History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 112

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 112

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John H. Adamns attended the district school of the neighborhood and later took a course in the State Normal school at Geneseo. He then taught school for three years in Livonia and Richmond. In 1883 he bought a small farm of seventy acres to which he added until his landed possessions now include up-

BIOGRAPHICAL

wards of two hundred and fifty acres. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Wemett, a daughter of William and Hulda Wemett, of Livonia. They have four children: Clifford, Fannie, Gladys and John. In politics Mr. Adams is a staunch Republican and cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield in 1880. He ably filled the office of Supervisor of the town of Livonia for four years and is at all times a leading spirit and an active worker for the success of his party.

WILLIAM BAYLOR,-The leading dentist in Nunda, was born in that vil- lage April 11, 1865. After obtaining a practical education in the public schools he entered the Philadelphia Dental College from which he graduated in 1885. He then opened a dental office at St. Augustine, Fla., where he remained until 1892 when he returned to Nunda. His dental career in that village has proven successful. His offices are equipped with the latest appliances for use in dental surgery and his expertness in crown and bridge work is known and appreciated. His marriage with Teresa Knappenburg, daughter of William Knappenburg, a prominent coal dealer of Nunda, occurred Sept. 30, 1896. He is a member of F. and A. M. Lodge No. 299, and K. O. T. M. Tent No. 252. His father William Baylor, Sr., was born in New Jersey of Holland parentage. When a young man he came to Livingston county and located, first at Mount Morris, where he resided some years, then removed to Nunda and purchased the Wing farm, one mile east of the village. He married Sophia Olp of Mount Morris and to them were born eight children, tive of whom are living. John resides in Batavia, Frank, Mrs. John Witt of Mount Morris, Mrs. C. Van Allen of Watkins, N. Y. and William. William Baylor, Sr., died March 20, 1872 and Mrs. Baylor died Sept. 29, 1883. In 1831 Daniel Olp, the father of Mrs. Baylor, left Mansfield, N. J., his native place and, with his family came to Livingston county and settled on land, previously purchased, in the town of Mount Morris. The journey was performed with teams. A log cabin was erected in the midst of the forest constructed from hewn timber, the roof covered with "shakes." This structure was later replaced by a comfortable frame dwelling. The forest was, in time, cleared and subdued and a productive and valuable farm resulted from the years of toil and privations experienced by these early pioneers.

JOSEPH D. DONOHUE-Was born at Caledonia, August 23, 1858, at which place he also received his education. He has always been a resident of Caledonia and early in life became identified with its business interests. In 1883 he formed a co-partnership with Thumas Ball and opened a grocery store in the building he now occupies. This firm from the start did a thriving bus- iness and continued until 1896 when Mr. Donohue purchased his partner's interest in the business and has since that time conducted it alone with excel- lent success. He is now the oldest established grocer in Caledonia. In 1885 he

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

was joined in marriage with Miss Julia Maloy of Caledonia and they have one son, Verne. Mr. Donohue was village trustee from 1892 to 1894 and was a mem- ber of the Board of Education from 1895 to 1901. He also served on the board of water commissioners from 1898 to 1904 and was village treasurer three years. He is a member of the Catholic Relief and Beneficiary Association and the Modern Woodmen of America.

WILLIS W. FENNO-Proprietor of Maple Beach resort at the head of Conesus Lake, was born in Erie county, Pa., August 17, 1853. When twelve years of age his parents moved to Northeast, Pa., where at the Lake Shore Seminary he completed his education which was begun in the public schools of Erie county. He then became a clerk in a grocery and later in a dry goods store and during the ten years succeeding was employed in this capacity in dry goods stores of Northeast and Fredonia, N. Y. In the spring of 1881 he came to Geneseo and shortly became identified with J. P. Oaks in the dry goods trade, the firm being known as Oaks and Fenno. Two years later Mr. Oaks having died, J. A. Newton purchased the half interest of the Oaks estate and the business was conducted for two years under the firm name of Fenno and Newton. The partnership was then dissolved and Mrs. Fenno established a millinery and dry goods business which soon developed into a profitable enter- prise. This they conducted until 1902 when Mr. Fenno secured the Maple Beach property. This is a wonderfully pretty place, with cool, shady walks and drives and a gently sloping beach that affords delightful bathing. Situated as it is on an eminence at the head of Conesus Lake, a view for miles may be obtained along both shores of this lake justly celebrated as the fisherman's Mecca. The hotel accommodations under Mr. Fenno's management are of the best and families of wealth and refinement from all parts of the country are included in his quota of summer visitors.

