Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 64

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1160

USA > New York > Monroe County > Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history > Part 64

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Barker, William H., one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of Pittsford, was born here March 16, 1837, and is the oldest living of six sons of David and Sarah Barker, and a great-grandson of Jared Barker, who was a pioneer of this locality,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and whose name is prominently mentioned in early records as school commissioner, and prime mover in any movement calling for enterprise and public spirit. David Barker was widely known and esteemed for his many good qualities, and by energy and perseverance with careful management added largely to the improvement of the town, beside acquiring a large property for his own family. He died in 1879, and his widow, Sarah Barker, in 1894. The youngest son resides on the old homestead. In 1860 William H. married Clarinda, daughter of John Eckler of Springfield, Otsego county, N. Y., and purchased the farm of 150 acres where he now resides, and where he erected, in 1883, a fine residence. Four children were born to them; the oldest, Franklin, resides just opposite the homestead; the others are Satie B., Marie and Lillie; the latter died in 1889 at the age of fourteen.

Loughborough, Ira E., was born at Cleveland, O., November 4, 1833, where his father, the late John F., was a prominent builder and contractor, who spent his last days in retirement at Pittsford. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. Ira entered the employ of the N. Y. C. R. R. in 1854 as painter and decorator at the Auburn shops, where he remained until 1870, when he was appointed foreman of Section No. 2, and has been a resident of Pittsford for over half a century. He has now com- pleted forty-one years of service for the company. In 1855 he married Elma C., daughter of Gilbert Reynolds, and their children are four daughters and three sons, one of the latter managing the homestead farm near Pittsford. Mr. Loughborough has taken an active and influential part in public affairs. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Masons, and has held various positions of public trust, among them being that of commissioner of highways and town clerk.

Light, Mrs. Mary Helen, was born in the house where she now resides, and which was built by her father, the late Sylvester Shepard, who came here about 1828 from Berkshire county, Mass., taking up 140 acres of land, then but partially cleared. The trees now shading the pleasant lawn about the house were planted by his wife, and the mother of six children, who were William, Henry, Theodore, Catherine, Mary H. and Emma J. The first Theodore died in infancy, and another son was given the name, but died from exposure in defense of his country at Bull Run. Catherine is the wife of Prof. Ephraim Hines, owner and president of Hempstead Institute of Long Island. William Henry is a druggist at Buffalo, N. Y. Emma is a physician's wife, Dr. Campion of Camden, N. J. July 27, 1861, Mary Helen Shepard became Mrs. Harvey E. Light, and they removed to Greenville, Mich., where Mr. Light engaged in the nursery business, but was soon called to the battlefields of the South, going out as captain in the 10th Michigan Cavalry, and returning with the rank of major. Mr. Light is the inventor of the Light Patent Eureka Steam Boiler for sanitary heating of residences, and at present is traveling in the West in its interest, three of his sons being in the business at Saginaw, Mich.

Madden, H. S., was born in Cortland, N. Y., June 22, 1855. His father, Samuel, was a native of Ulster, Ireland, born May 23, 1830. He with his father's family, came to America and settled in Cortland, N. Y., in 1840, where he later engaged in the boot and shoe trade. His wife was Sarah S. Clark, a native of Monroe county, and whose father, Daniel Clark, was an early resident of Brockport and publisher of one of its early newspapers. He died at the age of twenty-seven. In 1858 the

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

family removed to the town of Hamlin, and in 1871 came to Brockport. H. S. Mad- den was educated in the State Normal School of Brockport, after which he entered the employ of D. S. Morgan & Co., in 1875 taking the position of office boy, and has served that corporation in every department of its businesa, being now secretary and treasurer of the company. In 1882 he married Bertha C. Barnard of Rochester, and their children are John H., Dayton M., and Sarah Bessie. At the death of D. S. Morgan, our subject, by provision of Mr. Morgan's will, became one of the trustees of the estate. He has served four years as trustee of the village, is a member of the Local Board of the Brockport Normal School, vestryman of St. Luke's Episcopal church, and is identified with all the leading interests of the place.

