Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history, Part 70

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 70

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

lived to a ripe old age and died on this place, as did also his son Adolphus. His second son, George, in 1816, bought and moved on the farm now occupied by J. G. Aldrich, which joins the old homestead. George was married in 1817. Mr. J. G. Aldrich has one brother, Noel P. A., who entered the Post-office Department at Washington, D. C., in 1882, and had one sister, now deceased. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the execution of Major Andre.

Matthews, Irving E .- In 1817 Edward Matthews, a native of North Wales, Europe, settled on the farm in the southwestern part of the town, still owned by his descend- ants. He removed here from the town of Seneca, Ontario county, N. Y., having emigrated from Europe at an unknown date. He died in 1824 at the age of sixty- three, leaving a widow and three children: John and Margaret by his first wife, and Elias by his second. His widow, Mary, lived to the advanced age of eighty-four, dying in 1850. Elias Matthews was eleven years old when his parents settled here in 1817, and his life was spent upon the farm, becoming in mature years a prominent figure in the social life of the town, being a major in the local militia, and active Whig in politics, and was a member of the county legislature at the time of his death in 1851. In 1829 he married Mehitable Ann, daughter of Charles Kinter, one of the earliest settlers in the town, and she survived her husband six years. Three children were the result of this union: Mary E., Edward C. and Wirt. Wirt Matthews was born February 25, 1838, and has always resided upon the farm, being an active mem- ber of the Republican party and a highly esteemed citizen. He married in 1861, Ellen M., daughter of George W. Brown, of Henrietta, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are members of the Presbyterian church of this town. Their only son, Irving E., born . in 1865, is a civil engineer. He received his education at the common schools of the town, the Rochester Business University, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1887 with the degree of C. E. He has practiced his pro- fession here and in the West, and was connected with the Rochester water-works during the construction of the new conduit from Hemlock Lake, in 1893-94. In 1887 he married Hattie A. Hodges, of Henrietta, and has one son, Stanley W.

Slocum, George E,, was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, June 20, 1824, a son of Mathew B., a native of Newport, R. I. Anthony Slocum is recorded as one of the forty-six first ancient purchasers, in 1637, of the territory of Cohannet, which was incorporated March 3, 1639, with the name of Taunton, in New Plymouth, now Massachusetts. He came from England with three sons and a daughter, and his oldest son, Giles, is the common ancestor of the Slocum family in America. Mathew B., father of the subject, removed to Albany, N. Y., where he married in 1814, Mary, daughter of John Ostrander of Albany, and three years later he settled in Delphi, Onondaga county, where he became a merchant. He died in August, 1853, while visiting in Scottsville. His wife died in Syracuse in 1865. Of their eleven chil- dren, George E. was the fifth. Major-general Henry W. Slocum, of war fame, was the next younger brother. Mr. Slocum dwelt in Cortland from 1839 to 1843, and from 1843 to 1849 in the city of Rochester, where he worked at his trade of tinsmith. In 1849 he removed to Scottsville, Monroe county, where he was actively and suc- cessfully engaged in the hardware, stove and tinware business. In 1892 he retired and left the business in the hands of his son, Le Roy, He has served as justice and

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assessor. In 1848 he married Lydia A., daughter of Garrett and Alice M. (Mors) Fort, and their children are Earl H., George F., Le Roy M. and Mors O.

Clark, Brackett H., was born in Salem, Mass., January 17, 1821, was educated in the common schools and graduated from the high school. In 1847 he married Lu- cretia Bowker of his native place, whose mother was a direct descendant from John Rogers, the martyr. They have had three children: Frank H., who died in infancy ; Daniel R., born April 10, 1853, who is a member of the Clark Paint & Oil Company. He married Helon Ross, of Rossburg, and has two daughters, Helene, and Lucretia R. The youngest son, George H., is a book-keeper by occupation, and has traveled extensively in Europe for the benefit of his health. He was born in this city Octo- ber 14, 1860, and resides at home. Mr. Clark left his home in Salem, going to Law- rence, Mass., in 1846, where he became identified with the business interests of that city, building the first three-story brick business block in the town. He came to this city in 1858, where he has resided continuously on Lake Avenue for thirty-six years, and has been identified with the city's best interests. He is secretary of the East- man Kodak Company, having been identified with the company from its organization, as well as in other corporations. Mr. Clark has, seen the city grow from 45,000 to 160,000 and has contributed his share to its prosperity. The family are of English extraction.

