Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 59

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 59

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Westlake, Harrison, was born at Horseheads, N. Y., December 6, 1822, son of John E. Westlake, the well known lumberman, and nephew of Col. Jacob West- lake. John E. came to Addison about 1855, engaging in a mercantile business, and was the builder of the brick block comprising the Wyckoff Hotel and stores. Harrison Westlake has now retired from active life, having been largely en- gaged in farming besides keeping a general store at Horseheads and Addison, with real estate interests. February 14, 1843, he married Sophia Humphrey, of Horse- heads, and they have one son, John A., who was formerly a physician at Elmira, where he held the position of coroner, but is now managing a sanitarium near Wash- ington, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. Westlake are implicit believers in Spiritualism, and he has quite a local reputation as a healer of disease,

Waldo, Lucius A., was born in Otsego county, October 24, 1825. Erastus G. Waldo, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to this State at an early day and settled in Otsego county. He died in Steuben county, in Prattsburg, aged eighty-one years. He was a merchant, keeping a general store. Lucius A. Waldo was also a merchant, starting in business at twenty-four years of age in Allegany county, where he remained for two years, and then came to Canisteo, where he car- ried on that business for twenty-five years, and in the meantime was conducting a lumber and stave business, and at the present time is conducting a farm of 163 acres

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

and lumbering. March 5, 1851, he married Emeline M. Southworth, who died April 21, 1880, and for his second wife he married Jennie Lewis, of Prattsburg, Steuben county, by whom he had one son, Lucius A. Waldo, jr., who was born March 30, 1883. Mr. Waldo was supervisor of Canisteo for three terms, and was the first presi- dent of the village after it was incorporated, which office he held for three terms. He was elected county clerk in 1848 for one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Morning Star Lodge No. 65, of Canisteo, and was master for nine years; also has been a Knight Templar for a number of years.

Wallace, Joseph W., was born in the town of Hartsville, February 17, 1847, son of Nathaniel Wallace. Joseph was reared on a farm and was educated in the common schools. He followed farming for some years; was also engaged in buying and sell- ing stock, wagons and wool. He has traveled the Western States quite extensively as salesman ; spent about two years in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and New York. In 1882 he engaged in the drug business at Jasper, N. Y., with Dr. E. E. Wallace, under the firm name of Dr. E. E. Wallace & Bro., which was continued for five years, when he purchased the doctor's interest in the business and added a full line of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. Mr. Wallace was appointed postmaster under Harrison, June 15, 1889, and resigned the office March 6, 1893. The vacancy was filled November 9, 1893. Mr. Wallace is a member of the Morning Star Lodge No. 65, F. & A. M., Canisteo, N. Y. In December, 1887, he married Edith K. Ellis of Arkport, N. Y., by whom he has one son, Sheldon E. Wallace, born June 4, 1891.

