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 75
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Jones, William H .-- The ancestors of William H. Jones on his father's side were from Wales; his great-grandfather settled in Saratoga county, N. Y., and his grand- father, Joshua Jones, came from Madison county in 1815, and was among the pioneer settlers of the town of Webster, and engaged in farming and the tanning business. His grandfather on the maternal side, Capt. Samuel Millard, who served in the Revolutionary war, came from Providence, R. I., and settled in that vicinity about the same time. Chester Jones, the eldest of Joshua Jones's three sons, was a well known substantial citizen of Webster, whose family consisted of four daughters and eight sons: Harvey, Cordelia, Zardus, Edwin, Corlista, Nancy, Jerome, William H., Stephen, Allen, Laura, and Hon. Frank M., a merchant of Webster, whose political prominence in the State Legislature is well known. Our subject was born in 1841, and his early life was spent on his father's farm, where he attended the district school, and finished his education at the Webster and Macedon Academies. At the age of eighteen he went to Canada as a traveling salesman for a Rochester Nursery Company, at nineteen was engaged in the same business in Pennsylvania,
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at twenty was teaching school near San Francisco, Cal., at twenty-one to twenty- five he was in Nevada, where he was engaged as justice of the peace, teaching school, and secretary of some gold and silver mining companies, near Virginia City. In 1866 he returned to his native place and was married to Anna C., the estimable daughter of Jacob C. Rowe, then a farmer and nurseryman in the town of Webster. Since then he has resided at Williamsport, Pa., Osceola, Iowa, and Rochester, N. Y., but in 1878 he settled in the village of Brighton, Monroe county, where he still re- sides.
Curtis, Elias, was born in Saratoga, N. Y., May 17, 1804, where he lived until 1833, when he came to Parma. In 1835 with only $700 he bought 100 acres of the farm where he now resides. At that time it was an almost unbroken forest, and later he added 100 additional acres. September 13, 1835, he married Nancy Curtis, daughter of Philander Curtis, beginning their wedded life in a primitive log house which occupied the only cleared space on the farm. Throughout a long and prosperous life Mr. Curtis's most prominent characteristics have been a sterling integrity and force of character which have made deep and lasting impressions on the entire community. He has been almost a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church at North Parma. In this relation as in all others he has been staunch and faithful, giving liberally as the Lord prospered him. In all things his wife was a worthy help-mate; she is a woman of fervent piety. Her highest ambition through a busy life has been to win at last from the Master the truthful encomium, ' She hath done what she could." In church work she was most active. She has been a good mother, a kind neighbor, a thrifty housewife. Seven children have blessed this union, all of whom are living. They are: Laura, now Mrs. Willard Judd, of North Parma; Sara, now Mrs. Sanford Meech, of Charlotte, N. Y .; Frances, now Mrs. Bela J. Buell, of Rochester, N. Y .; Luella, of North Parma; Rose, now Mrs. Stephen Rice, of Minneapolis; also two sons, Eli B. and Charles E. Curtis, both of North Parma. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have been enabled to give all of their children good educational advantages, and have been well repaid and gratified to see each one take honored positions in the communities where they reside. Laura, Mrs. Willard Judd, has for many years been a recognized leader in all missionary matters and temperance reform. Eli B. has inherited many of his father's sterling traits. He was given a business education, but chose farming as a profession, in which he has been unusually successful. He is a progressive man in every sense of the word, and is classed by his fellow-citizens among the most intelligent, solid men of the com- munity. He was born June 12, 1843, and in January, 1869, he was married to Celia F. Leonard. Two daughters were born to them, Lottie May and Josie. His wife died April 25, 1888. The youngest son, Charles E., is also a thrifty farmer, a kind husband and father. He was born May 19, 1862. December 25, 1889, he mar- ried Miss Maggie Love. They have one daughter, Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are living on their now beautiful farm, tenderly cared for by their children. A com- modious, beautiful home has taken the place of the old log house, surrounded by . every evidence of prosperity and thrift.
