USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 108
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Their children are Adam, of Wheeler; Henry, of Avoca ; Charles (deceased) ; Mrs. Seth Strong, William, Benjamin, Sarah, and Albert, of Prattsburgh.
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TOWN OF PRATTSBURGH.
Smith, Samnel, 101st N. V. Vols. Smith, Oscar. Stedman, Julius, 10th N. Y. Cav. Stanton, Clark, Ist N. Y. Cav. Skinner, Arthur, 161st N. Y. Vols. Stanton, Stephen. Thayer, A. P. Terry, Z. J., Co. C, 188th N. Y. Vols. Turner, Peter. Thayer, Ely. Tuthill, Charles, 22d N. Y. Cav. Thayer, Martin. Thayer, Mortimer. Upthegrove, Clark. Van Tuyl, Benjamin, 161st N. V. Vols. Van Thyl, John, 10th N. V. Cav. Van Housen, Israel, 101st N. Y. Vols. Van Arden, George. Vanderwalker, John. Wales, Frank, Co. C, 188th N. V. Vols. Waldo, G. 11., Co. C, 188th N. Y. Vols. Walters, Al., Co. C, 188th N. Y. Vols. Wigden, Benjamin, 14th R. I. HI. Art. Wigden, William, 14th R. I. HI. Art. Wigden, Martin, 20th N. Y. Vols. Whitehead, Aaron, Co. G, 107th N. V. Vols. Watkins, J. J., Co. C, 188th N. Y. Vols. Williams, F., 101st N. Y. Vols. Wilcox, C. H., 161st N. Y. Vols. Waldo, Edmund, 189th N. Y. Vols. Wheaton, Marvin, Co. B, 176th N. Y. Vols. Wheaton, George. Wheaton, Alvin S. Youngs, Martin, 126th N. Y. Vols, and 10th Cav.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HION. ROBERT PORTER.
Hon. Robert Porter was the son of Noah Porter and Mary Lewis, who were married May 11, 1764. Ile was born at Farmington, Conn., Oct. 6, 1773. By means of records preserved in the family his genealogy can be traced back, through four generations, to Robert Porter, who was " the son of a clergyman in England. He was among the first emigration to this country, and one of the eighty-four proprietors of the town of Farmington."
Noah Porter, the father of the subject of this sketeh, was for many years a deacon of the church of Farmington. He was distinguished for his acquaintance with the Serip- tures, gifts in prayer, and disposition to do good, particu- larly his zeal for the promotion of missions. After a vig- orous and serene old age, greatly endeared to his children and respected by all who knew him, he died, Jan. 6, 1818, aged eighty-four years.
Dr. Noah Porter, who was for sixty years pastor of the first church of Farmington, Conn., the father of President Noah Porter, of Yale College, was a brother of the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Robert Porter graduated at Yale College iu 1795. He subsequently spent two years in studying theology under the tuition of Rev. Dr. Charles Baekus, of Somers, Conn., and was then licensed to preach. During the sue- eeeding four years he preached almost constantly in various congregations in the State of Connecticut and performed two tours of missionary service under appointments from the Missionary Society of Connecticut. On the 28th of November, 1799, he was married to Roxanna Root, of Litchfield, Conn.
In 1801 he became Principal of " Hamilton Oncida Academy" (now Ilamilton College), at Clinton, N. Y., and having purchased a cottage and small farm near the acad- emy, he removed his family to that place. During his four years' residence at Clinton, in addition to his duties as pre- eeptor, he preached almost constantly in vacant congrega- tions, of which there were a number in the vicinity. His example of integrity, of neighborly courtesy, of enterprise, and enthusiasm for the higher moral pursuits left au im- press on the character of the place which it still retains.
Prof. Edward North, of Hamilton College, says, " While a resident of Clinton, Principal Porter made his home in a cottage that is now the oldest residence on the college hill- side. One of the apple-trees grafted by him, more than seventy-five years ago, stands to-day. It measures fifteen feet in girth, and is still a vigorous and productive tree."
