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 25
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 25
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Jonathan and Nancy (Scott) Thomas, the parents of our subject, were natives of Pennsyl- vania and New York, respectively. Their line of descent is from Wales, and some of the best characteristics of that people appear in the pres- ent generation. Liverton Thomas, the grand-
fatlier, came from the Old Country to make liis home in the land that William Penn had peacea- bly acquired from the wild Indian, and governed under the inspiration of the laws of brotherhood and peace. In 1806, while still a young and un- married man, Jonathan Thomas removed from Pennsylvania into what is now Seneca County, and established himself as a produce dealer and merchant at Sheldrake. He was among the first to settle in the town, and he encountered all the hardships and privations that wait upon those who open a new country. He lived to be eighty- six years old, and died in 1867. His wife touched lier ninety-third year, dying in 1879. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom two, twin girls, died in infancy. John died when one year old. Mary Ann became the wife of John Harris, and died in Sheldrake, leaving three sons and one daughter. Sylvester D. is a farmer in the town of Ovid. Missouri, the wife of Edwin Schotts, died in Sheldrake. Waterman followed his father's business of produce dealing and store- keeping, and died in Michigan. Nancy S. died at the age of eleven years. Abner D. was tlie next child after the birth of our subject, and he may be found busy and earnest upon his farm near Middleville, Mich. In this band of brothers and sisters one was to be a minister of the Gospel, Jonathan, Jr., a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Whitneyville, Mich.
Jonathan Thomas was also a tanner and furrier, and he carried on this business in connection with his other pursuits for many years at Sheldrake. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and was highly respected in the community.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ovid,
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July 4, 1823, and was given good'educational advantages for the times. After finishing thie common school he was sent to Ovid Academy, where he acquitted himself creditably. He found his first work in life, after school days were over, to be that of farining, which business he followed until 1865. Then he turned his attention to banking, and, associating himself with LeRoy C. Partridge, opened the first bank at Ovid, the management of this institution remaining in his hands from that day to this. To those who know the facts, it need not be said that in his career he has manifested a commercial genius of very high character. To-day he is the owner of seven farms, which are highly improved and thorough- ly cultivated. He has other investments, and is beyond question one of the solid men of Seneca County. After the death of Mr. Partridge, his widow retained his interest and became the Presi- dent of the bank. The partnership is harmonious, and the bank is considered very sound.
Politically Mr. Thomas has trained with the Democratic party. He has held positions of trust and honor, has been Town Collector, Supervisor, Under-Sheriff, County Treasurer, Member of the Assembly, and in 1888 attended the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis as one of the New York State delegates. For twenty-nine years he has been Treasurer of the Willard State Hospital, an institution expending more than $350,000 every year. He has also been called to act in other public and semi-public capacities which need not be detailed, except to say that he has been for many years the President of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Ovid, of which organization he has been a mem- ber for more than fifty years. He is much sought after to act as executor and administrator of estates, and the school money of the Union School District has long passed through his hands as Treasurer.
In 1845 Miss Lucinda, daughter of Clement Jones, of New York City, became the wife of our subject. They have two children. Edwin H., an exceedingly prosperous fariner in the town of Hornby, Steuben County, is the manager of a tract of land consisting of more than nine hun-
dred acres; his wife was Clara Burrill, of Horaby, in Steuben County. Frederick resides in Ovid, and is employed in his father's bank as assistant cashier. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Hoyt. After a married life of more than forty- nine years the wife of our subject died. in Febru- ary, 1895.
The band of Ovid was equipped by Mr. Thomas, and is known as the J. B. Thomas Military Band. He haslong taken a keen interest in the welfare of the patients at the asylum, and started a most useful agency of recreation, furnishing an outfit for the band at Willard State Hospital. For ten years he has paid in $200 a year for the en- tertainment of the patients.
