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 65

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646

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 65

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in the town and raised the first crop of pota- toes, the same year. The next spring, being destitute of provisions, he felled a pine tree and from it made a canoe sixty feet long which he launched in Conewango creek, loaded it with fifteen pounds of maple sugar and some buck salts, and ran his cargo down creek and river to Pittsburgh. He readily exchanged his maple sugar and salts for pro- visions, and with the aid of his son George, pushed his rude canoe back to Cherry Creek, having been absent three weeks. The family during his absence had subsisted chiefly on maple sugar and milk.

(IX) Charles, son of Judge Charles Back- with and Lydia (Kent) Green, was born in the town of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, New York. He learned the trade of harness- maker, and after being in business in James- town, went to Little Valley, same county, where he followed the same business. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Republican. He married Eva, daughter of Seth and Betsey (Wilcox) Grover. Seth Grover was the first merchant in business in Cherry Creek. His store, which he opened in 1831, stood on the site later occupied by the establishment of P. R. Pope. Mr. Grover in connection with his store had an ashery and pearling oven. He was postmaster of the village of Cherry Creek, being the third to hold that office. Children of Charles and Eva (Grover) Green: 1. Maude Ellen, married Dr. Walter M. Litchfield; child Stanton Green. 2. Fanny Eliza, married Charles Law- rence McLoutts ; child, Royal L. 3. Fred H., married Ethel Simpson ; children : Mande and Pauline. 4. Gertrude G., married James Pa- terson ; children : Paul, Margaret, Katherine, Harold. 5. Bessie Odell, married Harlan Barnard. 6. Katherine Bell, married Dr. Har- old E. Waite (see Waite X). 7. Harold. 8. Hazel. 9. Eva. 10. Margaret.

The belief is well .founded that AUSTIN Robert Austin, of Kingston, Rhode Island, is the ancestor of this family, although the positive proof that he was the father of Jeremiah is lacking.

(II) Jeremiah Austin died in 1754. He was of Kingstown and Exeter, New Hamp- shire. His will, proved in 1754, named wife Elizabeth as executrix.

(III) Stephen, son of Jeremiah Austin, was of North Kingston and Exeter, Rhode

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Island. The first town meeting ever held in Exeter was at his house. He was constable six terms, surveyor of highways four. His will, proved in 1750, names his wife as exe- cutrix and brother Jeremiah as executor un- til "son Rufus is of age." He married, April 25, 1729, Mary, daughter of Daniel and Abi- gail ( Mumford) Fish. Five children.

(IV) Rufus, son of Stephen and Mary Austin, was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, April 11, 1742. He settled in Pawlet, Ver- mont, where he married and reared a family. (V) Rufus (2), son of Rufus (I) Aus- tin, was born in Pawlet, Vermont, January 6, 1793, died 1849. He served in the war of 1812, fought at Lundy's Lane and received a land grant for one hundred and sixty acres for his services in the Seminole war in Flor- ida, and the two tracts were located adjoin- ing at De Kalb, Illinois. Both claims were later sold at a large advance in price. Rufus Austin was a blacksmith, also had a knowl- edge of medicine and was called doctor. He moved to Pennsylvania, locating at Meade's Corners, now Meadville. Later he purchased sixteen hundred acres of timber land in Penn- sylvania, paying one dollar and a quarter per acre. On this he erected a saw mill and made a large amount of money in the lumber busi- ness.