Shelmire, James D .- Occupying a prominent place among the progressive business men of Brighton, Mr. Shelmire purchased in 1878, of James Lusk, the coal yards adjacent to the Central railroad depot, and which business he has greatly extended,
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dealing also in plaster and fertilizers. Mr. Shelmire's mother was a member of one of the oldest families of Monroe county. She was Louisa Perrin, after whose father's family the town of Perrinton (or, according to a later spelling, Perinton) was named. His father was the late John Shelmire, who was a blacksmith by trade, and born at Germantown, Pa. The children of John and Louisa were. Kittie L., now deceased, who had married and removed to Fon-du-Lac, Wisconsin; William P. of Brighton; James D., and Louis J., a bookkeeper of Rochester. James graduated from Rochester Business University and entered the employ of Gould Bros., as a bookkeeper, remaining with them ten years, until engaging in his present busi- ness. In 1888 he married Hattie L. Parsons, whose father, the late Marshfield Par- sons, was prominent among the pioneers of the Allen Creek District. Of unbounded personal popularity, Mr. Shelmire takes a leading part in town affairs, and is much esteemed for his sterling qualities. At the reorganization of the village he was elected a trustee and filled that position several years, later he was made treasurer, to which office he was again elected in March, 1895, without opposition. Of the Masonic fraternity, the Presbyterian church, and of society in general, he is a valued member.
Boardman, Miss Emily, is the elder daughter of Silas Boardman, a highly re- spected resident of Brighton, and who, at this writing, has attained the remarkable age of ninety-five years. Mr. Boardman was born March 19, 1800, in Albany county, N. Y. His father, Silas Boardman, the first of the name, was a colonel in the war of 1812. He was a tanner and also engaged in farming and nursery business. Silas Boardman, second, came to Rochester about 1828, interesting himself in the nursery business and as broker until 1840, when an inherent love for country life and horti- cultural pursuits led him to purchase a place near the village of Brighton and con- tinue the nursery business until 1877, which has been his home for more than half a century. Mr. Boardman married at Rochester, in 1836, Ann Maria Smith, niece of E. F. Smith, whose birthplace was Stonington, Conn. Four sons and two daughters were born to them: Emily, John, Silas, Lucy, William, and Julius. John and William are deceased. Silas, jr., is a commission merchant at Mount Jewett, Pa., and Julius, a seedsman of San Francisco, while the sisters, Emily and Lucy, remained at home, ministering to the wants of their aged father, their mother dying in 1866.
Kincaid, Rev. John, whose long service as superintendent of the Sunday school at Ogden Center, has made his name well known throughout Ogden, was born in London, England, June 9, 1844, a son of William and Catharine Kincaid. In Eng- land the father was foreman in a silk factory, but in America gave his attention to agriculture, and lived in Clarkson and later in Brockport, dying however in his na- tive country. Our subject was brought up to farm work, was well educated in the elementary studies, and became a student at Oberlin College, but failing health com- pelled him to leave the institution and also to abandon his early desire to enter pro- fessional life, and the ministry. He turned his attention to farm work and has so continued till the present, although he was ordained in 1893 a minister of the Presby- terian Church, and is now pastor at Chili. Always interested in Christian work, Mr. Kincaid became superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school at Ogden Center in 1875, which position he filled for seventeen years. In the same year he became a.
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permanent resident of Ogden, where he possesses a fine farm of 100 acres. In 1876 John Kincaid married Julia, daughter of John McChesney of Ogden, by whom he had four children; three now living. His wife died in February, 1890, and in March, 1892, he married a second wife, Clara Ellsmore, of Greece.
Jackson, Morris S., is one of the prominent landmarks of Henrietta, born in this town April 5, 1825. His father was Isaac Jackson, who was born in Fairfield, Her- kimer county, a son of William, who was a soldier in the war of 1812. Isaac came to Henrietta about 1815, and during his early residence here taught school. He bought a farm of 150 acres, partially improved, and served as town clerk as early as 1818, and later served eleven years on the Board of Supervisors. He married Chloe Wood, of Schuyler county, and their children were as follows: Calvin W., Melissa, Thomas J., Harvey, Morris S., Emily R., and Andrew, Emily and Morris being the only survivors. The father died in 1875, and the mother in 1889. Morris began for himself by purchasing fifty acres of the homestead, to which he added at intervals ninety-three acres, and has interested himself also in the cattle trade also dealing in sheep. This he followed many years also in connection with farming. Since 1874 he has been in the milk business, retailing in the city of Rochester, Mr. Jackson is located about four miles from the city of Rochester, and has the largest and finest residence in Henrietta, In 1851 he married Julia E. Crittenden, a native of Brighton, born in 1833, whose parents were Austin and Sarah (Warrant) Crittenden. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had two children: Sarah C., who with her husband Wilber Rice, were killed in a railway accident at Prospect Park on Christmas Eve in 1875 while returning from their wedding tour. Austin Crittenden, son of our subject, resides in Rochester. Mrs. Jackson is a lady of culture and has been for many years a mem- ber of the Baptist church of Rochester, but since 1892 has been a member of the West Henrietta church.
