Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 105

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Olmstead, Jeremiah, was born in Montgomery county, May 4, 1813. Erastus Olm- stead, his father, was born in Connecticut and came to Montgomery county quite early in life, where he engaged in farming, which business he has followed all his life. He cleared a farm of eighty-five acres, and married Jane Conover of Mont- gomery county, by whom he had ten children. Jeremiah was educated in the district schools of Montgomery county, after which he engaged in farming, which business he has followed all his life and now owns a farm of 180 acres in the town of Avoca. He married Charlotte, daughter of Rudolph Dagart of Wheeler, by whom he had these children: Chester, and Alice, now Mrs. Charles Hope.

Oxx, Ripley, was born in Avoca, July 2, 1834. Jonathan Oxx, his father was born in Washington county in 1799, and came to Avoca and from there to Howard in about 1814, and settled on a farm. He married Sallie K., daughter of Ripley Colk, by whom he had six children: Ripley, Hannah, Warren W., Steuben C., Monroe, and Charity. Ripley was educated in the district schools of Avoca, after which he engaged in farming which he has followed most of his life. He married Helen Van Atten of Cohocton, by whom he had seven children. Mr. Oxx has held the office of constable for many years, and is at present justice of the peace.

Oakden, Alfred H., was born January 14, 1867, son of Hope D. and Emily (Nichols) Oakden, natives of Hammondsport and Addison, respectively. They were married July 1, 1855, and had six children: Alfred H., Hope D., Hollis, Jessie B., Mary, and Maria, who died when nine years of age. Mr. Oakden was a farmer, and he died March 5, 1879, and his wife resides at Nelson, Pa. The grandfather, Joseph Oakden, was born in England, in 1803. He married Maria Hollis and came to America and engaged in butchering in Hammondsport; from there he came to Addison and

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bought a large tract of land in Tuscarora, the most of which he has divided among his grandchildren. He has been a very successful man and still resides in Tuscarora, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Alfred H. Oakden married Beatrice, daughter of Calvin Stid, by whom he had two children. Mr. Oakden has 170 acres of land and is engaged in general farming.

Osborn, L. M., was born August 31, 1837. His grandfather, William Osborn, was born in Scipio, N. Y., and moved to South Dansville, where he followed farming. He died at ninety-seven years of age. Lewis Osborn, father of L. M., was born in Scipio, August 6, 1806, and died August 27, 1852. He was a mason by trade, but followed farming, and owned a farm of 150 acres. He married Samantha Gates, born May 20, 1812, and died July 29, 1865, by whom he had two children: Alfonzo A., born December 1, 1835; and L. M., as above, who was educated at the Rogers- ville Seminary and taught school a number of terms. He married Rosetta, daugh- ter of John Redman, of the town of Ossian, born June 26, 1844, and by whom he had six children: Samantha Elizabeth, born November 21, 1863, and married Michael J. Fries; Bertha Luella, born February 23, 1867, and married Smith Harden; Pheba Jane, born October 21, 1868, and married Gideon M. Southgate; Lewis Frederick, born October 9, 1870; Susie May, born September 2, 1875; and Dora Ethel, born July 28, 1885.

Orr, Ira, was born in the town of Reading, Schuyler county, N. Y., December 25, 1820. His father, Peter Orr, was born in Ireland, in 1797, and came to America in 1811, and settled at Fort Ann, near Lake Champlain, where he engaged in shoemak- ing. He lived at several places in New York, and at last went to the town of Barry, Barry county, Mich., where he bought a farm of eighty acres. He married Jerusha Griswold, who was born near Fort Ann, and died at sixty years of age, by whom he had five children: Auswell, Ira, as above, Jane, William, and Mary. Ira Orr has always followed farming. He has lived at several places in Steuben county, and is the owner of the old Captain Merritt farm of 100 acres, where he has lived thirty-six years. He married Mary Holt, who was born at Bennett's Creek, Steuben county, June 14, 1823, by whom he had five children: Ida Isadore, who married D. F. Hal- sey; Viola, deceased; Oliver, who married Katie Billings; Mary, who married Scott Juel; and Ira, who married Nellie Demerest. -

Orr, James C., jr., was born in Chenango county, June 28, 1827, a son of James C. and Orena Orr, who settled in Tuscarora in 1833. Their children were James C., Calvin D., Sarah, Joseph, Oliver, and Nelson. James C., jr., married Adelia, daughter of Alpheus: C. Newman, who came to Woodhull in 1839, and engaged in farming and the clothing business. Mr. and Mrs. Orr had three children: Elmer N., Gertrude A., and Melvin W. Mr. Orr is an active political worker and has been supervisor, commissioner, and assessor in the town of Lindley. He is engaged in lumbering and farming. Melvin W. is a graduate of the Rochester Business College and Elmer of the Binghamton Business College.