In the spring of 1806, Mr. Porter removed with his fani- ily to Prattsburgh. At that time the site of this village was almost an unbroken forest. He purchased of Sir James Pulteney lots Nos. 44, 54, and 67, upon which a large part of the village is now located. He erected the first grist-mill in town and many other substantial buildings, some of which are yet among the best in the village. Ile planted extensive orchards of choice fruit, and where they have not been removed to make way for improvements they still continue to be the most productive and valuable in towu.
The records of the town of Prattsburgh show that all the most responsible offices within its bounds have from time to time been filled by him. For many years he was justice of the peace, supervisor, etc., and in 1814 he was placed on the bench as associate county judge, a position which he filled with credit to himself.
He was a liberal contributor towards all town improve- ments, and was foremost in the origiu, building, and sup- port of the Franklin Academy aud the Presbyterian church, and was the largest contributor towards the erection of these buildings. The ground upon which the Presbyterian church was built was given by him. He also deeded to the reli- gious society the open square nearly in front of the church to be kept open as a play-ground. He was the first pre- siding officer of the board of trustees of the academy,-a position he retained for many years. He lived to see this institution in its most flourishing days,-the resort of an advaneed class of students, who gladly availed themselves of its superior advantages for obtaining a thorough prepara- tion for college. Some of the students of those days, among whom were Dr. S. M. Campbell, of Rochester, and Dr. J. M. Manning, of Boston, frequently sought his aid on the knotty points of their Latin and Greek, and readily ob- tained the assistance they sought.
He was fond of his family, and miugled much with his children in their sports. He had an exuberance of fun, was fond of good jokes, and had a store of them constantly ready for suitable occasions. He brought with him some funds beyond what he invested in lands and mills, which, being loaned, was at that day of great value to the commu- nity. He was kind to the unfortunate poor, but had no patienee with men of indolent habits. He was fond of society, a man of eliaste feelings and habits, and enjoyed entertaining his friends at his own house.
47
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IIISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Judge Porter was a successful agriculturist, as were his .two sons after him. Ile delivered the addresss before the first agricultural society at Bath. He possessed a fine lit- erary mind. While in the prime of life, he began to feel the effects of a steadily-increasing paralysis, which eventu- ally rendered him almost helpless. For many years it af- feeted only his physical organization, leaving his mental faculties apparently as clear and active as before. It would seem as if it must have been a crushing blow for one so active and buoyant as was Judge Porter to be thus sud- denly stricken down, but he received it as a chastisement from his heavenly Father and yielded to it with submission. He died, Aug. 20, 1847, aged seventy-four years. The work of his hands, and the influence of his life, made an impression on the village and people of Prattsburgh which will long be gratefully remembered.
Mrs. Roxanna Porter, wife of Judge Porter, was a woman of much intelligence and piety,-a fit helpmeet for her hus- band. Iler labors and strength were most freely given for the comfort and good of her family. She died, greatly beloved and mourned, Oct. 24, 1835, aged sixty-one years.
Judge Porter had four sons and two daughters. Belinda, born Oct. 15, 1802; William L. born Feb. 23, 1805; Edward R., born Aug. 7, 1806; Robert L., born April 8, 1810; Thomas, born July 5, 1813 (died in infancy), and Mary A., born May 20, 1815.
Belinda attended school for several years at Litchfield, Conn. She was a lady of unusual intelligence and eulture. She was married, Dec. 26, 1824, to Judge Z. A. Leland, of Bath. They had six children : Amelia, Robert P., Mary, Adeline, Belinda, and Charles. The latter died in his third year. Mrs. Leland died at Bath, March 26, 1842. Her daughter, Amelia, married Rev. Charles L. Adams, Oet. 1, 1850. Mr. Adams died at Neenah, Wis., Oct. 23, 1852, leaving a son, Charles, who has nearly completed the course of study at Hamilton College, and is at present studying law at Watertown, N. Y. Mrs. Amelia Adams was again married, to Rev. I'. Barbour, April 10, 1862, and has four children, Harriet, Amelia, Sarah, and Robert P. Barbour. Her present residence is at Malta, Saratoga Co., N. Y.
