USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume III > Part 34
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Mr. Babcock's capabilities were recognized when he was invited to become an organizer of the State Bank at Avon, of which institution he served as a director until his death. His sense of civic pride and public spirit led him to give his services to movements for the public good. During his years of service as a trustee of Avon the present waterworks system was built, and he was a member of the school board for twenty years. For a number of years he was also a member of the Hook and Ladder Company, which he served as treasurer. He was not identified with any secret organizations, but as a member of H. C. Cutler Post No. 213, in which he had served as adjutant, he proudly wore the little bronze button that proclaimed him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a stanch republican in his political belief and a consistent member of the Methodist church, the services of which he regularly attended and to the support of which he made liberal contribution. Mr. Babcock took a deep interest in the Avon Cemetery Association, giving considerable time and attention to its affairs and doing much to bring it to its present splendid condition. It may be truthfully said that no citizen of his generation did as much for this organization as did Mr. Babcock, who for so many years was at its head. Under the terms of his will he set aside five thousand dollars for the erection of a public receiving vault in the cemetery, but owing to the advance in prices of labor and materials after the making of his will, the original sum was insufficient to build the structure according to his specifications. Mrs. Babcock therefore supple- mented this sum with an additional gift of twelve hundred dollars, so that the hand- some vault of Barre granite, with capacity for twelve bodies, was completed accord- ing to Mr. Babcock's original plans in 1921.
On September 28, 1875, Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Frances J. Stapley of
Edgar H. Babcock
Frances J. Babcock
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Avon, daughter of Seaman and Catharine (Drury) Stapley, of English ancestry, and a member of a well known family of Livingston county. Her birth occurred at Geneseo, but she was an infant when her parents located at Avon in 1850. One son, Edgar Eugene, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Babcock in 1882. He died when three months old. Mr. Babcock was fortunate in his selection of a wife, and while he was admittedly a man of unusual business ability, he found much help in the counsel, cooperation and thrift of his wife, which was no little factor in his success. Mrs. Babcock resides on East Main street in Avon, the residence being erected by Mr. Babcock and completed shortly before their marriage, but later remodeled. Mrs. Babcock is a member of the Methodist church and contributes liberally to its support. She recently made a handsome voluntary contribution of five thousand dollars to the Williamsville Home for Children, a Methodist institution at Williams- ville, New York, and delights in rendering aid that will ameliorate the hard condi- tions of life for the less fortunate. She shared her husband's interest in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic and for thirteen consecutive years was president of H. C. Cutler Corps, No. 213, W. R. C., at Avon. Mr. Babcock passed away on August 9, 1919.
EDWARD G. HAYES.
The surname Hayes is the plural form of an ancient word, Hay, or Haw, which means a fence, a hedge or a boundary, also a space enclosed, as a park or field. Its derivation can be traced to many European languages wherein both the primitive and secondary meanings are precisely the same. From this simple root have sprung the names of Hay, Hayes, Haywood or Heywood, Hayland, Greenhays and many others of a similar character. The name of Hayes is to be found both in England and Scotland, but is far more common in the former than it is in the latter country. The New England colonial records of the seventeenth century contain the names of four immigrants of this name: Thomas Hayes of Milford, Connecticut (1645), descendants of whom removed to Newark, New Jersey; Nathaniel, who was of Norwalk, Connecticut (1651); John, of Dover, New Hampshire, who came from Scotland in 1680; and George, of Windsor, Connecticut, who, tradition asserts, was a brother of the preced- ing John. The Hayes of Canandaigua, New York, who form the principal subject of this article, are descended from the Windsor settler.
