Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 97

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 97

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).

361

FAMILY SKETCHES.

English, E. C., was born in Caton, Steuben county, in 1837. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third N. Y. Vols., and in October, 1862, was discharged for disability. He followed farming until 1874, then came to Corning and studied law with Spencer & Mills, admitted to the bar in 1879, and has since been counsel for the board of superintendents for the poor. He was for two years supervisor of his native town prior to locating in Corning.

Edger, William F., was born in Corning, in 1848, son of Thomas J. Edger, a farmer who was one of the pioneers of this section. William F. Edger was raised on a farm, and followed farming and boating until 1879 when he entered the employ of E. Rosenwold & Bro., of New York city, buyers and shippers of leaf tobacco, taking charge of their business here in 1888. They have numerous offices in different parts of the country, and are among the largest tobacco dealers in the United States.

Drake, Charles E., was born in Corning, in 1868, and graduated from Sing Sing Military Academy in 1888. He was connected with the First National Bank for sev- eral years, and in 1891 established his present hardware trade. He is a director in the First National Bank. His father, Henry Drake, a son of F. N. Drake, was a na- tive of Cohocton, and located in Corning in 1868.

Drake, George W., postmaster, president the of Corning Stove Works, and of the firm of Clute & Drake, stationers and book dealers, is a native of Arnot, Pa., and born in 1870. In early childhood he came to Corning with his father, Henry S. Drake. He was educated in the common schools and Holbrook Military Academy, and graduated from the latter in 1886. He was appointed postmaster in 1894, and married Anna Tompkins of Elmira.

Dignen, Patrick, was born in Ireland, March 17, 1825, son of Patrick and Julia (Hery) Dignen, natives of Ireland, where they died. Patrick was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to the United States when seventeen years of age and worked on the Morris & Essex railroad one year, after which he worked on the Erie railroad until it was completed. He then came to Tuscarora and worked on the plank road from Addison to Elkland, Pa., and drew the last load of plank for the road. In 1854 he located on eight acres of land belonging to the Pulte- ney estate, to which he added until he had 520 acres, some of which he has sold, and he now owns 400 acres. Mr. Dignen has put on all of the buildings, and has in all eight barns, also a fine residence. He began life a poor boy and is now one of the largest farmers of the town. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been excise com- missioner and trustee for a number of years. In April, 1855, he married Mary A. Sando, of Elkland, Pa., by whom he had six children: Charles, who resides in Tus- carora, N. Y .; Michael, who resides at home; William, who is a graduate of Addison Union School, Hamilton College, Buffalo Medical College, and is now a practicing physician in Buffalo; Mary, wife of William Murray of Tuscarora, N. Y .; Maggie, who resides at home; and Julie, who also resides at home. Mr. Dignen has been a member of the A. O. U. W., of Tuscarora, since its organization, June 11, 1879.

Dininny, Daniel E., was born in the town of Oneonta, Otsego county, N. Y., No- vember 6, 1824, son of Ferrill and Sarah (Bergett) Dininny, natives of Ireland and Schoharie county, N. Y., respectively. Mr. Dininny came to America in 1801 and worked at Stillwater. He married and settled in Otsego county and engaged in

362

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

farming and lumbering. In 1833 he settled in Addison, now Tuscarora, where he died in May, 1871, and during the last twenty-eight years of his life he was blind. Mrs. Dininny died in 1836. He was in the war of 1812. Daniel E. learned the car- penter's trade, but when twenty years of age he engaged in farming, which has been his life work. He has 200 acres of land and makes a specialty of tobacco growing. In 1850 he married Marietta, daughter of John and Catherine Young, by whom he had.two children : O. H., and John E., who farm the home farm. Mr. Dininny has been highway commissioner a number of terms.