Robert P. Leland, second ehild of Mrs. Belinda P. Le- land, was married to Caroline Burch, March 5, 1851. He was killed by the aceidental discharge of his gun while hunting, Sept. 1, 1853, aged twenty-five years. Ile was educated as a civil engineer, and was a young man of un- usual promise and abilities. He left a daughter, Lue Le- land, who was married to Mr. R. F. Bloomer, in 1876.
Mary, third child of Mrs. Belinda Leland, is unmarried and living at present at Mechanicsville, N. Y.
Adeline, fourth child of Mrs. Leland, was married Sept. 20, 1854, to Frank A. Fitzgerald, of Syracuse, N. Y. She has four children,-Amelia, John, Cornelia, and Louise. Her son John is now in his third year at Union College, in the elass of civil engineers. Mrs. Fitzgerald, who is at present visiting her son at Schenectady, goes soon to her home at Nassau, Bahama Isles.
Belinda, fifth child of Mrs. Leland, was married Dee. 26, 1861, to Warren Hunt. They have five children, Mary, Ephraim, Warren, Charles, and Adeline.
Judge Leland died Aug. 26, 1872, aged eighty years.
William 1. and Edward R., second and third children of Judge Porter, were both farmers, and the farm of their father was divided between them. As members of church and society, they both stood in the first rank, and they were both for many years trustees of Franklin Academy. William married Olive L. Parmalee, of West Bloomfield, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1826. They had five children,-Mary, William, Harriet, Robert, and Belinda. Mrs. Olive Porter died Feb. 6, 1848, aged forty years. Mr. William L. Porter married again, Mary T. Chamberlain, March 6, 1849. In 1853 he removed from Prattsburgh to Penn Yan, where he soon became as widely known and honored for his humble and faithful discharge of every duty, as at the home of his earlier years. For the last six years of his life he acted as deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church of Penn Yan. He died Oet. 19, 1869.
llis oldest child, Mary, graduated at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, in 1853. She afterwards taught for several years at Philadelphia, and was married at Penn Yan, Oct. 14, 1858, to Rev. James F. Taylor. They have three children,-William, Grace, and Mabel. They reside at present at Saugatuck, Mich.
William, second child of William L. and Olive L. Por- ter, was drowned while bathing, June 27, 1848. He was sixteen years of age.
Ilarriet, the third child of William L. Porter, for sev- eral years a teacher at Penn Yan and at Milwaukee, Wis., was married, June 1, 1869, to Mr. E. W. Mills, of Penn Yan, at which place she now resides.
Robert, the next child, died at Prattsburgh, in 1841, aged four years.
Belinda, the youngest child, was for several years a most beloved and acceptable teacher in Penn Yan. She died at the age of thirty-five, July, 1877. She was greatly en- deared to all who knew her.
Edward R., third child of Judge Porter, was married to Lydia C. Van Valkenbaugh, of Auburn, Sept. 17, 1828. He owned and occupied a portion of the farm of his father up to his death. lle was for several years deacon in the Presbyterian Church of Prattsburgh, and his life and char- acter were such that his sudden death was mourned as the occasion of a loss to the whole community. He died Ang. 1, 1857, aged fifty-one years. Mrs. Lydia C. Porter, wife of Edward R. Porter, died Aug. 23, 1868. They left three children,-Charles, Catherine, and Edward.
Charles graduated at Amherst College, in 1852, was admitted to the bar in the State of Illinois, in 1858, and married Nellie V. Penny, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., in 1862. Their daughter, Annie, died in 1867, in her second year. Mrs. Nellie Porter died in 1871. Charles was married again in 1872, to Miss Emma D. Blanchard, of Wheat- land, Iowa.
