Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 95

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 95

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).

Carroll, Jackson, was born in the town of Bath, July 19, 1860, son of Andrew Car- roll, who was born in Ireland, November 1, 1804, came to this country when about twenty-eight, and settled in the town of Bath, where he cleared a farm of 125 acres, where he continued to live until his death in 1889, at the age of eighty-five. He mar- ried Anna Ward, of Ireland, and they were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are living at the present time. Jackson Carroll is a farmer by occupation and owns a farm of 100 acres improved land. He was educated in the town of Bath. He married Haley, daughter of George Stewart, of Howard, and they have two chil- dren: Deo and Otto. He is a member of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Car- roll is a Democrat, and has held minor offices.

Coats, Thomas, was born in Ireland, May 13, 1839, came to the United States in 1853, and settled in the town of Howard. He first worked by the month, but started out for himself in 1868, is a farmer by occupation and owns a farm of 175 acres; also some timber land. He raises principally wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. His crop of potatoes for 1894 was over 2,000 bushels. In 1868 he married Mariah, daughter of George Wilson, a farmer, and they were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living. Mr. Coats is at the present time assessor of the town, and has also been trustee of the district. In politics he is a Republican.

Cole, Alvah M., was born in the town of Addison, Steuben county, August 27, 1821, son of Peleg G. Cole, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y. He came to Steuben county in 1815 and settled in Addison, and in 1817 came to the town of Howard, where he bought land and cleared a farm of eighty-four acres, where he remained until his death. He married Mary, daughter of Isaac Tracey, who was one of the first settlers of Addison, and they were the parents of eight children. Alvah M. re-

347

FAMILY SKETCHES.

mained on the farm, teaching school in the wiuter and working on the farm in the summer, studied law for nine months, and has practiced in a justice's court for twenty-five years. He has held the office of supervisor and other offices of the town. He married Ann, daughter of Henry Freelove of Howard, and they have five chil- dren: May, deceased, Alvah P., Phoebe, Martha, and Frank. Alvah is a farmer, the youngest son is a railroader, Martha is deceased, and Phoebe is married to a Mr. Armstrong.

Casson, John C., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., and when a boy came to the town of Tuscarora with his parents, where he has since resided. Mr. Casson is one of the most enterprising citizen of his town, and also one of the wealthiest, owning considerable property by himself, and is also in partnership with his brother in real estate and in the manufacture of lumber. In politics he is an ardent Prohibitionist. He is unmarried and lives with his brother, Mordecai, who is mentioned elsewhere in this book.

Cook, Adam P., was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, April 1, 1827. Cas- per Cook, his grandfather was a native of Holland and came to America with his parents shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and reared six children. Benjamin Cook, father of Adam P., was born in Schenectady, N. Y., in 1807, and came to the town of Seneca, Ontario county, about 1831, a year later removed to the town of Wheeler, thence to the town of Prattsburg a few months later, where he lived many years and bought and sold several farms. In 1876 he removed from his farm to the village of Prattsburg where he lived until 1888, when he removed to the town of Phelps, Ontario county, where he lived with a daughter until his death which occurred in July, 1894. He served as assessor twelve years, also as commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, etc., and was a mem- ber of the order of Odd Fellows. He married Angeline Vrooman of Schenectady, a daughter of Henry Vrooman, by whom he had these children: Adam P., Henry V., Charles (deceased), William, Catherine, Benjamin, Sarah, and Albert. His wife died in 1883. Adam P. Cook began for himself when twenty-one years of age at farm and saw mill work by the year for three years, after which for some years he engaged in farming for himself on rented farms, and in 1869 bought his present farm of 113 acres, where he has been a successful breeder of sheep and horses, and has now bought and paid for a large farm of 170 acres, made necessary improvements, and accumulated a good property. He served as commissioner of highways three terms, assessor nine years, and in 1856 married Elenore N. Edwards, who was born in Wheeler, daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Nobles) Edwards, by whom he had three children: Frank E., who assists in operating the farm; Carrie, wife of Fred Cramer of Hammondsport, N. Y .; and Catherine, wife of Fred Lewis of Wheeler village.

Crane, Ferrel J., is a descendant of an old Massachusetts family. His father, Lyman Crane, who was born in the Bay State in 1807, came with his parents to Cortland, N. Y., where in 1830. he married Charlotte, daughter of Hezekiah Howe. Three years later he came to Addison and purchased 200 acres of forest land, about five miles north of the village, where he engaged in farming and lumbering with great financial success. Of Mr. Crane's ten children, Ferrel, who resides on the farm

348

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

where he was born in 1856, is the youngest. He is a blacksmith by trade, and has erected a shop on the farm. His mother died at his home in 1890, at an advanced age. Mr. Crane married Amy, daughter of Garrison Briggs, of Addison, who was a native of Corning, N. Y., and a descendant of an old Dutch family. They were the parents of three children: Maud E., born in 1880, and died April 21, 1889; Clara Sophia, born in 1883; and Mabel, born in 1892.

