Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 76

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 76

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).

Crosby, Hiram .- Nathan Crosby was born at Canisteo, March 26, 1815. Richard Crosby, his father, was born in the Eastern States, and came to Canisteo with his father, Benjamin Crosby, first settling in Bath, then moving to Canisteo. Benja- min Crosby was one of the twelve purchasers of the township, owning 640 acres of what is now Hornellsville. Richard Crosby was the owner of 1,200 acres in Canis- teo, and this land they cleared, and the family is known through this section as one of the first of the town. He married Hannah Thomas, who was a descendant of one of the first families of the town, and by whom he had four children: Nathan, Ulysses, Mary, and Robert. Nathan Crosby is a farmer, and married Nancy, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Moore Hallett, by whom he had four children: Hiram, Byron, Lewis, and Elizabeth. The sons are farmers, owning a farm of 800 acres in Canisteo. Byron is living in the town of Jasper, a farmer and general shipper of cattle, sheep, etc. He married Sylvia, daughter of A. Travis of Canis- teo, by whom he had one daughter, Florence. Hiram Crosby is the oldest son, and is living on the homestead. He enlisted in the 85th N. Y. Vols., going out with Captain Bennett, where he served three years, and was in the Second Bull Run battle, Battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Gettysburg, and Spottsylvania, and was discharged at Petersburg, Va., in September, 1864. He has a watch which once saved his life, and which shows the mark of the bullet by which it was struck while in his vest pocket. In 1865 he married Julia, daughter of William Ordway, by whom he had four children; William, Mary, George, and Myron Clark. Mary is the wife of Martin Wallace of Canisteo. Hiram is a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 97. Lewis Crosby is the youngest son and lives on an adjoining farm, and is known as one of the leading farmers in the town of Canisteo, owning 450 acres of land. He married Ellen, daughter of L. P. Holmes of Troupsburg, Steuben county,

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by whom he had two sons, George and Marshall. Nathan Crosby was one of the charter members of Morning Star Lodge No. 65 of Canisteo.

Hopkins, Daniel C., was born in the town of Almond, Allegany county, February 18, 1853, son of Elias Hopkins, a native of Luzerne county, Pa., who came to Allegany when a young man and engaged in farming. Daniel, the youngest of a family of three children, was educated in the common school, Almond Academy and Alfred University and taught three terms after finishing his education. He engaged in farming, fruit growing and the nursery business, remaining on the homestead farm of 190 acres until 1886, when he built a new home and established a nursery office in the town of Hornellsville, near Almond. He is now extensively engaged in growing all kinds of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, being the only general nurseryman in Steuben or Allegany counties. He employs a large number of agents, besides help to take care of his nursery and fruit and vegetable farm. Mr. Hopkins served two years as supervisor of the town of Almond, was elected justice in the town of Hornellsville and nominated for supervisor in 1895. He is a member of the Order of Maccabees and Protective Legion. He is also a member of the Arkport Grange No. 179, and clerk of the joint school district No. 5. He has been called "Father" of the tree or Arbor Day in this part of the State; was the first to start the call for the well known Hornellsville Farmers' Club and has been connected with several other public enterprises. He was married, July 16, 1891, to Sarah, youngest daughter of Henry W. Crandall of Almond, and they have one child, Carl Crandall Hopkins

Bennett, Hiram, a native of Hornellsville, was born September 1, 1815. He was a son of the late Major Thomas Bennett, one of the early pioneers of this valley, and a grandson of Solomon Bennett, who came to this region from Wyoming before Judge Hornell settled here. Having been born in Hornellsville, he was naturally in its earlier history thoroughly identified with the town and its interests. He began his education in Howard Academy, then a school of some local note. He subse- quently went to Lima, where he completed his preparatory course, and afterward entered Union College, where he graduated with honor in 1839. He was Hornells- ville's first college graduate. Returning to Hornellsville he became the teacher of the village school, serving in that capacity with great acceptance. He shortly took up the study of law in the office of the late Hon. John K. Hale, in this place, and was admitted to the bar about 1842, when he began practicing. Although a man of thorough education and unusual attainments he did not find the practice of law suited to his tastes, and never took the position at the bar which he might have won if the profession had enlisted his enthusiasm. Mr. Bennett held several local public offices during his lifetime. From 1841 to 1845 he was town clerk, and held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-five years, beginning about 1845. He was once president of the village and was a village trustee for a number of years. He ran for member of assembly many years ago as the candidate of the Democracy-the party to which he gave allegiance throughout his life. He was defeated by the town of Reading, then a part of Steuben county, for his known desire to divide the county. He never after sought political honors. He was a school trustee and clerk of the Board of Education for a number of years. He was also president of the Hornell Association. He was at one time judge advocate on Gen. P. Hartshorn's staff, the

