USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2 > Part 29
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Merriman, Josiah, was born in the State of Massachusetts, January 11. 1511, son of Robert and Lueitis ( Woods affi Merriman. Like the majority of the youths of his day, bis education was confined to that obtainable at the district .. hools, He was
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
one of the pioneers of Byron, and through his long life has been a practical farmer, thorough and progressive in his methods, and a worthy example of the intelligent agricultural element of our population. He is now one of the largest landowners in Genesee county AApart from the fact that Mr. Merriman has become nearly blind from advanced age, his faculties have been remarkably preserved. Of powerful and vigorous frame, he is a fine type of the prosperous farmer and worthy citizen. In 1837 Mr. Merriman married Mary Wheeler. Their family of children included Henry, Sheldon, Mrs. E. N. Moulthrop and Elmina S., who was born April 7, 1%s. and died May 2, 1562.
Wheat. Elias A , was born in the town of Barre, Orleans county, N. Y., October 20, 1818, son of Joseph and Caroline (Andrews) Wheat; the latter were among the pioneers of that county. Elias A. Wheat obtained his education in Chautauqua county, and in 1939 was ordaried as a minister in the Methodist Protestant church. Ile was a member of the Genesee Conference for nearly sixty years, and served as pastor in the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, and in several other fields in Monroe, Livingston Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and for fourteen years was pas- tor of the church in Elba. Mr. Wheat was a good man in every sense of the word, and his gentleness and plety left a lasting impression upon his associates. Faithful and earnest in his labors, sympathetic and tender in his temperament; he formed deep friendships and incurred no enmities; " his works do follow him." In 1817 Mr. Wheat married Hannah M., daughter of Josiah and Polly M. Rieh. Two children were born to them-Frank W. and Mrs. Mary L. Blood. Mr. Wheat died in April, 1895, and was universally mourned by the many to whom he had proved the good friend, safe counselor and worthy example.
Taylor, Eli was born in Elba, N. Y., October 8, 1930, son of John and Phoebe (Dunning) Taylor. The fatady is descended from John Taylor, an emigrant fiom England in 1636. John Taylor, the father of Eli, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y . and came to Genesce county in 1813, where he was a farmer until his death in 1981. Eh Taylor, to whose career this brief sketch is devoted, received his education in the district schools and at the Cary and Lima Seminaries, where he gave evidence of a receptive mind and strhous nature. Mr. Taylor is a practical farmer and has been successful in his vocation. Tits more than usual ability and his unquestioned integ- rity have won for hun the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen, by whose selection he has served as town superintendent of schools and two terms as super- visor. In 1997-7- he was a member of the Legislature. During his last term in the assembly Mr. Taylor was chairman of the Committee on Villages. His frank and cordial ways had won the warm friendship of Gen. James W. Husted, the speaker, and the latter often called upon the member from Genesee to preside in Committee of the Whole. He made a capital presiding officer. Mr. Taylor is a Methodist and has always been actively connected with church and Sunday school work, and is held in universal and deserved esteem. In 1857 Mr. Taylor married Mary J. Ladue. who died in this. in 1900 he married Mrs. Harriet Howe; by this marriage there is one daughter -Mis. Ella Taylor Putnam.
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Rumsey. Edward D was born in the town of Statford, March 31. 1851, a son of Alexander and Amanda (Dixon; Rumsey, and grandson of Col. William Rumsey, who settled in Stafford about 1500. IHis father was engaged in mercantile and farm- ing pursuits, and died Apati 6, 1570. Edward Rumsey was educated in the public schools, and in 1879 married Rebecca, daughter of Henry Prole; they have two chil- dren, Edward and Mary.
Dibble, Isaac Vaughn, was born in Breakabeen, Schoharie county, July 1, 1845, a son of Ichabod Dibble, who married Candice Dennison, and through life was a cabi- net and wagon maker, also a farmer, he died in 1888. Isaac V. Dibble was edu- cated in the common schools and in 1866 married Mary, daughter of Dennis Conway ; they had ten children, seven of whom are now living: Eugene H., Wesley G., Mrs. Robert Turner, Mrs. Thomas Carlin. J. Edith, William J., Sarah A., Candice J .. Genevieve M. and Carl Isaac. Mrs Di ble died September 14, 1897. She had a host of friends who deeply montned Her death. M. Dibble is one of the self-made men of Genesee county and for thirty-two years has been connected with the Wiard Plow Company. Flis standing in the communty is based upon a life of integrity, sobriety and energy.
