USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 2 & 3 > Part 4
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Throughont Mr. Camp's political career he exhibited the qualities of the born general in that field. He was personally affable, courteous to all, and created a favorable im- pression npon every one with whom he came in contact. Those who once aeknowl- edged his leadership, were reluctant to abandon it. He never refused a favor that he could properly grant, and never forgot a promise however insignificant. No citizen of Wayne county ever equaled him in the extent of his political connections and influence outside of his own county. Generous, honorable, a charming talker, with social quali- ties that endeared him to his friends, he was a personality that will not soon be for- gotten.
Mr. Camp was married in 1864 to Victoria R. Drummond, of Bath, Me., to whose love and devotion he was often heard to credit much of his success in life. They had two children, one of whom, Frederick Mortimer Camp, died in infancy. Mrs. Camp and a daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Armour, survive him. Mr. Camp's death occurred on October 12, 1892, at his home in Lyons.
At a meeting of the Bar Association of Wayne county, October 14, 1892, a committee consisting of Hon. Charles T. Saxton, Stephen K. Withams, and Charles McLouth, was named to prepare a suitable memorial of Mr. Camp. This memorial (prepared by Mr. MeLouth), was reported at the annual meeting of the association, held November 14, 1892, and from it the following brief extracts are taken :
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Coming to this bar in the first flush of professional life, his measure at once displayed itself, and every member of the bar acknowledged his fitness for the place. So without seeming to lead, he easily led, and without crowding his way, it opened to him. His industry was great-his preparation great-his advocacy great-and his labor tireless. American lawyers are not prone to yield to leadership, but they are not ungenerous to merit nor indifferent to success. No one sulked over Mr. Camp's triumphs. He won by hard work, or by merit of his case, or by strategy, and he combined them all.
He fought as fiercely against bodily infirmities, when any other might have succumbed to the first assault, as for his clients. His location, his standing, his power over juries, his industry, his acquaintance, all combined to place him largely on the plaintiff's side, and the great proportion of cases are with the plaintiff in all courts. And withal he largely won. He a lored and adorned his profession ; and what more can be said of a lawyer ? A grounded lawyer, a wise counselor, a fierce but fair antagonist, a born ad- vocate, a loyal friend, he laid down Ins life in the midst of years, in the flush of profes- sional power, in the zenith of fame.
On this occasion feeling tributes were paid to Mr. Camp's life and memory by various leading members of the bar.
EZRA A. EDGETT.
THE parents of Ezra A. Edgett settled in Oneida county when he was twelve years old, removing from Greene county where he was born November 21, 1828. He re- ceived his education in the district and select schools of Oneida county, and removed with his family to Wayne county in 1865. He possessed excellent business qualifica- tions and early engaged in the preserving business, founded the Wayne County Pre- serving Company and was in the business more than thirty years. Conducting his business upon principles of integrity, he was successful in a material sense and gained the respect of the community. On December 16, 1856, he married Harriet C. Marvin, of Camden, Oneida county, and they have had four children, as follows; James C., who was associated in the business of his father; married Anna L. Wilcox, of Port Gibson, N. Y., and has one son, Oliver. Edith M. married William R. Conover and resides in Boston; has one daughter, Halla. Mary L. resides with her mother ; and George, who died in infancy. Mr. Edgett died January 30, 1889. Since his death the preserving business has been carried on by his widow and Edwin K. Burnham, at Newark.
S. N. SAWYER.
THE subject of this sketch is a son of Samuel W. Sawyer and Hannah Nelson Sawyer. Samuel W. Sawyer was born in Camden, N. Y., in 1821, and removed to Macedon, N. Y., in childhood. He settled in Palmyra about the year 1840, and has since resided there. He has served as assessor, as trustee, and as president of the village.
S. N. Sawyer was born in Palmyra October 6, 1853, and received his education in the Classical Union School of his native place, and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.,
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graduating in 1877. Having determined to adopt the profession of law, he studied in the office of S. B. MeIntyre, of Palmyra, and attended the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1883, and at once formed a partnership with the late David S. Aldrich, under the firm name of Aldrich & Sawyer. This firin continned in business until January 1, 1889, after which Mr. Sawyer practiced alone until July 1, 1893, when he organized the firm of Sawyer & Tinklepaugh, which is still in existence.
