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 13
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 13
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DMUND S. LEGGETT will long be remem- bered by the residents of the town of Co- vert, Seneca County, among whom he made his home for many years. During his life he was a successful farmer, and by personal sacrifice and persevering industry gained a good property and a comfortable income.
A native of this state, our subject was born in Putnam County, February 23, 1810. His par- ents were Morris and Lydia (Hopkins) Leggett, who reared a family of six sons and two daugh- ters, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Leggett came with their family to this coun- ty in 1815, and at once took up their abode on the tract of land which was formerly owned by their son, Edmund S., of this sketch. Here they were successful in tilling the soil, but the home was soon darkened by the death of the husband and father, who passed from this life when forty years of age. Of his brothers and sisters we make the following mention: Hackaliah was a prominent physician and skilled surgeon of Mis- sissippi; Aner married George Crandall, and moved to Ohio, where she died; Carsa T. was
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also a successful physician of Mississippi; Anson was engaged in teaching school at the time of his decease, which occurred in young manhood; Ezra was an attorney; William was a preacher of the Baptist faith; and Clarissa died unmarried.
Our subject was educated in the district schools, and remained with his parents until his marriage to Miss Marinda, daughter of Daniel and Olive (Morgan) Barto, which event took place Oc- tober 13, 1840. Mrs. Leggett was one in a family of seven children. Her brother Roswell, who is now deceased, was formerly a farmer; Me- lissa married Smith Durling, and is also de- ceased; Mary was formerly the wife of William Barto, but is now deceased; Martha, who became Mrs. Franklin Smith, is also deceased; Henry is a farmer of McLean, N. Y .; Charles, who was a Baptist minister, is deceased.
To our subject and his wife there were born the four following children: Olive L. and Saralı. deceased; Courtney, the wife of Alfred Hopkins; and Cortez D. The latter married Miss Frank Graves, and died in ISS7.
The home farm, which is now conducted by Alfred Hopkins, and which contains one hundred acres, was managed by our subject when a lad of fifteen years, his father having died at that time. He afterward purchased the estate, and to him is due the credit for the splendid class of improve- ments which it bears. Mr. Leggett departed this life June 6, 1893, his demise being lamented by the entire community, as he was a man whose character was above reproach in every way, and one who served as a fit representative of the best class of the early residents of the county. Mrs. Leggett passed away October 6, 1895.
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PETER B. DEY.
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PIERSON DEY.
IERSON DEY. In the town of Fayette, Seneca County, Mr. Dey owns seventy-five acres of very productive land, and upon this place he resides, devoting his attention to the cultivation of the soil and the improvement of the farm. This estate is conveniently located within four miles of Geneva, a beautiful little village on the banks of Seneca Lake.
Mr. Dey was born in this county January 26, 1845, to Peter B. and Mary Dey. The former was born in New Jersey, June 30, 1812, and was in turn the son of Pierson, Sr., and Saralı (Con- over) Dey. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was also Dey, was born in the town of Fayette, November 20, 1823, and was a daugh- ter of Gilbert and Mary (Kenner) Dey. The formier was born August 24, 1791, and was the son of Richard Dey, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Peter B., the father of our subject, grew to manhood in the town of Fayette and received a very fair common-school education. After attain- ing his majority he left the parental roof and be- gan to work out by the month. Soon after his marriage, however, which occurred December 24, 1840, he rented property, which he cultivated on shares until he had laid by a sufficient sum to enable hini to purchase a farmi of his own. The first tract which he bought consisted of fifty-two acres, and after living on the same for a few years he bouglit the seventy-five acres on which
his son, our subject, now makes his home. He moved on this place in 1853, and was for many years thereafter engaged in its cultivation and improvement. Although not a politician, he al- ways voted the Democratic ticket. He departed . this life September 16, 1891, and his remains were interred in Glenwood Cemetery at Geneva.
The parental household included two children, the sister of our subject being Mrs. Mary Em- eline Conover, the wife of S. S. Conover, whose biography also appears in this volume. Pierson was a lad of eight years when his parents took possession of the tract on which he now lives. He attended the district schools of this neighbor- hood, and when seventeen years old began to work out for himself and make his own way in the world. His first work was in operating a threshing-machine owned by his father, the pro- ceeds from which lie was allowed to call his own.
