USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 55
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Hults, Joseph W., a fruit grower of Starkey, located near Seneca Lake, is a native of New York, born in Pultney, Steuben County, Jan- uary 25, 1841, a son of Charles T. and Deborah A. (Tomer) Hults, natives of Steuben County, N. Y. By that union nine children were born, seven now living, viz .: J. W., Mary E., wife of S. S. Hill; Sarah J., wife of W. Dibble; Martha, wife of James Austin ; Rosena, wife of A. Coryell ; Charles T., and one who died in infancy, and one died, Fred, aged seventeen. The father was a farmer and died January 30, 1874. The mother, yet living, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hults was reared on a farm, and married, in Pultney, Steuben County, December 31, 1863, Mary E., daughter of Benjamin and Susan Casterline. She was born September 23, 1844. They had two chil- dren, William J. and Myrta, the latter deceased. Joseph W. owns a grapeyard of thirteen acres and some twenty-three acres in other fruits. Both he and his wife are members of Starkey Methodist Episcopal Church.
Kline, John, A.M., was born in Berne, Albany County, N. Y., Feb- ruary 1, 1849, about a year after his people arrived in this country from Germany. He is the youngest of six children. When he was eleven years old his father died leaving him dependent upon his infantile re- sources. He secured work on a farm at three dollars per month, which he followed for four years when he engaged with a hotel-keeper in Schoharie County, N. Y., as hostler. This position he filled so accept- ably that he was advanced to clerk and bar-tender, continuing thus for
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two years. At seventeen years of age he became a clerk in a dry goods store in Middleburgh, N. Y. Two years later he engaged in a general merchandise store in Rensselaerville, N. Y., as head salesman, which position he held for two years. His schooling thus far had been limited and he now determined to devote himself to study. He entered Starkey Seminary in Yates County, N. Y., September, 1871, where he com- pleted the prescribed course, graduating in June, 1873. The following September he entered Oberlin College where for six years he devoted himself assiduously to his scholastic work. He left school for an occa- sional term to teach, maintaining at the same time his position in col- lege. He was graduated from Oberlin in 1879 and received his degree three years later. December 25, 1879, he married Frances A. Bassett, daughter of Allen Bassett, of Barrington, N. Y. In September, 1879, he established the Dundee Preparatory School, as an individual enterprise and maintained it until the close of the school year in 1891.
Lord, Charles B., son of Benjamin M., was born in Barrington, in 1833. In 1857 he married Ellen Chandler, and in 1864 he removed to Starkey, where he died in 1891. He was a farmer and fruit grower. His family, at the time of his death, consisted of a wife and four chil- dren, two of whom are married. Charles Ray and Edith remain on the homestead with their mother.
Lord, Ebenezer, a native of Connecticut, come to Barrington about 1825, and bought a large tract of land, where he resided until his death. His son, Benjamin M., was born in Ballston, Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1801, and came with his father to Barrington. He married Elizabeth Fleming, a native of New Jersey, and they had six children, of whom Kate is deceased. Benjamin died in 1858, and his wife in 1874.
Lord, Hon. George P., son of Benjamin M., was born in Barrington, July 23, 1832, and reared on the farm, graduating from Hobart College in 1856. He then went to Minnesota while it was a Territory and fol- lowed surveying and teaching. In 1859 he returned to Yates County and engaged in teaching and farming. The same year he married Eliza Bunce, daughter of Loomis Bunce, of Barrington. In the fall of 1860, he was elected school commissioner for Yates County and held that office six years. In 1870 he was elected to the State Legislature and
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re-elected in 1871. In 1879 he was elected State Senator and re- elected in 1881, holding the office for four years. In 1878 he formed a co-partnership with W. C. and C. R. Swarts under the firm name of Lord & Swarts, carrying on a grain, malting and coal business for ten years. In 1891 he was elected president of the Dundee State Bank, which he helped to organize, and of which he has always been a direc- tor. He has been president of the board of trustees of the Dundee Preparatory School since its organization. In politics Mr. Lord is a Republican, having been an active worker in the party for many years.
Maloney, John M. (son of James and Margaret), was born in Caven- dish, Vt., in 1844. When fourteen years old he entered the pension office of the department of the interior at Washington, D. C., where he remained ten years. In 1869 he graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Georgetown. In 1870 he settled in Starkey, where he has since practiced. Dr. Maloney was coroner of Yates County three years, and has been health officer of the town for ten years. He is now treasurer of the Yates County Medical Society. He has been several times' elected delegate to the State Society. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Josephine Huson, daughter of W. H. Huson, and they have six children.
