History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 53

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages:

USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In addition to this large sum, the town paid $16,600 as town bounties, which the State ultimately refunded.

Considerable sums for bounties, and for the support of volunteers' families, were also paid by voluntary subscrip- tions.

Through all these years Hon. William Bristol was super- visor of the town, and to his activity and devotion to this patriotic work it is due in no small degree that the town had no war debt at the close of the war.

The following list contains the names, so far as they can be obtained, of all who at the time of their enlistment were residents of Gainesville, though some enlisted elsewhere. Further information will be found in the histories of various regiments:

Ist N. Y. Dragoons .- James A. Brown, Lewis Blackman: Lester Blackman. James C. Bills, John W. Briggs, Wilbur E. Brainard, George Barrell, M. B. Card, Marcus Curtis, Walter Curtis, Hiram B. Coville, E. A. Day, Silas Dewey, George S. Harrington, Edward E. Hunt, O. Hinman, Henry F. Hardy, Rufus Jefferson, William B. Lawrence, Jerry McGuire. Dennis McGuire, Daniel McGuire, William Mabony, Merritt Norton, William C. Partridge, George Reynolds, Allen Starks, Augustus Steel, Heury Towsley, Ten Eyck Van Liew, George H. Walker.

138th N. Y. Infantry .- Edwin Amsden, Willlam Altoft, John H. Bowen, George Capin. James Culver, Harvey Carpenter, C. W. Card. Jutnes Decker, Charles Hickey, Franklin Henrietta. Charles MI. Hawley. John Jewett, D. N. Jenks, John Johnson, George D. Knapp, Chester Kinney, Henry S. Lucas, John Lemingwell, James Mix, George Moore, Wilbur Phillips, Francis Row- land, Hosea Webster. John Ward.

5th .N. Y. Cavalry .- Wesley Barnard, William E. Briggs, John W. Barnard, Nelson Cummings, Joseph Coggen, Thomas Denham. Peter Freeman. P. A. Graves, Charles H. Harrington, Francis 8. Hucstis, G. D. Lawrence. William D. Lucas, James Rice, Charles B. Thomas.

17th N. Y. Infantry .- William P. Bovee, Samuel D. Barnard, M. H. Carpen- ter. Franklin Graves, Lafayette Hastings, H. Kent, Charles Lewis, Henry Rice. Devello Sheffield, A. Thorp, Edmund K. Wood. ·

11th Pa. Cavalry .- Charles Barnard, O. Bancroft, Joseph Broadbent, George Bigford, Henry Draper. H. Dunning, Albert Inglesby, Charles H. Starks, An- drew J. Stone, George Suidam, Thomas H. Wiseman.

27th Wis. Infantry .- Abram Allen, George Dunshie. James Lacock, Harri- son J. Moore, Calvin Rice, Wells Reynolds, S. B. Shemeld. Calvin Wing, W. Worden, George Zurhorst.

24th N. Y. Battery .- William D. Blake, A. L. Culver, James McGuire. Thomas McGuire, Michael McGuire, William Roach.

8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery .- Lyman Bennett, Ezra Flint, George W. Joba- son, Hiram Johnson.

9th N. Y. Cavalry .- A. M. Danforth, William and James Freeman, Ama X. Foote, Homer Inglesbee. Crandall Willis.

104th N. Y. Infantry .- Lorenzo Brainard, George Flint, Nelson Hickey, John McGuire.

U. S. Navy (1861) .- Judson Bennett, William Henrietta, James Lester and Morton Older.

Miscellaneous .- Thomas C. Heath, 1802, 3Sd N. Y. infantry; James Breslin, George Carver, Wilbur Olds.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ELIHU AMSDEN, M. D., was born in Conway, Mass., October 14th, 1791 : came to Gainesville in 1816, and practiced medicine there fifty-three years. He was school commissioner of the town, and always prominent in all local educational movements. He took an active part in building up East Gaines- ville, known years ago as " Amaden's Corners." The first frame house there was built by Dr. Amsden, who was the first practicing physician of East Gainesville, and for many years a leading medicaf and surgical practitioner in Wyoming county. He died in 1870. His daughter Janette was for a long time a successful teacher in the schools of the town. She and her sister Ellen still reside in Gainesville. Edwin Amsden, M. D., son of Elibu, was a practicing physician and surgeon in the town, and in 1862 he went with the 186th N. Y. volunteer infantry as assistant surgeon of the regiment. He was supervisor of the town two terms, 1807 and 1868. He now resides at Allegan, Mich.

