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 76
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Briggs, Elroy W., was born in Sodus, Wayne county, August 11, 1847, a son of George W., also a native of Wayne county. The family are of Scotch descent, and landed in Massachusetts about 1650. George W. married Mary J., daughter of B. Right, and in 1885 took up his residence in Newark, Wayne county, where he was recognized as a man of sterling integrity. He died at the age of seventy-six. E. W. Briggs was educated at Marion Collegiate Institute, after which he taught a few
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years. In 1873 he established a drug store at Clifton Springs, and in 1891 bought the store and stock of O. L. Howard at Brockport, and is now one of the leading druggists of the town, also making a specialty of wall papers. In 1875 he married Mary E. Newland, of Clifton Springs, and they have one daughter, Mary Edith.
Cogswell, Pierce J. Prominent among the energetic and representative business men of Brighton, is P. J. Cogswell, who in 1893 completed an elegant suburban resi- dence in this village. Mr. Cogswell was born at Mt. Vernon, Me., in 1848, son of Aaron Cogswell, a farmer and miller. In 1873 he became associated with the Brad- ley Fertilizer Company, and in 1874 settled at Rochester as manager of their affairs west of Albany, the company's headquarters being at Boston, Mass. Mr. Cogswell is also interested in the raising of fine Jersey cattle, and as an intelligent amateur in that direction is widely known and referred to. Among his own choice herd of about one hundred specimens are some individuals of world-wide fame. A member of the board of directors and one of the most active members of the " American Jersey Cattle Club" of New York, Mr. Cogswell has given largely of his time and means for their advancement and interest, as a member of the World's Fair Commission and in other capacities. He has for many years been a member of the Second Bap- tist church of Rochester, acting as trustee and one of the building committee. He is at present the president of the village. In 1869 Mr. Cogswell married Maria F. Pratt, of Mt. Vernon. He bought out the famous bull Exile of St. Lambert, which has the largest number of titled daughters of any bull the world has ever known (49).
Green, George W., was born in Pike, Wyoming county, October 8, 1825. Thrown upon his own resources at the age of fourteen years, he went to Rushford, com- menced his trade with Harry Howe, and after seven years of apprenticeship, en- gaged in business with Mr. Howe. In 1847 Mr. Green married Matilda, daughter of John and Harmony Gordon, of Rushford and a sister of James Gordon of Fairport, Luther Gordon deceased, of Brockport, N. Y., Walter Gordon deceased, of Allegany, Cattaraugus county. N. Y., Wilson Gordon of Topeka, Kan. 1859 he moved to An- gelica, and thence to Belmont, where he was six years county clerk. Later he engaged in the lumber business at Rochester. Establishing the firm of Green & McAuliffe in 1870 at Fairport, where his extensive business operations, lively public spirit and active philanthrophy made him a most influential and valuable citizen. He was prominent in Masonic circles and in the church, teaching for twenty years a class in the Congregational Sunday school. His children are Adelphia G., wife of P. McAuliffe, and Ella G., now deceased, who was a highly accomplished young lady, an artist and musician. Her death, July 6, 1893, was widely mourned. Mrs. McAuliffe is the mother of George, Jessie, James, Lulu D., Anna, Ada and Gordon. Mr. Green died October 17, 1891, and was interred with Masonic honors at Mount Hope, Rochester.
Andrews, L. E., was born in Windham county, Conn., a son of Timothy A. An- drews. The family are of English extraction, and were among the pioneers of Con- necticut. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and is a self-made man. In 1840 he came to Monroe county and settled in Parma, removing in 1846 to Brock- port, where he engaged in house painting, glazing and paper hanging, with which
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business he has always been identified. In 1847 he married Mary J., daughter of Cyrus Carpenter, and their children are Edward, Mrs. H, E. Smith, Mrs. J. F. Harris, Mrs. F. E. Williams and Mrs. O. D. Humphrey.
Ward, George R. (deceased), was born at Le Roy, N. Y., April 13, 1837, educated in the public schools, and in 1853 came to Brockport and learned the grocery busi- ness, soon placing himself in the front rank of merchants. Meeting with reverses in the shape of fire, he scarcely paused. but cleared away the debris and started again, purchasing one of the business blocks in Brockport, which he remodeled and rebuilt, and incorporated in what is now Ward's Opera House, a lasting monument to his memory. In 1858 he married Maria Palmer, who died in 1864; one son, Albert P., now living, was born to them. In 1866 he married for his second wife, Marian L. Root, daughter of F. P. Root of Sweden, who survives him. Mr. Ward died Feb- ruary 8, 1889. Public spirited and foremost in every object for the advancement of his town, his death was not only a loss to his own family, but to the community in general.