Depew, William M., was born in Pulteney, N. Y., on the farm he now owns, in 1829. His grandfather, Peter Depew, was a native of Holland, one of three brothers who came to America. He was a farmer and soldier in the Revolutionary war. Abram Depew, father of William M., was a native of Orange county, N. Y., born in 1788. He came to Pulteney about 1822, settled on the farm now owned by his son, cleared the land, and erected a log cabin where he spent his life. He supplied his household with meat with his gun, killing deer and game. At his death he owned 300 acres of land and money at interest. He married Deborah, daughter of Samuel Drew who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being but fifteen years of age when the war broke out, and granddaughter of Gilbert Drew, who was a minute man during the war. They had twelve children: L. C., Samuel, Peter, Samantha, Riley, Diantha, Roswell, James and Sarah, twins, Ferris, William M., and Abram. He died in 1858. William M. Depew received but a limited education in the common schools, and has endured many of the hardships of life, when a boy often being obliged to go through an entire winter barefooted. He has followed farming all his life, and since 1858 has lived on his father's homestead, to which he has added and im- proved, and now own 243 acres in his home farm and another farm of 103 acres. He has bred many fine and high priced horses, bought, sold and bred large numbers of sheep, and now has a band of ninety head. In 1858 he married Esther Eggleston, who was born in Pulteney, daughter of Benjamin and Sallie (Hyatt) Eggleston, by whom he had one child, Grant, who was born in 1860. His wife died in 1874, and in 1876 he married for his second wife, Margelia Shuart, who was born in Pulteney, daugh- ter of Andrew and Betsey Shuart, by whom he had one child, Rose. In 1885 Grant Depew married Emma, daughter of Johnson and Susan Brink, by whom he had one child, Frank, who died in March, 1894. He resides with his father on the home- stead.

Dean, John, was born on the farm he now owns, in December, 1830. His grand- father, John Dean, was a sailor for seven years while a young man, a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and later a farmer in Dutchess county. He settled in Pulte- ney in 1815. He married Mary Niles, by whom he had nine children. William Dean, father of John, was born in Dutchess county, in 1794. He practiced medicine for over forty years, and also conducted a farm. He married Polly Terry, by whom he has seven children: Julia, Moses, Charles, Mary J., Darius, John, and George. He took a deep interest in educational matters, and was an anti-Mason. Mr. Dean has devoted his life to the homestead, to which he has added several hundred acres. He has dealt to a considerable extent in lumber, and during war times dealt exten- sively in cattle. In 1861 he married Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Peck) Boss, of Pulteney, by whom he had three children: George, Everett, and Mary.

363

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Dennis, Boardman, was born November 30, 1853, son of Franklin Dennis, and was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and now owns the J. L. Ordway farm. He is a member of the Banner Grange, No. 539, of North Jasper. He has been twice married: November 30, 1875, he married Annie E. Bachelder, by whom he had one child, born February 2, 1878, and died May 11, 1880. Mrs. Dennis died October 26, 1881, and August 15, 1883, he married Vira Ordway by whom he had one son, Clark, born November 13, 1885.% Vira Ordway is a daughter of J. L. Ordway, son of Enoch and Hannah (Whiting) Ordway, natives of Lindborough, N. H., he born August 5, 1794, and she October 5, 1793; they were married January 29, 1824, and had three children: Jonathan L., born January 14, 1830, in Jasper, who married Omisa E. Clark (born July 16, 1825), August 3, 1852, by whom he had three children: Smith, born September 28, 1854, who married Sarah Parcell May 22, 1888, by whom he had one child, Gretta, born May 23, 1891. Smith is a Presbyterian minister in Syracuse. Vira, born November 27, 1856, wife of Boardman Dennis; Jennie, born November 15, 1861, who was a home missionary five years, and is now a professional nurse in Denver, Col. Charles W. Ordway, see biography of F. D. Ordway; Enoch, born December 25, 1833, who married Hester A. Clark (born April 10, 1837), May 12, 1858, by whom he had three children: Bru- netta, born May 21, 1859, wife of L. D. Whiting; P. Minerva, born April 19, 1859, who married first Edson Prentice, March 23, 1881, and has two children: William, born October 28, 1882; Harvey, born September 13, 1885. Mr. Prentice died August 22, 1887, and she married Byron Backus, September 26, 1894. May, born May 25, 1873, who married James B. Scutt, in December, 1893. Enoch Ordway, sr., came to Jasper in 1824 and settled on the farm now occupied by Boardman Dennis. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for a number of years. J. L. Ordway, father of Mrs. Dennis, when eight years of age was reared by Franklin Dennis, and at twenty years of age moved on to the farm where he has since lived. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and has been a member and worker since nine years of age, being superintendent of the Sunday school and doing general work. His wife died May 26, 1893.

