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 48
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 48
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The parental family included eight children, of whom the eldest, Mahlon B., a farmer and grain dealer at MeCords, Kent County, Mich., married Jennie Thomas, who, although bearing the same name, is not a relative; they have two children. Caroline became the wife of Rev. Jonathan Thomas, also a farmer of Kent County, Mich .; two of their sons are living in Washington State, where they have a stock rauch. Levi is engaged in teaming in Rochester, N. Y., and is the father of two children. Emma married Levi Bachman, and also makes her home in the above city. Harrison was in the Sixteenth Heavy Artillery during the war, serving from 1863 until the close of hostilities. Samuel is a motorman engaged on the electric line running between Geneva and Seneca Falls. All of the sons are Republicans in politics, and are progressive citizens, of whom any community might well be proud.
Lorren, of this history, was given a fair edu- cation, attending the schools during the win- ter months of each year, and in the summer season occupied his time in farm work. He was in his nineteenth year when, August 19, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Infantry. He was present during many hard fought engagements, and witnessed the surrender at Harper's Ferry. Soon after he was sent to the parole camp at Chicago, where he remained on duty until, with several of his comrades, he was given a leave of absence and returned home. Upon again joining his regi- ment he was on duty at Alexandria, Va., whence he went with his regiment to Gettysburg, where he was soon after detailed to drive a team for one of the surgeons and assist in the work around the tent for sick and wounded. He was thus subjected to as much danger as though he were on the field of battle, and, indeed, the position was a much harder one to fill. He remained there until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, in 1865, and returned home after having participated in the Grand Review at Washington. Again settling down to the peaceful pursuits of life, he engaged in farm- ing, and in 1870 rented his father's stone-quarry
and began its operation. He has followed this business ever since, although he afterward be- came the owner of a quarry.
When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Thomas was married, January 1, 1877, to Miss Alice Babcock, a most intelligent and worthy lady, who was born in Barrington, Yates County, May 31, 1853. She departed this life in March, 1890, greatly mourned by a large circle of rela- tives and friends. Besides the farm which we have already mentioned, our subject is the pos- sessor of a farm of ninety-one acres, likewise located near Waterloo, and both tracts are under admirable tillage.
EVI VAN BUSKIRK. This is in brief the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in life has been reached through his own perseverance. He is now one of the well-to- do farmers and fruit-growers of the town of Tyre, Seneca County, and his business and social quali- ties are well known and appreciated in this lo- cality.
Mr. Van Buskirk was born in the above town March 21, 1842, and is the son of Peter and Rosetta (Cuddeback) Van Buskirk. His paternal grandfather, who bore the name of Thomas, was descended from one of the old families of New Jersey, but at the time of the birth of his son Peter was living in New York City, being there engaged in dealing in horses. Later he removed with his family to Ontario County, where he be- came interested in farming to some extent, al- though the greater portion of his time was de- voted to the raising of a fine grade of stock. In 1849, during the gold excitement in California, he went thither by way of the Isthmus and re- mained several years. He made two visits to that state, and was fairly successful in his ven-
19
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tures each time. On his return he removed to the town of Tyre, Seneea County, where his de- cease oceurred in 1871, when seventy-seven years old. His remains were placed in the cemetery at Hopewell, Ontario County, where his wife was also buried. In early days he was a Whig, but after the formation of the Republican party never failed to vote for its candidates, and was a strong anti-slavery man. When a boy, his father, the great-grandfather of our subjeet, took charge of the horse of General Washington, during the winter which the army spent in New Jersey. The following spring he ran away from home, and for several years thereafter served as a soldier in the Continental army.
Peter Van Buskirk was born June 12, 1814, in the metropolis. He was there reared to mature years, after which he came to the town of Tyre and followed the trade of a cooper, which he had previously learned. Later he abandoned this busi- ness and engaged in farming, owning the ninety- seven acres of land on which his son, our subject, now resides. He married Miss Rosetta Cudde- back, and to them were born three children, of whom Levi was the eldest. Thomas is married and resides in Tyre, while Sallie is an inmate of the household of our subjeet. Peter Van Bus- kirk was a prominent Democrat in polities, and was the ineumbent of many offices of trust and responsibility, being for many years Town Clerk and Colleetor. He was influential in the ranks of his party, and often represented it as a delegate to the various conventions. Religiously he was a member of the Christian Church, in the faith of which he died April 30, 1891. His good wife preceded him to the land beyond, dying January 31, 1883. They were both interred in Tyre Cemetery.
