was one of the early farmers of the town of Carroll, Chautauqua county, New York, where he settled in 1835. He was a farmer and also engaged in lumbering. He was a Universalist in religious faith, and in politics first an old- line Whig, later a Republican. He married, July 19, 1835, Polly Foster Clark, born March 19, 1812, died January 2, 1871. Children : I. Lucius Mortimer, of whom further. 2. Mary A., born January 24, 1843, died August 17, 1903; she married C. G. Mitchell, of Utica, New York; no issue. 3. Clark, born May 8, 1849.
(VI) Lucius Mortimer, son of Schuyler Robertson, was born in Jamestown, New York, April 2, 1836, died in Brooklyn, New York, November 9, 1901, buried .in Maple Grove cemetery, at Frewsburg. His parents settled in the town of Carroll, Chautauqua county, and he received his early education in the public schools of that place, later at- tending a private school, finishing his studies at Chamberlain Institute, at Randolph, New York. After completing his studies he taught school several terms, in the meantime taking up the study of higher mathematics, civil en- gineering and surveying. He continued his studies until he had thoroughly mastered the latter profession, becoming one of the best and most accurate surveyors of Western New York. He also studied law, but his health gave way under the combined strain of work and study, causing him to abandon all idea of be- coming a lawyer. He continued his surveying and engineering work for several years. His home was in the village of Frewsburg, where for a short time he engaged in mercantile life ; where he served several years as justice of the peace and two terms as school commis- sioner, six years in all. In 1881 he was ap- pointed to a positon in the United States rev- enue department at New York City, retaining that position until his death. He was removed from office during President Cleveland's first administration, but so valuable were his ser- vices and so greatly was he missed that he was very soon reappointed. He was thrice pro- moted and was considered one of the govern- ment's most reliable, trustworthy officials. He was a man of superior intelligence, well edu- cated and extremely public-spirited. He was
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active in the politics of Chautauqua county during his residence there, and was a leader of the Republican party in his town. He was a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 145, of Jamestown.
He married, November 7, 1861, Elizabeth Ann, born March 20, 1839, daughter of John J. and Lydia (Stevens) Myers. John J. Myers was a son of John and Kate (Van Volken- burg) Myers. John Myers was one of the early settlers of the town of Carroll and kept an inn on the Conewango, about one mile from Frewsburg, as early as 1814. He had a shrewd eye to business and was of a very cheerful, happy temperament. He had thirteen chil- dren. Six of his sons, John J., Jacob, Robert, Lyman, William and James, became perma- nent citizens of Carroll, as did two of his daughters. His sons were men of ability and active in business. John J. Myers, son of John Myers, was born February 29, 1813, died May 9, 1888. He was a successful farmer, lumber- man and sawmill owner. He took active in- terest in town affairs, was very public-spirited and of more than average ability. He was a Republican in politics, and an active member of the First Baptist Church in Frewsburg. When they erected their first church edifice he rendered valuable assistance and was always deeply interested in the welfare of his church. He married, November 30, 1834, Lydia Ste- vens, born December 16, 1815, died March 24, 1887, daughter of Captain Wright and Polly (Tracy) Stevens. Children: Merritt, born August 23, 1835; Henry Wright, August 22, 1837; Elizabeth Ann, married Lucius M. Rob- ertson ; John Sidney, born July 13, 1841 ; Sa- bra Annette, June 9, 1844; Jefferson Perry, June 9, 1847. Children of Lucius M. Robert- son : I. Alice Esther, born September 27, 1862 ; married, June 9, 1886, Charles W. Baldwin. 2. Henry Parker, of whom further.
(VII) Henry Parker, only son of Lucius Mortimer Robertson, was born at Frewsburg, New York, March 18, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of that village and at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He engaged in the furniture business as salesman; was a stockholder of the Jamestown Bedstead Com- pany, which was later reorganized as the H. P. Robertson Company, of which company he is president and treasurer. He is also a director of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Jamestown. He is a member of the Masonic
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