Owen, Cortland, is a son of John Owen who was born in Otsego county, of Welsh ancestry. When sixteen years of age, Cortland enlisted in Co. K, 86th N. Y. Vols., serving two years. He was in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and at the latter place was slightly wounded, taken prisoner and sent to Libby

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prison, but was paroled and exchanged after two weeks' captivity .. He was born at Cameron, in 1846. Two years later his father moved to Jasper and engaged in farm- ing. In 1865 he purchased a saw mill and carried on a lumber business. Mr. Owen worked with his father until 1871, when he married Martha Harwood, and in 1872 he bought his father's lumber business with which he has been extensively engaged ever since. He came to Addison in 1886 and built a planing mill, which furnishes employment for several men, and is one of the important enterprises of the town. He has two children: George, born in 1872, and Ella, born in 1879.

Orser, Frank B., was born at Cameron Mills in 1857. He is of Scotch descent, be- ing a son of David H. Orser, who married Jane Hutchison, by whom he had four children. He died in 1882, aged sixty-six. David Orser was a wagonmaker by trade, and was one of the 86th N. Y. Vols., from which he was discharged for dis- ability, and later he enlisted in the 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, where he was pro- moted to the rank of corporal. Frank Orser was educated in the common schools in Addison, and before learning the printer's trade he worked in a sash factory, after which he entered the office of A. Roberts, and rose rapidly in his profession, and has been the associate editor of the Advertiser, the leading paper of Addison, since 1889. He has been village clerk for five terms, and in 1895 was elected town clerk, which office he administered so successfully that he is now serving a second term. He is a member of the benevolent order of Maccabees, and the Baldwin Hook & Ladder Company. In 1882 he married Lizzie D. Evans of Elkton, Pa., by whom he had one daughter, Marion J.

Orr, Joseph J., was born in the town of Addison, a son of James C. and Orrena (Day) Orr. James C. came here with his father, Joseph, about 1830 from Delaware county. Joseph J. was one of five children named James C., Calvin D., Sarah C. Smith, Oliver J., and Joseph J., all residents of the county. Joseph J. married Sarah, daughter of Stephen and Mary Dillon, and they have five children: Edna Robinson, Celia Plunkett, Luna Hill, Clara Mead, and Edwin S. The last named married Josie Ayers. Joseph J. is a member of Addison Union Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 118.

Ney, Charles, was born in Northampton county, Pa., in 1823, son of Andrew and Amy (Fisher) Ney, and is another example of what a young man may accomplish by industry and economy. He has had to make his own way in the world, and when a boy he learned the carpenter's trade, but soon bought 130 acres of land in Urbana, which he sold and bought 143 acres in Bath, which he still owns. He came to Bradford and bought 158 acres where he still resides, all of which he has paid for by hard work and careful management. He married Minerva Bronson, by whom he had these children: Frankie, who died at twenty-three years of age; Sarah A., who died at twelve years of age; and William, who died at two years of age.

Nipher, Melvin, was born January 11, 1851. His grandfather was born in Ger- many, and emigrated to this country, coming to Montgomery county, N. Y., thence to the town of Avoca, and from there he came with his son, John Nipher, to the town of Fremont, where he died at eighty years of age. John Nipher, father of Melvin, was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., July 12, 1818, and came to Howard, and from there to Fremont, where he located on a farm of eighty-two acres and engaged

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in farming. In 1840 he married Polly A., daughter of Charles Roberts, who was born in Howard, March 10, 1822, and died December 14, 1884, by whom he had three children: Matilda, born July 22, 1843, and died July 25, 1885; Dewitt, born in 1849, and died in 1850; and Melvin, as above, who received a good common school educa- tion, and has always followed farming. He has held the office of assessor of the town of Fremont, and is justice of the peace. November 14, 1878, he married Emeranda, daughter of Philo Baker, who was born November 5, 1846, by whom he had two children: Inez, born April 10, 1880; John P., born February 9, 1882.

Rogers, David S., of Ferenbaugh, was born in the house where he now lives in 1860. His parents, Daniel and Lois Angeline Roloson Rogers, natives of Ulster county and the town of Hornby, are residents of Beaver Dams. Mr. Rogers was raised and has always been a farmer. He married Augusta Ferenbaugh in 1885. He has a farm of 260 acres.