Goodridge, Joseph H., was born in Ogden, December 6, 1835, a son of Albert, a native of Westminster, Vt., who came to Monroe county in 1829. The later married Amanda Wright, daughter of Elihu Wright. Albert was a pioneer of Vermont, and ·a man of high character and integrity, who died in 1882 in his seventy-eighth year. Joseph H. was educated in the public schools, and was a teacher for several terms, and in 1868 married Betsey, daughter of William P. Strong. They have one daughter, Carolyn B. Goodridge. Joseph H. is a practical and successful farmer, actively interested in the affairs of his town and county.

Brown, Capt. Samuel, who was one of the pioneers of Ogden, earned his title as owner and commander of an American privateer during the war of 1812. He was run down and captured by a British cruiser and carried to England, where he was held prisoner till the end of the war. His property was swept away by the war, and in 1815 he left his home in Maine and came to the Genesee country, settling in Ogden. Here he married Miss Mercy Kelsey, the belle of a New Hampshire village, who could spin more flax than any other young miss in the locality. They had five chil- dren: John, James and William, and two who died young. William went to Michi- gan early, James at a later date, and John resided on the old farm until he bought where his son Ely now lives. He married Fanny Hunn, of an old Henrietta family, and has had three children S. Ely, Lydia, and Julia E., the latter the wife of H. J. Dignin. John Brown died in February, 1890, and his widow survives. Samuel Ely Brown, known as one of Ogden's enterprising farmers, and straight-forward men, was born July 28, 1846, and has always followed agriculture. In 1877 he married Alice Alderman of Tyrone, N. Y. Mrs. Brown is an artist of more than ordinary talent.

Nichols, Barnabas A., was a native of Ogden, born in 1806, the son of Lewis Nich- ols, one of the pioneers of the town. Barnabas is remembered as one of the early

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carpenters of this locality and also as a man of prominence in local affairs, though he never sought political advancement. With Alvin Webster, he built the M. E. Church at Adams Basin, and was one of its devoted members. Mr. Nichols married Sarah Allerton, and had eight children: Frances, who married Prof. F. B. Palmer; John B., who enlisted in Co. G, 13th N. Y. Vols., and was wounded at the first battle of Bull Run, captured, and died in a rebel prison; Mary I., who married Caleb Hurl- butt; William P., of Rochester; Lydia A., wife of Osmar Nevins; Edwin D., and Ambrose E. Barnabas Nichols died in 1862. Edwin D. was born December 8, 1852, educated at the old Parma Academy, and engaged on his father's farm for a time after the latter's death. For a time he was engaged with J. S. Bowen, erecting evaporators, and carried on quite an extensive business. Mr. Bowen was one of the pioneers in the apple evaporating industry in the State. He died in Spencerport December 27, 1886. In 1881 Mr. Nichols married Ada, daughter of John S. and Eu- nice J. Bowen, and they have one child, Bennie Earl.

Yorks, William R., was born in Smithtown, in what is now Livingston county, in 1829. His father, John B., was also born there in 1802, his ancestors being New Jersey people. His paternal grandfather, Eldrick Yorks, had a farm, a mill, and a distillery at Smithtown, and was in the war of 1812. The wife of John B. was a Miss Martin of that town, the family having come from Connecticut. John B. and his father moved to Honeoye Falls in 1835. He established a foundry and machine shop, with his two sons, Elias and William as partners. He was an active politician in his day, and held various town and county offices, his death occurring in 1881. His wife died in 1865. William R. Yorks has resided in Honeoye Falls since a small boy, and grew up to his father's business. He married Phoebe Hurlbutt, her father a Vermont man, and a printer of Rochester, and her mother coming from the Mo- hawk country. Their five children are William K., who married a Miss Warner and lives in Lima; Henry, who married Cora Scott of Mendon; Fannie, Emma, and May, all living in Honeoye Falls. The business after the father's death came to Elias and William, and in 1891 to the latter alone. It has long had a good reputation for its plows, cultivators, etc.

Harris, Erastus T., son of John, was born in Victor and was the son of William. The family came from New Jersey. John lived in Perinton for some time, came to Mendon at about thirty-five years of age, and remained on the Townsend farm until his death in 1873. His wife was Rachel A., daughter of Joseph B. Townsend, he a son of Zebulon, who came to Mendon in 1811, settling in the northwest part of the town on the place now occupied by our subject. John and Rachel Harris had one son, Erastus, Mrs. Harris was born on the farm of her father, and died there in March, 1894. Erastus married Georgia, daughter of Timothy Howland, of Macedon, Wayne county, and they have two daughters, Carrie E. and Mabel H.

