USA > New York > Schuyler County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
USA > New York > Seneca County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
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The father of the above family was at one time a Jacksonian Democrat, but during the agitation of the slavery question he considered that he liad reason to change his views, and thereafter affili- ated with the Republicans. In early life he joined the Baptist Church, but later became a member of the Disciples Church, in the faith of which he died. He was one of the organizers of this de-
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nomination in the village of Tyre, and our sub ject, during the building of the church edifice, aided in hauling the lumber used in its constric- tion. Hiram Woodworth departed this life in 1876, and his wife in 1872.
After carrying on his studies in the schools near his home, our subject entered the academy at Lyons, and afterward became a student in the schools of Seneca Falls and Waterloo. He was considered competent to teach when only eighteen years of age, and so successful was he in this vo- cation that he continued to follow it for twelve or fifteen years. He was engaged most of the time in the town of Tyre, although he taught some in Wayne County. During this period he spent every leisure moment in study, and although not attending any large college or university, became as well informed as many of those who were given this privilege.
Mr. Woodworth was born January 1, 1829, but did not marry until February 20, 1889, when he was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Harriet W. (Babcock) Van Buskirk, of St. Joseph County, Mich., and a daughter of John and Eliza Adelia (Munson) Babcock. This lady, however, was born in the town of Tyre and was one whom Mr. Woodworth had known for many years.
Our subject began to purchase the interests of his brothers and sisters in the home farm prior to the death of his parents, whom it was his inten- tion and desire to care for during the remainder of their lives. Thus at the time of their demise he found himself the owner of the old place, num- bering two hundred acres of finely improved land. The first building ever erected on this property was the little log cabin built by his grandfather. In later years this gave way to a more commodious frame building, which is now used as a barn. The present residence is built of cobblestones, and was erected during the year 1844.
Mr. Woodworth was not interested in politics until about the year 1856, when he was sent as a delegate to tlie convention, at which time the Republican party in the county was organized.
1 Since that time he has been a warm supporter of its principles and greatly interested in its tri-
umphs. He has of late years been a delegate to its conventions, both county and state, and has been the candidate of his party for many positions of responsibility and trust. For several years lie was Clerk of the town of Tyre; also its Assessor and Inspector of Elections. He has likewise ren- dered efficient service as Supervisor. and, in fact, has been the incumbent of nearly every office which it has been within the power of his fellow- citizens to bestow, notwithstanding he has always had a large Democratic majority to overcome.
Mrs. Woodworth is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, worshiping with the congre- gation which her grandfather helped to organize inany years ago.
HOMAS P. HAUSE is the proprietor and publisher of the Farmer Review, having founded it and begun its publication in the month of July, 1887, at a time when no paper had been published in the town for several years. It is an eight-column folio, local and independent, devoted to the interests of Farmer, and has appeared every week since its first publication. It has grown to considerable prominence, and has an appreciative and valuable patronage.
Mr. Hause was born in Ovid February 29, 1860, the son of Joseph and Nancy (Purdy) Hause, who were also natives of New York. Jo- seph Hause settled in Seneca County before his marriage, and taught school. The grandfather, also Joseph Hause, was one of the pioneers of Seneca County, and helped to clear up the virgin forests around Farmer. He and an Irishman (ex-Senator Francis Kernan's father) went across Seneca Lake and settled at Tyrone, to which point they presently removed their families. The Hause family trace their ancestry back to Will- iam Hause, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750.
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After the marriage of the parents in 1856, they resided in Ovid. The father died in May, 1864, and the mother in 1872. They had three chil- dren, all sons: Alfred B., Thomas P. and Will- iam J.
Our subject was born in Ovid, received his education in the village schools, and learned the printer's trade in the office of the Ovid Independ- ent. In 1887 he came to Farmer. Previous to this, in 1881, he was married to Jessie E., the daughter of D. F. Frantz, and they have two children, Nancy E. and Frank E.
