Ontario County NY

Biographical Sketch of William Harrison Merritt

(II) William Harrison, son of Stacy and Elizabeth (Cass) Merritt, was born on the farm at Penfield, 1820. He was occupied as a millwright and carpenter. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, as corporal of his regiment, and was an active participant in the battle of Fredericksburg. The day following this engagement he was taken sick, and was honorably discharged in 1862. He married Olive M., who died September 3, 1909, daughter of David Allyn. Children: Adelbert Clinton, see forward; Rose V., who married Richard Johnson and had children: … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Wilbur

Samuel Wilbur, immigrant ancestor, married in England, Ann, daughter of Thomas Bradford, of Doncaster, York county or Yorkshire. The first record of him is on December 1, 1633, when he and his wife Ann were admitted to the First Church at Boston. He was made a freeman in Boston, March 4, 1634. He owned much property in Taunton, Massachusetts, as well as in Boston, and probably in both places. In November, 1637, he was among those banished from the colony on account of religious views. Acting on the advice of Roger Williams, he went to Providence, where he and the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Barnes

(II) David, son of James Barnes, was an infant in his mother’s arms when he came with his parents to Geneva in 1798, he being’ the youngest son of a large family of children. His early life was spent on the old homestead farm, and later on a farm now (1910) owned by his son, D. Eddy Barnes, engaged in its cultivation, and he died there, in 1871. He served for a time as a colonel in the New York State Militia.

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Stoutenburg

Isaac, son of Tobias W. and Mary (Hill) Stoutenburg, was born in Dutchess county, June 6, 1806, died April, 1881. He also was a farmer. Coming to Phelps, in 1866, he engaged in the manufacture of plaster. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church. He married Ann, daughter of Peter Reese, who died in March, 1863, and whose father was a native of Maryland. Children: George B., born November 13, 1832; Frederick, referred to below; Angenette, born July 22, 1836, married Van Buren Wheat; Mary Jane, born September ii, 1838, married J. F. Salisbury; Angeline, born April 22, 1840, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adoniram Judson Throop

Adoniram Judson, son of Azel and Fanny (Van Dusen) Throop, was born in the town of Manchester, Ontario county, New York, November 28. 1844, and is now (1910) living at Port Gibson. in the same county. He was educated in the township public schools and the East Bloomfield Academy, and then began working on a farm. After doing this for several years, he was appointed, February 1, 1871, United States postal clerk, and given the run between Syracuse and New York City. In 1901 he was promoted head postal clerk and has held this position ever since. Since his appointment … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Deacon Nathaniel Horton

(VI) Deacon Nathaniel (2) Horton, son of Nathaniel (1) Horton, was born in Southold, in 1741, and married, 1761, Rebecca Robinson, born June 21, 1742, died December 14, 1819. He died August 13, 1824. Children, born in Chester: Huldah, January 14, 1762: Rebecca, December 31, 1763: Jonah. 1765; Susan, 1767: Polly, 1769; Nathaniel; Hiram; Mehitabel : Elisha, about 1777, mentioned elsewhere; Nathaniel, 1778; Esther, about 1782.

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 William Marks

(II) William (2), son of William (1) and Polly (Roberts) Marks. was born in Connecticut, and migrated to New York. where he was a merchant and farmer for many years at Naples, Ontario county. He married Emily Holcomb.

Biographical Sketch of William Throope

William Throope, founder of this family, emigrated from England to Barnstable, Massachusetts, in the first half of the seventeenth century, and died in Bristol, Rhode Island, of which he was one of the original settlers, December 4. 1704. He was grand-juryman at Barnstable in 1680, and the same year went to Bristol, being the first of the settlers to travel thither, overland, a team transporting his family in an ox cart. He was surveyor of highways at Bristol in 1683, selectman in 1689, grand-juryman in 1690, and representative of the town in 1691. He married, in Barnstable, May 4, 1666, … 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

Biographical Sketch of William Davis

(I) William Davis, immigrant ancestor, lived in Freetown, Massachusetts, where he was grand juryman in 1697. He married, March 1, 1686, Mary, daughter of William and Ann (Johnson) Makepeace, of Freetown, and granddaughter of Thomas Makepeace, of Boston, and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Mellows. Children: William, born June II, 1688; Thomas, mentioned elsewhere; John; Jonathan, married, December 24, 1730, Sarah Terry, of Freetown; Remembrance, married (first) Sarah Soul, of Tiverton, (second) Sarah Fox, of Freetown; Joseph; Rebecca, married, October 31, 1705, John Paine, of Freetown; Elizabeth, married William Cole; Abigail, married, January 29, 1723, Ephraim Hathaway; Hannah, married William Gage, of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank A. De Graff

