USA > New York > Wayne County > Rose > Rose neightborhood sketches, Wayne County, New York; with glimpses of the adjacent towns: Butler, Wolcott, Huron, Sodus, Lyons and Savannah > Part 24
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united with it. Their children are : William, who married Louise Worden, of the western part of the district, and now lives in Lyons, having one son, Willard. As " Bill " Glen, few men ever residing in Rose have a more general county reputation than he. From the farm he, years since, went into Charles Wright's store in the Valley, and there remained for many years. Finally beginning to dabble in politics, he went from one position to another till he became the sheriff of Wayne county, moving then to Lyons. He has since made that thriving place his home. The next son, Samuel, married Cornelia Smith of New York City, and has for some years been in business in Gotham, sending annually his family to the old home, where he passes as much time as he can. John has already been introduced. He married Lucy Bullard of Williamson, and now lives in California. His exceeding goodness-I will not say that he monopolized this trait for the family-could lead him in only one direction, viz., to the ministry. So, very soon after leaving school-he could then make long and most excellent prayers-we find him in the traveling work of the Free Methodist Church. His experience was a varied one in the north and south till failing health forced his removal to the Pacific coast. Elias, the youngest son, married Mary Hill, near Albany, and a teacher, lives in Cortland. The daughters, Harriet, married Wesley Burns, in Alton, and Henrietta died in 1869 at the age of twenty. In addition to the home in which widow Glen resides, there is a tenant house just back of the garden in which lives Orrin Carpenter, whose wife was a Dodds, grand-daughter of Mrs. Hannah D., who lives opposite. They have one child. The Glens bought of David Stanley and Calvin Pease, and before them the place had been owned by Loren Lane and Samuel Jeffers. (Mrs. Glen died June 1, 1893.)
Just over the way, on the south side, is the home of Jeffers Dodds, and now we are surely on Jeffers soil, for Mr. D. is a grandson of the first Robert, and the house is within a stone's throw of the old home. This house, occupying a commanding site, was built for the present occupant. He is the second son of William Dodds and Hannah Jeffers, his wife. His own wife is Jane Fosmire, and their children are : Eva, who married Clifford Lee of District No. 6; the latter's early death left her a very youthful widow ; Florence, who married Frank Lyman ; Libbie, who is Mrs. Wells Miller ; John and Freddie, boys at home.
Only a few steps further west and we come upon the house built by Robert Jeffers many years ago. In fact, erected in 1818, it may be doubted whether there is an older dwelling house in Rose. The barn, near, was built in 1823. Exteriorly the house stands very much as it was when put up, though I presume its red paint dates from a later period. A knock at the door secures admission at the hands of Mrs. Dodds, now an aged lady, but still the good Samaritan, in that she is caring for a great grandchild,
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whose mother is very ill at her home in the Valley. Between the pranks of the child and my questions I feared I might drive all memory from her.' mind ; but she survived and managed to tell me a very interesting story of what was an early home in the wilderness.
Robert Jeffers, with his brother, Nathan, came to this section from- Johnstown, Fulton county, in 1813. His location was in a heavily wooded wilderness. No framed nor any other kind of a house was anywhere near. His own log structure was constructed a little further west, in the valley, doubtless on account of the spring near. Convenience with reference to water usually determined the site of the pioneer home. His wife was Christiana Foote. Like many of the early comers, he died comparatively young, in 1844, his wife surviving till 1858. The labor and ailments inci- dent to building up a new country, made havoc in the ranks of men who otherwise would have lived to be octogenarians. Both of these worthy people were buried in the private cemetery on the north and south road, next west. They reared a numerous progeny, and the names are as fol- lows : William, who married Phoebe Wiley, and for a time lived where James Weeks is now, and then went to Wisconsin ; Betsey married George- Fisher, who once lived on the corner where George Worden is, but long since went to Michigan ; John took Lydia Way, a neighbor's daughter, for his wife, and, after living for a time on the Samuel Garlick, or Jared Chad- dock farm, went to Wisconsin ; Samuel married Harriet Robinson, and, like others of his kin, went to Wisconsin ; Esther became the wife of John Drown, now of Huron-she once lived near Barnes'; Nancy, after the death of her husband, Alanson Pease, went to Wisconsin ; Susan was Mrs. Joseph Waring, and died in town, while he went west; Hannah married William Dodds, from Lyons ; James married Hannah Rhinehart, and went to Iowa ; Lawson, an invalid, still lives on the old farm and in the old house with his sister, Mrs. Dodds. (Has since died.) William Dodds died September 29th, 1888, aged seventy-five years and one month. He had built a house in the Valley. His family, too, was a numerous one, consisting of Polly, who is Mrs. William H. Thomas, of the Valley, well known for her zeal in religious matters, being a member of the Free Meth- odist Church ; Christiana, who is the wife of Jackson Valentine, also of the Valley ; William Henry, who married, first, Melissa Fosmire, and, second, Louisa Stack ; he once lived south of the Weeks place, but long since went to Michigan. Of his children Hattie married Ira Lamb, of Detroit ; William works for " Bill " Griswold, in the Valley, and Alber- tine is the wife of Orrin Carpenter, who lives on the Glen farm. James Jeffers Dodds, the youngest son of William and Hannah, has already been noted. Just a little northwest of the old Jeffers home, a small house has long stood, being a sort of receptacle for farm tools. This was once the home of John Jeffers, but during the past summer it was moved to a less
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sightly locality. It should be stated that Alanson Pease, a Jeffers son-in- law, found a last resting place in the family burial ground. Mrs. Dodds' recollections of olden times are very clear and accurate, and she brings up from the misty past many an interesting relic. She recalls the taking of a pig from his sty by a predatory bear, only a little south of her girlhood home, and her brother, John, with one of the Clappers, captured a wolf in a trap, and received the government bounty for his scalp.