In politics Mr. Hause is independent, voting for the best mien and measures, irrespective of party interests, and by strictly carrying out this principle hc has made himself a power. The proportions of his office and the increase of his establishment show how much the people appre- ciate a candid and honorable newspaper. He be- gan business with a Washington Hand-press, and' with but little material on hand, and now has a steam outfit, with a Campbell Country Press, and one of the most complete country job offices found west of New York. He is sole owner of both the plant and the building. Mr. Hause is found among the members of Farmersville Lodge No. 183, F. & A. M., and Seneca Lodge No. 694, I. O. O. F.
ISRAEL YOST, a highly respected agricultur- ist on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, in the town of Varick, lives upon the farm where his father settled in 1825. He was born in Berks County, Pa., December 18, 1814, and is a son of Daniel and Foraney (Hess) Yost, the former a native of Berks County, and the latter of North- umberland County, Pa. In 1823 the family came to Seneca County and settled at East Varick, and two years later located on the farm where our
subject now resides. Daniel Yost, a shoemaker by trade, was a well educated man, and for many years engaged in teaching both English and Ger- man in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Coun- ties, Pa. On coming to this county he engaged in farming exclusively, and remained on the old homestead until his death, at the age of seventy- six years.
Politically the father was a Democrat, and took an active part in all political affairs. Religiously he was a Lutheran, and assisted in establishing the church of that denomination at East Varick. His wife, who was a member of the Presbyterian Church, died in her eighty-eighth year. They were the parents of nine children, two sons and seven danghters. One son, Stephen, died when twenty-eight years of age, and Israel is the sub- ject of this sketch. Caroline is the widow of John Disinger, of Varick, and now lives in Can- oga; Angeline is the widow of Jacob Larzerele, of that place; Cliristiana is the widow of Vincent Williams, of Varick, and resides with her son George on the farm; Clarissa married Charles Schwab, of Fayette, where they now live; Amanda married Jolin Waring, and lives in Ionia County, Mich; Harriet is the widow of Henry Lisk, and resides near Romulus, in the town of Varick; and Sarah married Coan Bishop, and they reside in the town of Lodi. All married well and all have fine homes.
Israel Vost remained at home until his twenty- fifth year, working by the month the last year. He then followed threshing one year, and again worked on the farm by the month for Hiram Wheeler. The next season he was engaged in ditching. After working a time for others, he, took charge of the home farm, which he worked until his father's death, when he purchased the interest of the other heirs, paying $82 per acre for the same. He had saved $4,000 by the time lie bought the old place, and this he used in pay- inent for the farm. Times were then good, and he made considerable money, but suffered many losses by loaning his funds. Success, however, has crowned his efforts, and in addition to the old homestead he has two other good farms: the Abbott Farm, consisting of one hundred and fifty-
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five acres in the town of Fayette, which he pur- chased for $83 per acre, and the Waring Farin of seventy-six acres, for which he paid $65 per acre. They are both fine farms, and are occupied by tenants.
Mr. Yost lived a single life until sixty years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Backman, who had been his house- keeper for six or eight years prior to this event. They have twochildren, Lutie Amelia and George. Both are yet at home, and are receiving a good education. Politically Mr. Yost is a Democrat, but has never been an office-holder. He has been a member of the Lutheran Church since young manhood. Though now in his eighty-first year, he can say that he has never had a law suit in his life.
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EV. THOMAS J. O'CONNELL is the be- loved and honored pastor of the Holy Cross Church at Ovid, where he has been located since April 20, 1876. The steady growth of the church, and its high standing in the regions round about, attest the worth of the pastoral labor and the faithful attention which it has received from its pastor and priest. The church was organized and built in 1849 by Rev. Father Gilbride, who paid it regular visits until it was able to sustain a pastorate of its own. During these years it has steadily grown, and its congregation now num- bers some fifteen hundred souls. In 1851 the first church was completed and dedicated by Bishop John Tiemon, of Buffalo, previous to which time services had been conducted in pri- vate houses. About 1865 Father Keenen built an addition to the old church. In 1876, when the present minister came to its pulpit, it had grown to a congregation numbering nearly twelve hundred, and its growth since that time, while not rapid, has been steady and sure. The church
also owns a fine and commodious parsonage, which was purchased in 1869 for $6,000, by Rev. James J. O'Conner, of Seneca Falls, at that time pastor at this place.
