Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 71

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

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Colonel Berry received his familiar military title through his connection with the 215th Regiment of militia, in which he served as captain, adjutant, and colonel.

Colonel Berry was a Republican in politics after the organization of that party and took an active part in its councils. After being chosen to several minor public offices, village trustee, supervisor, etc., he was elected member of Assembly in 1870 and re- elected in 1871, faithfully serving the interests of his town and county in that body. In educational affairs he always evinced the deepest interest, and the present advanced condition of the Holley schools is largely due to his unselfish work. He served as school trustee and many years as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy; and he was a member of the commission charged with building the academy. It was largely due to him that the old school house was displaced by the present stone building now used as a dwelling house. So in all affairs of his adopted home he labored faithfully and unselfishly for their advancement. " The beautiful Hillside cemetery, where he is bur- ried, is another institution for which we are largely indebted to Colonel Berry's zeal and enterprise. He was one of its most active promoters and was president of the associa- tion until his death." He died full of honors and in the enjoyment of the unqualified respect and confidence of the community.

Colonel Berry was married in 1837 to Rhoda A. Williams, of Tully, N. Y., who died in 1892. Their children were : Frances Marion, born May 13, 1838, in Holley, married

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Wallace L'Hommedieu, now of Medina. Helen J., born March 2, 1840, married D. H. Partridge, of Holley. Avis M., born June 27, 1850, married C. W. Hatch, of Lockport. Belle S., born January 5, 1852, married F. A. Milliken, of Holley.

ALBERT L. SWETT.

AMONG the pioncers of Western New York from the New England States were the parents of Albert L. Swett. His father was Joel R., and his mother was Minerva F. Swett, and they settled in Orleans county, town of Ridgeway, in the year 1825. Here the subject of this sketch was born April 27, 1850. In 1856 his parents removed to Champaign county, Ill. That part of the country was then new and all members of the family were called on to work hard for the founding of a home. The son had the ad- vantage of common school attendance in the winters, working on the farm summers. When the Civil War broke out his father and his older brother, Joel B. Swett, enlisted in the army, leaving the mother and four children at home to carry on the farm work. Albert L. was the oldest of the four and he was only eleven. At the close of the war, when Albert L. was fifteen years old, the family returned and located in Medina, and the son entered a grocery store as clerk, remaining two years, and then taking a course in the Medina Academy under Professor Charles Fairman. Following this he entered the employ of the Bignall Manufacturing Company, beginning as a helper. He studied the business and the interests of his employers and soon received promotion as order and shipping clerk. This position he filled seven years, during which period he had by economy saved about $1,200. With this modest capital and ample determination and experience he associated himself with W. H. Samson, organizing under the firm style of the Medina Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing hardware specialties. The beginning of the business was a very modest one, with only one em- ployee, the proprietors doing their own work in a small rented factory. But success was at hand as it usually is where energy and perseverance are at the helm. At the end of seven years they purchased land on the north side of Medina village, on Oak Orchard Creek, erected a dam which supplied good water power, and built one of the finest manufacturing plants in the State. In 1889 Mr. Swett bought the entire interest in the business and has since successfully conducted it alone. The plant now consists of forty six acres of ground, with the water power of several hundred horse power ; substantial and handsome buildings of Medina sandstone furnishing nearly two acres of floor space, and filled with all the necessary machinery and appliances for the varied and extensive business. Mr. Swett gives employment regularly to more than one hundred men. He is also president of the Swett & Card Manufacturing Company, makers of condensed mince meat, owing over 90 per cent. of the stock.

Mr. Swett has at all times found opportunity to give intelligent attention to public affairs. He served nine years on the Board of Education of Medina ; has been one of the commissioners of Boxwood Cemetery since its organization; is conspicuous in Evangelical church work and one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A. ; and has filled other minor public positions with ability and integrity.

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

Mr. Swett was married in 1872 to Lucinda M. Fuller, and they have two sons: Charles S., aged fifteen years, and Raymond F., aged eight years.

CHARLES H. BIDWELL.