His first wife died soon after the birth of her first child. He married (second ) 1814, Eleanor Fiddock, born November 13, 1795. died January 6, 1870 ; ten children : I. Will- iam, born June 20, 1815, died in infancy. 2. Harriet, born February 5, 1817, died 1907; married Edward Ryan. 3. Horace, born Sep- tember 1. 1819, died 1903: married (first) Ann La Due; children : Martha and Har- riet ; married (second) Louisa Reed. 4. Henry, born July 22, 1821, in Olean, New York, died 1908; married Mellissa Wooden ; children : Rufus and Alfred. 5. Hesler, born in Burlington, Vermont, September 27, 1823. died 1870: married William Johnston ; child : Richard Fulton. 6. Herman, born in Bur- lington, Vermont, March 6, 1826; deceased ; married and went west. 7. Harrington. of whom further. 8. Hiram, born in Meadville. Pennsylvania, November 25. 1830; married Annice Maloney: children : John, Edward and Eleanor. 9. Rufus, born May 26, 1833 : married Sally -; children : James and Grace. 10. Helen Laura, born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1835. died 1899;

married George Sidler; children : Herman, Rufus, Eleanor and Ida.

(VI) Harrington, son of Rufus (2) Aus- tin and his second wife, was born in Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1828. He was educated in the public school, and began business life as apprentice to a carriage builder. He served four years, then went to Evansville, Indiana, and worked another year "under instructions" in order to learn another employer's methods. He then took a river trip to New Orleans, making frequent stops, visiting the carriage shops and learning ev- erything possible about carriage making and methods of the different makers. On his return he remained for a short time in Mead- ville, then in January, 1856, located in Olean and established a carriage manufactory. In 1857 he admitted Hollis Moore, an expert carpenter, to a partnership. They conducted a successful business together for eighteen years, when, owing to ill health, Mr. Austin retired and in 1875 purchased a farm of fifty acres on which he resides in Olean. He is a Republican and a member of the Baptist church.

He married. September 12. 1858, Maria, born February 10, 1837. daughter of Joseph Trumbull Carter, born 1800, died 1849; mar- ried, 1826, Olive Hartwell Fuller, born 1807, died 1856, daughter of Almond and Betsey (Rhodes) Fuller, and granddaughter of James Fuller, a revolutionary soldier, and his wife, Esther (Stone) Fuller. Joseph T. and Olive H. Carter had children : Phœbe, de- ceased ; William, deceased ; Almond ; Caroline, deceased; Maria, married Harrington Aus- tin : Olive and Clarissa. Joseph T. Carter was a son of Barzilla and Mary (Crary) Carter, and grandson of Captain Joseph Car- ter, a revolutionary officer, and his wife, Ruth (Austin) Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Austin cele- brated their golden wedding. September 12, 1908, on which occasion there were seven people present who were at their wedding fifty years before. Children of Harrington and Maria Austin : 1. Edmund H., of whom further. 2. Harry Ellsworth, born January 18, 1864; educated in the public school, en- tered the service of the Western Union Tele- graph Company as messenger 'boy ; became an expert operator and for the past twenty years has been manager of the North Tonawanda office. He is an officer of the Baptist church, and member of lodge and chapter of the Ma-

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sonic Order. He married, August 23, 1888, Emma Jean Southard, born July 8, 1866; children : Eleanor May, born May 1, 1892; Emma Arvis, May 9, 1895.

(VII) Edmund H., eldest son of Harring- ton Austin, was born in Olean, New York, July 15, 1860. He was educated in the pub- lic schools, and began business life as office boy in the Pennsylvania railroad office, then was promoted to the ticket office. He left the Pennsylvania railroad and entered the employ of the Queen and Crescent Railroad Company, at Fort Payne, Alabama. Finally abandoning railroading he spent nine years on a North Dakota wheat farm. While there he held the office of town clerk. In 1901 he re- turned to Olean and is now (19II) chief clerk of the freight department of the Pennsylvania railroad at Olean. He is a member of lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic Or- der, and is past master, past high priest and past eminent commander. He is also one of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is sec- retary of the board of trustees of the Baptist church, and a Republican in politics.

He married, November 26, 1889, Alice Es- ther, born April 18, 1861, daughter of Menzo W. Porter (see Porter IX). Children: Ma- ria Porter, born September 29, 1892; Herbert Porter, September 30, 1895. Mrs. Austin is a member of the Eastern Star, worthy matron three years and district deputy grand matron of the thirty-sixth district, and secretary of her home chapter for the past six years.

