History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 92

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 92

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Page, Charles Augustus, Geneva, was born in Orange county, September 2, 1817, and from there went to the town of Geneva and engaged in farming. In 1861 he en- listed in Company D, One Hundred Forty-eighth Regiment N. Y. S. Vols. and served three years ; and although never wounded in the battle, the close of the war found him in broken health. Returning from the South Mr. Page sold his farm in Geneva, and purchased another on the east side of the lake, but after three years there he came to Geneva village where he died August 22, 1891. His wife was Margaret Ansley, by whom he had six children : Newton, of Geneva; John, who died while young ; Helen S., who married Andrew J. Eshenour, the latter a successful business man, and who died in 1890; Louisa, who became the wife of Louis F. Barger ; Mary, who married W. P. Moses; and Margaret.

Pierce, William Henry, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, July 30, 1856, a son of William H., and Rowena T. (Carpenter) Pierce. The grandfather on the paternal side was a native of Massachusetts, and had seven children, of whom William H. was the third son. He was born in 1818 and always made his home in Bristol. He was a car- penter and some of the houses which he erected are still standing. He married in 1847 a daughter of Robert Carpenter of South Bristol, and they had eight sons, all living. Subject was the fifth son and was educated in the common schools. After leaving school he worked as a farmer for about twelve years, and in 1884 he bought the Francis Castle farm of 128 acres in Canandaigua which he has since conducted ; the principal products being grain and hay. Mr. Pierce has never taken an active interest in politics, but his ambition has been to become a successful farmer, and be known as an upright citizen. He married in 1881 Eliza A., daughter of Nathan S. Hunn of Canandaigua, and they have six children : Anna H., Frank and Fred (twins), Nellie M., Charles E., and Nathan S.

Phillips, Nathaniel, Victor, was born in Richmond, Ontario county, October 27, 1838. He was educated in the public and Brockport Normal Schools. He taught school eight years and is a farmer. He married twice, first, October 23, 1862, Emily Allen of Clark- son, Monroe county, and they had three children : Grace L., who married John H. Boughton, and has three children, George, Ernest and Louise ; Carrie M., who married Burton Marcee of Victor ; and Charles A., who is completing his education in Roches- ter. Mrs. Phillips died July 12, 1881, and he married second, November 25, 1885, Evangeline, daughter of William and Martha Smith of Rochester. They have one son, Henry N., born August 29, 1887. Mr. Phillips's father, Darius, was born in Taunton,

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

Mass., January 3, 1801, and came with his parents to Baptist Hill when he was seven years old. He married twice, first to Polly Allen, and had two children; and second, Harriet Hall of Richmond. They had twelve children : Mary, Cyrene and Rowena (twins), William, Nathaniel, Hannah, Albert, Jane, John, Mariam, Ellen and George, all grew to maturity. His grandfather, Nathaniel Hall, was in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, Israel Phillips, was also in the Revolutionary war.

Parker, J. Albert, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 7, 1851, a son of John Parker, a gardener of this town, who was born in England, and came to this country in 1850. He located in Canandaigua where he lived until his death in 1881. He had five children, four of whom are living. He was educated in the common schools, and on leaving school he went into the store of A. S. Newman. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of St. John's Episcopal church.

Prouty, Phineas, Geneva, the pioneer of a highly respected family in the locality, was a native of Vermont, and settled at an early date in Schenectady. He was a soldier in the War of 1812-15, and came a young man to Geneva, where he was for many years an enterprising merchant and straightforward business man. His old stone building on Seneca street has been recently removed to be replaced by a more substantial structure. He erected, also, the buildings on the historic Maple Grove farm, the property on which stands the noted "Century tree." Phineas Prouty's wife was Margaret Van Vranken of Schenectady, by whom these children were born : Nicholas, who died in infancy :"Harriet, who married Thomas Hillhouse of New York city ; Sarah Augusta, who became the wife of A. L. Chew; and Phineas jr. Phineas Prouty, jr., was born in Geneva, November 8, 1829. He was given a good education, read law, and was admitted to the bar, but abandoned professional life at his father's request, for mercan- tile pursuits. He succeeded his father in the hardware business, and was for thirteen years the partner of A. L. Chew. He was a man possessed of unusual business qualifi- cations, shrewd and far-seeing in his investments, and the latter years of his life found him possessed of a well deserved competency. He died July 2, 1891. His wife, whom he married September 18, 1855, was Adalaide, daughter of Andrew M. Cobleigh, and were the parents of six children, four of whom are now living.

