Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 61

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 61

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Silsbee, George C., was born in the town of Avoca, October 30, 1857. His grand- father, James Silsbee, was the first station agent in the village for N. Y., L. E. & W. R. R., also established the first grist mill in the town, and the family date back to the first settlers. Horace Silsbee, father of. George C., was born in Avoca, and married Ruth, daughter of J. D. Griswold, by whom he had one son, George C., who was educated in the schools of Avoca, after which he was clerk in the store of Oscar Smith, and later became postmaster of the village, which office he held for six years. In 1889 he bought the plant of the Avoca Advance, a weekly paper of prominence in the village, and he is also engaged in the real estate business. August 4, 1881, he married Jennie, daughter of Henry Burns, of North Cohocton, by whom he had one daughter. Mr. Silsbee is at present justice of the peace, serving his third term, is a member of the Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. 519, and of Avoca Lodge I. O. O. F.

Rhodes, Halsey A., was born in Chemung county in 1836, the following year came to Caton with his parents, Silas B. and Mary L (Babcock) Rhodes, locating on the present home place of Mr. Rhodes about 1839, where his father died in 1862 aged sixty-three years, and his mother died aged seventy-nine years. In 1862 Mr. Rhodes enlisted in the 50th New York Engineers, serving till the close of the war. After the war he married Mary A. Fuller, who died in 1891, aged forty-eight years, leaving three children, Nelson F., Frank H., and Clara E. He afterwards married Sarah Bowman, born Grist, his present wife.

Brown, Merwin E., was born at Painted Post, Steuben county, December 7, 1851. Gardner Brown his father, was born in Waterbury, Conn., and came to Steuben

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county about 1835, and settled in Painted Post, where he was a carpenter and lum- berman, which business he followed up to 1864. From Painted Post he came to Prattsburg, where in engaged in farming, after which he went to Bloods, and from there to Cohocton; from there he came to Wallace, where he died in 1884 aged sixty- nine years. He married Dorothea A. Marks, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had ten_ children: Sanford, Augustus, Elvira, Louisa, Dora, Mary, Henry, Hattie, Merwin, and Estella. Merwin E. engaged in farming up to 1877, and since that time has been buying and selling grain, potatoes, etc. He married May E., daughter of Joseph Wilson, of Ontario, Canada, by whom he had one daughter, Florence. Mr. Brown has filled the numerous offices of the town and is at present assessor, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Wallace Lodge No. 519.

Sharp, Andrew, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., November 25, 1829, son of Garrett Sharp, who was born in Columbia county, a descendant of the old Dutch pioneers who settled along the Hudson River. He came to the town of Howard in 1841, where he purchased a farm, which now belongs to Andrew. At that time it was partly cleared and consisted of 149 acres, then known as the John Hamilton farm. He married Dorcas, daughter of Andrew Whitbeck, of Columbia county, and they were the parents of six children: Andrew, Caroline, Isaac, Sarah, Mary E., and Albert. Isaac and Albert are deceased. The latter enlisted in the 189th N. Y. Vols., was taken sick and died near Petersburg. Andrew Sharp was educated in the town of Howard, and has devoted most of his time to farming. He owns a farm of 269 acres, and for the last few years made a specialty of hay and dairy products. He married Elinor F., daughter of Joel Bullard of Howard, and they have four children : Edward H., who married Kate McDaniels; Emma, wife of Henry McAdam; Albert B., and George I., who remain at home. George is a graduate of Haverling Union School. Albert is a graduate of the School of Commerce at Elmira. Mr. Sharp was supervisor of the town for two years. In politics he is a Republican. He has been elder in the Presbyterian church for thirty years,

Scott, Adelbert A., was born in Columbia county, May 26, 1842. Abraham H. Scott, his father, was a native of Schoharie county, and came to the town of Orange, now Schuyler county, after which he came to Steuben county in July, 1842, and in 1864 he came to the town of Campbell. He married Samantha M. Pitts, of the same county, by whom he had nine children. Adelbert A. Scott is a farmer, and is the owner of the homestead farm of sixty acres. He married Calista A., daughter of Ellis Dunk- lee, a farmer, and one of the pioneers of the town, by whom he had two children: James W., and Ben B., both farmers. Mr. Scott has been poormaster, and has held other minor offices. He is a member of the Baptist church, and also of the K. of H.