Corbett, George R., was born in Massachusetts, December 31, 1830, son of Joseph Corbett, who was also born in Massachusetts, and came to the town of Harts- ville in 1840, where he bought a claim of 112 acres. Joseph Corbett married Jane Babcock, of Massachusetts, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom George R. is the oldest son living. George R. was educated in the district schools of Hartsville, and learned the carpenter's trade. He entered the 16th New York Artillery, served from January 4, 1864, to November 1, 1865. He married Phebe D., daughter John Van Buskirk, of Hartsville, who was a farmer and lumberman, and they have seven children. Mr. Corbett has held the office of justice, assessor, and other minor offices. At present he is notary public, and mail carrier from Purdy Creek to Canisteo, a member of Post Abram Allen, No. 194, and also member of the Grange. In politics he is a Democrat.

Carman, Joseph W., was born in the town of Vern, Sussex county, N. J., son of Joseph and Catherine (Rude) Carman. The parental grandfather, Thomas Carman, came from Long Island and settled in Bloomingdale, Passaic county, N. J., where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Carman sold his farm and learned the blacksmith's trade. He died in Vern, N. J., aged sixty-four years. His wife came to Bradford and spent her last days with her children, dying at the age of eighty-six years. Joseph W. lived on a farm until twenty years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has since followed, since the war working six or seven years in Bath. In 1889 he married Jane, daughter of -- and Jane (Shaw) Terris, natives of New Jersey and Pratts- burg, Steuben county, respectively. The maternal grandparents, John and Susan (Mace) -- , came to Prattsburg from New Jersey, from thence to Yates county, where he died at the age of sixty years. The great-grandfather, Abel Mace, died in Steuben. Joseph W., enlisted in Co. F, 27th New Jersey Vols., in September, 1862, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1863. He was at Washington and Alex- andria. He has been town inspector, but does not now hold office. He is a member of New Jersey Lodge, No. 668 F. & A. M.

Coston, Charles, was born in Bath, N. Y., May 3, 1839, son of Christopher and Nancy (White) Coston, she coming from Pennsylvania with her parents, John and White, and he came to Steuben county about 1855, and settled in Thurston where they both died. They had four children who grew to manhood and woman- hood: John, who died in Andersonville Prison; Charles, as above; Mary, wife of Mr. Strong; and Caroline, wife of Ezra Reeves, of Thurston, and they have three children: Ada, Nancy, and John. Charles Coston was educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and owns ninety-six acres of land. When the war broke out he was drafted and sent a substitute.

Cross, Edward D., was born in Pulteney, in February, 1852. His grandfather,

349

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Lewis Cross, came from Westchester county to Pulteney in 1830, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Odel, and grandson, Edward D. He mar- ried Polly Schofield, by whom he had nine children. Odel C. Cross, father of Ed- ward D., was born in Westchester connty, N. Y., in 1826, and came to Pulteney with his father, and has spent his life on the homestead, farming and grape growing. He has been supervisor of the town, and filled other local offices. He married Adelaide, daughter of Ira Gibson, of Tompkins county, N. Y., by whom he had three children : Edward D., Mrs. Ida Perry, of Pulteney, and Erwin. Mrs. Cross died in 1891. Edward D. was educated in the common schools and Haverling Institute at Bath. Farming and grape culture has been his principal occupation on the homestead farm in partnership with his father, having twenty-five acres of vineyard and forty acres of farm land. In politics he is an active Republican, and is now serving his sixth year as supervisor of his town, and has also been elected to fill other town offices. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Pulteney Lodge. In 1877 he married Sylvia, daughter of Smith and Mary Ann McConnell, of Pulteney, by whom he had two children: Mary and Estella.

