History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 54

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 54

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Coons J. P., Naples, was born in Penn Yan, Yates county, May 1, 1837, a son of Philip Coons, and moved to Naples in 1840. The subject was educated at Naples dis- trict school. At the age of twenty-one he commenced learning the carpenter and building trade. He worked first with R. T. Porter of Naples, and the second year

FAMILY SKETCHES.

entered into partnership with him, continuing only one year when he branched out for himself and has been engaged at the business in the village since. He has never taken much interest in politics. In 1891 he was elected excise commissioner. Mr. Coons has been married three times, first to Frances Vincent of Watkins, Schuyler county, and they have one daughter : Cora F. His second wife was Antoinette Maxfield, daughter of Elias Maxfield of Naples. His present wife was Mary J. Bowls, daughter of James Bowls of Naples.

Clark, Nelson W., Naples, was born in Naples September 14, 1811, a son of Warren and Artamecia (Pomeroy) Clark of Berkshire, Mass., who came to Naples with his father, Major Benjamin Clark in 1791, They built the first saw-mill and grist-mill in Naples, and Warren Clark bought the first stock of goods ever in the town. Nelson is the only surviving member of his father's family, which consisted of five children. He was educated at the common and select schools of Naples, has held several county offices, and has been side judge, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace and U. S. revenue collector and postmaster eight years and during the war. He has practiced law in Ontario, Yates, Livingston, Monroe and Steuben counties. He was colonel of an artillery regi- ment, comprising six companies of members from Ontario, Livingston and Steuben counties, and has been a mechanic, merchant, farmer and real estate dealer, the latter in Chicago, Missouri, Iowa and New Jersey. His grandfather Benjamin married his second wife in Naples. Her name was Thankful Watkins, and the wedding was the first one in the town. Nelson W. lived a bachelor until sixty years old, then married (in 1871) Elizabeth B. Talcott of Bergen, N. Y. He has been one of the most active business men in the county, and is now enjoying his ripe age in overseeing his two grist- mills and one saw-mill, and other interests in Naples and vicinity and in the West. He remembers when there were more Indians than white people in Naples, and the sur- rounding hills were alive with the wild deer, bears and wolves.

Cosad, David, Phelps, whose ancestors are traced back to the Huguenots of France, was born in Junius, Seneca county, February 13, 1832. His father was also named David Cosad, and was born in New Jersey. He died in 1886 at the age of eighty-three years. His wife was Martha (Yury) Cosad. The grandfather was Samuel Cosad of New Jersey, who came to New York in early life, where he died at the age of ninety- nine years, his sister dying at ninety-eight. David Cosad married first in 1863 Sarah Clark of Sodus. She died in 1874 leaving one son, Willlis G. The latter was educated at the University of Yale where he graduated in 1888. Willis G. Cosad studied Jaw in the office of Judge Halsey of Norwich, Conn., and is now with the firm of Cadwallader, Strong & Co. 36 Wall street. New York. Mr. D. Cosad was again married in 1876 to Hattie, daughter of William Young of Lyons. He came to Phelps in 1865 and bought the farm of 125 acres on which he now lives. He makes a specialty of hop and fruit culture, having an orchard of seven acres with twenty-five acres of vineyard ; his new packing-house being notable in this region for the completeness of its appointments. He is one of the representative public-spirited citizens of the town He has served as su- pervisor of the town, has also been elected and served as member of assembly for this district.