Dennis, Albert L., was born in Jasper, N. Y., March 25, 1845. Franklin Dennis, father of Albert L., was born in New Hampshire, May 23, 1816, and came to Jasper in 1825. He was three times married: First to Martha Lamson (born May 16, 1816), March 20, 1837, by whom he had five children: Albert L., Andrew F., Serena, born September 17, 1839, and who married Charles W. Ordway, and have two chidren: Franklin, born March 23, 1862; and Ella G., born February 27, 1866, and who died March 2, 1881. Franklin married Nancy Walwrath (born July 12, 1857), July 23, 1886, and they have two children: Wyan H., born November 8, 1889, and Marie. Carrie E., born May 11, 1842, who married George W. Knapp September 2, 1865; . they have five children: Carrie, born February 7, 1868, and died February 8, 1868; George D., born April 30, 1872; Hattie S., born November 7, 1873, and died July 13, 1874; Mattie L., born July 26, 1880; Nellie B., born April 30, 1882. Martha, born November 24, 1849, who married Robert Hilborn (born November 17, 1845), February 24, 1869; they have five children: Harlo A., born June 19, 1871, and died October 10, 1888; Lewis E., born June 15, 1873; Rollo A., born November 19, 1876; Jessie M., born August 13, 1881; and Carrie S., born July 9, 1888. Mrs. Dennis, first wife of

364

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Franklin Dennis, died November 24, 1849, and July 1, 1850, Mr. Dennis married Abbie Boardman of New Hampshire, born March 31, 1823, by whom he had these children: Abbie and Augusta (twins), born October 16, 1851; Abbie is the wife of C. W. Talbot of Jasper; Augusta is the wife of Montgomery Timmerman of Ord, Val- ley county, Neb. ; Boardman; Truman, born July 10, 1858, who married Ida M. Gil- bert (born October 17, 1864), October 14, 1883, by whom he had one child, Lu; Wil- lis E., born March 20, 1860, twice married; first to Olive Small, March 27, 1884; she died September 1, 1888: he married for his second wife, Alma Rowley, October 2, 1839, by whom he had one child, Frank. Mr. Dennis, second wife of Franklin Den- nis, died February 18, 1891. Albert L. Dennis was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Alfred University. He is the owner of 320 acres of land and makes a specialty of hay and dairying. He is a Republican in politics and has been assessor six years. He is a member of the Banner Grange of North Jasper, No. 539. In 1866 he married C. M. Travis of Canisteo, by whom he had three children: Almond, born December 20, 1868; Minnie M., born March 23, 1872; and Luella, born September 26, 1881.

