Ontario County NY

Biographical Sketch of Winfield S. Stryker

Winfield S., son of John and Maria (Garritson) Stryker, was born in Cayuga county, New York, August 28, 1847. He was educated in the public schools, and at an early age, under the able supervision and direction of his father, became initiated into the details of farm management and cultivation. Later he removed to Oaks Corners, where he was engaged in farming for a period of seven years, and subsequently removed to Phelps, where he purchased the farm on which he is living at the present time. He is progressive in his methods, ready to adept any new idea which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Jamieson

(II) David (2), son of David (1) Jamieson, was born at Dumferline, Scotland, September 19, 1800; married at Collinton, Scotland, March 17, 1828, Margaret Muir (Parish Church records at High Edinburgh, Scotland, Rev. Lewis Balfour, minister). Margaret Muir was born in Edinburgh or Glasgow, 1809-n, and died in March, 1870. David died in 1886 in Canada. He came to America when a young man in 1834 and after living for a short time in New York City, removed to Toronto, and thence to Yorkville, Canada. Children: I. David, born in Scotland. 2. Jane, born in New York City, October 7, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Lyman Van Voorhis

George Lyman, eldest child of Lyman and Elizabeth (Field) Van Voorhis, was born at Charleston, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, April 21, 1871. He was very young when his parents returned to the state of New York, and his education was obtained at the Victor high school, later the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and finally the Brock State Normal School, which he left prior to graduating. From early manhood he has been actively engaged in the interests of the Republican party. During this time he taught school during the winter months, and worked on the farm during the summer, a course … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elisha Brace

(III) Elisha (2), son of Elisha (1) Brace, was born about 1750. In 1790, the first federal census shows that he was living at Stockbridge, Berkshire county. Massachusetts, and had besides himself two females in his family. The only other head of family of this surname at Stockbridge was Joseph, who had three sons under sixteen and four females in his family. Elisha Brace and three brothers, two of whom were John and Joseph, purchased several sections of land in Victor, Ontario county. New York, in the northeast corner of the town, of the original owner, Enos Boughton, afterward exchanging … Read more

Biography of George Frederick Fordon

(IV) George Frederick Fordon, a member of the third generation of his family in this country, is a well known farmer and fruit grower in Geneva, Ontario county, New York. He is descended from a family engaged in agriculture in England for many generations. Continuing the excellent and proven methods in vogue in that country for many years, he has supplemented them by adopting the most modern ideas that have been evolved in the cultivation of the soil and bringing its products to the highest state of perfection. In this direction, Mr. Fordon has been especially progressive, and the excellence … Read more

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

Biography of E. A. Griffith

E. A. Griffith, a well-known attorney and counselor at law of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, has, by his honorable efforts and moral attributes, carved out for himself friends, affluence and position. The strength and force of his character have overcome obstacles which to others have seemed well nigh insurmountable, but with boldness and enterprise he has conceived and executed projects while others were considering the means necessary to carry them out. Wellington Griffith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pike, Wyoming county. New York, in 1835, and died in April, 1896. He was a farmer … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Buell

Jonathan (2), son of Captain Timothy and Olive (Norton) Buell. served as sheriff of the county and as member of the assembly, and died in 1865. He married (first) Sally, who died in 1845, daughter of Daniel and Aurelia (Dowd) Rice; (second) Mrs. Caroline (Buell) Robinson. Children: Mortimer, see elsewhere; Pomeroy Baldwin: Henry, married Sarah Mather, of Richmond; Sally Ann; Mary Saxton.

Biography of George W. Preston

George W., son of Abner Preston, was born in Hancock, New Hampshire, December 13, 1804. His father was in his younger days an industrious and successful man, but after his life in the army he lost his property. The son was bound out to a farmer, after the custom of the times, to serve until he cane of age, when he was to receive a hundred dollars and a suit of clothes. He had scarcely any schooling, insufficient clothing, and no shoes. He used to tell of going to milk the cows in the pasture when the ground was white … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Janse Gardiner

Jacob Janse Gardinier, also Flooder, was the progenitor of Gardiner and Gardner families, or the greater part of them, in 1790. In 1790 the heads of families of these surnames, included in Columbia county, Dirck. Peter A., Peter H., Peter J., Samuel H.. Andrew, Gideon, Godrey, James, Labon and John. Jacob J. was at Beverwyck as early as 1638 and came from Holland. In 1656 he owned land on the north side of Wall street from William to Pearl street, New Amsterdam, and he divided this tract into house lots and sold them through his agent, Sander Leendertse Glen. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Moreau Harger