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

Craft, Silas G., Gorham, a native of Seneca, was born August 5, 1817, a son of Thomas, a native of New Pans, N. Y., who came to Seneca when a young man, and there married Martha Glann, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Craft died in 1820, and he married second Derinda Polmateer, by whom he had six children. He died in Michigan in 1870. Silas G. married December 8, 1842, Lydia W. Mellen, a native of Massachusetts, born March 25, 1823. She was a daughter of Collister and Lucinda (Denham) Mellen, natives of Massachusetts, the former born March 27, 1798. They were married, December 8, 1822, and had a son and a daughter. In 1823 they went to Gorham and settled on the farm where subject now resides. He was assessor and superintendent of the poor seventeen years. He was very liberal in all public enterprises, and died in Gorham, September 23, 1860. His wife died March 21, 1879. Lucinda Denham was a daughter of Cornelius and Lydia (Wells) Denham, natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Denham died in 1829, and his wife in 1848. Subject and wife have two sons, Collister F., born November 15, 1844 ; and Charles B., born October 21, 1848. The former was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and July 20, 1866, married Estelle Cole, a native of Michigan, by whom he had four children : Byron L., who was educated in Canandaigua Academy and is at present a graduate of the Medical University of Buffalo, and in the practice of his profession ; George H., who was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and is in the Medical University of Buffalo ; Lula A., a teacher, educated in Geneseo Normal School; and Nellie, educated in Can- andaigua Union School, also a teacher. Collister F. Craft learned the drug business in Medina, and afterwards went to Quincy, Mich., where he was in business for him- self several years. He returned to Gorham, and in 1887 he engaged in the insurance business, and has been very successful. He represents the " American," of Philadelphia ; " Royal," of Liverpool ; and "Caledonian," of Scotland; the " ÆEneta Live Stock," of Glens Falls, and "Security Mutual Life Association," of Binghamton. He also deals in real estate. Mrs. Craft is a daughter of Lyman and Julia (Sherman) Cole, natives of Jefferson county, who went to Michigan in 1835, and died in Branch county, he in 1882, and his wife in 1875. They had nine sons and four daughters. Charles B. Craft married, August 2, 1871, Martha A. Lewis, of Gorham, born September 9, 1850, a daughter of James G. Lewis, son of Sylvester, who came to Gorham in 1808. He died in 1873, and his wife in 1879. James G. Lewis was born in Gorham in 1822, and mar- ried Ellen Van Busum, by whom he had one son and three daughters. Mrs. Lewis died in 1885, and the father lives on the old homestead. Charles B. Craft and wife have one son, Lewis M., a farmer. In politics Mr. Craft is a Democrat.

Crosby, Theodore. In the year 1813 Enoch Crosby, with his wife and a large family of children, emigrated from Dutchess county to Ontario county and took up their abode in the town of Phelps, about one and one-half miles south of the village (then known as Vienna). Here both the pioneer and his faithful wife died, he aged seventy-seven and his wife seventy-nine years. In their family were twelve children, and all of them are dead but two: Alfred, of Phelps, and Theodore, of Canandaigua. Theodore Crosby, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dutchess county, November 7, 1802, hence, at the time of his father's removal to Phelps was a lad of eleven years. Until twenty-two years old Theodore lived at home and worked on the farm, but in 1824 he started out

FAMILY SKETCHES.

to make his own way in life. He married Melinda, daughter of Elam Crane, and at once moved to a farm near the city of Rochester, where he remained five years, then sold his farm and returned to Ontario county. One year later he bought a farm in Hopewell and there he lived until 1861, when he moved to the county seat and devotes the remainder of his active business life to dealing in cattle, sheep and general stock. In this pursuit he is still engaged, and although ninety-one years of age still retains all his mental faculties and enjoys business life seemingly as well as he did half a century ago. From what we have stated here it must appear that Mr. Crosby has led a very busy life, and we may say in addition that, notwithstanding the multitude of his business transactions and operations, he has never been charged with unfairness or deceit; on the contrary, it is said by his old acquaintances and associates that his business has ever been characterized by straightforward honesty and integrity, and his success has been as well merited as it has been abundant. Mr. Crosby married Melinda Crane in 1825, and their married life extended throughout a period of sixty years. and until her death in 1885, at the age of eighty years. Of their children only one grew to maturity, Mar- rietta, who became the wife of Charles Hopkins, and now lives in Canandaigua.

Cass, Thomas, Geneva, was born in Corning, Steuben county, June 10, 1854, and came to Geneva with his parents in 1860. He was educated in the public schools and grew up in the nursery business with his father. In 1870 he and his brother, William, embarked in the nursery business, under the firm name of W. & T. Cass. In 1890 they added floriculture to the above, doing a successful business in both lines. William was also born in Corning and came here with the family as above noted. March 9, 1881, he married Mary Horner, of Brattleboro', Vt., and they have these children : Mar- garet A., Frederick F., William C., Lewis J., and Thomas H. William Cass, sr., was born in Ireland in 1820, and married Margaret Jordan of his native place. They came to the United States, locating first in New York city, afterwards in Corning, and then, as above stated, in Geneva. He died in 1889. His wife still survives him.

Connolly, Robert E., Phelps, was born in Phelps, April 1, 1860, one of four children living of Andrew and Julia Connolly of this place. He engaged in the dry goods and grocery business in 1880 in company with E. J. Ryan. In 1888 Mr. Ryan withdrew from the firm, and since that time Mr. Connolly has continued the business alone. In that year he added a clothing department. He employs two men to assist him in the business, which is in a flourishing condition. He married, June 8, 1886, Mary A. Som- mers, of Hopewell, daughter of Daniel and Mary Sommers. They have two children, John E., and Marie. Mr. Connolly was appointed postmaster at Phelps, June 13, 1893.

