History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 84

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Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
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SINCRON HOVEY was born July 6th, 1776, in Lebanon, N. H. He came to Warsaw in 1804, and settled on a farm of one hundred acres, building the third log boure erected in the town. August 31st, 1800, be married Jerusha, daughter of Gad and Jerusba Lamb, of Pennsylvania. He died April 25tb. 1862, aged eighty-six. His mother died in March, 1855, nearly one hundred years of age. Henry Hovey, son of Simeon and Jerusha, was born in War- saw. September 1st, 1804. and was the first white child born in the town. In his younger days be was a school teacher, and taught fifteen schools in the county and vicinity. In 1835 be removed to the village of Warsaw. and was town sobool inspector io 1887-40, after which date he went back to bis farm. In 1809 be returned to Warsaw, where he lives. Mr. Hovey was mar- ried October 17th, 1886. to Lydia Ann Maber. daughter of William and Zilpha Maber, of Covington, by whom he had five children, four of whom are Living.

L. HAYDET HUMPHREY, JR., is a son of Lester H. and Hannab B. Hum- phrey, natives of Connecticut, who were born respectively December 28th. 1700, and October 25th, 1807, and came to Wyoming county in 1818. settling in Sheldon, where they remained until 1856, when they came to Warsaw. L. Hayden Humphrey was born in Sheldon. January Mod, 1850, and came to Warsaw August STth, 1866, and attended school. He was married May 18th, 1876, to Maud Wilton, daughter of Judge O. C. and Sarah Wilton Skinner. of Quincy, Ill. They have two children-O. Skinner and Mary E. Humphrey. At the age of nineteen Mr. Humphrey and his brother, Samuel B. Hum- phrey, engaged in the tanning and leather business, and in April, 1872, the former became connected with the Wyoming County National Bank : in January, 1878, be was elected vice-president, and since 1874 bas been its managing oficer.

WOLCOTT J. HUMPHREY was the sixth son of Theophilus Humphrey. whose father bore the same name, and whose grandfather was Samuel Humphrey, all natives of Canton, Conn. His mother, whose maiden name was Cynthia Hayden, was a native of Torringford. Conn. Wolcott J. was born at Canton, November 11th, 1817. In 1818 his father removed to Shel- don, Generee county (now Wyoming), where he engaged in farming, tan- ning, shoemaking and harness making, in all of which branobes of business the son was also engaged till be arrived at the age of twenty-three. His education was derived from the common schools of this town, and from a brief course of instruction by a Congregational clergyman of his neighbor- bood. Extensive travel and acute observation bave supplied the lack of early instruction, and in sound practical knowledge be is excelled by few. At the age of twenty-three be engaged in mercantile business, which be continued during twenty-four years at Varysburg, Sheldon Center, North Java, Bloomington, Ill., and North Java again. During his residence in the West he was largely engaged in successful land speculations. In 1884 be re- moved to Warsaw and engaged in the business of tanning, which be fol- lowed till 1866. He became a stockbolder in the Wyoming County National Bank in the latter part of 1830, and in 1871 he was made president of this bank, in which position be still continues. He is also president of the War- waw Water Works Company, of the stook of which he owns about one- third. Large financial ability, indomitable energy and unbending integrity have made him a man of wealth, but his native good sense bas prevented the development of that vanity which too often tarnisbes financial success. Mr. Humphrey has always been an active and eficient political worker. He was a Whig till that party ceased to exist, and be bas since been a Republican. He was several times chosen supervisor of his town by large major ities ; was appointed postmaster in 1849, 1868 and 1860, and was marsbal for taking the census of several towns in this county in 1860. He bad the bonor of being mobbed by the foreign opponents of the draft during the late civil war while in the discharge of his duties as enrolling otoer. He was elected to the Assembly in 1860 and again in 1861. During the latter term be was chairman of the committee on railroads, and reported, with its restrictions, the bill for consolidating the Central railroad. He also had charge of the prohibitory liquor law that was passed during that session. He was elected to the Senate in 1866, and again in 1867, from the thirtieth district (Wyoming, Livingston and Allegany) by majorities of more than 5,000.

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, TOWN OF WARSAW.

