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 90
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Amasa Stanton and Dyer Wentworth were the first deaeons. Revs. Bebee, Coriell, and Sheardown succeeded. About 1838 the churches formed two separate societies, and about two years after the Hornby society entered their
new church at Hornby Forks. Amasa Stanton and Jacob Underwood were the trustees of the new church ; Rev. Mr. Coriell preaching in it first. Rev. Ray G. Lewis suc- ceeded, dying at his charge, March 29, 1851, at the age of fifty-two years. He was buried in the Goodsell Cemetery, near the seene of his labors. Then succeeded Revs. Parker, William Birdsley, Rev. Sanderson, Rev. William Sharp; 1860, Rev. W. W. Beardslee; 1862, Rev. P. P. Sander- son; 1864, Rev. F. G. Surbridge; 1866, Rev. Isaac Easter- brook; 1869, Rev. R. Corbit ; 1871, Rev. W. C. Larned ; 1873, Rev. S. D. Ross ; 1876, Rev. Benjamin Hughes, B. P. Mathews.
The present officers of the church are : Clerk and Moder- ator, Josiah Easterbrooks; Trustees, John Adams, George Adams; Treasurer, George Adams; Deacons, John St. John, George Adams, Benjamin Borhees.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
September 14, 1831, a committee appointed by the Pres- bytery of Bath to form a church in the town of Hornby met at the Knowlton school-house. Rev. B. B. Smith de- livered a sermon, and 21 candidates were organized into a church. Josiah Wheat was made clerk, and Francis North- way, Josiah Wheat, and Sampson Bixby chosen elders. Thirteen more candidates were admitted November 20. Meetings were held at Chester Knowlton's house. The pastors were: in 1833, Rev. Mr. Barton ; 1836, Rev. Mr. Goodrich ; 1838, Rev. D. B. Butts ; 1839, Rev. John. Gray; 1847, Rev. P. L. de Home; 1854, Rev. Wm. R. Downs ; 1856, Rev. John Gray; 1866, Rev. Mr. Chap- man : 1869, Rev. J. G. Butler. Elders: 1838, Henry Gardner; 1852, Daniel D. Slawson ; 1854, S. R. Hunger- ford, D. L. Wheat; 1858, C. G. Wheat; 1864, Andrew Hyslip. Among the first members were found the names of Haradon, Gibbs, Jennings, Gardner, Rockwell, Harrison, Cross, and Palmer. In March, 1851, definite steps were taken towards building a church, and Marcus Gaylord, Henry Gardner, S. R. Hungerford, D. L. Wheat, and D. D. Stanton were chosen trustees, and a substantial building erected the ensuing year. The present trustees are Charles Wheat, Alexander Steward, and Henry F. Harrison.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
organized a class at Mr. Abel R. Palmer's, under the preaching of Rev. James Hall, in 1828. Sylvester Brooks was class-leader until his removal from the place in 1838, when he was succeeded by Levi Coy. A division of senti- ment occurring in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the organization of the Wesleyans in 1843, many of the mem- bers went over to that organization, thus reducing this church to but a very few members. After a short time. E. P. Carr was leading a elass under the preaching of Rev. Joseph Chapman. About 1863 the church was reorganized under the leadership of Rev. A. II. Shurtliff, with Alex- ander P. MeCabe as class-leader, who was succeeded by Joseph Chapin and William Stevens, the present leader. Meetings were held at Mr. Palmer's and D. W. Goodsell's for several years. When the church reorganized they held meetings in the Baptist house until the Presbyterians tendered them the use of their house. Among the earliest
John Ferenbaugh.
1841. Simeon R. Kingsford.
John T. Stanton.
Darins Wellnan.
1829. Josiah Wheat.
:
316
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
members were Mr. John Chambers and wife, John Bixby and wife, Lemuel Wellman, James Roe and wife, Daniel Goodsell, and Henry Fero and wife. There are now about 45 members. The present officers are : Pastor, Rev. A. S. Gould; Stewards, S. P. Goodsell, A. G. Coyle; Class-Leader, William Stevens.
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH,
organized in 1843, drew largely from the Methodist Epis- copal Church in this place, taking all but 8 or 9 of its 40 members. The first officers were : Pastors, Rev. Simeon Hall, Rev. P. A. Johnson, alternates ; Class-Leader, A. Bixby ; Stewards, W. Pierce, H. W. Bixby, Lemuel Well- man ; Licentiates, John Bixby, Leander Pond. The organ- ization took place with a revival, and above 40 members were gathered in, among whom were Darius Whitney, Sid- ney Ellesworth, Daniel Pierce and wife, Abram Whitney and wife, and Daniel Bixby and wife.
