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 18
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 18
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ILLIAM GILES. The agricultural inter- ests of Schuyler County are ably repre- sented by Mr. Giles, who is the proprietor of a liandsome property in the town of Orange, his possessions including two farms of eighty- four acres each. The farms adjoin and are both admirably improved. In 1870 Mr. Giles first settled on his property, which is in the northern portion of the town. It was formerly owned by Dr. Silas B. Hibbard, who located liere upon his removal from Massachusetts, about the year 1825. Besides carrying on a large practice, the latter inade many valuable improvements on this prop- erty, and continued to make it liis liome until his decease, in 1865, when eighty-four years of age.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town
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of Orange, near his present home, March 1, 1828, the son of William and Elizabeth ( Park- hurst) Giles, bothi natives of Monroe County, this state. They removed to this locality about the year 1825, at a time when the country bore but little improvement in the way of good farmis. The father went industriously to work to clear his tract, and, as lie possessed some means, was enabled to do this in a much shorter time than it would otherwise have taken. The old home- stead is now owned by Levi Giles. The father died in 1851, aged fifty-five years, while his good wife, who survived him nine years, was in her seventy-fourth year at the time of her decease.
To William and Elizabethi Giles there were born nine children, of whom two sons and three daughters are now living. William, of this his- tory, remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he hired out to work for Dr. Hibbard. He remained with him just one sum- mer, when his father asked him to return home and oversee the work of the estate. On the death of the latter he was made the administra- tor, and settled up the estate.
He then formed a partnership with his brother Levi, and together they worked the farm until 1875, when our subject became the owner of his present farm. The buildings upon the place were erected by Dr. Hibbard, but Mr. Giles has re- modeled them, so that the farm presents a very pleasing appearance to the passer-by. He is very handy in the use of carpenter's tools, and has been prevailed upon by many of the residents for ten miles around to aid in the construction of their dwellings.
The marriage of Mr. Giles with Miss Margaret Anu Horning was celebrated January 8, 1851. She died in November, IS87, after having become the mother of six children, namely: Horatio H., a farmer in the town of Tyrone; Arsula D., who married Smith Holliday, of Watkins, an engineer on the Northern Central Road; Cytheria, who married Janes Love, also a farmer of the town of Tyrone; Plummer Leroy, who is cultivating a farm in that locality; Ida May, Mrs. Sardus Rappalye, a tenant on the old farm; and Jolin, who died when eight years of age.
April 4, 1895, Mr. Giles was married to Mrs. Emma (Evans) Obert, the widow of Peter Obert, of Beaver Dams. Her birth occurred near Town- send, town of Orange, in 1842, and by her mar- riage she became the mother of a daugliter, Edith May, who is now the wife of Clyde Bronson, of Townsend. Mr. Giles is an ardent Christian, and for forty years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Tyrone. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and has been the recipient of many official positions within the gift of his fellow-townsmen to bestow.
OSEPH P. SLACK is spending the evening of his days, and enjoying the fruits of his long and laborious life, in the village of Wa- terloo. He was born in Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y., January 15, 1817, the son of Israel and Sarah (Perkins) Slack. The father, a native of Vermont, was a farmer by occupation, and round- ed out more than fourscore years, dying in 1854, in his eighty-fifth year. He was of English de- scent, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Slack, whose name begins this article, is the only member of the family surviving, two sons having passed away. His early school days were passed in the district schools. In Oswego County he began farming, and in connection with this also carried on a dairy. In 1860 he sold this farm and removed to Waterloo, but soon after- ward became interested in the oil-refining busi- ness in Titusville, Pa. Presently he returned to Waterloo, and entered into business associations with Charles C. Gridley. They worked together for four years, and in the development of the city had a fair share. The Academy of Music, a building of which the townspeople are justly proud, and the only structure of the kind in the place, was erected under their management.
