USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II > Part 22
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United States by President Lincoln, continu- ing in that position until 1875, when he re- signed. His signature was better known than any other in this country, as it was borne upon every bank note issued by the government be- tween the years 1861 and 1875.
(III) Charles, son of Rev. John P. Spinner, was born at German Flats (where the town of Mohawk now stands), Herkimer county, New York, December, 1810, died October 27, 1872, and, like his brother Francis E., received most of his instruction from his father, who was a highly educated German minister. He was engaged in the real estate business and was a leading business man, and a leader in the Democratic party. He married, May 17, 1860, Elisabeth Jones, of Herkimer, New York. Children: 1. Charles C., born June 26, 1861, now a resident of Herkimer, New York ; married Harriet Ames, of Herkimer, August 19, 1881, and has three children: Charles F., Willis A. and Elizabeth. 2. Ernest F., born March 27, 1867, died in New Mexico, Decem- ber 11, 1903 ; he went to Largo, New Mexico, in 1887, engaged in the merchandise and cattle business ; married Lena Rosenburg, of Lock- port, New York, September 25, 1889; they had two sons: Carl R. and Harvey.
(The Jones Line).
Elisabeth (Jones) Spinner is a granddaugh- ter of John Jones, born in Wales, came to the United States, where he settled in Greene county, New York, and founded a family.
Lewis, son of John Jones, was born May 15, 1811, died January 11, 1883; married Sarah Kelsey, born February 12, 1812, died at Lockport, 1905. Sarah Kelsey was a daugh- ter of Robert Kelsey, born April 12, 1784, died September 30, 1866. Elisabeth, daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Kelsey) Jones, was born in Greene county, New York. She married (first) Charles Spinner ; (second) William F. Harvey (see Harvey VIII). She survives her second husband also and resides in Lockport, New York.
DOBBS Jan Dobs or Dopse, immigrant ancestor of the Dobbs family of New York, was living in Tarry- town, Westchester county, New York, as early as 1698 "en zyn huys vrous Abigail", and both were members of the Dutch church at Sleepy Hollow. He had sons, William and Thomas, born 1712. William Dobbs, son of
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Jan Dobs, or Dopse, was born in Philadel- phia, according to various accounts, and he is presumed to have been of Swedish ancestry, from the New Jersey colony, but his father was Dutch, according to very positive evidence (see Bolton, vol. I, Records of the Dutch Church of Tarrytown). Jan and Abigail Dobs were sponsors at the baptism of a child of William and Leah Dobs in 1730. William and Leah Dobs were sponsors at various bap- tisms of children of relatives at Sleepy Hol- low, Tarrytown. Jan and Abigail Dobs were sponsors in 1706-10-30. William Dobbs lived at Tarrytown and married there, according to the records of the Dutch church, Leah Van Waert, of Philadelphia. Among their children were : Abram, baptized April 11, 1730, at Tarrytown, and Jeremiah (mentioned below).
Jeremiah, son of William Dobbs, married Jane Le Vines and had two daughters, a son Peter, whose descendants lived at Greenburg, near Tarrytown, and Jeremiah Jr. Jeremiah Dobbs Sr. was a fisherman and settled near the southern part of what is now Dobbs Ferry in the town of Greenburg. He "added to his meagre income by ferriage of occasional travelers across the Hudson. He used a style of boat known at that day as a periauger, a canoe hollowed out of a solid log." The canoe was propelled by a single long oar by sculling at the stern. From this primitive ferry the village took its name.
In 1790 the first federal census of New York state gave as the heads of families of this surname, Jarvis, Jeremiah, Abraham, Peter, John and Daniel, several of whom have been mentioned. Daniel Dobbs was living at Kinderhook, then Columbia county, and had four sons under sixteen and two females in his family. Abraham, son of William Dobbs, was living at Greenburg and had four males over sixteen, one under that age and three females in his family. Jeremiah Dobbs was of New York City, as was also Peter, men- tioned above. John Dobbs lived in Haver- straw, Orange county.
We find also in New York City in early days William Dobbs, a member of the old Dutch church. He was born in 1718, died in New York City, September 6, 1781. and is buried in Trinity churchyard, Broadway. He married Catherine Van Size, who was born in New York City, January 25, 1710. died May 4, 1799. Children: Ann, Polly, Catherine, William and eight others. It is thought that
this William was a son of William, mentioned above, and grandson of Jan. William Dobbs, of New York, has descendants at Danbury, Connecticut.
