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 76
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Warfield, Zadock, Hopewell, was born in 1808, February 15, in Montgomery county. Md., and came to this State in 1828. He married Chloe, second daughter of Leonard Knapp, December 20, 1832. He was the fourth child of Zadock and Rachel Warfield. His grandfather, Birce Warfield, was born in Anna Arundel Co., Md., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He gave his sword to his grandson at the age of six years, being in his, Zadock's, possession up to April, 1893, when he transferred it to H. J. War- field, of Mason, Mich. This was the wish of his grandfather that it be handed down from one generation to another, as long as there was a Warfield left, or to coming pos- terity. Zadock Warfield, jr., moved from his native State to the town of Manchester with his parents at the age of twenty years, living with his father until he married, and soon after moved to the town of Hopewell, where he has since lived at the old home- stead, fifty-seven years. In the spring of 1893 he moved to Shortsville; is now living with his daughters, his wife having crossed the river August 17, 1889, in her seventy- seventh year. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding, December 20, 1882.
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Eight children blessed this union, all of whom are now living: Leonard K., Mary E. Clementine, Louesa J., Zadock W., Henry J., Eugene E., and Issabell C. Nineteen grandchildren were born to them, all but one (a twin babe) lived to bless this union, and three great-grandchildren are now living. Mr. Warfield is a Republican, he was also a devout Methodist, as also his wife, and endured the hardships of pioneer life. He lived to see the dense forest exchanged far out to fertile fields.
Wheeler, John B., East Bloomfield, was born in East Bloomfield, August 10, 1833. His father, John Harvey, was a son of Benjamin, and was born in Massachusetts, March 16, 1795, coming to East Bloomfield when five years of age. His wife was Bet- sey A. Lee, a native of East Bloomfield, born in March, 1795, and they had five sons and seven daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters survive. Betsey A. was a daughter of Amos Lee, a native of Massachusetts, and one of the first settlers of East Bloomfield. Mr. Wheeler became an extensive real estate owner, though at his death he owned but 200 acres. Mr. Wheeler was an active Republican, but not an of- fice seeker. He was a strong temperance man, and assisted largely in building the Baptist and Universalist churches at Baptist. Hill. He died in June, 1871. John B. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He and his brother Nathan rented the homestead until 1861, when he purchased the farm of 200 acres, where he has since resided. He has made improvements at a cost $10,000, having built a fine residence in 1878. Mr. Wheeler is an active Republican, but has always declined of- fice. He attends and supports the Universalist Church. March 8, 1855, he married Achsah M., daughter of Royal A. Andrews, of Bristol, and they have three children : George A., Jesse A., and Edith A. Edith A. died at the age of five years. George A. was educated at East Bloomfield Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and is a farmer of East Bloomfield. He married M. Belle, daughter of Benjamin F. Hicks, and has four children : Edith, Ralph H., Margaret, and Leah. Jesse A. was educated in Canandaigua Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He began teaching at sev- enteen years, and has been following it in connection with farming since In 1886 he married Katie, daughter of William L. Rowe, of Columbia county, and they have two children : Charles R., and Bessie.
Washburn, John W., Gorham, was born on the farm he now owns January 15, 1829. His father was Richard, a son of Isaac and Sarah Washburn, of Eastern, who had eight children. About 1809 the latter settled in Gorham on the farm now owned by Mr. Thomas, where he died. His family, except one son that died in the West, live in Gorham and Canandaigua. Richard Washburn was born in Eastern as was also his wife, Elizabeth Francisco. Richard Washburn and wife have four sons and four daugh- ters, of whom two are living. John W., and Mrs. Emeline Ketcham. About 1811 Mr. Washburn settled on eighty acres of the Phelps and Gorham purchase. He was a Whig in politics and was highway commissioner a number of years. He died in Gor- ham, June 22, 1868, and his wife in 1855. John W. was educated in the common schools and in Rushville Academy. February 16, 1871, he married Mary C., daughter of George Y. Daines, a native of Torrey, who now resides at Dresden at the age of eighty-three years. Her grandfather was Jesse Daines, an early settler of Torrey. Mr.
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Washburn has always been a farmer and has dealt extensively in sheep. He is a Demo- crat in politics, has been commissioner of highways six years in succession, and is now assessor. He is a member of Rushville Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M., and he and family attend and support the M. E. Church at Rushville, N. Y.