Mr. Dey was married, January 8, 1868, to Miss Susan A. Gambee, whose birth occurred in the town of Varick, September 11, 1845. She was the daughter of Joseph B. and Joan (Troutman) Gambee, by whom she was given the opportunity for gaining a good education. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born two children. Anna, whose birth occurred in the town of Varick, April 11, 1871, is well educated. Peter B., whose birthi also took place in that lo- cality, November 20, 1878, is attending the com- mon schools.
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For several years after his marriage Mr. Dey continued to live in Varick, after which he spent some time with his parents in their home. Later, however, he purchased a tract of fifty-two acres in Varick, but subsequently sold out and re- turned home, and since his father's death has taken charge of the farm, which he operates in a very successful and intelligent manner. In poli- tics he is a stanch Democrat, and on the ticket of that party was elected Supervisor of the town of Fayette, discharging the duties of the office in a satisfactory manner for two years.
ERMAN F. BREHM, whose home is just west of the corporate limits of Waterloo, Seneca County, was born on this place, July 24, 1861. His parents, Frederick C. and Elizabeth (Kunz). Brelim, were natives of Ger- many, the former born in Allendorf, and the lat . ter in Rillshausen, Hesse-Cassel.
Frederick Brehm was a lad of ten years when he made the journey across the Atlantic, in the year 1846. He was accompanied on this trip by his mother, and together they joined the husband and father, Herman Brehm, who had come to Am- erica two years previously. The latter was born at Rothenburg, province of . Hesse-Nassau, Ger- many, May 26, 1796, and was the youngest son but one of a large family of children. An older brother, Jolin, perished in the campaign of Na- poleon in Russia, probably at Smolensk. Reared amid the exciting scenes then being enacted by the Napoleonic Wars, he saw and remembered much which transpired in those historic times, when Germany was overridden by the French, each family of any ability being required to sup- ply its quota of food and shelter to the French soldiers, his own among the rest. On several occasions he saw the great Napoleon, and too
often witnessed the effects of his generalship on German soil. His descriptions of the appearance of Jena after the battle and of similar scenes were most interesting.
After the usual term of schooling the grandfa- ther was apprenticed to the nailmaker's trade, of which he became master. Between the years 1846 and 1849 he worked for J. R. Webster in the soap business, and in 1849 established a soap factory on the place where his grandson now lives, and where he engaged in the manufacture of candles and soap during the remainder of his life. While a journeyman nailmaker he traveled pretty thoroughly over Germany and Poland, and could tell something of almost any town of note in those countries. Endowed with a re- tentive memory, and being a keen observer of the ways of men, traveling about before the days of railroading, he saw much of the every-day life of the people among whom he moved, and had an inexhaustible fund of stories about themn. Being past middle life when he emigrated to America, he found it difficult to converse fluently in English, and always spoke in his native tongue when convenient. It was for this reason that he attended, whenever possible, services at the Ger- man Lutheran Church at Bearytown or Seneca Falls, whose pastor was the late Rev. Diedrich Willers. The latter he held as his steadfast friend. Strange as it may seem, they were nearly the same age, and died about the same day, April 29, 1883. Although coming to the New World a poor inan, the grandfather prospered in his ventures, and at the time of his death left his fam- ily in comfortable circumstances.
The grandparents of our subject had a family of twenty-two children, only two of whom grew to mature years, and Frederick C. was the only one who married .. He aided his father in the factory, and in this way became thoroughly ac- quainted with the manufacture of soap; he fol- lowed this business during the active years of his life. In 1882, however, he retired, at which time our subject took charge of the factory. In 1859 the father was married to Miss Kunz in Cayuga County, she having located there with her parents on her arrival from the Fatherland.
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They became the parents of three daughters and three sons, of whom Herman F. was the second born. The eldest, Christina, makes her home in Rochester; Minnie A. married George F. Schrader, and is likewise a resident of Rochester; F. Elizabeth is teaching in the public schools of Waterloo; C. J. B. died aged thirteen months; and Frederick W. is engaged in business in Rochester.