Catherine, second child of Edward R. Porter, graduated at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, in 1852. She was married to Charles R. St. John, Sept. 19, 1860. They have four children,-Charles, Edward, Emma, and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. St. John reside at the old homestead of Edward R. Porter. Her father and she and her children are the only descendants of her grandfather, Judge Porter, who now reside at Prattsburgh.
GEORGE R. R. AINSWORTH.
George R. R. Ainsworth was born in the town of Prattsburgh, Steuben Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1830. His father, Isaac Ainsworth, was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Otiseo, Onondaga Co., with his mother (the father having died in Massachusetts) while quite young, and during the latter part of the last century. While a young man he migrated to the town of Prattsburgh, about the year 1800, and took up some twelve hundred acres of timbered land. This was in the time of Indian wigwams, and when the forests in this section toemed with wolves and other wild game.
During his lifetime he cleared over one-half of the original forest from this land, as- sisted as he was by seven negro men whose families lived on his place, and he retained his entire property until his death, 1840.
Having received a liberal edu- cation in his early life, upon coming to this new country Mr. Ainsworth, senior, spent his time for several winters as a teacher, and many of the oklest men now living in Prattsburgh owe their early education to the efforts of this man. While he lived he was a representative man and a worthy citizen, and for some twenty-five years held places of trust and responsibility in the town. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church of the place, and contributed liberally to that and kindred interests during his life. He was married to Louisa Burton, after settling here, in the year 1812, of which union was born one son, Addison, who now resides in his native town.
His wife died April 26, 1816, and he married Sallie Townsend, of Prattsburgh, the same year. September 4. Of this union were born five sons and one daughter,- Willard (deceased), Clinton (deceased), Mrs. Dr. Cheney (deceased), George, Henry C., and Burrage R. The mother of these children died in 1841, at the age of forty-three.
George R. R. Ainsworth was only ten years of age when his father died. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk for James C. Johnson, of Prattsburgh, and after
one year went to Penn Yan, and was a clerk with Mr. E. B. Jones for three years ; at the end of which time he came to Prattsburgh and established a general merchan- dise store with Dr. Chauncey Hayes. After a partner- ship of three years, Mr. Ainsworth disposed of his interest in the store, and established himself alone in the same business, which he has enlarged as the growing interests of the country demanded, and continued until the present time. In 1862 he established a private bank, and has since carried on legitimate banking in connection with his mercantile business.
In 1875 he established a bank in Hammondsport, this county, which has been managed since by his son, Henry C. Ainsworth.
His father was a firm sup- porter of the old Whig party, and, carrying out the principles of his progenitor, Mr. Ainsworth is identified with the Republican party. Never solicitons of any political preferment, desiring rather the quiet of a strictly private life, he has given his whole attention to business.
He has grown up with the village of Prattsburgh, and ever been actively interested in its prosperity. For some ten years he was trustee of the Franklin Academy, and since the estab- lishment of the Union Free School, in connection with the Academy, he has held the office of trustee for two years.
Mr. Ainsworth is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been secretary and treasurer for many years, and among the first to forward all interests tending to educate and elevate the rising generation.
He is an acceptable business man, and as a neigh- bor has no superior in genuine kindness of heart, and liberal, nnostentatious acts of private charity.
In the year 1851 he married Mary E., daughter of David Smith, of Hammondsport. Their children are George R., Henry C., Mary E. (deceased), Edward S., Willard S. (deceased), David S., Clara T., and Robert L.
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TOWN OF PRATTSBURGH.
Edward, third child of Edward R. Porter, was married to Sarah M. Watkins, June 13, 1867. Mrs. Sarah Porter died Sept. 4, 1869, aged twenty-two years. Edward was again married, to Sophia A. McLoud, Dec. 13, 1871. Ile resides at Plum Point, on Seneca Lake.
