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 74
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Hixson, Fred.R., was born April 23, 1852, at Rochester, N. Y., his father, Richard Hixson, an expert maltster, having emigrated to America from Essex, England, in 1849. The subject of this sketch continued to reside at Rochester until he was eighteen years old, during this time receiving a limited education at the public schools, and laid the foundation for his future. Was apprenticed to James Cunning- ham, the celebrated carriage manufacturer, and learned the trade of carriage painter. When eighteen years of age he left home and engaged at his trade in New York city, and on October 31, of the same year, removed to Clarkson, and in a few years started in business for himself in the manufacture of carriages, which was very suc- cessful, building for himself an excellent record for honest work. But factory work had an influence against hand made work and he retired from the carriage business
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in 1895, and is now engaged in the grocery business, carrying on a general country store, In 1872 he married Isabel, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Brooks, and the follow- ing children bless this union of hearts: Jessie P., now Mrs. H. E. Hamil, of Hamlin, N. Y., Emma I., E. Louise, Frances M., and Sidney A. Mr. Hixson has served his town eight years as town clerk, and one year as collector of taxes. Has been notary public ten years and United States loan commissioner for eight years, receiving his appointment from Governers David B. Hill and Roswell P. Flower. He has also served as trustee of the First Congregational Society for the past seventeen years, also trustee of Clarkson High School for fifteen years. Thus proving him to be a public spirited man and so regarded in the town where he is so well known.
Eldridge, W. G., was born in 1842, a son of Elijah who was born in 1805 and died in 1894, and a grandson of William C., who came from Connecticut to Washington county in 1788, and later to Webster, where he died. Elijah Eldridge came to Western New York in 1850, and settled in Penfield in 1879. Our subject, after gradu- ating at the Marion Academy, enlisted in Co. A, 111th N. Y. Vols., where he served two years, and after a residence in New York of one year, went. West, where he re- mained till 1885, being engaged at various points in the secret service for the gov- ernment. He returned to Penfield in 1885, where he has since been appointed deputy sheriff, and is now constable. In 1893 he and his wife started the Penfield Press, which is published under the firm name of W. G. and A. M. Eldridge. His wife was Auusta M. Van Wormer, a daughter of Rev, Aaron Van Wormer and grand- daughter of Rev. Hugh Wallis of Genesee county, and their children are Jay G., and one daughter, Clara A.
Bartlett, Thomas J., son of Jedediah Bartlett, who was born September 5, 1797, in Massachusetts, and when quite young came from the East with his mother and first settled in the Genesee county, but removed from there to Kendall, Orleans county, where he purchased some land and also carried on the shoe business, being a shoe- maker by trade. He married Lucinda Thomas in Kendall December 2, 1827. His children were Thomas J., William W., Phebe J., and Theodore. He died May 5, 1841, in Kendall. After his death his widow married Jeniah Hawkins, by whom she had one son, Willard H., one of the old and well known firm of Bartlett & Hawkins, of Parma. Thomas J. was born February 14, 1831, and spent his early days on the farm; at the age of eighteen he learned the blacksmith's trade at Adams Basin and then worked as journeyman for several years in that place and came to North Parma where he continued working at his trade for four or five years, and then went to Michigan where he became proprietor of a shop. In Oakland, Mich., April 30, 1857, he married Fanny H. Hazen. He returned to Parma in April, 1861, and perma- nently established himself in business at what is called Bartlett's Corners, deriving the name from his business being successful and prosperous, they deal in all kinds of agricultural implements, wagons, carriages, etc., and the firm of Bartlett & Haw- kins is very well known to manufacturing establishments in the Western and also Eastern States, handling a large quantity of their goods in connection with their own manufactory. Mr. Bartlett has three children, Ida M., Helen M., and De Ette L. His wife died January 12, 1889. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and doubtless his success in business is due largely to his faithfulness and steady habits, being a total abstainer, drinking nothing but cold water all his
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life, never indulging in either tea or coffee, and by his correct life has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him; and on September 5, 1894, he married, again, Emily A., daughter of Ira H. Parker, and widow of L. B. Arnold, from Brock- port, Monroe county.
