Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 47

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 47

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Porter, Franklin, Somerset, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., November 18, 1827, and is a son of William A. and Abigail (Sage) Porter, both natives of New York. His mother was born in Bloomfield, Ontario county, also married there and in 1833 he went to Michigan, where his father died in 1838. They had seven chil- dren, four of whom are living: Jane, the eldest, born March 7, 1826, died Janu- ary 11, 1897; O. S. Porter, born July 29, 1826, is mayor of Rochester, Minn., and has been a member of the General Assembly of that State; Mary (deceased), born July 25, 1831; Elinor, born July 18, 1833, married Albert Hayes; Julia (deceased), born September 30, 1835; S. J. Porter, born October 4, 1837. On his mother's side he comes from Nathan Herendeen, who was born in Cumberland, R. I., in 1741. After he became of age he went to the West Indies, where he married Huldah Dillingham in 1764. At the one hundredth anniversary held in Farmington, On- tario county, in 1890, there were seven generatious of that family present. In 1769 he moved to Adams, Mass., where his wife died; he then married Sarah Pierce in 1785 and one son was born to them. This son obtained 1,000 acres located in Farmington, Ontario county, in exchange for his farm in Massachusetts. He re- moved to Genesee county in February, 1790; there was Nathan, Welcome (his son), Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, his daughters, with their husbands, Joshua Herring- ton and John McOmber and children. The journey was made with an ox sled through a wilderness, no mills, no doctors, no roads. Nathan and son Welcome lived together. The mother died in 1807. The oldest of the third generation living are Mrs. R. Power, Mrs. Mary Jeffrey, Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. W. W. Herendeen. There were seventy-six descendants of Welcome Herendeen at the anniversary; Mrs. Maria Sheffield, Mrs. Harriet Pearson, Mrs. Minnie Furbush and Uncle Wick represented five generations. William A. Porter, father of the subject, was born December 14, 1798, and his mother January 16, 1801. Mr. Porter was first married to Pauline Fox, February 12, 1854, and she died March 25, 1880, leaving two chil- dren; Alma, born January 3, 1861, married George Higgs; Willis F. Porter, born December 29, 1863, married Bertha Lewis, December 14, 1887. Mr. Porter was again married to Mary Spooner, September 27, 1882, who died August 3, 1884, when he married again, in 1886, Mrs. Grigg, daughter of Samuel and Sallie (Bates) Stock- well. The above Welcome Herendeen was the first white child born in Ontario county. The Porters came to Niagara county in 1810 and settled on the place now known as the Sprague farm. In 1815 David Barker, a relative of Mr. Porter's, came to Somerset and pitched his tent where the village which bears his name now stands, and where he recently died. He came with an ox team and with a wagon made by himself, the wheels being made by sawing off a log. Mrs. Porter's grand- father built the first mill in Somerset; it was erected in the top of a stump, a hole being bored out and corn for meal being pounded in it. Mr. Porter has been asses- sor for three years, and is a cultivated and entertaining gentleman.

Armstrong, Selner E., Somerset, was born in the town of Wheatland, Monroe

county, October 31, 1845, and is a son of Elon G. and Mary Matilda (Gilman) Arm- strong. His mother was born July 25, 1824, in Pennsylvania and came to New York, settling in Livingston county. His father was born April 9, 1820, in the town of Leschester, Livingston county. They were married in August, 1844. There were four children in this family, of whom the subject is the oldest: Lala E., now Mrs. J. W. Comstock; Mary J., now Mrs. Ellicott, and Henry C. E. Mr. Armstrong married Emma Wise, December 25, 1867, and they have one daughter, Anna E., born September 17, 1882. May 21, 1861, Mr. Armstrong enlisted in Co. H, 27th N. Y. Vols., serving two years, when the regiment was discharged May 31, 1863. He then re-enlisted and helped raise the 22d N. Y. Vol. Cav., in which he served until the close of the war, being discharged August 9, 1865. Upon his arrival home he en- gaged in the milling business at Shelby, N. Y., where he remained four years, when he moved to Muskegan, Mich., remaining there until April, 1872, when he removed to Lockport, and since then he has been a resident of Niagara county. July 12, 1889, he was appointed keeper of the government light station at Thirty-mile Point, on Lake Ontario, Niagara county, which position he still holds.

