Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 89

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 89

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).

304

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

the Masonic fraternity since 1866. In 1857 he married Minna Bleidom of New York city, by whom he had four children: Mrs. Gustavus Peters, of San Francisco; Mrs. Marie Merganthaler, Albany, N. Y .; Mrs. Rosalia Masson, widow of Otto Masson; and Florence, who lives at home.

Croyzier, George H., was born in Howard, March 28, 1864, son of William, who was born in Ireland and came to this country at the age of seventeen years, settling in Howard, where he lived for forty years. William Croyzier lived to be seventy-six years old. He married Mrs. Rose Ann O'Brien, of Manchester, England. George H. was educated in the district schools of Howard, then was employed in a chair factory for ten years. After this the firm of Davis & Croyzier was formed, carrying the largest line of clothing and gents' furnishing goods in the village of Canisteo. Mr. Croyzier is a member of the Good Templars, the Royal Templars, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Presbyterian church.

Cornish, Thomas J., was born in the town of Bingham, Pa., June 24, 1833, son of Francis, whose father, Joseph Cornish, came from England to America and settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and later in Potter county, Pa. Francis Cornish, born in 1810, learned the hatter's trade at Delhi, N. Y., when a young man. He settled in Potter county, where he lived until 1847, at which time he removed to Steuben county, settling in the town of Wheeler, and soon after to Prattsburg, where the re- mainder of his life was spent. He married Hannah Monroe, by whom he had ten children: Jane, Thomas J., Louise, James, Albert, Mary, Elisha, Sarah F., Coleman, Joseph. Thomas J. was educated in the district schools and Franklin Academy, of Prattsburg, after which he taught school for three terms. In 1866 he engaged in the mercantile trade at Italy Hollow, and three years later settled at Atlanta and en- gaged in the dry goods and grocery trade, being at this time the only merchant in the place. From small beginnings, by untiring industry and honorable business methods, he has built up an enviable reputation as a business man. In 1858 Mr. Cornish married Olive N. Bardeen, of Italy, N. Y., by whom he had four children: Hattie (Mrs. E. N. Jenks) of Black River, N. Y .; William T., who is in the mercan- tile trade at Atlanta, and was appointed postmaster at Atlanta, under Harrison, which office he held for five years; Collins C., deceased; and Satie.

Armstrong, Joseph P., was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., June 21, 1842, son of Leonard and Margaret Rutherford Armstrong, both natives of Northumber- land, England. They came to America in 1819 and settled in Eagle Valley, town of Bath, where he died in 1876, and she in 1871. In religion they were Episcopalians. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Armstrong, lived and died in England. The maternal grandfather, Edward Rutherford, came from England and settled in Bath. He removed to North Kanona, but returned to Bath, where he died. In 1872 J. P. Armstrong married Elizabeth, daughter of O. P. Alderman of Thurston, and they were the parents of six children: Ethel, born July 26, 1880; Leonard, born August 28, 1882; James, born in August, 1884; Stanley, born February 22, 1887; and Ben- jamin and Florence, born July 27, 1890. Mr. Armstrong has always been a farmer by occupation, commencing in Bath, then removing to Thurston, where he remained four years, and in 1891 bought the farm of 180 acres, which he now owns in Brad- ford. He is a member of Savona Lodge No. 755, F. & A. M.

305

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Davison, M., was born in County Cavan, Ireland, October 17, 1845, and came to the United States in 1846 with his parents, William and Margaret Davison, who settled in Bath with their three children. Moses Davison was educated at Haver- ling Union School and in 1861 entered the employ of J. & L. Buhler as a clerk in their dry goods store. When this firm retired from business he became connected with the general store of W. W. Wilson, in which position he remained until 1864, when he enlisted in Co. H, 189th N. Y. Vols., and took part in all the engagements in which that regiment participated up to and including the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House. After the close of the war he received an honorable discharge on May 30, 1865, when he returned to Bath and entered the employ of H. W. Perine, with whom, and two others, in 1882 he formed a partnership under the style of H. W. Perine & Co. After the dissolution of this firm in 1884 he remained with the establishment until in 1890 the present firm was formed, under the firm name of Perine & Davison, carrying on a general business in dry goods, carpets, boots and shoes, groceries, etc. In 1873 he married Eva, daughter of Alexander Hall of Bath, by whom he has two children: William and Anna B. Mr. Davison is one of the representative business men of the town; director of the Bath Savings and Loan Association; a member and past master of Steuben Lodge No. 112, F. & A. M., Bath Chapter No. 95, R. A. M., and De Molay Commandery No. 22, K. T., Hornells- ville.

