History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 53

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass, comp; Conover, George S. (George Stillwell), b. 1824, ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families > Part 53

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Cooley, Augustine S., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, July 14, 1856, a son of James S. The latter was a native of this county and came here in 1851, and, in partnership with his brother, Nathaniel, began the manufacture of agricultural imple- ments, and established a hardware business. He had two children: Hattie M., and Augustine S., who was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving school entered the store of his father, where he has always been engaged. About 1868 Na- thaniel sold his interest to his brother, and the firm was J. S. Cooley until 1879, when it was changed to J. S. Cooley & Son ; and in 1883, A. Eugene Cooley being added to the firm, it was changed to J. S. Cooley Son & Co., and on the death of the senior mem- ber, December 20, 1889, the firm was made A. S. & A. E. Cooley, which it has con- tinued. They carry a complete line of general hardware, together with an extensive tin and furnace shop. Mr. Cooley married in 1883 Harriet C., daughter of Allen Reed, of Canandaigua, and they have two children; Lura Esther, and James Allen. At the time of the organization of the Canandaigua Street Railway Company in 1888, Mr. Cooley, in company with Mr. C. F. Milliken, were the first to agitate the subject and to organize the company. He has held the position of treasurer and president of the com- pany, and he was a director from the time of its formation. He was two years secie-

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

tary of the Ontario County Agricultural Society, 1882-1883. He also owns a fruit farm and is largely interested in the culture of grapes and small fruits. For the last three years his attention has been given to large investments in the Indiana natural gas fields, and is a director in the Western Improvement Company, doing business at West Muneie, Ind. Mr. Cooley has been executor of several estates, and is now acting as trustee and treasurer for other trusts.

Copp, E. Darwin, Clifton Springs, was born in New Hampshire, January 30, 1834. Ile received an academic education, and after farming and teaching school for several years, enlisted in 1862, August 7, in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols. He was shortly afterward detailed to do clerical work in the office at Camp Convales- cent, Va., and during the last six months of his service was chief clerk of the Soldiers' Rest, Alexandria, Va. After receiving his discharge at close of the war, he immedi- ately returned to Clifton Springs and established a boot and shoe store, to which he shortly added groceries and glassware. His health failing he sold out, and after a time established a coal, lumber, grain and produce business, also became connected with the Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company. He has held the office of president, seere- tary and treasurer. This concern manufactures anti-rusting tinware and tin specialties, employing seventy-fi e hands. Mr. Copp married Mary E. Spalsbury, daughter of Dr. Spalsbury. They have no family. Mr. Copp is a member of the G. A. R, and steward and treasurer of the M. E. Church.

Coykendall, Charles A., Canadice, was born in Yates county, October 16, 1830. When he was two years of age his father, Jotham, moved with his family to this town. His grandfather, Emanuel, came from New Jersey to Yates county at an early day. Jotham was born in 1805, and married in 1826 Maria Haynes, of Starkey, Yates county, who bore him eleven children, as follows: Lydia, born in 1828; Charles, born in 1830; Coe, born in 1833; Mary, born in 1835; Squire, born in 1836, died in 1844; Jotham, born in 1838; Arnold G., born in 1847 ; Sarah, born in 1841; Phila A., born in 1845; Squire, born in 1849; and Isaac W., born in 1852. Jotham was assessor for many years, and died in 1888, his wife dying four years earlier. His son Charles was edu- cated at the district schools and remained at his father's home until after twenty-one years of age, then went to Ohio and worked at jobbing on a railroad and farming two years. He returned to Canadice, and in 1857 married Mary E. Pulver, daughter of Henry W. and Mary (Northrup) Pulver, who were early settlers of this town, her father coming from Kinderhook, where he was a schoolmate of Martin Van Buren, and her mother from Saratoga county. Mr. Coykendall has one daughter, Flora, born March 20, 1866, wife of Dr. W. D. Becker, jr., both graduates of the Normal School of Geneseo, class of 1887. Dr. Becker is also a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. Miss Coykendall accepted a position as preceptress of the Union School at Livonia, where she remained three years, Dr. Becker being in New York. They have one child, Ruth L. E., born in 1892. Mr. Coykendall is a farmer on the old place, owning 128 acres and farming 228. Ile has recently intro- duced Dakota spring rye, of which he has grown 449 bushels from twenty-seven bushels sown. He is a Republican.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Crooks, Tompkins Abbey, Richmond, was born September 14, 1826. His grandfather, David, a native of Blanford, Mass., first came to Richmond in 1799, on his return from a prospecting tour in Ohio. Struck with the beauty of the country here in the Indian summer time, he bought the farm which he afterwards sold to Elias Gilbert, and the next February came with his wife and settled thereon. She was a grandniece of General Knox of Revolutionary fame, and he was of Scotch descent. They had eight children, one of whom, David K., learned milling. His father died in 1812 from an injury received in the mill. David K. married in 1822 Sinai, daughter of John Abbey. She was born in 1803, and died in 1890. They had two sons : Tompkins A. and John K. The latter, born in 1830, became a physician, and married Martha Wheeler for his first wife, and Carrie Gray for his second wife, by whom he had one son, deceased. He died in 1876, and his widow resides at East Bloomfield. David K. lived most of his life where his son Tompkins now lives. When but thirteen years of age he drew from the mill in Richmond, with a double ox team, twenty-five barrels of flour to the American army encamped at Buffalo, and on his return loaded the sleigh with munitions of war for the arsenal at Batavia. Tompkins A. Crooks was educated at a select school at Allen's Hill and at Lima Seminary, and has followed farming all his l'fe. He mar- ried in 1846 Helen C., daughter of Tillness Bentley 2d, and their only daughter, Ellen Amelie, born in 1847, is the wife of Mark Leech, and now living almost opposite. Mr. Crooks is a Democrat, and his wife and daughter are Episcopalians. Tillness Bentley 2d was born in 1792, and came from Saratoga. He married Lorada Baker, daughter of William. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Major Allen, and was at Lundy's Lane. He had six children, of whom Mrs Crooks was the fourth. He was a leading spirit in the organization of the old M. E. church, which stood east of Abbey's Corners, the first services of which were held in Mr. Baker's barn. The locality was early called Baker's Hill.