CHARLES H. BIDWELL was born in the town of Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., on the 10th of September, 1848. His father, Cyrus Bidwell, was a native of Troy, N. Y. Is living in Albion aged eighty years. His mother was a native of Vermont, and died in 1872. She was well known as an earnest Christian worker and a woman of exceptional strong mind and good judgment in matters of business. Her sister, Harriet Hawley, or better known as " Aunt Harriet," lived in the family and had much to do in looking after the boy Charles. Through the mother and aunt's influence the boy was sent to the higher schools (rather against the will of the father who desired to make a farmer of him), to Albion Academy, where he graduated, then to the Brockport Normal School for two years, when he was called home on account of his father and mother having poor health. Mr. Bidwell's liking for mechanical inventions and manufacturing com- menced to develop early ; at the age of ten years he made a small bean thresher and drove it by belting to the grind stone. His grandfather was a natural mechanic, a wagonmaker by trade, the father also possessing the same qualities. Mr. Bidwell was one of the first to introduce steam threshing in Orleans county, and followed this successfully for some ten years. During this time he was working on and perfecting his patent bean thresher, in 1881 he began its manufacture in a very small way and it proved to be the only practical bean thresher made. Mr. Bidwell continued its manu- facture in Albion until 1888, when he removed to Medina, N. Y., and in 1891 organized a company, called The Bidwell Bean Thresher Company, with a capital stock of $20,000. In 1893 he purchased the balance of the stock and is now sole proprietor. The Bidwell bean thresher is too well and favorably known in all bean growing sections to require explanation, having practically no competition on merits. Mr. Bidwell's name is well and favorably known in connection with profitable growing of beans throughout the entire country, and the value and thorough workmanship and excellency of material used in his machines is everywhere recognized. Mr. Bidwell has this season perfected a bean harvester, on which he has patents; this too has proven to be a success on the start. The entire period first described was one of obstacles, predictions of failure, and other discouragements, which seem to be waiting all inventors and men who attempt to introduce a device that will do a certain thing better and easier than it was ever before done. But he is not of the stuff to falter in the face of discouragement. His principle characteristics are invincible determination, perseverance, and almost obstinacy in overcoming obstacles and opposition, which serves to bring into activity those characteristics, and have been strong factors in his success. Mr. Bidwell was married in 1873 to Luella E. Albin, of Vermont; they have four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Bidwell is a Prohibitionist and believes that the day of triumph for that cause will sometime arrive.

Lehu H. Taylor

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN HALE TAYLOR, M. D.

JOHN HALE TAYLOR was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., on the 18th of August, 1844. His father was Mortimer H. Taylor, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and removed early to Oneida county, where he married Mary Brainard; the former died October 9, 1887, aged eighty-one, and the latter died January 13, 1890, aged eighty-two. In 1850 he removed to Orleans county and settled on a farm in the town of Clarendon.

Dr. Taylor received his general education in the Holley Academy and at the Brock- port Collegiate Institute. He studied his profession with Drs. Horace Clark and William B. Mann of Brockport, N. Y., and graduated from the Medical University of Buffalo February 24, 1869. Since that time he has been in active practice in the village of Holley, and has attained a large business. To further qualify himself for the respon- sibilities of his profession Dr. Taylor in 1889 took a post graduate course in medicine at the New York Polyclinic College and Hospital, and at the same time took a private course of instruction in gynecology under Dr. James R. Goffe of New York, and a course in operative surgery under Dr. Robert H. M. Dawbarn of New York.

Dr. Taylor is a member of the Orleans County and the Central New York Medical Societies, and of the New York State Medical Association. He was elected president of the Orleans County Medical Society in 1892, and has held the office of coroner for fifteen years. Dr. Taylor possesses all of the qualifications, both natural and acquired, of the good physician, and his exceptional success is amply deserved.

Dr. Taylor occupies a high position in Free Masonry ; is a member of Murray Lodge No. 380, and was master in 1883 and 1884, and secretary of the lodge several years. He is also a member of Orleans Chapter No. 175, Royal Arch Masons, and of Monroe Com- mandery No. 12, Knights Templar.

Dr. Taylor was married in 1870 to Harriet A. Hartwell, of Medfield, Mass. ; they have two sons: John Mortimer and Forrest Emerson Taylor. John Mortimer was born in Holley, December 11, 1871, graduated at the University of Rochester in 1892, and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York (Medical Department of Columbia) as a student in medicine, October 1, 1894. Forrest Emerson was born in Holley, March 3, 1874.