Drew, James, was born on a farm in the town of Pulteney, March 17, 1830. His father, Samuel Drew, was a native of Sussex county, N. J., born July 25, 1796, and came to this State in 1818, taking up a tract of fifty acres of land in the town of Pulteney. He boarded with his brother-in-law until he had the time to erect a small frame house. He cleared nearly the whole of this land, and in 1838 bought a farm of 100 acres in the town of Urbana and continued in the town, buying and clearing more land, until at one time he owned 600 acres, 470 in one plot in districts Nos. 1 and 2, where he died January 28, 1875. He married Sally Hutches, a native of New Jersey, who died September 25, 1866, by whom he had fifteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity and were married. James was the oldest child and was given a very limited education, and very early began to assist his father in the clear- ing of land, hauling of wood to Hammondsport, farming and running the saw mill. When twenty-one years of age he began to work for his father by the year, at $140 per year, with three months' schooling. In his twenty-fourth year he left home and bought a half interest in the Bradley Layton farm in this town, where he remained for eighteen months, and his grandfather dying, he took the old homestead, where he has lived for forty-two years. The many improvements he has made to this prop- erty and his beautiful home makes this one of the most delightful homes of this section. He has only a small vineyard now, and he has sold and turned most of it into farm land. Mr. Drew is a Democrat in politics, and has been elected assessor, and has also held some of the minor offices. He is a member of Pleasant Valley Grange. December 31, 1857, he married Sarah J., daughter of Benjamin M. Caster- line, by whom he had three children: Eva L., Joanna, wife of Sanford Bedell, a vine- yardist of Pulteney; and Clarence L., a farmer with his father.

Tyler, M. J .- Asahel Tyler, sr., the pioneer of the family in Western New York, was of English descent. He came from Connecticut about 1800, and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Middlesex, Ontario county, where he became a prom- inent farmer. He married Sina Watkins, by whom he had seven children: William, who married Theda Watkins, and settled in Naples, where he was a prominent farmer; Asahel; Fisher, who married Nancy Morehouse, and was an influential

350

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

farmer of Naples; Roswell, who married Sarah Wood, and settled in Middlesex, where he engaged in farming; James, who settled in Michigan in early life; and Lucina, who married Richard Sackett; Speda, who married Mr. Gilbert. Asahel Tyler settled in Naples, and about 1845 settled in the town of Cohocton, on the Wayland road. He was one of the leading farmers of the town, and was one of the founders and prominent members of the North Cohocton M. E. church. He married Cynthia Moulton, by whom he had seven children: Cilicia, wife of John Beckwith ; Byron A .; Milan J .; Arvilla, wife of Samuel Parks, of Cohocton; Lucia, wife'of Halstead Clayson, of Wayland; Hermione, who died in childhood; and Carnot, who married Addie Clayson, and settled in Cohocton, where he engaged in farming. Milan J. is unmarried, and in 1861 enlisted in Co. I, 161st N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. Byron A. Tyler was born January 18, 1838, and is one of the leading farmers of Cohocton. He is a prominent member of the Repub- lican party, and has held the office of highway commissioner two years and super- visor one year. September 25, 1860, he married Juliett, daughter of Rufus Hender- son, of Cohocton, by whom he had four children; Hattie (Mrs. George Jackman, jr.), of Livonia; Maggie, who died in early womanhood; Lida E .; and Arthur, who mar- ried Mary Corey.

Curry, Daniel W., was born in the town of Almond, December 12, 1852. His grandfather, Thornton F. Curry, was a native of Tompkins county, born in Enfield, and came to Allegany county in 1842, when Silas, father of Daniel, was twelve years of age, where he engaged in farming. Silas Curry took up the study of medicine when he was twenty-eight years of age, and was a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Cincinnati, O. He located in the town of Almond, where he remained until 1871, when he moved on to the farm now occupied by Horace Hunt, continuing the practice of medicine for six years. He then sold, and moved to the city of Hornellsville, where he practiced for two years, and in 1879, removed to the Western country, where he engaged in ranching. He was in Kansas three years, then, selling his stock, returned and conducted the Canisteo House for one year. In 1881 he returned to the West, and is now engaged in the practice of medi- cine and conducting a plantation in Gentry county, Mo. He is a Republican in poli- tics and was county superintendent of the poor of Steuben county for one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, and Steu- ben Chapter No. 101. He married Elizabeth Newell, of Almond, who died October 13, 1888, by whom he had three children: Daniel W., Adwilla, who married S. A. Carter, a farmer, who afterward engaged in the meat business, then in the mercan- tile business, but is now a traveling salesman for C. M. & R. Miller, of Elmira; and Elizabeth, who married H. L. Davenport. Daniel W. was educated at Alfred Uni- versity and Hornellsville Academy, and his occupation until he was twenty-five years of age was farming. In 1884 he went to Stanbury, Mo., where he engaged in conducting a market and farm. He returned to Arkport in June, 1894, and bought the Carter store, where he now conducts a general store. In 1877 he mar- ried Cardine Davenport, daughter of George Davenport, by whom he had three children: Myra, in her fifteenth year; James, in his fourteenth year; and Adwilla, now in her second year.