Case, Mark A., Bristol, was born in Bristol, August 16, 1842. His father was Sey- mour W., son of Jonathan J., who was born in Bristol and married Caroline J., daughter of George Gregg. Mr. Case and wife had five sons and a daughter. He owned a farm of 100 acres, was a Democrat in politics and active in his party. He died January 26, 1874, and his widow resides with her son, Horace B. Mark A. was educated in the common schools of Bristol. In 1867 he married Mariette, daughter of Ephraim Dun- ham, and they have two sons : George G., born December 14, 1870; and Seymour W., born May 13, 1875. Mr. Case has 100 acres which he purchased in 1867, and is a gen- eral farmer and hop grower, having ten acres devoted to the latter. Mr. Case is a Democrat in politics, and was supervisor in 1889-90 and 1891. He was justice of the peace one term, and assessor one term.

Carson, Dr. Matthew R, Canandaigua, was born in Seneca, Ontario county, May 25, 1836, a son of Robert, a manufacturer of agricultural implements of Scottsville. The grandfather of subject was of French descent, and emigrated to this country about 1791 at the age of eighteen. The family settled in this country, where their descendants have always lived. The early life of Dr. Carson was spent in Seneca, where he attended the common schools until sixteen years of age. He spent two years at Canandaigua

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

Academy. and then attended a select school at Geneva, finishing his course in Latin and Greek, and at the same time studying medicine with Dr. Beattie. He afterwards spent about five years in Albany, where he attended the Albany Medical College, and spent one year in the hospital there. He then located in Canandaigua, where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice. He has held all the offices of the Ontario County Medical Society, also of the Society of Physicians of Canandaigua. Dr. Carson married in 1860 Elizabeth J. Ostrom, of West Charlton, Saratoga county, and they have had five children : William O., a banker of Caro, Mich .; Grace Eleanor; Dr. Robert L., assistant superintendent of the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children at Elwyn, Pa .; Bessie Chapin Carson, private secretary to Dr. J. C. Carson, of Syracuse ; and Henry O., who lives at home.

