Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 67

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 67

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Howard, D. J., of Fairport, may well be called one of the prominent landmarks of the locality. He was born in 1819 at Bridgewater, Plymouth county, Mass., a son of Ansel Howard, who came to Fairport in 1835, where he died eight years later, leaving seven children: Ansel A., Lorenzo T., John E., Daniel J., Marshall, Harriet

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

and Lucy. L. T. and J. E Howard were for many years carriage builders here, the pioneers in that line. Both are now deceased. Daniel has been engaged in farm- ing and stock business, and always has been foremost in all matters pertaining to the best interests of the community and its growth. In the Congregational church of Fairport he has been and is still a leading spirit. His first wife was Caroline M. Robinson. She died without issue in 1887, and in 1889 Mr. Howard married Mrs. Frances Root of Fairport, who has two sons, James M. Root, of Galesbug, Ill., and Frank L. Root of Rochester, N. Y.

Leggett, Charles, was born in Charlmont, Mass., in 1803, a son of William, of the same place, who moved to Otsego county, and thence to Madison county, and in 1810 came to Henrietta and bought land, building a log cabin, and a year later he returned for his family, and spent his life on the place. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died at the age of seventy-nine. His wife was Sarah Holland, of Massachusetts, and they had six children: Sarah, William, Ivory Holland, Benja- min F., Charles and Stephen. Sarah was the first teacher in the town of Henrietta. At the age of twenty-one Charles began for himself as a farmer, which he has always followed. In 1836 he married Hannah Murray, by whom he had one child, William, who died aged nineteen. His wife died in 1889. He is now a remarkably well-preserved man of ninety-two years, and resides on his farm with his niece, Mrs. Mattie Leggett Brininstool, only daughter of his brother Stephen, who also lived and died on the old homestead. He was a public spirited and energetic man, and served the town as assessor, poormaster, etc. He was captain of a company of State mi- litia, and was also a member of the Monroe County Agricultural Society, being president several years, His first wife was Mary Osborne, by whom he had one child, Franklin. He married, second, Mrs. Martha B. (Murray) Jackson, who had one daughter, Mattie, now wife of Alfred Brininstool of this town. Mrs. Leggett re- sides with her daughter. Mr. Leggett met his death by an infuriated animal on his own farm. Alfred Brininstool, one of the prosperous farmers of Henrietta, was born in this town in 1851, a son of John Brininstool, who is also a native of Henrietta, born in 1822. The parents of the latter came to Henrietta about 1820, but later removed to Cattaraugus county, where they reared their family and spent their remaining days. John, the father, later came to Henrietta, where he settled, and became a prosperous citizen, active and public-spirited, serving his town in various offices of trust. His wife was Sarah Burr of this town, daughter of Asa and Polly Burr, and their children are Mrs. Margaret Hyatt. who died in 1855, Alfred, and Mrs. Ida Hamilton, of Caledonia, N. Y. Our subject began for himself at the age of twenty- two, and has devoted his attention to farming on the homestead. The place be- longed to his father-in-law, Stephen Leggett, and became the property of his wife. Mr. Brininstool is a Mason. In 1873 he married Mattie E. Leggett, and they have one son, Charles Leggett, now preparing for the practice of dentistry. Mr. and Mrs. Brininstool are members of Brighton Grange No. 689, Monroe county, Pomona Grange, and Patrons Fire Relief Association.

Brinker, General Henry, was born in Hanover, Prussia, in 1831, where he was partially educated. In 1851 he came to this country and located in New York city, where he finished his education and embarked in the produce and commission busi- ness. In 1871 he came to Rochester, where he conducted a branch of the same

FAMILY SKETCHES.

business, in connection with the New York concern, the firm being Henry Brinker & Co. He has long been identified with the prosperity and welfare of his adopted country, especially Rochester, where he was largely instrumental in causing the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad to enter that city. He sold them the right-of-way through his property, and purchased the right-of-way of many others for the same purpose, thus increasing the shipping facilities of Rochester, and pav- ing the way for its greater prosperity. He is also a large stockholder in several rail- ways. June 17, 1855, he enlisted in the 3d Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division N. Y. S. M., and August 5, 1857, was promoted second lieutenant, rising finally to be major-general of the 7th Division, and he has done efficient service in many parts of the State. In 1863 he married Annie Bruns of New York city, and they have four children: George H , Charles, Henry, jr., and Josephine. The general is a member of Germania Lodge No. 722, F. & A. M., Iona Chapter No. 210 R. A. M., Cyrene Commandery No. 39 K. T., and is also a 32d degree Mason.

