USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 45
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Stanton, B. M., Holland .- The Stantons trace their genealogy back to Thomas Stanton, the first one in America, in 1635; the progenitors were from England. B. M. Stanton's grandfather, Samuel Stanton, was a native of Mt. Vernon, Pa., and his father, Abel Morse Stanton, was born June 30, 1805, at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and died March 24, 1852, at Hamlinton, McKear county, Pa. Abel Stanton married Sarah Scott (born in September, 1819) in 1837, and they had six children: Wilbur Fisk, born in 1839, died in 1841; Alpha Seaver, born October 6, 1840, died August 5, 1891; Bev- erly Milton (the subject), born July 9, 1843; Almond Fletcher, born in 1844, and died in 1846; Clarence Welborne, born April 25, 1846, and Helena Calista, born August 16, 1851. B. M. Stanton was reared on a farm and at the age of nineteen, May, 1861, enlisted in Co. F, 35th Regt. N. Y. Vols., and served two years, being discharged June 5, 1863. After the war was over he worked in Steuben county, N. Y., and Blossburg, Pa., until 1876, when he moved to Holland, N. Y., where he is now en- gaged as engineer for A. Rumsey & Co., and the U. S. Leather Company. He is a member of six secret societies, having held prominent offices in several. January 1, 1864, he married Adeline Monroe of Rathbonville, Steuben county, N. Y., and they had one daughter, Carrie M. Stanton, born September 19, 1866, and died January 11, 1879, in Holland, N. Y.
Savage, Dexter, Holland, is the son of John and Sarah Savage, who were natives of New Hampshire, and came to Erie county in 1838, settling in Holland. Mr. Sav- age received his education from the district schools, and at the close of his school life engaged in moving buildings, which he followed for a number of years. In 1847 he married Ruth Colby, and they had fourteen children, ten of whom are now living. Mr. Savage manages his large farm of 180 acres and is engaged principally in dairy . ing. In political choice he is a free silver Democrat.
Riley, Philip D., Holland, was born in Litchfield, Conn., April 24, 1810, and was the youngest but one of a family of six sons, three of whom are still living. His father, James Riley, was born in New Jersey, his mother, Anna Osborn, in Connec- ticut, and were both of New England Puritan stock. The family while living in Litchfield was a regular attendant, and the mother a member, of Dr. Lyman Beecher's church. In 1818 the family moved to the town of Sheldon, then a part of Genesee
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county, making the entire journey in a covered emigrant wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Having bought a farm, the father built a log house and settled down to farm- ing, which he pursued for four or five years, when the mother died and the family was broken up, the father returning to New Jersey. Philip remained in Sheldon six years, living with a neighbor for whom he worked on a farm, attending the district school in the winter. He then went to the town of Aurora, Erie county, where his older brother, Aaron, was engaged in trade in a general country store in what is now the village of East Aurora, where for several terms he attended an academic or high school, paying his way and clothing himself by doing chores and clerking in a store for Hon. Joseph Howard, a man then prominent in business and political circles of Erie county, under a written contract by which "the party of the second part shall receive $50 a year and doctor's bill to the amount of $5." At the completion of this contract Philip applied to the Board of School Commissioners for a license to teach school, passed an examination and received a certificate signed by a future president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, he being one of the examining board. Mr. Riley has preserved this certificate with great care as one of his choicest possessions. After four months' term of "keeping school" he laid aside the ferule and resumed his clerkship with Mr. Howard, in which position he remained until 1832, when he went to the village of Holland to open and conduct a store as partner of Mr. Howard. Within a year he bought out Mr. Howard's interest in the business and for upwards of twenty years thereafter he carried on the business alone, besides engaging largely in farming, growing wool and dealing in cattle and horses and other live stock. In 1852-3 he retired from trade and his other more active business and gave his whole time to the care and management of his large landed and monetary interests. In 1835 he married Miss Elsie Peck, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Sarah Deming Peck of Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., who is still living. They had one child, a son, who died several years ago. Mr. Riley was appointed sergeant-major in the 174th Regt. and afterwards promoted by the governor to adjutant, which office he held to the close of the Patriot War. He was formerly a Whig but subsequently allied himself with the Democratic party, with which he has acted continuously to the present day, always voting a "straight ticket." Although never a politician, he always took and still takes a lively interest in the political questions of the day; was the party candidate for several State offices and for several years in succession rep- resented the town of Holland on the Board of Supervisors. He aided largely by his influence and means the projection and completion of the B., N. Y. & P. Railroad, in which at one time he was an extensive stockholder; was instrumental in estab- lishing the Bank of Holland, in which he holds a large amount of stock, and also contributed liberally to the establishment of other local business and manufacturing enterprises. He never speculated. By his industry, energy and economy he has accumulated an ample fortune, owning now about 1,500 acres of land, together with stocks, State and National bonds and other securities.
