USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 110
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
32
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
years, coming to Moscow in 1888 as the company's agent. In 1881 occurred his marriage with Miss Ada Francis Michaels, of Columbia, N. J., and they have two children. Grace, who is attending the State Normal School at Geneseo, class of 1904, and James who for some years has been an assistant in the D. L. & W. office with his father. Mr. Randolph is a member of the Mt. Morris Lodge of Masons, of the Blue Lodge and also of the Chapter. He has always been prominent in town affairs taking an active part in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of its citizens. A republican in politics, he has for years actively upheld the principles of his party. He ably served the town of Leicester, as town clerk, for two terms, and has been a Justice of the Peace four terms.
DAVID MENZIE-The well-known auctioneer of Caledonia, was born at LeRoy, Genesee county, July 11, 1837. After finishing his schooling, which was obtained in the public schools of that place, he engaged in farming. In 1862 he was joined in marriage with Kate McBain, daughter of Francis McBain, a prosperous farmer of the town of York. They then removed to Riga, Mon- roe county, where Mr. Menzie purchased a farm on which he remained ten years. They have four children, Jane B., Charles. Christina and Robert D. Jane B. married William H. Garbutt and resides at Wheatland, Monroe county. Charles married Anna Bowerman and Christina married John G. Glass and resides at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Robert is in Alaska, where he has been engag- ed in mining for the past six years. In 1872 Mr. Menzie and family came to
Caledonia where they have since resided. His father, Duncan, was a native of Scotland and one of the first 'settlers in the county, having as a young man settled in Caledonia in 1810. He married Miss Christie, of Wheatland, a daughter of John Christie, who came to America from Scotland in 1790. David Menzie has undoubtedly conducted more farm auctions than any other man in the county, having taken up the work in 1857 and followed it continuously to the present time. Thoroughly honest and straightforward in all his dealings, he has gained the entire confidence and friendship of all who know him or with whom he has had dealings.
WILLIAM W. BISHOP-Was born at Geneseo, Feb. 20, 1850. He attended Temple Hill Academy, also the Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Mass., graduating with the class of 1866. His first occupation was a clerkship at the Bank of Geneseo, which he retained a short time, when he entered his father's (John F. Bishop) dry goods establishment and remained, with him until the spring of 1884. He then went to Grand Forks, N. D., and engaged with the loan and real estate firm of E. P. Gates & Co. as abstract clerk. He re- mained there until 1888, when he accepted a position with Bradstreet's at New
33
BIOGRAPHICAL
York City. In 1890 he returned to Geneseo and took up his former work in bis father's store and succeeded to the business at the time of his father's death in 1895. In 1899 he received the appointment of abstract clerk of the county and is now filling that office. In December, 1879, Mr. Bishop was united in marriage with Sarah L. Booth, of Canandaigua, and they have one son, John A. Since the appointment of Mr. Bishop as abstract clerk, Mrs. Bishop has very successfully carried on the dry goods business until February, 1904, when, unfortunately, their establishment was entirely destroyed by fire.
Dr. CHARLES C. WILLARD-Veterinary surgeon of Mount Morris, was born at Pittsford, N. Y., February 18, 1859. He received his school educa- tion at that place. Having a natural love for horses he early began a study of their diseases, attended lectures and so perfected himself in veterinary surgery that in 1887 the Rochester Veterinary Association granted him a diploma which was endorsed by the Regents of the State University. He immediately began practicing at Mendon, N. Y., where he remained two years and removed to Mount Morris, his present home. As an auctioneer, Dr. Willard is also well known throughout the country, having conducted scores of successful farm and stock sales since his first sale in 1896. In 1890 he married Miss Mercie Louise Richardson, of Pittsford, N. Y., and their family consists of two children, Clarence Richardson and Charles Leslie.
