Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 68

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 68

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).

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Roberts, Amos, was born at Glens Falls, Warren county, N. Y., in 1843, and re- ceived a common school education, after which he commenced to learn the mysteries of printing with Hiram M. Harris of the Glens Falls Republican, a rank Democratic paper, and finished his trade in the job and composing rooms of the Atlas and Argus, now Albany Argus, at Albany, N. Y., and after spending a number of years at work at his trade in nearly all the large cities in the United States, soon after the civil war, he purchased of E. N. Johnson a half interest in the Addison Advertiser, and run a Republican paper and did a successful business up to the Greeley cam- paign, when he went for Greeley and "got left." Soon after he sold the establish- ment to G. H. Hollis, who immediately turned it into a rank Democratic sheet, and after drifting around for a short time he purchased a half interest in the Cortland County Democrat, published at Cortland, N. Y., and there in partnership with Daniel S. Lamont, now secretary of war in President Cleveland's cabinet, he did a success- ful business for a short time, until Lamont was appointed private secretary to Gov- ernor Tilden, when they sold out, and Mr. Roberts purchased a half interest in the Waverly Enterprise, located at Waverly, N. Y., which was soon after consumed by fire He then, in company with his old partner, E. M. Johnson, who was then chief clerk in the New York State Assembly, established the Cobleskill Herald, a nine- column Republican paper, at Cobleskill, Schoharie county, N. Y., where the Demo- crats had more majority than the Republicans had votes, and did a fair business for three years, when they sold out, and Mr. Roberts purchased the Addison Advertiser, and again enlarged it to a nine-column paper, and associated the principles of the G. O. P., where it still exists.

Baker, John K., was born in Southport, Chemung county, N. Y., May 14, 1824, son of Isaac Baker, and grandson of Isaac, who was one of the prominent millers of Philadelphia in 1812, and moved to Southport, N. Y., now a portion of the city of Elmira, where he took charge of a mill for John Knapp. Isaac Baker, jr., married Mary A., daughter of Samuel Giles. He engaged in lumbering and milling at Southport, and then in Covington, Bradford county, Pa., and in 1855 came to Steu- ben county, still engaged in the same business. He returned to Elmira, where he died in 1866. John K., also a miller, was engaged in milling in Elmira and Athens, Pa., for several years afterwards, went to Hornellsville and started the Alley & Bennett mills. In 1857 he came to Bath and run the Belfast mills, located at that time on the present Soldiers' Home property; spent one year and a half at the Howard mills, and April 1, 1865, bought the Kanona mills which he runs at the present time. In 1856 he married Lucretia, daughter of Hon. Joseph Powell, sr., and sister of Hon. Joseph Powell, who is a member of the 44th Congress. Mrs. Baker died in 1881, leaving two sons, Edward P. and Charles D. In 1885 he mar- ried Janet, daughter of A. Larue, of Wheeler, N. Y.

Beckwith, Mrs. C. K .- Chester K. Beckwith was born in Steuben county, May 23, 1835, son of Zenas Beckwith, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. Chester K. Beckwith was educated in the district schools of Hornby, after which he was employed as fireman on the N. Y., L. E. and W. Railroad until 1863, when he enlisted in the 97th N. Y. Vols. and served two years; after which he was employed as engineer by the N. Y., L. E. and W., and the Buffalo, N. Y. and Phila. Railroads until 1880, when he was engaged by the pipe line of the Standard Oil Co. for two

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years. He then commenced farming, which he followed up to the time of his death, which occurred January 4, 1891, aged fifty-five years. He married Martha L. Doud, by whom he had three children: Herbert C., Addie E., the wife of George W. Thompson, and Martha A. Mr. Beckwith was a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he was a Republican.

Kingsley, Charles F., was born in the town of Urbana, September 29, 1835. His father, Flavius J. Kingsley, was born in Nelson, Madison county, N. Y., December 10, 1805, and moved to the town of Urbana in this county in 1811, and married Minerva, daughter of Albertus Larrowe of Wheeler, N. Y., on the 27th day of Feb- ruary, 1828, and through life was identified as a farmer, and died July 25, 1893, a man whose judgment was sought aud respected by all who knew him. His mother was born on August 28, 1806, at Reading, N. Y., and died August 31, 1866. Stephen Kingsley, his grandfather, was born at Wyndham, Conn., June 3, 1768, and died in Urbana, February 28, 1844. Charles F. was educated in the district school of Urbana and at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima in 1852 to 1855. In 1855 he began the study of law with Clark Bell at Hammondsport, N. Y., and was admitted to practice in all courts of this State December 8, 1857, and was admitted to practice in the dis- trict court of the United States in May, 1867. In November, 1860, he came to Bath and commenced to practice law, and has devoted himself exclusively to his profession