During his service in the Senate be was chairman of the committee on roads and bridges, and of that on commerce and navigation, and was a member of the committees on internal affairs, printing, finance and banks. He has been a member of the Republican county committee for fifteen years, dur- ing about ten of which he was its chairman. He has also been during the last twenty years a delegate in more than half the Republican State conven- tions that have been beld, and be was a member of the national Repub- Lican convention in 1576. March 80th, 1841, be married Amanda B., daughter of William 8. Martindale, of Dorset, Vt., who died at Sonora, Cal., June 17th, 1878. He was again married, July 8th, 1874, to Hannah, daughter of Hugh Mulholland. of Parma, Monroe county, N. Y. By his present wife be has two children, Annabel and Wolcott Julius. His first wife bore bim Do children. He is a liberal contributor to the support of the church and society with which be ts associated. In his social relations be is genial and companion- able, and his cheerful disposition renders his bome the abode of bappiness.

CYRUS JETTERSON .- The grandfather of Cyrus Jefferson, subject of this sketch, was Aaron Jetterson, a soldier in the Revolution. He reared eight sons and four daughters. His father. Job Jefferson, was born in Douglass, Worcester county, Mass., in Marob, 1780, and died in Wisconsin, August 5th, 1870. His mother, who was the daughter of Peter Read, was born about the year 1782, and died in 1841. They had aix daughters and three sons, of wbom Cyrus was the oldest. His eldest sister was born November 16th, 1802. 8be and her husband, Elijab Gile, to whom she was married in Gainesville, are still living in Walworth county, Wisconsin. They have twelve living obil- dren. about sixty grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. His sister, Prudy Ann. married Jacob Frayer, son of Deacon John Frayer, of Gaines- Fille. She died in Wisconsin in 1864. Another sister, Lucy, married Samuel Chase, formerly of Gainesville. His brother Charles resides in Iowa. His brother Russel died at the age of twenty, and three sisters died after they had come to be young ladies. In 1817 his father removed to Gainesville. During several years they suffered all the privations and hardships of indi- gent pioneers. The early opportunities for obtaining an education which Cyrus enjoyed were about equal to those of Abraham Lincoln. He labored on his father's farm till be married, at the age of twenty-one, after which he worked on his own account at anything he could find to do, by the month. day or job. and thus accumulated a small sum of money. In 1839 and 1880 be, in company with Mr. Rufus Conable, carried on a small mercantile bus- nees. During the ten years following 1845 be purchased in Wyoming and the adjoining counties about one million pounds of wool, on which be real- ised a satisfactory profit. During the last twenty-nine years his principal business has been loaning money in the States of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in this business be bas visited these States more than thirty times. He never received a gift of a dollar. He says though he has been fifty-three years a voter be has never voted for a Legislative candidate that was elected. The great wealth which Mr. Jefferson bes, by his own exer- tione, acquired is an evidence of his financial ability. October 20th, 1866, be married Eunice, daughter of Rufus and Sophis Conable, of Gainesville. They had four children-Sophia, who married James Bristol, of Gainesville. and whose two children were Eunice, who died at the age of eighteen, and Charles.now living at sixteen : Willard, who died at three ; Isadore, deceased at twenty, and his son Rufus C., who resides at Woodstock, Il., mar- ried Genevieve, daughter of L. 8. Church, Esq., and has four children- Cyrus, Rufus, Lawrence and Dora. Mr. Jefferson's first wife died July 15th, 1847. July 12th, 1848, he married Gracia D., ber sister, who died January 10th, 1864. September 20th, 1868, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Benja- min and Elizabeth MoCluer, of Franklinville, N. . Y.

EDWARD M. JENNINGS is a son of James H. and Mary J. Jennings, who settled in Genesee Falls in 1802. They had a family of four children, of whom Edward M. Jennings is the oldest. He was born in Buffalo, Novem- ber 22nd, 1812. August 4th. 1802, be colisted in Company A, 180th N. Y. volunteers. January 80th, 1863, at the battle of Deserted Farm, Va., be was wounded. and in consequence lost his right arm. He was discharged in June following, and returned to Genesee Falls, where be remained until 1869, when be was elected county clerk, and moved to Warsaw, where he lives. In 1874 be was elected clerk of the board of supervisors, and beid the odioe till the fall of 1879, when he was re-elected county clerk. He has also served as clerk of the village of Warsaw. He was married August 18th, 1808, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Richard and Mary Robbins, of Cattaraugus county. They bave two children-Milton R. and J. E. Jennings

I. SAM JOHNSON is & son of Hiram and Jane 8. Johnson. His father was a native of Connecticut, and came to Wyoming county in 1857. I. 8am Johnson was born October 24th, 1810, in Centerfield, Ontario county. He began the study of law with Colonel Thayer in May, 1806, and in August, 1803, enlisted in the 130th N. Y. volunteers; was promoted to first lieutenant February 7th, 1863, and discharged January 5th, 1874, on account of physical disability. In May. 1864, be was admitted to the bar, and except ten years spent in Arcade bes practiced his profession in Warsaw ever since. He was married May 5th, 1866, to Mary E., daughter of Horace and Polly MoFariin, of Twinsburgh, O .. Mr. Johnson has held the office of trustee in Arosde village. He was elected district attorney in 1876, and re-elected in 1879 by 1.978 majority, the largest ever given in the county.