Jerge, Philip and Herman, Elma, are sons of Jacob Jerge, who came from Ger- many in 1848 and settled in Elma, where he learned the wagonmaker's trade. Later he bought out his employer. William H. Bancroft, and carried on the shop alone un- til 1887, when he sold out to his sons, Philip and Herman, and since then they have carried on the business of carriage and wagon building, building a large number of
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trucks and express wagons; they also do a large business in handling agricultural implements and also all kinds of blacksmithing, having two separate shops, one at Elma village and one on the Clinton street road. Both being thorough mechanics, they have been very successful and are looked upon as prominent business men in their line of work.
Luders, John, Elma, p. o. Elma Center, was born in Germany in 1839, a son of John Luders, who came to Elma-in 1853, and died in 1855, leaving three sons, Will- iam, Christ and John. John Luders began life at the age of sixteen by working on a farm by the month, and by strict economy saved enough to buy a small piece of land near Elma Center, where he began farming for himself. He has continued to add to the first purchase, until at the present time he has a farm of 225 acres. In . 1862 he married Sopha Cook, and they have two sons and three daughters. Mr. Luders has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of the town and was for some years highway commissioner and for three years assessor; in 1895 he was elected supervisor, which office he still holds.
Markham, E. J., Elma, was born in the town of Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1832, and is the son of Stephen Markham, a lumberman and farmer, who came to Elma in 1858 and died in 1884. Mr. Markham moved to Brewerton in 1842, where he taught school for some time; in 1859 he moved to Elma, where he taught fifteen terms of school; in 1860 he opened a general supply store which he carried on until 1892, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law; in 1872 he built a large cider mill, the second in the State at the time that washed the apples; he has since been en- gaged in the manufacture of cider and vinegar, in which he has done an extensive business. In 1891 his son-in-law entered this business as a partner. He married Philura Chapman of Syracuse in 1852, and they have two children, Charles E. of Buffalo, who is general passenger agent of the Anchor Line Steamboat Company, and Nellie A. (Mrs. L. P. Reuther) of Elma.
Christy, Harrison B., Brant, was born in Hanover, Chautauqua county, N. Y., February 25, 1842. He removed with his parents to Brant in November, 1847, and was educated in the common schools and the Fredonia Academy. He then taught school during the winters from 1860 to 1865, working on the farm during the sum- mers. In 1863 Mr. Christy married Helen E. Avery of North Collins, N. Y. He served as town clerk in 1870 and 1871, assessor from 1874 to 1880, and was supervisor in 1883 and 1884. He is a member of the M. E. church and the Royal Templars. His son, Norris J. Christy, died in Colorado, May 18, 1883, aged seventeen years. Joseph L. Christy, the father of Harrison B., was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., January 29, 1809, a son of Benjamin Christy and grandson of John Christy. Joseph L. removed to Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1832, and to Brant in 1846, where he died July 18, 1873. He was a farmer and served as assessor and jus- tice of the peace. March 19, 1834, Mr. Christy married Diana Thompson, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., May 18, 1810. Her father, George Thompson, son of James, removed to Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1833.
Dinnon, Abram, Brant, was born in Brant in 1843, on the farm which he now owns and where his father, Harley Dinnon, settled with his father, Abram, in 1834. Abram died in 1857 and Harley in 1872. Mr. Dinnon, with the exception of the time
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spent in the Rebellion, where he was in the 10th N. Y. Cavalry, has always remained on the homestead. He has also carried on a store since 1882, and since 1889 has been postmaster, and has also been notary public for the last eight years. He has two sons and two daughters.
