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 28
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This road runs into the town of Lyons, and thence into Sodus, but on the very top of the hill we turn to the north and, for a short distance, follow the thoroughfare that forms for some rods the town line. Just beyond the foot of the hill it crooks abruptly to the right, i. e., east, and our first halt is at a small house, in which resides the widow of Isaac Warren. In 1853 the place was put down as the home of William West, but of him I can give no details. The Warrens were among the very first settlers in Rose, coming in along with or soon after the Craft family. The progenitor was Comstock Warren, who, after the birth of his children, took a load of bark to Geneva and never returned. His leaving was one of the mysteries that afflicted our friends many years ago, and must have been more than a nine days' wonder. No satisfactory explanation was ever made of what could draw a man from his family in this abrupt manner. There may have been home incompatibility, the man's habits may not have always been just correct ; but be these suppositions as they may, a woman, practically a widow, was left with small children to maintain. Mr. Warren was from Dutchess county, and only Isaac C. and Caroline, who, as Mrs. Elisha Barton, was many years at the Centre, continued in Rose. The sons, George, Jacob and William, went west; Hannah, who, as Mrs. Abram Morris, went to Michigan ; Maria, who married Leonard Brown, of Lyons, and Abbie, who is Mrs. Rufus Rowland, of Michigan. The land taken from the office was paid for by the Warren sons. Upon Isaac early fell the burden of hard labor, and he discharged his duties manfully, till illness prostrated him upon a bed of suffering. His wife was Emeline Bennett, of Sodus. This place was not the old home ; that was further along to the north, where Walter White now lives. On that site they lived and here was born their only son, James, to be met later. Isaac Warren, after years of hard work, was afflicted with rheumatism, making him bed-ridden for sixteen years. Nearly helpless during all this time, it seemed a sad sequel to his former life of activity and usefulness. He died in 1883, and is buried. in South Sodus. Near him lies his mother, Sarah, who passed away in 1875, at the age of eighty-two. The house in which Mrs. Warren now lives was built by Mr. Morris, and by him sold to Isaac Warren.
Across the way, just where the road takes a northerly course, is a neat house, the home of the Sutherlands. Years ago this bore the name of P.
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.
Bennett. The first of this family was buried in the South Sodus cemetery. There are in the place eight acres, and the occupants of the house are Charles and his sisters, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Mr. S. for some years drove the stage between Wayne Centre and Lyons. Land belonging to the Twamley family surrounds these places.
On the west side of the road, which here is about forty-five points to the east of north, is the place where the Warrens long lived. James, son of Isaac, succeeded his father here, and here he lived with his wife, Ella Lape, till his early death, in 1878, at the age of twenty-five. His taking off was one of those distressing affairs that sometimes end in what began as pleasantry and fun. A party in September had gone out for a night of pleasure in hunting raccoons. The animal had been treed. The tree had been cut down, but a limb had been detached and left hanging to an adjacent tree. This, of course, could not be seen in the night, but its descent was none the less sure, and its stroke none the less fatal. A widow and a fatherless boy were a heavy price to pay for diversion. This boy's name is James Isaac, and he is at home with his mother. She afterward married Walter White, who came hither from Chautauqua county. They have three children-Flora, John and Walter. In the old farm there were one hundred acres. The house built by the Warrens followed the original log house of the pioneer. In the old 1853 map, the name of W. West occurs just south of the Warren place. This farm is on the old allotment, No. 220. Further north, on lot No. 526, was, years since, the name of J. Bowen. I have nothing more.
Across the road is lot No. 517, and on the lower part of it is a house belonging to Charles LaRock, now of Wallingford. He bought of S. W. Lape, who took the land from the office. This part of the town had many acres in the land office till a comparatively recent date.
On the upper or northern part of this lot is the home of Monroe Seager, but years since the name of J. Ellis is found. Mr. S. bought directly from Edward LaRock, who took from S. W. Lape, and he from the land office. On this place Mr. Seager has erected a fine house. He has been three times married. First, to Anna Wraight ; second, to Harriet Dunn, of the Covell district; and third, to Mary (Dunu) Wager, a sister of Harriet. There were two children-Amanda, now deceased, who married Edward LaRock (leaving a daughter, Anna), and Monroe. The latter is by the third wife, the former by the first. There are twenty-eight acres in the farm.