Rowe, George H., born in the town of Greece, October 20, 1837. His father, Asa, was born in that town, in 1806, and his father, Abel Rowe, with his two brothers came from Tolland, Conn., about 1790. One of the brothers died, and the other, Frederick, settled in Gates. Asa Rowe married Rumy B., daughter of John Reed, and was one of the first nurserymen in this county, as well as a prominent farmer, serving as supervisor two terms, and was one of the building committee of the old court house. In 1842 he came to the town of Sweden, where he has been one of the most successful citizens of the town. George Rowe was educated at Alfred Acad- emy, Allegany county, and in 1858 went to Michigan, from there to La Porte, Ind., and in 1861 enlisted in Co. G, 15th U. S. Vols., participating in the battles of Rich Mountain, Corinth, and through the campaign of West Virginia, receiving an hon- orable discharge in August, 1862. In 1867 he married Ruby Reed, daughter of John Reed, and they have three sons and one daughter-John W., George E., Henry A,, and Cora M.
Lockwood, Mrs. M. E .- Among the local pioneers of 1832 who boldly abandoned the older civilization of New England, shaping at the same time their own destinies and the social and political affairs of a new arena, we find the name of William A. Lockwood, scion of an old family of Stamford, Conn. His oldest son, George Will- iam Lockwood. married in 1857 Mary D. Wright, whose father, Francis A., was once the leading merchant of North Norwich, N. Y. The children of this union were: Ida Adella, Inez Gertrude, and William Augustus. The oldest daughter died in infancy. Inez is a resident of Fairport, and the son is employed in the office of a prominent firm in Rochester. George Lockwood's untimely death in 1873 at the age of thirty-nine was widely noted as the fatal error of a dispensing pharma- cist.
Kimball, Rev. Joseph, was a native of Newburgh, Orange county, born August 12, 1820, and at the age of twenty-three he was ordained as pastor of the Associate Reformed church. In 1843 he married Julia, daughter of William M. Wylie, of Newburgh, and in 1854 came to Brockport as pastor of the First Presbyterian church. In 1862 he went to Fishkill and in 1864 removed to Brooklyn, where he died in 1874.
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Giving freely his best energies to the service of his Master, unostentatious and un- assuming, his hands were always engaged in promoting some charitable enterprise, and his voice in promoting the welfare of humanity. He was a graduate of the Union College of Schenectady and of the Theological Seminary of Newburgh. He began his life work at the age of twenty-two, and for thirty-one years his unceasing efforts were given to his chosen work.
Clinton, Richard, was born in County Louth, Ireland, November 15, 1834, and came to this country at the age of eighteen. He first came to Rochester, later re- moved to Caledonia, and then spent about two years at lumbering in Michigan. He next spent a winter in New Orleans, La., and a summer in Illinois, then re- turned to this county, and bought in Ogden a portion of the old Scribner farm. In 1875 Mr. Clinton bought his present farm, where with the help of his family he established a comfortable home. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Co. M, 8th N. Y. Cavalry, and was mustered out September 16, 1865. October 11, 1863, he was wounded in the right arm and confined to hospital nearly six months; was then transferred to the Second Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps, with whom he remained until his discharge. Returning to Ogden, Mr. Clinton has since been a farmer, a quiet hard working man, whose efforts have been crowned with success. April 15, 1865, he married Julia Archard, of Ogden, and they have had these children: Charles, Margaret, Frederick, Mary, Jennie, Julia, Christie and Sarah.
Hubbard, Richard P., is descended from the good old Revolutionary stock and was born in Salisbury, Conn., July 25, 1813, son of Josiah, whose father, Josiah Hubbard, was a sea captain. The father of Richard P. married Sarah, daughter of Elijah Stanton, who was a Revolutionary soldier and one of Washington's aides. Richard P. came to Chili in 1838, where, with the exception of a short time spent in Ontario county, he has since lived. Coming to Chili empty handed, he worked for a time on a farm, but soon purchased a small farm and started out for himself. By reason of his thrift and sound judgment he steadily gained headway and was soon counted among the leading farmers of the town. In 1864 he purchased the Whit- more farm at North Chili of 355 acres, long known as one of the finest farms in Western New York. Mr. Hubbard was for many years an auctioneer of exceptional ability. He was for nine years a director of the Monroe County Agricultural Asso- ciation. January 13, 1842, he married Louisa E., daughter of William Wooden, one of the prominent pioneer men of Chili. She died June 11, 1895. His son, Richard P. Hubbard, jr., is a prominent citizen of Chili.