ever since, and has never held any civil office. On the 2d day of June, 1864, at Bath, N. Y., he married Mary, daughter of Reuben Robie, by whom he had three children, James Robie, Charles La Rue, and Carter Robie Kingsley. Mr. Kingsley has always held a prominent position in his profession and has been selected to act as referee in a great many important cases, and is regarded as a safe and reliable counselor and an able lawyer. He has been the secretary of Board of Education of Bath for twenty- three years, and for about the same length of time a vestryman of St. Thomas' church.

Ferenbaugh, Willis S., was born in Hornby in 1849, son of Benedict and Eliza Ferenbaugh. The father was a native of Germany, and located in Corning with his parents about 1827, and came to Mr. Ferenbaugh's present place. The father died in 1892, aged eighty-five. Mr. Ferenbaugh has two sisters who reside with him on the home place, their names being Sarah A. and Delle. They have 205 acres, including the old homestead. Mr. Ferenbaugh follows general farming, stock rais- ing and bee-keeping.

Ball, Edward J., was born in Pulteney in 1849, and educated in the common schools. His early life was spent at the carpenter's trade. Later he engaged in farming and grape growing, which business he still follows. In 1877 he married Clara, daughter of William H. Clark, of Pulteney, by whom he had two children: William, and Julian (deceased). Mr. Ball afterwards married Anna, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Sul- livan) Gibson, of Pulteney. Their children are Clifford, Helen, Marjory, and Julia. Mr. Ball is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Prattsburg. Nathaniel Ball. his grandfather, was born in Herkimer county in 1788, and in 1815 came to Pulteney, where he resided for many years. He was a blacksmith by trade. He died in Auburn, N. Y., in April, 1871. His wife, Lucinda Pelton, was born in Connecticut in 1790, and died in Auburn in 1874. Their children were Emma, Lucy A., Sher-

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wood, and Nelson. Nelson, the father of Edward J., was born in Pulteney in 1815. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. His first wife was Julia Pinkerton, by whom he had two children, Helen and Esther. His second wife was Experience Benton, by whom he had six children: George, killed at the battle of City Point, aged nineteen years; Edward, Julia, Sherwood (deceased), Elliott, and Harrison.

Shults, Arnold, was born at Palatine Bridge, January 24, 1841. Conradt Shults, his father, was a native of the same town, and the family were among the early set- tlers in Montgomery county. Conrad married Catharine, daughter of Peter W. Saltsman, and came to Steuben county in 1842 and settled near Avoca, and in 1844 came to Bath where the family now reside. He died February 6, 1866, aged forty- six years. Arnold was educated in the common schools and in 1869 married Ella Gray, by whom he had five children: Clara G., Fanny E., Frank A., William S., and Lydia E. She died in 1878, and for his second wife he married Anna Buck, who died in 1882, and for his third wife he married Rachel Adams, by whom he had three children: Daniel C., Edward P., and Grattan B. Mr. Shults is one of the largest farmers in the town of Bath, and was elected highway commissioner in 1884.

Cone, Eleazer T., was born in the town of New Lisbon, Otsego county, N. Y., June 24, 1835, son of Naaman Cone, also a native of Otsego and a farmer. He came to Steuben county in 1852 and located in Hornellsville, conducting a saw mill and brick yard, and continuing in that business until the time of his death, which occurred October 29, 1855, at the age of fifty-four. He was poormaster at that time. Mr. Cone's mother, Joanna Warner, was a native of Otsego county, and she died in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Cone were the parents of six children, five of whom are still living. Eleazer was given a good education, and was in business with his father at the time he came to Hornellsville. In 1861 he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Company, and for two years was foreman of fence building on the Buffalo Division. The fall of 1862 he went into the shops and was engineer of the station- ary engine. In 1873 he bought a farm of 125 acres on lot 11, which he uses for dairy purposes, grain and vegetables. He has erected many buildings and made improve- ments on the farm, which is now known as " Pleasant Valley" dairy farm. He is a Republican and has been trustee of District No. 5. In 1862 he married Mary E., daughter of Job and Rosilla Hanks Goff. Mr. Goff was also a native of Otsego county, coming to Goff's Mills in the town of Howard in 1812, and to Hornellsville in 1854. He died in 1886, eighty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cone have five children: Nellie A., wife of Fred W. McIntosh of this town; Burton E., who is an employee of McConnell's Mill in Hornellsville; N. Warner, who is on a farm in the town of Almond; Willard R. at home; and Fannie F., a teacher.