Some ways back from the road, on the west side, are the walls on which stood the Woodruff steam saw-mill. In 1857 this blew up, injuring seriously several men and killing George Grenell. As the trees were nearly all cut off, it did not pay to rebuild, and consequently we have to-day only a history. The owner, however, was anxious to sell, and he
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succeeded in exchanging the small farm with David J. Seager, who lived next north, for a colt, a pair of oxen and a watch. However good this trade was for both parties, it eventually wrought great misfortune for Mr. Seager, as we shall presently see. The Seagers came from Danbury, Conn., and the first of the family to settle in this vicinity was John K., who, with his wife, Clara Jackson, came first to Lock Berlin, in Galen, and thence to York's settlement, and thereby became the progenitor of the Seagers of Rose, Huron and Sodus. Long since, the first comers found final resting places in the cemetery near York's corners. At present we are specially interested in David J., who was in his seventeenth year at the time of the family migration. In time he wedded Hannah Warner, a daughter of the Asher Warner who was slain in the British attack on Sodus Point in 1813. It may be quite as well to state here the names of the second generation of Seagers. In addition to David there were : John B., who settled in Huron, and was the father of George, living north of the Valley ; Harrison, who settled in Sodus ; Syrena, who married William Sebring, of Rose, and Clarissa, who became Mrs. Adam Crisler, also of Rose. To David J. Seager and his wife was born a large family, as follows : John, who married Mary York, of the settlement, and formerly lived to the north- east ; Julia Ann became Mrs. Samuel Lape of the Centre ; Monroe, as we have seen, has been three times married ; Benjamin, who was a sergeant of Company D, Ninth Heavy Artillery, married Louisa LaRock, and resides in Huron ; Susan, the wife of Warren York, lived and died in Huron ; Asher W. we shall meet in the next house north ; Daniel, a Huronite, married first, Eliza Hart, a daughter of Samuel C., and second, Lucretia Daly, and has one daughter, Ada ; Munson married Emma Dunbar, a daughter of John, and lives in Rose ; Clara is Mrs. Charles LaRock, of Wallington, and has four children-Rose, David, Maria and Charles ; George W. married, first, Emma Spong, of the Centre, and second, Candace O. Bumpus, of Huron, his children being Maud, Ernest and Earl; Hannah, who married Samuel Davenport, and lives at home with her aged parents. Mr. Seager has done his share of hard work, having taken from the land office his claim and having cleared and nearly paid for it. His claim was north, where Asher is now. He had paid in principal and interest more than the estimated value of the lot, when in trading for the Woodruff lot, he unwittingly violated the terms of his contract, and his lot, improve- ments and all, were sold from under him. This was a terrible blow, enough to dishearten almost any man, but Mr. S. is not the only man in Rose whom man's inhumanity to man has compelled to pay for his farm twice over. So from the spot where he reared his family he moved to the smaller holding, where he now is, and where he and his wife await the end of life. Mr. Seager has seen many changes on these plains. When he came fifty- three years ago, there were deer to be found, and aside from fifteen acres
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of improved or cleared land (one Baldwin had been there), his surroundings were those of the wilderness. (Mrs. David Seager died December 30, 1891.)
Passing northward, we find where the longest road in Rose, that going by the Covell school-house, enters this north and south way. Toward the east and also west of us huckleberries abound, and so the respective places are called huckleberry swamps. When David Seager lost his farm, his son, Asher, was only a boy, but he vowed that if he lived long enough, he would yet own the old homestead. The War came, the boy enlisted, served his time in Company D, of the Ninth Heavy Artillery, came home, married Mary J. Weeks, a neighbor's daughter, raised mint, saved his money, and finally realized his boyish dream. To-day he has the old place, and has erected a fine house near the site of the framed building built by the father, and which now forms the latter's home on the Woodruff place. The site of the first log house may also be seen in the door yard. Mrs. Seager is an invalid, and they have no children ; but they have taken to their hearth and hearts the daughter of one of Mr. S.'s army comrades, and Jennie is, to all intents, their own. Mrs. S. died December 1, 1890. (Mr. Seager married, in 1892, Elizabeth A. Klippel, of Lyons.)