Walter, William W., Hopewell, was born in Kent county, England, June 20, 1837, the day Queen Victoria ascended the throne. He is the youngest of nine children of James and Frances (Friday) Walter, natives of England. In 1853 Mr. Walter came to America and resided with his children (who had previously emigrated) until his death in February, 1867. At the age of nine years subject began to support himself by working on a farm. At the age of fifteen years he came to America, where he con- tinued farm work and also attended school in Madison county. He afterwards taught school two years. In 1861 he enlisted in the First N. Y. Engineer Regiment, and served three years. In November, 1864, he received his discharge, and returned to Syracuse, where he engaged in the butcher business one year, also taught school in the towns of Onondaga and La Fayette a number of terms. He then purchased a farm near Syracuse, where he resided until 1874, when he bought sixty acres known as l'arkus farm in Hopewell. He makes a specialty of dairying, and in politics is a Republican. In 1865 Mr. Walter married Mary R. Griggs, a native of Stockbridge, and the youngest of six children of J. C. and Polly (Carbin) Griggs, natives of Tolland county, Conn. Mr. Walters and wife have these children : Herbert E., Edwin O. (died in infancy), and Arthur J.
Welch, William Harris, Canandaigua, was born in Erie, Pa., December 15, 1862, a son of Edwin H. and Elizabeth H. (Fidler) Welch. Edwin H. was born in Johnstown, Pa., and was educated for a civil engineer in the Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., and has always followed this profession, with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company much of the time. He is now living at Lock Haven, Pa. He has three children : Liz- zie Helena, Paul Herbert, an artist, and William H. The boyhood of the latter was spent in Lock Haven, where his parents moved before he was two years old. He was educated in the common schools and at the State Normal School of Lock Haven, and spent six years in study and practice with his father. In the summer of 1879 he was chairman of an engineer corps, which was his first start, and was employed on railroad location and construction work from 1880 to 1885. In February, 1885, he went to Elmira, and in June, 1885, came to Canandaigua, where he has since made his home, holding the position of supervisor of the Canandaigua Division of the Northern Central Railway since September 1, 1891. He married, October 10, 1888, Grace G., daughter of the Hon. John Raines, and they are the parents of three daughters: Cath- erine Elizabeth, Edith Helena, and Grace Pauline.
Wilcox, William W., Canandaigua, was born in Simsbury, Conn., September 12, 1852, and came with his parents to Canandaigua in 1857, where they bought the Judge Sib- ley property, and for the first few years conducted the farm ; at a later day he was president of the First National Bank. He was a very prominent man in the town, and died August 28, 1885. He had eight children, two of whom reside in Canandaigua: Charles, who conducts a vineyard on the lake; and William W. The latter was edu-
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cated in Canandaigua, and after leaving school went to Bloomington, Ill., and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business for seven years, returning to Canandaigua in 1882, and in 1883 went as bookkeeper for N. H. Grimes, and at the death of the lat- ter in 1891 he bought the store, which he has since conducted. He carries a full line of everything sold in a grocery and provision store and does a very large business. He employs nine clerks besides bookkeeper and cashier.
Woolston, Franklin, Victor, was born on the old homestead near Fishers, April 24, 1836. He was educated in the district schools and Fairfield Academy, and is a farmer. March 31, 1883, he married Rhoda, daughter of John and Maria Ingraham, formerly of Penfield, Monroe county, and they have had five children : John W., and Franklin I. died in infancy, three survive: Miranda, George A., and Elmira W. Mr. Woolston's father, William, was born near the village of Victor, June 13, 1807, and married Laura Andrus, who was born near Roxbury, Delaware county, May 23, 1812. Her father joined farms with Jay Gould's father. They had eight children : Franklin, John A., Laura A., Miranda C., William J., Daniel D., Hannah H., and David W. Mrs. Wools- ton's father, John Ingraham, was born in Perth, Canada, July 12, 1832, and married Maria Johnson, of Farmersville, Canada. They had thirteen children: Richard J., Rhoda, William A., Eudora, Isabelle, Charles M., Mary L .. Lydia M., Harriet J., Leon- E., George N., Arthur H., and Emma M.
