Biographical Sketch of William Fordon

(III) William, eldest child of George and Hannah (Stephenson) Fordon, was born near the city of Hull, England, April 15, 1824. He was the last of the family, and died April 29, 1911. He followed in the footsteps of his father as a farmer, keeping well abreast of the times in his management of the land entrusted to his care, and was unusually successful. His religious affiliations were with the Episcopalian church, and he gave his political support to the principles of the Republican party. He married in Geneva, New York, December 21, 1848, Honor Matilda Durrant, born in Syracuse, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arthur S. Vincent

Arthur S., son of Charles B. and Maria (Bliven) Vincent, was born at Phelps, Ontario county, New York, December 20, 1862. He attended the public schools of Phelps, and the knowledge thus acquired prepared him for the activities of life. For a number of years he was very successfully engaged as a portrait artist, but at the present time is devoting his entire attention to the growing of fruit, having about two thousand fruit trees of different species, and is deriving there from a goodly income. He was elected a member of the village board of trustees, in which capacity … 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 Daniel Kirtland

Daniel Kirtland, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, was a native of Durham, Greene county, New York. Owing to confusion in the existing records and paucity of dates, it is uncertain whether this Daniel is the Daniel Sr., who married Lovisa Lord, and is the great-grandfather of Caroline Kirtland, or his son, Daniel Jr., who married Huldah Stevens. The family belongs to the border clans of Scotland and is found in Durham, Yorkshire and Cheshire, England, whence members of it emigrated in early days to Durham, Woodbury and Wallingford, Connecticut. About 1784, a number … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Chauncey Brooks Collins

(II) Chauncey Brooks, son of Thaddeus Collins, was born in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, 1809, and was a farmer. He was a member of the New York State Militia in 1831, and served as quartermaster of the regiment commissioned by Enos T. Throop, John A. Dix adjutant general.

Biographical Sketch of Norman Rockefeller

Norman Rockefeller, son of Godfrey, was born in Barrington, Columbia county, New York, October 17, 1812. Taking kindly to the independent life of a farmer, and acquiring proficiency in that calling, he settled upon a farm in Richford, Tioga county, in 1840, and resided there some eight years. In 1848 he removed to Phelps, Ontario county, and resided in that town for the remainder of his life. He was an able and successful farmer, energetic, ambitious and possessed sound judgment in business affairs. He was at one time quite active in public affairs, serving with ability and credit in various … Read more

Biography of J. Jay Barden

J. Jay Barden, who has for many years been connected with the agricultural department of the state of New York, in positions of trust and responsibility, is, in addition to these duties, recognized as one of the most progressive farmers in his section of the country. His business occupations have been varied and extensive. Sylvanus Barden, father of the above-mentioned, was born in Benton township, Yates county, New York, in 1816, and died May 15, 1905. He followed farming all his life, and was of a quiet and retiring disposition, finding his greatest pleasures in his own home. He married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Denton

John, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tompkins) Gifford, was born January 17, 1718. He married, November 7, 1741, Bathsheba Lapham: Children: Lydia, born March 14, 1743, died April 8, 1,754; Phebe, born June 20, 1745; Meribah, twin of Rowland ; Rowland, see elsewhere; Jesse, born September 22, 1750, died April 4, 1764; Benjamin and John, born September 29, 1755; John and Bathsheba, born March 20, 1758.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. James H. Stephens

Dr. James H. Stebbins, who was engaged in medical practice for about half a century, was born in Greece, Monroe county, New York, in 1834, and died in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, in 1908. He was graduated from the Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the greater number of his active years of practice were spent in Geneva, where he was one of the most prominent physicians. Dr. Francis Lansing Stebbins, son of Dr. James H. Stebbins, was born at Geneva, Ontario county, New York, in 1866. His elementary education was acquired in the public schools and he then … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Squire

Jesse C. Squire, well known in agricultural circles in Ontario county, New York, who has successfully followed in the footsteps of his ancestors as a tiller of the soil, and who has added to their methods of cultivation the newer ideas which he has found practical, as they arose, is a descendant of one of the ancient families of England, and in a direct line of descent from Thomas Squire, of Worcestershire, England, who came to this country in 1630 with Governor Winthrop and settled at Charlestown, from whence his descendants have spread to various places. Some are to be … Read more