Case, Jerome J., Bristol, son of Isaiah, son of Jonathan J., was born in Bristol, No- vember 27, 1828. Isaiah was born in Dighton, Mass., December 5, 1794, and came with his parents to Bristol in early life. Later he married Rachel Reed, who was born in Hartford, Conn., November 18, 1797, daughter of George and Naney (Bushnell) Reed. Isaiah and wife had six sons and four daughters. He owned a farm in Bristol of 225 acres. They died in the same town, he on the 17th January, 1877, and she July 7, 1882. Jerome J. was educated in the common schools and engaged in the pursuit of

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

farming, purchasing, in 1867, a farm of 103 acres for the sum of $5,300, upon which he has made additional improvements to the amount of $3,000. On March 10, 1853, he married Lucina Dunham, born in Saratoga county December 27, 1832. Her parents, Ephraim and Mary (Wood) Dunham, removed from that county to Bristol in the year 1834, and to them were born eleven children. Jerome J. and wife have two sons and one daughter : Horace H., Annis L., and Sidney J. Horace H. was born in Bristol, July 7, 1855. He has devoted considerable time to instrumental music, but his chief occupation is farming, hops being one of his principal crops. On October 7, 1876, he married Julia Reardon, born in Bristol, August 18, 1852, daughter of Dennis and Cath- arine (Gordon) Reardon, natives of Ireland. Horace H. is a member of the People's party, and has been justice of the peace for four years. He is a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 619, F. and A. M., of Honeoye, and the Farmers' Alliance of Bristol. He has one son and two daughters: Don A., born October 29, 1878; Edna, born January 11, 1887 ; and Lovisa, born January 6, 1889. Annis L., wife of Wm. McLemale, was born November 8, 1861, and resides in Canandaigua. They have one daughter, Grace, born April 14, 1890. Sidney J. was born December 18, 1864, and lives at home, being a farmer and also a violinist. Jerome J. is a member of the People's party. He and his family attend the Universalist Church.

Draper, James F., Victor, was born at White Creek, Washington county ; was edu- cated in the public schools and at the Tecumseh branch of the Michigan University ; studied medicine with his grandfather, James Post, of Adrian, Mich .; graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1846; began practice at Saline, Mich., in that year. In 1853 he went to Chicago, remaining there until 1866; returning to Saline for three years; came to Victor in 1869, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. He married twice, first, January 27, 1855, Adelaide Haywood, of Saline, Mich .; they had one son, Frank J. Draper, who is traveling salesman in the west for a New York city shoe house; second, October 30, 1861, Mary A. Hutchins, of Victor, who was born in the house where they now reside. They have Ład five children, three survive : Allen H., Mary L., and Mabel. Allen H. has been in the shoe trade since boyhood, and is now with Eastwood & Son, Rochester. Dr. Draper's father, Phillip N., was born in Dutchess county in 1800, studying medicine with the same Dr. James Post, then of White Creek, N. Y., graduating from the New York University, marry- ing Sila A. Post, daughter of his preceptor, with whom he began practice. In 1825 he removed to Manchester, Ontario county, and died in 1827. He was a member of Man- chester Lodge, F. and A. M. The last recorded act of the lodge was the resolution to attend his funeral. His grandfather, Friend Draper, was a Methodist minister, well- known in Western New York, who spent his last years on a farm at Bellona, dying at the age of ninety-one. One of his ancestors, William Draper, commanded a com- pany of minute men, and died at his post of duty while an the Ticonderoga expedition. A number of his ancestors were revolutionary soldiers. The Drapers are of English extraction.

