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 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
644
NEW YORK.
He married, October 1, 1867, Lydia S. Meseroll, born April 23. 1843, daughter of Philip H. and Hannah (Stratton) Meseroll. Children: Philip, born December 14. 1871, died January 2, 1882; Minnie, born May 9. 1869, now residing with her parents in Olcott. An interesting feature of this family is their great longevity. While none have reached the great age of Elizabeth, of the first genera- tion, there are several of the second that have passed eighty, and are advancing closely to the age of ninety years.
VAN WAGONER This surname comes from the habit among the early Dutch set- tlers of affixing to their own names that of the place in Holland from which they came. Aert Jacobsen, the emigrant ancestor of the line herein traced, came from Wageningen. Jacob, his son, wrote his name Jacob Aertsen Van Wageningen, meaning Jacob, son of Aert, from Wageningen. This being difficult to pronounce soon became Wagenen, the "Van" meaning from was, however, retained. From this have come the various spellings: Wag- enen, Wagnen, Wagoner and Wagner, all be- ing descendants of the Dutch immigrant, Aert Jacobsen, from Wageningen. Holland. For convenience the name will be written in its present form, Van Wagoner, although the earlier generations wrote it Van Wagenen, as many branches still do.
(I) Aert Jacobsen probably came from Wageningen, a town near the Rhine ten miles west of Arnheim in Gelderland. This is sur- mised, as his grandchildren adopted the name of that town as a surname, prefixing Van (from). He was probably a son of Jacob Aertse Wagenaar, who came to Albany, New York, in 1642, with Evart Pels and others. The Kingston church records show that Aert Jacobsen died before 1668. His wife's name was Annetje Gerrits. The earliest documen- tary evidence of him is in 1653, when he with several others took the oath of allegiance to the Patroon at Albany. In 1660 he purchased a piece of land in Esopus, New York. He left his property to his five children by a will that was probably never recorded, as there are on record at Kingston five quitclaim deeds executed by his children to each other, all dated November 6, 1710. Children : I. Neeltje Aertsen, married. June 6, 1667. Cor- nelis Aertsen Tynhont. 2. Grietje Aertsen,
married Jacobus Coenradt Elmdorf, February 28, 1668, "with the consent of her mother." ( Both of these marriages are recorded in Kingston church records). 3. Elizabeth, mar- ried Cornelis Masten. 4. Jacob Aertsen, of further mention. 5. Gerrit Aertsen, married Clara, daughter of Evart Pels.
(II) Jacob Aertsen Van Wagoner, son of Aert Jacobsen, was born February 14, 1652. (O. S.) He married, February 25, 1677, Sara, daughter of Evert Pels. She was born July 3, 1659 (Bible record ). They lived at Wagendale, now Creek Locks. Ulster county, New York. His will, written in Dutch, dated October 5, 1715, is recorded at Kingston. Chil -. dren, all baptized at Kingston except Jacob: Annatje, married Jan Hermans ; Aert, married Marytje Blansham; Evert, of further men- tion : Gerrit, died young ; Rebecka, married Jan Freer; Geertje, married Jacob Gerritse Decker; Jannetje, died young; Jannetje (2), married Johannis Turk; Gerrit (2), died aged eighteen years ; Symon, married Sara Dubois; Jacob Aertse, baptized at Albany, February 20, 1695: Benjamin, married Elizabeth Ven den Berg; Abraham, married Hillegond Cris- pell; Sara, married Solomon Deyo: Isaac, married Catrina Freer.
(III) Evert, third child of Jacob Aertsen and Sara (Pels) Van Wagoner, was born April 12, 1684. He married, 1709. Hillegond, baptized in New York, November 14. 1686, daughter of Claes Jansen and Janneken ( Kier- sen) Van Heyningen. They removed to Dutchess county at an early date and settled near Poughkeepsie. Children: Jacob, mar- ried Helena Van de Bogaard: Nicholas, of further mention; Sara, married Teunis Van Vliet ; Gerrit, married Sara De Graff : Jan- neken, born February 12, 1719; Maretjen, married Abraham De Graff.
(IV) Nicholas, son of Evert and Hillegond (Van Heyningen) Van Wagoner, was bap- tized in New York. April 5, 1713. He mar- ried, at Poughkeepsie, September 6. 1735, Hester, baptized at Kingston, October 12, 1710, daughter of Jan and Maria (Peacock) De Graff. His will, dated November 6, 1769, proved at Fort George, New York, December II, 1772, is recorded in New York. liber 28 of wills, page 337. In it his residence is given as Charlotte precinct, Dutchess county, New York : his wife Hester is named : sons. Evert. John and Nicholas; daughters, Hellegontie, wife of Johannis Bush, Elizabeth, wife of Jo-
645
NEW YORK.
seph Hagaman, Sarah, wife of Johannis Van Enden, and Janneke. Also grandchildren, John, Hester and Elizabeth Alden, children of his deceased daughter, Maria.
