Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 55

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 55

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Park, Rufus C., was born in Woodhull, June 12, 1845. He was the second of a family of nine children born to Albert and Matilda (Coats) Park. Albert Park was born in Binghamton, March 10, 1817, and Mrs. Park was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, July 28, 1824. Thomas, grandfather of Rufus C., was a native of Armenia, Dutchess county, and one of the leading farmers, owning about 300 acres of land. He afterwards moved to Big Flats, where he died. Albert E. went from Armenia to Connecticut, where he lived for a number of years and then came to Woodhull, settling on what is now known as the Holden place. He and his brother Elijah built a saw mill here. Albert then went to Canisteo and built a saw mill, where he was engaged in lumbering for twenty years. He afterwards went to Big Flats, where he purchased a farm and lived a few years, then moved to Lawrence, Tioga county, Pa., where he purchased a farm and remained about five years. From there he went to Jasper, where he was engaged in lumbering. He then moved to Whitney's Point, where he died in 1890. His wife died August 16, 1872. Rufus C. was reared in the lumbering business. He was educated in the common schools and Eastman's Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated in 1865. He engaged in lumbering for a short time, but in 1880 established the Steuben Sentinel at Troupsburg. In 1881 he moved to Woodhull, and in 1891 changed the name of the paper to the Southern Steuben Republican. He owns the building where he now is, on the bank of the

Tuscarora Creek. He is now justice of the peace. He is a member of Restoration Lodge No. 777, F. & A. M., Woodhull Tent No. 174, K.O.T.M., and E.A.U. No. 26. June 19, 1879, Mr. Park married Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Smith) Bishop, of 'I roupsburg, They have five children: Lynn, horn November 28, 1883; Earl, born August 4, 1885; Frank, born February 7, 1889; Luella, born December 9, 1891; and Allen B., born February 6, 1894. In connection with his printing office, Mr. Park carries on a book bindery and also has charge of the N. Y. & P. A. Tele- phone, and is known as a successful, progressive business man.

Page, De Merville, was born in Cohocton, October 13, 1853. In 1856 his parents removed to the town of Fremont. Mr. Page took a preparatory course in the Rog- ersville Union Seminary, and graduated from Cornell University in 1872. He studied law with Hakes and Stevens, and after a course in the Albany Law School, was admitted to practice in 1874, and remained with Hakes and Stevens until 1879. In 1880 the partnership of Hakes and Page was formed, and Milo M. Acker was admit- ted about 1885, and the business was afterwards conducted under the firm name of Hakes, Page and Acker, this firm continuing until January 1, 1891. Mr. Page is now practicing with his brother, Murray E. Page. When a resident of the town of Fre- mont, Mr. Page represented that town for one year in the Board of Supervisors. In 1880 he was the Democratic candidate for district attorney, and in the fall of 1890 was the candidate of his party for member of congress.

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Pease, Frank L., was born in Livingston county in 1848, was raised in Allegany county, and in 1868 came to Corning, clerking in a dry goods store for three years, and then was on the road as a salesman for seven years. In 1878 he embarked in his present business, forming with M. Schenck the present firm of Schenck & Pease. He was town auditor two terms, village clerk four years, and the first city clerk, resigning after the first year. In 1878 he married Clara, daughter of the late Dr. Granger, of Lawrenceville, Pa.

Perine, H. W., was born in South Dansville, June 2, 1821. William Perine, jr., was a native of Livingston county, and was the son of William Perine, sr., who came from France about 1750, taking an active part in the war of the Revolution. William Perine, jr., married Abigail, daughter of Colonel Whiting, and was identi- fied as a farmer and took an active interest in the Presbyterian church of Dansville, and died in his eighty-seventh year. H. W. Perine was educated in the common schools, and in 1840 entered the employ of Hon. William Hubbell, of Bath, which position he held for five years, and then entered the employ of L. C. Whiting, where he remained for four years, and in 1846 formed the partnership of Whiting & Perine, which continued up to 1850, when Mr. Whiting retired. In 1847 he married Eliza- beth, daughter of Captain James Read. Mr. Perine is one of the representative men of his town, having erected the larger portion of the business buildings of the town.