Father O'Connell, our subject, is a native of Ireland, and was born in County Galway, near Dunmore, in 1846. His parents, James and Sarah (Cunninghamt) O'Connell, had a large family. Mrs. O'Connell is still living, resid- ing in Ireland. Two of her children are priests in America: Patrick O'Connell, at Sheffield, Bu- reau County, Ill., and the pastor of the church at Ovid. When a young boy, Thomas spent five and a-half years at St. Jarlath's College, in his native town, and five years at the Irish Col- lege, in Paris, France, studying under the great Irish patriot, Most Rt .- Rev. John MacHale, Archbishop of France. This institution is almost under the shadow of the great Pantheon, where the students learned great lessons of what the Irish race had done for the world and for the Holy Church. While in the latter college the present Cardinal Logue, Archbishop of Armagh, was Father O'Connell's professor of dogmatic theology and of the Irish language.
In 1871 the young theologian came to America, and June 22 of that year was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Rochester, at St. Bonaventure Seminary in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, N. Y. He was first attached to St. Patrick's Cathedral at Rochester, and after a few months was trans- ferred to the Holy Family Church at Auburn. After passing three years and a-half there, he returned to Rochester for three months, and then for the sante length of time was at Mount Morris, where he did good work in assisting in the re- duction of the debt on the church. While he was at that point he also attended to the spiritual interest of missions at Nunda and Geneseo. The church at Ovid is now out of debt, has a good property, and presents a bright prospect for the future. Father O'Connell is an earnest worker, and takes a kindly interest in the spiritual welfare of a few faithful families in Romulus, where he has organized the Sacred Heart Church, of which he has had pastoral charge since IS76.
The line of priestly service which the Ovid
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church has received includes some notable names in the Roman Catholic priesthood. Father Gil- bride was in charge in 1852 and the year follow. ing. He died in Waterloo, that year, and was succeeded by Father Kinney. The next year Very- Rev. W. Gleason, Vicar-General of Buffalo, en- tered upon the administration of the church, re- maining five years. He was an earnest, eloquent and capable man, and exercised a great influence over a wide field of labor. In St. Mary's Church at Waterloo he also conducted services; bought the church at Trumansburg, and attended to its. care and growth. In 1859 Father Maguire was in charge of the church at Ovid for six months. Fatliers Martin, Cavanaugh, Stephenson, Can- non, Dennis English and McMannis were in charge for the next three years. In 1863 Father Keenen came to the church, remaining for six years, and was succeeded in the year 1869 by Fa- ther O'Conner, who gave way to our subject in 1876. The congregation is now engaged in building a fine edifice to cost about $30,000.
While Father O'Connell has been a very busy man, he has not neglected opportunities for broadening his knowledge of the world. In 1867 he attended the Paris Exposition; was at Phila- delphia to learn what he could at the Centennial Exposition in 1876, and was at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893. He has taken but one long vacation, in 1886, when he traveled in Ireland for three months; he visited his Alma Mater at Paris, and also went to Rome.
M ARION B. JEWELL, of Wayne, Schuyler County, well known throughout this por- tion of the state, deserves representation in this volume. He is the owner of the Wayne Hotel, to the management of which lie gives his entire time and attention. The hotel is well patronized
by the traveling public, as it is both neat and at- tractive in appearance and moderate in price.
Our subject was born in Wayne, Steuben County, this state, April 6, 1850. His father, the late Nelson Jewell, and his mother, formerly Hannah Van Houten, were both born in this state, the latter in Steuben County. They set- tled in the above locality very shortly after their marriage, and there the father worked at his trade, which was that of a blacksmith. Afterward, low- ever, he abandoned this in order to give his time to farming, and made this the vocation of his life. Many years previous to this time he conducted a hotel at Hammondsport, being engaged in this business for twelve years. He lived to be sixty- eight years of age, and died in Wayne, June 10, 1883. His good wife still survives and makes her home in the latter village.