Mr. Sawyer is an active Republican in polities, and a public spirited and enterprising citizen. He served as justice of the peace one term; was clerk of the village from September, 1884, to April, 1893, when he was elected president of the village, and re-elected in 1894. In these positions he has fully met the expectations and approbation of his fellow citizens.
In the fall of 1888 he was elected district attorney of the county, served his term and was re-elected. In this responsible position he has succeeded in winning an unusual proportion of the cases that have come into his charge. He was three years secretary of the New York State League Building and Loan Association and is now a director in the Wayne Building and Loan Association and its counsel.
Mr. Sawyer is a prominent member of the Masonic order ; is past master of Palmyra Lodge No. 248; past high priest of Palmyra Eagle Chapter No. 79,, R. A. M .; past master of Palmyra Council No. 21, R. & S. M .; past commander of Zenobia Commandery No. 41, K. T .; past district deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of this State ; and he is now (1894) chief commissioner of appeals of the Grand Lodge of the State.
On October 20, 1885, Mr. Sawyer married Angusta, daughter of Rev. John G. Webster, of Palmyra, and they have two danghters.
OLIVER HURD ALLERTON
WAS born in Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., on the 17th of April, 1816. His father was Samuel W. Allerton, who was also a native of Amenia, where he was born, December 5, 1785. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, and in the select school of Rev. Dr. Barnett, a Presbyterian minister. His father and his grandfather were both professional men, studied medicine and practiced as physicians.
Ilis father was Doctor Reuben Allerton, and was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war, and was present at the battle of Saratoga and surrender of Burgoyne. From the surgeon of the British general he received a portion of his instruments, which are still in the possession of the family. The ancestry of this family is clearly traceable through eight generations from the Mayflower and came from England. Samnel W. Allerton was a farmer and married Hannah Hard, of Amenia, and they had nine chil- dren, four sons and five daughters, all living as follows: Cornelia, Amarillys, Henry R., now a resident of Newark, N. Y., Orville H. (the subject), Amanda II., Byron (see personal sketch in later pages of this volume), Rebecca IL., Lois J. and Samuel W. Samnel W., sr., settled in Benton, Yates county, in 1842. In 1849 the family removed into Wayne county, and carried on farming fifteen years. Mr. Allerton resided in
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Q. S. Allerton
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Newark village after that until his death in Angust, 1885, when he lacked only three months and twenty-five days of being 100 years old.
Cornelia Allerton married Walter Sherman of Dutchess county ; Amarillys married Shadrack Sherman of the same county. Henry R. is a resident of Newark village, where his sister, Mrs. Taber, has charge of his household. Amanda II. married Will- iam Taber. Byron married Helen Sherman of Dutchess connty. Rebecca H. and Lois J. reside with their brother, Henry R. in Newark. Samuel W. married first l'amelia Thompson, and second, Agnes Thompson, and lives in Chicago.
Orville Hurd Allerton attended district and select schools of Dr. Lenord, also the Amenia Seminary until he was about thirteen years of age, when he began business life in a store in Nassau, N. Y., with an uncle. He early evinced a taste for mercan- tile pursuits and served as clerk for twelve years, his last engagement being in Elmira with the well-known John Arnot. During this long period he acquired a thorough knowledge of business principles and laid a foundation of character, integrity and in - dustry which enabled him in later years to reach a high measure of success. Coming to Newark, N. Y., in 1842 he began a mercantile career, which continued twenty-five years By the exercise of the qualities just named, with proper economy, he gained a competence.
At the close of his mercantile career he went to Pittsburgh, Pa., as superintendent of the Pennsylvania stock yards, a position of great responsibility and liberal compen- sation. He remained there seventeen years, when he retired, after over fifty years of active business life, in the enjoyment of the entire confidence and esteem of his em- ployers. He was succeeded in the position by his son, Orville H., jr.
About the year 1881 his family returned to Newark, where he soon afterward built the most imposing residence in the village, and has since lived a life of retirement from active business.
On January 15, 1845, he married Eliza A. Dean, of Dresden, Yates county, N. Y., and they have had two children : Clarence, who died at nine months of age, and Or- ville H., jr. The latter was educated in the Newark Academy, and in business schools in Poughkeepsie and Elmira; married Ida C. Leggett, of Newark, and has two children : Ida May and Edith Marie.