HON. ISAAC S. SIGNOR.

ISAAC S. SIGNOR Was born at Skaneateles, N. Y. His family were originally from Dutchess county. He attended Elbridge Academy and graduated from Hamilton College in 1870, taking the first Kingsley prize in debate at the end of the senior year. At the end of 1871 he graduated from the law school and the same year commenced practice at Albion, where he remained for two years. He then went to New York city and was in the office of Davies & Work, and still later with Judge Hawes. The firm of Griggs & Signor was then formed and they did business at 237 Broadway for over three years. In 1878 he returned to Albion, and since 1879 the firm of Signor &

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

Wage has been in existence. Judge Signor was elected district attorney on the Repub- lican ticket and served from 1881 to 1884. He was then elected county judge and was re elected. He was married December 29, 1879, to Mary Grierson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., daughter of Samuel and Susannah Grierson. They have three children, a son, Charles, and two daughters, Beatrice and Dorothy. Judge Signor spent his boyhood on a farm, and for two years of the time that he was preparing for college worked on his father's farm summers, taught school winters, and attended school fall and spring terms. During this time he went during the summer once or twice a week four miles to recite, and during the winter recited evenings. He commenced preparing for college in 1863, graduating in 1870. During that time he taught four winters and took one year of the law school course with his senior studies. After graduation he taught one year in the Clinton Liberal Institute at Clinton, N. Y., pursuing his legal studies at the same time, and was admitted to practice that year. His father, Eleazer Signor, was born at Elbridge, N. Y., in 1809, and his mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Rogers, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1810. Both died at Skaneateles, N. Y. His grand- father on his father's side was born in Dutchess county and was one of the pioneers of Onondaga county. The Signor family originally came from Holland, the Rogers family from England. The Grierson family are of Scotch and English descent.

FRED L. DOWNS.

CONSPICUOUS among the early settlers in the village of Medina, Orleans county, was Simeon Downs, from whom the subject of this sketch is descended on the paternal side. Simeon Downs was born in 1800, and at one time owned a farm on the Ridge, though he was a blacksmith and edge tool maker by trade and followed that business more closely than he did farming. He died in his adopted village, February 9, 1875. His wife was Sophronia Bailey, and they had three children.

The grandfather of Fred L. Downs on the maternal side was Adam Garter, one of the prominent settlers of the county. He first came in 1814 on a prospecting tour, and five years later with his two brothers he came on and took up land about two and a half miles southwest of Medina village, in the town of Shelby. He was a liberally educated man for his time, and a practical surveyor. This gave him considerable prominence in this region, and he held several town offices, laid out a part of the village of Medina and surveyed the Burroughs, the Hedley, and many other tracts of land. He died April 5, 1878, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Darius Fuller, village of Medina.

One of the three children of Simeon Downs was Lester C. Downs, who was born August 17, 1827. During his comparatively short life he worked in his father's tool shop, studied music and became a successful teacher of singing. He married Susan Garter, daughter of Adam Garter, and died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving two children, the subject of this sketch, and Frank R. Downs, now in the insurance business in Medina. After the death of Lester C. Downs his widow married Andrew Weld, a respect- ed farmer of the town of Ridgeway, now also deceased. His widow is still living in Medina at the age of seventy-one years.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Fred L. Downs was born in Medina, August 14, 1855, and began his education in his native place. The death of his father when he was five years old made it necessary for the son to be sent into the country to live with an uncle, Darius Fuller, where he re- mained ten years. He attended school regularly during that period, when his uncle removed to Medina; he then entered the academy for a course of about three years. At the age of eighteen, having determined to become a lawyer, he entered the office of Stanley E. Filkins in Medina, and three years later, April 10, 1880, was admitted to the bar at Rochester. He opened an office in Medina, alone at the first, but subsequent- ly he had as partner for a short period Morgan L. Brainard, and later for one year, H. B. Dayton.

