Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 79

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

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Luther, Ira M., was born near Brockport, February 15, 1821. In early manhood he spent some years as a merchant in Illinois, and left for the California gold fields in 1849. He was successively a miner, a conductor of emigrant parties across the plains, a hotel proprietor in Sacramento, and a mill and ranch owner in Nevada. In 1861 he became a member of the upper house of the first Nevada Legislature. In 1855 he married Lucy Crippen, of Attica, N. Y., by whom he had three children, Homer J. and Frank C., born in California, and Nellie Nevada, born in Nevada, now wife of William G. Frost, of Montclair, N. J. In 1865 he returned to the east, where Mrs. Luther died. In 1867 he married Jane E., daughter of Sands Cole, of Knowlesville. To them were born the following children : Beth C., wife of Walter P. Weinstein. of Terre Haute Ind. ; Mark Lee, Jessie F., and Ira M., jr. Mr. Luther died at his home in Albion, May 29, 1890.

Cole, William, and his wife, Asenath (Williams) Cole, were both natives of Richfield, Otsego county. They were married there. In 1824 they settled in the town of Barre. Mr. Cole was a carpeter and millwright and an excellent mechanic, but came to this region to become a farmer. He began poor and succeeded in building up a good property. He built many mills and invented many valuable mechanical appliances. In his family were ten children: Almina, who died unmarried; Alma Jane, who mar- ried Alson D. Smith ; Veeder H., Clarissa, who married William A. Tanner ; Harriet, who married Joseph Hart; William, who married Louise Hill, was killed in the army ; Perry, who was killed by accident; Henry, who died an infant; Phiana, who married S. E. Howard, and Winfield S., of Kansas. William Cole, the pioneer, died in Feb- ruary, 1871, and his wife in July, 1883. Veeder H. Cole was born December 1, 1827, and was brought up to the various occupations followed by his father, particularly that of farming and at work in a mill, after which he started out to make his own way in life. He began work at ten dollars per month, and as an employee he continued until twenty-six years of age. Mr. Cole has been a successful farmer, a hard worker, and has improved farms that he has bought very much. He has been called upon to settle several estates, has been appointed assignee, and has been guardian of three families of children. In politics he has been, a Whig and Republican, and was assessor of the town three years. Mr. C. is a public-spirited man, and has done much to beautify his home and make farm life attractive. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church more than forty years, and for eleven years one of its ruling elders. April 18, 1854, Mr. Cole married Caroline C. Smith, of Barre, and they have had four children : Carrie, who died at one year old ; the second child died in infancy ; Mary A., who died in 1885, and Clara C., wife of Clark F. Thomas, of Monroe county.

Clark, Robert, was born in County Cork, Ireland, August 27, 1841, and was the youngest but one of twelve children of George and Elizabeth Clark. The family came to Rochester in 1847, where the father was a marketman and butcher. Robert learned the confectioner's trade, and in 1873 came to Albion and succeeded George Ashbey in business. By careful attention and good judgment he has succeeded in building up a fine trade, and his ice-cream department, particularly, has met with great favor. Mr. Clark is also well known in local politics, and was twice elected supervisor of the town d

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

of Albion. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has served as vestryman and treasurer of that society. On August 6, 1861, Mr. Clark married Mary E. Kingston. They have had eight children, four of whom are now living.

Coann, Ezra T., was born in Byron, Genesee county, March 25, 1829, and was the son of Ezra and Fanny (Hull) Coann. His father was a farmer and Ezra, jr., was brought up on the farm until the age of fourteen, when he came to Albion, where his elder brother was teaching school, and attended the academy. He worked in a store until he reached his majority when he succeeded his employer, Thomas C. Fanning, in business. From 1850 to 1868 Mr. Coann continued in trade and then sold out. He was elected to and held the office of county treasurer during the war, and during the same period he was one of Governor Morgan's Military Committee for the purpose of raising and organizing troops for the service. Mr. Coann was secretary of this com- mittee, and it was a part of his duty to provide for the raising of funds for the pay- ment of bounties, for which county bonds were issued. In 1869 Mr. Coann closed out his business, and with his family took an extended European tour, covering a period of one and one-half years. Returning to Albion he established a banking house, which has always been kuown as " Coann's Bank," and which is justly recognized as one of the stable financial institutions of the county. Mr. Coann's business life has been re- warded with great success. He is a firm Republican but has never sought public office. February 10, 1852, Ezra T. Coann was married to Marcia H. Clement of Geneseo. Two children were born of this marriage, both of whom are still living. Mrs. Coann died in March, 1890.