Zeilley, Alex L., was born in the town of Avoca, April 18, 1854, son of Oliver Zeilley, who was born in Palatine, Montgomery county, in 1827, and came to the town of Avoca in 1846, and settled at what is known as the Pond settlement on a farm of 200 acres, and retired from active business in 1876. He married Amelia Shults, of Avoca, and one son was born to them, Alex, who was educated in the dis- trict schools and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1891 he entered the milling business at Cohocton, and remained there until 1893 when he came to Avoca, and became one of the founders of the Avoca Milling Company, now located in the village

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of Avoca, which makes flour under the roller process with a capacity of 200 barrels per day. Mr. Zeilley is president and secretary of the company. He married Libbie, daughter of William Vrooman, and they have two children: Willie D., and Ollie. Mr. Zeilley held the office of commissioner of highways in 1878, since then having held the office of trustee of the village, and in 1893 was elected supervisor, and re-elected in 1894 on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 538.

Bozard, Earle W., was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., January 24, 1862. Henry M. Bozard, his father, was born in Tioga county, N. Y., and moved to Cattaraugus county when a boy, where he resided until recently, when he removed to the city of Rochester, N. Y. He married Mary Barker, of Cattaraugus county, by whom he had four children : F. Adell, Earle W., Mary M. and Ray R. Earle W. was educated in the Union Free School at Olean, N. Y., was two years with Miss Mary L. Pettit in a private school, finishing at Franklinville Academy, after which he began reading law in December, 1882, with Hon. Edwin Hicks at Canandaigua, N.Y., and was admitted in January, 1886. He moved to Avoca in December, 1888, where he has since been in the practice of law. He married Nellie W., daughter of John F. Clark, by whom he has had two children, Anna Mae and John Earle.

Wakeman, Rev. Joel, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1809, educated at Franklin Academy and the Auburn Theological Seminary, and served as pastor at Almond for twenty-three years. He recruited 200 men for the army, and served as captain of Co. H, 130th Regiment, until discharged on account of disability. He was appointed chaplain of the chapel at City Point for invalid soldiers during the winter of 1865. Dr. Wakeman married Abigail Judson, in 1838, who died in April, 1890. May 20, 1891, he married Irene Coleman. Dr. Wakeman is the author of a number books. He was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Almond twenty-three years, is now eighty-five years old and able to preach.

Dunkee, Ellis, was born in Vermont, June 1, 1815. Eli Dunkee, his father, was also a native of Vermont, where he died in 1847. Ellis Dunkee came to the town of Campbell when twelve years of age and learned the carpenter trade, which business he has followed for some years, and now owns a farm of 100 acres. He married Lucina Bixby, of Campbell, by whom he had eight children: Eli, Melvina, Emma, James, Lansing, Parden, Clare, and Calista. For his second wife he married Mrs. Margaret Havens, daughter of William McCan, of Chemung county. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, and in politics is a Republican.

Robinson, John, was born in Minden, Montgomery county, November 30, 1820, son of Joseph and Nancy (Walwrath) Robinson. Mr. Robinson died in Cameron, Steuben county, April 4, 1866, aged seventy-two years, and his wife died at the same place, October 30, 1862. John Robinson was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until the war broke out. In 1842 he came to Jasper and worked at his trade until 1861, when he moved on to the farm of 142 acres, which he now owns and which he cleared. He has been commissioner of highways and poormaster. July 4, 1843, he married Margaret House, a native of Herkimer county, who came to Cameron with her parents, George J. and Elizabeth (Ule) House, when a child, by whom he had eight

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children: John, jr., who was in the late war, where he lost his sight; A. Elizabeth, Matilda, Norman H., Frances A., Olive, Jessie, and George.

Higby, John C., was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., in February, 1839. His great- grandfather, John Higby, came from Lee, Mass., and settled in Ballston, Saratoga county, prior to the Revolutionary war. He married Mindwell Lewis, by whom he had thirteen children; and he died in Ballston, aged ninety years. Their son Lewis was a sailor in the Revolutionary war, was captured by the Indians and tories, and carried a prisoner to Canada, where he remained for nearly two years. The mother and smaller children were also captured by Indians and rescued. His grandfather, Jeduthun Higby, was born in October, 1775, at Ballston, N.Y., and in January, 1801, he married Salvia Strong, by whom he had five children: Livy S, John L., Myron T., Marcus T. C., and Charles G., also one adopted daughter, Sophronia Kelley. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, ranking as lieutenant, and after the burning of Buffalo held a captain's commission. In 1818 he moved to