Charles Moreau Harger, Kansas editor and old time resident of the state, is known to thousands of people outside Kansas through his writings in magazines and through his active participation in several movements recognized as of national scope. He was born in Phelps, New York, in 1863, came west to Dickinson County in 1879 with his parents, and had resided in Abilene since that date. He was educated in a classical school. For several years he was a farmer and rancher, then teacher, being principal of the Hope City schools in 1887-88. He then became a reporter on the Abilene … Read more

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 Captain Jonathan Whitney

Captain Jonathan (3) Whitney, son of Jonathan (2) Whitney, was born July 26, 1737, in Milford. and married (both being then of Mendon), November 7, 1760, Esther Parkhurst, born June 22, 1741, died December 6, 1812, in Milo, New York. Soon after his marriage he removed to Conway, Massachusetts. and in 1789 he went with his son Joel to Ontario county, New York, and settled on the “Old Castle” farm near Geneva. Here he put in four or five acres of wheat, cut a stack of hay, erected a log house eighteen feet square and returned to Conway in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John N. Marsh

John N., son of Frederick Marsh, was born in Hopewell, New York, February 28, 1880. He received his early education in the common schools. For several years he leased farms and in 1909 he bought “Spring Brook Farm” which he has since conducted. It is pleasantly located in the town of Hopewell, a mile east of Chapin village and two miles north of the Rochester & Eastern electric railway station known as “Freshhour.” Mr. Marsh is a progressive, up-to-date farmer, making a specialty of his dairy and owning a fine herd of graded Durham cows and using the most advanced … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John A. Page

John A., son of Levi A. (2) and Margaret F. (Benham) Page, was born at Seneca Castle, September 11, 1877. He was educated in the district school and Canandaigua Academy. He then engaged in farming, making specialties of fruit growing and of raising blooded stock. He was path master for a number of terms. He is a member of Castle Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. For three years he was secretary of the Ontario County Fruit Growing Association. Mr. Page is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Seneca Castle, secretary of its Sunday school and president of the Epworth … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Leonard Cotton

Leonard, son of Isaac Cotton, was born in Farmington in 1822, and was educated there in the public schools and the :Macedon Center Academy. He learned the trade of carpenter and was also a farmer. From the age of fifteen he supported himself and engaged in business before he was of age. In politics he was a Whig. He was a member of the Society of Friends. He married Amy Ann Gardner, born at Farmington, in 1828, died in the spring of 1873. he died in the fall of 1872. Elisha Gardner. her father, married a Patterson. Children, born at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adam Turnbull

William R. Turnbull, assessor of Seneca township, Ontario county, New York, is a member of a family which was among the pioneer settlers of the county, and the various generations of which have been closely identified with its agricultural interests. Thoroughly conversant with the details of farming and sheep raising, honorable and highminded in all the different phases of life, he occupies an enviable position among his fellow townsmen, who willingly accord to him a place in their first ranks. Adam Turnbull, grandfather of the above mentioned, came to Seneca township in 1801, and settled on the farm which is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Zebediah Williams

Zebediah, son of Arthur Williams, was born in Windsor, in 1649. He came with his father to Northampton and evidently was somewhat lacking in Puritanical piety, for he was fined ten shillings at Northampton, March 8, 1672, “for laughing in meeting, this being unseemly and prophane carriage.” He was fined, evidently on general principles, two shillings, sixpence. at Northampton, May 16, 1673, “for mispence of tyme at Mudge his house.” He sold his property at Northampton, in 1674 and come t0 Deerfield. A soldier in King Philip’s war he was killed with Captain Lothrop, September 18, 1675. He married, December … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Brownell Wilbur

Brownell, son of Isaac Wilbur, was born December 15, 1755. He married, September 1, 1776, Esther, daughter of William Wilbur. Children: Nancy, born August 31, 1777; Patience, June 11, 1779; Thankful, December 21, 1781 ; Wright, May 19, 1783, mentioned elsewhere; Esther, October 4, 1786; Phebe, November 6, 1788; Hannah, August 15, 1793; Isaac, April 11, 1795; Lois, December 20, 1796; Mary, February 17, 1799; Martha; Emlin; Benjamin.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. John Raines

Rev. John Raines, the first member of the family to make his home in this country, emigrated to America in 1817, with his fortunes badly shattered by the Napoleonic wars, and for some years resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About the year 1830 he settled with his family on a farm near Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York. He was a Methodist minister.