History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 109

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 109

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places about our village. " The "publie improvements" above referred to are the present Universalist church, the G. Arnold cemetery, and the highway known as Elm street. 'To the building of the first, the originating _of the second and the laying out of the third the subject of this sketch put forth his best efforts, and in the final success of them all he was largely instrumental. He died at his home in Conesus, on June 20, 1886, aged 77 years, having sur- vived his wife about one year. His death removed another of the long line of those, who, descended from pioneer ancestry, retained the pioneer vigor and character, and who will always be needed to aid in moulding the thought and in leading the best interests of the communities in which they dwell.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

RICHARD R. WELCH-A prominent citizen of the town of Leicester, residing near Cuylerville, was born in Rochester, N. Y., November 27, 1842. His father, John R. Welch, was a native of Ireland, having been born in the county of Cork. Ile came to America about 1835 and soon thereafter drifted to Rochester, where in 1840 he married Margaret McCarthy, also a native of County Cork, Ireland. In 1846 they removed to Rush, Monroe county, where he owned and operated a farm for ten years. The ten years following were spent on farms which he owned and worked successively in West Mendon, Canawaugus and West Sparta. He then moved to Leicester, where he pur- chased a farm on which he resided up to the time of his death which occurred in 1887. They reared a family of five children, of whom four are now living. His wife died in 1883.

Richard R. Welch married Anna Sullivan of the town of York, and they have had five children, three of whom are now living: Charles Edward; Mary Lil- ian; and George Francis. William Harrison, an exceptionally bright young man, studious and with every prospect of a promising career and a graduate of the State Normal school was stricken with pneumonia and died April 6, 1903 at the age of twenty; John Richard, died in 1902, aged sixteen years. Charles and George are at home and have taken the care and management of the farm, Mr. Welch having in a measure retired from the active duties incident to farm life. Mr. Welch is a life-long Democrat and has ably served the citizens of his town as Highway Commissioner and Justice of the Peace.

JOIIN O. NICKERSON-A prosperous mill owner of Livonia, was born in Waterloo, N. Y., March 31, 1852. While very young his parents removed to Albion, N. Y. where he later received his education. Atter attaining his ma- jority he engaged as apprentice at the machine trade in Corry, Pa., where he remained seven years. The year of 1880 he spent in travel through the west working at his trade en route. In 1883 he came to Livonia, where for a time he followed his trade and for one season operated the steamer Mollie Teft, on

In Hemlock Lake. £ In 1887 and the year following he resided in Rochester. 1891 he returned to Livonia and installed a machine shop which has since proved a profitable venture, and in 1900 he further increased his business by establishing a complete flour and feed mill plant, both concerns being now in a healthy, flourishing condition. In October, 1878, Mr. Nickerson married Robina Hoskin, of Corry, Pa., and they have seven children: Edwin O., Liv- ingston Blake, William C., Walter C., Coral, Louis, and John J. James O. Nickerson, the father of John, was a native of Connecticut and a former news- paper man. He married Louise Blake, daughter of Richard Blake, of Livonia, and they had five children: John O., Jessie married Gardner Marsh, of Cone- sus, Livingston B. now a citizen of Minneapolis, Cornelia married William Holmes of Wayland and Lucy married James Van Duzen, and resides in Pachogue, Long Island.

BIOGRAPHICAL

WILLIAM S. GOODING-Was born in Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y., December 21, 1852. For ten years after reaching his majority he taught school during the winter months and worked farms during the summer months. In 1887 he removed to Geneseo and conducted the Normal boarding hall known as Gooding Hall. In 1901 he leased of the Wadsworth estate the popular summer resort, "Long Point." This resort is the oldest in this part of the country. General Wadsworth conceived the idea of a place of resort at Conesus Lake many years ago and erected a commodious cottage on Long Point in which to pass the summer months. This cottage contained twelve rooms and some of them still contain the original furniture. In 1875 Mr. Gooding was united in marriage with Isabelle Gaines, daughter of Henry Gaines, a tanner and shoe manufacturer at East Bloomfield. They have three children, Rodney E., Alma and Norma. Mr. Gooding and son Rodney are both members of the F. & A. M., the former of Canandaigua Lodge, the latter of the Geneseo Lodge.

