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 67
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Powell, Adelbert W., Gorham, was born in Gorham, February 10, 1857, a son of William, also a son of William, who was a native of Pennsylvania and married Mary Fisher, by whom he had six children. He died in Gorham. William, jr., was a native of Pennsylvania, born in November, 1818, who came to Gorham when a boy. In 1854 he married Mary Wilson, a native of Gorham, born January 28, 1828, a daughter of James and Hannah (Ray) Wilson, the former a son of James and Jane (Olan) Wilson, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Gorham. William Powell, jr., had three
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children : Fadella, who died in infancy ; Adelbert W., and George W. The latter was born November 3, 1839, was educated in Canandaigua Academy and Cornell Univer- sity, graduating from the latter in 1885. He is a civil engineer and resides at Bell- ville, Ill., where he works for the Phoenix Powder Manufacturing Company. He mar- red Mary Link, a native of Gorham, and they have two children : Oland W. and Le- land S. Adelbert W. Powell was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. February 9, 1881, he married Mary, daughter of Stewart Elwell. Mr. Powell and wife have four children : Newton D., Edith J., Ethel M., and Lillian M. Mr. Powell is a Democrat, and has twice been elected commissioner of highways, and he at present holds that office. He and family are members of the Congregational church at Reed's Corners.
Pritchard, M.D., George C., Phelps, one of six children of Benjamin and Jane Ann (Stoughtenburg) Pritchard, was born in Phelps, February 1, 1839. Benjamin, the father, was born in Poughkeepsie, and his father, James, was born in London, England, and came to this country and settled in Poughkeepsie before the Revolutionary War, he being a silversmith by trade. George C. was educated at Phelps Union Classical School and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, studied at the Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical College at Philadelphia in 1869, and has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Phelps since that time. He married in 1865 Emogene, daughter of Col. William Post of Phelps, and they have two children : Stuart D. C. and Linda Suther- land. George C. Pritchard enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth New York Regiment. He was promoted to captain and assistant quartermaster, serving three and one-half years. He served upon the staff of General Draper, of General Giles A. Smith, and of Godfrey Wetzel, until mustered out of the service. He has for many years been an elder of the First Presbyterian church, and has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for twenty-six consecutive years.
Parrish, Winfield Scott, Canandaigua, was born in Naples, January 24, 1842. The grandfather, Jeremiah B., was a descendant of the Parrishes of Revolutionary fame, and was himself a captain of volunteers in the War of 1812, and was in the battle of Lundy's Lane. He settled in Naples, following farming and practicing law. He was at one time associate justice of this county, and was for many years supervisor of Naples. He married Clara C. Clark, an aunt of Gov. Myron H. Clark, and they had seven children : Bishop, Edwin R., William W., Cordon C., Emily, Mary and Caroline. Edwin R., father of our subject, was born in Naples in November, 1818. He married in 1840 Matilda S. Parkhurst, of Fairfield, Herkimer county, and they had four children, two of whom are living : Rozelle F., who died when but thirteen years of age ; Schuyler J., who conducted the homestead farm at Naples, died July 13, 1892, aged forty-eight years ; Emma L. married Thomas H. Williams, a physician of Washington, D. C .; and W. Scott. The latter was educated at Naples and Fairfield Academies and Pough- keepsie Business College. When twenty-nine years of age he went to Illinois and spent two and one-half years, then settled on a farm of 270 acres in Canandaigua, which he has ever since conducted. Mr. Parrish is a Demoerat, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. He married, June 5, 1872, Emma Basford, of
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Kankakee, Ill., and they have had three children : Mary E., William Howard and Jason Basford.