The fatlier of the above family, who is a resi- dent of Waterloo, is a Democrat in politics, and on this ticket served in many responsible offices. For some time he was Town Clerk and Assessor, and also was Commissioner of Highways. In his native land he attended school until the re- moval of the family to America, after which he was a pupil in the schools of his home district. He is well read and well informed on the topics of the day, and is an interesting conversational- ist. He was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran Church, but after coming to America became identified with the Episcopal Church. Socially he is a Mason.
Herman F. Brehm was educated in the public schools of Waterloo, and after attaining his twen- ty-first year purchased the soap business from his father. This he is now carrying on, and he is in command of a good wholesale trade in textile soaps for woolen-mills.
Mr. Brelim and Miss Grace W. Batsford, of Waterloo, were united in marriage May 19, 1891. She was born in this village, and completed her education in the Waterloo Union School. Her parents were Edwin and Elizabeth (Wall) Bats- ford, highly esteemed residents of this locality. To our subject and his wife has been granted a danghter, Gertrude, who was born on the home farmi, July 26, 1892.
In politics Mr. Brehm is a Democrat on na- tional affairs, but in local elections usually votes for the best man, regardless of party lines. He is decided in his opinions concerning temperance, and has done much toward establishing reform in his community. With his wife, he is a mein- ber of the Episcopal Church. In January, 1894, he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs, under the supervision of the Collector at Roches-
ter. Socially he is a Mason, and has taken the commandery degree and filled most of the offices in the blue lodge. In 1891 he formed one of the party of Knights Templar who took a trip to Europe, on which famous expedition he visited Ireland, Wales, England, France and his parents' old home in Germany. In 1886 Mr. Brelim erected his present fine residence. He gives strict attention to business and possesses the con- fidence of the entire community.
APT. MORRIS J. GILBERT holds the very exacting position of Steward of Willard State Hospital, and the fact that he lias continued in that position without a break since March. 1873, shows better than any words can do his ca- pacity for the work, and his ability for adminis- tering the duties of so important a place. Cap- tain Gilbert is a native of Middlesex, Yates County, where he was born November 16, 1831, the son of Samuel and Sarah ( Brown) Gilbert. His father was a native of Seneca County, and his mother was born in New Jersey. His pater- nal grandfather was John Gilbert, who was born on Long Island, where his ancestors had resided for many generations, Sir Humphrey Gilbert probably being the most conspicuous ancestor of our subject.
John Gilbert came to Seneca County among the very first of the hardy company that came to con- vert a wilderness into a garden of the Lord. He located near Seneca Lake, in the town of Fayette, but after a timie removed to Yates County. Front there he went to Allegany County, and finally to Springwater, Livingston County, where he died at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. It is somewhat remarkable and unusual that his wife should have lived to almost the same age. Perhaps their great longevity may in part be
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accounted for from the fact that they were farmi- ers all their days and lived very simply and ab- stemiously.
John Gilbert and wife had a large family, of whom Samuel Gilbert, the father of the subject of this sketchi, was the eldest son. He was born in 1800, and was also a farmer. For some years he was a resident of Vates County, but in IS45 lie became a resident of Geneva, where lie died at tlie age of sixty-five. His wife lived to be eighty-two, and spent the last years of her life in Geneva. Both were associated with the Baptist Church, and lived earnest and consistent Christian lives. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom lived to attain their majority.
Captain Gilbert was the sixth of this goodly family. He was reared on the farin and was sent to the common schools to receive a practical and working education. In 1861 he found employment in the mercantile establishment of his brother at Geneva, and later became a partner. In 1864, however, lie was appointed steward of the steamer "D. S. Magee," later became captain, and subse- quently held the same position on the steamer "Onondaga." There he was found every season until 1873, when he was nominated Steward of the hospital by Jolin B. Chapin. This nomina- tion was approved by the Board of Management, and his commission was signed by the Governor. In this position he has served continuously fromn that day to this, with the approval of all parties interested in the management of the institution. He acts as purchasing agent, and the financial affairs of the hospital are principally under his control.
