History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 107

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 107

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has invariably filled in an able manner. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1899 and resigned that office upon his election in 1903 as supervisor of the town of Livonia. Mr. Woodruff's father, Buel D., held the office of supervisor of the town in 1881 and 1882 and his grandfather. Austin Woodruff, also held the same office in 1849. He is a member of Livonia Lodge No. 778 F. & A. M., Hemlock Lodge No. 200, I. O. O. F., Hemlock Tent, No. 747. K. O. T. M. He is Past Noble Grand in the I. O. O. F. and Record Keeper in the K. O. T. M.

MURRAY L. GAMBLE-A representative farmer and ex-supervisor of the town of Groveland, was born in the Gamble homestead, June 30, 1865. David Gamble came from Ireland and located in Pennsylvania in 1810, and a few years later, probably about 1812, he came to Groveland and purchased from the Land Company the farm of 228 acres which is still in the possession of the family. He was a very energetic man and a leader, socially and politically. He was for a number of years a Justice of the Peace and was also a member of the board of supervisors. His son Robert, the father of Murray, was born June 9, 1828 and died February 24, 1904. He married Rose M. White and they

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

had three children: Iva, who married Edward Gray, was born September 18, 1863, Murray L., and Ora, born January 3, 1874. She married Dr. F. V. Foster and her death occurred September 6. 1897. Mrs. Rose Gamble. the mother, died June 5, 1898. Murray L. Gamble married Fannie E., daughter of George S. Ewart, of Groveland, in 1888. She was born December 31. 1867 and died October 4, 1898, leaving three children: Roxie, born October 5. 1888, Mary Louise, born January 5, 1890 and Helen Ewart, born March 26, 1894. Mr. Gamble took for his second wife Luella Harrison, daughter of Jamies B. Harrison, a prosperous farmer of Groveland. The ceremony occurred June 22 1904. She was born November 9, 1875. Mr. Gamble has for many years been an active factor in local politics and has twice been elected on the democratic ticket to the office of supervisor of the town of Groveland. His farm, of three hundred and fifty acres, lies three miles southeast of East Groveland and in- cludes what was formerly the Kuder and the Robert Smith farms.

HARVEY W. WILCOX-A representative farmer of the town of Spring- water and cx-supervisor of that town, was born July 16, 1855. His father. Eber Wilcox, previous to his death in 1867, was a thriving merchant in Spring- water. After the death of his father, Harvey worked for neighboring farmers until 1881, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred and fifty acres, lying on the main road near the village of Springwater. That year he married Cora Colgrove, daughter of Theodore Colgrove, of Springwater, and they have one daughter, Pearl. Mr. Wilcox has always been a prominent worker in the Republican party. He has served four terms as highway commissioner and was twice elected supervisor, an office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of Springwater and with honor to himself.

CHARLES O. ATHERTON-A successful merchant of the village of Moscow was born at that place September 12, 1842. Oliver Atherton, the father of Charles, when a young man twenty-one years of age, left his home in New Hampshire and came to Wyoming county. For a number of years he was employed by Colonel McElwell and Colonel William Bingham, of Warren, N. Y. and for about two years drove the stage between Warsaw and Geneseo. In 1838 hie came to Moscow and purchased the business now con- ducted by his son. He married Maryette Knapp of Perry, N. Y., February 27, 1839, who died in 1894. Charles O. Atherton attended the public schools and later assisted his father as clerk in the grocery up to within two years of the latter's death, when he became a partner under the firm name of O. Ather- ton and Co. He at once abolished the sale of liquor in the place and at his father's decease succeeded to the ownership of the property. Since that time he has had as a partner Dorus Thompson, who remained as such three years.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Some years later Mr. Atherton's son-in-law A. V. Durand purchased an inter- est in the business which he held for a time and during the past three years the partner in the firm has been William D. Clapp, his son-in-law. Mr. Atherton was joined in marriage October 16, 1867, with Jennie E. Brooks, daughter of Erastus and Eliza Brooks of Moscow, former pioneer residents of Steuben county. Mrs. Atherton died November 26, 1872. Mr. Atherton was married to his present wife, Electa Ann Allen, daughter of William R. and Mary Jane Allen, of Leicester, August 30, 1876. Mr. Atherton has been in business in Moscow for over forty years continuously and is widely known throughout this section as a careful business man and a progressive, public spirited citizen.