JACOB BOGART. farmer. was born in Livingston county in 1823, and in 1861 married Ann E. Smith, of Genesee Falls. Gilbert Bogart, his father. was born in New Jersey in 1706. He became a physician of note, practicing bis profession fifty-eight years, for a long time in the town of Castile. Mr. Bogart had two brothers in the late war. One was a surgeon ; the other, a private soldier, died in the service.

JAMES M. BRAINERD was born in Gainesville in 1842. He is engaged with John Hickey in milling at Gainesville, as proprietor of the custom and flour- ing and saw mills. In 1866 be married Sarah J. Gibson, of Michigan, and in 1875 Delord Higgins, of Gainesville. He has served the town as collector. His father, Elisha Brainerd, jr., was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 1801. and came to Gainesville in 1816 with his father, Elisha Brainerd. He was married to Hannab Patterson in 1826. She died in 1838, and during that year Mr. Brainerd married Mary Miller.

WILLIAM BRISTOL was born in Canaan, Columbia county, N. Y., August 19tb, 1775, and settled at " the Creek " in 1806, on the land which be occupied fifty-four years. He came to this town, then Batavia, as a member of wn- liam Peacock's party, which was surveying the township for the Holland Land Company. Avidling himself of the opportunities thus afforded, bo located about 1.500 acres of land. Of this be selected lot No. ZT, made a clear-

Digitized by Google

RESIDENCE OF WALTER H . CUMMINGS EAST GAINESVILLE, N . Y.

N.PT

Digitized by Google

STORE & RESIDENCE OF L.E PELTON JI, EAST GAINESVILLE, N .Y.

RESIDENCE OF PARKER J . WILSON, GAINESVILLE, N.Y.

FARM CONTAINING 165 ACRES. BIRDS-EYE' VIEW OF WALTER H.CUMMING'S FARM, EAST GAINESVILLE, WYOMING CO., N . Y.

Digitized by Google

195

PROMINENT RESIDENTS AND NATIVES OF GAINESVILLE.

ing, put up a log bouse, and set about the task of making a bome in the forest. He married Martha Stevens, of Lima, N. Y., February 2ind. 1807; she was born in Worcester, Mass., September 1st, 1785. He cut the Contre road through the town, from north to south, for the Holland Company. In 1809, and again in 1811, be was made a justice of the peace by the council of appointment. He served as a lieutenant in Captain Isaac Wilson's company of cavalry in the war of 1812. Upon its incorporation he was elected a trustee of the Warsaw Union Society, which was the first incorporated re- ligrious society in the town. January 14th, 1812. The second Congregational cburob of Gainesville was formed September 14th, 1818, and he was inter- ested in its prosperity from the first. He donated the site for this church, contributed one-eighth of the cost of its erection, and donated the land for a cemetery, which is the only burial place now in use except one at East Gainesville and one at North Gainesville. He also gave the site for the school- bouse in district No. 9. He was elected the first supervisor of Gainesville, in 1814, again in 1816, and in 1819-21 be held the same omce. In 1828 be ropre- sented Genesee county in the Assembly. Mr. Bristol died January 4th, 1806. They bad six children, of whom Francis 8., born March 22nd, 1809, married Merab Stone April 5th, 1882, and died in Warsaw July 26th, 1845. Benjamin T. is noticed below. Mary 8., born March 20th, 1818, married John M. Lawrence April 7th, 1881. Their children were William B., who died in the army in 1863, and George D. She died September 1st 1876. Lamira married George Harrington. William is mentioned below. Laura. born March 8d. 1824, married Corydon Doolittle December 7th, 1843, and died April 19th, 1251.

