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 44
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 44
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
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equipped with an extended knowledge of liis pro- fession, he settled in Baltimore, Md., but a few months later changed lis location to Louisville, Ky. The same year, however, he came to this place, ready to alleviate such human suffering as should present itself to his attention. He is iden- tified with the regular school of medicine, and al- though having been in the community only a few years, is well and favorably known, and his skill in difficult cases is called into requisition in all parts of the county.
Dr. Stacey and Miss Elizabeth C. Burton, of Clyde, this state, were united in marriage Octo- ber 14, 1884. The lady is the daughter of Hiram and Phebe (Conklin) Burton, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter resides in the town of Galen, Wayne County, N. Y. In re- ligious matters the Doctor is a member of the Episcopal Church, while his wife is identified with the Baptist Church. In politics he is in- dependent, reserving his right to vote for the man who will best fill the office, regardless of party lines. Socially he is a member of Seneca County Medical Association, in which he is great- ly interested. He likewise belongs to Skaneateles Lodge No. 522, F. & A. M., in which order he has filled nearly all the chairs, and with which he has been associated for eight or ten years.
2 EV. WISNER KINNE, pastor of the Bap- tist Church in the town of Romulus, Sen- eca County, is a native of this town, and is now ministering to the first church organ- ized in the county, which celebrated its centen- nial June 27, 1895. It is seldom that a minister of the Gospel locates in the neighborhood wliere he was born and reared, and less seldom does lie have a successful pastorate when he settles there. The Saviour Himself said that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," and
the truth of the saying has been exemplified over and over again. Occasionally, however, there arises one who is honored even in his own country, and this is true of the subject of our sketcli.
In the town of Romulus, our subject was born October 28, 1859, and liere his father, David Wisner, was born March 26, 1814. His great- grandfather, Capt. Elijalı Kinne, came from Con- necticut to New York about 1790, and settled in the town of Ovid, Seneca County. His son Elijah came with him from Connecticut when a young man. The latter was a successful man and owned about two thousand acres of land in Sen- eca County. By his marriage to Hester Wisner lie had fifteen children, and of these only three are now living.
David Wisner Kinne was reared in Romulus, where his entire life was spent. He was married three times. October 11, 1837, he married Mary L. Stone, daughter of John Stone, of Romulus, who came from Connecticut in an early day; she was one of thirteen children, and was born April 17, 1818, and died March 4, 1872. Of their children we note the following: Minerva is the wife of Emmett R. Sutton, of Forrest, Ill .; Emi K. is the wife of Dr. E. S. Jenkins, of Breesport, N. Y .; Sarah married Joseph Dunlap, and lives in the town of Ovid; Ada resides with her sister Lucy, who is the wife of Rev. J. N. Sackett, of Ovid, N. Y .; Smith and Charles died in child hood; Mary is Mrs. L. H. Ingalls, of Elmira, N. Y .; Ella married James Egbert, of Anaconda, Mont .; our subject completes the family circle.
January 25, 1873, David W. Kinne married Mrs. Mary (Dunlap) Wilson, who died September 4, 1885, and afterward he was united with Mrs. Phoebe H. (Everett) Townsend, who survives him. Our subject was reared on the home farin and attended the district schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered Ovid Academy, and later he prosecuted his studies in Cazenovia Seminary. He engaged in farming until 1887, when he went to New York City and entered the New York Missionary Training Institute, re- maining there two years. Meantime he engaged in missionary work in New York City and Jersey
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City, and later was pastor for two years on Long Island. He was ordained to the ministry January 12, 1892, in the Gospel Tabernacle Church of New York City.
His father stricken with apoplexy in July, 18So, our subject was called home to care for him until his death, nearly a year later. After having charge of the Baptist Church at Ovid Center for one year, he next went to Troupsburg, N. Y., and February 10, 1895, he accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Romulus, N. Y. This church has a membership of one hundred and fifty, and under the leadership of the ener- getic pastor is doing an excellent work in the Master's vineyard. Not only by the members of his own communion, but by those of other denominations as well, Mr. Kinne is greatly esteemed. June 3, 1890, he was united in mar- · riage with Miss Margaret M. Payne, daughter of John Wesley and Maria S. Payne, now of Ocean- side, Cal. Our subject and his wife have two children, Dean Wesley and Paul Payne.