Robbins, Myron W., was born in Caton in 1845, son of James N. and Lydia (Stilson) Robbins, natives of Broome county. James N. Robbins came to Caton in 1827, there being then but seven families residing in the town. He was local preacher and farmer, and died in 1890, aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Robbins lives with her son. Mr. Robbins is the only survivor of the family; a brother, Ephrin L., died in 1889. He married in 1868, Emma J. Wellman, who is a native of Otsego county, and came to Caton when a child. Mr. Robbins enlisted in Co. G, 150th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war; he has served as assessor one term, and was elected supervisor in 1894. He has three children, Adah M., Bennie E., and Clarlton A.

Rumsey, Peter B., was born in Delaware county, N. Y., October 9, 1844, son of Simeon K. and Miranda (Bogart) Rumsey, who settled in Thurston in 1856. Peter B. is one of eleven children, nine of whom are residents of this county: Emily I. Davidson, Charles W., deceased, Ann Eliza Cleveland, Hattie C. Aldrich, Peter B., Addison J., George, Edward, and Sarah E. Peter B. Rumsey married Alice J., a daughter of Asher and Catherine Northup, of Thurston, by whom he has three children: Edith, Claude, and Lawrie P., all natives of Cameron. Mr. Rumsey has been a member of the Masonic Lodge since he was twenty-four years of age. He is a charter member and first secretary and second treasurer of the North Cameron Grange. He spent his early life in lumbering, but is now engaged in farming, own- ing a farm of 145 acres.

Reznor, Lot, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, N, Y., November 2, 1838. . John Reznor, the father of Lot, was also a native of Ontario county. His boyhood was spent in Canandaigua, and became the agent for the Hornby and Gregg estates when only a young man. In 1862 he removed to Hornellsville, where he had the care of their interests in this section, and spent the balance of his days in this county.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Always interested in school work and a trustee of schools. He died January 29, 1870. Lot was the oldest son of a family of four children. He was educated as were the farmers of fifty years ago, attending the common schools until ten years of age. He started on his life of work, at first employed in the office of the Ontario County Times, occupying the position as devil for one year. and then spent five years in the commission business in Philadelphia. He was employed in a hardware store in Can- andaigua until the breaking out of the war. May, 1861, he enlisted in the 18th Regi- ment N. Y. Vols., and spent two years with that regiment and two years with the 15th Cavalry, serving to the close of the war. He left the battlefield to locate in Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent three years in oil refining, and in 1868 he located in Arkport, where he established a general store and conducted a very successful busi- ness for eighteen years.

Robie, Reuben Edward, was born in Bath, September 24, 1843, son of Hon. Reuben Robie, who was a native of the town of Corinth, Orange county, Vt. The family trace their descent direct from John Robie, of Castle Donnington, Leicestershire, England, who died in 1515, the first member of the family in this country having been Henry Robie, who landed at Dorchester, Mass., in 1639, and the same year went to Exeter, N. H., and afterwards to Hampden, N. H., where he died. Hon. Reuben Robie came to Bath in 1820, and was engaged in the mercantile business for over fifty years. He was member of congress in 1851-52, and held numerous other offices. of public trust. He died January 21, 1872. His wife, Nancy Whiting, whom he married April 29, 1824, and who died February 18, 1876, was a descendant of the Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Boston, England, who settled at Lynn, Mass., in 1636; her father, Col. John Whiting, came to Bath in 1815 from the State of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Robie had twelve children, five daughters and seven sons: Nancy Jane, Har- riet Alvira, Lydia, Olive, John Whiting, Jonathan, Charles Henry, James Whiting, Mary, Reuben Edward, Joel Carter, and James Lyon. Four of the sons and one of the daughters are now living. Reuben Edward was graduated from Hobart College in 1864, then entered the law office of Hon. David Rumsey, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and afterwards entered into partnership with Hon. David Rumsey and George S. Jones, and later with Hon. William Rumsey. February 2, 1881, he married Annah Watkins, daughter of William Babcock, of Canton, Ill. He still practices his pro- fession at Bath.

Reynolds, H. J., son of C. J. Reynolds, who was a native of Corning, a farmer and florist, and who died in 1891. Mr. Reynolds and his mother, Jennie G. Reynolds, conduct the greenhouse, which was established by his father in 1872, and have 6,000 feet of glass.

