Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 112

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 112

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).

Wood, Edward C., was born in Prince Edward county, Canada, September 9, 1860. He was educated in the common schools and when twelve years of age he went to learn the shoemaker's trade with William Richardson in Hornellsville, whence his father, Ambrose Wood, removed in 1870. He was for a number of years employed in shoemaking, and was elected sheriff; he was appointed deputy sheriff and jailor. He remained in Bath for one year, with the succeeding sheriff, Mr. Baldwin, and in the spring of 1887 he bought the J. Buxon crockery store and china hall on Seneca street, where he has since engaged in business, and with success. He has always taken an interest in the fire department and in the Babcock Hook and Ladder Com- pany, now serving his second term. He was married in 1879 to Nora, daughter of the late Horace Hunt, who was a native of this county. They have one infant son, six months old.

Wilber, Gilford D., was born in Bath, N. Y., December 17, 1846, son of Hoxie and Patience (Legro) Wilber, he born in Yates county, a son of Samuel Wilber, who came from Rhode Island and settled in Yates county early, and in 1824 came to Bath, where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and he had seven children: Polly, who married Mr. Gifford, of Ohio; Samuel K., who lived and died on the farm our

469

FAMILY SKETCHES.

subject now owns; Lucinda, who married Edward Chapin, and died in Bath in sight of the homestead; Hoxie H., father of Gilford D .; John; Reuben and Griffin, twins; and Eliza A. Hoxie H. Wilber, father of Gilford D., was a farmer by occupation. He died in December, 1867, and his widow now lives on the homestead, and is eighty years of age. Gilford D. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1864 he bought thirty-one acres of land in Thurston, and he now owns 286 acres of land in Thurston, and a house and lot in Bath. He is a Republican in politics, and has been assessor six years, highway commissioner three years, and supervisor one year. In 1871 he married Rose Ules, of Bath, by whom he had two children: Hoxie S. and Maud M.

Wood, Lewis, was born in Otsego county in 1824, son of Josiah and Polly (Newell) Wood, who in 1841 came to Steuben county, purchasing the farm where Lewis now resides. He is one of five children, his sister, Mary A., wife of Norman Berry, being the only survivors. Mr. Wood's first wife, Lavina Martin, died leaving four sons and two daughters. He afterwards married Mary Shoemaker, a native of Pennsylvania. He has eighty acres of the original home place, and has added thirty acres to it ; also owns fifty acres in another place. In an early date he was prominent in the State militia.

Walden, James, was born in Chenango county in 1822, and in 1837 came to Caton with his parents, John and Dorcas (Barnes) Walden, natives of Rhode Island, who were pioneers in Chenango county. Mr. Walden has lived here since 1837 and on his present farm since 1852, in which year he married Sarah Cram, a native of Che- nango county. They have three children: Ruby, wife of James Brace, Henry, and Wilson R. Mr. Walden is a staunch Republican. He has a farm of sixty-five acres and follows general farming,

Wellman, James R., West Caton, was born in Greene county in 1835 and came to Steuben county in 1861, locating in the town of Caton, and to his present place in 1864, purchasing it in 1874. He follows general farming making stock raising a specialty. In 1863 he married Charlotte E. Spencer, daughter of Smith Spencer, and their children are as follows: John S., Mary J., wife of Jerry Kies, J. B., Jennie L., wife of Emmett Swarthout, Julia E., Joseph L. and Joseph and Jessie, deceased.

Wolever, Daniel, was born in Hornby in 1837, son of Andrew and Eliza Grover Wolever, who were married in Columbia county, Pa., and came to Hornby in 1836. Both parents died here and are buried in the Oldfield burying ground. At the age twenty Mr. Wolever spent one year in Michigan and Illinois. In 1860 he purchased his present farm adjoining the old homestead. He has 165 acres, and follows gen- eral farming and stock raising. In 1862 he married Fanny Hendrick, who died in 1864, and he afterward married Augusta Hendrick, his present wife.