(The Porter Line).

The Porter line traces to William de la Grande, a Norman knight, who came to En- gland with the "Conqueror." His son, Ralph (or Roger) became "grand porteur" to Henry the First, 1120-1140, from which he derived the name Porter.

(I) Among the early settlers to the colony of Massachusetts bay in 1628 was John Por- ter, founder of this branch of the Porter fam- ily. He settled at Windsor, Connecticut, where he died April 22, 1648. His wife Rose died July, 1647. Eleven children.

(II) Samuel, son of John Porter, "the emi- grant," was born in England. 1626, died Sep- tember 6, 1689. He was a merchant. He married, 1659, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Stanley, who came from England in the ship, "Planter." to Lynn, Massachusetts, 1635. Ten children.

(III) John (2), son of Samuel Porter, was born December 12, 1666, died January 4, 1747. He moved from Hadley, Massachu- setts, to Lebanon, Connecticut, thence to He- bron, Commecticut. He married (first) April 3, 1690, Mary, daughter of Thomas Butler. son of Richard Butler. He married (second) October 13, 1726, Sarah Church. Eight chil- dren by first wife.

(IV) John (3), son of John (2) Porter, was born October 3, 1694, died January 5, 1753. He was a deacon of the Hebron church. He married (first) November 19, 1720, Esther Deane, who died July 10, 1726. He married (second) November 2, 1727, Sa- rah Heaton. Twelve children, three by first wife, Mary, John and Daniel.

(V) Daniel, son of John (3) Porter, was born January, 1726. He resided at Hebron, Connecticut. He married (first) October 25, 1747, Diana Dunham, who died January 27, 1760; married (second) April 23, 1761, Sa- rah Barnard, who died October 17, 1769. Eight children (last two by second wife).

(VI) Eleazer, son of Daniel Porter, was born March 8, 1752, died July 5, 1833. He lived in Litchfield, Connecticut, from whence he moved to Hamilton, Madison county, New York, in 1800. He married, 1775, Susannah, daughter of Daniel Rowley, son of Thomas (2) Rowley, son of Thomas (1) Rowley, son of Henry Rowley, who came from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1630. Thomas (2) Rowley married, March 16, 1699, Violet, daughter of John (2) Steadman, and grand- daughter of John Steadman, a lieutenant in King Philip's war.

(VII) Lieutenant Roswell Porter, son of Eleazer Porter, was born January 9, 1785, died April 7, 1853. He lived at Hamilton, New York, was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, served at Lundy's Lane, Queenstown, and in the defense of the Niagara Frontier. He married, April 26, 1807, Nancy Shattuck. Seven children.

(VIII) Menzo W., sixth child and second son of Lieutenant Roswell Porter, was born in Hamilton, New York, February 26, 1827. He was one of the first to operate in the oil fields. In 1882 he went to North Dakota and in 1883 settled there, being among the first to settle in that state. He remained there until November, 1893, when he returned to New York and has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Austin in Olean. He married,

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June 30, 1846, Maria Muir, who died August 27, 1891. Children : De Alton, De Elbert, De Azro, Alice Esther, De Elwin.

(IX) Alice Esther, daughter of Menzo W. Porter, was born April 18, 1861. She mar- ried, November 26, 1889, Edmund H. Aus- tin (see Austin VII).

The first of the Swans of whom

SWAN we have record are of old New York stock, namely the parents of William G. Swan, of the town of Albion, Orleans county, New York. Mr. Swan's par- ents were Coddington W. and Susan (Gere) Swan, both natives of Saratoga county. C. W. Swan was born there June 13, 1797, and his wife one month and a day later. In the year 1835, the Swan family moved from Sa- ratoga to Albion, Orleans county, and there settled permanently. The senior Swan en- gaged in business as a general merchant there, and so continued until his death which oc- curred in 1843. His wife survived until 1875.

