Biography of Henry C. Beeman

Henry C. Beeman, who has for many years been connected with the detective and police departments, and is at present chief of police for the village of Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, is a son of Reuben Beeman, who was a farmer throughout the active years of his life in the town of Canandaigua, on the east shore of the lake. Henry C. Beeman was born in Canandaigua, October 8, 1847. His school education was received in Canandaigua Academy. For many years of his life he took a personal interest in farming, and for a few years was engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Bowerman

(III) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) Bowerman, was born before 1700. He was also in trouble with the Puritan church and had his property seized to pay the church tax. In 1727 the constable confiscated three bushels of malt and in 1728 a linen wheel and bason worth twenty shillings. He resided in West Falmouth on Cape Cod, on the estate lately owned by Captain Nathaniel Eldred. He married Jane Harby. Children, born at Falmouth: Ichabod; Judah, married, in 1758, Mary Dillingham; David, married, in 1751, Ruth Dillingham; Hannah; Silas, mentioned elsewhere; Joseph, married, September 17, 1766, Rest Swift; … Read more

Biography of Willis C. Ellis

Willis C., only child of Abram W. and Marion A. (Phelps) Ellis, was born in Pike, Wyoming county, New York. January 12, 1868. His preparatory education was acquired in the Pike Seminary, from which he was graduated in June, 1888. He then became a student at Cornell University, from which he was graduated June 16. 1892. with the degree of Bachelor of Letters. He continued the study of law in the offices of Day & Romer, Buffalo. New York, and was admitted to the bar, June 12, 1893. In June of the following year he came to Shortsville, New York, … Read more

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.

Biographical Sketch of Joshua Parmelee

Joshua, son of John (2) Parmelee, was born in Guilford, in 1661, died in June, 1729. He was a farmer of Guilford, and was a taxpayer of considerable estate in 1716. He married (first) July 10, 1690, Else Edwards, of East Hampton, Long Island, and she died July 10, 1714; (second) in 1716, Hannah, widow of Benjamin Stone, of East Guilford. She afterward married Benjamin Hart, of Wallingford. Children of first wife: Daniel, born June 28, 1691; Susannah, June 19, 169J: Timothy, August 20, 1695; Ann, May 8, 1696; Samuel, March 31, 1698; David, July 31, 1699; Jonathan, mentioned elsewhere; … Read more

Biography of George F. Licht

George F. Licht, ex-mayor of the town of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, at present superintendent and assistant treasurer of the Patent Cereals Company of Geneva, New York, is one of the most prominent men in that section of the country, and has served it in a number of public offices. George F. Licht was born on Long Island, New York, August 18, 1860. He was educated in the Brooklyn and other Long Island schools, and was graduated from the Brooklyn high school. At the age of sixteen years he entered the employ of Tiffany & Company, jewelers, of New … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arthur Alberto

Arthur Alberto, from whom the branch of the family herein recorded descended, built a house in Hempstead, Long Island, in 1680, which stood until 1892, when it was torn down. Of the farm of fifty-two acres, where he lived until 1692, only the burying ground and a few acres remain. Five generations of the family are buried there, and living descendants of the name in the seventh generation are still there. He married Elizabeth, daughter of James Way, an English Quaker originally from Somersetshire. The Way family appear upon the records there in 1400. James Way died in 1695, a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Borden

Richard Borden, born in the county of Kent, England, in 1601, arrived at Boston in the ship “Elizabeth and Ann” in 1635, and in 1638 became one of the founders of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he died in 1671. He was a Quaker and a man of unsullied integrity, who held various public offices, including that of deputy to the general court. His wife Joan died in Portsmouth in 1688. Children : Thomas, Francis, Matthew, John, mentioned elsewhere, Joseph, Sarah, Samuel Benjamin and Anne.

Biographical Sketch of Arthur Williams

Arthur Williams, immigrant, was born in England and settled in Windsor, Connecticut, as early as 1640, removing thence to Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1659. He married, November 30, 1647, Catherine Carter, widow of Joshua Carter, of Windsor, and she married (third) February I1, 1677, William Branch, of Springfield. She died August 8, 1683. The only child of Arthur and Catherine Williams was Zebediah, mentioned elsewhere.

