USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 2 & 3 > Part 24
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
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FAMILY SKETCHES.
Riker, John, a native of Dutchess county, was born December 10, 1810. His parents died when he was very young, and but little is known of the history of the family. About 1836 he came to Ontario, Wayne county, and bought seventy-six acres of land, to which he added about 125 acres, and which he left to the family. He married Mary Thorne, of Dutchess county, by whom he had four sons and five daughters, one son and four daughters are deceased. Mr. Riker died November 2, 1882, and his wife April 17, 1886. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith they were Friends. The surviving children are Julia, wife of Wilfred M. Burke, a farmer of Meridian, Cayuga county ; James HI., J. F. and Edward L., who are now on the old homestead and carry on the farin business, J. F. and E. L. in partnership. They are engaged in general farming and fruit raising, and grow about four or five acres of raspberries, ten acres of apples, and thirty-eight acres of grapes. Edward married, January 27, 1887, Carrie J., daughter of Margaret and W. S. Hawley, of Webster, N. Y., by whom he has had one son, John H., born December 13, 1887. J. F. married Annie S. O'Dell, who died February 21, 1887. In politics they are Democrats. Mrs. Riker is a member of the M. E. church, which they attend and support.
Ruf, John P., was born in New York city May 23, 1860. He was educated in the Freehold Institute, of New Jersey, graduating in 1877, located in Clyde in 1878. In 1883 entered the Philadelphia Dental College and Hospital of Oral Surgery, from which he graduated in 1885. Dr. Ruf is a member of the Seventh District Dental Society and of the Garretsonian Society, of Philadelphia, the latter having a membership of 3,500. He is interested in local affairs, and at one time held office as trustee of the village. He is also president of the Clyde branch of the Wayne Building & Loan Association. Dr. Ruf is active in Masonic circles and was for four years master of Clyde lodge, F. A. & M., No. 341. At the age of twenty-seven he married Hattie B., daughter of John Thomas, of Clyde.
Robinson, William Henry, is one of the prominent citizens of Huron and was born August 14, 1833, in Ontario county. He is a son of Thomas Robinson, whose early life was spent at the mason's trade, and his last years as a farmer. Thomas was born in 1801 in Mantlin. Ireland, where he married Christina Gibson, by whom he had eleven children About 1830 he came with his family to America. IIe landed at Quebec, and at once began working on a farm. Later he removed to Phelps and afterwards came to Huron, where he bougnt a place of fifty acres, cleared the land and built him a home. He owned at his death 100 acres. Seven children grew to maturity : Richard, Eliza, Mary, William H., Minerva, Rebecca and John W. The grandfather of our subject was George Robinson, who married Elizabeth Gibson, and had thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. Thomas died in November, 1886, and his wife in June, of the same year. At the age of twenty-two William H. began life for himself, having learned the stone mason and bricklayer's trades. In 1868 he married Catharine, daughter of James M. and Eliza (Stout) Cosad, of Junius, born August 9, 1838, and they have had one child, Lizzie C., wife of Charles Gilkey, of Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and daughter are members of the Wolcott Grange. Our subject is a Republican, and has served as justice of the peace eight years, and as collector one year.
Reed, Jared A., M. D., was born in the town of Williamson, Wayne county, Decem- ber 13, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, Marion Collegiate Institute, Sodus Academy, graduating in 1878. He then entered Cornell University, taking a four years' course, and graduated from that institution in 1882. He then took a two years' course in the Houropathie Medical College, New York, graduating from that institution March 15, 1884. Began to practico medicine the same year, which he con- timmes with much success. Dr. Reed is a member of the Wayne Conuty Homeopathic Society, also of the State society of the same school. April 15, 1885, he married Jermie E. Trimble, of the town of Ontario. They have two children, Mildred and J. Stuart.
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The doctor's father, David B., was born at Fort Ann, Washington county, October 16, 1828. Came to the town of Marion with his parents when he was four years old, was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Ackerson, of Ontario, Wayne county. They had five children : William E., Jared A., Oscar, David S., who died in infancy, and Mary E. The Dr's, grandfather, Fitch Reed, was born in Vermont, about the year 1800. He married twice, second marriage to Almira Gibbs. The family came to the eastern part of this State to Washington county, and had six children : Laura, Jerusha, David B., as noted above, John L., William E. and James T. Fitch Reed was one of the minute men in the French and Indian War. He died in about the year 1865 or 66, and his wife in the year 1885.