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only military office he ever accepted. He was also one of the early surveyors of the town. He died December 8, 1883. He was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza, daugh- ter of Christopher Doty, one of the pioneers of Steuben county. They were the parents of one child, Frank H. Bennett. An adopted daughter, M. Estelle, is now the wife of Addison J. Sutfin, of Hornellsville. Frank H. Bennett, his son, was born in the city of Hornellsville, November 27, 1858. He was educated in the city schools and in 1879 he entered Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, Pa., grad- uating with the degree of C. E. in 1883. He also entered the Philadelphia Commer- cial College, but was obliged to leave on account of his father's health He was secretary of the Hornell Library Association for a number of years, and was also assistant chief engineer of the Hornellsville Fire Department. He has devoted his time to the real estate business since leaving school and was the originator of the William street property, placing over forty building lots within reach of the city residents, and has taken an interest in literary work. He was the founder and also the publisher of the popular club and society journal, "New York City Life," with Richard O. Shaut, who still conducts it. Mr. Bennett severed his connection with the enterprise in the spring of 1893 and has since devoted his whole attention to his real estate business.

Elyea, John H., was born in Urbana, N. Y., July 22, 1836. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which has been his principal occupation. He spent four years in Michigan, and owns a farm of 124 acres in Wayne, which he purchased in 1868, and upon which he has resided since 1872. In August, 1861, Mr. Elyea en - listed in Co. A, 89th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged February 14, 1863. January 4, 1864, he re-enlisted in Co. M, 50th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He participated in Burnside's Campaign, in North Carolina, and was with Grant through the Wilderness, the Siege of Petersburg, etc. He is a Democrat in politics, has been assessor, and was elected justice but declined to serve, but served as commissioner of highways. He was a member of Jersey Lodge, No. 668, F. & A. M.

Elyea, William H., was born in Orange county, N. Y., August 3, 1828, and is the oldest of four children born to Peter and Mary (Campbell) Elyea, both natives of Sussex county, N. J., who came to Steuben county in 1834, being pioneers of Brad- ford. He died in 1855 and his wife died in 1876. The grandfather, Henry Elyea, lived and died in West Jersey. The family are of Huguenot origin, but were several generations in New Jersey. William H. engaged in farming and was in a saw mill, and was also engaged in teaching school. In 1862 he married Catherine, daughter of William and Hannah (Sanford) Fuller of Bradford, by whom he had two children : Frank, who is a farmer at home, and married Mary Stinson; and Cora, wife of Glen Earl, a farmer of Orange, and they have one daughter, Carrie. Mrs. Elyea died in 1888. Mr. Elyea located on the farm he now owns in Bradford in 1856. In 1890 he retired and his son now runs the farm. He is a Republican in politics, and has been assessor three terms, also justice of the peace. He is a member of Jersey Lodge No. 668, F. & A. M.

Havens, James, was born in South Bradford, March 7, 1860. son of Lurenzo and Annie E. (Hallock) Havens. Lurenzo Havens came to the town of Bradford with

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his father, John F., about 1843. He was one of seven children: Lurenzo, James, Ann Eliza, Dewitt, Alonzo, George, and Lamenta. John F. was a stone mason by trade and was also engaged in farming. He was justice of the peace fifteen years in Bradford. Lurenzo Havens had two children: James and Mina E. He followed farming until he came to Painted Post in 1867, when he engaged in butchering. James Havens married Mary J. Wheeler, now deceased. His second wife is Edith Gertrude. Stickler. Mr. Havens is a machinist by trade.

Saltsman, G. E., was born in Ridgeway, Elk county, Pa., June 23, 1862. His father, Reuben. was engaged in the lumber business. He married Prudence Brown. The family trace their descent from German ancestors who settled in the Mohawk Valley at a very early date. G. E. Saltsman was educated in the common schools, and in 1889 came to Kanona and engaged in the hardware business, carrying a full line of stóves, wagons, agricultural implements, etc. In 1885 he married Hattie E., daughter of C. W. Mason, by whom he has four daughters: Anna P., Clara E., Sue A., and Abbie. Mr. Saltsman is one of the leading men of the town. He is a stew- ard of the M. E. church.

