USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2 > Part 25
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Haxton, George W., p. o. Oakfield, N. Y., was born in Oakfield, January 2, 1851, the oldest son of Samuel and Eliza Haxton. His father was a native of New England and died in Genesee county in 1873. George W. Haston was educated at Cary Col-
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legiate Seminary and taught school for eight years. He then became engaged in the insurance and produce business, and is now a large farmer and dealer in stock and beans. He is a progressive business man, of sterling integrity and has always taken an active part in promoting the best interests of his town. In 1808 he married Ella A. Koppeof West Middlebury ; their children are S. Fred, G. Sherwin and Florence G.
McEwen, J. William, p. o. Le Roy, N. Y., was born in Le Roy, November 13, 1855. His father, Archibald MeEwen, was a native of Johnstown, N. Y., and was a farmer ; he married Margaret Green and died in 1852. J. W. McEwen was ed- neated in the Le Roy Academy and after leaving school engaged in farming. In 1896 he, with Mr. W. W. Cole, embarked in the milling business. He has proved himself an enterprising business man, worthy of the confidence bestowed upon him. lle married Elizabeth Veghte; their children are Archie, Edith and Helen.
Seward, Charles F., p. o. Ray, N. Y., is one of those men not uncommon in this county, who pursue their course quietly through life, doing well and earnestly what- ever they undertake. Ilis career has been that of a successful farmer. He is a son of Leverett and Olive (Riddle) Seward, and was born in the town of Alexander, Genesee county. N. Y., September 5, 1825. His father came from Connecticut to Batavia in 1813 and bought land of the Holland Land Company. He was member of assembly from this county in 1986 and 1837. He died November 7. 1876. Charles F. Seward was married October 9, 1851, to Pamelia, daughter of Edward and Joanna (Hoksley) Dykenan; they have two children: Olive, wife of Charles H. Dean of Alexander; and Ora M. Mrs. Seward died in April, 1879. Mr. Seward is a mem- ber of North Alexander Grange. He is an intelligent, companionable man and stands deservedly high in the esteem of all who know him. Winfield S. Seward. an older brother of Charles F. Seward, died January 8, 1893. Victor M. Seward, a younger brother, died in Rochester, in 1893.
Fisher, Marion O., proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, Le Roy, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1850, educated in his native place and completed his course at the Valparaiso (Ind.) Normal school, from which he was graduated in 1877. He taught school in Middlebury, Ind., for five years. In the spring of 1992 he went on the road as a salesman for J. D. Beers & Son, with whom he remained for two years, and then took out a patent and worked it for a few years. He then traveled for the American Tablet Company of Dayton, Ohio, and one year for the Sidney (Ohio) Planing Mill Company and for three years traveled for himself. In April, 1895, he negotiated for the Eagle Hotel and took charge of the same. It had at that time but sixteen rooms, and he began immediately to make improvements; he added an- other story, so that there are now forty-one rooms in the house, lighted by electricity. heated by steam, with electric call-bells, and is first-class in every respect. A more genial landlord and lady cannot be found in Western New York. The hotel is one of the old landmarks of the village, having been built in 1820; it has had numerous proprietors, but was never run successfully till Mr. Fisher took hold of it. Mr. Fisher is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Olive Branch Lodge No. 39, F. & A. M .. and Le Roy Chapter. In 1944 he married Emma A. Sylvester of Sinclairville,
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N. Y. ; they have three children. Sena M., Bertha O. and Sylvester Roy. Mr. Fisher's parents were Oscar N. and Elizabeth (Case) Fisher, natives of Ontario county, N. Y., and his grandfather, Jeremiah Fisher, born in 1800. is said to have ' been the first white child born in Ontario county. Some of his ancestry were in the early wars, and one of them received a commission as colonel in His Majesty's troops, signed by King George: this parchment is now in the possession of Dr. Fisher of Elkhart, Ind.
