USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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James Faulkner, Jr., was also a graduate of Yale, in the class of 1859. Having no predelictions for any of the learned professions, like his father, he decided to adopt the avocation of a business man, choosing the occupation of a banker. Very soon after leaving college he accepted the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Dansville, which he still occupies. The manner in which he has discharged his duties is attested by the high rank which his bank holds among the financial in- stitutions of the State. Generous, genial, kind and unassuming, he is a favorite with his fellow-citizens, so that we may say without extravagance that few young men have more friends than James Faulkner, Jr. He is an ardent and influential Democrat-a leader of his party, and yet never intruding his principles offensively upon his Republican oppo- nents. The manner in which his abilities have been recognized. is evidenced by the fact that he has repeatedly been elected supervisor of his town, and by the fact that in the autumn of 187.4 he was ยท elected member of Assembly by the Democracy of Livingston county, a county where the Republicans have a large majority. He is the only democrat except his father and his brother, Hon. S. D. Faulk- ner, that ever was elected to the legislature from Livingston county. The next year he was again nominated and elected by his party. It is a singu- lar coincidence that he took his seat in the legisla- ture for the first time, January 4th, 1875-just fifty years to a day after his father had taken his seat in the same body, and that he drew seat No. 99, the very seat drawn by his father, January 4th, 1825. During his first legislative term he was chairman of the Insurance Committee, - a member of the Com- mittee on Expenditures of the House, member of the Committee on Public Education. He was chairman also of the Assembly Committee ap- pointed to investigate the great Canal frauds. The next year the house was Republican, but Mr. Faulkner was honorably considered by the Speaker, Mr. Husted, by being placed on the Committee of Ways and Means, the Insurance Committee, and on the Committee on the Rules of the House.
Gen. Lester B. Faulkner is the youngest of Dr. Faulkner's children. Like his brothers, Endress, Samuel and James, he is a graduate of Vale Col- lege-elass of 1859, a lawyer by profession, the senior member of the distinguished firm of Faulk-
MERRITT H. BROWN.
ner & Bissell, of Dansville. den. Faulkner won much distinction as an officer in the Union army. He was rapidly promoted from a private to the rank of Captain and to that of Lieutenant-Colonel. At the close of the war he returned to the duties of his profession. Like his father and brothers, he keeps the faith of the Democracy in undeviating belief and practice. Bold, ardent, ambitious,
gifted and eloquent, he has attained a State repu- tation as politician. Indeed, though yet a young man. he is regarded as the leader of the Demo. cratic party in the State. In the fall of 1879 he was chosen Chairman of the State Democratic Com- mittee. As a recognition of his ability as a political leader, he was re-elected to that high and responsi- ble position, a position which he now occupies.
MERRITT HOLMES BROWN.
Merritt Holmes Brown was born at Bennington, Vt., Oct. 20, 1806. He was a son of Merritt Brown, a native of Connect- icut, who, in early life, removed to Ben- nington, and subse- quently in the year 1818, settled at Dans- ville, in this county. Here he spent the remainder of his life. He was a man of sterling integrity, and strong native good sense; a love of jus- tice and a high sense of honor were pre- vailing traits in his character. To these
qualities may well be added that piety whose constant du- ties are enjoined by the dictates of con- science ; he worship- ed and revered God in no noisy demon- strations but in the
fullness of moral excellence, in spiritual light and in true devotion, unassumingly and humbly exhibited.
He was one of the early postmasters of the vil- lage. For many years he discharged, in an ac- ceptable manner, the duties of a magistrate of the town of Dansville. Though Mr. Brown bore a name so common in the nation, he was the only representative of his own family in this county, his ancestry having emigrated to America from Eng- land at an early period in the nation's history.
Few man ever lived a more useful or a more blameless life in their sphere of action than Mer- ritt Brown. He lived at a very advanced age be- loved and respected by all who knew him. As he came to Livingston county three years before its present territory was formed into its present County organization, he was one of its honored pioneers-a race of enterprising men who laid the foundation of its present unexampled wealth and
LITIL
Photo. by Betts, Dansville.
(MERRITT HOLMES BROWN.)
prosperity - whose toil, hardship, useful- ness and moral worth have passed into history. Mr. Brown died at Dansville.
