Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 80

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

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LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

Northern Railroad ; Samuel B. is an engineer and lives at Anaconda, Mont .; Daniel B. resides in Murray ; Eunice D. is unmarried ; Emeline B. married Frank Moore of Hul- berton. Mrs. Emiline Copeland died March 17, 1888. George M. Copeland went to Clarendon at the age of thirteen and entered the store of David Sturgis, finally became a partner, and later sole proprietor, dying in 1892. He was a broad-minded, public spirited man, a prominent member of the M. E. church of Clarendon, giving sites for church and parsonage, and contributed largely towards their building and maintenance. In 1852 he was elected to the legislature, and also served as supervisor of his town (1849-50-59). He married Laura, daughter of David Sturgis, and they had twelve children, of whom eight survive. Benjamin F. Copeland spent his early life in Murray and in 1850 removed to California.

Christie, James, was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, born March 13, 1800. During his youth he learned the trade of rope and sail making, and at the age of thirteen he went on the sea as a cabin boy. Proving active, competent and reliable, he gradually raised in rank until he became captain of a ship, and for forty-eight years followed the sea. He married, June 1, 1820, in Boston, Sarah Parsons; they have no children. Mrs. Christie died January 1, 1864. Leaving the sea in 1857, Captain Christie came to this county and settled in Barre, where he had a farm of fifty acres. There he lived about twelve years and then came to Albion, where he died April 6, 1874. By a provi- sion in his will he left to the Baptist Missionary Union Society a bequest of $10,000. In April, 1864, Captain Christie married Hannah Samantha Randall, and four years after his death his widow married William H. Ross, of Albion, who died in September, 1881. Samuel Ross was born at Morristown, N. J., in 1785. He was a blacksmith by trade, and spent twenty-five years in Schenectady, coming to Shelby in 1832. He died in 1872, and his wife in 1847. Charles C. Ross, of Albion, was one of the four children of Samuel. He is a coachmaker by trade, and worked in Medina about fifteen years be- fore coming to Albion in 1884. In 1839 he married Maria Finch in Schenectady. Will- iam Halsey Ross, also son of Samuel, married second Hannah Samantha Christie, widow of Captain James Christie.

Culver, Orange, was the pioneer head of a large and respected family of descendants in Barre, and was himself one of the strongest men in influence and worth in the county during his time. He was the son of Benjamin Culver and a native of Columbia county, born in 1781. In that county he married, and soon afterward bought a farm and set- tled in Cayuga county, but in 1828 he came to Barre, where he purchased the " better- ments " of John Kessler and Jedediah Heath. He added to his lands until he at one time owned 600 acres, but by an unfortunate investment in the old Bank of Gaines much of his fortune was swept away, and it required the efforts of his sons to re-estab- lish him financially. He died in Green River, Columbia county, while on a visit to his birthplace, October 14, 1849, and his widow October 15, 1872. Mr. Culver's wife was Betsey Andrews, and their children were : Samantha, who married David White and died in Barre; Ebenezer, who died in Clarendon ; Sarah Ann, who married Samuel Eddy ; Nelson, who moved to Indiana and died there ; Caroline, who married Luther Porter and now lives in Gaines; Orange A., of Albion ; James L., of Osborne, Kan. ; Oliver Perry, of Barre; Byron, who died in Dakota. Oliver P. Culver was born Jan-

FAMILY SKETCHES.

uary 22, 1822, and has always been a farmer in Barre, with the exception of a year and a half spent in Holley. He now lives on the old homestead and is regarded as one of the successful farmers of the town. He was originally a Democrat, but one of the founders of the Republican party in the town. October 8, 1846, Mr. Culver married Jane Delano, by whom he had three children : Daniel D., of Barre Center; Mary, who married Sanford Wagoner and moved to Michigan; and George P., of Barre. His wife died July 3, 1856, and March 17, 1858, Mr. Culver married Sarah S. Burnham, by whom he had one child, Milton L. Culver, of Rochester. His second wife died June 26, 1886, and September 25, 1887, Mr. Culver married Lois M. Miller, who died August 31, 1892.