Robert L., fourth child of Judge Porter, graduated at Hamilton College, in 1833. He completed the course of study at Auburn Theological Seminary, and became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Branchport, N. Y., where he labored for five months, when sickness arrested him in his hopeful career, and death terminated his labors at the very commencement of his course of usefulness. He died May, 1838, aged twenty-nine years.
Mary A., youngest child of Judge Porter, was married, in 1836, to Rev. David Malin (now D.D. of Philadelphia). She died May 24, 1842, aged twenty-seven years. She left two daughters,-Sophia H. and Elizabeth R. Sophia was married to Mr. Sargent, of Philadelphia, October, 1864. She died in 1871, leaving two daughters, Mary and Sophia.
Elizabeth, second daughter of Mrs. Mary Malin, died Jan. 28, 1867.
IION. CHIARLES G. INGBY
was born in the town of Brutus, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1812. His grandfather, John Higby, came from Lee, Mass., and settled in Ballston, Saratoga Co., prior to the Revolutionary war. He married Mindwell Lewis, of which union were born four sous and nine daughters,-Lucy, John, Mindwell, Sarah, Submit, Ansta, Electa, Lewis, Electard, Sampson, Hannah, Jeduthun, and Ruth. The father died at Ballston, at over ninety years of age. The mother also died at an advanced age at Ballstou. Lewis was a soldier in the war for Independence; was captured by the Indians and Tories and carried a prisoner to Canada, where he re- mained for nearly two years. The mother and smaller chil- dren were also captured by the Indians, and rescued. Four of the sons-in-law, Wilcox, Israel Phelps, Ebenezer Phelps, and John Parsons were also soldiers of the war.
Jeduthun Higby, father of the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 15, 1775, at Ballston, N. Y., and married Sylvia Strong, Jan. 4, 1801. Their children were Livy S., Jolın L., Myron T., Marcus T. C., Charles G., and an adopted daughter, Sophronia Kelly. Of this large family of children, only Charles G., the youngest son, is living.
Jeduthun was a soldier in the war of 1812-14, ranking as lieutenant, and after the burning of Buffalo held a cap- tain's commission in command of a company. Soon after his marriage he settled in Brutus, Cayuga Co., where he carried on farming, and in the spring of 1818 removed to Prattsburgh, Steuben Co., and settled about two miles west of the village. He was one of the vestrymen upon the organization of the First Episcopal Church, at. Auburn, N. Y., while a resident of Cayuga County, and attended the Presbyterian Church, at Prattsburgh, after coming to this county. He, with two others, was killed in the town of Pulteney, by a tree falling across their wagon, Oct. 11, 1820.
llis wife died at the age of eighty-two, Nov. 18, 1863, at the residence of her son, Charles G., in Prattsburgh.
Charles G. Higby was only eight years of age when his father died. Ile received a good English education at the common school and at the Franklin Academy, and at the age of sixteen became a teacher. He was a teacher for some six terms during the winter season, and summers worked on a farm of fifty acres, which he had purchased,
about four miles from the village, and where he resided with his mother. His early life was one of self-exertiou, economy, and care ; and unassisted pecuniarily he began life.
At the age of twenty-four he married Phebe Jane, daughter of John and Rhoda C. Bramble, of Prattsburgh, and settled at once on his farm. To this purchase he had also added one hundred and fifty acres of timber land near by. In the year 1841 he removed to the place where he now resides, near the village, and engaged in milling and lum- bering in connection with farming, and the latter interest he carries on at the present time.
Mr. Higby has been a strong supporter of Democratie principles, yet supported President Lincoln and the Union cause during the war, and was ever opposed to the exten- sion of slavery. lle has been the representative of the school interest of the town for many years as school super- intendent under the old law, and has always taken a deep interest in the progress of education.
In 1851 he represented his Assembly district in the State Legislature, and advocated the passage of the free-school law.
Mr. Iligby and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Prattsburgh, and for many years he has been a trustee and elder of the church.