Crossing the road and going a little further to the north, we find the home of Abram Wager. There are 117 acres in the place, and he bought in 1855 the contract of John Seager and father, so that, practically, he took his farm from the land office. It should be remarked, in passing, that this locality is known in neighborhood parlance as Seagerville. The house in which Mr. Wager lives was repaired by him, he finding an old one on his coming. Mr. W. has put up one of the largest barns in these parts. Unless struck by a cyclone, there seems to be no reason why it should not long continue a landmark on this road. Close by it, in fact joining it, he is now erecting a carriage house and horse barn of similar model, viz., high studded and with a hip roof. Few farmers in town will be better fitted when this work is done. Abram Wager is a native of this part of the town, and his wife was Hannah Paylor of Galen. Their children are : William P., who married Rosette Phillips, a daughter of Joseph P., of the Covell district, and who now lives in Galen, having two children, Ida and Ada. (Mrs. Wager died August 26, 1891, and Mr. Wager has since married Carrie Raver of Buffalo. Their home is now on the Van Buskirk farm in Jeffers district.) Luther married Ella Potter, and lives just north ; Alice E. and Albert are at home. The newness of this part of the town is especially evident, as we reflect that in most cases the children of the original contractors are dead or extremely old, but here we have Mr. Wager in the prime of life, yet he settled with the office for his farm. The Wagers are from the family of David, who was born in Dutchess county, and came to this town long since. locating his lot in York settlement,
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where the Dixons now live. His wife was Clarissa Dunbar, a sister of Henry Dunbar, a fellow migrant, to be met later. Their children were : Eliza Jane, who died in 1887 ; Mary Ann; Sarah M., the wife of George Dixon ; William Henry, a member of the Ninth Heavy Artillery, Company D., who married Mary Dunn, and died in 1879, and Mrs. Wager afterward married Monroe Seager ; Abram, the second child, we have already met.
Beyond the barns, toward the north, is a fine new house, where Luther Wager is tasting the sweets of newly wedded life. This home is the end of our northward journey, though on an old map of the county I find one more name, at the extreme end of the road, i. e., where it terminates in the east and west way. In the southeast angle thus made are the words J. Reynolds, but there is no trace of a habitation there now.
Retracing our steps, we will imagine ourselves in Lyons, and about to reach Wayne Centre by the nearest course. After crossing the preemption line, there is only one house to be met as we near the hamlet. Indeed, we shall have to look sharp or it will not be seen. A lane reaches up through the fields to the house where lives Samuel Chambers. He came hither from Binghamton. His wife was Nancy Finch of Lyons, and they have one child-Rosa. There are thirteen acres in the holding.
Passing the corners, there is first, on the north side, the house belonging to John Lester, though he is not residing in it. His home is Wallington. Ezra Dunham is the occupant. S. Chambers once owned here. Opposite is the old home of the Van Valkenburgs. Valentine Kaiser is the next dweller. He is a son of the Valentine encountered in our "Jeffers " rambles. He is now the mail carrier between Wayne Centre and Lyons.
There are several reminders of old homes to the eastward-log houses and old framed structures-but they have all been merged into the posses- sion of Mervin Harrington, a native of Savannah, who, coming hither, bought the belongings of Mrs. A. Ridgeway, Geo. H. Green and some of the Thomas Lambert lot. Over his property the cyclone of 1888 passed in all its fury. It strung his barn all over the premises and uprooted many trees. The barn he rebuilt nearer the road, but the trees were pretty effectually done for. His wife is Mary, a daughter of the Lamberts, next east. Mr. H. is a veteran of the 3d Light Artillery, and his latch- string is always out for old comrades. The Lamberts are of English birth, and to the next place east, Thomas L. came many years ago, having taken from the land office a claim of fifty-six acres. He had three children- Thomas, who went out west and died; Mary, who is Mrs. Harrington, and William, at home. Mr. L. died in 1884, and is buried in Rose.
We now come to the farm standing in the name of Joel H. Putnam, but his son, Hervey T., is the occupant. The latter married Hattie, a daugh- ter of Egbert Soper, once of District No. 7. They have four children- Wheeler, Grace, Inez and Victor I. This is one of the oldest locations in
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the neighborhood. The house and barns, together with the farm, indicate industry and prosperity. There are in all about 200 acres; but the farm represents the former homes of at least two families. On the south side, where the buildings are, was Ebenezer Toles, whose children we encountered in the Lake district, and he bought from Dodds. There are in this part some ninety-six acres. North of the road are indications of earlier resi- dents, very likely one of the Crafts.