Todd, Henry, is a native of Stockton-on-Tees, County of Durham, England, where he was born October 1, 1826, He came to the United States in 1852 and made Ba- tavia his home. For a time he conducted the Genesce Democrat, and in 1861 he pur- chased the Spirit of the Times, which he edited and manage F for a quarter of a cen- tury. Under his management the Times was a strong and influential newspaper, well filled with news and vigorous and able in its editorial columns. He has been prominent in the councils of the Democratic party; he was one of the founders of the New York Press Association, which met .it Elmira in 1853, consisting of twenty- three members, of whom there are but tour hving at the present writing. He has never been an office seeker, and the only pubhe positions he has ever held were as trustee of the State Institution for the Blind, and trustee of the village of Batavia, He is a member of Batavia Lolge No. 475, F. & A. M., Batavia Chapter N . 35. R. A. M., and Batavia Commandery No 51. K. T. He has several timestevisited his native England, where he was well connected. He is fond of companion-iup and has a large circle of attached friends. In 1851 Mr. Todd was married to Eliza- beth Unthank, and of their amon thres chibtren were born, namely Ilen. orta E., Mrs. Fanny Talmage, and Charles E , who is now conducting a general job printing business.
Hackley, O. Delos, was born on his farm in Batavia, May 11, 1831. His father, Ezekiel Hackley, was born in New Lebanon, Columbia county, May 25, 1794. Dr. Simeon Hackley, the father of Ezekiel llackley, removed with his parents, John and Catherine, to New Lebanon from Norwich, Conn., about the year 1775. Bestel Hackley first reached Batavia early in March, 1819, removing from Bridgewater. Oneida county, with a large lumber wagon. the journey of one hundred and sixty miles having occupied seven days. He settled at once on the farm in the north palt of the town of Batavia, where he continued to reside the rest of his hife lle was
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married to Sarah, daughter of Dr. Francis Smiley, at Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., September 25, 1817. Dr. Smiley afterward removed to Elba. Mr. Hackke; was much interested in the growth and progress of his town and was an active sup- porter of the First Presbyterian church of Batavia where he and his wife were united in 1926. Mrs. Hackley was a charter member of the Ladies' Home Missionary Su- ciety of the church. An interesting fact connected with the remarkable life history of Ezekiel Hackley was that he voted at every presidential election for seventy-two years, beginning with James Monroe, in 1816, and ending with Benjamin Harrison in 1998. He had voted at the elections at which nineteen out of twenty-three presi- dents had been chosen. He died November 21, 1991, in the ninety-eighth year of his age. O. Delos Hackley, was educated in the common schools and in 1960 mat- ried Kate, daughter of John Mercer, whose father, also named John Mercer, remover from Ballston, Saratoga county, to Batavia in 150> The family have four children Levant M . George In. Francis A. and Sarah S.
Hackley, Francis A. p. o. Oakfield, N. Y , was born in Batavia, January 8, 1505. 1 son of O. Delos and Kate ( Mercer, Hackley Ile was educated in the public schools of Batavia. In 1995 he started a hardware store in Oakfield and is still engaged in the business there. Mr. Hackley is a public spirited citizen, and, like his brothers. promises to do efedr to th remarkable family of which he is a member. Quite a full sketch of the family appear- printed elsewhere in this work.
Lewis, Robert S., was born in Pavilion, N. Y., March 4, 1824, a son of Denby and Mary ( Woodruff Lewis. He was educated in the common schools and at select schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of a printer at Warsaw. Upon completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade two or three years and then taught school in Canada for four years. In 1851 he married Naney, daughter ut Warren Tompkins, of Pavilion. Their surviving children are Mary A. and Fred A. Lewis of Batavia. N. Y., both of whom have for many years been employed in the surrogate's office, Miss Lewis as stenographer and Fred A. Lewis as cleik of the Surrogate's Court. In 1-55, in company with Edwin L. Babbitt, Mr. Lewis became a proprietor and publisher of The Wyoming County Mirror, a weekly paper at War- saw, N.Y. He soon purchased the interest of his partner and continued business alone for several years, noally selling the establishment to Harwood A. Dudley, esq .. the well-kn wu pabh-tel of The Western New Yorker. Mr. Lewis next removed to Hornellsville, where he parchased and published for a year or two the Canisteo Valley Journal He was appointed by President Lincoln route agent on the Erie Railway. He removed to Attica and continued in this capacity in the mail service for five years, when, to use Mr. Lewis's own expression, "Andy Johnson . swung round the circle' and Lewis's official head was twisted off." Mr Lewis removed to Batavia in 196s. and purchased of Harry Wilber the Genesee County Democrat printing establishment The Democrat was discontinued and in February, 156%. The Progressive Batavian was established, and with this paper Mr. Lewis was con- neeted as editor and p iblisher until January 1, 1897. Very few weekly papers have every maintained a more excellent reputation or exercised a wider influence in any community. At the date last named The Batavian was purchased by Griswold &
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McWain, publishers of The Daily News, and after a short time the Batavian was discontinued. In a brief memorandum written by Mr. Lewis for the editor of this work, he says. "One of the greatest sources of satisfaction to me has been that almost all of the many boys who have served their apprenticeship under my care and direction have turned out well and become men of worth and standing. Among them are William Henry Merrill, now the principal editor of the New York World, and Andrew Jackson MeWain, editor and one of the propietors of The Batavia Daily News."