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January 16, 1838. Mr. Slack and Miss Maria E. Furniss were united in a marriage that was to continue for more than a half-century, and prove that it is indeed good for a man to liave a wife to lighten his home, cheer his heart, and inspire his life. Mrs. Slack was born in England in 1819, and about ten years later came to this country with her parents, finding a home in Mexico. In the first bloom of her girlish beauty she was wooed and won, and her early love filled and made beautiful her whole life. She was known by all the community as a lovely soul, and the graces and charities of her daily life made her doubly dear to all who came under the influence of her gracious character. She was not spared the common trials and afflictions of human nature, but in a large and helpful way she rose above them, and exhibited a beautiful spirit of patience and trust. A modest and yet confident trust in the realities of faith and religion moved her to seek membership in the Presbyterian Church and made her work in its association a tender memory to all with whom she came in contact. She died August 3, 1894, after a lingering and painful sickness of more than seven weeks' dura- tion, made luminous by her patient and coura- geous suffering. All that is mortal of her noble and beautiful life rests under the shadows of Ma- ple Grove Cemetery.
There were three sons born to this happily wedded couple, only one of whom is now living, Edson F., who is a resident of Waterloo. Jud- son C. died in 1863, and Alfred H. in 1892. Two sisters of Mrs. Slack are still living, one in Fre- donia, and the other in Cassadaga, and three brothers reside in this city. Edson F. Slack, though a resident of Waterloo, is Superintendent of the Seneca Falls Electric Street Railway and is one of the prominent and aggressive young business men of the day.
Joseph Slack is now nearing the close of an active and well spent life, and as the evening shadows deepen he can recall with satisfaction the days and the scenes of "the long ago." He has not only worked hard hiniself, but he has been appreciated by his friends and neighbors. While in Mexico he was chosen to fill the posi-
tions of Commissioner of Highways and Trustee of the public academy, the district school, the corporation and the church, and liad it not been for his disinclination for public life, it is safe to say he would have been called out of his retire- ment to many more important offices.
ILLARD J. FENNO. Our subject is a prominent citizen of the town of Tyre, Schuyler County, and is the owner of a fine property, where he carries on farming on an extensive scalc. His parents, Joel and Sarah (Corey) Fenno, were both born in Gardner, Mass., the former in February, 1800, and the lat- ter in July of the same year. They were there married, and in 1821 came to what is now the town of Tyrone, locating on property a short dis- tance from Altay, and there lived for some forty years, when they took up their abode in Reading Center. There the mother died in May, 1868, and the father in the year 18So.
The parental household included six children, of whom we make the following mention: Sarah C. is the wife of Samuel Cole; Hezekiah died while a resident of Saginaw, Mich .; Willard J., of this history, was the third-born; Carmillus is a resident of Altay; Alexander departed this life in Altay in June, 1855; Lucy A. died in the same place several years before, when in her sixth year.
Our subject, who is the eldest son now living, was born near Altay, in the town of Tyrone, May 9, 1826. He was well educated for that day, and remained at home until 1856, or until thirty years of age. May I of that year he was married to Miss Emma T. Honeywell, who was born in Scipio, Cayuga County, N. Y., June 8, 1831. Her father was Enoch Honeywell, born in Bed- ford, this state, September 23, 1788. Her mother,
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who before her marriage was Eliza Dye, was a native of Rhode Island, born March 16, 1795. Mr. and Mrs. Honeywell were married Septem- ber 30, 1820, in Brookfield, Madison County, N. Y., and afterward settled in Cayuga County, where they lived for several years, and then came to what is now Schuyler County. The trip here was made in 1836, and the family took up their abode on property near Altay, where the parents lived and died. The mother passed away May 4, 1868, while Mr. Honeywell lived until January 13, 1887. They were the parents of three chil- dren, viz .: Alba, who engaged quite extensively in farming in Hoopeston, Ill .; Gilbert, an agricult- urist of the town of Tyrone; and Emma T., Mrs. Fenno.