TRUMAN LEWIS STONE .- In a history of pioneer settlement of Living- ston county and Western New York, as this is intended to be, there is very little to say of the present generation that is of interest.

Mr. Stone is a descendant of a long line of pioneers. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, bore a conspicuous part, and close connection with the growth and prosperity of this region; their biographies alone, if followed closely in all their relations to our local region, would be almost a history of the Genesee country. The Stone family came from Kent and Surrey counties, England, to Guilford, Conn., in 1639. The English ancestor was the Rev. Samuel Stone, of Ockley, England. He was a nonconformist divine, and, for good reasons, could not leave England himself, advised his sons John and William to emigrate to the New England across the seas where they could escape

George B. Adams.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Lauds persecutions and worship according to the dictates of their own con- science.

These two brothers joined the Rev, Henry Whitfield's Colony and sailed for America, landing at New Haven in June, 1639, their ships being the first to drop anchor in that harbor. In September, of the same year, the Colony pur- chased a "plantation" of the Indians, including what is now Goilford and Madison, Conn. Here, five generations of the family lived and died.

Russell, the fifth descendant of John, the emigrant, soon after the Revolu- tionary war, and about one hundred and fifty years after the landing of the Colony at New Haven, moved with his family to Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass .. where Reuben Stone, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. was born, and in 1790-91, removed to Greenville, Green county, N. Y., where he (Russell) died in 1801.

Reuben, with his brother, Joel Stone, came to Livonia, Livingston county, in the winter of 1809-10, where he settled on lot number 39. This land was owned by the Pulteney estate and was left by Sir William Pulteney to his daugh- ter, Henrietta Laura Pulteney. She died in July, 1808, leaving a cousin, Sir John Lowther Johnson, her sole heir, who also died in 1811. He had made a will, willing all his real estate in America in trust to Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, Charles Herbert Pierpont, David Cathcart and Masterton Ure, as trustees, for the two sons of George Frederick Johnstone, the heirs being twins and both born after the death of their father. Joseph Fellows was a sub- agent of the Pulteney estate in 1810, and later, the successor of Col. Troupe. Owing to the chaotic condition of the ownership of these lands and the prospect being very poor of procuring a title, Reuben, in the fall of 1813, decided to go on further into the Genesee country and let another brother, Orin, who had come on from Greenville with their mother, Lois Stone, have his claim to this land. The records show that the farm was deeded to Orin Stone on November 13, 1813, by Joseph Fellows, as attorney for the aforesaid parties, Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, &c. The deed was recorded December 6, 1813, in Liber 20 of Deeds, page 53, Ontario county; the consideration named was $450.00. This is the farm on which the Retsof salt mine is located, south of Livonia,

Reuben moved to Orangeville, Wyoming (then Genesee) county, iu Septem- ber, 1813, and settled on lot number 28 of land owned by the Holland Land Company ; he was one of the early settlers, being a leader in the organization of the town, the placing of public roads, locating schools and organization of the first Presbyterian church in the town of which he, afterwards, became a useful member.

He was one of the earliest dairymen on the Holland purchase, selling home manufactured cheese in eastern markets as early as 1823.

He held numerous public offices, the duties of which he always discharged with ability; his manner was pleasant and agreeable; he spent his entire life and declining years on the large tract of land taken up by him; he was a true type of the old Puritan stock, from which he came, honest, industrious, upright man whose whole life is a worthy example.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Here, on this farm, he raised a large family, among whom was Harvey, born February 14, 1818, the father of the subject of this sketch. He married Miss Eliza Lewis, February 20, 1840, who was born February 20, 1820, on the farm adjoining. She was a daughter of the Hon. Truman Lewis and Lucy (Porter) Lewis.

