History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 86

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Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
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JACOB M. SMITH is a son of Reuben and Eliza Smith, who settled in Orangeville in 1848 and reared a family of eleven children, of whom Jacob M. was the sixth. He was burn July 28d, 1840, in Benece county, and came to Wyoming county with his parents. At the age of thirteen be went to Java, where he remained eighteen months. In 1889 be removed to Warsaw, and worked at the carpenter's trade until April. 1870, when he established a lumber yard, which be manages in connection with his other business. He was married January 18th, 1868, to Helen G., daughter of Alexander and Agnes Patterson, of Ution, N.Y. They have four children. Mr. Smith enlisted in Company A., 9th N. Y. cavalry, September 20th, 1861, and served until die- charged (having been promoted to sergeant), July 24th, 1865. He was elected collector of taxes in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Episco- pal church.

PAUL P. STEPHENS Was born in Germany, July 20th, 1844. He has been a resident of Wyoming county since 1848, and of Warsaw, where he is known as a farmer, since 1800, in which year be removed from Bennington July 12th. 1801, be enlisted in Company H., 189th N. Y. volunteers, and served un- til disobarged, April. 14th, 1866. While a resident of Bennington Mr. Stepbens served the town as clerk, and was collector in Warsaw in 1878.

H. L. TABOR, son of Gideon and Polly Tabor, was born in Solpo, Cayuga. county, March 81st. 1808. In 1817 he moved with his parents to Perry. At the age of seventeen be drove stage from Buffalo to Albany, and continued in that occupation five years. At the age of twenty-two be entered school and devoted the following three years to educating himself. From 1686 to 1887 be taught sobool at Wyoming. In 1880 he bought a farm on the West bill in Warsaw, and in 1861 the farm in the valley, one mile south of the village, where he now lives. He was married in 1834 to Cornelia Allen, daughter of Silas and Estber Allen, by whom he has had six children, four of whom are living. Henry Tabor was born September ad, 1844, and lives with his father. He was married September 26th, 1867, to Ellen Webster, daughter of James and Caroline Webster. of Warsaw. They have three children-Carrie, born November 26th, 1871; Charles, born June 11th, 1874, and Jennie, born November 84, 1878.

LIEUTENANT ZERAR LUTHER TANNER, U. S. Navy, was born December 5th, 1865, at Warsaw, and is a son of Zerah Tanner, who was also a native of. Warsaw, born August 9th, 1810, and died in November, 1:08. Lieutenant Tanner's mother, still living, was Ruth Emeline Foster, born in Denby, N.Y .. May 28d, 1818. He lived at Warsaw until 1866, except two years in Towands. Pean. He was in the employ of Gales & Garretsse, machinists, from 1608 to 1865, when he went to England, in connection with an invention bo bad patented there. In October, 1856, be entered on his seataring career, origi- nally for the improvement of his health. He mafled three times to the Best Indies before the Rebellion. He was in the employ of the government through the Rebellion, first in the transport and later in the naval service. His first command was of the captured British blockade-runner " Vireo." In the "Augusta " he made a voyage to Russia in the summer of 1808. Ho spent three years from June, 1867, in voyaging to and in Chinese waters, ro- celving command of the "Aroostook " February 26th, 1870. Two years from the spring of 1871 were spent in a voyage among the South Sea Islands, and the summer of 1878 in surveying in Lower California. In the autumn of 1874 Lieutenant Tanner entered the service of the Pedido Mall Steamelite

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, TOWN OF WARSAW.

Company, and commanded vessels of that company four years. He com- manded the U. 8. steamer " Speedwell " in scientific operations on the New England coast in 1879, and laterin that year was employed in superintending the construction of the U. S. Steamer " Fish Hawk " at Wilmington, Del. He was commissioned ensign Marob 12th, 1868 ; master January &d, 1809, and Heutenant March 31st, 1870.