Clark, Orra, was born in Berkshire, Mass., May 15, 1795, and his wife, Sophronia Phelps, was born in Oneida county, September 17, 1804. The grandfather of Mrs. Clark was a gunmaker and supplied arms to the patriot troops during the Revolutionary war. In 1819 Orra Clark came to Western New York, but it was not until December 19, 1821, that he was married. He settled in Barre (now Albion) on land he took up and cleared. The children of this family were: Amelia, born September 30, 1822, married Eri Green, living in Michigan until his death, then returned and married Seth Waldo, a Presbyterian minister; Caroline H., born September 16, 1824, married to Dimick French, and after his death Edwin Tanner; Henry E., born December 25, 1829, lived and died in Albion; Truman A., born March 23, 1832, died in 1878; Mary M. born July 5, 1834, married Charles Howard of Medina; James B., born March 9, 1839, died aged seven ; Eber R., born May 13, 1842, now in Rochester; Edward, born July 3, 1844, now in Rochester; Laura E., born October 2, 1847, wife of Edward Merrill of Atlanta, Ga. Orra Clark, the pioneer, died July 26, 1878, and his wife November 26, of the same year. George S. Clark was born September 8, 1826, was brought up and always lived on a farm with the exception of three years. At the age of twenty one he commenced working for himself, first as a farm hand, and then worked land on shares until he was able to buy a farm for himself. In 1892 he came to Albion to live, where by his industry and upright dealings lie has won the respect of the community. June 26, 1854, he married Martha E. Huff, who died January 26, 1890. The children born to them are as follows : Truman A., of Albion ; Jennie Porter, of Holley ; Olin, of Albion ; and Allic M., of Albion. Mr. Clark is a strong Republican and has held

FAMILY SKETCHES.

office as collector, highway commissioner, assessor, and has just been elected highway commissioner for another term of two years. Also president of the Orleans County Agricultural Society for four years.

Chase, Julius S., is a son of Obediah Schuyler Chase, who was born about 1800, and an adopted son of Enoch Wheeler, who was born in Connecticut, November 12, 1788. Mr. Wheeler married Lucy Higgins, who was born October 1, 1790. They came to Mendon, Monroe county, in 1845, and that fall settled in Barre, whence they removed to Kendall in 1853, and located where Julius S. Chase now lives, and where both died, Mr. Wheeler August 12, 1876, and his wife June 18, 1873. Both were prominent in the M. E. Church. He served in the war of 1812, and drew a land warrant. Julius S. Chase, born April 6, 1823, married, October 1, 1844, Calista Ann, daughter of John Nickerson. (Mr. Nickerson came to Barre in October, 1845, and late in life came with his wife to reside with their daughter in Kendall, where both died, he in July, 1885, and she August 12, 1881). Mr. and Mrs. Chase have lived on the Center road between the ridge and the lake forty years. Their children are Lucy A. (Mrs. David L. Jones), Julia A. (Mrs. Edward L. Reed, of Carlton), Mary A. (Mrs. Edward J. Clark, and after- ward Mrs. Harvey Curtis), and Isabella (Mrs. John Billings, of Carlton).

Church, Samuel, born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1781, came into North Ridgeway (now Yates) in 1816. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and long a prominent member of the M. E. Church. He finally moved to Lyndonville, where he died in 1871. His wife, Ann Daniels, who died in 1825, bore him four sons : Seth, Grosvenor, Isaac and William. Grosvenor Church came to Ridgeway with his parents when eight years old, and moved thence in 1831 to Yates, settling on a farm in the east part of the town. October 27, 1831, he married Jane, daughter of Richard Barry, and died April 26, 1873. He was long a justice of the peace and a trustee of Yates Academy, and during his life was one of the town's most eminent men. His widow now resides in Lyndon- ville, and has gained considerable prominence by her exquisite needle work. William Church was born June 8, 1812, and died July 19, 1893. October 25, 1837, he married Sena, daughter of Richard Barry. He was justice of the peace and overseer of the poor many years, and was long an active member, class leader, steward, and trustee of the M. E. Church. Like his brother, Grosvenor, he lived first in Ridgeway and later in Yates. His widow still survives and resides at Yates Centre.