Evans, Ralph, Brant, was born in 1829 in the town of Manchester, Hartford county, Conn., and is the son of Levi and Marilla W. Evans, who moved from their eastern home in 1830 and settled in Brant. His father died in 1861, leaving four sons; the oldest, Arial, lost his life in the late Rebellion. Mr. Evans is a descendant from one of seven brothers who came from Wales and settled in Connecticut before the Revolution ; and his branch of the family were powder-makers. Mr. Evans left home when eighteen years old and learned the wagon-maker's trade, and carried on a shop for fourteen years in Chautauqua county. He returned to Brant in 1865, when he bought his present home, and has since been engaged in gardening and fruit raising, in which he has been very successful. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Stanton, and they have one son, Elwin, who keeps a store at Brant Center, and one daughter, Linda.
Fenton, Elbridge G., Brant, p. o. Fenton, born in Greene county, N. Y., in 1839, is a son of Thomas W. and grandson of Benjamin Fenton. He came to Erie county in the fall of 1857, where he lived with his uncle and attended the Fredonia Academy during the winters of 1859 and 1860. In 1861 he enlisted in the 21st N. Y. Vols., at Buffalo, in which regiment he served two years, being in a large number of engage- ments, and was wounded at Second Bull Run. He was in the hospital from August 31, 1862, until December 13, 1862, when he received a sixty days' furlough, which he spent at Westfield Academy, and after rejoining his regiment, was detailed to Wash- ington to do light guard duty until the expiration of term of enlistment, when he re- turned to Erie county and Brant. He re enlisted at Buffalo in the 33d N. Y. Light Artillery, independent battery, and was commissioned a lieutenant therein October 9, 1864. He returned to Brant at the close of the war, where he has since been en- gaged in farming, lumbering and fruit growing. He is a bachelor, and. has for his home company and housekeepers two maiden sisters, Dama and Emma. Mr. Fen- ton was one of the incorporators of the North Collins Bank and is now its vice-presi- dent. In politics he has always been a Republican.
Kirby, Abram S., Brant, p. o. North Collins, was born in 1848 and is the son of Howland S. Kirby and grandson of Silas and Deborah Kirby who came from Dart- mouth, Mass., and settled in North Collins in the year 1828. They had nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters: Humphrey, Alonzo, Silas, Howland, Frederick, Charles, Phebe, Susan and Sally. Howland married Amy D. Tucker, daughter of Abram Tucker who came to this country in 1810. Howland died in 1884, leaving four children, three sons and one daughter: Ambrose, Everett, Dora and Abram S., who now owns the old homestead and carries on farming and gardening; he mar- ried Edith J., daughter of H. H. Byron, who came from England in 1828 and settled in Eden, where he died in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Abram S. Kirby have two children, one son and one daughter: Frank A. and Mabel E.
Lehley, George, Brant, was born in 1855 in Rochester and came to Evans in 1861, where his father is a farmer. He worked on the farm and attended the district
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school until 1872, when he went to Angola and learned the carriage-maker's trade. In 1876 he came to Brant Center, where he opened a shop and carried on carriage and wagon manufacturing until 1888, when he opened a general hardware store and has since dealt largely in agricultural implements. Mr. Lehley has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his town, serving nine years as town clerk, and in 1890 was elected supervisor, which office he has since held. As a financier, Mr. Lehley has been very successful, being one of the directors of the North Collins Bank and is also a stockholder in the Bank of Gowanda.
Richardson, F. L., Brant, was born in Concord in 1842, and is the son of Jere- miah Richardson, who was born in Newport, Mass., in 1796 and came to Concord, Erie county, N. Y., in 1815, where he was a prominent farmer, until his death in 1879. Mr. Richardson, after attending the common schools of his town, spent two years at the Pike Seminary and at the age of twenty began farming for himself and later began dairying and cheese making, which he followed for twelve years. He bought the farm where he now resides in 1877 and has been a very successful farmer and dairyman. He has been for the past fourteen years one of the trustees of the M. E. church. He married, August 3, 1870, Miss Miller, and they have one son, Leroy.
