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 88
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Allen, Chauncey, was born in Clarkson, May 26, 1818, a son of Capt. Isaac Allen, a native of Enfield, Conn, who came to this county in 1816 and settled in Clarkson, where he carried on the hatter's trade. He also spent some time in Brockport. His wife, Polly Terry, was a daughter of Solomon Terry, and they were the parents of ten children. Our subject was one of the prominent men of his town, serving as road commissioner, when roads had to be laid through the unbroken forest, was supervisor, and took an active interest and part in all moves for the good of the town, being a man whose good judgment was well known. Chauncey Allen was educated in this town, and through life has been engaged in agriculture. His wife was Susan, daughter of Gideon Holmes, and their children are Mrs. Celia Steele and Mrs. Frances Vicars,
Arnold, Aaron, son of Daniel Arnold, was born August 15, 1787, and was one of
y
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Ogden's prosperous farmers. He married Roxie Brown, and had these children: Esther, wife of Capt. J. W. Webster, James N., Aaron, Bradford, Henry, Maria, and Edwin. James N. Arnold was three times married. By his first wife, Sarah Ross, he had two children, John W. and Sarah. By his second wife, Susan Mershatt, he had one child, Aaron J., now one of Parma's most prosperous men. His third wife, Calista Marsh, bore him nine children: Alfred M., Susan C., Oscar M., Henry, Mar- ian and Theron (twins), Isabelle, Nettie, and Esther. James N. Arnold died in Og- den in 1892, having been for many years a deacon in the Presbyterian church. Aaron J. was born April 3, 1843, and lost his mother in extreme infancy. He was then taken by the Clark family of Parma, and reared under the instruction of the Misses Susan and Hannah Clark. January 31, 1866, he married Mary E., daughter of Alexander McGough, of Jackson, Washington county, and they have three children: Jennie C., wife of Eugene Hay, of Spencerport; Abner W., who married Elsie Lapp, and Lewis A., who married Sadis Nichols. Mr. Arnold has served as assessor six years. For nearly thirty years he and his wife have been active members of the Spencer- port Congregational church, and for twenty-five years he has been a deacon. Elijah Clark came with his family to Ogden in 1840, driving from Salem, Washington county, with a team. They settled in Parma, where Mr. Clark died in 1858, and his wife in 1848.
Abercrombie, John, was born in Orange county in 1815. He came to Rochester in 1850, where he was for fourteen years engaged in contracting and building. In 1864 he came to Webster, and bought the farm where he now lives. He built most of the brick buildings in Webster, but since 1885 his time has been mainly devoted to farming. He is a son of John Abercrombie, who came from Ireland and was for many years a merchant in Newburgh, N. Y.
Adams, Orlando C., was born at Penfield, August 4, 1859. His father, the late Jonn C. Adams, removed to Fairport in 1873, and engaged in the manufacture of pumps. He was a citizen of much moral character and worth, honest and upright. He was at various times constable, collector and overseer of the poor. His death occurred in 1892, at the age of sixty. Orlando is the only child living, another son, William, having died when twenty. Orlando for a number of years conducted a re- tail market on West Avenue, and in 1892 erected storehouses for the preservation of ice, the distribution of which has become an important industry. Mr. Adams's per- sonal citizenship is of the highest character and he is justly esteemed among his fel- low men. A member of the Free Baptist church, of which he is a deacon, he has superintended its Sunday school since 1888. To his personal efforts as a director of the Y. M. C. A., that organization owes much of its success, and the cause of prohi- bition has his earnest sympathy. In 1882 he was deprived by death of his wife Inez, a daughter of Mrs. W. B. Bly of Fairport, after a married life of about one year. She left one son, Orlo H., born October 18, 1882. The present Mrs. Adams is Etta, daughter of Henry B. Hull of Penfield. She was born in 1870 in Albany, which was her home until the age of sixteen.
Ayrault, Allen .- If any one familiar with local affairs were asked to name the rep- resentative farmers of Perinton, he would without doubt accord a high place to Allen Ayrault, of whom it may be said with absolute truth that he is the architect of his
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own fortune. Born at Caledonia, N. Y., December 27, 1827, he is one of seven chil- dren of the late John Ayrault. From a small beginning, but by unremitting toil and aided by a real genius for his vocation, Mr. Ayrault has achieved a success be- yond the average, and while yet in the prime of life, may enjoy its fruits. He now operates over 300 acres of land, and makes a specialty of breeding choice horses and cattle, among them many prize-winners. In 1873 he married Lovilla Smith. daughter of Eleazer Smith, of White Pigeon, Michigan, and has three children living: Allen, jr., John W., and Edith. One son and one daughter died in early infancy.