Again we go west, and after crossing a narrow valley, begin the ascent of the last range of hills in the town. Near the summit we reach the cross. roads, on whose northeast corner stands the house of George Worden. A well-laden peach tree at the corner of the house told of protection from the north wind, of the warmth of a south exposure, and was a reminder of the days when peaches were as constant a crop as potatoes, perhaps even more so. The house itself dates back to the days of George Fisher, whose wife was Betsey Jeffers. He displayed excellent judgment in locating his house, and I hope his Michigan home was half as pleasant. Fisher sold to George Lapham, who was the first husband of Elizabeth Worden, an aunt of the present owner. To him succeeded his brother-in-law, Con- stantine Worden. After the latter came his son, George, who, by the way, was born in the house. George Worden has been named already in Dis- trict No. 10 sketches as the husband of Leland Johnson's daughter, Edna. They have two children-John and Irene-who prove efficient helps in the house and on the farm. The parents are active members of the Rose Methodist Church. Constantine Worden, who lived here for many years, was reared south of the James Weeks home. He married Phoebe Ann Vandercook, now deceased. Their children were : Sarah, who married Allen Robinson, of Huron; George Leonard married Maggie Weeks, and lives east of North Rose ; and William, who is north of Wayne Centre. There are sixty acres in the farm.
If we take our way to the north we shall soon finish this part of our dis- trict. There is a very steep hill to descend, and we shall need a firm trust in Providence as well as a strong part of the harness on which, it may be remembered, the old lady laid so much stress, and the breaking of which destroyed all hopes of salvation. At the time of my visit the road was much used by those who sought the blackberry said to grow in these parts in great abundance. The road itself was laid out many years ago, and is called the State road. Had it been continued directly to the north, it would have gone very near the house of James Osborne, in District No. 10 ; but fortunately for him it was stopped just at the woods, and though one may go through now, it is not a traveled thoroughfare. Unless after berries, or to call on one of the two families living here, there is no reason why one should risk the going down and climbing back. A trifle north of the foot of the hill, on the west side, is the humble habitation of William
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Lumbert, who came to these parts from Cayuga county. His family lives in two houses, not because his children are so numerous, though he has several, but because the buildings are so small. (Mr. Lumbert was killed by his son, George, Feb. 16, 1891. For this crime the son was sentenced to life imprisonment.)
Somewhere along these parts, but just where is not clearly placed, an old map locates J. Jenks. Possibly the name is connected with the George Worden place.
Some years ago Peter Hilts, of the Valley, bought seventy-four acres of land in this then wilderness, of Wallace St. John, long known as a Rose and Clyde school-master. There was a small house, which now serves as one of the farm buildings, a much better house having taken its place. Mr. H. came originally from Boonville, Oneida county, and for some time worked for E. N. Thomas, in the Valley. He also served in the army dur- ing the Rebellion, in Company H, of the Ninth. His wife is Catherine Stickles. Their children are Frank ; John, who married Jennie Andrews, of Rose ; Louis and Mary. All of these are at home, though a new house is going up for John a little south of opposite. (John and Jennie H. have now two children, Earl and Charles.) In a little shanty near, an old-fash- ioned occupation is in progress, viz., the making of shingles with a draw shave out of good straight hemlock, and when John gets them laid on his roof, he need give himself no uneasiness as to leaks for the rest of his life, for they will outlast any number of the later sawed variety. This abode of Peter Hilts is on the east side of the road and rather close to the woods, and is quite suggestive of mosquitoes in such seasons as that of 1889. Back of it are numerous small wood lots, owned by different parties, but all affording many blackberries. For several years William Lumbert lived in a log house nearly opposite. The sound of a gun in the neighbor- ing woods recalled the days when the sportsman could frequently bring home, for his pains, as many black and gray squirrels as he could com- fortably carry ; but all that is past. The big fellows have gone. Only chattering red ones remain. Pigeons, too, that were so common, have flown before the encroachments of civilization.
