USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > Dayton > Historical and biographical history of the township of Dayton, Cattaraugus County, New York : comprising the villages of Cottage, Wesley, Markham, Dayton, South Dayton, and Fair Plain > Part 18
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Edward C. Hurlburt, son of Byron C. and Harriet C. Hurlburt, was born in Haskinville, N. Y., April 17, 1868, and on August 31, 1889, he married Bertha M., daughter of Oscar and Emma (Easton) Vincent of Leon and resides on the Easton estate near Wesley.
Harrison P. Hall was born January 17, 1824, in Boonville, N. Y. He removed to Leon in 1840, and to South Dayton in October, 1875. By occupation he is a millwright. He married, February 6, 1848, Delinda Francis, daughter of Cadwin Francis of Leon. They had one child, Fred, who died when seven years of age.
Daniel Howard was born December 29, 1825, in the town of Perrysburg, what is now Dayton, where he still resides. He married in 1845, Emily Ross, who was born in Brookville, Pa., August 19, 1827, and died in Dayton, July 26, 1896. They had five children: Urbin, born - -- 1846, resides at Wesley; LeRoy, born 1849, resides at Dayton ; Hiram, born
-- , 1850, resides at Gowanda; Sarah N., born - 1852, she married Bert Wilcox and died November 25, 1900; Maggie, born 1856, married John J. Volk and resides at Dayton.
Calvin Hall, a native of Vermont, came to Dayton in 1855 where he died in 1890. His wife, Sarah Mosher, died here aged fifty-four. They had three children, Calvin E., Phoeba and Lydia. Calvin E. Hall was born January
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22, 1826, came to Dayton, with his father, and finally moved to Buffalo, where he died in 1890. By his wife, Sarah Watkins, he had these children : Mary Z., Ada, Edmund, Drusa, Jesse, and Robert B. The latter was born in New Albion, July 1, 1853. January 1, 1872, he married Nettie, daughter of Patrick Schafer of Salamanca and their children were : Gertrude, Charles C., Jessie M., and Mabel D.
Nelson Hillebert, son of John C. and Elizabeth Hillebert, was born in Onondaga County, November 11, 1809, came to Dayton in 1837, settling near Wesley, where he died September 13, 1871. He was postmaster and highway commissioner for many years. He married, September 11, 1845, Eleanor Harvey and their children were: Emeline J., Amelia, George N., Adaline, Mary and Warren W. Emeline J., born in Dayton, September 22, 1846, married February 15, 1871, George Bailey and has one daughter, Dora E. Warren W. was born August 21, 1885, married Belle Payne. George N. Hillebert, born in Dayton, January 27, 1851, married Ursula Skeels and their children were Nelson and Clifford (deceased. )
Jacob Hooker was son of Daniel, who was a native of Germany, a resident of Boston and later of Brandon, Vt., and a soldier of the Revolution. His wife, Mary (Gates) Hooker, died in Perrysburg, aged about ninety years. Jacob Hooker was born in Stowe, Mass., came to Perrysburg in 1835, and died November 25, 1863. His wife, Lois Fife was born December 24, 1788, and by her he had five children.
John Hooker, another son of Daniel, married Philena Waterman, reared ten children and died in 1888, in Perrysburg. His sons, Hall and Ray, served in the rebellion, the first being killed in action. Newell P., another son was born in Perrysburg, March 20, 1850, married June 22, 1884, Christine Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was born in Sweden, February 1, 1860. Her father came to Dayton in 1884.
Harry Howard, a native on Onondaga County, came to Persia, as one of the first settlers, cleared a farm on Nash Hill and thence removed to Wesley, where he died in 1881. His wife Delia Bacon died in 1888. Their children were: Harriet, Amanda, Alexander, Norman, Emeline and Charlotte. Alex- ander Howard, born in Persia, died in Dayton in March, 1861. He married Lucy, daughter of Amos and Amelia (Towne) Ross, and their children were: James, Albert, Emma and Amanda. William H. Howard was born in Wisconsin, June 8, 1850 and March 1, 1874, married Mary A., daughter of Hiram and Alzada (Ingersoll) Remington of Leon.