Velzy, Oliver, Brant, was born in 1842 in Wyoming county, N. Y., and is the son of Eldred Velzy, who came from Connecticut. Mr. Velzy enlisted in 1861 in Co. C, 104th N.Y. Vols. ("The Wadsworth Guards") where he served until 1864, when he re-enlisted in Co. A, 188th N. Y. Vols., where he served until July, 1865. He was in some of the leading battles of the Rebellion-Second Bull Run, Antietam, Freder- icksburg, Weldon Railroad, Petersburg, Five Forks and at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. After the close of the war he returned to Machias, Cattaraugus county, and from there to Brant, where he has since been a farmer. He married in 1867 Lydia, daughter of Amos H. Bradient of Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, and has six sons and one daughter: Weslie, Elsie M, George R., Seba M., Eber A., Amos and Orlean. He is a member of James Ayers Post No. 202, of Angola. He has always taken a prominent part in town affairs and for the last eight years has been overseer of the poor, and is now in mercantile business at Brant Center.
Wetherbee, John, Brant, was born in 1825, and is a son of Asa Wetherbee, who came from Massachusetts to Evans in 1811, where he was a farmer and died in 1852, leaving four sons. Mr. Wetherbee has been a prominent man in his town, being first town clerk for several years, later a justice and in 1879 was elected super- visor, which office he held for five terms. He learned the blacksmith's trade when a young man and after following it for several years bought a farm and began farm- ing. Since then he has been quite an extensive dealer in real estate. He also kept a store at Brant Center for several years, but at present is retired from active busi- ness, except the selling of real estate of his own.
Bedell, Ossian, Grand Island, was born at Georgia, Franklin county, Vt., June 6, 1832, and educated in the common schools of Tonawanda, N. Y., and the seminary at Lima, N. Y. In 1840 he came with his parents to live on Grand Island, and at the age of eleven began driving team for his father on the canal and for nearly twenty years followed the canal with his father and with boats of his own. At twenty-one
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he owned a farm of his own and began farming, lumbering and boating wood on the Niagara River. In 1874 he was one of the leading men who organized a stock com- pany and built the Buffalo and Grand Island Ferry, which was such a great improve- ment to the Island. In 1876 he built and opened the Bedell House in Grand Island, of which he is still proprietor. During Lincoln's administration he was appointed inspector of customs for the first district of Buffalo Creek and was located at Grand Island, being confined principally to Tonawanda and Grand Island. During the ful- fillment of this office he had many exciting adventures and narrow escapes with his life, while apprehending smugglers who made Grand Island their place of landing. In 1862-63 he was supervisor of his town and from 1881 to 1884 was assistant superin- tendent of public works for the western division of the Erie Canal. In 1890 he was appointed United States consul to Fort Erie, Ont., and continued in office until a change of administration, about two years. In 1897 he was reappointed to the Fort Erie consulate, which he now occupies. Mr. Bedell has for many years been the recognized leader of the Republican party in his town and his counsel is sought by many others from other parts of the county. He has made the Bedell House and surrounding grounds the most popular resort in Western New York. He also owns a pleasure steam yacht fitted to carry 275 people. On March 28, 1854, he married Permelia Zimmerman of the town of Tonawanda.
Alt, George H., Grand Island, p. o. Inland, one of the representative young men of his town, was born in Grand Island, March 31, 1860, the fourth of five sons and two daughters born to Philip and Wilhelmina (Schmidt) Alt, natives of Germany. Philip was born in July, 1827, and his wife in October, 1829. Philip is a shoemaker by trade, which he followed for many years. In 1855 he emigrated to America and lived in Baltimore two years where he plied his trade. In 1857 he came to Grand Island where he plied his trade several years in connection with a little store. He was industrious and frugal and later purchased a farm of forty acres to which he added from time to time until he owned 220 acres. In politics he was a Republican and was elected to the office of commissioner of highways and justice of the peace, filling the latter office six years. While on the Island he was an active member of the Evangelical church, of which he was a trustee several years and also superin- tendent of the Sunday school many years. His wife was a member of the same church. Their children are John, Peter, Philip, George, Amelia, Katharine and and Frank. In 1892 Mr. Alt divided his farm among his sons and moved to Black Rock, where he has resided ever since, assisting his youngest son in his meat market. George H. Alt has spent his life thus far on the Island, remaining with his parents assisting in a general way until he took the part of the farm on which he now resides and operates. In politics he is a Republican and was elected town tax collector and is now filling his second term as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance of Grand Island, of which he was treasurer three years. In 1885 he married Jennie E., daughter of Christopher and Mary (Webb) Webb of Grand Island, and they have one son, George H. Mr. and Mrs. Alt are members of the Congregational church of which Mr. Alt is trustee and treasurer. Mrs. Alt is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society.