(V) Nicholas (2), youngest son and child of Nicholas (1) and Hester (De Graff) Van Wagoner, was born in Dutchess county, New York, May 15, 1748, died at Rhinebeck, New York, January 7, 1811. He married, at Rhine- beck, November 25, 1770, Elsie Ostrander, born October 20, 1743, died April 26, 1832, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Van Ben- schoten) Ostrander. Nicholas and wife are both buried at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, New York.
(VI) Captain Evert (2) Van Wagoner, son of Nicholas (2) and Elsie (Ostrander) Van Wagoner, was born in Dutchess county, New York, February 2, 1776. He enlisted a com- pany of men, was chosen their captain and commanded them at the battle of Plattsburg fought during the war of 1812. He married Sarah Albertson.
(VII) Solomon, son of Captain Evert (2) and Sarah ( Albertson) Van Wagoner, was born in Dutchess county, February 16, 1802, died in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, July 31, 1881. Early in life he came by way of the Erie canal to Rochester, where he en- gaged in teaming and distilling. He contracted fever and ague there, which compelled him to seek another location. He bought a farm in Wyoming county, near Attica, which he oper- ated as a dairy and live stock farm. He was in successful business there until 1840, when he sold out and removed to Niagara county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres in the town of Somerset on the Lake road. There he remained engaged in general farming and live stock dealing until 1871. In that year he sold all his farm in- terests and retired to Lockport, where he pur- chased a comfortable home and lived until his death. He was originally a Whig in poli- tics, joined the Republican party on its forma- tion, but later became a Democrat. He was an energetic, industrious man and a good citi- zen. He married Catherine Buckbee, born April 18, 1802, died April 24. 1850. Children : Nancy E., died in infancy ; Gilbert M., born February 27, 1828, died December 12, 1864; Henry J., of further mention ; Jane Eliza, born June 14, 1834, died August 30, 1841 ; Almon, born April 10, 1841, now a resident of Spring- field, Massachusetts.
(VIII) Henry J., son of Solomon and Catherine (Buckbee) Van Wagoner, was born in Rochester, New York, July 26, 1830. He was educated in the public schools of Wyom- ing and Niagara counties, with one term at Yates Academy, Yates, New York. He was reared a farmer and until 1858 was his father's chief assistant. In the latter year he went to Michigan, where he purchased and cleared a farm of eighty acres. After three years spent in Michigan he returned to Niagara county. In 1864 he purchased a farm of eighty-six acres from his father, in the town of Newfane, which has been his home for half a century. The farm is well planted with fruit trees and makes a most desirable residence. Mr. Van Wagoner is a Republican in politics and an attendant of the Universalist church, of Ol- cott. He is highly respected in his town, his long years of residence having proved his good qualities as a friend and neighbor.
He married, May 28, 1863, Sarah Jane Shedd, born September 12, 1840, daughter of Charles Shedd, a veteran of the civil war, and his wife, Dorothy (Folts) Shedd, of Newfane, New York. Child, Harry Alonzo, born Au- gust 13, 1872 ; educated in the district school, Yates Academy and Lockport high school. He now manages and cultivates the home farm.
RICE Few men have been held in higher esteem or died more deeply mourned than Dr. Alvin B. Rice, of James- town, New York, son of Stephen and Louisa P. (Lewis) Rice, of Panama, Chautauqua county, New York.
Dr. Rice was born near Panama, October 22, 1841, died in Jamestown, New York, May 7, 1903. His early education was obtained in the public schools, after which he entered Amherst College, from whence he was grad- uated. He chose medicine as his profession and began study under Dr. H. H. Glidden, of Panama. He attended a course of lectures at Michigan University, Ann Arbor, afterward entering Bellevue Medical College, at New York, from whence he was graduated, M. D. He returned to Panama, where he practiced for a time according to the teachings of the allopathic school of medicine. Later he be- came impressed with the virtues of the homœopathic system and after a course of study and lectures in New York began the. practice of homœopathy, which he ever con- tinued. He practiced in Panama until 1889,
646
NEW YORK.
then located in Jamestown, New York, where he ever afterward lived and practiced, winning wide and honorable fame for his medical skill and for his devotion to his profession.