LINUS W. THAYER .- Ferdinando Thayer, the English ancestor of the sub- jeot of this sketch, came from Braintree, Essex county, Eng., with his father, Thomas Thayer, about the year 1800, and settled in Braintree in the colony of Massachusetts. He was married to Huldab Hayward, of Brain- tree, January 14th, 1468. He resided at Braintree until after his father's death, when he and others removed to a new plantation, first called Nipmug. which was changed to Mendon. He was one of the largest proprietors of the township, and then regarded as a man of wealth. He gave a farm to each of eight sons, some of whom became extensive land owners. He bold many omces of bonor in his town and commonwealth. He died the 28th of March, IT18, at nearly ninety years of age.

Thomas Thayer, a son of Ferdinando and Huldab Thayer, married Mary Adams, and resided in Mendon until his death, in 1786. He died at the age of coventy-six.

Thomas Thayer. fr., his eldest son, was married to Ruth Darling, of Ded- ham, Mass. He resided at Mendon until his death. He held judicial and other important offices. The second son of Thomas and Ruth Thayer, of the same name, was married to Susannah Blake, and removed to Smith- feld, in the colony of Rhode Island.

Gideon Thayer, his eldest son, the grandfather of General L. W. Thayer, was born at amithfeld. R. I., Novessber 5th, 1768; was married to Meribab Wilcox, of the same place, June 10th, 1776, and removed to Mendon, Mass. He was a soldier of. the .Revolution, serving through the war, and was among the first to receive a pension from the government. Afterward, so intense was his hatred of tories, thet at the age of eighty be could hardly be restrained from caning a man wbom be suspected of having been one. After the close of the war he removed te Owen, Tioga county, N. Y., and afterward to Lima, Livingston county, where he resided until his death, at eighty-four years of age.

Willard Thayer, the oldest son of Gideon Thayer, was born in Mendon, Mass., Marob 1st, 1784. Before his marriage be purchased some land upon the " Holland Purchase," then in the town of Batavia, Genesee county (now Gainesville, Wyoming county); cleared a portion of it, and erected a Jog bouse. He was married to Phebe Harris, the only daughter of Isaaoand Merey Harris, of Owego, February 7th, 1889. He was one of the earliest set- tiers of the town of Gainesville. He was the supervisor of the town when a part of Gonesse county several consecutive years, and held other important ofBoes. His fellow citizens, baving the fullest confidence in his judgment and integrity, often sought his advice,sod frequently made him the arbitra- tor of any disputes between them. Mrs. Phebe Thayer died on the 18th of .March, 1617, at the early age of twenty-eight years, and Willard Thayer the Med day of March, 1808, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.

Linus Warner Thayer. second son of Willard and Pbebe Thayer, was born in Gainesville (then Warsaw) May 23d.1511. Until he reached the age of seven- teen be labored on his fifther's farm, and availed himself of the educational facilities whiob the common schools at that time afforded. During the suc- seeding ten years be engaged in teaching in the winter season of each year, sod for a portion of that time be assisted his father on his farm during the summer season. Two of these summers were passed at school, one at a select school in Lima, and the other at the Lima Seminary. During this time, while teaching and laboring, be studied the French and Latin lan- quages, mostly without the aid of tesobers. He had carly formed the de- okgo of obtaining a collegiate education sod becoming a lawyer ; and in fur- therance of this deelga he not only pursued his linguistic studies, but pur- obased Bisokstone's commentaries and Cowen's treatise,and spent his leteure time in preparation for his subsequent career. Atabout the age of twenty- one he received from his father a present of a piece of land, the care of wilob interfered for a time with his purposes; but at the age of twenty- coven be entered the office of I. N. Stoddard, Esq., of Perry, as a student. Some months afterward, and at the close of the school which he was then tetobing, he entered into a law partnership with Levi Gibbs, which con- tinued about two and one-half years. He was admitted as an attorney in the Court of Common Pless of Genesee county to 1880. Upon the organization of Wyoming county to 1841 be removed to Warsaw, and entered into a part- Dership with J. R. Doolittle, now of Wisconsin. This partnership terminated about four years afterward. He has continued in the practice of his pro- fession at Warsaw till the present time. In 1805 his son, Linus L. Thayer, became his partner, in which relation he still continues. In politics Mr. Thayer was a Democrat till 1676, except during the existence of the Free Soll Party, of which he was a member. In 1576 he supported Hayes in op- position to Samuel J. Tilden, for reasons which be then made public. He bes since been independent. He has never sought office, but in 1667 be was Dominated for justice of the Supreme Court for the eighth judicial district. His opponent on the Republican ticket was the late . distinguished lawyer Martin Grover ; and although the Democrats were 20,000 in the minority in the district Mr. Grover was elected by a majority of only 600. In Brie county Mr. Thayer received a majority of 6,000. He was subsequently nom- toated for the same position, but declined. In the winter of 1812 he was without bis knowledge nominated by Governor Hoffman for judge on the commission of appeals; and though there was a large majority of the adverse party in the Senate there was only a majority of two against him ; overy Benstor from the western half of the State voting for his confirmation. In 1896 he was commissioned by Governor Maroy a major in the 20th regimeat of cavalry of this State. In 1:09 be was commissioned colonel of the same regiment by Governor Saward, and -in 1841, by the same governor, a brig- adler-general. October 28th, 1810, be married Caroline M. Lockwood, who