The subject of this sketch was given a good education, and when twenty-one years of age was engaged to teach two terms of sehool. When a lad of thirteen years his left limb beeame affected, and for eleven years he suffered with this mis- fortune. The next year his father gave him his time, so that on attaining his majority he pos- sessed quite a little sum of money. He continued to reside at home, however, until forty-one years
of age, when he established a home of his own, and was married, November 7, 1883, to Miss Catherine Alma Nearpass, of Tyre. She was born in this seetion in 1857, and was the daughter of Samuel and Emma (Golden) Near- pass.
Mr. Van Buskirk is a Democrat in politics, and in 1869 voted for MaeClellan. Five years prior to this time he had been elected Clerk of his town, holding the office for three years. He was after- ward made Town Auditor, and also served as In- spector of Eleetions. In IS71 he was elected Supervisor of the town of Tyre, and from 1886 to 1889 was the incumbent of the same office. He has always taken a very active part in loeal affairs, and as one of the influential men of his party in this loeality has been a representative to the county and senatorial conventions.
00 ANIEL W. HOSTER. Seneea County is a very prosperous farming community, and none among its enterprising and energetic agriculturists deserves more prominent mention in a work of this kind than does Mr. Hoster, who was born here, on the farm where he now resides, May 5, 1854. This property is located in the town of Fayette and is under advaneed cultivation.
The parents of our subject were William and Elizabeth (Sheridan) Hoster, natives, respective- ly, of the towns of Fayette and Seneea Falls. The former, who was born about 1833, died May 11, 1874, and Mrs. Hoster, whose birth occurred in 1831, is still living. Grandfather John Hoster died when his son William was about three years of age, and the latter was reared to man- hood by his wise and excellent mother. For a time he attended school in Sencea Falls. One year prior to becoming of age, he pureliased the estate of one hundred and forty aeres of which
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PORTRAIT
our subject is now the owner, and on which have been placed good improvements. William Hos- ter was a good and useful eitizen, and the county owes its prosperity to just such men as he proved to be. Politically he tenets of the Republican party appealed +, { 's sense of justice and equity. Though in rays of the word an office-seeker. he wa Yeady in the support of his party. He wasc .afted into the Union service during the war, but, not being able to enlist, hired a substi- tute. Socially he was a prominent Mason, taking the thirty-second degree before his death.
Our subjeet has one brother, younger than himself, George E., whose home is in Chicago, and who is also a thirty-second-degree Mason.
The early life of our subject was passed in the country, where he gained a good education in the schools of the district. His father died when he was twenty years of age, and, being the elder son, he was made the executor of the estate. To the original tract he added one hundred acres in 1890, and now has one of the most productive estates in the county.
Our subject is surrounded with peace and plenty, is a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises, and is therefore classed among the most respec- ted and influential citizens of the community. He advocates the principles of the Republican party, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1876, for R. B. Hayes.
moved to Montgomery County, where he formed the acquaintance of Alida Vandevere. She was born July 29. 1789, and was a daughter of Gar- ritt and Rachael (Connover) Vandevere. Her nephew, Dr. Albert Vandevere, of Albany, is one of the most noted physicians of this state.
In March, 1827, Cornelius Fero moved with his family to Schuyler County and located in what is now the town of Orange, one and a-half miles west of the present village of Beaver Dams. At that time this county was part of Steuben Count- ty, and the whole country in this vieinity was a vast wilderness, not a tree having been eleared from the land on which he located. Here lie built a log house in the woods and commenced to clear his farm. At this time our subject was about ten years of age, and, notwithstanding his youth, it was his lot to assist his father in clearing the land and paying for the farm. When he arrived here his father had but $71, which he retained for future use, purchasing the farm on time and paying for it as he could. He made a success in life and acquired a good property. His character was spotless and he enjoyed the esteent of all. Both parents died on the old homestead, the fa- thier October 3, 1861, and the mother March 31, 1869, and their remains were interred in the fani- ily cemetery on the farmn. In politics Cornelius Fero was a Jacksonian Democrat.