WILLIAM J. WEED-Cashier of the State Bank of Avon, has occupied that position eleven years, coming here from Cattaraugus, N. Y., where for the three years preceding he had acted as assistant cashier in the state bank at that place. He was born at Franklinville, N. Y .. July 19, 1858, and his edu- cation was obtained in the schools of that place and the Ten Broeck Academy. Immediately upon leaving the latter institution, when sixteen years of age, he secured the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Franklinville, where he remained until his removal to Cattaraugus in 1889. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Sbokency, of Avon, N. Y., and their family consists of one son, W. Stanley. A daughter, M. Adelaide, died in 1894 at the age of fourteen years. Mr. Weed has by his own efforts and ability attained the position he now occupies. Endowed with a natural aptitude for the banking business and possessed of originality and enterprise with a thor- ough knowledge of the business, acquired during his thirty years of experience, Mr. Weed has performed skilfully and well the various exacting duties inci- dent to the position he occupies.
WILLIAM McLEOD. - The subject of this sketch is of pure Scotch parent- age. His father, the late Norman McLeod, came to Canada with the Ninety- third Highlanders. William was born in Canada in 1841, while his father was
34
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
yet a member of that noted British regiment. His mother's brother. William McBean, was also a member of that regiment, and later made the notable record of rising from the ranks to the command of it, and died in London in 1878, a Brevet Major General. William thus comes of martial parentage, inaternal and paternal. His father was discharged from the British service by reason of ill health, and came to York state with his family, when William was eleven years old. William's boyhood, until he was twenty was simply that of the average American boy. He worked on a farm until eighteen years of
age when he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, at Prattsburg. The outbreak of the Civil war found him at Pulteney, N. Y., at the home of a married sister. The battle of Bull Run had taken place and the attack on the flag of his adopted country stirred his soul. From this point we give his military exper- ience somewhat in detail, not that it was especially noteworthy, but to put on record an instance which was duplicated perhaps many times, and to show the depths to which the North was roused by that challenge to war. £ From the
date of the first battle, William McLeod wanted to enlist, but from his parents' experience of military life he supposed they would object to his going into the army. So in his letters to his parents at Hemlock, he said nothing about it. Thus it went until Saturday evening, October 13, 1861, when a letter came from his father in which he told of the raising of a regiment at Geneseo, and of a number from Hemlock who had already joined, and that they were asking about William and wanting him to go with them. He added "if William wants to go I will make no objection." Monday evening he appeared before Edward D. Clarke, a Justice of the Peace, empowered to take enlistments. The evening of the next day found him back at Prattsburg, having walked the,
entire distance, thirty-six miles, each way. The second day of December 1861 at Geneseo, he was mustered into the United States service, as a member of the 104th New York Volunteers, by Captain Marshall. Here he found his brother. Donald N., who had already enlisted before he was seventeen. His brother
was rejected later by reason of his youth, but the boy was determined to go, and his father appeared with him, on February 25th, before Colonel John Ror- bach, and gave his written consent that Donald might go with his elder brother. The Wadsworth Guards left Geneseo on February 26th 1862, and from this time. William McLeod's military experience was simply one with his regi- ment, until the second battle of Bull Run, when he was wounded on the skir- mish line, August 30th. His right arm was amputated at noon, on September first, in a field hospital, near the place where he was wounded. At nine o'clock on Wednesday morning forty five hours after his arm was amputated, he started out on foot for Washington, about thirty miles distant. Being taken prisoner after he was wounded he had nothing to eat, save what he had in his haversack, when he was wounded. This was six army crackers and coffee and sugar for six cups. Half this supply he gave away to comrades who had nothing. It was simply a question with him whether to die on the field where he was or try to reach the Union lines. He said to himself "If I must die I will die going towards help; I am not going to die lying here." The first half mile he walked along by a rail fence, steadying himself by it. He was so
35
BIOGRAPHICAL
weak he dared not sit down, fearing he could not rise again. He reached Centerville about three P. M. and found his brother there, severely wounded. They had been together on the skirmish line and Donald was wounded a few moments first, hut unknown to William. The only food that had passed Wil- liam's lips, from Saturday at five P. M. until Wednesday at five P. M. was the three crackers, the three cups of coffee and a piece of lean fresh pork about a cubic inch in size. The brothers received their paroles at Centerville and resumed their journey toward Washington on September 4th with their haver- sacks empty. They had nothing to eat for the next twenty-four hours. They came to the Union pickets six miles from Washington, where they arrived in the forenoon of September 6th, having walked all the way from Bull Run, ex- cept the last six miles. They were taken by our pickets to Epiphany Hospital, where they remained until November 14th 1862. William then came home on discharge and Donald, whose wound was yet far from healed, on furlough, Upon returning to his regiment, Donald was discharged in February 1863 from a hurt received earlier than the one at Bull Run. He remained at home until September and enlisted in the 21st New York Cavalry. He put in nearly four years service before he was twenty-one, was wounded once in his second term of service, but his first hurt to his right knee was so serious that in 1875, he had the leg amputated just in time to save his life. Save for short periods William has lived at Hemlock. He has no political ambitions, save a desire to hetter the conditions of society, so that he may feel that he did not give his good right arm in vain,
FRED M. WILNER-An extensive farmer of the town of Portage, was born on the farm his grandfather took up soon after the war of 1812. George Wilner, grandfather of Fred, was a native of Berkshire county, Mass. He afterward removed to Connecticut and joined the American Army in the war of 1812. His brother also enlisted and was killed at the battle of Plattsburg in 1914.