McMillan, James, the well-known organizer and public speaker, was born of High- land Scotch ancestry at Schenectady in 1829, where his father, Alexander McMillan, was a farmer. James early developed a taste for travel, and a genius for invention and improvement. His education was largely acquired by personal research, and in addition to the ready and fluent wit for which his countrymen are famous, his fund of general information is wide and varied. When but a youth he went to Indiana and engaged in teaching and clearing land, etc., and subsequently interested himself in boring artesian wells throughout the west and this State. For the past thirty years he has been a resident of Perinton, and his voice and talent often employed to better, by organized effort, the condition of the average farmer. He is a leader in
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the local grange movement, and a recognized authority on agricultural and political economy. Believing in a trinity of money, gold, silver and paper, all issued by the government, and a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and not less than sixty dollars per capita of available circulating medium. He has the honor of owning at present the celebrated thoroughbred stallion, Jas. McCauley, an inbred grand sire of imported Eclipse, England and America's pride, and Monroe county's pride and land mark (See Bruce's American Stud Book, p. 400.) He was also one of the pioneers in educating the farmers generally how and what to feed the plants to increase their crops and improve their farms by the use of phosphates, and thorough culture; also among the first to experiment in this county in the culti- vation and manufacture of syrup from sorghum, or sugar cane, which we use in the place of old wine for our health's sake. Were he to reveal his knowledge and thoughts of the past, present, and future, it would make the eyes of many of the present generation roll in their sockets like stars or planets in their spheres and their fretted locks stand on their heads like porcupine quills. He has always lived and thought in the advance of the age, and thus, like Paul, had ignorance to contend with .- Com.
Fraser, Allan B., was born on Fraser's Point, near Lancaster, Glengarry county, Canada, on January 22, 1848, a son of Alexander and Margaret Fraser, his parents being of Scotch birth. Allan began for himself at the age of fifteen working in Canada until he was twenty, when he came to the States and to Chenango county, where he was employed in a public works office. He then went to Oneida county, thence to Oswego, in both of which places he was employed as foreman on the rail- road, which brought him to North Parma in 1873, with his brother, E. E. Fraser, the latter a contractor on the R., W. & O. road, our subject having a fencing contract. In 1875 he formed a partnership with E. A. Cross, carrying on a general store at North Parma. About two years and a half afterwards Mr. Fraser, associated with his brother, became sole proprietor and it is now one of the largest country stores in Western New York, and one of the most successful. Mr. Fraser was president of the North Parma Creamery Company in 1894 and is now secretary and treasurer. He has also been treasurer of the village and is treasurer of the First Baptist church. In 1878 he married Ella L. Wayne, by whom he has three children. His wife died in April, 1892. He married, second, Elfredà L. Tambling, and they have one child,
Curvin, John, was born in Rochester August 7, 1837, a son of John, who was a native of Queens county, Ireland, and came to this country in 1820, settled in Roch- ester, and married Margaret Heaney. Later they removed to the town of Chili, where he engaged in farming. He died in 1890 in his nintieth year. John Curvin was educated in the Christian Brothers' School at Rochester, and then engaged in agriculture. In 1865 he married Catherine, daughter of Gilbert Jump, who came to the town of Brighton in 1820, where he was a mason. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Curvin are: John H., Frank G., and Margaret E. Our subject is a prosperous farmer, and enjoys the esteem of his townspeople.
Stubbs, Joseph, was born in Camden, Me., in 1815, of English ancestry. Camden is a semi-maritime village at the estuary of the Penobscot, and was then a flourishing center of the ship-building industry. Joseph learned the trade of ship carpenter and caulker, and has made it his business since, removing to the vicinity of Boston about
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1821 and to Fairport a year later. August 29, 1852, he married Sarah L., daughter of the late Gould Warren, a millwright of Rochester, and a lineal descendant of Gen- eral Warren of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Stubbs was for twelve years engaged in the millinery and fancy goods business in the Stubbs block in Fairport.
