Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 65

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 65

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Wilmot, Servetus, was born in Ogden. October 23, 1826, the third child of pioneer Amos Clark Wilmot, by his marriage with Elizabeth Hiscock, the family being more fully mentioned in the history of Ogden. Servetus was reared to farm work, and was educated in the common schools and Brockport Academy. At the age of twenty-

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

one he began for himself, and as a farmer Mr. Wilmot has enjoyed a fair measure of success, and in the estimation of his fellow men occupies an enviable position. During the past ten years he has been identified closely with the cause of prohibition. The family are members of the Presbyterian church of Ogden Center. In 1849 Mr. Wilmot married Margaret, daughter of pioneer Hendrick D. Vroom, and they have had these children; Henry A., M.D., of Middleport; Herbert S., who died aged twenty-four; and Henrietta M., wife of George L. Hiscock, of Ogden.

Gunsaul, John S., superintendent of canals since March 7, 1882, was born at Am- sterdam, N. Y., December 29, 1830, where his father, John Gunsaul, was a farmer, and later a boatman and grocer, removing in 1845 to Fairport. J. S. Gunsaul began life as a driver on the canal, from which position he has worked his way up to the top of the ladder. Most of his life has been spent in connection with the Erie Canal in some capacity, although he was for a time a traveling salesman. He is a citizen of broad, liberal views and of sterling qualities, In 1857 he married Susan Mars, born in Vergennes, Vt., and their children are Willis A., who became an inspector of lumber at Bradford, Pa,, and whose death occurred in 1889; George M., a traveling salesman who makes his headquarters here; and Elizabeth M., who married Freder- ick S. Keeney, of Belvidere, N. Y.

Spavin, Henry, was born in England in 1820, a son of John, and a grandson of Thomas Spavin. He came to America in 1831 with his father and settled in Oneida county finally, where he resided some time, but in 1861 came to Webster, where he is engaged in farming. The wife of our subject was Theressa, daughter of Henry Tibbits, of Oneida county, and they are the parents of two sons, Charles and John, and three daughters, Ella, Laura, and Allie.

Search, Lewis, was born in Bucks county, Pa .; in 1824, a son of Lot Search, who was born in 1791, a son of Lot, sr., also of that place, who removed to Henrietta in 1825, and cleared the farm now owned by our subject. Lot, sr., was a Revolutionary soldier, and was in the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, etc. Of his six children, Lot, jr., was the second, and lived to the age of ninety-one, He volunteered his services in the war of 1812, and went to Washington to assist in defending that city. His wife was Sarah Scout, of Bucks county, Pa., and their children were Matilda, Henrietta, Wesley, Lewis, Lucinda, Edward and Jane. Lewis Search has spent his life on the homestead, and in addition to his home farm he has also dealt to some extent in farm lands. Since 1887 he has leased his farm. and retired from active work. He has served in various town offices .. In 1846 he married Electa A. Brinin- stool, daughter of Jacob and Harriet Brininstool, who came to this county in 1808, where they endured all the hardships of pioneer life. The father died in 1882, and the mother in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Search have had four children : Frances E. Corbin, of this town; Sarah J., deceased; H. Coralin Fenner, of Scranton, P .; and Bertram L., who is discount clerk and teller in the Merchant's Bank, Rochester.

Dailey, William, was born in Wheatland, Monroe county, April 14, 1846. His father, John, was a native of County Clare, Ireland, who came to America in 1835, and was identified with the farming interests of the county, settling in Chili. Will- iam was educated in the common schools, and is pre-eminently a self-made man. In 1874 he married Jessie McGeary, and they have had nine children: John F., William

FAMILY SKETCHES.

G., James K., George R., Vincent S., Donald A., Oswald J., and M. Bertha. In 1879 Mr. Dailey began the buying and shipping of grain and produce at Brockport, which he has continued to the present time. He takes a prominent position in the affairs of the town, and also in manufacturing enterprises. His home is a large and beau- tiful residence, with spacious grounds, on South avenue.

Gleason Samuel W., M. D., was born in the town of Bergen in 1821, a son of Abi- jah Gleason, who was born in Ellington, Conn. The latter married Susannah Hinck- ley, and settled in the town of Bergen in 1809, crossing the Genesee River on a log. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, after which he returned to Bergen and engaged in farming, being also a captain of militia, justice of the peace, etc. He died in 1875 in his seventy sixth year. Samuel W. was educated at Brockport, and studied med- icine under Dr. Barnes Coon, of Ohio, also Dr. Robert Andrews, and he has been an active member of the profession for fifty-two years, twenty-four years in Bergen, Genesee county, N. Y., seven years in Kansas, one year in Michigan, thirteen years in Holley, Orleans county, N. Y., and seven years in Brockport, town of Sweden, where he is still engaged. In 1865 he married Harriet E .. daughter of Samuel Stone, and they have one daughter, Adelle.