Ile was a trustee of Franklin Academy for many years, and was a member of the first board of trustees, upon the organization of the Union Free School in connection with
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the Academy. Their children are Jeduthun (who died in infaney ) ; John C., a graduate of Hamilton College in the class of '61 ; was a school commissioner, first distriet, Steuben County, for one term, and is now a farmer in the town of Prattsburgh; and Lydia L.
AARON PINNEY.
AARON PINNEY
was born in Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1801. Ilis father, Philander Pinney, with his brother Joseph set- tled in Saratoga County soon after the close of the Revolu- tionary war; another brother, Alexander, settling in New Canaan, Columbia Co. His father was a farmer by oceu- pation ; was married to Luey Phelps, a native of Con- neeticut, of which union were born four sons,-Philander, Martin, Calvin, and Aaron,-and five daughters,-Mrs. Enoch Cornell, Mrs. John Phelps, Lura, Louisa, and Mary. Of these children only the subject of this sketch and Louisa are living.
The father died in 1817 at the age of fifty-seven. The mother died April 14, 1849, at the age of eighty-five.
Mr. Pinney remained at home, working on the farm, and attending school a part of the time-winters-until he reached his majority, at which time he came to the town of Prattsburgh (1822) and purchased some eighty aeres of land, which he soon sold, and bought one hundred and thirteen aeres on the county line in the north part of the town. He was married, January, 1826, to Sophronia, an adopted daughter of Jeduthan Higby, of Prattsburgh, and settled on his farm. The log house, the monotony of elear- ing off the forest, the necessary privation of the early set- tler, the economy and prudence required in order to make a favorable balance at the end of each year, were all ex- perienees of' Mr. and Mrs. Pinney.
The Higbys of Prattsburgh have been representatively connected with the growth of the town in all its various in- terests for over sixty years, and known as useful members of society, and citizens of integrity in all their business rela- tions.
MRS. AARON PINNEY.
LIe resided on this farm for some ten years and then purchased one hundred and seventy aeres, one and a half miles from the village, on which he resided mainly as long as he carried on farming. In 1854 he sold this farm and moved into the village of Prattsburgh, where he has resided nearly all the time sinee. Besides his farming interest, Mr. Pinney had many other transactions in real estate, and has given his attention quite largely to buying and selling stoek.
He has been a member of the Demoeratie party sinee his first vote, and for several years represented the town of Prattsburgh ou the Board of Supervisors. Soon after set- tling in the town both Mr. and Mrs. Pinney united with the Baptist Church of Prattsburgh, and remained in that connection, the latter until her death, Aug. 6, 1872; the former is still a supporter of the church and kindred in- terests.
Their children are Martin, a merchant and dealer in real estate of Prattsburgh, and who has for several years been supervisor of the town ; Mrs. Richard Playsted, of Wayne County ; Isabella (deceased) ; Mary (deceased) ; Dwight, of Wisconsin ; Mrs. John MeCarrick, of Prattsburgh ; James (deceased) ; Philander, with his brother Martin in the mercantile business ; Kate, and Mrs. Wm. Hunt, of Erie, Pa.
Mr. Pinney is a plain, unassuming man ; his life has been one of industry and self-exertion, and his integrity in all his business operations has won for him the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
HOUSE BUILT IN IBI7.
RESIDENCE OF WM. B. PRATT, PRATTSBURGH, STEUBEN CO .. N. Y
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TOWN OF PRATTSBURGHI.
WILLIAM B. PRATT.
The Pratt family of Steuben County trace their desceut from John Pratt, who, with his brother, Lient. William Pratt, emigrated to America, and is supposed to have settled at Cambridge, Mass., in 1633. John Pratt was one of the members of Thomas Hooker's church, and was evidently one of the company who went across the wilderness with their pastor and laid the foundations of Hartford, as he drew lot No. 31 in the first assignment of lots there in February, 1639, and the same year represented Hartford in the first General Court, and for several years afterwards.
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