The parental family included six children. of whom the eidest, bearing the name of Marion B., died in childhood: Mary N. became the wife of Josiah Ingersoll, and departed this life in Wayne, February 6, 1894; Sarah A. married Addison Damoth, but she died at Barrington, Yates Coun- ty, March 15, 1893; Elizabeth J. is the wife of Edson Bisby, and makes her home in Wayne; Hessel MI. married Miss Mary Benner, and they make their home in Bath, N. Y.
Marion B., the second to bear the name and the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the household. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which event was cele- brated March 13, 1872, at which time Miss Eliza Benner became his wife. She was a daughter of Timothy Benner, and was born in Hammonds- port, April 14, 1850. After their union the young people settled on a farm near Wayne, Steuben County, and made that place their home for three years. At the end of that time they changed their location to Tyrone, Schuyler County, and for two years were identified with the interests of that community. We then find them residents of Wayne, where Mr. Jewell was engaged in the manufacture of baskets and where he also ran a sawmill for several years. Most of the time since 1884, however, he lias operated the Wayne Hotel, located in the village of that name.
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Our subject and his estimable wife are the par- ents of a son, Clyde H., who was born May 8, 1886. Mr. Jewell is active in public affairs, and in him the community finds a faithful and un- swerving friend, ever on the alert to serve its best interests. His first Presidential vote was cast for a Republican, to which party he has given his adherence ever since.
M ISS MARGARET R. LAUTENSCHLA- GER, a native of the town of Varick, was born in a log cabin on the farm where she lately resided, in 1814, and passed to her final rest November 1, 1895, in the eighty-third year of her age. Her father, Jacob Lautenschlager, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., in August, 1778, and was of German descent, his father be- ing a native of Germany. Jacob was reared in his native county, and there married Eve Burger, a native of the same county. By occupation he was a farmer, which calling he followed during his entire life. In 1812 he removed with his wife and seven children to Seneca County and located on the farm where his daughter resided at the time of her death. At the time of the father's removal there it was heavily covered with timber, and there were but few persons living in the county. In due course of time he had much of the land cleared and a productive farm establislied.
When Margaret was about four years old her mother died. Of the parental family only one survives, David. Joseph resided here for many years, but later removed to Lockport, and from there to Montana. He died, leaving a family. Lydia married Robert Hood, of Varick. Stephen died at the age of eighteen. Jonathan, who re- sided in the town of Varick, died at the age of seventy. Joshua lived in Fayette and died there. Charles removed to Monroe County, Mich., where
his death occurred. Elizabeth married George Hinderleiter and removed to Michigan, where she died. Margaret R. came next. David is yet living on a part of the old homestead. John died in 1885, at the age of sixty.
After the death of his first wife, Jacob Lauten- schlager married Mrs. Breyfogle, a widow, and by that union there was born one child, Lafay- ette, who died in infancy. Mrs. Lautenschla- ger survived her husband several years. The father was a quiet, unassuming man, attending strictly to his private affairs. He was a good farmer, a kind and loving husband and father, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and assisted in the erection ot the church at Bearytown, of which most of the family were members.
As already stated, Miss Lautenschlager lived upon the home farm during her entire life. Up to almost the time of her death she was active in body and mind and was a great reader, well posted in literature and the current events of the day. She was a member of the Lutheran Church at Bearytown.
12 ANIEL B. MARSH. A native of Seneca County, this gentleman has been identified with its growth from an early period in its history. In his boyhood there were few of the improvements now visible on every hand. Sen- eca Falls was a little hamlet, containing only a few houses, and presenting no indication of its present prosperity. The beautiful farms that now greet the eye of the passers-by could then be discerned only by the eye of faith, for the waste tracts and timbered lands afforded little cause for enthusiastic predictions.
On the farm in the town of Romulus where he now resides, the subject of this article was born
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September 7, 1817. Here he grew to manhood, becoming familiar with farm work at an early age. In October, 1868, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Rebecca Salyer, and three chil- dren were born unto them, nantely: Phoebe, wife of Charles Latourette, a resident of Detroit, Mich .; Jolin, who resides in Los Angeles, Cal., and is an entploye of the telephone company of that city; and Grace, a young lady residing with her father. The wife and mother passed away in 1879, eleven years after her inarriage.
