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 78
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In September, 1813, he was married to Sophronia Bucklin, by whom he had three children, viz: Perry, DeForest and Experience. In the spring of 18to he moved with his family into the State of New York, bringing his equipments of trade and household effects by wagons. The roads at this time were in such bad condition that some days they only traveled a distance of ten miles. He settled on land which is now in- cluded in Lakeville, and there found the country literally a forest and scaotily settled, with a few families about the foot of the beautiful lake Conesus, some of whom were Indians who lived on land which he after- ward purchased. The nearest post-office was at Livonia Centre.
In the fall following his settling here his wife died leaving him to con- tend with the hardships of a life in a new country and the maintenance of three small children, the youngest of whom was less than a year old. About this time came the depreciation of Continental currency and Mr. West, having incurred a debt of some two hundred dollars in fitting up his carding machines, was obliged to sacrifice all of his goods and per- sonal property, previously valued at more than two thousand dollars, in order to maintain his sterling integrity. Having indomitable courage, latent ingenuity and his trade, he started life anew, seeking by close ap- plication to the work fortune cast before him to gain an honest and respect- able livelihood, in which endeavor he succeeded.
After living a widower for about two years he was married to Lucy M. Burns, of Clifford, Susquehanna county, Pa. She was born May 16, 1800, and now lives on the same farm selected by her husband many years ago. To them were born the following children : Ziba H., Marilla, Covel G., Lucy M., Elisha, Jonathan Burns, Francis G., Thomas H., Lovette P. and Erastus N. Of all the children born to Mr. West six are now living, viz : Perry West, residing in Dansville ; Lucy N. Baird in Holly, Oakland county, Mich,; Elisha West, in Lockport, N. Y .; Jonathan B. in Rochester, N. Y .: Franklin G. in Avon, and Lovette P. residing on the homestead in Lakeville, where the varied fortunes and hardships of the father were experienced for nearly half a century.
When this family became of sufficient age to assist him Mr. West con- structed mills for the manufacture of linseed oil and also for lumber, and then introduced the first steam power used in this section of country. When these had been in operation less than two years they were con- sumed by fire, and he then built flouring mills and lumber mills, which were also propelled by steam. He was also first to introduce the reaper io this vicinity, which is now so common.
Mr. West aided in establishing the post-office here, and was for a long time the post-master. He was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor, and in 1830 was elected to that office, being one of the first who were thus honored by the town of Livonia. He was a temperate,
exemplary and respected citizen, a devoted Christian, and one of the founders of the Baptist church, of which he was a principal supporter. He died January 21, 1865, leaviog many friends and relatives, who have greatly mourned his loss.
His earnest and noble partner, Lucy M , who is represented above, was a native of Saratoga, this State, though moving with her parents when quite young to Pennsylvania, where she is first mentioned in this sketch. Her parents, Jonathan and Annar Burns, were of English and Irish de- scent, stalwart and hardy. She was one of nine children. all of whom lived to old age, and four of whom are still living. She performed faith- fully her part in the pioneer life. spinning aod weaving for the family she adopted, as well as those whom were her own children, cared for and reared nearly all of them to man and womanhood, and saw them com- fortably established in families of their own. Of these Perry West has followed for a livelihood principally artisan work, painting and marble work, and raised an estimable family, one son and two daughters. The son was a youthful volunteer in the war of the Rebellion, and rose to the rank of Captain. After the war he entered the profession of attorney-at- law. and is now a noted and successful practitioner in New York City.
Ziba H , the eldest of the second family, followed painting, and exhib- ited no ordinary talent for portrait painting.
Lucy M. B., the daughter, has found time, in addition to her house- hold duties, to carry on for a long time the milliner and dress-making business, and has raised a promising son and daughter. The latter is now a noted musician and portrait and ornamental painter in the City of Chicago,
Elisha chose mechanical manufacturing business and carries on a ma- chine shop in the city of Lockport. N. Y., at which place his inventive genius has made for him an enviable reputation.