He was vice-president of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society, and was highly regarded among his professional brethren. He was an exceedingly modest man and never sought preferment, but in various capacities his sterling worth and ability were recognized by his associates and he was chosen to positions of honor and trust. He was prom- inent as a citizen, as a physician, as a church- man and in his fraternity. His rare skill and sympathetic nature gave him strong hold upon the confidence and affection of his patients, who looked upon him not only as a healer but as a friend.
From early life he was a devoted member of the Baptist church. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday school at Panama, and after coming to Jamestown was one of the most active, earnest members of the First Baptist Church. At the time of his death he was corresponding secretary of the Chautauqua County Baptist Association. He was always a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, not only advocating but practicing it. He was a political Prohibitionist and was several times the nominee of his party for pub- lic office. His devotion to the cause of Free Masonry was well known. He belonged to Alt. Moriah Lodge, Western Sun Chapter and Jamestown Commandery, but it was to the latter that he was particularly devoted. He was for many years prelate and at the time of his death was eminent commander. It was only the evening of the night he died that a meeting of Sir Knights was held in his office to arrange plans for the funeral of Sir Knight Phillips, a departed member. But a few days later and his brethren of the order were per- forming their beautiful burial rites beside the grave of their honored commander. Dr. Rice accomplished so much good in his community that his name will be honored as long as mem- ory remains to those who knew his great and unselfish nature.
He married, February 23, 1868, Helen M. Davis, born at York Mills, now known as Yorkville, daughter of Nathan and Mary Ann (Ford) Davis. Children: Lottie J., married . Charles E. Treat : Vincent MI., Charles R. Mrs. Charles E. Treat has two children: C. Vincent and Helen Doris Treat.
The Pratt family is of Norman PRATT stock, the name appearing in anglicized form in France early in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin "Pratum," a meadow ; Spanish, Prade; French, Pre, Preaux, Prairie. The barony of Pratella existed near Rouen, on the Seine below Paris, early in the eleventh century. Its lord, Le Sire de Preaux, followed William the Conqueror to England in 1066, his name being found on the Roll of Battle Abbey as having been present at the battle of Hastings. Thirty years later, in 1096, a Sire de Preaux followed Duke Robert of Normandy, the eld- est son of William the Conqueror, on the First Crusade. Two of his kinsmen, William and John, accompanied him. John de Pratelles was a favorite minister of King Richard the First (Cœur de Lion.). Two brothers, Wil- liam and Peter de Pratelles, followed Richard on the Third Crusade in 1189-91. William saved the king from capture in a skirmish with the Saracens by allowing himself to be captured, pretending that he was the king. He was later exchanged for ten emirs, and was knighted for his valor. Documents con- nect him with Rouen, where the barony of Pratella was located. A Seigneur de Preaux was killed at the head of his household in the battle of Agincourt in 1415.
The anglicized form of the name, Pratt, begins to appear frequently in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. There are nine ar- morial bearings extant among different fami- lies of this name. Its frequent occurrence on Norman rolls proves the Norman origin of the family. While it is found in nearly every county in England, it is particularly identified with Herts and Norfolk.
(I) The first of the name from whom the American Pratts can trace direct descent was Thomas Pratt, who lived at Baldock, county of Herts, England, about thirty-four miles from London, in the early part of the sixteenth century. His will is dated February 5, 1538- 39. His wife's name was Joan, and he liad three sons: Thomas, James, Andrew, and one daughter, Agnes.
(II) Andrew, son of Thomas Pratt, had three children : Allen, baptized 1561 ; William, October, 1562; Richard, June 27, 1567.
(III) Rev. William Pratt, son of Andrew Pratt, was rector at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, for thirty years, and died in 1629, aged sixty- seven years. He married Elizabeth
647
NEW YORK.
Children : Mary, February 6, 1605 ; Elizabeth, April 2, 1613; Richard, baptized February 16, 1618: John, November 9, 1620; William; Sarah.
(IV) John Pratt and his brother William, sons of Rev. William Pratt, were the founders of the Pratt family in America. John appears in the records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as owner of a home lot, and as one of the orig- inal members of the Rev. Thomas Hooker's church. This would fix the date of his immi- gration as prior to 1636, when Hooker and Samuel Stone led their flock through the wilderness to found Newton, or, as it soon became, Hartford, Connecticut. The fact that these two sons of a clergyman of the Church of England were at this time living in a Puri- tan colony and were members of a Puritan church may explain the omission of their names from their father's will. John and Lieutenant William Pratt appear among the original proprietors of Hartford. They drew home lots in the first division of land in Feb- ruary, 1639, and their names occur frequently in the records of the colony. John married
Elizabeth , and died July 15, 1655, and had two sons, John and Daniel.