Prosser, Cicero J., (deceased), was born in ·Clarkson December 18, 1821. His father, Jonathan, was a native of Albany county, and came to this town in 1818, where he engaged in farming. C. J. Prosser was educated in Clarkson Academy, and in 1855 married Ellen M., daughter of Samuel and Susan Nixon, who came to this town in 1811 when the country was an unbroken wilderness, and they were obliged to travel on horseback. Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have these children: Jonathan, Arthur D., Norris B., Mrs. Louisa Selden, and Jessie M. Prosser. Our subject was one of the practical and successful farmers of his town, serving as supervisor several terms, and otherwise taking a leading position in town affairs. He died in 1888, re- spected by all.
Moore, Wilson H., was born in Clarkson, April 19, 1859, where his father, James M., was also born. The grandfather, James, came to Clarkson in 1810, where he was a pioneer, buying land and engaging extensively in agriculture. James M. married Abigail A., daughter of John Lawrence, and of their children, Wilson H. . was the youngest son. He was educated in the Brockport Normal school, and in 1878 established a newspaper and magazine subscription agency, with headquarters at Brockport, which he still continues. In 1888 he entered into the shoe manufactur- ing business, which was incorporated in February under the name of the Moore- Shafer Manufacturing Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. They em- ploy 175 men and women, and their business is one of the leading industries of the county. In 1887 Mr. Moore married May L., daughter of C. H. Scranton, and they have one daughter, Helen H., and an infant son.
Rowerdink, William H., the only surviving child of a large family of the late Henry Rowerdink of Brighton, was born at Brighton in 1859. Henry Rowerdink was of Holland birth, and came to America in 1850, purchasing and operating a farm near Allen's creek. He died in 1882. William H. Rowerdink, after leaving Hope College, taught school for about five years, also managing a dairy farm and milk route. His first experience in the carriage business was gained as a traveling sales- men for Sullivan Brothers, of Brighton, whom he represented for two years. In 1889 he established himself in the business, and now has a large and constantly in - creasing trade, especially in carriages of fine grades. Mr. Rowerdink is vice-presi- dent of the Empire State Wagon Company of Buffalo, well-known producers of superior goods. He married, in 1883, Mary De Potter, of Brighton, and has two chil- dren, Henry J. and Mamie. He has been particularly prominent in local politics, resigning in 1891 the office of justice to accept that of supervisor for two years, and is again justice.
Otis, Dr. Charles F., was born in Rochester in 1860, a son of Dr. Clark Otis of Livingston county, whose father was Matson Otis, a Warsaw merchant. The mother of Charles F. was Mary Ann Shedd, daughter of Philander Shedd, and sister of K. P. Shedd. The ancestors of the Otis family were prominent in New England in the early history of the country and were among the early colonists. In 1859 Mr.
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Matson and Clark Otis went to Rochester and engaged in photography. Eight years later found Clark Otis in Cuba, where he was burned out. He had studied medicine, and next began practice in Byron, After this he went west, and in 1876 returned to Honeoye Falls. In 1881 he removed to Penn Yan, and was succeeded in his practice by Charles F., then a young man of twenty-one who had just taken his diploma from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, and the latter has had a very successful practice. He married Mary A. Hutchinson, a niece of William Downey, and has two sons, William Kirk and Charles Francis, jr. Mrs. Otis has carried on a flourishing business in a millinery store.
Wing, Benjamin .- One of the oldest and most highly esteemed residents of Brighton. Of Quaker extraction, Mr. Wing is a personal and living exemplification of the attributes which made that sect beloved of men. He was born at Duanes- burg, N Y., December 8, 1811, where his father, Joseph Wing, was a farmer and dealer in live stock. He had two wives, and Benjamin was the elder of two sons. Benjamin made his home when a young man with an uncle at Duanesburg, David Wing, by name, who was a very scholarly man and eminent in public affairs, and who had no children of his own. Benjamin's mother died when he was but three years old. When he was twenty-nine he came to Irondequoit and purchased a farm of two hundred acres. In 1837 he married Eliza, daughter of Isaac Babcock, of Rush. She died in 1888, leaving three children: David, Stephen and Liela. The sons are now engaged in the fruit and nursery business at Rogers, Ark., under the firm style of "D. Wing & Brother." Liela became the wife of Clarence De Puy, of Rochester, manager of the Collection Department of the Lawyers' Co-operative Pub- lishing Co. During Mr. Wing's thirty years' residence in Irondequoit he took an active and influential part in town affairs, as supervisor, assessor, school trustee and in other official and responsible capacities. In 1870 he sold his farm and settled in Brighton, where he is greatly esteemed for his many sterling and amiable qualities.