After his marriage our subject removed to Starkey, Yates County, where he lived for two years, when he purchased the homestead of Enoch Honeywell, and this has continued to be his home ever since. By his union with Miss Honeywell there was granted a son, Frank H., who was born 11 Starkey, Yates County, July 14, 1857. He was a finely educated gentleman, and at the time of his decease, in 1892, was Professor of Elocution in the Blue Mountain (Miss.) Female College. He completed his studies in Starkey Seminary and Cook Academy at Havana, after which he attended Professor Emmerson's College of Ora- tory in Boston. He was graduated, however, from the National School of Elocution and Ora- tory at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1878, at the age of twenty-one. Prior to accepting the professorship in the Blue Mountain College he was engaged in the mercantile business at Altay, owning what was known as the "Altay Store" for a period of ten years, during a portion of which time he was Postmaster. He taught school for sev- eral years and was teacher of elocution in many colleges in different parts of the country. Frank Fenno was married, in April, 1882, to Miss Sarah Perry, who was born in Altay and who was the daughter of the late Mathew Perry. This union resulted in the birth of three children, namely: Edith May, Grace Lillian and Emerson Willard. Frank Fenno died of typhoid-pneumonia, at Blue Mountain, after a short illness, and his remains
were brought to Altay and interred in the family burying-ground. His widow still remains in Blue Mountain, where she is engaged in teaching school.
The estate on which our subject is residing consists of one hundred acres of highly produc- tive land, on which may be found all the necessary buildings. He is not an office-seeker, although he takes great interest in the success of the Repub- lican party. With his wife, he attends the Baptist Church, of which they are worthy and valued members.
EORGE W. BROKAW is one of the enter- prising farmers of the town of Lodi, who has made his farm yield him capital for other and allied business interests. He was born on the farm where he now resides, March 12, 1834, his parents being Abram C. and Eliza A. (Huff) Brokaw. The father was also born on this farm, as have been the three following generations. The mother was born in New Jersey. The grandfa- ther, David Brokaw, who canie from New Jersey to this county about 1800, settled in the town of Lodi, where our subject now resides. He pur- chased one hundred and fifty acres of land, then in a wild state, but later converted it into a val- uable and highly cultivated farm, making it his home until the day of his death, when past eighty- three. His wife survived him, and died at about the same age. Traditions linger in the family about her determined character and stout cour- age. It is said that she once seized an axe, en- tered a pig-stye, and drove away a marauding bear to save the family pork from his savage clutches. The grandparents had a family of sev- en children, bearing the names of Jane, Christina, Magdelena, Isaac, Gertrude, Tunis and Abram C. The father was reared a farmer, and remained
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on the home place until 1861, when he moved to another farm, where he died in 1878, at the age of seventy years. His wife died in 1852, leaving six children. Anna J. married Miner Wyckoff, and now resides in the village of Lodi; our sub- ject was the second child; Ophelia married Jerome C. Richmond, and makes her home in Jackson, Mich .; Eliza E. became the wife of Jolin J. Long, and has her home in Leslie, Mich .; Rachel Mary married Scott Swarthout, and is now in Lodi. Abram C. Brokaw was married a second time, Mrs. Mary Ann Bramble becoming his wife. She was the mother of one child, a daughter, Chris- tiana, who is Mrs. Knight M. Chrysler, of North Hector.
Mr. Brokaw, our subject, was reared a farmer, and was educated in the district schools. March 21, 1861, he was married to Cornelia E., a daugh- ter of Joshua B. Covert, and a native of Monroe County. Since their marriage our subject and his wife have lived on the old homestead, where he was born. Here they have eighty-five acres of land, which, by careful tilling, have yielded a generous support. Since 1859 Mr. Brokaw has dealt in wagons, carriages and sleighs, and has also conducted a repair-shop, which has been a great convenience to the neighborhood. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three chil- dren. Miner C. married Virginia Dimmick; Mary E. is the wife of Thomas B. Freestone, of Lodi; and Abram C. is at home. Politically Mr. Brokaw was formerly independent in his think- ing and voting, but of late years has affiliated with the Prohibitionist party, feeling that it is striking at the giant evil and crime of the ages, and hence deserves the assistance and co-opera- tion of all good and true men. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and of the Royal Ar- canum, and lias long been a moral force in the community. His fellow-townsmen have more than once recognized his worth by electing hin to important public positions.
The Brokaws are of French origin, Burgone Brokaw having been exiled from France. A man of broad views in political affairs, he came to this country among the French Huguenots, and be- came the ancestor of all the Brokaws in the
United States. As the family history is traced down through the various generations, the name takes curious form and spelling, but it is always the same in meaning. It appears as Brocaw, Brocas, Brogaw, Broca, Burkaw, and in other forms, and affords an interesting illustration of the proneness of even distinguished family names to vary in form and spelling through successive generations.