Still north of the road, a trifle further east, is an old house, the former habitation of the farm owners. Mr. Putnam bought of James Elmer of Lyons, and he purchased from Thomas Sweet. This is the old Abram Craft place, the spot to which these people came so early in the century. Here the late Mrs. Seymour Covell was born, and here she was married. Thence the family went to Michigan. Abram Craft came from Dutchess county, and took his lot from Fellows & McNab. His wife was Huldah Newberry, and their children were : Joel, James, Thorn, Clarissa ( Mrs. Covell), and Charles. The latter married Lydia Lyman, a sister of Milo. The whole family moved to White Lake, Oakland county, Michigan, but the Covells, as we have seen, returned. The continuous migration west- ward of some families seems almost startling. Alaska offers new oppor- tunities for those who, till its purchase, had to stop at California.
A large brick house, obviously roomy and comfortable, next claims our attention. It is on the south side of the way, some way east of the old wooden structure, in which dwelt for so many years the men and women who called this place homc. I am told that Thomas Craft first dwelt here. He was a brother of Benjamin and Abram. I have learned that the name of Van Wort is also connected with it. It is certain that John Dickson was long a resident on these acres. He was from Kingsbury, Washington county, a fellow townsman of the Seelyes, Benjamin and Joseph. Beside the son, Dr. Dickson of the Valley, he had a daughter, Sophronia, who married Thomas Mirick, and after his death married again. She, too, is dead. As we have seen, the first John Dickson died in Wayne Centre. After the Dicksons comes the name of Joel Hall, who went to Palmyra. Succeeding him was William Stanton of Lyons, from whom the present owner, Newman Finch, purchased. There are 101 acres in the farm. Mr. F. built his house in 1880, thus making a very handsome addition to the dwellings of Rose. The old house yet remains, rather a sombre reminder of the days when people worked hard and had few comforts. Mr. Finch married Malvina Chatterson of the Covell district, and they have four children, viz .: Eda, the wife of George Youngs of Lyons ; Ina M .; George W., and Lila May, all at home.
I am informed that down in the woods, to the north, lives William Weeks, and that before him was Jerry Lethbridge; but I must take the word of my informant for all this, since, like Chas. Lamb, concerning sun- rise, I have had no ocular evidence.
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The home of John L. Finch, however, stands out prominently. This house is one of his own building. It is on the north side of the street, some rods west of the old location. With the farm buildings, Mr. Finch has a most delightful outfit for work and pleasure. His wife is Amanda Phillips, a daughter of the late Abram, and so granddaughter of Mrs. Jacob Tipple, who lived to be more than one hundred years old. This place was where Michael Vandercook first located, though his house was further east, and on these acres his children were reared. To him suc- ceeded Samuel Bockoven, who had traded the farm in the Griswold district. The Bockoven house was the one across the vale on the north side, now shut up, but formerly Mr. Finch's home. As we bid good-by to the street and the Wayne Centre district, it is with just a little regret that, unlike the Finch house opposite, there are in this handsome cage no Finches of a younger growth to make it lifeful and musical.
Just a few rods beyond the confines of the district, is the summit of the hill which marks the western limit of "Jeffers," and it is meet to stop and to look backward over the scene. North, south, east and west are the homes of industrious people, and before them were those of former generations. Time speeds along. Many of the former dwellers are in the cemeteries, near and far, and many are yet fighting life's battles on other fields. Born and reared with these beautiful surroundings, let us hope that, whether here or elsewhere, they are worthy representatives of the town, so long conspicuous for honesty and sobriety.
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 .- SODUS; OR, "THE PREEMPTION." August 13, 1891.
No one has the least idea of the size of the town of Rose till he under- takes, as I have done, a house-to-house visitation. Were this a town in Massachusetts, the frequent convention of her citizens in town meeting would result in familiar acquaintance throughout its limits. As it is, we find here, in the extreme northwestern part, people who have scarcely . heard of the first settlers along the eastern border. In fact, as the post office address here is either South Sodus or Alton, in almost every instance, and as going to Rose Valley simply to vote does not necessarily beget intimacy, many of our Rose dwellers in this district are more like Sodus people than Rose citizens. I don't mean to intimate that a stranger would be able to detect any physical characteristics peculiar to either town, but I do mean that their conversation and thoughts are more on Sodus than on Rose.
We shall enter this district by going north from Seagerville, north from Wayne Centre, and I have seen somewhere in the southwest angle, as the
16
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road ends, the name of S. Howard, but to-day there is no trace of any dwelling.
