History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 115

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 115

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BIOGRAPHICAL

after leaving which he entered L. B. Warner's dry goods store in Nunda as clerk and two years thereafter, in 1868, he came to Dalton and engaged as bookkeeper for Lyman Ayrault, a produce dealer, with whom he remained twenty years. In 1889 in company with G. E. Moses he established the grocery and dry goods business which they have since conducted in Dalton. Mr. Hunt is a staunch democrat and a firm adherent to the principles of that party, and has served his town and county very acceptably in various offices. He held the office of Supervisor for the town of Nunda four years. He was for fifteen years a member of the railroad commission and is now president of the Board of Education. In 1869 he married Ella A. Tuthill, of Nunda. They have one daughter, Grace M., who is the wife of L. A. Walker, of the firm of Olmsted and Walker, prominent attorneys of Perry, N. Y., and they have one son, Ralph Hunt Walker. Mr. Hunt is of English parentage, his father Thomas C. Hunt, having been born in England came to America when eighteen years of age. He settled in Oneida county and tor years followed the trade of black- smith but later engaged in farming. He met his death in a railroad accident at Wesleyville, Pa., in 1866.

THOMAS V. STEPHENSON, -A prominent harness manufacturer and dealer, of Avon, N. Y., was born in Livonia, N. Y., January 6, 1866. When an infant his parents removed to Avon, where his father, Robert R. Stephen- son, purchased a farm on which he has since resided. Thomas received his education at the public schools and in 1891 purchased the George Nowlen stock of harnesses and in 1903 added to his harness business carriages and agricultural implements which has proved a profitable venture. He now occupies his own building; has a thriving business which he conducts upon thoroughly sound business principles and enjoys the entire confidence of the people with whom he has dealings. A Republican in politics, Mr. Stephenson has always taken a deep interest in the success of his party and has served in various local politica! offices, having never been defeated for any office to which he was nominated. He has served two years as corporation collector, three years as member of the Board of Education and was recently elected to a second term of three years, and is now a member of the town board of assessors. He is a member of the Avon Springs Lodge No. 570 F. & A. M., and for the past fifteen years has been a member of the Avon Springs cornet band. He was married in 1893 to Alida J. Redmond, of Tuscarora and has two children: Frank H. and Lindale V.

Mr. Stephenson's father came to America when a young man from South Scotland and for a time was located in New York, where he followed the trade of marble cutter. He came to Livingston county about 1860 and located at Livonia, where he engaged in farming. He married Frances Staudenmeier, of Wurtemberg. Germany, and reared a family of six children, of whom Thomas was the youngest. He departed this life in February, 1883. His wife died four years previously. Of his six children only three are now living: Harry. who lives at East Avon: Frank and Thomas V .. both of Avon.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

FRANK REDBAND, -Of Caledonia, was born in Wheatland, N. Y., in 1859, and was educated in the common schools of that place. In 1880 he commenced the study of fish culture as an assistant under Mr. Seth Green at the State Fish ponds in Caledonia and has from time to time been promoted until in 1900 he was appointed superintendent of the ponds, which position he now holds. Mr. Redband was married to Julia Green in 1888. Their children are Nellie, Ruth, Arthur, Florence and Jennette. He is a Mason and a member of the K. O. T. M .. and attends the First Presbyterian church. Thomas, the father of Mr. Redband, was born in England and married Mary Green, also of England. They came to this country at an early day and raised four children.

HENRY B. CURTIS, -Of Geneseo, county clerk of Livingston county, was born in the town of Geneseo, in 1861. Coming from parents who were finan- cially in straitened circumstances and who could not lend him the slightest assistance toward a start in life, he literally fought his way from the very lowest round of the ladder. When fourteen years of age he secured employ- ment as clerk in a store at Moscow, and in 1884 at the age of twenty-three became part owner and continued in business until 1900 when the business por- tion of the town was destroyed by fire. At the age of twenty-two he was elected town clerk. In 1898 he received the nomination to the office of county clerk and with the cordial support of the citizens of Livingston county he was elected by a handsome majority and was re-elected to a second term in 1901. Mr. Curtis is peculiarly adapted to the position he holds. His executive ability is manifest in the various improvements he has inaugurated, including some notable changes in systems calculated to expedite the work and insure accuracy. Genial and obliging, prompt, efficient and thoroughly reliable, Mr. Curtis has a warm place in the hearts of all right thinking, intelligent citizens of Living- ston county. In 1895 he was joined in marriage with Inez V. Bottsford the youngest daughter of Eli and Amanda M. Bottsford of the town of Leicester.