(II) William G., son of Coddington W. and Susan (Gere) Swan, was born in Gal- way, Saratoga county, February 9, 1822. He was the elder of two children, the other Mary J., died in November, 1839, when she was fourteen. William G. Swan was educated in the schools of Albion and also at Lima, Liv- ingston county. He was about eighteen when he began clerking in his father's store in the village of Albion. He had been reared to habits of thrift and frugality; and soon be- gan to display excellent qualifications for a business -career. He early won and has ever retained the confidence of his fellow towns- men. He engaged in business on his own account a short time before his father's death, entering into a partnership with Joseph M. Cornell, under the firm name of Swan & Cor- nell, which concern continued and flourished for about ten years. In the year 1855, Mr. Swan received the appointment of superin- tendent of the Niagara railway suspension bridge at Suspension Bridge, New York. This position he held until October, 1893, some thirty-eight years, when he retired per- manently from business. He received, on his withdrawal, the recognition from the com- pany, and from the press, which his long and faithful service well merited. Mr. Swan had retained, from 1835, a residence in Albion. In 1877 he built himself a fine brick residence there, a commodious mansion on the corner

of Main street and Mt. Albion avenue. Mr. Swan has always taken a warm interest in the town of Albion and has given hearty sup- port to all measures calculated to advance or improve it. In the matter of education, and toward the churches and charities, he is lib- eral and public spirited. He is a popular man and has had conferred upon him a number of local honors. He is treasurer and one of the commissioners of Mt. Albion Cemetery ; also treasurer and one of the board of direc- tors of the Niagara Falls International Bridge Company, and president of the board of trus- tees of the Baptist church of Albion.

Mr. Swan has been twice married. His first wife was Catherine C., daughter of Lem- uel C. Paine, of Albion. She died Septem- ber 28, 1854. On October 16, 1860, he mar- ried (second) Emma M. Etheridge, of Hastings, Minnesota. Mrs. Swan, like her husband, is actively identified with the chari- table, religious, and literary work and move- ments of their home town.

This name is said to have orig- ROOT inated in Normandy, and was originally spelled Routes, pro- nounced with two syllables, the "s" being si- lent. Thomas Roote was one of the earliest settlers and selectmen of Hartford, Connecti- cut. It is said of the family "that since the earlier days they have held an honorable po- sition among the multitude of characteristic New England families." Thomas Roote was born about 1605, and came to America about 1637. He "went to Pequot in 1637 as a sol- dier." He became one of the founders of Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1653-4, and one of the "pillars of the church," at its or- ganization in 1661. He died July 17, 1694. His wife's name is not known. They had six children.

(II) Joseph Root, son of Thomas Roote, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, about 1640, died April 19, 1711, at Northampton, Massa- chusetts, where he had lived for over fifty years. He married (first) December 30, 1660, Hannah, daughter of Edmund and Hannah Haynes. She died January 28, 1691. He married (second) Mary Holton, widow of David Burt. She died 1713. They had eight children.

(III) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) and Hannah (Haynes) Root, was born in 1664, died at Northampton, Massachusetts, Octo-

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ber 23, 1690. He settled in Northfield, Mas- sachusetts, but the settlement was broken up by the Indians, and he returned to North- ampton. He married Hannah -. They had two children.

(IV) Joseph (3), son of Joseph (2) and Hannah Root, was born in 1686, died Febru- ary 9, 1728, leaving an estate valued at £540, which was at that time the largest in Sunder- land, Massachusetts. He was one of the first forty settlers of Sunderland, and the first school teacher employed by that town. He married, February 16, 1710, Mary, daughter of Philip Russell, who survived him. At a town meeting held December 2, 1734, it was "voted to give Widow Root for tending the Flagg on the Sabbath days and on other occa- sions for the year, one pound ten shillings." Seven children.