Biography of Charles Danford Bean

Charles Danford Bean, attorney and counselor at law in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, is a member of a family that has been domiciled in New York state for several generations, and their history and that of the family seat is a more than usually interesting one. Maple Hill, the homestead, derives its name from the thickly-wooded land upon which the house stands, and has many historic associations. The mansion was originally erected in 1834. and was at that time a twostory structure; successive owners added wings and rebuilt and remodeled the house, which has sheltered and extended hospitality to … Read more

Biography of William Arthur Judd

William Arthur, only son of Calvin L. and Mary N. (White) Judd, was born in Geneva, New York, October 12, 1858. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native city, and he came with his parents to Clifton Springs in 1866. For two years he was engaged in the drug business in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and upon his return to Clifton Springs established himself in the same line of business in association with E. W. Briggs, the firm name being Briggs & Judd. After a time he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business alone … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Dwight Severance

(VIII) William Dwight, son of William Sidney Severance, was born in Phelps, on the homestead at Melvin Hill, May 1t, 1836. He was educated in the union schools, and learned of his father the blacksmith’s trade. In 1857 he left home and located at Terra Haute, Indiana, where for five years he was in business as a blacksmith. Returning to Phelps in 1862, he conducted a farm there for two years and bought it in 1865. Since then he has followed farming in his native town and dealt extensively in horses, sheep and cattle. He has owned some very fine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Stryker

John, son of James I. and Anna M. (Freese) Stryker, was born at Sand Beach, Owasca Lake, New York, April 17, 1810, died in 1882. He lived on the farm which had been in his possession for many years, and which he kept in a fine state of cultivation. His interest in public affairs was an active and beneficial one, and he bore his share bravely in the military life of the country, serving as a captain in the New York state militia. He married Maria Garritson, who died in 1869, and they had children : Winfield S., mentioned elsewhere; … Read more

Biography of William R. Turnbull

William R., son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Burrell) Turnbull, was born on the family homestead in Seneca township, Ontario county, New York, December 5, 1857. He was educated in the district school. and after being graduated from this, spent two years in the old Canandaigua Academy, and left it excellently equipped for business as well as farming life. Until his marriage he, his brother and his father worked hand-in-hand in making the homestead farm as productive as conditions would permit; upon his marriage, however, one hundred acres of this land were set out for his special portion, and he devoted … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abram Garlock

(II) Abram, son of Peter Garlock, was a farmer in Manchester, New York. He married Catharine, daughter of Peter Cook, who was a native of New Jersey. The children of Abram and Catharine (Cook) Garlock were nine, including Cyrus, referred to below; Dr. Alfred, who lived in Michigan; and Peter, born in Phelps, October 6, 1832, mentioned elsewhere.

Biographical Sketch of Nathan D. Lapham

Nathan D. Lapham, attorney and counselor at law in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, has not alone gained a reputation as a civil and criminal lawyer, but has for a number of years been prominently identified with public affairs in his section of the country. It is owing to the energy, ambition and progressive ideas of men of this stamp that many greatly needed improvements are introduced into the commonwealth, and their influence is a widespread one, extending far beyond the confines of their own generation and lives. (I) Nathan Lapham, grandfather of Nathan D. Lapham, and the ancestor for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Carpenter

(IX) William (3), son of William (2) Carpenter, was born in England in 1576. He was a carpenter by trade, and lived in London. He came to America in 1638, in the ship “Bevis,” with his son William, son’s wife Abigail and their children. He returned to England on the return voyage. It appears that all the family were Dissenters, and obliged to leave London. Child, William, mentioned elsewhere.

Biographical Sketch of John Spengler

The late John Spengler, of Geneva, New York, came from Switzerland, but the name is indicative of a German origin. In the battle for education and professional supremacy his son Dr. John Arthur Spengler has won a decided victory. and he is recognized as one of the leading exponents of the science of optics. John Spengler, born in Switzerland, 1832, emigrated to the United States when a young man and subsequently became a shoe merchant in Geneva, New York. He died at Reading, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1907. He married in Rochester, New York, December 3, 1866, Elizabeth Von Huben, also … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Pets

John Pets (as the name was then spelled), founder of that branch of the family of which Andrew Peirce was a representative, in April, 1637, left Norwich, county of Norfolk, England, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. His son Anthony (II) had a son Joseph (III), who was the father of Benjamin (IV), whose son Benjamin (V) was the father of Ensign Andrew Peirce (VI).

Biography of Charles C. Davison

Charles C. Davison. who has been prominently connected with the milling industry in the state of New York for many years, is a son of Ozmer L. Davison, who came to New York from New England and spent the greater part of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died at Odessa, New York, in 1900, and his wife died in 1896. Charles C., son of Ozmer L. Davison, was born in Odessa, Schuyler county, New York, June 22, 1868. He was graduated from the Odessa high school, then studied and was prepared for college at Cook’s Academy, and matriculated … Read more