Biography of William A. Caldwell

The history of pioneer life has long rivaled in interest the tales of battles and of life on the tented field. Without the roar of cannon and musketry or the inspiring notes of fife and drum, hosts no less brave and determined have gone forth into the wilderness to reclaim it for the purposes of civilization and have fought the hard battle of conquering the raw land, the sturdy forest and the rocky fastnesses of the earth, making each yield of its treasures such elements as can be utilized for man. This is an arduous labor and one to which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Louis H. Hays

Hays, Louis H.; manufacturer; born, Cleveland, Jan. 24, 1874; son of Joseph and Rosetta Schwarzenberg Hays; educated, University School, and Cornell University, 1898; married, Cleveland, June 25, 1902, Jessie Feiss; issue, Robert J., born June 28, 1903, Marie F., born Jan. 13, 1907; in 1896, began business career with Charles Eisenman & Co.; remained two years; then joined Louis Roeheimer in the decorating business, The Roeheimer & Hays Studio; after seven years, sold interest to Mr. Roeheimer, and established The Federal Knitting Mills Co.; after two years, and upon the organization of Charles Eisenman & Co., into the K. & … Read more

Biography of Jacob S. Coons

Jacob S. Coons. For nearly sixty years Jacob S. Coons has been a resident of Champaign County. He knew the county when it was wild prairie and swamp, and knows it as one of the garden spots of the world. He came here in the flush of young manhood, with little more than his native thrift and industry, and has found all those rewards which satisfy the ambitious man in material well being, family, home and community esteem. Mr. Coons was born in Tompkins County, New York, eight miles from the University City of Ithaca, a son of William and … Read more

Biography of Rev. Samuel Parker

REV. SAMUEL PARKER. – Mr. Parker was not a pioneer to settle in this country, nor to engage in missionary work, but was a pioneer of pioneers, a “John The Baptist,” to prepare the way for missionaries and emigrants. He was born at Ashfield, Massachusetts, April 23, 1779, and was the son of Elisha and Thankful M. Parker. In 1806 he graduated from Williams College, and from Andover Theological Seminary in the first class that left that institution. He immediately went west to New York, and engaged in home missionary work. He was ordained as a Congregational minister at Danby, … Read more

Biography of Henry D. Green

Green, Henry D., for many years a prominent figure in the commercial affairs of Portland, was born in Tompkins county, New York, October 16, 1825. Shortly after attaining his majority, in 1853, he came to Oregon and established himself at Astoria, in partnership with W. Irving Leonard. This firm purchased the mercantile business house of Leonard & Green, which was established at that point in 1850, by John Green and H. C. Leonard, at that date the only mercantile house, except the Hudson Bay Company’s trading post, at the mouth of the Columbia river. He remained at Astoria until 1856, … Read more

Biography of Frank Austin Bond

FRANK AUSTIN BOND, a distinguished figure in commercial affairs in Western Massachusetts, who in his position as a widely known cotton broker, is in close touch at all times with relevant affairs, both in New England and in the South, and his expert attention to his work is a constructive influence of more than passing significance. Mr. Bond is an able and efficient executive and is a son of John A. and Anna Belle (Kimbell) Bond. His father, who died in 1922, was a prominent hotel proprietor of North Adams and was for many years a member of the city … Read more

Sophia Todd Bowers of Lansing NY

BOWERS, Sophia Todd6, (Josiah5, Abner4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Feb. 5, 1814, died March 15, 1891, married Feb. 20, 1834, Isaac, son of Honteta and Eve Bowers. He was a farmer at Lansing, N. Y. Children: I. Harriet Jane, b. Feb. 8, 1835, m. May 23, 1855, Warren, son of David Crocker, of Lansing, N. Y. He manufactured Wegman’s pianos. They lived at Auburn, N. Y. II. Ezbon Lyon, b. Nov. 8, 1837, m. Dec. 2, 1868, Nancy, daughter of John and Sarah Blakely, of Kortright, Delaware County, N. Y. He was a farmer at Skaneateles, N. Y. III. Mary … Read more