A boy of but ten years when the family ar- rived here, and there being but one family in the vicinity, it may well be understood that our sub- ject's lot was a hard one. Until about seventeen he attended two summer and the winter terms of school, the district school being between one and two miles from his home. He toiled early and late with his father, and remained under the pa- rental roof until after attaining his majority, so that he might assist his father in clearing the farin, not only of the heavy growth of timber, but of all incumbrances.
SAAC W. FERO is a pioneer of Schuyler County and is one of its leading citizens. He - was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., Au- gust 28, 1817, and is a son of Cornelius and Alida (Varidevere) Fero, the former a native of Water- On the gth of January, 1842, Mr. Fero was united in marriage with Miss Tryphena Know! ton, a daughter of Chester Knowlton, of Steuben County, who, like the father of our subject, lo- cated in the wilderness in an early day. By this vleit, Rensselaer County, and the latter of Mont- gomery County. Peter Fero, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of New York State. The father was born September 14, 1789, grew to manhood in his native county, and later re- , union there were three children. Alida I. mar-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.
ried James Moore, who died in November, 1890, leaving her with a family of seven children, three of whom still reside with her on a farm near Bea- ver Dams, Esther S. married Milton Olmsted, and lives in Steuben County, where her husband is engaged in farming; she is the mother of two children. Robia married William F. Hall, and the family resides on a farm adjoining the village of Beaver Dams.
After his marriage Mr. Fero removed with his young wife to his father's house, and there re- mained three years, when he built a new house on a part of the old farm, which was their home for a number of years. During this time he took charge of the home place, and in the mean time was saving his earnings, with which he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in the same town. At his father's death he inherited the home place, to which he then moved, living with his mother until 18SS. The wife of our subject, who died June 17, 1883, was a woman greatly loved, and her death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. On the 8th of February, 1888, Mr. Fero married Mrs. Rhoda (Weller) Phelps, widow of .Wallace Phelps, who was accidentally killed at the rail- road crossing near Beaver Dams in 1879. Her father was an early settler in the town of Veteran, Chemung County. Mrs. Fero had two narrow escapes from death. When she was a babe six months old, as her parents were returning home from Havana, a storm came up, blowing a large tree down across the wagon and killing her mothi- er. The latter, seeing the tree falling, threw the child from her arms, thus saving her life. At the time of the accident in which her first husband was killed, the wagon was entirely demolished and she was thrown upon an embankment, breaking her collar bone. By her first husband Mrs. Fero had four children, two of whom were married at the time of their father's death, and two were at home. Celestia married Charles Stevens, and the family resides at Beaver Dams; Henry W., who married Parthena Rood, is a farmer in the town of Dix; Asa C. married Catharine Caslin, and resides in Hector; Nettie married Charles Sayler, but is now deceased.
Since his last marriage our subject has made his home in the village of Beaver Dams, where his wife had been living. While now living in retirement, lic can look back to a life well spent. When he first came to the county there were few roads laid out, and where the village now stands the ground was all covered with timber. He saw the first burial in the Beaver Dams Cemetery, that of Miss Eunice Wheeler, a daughter of Will- iam Wheeler, who was for many years a Class- leader in the old building which until recently was used for the Methodist Episcopal parsonage, and which was the first frame dwelling erected in the village. The cemetery was on a hemlock knoll, in the midst of brush and tangles. For a time he attended one of the first schoolhouses erected in the town of Orange. It was built of hewn chestnut logs, and in that early day it was considered a fine building.
In the pioneer days Mr. Fero was appointed Orderly Sergeant of a company of militia, and was afterward commissioned Ensign. Later he was contmissioned Captain in the company, which of- fice he retained for years, or until the militia was disbanded. He still has in his possession his old commission. Until recently he has taken an ac- tive interest in the affairs of life, and has indeed been successful. In politics he was for years a Democrat, but lately has voted with the Prohibi- tion party, believing it his duty to do all in his power to destroy the liquor traffic. While he has often been requested to accept local office, he has invariably declined, as he felt that he had no time to devote to politics, although he served twelve years as Assessor of the town of Orange.