Calkins, David, was born in Mt. Washington, Mass., and died at West Gaines at the age of eighty-four in 1868 on the farm where his daughter, Miss Eleanor, now resides, His wife, Sarah Stuart, was born in Kent, Conn., and died at West Gaines in 1852, aged seventy-four. David came with his family to West Gaines, March 12, 1821, and bought the farm on which he lived and died ; he endured the hardships of pioneer life. The children of David and Sarah are as follows: Edward, born in Kent, Conn., in 1804, and died August 8, 1873, married Eliza Beauvay ; John, born in Kent, Conn., in 1809, resides in Lewiston, married Betsey Curtis, by whom he has four children : Sarah, Ellen J., S. Cordelia, and John; Cornelius, born in Kent in 1810, died in 1882, married Al- zina Patrick and have four children: J. Jay, Ray, Addie, and Ella; Eleanor, born in Kent, September 20, 1813, lives on the farm where her parents lived and died; Sarah, born in Cayuga county, September 23, 1817, and died at the family home in 1873 ; James, born on this farm in 1823 and resides in Albion, married Jane Sherman and have five children : Sarah, Alice, Anjennett, Edwin, James, and Frank Sherman.

Downs, John, was born in Clarendon, Orleans county, January 22, 1846. His father, William, was a native of Ireland, being a son of Alexander Downs. William came to America in 1828, and settled in Troy, N. Y. A few years later he removed to Orleans county, locating in Holley, but soon afterward settled in Clarendon, where he engaged in farming. He was also a dealer in live stock for many years. His father, Alexander, came to this country in 1840, and after a short residence in Orleans county removed to Wisconsin. William Downs married in 1840 Jane, daughter of John Best, and they had two sons, William and John, and one daughter, Nancy. He was an active mem- ber of the Methodist church. He died in May, 1877, and his wife February 26, 1894. William Downs, jr., married Mary McFarland, and resides on the old homestead. Sub- ject was educated in the public schools of Clarendon, and when a mere boy engaged in the live stock and wool business, buying and selling to eastern markets, gradually ex- tending his operations until he became known as one of the largest shippers of live stock in the country. Between 1880 and 1890 he forwarded more sheep to New York than any other dealer who bought them direct of farmers, and was also the largest buyer in the Detroit market, having shipped 200 car loads to New York in one winter. In 1875 Mr. Downs became a partner in the well known firm of Hallwell & Willis, exten- sive wool dealers of Rochester, continuing eight years. In 1874, in company with George W. Stoddard and W. G. Rutherford, he organized a bank at Walden, Orange

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

county, N. Y., carrying on a private banking business until 1883, when it was reorgan- ized as the Walden National Bank, Mr. Downs severing his connection with the institu- tion soon after. He was two years a agent of the firm of Nelson Morris & Co., of Chicago, dealers in dressed beef. In 1882 he purchased an interest in the banking busi- ness of Eddy & Bowman, of Holley, the firm name becoming Eddy, Downs & Bow- man, and conducted business under that name until the death of Mr. Eddy in 1884, since which time the firm has been Downs & Bowman. Mr. Downs is largely inter- ested in real estate and stone quarries. In 1885 he removed to Holley A monument to his enterprise and public spirit is the fine stone building known as the Downs Hotel, erected in 1892, and is the finest hotel in Orleans county. He is a Republican, Is a member and vestryman of the Episcopal church ; a member of Holley Lodge, I. O. O. F. and Murray Lodge No. 380, F. & A. M., and has passed most of the chairs. In 1885 he married Eva, daughter of Warren Glidden, of Clarendon, and their children are : John, jr., Nancy, Hattie and Gladys.

Austin Day was born in Connecticut in the year 1790, being one of a family of thir- teen children. His parents were Oliver Day and Diadema Beebe, embodying a marked progressive spirit they were not content with the offerings of their native State, they formed a colony with nine other families and started to better their con- dition. In the year of 1800 the colony moved to Bennington county, Vt., where Aus- tin Day received his education, and after teaching for a time married Mary Chapman of Holland county, Conn., sister of the celebrated Doctor Chapman of Long Island, she also being a teacher. Mr. Day's father was a thrifty farmer, and Austin, inheriting the sterling qualities of his forefathers, became bent upon penetrating the western wilds ; at twenty-five years of age with their accumulations and stout hearts, with covered wagons and stock they began their long trip to the "Genesee country." In the sum- mer of 1815 they bought their first farm in the town of Murray, and then began pioneer life in earnest within the confines of the dense forest. That section began to fill up rapidly. Being a man of energy and capability, he became at once a leading spirit in the work of the development of the resources of the country, establishing of schools, and the bettering of the conditions of the less fortunate emigrants. With a kind heart, sympathetic nature and open hand, he dispensed to the struggling ones material assist- ance and with the growth of the section grew his prominence. In 1826 the Erie Canal was completed, and from private life he was called to the superintendency of the canal, and during his office he developed (as much of the stone work at important points was rebuilt by him) into a contractor of note, as he displayed marked courage by making a canal contract along the Susquehanna River, which required three years to complete, proving a profitable undertaking, thus enabling him to materially increase his ownership of land in this county. He was elected sheriff, served one term, accepting the appoint- ment of a judgship, serving in that capacity for five yerrs. In 1850 he retired from public life, devoting his time thereafter to the management of his farms, which consisted of about five hundred acres in the town of Murray. His motto was, "Owe no man anything." His life was one of sterling integrity united with a kind and sympathetic nature and of perfect morals, and well may it be said of him, "The world is better for his having lived in it." He gave to his wife the credit justly her due, as through her