Hodskin, Egbert L., supervisor of Perinton, and senior partner of the firm of Hod- skin & Peacock, druggists, was born in Perinton May 15, 1839, the second son of the late Perrin and Maria (Vinton) Hodskin. An elder brother, Charles H., was a cap- tain of infantry in the late war, and is now a resident of Manistee, Mich., and is pres- ident of the Boom & Lumber Company of that place. Mr. Hodskin's business life began as freight agent at the Fairport depot, which position he filled eight years,

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

and in 1868 bought an interest in the drug business, four years later forming a co- partnership with Charles L. Peacock, which still exists. He has served as trustee and president of the village, and in 1890 was elected supervisor. Of genial person- ality and strict integrity, his record as a man and a citizen is to be envied. In 1869 he married Elizabeth A., daughter of William M. Butler of Newark. Their only son, Bert G., died in 1888, when but eighteen years of age.

Vannest, James C., son of John Vannest, born in Washington, Warren county, N. J., November 10, 1802; came to Rochester in 1826, where he lived about a year, then moved to Ogden, where he cleared up a farm, having married Lucy Grunendike of Chili, September 26, 1827, who died January 3, 1858. Their children were John, Sarah and Henry. For his second wife, he married Almira McMaster, of Burgh Hill, Ohio, April 9, 1862, and moved to Ogden Center, where she died December 18, 1869, and he June 27, 1890. He and all his family have been active members of the Ogden Presbyterian church. John, born Aug. 1, 1828, married Cornelia Pratt of Batavia, De- cember 17, 1852, settled on a farm adjoining his father's and died January 12, 1890, survived by his wife and two daughters, Ella C. and S. Lucretia (Mrs. Alex. Colby), Ada C. and James P. having died in childhood. Sarah, born January 30, 1831, was active during the Civil war in work of the Soldiers' Aid Society, after which she spent two years in Georgia, teaching in colored schools, and since then has lived at Ogden Center, having cared for her father in his declining years. Henry, born March 15, 1834, has always lived on the home farm. He married Julia E. Keney of West Hartford. Conn., November 25, 1858, who died July 5, 1861, married Anna L. Drake of Greece, October 31, 1866. Their children are Charles H., of Rochester, Frank D. and Fred G. (twins), at home.

May, Mrs. Jane A .- In 1777, at Hadley, Mass., was born John Acer, son of Will- iam Acer, who was one of the first people to make a home in this locality, and whose descendants occupy a leading position in the early annals of Pittsford. John Acer was especially prominent in village affairs, being a man of public spirit and broad views. He at one time owned 100 acres, the northeastern corner of which land is now the intersection of Monroe and Main streets. In 1826 he built the Phoenix Ho- tel, a building noteworthy for an architectural excellence far in advance of the time, and still the leading hotel of the village. His wife was Hannah Whipple, daughter of a sea captain, by whom he had seven children, of whom Mrs. Jane May was the youngest, and is now the sole survivor. In 1848 she married Col. L. S. May, who was born in 1817 in Washington county, and has been one of the leading merchants and a large manufacturer and refiner. Colonel and Mrs. May are now living retired in the old Acer mansion in Pittsford. They have one daughter, Mary May, and a grandson, Henry May, now a student at Hobart College, and a young man of much promise.

Johnson, Frank P., was born in Brockport January 24, 1856, a son of William E., " born in 1816 and who came to the Genesee country with his parents, who settled in what is now Hamlin. The family were of English extraction. William E. married Nancy H., daughter of William Burrows, and was always identified with the car- riage manufacturing business, also with farming. Frank P. was educated at the Brockport Normal School, and in 1880 entered the employ of the firm of L. Gordon

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& Son, and at the present time has charge of their lumber business in the village of Brockport. In 1892 our subject married Laura, daughter of Nathaniel Fulford, and they have one child, Helen Dorothy. Mr. Johnson has served as vestryman of St. Luke s Episcopal church, director of the First National Bank, and various offices of high trust.

Hodges, George H., whose farm southeast of Spencerport is regarded as one of the best in the town, was born November 23, 1854, and has always followed agriculture. In 1875 he bought the Chase farm of seventy acres, and here his life has been spent. In 1884 Mr. Hodges married Judith, daughter of Hon Josiah Rich, and they have had two children. George H., was the son of George P. Hodges, the latter born January 3, 1807, and his mother was Mary A. Day, born' July 25, 1811. They were married in 1832, and came to the Genesee country from Rutland, Vt., settling in Ogden about 1837. Mr. Hodges followed hotel keeping in Vermont, and in Ogden engaged in farming. He died August 1, 1873, and his wife August 21, 1877.