Bradley, G. H., Somerset, son of Abel and Elizabeth Bradley, was born August 12, 1830, and came with his parents from Vermont when five years of age, settling in the town of Hartford, where his father remained until he died, October 3, 1858; his mother died in June, 1872. Mr. Bradley married Fannie Meade in May, 1855, and they have two sons: Lewis A., born March 8, 1868, and Frank M., born April 11, 1864. Mr. Bradley is president of the Niagara and Orleans County Insurance Company and has held that position for twenty consecutive years. He is also presi- dent of the Niagara County Agricultural Society. He is the largest fruit grower in Somerset, having twenty-five acres of apple orchard, his crop in 1896 being 3,000 barrels. He has a peach orchard of 4,000 trees, 1,000 plum trees and 2,000 pear trees. It is both a sight and a pleasure to see his magnificent orchards and fine buildings.

Brown, James G. O., was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., May 23, 1824, a son of Joseph and Polly (Dix) Brown. Joseph Brown was born in Massachu. setts and in 1833 came to Olcott and in 1838 to Wilson; he died in Michigan April 2, 1849; his wife was born in Vermont, and died in 1872. James G. O. Brown was reared in Wilson and there educated. He was ten years a mason and helped build the Union School building in 1845; in 1855 he moved on to his present farm of 100 acres, and follows general farming. He was first a Whig and is now a Republican, having been one since the organization of the party; he has served as commissioner and inspector. May 30, 1849, he married Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Sally (Taylor) Holmes, and they have eight children: Edward D., Sarah L., James G., a lawyer of Dubuque, Iowa, Mary E., Joseph E. and Daniel E. (twins), Llewellyn H. and Samuel D. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were Presbyterians and he has been a member since 1838; he has been elder for thirty-four years, trustee over thirty years and is now president of the board and clerk of the session for twenty-nine years. In 1855 he took the census of Wilson.

Blake, T. A., was born in Orleans county, November 5, 1854, a son of Anthony and Mary (Phillips) Blake. Anthony Blake and his wife came from Mendon, N. Y.,

to Orleans county, where she died and Mr. Blake was killed in Chicago, at the World's Fair in 1893. T. A. Blake was reared on afarm and educated in the district schools. He was ten years in Flint, Mich., and in 1885 came to Wilson, where he bought his farm of 134 acres. He was married in 1879 to Ada, daughter of Joseph Parker of Flint, Mich., and they had two children, Roy E. and Vera E. Mr. Blake is a Republican and was supervisor by appointment three months in Wilson. He is a member of Lodge No. 1255, I. O. F.

Brown, Frederick J., was born at Ayer, Mass., August 12, 1866, a son of Michael Brown, who has been engaged in the grocery business at that place for over thirty years. Frederick Brown attended the public schools of his native town and at the age of eighteen completed the course of study prescribed. He then learned the trade of carriage painting, which he followed in the town of Ayer for five years, at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Ayer Furniture Company as a finisher of fine furniture. In 1891 he removed to Niagara Falls, where he was engaged for the period of one year as agent for the Miller & Brundage Coach Co. and later, in 1893, he took up the study of law in the office of King & Morgan, remaining with that firm until the spring of 1896, when he was admitted to the bar of the State of New York, and a short time afterwards became a member of the firm of King, Leggett & Brown. Mr. Brown is a capable lawyer, and bound to rise in his profession.

Button, Frank E., Somerset, was born in the town of Somerset July 7, 1855, and when eight years old he moved with his parents to the Settlement Road, near Gas- port, where he remained until he was of age. He then went to Nebraska, where he remained eight years, then to Dakota, remaining there nearly three years, when he returned to Yates county, N. Y., where he remained two years, and then came to Somerset, where he has since resided. February 17, 1880, he married Theressie Benn, daughter of John and Mary Benn, natives of Ireland and both dead. Mr. and Mrs, Button have four children: Arnold E., born May 9, 1881; Mildred E., born April 26, 1884; Mary A., born October 14, 1886, and Burnice, deceased, born Octo- ber 10, 1892; died in infancy. Mr. Button has a well improved and highly cultivated farm of 132 acres, with thirty acres of orchard, apple, pear, peach and plum, grow- ing large quantities of each. His father was born in Clinton county September 6, 1822, and moved to Somerset, settling on the farm now owned by Stephen Houpt and J. Townsend, about fifty years ago. He was married three times and by his first wife had five children: Clarence, Frank E., Libbie, Etta, and Ida, deceased. He has two children by his third wife, Ellis and Olive He now lives near Gasport.