Dickinson, Charles F., of Victor, was a son of Charles F. and Abigail (Jones) Dickin- son, and was born in Norfolk, Litchfield county, Conn., February 7, 1803. In 1818 he

FAMILY SKETCHES.

emigrated with his parents, sister and three brothers : Lemira, William D., George, and Arah P., to Victor, the family settling on Boughton Hill, on the farm now in the pos- session of the heirs of William D., the old homestead occupied by them being still standing. He received his education at Norfolk and Victor, and was married in Jan- uary, 1825, to Minerva C., daughter of Jared Boughton, of Boughton Hill. In 1826 he removed to Rush, N. Y., known also as Webster's Mills, where, in connection with his brother-in-law, Charles S. Boughton, he engaged in milling and in general merchandis- ing. In November, 1829, his wife died, leaving one son, Charles B., born in 1829, now a resident of Ripon, Wis. In February, 1835, he was again married to Ann Eliza Adams, daughter of Green and Sophia (Boughton) Adams, the latter being a daughter of Enos Boughton. The children of this union were: Julia E., born at Rush in 1840, who married in September, 1861, William R. Dryer, son of the late William C. Dryer, of Victor, and died in June, 1873; and Ellen A., born at Victor in 1848, who married in November, 1878, the late Col. Henry P. Underhill, of Baltimore, Md., after whose death in October, 1889, she returned to Victor, and now resides there. During his resi- dence at Rush he also acquired an interest in the mercantile business conducted by his brother, Arah P. Dickinson at Victor, and in April, 1843, disposing of his interest at Rush removed to Victor village, and in 1845 purchased a property on Boughton Hill, which had been the old homestead of Enos Boughton. Here he rebuilt the old resi- dence, and occupied it as a home for several years, returning in 1853 to Victor village, where he resided, somewhat impaired in health, and engaged in no active business, until his death, June 14, 1869. His widow survived him, occupying the home at Vic- tor until her death, April 3, 1892. Kind and genial in his manner, though quiet and retiring ; declining political preferment and position repeatedly offered; of unimpeach- able integrity and uprightness; he commanded the fullest respect and confidence of his entire acquaintance, and his counsel and advice in private and public matters were often sought, and when so sought freely given.

Ditmars, George F., Geneva, was born in Schuyler county, January 18, 1862. He graduated from Cornell University with the class of '84, was admitted as an attorney and counselor-at-law in 1885, and came to Geneva in 1886 and began the practice of his profession. By diligent effort he has secured an extensive practice, and is now the senior member of the firm of Ditmars & Wyckoff. He was instrumental in organizing the East Geneva Land Company, a corporation that purchased the land, platted and started the building up of the village of Border City, Seneca county. He now holds a number of important positions, is interested in several manufacturing enterprises, is treasurer of the New York State Business Men's Association, a trustee of the village of Geneva, and one of the executors of the estate of the late John V. Ditmars.

Doty, Erastus R., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, August 10, 1818, a son of Chester and Cynthia (Reed) Doty. Chester Doty was born in 1783, and had eight children, two of whom are living: William, a blacksmith of Centerfield; and Lucinda, widow of Cyrus Witter, of Michigan. Erastus R. was the third son, and when a young man moved to Niagara county, where he followed farming until 1869. Re- turning to his native county, he bought a farm of seventy-two acres, where he lived

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

until the fall of 1886, when he bought a place of twelve acres on which he built a beautiful residence. July 8, 1887, he died. Mr. Doty was a firm Republican, but his interest in public affairs was small, as his time was all given to home affairs and busi- ness. He married Elizabeth B. McNair, of Bristol, who died in 1862. He married, second, Melissa D. Bedell, of Niagara county, and they had two children : one who died in infancy, and Bert E. of Centrefield. Mrs. Doty died April 14, 1881, and he married third, December 27, 1881, Julia J., daughter of Norris Bedell, of Royalton, Niagara county, and widow of Alexander C. White, of the same town. Mrs. Doty has one child, Rosa L. White, wife of John L. Hook, of Michigan.

Dove, John, Geneva, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 5, 1821, and was a son of William, who came to Geneva about 1830, and who was a contractor and builder. John Dove was a builder here for many years, and also a manufacturer of brick. His son, William G., was born in Geneva, November 5, 1847, received a common school education, and when seventeen years old went to work with his father at the mason's trade. When twenty-one years of age he formed a partnership with his father. He spent a year at Defiance, O., making boxes for the Standard Oil Company. In the fall of 1879 he was elected county clerk, and served three years. He next engaged in real estate and building, and in 1889 bought his father's interest in the brick yard. In 1892 he started a new yard, with a capacity of 1,500,000 brick per year. He has been high- way commissioner and collector of his town, is a Republiean, and takes an active part in politics. In 1877 he married Anna E., daughter of William Chipps, and has two sons : Arthur G. and Paul M. He is a member of the F. & A. M. (No. 33). He built Christ church at Rochester, Warner's cottage at the Thousand Islands, and the North Presby- terian church at Geneva, besides many other buildings of note.