Former pastors : 1844-46, Rev. John Kitchell, Rev. S. Philips; 1847-48, Leander Pond, licentiate; 1849-50, no pastor ; 1851-53, Rev. Peter Slauson ; 1854-56, Rev. Wm. S. May ; 1857-58, Rev. D. E. Baker; 1859, no pastor ; 1860-61, Rev. D. E. Baker; 1862-64, H. W. Bixby, licentiate ; 1865-66, Rev. T. W. Reed, who was succeeded by the present pastor.
Meetings were held first in the Knowlton school-house, and then at Hornby Forks, until 1851, when, in consider- ation of aid extended by this society to build the Presby- terian church, it was occupied by them on alternate Sun- days. Several years after they left the church and held services in school-honses, their numbers declining, and being for some time without a pastor.
On the 4th of March, 1877, Rev. L. N. Stratton offici- ating, the Wesleyans dedicated their first church, at Shady Grove, on Cutler Creek, at a paid-up expense of $1200. The present officers are: Pastor, Rev. Henry W. Bixby ; Leader, H. T. Jimerson ; Stewards, C. G. Rogers, II. P. Fero, M. L. Baker, Mrs. R. K. Hlays, Miss L. Bixby ; Trustees, II. W. Bixby, E. B. Rolfe, J. N. Heury ; Lieen- tiates, D. Bixby, L. Horys; Church Clerk, G. W. Bixby. The present membership numbers 43.
MILITARY RECORD OF HORNBY.
Goodsell, Sylvenus John, private, 50th Eng., Co. B; enl. Sept. 9, 1861, three years; pro. to artificer, Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. March 3, 1863, for disab .; re- enl. 50th Eng., Co. D, Dec. 25, 1863, three years; pro. to artificer, April 10, 1864; to corp., Nov. 1, 1864 ; disch. June 13, 1865.
llathaway, Augustus Jeremiah, private, 50th Eng., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 27, 1864, one year ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Clark, Henry Silas, private, 86th Inf., Co. C; enl. Nov. 18, 1861, one yenr ; disch. Feb. 12, 1863, for disab. ; re-enl. 15th Eng., Co. F, Sept. 22, 1864, one year ; pro, to artificer, Nov. 1, 1864 ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Bixby, Rufus Galusha, private, 50th Eng., Co. B; enl. Aug. 29, 1864, one year; disch. June 13, 1865.
Goodsell, William Levi, private, 50th Eng., Co. D; enl. Ang. 19, 1864, one year; disch. June 13, 1805.
Lane, David Nelson, private, 14th U. S. Inf., Co. B; enl. Feb. 28, 1862, three years; diech. May 8, 1862, for disab .; re-enl. 50tb Eng., Co. D, Aug. 17, 1864, one year ; pro, to artificer, Nov. 1, 1864 ; disch, June 13, 1865.
Ilumphrey, William Wallace, priv., 188th Inf., Co. F; enl. Sept. 10, 1864, one year ; pro. to corp., Oct. 10, 1864 ; disch. May 31, 1865, on acc. of wounds. Snow, Geo. Simpson, private, 15th Eng., Co. F; enl. Sept. 13, 1864, one year ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Ely, Martin William, private, 107tl Inf., Co. 1; enl. Ang. 7, 1862, three years; disch. May, 1803; died at home of consumption contracted in the service, July 21, 1863.
Harrison, Wm. Nelson, priv., 10th Cav., Co. II ; enl. Oct. 28, 1861, three years ; pro. to corp., Feb. 1862; must, out at exp. of service.
Kirkendall, Alonzo, private, 50th Eng., Co. G; enl. Dec. 25, 1863, three years; disch. June 27, 1865.
Wheaton, Daniel, private, 50th Eng., Co. G ; eul. Dec. 25, 1863, three years; died in the service, March 11, 1864, at Washington, of measles.
St. Germain, John, private, 15th Cav., Co. F ; enl. Aug. 26, 1863, three years ; drafted; enl. before notified; taken pris., May, 1864, near Newtown, and has not been heard from since.
Van Ortwick, Geo. W., private, 15th Eng., Co. F; enl. Sept. 8, 1864, one year ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Burnap, Tracy, private, 5th Cav., Co. B; enl. Ang. 11, 1862, three years ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Swartwout, Clayton, private, 9th Art., ('u. F; enl. Dec. 25, 1863, three years ; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.