Wilcox, Frank C., was born in Painted Post, October 2, 1857, son of Amos Wilcox, a native of Chenango county, N. Y., who came here in 1844, and married Aurinda Remington. They were the parents of two children: Ella and Frank. Amos Wil- cox died in the town of Erwin, February 21, 1895. Frank C. married Anna Claphan. He is commissioner of highways of the town of Erwin, and is the owner of a farm, which consists of 220 acres, which is well adapted to the raising of tobacco and grain.

470

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Webb, Lee R., was born in Tuscarora, September 5, 1859, son of George W. Webb, a farmer of Tuscarora, now a resident of Michigan, and during his residence at Tus- carora he held the office of postmaster at South Addison. Lee R. was a partner in a general store at Elkland, Pa., afterwards supplementing his education by a year's assiduous work at Binghamton. In 1886 he embarked in business at Addison, estab- lishing a co-partnership with S. A. Hill, and five years later he purchased his part- ner's share and operated the business alone until recently when he associated with J. B. Knisely. In 1885 he married Laura M., daughter of John Hill of Addison, by whom he had two children, Harry E. and Ethel L.

Wilson, Robert K., was born in Canisteo, January 22, 1849, son of Eben and Mary J. (Brown) Wilson, who settled in Canisteo in 1840. Their children were Warren, Susan, J. Eben, Franklin N., Robert K., Philetus, Willie, Jane, and Sylvia A. In early life Eben followed shoemaking in East Troy, but after moving here he followed farming. He was one of the organizers of the M. P. church of Gravel Run and was intensely interested in all educational affairs. Robert K. married Nancy, a daughter of Myron Clark, by whom he had one child, Myrtie. His first wife dying, he mar- ried Bettie, a daughter of William and Helen Howland, who lived on the farm where Mr. Wilson now resides. Their children are: George H., Minnie D., Harry A., and an adopted child, Hiram Howland, whose father was killed in New Mexico. Robert K. Wilson taught school for a number of years, but is now engaged in farming.

Wilcox, John, was born in Curtis, April 28, 1849. Isaac Wilcox, his father, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, in 1810. He was a tanner in Curtisville, and when he came to Campbell he first worked for Mr. Balcom. He married Margaret, daughter of John Tanner, one of the old settlers in the town, by whom he had three children: Bradford, Jane, and John, who was educated in the common schools of Cur- tis. He was a lumberman, and is now devoting his time to carpenter work. He is justice of the peace, and has held other minor offices. In politics he is a Republican.

Wixson, Leroy, was born in the town of Campbell, February 15, 1860, son of Lewis Wixson of Campbell, who married Julia A. Jordan, by whom he had seven children: Fidelia, William, Margaret, James, Alfred, Albert, and Leroy, who is a farmer, and owns a farm of sixty acres, on the Mead's Creek road. He married Minnie B., daughter of Harmon Stevens, by whom he had three children: Flora M., Charley L., and Ida M. In politics he is a Republican.

Waggoner, Albert J., was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 30, 1851. His grandfather, John Waggoner, died on the farm where Albert J. now resides, May 28, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. He married Sally Ann Van Alstine, who was born in Holland, and died on the farm January 24, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. They had eight children: George J., Lambert, John S., William H., Harriet Bilson, Abi- gail Davis, Catherine Cranmer, and Jane Wallace. George J. Waggoner, father of Albert J., was born in Canajoharie, N. Y., November 7, 1808, and died January 25, 1894. In 1840 he settled in Dansville, and 1846 purchased the farm where his son now resides He was also a shoemaker by trade, and worked at that until his eye- sight failed, when he gave it up. April 30, 1828, he married Laura Ann Degolia, who was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., October 25, 1808, and died Febru- ary 2, 1854, by whom he had five children: George W., born February 6, 1831, and

471

FAMILY SKETCHES.