Brown, Cyrus E., a farmer and seed grower of Henrietta, was born in Chenango county in 1832, a son of Ephraim P. Brown, of Connecticut, born in 1799, whose father was Nathan Brown of that State, and who served in the Revolution. The latter removed to Chenango county in 1807, and there spent his remaining years, as did also his son, Ephraim, father of our subject. The latter served as supervisor etc., and was a prominent citizen. He married Orilla Hicks, by whom he had eight children, five now living. Cyrus E. began for himself as a farmer. Leaving home at the age of twenty-six in 1858 he went to Groton, Tompkins county, where he spent eight years in farming, and a year in the village. In 1867 he returned to Ca- yuga county, and two years later removed to Henrietta, and bought his present farm of fifty acres, where for a number of years he has made a specialty of raising a fine quality of sweet corn for seed purposes. He has taken some interest in poli- tics, having served as justice. In 1858 he married Marian Weaver, who died two years later, leaving one child, Marian F. He married, second, in 1861 Adelia A. Allen, of Tompkins county, and their children are Nellie J., deceased, and Wesley E.
Bradshaw, Isaac Leonard, was born in 1844 in Irondequoit, where his father, Lo- renzo C., lived. Mr. Bradshaw came to Webster in 1863 and purchased his present farm. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. M, 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, serving until the close of the war. when he returned to this town. Mr. Bradshaw has three sons. R. F., Charles, and George.
Brown, Olivia, representing one of the leading families of the town of Penfield in the olden time, was born in that town, the elder daughter of the late Abner Brown. Abner N. Brown was himself born in Penfield, his father's people being residents of New Jersey. His principal business was farming, but he took a leading part in town affairs, and nearly all the official positions within the gift of his townsmen be- came his, trusts to which his fidelity was marked and uniform. He was an original Republican, dating from the formation of the party. In 1873 he retired from the activities of life, removing to the village of Fairport, where his death occurred at sixty-eight years of age, March 3, 1881. His children are Olivia, E. Alcesta, Lycur- gus W., and Rollin.
Butler, Preston W., was born in Penfield in 1832, a son of Elias Butler, who came from Massachusetts to East Penfield. Elias Butler married Caroline, daughter of Lyman Tripp, of Penfield, by whom he had six sons: James, Amasa, Preston W., Benjamin T., William and Samuel. Preston W. has for the last ten years been en- gaged in raising hot-house stock and now makes a specialty of Clematis plants. He was prior to this time engaged in the nursery business. He settled where he now
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lives in 1867. His grandfather, John Butler, came from Ireland, settling in Massa- chusetts, where he died.
Bellinger, Moses C., of Dutch ancestry, was born in Danube, Herkimer county, in 1837. His grandfather, John C., was a prominent farmer in that locality, and in the stage-coach days kept a public house. Of his eight children, Christopher was the father of Moses C. The Bellingers are a numerous family along the Mohawk Valley, and are nearly all farmers. Christopher married Pauline Walrath of Danube, and they reared four sons and three daughters: Mary M., Hiram W., Moses C., Mrs. W. Bostwick, Gertrude, Harriet, and Joram, all of East Bloomfield, to which place he came in 1866, and where his children attended the academy. Moses married Alice A., daughter of Oscar G. Cummings, a retired farmer of East Bloomfield. He bought a farm of 114 acres in Mendon in 1882, where he has since lived. There were three children: Ralph, born in 1882, Christopher in 1890, and a daughter Gertrude, who died in 1886 aged two years. Mrs. Bellinger's grandfather was Benjamin Cum- mings, an early settler of Bloomfield, coming from Massachusetts in 1794, and he helped erect the third building in Rochester. His son Oscar married Alice A. Beach of Bloomfield. She had one brother, Thomas, who died when a child. Her mother died in 1863.
Baker, Nathan C., was born in Hoosick, N. Y., February 26, 1830, an elder son of Noah Baker, one of the early settlers, who came about 1835, Mr. Baker has been a farmer most of his life, located on the southern boundary of the county near Fishers, a locality noted for its excellent land and fine scenery. In 1851 he married Mary Aldrich of Victor, and they had two daughters and a son: Noah A., who manages the homestead farm, Mrs. Jane Pickering, and Mrs. Belle Pickering, both of the daughters living almost adjacent to the homestead. In 1857 Mr. Baker went to Del aware, remaining two years.
