USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 2 & 3 > Part 30
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Graham, Albert G., was born in the town of Huron, near the head of Great Sodus Bay, August 30, 1831. His father, fleury, and mother, Roxana, were natives of Port Byron. The family were among the early settlers in the Mohawk Valley. His educa- tion was obtained in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-four he married Eliza L., daughter of Solomon Smith, who died in 1866, and he married second in 1867 Theresa, daughter of David Waldur. He has two children, both by his first wife: Charles H., and Emma J., wife of Edward (. Delano, of Sodas Centre, N. Y. In 1861 he bought the A. F. Red- field property of 100 acres; in 1876, the Grimsha property of eighty acres; in 1882, the Edwin Gilderleve property of 102 acres, and now has 265 acres of some of the best. land in Wayne county, raising fruit, hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of milk, producing 150 quarts per day. Our subject is one of the most extensive farmers in his town.
Cosad, Frank, was born in Junius, Seneca county October 6, 1853, son of James Madison Cosad, a native of New Jersey, born in 1810. The grandfather was Samuel Cosad, who came with his family to Seneca county in 1820. James M. came to Huron in 1838, and conducted a hotel at. Port Glaseow. He went to California in 1848, five years later returned to Huron and settled where our subjeet now resides. Later he owned the farm now owned by William Robinson, where he died in 1893. His first wife was Elizabeth Stout of Wayne county, by whom he had two children : Cassie Robinson, of Huron, and George Combe. Ilis second wife was Catherine Stout, born in Arcadia in 1818, by whom he had two children : Farnk and Samnel. Subject has devoted his time to farming, was educated in the Wolcott and Sodus Academies, and in 1876 came to the farm he now owns, consisting of 200 acres on which he has erected a large and handsome dwelling; also a large and commodious barn suitable to such a farm. He married in 1875 Mariam, daughter of Hiram Woodruff, of Huron, and their children are Willis, born November, 1876, and James M., born in March, 1879. Mr. Cosad is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows of Wolcott, and has served as assessor three years.
Turner, Albert, was born in Ontario July 4, 1860. He is the youngest of seven chil- dren of Thomas and Sarsh J. (Osbort:) Turner, natives of England and came to Ontario in 1852. Mrs. Turner died June 17, 1891, and the father resides with his son, Orrin. Our subject was reared on the faim he owns, and was educated in the common schools. He has a place of twenty-four acres, and follows gardening and fruit raising. He is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Free Methodist Church. He married in 1884 Delle, daughter of John Pye, of Rochester. Mr. Turner and wife have two daughters, Mabei and Bertha.
Berzine Family, The .- Philip Bruyzine, (the name was afterward changed to Ber- zine), was a Frenchman, he emigrated to Holland, where he married a Holland lady, to them was born one son. Philip, whose parents died when he was but eight years old. He married at the age of twenty, and had three children, Philip, Susan and Mary. In 1848 they emigrated to America, where his son Philip married Mary DeCan. After be- ing here about three years he and Henry Van Eenyek bought a farin of sixty aeres in the northwestern part of the town of Williamson. This farm was all heavy timber, except a few acres next to the road, but by hard labor they soon cleared more of the land. There was a log house on the place and here they enjoyed life for a time, father and son being loved by all the neighbors. The son conld adapt himself to any and all kinds of work, and was an American from the time he landed on these shores until he
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died ; he took great pride in learning the English language, and winter evenings he spent with his American neighbors, and attending all religions and publie meetings for the purpose of being able to write and read the English language. As he was known by all his neighbors for his ingenions qualities, he was once called upon by one of them to superintend a bee to raise a log barn; in some way the men let go of a log which fell on him; after suffering one day and night he died at the age of thirty years, four months and twenty days, leaving a wife, and aged mother and three small children too young to realize their loss. All that knew him felt that they had lost a friend and kind neighbor. April 4, 1860, the father died at the age of sixty-three years. The three children born to Philip and Mary De Can Berzine were Leinda, James C. and Philip. James C. learned the carpenter's trade and followed it sixteen years. After the death of his father he went to farming which occupation he followed for seven years, and then on April 1, 1883, he came to the village of Williamson and started in the furniture and undertaking business which he has since continued successfully. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, Order of A. O. U. W., Knights of L. F. O. December 21, 1873, Mr. Berzine married Jennie Van Cunningham ; four children were born to them, Fannie May, who died May 17, 1877, at the age of nineteen months, eleven days; Mimmie, Lois, Lucile M. and Mabel Gertrude.
