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 86
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land of the giant growth of timber that covered it. there was no communication with Canandaigua except by Indian trail, but in a few years the roads were much improved, and he used to run a seven horse team to Albany, carrying such articles as he had taken in payment for his supplies, and bring- ing back large loads of goods for his store. He was a man of great physical strength and endur- ance, and was able to bear the hardships and trials incident to an early, and consequently laborious life in the dense wilderness. In his intercourse with the Indians he was fortunate. He learned to speak their language and mingled freely with them, thereby securing their friendship. lle fre- quently accompanied them in their hunting ex- cursions in which they would be absent in some instances three and four weeks. Mr. Crossett kept a distillery, and sometimes they were very importunate in their demands for liquor when he thought they ought not to have it, and they would threaten to take his life, wildly flourishing their hunting knives and tomahawks, with a view to frightening him into giving them themuch coveted fire-water.
Mr. Crossett was a man of quick apprehensions and strong convictions, frank and fearless in their expression and energetic in carrying them out. He possessed strong common sense, and uncon- mon sagacity in business, and was admirably fitted by the possession of these qualities to fight the bat- tles of a pioneer life. His second wife died about 1823. After the death of Mr. Crossett, his estate was managed by Middleton Crossett, a son by his first wife, for about two years. Then it was man- aged by John, our subject, and his brother Wil- liam, under the supervision of their guardian, James Crossett, a brother of their father, until they be- came of age, when it was divided, William taking one-half and John the other half, which included the old homestead where he always resided.
November 11, 1839, John married Jane, daughter of William and Mary (Cole) Leonard, of Sparta. She was born Sept. 30, 1817, and died March 19, 1875. By her he had three children viz :- Selenda K. born Oct. 26, 1842, died Sept. 8, 1876; Lloyd W. born Oct. 5, 1845, now living and carrying on the drug business in Geneseo ; and Emma J., born Nov. 30, 1851, married James Fitzhugh of Ken- tucky, and died March 14, 1879. Mr. Crossett has carried on farming since he came into posses- sion of his share of his father's estate, is still operat- ing his farm of 240 acres, and has been highly successful. The appearance of his farm and premi- ses indicate that the mind that directs and controls his affairs is intelligent, and the ability and skill brought into action is of a high order.
Mr. Crossett has never had any desire for public affairs but has performed the duties of the office of Assessor two terms, an office forced upon him. In politics he is a life long Democrat, sustaining in a consistent and earnest manner the measures of his party. Mr. Crossett has been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Geneseo, about eleven years.
John Crossett
405
ABRAHAM MCCLINTOCK-DANIEL H. BISSELL, M. D.
ABRAHAM MCCLINTOCK.
Abraham McClintock, one of the pioneers of Geneseo, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., March 12, 1775, and in 1807 came here and took up seventy-four acres in lot III. He was the son of Joseph and Margaret (McQueen) Mcclintock, who had six children, five sons and one daughter.
LITTLE
JOSEPH MCCLINTOCK.
Abraham who was the second child, remained at home after the death of his father and assisted in the care of his mother and the younger children, until he was married, when he came to this county and settled as we have already stated. He cleared the land he had taken up and lived in a rude log- cabin on the same. April 28, 1807, he was mar- ried to Mary Clark of his native county, by whom he had five sons and one daughter that grew to maturity, as follows : Joseph, whose portrait heads this sketch, was born in 1808, and is now resid- ing in the town of Hamilton, Van Buren county, Mich., where he is carrying on farming, having settled there about 1845; William C., born in 1810 and died in 1848; Robert, born in 1812 ; Margaret, born in 1816, married Thomas B. Erwin and is now living in Paw Paw, Mich .; John, born in 1818, and Charles, born in 1823. Robert, John and Charles are now living on the old homestead farm, operating the same in partnership. Abraham was universally esteemed for qualities of a high order. He was a good husband, kind father, and an ac- commodating neighbor, and in 1820 was elected a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo, holding that office many years. His childhood of indigence, his early manhood of weari- some toil, served as the crucibles wherein sterling qualities were refined and tested preparatory for the faithful performance of responsible duties in later years. Owing to his well known integrity and honesty of purpose, coupled with an excellent ability, he was called upon many times to settle the
affairs of deceased persons and in all business and social relations he was upright and honorable. He was a valuable citizen in the highest sense and con- tributed largely to the welfare and social improve- ment of his neighborhood. In politics he was at first a Democrat and then a Whig. His death oc- curred March 16, 1849. His wife who was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Lakeville, sur- vived him about one year. Their grandchildren are only three in number viz :- Frank, daughter of Margaret, Mary Margaret, daughter of William, and Tracy son of John. Charles Mcclintock has been assessor of the town of Geneseo, six terms.