WILLIAM H. SWAN, -Of Mount Morris, was born at New Berlin, N. Y., July 26, 1835. While an infant his parents removed to Mt. Morris, where they resided at the time of their death. Henry Swan, the father of William, was born September 12, 1802. He was an energetic, progressive business man. Upon his arrival in Mt. Morris in 1836 he secured the contract for building a portion of the Genesee Valley canal, then in course of construction. He after- ward entered mercantile life and some years later established a commission business in Mt. Morris, which he conducted until his death, which occurred August 3, 1867. His wife, formerly Sarah Maria Mills, a sister of the late Hiram P. Mills and daughter of William and Mary Mills, was born Mar. 3, 1815. She has one sister living, Mrs. George H. Bradbury, of Mt. Morris.

William H. Swan received his education in the public schools of Mount Mor-

BIOGRAPHICAL

ris. He then entered his father's warehouse as his assistant and at his death succeeded to the business, which he ran until 1898. . In 1885 he received the appointment of postmaster, which office he held during the Cleveland adminis- tration. Mr. Swan is now engaged in the news and confectionery business, which he started in 1901. May 8, 1862 he was united in marriage with Helen L. Fuller, daughter of Dr. Fuller, of Fredonia. She died January 8, 1867, at the early age of twenty-six years, leaving one son, Henry V. Swan, born Feb- ruary 14, 1863. A bright, intelligent, progressive young man, imbued with Christian qualities and just entering upon a life of usefulness, he had for some time been a valued employee of The Whiting Manufacturing Co., in New York, and had every prospect for a successful career, when death severed earthly ties on February 14, 1903. Mr. Swan took for his second wife Emma L. Price, of Avon, N. Y., the ceremony occurring June 10, 1868. She was born Oct. 29, 1846. They have bad two children, Elizabeth Bradbury born March 27, 1869, and died Feb. 28, 1875, and Frances Louise born January 4, 1879. Mr. Swan has served the village in which he lives in various offices. He has been a trustee and a member of the Board of Education for many years and was the first President elected after the place became incorporated.

ALONZO D. BAKER, -A prominent produce and grain dealer of Dalton. N. Y., was born at that place February 16, 1841. His education was obtained in the common schools and his early life was passed on the farm of his father. Coming from New England stock he inherited that native shrewdness and natural aptitude for a business life which characterizes the New Englander. For thirty years he has dealt heavily in live stock and has been to no inconsid- erable extent the means of giving to Dalton its reputation as a stock center. He has also for the past fourteen years been an extensive wool buyer. Ten years ago he engaged in the grain and produce business which he carried on in connection with the wool business. Thoroughly honest in all his dealings, Mr. Baker has the entire confidence of all with whom he deals and his success in business is but the natural result of this undeviating policy and the strict methodical manner in which be handles all matters per- taining to the business. In politics be is a strong democrat and while having neither time nor desire to hold office of a public nature he has the welfare of the party strongly at heart and in many ways quietly contributes to its success. As highway commissioner and town assessor he fulfilled the duties of the office in a highly commendable manner. He married Mary E. Ward of Grove. Allegany County, N. Y., and they have had three children. Durr A. mar- ried Esther Benson and died in 1900. Ernest married Esther Dowd and bas two children. Plyn married Blanche Westbrook. Leonard Baker, the father, of our subject, was born on White River. Vermont and with his parents came to Livingston county when eleven years of age settling near Dalton. He learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed in connection with farming the greater portion of his life. He died in 1900 at the ripe age of eighty-

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

seven. Alonzo Baker is the Vice-president of the Dalton bank and president of the Rural Telephone Company. He also owns several fine farms in the town of Nunda, aggregating nearly 800 acres.