PERRY JONES is a son of Dyer and Lana Jones, formerly of Cayuga county, who came to Genesee Falls at an early date and reared a family of dix children, of whom Perry was the third (born. Fabruary 2nd, 1887). At the age of twenty be bought his time and worked by the month at farma labor until 1867. wben be purchased a farm in Gainesville, which bo Dow OWDE. In 1879 be came to Warsaw and opened an sating-house. While a resident of Arcade he beld the office of highway commissioner two years.

He was married October 27th, 1857, to Mary Jane, daughter of Thomas and Almira Cone, of Gainesville. They have three children.

SHELDON C. KEENEY, son of Amos and Polly Keeney, was born in War- maw, March 1st, 1815, and except five and a half years spent in Pennsylvania. has lived there all his life. He is a farmer. In 1877 be moved to his pressat location on Bast Hill, where, in partnership with bis son-in-law, be owns ninety-four sores of land. He was married March 31st, 1886, to Ann H., daughter of Abraham and Mary Banis, of Warsaw, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living. They are J. K. L. Keeney, now in Mat- theon, Ind .; and Mary E., who was married April 6th, 1872, to Asa A. Luther, a son of Lymas C. and Caroline P. Luther, of Castile. Luther was born No- vember Zist, 1812. He calisted in September, 1861, in Company F. 5th N. Y. cavalry, and served three years and a half. He was confined in rebel prisons nine months. He bolds the office of highway commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Luther bave two sons-Kendrick A. and Ralph E. Luther.

WASHINGTON F. KINGSBURY, son of Ransom and Maria Kingsbury, was born December 10th, 1815, at Hampton, Conn. In 1880 be learned the car- penter and millwright's trade. In 1810 he removed to Buffalo, and worked in the Buffalo Steam Engine Works until 1851, when he went to Warren, Pa .. where he built the Warren Iron Works. In 1869 be set up and operated the arst engine that was operated in the oll country, and he was the inventor of the oil-well torpedo. In 1867 be came to Warsaw, and has since been en- gaged in the oil and lumber business. Mr. Kingsbury was married March 6th, 1845, to Mary A. Brown, daughter of Thomas and Alice Brown, of Perry, by wbom be has two children.

JACOB W. KNAPP was born in Warsaw, Genesee (now Wyoming) county, N. Y., August 20th, 1818. His parents, Jobn R. and Melinda Knapp, moved from Orwell. Vt., in 1812. Heserved as apprentice to Peter Lyon, black- smith at Canandaigua, N. Y., beginning at the age of fifteen. In August, 1886, he married Elvira Putnam, of Warsaw, and he has since lived in War- saw village. He has been a justice of the pesce nearly all the time since 1842. He was postmaster from 1868 to 1861. He raised a company for the volunteer service in 1882, served as captain to January, 1806, and then as ma- jor to July 19tb. 1865, when be was mustered out with the regiment-1st N. Y. dragoons-having participated in many battles and skirmisbes.

