History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 108

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 108

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Samuel Faulkner became a resident of Dansville in 1797, and bought of his brother Daniel several building lots. He built for his residence a two-story frame house, the first frame house in Dansville that was ever finished. He opened this as a tavern, but it was destroyed by fire in 1798. Samuel had two children-Jonathan Dorr and James. The former served in the commissary department in the War of 1812 with the rank of captain and died in 1815 from exposure in the service.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Dr. James Faulkner, the son of Samuel, was born at Cambridge, Washington county, January 21st, 1790. His parents came to Dansville when he was six years old, the friends and neighbors bidding them what they supposed a life- long farewell. They were ten days on their journey of two hundred miles. Samuel, the father of James, died in 1805 and he was immediately adopted by his uncle Judge Faulkner, the physician just spoken of. In 1810 he sent him to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, from whence he was graduated in March, 1812. Upon receiving his diploma he returned to Dans- ville and entered upon the practice of a profession in which he achieved suc- cess. In June of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Ham- mond of Dansville. In 1815 he purchased a large paper mill in Dansville, and about the same time, an extensive tract of land which is largely within the limits of the present village. To secure this he incurred obligations to exceed $16,000 which he promptly and rapidly met. But his business increased at the cost of professional service, and he was compelled to abandon his practice. Nevertheless, he was constantly consulted by physicians of the village and of the region about.

Dr. Faulkner operated the mill with success until 1839 when it was converted into a tannery. He also built the large flouring mill, which was successfully carried on by his son-in-law, John C. Williams.

In politics Dr. Faulkner was a Jeffersonian Democrat. The suffrages of his fellow citizens placed him in many positions of official responsibility. In 1815

he was elected Supervisor of Sparta, in which Dansville was then situated. He was continued in this office until the county of Livingston was formed in 1821. After this he served his town frequently in this office. In the autumn of 1824 he was elected Member of Assembly from Livingston county, and re-elected in 1825. From the expiration of this term he devoted himself to his private affairs until the fall of 1842, when he was elected to the Senate of the State of New York. Since 1835 Dr. Faulkner had been Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Livingston county, having been appointed by his friend Governor William L. Marcy. When elected senator he resigned his judicial office. During his lifetime Dr. Faulkner enjoyed the intimate friendship and confi- dence of such men as Silas Wright, William L. Marcy, John C. Spencer and General Erastus Root; not to mention ex-President Martin VanBuren, who once did him important professional service.

His children were Endress, born in 1819, who was a graduate of Vale, studied for, and was admitted to the bar where he had already achieved more than ordinary success when he died at the early age of thirty-three; Samuel D., who was born November 14th, 1835, and was also a graduate of Yale. He studied law and was admitted to practice in January. 1860. He rose rapidly in his profession, attained distinction as an orator, was elected Member of Assem- bly in 1865, and was chosen to the office of County Judge in 1871, to which office he was elected once more in 1877. He died at the close of the first year of his second term. His father and he and his brother James enjoyed the distinction of being the only Democrats ever sent by Livingston county to the

ain

BIOGRAPHICAL

Assembly. James Jr., was the third son of Dr. Faulkner, and was graduated from Yale in 1859. - He was elected to the Assembly in 1874. He took his seat January 4th, 1875, just fifty years to a day after his father had taken his, and they both drew the same seat-No. 99. While in the Legislature it was through his efforts that $25,000 for the enlargement of Geneseo Normal School was secured. He was re-elected to the Assembly in the fall of 1875. The fourth son of Dr. Faulkner was Lester B., who also graduated at Yale in the class of 1859. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of his country in the Civil War. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Normal School at Geneseo.