Pierpont, David A., Richmond, was born in Middlebury, Vt., in 1815. His father, David, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., and first settled at Middlebury, Vt. His wife was Sally Palmes, and in 1816, when David was an infant, the family came to Richmond and settled at Allen's Hill. David was a cabinetmaker, and also kept a hotel at the Hill. He ran a line of four-horse stage coaches between Canandaigua and Perry for some years. Of his five children four grew to maturity : David A .; Frances Ann, deceased, who married Prof. Marcius Wilson, of Vineland, N. J .; Caroline Amelia, deceased, who married George P. Townsend; and Ogden E., deceased, who left a widow and two children, and who was for many years engaged in Rochester as clerk. David A. Pierpont was educated at the common schools, at Canandaigua Academy, and at Temple Hill School, Geneseo. In 1843 he married Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, born in 1823, daughter of Joshua Phillips 2d, and they have two children : Caroline Elizabeth, wife of Dr. L. E. Green, of Honeoye, and David Ogden, born in 1848. Mr. Pierpont followed the trade of his father for a time, then became a clerk at Allen's Hill, and afterwards for Nathaniel Gorham at Canandaigua. A year later he engaged in general trade at Allen's Hill in company with James Henry. A year later Robert L. Rose pur- chased Henry's interest, and two years later, in 1839, Mr. Pierpont sold his interest, and in company with Daniel Phelps purchased and slaughtered sheep for two or three years. His father-in-law bought the grist mill in Honeoye, since owned by John Quick, and there David A. worked at milling for eight years. In 1852 he came to his present farm and lived with his father-in-law, and has followed farming ever since. The main part of his present farm-house was built in 1800 by Judge Chipman, the farm having been taken up by him in 1795. Mr. Pierpont was supervisor in 1847-48-52-55- 89-90-91. Mrs. Pierpont's father, Capt. Joshua Phillips, was born in Dighton, Mass., in 1782. His father, of the same name, was born in 1751, and was a Revolutionary soldier. He died in 1799. Joshua settled here in 1803, served in the War of 1812, and was commissioned captain. His wife was Olive, daughter of William Paul. Mr. Pier- pont and his son, David Ogden, have been prominent breeders of Merino sheep, and have received diplomas from the Exposition at Sydney, Australia, and from the Paris Exposition.
Ringer, Mrs. Elizabeth, Geneva, is a native of Phelps. Her late husband's father, William Ringer, was born in the town of Seneca on the farm he now owns, December 28, 1818, and has been a lumber dealer and farmer. October 6, 1846, he married Jane Hogan, formerly of Albany county, and they had these children : George, died in infan- ey ; William H., who married Martha A. Parker; Charles E., who married Elizabeth Fothergill and had two children ; Stella M., George E., and James M., who married Annie Willis of Dresden, Yates county. Chas. E. Ringer died June 3, 1890. William Ringer's father, Solomon, was born in Maryland, October 25, 1789, and came to Geneva in 1805. He married Elizabeth Elyea, born November 24, 1787, and they had five children : John, Anna, William, George W., and Lyman. Solomon died June 21, 1872, and his wife February 3, 1864. The grandfather, John Ringer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
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Rankine, James, Geneva, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, November 5, 1827, and was the son of John and Elizabeth Rankine. The family came to the United States in 1835, and settled in Canandaigua. John Rankine was a lawyer by profession but in this county devoted his attention to farming. His sons, John and William Rankine, however, both practiced at the Ontario county bar. James Rankine, our subject, pre- pared for a collegiate course at the Canandaigua Academy, and was graduated from Union College with the class of '46. He then began studies with a determination to enter the Episcopal ministry, and after one year became connected with the faculty of Trinity College, at Hartford, Conn., where he remained six years, beginning as tutor and finishing his term there as assistant professor of mathematics; also being librarian of the institution. While here, in 1850, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Brownell, and likewise received the master's degree from the college. In 1854 Mr. Rankine resigned from Trinty and became rector of St. Paul's church at Owego, where he remained six years, after which, in 1861, he was called to Geneva to take charge of the Theological Training School, which Bishop Delancey was then about to establish, and which is now known as the Delancey Divinity School, and over which Mr. Rankine has ever since had charge. Soon after coming to Geneva our subject was made trustee of Hobart College, and in 1863 that institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Upon the death of the bishop in 1865, Mr. Rankine succeeded in the charge of the mission called St. Peter's, the outgrowth and result of which is St. Peter's Memorial church. This church and its parish have been under the pastoral care of our subject from the time of their founding, with the exception of a single year. In 1869 the bishop and trustees of Hobart College called Dr. Rankine to the presidencey of the institution, a position he held for over two years, and after the period of difficulty had passed, he was allowed to withdraw therefrom and resume his parish and divinity school work. In 1853 James Rankine was married to Fanny, daughter of Charles B. Week, esq., of Canandaigua. Of this marriage nine children have been born, only five sons are now living.