died April 23, 1838; Lucinda M., born March 11, 1833, wife of Thomas Cotton; Nel- son V., born March 10, 1835, deceased; J. Degolia, born July 17, 1842, and died May 29, 1856; and Albert J., as above, Albert J. received his primary education from his step-mother, Cornelia Wadhams, and at twelve years of age attended the district school three terms and subsequently attended the Rogersville Seminary for four years, from which institution he was graduated June 22, 1871. In 1872 he went to California for his health, returned and taught school for nine years, and is now, the owner of the homestead. At Canadice, N. Y., July 5, 1879, he married Martha A. Hartman, who was born in Canaseraga, N. Y., February 8, 1863, by whom he had six children: Charles J., born May 25, 1880, and died December 7, 1894; George A., born June 7, 1882; Henry E., born November 19, 1885; Laura E., born April 14, 1889; Gale, born June 13, 1891; and May, born January 31, 1894.

Wagner, Augustus Charles, was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, February 12, 1835, son of James Wagner, who was born at Fort Plain, Montgomery county, N. Y., January 19, 1805, and came to Steuben county in 1810, settling in the town of Wheeler, where he purchased land and cleared a farm of fifty acres. He married Sallie Charlesworth, of Steuben county, and they were the parents of nine children : Eliza, Clark H., Susan, Augusta, Nancy, John, James, Abraham, and Harriet, de- ceased. Augustus was educated in the town of Wheeler, and is a farmer, now own- ing 170 acres of land, and his principal crops are wheat, rye, and corn. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Van Wie, a farmer of Avoca, and they have three chil- dien: Ina Sager, Fred, and Floyd, who married Rose Willis, of Avoca. Mr. Wag- ner now holds the office of assessor.

Wightman, Noah, was born in New Berlin, Chenango county, October 4, 1837. George Wightman, his father, was born in Chenango county, and came to Steuben county where he died. He married Nancy, daughter of Noah Mathews, by whom he had three children: Tracy, Delia, and Noah, who was educated in Plymouth and Preston, and came to Steuben county in 1883 and settled on the farm of 150 acres which he now owns, and which is most all under cultivation. He married Minerva, daughter of Henry Scott of Chenango county, by whom he had six children: Flora, Anna, William, Lillie, Cora, and Merritt.

Pratt, Aaron G., was born in the town of Bath, N. Y., May 13, 1868, the youngest of a family of three children born to Sylvester H. Pratt, who was also a native of Bath, and a farmer by occupation. Aaron G. was educated in Haverling Union school of Bath, and his first position was as assistant bookkeeper of the First Na- tional Bank, where he remained about five years, and then spent five years as head bookkeeper of the George W. Hallock Bank in the same town. August 20, 1894, he formed a copartnership with John J. Frey, and purchased a half interest in the Bank of Hammondsport, of which he is cashier and Mr. Frey president. Heis a Republican in politics, and is now treasurer of the village. December 16, 1891, he married Cora Louise, daughter of Lyman Aulls, of Wayne, by whom he has one son, Preston Powell, who is now two and one-half years old.

Tully, Hon. W. J., was born in Corning in 1870, and was educated at Corning Free Academy, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, Columbia College, and in 1892 was grad- uated from the New York Law School. He studied with Judge Bradley and in 1893

472

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

was admitted to the bar at Buffalo. He is counsel for the excise commissioners, and was elected recorder in 1894. He is the oldest son of Joseph J. Tully of the Corning Glass Works, who located here with the works from New York city in 1868.

Barlow, Rev. Arthur R., was born in Ireland, December 27, 1854, and was reared and pursued his studies in his native country until 1873. He then came to America and entered Niagara University, but very soon was sent to Genoa, Italy, where he entered the Propaganda College, and where he was ordained to the priesthood in July, 1877. He returned to this country and was assigned to various charges, being assistant in the cathedral in Buffalo, assistant pastor of St. Patrick's church, Lock- port, and assistant pastor of St. Joseph's church, Batavia, N. Y. In 1881 he was appointed pastor of the Catholic church at Belmont, Allegany county, where he at- tended the missions at Angelica, Scio, and Belfast. A year and a half later he re- moved to Belfast, and became the first resident pastor of the church there. In Oc- tober, 1889, he was transferred to Ellicottville, N. Y., and in June, 1893, was appoint- ed pastor of St. Ann's church, Hornellsville, of which Rev. William H. Darcy became his assistant at the same time. Rev. Mr. Darcy is a native of Ireland and was ordained to the priesthood at the Catholic University in Washington, D. C., in June, 1893.

