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 59
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Dox, Abraham, born in Albany, N. Y., June 7, 1777, was reared a merchant. At the age of fourteen years he entered the store of Dud- ley Walsh, of Albany, and remained there until 1804, when he was en- trusted with the management of a branch store in Geneva, N. Y. Soon after he bought the store of Mr. Walsh and conducted the business alone until 1824, when he removed to Benton, now a part of Torrey, and pur- chased a flouring-mill, clothing. mill and tannery. In 1826 his mills were burned, and he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death, in August, 1862. He was a representative in the State legisla- ture in 1812. The same year he organized and drilled a company of 100 men at his expense, took them to the front and was obliged to leave them to attend the legislature. He was an old line Whig.
Hazard Family, The .- The Hazard family in America is of Welsh origin, and descended from Thomas Hazard who emigrated from Wales in 1769, and settled in Rhode Island. Jonathan J. Hazard, jr., who was the progenitor of the Hazards of Yates County, was the fifth gen- eration from Thomas Hazard. He served in the Revolutionary war and was taken prisoner by the enemy. He was a sea captain later in life and died on the ocean. His wife was Tacy Burdick. His son, George V. Hazard, married Marian, daughter of John, and a relative of Judge William Potter. They settled on a farm on City Hill, about 1800, and were in the Friend's settlement. He eventually died at the age of sixty-five years, at Dresden. His son, Jonathan, married Elouis- etta F., daughter of Russel Brown, a pioneer of Torrey. He was a farmer and met his death while bathing in the canal. Their children were George R., Adaline A., and Harriet M. George R. Hazard, born June 18, 1841, married Gertrude Teft, of Torrey, and is now the genial
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proprietor of Dresden Hotel, situated on the site of the first hotel erected in the village of Dresden.
Hurley, Daniel B., was born in Reading, Schuyler County, N. Y., March 14, 1842. August 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hun- dred and Forty-first New York Infantry, and was honorably dis- charged as corporal June 24, 1865, at the close of the war. He was with General Sherman from Chattanooga to Savannah, and participated in over twenty engagements. He resides in a pleasant home in the village of Dresden, where he has lived for the past twenty-five years. January 10, 1866, he married Hannah Petrie, of Dix, Schuyler County, and they have one daughter, Carrie.
Legg, Joshua, came to Torrey from Medway, Mass., in 1773, and set- tled on the farm now owned by his grandson, Caleb J. Legg. Joshua came to this county in company with John Plimpton. They had four yoke of oxen and two wagons. The road was through a wilderness, and they were the first settlers in the town of Torrey. Joshua had eight chil- dren, and all resided and died in this county. Carlton Legg, son of Joshua, was born on the farm and married Rachel Plimpton, by whom he had three children, Moses A., Aaron E., and Caleb J., who was born May 18, 1806, and has always resided on the homestead farm. He married Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of Richmond Henderson, and they have had six children, four of whom now survive. Caleb Legg was for eight- een years extensively engaged in buying and selling grain and farming. He was one of the charter members of the Dresden Masonic Lodge, was several times elected justice of the peace, and held the office of side judge several terms. Both he and his wife are hale and hearty, and have lived together since December 25, 1828. Three children, Hen- derson, Nelson and Charles reside in Torrey ; Henrietta, wife of Marvin Kipp, resides in Benton. Caleb Legg was the inventor of Legg's corn husker and sheller, which is now used all over the United States.
Meek, Charles, son of James and Mary A. (Gillhofun) Meek, was born in Lodi, Seneca County, N. Y, June 23, 1809, and came with his par- ents to Milo, now in Torrey, in 1810. He was reared a farmer, and taught to work. He received a common school education, and began life for himself about the age of twenty-one. He first purchased ten
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acres of land adjoining the homestead, paid for it, and soon after pur- chased 100 acres off his father's farm. His father died about 1835 and he then bought the remainder of the homestead (fifty acres) of the heirs. He made this his home until about 1856, when he purchased two other farms, and on them he erected a fine set of buildings, and removed to it. He still owns 300 acres of excellent land. In 1864 he removed to his elegant home in Dresden, and to secure an investment became the proprietor of a general store, which he conducted the ensuing six years. Mr. Meek has been a busy man, and a man of sterling integrity, who by his financial ability has amassed a fine fortune. He has been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly three score years, and has been for years its efficient trustee and steward. Janu- ary 26, 1832, he married Diana Travis, of Milo. They had eight chil- dren. Those now living are George Meek, a farmer in Milo; Susan E. (Mrs. D. C. Denniston), whose husband is a merchant in Dresden; Ann F. (Mrs. Perry Denniston), whose husband was late a merchant and farmer residing in Dresden ; Mrs. Jennie M. Jones, who is residing with her father, and Theodore H. Meek, a farmer living in Cayuga County, N. Y.