Leavenworth, Lyman Bixby, private, 9th Art., Co. F ; enl. Dec. 25, 1863, three years; wounded in right leg nt Cedar Creek, Va. ; diach. June 6, 1865, on surg. certificate.
Burnap, George, private, 50th Eng., Co. G; enl. Dec. 25, 1863, three years; died of fever, Nov. 3, 1864; buried in Hornby.
Monday, Wm, Harvey, private, 50th Eng., Co. F ; enl. Ang. 29, 1862, three years ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Velie, William D., private, 107th Inf., Co. C; enl. Aug. 1862, three years ; disch. Feb. 28, 1863, for disability.
Stanton, Lawson Jay, corp., 86th Inf., Co. C; enl. Oct. 19, 1861, three years; disch. Oct. 22, 1864, at exp. of term.
Jaynes, Albert Munson, private, 107th Inf., Co. I; enl. Ang. 8, 1562, three years ; died at Frederick, Md., Feb. 1863, of typhoid fever.
Simions, llenry, ent. Aug. 8, 1864, one year ; disch. June 25, 1865.
Scott, Jonathan, one year ; killed in front of Petersburg; buried in Livingston Co., N. Y.
Remington, Washington B., private, 9th Art., Co. F; enl. Jan. 1, 1864, three years ; disch. Oct. 9, 1865.
Lilly, Willis S., sergt., 188th Inf., Co. F ; enl. Sept. 16, 1864, one year; disch. July 1, 1865.
Butler, Thomas, private, 15th Eng., Co. M ; enl. Sept. 9, 1864, one year; disch. June 13, 1865.
Randall, Alonzo, private, 50th Eng., Co. G; enl. Aug. 24, 1861, three years; disch. Sept. 21, 1864, at exp. of term.
Lashure, James II., private, 188th Inf., Co. F; enl. Sept. 12, 1864, one year ; disch. July 1, 1865.
Easling, Wm. Harrison, private, 86th Iuf., Co. C; enl. Oct. 18, 1861, three years; disch. Dec. 2, 1863; re-en1. 86th Inf., Co. C, Dec. 3, 1863, three years ; disch. June 25, 1865.
Sonthard, William, private, 97th Inf., Co. B; drafted July 17, 1863 ; disch. Ang. 5, 1865.
Duvall, Albert, Jr., private, 9th Art., Co. F; enl. Jan. 1, 1864, three years ; disch. Sept. 29, 1865, by order 220 of the War Department.
Covenhoven, Peter, drafted, July 17, 1863; disch. Ang. 5, 1865, by general order No. 2, of War Department.
Culver, Wm. Henry, private, 50th Eng., Co. F; enl. Aug. 20, 1862, three years ; disch. June 21, 1865.
Hilton, Sylvester B., private, 50th Eng., Co. F; enl. Ang. 31, 1862, three years ; disch. June 27, 1865.
Taylor, Ebenezer Ovid, private, 35th Inf., Co. F; enl. May 15, 18GI, two years ; wonnded at Fredericksburg ; disch. May 15, 1863, at exp. of term.
Henderson, Alexander, private, 141st Inf., Co. B ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years ; disch. June 24, 1865.
Wasson, John, private, 89th Inf., Co. A ; enl. Oct. 14, 1861, three years; wounded at Antietam ; disch. Oct. 21, 1864, at exp. of term.
Harrison, Myron James, private, 141st Tof., Co. B; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years ; disch. June 23, 1865.
Scott, John D., private, 50th Eng., Co. D; enl. Aug. 20, 1864, one year ; disch. June 13, 1865.
Ward, John Rollin, private, 50th Eng., Co. K ; enl. Aug. 20, 1864, three years ; disch. June 20, 1865.
Randall, Joseph Thompson, private, 50th Eng., Co. G; enl. Dec. 25, 1863, three years; disch. June 20, 1865.
Lamphere, Alonzo M., private, 10th Cav., Co. E; enl. Ang. 27, 1864, one year ; disch. June 5, 1865.
Sands, William D., corp., 107th Inf., Co. (; enl. July 20, 1862, three years ; ilisch. June 17, 1865.
Morrow, James Humphrey, private, 50th Eng., Co. D ; enl, Ang. 25, 1864, one year; disch. June 13, 1865.
Green, Freeman, corp., 86th N. Y. Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. 9, 1861, three years ; died March, 1862, near Washington.