Baker, William, of Perinton, younger son of Noah Baker, was born December 21 1836, at Hoosick N. Y. Noah came here about 1837 clearing off his own land, and withstanding all the privations incident to life in an unsettled region. His wife, the mother of his two sons, was a real helpmeet, spinning and weaving their home- spun clothing. William Baker inherits in a large degree the sterling, substantial qualities that distinguished his paternal ancestry. His wife is a daughter of Alex- ander N. Bumpus, and a sister of William Bumpus. They have no children.
Birch, Benjamin, of B. Birch & Sons, Fairport, gardeners aud florists, is of Eng- lish birth, and came to America at the age of eighteen. He was born at Bucking- hamshire, England, in 1839. His father, Joseph Birch, was a farmer in moderate circumstances, and unable to afford his children full educational advantages. Ben- jamin habitually spent his evenings in study and reading, while his days were en- grossed by hard work on the farm. Emigrating in 1857, he became a farm employee near Palmyra, Wayne county, and by unremitting industry and frugality acquired a competence, locating in Fairport in 1879. In 1860 he married Mary Hallenbeck of Palmyra, and their twelve children are living except one son, Linden, who died aged sixteen. Mr. Birch is a steward of the M. E. church and an earnest advocate of pro- hibition.
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Barnhart, Orrin B., late of Fairport, was born at Lansingburgh, N. Y., and set- tled in Perinton at an early date, where the remainder of his life was spent, a man of rugged virtues and sterling character. For his second wife he married Mary A. Bolton, of Coburg, Ontario, now Mrs. William H. Pockett, whose kindly ministra- tions soothed his last years. Mr. Barnhart left two children, Lewis and Hannah.
Bancroft, Ellis W., is a son of Simeon Bancroft, who was long a resident of Wal- worth, Wayne county, later removing to Michigan, where he died. E. W. Bancroft came to this town in 1885, and after a period of five years engaged in the produce business; he went into partnership with J. H. Thatcher, now carrying on a hard- ware and furniture trade at Union Hill. Mr. Bancroft married Hattie, daughter of Rev. C. B. Hart, and they have one son, Glen.
Howes, George E., only son of the late Ezra F. Howes, who was born at Lenox, Mass., in 1811, came here when two years old where his life was spent. He died February 13, 1892. The only other child was a daughter who died in infancy. Judge Howes received his early education at the famous old Clover Street Seminary and has extended it by personal research and observation. Besides some minor official positions, he was for a number of years justice of the peace, and an associate judge for four years. He has been the recipient of the highest honors of the Masonic fra- ternity. In 1873 he married Belle Nash, daughter of the late John Nash of Brighton.
Humphrey, W. S .- Prominent among the physicians of the past in the town of Chili was Dr. David Starkey, who was born in the town of Guilford, Chenango county, N. Y., March 28, 1812, and was a son of John Starkey, who came from Eng- land. Dr. Starkey was educated at Fairfield College, New York, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Western New York, at Geneva, receiving his diploma in 1835. He first located in Stafford, N. Y., but in 1837 he settled in Clifton, where he had an extensive practice. A few years later he purchased a large farm in the southern part of the town, where he died in 1886. For over forty years he was act- ively engaged in the practice of his profession, enjoying an extensive and profitable practice. During the last years of his life he gave his attention to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. Dr. Starkey was a prominent member of the Clifton Baptist church and was also a member of the Monroe County Medical Society. He served four years as supervisor of the town of Chili. Dr. Starkey was twice married, his first wife being Caroline Whiting. He afterward married Almira H, Humphrey, who survives him.
Garrison, Elias, was born in Ulster county, June 17, 1830. His father, William, was a native of that county, where he was a prominent and much respected citizen. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1853 Elias came to this county, settling in Clarkson. In 1855 he married Nancy, daughter of Daniel B. Thorn, and they have one son, Richard E. Our subject is one of the practical and successful farmers of his town, served as supervisor in 1861-62, and takes an active interest in all public enterprises for the good of the town.
Gorton, Ezra, came from Chenango county in 1840, and settled on the farm in Parma now owned by his descendants. In his family were two children, William and Lovina, deceased wife of James Brockway. William was born August 18, 1823,
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and during his long residence in Parma became known as one of the successful and enterprising farmers of the town. He became possessed of the homestead farm after the death of Ezra, and in 1854 married Persis Davis, by whom he had five chil- dren: Charles, of Rochester; Fred, of Parma; Waite, of New York; Nellie, wife of Edward Smith; and John, of Parma. William Gorton died July 7, 1889, and left to his heirs one of the best farms on the Ridge, it being now managed by his sons, Fred and John. John Gorton married Nettie Perrin.