Rockwell, L. Wilson, was born in Olean, N. Y., November 2, 1855. Lemuel Rock- well, father of L. Wilson, was a musician, and for a number of years a teacher of the profession in this city. He died in 1873. L. Wilson was educated in the city schools of Hornellsville, where the family removed in 1861, and his first occupation at thirteen years of age was as a clerk in the store of Adsit & Tuttle. In 1879 the firm of M. A. Tuttle & Company was organized, with Mr. R. as the company. In 1883 he removed to Wellsville, organizing the firm of Rockwell Brothers, which still ex . ists; 1886 he organized another firm of the same name in Cortland, and in 1889 re-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

turned to Hornellsville, and in 1890, with M. A. Tuttle, organized the present firm of Tuttle & Rockwell. In 1890 Mr. Rockwell with Mr. Merrill, and his brother, J. L. Rockwell, organized the company and founded the Merrill Fabric Glove Company, a private company, the firm being Rockwell, Merrill & Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell was one of the organizers of the Citizens' National Bank of Wellsville, and is at present a director and one of its largest stockholders. He was married in 1884 to Miss Lizzie Smith of Wellsville, who died January 12, 1892, leaving one child, Robert F. Rock- well, now in his ninth year.

Rogers, William Findlay, was born in Forks Township, near Easton, Pa., March 1. 1820, son of Thomas J. Rogers, who came from Waterford, Ireland, with his father, Joseph, who settled in Philadelphia about the year 1786. Thomas learned the art of printing and after attaining his majority, settled in Easton, where he established a weekly newspaper, and compiled and published a Biographical Dictionary for the use of public schools. He married Mary, daughter of Christian Winters of Easton. He participated in the war of 1812 as an officer in the Pennsylvania militia, in which he attained the rank of brigadier-general. He represented the Tenth Pennsylvania District, known as the Tenth Legion, in Congress for three terms. William F. also learned the art of printing and sought employment in Philadelphia. In 1846 he re- moved to Buffalo and entered the office of the Buffalo Courier as foreman of the com- posing room; and also took an active part in the militia organizations of the city. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was captain of Co C, 74th Regiment, and was among the first to volunteer under the first call of the president His company was mustered into the Union service for two years, and with nine other companies. rendezvoused at Elmira; and on the organization of the Twenty-first Regiment he was unanimously elected colonel. His regiment served in the Virginia and Mary- land campaigns and was mustered out in May, 1863, when he was appointed com- missioner of enrollment and subsequently provost-marshal of the Thirtieth District. In 1866 he was elected comptroller of Buffalo; in 1869 mayor, and was one of the projectors of the magnificent park system of that city. He appointed the first board of park commissioners, and while mayor was president of the board, and at the ex- piration of his term, was elected its secretary and treasurer. While in the military service of the State, he was by election promoted through all the grades to that of major-general. He was brevetted brigadier-general U. S. V., served as department commander in the Grand Army of the Republic; was elected to Congress in 1885, serving one term. In 1887 he came to Bath as superintendent of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, having been one of the committee to select its location, and connected with it as trustee from its organization in 187 ..

Robinson, O. P., was born in Otsego county in 1847, and came to Corning when two years of age. He began clerking when fourteen years of age, and about 1876 founded his present business as dry goods dealer, Mr. Gamman becoming a member of the firm in 1891. Mr. Robinson is one of the trustees of the School Board. He married Mary L. Clark of Corning.

Rishel, Dr. George P., was born in Millville, Columbia county, Pa .. January 23, 1849. His ancestors came from Alsace-Lorraine previous to the Declaration of In- dependence. The great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier; the father for

FAMILY SKETCHES.

more than forty years an eminent practitioner of dentistry, and a resident of Illinois at the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. Dr. George P. received his educa- tion in the High Schools of Bloomsburg, Pa., and Cambridge, Ill., and began the practice of dentistry in 1868. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he received the degree of D. D. S. in 1882; he is a member of the Seventh District Dental Society of this State, and has made some able contributions to dental literature. Dr. Rishel arrived in Hornellsville January 5, 1872, and three years later married Ada W., daughter of Morris Smith of that city. He is the inventor of the " Truss and Cable Fence Wire," and of the complicated machinery employed in its manufacture, and is a member of the Truss and Cable Fence Co. He has been a member of the Board of Sewer Commissioners since 1892, and as secretary of that body has rendered valuable service in the city.