Truman Lewis was born November 5, 1784, at Newhartford, Conn .. and died at Warsaw, N. Y., September 15, 1865. He married Lucy Porter, October 3. 1811, who was born March 6, 1795; she was the daughter of Seth and Sarah (Cowles) Porter and a grand-daughter of Capt. John Porter, of Revolutionary fame. Truman left his father's house at Vernon, N. Y., in the spring of 1807 and made his way on foot much of the way through a wilderness to Orange- ville, Wyoming (then Genesee) county, where he bought a tract of land of the Holland Land Company, in what was then an unbroken forest. Here, be and his wife literally hewed out, for themselves and their children, a home; he was a member of the Presbyterian church; in the War of 1812, he was in active service, bolding a commission as ensign from Governor Daniel D. Tompkins. His grandson, Mr. George A. Lewis, of Warsaw, N. Y., now has the parchment ; he held many important offices, representing Genesee county in the Legislature in the years 1834-35, and was the first treasurer of Wyoming county.

For a great many years, he was the agent for Wyoming county of the Farm- ers Loan & Trust company of New York, and of the trustees under the will of James Lloyd deceased, of Boston, Mass. These parties were the successors of the old Holland Land Company, and held a large number of mortgages and owned a great number of farms in that part of Wyoming county included in the Holland Land Company's purchase. This business entrusted to him was, therefore, one of great magnitude; he so discharged his duties, however, as to both merit and receive the most gratifying commendation of the companies he represented and the thanks and confidence of all persons occupying these lands, and liable to pay these mortgages, who everywhere expressed their gratitude for his kindness and forbearance and their perfect faith in his integrity and justice.

He was a man of great executive ability, of eminent good judgment and of the strictest integrity ; he was also a genial, companionable man, possessing an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes with which he often entertained his friends. He was a son of Oliver Lewis, Jr .. of Farmington, Coun., a grandson of Oliver Lewis, a great grandson of Nathaniel Lewis, of Farmington, Conn., a great, great grandson of Nathaniel Lewis of Farmington, who was a son of William Jr., who was born in England and came to America with his father. William in the ship "Lion" landing in Boston, September 16, 1632. William, the emigrant, was a member of the Braintree Company, which located at Cam- bridge, Mass. He moved to Hartford, Conn. in 1636, being one of the early settlers. He moved from there to Hadley, Mass., in 1659; be again moved to Farmington, Conn., in 1677 where he died August 2, 1683.

Harvey Stone. Esq., purchased a large farm in the township of Orangeville soon after his marriage; subsequently, he purchased more land and erected fine buildings; he lived on a portion of this land, in comfort, all his life. He held

BIOGRAPHICAL

the office of Justice of Sessions for the county for twelve years, and was a Jus- tice of the Peace for more than twenty years; he traveled all over that region. trying lawsuits and settling disputes of citizens. The late Judge, Andrew J. Lorish in a letter says:

"He presided in, and run his own court, and no party in a suit before him failed to receive justice; no matter who his lawyer was, impartial justice was always dealt out to suitors; he was remarkable along that line: he could grasp the question in dispute and readily see what justice required and was fearless in administering it. He never permitted technicalities to stand in the way, and, in a great many matters of dispute between his neighbors, he sat as a medi- ator and peacemaker. The same independence and fearlessness that character- ized his official acts was seen in his political life. He was always ready, when disagreeing with political associates, to give a reason for the faith that was in

him. His commanding presence and personal address, with an inexhaustible fund of good humor and agreeable conversational powers, made him a welcome party in any gathering. Everybody conceded conscientiousness and honesty to the acts of Harvey Stone, whether personal, judicial or political."

He was a man of sterling virtue, remarkable uprightness of character, pos- sessing a great dislike for anything petty or mean; he was ever ready to oblige when it could be done without sacrifice of principle, but would not give up his own personal opinions. He attended and supported the Presbyterian church; his education was obtained in the pioneer log school-house, and constant con- tact through a long life with the best educated men of his locality, good books and a keen observation of occurrences.

At the time of his birth, the struggles of his parents for a comfortable home were by no means ended. When we remember also that he was seven years old when DeWitt Clinton made his memorable journey from Albany to Buffalo on the Erie canal; that he was twelve years old when the first short railroad was built in this country, and that he was twenty-seven years old when Morse first exhibited to the world the wonders of the telegraph, we can easily understand that, in his younger days, his environment was unfavorable to a liberal educa- tion. He was, however, a great reader, keeping constantly abreast of the times in current literature and the general news of the day.