GEORGE D. DOOER, -A prominent business man of Avon, was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., July 20, 1836. At an early age his parents moved to Avon, where he received his education, after which he engaged in the butcher business which has been his principal occupation through life. He has also been closely identified with the agricultural interests of the county and for many years has been largely engaged in raising stock. George Dooer, the father of our subject, was a native of England, coming to America with his wife in 1834. Their eldest child. Joseph, was born on the sea while en route to this

country. Upon their arrival they located in Canandaigua, where Mr. Dooer was for two or three years engaged in market gardening. George D. Dooer married Mary J. Campbell, daughter of Hiram Campbell, of Avon, N. Y. She died in 1892, leaving eight children: George E., married Jessie Knight, William J .. Herman A. and Bessie are all unmarried; Maud E., married A. A. Barnhart, of Avon. They have three children, and Mary Louise, James S., and Georgiana are unmarried. Mr. Dooer has long been identified with the political interests of the town of Avon and has held numerous offices of more or less note, both town and village. He has served both as assessor and col- lector of the town, each for two years, and for six years held the office of super- visor, performing the duties of that office in an intelligent and satisfactory manner. He has six times been appointed President of the village ot Avon and has for over twenty years served as village trustee and is also a member of the Board of assessors and the Board of Education. He was the first president of the Board of Water Commissioners upon its organization in 1887.

MRS. MARGARET MALOY KEISLER,-Of the Keisler House, Caledonia, is a native uf Caledonia. In December, 1875, she was united in marriage with Joseph H. Keisler, at St. Mary's church, Scottsville. N. Y. They purchased the Hotel Lakeville, one of the leading hotels of Lakeville, and conducted that hustelry until 1880, when they removed to Caledonia and for two years ran the New Palmer House at that place. They then purchased the Moss Hotel which they conducted until it was destroyed by fire February 6, 1891, when they erected the fine brick structure which they occupied as a hotel and named it the Keisler House. This is the leading hotel in Caledonia and is justly entitled to that distinction. It is nicely and tastily furnished throughout, has all modern conveniences, is kept scrupulously neat and clean and the table service is of the best. Mrs. Keisler has one daughter, Frances, a teacher in the village schools.

John C. Maloy, until recently manager of the Hotel Keisler, was born at Caledonia, December 20, 1865. His education was obtained in the schools of

BIOGRAPHICAL

that place and the State Normal school, from which he graduated in 1888. He taught one term in the Caledonia schools and accepted a position in a railroad office at Denver, Col., where he remained five years. In 1893 he returned to Caledonia and took the management of the Keisler House. He is a prominent member of the order of Red Men, the Big Spring Hook and Ladder Company, and the C. R. and B. A.

April 1, 1904, the Keisler House property was sold to John McMurray, a well known farmer of Caledonia, who is now conducting it in a manner entirely sat- isfactory to its many patrons.

HYDE D. MARVIN,-County superintendent of the poor, was born at Springwater, October 31, 1848. His early life was passed on his father's farm. His schooling was obtained in the public school of that place and later in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. His first occupation was in the capacity of a clerk for a dry goods firm at Ovid, Michigan, where he remained three years. He then, in 1873, purchased a farm near the village of Spring- water, which he still owns. Mr. Marvin is an ardent republican and an able and efficient worker along political lines and enjoys the entire confidence of the voters of Livingston county who placed him in the responsible position he now occupies, that of Superintendent of the Poor. His election to this office occurred in 1901. He served as Supervisor of the town of Springwater from 1872 to '76. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Becker, of Springwater, and they have a daughter, Mary.

George C., the father of Hyde, came to Springwater when a boy, from Otsego county, N. Y. Starting in life at the lowest round of the ladder, his life was of necessity one of toil and hardship, but by perseverance he later acquired a com- petence and at the time of his death was possessed of considerable property. He died in 1865 and his wife, Sarah Hyde, survived him by one year only. Of his four sons, Russell B., Harvey H., and Addison G .. are dead, Hyde D. being the only living representative of this branch of the Marvin family.

WILLIAM D. PITT,-A merchant of Mount Morris, is a native of New York City, at which place he was born February 18, 1851. His father, William Pitt was born in Frome, Herford county. England, and for thirty years previous to his coming to America had resided in London. The old English custom of the son learning and following his father's trade was then in vogue, and William had taken up the trade which his forefathers had mastered and been perfecting for upwards of two hundred years, that of watch-making. In 1849 he sailed for America landing in New York after a stormy passage of six weeks duration. He remained in New York several years, afterward removing to Ithaca and later to Groton, N. Y., where he ended his days in 1868.