Stever, Jacob E., was born in Newark, this county, January 16, 1839, was educated in the Union schools and Sodus Academy, and his early years were spent on his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he taught his first school, following this occupation for several winters. December 13, 1863, he enlisted in Campany F. 2d Mounted Rifles, N. Y. Volunteers, Army of the Potomae, under Burnside, Ninth Army Corps, till October, 1864, at which time his regiment was transferred to Sheridan's command, and was honorably discharged May 13, 1865. March 21, 1860, he married Rebecca J. Lefurgey, of Sodns, and they had five children : Lettie E., who died aged thirty-three; Cleon E., who died aged ten ; Frankie J., who died aged five months; Sadie and Edith M. Lettie married Emerson D. Warren, of Buffalo, having one son, Frank S. Mr. Stever's father, James M., was born in Columbia county, July 22, 1814, aud came here with his parents when young. He married Elizabeth Filkins, of his native county, and they had three children ; Jabob E., Sarah C. and an infant son living only a few hours. Dennis Lefurgey, father of Mrs. Stever, was born in Columbia county, in 1805, and came to Sodus, where he married Margaret P. Steegar, and they had eight children : Jacob, Rebecca J., Einmarette, John B., William W., Dennis W., Anna P., and an infant daughter living only two days Mr. Stever is a member of Vosburgh Post. No. 99, G. A. R., of which he has been commander two terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Stever is a manufacturer of flavoring extracts.
Ray, William L., was born in Canada September 17, 1862, the fifth of seven children of John and Mary Ray, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of England. The father of Jolm Ray was Robert Ray, aged 84, a native of Ireland, who came to Can- ada in an early day, where he died in 1863. The maiden name of Marv Ray was Fowler, her father Walter, aged 93, whose father came from England and lived and died in Canada. Subject's father has been a mill man, came to Ontario in 1865 and engaged in the mill business a number of years, where he has since resided, Mrs. Ray died Jannary 11, 1888, aged seventy years. Onr subject was reared on a farm, and edneated in the common schools. He learned the engineer's trade and followed it fif- teen years. He and his brother purchased thirty-two acres of land in Ontario, and in 1889 subjeet bought his interest and follows fruit raising, having four acres of berries. He is a Prohibitionist in polities. He and his wife are members of the Free Methodist church, and he has been trustee and steward, superintendent of the Sunday school, and is now trustee. Mr. Ray married, June 9, 1882, Anna E. Willard, a native of Ontario and daughter of George Willard and Adelaide (Gibbs) Willard. They have one son, Norley L., born June 16, 1891.
Strauss, Jacob was born in the province of the Rhine, Prussia, August 22, 1822, and came to the United States in September 1852, and located in Clyde in 1854, where he established a large clothing store and merchant tailoring business. He married Mary Jane, daughter of David Stoddart and they had three children : Saty Theresse, Charles A., William S. Mr. Strauss is an energetic and upright business man and has won the respeet of all with whom he has been associated.
Slocum, Smith E., was born in Macedon February 11, 1855, the second child of nine children born to Benjamin and Catherine P. Slocum, the former a native of Perrington,
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FAMILY SKETCHES.
Monroe county, born in 1820, and the latter a native of Dutchess county, born in 1827. Mr. Slocum came to Macedon in 1854 and then to Ontario in 1861, settled two miles north of Ontario Center, and in 1864 came on the farm he now owns, and here his wife died January 24, 1885. Mr. Slocum has been a Democrat, and was highway com- missioner. He and his wife have for many years been members of the Baptist church, since 1854. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in Marion Collegiate Institute. IIe followed teaching ten years, but his principal occupation has been farin- ing, and he now has charge of his father's farm of seventy acres, and follows general farming. He is a Democrat. He married in Batavia in 1885, Emma Foster, a native of South Butler, and daughter of James P., and Carroline Collier, the former a native of New Brunswick and the latter of England. He died August 29, 1891, and his wife December 31, 1887. Mr. Slocum and wife have had two children, Leon F., and Elmer R. The grandfather of subject, Smith Slocum, was born in Massachusetts, was one of the first settlers of Macedon, and went to Monroe county, and died in Perrington, October 25, 1835. His wife was Elizabeth Bliss, a native of Massachusetts, who died January 27, 1858. He had a family of nine children, three sons of whom were in the war of 1812. Subjeet has been deputy sheriff under Sheriff Knowles. The family is of English descent, and started from three brothers coming from England in 1630.