WILLIAM BRISTOL, son of William and Martha Bristol, was born in Gainesville March 7th, 1821. Until 1867 be resided on his father's homestead, his principal business being farming. He was justice of the peace, also post- master several years. He was supervisor of the town in 1866, and again four years during the war. As a member of the committee appointed by Gov- ernor Morgan to promote enlistment in the 80th senatorial district. Mr. Bristol did eficient service. His patriotic course, his careful zeal and his expenditure of time and money in those years made him a central figure in the local history of the town during the war period. A considerable portion of his large income was devoted to this work, and by and through his efforts. sustained by the loyal sentiment of his townemen, Gainesville filled every quota promptly and came out of the war without debt. He was under sheriff of the county in 1842; presidential elector and secretary of the electoral college in 1844 ; member of Assembly in 1867 and 1808. He contributed materially to establish and sustain Gainesville Female Seminary. A director of the Rochester and State Line Railway Company from its organization, Do one in Wyoming county has a larger sbare in the responsibility of the loca- tion of its line through Gainesville than Mr. Bristol. He moved to Warsaw in 1888, where he has since resided. He married Adella M. Lockwood January 18th, 1843, and had three children, Laura E., who married Major Jobn P. Robinson; Belle, who married M. A. Kuntz, and Caroline, who married Nathan 8. Beardslee. Mrs. Bristol died November 2nd, 1866, and be married Martha J. Jewett January 8th. 1867, by whom be bas three children, William, Millie and Henry R.

BEKJAMIN F. BRISTOL was born in Gainesville June 17th, 1811. He married Margaret A., daughter of Joel Davis (see sketch), March 4th, 1866. He is a farmer, and has served in various public positions in the town and county. He has been justice of the peace twenty-five years, supervisor two years, superintendent of the poor for Wyoming county seventeen years, justice of sessions, and for the past nine years a railroad commissioner. Formerly a Whig, be voted for Van Buren in 1848, for Hale in 1862, for Fremont in 1866, and since be has been a prominent member of the Republican party. A Whig in a Democratic town, he was elected three times justice of the peace as a no-license candidate. His life embraces the whole period of the history of the town as a separate organization. Mr. and Mrs. Bristol have six obil- dren: Joel W., who is postmaster and a merchant; James, who has been supervisor two terms; Theodore, Corydon and Benjamin F., all living in Gainesville, and Martin F., who resides in Indianapolis, Ind.

WILLIAM BROUGHTON was born in Canton, Conn., June 4th, 1785. He married Sally. daughter of David Blakely, of Pawlet, Vt., November 11th,1810, and the same year settled in the east part of Gainesville, at " the end of the road." on lot 14. From the piace be had selected for his future home be fol- lowed an Indian trail to Batavia, and procured a deed of the land which be occupied till his death. The log bouse bastily thrown up was the bome tato which he brought his young wife. In 1812 he was interested with his father - in-law in the purchase of lot 28. . In the log bouse were born to him ecven daughters, five of whom are now living. The youngest married Imac W. Quick, a manufacturer, of Auburn. N. Y. Sopbronis, one of the youngest daughters, formerly connected with a prominent school for young ladice in Batavia, and for some time engaged in educational interests in Berlin, is Dow the accomplished bead of Clare Place, a boarding and day school for young ladies at Warsew. N. Y. Colonel Broughton's tastes were scholarly, and be early accumulated a library extensive for the time, which contributed to benefit and build the character, not only of bis own family. tut of young men wbo to-day bonor bis memory. He was a Christian gentleman, whose influence was felt for good in the political, temperance and social forces of his day. He voted with the Whig party. He died March 6th, 1888. Mre. Broughton died in Warsaw October 27th, 1806.

CHARLES K. BROWN was born in Genesee county in 1811, and came. to Gainesville in 1875. He was captain of cavalry in 1888. He has been twice married.

JOHN D. BROWNELL was born in Westport. Mass., in 1814, and married Elizabeth Little, of that place. He came from Westport to East Gainesville in 1861, and has since been a merchant and a builder. He has corred as jus- tice of the peace.