William D. Pitt received a practical education in the schools of Ithaca and

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Groton. In 1880 he came to Mount Morris, where for some four years he was in the employ of the Genesee Valley Manufacturing Company, and in 1884 opened his present place of business. Mr. Pitt carries a stock of groceries, glassware, wall paper, etc., and enjoys the liberal patronage of many Mount Morris citi- zens. In 1882 he married Sarah C. Beach of Oakland, N. Y. They have one daughter, Margaret Louise.

EDGAR MERRY, -Editor and publisher of the Dalton Enterprise, was born at Florida, N. Y., June 17, 1849. His early life until twenty-one years of age was passed un his father's farm and his education was obtained in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. The year in which he reached his majority he spent in travel through the West. He arrived in Chicago the day before the great fire of 1871 broke out and passed through a terrifying experience, when he and many others were forced to wade far out in the lake to escape the far-reaching effect of the flames. He returned to his native place and clerked in a grocery for a time and later acted as assistant in an undertaking establish- ment at Mount Morris, N. Y. In 1878 he came to Livingston county and for eight years ran a painting establishment at Mount Morris and in 1886 came to Dalton and established an undertaking and furniture business, which be very successfully conducted until 1893 when he sold out and purchased the newspaper and job printing plant he now owns. This paper, now called the Enterprise, was started in 1880 by a Mr. Orcott and was called the New Era. It was after-

wards changed to the Dalton Era, then to the Dalton Enterprise, then the Freeman and back to the Dalton Enterprise. It is a live enterprising newsy paper and its advertising columns denote prosperity. In 1874 Mr. Merry married Elizabeth Eldrett, of Amsterdam, N. Y. and they have had four chil- dren, none of whom are now living. Eldrett, the eldest and an exceptionally bright young man with every prospect of a successful future, died December 2, 1895, at the age of nineteen years. Charles died in infancy. Frank died April 3, 1887, aged seven, and Blanche died November 7, 1899, aged thirteen years. £ Mr. Merry is a Republican in politics and a conscientious upholder of the principles of his party. He has held the office of Master in the Nunda Lodge of Masons and is now Secretary of that order. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merry have for many years been consistent members of the Methodist church and the former is now clerk of the official board and has held the office of sup- erintendent of the Sunday school for the past eleven years.

FREDERICK H. WIARD,-Secretary and general manager of the Wiard Manufacturing Co., of East Avon, N. Y., comes from one of the most promi- nent of pioneer families who were associated with the early history of Living- ston county. Thomas Wiard, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut and came to Livingston county at the beginning of the nineteenth century. taking

BIOGRAPHICAL

up his abode at Geneseo, where he remained twelve years following his trade of blacksmith. He then removed to Avon, where he purchased a farm and also conducted a blacksmith shop. His ingenuity and skill in the invention and manufacture of tools and implements was unquestioned and this ingenuity was transmitted to some of his sons, one of them Thomas, becoming known the world over as the originator of the Wiard plows. He married Susan Hall, of Connecticut, and nine children were born to them: Matthew, Henry, George, Thomas, William, Seth, Mary A., Margaret and Rachel. After some years the mother died and he took for his second wife Nancy Ganson. They had two children : Elizabeth and Nancy. Henry, the next eldest, who was the father of our subject, inherited from his father a liking for the workshop and under his tuition became a skilled mechanic. For thirty years he was identified with the manufacturing interest of the country as a maker of plows. The later years of his life were spent in quiet on his farm in Avon. He was twice married, his first wife, Caroline Palmer, daughter of David H. Palmer, of Avon, having two children: Frederick H. and Julia D. Julia married Lorenzo Wilbur and has one child, Harold Wilbur. Mr. Wiard's second wife was Amanda Landon, daughter of Luther Landon, of Avon.