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- E V. WILLIAM A. MORRISON. St. Mary's Catholic Church at Watkins, being the only Catholic congregation in Schuyler County, and also being a very old organization, occupies a position of great importance among the members of that faith in central New York. The edifice, which stands at the corner of Ninth and Decatur Streets, is a substantial brick structure and was erected in 1865. Previous to that time the congregation met for worship in the build- ing on Monroe Street formerly owned by the Presbyterians. The first services of the church were held there in 1846, and from that time to the present the cause has had a steady growth.
The pastor of the church, Father Morrison, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 6, 1860. His
parents, John and Margaret ( McDonald) Morri- son, were early settlers of Buffalo, where the foriner was an active politician and for some years held the office of Postmaster. Our subject re- ceived in his youth every educational advantage which his father could secure for him. He was educated principally in Niagara University, which is near the Suspension Bridge at Niagara Falls. At the close of his theological studies, he was or- dained to the priesthood in the Catholic Church, in 1883, by the Rt .- Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, Bishop of Buffalo. His first charge was as assist- ant to Father Early at Hornellsville, N. V. From there lie went to Olean, Cattaraugus County, where he was assistant to Father Hamel for four years.
The first pastorate of Father Morrison was at Randolph, N. Y., where he remained nine months. He was then transferred to Akron, N. Y., and in 1893 was given charge of the congregation at Watkins, where he has one hundred and fifty families in his parish. The present church was built by Father English in 1865, at a cost of $12,000. The parochial residence was erected in 1875 by Father McManus. The first resident of the church was Rev. James McManus, who was succeeded by the Very Rev. Dean Leddy, now pastor of the Wellsville Church. The next pastor was Rev. Martin Ryan, now of Owego, N. Y., and he was succeeded by the present pastor.
12 AVID WARNER BIRGE, M. D. By his skill and success in his chosen work as a physician, Dr. Birge has won an excellent reputation and the good-will and confidence of the citizens of Hector and vicinity. He was born in Manchester, Conn., December 6, 1822, and remained there for the first ten years of his life. He was then taken by his parents, Simeon
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and Electa ( Pitkin) Birge, to Portage County, Ohio, remaining there until attaining manliood. He first entered Twinsburg Literary Institute, where he remained two years, then took one term in the Western Reserve College at Hudson, and later attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.
On reaching liis twenty-first year, David Birge began reading medicine in the office of Dr. Peter Allen, one of the noted physicians of Kinsman, Trumbull County, Olio, and after two years, in 1844, came to New York, making his home for a time with an old friend of his father's at Ithaca. During the spring of 1845 he removed to Ovid, continuing his medical studies with Dr. C. C. Coan, and during the winter of 1845-46 attended lectures in the Geneva Medical College. In 1847-48 he was a student at Cleveland Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in the Class of '48, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. D. W. Bliss, the noted surgeon and medical adviser of President Garfield, was one of his classmates, as was also Jolm H. New- berry, a prominent scientist and physician of Washington, D. C.
When ready to begin in practice, Dr. Birge went to Flint, Mich., where he remained until the winter of 1848, when he made his way still further westward to the Golden State, and en- gaged in mining in Eldorado County, at a place called Georgetown. During the time spent there he also practiced to some extent, and met with very satisfactory results in both departments of work.
In the fall of 1854 Dr. Birge returned to the Empire State, and for two years prosecuted his studies in the various medical colleges of the state, spending the greater part of his time in the New York Medical College. He then located at Libertyville, Lake County, Ill., and until 1860 was one of the skilled physicians of that place. In August of that year he came to Schuyler County, taking up his abode in Hector, where he has lived for the past thirty-five years, and is therefore one of the oldest and most popular physicians of the county. The Doctor was in- terested in western lands for many years, but has now disposed of this property, investing his
money in real estate in New York State. He was one of the first residents of this section to engage in grape culture. and at the present time he has about ten acres devoted to the raising of this luscious fruit, his vineyard lying on the slopes of Lake Seneca. The country round about is one of the most beautiful spots in the state, and, on account of Watkins' Glen, which is located in this vicinity, is quite a summer resort.