DANIEL H. BISSELL, M. D.
In attempting to trace the career of Daniel H. Bissell, honorable as it is in itself, we are reminded at the very outset of the intimate relations it sus- tained to the development of an unoccupied re- gion of country into a mighty and prosperous com- monwealth. It comprehends almost the entire period of American constitutional history, he hav- ing lived under every Presidential administration. His father, a heroic soldier of the Revolution, was sent from Connecticut by Gen. Washington to the city of New York (when that city was in the possession of the British army) as a spy and, was rewarded for his valuable services with a badge of merit by the Government. After the close of the war he was married to Theoda Hurlburd and moved to the State of Vermont, where eight chil- dren were born to them-six sons and two daugh- ters. The sons were all named Daniel. In 1809, he removed to Richmond, Ontario county, N. Y., where he died in 1823, aged seventy years.
Daniel H. Bissell was born at Randolph, Vt., September 21, 1794, and removed with his parents to Ontario county, and when the war of 1812 broke out he enlisted in the service of his country and served under Generals Brown, Scott and Porter in Captain Claudius V. Boughton's company of Por- ter's Volunteer Dragoons. He was with the army in Canada in 1814, and was in the celebrated bat- tle of Lundy's Lane ; in the sortie on Fort Erie in August, and in the sortie of the American army upon the enemy's works around Fort Erie in Sep- tember of that year.
In the month of April, 1817, Mr. Bissell went on foot to Olean, N. Y., from thence in a skiff down the Allegany and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, O., a distance of 800 miles, a voyage as hazardous as it must have been exciting. After a tour of five months in the States of Ohio, Indiana and Ken- tucky, he returned to Lima, N. Y. His future in- terests now demanding a permanent decision on his part as to what should be his occupation in life ; his predilictions for a profession won the day ; and acting upon the belief that as a physician his field would be one in accordance with his tastes and in which he could be of the most service to his fellowmen, he adopted the medical profession
406
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
and soon after entered the office of Dr. Justin Smith, of Lima, where he remained two years. In 1819-20 he attended the medical lectures of Yale College, graduating there with the highest honors. In 1820 he located at Moscow where he resided and practiced until 1837, when he removed to Geneseo, where he has since resided. The general estimation of his probity and wisdom is abundantly proved by the number of offices of trust and re- sponsibility bestowed upon him, both by election and appointment. He was elected President of the village of Geneseo, and has held the office of Under Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor of the town of Geneseo many terms, and Judge of the County, U. S. Loan Commissioner, Physician of Marine Hospital, Staten Island, and Deputy Health Officer of the Port of New York, was U. S. Postmaster at Geneseo under the administrations of Van Buren and Tyler. He was the Republican candidate for Canal Commissioner on the first ticket put in the field by that party in 1856. In 1836, he was Presidential Elector and had the honor, as Messenger, of conveying the vote of the State of New York, which had been cast for Mr. Tyler, and placing it in the hands of the defeated candidate, Mr. Van Buren who was then Vice-President.
In 1857 the Regents of the University of New York conferred upon him the honorary degree of medicine.
Greatly interested in the security and preserva- tion of the records of the early history of Living- ston county, he has been most active and earnest in the organization of the Pioneer and Historical Societies, and has been President of both these or- ganizations. The duties of all these public posi- tions have been performed with that honesty of purpose that has characterized his whole life.