(V) Joseph (4), son of Joseph (3) and Mary (Russell) Root, was born June 16, 1713. He removed to Hunting Hills, Massachusetts, as early as 1740. He was selectman, captain of militia, justice of the peace, representative, 1767-8. In 1759 it was voted by the town of Montague "to buy the Shell of Lieutenant Clapp for one pound ten shillings, and to al- low Captain Joseph Root twenty shillings for blowing the same on the Sabbath for one year." He married (first) November II, 1736, Abigail, daughter of James Bridgman ; she died April 24, 1781. He married (sec- ond) November 5, 1782, Widow Mary Bas- com. Eight children.

(VI) Elisha, son of Joseph (4) and Abi- gail (Bridgman) Root, was born in Monta- gue, Massachusetts, June 7, 1739, died Jan- uary 1, 1812. He was a surveyor and a magistrate. He married, October 30, 1776, Lucy Mattoon, died September 22, 1817, aged seventy-seven years. Five children.

(VII) Arad, son of Elisha and Lucy (Mat- toon) Root, was born September 10, 1767, died September 1, 1855. He settled in Wil- liston, Vermont; he married (first) Mary Severance, who died November 27, 1800; (second) Lydia Shattuck.

(VIII) Zadoc, son of Arad and Mary (Severance) Root, was born in Vermont, Feb- ruary 20, 1786, died, 1863, in Busti, Chautau- qua county, New York. He settled in Busti, range eleven, lot forty-seven, and lived there until his death. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and helped to build the first log church in Jamestown. He

married (first) November 7, 1800, Rachel Skinner, born in Vermont; (second) in 1815, Polly Parmenter, born November 7, 1796, died aged seventy-six years. Children by first wife: Almira, born June 10, 1809, died 1851 ; Samantha, born November 13, 1810; Zadoc (2), May 25, 1812, died, 1848. Children by second wife: Polly, born September 7, 1816; Philander, November 12, 1817; Horace, Feb- ruary 20, 1818; Cynthia, July 31, 1822; Will- iam, of further mention; Lucy, born October 27, 1827, died October 31, 1836.

(IX) William, son of Zadoc and Polly (Parmenter) Root, was born April 10, 1825, died January 24, 1898. He attended district schools and was reared a farmer. When a young man he made a purchase of fifty acres of land to which he added from time to time until he was the possessor of several fine farms aggregating several hundred acres. He was noted for his well-kept and productive lands and the fine quality of his dairy and farm stock. He also dealt largely in live stock and made a specialty of dairying. In his later years he moved to Jamestown, but after a few years returned to the farm. He was a Republican, and always maintained an active interest in town affairs, and served as road commissioner and in other of the town offices. He married, November 17, 1847, at Westfield, New York, Nancy Draper, born in Bridgewater, Connecticut, February 29, 1832, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Farnham) Draper, a descendant of Edward Draper, of England, and Boston, Massachusetts, who was a private in Lieutenant Colonel Jabez Hatch's regiment, guarding stores in and about Bos- ton by order of the council, May 12, 1777, service five weeks. He had sons: Joseph, Sanford, Nathan, William, Henry and Harry. Joseph Draper was a farmer and a Univer- salist. He married Martha Farnham, born 1798, died 1854, daughter of Walter and Nancy (Weeks) Farnham. Children : I. Jedediah, now living at the age of ninety-two years. 2. Laura, born September 10, 1822; now living, in her eighty-ninth year; married L. Howard, and has George, Vinton, Carrie and Matthew. 3. Martha, born 1826, died June, 1881 ; married George Brown. 4. Han- nah, born June, 1828; married Morris Burn- hanı, lived in Columbus, Wisconsin, died Sep- tember 3, 19II. 5. Nancy, born November 29, 1832; married William Root, whom she survives, a resident of Jamestown in her sev-

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enty-ninth year; she is a highly respected lady and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Children of William Root: I. Frank H., born January 18, 1851, died July I, 1910; married Josephine Wilcox ; children : Frank H. (2), Pearl B., Ralph. 2. William Morris, born March 8, 1855; married Rhoda Wilcox, and resides on his farm in Busti; children: Belle, Ethel, Lulu. 3. Harry, of further mention. 4. Charles H., born Decem- ber 7, 1862; married Mary Ellis; children : Maud E., married Mariel Trask; children : Florence and Gerald. 5. Kate L., born May 21, 1866, married Frank A. Thomas ; children : Robert L. and Harold W.