Harvey Hubbard, a native of Massachusetts, came to Dayton while young and died here in 1872. His son, Charles, accompanied him to the town and still resides within its limits; several family connections also live in Dayton and hold high places in the esteem of the community.
Asahel Hulett was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., in 1800. His father, Aaron, served seven years in the Revolution as a groomsman of Washington's horses. Asahel married Almira, daughter of Elisha and Dolly (Calkins) Darbee, who bore him eleven children, of whom Andrew J., born October 26, 1833, married Frances Allen in 1856, by whom he had two children, Lucy and Allen. Mr. Hulett married the second time to Mrs. Elizabeth Kimball,
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daughter of John Dye, in 1865. She was the mother of two children, Helen and Horace Greeley. His third wife was Mrs. Annie Dye, daughter of Jonathan C. and Margaret (Stivers) Wade. Mr. Hulett enlisted in July, 1863, in Co. C., 112th Inf., and served to the close of the war. His brother, Marcus, was a soldier in Co. A, 154th Inf .; and another brother, Asahel, was a member of Co. B., 112th Inf., and served to the close of the war. Mr. Hulett is a black- smith at the village of South Dayton.
William G. Hall, son of Justice, was born at Portage, N. Y., came to New Albion, and finally settled near the Wesley Post-office, where he died. He was a farmer and married Almeda Rich of Barre, N. Y. His children were: Charles W., Leonard O., Alzina A., Mary D., Delbert, Rowland, Arad, Sarah, Denton and Marion. Charles W. Hall was born in New Albion, November 3, 1837, and on March 11, 1861, married Betsey, daughter of Norman L. and Lucy A. (Parke) Bacon by whom he had one son, Burt H. The post-office at Wesley was named after Mr. Hall, his middle name being Wesley, and was postmaster of that place for many years. He served as corporal in Co. B., 154th N. Y. Vols., and was at the battles of Chancellorsville and Rocky Face Ridge, being severely wounded at each engagement. Delbert, another son, was born in New Albion, May 12, 1848, and married, March 27,1865, to Mary J., Wood, a native of Niagara County, who bore him three children, Glenn W., Wm. J., and Jennie M. Mr. Hall served in the Civil War in Co. D. 179th Vols. Glen W. Hall, born August 5, 1868, married Anna, daughter of Obediah and Mary A. Luce of New Albion.
Thomas Wellington Johnson, an early innkeeper of the town of Dayton, was born December 29, 1826, in Dayton, and died March 28, 1861, at Mark- ham. He was a son of Col. Ralph Johnson. He married, October 12, 1848, Emily Prosser and their children were Richard P., born March 18, 1850, he married in September, 1882, Mary A. Chadwick and they reside at Gowanda; Celia M., born February 19, 1852, she married October 31, 1872, DeHart Spencer and they reside at Cherry Creek; Katie A. and Cora M. (twins) born September 4, 1854, Katie A., married, November, 1878, L. D. Inman, and died in 1882; Cora M., died at Markham, in 1857; Ellen B., born July 20, 1856, she married, in March, 1880, F. G. Mitchell, and they reside in Buffalo. Mr. Johnson was a very popular and influential man, He once owned a good farm of 140 acres, a large saw mill and the hotel at Markham.
Carrier Jolls was a early settler in Perrysburg, where he died. Among his large family of children was John, who was the first to settle on the present Foster farm, where he died, aged seventy-nine. He likewise had a large family from his two wives.