Dempsey, Dominick E., Geneva, son of Daniel and Mary (Hanlon) Dempsey, was born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1851, and when he was three years of age his parents came to America and settled, buying a farm whereon subject resided until 1870, when he came to Geneva and clerked for several years. In 1877 he opened a wholesale and retail liquor store, and is the only dealer in the county having a wholesale liquor license. In 1878 he married Mary O'Mally, of Geneva, and has one child, Mary Agnes.

Deuel, George M., Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, March 25, 1844, a son of Samuel H. and Priscilla W. (Randall) Deuel. The grandfather, Daniel, was a native of Dutchess county, and had six children. Samuel H. was born in Dutchess county, August 23, 1811, and came to Bristol about 1832, and married Almyra Coville and they had four children ; three died in infancy, and Joseph C. lived to be twenty-one years of age, dying August 2, 1858. Mrs. Deuel died December 26, 1839, aged twenty-seven years, and he married second Priscilla W. Randall, and they had one son, George M. Samnel Deuel enlisted in Company A, Eighth New York Cavalry, in November, 1862, and was killed at Berryville by guerillas on his way to Winchester. The boyhood of George M. was spent in South Bristol, Canandaigua, Ontario, and Wayne county. He was seventeen years old when he began learning the harnessmaker's trade, at which he worked one year, and for one year worked on a farm. In 1872 he bought his present grain and dairy farm of seventy-three acres. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1887

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was elected commissioner of highways. He married in 1864 Keziah V., daughter of Alonzo B. Lucas, of Canandaigua, who was a soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty- sixth Regiment in the Rebellion, and died October 5, 1892, aged seventy-two years, and they have four children : Myra A., wife of Alexander Hunn, of Bristol; Franklin H., married Eva Stiles, a farmer of Canandaigua; Louisa M., wife of William Montanye, of Canandaigua; and George M., who lives at home.

Dibble, Newton Ward, West Bloomfield, was born in Stone Church, Genesee county, September 15, 1848. His father, Charles, at the age of twelve came with his father, Sineus, from Sheffield, Mass., to East Bloomfield in 1821, and soon after went with his parents to Stone Church, where he spent his early manhood. About 1851 he returned to East Bloomfield, where he followed farming until about 1883, when he retired from active work and took up his residence in the village. He married in 1827 Eunice Ward, born in Connecticut in 1809, but a resident of Stone Church, by whom he had six children : Charles Adelbert, Maria L. and Mary (twins), Sineus Bridgeman, Cassius Horatio, and Newton Ward. His wife's father, John Ward, came from Connecticut, bringing with him his family to Stone Church. Newton Ward Dibble, son of Charles, came from Bergen with his parents in 1851 and graduated from East Bloomfield Acad- emy, then worked on his father's farm till twenty-three years old. In 1873 he removed to Massachusetts and carried on a coal and lumber business for three years, since which time he has engaged mostly in buying and selling produce at Miller's Corners. In 1870 he married Emma Bennett, daughter of Abel Bennett, of East Bloomfield, and they have three children : Maria Louise, Leslie Newton and Henry. Mr. Dibble lives at Miller's Corners and is the present supervisor. Abel Bennett, father of Mrs. Dibble, was a native of Massachusetts, and lived many years in Nelson, Madison county. In 1867 he came to East Bloomfield, where he died in 1886. His wife was Jane Keith, of Nelson, who is now living with her son at East Bloomfield.

Dwyer, John J., Canandaigua, was born in Ireland in 1844, and when five years old left there with his parents for this country, locating in Canandaigua, where his whole life has been spent. His education was received in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen he went to work for the Northern Central Railroad, where he remained for about seven years, and then opened a saloon on Main street, Canandaigua, which he conducted until 1884, when he started the brokerage business, giving that up after two years to take up the insurance business, which he still conducts. In 1869 he was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff's Clark and Cheney, which office he held six years. In 1888 Mr. Dwyer was elected on the Democrat ticket to the office of police justice of Canandaigua, and in 1892 he was renominated on the Democrat ticket and endorsed by the Republicans. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the C. M. B. A., and was a member of the Canandaigua Fire Department for seventeen years.

Day, Henry N., Canandaigua, was born in the town of Ogden, Monroe county, May 20, 1850. The earliest ancestor we find trace of was Eliphalet Day, who was born in Washington county, July 31, 1788. He came from that county to Monroe county in 1837, where he died June 28, 1858. He was the father of ten children, four of whom are living .: Oliver H., a retired farmer of Niagara Falls city ; Samuel E, of Spencer- h

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History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 54

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