Howard, Judson, a well-known resident of this county, was born in Henrietta in February, 1825, a son of Ezra Howard, who was a native of Connecticut, born in 1789, a son of Manassa Howard of Connecticut. Ezra came to Henrietta in 1813, and bought fifty acres of land, which was partially cleared, to which he later added more land and became wealthy and influential. He was a mechanic, and when he began in Henrietta made his own chairs, tables, etc., as well as many farm imple- ments for himself and neighbors. The plows were made of wood, with iron points. He was an active and public spirited man, and so patriotic that when the war of the Rebellion broke out, he offered and gave from his own purse ten dollars to every man who would enlist from his town. He died in 1864. He represented his town on the Board of Supervisors and in other official capacities. In 1815 he married Permelia Herrick, and their children were Lucy, Anson, Minerva, Mary A., Judson, Mary, Anna J., and William. The mother died in 1880 at the age of eighty-two. Our subject began for himself on his present place (a portion of which lies in the town of Mendon), and in addition to his home farm of one hundred and fifty acres he has other lands in this town. In 1851 he married Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Flory) Mook. Mr. Mook was born in Union county, Pa., and his wife in Lancaster county. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had two children: Martha M., who died aged eighteen, and Duayne J., who resides at home.

Bly, William B., a prominent contractor and business man of Fairport, was born in Sand Lake, July 12, 1833. Joseph, his father, was a millwright and lumberman of that place, and at various times a town official, having been commissioner of high- ways, justice of the peace, etc. W. B. Bly first engaged in the lumber business, afterwards farming for a time, and in 1867 came to Fairport and bought an interest in the planing mill. In 1855 he married Sarilla Vary, who died in 1870, leaving two children, a daughter, Eva, who married Harvard Speer and lives in Washington, and a son, Will I., who is traveling salesman in the Western States. After his wife's death Mr. Bly spent two years in California, returning to Fairport in 1872, and has since given his whole attention to building. Besides many residences, he erected in 1890 the handsome Bown Block on Main street, and in 1892 rebuilt the De Land Chemical Works. Mr. Bly is prominent in church and society, an exponent of Pro- hibition, has been trustee of the village, and in every way is identified with its best interests. In 1872 he married Mrs. Emma A. Hill of Fairport.

Doty, Anson, was born in Albany in 1811 and came to this county in 1819 with his father, David, and the family were among the prominent farmers of the town, An-

FAMILY SKETCHES.

son married Sophronia, daughter of Joseph Hutchinson, and their children were Hi- ram, Mrs. Elmira Craig, Mrs. Mary Sharp, Mrs. Hannah Hendee, Mrs. Harriet Webster, and Mrs. Adda Kerr. One daughter, Mrs. Clarissa Allen, died in 1894, and one son, Reuben, died in 1884. Our subject is a practical and successful man, and has taken an active interest in town affairs.

Meserve, Samuel H., came from Goshen, N. H., in 1845, and settled in the town of Parma. Previous to that time he had lived for two years in Rochester and vicin - ity. Of his five children, three grew to maturity: Laura, Luthera and Nathan, the latter alone surviving. Samuel died in 1872 and his wife in 1889. Nathan Me- serve was born November 6, 1826, and being an only son, always made his home with his parents. In 1849 he married Matilda J. Hegeman of Greece, and had five chil- dren: Charles, who died in 1890 at Batavia; Addie, wife of Henry Miller of Roches- ter; Lydia, whose twin died in infancy; Hattie, wife of Theron Peck, of Wichita, Kan. William Hegeman came Flatbush, L. I., in 1845 and settled in the southwest part of Greece. He died in Rochester about 1868, and his wife in 1862.

Wansey, Lyman S., a son of John and Rebecca (Davis) Wansey, was born in Ogden June 9, 1824, and was one of the foremost men of the town, having a farm of 140 acres, which was among the best in Ogden. In 1857 he married Maria E., daughter of George P. and Mary A. (Day) Hodges, and they had three children: Charles, Frank, and a daughter who died in infancy. Mr. Wansey died in Ogden August 12, 1894, having served long terms as assessor, road commissioner and trustee of the cemetery. George P. Hodges came from Clarendon, Vt., and settled in Ogden in an early day. With him came his wife and two children: Eliphalet D. and Mary J., both now deceased. After living twenty years on the old place Mr. Hodges removed to Ogden Center, where he died in 1873. His children, born in Ogden, were Maria E., who married Lyman S. Wansey; Wealthy A., now of Vermont; and George H., of Ogden.