Deck, John, was born in Jasper, N. Y., October 11, 1836, son of Urial and Elizabeth (Countryman) Deck, natives of Montgomery county, N. Y., who came to Steuben county in 1822, with his father, John Deck. John Deck married Elizabeth Bauter, by whom he had three children: Urial, Nancy, and John. He married for his sec- ond wife, Catherine Failing, by whom he had four children: Solomon, Daniel, Bet- sey, and Margaret. The grandfather purchased 350 acres of land and cleared seventy acres before his death, which occurred in 1843. Urial Deck, father of John, was a farmer, and owned a farm of 100 acres. He died in 1867, aged sixty-eight years, and his wife in 1894, aged ninety-three years. John Deck was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a carpenter by trade, and was also a merchant for a short time. He owns 150 acres of land where he resides, also fifty acres in Pine Grove, Warren county, Pa. He follows dairying and raising hay. In 1865 he married Lucy H., daughter of Augustus and Eunice (Graham) Van Orsdale, who came from Broome county to Jasper in 1851, thence to Warren county, Pa., where Mrs. Van Orsdale died. Mr. Van Orsdale is eighty-two years of age.

Dennis, George, was born in Jasper, Steuben county, January 1, 1844, son of Sam- uel F. Dennis, born in New Hampshire May 30, 1811. His wife was Sarah S. Wood- ward, whom he married September 27, 1838. They had nine children, namely: Lois, who died in 1841; Moses, who died April 6, 1862, in the service of his country; George; Sarah, the wife of Wesley Travis; Mary, the wife of L. D. Timmerman ; Marshall; Harland, who died October 18, 1851; William F., born July 10, 1857; and Jesse, born December 9, 1861, died August 27, 1864. Samual Dennis, grandfather of George, was born January 26, 1788, and came to this country about the time of the Revolutionary war; he purchased 300 acres of land, whereon his descendants were born. George Dennis was educated in Troopsburg and Alfred, and married Lou A., danghter of Amos F. Woodbury, September 7, 1865. Mr. Woodbury was a promi- nent farmer of Jasper, and the subject resides upon the Woodbury farm. They have two children: Ora L., born April 15, 1875, a student at the Cortland State Normal School; and Ross W., born December 15, 1881, a student at Canisteo Academy.

Dickey, John E., was born in Cameron, April 24, 1841, son of Erastus Dickey, who

365

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was a prominent farmer and lumberman. Matthew Dickey was one of the pioneer settlers of Cameron. John E. has been in the employ of the L. E. & W. R. R. for thirty two years, and is now the managing agent at Canisteo, which, position he has held since 1889. October 17, 1866, he married Anna W. Harman, by whom he has one daughter, Mrs. Belle W. De Laney. Mr. Dickey was supervisor of the town of Cameron two terms and was again elected in 1889, but resigned to take his present position at Canisteo. Mr. Dickey was educated in the district schools and Eastman's Business College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge of Masons No. 65.

Davis, George L., was born in Greenwood, August 4, 1851, son of Redman S., who was born in Worcester, Mass. He was among the early settlers of Greenwood, first settling in Dryden, Tompkins county, then coming to Greenwood in 1839. He, Redman S., was a merchant and farmer and in business with his father. George L. is a member of the private banking house of Porter & Davis, which business is conducted on a firm basis. In 1879 Mr. Davis was married to Calina M. Isbell, of Marion, Iowa, by whom he had one daughter, Minnie E., and one son, Donald Gor- don, born March 29, 1895. Mr. Davis is treasurer of the corporation.

Dates, Henry, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., January 10, 1822, son of Joseph and Betsey (Shooks) Dates, who came to Cayuga county, N. Y., in an early day, and from there to Chemung county, where they died. Henry Dates was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and at nine years of age went to live with Lewis Gardner, of Big Flats, N. Y., where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, and was then for four years on the Erie Canal. In 1847 he came to Woodhull and worked in a saw mill and finally engaged in farming, and he now owns ninety-two acres of land. In 1845 he married Harriet Wing, by whom he had these children: Emily, Julia, Lyman, Alice, Uri, and Silas. Mrs. Dates was born in Southport, N. Y., August 26, 1822, daughter of Samuel and Retta (Chaffin) Wing, natives of Cherry Valley, N. Y., who spent their last days in Southport, N. Y. Au- gust 28, 1862, Mr. Dates enlisted in Co. G, 141st N. Y. Vols., and served two years and ten months, and was at Sackett's Harbor, Cassville, and Dallas, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.