Mittower, John, came to Torrey from Maryland in 1801, settling in the north part of the town on the lake road. There he had a family of five children, three sons, Andrew, John and Abram; and two daugh- ters, Elizabeth and Margaret. Andrew moved to Ohio. John and Abram reside on the homestead. Abram married Catharine Merical, by whom he had seven children. He died August 8, 1846, and his wife on May 4, 1876. Three of the children are living, viz .: Mary A., wife of John Bachman, who resides in Michigan ; Elizabeth, wife of William Brown, who resides in Torrey ; and George. The latter was born December 21, 1826, and married Sarah E. Thompson, by whom he had two children, Aaron G. and Alfred J., both of whom reside in Torrey. George Mittower has been a carpenter and joiner, and held the office of constable three years. He has always resided in Torrey. John Mittower, jr., was drafted and went to Buffalo in 1812. John, sr., died in October, 1817. Nancy Mittower, daughter of John, married Clinton King, and had one child, Libbie, wife of Charles A. Smith. Clinton King died November 9, 1879. His wife died October 11, 1875.
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Charles A. Smith, son of Albert L., was born April 10, 1856, and has been a resident of Torrey since 1863.
Mittower, Martin, son of Abram, was born in Torrey, and married Susan Norman. They had seven children. Mr. Mittower died in 1868, and his wife in 1874. Five of the children are living, the only one re- siding in Torrey being S. Dudley, who was born near the old home- stead, July 16, 1848, and has always resided in Torrey. He married Irene C., daughter of Zera Swarthout, by whom he has two children, Frank D. and F. Mary. He is a farmer and has fifty acres on Seneca Lake.
Mittower, Samuel, son of Abram, was born in 1828. He married Mary A. Vandevender, and had three children, Sarah and Della (both deceased), and Harvey W., who resides on the homestead. The latter married Helena Tanner, and has two children, Wendell and Mary. He is a fruit grower. His father, Samuel, died in November, 1880, and his mother in 1864.
Norman, Solomon, born February 8, 1761, in Cleveland, Yorkshire, Eng., came to America in early manhood. He located first at Geneva, where he was engaged as overseer of a gang of slaves. In 1803 he purchased of William Spring, of Northumberland County, Pa., the Nor- man homestead at three dollars per acre; now owned by his grandson, Amos A. Norman. December 7, 1806, he married Susanna Charles, of Geneva. He was a gentleman of the old school, well educated, held town offices, and the invention of the first grain drill is attributed to him. He remained on this farm until about 1840 when he went to Illi- nois, where he died May 1, 1846. Mrs. Norman died July 18, 1826. They were the parents of twelve children. His youngest child, Harvey W. Norman, was born February 18, 1825, and succeeded his father on this homestead. He was prominent in the Presbyterian Church and an F. and A. M. He was a Republican, holding the office of supervisor and other town offices. November 12, 1846, he married Nancy. A. Van Deventer, who was born September 9, 1825. He died July 21, 1879. Their children were Minard A., born September 3, 1848, mar- ried Hattie M. Hazard, of Torrey, in 1867, was a farmer and mason, and died May 9, 1883; and Amos A., born July 1, 1850. Amos A.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Norman is a farmer and fruit grower on the homestead. He is a prom- inent Republican and has been honored with several town offices. in- cluding supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has been many years worshipful master of Seneca Lodge, No. 308. He has been twice married; March 18, 1875, he married Olive A. Brown, who died January 13, 1876. They had one child, deceased. February 6, 1878, he married Mary E. Marlow, to whom four children have been born, viz .: Harry W., born April 11, 1880; Maud A., born September 28, 1881 ; William A., born December 31, 1882 ; and Stephen D., born September 2, 1884.
Olmstead, George M., son of Francis, was born December 16, 1831, at Adams Basin, N. Y., in 1832. His father moved to Attica, N. Y., where he resided until 1852, when he moved to the town of Torrey, and settled on the town line between that town and Benton, where he and his wife died in 1872. Four of their eight children are living. Eliza- beth J. (Mrs. Levi Black), George M., and Edward D., who reside in Penn Yan, and Henry F., who resides in Evanston, Ill. George P. carried on farming with his father until the death of the latter in 1872. The son now owns the homestead. He has never married.