was born January 12th, 1823. Their children living are Linus Lockwood, who married Bmma A. Huriburt; Carrie M .. who married J. W. Chace, and Flor- ence Louisa : Luella died at the age of sixteen ; Clara, at six ; Gertrude, at three, and Lillie in infancy. Mr. Thayer stands among the first in his pro- fession. As a citizen his useful and blameless life has won for him universal respect.

SAMUEL D. TUTHILL, son of Louis and Phebe Tutbill, was born at Goeben, Orange county, October 4th, 1805, and came to Warsaw with his father about 1826. In early life he worked by the month for farmers and others. In 1838 be bought a farm of sixty sores just west of where be now lives. In 1847 be added eighty sores to this farm. He was married December 30th, 1882, to Charlotte Albright, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Albright, of Boss county. O. Her father was descended from a Pennsylvania Dutch family ; ber mother was of Bootob descent. Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill bave bed aine obil- dren, six of whom, four boys and two girls, are living.

ALF. WADSWORTH, son of Joba and Harriet Wadsworth, was born at Brooksport, N. Y .. in 1844. In 1868 he engaged in business as a baker at Brooksport. In 1871 he moved to Warsaw and engaged in the mme business. In 1809 he was married to Florence A. Miller, daughter of Aaron and Abigail Miller, of Brookport, N. Y. They have four children, and ard members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

GEORGE W. WARREN is a son of James R. and Theodosta B. Warren, De- tives of New York and now residents of Canandaigua, N. Y., who were born respectively April 18th, 1819, and August 28th, 1823. Their family consisted of a daughter and two sons, of whom George W. was the second born. He was born in Canandaigua. April 8d, 1819, and remained there until January, 1870, when he came to Warsaw and entered the employ of T. 8. Glover, and continued thers as book-keeper until February $7th, 1878, when a partner- ship was formed under the title of T. 8. Glover & Co., of which Mr. Warren is a member. Heis a member of the Episcopal church.

CHARLES T. WATKINS, son of Warren K. and Minerva Watkins, of Gene- soo county, was born in Kalamazoo county, Miob., May 10th, 1837, and when thirteen years of age came to Pavilion and lived four years ; then came to Warmw, and learned the blacksmith and wagon-troner's trade with C. T. Burton & Co., with whom he worked three years ; then removed to Attics, and worked at his trade until May 24th, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, 17th N. Y. Infantry, and served till June 2od, 1849; then he returned to Warsaw, and worked at his trade till 1856, when he opened a billiard hall, .which be has since managed. August 27th, 1868, he married Looy C., daugh- ter of Silence Bennet. of Pike. Mr. Watkins has held the position of first Heutenant of the S. N. G., and was captain of the ride team that won the State prise at Bay View, September 17th, 1879.