Mr. Allerton is liberal minded and honorable in all his dealings and intercourse with his fellow citizens, believing that "nothing is useful but what is honest," hence has no love for demagogismn of any kind. The man who made a thousand dollars a year by attending to his own business, and a thousand dollars more by letting other people alone, he believes is a good example to follow. Mr. Allerton is a Republican in politics, but his own business interests have always prevented him from assuming activity in the political field, except in local affairs. He is a public-spirited and respected citizen in all the relations of life.
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NICHOLAS MESTLER.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 29, 1826, and died on his homestead in the town of Arcadia, Wayne county, May 26, 1894. When he was eight years old he was taken by his parents to France, where he worked in fac- tories and after his father's death supported his mother and the other children of the family. He immigrated to this country in 1852, located first in Rochester, later in Lyons, and still later in the town of Galen. On May 16, 1853, he married Barbara Oswald, of Lyons, and after leaving Galen he purchased the farm where he passed the remainder of his life. When he first occupied the place it was very much run down, but by his industry and the aid of his wife and children, he made it one of the best and most productive farms in the town. Mr. Mestler was a man of probity and good bnsi- ness ability. He was the father of sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived to matn- rity, as follows : Caroline, Mary M., Rosa B., Julia, Anna B., Henry J., Albert N., George H. (married Etta Parish and is in employ of the New York Central Railroad Company), Philip L. (married Josephine Masters and has three children : Merton, Roy and George) ; Louis P. (married Lottie Snyder of Clyde and has two children : Harris and Meda) ; he is also employed by the New York Central Railroad Company ; Cath- arine M. (married Charles Thompson of Lyons and they have three children : Edna, Clarence and David ); Susanna P. (married William Dayton of Newark, and they have one daughter, Lillie M.); Sarah J. (married Jolin C. Cook of Newark, and they have two children : Robert and William) ; and William R. (married Ada Smith of Rochester and is a bookkeeper of that city.)
EDWIN K. BURNHAM
Is a native of Vermont, where he was born in Randolph, September 8, 1839. He is a son of Ammi Burnham and Lucy (Young) Burnham, and one of thirteen children, eleven of whom were born to the wife named, and two to a second wife. Fonr of these children are now living. Ammi Burnham was a farmer and brickmaker, a man of more than common intelligence, and was elected to the Vermont State Legislature in 1851.
Edwin K. Burnham attended district school and afterwards the academy in Royalton, Vt., finishing his studies in the Orange County (Vt.) Grammar School. The call to arms in the war of the Rebellion found him ready to respond, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company C of the 15th Vermont Infantry. He participated in the great Gettysburg battle and received an honorable discharge in 1862 with the rank of sergeant. In the spring of 1864 he graduated from the Albany Law School and was admitted to practice in the courts of this State. In June of the same year he settled in Newark, N. Y., where he formed a law partnership with James E. Briggs, who was also a native of Vermont. In September of that year he re-enlisted in the army, and on October 10, 1861, received a captain's commission in Company D, 111th Regiment of New York Infantry, and left for the front. His regiment participated in the operations around
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Petersburg until he was taken prisoner, April 2, 1865. He was returned to his com- mand on the 9th of April, the day on which Lee surrendered to Grant, and received his honorable discharge June 4. 1865.
Returning to Newark Mr. Burnham entered upon active practice of his profession. In 1872 he founded the Newark Union newspaper. In the fall of 1884 he was elected to the State Legislature by the Democrats and was largely instrumental in the passage of the bill establishing the custodial asylum for feeble-minded women, which was located at Newark and is now a flourishing and useful institution ; of this he is secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees. In June, 1889, he was appointed superintendent of public buildings, which position he filled with ability and honor. One of the first innovations made by him was the rule that the national flag should float from the staff on the capitol at Albany every week day through the year; this was the origin of that other patriotic movement for the display of the flag on public school buildings in this State.
Mr. Burnham at the present time (1894) owns a one-half interest in the Wayne County Preserving Company at Newark and has twenty acres devoted to fruit and vegetable growing. Ile has served as supervisor of the town four terms, and as justice of the peace eight years. It will be seen that he. has found various interests to draw him to some extent away from his profession ; but he has always retained his love for it and has never relinquished active practice, in which he is recognized as an efficient and honorable attorney.
On August 31, 1865, Mr. Burnham married Nancy A. Dillingham, a niece of Governor Dillingham, of Vermont. They have had four children, one of whom died in infancy . The others are : George A., Edwin D., and Helen E.