Lamson, Leonard S., was born in Jasper, May 9, 1844. He was the second of a family of eight children born to Sylvester and Sarah (Dennis) Lamson. Sylvester was born in Hadley, Mass., November 10, 1819. Mrs Lamson was born in Han- cock, N. H., December 4, 1820. Charles, grandfather of Leonard S., was also a native of Hadley, Mass., and came to Jasper at a very early date, where he was engaged in farming. The family is of English descent and trace their ancestry back to Thomas Dennis, of Ipswich, England, who came to America in 1638. Sylvester Lamson was a farmer and came to Jasper when six years old, and lived and died on the farm his father settled on. He died September 20, 1872, and Mrs. Lamson now resides on the old homestead with her son, Arthur S. Leonard S. was reared on the old homestead and educated at Alfred University. While at school he enlisted in the 16th Heavy Artillery in January, 1864, and served until the close of the war. He was detailed as clerk at post headquarters under Gen. B. F. Tracy at Elmira, N. Y. At the close of the war he engaged in farming and followed it for twenty years. He then came to Woodhull and purchased a farm of 180 acres, and soon after purchased the saw, planing, and feed mill, and has been in partnership with George W. Bartle. Mr. Lamson was assessor of Jasper for three years and supervisor of Woodhull in 1890-91. He is a member of J. N. Warner Post No. 565 and Woodhull Tent No. 174, K. O. T. M. January 23, 1864, Mr. Lamson married Clara A., daughter of Philo and Eliza Millard, of Starkey, Yates county. Mr. and Mrs. Millard came to Woodhull in 1850, where Mrs. Millard died. Mr. and Mrs. Lamson had four children: George R., born June 3, 1869, graduated from Geneseo Normal School in 1894, now teaches at Almond, N. Y .; Fred L., born December 9, 1870, educated in Rochester Univers- ity, married Della Hathaway, of Woodhull; Anna E., born February 7, 1874, a stu- dent at Rochester Free Academy; and Clara L., born August 13, 1883, now at home.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Heermans, Harry C., was born at Fellowsville, Preston county, West Virginia, June 3, 1852, son of John Heermans (now deceased) and Nancy Heermans, natives of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and grandnephew of Joseph Fellows. He moved to Corning with his parents in 1865. in 1870 graduated from the Corning Free Acad- emy, and in 1875 from Wesleyan University, classical course. In 1875-76-77 he read law in the office of Brown & Hadden of Corning but was never admitted to the bar. In 1876 he became identified with the affairs of the Fellows estate, acting as confi- dential clerk of his father who was then trustee; acting in this capacity for several years until the closing up of its affairs. In 1877 with Thomas Lawrence he secured a thirty years lease of the Corning Water Works system, and since that time has been a successful manager of these works. In 1882 Mr. Heermans became a mem- ber of the wholesale and retail drug firm of Heermans & Co., in Corning. Since 1886 has been president of the Ontario Land Co., of Minnesota, which has been very suc- cessful from its organization, and now controls large properties in various States of the Union. In 1886 he was supervisor of the town of Corning on the Republican ticket and was re-elected in 1887, acting as chairman of the board for that year. He became identified with the Corning Fire Department in 1881, and acted as chief of the department for several years. Has been president of the Corning Library As- sociation since 1887. He has large landed interests in the State of Washington and for several years has spent a portion of his time in that State. Since 1893 he has been president of the Greigsville Salt and Mining Company of Scranton. Pa. In 1878 he married Ella, daughter of Abijah Weston of Painted Post, N. Y., who died in 1880. In 1885 he married Annie L., daughter of Edward Townsend of Erwin, by whom he had four children: Ruth, Joseph, Jerome, and Helen De Kay. In 1876 he acted as city engineer of the village of Corning, and in 1881 was engaged by the vil- lage to prepare plans for a complete system of sewers. Agitation upon this question followed, and in 1886 appropriations were made for the construction of a system of sewers for the village under these plans. In 1886 he made plans for the construc- tion of the Wellsboro, Pa., Water Works, and had charge of the construction of the same. In 1887, as village engineer, he had charge of the plans and construc- tion of the pavements of the village. He acted as village engineer until 1890, in which year he was absent in the West. He was re-elected city engineer of Corning in 1893, and is now (1895) acting in that capacity. In 1893 he and his partner con- structed a fine brick block at the corner of Erie avenue and Pine street in Corning, where the offices of the Water Company are now located. In 1893 Mr. Heermans planned and constructed a system of water works for the village of Westfield, Pa. Politically Mr. Heermans has been a life long Republican.

Bruen, Arthur N., was born at Rockaway, Morris county, N. J., October 29, 1850, son of James H. and Emily T. (Kelsey) Bruen, he a native of Madison, N. J., and she of Tennessee. The grandfather, Alexander Bruen, lived and died in Madison, N. J. James H. Bruen, father of Arthur N., was reared on a farm and in early life learned the tinsmith's trade, and was very successful. He retired from the tin and hardware business in April, 1878, aad was succeeded by his elder son, James Wright Bruen, in company with William E, Bunnell, and the business is now continued under the firm name of Bruen & Bunnell, plumbing, hardware and coal business being included. He was twice member of assembly, and the second time was endorsed by both

