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 46
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 46
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An active, energetic, capable man, Mr. Beards- ley took a prominent part in all public affairs. He was in sympathy with the work of the Method- ist Episcopal Chuch, and assisted in the erection of the new church building at Odessa. A strong temperance man, for some years he was identified with the Good Templars. He and his wife had three children, namely: Stephen R .; Saralı D .. who married Mr. Wood, and was killed, as before stated; and Stella I., wife of Charles H. Brown, a farmer living near the village of Odessa. On the death of Mrs. Beardsley's father, in the sum- mer of ISS1, she came into possession of a desira-
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- ble piece of village property in Watkins, where she now lives in comfort and retirement. After the death of her husband, she purchased the farni where they had toiled, and where she had seen her children happily married.
ARRISON TROUTMAN. We take pleas- ure in presenting to our readers an outline of the life of Mr. Troutman, who, although deceased, is well remembered by the residents of Seneca County, and more especially by the citi- zens of the town of Fayette, as he was one of its enterprising and energetic inhabitants. He was born in Albany Township, Berks County, Pa., May 10, 1825, to Solomon and Susan (Moyer) Troutman. When two years old he was brought by his parents to this state and county. His fa- ther, who was in limited circumstances, rented land and moved from place to place for many years. To his son, our subject, he gave a fair common-school education, and as Harrison was the next to the youngest in a large family of nine children, he was early compelled not only to make his own way in the world, but to aid in the support of the other members of the household.
In early life Harrison Troutman learned the trade of a carpenter, and this he followed until 1882. In 1857 he purchased ten acres of land, and on this he established his father and mother, who were then well advanced in years. He con- tinued to live with them on this property until August, 1869, when occurred the demise of his father, his mother having died previously, in May, 1865.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Susan Biery, of Fayette, was celebrated February 10, 1863. This lady was born January 9, 1841, and was the daugliter of Stephen and Sarah ( Ruch) Biery, both natives of Pennsylvania. In addition
to working at his trade, Mr. Troutman rented a farm, which he cultivated for a few years and then abandoned in order to devote his attention to fruit-raising, planting apple, peach and pear trees in large numbers. Later he added berries and the smaller fruits. This enterprise proved to be a very profitable one, and his widow now carries it on with the help of her only son, Clarence. He was born October 27, 1869, and is an energetic and capable young man. After pursuing his stud- ies in the common schools, lie took a course at the Williams & Rogers Business College of Roches- ter, receiving a diploma from that institution June 26, 1891. Previous to this time he taught school, and thereby earned the money to pay his way through college. His mother, who is also a well informed lady, taught school first when only sixteen years of age, and followed the vocation successfully for five years, or until her marriage.
Our subject was a Democrat in politics. His son, however, is a strong Prohibitionist and has done much toward furthering the interests of this movement in his community. Mr. Troutman was a member of the Lutheran Church. to which his wife and son also belong. He was a man of sterling integrity and gained for himself a good competence through his own well directed efforts.
FORGE A. BONNELL, who is known all over the state as an extensive grower of seed potatoes of the best varieties, is the owner of a well cultivated farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres near Waterloo, Seneca Coun- ty, which is devoted almost entirely to growing this commodity. Northwestern New York pro- duces the most vigorous seed potatoes, and dur- ing the World's Fair our subject sent thirty va- rieties to Chicago for the state of New York, and later placed on exhibition thirty more vari- eties under his own name, for which he received
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two gold medals. The "Empire State Express," "Fast Mail" and "Through Freight" are some of his late productions.
The aneestors of our subjeet came to America in company with William Penn, and were also Quakers. The grandfather, Henry Bonnell, was born and reared in the state of New Jersey, where he was also married. He came to New York in company with Richard Dell, another Quaker, who went to the land-office at Albany and pur- elased a farm for both of them. The land was cultivated and improved, and Mr. Bonnell there made his home for several years, wlien he re- moved with his family to Wayne County, set- tling upon property near Clyde. There his son Henry, Jr., the father of our subject, was reared to mature years, although his birth occurred on the estate where George A., of this history, now lives.