FRANK WILSON, son of William J.and Mary Wilson, was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, July 28th, 1848, and remained with his parents until 1006, when he came to Warmw, and for five years was employed as a olerk. In 1871 be opened a drug and grocery store in partnership with - Smith, at 8 Main street. April 10th, 1878, Mr. Smith died, and Mr. Wilson became sole proprietor. He was married September 5th, 1871, to Fanny J., daughter of T. H. and Julia Buxton, of Warsaw. They have one daughter, Mary F. Wil- son. Mr. Wilson hes bold the office of trustee of the village three years, and is now village treseurer, having been elected in April, 1670. He is president of the R. O. M. A., of Warmw.

ANDREW W. YOUNG. the well known author of works on the solence of government, and of several local histories, was born in Carlisle, Sobobarie county, N. Y., March 2nd, 1883. His ancestry on the paternal aide is trace- able to Holland. His mother was of Scotob-Irish parentage, though her life was spent in this country. His educational opportunities comprised a few years' instruction at the common schools, and a half term in Middlebury Academy at the age of nineteen. Half a dosen years earlier he had taught a term of cobool, and teaching, with farm labor, was the employment of his youth. From the age of twenty-one he was in the mercantile business several years. In May, 1880, he started the Warice Sentinel, and January 1st, 1882, consolidated it with the Republican Advocate, at Batavia, which he had bought. Three years later be sold out and entered on his labors for the diffusion of a knowledge of governmental administration. His works of this nature were " Science of Government," published at Warsaw, October, 1836: " First Lessons in Civil Government," published in 1848, for use in this State, and a similar work two years later for circulation in Ohio : "The American Statesman," a political history of the United States, published in 1836; the " Citisen's Manual," in 1868; " Government Class Report," in 1809; " National Boonomy," in 1880, and " First Book on Civil Government," in 1867. Mr. Young was elected to the Assembly in 1845 and 1844, and a delegate to the constitutional convention in the latter year. He came to Warsaw in 1814, and after spending Dearly the whole of forty years bere removed in 1866 to Ripley, Chautauqua county, and in 1868 to Red Wing, Minn. . At the last named place his wife died, and he soon after returned to Warmw, es- tablishing himself here about a year before his death, which occurred Feb- ruary 17th, 1877. His local historical works above referred to are histories of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and Wayne county, Ind., and the valuable History of Warsaw, from which we have been permitted to draw so largely in the preparation of this work. Many a reader of this notice can, from personal knowledge, supply the deserved eulogy of Mr. Young for which we bave here insuddent space.

We have been unable to obtain data for similar notices of the follow- ing, who are among the leading cithsens of Warmew : 8. Broughton, Charles W. Buell, Leander L. Chatay, A. P. Chopin, E. J. Cooke, Clara B. Darling. H. P. and H. A. Dudley. M. O. Dwyer, Mrs. 8.8. M. Howard, James B. Kotohum, G. M. Lawrence, 8. Virginia Lawrence, Frank Miller, D. C. Munger, D. B. Pook. B. H. Randolph. C. L. Shattuck, George A. Sweet, .8. Wilson Wade, L. E. Walker and C. 1. Williams.

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THE TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD.

HE town of Wethersfield in its present limits was taken from Orangeville, and organized April 12th, 1823. It was named after the town of Wethersfield in Hartford county, Conn., the native place of many of the early settlers. It em- braces all of township 8 in the second range of town- ships of the Holland Purchase, and has an area of 22,572 acres.

The old records of the Holland Land Company show that no articles to land in this town were granted before 1809. In that year Erastus Richards, Jason Smith, Joel S. Smith, Peter Lott, Ebenezer Tyrrell, Gideon Bentley and perhaps a few others obtained articles.