We must go back to the cross roads and continuing towards the south, will call first on James Weeks. His location is an old one for these parts, and the outlook is grand. Nothing but the final range of Rose hills hides Butler from view, while, north and south, we may look to Huron and Galen. The view from the front porch of this house is unrivaled in this vicinity. Mr Weeks is at home, impaired vision rendering long walks from his fireside impossible. He finds his way to the nearest neighbor, Riggs, on the northeast, but returning he is near his home. Though the outward world is fading, he sees plainly the events and scenes of long ago, and pleasantly recounts to me some of the incidents of his earlier days.
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He is a native of Columbia county, and came to Wayne county fifty years- since. At one time he owned the Dorman Munsell place in District No. 9, then he owned north of Shears' corners, on the west side of the road. Next he lived on the Hamelink place, south of his present home. Finally he bought of Constantine Worden twenty-five acres, and of Samuel Way fifty, and settled where he now is. Of his family that came up from Columbia county, one brother, Rufus, has already been mentioned in the account of District No. 3, he having been killed in the raising of a liberty pole. Mr. Weeks' wife was Phoebe Waterbury, a sister of the late John D. Waterbury, of District No. 3. Their children are: Nathaniel, who made Eliza Griswold his wife, and went to Michigan ; John married Helen Swift, and lives in the Valley ; Stephen found a wife in Margaret Grinnell, of Galen, and a home sonth of the Valley ; Julia is Mrs. William Griswold, of the Valley; Mary is Mrs. William Benjamin, and lives south of Clyde ; Delia is Mrs. Stephen Miller, now in Iowa ; while the youngest, Sarah, married Alonzo Case, from Sodus, and they, living on the old place, make a comfortable home for the aged parents. James Weeks has long been a stalwart, reliable citizen, not prominent in politics, yet always ready to act as he thought right. In religious matters his leanings are toward the Baptist Church, though the Cases are Methodists. His grandfather, it is worth the while to state, died in his 100th year, and voted for Washington and Lincoln. (Mr. W. died June 8, 1892 ; Mrs. W. two years before. ). The present Weeks house was built by a Jeffers. Nathan, a brother of Robert, came to Rose early, and, in this town and in Lyons, reared a very large family. His first wife was Lucy Vandercook, and their offspring were : Sally, who became Mrs. Samuel Boyce, of Rose ; Betsey or Elizabeth, who married, first, Lorenzo Griswold, and, second, Franklin Finch, both of Rose; Mary Ann, the wife of Stephen Boyce of Rose; Lydia, who married A. Ira Blynn, once of Rose (Balsamville), but now in Michigan, and who had sons, George and Addison; Eleanor, as Mrs. John Burt, once lived in the house north of George Jeffers', now his property, but both went to Michigan and both are dead ; Julia married Adam McMillen, of Lyons ; Daniel, who made Malinda Myers his wife, went to Michigan and died; Cornelius, who also went to the Wolverine State and there died; Robert, of the Valley, who married, first, Marie Win- chell, and, second, Sarah Holbrook; Nathan, Jr., married Lydia Ann Winchell and lived where George Jeffers is now ; he died in 1852, and his- children are : Jane, who married Daniel Foster ; Ovid, in Galen ; Daniel and Lydia. Nathan Jeffers' first wife died in 1837, in her forty-seventh year, having borne him ten children. His second wife was Sarah Dunman, and their children are : John, already encountered near the home of Abner Osborn, at the eastern end of the district ; Janette and Jane, twins-the first being Mrs. William Deady, of Lyons, and the mother of six children ;
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the second, Mrs. Hudson R. Wood, of the Valley ; Charles, at home with his mother in the Valley ; George, already met in the northern part of the district, and Laura, at home. Two children, James and Lucy, died in infancy. Mr. Jeffers himself passed away in 1854, in his sixty-fourth year. This is the largest family yet met in Rose. There were eighteen children, a number never met nowadays, except among the extremely prolific Canadian French. Had all these children produced as many children as their parents did, and there had been no western vent for this increase of population, this part of the town would have merited in an increased de- gree its name of Jeffers neighborhood. Mr. J. did not dwell uninterrupt- edly in Rose, but some part of his life was passed in Lyons on the McMil- len place, but he returned to end his days where his son George now is.