Martin, Rev. Edward Winslow, was the pastor of the Baptist Church after its reorganization. He was originally from Vermont, but came to Harpending Corners from Geneva, where he had organized the only Baptist Church of that village. His pastorate was the longest of any on the records of the Baptist Church of Dundee, commencing in 1830 and ending in 1841. He was beloved by his people and had the confidence and respect of the community. In 1843 he removed to the town of Bath, Steuben County, and supplied the pulpits of the Savona and Oak Hill Churches. He died July 5, 1850. In every parish of which he was pastor a " meeting- house " was built.
Millard, Willis H. (son of Lewis M.), was born in Starkey, April I, 1845, and was educated at the Starkey Seminary. He married L. Issa Hunt, of Milo, by whom he had four children, Della M., Adam Louis, Hugh Robinson and Harriet Lucele. In 1868, in company with his brother George W., he opened a store for general merchandise at Milo
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Center, where they carried on business for four years. He then went to Elmira, traveling for J. H. Lyman & Co., for six months, then act - ing as clerk for the same length of time, then was for one year with Andrews & Co. He next went to Parker's Landing, Pa., engaging in the oil business for eleven years, when he returned to Dundee and formed a partnership with his brother, G. W., in the drug business, under the firm name of Millard Brothers, continuing four years, when G. W. retired from the business on account of failing health, Willis H. having since conducted the business alone. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1870, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church, where he has been superintendent of the Sabbath school since 1887, also class leader and chorister.
Morrill, Prof. Alvah H., a native of Grafton, N. H., born June 7, 1848, is a son of William S. and Minerva T. (Dickerson) Morrill, natives of New Hampshire. The father, a minister of the Christian Church, was born January 28, 1821, and the latter February 14, 1822. She was a member of the same church and died March 29, 1875. Two children were born of this union, a daughter who died in infancy, and the sub- ject of this sketch. Alva H. was educated at Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1872. On December 3 of that year he married Elizabeth L., daughter of John W. and Pamelia W. (Philbrook) Hubbard. She was born December 3, 1853. Five children were born of this union, viz .: Ethel H., born May 15, 1874; Minerva T., born October 31, 1875 ; Herman V., born April 24, 1880; Dwight F., born February 4, 1884; and Pamelia E., born October 24, 1886. Mrs. Morrill's parents are both living. Prof. Morrill after graduating, was installed pastor of the Chris- tian Church at Rye, N. H. From thence he went to Andover, N. H., and became principal of the Proctor Academy until he was called to the pastorate of the Christian Church at Marion, Ind. For the past thir- teen years he had been professor of New Testament Greek in the Chris- tian Biblical Institute at Stanfordville, Dutchess County, N. Y. Septem- ber 1, 1891, he became principal of Starkey Seminary, Eddytown, Yates County, with seven assistants and seventy-eight pupils. The winter term has 130 pupils. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Ovenshire, William, a farmer, came to Barrington when the town was new. Isaac, son of William was born in Barrington in 1822, and mar-
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ried Matilda Snook, a native of New Jersey. They had six children, four living. Isaac died in 1858 and his widow resides with her son James M.
Ovenshire, James M , D.D.S., son of Isaac, was born July 10, 1856, and was engaged in the mercantile business at Barrington, in company with his brother, Myron H., for about three years. He graduated from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1886, and has practiced at Dundee since.
Pierce, Abel, was born in Peru, Berkshire County, Mass., January 18, 1788. He married, in 1817, Nancy Lewis, of the same town, who was born in Taunton, Mass, in 1786, afterward settling in this town, four miles south of Dundee, and in company with his brother bought and cleared 100 acres of land. He was justice of the peace two terms. In going to catch his horse he struck his foot against a stone and fell, rup- turing a blood vessel, from which he died Nov. 9, 1862. His wife died in May, 1863. They had two children, Adaline, widow of Alexander Ross, and Horatio L., who was born here, April 14, 1820, and has always resided in this town. He married Dorothy E., daughter of Ja- cob Y. Carpenter, and has one child, Sophia. He has been a successful farmer. Abner, another brother, came the same year and remained a short time, returning in 1836. He came back again, however, and bought a part of the same farm and other land with it. Abel was a successful farmer and carpenter.