(I) George Hayes, who arrived in New England about the year 1680, and prob- ably was about twenty-five years old at the time of his immigration, first settled in Windsor, Connecticut, whence he removed in 1698 to that part of Simsbury, Con- necticut, which is now Granby. In a manuscript record written or dictated by his grandson, Ezekiel Hayes, of New Haven, he is referred to as follows: "Went from Scotland to Derbyshire, England, and lived with his uncle. He was anxious to see London, whither he went. Having received some account of America, he took passage for this country." George Hayes' residence in Simsbury was in the locality known as Salmon Brook, and he died there on the 2d of September, 1725. Although he was not active in public affairs his name frequently appears in the early town records of Simsbury in connection with land transactions, assessments, "minister's rates", etc., and from these it may be inferred that he was pious, thrifty and in every way a worthy citizen. His first wife, whose Christian name was Sarah and whose surname is illegible on the Windsor records, died early in 1683, and the children of this union died young. At Windsor, on the 29th of August, 1683, he married (second) Abigail Dibble, only daughter of Samuel, granddaughter of Thomas, and great-granddaughter of Robert Dibble, who arrived from England in 1635, settling in Dorchester, Massa- chusetts. Children, born in Windsor: 1. Abigail, August 31, 1684; married Paul Tompkins. 2. Daniel, born April 26, 1686. 3. Sarah, January 22, 1687-8; married John Gosard (or Gozzard), son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Gozzard of Windsor. 4. Mary, born January 6, 1689-90; married, August 28, 1712, William Rice. 5. Joanna, born October 2, 1692; died after 1780; married James Hillyer of Simsbury. 6. George, born March 9, 1695. 7. William, born June 13, 1697, in Simsbury. 8. Samuel, men- tioned below. 9. Thankful, born 1700-01; married October 9, 1717, Nathaniel Hol- combe. 10. Benjamin, born 1702-03. 11. Dorothy, 1706; married Abraham Dibble, her first cousin.
(II) Samuel, son of George and Abigail (Dibble) Hayes, was born in Simsbury in 1699. He was granted sixty acres of land in Simsbury in 1723; was on church covenant with wife in 1739, and served as tythingman in 1751. He must have lived
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to an unusually advanced age, as there is on record at Granby a deed, executed March 7, 1787, in which he conveys property to his son Silas. He married, in Simsbury, on July 16, 1719, Elizabeth Willcockson (Wilcox), probably a daughter of Samuel Willcockson of Meadow Plain, Simsbury, granddaughter of Sergeant Samuel Will- cockson and great-granddaughter of William Willcockson of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, who arrived in Boston in the "Planter" in 1635. Children of Samuel and Elizabeth Hayes: 1. Lydia, born on January 18, 1720. 2. Elizabeth, October 17, 1721; married March 20, 1740, Joseph Gillett of Simsbury. 3. Abigail, born November 3, 1723; married May 13, 1742, Daniel Hayes, her cousin. 4. Dorcas, born March 15, 1727; married Ephraim, son of Nathaniel and Thankful (Hayes) Holcombe. 5. Sam- uel, born March 26, 1730. 6. Ashael, born June 3, 1732. 7. Susanna, November 26, 1735; married Reuben Holcombe. 8. Andrew, born May 29, 1737. 9. Silas, February 28, 1740.
(III) Captain Samuel (2), son of Samuel (1) and Elizabeth (Willcockson) Hayes, was born in Simsbury, on the 26th of March, 1730, and died in Granby, on the 25th of December, 1801. In the Simsbury records he is designated captain. In 1753 he erected a substantial dwelling house at Bushy Hill, two miles west of Salmon Brook, which he and his descendants occupied for nearly a century. He was a selectman of Simsbury in 1774 and of Granby at its organization in 1786; represented Simsbury in the general assembly in 1778; served as deacon of the church at Salmon Brook from 1786 to 1801. He possessed superior physical strength, excelled in all athletic sports and was one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of his day. In 1750 he married Rosanna, eldest daughter of Judah and Hannah (Buttolph) Hol- combe of Simsbury, and a descendant in the fifth generation of Thomas Buttolph, who landed in Boston from the "Abigail" in 1635. Rosanna was born in Simsbury on the 24th of June, 1732, and died in Granby on the 8th of November, 1814. Children: 1. Rosanna, born March 6, 1751; died in 1770; married Benjamin Hayes, her cousin. 2. Seth, born June 2, 1753. 3. Theodosia, April 16, 1757; died at Delaware, Ohio, in 1834; married, at Granby, General Chauncey Pettibone, son of Colonel Ozias Petti- bone. 4. Samuel, born May 20, 1759. 5. Temperance, December 14, 1761; died in Connecticut in 1787; married Luther Foote. 6. Levi, born April 1, 1763. 7. Pliny, June 6, 1766. 8. Simeon, mentioned below. 9. Joseph, August 31, 1771. 10. Martin, March 31, 1776.