Gaskin, E. W., of Pittsford, prominent as a builder and architect, and a resi- dent of the village since 1846, was born in Waterville, Oneida county, November 30, 1830. Edward, the father, was an English gardener and florist, and in 1822, accom- panied by his wife and family of five children, came to this country, having as capi- tal less than $500. He engaged in farming, and was successful. The family resi- dence at various times during our subject's boyhood has been in Oneida, Madison, and Chenango counties, and the educational facilities afforded him were quite limited. However he possessed a strong bent for the acquisition of knowledge, and during his youth, after coming to Pittsford, took up practical surveying under the tuition of L. L. Nichols, whose daughter, J. Adelaide Nichols, was Mr. Gaskin's second wife, and the mother of Bertha Adelaide, now the wife of George Hooker of Pittsford. Mr. Gaskin's first wife was Martha Simonson, who died in 1802, leaving two daugh- ters: Florence May and Myra M. The present Mrs. Gaskin was Emily, daughter of John S. Agate of Pittsford, and her children are Emily N. and R. Edward, who is at present a student at the Rochester Business College. Mr. Gaskin, not only as archi- tect and builder, but as a citizen in private and official capacities, has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of Pittsford. In 1870 he was instrumental d

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

in procuring a new charter. He was a village trustee for not less than sixteen years, and several times its president, besides serving as justice of the peace and assessor.

Taylor, George C., was born at Meridian, N. Y., September 20, 1835, a son of Dr. A. L. Taylor, who died in May, 1861. The latter was for some years prior to his de_ cease engaged in the preparation of patent medicines, a business which has been greatly enlarged and extended in the hands of his son, and which now sends its rep- resentatives to all parts of the country. Mr. Taylor first engaged in business in Ira, where he remained eight years, locating at Fairport in 1865. In 1872 he established the Fairport Herald, and erected the laboratory, corner Main and High streets. In 1861 he married Miss Fuller of Springboro, Pa. It is a singlar fact, and one to which must be attributed the lightness with which he bears his years, that notwithstanding his long experience as a traveling salesman and manufacturer, he has never yet tasted tobacco or liquor. Beside the widely-known "Oil of Life," Mr. Taylor deals largely in other medicines, and in all standard drugs and chemicals usually kept by general stores.

Gomph, George H., the well-known educator and clergyman of Pittsford, was born at Albany, November 4, 1842. His father, George, was of German birth, a skilled artisan and musician, who established his manufacture of piano fortes in Albany about 1858. Our subject's early days were passed in Albany, and he was educated at Hartwick Seminary. His earlier theological studies were at Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary, from which he graduated in 1869. The same year he took up his residence at Pittsford, where he has for more than a quarter of a century been intimately con- nected with its best interests. The German Lutheran Society was organized here in 1867, and their church erected, Rev. Valentine Miller being the first pastor, but it has since May, 1869, looked to Mr. Gomph as its spiritual leader. Largely, also, to his personal energy are its temporal affairs due for the solidity of their tenure. In 1883 the contiguity of the new West Shore Railway detracted so much from the old church as a place of worship that a new edifice was erected on Morningside Park, having 130 families connected, and a communion membership of 425. From 1870 to 1881 Mr. Gomph conducted a parochial school with excellent results, and he has been instrucor in the German language at the Union School. This institution owes in a measure its present status, with modern building and academic curriculum to his personal effort as chairman of the Board of Education. August 31, 1869, Mr. Gomph married Maria Clark, the preceptress of Hartwick Seminary, and their children are Mina, a musician of culture and ability as a teacher; Catharine, of the Normal College at Albany, and George, now a student at home.

Benedict, Edgar, was born in Wilton, Fairfield county, Conn., October 2, 1830. His father, Frederick R., was a native of the same State, and the family trace their descent to Thomas Benedict, who came from England in 1638. F. R. Benedict mar- ried Mary A. Osborn, who died in 1846, and his second wife was Amanda Rockwell. Edgar Benedict was educated at Wilton, and in 1852 came to Brockport and engaged in the retail shoe business, which he now carries on in the same store where he first located. The firm was first C. Wickes & Co., afterwards Wickes & Benedict. In 1875 Mr. Wickes retired and Frank Benedict, a brother, was admitted to the firm, since which it has been Benedict Brothers. In 1858 he married Mary E., daughter

FAMILY SKETCHES.

of Joseph Staples, and their children are Frederick S., an architect of New York city ; Homer B., a law student; George E., now in the office of D. S. Morgan & Co. Our subject has served as town clerk for ten years, and four years as one of the trustees of the village. He is a member of the Local Board of the Brockport State Normal School. He has been for twenty years one of the ruling elders of the Presbyterian church, and has been delegate to the Presbytery and Synod. In 1892 he was a com- missioner from Rochester Presbytery to the Presbyterian General Assembly, which met at Portland, Oregon.