George participated in the battle of Stonington with his regiment and at the close of the war came to Livingston county, making the journey by wagon, and settled on land on the Genesee river, which he afterwards sold. He then removed to Indiana, going thence by the way of the Ohio river. Three years later he returned to Portage and settled upon a land grant which comprises the present large productive farm owned by his grandsons, Fred M. and Frank A. Wilner. He married Betsey Moses, a daughter of Elisha Moses, a pioneer of this county, and they became the parents of six children: Hannah, Flavia, Marcus W., Malcom, Merriman J. and Mortimer.
Marcus W. Wilner, the father of our subject, was for twenty-five years a merchant in Portageville, where he was also engaged in the lumber business. In 1850 he married Susan A. Adams, daughter of Gaylord Adams, of Gran- ville, Ohio. They have had four children: Frank A., Fred M., Gaylord and Nellie. Frank A. is now a commander in the U. S. Navy, stationed at
36
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
New Orleans. During the recent investigation as to the alleged frauds in steel plate he was appointed inspector, by the Government, of all steel plate used in the manufacture of armor clad vessels. Gaylord is warden of the State Insane Asylum at Kalamazoo, Mich. Marcus W. Wilner died January 14, 1897.
Fred M. Wilner married Ida E. Paul, of Portage, and they have one daugh- ter Gretta. A republican in politics, Mr. Wilner has served his town as road commissioner two terms and is a member of the republican central com- mittee.
WILLIAM W. McMAIIAN-Of the firm of McMahan Brothers, grocers of Moscow, N. Y., was born at that place May 6, 1874. His early education was obtained in the public schools after which he took a three years, course in the State Normal school at Geneseo. He then, in 1894, began teaching, the first year in Livingston county and the second in Wyoming county. In February 1898, he entered the Craig colony Institution at Sonyea. N. Y., and took a two years, course of training as a trained nurse At the expiration of the two years he was appointed supervisor of nurses, which position he held until Feb- ruary, 1903, when he resigned and engaged in his present business at Moscow. The firm of McMahan Brothers, consisting ot William W. and Walter J. Mc- Mahan, has met with unusual success considering the time they have been run- ning, but with their known reputation for uprightness and strictest integrity and their admirable methods of supplying the wants of the people, the tact is not surprising. William McMahan is a member of the Mt. Morris Lodge of Masons. a conscientious Republican and a charter member of the Gamma Sigma Society of the Normal school of Geneseo. His father, James McMahan. was a native ot Ireland, coming to America as an infant with his parents, who located on a farm near Moscow, where he resided until his death, in 1895. His wife, Laura Crossett McMahan, was a daughter of Calvin Crossett, an old settler of Livingston county, who when a boy left his home in Massachusetts, crossed the Hudson river on the ice and walked the entire distance to his future home in Leicester. He made the journey alone, paying his way by the sale of essence, which he peddled en route. Laura Crossett McMahan died in 1901 at the age of sixty-four.
FREDERICK E. DALEY-Proprietor of the New Iroquois hotel at Cale- donia. was born in LeRoy July 18, 1865. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Caledonia. locating on a farm one mile east of the village, His early life was spent on his father's farm and his schooling was obtained in the village of Caledonia. Upon reaching his majority he began working by the month for neighboring farmers and continued thus for the six years following. He then became clerk in a hotel at Caledonia, where he remained five years. In 1895 he leased the New Iroquois hotel and two years thereafter purchased
William W. Killip.