Fanson, Francis William, manager and secretary-treasurer of the Cold Spring Creamery Co. of Bergen, N. Y., was born in the State of Illinois, in May, 1862. Ihs father, William, was a native of England, who, when nine years of age, came to America with his mother. His mother did not marry again, and William lived for seven years with Samuel Dart in Bergen on a farm, and when sixteen began work for himself at farming. fle married and moved to Illinois, but in 1864 returned to Ber- gen. In 1866 he went to Michigan, returned to New York in 1870, and in 1874 agam moved to Michigan, where he still resides. Francis W. received his education in the common, district and city schools and remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he married, and in 1984 left Michigan and came to Bergen to live on the homestead farin of his grandparents, Moses and Jane Berry, which he has occupied to the present time In March, 18-8, he interested himself in and be- came one of the active organizers of the Cold Spring Creamery Co. with a capital stock of $1,400, which was later increased to $2.000, Mr. Fanson being one of the principal stockholders at that time, and the largest stockholder now, and one of the directors since the organization of the company. In 1893 he was elected superin- tendent and secretary-treasurer of the company, which offices he is now filling. Un- der the excellent management of Mr. Fanson the business has thrived, the output of the creamery varying from 40 000 to 90,000 pounds of butter a year. In politics Mr. Fanson is a Republican. is an advocate of the temperance cause, and has served his town on the board of excise commissioners, but declines further proffered nomina- tions. He is a member and master of the Bergen Grange, a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and commander of his tent. He is actively connected with church and Sunday school work, and a member of the Baptist church, of which he is deacon. He married Charlotte E. Cobert of Michigan, they have one son, Orla F.
Sage, W. Monroe, a resident of the village of Bergen, N. Y., since 1861, was born in the town of Wheatland, Monroe coumy, N. Y., December 28, 1834, a son of War- ren and Salome (Skinner) Sage. Salome Skinner was an eye witness to the battle of Lundy's Lane: her family lived near by and went to the woods for safety, and from their place of concealment witnessed the battle. Warren Sage followed carpentry during his early manhood, but later confined his attention to agricultural industry. owning a farm in the town of Wheatland, where he died February 1, 1856, W. Mon- roc Sage is well known in the musical circles of Western New York, having devoted the major portion of his life to music and musical convention work He was reared on the farm, received his early education in the district schools and later attended Oberlin College, Ohio, and was graduated from Eastman's Commercial College in Rochester. He was endowed by nature with unusual musical talent and played the
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violin while yet sitting in his high chair, at the age of seven played before public assemblages, he did not begin the scientific study of the violin until nineteen years of age, when he attended L Hinsdale Sherwoo I's Musical Academy at Lyons, N. Y .. and remained there until called home by the death of his father. A few years later he was graduated from the Friendship Academy of Music in the branches of violin. voice and harmony. Part of the time during his years of study he gave singing schools in the winters and attended the normal music schools during the summer months under the instruction of such noted masters as A. N. Johnson, William B. Bradbury, George F. Root and Carlo Bassini. Among the professors from whom Mr. Sage obtained his finest and most finished points in violin playing was Prof. Henri Appy, who came to America in 1850 as the violinist to Jenny Lind. In poli- tics he is a Republican, he was the prime mover in bringing about the incorporation of the village of Bergen, and as a demonstration of their appreciation for what he had done the people honored him by electing him the first village president, which office he filled two years; the first year of his administration he cansed to be placed 102 sidewalks, the second year he maugurated the first street lighting by placing four lamps on four corners. In 1863 Mr. Sage married Frances A. D. Doolittle, daughter of Deacon James D. and Eunice M. (Carter) Doolittle, he a prominent mer- chant in Bergen, who died in 1884, leaving a beautiful home since occupied by Mr and Mrs. Sage. Mrs. Sage died May 1, 1899. The Sage family dates back in America to 1632, when David Sage, a native of Wales, settled in Middletown, Conn., being one the pioneers there.