Van Delinder, Martin O .- William Van Delinder was born in Holland in 1786, and removed with his parents to Saratoga county, N. Y., at the age of eight years, where he resided until about 1820, when he removed to the town of Howard, Steuben county. At that time he bought 100 acres of land that was covered with valuable timber for two dollars per acre. He was considerable of a speculator, and was con- sidered one of the wealthiest men of the town at his death, which occurred Decem- ber 16, 1868. His wife was Elizabeth Cochran, who died April 9, 1868. They were the parents of two children, one son and one daughter, Mrs. Sarah J. Thompson of Harwood, and Martin O. Martin was given a common school education, and worked on the farm with his father until the latter's death, and for two years succeeding conducted it for himself. He was interested in stock buying from the time he was eighteen years old, and in 1870 removed to Canisteo where he became deeply inter- ested in real estate, and built eighteen or twenty houses and eight stores, during which time he became interested in mercantile business, and drifted from a grocery into a general store which he conducted for nine years, at the same time continuing in speculation. In 1892 he became interested in Hornellsville property, and in 1893 he removed to that city, where he bought the beautiful home erected by Thomas Snell about 1882. He still continues the real estate business, and has now eleven houses in the city. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, and is connected with the Park Methodist Episcopal church of Hornellsville. He was married February 3, 1864, to Catherine M. Cochran of Sullivan county, N. Y. They have one child, Mrs. John B. Wilson of Hornellsville.

Avery, John D., was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., November 1, 1845, reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. At nineteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, and in the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Co. A. 1st N. Y. Dragoons, and was injured while going into battle at Winchester, by his leg being caught on a snag. He also participated in the battle of Strausburg, and was sent home on a parole, and a year passed before he recovered from the effects of his injury. In 1866-67 he engaged in farming in the town of Wayne, after which he returned to

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Prattsburg, and for three years worked at the carpenter trade with his father. He then engaged in the blacksmith business, which he followed for fifteen years, and in connection with this business he added a stock of hardware, later dropping the blacksmithing, and since 1888 has carried a general merchandise stock, his wife con- ducting the store, while his attention is given to his farm of 147 acres. In politics he is a Republican, and for three terms serving as overseer of the poor, and in 1888 was appointed postmaster, which office he held for five years. In 1866 he married Sarah A., daughter of Major L. Fox of Wayne, by whom he had two children: Mrs. Anna Dell Simons of Prattsburg, and Delos Lee, who is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. He also has an adopted daughter, May Eldred. John Avery, his grandfather, was born in Massachusetts about 1800, and was one of six children. He removed to Chenango county where he was a distiller for some years, and in 1828 moved to Prattsburg where he engaged in farming and lumbering the remainder of his life, also owned and conducted a steam saw mill. He married Ruby Spencer, by whom he had eight children: Mary, John, Sarah, Densmore, Emily, Samuel C. Daniel, and Orson. Samuel Avery, father of John D., was born in Chenango county in 1824, and has followed the carpenter trade all his life, doing a great amount of contracting and building in his town and adjoining towns, and has spent his whole life in the town of Prattsburg. In politics he is a Republican, and has served in nearly all the town offices at various times. He is a member of the Ingle- side Grange Lodge. In 1841 he married Samantha, daughter of Israel Graves of Prattsburg, by whom he had five children: Mary E., deceased, Delos L., Clark D., John, and Valvaria, deceased. All three sons served in the war of the Rebellion, and he was drafted but discharged. Mrs. Avery died January 16, 1895.

Honness, James E., a native of Tompkins county, born in 1822, came to Caton, in 1853 with his brothers, Benjamin and Joseph, buying 171 acres where he has since resided. Joseph died here in 1888, and Benjamin in 1893. Mr. Honness is a staunch Republican. Benjamin F. Honness was in his early days, and for a number of years after moving to Caton, engaged in teaching; his success and prominence as such gave him a standing and influence to that extent that he was elected to the office of superintendent of schools in the town where he had for many years served as teacher. His counsel was much sought after on all questions of importance where educational matters were in question, and freely given when desired. His death was a great loss to the community where he lived.