JAY C. PICKARD -- A well known merchant of Byersville and supervisor of the town of West Sparta, was born November 23, 1865. He obtained an edu- cation at the district school and later the Nunda High school. In 1891 he pur- chased of W. H. Libby, the general store at Byersville which he is now con- ducting and which has proved a source ot profit to himself and pleasure to his many patrons. In 1888 he was joined in marriage with Fannie Libby, daughter of George W. Libby, of West Sparta. Three children have been born to them, Glenn, Lynn, and Wayne. In 1893 Mr. Pickard received the appoint- ment of postmaster at Byersville which office he retained until the adoption of the Rural delivery in that section when the office was discontinued. In 1901 he was his party's choice for supervisor and was elected by a handsome major- ity, and in 1903 was re-elected to the same office. Daniel L., the father of Jay C. Pickard, was a native of Cayuga county, and when a child his parents came to West Sparta where they purchased a farm. He married Martha F. Purchase daughter of Charles Purchase, a wealthy resident of West Sparta, and reared a family of seven children, three of whom are now living, Clarence A., C. Elmer and Jay C.

A. H. ROGERS-One of the leading merchants of Geneseo, N. Y., is a native of New York City, where he was born in 1852. His advent in the drug business came naturally, as his earlier childhood was spent more or less in his father's drug store, Thus he early became familiar with the handling of drugs and was later a valued assistant of his father's in the management of his two large stores in that city. His father, Arthur H. Rogers, Sr., embarked in the drug business in New York in the early forties, and being an excellent manager and a skilled pharmacist he rapidly accumulated a competence, until at the time of his death in 1877 he was possessed of considerable property, besides two finely equipped drug stores. Four years after his father's death Mr. Rogers disposed of the two stores which he inherited and removed to Geneseo, where he purchased the Walker Pharmacy at the corner of Main and Center streets,

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

which he is still conducting. He was married in 1877 to Mary M. Coombe, of New York. They have four children Julia, Emily, Beth, and Charles H. Arthur H. died while young. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Geneseo Lodge, F. & A. M. He has served as trustee and president of the village and is now president of the board of health.

FREDERICK BANCROFT HUNT-Late of the town of Portage, was a native of Leicester, England, where he was born May 19, 1828. His father, William Hunt, served England, his native country, under the reconstruction of the English government. At the age of sixty five, becoming imbued with the spirit of freedom he gathered his family together and sailed in the " Patrick Henry" for America. The voyage lasted thirty two days, during which time they were buffeted about by gales and storms and for three days the gond ship lay off the banks of Newfoundland, helpless in the storm, with the constant prospect of all on board being sent to a watery grave. They however weathered the storm and finally made the port of New York, where Mr. Hunt and his family remained a short time and went to Whitesboro, Onieda county, where he resided one year. He then lived seven years in Marcy and two years in Trenton, Oneida county, and in 1852 came to Livingston county and located at Nunda. He leased the Skinner farm, three miles east of Nunda, on which he resided until 1872. William Hunt was born Novebmer 4. 1783. He mar-

ried Elizabeth Chambers, of Leicestershire, England, who was born in 1790. Eight children were born to them, William, who died in New London, Conn. aged eighty three: John, enlisted in the English army and was killed in China during the opium war between England and China; George, engaged in farming in Illinois and is now deceased; Mary. died unmarried; Thomas, followed the trade of a blacksmith at Nunda, where he located in 1851 and was killed in a railroad accident on the Lake Shore road near Erie, Pa., leaving a widow who has recently died, two sons and a daughter; Joseph, lived in Nunda for a time, afterwards moving to Nebraska and from there to Council Bluffs, Jowa, and engaged in raising fruits and vegetables; and Frederick B., the youngest of the family. John Hunt, an uncle of William, was killed at the battle of Monmouth while in England's service during the Revolutionary War.