Kellison, Robert N., was born on a farm in the town of Hornellsville, April 23, 1844, son of James Kellison, a native of Lycoming county, Pa., born August 5, 1815, and brought here by his parents in 1823. His father, Robert Kellison, took up a tract of 100 acres on lot No. 11, and always made his home there, engaged in lum- bering most of the time. He died in 1842, leaving two sons and two daughters. His sons are John D., and James. John D. is still living, now in his sixty-eighth year; James followed various employments and has always lived in this neighborhood with the exception of a few years spent in Howard. He is now in his eightieth year.

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The mother of Robert N., Elizabeth Meeks, was born in Milo, Yates county, N. Y., in 1825, and she is still living. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Robert N., James L, a gardener of this town, and Charles, a lawyer of Plymouth, Ind. Robert was educated in the common schools and his first occupation was with other farmers and in saw mills until 1869, when he bought a farm of 120 acres on lot 10, which he has cleared off and on which he has erected buildings and made many improvements, and it can truly be said "From the wilder- ness a garden now blooms " October 6, 1869, he married Mattie, daughter of Hiram Warner, a farmer and carpenter of Urbana, and they have been the parents of five children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining three are, Bertus, who assists in conducting the homestead farm, Cleveland, a student of district No. 4 school, and Millie now in her third year.

Prentiss, Harvey, was born in the town of Tyrone, now Schuyler county, April 27, 1835. Watson Prentiss, the father of Harvey, was a native of Vermont, born in Brattleboro. He came to New York State when a young man and located in Tyrone. He was a farmer, contractor and lumberman for a number of years. At the time of the building of the Erie Railroad he had a contract for clearing land for them, and in 1850 removed to Hornellsville, and after the completion of the road had a contract for furnishing wood to them both here and Canisteo. He bought a farm of 183 acres south of the city, only five acres of which was cleared, and he cleared the balance and furnished the product for the railroad for lumber and wood. He was a true Christian and for many years a member of the Methodist church. He died in 1872. The mother of Harvey, who was Susannah Price, was a native of Schuyler county. She died in March, 1877. They were the parents of three daughters and five sons, of whom four are still living: Albert, a farmer of Allen, Hillsdale county, Mich. ; George W., a contractor of Hornellsville; Anson, a conductor on the Erie Railroad, and Harvey. The latter was educated in the common school and re- mained with his father on the farm until reaching his majority. In 1857 he was elected constable and held the office for twelve years, and during that time for eight years was deputy sheriff. In the meantime he held many other offices; was trustee of the village for two years, and was street commissioner for the village of Hornells- ville, and detective and officer for the Railroad Co. He was an assessor, and a number of years inspector of election. In 1893 he was elected to the office of super- visor of the Fourth and Fifth wards of this city. In 1870 he purchased the home- stead farm, and still owns the most of it, which he has laid out into building lots for the improvement of the city, and bought until he has about the same acreage. He has dealt extensively in real estate and built a number of houses. He was married in 1857 to Miss Osie M., daughter of Christopher Doty, one of the pioneers of this section, by whom he had three children: Edward A., who died Maren 2, 1864, at six years of age; Ada Osie, wife of George Gill Fowler, a merchant of Dansville, Liv- ingston county; and Miss Grace Isabelle, a graduate of Hornellsville Academy, liv- ing with her parents.

Rial, John, is a son of Simon S. Rial, a native of New Jersey, who came to Seneca county in 1812, where he was engaged in farming, and in 1838 came to Erwin and settled near Painted Post, where John received his educatian. In 1856 Mr. Rial pur- chased a farm in the northeast corner of Addison, where he died in 1860, aged fifty-

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seven years, leaving six sons and two daughters. He was a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Methodist church. John Rial has always been engaged in farming and moved on the farm which he now owns in 1865. He makes a specialty of haying and dairying, July 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, 33d Regt. N. Y. Vols. for two years, during which time he was taken prisoner at Fredericksburg and confined thirty days. In 1864 he married Louisa Kent, and they were the parents of two children: Fred, an active farmer of Addison, twenty-eight years of age and Lizzie. Mr. Rial is a Republican. and has been school trustee for many years.

