USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 2 & 3 > Part 14
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Croncher, William, born in England (Sussex) February 14, 1830, is a son of Isaac and Mildred Croncher, natives of England, who came to America in 1845, and to Marion in 1869, where Mr. Croncher died, June 19, 1881, and his wife January 15, 1878. William followed farming and threshing about forty-five years. He has dealt quite largely in real estate, but now owns only fifty aeres. Ile bought the Marion mills in 1884, and has put in the full roller process. He has been a very industrious man, and by example has educated all his children, except Edward and Fannie, to be farmers and threshers. October 1, 1853, he married Clara Willie, born June 11, 1827, a native of England, by whom he had the following children : Fannie M., born July 15, 1858, who married Albert Smith, by whom she has one child, Jessie; George W., manufacturer of cigars at Newark, born Angust 4, 1860, who married Rose Potter, and has one child, Altus; Elias D., born July 2, 1862, traveling for fertilizing company, who married Annie Eddie, and they have one child, Olive; Edward W., born April 12, 1865, who learned the millers' trade, and for seven years has been proprietor of Marion Roller Mills. He is also engaged in the manufacture of amber cane syrup and pepper- mint oil. He married May, daughter of Abram Garlock; Ira N., born May 1, 1865,
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who has been a traveling salesman, but is now assisting his brother in the mill. Mr. Croncher has a reputation for uprightness and integrity, and has given all his children academical educations.
Clarke, Sylvester H., was born in ('lyde, November 5, 1820. ITis father, Sylvester Clarke, was a native of Northampton, Mass., and came to Clyde in the spring of 1817, where he commenced business as a merchant. The family were from the early settlers of Massachusetts, and can trace their descent back to the Pilgrim fathers that landed on Plymouth Rock in December, 1620. Sylvester Clarke, the father, died May 27. 1876, aged eighty years. The subject of this sketch was partially educated at William Kirkland's Boarding School in Geneva, after leaving which he continned his studies at the Clyde High School, then a new institution, under the able supervision of William II. Seram as principal and Josiah N. Westcott assistant. At the age of twenty-two years he became the member of a mercantile establishment in ('lyde, under the firm name Halstead & Clarke, which continued in existence up to 1848. He married. Octo- ber 17, 1843, Lney, eldest danghter of Mrs. Sarah Preston, of Geneva. by whom he had three daughters, all of whom died in infancy. In 1855, while residing at South- ampton, Mass., he became the private secretary of Hon. Sammuel C. Pomeroy. business agent of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, but since then a United States senator from the State of Kansas, and removed to Kansas City. Mo .. where, through their office, the towns of Lawrence, Ossawatomie and Topeka, in Kansas territory, were settled. In 1857 returning to Clyde (the anti-slavery excitement among the settlers of Kansas, compelling him to do so), he entered the employ of Miller, Rowell & Co., as a bookkeeper at the Clyde window glass manufactory, after which he held an official position of fourteen years, under eight collectors, in the New York Custom House, receiving his appointment from Hon. Hiram Barney, the first collector of the Port of New York, after Lincoln's election as president. In April, 1875, he returned to Clyde, and after the death of his father, took possession of a small farm, which has now been in the Clarke family over seventy-five years. He is at present the regular correspond- ent of several city dailies, and occasionally writes for magazines, likewise takes an active interest in Odd Fellowship, the Grange and other society organizations.
Crafts, Alfred P., M.D., was born in 1828, at Cherry Valley, Otsego county. He was graduated from Union College, class of '51, and graduating in 1853 from Buffalo Medi- cal College, he practiced in Sodns and Huron until the exigencies of the war called for his professional services, and where he was for three years an active assistant surgeon, in Alexandria and Washington. At the close of the war he located in Wolcott, where a large medical practice engrossed his attention until his election to the State Legisla- ture in November, 1879. Dr. Crafts died at Wolcott, December 18, 1880. His widow whom he married June 9, 1853, is a daughter of the late Dr. Levi Gaylord, of Sodus.
Carr, Robert S., M.D., was born in Seneca, Ontario county, N. Y., June 22, 1856, and is the son of Stephen and Margaret McGregor Carr, he a native of England, and she of Scotland, who came to Canandaigua in 1851. Mr. Carr was a farmer by occupa- tion, and died in 1863 in Michigan, where he had resided five years. His wife resides in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and Cornell University. He then studied medicine with Dr. S. R. Wheeler at East Bloomfield one year, and entered the medieical department of the University of Buffalo, from which he gratuated in 1889. He went to Pultneyville the same year and practiced until 1893, when he came to Williamson, where he has since had a successful practice. He is health officer of Williamson. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Acme Lodge, No. 469, Newburg, N. Y., and of K. O. T. M., of Williamson. In 1892 Dr. Care married Anna L. Nye, of Will- iamson, daughter of Benona and Lavina Nye.