Henry Bonnell, Jr., was married to Miss Mary Dell in the old Quaker Church in the town of Waterloo, Seneea County, and soon thereafter purchased the land which our subject now owns, but which was formerly oeeupied by his father. The latter continued to live in Wayne County un- til his deeease, which occurred July 28, 1829. His good wife, who was the mother of a large fam- ily of children, survived him many years, passing away in Wayne County, March 17, 1848.
The father of our subjeet was a great lover of poetry, and eould repeat passages from memory by the hour. He was also quite a poet himself, and a short time before his decease wrote a very beautiful poem, entitled, "A Synopsis of Life." His wife was one of the best of women, faithful, loving, and generous to a fault. She was a true helpmate in all the departments of life, and in the devotion to and care of her children had no peer, pursuing the even tenor of her way with such rectitude that they looked upon her as one who could not make a mistake.
The subject of this sketeh was born on the farm where he now resides, April 28, 1849. He was the youngest in the parental family of five ehil- dren, and was given such an education as could be gained in the schools of the district. His fa- ther, who was one of the pioneers of Sencca
County, early in life began growing potatoes on an extensive scale, and as soon as he was old enough George A. assisted him, thus becoming familiar with all the details of the business.
Mr. Bonnell was married, on Christmas Day, 1876, to Miss May E. Halsted, then a resident of Walworth, Wayne County, N. Y. She was born in Cayuga County, August 20, 1852, her par- ents being Reuben and Hannah (Halsted) Hal- sted. Her education was received in the aead- emy in Cayuga County, and she remained with her parents until her marriage. By the union of our subjeet and his wife there was born one daughter, Adah N., her birth occurring Janu- ary 9, ISS7.
Our subjeet has always lived on the farm which he now owns. Besides his other interests, he has a fine poultry-yard on his farm, and makes a specialty of raising the Rose Comb Black Mi- noreas, the Sicilians, Buff Wyandottes, Buff Plymouth Rocks, White Roeks, Black Langshans and Golden Sebright Bantams. In his politieal views our subject is a strong Republican, and his motto is, "The United States Against the World."
ILLIAM H. LAHR. It is possible that the gentleman of whom we write has an experience extending over as many years in this particular locality as almost anyone in this county, for he was born in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, where he now makes his home, February 17, 1841. His parents were Henry and Catherine (Singer ) Lahr, the former of whoni was born in Uniontown, Northumberland Conn- ty, Pa., in the year 1812. He came to this eoun- ty when about twenty-one or twenty-two years of age, and here he married Miss Singer, a na- tive of Seneca County.
The father of our subject eame to this section
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in limited circumstances, and secured possession of a small farm. He was taken with typhoid fever, however, with which disease he died, as did also his wife and two children, in the year 1858, within two weeks of each other. Nine sons and daughters were thus left orphans, and as none of them was old enough to assume the management of the land, it was sold. Of this family, seven were sons, five of whom served as soldiers during the late war, namely: Aaron B., Peter F., Warren M., Marcellus A. and our sub- ject. The latter enlisted in the fall of 1862 in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-sixtli New York Infantry, in which company his broth- ers Aaron and Peter were also mustered. This regiment formed a part of the Sixth Army Corps and served a part of the time under General Sher- man. William H. served until the close of the war, during which time he participated in many of the hard-fought battles of that period, among thiem being the battle of Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry. After the surrender of the last-named place, Mr. Lahr was sent with a number of his comrades to the Chicago Parole Camp, where he remained until the following spring. He then participated in the Grand Review in Washing- ton, after which he was discharged and mustered out of service.