To Jonathan B. the inheritance of real Yankee inventive genius seemed to fall in an unusual degree. He constructed in his eighth year his first "perpetual motion," which ran as well as any since invented, and now the Patent Office shows over a dozen patents to his credit. The first an automatic turning lathe, next a machine for cutting rasp for clover mills, and in 1870 a tire-setter, which he exhibited at the American Institute Fair in New York, and a medal of honor awarded. In 1873. accompa- nied by his wife, he visited Europe and exhibited at the World's Fair at Vienna the tire-setter, and received a Medal of Progress, and while there made an extensive tour of all the principal cities. Since then he has ob- tained patents on a machine for dressing granite, another tire-setter, the lightning screw-driver and a water metre which is extensively patented in foreign countries. This called the inventor to Paris, France. in ISSo to establish a factory for manufacturing it. Two patents for machines for regulating the pressure of water in service pipes and an air compressor have been granted him. He will soon make application for patents on a machine for embroidering Hamburg edging, etc .. which is now being con- structed in his works at Rochester, N. Y. He is also a skillful musician.
Francis G. spent several years at mechanical business, but having re- ceived an injury to his eyesight, turned his attention to agriculture, and has been successful. His two sons, however, have inherited a talent for mechanism, and are classed as unusually ingenious.
Lovette P. possessed the family talent for ingenuity. but during his boyhood had poorer health and devoted more to acquiring an education. When that was finished he engaged to a manufacturing firm to travel and introduce machinery and conduct a general agency for them. That en- gagement over, a greater inducement offered to take charge of a manufac- turing establishment on the Ohio river at Louisville, Ky., at which he continued three years. Meantime the death of the father made it neces- sary to settle up the estate, and Lovette had bought out the heirs to keep the homestead intact for the comfort ot his mother. So he then returned to his native town, and has since engaged in the mercantile business. His town selected him for Justice of the Peace, and has lately chosen him for the fourth term.
Erastus N., the younger, was also a mechanic, a true "chip of the old block " for ingenuity, inventive faculties and pleasant, jovial ways, in- vented many new and useful implements and machines, but did not live to bring them before the public.
371
LAKEVILLE.
The Old Universalist church, now standing in ruins here, was built in 1838-39, and was dedi- cated in 1840 ; Elder Roberts was its first pastor. It was abandoned as a church some thirty years ago.
A Baptist church was also built here some forty- five years ago, the frame of which was moved to this place from Avon. Its pastor was the Rev. Ira Justin. For a number of years it had a pros- perous career, but frequent withdrawals to other churches weakened the society, the church was abandoned about six years ago, and the members became scattered. The church building was sold to James Martin Gilbert, who converted it into a barn.
The postoffice was established here between 1814 and 1820. The present postmaster is Lovette P. West, appointed under Grant in 1870.
The Lakeville House is the only hotel here. It is a neat, commodious, well arranged house, com- manding a fine view of the lake, and is kept by Milton Hinsdale.
West & Company (L. P. West, Francis M. Acker) are the only merchants here. The busi- ness was founded by Mr. West in 1870. Mr. West was born in Lakeville in 1841.
Mr. Acker was born in Groveland in 1847 and has resided here twenty-nine years.
The Christian Church of Lakeville .- During the year 1817, Joseph Badger, John Blodget, and David Millard, then prominent young ministers in the Christian denomination, held religious meet- ings in South Lima and the vicinity of Lakeville, mostly in barns and private dwellings. In the winter and spring of 1818 quite a revival interest was manifested, numbers becoming converted. In June of that year, under the labors of Joseph Badger, ten of these converts, all, or nearly all of them young unmarried people, were organized into a church. The organization was effected in South Lima, but the regular meetings were soon after established in Lakeville, and hence the society took the name of the Christian Church of Lakeville. Joseph Badger was their first pastor, and Revs. William True, James Westcott, Gideon Hendrick, William Hance, Amasa Staunton, Geo. H. Hebbard,* David Millard, Jefferson D. Childs, and Oliver W. Powers, have also sustained pas- toral relation to the church.
At no period in its history has this church been very large in its membership, or embodied any great amount of wealth. Six of its members have
gone forth as ministers, some of whom became men of especially marked ability and influence. One of its members was also selected and em- ployed by the American Missionary Association as teacher among the Freed People of the South, and is now (1881) a prominent educator in one of its institutions of learning in that section of the country.
Few country churches have sustained a more continuous pastoral labor, or larger congregations than has this church during its history. The present membership is between sixty and sixty-five, presided over by Rev. Oliver W. Powers, who has been their pastor three years.
