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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
21
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
The last place in the district is just south of the lane before mentioned. Years ago it was owned by Isaac Lounsberry, a brother of Daniel, bis nearest neighbor on the north. He sold to the Gen. Adams' Land or Canal Co., supposed to represent a certain capitalist, Pompelly, by name. It then passed into the hands of Austin Roe, as before noted. He sold it to his son-in-law, S. R. Overton, who retained it for many years. Mr. Overton, a native of Long Island, was born in 1800. His children are Laura ; Clarissa, the wife of Wm. Finch ; Howard, living in Huron ; Lu- cilla, who married and lives on Long Island ; Emily, Harriet and Everett- the last two died just as they were leaving childhood behind them. Mr. Overton sold to Wm. Sherman, whose power in prayer and love for a horse are well remembered. His wife was Clarissa (Thompson) Ellinwood, born in the Butler part of the district. An adopted son, E. Wallace Blackman, went to school in the old stone school-house with the rest of us, and, going into the army, like a patriotic boy as he was, died in 1862. Mr. Sherman sold his farm and went with his family to Michigan, and there died. Another son, Henry, enlisted from the west, and died in the service. There were other children. Wm. Haney of Boonville, Oneida county, was the purchaser of the farm. He was a Scotch Irishman, of great presence and power, and is still, in Seneca Falls, an important factor in all that goes on about him. When he came to the town he had two sons, Albert and Victor. Two daughters-Emma and Clara-were born here. Death, however, removed Victor and Clara to the other land. As his teacher for a season, I can safely say that no brighter, better boy ever responded to a teacher's efforts than the curly-headed lad whose body has long slumbered in the cemetery on the hillside in Boonville. After the death of his chil- dren, the place ceased to be attractive to the surviving members, and he, accordingly, sold to Hudson Wood and moved to Seneca Falls, where Albert is now in business. A niece, Anna, was the first wife of Merwin S. Roe. Mr. Wood did not live on the place, but his son-in-law, Leonard, managed it for a time. He soon sold the place to Isaac Lockwood and Merritt McKoon, in whose possession it now is. Shortly after their pur- chase the house was destroyed by fire, making the second conflagration in the history of the section. The present edifice was soon afterward con- structed, and in this Mr. and Mrs. McKoon lived till they moved to their present residence at the corners. (George, oldest son of the late Isaac Lockwood, married Lina Chappel of Butler, and for several years has occupied this place. They have children, Ambrose, Maud E. and John C.)
The history of no American community is complete till we have the story of its schools. I cannot find the time when there was no school in the vicinity. District No. 7 was once a part of a school patronizing section, covering what is now given up to five or six districts. The first building was a log one, standing on or near the site of the present edifice at
22
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
Stewart's corners. An interesting souvenir of this first school-house is yet in existence in the shape of a great iron used over the fireplace to support the chimney. It has for more than sixty years performed the same office in the old Seelye mansion. In this building the Seelyes, Shepards, Smiths and Ellinwoods obtained all they had in the way of education. School records of those days would be hard to find, and I am certain of only a few names of teachers. There were Eli Ward, Messrs. Knapp and Sherwood. One of the latest was George Salmon, who after- ward married Lorinda Welles. He subsequently became a very prominent business man of Fulton, Oswego Co. He died a few years ago, a man much respected in the community. His second or third wife was a Leavenworth, of Wolcott. I have often thought, as I saw him walk into church, that his looks and manner were not unlike those of the great Washington. In time, as settlers became more numerous, a division of the district was necessary, and, about 1830, the old Tipple house was built and opened. Here followed the usual routine of school life, under the care of masters in winter and mistresses in summer, till about 1840. In this edifice, among other teachers, was, in 1833-'4, one Squires, who had a strange way of drying the boots and shoes of his pupils who came into school with wet feet. Taking the foot in his hand he would, with a ruler, give it a terrible beating. Any one who has ever tried this method of getting transmitted force can imagine what the torture was. He had a queer