Longwell, Hosea, was born in Sussex county, N. J., in August, 1811, and is the oldest of thirteen children born to James and Sarah Carver Longwell, both natives of Putnam, N. Y. They moved to New Jersey, where they remained about twelve years, and then came back to New York, locating at Urbana, Steuben county, where they lived and died, he in 1871, aged eighty-one years, and she in 1848, aged fifty- seven years. He was a farmer by occupation. The father of James Longwell was David L., who was born in 1737, and followed farming in Putnam county, and he was the son of John Longwell, who came from the North of Ireland, being of Scotch- Irish descent, and settled in Stonington, Conn., where he died. The Carver family came from Cape Cod. In 1832 Hosea married Harriet Brundage, daughter of John Brundage, and they were the parents of eight children: Eliza, born July 26, 1834; Azariah, born December 22, 1835, died December 1, 1873; Franklin, born October 24, 1837; Phebe, born January 25, 1839; Hosea, born May 8, 1841; Rachel, born May 18, 1843; Carver, born March 4, 1847; Eugene, born July 4, 1856, is on the old home- stead. He resided about six years in Wheeler and while there was supervisor for two years. He came to his present location in Bradford in 1841, where he owns 225 acres, and has made a specialty of sheep husbandry. He is a Democrat and was candidate for member of assembly in 1850. He has been supervisor of Bradford, also justice of the peace. Mrs. Longwell died February 18, 1887. Mr. Longwell died November 8, 1895, aged eighty-four years, since the above was put in type.

Kniffen, John, was born in the town of Roxbury, Delaware, October 11, 1838, son of Andrew Kniffen, who came to Steuben county in 1860. He married Lucy, daughter of Gideon Wickham, and in early life was a carpenter and joiner, but in later years devoted his attention to farming. He died in 1861, in his fifty-first year, two weeks after settling in the town of Bath. In 1862 John married Julia, daughter of Harlow Smith, and they are the parents of five sons: William A., Harlow S.,

306

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

John M., Gideon W., and George W. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. C, 189th Regiment U. S. Vols., and took part in the battle of Hatcher's Run, the capture of Richmond and the surrender of General Lee, which closed the rebellion.

Babcock, Dr. Moses Treat, was born in Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., April 30, 1825, the oldest son of a family of eight children of Oliver (a stone cutter, who died in 1859), and Chloe Babcock. Moses T. was educated in the common schools and Franklin Academy, at Prattsburg, where his parents had removed in 1830. In 1848 he took up the study of medicine with Dr P. K. Stoddard, in Prattsburg, continuing with him for three years, and was graduated from Geneva Medical College June 16, 1852. He began the practice of his profession in Hammondsport, and in December, 1854, he entered the Buffalo Medical College, where he attended lectures one term, and again in 1857-58. In September, 1862, he was appointed assistant surgeon to the 141st Regt. N. Y. Vols., and was with that regiment until the close of the war; he is in possession of testimonials from his superior officers in the Medical Depart- ment of the Twentieth Army Corps, certifying in the highest terms to his character as a man and his efficiency as an officer in that department. Dr. Baccock has been a member of the Steuben County Medical Society since 1870, and of the New York State Medical Society since 1885; he has also been a member of the Republican party since its organization, and was trustee of the village for a number of years. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1858, and held the office of treasurer of Urbana Lodge, No. 469, for twenty-seven years. He has also been a member of the I. O. O. F. for six years. In 1893 he married Josephine Sherwood, of Penn Yan, N. Y.

Wixom, Albert, was born in the town of Carmel, Putnam county, N. Y., June 16, 1824. His father, Stephen Wixom, was also a native of Putnam county, born in 1801, and always followed farming. He brought his family with him to this county in 1831, and was for four years in Pulteney, then came to Urbana and bought a farm in the northern part where he lived until his death, which occurred in January, 1879. He married Hester Badeau, who died in April, 1870, by whom he had six children. Albert was the oldest son. He was educated in the common schools and remained with his father until he was seventeen years of age, and then spent two years help- ing a relative on a farm. When nineteen years of age he went into lumbering and boating from Hammondsport to Albany, for George D. Mitchell, where he remained for seven years. In 1850 he bought his first farm of seventy-seven acres in the town, and two years later sold and went to Illinois, where he owned a farm for two years. Returning, he bought in the town of Cameron, where he lived two years and then returned to Urbana for a number of years. After one year in both Pulteney and Wayne, he was for two years in the employ of the Urbana Wine Company, as fore- man of the farm. In 1868 he bought a farm of 150 acres on lot 3, where we now find him engaged in the production of grain, hay and wool. He has a flock of about 120 sheep. Mr. Wixom has always been a Republican since the time of the Rebellion, but has never aspired to public office, although he has frequently been requested to accept it. In February, 1849, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Brown, of Urbana. She died May 1, 1882, leaving one son, Fred, who assists in conducting the homestead farm.