Scott, George W., was born in Stafford, N. Y., September 8, 1819, a son of Ethel and Olive (Skinner) Scott. His father was a native of Middlebury, Conn., and came to Genesee county in 1516, where he carried on farming. George W. Scott was edu- cated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. He has been overseer of the poor for five years and has served for a consulerable time as trustee in the public schools. In 1944 he married Mary Rich. She had one daughter who died in her seventh year. After the death of his wife he married Fideha A. Pardee. Mr. Scott owns a choice farm on the main road between Stafford and Batavia. He has always enjoyed the entire confidence and respect of his neighbors and of the com- munity in which he lives. He has taken particular interest in school and church matters.
Hull, Abner, was a pioneer in Genesee county, a native of Killingworth, Conn .. boin December 14, 1502. He came to Le Roy in 1808 with his parents. His father drove through from Connecticut with two yokes of oxen. Abner Hull lived in Le Roy until 1825, when he removed to Stone Church in the south part of Bergen and settled on a farm where he resided until his death, which occurred April 23, 1882. He was a justice of the peace for many years and twice represented his town on the board of supervisors. Ile led a life of industry and sobriety and transmitted to his chileren the heritage of an upright life. Ile married Rachael M. Parmelee, who died March 31, 1864. They reared rive sons, Ferdinand H., Wilham Burton, Carlos A., Eugene D. and Newton M.
Hull, Ferdinand II., was born April 27. 126 He was elected sheriff of Genesee county in Noveniber, 1800. and served the term of three years. He was a respected and upright citizen. His death occurred June 4. 1553.
Hull, William Burton, was born August 17, 1930. He was a graduate of the Al- bany Normal School. He taught for a few years in Ghent, N. Y., and in the Albany Academy, but his life work as a teacher was performed in the High School at Can- ton, 111., where he served as principal for about twenty years. He was married in Canton to Rath Piper in 19-2, he died in Bergen, July 10, 1891. He was survived by his widow and one son, Carlos Eugene.
Hull, Carlos A., perhaps the best known citizen of Genesee county, was born in Bergen, October 19, 1532. Upon leaving school he taught for some time. On the
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first of January, 1961. Mr. Hull became deputy sheriff, serving under his brother, Ferdinand Hull. He filled this position for three years. After the expiration of this time he spent several months closing up the business of the late sheriff, and on the 9th of August, 1864, he entered the office of the county clerk as deputy under George H. Holden. At the November election of 1867 he was elected county clerk and is now, in 1899, serving his eleventh term. Mr. Hull, like the other members of his family, is a Republican, but for many terms he has been nominated by all the political parties in the county. This simple statement discloses the esteem in which he is held and the character of the remarkable public services he has rendered.
Hall. Eugene D., p. o. Stone Church, N. Y., was born March 31, 1835, on the farm where he has resided all his life. When a young man he taught school for some time. He was married April 3, 1561, to Vienna J. Dibble, and they have three chil- dren, Frank E., Ella M., wife of James O. Parrish of Denver, and Florence E. Mr. Hull has been supervisor of Bergen since 1884 He has been an active Republican and has represented his town and country in many party conventions. He served several years as member for Bergen on the Republican County Committee.
Hull, Newton M .. was born July 27, 1849. He was married November 8. 1853. to Kate Stenber. He has always resided on the farm where he was born.