While the names of such men are not always written in flaming characters on historic pages, it is nevertheless true that, in more respects than one, their lives are heroic. When we recall their limitations and remember their interest in others, and their labors freely given for others, as well as their successful struggles against every obstacle standing between them and their hope, we may well apply to their lives these words of Wordsworth :-

"Life, I repeat, is energy of love. Divine, or human ; exercised in pain, In strife, and tribulation; and ordained If so approved and sanctified, to pass Through shades and silent rest, to endless joy."

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Harvey and Eliza (Lewis) Stone had three children: Morris L. Stone who now lives in Wamego, Kansas, Mrs. Geo. I .. Parker who lives in Buffalo, and Truman Lewis Stone, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Orangeville, Wyoming county, July 1, 1853. He married Miss Helen A. Lewis, a daughter of Oliver and Eliza (Preston) Lewis, of Cattaraugus county, N. Y. He has held numerous public positions, and has worked continuously for the past nine- teen years, for the public. now holding position of steward of the Craig Colony for the care and treatment of epileptics at Sonyea, Livingston county, N. Y., an account of which is given in this history.

Now, when that little company of nonconformists in Surrey and Kent coun- ties, England, with Elder Henry Whitheld at their head, having lost all but conscience and honor, took their lives in their hands and fled to America, seek- ing nothing but freedom, to worship God in their own way. crossing the Atlantic in the crazy little barks that bore at the peak the cross of St. George, the sole emblem of their country and their hopes, leaving home and dear friends behind when they knew not where to lay their heads-

"They little thought how clear a light With years should gather round that day. How love should keep their memories bright, How wide a realm their sons should sway."

We honor them for their courage, for their virtue, for their self denial, for their hard work, for their common sense, for their sense of duty, for their fear of God, for their sense of desire for liberty. In common with all those genera- tions through which we trace our lineage, to their hardy stock, we owe a great share to all that we have achieved, and all that we enjoy of strength, of free- dom and of prosperity, and so long as people continue to love truth, duty, liberty and justice, they will never tire of hearing the praises of the Pilgrims. the Puritans and Pioneers, or of heaping fresh flowers upon their graves.

AUSTIN W. WHEELOCK,-Late of the town of Leicester, was born in Leicester, N. Y., May 8, 1827. Ralph Wheelock born in 1600 A. D., and a native of Shropshire, England educated at Clare Hall Cambridge, taking his degree of A. M. in 1631, came to America in 1637 and settled in the town of Med- field. Norfolk county in southeastern Massachusetts, on the Charles river. Goodman Wheelock, as he was then called became a member of the first town board of Selectmen. He died in 1683 leaving a family of nine children. Rev. Eleazer Wheelock. D. D. one of Ralph's great grandchildren, a Congregational clergyman, was born in Windham, Conn., and died in 1779. Dr. Wheelock is celebrated as the founder and first president of Dartmouth college in Hanover, N. H., established for the benefit of the Indians. Ralph Wheelock's son Ben- jamin was born in Medfield in 1640, married Elizabeth Bull and reared five chil- dren. Of these five, Benjamin Jr .. was born in the same town in 1678 and December 9, 1700, married Huldah Thayer and they had four children. Of

BIOGRAPHICAL

the four Silas was born in 1718 and had eight children, one of whom was Simeon who was born in Medfield, March 18, 1741. He served as first lieutenant in a company of Minute Men in the battle of Lexington. He died in 1786 from injuries and exposure in the putting down of Shay's rebellion. He married his cousin, Deborah Thayer, of Mendon, who bore him eight children. His son, Royal Wheelock, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1766. He married Lydia Taft and in 1794 with his wife and two children came to New York state and settled in Ontario county. A blacksmith by trade, he erected a shop as well as a log house, in what is now the town of West Bloomfield, on a tract of heavily timbered land which he purchased from the Government. Nine chil- dren were born to them. His wife died January 13, 1847, and his death occurred November 24, 1856. His son, Harry was two years old when the family removed from Uxbridge, where he was born October 20, 1792. £

He served in the war of 1812 and afterward assisted his father in farm work until 1819 when he came to Livingston county and purchased a tract of land in the town of Leicester, whereon a log house was the only improvement. He then returned to Ontario county and married Judith Gillett. They took up their residence in the log house and here was born May 8, 1827 Austin W. Wheelock our subject. A commodious frame house later took the place of the log cabin and here Harry Wheelock resided until his death June 13, 1873. His marriage with Judith Gillett took place in 1819. She was born in Lymme, Conn., Feb- ruary 4, 1797, and died January 28, 1867. They reared four children, Charles A., Austin W., Martha-M., and Ira T.