Day, Eliphalet, came from Washington county in 1837, and settled west of Spen- cerport on the Lisle road. He had been a hotel keeper and wagon maker, but in this region followed farming. He died in Ogden, aged seventy-two years. His children were Mary A., who married George P. Hodges; O. H., now of Suspension Bridge; Sarah J., who married N. S. P. Crocker; Wealthy A., who married William Gridley; Samuel H .; Eliza, deceased; Delia M., who married Sylvester Warner; Harriet, who married William Bedle; and Spencer E., of Riga. Samuel H. Day was born April 7, 1824, and though he worked in his father's hotel in Washington county when but eight years old, his main business has been farming. At the age of twenty-six he bought his first farm, and his efforts in life have been substantially rewarded, he being to-day the owner of one of the best farms in the county, which comprises 183 acres. In 1873 Mr. Davis left the farm, and has since lived in comfort- able retirement at Spencerport. In 1851 he married Minerva Davis, and had six children: Albert H., Charles E., Charlotte E., Emma L., Celia M., and Sophronia. In 1872 Mrs. Day died, and he married, second, H. Augusta Davis, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Day has served as assessor, excise commissioner, village trustee, etc. and is deacon, trustee, treasurer and elder of the Congregational church. Horatio Davis was a native of Connecticut, who came to Riga in 1818, purchased his farm in 1819, and to this day it has remained in the family. By his wife, Sophronia Deming
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he had eight children. He died in 1871, aged seventy-three, and his widow died in 1878, aged seventy-seven.
Stone, Harvey, was born in Leyden, Lewis county in 1814, a son of Timothy, born in Madison, Conn., in 1776, who served in the war of 1812, and in the battle of Sack- ett's Harbor. In 1798 he removed to Leyden, with his family, and made a home in the forest, erecting a log house, which he covered with bark from the trees, and a blanket served as a door, and they endured all the privations and trials incident to a pioneer life. About 1837 he removed to Henrietta, where he died in 1851. He was three times married, and by his second wife, Abigail Miller, had ten children. His third wife was Louisa Dewey of Connecticut. Our subject began for himself, traveling on the road with goods, and in 1835 went to Avon, thence to Honeoye Falls, where he spent a year, and then to this town, where he has remained. He bought his first farm there in 1834. Mr. Stone married Triphena Belknap of Lewis county, and their children are as follows: Mrs. Eliza Marsh, of this town; and Alfred, born in 1841. He married, second, Mary Ann Bundy, of Otego, a daughter of James and Polly (Overhiser) Bundy, by whom he has these children: Mrs. Lucre- tia B. Winslow, of Henrietta, Caroline T., deceased. and Mrs. Susan E. Hall, of Corry, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are members of the Baptist church of this town, in which Mr. Stone has served as deacon for over forty years.
Woolston, W. J., must be reckoned among the enlightened and progessive farmers of Pittsford, and one whose character tends to ennoble and elevate that calling to its proper position, although but recently become a resident of the town, He was born in Victor, Ontario county, March 1, 1847, where his father, William Woolston, was also born, and where his grandfather, Joseph Woolston settled in 1808, removing there from Camden, N. J. Joseph was a pensioner of the war of 1812. His son, William, first became prominent in his vicinity for business and counsel on matters in general in Ontario county, in the Baptist church, and in the Republican party, and he served in various town offices. His wife was Laura Andrews of Delaware county, and six of their children reached mature age: B. Franklin, John A., Laura A., Miranda C., William J. and Daniel D., all now living. Our subject first engaged in farming at Mendon, having acquired a sound business education at Albion, Mich. In 1869 he married Sarah A. Corby, of Mendon Center, who died in 1873, leaving one child, Louis. In 1875 he married Clara Dawley, who was the mother of A. Laura, and Clarence B. In 1890 Mr. Woolston purchased the choice farm of 175 acres where he now lives. He is an active member of the order of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Farnam, George W., a highly esteemed citizen of Pittsford, was born at Scipio, Cayuga county, October 10, 1842, a son of George W., and grandson of Jeffrey Far- nam. The latter was of Connecticut birth and early came to Cayuga county. His wife attained the age of ninety-eight and reared a family of eleven children. George was a resident of Victor at the outbreak of the war, and in the summer of 1862 en- listed in Co. K, 1st N. Y. Mounted Rifles, an independent organization, which par- ticipated in the hardest conflicts. During his three years of army life Mr. Farnam's horse was twice wounded under him, but he escaped injury. In the early part of 1864 was attached to 18th Corps headquarters as orderly, and in the winter of 1864-65 was at General Butler's headquarters, and remained in the service till June, 1865.