way of grinning as he made or mended a quill pen, and many a luckless youngster, thinking the master was laughing, would laugh, too. Alas, what a mistake! The boy who laughed, soon had occasion to weep. In 1834-'5, George Seelye taught, and they do say that he prayed but once a week. Doubtless he thought it best to give his time exclusively to instruction. Darius Clark, a son of "Priest " Clark, and a brother of Col. Emmons Clark, of the N. Y. 7th Regiment, was one of the early peda- gogues. The story is told that he pronounced the word "yelp " to William Marsh -- Amos' oldest son, who went to California in 1849-to be spelled. The boy did not understand what was wanted and nearly suffocated himself in his efforts to yelp. The more he tried the more the master shouted "yelp," till the boy nearly fainted. The master thought it funny, but the pupils were indignant. Another teacher was Sloan Cooley. The stone building came in 1840, and the first teacher was Arvine Peck. Among other masters, in the long succession of years, were A. M. Roe, George Stafford, Martin Blynn, Marvin Wilbur and many, many others. Mr. Stafford, who married Eliza Roe, could scare a boy out of his wits, nearly, by one loud exclamation. For continued whispering he would threaten to cut off a boy's tongue, and would produce block and knife, to the lad's excessive horror. But hekept a good school. I have heard grown boys say that Martin Blynn, afterward major iu the 10th
23
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
N. Y. Cavalry, was the best teacher they ever had. "There was no use talking, we had to learn any way." When, in 1865, the writer taught the school, he found, out of something more than forty pupils, that thirty-five were, in one way or another, related to him. This illustrates pretty well the consanguined character of the district.
It was near the centennial year that the old stone house gave place to the present wooden edifice. The stones were tumbled into the space enclosed and the new building rose on the ruins. The serrated benches and desks with the recessed windows, deeply scarred with well-known initials, are in the irrevocable past. -
While articles like these have little to do with the religious proclivi- ties of the people, I might state that, almost without exception, for many years, the residents have been faithful church goers ; communicants of the Baptist and Methodist Churches. It was long customary to have union afternoon services in the school-house. Till comparatively recently, there was not an individual in the district who did not trace his ancestry, directly or indirectly, to New England sources. In well deported lives, I think, these people have well sustained the long accorded New England reputa- tion of honesty, sobriety and piety.
We have followed the early and late inhabitants of this locality through many years, but the paths of obscurity, as well as those of glory, " lead but to the grave." Where sleep the forefathers ? The first burial place in the neighborhood was near Stewart's corners. Probably fifty persons were buried there, among whom was Jerusha, mother of Deacon Shepard, who died soon after his removing from Connecticut. However, in the twenties, the present cemetery, south of the corners, was opened, and has been added to once since, a small portion of land being taken in on the east side. Here are buried all the forefathers of the hamlet save John B. Roe, who lies in the cemetery north of the Valley.
" Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe hath broke. How jocund did they drive their teams afield; How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke."
" There is very little of the famous elegy that will not apply to the enclos- ure. Each year marks a new grave; some pilgrimage ended, a new life begun. And so it will be for years to come. When the present has become "the old time," the tale will still be told. The first interment was that of a son of John Springer. This is the inscription : Died, December 2, 1828, James P. Springer, aged 8 years, 9 months and 18 days. The second and third to enter this final home were Catharine, wife of George Seelye, who died in 1829, and her infant son. Mr. Seelye himself, fifty-six years afterward, has just been laid by her side, and the scene is ended. "All the world's a stage," says the chief of writers, "They have their
24
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
entrances and their exits." Here sleep, side by side, so many who together fought life's battles, and now rest from their labors. "Under the dew and the sunshine," indifferent alike to summer's heat and winter's cold, they await the glorious resurrection promised all the children of God. "After life's fitful dream, they sleep well." Requiescant in pace.
THE BUTLER PART OF NO. 7.
Aug. 11-Sept. 1, 1887.