Driesbach, Henry, a successful and progressive farmer, born in the town of Sparta,

307

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Livingston county, N. Y., August 7, 1826, now resides on the old Driesbach home- stead on Sandy Hill near the Rogersville station, C. N. Y. & W. Railroad. He mar- ried Eunice, daughter of William Faulkner, December 24, 1862. They have two children, namely: Fred R. Driesbach, born May 31, 1865; he received a thorough medical education and graduated from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, is a practicing physician and surgeon in Dansville, Livingston county. He married Lora E. Bastian, May 7, 1890. Mary Driesbach, born May 5, 1869, was married to O. H. Humphrey, December 11, 1894, a hardware merchant in Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Driesbach are charter members of Dansville Grange, No. 178, organized at Stone's Falls, April 14, 1874, and were lib- eral contributors to the building of the fine Grange hall. Henry's father, Michiel Driesbach, was born in Lehigh township, Northumberland county, Pa., May 15, 1795, and came to the town of Sparta, Livingston county, with his parents in 1806, and learned the blacksmith trade. He married Nancy Covert, October 21, 1824. She was born in the town of Ossian, May 14, 1802. They had six children, namely: Fred- erick, born in Sparta, July 4, 1825; he married Esther Wood, March 16, 1869; died December 24, 1893. Henry, born August 7, 1826. Catherine, born Aguust 7, 1828; died January 17, 1875. Elizabeth, born August 14, 1832; died July 26, 1851. Ann Marie, born June 22, 1834; died December 5, 1875; she was married to William H. Hall, March 22, 1871, and had two children, namely; Bertha May, born April 5, 1873, died November 9, 1892, and William, born July 17, 1875. Nancy Amelia, born April 1, 1838, was married to B. S. Stone, January 18, 1871, and have two children, namely: William P., born February 7, 1872, and Fannie D., born June 7, 1876. In 1830 Michiel moved with his family to Sandy Hill in the town of South Dansville, Steuben county. His was the usual experience of hard work and privation of the pioneer farmer, but having a strong and determined character, he cleared up his farm from an almost unbroken forest and made a good home for himself and family. To illustrate his firm Christian philanthropy, in 1834 many German emigrants settled in his vicinity; an epidemic of cholera broke out among them and nearly depopulated the whole of Sandy Hill. He was one of the very few who did not shrink from caring for the sick and burying the dead, working and watching night and day for weeks; and helped a trio of others bury eighteen of the victims. Mrs. Driesbach died April 3, 1838, leaving him with a large family of children. He married Maria Draper, April 11, 1839. He died with malignant erysipelas, January 28, 1845, followed by his second wife, Maria, May 4, 1890. Michiel's father and mother, Henry and Catherine Dries- bach, with their family of ten children, came from Pennsylvania to the town of Sparta, Livingston county, in 1806, where he bought and located on a large tract of land about two miles below Dansville, was one of the pioneers who helped crowd the forest and Indians back to make room for a more advanced civilization, and was one of the first to open a tavern or public house on the road to Genesee; the old house was known for many years as the Driesbach stand; it is now occupied by one of his descendants, William Driesbach.

Stanton, C. W., was born near Smethport, Mckean county, Pa., April 25, 1846, a son of Abel M., who was one of the sixth generation from Thomas Stanton, a pio- neer of the family in America, who left England, January 2, 1635, and settled in Virginia, and in 1637 removed to Massachusetts. Abel Stanton was a surveyor. He