Merritt H. Brown, his son, to whose life these pages are de- voted, removed with his father to Dans- ville when in his 13th year. Here he re- ceived a good Eng- lish and business ed- ucation which ren- dered him fully qual- ified to enter suc- cessfully into the labor, competition and struggles of the business world, and therefore his name is identified with that class of business men who gave to Dans- ville its high rank and prosperity.
For upwards of thirty-five years he was known as a lead- ing hardware merchant and manufacturer. In his more active life, Dansville was the most important business centre between Rochester and Northern Pennsylvania. Hence he drew customers and patrons, not only from the adjoining counties, but even from Pennsylvania.
With such prudence, judgment, unflagging indus- try and success did he conduct his business that a handsome competency was his reward, every cent of which was honestly and honorably gained.
Mr. Brown possessed qualities of head and heart that naturally made him many friends. His genial and sunny nature, his rare social qualities, acknowl- edged courtesy and never-failing good humor, will long be fondly remembered in Dansville. He had a kind word for all who approached him, espec- ially for those who, amid life's vicissitudes, were unfortunate. To this class he recommended hin- self by those nameless acts of kindness and charity
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
unknown to the world, performed, as it were, by the right hand all unknown to the left.
Like his father, Merritt H. Brown was a Demo- erat of the true Jeffersonian school-whose creed is " the greatest good to the greatest numbers." These principles always found in him a zealous, but never a captious or troublesome advocate.
Though strongly and ardently devoted to his party, he was never, in any sense, a place or office- seeker. His business interests were so important, so absorbing that he found no time to look after official position for himself. He felt that the life of a mere political office-seeker, even at the best, is dangerous, if not dishonorable; successful to-day --- to-morrow disastrous and unfortunate. He was often solicited to accept nominations for official positions by his friends, but always respectfully and firmly declined.
The only exceptions to this was when, at the request of his friends, and after much hesitation, he accepted the position of Postmaster of the vil- lage for two successive terms.
In the year 1829 Mr. Brown was united by marriage to Miss Arvilla Danforth, a daughter of Jonathan Danforth of Saratoga, N. Y. Few mar- riage relations have proved happier than this. Mrs. Brown, who still survives him, unites in her char- acter those estimable qualities which in a wife and mother adorn the character of a true woman with such infinite graee and attraction.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, six of whom are still living, and we assert fearless of contradiction, that a happier household than theirs was never vouchsafed to the married re- lation. It was a home where the love of the par- ents was reciprocally and tenderly blessed with those of the children.
To Mr. Brown his home was his all. It was his empire, where was centered all his ambition,- all his hopes. That he should make that home as happy as the happiest, is a natural sequence of his nature and of his manner of life. As has well been said " he always wanted his children about his fireside." "One vacant chair" there rendered him unhappy, even though he knew its occupant was only temporarily absent. Whatever tended to the educational, religious, or business advancement of the village, always found in Mr. Brown a liber- al advocate.
Several years before his death he erected the large commodious briek store standing on the east side of Main street, occupying the north-east cor- ner of Main and Ossian streets, Dansville. Here for many years he was the senior partner in the well known and flourishing hardware house of Brown & Grant.
In the year 1847 Mr. Brown became one of the proprietors in the well known foundry and agrieul- tural works of S. Sweet & Co., in Dansville. He retained his interest therein down to the time of his death in 1864.
Merritt H. Brown died at Dansville on the 27th day of June, 1864, in the 55th year of his age. To his family,-of which it is needless for us to add,
he was the idol-his death was an almost over- whelming blow. To the village it was an irrepar- able loss, for it took from their business circles one of its prominent supporters. Alas ! how many of his friends, associates, and compeers in business, have followed him to that beautiful resting place where the fragrant flowers of spring, summer and early autumn, keep watch and ward, and whose pure breath is the ineense which undying affection offers to their memory.
Mr. Brown's highly esteemed consort still pre- sides over the family mansion, where she enjoyed with him and her children, so many happy years, and where her loved husband left her and them for " that better land."
On the whole we may say of Merritt H. Brown that his well spent, useful life, devoted as it was to the business interests of Livingston county, has appropriately prepared for him a place in its hon- ored historic record.
ARCHELAUS STEVENS.
LITTCK.
Photo. by Betts, Dansville.