The First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo .*- This church was organized with twelve members in the Presbyterian form in 1795, by Rev. Daniel Thatcher, a missionary of the General Assembly, and was, therefore, the earliest of all the churches in this part of the country. Its title was "The First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo," by which name it is still known.
The church originally extended over the entire town of Geneseo, and the principal place of wor- ship was in a building that stood on what is now known as Temple hill, above the village of Gene- seo. The first members of this church were nearly all Presbyterians. Afterwards a number of mein- bers of the Congregational order came here from the Eastern States. They were attached to the order in which they had been educated, and that they might coalesce in one society and unite in the support of one minister, the elders of the church here resigned their offices. The plan of union adopted by the General Assembly of the Presby- terian Church and the General Association of the State of Connecticut was accepted by the church, and a standing committee, composed of an equal number of members from both parties, was chosen to transact the discipline of the church. This measure, however, was not attended with success. The parties did not harmonize, and the Congrega- tionalists asked and obtained letters of dismission and organized another church, which, after several changes in now known as "The First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo Village." The Presbyterian element then removed their place of worship to the eastern part of the town.
For several years they had no church edifice, and were accustomed to meet in a school house in the winter. During the summer they frequently
* To whom we are indebted for this historical sketch.
* From a historical discourse by Rev. John Mitchell in 1876, and with but slight alteration in language.
372
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
held their meetings in a barn belonging to Benja- min Wynn. In 1824 the first house of worship was erected. The old building has since been converted to other uses.
The progress of the church for the first thirty years was slow, for the number on the roll of com- municants was only thirty-two in 1825.
The church enjoyed only occasional ministerial labor until about the beginning of 1806. January 29, 1806, the Rev. John Lindsley was installed pastor, which relation he sustained between eleven and twelve years. It was during his pastorate that the schism above mentioned took place.
For some considerable time after Mr. Lindsley left, the church "seems to have been destitute of stated preaching. For about two years and a half from the spring of 1824 Rev. Silas Pratt preached to this people one-fourth of the time. From the spring of 1827 Rev. Horace Galpin was stated sup- ply for a little more than four years. After Mr. Galpin's dismissal the church was supplied one year by Rev. Elijah Woolage. He was succeeded in the fall of 1833 by Rev. Merrit Harmon, who remained ten years. During his ministrations ninety members were added to the church. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. Sidney S. Brown, who continued between two and three years.
Rev. Charles Richards was installed pastor over the congregation in May, 1847. Previous to his installation he had labored two years as a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery. Thereafter the succession of pastors was as follows :-
Revs. E. M. Toof, 1849-53; Charles Living- ston, six months of 1853; LaFayette Dudley, 1853-54; Wm. Reed, three months of 1854; Ed- win Moore, 1855-60; George W. Mackie, 1860- 61 ; Dwight Scovel, 1861-67 ; Alvin Baker, 1867- 71 ; John Jones, D. D., 1871-72 : John Mitchell, 1872. The latter pastor remained some five or six years, and was succeeded, after the lapse of a year, by the present incumbent, Rev. Newton J. Conkling.
The present house of worship was erected in 1855. 'The congregation gradually extending east- ward, the church was built for convenience of ac- cess, just over the town line in the village of Lake- ville. In convenience, comfort and general effect it is one of the best country churches in Western New York.
LIVONIA.
The village of Livonia, or Livonia Station, as it is also called, lies in the western part of the town,
a little north of the center, on the line of the Erie railroad. This is the chief business center of the town, and contains a population of six hundred and seventy-six .*
The existence and growth of this village is due to the birth of the Erie railroad. In 1853, when that road was built through here, there were but seventy-one inhabitantsf in what is now considered the limits of the village. 'The first depot here was an ordinary shanty, which in 1854 gave place to a better structure, 96 by 44, at a cost of $1,160, built by A. C. Keyes.
The first business place in the village was a restaurant, built of rough boards and kept by Pyram B. Ripley, of Livonia Centre. It stood on the depot grounds in front of where C. Y. An- druss' store now stands ..
The first hotel was built here in the fall and winter of 1855-6. This was the Church Ilotel. and was built by Henry Smith, and by him was opened as a public house in the spring of 1856. l'revious to the erection of this house, travelers were obliged to go to Livonia Centre for hotel ac- commodations.