(IV) Simeon, son of Captain Samuel (2) and Rosanna (Holcombe) Hayes, was born in Simsbury on February 17, 1768, or January 1769, and died in Plattsburgh, New York, on the 18th of August, 1841. In 1806 he removed from his native state to Plattsburgh, where he engaged in farming and also turned his attention to mechanical pursuits. He was a mechanical genius and an inventor, and at different times worked at wagon-making, shoemaking and coopering. Above all he was a man of unsullied integrity and deep religious principle. He married (first), March 22, 1790, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Israel Holly, a Congregational minister at Granby. He married (second) at Granby, December 3, 1801, Elizabeth, born in that town, March 20, 1781, daughter of Ichabod and Lucretia (Cossit) Gilbert. She died in Buffalo, New York, on the 14th of June, 1870. Children of Simeon Hayes by first marriage: 1. Child, born in 1791; died in infancy. 2. Betsey Maria, born in Granby on August 9, 1793; died in Plattsburgh on the 20th of November, 1863; married at Canandaigua, New York, October 6, 1812, Israel Skinner. 3. Emily, born in Granby, December 24, 1795; died in Plattsburgh, October 16, 1843; married, in Bristol, New York, January 23, 1817, Orlando Prentice Fay. 4. Child, born in 1797; died in infancy. 5. Child, born in 1799; died in infancy. 6. Simeon, born January 23, 1801. Children of second mar- riage: 7. George, born November 6, died December 18, 1803. 8. George Edward, born November 7, 1804. 9. Willis Gilbert, July 13, 1807. 10. Joseph Byron, men- tioned below. 11. Henry Osmond, born January 31, 1815.
(V) Joseph Byron, son of Simeon and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Hayes, was born in Plattsburgh, June 8, 1809, and died in Canandaigua, New York, October 6, 1841. He was known by his second name, Byron. Succeeding his brother George Edward as a pupil of Dr. Pliny Hayes, he became an apothecary in Canandaigua. He was a man of lofty principle, excellent in every relation and duty of life, and his early death was sincerely mourned by the entire community. He married in Canandaigua, December 20, 1832, Sarah Antis, born in that town on February 21, 1815, daughter of William and Mary (Barlow) Antis. William Antis was the son of a noted gunsmith of the same name who was for many years employed by the United States govern- ment. Mary Barlow was a descendant of Deacon Abner Barlow of Canandaigua, who sowed the first bushel of wheat in western New York. Children of Joseph Byron ' Hayes: 1. Joseph Byron, of whom further. 2. Edward Antis, born November 20,
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1835; died May 24, 1862; a young man of excellent character and promise. 3. Mary Antis, born March 18, 1838; died in Kewanee, Illinois, April 4, 1877; married, at Canandaigua, March 30, 1876 (as second wife), Robert Otley of Kewanee, son of John and Jane (Chapman) Otley of Winchester, Illinois, came from Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1840, born in Weston, Yorkshire, England, June 13, 1831; she had one son, Robert Hayes Otley, born February 23, died August 16, 1877. 4. Abner Antis, born May 29, 1840; died September 28, 1841.
(VI) Dr. Joseph Byron (2) Hayes, son of Joseph Byron (1) and Sarah (Antis) Hayes, was born in Canandaigua on the 11th of May, 1834. He prepared for college at Canandaigua Academy, from which he entered Williams College, graduating with the class of 1854, and his professional studies were completed in the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated a Doctor of Medicine in 1860. His life was spent in Canandaigua, in the practice of his profession. He was an active member of the county and village medical societies and was a deacon of the Congregational church from early manhood until his death, which occurred on July 17, 1890. On the 24th of September, 1861, he married, in Canandaigua, Louise Anne Coleman, born in Frederick, Maryland, September 24, 1833, died in Canandaigua, March 22, 1884, daughter of Chester and Eliza (Graham) Coleman, of Canandaigua. Children, all born in Canandaigua: Edward Graham, mentioned below; George Byron, born July 20, 1865; Chester Coleman, July 31, 1867; Harriet Louisa, May 16, 1871, died April 21, 1875.