Root, John W., a farmer, living one mile north of Dundee, is a native of New Jersey, Sussex County, born March 4, 1815, a son of Michael and Ann (Waldreth) Roof, who were farmers John W. Roof learned the blacksmith trade in 1833, removed from New Jersey to Starkey, where he followed his trade for three years. He removed to Eddytown and afterward engaged in farming. He has been twice married, his first wife being Rhoda Royce, a native of this county, whom he married in 1846, and by whom he had one son. His wife died in 1846. He married, second, Cornelia B. Hemiup, by whom he had three children, all de- ceased.
Royce, David L., a citizen of Eddytown, and a native of the same, born September 13, 1826, is a son of Matthew (3d) and Jane Hender-
74
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HISTORY OF YATES.COUNTY.
son Royce, and a grandson of Matthew Royce (2d) and Mary (Porter) Royce. Both were natives of Connecticut, born in Woodbury County, in 1744, and immigrated to New York settling in Reading, Steuben County, in 1800. Matthew died October 5, 1814. The grandmother died in the same county June 24, 1810. The father of our subject was born in Woodbury, Conn., March 10, 1775. The mother was born June 16, 1784, and their marriage occurred November 3, 1799. They had six children of whom two survive; David L. and John. They were members of the M. E. Church. David L. was educated at Starkey Seminary, and married in Starkey, February 25, 1863, Elizabeth, daughter of Eli and Betsey (Huson) Townsend. She was born May 13, 1832. Mr. Royce owns a farm of sixty acres. He was appointed post- master of Eddytown under Grover Cleveland, in 1889. He engaged in the mercantile business at Eddytown where he has remained to the present time. He is a Mason of Dundee Lodge, No. 123.
Semans, Nelson, of Starkey, born there March 6, 1819, is a son of David and Polly (Starkey) Semans, who were natives of Maryland, where they were married. They moved to New York in 1816, settling in Tompkins County. In 1821 they moved to Starkey, where they lived until their death. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom survive: William, Nelson, Matilda, wife of John Wilson, John E. Tildon, Benjamin J., and Emily, widow of Robert Conklin. David Semans was a Methodist minister, and died February 2, 1872. His wife, who was a member of the same church, died October 17, 1870. Nelson Semans was educated at Starkey, was reared on a farm, and married, June 28, 1844, Hannah, daughter of William R. Briggs, of this county. She was born in February, 1826. They had five children: William D., Byron H, Martha A., wife of John H. Stark; Corey D., and Carlton B. (deceased). Mr. Seamans owns a good farm of 100 acres. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church.
Shannan, Lewis M., a farmer of Starkey, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., June 17, 1831, son of Thomas J. and Jale (Dunn) Shannan .. The father, a native of this county, was born October 24, 1810, and died March 7, 1886. The mother was a native of New Jersey, born August 27, 1814. They were married in Seneca County, and had fourteen chil- dren, Lewis M. being the oldest. The mother is living with her daugh-
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ter, Mrs. Rachel Rodgers, of this county. Lewis M. was educated in Seneca County, N. Y., and married in Yates County, in 1858, Hulda McCloud. Of their three children, two survive, Emmett, born in 1861, and Ida, wife of Eugene Henderson. Emmett married Ida Swartz, a native of this county, by whom he had one son, Erol. Mr. Shannan owns fifty- five acres of land one-half mile northeast of Starkey station, with thirteen acres of vineyard. His wife died August 10, 1891.
Shannon, Harrison, son of Daniel and Lydia (Raplee) Harrison was born in Starkey, November 28, 1816, and was educated at Dundee. He married, December 27, 1838, Marrinda Lewis, daughter of Joseph C. Lewis, a pioneer of Starkey. She was born July 16, 1818, and bore him two children, Mary, wife of Spencer R. Harpending; and Emmitt, born June 24, 1845, died December 6, 1845. Mr. Shannon owns a large farm and in 1880 built the Dundee elevator. He has been a lib- eral donator to the Baptist Church, to which society at different times he gave $35,000, also $10,000 to Cook Academy. He built the Baptist Church of Dundee, at a cost of $15,000, and has been an active member of the church for many years.
Shannon Daniel, a native of Sussex County, N. J., born in 1787, was twice married, first to Betsey, daughter of Captain Wade, of Sus- sex County, N. J., by whom he had five children. He married second, Lydia Raplee, by whom he had fourteen children, eleven sons and three daughters. Eighteen of the children lived to adult age. Daniel died in 1871, and his wife in 1874. He was connected with the New Jersey Iron Works previous to coming to this county. He was one of the pioneers in Starkey, buying a large tract of land, which he divided among his children at his death. He was a boat builder, and also built the first woolen-mill in the county. He was a member of the church. He was an active business man and a valuable citizen in the early set- tlement of the county. Of the fourteen sons not one used tobacco or intoxicants.