JOHN W. BROWNSON was a son of John W. Brownson, M. D., who came from New England with his family and commenced practice at Gainesville in 1814, being probably the first resident physician in town. John W. Brown- con, jr., was born in Sunderland, Bennington county, Vt., March 12th, 1807. At the age of seven years he came with his father's family to this town, of which he was an honored citisen about forty years. He married Frances L. Cole, February 27th, 1822. He was a man of good judgment and varied to- formation. He was interested in the cause of education, and a pioneer in the temperance move. The Whig party bad in him one of its trusted mem- bers. In 1840 and 1841 be represented Genesee county, and in 1842 he repre- sented Wyoming county in the Assembly. He was supervisor of the town in 1844 and 1845. In 1848 and 1849 he was senator of the 80th district. He occupied other places of trust, and was prominently identified with public affairs for many years. In 1868 be removed to 'Sbaron, Wis., where be died September 5th, 1800. His widow and his daughter, Mrs. Ellen B. Treat, still reside at Sharon.

THE CALKINS FAMILY .- Elisha D. Calkins settled on lot number 8 in this town in the spring of 1815. He was born in Sharon, Litchfield county,Conn .. November 11th, 1781. When he was about seven years of age his father moved to Saratoga county, N. Y. Elisha D. married Abigail Lookwood in Greenfield, Saratoga county, N. Y., April 2tod, 1810. She was born in New Canaan, Fairfield county, Conn., October 18th, 1702. He died in Gainesville, June 24th, 1849. His widow, Abigail, died in Gainesville, Marob 18th, 1869. The children of Elisha D. and Abigail Calkins were: Sarah Elizabeth, born June 24th, 1811, died September 24th, 1818; David Lookwood, born December 24th, 1818, in Amsterdam, N. Y .: William Henry, born January 18th, 1816, in Gainesville, N. Y .; Norman A., born September 9th, 1832, in Gainesville, N.Y .; Charles, born April 30th, 1886, died August 2tod, 1848 ; James Hervey, born March Ist, 1828 ; Hiram, born December 28th, 1880; Franklin Augustus, born August 11th, 1886. David L. Calkins resides upon the original farm on which his father settled ; William H. in Castile ; Norman A., Hiram and Franklin A. in the city of New York; James H. in Galesburg, III. Hugh Calkins, the ancestor of all bearing this family name in America, came from Monmouth- shire, England : landed at Plymouth, Mass., in 1610, and subsequently settled at New London, Conn. He represented that town in the General Court of Connecticut for twolve terms. He represented that town also in the Legie- lative Court of Connecticut. The following names show the line of ances- tors to Elisha D. Calkins: 1, Hugh ; 2, John ; 8, Samuel ; 4, Stepben ; 6, David; 6, Elisha D. Norman A. was for several years a successful tesober in the sobools of his native town. He has been a devoted and industrious worker in the cause of education. For seventeen years past be has been one of the superintendents of public schools in the city of New York, and for about twenty-three years treasurer of a society fur church building. He bes edited several works of an educational character, and his name is extensively known among friends of education throughout the country. Hiram was formerly engaged upon the New York Herald, but for some time he has been an assistant editor of the New York World. As the Albany correspondent of these journals be is known throughout the State. His intimate aoquaint- ance with New York politics admirably fits him for his present position, while his personal qualities gain him friends in all parties, and thus con- tribute to his efficiency. Franklin A. is an engineer on the Central Park. where he has been engaged some fifteen years. James H. is a justice of the peace in Galesburg, Ill. He was at one time mayor of that city.

GEORGE L. CONE was born in Gainesville in August, 1882, and married Frances A. Lucas, of Gainesville, in November, 1866. Mr. Cone has always been a farmer. He has been supervisor three years ; chairman of the county board of supervisors one year : highway commissioner and assessor. Thomas Cone, his father, came to Gainesville about fifty years ago, and remained there until his death. .