Frederick B. Hunt married Mary E. Moulton, a daughter of Abel Moulton, one of the earliest pioneers of Oneida county and a soldier in the war of 1812. Coming from his home in Albany Mr. Moulton purchased of the government a tract of land at Marcy, Oneida county, which he proceeded to clear and subdue and prepare a home for his family. For some years he worked this place dur- ing the summer months and followed his trade of blacksmith at Albany in the winter, making the journey in spring and fall on foot, a distance of one hun- dred and fifteen miles. He was twice married. His death occurred July 8, 1869, his second wife and six children surviving him. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick B. Hunt have been blessed with seven children, of whom four are now living

BIOGRAPHICAL

two having died in infancy. £ Frederick William married Ella Baker, of Nun- da, and has two sons, Frederick and Howard. They reside at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Orin G. a young man of exceptional ability and great promise, died a short time since in New York. He was a graduate of the Nunda High school and the New York Medical College and had been in active practice for fifteen years in the city of New York as a specialist in the nose, throat, heart and lungs. As a commentary on his ability in the handling of those diseases it is only needful to say that among all the expert specialists in that great city, Orin Hunt's opinion on questions referring to the scientific treatment of these dis- eases carried the greatest weight. Cut off as he was in the flower of early manhood, his death deprives the profession of one of its most able members and terminated a career that bore every promise of becoming a brilliant one. Abel Moulton Hunt married Lunetta Cuddebeck, of Nunda, and now lives in Batavia. They have two daughters Loie and Mary E., Chester C. I. married Julietta Spencer, of Nunda, and has three children. They reside on their farm in Por- tage known as the Hunt Jersey farm, where Mr. Hunt breeds High class Jerseys. Adelbert Bancroft was born April 4, 1870. He graduated from the Nunda High school with the degree of Ph. D., after which he became a graduate of the Albany State Normal College. He for a time held the position of principal in a New Jersey school and for several years has served the Manhattan public schools as principal of a department. He married Dorothy Borrell, of New Providence, and they have a son and daughter.

Frederick B. Hunt came from Oneida county and settled in the town of Portage in 1851, and it is interesting to note that the wheel cultivator that he brought with him from Utica was the first ever seen south of Geneseo. In 1876 he purchased the farm of seventy acres on which he resided at the time of his death. He was a staunch republican since the organization of that party in 1854 and cast his first presidential vote for Martin VanBuren in the Free Soil campaign. During the Harrison campaign he was made president of the Harrison Republican club and later held the same office with the Mckinley club. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have for years been prominent in church and society. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Baptist church at Nunda. Mr. Hunt held the office of deacon in that church from 1865 to the time of his decease, and for thirteen years was superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a member of the Portage Farmer's Club and for twenty years served as its presi- dent. He was a member of the Board of Health fourteen years and for eight years held the office of Justice of the Peace. He departed this life in the spring of 1904 and his death caused sorrow in the hearts of all his friends and neigh- bors.

AURORA D. NEWTON-A substantial farmer and highly respected citizen of the town of York, was born in that town March 12, 1828. His father Dudley Newton, was one of the earliest settlers in the county. When about twenty

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

years of age he left his home in Colchester, Conn., and journeyed westward, seeking a suitable location in which to establish a home. He first located in Avon. Livingston county, about the year 1800. At that time Avon was called Hartford and was a part of Ontario county. Ile remained there for a time and then took up a tract of land in the town of York, on which he erected a log house and engaged in the toilsome work of clearing his farm and reducing the land to a state of cultivation. Here he passed the remainder of his life. He married Hannah Deitz, a native of Hagerstown, MId., and of German de- scent. Eight children were born to them-Daniel B., Jeremiah, Cordelia. Orville H., Alonzo, Newell, Susan Amanda and Aurora D. Both the father and the mother died in 1862, the former aged eighty-two years and the latter ser- enty-five.

Aurora D. Newton attended the district school and assisted in the working of the farm, of which in later years he became the owner. His marriage with Elizabeth Fraser occurred in 1851. She was a daughter of Donald G. and Margaret (Ferguson) Fraser and a descendant of one of the Scotch families who settled the north part of the town in an early day. Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser Newton died in 1853, leaving one son, Walton A. now residing in Lansing. Michigan. Mr. Newton was again married March 17, 1864, taking for his second wife Henrietta Clark, of Caledonia, and they have one daughter Stella H. Mrs. Newton died September 22, 1868. Mr. Newton cast his first presiden- tial vote for General Winfield Scott in 1852 and since the organization of the Republican party in 1854 has been an active worker in the interests of that party and has at various times held offices of a public nature which he has invariably filled in an able and intelligent manner. He has been elected to the office of assessor, highway commissioner and supervisor of the town. The latter office he held seven consecutive years, two years of which be served the Board as chairman. Mr. Newton has also been active in the church and social life of the community and has for many years been an ardent member and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fowlerville, in which he has held all the offices and has several times served as delegate to the Lay Electoral conventions of the Genesee Conference.