Root, Henry, was born in Saratoga county, July 21, 1817, a son of Abel Root, a native of Connecticut, who came to this county in 1818, and settled in the town of Sweden, where he became a prosperous farmer, serving as justice, assessor, etc. He married Mary, daughter of Jabez Davis, and died in 1836 in his fiftieth year. Henry Root was educated in the district schools and Brockport Collegiate Institute and in 1838 married Sybil Salisbury, who died in 1851; her children were Rufus H. Root, Mrs. F. E. Terry and Mrs. C. J. White. His second wife was Amanda E. Howard, and had no children. Our subject resides on the old homestead, which has been in the possession of the family for seventy-seven years. He has held nearly all the offices within the gift of his townspeople, and has been president of the Brockport Agricultural Society for fifteen years.

Hicks Family, The .- In 1621 the ship Fortune arrived at Plymouth, Mass., from London. She followed the Mayflower. With this second body of Puritans came Robert Hicks, the ancestor of the family in America. He settled in Duxbury, Mass. Two of his sons, John and Stephen, went to Long Island. John took a very active part in the affairs of the settlement, and at times filled the most important offices. A town in Long Island is named for the family; also a street in Brooklyn. Isaac Hicks came from Long Island to Wheatland in the beginning of the present century. His children were Samuel, Edward, Norris, Isaac, John, Abigail, Eliza, and Phoebe, all of whom except Samuel came to this county. Norris came early to Ogden, then having one child, Mary, who afterwards became the wife of Daniel Lord. The other children of Norris were Sarah, Stephen W., William and Victor- ine. The family located on the farm opposite that now owned by Stephen W. Hicks. Norris was a man of great physical endurance, having at one time walked from New York city to Niagara Falls. He died at the age of seventy-ninc. Stephen was born on the farm opposite the one on which he now lives, June 3, 1826, and has made for himself a comfortable home and fortune. He married, in 1850, Martha Ketch, by whom he had two children, Blanche, who died in 1886, and William of Ogden. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have been members of the Baptist Church over forty years. Mordecai Ketch, the father of Mrs. Hicks, was born in Vergennes, Vt., in 1805. A the age of sixteen he started for " the West," as Western New York was

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

then called. He walked from Vermont to Steuben county in this State, where an older brother had previously settled. In 1827 he settled on a farm in Sweden, with his young wife, whom he married in that town. They were the parents of eight children. His only son, James I. Ketch, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, was taken prisoner and died in Salisbury prison in February, 1865.

Gardner, Melvin, was born July 12, 1850, at Springfield Center, Otsego county. Russell Gardner, his father, removed from that county to the town of Penfield in 1852 and engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Co. G, 140th Regiment, and served three years without receiving an injury. He died in 1886, aged sixty-two years, leaving five sons and one daughter. Melvin, the oldest son, now a resident of Fairport, has besides farming dealt largely in agricultural implements and in raw furs of all kinds, shipping mostly to Boston. A staunch Re- publican, he held the position of commissioner of highways for five successive years, - from 1888 to 1892. January 1, 1870, he married Mary Knickerbocker, whose father, the late Milton Knickerbocker, was born and died (aged sixty-five) in the house which is his daughter's home. One son, Chauncey M. Gardner, born June 11, 1873, a graduate of Rochester University, is now a traveling salesman for De Land & Co. of this town.

Barnard, John, came from New Hampshire with his wife and two children and settled north of Adams Basin, in 1816. Pioneer Barnard had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of Plattsburg. His wife was Abigail Hackett, and their children, born in New Hampshire and in Ogden, were as follows: Sylvanus, who died at Adams Basin; Betsey, who married Robert Moore, moved to Michigan, where she died; William, of Ogden; John, who died in Michigan; and Rhoda, who married Lorenzo Baird. After living about forty years on the Ridge John Barnard removed to Adams Basin, and later to Allegany county, where he married a second wife, and there died. Captain William Barnard, as he was familiarly known, was born in Ogden, April 8, 1818, and when old enough began working on the State canal scow, first in the capacity of cook one year, then deck hand for twenty years, and was finally promoted to the position of foreman or captain, which position he now holds, having been in the employ of the State sixty-two years, without missing a single season. Captain Barnard, though seventy-seven years old, is still hale and hearty, and has many warm friends in Ogden and Sweden. His wife was Mary Warren, by whom he had five children: Mary, who married Charles Nobles; Will- iam, of Rochester; Hannah and Lamira, of Ogden, and Charles, who died in Texas January 2, 1894.