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

tickets, being one of the leading citizens of the village. He was for many years treasurer and trustee of the Presbyterian church and later one of the elders. His wife was a daughter of John B. Kelsey, a native of New Jersey, who excepting four years in California and a short time in Tennessee, lived in New Jersey, where he died at eighty-eight years of age. His wife was Delia Conger, a native of New Jersey, where she lived and died. They had fifteen children, of whom thirteen lived to have families of their own. James H. Bruen, father of Arthur, died in May, 1885, and his wife lives in Rockaway. Arthur N. was reared in Rockaway, and at four- teen years of age went to the academy at Morristown, was graduated from this place in 1867, after which he worked one year at home. In September, 1868, he entered Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1872, after which he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, where he remained until the winter of 1873, when he went to New York city and engaged in work for the American Tract Society until July, 1873. In September of the same year he re-entered Princeton Seminary, com- pleted that year and spent the vacation in missionary work in Ontario, Canada, hav- ing charge of two churches, and then went to New York city and entered the Union Theological Seminary. In February, 1875, he went to California with his parents and returned in August of the same year and was graduated from the Union Theo- logical Seminary in 1876. He was invited to come to Jasper as a candidate for min- ister in the Presbyterian church, and May 21, 1876, he settled in Jasper and took charge of the church, also of the Hedgesville church at at Talbot Creek (North Jas- per). He remained in Jasper three years and then located in Hedgesville, and had charge there and at Elk Creek in Woodhull, also had services in Woodhull village. In 1881 he left Hedgesville and returned to Jasper (but continued services at Elk Creek, and during that time a church, valued at $2,000, was built), where he has since lived. In 1882 he retired from the ministry and had a store in Jasper for about five years. He has dealt largely in real estate and at present owns considerable in the town. He has been superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school for six years. He was a member of the A.O.U. W., also of the I.O.G.T. April 7, 1880, he married Carrie E. Metcalf, a native of Jasper, and a daughter of Uri Metcalf, and Mattie R. Drake, he a native of Ulster county, N. Y., and she of Jasper, N. Y. He was born October 21, 1822, died July 31, 1865, and his widow married Andrew Murphy, a mer- chant of Jasper. Mr. and Mrs. Bruen have six children: Mattie E., born June 8, 1881; Harvey M .: born April 26, 1884; Myra K., born October 18, 1885; Charles A., born August 18, 1887; Hugh W., born December 6, 1889; and Irene M., born Jnly 1, 1893.

Truesdell, Joseph R. (deceased), was born in the town of Guilford, Chenango county, N. Y., January 24, 1825. George A. Truesdell, his father, was in early life a teacher and later settled down as a farmer. Joseph, the eldest of a family of six children, spent his boyhood on the old homestead farm, and was educated in the common schools and Gilbertsville Academy, and was yet a young man in his teens when he entered the medical department of the New York College. Graduated at twenty-one years of age, he began the practice of his chosen profession in Pharsalia, Chenango county, where he remained until 1848. That year he removed to South New Berlin and was engaged in the practice of his profession there until 1852. In October of that year he located in Hornellsville where he established a practice that

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was destined to make him one of the leading practitioners of this county. In 1859 he retired from active service and became a partner with Ezra Bowen in a drug store where the store of Carney & Sharp is now located, and about 1863 Mr. Truesdell bought the Alley store, known as the Blue Front store. The firm of Bowen & Trues- dell continued until 1881, when Mr. Bowen sold his interest, Mr. Truesdell continu- ing alone until 1884, when he sold to Kennedy & Son. On his retiring from the drug store he gave up all active business and lived a retired life until his death, which oc- curred July 28, 1893. Mr. Truesdell was a member of the Presbyterian church and a man who always commanded the utmost respect of the whole community. In 1848 he married Rebecca Mathewson, of South New Berlin, who died April 17, 1879, leaving two daughters. Ella M. and Josephine M., who still occupy the old family residence on Broad street.

Ringrose, Thomas, was born in Prattsburg, December 31, 1837. John Ringrose, his father, was born in England in 1796, one of three children. At fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn a trade, but at seventeen years he came to the United States, coming direct to Geneva, N.Y., where he worked on a farm for three years for ten dollars per month. He then went to Canandaigua, where he lived until 1834, when he removed to the town of Prattsburg and purchased a farm of 170 acres, which he cleared and where he lived until 1870, when he removed to the vil- lage of Prattsburg and purchased a small farm of forty-five acres and here spent his remaining days. He married Esther, daughter of Dennis Herrick, of New England, by whom he had four children: Thomas, John, Lucy and Victoria (deceased). Thomas Ringrose has spent his life chiefly in the farming business; from 1858 to 1867 he spent his winters in the lumber woods of Michigan, on contract work, working a large crew of men, and his summers were spent on his father's farm in Prattsburg, which he rented. At his father's death he came into possession of both of the home- steads, to which he has added, and now owns six farms of over 500 acres. In 1894 he erected and conducted a planing mill, and in 1895 he added a saw mill. He was one of the original stockholders of the Kanona & Prattsburg Railroad, to which he con- tributed several hundred dollars. In December, 1867, he married Mary, daughter of John and Lucy Ann (Allerton) Koon, by whom he had five children: Charles L., John F., Ester A., Thomas E. and Mary B.