FRED A. CULLEY-Was born in Geneseo, N. Y. September 18, 1869. He received his education in the schools ot Avon, the Genesee Wesleyan Semi - nary and the Rochetser Business University. The six years following he was engaged as clerk in the wholesale and retail establishment of Weaver, Palmer and Richmond, of Rochester, N. Y. In 1896 he came to Mount Morris and with D. F. Russell, purchased the hardware business they are now conducting. In 1892 he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie D. Parish, daughter of A. R. Parish of Avon, N. Y. Their family consists of four children: Marion, Fran- cis, Ruth and Fred A. Jr. Mr. Culley is a member of Mount Morris Lodge No. 122 F. & A. M., Mount Morris Chapter No. 137 R. A. M. and Cyrene

BIOGRAPHICAL

Commandery Knights Templar of Rochester. His father, Alexander Culley, is traveling salesman for the Champion Drill Co. His family consists of wife, formerly Mary Bridgland, and five children: Fred A., Edgar W., a physician residing in Flint, Michigan, Elizabeth M., principal of the High School at West Orange, N. J., Albert B., a practicing physician also residing in Flint, Mich., and Ralph H., a student in the Avon High School.

LEWIS H. MOSES-Supervisor of the town of Lima, was born and raised and now resides in the old homestead three miles southeast of the village of Lima. A portion of this land comprises the half section originally taken from the government during the latter part of the eighteenth century. Mr. Moses was born August 18. 1846. His education was obtained at the Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary, where he was fitted for entrance to West Point Academy, was appointed, and might have successfully passed the rigid examination imposed upon applicants for entrance to that noted institution. His health, however, at the time was such as to preclude the possibility of his withstanding the rigurous treatment accorded cadets, so he voluntarily withdrew and has since devoted his time and labors to the care of the farm. A staunch democrat, Mr. Moses has for years been a vigorous worker in the interests of his party and has conscientiously devoted time and energy in fulfilling the various duties of the elective offices which he has held. He served the town of Lima four years as Justice of the Peace, and the past five years he has acceptably occupied the responsible office of supervisor, to which office he was again elected March 10. 1903, for a term of two years. He was united in marriage in November. 1869, to Alice B. Harden, daughter of Truman Harden, a former merchant of Lima. Their family consists of three children, Carrie E., Fred I., and James G.

Lewis Moses, the father of our subject, was well known for his many ex- cellent qualities. A successful farmer, he also in some degree served his political party at various times during the course of his career and was invari- ably a strong factor in the promotion of political or civil enterprises tending towards the advancement or betterment of the community. Zebulon Moses. the great grandfather of our subject, came to Lima from Rutland, Vermont, in 1791 and acquired the tract of land in Lima village on the northwest corner of which now stands the American hotel. Two years later he sold this tract at a material advance in price and purchased the property which his great grandson now occupies. His life was devoted to the hardship and toil of the early pioneer days. His son Luther was a soldier in the war of 1812 and participated in many notable engagements along the Niagara Frontier.

NEIL STEWART-Who died in the town of York on the thirtieth day of April, 1893, was for years one of the leading business men in that town. He

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

was of Scotch parentage, his father Alexander Stewart, having been born in the Highlands of Scotland in the year 1778. When about thirty years of age he married Margaret McDougal of the same neighborhood and came to America in 1810, settling in the town of York where Mr. Stewart purchased a tract of heavily timbered land. Here they established their home and reared to maturity six children, four sons and two daughters. Alexander Stewart died in February 1845, and his wife Margaret survived him fifteen years.