Reynolds, Norman, was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, November 18, 1825, is the only survivor of six children born to John and Anna (Graves) Reynolds, he a native of Tioga county, and she of Marcellus. John Reynolds learned the wagon- maker's trade, but gave it up for the millwright's trade, which he followed in Wayne county for many years, after which he came to Allegany county, where he died May 17, 1848. Mrs. Reynolds died in Greenwood in 1870. Norman Reynolds learned the cabinetmaker's trade, at which he worked for eight years in Greenwood and Rough and Ready. He was on a farm five years and in 1884 located in Greenwood, where he still resides. October 28, 1849, he married Pheobe A., daughter of Orson Abbott of Wellsville, N. Y., by whom he had two children: Marion F., born June 22, 1853, died July 26, 1853; Norman A., born February 23, 1851. Mrs. Reynolds died August 26, 1853. Mr. Reynolds married for his second wife Martha A. Trowbridge of Greenwood, by whom he had five children: Helen M., born February 27, 1855; John W., born July 31, 1857; Flora E., born July 11, 1859; Rissie V., born Septem- ber 25, 1867; and Vera Belle, born March 28, 1877, and died April 11, 1880. Sep- tember 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged July 8, 1865. He was in second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, and Wilderness, where he was wounded May 10, 1864, and was also wounded in front of Petersburg, September 18, 1864. He is a member of Will- am C. White Post, G. A. R., of which he is at present chaplain.

Rose, Walter G., was born in Coventry, near Hartford, Conn., October 2, 1814. Horace Rose, the father of Walter, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1788. He was a man of the best education and in his younger days was a teacher. In 1825 he moved to New York State and settled on a farm in the town of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., where he made his home until the fall of 1844, when he brought his family to Steuben county and settled in the village of Hornellsville, and died here February 8, 1862. The mother of our subject, Marcia Edgerton, was born in Con- necticut in 1789, and died in Hornellsville in 1875 at eighty-six years of age. To them six children were born, all of them gone but Walter. He was given a good common school education, and his first occupation was serving as an apprentice to the tinsmith trade. Three and a half years later when he was twenty-one he started as journeyman and was two and a half years at the bench. In 1838 he formed a copartnership with his former employer in Hartwick, and was a member of the firm for four years. He then started for himself and conducted a dry goods business un-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

til the emigration of the family to this county. April 9, 1845, he had his goods all here and ready to start in business, where his residence is now located. The busi- ness then was the manufacturing of tinware and dealing in stoves, which gradually grew into the dealing in all classes of hardware and farming implements. The busi- ness increasing, in 1848 Mr. Rose removed to the north side of Main street where their present place of business is. At that time there were but two stores on the north side of Main street, that of Charles Baldwin, a drug store, and one dry goods store. Mr. Rose has ever since been engaged in business in this city. He has occu- pied many positions of honor and trust in this town. He was a director of the Bank of Hornellsville and was nine years assessor and was five years supervisor of the town. About the close of the war Mr. Rose purchased thirteen acres of farm land on Canisteo street, which he opened up for village residences and erected twenty to twenty-five buildings. The three beautiful residences on Main street and many of the stores of the village have been built by him. He was married in 1838 to Miss Glovina Olendorf of Hartwick, Otsego county, who is still spared to his partnership. "The three children of this union are John R., a partner in the store, and Charles O., a manufacturer. Annie, the only daughter, was drowned in 1869.

Sluyter, Alonzo F. M., was born in the town of Troupsburg, December 27, 18:1, the thirteenth of a family of fourteen children born to Joshua and Elizabeth (Pease) Sluyter. They came from Delaware to Troupsburg, built a carding mill, and cleared a farm near the village of Sluyterville. Mr. and Mrs. Sluyter both died in southeast West Union, he June 7, 1869, and she June 27, 1881. The grandfather, Allabartus, lived and died in Delaware. Alonzo Sluyter was educated in Troupsburg and then engaged in farming. In 1861 he married Mary, daughter of Ira Carr, by whom he had seven children; George H., liveryman, Harrison Valley, Pa., born in 1866; Emily, wife of Edward Dailey, a farmer of West Union, born August 2, 1868; I. Joshua, born November 8, 1870; Charles F., born April 28, 1876; William O., born August 19 1878; Evelyn C., born June 10, 1882, and Mary E., born July 30, 1885. Mr. Sluyter came to West Union with his parents in 1861 and carries on a farm of 327 acres. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was hon- orably discharged in October, 1865. He was in the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded and was then transferred to the 2d Battalion V. R. C. Mr. Sluyter and family are members of the Methodist church. -