Col. Ralph Johnson became a settler in what is now the town of Dayton in 1815. He located on lot 30 and continued to reside there until he died. One of the foremost citizens, he was the first postmaster in the town, which position he held for many years and until the opening of the Erie Railroad in 1851, when the post-office was removed to what is now Dayton Village. Soon after he established himself at Dayton, he engaged in the tanning business and the manufacture of boots and shoes. He continued in that business until
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about 1865. In company with Anson C. Merrill he erected the first saw mill in the town and soon after became the sole owner of the mill, which was the principal headquarters for manufactured lumber for many years. This mill, which he owned and operated so long was located at or near the center of the town at Markham. His wife's name before her marriage was Maria Cole. They had four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom attained their majority and three of whom are now deceased. One daughter is still living and resides at Perrysburg. The eldest son was named Richard and the other Thomas W. The eldest daughter, Matilda, was the wife of James M. Rich, and she and her husband have been dead for many years. The youngest daughter was the wife and is now the widow of John Townsend of Perrysburg. After the town of Dayton was organized in 1835, Col. Johnson was elected the first Town Clerk and held the office continuously for about ten years, when he was succeeded by his son, Richard. He was a Democrat in politics and a large majority of the town were opposed to him in that regard for which reason he never received that political preferment to which he was fairly entitled and which he would have otherwise have received. He held the office of Supervisor for one year and was the only one with one exception from the Democratic party who ever had that honor. He was universally esteemed among his neighbors without regard to party and his kindness and assistance which he rendered to the early settlers of the town by his mills, shoe shop, and tannery were invaluable. His word was as good as that of any man in any town, his integrity was unquestioned, he was somewhat eccentric and had strong and unwavering convictions upon political and all other sub- jects with which he had any considerable knowledge and to these views he held strenuously no matter how unpopular they might prove to be among his neighbors. Prior to 1850, he built the hotel at Markham, which building is still standing and in which for many years all the elections and town meetings were held. About the year, 1851, he erected the first hotel at the village of Dayton, which was destroyed by fire a few years since. He was greatly interested in the militia organizations in the early settlement of this part of the county and state. He was at one time the colonel of a regiment of militia which assembled once a year at Lodi (now Gowanda) for a general training day as it was called. This day was the general holiday of the whole country round when the people assembled to see the parade of the regiment. The Colonel who was not a graceful horseman and he made an appearance when riding at the head of his regiment that was likely to create the impression that he was not so much of a Colonel as he really was. But a few of the men of the regiment would be uniformed at all, and a great many had no guns. The parade at this time would present an appearance almost ludicrous but then it was looked upon as a marvel, and the man who made sport of it would be banished from the community by the froce of public opinion. Colonel Johnson was a man of the highest integrity. He had great public spirit and was greatly interested in the improvement of the country and of the town in which he lived. He acquired a goodly competence by the most assidous industry and when he died he left to his children and to their children the priceless inheritance of a good name. N. M. A.
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Gile Johnson, the fourth son of John and Althea ( Watkins) Johnson was born in Stafford, Conn., in the year, 1804, and soon after removed with his parents to Herkimer County, N. Y. When seven years of age, he with his five brothers and a sister, became orphaned by the death of his father. His mother, unable to provide for so large a family with her limited means found a home for him in the family of a Mr. Griswold, a farmer of that County, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1826 he came to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and bought a farm, adjoining that of his brother, Ralph's in the town of Dayton, which, like the entire surrounding country was a dense forest, and which by his energy and industry was soon cleared up and with an occasional addition of from fifty to one hundred acres was occupied by him until his death, which occurred in December, 1872. Two years after purchasing his farm, he married Philena Salisbury, daughter of Calvin Salisbury of Herkimer County, N. Y., who died in 1839, leaving three little boys. He soon after married Milley, daughter of Calvin and Hannah Rich, of New Albion, who died in 1858, deeply lamented by her numerous friends and acquaintances and especially by her family, consisting of two sons and four daughters, besides the sons of her adoption. He afterwards married Rosalinda Hubbard, of Dayton, who lived but a few months; and in 1860 he married his present surviving wife, Mrs. Sarah Ann Bailey, daughter of Nathaniel Hurd of Perrysburg. In early life he became connected with the Methodist Church of Dayton, of which he remained a faithful member to the time of his death and had the satisfaction of seeing nearly all his family honored members of the same. Besides being a constant officer of the church he was twice elected as supervisor of the town and often held other responsible town offices. Like most men whose accumulations depend upon their own energy and foresight he was prudent and economical; yet he would not on any account take advantage of the necessity of others. At an early day when there was a scarcity of wheat and when it could be sold for several dollars a bushel, he would sell his wheat for one dollar and would only sell a few bushels to any individual; and so also when there was a scarcity of hay and when his neighbors' cows were starving for want of it and when it could be sold for a fabulous price, he would sell his hay for ten dollars a ton and divide it among his neighbors, according to their necessity. He was conscientiously honest in all his dealings. In regard to his farm work his motto was, "Drive your work and don't let your work drive you." In all business transactions he was punctual and prompt to meet all contracts and engagements. He took a lively and deep interest in the welfare of his family, and was a kind and affectionate husband. His example in life was in perfect harmony with his Christian profession.