Dr. Bissell commencing and continuing the practice of his profession in a quiet and secluded village, has won by honest hard work and a skill- ful and honorable practice a preeminent place in his profession. Success and honor thus won are not accidents, they come of an abiding purpose, and therefore is it that they are more valuable as examples for those who are struggling for excel- lence, not only in this profession, but in any wor- thy business calling. His virtues, his integrity, his goodness, his usefulness and example as a citizen and a public officer should be emulated by all who desire the esteem and the welfare of the people among whom they live. The life of Dr. Bissell presents a most valuable example in these latter days, when the temptation to tread forbidden paths and to use, to say the least, doubtful expedi- ents in the headlong scramble for riches and honors, has left so many human wrecks along the pathway of the generation.
Dr. Bissell was married at Lima, N. Y., in June, 1823, to Lucy Grosvenor, of Mansfield, Conn. She died at Geneseo, N. Y., September 1st, 1868. Wm. H. Bissell, of Wilmington, III., and Albert G. Bissell, of Detroit, Mich., are his sons, and Mrs. Helen M. Arnold and Laura E. Olmstead, of Gen- eseo, are his daughters.
FREDERICK W. BUTLER.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of IIudson, Columbia county, Jan. 26, 1795. He is the son of Ezekiel and Lydia ( Frisbie) Butler. The former was born in the town of Brantford, New Haven, Conn .. about 1761. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the service of his country, and served faithfully in the war for Independence
LITTLE
(FREDERICK W. BUTLER.)
five years. Soon after the close of the war he settled in Columbia county and followed the car- penter's trade and farming, and died there in 1831. His wife survived him about twenty-five years. They had ten children only two of whom are now living, Frederick and William. The latter was born in 1804 and is now living in the old home- stead in Columbia county. Frederick W. lived at home working on the farm until he was twenty years of age. His early years were filled with the many hardships and privations incident to the life of a poor farmer's son. What education he gained was literally picked up in the district schools of a new and not prosperous country. He partially learned the carpenter's trade of his father, and on leaving home he went to the town of Kinderhook and followed that occupation one season. From thence he went to Albany in January, 1815, and worked at his trade by the day about two years.
On the last day of March, 1817, he started for the then, far west, and arrived in Geneseo April To, following, having walked the entire distance. On determining to remain in Geneseo, he engaged to work for the Wadsworths, the great men of this section at that time. He followed his trade until 1840, having built many of the fine residences that now beautify the village of Genesco. When the present Court House was built in Geneseo, he was employed by the building committee, consisting of | Gen. Wm. Wadsworth, Col. Markham and Daniel
407
FREDERICK W. BUTLER-EPAPHRODITUS BIGELOW.
H. Fitzhugh to superintend its construction. In 1823 Mr. Butler purchased ninety acres of the farm on which he now resides, and in 1824 moved into the house he is yet occupying. Since 1840 his life has been exclusively that of a farmer. During the war of 1812 he was called into the ser- vice of the United States, and now draws a pension of $8.oo a month. In politics Mr. Butler was an old line Whig, but on the formation of the Repub- lican party he united with it, and has always given an intelligent and faithful support to its policy and measures. His townsmen honored him by elect- ing him to the office of Supervisor two terms. In religious sentiment Mr. Butler is a Presby- terian and has been a member of that church in Geneseo
since March, 1833. He was made an elder the fol- lowing summer, and has held that position in the church since that time, and has been trustee of the society since 1831.
Mr. Butler has been an earnest worker in the cause of religion, and has been liberal of his means in support of the Gospel and in building and repairing their pres- ent church edifice. In all that tends to the good and well-being of society he has been an able and powerful worker. His life has LITTLE been of that character to secure the respect and confidence of all that have the good fortune to know him. In 1824, the 12th day of August, Mr. Butler was joined in marriage with Eunice, daughter of Joseph and Rosanna (Gardiner) Barton, of Columbia county, N. Y. She was born Jan. 12, 1803, and is still living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Butler have been born four children that grew to maturi- ty, viz. :- Edward, now living in the town of Gen- eseo. Mary, married to Abram Magee, and now living in Columbia county, N. Y., and Martha and Cornelia, living at home. Mrs. Butler has been a member of the Presbyterian church fifty years.
EPAPHRODITUS BIGELOW.
Epaphroditus Bigelow was born February 4, 1786, at Marlborough, Hartford county, Conn., and died April 7, 1874, at his home in Geneseo, N. Y., aged 88 years and two months.