Neil Stewart was born in the town of York, July 12, 1811. He acquired a good education, first attending the district school and later a select school in Caledonia, following which he began teaching and pursued that vocation in the schools of York and Caledonia for several years. As he grew to manhood he developed an unusual aptitude for business and at the age of twenty-three he entered the employ of J. H. and E. S. Beach, millers of Rochester and Auburn, and soon thereafter was given full charge of their large warehouses and boats at York landing on the Genesee river. He continued in that capacity for six years when he established a grain and wool business at York village. He also in early life was engaged in a mercantile business at York Center, where he conducted a thriving establishment for the sale of dry goods, groceries, etc., for many years and during a portion of this time he served as postmaster. He also at one time owned and conducted a large flour mill at York landing. In 1870 he began dealing extensively in grain, wool and lumber, and for a period of fifteen years was undoubtedly the largest purchaser of wool and grain in the country, having a warehouse at Livonia as well as York, the direct manage- ment of the business being vested in his son, Alexander N. On October 1. 1871, he engaged in the banking business at Livonia, which proved successful, and a few years before his death his son, Alexander N., became a partner in the enterprise and thereafter managed and controlled the business, eventually becoming the sole proprietor. In early days Mr. Stewart affiliated with the Whig party but after the organization of the Republican party in 1854 he allied himself with them. He served his town three years as Supervisor and also held the office of Assessor and Justice of the Peace for several years. His marriage with Jane Nichol, a daughter of William and Jane Nichol, of York, took place March 12, 1840. Ten children were born to them. Margaret, the widow of Homer McVean, late of York; Jane R., the wife of George K. Whit- ney, of Geneseo; Eliza, the wife of John Sinclair, of Caledonia; Ella, the wife of Edward C. Caldwell, of York, Alexander V .; Agnes, the wife of George D. Smith, ut New York City; Charles N., William N., Mary K., the wife of George A. Donnan, of York; and Neil, Jr., who died in New York City March 30, 1891. Mrs. Stewart died May 20, 1891. Neil Stewart at the time of his death was possessed of nearly two thousand five hundred acres of land, which he acquired through various purchases during the course of his successful career, and the management of which during the later years of his life occupied all his time.

BIOGRAPHICAL

WILLIAM N. WILLIS-An energetic and prosperous young business man of the village of Springwater and recently elected a member of the county Board of Supervisors, was born and reared in the town of Springwater, the date of his birth being December 9, 1859. His education was acquired in the village schools and later at the State Normal school at Genieseo. After finish- ing his course in the latter institution he took up teaching, which he followed until 1891, when he purchased his present handsome residence in Springwater and engaged in the grain and produce business, which he has since conducted. Archibald Willis came to Springwater from Cayuga county in 1816. He experi- enced the toil and hardships incident to the lot of the early pioneers, but pos- sessed of a hardy constitution with a brave spirit, he surmounted the many obstacles and succeeded in establishing a comfortable home, where he ended his days at the age of about 80 years. His son Nelson, father of William N., was born in 1817, one year after their arrival at Springwater. He succeeded to the property and devoted his time through life to the management of the farm. William N. Willis married Ortha B. Stuart, daughter of C. W. Stuart, of Springwater, in 1884. She died in 1892 leaving one son, Stuart N. He again married, June 1, 1893, Gertrude, daughter of A. M. Withington, of Spring- water. Mr. Willis has, since reaching his majority, been an ardent supporter of the Republican party. In 1892 he was elected town clerk, which office he held until 1897, and in the spring of 1903 was elected supervisor for the town of Springwater.

THE FAULKNER FAMILY .- Dansville perpetuates in its name the most enterprising of the three brothers Faulkner who came to the place where was to be this village in the last years of the eighteenth century. These brothers were Daniel P., Samuel and James Faulkner.

Daniel P., brought with him $10,000, the proceeds of a tract of land sold by him, and he entered upon the building and settlement of the growing village with characteristic energy and vigor. But he was imprudent in the outlay of his money, and failed in business in 1798. He returned to Pennsylvania. But he took up his home in Dansville again and died here in 1802. He first came here in 1795.

The second of the brothers to come to Dansville was James. He was a graduate of Rush College and the earliest physician of Dansville. It was said of him that "he was an eminent physician, and a public man of sagacity and eccentricity."

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 107

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422