Purdy, Charles J., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, December 31, 1866, a son of James B., a native of Oswego county. Charles J. was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, was attracted to the application of electricity for mechanical and scientific purposes, and engaged with the Excelsior Light Co. at Brook- lyn, starting with them as an apprentice and rapidly rising to become an electrical en- gineer. He assisted in the building of the electric light plant at Canandaigua in 1866 and then removed to Seneca Falls, where he filled the position of electrician and assistant superintendent for the Excelsior Light Co., for over a year, and then removed to Can- andaigua to take charge of the plant. His position is now superintendent and electri- cian for the Canandaigua Electric Light Co. He married in 1890 Maggie Tuohey of Canandaigua. Mr. Purdy was elected in 1891 superintendent of fire alarms for the vil- lage. He is a member of the Canandaigua Lodge No. 245 K. of P., and also of Canan- daigua Lodge K. O. T. M. No. 168.

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Pulver, William, Gorham, was born in Gorham, August 19, 1842. At the age of fourteen he began as clerk in Gorham and continued till 1864, when he went to Penn Yan aud clerked for J. T. Slaughter till 1867. He then spent two years with C. L. Eastman, having also been one year in partnership with him. In 1871 he returned to Gorham and engaged in the general mercantile business, which has been very prosper- ous, his annual sales now averaging over $16,000. Mr. Pulver is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace twelve years. He was postmaster under Mr. Cleveland's ad- ministration. He is a member of the E. K. O. R. of Gorham, No. 62. In 1861 he mar- ried Catharine C. Traver, a native of Ghent, Columbia county, a daughter of Albert and Helen Traver. Mr. and Mrs. Pulver have three children : James A., a merchant of Stanley ; Alonzo E., a carriage manufacturer of Gorham, and C. Lena, who resides at home. The father of William was James M., a son of William, who was a native of Kinderhook, N. J. Mr. Pulver, sr., was twice married. By his first wife he had two children. He married second Mrs. Cavery, by whom he had six children. James M. was born in Kinderhook and was a well informed and thorough going business man. He spent some time in teaching, and when quite young was elected constable. From that time he studied law, and finally rose to the rank of a judge, in which capacity he acted several years. He was also justice of the peace twenty-four years and was super- visor. His wife was Lydia, daughter of John and Catharine (Cortleyou) Snyder, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. He died in 1877, and his wife is living in Gorham.

Pavlak, Victor, Geneva, was born in the province of Passen, Germany, October 10, 1850. He was educated in their schools and came to the United States in 1871, locat- ing in Geneva. He visited his former home on one occasion. He has always worked at the nursery business since in his adopted country, and formed a co-partnership withi William Sisson in 1885, which continued until the death of Mr. Sisson in 1892, since which time he has had full charge of the business, in fact he has always been its manager. He has about fifteen acres with all varieties of the best stock, and conducts the same on honest business principles. November 12, 1884, he married Mary L. Sisson of Geneva, and they have two children : Mary K. and William J. Mrs. Pavlak's father, William Sisson, was born in Yorkshire, England, June 4, 1819, and came to the United States about 1840, locating in Vermont, but coming to Geneva the following year. He married Bridget Lyman and they had five children ; William, one who died in infancy ; George L., Mary, and Francis, who died when a year old.

Paul, Charles R., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua in 1850, a son of F. W. Paul, a railroad contractor and at one time president of the Niagara Falls Division of the Erie Railroad. He was born in Scotland in 1813 and came to this country a young man, locating in Canandaigua. He was always interested in railroad construction and had contracts for building on the Erie, Flint and Pere Marquette at Saginaw, and others. He died here in 1865, leaving six children, four of whom survive. The only son of the family in business in this town is our subject. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, under Professor Clarke, and after leaving school acted as clerk in his brother's drug store, and in 1874 became a partner. At his brother's death in 1889 he became

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

sole proprietor, and is now conducting the oldest drug store in town, it having been in existence since the town was first started. In 1876 Mr. Paul married Mary A., daugh- ter of Thomas Blanchard, a native of England, who conducted a market here. Mr. Paul is a member of the Board of Health ; of the A. O. U. W .; of the Mutual Accident Association ; and the Empire Knights of Relief. Mr. and Mrs. Paul are members of St. John's Episcopal church.