(EPAPHRODITUS BIGELOW. )
He was & lineal descendant of John Bigelow, who emigrated from Wrentham, county of Suffolk, England, to New England, and settled at Water- town, Mass., where he died July 14, 1703.
He was the son of Daniel Bigelow by his second wife, Sarah F. Ingham, of Saybrook, Conn., he hav- ing married for his first wife, Mary Brainard, of Westchester, Conn. By each of his wives there were born unto him seven children, eight sons and six daughters, ten of whom lived to mature years.
One only of this large family survives, Mrs. Bet- sey Bigelow Hempstead, who has attained to the ripe age of 97 years, and is the oldest person now living in the town of Geneseo.
Mr. Bigelow, the sub- ject of this sketch was the fourth child by the second wife. His father was a farmer by occupa- tion, he, therefore, re- ceived his early train- ing at home and upon the farm in summer, and attended the com- mon schools of his na- tive town in the winter.
His early advantages were limited, but he fully improved what he en- joyed, and when of age he became a common school teacher of quite large experience, having taught eleven winter terms in the schools of his native State, and in Geneseo after his re- moval thereto.
In the month of July, 1813, he enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812. He was enrolled as a private in the "First Regiment Connecticut State Troops" under Capt. Enos H. Buel, his being the first name upon the company's roll. He served three months, the period for which he enlisted, at New London, Ct., and was honorably discharged in the month of September following.
Under the Act of February 14, 1871, granting pensions to the survivors of the war of 1812, he became entitled to a pension, which he received up to the time of his decease.
He was married at Marlborough, Conn., Nov. 7, 1816, by the Rev. David B. Ripley to Sarah Phelps, eldest daughter of Oliver Phelps and Mary Hills.
In the spring of the year 1818, he removed with his family, consisting of his wife and a son nine months old,'to Geneseo, N. Y. This son, Orimel, is yet living and a resident of the adjoining town of Groveland.
The journey was undertaken in a canvass cov- ered lumber wagon, the style in those days, drawn
408
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
by a yoke of oxen and one horse in advance, and the distance, 330 miles, occupied a period of eighteen days.
He settled upon a farm in the eastern part of the town which he had previously bought of David Haynes, a native of Pennsylvania, and purchased by him of the Messrs. Wadsworth in September, 1792, when the surrounding country was an un- broken wilderness.
Here he entered zealously upon the work of his life, continuing to dwell upon this chosen spot to the end of his days, a period of fifty-six years. In those days before canal or railroad had pen- etrated the Genesee valley the profits of farming were not large and markets were not near. Roch- ester, distant twenty-five miles, was the principal one, and here he sold his crops of wheat at times at three shillings per bushel, and other farm products in proportion.
By industry and economy he in time secured a competency and raised and educated a large family of children. During the active period of his life he took a lively interest in public affairs, and was often honored by his fellow citizens with places of public trust. Among the town offices held by him were Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Schools and Assessor. In politics he was a Whig up to the time of the dissolution of that party, and afterward acted with the Republicans. He cast his first vote for President in the fall of 1808 for James Mad- ison, and in all cast his vote seventeen times for the electors of President and Vice President of these United States.
Mr. Bigelow was of Puritan ancestry, and was early taught the truth of divine revelations and made familiar with that gospel which for so many years he adorned by a godly life and conversation. On May 22, 1838, under the pastorate of Rev. Horace Galpin, he united with the First Presby- terian Church of Geneseo, and was elected and ordained as a ruling elder September 2, 1836, in which office he continued until his death.
He was not a great man as some count great- ness, but rather might be called one of those standard, reliable men to be found in every town, who seek to be useful in their day and generation, filling his place creditably and honestly and accord- ing to an enlightened judgment.
He was a man of stern integrity and of firm convictions. Opinions once formed were tena- ciously held. He was benevolent and generously contributed of his means for the good of his fellow men, and those enterprises organized for the pur- pose of advancing and improving the world had his support.
He has acted his part upon the stage and has passed away, and the testimony is that his life's work was well done.
His wife united with the church at the same time as her husband whom she survived nearly four years. She was a worthy helpmeet, exemplary and faithful in all the duties relating to her home, to the church and to her God. She was born Oct. 23, 1795, and died March 21, 1878, aged 82 years.