Gubb, Wilham, was born in Devonshire, England, February 8, 1833, and cante to the United States in 1956, settling in the town of Stafford. In 1854 he married Ann Braley; they had five children. James, William, Edward, Elizabeth and Jennie, wife of Frank Doif. Mr. Gubb, in 1-91, bought the llenry Craft farm, which he suc- cessfully conducted until his death, December 21, 1598. Ile took an interest in all good works, was an amiable neighbor and citizen without reproach He always took an active interest in public affairs and was recognized as a man of sterling integrity. whose word was as good as his bond.
Underhill, Alfred, was born in Avon, N. Y., December 4, 1811, and was brought by his parents, John and Esther Underhill, when he was five years old, to what is known as the Drake street road, then in Batavia, later in Elba, and now in Oakfield -- living in three separate towns without removing. He married Margaret, daughter of Solomon Dunham, who bore him nine children, three of whom are now living- Sidney, Kate and Judson; those deceased were Delecta, Sarah, Esther, Henry Frank and Orin. Sydney Underhill was educated in Cary Collegiate Semmary, and was engaged as a salesman for about five years, when he took up farming. In 1559 be married Carne, danghter of William C. McCrillus; they have one son, Wilham C.
Bierce, Miles H., was born at Hillsdale, Columbia county, N. Y., December 6. 1819. His early life was spent upon a farm and he was educated at the common schools and Cazenovia Seminary, and for a time taught school. While quite a young man he engaged in the mercantile business at Scott, N. Y., and in 1550 came to Ba- tavia and engaged in the dry goods business, in which he continued for forty-seven
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years. He was one of the oldest and most successful merchants of that day at the time of his death, on October 21, 1497. In 19 4 he erected the block on the south side of Main street which bears his name. Mr. Bierce served as assessor for nearly twenty years, and was recognized as authority on the value of property and on assessment laws. He took an active interest in educational and religious institutions. In 1850 Mr. Pierce was married to Laura J. Smith, who died in 1955, leaving one son, Miles Stanley, now of Cortland, N. Y. In 1919 he married Mary M. Smith, who survives him. To them was born a son, Manly S., who was associated in business with his father, becoming a member of the firm of M. H. Bierce & Son, in 1854. In 1884 Manly S. married Alice J. Ilewitt, daughter of Mr. M. W. Hewitt. Miles H. Bierce was a man of strong intellect and very positive convictions, and he possessed the courage to do at all times what he considered to be right.
Beckwith, Richard S., was a native of Lyme, Conn., and came with his parents to Genesec county in 1907. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a prosperous farmer. a successful business man, always ready and willing to help in every good work. He married Jane, daughter of Ruluft D) and Bethsheba Whitney of Sheffiekl, Mass. ; they have three children: Harris of North Pembroke, Mrs. Martha J Gould of Batavia, and Mrs. Mari. C. Woolsey of Kingman, Kansas. Mr Beckwith was a pioneer of Genesee county, and his life, one of industry, was well spent. His death, which occurred June 21, 1566, was a loss not only to his family, but to all who knew him.
Pratt, John W., the subject of this sketch, was born in Livonia, N. Y .. April 25, 1859. Ile was descended, in the seventh generation, from Lient. William Pratt, who came from England with Rev. Thomas Hooker, and settled ir Newtown (now Cam- bridge), Mass., in 1633, and thence removed in June, 1636, to Hartford, Conn. The generations are: William, Samuel 1615, David 1658, David 1720, Peabody 1357, George 1784, George Franklin 1816. John Wilcox 1859 His paternal great-grand- father, Peabody, was a Revolutionary soklier, as was also his great grandfather on the side of his paternal grandmother, Onesimus Risdon. a native of Vermont. His grandfather came to Livonia, Livingston county, N. Y., in 1807, where he built a tannery (afterwards removed to Springwater and carried on an extensive leather furnishing and boot and shoe store. He was a man of great business ability and prominent in affairs, and died leaving a competency. His father, George Franklin Pratt, succeeded to the business and later entered into mercantile business in Livo- nia His mother was daughter of Abner Wilcox and Sally Horton, who removed to Livonia from Dutchess county and settled on a farm of three hundred acres a mile north of the Center, and now owned by Samuel Woodruff. His maternal great- grandfather was also a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Pratt is the youngest of five chil- dren, and inherited in a full measure the business energy of his family, which was early manifested. He also has the features of the Pratts marked through all the gen- erations of the family. He was educated in the common schools of Livonia and studied at the Franklin Academy, Prattsburgh, N. Y., and the Walton Academy, Walton, Delaware county, N. Y. After finishing his education Mr Pratt was for several years in the employ of T. W. Millham, general merchant and postmaster at
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Livonia. N. Y., in the capacity of salesman and bookkeeper. In 1877 he came to Ba- tavia and entered the office of the Wiard Plow Co., where he has been for twenty-two years, now occupying the position of cashier and head bookkeeper. In 1880 Mr Pratt married Jennie A., one of a family of five children and daughter of the late Dr. Cyrus C. Baker, who was a prominent homeopathic physician of Batavia, N. Y. They have four children: Laura S., John C., Louella B. and Gertrude W. Mr. Pratt is one of the self-made men of the town, having served as trustee of the village and for the past eleven years as a director and treasurer of the Genesee County Permanent Loan & Building Association, and takes a general interest in school and church matters and has ever advanced the best interest of bis town and townspeople.