Hiscock, Rev James W., was born in 1810 in Duanesburgh, a son of William, a pioneer of Ogden. James resided in Ogden until 1828 when he came to reside with his brother in Parma. He taught school for a time, and during his young manhood entered the Universalist ministry, having had in childhood a serious affliction which prevented him from active manual labor. Mr. Hiscock is reputed to have a more thorough knowledge of the Bible than any other man in the county, as he can quote at will from any chapter. Mr. Hiscock preached his first sermon at Farwell's Mills, but his later charges were chiefly in Parma, Webster, Hamlin, and Clarkson. He owned a good farm in Parma, and his ministry was purely a matter of doing good, and not for gain, as he declined salary. In 1835 he married Laura A. Wood, and they resided on the farm after December, 1836. Their children were James Duane, a soldier in the 13th N. Y. Vols., who died in 1867 from disease contracted in the service ; John A., of Parma, Frances H., who died in 1843, and George F., who died in 1883. Rev. James W. Hiscock died in December, 1892, and his wife April 18, 1893. John A. Hiscock was born in Parma June 7, 1838, and has lived here all his life, following farming and the practice of veterinary surgery, in which he has achieved much success. In 1861 he married Jane, daughter of John Goodell, of Parma, and they have one child, Frances E., wife of Edward McCabe. He has served about eight years as road commissioner, and is an active Republican. John Goodell was a son of William, who came with his parents from Cherry Valley to this town. John married Emeline Everson, and they had three children.
Huber, Clement, was born in Baden, Germany, November 22, 1830, son of Joseph Huber, who was a mason by trade, and his sons were brought up in the same occu- pation. The eldest of the boys, John, came to this country in 1846, settling in Parma. Clement followed in 1852, and Frank, still younger, came in 1860. Clement lived with John for two years, then began for himself. He carried on his trade of mason in connection with a small farm. In 1858 Mr. Huber married Mary Ann Snyder, by whom he had six children: Julia, wife of Peter Ring; Jessie, who married John J. Jones; Frank, who died in childhood; Charles, of Parma; George, of Ogden; and Cora, who died young. Clement Huber began his career in Parma with but one dollar in his possession, but a life of toil has earned a comfortable property. He is a member of the Baptist church at Parma and a prominent member of the Parma Lodge of Odd Fellows. Jonathan A. Snyder came to Parma from Montgomery county and was a pump maker by trade, but became a farmer later in life. He married Nancy Mather, by whom he had three children: Mary Ann, who married Clement Huber; Almira. who married William Worthington; and Maria E. He was killed in a runaway on the Lisle road in 1866. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Snyder married Mary Watrous, by whom he had two children, Watrous and Susan.
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Gillett, John, of Connecticut, came to Ogden from Livingston county in 1825, hav- ing been a pioneer in the Genesee country, although he had resided in Sullivan and Cayuga counties. He was a soldier in the war of of 1812, where he contracted dis- ease from which he never fully recovered. In Ogden Mr. Gillett settled north of where his son Chauncey now lives, and in 1827 he bought of George W. Willey, as agent for the land company, the land, having but five acres cleared. Both John Gillett and his wife died during the forties. Their children were Daniel, John, Gil- bert and Electa, all of whom removed to Michigan; Ephraim, who died in Ogden; Chauncey, of Ogden; Franklin, who died in Michigan; and D. Clinton, who lives in Michigan. Chauncey Gillett, who lives on the old farm, was born in 1820, was edu- cated in Brockport and Clarkson, and has always followed agriculture. In 1845 he married Martha Whittier, and they have had three children: Julius E., of Ogden . Elwood C., of Gates; and Julia E., wife of Frank E. Lawson.
Handy John D., was born on his present farm in 1833, a son of pioneer Alpheus Handy, who came from Connecticut about 1820 and located here. His first wife died soon after his settlement here, and in 1824 he married Maria Dunham, who is now living. Their children were Pluma, Frances, John D., Charles, Sarah, Lucius, Car- rie, Frank and Alpheus. Lucius and Frank were soldiers in the late war, where both had an honorable record. Lucius was in the First Michigan Cavalry, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. Frank was in the 50th U. S. Engineers and died at City Point, Va., in August, 1864. Alpheus Handy, the pioneer, died in 1869. John D. owns and resides on the homestead farm, to which he devotes most of his time and attention, caring but little for politics. In 1865 he married Frances H. Hobbie, granddaughter of D. K. Hobbie of Rochester, and they have one child, Cora. They have also adopted four children from the Rochester Orphan Asylum, whom they reared and started in the right paths of life. They were Mattie Hunter, Frances Teffle, Louis Neun, and Jacob A. Regg.