Chauncey E. Law, son of Lewis M., who was for many years a hardware merchant, and died in Pennsylvania in 1861, was born in Aurora on April 22, 1857, married May 2, 1852, Minnie E., daughter of George and Caroline Dailey of Dayton, by whom he had two children: George L., born July 30, 1883, and Chester D., born January 4, 1892. Mr. Law is a painter and resides at Gowanda.
Aaron Markham, a native of Massachusetts, came to Dayton in 1836, and
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died here in 1852. Among his five children was Aaron, Jr., whose son, William R., born November 27, 1814, came to this town in 1843. Of his sons, Aaron and Sylvanus served in the Ellsworth Zouaves, the former being killed (aged nineteen) and Philo A., who was a member of the 154th N. Y. Inf., and lost an arm at Rocky Face Ridge. He was brevetted 1st Lieuten- ant for meritorious service. (See Dayton. )
Henry C. Mason is a son of Isaac, who was born in Massachusetts, Novem- ber 23, 1798, and died December 27, 1885. Brooks Mason, the father of Isaac, was a Revolutionary soldier and was the third settler in the town of Pen- field, Monroe County, where he died. Henry C. Mason was born in Penfield September 14, 1825, and on October 31, 1847, he married Almanda M. Crane, who bore him these children: Orinda C., Isaac C., Levi D., and Loren D. James B. Mason, a brother of Henry C., was a lieutenant colonel in command at Clinch Mountain, West Va., where he was killed in 1863. George P. Mason, another brother was a captain of Co. B. 11th Mich. Vols., and was killed in Kentucky; Levi A., another brother enlisted as Captain of Co. I, 2d Mich. Vols., and served to the close of the War, participating in forty-seven different engagements. Russell B., still another brother, enlisted in August, 1861, in a Michigan regiment and was wounded at White Oak Swamp. Henry C. Mason, the fifth brother enlisted in Co. C. 64th N. Y. Vols. in September, 1861, and was discharged Dcember 3, 1862. He is now a farmer and resides near South Dayton.
Johnson Merrill, son of Capt. Isreal, was born in Manchester, N. Y., May 9, 1833, began life teaching school when he was sixteen, came to Syracuse in 1854, and purchased an interest in the salt works there and in 1856 removed to Persia, where he married June 17, 1858, Sarah E., daughter of Benjamin J. and Sally (Prentice) Allen. They moved to Meadville, Pa., where they both taught school three years and then went to Oil Creek, where he engaged in oil speculation. In 1866 they returned to Dayton and settled at Cottage, where he died May 7, 1891. Their only son, William W. Merrill, was born May 29, 1868, and is a farmer residing near Dayton.
Silas H. Merrill was born in Dayton in 1830. His father, Heman Merrill, was born in Connecticut, in 1791, and died at the age of eighty years. Silas H. married Maria J. Marshall of Erie County, Pa., and their children were Ara N. and Martha I. He was prominent in local politics and for many years a deacon in the Baptist Church. On December 29, 1876, he was killed in the Ashtabula railroad disaster and nothing was ever found of his remains.