Just below Mr. Weeks' home is a new house, erected by Alonzo Case, but used by him now as a tenant house. This marks the site of the first Worden house, where Alonzo Worden dwelt for many years. He, too, came from Dutchess county and died there, years since, at the age of ninety- one. His children were: Constantine ; Louisa, the wife of William Glen, of Lyons; Elizabeth, who married first, George Lapham and second, George Porter, now in Waterloo ; Delia, who is Mrs. Joseph Shaw of South Sodus; Martha, wife of James Colborn of the Valley, and John V., who married Caroline Hughson and lives south of Clyde. On this spot Nathan Jeffers first lived.
A little south of opposite is a private cemetery, where very many of the early settlers were buried. It is in even a worse condition than some of those in other parts of the town; for there are no headstones, with possibly two exceptions, those of Benjamin Way and his wife, but their inscriptions are illegible. Could I get all the history that the occupants of these graves might impart, my Rose rambles would be much more complete than I can ever expect to make them.
Our southern limit is reached when we come to the next place, where dwells Derrick Hamelink, obviously of German extraction, but who came to Rose from Sodus. His sister Emma keeps his house, while their mother is a frequent visitor. He is an active member of the Rose Baptist Church. In reverse order the dwellers here have been E. Rooke, an Eng- lishman, now in Lyons, James Weeks, Robert Foster and Harry Clapper. This is the old Clapper site, and here, many years ago, Jacob C. settled. He had nine children, at least, but of them I know very little, only one of the name, Henry Ward C., who married Anginette Munsell, being still in Rose. The oldest son was Jacob; then followed Harry, who married Sarah Caroline Van Amburg of District No. 10; David, who married Mary Stewart; George ; Ann ; Eliza, who became Mrs. John Van Amburg ; Clarissa, who married Henry Dunham ; Martha, who married Abraham Ferguson in Galen; and a daughter, who became Mrs. Robert Foster.
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We are not through with this exceedingly irregularly shaped district yet, "for coming through Worden's corners, we must climb a little higher to reach the sightly abode of the Riggs family. It is the old home of the Ways. Benjamin Way was one of the earliest settlers, and Dr. Richard Valen- tine's first professional visit was made at this early home. The house now standing dates from this pioneer. Both he and his wife are lying in the neglected cemetery south of the corners. They had children-Lydia, who became the wife of John Jeffers, and went west; Truman, who died at the age of fifteen years ; Samuel ; Harley, and Valentine, who enlisted in the Mexican War and was killed. Harley Way, who succeeded his father here, married Betsey, a half sister of Jesse Lyman. Their children were : David, who lost his life as a soldier during the Rebellion. He was one of those captured, with the writer, at Monocacy, July 9th, 1864, and died in Danville, Va., in the season following ; Elizabeth W., who married Harvey Perkins of Wayne Centre ; Caroline, who was the first wife of William Desmond of District No. 5, and Mary Ann, who married a Preston, went west and died. To Harley Way, on this farm, succeeded William Riggs, who was born in Lyons and came to Rose in 1866, as we have already seen in treating the extreme western part of District No. 10. His family was there discussed, and now we find him living with his son, James, who married Sarah E. Andrews of the north part of the town. The latter has three children-Anna, May and Ida. True to his rearing and habits, Mr. Riggs has a small blacksmith shop near. Across the way we can trace the path made by James Weeks, as he travels to and from his home. The outlook from this point is extensive in every direction.
There is one remove further, and under the hill is the house built long since by Samuel Way. His first wife was Emma, a sister of Robert Foster, and his second, a widow, Mrs. Woolley. He had children-Emma, who married William Blakesley ; Julia, who married a Dennis of Wayne Centre, and a son, whose name I can not give. Some years since he sold to James Weeks, went to Michigan and died there. Mr. Weeks now rents the house. Here ends the district ; a large one in area, but not so populous as formerly. The next step would be into the Wayne Centre district.
DISTRICT No. 8-" GRISWOLD'S."
January 1-January 29, 1891.