Hamblin John A., was born in Wilson on the farm he now owns, April 23, 1842, a son of Heman Hamblin. Heman was born in Cornwall, Vt., and came to Wilson in 1825 to look at land, and in 1834 settled and cleared the farm where the subject now lives. He was married three times; first to Laura Peck, who died April 23, 1842; his second wife was Jane Wilson, to whom he was married in 1843; she died in 1850; in 1865 he married Mrs. Rachael Mckenzie, who died April 9, 1884. Mr. Hamblin had three children by his first wife-Mary L., Lucy A. and John A. He died October 14, 1882. John A. Hamblin was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and owns about 109 acres of land; in politics he is a Republican and has been assessor three years and constable fifteen years. He enlisted August

12, 1862, in the 19th Light Battery and served three years, and was in the battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spotsylvania, Petersburg, Bethesda Church and about a dozen others, and is a member of Peter A. Porter Post, No. 126, G. A. R. Novem- ber 14, 1865, he married Helen R., daughter of Appleton Andrews of Cambria, Niagara county.

Harmony, Edwin, was born in the town of Lynn, Lehigh county, Pa., April 25, 1825, a son of Daniel and Anna (Long) Harmony. His great-grandfather, Rudolph Harmony, came from Holland in an early day and settled at Lehigh, where he lived and died. His maternal grandfather owned a large tract of land on which is now one of the largest developed coal mines of Pennsylvania. The father came to Seneca county in 1826 and engaged in farming; in 1834 he came to Niagara county, settling in Cambria, where he died in 1854. Edwin Harmony was reared on the farm and educated at Wilson Collegiate Institute. In 1855 he married Mary A., daughter of William and Susan Murray and they had two children, Harriet A. B. and Lewis Sheldon, who died at the age of four years. Mr. Harmony has always had a home on the old homestead, where he carries on farming and fruit growing. He was engaged in the grocery business for a short time and was also agent in the oil field, buying and shipping oil. In politics Mr. Harmony is a Republican and has been justice of the peace and supervisor ; he is a member of the Niagara County Farmers' Club and is its vice president.

Hixson, P. V., Somerset, was born in Somerset county, N. J., March 12, 1821, and is a son of Nathaniel and Dinah Hixson, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. He came with his parents to Niagara county in the fall of 1831, settling in the town of Lockport, when it contained but one brick building. He remained there twenty- two years, when he moved to Newfane, where he remained eleven years, then went back to Lockport for two years, when he moved to Tioga, Tioga county, Pa., where he engaged in the lumber business, remaining there twenty years. In 1846 he mar- ried Mrs. Phebe M. McCoy, and they had two sons, Nathaniel Wilmer, born April 17, 1848, died February 28, 1886, and George McCoy, born April 15, 1853, is engaged in the jewelry business in New York city. Mrs. Hixon having died while they lived in Pennsylvania, Mr. Hixson disposed of his business and went to Dakota, where he purchased a farm (which he still owns) and remained two years, when he went to St. Paul, remaining there one year, and returned to Somerset in June, 1889. June 27, 1889, he married Fannie Hess, daughter of Charles and Jane (Brown) Fisher. Mrs. Hixson was born in Essex county, November 28, 1830, and had two children by her first husband: John V. Hess, born October 13, 1853, resides in Rochester, Martha Jane Hess, born January 31, 1857, is now Mrs. H. D. Bliss, M. D , and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Hixson served as assessor while in Pennsylvania and taught school one term. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Lockport, and has been elder for over thirty years, He has the oldest sweet cherry trees in the county, and the crop of 1896 was over two tons, although the trees were half dead. He was in a woolen mill in Lockport for over eight years. His oldest son died in San Francisco and is buried beside his mother in Lockport.

Highland, Henry, was born in County Kent, Eng., April 16, 1831, a son of the late John Highland. In 1841 John Highland immigrated with his family to America,

settling in Canada. Henry had received his education in England and in 1848 he migrated from Canada to Buffalo, N. Y., where he engaged in the livery business for six years. He then removed to Niagara Falls, where he has since resided and carried on the livery business until 1871, when he was appointed on the Niagara village police force. In 1875 he was engaged by the Porter estate to care for Goat Island and Three Sisters Islands, at that time the property of the Porters. He served them in the capacity of keeper and warden until 1885, when the property was purchased by the State and since that time he has been State keeper of the islands. In 1868 Mr. Highland married Esther L. West and they have two children. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and Royal Templars of Niagara Falls.

