Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 77

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 77

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He was shipwrecked in the Potomac River while on his way to join his regiment in April, 1865, and was only saved from a watery grave by clinging to the mast of the ship all night where he was picked up in an exhausted condition by a United States gunboat, the following morning. He was discharged from the service in July, 1865, having risen from a private to the rank of first lieutenant. Soon after the close of the war he embarked in the grocery business at Hornellsville, under the firm name of Hollands & Fletcher, occupying what was then known as the old " Mamouth Store," opposite the Park. On January 2, 1866, he married Lydia Bailey of Mansfield, Pa. Five children were to them, viz., Minnie now the wife of Charles A. Smith of Middletown, N. Y. ; Eva and Robert, who died of diphtheria in October, 1876; George Hollands, jr., who was born in November, 1875, and who is now at the age of twenty years, carrying on an extensive grocery business in the village of Bath, under the firm name of Geo. Hollands, jr., & Co .; and Burr R. Hollands, who was born in June, 1878, and is now being educated as a pharmacist. Mr. Hollands is an enterprising citizen, a man of sober and industrious habits and a prominent member of the First M. E. Church of Hornellsville. He has always been a prominent and active member of the Republican party and has had the honor of representing his ward as village trustee for six years prior to the organization of the city. In 1879 he was elected to the important office of county superintendent of the poor, serving as such for three years. In 1886 he very ably represented the town of Hornellsville on the Board of Supervisors. He was commander of Doty Post No. 266, G. A. R., for two years, 1889 and '90. He was one of the incorporators of the Hornellsville Sanitarium Co. and for several years a director and treasurer of said company. In the fall of 1891 he was elected sheriff of Steuben county, which office he very satisfactorily filled for the term of three years. A few months after his retirement from the office of

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sheriff he, in company with Mr. L. O. Thompson, purchased the interest of J. W. Bachman of Hornellsville, N. Y., in the drug business, and at the present are carry- ing on a very prosperous business under the firm name of Thompson & Hollands.

Clark, A. B., was born in Allegany, N. Y., in 1844, son of Henry and Susan (Coon) Clark, who lived and died in Allegany county. At the age of eighteen Mr. Clark moved to Tioga county, Pa., where, in 1867, he married Loretta Swinley. He re- sided there till 1878, then purchased and located on his present farm of 110 acres, in the town of Caton, Their children are Archie E., Gertrude A., and J. Leland.

Bromley, Frank. was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1833. His father, Jonathan Bromley, was born in New London county, Conn., in 1806, and in 1826 married Polly C. Ray, of New London county, Conn., by whom he had six children, two of whom died in infancy; Frank, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mira reached maturity. Mr. Bromley moved to Bradford county, Pa., with his wife about 1827, thence to Tioga, N. Y., some ten years later, and in 1853 he came to Steuben county, with his wife and four children, and settled in the town of Addison (since Rathbone) where he en- gaged in farming and was very successful. He was much interested in educational and political affairs, and was one of the first assessors of the town of Rathbone, and was several times re-elected; this, with frequent terms as school trustee and commis- sioner of excise, comprised his official life. He met his death by accident when eighty-five years of age, while still remarkably vigorous. His second wife and two children, Frank and Elizabeth, survive him. Frank Bromley was educated at Owego, N. Y., after which he engaged in teaching, and was also a carpenter and a farmer. In 1853 he came to Steuben county and engaged in farming. In 1861 he married Jane A. McDowell, by whom he has three sons: Charley F., A. R., and Melvin J. In 1863 Mr. Bromley enlisted in the 2d Regt. N. Y. Veteran Cav- alry, was discharged in November, 1865, and returned to farming which ill-health compelled him to abandon last year (1894). Elizabeth Bromley married William M. Wood, and they had several children, of whom but two are living. Mr. Wood served during the entire war and took part in the more severe battles. He met his death by accident after his return. Elizabeth remarried and is again a widow and resides with her sons in Tompkins county, N. Y. Charlotte died in Missouri about 1888, and two sons survive her. Mira married Rev. A. G. Cole, and they had two children, both of whom survive her.