James Moore was born in Batavia, in 1825, moved to Leon and thence to South Dayton, in 1880, where he died April 20, 1899. In 1848 he married Nancy M. Graves, who still survives him and lives with her son, William H. at South Dayton. Their children were Marion (deceased); William H., Marinda, Phena, Emmett, Ira, Heaman, Lillie and Kitty.
Anson C. Merrill was one of the early settlers of the town of Dayton, and lived upon a farm not far from the center of the town. He came from the town of Fabius, Onandaga County, about the year 1820, and died at Dayton, aged about seventy-five years. He was a man of good ability and discharged many important duties official and otherwise during the earlier years of his
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manhood. He was Supervisor of the town of Dayton during the years 1839- '40. He had six children of whom but one survives, Mrs. Ruth Redfield of Eden, Erie County, N. Y. He, in company with Ralph Johnson, erected a saw mill near the center of the town about the year 1830, which for many year was the only mill for the manufacture of lumber in that vicinity. It afterward became the exclusive property of Ralph Johnson. Mr. Merrill was an enterprising man of more than ordinary ability and had the respect of his neighbors and all who knew him. Some of his grandchildren have grown up and reside in the vicinity and are good men and women. His wife, Bethany, survived him for a number of years and died at an advanced age.
Stephen L. Peterman was born in Hanover, July 13, 1853. For several years he was engaged in railroading and was in the cigar business at Nashville for two years. He came to South Dayton in 1877 and has since been engaged in farming and the commission business. October 1, 1878 he married Mary E. Hyatt of Nashville. They have one son, Vern, born August 27, 1879.
Porter A. Parke, son of Avery and Lodema (Nash) Parke was born on the homestead at Dayton, June 26, 1840, married September 9, 1864 to Amelia, daughter of Daniel D. and Amanda English, who was born March 14, 1844. Their children are Clara A .; Herbert H. and Clarence E. Mr. Parke served in Co. K. 25th Wis. Vols. and was discharged February 16, 1865 on account of wounds and now resides at Wesley.
Joseph K. Peck, a native of Connecticut born November 4, 1776. His wife Isabella Hyde, also a native of Connecticut, was born June 30, 1779. Their children were Mary, Samuel, Joseph, Hannah, David B., Emily, Peter, Lurany, Eunice, Joel and Horace. Of these Horace was born December 27, 1831, married October 3, 1852, Delia Poland and has had born to him these children: Hiram C .; Elmer H .; Ella O .; Elma S .; Willa C .; Albert H. and Elga E.
Marcus J. Rhodes, son of Joseph and Sarah L. Rhodes of Northville, Pa., was born at Corning, N. Y. March 5, 1854, married Martha J. Merrill (now deceased) and had born to him four children. He is a farmer and resides at Dayton.
A. L. Roberts was born at Cottage, March 2, 1839. He married Rachel Youngs of Hydetown, Pa., July 3, 1862. She was born at Hydetown November 28, 1844 and died October 8, 1877. He married again July 25, 1878, Maria S. Bunce of Cottage, who was born there May 6, 1848. Mr. Roberts children were: Wm. C. born September 10, 1863, married January 1, 1885 to Glennie Smith of Cherry Creek; they now reside at Jamestown; Kittie, born January 1, 1868, died February 16, 1880; Eddie B. born May 11, 1879, died March 28, 1880; Clifford N. born December 17, 1884, died February 2, 1886; Nelson B., born October 18, 1889. Mr. Roberts is a mechanic and resides at South Dayton.