Young, Samuel D., Farmington, was born east of the homestead upon which he now resides November 8, 1848. He was educated in the district schools and followed farm- ing. October 18, 1870, he married Harriet L., daughter of Nathan L. and Lydia S. Aldrich. Both paternal and maternal sides of those families were the oldest and earliest settlers of the town. They have two children : Electa L., and John N. Mr. Young's father, John, was born in Phelps, August 18, 1808. He was educated in the district schools and was a farmer. February 5, 1827, he married Electa Wilcox, and had seven children : Nancy, born in 1829 ; Sarah in 1832, who died at the age of fourteen years ; Mary A., born in 1834; Elizabeth, born in 1836; William, in 1841; Irena, born 1845; and Samuel D. Their mother was born in the town of Phelps, September 4, 1809, and died October 12, 1870. John moved his family to Farmington in 1835, with a capital of less than $500, but by strict attention he acquired considerable property. owning at one time 1,100 acres in this county. He died August 31, 1892. Mr. Young's grand- father, William, was born in 1782 in Massachusetts, and came west when a young man- In 1807 he married Mrs. Nancy (Dickinson) Pulling, and they had four children : John, William, Oliver, and Ambrose P. The ancestry of the Young family is Dutch. Will- iam married Althina Frost in 1864, and had three children : Mary E., Hattie and Carrie. Hle died January 31, 1870.
Lobdell, Burton II., Victor, was born on the old homestead three miles southeast of the village March 18, 1846. He was educated in the public schools and Eastman's Commercial College, Rochester, and is a farmer. March 19, 1873, he married Amelia Ketchum of Victor, and they have two children : Nelson L., and Marion F. Mr. Lob- dell's father, Jacob L., was also born on the old homestead in 1819. In 1843 he mar- ried Joanna Farr, formerly of Canandaigua, and they have four children : Burton II.,
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Byron J., Oliver L., and Frances M. Byron J. is in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Lobdell's grandfather was born in Stockbridge, Mass., March 14, 1771, and came to this town at an early day. He was the first white man that wintered in the town, and was the first supervisor of Victor, was justice of the peace several years, and was a man of good judgment. He married Hannah Bonghton, who was born April 6, 1775, and had fourteen children. He died November 12, 1847, and his wife April 6, 1866.
Crittenden, Stalham, Phelps, was born in Phelps, April 30, 1827, one of seven chil- dren of Cotton and Esther (Rice) Crittenden, both of whom came to Phelps from Con- way, Mass., in early life. Osee Crittenden, the grandfather, came from Massachusetts also. Mr. Crittenden married November 16, 1856, M. A. Knapp, of Hopewell, daugh- ter of John and Louisa (Warner) Knapp of that town. They have one son, Clarence E., who married in 1879 Grace, daughter of George W. and Adaline (Humphrey) Van Auken. They have three children : Alice W., Mark C., and Ross. Mr. Crittenden has always lived in the town, and is one of the representative citizens. He has served for twelve years continuously as assessor.
Warner, Henry D., Phelps, was born on the Hiram Warner homestead in Phelps, he being one of four children of Hiram and Mary (Knapp) Warner, both of whom were born in the town of Hopewell. The grandfather, Rufus, came from Conway, Mass., and settled in Hopewell in early life. Henry D. married in January, 1875, Frances B. Spear, of Clifton Springs, a daughter of James and Mary (Baggerly) Spear, whose ancesters were Maryland people. They have three children: Belle, Earle Spear, and Theodore Henry. The farms of Mr. Warner comprise 205 acres, used for grain and general crops, with fifteen acres of orchard.
Parr, William E., Naples, son of John Parr (deceased), was born in Lyons, Wayne county, October 18, 1875. Came to Naples when two years old, where he has since resided. He attended school at the academy, and his occupation was grape culture. He worked at carpentry several years. He lives on Mount Pleasant street with his mother and two sisters in a Queen Anne cottage of unique architecture, which he designed and constructed himself. He is now employed at the Middlesex Valley rail- road station.