Bull, George R., was born in the town of Bath, in 1840. Epharas Bull, his grand- father, was from the Mohawk Valley, born in 1780, a farmer by occupation, who came to Steuben county about 1812, and settled in the town of Prattsburg, where he cleared a portion of a farm, and later removed to the town of Bath, where he owned, at different times, several farms, which he cleared himself During his earlier days he was obliged to go many miles by a path through the wood to the mill, carrying his corn on his back. He died in 1860. Harvey, George's father, was born in the town of Bath, in 1816, and was a farmer and carpenter by trade. His wife was Lu- cinda Towle, and their children were George R., Henry G., who died in an army hospital during the Rebellion, Robert C., and Mary F. Mr. and Mrs. Bull were members of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. He died February, 1894, and his wife survives him. George R. began life for himself as

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a farmer when twenty-two years of age, in the town of Bath, and in 1871 he removed to the town of Wheeler, where he operated a farm for a few years, and in 1873 pur- chased his present farm, where he has since paid considerable attention to the breed- ing of fine grade Short-horn cattle, and in 1894 he introduced to his flock the Herford breed. In politics he is a Democrat, having been commissioner of highways and has also held other minor offices. He was one of the original organizers of the Grange Lodge and Patrons of Husbandry at Bath, in which he held official positions, and later was instrumental in the organization of P. of H. Lodge, of which he was mas- ter. In 1861 he married Louisa, daughter of Charles Wagoner of Bath, and they have three children: Ida E., wife of George Morgan, of Urbana, George H., and Charles W.

Young, Christopher, was born in Corning, N. Y., July 17, 1836, son of William Young, a tailor in that place. Christopher was educated at the district school in Ulster, Bradford county, Pa. At the age of fourteen he learned the blacksmith and carriage trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then started in busi- ness in Hammondsport, N. Y., but in 1863 he enlisted in the 22d N. Y. Cavalry and served to the end of the war, participating in nineteen engagements, some of which were the battles of the Wilderness, White Oak Swamp, the Wilson raid, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and others. In 1859 he married Mahetabel Sweezey, born in Rhode Island in 1841. Of this union three children were born, two daughters and one son ; Ida M. in 1857; Roxie in 1870; and Lenord A., 1882. In 1870 they came to Canisteo, where he has been engaged in the carriage and blacksmith business up to the present time. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M., and the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 29.

Mathewson, Lemuel, was born in the town of Avoca, February 16, 1838 son of Joseph Mathewson, who was born in Providence, R. I., and came to the town of Avoca in 1816, where he began farming, which occupation he followed until his death, which occurred in 1867. He married Zilpha, daughter of John B. Calkins, of Half Moon, Saratoga county, and they were the parents of eight children: Barney, Lemuel, Lucinda, Eunice, Mary, Joseph, Zilpha, and Calkins, six of whom are liv- ing. Lemuel owns a farm of 520 acres, which he manages in connection with the post-office, of which he was postmaster four years under Cleveland's first administra- tion, and also since 1893. He married Matilda, daughter of S. H. Palmer, a farmer of Avoca, and they have two children: Deyo P., who is a medical graduate of the University of New York, and Eveline. Mr. Mathewson was highway commissioner for eight years, supervisor for three terms, president of the County Agricultural Society two years, 1883 and '84, vice-president three years, 1877, '80 and '81, and president of the village of Avoca in 1884.

Swon, Oren L., was born in 1845, son of John B. Swon, who was born in Chenango county, and married Louise Fenton, by whom he had nine children, all of whom are members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Swon's mother was the first white baby born at Tuscarora. Mr. Swon died at Addison in 1888, and she resides at Tuscarora, being sixty-seven years of age. Oren L.'s grandfather, Allen Swon, one of the pioneer settlers of the county, came from England, and took part in the Revo- lutionary war, being one of the officers. This family is noted for longevity

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Mr. Swon married Rebecca Gunn in 1873. He has always been engaged in farming, either in Tuscarora or Addison, and also makes a business of hay pressing.

Carr, George A., was born in the town of Deerfield, Tioga county, Pa., May 10, 1837, and is a son of Ira and Ann (Yarnell) Carr, natives of Chenango county, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Pa. The grandfather came from Ireland to Chatham, Pa., and they worked at the blacksmith's trade. Ira Carr was a farmer of West Union, but spent his last days in Troupsburg, dying November 9, 1889. His wife died in 1883. George A. settled on the farm he now owns in 1858, when he cut the first tim- ber that was cut on the place. He owns ninety-five acres and carries on general farming, making a specialty of dairying. In 1865 he married Mary A., daughter of D. C. and Susan White, of Harrison, Potter county, Pa., by whom he had two sons: Frank, who died at the age of two years; and Clinton, born in 1874, who now works the farm. In September, 1861, Mr. Carr enlisted in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was in the battles of Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. He re- ceived an honorable discharge October 13, 1864. Mr. Carr is a charter member of Post Babcock, G. A. R., at Westfield, Pa.