Mary Todd Emery of West Dryden NY

EMERY, Mary Todd6, (Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born 1798, at East Wallingford, Vt., died 1842, at West Dryden, N. Y., married Abner Emery, who was from New Hampshire, he was born April 27, 1796, died Sept. 30, 1881, at Evansville, Wis. Children: I. Stephen, b. Aug. 14, 1815, m. Ann Butts. II. Lucinda, b. Aug. 16, 1818, at West Dryden, N. Y., d. Jan. 27, 1906, at Waterman, Ill., m. Aug. 3, 1837, William Colton, who was b. Oct. 4, 1811, d. Aug. 23, 1905, at Watertown, Ill. III. Lucretia, b. Jan. 29, 1821, at West Dryden, N. Y., … Read more

Biography of George H. Crafts

George H. Crafts, a rancher near Redlands, was born in New York City in 1844, and came to California with his father in 1861. His father, Myron H. Crafts, was born in Whately, Massachusetts, in 1816, and established the first temperance grocery in New York City. He also had a large meat-curing house there, but was burnt out in 1844, and then went to Jackson, Michigan, where he started a soap and candle factory. He next went to Windsor, where he farmed for a while, and then went to Detroit and accepted a position as cashier in C. & A. … Read more

Abner Todd of Hamden CT

Abner Todd4, (Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Nov. 4, 1738, died Jan. 11, 1805 at Lake Ridge, N. Y., married in 1761, Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Todd) Tuttle who was born Nov. 26, 1742, died Oct. 8, 1834. For her ancestry see number 47. “A very remarkable woman.” They removed from Hamden, Conn. to Lake Ridge, N. Y., in 1804, where he bought land and began the work of clearing it off and preparing it for cultivation. Children: *244. Patience, b. Dec. 6, 1762. *245. Mary, b. Dec. 31, 1764. 246. Uri, b. Dec. 7, 1766, d. Dec. 13, … Read more

Almina Todd Sleeper of Dryden NY

SLEEPER, Almina Todd7, (Eleazer6, Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) married in Dryden, N. Y., Horace Sleeper. Children: I. Charles. II. Flora. III. Ruel. IV. Sherwood, lived in Mohall, N. Dakota.

Biographical Sketch of R. B. F. Watrons

R. B. F. Watrons. – No man in Redlands is more worthy of mention in a work of this kind than is B. F. Watrons, M. D. He came to Redlands with $350, with which he bought a team and went to work. He had previously contracted for ten acres of land for $1,000, and had paid $250 down. He began improving it the second year and put up a $400 house. He afterward bought ten acres more for $1,500 and borrowed money for the first payment. In five years he had bought and paid for thirty-one acres in Redlands … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Burt A. Miller

Miller, Burt A.; surety bonds; born, Canton, 0., March 17, 1871; son of William K. and Sarah Burwell Miller; educated at Cornell university and Cincinnati Law School; married, Canton, O., Dec. 27, 1899, Jane Rabe; organized the surety business in Cuba and Porto Rico after the Spanish-American war, drawing law permitting surety companies to operate in Cuba, and fixing the deposit required and tax to be paid; resident vice pres. and mgr. for Northern Ohio of the Southwestern Surety Ins. Co.; served in the 8th inf., O. N. G. (second lieut.); vice pres. Surety Association of Cleveland; member Canton Lodge, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harry Livingston Kaufman

Kaufman, Harry Livingston; iron ore and mining; born, Marquette, Mich., 1882; son of Samuel Robert and Juliet Gravereat Kaufman; educated, Cascasella School, Ithaca, N. Y., and Cornell University; when E. N. Breitung & Co. opened their ore sales agency in Cleveland, he became as a partner in the business, at the time was vice pres. and mgr. of mines in Marquette, Mich.; now divides his time, spending the winters in Cleveland and the summers in Marquette; honorary member Naval Reserves of Michigan; director in the following: First National Bank, Cleveland; First Trust & Savings Co., Cleveland; Negaunee National Bank, Negaunee, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Emmett Ellsworth Hart