Reed, John, Canandaigua, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 12, 1839, and came to this country in 1857. Having an uncle, John Clark, living in Canandaigua, he lo- cated here, and worked for his uncle by the month for a number of years, then became partner with him. He spent two years on a farm in Gorham, then returned to this place where he made his home. At the death of Mr. Clark, December 28, 1890, the property, consisting of over 200 acres, was left to Mr. Reed, who had become a mem- ber of the family by marrying Mary Eliza, the daughter. Mr. Reed took little interest in public affairs, but devoted his attention to the success of his farm. Mrs. Reed died September 23, 1882, leaving no children. Mr. Reed married second, August 2, 1887, Mary Elizabeth Hall, a native of Yorkshire, Eng., and they have had two children : Mary E., born December 24, 1888, and John A., born July 5, 1890. Mr. Reed died September 30, 1891, death resulting from a fall while picking apples in his orchard. Mr. Reed was well known to the people of this section. He was an honest, upright citizen, quiet in his manner, and a thorough business man.
Remer, Simeon, Clifton Springs, was born in Newark, N. J., September 1, 1838. He received an academic education, after which he was engaged in the grocery business in
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Newark for five or six years. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Remer went to California and entered into wholesale mercantile transactions. In 1863 he returned to New York city where he was employed for about one year in the grocery business, after which he was connected with the Adams Express Company for about eight years. In 1872 he moved to Clifton Springs where he engaged in the produce and commission business with E. D. Copp for several years, which position he gave up to become connected with the Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company, in which he is a stockholder. In March, 1893, a copartnership was formed by E. D. Copp and S. Remer in the grocery business. Mr. Remer was married in San Francisco, Cal., October 10, 1861, to Miss Mary Farrell of Brooklyn. They have six children, one son and five daughters. Dr. John Remer of New York city is the son. Mr. Remer's ancestors participated in the Revolutionary War and in the War of 1812. Both he and his wife are active members of the Meth- odist church.
Rupert, M.D., Theodore D., Geneva, was born in Seneca, April 23, 1855, a son of William P. and Catharine (Bell) Rupert. He attended the public schools and Geneva Academy, read medicine with Dr. D. S. Allen, and graduated from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons in 1880. He practiced ten years in Mendon, Monroe county, and in 1890 located in Geneva. In 1880 he married Clara Bond of Geneva, and they have four children.
Reilly, William H., Geneva, son of James and Bridget (Hughes) Reilly, was born in Hopewell October 11, 1854. At the age of nineteen he went to learn the miller's trade at Seneca Castle. In 1878 he came to Geneva, since which time he has been in the Geneva flouring mills, and in 1887 was made head miller. In 1883 he married Johanna Murphy of Geneva, and they have had five children : Alice B., Joseph (deceased), John (deceased), William and George.
Ransom Willard J., Canandaigua, was born in Manheim, October 20, 1839, a son of Samuel A., a farmer of that town. He was educated in the common schools, and on reaching his majority came to Farmington to superintend a farm and conduct a milk sta- tion. On August 29 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixtieth N. Y. Volunteers, under Colonel Dwight. He was at Port Hudson, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Winchester, Cedar Creek and many minor engagements, making twenty-three in all. He was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson but not to disable him from further service, and was mustered out November 17, 1865. He returned to Herkimer county where he fol- lowed lumbering for a year, then went to Buffalo and operated a saw-mill one season, and was conductor on a street car for a year and a half. He worked for the N. Y. C. R. R. Co. for nearly three years, laying off on account of injuries and accident. He was foreman for J. Ives & Co. in their saw-mill for over seven years, when he started a plan- ing and shingle mill at Salisbury Centre, conducting it two years, and then sold out and came to Canandaigua, where he conducted the Lake Breeze Hotel for two years, and in January, 1886, he started a restaurant, which he conducted until September, 1892, when he moved into the block recently erected by J. J. Dwyer, which he opened as a hotel, and as a popular host is winning the patronage of the traveling public. The accommo- dations here are the best that can be found between Syracuse and Rochester on the
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Auburn Railroad. Mr. Ransom married, December 21, 1875, Annie, daughter of Thomas Wainman, of Jordanville, Herkimer county. He is a member of the G. A. R. and of the K. of P.