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On his return from the war, our subject began working at whatever he could find todo, and, be- ing very handy in the use of tools, found plenty of carpenter work. He was married, in April, 1867, to Miss Pernina Pontius, a native of the town of Junius, but who was then living in the town of Fayette. Her parents were Martin and Nancy (Hill) Pontius, well-to-do residents of the former town. For several years after his marriage Mr. Lahr continued to work at his trade, and also oper- ated a farin on shares a part of the time until 1887, in which year he purchased the tract of one hun- dred acres which he now occupies. This place was considerably run down when he took posses- sion, but with characteristic energy he worked hard to improve it, and has now the satisfaction of knowing it is classed among the most produc- tive in the county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lahr there were born eleven
children, of whom we make the following men- tion: Edward is well educated, and at home; Cora married Fred Jolly, a farmer of Fayette; Jessie is the wife of Bartholomew Cronin, and lives in Waterloo; Libbie, Henry, George, Warren, Adelbert and Spencer are at home with their parents, and two died in infancy.
In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864, while in the army, although he after- ward learned that his ballot never reached liome. He still keeps up his acquaintance with many of his old comrades, and is a member of the Veteran Union at Waterloo.
DWIN S. BARRY was born in the town of Ovid, October 6, 1843, his parents being Samuel L. and Mary ( Hadley ) Barry, na- tives of Vermont, the former of whom came to this county about the year 1834. He was mar- ried that same year, at the age of twenty-six. All his life he followed farming, and acquired a farm of one hundred and ten acres. He died in March, 1881, his wife dying in the month of No- vember, three years later. When Seneca Coun- ty was surveyed by the Government, a plat of ground containing three acres in the southern part of what is now the town of Ovid was set apart to be used as a cemetery, and the first body buried there was that of James Bloomer, who died September 22, 1799, aged thirty-one years. Our subject's father was sexton of this cemetery, and from 1842 to 1879 buried two hundred and sixty- six bodies. This cemetery, which is now nearly full, is not divided into family lots, but usually each body is placed by the side of the one which preceded it. In this cemetery lie the remains of the parents of the subject of this sketch.
Samuel Barry, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Vermont, and was twice married, be-
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coming the father of three sons by each marriage. The first of these children by his first wife, James, came to this county, and was killed by a runaway team, November 22, 1833. Joseph also came to this county, and was followed by Samuel Barry, the father of our subject. Holland, Patton and Royal, the children of his second wife, have re- mained in Vermont.
Mr. Barry, our subject, had three sisters and one brother. Adelia O. is deceased; Helen E. and Emma T. are unmarried; and James was ac- cidentally shot while at school. The father was a Republican, and in the Baptist Church held the office of Deacon. His son has followed in his footsteps in the matter of politics, but not in religion. As a boy, he attended the district and common schools of the time, and at the age of twenty-five was prepared to purchase a grist- mill and carry it on successfully and honorably. In this business he engaged for more than a quarter of a century, and is now interested in farming, owing a fine place of one hundred and sixty acres. Besides his other interests, he con- ducts a profitable ice business, and altogether has led an active and busy life.
Our subject was married, October 26, 1864, to Deborah, the daughter of Seborn F. and Eliza- beth A. (Myers) Smalley. She was born in the town of Covert. Our subject and his wife have no children.
HARLES H. HUTCHINSON. In the town of Fayette, Seneca County, may be seen a fine farm, upon which has been expended much care in cultivation and development. The land is well tilled, adorned with plenty of trees, and, in fact, the seventy acres which are included in this tract are classed among the most product- ive in the locality. This well ordered place be- longs to the gentleman whose name is inscribed
above. He was born not far from his present place of residence, in Geneva, Ontario County, February 13, 1853.
The parents of our subject were Joseph and Mary (Tucker ) Hutchinson, the latter of whom died when Charles H. was a lad of seven years, leaving two other children older than he. Four years later he was taken by his father to a farm which he owned just north of Geneva, and there the latter is living at the present writing. On that farm our subject lived until the year prior to attaining his majority, and in the mean time had been given a fair education in the schools carried on in the district. About this time his father gave him his time, and also a fourth-interest in the products of a farin which he was renting, and which was known as the Middlewood estate. This place is located near where Charles H. now lives, and comprises two hundred and forty acres, which he operated together with his brother and father for a period of eleven years. At the end of the time above mentioned, our subject returned to the old home farm with his father, where he remained for four years, aiding in its cultivation. He proved a very successful agriculturist, and has been greatly prospered in undertakings of his own in this line.