Corning, Col. Joseph W., was born in Yarmonth, N., S., in 1814, and removed to Rochester with his parents in 1823. In 1834 he was elected captain of a military com-
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pany in Waterloo. In 1841 he was appointed postmaster of Ontario, Wayne county, by President William Henry Harrison, serving four years. In 1847 he removed to Palmyra. After spending three years in California, he returned to Palmyra, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1855. He also held the offices of justice of the peace, police magistrate, mayor of Palinyra, and other positions of trust. In 1860 he was elected to represent his district in the State Assembly. Immediately npon ad- journment he returned to his home and organized a company for the war. His pro- motion was rapid, and when the famous 33d Regiment was mustered ont in 1863, he was the lieutenant-colonel. He was with his regiment in all its engagements. In the battle of Williamsburg, Col. Corning's brilhant charge saved the day. He then joined the 111th Regiment, with which he served a year, when Governor Fenton requested his return home to organize another regiment. He was commissioned a colonel of the 194th, the last regiment organized in tins State. Shortly after Benjamin Harrison was inaugurated president, Col. Corning received the appointment of postmaster at Pal- myra, which position he held at his death, June 29, 1890, when his widow, Louisa U. Corning, was appointed by the president to succeed him.
Corning, John W., was born in Ontario, this county, September 8, 1841, and moved to Palmyra with his parents at the age of six, and received his education in the Pahnyra Union School. He had commenced his third year as teacher in the Palmyra Union School, when the war broke ont, when he resigned and enlisted in Company B, 33d N. Y. Volunteers, and left for the front July 6, 1861. In November, 1861, he was commissioned second lieutenant of said company, and in May, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant. In November, 1862, he was made adjutant of the 33d, which position he heid when mustered out with the regiment. June 2, 1863, on account of expiration of term of service. He was with his company and regiment in all their engagements in the l'eninsular campaign. He was the only officer with his company during MeClel- lan's seven days' retreat to Harrison's Landing. Upon reaching the James River, Sec- retary of War Stanton ordered him to New York State to recruit men for his depleted company, in which he was met with a hearty response. During the winter of 1862 he was adjutant-general of his brigade, and went with the brigade to Fredericksburg under Gen. Burnside, where the Army of the Potomac, being stuck in the mud, was obliged to return to White Oak Church and go in winter quarters. On Sunday morn- ing, May 3, 1863, the order came to charge up the heights of Fredericksburg. He and his father (who was in command of the 33d) went up, mounted, and upon gaining the heights, his father's horse was shot from under him. The two days' fighting, May 3 and 4, Company B lost more men than they had in the entire two years' service. After being mustered out, he was connected with the pay department in paying troops in the Army of the Potomac. November 9, 1864, he married Katharine Drake, daughter of the late Nelson Drake, and has two daughters, Delia M. and Grace J. Mr. Corning was appointed collector of canal tolls at Palmyra for two successive years, and was in mercantile business for ten years. In January, 1877, he was elected sergeant-at-arms, New York State Senate, to which position he was elected four times, serving eight years. In 1882, after passing civil service examination, he was appointed examiner in the United States appraiser's department, New York, which position he held for five years. In 1888 the secretary of the United States treasnary appointed him deputy surveyor, Port of New York, which position he still holds.
Cheetham, Richard N., was born in London, England, October 16, 1846, and is the son of John and Mary Cheetham, of England, who came to Sodus in 1852, where they now reside. Mr. Cheetham enlisted in Company E, 98th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry and served a year and a half and re-enlisted in Company K, 97th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry . and served two years. Our subject was reared on a farm, edneated in the common schools and then learned the carpenter trade and followed it for eleven years, in Williamson. He had worked at carriage making two years previously. In 1881 he and
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his brother. George F., bought out Alfred Bakeley's hardware business and have since conducted it under the firm name of R. M. Cheetham & Co. They also engaged in the banking business in 1893 and have had a successful year. Mr. Cheetham and wife are members of the Methodist Church £ In 1871 Mr. Cheetham married Eliza E. Smith, of Williamson, danghter of Robert Smith, one of the earliest settlers of the town, who died in 1893.