(I) Zachariah Dobbs, a member of the fam- ily here under consideration, lived in Dutchess county, New York. He married Loretta Cox. They had children: Zachariah, Jordan, Mar- tin (mentioned below ).
(II) Martin, son of Zachariah Dobbs, was born in Dutchess county, New York, March 23, 1801, died April 24, 1872, at Somerset, New York. He was educated in the district schools. About 1834 he moved to Monroe county, New York, where he carried on a farm on shares for three years. In 1837 he settled in Niagara county, in the town of Som- erset, and bought a farm of sixty acres on the Lake road and afterward he bought an- other farm of one hundred acres on the same road and conducted both places, raising grain and conducting general farming for many years. In politics he was a Republican. He married, November 3, 1824, Ann Albertson, born in June, 1801, in Dutchess county, New York, died at Somerset, April 19. 1873. Chil- dren: 1. Lydia A., born November 13, 1825. 2. Harriet A., July 13, 1829 ; married James Thorn. 3. Susan Mary, August 28, 1830; married (first) John Wilson, and (second) George V. Meseroll. 4. Edward. December 5, 1834, died young. 5. Albert N., January 31, 1837 ; married Addie Pettit. 6. S. Theron (mentioned below). 7. Homer J., July 3. 1845, died young.
(III) S. Theron, son of Martin Dobbs, was born October 17, 1840, in Somerset. He at- tended the public schools of his native town and the Lockport union school. During his boyhood he assisted his father on the farm, and in 1865 took over the management of one of his father's farms on shares, and in 1872 bought a farm of eighty-nine acres known as the old Bangham farm on the Lake road. In addition to general farming, he has made a specialty of fruit and has an apple orchard of sixteen acres besides other small fruits. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and in religion a Methodist.
He married, January 18, 1865. Hannah M. Pease, born February 10, 1839, daughter of Adam and Margaret (Patten) Pease. The Pease and Patten families were early settlers in Somerset and prominent among the found- ers of the town. Children, born at Somerset :
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I. Walter T., died in infancy. 2. Lillian A., born February 28, 1873; married Glenn F. Hood, November 9, 1910. 3. Josephine M., March 8, 1875 ; married Wilfrid Frost, March 17, 1897, and had Clifford E. Frost, born December 28, 1899; Lillian A. Frost, born May 28, 1902, and Elizabeth H. Frost, born May 25, 1905.
RUSZAJ While this family has been in the United States and Buffalo but two generations, they have taken a leading position in the business and professional life of the Polish Colony. Martin Ruszaj, born in Germany, Province of Poland, November 12, 1851, came to the United States in 1872 to avoid military duty in the German army. He is the son of John and Mary S. (Majchrzycki) Ruszaj, of Poland, a farmer. He settled in Buffalo, where in 1885 he estab- lished a book and stationery store, specializing in church supplies used by those of the Catholic faith. His store on Peckham street was the first of the kind kept by a Polish Catholic, and has always been a successful one. He still continues the business. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church and Society. He married, September 18, 1875, Anna, daughter of Adelbert Fronczak, of Poland, and only sister of Dr. Francis E. Fronczak, the well- known physician and health commissioner of the city of Buffalo. Children : I. Joseph, born February 9, 1878; resident of Buffalo; mar- ried Anastasia Kaleta ; they had four children : Leon, Mary, Alexander, Cecelia. 2. Mary, married Frederick Grobelski; they had two children: Leon and Sophie. 3. Katherine, married Stanislaus Wawrzyniak; they had three children: Celia, Lucy, Florence. 4. Stanley Eustace (of whom further). 5. Agnes, married Anthony Tabolski; child, Flora. 6. Walter. 7. Jennie. 8. Helen.
(II) Stanley Eustace, son of Martin and Anna (Fronczak) Ruszaj, was born in Buf- falo, New York, February 24, 1884. He was educated at Saint Stanislaus parochial school, the public school of the ninth ward of Buf- falo, and the Masten Park high school, from which he was graduated, class of 1904. He chose the profession of dentistry, entered the University of Buffalo, was graduated D.D.S., 1907, and licensed to practice by the state of New York the same year, and at once began practice at No. 1012 Broadway, Buffalo, and
so continues. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Church of the Trans- figuration (Roman Catholic), and of the Eighth Dental District of the State of New York. He married, August 5, 1908, Angeline L., daughter of Marcelli and Mary ( Pronobis) Smeja. Child: Eugene, born November II, 1910.