Frank A. De Graff, manager and one of the proprietors of the leading stationery and book stores in Canandaigua, New York, is, as his family name indicates, of Dutch descent, and has inherited the thrifty and businesslike traits of his ancestors. Groat A. De Graff, father of the man whose name heads this sketch, for some years followed the occupation of farming in Gorham, New York, and removed to Canandaigua about the year 1870. He established himself in the book and stationery business, in which he was eminently successful, and with which he was connected for many years. Frank A., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Sawyer

Thomas (3), son of Joseph Sawyer, was born in Lancaster, 1710, died at Bolton where he settled when a young man, March 31, 1797, aged eighty-seven. The date of his death was found on his gravestone. He built a mill on Jackson pond in Winchendon in 1765, and one in Otto river for his son Thomas in 1762-63. He also built mills in Baldwinsville in T767-68. He deeded land in Templeton to his son Abner. September 3. 1763, lots 5. 6. 36, 50, and others. He deeded land to his son Hooker, July 7, 1766. He married Elizabeth –, who … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Potter

William Potter, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1817, died at Shortsville, Ontario county, New York, in 1900. He came to Machias, Cattaraugus county, New York, as a young man, and engaged in farming. In 1860 he removed to Palmyra. He married Julia Slover. Children: James K., referred to below; John W.; Evans; Rebecca, married Solomon Burton. James K., son of William and Julia (Slover) Potter, was born at Machias, Cattaraugus county, New York, August i8, 1844, and is now (1910) living at Shortsville, Ontario county. He received … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Enos D. Williams

Enos D., son of Ebenezer (2) Williams, was born at Amherst, in 1822 and died in October, 1866. He was educated in the public schools and at Amherst Academy. He began life as a merchant in a small way and became a wholesale flour dealer, owning large flour mills. In politics he was a Republican in his later years, and he represented his district in the general court in 1856 and 1857. He was a director of the First National Bank of Amherst for many years. He married in 1846, Caroline Ruth Hawley, who was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John McDowell

John McDowell, believed to be a descendant of Ephraim McDowell, came to Yates county, New York, from New Jersey, in 1795, and settled in the town of Jerusalem on the west branch of Keuka Lake. He bought land of John Greig, agent of the Hornby estate, and lost a large part of it in the re-survey of the line of Steuben county, throwing most of his farm into Ontario county, instead of Steuben, where it had been located first. He left there in 1803 and lived for a time at the foot of Keuka Lake, where he was employed by … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Cammett

Samuel, son of Johnson Cammett, was born in Canandaigua about the year 1826. When he was three years old his parents moved to Hopewell, and he grew to manhood in that town, taking kindly to the independent though strenuous life of a farmer, and deriving a comfortable living. He succeeded to the ownership of the homestead farm. and at the time of his death, which occurred September 6, 1906, he had resided there for a period of seventy-seven years. In politics he was a Democrat and served upon the board of supervisors for two terms. He married, July 2, 1867, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thaddeus Oaks

Thaddeus, son of Jonathan (2) and Martha (Hawks) Oaks, was born in Conway, Massachusetts, and came to Phelps, with his father in 1790 and died there. He married Fanny Dickinson, also of Conway, Massachusetts. Children: Nathan, referred to below; Mary Lucretia, who married L. B. Hotchkiss, of Phelps, New York.

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Horton

(V) Nathaniel, son of Caleb (2) Horton, was born at Southold. October 13. 1719, and married, about 1740. Mehitabel Wells. They removed to Chester, New Jersey, in 1748. She died December 10. 1801. He died January 24, 1804. Children, the first two born in Southold, the others in Chester: Deacon Nathaniel, 1741, mentioned elsewhere; Benjamin, 1743; David, September 2, 1750; Daniel, married Martha Terry; Polly, married Caleb Terry; Mehitabel, married Edward Lewis.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Goodman

Charles H. Goodman, son of Henry H. Goodman, was born in Saginaw, Michigan, August 9, 1872. He attended the public schools of his native town, and after coming to Phelps with his parents, when he was ten years of age, he completed his education there in the public schools. He assisted his father on the farm at Phelps during his youth and has always followed farming. He has been prosperous and successful in business. He is prominent in social and public life. In politics he is a Republican. He was elected highway commissioner in 1904 and 1906, and town superintendent … Read more