McDowell, Asa, was born in Marathon, Cortland county, N. Y., June 20, 1827, son

351

FAMILY SKETCHES.

of Jacob McDowell, whose father, George McDowell, came to America from Scot- land during the Revolutionary war, and being pressed into the English service he deserted and enlisted in the Continental army and served until the close of the war. He was a weaver and settled at Albany, N. Y. His children were Thomas, Robert, Jacob, Alexander, Hugh, Lydia, and Margaret, all of whom settled in the counties of Cortland and Steuben. Jacob, who was a shoemaker in early life, served in the war of 1812, and upon coming to Steuben county purchased a farm near Loon Lake, and in 1834 he settled in Cohocton. He died in Pennsylvania in 1846. He married Abigail Smith, and their children were Jeremiah, who removed to Iowa; Josiah, who settled in Pennsylvania; Jonathan, who located in Iowa; Alexander; Jacob; Abraham, who settled in Cohocton and in 1846 removed to New York city, where he died; Asa; James; Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Leach; Phoebe, who mar- ried Levi Leach; and Abigail, wife of Anthony Garwood. Asa McDowell has always lived in Steuben county, and was engaged in tanning for many years at Patchinsville. and later purchased a farm at Loon Lake, and after a short residence there, in 1874, he purchased a farm one mile north of the village of Cohocton, and in 1892 he settled in Cohocton village. Politically he is a Republican, and has been supervisor of the town. He is a member of Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M. In 1851 he married Harriet, daughter of Jonathan Pierce of Naples, N. Y., and their children are Burr (deceased), Otis, James, Charles, Asa, and Hattie (Mrs. John Larrowe) of Cohocton. One of the prominent. men of the past in Cohocton was C. J., son of Robert Mc- Dowell. He came to the county about 1834, settling at Loon Lake, and was a shoe- maker by trade. He studied law with Benjamin Harwood of Dansville, and upon his admission to the bar in 1843 settled at Cohocton, where he built up a profitable practice. He was a Republican, and was justice of the peace and supervisor for several years, also district attorney for years. He married Lucy A. Smith, and they were the parents of two children: William H., of Adrain, Mich., and Maria (Mrs. John H. Butler) of Penn Yan. In 1875, for his second wife he married Louise Conley, by whom he had one son, Manly A. McDowell. Mr. C. J. McDowell died in 1877.

Ashbaugh, William. was born in the town of Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., September 22, 1841, son of David Ashbaugh, also a native of Dansville and a mason by trade. The grandfather of William, named George, was from Pennsylvania and one of the early settlers of Livingston county. William was the oldest of a family of seven children, three of whom died in infancy, and three are now living. He was given a good common school education, and his father moving on to a farm when he was twelve years old, he assisted him on the homestead and in work at his trade until he was thirty-five years of age. They bought various farms together and con- tinued in business until his father's declining health caused him to withdraw from active business. David Ashbaugh died in 1875. March 25, 1879, Mr. Ashbaugh took possession of the Samuel Hendershott farm of 110 acres on lot 9, on the west shore of the Canisteo River, to which he has added fifty acres. In 1891 he sold seventeen acres to the Hornellsville Electric Railroad Company. Mr. Ashbaugh is also one of the most extensive land owners of Hartsville, having 670 acres in one body which he personally superintends. He has always been an extensive dealer in sheep and other stock stock and now the principal farm products are hay and grain. He made

352

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

a specialty of dairying for twenty years. He has held the office of assessor a num- ber of years, a school officer, and a supporter of religious institutions. He has been twice married, first in 1861 to Sarah Ann Henry of Hartsville, who died May 22, 1887, leaving two children: Addie wife of James Pope, a farmer of Hartsville, and David Levi Ashbaugh, a student of Canisteo Academy. Mr. Ashbaugh was again married in April, 1888, to Cora S. Call of Hartsville.