DAVID HALSEY PIFFARD -Residing in the Piffard homestead, in the village of Piffard and town of York, is a grandson of one of Livingston coun- ty's most prominent early settlers. David Piffard, the paternal grandfather of David Halsey, was a native of England, having been born at Pentonville, in the parish of Clerkenwell, without Middlesex county, August 9th, 1794. The family is of French Huguenot extraction. David Piffard was a man of the highest intelligence. He was gifted with a rare memory and was a great reader, and had the advantage of a thorough classical as well as practical educa- tion. At the age of eight he went to France and pursued his studies in Paris and Versailles, where he also made a special study of architecture, perfecting himself in that profession after his return to London in 1813. In December of 1822, at the age of twenty-nine, he came to America with letters to LeRoy Bayard & Co., of New York, who were his father's agents in America. For two years he resided in New York. In 1824 he journeyed West and purchased of John Brinton of Philadelphia, and others, six hundred acres of land lying in the rich and fertile valley of the Genesee. A portion of this land is now covered by the village which bears his name. Here he established his home and henceforth devoted his attention to the management of his farm and about ten thousand acres of land which he owned near Flint, Michigan, and two tracts of land which he had purchased at an early day in Erie county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Piffard was a man of wide experience. He had witnessed three forms of Government in France. He was a subject of George III, had lived in England during the regency of the Prince of Wales and had seen the coronation of King George IV. In America he lived through thirteen presidential administra- tions. He early allied himself with the Whig party, and in 1854, when the Republican party was organized. he joined their ranks and remained a loyal supporter of the principles of that party through life. In 1825 he married Ann Matilda Haight, a daughter of David L. Haight, of New York. Five children were born to them. David Haight married Constance Theall and died in 1881, leaving four children: D. Halsey, Nina H., Charlotte O., and Emma M. Sarah Eyre died in 1881. Charles Carroll resides in Santa Cruz, Califor- nia. Ann Matilda died in May, 1898. Henry G., a prominent physician in

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

New York City, married Helen H. Strong. daughter of General William K. Strong. They had four children: Henry H., died in 1892. Helen married Everett Oakes. Chas. H. and Susan F. David Piffard was a member of the First Vestry of St. Michael's parish, Geneseo, and was on the building commit- tee of the first church building of that parish. He had made a special study of medicine and became very skillful. He practiced among the poor and needy of his neighborhood, receiving no remuneration for his services. He was universally loved and respected, and his memory is affectionately held in the hearts of many who were recipients of his kindness. He died at his home, Oak Forest, Piffard, June 27th, 1883.

David Halsey Piffard, eldest son of David Haight Piffard, was born in the homestead September 18th, 1849, and studied at Temple Hill Seminary, Geneseo. After leaving school, and during his earlier years, he was connected with several business enterprises in New York. In 1869 he returned home and took charge of his grandfather's business, which he managed until the fall of 1872, when he went to California. From there he travelled through the West- ern States and several of the countries of South America. He eventually located at Georgetown, Colorado, where he engaged in mining, lumbering and sawmilling. In 1878 he engaged in sheep raising in Western Texas, which business he managed personally for two years. In 1880 he returned to Lead- ville, Colorado. During the following six or seven years he was connected with a number of large mining companies, milling companies and smelter works in the mountains of Colorado and attended to various branches of their busi- ness which required the oversight of an expert. He also spent much time during these years in prospecting for gold, silver, copper, lead and coal in the lesser known portions of the Rocky Mountains.

Returning to Piffard in 1888 he took charge of the Genesee Salt Co's works, which were, at that time, being conducted at a loss, but which he afterwards placed on a paying basis through careful management and the perfecting of new processes which he invented. For this work he was very well equipped, having spent the greater portion of his life in chemical and electrical work and study.

He was united in marriage in February, 1898, with Pauline Arthur, daughter of Edward Paul Arthur of New York City, and they have one daughter, Pauline.

CHARLES H. SWARTZ-A prominent farmer of Sparta, was born October 6, 1850. His father, Jonas Swartz came from Pennsylvania in 1820 and first settled in Dansville, where he remained three years, he then came to Sparta and purchased 200 acres which is now owned by his sons Charles and John jointly. Charles H. Swartz was married in 1882 to Addie, daughter of William Morris, of Conesus, and they have a son Morris and daughter Hazel. Mr. Swartz has always been a leading factor in local politics. He has held the

BIOGRAPHICAL

office of town collector, was elected supervisor on the democratic ticket in 1881, and was again elected to that important office in the spring of 1903.