Hoy, Patrick, was a native of Ireland, but came when a young man to this country, settling first at Albany, thence moved to Cherry Valley; thence he came to Roches- ter, about 1829. He was a blacksmith by trade and an earnest, hard-working man. He removed to Penfield and died in that town. He was twice married, his first wife dying in Cherry Valley. She bore him three children. His second wife was Loraine Smith, and they also had three children: Julia, Nicholas H. and Betsey. Nicholas H. Hoy was born October 10, 1832, and learned the trade of his father. He worked several years in Penfield Center, and in 1870 came to Ogden and bought a farm, still continuing his trade for ten years or more. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. L, 8th N. Y. Cavalry, and served nearly three years, his duties being blacksmithing. He was mustered out of service in August, 1865, returning home to his trade. In 1854 he married Lydia A. Balcom, and their children are James E., of Spencerport, and Jennie A., wife of Joseph Rogers of Ogden. Mr. Hoy has served as overseer of the poor and assessor.
Holley, Andrew M., is a son of William Holley, who settled in Webster about 1835, and died in 1888. Mr. Holley devoted most of his time to farming until 1883, when he moved to Webster village, and has since been engaged in painting and paper hanging. In 1890 he erected the residence on South street, where he now lives. His two sons are Charles H. and Burton E.
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- Hopkins, Freeman A., was born in Wayne county in 1852, a son of Enos, and a grandson of Freeman Hopkins, who was one of the early settlers of Wayne county. Mr. Hopkins was for some years a farmer after coming to Webster in 1874, but in 1885 he engaged in the produce business with J. W. Grinnell until 1893. He then bought the hotel at Webster village, which he now conducts. He married Cora A., daughter of David P. Fosdick, and their two sons are Edward E. and Ulysses S.
Hosenfele, Dionisius, was born in Germany, and came to America at the age of twenty-one, and settled in Rochester, and in 1856 came to Webster, where he followed milling for one year. He next returned to Rochester and conducted a mill until 1859, then came again to Webster and purchased the farm where he now lives. He married Theresa Conrad and they have five sons: Joseph, George, Peter, Henry, and Frank, also five daughters.
Jones, Edwin, is a son of Chester and Hannah Jones, and a grandson of Joseph, who came to this town in an early day, and conducted a tannery at Union Hill. Our subject has for most of his life been engaged in the manufacture of pumps, and in farming. He has taken a prominent part in local affairs, having served for eight years as justice, and for the past nine years as assessor. He married Harriet, daugh- ter of David Quinby, and they have one son, Frank F.
Hodges, Charles H., was born in 1829, a son of James, who was a native of Ver- mont, born in 1796, a son of Emerson and Susan (McCormick) Hodges of that State, who later moved to Augusta, Oneida county, and spent their declining days. James came to Henrietta about 1818 where he bought a farm and settled, spending the last three years of his life, however, in the village of Henrietta. His wife was Mary Campbell, and their children were Emerson, Charles H., James L., of Glenwood Springs, Colo., Elizabeth, wife of Judge John L. Bailey of Rochester, and George, a farmer of Genesee. The father died in 1886. Charles H. has devoted his life to farming, and began for himself while a young man in East Henrietta, but in 1869 he removed to his present farm. For some years he was interested in the breeding of fine horses and cattle. A portion of his time has also been spent in Canada, where he bought and shipped cattle. During the war Mr. Hodges was enrolling officer. He has also been active in public affairs. In 1852 he married Lamyra A. Ryno, born in this town, a daughter of William and Minerva Ryno. They have had two chil- dren; Carrie A., born in 1857, wife of A. C. Jackson of Rochester, and Frederick W., born in 1868. Mrs. Hodges died February 19, 1893. Emerson, oldest brother of our subject, was an attorney of Joliet, Ill., who later went to Rochester, Minn., and was member of assembly. During the war he went to Washington, and became auditor in the Treasury Department, which position he held eighteen years. He died in 1883. James L., another brother, went to Minnesota with his brother, and was col- onel in the late war, in command of the fort at Little Rock, Ark. He is now a res- ident of Glenwood Springs, Colo., where he has been county judge and filled many other offices.
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