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Returning home he has since resided on the farm purchased by his father in 1865, near Pittsford, and in December of the following year married Lucy Shepard of this town, and their children are: Amelia, wife of Delos Loughborough of Batavia; Frank L., a grocer, of Rochester, and Alfred H. of Pittsford.
Cole, Cornelius S., was born in Schoharie county August 8, 1816, a son of William and Anna (Osterhout) Cole. When Cornelius was a year old his parents removed to Canada, and thence to Pittsford in 1818. In 1822 moved to the town of Webster, Monroe county, N. Y. In this town the young life of our subject was passed. At the age of about seventeen he became a carpenter and joiner, at which he worked nearly twenty years. In connection with this work he was in Niagara county, and there became interested in fruit growing. Having acquired a knowledge of this business, he came to Spencerport in 1853, planted a nursery of about ten acres, and from this small beginning developed an extensive and highly successful business, and one which occupied his constant attention for nearly thirty years afterwards. About 1884 he retired from active work, and has since devoted his time to his family and to travel. However, he has never entirely laid aside his interest in public affairs. He is a zealous church worker, and has been a trustee of the Congregational church many years. In 1839 Cornelius S. Cole married Phileta E., daughter of David Rice, of Ogden, and they have had one child, George Milton, now a successful merchant of Spencerport.
Peacock, Charles L., of Hodskin & Peacock, druggists, Fairport, was born Janu- ary 6, 1833, at Walworth, Wayne county, a son of Joseph Peacock, of Walworth, Wayne county, N. Y., the story of whose life would make a volume by itself. It must suffice to speak briefly of his public life in this place. He was elected in 1856 to the Assembly from the second district of Wayne on the Republican ticket, and among the minor offices held by him have been captain of the State militia in 1830, superintendent of the Erie Canal from Lock Berlin to Irondequoit (1840-41), super- visor of Walworth several years, and justice of the peace thirty-six years. Born in Columbia county in 1805 and lived to the ripe old age of ninety years. Charles Peacock has for twenty-eight years been a resident and an active business man of Fairport. In earlier life he has been a traveling salesman, settling here about 1867, having in 1859 married Addie Hill, of Walworth, whose father, Francis Hill, was one of the first men born there, in 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, have one son, Carl- ton H., born September 18, 1867, now a druggist of Rochester. The firm of Hodskin & Peacock dates from 1872. Mr. Peacock has also been closely identified with the best interests of this town and the village of Fairport. He has never sought office, . but has filled many unsalaried positions, involving good judgment and some philanthropy. He has been active in the movement resulting in the recent pure water supply for the village, and is president of the Board of Commissioners upon whom devolve its management.
Millener, Joel P., was born in Cortland county in 1812, a son of Alexander and Abigail (Barton) Millener, the former serving as drummer in the Revolution, and who in 1864 was one of seven surviving Revolutionary pensioners. He died at Adams Basin March 13, 1865, aged 103 years. His wife died July 23, 1862, aged eighty- one. The father of Alexander served with the English and Americans during the
n
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French war and was with General Wolfe at Quebec. When about twenty-one Joel P. came to Rochester, where he was a ship carpenter and boat builder. He soon began business for himself, and added a saw mill to his other interests, continuing in active business until 1855, when he removed to Kingston, Canada, and for the next six years was senior member of the firm of Joel P. Millener & Co., manufac- turers of axes and tools. Returning again to Rochester, he engaged in the same business with D. R. Barton, and continued two years. He then purchased the saw mill and property of J. O. Pettingill, at Adams Basin, to which place he removed, and was thereafter a resident and prominent citizen until his death, in 1886. He stood high in political circles, having been member of Assembly. He married, first, Sarah Harnden, and by her had nine children: Harriet, wife of James W. Stokes, of Milan, O .; Sarah, wife of Milton E. Holton; Helen, wife of Hiram Doty, of Ogden; William S., of Spencerport; Joel H., of Buffalo; George W., of Tonawanda; Louis N., of Lockport; Charles A., of Deseronto, Canada; and Bella, of Rochester. William S. was born in Rochester January 6, 1843, and is a graduate of the medical department of Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, class of '64. He at once en- tered the service as assistant surgeon of U. S. Vols., and was assigned to the 10th and 11th U. S. Inf., 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Resigning from the service in March, 1866, he began practice at Adams Basin, where he lived two years. He then spent about two years in the west, and returned in 1870 and purchased the drug store of E. H. Davis, at Spencerport, after which he dropped medical practice. In 1868 he married Lucy A., daughter of Alvin and Cornelia Webster, of Ogden, and their children are: Carrie C., wife of Sidney S. Nichols, of Spencerport; and Will- iam S., a druggist, of Holley.