Roloson, Sylvester, of Painted Post, was born in Hornby, son of Peter and Julia Kirby Roloson, natives of New Jersey and Rhode Island, who in about 1835 located in the eastern part of the town of Hornby, where the father cleared and at one time owned 500 acres. He died in 1890, aged eighty-three. The mother still survives. Mr. Roloson is one of a family of fifteen children. He has followed farming as an occupation all his life. In 1877 he married Ophelia Stanton, who was born on their present place. They have a farm of 100 acres.

Roberts, A. L., was born in the town of Avoca, May 20, 1856, son of William Roberts, who was born in Avoca on Roberts Hill, in August, 1828. William Roberts was engaged in wagonmaking until recently when he retired and now lives in Can- isteo. He married Catherine, daughter of Tunis Van Vleck, of Avoca, the family coming originally from Montgomery county, N. Y. They had four children: A. L., Marcus, Tiney, and Verner. A. L. Roberts worked at farming in Troupsburg for four years, then came to Howard, having lived seven years on his present farm of 225 acres, known as the "Comfort" farm. He married Hattie, daughter of Lewis Van Order, a farmer of Howard. They have five children: Lewis V., Ray W., Grace B., Blanch E., and Alta May. Mr. Roberts and family are members of the Baptist church of Howard.

Reynolds, Charles D., was born in Addison in 1857, son of Thomas I. Reynolds, an architect and contractor, who came here in 1846, and was afterward employed with the same sash, door, and blind industry. Mr. Reynolds traveled a great deal, being engaged in different cities in various enterprises. From 1860 to 1865 he was in Jer- sey City, and from 1868 to 1873 at Paterson, N. J. His death, which occurred in 1881, was caused by an accident. Charles D. received his education in Addison, and much of his early life was spent with his father in his travels. He was first employed with the sash, door and blind factory, which business he still continues, being now with Park, Winton & True. Mr. Reynolds has served two terms as a member of the board of trustees. In 1884 he married Emma, daughter of William H. Manners, a grocer of this place, and they have one daughter, Dorothy, who was born in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members of the Episcopal church.

Ross, John W., was born in Springfield, Bradford county, Pa., April 10, 1851. He

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was educated at Burlington, Bradford county, Pa., and Painted Post, Steuben county. He was a farmer, after which he engaged in the drug business at Avoca and Painted Post. He is unmarried and lives on the homestead farm with his step-mother, and has filled the minor offices of the town. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is a Democrat.

Ross, Bruce E., born in Bradford county, Pa., November 7, 1857, is the son of A. J. Ross, who was born in Burlington, Bradford county, Pa., October 28, 1826, and came to the town of Campbell in 1868 and settled on a farm which was partly cleared. He married Mara Grace, and they were the parents of the following children: John W., Emmett B., Dallas, and Bruce E. The latter was educated in the district schools of Bradford county, Pa., and Steuben county, N. Y., and has devoted his time to farming, and now owns a farm of fifty acres located in the town of Campbell, along the Mead's Creek Road. He married Harriet Austin, of Erwin, and they were the parents of two children: Grace and Julia. For his second wife he married Emma, daughter of Charles Dewey, of Delaware county, and they have the following chil- dren: Hattie, Clyde, Harry, Maud, and Olan. They are members of the Methodist church.

Remington, Washington B., was born in Hornby, October 24, 1844, son of Jona- than and Rachel Hammond Remington, who came from Vermont to the town of Campbell in 1816. Jonathan was a son of Joseph Remington, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Remington's father, Hansdale Hammond, married Lucy, a daughter of Colonel Mason, and in 1816 settled near Cooper's. He was also a soldier in the Rebellion. Jonathan was a non-commissioned officer in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. J. Remington had the following children; Simeon, who died in 1856, Orinda, Jonathan, Emily, now deceased, Alvin, Owen, Frank, Hannah, Joseph, Albert, Simeon O., Washington B., all of whom are natives of the county. Wash-

ington B. attended the Painted Post Union School, and when sixteen years old clerked in a drug store for Daniel Orcutt. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. F, 9th N. Y. Vols. and was also connected with the 6th Army Corps. He was mustered out of service in 1865, when he commenced the study of medicine with his brother Frank, who was then practicing at Painted Post. He was graduated in 1871 from the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, and located at Painted Post, of which village he was president in 1894. He is actively engaged in church and educational inter- ests. He married Emma E., a daughter of William and Mary Houghtaling, of Painted Post, who formerly lived in Caton, Steuben county. Washington B. is a member of Montour Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 168, and also of the I. O. R. M., of Painted Post.