This is an ancient and hon- RATCLIFFE orable family of England. The family herein recorded was long seated in Yorkshire, where they were land owners. In America the name is found among the early pilgrims. Robert Rat- cliffe was living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1623, while Rev. Robert Ratcliffe was the first rector of King's Chapel, Boston, 1686. King's Chapel was fifth in the order of Boston churches. In 1686 the first Episcopal service was held in Boston in the "old Town House." Rev. Robert Ratcliffe came over May 14, 1686, in the frigate "Rose," and held the first Epis- copal service. King's Chapel was originally a small wooden structure, but was soon re- placed by a more pretentious one of stone.
(I) John Ratcliffe, the progenitor of the Medina Ratcliffes, lived and died at Hains- worth, near Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He was a cattle drover and farmer. His busi- ness in cattle called him to different parts of England and frequently to Ireland. He was a man of substance and good standing in his town, well known, energetic and thrifty. He married Mary Rhodes, of the same shire. Chil- dren : William, Thomas, Abram. John, of fur- ther mention ; Susanna, and Betty, who mar- ried a Mr. Hartley.
(II) John (2). son of John (I) Ratcliffe, was born December, 1820, near Halifax, Yorkshire, England. He was well educated in the county schools, and learned the butcher's trade in the town of Preston, in Yorkshire. In 1850, with his wife, he sailed for the United States, landing in New York City after a seven weeks' voyage. He came to Batavia. Genesee county, New York, by rail. and from there overland by team to Medina, Orleans county, where he settled. In a short time he began business for himself. opening a com- bined meat market and grocery store, which he successfully and profitably conducted until his death, June 15, 1861. He was a man of good business ability, upright and honorable in all his dealings. He was a Democrat in
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politics, and a member of the Protestant Epis- copal church. He married, in Yorkshire, in 1848, Hannah Bland, born June 20, 1820, christened at the old Bradford Episcopal Church, Yorkshire, died at Medina, New York, September 19, 1910, daughter of Wil- liam and Mercy (Spencer) Bland, of Brad- ford, in Yorkshire. William Bland was one of the founders of the Wesleyan church of Kingsbury, in Yorkshire, a church that has since benefited by the generosity of his de- scendants in Medina. Children: I. Thomas, born June 1, 1849 (the only English-born child of his parents), died March 12, 1850. 2. John T., born in Medina, March 28, 1851, died August 23, 1860. 3. Mary Hannah, of further mention. 4. Rhodes Edward, born February 25, 1857, in Medina, died there Feb- ruary II, 1901. He was educated in the pub- lic schools, learned the trade of harness maker, and maintained a place of business on East Center street. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Medina, of which he was trustee and treasurer for many years. He was a Republican in politics.
(III) Mary Hannah, only daughter of John and Hannah (Bland) Ratcliffe, was born in Medina, New York, February 28, 1854. She was educated in the public schools and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, where she matriculated in 1887, pursued the medical course, and was graduated M. D. in 1891. Although fully equipped for her pro- fession, Miss Ratcliffe has never practiced. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Medina, and active in the work of that church, especially in the Social Union and the missionary societies. After the death of her mother, she visited England and the old Wes- leyan church at Kingsbury, in Yorkshire, of which her Grandfather Bland was a founder, and to which she made a generous donation as a memorial. Miss Ratcliffe resides in Me- dina, New York, where she is well known for her good works.
The Moshers of Westfield, New York, are of English an- MOSHER cestry, descendants of Hugh Mosher, who came. from England in 1632, landing at Boston from the ship "Jane," and was of Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
(II) Hugh (2), son of Hugh (1) Mosher, was born in 1633, died 1713. In 1660 he was
one of six men who bought certain lands at Westerly, Rhode Island, of the Indian Sachem, Socho. In 1684 lie was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Dartmouth, Mas- sachusetts. He married (first) Rebecca Harn- del. His second wife was named Sarah. He had eight children, all by first wife.
(III) Nicholas, eldest son of Hugh (2) Mosher, was born 1666, died August 14, 1747. He was of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and Tiverton, Rhode Island. His wife Elizabeth died in 1747. They had ten children.
(IV) Nicholas (2), sixth child of Nicholas (I) Mosher, was born January 17, 1703. He was left five pounds in his father's will, and when married and settled in life was of Tyringham, Connecticut. He married Eliza- beth Crandall and had fourteen children.
(V) Francis, son of Nicholas (2) Mosher, was born in Connecticut, about 1750. He moved to New York state, settling in the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer county. He married and had three children: Frances (of whom further) ; George, of Lockport, New York; a daughter, who married Robert Mc- Kay and settled in Fulton county, New York.