Dr. Birge has retired from active practice, and for the past ten years has given his attention almost entirely to fruit-growing and farming on a small scale. He was married at Ovid, in 1856, to Miss Hannah D. Eastman, a native of that place, who died in July, 1866. Of the children of the first marriage we mention the following: Mary is now her father's housekeeper. Julia be- came the wife of Cyrus E. Kinney, a member of the well known firm of Kinney Brothers, of Ovid. Mrs. Kinney was finely educated in the Cortland Normal, and for eight years taught school, four of which were at Ovid. Grace married Arthur B. Clarke, who is now the drawing teacher in Stanford University of California. She, too, was a graduate of the Cortland Normal, and for some time was preceptress in the Onondaga Academy at Onondaga Valley.
The Doctor was again married, October 15, 1867, to Miss Mantie Elliott, of Hector, whose parents were Ansel and Samantha Elliott. Mrs. Birge was born and reared on a farm in the town" of Hector, and survived her marriage twelve years, passing away in 1879. Gertrude, the daughter of the second marriage, is a graduate of the Oneonta State Normal, and after completing her studies taught for two years at Unadilla, Otsego County. She was married, July 2, 1895, to Her- bert P. Gallinger, a graduate of Cortland Nor- mal School and of Amherst College, and for two years Principal of the Oxford Academy. The day following their marriage they embarked on a vessel for Europe, where they both intend to pursue their studies in Jena University, in Ger- many. Benjamin E., a son of the second union, is a student at the Plattsburg State Normal. Charles W. is at home, and assists his father in farm work.
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The Doctor takes great interest in all public matters, and never fails to cast a vote in favor of Republican candidates. After so many years of active work he is now prepared to take life easy, and during the fishing season spends many hours on the lake, and is often rewarded by a large string of black bass. He is well known in this neighborhood, and enjoys an extensive acquaint- ance throughout this part of the state.
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ELLIE P. MOSES is held in high esteem in the town of Seneca Falls, bothi for his worth as a citizen and his enterprise and progressiveness as a farmer. He has ably repre- sented his fellow-townsmen in various positions of trust, and we are sure that this brief sketch of his life will be read with interest by his many friends.
Mr. Moses is living on a farm four miles south, and one-half mile west, of Seneca Falls. He was born on this place, January 7, 1861, and is a son of Peter and Mercy ( Reading) Moses, the former of whom also claimed this county as the place of his nativity, his birth occurring January 6, 1811. His good wife was a native of Michigan, and was born in Wayne County in the year 1825.
Peter Moses, who passed his entire life in this county, was well educated for the early day in which he lived, and became an agriculturist, well versed in the uses of all kinds of farm machinery. He was always willing and anxious to adopt new methods in cultivating his land, and as a result reaped handsome returns for the care bestowed upon it.
There were two children born to Peter and Mercy Moses, of whom the elder, Abbie M., married Jolin S. Pearson; she died at the birth of her son John. The father of our subject was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, but as his time was all taken up with his own affairs, he 1
had no inclination to enter politics. He became very prosperous and was the owner of two farms, one containing one hundred and forty-seven acres, and the other one hundred and nine.
The subject of this sketch was the only son of his parents, and was given every opportunity for gaining a good education. He was married, Oc- tober 5, 18So, to Miss Mary Page, then living in Geneva, but who was born in Ontario County, N. Y. Two children were granted to them: Lewis W., born October 23, 1881; and Alice MI., born May 30, 1884. Mrs. Moses died December 5, 1884, mourned by a host of warm friends, who had learned to love her for her many pleasing qualities of mind and heart. February 20, 1886, our subject chose for his second companion Miss Carrie A. Abbott, who was born in the town of Fayette, and who was the daughter of John and Mary (Kuney ) Abbott. Mr. Moses, following in the footsteps of his honored father, is a Demo- crat in politics. He is a very influential worker in the party, and has been sent as a delegate to the various county conventions. He is a thor- oughly wide-awake and progressive citizen, and for twelve years was Commissioner of Highways, filling the office during that time to the satisfac- tion of all concerned.
