Biographical Sketch of John Robert Stilts

(III) John Robert (2), son of Thomas Henry and Sarah (Parks) Stilts, was born February 8, 1858. He was educated in the common schools and at Union Academy, Canandaigua, New York. He engaged in farming in the town of Hopewell for a time, and for two years was a salesman for S. G. Lewis, who had an extensive grocery business in Bath, New York. Subsequently he was clerk in the store of M. J. King, a prominent merchant of Hartland, Niagara county, New York. In 1896 Mr. Stilts purchased of Charles Moore his general store at Chapin, New York, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. William Burrell

(III) T. William, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Parker) Burrell, was born on the family homestead, November 8, 1872. His education was acquired in the district schools, and was supplemented by a course at Canandaigua Academy. While still attending school he assisted in the farm labors during the summer vacations and during all his spare hours, and thus acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details connected with the successful management of a farm. This knowledge he has put to the best practical use, has continued to follow tip all the later improvements in this field, and is ever ready … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Francis M. Kennedy

(II) Francis M., son of James and Margaret (Houston) Kennedy, was born in Kells, Scotland, May 30, 1830. His whole life after coming to this country was spent on his farm in Italy, New York, with the exception of the last six years, when he lived retired from active work, in Canandaigua, New York. He was a member of the Protestant church, and adherent of the Republican party. He married (first) in Italy, Yates county, New York, 1853, Phoebe J., daughter of James and Rachel Fisher. Children: James M., born September 23, 1854, deceased; John A., born May 19, 1857, … Read more

Aikey, Virgil – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Virgil Aikey, 66, of Sumpter, died Oct. 16, 2004, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. There will be a wake in honor of his life at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Elkhorn Restaurant in Sumpter. Virgil was born on Aug. 7, 1938, at Canandaigua, N.Y. He moved to Southern California in 1960. He served in the U.S. Army in the 101st Airborne. He was the youngest journeyman in the heating and sheet metal business in the 1960s in Southern California. After that he became a swimming pool contractor for Bee Sunny Pools in Chatsworth, Calif. In 1988, he moved … Read more

Biography of Robert F. Thomspon

(V) Robert F. Thompson, son of Lieutenant Lester P. Thompson and Sarah Jane (Foster) Thompson, was born in Canandaigua, New York, July 31, 1870. He received his preliminary school training in Phelps, followed by a course of study in Canandaigua Academy, from which he was graduated. He studied for his chosen profession in the law department of Michigan University, from which he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws, and then took a post-graduate course, receiving the Master’s degree in 1893. He was admitted to the bar, December, 1894, in Ontario county, New York, and at once entered upon practice … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Joseph Bryon Hayes

(VI) Dr. Joseph Byron (2) Hayes, son of Joseph Byron (1) and Sarah (Antis) Hayes, was born in Canandaigua, May 11, 1834. He prepared for college at Canandaigua Academy, from which he entered Williams College, graduating with the class of 1854, and his professional studies were completed in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated a doctor of medicine in 1860. His life was spent in Canandaigua, in the practice of his profession. He was an active member of the county and village medical societies and was a deacon of the Congregational Church from early … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Stanley

James M. Stanley was born in Canandaigua, New York, January 17, 1814; died April 10, 1872. He moved to Michigan in 1835 and became a portrait painter in Detroit; two years later removed to Chicago. About this time he visited the “Indian Country” in the vicinity of Fort Snelling, and there made many sketches. Returned to the eastern cities, where he spent several years, but in 1842 again went west and began his wanderings over the prairies far beyond the Mississippi, reaching Texas and New Mexico. His Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies was made in 1845. From 1851 to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Graham Hayes

(VII) Edward Graham Hayes, son of Dr. Joseph Byron (2) Hayes, was born July 12, 1862. He was a student in the old Canandaigua Academy, the Pennsylvania Military Academy, Chester, Pennsylvania, and Union College (class of 1886), Schenectady, New York. He is a. member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. After leaving college he spent a number of years in Colorado in the cattle business, and then spent some time abroad. In 1900 he married Elizabeth McGill, of Jamestown, New York, and in 1903 returned to Canandaigua, where he has since made his home. Mr. Hayes was-occupied in private business affairs … Read more

Biography of John H. Stephens

John H. Stephens, postmaster of Clifton Springs, New York, was for many years prominently identified with educational matters in various capacities. The family originally came from Germany. His father, William L., who was the son of Abraham Stephens, a native of Germany, was born in Rockland county, New York. He removed to the city of New York, where, for many years he conducted the Westchester Pie Bakery, in West Nineteenth street, which was the foundation of the present American Pie Baking Company. He married Elizabeth Wood. Children: William W.; James 0., deceased; John H., see forward; Margaret; Ella, and Elizabeth. … Read more