Willaim Ranlett was born April 22, 1790 in the town of Meredith, N. H. His father was a Revolutionary soldier. He moved to South Dayton in April, 1852, and in company with his son W. W. built the first mill at South Dayton. This they operated for seven years and then sold to Wickham
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and Berwald. Mr. Ranlett died October 23, 1884. He married Orpha Perham, who was born June 15, 1793 in Vt. and who died at South Dayton May 21, 1867. Their children were Sarah A. born April 29, 1827, married Asa P. Chase, who died in November 1851, their son was Eugene A. Chase with whom she now resides. William Wallace, born April, 1829, and died September 5, 1862. He married Sally Maxwell, who died in December 1897. Their children were Adelbert W., born in March, 1854, now resides in Bradford, Pa .; Jane born in November 1852, married Alfred Newcomb, and now resides in Cherry Creek; Lafayette born July 8, 1838 (See South Dayton. )
ABRAHAM A. RUGG.
Abraham A. Rugg was born in the town of Perrysburg, May :22, 1823. He came to South Dayton in 1846, where he died May 18, 1881. Mr. Rugg was a progressive citizen and did much for South Dayton in its early days. He built the first school house there and was the first trustee after the district was organized. He married Katherine L. Babcock of Villenova, a native of Vermont. She died April 19, 1882. Their children were Clark, born May 16, 1851. He married February 19, 1872 Nettie Crapyo, a daughter of David Crapyo and she was born February 18, 1851; and Mina E. born November 10,1866, resides in the town of Hanover. Clark has one son, John
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born June 19, 1884, married March 15, 1898 to Lizzie Bruckman, now resides at South Dayton. Clark Rugg is a carpenter at South Dayton and his handi-work is seen on many buildings there.
John A. Rice, a pioneer of the town of Dayton, was born in Providence, R. I. in 1800, and came to Dayton in 1830, settling on lot 60, the place now owned by Andrew Spire. He died in 1882. His wife, Polly Nichols, was born in Mohawk Valley in 1802 and died February 4, 1894 in the town of Dayton. Of their children, Henry T. Rice was born in the town of Dayton May 4, 1834, where he has since resided excepting for a time during the war of the rebellion, an honored and upright citizen. Mr. Rice enlisted in Co. H., 44th N. Y. Vols. and was a good soldier. The last day of the seven days fight he was shot through the left groin and was left on the field for seven days and then taken as a prisoner to Richmond and placed in a tobacco warehouse. At the second exchange of prisoners he was taken to Fortress Monroe and from there he wrote home and his father came after him. Returning to South Dayton he settled on the farm now owned by Charles Miller and at the present time resides on a farm a short distance from the village. Mr. Rice is a well read man. For a time he was postmaster at South Dayton. He married September 7, 1864 Ellen Young, daughter of Henry Young. They have had three children. Cora, born June 8, 1865, married October 28, 1883, Wilson Hubbard and now resides near Cottage; Lee E., born January 1, 1872, Married Leo Smith January 8, 1892, and now resides near Cottage. Norman R. born February 4, 1886, now living at home.
Orange Remington was born in Rutland County, Vt. June 2, 1810, came to Onondaga County, and thence to Dayton in 1832. Here he cleared a farm in the south part of the town and died there in 1871. November 11, 1835 he married Mary D. Mayo and his children were Hebsabec, born November 8, 1837; Wallace W., born June 30, 1839; Garrett P. born September 5, 1841, and George W., born February 25, 1845. Geo. W. married Alice Dean. Garrett P. married July 4, 1861 Augusta, daughter of Darius and Mary A. (Merrill) Markham, who was born in Dayton, January 20, 1846. He was a soldier of the civil war and is now a farmer at Markham.
E. S. Slawson was born in Hanover, N. Y. November 5, 1838. He moved from Nashville to South Dayton in 1883, where he lived until he was killed by the falling of a tree January 9, 1887. He married December 21, 1857, Frances Peterman of Nashville, who was born in Forestville, May 30, 1840 and who still survives him. There were born to them three children: Anna, born May 8, 1861, married to D. S. Howe of Parisville, N. Y. and died February 9, 1897; Bradner H., born November 15, 1862, resides at Cherry Creek; Nellie B., born December 23, 1864, married Walter Andrews and now resides at Grenare, Pa. E. S. Slawson was a vocal instructor and had an excellent reputation as a leader and conductor of singing conventions.
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