WILLIAM J. MAXWELL-A prosperous farmer of Caledonia, N. Y., was born August 5, 1857, on the farm that he now owns. His paternal grandfather, William Maxwell, was born on The Marcus Badalbal Estate in Scotland in 1786. He was there apprenticed and learned bis trade of miller. In 1811 he sailed for this country landing in New York, where he engaged with Peter Van Rens- selaer, of that city, as miller, with whom he remained two years. In 1813 he was offered the position of head miller in the large flouring mills at Albany, which he accepted. It was at Albany that he met Isabelle Cameron, whom he married in 1815. They had three children, James A., Catherine and William. In 1817 he decided to remove to Pittsburg, but on his way thither stopped for a visit with his wife's people who had removed to Caledonia, and while with them he engaged with Mr. Wadsworth to operate a large four mill at South Avon. This mill he ran for sixteen years. In 1833 he gave up the mill and purchased of Mr. Wadsworth 120 acres of land in Caledonia. James A., the eldest son and the father of William, was born at Albany in 1816. Ile was only eight months of age when his parents made the overland trip to Living- ston county, where he received a good education. He made farming his life work. In 1841 he purchased of Thomas Monteith 150 acres of land in Cale- donia, and in 1851, 50 acres of Daniel Bowman that adjoined him. In 1841 he married Mary Barron, a daughter of William Barron, one of the early settlers of the town. They had five children. Sarah married James Espie, of Caledonia. Isabelle married Erastus Weeks, and she died in 1902 leaving four children. Mary married Alton Estes, of Caledonia, and they have two children. Cath- erine married John Shoudler of Scottsville, and died in 1899, and William J. Maxwell in 1883 married Lida Paul, daughter of Alexander Paul, a merchant of Scottsville. They have had three children of whom two are now living, Mary Belle and Marguerite. He has served as highway commissioner for several years. In 1899 he purchased of his father the homestead, forty-

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

seven acres of which have been sold to the New York Central railroad and to the Iroquois Cement Company. William Barron, father of Mary (Barron) Maxwell, came to this country from North Hampton, England, at the age of twelve, locating at Geneva and about 1891 removed to Caledonia. In 1812 he joined the Patriot Army and was stationed on guard duty at Buffalo. Return- ing to Caledonia, he obtained from the Government 350 acres of land on which he established a home and there spent the remainder of his life.

OSCAR WOODRUFF-Editor and proprietor of the Dansville Express, a live, enterprising paper devoted to the interests of the people and upholding the principles of the democratic party is a native of Livingston county. Gen- eseo being his birthplace. He comes of old New England stock. His pater- nal grandfather, Oliver Woodruff one of the pioneer settlers of this county, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., in 1755. When nineteen years of age he entered Yale College and one week later enlisted in the Continental army. After serving six months he reenlisted and assisted in building Fort Lee on the Hudson river which was captured by the British one month after comple- tion. He and others were taken prisoners and confined in New Bridewell, New York, through the winter months without fire, with every window in the building broken out and with but little food. An exchange of prisoners was effected the following spring and when released thirty-three out of the thirty- five men in Mr. Woodruff's company died in one night from overeating. In 1804 he moved into the town of Livonia where he purchased a tract of heavily timbered land which he eventually cleared and converted into a productive farm and a comfortable home. He died December 24, 1845, at the age of

ninety-one. His wife died at the age of fifty. Of his seven children who grew to maturity nearly all attained an advanced age. Sydney Stacey lived to be ninety-seven years of age, Hardy eighty-eight, Bushrod Washington, the father of Oscar, eighty-seven, Olive and Birdseye seventy and Steptoe sixty.

Bushrod W. Woodruff was born in Livonia May 26, 1806. When fourteen years of age he entered the office of a Geneseo paper, one of the hrst published in the county where he remained seven years and learned the printer's trade. He worked at his trade and as a publisher until 1860, after which he lived retired, until his death at Dansville in 1893, aged eighty. seven years. His wife's maiden name was Sally A. Rose, daughter of James Rose, of Bath. N. V. Of the thirteen children born to them, four are now living. of whom Oscar is the eldest. She died August 27. 1899 at the age of eighty-five years.