The eastward limit of the Rose portion of the district was reached when we wrote of the property of Dudley Wade and of certain log houses, in which various parties, as Brewster, Saxton and others, had lived. Just beyond the town line and at the foot of the hill is a small house, which has had numerous occupants. The first owner of whom we have any trace was Jesse Woodruff, who sold to William Olmstead-brother of Mrs. John Wade, of Rose-who, with others of the family, came from Connecticut. He is supposed to have built the house. He sold to William Sherman, whose name we find in connection with many farms in the near regions of Rose and Butler. He was a son of Elias D. Sherman, one of the most conspicuous of the early pioneers of Rose. Mr. S. built the barn on the hill, intending to move up the house, but instead the barn went to the house. After him came Daniel Burgess, a son-in-law of Philo Saxton, who had himself occupied the house. He, Burgess, had two daughters, Alzina and Phobe-named thus, I suppose, from his two wives, both Saxtons. Selling his place to Dudley Wade, he moved to Red Creek, and now lives near Westbury. The house then became the home of several tenants, prominent among whom was John Pitcher, an Englishman, who finally moved to Allegany Co., and there died in 1887. Mr. Wade sold to John E. Jones, more familiarly known among his townsmen as " Erv " Jones. He was from Saratoga Co., and married Permelia, daughter of Benjamin Kellogg, of Butler. His children were Harriet, who married George Voor- hees, and died several years since. Henry married Julia Toles, of Rose, and now resides in Wolcott. Mary is the wife of George Dowd, of Huron. Isaac married Eliza Lovejoy, and lives on the lime kiln farm, near Butler. Adelbert married Lillie Weller and lives in Huron. Mr. Jones was a good citizen and made the most out of his farm. He dug out the spring, on the opposite side of the road, and conducted water from it to his house and barn. Finding the farm too small for himself and sons, he sold, as he supposed, to Mortimer Calkins, of Chenango Co., but in reality to Dudley Wade. Mr. J. always thought this a sharp trick on the part of his neighbor, to whom he would have made a considerably higher price. But
25
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
-
buyer and seller are alike beyond the world's bargainings, for Jones, after buying a farm in the northern part of the Stewart district, died in 1877, and was buried with his former neighbors in the Collins burying ground. After holding the farm for a short time, Mr. Wade passed it along to his eldest son, Joseph, who, with his newly wedded wife, Emma Osgood, began housekeeping here. The young people of the neighborhood enjoyed rare sport in the long winter evenings, when they gathered round "Joe's" hospitable fireside and helped him and his wife kill time. Is it possible that the youngsters of to-day have half as much fun as we did ? What a pity that there was no " chiel" among them taking notes in those semi- remote days. No one who passed a winter's round of home festivities can ever regard them with aught but the most intense pleasure. But " Joe" wearied of farming finally, and he sold to Cornelius Marsh, a native of the Town district of Rose. Mr. Marsh's wife was the Widow Leaton, a daughter of Mr. Whitehead, an industrious Englishman, well known in the vicinity. Her daughter, Alice, became the wife of Geo. S. Seelye, and is now in Dakota. Marsh made many improvements in the buildings and worked hard for many years. He finally sold the farm back to J. S. Wade and now lives west of the Valley.