Rewalt, William, was born in Easton, Pa., July 7, 1830. The family ancestry of Mr. Rewalt dates back three generations to Germany. His great-grandfather on the paternal side and the grandfather on the mother's side were the original emigrants to this country, his great-grandfather settling near Harrisburg, Pa., his grandfather at Easton, Pa. William Rewalt, the father of Mr. Rewalt, was a merchant tailor, and was born in 1800, and died in 1841. Mr. Rewalt's mother died in 1838. William was given a good education, attending Vandeveer's preparatory school at Easton. His first occupation was as an employee of a confectionery manufactory and store. In 1855 he moved to Hornellsville and established a small store and manufactory next the old Hornellsville House, where the Page now stands. In less than two years he removed next door, where he was engaged for about four years. In 1860 he located in the Ward building now occupied by Howard's Shoe Store. In 1868 he made his last change, buying the lot at the corner of Main and Seneca streets, where the old American Hotel stood. On this lot he built a three story brick block with thirty feet on Main street and 100 on Seneca. In 1887, in company with Esek Page, he built a block facing Seneca street with twenty-five feet front and eighty-five deep. In the corner store Mr. Rewalt put in a general stock of toys, notions, and fancy goods, and has since been engaged in this line. While Mr. Rewalt has always been a warm supporter of the Democratic party, he has never held political office or been called a politician. He is the oldest active merchant of this city. He has devoted his whole life to his business and family. He was married in 1851, at Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Lydia Van Brunt, a native of Fremont, Steuben county, N. Y. They have had three children: William Rewalt, jr., who is with his father in the store; John Rewalt died in 1886, at twenty-six years of age, leaving a widow and one child, Jennie; and Anna Rewalt, who lives at home with her parents.

Bricks, Stephen, was born in Prussia, December 27, 1830, son of Anthony Bricks, who was born in Prussia in 1804, and in 1829 married Mary Backes, who was born in 1810, by whom he had these children: Stephen, born December 27, 1830; Margaret, born in 1835, and died in 1878; John, born in 1838, and died in 1871; Peter, born

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in 1842; and Elizabeth, born in 1846, and died in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bricks emigrated to America in 1846, and purchased a farm in Wayland, where he died in 1872. Stephen Bricks attended the schools in Germany for seven years, and at fourteen years of age emigrated to America with his parents, where he attended the public schools of Perkinsville for several years. He worked on a farm until 1858 when he moved to Perkinsville and built a store where he kept groceries for several years, and finally erected a commodious store where he has kept dry goods and a gen- eral store for thirty-seven years. He has been postmaster at Perkinsville for fifteen years. January 10, 1854, he married Catherine Malter, who was born in Germany in 1833, and came with her parents to Wayland when one year of age. Her father was one of the first settlers of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Bricks have seven children: Nicholas, born in 1854; Mary, born in 1856; Jacob, born in 1858; Peter J., born in 1864; Frank, born in 1866; Katie, born in 1870; and Maggie, born in 1874.

Pratt Orson W., was born in the town of Bath, July 5, 1859, son of Sylvester H. Pratt, also a native of Bath, born August 13, 1830, who was a carpenter by trade, and lived in his native town nearly all his life. He died at Kittleville, Broome county, N.Y. Orson W.'s grandfather was a native of Connecticut, and one of the earliest settlers of Bath, taking up land in its normal condition and following farm- ing all of his life. Orson was the eldest of a family of four children, was educated in the Haverling Academy at Bath, and at the age of eighteen he became a clerk in a grocery store, which position he held for three years. In 1879 he went to Detroit, Mich., where he took up custom tailoring and cutting, remaining there until March 29, 1884, on which date he located in Hornellsville and opened a shop and store on Broad street, where he conducted a very successful business until April 1, 1887. He then removed to 33 Broad street, where he occupied a beautiful store of twenty feet front and eighty feet in depth. He carries the finest line of clothes in the town, and has acquired a reputation as a cutter excelled by none in the city. Mr. Pratt has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for six years, and is a member of the Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, Steuben Chapter No. 101, De Molay Commandery No. 21, and is at present secretary of the chapter. August 26, 1885, he married Inez, daughter of Erastus C. Grover of this city, and they have two children: Grover, born August 98, 1886; and Dora L., born September 5, 1890. Mr. Pratt and family are members of the Presbyterian church.