Cunningham, William G., a prominent man of Grand Island, and a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, was born in Sandy Hook, Ky., April 5, 1842, a son of Henry
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and Mary (Gee) Cunningham, natives of the north of Ireland. Henry Cunningham was a military man, large, powerful and athletic. During a wrestling or jumping contest in 1847 he ruptured a blood vessel and bled to death. His wife died the fol- lowing year. William G. was then a child of six years, left without a relative, and he was taken by kindly people, Mr. and Mrs. McGregory, who took him to their home on a farm near St. Catherine, Canada. In 1860 he came to Grand Island and on August 8, 1861, enlisted in Co. A, 44th N. Y. Vols .; this company was known as the Ellsworth Avengers. This company was composed of a select lot of men, one man being chosen from each town in Erie county and each ward in the city of Buf- falo, each man to be of good moral character, not under eighteen years of age, nor over thirty and no man to be less than five feet eight inches in height, each to pos- sess $100 with which to equip himself with rifle and two suits of special made clothes. He was mustered in at Albany and served three years. He fought under McClel- lan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade and Grant. The principal battles in which he partici- pated were: Siege of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, Groveton, Second Bull Run. Antietam, Dam No. 5, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Middleburg, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. He received six wounds in the battle of Gettysburg, and lay on the field two days; he was found by James B. Storms, and to him he is indebted for his life. From the effects of those wounds he was con- fined to the hospital six months. He then returned to his regiment and fought in the battle of the Wilderness where he was again wounded on May 5. He returned to Albany with his regiment and was mustered out as sergeant October 11, 1864. Returning to Grand Island he engaged in farm work for a time and later spent two years in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, when he again returned to Erie county and en- gaged as a steamboat engineer on the Niagara River and Lake Erie, following this for fourteen years. During this time he purchased the farm in Grand Island which he now occupies and where he has ever since resided. In politics Mr. Cunningham is a Republican, but has always firmly declined the many proffered nominations for public office. He is a member of the Union Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 97 of Buffalo. In 1869 he married Hannah Mayne, a native of Prussia, born in 1846. She started for America in 1853 with her grandparents and mother, the latter dying on shipboard. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have one son, Fred William, who resides in Buffalo, is married and has two children. Seventeen years after the birth of their first son a second son was born to them, John, who died after a little over a year of life. The loss of this little fellow was the most severe blow Mr. and Mrs. Cunning- ham ever received.
Cook, Van Rensselaer R., Grand Island, p. o. Sheenwater, one of the oldest and best known residents of Grand Island, was born in the town of North East, Dutchess county, N. Y., August 16, 1820, one of eight sons and two daughters born to Lewis and Hannah (Darling) Cook. He was the seventh son of this union, all of whom are now dead. His father kept a hotel in North East Center for many years and died when about seventy years of age. Van Rensselaer attended the common schools, assisted his father until he went out of business and then engaged as a farmer. In 1851 he came to Grand Island and the following year purchased sixty acres of tim- ber land, which he cleared, converting the timber into spiles and cord wood and sell- ing them. He would cross the river in a boat, which was a flat bottomed one pro-
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pelled by man power. He owns the farm where he resides. In politics he is a Re- publican, has served as justice of the peace for thirty-six years, being excused in 1890 on account of his age. During his career as justice he never had a decision reversed. Previous to his being justice he was town constable. In 1853 he married Susan House of Canada, daughter of Louis A. and Sarah (Garner) House, and they had six children, all living except one son, Lorenzo, who died when thirty-four. His chil- dren are as follows Hannah, Lewis, Lorenzo, Henry, Mary and Salome J. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Congregational church, of which he was trustee. The log house which Mr. Cook built in 1855 he is still living in, having added a frame addition. His son Henry opened and named Eagle Park, prepared the grounds and conducted the hotel a number of years.
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