Corby, Stephen L., was born in New Jersey in 1815, and was a shoemaker by trade The family originally came from England and settled in New Jersey when the country was new. Mr. Corby came to Lima in 1836, remained a short time, then went into Monroe county, locating at North Bloomfield. Two years later he came to Mendon Center, near which he has resided since. He has owned various farms, and worked at his trade. By industry and thrift he accumulated a comfortable property, and has always stood high in the estimation of his townspeople. He married in 1845 Lydia, daughter of George Marsh, who moved into the town in 1828. Mr. Corby bought his present home in Mendon Center in 1876, and it is the same spot where he lived nearly sixty years ago when he first came to the town. Mr. Corby was twice married; his first wife was Mary, daughter of John Supener, by whom he had four children, namely: Caroline, who married George Canfield of Pittsford; Cady, of North Dakota; Bentley, who died in boyhood; and Emily, who married John Bone, but she is now deceased. Mr. Corby's children by his second wife are as follows: Bentley, of Pittsford; Sarah A., who married William Woolston of Fishers, she is now de- ceased; and Adellia, who married Daniel Woolston of the town of Perinton.

Sime, George W., was born in Morrayshire, Scotland, April 1, 1844, a son of James, who came to this country in 1850, and settled in the town of Sweden. He married Annie, daughter of John Brown, and their children are George W. and Mrs. Harris Helmes. George W. was educated at the Brockport Collegiate Institute, then taught school for a number of years. In 1869 he married Adelle F., daughter of Hiram Peake, and they have six children: Annie D., Jessie, George B., William J., Arthur H. and Chester R. Mr. Sime has served as school commissioner for six years, super- visor three years, member of the Legislature (1886-87), and has been active in town work.

Wagar, Dexter S., is a son of Amos, and grandson of George Wagar, who came here in 1819. Dexter S. lived on part of the old homestead and devoted himself to farming until 1889, when he removed to Webster village, and erected a fine residence in 1892. His wife was Mary, daughter of Rev. George McCartney of New Jersey, and they have six children: Charles, Arthur, Raymond, Glenn, Hettie and Minnie. Mr. Wagar is now serving his second term as poormaster of his town.

Hubbell, William, came from Sheffield, Mass., and settled on the Ridge in 1840. Ten years later he removed to Ogden, and still later to Clarkson, where he died in 1885. Of his eight children, Jane, born in Massachusetts, married Albert Shears; Eliza, Oreb T., Almeda, Carrie, Mary, Martha and Alice were natives of this county. Oreb T., so well known in Ogden and this locality, was born March 4, 1844; has been a successful and energetic farmer, and takes much interest in local politics, having

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

served four years as overseer of the poor, etc. July 26, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served without serious mishap until the Reams Station battle, where he was wounded, captured, and held a prisoner for over six months. He was finally paroled, and mustered out of service July 26, 1865. He then returned to the farm and has since been a resident of Ogden. He has three times served as commander of Martindale Post, G. A. R., in which he has also held other offices. In 1870 Mr. Hubbell married Clara, daughter of Timothy Howard, of Ogden, and they have had six children, five now living.

Burton, Leonard, was born in the town of Mendon, in 1838. His paternal grand- father was Stephen, a native of Massachusetts, who was one of the earliest settlers of the town, locating there in 1802, and taking up land northeast of the falls now owned by Daniel Fish and George Wood. He had a family of four sons and three daughters, of whom Asa, an infant when the family came to Mendon, grew upon the farm there and spent his life. He married Elsie Richardson, of Livonia, whose father, Joseph, was killed by the Indians in the battle of Black Rock, and was buried at Livonia. The Richardson family came from Livonia to Mendon in the early days. Asa Bur- ton, besides being a successful farmer, carried on the business of brickmaking, and made all the brick used in the locality for many years. He reared a family of nine children, and died in 1871, his wife dying in 1885. Leonard Burton has always lived on a farm. He received a common school education at Honeoye Falls, and in 1862 enlisted in the 108th N. Y. Vols., serving in the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. He was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, which kept him in hospital until the battle of Gettysburg, but was at the front the rest of the time. After the war he bought a farm east of Honeoye Falls, in company with his brother Parley (who was also in the army), and the next year he married Sarah C., daughter of John Fishell, of Rush. They have these children: Alice V., Leonora M., J. Elmer, Clyde H., Josephine B., Jay, and Luetta. Mr. Burton has a farm of 120 acres and carries on quite a business in well drilling. He has served two terms as overseer of the poor.