Deitzel, George C., was born in Rochester N. Y., October 3, 1847, son of Charles Deitzel, who was born in Germany, emigrated to this country, and settled in Steuben county in 1858. Charles Deitzel owns a farm in Wayland, also one in Springwater. He married Caroline Miller, who was born in Germany in 1821, by whom he had nine children, four of whom are living: George C., born in Rochester, October 3, 1847; Jacob, resides at Springwater; Caroline, wife of Eli Saltsman, who resides in Avoca; and William H., who resides in Wayland. Mr. Deitzel died in Wayland in 1875, aged fifty-four years. At eighteen years of age George C. engaged in the car- penter and joiner trade with Lyman Woodard, which he followed for twelve years. In 1875 he engaged the sash, blind and door business, which he still continues. He is a member of the Board of Education, also one of the directors of the Wayland Dime Loan and Savings Association. In 1873 he married Rhoda Flory, born in April, 1841, by whom he had one child, Julian, born February 24, 1882.

Deitzel, William H., was born in Springwater, October 31, 1866. His father,

366

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Charles Deitzel, was born in. Germany in 1818, and in 1842 emigrated and settled at Rochester, N. Y., where he remained one year, and came to the town of Wayland, where he purchased another farm, on which he died in 1874. His wife was Caroline Miller, who was born in 1821 in Germany, where they were married, and their chil- dren were George C., Jacob F., Caroline, and William H. The latter was educated in the common schools, and in 1885 was graduated from the Rochester Business Uni- versity. He clerked in the grocery store of C. C. Tinker for one year, and in 1890 bought the stock and store, and where now may be found a full line of groceries, wall paper, crockery, etc. He is a member of the Wayland Lodge, No. 176, and of the I. O. O. F. July 19, 1892, he married Cora Smith, who was born in Livonia, N. Y., in 1870.

Edwards, Jerome, was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., August 24, 1851, and is the second of three children born to Ira and Ellen (Guernsey) Edwards, he a native of Pulteney, and she of Jasper. The grandparents, Daniel and Sallie (Sherwood) Ed- wards, came from Connecticut and settled in Pulteney, being pioneers there. They went to Woodhull, and finally to Cameron, where they died. The maternal grand- father, Harry Guernsey, came to Woodhull at an early day. Ira Edwards was a farmer of Troupsburg, and settled in the northeastern part of the town. From there he went to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he engaged in butchering and dealing in stock. He was killed at Rockford, Ill., while after a load of cattle, in June, 1882, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Edwards resides in Chautauqua county. Jerome Ed- wards was reared on the farm and educated at Woodhull Academy, and has been engaged in farming most of his life. After the death of his father he was in a meat market for one year, and February 24, 1875, he settled on the William Carpenter farm where he is now engaged in farming. July 3, 1872, he married Susan, daugh- ter of William Carpenter, by whom he had four children: Ada B., William Clair, Velma, and Bennie.

Stratton, George B., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., March 4, 1844, son of Frederick and Hannah (Dewy) Stratton, natives of Oxford and Norwich, N. Y., respectively. Mr. Stratton was one of the pioneers of Tuscarora, coming there with a yoke of cattle, and engaged in farming. He died in 1886, and his wife in 1892. George B. Stratton was reared on a farm and has always followed farming. In 1874 he married Reusha A., daughter of L. Swan of Tuscarora, by whom he had eight children: Charles B., George L., Floyd F., Clarence, who died November 27, 1892, Ina, Girden, Ada, and Alfreda, who died in 1892, aged three months. In 1864 Mr. Stratton enlisted in Co. A, 188th N. Y. Vols., and was discharged in June, 1865. He was at Hatcher's Run, second battle of Petersburg, and at Lee's surrender. He is a member of G. A. R., No. 372, at Addison.