Reed, Wm. Allen, Canandaigua, was born at Seneca Castle in Seneca, May 17, 1834, a son of Ward, who was a son of Taft Reed. He, with two brothers, Nathan and John, were the first of the family to settle in this country, locating near Geneva. Taft was twice married and has seven children by each wife. Ward, a child of the first wife, was born January 25, 1799, and lived in Seneca. He was a prominent man in church work at Seneca Castle, and was many years a steward and trustee of the Methodist Church. He was twice married, to daughters of Thomas Tallman, a miller and farmer of Seneca. His first wife, Amanda Tallman, lived but a short time, and his second wife, Matilda, he married in February, 1828. She bore him two children : Amanda T., who married Mun- roe Phillips, a farmer and hay dealer of Davenport, Ia., and William Allen. Ward Reed died in Seneca July 4, 1874. Our subject was educated in the common school and Lima Seminary, and on reaching his majority bought a farm of eighty-one acres in Seneca, which he conducted three years, and then sold and bought one near Seneca Castle. He lived there until 1866 when he bought a farm in Hopewell. He came to Canandaigua in 1881, locating two miles north of the village, and selling out two years later and re- tiring from active business, he removed to the village of Canandaigua where he now resides. He is an official member of the Methodist Church. He married, in 1855, Es- ther A., daughter of John W. Paddock, now of Peoria, Ill., by whom he had four chil- dren, but one surviving, Harriet C., wife of A. S. Cooley. Mrs. Reed died May 14, 1877, and he married for his second wife, May 5, 1885, F. Munnette, daughter of War- ren B. Witter, and widow of E. Payson Birdseye. Mr. Reed is a member of Albert M. Murray Post G. A. R., having been a member of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment N. Y. Volunteers.
Richardson, Charles A., Canandaigua, was born in Freetown, Cortland county, August 14, 1829, a son of Curtis Richardson, a farmer, and a grandson of William Richardson, a soldier in the War of the Revolution from the State of Rhode Island. At the age of twenty he entered the academy at Homer, N. Y., and completed the course of studies at that school, and after teaching for a short time, he commenced the study of law in the office of S. V. R. Mallory, esq., at Canandaigua and was admitted to the bar in 1856. He then went to Nebraska, but returned in 1860 and entered upon the practice of his profession at this town. In 1862 he assisted in recruiting the One Hundred Twenty- sixth Regiment N. Y. Infantry, a three years regiment, and was commissioned therein successively first lieutenant, captain and major, the latter commission having been issued the 14th of June, 1864, he was not mustered in under it. He was discharged September 3, 1864, on account of wounds received June 16, 1864, in action in front of Petersburg, Va. He was with his regiment in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, Bristow Station, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, having been wounded also at Gettysburg. After his discharge from the army he resumed the practice of law, in which he has since continued. Major Richardson held the office of county treasurer, during the most critical period in the financial history of the conuty for six years, from the first day of January, 1865, during which nearly a million and a half dollars indebt-
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edness was paid, and he was surrogate of the county for six years from the first day of January, 1874. In 1886 he was appointed one of the commissioners of the State of New York to determine the positions and movements of the New York troops engaged on the battlefield of Gettysburg and to erect monuments thereon to the regiments and batteries of this State so engaged. He initiated this patriotic movement in 1885, and procured the endorsement thereof by the veterans of his regiment, by a resolution adopted at their reunion held on the 26th of August of that year at Canandaigua, and also by the veterans of the One Hundred and Eleventh N. Y. at Sodus Bay on the fol- lowing day, and thereupon he drafted the bill which was introduced at the next session of the Legislature by Senator Raines, and which became a law, whereby Major-General Daniel E. Sickles, Major-General Heury W. Slocum, Major-General Joseph B. Carr, Major Richardson and Adjutant-General Josiah Porter were appointed commissioners to carry into effect that act. Major Richardson, by direction of the commissioners, also drafted the act of 1887, specifying the monuments to be erected by the commissioners and prescribing their duties relating thereto. The work of the commissioners on the battlefield was completed and the monuments dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in July, 1893. Too much praise cannot be given Major Richardson for his active interest in this matter. Major Richardson has also been connected officially with many local enterprises.