Parsons, William W., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, May 22, 1863, a son of H. W. Parsons, a farmer of that town. The great-grandfather, William, came to this section from Connecticut, and his son Hiram lived in Bristol on the farm settled by his father. He had one child, Hiram W., who lived on the homestead, where he was born in 1840. He married in 1862 Sarah M. Wheaton of Bristol, and they have two chil- dren : Ernest D., a clerk in his brother's store, and William W. The early life of the latter was spent on the farm at Bristol. He was educated at the Union School and Lima Business College, and in 1884 opened a store in partnership with S. P. Hall on Bristol street, which lasted one year; then the firm was Parsons Bros. for two years, and Wheaton & Parsons for three years. In January, 1891, he became sole owner of the business. In the spring of 1892 he moved into his new store on Main street, which has been refitted for him. This has three floors for trade and basement for reserve stock. He carries a full line of groceries and provisions, and the fall of 1892 he added the furniture department. He married, January 20, 1887, Minnie A. Francis of Bristol. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 204, F. & A. M., and Kanan- daigua Lodge, No. 245, K. of P.

Parmele, Hiram Taft, Canandaigua, was born in West Bloomfield in 1831, a son of Isaac, born in Connecticut in 1799, who moved to Ontario county when a child, his father, Reuben, settling on a farm where Isaac and five other children were raised. The old homestead farm is in the possession of a descendant of the family. Isaac, the second son, always lived in West Bloomfield, where he died in 1886. He married Laura, daughter of Ebenezer Leach of Lima, and they had six children, of whom four are living. Hiram T. was the oldest son. He was educated in the common schools, and at private schools at Honeoye Falls and Bloomfield. After leaving school he fol- lowed farming a few years, and then engaged as a clerk in a store at East Mendon. In 1852 he opened a store in Honeoye Falls, which he conducted for three years, then went into business in West Bloomfield, where he conducted a general store until 1871. In 1873 he came to Canandaigua, and went into the milling business at Chapinville, where he owned the flouring mill for six years. In 1882 he went to Victor and opened a bank, the firm being Parmele, Hamlin & Co. December 1, 1887, he established the Canandaigua National Bank at Canandaigua, and has ever since been a member of the board of directors, and has held the office of cashier. Mr. Parmele has always been an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has held numerous offices of honor and trust. In 1866 he was elected supervisor of West Bloomfield, and re-elected for four successive terms, during his last term serving as chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Parmele married in 1856 Mary, daughter of Melancton Gates of West Bloomfield, and they had four children: Laura, wife of J. H. Johnson, a lawyer of Penn Yan ;

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Henry, a banker of East Bloomfield ; George, a lawyer of Rochester, and Mary, a stu- dent of Vassar College.

Potter, M.D., John W., Canandaigua, was born in Middlesex, Yates county, May 15, 1821. His grandfather, Avery B. Potter, was a native of Scotland, moved to England, and emigrated to this country previous to the war of the Revolution, and served in that war as an officer. After living in various places he finally settled in Cuyahoga county, where he died at about ninety years of age. He had four children. James G. A., the second son and father of subject, was born in Providence, R. I., in October, 1782. He served in the war of 1812, and afterward engaged in farming in Yates county, afterwards moving into Alleghany county, where he owned and conducted a distillery and portage. He had an interest in large quantities of land along the Gene- see river, in the town of Belfast and other places. He was a Whig, and held many offices of honor and trust. He married Orilla Briggs of Oneida county, August 20, 1806, and they had twelve children, six of whom are still living: Caleb, of Eaton county, Mich .; James A., of Battle Creek, Mich .; Eli S., of Coffeyville, Kan .; Nancy, widow of Truman Barnes of Pike Hollow, Wyoming county ; Julia, widow of John R. Francisco of Middlesex, Yates county ; and John W. The early life of the latter was spent in Alleghany county. He was educated at Alford Academy, Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and finished his medical course at Albany Medical College, graduating in 1848. He practiced in Albany five years, then located in Glen Aubrey, Broome county, where he practiced medicine three years, and was justice of the peace and post- master. He went to Kansas in 1856, but returned and settled in Warren county, Pa., where he practiced until 1869 ; he owned there many hundreds of acres of land and saw-mills. January 14, 1869, he moved to Canandaigua, where he has since remained. He owns many farms in the county, among them the Gorham Mineral Spring farm, which is very valuable. Dr. Potter has made generous benefactions to educational and benevolent institutions ; he gave 150 acres of valuable land and $1,000 in money to Syracuse University. The loss of his house by fire, in which was consumed many val- uable papers, deprives him of important dates regarding his movements and deeds. He has given up active practice, but is still willing to lend his aid amongst his friends. He was married in Albany August 14, 1846, by the Rev. Mr. Armitage, to Mary Lucetta Cornell, and they have five children : James A., a farmer of Gorham; May J., who lives at home ; George W., a civil engineer of Dodge City, Kansas; and Florence, wife of Amos C. Knear of Tidioute, Warren county, Pa.