Seelye, Jesse, of Savannah, is one of the typical old residents, having occupied his present residence on a farm one-half mile west of Savannah, since 1837. His parents, Benjamin and Anna, moved from Queensbury to Galen during the building of what was then locally known as "Clinton's Ditch." Jesse was born in Warren county, came with his parents to Wayne county when twelve years old, and has spent most of his life in farming, although in earlier life he acquired and practiced the trades of shoe- making and coopering. November 4, 1832, he married Mary A. Stackus of Savannah, and their only child, Ursula, born February 15, 1835, died November 6, 1854, unmarried.
Soule, Harriet B., of Savannah, is the widow of Rowland Soule, who died in 1886, aged sixty-four years. He was born in Duanesburg. October 30, 1855, he married Harriet B., daughter of Orestes and Sally (White) Hubbard, of Butler, and bought the farm one-half mile north of Savannah in 1867, erecting thereon the residence now occu- pied by Mrs. Soule and her children. Mrs. Soule's children are : Ella S., born September 27, 1857 : ITerbert C., born November 29, 1859, who married, in 1887, Ella, daughter of Rev. P. H. Wiles, of Savannah, and has one son, Harold W., born in 1891 (they reside at Rochester) ; Carrie, born June 12, 1862, who married, in 1891. Milan Sherman, of Savannah, and has one danghter, Helen Grace, born in 1891 ; and Grace L., born in 1868.
Stebbins, William II. HI., was born in the town of Arcadia, May 2, 1840. He was edneated in the public schools, and for the past thirty years has been a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements and phosphate. In September, 1868, he married Phoebe A. Fuller, of his native town, and they have had two children : Charles A., who died at the age of four years and eight months; and Ella L., who resides with her parents. Mr. Stebbins' father, Carlos A., was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, in 1789. He was a pioneer farmer IIe married Cynthia Seargent, of the town of Sodus, and they had eight children: George, Thomas, William HI. H., Jerome, James, Ella M., Carlos A., and Emily. He died in 1879, and his wife resides in this village. ITis father was a soldier of the war of 1812 at Sodus Point. Mr. Stebbins was a soldier of the late war in Company I, 17th Infantry, New York State Volunteers, was honorably discharged on account of sickness. His business life has been successful. He has been overseer of the poor seven years, and is town collector. He is a member of Newark Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. ; of Newark Chapter No. 17, R. A. M .; Zenobia Commandery No. 41, K. T., of Pahnyra; Palmyra Council No. 26, R. & S. M .; and Knights Templar No. 41, K. T.
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LANDMARKS OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Soule, Mary and Lavinia, are the daughters of Enos and Mary Soule, who came from Schenectady county in 1831, having a family of ten children. Lavinia was born April 16, 1811, and Mary, October 18, 1832. Enos Soule lived in a log house a few years, on the site of the modern residence now occupied by the sisters, a mile north of the village. IIe was an intimate friend of Gerrit Smith, then residing at Peterboro, and was a practical and fearless abolitionist, personally assisting the operations of the cele- brated " Underground Railway," also a leader in the Temperance cause. He died here in 1861, and his wife ten years later, leaving seven children, of whom Mary and Lavinia are the sole survivors. They are ladies of education and refinement, and their remi- niscences of the early times are of great interest.
Sherman, Stephen D. (deceased), was born in East Palmyra, September 16, 1811. His father and grandfather were among the first settlers in Palmyra. S. D. Sherman was educated at the Cazenovia Seminary, and after leaving school took up the profession of medicine. In the spring of 1848 he came to Lyons, and associated with Dr. Samuel Moore and engaged in the general practice of medicine. The partnership continned up to 1854, and was then terminated by the death of Dr. Moore. At the age of twenty- two our subject married Jane, daughter of Josiah Betts, of Schoharie, and they were the parents of four children : Warren F., of Kalamazoo, Mich. ; Charles E .; Mrs. Mary E. Darling; and Frank Sherman, of Lyons. Our subject was one of the most success- ful and best known in his profession, taking an active interest in educational and religious matters, having been a member of the M. E. Church from early boyhood. Dr. Sherman died February 13, 1894.
Silver, O. Clate, was born November 10, 1867, the son of Harvey O. and Fanny (Sergeant) Silver. The elder Silver was for many years a resident of Savannah, where he established, in 1886, the business now conducted by his son. His wife, Fanny, is a daughter of James Sergeant, who enjoys the distinction of being the first white male child born in Sodus. O. C. Silver received his edneation chiefly at the Sodus Academy, and married, November, 29, 1887, Kate Verbridge, of Williamson, Wayne county. They have one daughter, Loraine, born July 28, 1891. In 1893 he assumed control of the business established by his father, that of furniture, undertaking and embalming, and has added a large line of general goods and bakery products. Mr. Silver is a man of enterprise, attending besides his regular business to the editorial charge of the Wayne County Dispatch (Savannah edition), and acting as special correspondent for some of the leading dailies, among them the New York World. Both himself and wife are members of the Savannah M. E. Church.