BRAHAM L. HUNTER, who is well known throughout Schuyler County as a reliable and capable veterinary surgeon, and who is prominently identified with a number of the busi- ness and public interests of Watkins, is a native of this county, and was born in the town of Hec- tor, November 11, 1860, being the date of his birth. He is a son of Daniel G. and Mary A. (Pierce) Hunter, the former of whom was born in Westchester County, N. Y., came thence to Schuyler County in early life, and continued to
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reside in the town of Hector until his death in 1873. The wife and mother, who is still living. was for twenty-five years Postmistress of the vil- lage of Hector, a position which she filled to the satisfaction of all, but which she was finally obliged to resign on account of failing health.
The parental family consisted of eiglit children, five sons and three daughters, of whom six are still living. Abraham L., who was the youngest of the family, passed the days of childhood and youth in the town of Hector, gaining a fair edu- cation in the common schools of his home neigh- borhood. From early years he evinced a great fondness for horses, which led him, in selecting a calling for life, to choose that of veterinary sur- geon. He gained a thorough knowledge of this occupation in the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, which he attended for some time, graduating from that institution March 27, 1885.
Returning to Schuyler County, our subject se- lected Watkins as his permanent location, and here he has since resided, carrying on veterinary work in this and adjoining counties. He has gained a reputation as a reliable, well informed and skillful surgeon in this particular line, and is meeting with a success which is well deserved. In January, 1895, he was appointed Under-Sheriff of Schuyler County, which position he is now hold- ing. He takes considerable interest in public af- fairs, and in political matters always adheres to Republican principles, supporting the candidates of that party. Active in local party ranks, he has held the position of Secretary of the Repub- lican County Committee and was its Chairman in 1893-94.
The marriage of our subject, which occurred December 2, 1885, united him with Miss Minnie E. Johnson, daughter of Rufus W. and Mary E. (Mathews) Johnson, and a native of the town of Hector, where she lived until the time of her marriage. They have a neat and pleasant home in Watkins, in which they hospitably entertain their large circle of acquaintances. In his fra- ternal relations our subject is identified with Jef- ferson Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., in which or- ganization he takes a warm interest. He has
served as Vice-President of the Schuyler County Agricultural Society, in which position, as in all others to which he has been called by his fellow- citizens, he has displayed a depth and soundness of judgment and firmness of opinion that are among his prominent characteristics.
AINBRIDGE MARSHALL is a farmer liv- ing in the town of Fayette, Seneca Coun- ty, to whom the calling is a pleasure. He is a genial, open-hearted gentleman, and, like so many of the residents of this locality, was born here. His birth occurred November 13, 1846, in the town of Fayette, his parents being Peter and Sophia Lee (Bear) Marshall. A sketch of the former may be found on another page of this book.
The greater part of our subject's training was in the line of farming, but he nevertheless ac- quired a very good education for his day, and for two winters attended the academy at Waterloo. For some time after attaining his majority he continued to make his home with his parents, aiding his father in the work on the home place. The estate was one of the most productive in the locality, and was one of which any man might well be proud.
When ready to establish a home of his own, Bainbridge Marshall was married, October 22, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth Marshall, who was the daughter of John and Lucinda (Wuchter) Mar- shall, and was born in the town of Fayette, July 20, 1851. She is a most estimable lady, and by her union with our subject became the mother of two children: John, who was born July 16, 1880; and Lottie, whose birth occurred November 25, 1883.
Mr. Marshall has had a prosperous career as a tiller of the soil and is the owner of a valuable homestead, which he cultivates. He is very en-
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ergetic, and his wide knowledge of agricultural work is sure to achieve greater success in the fu- ture than in the past. He is a prominent and in- fluential supporter of the Republican party, vot- ing for its candidates ever since 1868, when his first ballot was cast for U. S. Grant. He has served at various times as Secretary of the cau- cuses of the party in the town of Fayette. For a long time he has been identified with the Presby- terian Church of Waterloo, which he serves in the capacity of Trustee, and of which Mrs. Mar- shall is also a member. Their social position in this community is of the highest, and in all the relations of life they are people to be adinired and respected.