Clark, Harvey, born in Middletown, Conn., in April, 1784, came to Yates with his wife and two children, two yoke of oxen, and a cart in August, 1817, settling on a farm now owned by his son Daniel, and which has never been out of the possession of the family. This he bought by article and converted into a valuable farm. He was a cloth-dresser by trade and followed that business extensively in Connecticut, but after his settlement here he was always a farmer. He was an old line Whig, but never aspired to office. He married Betsey Clark, who was born in 1789, and died January 18, 1882. Their children were Nelson, Harriet, Mary A. (Mrs. L. Martin), Daniel, Harriet, second (Mrs. John Darling), Betsey, and Betsey second. Mr. Clark died December 12, 1866. Daniel Clark was born April 10, 1820, and he says in “Ridge- way, Genesee county, afterward lived in Northton, Genesee county, and is now a resi-

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

dent of Yates, Orleans county, and yet has always resided on the same farm." Decem-' ber 8, 1841, he married, first, Jane Blanchard, of Peacham, Vt., who died July 27, 1874. Their children were Kate (Mrs. H. M. Hard), born July 18, 1843, and Edward H., born March 2, 1845, died December 13, 1867. Mr. Clark married, second, August 25, 1875, Sophie McKennan, who was born at Richfield Springs, N. Y., July 26, 1832. Her father, Ezekiel McKennan, son of William, a Scotchman, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1797, came to America in 1815, settling first in Rome, N. Y., then in Her- kimer, and finally in Richfield Springs, and moved thence to Carlton, September 1, 1840, where he died November 24, 1887. He was a carriage maker, and married Sophia Warner (born September 3, 1802, died April 27, 1869), their children being Rachael (Mrs. Albert Backus), Dr. Hugh, Oliver, Salinda, Sophie (Mrs. Daniel Clark), Sarah (Mrs. S. M. Berry), James, George, Jennie E. (Mrs. Henry Rowley), and Mary E. (Mrs. George Fuller). Daniel Clark has been supervisor three terms, has held nearly all the minor town offices, has been an elder of the First Presbyterian Church some time, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school ten years. He is a writer of considerable ability, particularly upon local history.

McKennan, Dr. Hugh, son of Ezekiel, who was long a resident of Carlton, was born in Richfield Springs, N. Y., February 27, 1827. He was graduated from the Buffalo Medical College in 1848, and the same year located in Lyndonville, where he practiced as Dr. Horace Phipany's successor until 1865, when he removed to Muskateen, Ia. There his wife died in 1878, and he went to Syracuse, where he died August 18, 1886. His wife was Hattie Swift, a native of Yates, and by whom he had four children, all deceased. The family are all buried in the Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville. Dr. McKennan was a skillful surgeon, a talented writer, and an excellent scholar and fine speaker.

Clark, Alonzo, is a grandson of Zephaniah Clark, who died June 4, 1816, in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y. The latter married Zulyma Cooley, who died March 4, 1826. Their children were : Isaac, Abel R., Freeman, William B., father of our subject Zephaniah, Thos. S., Claremond, Zulyma, Lydia, Telhassa. Wm. B., father of our sub- ject, was born in Williamstown, Mass., April 27, 1792, and died January 27, 1860, married Tryphosa Childs, who was born April 27, 1792, at Williamstown, Mass., and died July 27, 1872. There children were: Alonzo, born January 2, 1815, Minerva, born March 21, 1817; Alvin, born August 26, 1818, at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y .; William, born September 5, 1819, Freeman, born July 12, 1821 ; Edward born, June 25, 1823; Zephaniah, January 7, 1826, at Troy ; Matilda, born February 10, 1828; Lura, born November 1, 1829, at Sand Lake ; George E., born November 1, 1832, at Alexan- der, Genesee county, and Abel R., born at Carlton, Orleans county, September 20, 1834. Alonzo was educated in a public school at Troy, until the age of thirteen, when he came to the town of Alexander, Genesee county, N. Y., to live with his uncle R. B. Cady, where his father and family moved in the spring of 1830. April 1, 1834, they re- moved to Carlton on the farm adjoining the farm where Alonzo now resides on a farm consisting of 56 acres of land. Mr. Clark has served as justice of the peace in said town over twenty years. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., Kuckvllle Lodge No. 374 and is an elder in the Methodist Episcopal church at the latter place. February 9, 1840, he

FAMILY SKETCHES.

married Mary A. Blood, born January 17, 1816, and died April 11, 1883. Their chil- dren : Hettie T., born November 9, 1840 ; Lucinda M., born October 2, 1842 died Sep- tember 25, 1851; Orrin A., born October 14, 1845, who married Mary Richards and had two children, Alva L. died September 22, 1872, and John A .; George R., born Septem- ber 28, 1848, married Julia Pitts, no children except an adopted daughter, Nellie M. Mary O., born March 6, 1852, married Arnell P. Sherman (deceased) and had two children, Ethel I. (deceased) and Belva M .; Hattie N., born February 22, 1856, and Louis A. born February 13, 1862.