Mr. Fero has been very methodical and syste- matic in his business transactions, and for over thirty years has kept a diary and an exact ac- count of all receipts and expenses. He lias al- ways taken an interest in church affairs, though never connected with any denomination by mem- bership. His first wife was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his present wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. No appeal for church funds has ever been made to him in vain. He gave the Methodist Episcopal Church a hand- some Bible after the first one had been worn out,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and when the church was repaired he donated one window. He was on the committee to repair the church, as well as on one for the building of the parsonage. For ten years he has been a Director of the Farmers' Reliance Fire Insurance Company, acting as its local agent. He still owns one hundred acres of land, the greater part of which is under cultivation. He has lived to see his children all comfortably situated in life, and has given each of them a good common- sehool education.
ALTER THORP. The gentleman whose life history it is our pleasure to relate has passed from the scenes of earth, but his memory is dear to his surviving friends, and a record of the prominent residents of Seneca Coun- ty would be incomplete without this notice of his life.
Like many of the best eitizens of this section, he is of foreign birth, his home having been Holmforth, Yorkshire, England, where his birth oceurred April 25, 1842. His parents were Jon- athan and Esther (Brook ) Thorp, also natives of the British Isle. The father was an extensive manufacturer of woolen goods, and when Walter was old enough he was sent to Ireland and Seot- land as representative of the firm. He thus took advantage of the opportunities granted him for aequainting himself with the language of these countries and at the same time very materially enlarged the business of the company.
When about twenty-one years of age our sub- ject eame to America on a visit, but was so well pleased with the country and the prospects which it had in store for a wide awake and ambitious young man that he concluded to make it his fu- ture home. Before settling down he visited thir- teen different states, and also took a course in
the business college at Cincinnati. He then be- came connected with the large woolen-mill at Munnsville, N. Y .. and after severing his interest with that concern, was employed by other large firms of the state at different times, In 1867 or '68 he came to Seneca Falls and was engaged as shipping clerk in the mills here. During this time he became acquainted with Miss Harriet Jane Cross, to whom he was married December 23, 1868. She was born in the town of Tyre, July 1, 1842, and was tlie daughter of William H. and Luey A. (Boardman) Cross. Her fa- ther was a well-to-do resident of this place and followed farming the greater portion of his life. In 1872 Mr. Thorp moved to Cornwall on the Hudson, but, his wife failing in health, he returned to Seneea Falls and continued to live here until removing to the farm now occupied by the fam- ily. There he purchased one hundred acres, be- sides a traet of thirty acres, which is within the corporate limits of Seneca Falls. On the former place he established a dairy business, daily dis- posing of the milk from thirty cows. The place is known as "Fairview."
To our subjeet and his estimable wife there were granted three sons. Jonathan Walter, born in Seneca Falls, October 26, 1869, is well edu- cated and is now manager of the home place; George Brook, born in Cornwall on the Hudson, August 9, 1872, is at home, as is also Josiah Al- bert, born in Seneca Falls, December 14, 1876.
Mr. Thorp took out his naturalization papers in due time after coming to America, and identi- fied himself with the Republican party in politics. He was an active worker in the Methodist Epis- copal Chureli, in which he filled the official posi- tion of Steward. His wife was greatly interested in Sunday-school work, and together they had elarge of the infant department. His death, which occurred April 28, 1889, was the occasion of universal mourning, and in him the eommu- nity lost one of its best citizens.