Clark, Francis E., private, 86th N. Y. Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. 19, 1861, three years ; re-enl. same regt. and co., Dec. 31, 1863; pro. to corp.
Pond, Leander, private, 107th N. Y. Vola., Co. B; eul. June 21, 1862, three years . died in the service.
Pond, Ambrose, private, 50th N. Y. Eng., Co. F; enl. Dec. 1863; died in the aervice at Baltimore.
Leavenworth, John R., private, 107th N. Y. Vols. Co. I; enl. June 21, 1862; most. out by general order.
Ladne, Daniel, private, 50th N. Y. Eng .; enl. 1861 ; must. out by general order.
PHOTOS BY EVANS
SAMUEL LILLY.
MRS. ELIZABETH LILLY.
SAMUEL LILLY.
The paternal grandfather of Samuel Lilly was a native of Wales; his maternal grandfather was a native of Germany. His Grandmother Lilly eame to America and settled in North- ampton Co., Pa., many years before the Revolutionary war. She had several children, of whom John F., the father of Samuel, was the youngest. John F. was born in Northampton Co., Pa., and married Miss Catherine Bowlender, a native of the same place. Of this uniou seven children, four sons and three daughters, were born, of whom Samuel was the sixth child and youngest son. John F. was a blacksmith by occupation. In 1818, John F. and family went to Piekaway Co., Ohio, and he died there in August, 1820. The following November, Samuel took his mother to Columbia Co., Pa., and resided there four years. His mother lived to be about one hundred years old. Samuel Lilly was born in Northumberland Co., Pa., Aug. 7, 1793. He worked with his father at the blacksmith trade when young; also for some fifteen years was engaged in the distilling business, and the remainder of his life was engaged upon the farm. He married Miss Mary Wooliver, daughter of Jacob Wooliver, of Columbia Co., Pa., May 5, 1814. Of this union three sons were born, viz., John, Jacob, and Elisha. Jacob is now dead. Mrs. Lilly died November, 1819, while living in Piekaway Co., Ohio. Mr. Lilly married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Wooliver, sister of his first wife, Septem-
ber, 1821. She was born June 23, 1799. Of this union ten children, two sons and eight danghters, were born, namely : Catherine, Hester, Louvina, Mary Ann, Alvin J. (was killed by an accident in his eighth year), Clarissa, Elizabeth, Miranda, Matilda, and Willis S., who was born June 23, 1845, and is now at home with his father, and is the owner of the old home. Mrs. Lilly died April 15, 1865, the same day that President Lincoln died.
In polities Mr. Lilly was formerly a Demoerat, but later in life a Republican. Mr. Lilly and his second wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Lilly is now an old man of eighty-six years, in good health, living at the old home in Hornby, where he settled in 1831. His son was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion ; enlisted Sept. 15, 1864, in Company F, 188th Regiment New York Volunteers ; said regiment was in nine engagements, and Mr. Lilly was in all of them save one. He was honorably dis- charged July 8, 1865, and returned home to remain with his parents.
He married Cynthia, daughter of Daniel Bnek, of Beaver Dam, Sehuyler Co., N. Y., Jan 24, 1866. She was born Feb. 21, 1847. Of this union two children, Cassia and Roy, are born. Mr. Samuel Lilly's son, Elisha, was also in the war of the Rebellion, and was honorably discharged.
MRS. J. B. WASSON.
J. B.WASSON .
PHOTOS, BY EVANS, CORNING.
SOUTH EAST VIEW
RESIDENCE OF J. B. WASSON, HORNBY, STEUBEN CO., N. Y.
317
TOWN OF HORNBY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THEODORE HENDRICK.
THEODORE HENDRICK,
of Orange, Schuyler Co., N. Y., son of Samuel and Han- nah Hendriek, was born in Massachusetts, in 1792, and settled in Hornby, beside Deaeon St. John, about 1817, and followed farming. He was one of the early settlers of Hornby, and experienced all the privations incident to a pioneer life. He married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Benjamin Jeleff, of Vermont, on the banks of Lake Champlain, in the fall of 1813. Mrs. Hendrick was born in the spring of 1792, in Vermont. Of this union eight children were born, viz., Ellen, Sept. 27, 1814; Olive, Oct. 10, 1816 ; Laura, Jan. 19, 1818, being the first white girl born in Hornby ; Sarah A., Oct. 19, 1820 ; Benjamin, Jan. 19, 1823 (died September, 1827); Maria, April 12, 1826 ; Charlotte, March 28, 1828 (died Sept. 18, 1842) ; and Amanda S., Aug. - , 1831 (died May 10, 1859). In politics Mr. Hendriek was a Jeffersonian Demoerat. He died Dee. 13, 1858, and Mrs. Hendrick died March 5, 1875. Ellen and Maria live to- gether, near where their parents settled in 1817, in Hornby, on the farm owned by their parents at the time of their death. Olive married George Goodsell, and now resides in Hornby ; Lanra married John Remer, and resides in Min- nesota ; Sarah married Philip Remer, and resides in Iowa ; and Amanda married Amon Webster, and died while living
MRS. CHARLOTTE IIENDRICK.