Coates, Irving W., Hopewell, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Manchester, Ontario county, November 14, 1836. He is the second son of Captain James T. J. Coates, late of the town of Hopewell, in the same county. His grard- father, James Coates, was a native of New London, Conn. When quite a young man he came to Stephentown, Rensselaer county, and married Miss Penelope Northrup, the daughter of the Rev. Gideon Northrup, an eloquent divine, who at that time resided in the eastern portion of the State. James Coates was one of the pioneers of settlement at what is now known as Varysburg, Wyoming county. He, in common with many others, carved out homes in the dense wilderness and endured all the hard- ships and dangers incident to such a life. In the war of 1812, which so soon followed the white settlement of Western New York, he was employed as a teamster to trans- port arms, ammunition and supplies for the use of the army of General Stephen Van Rensselaer, then gathering at Lewiston on the Niagara for a descent upon Canada. He would never accept any pay for his services, declaring that it was the duty of every good citizen to uphold the honor of his country in the hour of its need and danger. He had much intercourse with the Indians during the early days of settlement, and knew personally Red Jacket Farmer's Brother, Young King, Seneca White, and other noted chiefs of the Six Nations, who wore frequent guests at his house. In 1817 he exchanged his property at Varysburg for a fine farm near Clifton Springs in the town of Manshester, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-six years, honored and respected. Capt. James T. J. Coates, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Stephentown, Rensselaer county, in 1804, and removed at a tender age with his father's family to their new home amid the hemlock forests of the Holland Pur- chase. On arriving at man's estate he was for many years a successful farmer of the town of Manchester, and in 1850 removed to the adjoining town of Hopewell, in the same county, purchasing the fine homestead farm now owned and occupied by his son, Irving W., where he resided until his death, July 22, 1889, aged eighty six years. His estimable wife, whose maiden name was Minerva Whitney, daughter of Jonas Whit- ney, a worthy pioneer of the town of Hopewell, survived him but about a year, her death occurring October 31, 1890. Captain Coates was a most worthy citizen, an up- right, honorable man in all his dealings and was quite successful in business. He held several offices of trust given him unsolicited by his fellow citizens, and discharged the duties of them always to his credit. He was an active officer in the early militia

FAMILY SKETCHES.

organizations of Ontario county, and received the commissions of first lieutenant and captain from Gov. De Witt Clinton. For a brief period we believe he was on the staff of Col. Lester Phelps of Canandaigua, who commanded the old One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment N. Y. S. Militia, and who was a warmn personal friend of his. Irv- ing W. Coates, in common with most farmers' sons, received his first rudiments of education at the district school, supplemented by a course at the old Chemung Academy at Horseheads, Chemung county. In 1854 he entered the Palmyra Union Classical School at Palmyra, Wayne county, where he graduated, we believe, in 1855 with honor, having been selected to deliver the valedictory address at the close of the term. He afterwards took a special course in historical and scientific studies under private tutors. He has been a frequent contributor to many prominent papers, and enjoys the reputation of being a ready, graphic writer, and a close student of men and events. He has been for several years an earnest student of our early Indian history, and his recent contributions to the columns of the Ontario County Times on the " Castle of Onaghee " and "In the Footprints of Denonville," stamps him as an accomplished Indianologist, and a writer whose graceful pen is able to lend great interest and charm to the subjects of which he treats. Mr. Coates has been twice married, his first wife, a most estimable lady, was Miss Josephine R. Short of Manchester, by whom he had left two children : Nelson, since deceased, and Heman J., who lives at the old homestead. His second wife was Mrs. Irene M. Hoes, a worthy lady, daughter of Harvey King, an old and honored resident of Manchester, and a member of one of the pioneer fami- lies of that town. Mrs. King died March 5, 1873. Mr. Coates has one brother, James F. Coates, an esteemed citizen of Cassopolis, Cass county, Mich., and one sister, Mrs. Mary A Parsons of Clifton Springs.

Clark, C. M., Shortsville, was born at Ingleside, Steuben county, March 7, 1850. He received an academic education, after which he followed milling and mercantile trans- actions for ten years. Then he moved to New Haven, Conn., and engaged in the whole- sale commission business. After one year le sold out and returned to New York State, locating at Shortsville in the lumber and planing mill industry. He has served as trustee of the corporation and school, and is now president of the village. Mr. Clark married Olive Cole of North Cohocton, and they have one son and a daughter.

Carlongh, D. Wesley, Hopewell, was born March 10, 1830, on the farm he now owns. His father, David, was a son of Peter who lived and died in Burgess, N. J., where David was born about 1797. When eighteen years of age the latter came to Hopewell. He owned a farm of 200 acres. His wife was Susannah Thatcher, a native of Conway, Mass., born October, 1803, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, all of them living. Mr. Carlough's education was limited, but being a great reader he became a well informed man. He was an active church worker, and he and wife were members of the M. E. Church. and afterwards of the Wesleyan Church. They assisted in build- ing two churches at Hopewell. Mr. Carlough died in March, 1873, and his wife August 31, 1892. D. Wesley was reared on a farm and educated in Wesleyan Genesee Semi- nary, and at the Lyceum in Geneva. In 1852 he married Elizabeth Van Buskirk, born in Hopewell July 20, 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Demorest) Van Bus- kirk. Mr. Carlough and wife have one adopted daughter, Josephine, a graduate of the

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

Canandaigua Female Seminary, who married Willis R. Buck of Buffalo, a son of Elias Buck, and nephew of Dr. Buck of Geneva. Mr. Buck and wife have two children : Carlough E. and Florence O. He has increased the old homestead to 360 acres. He is a Republican ; he has been town clerk, and has been postmaster at Hopewell Centre nearly thirty years. He is a member of Hopewell Grange No. 472.