Prattsburg, and settled on a farm two miles west of the village. He was one of the vestrymen upon the organization of the First Episcopal church at Auburn, N. Y. He was killed in the town of Pulteney in 1820 by a tree falling across his wagon. His wife died in 1863. Charles G. Higby, father of John C., was born in Brutus, Cayuga county, in September, 1812, and was educated in the common schools and Franklin Academy, Beginning at the age of sixteen, he taught school for six con- secutive winters, and in the summer worked on the farm he had purchased. At twenty-four years of age he married Phoebe Jane, daughter of John and Rhoda C. Bramble, of Prattsburg, by whom he had three children: Jeduthun, who died in in- fancy, John C., and Lydia L. He at once settled on his farm, to which he added 150 acres of timber land, and in 1841 he engaged in the milling and lumbering busi- ness in connection with his farming. He was school superintendent of the town under the old law for many years, and in 1851 was assemblyman from his district in the State Legislature, and advocated the passage of the free school law. He was also trustee of the Franklin Academy for many years. Mr. Higby and wife were members of the Presbyterian church of Prattsburg. For many years, until the time of his death, he was a trustee and elder of the church. He died in 1885. John C. Higby was graduated from Hamilton College in the class of '61, and then spent two years as teacher in Bath, after which he returned to his farm, where he remained most of his time until 1890, when he moved to his father's homestead, where he now resides. After the war he served one term as justice, and from 1871 to 1873 inclusive served as school commissioner, being the first Democrat elected to that office in his district. In 1869 he married Lucy, daughter of Rev. B. C. and Susan J. (Ammer- man) Smith, by whom he had three children: Charles G., Celia Jane, and Coleman Smith. Charles G. Spent one year in Hamilton College, later assisted on the farm, and is now the able manager and secretary of the Prattsburg Creamery Company, of which he is the largest stockholder. Celia J. was teacher in Franklin Academy, and in June, 1895, he was graduated from Olivet College Mich. Coleman is now taking a classical course at the same college. The entire family are now Presbyterians. .

Jones, J. B., was born in Addison in 1851, son of L. A. Jones, also a native of this place, where he lived for nearly eight years, being engaged in farming and lutuber- ing. He was also a pilot on the river in early days, also a carpenter and joiner

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by trade, and held many prominent town offices, deputy sheriff being one of them. J. B. Jones's boyhood was spent here, and he first engaged in the market business, but for the past fourteen years has dealt in ice, and is also chief engineer at the Erie pumping station, which position he has held since 1887. He married Mary A., daughter of George W. Young. Mr. Jones is a member of the Maccabees, and also has a membership in other fraternities and benevolent organizations.

Horn, Edwin J., was born at Scranton, Pa., in December, 1811, of German parents, and had only the advantages of a limited common school education, which, however, were supplemented by a vigorous intellect and persistent research in the several fields of art, literature and mechanics. He removed to Addison, N.Y., about the year 1846 and became associated with Capt. Stephen Lewis, in the manufacture of steam engines and general foundry and machine work, being very successful in that enterprise, and in later years owning and conducting the whole business, which had grown into proportions creditable to himself, and of great interest to the village. Mr. Horn also took an active part in public affairs and held many important offices, as village trustee, member of the Board of Education, and for several years repre- sented his town in the county legislature. At the commencement of the war of the Rebellion he was known as a War Democrat and gave his whole influence for the success of the Union cause and later allied himself with the Republicans and re- mained a zealous worker in that party till the day of his death, January 19, 1884. In 1860 he married for his second wife, Eveline, daughter of the late Simon Brown, of Addison, who still survives him.

Wheeler, Orlando D., was born in Wheeler in March, 1853. Silas Wheeler, his father, was also born in Wheeler in 1811, and died in 1855. He was an extensive lumberman and farmer, and at the time of his death owned 1,600 acres of land. He was a man of strong literary and scientific tastes, and possessed a fine library. He married Fidelia Frisbie, who was born in Middleburg, N. Y., in 1821, and died in Wheeler in 1883. Their children were: Don D., Myanda, William L., Grattan H., and Orlando D. Grattan H., grandfather of Orlando D., was actively identified with the early history of this town where he was an extensive lumberman and farmer, owning at one time a tract of 8,000 acres of land, a large portion of which he cleared of the timber which he manufactured into lumber. His father, Capt. Silas Wheeler, was the first settler, and for him the town was named. He was born in Concord, Mass., in March 1752. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and at one time was taken prisoner by the English and transferred to Kinsale, Ireland. He was aided in his escape by Lord Henry Grattan, who, when parting with Wheeler, asked him to name his first son after him. Orlando D. Wheeler was educated at Hammondsport Academy, Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, and Lima Seminary. At an early age he displayed unusual business ability. When but sixteen years of age he began business for himself, and has since been engaged in the various pursuits of railroad, merchant, and farm life. He has been in business in the West at two dif- ferent times, once in Illinois and later in Kansas. From Kansas he returned to Wheeler and purchased part of the original Wheeler family estate, where he now resides. Mr. Wheeler is a man of sterling character and a disposition that endears him to all who know him well. His habits of life are above reproach. In politics he is a staunch Republican and has always voted according to his Republican principles.