Wilbur, W. Montague, was born in Fairport, October 16, 1864, a son of Smith Wilbur. He was educated at the Union School and Colgate Academy at Hamilton, N. Y., and left school to assume a position with the W. H. Warner Company of Roch- ester, as superintendent of the mailing department, where he remained until 1892. He is now director of the Fairport Military Band, a veryfine organization. Mr. Wilbur has been a member of several prominent church choirs in Rochester and Utica, as solo tenor, notably the celebrated Brick Church Quartette of Rochester, and has been director of the First Baptist church choir of Fairport five years. He has studied under some of the best masters, among them being'Professor Wilkins of Roch- ester. His mother was for forty years leading soprano in the Fairport Baptist church. As a director of musical entertainments Mr. Wilbur has few equals, and was leading tenor in the Elliott Concert Company during their tour of this State in 1888. He is an enthusiastic advocate of Republican principles, and is now president of the Good Government Club of Perinton. In 1891 he married Imogene Hanna of Rochester. Mr. Wilbur enjoys large personal popularity in both Perinton and Rochester.

Garland, Morey C .- Eighty-three years ago, in Kent, England, was born William Garland, the father of our subject. Defrauded of an inheritance, after protracted litigation, he was thrown on his own resources, without capital, and forced to make his own way in the world. With undaunted energy he turned his face toward Amer- ica in 1839, making his own way far west to Wisconsin, where he spent two years without material advancement of his fortunes. In 1847 he came to Pittsford, first purchasing a farm of fifty acres near his present home. Of his nine children only three lived to maturity, and two now survive: John, a resident of Mendon, and Morey C. William has not yet succumbed to the weight of years, but they press heavily upon him, and he lives chiefly in the past. Morey Garland was married August 20, 1876, to Agnes Cattelle, daughter of John C. Cattelle, of English birth, a graduate of St. John's College. Cambridge, C. E. Their children are Elsbeth, Jay C., and Ralph I., a daughter, Crystal Anita, having died in infancy, in 1893.

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

Holden, Alexander M., was born in Mendon in 1848. His father was Timothy H. Holden, a native of Charlestown, N. H., who was descended from good Puritan stock, and whose father and grandfather both served in the Revolutionary army. Timothy came to Rochester in 1838, and soon after to Honeoye Falls. He clerked in a store for a time, his fellow clerk being Henry Keep, in after years a noted railroad man. Mr. Holden married Minerva J. Martin, whose father, Alexander, came to Lima in 1812 and was well known in that section. In 1845 he opened a store in Men- don where he remained till 1866. He was postmaster, and for many years super- visor of the town, and during the war, he was chiefly instrumental in negotiating the town bonds and in filling the town's quota of soldiers. In 1868 he returned to Hon- eoye Falls, where he lived as a banker and merchant until his death in 1892. He had reared a family of three children: Alexander M., Addison R., who died in 1888 aged twenty-eight, and Anna E. Alexander went into mercantile business with his father in 1869. He started an exchange business and later, in 1876, sold the store and opened the Bank of Honeoye Falls. He married Eleanor L., daughter of Isaac L. Warner of Lima, a member of a family which celebrated its centennial in that town in 1894. He has one son, Raleigh W., who is preparing for college at Lima. Mr. Holden is an active member of the M. E. church, and has for several years been a trustee of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. He is also a director of the Rochester and Honeoye Valley Railroad, and the Lima and Honeoye Falls Railway.

Ritzenthaler, Stephan, was born in Hartheim-on-the-Rhine, Baden, Germany, December 25, 1825. His father was Joseph and his mother Gertrude Freund, the former a wagonmaker and a natural mechanic, and of their family of thirteen chil- dren, Stephan was next to the youngest, and he and this youngest, a sister, are the only ones now living. She married Martin Shinzinger, and resides near Newark. In 1846 Stephan went into the army, where he remained until 1850, having the rank of corporal, and was in the war between Germany and Denmark in 1848 in Schleswig- Holstein. After the return of the army to Baden the people rebelled against the Grand Duke Leopold, and the army of 30,000 joined them. Leopold appealed to the king of Prussia, who raised an army commanded by his brother William, afterward emperor of Germany, to put down the rebellion, which was done after a campaign of three months, the leaders being executed. Stephan was a prisoner of war for eleven weeks in the fortified city of Rastatt. After his release he emigrated to America, January 15, 1850, and landed in New York, March 4, 1850; he came to Rochester the next spring, where he went to work and learned the cooper's trade, which he has followed since. He was in Chapinsville three years, went to Chicago in 1854 and returned to Chapinsville the same year, moved to Rochester in 1861, and in 1862 came to Honeoye Falls, where he engaged in saw milling and coopering, and for a number of years did an extensive business. In 1876 he discontinued the saw milling, and in 1878 opened his hotel. His wife was Elizabeth Kreag, who was born Novem- ber 4, 1830, in Seeheim, Darmstadt, Germany, who came here with her parents in 1846. They have had these children: Pierce, who married a Miss Milbeyer of Syra- cuse; Christine (Mrs. John Lapp), and Mary, all of whom live at the Falls; Henry, who died aged twenty-four; Katharine, who died aged five; Katie, who died aged five, and one who died in infancy.