Parker, E. W., Hopewell, was born in Jacksonville, Steuben county, August 19, 1838, a son of Samuel, who was a son of Samuel who came from Luzerne, Pa., in an early day and settled in Livingston county, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife was Martha Parker, and they had four daughters and four sons, three of the latter being Methodist clergymen. Samuel, jr., was born December 16, 1797, in Luzerne, Pa. He married Mersett S. Fowler, of Livingston county, born April 7, 1810, and they had two children, Robert and Samuel. In 1833 Mrs. Parker died, and in 1834 he married Lois Winters, born in Schuyler county, in 1805, and to them were born three sons and one daughter. Mr. Parker was a minister in the M. E. church. He preached in Liv- ingston and Ontario counties, and was at one time stationed at Elmira. In 1840 he located on the farm now owned by the subject, where he died in 1879 and his wife in

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

1887. Subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and in 1865 married Kate E. Lewis, a native of Hopewell, born 1841, a daughter of Nathaniel B. and Wealthy A. Lewis. The father of Nathaniel B. was Nathaniel, a native of Connecticut, who early came to Hopewell where he died. He was one of the founders of the M. E. church, and gave the Emery Chapel its name. He died about 1857. Nathaniel B. was born in Ilopewell. His wife was Catherine Smith, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He was assessor a number of years, and also commissioner. He died in Hopewell May 2. 1867, and his wife died October 23, 1883. Subject has had two children : Annie L., born January 27, 1873, and died June 22, 1892, and Charles H., born October 26, 1883. Mr. Parker is a Republican.

Pratt, David, West Bloomfield, was born in Manchester, Vt., February 10, 1816. His father, Joel, came with his family to West Bloomfield, traveling with two teams and occupying thirteen days in the journey, and settled near where David now lives, in 1833. David had one brother, James S. and a sister, Parley. Subject was educated in Vermont, and married at the age of thirty-four Angeline Matteson, October 29, 1850, and a few days later his brother James married her sister, Adaline Maria. His father, Joel, died in 1846, fifteen years after the death of his mother, Clarissa. David had four children: Helen, who died aged sixteen; Agnes, wife of B. L. Scott, of Michigan ; Charles, born in 1860, and resides with his parents ; and one who died in infancy. A part of his father's original purchase is now included in the farm of David, consisting in all of 160 acres of fine land. Mr. Pratt is a Republican, but has never accepted office, though the best the town afforded has been tendered him. He has accumulated a comfortable fortune, and for nearly fifty years has never had to call on a doctor.

Post, Frank A., Clifton Springs, was born at Orleans, Ontario county, June 4, 1859. After receiving a good education in the schools of this county, he entered the Philadel- phia Dental College, from which he graduated in 1886. He then commenced the prac- tice of his profession here, where he has since remained. Dr. Post is one of the stew- ards of the M. E. church, and also one of the board of the Y. M. C. A. He is staunch Prohibitionist and is a descendant of a Revolutionary family of New York State.

Pritchard, Benjamin F., Phelps, one of six children of Benjamin and Ann (Stoughten- burg) Pritchard, was born in Phelps January 19, 1843. Benjamin, the father was born in Poughkeepsie. The grandfather, James, was born in London, England, and came to this country and settled in Poughkeepsie, about the period of the Revolution, where he followed his trade of silversmith. Benjamin F. Pritchard married first Emma A. Ross, of Phelps, who died in 1869, leaving one daughter, Emma A. In 1871 he mar- ried Carrie M. Starr, a native of Danbury, Conn. They have two children, Paul C., and Suzo H. Mr. Pritchard has always been a resident of Phelps. About ten years ago he went into a manufacturing corporation which continued for one and one-half years, when the company known as the Crown Manufacturing Company was formed, manufacturing grain drills, and grass seeders. He acted as traveling agent of the com- pany for about seven years, since which time he has been president of the company, giving his entire time to its interests. The organization has a capital of $100,000.