Wheeler, John D., was born in the town of Cameron in 1845, and is a son of James B. and Malinda G. (Willard) Wheeler, who settled here in 1815, when James B. was seven years old. John D. married Adelle, a daughter of Jessie and Susanna Santee, of Hornellsville. They have one child, Charles J. Mr. Wheeler has been town clerk of Cameron for eight consecutive years and has several times refused the nomi- nation for supervisor. He is a member of Cameron Mills Lodge No. 542 F. & A. M., and has been commander of Hallett Post G. A. R. for five years, He enlisted in 1863 and served until the close of the war. He was in the 16th N. Y. Artillery and was afterwards made captain in 106th Regt. N. Y. S. Nat. Guards. Mr. Wheeler was engaged in farming and milling until 1880, when he engaged in the general merchandise business, which he still follows.

Wheeler, R. M., was born in Cameron, February 2, 1848. His father, James B. Wheeler, who was a farmer and lumberman in Cameron for many years, was a na. tive of this county, born in 1809. He was married to Melinda Willard, a native of Massachusetts, in 1833. They were the parents of ten children that reached adult age. Mrs. Wheeler died March 16, 1889, at seventy-six years of age. Gratton H. Wheeler, the oldest son, was one of the prominent men of Cameron. Robert, who was the fifth son, was given a common school education. His father having owned both saw and grist mills, he was then engaged in farming and in the mills until eighteen years of age, when he learned the carriage-maker's trade in Bath and fol- lowed it for ten years. He was then for eighteen months in a store at Cameron with his brother, J. D. Wheeler, who is in business there still. In 1886 he came to Hor- nellsville and took up building, working for a while at the trade, and a year later began taking contracts for the erection of buildings, and is now one of the leading contractors of the city. He was married December 25, 1877, to Louise Scarwell, daughter of Henry Scarwell of Bath, who was first sergeant in Battery E, of the 1st N. Y. Artillery, in the late war, after which he soon died from wounds received while in the service. They have one daughter, Nina L., a student of the Hornell Academy.

Houghton, C. F., was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1846, and was educated at Ellington, Conn., and Cambridge, Mass. He became connected with the " Union Glass Works " of Somerville, Mass., established by his father-later with the "South Ferry Glass Works" of Brooklyn, N. Y., owned, and operated by his father, and came to Corning on their removal here. He has been vice-president since 1882. In 1878 he married Helen Hall of Auburn, N. Y., and was a member of Assembly in 1874.

Metz, William, was born in Nescopeck, Luzerne county, Pa., August 30, 1820,

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the oldest of three children born to John and Ann (Moore) Metz. The paternal grandparents were William and Margaret (Larkin) Metz, and came from New Jersey to Nescopeck, where they died. The maternal grandparents were Will- iam and Mary (Coates) Moore. William Moore was six years and nine months in the Revolutionary war. William Metz, jr., was reared by an uncle, and at the age of twenty engaged in farming. In 1847 he settled on a farm of 120 acres, and re- tired from active business in 1883. Mr. Metz was twice married, first in 1846 to Ade- line Dunton, by whom he had one son, Clark D. They also reared an adopted daughter, Marcia Reynolds, now the wife of Warren Gleason, who works the farm. Mrs. Metz died December 20, 188 . Mr. Metz then married, January 19, 1883, Fin- etta Pettibone Saunders. She was born June 2, 1831, daughter of Jonathan and Mary T. (Parcels) Pettibone, of Hartsville, Steuben county. Her grandfather, Dan- iel Pettibone, was a silversmith and invented many useful things. Jonathan Petti- bone was born July 31, 1796, and Mary, his wife, was born March 2, 1806. She died in 1832 and he in 1876. He was a fisherman when young but was afterwards engaged in farming. In 1846 Finetta Pettibone married Charles Saunders, a farmer of Alfred, who died in 1877. They had these children: Charles R., George W., William O., Prudence L., and Finetta, wife of Luther Skinner, of Troupsburg. Mr. Metz was a Prohibitionist and belonged to the M. E. church. Mrs. Metz is a Seven Day Baptist. William Metz died May 19, 1895.

Maltby, Jerome B., was born in Schuyler county, in 1841, where his early days were passed, at Monterey, N. Y. In 1862 he migrated to the west, crossing the plains on horseback to the Pacific coast; forming part of the escort guard to emigration wagon trains. During 1863 he worked the California gold mines and in 1865 came to Corning, where he has since been a member of the firmof C. R. Maltby & Brother, the only exclusively wholesale grocery house in Corning. He served as trustee dur- ing two terms and was twice treasurer of the village. Curtis Maltby, his father, is a native of Tompkins county, and resides with him.