Stevens, Elsworth T . a prominent representative and lifelong resident of Bergen. N. Y., was born in that town, on the farm he now owns, February 7. 1831. Thomas Stevens, his father, was one of several sons and daughters, and was born in Killing- worth, Conn., November 25, 1657. In 1813 he moved to Bergen with an ox team and bought fifty acres of land in the woo Is, and in order to pay for it he engaged in the work of blasting out the rock where the flouring mills now stand in the village of Le Rov, walking there and back home each day. He was a strong, energetic man and after arriving home from his day's work would take his axe and set to work chop- ping down trees and clearing. working well into the night. He made a fine home and added more land to his farm by purchase from time to time, until he owned 180 acres. He was a great reader, broad-minded and keenly alive to all public affairs ; during the last thirteen years of his life he was afflicted by total blindness, and it was then that his remarkable memory was a great source of comfort to him, he died in March, 1873. Elsworth T. Stevens has always remamed on the home farm, purchas- ing the farm from his father after his mother's death. He has added to it and has one of the finest homes in the town of Bergen. In pohties he has always been a Re- publican : he has been elected and re-elected to the office of highway commissioner for sixteen years, and to the office of assessor nine years. He is a leading member of the Bergen Grange, of which he is past master and is now filling the offices of purchasing agent and director. He married Maria Crampton, daughter of Amon G. Crampton, an active old gentleman of ninety-eight years of age, and the oldest man in the town of Bergen. Mrs. Stevens died in May, 1997. She was an active, intel- lectual laily, possessed of unusual poetical ability, and wrote many beautiful poems.
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She was often called upon by church and society for readings and recitations, and often, upon special occasions, upon short notice, would sit down, pen in hand, and compose beautiful and appropriate lines.
Oathout, Charles E., a resident business man of the town of Bergen, N. Y., is a native of the town of Riga, Monroe county, N. Y., and was born December 3, 1844, a son of Niles and Julia Ann (Stewart) Oathout. He was educated in the common schools and the Riga Academy, and his practical education he received in his father's store, under the tutorage of that parent. After the death of his father he succeeded to the business. In 148; he moved to the village of Bergen, and in January, 18$1. engaged in the hardware basiness, and with his practical experience, modern ideas and hustling abilities, established one of the best trades in that line in the county. In 1986 he sold one-half interest in the business to H. L. Gage. They erected a large modern two story brick store and continued there until November 1. 1892, when they rented their store and for eighteen months following were engaged in the manu- facture of sensitized pape: for photography. In 1897 Mr. Oathout removed to a farm near North Bergen. Mr. Oathout married Laura A. Parnell; they have one son, Elliott,
Gleason, John S., is a native of Wyoming county, N. Y., born February 15, 1851, a son of John and Rosanna Gleason. He was reared on the farm, attended the dis- trict schools and took up the vocation of farming. Ile moved to the town of Bergen, N. Y., in 1873, where he continued farming until 1892, then moved to the village of Bergen, and in November of the same year purchased his present hardware business. January 1. 1896, he took in as a partner Mr. Will E Gillette, since which time the firm name has been Gleason & Gillette, and nuder the able management of these two gentlemen the business has grown to proportions second to none in this section of the country. They carry a full line of hardware, farm tools, roofing, etc. In poli- tics Mr. Gleason is a Republican, has filled the office of village trustee two years, and has been president of the village board of education since the union school system was adopted. He is a charter member of the order of the Knights of the Maccabees and received the honor of being elected the first commander of the tent in Bergen. Hle has been a delegate to represent his lodge at three different conventions, to the great camp at Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Utica. Mr. Gleason married Alice A. Palmer.
Cook, Walter, an old and well-known resident of Bergen, N. Y., was born in Eas- ton, Washington county, N. Y , in March. 1522, and brought to the town of Bergen in 1824 by his parents. He grew to manhood on the farm, received a limited educa- tion, and in 1545 concluded to try his fortune in the west, going to Illinois. He spent that year in the lead mines, thence to Wisconsin, where he spent another year in the lead mines, and then returned to Bergen. In 1852 he went to California where he spent eight years, four years in the gold mines and four in the mountains, building and attending a water reservoir and ditch for mining purposes, a company being or- ganized for that purpose, in which Mr. Cook was an active stockholder: he still re- tains his interest in the company. He returned to Bergen and purchased his present
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choice farm of fifty acres, on which he has ever since resided. In politics Mr. Cool has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party, and while often urged to accept nomination for office, he steadfastly declines the honor. In 1962 he married Mrs. Delana H. (Green) Gifford, who was born in Phelps, Ontario county, in 1823.