In 1856, while a member of the State Legisla- ture, Mr. Thomas was instrumental in the pass- age of a bill for the establishment of a State Agricultural College. This was accomplished and the institution was located near Ovid. Not seeming to fill a long-felt want, it was converted into the Willard State Hospital, and Mr. Thomas has been closely associated with its management. While in the Legislature Mr. Thomas was a mem- ber of several important committees, and was in- fluential in shaping legislation. He was on the Committees on Canals, Engrossed Bills and Rail- roads, and his character and worth were recog- nized by appointment on several special commit- tees. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, but finds that business keeps him closely confined at home.
HOMAS MARSH. Few residents of Sen- eca County have lived here for so long a period as has the subject of this article, who is one of the venerable citizens and pioneers of the town of Romulus. Brought to this county by his parents when a child of three years, he has witnessed the growth of this section and has con-
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tributed to its development-commercial, educa- tional and agricultural. His has been a busy life, and now in his old age lie is resting from the ar- duous labors of former years, and in his conforta- ble home is surrounded by every comfort that can minister to his happiness.
In Essex County, N. J., near the village of Westfield, Thomas Marsh was born November 4, 1811, being the son of John S. and Phoebe (Baker) Marsh, also natives of that county. He · was the second among seven children, the others being as follows: Mary, Mrs. Henry L. Kinne, who died in 1889; Elizabeth, deceased; Ann, widow of Leander Covert, now living near East Varick, this county; Daniel B .; Jane, who died in 1855; and Margaret D., widow of J. Frank Marsh, of this county.
A blacksmith by trade, John S. Marsh went to Pennsylvania in early manhood and followed that occupation in Pittsburg. From that place he went to Cincinnati, and for about three years worked for William Henry Harrison, President of the United States. Later he went to St. Louis, making the journey alone in a small boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi. After a short time in the West he went back to Ohio, then re- turned to Westfield, N. J., where he worked at his trade until 1814. He then came to Seneca County, making the journey with a three-horse team, and settling in the town of Romulus. The following year he purchased sixty-five acres lying on the banks of the Cayuga, and comprising a portion of the present farm. The land was heavily timbered and contained no improvements, but through untiring labor on his part he brought it under cultivation, so that it proved remunerative. On this homestead he died in 1865, at the age of eighty-nine; his wife died ten years later, in 1875, also at the age of eighty-nine years ..
At the time the family came to Seneca County our subject was a child of three years, and he has since made his liome liere, having resided on his present place since 1840. In 1841 lie was united in marriage with Miss Julia Brown, and four children came to bless their union, namely: The- odore; Edwin, who lives at Bancroft, Neb .; Sa- ralı, deceased; and George, who died in infancy.
While Mr. Marsh was never active in politics, he has been a stanch Republican since the organiza- tion of that party, and still maintains an interest in topics of general interest. Mrs. Marsh passed to her reward in 1879.
EVI M. GANO. The subject of this sketch is a resident of Watkins and one of the prominent and influential citizens of Schuy- ler County. His life has been largely devoted to journalism, and while laboring to promote the interests of his party and the prosperity of his village, he has done much to elevate the standard of his profession, reaping incidentally a share of the rewards with which it not infrequently repays persistent and sagacious efforts.
Mr. Gano was born in Hunterdon County. N. J., his mother, Anna Stires, being of an old Dutch family, and his father, Philip Gano, of Huguenot extraction. With his parents he came, at the age of five, to settle in the town of Dix, where he was given, and was quick to profit by, such educational advantages as the county af- forded. A part of his early life was passed under the instruction of that famous old pedagogue. Squire John A. Gillet, of Hector, whose school at Peach Orchard was known far and wide through western New York. Later lie himself became a teacher, and was for a time the successful head of the Watkins School. After this he studied law in the office of Edward Quin, and, being subse- quently admitted to the Bar, practiced for a time in the state of Iowa.
Returning to New York, Mr. Gano founded, in 1860, the Olean Times, now a prosperous daily at Olean, Cattaraugus County. Four years later, at Watkins, he established the Watkins Express, which he has since edited and published, a paper which has won a deservedly high rank among the
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weeklies of the state, having been for thirty years the most influential journal and leading organ of its party in Schuyler County.
During this tinte Mr. Gano has been called upon to serve his town and county in various offi- cial capacities, and lias also filled a number of important appointive offices. Commencing as clerk to the Superintendent of the Chemung Canal, he has been School Commissioner and Su- pervisor of Dix, Canal Collector at Olean, As- sessor of Internal Revenue under Presidents Lin- coln and Johnson, Sergeant-at-Arms for two terms of the Assembly, seventeen years a member of the Village Board of Education, sixteen years Postmaster at Watkins, and finally Deputy Col- lector of Customs in New York City during the administration of President Harrison. In every public position held by him his zeal, fidelity and efficiency have won him the esteem of his con- stituents and the high regard and confidence of his party friends. An aggressive and indomita- ble fighter, a far-seeing, level-lieaded man, stead- fastly loyal to party and principles, his conceded sagacity and conservative judgment in matters political have gained the Express an enviable standing as one of the most reliable and excellent publications of its class in western New York.
OHN BISHOP. When a man who has lived a long and useful life engaged in the peace- ful and retired pursuit of agriculture, asking no favors of anybody, and living in an open-hand- ed and free-hearted way, comes at last to spend the few remaining hours of liis career on earth in comfort and quiet, and in the enjoyment of what he has worked so hard to gather, he is surely an object lesson to the young men who are taking up the work of life that has fallen from his weary hands. Certainly the young men of Waterloo
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will do well to study the life of John Bishop, that has been read by his generation like the pages of an open book. In it they can read that honesty is the only policy for a truly successful life, thiat kindness pays, and that character is a bank that never fails or breaks.
Mr. Bishop was born in the town of Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., March 15, 1806, of good old Massachusetts stock. his father, Jolin Bishop, having been born in Plymouth in 1773. When quite young he removed to New York and was married to Miss Eunice, daughter of Fortu- natus Sherman, of Dartmouth, Mass. The grand- father of our subject was a native of Massachu- setts, and was over one hundred years of age when he died.
John Bishop, the subject of this sketch, at- tended the common schools in Washington County until he was nine years old, and then, his parents removing to Seneca County, his boyhood days were passed in the town of Junius, where he attended school until he was twenty years of age. Feeling that it was time for him to be at the hard work of the world, he began farming on his own account. He brought his farm of one hundred and fifty acres up to a high state of cultivation, and fitted it with good buildings. He not only grew all kinds of grain in the best of ways, but engaged in the raising of high-grade horses with marked ability.
In 1868 Mr. Bishop removed from the farm to Waterloo, where he has since resided, his son Henry coming into possession of this valuable tract of land by purchase. Mr. Bishop, however, has not wholly ceased his agricultural activities, as he lias another farm, highly improved, near Waterloo, consisting of seventy-five acres, which is enough to keep him from rusting.
In 1852 our subject married Miss Jemima Pierce, of Seneca County. She died some thirty years ago, and he afterward married his present wife, formerly Miss Mary Richards, a daughter of C. F. Richards, of Putnam County. In poli- tics he has been a pronounced Democrat, casting his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and his last for Grover Cleveland. His own town has elected him Assessor for twenty years, and he lias also
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been School Commissioner. Of his three children, the eldest, Eliza, is now Mrs. Fellows, of Monroe. Emily married William Turbush, and resides in Waterloo. Henry, the only son, is a farmer, and is well established in Seneca County.
Mr. Bishop is now almost ninety years of age, and is a hale and hearty man, in full possession of all his faculties, and many there are to rise up and call him blessed.
AMES TWINING is a man of fine character and excellent business habits, and for many years has been regarded as an active factor in extending the interests of his community. He is at present living in the town of Seneca Falls, this county, where he owns fifty acres of splendid farining land.
A native of this state, our subject was born in Broome County, August 10, 1818. His parents were Jolin and Dorcas (Fonner) Twining, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Grandfather John Twining hailed from England, and on coming to America settled in New Jersey, and from him many of this name are descended. He was a clothier by occupation, and although he trained his son, the. fatlier of our subject, to this business, he abandoned it after a time and gave his atten- tion to farming.
John and Dorcas Twining were married in the above state, but left soon after that event, and made their future home in the Empire State. The husband was poor in this world's goods, but not being afraid of work, improved his time, and it was not long before he was able to provide his family with the comforts of life. He was well read, possessed broad views of life, and was high- ly regarded by all who knew him. He first voted for John Quincy Adams, but he later changed his views, and became a stanchi Democrat. In
the town of Union, Broome County, he was called upon to fill various positions of trust, and in every instance gave satisfaction to those who had reposed trust in him. The parental family num- bered twelve children, all of whom, with one ex- ception, grew to mature years. John Twining became identified with the Christian Church during his later years, and died in Broome Coun- ty, about 1865, aged eiglity-four years.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed in much the same manner as were those of other lads we have described so often in this book- attending school and working on the farmn. He remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when, having bouglit the twelve months' time due his father, he began to do for himself. In the spring of 1840 he was married to Miss Rebecca Howard, who was also a native of Broome County, and that year they came to the town of Seneca Falls, where Mr. Twining rented property for a few years. After this he abandoned farm work and gave his attention to carpenter- . ing, which business he had learned, and as he was a good workman found plenty of building to do. After pursuing it successfully for a number of years, he refused to take any more contracts, and established a meat-market in Seneca Falls. He conducted this for five years, and during that time had the patronage of the best people of the village.
In 1855 Mr. Twining went to Iowa, and in- vested money in farming lands and also in town property. He spent two or three months of each year looking after his interests in tile Hawkeye State, leaving his family in the mean time in Seneca Falls. His investments turned out well, and later, selling his real estate, he went to Union, nine miles from Binghamton, where he was in the dry-goods business for a period of five years. After this Mr. Twining settled down to farm life, and purchased the land on which he now resides. He has improved the place and is comfortably established in life.
Mrs. Rebecca Twining departed this life about 1863, and our subject chose for his second com- panion Mrs. Frances (Carsaw ) Benedict, by whom he had two children, one of whom died in in-
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fancy. His second wife died in 1868, and in 1874 Mr. Twining married Mrs. Alice (Choate) Crocker, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., and who was a distant relative of Rufus and Joseph Choate. Of the third marriage there were also born two children. Howard died in infancy, and Frederick B. is now a lad of twelve years. Mr. Twining has always been a strong supporter of Republican principles, and cast his first Presi- dential vote for William Henry Harrison, and also voted for John C. Fremont.
GDEN WHEELER, Supervisor of the town of Varick, Seneca County, is a farmer, live- stock dealer, and proprietor of a retail meat- market at Romulus. He was born in the town of Varick, June 28, 1855, and is the eldest in a family of six children, his brothers and sisters being Sarah A., F. Frank, Harriet A., Charles and Mary S. Jonathan Wheeler, the father, set- tled in Seneca County about 1850. He was a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and the son of Joseph Wheeler, a native of Connecticut. The former was a surveyor, and was employed in sur- veying and platting land in Seneca County be- fore he settled down.
In 1854 the father was married to Harriet, daughter of Joseph Ogden, of Cayuga County, and a teacher in the public schools of this county. Afterward he located on a farm of one hundred and twelve acres near Varick, where he resided until his death, in 1876. This farm, and another about one mile distant, are still held by the estate, the widow residing with and keeping house for the subject of this sketch in Romulus. The fa- ther made stock-growing his principal business, and in this line was a pioneer. He worked for quality as well as quantity, and was instrumental in bringing western New York up to the high standard it afterwards attained as a fine stock-
producing section. In politics he was a stanch Republican, though he was in no sense a politi- cian.
Ogden Wheeler was reared to farm life, and resided on the farm until after his father's death. In ISSI he married Miss Mary S. Schwab, daughter of Charles Schwab, of Fayette. Their only child died in infancy. Mrs. Wheeler died September 3, 1891, and after her death Mr. Wheeler continued to live on the farm until 1894, when he removed to Romulus. For fifteen years he has been recognized as a leading citizen of the county and a leader in local politics. He belongs to both the county and state committees, and in politics is a Republican. Honesty has been the rule of his life, and he is held in high esteem in the community where he resides. At present he is serving his third term as Town Supervisor.
In connection with his farm Mr. Wheeler con- ducts a meat-market. The meat he sells is not of the cold-storage variety-that is, slaughtered some hundreds of miles away-but he slaughters his own beef, mutton and pork, and can vouch for the quality of the goods sold. Being a prac- tical stock-grower, he has every advantage for securing the best there is for his trade. He is held in high esteem in the community where he lives, is a substantial, upright man of business, and is a credit to the community in which he re- sides and to the family name.
LLSWORTH LAMOREAUX. Among the names held in honor in Seneca County, the one which introduces these lines has for many years held a prominent place. Our sub- ject is one of the influential and substantial farin- ers of the town of Covert and is widely known throughout this section. He was born in the town of Lodi, this county, December 22, 1828,
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and ever since attaining to man's estate has borne an important part in the growth of his town, maintaining an unceasing interest in its prosper- ity and contributing to its upbuilding. Some mention of his ancestry and personal history will, in view of his prominence. be of especial interest to our readers.
Our subject is the son of John A. Lamoreaux, a native of Orange County, and the grandson of Daniel Lamoreaux. The latter, in company with his son John A., came to Seneca County in 1803. The journey hither, which was made with an ox-team, proved a very tiresome and tedious one, and on reaching their destination in the town of Lodi the father located on a tract of land which contained between two hundred and three hun- dred acres of land, and in conjunction with his older sons worked hard to clear and improve it. He was successful in his undertaking, and at the time of his decease, which occurred when he was eighty-two years of age, had the satisfaction of knowing his estate was classed among the most productive in the locality.
The father of our subject married Miss Cath- erine Swarthout, and to them were born six chil- dren. William, the eldest, is deceased; our sub- ject was the next in order of birth; Louisa is de- ceased, as are also Margaret and Daniel; Ralph makes his home in the town of Ovid. After the death of his first wife the father married Cath- erine Slack, by whom he has two children, Dit- mus and Malanah.
Ellsworth Lamoreaux received a fair education, and remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age, when he took possession of his pres- ent estate. It comprises one hundred and twenty- seven acres and is devoted to general agriculture. The buildings thereon are first-class in every par- ticular, and the machinery is improved and of the latest patterns. July 29, 1857, he was married to Catherine A. Brokaw, whose birth occurred in the town of Ovid, November 20, 1833, and who is the daughter of Peter A. and Catherine Bro- kaw, for many years residents of that portion of Seneca County. Mrs. Lamoreaux was the eldest of their family of eight children, the others bear- ing the respective names of Rachel, John N.,
Aletta J., Daniel Y., Sarah E., Arien L. and Emma A. To our subject and his wife were born two children, George D. and Jermie L .. the former of whom is deceased.
Mrs. Lamoreaux is well-to-do in her own name, being the possessor of the old homestead in the town of Lodi on which her grandfather first settled, a valuable tract of seventy-one acres, from which she derives a handsome income. In addition to this estate she inherited her father's farm, which is located in the town of Ovid. Her grandfather was married in Somerset County, N. J., whence he came with his wife to Seneca County, this state, by means of an ox-team. They became well-to-do and were highly re- garded by all who knew them.
Both our subject and his wife are members of the Reformed Church at Farmer, in which con- gregation the former has been both Deacon and Elder. In politics he always votes for Demo- cratic candidates, as he firmly believes that party to be in the right regarding national issues.
ILLIAM H. BEACH, M. D., has for twenty-five years been practicing his pro- fession in the village of Catharine, for twenty years has been Postmaster, and for twell- ty-two years has carried on a mercantile trade. He was born in the village of Danby, Tompkins County, N. Y., March 10, 1841, and is a son of David and Rebecca (Summerton ) Beach, both of whom are natives of the state of New York, the latter of Genesee County. The Beach family is of English origin and of Puritan stock, the first of the name coming to America in the early part of the seventeenth century, and locating in Connect- icut, where Isaac Beach, the grandfather of our subject, was born.
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