Patteson, William M., son of William and Jane (Sheppard) Patteson, and grandson of Charles C. Sheppard, of Penn Yan, and Edward Pat- teson, of Philadelphia, was born in Galva, Henry County, Ill., April 7, 1863. He received his education at Phillips Academy, and early en- gaged in agriculture and fruit growing. Mr. Patteson married Cornelia S. Fehrmann, of Plainfield, N. J., April 21, 1886. They have one daughter, Louise M., born July 30, 1887, and one son, William Shep- pard, born June 30, 1890.
Prosser, John, son of David, and a native of Wales, immigrated to America when quite young. They settled first in New Jersey but finally came to Yates County. John married Permelia Conklin, and settled in Dresden. He followed the trade of carpenter and joiner, and died in 1834, leaving a widow and four sons. Mrs. Prosser became the wife of John A McLean, and died at the age of seventy years. David Prosser, oldest son of John, married and removed to Montana, where he now resides, and has four sons and a daughter. Albert G. and An-
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drew J. (twins), sons of John Prosser, born April II, 1824, and are the only members of the family residing in Yates County. Albert G. Pros- ser married Temma Vandeventer, in October, 1848. Mr. Prosser is a dealer in coal, wood, lime and salt, and is also with S. D. Graves, pro- prietor of a vineyard. Mr. Prosser is a highly respected citizen and has served his town as assessor and collector. He had an adopted daughter, the child of the deceased sister of Mrs. Prosser, whom they took into their family at the age of eighteen months. She became the wife of Robert S. Frink, of Auburn, and died June 1, 1890.
Remer, John S., son of Abraham V., was born in Torrey, September 26, 1836. He married Mary Woolever, of Torrey, by whom he had two children, Hettie and Louie. His wife died in 1881, and he married second, Hattie, widow of Myndart Norman. Mr. Remer has been en- gaged in milling business since nineteen years of age, and has been miller at Dresden Mills, since 1866. He began his trade on March 31, 1856, in this mill with Amos C. Leach.
Reynolds, William, came to Yates County, from Orange County, N. Y., some time before 1812. He was a blacksmith. In 1812 he en- listed in the army as a musician and died in the service. He married Miss Sutherland, who was the mother of one son, Jesse, and a daughter, Polly. Jesse Reynolds, born about 1804, at an early age worked out on a farm. At the age of about twenty years he engaged with Judge Samuel S. Ellsworth in the distilling business, continuing in this occu- pation for some ten or twelve years, when he became a farmer. He married Cynthia Carroll, of Dutchess County, and they had twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity. Four are residing in Yates County. James F. Reynolds, born in Jerusalem, January 9, 1838, has spent a large part of his life in teaching. He is now a carpenter ; has served as justice of the peace, and at present holds the office of justice of sessions of Yates County Courts. January 30, 1862, he married Harriet P., daughter of Peter and Harriet Ayres, of Milo. They have had four children : George Fred, Nellie M., and Wilbert and Wilmer (twins).
Speelman, David, a native of Maryland, came to the town of Seneca, Ontario County, N. Y., in 1801, with his father David. The next
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
spring they purchased a farm in the town of Benton, and David, sr., died in 1803. His wife died in 1842. They had three sons and four daughters. David, jr., married Elizabeth Mittower, daughter of John Mittower, and settled in Benton, remaining until 1836, when he sold his farm and bought the farm now owned by his son, Levi. He had three children, Nancy, Magaret, and Levi. He was a farmer, and after 1836 resided in Torrey. He died April 12, 1864, and his wife died November 30, 1857. David, jr., was born in 1781. He was drafted in June, 1815, and went to Buffalo, remaining there several months. In 1 827 he joined the Presbyterian Church, and was an active member un- til his death. His wife joined at the same time.
Speelman, Levi, son of David and Elizabeth Speelman, was born in Benton, October 27, 1809, and has never been a resident outside of this county. In 1839 he was united in marriage with Mary Freeman, daughter of R. L. Freeman, and since 1836 he has resided on the same farm. He had three children, Charles M., who resides in Penn Yan ; Byron F., who died in 1879; and Mary E., wife of Avery C. Dean, and resides in Torrey. Charles Speelman married Deborah A., daughter of Daniel Dean. Nancy Speelman was fatally burned, by falling into the fireplace (it is supposed while fainting) and died January 24, 1826. Margaret married George Garner, and settled in Pultney, Steuben County, but later moved to Oakland County, Mich., where they now reside.