COLONEL ABRAM B. LAWRENCE .- The subject of this sketch was born in Warsaw, May 18th, 1884, of New England parentage. upon his father's side a descendant of Jobn Lawrence, one of the company which came from Eng- land with Governor Winthrop in 1600, and upon his mother's side a descend- ant of French and Welsh familles, resident in New England. Colonel Lawrence received a high sobool education, and was an advanced scholar at twelve years of age, when he was placed in a book store in Warsaw, which afforded him an opportunity, which he did not miss, to add to his store of knowledge. At the age of nineteen be was engaged as accountant in an ex- tensive publishing house in Buffalo, increasing his business education and reputation. In 1868, purobasing a drug business at Niagara Falls, be remov- ed thither, and March 28th, 1857, married Mies Elizabeth Faulkner, of Wheat- land, Monroe county, N. Y., by whom he has two children-George M., born June 18th, 1866, at Niagara Falls, and 8. Virginia. born February 25th, 1801. in Warsaw. Returning to Warsaw in 1858 be was for a time engaged in mercantile business, meantime projecting and in 1869 buliding the " Warsaw Gas Light Works " in company with others. He carried on the foundry and machine building business until the war of the Rebellion broke out. He was selected by the senatorial district committee to represent Wyoming county in the staff department as quartermaster of the 20th senatorial dis- trict regiment, subsequently known as the 1st N. Y. dragoons. His untiring business energy largely aided in raising and placing this famous regiment early at the front. Soon after arriving in Virginia with his command, in 1882, he was placed on detached service in the commissary and quarter- master's department, Peok's division, 7th army corps. Subsequently be was assigned to duty in Sheridan's cavalry corps, promoted captain and assist- ant quartermaster U. 8. A., with commission from and bearing the auto- · graph of President Lincoln, and with orders to report to General Grant, was assigned to duty at the headquarters of the 18th army corps. July 4th, 1864, be was made chief quartermaster of that corpe. and in recognition of his service was soon after promoted to the rank of major in the quartermaster's department, serving thus with the 10th, 18th and 25th corps. Upon the reorganisation and consolidation of troops of the 9th, 10th and 18th corps. constituting the 24th army corps, he was assigned by President Lincoln as its chief quartermaster, with rank of lieutenant colonel. During the mem- orable campaign which ended with the surrender of Lee he was appointed by General Grant " chief quartermaster of the Army of the James," with which the general made his headquarters at that time. This army, by the untiring energy of Colonel Lawrence, was kept supplied with commimary stores and ammunition in the ever memorable final race between Grant and Lee, and Colonel Lawrence secured the credit in military ofroles of having been largely and directly instrumental by his ediciency in the capture of Lee's army. In recognition of this service be was assigned by order of Geo- eral Grant to receive the surrender and make disposition of the property of the army of Northern Virginia, and to not as the chief quartermaster of the U. S. forces at Appomattox Court-house, Va. The original feld order to this effect is preserved by Colonel Lawrence as a valuable memento of those times and scenes. This duty completed be removed the army property to Riobmond, Va., after distributing, under the personal orders of General Grant, horses, mules, wagons, etc .. to the pesosably disposed farmers; and remained on duty in Richmond during the mustering out of troops, dispo- sition of the surplus property of the army, and the establishment of the work of the Freedmen's Bareau, which be declined to be permanently co-

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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.

gaged in. By order of Secretary Stanton he was assigned to duty in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains in the fall of 1865. While on duty among the Indians of the plains be aided materially in exposing and stopping the frauds then perpetrated by government agents. In the spring of 1866, upon application for " muster out," he returned to Warsaw, where be received an honorable discharge with life brevets, upon nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate, "for faithful and meritorious services dur- ing the war "-a well earned and honorable distinction. Soon after Colonel Lawrence's return to Warsaw be engaged with Buffalo capitalists in the development of the slate interests in the province of Quebec in connection with Lord Aylmer and his brother; organized the business. formed and put in operation a stock company of $150,000 capital, disposed of his interests and returned to Buffalo and engaged in the lumber and planing mill bugi- ness, which after a successful term he was induced to sell and return to Warsaw and engage in the furniture trade, which he is now successfully prosecuting. In 1876. upon the organization of the Letchworth Rifles, Col- onel Lawrence was commissioned by Governor Tilden as the commandant. In the face of many obstacles this company was placed among the first and best in the State, and its commander was brevetted by Governor Robinson as "lieutenant-colonel National Guard State of New York." In the Grand Army of the Republic Colonel Lawrence has been an active and influential member, for several years commander of Gibbs Post, Warsaw, which be organized; vice department commander State of New York, and repeatedly a State delegate to the national encampment. In 1876 he was unanimously chosen as the delegate at large for the State of New York to the centennial encampment at Philadelphia, and in this connection became the secretary of the Wyoming County Soldiers' Monument Association, whose work bas resulted in the erection of the beautiful county monument in Warsaw. Colonel Lawrence united with the Congregational church in Warsaw April 15th, 1864. of which his wife and children are also members. In Buffalo and Niagara Falls he was an active member of the Presbyterian churob. Since nineteen years of age be has been an active worker and liberal promoter of Sunday-schools, home and mission. He has always been an energetic man, of indomitable pluck, and thoroughly doing whatever he undertakes; per- sistent and fearless in maintaining any position he is called upon by duty to take when convinced that he is right; kind, forgiving and charitable to op- ponents, conscientious and humble as a Christian, soldierly in his instincts and qualities, methodical and systematio in all his business relations and operations.