Burns, John D., was born in New York city, March 9, 1854. His father, John, was a native of Bath, England, who came to this country in 1853, with his wife, Maria, daughter of John Marshall, and in 1855 located in Brockport. He enlisted in Co. H, 108th Regt. N. Y. Vols. and served four years. John B. was educated at the Brock- port State Normal School, and afterwards taught school four years. In 1874 he be- gan the study of law in the office of Major John Norris, of Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar in 1877, beginning practice in Brockport, which he still continues. In 1883 he married Clara E., daughter of George H. Smith, and they have one son, George. Our subject is a leading member of the Monroe county bar, and takes an active in- terest in town affairs, having been a member of the Local Board of the Brockport State Normal School for the past six years.

Flagg, Henry S., son of the pioneer, Samuel Flagg, was born in Ogden Septem- ber 9, 1810, and was a successful farmer, having accumulated a good property. He married Catharine E. Gridley (died March 3, 1891), and their children were Helen, who died young; Henry S., of Ogden; Sarah K., wife of Charles C. Smith; and Stephen G. Mr. Flagg died March 4, 1887. Stephen G. Flagg was born August 13, 1841, and like his father has followed agriculture. November 25, 1863, he mar- ried Frances A. Whittier, and they have had six children, five of whom are living. Mr. Flagg was elected assessor, but declined to qualify, he did however, consent to serve as license commissioner. He lives upon the farm upon which his father moved ın 1832.

Martin, James, an old and well-known resident of Wheatland, was born in Rush, Monroe county, in 1830. His father was James K., of Rensselaer county, one of eight sons and three daughters of Killian and Millicent (Sibley) Martin. James K. was a farmer by occupation, came to Rush in 1821, and died there in 1871. He was a prosperous farmer, and provided all his children with farms. His wife was Fannie Hempstead Bristol, and they had eight sons and five daughters. James began life at the age of twenty-four in the town of Henrietta. Twelve years later he bought and removed to his father-in-law's homestead of 225 acres in Wheatland, where he has since resided. In 1856 he married Martha J., daughter of Calvin and Katurah

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.

Miller of Vermont and Saratoga county respectively. She was born on the farm where she now lives in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had five children: Martha (deceased), Mrs. Sarah Giles of Livingston county, Mrs. Mary E. Tunison of Chili, Emma J. and James C. The latter conducts the farm, and has two children.

Eldred, Franklin, is a son of Joseph Eldred, who settled in Webster at an early day, and Cyrena Amy, whose father was also one of the early settlers; he married Zer- uiah, daughter of Nathan Ballard, who was one of the early settlers, having come here in the year 1812. Franklin Eldred has two sons, Arthur L. and Franklin N., and three daughters, Mrs. E. J. Wells, Miss Carrie M, Eldred, and Mrs. B. M. Fos- ter. Joseph Eldred came to Webster in the year 1815. October 7, 1823, he married Miss Cyrena Amy, then eighteen years old, and went to keeping house on the town line between Webster and Ontario. There he erected two mills, and an extract from his diary reads: "On the night of the 18th of October, 1824, the mills which I erected with so much care, pains and labor, and just brought to a state that would afford me some profit, were consumed by fire, together with the old saw mill and barn, and about sixteen tons of hay, on which was my principal dependence for the winter." He was also inventor of the spirit level, now so much in use.

Davis, G. W., is a son of Isaac Davis, of Welsh ancestry, and Eleanor Laird Davis, of Scotch ancestry, who were born and lived in Monmouth county N. J., until March, 1824, when they bought and moved on to a farm in the town of Walworth, Wayne county, N. Y., remaining there clearing up and improving the land until 1868, when he sold the farm and moved into the village of West Walworth, where remained until his death at the age of ninety-two years. Gilbert W. is the only son of ten children. He was born in Walworth, January 13, 1825. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Zillah M. Gage of Penfield, Monroe county, and began farming which he fol- lowed in various places until 1853, when he bought and moved on to the farm where he now lives. Mrs. Davis died May 17, 1891, leaving an only child, Mary L. Davis.