Austin W. Wheelock attended the district school and the Temple Hill and Lima Seminaries. November 10, 1853, he married Mary Lovicy Francis. a daughter of Harley and Lois Francis, of York, Livingston county. Tu them were born eight children. Helen G., born September 3, 1855, married Newton H. Crosby of Moscow, N. Y. Mary F., born December 12, 1857, married Frank Tolman, of New Paynesville, Minn. Ruth 1., born March 3, 1860, died at the age of two years. Harry H., born September 28, 1862, married Katherine Hayes Waugh of Chicago and resides in Fargo, N. Dak. George Francis, born November 29, 1864, married Harriet Tyler Young, of Jewett City, Conn., and has three children, Louise Young, Austin W., and Harriet Tyler. Alice M .. born January 30, 1368 married Albert G. Whitney of St. Cloud Minn. Charles Austin born November 15, 1871 married Grace Ball and lives in Fargo, N. D., and Martha Lucille born February 20, 1879.

Mr. Austin Wheelock has always been a man of affairs, energetic and enter- prising and possessed of keen business judgment. He has made the most of his surroundings and so conducted his business affairs that his farm annually yielded a handsome income and his other enterprises almost invariably proved successful. In politics a Republican, he served as Supervisor of the town of Leicester two terms. In 1900 he was appointed by Gov. Roosevelt as a trustee of the N. Y. State School for the Blind at Batavia in which he took great interest and was rarely absent from the meetings of the board. In 1858 he united with the Moscow Presbyterian church and was ever a regular attendant and generous supporter. For many years he was one of its active trustees and for eight or

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

ten years a most devoted and efficient superintendent of the Sunday school.

He has been an extensive dealer in apples which he shipped in quantities to the eastern markets. For some years previous to his death Mr. Wheelock had been in ill health and the past year or two had been spent in travel in the western states but without avail and his death occurred April 18, 1904. During the past six or eight years the farm has been under the management of his son. George F. Wheelock, who raises annually large quantities of produce for ship- ment, as well as fruits and vegetables.

ADELBERT L. THOMSON, -A well known farmer and extensive fruit grower of the town of Avon, was born in the Thomson homestead. December 26, 1841. His paternal great grandfather, Daniel Thomson, a veteran of the Revolutionary army, was for many years a resident of Holliston, Mass., where he was engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the war for independence he gave up farming and all other interests and enlisted as a Patriot soldier under that immortal hero, George Washington. He took part in the Battle of Bunk- er Hill. and the powder horn and copper bullet mould that he always carried are among the highly prized possessions of our subject. The bullet mould will run nine balls, ranging in weight from one half ounce to one ounce. He spent his last days in Peru, Mass., where his son Simeon was born and reared. Simeon Thomson spent his entire life at Peru, Mass., a farmer by occupation he owned and conducted the stage line between Pittsfield, Mass., and Albany before the days of steam. He married Sybilla Leland, who was born in Holliston, Mass., and was a daughter uf Daniel and Sybilla (Eames) Leland, a member of the family whose descendant, Sherman Leland, afterward beca me noted as the publisher of Leland's Magazine. Leland S. Thomson, the father of Adelbert L., and a son of Simeon and Sybilla Thomson, was born in Peru, where he remained until fourteen years of age, his father having died when he was five years of age. "He then canie west by stage to Livingston county and made his home with his elder brother at East Avon, N. Y. Some years later he returned to his native place to visit friends and while journeying back to Avon secured a ride on the first train of cars ever run in America with steam as the motive power. This line was between Albany and Schenectady. He

married and resided for a time in Monroe county, later purchasing a farm of James Wadsworth in East Avon and for a number of years resided in a log house. His wife's maiden name was Mary Wilber, a daughter of Jephthe and Catherine (Cookingham) Wilber. Two children were born to them, Merrill and Adelbert L. Merrill is a resident of Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs. Mary Wilber Thomson departed this life December 25, 1890. She was a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of East Avon. Leland S. Thomson sur- vived her nearly eight years, his death occurring August 12. 1900. Adelbert Leland Thomsun received his education in the district school and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He was joined in marriage with Adelaide Stover, of Point Pleasant, Bucks county. Pa .. in May, 1880. They have been blessed

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 112

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