Redhead, Thomas J., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., January 13, 1851. Thomas Redhead, his father, now lives in this city, an old and respected citizen, and has been an active business man as merchant tailor. He married Ann Brackenbury of Syracuse. Thomas J. was educated in Syracuse and came to Avoca in 18 -. He learned the trade of carpenter and builder, which business he carries on in the vil- lage of Avoca, and as contractor has erected almost every prominent building in the village. He married Kate A., daughter of Albert Billings of Avoca They have one adopted daughter, Lula. Mr. Redhead has filled the office of trustee of the village,

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and at present is justice of the peace. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Avoca Lodge, No. 562, and charter member of the M. E. church, and superintendent of the Sunday school.

Robison, Simeon, was born July 15, 1831. His father, Elisha Robison, was born in Vermont, in 1795, and came to South Dansville when eighteen years of age, and took up a lot on what is called Cream Hill, and lived to be ninety-three years of age. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was a shoemaker by trade, but his princi- pal occupation was farming. He returned to Vermont and married Lucinda, daugh- ter of Simeon Wood, of Vermont, by whom he had thirteen children: Marcenia, George, Mordicai, John, Matilda, Phoebe Ann, Hannah, William, Simeon, Sarah, Helen, Liscomb, and James Henry. By his second wife he had two children: Olive, and Oscar. Simeon Robison received a common school education, and has been salesman and collector on the road for twenty years, but is now engaged in farming. June 27, 1852, he married Harriet Amelia, daughter of Lorenzo Demery of South Dansville, who was born May 20, 1834, by whom he had one child, Cassius L., born June 26, 1857, and who married Lillian, daughter of John McNorton of Harden Hill, town of Fremont, born in March, 1858. He is a farmer, and owns a farm of 134 acres, and his father, our subject, owns a farm of 110 acres.

Reynolds, Charles A., was born in Corning, Steuben county, N. Y., in 1853, son of Knapp S. Reynolds a native of Westchester county, who was born in 1809 and located in Stickneyville, Steuben county, in 1832, and in 1843 came to Corning where he has since resided. He married Emma Johnson of Broome county, who died in 1884, by whom he had two children: Charles A., and Cyrus J., who was with the 53d Pa. Regt. about five years, and died in 1892. Charles A. Reynolds is a market gardener and farmer. He was president of the County Agricultural Society in 1894, and has been supervisor since 1891. In 1876 he married Ella J., daughter of George W. Preston.

Rau, John, was born in Bethlehem. Pa., in 1814. He is of English and German extraction. His grandfather was born in Germany and settled in Philadelphia. He married and settled in Bethlehem, Pa., and had three children. Erhardt Rau, father of John, was born at Bethlehem, Pa., September 3, 1786, and settled in Sparta about 1821, and died in 1884. He married Susan Kidd, born in Bethlehem, and died in Sparta in 1885, aged seventy-eight years. They had sixteen children: Benjamin, Daniel, Joseph, John, George, Betsey Wampole, Polly Carney, Susan Johns, Sally Ann Traxter, Hiram, Owen, David, Mary Ann Strong, Nelson, and Samuel. John Rau received his education in the common schools, and has always followed farming. In 1853 he purchased 158 acres of land in Dansville, N. Y. January 18, 1838, he mar- ried Charity Johns, born December 4, 1817, and died December 3, 1885, by whom he had seven children, two of whom died in infancy; Erhardt, born November 28, 1854, and John Wallace, born March 5, 1849; Sarah J., born April 7, 1839, and died May 11, 1855; Simon P., born August 18, 1841; Watson D., born March 11, 1844; Abner D., born March 23, 1846; and Rose E., born March 5, 1851. Abner D. resides with his father and has charge of the farm, also owns and runs a restaurant near Stony Brook Glen. He married Nancy Fries, of Naples, born June 16, 1841, by whom he has two daughters: Minnie C., born August 30, 1875; and Myrta E., born November 25, 1876.

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Raplee, Mrs. H .- Hiram Raplee was born in Barrington, Yates county, N. Y., July 14, 1831, son of Joshua and Jane Longsoy Raplee, he a native of Milo, and she of Starkey, N. Y. They came to Barrington where he died in 1888. Mrs. Raplee died in 1841. The grandparents, Joshua Raplee and Henry Longsoy, were early settlers of Yates county. Hiram has always followed farming with the exception of two years when he engaged in the mercantile business in Bradford. He came to Wayne in 1864, and owns a farm of 150 acres. In 1857 he married Mary E., daughter of George T. and Abigail Eldridge Fitzwater of Milo, and to them have been born four children: Joshua H., a manufacturer of baskets at Weston, N. Y .; George T., a farmer and fruit grower of Wayne; Clarence D., a farmer of Tyrone; and Adelbert H., who resides at home. By a previous marriage to Charity Swartz, Mr. Raplee has one daughter, Loraine. He is a Republican, and has been assessor, and is now excise commissioner. He was a member of Jersey Lodge, No. 668, F. & A. M., and of the Methodist church.