No attempt at a settlement was made until 1809, when James Cravath put up a log house on lot 4, which was im- mediately occupied by his brother, Ezekiel Cravath, and his family, the latter thus becoming the first residents of the town, and, so far as is known, the only ones in that year. The following year settlements were begun in other portions of the town by Lewis Hancock, Calvin Clifford, John W. Perry and one or two others. The two former came from Jefferson county, N. Y., and first located on lot II. John W. Perry and his brother Theron came from Oneida county in the fall of 1810, and settled on the site of Wethersfield Springs. The former lived here about forty years, and the latter until his death, about 1827.

But few settlers located during the year 18rt, among whom were Reuben Briggs and Jonathan King. Mr. Briggs was a native of New England. He came from Oneida county in the'fall of 1811, and took up one hundred acres on lot 15, to which he removed his family the following spring. Here he lived until his death, in the spring of 1829, aged fifty-six years. Jonathan King, from Trenton, Oneida county, bought one hundred acres on lot 32 about the same time. Samuel and Daniel Teal came with him, and assisted him in clearing and building. The following winter he brought bis family and effects, and became the first pioneer in the northern part of the town. In a few years, however, he sold out and removed. Samuel and Daniel Teal remained residents of the town until the death of the former, in 1816, when the latter returned to Oneida county.

Daniel Wolcott and Erastus and Manning Wells, from Wethersfield, Conn., located on lot 31 in 1812. Erastus Richards settled on lot 3 about the same time. In 1813 Ebenezer French settled on lot 2, and Amos P. Randall, from Oswego county, on lot 13. Guy Morgan, from Weth- ersfield, Conn., located on lot 39 in October, 1814. Those

who located in 1815 were Samuel and Israel Reed, on lot 18; Samuel and Bliss Charles, from Maine, on lot 35; Amasa and Daniel Belden, on lot 10, Timothy W. Charles on lot 34, Amos Harriman and Joseph Charles on lot 36, and Abram Allen on lot 17. Joshua Parish, from Otsego county, settled on lot 63 in 1816, and remained until his death, and David Randall, from Oneida county, came in October, 1816. Jesse Howe, from Madison county, located on lot 1 in 1817. He built and occupied the first blacksmith shop in the town, and lived here until his death, in 1866, aged ninety-three years. In the autumn of 1816 Alexander Robinson and his son Samuel, from Maine, settled on lot 20, and John Cop- well, from Albany county, oa lot 58. The first settlers on lot 12 were Thomas Loveland in 1817, and James Warren, jr., in 1818. The former was one of the first to work at shoemaking in the town. William Palmer, from Connecti- cut, was the first to locate on lot 55, in 1818, and Henry Colwell on lot 56, in 1817.

The population of Wethersfield was less at the last State census than at most preceding ones, as shown by the follow- ing returns since 1825: 1830, 1,179; 1835, 1,623; 1840, 1,731; 1845, 1,417; 1850, 1.489; 1855, 1,462; 1860, 1.583; 1865. 1,314; 1870, 1,219; 1875. 1,255.

FIRST TOWN MEETING-SUPERVISORS AND CLERKS.

The first official town meeting was held at the house of Joel S. Smith, March 5th, 1824. Lewis Blodget was chosen moderator, and the following persons were elected to serve as the first officers of the town: Lewis Blodget, supervisor; Joel S. Smith, town clerk; Ebenezer French, Bliss Charles and Guy Morgan, assessors; Daniel Stowe, Alfred Francis and Erastus Richards, commissioners of highways; Reuben Doolittle and William Hatfield, overseers of the poor; Amos P. Randall, Joel S. Smith and Arden Woodruff, commission- ers of common schools; Abel W. Potter, Lewis Blodget and Eugene Z. Stowe, inspectors of common schools; Abel W. Potter and William R. Groger, constables; William R. Gro- ger, collector. There were also appointed fourteen over- seers of highways. It was voted to raise fifty dollars for the support of the poor of the town.