Crandall, F. G., editor and proprietor of The Wayne County Dispatch, born at Pal- myra, July 17, 1863, was educated in the common and high schools of that town ; and learned the printer's trade in the office of The Wayne County Journal. He conducted a job printing office during 1882-83 for F. W. Clemons, and then established one for himself January 16, 1885. September 21, 1892, The Dispatch was founded by Mr. Crandall, as proprietor, and A. F. Du Bois as editor. The publication is an eight-column folio, Republican in politics ; is the only newspaper in the county setting all of its own matter, and, among other prominent features, makes a specialty of county correspond- ence, devoting each week about five columns to this class of news. February 14, 1892, Mr. Crandall married Miss Mary Bearss, of Rochester. He is a member of Zenobia Commandery No. 41, K. T. ; Phil Sheridan Lodge No. 430, I. O. O. F .; Palmyra Tent No. 118, K. O. T. M. ; Ganargua Tribe No. 143, I. O. R. M .; and Palmyra Steamer and Hose Company No. 1. Mr. Du Bois was born at Fairville, N. Y., March 25, 1872, where the first four years of his life were spent. His father then dying, the family, consisting of a mother and four children, removed to Huntsburgh, O., afterwards locating at Newark, N. Y., where the subject of this sketeh was educated in the Union School and Academy. After learning the printing business in the office of the Newark Union, he, in July, 1891, assumed the associate editorship of the Palmyra Democrat. Resigning this position he became editor of The Dispatch at its inception, retaining the position two years. In September, 1893, Mr. Dubois began a two years' journalistic course of study in the University of Rochester.
Chapin, Joseph R., was born in Huron in 1846, and is the son of Harlow Chapin, of Huron, born in 1822, whose father was Spencer Chapin, a farmer and native of Massa- chusetts, the son of Phineas Chapin, of the same place, who came to Huron in 1811 with his family and was killed by the fall of a tree the same year. The wife of Harlow Chapin was Fannie Reed, and their children were Spencer E., Joseph R., Charles E., Frank H., Ella L., wife of Rev. Mather Gafney, of Manlius, N. Y., Edgar W. Harlow, and Fanny. When twenty-one our subject began farming and from 1874 to 1878 he was interested in a stave and barrel factory. He makes berries his special crop at present. In 1868 he married Fanny J., danghter of Lorenzo and Almira Cady, of Huron, who was born in 1846, and their children are Mattie E., born February, 1873; May A., born May, 1876; Joseph C., born in May, 1878; Grace C., born in December, 1879 ; Stephen L., born in May, 1882, and Harvy S., born in August, 1884. Our subject served as town clerk three terms, and as highway commissioner one term. In 1879 he purchased the farm of seventy-one acres, on which he now resides.
Creque, Hermon C., is decended from one of the oldest and most distinguished of la noblesse families of France. Baudoin de Crequy was knighted in 1190, and the family record of meritorious services rendered through subsequent centuries to civilization, the state, and the church, are preserved by France as a national trust and honor. The family has furnished two eminent " Marshals of France," one " Constable of France," one " Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church," one " Archbishop of Paris," and many less important state and church dignitaries. Hermon C. is a direct descendent of Francois de Blanchefort Crequy, marshal of France, who commanded the army of France when it defeated the Duke of Lorraine and added the provinces of Lorraine and Alsace to the domain of France. He was the " Bismarck " of his time and country, the intimate friend of Louis XV., whose private chaplain conducted his obsequies in 1687. His por-
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trait is numbered 1419 in " Des Galleries Historiques de Versailles," France. John Creque, the father of Hermon C., was one of the largest pioneer manufacturers of Cen- tral New York, and at his extensive agricultural and machine shops in Trumansburg, Tompkins county, N. Y., were made great numbers of threshing machines, plows, por- table horse powers, corn shellers, horse rakes, harrows, kitchen and parlor stoves, etc .. etc., and as a dealer he early bought and introduced into Tompkins county the various makes of reapers, mowers, grain drills, etc., etc. He was an acknowledged power for good in social, religions, political and business life. Hermon C. was born at Trumans- burg, Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1816. In 1838 he married Mabel, daughter of Allen Pease, thus keeping up the practice which had been followed for centuries by members these two noblesse families of intimate social relations and frequent intermarriage. He began his business career as a manufacturer of carriages, and was very successful. In 1852 he purchased over a hundred acres of choice land near Wolcott village, Wayne county, N. Y., and removed there. He was the principal organizer of the first Temper- ance society formed in Wolcott village. He was a liberal contributor to the erection of Leavenworth Academy in Wolcott village and subsequently liberally patronized and helped to sustain it. He purchased and used upon his farm the first grain drill and also the first mower and reaper employed in eastern Wayne county, and by becoming an agent for their sale he introduced the use of a number of said implements into Wolcott and adjoining townships. He built and resided in the first large " pine house " erected in Wayne county, bringing the pine lumber from Tompkins county, N. Y., by lake and canal to Clyde, N. Y., and trucking it thence to Wolcott. He erected a brick store building on Main street, Wolcott village, which is still used for business purposes ; also the "Opera House Block " on Main strect, which he still owns. He has been a Repub- lican since the organization of that political party and in religion professes the Protest- ant faith as expounded by the Presbyterian Church. He has a family of eight children living, one of whom has been the largest manufacturer in his line in this conntry and is acknowledged to be the foremost sanitary plumbing engineer in the civilized world. His lectures before eminent scientific and prominent industrial art associations are con- sidered anthoritative upon their respective subjects. Hermon C. has conclusively proved in many ways that he is not a degenerate son of noble sires, but beside his own useful life he has evidently transmitted to posterity the unblemished family character, aspira- tions, talents, and persistent energy inherited from his forefathers and which are des- tined to maintain the excellent record already richly merited.