Holmes, William Howard, has been all his life a resident of Wilson and his an- cestors for three generations have lived, died and are buried within five miles of his present residence. The great-grandfather and mother, John and Anna Holmes, came from Saratoga county some time previous to 1818, and settled on a farm in what was then the town of Porter, afterwards became a part of the town of Wilson, but is now in the town of Newfane. The house was on the north side of the Lake Road, and on the east bank of Hopkins Creek. He died there and he and his wife lie buried at Olcott. The grandfather, Daniel Holmes, was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., July 3, 1789, and the grandmother Sally (Taylor) Holmes, was born in same county, February 21, 1792. They were married February 12, 1811. In May, 1812, they moved to Carlysle, Schoharie county. They there together united with the Presbyterian church in September, 1813. In February, 1818, they moved to the Holland Purchase, stopping till spring in his father's old house near Hopkins Creek; then going into a new log house on the farm he had already bought, now owned and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. J. G. O. Brown. There were at that date no regular religious Sabbath services in town. Early in the spring of 1818 Daniel Holmes began holding Sabbath services in a school house; the services consisted in prayer, praise and the reading of a printed sermon. In January, 1819, a Presbyter- ian church was organized at the house of John Holmes by Rev. David M. Smith of Lewiston. It was formed with six members, John and Anna Holmes, Daniel and Sally Holmes and Peter and Ruth Crosby. Mrs. Crosby was the daughter of John and sister of Daniel Holmes. Additions were from time to time made to this mem- bership and in 1835 a church building was erected in what is now Wilson village. Previous to this, regular services were kept up in school houses and barns, and as most of the time the church was unable to support a pastor, these services were led by Deacon Daniel Holmes. Much of the time he held a Sunday school also in an- other school house several miles distant. He was deacon, elder, clerk of session, and most of the time trustee in this church. He was for many years commissioner of deeds, and held a commission as captain of the State militia. Hedied at his home May 26, 1858. His wife survived her husband many years, and saw her children, grand- children, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren gathered about her in her old home on several Thanksgiving days. She died May 17, 1889, retaining al- most to the last her faculties fully, and her interest in her family, the church, and every effort for good everywhere. The father, Richard C. Holmes, was born De- cember 21, 1813, and came with his parents to Wilson in 1818. Brought up in this new country his opportunities for education were very limited, but were well im-

proved. He early united with the Presbyterian church, of which he became an ac- tive and devoted member, serving as deacon, elder and trustee, and for thirty years superintendent of Sunday school. He was for many years trustee of school district, and was elected on the Republican ticket supervisor of the town in spring of 1877. He died after a short illness April 8, 1887. His first wife, the mother, Betsey C. (Frost) Holmes, was born October 4, 1819. She was a devoted wife, mother and Christian woman. She died suddenly March 9, 1870. His second wife Anna M. (Loomis) Holmes still survives. William H. Holmes was born October 22, 1840, was brought up on a farm, attending district school and a few terms at Wilson Col- legiate Institute. October 4, 1861, he was mustered into the United States service for three years at Elmira, N. Y., as a private in Captain Ellsworth's Co. G, 7th N. Y. Cav., and was mustered out with the regiment at Washington, D. C., March 31, 1862. Going alone and at his own expense to the army of General Banks in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., he enlisted at Newmarket, Va., April 23, 1862, in Captain Cothran's Battery M, 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, and served therein till April 27, 1865, when he was discharged near Raleigh, N. C. He participated in the battles of Winchester (Bank's retreat), Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kulp's Farm, Peach Tree Creek, and siege of Atlanta, and many skirmishes; was never wounded or taken prisoner, and was never absent from the battery a day except when detailed by proper authority for other duty. He held no rank but private, but from July 30, 1864, till muster out he was acting ordnance sergeant of the Artillery Brigade, 20th Army Corps. Had charge of collecting the cannon; some of them large pieces, abandoned by the enemy in their works about both Atlanta and Savannah. Returning home he worked on his father's farm summers and taught school two winters, and on No- vember 7, 1867, was married to Jennie Pettit, adopted daughter of Lauton Pettit of Somerset. She was for many years an invalid and died August 5, 1877. On March 24, 1881, he was married to Mary E. Tenbrook, daughter of Matthew Tenbrook of Pendleton. They have two sons. Merle Howard and Le Roy. Daniel Holmes had nine sons, seven of whom grew up and had families, but these two boys and their father are the only descendants bearing the family name now living in Niagara county. William H. keeps alive his soldier memories by active membership in Peter A. Porter Post, G. A. R. He served his town two terms as supervisor, being elected as a Republican in 1891 and 1892. He and his wife were for many years members of the Presbyterian church, but they and the oldest son are now connected with the M. E. church.