When seventeen years of age Oscar Woodruff entered as a printer the office of the newspaper he now owns. It was then known as the Dansville Herald. He remained in this office until 1861, when at the nation's call for volunteers. he enlisted in the Tenth New York Cavalry and three years thereafter re- enlisted and served to the end of the war. He actively participated in many battles and was three times promoted, first to the rank of Second Lieutenant,

BIOGRAPHICAL

then to First Lieutenant. and afterward to the brevet rank of Captain. Follow- ing the close of the war he returned to Dansville, where he has since resided with the exception of the years 1873, 1874 and 1875, when he held the office of paymaster's clerk in the United States navy. Mr. Woodruff purchased the Dansville Express in 1877, which he has since very ably managed. His part- ner in this purchase was A. H. Knapp, who retained his interest until 1882 when Mr. Woodruff became the owner of the entire business. Mr. Woodruff has been twice married. His marriage with Mary Betts, daughter of John Betts, a pioneer settler of Dansville, took place in 1869 and her death occurred one year later. In 1892 Mr. Woodruff took for his second wife Nettie Carney, daughter of William G. Carney, of Sparta. Mr. Woodruff is in every sense a public spirited man. While in sympathy with the democratic party he is thoroughly alive to the best interests of all his fellow citizens and never fails to lend his influence and assistance in all undertakings tending towards the betterment of the community in which he lives. From 1890 to 1895 he served as supervisor and was chairman of the board one year. He has been four times elected president of the village of Dansville. He is a member of the Canasera- ga Lodge of Odd Fellows in which he has held all offices. He is also a mem- ber of Phonix Lodge of Masons and is a charter member and one of the organ- izers of the Seth N. Hedges Post G. A. R., of which he was commander three years and adjutant seven years.

JAMES H. CROUSE-A wealthy landowner an 1 an enterprising citizen of Lima, N. Y., was born in that town February 9, 1834. His grandfather, George Crouse, a native of Fort Plain, Montgomery county, came to Avon, Livingston county, at an early day and bought and cleared a farm of one hun- dred twenty acres where he lived for many years, afterward removing to Mich- igan where he purchased land and resided until his death some years later at the age of seventy-four. Hle raised a family of nine children all of whom lived to maturity. His son, George G. Crouse, the father of James, was born in Avon and attended the district schools of the place. He remained on the farm until reaching his majority when he engaged with a neighboring farmer by the month, thereafter working on various farms until he purchased one of his own in Lima. He subsequently added to this place and at the time of his death was possessed of one hundred and eighty-three acres. When twenty- seven years of age Mr. Crouse married Mary N. Hovey, a daughter of James and Esther Hovey, of Lima, early settlers of that place. Four children were born to them, - Sarah Jane, Ann Eliza, James H., and Henry R. who died at the age of four years. Sarah J. married Oliver P. Flansburg and died in Jan- uary, 1901. Ann Eliza died in March, 1904. She married Wilkinson Carey, of Lima, and had two children-Mary E., now Mrs. Ira Newman, and Georg- iana Carey, who married Charles Gray, of Lima, N. Y. Mr. Crouse died in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

James H. Crouse obtained an education at the district school and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He began farming on the homestead in Avon, where he remained ten years. He then sold this place and purchased his father's farm in Lima, where he also remained ten years and went to Michigan after selling his Lima farm back to his father. He remained in Michigan three years and returning to Lima resided with his father until the latter's death in 1884. The following year be purchased the handsome residence in Lima where he now lives. Mr. Crouse was twice married, his first wife being Frances A. Carey, of Lima, who became the mother of two children, Mary and Frances N. Mary married Clarence V. Tenney a native of Michigan, and has one son. They reside on one of the Lima farms. Frances N. married Melvin R. Hamilton,

of Avon. Mr. Crouse took for his second wife Lucia C. Chapman, of Lima. The four children of this marriage are George G., who died at the age of five; James S., Henry P. and Arthur D. Mr. and Mrs. Crouse are members of the Baptist church of Lima. Mr. Crouse is the owner of twenty-two farms rang- ing from fifty-five to two hundred and fifty-six acres, all lying mostly in the towns of Lima and Avon. That Mr. Crouse is a shrewd business man and a careful manager is evidenced by the large amount of property he now owns nearly all of which he has accumulated through his own efforts. He is an ardent supporter of the democratic party and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856. Mr. Crouse has ably served the town of Lima as its assessor.