FAMILY SKETCHES.

wise council and executive ability they were enabled to leave to their children a com- petency. His wife died in the year 1858, at the age of seventy-six and he followed in 1874, aged eighty-four, both being members of the Presbyterian Church. Their family consisted of Mary A. Buell of Holly, N. Y., deceased ; Catharine M. Parsons of Albion, N. Y .; Ferdinand A. Day of Albion, N. Y .; Corydon Day who died in 1835, fifteen years of age.

Dye, William, and his family were among the pioneers of Western New York, hav- ing come from Rhode Island at a very early date and settled in Monroe county. Wil- liam spent his last years with his son, Walter E., who is remembered as one of the sub- stantial farmers of Carlton. The latter purchased his farm in the town in 1837 and in May, 1839, married Charlotte, daughter of William D. Butts. They had one child, William B., a resident and a business man of Albion. Walter E. was a farmer and builder having erected many buildings in Carlton. For a time he kept a store and was withal an enterprising and successful business man. He came to Albion to live in 1870, and there he died four years later. William B. Dye was born in Carlton, June 13, 1840, and was brought up on his father's farm and in the store. He was educated at the Albion Academy and at a business college in Rochester. In 1870 Mr. Dye came to Albion and in 1872 became a member of the clothing firm of Adler & Fox, which then took the name of Adler, Dye & Company. Mr. Adler retired in 1884, and then the present firm of Dye & Fox was formed. Mr. Dye is a strong Democrat and has been active in politics. In 1879 he was elected supervisor, and has also held office as trustee and president of the village. Is now president of the Board of Managers of the West- ern House of Refuge for Women at Albion. January 16, 1867 he married Lottie E., daughter of Edward Dediermar of Jackson, Mich. Three children have been born of this marriage, two of whom are now living.

Denio, John, was born in Greenfield, Mass., where he published a newspaper twenty years and had his files back to 1800; and at the time of his death he had been in the print- ing and publishing business half a century, and was one of the oldest practical printers and publishers in this state. He died in Albion aged eighty-one years. He was also a prominent Mason and defended the order during the anti-Masonic period. Mr. Denio and son, John H., were publishers of the "Orleans American" for eight or nine years. The eldest daughter of John Denio was the wife of the late Dr. William Noble, for many years one of the leading physicians and surgeons in this county, and well known throughout the State. John H. Denio was the youngest but one of the five children of John Denio. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in this county and has ever since been an ardent supporter of that party with both voice and pen. He has held the offices of county treasurer (two terms), postmaster, district deputy provost marshal for the county during the war, and was one of the members of the county military committee to fill the quotas. Mr. Denio, was ineligible for personal service in the army, but under a law passed by Congress he was allowed to send a representative into the service. Mr. Denio has been a continuous resident of Albion. and in addition to the services mentioned, has been engaged in the banking and insur- ance business, stone quarrying and milling and has also dealt largely in real estate. He has four children living. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth Denio, has for a number of

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

years been a professor of languages and lecturer of arts at Wellesley College, and is also noted as having been an extensive traveler in foreign lands and the translator of both English and German works. She was a graduate of Phipps Union Seminary and Mt. Holyoke Seminary, and was a teacher of Latin in Vasser one year. Another daughter, Lillian, was educated at Wellesley College and is now librarian of the Teach- ers' Institute Department of Columbia College. The third daughter, Louise, is the wife of Henry M. Fisher, Esq., of Batavia, a member of the Genesee county bar. The fourth child, Lorenzo B., was graduated at Oberlin Commercial College; engaged in the hardware business at Clyde for a time, and is now a resident of Buffalo.