WILLIAM HENRY NORTON -- Is a well known and prosperous farmer and produce dealer of Springwater. His father, John B. Norton, was educated for a physician at Auburn, N. Y. He came to Springwater and on February 20, 1820 purchased a large tract of land on the spot where the village now stands. This region was at that time a virgin forest. He cleared a portion of his land but devoted his time chiefly to the practice of his profession. Much of his original holdings he afterward disposed of from time to time and thereby acquired a competence. For forty or more years he practiced in this district and his field of labor extended over a large area. He became widely known and was highly esteemed, being of a kind and generous nature and possessed of the strictest integrity. In politics, he was in early days a Whig. but later became a loyal Republican, and being a man of sound principles and positive character his opinions in political matters carried much weight. He was joined in marriage June 8, 1823, with Jane Marvin, a daughter of one of the early settlers in Springwater. Mr. Marvin was a Methodist and a strict sec- tarian, a true friend and a kind benefactor. He passed his declining years in Springwater, where he died in 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Norton were born eight children, of whom four are now living: Levina married C. Y. Andrus and is now a widow; Asher B., Oscar M. and William H. Those not now living are John M., who died in 1901, Solomon G., Juliette and Aaron M. Mrs. Norton died on their farm two miles below the village of Springwater in 1855 at the age of fifty-seven. She was an earnest member of the Methodist church. Dr. John B. Norton died at the homestead August 29, 1878.

William H. Norton was born in Springwater August 15,1840, and was named after the president then in office, William Henry Harrison. His education was obtained at the district school and the Lima Seminary. He early developed an aptitude for a business life. even at thirteen carrying on business for him- self in buying and selling sheep. At nineteen he purchased his father's farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres just north of the village of Springwater,

which thirty years later, in 1890, he sold for ten thousand dollars. Soon after disposing of this place he purchased the land he now owns, consisting of four farms and including their present home, a handsome and valuable property located on main street in the village of Springwater. Mr. Norton makes a specialty of sheep raising and owns one of the finest flocks of registered Shrop- shire and Hampshire sheep in the county. Mr. Norton attends to the man- agement of his affairs personally and is one of the largest grain and produce dealers in the county. He also buys and ships large quantities of hay annual- ly. On August 24, 1870 he was united in marriage with Alice Wooden, a daughter of Rev. T. J. O. Wooden, a Methodist minister of the Genesee con- ference and at one time well known as a successful revivalist. Mrs. Norton

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

received her education at the Lima academy, of which she is a graduate and Drew Seminary at Carmel, N. Y. in which she took a Post Graduate course. She is also an accomplished musician. She has one brother, Irving, a physi- cian residing in Independence, Cal., who is also a successful ranch and mine owner. Mr. and Mrs. Norton have three children. Lillian M., is a graduate of the State Normal School musical department and of the Conservatory of Musie in Chicago. She married Dr. James D. Stewart, of Springwater, and has one son, Norton A., born November 21, 1900. Oakley Wooden, the second child, attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and the State Nurmal School. He took up the study of dentistry in the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the dental department of that institution. He practiced his pru- fession in Baltimore several years and in May, 1901, returned to Springwater and practiced until June. 1902, when he opened an office in Lockport, N. Y., and is now one of the leading dentists in that city, with a branch office at Wil- son, N. Y. Ethel L. graduated from both the classical and musical depart- ments of the State Normal and for three years engaged in teaching at Port Jefferson, and Islip. L. I., and is now a student at Smith College Northampton. Mass. Mr. Norton is a staunch republican, well versed in political issues, with an intelligent understanding of and an abiding faith in the principles upon which the republican party was founded. Mr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the Methodist church and take an active interest in its work. Fur many years Mrs. Norton was a teacher in the Sunday school and Mr. Nurton was its superintendent. He also holds the office of trustee of the church.