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In 1872 he married Minnie E., daughter of Richard Lewis, a well known resident of Prattsburg. They have one child, a daughter, Delia S., who graduated at sixteen years of age from Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, N.Y. In June, 1895, she graduated from Elmira College, receiving the degree of A. B. In accordance with the prom- inent traits of her family, she is a young lady of scholarly attainments and great strength of character.

Wilcox, Aurin, was born in Corning, in 1842, son of Abel Wilcox, a native of Otsego county, one of the pioneers, and a wagon-maker by trade, who lived and died in Caton. Aurin Wilcox is a farmer and also learned his father's trade. In 1874 he married Hattie Breese, a native of Caton, and daughter of A. B. Breese, a native of Chemung county, who came to Steuben county at an early day and to Caton in 1834; he built the first grist mill in Caton and died in 1880; aged seventy-two years; the first saw mill was built by his father-in-law, S. F. Berry. A. B. Breese was twice married, his second wife being Nancy H. Huchins of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y. Niles D., a soldier brother of Mrs. Wilcox, died in Salisbury prison, N. C., an- other brother, N. Le Grand, died when twenty-four years of age. E. K. Breese is a resident of Michigan, Leland S. of Chicago, Henrietta M., wife of B. Frank Rhodes of Syracuse, and Stella C. Hill of Corning.

Pritchard. Hiram, was born in Tioga county, Pa., in 1818, son of Calvin and Anna Kennedy Pritchard and of Welch descent. He attended the district and Lawrence- ville schools till 1833, spent one year at Factoryville, Pa., learning the miller's trade, continuing in that business until 1836, when he came to Corning being employed by Robert Land in the old mills, which after a couple of years he rented. In 1843 he gave up milling and opened a feed store, and a year later a general store, under the firm name of Clark & Pritchard, doing a large business for two and a half years. He then entered Payne & Olcott's foundry, and in 1850 went to Sinnemahoning, Pa., having charge of a saw mill and lumbering business there until 1853. Following this he was engaged in very successful lumbering interests at Middlebury, a couple of years, and in 1856 began the lumber trade in Corning. In 1863 he purchased an interest in the above named foundry, which he retained about five years. He has since this time retired from active business pursuits. In 1836 he married Lucinda Searles. He was president of Corning in 1861 and 1862 and again in 1886. During his first term of service he succeeded in having the Erie Railroad Company build the Pritchard canal, which been a great protection to the business part of the city from the overflow of Monkey Run Creek. His wife died in 1888, aged seventy-one, leav- ing three children: Truman S. Pritchard, Mary M. Sayles and Albert Pritchard.

Alden, Mrs. M. J .- Dewitt C. Alden was born in Howard in 1829, and was edu- cated in the same town; and when a young man came to Bath, where through life he was identified in the mercantile business. In 1859 he married M. Josephine, daugh- ter of Lawrence V. Church, who was among the pioneers of the village of Bath. Mr. Alden was a man of high moral purpose, taking an intelligent interest in educa- tional and religious institutions, and ever gave his influence towards advancing the best interests of his town and townspeople. In 1882 President Arthur appointed Mr. Alden postmaster at Bath, which office he held four years, and filled most accommo- datingly and to the entire satisfaction of its patrons. He died August 11, 1891.

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Gillette, Herbert S., was born in Jasper, February 9, 1863, son of Ralph Gillette, who came from Bradford county, Pa., to Jasper, a dentist by profession. The family are of French ancestry. Herbert S. was educated at Nelson and graduated from from Mansfield in 1882, was valedictorian of his class, then studied medicine at Ann Arbor, was graduated from the Long Island College Hospital in 1887, and began active practice at Greenwood, N. Y. In 1890 he came to Savona, and in 1894 took a post-graduate course at Post-Graduate Medical School of New York city. In 1884 he married Adeline, daughter of William Reynolds, and they are the the parents of two sons and three daughters: Robert, Ernest, Ethel, Gertrude, and Florence. Dr. Gillette was elected president of Steuben Medical Society in 1894.

Keyser, James F., was born in the town of Avoca, July 9, 1849. Frederick Keyser, his father, was a native of Montgomery county, and came to Steuben county in 1840, settling in Kanona, and afterwards moved to Avoca. He married Eveline, daughter of Benjamin Dilenbach, by whom he had three children, James F., Mrs. Eliza Wag- ner, and Mrs. Maggie Clark. He was one of the best known contractors and builders i11 Steuben county, and died in 1888 in his seventy-fourth year. James F. married Nora, daughter of William Waggoner, by whom he had one child, Gertrude. Mrs. Keyser died May 16, 1892.