Seeley, Norris, was born in Addison, N. Y., August 14, 1842, the oldest of three children born to Stephen and Sabra (Johnson) Seeley. Stephen Seeley was born De- cember 22, 1816, in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., and his wife June 2, 1822, in Otsego, N. Y. She died April 26, 1877. Stephen was the oldest of six children born to John and Susan (Wells) Seeley, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respec- tively. John Seeley settled at Oxford, where he died in 1839 and Mrs. Seeley in 1859. Stephen Seeley came to Troupsburg in 1855, where he still resides on the farm, having retired from active business in 1879. Norris Seeley was reared on the farm and helped to clear the farm he now owns, having purchased it in 18 9. He has 117 acres and makes a specialty of hay and dairy products. In 1868 he married Lodema Griffith, who was born in Otsego county, August 25, 1847. She is a daugh- ter of Lorenzo and Eliza (Moak) Griffith, natives or Otsego and Schoharie counties,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley have three children: Stevia L., born October 13, 1872; Ida S., born March 15, 1875; and Cassie V., born July 2, 1889.

Stephens, Adsit B., was born in Canisteo on the farm he now owns, September 1, 1857, son of William B., who was born in this town in 1815. William, the grand- father, was born in 1777, and settled on what is known as the Thomas Hallett farm, where he kept an inn. William B. Stephens married Lydia M. Abbe, of Canisteo, by whom he had three children: Sophia A., Libbie M., and Adsit B. The latter spent his early life in teaching school and working at his trade in a printing office. For the last twelve years he has devoted his time to farming, making a specialty of small fruit growing, In 1880 he married Clara B., daughter of Jonathan Knapp, of South Canisteo, by whom he has three children: Ross W., aged twelve years; Agnes May, aged eight years; and Vina Belle, aged three Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members of the M. E. church.

Shannan, M E., was born in Bath, December 31, 1849. Matthew Shannan, his father, was one of the early settlers in the town of Bath, being identified as a farmer, and married Martha Fancett, daughter of Robert Fancett. He died November 13 1875, in his seventy-fifth year. M. E. Shannan was educated in Bath, after which he entered the employ of James Fancett, and in 1885 he established a grain, pro- duce, coal and agricultural implement business, in which he continued up to 1893, since which time he has dealt in real estate. Mr. Shannan is one of the representa- tive business men of his town, serving as trustee and taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious institutions, and in advancing the best interests of his town and townspeople.

Stocum, John, was born in Pulteney, Steuben county, April 27, 1825. James Sto- cum, his father, was a native of Putnam county, and came to Pulteney about 1815, and followed farming. He married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Townsend, who lived to be ninety-seven years of age. James tocum was drowned in the Cohocton River in 1825. John Stocum was educated in the common schools and came to Bath in 1840, a poor, friendless boy, where he learned the furniture and undertaking trade, which he has carried on for fifty years. In 1847 he married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of John Metcalf, of Bath, who died in 1858. In 1860 he married Susan B., daugh- ter of Josiah Townsend of Elmira. In 1861 he raised his first company, Battery E, 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, going out as captain ; he was beaten out of this battery through trickery. In 1862 he raised Co. F, 61st N. Y. Inf., which at that time pre- vented a draft being made in the town of Bath; he served a year, and being invalided by sun stroke and typhoid fever, returned home September 3, 1864; he was with this company and regiment at the siege and surrender of Port Hudson. Upon his re- turn home in 1864 he raised his third and last company, being Co. A, 189th Regt. During his service in this regiment, on January 11, 1865, Capt. Burrage Rice was killed by guerrillas ; it was not long before the long roll was beating in the camp of the 189th ; after a march of eight miles a halt was ordered and Captain Stocum deployed Co. A as skirmishers, and advancing through the woods for a mile, found the body, and after a spirited fight, with the guerrillas, brought it back to camp: it had been stripped naked and shot once through the waist and twice through the head; on the 13th it was embalmed at City Point and sent home in charge of Lieutenant Warren.

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

On Sunday, the ever memorable 9th of April, Captain Stocum, with Companies A and F on the skirmish line, drove into Appomattox the last rebel battery and picket line General Lee sent out. Of all the men in Steuben county, none did his duty more faithfully and bravely than Captain Stocum. He received an honorable dis- charge May 30, 1865, with rank of major, and returned to Bath and resumed his fur- niture and undertaking business

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 55

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