Stedman, George L., was born in Penfield September 13, 1832, a son of Lowrey Stedman, a native of Connecticut, born in 1797. The family is of English extrac- tion, and came to Connecticut in 1773. Lowrey married Harriet M., daughter of John V. Lemon, of Harper's Ferry, Va., and came to Rochester in 1828, and engaged in the manufacture and sale of cabinet work. Later he removed to Warsaw, where he died in 1890, in his ninety-fourth year. George L. Stedman was educated in Rochester, and learned the printer's trade, also being engaged in insurance and real estate. In 1860 he married Mary S., daughter of Robert Moore, esq., of Perry, N. Y., and they have these children: Prof. John M. Stedman, of the Alabama Poly- technic Institute, of Auburn, Ala., and George L., jr., who is engaged in the railroad business. George L. Stedman came to Brockport in 1863, where he has since re- sided, and been identified with all local affairs of the town. Since 1857 Mr. Stedman has been engaged off and on in editorial work on different newspapers, and is writing for the press at the present time in connection with his other work.
Diver, Byron A., was born in Rush, a son of Norton, whose father, Daniel, was the first of the name to come to Rush. He was born in Vermont, and came here in 1806, bought 300 acres of forest, erected a log cabin, and returned for his family. He had seven children, among whom he divided his property. His father Calvin, came here later and was buried on the farm. Norton Diver married Melissa, daugh- ter of Isaac Jackson of Henrietta, and began housekeeping on what is known as the Charles Green farm. Of his five children, Emily R., died in 1893, Byron, as above; John H., who lives in Lima, and Chloe, widow of Henry M. Hovey of Avon, and Isaac W., who died in Rush, March 19, 1895. Norton spent his last years in Honeoye Falls, where he died in 1889, his wife dying in 1880. Byron married Maud, daughter of Matthew Stull, whose father, Jacob Stull, came here from Maryland in 1801. Matthew died in 1871 at East Rush. Our subject bought his present farm before his marriage in 1865, the place comprising 115 acres of the old homestead. He has a son, Grad, and two daughters, Melissa C. and Eva E. Mr. Diver was supervisor during 1888-89-90, being re-elected without opposition. He was also assessor six years and collector two years.
Courtney, Capt. Lewis B., was born in Cortland county March 20, 1823. His father, Abyram Courtney, was a native of Chenango county, and the grandfather, William, was a soldier of the Revolution. Lewis B. was educated in the public schools, and in 1860 came to Brockport. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, 140th N. Y. Vols., and took part in the battles of the Army of the Potomac, being present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, and was one of two remaining officers in his regiment at the battle of Petersburg. Enlisting as a private, he was promoted second sergeant, first lieutenant, and at the close of the war held the rank of captain, bringing back but eleven of the original 100 members of his company. In 1865 he returned to Brockport and entered the employ of D. S. Morgan & Co., remaining till 1885, since which time he has been engaged in the fruit evaporating business.
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Allen, Lemuel, was born in Henrietta April 17, 1824, and ten years later came to Penfield with his father, Lemuel, and grandfather, Lemuel, sr., who died there. Our subject married in 1846 and settled on the farm across the road from where he now lives, and where he remained forty-three years. In 1891 he removed to his present residence, and the farm is now conducted by his son, Edwin J., who is married and has a son, Lemuel D., and a daughter, Alzora.
Leake, C. Leverne, was born in Penfield in 1872, and after being educated at Roch- ester and Havana, he followed his trade of engineer for a time. In February, 1893, he came to Webster, where he started a sash, door and blind factory, in connection with which he now manufactures burial caskets also. He is a son of Stephen Leake, whose father Thomas Leake, was among the earliest settlers of Penfield.
Bumpus, William H., eldest son of Alexander N. Bumpus, was born in Henrietta in 1845. His father was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1812, and with several brothers was at one time connected with the great whaling industry for which that town was noted. He was himself a carpenter by trade, and located on a farm in Henrietta in 1821. He has been of considerable social prominence, and is still living at Irondequoit. William Bumpus has been a resident of Perinton since the age of ten years, and chiefly interested in farming. March 15, 1876, he married Elizabeth White of Rochester, and their children are: Ethel aged fifteen, and Myra aged thirteen.