Malone, Patrick, for more than half a century a central figure in public life in this vicinity, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1822, where his father was a merchant. Emigrating in 1825, they settled first at Montreal, seven years later removing to Rochester, and in 1835 came to Mendon. Graduating from the academy at Henrietta in 1838, Mr. Malone began life as a teacher, in which profession he was eminently successful. During this time he traveled to what was then the occidental boundary of civilization, teaching at Paris, Ky. ; and at Lexington, Mo., he entered the employ of a large mercantile house as a bookkeeper. In 1839 he returned to this county, and in 1844 married Delia Lord, of Mendon. Their three children are Mrs. Delia Lewis, Mrs. N. C. Steele, and Mrs. Harry Stalter, all resident of Pittsford. Three sons are deceased, Thomas, Joseph and Albert; the latter being twenty-four years of age at the time of his death, a clerk in the Monroe County Bank, and a man of great promise and ability. Mr. Malone is a Democrat of the old school, and represented his town in the county legislature from 1864 to 1872 inclusive, and also in 1879. He was for a period of twelve years manager of the State Industrial School, and is still notary public. Despite advancing age, his scholastic attainments are apparent at once, as

FAMILY SKETCHES.

he is in all ways a citizen whom his townspeople delight to honor. He served as inspector of the Monroe County Penitentiary sixteen years.

Case, Nathan, one of the oldest residents of Egypt, settled here in 1837. His record of a long life well spent is without startling event, but of a character without blemish. In 1838 he married Margaret Pierce, who was his companion for thirty years, and the mother of four children: Albert Case, of Michigan; Mrs. Henry Stout- enburg, of Pittsford, N. Y .; Geo. Case, residing on the homestead, and Mrs. Charles Townsend, of Rochester, N. Y. His present wife is Charlotte F. Ritter, nee Gunni- son, of Troy. Mr. Willard Ritter, the well-known traveling salesman for De Land & Co., of Fairport, is her son. Mr. Case has been an invalid since 1885, a sufferer from paralysis, but with mental faculties unimpaired. In his prime he was a man of political and social note, a deacon in the Baptist church, and an assessor of Perinton. He was born in Hoosick in 1814, and accomplished the removal here by driving his own team overland, a journey of five days.

Danforth, Robert, came to Ogden from Livingston county, but was born in Massa- chusetts in 1782, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In Hillsboro, N. H., he married Betsey Dowe, a native of Londonderry, Vt., and they had eight children, three born before the family came to the Genesee country. They were Phineas A., Nason, and Leander. The latter was born in Royalton, Vt., January 30, 1807. The children born in New York State were: Aurelia A., Betsey E., Adeline L., Loemma E., and Robert A. Robert Danforth died in Ogden in 1872, aged eighty-nine, and his wife died in 1852. Leander Danforth, for many years a farmer in Ogden, and a man well respected in the town, married in 1835, Eunice K. Manning, of Bradford, N. H., by whom he had three children: Eudora E., Florence A., and Rosalie A. Leander Danforth died July 8, 1882, and his wife died in 1892. He was a consistent member of the Ogden Center Presbyterian church. Florence A. Danforth and George Stamp were married in 1868, and they have one son, Clarence G. Mr. Stamp died in Con- neaut, Crawford county, Pa., May 31, 1871 Clarence George Stamp married, Janu- ary 2, 1895, Myrta E. French, of Ogden. Leander Danforth was a Republican and an ardent abolitionist. Robert Danforth was a Democrat.

Reeve, John, one of the substantial and conservative farmers of Pittsford, was born in 1832, in the town of Henrietta. William Reeve, his late father, was of English birth. He landed in America about 1816, settling in Henrietta, purchasing a large farm there ten years later. He was closely identified with initial operations on the Erie waterway, beginning with surveying, and later taking contracts for its comple- tion on various divisions of the great work. His personal recollections of those days, when a few scattered domiciles constituted the city of Rochester, and when the com- mon center of to-day was but a morass and dumping ground, are.vivid and enter- taining. John Reeve removed from Henrietta twenty-five years ago, and his farm of 160 acres in southern Pittsford is a marvel of its kind. February 17, 1870, he married Jane H. Proudly, and they have two children: Thomas J. and Ida A.

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Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 64

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1160

Author: Peck, William F. (William Farley), b. 1840; Raines, Thomas; Fairchild, Herman LeRoy
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1160