(ARCHELAUS STEVENS.)
James and Affa (Hoyt) Stevens, the parents of the subject of this brief memoir, were natives of New Hampshire. The former was of English ex- traction, born in 1757, and brought up a farmer. He served his country in the war of Independence, under the command of Gen. Gates. His eldest child, Mrs. Ruth Whitmore, of Boston, is yet living at the great age of ninety-eight years.
Arehelaus was born in Enfield, Grafton county, New Hampshire, May 1, 1790. Early designed for the profession of medicine, he took an Academ- ic course at Salsbury Academy, and then entered Dartmouth College. After leaving there he work- ed on his father's farm, until finding his physical condition unsuited for manual labor, he adopted
203
ARCHELAUS STEVENS-A. O. BUNNELL.
the profession of teaching. His high testimonials for proficiency in mathematics and English litera- ture, enabling him, at the early age of eighteen years, to obtain the confidence of the people wherever he taught, who considered him an accom- plished educator.
In 1814, he was married to Sally, eldest daugh- ter of Ben Gage, of Enfield, N. H., and in 1817 emigrated to Pennsylvania. Remaining there four years, they removed to Ithaca, N. Y., where he followed farming and teaching for a few years, when the precarious condition of his health com- pelled him to choose some other occupation. In 1827, he was appointed by Governor Clinton, Pay- master of the 183d Regiment of Infantry, and in 1829, receiving an honorable discharge, he entered into partnership with a firm in Cortland, N. Y., for the manufacture of paper; but a prospect of fail- ure induced him to withdraw in time to save him- self from loss. In 1834 he undertook the intro- duction of Lyman Cobb's series of school-books in the vicinity of New York, and in 1836 moved to Dansville, where he opened a book printing and binding establishment, publishing Cobb's school books. In 1839, Mr. Stevens, in company with the late Dr. Reynale, erected the first three-story building ever built in Dansville, and in the second story of this, the Second Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Stevens and his family were members, held services for three years. In the fall of 1846, he built a second three-story building, south of the first one. He took an active part in all improve- ments of the village, and was earnest in advocat- ing such principles as would lead to the advance- ment of morality. In 1842, he published the Dansville Whig in company with his son, G. W. Stevens. Finally the publication passed into the hands of the latter, when it was changed to The Western New Yorker, and edited by Rev. John N. Hubbard. In 1850, Mr. Stevens moved to New York city and remained there eleven years, return- ing in 1861, with his wife and youngest child to Dansville, where he passed the remainder of his life; and finally, January 8, 1876, with implicit trust in God, yielded up his spirit to his Maker.
The revered wife and mother survived her hus- band ten years. She was an intelligent, energetic and prudent woman, possessing largely the Chris- tian graces, and contributed much hy her wise counsel to the success of her husband and children. Three of his children died in infancy, and his eld- est daughter, a teacher of high reputation and wife of Rev. James Bonsell, died in California. His second son, Dr. H. M. Stevens, after having attended three courses of medical lectures in differ- ent cities, with an ambition too great for his physi- cal organization, was stricken with disease when just entering on the practice of medicine, and after lingering several years, died in the city of New York, at the age of thirty-four.
The two remaining sons emigrated to California in 1856. George settled in Oakland, for many years owned a large printing office in San Francis- co where he continued the business of printing
and publishing. William, the youngest son, settled in Nevada, where he laid out the town of Winne- mucca on the Pacific railroad. There he was elected to many town offices, and for several years was Chairman of the State Central Republican delegation. Through his influence the county seat of Humboldt county was removed to Winne- mucca, where he has accumulated a competency. Two of the daughters are still living in Dansville, with the only surviving grandchild of Archelaus Stevens, Effie L. White.
A. O. BUNNELL.
A. O. Bunnell, of Dansville, N. Y., was born in Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., March 10th, 1836. His father, Dennis Bunnell, was the youngest of seven children of Jehiel Bunnell, of Cheshire, Con- necticut, one of an old and prominent family of that name. Jehiel Bunnell's wife was a Hotchkiss, also prominent in the early history of Connecticut. In 1819 Jehiel Bunnell came with his large family to Western New York, and four years later settled in Lima, where he died in 1844. Dennis, in his 75th year, is the only surviving member of the family which left Connecticut in 1819.