Miller, J. B., was born in Addison, N. Y., April 11, 1849, son of Andrew and Orinda (Eldredge) Miller, she of Nelson, Pa., and he of Oxford, Chenango county. They came to Addison about 1848, and in a few years went to Woodhull, where Mr. Miller died in 1871, and his wife in May, 1893. J. B. Miller was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, He is a farmer and owns thirty-five acres of land, which he bought in 1878. In 1885 he built a fine residence, and a barn in 1889. He is a member of North Jasper Grange No. 539. April 8, 1886, he married Catherine Walrath, a native of Jasper and daughter of Abram Walrath, of Jasper, N.Y. By a previous marriage to Melissa Doty he has two children, Delbert and Elva.

Waldo, James A., was born in Prattsburg in 1830, son of Otis Waldo, who was born in Bridgewater, Conn., in 1795. Otis Waldo was the third son and fourth child of nine children born to Deacon Jesse Waldo, of Massachusetts, who settled in Prattsburg in 1805, and here raised his family. The seven oldest sons were farmers

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

by occupation, with farms adjoining, and the youngest was a minister. Otis Waldo was a farmer and lumberman, and married Fannie, daughter of Deacon and Miriam Cook, of Prattsburg, by whom he had four children: Otis H., deceased, who was attorney and president of the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad; Martha M., who died in infancy; Abigail F., deceased ; and James A., who has spent all his life in Pratts- burg as a farmer, excepting four years spent in Wisconsin in the mercantile and grain buying business, and for some years he was interested in the improvement of farm stock, particularly horses and cattle, and now possesses very fine specimens of each as the result of his labors; and Mrs. Waldo is much interested in the production of high grade butter. In politics Mr. Waldo is a Republican of pronounced opinions. In February, 1855, he married Margaret A., daughter of John M. and Susan (Bellows) Wheaton, of Washington county. Their children are Fannie C., an artist of con- siderable ability ; Mrs. Anna M. Millspaugh, of Prattsburg; Elizabeth, deceased; and Otis. Mr. Waldo ranks as one of the leading successful farmers of the town, owning the homestead farm of 200 acres, and another one of 100.

Clark, Almon P., was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., September 1, 1846, and is the youngest of four children born to John and Harriet Perry Clark. Mr. Clark is a native of Madison county, N. Y., born May 12, 1803; and Mrs. Clark of Troupsburg, born September 1, 1809 The paternal grandparents, Joseph and Abigail Booth Clark, were pioneers of Troupsburg. He was born June 10, 1772, and came from Madison county to Bath in 1812, and to Troupsburg in 1823, where he died Septem- ber 8, 1861. She was born August 18, 1777, and died January 19, 1854. The mater- nal grandparents were Alanson and Rachael Mallery Perry, who were born in Middletown, Rutland county, Vt., he born in 1782, and she in 1785. They came to the town of Troupsburg in 1809 and settled at Highup, where they lived and died, his death occurring March 14, 1849, and hers October 6, 1842. The father of Alan- son, Eliakim Perry, was born in Connecticut and went to Vermont, where he mar- ried a Miss Downes. John Clark was reared on a farm, and owned one in the town of Bath, which he traded for one in the town of Troupsburg, where he came in 1876. He was postmaster at West Troupsburg about twenty years. Mr. Clark died April 25, 1884, and Mrs. Clark August 17, 1883. Almon P. was educated at Troupsburg and Alfred Academies. In September, 1874, he married Susan, daughter of Ira and Louisa Erway, of Bath, and widow of E. B. Miller, by whom she has one son, Ira Miller, a traveling salesman of Elmira. The grandparents of Mrs. Clark, Peter and Susan Brown Monell, came from Schuyler county, and settled in Bath, where they both died. Mr. Clark has always followed farming, has 135 acres of land, and makes a specialty of dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Baptist church at Troupsburg.

Bower, Charles E., son of John G. and Catherine (Seibold) Bower, is the first in order of four children, namely: Carrie M. (Mrs. J. P. Storch), John L., and Nellie L. (Mrs. Charles Smith). His parents came to this country from Germany in 1851 and settled in Southport, Chemung county, where he was born, January 4, 1856. In 1879 he bought a farm of 150 acres, where he now resides. He was united in marriage to Elzina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chapman, of Bath, in 1881. This union was blessed with two children: Walter (deceased), born February 28, 1882, and Charles S., born May 30, 1890. Iu 1889 he erected a creamery, which business he is

FAMILY SKETCHES.

successfully carrying on, manufacturing about 60,000 pounds of butter annually. His wife died in 1893, and in 1895 he married Carrie Morse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mason, of Le Roy, Pa. He is a member of the Patrons of Industry, and of the M. E. church.