(V) John (2), son of John (1) and Eliza- beth Pratt, married (first) Hannah Boosey ; (second) Hepsibah Wyatt. He died Novem- ber 23, 1687. Children: Hannah, born 1658; John. 1661 : Elizabeth, 1664; Ruth, 1667 Sarah. 1668; Joseph, 1671; Susannah, 1680; Jonathan.
(VI) Jonathan, son of John (2) Pratt, born November 23, 1687, married Mary Benton, and died in 1755. They lived at East Hart- ford. Children: Elizabeth, Jerusha, Daniel, Moses, Jonathan, Eliab, Aaron, Mary, Hep- sibah.
(VII) Aaron, son of Jonathan and Mary (Benton) Pratt, was born about 1725-26. He married Mary Clark, of East Hartford, in 1756, and removed to Westminster, Vermont. In 1805 he came to his son's home in Buffalo, where he died February 9, 1806. His widow died in Buffalo, November 20, 1809. Both were buried in the village cemetery, where is now Franklin square. He was a member of the Congregational church. Children: Eliza- beth, Aaron, Mary, Samuel, William, died in infancy ; William.
(VIII) Aaron (2) and William (2) Pratt were sons of Aaron (1) Pratt, of Westmin- ster, Vermont.
(IX) Samuel (in some records given as Lemuel), grandson of Aaron (I) Pratt, came to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, from Tinmouth, Vermont, in 1838. He had been preceded by his son, Lyman S., who had secured for his father seventy acres of land by contract from Nicholas Devereux. Samuel Pratt spent nearly a year in clearing fifteen or twenty acres, erecting a log house and a frame barn. In September, 1839, he was joined by his family. Prior to coming to New York state he had lived in Hubbard- ton and Tinmouth, Vermont. He married and had issue.
(X) Lyman S., son of Samuel Pratt, was born in Hubbardton, Vermont, December 17, 1813. In 1841 he married and settled in Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, and built a house and opened a wagon shop in part of it. Upon the death of his father he purchased the homestead, which he cultivated, also carrying on his carriage and wagon build- ing. In 1864 he sold the homestead and moved to Randolph, where for five years he engaged in the same business, purchasing and operating a wagon shop. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Little Valley, where he died April 26, 1895. He married Martha Smith. Children: Mortimer N. (of further mention) ; Jerome I .; Alice, married Stephen A. Markham; children: Winfield and Lina. This family resides in Ellington, Chautauqua county, New York.
(XI) Mortimer N., eldest child of Lyman S. and Martha (Smith) Pratt, was born in Little Valley, New York, January 28, 1845, died November 28, 1902. His early education was obtained in the public school, after which he studied and was graduated at Randolph Academy. At the age of seventeen he began teaching in the public schools, continuing for thirteen consecutive winters. He gave much of his time to the public service. In Febru- ary, 1867, he was elected justice of the peace, and held that office sixteen years. He also served three terms as assessor of the town of Little Valley, and one year as justice of sessions. January 1, 1883, he was appointed deputy sheriff by John Little, and January I, 1886, was reappointed by Mr. Little's succes- sor, A. E. Darrow. In November, 1888, he was elected sheriff of Cattaraugus county, serving a full term of three years. He was the owner of a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, which included the two acres
648
NEW YORK.
.
on which his father, Lyman S., first settled and had his carriage shop. Besides his farm- ing and public interests, Mr. Pratt was presi- dent of the Kellogg Manufacturing Company, makers of all kinds of washing machinery. He was a loyal, steadfast Republican, influen- tial in the party and a willing worker for party success. He held office continuously from the time he was twenty-two years of age. He married, November 28, 1866, Har- riet Huntley, born 1844, who survived him. Children : Rollin H., Arthur J., and Howard S. (see forward).
(XII) Rollin Huntley, oldest son of Morti- mer N. and Harriet (Huntley) Pratt, was born in Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, March 28, 1868. He was edu- cated in the public schools, finishing at the Fredonia State Normal School. After leav- ing school he was appointed deputy sheriff of Cattaraugus county, serving under his father, and continned in the sheriff's office until 1892. He then entered the employ of the Kellogg Manufacturing Company as book- keeper, remaining four years. In 1897 he ac- cepted a position in the office of the county clerk of Cattaraugus county, where he still continues as assistant (or deputy) county clerk. He has been justice of the peace since 1895, and since 1900 clerk of the village cor- poration. He is a most careful, experienced man of business, and a valued public official. He is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, a Republican in politics, and a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum. He married, De- çember 5, 1893, Georgianna M., daughter of John A. and Ellen Seekins.