The father of Mrs. Thorp, William H. Cross, was born in Greene County, N. Y., October 28, 1809, and his wife, Lucy A. Boardman, was born in Seneca Falls, April 21, ISI8. They were married December 23, 1833. In early life Mr.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Cross learned the carpenter's trade, but followed it only a few years, when lie abandoned it in or- der to give his attention to farming. He lived for a time in the town of Tyre, where Mrs. Thorp was born, but took possession of the estate which the latter now owns when she was a little girl of five years. Thiis traet he rented a few years of Denning Boardman, the grandfather of Mrs. Thorp, but afterward purchased seventy-five aeres in the town of Seneea Falls, and later be- came the possessor of a good farm in Fayette. Some time thereafter he disposed of the farm in Fayette and traded the property in Seneea Falls for the place where Mrs. Thorp now lives. Mr. Cross was a Republican in politics, voting that tieket from the organization of the party until his death. in April, 1886. His good wife had preceded him to the land beyond, dying in 1878. Mr. Cross and five sons fought in the Civil War, in which confliet three of the sons lost their lives and were buried on Southern soil. The father became a member of the Grand Army of the Re- publie, belonging to Cross Post in Seneca Falls, which was named in his honor. Mrs. Thorp is connected with the Woman's Relief Corps and was sent as a delegate to the state convention at Saratoga. While there she visited Mt. MeGreg- or and saw the house where General Grant spent his last days. She is also a member of the Na- tional Grange.
ROF. EDGAR ALFRED EMENS, of the chair of Greek language and literature in Syracuse University, was born on a farm in the town of Variek, Seneea County, April 23, 1862. His educational advantages were excep- tionally good. After having completed the studies of the distriet sehool, at the age of seven- teen he entered the Cazenovia Seminary, where
he took a course of three years, graduating in 1882. He then entered Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., the institution of which the illustrious geologist, Professor Winchell, was also a graduate. Upon completing a four-years course he was graduated, in 1886, with the degree of A. B. Three years later his AAlma Mater con- ferred upon him the degree of A. M. He was graduated with honor, but received special honor in Latin. He was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, an honor conferred upon a few of the best scholars of caeh elass.
His education completed, Professor Emens re- turned to his home in New York. Soon after- ward he began his career as a teacher, in which he has sinee met with unvarying sueeess. For one year he taught in the public sehool at Eaton, Madison County, N. Y., and from there he went . to the Canandaigua Academy, where he held the chair of Latin and Greek for two years. From Canandaigua he was called to the Genesee W'es- leyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., where he was Professor of Greek and Latin for two years. Lima was the original seat of what is now Syracuse University. After two years in the seminary, he became Adjunct Professor of Greek in Syracuse University, and one year later he was promoted to a full professorship, suceeeding Dr. Coddington, of the chair of ethics. He has completed three years as professor in this institu- tion, in which he gives a thorough course in Greek to students of the upper elasses. An as- sistant lias charge of the Freshmen.
In the summer of 1892, Professor Emens visited Europe, traveling in England, Seotland, France, Italy and Greece and giving especial at- tention to the language which he teaches in the university. In 1894 he taught the Greek and Latin classes in the summer school at Silver Lake, his work giving entire satisfaction to all interested parties. He has contributed papers on special subjeets to various educational journals, and these have been received with favor by seholars in all parts of the country. His reputa- tion as a Greek scholar is well known through- out the entire country, and at the time of accept- ing the professorship in thie Syracuse University,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL, RECORD.
he had special calls to various western high- grade institutions. That his choice is a wise one has been attested by the high esteem in which he is held by the faculty and students of the university, as well as by educational men throughout the East. In physique he is tall, and he is interested in athletics and all college sports. Though one of the youngest professors in the university, he is conceded to be one of the most popular members of the faculty. In politics he is a Republican.
Professor Emens has recently been elected a member of the Hellenic Society, London; the Philhellenique Society, Amsterdam, and of the American Philological Association.
YRON J. VAN DUYNE, an enterprising and well known farmer of the town of Va- rick, Seneca County, is the proprietor of seventy-nine acres of valuable land, which he cultivates in a most thorough and intelligent manner. He is a native of this state, and was born May 24, 1859, in Cayuga County. His par- ents were William and Maria (Vanderbilt) Van Duyne, likewise born in the above county. There the father grew to mature years, and after pur- suing his studies for a number of years in the district schools, began learning the trade of a shoe- maker, which he followed until obtaining a start in life. The money which he thus saved he in- vested in one hundred and ten acres of land, which he later disposed of. He then passed the two succeeding years in the village of Auburn, and when ready to return once more to farm life
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