Hartrum, John S., was born in New Jersey, May 4, 1823, son of William and Elizabeth Hartrum, mentioned elsewhere. John S. was reared on a farm, and edu- cated at Alfred University, and has taught school over thirty years, and for nine years has been town superintendent of schools. He has also been engaged in farming on a farm of 187 acres, keeping about twenty cows. In 1872 he married Belinda, daughter of Lorenzo and Julia Ann Ward Orcutt, of Savona. Mr. Orcutt was a shoe- maker, tanner, and currier. He died in March, 1894, and Mrs. Orcutt in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Hartrum have had three children: William W., deceased, Elizabeth I., wife of Lewis Osmin, a farmer of West Union, and Mary E. Mr. Hartrum is a Republi- can, and has been road commissioner, assessor, and supervisor of Greenwood. They are members of the Methodist church.

Merrill, Levi, one of the oldest settlers of Addison, is a descendant of a Massachu- setts family, a son of Clark Merrill, who came from that State in 1828, and settled in New York. He died at Cooper's Plains in 1877, aged seventy years. Levi was born in the town of Campbell, Steuben county, in the year 1835, coming here about forty years ago, and by occupation a farmer and engaged in lumbering, and also running a saw mill. In 1859 Mr. Merrill married Diantha, daughter of Isaac Brisso,

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of Campbell, who died in 1890, leaving one son, Lorenzo, who married Lizzie Andrus in 1888. He was drafted in July, 1863.

Stewart, Oliver Dwight, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., in 1846, son of Will- ard Stewart, now a farmer of Rathbone. Oliver came to Hornellsville in 1853, where he received his education, and in 1859 he removed to Addison, buyiug a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and making a specialty of raising choice sheep. In 1863 he enlisted in Company B, 107th N. Y. Volunteers, and took part in several severe bat- tles during his two years' service; was in Sherman's army all the time. In 1872 he married Sarah Sizer of Rathboneville, and they are the parents of three children: Charles A., Gertrude, and Bertha.

Wagner, Anton .- Edward Streebeck, of German descent, was born in New York city, and in 1858 came to Steuben county, where he has since resided in the town of Caton. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, 141st N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He was married in Philadelphia to Ann (Behler), who died in 1894. He has two children: Alvena, wife of Anton Wagner, a native of Germany, who re- sides on the home place, which he manages; and Augusta, wife of Frederick Keller of Chemung county.

Sutton, W. R., was born in Bradford, Steuben county, N. Y., May 17, 1852, a son of E. W. Sutton, who was born in Waverly, Tioga county, and came to Steuben county in 1850. E. W. Sutton was a tailor by trade, which business he followed for many years. Later he engaged with H. W. Perine as salesman in the general mer- chandise business, which he continued up to the time of his death, May 26, 1887. He married Hulda, daughter of Samuel Hopkins, of Steuben county, by whom he had seven children, of whom Dr. O. W. Sutton, of Bath; W. R. Sutton, of Avoca; Dr. L. Sutton, of Canisteo; and C. E. Sutton, of Palisades, N. Y., are now living. W. R. Sutton was educated in the district schools of Cooper's Plains, then entered the store of Perine at Bath, where he remained nineteen years. March 21, 1885, he es- tablished a general merchandise business in the village of Avoca and is now one of the leading business men of the town. Mr. Sutton married Ada, a daughter of M. C. Purdy, a painter of Bath, by whom he has five children: Edwin R., Walter L., Lawrence, Purdy, and Florence. He is a member of Avoca Lodge No. 666 of Masonry, K. of H.

Northrup, Jesse D., was born in Greenwood, March 9, 1859, the only child of Ebe- nezer and Hannah Elliott Northrup. Ebenezer was left an orphan when very young and was brought up by an uncle in New Jersey, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked a number of years. April 8, 1858, he settled on a farm in Greenwood, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred April 8, 1873. Mrs. Northrup was the daughter of John and Sarah Ingraham Elliott, who came from New Ashford, Mass., to Allegany, N. Y., at an early day. Mr. Elliott was a rope maker by trade, but the latter part of his life was spent on a farm. He died in 1878, and Mrs. Elliott in 1874. In politics Mr. Northrup was a Republican, and for a number of years was magistrate of Greenwood. They are members of the Baptist church. Jesse D. was reared on a farm, and after his father's death, which occurred when he was but fifteen, took charge of the homestead farm which he has carried on successfully to the present time. He is a Republican, and at present one

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of the assesors of the town. He is a member of the Sentinel Lodge, No. 151, F. & A. M., of Greenwood, of which he is master.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 68

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