Schwingle, William F., son of Henry, a native of Germany and now a retired farmer in the village of Cohocton, Steuben county, was born in Cohocton on October 31, 1868, and received his education in the public schools of that town. He remained on his father's farm until the age of twenty-two, when he learned the trade of cigar- maker in Cohocton, and followed it there for about four years. In May, 1894, he came to Hornellsville, and engaged in the restaurant business, in which he has since successfully continued. He was for five years an active member of the Cohocton Hook and Ladder Company and is now an honorary member of that organization.

Rosenkrans, Hamilton Stillman .- The first American ancestor of the Rosenkrans was Herman Hendrickszen Rosenkrans, who came to this country from Bergen, Norway, in 1649, was married in the First Dutch Reformed church in New York city on March 3, 1657, to Magdaleen Dircks, widow of Cornelis Caper, and had eight children, of whom Alexander, the eldest was baptized April 12, 1661. Alexander Rosenkrans married Marretjen Du Puy (or Depue), and about 1735 settled at Wal- pack, Sussex county, N. J., upon nine hundred acres, which was later increased to sixteen hundred acres, on the Delaware river, where he and his son John kept slaves. This is now known as the "Shapneck farm," and the stone house built there by Col. John Rosenkrans in 1770 is still standing, an interesting landmark of colonial days. Alexander had six children, of whom Johannis, or John, was born May 18, 1724, and in 1751 married Margaret De Witt, who was born April 18, 1731. John Rosenkrans was a British colonel in the colonial army, had fourteen children, and died in 1786. His sons Joseph and Benjamin, twins, were born at Walpack, N. J., March 31, 1770. Joseph married September 17, 1790, Jemima Emmons, had seven sons and a daughter and died June 24, 1832. Levi, son of Joseph, was born April 30, 1793, married June 19, 1831, Nancy Jane Leach, and died July 2, 1861. She was born in Massachusetts on September 19, 1802, came with her father, Stephen Leach, with horses and wagon, to Monterey, Steuben county, in the spring of 1816, and died December 29, 1889.

473

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Joseph Rosenkrans, mentioned above, left New Jersey soon after his marriage, and came to Owego, N. Y., whence a few years later he moved to Bully hill, near Ham- mondsport, Steuben county. About 1825 he came to Avoca and settled on the farm now occupied by his grandsons, Aubert and Byron Rosenkrans, where he and his wife died. Levi Rosenkrans, their son, first located on a farm of five hundred acres near Ann Arbor, Mich., but two years later returned to Hammondsport, whence he moved in the spring of 1836 to Wayland, settling on the farm now owned by his son, Hamilton S., where he died in 1861 and his wife in 1889. He first learned black- smithing, but during his active life was a farmer, carpenter, millwright, and cabinet maker. His children were Samantha, born April 4, 1832, married Dr. H. G. Fay, March 16, 1864, and died September 12, 1873; Hamilton S., of Wayland; Elmina L. (Mrs. George W. Pope and afterward Mrs. William Rosenkrans), born July 30, 1835, married George W. Pope, December 28, 1873, has one son, E G. Pope, and resides, a widow, in Buffalo; Harriet E., born August 9, 1839, married Thomas A. Abrams, March 6, 1857, had children Glen D. and Minnie, and died February 21, 1869; Nellie J., born December 25, 1842, married John Hassler, December 14, 1876, and is now a widow, of Buffalo; and John A., a furniture dealer and undertaker of Wayland, who was born September 22, 1845, and on May 24, 1886, married Elizabeth Newsome. Hamilton S. Rosenkrans was born November 21, 1833, in Hammondsport and has lived in Wayland since 1836, having been engaged in farming, lumbering, manu- facturing cider and vinegar, etc. He succeeded his parents on the homestead, which became a lage part of the village corporation in 1877. He has served as town clerk, justice of the peace several terms since 1862, assessor three years, supervisor three terms, and for two years was the first president of the village of Wayland, which he has since served as trustee. He was also for two years the first president of the Board of Education and later for two terms a member. October 1, 1862, he married Helen Mar, daughter of Dan H. and Elizabeth Davis, of Cohocton. They have had six children: Maynard H., Luzerne D., Merton J., Lee Verne, Jennie J., and Hattie I. Maynard H. was born August 16, 1863, married Rose Ryan, January 8, 1889, and has children Paul and Hugh. Luzerne D. was born March 8, 1864, and died May 2. 1888, from the effects of a gunshot wound caused by the accidental discharge of his gun while hunting. Merton J. was born May 2, 1869, and is now a telegraph opera- tor. Lee Verne was born September 22, 1870. Jennie June was born August 8, 1872, married April 1, 1889, Burt Goodno, and has one son, Robert. Hattie Irene was born February 24, 1881.