Barton, William, was born in the old log house on the Elisha Barton estate, February 27, 1838. His father, Elsha, came to Wayne county in 1828 from Putnam county, and settled on lot 22, which is now the residence of William Barton. William was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-three he married Emma Louise, daughter of Elias B. Reynolds, and they are the parents of one son, Albert Elias. In 1880 he pur- chased the homestead property of 210 acres, raising large quantities of mint, grain and stock. Our subjeet is one of the leading farmers in his town, and was one of the three commissioners appointed to adjucheate and settle the payment of the bonds issued for Sodus Bay & Corning R. R., taking an active interest also in educational and religions matters.
Weed, Abram, was born in the town of Galen December 2, 1830. His father, Henry, was a native of Norwich, Conn. The family were of French extraction. Abram received his education in the common schools, after which he taught several winters and worked on the farm in the summer. At the age of twenty-seven he married Emily, daughter of Peter Shear, of Junius, and they have three children : Wallace N., Harry M., and Mrs. Dora E. Baker, In 1862 he inherited and purchased the homestead of 100 neres, which has been in the family seventy years. In 1881 he bought the Thomas Lape property of ninety-five acres, raising fruit, hay, grain and stock. Our subject is one of the leading farmers in his town, was elected assessor three terms and road com- missioner three terms.
Ilinman, J. W., was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, October 23, 1844. His father, Willis Hinman, is a native of Hartford, Conn., born in 1806, and came to Ontario county in 1840. Here he followed his trade of carpenter and builder for some years and then became a farmer, and is still an active business man. J. W. Hinman was educated in the Newark High School and Academy and afterward in the Eastman Business College, graduating from the latter in 1865. He came to Clyde in 1867 and entered the employ of Briggs & Palmer, bankers, as book-keeper. He was afterward promoted to assistant cashier, and at the organization of the Briggs National Bank in 1880, was appointed cashier, which position he now holds. At the age of thirty Mr. Himnan married Miss Ida E. Field, daughter of Ambrose Field, of Clyde, and they are the parents of three sons, Willis A., Arthur F., and Harold C. Mr. Hinman is interested in the advancement of his town, and is recognized as a man of sterling integrity and moral worth.
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The subject of the following sketch, Cyrus E. Fitch, was born in the town of Butler, Wayne county, N. Y. December 4, 1844, on the farm where his grandfather, Ebenezer Fitch, first, settled on his arrival from Saratoga, N. Y. His ancestors were of German descent, and are traced directly back to that hardy colony of pioneers who came over from the Fatherland in the " Half Moon" with Hendrick Hudson and settled along the banks of that beautiful river which bears his name. His grandfather, Ebenezer Fitch, emigrated from Saratoga county with his wife at an early day and settled in the town of Butler, where he was elected to the office of justice of the peace for eight consecu- tive years and took an active part in arranging the boundaries and shaping the destinies of what is now one of the most prosperous townships in the county of Wayne. His ancestors on his mother's side were also of German descent and first settled in Jefferson county, this State. In the year 1852 he, with his father, moved on the farm where he has since resided. He was graduated from Wolcott Academy in 1860, taught school until the autumn of 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served until the elose of the war. He was in the battles of Cold Harbor, Mono- eaey, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and Petersburg. After his discharge from the army he was married in the year of 1865 to Elenor J. Pearsoll, a lady of the most estimable character, whose people lived in Wolcott, N. Y. Their union proved a most happy one and has been blessed with an interesting family of children, three sons and one daughter, who have been given the best educational advantages that the State af- forded, the latter, Miss Minnie, being an accomplished musician and a graduate from the Normal College at Albany, N. Y. Mr. Fitch has been a prominent member of the First M. E. Church of Wolcott, N. Y., since 1865 and for a long time a member of the official board of that church. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school for two years, and since retiring from that position he has conducted the largest Bible Class ever known in the church at any time. Mr. Fitch has always taken an active interest in educational work, having served as a member of the board of education of Leaven- worth Institute for thirteen years, from which position he resigned in the spring of 1894, upon being elected to the office of supervisor of his town. He is a Republican in politics, his majority as supervisor being 196, the largest majority ever given to any candidate for supervisor in the town of Butler. He has made an excellent record as supervisor and is a clean, honest and conscientious official. For the past twelve years Mr. Fitch has given a great deal of attention to the preparation and handling of evapor- ated fruit; and his large system of evaporators are among the best and most extensive in the county of Wayne. He is a thorough and successful business man, a kind and indulgent husband and parent, and an enterprising and public spirited citizen.