Stanton, Jacob and Stephen T .- Robert Stanton, the first of the family to settle in Steuben county, came from Stanton Hill, Schoharie county, about 1820, when still a boy, and located on Lent Hill. He was a son of Elijah Stanton, who was a physi- cian, and who came to the county about 1840, and settled on what is now the Vandy farm. He served through the war of 1812. In 1824 Robert Stanton took up his first . piece of land, containing seventy-five acres, paying $1.25 per acre. He was a man of industrious and frugal habits, and with the advance of years added to his possessions,

367

FAMILY SKETCHES.

until he became one of the prominent and well-to-do farmers of that vicinity. He was one of the founders of the Lent M. E. church, and was its first class leader, taking an active part in the building of the church there. He married Susan Moore, of Prattsburg, by whom he had eleven children: Abel, who married Charlotte Stur- tevant, settling first on Lent Hill, and was for many years engaged in farming, afterward settling in Michigan ; Jacob, who settled in Cohocton, where he has always lived, with the exception of from 1854 to 1860, which he spent in California, and has been mainly engaged in farming, but for eleven years was engaged in the produce business in Cohocton. He married Ann Morgan in California for his first wife, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Jane Burk; John, who married Hannah Worster, and settled in Cohocton, where he has always followed farming; Elijah, who married Samantha Morrison, and in 1863 enlisted in the 161st N. Y. Inft., and died in the service; Lucretia, who married Elijah Kelsey, and settled in Benton, Yates county, N. Y .; Emeline, deceased; Susan P., wife of Henry Smith; Stephen T., who mar- ried Martha Sturtevant, settled in the town of Prattsburg, where he has been an enterprising and prosperous farmer, and in 1888 settled in North Cohocton. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. E, 104th N. Y. Inft., and served until in December, 1864. He is a member of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., of Cohocton; Johanna, who married Ira Brownell, and settled in Prattsburg; Hannah S., wife of Abraham Wheaton, of Prattsburg ; and Robert J., deceased.

Allen, William W., was born in the town of Howard, October 19, 1835, son of John Thomas Allen, a native of Steuben county, N. Y., born in the town of Howard in 1811, and grandson of William Allen, born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, N. Y., who settled in the town of Howard near Smith's Pond in the spring of 1810. W. W. Allen is a great-grandson of William Allen of New England, who was active as a soldier in establishing American independence. He married Catherine Hub- bard, daughter of Thomas Hubbard, then postmaster of Boston, and of Judith Ray a granddaughter of Simon Ray, one of the original purchasers of Block Island. Mr. Allen and family moved from Boston to Hagaman Mills near Amsterdam, where he died December 14, 1844, aged eighty-five years. John T. Allen was a farmer in Howard and Avoca several years, whence he removed to Bath and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits; was county treasurer of Steuben county, and died in 1867. He mar- ried Minerva, daughter of Reuben Ferris of Howard, who served in the war of 1812 and was honored with a captain's commission. Reuben Ferris's wife was Rachel Purdy, daughter of Abner Purdy and Hannah Fisher. Mr. Purdy was born in Dutchess county and served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. His father was Ebenezer Purdy, who was early in Greenwich, Conn., and actively engaged in the colonial wars in the year 1755 and thereafter. William W. Allen was educated in Haverling Academy, Bath. In 1852 he entered the banking house of Alfred Purdy Ferris in Bath and was connected therewith until the year 1857, when the Bank of Bath was organized by Hon. Constant Cook, Mr. Allen holding the position of teller. In 1863 the bank became a national Bank, with Mr. Allen the cashier, which position he still holds, He is treasurer of St. Thomas church, of Haverling Academy, is also a director and treasurer of the Urbana Wine Company, a director of the Hammonds- port Wine Company and of the Lake Keuka Wine Company. Mr. Allen was prom- inent in the organization of the Steuben Club of Bath, a noted social organization of

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 97

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