In his profession Mr. Downs holds an honorable position and enjoys the respect of his professional brethren and the confidence of his other fellow citizens. He has secured a practice that has been gratifying to himself, while his success has pleased his many friends. A Republican in politics he has always shown an intelligent and active interest in the affairs of his party and has worked earnestly for its success. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace for the town of Ridgeway, and held the office four years from January, 1883. During that period, and in March, 1885, he was elected trustee of the village of Medina, and held the office for three years. In March, 1892, he was elected president of the village, and re-elected in 1893 and 1894. In these posi- tions he has won deserved commendation for his efforts for the general welfare of the community, the inauguration and carrying out of needed improvements, and the careful and prudent use of public funds. He has served as a member of the Republican County Committee several times and given freely of his time to local political work. He aided in organizing the Medina Savings and Loan Association, and has been its attorney from the first. In 1894 Mr. Downs was made a candidate for member of Assembly, but through certain combinations was defeated for the nomination. Mr. Downs combines many of the elements that give a man popularity and strength among his fellow citizens. He is a member of local lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows.

Mr. Downs was married on the 11th day of February, 1890, to Emma A. Emmons, daughter of H. N. Hopkins, of Medina, and they have one daughter.

HON. HENRY M. HARD.

MERRITT HARD, son of Sylvanus and Lucy (Fenn) Hard, was born in Arlington, Vt., June 3, 1811. He is of English descent, his great-grandfather coming to America with Captain Kidd. Sylvanus was a soldier at Plattsburg in the war of 1812. Merritt Hard came to Yates in 1835 and settled on the farm he now occupies. He followed school teaching more or less until 1853 and was town superintendent of schools many years. For nearly twenty years he was a justice of the peace and was also a long time merchant in Lyndonville. In 1834 he married Charlotte Canfield, of Vermont, and had three children : Catherine A. (deceased), and Caroline, successively the wives of Martin S. Rice, and Hon. Henry M. His second wife was Laura C. Fenn, of Con-

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

necticut. Hon. Henry M. Hard was born in Arlington, Vt., January 31, 1842, and was educated in the Yates and Medina Academies. He was long a merchant in Lyndonville with his father, and afterward alone, and was supervisor of Yates in 1877-78-79 and 1880, being chairman of the board the latter year. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to the Assembly for one year and was re-elected in 1882 and served on the Committees of Commerce and Navigation, Internal affairs, Trades and Manufactures, and many others. In February, 1891, he was appointed by President Harrison United States consul at Clifton, Ontario, Canada, which position he held for six years, resigning on account of sickness. He is now president of the Board of Education of the Lyndon. ville Union Free School. September 1, 1870, he married Kate, daughter of Daniel Clark, and has one son, Edward C., who was born December 1, 1872, who was gradu- ated from the University of Rochester in June, 1894, and is now (November, 1894,) attending the Buffalo Law School.

D. L. JONES.

D. L. JONES was born in the town of Kendall, within one mile of his present residence, on March 23, 1842. He is the youngest of eight children born to David Jones, the second settler of the township, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Mr. Jones was reared a farmer, and very early in life acquired the rudimentary knowl- edge so necessary to the successful agriculturist. At the youthful age of fourteen he commenced to work for wages, which he used most judiciously in obtaining an educa- tion in the district schools of his native town. For several years he taught school, thus supplementing the limited advantages he was permitted to enjoy in the school room. During the summer months, however, he labored on the farm, at which he continued until 1877, when he engaged in manufacturing. This business engrossed his attention in Bridgeport, Conn., and Erie, Pa., for seven years, but during all this time, as well as ever since his birth, he kept his residence in Kendall.

In 1867 Mr. Jones purchased of James Weed a farm of 100 acres; in 1872 he bought another of the same size of the heirs of his father, David; in 1873 a third of the same area was secured of Robert Todd; and in 1884 he purchased 150 acres of Samuel Ken- drick. All these are located in Kendall and are still in his possession. In 1884 he bought of George W. Potter what is known as the Williams farm of 262 acres at East Carlton, on which his eldest son, Charles D., resides. These farms comprise some of the finest and most valuable land in Orleans county, and contain in all 710 acres.