(VII) Edward Graham Hayes, son of Dr. Joseph Byron (2) Hayes, was born July 12, 1862. He was a student In the old Canandaigua Academy, the Pennsylvania Military Academy of Chester, Pennsylvania, and Union College (class of 1886) in Schenectady, New York. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
After leaving college he spent a number of years in Colorado in the cattle busi- ness, and then spent some time abroad. In 1890 he married Elizabeth McGill of Jamestown, New York, and in 1893 returned to Canandaigua, where he has since made his home. Mr. Hayes was occupied in private business affairs and in the supervision of Sonnenberg, the estate of Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson, until 1901, when he pur- chased the private banking business of Williams & Barnes. This business was in May, 1902, merged with McKechnie Bank, a state bank, Mr. Hayes becoming vice president and manager. In January, 1909, he was elected president, and continued to hold that office until he became president of the Ontario County Trust Company, which position he still holds. He was one of the organizers of the Genesee Country Historical Association. In politics Mr. Hayes has been an independent republican, and has never sought public office. He served as secretary and treasurer of the board of water commissioners during the construction of the Canandaigua waterworks, and ren- dered ten years' service as police commissioner of the village of Canandaigua. He is connected with many of the charitable and civic organizations of the village and has taken an active part in the work for the improvement and upbuilding of Canandaigua. Children: George McGill, born 1893; Elizabeth, 1898.
J. FOSTER WARNER.
J. Foster Warner, a prominent Rochester architect who has followed his profession in this city during the past four decades, was here born on the 5th of May, 1859, his parents being Andrew J. and Kate (Foster) Warner. The father, who was born in New Haven, Connecticut, March 17, 1833, was a son of Amos and Adah U. (Austin) Warner and obtained his education in Guilford Academy of his native state. It was in 1847, when a lad of fourteen years, that he came to Rochester, New York, here continuing to reside until called to his final rest in 1910, at the age of seventy-seven. With the passing years he became widely recognized as one of the leading architects of the Genesee country, many substantial and important structures standing as monu- ments to his skill in this connection. He designed the Powers block in 1866-1869, the Buffalo city and county hall in 1872, the Rochester city hall in 1873, the First Presbyterian church in 1872 and St. Bernard's Seminary on Charlotte boulevard. His demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret in Rochester, where he had made his home for a period of sixty-three years and had gained a position of distinc- tion in the field of his profession. It was in 1855 that he wedded Kate Foster, by whom he had two sons: William A., who was born in 1855 and passed away in 1917; and J. Foster of this review.
J. Foster Warner obtained a public school education in his native city and
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studied architecture under the direction of his father. When a young man of twenty- five years he began the practice of this profession in Rochester and has here followed it continuously since, having contributed much to the architectural beauty and adorn- ment of the city. J. Foster Warner was the architect of the Monroe county court- house in 1894 and also has to his credit the Granite building, the department store of the Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, numerous public school buildings, including the East and West high, and many of the most pretentious dwellings of the city. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and was a delegate to the International Congress of Architects, held in London in 1906. In addition to his pro- fessional activities he acts as vice president of the Mclaughlin Company and is serving on the directorate of the National Bank of Commerce, the Rochester Telephone Corporation and the Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Manufacturing Company. He has been a member of the board of governors of the Rochester Homeopathic Hospital, and Hillside Home for Children for more than twenty-one years.
On the 18th of April, 1883, in Rochester, Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Adams. They have two sons: Andrew J., born January 19, 1884, is on the editorial staff of the Rochester Times-Union; Captain John A., born September 18, 1886, is superintendent of the department of state police of New York. He is a member of the Genesee Valley Club, also of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and enjoys an enviable reputation in both business and social circles of the city of which he has been a lifelong resident. Whatever tends toward progress and improvement receives his endorsement and support and at all times his course has won for him the respect and goodwill of his fellowmen. Mr. Warner's residence is at No. 5 Prince street.
FRED L. DAKE.
The entire business career of Fred L. Dake of Nunda, Livingston county, New York, has been passed in the service of The Foote Company, Incorporated, of which he is the secretary and treasurer. Mr. Dake was born in Nunda, on May 14, 1886, the son of Abram M. and Jennie (Hungerford) Dake. His father is living, and Fred L. Dake's brother, Virgil H., lives at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The education of Fred L. Dake was obtained in the grade and high schools of Nunda, and his employment with the Foote Manufacturing Company began in 1906. He became secretary in 1916, and in 1918, when it was incorporated as The Foote Company, Incorporated, he was promoted to his present position as secretary and treasurer.
On May 9, 1907, Mr. Dake was married to Lena E., daughter of Milton E. Van Dusen of Nunda. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dake: A daughter, Dorothy V. Mr. Dake is a republican in his political views, attends the Presbyterian church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic order.
WILLIAM JOSEPH REILLY.