Chapin, Erastus A., West Bloomfield, was born June 18, 1844. His father, Rev. Asa Chapin, was a minister of the Christian denomination, and preached without salary. He was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and first settled in Steuben connty about 1823. About 1825 he came to West Bloomfield, and married a year later Cornelia Simons, born in 1804. Her father, Jeremiah, came here from Lynn about 1800, and died in 1805. Mr. Chapin died about two years ago, and his wife survives him, aged eighty- eight. They had five children; Erastus A. was educated in the common schools and Lima Seminary. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, First N. Y. Light Artillery, known as Reynold's Battery, and was discharged from service in June, 1865, on the day he came of age. He is assessor and overseer of the poor, and is a Repub- lican. He married in 1872 Frances C., daughter of Newell D. Gerry, who in early life came to Livingston county from Vermont. They have two daughters : Lottie May and Cornelia Belle.

Cole, George W., Gorham, was born in Gorham September 7, 1840, a son of George W. Cole. He was educated in the common schools and Rushville High School. In 1863 he married Caroline P. Allen of South Dansville, who died in 1865, and in 1867 Mr. Cole married Caroline P. Foster by whom he has two children : A. Luella, now Mrs. Chester Olmstead of East Bloomfield, and Valleda C. Mr. Cole is a farmer and a breeder of Jersey cattle, and at present is agent for all papers and magazines. published in the United States and in foreign countries. He is a Republican and a member of the Reed's Corners Grange. He was president of the Gorham Agricultural Society in 1887-88 and '89, also vice-president of same society four years and overseer of the do- mestic department seven years.

Crowell, Erastus H., West Bloomfield, was born June 11, 1831, at Miller's Corners. His father, Silas, a native of Massachusetts, was born in 1792, and came with his father to Miller's Corner's in 1798. Silas has related that when a boy he, with his brother two years older, were walking in the road near their house when suddenly a bear con- fronted them in the road and disputed their right to go on, but they had a small dog with them whichi bit at the bear's heels and worried him so that the boys had time to escape. Silas joined an independent company and was for three months on guard duty in Canada on the Niagara frontier during the War of 1812, and was of the escort of General Harrison on his return from Tecumseh. He married for his second wife in 1822 Alsena, daughter of Luman Kilbourne, and had four children: Simeon S, of Grand Rapids, Mich., Erastus H., Eleanor A., born in 1833, died in 1886, and Lydia J., born in 1844 and died in 1853. Silas died in 1868 and his wife in 1878. Erastus H. was educated at the common schools and at Lima Seminary, and has been a farmer most of his life. From 1861 to 1871 he was engaged in the insurance business, and is a Republican. He married in 1853, Mandana E., daughter of Perrine Fay of Ohio, who

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. Crowell was born in Madison county, and they are both members of the Universalist Church at North Bloomfield and supporters of the M. E. Church at Miller's Corners.

Coolidge, Charles, Phelps, one of two children living of Ahio and Elizabeth (East- man) Coolidge (the mother being Mary), was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, Jan- uary 31, 1847. The father, Alio Coolidge, was also born in Herkimer county, remov- ing to Phelps in May, 1866, where he is still living at the age of eighty-three years. The mother, Elizabeth Eastman, was born in Connecticut. Her father, Benjamin, was one of the " Boston tea party " as was also Warren Coolidge, the grandfather. The Coolidge family were established in the Massachusetts colony, at an early day. Mr. Coolidge's farm of forty acres is used for fruit and vegetables, where he also raises seed for seedsmen. For many years he has been interested in improving fruits, vegetables and poultry, of which latter he has some very fine specimens. He has also been inter- ested in Grange matters, and was influential in the formation of the Grange in Phelps.

Case, Billings T., Bristol, was born in Bristol December 9, 1814, a son of Jonathan J. Case, a son of James Case, a native of Wales. Jonathan J. Case was born in Dighton, Mass., in 1773, and married Lucy Simmons, by whom he had ten sons and four daugh- ters. He came to Bristol in 1800, and settled 600 acres of land. He was supervisor sixteen years and justice many years. He and wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died in 1855, and his wife in 1859. Billings T. Case is a very successful farmer, and in 1839 he married Christiana Hathaway of Bristol, born October 26, 1820, a daughter of Elnathan Hathaway. To Billings T. Case and wife have been born two daughters ; Melvina L., who was educated in Canandaigua Seminary, and married The- ron P. Buell in 1862. The second daughter of Mr. Case was Saphronia, who married John M. Phillips of Bristol. She died in 1886. Mr. Case was a Republican and was assessor fifteen years. Ile was once a Baptist but is now a Universalist. His wife is also a member of the Universalist Church. Mr. Case was a member of the Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, and a member of Bristol Grange. He died in 1883.