Brown, D. D. S., well-known throughout the State as a politician and publisher of the Rochester Democrat, was born at Richmond, Ontario county, N. Y., June 19, 1819, son of Parley Brown, who came from Vermont and settled at Richmond. His grandfather, Parley Brown, was killed at the battle of White Plains in the Revolu- tionary war, and his great-grandfather, John Brown, who resided at Leicester, Mass., was a soldier in the French and Indian wars. D. D. S. Brown received a common school education and attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., after which he taught school and studied law. While teaching school, he taught two years at Mumford in this town; and was for a time superintendent of the schools of Wheatland. After being admitted to the bar he was appointed collector of tolls on the Genesee Valley'Canal at Scottsville, and in 1847 settled in Scottsville to attend to those duties, and at the same time commenced the practice of law there. For a short time he was postmaster at Scottsville, but resigned his position. In 1854 he married Mary Ann, daughter of George Ensign, an early settler in the village. In 1858 he was elected county clerk of the county of Monroe and held the position for three years. After which he resumed the practice of his profession at Scottsville, but shortly after was appointed paymaster in the army with rank of major, sta- tioned at Louisville, Kentucky, making payments to the soldiers at Nashville. After the war he purchased the Rochester Democrat, which he published until 1870, when that paper and the Chronicle were consolidated and a stock company formed, of which he became president, and retained the office for two years. He was largely instrumental in the building of the Rochester State Line Railroad, now the Buffalo,
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Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad. He was one of the railroad commissioners of the town of Wheatland. Mr. Brown was at the time of his death one of the managers of the State Industrial School at Rochester. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln, and delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868 which nominated U. S. Grant. Mr. Brown materially aided in the erection of Grace Episcopal church at Scottsville, and was one of its vestry at the time of his death. He died January 11, 1887, leaving his wife and four children: Selden S., Mary Lillian, wife of Homer L. S. Hall; Le Grand Brown, and Roscoe C. E. Brown. His widow, Mary A. E. Brown, died at the family residence, July 18, 1892. Mr. Brown's first residence in Scottsville, aside from boarding, was in the square house on the east side of Rochester street, being now the most northerly house on that side of the street, and is now owned by Jacob Hauszler. It was in this house that his eldest son, Selden S. Brown, was born. Afterwards Mr. Brown bought the Dr. Freeman Edson farm, lying west of Roches- ter street and north of the village. After purchasing this farm Brown's avenue was opened through the farm, and Mr. Brown erected his residence on the west side of that street north of the village, where he resided at the time of his death. This house is now occupied by his second son, Le Grand Brown. The shade trees which line both sides of this avenue, Beckwith avenue, which Mr. Brown opened from Brown's avenue to Rochester street, and Maple Avenue, running west from Brown's avenue to the station of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad, were planted by Mr. Brown, and renewals set in place of those dying from time to time. Selden S. Brown, son of D. D. S. Brown, was born at Scottsville, Monroe county, October 23, 1855. By attending the public schools of his native village and the Rochester Collegiate Institute he was well fitted for the higher studies of the University of Rochester, from which he graduated in 1879. After a course of legal study in the law offices of Messrs. Hubbell & McGuire, of Rochester, Mr. Brown was admitted to the bar in 1882, and the same year opened an office in that city. He has since been an active worker in his profession, being prominent both as an office attorney and as a speaker before a jury, Mr. Brown continues to reside in Scottsville, where he is school trustee and senior warden of Grace church. Mr. Brown resides in a house recently built by him on a part of the Brown homestead farm on the northwest corner of Brown's avenue and Maple avenue. Mr. Brown is also one of the railroad commissioners of the town of Wheatland, having been appointed to succeed his father at the time of his father's death. Le Grand Brown, another son of D. D. S. Brown, is a civil engineer and surveyor by profession, and as assistant was in charge of the construction of the new water works conduit to Rochester. He is also known as an expert builder of electric railways, for which he has invented many useful devices. He resides in the D. D. S. Brown homestead at Scottsville, having his office in Rochester.
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