Mr. Hutchinson was married, December 29, 1886, to Miss Carrie, daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Gouger) Lerch, both of whom are now deceased. Soon after his marriage, our subject began housekeeping on the old Lerch Farm, and very shortly thereafter purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property, so that now he is the sole owner of the estate. He has made many improvements in the way of buildings, and has also added a vineyard of four acres, which always produces a good crop.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson there were born three children, namely: Edith Nellie, whose birth occurred February 25, 18SS; Ray Lerch, June 2, 1890; and Margaret, November 15, 1892. The latter died in infancy. Following in the footsteps of his honored father, our subject is a true-blue Republican, casting his first Presi- dential vote for R. B. Hayes in 1876. He has always been active in public affairs and has
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served at various times as Inspector of Elec- tions. Religiously lie was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, while his good wife is a inember of the Presbyterian Church.
Joseph Hutchinson was born in Cumberland County, England, whence he came to America with his parents when a boy. His father, Otis Hutchinson, at that time settled in Ontario County, where he made his home until his de- cease. His motlier, it is thought, was born in the state of Vermont, and upon coming to New York with her parents made her home in Ontario County.
Joseph Hutchinson has been Supervisor of the town of Geneva for a number of years, and has also rendered efficient service as Overseer of the Poor.
HARLES G. WINFIELD, associated in bus- iness with George C. Walsh & Co., is one of the most prominent men of the village of Tyrone, and is in every way a gentleman whose sketch it gives us great pleasure to place in this RECORD. Heis a native of this state, and was boru in Warwick, Orange County, March 3, 1835. He continued to make his home there until 1854, the year in which he came to Schuyler County with his father, also Charles G., and with him settled on a farm near Odessa.
Our subject made his home on the above farm until 1861, when he removed to Toledo, Ohio, and engaged in the grocery business in that city until 1882. That year he disposed of his stock of goods, and, returning to his native state, lo- cated at once in Tyrone, where he purchased a farm near tlie village. This property was for- merly owned by Henry N. Shannon, and here Mr. Winfield lived until 1892, when he sustained a severe loss in the destruction of his buildings by fire. He then traded his farin for a stock of
merchandise in Savona. N. Y., which he removed to Tyrone, where he has since been engaged in business, in company with his son-in-law, Mr. Walslı. They are well patronized by residents of the surrounding country, and are men who are highly regarded, and of whom the village may well be proud.
The marriage of our subject occurred at Tyrone on Cliristmas Day, 1862. The lady of his choice was Miss Adeline M., daughter of Henry N. and Huldah (Briggs) Shannon, both of whom are now deceased. To Henry Shannon and his wife there were born five children, of whom Mrs. Winfield was the second-born, her birth occurring in Star- key, Yates County, this state, March 1, 1844.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been granted three children, namely: Edna D., who is now the wife of Charles Stewart, of Springfield, Mass .; Augusta J., the wife of George C. Walsh, whose sketch appears on an- otlier page in this volume; and Huldah A., who married Willet Coon, of Savona.
Our subject's motlier, formerly Amanda Ellis, was born in Warwick, and departed this life in Bloomingburg, N. Y., where also her husband passed away. Charles G. is one of those public- spirited men who do a town good. During his early life he was full of energy and ambition, and he now displays unusual judgment in the man- agement of affairs, and has all the requirements for a successful business career. In politics he is a Democrat, and religiously is a member of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, with which denom- ination his good wife is also connected.
ARVEY E. BROWN, M. D. The eminent young physician whose name introduces this sketch impresses even those who meet him in a casual manner as a man who has drifted easily and naturally into the medical profession,
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who realizes that he has made no mistake in the choice of his vocation, and who feels thoroughly at home in the position which he now occupies. Dr. Brown has found in the study and practice of medicine an occupation more congenial to his tastes than anything else could possibly have been. He is now living in Fayette, Seneca County, where he enjoys a lucrative practice.