Ross, Lyman A., was born in the town of Canisteo January 28, 1852, the second son of James Ross, a farmer, who died in 1863. He was educated in the common schools and followed farming until twenty-one years of age. He left home at sev- enteen years of age and has ever since shifted for himself. The fall of 1873 he went as an apprentice at the blacksmith trade in partnership with Alonzo Solnave at No. 1 Dennis avenue. He had a partner only one year, and has since been alone in the business, conducting a wagon building and repairing shop and horseshoeing. He was married to Ella V. Dutcher of Hornellsville, November 24, 1877. They have two children, Maude M. and Maebell.

Brown, Anthony W., was born in the town of Almond, Allegany county, July 23, 1867, and came to Hornellsville in 1875. He was educated at Alfred University,

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Chamberlain Institute and Riverside Seminary. After leaving school he was em- ployed for two years with Brown Bros. Lumber Co., at Rhinelander, Wis. Return- ing in 1890 he became bookkeeper for Sheldon Bros., with whom he remained until 1891, when he left them to engage in the real estate business, in which business he is still engaged.

Mather, B. S., was born in Monroe county, N. Y., January 11, 1826, son of Buckley and Experience (Spencer) Mather, natives of Massachusetts and New York, respect- ively, who came to Tuscarora in 1836, where they died. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and was in the war of 1812. He was a Democrat in politics, but became a Republican when that party was organized. B. S. Mather was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and is now engaged in farming and owns 102 acres of land. October 20, 1850, he married Louisa Blend, of Tuscarora, by whom he had six children: Vernum, Ida, Charles, Carrie, Esther, and Kate.

Williams, John J., was born in Dansville, N. Y., October 23, 1841. His grand- father, John Williams, was born in Pownal, Vt., March 19, 1781, and took up the farm of 175 acres a portion of which is now occupied by our subject, about 1821. March 24, 1805, he married Lucy Card, who was born in Pownal, Vt., November 17, 1788, by whom he had ten children: Jotham T. born in Smithfield, N. Y., June 6, 1806, and died in Dansville, March 1, 1866; Semantha, born in Nelson, N. Y., May 13, 1809; Sophina, born in Lenox, N. Y., July 24, 1812; Laura, born in Lenox, Au- gust 22, 1814; Huldah C., born in Nelson, August 8, 1816; Sally, born in Lenox, October 26, 1818; Joseph C., born in Lenox, January 14, 1821: Hannah, born in Dansville, April 17, 1823; John F., born in Dansville, October 12, 1825; and James, born in Dansville, January 30, 1827. Mr. Williams died in Dansville, May 7, 1852. November 3, 1829, Jotham T. Williams, father of John J., married Lovenia Jones, who was born May 6, 1810, and died July 3, 1858, by whom he had six children: Charles, born in Burns, N. Y., February 3, 1830, and died February 4, 1830; Philander H., born in Dansville, March 1, 1832; Shepard J., born in Dansville, March 23, 1835; John J., as above; Jotham H., born in Dansville, March 20, 1844; and Lucy Elvira, born in Dansville, February 4, 1847, and married H. C. Royer, January 23, 1867, and resides in California; they have two children, Herbert and Effie. Mr. Williams was a farmer, school teacher, and constable. October 19, 1858, he married for his second wife, Matilda Robertson, who died in 1880, aged eighty-two years. John J. attended the common schools, and Dansville Seminary three terms, and has always followed farming. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in 130th N. Y. Vols., afterwards re- organized and called the 1st N. Y. Dragoons, and was discharged July 13, 1865. He took part in the battle, Deserted House, and was wounded in action at the siege of Suffolk, Va., April 30, 1863, and in the battle of Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864. On February 3, 1865, he was transferred to the 19th Regt. Veteran Reserve Corps, at Elmira, N. Y., and discharged July 13, 1865. He is a member of Seth N. Hedges Post, G. A. R., of Dansville. At Savona, N. Y., September 19, 1867, he married Martha A. Tyler, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, December 24, 1842, by whom he had five children: Lottie M., born in Dansville, September 20, 1869, and died January 20, 1870; Vinnie, born November 24, 1870, and died February 26, 1873; Minnie and Menze, twins, born July 8, 1873, at Savona, and Minnie died at Dans ville October 29, 1873; and John Tyler, born May 24, 1875.