His children were nine in number, all sons. Their names in the order of their ages were Orimel, Revilo, Daniel, Harvey, Cyrus Phelps, Alonzo, Martin Luther, Merit Harmon, and Edward. Of these Cyrus Phelps, Alonzo and Martin Luther died in childhood. Merit Harmon a young man of more than ordinary promise, died December 10, 1858, aged 24 years.
Each one of those who lived to reach their ma- jority, received an academic education at Geneseo Academy, Geneseo, N. Y.
Orimel married Jane Williams, is a farmer by occupation, and resides at Groveland N. Y. They have two children, a son and daughter. Revilo lives at the village of Geneseo, and has married twice. His first wife was Sarah Alice Wilbur by whom he had two daughters. For his second wife he married Mrs. Nancy S. Haynes, by whom he also has two daughters. Daniel dwells upon the homestead of his late father, deceased, and married Helen A. Whitney, of Avon, N. Y. They have a son and daughter.
Harvey lives at Rush, N. Y., and is a wagon and carriage maker. He married Maria Van Buskirk, and they have five children, two sons and three daughters.
Edward lives at Austin, Minn., and is a mer- chant in the drug and stationery business. He served his country for three years in the late Re- bellion, and held a captain's commission, and has been the Principal of several higher institutions of learning in the West. Hemarried Lucy A. Brown, by whom he has three children, two sons and a daughter.
HON. CHARLES COLT.
The subject of this notice was born January 23, 1793, in the town of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Mass. He was the youngest son of a large family of children. His early life was like that of New Eng- land farmer's boys of that period-plenty of work, with limited educational advantages. At sixteen he was apprenticed to a merchant, to learn the busi- ness, where he remained till hereached his majority. Meanwhile his father died.
During the summer of 1814, he made a trip on horseback to the Genesee country-the Far West of that day. His object was to find a location where he could in that new country, with his little patrimony set up business on his own account. Spending some time near Rochester where an older brother had settled, he pushed on as far as Buffalo. On his return he diverged somewhat from the main traveled route to look over a tract of land on the west side of the Genesee river, in the present town of York, inherited from the paternal estate by still another brother. Captivated by the beauty and promise of the Genesee Valley, the prospector determined to settle in this locality. This deter- mination he carried into effect the spring of the following year, 1815. In copartnership with his
409
CHARLES COLT-CAPTAIN HORATIO JONES.
brother he commenced business as a merchant in Geneseo-under the firm name of Solomon and Charles Colt. This partnership was terminated by the death of the senior member in 1823. Charles continued the business till about 1830.
Mercantile business of that day was principally barter, and in that way Mr. Colt naturally became a produce dealer, and eventually devoted all his time and energies to that business. For many years he was the principal buyer of farmers' pro- duce in all this region. In that connection he was interested in a line of flat-boats navigating the Genesee river be- tween Rochester and Geneseo.
The opening of the Genesee Valley Canal in 1841 put an end to that primitive mode of water transit.
The early education and natural taste of Mr. Colt attracted him to agricultural pursuits, and from 1830 to 1837 he was interested with Campbell Harris in grazing the tract of land known as the " Brinton Flats" on the west side of the river ; the property now owned by Charles F. Wadsworth.
With the late Gurdon Nowlen, Mr. Colt in- troduced into this county and manufac- tured what was then regarded a great im- provement -the fam- ous iron mold-board wood plow. It was a rude instrument compared with implements of the present time of the same character; but fifty years have wrought a great change.
It will thus be seen that the pioneer of 1815 was an energetic, pushing, active business man, of ro- bust frame. He continued to be a leader in his line till about the year 1853, when he retired and devoted the remainder of his life to the care and management of a farm located near the village of Geneseo, where he continued to reside till his de- cease which occurred July 27, 1866.
It would almost necessarily follow that such a man as we have briefly outlined would take a large interest in the public affairs and politics of his lo- cality. Mr. Colt was no office-seeker, but it is safe to say that he had much to do in the adminis- tration of public affairs in his county for many years.
As Anti-Mason and Whig, and afterwards Re- publican he was universally regarded as a " leader." The only State office he ever held was that of
" Senator," having been elected to fill a vacancy in 1848 and for a full term in 1849.
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