Our subject is a native of this county, and was born February 15, 1866, in the town of Varick, to John and Mary J. (Stahl) Brown. His parents are both living in the above town, where they are classed among its best residents. The father was born in Niagara County, N. Y., while the mother is a native of Seneca County. They were farin- ers by occupation, and therefore our subject was reared in the country, where he attended the dis- trict school. The family consisted of five chil- dren, of whom he was the third in order of birth. When only seventeen years of age an opportunity presented itself whereby he could commence reading medicine, and, entering the office of Dr. E. W. Bogardus, of Fayette, he studied under his instruction for a year. Believing in the pro- fession, and feeling himself fitted to meet its re- quirements, none of the numerous obstacles which he found from time to time in his pathway was allowed to more than temporarily check his prog- ress toward the goal of his ambition.
In 1885 Mr. Brown entered the medical de- partment of the University of Buffalo, and dur- ing the three years which followed he was obliged to borrow money to pay his expenses. He was just twenty-one years of age when he was graduated, in 1887. Returning to his native county, he engaged in practice at Hayt Corners, thoroughly prepared and fully equipped to meet any professional demands that might be made upon him. He remained there until 1889, and in the spring of that year came to Fayette, where he is now established. Success has attended his efforts from the start, and, although practically a self-made man, he has won an honorable position among the professional men of the county.
Dr. Brown was married, Sepember 29, 1891, to Miss C. Anna Jones, of the town of Varick. She was born in Canoga, this county, and has become
the mother of a daughter, Margaret, who was born July 10, 1892. In politics the Doctor is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for Cleveland in I888. He has been identified with the Masonic order since becoming of age, and has filled various chairs in the same, being now Wor- shipful Master. He also belongs to the Seneca Comity Medical Association.
JOHN T. ROBERSON. A plain statement of the facts embraced in the life of Mr. Rober- son, who is Postmaster of Vale, is all that we profess to be able to give in this volume. His career has been found to be that of one whose en- tire course in life has been marked by great hon- esty and fidelity of purpose. He has met with substantial results in the different enterprises in which he has been engaged, and is well known to the people of Seneca County.
Mr. Roberson was born in Candice, Livingston County, N. Y., January 10, 1844. His parents were Samuel O. and Mahala (Trimmer) Roberson, both of whom were born in Hunterdon County, N. J. Prior to their marriage they came to Liv- ingston County, this state, where the father, who was a millwright, worked at his trade. He later became the owner of a valuable piece of land, and during the latter years of his life gave his atten- tion to its cultivation.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, and, when eighteen years of age, became a student in the Mt. Morris High School. During the progress of the late war he became a Union soldier, and was mustered in as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirtieth New York Volunteers. For one year he was stationed with his regiment in Suffolk, Va., and participated in many engagements and skir- mishes, among which were the battles of the De-
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serted House and Black Water, also the siege of Suffolk. Later he was transferred to the First New York Dragoons, which had been supplied with the very choicest of arms by the Government. He saw service at Centerville, Md., near where occurred the battle of the Rapidan, and was after- ward present at the battle of Winchester, when Sheridan made his famous ride, and heard that noted general give his orders. He participated in twenty-eight engagements in all, and at the battle of the Rapidan the index finger of his right hand was shot through by a Union soldier whose carbine was discharged accidentally. Mr. Rober- son was mustered out of service at the close of the war, July 19, 1865.
On his return home from the field of battle Mr. Roberson began working out on farms by the month, this-becoming necessary on account . of the death of his father, who departed this life while he was in the army. In October, 1868, he went to Blue Island, a suburb of Chicago, where he attended school the following winter, and then began work on the street cars as conductor. He held this position just one month, when he re- signed and became switchman for the Lake Shore Road, remaining with that corporation until 1869. During the greater part of that time he had charge of a train at the Union Stock Yards, acting in the capacity of trainmaster. For the following twenty-one years he was yard- master for the Southwestern System of the Penn- sylvania Central, commonly known as the Panl- handle Route. The last year he was night superintendent of the yards.
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