Skiff, Alonzo, a farmer, of Starkey, born in this county September 9, 1826, is a son of Abner and Lorinda (Noteware) Skiff, natives of Con- necticut, the father born in 1800, and the mother in 1806. They were married in Connecticut, and moved to New York in 1823, settling in
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Beartown, this county. They were the parents of seven children, Alonzo being the oldest son. The father was a farmer and died in 1855, the mother dying in 1868. Mr. Skiff was educated at Starkey Semin- ary, and married November 13, 1848, Mahala Gabriel, by whom he had two children, Eugene and Plummer. Mr. Skiff owns and lives on the " Log City Farm " of 106 acres, which he bought in 1864.
Smith, Hon. Clark E. (son of David and Nancy), born in Starkey, March 8, 1842, was educated at the public schools and Dundee Academy, and until twenty-two years of age, was engaged in farming. In 1864 he opened a store in Dundee in company with Chalion Headly, under the firm name of Smith & Headly, continuing until 1866. In the same year he formed a partnership with George W. Kingsley, the firm name being Smith & Kingsley. They continued in the mercantile business until about 1873, when it was again changed to Smith & Headly, remaining so until 1875, when Mr. Smith opened a store alone, and continued until 1885. He was town clerk for five or six years, was elected supervisor of Starkey and held that office six years. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1884 and 1885, and since that has retired from business. He married in 1866, Mary A. Headly, and had one son, William, who died from a shot wound received from a toy pistol, when eleven years of age.
Smith, John J., came to Starkey about 1812, and settled on a farm near Dundee, where he had six children, all sons, three of whom are living, two in Wisconsin, and one in Watkins, N. Y. David was born about 1804, and died in 1854, He was a farmer and married Nancy Plummer, by whom he had five children, two of whom survive, Hon. Clark E., and John J. Both reside in Dundee.
Sprowls, Daniel, a farmer, living three miles northeast of Dundee, was born in Yates County, January 21, 1816, a son of James and Susan Concelius Sprowls, natives of Sussex County, N. J. They moved from New Jersey to New York in 1811, locating in this county, and had seven children, Daniel being the sixth and now the only living child. His parents, who were farmers, died in this county in 1854. Daniel was educated in the public schools of Starkey, and married, March 12, 1840, Rebecca Suppler, a native of Yates County, born April 15, 1818,
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who bore him two children, Mary, the wife of John L. Beardslee, and Albert T., who died aged sixteen years. Mr. Sprowls owns 160 acres of fine land, and has an elegant and commodious residence, which he built in 1870.
Stilson, Dr. George L., was born in Groton, N. Y., September 9, 1851. When twenty-five years of age he commenced the study of Vet- erinary Science with Dr. Waldow Lyons, of Watkins, N. Y., with whom he remained about four years. He commenced practice as a Vet- erinary in Dundee, in 1879, and has since continued here in that profes- sion. He married Hattie R. Holden, of Harford, N. Y.
Tetor, Robert, a native of Columbia County, N. Y., resided in Lyons, Wayne County, from 1835 until 1841, when he moved to Sodus, where he lived till 1855, and then removed to Williamson. In 1864 he re- turned to Sodus, and in 1868 moved to Starkey, this county, where he died June 7, 1882. He married Catherine Steegar, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven are living, and six reside in Yates County, and one in Tompkins County. Mrs. Tetor died September 14, 1884. Of their children, Norman resides in Dundee ; Sylvanus is a farmer and small fruit grower near Dundee ; Mary is married and lives in Freeville ; George resides near Dundee on a fruit farm; Hattie is married, and her sister Phobe lives with her on a fruit farm, near Dundee; and Robert resides near Dundee on a small place.
Titsworth, Hiram, was born in New Jersey, November 9, 1788, and was drafted in the war of 1812. He married Charity Swartz, of New Jersey, in 1812, and settled near Dundee, where he resided until his death. He had five children, two of whom survive, Margaret, wife of William Green, and Baltus. The latter was born December 4, 1814, and has always resided in this town. In 1835 he married Betsey Mil- lard, by whom he had three children, one surviving, Ella, wife of George Millard, residents of Syracuse. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Titsworth owns the homestead farm where his father set- tled, the foundation of the old chimney of the log house still standing. Dr. Millard, a native of Massachusetts, came to Starkey about 1823. He was a farmer and had a family of ten children, of whom one is deceased, and three are residents of Dundee, Mrs. Titsworth, Mrs. Raplee and Mrs. Barnes.