Fisher, George W., was born in Alfred, Allegany county, May 22, 1853, son of Cornelius Fisher, who married Catherine T. Searles, of Dover, N. J., and was a farmer and shoemaker by occupation. He settled in Fremont, and afterward located in the town of Alfred, Allegany county, then returned to Fremont. Later he went to Virginia, but returned in 1882 to the place where George W. now lives, which con- sists of seventy acres of land mostly cleared. They were the parents of nine chil- dren: Sarah A., Nancy D., Carrie S., Mary S., Cecelia L., James M., Martha M., Fidelia E., and George W. The last named is a farmer by occupation, and has lived on the present farm for thirteen years. He was educated in the town of Fre- mont. He married Flora, daughter of A. L. Smith of Hornellsville, and they have six children: Clinton D., Altia, Rosey E., Arthur A., Archie C., Mildred B., all of the sons being farmers. Mr. Fisher has held the office of school trustee.

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Roloson, Alfred, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., March 12, 1830. He was the son of Peter and Judith Kirby Roloson, the father, being a native of New Jersey, and the mother of Massachusetts. They came to Hornby, Steuben county, in the spring of 1832, and were among the pioneer settlers of the town. The father was a prosperous farmer, living upon the same farm until his death, which occurred February 9, 1888, aged eighty-three years. Alfred Roloson was the fourth child of a family of fifteen children, there being eight sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood, and were all married. The mother, aged eighty- seven years, and all of the children except two are living at the time of this writing. Mr Roloson was married September 20, 1855, to Mary R. Knowlton, who died August 20, 1888, leaving three sons: Melvin P., Clayton C., and Lyman K. He afterwards married Mrs. Melissa Roloson nee Hays. Since 1856 he has resided on his present farm of sixty-three acres, and has also an adjoining farm of sixty acres. He has been highway commissioner two terms and supervisor four terms.

Smith, C. J., was born in Port Allegany, Mckean county, Pa., June 6, 1840, and is the third of five children born to James and Mary (Semans) Smith, natives of Elk- land, Pa., and Chatham, Pa., respectively. They were married in 1834 and came to Mckean county, where he died in 1846, and his wife in 1883. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade. The grandfather, Alton S., was a miller of Elkland, Pa., but died in Mckean county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The maternal grand- parents, Jonathan and Mary (Potter) Semans came from Boston and were pioneers of Chatham, Pa. He was a baker in Boston, but followed farming in Pennsylvania. C. J. Smith was reared by his uncle, S. Odell, until he was of age, when he enlisted in Co. A, 1st Pa. Bucktails, and was honorably discharged February 4, 1864, and re- enlisted and was transferred to 190th Pa. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He was all through the Mcclellan campaign, was at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, etc. In 1866 he married Mary, daughter of Abraham and Mary A. Stephens of Tioga county, Pa., by whom he had five chileren; Fred, Maud, Frank, Tressa, and Helen. Mr. Smith commenced his business career in a country store at Farmington, in 1865, but in 1867 bought a farm in Tioga, Pa., which he sold in 1883 and bought 117 acres in Tuscarora, where he has since resided. He is also engaged in general insurance business, and is pension attorney, and has an office in the post- office building at Addison. Mr. Smith is a member of Middlebury Lodge No. 844, I.O.O.F., of Pennsylvania, and of Post W. W. Angle No. 372, G.A.R., of Addison, N. Y., also the A.O.U. W. of Addison.

Pratt Family, The .- The Pratt family of Steuben county trace their descent from John Pratt, who, with his brother, Lieut. William Pratt, emigrated to America and settled at Cambridge, Mass., in 1633. Capt. Joel Pratt, a lineal descendant from John Pratt, and son of Deacon Elisha Pratt, of Colchester, Conn., born in Septem- ber, 1745, was married to Mrs. Mary Beach Fowler, daughter of Deacon Benjamin Beach of Hebron, Conn., in February, 1779, and first settled in Columbia county, N. Y., and in the year 1799 visited what is now Prattsburg, but then an unbroken wilderness; he returned home and in 1800 came with his son Harvey to Urbana Hill, and cleared 110 acres of forest, and in 1804 he removed his family and settled near the village of Prattsburg, and the farm is still owned and occupied by the family. Captain Pratt held a controlling interest in the early settlement and disposi-