Terry, George D., was born in the town of Wheeler, December 16, 1850. George W. Terry, his father, was also a native of this county, born in Pulteney, September 24, 1824. His father was Rennes Terry, a native of Dutchess county ; the latter set- tled in the town of Pulteney in 1816. The maternal grandfather of George W., James Sherwood, was a soldier of the war of the Revolution and also in the war of 1812. George W. Terry was a butcher and dealer in stocks and a successful business man. In 1823 he moved to Hornellsville, and was one of the greatest benefactors of this city. He had been here only a few years when he bought four acres of land where Oak and John streets are now. The tract was at that time covered with pine stumps, which he cleared out, and it was through his effort the land east of the, river was opened up. He built the first bridge across the river on River street, and and at this time being one of the two meat dealers of the town, conducting a very, successful business, his real estate speculations requiring the whole of his atten- tion, he gave up that business and devoted his whole time to it. He bought four- teen acres of William Bennett, lying east of the river, which.he opened up and laid, out in building lots, where now is the resident section of River street, East Elm and. Terry streets. In 1867 he bought with Alphonse Hubbard 300 acres of land, a por- tion of which now lies within the city limits, and the Santee Pass saw mill being on this property, they continued the manufacture of lumber until the eighties, and opened up about sixty acres of the land for residence purposes. Mr. Terry owned at the time of his death nearly 1,000 acres of land In 1873 Mr. Terry bought a half interest in the Alley flouring and grist mills on East Main street, and in 1876 pur- chased the other half interest of S. P. Arnot, and owned it at the time of his death. Mr. Terry was one of the early Masons of this town. He was for three years an assessor of this town and was for seven years an alderman of this city, elected for four terms, and held the office at the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1884. The mother of George D., Henrietta Trenchard. was a native of the town of Wheeler, she died in 1870. George was the oldest of four children and the only son to reach adult age. He was educated in the common school. George D. made his home with his parents until his marriage, which was February 7, 1871, and was for two years engaged in farming, and in 1873 became a partner with his father in the flouring mills; at his death he became sole owner and continued the manufacture until 1892, turning out from sixty to seventy barrels per day. He has been an ex- tensive dealer in flour, feed, and cereals since closing the mill, and is to-day the leader of the wholesale market of this city. He is also extensively interested in real estate and conducts the farm principally for dairy, furnishing milk for the city. He is one of the three owners of the Underwear Manufacturing Co., and one of the man !! agers of the business, and has also been one of the directors of the Citizens' National Bank for eleven years. He has been delegate to town and county conventions, and' served as alderman for three years. He has been a member of the Masonic frater- nity for thirteen years, Evening Star Lodge No. 44, Steuben Chapter 101, and Der Molay Commandery No. 22. He was married in 1871 to Miss Rebecca Valnett Ar-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

wine, of this town; they have four children: Eugene, associated with his father in business; Samuel Arnot, now a student; Mabel and Myrtle. Mrs. Terry died July 20, 1893. Mr. Terry was married to his present wife, Miss Carrie E. Myers, of Hor- nellsville, N. Y., Jnly 3, 1895.

Dennis, Seymour W., was born in Jasper, on the farm he now owns, September 30, 1855, son of John and Ruth (Wasner) Dennis, natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Jasper in 1852, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, where he died No- vember 8, 1865, and his wife in 1891. Seymour W. was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and after the death of his father, had the care of the family consisting of mother and six children. He has remained on the old homestead and now owns 187 acres. In 1878 he married Effie, daughter of Serl and Eliza (Sharp) Taft, by whom he had three children: Loretta Maud, Leon S., and Carrie E.

Whiteman, J. C., was born in Jasper, October 24, 1849, son of Henry and Martha (Sanford) Whiteman, natives of Jasper and Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., re- spectively. The grandfather, Henry Whiteman, was one of the first settlers of Jas- per, where he died in 1866. Henry Whiteman, father of J. C., went to Brooklin, Jefferson county, Pa., where he died in June, 1891. J. C. Whiteman was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and now owns a farm of 240 acres, a part of which was left to Mrs. Whiteman by her father. November 4, 1877, he married Marion, daughter of A. B. and Jane (Langley) Phillips, natives of Otsego county, who came to Jasper in 1843 and settled on the farm now occupied by Mr. Whiteman, where he died in 1883, and his wife in 1880. Mr. Phillips cleared his farm and was a prosperous farmer. He was assessor several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman have two children: Charles A., and Florence J.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 59

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