Howe, Dr. William J., for twenty years a successful practitioner of Scottsville,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was born in Buffalo February 24, 1853, a son of Joseph H. Howe, of England, who was born in 1823, and came to this country at the age of twenty-eight years, bring- ing his father with him. He located in Buffalo, where he has ever since made his home. His wife was Sarah A. Hummel, by whom he had two children, William J., and Clementina, wife of Thomas Coulson, of Buffalo. Our subject attended the common schools, and later the Central High School of Buffalo, and then graduated . from the medical department of the University of Buffalo, class of '74. He began practice in Buffalo, and the same year removed to Scottsville, where he has estab- lished an extensive practice, often being called into adjacent towns, and as counsel in adjoining counties. He is a member of the Monroe County Medical Society, and of the Western and Central New York Association. He has been health officer of the town of Wheatland since 1881 and is also resident surgeon for the Buffalo, Roch- ester and Pittsburg Railroad, and is treasurer of the Board of Education of Scotts- ville. In 1881 he married Ella G., daughter of the late Herman H. and Mary E. Miller of Scottsville.

Chadwick, Jeremiah, the well-known banker and philanthropist, late of Fairport, was born here in 1817. His father, Amos Chadwick, was one of the first settlers. He died in 1827, and Jeremiah became the mainstay of the family, but was undaunted by the difficulties and responsibilities of his position, and later in life never failed to recognize and assist any worthy applicant for his benevolence. He early learned the mechanic's trade of wagonmaking, and later conducted a grocery and general store. He was for many years postmaster of this place, and in every way an influen- tial citizen. The banking establishment of Chadwick & Becker dates from 1878, and the firm also dealt largely in produce. Mr. Chadwick's death occurred August 5, 1887, and was considered a public calamity in Fairport. He left a widow, Elizabeth M. (Tillottson) Chadwick, formerly of Lowville. By his first wife, Maria Louise Smith, Mr. Chadwick had four daughters and one son; three of the daughter are liv- ing: Frances, wife of F. F. Schummers, hardware merchant; Margaret Lippincott, of Denver, Colo .; and Harriet J. Moore, of Rochester.

Willianis, Rev. John H., who, since 1890 has acceptably filled the pastorate of the old and historic Ogden Center church, was a native of Wayne county, born Septem- ber 29, 1838. His parents were from New England, settling in Wayne county about 1830; later locating permanently in Mendon. In the family were five children, three sons and two daughters. John H. was educated at Lima, N. Y., and for a time taught in the seminary. Was ordained to the ministry in 1876.

Whittier, J. Newton, was born in Ogden, December 1, 1827, the youngest of seven children of Edmund Whittier, who was a settler in the town in 1815, and who is more fully mentioned in the town history. When Newton was ten months of age his father died, but the mother kept the family together, and gave the children such ad- vantages as her slender means would allow. Our subject finally became possessed of the homestead, which he now owns, though since 1878 he'has resided at Spencer- port village. Mr. Whittier has always been a farmer and a successful business man, who has enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen. During the past ten years he has been identified with the cause of Prohibition, and occasionally has stood as its candidate for town office. He has been a member of the M. E. e

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

church for forty-five years, and has filled the various society offices. He was super- intendent of the Sunday school for nearly twenty-five years, and was succeeded by his son, Wesley A. In 1853 Mr. Whittier married Hannah Norris, by whom he had one child. After Mrs. Whittier's death he married second Mary A., daughter of Richard Hancox, the latter a former resident of Rochester, who died in Spencerport.