WALTER H. CUMMINGS was born May 18th, 1889, in Warsaw. He was mar ried June 2nd, 1875, to Grace A. Woodruff, of East Gainesville. Mrs. Cum- mings was the only child of the late Merritt Woodruff. Esq., of East Gaines- rille, and since Mr. Woodruff 's death Mr. Cummings has bad obarge of his large estate. Mr. Cummings is a member of the Congregational church of Warsaw, and has served on its board of trustees two years.

DE LEDROIT COOK, farmer, was born in Pavilion in 1800. He married Har- riet J. Stowe, of Warsaw, in 1844.

JOEL DAVIS was born at Winchester, Conn., in 1788. With his father's family be came to Paris, and afterward to Preble, Oneida county, N. Y., ! w bere be resided until 1837, wben be removed to Gainesville and engaged ta farming. He married Resign Hinman, of Torringford, Conn., in 1804. Their children were Joel G., who is engaged in milling, and resides at Rochester, N. Y .; Margaret A., who married B. F. Bristol, Baq., (see sketch); Amandar who died in Gainesville, unmarried ; Giles A., now a banker, residing in Cas- tile, N.Y .; Esther, who married R. Burchard, and died in Minnesota ; Emily, wbo married James Cravath, and afterward married F. Kinney, and died in Oberlin, O. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were members of the Congregational church of the town. He voted with the Whig party, was interested in temperanos, and a substantial citizen of the town until 1864, when he went to Castile, where he died in 1873.

Digitized by Google

196

HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.

MICHAEL DUNNING was born in Saratoga county, May 19th, 1828, and came to Gainesville in 1836. He is a farmer, drover and butober. He has been town clerk.

SIMION E. FELCE was born in Washington county, in September, 1848. He married Mary J. Mattice, of York, Livingston county, in December, 1806, and came to Gainesville from Castile in 1867. He is a dealer in lumber and builders' supplies. He is serving bis third term as justice of the peace,

GEORGE HARRINGTON Was born September 17th, 1808, in Norwich, Che- mango county, N. Y. Both his parents came from Smithfield, R. I., in 1790. He has resided in Gainesville since March 31st, 1880. He married Lamira, daughter of Hon. William Bristol, November 19th, 1884. From this marriage were born four sons-Augustus, a lawyer at Warsaw ; George S., who re- sides in Chicago ; Charles H. and Francis B., both of whom have resided at Grafton, Neb., since June, 1874. Francis B. was less than eighteen years old at the beginning of the Rebellion. Augustus raised Company D and was a captain in the 188th N. Y. volunteer infantry. George 8. was a sergeant in Company A, 180th regiment N. Y. volunteer infantry, afterward the 1st N. Y. dragoons, and was wounded in the battle of Deserted House, Va. Charles H., after efficient service in the ranks of the 5th N. Y. cavalry, known as the Ira Harris guards, was commissioned lieutenant by Governor Morgan. La- mira Bristol was born in Gainesville. June 27th, 1815; she died September 14th, 1849, and Mr. Harrington married Sarah A. Johnson June 17th, 1861. None of the children of this marriage-Edgar, Ella, Clara and Carrie-are Living, except Carrie, the youngest, who is now a successful teacher in the sobools of her native town. For thirty years of his active life he was a prominent builder. From the beginning of the movement in the town be was always an earnest advocate of the temperance cause. A Democrat of the sobool of Silas Wright, he voted for Van Buren and Adams in 1848, for Fremont in 1866, and be has since been attached to the Republican party. He was ever an ardent friend of the cause of education, serving as a trustee his school district for twelve years; and that the schools of his village were long excep- tionally good was. in no small . degree, due to his zealous and intelligent devotion to their interests. He has been an industrious, upright and public spirited citizen of the town for more than half a century.

CLARKSON A. HALL was a member of Company D, 180th regiment N. Y. State volunteers, in which he was first sergeant. He'was in the battle of Deserted House, and was with his regiment at the siege of Suffolk. His father, David Hall, was born in Rhode Island, in 1802, and came to Wethers- feld about 1826. He wes commissioner of highways, and in the pioneer days assisted in laying out the roads in that town. Mr. Hall was born in Wethers- feld, in 1889, and married Laura A. Brainerd, of his native town. He has served as sobool commissioner.