The southern boundary of this district is the line between Rose and Galen. It lies directly south of "Jeffers," and its school-house is on the same north and south road and not a mile away. It is not a little interesting to note that this same road has, at its several cross roads, not less than four school-houses, viz. : Griswold's, Jeffers', Covell's and the one at Glen-
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mark. In the district are some of the very best farms in the town, and as- a rule, the spirit of thrift appears. There are several roads and our route- will necessitate some backward tracks.
In the county atlas of 1874, this district is put down as including a part of Eugene Hickok's farm and R. N. Jeffers' place, but I am told that this. is wrong. At any rate, both places are now in the Valley precinct. Accordingly, to enter " Griswold's," we will take the first turn to the left after passing the home of Eugene H., on the road running west from Fredendall's store.
The first abode is on the west side of the road, and it is the home of James Cullen, a brother of the Cullen who was till his death on the old Fuller farm west of the Valley. Mr. C. is from the county of Waterford, Ireland, and he still cherishes the utmost fondness for the "auld sod." "I was born there and I hope to die there," were his words in reference to the- place of his nativity. So strong is the hold that childish associations have upon all of us. "Beautiful for situation " has been the burden of many an emigrant's song ever since the days of the psalmist, as his mind reverts to. the hills and valleys where, erstwhile, his childish feet essayed to walk ;. where they ran the free course of childhood ; where, in later years, he told the tale of love, true the world over, to willing ears, and where, perchance, his sight was gladdened by the coming of his children. Switzers are not the only ones to suffer from nostalgia. The very woes of Ireland have- made her doubly dear to her absent sons and daughters. James Cullen married Mary Murray, and their children are Albert, Anna, Joanna, Marelena and Nellie. He bought his place of George Ream, a brother of Fred, of District No. 11, and he in turn took from the estate of C. G. Burton. Ream went to Easton, Maryland. Burton was a Protestant Methodist minister, who never lived on the place. He bought of Johnson Wiley, who had married a Jeffers, and who finally went to Wisconsin. He. took from John Jeffers, who also went to Wisconsin. The house dates. from the Jeffers ownership, though he never lived in it. Before Mr. Jeffers, was William Dodds, who owned in connection with his farm just. south of this. As for tenants and squatters, the place has had fully its share, and time would not suffice to name all those who at times have called the farm home.
On the other side of the road and a little south may be seen the home of Ira Hart. He is a son of Clinton H., once of District No. 10, but now in the northwestern part of Rose. Mr. Hart married early and he has a fine growing family. He and his brother, Marion, just south, do not intend that humanity shall become disheartened through any fault of theirs. His wife is Cornelia Cushman from Oneida county, and they have had six children. Susan, the oldest, is dead. Addie is the wife of William Adsit; then follow Belle, Frank, Charles and Burt. The place stands in the name
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of S. C. Hart, and came into his possession after the death of Captain (?) Alexander Ready. This man was in his day one of the town notables. His title came from his claiming to have been captain of sundry vessels at various times. During the War interested parties colored his hair and managed to enlist him into the Ninth Heavy Artillery. While on guard one day in the south, a native, noticing his white hair (for the coloring matter had worn off), said : " Ain't you a pretty old man for a soldier ? " "Yes," is the Ready answer. "I have served in three wars. I was in the Mexican War and in the War of 1812. Oh, I know how to soldier." During his life Rose never suffered for want of Munchausen stories. Before him was James Watson, and his predecessor was Stephen Boyce, the husband of Mary Ann Jeffers, a daughter of the first Nathan. The family afterward went to the west.
This road of ours must have been started with no definite ending in view, for it comes to an abrupt stand at the north end of one of the drift hills for which the town is noted. The hill will not move, the road clearly cannot climb it, so the thoroughfare has to yield, and it makes a quick turn to the right and goes around, thereby making in the second angle a fine location for a homestead long occupied by a succession of good people. To-day the dwellers are Marion Hart and family. A portion of the latter were helping him unload hay when I called in my neighborhood rambles. He, too, is a son of S. C. Hart, in whose name the place is held. Marion married some years since Salina Cushman, a sister of his brother's wife, and they have numerous children. They are George H., Mary Ann, Clinton M., Ida J., Alice E., Nellie M., John L. and Rose N. Here is a good example for other Rose people to emulate. These little folks form no inconsiderable part of the Rose Baptist Sunday school. Mr. Hart came to this farm in 1875. There are in it ninety-seven acres, seventeen of them only being on the west side of the road. This for years was known as the William Dodds place ; for here Robert Jeffers' son-in-law lived and reared his family. His children were named in the article on District No. 11. Mr. Dodds built this house. The most of the hill farm was bought of John Drown, late of Huron. Parts, however, were bought of Alanson Pease and of William Burt.
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