The Baldwin House was the next hotel erected in the village. It was built by Wm. W. Baldwin in 1862, and at that time was the largest hotel in the county. It was a four-story structure, 36 by 76. Mr. Baldwin opened the house and run it until Hall Aldrich leased it in 1863. The present pro- prietor is Geo. W. Swan, who purchased the proper- ty of Moses & Johnson two years ago. This hotel is extensively patronized by the traveling public, and is one of the best appointed hotels in the county.
The first manufacturing business here was the making of grain cradles by George VanNess who, in 1843, moved from South Avon to this town and started a cradle factory near where once stood Munson & Summers' cabinet shop.
At that time there had never been a reaper or mower in Livingston county. He did an exten- sive business for a number of years, until in 1855, when reapers came into general use, the business began to decline, and in a few years ceased en- tirely.
The cabinet-shop above mentioned was pur- chased in 1854 by R. W. Tompkins, who moved it from that site to the corner of the railroad and the road running east and west, where the oldest brick block now stands. This was the first build-
* In 1870 the population was 399, an increase of 277 in the ten years. 1 34 males, 37 females.
211117
LITTLE
Mares Jackman
Berry Fucknum
MOSES JACKMAN.
The subject of this memoir was the son of Moses Jackman and Martha Moss, of New Hampshire. He was one of a family of seven children, was born January 14, 1776, and in the year 1804 was united in marriage with Rhoda Collins, of Ver- mont. In 1811 they moved to Mendon, N. Y. They had four children, viz : Orlen C., Flora, Cyrus and Alzina, of whom Alzina married Her- man Doyle and lives in California, and Flora mar- ried Hollis Daggett and resides in the town of Brighton, Monroe county, N. Y.
Mr. Jackman's wife died October 8, 18:1, and for his second wife he married Betsey Beecher, whose portrait appears herewith, January 4, 1813, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are now living. Their names are Emeritt E., Moses L., Matilda A., Rachel B., Hezekiah R., Charles A. and George W. One child died in infancy. Matilda and Rachel reside at Livonia Centre, Charles A. at Lima and George W. on the old homestead situated about two miles north-east of Livonia Station. The latter, at whose instance this sketch was written, was married to Jane E., daughter of Benjamin Cowles, of Brighton, N. Y. She is the oldest of a family of six children, four of whom are now living and is the mother of the fol- lowing children: Jessiettie E., George W., Jr., Lizzie M., Rillie E. and Lyman Ward B.
Moses Jackman moved to Livonia in the year 1828 and located on forty acres of land now occu- pied by his son George W., who has added to it at different times, until the farm now contains one hundred and fifty acres. Mr. Jackman relates an
incident in which his paternal grandfather was taken by the Indians when a mere boy, and re- turned after a lapse of seven years.
Betsey Beecher was a daughter of Hezekiah Beecher, of Connecticut, who moved into this county in 1801 and took up a traet of land a mile square, lacking 150 acres. He was brother to the father of Henry Ward Beecher. The original pur- chase has been sub-divided into small farms which are now in a high state of cultivation.
In politics Mr. Jackman was an Andrew Jack- son Democrat until the Anti-Masonie crusade, when he became a Whig, and in 1860 espoused the cause of the Republican party. He died in the year 1861, and it may be mentioned as a remark- able coïncidence in connection with his history that he was born in the year of the Declaration of Independence and died in the year in which Fort Sumter was fired upon. He was a member of the Baptist Church up to the time of his removal into Livingston county, but never joined with any re- ligious society after his settlement in Livonia.
He was a man of strong convictions, and when decided that he was right no power that could be made to act upon him could change his decision or cause him to deviate from the fulfillment of his purpose. He left a family who are intelligent, in- fluential citizens of the communities in which they reside, and of whom George W. deserves special mention. He has greatly improved the old home, and to-day is one of the most successful farmers in Livonia. He is now in the prime of life and sur- rounded by all the comforts of a happy home.
373
LIVONIA, MERCHANTS AND MANUFACTURERS.
ing here that aspired to a frame, and shingled roof. Mr. Tompkins sold it soon after to John Locke, Sr., who finished the upper part of it for a dwelling and the lower part for a grocery store.