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Rose, Jared S., Farmington, was born in Victor, March 10, 1849. IIe was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has always followed farming. He was elected supervisor of Farmington in the spring of 1888, and served continu- ously four years, was town clerk ten years, and assessor two years. December 19, 1871, he married Sarah L., daughter of Hiram L. and Nancy Bloodgood, of Victor, and they have six children : Smith J., William H., E. Adeline, Verna L., Lydia N., and Edgar J. Mr. Rose's father, Henry, was born in England, March 28, 1821, and came to the United States when he was about sixteen years old. About 1840 he married Lydia E, daughter of Wilmarth and Saloma (Eddy) Smith, of the town of Farmington. They had six children, two died in infancy, four survived: Jared S., Mary A., Edgar D., and Carrie E. Mary A. married George P. Powers, and had two children, Frank O., and Lula. Mrs. Powers died in 1884. Edgar D., wife and children, all died De- cember 6, 1881. Mr. Rose's mother's grandfather, Jonathan Smith, was one of the pioneers of the town. The Smiths were identified with the town growth and pros- perity. Mrs. Rose's father, Hiram L. Bloodgood, was born in Dutchess county in 1829, was a farmer and married Nancy Young, of Farmington. They had six children, two died in infancy, four survived: Sarah L., Emma, Mulford C., and William J. Mrs. Rose is a member of the M. E. church of Victor, and Mr. Rose of the Society.

Rice, the late Henry O., was born in Washington county, July 6, 1833, and went with his parents to Oswego county when a young man. August 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh N. Y. S. Vols., was honorably dis- charged April 9, 1863. December 15, 1863, he married Elizabeth, daughter of George and Diantha Howland of this town, they moved to Farmington where he died May 21, 1879. Mrs. Rice's father, George Howland, was born in Adams, Mass., January 28, 1791, and came here with his parents when six weeks old. January 10, 1819, he mar- ried Diantha Robinson, who was born October 10, 1795. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. They had two children : Abram, born July 6, 1822, and Eliz- abeth. Abram married Phebe Macumber of Farmington and they had two children : Mary and Lucilla T. Mary married Henry C. Osborne, and Lucilla married Winfield S. Miak. They have one daughter, Angeline M. The farm has been owned continu- ously in the family 102 years

Rogers, Newton, Canandaigua, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, July 21, 1830, a son of Reuel Rogers, a native of Jefferson county, and the father of nine children, three now living: Lucy, wife of James Doolittle, of Michigan; Mittie E., wife of John J. Stebbins, of Penn Yan; and Newton. The latter was but six years old when his parents moved to Ontario county, where they bought a farm near Cheshire. Newton was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one leased a farm, and from that time has been engaged in agriculture. In 1850 he bought his present farm on the west shore of Canandaigua lake, a fine place of sixty-six acres, where Mr. Rogers has made many improvements. He has about twelve acres set out to grapes, and seven acres of peaches. He has always taken an interest in the success of his political party, but has never been an active politician. He was for three years assessor of his town. In 1854 he married Anzolett E., one of five children of Freeman Spaulding, a native of Massachusetts who came to Gorham in 1832 and to Canandaigua in 1850.

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have two children : Chauncey E., a farmer of Canandaigua, and Julia, wife of Charles E. Green, of Canandaigua.

Riordan, Patrick, West Bloomfield, was born March 15, 1832, in Tipperary, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1851. He located in Syracuse, but two years later went to Pittsford, where he lived two years. In 1855 he came to West Bloomfield, where he has since resided. For three years he worked at farming, then purchased a small farm, and twenty years later sold that and purchased one of 120 acres of Mr. Pal- mer, formerly owned by Hon. John Dickens. He owns also another farm south of the village. In 1857 he married Mary Whiby, of County Tipperary, Ireland. They have had five children : Mary, wife of James Curran of this town; John ; Ellen, wife of John Murphy of this town; Lizzie, wife of John Newman, of East Avon ; and Henry. Both sons are aiding their father in the carrying on of the farms. They are of the Catholic faith. Mrs. Riordan is dead. Mr. Riordan was appointed census enumerator for this town for the last census. He is a Democrat.

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History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families, Part 92

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