Ascending the hill, we turn to the north, and the first farm at our right is that of Elias Taylor. The original proprietor was Jesse Woodruff, who, with his brother, Charles, was joint proprietor of a large four hundred acre farm. The brothers were sons of Lambert Woodruff, who came from the east in 1806 to Wolcott. Jesse sold off his acres in sections, and finally, having built the house, burned some years ago, moved to Newark. This part, what we shall call the Taylor farm, he sold to N. W. Tompkins, who, a native of Waterbury, Conn., had moved with his parents to Oneida county, and thence, in his early manhood, came to this place. After leaving the farm, he went to Wolcott, where he engaged in milling and mercantile business for many years. Retiring from these he went to a fine farm south of Wolcott. Next came E. Y. Munson, who, after several years of occupancy, sold to Abram Moore and went to Wolcott. After Moore, the farm was owned jointly by T. J. Lampson and Mr. Andrus. The story is told of one of the owners, about this time, that becoming badly chafed, he asked his hired man what was good for him, and was answered " turpentine." He went to the house, presumably to apply the remedy. Sometime afterward the amateur physician followed and found his employer sitting in a tub of water, and thus doing his best to allay the torments into which the medicine had thrown him. James Jenkins, a Methodist minister, followed, and to him succeeded Jonathan Rice, who held the place for a number of years, and here reared a large family of children. Mr. Rice came originally from Massachusetts, and now, in his- old age, is a resident of Huron at Sours' Mills. His oldest son, S. Decatur,
26
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
who used to be one of the big boys in the old school-house, married Lydia Taylor and runs the grist mill at Sours' Mills. Lavina married Jackson Terbush and lives in Wolcott. George married Emma Bump and is in Peterboro, Madison Co. Charles married Mary Holcomb and lives near Watertown. Hattie is the wife of Ethan Kellogg, and they, too, are at Sours' Mills. Jared wedded Frances, another daughter of Harrison Hol- comb, and is a miller in Mexico, Oswego Co. Frank, as was stated in the Rose articles, was killed in childhood. It is an interesting item that all the above sons, and at least one son-in-law, are millers. Mr. Rice sold to Crandall Loveless, who, in time, sold to the present proprietor, Mr. Taylor, who came from near South Butler. His wife is Martha, daughter of Joel Bishop. After his moving upon the farm, his house, the one so long standing, was burned some years ago, and then his barn followed in like manner. New ones have taken the place of the old. Mr. Taylor's daughter, Vesta, is the wife of Washington Loveless, of Butler, while another, Eliza, is at home. Before leaving this farm, it will be in place to state that among its many owners was one who liked very much a drink of whisky, but he scorned to take his liquor without paying for it. So, getting a small keg of the ardent, he, with a sympathetic neighbor, managed to open a bar, and with a single sixpence the two would buy out the establishment. To keep up the illusion-for no true American likes to take his liquor in any other way than standing-one would saunter np to the improvised bar, plank his sixpence and get his drink. Then, by the way of fair turn about, he would go behind the bar and the late tender would become purchaser. Thus each one had the pleasure of buying and selling, of drinking at a bar and of getting as drunk as a lord, with no great expenditure of ready money. How often this sort of play was had deponent doth not state, but it is claimed that the game was never over till the supply was exhausted.
Nearly opposite is the home of Patrick Burke; but older people will recall it as the residence for many years of Widow Kellogg. The farm itself is a part of the Woodruff purchase, and after having been held by N. W. Tompkins, was for a time in Wm. Sherman's possession. From him it passed to Columbus Collins, who built the house. C. C. Collins was the son of Thaddeus, of the Rose part of the district, and very soon after marrying Lovina, daughter of Joel Lee, 1st, of Rose, came here to live. Though his children were not born here, it may be stated that at his death in Wolcott, he left May R., a teacher in the Wolcott public school, and Julian, who now lives in Rochester. (Torrington, Ct.) C. C.'s widow is in Wolcott. Perry Jones then held the place for a while. Jones is a son of the " Sammy " Jones mentioned in a former letter. His wife was Drusilla Saxton, daughter of Philo. They now live in Michigan. Charles Kellogg, his successor, was a long time resident of the neighbor-
27
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
hood, a son of Benjamin K. His wife was Mairetta, daughter of Wm. McKoon, and a native of the same school district. Mr. Kellogg died in the winter of '53-4. For years Mrs. K. held the place, and by the aid of her sons managed the farm. She was a most industrious woman, and in her life time must have made many hundred pairs of binders' mittens, a pur- suit in which, I think, she never had a rival in the near vicinity. Of her three children, Ethan B., 2nd, married Hattie Rice, as already stated. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H of the 9th Heavy Artillery, but was dis- charged therefrom on account of disability. John C. married Mary Fisher of Wolcott, and afterward Effie Terbush, and now lives in Rose. Lucy's first husband was John Reynolds of Butler; her second, J. Byron Smith, now of Wolcott. Several years since, the whole family moved east of Wolcott, where Mrs. Kellogg in 1879 passed to her reward. Jonathan Rice was the next owner, then Walter Maroney, who sold to Peter Van- Buren, who, an ex-soldier in the Rebellion, belonged to an old Butler family. He is now in Lincoln, Neb. Cornelius Marsh was then for a time the owner, then Joseph Wade, who sold to the present occupant. Patrick Burke and his wife, Catharine Dunn, are from Waterford, Ireland. Their children are Wm., Edward, John, James, Ella (Mrs. James Whalen of Galen) and Anna. The town has no more industrious people than this family.