Webster, Dr. John, who is remembered as one of the pioneers of Ogden, was born in 1780, and came from Berkshire county, Mass., in 1802, and settled on the farm now owned by his heirs. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife, Susan, was born in the same year as her husband. They settled in the town early in the cen- tury, and the family became prominently identified with the local history of the locality. Mr. Webster practiced medicine in Ogden till his death in 1838. His wife died in 1842. Their children were Stephen, Asa, Jeremiah, Sylvester, Alvin, Huldah, William, John, William 2d, Hiram, and Susan. Of these children John, of Niagara county, and Dr. Hiram Webster of Michigan are now living. Alvin was

FAMILY SKETCHES.

born April 2, 1810, and was one of the most substantial farmers of the town. He married first Lucy A. Woodard, and their one child, Lucy A., died in infancy. His second wife was Cornelia, daughter of Simon and Prudence Bailey, and their chil- dren were Lucy A., who married Dr. William S. Millener; Charles A., of Rochester ; Judson, who died young; and Judson 'H., now of Lockport. Alvin Webster died January 25, 1890. He was one of Ogden's active men, and although originally a Democrat became in later years a strong anti-slavery advocate and zealous Republi- can. The principal station of the famous " underground railroad " was at his house. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Protestant church of Ogden, and a leading member. Simon Bailey settled in this town in 1835, his family coming from Hartford county, Conn., though he was a native of Windham county. He was the father of eight children.

Vroom, Hendrick D., was born in Hunterdon county, N. J., in 1796, and his wife, Maria Beekman, in 1797. They were married in Readington, N. J., December 20, 1820, by Rev. Peter Studdiford, and four years later left their New Jersey home and drove to Ogden, locating where Samuel W. Vroom now lives. The children of these parents were as follows: Peter Q., born February 26, 1822, now at San Francisco, Cal. ; Eliza, born November 15, 1823, who married Amos N. Colby; Henry, born November 7, 1825, now of San Francisco; Margaret, born July 31, 1827, who married Servetos Wilmot; Julia M., born August 18, 1835; Ellen J., born December 17, 1837, who died July 28, 1875; Samuel W., born January 18, 1840; George, born August 16, 1843, who died May 23, 1864. Hendrick D. Vroom died August 8, 1886, and his wife March 18, 1879. Samuel W. Vroom was born on his present farm, educated at Brockport Academy, July 26, 1862, enlisted in Co. B, 108th Regt. He returned to the old farm and has always there resided. Mr. Vroom married, May 24, 1871, Mary J. Tarbox, and had one child, George H., born October 14, 1873. His wife died October 17, 1873, and he married, March 25, 1875, Helen M. Gott, and they have one child, Clifford G., born October 15, 1876.

Hallauer, George, was born in Webster, March 30, 1872, and is the youngest son of John W. Hallauer, who came from Switzerland in 1838, and later came to Web- ster, where he has been engaged in farming, and since 1882 has conducted a fruit evaporating business on a large scale, running at the present time in connection with his sons John and George, a factory in Webster, one in Rushville, one in Hulberton, Orleans county, and one at Utica, Livingston county, Mo., also being part owner and manager of the canning factory at Webster.

Newman, J., was born and reared on a farm at Enfield Center, Tompkins county, N. Y. At the age of eighteen he left the farm to learn the trade of cabinet making. In 1854 he went to the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., and engaged in the building business. In 1856 he married Augusta O. Hulse of Fort Hamilton, N. Y. After his marriage he moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and continued in the building business until the death of his wife five years later. After taking her remains east to her former home for interment, he came to Fairport and engaged in the building business for two years; then he commenced the manufacture and sale of furniture, later taking a partner, and finally selling out to him. In 1866 he married Amy A. Howe, daughter of Dea. Charles Howe of Perinton. In 1873 he purchased the Fairport Herald of G.

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

C. Taylor, associating himself with G. T. Frost of Rochester, and continued the pub- lication of the Herald up to 1874, then selling out to Mr. Frost, he engaged in the preparation of flavoring extracts and perfumery, continuing in the same business up to the present time. Mr. Newman favors the cause of Prohibition, and has filled the office of town clerk and various other positions.