WALTER H. SHERMAN-A prosperous agriculturist of the town of Avon comes from a family who had much to do with the making of early colonial history. Among his ancestors appears the name of Richard Warren, of the Mayflower. He also traces his ancestry in a direct line to Philip Sherman, who emigrated to America, from Essex, England, in 1634 and settled at Rox- bury, Mass. A few years later he removed to Rhode Island and became an associate of Roger Williams in the founding of that colony. He was the first secretary of the colony, and in critical periods, as a man of intelligence, wealth and influence, was consulted by those high in authority. Benjamin Sherman was born in Dartsmouth, Mass. He was fourth in descent from Philip Sherman. and in 1764, removed to Duchess county and settled at the foot of Quaker Ilill. His house was for a time the headquarters of General Washington and it was under his roof that the trial of General Schuyler took place. He and bis son Abiel were wagon makers and farmers, whigs in politics, and Abiel became a member of the State Assembly. The wife of Abiel was Joanna Howland of Dutchess county. Their son Henry, followed the trade of his ancestors and in 1836 came to this vicinity, seeking a new location for a home. He returned to Dutchess county and the year following, with his family sailed up the Hudson in a sloop as far as Albany, thence by Erie canal to Pittsford and by teams to the town of Rush. Monroe county, where he bought land and established a

George C. Northrop.

BIOGRAPHICAL

home. He died at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Emma Halloway of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, was a grand-daughter of William Hallo- way, an officer in the Revolutionary army. Howland Sherman son of Henry and the father of Walter, purchased the Sherman homestead, in Avon in 1856. He married Mary Price of Rush, who was born September 26, 1823, and was the daughter of George Price, a native of Frederick, Md., who came with his parents to *central New York in 1801. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Amanda J., wife of Horace L. Bennett, of Rochester; Frances C., wife of John A. Munson, of Savannah, Wayne county, and Walter H. Walter H. Sherman was born in the town of Rush, Monroe county, May 28, 1854. His education was obtained in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Fair- field Seminary, in Herkimer county and the Albany State Normal School. His entire life, with the exception of a few years spent in business in Roch- ester, has been passed on the home farm. In August 1879 he married Harriet C. Mitchell, daughter of Wm. Dean Mitchell, a merchant of Lima, N. Y., and a native of Penn Yan, where he was born November 8, 1823. He married Nancy Barstow Coryelle in June 1854 and they had but one daughter. He died in October 1880. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Laura Coryelle, born January 18, 1882; Mary Howland, born Sep- tember 6, 1883 and Frances Caldwell born May 27, 1887.

Mr. Sherman has for many years taken an active interest in politics and has served the town of Avon two years as supervisor.

""GEORGE C. NORTHROP-A prominent produce and grain dealer of Lakeville, N. Y., and an old resident of the town of Livonia, was born in Oneida county, N. Y .. December 18, 1828. His early education was obtained first at the district schools of his native place and afterward he attended the Livonia Academy, his parents having removed to Livonia when he was a child. At the early age of fourteen he took up the study of civil engineering, for which even at that age he evinced a peculiar aptitude, and five years there- after he was employed by the Erie railroad on their preliminary survey of the Rochester division. He was then engaged in similar work for the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Company of Ohio, and afterward assisted in the survey for the enlargement of the Erie canal. After the completion of the canal sur- vey, which covered a period of about two years, he was employed in the capa- city of civil engineer for the following railroad corporations: The Genesee Valley Railroad from Avon to Mount Morris; The Chicago, Iowa and Nebras- ka; 'The Logansport, Peoria and Oquaka Railroad, now a part of the Bloom- ington and Western system; The Geneva and Southwestern railroad, now a part of the Lehigh Valley system, between Geneva and Naples as chief engi- neer; The Dansville and Mount Morris Railroad; The Ohio Southern Railroad; The Alleghany Valley Railroad at that time a narrow gauge road running between Wayland and Hornellsville and since made a part of the D. L. & W.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

system. He then engaged for the state, establishing boundaries for the canal road in the Genesee valley. In 1884 he located at Lakeville, where he estab- lished his present business which he has profitably conducted to the present time. His is one of the thriving establishments which put life and energy into the sur- rounding community and establishes a ready market for the neighboring farmer's grain and produce. Mr. Northrop has during his later years been an ardent supporter of the Prohibition party. He is thoroughly public spirited, strictly honest in all his dealings and a man of the highest intelligence. His library contains books from the pens of some of the best writers which he has carefully collected and intelligently perused. His marriage with Lavina Carnes, of

West Sparta, took place in 1853. Three children were born to them: Minnie, who married William Jackson, resides at Livonia and has five children; Luella Elizabeth, who married Rev. C. V. Parsons, a Baptist minister of Fort Fair- field, Maine, and they have two children; and Grant F. who married Miss Jen- nie Deery and has five children. He is in the employ of the Erie railroad as engineer and resides in Rochester.