37
BIOGRAPHICAL
the property and has since conducted it with gratifying success. In 1896 he was married to Mary A. Reed of Caledonia. Eugene Daley, the father of Freder- ick, a native of Ireland, came to America about 1845 and settled at LeRoy. He later removed to Caledonia and engaged in farming which he followed up to the time of his death in 1900. Frederick E. Daley is a valued citizen of Caledonia. He conducts his hotel along modern lines; the rooms are handsome- ly furnished and kept scrupulously clean, and the table cannot be excelled by any medium priced hotel. The establishment is in a flourishing condition and enjoys a large share of the transient trade of the place in addition to its many regular boarders.
WILLIAM W. KILLIP-A Manxman by birth, has for more than fifty years been a prominent citizen of Geneseo, N. Y. He was born on the Isle of Man in June, 1826. Ilis father, John Killip, inherited the ancestral estates in the parish of Ballaugh, in the northern part of the island. £ He was a man of much influence in the parish, highly educated and the fifth John Killip to inherit the property. He died in April, 1844. Soon after his death William W., the third son, came to the United States and was for some time employed in a clothing store in Rochester. In September, 1851, he removed to Geneseo, where he now resides. While in Rochester he attained considerable promi- nence as a musician, being a fine singer and a skillful player of many musical instruments. For a number of years he conducted the music in St. Paul's church in Rochester, where in 1851 he established a choir of boys, which is believed to have been the introduction of boy choirs in America. Upon his arrival in Geneseo he was put in charge of the music at St. Michael's and was organist and conductor of that choir for nearly forty years. In 1859 he found- ed a Normal music school in Geneseo, of which he became the principal. During the winter, when the school had no session, he conducted musical conventions of a high order throughout the country, which gained for him considerable notoriety among lovers of the art. In 1871 he was appointed by General Grant postmaster of Geneseo, and the same year was made manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, which office he still retains. He held the office of postmaster until 1883. Mr. Killip has been unanimously elected each year since 1895 treasurer of the village of Geneseo. He has served as overseer of the poor continuously since 1881, and for twenty years has acted as special agent of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals. He has served as town assessor, village trustee and member of the Board of Health, and he has also been commissioner of the United States Deposit Fund for Livingston county. He has been treasurer of the Masonic Lodge of Geneseo continuously since 1889. He is a warden of the Episcopal church and is the financial agent of its offerings. For a number of years he has represented the church in the annual Diocese of Western New York and was elected as an alternate delegate to the General Council of the church at
38
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Washington, D. C., a few years ago. Mr. Killip attended as alternate dele- gate the first national convention ever held by the republican party, which took place in Philadelphia in 1856. In 1902 he was appointed by Governor Odell as representative of Livingston county to the Mckinley National Monument Association. In 1850 Mr. Killip married Mary Morrison, daughter of John Morrison, of Rochester. She died in 1888 leaving two daughters. Mary E. was the wife of W. K. Walker, of Lansing, Mich., and died in that city in June 1893. Mrs. Walker was an accomplished musician and the first teacher of the piano forte in the Geneseu Normal school. The other daughter, Carrie J., is living with her father. A son, Horace Shepard, died in 1869, aged twelve. A daughter died in infancy in 1853. Mr. Killip, although past the allotted span of life, carries his years with the sturdy strength and independence which has been bis characteristic through life; and while in a measure leading a retired life, he still personally attends to his varied interests and remains the leading spirit in musical circles in Geneseo.
DANIEL F. RUSSELL-Of the firm of Russell and Culley, of Mount Morris, was born at that place January 1, 1859. When a young man he secured a position as clerk with the firm of Olp and Nott, hardware merchants of Mount Morris. In 1890, Mr. Olp, the senior member of the firm, died, and the business was thereafter carried on by Mr. Nott until his death in 1895, and in March, 1896, Messrs. Russell and Culley purchased the business, which consists of hardware, agricultural implements and a well equipped plumbing establishment. In 1898 Mr. Russell married Miss Jessie Brown, of Leicester, N. Y., daughter of Frank L. Brown, of that place. They have two children: Francis and Emerson. Mr. Russell is always a Democrat and has for a number of years been prominent in local politics. He has served six years, and in the spring of 1903 was elected to another term as village trustee. Ile has been col- lector of the town and is now serving his third term as town clerk.