Cross, Elam A., was born in Parma August 31, 1842, a son of Luman and Mary Ann (Raymond) Cross, whose grandfather was Elihu Cross, a pioneer of this town. The children of Luman Cross were James A., Elam A., Julia F., Ira L., and one who died young. Mr. Cross died in Parma in 1883, and his wife in 1876. At the age of twenty Elam began for himself, and spent some little time in Michigan. Returning to Parma he lived for ten years upon a farm. In 1876 the firm of Cross & Fraser, general store, was formed, and continued at Unionville about three years, when Mr. Cross retired, and with David King began the manufacture of fertilizers, etc., and soon became sole proprietor. This still continues, and is regarded as one of the fixed interests of the town. Mr. Cross has also during all these years dealt extensively in beans, which he buys and ships, and during the past eight years this has been his principal business, although having other enterprises under his charge. Mr. Cross served as supervisor (1880-83, 1889-91), was postmaster at North Parma about six years, and was the first president of the village. He had a successful business career, notwithstanding one misfortune, having lost heavily by the burning of his farm buildings. He married Mary A. Plass, and they have had five children, three now living.

Kempe, Dr. Julius, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1843. He received an academic

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education, and studied medicine in the Albany Medical College, from which he grad- uated in 1868. He afterwards practiced in Milwaukee, Wis., and came to Roch- ester in 1873, where he is now practicing his profession with eminent success. He is a member of the Monroe County Medical Society, of the Pathological Society of Roch- ester, and one of the surgical staff of the Rochester City Hospital. In 1872 he mar- ried Belle Hargrave of Ripon, Wis., and they have two children, Walter G. and Belle, both students.

Van Ingen, Bart, was born in the Hague in Holland in 1832, came to America in 1853, and married in 1864 a daughter of Abraham Martin, by whom he had five sons: Benson, who has conducted the home farm since his father's death in 1868; Gysbert, Henry, Arthur, and Willis. Mrs. Van Ingen's mother was a daughter of John Man- deville, who came to Webster in 1812 from Middleburg, and was a son of John first, who came from Holland.

Thayer, Preston, was born in Ontario in 1820, and is the son of Aldrich Thayer, who came from Macedon in early life, and now resides in Ontario at the advanced age of ninety-four. In 1841 Mr. Thayer married Clarissa, daughter of Eliphalet Law- rence, who died in 1877, and they had five children, as follows: William H., who now carries on the farm; Alonzo W., a farmer and cider maker; Alvah I., who lives in California and is a mechanic; Ida V., a teacher of music; and Jerusha A., who died October 2, 1855, Mr. Thayer was for sixteen years a justice of the peace, and settled on his present farm in 1844. There is a saw mill on the farm, built by William Wiley about seventy years ago, which is still in use. In 1880 a feed mill was added.

Allen, Lewis B., was born in Scaghticoke, Rensselaer county, December 14, 1822, and removed to Ogden, Monroe county, when eight years old. He lived there until the time of his marriage with Catherine Brower, daughter of John Brower, May 7, 1851; he then removed to Sweden, where these children were born to him: Lewis S., Mrs. Frank A. Sammis, Mrs. Harriet E. Whipple, and Ellen, who died March 5, 1860. Lewis B. Allen died April 30, 1865. His son and wife live on the farm he left. He was town superintendent of schools two years, and was a teacher nineteen terms. Of upright, conservative character, it may be said of him that an honest man is the noblest work of God.

Way, George H., was born on the homestead, September 30, 1827, a son of Samuel V., a native of Colchester, Conn. The family were of English descent, and among the early settlers of that State. Samuel V. married Elizabeth Ressegieu, daughter of John Ressegieu, and came to this town in 1816, and settled where his descendants now reside. He followed farming all his life, but during the first few years he got out stone for fireplaces and buildings, having quantities on his own farm. His death occurred in 1883 in his ninety-second year, George H. was educated in the common schools. In 1854 he married Miss Clara E. Chappell, daughter of Guy Chappell. They have had five children: Frank C., who died in 1869; Allie C. Williams, who died in 1874; Nellie W. Stratton, Clara W. Nelson, and Georgia E. Way.

Knight, Andrew M., was born in Webster, a son of Nathaniel Knight, who came to Webster in 1817 and died here in 1890, aged ninety-five years. Andrew M. mar- ried Phoebe, daughter of Franklin Robb, and granddaughter of John Robb. Her

LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY

mother was a daughter of Alpheus Crocker, who was one of the first settlers in Web- ster. They have two sons, George L. and Dayton R. Knight, and one daughter, Mary Knight.

Hettler, William, was born in Germany in 1845, and is the son of John D., who came to America in 1852 and settled in Webster, where he died in 1886. Mr. Hettler is known as one of the leading farmers and fruit growers of this town, having been for the past twelve years on the farm where he now resides. He has one son, Ed- ward W., and two daughters, Hattie M. and Florence I.

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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 70

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