(XII) Arthur Jerome, second son of Mor- timer N. and Harriet (Huntley) Pratt, was born in Little Valley, New York, August 4, 1871. He was educated in the public schools, and at Bryant and Stratton Business College, Buffalo, New York. He has been connected with the wholesale and retail hardware busi- ness all of his business life, being with Weed & Company, of Buffalo, New York, five years. In May, 1905, he purchased the general hard- ware business of Mr. Parsons, at Little Val- ley, and conducted the same for five years. He is now a travelling salesman for Dwelle- Kysor Hardware Company, Buffalo, New York. He married Addie Sweetland.
(XII) Howard Smith, youngest son of Mortimer N. and Harriet (Huntley) Pratt, was born in Little Valley, New York, January
24, 1888. He was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Jamestown Business College in 1909. He was for a time bookkeeper for the Merrell-Sonle Powdered Milk Company, at Little Valley, New York, and is at present instructor in general business methods and banking in the Jamestown Busi- ness College. He is unmarried.
This family settled in SWEETLAND New England but a few years later than the Pil- grims at Plymouth Rock. While not a numer- ous family, they are found in Massachusetts and other New England states at early dates. A branch of the early family settled in Ver- mont, where Asa Sweetland was born in 1784. He married Tabitha Houghton, born Septem- ber 2, 1788, and in 1816 moved to New York state with wife and four children, settling in Elba, Genesee county. In 1828 he moved to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, and in 1821 his children were also living near him. He was a leading member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, which he served as class leader until old age compelled him to forego church work. He died March 8, 1867. Children : I. Lewis (of further mention). 2. Asa, born in Vermont, June 6, 1812, died December 18, 1887 ; married, March 8, 1832, Matilda, daugh- ter of William Fisher, a pioneer of Napoli. Asa was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church over sixty years, twenty-five of which he was class leader. His wife died December 18, 1887, leaving a daughter Al- theda, married Horace Hart and died March 8, 1911 ; had a son Henry M. 3. Laban. 4. Prusia.
(II) Rev. Lewis Sweetland, son of Asa and Tabitha (Houghton) Sweetland, was born in Vermont, January 2, 1810. He settled in Gen- esee county, New York, with his parents, and in 1830 came to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, where he erected a homestead in the western part of the town, consisting of one hundred acres of timber land, which he cleared and improved.
Mr. Sweetland was for several years a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, later was ordained and became an itin- erant preacher, dying while actively engaged in the ministry, September 17, 1873. He mar- ried Drusilla Palmer. Children: John Wes- ley (of further mention) ; Laura J., born 1832 ; Emory, October 4, 1835; Orlando, 1845; So-
649
NEW YORK.
phia, 1847; Maria, twin of Sophia; four other children, died young. + (III) John Wesley, eldest son of Rev. Lewis and Drusilla (Palmer) Sweetland, was born in Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, April 9, 1831, died September 7, 1884. He was well educated in the public schools of Little Valley, and for several win- ters taught in the town schools, spending his summers on the farm. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers. He was stricken with fever at Arlington Heights and sent to the hospital. On becom- ing convalescent he was retained at the hospi- tal as assistant, continuing until the expiration of his term of service. He returned to Little Valley, where he engaged in farming until 1876, when he moved to the village of Little Valley and took a clerkship in the office of the county clerk, also continuing to operate his farm. In the spring of 1879 he formed a part- nership with W. C. Parker, and engaged in the hardware trade as Sweetland & Parker. After about two years he bought Mr. Parker's interest, continuing business alone until the spring of 1884, when he admitted his son, Seneca L., as partner, under the firm name of J. W. Sweetland & Son. He was assessor of Little Valley for many years, and a deacon of the Congregational church. He stood high in his community and was a man of good business ability. He married, January 4, 1854, Melvina F. Short, born in Richmond, Ontario county, New York, November 4, 1833, died March 6, 1911, daughter of Rev. Seneca M. and Mary (Gregg) Short, whose children were: Melvina F., Laura J., Mary M. and Rosalie R. Children of John Wesley Sweet- land: I. Seneca Lewis (of further mention). 2. Frank A., born May 12, 1857, died March 19, 1859. 3. Mary Ida, born July 2, 1860, died July 3, 1860. 4. Morton L., born July 17, 1866, died October 3, 1866.
(IV) Seneca Lewis, eldest son of John Wes- ley and Melvina F. (Short) Sweetland, was born in Batavia, Genesee county, New York, September 8, 1855. When two years of age his parents moved to Little Valley, Cattarau- gus county, which has ever since been his home. He was educated in the public schools, finishing with a two years' course at Chamber- lain Institute, then conducted by Professor Edwards. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Cattaraugus Republican, where
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.