The subject of this sketch. Dr. Cyrus C. Baker, was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, N. Y., January 28, 1819. Soon after arriving at his majority he began the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. John F. Baker, a homeopathie physician at Lebanon, Madison county, N. Y., where he finished his studies and practiced until 1-50, when he, together with his brother, removed to Batavia. Shortly after his ar- rival he went to Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., and practiced until 1503, when he re- turned to Batavia, where he practicedl his profession until his death from heart dis- ease, which occurred quite suddenly on the morning of July 17, 1587, he having been on the street only a few hours before. The doctor was one of a family of physicians, two of his brothers being physicians, He was a very conscientious, upright and quiet man, a man who never displayed his good deeds for the world to sce, or talked about them for the workl to hear. As a friend remarked. " If he could not speak well of a person, he never spoke ill of him." He was known by his deeds, and his pleasant smile and cheery words were alnost as healing as his medicines. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for many years a trustee of the church in this village, and at the time of his death was town and county physician. He left four children by his first wife. Frederick and Frank (both since deceased), Ilattie and Mrs. John W. Pratt of Batavia. His first wife's name was Cyrinthea Stokes. By his last wife (since deceasedi, a sister of the former companion, he left one daughter, Lulu M. At his death he left three brothers and two sisters, all having died since.
Miller, Holden T., was born in the town of Byron, N. Y., February 1, 1841, a son of Wheaton S. and Emmarett (Southworth) Miller. His father was one of the promi- nent business men of Western New York and a leading man in his town. Although never admitted to the bar, he had acquired a large practical knowledge of the law, and was accustomed to the management of important legal matters. He was a re- markable man, was very widely known and universally respected. He died in 1965. Holden T. Miller was educated in the public schools and Genesee Wesleyan Semi- nary at Lima. He engaged in the mercantile and produce business for twenty-one years, and February 15, 1$79, came to Batavia and entered the Bank of Batavia as cashier, which position he still holds. In 1565 he married Cecelia G., daughter of Jacob Wiggins; they have one son, Wheaton S. Miller. Mr. Miller was supervisor of Byron four years, from 1868 to 1861 Ile enjoys the well-earned reputation of be- ing one of the best business men of the county, and his advice has often been sought by his neighbors and by investors. He has always been a Republican and has been very influential in the party.
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Pease, Edward, was born in the town of Stafford, Genesee county, October 29, 1525, son of Abraham Pease, who was a native of Connecticut and came to Monroe county with his parents in 1-16. Abraham Pease married Mary Ellis and moved to Genesee county about 1820; he was a prominent man in Batavia, served as assessor and held other like positions; he died in 1963, in his sixty-fifth year. Edward Pease was educated in the common schools, and in 1549 married Harriet A., daughter of Robert B. Stanton; they have three daughters living Harriet E., Sarah A. and Gertrude A. ; their tinrd daughter, Mary S., having died in 1980. Mr. Pease is a practical farmer, at which vocation he has been successful, and a man who com- mands the respect of his community.
The farm known as the Sanford Wilber farmi was first purchased and occupied by Amasa and Annis Wilber; they were the parents of four sons and two daughters. The youngest son. Sanford Wilber, remamed on the homestead until his death in May. 1591 : he left no children Morris Cleveland Wilber was married at the age of twenty-one to Emma Churchill, shortly after which they took up their restlence with Sanford Wilber, who was his uncle; they had two sons-G. Sanford and Earl D. Wilber. Mrs. Wilber died in 1981, and about a year later Morris C. was married to Myrta Adelle Griffin, who bore him one daughter, Grace Adelle Wilber. Mr. Wil- ber died June 9, 1895. He was a practical and successful farmer, and a man of un- questioned integrity, respected by all who knew him.
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