MAURICE J. NOONAN-Of Mount Morris, was born in Ireland, Decem- ber 25, 1843. His mother removed to this country in 1847, locating in Genesco, and in 1848 removed to this village. Mr. Noonan received his education at the public schools here. In July, 1864, he enlisted in Co. D. 58th New York Volunteers, serving his country until December of that year, when he received his discharge. In the spring of 1865 he accepted a position as foreman in the cigar factory of J. L. Thompson, of Syracuse, N. Y., remaining with him until 1869, when he decided to open a factory for the manufacture of cigars at Mount Morris. He secured the store he now occupies in March, 1870, and established a wholesale and retail business of some magnitude. Having a desire to retire from business life, he sold this establishment in 1893 and in 1899 again took pussession of it and has since been actively engaged in its management. Energetic, enterprising, and successful in business, Mr. Noonan has always been in close touch with his fellow citizens, favoring and supporting. financially and otherwise, such enterprises as seem for the best interest of the community. He has also taken an active interest in politics and is ably con- versant on all political questions and party issues. As president of the village he served two years, and is at present a member of the Board of Trade and Livingston club. In October. 1870, he was joined in marriage with Miss Agnes M. Skillen, of Mount Morris.

BIOGRAPHICAL

GEORGE S. EWART-Senior partner of the firm of Ewart and Lake, mill owners and produce dealers of Groveland Station, and a well known farmer and politician. was born in Groveland, November 12, 1835. His father, William Ewart, was born in county Armah, Ireland, and came to America, when a child, with his parents, who settled in Groveland where they secured a farm and rcared their family. After attaining his majority William became associated with his brothers in farming and with them succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and by careful management and prudent business methods added lands to his share of the estate which he still owned at the time

of his decease in 1851. His wife was Elvira a daughter of Walter Stevens and a native of Vermont. She lived to the advanced age of eighty three years and had six children: Catherine S., George S., Mary C., Anna, Jennie M., and Elizabeth.

George S., the only son, was educated at Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. He took up the occupation of farming on the homestead, a share of which he inherited at the death of his father. He has since added farm purchases to his holdings and now owns some four hundred acres of valuable land, all of which is highly productive. Sev- eral years ago Mr. Ewart engaged in the wool business at Groveland Station and with his partner, Orrin C. Lake, is now conducting a flourishing trade in wool and produce at that place. In November of 1897 they purchased of the Wadsworths the old mill property which has been standing since 1826. This they have entirely remodeled throughout, have installed new machinery, erected a grain elevator, and now have a plant producing the best quality of roller pro- cess flour, which finds sale in all the eastern states. They have also recently acquired a custom mill at Greigsville, N. Y., which handles the grain and produce for that section. In 1861 Mr. Ewart married Marila P. Merrell, of Richmond, Ontario county, N. Y., daughter of Nelson Merrell. They have had two children, Helen M., and Fannie E., Helen M., is the wife of Orrin C. Lake, Mr. Ewart's partner. Fannie E. married Murray L. Gamble of Groveland; she was born December 31, 1867, and died October 4, 1898, leaving three children.

Mr. Ewart has for years been prominent in politics and a staunch upholder of the Democratic doctrine. He has held various offices within the gift of the people and bas invariably performed the duties of such offices with promptness and exactness. He was for nine years a member of the Board of Supervisors and for many years was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Livingston county. having been placed in that office in 1889. Ile was appointed by Gov- ernor Hill as Loan Commissioner for Livingstou county and held that office under Governor Flower's and a part of Governor Morton's administration. He held the office of Justice of the Peace twelve years and was appointed treas- urer of the Craig Colony for Epileptics at Sonyea by the first Board of Direct- ors under Governor Flower and held that office until the election of Governor Morton when the change of administration brought about various changes in hat institution. He is at present Democratic Elector for the thirty-fourth

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

district. Through bis intelligent understanding and thorough manner in dispatching duties of public trust Mr. Ewart has been tendered offices of distinction which lack of time to devote to such duties forbade him accepting. He is an ardent member of the Masonic fraternity and a good and loyal citizen.