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Smith, John W. 2d, born in Brighton, Sussex County, Eng , January I, 1847, emigrated with his parents, George and Eliza Smith, to Can- ada where he resided until 1867, when he came to Torrey, this county. Mr. Smith is a farmer, lumberman, manufacturer of drain tile and pro- prietor of a steam threshing machine. He is a Republican, is deservedly popular with both parties, and has served his town as supervisor for several years. April 13, 1881, he married Carrie M. Buckland, of Dres- den, and immediately settled in their present home with Mrs. Smith's father, William Buckland. They have one surviving daughter, Annis.
Smith, William J., son of Isaac and Nancy (Stevenson) Smith, was born at Salem, Washington County, N. Y., in 1823. He married, in 1843 Margaret Van Cleef, of Seneca Falls, where they settled and re-
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mained until 1861, when they removed to Dresden, Yates County, N. Y., where he still resides. Mr. Smith was a miller by trade, but on coming to Dresden he at once engaged in grape culture, and now has a fine vineyard of ten acres. His son, George C., of whom we write, was born at Seneca Falls, December 21, 1844, and came to Dresden with his father in 1861. February 10, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Ninety-second New York Volunteers, and at once went to the front with his regiment in the Army of the Potomac, and fought under Generals Hancock, Mead, and Grant, participating in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, Winchester, the Wilderness, and many others. He escaped without even a scratch, and was honorably dis- charged at the close of the war in. 1865. He then traveled through most of the Western States, and finally settled at Dixon, Lee County, Ill., in the fall of 1871 He then engaged in joiner work, and May II, 1872, he married Grace, daughter of H. C. Dudley, esq., and a lineal descendant of Sir Guilford Dudley, of English fame. He. prosecuted his trade under the direction of Col. T. Morgan, an unusually com - petent mechanic, and a large contractor and builder, until 1880. He then established a business of his own. In 1884 he returned to Dres- den and bought a home on Seneca street adjoining his father, where he is successfully conducting his business of contractor and builder. Some of the finest new buildings in Dresden are samples of his skill and also several in Penn Yan. They have two sons and two daughters.
Vermilyea, Isaac, was born in Jefferson, Schoharie County, N. Y., on May 7, 1816, a son of Benjamin and Chloe Vermilyea. About 1818 his parents moved to Prattsburg, Steuben County, where Isaac resided until 1865. He then moved to Torrey, where he has since resided. He married Margaret Smith, of Wheeler, N. Y., and they have one son, Herbert S., who is a farmer. Isaac Vermilyea has been a farmer, but is now engaged in grape growing more especially, having seven acres devoted to this culture. He owns a farm of twenty-five acres. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Penn Yan. He helped to organize the Dresden Grange, was a charter member, and was master one year. He joined the Baptist Church at Prattsburg over fifty-five years ago, and has been an active member ever since. He was justice of the peace in Prattsburgh eight years, and assessor six years. Isaac Vermilyea died August 21, 1891.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY
The Youngs family of America is of English origin, and descended from Rev. John Youngs, who came from Suffolk, England, and settled in Suffolk, Long Island, about 1640. Benjamin F. Youngs, one of the eighth generation, was born in 1790, on Long Island, on the old do- main of his father (who owned a square mile), where he resided until 1850. He then removed to Yates County and became the proprietor of the Mosher mill, about a mile east of Penn Yan. In 1863 he moved to Dresden, where he died in 1865. About 1816 he married Sarah Wiggins, of his native county, and had seven children, two sons and five daughters. Their oldest son, Seth, was born May 13, 1833. He received a good common school education, and is a skillful mechanic and a cabinet-maker, and now engaged in manufacturing artificial stone at Dresden. June 1, 1859, he married Arabella Sprague, who died June II, 1889. They had one son, Edward F. Youngs, who is sta- tion agent, telegraph operator and postmaster at West Camp, Ulster County, N. Y.
TOWN OF BARRINGTON.
Bailey, Joseph S., a farmer and fruit grower, was born in Barrington, Yates County, November 27, 1846, a son of Samuel and Martha (Wright) Bailey, natives of Yates and Putnam counties, N. Y., who were married in Yates County, February 28, 1847. The mother was born June 22, 1814. They had seven children, of whom two are now living: Joseph S. and Martha Ann, the latter the wife of G. W. Finton. The father came to Yates County in 1833. Mrs. Bailey survives her husband. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Joseph S. married in 1868 Sarah E., daughter of Samuel and Margaret (DeGraw) Pitcher. She was born September 28, 1849. There were three children by this marriage, John C., Edwin J. Bailey and Lyman W. Bailey. Mrs. Bailey's mother, born in Tyrone, N. Y., July 15, 1818, was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Knapp, and was married to Samuel Pitcher in 1842. Mr. Bailey was elected assessor of the town of Barrington in 1888 and served one term. He owns 150 acres of land, of which seven acres are in a vineyard. Himself, wife, and oldest son are members of the Baptist Church in Bar- rington. He served three terms as trustee of that church.
