Ontario County NY

Biographical Sketch of Juriaen Westvall

Juriaen Westvall, the immigrant ancestor, was among the earliest settlers of Ulster county, New York, at what is now (1910) Esopus, near Kingston. He and twelve others petitioned, August 17, 1659, for a church at Esopus and the petition was granted. He owned lot 25 of the original division of land in 1662 and another grant May 29, 1667. He was a steady, persevering, upright and influential citizen. He married Marretje Hansen. Their three sons Johannes, Symon and Niclaes removed to Orange county and were grantees of land at the town of Deerpark in 1696. Between 1737 and 1800 there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edmund W. Smith

Edmund W. Smith, of Manchester, one of the practical, progressive and enterprising agriculturists of the section in which he resides, is a representative of a family that has been noted for their patriotism and love of country, members thereof having participated in the revolutionary war and the war of 1812. Edmund W. Smith was born in Manchester, New York, May 4, 1866. He received a liberal education in the schools of his native town, and this was supplemented by attendance at the Canandaigua Academy. Shortly after completing his studies, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Anson Parmelee

Anson, son of Asaph (2) Parmelee. was born September 14, 1810, in Bristol, Vermont. He studied for the ministry and was graduated from Burr Seminary, Middlebury College and Andover Theological Seminary. In 1843 he went as superintendent of the American Bible Society to Charleston, South Carolina, and spent four years in mission work in the south. He was then called as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Addison, New York. After a successful pastorate of fourteen years at Addison, he accepted a call to the Presbyterian church of Livonia, New York, where he preached for sixteen years. In 1868 he … Read more

Biography of Abram A. Post

Abram A. Post, owner of one of the finest farms in Seneca, Ontario county, New York, which has been in uninterrupted possession of his family since 1809, has had the advantage of extended travel to assist him in the cultivation of this piece of land and bring out its especial qualities. Frank J. Post, father of Abram A. Post, was born on the homestead farm, October 16, 1842, died in 1904. He improved the land which had been left to him by his father, in many respects, but it was left to the improved methods of his son to bring … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Pond

According to tradition running through all the Pond families, they were descended from three brothers who came to America from England. The earliest Pond from whose line George C. Pond may be traced directly is Samuel Pond. The date of his arrival in America as well as the time of his coming to Connecticut is unknown, but he married in Windsor, Connecticut, November 4, 1642. The Pond family seems to have produced a great many fighting men. There is scarcely a generation that had not its men of valor, beginning with Indian fights in 1675. Records show that Munson Pond … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Carpenter

(XI) John (5), son of William (4) Carpenter, was born in England about 1628, died May 23, 1695. He came from England with his father, and when about seventeen went to Connecticut. For several years he lived in different towns in the latter state, and worked at his trade as carpenter. He was in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1646, and in 1660 bought land in Hempstead, Long Island. He was chosen townsman of Hempstead in 1663, and was made freeman of the state of Connecticut, May, 1664. He bought land in Jamaica, Long Island, in 1665. In 1673 he was made … Read more

Biography of George W. Burling

George W. Burling, secretary and assistant treasurer of the Ailing & Cory Company, is descended from a Burling who was the first of the name to settle on Manhattan Island, and was one of the first settlers there. According to an old history of New York he owned all the property in the vicinity of Burling Slip, New York City, and the slip was named in his honor. Thomas C. Burling, father of the subject of this narrative, was a farmer and carpenter by occupation. He was a Quaker, and a member of the Orthodox Society, Farmington, Ontario county, New … Read more

Biography of Allen Becker Richards

Allen Becker Richards, a native of Pennsylvania, who served in a New York regiment during the civil war, is now (1910) a retired business man of Geneva where he has resided for nearly sixty years. Michael Richards, father of Allen B. Richards, was born in Maxatawny, Pennsylvania, in 1800, was a lifelong resident of that state and died in 1880. His wife, Ada Richards, was also a native of the Keystone state, born in 1809, died in 1899. Children: 1. Allen Becker, see forward. 2. Azuilla, born in 1832, now (1910) the widow of Unie Zeigler, who died in 1901 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Vosburgh

Lee Vosburgh, a prosperous farmer of Clifton Springs, Ontario county, New York, and a man of prominence in the educational affairs of the county, traces his ancestry to the earliest settlers who came to what was then the wilderness of the state of New York. They have been farmers for many generations, and the land has been constantly and steadily improving in value under their capable management. (I) Richard Vosburgh, grandfather of Lee Vosburgh, spent his entire life in Hillsdale, Columbia county, New York, with which the family has been particularly associated. He married Caroline Van Dazen and they had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Welcome Herendeen

Welcome, son of Nathan Herendeen, was born at Smithfield. April 18, 1768. He went to Adams and thence to Farmington with his father. He married (first) in 1794, Elizabeth, daughter of Gideon and Anna Durfee, of Palmyra, New York. He married (second) May 18, 1806, Mercy Gardner. Children of first wife: Edward, born 1795: Gideon. mentioned elsewhere; Anna; Huldah; Durfee. Children of the second wife: Elizabeth; Nathan G.; Welcome Wilkinson, mentioned elsewhere.