Jones, Horatio E. and Horace D., are the sons of Edmund Jones, who was a na- tive of Greene county, and came to Steuben county in 1847, settling in the town of Thurston. In 1851 he married Mary E., daughter of Aaron C. Voss. Mr. Jones de- voted his time to farming and lumbering. Horatio F. and Horace D. were educated in Thurston, and in 1882 came to Bath, and in 1885 purchased the Jerome Smalledge property, and since that time have been actively engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1878 Horatio E. married Hattie M., daughter of Job G. Campbell, and they are the parents of one son, Raymond C., and one daughter, Fannie D. In 1881 Horace D. married Emma, daughter of James Jack, and they are the parents of three chil- dren: Ward E., Martina M., and M. Frances.

Brown, Mrs. H. S .- Alva E. Brown was born in Bath, April 16, 1825. John Brown, his father, was among the early settlers in Bath. Alva E. married Sarah, daughter of Major William Hamilton, by whom he had three children, Mrs. Helene Halsey, Mary Lizzie and Margaret. Mr. Brown was one of the representative men of his town, identified in its progress and welfare, and serving as supervisor for three terins. He was prominently identified in St. Thomas church and in educational and tem- perance interests. He died in 1868, in his forty third year, the result of a railroad accident.

Dudley, Henry C., was born in Bath, December 22, 1837. Moses Dudley, his father, was a native of Bangor, Maine, and came to Bath in 1814, and settled on the farm which is now occupied by his descendants, and the family trace their descent from Squire Jeremiah Dudley, who came to Bath with a family of seventeen children, sons-in-law and grandchildren, and who settled in the woods, taking up a tract of 1000 acres of land. He died in 1838. Moses Dudley married Mary, daughter of Will- iam Atwood, and through life was identified as a farmer, dying in 1871, in his seventy- fourth year. Henry C. Dudley married Rhuetta, daughter of Elijah Havens, by whom he had eight children, Plummer A., Egbert H., George, Frank, Clay, Floyd,. Mrs. Carrie Harder, and Susan Dudley.

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Dickey, Mathew, his wife, Ruth, and family, came to Cameron in 1820, settling on the Swale road. Their children were Erastus, Samuel, William, Amasa, George, Myra, Sallie, Ruth, Harriet, and Mary Ann. Erastus married Elvira, daughter of Joel and Sarah Clark, by whom he had six children: John, Mathew, deceased, Mel- vina, deceased, William, Charles, and Mathew, natives of the town of Cameron. Mathew married Hannah, a daughter of John and Minerva (Briggs) Reese, of Cam- eron. He is engaged in farming and has cleared most of the farm where he now lives. He is active in town affairs and is now serving his second term as assessor.

Rising, Isaac A , was born in the town of Thurston, December 24, 1846. William Rising, his father, was a native of Herkimer county, N. Y. Henry Rising, his grand- father, was one of the first settlers of this county. William Rising came to the town of Thurston about 1830, where he resided until 1862, when he was killed by the fall- ing of a tree. He married Sarah, daughter of Isaac Adams, who was one of the first settlers of that town, by whom he had four children: Isaac A., Mary, Lora and Jessie. Isaac A. Rising is a farmer and owns a farm of 100 acres of land. He married Amanda, daughter of Jessie Everett, by whom he had two children: Edith, wife of Miles Woodward, and Everett.

Clawson, Jacob, was born in Southport, Chemung county, January 16, 1827, son of Ebenezer Clawson, who was born in the State of New Jersey, and came to the town of Campbell in 1841, where he took up land. He was a wagonmaker by trade. He married Rohamy, daughter of John McHenry, of Chemung county, and they were the parents of three children: Jacob, Betsey, and John M. For his second wife he married Loretta Reed, of Potter county, Pa., and two children were born to them: Martha, now Mrs. Thompson, and Julia, now Mrs. Williams. Jacob Clawson de- voted his time to lumbering until 1850, since which time he has been in the mercan- tile business most of the time. He married Jane, daughter of Cornelius Hamilton, of Campbell, who was one of the early settlers of Campbell. They have five children: Sara G., Charles H., Frank E., J. Louisa, and John L. Mr. Clawson is a Republi- can, and has filled many of the minor offices of the town. He is a member of the K. of H. In 1850 he was employed in the first general store that was opened in the town.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 61

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