in Minnesota. Ellen and Maria have an equal interest in the " Old Home," and insert this biography and portraits in memory of their parents.
JOHN B. WASSON,
son of Andrew Wasson, was born in Ireland, Dee. 13, 1827; removed to America and settled at Watkins in 1849, and in Steuben County in 1856. He married Miss Catherine Ann Ellison, Sept. 15, 1863. She was born in Ireland, May 12, 1836. Mr. Wasson served nearly two years in the late war, and was honorably discharged. He settled on his present farm in 1864, and built his present fine honse in 1877.
Mr. Wasson has some one hundred and thirty acres of good land in his home farm, clear of debt, beside some fifty acres more, near by, nearly unineumbered. In polities he is a firm Republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Wasson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have the following children : Sarah Jane, Thomas M. (deceased), Wm. John, and Robert H.
Mr. Wasson's parents eame to Ameriea in 1851, and set- tled at Dix, Schuyler Co., N. Y., and are now (1878) liv- ing. Mrs. Catherine Ann Wasson eame to America in 1853, and settled at Watkins.
318.
HORNELLSVILLE.
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.
THE town of Ilornellsville is situated near the centre of the west border of the county, and is bounded north by Dansville and Fremont, cast by Howard and Canisteo, south by IIartsville, and west by Allegany County.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The Canisteo River, formuing a rich valley from one to two miles in width, passes through this town from north- west to southeast, dividing it into two nearly equal upland sections, and affording a fine variety of landscape. The hills which border this valley are in some places steep and precipitous, but generally they rise gradually to a height of four or five hundred feet, and sweep away into a broad and undulating table-land of rich farming country. In some places this table-land is broken or divided into rounded hills by the smaller streams which flow into the Canistco. The principal of these are the Canacadea and Crosley Creeks, entering the Canisteo from the south and southeast. The soil generally is a clayey and gravelly loam.
ORIGINAL PURCHASE.
In 6 Cowen's Reports, pages 707, 708, etc., we find the following history of the original purchase of Canisteo and Hornellsville :
" In the early part of 1789 a number of persons eame into the western part of the State to buy land. In order to purchase cheaper and on better terms, they formed a company consisting of twelve persons, and Solomon Ben- nett and Elisha Brown, two of the associates, were selected to go to Oliver Phelps and make a purchase for the com- pany. In pursuance of such authority, they went, and entered into contract Aug. 8, 1798. The purchase was approved by the company, and soon after Arthur Erwin, Solomon Bennett, and Joel Thomas were deputed by the company to go to Canandaigua, where Phelps resided, to complete the purchase. They accordingly went, and took a deed for township 3, 5th range (Canisteo), and township 3, 6th range (Hartsville). Uriah Stephens was made a party to the deed at the request of P'helps, and afterwards signed the notes which were given for the consideration money.
" It was soon discovered that the Canisteo Flats, which the company wished to purchase, were not covered by these lots, but were covered by township 3, 5th range (Canisteo), and township 4, 6th range (Hornellsville). Erwin, Ben- nett, Thomas, and Stephens, accordingly, went to Canan- daigua in September, 1790, to get a deed for their town- ships and to deliver up the former one. Phelps agreed to give them a new deed, provided they would consent to strike one-half mile by six from each township, so as to make 1
them five and a half by six miles. As considerable im- provement had been made on township 3, 5th range (Can- isteo), it was agreed that, instead of taking one half-mile from that township, one mile in width should be taken from township 4, 6th range ( Hornellsville), so as to have township 3 (Canisteo) six miles square, and township + (Ilornellsville) five miles by six. In pursuance of this ar- rangement, a deed was executed Sept. 17, 1790, by Phelps to Erwin, Bennett, Thomas, and Stephens, for the two entire townships, and they, on the same day, reconveyed to him one muile by six of the west side of township 4, 6th range ( llornellsville)."