The following are complete lists of the supervisors and clerks of the town from its organization to the present, with the years in which each served:

Supervisors .- Lewis Blodget, 1814, 1888, 181 ; Joel S. Scotth, 188, 1804-56, 1848, 1848 ; Ormus Doolittle, 1837, 1882, 1888 ; Arden Woodruff, 1896, 1696; Des- tel. Wolcott, 1839-41, 1847, 1843 ; Abel Webster. 1844-46; Justus Morgan, 1848, 1893 ; Joba J. Doolittle, 1861 ; Joseph A. Chandler, 1882, 1883; Welcome WBoox, 1864-86 ; William H. Page, 1887, 1865, 1856, 1806 ; James L. Blodget, 1800, 1800;

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SCHOOLS IN WETHERSFIELD-MAILS-DAIRYING-HERMITAGE.

John R. Potter, 1881, 1848 ; William Wolcott, 1800, 1884; Jobn P. Randall, 1837, 1998; Mason Hatfeld, 1880, 1870; Daniel P. Joiner, 1871, 1812 ; Frank H. Wü- COD. 1818, 1814 ; Alfred @ Neely, 1876, 1878; William Body, 1817, 1870; Theo- dore J. Hubbard, Hmm.

Town Clerks .- Joel 8. Smith, 3004, 1868 ; Bites Charles, 1826-99, 1886 ; Eugene Z. Stowe, 1880, 1881 ; Daniel Wolcott, 1808, 1884, 1848; Ormus Doolittle, 1886- 38; Chauncey Doolittle, 1840, 1842, 1899 ; Abel Webster, 1841 ; Croydon Doo- Little, 1844 ; Horace Blodget, 1945, 1846: Biobard L. Charles, 1847, 1876, 1877: Joseph A. Chandler, 1848, 1840: James Rood, 1860 : Dan Doan, 1861 ; Jacob Hibbard. 1883, 1688 ; Daniel M. Wolcott, 1884, 1865; Alexander H. Baker. 1860; John R. Potter, 1837-09 : Luther Brown, 1881, 1848: Alphonso Brown, 1848-00; Lorenso D. Cleveland, 1898, 1997 ; William Body, 1898, 1809; Alfred G. Neely, 1070. 1871 : Beth P. Allen, 1872, 1818; EH Chandler, 1874, 1976; Russell 8. Wheeler, 1876, 1070.

FIRST SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.

The first school taught in the town was opened in the fall of 1813 by Erastus Wells, in his log dwelling on lot 31. It consisted of the children of three families only.

In the spring of 1815 the first school-house in the town was built, of logs, on the northwest corner of lot 32, near the locality known as "the poplar trees," and the following summer Orpha Martin-afterward Mrs. Erastus Wells- taught a school here. In the fall of 1816 John A. Potter caused the second school-house to be built, of logs, near the line between lots 11 and 12-now in school district No. 7; and the next winter a school was taught here by Alpha Omega Rose, followed by Eliza Loveland in the summer of 1817. Among other early teachers here were Oliver Reed and Diantha Potter. This structure sufficed for school purposes in this locality until the spring of 1823, when a frame school-house was built at Hermitage, and Roxie Cra- vath was employed to teach in it the next summer and winter.

A log school-house was built in the southeast part of the town -. now district No. 1-about 1818.

At the organization of the town in 1823 there were seven organized school districts, with as many school-houses, and about 220 school children between the ages of five and six- teen years. In 1835 the latter had increased to 505. The present number is 412. The total amount of public school money appropriated to the several districts in 1825 was $100.09. In 1835 it was $181.06, and in 1879, $1,067.28.

FIRST POST-OFFICES, POST ROUTES AND POST RIDERS.

The first post-office in this town was established in 1823. under the name of Wethersfield, at "Smith's Corners." Joel S. Smith, who was instrumental in its creation, was postmaster for many years after its establishment. The post route was from Fredonia to Perry, and mail was carried on horseback once in two weeks by William Hutchins. Weekly trips began in 1824, and in 1826 a line of four-horse coaches was put on the route, which, however, were unprofitable, and soon withdrawn. The post-office here now receives a daily mail from Warsaw.

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History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 86

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

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