Everybody, far and near, knows " Mart " Saxton. His home is next, and the house is reached just before taking another turn toward the inner part of the town. Again we are on the old Woodruff land, though Saxton began his farm by a purchase of one acre from Mrs. Kellogg. He built a house and barn, and has added to his estate by purchases from the Benja- min property, north, and the Wade place, south. His first wife was Rebecca Marsh of Rose, who died in 1877. She left two daughters, Rosa A. (Mrs. Edward Klinck) and Mary E. Mr. Marsh's second wife was, before her first marriage, Sarah A. Leonard of Butler. "Mart's " father's family was a large one. By his first wife, Philo Saxton had three children, one of whom, Albert, married Jane Knapp, and was one of the first owners of the first farm east. He afterward moved to Wolcott and died there. By his second wife, Drusilla Parish, he had eleven children, all of whom grew up. Drusilla married Perry Jones, as before stated, and now lives in Quincy, Mich. Two daughters, Phoebe and Alzina, were successively wives of Daniel Burgess. Lucy Jane married Samuel Pomeroy of South Butler, and is the mother of Mrs. Abel Wing of Butler Center. Mr. Sax- ton died in 1859, aged 77, and his wife followed in 1866, at the age of 71. This family came to Butler from Otsego county, where Mr. Saxton's first wife had died. He had a good reputation as an industrious man. His wife was large in stature, and the quality of tallness she gave to some, at least, of her children. In my childhood, I thought " Mart " Saxton the tallest
28
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
man I had ever seen. Either he has shortened, or my notions of longitudi- nal extension have grown. Father and mother sleep in the neighborhood cemetery. (Martin Saxton died 1891.)
The furthest point eastward in this district is reached when we turn to. our right and come to the farm now owned by Dr. T. S. Fish, of Wolcott. As with the other places thus far described, in this vicinity, this farm was once the property of Jesse Woodruff. There has been a bewildering array of owners, of whom perhaps Harrison Holcomb held it longest, and for this reason it is often called the Holcomb place. Albert Saxton bought. of Woodruff, and built a shanty on the north side of the road and about. thirty rods from it. In 1850, or thereabouts, he sold to Charles Wright, son of Jacob Wright, well known in Butler, who built a small house south of the highway, and also put up a barn on the north side. This barn, some years ago, was destroyed by fire. Harrison Holcomb came from Galen in 1854, and built the house now standing. Mr. H. enjoyed the respect and esteem of his neighbors, and his children were among the other happy ones that sought knowledge in the old stone school-house. His. daughter, Elizabeth, became the wife of Charles Tegg, and lives at Bay Bridge. Mary and Frances have been mentioned as wives of Charles and Jared Rice, respectively. Hattie married Mr. Johnson and resides in Kirkville. The only son, William H., married away from this neighbor- hood. The subsequent owners in order have been Ransom Loveless, C. Baker, Loveless a second time, George Talcott, who built the barn now on the place, E. Snyder and Dr. Fish. Not very long ago, while digging a well on the premises, the earth caved in and buried a boy who was at the bottom. Fortunately, some boards, in the caving, so placed themselves as to somewhat protect him. His frantic cries for help could be heard, but no one would endanger his own life to save that of the lad, until his father, who had been summoned from Wolcott, appeared. "Johnny " had been admonished to say his prayers, for a rescue was deemed impos- sible ; but the father threw himself into the well, and prompted by a father's love, regardless of personal peril, worked till his boy was drawn from his living tomb, but the rescuer's hands were torn and bloody, the nails worn far down into the quick, through his frantic efforts to save his- child.