Danolds, C. A., is of New England stock, his grandfather having been a native of Connecticut, who died in Avon, Genesee county, N. Y. The father of our subject was David, born in Connecticut August 5, 1788, and died at Galena Ill., June 18, 1846. He married Mattie Hosmer, who was born in Connecticut, November 17, 1790. Their children were: Samual, Mary A., Ezra, Charles A., our subject, born August 17, 1818, at Stafford, Genesee county ; Truman W., Henry S., George I., and Mattie E. David first settled in Avon, where he carried on the brick business for several years, then re- moved to Stafford and engaged in the hotel business, and also in the milling and potash business. He next went to Batavia where he conducted a hotel three years. Remov- ing to Elba, Genesee county, he followed various pursuits, and in 1833 came back to Oak Orchard, where he bought 2,600 acres of land, and took up farming on a large scale, employing fifty men Charles A. was educated in the common schools of Oak Orchard, and kept hotel there for ten years, then sold out and moved to Eagle Harbor in 1848, and engaged in mercantile business ; he also owned and conducted four canal boats, and carried on a potash business. About 1852 he bought the farm where he has since resided, which consists of two hundred acres. He has been extensively engaged in the enlarging of waterways, having been engaged on the Erie canal, Champlain Canal, Chenango extension, and various locks, having built six on the Wellar d Canal, besides the'construction of the Elmira Reformatory. He was general superintendent of the Western Division of the Erie and Genesee Valley Canals for three years, and also bought and sold horses for the Government during the war. He is a member of Reno- vation Lodge No. 97, of Albion, and is the oldest mason in the county. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. of Medina. February 16, 1848, he married Mary J, Patter- son, born December 29, 1820, in Westmoreland, Oneida county, and they had three children : Charles P, born April 25, 1849, died July 10, 1861; Warren S., born Sep- tember 3, 1851, married Emily Tarbell Searl, and lives in Albion ; Carrie P., born May 18, 1854, married Sands Cole, jr., and has two children; Charles D. and Marc W. Mr. Cole died December 22, 1885.

Darrow, Col. Nicholas E., was born at Chatham, Columbia county, April 1, 1808, and is descended from good old revolutionary stock. His father, Capt. John Darrow, and three brothers, fought in the Continental army, and Captain Darrow participated in the battle of Danbury. The ancestors of Colonel Danbury were Scotch-Irish, and on the mother's side came over in the Mayflower. Capt. John Darrow was a son of Daniel Darrow, and came from Columbia county to Caledonia in 1813, with his wife, Eunice Eggleston, and a large family of children. His death occurred before they

FAMILY SKETCHES.

were settled. His widow afterward married Broadstreet Spofford, and in 1815 the family settled in Clarendon. Colonel Darrow. with his brother Lewis, built a stone block on the south end of the square in Holley. Lewis Darrow died at Holley in 1833. Colonel Darrow engaged in the mercantile trade, but in 1834 failing health compelled him to give it up. He then removed to Ohio, remaining until 1837, when he returned to Holley, and for three years was engaged in farming. In 1840 he removed to Claren- don, and has since been a resident of that town, where he has been engaged in farming. He was for four years colonel of the 25th Regiment Artillery, 8th Brigade, 4th Divis- ion State Militia. He is the only living charter member of the Holley Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a member and trustee of the M. E. Church. Colonel Darrow was a Jackson Democrat but joined the Republican party on its formation. He was elected supervisor of Clarendon in 1851-2 and in 1854, and in 1864 and 1865. He was postmaster at Clarendon for thirteen years, and in 1861 was elected to the General Assembly from Orleans county. In 1846-47 he was superintendent of the canal from Holley to Pen- dleton. December 20, 1830, he married Sarah Sweet, who died in 1889. Their chil- dren were : Mary, who married John S. Nelson; Sarah M., who married John R. Bartlett ; Laura, who married Albert J. Potter ; Hattie, who married James Gibson ; Etta, who married George H. Copeland ; Eunice, who married Alfonso D. Cook; Sa- brina, who married Kirk Blanchard ; Nicholas H., who married Juliana Wyman and afterward settled at Benton Harbor, Mich., in 1893 ; Lewis E., who married Satie Car- penter, and is in the banking business at Corry, Pa. He (Lewis E.) enlisted in the 151st N. Y. Infantry and served in the war of the rebellion. Harry Darrow, brother of Colonel Darrow, spent his life in Orleans county until 1892, when he settled at Hamlin, Monroe county. James, another brother, settled in Homer, Mich., about the year 1855, and a sister, Polly Darrow, married Cheney Luce and settled in Wisconsin.