Brigham, John, came to Ogden from Oneida county in 1812, and took up 100 acres of land in the southern part of the town, returned for his family, and was drafted into service, and was ordered with his troops to Sackett's Harbor. His wife was Susan Moore, who came to the town in 1816. In 1833 Mr. Brigham bought the farm now owned by his son Milton, and here he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1863 and his wife in 1848. He was captain of a company of militia as long as the organization was maintained, and was also deacon in the Presbyterian church for many years. His children were Caroline E., who married George W. Hiscock; Or- ville P , late of Ogden; John D., who died in 1894; Alonzo, who died in 1859 at La Fayette, Ind .; Milton and Charles, both of this town; Sarah, who married Harvey Pratt; and Harriet who married W. W. Hart, of Spencerport. Milton Brigham was born June 18, 1825, and for more than forty years has been an active worker in all good causes in Ogden. After the death of his mother he and his brother Charles worked the home farm on shares for about ten years, and on the death of his father Milton bought the property, and has lived on the farm since 1858. In 1850 he mar- ried Mary A., daughter of William and Clara Finch of Clarkson, and they have had four children: Carrie L., Henry M., John H., and Mary A. In the political life of Ogden our subject has been an active factor for the past forty years, though he is in , no sense a politician.
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The Stull Family .- Jacob Stull resides at Mann's Corners, in Rush, on the farm where he was born in the fall of 1812, and in the house built by his father, Jacob Stull in 1814. Jacob 1st was a native of Frederick, Md. His father died when Jacob was a boy, and Jacob was indentured to a tailor, and served his time. At the age of twenty-two he and his mother and two sisters came with a number of families and five teams to Lyons, this State, intending to go to Sodus Point. Parties who had promised to cut a road for them through Wayne county had failed to do so, and they came to Avon instead. One of the sisters of Jacob married Adam Price, son of Philip, members of the party coming with the Stulls from Maryland. They reared seven sons and one daughter, Susannah, who became the wife of Jacob Stull 1st, and the mother of our subject. Both families moved into Rush, the Stulls in 1802, and the Prices in 1803. Philip Price's sons were young men when they came here; they married and settled here, and reared large families, who on reaching manhood all went to Michigan excepting George and Peter. The old people died on this farm, which adjoins the Stull farm, he in 1829 and his wife in 1826. Jacob Stull was the first to settle in the town on the north side of Honeoye Creek. He died in the fall of 1845, aged sixty-seven, his wife having died in 1847. They had thirteen children. Augusta died in infancy, and the others were John P., Israel, George, who died in Illinois; Abigail, Isabel, Rebelsa, James S., Jacob, Peter P., Susan, Matthew, and Adaline, who died in Honeoye Falls. Jacob Stull, sr., was a leading politician of Rush, serving as assessor and clerk for many years. His son, John P., was super- visor, and well known in the county. When the subject of this sketch was five years old he suffered a severe attack of inflammation of the brain, which resulted in paralysis of his left side, and he never had any use of his left arm or hand, and was able to walk only by an effort. He was educated at the Seminary at Lima, and when his brothers left home he took the management of the farm, living with his sisters until they died, and since with people who have worked on the place. His farming has been successful and he has been able to give generously to the needy and to other enterprises. Peter Price Stull was born in 1814. He married Julia, daughter of Capt. Nathan H. Jeffords, who came from Richfield to Rush in 1805. Captain Jeffords was one of the noted characters in the early days, and died in 1867 at the age of eighty-three. He had twelve children, all but two of whom settled and died in Rush. The children of Peter P. Stull and Julia Jeffords were Horace G. and Sarah, who married William H. Mead, of Rush. Horace G. married Marietta A., daughter of William G. Norton, of Honeoye Falls, and they had one one son, Alfred Peter.