Stoddard, Philo K., M. D., whose English ancestor settled in Northampton, Mass., was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, N. Y., September 28, 1825. His great-grand- father moved to Danbury, Conn., and of his seven children five sons were fit for military duty in the Revolutionary war, viz .: Benjamin, Joel, Mosely, Cyrenus, and Darius. Cyrenus served in that struggle, became a pensioner, married Candace Mix, and removed from Greene county to Cherry Valley, N. Y. His children were Sabra, Philo, Cyrus, Benjamin, Orra, Olive, and Esther. Benjamin Stoddard, born in Cherry Valley in 1796, was the first settler in 1817 on lot 12 in the town of Jerusa- lem, Yates county, purchasing his farm for $6 per acre. He was a lieutenant and in 1828 a captain in the 103d Regt. Inf. militia, held several town offices, and died June 4, 1878. In 1818 he married Hannah Kelly, and their children were Chester, Survina,

hhh

474

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Charles, Philo K., Susan, Ann, Esther, and Thomas F. Dr. Philo K. Stoddard was educated at the Franklin Academy and taught school seven terms. When twenty- one he began the study of medicine with Dr. Elisha Doubleday, of Italy Hill, and later studied with Dr. Andrew D. Voorhees, of Prattsburg, with whom he also learned dentistry. He attended lectures at Geneva Medical College in 1845-46 and was graduated as M. D. from Buffalo Medical College in Juue, 1848. The same year he commenced the practice of his profession in Prattsburg, where he has ever since fol- lowed medicine, surgery, and dentistry. After the battle of Second Bull Run he became a volunteer surgeon in the Union army, was stationed for a time at Armory Square Hospital, D. C., and in September, 1883, was commissioned assistant surgeon in the 161st Regiment, in which he served until the close of the Rebellion. In 1875 Dr. Stoddard introduced the first thoroughbred Jersey cattle and in 1879 the first thoroughbred Holsteins into Prattsburg. July 4, 1850, he married Sarah Jane, daughter of Sebastian Lewis, of that town, who died July 4, 1854, leaving one son, Philo L., who was educated at Franklin Academy, studied dentistry with his father, was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in March, 1882, and practiced in Prattsburg and Geneseo until his death, Nov. 26, 1887. Sept., 1856, Dr. P. K. Stod- dard married Sarah, daughter of Albert Cowing, of Jerusalem, N. Y., who died August 13, 1892. On November 29, 1894, he married Mrs. Ella R. Foster, daughter of Luther and Martha M. (Allen) Foster of Prattsburg, who had one son, William F. Crossman, born June 17, 1877, by her first marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Foster were natives of Yates county, where their parents were very early settlers, and in March, 1857, came to Prattsburg, where both died, he on August 26, 1890, and she December 29, 1891. Their children were L. Myrvin, Ella R. (Mrs. P. K. Stoddard), Alice L. (Mrs. Sam- uel P. Cogswell), and Martha Anna, all of Prattsburg.