Many of Dansville's leading citizens have chosen the nursery business as their life work, and among those who won success in this field of activity was William Joseph Reilly, whose operations were conducted on a large scale. He was born in West Sparta, Livingston county, May 6, 1878, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Mills) Reilly, the former of whom has passed away. He obtained his education in parochial schools and when a boy of eleven gained his first knowledge of the business in the employ of George A. Sweet, one of the pioneer nurserymen of Dansville. For ten years he worked for Mr. Sweet, during which period he gained valuable experience, and then started growing for himself. Later he was joined by his two brothers, Thomas and John, with whom he was associated until about 1909, when the partner- ship was dissolved, and Mr. Reilly thereafter continued alone, and was at the head of the William J. Reilly Nurseries at the time of his death on November 26, 1924. He was in the wholesale and retail nursery business for about twenty-two years and through his industry and clean-cut business methods had established an enviable reputation as one of the largest and most successful growers and dealers in his local- ity. He derived much pleasure from his work, in which he was deeply interested, and had found that scientific methods bring the best results. He was the owner of
WILLIAM J. REILLY
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a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situated three miles below Dansville, and had a large packing house on Maple street, in the village. He grew fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and trees, roses and grapes and issued a carefully prepared catalog which contained comprehensive information regarding his stock. His methods were practical and progressive, and a customer once gained by the William J. Reilly Nurseries was always retained, for the commercial transactions of the firm at all times balanced up with the principles of truth and honor, while the quality of its stock was un- surpassed.
On the 17th of April, 1908, Mr. Reilly was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Dougherty of Dansville, and they had two children: Dorothy K. and William J., Jr. Mr. Reilly was a faithful communicant of St. Patrick's church and also had member- ship relations with the Knights of Columbus, while in politics he was a republican. He always found time to cooperate in every movement seeking the improvement of his community, county and state and his life was earnest and purposeful, crowned with successful achievement. Besides his widow and children he is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Patrick Reilly; two sisters, Miss Mary R. Reilly and Mrs. Edward Upthegrove, both of Dansville; and four brothers, James, Michael and John H. Reilly of Dansville, and Thomas Reilly of Binghamton. Hosts of friends and patrons joined his family in sorrow at his passing.
WILSON R. CAMPBELL.
Wilson R. Campbell, who has always been identified with the banking business, is a prominent figure in financial circles of Steuben county as president of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Bath. In the spring of 1924 he was honored by election to the presidency of Bath, his native village. He was born on the 27th of March, 1880, his parents being Hon. Frank and Mary Louise (Wilson) Campbell, of whom more ex- tended mention is made on another page of this work. In the acquirement of an education Wilson R. Campbell attended Haverling Academy of Bath and subsequently continued his studies in Berkeley Academy of New York city, while later he pursued courses in banking and law in the University of Pennsylvania. The business of bank- ing has since claimed his attention and he has become thoroughly familiar with every phase thereof. He served for eighteen years as vice president of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Bath prior to assuming the presidency of the institution as the successor of his father, and he is likewise the secretary and treasurer of the Empire State Abstract Corporation.
A stanch republican in politics, Mr. Campbell is widely recognized as a most enterprising and loyal citizen whose aid and influence are ever found on the side of progress and improvement. He has served for two years as president of the board of trustees of the New York State Sailors and Soldiers Home in Bath, is treasurer of the Davenport Free Library of Bath and president of the Rotary Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also has membership in the Country Club. Golf is his favorite form of recreation. He enjoys an enviable reputation as a capable financier and his personal characteristics are such as have won him the warm regard and esteem of all who know him.
On January 15, 1914, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Oswald of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they have a son and a daughter: Oswald and Marguerite.
REV. JOHN E. MASSETH.
The man who has lived for others and who has brought into play the best qual- ities of his mind and heart for the moral uplift of humanity, becomes the possessor of that serenity of soul which makes itself felt in every word and in every action. Such a man is the Rev. John E. Masseth, pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church at Dansville, New York, and the far-reaching effects of his work are attested in every community in which he has labored.
Father Masseth was born in Rochester, New York, December 14, 1881. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Quigley) Masseth, are both deceased. He obtained his education in St. Patrick's Catholic school, St. Andrew's preparatory seminary and St. Bernard's Seminary and was ordained June 6, 1908. He was assistant at Canandai- gua, New York, for three years and was next assigned to the Church of St. Bridget's
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