Stone, Franklin E., was born in Pitisford March 29, 1847, a son of Eber, born in Pittsford in 1807, whose father, Samuel Stone, was a native of Connecticut, and a Revolutionary soldier, who came to this county in 1790, and became a prosperous farmer of this region. He was also for many years deacon in the church. Eber married Eliza, daughter of Seth and Sally Cook of Vermont, early settlers of Wayne county. Their children were: Amy E., who died aged seven; Anna I., wife of William Lord of Mendon; Tirzah M., who died young; Samuel H., George F., and Miranda, who both died in infancy; Franklin E., and Helen E., who died aged twelve. His wife died in February, 1864, and he followed her in September of the same year. For a number of years Franklin and his brother conducted the home farm, and in 1872 he sold his interest to his brother, and removed to Henrietta m
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where he purchased his present place of seventy-five acres. In 1871 he married Clara S., daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Clark, and they have had four children: Helen E., born in 1872, a teacher in the Union School at Pittsford; F. Clark, born in 1881; Clarabel, born in 1886, and Amy May, born in 1889. Mr. Stone is a Repub- lican in politics and holds the office of justice of the peace in Henrietta.
Chapman, George .- Among the well-known and much esteemed personal land- marks of Brighton is George Chapman, who has for thirty years been a resident of that village. He was born in Hawkhurst, Kent, near London, England, May 12, 1820, at which place his father, Joseph Chapman, was engaged in farming. During his youth he was for several years employed as a dry goods salesman in London. When twenty-three years old he sailed for America, coming direct to Rochester; and being possessed of considerable mechanical skill, became a boat builder, that being in those days a large and important industry. In this occupation fourteen years passed, and since that time Mr. Chapman has been engaged in the nursery business. He has been a resident of Brighton since 1864. His first wife, Mary Gascoigne, to whom he was married before he was eighteen, died at Brighton in 1878, leaving three children: George, Mary and Charles. George is a resident of Brighton, while Charles and Mary, now Mrs. W. J. Winfield, live at Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Chapman married his present wife. Mrs. Elizabeth Franklin of Rochester, June 3, 1880. Her only son, Henry H. Franklin, is a distributing postal clerk in that city.
Mason, George G .- A business which has been in continuous existence for a period of probably sixty years necessarily merits special recognition. This remark applies to the business now conducted by Mr. George G. Mason. It was founded as near as we can trace by Timothy Corning, and after several changes the business passed into the hands of a Mr. Wolcott about 1861, he was succeeded by Dr. Pratt and in 1873 it was purchased by Mr. S. F. Mason, father of the present proprietor, who built the present fine store and building. It was carried on by him until 1885 when he was succeeded by his two sons George G. and S. F. Mason, jr., which partnership existed four years when Mr. Henry R. Mason purchased his brother, S. F. Mason's interests, and finally in 1890 Mr. George G. Mason assumed sole control of the busi- ness, and it is conducted to-day upon the same principle of liberality and honor for which all of Mr. Mason's transactions are noted and through which the business suc- cess has been builded and maintained for so many years. His store, which is 30x60 feet in dimensions, is finely appointed, heated by steam, and provided with every convenience. In the drug department, he carries a first class stock, one not usually found in a country drug store, comprising pure drugs, chemicals, all the standard proprietary remedies and medicines, toilet and fancy articles. Special attention is given to compounding physicians' prescriptions, in the preparation of which only the purest and most reliable drugs are used, which are compounded by Mr. Mason, who is a licensed pharmacist of many years' experience. In the grocery department he carries a very complete stock not surpassed in this village. Mr. Mason is one of our most progressive business men and highly esteemed citizens; who has always taken the keenest interest in the welfare and advancement of the village. For four con- secutive terms he served his fellow citizens as town clerk from 1890 to 1894, being elected without opposition. He is now treasurer of the School Board. Socially, he is treasurer of Webster Lodge No. 538, F. & A. M., and a member of Webster Tent
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No. 493, K. O. T. M. In 1884 he married Mariette C., daughter of William R. Eaton, and has two sons, Russell B., born in 1887, and George H., born in 1889.