Shults Bros. and Andrew E .- Andrew E. Shults was born in the village of Cohoc- ton, December 14, 1864, son of Conrad Shults, and grandson of John Shults, who was a native of Germany and came to America in 1848 and settled in the town of Wayland, engaging in farming. He married Mary Brill, and were the parents of four sons: John, who settled at Dansville, and later at Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Peter; Conrad; and Andrew, who was a shoemaker in Cohocton, where he was in business for many years, afterward settling in Rochester, N. Y. Peter Shults settled in Wis- consin, but two years later returned to Wayland settling on the homestead, and has always followed farming. He married Sophia Eiman, and they had one son, John F. For his second wife he married Elizabeth Graves, and their children are Maggie, Conrad, who is a farmer in Wayland, Andrew L., and Mary. John F. and Andrew L. early engaged in mercantile pursuits, holding clerkships in Wayland for several years. They came to Cohocton and engaged in the mercantile trade, where they have built up a profitable trade. Andrew L. is president of the Cohocton Fire De- partment and of the C. M. B. A. He married Susie Stephany. John F. married Mary Herbst. Conrad Shults settled in Cohocton, and was for several years engaged in farming. In 1867 he engaged in the grocery trade and later in the hardware busi- ness, which he conducted until his death, which occurred December 16, 1886. He was one of the founders of the R. C. church at Cohocton, aud a member of its first board of trustees. He married Catherine Weiand and their children were Elizabeth (Mrs. P. J. Rocker) of Cohocton, Rose, Julia M., Andrew E., William J., and Mary,

475

FAMILY SKETCHES.

deceased. William J. Shults was born February 6, 1867, and was educated in the Cohocton Union School and Rochester Business University, and for several years was employed in his father's store, and upon the death of the latter he closed up the busi- ness. In 1889 he established the Banking House of William J. Shults and Company. He married Anna Zweigle of Rochester, who survives him. Mr. Shults died in 1892. Andrew E. Shults was educated at Canisius College, Buffalo, N. Y., and was gradu- ated in 1880, from which time until 1884 he was in his father's store, at which time he entered the office of the L. R. Harris Cigar Company, as bookkeeper, and in May, 1886, upon the formation of the Cohocton Valley Cigar Company, he became its sec- retary and treasurer, filling that office until 1892, when at the death of William J., his brother, he became the manager of the W. J. Shults & Company Banking House, which position he holds at the present time. He is a Democrat, and was a member of the first board of trustees and was elected president of the village in 1893, and has also been town clerk. He is a member of St. Pius R. C. church of Cohocton, and is a charter member of Branch 105, C. M. B. A. of Cohocton, having been its first re- cording secretary, and president for two terms, and is district deputy for Steuben county. In 1883 Mr. Shults married Mary Bockstahler.

Shults, John A., was born in Arnot, Pa., July 28, 1870, son of Nicholas and grand- son of Andrew Shults, who came from Germany to America about 1850 and settled at Syracuse and was foreman of the Onondaga Salt Works until 1860, when he came to Steuben county, purchasing a farm in the town of Cohocton, where he has since resided. He is a prominent member of St. Pius R. C. church, of Cohocton. He has four sons: Nicholas, who settled in Arnot, Pa., in early life, engaged in the lumber trade, and married Margaret Kuntz, by whom he had five children: Frank, Laura, William, Raymond, and John A .; John, whoresides in Chicago; Casper, who is in Cohocton; and Jacob, also of Cohocton. John A. Shults came to Cohocton in 1890 and entered the banking house of W. J. Shults & Co., as clerk, and the follow- ing year, with W. T. Shiefen, engaged in the mercantile trade at Cohocton. In 1894 Mr. Shults married Elizabeth Shiefen.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 112

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