OHN T. WILLIAMS, formerly a successful merchant of Tyrone, is now living retired from business. He was born here January 13, 1824, and here was reared to mature years, spending a portion of his time on the home place, and the remainder in his father's store. When about nineteen years of age the father died, leav- ing his affairs in a very unsettled condition, and for two years our subject was occupied in making collections and settling up the estate.
In the winter of 1843-44 Mr. Williams, in company with another gentleman, rode the entire distance to and from Wisconsin on horseback. Mr. Williams returned on the Ist of April of the latter year, and, purchasing a farm in the town of Tyrone, was engaged in its cultivation for three years following. He was married about this time to Miss Caroline M. Curtis, a native of Yates County, N. Y. At the expiration of three years Mr. Williams sold the above farm and thereafter gave liis attention principally to specu- lating in real estate, buying and selling farms. He also cultivated the soil successfully during
this time, and was engaged in this vocation until about fifty years of age. About this time he en- tered into partnership with E. R. Bissell, of Ty- rone, and togethier they were the proprietors of a thriving mercantile establishment, the connection existing for twelve or thirteen years. Mr. Will- iams then sold out his interest in the business and has since lived a retired life.
By his marriage with Miss Curtis our subject became the father of two sons. The wife and mother died in 1854, after nine years of happy married life. Mr. Williams was afterward mar- ried to his present wife, Eunice C. Jones, a native of Seneca Falls, N. Y., where she lived until about ten years of age. She then accompanied her parents on their removal to Yates County and there resided until attaining mature years. She became the mother of two daughters: Maggie, who died April 28, 1885, aged twenty-eight years; and Mary, who died in infancy.
Our subject has been a supporter of Republican principles ever since the organization of the party and has always taken a lively interest in the wel- fare of his community. With his wife, he is an influential member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been Elder for upwards of forty years. As a result of his industrious habits and . correct business principles, he is now living re- tired, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends.
CLINTON KIME, a prominent citizen and farmer of Seneca County, keeps pace with the progress of the times, and has ad- vanced the interests of his county at all times. His life of industry and usefulness, and his record for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness in all the relations of life, have given him a hold upon the community which all might well desire to
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share. The estate of Mr. Kime is located two miles south of Waterloo, in the town of Fayette, and he bears the distinction of introducing into this section the first Dorset horned sheep, which he makes a specialty of breeding.
Our subject is a native of the above town, and was born January 26, 1857, on the banks of Lake Seneca, to Benjamin and Mary (Dimn) Kime. They were born in Pennsylvania, whence they were brought by their respective parents, when quite young, to this section. The paternal grand- father bore the name of Christian Kime, and was · classed among the earliest settlers of the county. He became the owner of an entire section of land bordering on Seneca Lake, on which he erected a hotel, and in addition to his farming interests played the part of "mine host " with equal suc- cess. He became very prosperous, and at the time of his death left his family well provided for.
The father of our subject was born about the year 1809, and died in 1887, and during his en- tire life followed farming. He was well educated for the locality and day, and was given a good start in life when ready to begin for himself. His union with Miss Dimn resulted in the birth of nine children, four of whom died when young, . and four of the family are still living. During the late war, Franklin, the eldest of the house- hold, was a soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Infantry, enlisting in 1862. He was wounded while in the battle of the Wilderness, and died in the hospital in 1864. His remains were brought home and interred in the cemetery at Geneva, N. Y. Angeline mar- ried Charles H. Smith, and is at present living in Fayette. Susan A. makes her home with her brother in the latter village, Edward P. is mar- ried, and likewise makes his home in Fayette.
The subject of this sketch is well educated, liav- ing been permitted to attend school regularly until a lad of sixteen years. Although quite young in years, he then assumed the management of the homestead, which lie operated for some time on shares. December 17, 1884, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Thomas, a native of the town of Fayette, and a daughter of Michael and Leali Thomas. The following year he located with his
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