Shourds, Daniel S., was born in the town of Macedon, January 11, 1842. Reuben Shourds, his father, was a native of New Jersey. He went to Rochester in 1826, and there learned the mason's trade, then moved to the town of Macedon, where he worked both at his trade and farming for a few years. He afterward abandoned his trade, and devoted himself entirely to farming. He married Esther Sisson, who was a native of Massachusetts. Daniel S. Shourds was their only child. He was educated in district schools, in the Union Springs Academy, and from there he went to Poughkeepsie, where he finished. He entered the nursery business as salesman, and in 1863 he started in that business for himself. At the present time he is dealing in all classes of fruits and ornamentals, and receives orders from all parts of the country. October 11, 1866, he married Phebe M. Palner, and they have four children. Mr. Shourds has been super- visor and commissioner of the town, and in politics is a Republican. He is a member of the Orthodox branch of the Friend's Church.
Scott, Samuel & Co., maltsters .- This firm is composed of Samuel Seott and his two sons, Wilham S., and Seymour Scott. Samuel was born in Lyons in 1827, and has led an active and prominent business life, heing identified in advancing the best interests of his town. At the age of thirty he married Lucy M., daughter of Daniel Spier, of Lyons.
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In 1858 he established a carriage manufactory, which he continued twenty years. For seven years he was engaged in the produce business, and in 1877 engaged in the malt- ing business, and in 1880 the Scott malt honse with a capacity of 250,000 bushels was erected. The father of Samuel Scott, for whom he was named, came from Lincoln- shire, England, to Sodns, in 1810, and was called out to defend his State in the war of 1812. Seymour Scott married Mary C., daughter of H. C. Atkins, of Brattleboro, Vt., at the age of twenty-seven, and they have two sons, George and Harry. William S. Seott married, at the age of twenty-four, Bertha L., danghter of James Thomas, of Baltimore, and they have two children : William Sebert, and Lucy. The firm of Samuel Scott & Co. is one of the leading houses in malting in Western New York. Scott Bros. are dealers in essential oils, making a specialty of oil of peppermint, for which Wayne county has a justly celebrated reputation in the production of this particular oil, which in amount exceeds one-half of the total production in the United States, this firm now are the largest dealers in the county. The firm has a deserved reputation for business ability and strict integrity.
Saunders, Enoch, came to Palmyra from Litchfield, Conn., and worked for John Swift. After the latter sold his business, Mr. Saunders received as compensation for his services a piece of land, of which he took possession innnediately after leaving Mr. Swift's employ. He next journeyed to Connecticut, where he married Abigail Hilens, returning with his wife to his property here, and began farming. He died in 1825, and his wife in 1857, their children are : Orlando Lorenzo, who moved to Michigan ; Ben- jamin, who also moved to Michigan ; Orson, who died in 1825; Malissa, who married Willard Chase; Alice, who married James Seely, and has a son, Andrew, who now re- sides in Palmyra. Orlando was born in 1803, and had four sons, two of which are now living : Alexander, who lives in Michigan ; Septimius, born in 1834, who has always resided on the homestead farm. He has 105 acres in Palmyra, and forty-five in Ontario county, all in one tract.
Stuber, Seymour, was born in Switzerland, September 14, 1850, one of eight children of Horace and Elizabeth Stuber, of that country, who came to America and to Utica in 1853, where they died, she in 1857, and he in 1872. Our subject was three years of age when he came to Utica, and learned the blacksmith's trade at Deansville. He then went to Clinton, where he worked at his trade three years, then to Deansville, where he remained about six months. In 1872 he came to Ontario Center, where he has since had a successful business. He married, March 20, 1871, Mary Dow Darrow, a native of Oriskany Falls, by whom he has had five children : Minnie, William B., Seymour, Lizzie, and Grover. He is a Democrat in politics.
Shepard, Albert, was born in the town of Galen, October 16, 1834. His father, Harry, and grandfather, Silas Shepard, came from the northern part of Vermont, near Lake Champlain, and settled three miles northeast of Clyde, when the country was new, taking up a farm from the United States Government, and which is still in the posses- sion of the family, known as Shepard's Corners. Albert was educated in the common schools, finishing at the Clyde High School, after which he returned to his father's farm. At the age of twenty-nine he married Phoebe McNeill, and they are the parents of two sons: Fred and Harvey. After his marriage he took up his residence on his farm on the Clyde and Rose plank road, where he continued to reside until the year 1889, when he was appointed keeper of the County Poor House, where he still remains.