FRANCIS M. ACKER-A prominent citizen of the town of Livonia and merchant in the village of Lakeville, was born in Groveland, September 28, 1847. Shortly afterward his parents removed to Lakeville, where he attended school and where he has since resided. He secured the rudiments of his busi- ness education at the Rochester Business University. He then engaged in the carriage business which he successfully conducted for fifteen years in Lakeville, and twenty-eight years ago he embarked in the grocery business which he has con- ducted on plans both profitable to himself and pleasing to his many customers. Mr. Acker is a Republican in politics and under President Harrison held the office of postmaster for four years. He married Caroline Gordinier, of Avon, and her death occurred in 1884. Ile took for his second wife Elizabeth Weeks, of Lakeville, and they have three suns. Carroll Francis, Harold Chester and Marion Allen. llis father, Silas Acker, a native of New Jersey, came to Livingston county when a young man, Jocating in Groveland, where he acquired 150 acres of government land which he subsequently cleared. He was thrice married and raised a family of seven sons and five daughters. His third wife, the mother of our subject, was Phoebe Shay, of Scottsburg, a granddaughter of Daniel Shay, of Revolutionary fame, to whose memory a monument has been recently erected at Scottsburg, N. Y. She died at the age of seventy-three years. Silas Acker died in 1865, aged seventy-five years.

ENOS A. NASH-A prominent farmer and ex-supervisor of the town of Portage was born in that town September 4, 1845. His grandfather Alfred Nash, a veteran of the war of 1812, migrated with his family from Connecticut,

BIOGRAPHICAL

his native state, to Western New York in 1818. He made the journey by wagon and first settled in Rochester, where he purchased a strip of land, lying east of the business part of the city and embracing that portion now adjoining East Avenue. He soon sold this property and removed to Portage (then Nunda, Alleghany county, ) and was one of its earliest settlers. He took up two hundred acres of wild land which he cleared and amid all the disadvantages under which the early pioneers labored, eventually succeeded in bringing to a high state of cultivation and success crowned his efforts. He married Elizabeth Hoyt of Connecticut and they reared a family of nine children. His son Enos H., the father of Enos A. became a tanner and currier and for many years con- ducted a business in that part of Portage known as Hunts Hollow. He after- wards returned to the homestead, where he remained until his decease, Feb- ruary 3, 1845. He married Elanora B. Stockwell of Vermont, and reared three children, John A., Adelia E., and Enos A. His wife Elanora died March 14, 1886. Enos A. Nash received his education in the district schools and at the Nunda Academy. At the breaking out of the war he twice enlisted without his father's knowledge, Mr. Nash being obliged upon each occasion to prove to the authorities that his son was under age in order to secure his release. Upon reaching the age of eighteen however he again enrolled himself as private in the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, which was attached to General Grant's command. He took part in the various engagements in which his regiment participated and was taken prisoner, being for four months confined in Belle Isle and Libby prisons, before being exchanged. He was mustered out with his company October 18th, 1865, and returned home. He married Miss Augusta Williams, a daughter of Solomon and Catherine (Averill) Williams, and they are the parents of two children, Arthur J., and Albert B. Arthur married Ruth O. Morton of Jamestown, N. Y., and they have one child, Marion Irene. They live on what is known as the Ingham farm in Portage, owned by Enos A. Nash. Albert married Grace A. Hark of Alleghany county. They reside with Mr. and Mrs. Nash and assist in the care and management of the farm. Mr. Nash was for a number of years a member of the board of supervisors, and for several years served his town as collector. He has also been Justice of the Peace for twelve years. Mr. Nash has always been a repub- lican and cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1868.

WILLIS J. RANDOLPH-Of Moscow, N. Y., was born at Richmond, Northampton County, Penn. May 19, 1862, and received his education in the Portland Academy and the schools of Columbia, N. J. When eighteen years of age he began learning telegraphy in a railroad office and the year following, in 1881, entered the Lackawanna office at Portland, Pa., as extra operator and one year hence was made a permanent one. He was shortly after this engaged as timekeeper at the Buffalo machine shops and in 1885 was tendered the office of operator for the D. L. & W., at Mount Morris, where he remained three

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 109

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