Roberts, Wallace, was born in the town of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., July 18, 1848. Thomas Roberts, his father, was a native of Wales, who came with his parents to this country in 1835, when Thomas was twelve years old. The family located in Rome, and it was there Thomas was educated; he took up farming as an occupation, which he always followed. He moved from Rome to Attica, from there to Orangeville Center and from there to Batavia. He died in Louisville, Ky., in 1868. Wallace was the second son of a family of four children ; he was given a good common school education and followed farming until he was twenty years of age. He then served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade with G. B. Worthington of Batavia, N. Y .; he spent seven or eight years with him. In 1872 he came to Hor- nellsville, being employed with Charles McCraig; afterward was for three years rail- roading, being a fireman on the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railroad. Re- turning to Hornellsville he was employed with the same firm and also with W. G. Rose. In April, 1888, he started in business on Canisteo street, which he has added to by hard work and close attention to business, and has become one of Hornells- ville's leading business men. He is a member of the Methodist church and one of the official board. Mr. Roberts was married in 1884 to Jennie Potter of the town of Almond.

Ross, Lyman R., was born in Hornellsville, Steuben county, N. Y., October 1, 1855. Jesse B. Ross, his father, was a native of Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., who came to this section about 1845. He first settled in Avoca, and lived on a farm for ten years, and then was a resident of Fremont until 1860, when he bought a farm on the turnpike, and later bought a farm of fifty acres, now owned by Edwin Ross. He died May 25, 1883. Abigail C., the mother of Lyman R., was a native of Gro- ton, Tompkins county, N. Y., and died January 4, 1882. They were the parents of nine children: Lyman R. was the youngest son and was educated in the common schools, and was associated with his father in conducting the homestead farm, and after his death he bought twenty-five acres of that place and twenty-five acres ad- joining it on the west, where he now conducts a general line of farming with a spe- cialty of grain and potatoes. Mr. Ross has always been a warm supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and for six successive terms has been elected constable of the town. He has also been trustee of school district No. 9, and road

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overseer. April 9, 1886, he married Nellie, daughter of Egbert Nicholson, by whom he had two children: Louise and Helen.

Ross, Edmund C., was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y., July 25, 1848, the third son of Jesse B. and Abigail J. Ross. He was given a common school educa- tion and made his home with his parents until eighteen years of age. He then went to work at farming, which he followed for five years, and was then employed with Joseph Lack in his brewery in Hornellsville for seven years, and was then two years with Morris Hefter. He spent one year farming in Middlebury, Pa., and the spring of 1885 he came back to the old homestead farm, where he has made many valuable improvements, and is now conducting it for the production of grain and vegetables, with a specialty of potatoes. March 28, 1872, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse Jacobs, a farmer of North Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., by whom he had four children, three now living: Edith, Mabel, a student of the academy, and Glen Otto, a student of the common school.

Ryan, Thomas, was born. in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 1, 1852, and came to this country in 1864. He landed in New York and went to Montreal, where he attended school for one year and then returned to his native land, and again came to America in 1869. That year he located in New York city, where he was employed at the trade he had learned in his native land and followed in London, that of tailor- ing. Mr. Ryan became a resident of London at the close of the Fenian uprising in 1867, in conformity with his patriotic idea of Ireland's need of self-government. He remained in New York for two years, and in 1871 came to Steuben county, being employed with James Sutherland in Bath for about six months. He then came to Hornellsville in April, 1872, and entered the employ of Thomas Brock, with whom he continued for one year as tailor and cutter, and then was with Mr. Lehman in the same work for two years, during which time he had a partnership in the business. He was then employed for two or three years with James T. Glazier, and later with Julius Cohn as cutter, and in 1880 he became a partner with Edward Powers in the merchant tailoring establishment on Broad street. They have ever since been asso- ciated together, with the exception of three months Mr. Ryan spent in Baltimore as a cutter. Mr. Ryan was the representative of the Fourth Ward in the first Board of Alderman for the city of Hornellsville in 1888, and in 1893 was the candidate for supervisor from the Fourth and Fifth wards. He was one of the founders of the A. O. H. in Hornellsville and held the office of first vice-president; also a member of the C. M. B. A. In 1874 he married Sarah Clancy, and they have five children, all daughters.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 105

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180