We must now return to the road where we turned to the left, or north, after leaving the Joseph Wade place. People forty years of age will re- member a log house which nearly faced the road, perhaps a little south of it. This house was the home of Ebenezer Pierce, who built it about 1835 and lived in it until his death, in 1854. His second wife was the widow of Benjamin Kellogg. Mr. Pierce had served in the Revolutionary army. He is reported to have run away from his home in Massachusetts, at the age of sixteen, to enlist. Many reminiscences are told of his soldier days.
29
ROSE NEIGHBORHOOD SKETCHES.
It is said that he was detached by Gen. Washington for service near him, and it was the old man's boast that he had repeatedly shaved the father of his country. His first wife was Mary Ballard, also Massachusetts born. After the war he was for a time a boatman on the Hudson river. He had three children: Dr. Jeremiah B., late of Lyons ; Elizabeth, wife of Judge R. Root of Buffalo ; and Matilda, who became the wife of Simeon Barrett, now one of the oldest residents of Rose. She died twenty-four years ago. Subsequent to Mr. Pierce's death, the house was occupied by Gamaliel Sampson, who, from Cattaraugus county, had married Harriet, oldest daughter of Benjamin Kellogg, and his own first cousin. Of their six chil- dren, Sally married Darius Lovejoy and resides in Rose; Betsey married Harlow Peck, and is a resident of Butler, north of Spencer's corners ; Warren married Rhoda Myers and went to Illinois. Alsifine is the wife of William Calkins of Savannah. A. Putnam married Lucy, daughter of Charles Sherman of Rose, and lives in Galen, while the youngest son, Ethan B., married Ædna Burch and lives at Whisky Hill. (Sodus, 1893.) Mr. Sampson, who died in 1870, was a soldier of the War of 1812, and his widow, past four score years, draws a pension from the government. Her home is with her son, Ethan B. (She died Apr. 25, 1891. Had she lived till the 30th, her age would have been 87 years. ) The old log house was torn away by Wm. B. Kellogg. The farm itself was purchased from Fellows & McNab by Benjamin Kellogg, who came to these parts from Salem, Mass. His first log house was just east of the present Colvin house, and here he lived until his death, in 1829. Ethan B., his son, succeeded to the owner- ship of the farm and built the present frame structure. Benjamin K., whose wife was Pamelia Trask, had eight children-four sons and as many daughters. His oldest son, William, born in 1800, married Rebecca Brew- ster, is yet living in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. Ethan B. married Matilda Allen and resided for many years east of Clyde, and there died, in 1881. (Mrs. Kellogg died Apr. 16, 1889, aged 75 years.) They are buried in the Collins neighborhood, as is also their son, Lewis, who had married Emma Livermore, niece of Mrs. John B. Roe. Their daughter, Rebecca, became Mrs. Ketchum, and Maria, Mrs. Peckham. Their son, Henry, married a Pomeroy of South Butler, and lives on the Clyde farm. Charles B. has already been mentioned, as have also Mrs. Sampson and Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Experience Brewster, afterward Mrs. Ogram, was named in the Rose let- ters. This leaves only Betsey and John. At the former's marriage to Willard Peck, there followed one of those long-to-be-remembered horning scrapes for which this vicinity was, in years agone, famous. In the midst of the uproar one of the participants, Richard Garratt, now of Rose, was wounded by the bursting of a gun. He had to be carried home and the fun came to a premature end. Mr. Peck moved to Clyde, and on a visit to Michigan several years ago was killed by the falling of a tree. John Kel-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.