(VI) Francis (2), son of Francis (I) Mosher, was born in 1786. He married and had six children: 1. Daniel, married and had children : Lydia, Emma and Jay ; all lived in Fulton county. 2. Abram (of whom fur- ther). 3. Phila, married Madison Hall, of Red Creek, Wayne county, New York. 4. Abbie, married Benjamin Hunt, of Wayne county. 5. George, married Lydia Ann San- ford. 6. Lydia.
(VII) Abram, son of Francis (2) Mosher, was born in Rensselaer county, New York, 1816, died in Westfield, Chautauqua county, January 4, 1858. He came to Chautauqua county about 1840, settling in the western part of the county near the Pennsylvania state line. Here he followed agriculture for sev- eral years, spending his last years in West- field. He married Amirilla Welch, born in Wayne county, New York, died in Westfield. New York, September 26, 1887, aged eighty- four years. Children: 1. Francis Reed (of whom further). 2. Horatio M., born in Rip- ley, Chautauqua county, August 30, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of Penn- sylvania, and has for the past twenty-five years been employed by his brother in his lumber business at Westfield. He is a member of the Masonic Order and a Republican. He mar-
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ried, November 9, 1870, in Westfield, Mary Elizabeth Timson, born there 1851, died March 24, 1910, daughter of Isaac and Mar- garet (Snowden) Timson, and granddaughter of Charles and Irene (Whipple) Timson. Irene Whipple was a descendant of Matthew Whipple, of Ipswich, Massachusetts.
(VIII) Francis Reed, eldest son of Abram Mosher, was born in Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, February 26, 1843. He received a good education in the public schools and in 1862 settled in Westfield, New York. He was energetic and industrious and worked at any honest labor that presented itself, hus- banding his earnings with the purpose ever in view of engaging in business on his own account. In 1878 he felt that he had sufficient capital to engage in the lumber business in a small way. He purchased a modest stock and established his yard on the west side of Chau- tauqua creek. He prospered and gained not only a foothold in the business world but a sure place in the regard of the business men of his section. Four years after, in 1882, he purchased the coal business of R. L. Adams, on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad. This business also prospered under Mr. Mosher's able management, who later merged his two lines, coal and lumber, into one concern, The Westfield Coal and Lumber Company, which still transacts a large and profitable business. Mr. Mosher began his business career on the sure foundation of fair dealing with every one and has all his life maintained the high ideals with which he started. No man stands higher in the esteem of his circle of acquaintance. He was elected village trustee and gave efficient serv- ice for four terms. He was then chosen a member of the board of water commissioners, having in charge the gathering and distribu- tion of Westfield's water supply. In 1901 he was elected president of the village corpora- tion of Westfield and to this office, as he did to the others, he gave the same careful atten- tion and devotion that characterizes his con- duct of his private business. He is now serv- ing as assessor of the village. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, past master of Summit Lodge, No. 219, Free and Accepted Masons, member of Westfield Chapter, No. 239, Royal Arch Masons, and of Dunkirk Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar. Po- litically he is a Republican.
He married, in Westfield, December II,
1872, Grace Harper, born in county Down, Ireland, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Harper. Her father came from Ireland to the United States with wife and child, settling in Chautauqua county, New York. He was a shoemaker in Ireland, but on coming to Chautauqua county engaged in farming. Chil- dren: James, married Jane Strain; Nancy, married Samuel Thompson; Sarah, married Archibald McDougal ; Grace, married Francis R. Mosher; Thomas, a veteran of the civil war; John. Children of Francis R. and Grace Mosher : Rilla, deceased ; Agnes; Thomas W., married Marica Jones, and has one child, Walter.
MORTON The name of Morton, Moreton and Montaigne is earliest found in old Dauphine, and is still existent in France. In family annals there is a repeated statement that one of the family emigrated from Dauphine, first to Brit- tany, then to Normandy, where he joined Wil- liam the Conqueror. The family in England was noble and held exalted position in both church and state. Prominent among the Eng- lish Mortons who came to America were Thomas Morton, Esq., Rev. Charles Morton, Landgrave Joseph Morton, proprietary gover- nor of South Carolina, and George Morton, ancestor of the Albany family of Warner Groom Morton. In America the family has achieved prominence in every department of life, public and private. Perhaps the best known of the name is Levi Parsons Morton, former member of congress, former foreign diplomat, former governor of New York and former vice-president of the United States. A branch of the family early settled in Scot- land, from whom the Mortons of Great Val- ley, New York, descend.