Mr. Burnham is a member of Vosburgh Post No. 99, G. A. R., of which he has been commander four terms. He is also a member of Newark Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., and of the order of Odd Fellows No. 250; of the A. O. U. W. No. 17; and of the local Grange.
LYMAN BICKFORD.'
LYMAN BICKFORD Was born in East Bloomfield, November 1, 1820, Azariah Bickford, his father, being a native of Maine. His grandfather, Rev. James P. Bickford, went to Rochester in the year 1812, being one of the first settlers at that time. He afterward removed to Michigan, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. Azariah Bickford was a blacksmith by trade and started business in East Bloomfield. In 1819 he married Philana Perkins, of the town of Victor, and their family consisted of nine children, Lyman B. being the eldest. Azariah Bickford died in 1886, aged eighty-four years. Lyman Bickford is a machinist and has carried on business since 1842. At present he is retired. April 28, 1842, he married Elvira Perkins, and they are the parents of three children : Mary, who married Col. Henry P. Underhill, dying in her twenty-sixth year, and two sons, deceased. Mr. Bickford is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Macedon
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Lodge No. 665. He is a member of the Universalist church. In politics he is a Democrat and served as supervisor for five years. He was the founder of the Bickford & Hnffinan Company, now doing business in Macedon village.
EDGAR D. MILLER.
EDGAR D. MILLER was born in Port Gibson, Ontario county, July 11, 1854, was edu- cated in the district schools and Macedon Academy, also Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and also at Fort Edward Institute. He read law with Conistock & Bennett in Canandaigua nearly two years, then went to the Albany Law School to complete his studies, graduated, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. Since this he has continned to practice his profession, sometimes with a partner, and at other times alone. Mr. Miller has twice served as village clerk of the village of Newark, and two terms as a justice of the peace of the town of Arcadia. He has served as county committeeman several years, and has also been several times a delegate to Democratic State conven- tions, which party he supports invariably. He was appointed superintendent of Section No. 8, Erie Canal, by Hon. Edward Hannan, superintendent of public works, August 1, 1893. His father, James N., was born in Phelps November 22, 1819, and has been a merchant, dealer in real estate, and a farmer. November 3, 1842, he married Mary J. Turner, of the town of Manchester, and they had five children : Alice O., wife of David Gray ; Frank, Dewilda, both who died young; and Audessa, wife of Edwin Van Wormer, by whom she has one daughter, Ollie I., residing with her Grandfather Miller. Mrs. Miller died October 24, 1890. Mr. Miller's father, Daniel, was born in New Jersey in 1789 and came here with his parents when a boy. He married Jane Gunnung, and they had eight children : Nancy A., Cynthia, James N., John J., Melissa, Mary J., Caroline, William II., who died young; Edna, and Albert D., who is a farmer on the homestead, which has been in the family without a break since the time of Edgar D. Miller's great-grandfather, Jacob, who bought it of the government. Daniel Miller died August 31, 1852, and his widow . August 30, 1878. He was a soldier of 1812.
JOHN STUERWALD.
AMona the many Germans who have in the past left their own country for the freer air and better conditions of America, was the father of John Stnerwald, and his wife, Lena (Green) Stuerwald, with their children. Charles Stuerwald was born in 1817, was a graduate of a college and a man of considerable prominence in his native country, held the office of mayor of his town, and was otherwise honored. He died in 1891 and his wife in 1893. Jolm Stuerwald was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 2, 1848, and was only two years old when his parents emigrated and settled in Lock Berlin, Wayne
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county, N. Y. He was given good opportunity to secure an education, through the district schools, with two years in the Union School and the academy at Clyde. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching school, which he continued in the winters until 1871, during which period he was also employed a part of the time as clerk in Lock Berlin. In 1872 he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business in East Newark, which he continued with success six years, and then removed to Newark, where he greatly extended his business. Locating first in leased property he began in 1883 the erection of his fine business and residence block on Union street, which he has occupied since. Mr. Stuerwald is recognized as a man of good judgment in public as well as private affairs; he is a Republican in politics and earnest in support of his party. He was chosen trustee of Newark village and held the office eight years, and was president of the village one year. He is a member of Newark Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M .; Newark Chapter No. 117, R. A. M .; and the K. O. T. M. No. 115. On February 21, 1874, Mr. Stuerwald married Eliza V. Gee, of Newark, and they have one son, Fred, who is now a student.