Frederick H. Wiard, under the influence of his father's training, grew to manhood with the inventive instinct strong within him. His early days were spent in the plow factory where he acquired a skill and thoroughness which amply fitted him for the position he now holds as the manager for the company, which manufactures a washing machine perfected and patented by him and bav- ing a sale in all the countries of the globe. Mr. Wiard began in 1890 in a limited way the manufacture of these machines at East Avon and during the ten years following the business increased to such an extent that he deemed it expedient to materially increase the capacity of the plant and in other ways arrange for the proper care and maintenance of this constantly growing enter- prise. With this end in view a company was organized in 1900 and incor- porated under the name of the Wiard Manufacturing Company, with Frank E. Hovey president, Frederick H. Wiard secretary and manager, and W. P. Schanck treasurer. The output is now upwards of one thousand machines a month and the factory is worked to the fullest capacity to meet its demands. The machines are sold entirely by mail. the company having no representatives on the road. Mr. Wiard married Adele Spencer, daughter of Henry Spencer of East Avon, and has four children: Robert, Maud, Fannie and Walter.

DR. LEVI HAGADORN,-of Caledonia, is a native of Schoharie county, where he was born May 21, 1839. His education was obtained from the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood and his early life was passed on the farm of his father. From his earliest childhood Dr. Hagadorn has been a lover of fine horses and has owned many good ones. From 1862 to '72 he devoted his entire time to buying stock, principally horses, and shipping to the eastern market. He then took up the practice of veterinary surgery, having made a special

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

study of the diseases of animals, for a number of years was actively engaged in a practice which extended over Otsego and adjoining counties and included many of the large dairy farms for which that region is noted. During this time the dairymen were suffering large annual losses through the death of stock during the winter months from a mysterious cause which the Doctor discovered to be microbes. Ile later discovered and patented a remedy which has since become widely known, In November, 1901, he removed to Caledonia and incorporated a company for the manufacture and sale of his microbe remedy, "Creloil. " The company was incorporated under the name of The Caledonia Chemical Company with a capital stock of $10.000, which has since been increased to $40,000. The incorporators are Levi Hagadorn, James Tennent and James Bostwick. Dr. Hagadorn is the company's general manager. The factory is located in a commodious building on Main Street and is being operated to its fullest capacity and bids fair soon to develop into an extensive industry.

JOSEPH D. LEWIS .- In the city of Philadelphia in the year 1793, Samuel Lewis first saw the light of day. As a boy he worked at the stone and brick mason's trade and became a skilled mechanic. In the year 1818, having become dissatisfied with city life, he turned his face westward. and having traveled over a large portion of Western New York, he decided on Livingston county and pur- chased a tract of land in the town of York, where he built a log cabin and pre- pared a home for his family. In connection with his farm work he worked at his trade for over thirty years. Many of the stone and brick buildings in this vicinity were built by him, notably the south part ot the Big Tree Inn, which he built in 1825. In looking over his old accounts, it is interesting to note that he received one dollar a day for his labor, a day's work being from sunrise to sunset.

He raised a family of twelve children, only one of whom, Joseph D., is now living. The eldest son, Samuel, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. The youngest son, Henry Hobart, at the age of nineteen. purchased his time of his father and started with a number of others for California, reaching there after many hardships, and located at Sacramento. He remained there several years and amassed a considerable fortune, but lost a large portion of it by a flood in the Sacramento river and decided to return to the land of his birth. He took passage on a vessel and was within a week's sailing of New York when he was stricken with a fever and died, being buried at sea.

Joseph D., the only surviving son, was born at York, April 13, 1833, and worked on his father's farm until 1854, when he engaged in buying and selling wool. In 1855, in connection with his wool business, he engaged with F. L. W. Mansfield in the manufacture of woulen goods at Cohoes, Albany county, remaining with him five years. In 1860 Mr. Lewis removed to Geneseo and has since devoted his time to the wool business in that vicinity. In 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Jane Donnan, of York. Mr. Lewis

BIOGRAPHICAL

has ever taken a great interest in the history of his country and has a very large collection of curios and Indian implements and weapons.

MONROE D. BAKER,-One of the leading architects of Mt. Morris, was born in the town of Nelson, Madison county, N. Y., January 25, 1859. In 1868 he removed with his parents to Mount Morris, N. Y., and there attended the public schools. He attended the Normal school at Geneseo, graduating with the class of '81. He then entered the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, graduating with the class of '86. Upon his return from the University he formed a partnership with his father under the firm name of A. M. Baker and Son, Civil Engineers and Dealers in vehicles, etc. In 1895 he was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte A. Goode, of Mount Morris.

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 115

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