Aldridge, Jennett A., widow of John O. Aldridge, was born in Webster, a daugh- ter of Orville Burr Smith and of Elizabeth Cook, his wife; the grandfather, Ebenezer Cook, having been one of the first settlers in Webster. When very young Mrs. Aldridge married J. Henry Vosburgh, by whom she had two daughters, Augusta, now Mrs. Frank Weller, and one who died aged two years. She afterwards married John O. Aldridge, and they had one son, John B., who died aged seven months. Mrs. Aldridge has always lived in Webster, and now owns and lives on a part of the Ebe- nezer Cook farm.

Schuyler, Benjamin D., was born in Sullivan, Madison county, in 1807, a son of David I. of Herkimer county, born in 1778, whose father was Jacob Schuyler. Jacob was born in Albany, a son of Philip Schuyler, who, with his two brothers, Jacob and Peter, came from Holland and acquired many thousand acres of land along the Mohawk River, and who were the original settlers of Albany, of which city Philip was the first mayor. Jacob, the grandfather, went to Deep Springs from Albany about 1770, where he owned large tracts of land. Later he removed to Chittenango, where he kept the first public house. He guided Peter, father of the famous Gerritt Smith, through the woods by an Indian trail on horseback to the latter's possessions. The place later became Peterboro. He was a typical frontiersman, and could speak seven different Indian dialects. During the Revolution he was surprised while away from home, and taken captive by the Indians, and delivered to the British at Niagara, Canada, where he was a prisoner over three years. He died on his farm near Chit-

tenango, at the age of eighty years. Of his three children, the youngest was David I., father of our subject. He was drafted in the war of 1812, serving as cavalryman, and he spent the greater part of his life in Madison county, but died at the home of Benjamin D. in Henrietta. His wife was Maria Woliver, and they had two children, Delilah and Benjamin. His mother dying when he was an infant, he was given, be- fore her death, to his Aunt Schuyler, who later became the mother of his wife. She in turn left him with his grandmother, with whom he lived until manhood. He came to this town in 1829, spent five years here, then went to Clay for the same length of time, engaged in lumbering. Returning to Henrietta, he has made seed growing a specialty since 1868. In 1830 he married Anna Sternberg, of his native place, born in 1811, a daughter of William and Margaret (Schuyler) Sternberg.

Wager, P. Kelsey, was born October 2, 1838. He was the only child of Micheal D. and Sally Ann, and a grandson of George and Abiah Wager, whose maiden name was Abiah Dunning, from Vermont. George Wager came to this place from Mont- gomery county, N. Y., in the year 1817 and settled on the farm. Being a carpenter he built a house where he moved his family two years later. He died in 1835, aged sixty-four, and Abiah, his wife, in 1859, aged eighty-six years. His son, Micheal D., remained on the farm, and in 1837 married Sally Ann, daughter of Cornelius and Hannah Wiser, who moved from Montgomery county in 1815. Micheal D. died in

FAMILY SKETCHES.

1882, aged seventy-six years, and his wife, Sally Ann, in 1894, aged seventy-nine years, when his son, P. Kelsey, succeeded him on the place. The latter has four children, two sons, John F. and Byron D., and two daughters, Ida A. and Clara A., his wife being Julyette E., daughter of Andrew J. and Mary C. Conrow.

Buell, Bela, sr., was born in Newport, N. H., December 18, 1805, and his wife, Almira C. Allen, was born in 1809, she being a daughter of Capt. Samuel Allen, a sea captain and merchant of Newburyport, Mass. They were married February 24, 1831, at Newport, N. H., where the two sons, Samuel and Bela, were born; moved to and lived at Norwich, Vt., nearly thirty years, where the younger sons, Charles and Ransom, were born. In 1865 the family came to Ogden, where a farm had been purchased by Bela, jr., just north of Spencerport village. This splendid property was the gift of Bela S. to his parents, he being then a resident of Colorado, and a re- markably successful man of business. Bela, sr., died March 15, 1872, after a resi- dence here of seven years. He was a man of many warm personal friends. His children were Samuel A., who went to Colorado in 1862, and died in 1870; Bela S., who went to that State in 1860, rapidly made a fortune, and was for many years one of the heavy mining operators of the State. He was a prominent figure in politics there, was clerk of Gilpin county five years, represented the county in the Legisla- ture in 1872, was treasurer of Lake county, and declined a nomination for State treas- urer. The third son of Bela, sr., was Charles H., who always lived at home with his parents, and who died in Ogden June 6, 1894, distinguished more by family honors than any public ones. The youngest son was Ransom, born May 15, 1847, who died November 23, 1863. Mrs. Bela Buell, sr., now resides on the home farm in Ogden, and she and her devoted son, Bela S., remain the sole survivors of the family.

