Westfield New York

Biography of Herbert Franklin Sheldon

Herbert Franklin Sheldon. The original settlers of a new state, county or city, irrespective of any intrinsic qualities which they possess, are subjects of peculiar interest to succeeding generations. Men are interested in recalling their accomplishments and delight to treasure in memory the slightest incident connected with their persons and their settlement. As the years go by the pilgrims of New England are gradually elevated from the level of ordinary humanity and placed before our contemplation on pedestals challenging the admiration and respect of posterity. Each successive step in the settlement of the country as adventurous pioneers have pushed out … Read more

Biography of Olney N. Morse

The subject of this sketch, who was one of the argonauts of 1849, was born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, December 4, 1826, and is the son of William and Lydia Ford Morse. During his early years he resided on his father’s farm, and received his education at the common schools until the spring of 1849. In that year he organized a company with nine other young men to cross the plains to the gold fields of California. Being elected secretary and treasurer of the party, he was sent to St. Louis in advance, and purchased the outfit and … Read more

Frances DeEtta Todd Patterson of Westfield NY

PATTERSON, Frances DeEtta Todd9, (Zerah8, Lemuel7, Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Nov. 4, 1838, in Toddsville, N. Y., married Sept. 17, 1861, George W., son of Hon. George W., and Hannah W. (Dichey) Patterson, who was born Feb. 25, 1826, in Lester, N. Y. He studied law in Buffalo, N. Y., for two years after he left college. In 1854 he moved to Corning, N. Y., where he was president of the George Washington Bank; was for many years, president of the Board of Education, and also president of the Board of Water Commissioners. In 1876 they moved … Read more

Biography of Leroy B. Sheldon

Leroy B. Sheldon. One of the oldest merchants in Lyon County, in years of continuous business, is Leroy B. Sheldon of Reading, who had had a store in that village supplying general merchandise to a large community for fully thirty years. Mr. Sheldon is also vice president of the Reading State Bank and had been quite a factor in local affairs. He comes of old American stock, the Sheldons having come from England to the New England states in colonial times. His grandfather was a native of Vermont, moved from Paulet, that state, to Chautauqua County, New York, and is … Read more

Caleb Todd of Clayton MI

Caleb Todd6, (Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Dec. 13, 1807, at Fairfield, N. Y., died March 25, 1856, at Clayton, Genesee County, Mich., married first, at Westfield, N. Y., by Elder Chapman, March 17, 1833, Lucretia Wood, who was born April 10, 1816, at Westfield, N. Y., died Oct. 5, 1840, at Chautauqua, N. Y. He married second, April 21, 1843, at Westfield, N. Y., also by Elder Chapman, Hannah A. Felt, who was born May 4, 1818, at Palmyra, N. Y., died Feb. 2, 1885, at Davison, Mich. Child by Lucretia Wood: *994. George Emmett, b. July 1, … Read more

Frederick P. Todd of Jamestown NY

Frederick P. Todd7, (Thomas Jefferson6, Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born June 24, 1837, in Thompson, Geauge County, Ohio, married, May 30, 1865, Mary A., daughter of George B. Ford, who was born Oct. 13, 1844. In early life he went to Nebraska with his parents in the year 1857, where he remained until 1860, when he went to De Wittville, N. Y., where he attended school during the winter of 1860-61, then he attended the spring and fall terms at the Westfield (N. Y.) Academy in the year of 1861. In the winter of 1861-62, he taught school on … Read more