(X) Harry, son of William and Nancy (Draper) Root, was born in Busti, Chautau- qua county, New York, November 6, 1860. He was educated in the Jamestown schools and in bookkeeping under a private tutor. He has followed agriculture all his active life, making a specialty of stock raising and deal- ing. His farm, about two miles from the heart of Jamestown, has been his home since he was two years of age. It consists of one hundred and seventy-three acres of the best kept and productive land. He has another farm of one hundred and twelve acres near Boomertown, and a ten acre tract close to the city line. Besides his farming interests Mr. Root is a member of the firm of Donel- son & Root, conducting a storage and general dray and heavy trucking business in James- town.

He is interested in the work of the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to Union Grange. He is strictly independent in his po- litical views, and is an attendant of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He married (first) May 13, 1886, Elva R. Fenton, born Novem- ber 8, 1864, died January 20, 1892, daughter of Berry Fenton. Children: Fred Harry, born February 6, 1887; Clyde Fenton, born November 3, 1891. He married (second) August 30, 1894, Myrtie Martin Frank, born September 21, 1874, daughter of Warren A. and Melissa Martin Frank (see Frank). She is a woman of energy and elevated Chris- tian character, devoted to her home and chil- dren. She is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in all good works. She is careful of the preservation of the family records and has rendered great as- sistance in the compiling of both the Root and Frank genealogies. Children: Bessie

Mildred, born June 23. 1898: Clarence Roy, February 4, 1905.

The first of this name which MERRILL was originally Merle and signifies "black bird" was a native, or at least a resident of France, and took his name from the figure of a blackbird displayed on a sign over his door. The earli- est generation of the family in France used a seal on which is displayed three blackbirds. In the persecutions following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, a Merle, being a Pro- testant, fled to England to save his life and cast in his lot with the Puritans. Some of the family still remain in France, the most distinguished member in recent years being Merle D'Aubigne, the historian. As the Hu- guenots were of the best blood of France so their descendants in England and America have been regarded.

(I) Nathaniel Merrill, emigrant ancestor of the Merrills of Cattaraugus county, New York, was born in England, 1610, died in Newbury, Massachusetts, March 16, 1655. With his brother John he emigrated from En- gland and came to America, settling at Ips- wich, Massachusetts, about 1633. In 1635 he removed to Newbury, at the first settlement of the town, and settled on land at the junction of the Parker and Plum rivers, which until recently was owned by a descendant, Tyler Merrill. In his will dated March 8, 1655, he gives his farm to his eldest son upon payment by him of five pounds each to his brothers. and furnishing a residence for his mother and sister. He married Susannah Wellerton, also spelled Wilterton. She survived him and married (second) Stephen Jordan or Jour- dain. She died January 25, 1673. Children : John, Abraham, Nathaniel, Susannah, Dan- iel, Abel. These children all grew to years of maturity, married and reared families. Among their descendants are many ministers and men of mark in every walk of life.

(II) John, son of Nathaniel Merrill, went when young to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was taken into the family and legally adopted by Gregory Wilterton. He married Sarah Watson. At the death of his benefac- tor it was found he had left his entire estate to his adopted son. Children :. Nathaniel, John, Sarah, Abraham, David. Wilterton, of whom further ; Susanna, Abel, Isaac, Jacob.

(III) Wilterton, son of John Merrill, mar-

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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 65

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 646

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646