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Townsend, Eli, came to Dundee about 1827, and married Betsey Huson, born in 1785, by whom he had six children. He died in 1885, having been a large farmer and miller at Glenora. His wife survives him. The only son living, William, was born April 29, 1827, and has lived most of his life in Starkey. He is a ship carpenter by trade and has worked in New Orleans and other cities. He was postmaster at Glenora, under Cleveland, and deputy postmaster under Major G. W. Budd, for seven years. In 1878 he built the store which he now occu - pies. In 1853 he was in the mercantile business and boat building, under the firm name of H. P Sleeper & Co., remaining four years. He married, January 31, 1863, Julia Weller, daughter of Judge Noble Weller, of Chemung, N. Y.
Wilson, George N., was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, N. Y., February 8, 1813. In 1822, his father, Solomon, moved to Barring- ton, where he resided most of the time until his death on July 20, 1860. His wife, Mary, died October 28, 1858. George N. received his educa- tion in an old school-house in Barrington, with the exception of a short time at select school, and when fifteen years old learned the shoemak- er's trade with Miles Terrill. At the age of eighteen he went to Ohio, where he worked at his trade for two years, then opened a shop at Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., remaining but a short time. He was for sev- erel years journeyman shoemaker, and then returned to Barrington to care for his aged parents, carrying on business there, and devoting all his spare time to study, teaching school two terms. In 1848 he mar- ried Elsie A. Murlin, who died February 7, 1878. He married second, in 1879, Catharine Sirrine, of Trumansburg, N. Y. Mr. Wilson was appointed loan commissioner for Yates County by Gov. Reuben E. Fenton, and held the office six years. He was supervisor of Barrington one term. It 1861 he was called to Jackson, Mich., to take charge of the shoemaking department of the State prison. In 1864 he entered the employ of Stone & Stewart, publishers, of Philadelphia, and was commercial traveler for about six years, since which time he has retired from active life.
Willis, Dr. F. L. H., a man of culture and intellectual ability and a fine public speaker, came to Yates County from New York city twenty- one years ago. He purchased a fine estate at Rock Stream Point on
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Seneca Lake, near Glenora, one of the most beautiful points on the lake, and the doctor has erected here an elegant summer cottage. Dr. Willis is a native of Boston and was educated at Harvard University and at the Homeopathic Medical College of New York city, where he gradu- ated in 1865. He had previously been a settled clergyman of the Liberal School of Theology. Soon after his graduation he was called to the chair of materia medica in the Woman's Medical College of New York, which he filled for several years, and at the same time secured a lucrative practice. Failing health obliged him to abandon this field of operations. For three years he was unable to do any service in the profession to which he was so much attached. On his return from Europe, in 1870, he became a resident of Yates County, and has identi- fied himself with its interests, maintaining full citizenship here, but has passed his winters in Boston, New York or Rochester. He married Love M., daughter of the late Henry Whitcomb, esq., of Hancock, N. H., a lady of culture and diversified accomplishments, and well known as a talented writer. She is the author of the following beauti- ful religious hymn, that has found a place in the hymnals of almost every religious denomination in the country :
Father ! hear the prayer we offer ; For sweet peace we do not cry, But for grace that we may ever Live our lives courageously.
Not beside the clear, still waters, Do we pray thou wilt us guide, But we'd smite the flinty boulder, Whence the living spring may glide.
Not within the fresh, green pastures, Will we ask that we may lie ;
But the steep and rugged pathway, That we tread rejoicingly.
If we go where flowers of summer Still the rugged path adorn, Let us weave them into garlands, Though each one should bear a thorn ..
Be our strength in every weakness, In our doubt be thou our guide, Through each peril-through each danger, Draw us nearer to thy side.
Dr. and Mrs. Willis have but one child, Edith, the wife of Dr. S. H. Linn, of Rochester, N. Y., a distinguished surgeon, late of St. Peters- burgh, Russia. She has inherited largely the intellectual gifts and accomplishments of her parents, and is a poet of rare sweetness and grace. Her name is frequently seen in the journals and magazines of the day. She has already published two volumes of her poems, and be- ing young in life, will, should she live, doubtless make a decided im- pression upon the literature of the next quarter century.
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