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OM FILLINGHAM, of Waterloo, dealer in groceries, crockery and Yankee notions, and the proprietor of the Waterloo Greenhouse, is one of the substantial contributions that Old England has made to the prosperity of central New York. He was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 1820, the son of Charles and Ann ( Hirst) Fillingham, the former of whom was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. England not presenting a satisfactory field for his business activities, the senior Mr. Fillingham came to the United States in 1841, landing at New York, and coming at once to Waterloo. Here he found employment in the Waterloo Woolen Mills, and was engaged in the sorting department for many years, or until 1860, when he returned to England, where he died a few years later. His wife, who had accompanied him, survived him a few years. .
Mr. Fillingham, the subject of this article, re- ceived his education in the English common schools, and when he was ready to take up the burdens of life, or when about fifteen years of age, began working in his father's woolen-mills in Murfield, Yorkshire, the firm consisting of his father, two brothers and an uncle. Here he re- inained until he sailed to the United States, com- ing immediately to Waterloo, where he found em- ployment in the familiar woolen business. From 1847 to the present time he has been active in
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different capacities about the mills, and for many years has had especial charge of the weaving de- partment. In 1861 he opened a store, which is in charge of his son Viner, and has also been in- terested in various other mercantile investments.
In 1843 Mr. Fillingham married Miss Hannah Viner, a resident of Auburn, N. Y. She was born in Yorkshire, England, and was the daugh- ter of George Viner. To our subject and wife seven children were born, all of whom are living. Viner, the eldest, is in charge of the store, and the other children are named Emily, William, Mary, Edward, John Charles and Allen. Our subject served one terin as Village Trustee, and
while he has not been prominent in politics, has been a highly respected member of the commu- nity. Religiously he is a member of the Epis- copal Church, while until her death his wife found her home in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1892 his wife died, leaving hin alone but for the faithful love of his children.
Mr. Fillingham. is a good example of what perseverance, economy and persistence can do for a man. He began life in meager circumstances, but by attending strictly to business and making himself indispensable to his employers, he accu- inulated a very good property for old age, and is now in comfortable circumstances.
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MRS. ROBERT BELL ..
ROBERT BELL, M. D.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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ROBERT BELL, M. D.
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OBERT BELL, M. D. The distinguished gentleman whose name opens this notice is recognized as one of the most prominent physicians and skilled surgeons of Schuyler County. It was not long after locating here, in 1845, before he had established a lucrative prac- tice and gained the respect and confidence of the people, who reposed the greatest trust in his ability and skill. Dr. Bell has made his home in Monterey since the above date, with the ex- ception of about eight months, when he lived in Elmira.
Our subject was born across the seas, in Bel- fast, Ireland, August 24, 1815, and passed the first eleven years of his life in his native land, attending the common schools when old enough. When his parents, William and Elizabeth (Gra- ham) Bell, emigrated to America, he accompanied them hither. They spent the first few months on American soil in Newburgh, Orange County, whence they afterward removed to Matteawan. William Bell was a weaver of fine linens in his native land, but after making his home in Ameri- ca located on a farm and engaged in its cultiva- tion.
Robert was employed in a cotton factory in Matteawan for some two or three years, after which he attended school at Fishkill. After taking a course of several months there, he went with his parents to Elmira (then called Newton), Chemung County. The journey was made in a
wagon, the object being to keep on the lookout for a good farm. They were given much advice by people on the way as to which community was the best, and finally, about 1829, they located at Mead's Creek, living there for several months. Their next removal found them in what is now known as Hornby, Orange Town, where the father purchased property. Later he disposed of this and purchased a tract within two and one- half miles of Monterey. This place was im- proved under his direction, and liere the parents lived until their death, the mother passing away April 17, 1849, when in her seventy-third year, and the father dying in 1873, when eighty-seven years old.
To William and Elizabeth Bell there was born a family of six children, of whom four lived to mature years. Of these, Mary became the wife of Thomas Boyes, who died in the town of Orange. Eliza first married James Boyes, and after his death becanie the wife of James Criddle. She is now deceased, passing away near Belleville, Kan. John was a farmer and stock-dealer, and died in the town of Orange.