Clark, Zephaniah, who for forty or more years was numbered among the respected residents of Albion, was a native of Williamstown, Mass., born September 21, 1794, and was the sixth of nine children of Zephaniah and Zulyma (Cooley) Clark. Al- though brought up on a farm Zephaniah at the early age of seventeen went to Troy, and became an apprentice to the printing trade in the office of the "Farmer's Register." He enlisted in the war of 1812 and served in one campaign on Long Island, and for nis service during the war Mr. Clark was made a pensioner. Returning to Troy he served out his apprenticeship and then went into a printing office at Salem, N. Y. In 1817 he purchased the "Troy Northern Budget" and published that paper until 1828. He then engaged in the book and stationery business in that city, and continued until 1843, when he sold his interest and came to Albion. In this village Mr. Clark purchased the old Butts farm, then comprising 100 acres, and to it devoted his chief attention. He engaged in no active business in Albion other than the management of his farm, which was afterwards divided into village lots. In all public affairs he took a deep interest and in politics was a Jeffersonian Democrat. For forty or more years he was senior warden of Christ Church, and a most devout churchman. Mr. Clark was thrice married ; first on December 22, 1819, to Catherine Coenhoven, by whom he had two children, Frances who died at the age of five, and one son, Dr. Edward Clark of New York city. His second wife was Elenore S. Adams of Troy, whom he married May 28, 1833, and by whom he also had one son, William De Witt Clark, who was lost at sea in 1861. April 17, 1844 he married Sophia A. McHarg, of Albany, who died September 12, 1886, and the children of this marriage were: Howard K., who died at St. Johns, Canada; Frances Clark Forbes, of Albion ; Franklin and Katharine G., wife of J. Will- iam Cornell. Zephaniah Clark died in Albion August 18, 1888, at the advanced age of ninety-four. Franklin Clark was born in Albion April 30, 1852. He was educated at the Albion Academy, after which he was six years in the Central freight office at Albion. He then went into the drug business at Kingston, N. Y., where he remained five years. In 1882 in company with Mr. Bates he established a drug store in Albion, and in 1888 became its sole proprietor. Mr. Clark was also interested in the Curtis Manufacturing Company, of which he was at one time the president, and when the affairs of the com- pany were closed, he and Samuel Willyoung purchased the property and are still its owners. On June 19, 1884, Franklin Clark was married to Louie M., daughter of George W. Ough, and four children have been born to them.

Cornell, Joseph M., for more than half a century intimately associated with the busi- ness interests of Albion. He was born in Galway, Saratoga county N. Y., June 21, 1819. His father, Asa Cornell, was a farmer. Mr. Cornell's independent and self-re-

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

liant nature, early inspired him to a wider sphere of activity, than the farm presented, so in 1835 at the age of sixteen he left his father's house, for what was then "the west," and came to Albion by the Erie Canal. He at once found employment as a clerk in the general store of Mr. C. W. Swan, and also made his home in the family of Mr. Swan. Confidence then secured, and intimacies then formed, lasted unbroken and unimpaired until the day of his death. Upon the retirement of C. W. Swan from business in 1843, he was succeeded by Swan & Cornell, the firm being composed of William G. Swan, son of the former proprietor, and Joseph M. Cornell, both of whom had been clerks in the establishment of which they now became proprietors. This firm continued business for about nine years. The business was then sold out and the firm dissolved, and Mr. Cor- nell retired permanently from mercantile life. In 1853 Mr. Cornell became book-keeper in the old Bank of Orleans and when that association failed he assisted in settling its affairs. In February, 1860, he was one of the organizers of the Orleans County Bank, and was its first cashier and held that position until August, 1870, when, upon the death of Mr. Elizur Hart, he was elected president of the association. The bank in 1865 was reorganized under the National Banking law, and became the Orleans County National Bank. Mr. Cornell practically directed the policy of the bank until his death, July 4, 1890. He was originally a Whig, and later a strong Republican. When the village of Albion was incorporated, he was elected a trustee, and served several years as supervisor of the town of Barre, was treasurer of the county for a number of years, also postmaster at Albion for some time, and a member of the Board of Education since it was organized. Mr. Cornell has been a member of the Baptist church since he was eighteen years of age, and was always very zealous and active in church work, and was treasurer of the society for many years, and a very generous contributor. His domestic relations were peculiarly happy. On the 25th of April, 1848, he married Jane M. daughter of Col. Curtis Cole of Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y., and their home of culture and refinement was one of the chief society centres of the town. Mr. Cor- nell was one of the purest and noblest of men, of commanding presence, with a mind, large, well informed, and active, with his powers at all times under control, and ready for service. He was a leading citizen, and able financier, a wise counselor, and a firm and steadfast friend. Two children were born to them, Matie A. wife of Dr. Tousley B. Lewis of New York, and J. William Cornell ; the latter was born June 15, 1885, at Albion, N. Y., and he received his education at the Albion Academy and in Buffalo, N. Y. He entered the Orleans County National Bank as a book-keeper in 1872, and was appointed teller of the bank in 1885, which position he held until 1890 when he was made cashier. He has also been a vestryman and treasurer of Christ church for a num- ber of years. Mr. Cornell was married to Katharine S .. daughter of Zephaniah Clark of Albion, N. Y., July 20, 1881. Politically he has always been a strong Republican.