(I) The first of this branch to come to the United States was John Morton, of Edin- burgh, Scotland, who came to Cattaraugus county, New York, at an early day, with one son.
(II) John (2), son of John (1) Morton, was born in Scotland, where he married. He followed his father to Cattaraugus county, New York, where he purchased land of the Holland Land Company, located in Great Val- ley. He owned a tract of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, which he cleared and brought under cultivation. He married and had two children: William (of whom fur-
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ther) ; Alexander, married and had a daughter Elizabeth, who married Milton Fobes.
(III) William, eldest son of John (2) Mor- ton, was born in Scotland, in 1816, died in Great Valley, New York, in 1899. He came to Cattaraugus county with his father in 1854 and was also a farmer. He married Margaret Scott, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Children : Mary, married Joseph Green; William S. (of whom further) ; Robert, married Lana Ste- vens ; children : Gilbert, Lester and Charles.
(IV) William S., eldest son of William Morton, was born in Great Valley, Cattarau- gus county, New York, June 19, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, and was his father's farm assistant in his earlier years. He began mercantile life as a clerk in the Elli- cottville store of Havenor Brothers, where he remained one year. He then went to Bordell, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year, from thence went to East Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained for another year. His clerkships in these different places gave him a practical experience in mercantile methods and decided him to become a merchant him- self. He formed a partnership with Joseph Green (his brother-in-law) and in 1882 es- tablished a grocery business in Salamanca. They continued in successful operation for two years, then sold out and dissolved part- nership.
In 1884 he located in Great Valley, where in company with his brother, Robert Morton, he purchased the store of J. E. Chase, and until 1901 conducted a successful general merchandising business. In 1901 they sold their interest to Arthur Bonstell, but two years later William S. Morton repurchased the entire business, which he has since con- ducted alone. Mr. Morton is and has been for many years prominent in public life. He has been supervisor of Great Valley for fifteen years; clerk of the town five years ; member of the board of education. He is a leader in town, county and state politics, and, although quiet and unassuming, is a man of great force of character, and usually carries his political plans to a successful issue. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Ellicottville Lodge, No. 307, Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Salamanca Chapter, No. 266, Royal Arch Masons ; Salamanca Commandery, No. 62, Knights Templar. He married, Octo- ber 24, 1883, Etta Weeger, and has a son, Howard, born June 4, 1886.
The Fitzgeralds of Sala- FITZGERALD manca descend from a famous Irish family that has long been seated in that land of famous families. They date back to the days of clans and tribes who ruled by might of valor and strength. The name is of frequent occurrence in Ireland and has been borne by distinguished men in every generation. The founder of the family in the United States, Edward, is a son of Michael and Ellen Fitzgerald, both of county Limerick.
(II) Edward, son of Michael and Ellen Fitzgerald, was born in county Limerick, Ire- land. He came to the United States after liis marriage, settling in New York state, at Ad- rian, where he lived until the birth of one child. He was in the employ of the Erie rail- road for a time, but later removed to Sala- manca, where he conducted a store. He mar- ried Bridget, daughter of Thomas and Bridget (Connors) Broderick, all of county Limerick, Ireland. Children: 1. Nellie, born in Adrian, New York, November 23, 1864; married, April 21. 1885, Fred Sander ; children : Eddie, born January 10, 1886, died August 31, 1886; Eva, July 10, 1888; George W., July 12, 1890; Mary Frances, July 23, 1892, died November 5, 1900: Hazel A., April 22, 1894. 2. Delia, born February 22, 1866, died June 16, 1885. 3. Mary Catherine, born October 1, 1867. 4. Thomas J., born June 30, 1869. 5. Edward B. (mentioned below ).
(III) Edward B., youngest child and second son of Edward and Bridget (Broderick) Fitz- gerald, was born in Salamanca, New York, June 3, 1870. He attended the public school, and in early life began working in the store of W. T. Fish, commencing in 1887, con- tinuing until 1897. He was of such value to his employer that he received several promo- tions ; he resigned at the end of ten years' serv- ice. In 1897 he formed a partnership with his brother, Thomas J. Fitzgerald, and started in business in a small way at No. 22 Main street. The brothers, both capable business men, prospered and were compelled to seek en- larged quarters. They are now located in a three-story brick and stone structure on the corner of Main and Maple streets, where they conduct a modern dry goods and house furnishing department store, excluding, how- ever, furniture and groceries, the building be- ing known as the Fitzgerald Block. Edward Fitzgerald is a director of the Salamanca Trust
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