M. P. ALLEN-A prominent and progressive merchant of Lima, was born at lonia, Michigan, in 1852. When three years of age his parents removed to this state and settled first in the town of Groveland, where they remained six years and then moved to Bloomfield. Later they came to Lima where they have since resided. Mr. Allen has been a hardware merchant in Lima for the past twenty-five years and his stock of hardware and farm implements is as complete as can be found in a like establishment in Livingston county. In 1886 he was united in marriage with Miss Belle H. Scott. of Lima, and their family consists of three children: Willard, Howard and Raymond. A daughter Blanche, died in 1893, aged five years.
39
BIOGRAPHICAL
CYRUS H. ARMSTED-A well known citizen and property owner of Avon, was born in West Bloomfield, N. Y., April 27, 1835. In 1844 he came with his grandfather to Avon, where he attended school until 1852, when he began learning the harness making trade with J. T. Hall. He remained with him until 1859, when with Mr. Hickox, he purchased the harness business of Mr. Hall, thereafter conducting it under the name of Armsted and Hickox until 1861, when he secured his partner's interest in the business and continued alone until 1880. Mr. Armsted has always been progressive and enterprising. In 1872 realizing the necessity for a first class hotel he erected and equipped the St.
George and conducted it together with his harness business until December 25, 1875, when it was entirely destroyed with all its contents, entailing a loss of $18,000 with only $2,000 insurance. In 1876, Mr. Armsted with some financial assistance, built the present St. George hotel, which he rented to Smith H. Newman, who ran it under the name of the Newman House four years, when Mr. Armsted took possession and conducted it two years, since which time it has been run under the management of James McCracken two years, Mr. Armsted two years, Bronson & Harmon two years, Mr. Armsted eight years, and in 1896 M. C. Smedley, of the White Horse Tavern secured control of the house which he ran until 1900, when M. O. Fisher, the present landlord, took posses- sion. Mr. Armsted's marriage with Catherine Kennedy, of Avon, took place July 4, 1857. Four children have been born to them, two of whom are now living: Charles H. married Miss Burnham and has two children. He resides in Hornellsville, N. Y., where he conducts a flourishing real estate business. Ber- tha L., married Paul D. Warren of Buffalo. They have two children. Mrs. Cyrus H. Armsted died in 1878. Mr. Armsted is a republican and has held at various times several minor public offices.
MARTIN F. LINSLEY-A prominent farmer near Livonia Center, N. Y., was born in the town of Livonia, N. Y., August 5. 1842. His education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood and his early life was passed on his father's farm. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Fannie Perigo of Livonia, and they have had four children three of whom are living. May married John Spoor and now resides at Rondout, Ill. They have three children. Arthur, deceased, Claude married Ina Patterson and lives in Livonia, and DeForest is unmarried and is employed in the railroad office at Niagara Falls. Mr. Linsley about the time of his marriage purchased the farm on which he now resides of Clark Burdick. This farm was formerly the Joseph Linsley farm and has been in the possession of the Linsley family about one hundred years with the exception of the twenty-five years it was owned by Bur- dick. In 1879 Mr. Linsley was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of sheriff of Livingston county and had the distinction of being the first democrat elected to that office, and the last inan condemned to death by hanging in this county was executed during his administration. Mr. Linsley has twice held the office of supervisor of the town of Livonia and for three years served as
40
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Highway commissioner. Soon after the expiration of his term as sheriff Mr. Linsley was kicked by a horse and as a result suffered the amputation of his left leg, but notwithstanding this disaster he has always personally looked after every detail in the management of his property interests, and his farm is today thriving, well-kept and productive. The residence, a handsome modern build- ing, set in a grove of trees on the west side of the road, and the commodious farm buildings opposite, all situated ou an eminence overlooking a wide stretch of fertile country make of this place a model country home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.