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Bellis, Amos, born in Easton, Pa., is a farmer in Barrington, born December 18, 1822, and a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Taylor) Bellis. His father was a native of Easton, Pa., his mother having been born in New Jersey. They were married in Easton, where ten children were born to them, six surviving, viz .: Eliza A., Jeremiah, Mariah, William, Amos, Peter S. The father emigrated from Pennsylvania to New York in 1824, and settled in Yates County, where he died in 1853. His wife died six years later. Mr. Bellis was reared on a farm, receiving a com- mon school education in the Barrington district schools. He married in 1845 Emeline Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, of Barrington. She was born January 23, 1823. Their six children are William, Deloss, Frank, Albert, Martin and Omer. Mr. Bellis has held the offices of constable, notary public and assessor of the town of Barrington. He owns a farm of 108 acres. .
Bullock, Herman, of Barrington, a prominent fruit grower, was born in Yates County, N. Y., March 25, 1848, a son of Calvin and Lucinda (Simpson) Bullock. His father was one of the early settlers of the county, a farmer by occupation, and had a family of nine children, six of whom survive. He died in the county in 1867, and his wife in 1882. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Bullock married, in 1871, Drusilla Finton, a native of this county, born in 1851. By this marriage five children have been born, viz .: Joseph, William, Edgar, Edith and Horner. In 1880 Mr. Bullock engaged in the saw-mill and basket business, employing some thirty-five hands. He has cut mate- rial for about 900,000 baskets this year up to date, and will cut about 5,000 more this fall. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Cornell, David B., a farmer and native of Barrington, born March 4, 1848, is a son of Hiram and Mary (Bishop) Cornell. His parents were both natives of New York, and were married in Barrington, where were born to them five children: Samuel, David B., Isaac C., Edward B., and Jane. Three now living, Samuel, Edward and David. Samuel is a teacher in Truckee, Cal .; has been there a number of years; Edward B. is a Baptist preacher, and is now preaching at Wellsburg, Pa .; Isaac C. was one of the editors of the Yates County Chronicle, firm of Cleveland
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& Cornell, at his death; Jenne, was the wife of H. H. Hewitt. The father and mother were school teachers in the early part of their lives, and in 1845 moved to Barrington, where he bought land and lived a farmer until 1878, when he moved to Dundee, and resided there until his death which occurred in 1876. The mother now resides in Dundee, and is in her seventy-third year, having been a member of the Baptist Church for over fifty years Mr. D. B. Cornell was educated in the Dundee Academy, and at the age of twenty he commenced teaching in the Dundee public schools, and taught in other parts of the country for six or seven years. He was married in 1873 to Lovisa, daughter of Edward Jackson, born in Schuyler County, in 1855. Mr Cornell en- gaged in the mercantile business for one year at Winchester, Va., then sold his stock of goods and bought a farm of sixty-four acres in Bar- rington, N. Y., where he now lives. He has sixteen acres of orchard, and ten acres of raspberries. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have four children, viz .: Edith, Maud, Eva and Claud. They are both members of the Dundee Baptist Church.
Coolbaugh, Squire L., a farmer of Barrington, where he was born June 17, 1829, is a son of Benjamin and Amelia (Loomis) Coolbaugh. The father was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1789, and the mother was born in 1780, their children numbering six, five of whom survive. He was a farmer, and came to New York with his parents in 1806. He died in 1866 and his wife in 1850. Squire L was educated in the district schools of Barrington, and was married in 1854 to Fannie Grey, born in 1839. Mr. Coolbaugh served one term as assessor of the town of Barrington. He owns 114 acres of fine land.
Coons, John F., a prominent farmer, and native of Barrington, Yates County, born May 3, 1852, is a son of Peter and Jane (Miller) Coons. The father was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1821, a farmer, and married in Yates County, where he had four children : Frances, wife of Newton Powlison; Almina, wife of Oliver Swarts; Gertrude, wife of Frank Kendall; and John F. Coons. Peter Coons died in this county in 1882, and his wife in July, 1891. She was a member of the Baptist Church. John Coons was educated at the public schools, at Starkey Seminary, and Dundee Academy. He married, December 24, 1872, Emma
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