Warner, Samuel, was born at Potter, Yates county, in 1843. Mr. Warner's life has been one of considerable travel and adventure, and his various business enter- prises a diverse theater for operation. He is the second son of Samuel Warner, the elder son, Fred, being a Fairport merchant, and the younger son, Henry, a Penfield farmer. Mr. Warner first learned the cooper's trade at Newark, and in 1866 engaged in farming in Kansas, returning seven years later. He is now a dealer in farming implements. In 1865 he married Maria J. Sammers of Sodus, who died August 30, 1893, leaving three children: Franklin, Mary M., and Irving Henry. Another son, Harrison, died during their residence in Iowa in 1872, aged one year.

Decker, Charles, was born in Clarkson, September 25, 1868, a son of Jonah D., who was a native of Washingtonville, Orange county, and came here about 1858. In 1860 he married Emily, daughter of Isaac Palmer, and their children were George P. of Rochester, Charles of Brockport, Mrs. W. A. Silliman of Clarkson, and Miss F. H. Decker of Richmond, Mo. Mr. Decker was admitted to the bar and practiced in Monroe county, and also established a private bank in Brockport, erecting for the purpose one of the largest blocks in that town, and was prominent in the political affairs of the county. He entered the army as second lieutenant of Co. A, 140th N. Y. Vols., and served during the war. He was for several years one of the managers of the State Industrial School at Rochester. He gave his best energies and business talents to the development of his town, and died in 1891 in his fifty-sixth year. Charles was educated at the Brockport Normal School, and in 1882 engaged in the

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

hardware business. In 1891 he went to California where he remained till 1893. Re- turning to Brockport in 1894 he formed a partnership with Mr. Minot, the firm name being Minot & Decker. In 1893 he married Margaret M., daughter of Alfred M. White, and they have one son, Alfred M.

Wood, Giles S., was born in Henrietta, October 2, 1825. His father, John, was a pioneer in that town, settling there about 1818. He was born at Woodstock, Wind- ham county, Conn., and was in his earlier years a blacksmith by trade. Giles was one of a family of six children, and is now the only son living. When twenty-six he removed to Perinton, locating upon a farm, but devoting most of his time to the practice of his trade, carpentry, of which he is a master. His home is mostly his own handiwork, and is embellished with many specimens of fine woodcraft. He has a cabinet filled with rare geological and mechanical curios, besides many samples of his own skill in taxidermy. In 1851 he married Maria Louise, daughter of Charles Baldwin, who was also an early settler there, and who marched to Albany under arms with the patriots of 1812 in charge of prisoners. Of their five children, three are living: Charles J., Verna M., and Orson B .; J. Alexander and Myra L. being deceased.

Freeman, Daniel C., was born in Clarkson September 28, 1832. His father, Chauncey Freeman, settled in this county about 1826, and his wife was Harriet John- son. He was a prominent and public spirited citizen. Daniel C. was educated at Clarkson and attended a course at Eastman's Business College at Rochester. He spent some time in Brockport and six years at Suspension Bridge. In 1860 he re- turned to Clarkson and engaged in farming, from which occupation he retired in 1886. He has been an inventor of considerable distinction, among the productions of nis genius being an elevator for crushed stone, a seeder for small grains, three different designs of bean planters, a bean puller, and other small implements. He was employed by the D. S. Morgan Co. several winters and made valuable improve- ments on their implements. He was a stockholder in the Brockport Electric Light Co., helped to organize the company, and held the positions of treasurer, secretary and superintendent. In 1860 Mr. Freeman married Sophia A., daughter of Isaac E. Hoyt, and they have three children: Edgar H. of Rochester; Mrs. Belle Steele, and Mrs. May Booth. Mr. Freeman is identified with all the leading events of his town, and for twenty-two years has been steward and trustee of the M. E. church.

Caswell, Warren, was born in Randolph, Cattaraugus county, in 1828, a son of Sylvester of Tioga county, whose father was Samuel, a native of Connecticut and a Revolutionary soldier. The latter came to this county in 1812, and later removed to Cattaraugus county, where he spent his remaining days. Sylvester, the father, re- moved from Henrietta to Cattaraugus county in 1824, where he died. He was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and a strong Abolitionist. His wife was Violetta Acker, born in Rush, and their children were Thomas, Celia, Narcissa, Warren, Edward and Lovina. Our subject began for himself at the age of twenty as carpenter and joiner, erecting seven buildings the first year. Later he became a millwright, and in 1861 came to Henrietta and settled on his present farm of 180 acres. He is also a dealer in cattle. He has served as assessor several years, and for over twenty years has served as justice, being held in high esteem for his upright character and wise

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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 65

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