Coe, John S., Canandaigua. Mr. Coe is of English origin. His ancestor in America was Robert Coe, born in the county of Suffolk, Eng., who together with his wife Anna and his three sons, John, Robert and Benjamin, sailed from Ipswich, Eng., in the ship Francis, John Cutting, master, April 10, 1634; landed in Boston in the June fol- lowing, and first settled in Watertown near Boston and subsequently settled in Wetli- ersfield county, Conn. His branch of the family settled at what is called South Farms, near Middletown, Conn., long before the Revolutionary War; and the old homestead bought by his great- grandfather, Jesse Coe, when Connecticut was a colony, is still owned in the family. His grandfather, Jesse C'oe, emigrated to Mount Washington, Berkshire county, Mass., early and became a large landholder there, where his father, William W. Coe, was born. He married Catharine Vosburg of Columbia county in this State, and moved to Verona, Oneida county, where Mr. Coe was born, and while very young his parents moved to Galen, Wayne county, where his father died when he was only six and one half years old, at which time he was thrown upon his own resources. He came to Phelps in his early teens and partially fitted for college at the Phelps Union

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

and Classical School under the tuition of that celebrated teacher, Prof. Lewis Peck, and finished his preparatory course at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima and subsequently graduated at Union College and also the Albany Law School. He was at one time the principal of the Clyde High School and the Phelps Union and Classical School. He raised and commanded as captain, Company B, One Hundred and Eleventh Regt. N. Y. S. Vols. in the late Rebellion. In 1865 he went to Canandaigua and studied in the law office of Messrs. Lapham & Adams, and has practiced his profession in Canandaigua ever since. He married Miss Addie A. Titus of Phelps in 1868 by whom he has one daughter, Mabel C., the wife of Dr. Frederick E. McClellan, also of Canan- daigua. Mr. Coe is now serving his third term as a justice of the peace, each time be- ing elected by large majorities. He is thoroughly devoted to his business and is noted for his energy and perseverance, and is one of the best known men in Ontario county.

Case, Billings H., a resident and native of Bristol, was born February 27, 1831. He is a son of Samuel S., a son of Jonathan J. Samuel S. was born in Dighton, Mass., De- cember 5, 1797, and came to Bristol with his parents. He married Betsey Bolton, a native of Massachusetts, and had three sons and three daughters. His death occurred in Bristol, July 25, 1833, and that of his wife January 27, 1864. Billings H. was edu- cated in the common schools and is a general farmer, owning 230 acres where he resides and 160 in Nebraska. He has made a specialty of raising sheep and horses. In politics Mr. Case is a Republican. January 1, 1862, he married Nancy N. C'ase, a native of Bristol, born October 27, 1835, and a daughter of Isaiah Case. They have had two daughters. Alice B. and Effie M., who were graduated in Genesee Normal School, and both were teachers. Alice B. married William R. Allen of Bristol, and they have three children : Erastus H., Rolland C., and Gordon B. Mr. Case and family are members of the Congregational church of Bristol.

Coykendall, Coe Haynes, Canadice, son of Jotham, was born February 20, 1833, where he now resides. He worked on the farm until he married in 1854 Caroline S. Purcell, daughter of John and Almira (Hubbard) Purcell, the former born in Hunterdon county, N. J., and the latter in Washington county, N. Y. Mr. Purcell settled in 1824 in Richmond, coming with his father, Benjamin, and Mrs. Purcell came with her father, Solomon Hubbard, in 1813 to Gorham, and later to C'anadice. Mr. and Mrs. Coyken- . dall have had five children : George H., born in 1856, now a farmer in Lima; Frank A., born in 1857, also a farmer; Everett E., born in 1861, a street car conductor in Rochester; Grant S., born in Michigan in 1865, resides with his parents, and John P., who was born here in 1873 and is now in school. In 1864 Mr. Coykendall went to Michigan, where he remained four years, then returned and settled on the old homestead which was built by his father in 1849, and has been repaired by Coe H. The latter has been highway commissioner and collector. He is a Populist in politics. He owns 150 acres of land and is engaged in general farming.

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History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 53

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass, comp; Conover, George S. (George Stillwell), b. 1824, ed Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass, comp; Conover, George S. (George Stillwell), b. 1824, ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1002