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tion of lands, gave the town its name, assisted in founding the first religious society, laid out the public park, and secured it to the religious society. He died there in September, 1821, and his wife in 1818. Their children were Joel, Ira, Harvey, Anna, Dan, and Elisha. The last named was born in Columbia county in 1790, and married Emily Beach, daughter of Dr. Bildad Beach, and their children were Joel (deceased), William B., and Mary B. (deceased.) Elisha died in April, 1849, and his wife in June, 1871. William B. was born December 27, 1822, and received his edu- cation at Franklin Academy. He was supervisor of the town for seven years, a member of the board of trustees of Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, for fifteen years, and a liberal supporter of educational interests, and was largely instrumental in making the public park. He was married three times, first to Martha J. McNair, and second to Mrs. Hester A. Carr. For his third wife he married Cornelia P., daughter of Henry and Mary A. Brother of Bath, and eleven children were born to them, of whom four daughters and three sons are living. He died March 24, 1893. The three sons were educated at Franklin Academy; William B. and Ira C. after- ward attended and were graduated from the Rochester Business University, and Henry V. from the Cornell Law School. The latter is now a law partner of W. W. Clark at Wayland, N. Y. Mrs. Pratt still survives and lives on the homestead with her eldest son, William B., who conducts the farm. Since February, 1890, Ira C. has been engaged in the hardware business in Prattsburg. In 1893 he married Sara, daughter of William H. Calkins of Elmira.

Blain, Samuel W., was born in Seneca county, N. Y., December 3, 1808, son of Samuel and Catherine (Waldron) Blain, he a native of New York city, and she of New Jersey. They came to Seneca county in an early day, where they lived and died, he aged sixty years, and she ninety-seven years. He was a captain in the war, of 1812. He was a member of assembly in 1830, and was supervisor of the town of Varick, Seneca county, for seventeen years, and has been justice of the peace and assessor. The grandfather lived and died in Germany. Samuel W. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming, and lived in Seneca county until 1849, when he came to Woodhull, where he has since lived, and is the owner of fifty acres of land. He married Eliza Fowler, by whom he had two children: Uriah and Charles, both of whom were in the late war; Charles died while there and Uriah soon after his return. Mrs. Blain died in 1840, and Mr. Blain married Jane Patterson, by whom he had two children: Saron, who married Libbie, daughter of Solomon and R. Eliza (Carpenter) Brown, natives of Steuben county. Mr. Brown died in 1854, and Mrs. Brown married Levi Dawley, who died · in the late war. Saron and Libbie Blain have two children, Nina J., and Florence E .; and Emma J., wife of Gaylord Marlatt, and they have one daughter, Neva, wife of John Huested.

Peterson, Willard, was born in the town of Campbell, January 29, 1857. William Peterson, his father, was a native of New York State, and came to what is known as Big Flats, Chemung county, N. Y., after which he came to the town of Campbell, which at that time was a wilderness, and cleared a farm of 150 acres. He married Anna Gardner, by whom he had six children: Frank, George, Willard, Edwin, Stephen, and Benjamin. Willard Peterson is a farmer and owns a farm of 100 acres,

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He married Nettie - of Coopers, in the town of Erwin, by whom he had three children: Harry, Willie, and Helen.

Drake, Edward, was born in Prattsburg, October, 1831, son of John R. Drake, who was born September, 1794, one of four children born to William Drake, who was a farmer, and who came to Prattsburg about 1810. He married Catherine Rose. John R. Drake was a farmer and spent his life in Prattsburg. In politics he was a Demo- crat and held the office of commissioner of highways and various other offices of trust. He was a member of the State militia, of which he was an officer. He married Polly Morse, by whom he had twelve children: William F., Wyman, Lydia M., Abner, who died in the army, Edward. John, Matilda deceased, Alexander, who was killed at the battle of Stony Creek, Editha, Silas, who died in the army, Levi, and Lucinda, who died in infancy. He died in 1852 and his wife in 1868. Edward Drake began life as a farmer and shingle maker, and in 1864 enlisted in the N. Y. Engineers, and served until the close of the war. He was the only one of four brothers who enlisted and survived the war. In 1875 he engaged quite extensively in the manufacture of lumber, shin- gles and lath, and custom feed grinding, and in connection with this conducts his farm. In 1853 he married Temperance Terry, by whom he had two children: Mrs. Emma Coon of Prattsburg, and Oscar F., of same place. Mrs. Drake died in 1860, and in 1861 he married Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Lavina (Fox) Dunham, by whom he had five children: Silas E., Mrs. Ida J. Tuttle of Cohocton, Mrs. Mary L. Wells of same place, Salem M., and Lydia M. In politics Mr. Drake is a Republi- can, and officiated as poormaster and assessor for two terms.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 77

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