308

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

married Sarah Scott, a lineal descendant of the two Governors Winslow of Massachu- setts in colonial days. In 1861 C. W. Stanton enlisted in Co. E, 104th New York Inf. and served a year, then was transferred to the 2d U. S. Cav. and served until Jan., 1865. He was wounded in the Gettysburg campaign; he was in Sheridan's campaign in 1864, and participated in the battles of Beverly Ford, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and several others, and was again wounded at Trevillian Station in June, 1864. After the war closed Mr. Stanton taught school for a time, and in 1868 entered Cornell University, taking a scientific and literary course, concluding in 1870. In 1871 he entered the law office of Ruggles & Little of Bath, where he read law for a year and a half. He afterward finished his legal course in the office of Spencer & Mills of Corning. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and in 1875 opened an office in Cohocton, where he has since practiced. He is active in temperance matters, and is a member and past commander of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., and a member and several times past master of Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M. of Cohocton, Bath Chapter, Elmira Commandery, and has often been a member of the Grand Lodge. He is one of the stockholders of the Larrowe Milling Co. He has been a member of the Board of Education for several years, and has been for some years and now is its secretary. In 1875 Mr. Stanton married Emilie, daughter of Valentine Van Wormer of Cohocton, by whom he had four children: Cornell Dickens, Wilbor Dickens, Rob- ert, and Daisy. Valentine Van Wormer was born in Mohawk valley, October 22, 1812, a son of Lawrence Van Wormer. His parental ancestors were Hollanders, and his maternal ancestors German, and all came to America at an early date and settled in New Jersey, and prior to the Revolutionary war settled on the Hudson. Law- rence Van Wormer came to Steuben county in 1816 and settled in the Cohocton val- ley about two miles south of Cohocton village, purchasing a tract of 2,000 acres on the west side of the Cohocton River, which extended west as far as Loon Lake; he also purchased from the land office 250 acres on the river, where he took up his resi- dence. The land was heavily timbered, and for many years he was extensively en- gaged in lumbering. He was one of the enterprising, energetic men of the day, and was the founder of Cohocton M. E. church. He married Ann Staley, by whom he had fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity. Valentine Van Wormer has always lived in Cohocton and during his earlier years was an extensive farmer. He has been a member of the M. E. church for nearly seventy years, and was one of the stewards for many years, and has always been a leading temperance man. He had six children, viz .: Zilpha, wife of W. H. Mattison of Iona, Mich .; Mary E., wife of Dr. E. M. White of Cohocton; Emilie, wife of C. W. Stanton; Eugenie, wife of G. E. Ackerman, D.D., of U. S. Grant University, Chattanooga, Tenn .; Emery L., of Canandaigua, N. Y .; Eugene of Cohocton; and Fayette, who died in the Union army during the war. His wife is Anna Cleveland of Naples, N. Y. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Van Wormer was celebrated November 22, 1888.

Thompson, E. H., was born in Tyrone, Schuyler county, N. Y., October 14, 1857, son of Hector and Mary (Mingus) Thompson, he a native of Wayne, born September 11, 1832, and she a native of Wayne, born October 12, 1828, daughter of Peter and Susan Mingus. He is a carpenter by trade, and commenced teaching when youngh, but has spent most of his life at the carpenter's trade. In 1860 he located at Weston, where he still resides. The grandparents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Templer)

309

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Thompson, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Wayne. He came to Horseheads, thence to Wayne, being a pioneer of that town. He was a blacksmith at Wayne, and died in Tyrone. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. E. H. Thompson was educated at Tyrone and Starkey Seminary, and has followed farming. He com- menced work on the farm he now owns in 1888 and purchased it in 1893, and he now has 130 acres. In 1890 he married Mary E. Wortman, widow of William Wortman. Mrs. Thompson has two children by her first husband: Annie and Hattie Wortman.

Dimon, John. was born in Brooklyn, N Y., December 9, 1831. The ancestors of this family in this country emigated from France, and records show that in 1660 they moved form Connecticut to Easthampton, Long Island, where the family are still to be found. The father of the subject, John Dimon, was a mechanic and a shipbuilder of early days. John Dimon, the subject, was educated in select schools, and in 1860 became a resident of Steuben county, where he engaged in the cultivation of grapes. He has a vineyard of about fourteen acres on the west side of the lake. His maternal grandfather, Teunis Joralemon (whose ancestors emigrated to the New Netherlands from Holland in the 17th century), soon after the Revolution purchased the old manor house and a portion of the Livingston estate, situated on Brooklyn Heights, opposite New York city, and resided there until his death about 1840. The old manor house was said to have been the headquarters of General Washington about the time of the battle of Long Island. John Dimon married Harriet E. Church at Hammondsport, her native place, in 1865. Her grandfather, Hon. Hezekiah Ripley, moved from New York city to Hammondsport about 1835. He was at one time associated with George P. Morris and N. P. Willis in the publication of the New York Mirror. Their children were John, born in Michigan in 1866, and died the same year; Catherine Joralemon, who married Harry T. Hamlin of Chicago in 1888 and died there in 1892; Theodore H., and Grace Ripley.