Herrick, Edward P., was born in the town of Bergen, N. Y., in 1842, a son of Pyram and Ann Eliza (Eldridge, Herrick. His father was born in Vermont, May 8, 1802, and came to Bergen about 1835, spending all but four years of his life in that town. He died in the town of Sweden Monroe county, October 6, 1877. Edward P. Her- rick received his education in the common district schools. He followed the vocation of farming, beginning for hunself when twenty-three, and continued on rented farms until 1807. preferring to lease land rather than to buy, but in the latter year purchased a farm of 128 acres Ir politics he is a Republican, always taking an in- terest in all public and political affairs of his town and has been elected to and filled the responsible office of town tax collector. He is a member of the Bergen Grange and of the Knights of Maccabees, Tent No 6 In 1864 Mr. Herrick married Eliza- beth J. Bunnell; they had three children Susan J., born December 16. 1866, wife of George S. Avery of Batavia: Fred R., born July 21, 1528; and Roy E., born March 22, 1889, who died when eighteen months old. Mr. and Mrs. Herrick are members of the M. E. church, in which Mr. Herrick is steward and trustee; Mrs. Herrick is a member of the Foreig: Missionary Society, the Ladies' Aid, and W. C. T. U.
Bower, Abner, one of the best known and wealthiest farmers in the town of Ber- gen, N. Y., is a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., boorn October 3. 1820, a son of Ben- jamin and Mary (Henry) Bower, and is the only surviving member of his father's family. He grew to manhood on the homestead, which he has since purchased from the heirs, where he has accumulated a large property, owning a farm of 320 acres and other investments. In politics Mr. Bower is a Republican In February, 1844, he married Mary Ellen Huff, who died June 6, 1896. They had three children : Wesley A. (deceased), Mary A , wife of Chester Adams, and Millard F. (deceased).
Hewes, Marcena Ballard, is one of the old and eminently respectable citizens of Genesee county. He was born in the town of Lee, Oneida county. N. Y., March 7, IS22. His grandfather Hewes was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the British and held a captive on board an English man-of-war until the close of hostilities; he was a nephew of Mr. Hewes one of the signers of the Decla- ration of Independence. Marcena Ballard Hewes grew to manhood in the town where be was born at the home of his grandparents, his mother having died when he was an infant, and his father marrying again In 1818 Mr. Hewes came to the town of Le Roy, where an uncle of his lived. When he arrived he had but fifty cents to his name, but he was full of energy and pluck and went to work with a vim ; he purchased a tract of eighty-four acres and added to this a few years later forty- five acres more. In 1979 he traded the forty-five acres as part payment for a 218- acre farm in the town of Bergen, and after many years of hard and successful toil on his farm is now taking the ease he has so justly earned by retiring from active farm
ـايف تور تيلها .
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duties, leaving the farm in care of his sons. In polities Mr Hewes has always been a strong and consistent Democrat and stands firm in the principles of bi-metalism. Ile has been twice married; bis first wife was Cordeha Banister of Le Roy, whom he married on October 10, 184>, they had five sons and three daughter>; his wife died in June, 1868, and for his second wife he married Mary Jane Stevens, they had two sons and one daughter.
Wood, Frank D., is one of the prominent young men of the town of Bergen, of which he is a native, born April 24, 1860, a son of James and Susan (South) Wood. His parents were natives of England and in 196 they came to America on a sailing vessel, requiring five months to make the voyage. James was a steady attendant at church and during the early years of his life walked regularly nearly every Son- day five miles to church; he was always a strict observer of the Sabbath and obliged his children to attend church and Sabbath school. Frank D. received his education in the Bergen public schools. During the years 1992, 1953 and 1944 he was a travel- ing salesman, selling farm machinery, and traveled through many of the Western States and Territories. He returned to Bergen and in 1898 purchased a farm of seventy acres, which he now earries on successfully. On February 16, 1586, he mar- ried Cora Louise Mason; they have one son, Perey Mason. Mr. Wood is an active Republican and has for several years been the Bergen member of the County Com- mittee of that party.