Captain Gilbert was married, in 1858, to Miss Eliza Simonds, daughter of William Simonds. She was a native of New Hampshire, but at the time of her marriage was living in Yates County. She died in 1868, leaving two children. Willian Morris, a minister of the Episcopal Church, is First Assistant Pastor at Grace Church in Balti- more. His wife, Fannie, is the daughter of Dr. Jolin B. Chapin, Superintendent of the Pennsyl- vania Hospital for the Insane, located at West Philadelphia. They have one son, Morris. Our subject's daughter, Bessie, married Edwin R. | ber 19, 1864, when, his term of enlistment having
Bishop, and died in Willard, in 1894, after bear- ing her husband two children, Edwin and Morris. Captain Gilbert was a second time married, Miss Martha, daughter of Jonathan Baley, of Yates County, becoming his wife. She is the mother of two children, Marian and John Park.
In politics Captain Gilbert is a Republican and lias held several local offices, but he has no in- clination for party manipulations. The position that lie fills demands and receives all of liis ener- gies. In religion he is a member of the Episco- pal Church, and socially is interested in the Ma- sonic fraternity. He is a member of the various organizations of that society and has taken the Knight-Templar degree.
ON. LEWIS BEACH. Our subject is one of the venerable men of Schuyler County, as
- nearly seventy years have left their record on his head in whitened hair. However, lie re- tains his honorable position by virtue of his keen ability and well preserved physical attributes. He is one of the well known farmers of the town of Tyrone, and in addition to working his brother Daniel's farm of one hundred and forty-five acres on shares, also rents forty-five acres.
Mr. Beacli is a native of this town, having been born here January 5, 182S. He was reared on his father's farm and lived here until about twenty-five years of age, when, desirous of seeing something of the western country, he started for Wisconsin. Choosing a farm in Rock County, he lived there for eight years, engaged actively in farming. While there the Civil War broke out, and Lewis, being fired with the spirit of patriot- ism, offered his services to the Union cause, and was mustered in in September, 1861, as a mnem- ber of Company A, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infan- try. He served with his regiment until Novem-
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expired, he returned liome, and in February of the following year came to his native town. While on the field of battle lie participated in many well known engagements, and suffered all the privations to which the soldiers were sub- jected. Having disposed of his farming interests in Wisconsin, Mr. Beach remained at home with his father until the death of the latter. He has continued to make this section his home since that time, with the exception of the two years when he lived in Polk County, Iowa, in 1871 and 1872. Farming he has made his chief business in life, and in this undertaking he has met with success. For many years he has been classed among the influential and substantial residents of the community.
At all times Mr. Beach has take a very active part in political affairs, and for several years was Supervisor of the town of Tyrone. In the fall of 1879 he was elected to the Assembly, and was re-elected in the fall of 1880. During his incum- bency of that position he served on various im- portant committees and gave perfect satisfaction to his constituents, whose interests were always of first importance with him. IIe has been a firm advocate of Republican principles ever since tlie organization of the party, and in its councils he is very prominent. In religious affairs he is liberal and is not connected with any denomina- tion or body.
Hon. Lewis Beach and Miss Adelia Willis were united in marriage August 12, 1869. The lady was born in Dresden March 7, 1845, the daughter of Charles P. and Caroline (Deisher) Willis. To Mr. and Mrs. Beach there have been granted two sons: Philip L., born in Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa, on the 7th of December, 1872; and Charles W., born August 2, 1878, in Tyrone. Socially Mr. Beach is a prominent Mason and also belongs to Philip Beach Post No. 455, G. A. R., of which he has been Past Commander.
Obadialı Beachı, the father of our subject, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., January 8, 1804, and the mother, Mary Lang, was a native of Westchester County, this state. They were mar- ried September 19, 1826, in the town of Tyrone, Schuyler County (then in Steuben County), in a
very early day, and were identified with the in- terests of this section until their death, botli pass- ing away in the same year, the mother January 13, 1878, and the father on the 24th of June. To them were born three children: Lewis, born Jan- uary 5, 1828; Daniel, August 29. 1830; and Philip L., January 26, 1836. Obadialı Beach was always interested in matters where his community was concerned, and aided in various ways its up- building and improvement.