The mother of A. O. Bunnell was Mary Baker, who was the daughter of James Baker, a sturdy pioneer woodsman and hunter. James Baker's wife was Mary Parker, the elder sister of the three celebrated pioneer Methodist circuit preachers of Western New York, Revs. Robert, Samuel and John Parker, all of whom are now dead.
A. O. Bunnell came to Dansville with his father's family, in 1850, and has since resided there with the exception of one year at Rockford, Ill., where he set the first type for the Rockford Register. He received a limited education in the common schools. He was obliged to leave school at the early age of 15 years, and at once set about win- ning his way by entering the office of the Dansville Herald, as an apprentice. In 1860 he established the Dansville Advertiser, which he still publishes and edits. He has never sought nor held political place, preferring a printing office above all other offices. Since 1868 he has been secretary and treasurer of the New York Press Association, and this honor at the hands of his fellow journalists he esteems above all others.
Major Mark J. Bunnell, a younger brother of A. O. Bunnell, was born in Lima, N. Y., Christ- mas day, 1837, and came to Dansville in 1850. He was one of the first to enlist as a private soldier in April, 1861, as a member of the "Old Thir- teenth New York," and was rapidly promoted in that regiment for gallant conduct on the field. At the second battle of Bull Run, in 1862, he was shot through both lungs and received a bullet wound through his thigh and a shell wound on the foot. In this condition he lay in the hands of the enemy for nine days, his only mattress the green | grass, and his only covering the branches of a
20.4
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
friendly tree. Remarkable as it may appear, he recovered, and to-day enjoys a fair degree of health and strength. His case attracted the at- tention of the most eminent army surgeons in Washington. After his recovery, Major Bunnell had charge of the provost guard of Washington, and was made personally responsible for vast millitary stores and for the safety of the Long Bridge over the Potomac. After the war, he spent his winters in Washington, first occupying a position in the Doorkeeper's department of the House, and afterwards as assistant to the Sergeant- at-Arms in the Senate. The latter position he resigned in December, 1880, to assume the responsibilities of County Clerk of Livingston county, to which position he had been elected by a large Republican majority at the November election.
GEORGE ZERFASS.
LITTL
(GEORGE ZERFASS.)
George Zerfass, the subject of this sketch was born in Northampton county, l'a., the 28th of January, 1805. He was a son of Abraham and Hannah (Kanause) Zerfass. The former was born in Northampton county, Pa., the 27th of No- vember, 1772, and the latter was born in the same county January 23, 1783. The parents of Abra- ham were Adam and Elizabeth Zerfass. They came from Germany when they were quite young. The former was born in 1742, and the latter was born Feb. 11, 1746. Adam was a Captain in the Revolutionary army and was in the battle of Germantown and Brandywine, and after the close of the war of Independence he was engaged in fighting the Indians. Adam and Elizabeth died in Pennsylvania, in the early part of the present century.
Abraham Zerfass and Hannah Kanause, were married the 19th of April, 1802, and came to Steu-
ben county, now Livingston county, and located at Dansville in 1813. Here they followed farming until they died, the former Dec. 17, 1837, and the latter Feb. 4, 1845. They had twelve children- as follows :- Elizabeth, (dead, ) George, our subject, Hannah, (dead,) Abraham, (dead,) Mary, living,) Saloma, (dead,) John, (living,) Vienna, (living,) Lydia, (dead,) Margaret, (living,) Henry, (living.) and Anna, (dead.) Six of these children are yet living and residing near Dansville, except Mary now residing in Wisconsin. The children all lived at home until they died or started out in life for themselves. Their education was such as could be obtained in the common schools of their town, and was very limited. George never left the parental roof, but remained at home assisting his father until the latter died, when he bought the old home farm and settled up with the rest of the heirs. He lived in the old house until 1858, at which time he moved into the handsome edifice he finished that year and which he occupies at the present time. Owing to
1.1
LITTLE
(POLLY ZERFASS.)
a paralytic shock received the 24th of April, 1878, he has been unable to manage his farm and since that time it has been operated by his brother Henry.