SIMEON D. LEWIS, son of Truman and Lucy Lewis, was born in Orange- ville, September 8th, 1830. His father was a native of Farmington, Conn. He came to Wyoming county in 1807, and settled in Orangeville. He was one of the first settlers of that section. He died in 1865, aged eighty. Bimeon D. Lewis lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, when he entered the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, at Alexander, Genesee county, as & teaober, remaining there two years. He then taught the union school at Warsaw one year. August 2nd, 1868, Mr Lewis married Miss Sarah L. Can- feld, of Alexander, who was born July 21st, 1882. They had two children, one of whom, George A. Lewis, is connected with his father in the boot and shoe store of 8. D. Lewis & Co. He was born April 19th, 1868. In that year Mr. Simeon D. Lewis began his mercantile career as a grocer, and continued in that line three years. Then, with Noble Morris, he established himself in the hardware trade, in which be continued nineteen years. In 1878. in com- pany with his son and W. C. Gates, he established his present business. He was elected supervisor of Warsaw in 1871, and served three years. In 1874 be was chosen county treasurer, and was re-elected in 1877. He is president of the Citizens' Gas Light Company of Warsaw, and for many years bas been secretary and trustee of the cemetery association.

ZERA J. LUSK, M. D., son of William H. and Lovina Lusk, of Erie county, was born April 27th, 1861. At the age of nineteen he began the study of medicine in New York city, and graduated later from the Medical College of Buffalo. He began the practice of his profession in Eagle Village, wbere be remained four years. April 18th, 1879, be came to Warsaw and formed a partnership, now existing, with Dr. O. B. Adams. He was married October 21st, 1875, to Ida M., daughter of Henry and Huidah Rice, of Clarence, Erie county. They have one child, a son, William R. Lusk. Dr. Lusk is president of the Wyoming County Medical Association.

ALVAR C. MANSON is a son of Oliver and Elizabeth D. Manson, natives of Maine and later residents of New Hampshire. He was born December 27th, 1841, in Portsmouth, N. H. In 1867 be went before the mast on & seven months' voyage to sea. Later be learned the painter's trade, at which be has generally been employed since. April 20th, 1861, he enlisted in the 1st regiment N. H. volunteers. In June be re-enlisted in Company K, 2nd N. H. volunteers, and served until discharged. June 29th, 1864, returning to Portsmouth, and in April, 1865, went to New York and worked at his trade till June. 1872, when be came to Warsaw, where be has since Lived. He was married December 17th, 1866, to Eva, daughter of Charles H. Knapp. They have had four children, two of whom are living. Mr. Manson is a member of Gibbs Post G. A. R., and is, as is also bis wife, a member of the Episco- pal oburob.

WILLIAM D. MARTIN, dentist, was born in Warsaw, in 1886. In 1871 be married Anna Janette Farriss, of Warsaw. He enlisted in 1802 in Company G. 37th N. Y. volunteers. He re-enlisted in 1863 as orderly sergeant in the 8th N. Y. heavy artillery, and was the only man of two hundred and five on the roll of his company who did not miss a day's service from the time of enlisting until mustered out, June 15th, 1865.

JAMES O. MOCLURE was born in Jordan, Onondaga county. November 16th, 1828. He received his education in the select schools and the Jordan Academic Institute, graduating as civil engineer and surveyor. In 1847 bo removed to Syracuse ; in 1860 was employed on the Rochester & Syracuse Railroad, and in 1851 on the New York and Brie Railway. From 1862 to 1804. inclusive, be was employed as engineer on the New York State canais. From the Spring of 1865 be carried on the drug trade at Warsaw until 1872, since which time be bas followed his profession and the business of fire insurance. In 1870 he was engineer of the Warsaw Water Works Company, and its sec- retary and superintendent for eight years succeeding. He was village clerk of Warsaw from 1889 to 1878, superintendent of the Warsaw Gas Light Com- pany from 1867 to 1878, secretary of the Warsaw Cemetery Association from 1878 to the present time, and is secretary of the Wyoming County Agricul- tural Society, to which position he was elected in 1878. He was chief engi- neer of the fire department of Warsaw in 1878. 1874 and 1879, and engineer in charge of the erection of the Wyoming County Soldiers' Monument in 1877. In 1848 he became a member of the Syracuse Citizens' Corps. In 1856 he was lieutenant of the Lockport Light Dragoons. From 1857 he commanded the " Washington Hunt Guards " in that city until the Rebellion of 1861. when the company enlisted in the 28th N. Y.volunteer infantry, which he helped to recruit. In 1883 he was commissioned colonel of the 75th regiment N. G., which he had recruited, and be remained in the State service until Septem- ber. 1806. Colonel MoClure was married April 20th, 1864, to Huidah, daugh- ter of Colonel William Bingham, of Warsaw. by whom he has two children -Ida and Frederic William MoClure.

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History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 84

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

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