Chappel, Guy (deceased), was a native of Great Barrington, born April 22, 1801. The family were of English extraction, and first settled at New London, Conn. Guy Chappel came to the town of Riga about 1820, purchasing a farm in the wilderness, which he cleared up. He married Clarissa, daughter of Thomas Richmond, and the survivors of their family are Mrs. Sarah A. Orcutt of Minnesota; Mrs. Mary A. Walden, and Mrs. Clarissa Way of this town. Guy Chappel came to Sweden in 1832, and was known as one of the most successful and practical farmers in his town, taking an active interest in educational and religious matters, and he was a man whose judgment was sought by all who knew him. He died in 1883 in his eighty- second year.

Friend, Joseph W., the leading fruit grower in Henrietta, was born in Rochester in 1844, a son of Sebastian Friend, a native of Baden, Germany, born in 1812, and a cooper by trade. At the age of eighteen the latter came to this country (1830) and settled in Rochester, where he worked at his trade until his death. He married Mary Baggy, also of Germany, and one of ten children, all of whom came to Amer- ica with their parents, and settled in Rochester. Their children were Elizabeth, Joseph W., Anna, Amelia, and Barbara. At the age of fourteen our subject learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until 1884. Being somewhat interested in politics, he then received an appointment as janitor of School No. 17 of Rochester, which position he held until 1890, then resigned, and in 1891 came to Henrietta and bought a small farm, where he has since been successfully engaged in small fruit- growing. In 1861 he enlisted in the army, but being under age, his father refused his consent. Mr. Friend is a member of the A. O. U. W., Flower City Lodge. In 1867 he married Francis Minges, born in Rochester, and one of five sons and five daughters of John and Sophia (Wilhelm) Minges of Germany. Their children are: Delia, wife of William Turner of Henrietta; Mrs. Estella Nunn, of Rochester: An- geline, and Jerome J. Mrs. Friend is a member of Maccabees, Flower City Hive.

Brown, William B., was a native of Lyme, Conn., who came when a young man to Ogden, where he was a pioneer and one of the most prominent men of the locality. He was a son of Elder Daniel Brown, who preached the first sermon in Rochester, crossing the river on horseback and delivering his sermon in a log house where the Powers block nów stands; he was a Revolutionary soldier, and died at the age of eighty-four. William B. was drafted into service during the war of 1812, without even the chance of bidding good-bye to his family before starting for the frontier. He was also one of the early judges of the county, and a man of more than ordinary ability and judgment. He was a successful farmer, having accumulated a good property, and his home stood where Henry H. Goff's residence was built later. On this commanding site Judge Brown spent his days, his death occurring in 1854, at the age of seventy. He was one of the most influential men of his town, and was a representative in the State Legislature in 1833. He married first Miss Rachel

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Willey, and had two children, Maria, who married Rev. Lemuel Brooks, and Will- iam, lately deceased. Judge Brown married for his second wife, Sarah V. Toan, by whom he also had two children, Lydia, wife of George M. Cole, and Henry H., a merchant of Spencerport. Henry Harrison Brown was born December 20, 1851, and in 1874 first engaged in business in Spencerport, and with a brief intermission has since been a hardware merchant of the village. He is now president of the New York Retail Dealers' Implement Association, to which he has been twice elected. He has served as village president two terms, and as village treasurer; being also a trustee of the Congregational Church. In 1874 he married Frances E., daughter of John S. Brown of Rochester. They have had one child, Lulu Florence.

Snapp, Archibald T., was born in Warren county, Pa., in 1835, and came to Rush in 1865, with his parents and two brothers. Of the latter, George is residing in this town, and Abram in Caledonia. His parents were George and Catherine (Scheuler) Snapp. Our subject bought the Judge Jones farm, north of Mann's Corners. His father died in 1877 and his mother in 1884. In 1868 Archibald married Emma Dietrich, born in Rochester in 1844. She was the daughter of Abram Dietrich of Rochester, who was drowned in Canandaigua Lake in 1846. He was the son of Jacob, who came to this town from Pennsylvania, later moved to Rochester, and died in Victor. Mrs. Snapp's mother was Margaret Filon of Rochester. She died in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Snapp have two children, Mina, born in 1876, and Roy Filon, born in 1879.