In partnership with Itis brother Thomas, our subject owns the old homestead where he was borit. This consists of one hundred and forty-six acres, devoted to general agricultural pursuits. In his political views Mr. Marsh has been con- nected with the Republican party since its organ- ization, and has always voted for its candidates and principles. An admirer of Henry Clay, he voted for that famous statesman for President. He has kept thoroughly informed regarding all the questions affecting the people of the country, and is of course especially interested in all enter- prises calculated to promote the welfare of the citizens of Seneca County.
AMES F. WASSON is one of the representa- tive farmers in the town of Dix, and also a representative of the boys in blue who went to the defense of their country in the Civil War. He is also a representative of the American citi- zens of foreign birth who really and truly become identified with the institutions of their adopted country. In County Tyrone, Ireland, his birth occurred June 11, 1846, he being a son of Alt- drew and Jane (White) Wasson, both of whoin were also natives of County Tyrone. . When but three years of age his parents cmigrated to this country and located in the town of Dix, Schuyler
County, where the fathier purchased fifty acres of land, which is now owned by his son, Matthew Wasson. Here the parents spent the remainder of tlicir lives, the motlier dying April 16, 1888, and the father April 12, 1892.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest of eight children, of witont five are still living, three in Schuyler County, one in Steuben County, and a sister in Montcalm County, Mich. James F. was reared on the honte farin and attended the con- mon schools in the town of Dix. In 1864 he en- listed in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy- 1tinth New York Infantry, commanded by Cap- tain Pierson, of this county. The regiment was organized at Elmira, N. Y., and was commanded by Major Gregg, of the old Twenty-third Bat- talion. Immediately after its organization it was sent to the front and took an active part in the campaign against Richmond. It was in the bat- tle before Petersburg, June 17, in which it lost over one-third of its men in killed and wounded, took part in the series of battles in front of Pe- tersburg, and was also at Poplar Grove. About this time it went into fortified camp in that region. The Ninthi Corps, to which the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth belonged, changed positions with the Fifth Army Corps, and was placed in front of Petersburg. At midnight, April 1, a general advance was made on the latter place, the battle lasting all the next day, and in this charge the forces took many prisoners. At two p. M., April 2, the division led by the gallant One Hundred and Seventy-ninth made a charge on Ft. Mahone, and carried the day. This was conceded to be one of the most bril- liant charges of the entire army and decided the day. In this charge the regiment lost heavily, a great number of its officers being killed. From this place, under command of Captain Bowen. the regiment followed the army to Burkville, and participated in the closing scenes of tlie Rebellion. Our subject remained with his company until the close of the war and was mustered out of the service at Alexandria. Two of his brothers were also in the service. Samuel, who was killed at tlte battle of Antietam, was a member of Com- pany A, of the Eighty-ninth New York Infantry.
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John B. enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty- first New York Infantry, but was discharged for disability.
On receiving his discharge our subject returned to his home and again engaged in farming. On the 12th of September, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Ellison, a native of Schuyler County, and a daughter of John and Rachel (Ellison) Ellison, the latter being a dis- tant relative of her husband. He was a native of Ireland, born in County Tyrone, May 9, 1812, and came to America with his parents when a boy of ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison reside on a farm in the town of Reading, the father at eighty- three years of age and the mother at eighty-one. Mrs. Wasson is second in a family of five chil- dren, four of whom still survive and reside in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Wasson commenced their mar- ried life on a farin of eighty acres purchased by
him in the town of Dix, and this is now the home of his eldest son. They resided on the farm un- til 1888, and in the mean time had added one hundred and twenty-five acres to the original purchase. In 1885 Mr. Wasson disposed of one farin of one hundred acres to his son-in-law, David Thompson, and purchased one hundred and fifty acres one mile north of Townsend. To Mr. and Mrs. Wasson four children were born: Wallace J., now residing on the old homestead; Ella E., wife of David Thompson, of the town of Dix: Charles and Carrie, at home. In politics Mr. Wasson has always been a Republican, and re- ligiously he and his wife and daughter Ella are members of the Sugar Hill Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member since twenty-one years of age, and in which he has been an Elder for the last twenty years. For the same length of time he has been a member of Jefferson Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., of Watkins.
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