The 12th of April, 1838, George was united in marriage with Polly Kananse, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Driesbach) Kanause of Dansville. She was born in Steuben county the 15th of Jan., 1819, and died February 23d, 1872. In the death of his wife Mr. Zerfass met with a loss almost un- bearable. She was a careful, economical helpmeet and loving wife, and was respected by all who knew her. Mr. Zerfass cheerfully concedes that to her he is greatly indebted for much of his success. They had no children that grew up.
Mr. Zerfass has never been an aspirant for pub- lic trusts, but has been elected to the office of as- sessor for two years, and highway commissioner three years. He is a life-long Democrat, but in
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GEORGE ZERFASS-LUCIAN BROCK PROCTOR.
home affairs he gives his suffrage to the man or men he deems best qualified for the various offices.
In religious sentiment he is a Lutheran and was a member of the German Lutheran Church of Dans- ville many years. He was a trustee of that church several years and Deacon of the same six years.
Mr. Zerfass has passed with honor through all
the vicissitudes of life, and, has lived to see the County of Livingston develop from almost a wil- derness into one of the finest agricultural districts in the State. He has been successful in life and is enjoying in his old age a competency, the result of a long life of industry, economy and honorable dealing.
LUCIAN BROCK PROCTOR.
Lucian Brock Proctor, extensively known as an author and lawyer, was born at Hanover, N. H., March 6, 1823. His parents were Jona- than and Ruth Proc- tor, both natives of the Granite State- the descendants of a long line of English ancestry. Some of their more direct an- cestors canie to America as early as 1602 and 1610. Those on the pa- ternal side settled at Salem, Mass .; those on the maternal at Concord, N. H.
Mr. Proctor's mother Ruth Carter, of Concord, a daughter of Jacob Carter, an eminent citizen of that place, LITTLE and an officer in the Continental army Photo. by Betts, Dansville. When he was five during the war of (LUCIAN BROCK PROCTOR) the Revolution. She received, in her youth, every | years old young Proctor removed with his parents educational advantage of her times, was a woman from New Hampshire to this State, and after a short residence in Oneida and Chenango counties settled at Auburn, N. Y., where, for several years, he conducted a large manufactory of edge tools. of strong native intellect and the possessor of those admirable qualities that rendered her all that was requisite in a wife and mother. To her early in- struction, to the principles instilled into his young At a very early age young Proctor exhibited a love of study, making books his companions, when so young that he was apparently unable to compre- hend their contents. With these he would withdraw from his companions, spending hours in devouring their contents. mind by her, to her as intellectual guide, Mr. Proctor is largely indebted for whatever mental strength he possesses. His father was a man of unassuming habits, with unsullied reputation, pos- sessing intelligence and cultivation which was modestly exhibited only to those who knew him best.
Mr. Proctor's paternal grandfather and great- grandfather, also his maternal grandfather were in the battle of Bunker Hill, and at Bennington, where his great-grandfather was mortally wounded. One of Mr. Proctor's maternal uncles was the late Nathaniel H. Carter, for several years Professor of Greek and Latin in Dartmouth College. He sub-
sequently removed to New York city, where he became an inti- mate friend of De Witt Clinton. As Mr. Carter was distinguished writer as well as scholar, he soon became editor- in-chief of the New York Standard and Statesman, then one of the leading jour- nals of the Nation. He was one of that brilliant literary co- terie to which Bryant, Morris, Percival and other distinguished personages belonged. He has left many valuable works, the productions of his pen, both in prose and poetry, among which is that justly admired poem, "The Burial at Sea." He died at an early age at Venice, in Italy.
It is related of him that when in his ninth year he persuaded his father to fit him up a room in his house for a study where he was often found at mid- night engaged with his books.
About this time he commenced the study of Latin under the instruction of Rev. N. Gould a Presbyterian clergyman and a ripe scholar, and an apt teacher. Such was the progress of the boy that within a very short period. he mastered Virgil, Sal-
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Just, Cicero and Horace. It is said that nothing ever gave him so much intellectual pleasure, as the Catilinarian and Verrine Orations of Cicero, which even at that early age, he read in the original with perfect ease and correctness. When twelve years old he entered Auburn Academy, where he prepared to enter the junior class in Hamilton College. But as he intended to make the legal profession his future occupation in life, he decided to enter at once upon his legal studies, determined to continue his classical studies at the same time. This he did with a never-failing determination and success. To him solitary study has always been perfectly natural and he has never neglected it.
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