Chapin, George V., Hopewell, was born in Canandaigua. Early in life, deprived by death of his father's counsel and assistance, the son through his own exertion and ap- plication, supported and educated himself, completing his studies in the Canandaigua Academy. He taught in district schools during the winter season for several years, employing the remainder of his time in attending school, and the summer vacation in farm work. He had charge of the public schools in the villages of East Bloomfield, Clifton Springs and Canandaigua, for a number of years, when, his health failing, he left school work, and for two years was engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness in Cleveland, O., and in a railroad enterprise in West Virginia. His first appear- ance in politics was his election, upon the Democratic ticket to the office of justice of the peace, which position he filled with so much ability that he had but one appeal taken from his decisions, and in that he was sustained by the higher court. In 1874
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he returned to Ontario county, and the next year was elected school commissioner in the eastern district of that county, to which position he was twice re-elected. In 1877, though already holding a State certificate, he submitted to an examination and received the first State certificate granted to a school commissioner upon this plan, and for three years was the only commissioner in the State holding such a document. Mr. Chapin has been an active member of educational associations, and read papers upon important questions, particularly before the State Association of School Commissioners and City Superintendents, among which was one advocating a plan for grading of public schools, another upon commissioners' qualifications, and in behalf of that body, he presented to the Legislature of 1880, a bill requiring certain qualifications for persons to be eligible to the office of school commissioner. He was for two years vice-president, and in 1881 president of the same association. In 1870, upon his motion, and largely through his efforts, the Ontario County Teachers' Association was formed, and with the exception of his two years' absence from the county, he has been one of its ablest supporters. Mr. Chapin retains his place of residence at the old Capt. Chapin homestead in Chapin- ville. He has been in the general management of the North American Dredging and Improvement Co., of New York city, closing his active relations with them in 1890, and is at present associated with B. C. Howell in pumping out the water 'of Lake Angeline, Michigan. The father of George V. was Henry Chapin, who was one of the leading merchants in Canandaigua and died in San Francisco, September 30, 1850 He was a son of Urial, a native of Connecticut who came to Seneca Falls, where he died. His wife was a Miss Pratt, by whom he had four children : Ralph, Cornelia, and Laura. Ralph was cashier in the Utica Branch Bank in Canandaigua, and afterwards was county treasurer of Ontario county for nine years. Henry Chapin came to Canandai- gua and married Cynthia M. Chapin, a native of Chapinville, N. Y., and daughter of Henry Chapin, son of General Israel Chapin, aid-de-camp to Gen. Washington, and the first Indian agent in Western New York. Israel Chapin came from Hatfield, Mass., to Canandaigua. His wife was a Miss Marsh, by whom he had the following children : Thaddeus, Israel, Henry, George, Betsey, Annie, Lois and Sallie. Israel Chapin, jr., was captain in the State militia. The children of Henry Chapin and wife were : James H., who resides on the homestead of Capt. Israel Chapin, jr., in Chapin- ville, N. Y .; Ralph P., a builder and contractor in Jackson, Mich .; William II., deceased ; and George V. resides the most of his time with his brother, Edward, who is a physi- cian in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Peeling, Thomas W., East Bloomfield, was born in Elsing, Norfolk, England, August 18, 1836, a son of William and Ann (Ireson) Peeling. The grandfather was George Peeling of England, who married Mary Archer and had six children : John, Elizabeth, William, James, Elizabeth (2d), Robert and Charles. John and Charles remained in England, the others coming to the United States. William Peeling was born May 10, 1808, in Swannington, Norfolk, Eng. His wife died in February, 1840. Our subject was the only child. In 1849 William came to this country and located in East Bloom- field, working two years. He then went to Rochester, where he worked for H. E. Hooker & Co. twenty years. He died at his son's in December, 1887. Thomas W. came to the United States in August, 1850, and located in East Bloomfield where he
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worked on the farm summers and attended school winters. He raises and deals in fruit. In August, 1889, he took charge of the postoffice at East Bloomfield. Ile is a member of the A. O. U. W. His wife was Sarah Peeling, born in Elsing, county of Norfolk, England, same county as subject, and was a daughter of James and Martha Peeling. They had these children: Anna, Addie, Frank (deceased), Susan L. and Bertha A.
Miller, Charles Dudley, Geneva, was born in the town of Utica, Oneida county, De- cember 3, 1818. He was educated in the Utica High School, Hamilton College, and Harvard University. He was appointed colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment of Madison county. receiving his commission from Governor Seward, and has always performed his duty in whatever position placed. October 13, 1843, he married Elizabeth, only daughter of Hon. Gerrit Smith, of Peterboro, N. Y., and they have had four children, one daughter and three sons: Gerrit S., who married Susan Dixwell, of Cambridge, Mass., and they had three children : C. Dudley, William F., who died at the age of twenty-six, and Ann F., who resides at home with her parents. C. Dudley mar- ried Louise Willard of Oswego Falls, and they have had two sons : Charles D. 3d, and one who died in infancy. Colonel Miller has been associated with every movement for the improvement and elevation of mankind from his young manhood until the present time. His grandnephew Alexander McComb Miller, is making his application for his appointment. as a cadet at West Point, and it is known that the family has had a con- tinuous record since before the Revolution in military service.