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ORLANDO FRANKLIN THOMAS.
ORLANDO FRANKLIN THOMAS was born in Brooklyn, L. I., November 12, 1856, and is a son of Benjamin Franklin and Anna (Meade) Thomas. The family is descended from Scotch ancestry through later English branches. Benjamin F. Thomas was a son of Clarence Erastus Thomas, a respected farmer of this State, and was himself a lumber dealer of Brooklyn. He died in 1884, leaving a widow, who still survives, and five children, all of whom are living.
Orlando Franklin Thomas received his education in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, finishing in Hines' Military Academy at Garden City, N. Y., which he left when he was about fifteen years of age. He early gave evidence of native business qualifications, and his first employment after leaving school was as office boy in a large sugar refinery. From this position he was advanced to shipping clerk in a coffee warehouse. With some unimportant exceptions these two engagements occupied his time until he was twenty- four years old, when he made an engagement that was to determine his occupation for many years and lay the foundation of a remarkably successful business career. He accepted a position to travel in the interest of the Manhattan Silver Plate Company, then a very modest establishment in New York city, in which James H. Young was the controlling partner. Mr. Thomas not only sold the goods of the company successfully, but he also suggested or instituted improvements that greatly advanced the business. Three years later he purchased the interest of Mr. Young's partner and took direct charge of the factory. He largely increased the line of goods, extended their sale with enterprise and vigor, and in three years after becoming a partner larger quarters were necessary, and the factory was removed to Brooklyn and established in their own build- ing. The business continued to increase, and in 1885, in order to better carry out the plans of Mr. Thomas and his associate, the present corporation was formed and Mr. Thomas was made secretary and Mr. Young president. The success of the company
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since that time has been remarkable and is very largely due to the individual efforts of Mr. Thomas. In order to escape prevailing labor troubles the company resolved to re- move the factory away from Brooklyn, which was accomplished in 1889. The citizens of Lyons, Wayne county. N. Y., interested themselves in seenring the works for their village, a part of the stock being taken by them, and that place was selected for the location of the factory. The large brick building now occupied was fitted up and adapted for the business, and Mr. Thomas purchased the holding of Mr. Young at the time of removal, was made president of the company and the practical direction of the immense business has since continued in his hands. Its development since it was brought to Lyons has been, perhaps, more astonishing than its previous career, the value of its outfit having muhiphed five or six times. Stores have been established for the sale of the company's goods in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia. These are all managed directly from Lyons and have been placed in successful operation under the administration of Mr. Thomas. Abont 250 hands are now employed in the factory.
In his business intercourse Mr. Thomas is prompt in decision, clear-headed and prac- tical in the consideration of new measures, genial and courteons to his fellows, and in- spired by faith in himself and the correct business principles which have governed his life. Polit cally he is a Republican, but he has never found time to give more than the 'good citizen's attention to that interest.
Mr. Thomas was married in 1880 to Emma Van Cleaf, of Brooklyn. They have one child thirteen years old.
HON. WILLIAM CLARK.
HON. WILLIAM CLARK was born at Ovid, Seneca county, N. Y., February 9, 1810. Ilis ancestors on both his father's and mother's side served with credit in the Revolu- tionary war, and on his father's side in the Indian and Colonial wars also. He was the oldest son in a family of eight children, fonr boys and four girls. Two of his younger brothers were the late Judge John T. Clark of Wisconsin, and Gen. Emmons Clark of New York city, for twenty-five years Colonel of the Seventh Regiment, and now and since 1866 Secretary of the New York City Health Department. One of his sisters is Mrs. Sophronia C. Bottume, of Lyons, widow of the late Dr. E. W. Bottume. He moved with his father, William Clark, a well known Presbyterian minister, at the age of six years, to Huron, Wayne county, where he remained, except about two years-which he spent attending Ovid Academy -- until he came to Lyons to study law at the age of twenty. Here he entered the office of Graham HI. Chapin, and afterwards that of John M. Holley. He was admitted to practice as an attorney at law in the Supreme Court in January, 1838, and practiced at Lyons for two years, when he entered into partnership with John M. Holley, which continued till Mr. Holley's death while a Member of Congress. Mr. Clark was also admitted in due course, under the system which was then in force in this State, as a counselor at law in the Supreme
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