MePherson, Damel J., son of Donald and Mar,ery MePherson, was born February 5, 1819, in the village of Bergen, which is still has rest lence. His education was ob- tained in the district school, at a private school called the Bergen High School, of which B. F. Hamilton was the proprietor, and at the Rochester Business University. la the winter of 1$$8 74 he tried school teaching, but after one term abandoned it. After a trial of muist. teaching and type setting, the latter in the offices of the Pro- gressive Batavian and Brockport Democrat, he, in 1977, entered the office of Platts & McPherson, grain and coal destiers at Bergen, as bookkeeper. In 1\$2, his father, who had purchase ! the interest of Heary Piatto, took him into partnership and he continued in the business antit Match, 1999, when he's id ont and retired. May 4, 1873, Mr. MePherson united with the Congregational charch; in 1876 he was elected superinten lent of the Sunday school and was six times re-elected. The other Sun- day school offices held by him at various times were secretary, treasurer, chorister, organist, assistant superintendent and teacher. Mr. MePherson feels a deep interest in the prosperity of the church and contributes liberally to its support and also to all its benevolent objects. November 30, 1577, he married Emma H. llume, daughter of Alonzo and Elizabeth Hame, they have two sons Donald, born August $, 1879. and Ilume, born November 9, 1-50. Mr. McPherson enjoys the confidence of bis fellow townsmen, who have elected him to the following offices: Village collector in 1879, village treasurer in isst antol 196, town cleik in 1>>6 and 1º52. justice of the peace in 1995 (re-electedl in 199s for four years from January, 1999) member of the board of education for three years in 1993 (re-elected in 1596 ;; clerk of the board since his first election; village clerk continuously since 199; has been a member of the Bergen Fire Department since it, organization in Iss6. its secretary since 1995, and
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president of the Basiness Men's Association since its organization in May, 1-96. In everything that pertains to the good of the village Mr. McPherson has shown a lively interest ; he has contributed liberally to bring manufacturing concerns to the village and to provide telephone communication, and mauy persons in financial straits have found in him a friend indeed. In politics Mr. McPherson has always been a Republican he is a temperance man and has always voted against license. Donald McPherson, a resident of Bergen from 1840 until his death, January 18, 1896, was born in Scotland. August 16, 1514. In 1836 he came to this State and settled in the town of Riga. Four years later he came to Bergen and bought the elevator which occupied the site where the Central station now stands, and engaged in the grain and produce basiness, which he carried on with success, with intervals of rest, until his death. During his business career he had for partners H. S. Elmore, A. T Southworth, Henry Platts and from 1882, his son D. J. McPherson. As a business man he had a reputation for rigidl honesty and commanded the confidence of all who had dealings with him. As a citizen he took an interest in everything that was for the good of the community His fellow townsmen honored him by electing him con- stable in 1:45. cohector aud constable in 1846; constable in 1847, collector and con- stable in 1849, justice of the peace in 1850; sealer of weights and measures in 1 52. commissioner of highways in 1857, and assessor in 1850 and 1887. In 1857 be united with the First C o rregational church of Bergen and up to the beginning of hisillness he prayed and labored for its prosperity, except when ill or away from home he was always present at the preaching services, the Sunday school, either as teacher or scholar, the prayer meeting, where his voice was always heard in prayer or testi- mony, the preparatory lecture and the business meetings. In 1857 be was elected a trustee of the church sowiety and served as such thirty-five years; in 1858 he was elected clerk of the trustees and treasurer and served twenty-five years, collecting over $30,000; in 1-61 he was elected a member of the standing committee, which is the same as the session in the Presbyterian church, this office he held at the time of his death : elected deacon in 1850 and served until 1992, when he declined re-election on account of poor health. He was frequently a delegate to the Presbytery of Gen- esee, the church being under its care, and twice he was a commissioner to the Gen- eral Assembly. Ile was emphatically a man of one book- the Bible. This he read, studied and shaped hus life by its teachings. No matter how busy he was, and dur- ing the greater part of his life in Bergen he was very busy, he never failed to have family worship morning and evening, or to ask a blessing at each meal. He was a staunch Republican and a temperance man. Mr. Me Pherson was twice married ; his first wife was Jane, daughter of Duncan and Elizabeth MePherson of Wheatland. two years after the death of his first wife he married, December 31, 1846, Margery, daughter of John and Catharine Gordon, who died October 12, 1895. He was the father of three sons and two daughters. The daughters and one son died in infancy ; another son, William Henry, diedl at the age of eight years and four months; and the third son, Daniel J , lives to write this tribute to his father's memory. Writing from Ionia, Mich., Lemuel Clute, who married a niece of Mr. MePherson, said: " I have known him a number of years aud have done a good deal of business of a confiden- tial nature for him, and have always found him calm, cool, patient, trustful. He ripened into a good old age as only the perfect fruit ripens. Although he had been an active business man, I presume he had not a single enemy at his death, and every
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