Gaskill, Jedediah, D. D. S., has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in the city of Lockport since 1849, and is one of the oldest practitioners in the county and possibly in the State. He was born on a farm in the town of Lockport, Niagara county, N. Y., January 17, 1822. He had the advantage of a liberal education, attending the public schools, the Lewiston Academy and the State Normal at Al- bany, from which he was graduated in the class of 1846. After teaching for one year he determined to study dentistry and entered the office of Dr. Chase of Lock- port, and afterwards in the office of Dr. Atkinson of New York city, where he re- mained until 1849, when he began the practice of his profession on his own account in Lockport, where he has since resided, a period of nearly fifty years. Dr. Gaskill

deservedly enjoys the confidence and a liberal share of the patronage of the citizens of Lockport and the country around about, and is popular with all who know him by reason of his well known integrity, liberality and courteous manners.

Good, George W., was born in the town of Niagara, March 6, 1842. His father, George Good, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Lewiston, thence to Ni- agara Falls, where he established the first tailor shop and afterwards kept hotel four miles east of the Falls. In 1846 he came to Royalton, where he was one of the lead- ing farmers; he married Mary, daughter of Peter Hitth. George W. Good was educated in the common schools; in 1866 he married Maggie, daughter of Peter Ar- nold, and they have one son, Edward. Mr. Good is one of the practical and success- ful farmers of his town and in 1893 was appointed postmaster of his town; he takes an active interest in school matters and has served as trustee for sixteen years.

Goodfellow, William T., was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., September 14, 1829, a son of Sylvester and Caroline (Ames) Goodfellow, who lived and died in Schoharie county. William T. was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He was one of a family of eight sons and eight daughters, and began when twenty years old working by the month and saved $1,000 and bought the farm he now owns of fifty acres, and has made his own way in life. In politics he was first a Whig and is now a Republican since the organization of the party. In 1844 he married Han- nah M. Retchmyer, and they had one son, James, who lives at home.

Kerr, T. A., M. D., was born in Hallville, Dundas county, Ontario, February 6, 1864, and was educated in the High School at Kemptville, Ontario, Canada, and the University of Vermont. He took a three years medical course at Burlington, and was graduated in the class of 1885; also a post graduate course at N. Y. Post Grad- uate School and Hospital in 1896. He first began the practice of medicine in Rossie, St. Lawrence county, where he remained four years. In 1889 he came to Lewiston and through his success as a physician and his social qualities and ability, has attracted practically all the clientage of Lewiston. In 1887 Dr. Kerr married Idella Melrose and they have one daughter, Mildred.

Kyte, Francis, was born in the town of Hopewell, N. Y., December 28, 1825, a son of William and Lorinda (Culver) Kyte. William Kyte was born in England and came to America with his parents when he was seven years old, settling in Utica, N. Y. In 1829 William came to Porter and settled on a farm and afterwards moved to Canada, and died while on a visit to Porter. They had a family of seven sons and three daughters. Francis Kyte was reared on a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. He is a farmer and owns about 255 acres of land, having about twenty acres laid out in orchards. In 1849 he married Clarinda, daughter of Parker Corwin, and they had seven children: Edna and George (deceased), Sarah E., wife of Glenn Moote; Frances E., wife of Homer L. Simmons; Mary E., wife of Clinton G. Cuddeback; Clara L., at home, and Fred W. Mr. Kyte is a Republican and has been assessor twelve years and is now holding that office.

Taylor, Cortez, was born in Bennington county, Vt., July 24, 1825. His father, Joel Taylor, came to Niagara county in 1859; he married Olive Field and through life was a farmer and served his town as postmaster; they were both natives of Ver-

mont. He was ever ready to aid any enterprise intended to benefit his town and townspeople and took an active interest in school and church matters; he died in 1859. Cortez Taylor was educated in the common schools and in 1859 married Eliza A. (born in Canada), daughter of John N. Hutchins and wife, natives of Vermont, and they have three children: John C., Mrs. Grace Woolfall and Mrs. Mary T. Long.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 47

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820