Hart, Emmett Ellsworth; civil engineer; born, Little Valley, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1861; son of Austin and Dorleski Manley Hart; educated, public schools of N. Y. State, Cornell University, 1883-1887, degree C. E.; married, Little Valley, N. Y., April, 1891, Rachel Joy Sprague; issue, seven children; two years military training at Cornell University; entered the service of the C., B. Q. R. R., June, 1887; continued with them as draftsman, asst. engineer and division engineer, until November, 1895; general engineering practice, 1895-1897; employed by the U. S. government, 1897-1899 on Deep Water Ways surveys; in July, 1899, entered the employ … Read more

Josiah Todd of Lake Ridge NY

Josiah Todd6, (Josiah5, Abner4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born March 14, 1826 at Lake Ridge, N. Y., and died there Jan. 17, 1892, married Jan. 29, 1852, Amy E., daughter of Benoni and Hulda Peck, who died Jan. 24, 1892. He owned and operated the same farm which his father did before him. It was in Lake Ridge, N. Y. He and his brother Sereno, married sisters. Children: 1068. Jay Willard, b. July 8, 1854, d. Jan. 18, 1892, m. Nov. 23, 1886 Alida H., daughter of Culver H. and Hannah Blue. They had no children. 1069. Hattie Eva, b. Sept. … Read more

Eleazer Todd of West Dryden NY

Eleazer Todd6, (Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born 1800, at Mt. Holly, Vt., married Sally, daughter of Capt. Daniel and Hannah (Bates) Emery, who was born in 1801. She was a sister of Abner Emery who married Mr. Todd’s sister Mary. They both died at West Dryden, N. Y. Children: *1078. Betsey. *1079. Harriet Cooke, b. July 22, 1822. *1080. Maria. *1081. Almina. *1082. Ann. *1083. Jane. *1084. Ruel, b. Aug. 6, 1818.

Biographical Sketch of Sutton, M.W.

M. W. Sutton, attorney at law, of the firm of Sutton & Wenie. Mr. Sutton first came to Wellington, Sumner Co., Kan., in May, 1872, and practiced law until December of same year, when he went to Medicine Lodge, Barber County, and continued his profession until June 1,1876, thence located permanently in Dodge City, where he has since practiced law. He was County Attorney for Barber County two years and resigned; County Attorney for Ford County from November 1, 1876 until March 1882. He was born in Orange County, N. Y., 1848, and was raised in Tompkins County, living there … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles Miner Bradshaw

HON. CHARLES MINER BRADSHAW. – The present efficient collector of customs of the Puget Sound district, a portrait of whom appears in this work, is a gentleman who has worked his way from the lowest rung of the ladder until he now stands at the front rank in his chosen profession, as well as having acquired a recognized position among the men who lead public opinion and form institutions and states. Mr. Bradshaw was born in Bridgewater, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1831, – the son of Salmon and Sarah F. Schurz Bradshaw, and is a lineal descendant of John … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William McKinley Duncan

Duncan, William McKinley; lawyer; born, Pittsburg, Pa., May 19, 1873; son of Andrew J. and Sarah McKinley Duncan; educated, public schools Pittsburgh, Pa., and Rayen High School, Youngstown, O., and Cornell University, Ithaca., N. Y.; married, Youngstown, O., Oct. 18, 1899, Viola Deetrick; issue, three sons; admitted to bar, October, 1894; associated with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey ever since; became member of firm, January, 1911; representing Eastern Trunk Railroad in the engineer arbitration; receiver of the Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R. Co.; member Union, Athletic, Mayfield and Hermit Clubs.