Crandall, John Wm., Kendall .- John W. Crandall, sr., son of Caleb. was born June 4, 1796, in Washington county and married, February 12, 1816, Phoebe Clements, who was born August 15, 1799. They came to Kendall about 1822 and settled where their son John W., jr., now lives, where they both died. They moved into town with all their goods on a sled drawn by a yoke of oxen, and upon his arrival Mr. Crandall had a solitary sixpence in money. IIe served as commissioner of highways a number of years.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Their children were Louisa (Mrs. E. J. Farnsworthi), born February 25, 1818, of Michi- gan ; Caroline (Mrs. Albert G. Ralph), born April 3, 1822, died July 3, 1860 ; Melissa (Mrs. Benjamin Wheeler), born October 17, 1824, died April 12, 1846: Caleb, born January 19, 1826, died in February, 1832; Mary Ann (Mrs Sylvester Barton), born May 29, 1829, died January 16, 1850; John J., born March 21, 1831, died June 30, 1842; William F., born August 11, 1833, died May 23, 1853, and Lucy Elizabeth (Mrs. Alonzo Egelston), born September 14, 1836. Mrs. Crandall died March 26, 1842, and he married, second, Mrs. Mary Wheeler, nee Smith, June 8, 1842. She was born June 15, 1800, and died March 19, 1885. They had one son, John W., jr., born March 14, 1843, who married, August 13, 1865, Mary H. Jennings, who was born December 6, 1842. Mr. Crandall died May 27, 1864. With two others he brought the first plow into the west part of the town, carrying it on their backs all the way from the ridge. His brother Samuel came to Kendall about 1823. Their parents also came here late in life and died in Hartland, N. Y., Caleb, December 26, 1863, aged 104 years, and his wife Mary Holmes, June 18, 1838. John W. Crandall, jr., who resides on the home- stead, has been highway commissioner nine years and constable four years and county central committee three years and charter member of Social Lodge No. 713 of F. & A. M. Stephen S. Jennings, his wife's father, was born in Fulton county December 6, 1814, came to Kendall in 1843, and died January 31, 1889, his wife dying February 1, 1891. His son, Henry C., resides near West Kendall.

Copeland, Samuel D., was born October 22, 1812, in the town of Norton, Bristol county, Mass., and is descended from Lawrence Copeland who came from England to Boston in 1620. The father of our subject was Samuel, a son of Samuel, who married Eunice Danforth, and had three sons, Samuel, Benjamin, and John. Benjamin was a college bred man, and a teacher in the Southern States for many years, who finally came to this county, bought land, and erected a saw mill, which he conducted a number of years, then sold his property in Murray and moved to Michigan, built a flour mill at Booklyn, Jackson county, was member of the legislature in 1838-9, disposed of Michi- gan property, returned to Orleans county, N. Y., settled in Clarendon, was merchant for several years. Died aged eighty-eight years. Samuel came from Norton, Mass., to Brighton, Monroe county in 1820, and in 1826, came to Murray. He was an active politician and a prominent member of the Methodist church at Hulberton. He married Mercy R., daughter of Ebenezer Titus, and they had five children : Samuel D., George M., Benjamin F., Horatio N., and Eugene, both of the latter dying in early manhood. Samuel D., our subject, has resided at Hulberton since 1826, From 1834 to 1885 he was engaged largely in public works, for many years having charge of repairs on the Erie Canal from Tonawanda Creek to Brockport. He has also been engaged in farming. He is a Republican in politics, having voted at every election and town meeting since reaching his majority. Since about 1840 he has been an Odd Fellow of Holley Lodge, and is a member of the Methodist church of Hulberton. December 13, 1838, he married Emeline, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Budd, of Murray, and their children are : George F., John B., Eunice D., Emeline B., Daniel B., and Samuel B. George F. lives at St. Paul, Minn., and is superintendent of the Butte, Anadonda & Pacific Railroad ; John B. resides in Seattle, Wash., and is superintendent of the Coast Line of the Great

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 79

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