RICHARD L. HANNA was born in Bath, Steuben county, in 1881, and onme from there to Gainesville in 1839. In 1871 be married Mrs. Adelia S. Flint, of Gainesville. Mr. Hanna served in the war in Company C, 18th regiment N. Y. State volunteers; has been engaged in farming and blacksmithing, and is at present keeping botel. Mrs. Hanna's father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1799. and came to Gainesville in 1896. By ber former marriage Mrs. Hanna has a son, wbo was born in Gainesville, in 1866.

CAROLINE B. HILL was born May 30th, 1828, in Orangeville, N. Y., and mar- ried Lewis A. Hill August 8d, 1861. Amasal Briggs, Mrs. Hill's father, was born in Belchertown, Maes., December 26th, 1787, and was married June 5th, 1815, to Abigail Shumway, of Amberst, Mass., who was born November 18th, 1790. They removed to Eaton soon after their marriage. In 1818 they came to Orangeville, N. Y. Mr. Briggs was a physician, and practiced his profes- son nearly fifty years. He was an early settler in Wyoming county. Dur- ing a severe storm, while Dr. Briggs was abeent and his wife was alone with their children, the roof of their house was blown off at night, and Mrs. Briggs was obliged to wade a deep stream with them, one by one, in order to reach a place of safety. Prof. Horace Briggs, of Buffalo, is a son of Dr. Briggs.

LIVI MADISON was born in Hebron, Washington county, in January, 1810, and came to Gainesville with his father's family in 1816. They were three weeks on the road. In September, 1844, be married Ida Post, of East Gaince- ville. He has been a farmer.

NEHEMIAH PARK, JR., was born in Tyringtiam, Maes., in 1779. His father. Nebeminh Park, sen., became an carly resident of South Warsaw, where for many years he kept a public bouse, and where he died March 11th, 1806, aged eighty-five years. Nehemiah Park, jr., married for his second wife Miss HIUl, of Canaan, N. Y. He purchased land In Gainesville in 1806, settled there in 1809, and was elected town clerk at the first town meeting. He re- moved to South Warsaw in 1814. Nebemiah, son of the above, born in Warsaw, November 2nd, 1816, married Ann Janett Doolittle, of Wethers- feld. He was engaged in mercantile business in Gainesville from 1880 to 1848. In 1861 be removed to Warsaw, where he now resides. They have one daughter, Ellen A., who married Elijah P. Harris, a professor in Amberst College.

LUTHER E. PEUTON, grocer and dealer in boots, shoes and notions, and postmaster at East Gainesville, was born in 1886. He married Betsey E. Helmer, of Eagle, in 1868.

JONATHAN E. PIERCE, farmer and justice of the peace, was born April 17th, 1882, in Washington county. February 22nd, 1858, he married Elizabeth A. Henderson, of Johnsburgb, N. Y., who died December 21st, 1864. April 22nd, 1865, be married Ellza A. Lake, of Chester, N. Y.

CHRISTOPHER Pour was born November 20th, 1704, in New Jersey. In June, 1815, be married Maria Van Liew. Mr. Post has always been a farmer. He bes served the town as supervisor, superintendent of common schools, highway commissioner, and seven years as assessor. His father married the daughter of Captain Sobenck, who served in the Revolutionary war, and came from New Jersey with an ox team, the journey consuming three weeks. Mr. Post lived two years under the administration of President Washington. At an early day be articled one hundred and fifty acres of land, and bes owned two hundred and forty acres at one time. His name was on the petition-to have the name of the town changed from Hebe to Gainesville. Years ago his house was often visited by Mary Jemison, the celebrated " white woman." Mr. and Mrs. Post are the only survivors of the pioneer period of the town.

E. J. QUIGLEY was born. in Gainesville, in 1840. He was educated in the common sobools and in Pike Seminary. He is a tesober by profession : was principal of the Yorkville public school, of Kendall county, LIL, for six years, and of Castile union sobool three years. He held the omce of county commissioner of schools for the second district of Wyoming for six years, ending December 81st, 1878, and has been justice of the peace for the past eight years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 53

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co. Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: