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 38
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 38
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John Frantz departed this life when his son Lewis S. was a lad of eight or nine years, and his good wife kept the family together until they were old enough to embark in life for them- selves. They were all given such educations as could be obtained in the schools of the district, and without exception became good and useful members of the community.
When seventeen years of age Lewis S. Frantz left home and was apprenticed to learn the trade of a harness-maker, his mother during this time keeping him in clothing. The second year he was given $24 in money by his employer, and the following year received a small increase. The fourth and last year, however, he was rewarded by the gift of $50 for his good services. Soon afterward he established himself in the mercantile business, carrying on a good trade for two years. This was prior to his marriage, and after that event he again confined his attention to working at his trade in Bearytown, and in this manner accumulated a considerable amount of money. He continued to be thuis occupied until 1851, when he disposed of his harness-shop and in- vested a part of his capital in one hundred acres of land. The property was only partially cleared, but Mr. Frantz went energetically to work build- ing fences, cutting down the timber, and erecting a good line of buildings. He found farming to be a very pleasant as well as lucrative business, and added more land to his farm, until he was the possessor of three hundred acres. For the remaining years of his life he followed the active and industrious life of a farmer and met with sub- stantial results. In his political views he sup- ported the Democratic party. His name was al- ways to be found at the head of the list when any worthy movement was on foot, but in no sense of the word was he an office-seeker.
The parents of our subject were married in Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y., June 29, 1843. Mrs. Sarah A. Frantz, who was born December 31, 1824, is a very intelligent lady, and is now living with our subject. She became the mother of three children, of whom Mary E. was born July 8, 1844. She married Warren E. Lerch. February 24, 1873, and to them were born two
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children, one of whom is now deceased. Mrs. Lerch departed this life in September, 1SS8, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Canoga. John O., of this history, was the sec- ond-born. Millard F., three years liis junior, was born October 31, 1848. He married Miss Louisa Southwick, of Junius, and they are now living at Tobias, Saline County, Neb., where he is a very prominent citizen, and for two years served as a member of the Legislature. He owns a section of land in that state, and carries on farming on an extensive scale. To himself and wife there have been granted two sons: Arthur H., born February 12, 1876; and Lewis S., born November 25, IS77.
The subject of this sketch was six years of age when his parents moved upon the estate which he now occupies. Here he grew to manhood, and after attending the district school for a time carried on his studies in the academy at Seneca Falls. In 1866 he completed a business course in the Commercial School at Oswego, N. Y., and then returned to the old homestead, remaining until the winter of 1869, when he went to the World's Fair City. There he was employed un- til May of the following year, when we find him at work for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, running between North Mc- Gregor Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minn. In Sep- tember of that year he returned home and fol- lowed farming until December, 1873. That year he again went to the Prairie State, this time his destination being Aurora. After traveling about through Illinois and Michigan until the spring of 1874, he went further west, to Exeter, Neb., where he formed a partnership with W. H. Tay- lor, and for a year carried on a good business as general merchant. On the dissolution of the partnership Mr. Frantz went to Friendville, that state, and opened up another store for the sale of general merchandise. In 1877, however, he took in as his partner a Mr. Brickley, and they continued together until 1887, when the junior member of the firm retired from the business. The next year our subject sold out the stock, and in 1889 returned to New York.
The marriage of Mr. Frantz and Miss Lila J.
Sanders, of Friendville, Neb., was solemnized on Christmas Day, 1877. She was the daughter of John and Mary (Stickney) Sanders, and was born in Waukegan, Ill., March 31, 1858, To our subject and his wife four children have been granted, namely: Nona, born in Nebraska, April 30, 1879; J. Lewis, September S, 1880; Ruth L., August 8, ISS2; and Leon C., born June 10, 1895.
Mr. Frantz is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1868, at which time he was a member of a well known glee club. He received the nomination of his party in Nebraska for the State Assembly, but as the district was overwhelmingly Republican, he was defeated, although he ran far ahead of his ticket.
AMES MADISON GRAVES has made his way to the front among the energetic fariners of Seneca County, and therefore enjoys the reputation not only of being a progressive and substantial agriculturist, but an intelligent man, who keeps himself thoroughly posted on public affairs. His estate is located in the town of Jun- ius, and everything about it indicates to the be- holder that it is owned by an experienced and competent fariner.
Our subject is a native of this state, and was born in Cortland County, April 15, IS23, to Jolin and Laura (Southwell) Graves. The father, whose birth occurred in the state of Vermont, came to this portion of New York when a boy, and was engaged in chopping wood in the town of Tyre. There he lived for many years, and there he met and married Miss Southliwell, wlio was a native of that town. After their marriage the young couple returned to Cortland County, but after a few years came back to Seneca Coun- ty, bringing with them our subject, who was
15
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then a small boy. Their possessions in this town at first included but fifteen acres, but after dis- posing of this tract a few years later, they pur- chased a tract of eiglity acres, located in the town of Junius.
The parental family included six children, all of whom lived to mature years, and five are liv- ing at the present time. As a boy James M. had to work very hard during the summer season, but in the winter was given the privilege of at- tending the district school. He lived at home for two years after reaching his majority, when he was married, May 18, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth A. Goodwin, of the town of Tyre. She was the daughter of Charles and Martha (Anderson) Goodwin, born April 20, 1823, and was the youngest member of a family of ten children, three of whom still survive. The entire house- hold was inclined to be very studious, and the children took advantage of every opportunity given them for attending school and carrying on their studies.
At the time of his marriage our subject pur- chased a tract of fifty acres from his father, but, being in limited circumstances, was enabled to pay for only a part of it. The place was entirely unimproved, so that he was obliged to expend much time and labor on the land before it was productive. He erected thereon the necessary buildings and with his family resided there for some time. Receiving a good offer for his place, he accepted it, and with the means thus obtained invested in fifty-six acres, which he also cleared and placed under cultivation, making this place his home until about 1875. In that year he sold the tract and became the owner of his present estate, which comprises seventy-six acres of splendid farming land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Graves there were born three children. Adda C. is at home. Jennie L. com- pleted her education in the schools of Waterloo, and when only fourteen years of age passed a rigid examination and was awarded a teacher's certificate. Her parents prevented her from ob- taining a school, however, as they considered hier too young to shoulder this responsibility. When in her nineteenth year she was married to Jolin
F. Long, and became the mother of one child. Bessie, who was born November 15, 1887. They live in the town of Junius. Julia. our sub- ject's youngest daughter, was a bright little girl, and died when nine years of age.
The father of our subject was in early life a Whig in politics, but later joined the ranks of the Republican party. James Madison cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, in 1844, and, like his honored father, became a Republican on the formation of the party. Although at various times solicited to hold office, lie lias always firm- ly refused to do so, as his ambition does not lie in that direction. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a Deacon in his congregation.
The mother of Mrs. Graves was a great Bible student and read the Good Book through four- teen times. Mrs. Graves herself is thoroughly posted in the Scriptures and has read from Gen- esis to Revelations seven times.
L ETER WEAVER, who is well known to the older residents of Seneca County, has made his home in the town of Waterloo for many years. Farming has been the chief occupation of his life, and in this calling he has met with good results, so that he is now in comfortable cir- cumstances. He was born in the town of Frank- fort, Herkimer County, this state, February 14, 1820, his parents being Peter and Charity (Sits) Weaver, the former also a native of Herkimer County, and the latter a native of Montgomery County.
The great-grandfather of our subject was one of three brothers who crossed the Atlantic to- gether. They landed at Plymouth, where their names were recorded, and afterward located where the city of New York now stands, and on
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this site engaged in farming. Grandfather Jacob Weaver eventually went to Herkimer County, where he spent his days in cultivating the soil, and died in the town of Frankfort, where our subject was born. He fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His son, Peter Weaver, also remained in that place until his decease, which event occurred in 1872. Although eighty- two years old at this time, he was very active, transacting all his own business, and, with the ex- ception of being a little deaf, was in the posscs- sion of all his faculties. His death was occasioned by injuries which he received by a street car running against him while in Utica, whither he had gone on business.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Herkimer County, and, the country round about being new and for the most part unsettled, he had to work very hard in aiding his father to place his tract under cultivation. Consequently he was permitted to attend school only a few months in each year, but, as miglit be expected, he made the very best of these opportunities. When eighteen years of age he began to do for himself, working out by the month. He wasa thoroughly reliable and honest workman, and although paid the highest wages given any person in the county, only received $10.50 per month. He was careful and economical, and from this meager salary laid by sufficient money to soon enable him to en- gage in farming on his own account.
When nearly twenty-four years of age, Sep- tember 14, 1843, Mr. Weaver and Miss Delana Rema were united in marriage. This worthy couple have lived together for over a half-century, and in 1893 celebrated their golden wedding. On that occasion the clergyman who married them, Elder Lewis Chase, was present, besides scores of their relatives and friends, all of whom remembered them in an appropriate manner.
Mr. Weaver continued to work out by the month for two years after his marriage, and then purchased seventy acres of land, a part of the old homestead on which he was born. He added to the tract from time to time until he owned some one hundred and twenty acres, under the finest state of cultivation. When the property
was sold it brought $12,000, and in addition to it Mr. Weaver received $200 for other real estate which he owned in that vicinity.
In 1870 we find Mr. Weaver a resident of Sencca County, where he purchased a farm, for which he paid the sum of $14,000. He lived on this tract for six years, and in 1876 sold out at an increase of $6,000, investing in the one hun- dred and sixty-four acres where he is now living. This he has improved with substantial build- ings, and his home here is one of the pleasantest in the county. In addition to this tract our sub- ject owns a house and lot in Waterloo, on Center Street.
During the war Mr. Weaver offered his serv- ices in defence of his country's flag twice, but on each occasion was rejected on account of his age. In early life he was a Whig, and voted for William Henry Harrison, in 1844 supported James K. Polk, and in 1856 voted for Janes C. Fremont. Since that time, however, he has ad- liered to the principles of the Democratic party, feeling that he has had just cause to change his views. Religiously he has been identified with the Methodist Protestant Church for the past fifty-five years. His wife has also been con- nected with this denomination for a long period, both becoming members before their marriage. Mr. Weaver has been Class-Leader for more than thirty years, and with one exception has been a delegate to the Annual Conference for twenty- eight years, and has represented his congregation in the General Conference on three occasions. He first went to Pittsburg, on the second occasion to Princeton, Ill., and the third to Baltimore, where the union of the North and South branches was effected. He has always been an interested worker in the Sunday-school, and in fact is prominent in every department of church work. At this writing Mr. Weaver is seventy-five years of age, and when visited by the writer he was found in the field, walking and following the plow.
Simon P. Weaver, who is the eldest of our subject's children. is living in the town of Frankfort, Herkimer County, N. Y .; he is mar- ried, and the father of three children. George is
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a prominent lawyer engaged in practice in Rome, N. Y .; he, too, is married, and has four children. Lewis F. is a physician carrying on a lucrative practice in Syracuse; he has one son. Izora married Charles Caldwell, and is living in Wa- terloo; she is the mother of two sons. Emma D. is the wife of Peter Shuster, of Seneca Falls; their household consists of two sons.
OSEPH H. SNIFFEN. The name of this citizen of Seneca County is well known, for he has been successfully engaged in the ar- duous duties of a general agriculturist in this lo- cality for many years and was formerly one of the most extensive land-owners in this portion of the state. His possessions at one time aggregated six hundred and twenty acres of some of the best and most productive land in New York. The greater portion of this he has given away to his children, as they started out in life. He is now living retired from active business, and enjoys to the full the peace and comfort which his earlier years of industry have inade possible.
Born in Putnamı County, N. Y., November 13, 1808, our subject is a son of John and a grandson of Joseph Sniffen. He was the eldest of twelve children born to the union of John and Asenath (Hopkins) Sniffen, the others being Sarah, Su- san, Jane, Harriet, Nancy, Harry, George, Jeffer- son, Samuel, and two that died in infancy. Of this family only three are now living, namely: Joseph H .; George, who makes his home in the town of Covert; and Jefferson, also a resident of this town.
When ready to establish a home of his own our subject was married, in 1842, to Miss Emma Booron. To them were born six children, namely: Celia, now deceased; Helen, Mrs. James S. Scott; Louisa, deceased; Jolin; Marion and Carrie, the latter of whom is deceased.
Joseph H. was in his third year at the time of his parents' removal to this county, in the year ISII. His father at once located in the town of Covert, where he purchased a tract of sixty acres. He lived on this property during the remainder of his life, dying when in his seventy-sixth year. There his son, our subject, grew to mature years, and when eighteen years old he went to Ketters Ferry, where he obtained work at building canal- boats, following this occupation for about twenty years. At the expiration of this time he aban- doned it in order to engage in farming, his first venture at this vocation being on a forty-acre tract which he purchased at Ketters Ferry. There he lived until 1854, when he took possession of this property, and to say that he was successful would not convey to the reader the prosperity which was his, for he kept adding to his estate until at one time he was the owner of a large tract, com- prising over six hundred acres.
To the operation of his farm our subject gave his personal attention, and when his children were grown he divided the greater portion of it among them, only retaining a small acreage for his own use. His home is a very pleasant one, and he is considered one of the best informed men of the county. He is a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party, but has always been too busy with his own affairs to give much time to politics. Too much praise cannot be accorded him for the way in which he built up his farming interests, and it is the wish of all that he may live to see many more years pass.
HARLES B. BURTLESS, a dairyman at Mount Farm, in the town of Seneca Falls, is the proprietor of a splendid tract of land, well suited to this business, on the Mount Road. He was born in the town of Seneca Falls, Christmas Day, 1844, to William and Mary (Petty ) Burtless.
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The father, who was born near Trenton, N. J., in 1795, came to this county with his father, Jolin Burtless, when a lad of seven years. They were among the first to locate in this community, and here the grandfather took up a section of land three miles southeast of the village of Seneca Falls, on which lie passed the remaining years of his life. On a portion of this estate, his son, William Burtless, also lived and died. The fam- ily of which he was a member included ten chil- dren, and of these he was the second-born. When the family came to this county they were very poor in this world's goods, but at the time of his death the grandfather was well-to-do. He. had made an attempt to locate in the town of Fayette, but was compelled to abandon his claim on account of the threats of the rougher element of settlers.
Mary Petty was born in New Jersey in 1801. She was brought by her parents to this county when six months old, and upon attaining mature years she was married to William Burtless. Their family included eight sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom lived to reach maturity, and of whom Charles B. was the youngest. William, who served three years as a soldier in the Civil War, is now living in Midland City, Mich., where he is engaged in farming. Dodson makes his home in southeastern Kansas. Martin E. is a resident of Cayuga County, this state. Phebe married William Schwartz, and their home is in Bay City, Mich. Nehemiah died in White Willow County, Neb. John Wesley is engaged in business at Au- burn, N. Y. Henry was wounded in the seven- days fight in front of Richmond during the late war, and, falling into the hands of the enemy, was never heard from again. He was a member of Berdan's Sharpshooters of New Jersey. Mahlon was also a Union soldier, and soon after his dis- charge died from the effects of injuries received in the service. The father of this family died in 1870, and his wife in 1878. The former was a Whig in early life and later became a strong Ab- olitionist, doing all he could to advance the inter- ests of the cause. In 1856 he joined the ranks of the Republicans, and through the remainder of his life voted for its candidates. He was a de-
voted member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and in order that he might be free to express his views on the slavery question, he helped to build the first Wesleyan Methodist Church in Seneca Falls.
Charles B. Burtless is fairly well educated, ac- quiring his knowledge of books in the district schools near his home. He was married, March 18, 1868, to Miss Lelia E., daughter of John and Mary (Sisson) Alleman, and a native of the town of Waterloo, this county. Soon after his union our subject went to Omaha, Neb., near which place he purchased a tract of five hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he lived for seven years. He paid $7 per acre for this land, and when ready to dispose of it accepted the offer made him of eighteen mules and horses, with several sets of harness. He then began taking contracts for grading railroads in Nebraska, and the first year had a sufficient sum of money to buy two hundred and twenty acres of land in the Platte Valley. That year proved to be one in which the grasshoppers played a very prominent part, and Mr. Burtless was so thoroughly disgusted with his adventures, that he sold out for just what he could get and very wisely returned to Seneca County, arriving with only $20 in money.
To Mr. and Mrs. Burtless there have been born ten children, all of whom are living and at home with their parents. In politics he is a Repub- lican, but is not interested to any great extent in public affairs.
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12 ANIEL SEBRING, whose sketch now claims our attention, has passed from the stage of life, but his memory is dear to his surviving friends, and a history of Schuyler County would be incomplete without a notice of the principal events in his life. The father of our subject was Jolin Sebring, whose birth oc-
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curred in New Jersey, December 23, 1781. When a boy he came to this state with his father. Abra- ham, who at once took up his location in Lodi, Seneca County. After attaining mature years the father was married to Miss Hannah Jackson, who was born September 25, 1782. They con- tinued to live in the above place until the year 1810, when they came to Schuyler County and inade their home in the town of Tyrone. The father was a life-long farmer, and was very suc- cessful in tilling the soil. He lived until July 6, 1854, passing away in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His good wife, however, died in July, 1849, aged sixty-seven years. They were mar- ried November S, 1804, and became the parents of nine children, of whom our subject was the eighth-born and the youngest son.
Daniel Sebring was born May 18, 1822, on the old home farm, on which he resided all his life. He was married in Tyrone, April 23, 1854, to Seneth Smith, who was born in that place, May. 22, 1829. Her parents were George and Marilla (McConnell) Smith, the former born January 27, 1792, and the latter January 16, 1800. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith there were born ten children, namely: Daniel, Herman, Zillah, Phebe, Ly- man, Seneth, George, Sarah, Martha and Mary, the two latter twins.
After our subject's marriage he settled on a part of his father's farm, which he cultivated in a most profitable manner until called from the scenes of earth, June 21, 1895. His wife had died about two years before this, passing away Octo- ber 10, 1893. They were both highly regarded in this community, and at the time of their de- - mise there was universal mourning.
Mr. and Mrs. Sebring had one son, Frank, born April 9, 1855. He was given a good edu- cation in the schools of Schuyler County, and has always remained at home. He was married at Sonora, Steuben County, this state, July II, 1889, to Miss Hattie Lane, who was born in that county in September, 1859. Her parents were Hamilton and Teresa (Tompkins) Lane, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Hattie Sebring died April 11, 1890. Frank Sebring is a stanch Republican in politics, although he takes 110
part in local affairs other than to cast his vote during elections. He is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, with which denomination Ins honored parents were also connected.
2 ATHAN S. DENMARK, proprietor of a gristmill and two sawmills at Alpine, was born in Chemung County, N. Y., November 22, IS37, and is a son of Joshua and Cornelia (Smith ) Denmark. His grandfather, C. C. Denmark, a native of Holland, emigrated to America and lo- cated in Bradford County, Pa., where he married Mary Jay, a relative of John Jay, and later re- moved to Chemung County, but late in life re- turned to Pennsylvania, where he died in 1864. His wife died the next year. They were the parents of five sons and six daughters, Joshua Denmark, the father of our subject, being seventh in order of birth. In early life he engaged in farming, but later learned the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed the remainder of his life. He married Cornelia Smith in Chemung County, and sixteen years later, in 1853, removed to Bradford County, Pa., his death occurring in Canton, that state, in 1885. He was a member of the Christian Church, in which he was a very earnest worker and which he served as Elder for inany years, and was also Sunday-school Super- intendent. His wife is identified with the same church.
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