Dunham, Henry, is the son of John and Sally (Ketchum) Dunham. The former was born in Fabius, Onondaga county, October 21, 1791, and the latter in Manlins, Sep- tember 22, 1793, and came to Savannah in 1833, ocenpying what is now the home of our subjeet. Of their seven children, six are living: Henry, Melinda, Betsey, Mary C., Jerry and Erastus, one son, J. Harvey, having died some years ago. The three daugh- ters are married and live in Michigan, being all residents of Kent county in that State. Henry's boyhood was spent in Camillus, Onondaga county. He was born October 3, 1820, and married February 7, 1847, Laura A., daughter of Seth Wood, of Savannah. She had no children, and died May 3, 1882, an earnest Christain, a loving and devoted wife, her loss is yet felt and mourned. Erastus Dunham has spent his whole life at this home, where he was born in 1838. He remains a bachelor, is a man of much ability and force of character, but for more than twenty years has been an invalid, crippled by a spinal complaint. February 4, 1883, Henry again married. His present wife is Mary E., daughter of Abram O'Neil, of Fairport, N. Y. She has no children. Mr. Dunham's farm contains 175 acres of excellent land, sitnated five miles northeast of Savannah. His specialty has been the breeding of Merino sheep, in which his suc- cesss has been marked.
Dunham, Mrs. Laura Ann, was born in Steuben county June 23, 1826, and was the daughter of Seth Wood, of Savannah, where she resided until her death, May 3, 1882.
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She was married to Henry Dunham February 7, 1847, and lived an exemplary Chris- tian life. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant church and deeply devoted to the cause of the Master. She was enshrined in the hearts of those who knew her best, and had their respeet and confidence. She was that earnest in her work of faith that the power of God was demonstrated to the people while she was in travail of soul for the salvation of sinners. When burdened for souls she would wrestle for hours with God until vietory turned on Israel's side, and the joy and peace that fol- lowed was unspeakable and full of glory. As she lived so she died, in the triumphs of a living faith.
De Lamater, George C., was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1828, the fourth born of the eight children of Stephen V. R. and Esther De Lamater. Stephen settled on a farm in Butler in 1829, and ten years later moved to Wolcott, where he died in 1889, aged eighty-eight years. For twenty years George De Lamater operated a grain threshing outfit, besides farming and fruit growing. In 1858 he purchased of Andrew Preston the saw mill at North Wolcott, which he still runs. He has been excise com- missioner, also of highways. His wife, who died in 1890, had been his companion for over thirty years, and was Mary J. Robinson, of Huron. He still lives a single life.
Dehond, Abram F., was born in Williamson, May 3, 1864, and is the son of Abra- ham and Jeanette Dehond, natives of Holland, who came to Rochester in 1854, and to Williamson in 1857, where they now reside. Mr. Dehond is a farmer and raises fruit. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Ile worked for (). J. Tassell as elerk for one year, and then for O. J. & F. W. Tassell for two years, and then elerked for Tassell & Gordon until 1887, when he worked for a year and a half for F. Il. Gordon, and then formed a partnership with him, which has continued for six years. He is a member of the Pultneyville Lodge, No. 159, F. & A. M. August 30, 1888, he married Anna Adams, a native of Williamson, and daughter of John Adams.
Dickie, James, was born in Connecticut, February 14, 1830. His father, John Dickie who came to Constantia, Oswego county, in 1836, was a native of Scotland, and emi- grated to this country in 1827. He spent the larger portion of his life in Constantia, Oswego county, where he died in 1856 at the age of seventy-five years. James Dickie selected farming for an ocenpation and followed it up to 1874, and then came to Clyde and established himself in business. He carries a selected line of imported and domes- tie groceries. At the age of thirty Mr. Diekie married Miss Sybil Dafiler, of Constantia. Mrs. Dickie died in 1890 at fifty-eight years of age. She was a woman who was widely known for her Christian character and beautiful life.