Hendrick, Austin, who was born in the town of Wolcott in November, 1852, a son of Levi and Catherine (Tones) Hendrick. Levi was born in Wolcott in 1824, and they had four children besides our subject : Mary N., wife of I. Van Arsdale of Owasco ; Will- iam, of Auburn ; Frank, of Rose; Catharine, wife of I. Silliman, of Fairhaven, Cayuga comty. John Hendrick was the grandfather's name. Subject began life by working for farmers and finally purchased the farm of ninety aeres, where he now lives. For some years he gave his attention chiefly to horses and sheep. In 1876 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel C. and Caroline (Leroy) Keeslar. She was born in Huron, and they had these children, Charlie and Leroy. Mr. Hendrick and wife are members of the Wolcott Grange P'. of A., No. 348, and in politics subject is a Republican. Mrs. Hendrick's father, Daniel C. Keeslar and his two brothers, were members of the famous 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. Daniel first enlisted and served three years, and partici- pated in nearly all of the battles of this county. He re-enlisted and was killed in the battle before Petersburg. His brother, Simeon, died from a wound received in the same battle; and Alfred died in the hospital from typhoid fever. In honor of these three brave men the Col. Dutton G. A. R. Post No. 55, at Wolcott was named the Keeslar Post. Their father, Adam Keeslar, presented this post with an appropriate flag, and died in 1889.
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Dickinson, George A., was born in Lysander, N. Y., October 12, 1852, a son of Joshua C., who was a native of Greene county. He settled in Huron in 1857 and lived here until his death. In politics he was a Republican, and served nine years as assessor. His wife was Elmira Powell, and their children were: Steverson S., Powell C., Rachel, wife of John Brink of Michigan ; Mary, wife of Reuben Brink of Michigan ; Kezia, wife of Alfred Waldron of Huron; Susan, wife of Charles Stone of Baldwinsville; Geooge A., Adelbert and Edna. Powell was killed in the Rebellion, at the battle of Port Hudson. Steverson also served in the war. At the age of twenty-two our sub- ject began life for himself by purchasing the farm of seventy-one acres in 1886 where he now resides. He married Luna L., daughter of David and Maria Vought, of Huron. In politics he is a Republican. His grandfather was Samuel Powell a native and shoe merchant of Lysander, who came to Huron in 1857 and spent the remainder of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Dickinson. Joshua Dickinson was a Mason, a member of the Huron Grange Lodge, and was a delegate to many of the county and State con- ventions.
Green, Hugh, was born at Geneva in 1822, came to Galen in 1825, lived with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he spent three years in the lumber region of Michigan. He then returned to Seneca Falls, where for nine years he managed a saw-mill for Smith Bros. In 1854 he purchased a farm in Huron, and has devoted his energies to that pursuit until his retirement to a pleasant home in the village of Wol- cott. In 1851 he married Caroline L., daughter of B. S. Carter of Seneca Falls, and they have three children: Emma, born in 1852, wife of N. C. Vought of Wolcott; George, born in 1854, and Frank, born in 1861. Mr. Green still owns 147 acres of land in Huron, in two farms nearly adjacent, and operated by his sons George and Frank.
Haley, Edward, was born in Walworth in July, 1856, the oldest son of Thomas and ' Mary Haley, natives of Ireland, who came to America abont 1855 and settled on a farm in Walworth, where he now resides. His mother died in 1869. Edward was reared on the farm, educated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. He is extensively engaged in evaporating apples and fruit in the west. In 1875 he purchased the farm of seventy- one acres, where he now resides, following general farming. He is a prominent figure in local politics and is now serving his tenth year as assessor. He is a Granger, and also a member of the Walworth Lodge, F. & A. M.