Stanford, Daniel J., was born in Oneida county April 7, 1837, a son of Richard and Sally A. (Thorn) Stanford, early settlers of Oneida county, who came to the town of Ontario, Wayne county, April, 1858, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father died October 1, 1889, aged 81 years; the mother, December 9, 1881, aged 68 years. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Thorne, was in the war of 1812, taking the place of his son, who was drafted. Jonathan Stanford, the father of Richard, was
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one of the first settlers of Oneida county, where he lived and died. Daniel J. Stanford received a common school education and was by occupation a fariner. In 1858 he came to Ontario, Wayne county, with his parents, and in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in Company B, 138th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry for three years, and during the war was in the battles of Coldharbor, Monocacy, Winchester and Cedar Creek, where he received a gunshot wound in the right leg which disabled him for life. He was dis- charged as a sergeant of Company B, 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, from the Satterlee U. S. General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., July 31, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. He then returned to Furnaceville, Wayne county, and was in the employ of the Ontario Iron Company as weighmaster for five years, from May, 1870. From that time he lived a retired life till 1889, when he was appointed assistant postmaster under W. Birdsall at Ontario, and reappointed under Henry E. Van Der Veer in 1893; was elected justice of the peace for the town of Ontario, Wayne county, in 1890.
Smith, Horace W., and Addison P., of Savannah, are the sons of Willis G. Smith, who was for twenty years a practicing physician at Otisco, Onondaga county, and who came to Wayne county in 1864, engaging in general merchandise business under the style of Stults & Smith, on the site of the Newton House. He was a prominent figure in the Presbyterian Church Society, and for several years was postmaster of Savannah. In 1845 he married Almira Whitney, by whom he had these children : Chandler II., born in 1848, now of lowa; Horace W., born January 1, 1852; Willis II., born in 1855, now of Pasadena, Cal .; Addison P., born December 30, 1866, and Charles A., born in 1860, now of Madera, Cal. Willis G. died in California in 1891, aged sixty-nine years, after a residence of five years at Pasadena. After an academic course in Lyons, Horace W. Smith attended Grammar School No. 35 in New York city, and later the College of the City of New York (now New York University), but on account of ill-health did not graduate. For twelve years he practiced telegraphy at Clyde, Rochester, Syracuse, and Troy, at the latter place being chief operator. In 1864 he formed a co-partnership with his brother, Addison, as general storekeepers on Main street, Savannah, which stil continues. Ile was postmaster from 1889 to 1894, was six years on the Board of Edu- cation, three years as village trustee, etc. He is a Knight Templar of Zenobia Com- mandery, and for five years was master of Savannah Lodge No. 764, F. and A. M. Mr. Smith has rare oratorical powers, often using that talent as the exponent of justice and right. May 29, 1877, he married Estelle C., daughter of James Carris, of Tyre, N. Y., and has two sons : Raymond W., born March 16, 1880, and Frederick C., born Decem- ber 2, 1885. The business career of Addison P. Smith began at twenty-one years of age, with E. N. Leonard. He succeeded his father in the management of a general store in Savannah. Five years later, in 1881, Mr. Leonard transferred his interest to Horace Smith, thus forming the present firm of Smith Brothers. May 8, 1884, Addi- son married Cora, daughter of Delos Betts, of Savannah, and their children are: Florence May, born June 12, 1885; Anna Whitney, born May 2, 1887. Like his brother, Mr. Smith is an ardent Republican, at present representing Savannah in the County Legisla- ture for the second term. Besides the many minor offices of trust, which come un- songht to the man of ability and enterprise, he served for seven successive years as town clerk.
Sampson, Thomas, was born in the town of Lyons January 7, 1826, being born and remaining on a farm, he followed that as an occupation. Thomas Sampson, sr., his father, came to this country from England in 1806, then thirteen years old. He settled at Lyons, where he continued to live up to his death, which occurred in 1868. Mr. Sampson married Melinda Clark, of Penfield, September 3, 1821. They were the parents of five children, of which there are three living, including Thomas. Thomas Sampson, jr., married Anna Underhill, September 3, 1856, and to them were born seven children, five of whom are living. Mr. Sampson is a farmer. In politics he is a Repub- liean and has served as assessor twelve years, and as town clerk. He is a member of the M. E. church.
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