Biographical Sketch of Ceylon Sheffer

Ceylon, son of Roswell P. and Mary (Hilliard) Sheffer, received a practical education in the schools of the neighborhood, and upon arriving at man’s estate became a prominent manufacturer of Shortsville, continuing for many years. He made the original Shortsville Iron Beam Plow, which was considered a very useful adjunct to the farm. He held a high position in the industries of the town, and was considered by all who knew him as an exemplary character and an active factor in promoting the best interests of the community. He followed the doctrines of the Presbyterian church, and in politics adhered … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Frary

(III) John Frary was born in Massachusetts and served in the war of 1812. He was engaged in farming and was evidently a man of prominence in his clay. He supported the Whig principles, was supervisor and school commissioner, and served as justice of the peace. He was a member of the Baptist denomination. He married, in 1805, Ruth Merritt. Children: Ruth, died in 1839; William Stoddard, see forward; Isabel, died 1851 ; Joshua P., died 1848.

Biographical Sketch of John Parmelee

John (2), son of John (1) Parmelee. was born about 1620. He was a drummer in the train band and was sworn as freeman, February 14, 1649. He was sexton for many years, and “warned” the inhabitants to town meetings. He married (first) Rebecca , who died September 24. 1651; (second) Anna, widow of William Plaine, who died March 30, 1658; (third) February, 1619, Hannah Through his second wife, he obtained Plaine home lot of four and a half acres of marsh land. Child of first wife: Nathaniel, born 1645, killed in King Philip’s war. 1676; children of third wife: … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adelbert Clinton Merritt

(III) Adelbert Clinton, eldest child of William Harrison and Olive M. (Allyn) Merritt, was born at the family homestead in Penfield, April 8, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of his district and the Penfield Academy. For a period of fifteen years he worked with his father as a millwright, then, in 1870, went to Rochester, New York, where he was employed in the meat market business. adding groceries to his stock the following year, and at the expiration of two years sold out. returned to Penfield, where he took up his former occupation and also engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Whitney

Jonathan, son of Benjamin Whitney, was born in 1681, and married in 1700, Susanna , born 1681. In 1721 his name is found on the list of those taxed for the minister’s rate in Sherborn, Massachusetts, at which time he paid one of the largest taxes. In 1723 his name was first on a petition to be set off as a separate town, afterwards called Holliston. In 1727 he was one of a committee in the latter town in relation to land for the minister, and in 1730 he deeded his interest in the land to the first minister. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sidney Knickerbocker

(II) Sidney, son of Hebram Knickerbocker, was born in Naples, New York, March 21, 1832; died in Ontario county, New York, January 14, 1899. As a tiller of the soil he was as successful as his father had been, and improved the property in his possession in many directions. He was one of the organizers and builders of the Baptist church of his community, was elected a trustee of this institution, and served in this office up to the time of his death. He took an unusually active interest in all matters relating to the education of the growing generation, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Squire

(III) Jesse (2), son of Adin Squire. was born on the homestead farm in 1803, and from his early youth was well trained in the proper management and cultivation of a farm, which later passed into his possession. He took an active interest in the public affairs of the community in which he lived, and was a devoted member of the Methodist church. His death occurred February 9, 1892. His children were: William A., J. Fletcher, Mary J., Milton M., Jesse C., Eugene A.

Biography of Arthur Burtis

Arthur Burtis, born at Foster’s Meadow. Long Island, July 12. 1778, is set down as the eldest son of John (3) and Sarah (Foster) Burtis. He came to New York from Hempstead, Long Island, in 1798. He lived for many years on the corner of Broome street and the Bowery. He was a member of the common council representing the eighth ward from 1813 to 1816. He remained in New York until 1831, when hix health failing he purchased a farm near Geneva, New York, to which he removed in 1832, and where he died January 9, 1833. During his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacobus Stoutenburg

Jacobus, son of Tobias and Anneken (van Rollegom) Stoutenburg. was baptized June 7, 1696, and died about 1772. At some time after his marriage, he removed from New York City to the Philipse Manor, Westchester county. In 1741 or 1742, he moved to Dutchess county, in the present town of Hyde Park, where he had long owned land. Here he built a stone mansion, very fine for that day, with spacious rooms and handsomely finished paneling and woodwork. He was for some time county judge. He married in New York, May 25, 1717, Margrietje, daughter of William and Rachel (Kierstede) … Read more