Lyon, Kitchell, was born in Morris county, N. J., June 23, 1825, son of Samuel and Mary A. (Teacham) Lyon, natives of New Jersey. The grandfather, John Lyon, lived and died in New Jersey. Samuel Lyon came to Tompkins county, town of Dryden, in 1825, and in 1838 came to Bath, Steuben county, where he died. He was a silversmith by trade and also followed farming. Kıtchell was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He lived in Bath thirty years, having purchased the old homestead of 120 acres. In 1868 he came to Rathbone, where he is engaged in farming, owning 400 acres. He has been assessor for nine years, trustee for years, and pathmaster for twenty-seven years. February 28, 1858, he married Catherine, a daughter of John H. Loper, one of the first settlers of the town of Rathbone. They have had three children: Horace G., James K., both at home, one who died in in- fancy, and are also guardians for Emogene Young, who resides with them.

Schenck, J. E., was born in Jasper, May 30, 1861, son of William and Sarah (Whiting) Schenck, natives of Jasper, N. Y., where they now live on a farm of fifty acres. The grandfather, Jonathan Schenck, was a native of New Brunswick, N. J., and came to Jasper in 1825, thence went to Michigan, where he died in 1875; he was a descendant of Colonel Martin Schenck of Holland, whose sons John and Roeloff emigrated to New Jersey in 1650, whose descendants still own and keep the old buildings in repair where they first settled. J. E. Schenck was reared on a farm and

310

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

educated in the common schools. He owns 150 acres of land and is also engaged in threshing, pressing and buying hay. He has been constable, and is now serving his second term as collector. January 2, 1885, he married Mittie A. Powers of Troups- burg, by whom he had one son, Clifford, born February 14, 1891. Harvey B. Schenck, brother of J. E., was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He owns 100 acres of land and follows general farming. He is also engaged in thresh- ing and pressing hay. In 1887 he married Hattie, daughter of Nicholas and Francis A. (Walrath) Johnson. Mrs. Schenck's grandfather, Jabish Johnson, was one of the early settlers of Woodhull, and now lives in Green wood.

Hatch, Hiram W., was born in the town of Cohocton, January 9, 1846. His father was Sylvanus Hatch, who was a son of Matthew Hatch, the pioneer of the family in Steuben county. Matthew Hatch came from Whitehall, N. Y., in 1812, settled in Bath, and the following year took up a tract of land on Lent Hill (then in the town of Prattsburg), to which place he removed, his being the third family to settle in that section. He married a daughter of Abram Lent who was the first settler on Lent Hill and from whom it took the name. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hatch were the pa- rents of five sons and one daughter ; Sylvanus, Philip, Barnabas C., Matthew, Hiram, and Cerissa (Mrs. William Hyatt). Barnabas C. Hatch settled in Michigan, where he was a man of considerable note, holding the office of county judge and member of assembly. The other sons settled on Lent Hill and were respected and thrifty farm- ers. Sylvanus Hatch married Emily A. Peck, by whom he had one child, Hiram W. Hiram W. Hatch was engaged in farming until 1870, and during that year he settled at Atlanta (then Bloods), and engaged in the hardware trade, in which business he continued until 1881. In 1871 he engaged in the produce business which he has car- ried on until the present time. He is also extensively engaged in farming. In pol- itics he is a staunch Republican, and has held numerous offices in the town, among which was supervisor for two terms. December 31, 1866, he married Celestia E. Bush, of Naples, by whom he had three children: Hyatt C., Minnie L. (Mrs. C. Gilbert Lyon), and Mary E. Hyatt C. Hatch is an active member of the Republican party, and was elected supervisor in 1893, and re-elected in 1894 for two terms of two years. In 1893 he became a partner with his father in the produce business, under the firm name of H. W. Hatch & Son. This firm is known as one of the most exten- sive dealers in produce in Western New York.

Davenport, George, was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, N. Y., October 15, 1814. William Davenport, his father, was a native of Columbia county. Noah Davenport, the grandfather of George, and of Quaker descent, was a native of Rhode Island and married his wife in that State. He was born in 1758 and came to Col- umbia county in 1784 where a family of nine children were born. William was the oldest son and second child, and was born January 7, 1789. Noah Davenport and . his family came to Delaware county in 1812, locating at Harpersfield, and William remained in his native county and died on the old homestead September 5, 1871. Lovina Davis, the mother of George, was also a native of Columbia county, born September 10, 1793, and died November 18, 1850. They were the parents of three children: Lucinda, who married John Olmstead and died December 8, 1851, George, and Charles. George was educated in the common schools which he attended until old enough to work on the farm, and took up that occupation and has always followed

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 89

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