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Fritz, Elias, was born at Sugar Loaf, Columbia county, Pa., November 9, 1821. His grandfather, Philip Fritz, was born on the River Rhine, Germany, and emigrated to this country and settled in Philadelphia, where he was a mail carrier between Philadelphia and Baltimore, traveling on horseback. He subsequently settled at Sugar Loaf township, Columbia county, Pa., where he taught school. He was a fine scholar in both English and German. He married - Greiner, by whom he had eight children: Charles, Philip, Henry, John, George, Samuel, Betsey Kyle and Maria York. George Fritz, father of Elias, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Septem- ber 4, 1793, and in the spring of 1825 he settled in Dansville, at Doty's Corners, where he purchased 100 acres of land, and subsequently was possessed of 350 acres. He married Catherine Kile, who was born February 2, 1792, and died May 16, 1887, by whom he had ten children: Wesley, born March 6, 1819, and died April 1, 1889; Maria Baily, born March 8, 1820; Elias, as above; Hiram, born July 7, 1823, and resides in California; G. W., born May 26, 1825; Matilda Munday, born in Dansville, April 8, 1827; Betsey Ann Wood, born April 9, 1829, and died December 15, 1875; Lewis, born September 8, 1831; Phidelia McLain, born June 25, 1835, and died July 21, 1857; and Lucius P., born August 13, 1837, and died January 31, 1866, a soldier in the civil war. Mr. Fritz died March 3, 1868. Elias Fritz received his education in the common schools, and has always followed farming. He is a member of Oak Hill Grange, one of the charter members and first overseer. At Conesus, N. Y., he married Lucretia S. Flint, who was born December 20, 1828, by whom he had five children: Southwick E., born June 21, 1849; Leora G., born January 26, 1852, and died May 8, 1863; Grata L. Dick, born November 2. 1857; Cassius J., born April 9, 1868; and Adelbert, who died in infancy.

Perry, William, was born in Prattsburg, July, 1842. Solomon Perry, his father, was a native of Delaware, and came to Prattsburg in 1825 where he took up wild land and cleared him a farm. He married Eva Huff, by whom he had ten children: Mrs. Mary A. Johnson of Prattsburg, Mrs. Wigdon of Prattsburg, deceased, Mrs. Cather- ine Pickett, deceased, Eli, of California, Mrs. Juliette Johnson, deceased, Solomon, deceased, Mrs. Louisa Washington, of Bath, William P., John of Butte, Mont., and Mrs. Emily Clark, deceased. He died in 1863, aged sixty-six years, and his wife in 1887. William Perry remained with his father until he wastwenty-one years of age, when he started for himself as a farmer, which vocation he has followed ever since, and in 1886 he purchased his present farm of eighty six acres where he has since resided. He was the first of thirteen colored men to offer his services to the Union army from the town of Prattsburg, N. Y., and as this State did not acknowledge a colored man at that time, he was obliged to go to Rhode Island to enlist, where in 1863 he enlisted in Co. K, 14th R. I. Heavy Artillery, and served two years, being sent to the Gulf department below New Orleans, where their fighting was chiefly with guerrillas, and of the thirteen colored soldiers from this town he is the only surviving member. He is a member of the Gregory G. A. R. Post, No. 649 of Pratts- burg. His life as a soldier was a highly honored one, and during his service he was promoted from the first office to that of assistant sergeant, often filling the office of first sergeant, the highest office obtainable by colored men at that time, and which office he was offered but declined to accept. In 1865 he married Catherine Johnson, a native of Allegany county and a daughter of John and Samantha (Huff) Johnson,

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by whom he had four children : Mrs. Maud Wigdon of Prattsburg, Charles, deceased, Leonard, and Mrs Emily Walker of Naples. Leonard resides at home and assists his father on the farm.

Hollands, George, was born in Sussex county, England, on January 9, 1841. His parents, William and Charlotte Hollands, with a family of six children, came to this country in the year 1850. Soon after their arrival they found their way to Mansfield, Tioga county, Pa., where they have since resided. Four more children were born to them after their arrival to this country. They are still living and enjoying reason- ably good health and in their eighty-fourth and eighty-first years of age respectively.

George Hollands, the subject of this sketch, at the age of eleven years found a home with a respectable farmer, with whom he was to live until twenty-one years of age, with the understanding that he was to receive a good common school education and when he became of age he was to have a good suit of clothes and $100 in money. Before arriving at the age of maturity, however, the war broke out, and in Septem- ber, 1861, he left the farm and enlisted in Co. B, 101st Pa. Vols., and served in the army for the period of three years and ten months, during which time he was en- gaged in many important battles. He was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862, and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Plymouth N. C. April 20, 1864. He was an inmate of Andersonville and Florence prisons until the following December, and has never recovered from the exposure and suffering of that terrible summer.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 76

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