The subject of this sketch continued to reside with his parents until the summer of 1840. In the mean time he was sent to attend a select school at Havana, under the charge of Prof. Artemus Fay. He later became a student in a select school taught by Prof. Gillett, of Peach Orchard, Tompkins County, and he was gradu-
6
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ated in due time. Being desirous of beginning the study of medieine, in the year above named lie began reading with Dr. Nelson Winton, of Havana, remaining in his office for a period of five years. During tliat time lie attended lectures at Geneva Medical College, from which institution he was graduated January 20, 1845, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Among his elassinates was Dr. George W. Pratt, of Corning, now editor of the Corning Journal.
Dr. Bell first went to Seneea County, and was associated with Dr. Oakly, of LaFayette. Some- time thereafter, when on a visit home, his motlier was taken very ill, and for this reason, as well as 'on account of other circumstances which arose, he decided not to return to Seneca County, and located in Monterey. This was in the spring of 1845, and Dr. Bell has made this place his home ever since, with the exception, as stated above, of the few months spent in Elmira. He removed to that city in 1878, and, opening an office, be- gan the practice of his profession, but his wife becoming very ill, he deemed it best to return to Monterey, where he has erected a beautiful dwell- ing. Dr. and Mrs. Bell have traveled through the States quite extensively, and are so situated, financially, that they ean take life easy.
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"The lady to whom Dr. Bell was married in the town of Orange, May 17, 1849, was Miss Harriet M. Harring, whose birth occurred in the town of Starkey, Yates County, April 28, 1821. Her parents were Garrett and Phebe (Howe) Harring, the former a native of Hoboken and the latter of Clyde, Cayuga County, this state. They spent some time in the above county after their mar- riage, after which they moved to Starkey, Yates County, and from there to Steuben County. There Mr. Harring was engaged as a lumber merchant, making a snug sum of money. He later took up his abode in the town of Orange, this county, where he died February 7, 1854. His wife survived him several years, passing away April 28, 1871. To them were born ten children, namely: Cornelius, Polly, William, Isaac, Anna B., Keziah, Deboralı, Clarissa, Chauncy and Harriet. Of this family, all are deceased with the exception of Mrs. Bell.
The Doetor and his wife have never been blessed with children. Socially lie is a member of the Steuben County Medical Society, and during its existence was a member of the Schuyler County Medieal Society. In his younger years lie took quite an active part in politieal affairs. In addition to the ineome derived from his large praetiee, lie is the owner of a traet of four liun- dred acres of land, about three hundred acres of 1
which adjoin the village of Monterey. He also owns forty-two and a-half aeres in the town of Orange, a few miles north of his residence; fifty acres in the town of Dix, near Watkins: besides valuable residence property in Elmira, Dundee and elsewhere. He has been remarkably sueeess- ful in life, notwithstanding many heavy losses sustained during his professional career. Not only has the Doetor gained success in this world's goods, but it can be said of him that very few professional inen have ever sueeeeded in saving so large a pereentage of patients as he; many, apparently beyond all hope of recovery, have been restored to health and strength by his skill and assiduous attention. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, with which the latter has been connected since nineteen years of age.
EV. JOSEPH H. COOK. Prominent among the citizens whom Seneca County delights to honor stands Rev. Mr. Cook, the beloved pastor of the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Varick, which has a handsome piace of wor- slip. Our subject was born in Salem, Washte- naw County, Mich., June 29, 1837, and is the only child of Edward William Cook, M. D., of Vermont, and Philena Fellows, a native of Con- neetieut.
In 1834 the parents went to Michigan to aid in
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carving out the western empire, and there Dr. Cook healed the sick and cultivated a farm until he died. Shortly after that sad event, in. 1855, Mrs. Cook moved to New York, accompanied by her son, who had hitherto learned more from na- ture's books than printed volumes, educational facilities being very limited in Michigan at that time. The ensuing four years he spent in ac- quiring an education, two years at Canandaigua Academy and two years in Greene County. Having satisfied the demands of his brain, he yielded to the dictates of his heart, and in Feb- ruary, 1860, married Abigail Lincoln, of Ontario County. In that county he resided for fourteen years, cultivating the soil in the summer time and teaching school during the winter, in the mean time fitting himself for the ministry, which he felt it his duty to enter.
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