SOLOMON IHITCHCOCK-"I, Solomon Hitchcock, was born on the 14th day of November 1809 in the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y. My father (a farmer) had a family of six sons and five daughters. It being impos- sible for us all to remain at home, I of my own accord, when in my 17th year, took my clothing in a cotton handkerchief and went on foot and alone about twenty miles to Cornwall, Litchfield county, Conn., where I bound myself out to learn the carding and clothdressing trade. This was at that time, in 1826, a good business, but soon afterward small woolen factories sprung up over the country to which farmers took their wool and had it manufactured into cloth, greatly injuring my trade, which I carried on one year in Dutchess county, N. Y., making nothing, which caused me to leave the business in disgust and look out for another occupation. In 1831, when I was twenty-two years old I started west to seek my fortune and arrived in Conesus in October of that year. There were then no railroads in New York state, except from Albany to Schenectady, seventeen miles, (on which cars were drawn by horses), and I was about one week traveling the distance that I have since traveled by railroad in about sixteen hours. My first business was teaching school in winter and working by the month on farms in summer. I next became able to rent and work land on shares, and was finally able to buy some cheap and partially improved land by running considerably in debt. In November, 1841 I married Laura M. Coe, of South Livonia, N. Y., and to her assistance I am indebted for a large share of all the earthly prosperity I have achieved." Thus, one morning in May, 1873, when in a reminiscent mood, wrote, of him- I have quoted his words, because they tell in

self, the subject of this sketch. brief the story of his early days as he told it while living. Possessed of only a common school education, be nevertheless fitted himself as best he could for teaching and taught several terms with good success. He also served as school inspector before that office gave way to the present office of County School Com- missioner. While always interested in politics from the standpoint of an ardent Republican he never sought political office and held none outside the town where he lived. There he served successive terms as Justice of the Peace. Assessor and Supervisor. Referring to his experiences in the former office, I again quote from his own words: "In the course of my life I have often known men to sue others or allow themselves to be prosecuted for matters of very little consequence; but although I have had considerable dealing with my fellow men, yet I take pride in saying that I was never sued and never had a contested law

BIOGRAPHICAL

suit. 1 have believed and still believe that it is better and more for one's interest pecuniarily to put up with some injustice than to go to law." In 1854, he purchased from the late Timothy DeGraw the farm on which he resided until his death. It is located one-half mile north of Conesus Center and is now owned and occupied by his son, S. Edward Hitchcock and family. While he carried on a general and quite extensive farming business, owning at death about four hundred fifty acres of land, yet by far his greatest efforts were along the line of wool-growing and sheep-breeding and this was his greatest source of income. In this industry he was an authority retaining a keen interest in it while he lived. He owned the same flock of Merino sheep and their descend-

ants for more than forty years. While his health permitted he took an active

interest in the work of the church in whose faith he believed, viz: The Univer- sal Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of Man. His time and

his means were always at the disposal of the Universalist church, locally and at large, and for many years his was a well-known figure in the local, state and national conventions of that body. An early and long-time member of the Livingston County Historical Society, his fondness for pioneer history as well as acquaintance with many early settlers of the town caused him to take a keen interest in the work and meetings of that organization. Concerning his later years I again quote from an article written shortly before his death: "There have been no events in my life worthy of particular note. From the age of

twenty-two my business has been farming. From that time up to the age of fifty years my labors were almost constant and often severe. Yet, having a strong pair of arms and a good constitution (for which I should be and hope I am thankful) I enjoyed my labor, with the expectation that it would, as it did, bring competence and comfort to myself, wife and family in after life, and allow us to visit many of the noted places in our country, which we did while our health permitted; and the money thus spent I think was well invested. About the year 1869, after we had acquired by industry and economy a compe- tence such as we hoped would sustain us through accidents, sickness and the infirmities incidental to old age, I turned my attention to some public improve- ments which I thought were needed at the center of the town. These were a cemetery a new road and a new church. The road was needed for ingress to the cemetery and also for village lots, there being a scareity of good building

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 108

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