ILBERT E. ROGERS, There is not a man within the limits of the town of Tyrone, Schuyler County, who is held in more geil- eral respect than the subject of this notice. Self- made in the broadest sense of the term, his ca- reer illustrates in an admirable manner what may be accomplished by unflagging industry, perse- verance and good management. We find him the possessor of ninety-eight acres of excellent land, on which he has erected a good residence and substantial outbuildings.
Mr. Rogers is the son of the late Dr. Emerson W. and Clarinda (Coykendall) Rogers, the for- mier of whom was likewise born in the town of Tyrone. He in turn was the son of Asahel and Lavinnia Rogers, and was reared in his native town by Benjamin Sackett, his father having died when he was a lad of six or seven years. In the schools of the neighborhood he was given a good education, and when ready to start in life for himself was married to Miss Coykendall. For a time lie followed farming, and also engaged in running a sawmill with fair success. For some time, however, he had been consumed with the desire to study medicine, and, an opportunity now presenting itself, he devoted himself assidu- ously to reading and study, and when pronounced fully qualified began practice. He very soon built up a lucrative patronage, and thereafter fol-
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lowed his profession until his death, which oc- curred in July, 1891. His wife had died in Oc- tober of the previous year. They became the parents of five children, namely: Elizabeth, Gil- bert E., Saralı L., Philo and Florence.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Tyrone, this county, April 25, 1843. He com- pleted his education in the common schools, and when ready to marry chose his wife from among the maidens of Allegany County, N. Y. The lady in question was Miss Mary A. Jordan, who became his wife February 4, 1864. Miss Jordan was born in the above county, and was the daughter of Isaiah Jordan, of that county.
. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers there have been born two children: Fred E., who married Jennie Drake; and L. May. They at present live on their beautiful farm, which the father and husband cultivated, although for a number of years after his marriage he operated a sawmill, as his father had done before him. He found it to be more profitable, however, to give his attention wholly to one branch of business, and consequently aban- doned the manufacture of lumber. He is a stanch, substantial citizen of Tyrone, and a man of ster- ling principles, progressive ideas and generous impulses. As Assessor of his town, he discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity. He exercises his right of franchise in favor of the Prohibition party. In his religious views he is liberal, but is a man who possesses the esteem of the whole neighborhood.
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OODEN AUGUSTUS SPEARY. Prom- inent among the representative and pros- perous farmers of Schuyler County is the worthy gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His life of usefulness and industry has resulted in the accumulation of a good property .
in the town of Orange, where he is the proprie- tor of seventy acres of productive farming land.
Our subject was born in Sullivan County, Pa., July 14, 1847, and was the son of Samuel and Mary ( Pennington) Speary, who emigrated to this portion of New York in 1865, the father at once selecting for his future home a tract of land in Sugar Hill.
Samuel Speary was also a Pennsylvanian, and was born in Luzerne County about 1811. He was a life-long farmer, and after coming to this state made the place above referred to his per- manent home, dying there of paralysis May 2, ISS7, when in his seventy-sixth year. His widow survived him until 1893, when she, too, passed away, being at that time eighty-four years of age. He was a true-blue Republican in poli- tics, and with the exception of some minor office which he held in early life, could never be pre- vailed upon to hold public positions. He was a thorough Christian, and while a resident of Penn- sylvania was Class-Leader for many years. Both himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Previous to coming to New York the senior Mr. Speary had cleared a good farmi in the Key- stone State, and although starting out in life poor in this world's goods, he lived to be the possessor of a good property. His family in- cluded eight members, all of whom are living, with two exceptions. Our subject, who is the youngest of the household, is the only one living in New York. His sister Permelia married L. D. Littell, now a resident of Chicago, but for- merly a merchant of Altay, town of Tyrone.
Our subject was eighteen years of age at the time the family came to this county. He re- mained at home until twenty-three years old, in the mean time being given a good education in the schools taught in the district. He was married to Miss Eliza Smith, of Tyrone, in June, 1869, and for seven or eight years thereafter they con- tinned to make their home in that town. As his fatlier advanced in years, he became less able to look after the farin, and W. A. was called home, managing the estate until his father's decease, when he made a satisfactory settlement with the
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