Moore, H. D. and Robert S .- The first of the Moore family to settle in Steuben county were Robert and Thomas, who came from Gorham, Ontario county, N. Y., in 1815, and settled near Ingleside, in the town of Prattsburg. Robert afterward settled on Lent Hill, and with his stalwart sons did much toward clearing up and subduing that section. He married Christine Signor, by whom he had eleven chil- dren: Lucy, wife of Nicholas Johnson, who settled in Prattsburg; James, who mar- ried Christine Rice, and settled in Ingleside and later removed to Michigan; Stephen, who married Mary A. Drake, settling first in Ingleside and afterward in Michigan; Susan, wife of Robert Stanton, of Lent Hill; Jacob; Hiram, who married Hannah Stanton, and settled in Cohocton, where he died; Abigail, wife of Joseph Pol- manteer, of Ingleside; Eli, who married Phoebe Drake, and settled in Co- hocton; Daniel; Annie, wife of Nicholas Johnson, of Ingleside; and John, who married Savina Parks, and settled in Ingleside, and afterward in Michi- gan. Daniel settled in Ingleside and afterward in Cohocton, where he died. He married Catherine Polmanteer, by whom he had eight children: Clinton and Anthony, who served through the Civil war, and afterward settled in Steu- ben county, where they died; Patience, wife of Jonas Partridge; Hardin; Clark, who married Jennie Wilson and settled in Naples; Lester, who married Etta Bellis and settled in Cohocton; Chester, who married Addie Hatch, and settled in Cohoc- ton; and Orlo, who died unmarried. Hardin settled in Cohocton, and is a thrifty farmer. He married Susan Robbins, by whom he had eight children: Diana (Mrs. Ray Gifford) of Avoca, Marguerite, Edwin, Stuart, Florence, Peter, Mabel, and Una. Jacob Moore was a farmer and spent his life in Cohocton and Prattsburg. He married Abigail Barber, by whom he had six children: Celeste, wife of Charles Cornish; Betsey, wife of Albert Cornish; Robert S .; Eliza, wife of Robert Riddle; John, a carpenter and builder, who settled in Cohocton; Matilda, wife of Albert Keeler. Robert S. enlisted in 1862 in the 161st N. Y. Inf., and served until the close of the war, after which he settled in the town of Cohocton, and in 1875 settled in Lyons Hollow, where he is engaged in farming. He married Hannah Townsend.

Argus, Martin, was born in Rupertsberg, Bavaria, October 21, 1834. His brother, Philip Argus, came to this country in 1855, and it was his report of the country here that induced Martin to leave his native land in November, 1856, and come to the United States. He was first located at Rochester, where he was engaged on differ- ent farms for four years, and was then for a short time in Hammondsport, thence to Prarie du Chien, Wis., where he took up a farm and made his home there for two years. During this time he married Mary Ries, who was born in Diedesheim, Bavaria, October 24, 1834, and in the spring of 1863 he came to the town of Urbana, where he bought twenty acres on the west shore of the lake, which he set out to vineyard, and was one of the most successful grape growers and wine makers of this section. In 1883 he bought 100 acres on the eastern hillside of Douglass Lockwood,

353

FAMILY SKETCHES.

where he erected a fine residence, and set out forty acres of vineyard, which is now managed by the surviving widow and sons, Charles Fred and Martin, George, the eldest son having died May 2, 1892. Mr. Argus died February 2, 1890. He also left three daughters: Apollonia, wife of Adam Strehl; Mary, wife of Gideon Kniffin; and Katharine, the youngest, who lives at home.

Weinhart Bros .- J. F. and C. H. Weinhart are the sons of John U. Weinhart, who was born in Germany in 1828 and came to Wayland in 1845, where he reared a large family, and where the two sons, Joseph F., and Conrad H., now run a grocery and livery business, and are also proprietors of the Weinhart Opera House. Joseph started in active business first in 1873 when he began a draying business with one horse, the first dray in Wayland, and in 1879 started a small grocery. Conrad started in the grocery business in 1883; in 1890 started as Weinhart Bros., and since then have continually added to this store by building, until at the present time they have one of the largest stores and trades in Wayland, and also carry on a large livery establishment and bus line, employing from fourteen to sixteen horses, and by their courtesy to their patrons, are looked upon as among the rising young business men of Wayland, N. Y.

Babcock, Dr. Oliver H., was born in the town of Reading, then Steuben, now Schuyler county, August 17, 1834. His people moved to the town of Jerusalem, Yates county, when he was an infant, where he was reared. He was educated in the common schools of Jerusalem and Prattsburg Academy under Professor Jackson. In the spring of 1858 he came to Hammondsport and took up the study of medicine with his brother, M. T. Babcock, and for two winters attended lectures at the Uni- versity of Buffalo and also one special course, and was graduated from that institu- tion February 26, 1861, after which he spent another year with his brother, and was then for six months engaged in practice in Woodhull. Returning to Hammondsport in the fall of 1862, he has ever since been engaged in this village. Dr. Babcock has been a member of the village board several terms and was twice president of the village, and is a staunch Republican but not a politician. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1862, Urbana Lodge, No. 459, Bath Chapter, No. 95, for eight years, and has served for twelve years as worshipful master of the lodge. In connection with his professional duties the doctor has been identified with grape growing since 1863, and has now over thirty acres of vineyard. February 26, 1868, he married Harriet I., daughter of A. C. Montgomery, of Prattsburg, who died Feb- ruary 24, 1889.

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 95

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