Turning to the west, remembering that the boundary between the pre- emption and the York settlement district is a line continued north from this road, which ends here, we first encounter, on the north side, the house of Daniel Martin. Mr. M. was born in Lyons, but he was only a small boy when his father came to this farm. His wife was Katie Barnum of Arcadia. They have only one child, Myrtie E. In this farm there are forty-seven acres ; he bought of his father five years ago. Daniel Martin, Sr., bought of DeWitt W. Parshall, the wealthy Lyons banker, lately de- ceased ; again I turn to an old map, and there I find the name of I. Farr. The early days are thus obscured.
A mint still is passed before reaching the next place, on the same side of the way ; here dwell the Rekuglers, a German family from Wurtem- berg ; the first comer, John, is dead, but his sons are yet on the place. The place was bought of D. W. Parshall, who had purchased from E. M. Louis and John Horn. The name of J. Seymour also occurs here earlier. In the original farm there are eighty-eight acres, and to these have been added twelve acres on the north. The first John's wife was Sophia Rinkel ; his sons, Charles and John, are now managing the place, and ap- parently very successfully. There is a very pleasant house on the corner, northeast, where this road terminates.
Crossing to the southeast corner, we may see where Samuel P. Thomp- son and family reside. Mr. T. was a good soldier in the 8th N. Y. Cavalry, and his worth is recognized in his holding official positions in Rose. His wife was Emily Burns of Rose ; they have two sons, James P. and Robert L., both at home. Mr. Thompson's father, Robert P., was born in Sara- toga county and came hither long since ; his wife was Elizabeth Fulton ; their children are: Albert, living to the northward ; Eliza married Henry Taylor of Sodus, and Samuel. The grandfather, Ezekiel, also came to these parts. The old home was on the Sodus side of the road and to the north, near the site of Mr. Thompson's barns. The well is still in use from which water was drawn in the old open bucket so long ago. It was in this old location that the elder Thompsons died. An earlier name here was that of E. M. Lewis.
To the southward, just where the preemption road turns off to enter Sodus, at the very angle, on the Rose side, was once the name of E. Lemon, but I have no aid to this suggestive appellation, and so must leave it as it is.
Northward from Rekugler's and Thompson's, keeping to the right, we shall find where, for some time, was F. Myers, but he has sold to the Rekuglers and gone to Michigan. Before him was Geo. Sucher. The house, somewhat ancient, is the home of tenants. Albert Clary lives next, a nephew of the Samuel Clary found in the "Jeffers" district.
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Were it not my determination to keep to the right, I have no doubt I could find much of interest in the people who dwell on the west side of the road. There are more Sodus residents than Roses; but I must confine myself to my flower garden. Albert Thompson resides in the next house. As previously stated, he is a son of the Robert Thompson once living to the south. His wife is Sarah, a daughter of Caleb Weeks, who lives on the next road east. Their children are Franklin, Albert, Ernest and Edna E. There are thirty acres in the farm, which was bought of Morris Wager. This gentleman lives now in the Valley district, and will be met there. The place was bought many years since from the widow Sutton, whose husband, presumably, took from the land office. As the old home of the Wagers was on this road, about forty rods north of the old Tindall home in Huron, it will not be amiss to give some data here concerning a name having so many representatives in this part of Rose. John Wager, the first comer, was a native of Dutchess county, and with his wife, Mar- garet Dunn, came early in the century to Pilgrimsport, the spot of debark- ing for so many of the early settlers of this region. Afterward he moved to his Huron home, and there died, in 1856, at the age of ninety years. His wife survived him two years, and died, aged eighty-seven. They were buried at York's corners. They had six children, the most of whom will be encountered, either in the flesh or in memory, as we journey through the northwest part of Rose. Jacob lived a little south of York's corners, and had one son, James, who died in 1855, at the age of twenty years; David has been mentioned as the father of Abram Wager, in the north part of the Wayne Centre district; Catharine became the wife of Henry Dunbar, of Rose; Margaret is Mrs. Caleb Weeks; Susan is the wife of Alvah Jewell, both of York settlement; while Charles, the youngest son, now an aged man, dwells on the preemption road, though on the Sodus side and near the school-house, the old Fellows place. His wife was Mary Alvord, and their children are: Almira, the wife of David McDowell, and lives in Sodus ; Nancy, who is Mrs. Charles McDowell, also of Sodus, and Morris. The second child was John, who died during the War at Key West, Florida, a member of the 98th N. Y. Volunteers.
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