As a life-long resident Mr. Jones has ever been actively interested in all matters per- taining to the advancement of his town. He has been prominently identified with its best interests, serving it two years-in 1889 and 1890-as supervisor. During this period he labored unceasingly to obtain a reduction of the real assessed valuation of not only Kendall, but also the towns of Carlton and Yates. The fact that he succeeded is indis- putable evidence of his eminent ability as a parliamentarian. These valuations he reduced as follows : Carlton from $1,235,207 to $1,175,466; Yates from $1,013,244 to

D.L. Janet

BIOGRAPHICAL.

$956,883 ; and Kendall from $921,747 to $866,757. To the taxpayers this meant thousands of dollars saved, and Mr. Jones not only acquired deserved recognition, but also the reputation of being an expert mathematician.

November 26, 1868, Mr. Jones united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Chase, daughter of Julius S. Chase, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. They have had three children, namely : Cora, born in Kendall June 10, 1870, died December 22, 1880; Charles D., born February 16, 1872, residing on his father's farm at East Carlton, and Claudius, born March 24, 1885, at home.

" In politics a Republican ; in religion do as you would be done by."

CHESTER WILLIAMS.

CHESTER WILLIAMS, the eldest son and child of Jacob Williams, was born in Argyle, Washington county, N.Y., August 25, 1803. In 1826 he settled on a farm of 112 acres in the town of Carlton, where his widow now resides, taking an article and then a deed for the tract from the Holland Land Company. His original purchase, how- ever, comprised several of the present adjoining farms, but by subsequent sales he re- duced it to the above area. Mr. Williams was prominently identified with the town and county and held several positions of trust and responsibility. In the days of anti- slavery he was a strong abolitionist, giving the cause his unqualified support and per- sonal influence. A Republican in politics he was an active politician, but always eschewed public office, preferring to devote his time and means to the betterment of local affairs from a private capacity. He was frequently called to sit on juries, where his opinions were unquestioned and his decisions never disputed. Endowed with a strong will and a marked personality he was a man of unswerving characteristics, and in public and private was highly respected and esteemed. He was neighborly, kind- hearted, public spirited and benevolent, contributing liberally of his means to every good cause, especially to the church. From early life he was a good Biblical scholar and a gifted exhorter, and often preached to local congregations. He first joined the M. E. church, but later became a Free Methodist, in which faith he died, in Carlton, September 30, 1889. Honest, substantial, and conservative he lived the life of a respected citizen and imparted to the community a sterling influence and imperishable principles. In the home, in the bosom of his family, he was ever the kind husband and indulgent father, whose memories are cherished by both relatives and friends.

Mr. Williams married, first, Margaret Teachout, who was born in Manchester, N. Y., February 15, 1808, and who died May 13, 1874. They had nine children; Sarah M., born May 1, 1827, died in 1890 ; Lydia R., born September 24, 1829; Betsey J., born January 14, 1832, died April 11, 1854; Mariette, born September 9, 1834; Delilah, born January 14, 1838 (deceased); Clark O., born October 5, 1839, died August 16, 1840 ; Harriet, born August 3, 1840, died August 18, 1840; Benjamin F., born July 22, 1842, died in September, 1886 ; and Cassius M.C., born September 9, 1845, died February 15. 1894. December 9, 1874, Mr. Williams married for his second wife Mrs. Arabella

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,

Brown Gilmore, wlio was born in Sweden, Monroe county, September 11, 1825, and who survives him on the homestead in Carlton. Her first husband, Aaron Gilmore, was born May 13, 1813; they had two children : George, born September 10, 1849, died an infant; and Alida, born May 16, 1852. Mrs. Williams's father was Luther Brown, who was born in New Hampshire December 18, 1777, and who died in Gaines April 15, 1862. He settled in Carlton in 1830. His wife was Anna Burke, who was born in Vermont September 28, 1785, and who died February 1, 1836. They had five children : Luther, jr., born January 21, 1814, died July 27, 1892 ; George, born March 19, 1816, died July 25, 1889; Harrison B., born July 28, 1818, died January 29, 1856 ; Mary Ann, born September 21, 1822; and Arabella (Mrs. Chester Williams). Aaron Gilmore settled in Albion about 1846, where he was well and favorably known. He was in the drug business nine years and sold out to H. W. Lewis, M.D., after which he went west, where he was a contractor on several railroads. He died suddenly of apoplexy at Chicago, Ill., July 4, 1870.

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 71

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084