Peterson, C. O., was born at Auburn, N. Y., July 29, 1854. At fifteen years of age he was by an accident deprived of his right arm, in spite of which serious handicap he acquired an academic education, and was for several years a successful teacher. In the meantime he studied law with Hon J. B. Decker and in 188? was admitted to the bar, beginning practice at once at Red Creek, where he is highly esteemed as a gentle- man and scholar. When bnt twenty-one years of age he was Justice of the Peace, and has been associate justice of the Court of Sessions with Judge Collins. In 1886 he married and has two sons, Ray Ames, born November 3, 1888, and Carleton O., born July 12, 1894.
Smith, John H., was born July 20, 1831, and is a son of Walter II. Smith, who was for forty years a merchant at Port Byron. John H. graduated from Clinton College in 1858 and practiced bookkeeping until the opening of the war in 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-fifth N. Y. S. Volunteers, where he held the rank of sergeant. Ilis army experience was mainly with the Army of the Gulf under Butler. Among the battles in which he participated were Pensacola, Bayou La Fourche and the siege of Port Hudson, At Cedar Creek he received severe injuries, confining him to the hos- pital nearly a year. Since the war he has at various times engaged in gold mining and mercantile business, in the west and as a traveling salesman. In 1874 he married Emma M., daughter of George Vau Scoten, of Montrose, Pa.
Bullock Ira, was born at Wolcott village in 1865, and is the son of Stephen E. and Martha Bullock, who came from Pennsylvania in 1859. Stephen Bullock served four
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years in the civil war, with honor and distinction. Ira was educated at Leavenworth Institute, Wolcott, and served as deputy postmaster in Wolcott for four years, during his father's incumbency under Garfield. In 1893 he purchased a farm near Red Creek. April 27, 1892, he married Ethel, daughter of Theodore Oakley of Wolcott, and they have one son, Stephen, born December 30, 1892.
Perkins, Herbert, wholesale and retail dealer in meats, fish and fruits, at Red Coeek, was born at Hannibal, December 3, 1851. After the completion of his education at Valley Seminary, he was for eight years engaged in farming, and in 1879 came to Red Creek and established a livery business, which he still conducts, adding the market and grocery in 1889. In 1870 he married Alida Hompe of IIannibal, and they have two children, Nellie and Edward. Mr. Perkins is at present town clerk having been elected in 1891.
Graves, H. A., one of the leading merchants of Wolcott, was born at Tully, Onon- daga county, November 10, 1836. Hle is the eldest son of George S. Graves, who was a woolen manufacturer at Tully and came to Wayne county in 1842, engaging in mer- cantile business at South Butler, where he was also postmaster. He now lives in re- tirement at Ottawa, Ill. Henry A. Graves acquired an academic education at Onon- daga Valley, and his first business venture was Ottawa, Ill. In 1859 he succeeded his father in the general store business at South Butler, and five years later caine to Wol- cott. Besides a large trade in dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, etc., at No. 16 East Main street, he makes a specialty of evaporating fruits, in which product Wayne county is unexcelled. . In 1859 he married Sarah E., daughter of Charles J. Viele of Wolcott, and his only son Charles S., who was born in 1869 and married Nellie Col- burn, and is now engaged in the business with him at Wolcott.
James Vandenberg was born in Coxsackie, N. Y., July 31, 1827, and died in Clyde May 14, 1894. He attended the academy in his native place and studied law, and after admission to the bar removed to Cleveland, N. Y., where he soon became prom- inent. In 1855 he located in Clyde and was in active and successful practice nearly forty years. In the fall of 1865 he was elected to the Legislature by the Republicans, and served a second term by re-election. In 1876 he formed a partnership with Charles T. Saxton, which continued to his death. In 1879 he was elected district attorney of Wayne county by a very large majority, and filled the office to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He was a prominent member of the Bar Association and a Mason of high standing. Mr. Vandenberg married in 1849 Rebecca Landgraff, of Cleveland. Five children were born to them.