Robson, James, Gorham, a native of Gorham, was born August 6, 1821, is a son of James, who was a native of England, and settled on a farm in Gorham about 1820. He also owned a farm of 100 acres near Blood's Corners, where he died. James Robson, sr., was born in Northumberland, England, in 1792, and married Ann Heslip. They had three sons and two daughters. In 1820 Mr. Robson and family came to Gorham where he became one of the largest land owners in the town, owning at his death 800 acres, as well as a mill in Avoca, Steuben county. Here he was killed in 1854. His wife died in July, 1851. James was the only one of the family born in America. He mar- ried Emily Harris, May 3, 1848, a daughter of Francis Harris, a native of Dutchess county and one of the early settlers of Gorham, where he owned about 800 acres. Mr. Robson had these children : William H., Annie J., Frank J., John E., Belle, Hiram, Emma M., Hattie L., Chas. W. and Phebe J. He owns 350 acres on which he has made many improvements. He is a Republican and has been commissioner of highways six years, and supervisor five years. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Gorham.
Rose, the late Ezra Cullen, Victor, was born in Rush, educated in the common schools and Lima Seminary, and was a farmer. July 3, 1872, he married Julia Isabel Rainsford, of Victor, and they have five children : Nathan C., Isabel, Clifford, Rainsford and Dean. Mr. Ezra Cullen Rose died January 10, 1892. Mr. Rose's father, Nathan C., was born in Rush, Monroe county, November 13, 1812. May 19, 1840, he married Hannah Fos- dick, formerly of Granville, Washington county. The ceremony took place in Bethany, Genesee county. He was educated in the common schools and Lima Academy. They had six children : George I., Henry F., Ezra C., James N., Charles and Louise. Mr. Nathan C. Rose died October 23, 1891, and his wife March 1, 1883.
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Ross, Peter Cole, Canadice, was born where he now lives, July 20, 1842. His brother, Peter C., sr., a native of New Jersey, born in 1806, came when a boy with his parents, Jasper and Martha Ross, to this town. At an early day Peter C., sr., married in 1833 Julia A. Dickerson, and had three sons and a daughter : Nelson D., George W., Sarah Ann, and Peter C., also one, Lewis P., who died young. He was a farmer where his son Peter C. now lives. He died in 1843. His son George W. hired out to the government as a teamster during the war, was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wil- derness, and was last heard of in Lynchburg prison. Peter C. enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth N. Y. Infantry in 1864, and was in several engagements, among which were Five Forks and Hatcher's Run. He was wounded at Five Forks and is now a pensioner. He was discharged at the close of the war. Peter's mother married second Heber Harris, by whom she had two children : Persis E. and Emily Harris. Mrs. Harris now makes her home with Peter C. The latter married in 1866 Catharine M. Struble. He married second, in 1875, Sophia McNair. He farms sixty acres, and has been constable four years. In politics he is a Democrat.
Reed, Joseph, Manchester, was born in Switzerland, October 28, 1828. He came to this country thirty-eight years ago, and after working six years by the month, he pur- chased in 1865 a farm of 125 acres, which he has since conducted most success- fully. He married Margaret Lennon and they have one child, William H. Mr. Reed has served as commissioner of highways, etc. He is a staunch Democrat. William H., his son, assists him in the management of his farm and other business. He is a young gentlemen of superior attainment and education. He married Cornelia Hollenbeck, and they have one child, a boy. Both Joseph and his son William H. enjoy the confi- dence and esteem of this community.
Reed, Lewis J., Bristol, was born in Bristol, February 9, 1846. His father is Sey- mour (son of George), who was born in Hartland, Conn., March 8, 1814, and came with his parents to Bristol when young. He has been twice married, first to Roxena, daugh- ter of George Gooding, of Dighton, Mass., and an early settler of Canandaigua. She left one son, and died August 4, 1843. Mr. Reed then married Betsey Johnson, and had a son and a daughter. Her father was Lewis Johnson, of New Jersey, who died in Canandaigua. Mr. Reed has been one of the leading farmers of Bristol, owning 200 acres of land. In early life he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He was as- sessor for six years, and highway commissioner several years. His second wife died in 1871, since which time he has resided with his son. Lewis J. was reared on a farm and educated in Canandaigua Academy. In 1872 he married Mary S. Raines, of Can- andaigua, born in 1851. Her father was Rev. Joseph Raines, of Hull, England, who came to Canandaigua when a young man. He married Hannah Glover, by whom he had four daughters and six sons. He was a local minister and preached in Canan- daigua and Bristol. He died in 1888 while living in East Saginaw, Mich. Lewis J. Reed and wife have had the following children : Lewis J. (deceased), Seymour, Clifford R., Mary E., and Grant S. Mr. Reed is a general farmer and owns 175 acres. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and was supervisor in 1882. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M., and Excelsior Chapter No. 164.
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