Meitzler, Charles, a self-made man, and held in high regard by all who know him. Mr. Meitzler was born at Kriegsfeld, Rhinepfalz, Germany, the son of a well to do farmer. In February, 1849, being then twenty-eight years of age, he sailed for America (on account of the Revolution in 1848, in which he took a prominent part), and began life here in the capacity of a farm laborer at eleven dollars per month. But a portion of that meagre salary was hoarded, and, with the help of money, brought from home, in a few years he was the owner of a small farm in the town of Henrietta. In 1854 he disposed of the farm at a good profit, invested the money in city property, and entered the employ of Ellwanger & Barry, which connection proved so mutually satisfactory that he remained with them until 1864. At that date he acquired, by purchasing, the hotel property at West Brighton, where he is still located, and which he has extensively rebuilt and improved. In 1851 he married Elizabeth Damm, whose birthplace was near his own in Germany, and who has borne him six children. Those living are George, Elizabeth and Carl. Two daugh- ters, Eva May and Emma, died in early childhood, and a son, Edward, at twenty- three years of age. Mr. Meitzler, like the majority of his countrymen, is a Republi- can, and his great personal popularity is evinced by the fact that he held the office of town clerk for nineteen years, and has been postmaster of West Brighton since 1867 without interruption, a remarkable instance of tenure of that office.
Brown, Thomas A., M. D .- Eminent not alone among the medical profession, but as a citizen of the pioneer class; of those who have by personal effort and example contributed largely toward social advancement, stands the venerable Dr. Thomas A. Brown of Brighton, who has for full half century practiced the healing art. Born at Rahway, New Jersey, in 1815, he was a shoemaker's son, of Scotch ancestry, whose earliest American progenitors came in the Mayflower or her consorts. Apprenticed when a youth to a saddler at Newark, N. J., his spirit was not so tame as to embrace permanently a mechanical trade, and upon the attainment of his majority, he traveled westward to Buffalo by the Erie waterway, and soon after went to Pal- myra, and entered the office of Dr. McIntyre, as a medical student. He afterward entered the Geneva Medical College and was graduated from there 1845. He prac- ticed first at Palmyra, then at Manchester and Penfield, and in 1877 located at Brighton, where he has since practiced with much success. Dr. Brown has five chil- dren living, the youngest of whom is Dr. William M. Brown, who was born at Pen- field in 1866, and who upon graduating in 1882 from the University of New York, spent eighteen months in Rochester City Hospital. He is now associated with his father at Brighton.
Reitz, Dr. Charles, was born in Ontario, Wayne county, where he spent his boy- hood until 1888, when he attended for two years the University of Ann Arbor, Mich. He then went to Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city where he graduated in the spring of 1890, after which he began practice in Webster, in part- nership with Dr. John D. Dunning.
Dean, Theodore S., was born in Syracuse July 26, 1845. The father was R. S. Dean, a native of Oswego county, and the family trace their descent to one of that
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name that came from Scotland about 1750. Theodore S. was educated in the Wal- worth Institute, and on August 10, 1862, enlisted in Co. G, 138th N. Y. Vols., after- wards transferred to 9th N. Y. H. Art. He participated in the several battles of the regiment at Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the Shenandoah Valley, remaining till the close of the war. Returning home he began the study of law in the office of James L. Bagg at Syracuse, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He was also with the firm of Ruger & Jenny. In 1868 he went to Chicago, and in 1871 came to Brockport, and engaged in practice, where he has since continued. He is attorney for several corporations, and has a large practice. He has served as justice of the peace sixteen years. In 1878 he married Alice Wood, who died in January, 1880. In 1883 he married Hattie B. McArthur. Their children are Marie A. and Edith M. Our subject is identified in advancing the best interests of his town and is prominent in Republican politics in Western New York.
Down, Charles B .- Prominent among the men who have at heart the well-being of their fellow-men and whose efforts are freely contributed toward reform and pros- perity, is Charles B. Down, of Brighton, widely known as a successful teacher. Mr. Down is of English ancestry and was born at Webster, Monroe county, December 4, 1853. His grandfather, James Down, was a native of Somersetshire, England, where was born his father, John Down, in 1814, who still lives. Charles received an academic education at Marian Institute, after which he spent a year at Yale College preparatory to becoming a teacher. After teaching a short time in district schools, he was made principal of Brighton School, which position he filled acceptably for a period of seven consecutive years, retiring by his own act in 1889, having business interests demanding his attention. Having purchased the eligible location at corner South and East avenue, Brighton, Mr. Down erected a handsome business block in 1890, opening a market and grocery. Associated with him in the latter business was Clarence Butterfield, a former pupil, who in 1894 acquired by purchase Mr. Down's share. In 1883 Mr. Down married Phebe J., daughter of William and Ann Morrill, of Brighton, and has two children: Blanche, born September 6, 1885, and Clinton, born October 17, 1890. Both himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
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