Pulver, R. T., born in Saratoga county in 1829, is the youngest and only survivor of eight children of John and Nellie Pulver, who were residents of Columbia and Saratoga counties respectively. Mr. Pulver died in 1848, and his wife in 1846. The family is of Dutch descent. Risley Taylor, our subject, began life as a farm hand and has always followed farming. He was twelve years in lowa, then enme to Ontario and bought the farm he now occupies on the Lake road. He carries on general farming and fruit grow - ing, and is also interested in breeding horses. Mr. Pulver has been three times mar- ried, first to Elizabeth Sabin of Ontario, by whom he had one daughter and one son, John S., a farmer in Columbia county, and Mary, who died aged nineteen. Mrs. Pulver died and he married, second, a sister, Laura Sabin, who died, and he married, third, Mary E. Rutherford of Marion, Wayne county. His son, John S., married Mary Card, and they have one daughter, Theresa Florence.
Rogers, William G., (deceased) was born in Lyons July 6, 1841. His father, Bart- lett, was one of the prominent men of his town. William G. was educated in the Lyons Union School, to which he added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of sixteen he entered active business life in Michigan in the lumber busi .
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ness; also was engaged in the mercantile business at Sodns with Erastus Rogers. His health beginning to fail at that period, he in connection with his father, purchased the Lyman farm property of 200 acres. At the age of twenty-nine he married Saralı B., daughter of Benjamin J. Bradley of Lyons, and they are the parents of four children : Louise B., George W., Wilmina and Mary Eleanor. Our subject took an active inter- est in politics, was president of the village, and was connected with both school and church. He died at the age of forty-three, leaving a wife and children to carry out his many interests to completion.
Towlerton, Charles H., was born in Butler November 4, 1865. His father, James Towlerton, came to Wayne county in 1846, from Leeds, England, and settled in the town of Butler. Charles H. was educated in the common schools, graduated from Leavenworth Institute in 1886 and from the University of the City of New York Medical College in 1889. He was then appointed one of the medical staff of Bellevue Hospital for the term of two years; at the expiration of his hospital service he received the appointment of surgeon on the Netherland American Steamship Line. Resigning that position in 1892 he located in Lyons and established a general practice. At the age of twenty-six he married Nellie E., danghter of Fletcher S. Johnson of Wolcott. Our subject is one of the best read members of his profession, a member of the Wayne county Medical Society, also an active member of the Society of the Alumni of Bellevue Hospital, New York,
Howk, John C., was born in Washington county, N. Y., March 7, 1836, a son of Horace and Fanny (Crouch) Howk of Washington county. The father of Horace was Andrew Howk, whose parents came from Holland and settled in Washington county in an early day, the name having been originally Van Huyck. The mother of our subject died in Fort Ann in 1838 and his father married second, Henrietta Spencer, daughter of Captain Phineas Spencer, of Revolutinary fame, and they had three sons. He was a Republican in politics. John C., our subjeet, came to Wayne county at the age of nine years and was reared by his unele and aunt Loron and Electa Whitney of this county, received his education in district school and Webster Academy. Ile followed farming for thirty years upon the farm of 70 acres left him by his uncle in the west part of the town of Ontario and which he still owns. And in 1888 came to the village of Ontario and engaged in the coal and lumber trade where he still resides. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, has been an elder and superintendent of the Sunday school twenty-six years in succession and served one year as president of the Wayne County Sunday School Association. He is a Republican and has served as supervisor two years. He is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance and of the South Shore Grange No. 552, of which he has been a master for seven years. In 1858 Mr. Howk married Catherine, daughter of Dr. L. Whitcomb of Macedon Center, N. Y., who practiced medicine in Wayne county about forty years and who was a member of the Legislature in 1853. His wife was Deborah (Wells) Whitcomb, of Washington county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Howk have five sons, of whom Loron W. was educated in Webster Academy and Rochester University, graduating in 1888 and from the medical department of the University of Michigan in 1891, and who is now a practicing phy- sician in Rochester, N. Y. He married Ella Hildreth, of California. Edson J. was educated in Webster Academy and the Genesee Normal School. His wife is Nina Gardner and they have one son, Luther J. Judson W. resides at home, having been educated in the Genesee Normal School. Oscar L. is also being educated at the latter school. Horace J. resides at home and is attending the village school. They have also adopted a brother's child, H. May who is now eight years of age,
Fisher, Jacob, was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, October 29, 1831, first settled in Rochester, in 1872 came to Lyons and rented the Lyons Pottery plant for five years, and in 1878 purchased the business and real estate of the Harrington estate. The Lyons
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