Post, Mrs. Sarah A., a lady of high social and business attainments, was born in this town, a daughter of Jonathan C. and Lucinda A. (Green) Babcock, of Rensselaer county. Her father was Jonathan Babcock, who came to town in 1828. He was an influential farmer of Henrietta, and was captain in the militia. He was born in 1800, and was twice married, first to Ann Morey, by whom he had one child, Jane A. ; and second to Lucinda A. Green, by whom he had five children: Mrs. Lucinda A. Kocher, Mrs. William A. Bly, Mrs. Olive L. Dudley, Sarah A., and Jonathan C. The latter at the age of eighteen enlisted in the 108th N. Y. Vols., returned home sick, and died a month later. The parents died February 24, and March 8, 1858. Mrs. Post married, in 1861, Aldis A. Post, born in this town in 1822, a son of Abel Post, of Vermont, who settled here in 1816. Mr. Post was an active, energetic, and successful farmer, and his death occurred in 1885, since which Mrs. Post has ably conducted the business, and carried on the farm. She has erected a large, handsome, double dwelling, also well-planned barns, and her good judgment and fine taste have given her one of the most beautiful country residences in the town. In a portion of her home her niece, Cora Bly, whom she reared from childhood, resides with her husband, Warren Markham, who conducts the farm. Mrs. Post is active in the Baptist church.

De Witt, C. G., was born at Orangeville, O., March 24, 1851. His father, Jacob C., was at that time a carpenter, and removed to Fairport in 1875, and entered the em- ploy of the De Land Chemical Works as a cooper. Our subject enjoyed but such educational facilities as were afforded by common schools, but being of a studious and thoughtful temperament, made the best of his advantages, and has risen to a position of importance. In 1867 he came here and began " at the foot of the ladder"

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

in the De Land factory, and is now at the head of the shipping department, and since 1884 has been superintendent of their traveling salesmen and agencies. He has served Fairport in many official capacities with credit and satisfaction, as village trustee and treasurer, police justice, water commissioner, clerk of the Board of Edu- cation, etc., and in the First Baptist church as deacon, treasurer and Sunday school superintendent. Personally very popular, his influence is always given towards the furtherance of the greatest good to the greatest number. In 1874 he married Ida J. Colman of Lee, Oneida county, and has one child, Minnie, born December 29, 1874. He lost two sons, Arthur C., and Clarence E., aged respectively two and seven years. His maternal ancestry dates back to William Hyde, the first who came to this country from England in 1633, and whose sister Anna married James II of Scotland.

Nichols, Solomon, was born in 1788, and died March 31, 1864, and came with his family to Ogden from Madison in 1837, settling on the farm now owned by his son Joseph. He was twice married, and the father of fourteen children, all of whom save one have lived in this town. They were Eliza A., Sally M., William W., John F., Munson C. G., Joseph, Benjamin E., Harriet M., Rosetta E .; Henry A., Emily E., Martha E., Charles M., and Jennie E. The father was a carpenter, and the con- ducting of the farm devolved upon his sons. Mr. Nichols died in 1864, aged seventy- six. His first wife was Ann Eaton, who died in 1834, and his second was Caroline Chapman, who died in 1879. William W. Nichols was born in Lenox, Madison county, in 1819, and came to the Genesee country with his father. The oldest son in a large family, he was obliged to work from earliest youth. The care of the family fell largely upon him, but on reaching his majority he began for himself, working on Cornelius Voorhies's farm, and here he has since lived, having married Mary E. Voorhies, daughter of C. Voorhies, and later became owner of one-half the Voorhies farm. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, four grew to maturity, and three survive: Elizabeth A., wife of Henry Dyer; Oscar E., of Ogden; and Susan M., wife of Cornelius Wright of Milwaukee, Wis. His wife died in 1878, and in 1882 Mr. Nichols married Martha W., daughter of Nathan Fay Clark. Mr. Nichols has been for thirty years an elder in the Ogden Center Presbyterian church, and for nearly sixty years a member. Cornelius Voorhies was a son of the pioneer, John Voorhies, who settled on the Buffalo road, seven miles west of Rochester, in 1813. Nathan Fay Clark came to Riga about 1815, and to Ogden in 1835, but was a native of Massachusetts.

Snider, Denton G., was born in Ulster county March 30, 1833, and in 1852 came to Monroe county and engaged in farming, which he still continues, on the farm of Dr. Isaac Garrison. In 1865 he married Mary C., daughter of John A. Latta, who began business at Brockport in tanning leather and in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He was one of the original members of the Local Board of the State Normal School, and a prominent supporter of the M. E. church of Brockport. Mr. Latta married Syrena Shirtz, daughter of Elias Shirtz, and of five children two survive: Mrs. Julia Smith and Mrs. Snider. He died in 1891, in his eighty-first year, a loss to the whole community. Denton Snider is one of the practical and successful farmers of the town, raising large amounts of hay, grain and stock. He has held various positions of honor and trust in the community.

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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 67

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