See 4 Wendell's Reports, pages 59, etc.
DRAWING OF THE LOTS.
The twelve lots into which the town of Hornellsville was divided by the original proprietors were drawn as follows : James Hadley, No. 1; John Jameson, No. 2; Arthur Er- win, No. 3; Christian Kriss, No. 4; Joel Thomas, No. 5; Uriah Stephens, Jr., No. 6; John Stephens, No. 7; Wm. Wynkoop, No. 8; Uriah Stephens, Sr., No. 9; Solomon Bennett, No. 10; Elisha Brown, No. 11; Solomon Ben- nett, No. 12.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlements were made in this town, then " Up- per Canisteo," as early as 1793, by Judge Horuell and others. Deacon Mowry Thacher, now living in Hornells- ville, came into the town in 1810, from Troupsburgh, where his father, Nathaniel Thacher, had settled in 1808. Mr. Thacher knew all the settlers at that time in the Canisteo Valley, from Addison to the village of Dansville, and has given us in a series of " reminiscences" a collection of valuable information not elsewhere attainable. Hc entered this town (then C'anisteo) at its eastern boundary, and the first house, after passing an unbroken wilderness of eighteen miles in extent, was that of Col. William Stephens, familiarly known as " Capt. Bill," who kept the most famous tavern in all this region. Capt. Jameson lived in a double log house, farther on, and the next was a hewed log house on the bank of Bennett's Creek, the residence of " that genial, good old man, John Stephens," who owned all the beautiful flat extending across the entire valley, and including the ancient Indian apple-tree, which is still stand- ing. This tree measures nearly three feet in diameter, and is probably more than a hundred years old.
The next location was that of Nicholas Doughty, the Dutch blacksmith, who "made hoes and pitchforks as heavy as plowshares are now," in a little log shop by the side of his log cabin. He was a kind-hearted, respectable man, and, withal, a pretty shrewd trader. Of the large
318
as a Wfornece
HON. ASA MCCONNELL was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Feb. 4, 1801. His father, Charles McConnell, was also a native of the same county ; was married to Sally Sammons, and was a farmer by occupation. In the year 1808 he moved with his family and settled in the town of Howard, this county, then an almost unbroken wilderness tract. llis journey with a lumber wagon the entire distance, and from Bath by only a wagon-road cut through the timber, is in strong contrast with the same distance traveled by means of railway at the present time.
His purchase in the town of Howard was one hundred and sixty acres of timber land, which he at once began to clear of its heavy forest, and prepare for raising cereals. His house was always open to the new settler, and many a prospecting one made it a welcome rendezvous until he had selected and located for himself. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. His father died in the year 1827, at the age of fifty-one, leaving a wife and family of seven sons and four daughters. His mother died at the age of seventy- four, in the year 1856.
Of these children, Asa was eldest, and upon the deatlı of his father took general charge of the affairs at home, and carried on the farm. At the age of sixteen he had been apprenticed to learn the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which took his time until he reached his majority.
For a few years he worked at his trade, and in the year 1825 married Elizabeth, daughter of Major Jones, of Dansville. Her father was one of the carly settlers of that town, she being born in the town of Hornellsville,
Sept. 18, 1805. He remained upon the farm, ranking among the most industrious, thrifty, and judicious mana- gers of agricultural matters in the town, until the year 1867, when he removed to Hornellsville, and soon after, in partnership with his two sons, Benton and Philo F., pur- chased the planing-mill property now owned by the sons, and began the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds. In this business he continued until 1877, when he disposed of his interest to his youngest son, Floyd T.
The business of the firm has so increased that their manufacturing interest is the largest in the county of the kind, and one of the most extensive in the southern part of the State, being carried on with that enterprising spirit often found among self-made men. They are dealers, also, in marbelized slate mantels, grates, and fenders, and French and American window-glass.
Mr. McConnell has given his attention mostly to business operations during his life, yet while a resident of the town of Howard he was elected by his fellow-townsmen to the office of justice of the peace for some four terms, and for one term was supervisor of the town, and in the year 1844 represented his Assembly district in the State Legislature. During his earlier and middle life he was somewhat active in the interests of questions affecting our local and State political history, and ever stood a staunch member of the Democratic party. His remaining children are Mrs. A. J. Ward, of Madison, Wis. ; Mrs. Warren P' Cook, of Genesee, Ill. ; Mrs. Edward T. Young; and Miss Jennie, of Hornellsville.
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