Biography of Thomas B. Wilson

Thomas B. Wilson, prominent in financial circles of the state of New York, in educational and agricultural matters, as well as in the farming industry, is a man of many-sided abilities. His mind is ever occupied with weighty problems for the advancement and improvement of the section of the country in which he lives, and in this manner he furthers the welfare of the entire nation. Bold and enterprising, he has an undertaking far on the way toward completion, while slower intellects are deliberating over the means to be employed to this end. John C. Wilson, his father, was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Tuttle

(V) Benjamin, son of Joseph (3) Tuttle, was born at East Haven, Connecticut, or vicinity. He settled in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York. In 1790 he was the only head of family of this name in Ontario county, and he had two males over sixteen, one under that age, and four females in his family. He was overseer of highways at Seneca, Ontario county, in 1793

Biographical Sketch of Alfred M. Hollis

(II) Alfred M. Hollis, son of the preceding, was born in England in 1850, and was a lad of four years when he came to this country with his father. He engaged in the brick tile and coal business in Canaudaigua and has been prominently identified with that field of industry for the past thirty-five years. He married Louisa, daughter of William Smith, who was born in England and came to Bristol, Ontario county, New York, about the year 1850. There he engaged in farming, later removed to Canandaigua, and acquired a large amount of property. Children: Fred W., see … Read more

Biography of James P. Fulton

James P. Fulton, postmaster at Stanley, Ontario county, New York, and who has held a number of other positions under the government of the United States, has served his country bravely and well, as will be found detailed further on in this sketch. He is a descendant of the distinguished Fulton family, of Ireland, and it seems but natural that his name should be found in the lists of those who fought so gallantly during the civil war, as he but displayed the traits inherited from a number of his ancestors. Among these was his maternal great-grandfather, Captain John Rippey, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert C. Aldridge

(III) Albert C., son of Gilbert T. Aldridge, was born in Victor. March 13, 1849. He attended the public schools of his native town and Brockport, the Collegiate Institute at Brockport, the Rochester Business University, taking special courses in law and laboratory work. For ten years he was engaged in teaching school, two years in the public schools, one year in Canandaigua Academy, and six years in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York. In 1884 he was elected school commissioner of the second district of Ontario county, and was reelected from term to term until he had served … Read more

Biography of Frank Harwood Hamlin

(VIII) Frank Harwood, second son and third child of Henry William and Sibyll Blackmail (Sears) Hamlin, was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, March 29, 1846. He prepared for college at Fast Bloomfield Academy, entered Yale University where he was graduated A. B., 1869. He decided upon the profession of law and entered Albany Law School, where he was graduated LL. B. in class of 1870, and was admitted to the bar the same year. He engaged in the practice of law for a short time in Albany, New York, then he moved to Canandaigua, New York, where he formed … Read more

Biography of Grant Maitland Kennedy

(III) Grant Maitland, youngest child of Francis M. and Phoebe J. (Fisher) Kennedy, was born in Italy, Yates county, New York, January 3, 1866. His early education was received in the district school of Italy Hollow, New York, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the Naples Academy, at Naples, New York, spending three years in that institution, and finishing with one year at the State Normal School at Genesee, New York. His early years were spent upon the homestead farm, and in the fall of 1885, he made his first appearance as a teacher of district schools, … Read more

History of Ontario County, New York, part 1

History of Ontario County, New York

“History of Ontario County, New York: With Illustrations and Family Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Families” is a comprehensive historical compilation, organized by Lewis Cass Aldrich and meticulously edited by George Stillwell Conover. Published in 1893 by D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, N.Y., this monumental work illuminates the rich tapestry of Ontario County’s past. Recognizing the voluminous nature of the original single volume, it has been thoughtfully divided into two parts for convenience and accessibility. Part 1 encompasses the historical and biographical narrative of Ontario County, laying the foundation for the genealogical treasures contained in Part 2.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Hollis

Fred W. Hollis, a prosperous farmer of the town of Hopewell, Ontario county, New York, who has been prominently identified with the public affairs of the town for a number of years, is of English descent on both sides of the family. (I) Henry Hollis, grandfather of Fred W. Hollis, was a native of England, and came to this country in 1854, for a time making his home in Canada, then removed to Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, where he served as a teacher of Greek and Latin in the old Canandaigua Academy.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Livingston L. Taylor

Rev. Livingston L. Taylor, who enjoys a well earned reputation as a forcible and eloquent preacher, and whose life is a consistent and unvarying example of the doctrines he preaches, is the son of William J. 1. Taylor, D. D., and Maria L. (Cowenhoven) Taylor. Rev. Livingston L. Taylor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1860. His education has been a varied and thorough one at the following named institutions : Newark Academy, Newark, New Jersey; Rutgers College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1881, and which conferred the degree of Master … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Harris Welch

William Harris Welch was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1862. He moved from there to Lock Haven with his parents the following year, and was educated in private and public schools, finishing with a special one year’s course in the State Normal at that place in 187980. During the next five years he studied and practiced civil engineering with his father, Edwin H. Welch, on the Pennsylvania railroad. In February, 1885, he entered the maintenance of way department of the Northern Central railway at Elmira as rodman. In June of the same year he came to Canandaigua as assistant … Read more