Dean, William N., is descended from Eli Dean, born in Danbury, Conn., in 1749, and died in 1814. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill, where he was taken prisoner after being wounded. His son, Nelson, was born in Canaan, Conn., in 1805, and settled in Carlton in 1839. He died in 1853, and his wife, Mary A. Andrews, born 1813, died in July, 1893. Their children were: William N., born in Canaan, Conn., in 1837; George W., born 1839 in South Canaan, and still lives in the same town; Julia A., born 1841, died April 11, 1868; John H., born May 20, 1843, died 1852; Mary L., born May 28, 1846; Sanford H., born August 14, 1852, died October 24, 1886. Our subject attended the common schools at Carlton, and later graduated at the Albion Academy in 1860. He has always followed farming and lived on the homestead of 108 acres. He is a Republican, and has served as assessor five terms, and justice of the peace, was elected supervisor in 1893, and re-elected in 1894. He enlisted in the late war and sworn in the regular army, but thrown out on account of throat difficulty, afterwards enlisted twice in the volunteer service, and again rejected for the same reason. He is a Mason, of Renovation Lodge No. 97, Albion. February 23, he married Genevieve Porter, korn in 1848, a daughter of Alonzo Porter, born in 1818, who married Phœbe Phillips, born in 1827. Our subject has two children : Harry P., born February 23, 1877, and George A., born September 8, 1878. Mr. Dean

LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

has taught schools winters for eighteen seasons, holding a State certificate from Nei Gilmore.

Eccleston, Marion Marcus, is a grandson of Squire I. Eccleston, who was born in Stonington, Conn., and whose father was Benedict Eccleston. The maternal grand- father of our subject was John Mansfield, and his father was Franklin H. Eccleston, who was born in Pharsalia, N. Y., May 14, 1800, and died May 5, 1890, at East Carlton. He married Theodosia Mansfield, born in Milton, Vt., May 30, 1806, and died at East Carlton, March 14, 1894. Their children were: Charlotte, born in 1825, died in 1826; John F., born in 1827, died in 1890 at Springfield, Mo .; Seymour, born in 1829, died in 1833 ; Squire A., born in 1832, died in 1833; Squire S. A., born in 1834, died in 1872 at Nebraska City, Neb .; Marcus, born April 6, 1836, and died April 13, 1841; Marion M., born October 11, 1844, he being the only survivor of the family. He was educated in the district schools at East Carlton, and finished at the Albion Academy. He has taught music occasionally for over twenty years, being proficient on both violin and guitar. February 6, 1873, he married Alice Eliza Shipman, who was born at Carlton, April 10, 1847, and their children are: Arthur I., born March 18, 1874; and Frederic F., born July 19, 1875; Mrs. Eccleston's father, Israel Shipman, was born in Carlton iu 1815, and is now living. Franklin H. Ec- cleston and Theodosia Mansfield were married January 8, 1824. John F. Eccleston and Lucy Hagedorn were married July 18, 1852. Squire S. A. Eccleston and Margaret Boyes were married September 1, 1853. There were born to Squire S. A. Eccleston and wife two children : Frank B. Eccleston, born May 28, 1859, and Lenna T., wife of John Wale, born December 24, 1856; both of these children reside at Nebraska City, Neb.

Flint, William S., came from Brandon, Vt., in 1821, and settled south of Eagle Harbor, but prior to locating in this county he lived several years in Ontario county. He married Sarah, daughter of Zatien Payne, by whom he had three children : Mary Ann, who married Thomas Parker; Emerency R., who married first, Orrin Simmons, and after his death, Chester Freeman, who now lives a widow at Albion; and Hattie, who married James C. Smith, and died some years ago in Albion. William S. Flint, on coming to this region, bought an article from the land company, and became one of the successful farmers of the town. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church. He died in 1869, aged seventy-two years, and his wife in 1881, aged seventy- six years. His wife, Sarah Payne, came to this county with the family of Asa Payne, and settled near Sheldon's Corners, in Barre (now Albion). Orrin Simmons was born in Otsego county. In 1862 he married Emerency Flint, by whom he had one child, William F., who died at three years of age. He lived in Canada about twelve years, and died there in 1874. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Simmons returned to her mother's home in Albion, and September 2, 1885, married Chester Freeman. Mr. Freeman died June 4, 1889. He was a native of Cayuga county, and came to this region in 1812.

Asahel Fitch was a native of Connecticut and an early settler in Seneca county. He was a wool carder and cloth dresser, and in Seneca carried on a large business. He

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 80

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