On the 28th of January, 1878, occurred a de- structive fire which destroyed the postoffice and other of the business places. The postoffice was the oldest wooden building. and was built by John Locke, Sr., in 1856, The postoffice had been es- tablished here the year previous, 1855, and John Locke was the first postmaster. Carleton Bowen succeeded him in 1857. continuing four years. Jerome B. Patterson was the next official, appoint- ed under Lincoln, and his successor was Carleton Bowen who again assumed the duties, continu- ing two years and a half. The present postmaster is Willard S. Chapin, who was appointed under Grant in 1869. Mr. Chapin was born in Venice, Cayuga county, in 1826, and came to Livonia, in 186 1.
MERCHANTS .- Jerome B. Patterson, one of the oldest merchants in the town, came to Livonia in 1834, beginning business in that year at Hemlock Lake. In 1858 he moved to Livonia, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Lock- port, N. Y., returning to Livonia in 1868, where he has since continued business in general mer- chandise.
In 1877 he was elected County Clerk. He was born in the town of Springport, Cayuga county, in 1828.
E. C. Long, dealer in boots, shoes and clothing, has been in business here sixteen years. He was born in Livonia in 1840.
Eugene W. Stowell, general hardware; in busi- ness here six years. He was born in Huntington, Addison county, Vt., in 1843, and came to Livonia from Michigan six years ago.
Elbert Long, dry goods and groceries, has been in business one year. He was born in Livonia in 1852.
Wheeler Brothers, (Charles and William,) gro- ceries and crockery ; in business here one year. Came here in April of 1880 from Nunda, where both were born, Charles in 1859 and William in 1862.
Trescott & Long, (Charles Trescott, Abraham Long,) furniture and undertaking ; in business as a firm nearly two years. Previously for some eight years the firm was Trescott & Davis. Both are natives of the town, Mr. Long being born here in 1828, and having pursued the occupation of farm- ing until his engagement in this business.
Henry A. Barton, groceries, drugs and medi- cines ; in business here seventeen years. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1829, and came to Livonia in 1864.
Clark & Rogers, (Edmund P. Clark, James E. Rogers,) dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes ; in business here some four years. Mr. Clark was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, in 1839. Mr. Rogers was born in Coventry, Chenango county, N. Y., in 1844, and came to Livonia in 1877.
Densmore Brothers, (Luther and David H.,) general hardware, paints and oils., In business here five years. Both were born in New Balti- more, Greene county, N. Y., Luther in 1832, David in 1828, and came to this town in 1836.
Fred. S. Day, drugs, medicines and fancy goods ; in business here nearly three years. He was born in Macon, Ga., in 1852, and came to Livonia in I862.
Brown & Hulbert, (Sarah C. Brown, Laura J. Hulbert,) milliners. In business here eight years, purchasing in April of 1873 the millinery business of Mrs. Mary E. Hoyt. S. C. Brown was born in Dansville in 1837, and came to Livonia in 1873. L. C. Hulbert was born in Burns, Allegany coun- ty, in 1843, and came here eight years ago.
Joshua D. Howell, watches and jewelry. In business here three years, coming at that time from Nunda, where he was born in 1850.
Swan & Ganung, (Albert Swan, William Ga- nung,) produce merchants. In business as a firm since 1876. Previously for one year the business was conducted by Mr. Swan. Albert Swan was born in Canadice, Ontario county, in 1847, and came to Livonia as a resident thirteen years ago. William Ganung was born in Canadice in 1847, and came here in 1876.
John H. Prettejohn, produce merchant. In business here twelve years.
MANUFACTURERS .- Perry & Gardner, (E. Harvey Perry, John Gardner,) millers, have been in business here over two years. Their grist mill was built in 1879. Mr. Perry was born in Oneida county, N. Y. Mr. Gardner was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, N. Y., in 1854, and came here as a resident in December of 1879.
George Ritzenthaler, barrel manufacturer. In business here twelve years. He came here in 1873 from Hemlock Lake, where he had conduct- ed the same business for eight years, during which time he had also carried on the present manufac- tory in Livonia. Mr. Ritzenthaler was born in
374
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Baden, Germany, in 1830, and came to America in 1835.
LAWYERS .- John Wesley Byam, who came to Livonia in 1866, to begin the practice of law, was born in Warsaw, Wyoming county, N. Y., in 1837. At the age of seventeen he attended the seminary at Lima, where he studied several years, and in April of 1864, entered the Albany Law School from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1865.
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