Biography of Oliver Titus

Oliver Sabin, second son of Anson and Almira (Sabin) Titus, was born in Phelps, New York. May 13, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of Phelps and the Clinton Liberal Institute, Clinton, Oneida county, New York. In August. 1862, when nineteen years old, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the army until the close of the rebellion. Soon after his enlistment he was detailed for clerical work in the office of judge advocate of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, under General Benjamin F. Butler, with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Young

In 1859 Samuel Young, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829, emigrated to the United States, accompanied by his family, and settled in Geneva, New York. He was a carpenter by trade, an able mechanic, and possessing the requisite amount of energy and business ability, his services as a building contractor were in constant demand. He was a thoroughly reliable business man, winning and maintaining the confidence of all with whom he had dealings, and he was identified with building operations in Geneva until his death, which occurred February 11, 1899. In politics he was a Democrat. He attended … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Dixon

John, son of Sergeant James Dixon, and the father of John Boynton Dixon, was born in Rellington the latter part of the eighteenth century, and died in early manhood when his son John B. was an infant. He married Hannah , born in Rellington in 1790, died in 1880, a nonagenarian. Left with the care of an infant by the untimely death of her husband, she subsequently became the wife of a Mr. Clark. The children of her second union are: 1. James, who resides in Canada, married and has four children. 2. George, a resident of Canada, married and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dorrance L. Kirtland

Dorrance L., son of Daniel and Huldah (Stevens) Kirtland, was born in Durham, Greene county, New York, December 16, 1818, died in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, August 11, 1885. He received his education in the public schools and at the high school in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He came to Phelps in 1839. and after working on a farm there for a short while, returned east, where he remained until 1842. He then came to the western part of the town of Phelps, where he bought a farm on which he lived for seven years, when he settled on his final … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Bell

Henry Bell, descendant of Frederick Bell, was born in Herkimer, New York, about 1975-80. He married Mary Doxtader and they came to the town of Phelps in Ontario county to make their home, building a log house and clearing a large farm. Children: Jonas, William, Elizabeth, who married Oliver Yager.

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 Richard Knowles

(II) Richard Knowles, progenitor of the Plymouth county family, son of Rev. John Knowles, was probably born in England, before his father, Rev. John, came to this country. He commanded a barque engaged in transporting military supplies for the government. Before 1653 he was located at Eastham, Massachusetts. Children: 1. Mercy, married- , February 5,1663. 2. Colonel John, married, December 28, 1670, Apphia Bangs; he was killed by the Indians in King Philip’s war and his widow married Joseph Atwood. 3. Samuel, born September 17, 1651, mentioned elsewhere. 4. Mehitable, May 20, 1653, died young. 5. Mehitable, 1655. 6. Barbara, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Carpenter

(X) William (4), son of William (3) Carpenter, was born 1605, in England, and came to America in 1638, in the ship “Bevis” with his family. He settled first at Weymouth, Massachusetts, where he was admitted a freeman, May 13, 1640. He was representative of the town in 1641-43; constable in 1641. March 28, 1645, he was admitted as an inhabitant of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and June of the same year, he was made freeman. From 1643 to 1649 he served as proprietors’ and town clerk. The original division of lands in Rehoboth took place, June 30, 1644, and in that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Parmelee

John Parmelee, immigrant ancestor, was one of the first settlers of Guilford. Connecticut, and one of the twenty-five signers of the Plantation Covenant, June 1, 1639. He died in New Haven, November 8, 1659, leaving property inventoried at seventy-eight pounds, thirteen shillings. His will was probated January 3, 1659-60. His home lot in Guilford was on the site of the present Congregational church and contained two and a half acres. He married (first) Hannah (second) Widow Elizabeth Bradley, who died in New Haven, January, 1683. After his death she married, May 27, 1663. John Evarts. of Guilford. Children : John, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Godfrey Rockefeller

Godfrey Rockefeller, son of William and Christina Rockefeller, settled upon a farm in Barrington, Columbia county, New York. He married a daughter of Miles Avery, who served as an officer in the revolutionary war. Godfrey Rockefeller had a family of nine children, two of whom, William and Norman, were well-to-do farmers and became nonogenarians. William was the father of John D. Rockefeller, whose munificent contributions in behalf of religious education, scientific investigation and moral improvement, amounting to more than one hundred and thirty-three million dollars, are almost without parallel in the world’s history.