Harris, J. D., was born at Penfield, August 30, 1848, a son of James of that town, born in 1821. His father William came here from Scotland in 1815, and his first lodging in Monroe county was where James Harris now lives, and the farm where they settled is also in the possession of a member of the family. James Harris has been and is still a representative man of the people, having been for twenty years supervisor of Penfield, justice of the peace about the same length of time, and filled besides many minor official offices. In 1879 he was the people's choice for county treasurer, and since the expiration of that term of office he has lived retired from active politics. He had four brothers and four sisters, all resident in Penfield, and at the last reunion of the family more than eighty members were present. J. D. Harris is one of a family of ten, five now living. After a course at Penfield Acad- emy he engaged in farming in that town, removing in 1878 to Perinton, near Fair- port, and he is now largely engaged in the shipping of produce. May 9, 1872, he married Frances L., daughter of Garry Brooks of Fairport, and they have one adopted daughter, Bessie Frances, new eleven years of age.
Reynolds, Linus H., deceased, was born in Salem, Washington county, Septem- ber 28, 1822. He was married in 1846 to Sarah Doane, of Granville, Washington county. Came to Monroe county, where he settled in Holley in 1848. In 1850 went to Virginia where he remained till 1861, then returned to Brockport where he was identified with the medical profession all his life, and was prominent in advancing the best interests of the town, being especially interested in the welfare of the Epis- copal church, of which he was a member. Of a generous and benevolent character, his hand was ever extended toward the worthy and needy. He died October 10, 1891. in his seventieth year.
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Howell, Henry H , has been a resident of Fairport since the age of sixteen, with the exception of nine years from 1859 to 1868. During this time he pursued. the ad- venturous career of a quartz miner of California. He was born at Newark, Wayne county, in 1837, of an old Jersey family but of German ancestry, and is the only sur- viving son of Jacob W. Howell who in 1853 came to Perinton and engaged in farm- ing, and who reached the age of eighty-two years, his death occurring in 1882. After returning from California in 1868 Mr. Howell was for several years engaged in farm- ing, and for a time conducted a market on West avenue. Mr. Howell was for two years police officer of the village, and several years deputy sheriff under Charles S. Cornell and for twenty years has been treasurer Fairport Lodge 476 F. & A. M , at present is a member of the Board of Education and also a member of the Board of Water Commissioners. December 20, 1872, he married Carrie M. White. They have one daughter, Mabel, born September 17, 1882; their only son died in infancy. Mr. Howell had two brothers and three sisters. One brother died at the age of thirteen years, and John, he is a well known and highly esteemed resident of the town of Perinton, who in early days went to California, and subsequently made four more trips to that country going and returning by water each of the five trips. He was well known throughout California being quite a noted quartz miner. He fell from an apple tree at his farm in 1891 injuring the base of his brain from which he never recovered consciousness. The three sisters are all living.
Heinrich, William, was born in Montreal, Canada, February 28, 1861, a son of Wilhelm, who was a native of Germany, town of Aberfeldt, who came to the United States in 1850. In 1862 he came to Rochester and engaged in the confectionery business, being also a band leader of note. In 1876 he came to Brockport, where he engaged in the hotel business and in 1892 rebuilt the present house known as the Heinrich Hotel. He was the leader of the Brockport Band, and one of the founders and promoters of the German church. He married Frederica Rhinehart, by whom he had six children: William, Julius, George, Frederica, Eva and Elizabeth. He died in 1893, leaving his sons to take up the many business interests in which he was engaged, the management of the estate being taken by William.
Johnson, Benjamin F., was born in the town of Sweden, March 25, 1813. His father, Ira, was a native of Oneida county and came to this town in 1811. He mar- ried Sallie Sturgis, and died in 1816. Benjamin F. was educated in the common schools, and in 1842 married Polly M. Owen, by whom he had two children: Lewis F. and Mrs. Celestia L. Haight. Our subject is a practical aud successful farmer, and takes an active interest in all town affairs.
Wheeler, Benjamin .- Guy Wheeler came from Sand Lake, N. Y., in 1825, and set- tled with his family in Parma near his present place, where he died. He was a thrifty and successful farmer. He had seven children, four of whom were born in Parma: Amarilla, who married Leonard Monroe; Benjamin, of Parma; Martha, who married Jefferson Barton; Rachel, who married Benjamin Cox; Job A., who died in Parma; Edward A. and Edwin F. (twins), both now living in Kansas. Guy Wheeler, who was born in 1798, died at the age of sixty-nine, and his wife died three years later. Benjamin Wheeler was born January 20, 1820, and has always followed farm- ing and still lives on the old homestead, although he has large and varied interests
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