Becker, Philip. Geneva, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 19, 1835, where he was educated. He came to the United States in 1854, first locating in Brooklyn, N. Y., for one year, then came to Geneva, and has been in the hotel business twenty-five years. He has been in his present location twenty-one years in the "Kirkwood." Through polite attention to commercial men and the general public, together with efficient man- agement it has become one of the leading hotels of the place. February 11, 1861, he married Mary Finck of Geneva, formerly of Rochester, and they have had five chil- dren : John H. (deceased), Fannie L., Henry H., Edward (deceased), and Louis (de- ceased). Fannie L. married James C. Beebe, of Syracuse, and they have one daughter, Inez B. Henry H. is in company with his father under the firm name of Philip Becker & Son. He married Mary E. Steele of Romulus, N. Y., and they had a son, Eldreth J., who died in infancy. Philip Becker is a member of Ark Lodge No. 33 F. & A. M.
Warfield, William H., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua April 8, 1835. The family is of English extraction, and were early settlers of Maryland. The father, Wil- liam, was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, where William was reared and edn- cated in the common schools. In 1828 the family came to Ontario county and settled in Manchester, where his father died in 1847. In 1834 William bought 114 acres in Canandaigua, where he died in 1881. He was an enthusiastic Republican, and was one of the strong old-fashioned Methodists. He had many friends and few enemies. He married in 1831 Lucirda, daughter of Leonard Knapp of Hopewell, by whom he had two children : Susan C, who married John HI. Jones of Hopewell, removed to Michigan where she died November 3, 1886; and William H. Mr. Warfield is a Republican, and
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
was justice of the peace of the town of Farmington, N. Y., from January, 1864, until 1881. In 1872 he was elected justice of sessions and re-elected in 1873, and has held some of the minor town offices. He has been secretary of the Ontario County Agri- cultural Society for nine years, and is a member, trustee and treasurer of the Methodist Church. He married June 8, 1859, Anna Eliza, daughter of Daniel and Lydia L. (Brown) Smith, of Farmington. They have two children : Dora A., wife of Justin E. Newman of Canandaigua ; and Edith L., who lives at home.
McBlain. Samuel, Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca May 30, 1836. He was reared on the farm and followed farming as an occupation in the summers, attending the district school in the winter and graduated at the Albany Normal School in 1861. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Fourty-fourth Regiment N. Y. Volunteers as a private. He was successively promoted to the office of corporal, sergeant and first sergeant in said company. In October, 1864, the term of enlistment of the original Forty-fourth Regiment having expired, he was transferred to Company I, One Hun- dred and Fortieth Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers. In this regiment he held the office of sergeant-major, second lieutenant and acting adjutant, first lieutenant, and at Appo- mattox was brevetted captain. February 22, 1866, he married Sarah J. Huie of Ge- neva, and they have had four children : George, residing at home; H. Mills, who was killed by accident with a horse; Thomas, who died when nine months old, and Jennie E., residing at home with her parents. Mr. McBlain's father was born in County Down, Ireland. in 1797, and came to the United States in 1824. He married Mary A. Martin and had five children : Robert, who went into the war from California in the Confed- erate cavalry ; William J., who died in 1861; Mary A .; Samuel, the subject of this sketch, and George, who was killed at the first Fredericksburg battle. Mrs. McBlain's father, Thomas Huie, was born in the town of Geneva Auguat 2, 1802. He was edu - cated in the public schools and married Sarah Harris, formerly of Maryland, and they had four children : John H., Prudence B., George E., and Sarah J. Mr. Huie died May 27, 1877, and his wife died July 22, 1883. Captain MeBlain participated in the follow - ing battles : Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville, Middleburg, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Weldon Road, Poplar Spring Church, Five Forks and Appomattox Court House. At the close of the war Captain MeBlain settled on the farm where he now resides and holds the office of postmaster.
Reed, Mason H., Gorham, was born in Gorham July 22, 1806, a son of Samuel, a son of Ezra, a native of Dutchess county. Samuel married Lucy Towner of Dutchess county, and had five sons and a daughter. About 1795 he came to Gorham and settled near Reed's Corners where he died in 1813, and his wife at ninety-five years of age. Samuel was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mason HI. married first Clarissa Nash, by whom he had one son, Alvali (deceased), who married Caroline Rodgers and had three children. He married second Lana Brown of South Bristol by whom he had one child Lana, who died aged six months. Mr. Reed sold the old homestead and purchased an- other farm and now owns 150 acres. Since 1845 Mr. Reed has been a Democrat, and has been assessor twelve years, but never accepted any other office although urged to
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