Down, George A., was born in Webster, Monroe county, August 30, 1847, the fourth child of eight children born to John and Lavina Down, the former a native of Eng- land, and the latter of New Hampshire. He came to Monroe county when a young man and started for himself, then came to Ontario and spent most of his life in that town. He now resides at Marion with his son, Edwin O., at the age of eighty, and his wife at the same age. Our subjeet was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Ile was in the furnace business from 1872 to 1877, when he sold, and April 3, 1879, came on the farm he now owns of seventy-eight acres, and follows general farm- ing. He was a Democrat, but at present is a Republican. He has been school trustee two years, and is a member of Webster Lodge No. 538, F. & A. M. He married in 1880 Cornelia M. Stearns, a native of Webster, by whom he has one child, George M. Mr. Down has been junior deacon, senior master of ceremonies, and junior warden.
Donk. August, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, January 20, 1843. His father came to the United States in 1851. Mr. Donk came with his mother the following Year when nine year- old. They firet located in Sodav one year thet want to l'a .-
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myra, where they remained ten years. In 1862 the family came to Newark. Mr. Donk was educated at East Palmyra, and has been in the employ of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. company since the close of the war, first as baggage man, and afterward had charge of the pumping engine at the depot. In February, 1872, he was appointed station agent, which position he still fills. July 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 111th Infantry N. Y. S. Volunteers, was captured at Harper's Ferry under General Miles, duly paroled and exchanged. He was in the battle of Gettysburg and the Wilderness. While on the way to Cold Harbor was taken prisoner, was in Anderson prison, Georgia, four months and a half, in Florence, South Carolina, three months, and was a mere skeleton upon his arrival home. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war in June, 1865. He has married twice, first in 1867 to Jane Morrison, of Brighton, Canada, and they had one son, William, who died at the age of ten. Mrs. Donk died in Jannary, 1875, and he married second April 27, 1877, Mattie E. Toussaint, who was born in Oswego. They have three children: Elizabeth A., James and Madaline. Mr. Donk's father, Carl, was born in Germany in 1802. He married Hannah Eickhoff. of his native place, and they had nine children. Mrs. Donk's father, Oliver Toussaint, was born on Wells Island, Orleans, Jefferson county, in 1829. He married Elizabeth Ashton, of Oswego, and they had three children, Frederick, Mattie E., and Elner. He died in 1867 and his wife in 1874. Mrs Donk has been in the employ of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. company twenty-one years as ticket agent. Mr. Carl Donk died in 1873 and his wife in 1892. Mr. Donk is a member of Newark Lodge No. 83, F. and A. M., and of Vosburg Post No. 99, G. A. R., department of New York. Mrs. Donk is a member of the Women's Relief Corps.
Demmon, John Watkins, was born in 1833. His father was Horace Demmon, born in Springfield, Vt., in 1803, the son of Daniel Demmon, born in 1768. In 1817 they came to Huron and settled on the farm owned by our subject. Daniel died in 1824, and his son Horace conducted the farm for seventy- four years, dying in 1891. His wife was Rachael M. Richardson, and their children were : Clarissa A., Hannah C., John W. and Delia A. John W. was educated at Red Creek Academy and Falley Seminary, entered the office of L. D. Lawton, in 1854, and in Jannary, 1856, the Albany Law School at Al- bany, N. Y., and emigrated the following Fall to Wisconsin ; represented for two years the Milwaukee Mutual, and Wisconsin Home Fire Insuarnce companies of that State, and the then territory of Minnesota; in December, 1858, represented the publishing house of J. H. Cotton & Co., 172 Wilham street, New York, in Georgia and South Carolina; and the following year shipped horses to those States. In 1863 he married Lucinda J. Smedley, daughter of Rev. Joseph and Mary Ann (Jones) Smedley, of Os- wego county, who was born in 1838, and by whom he had two children : Lena E., born 1865, and Horace Gary, born 1869. Mr. Demmon and wife are members of the Wol- cott Grange, P. of II. No. 348, also a member of Rose Lodge No. 590, F. and A. M., and Ontario Shore No. 495, I. O. O. F. In 1877, under the auspices of the W. C. T. U., occupied the platform for the gospel temperance work in the States of New York, Penn- sylvania, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and was grand lecturer of the Royal Templars of Tem- perance in 1880-1-2. He was for a part of a season on the platform with Col. A. S. Wood, of Wolcott.
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