Biographical Sketch of Samuel Bryant

Samuel Bryant, from Woodstock, Vt., came to Emore in 1824, and settled upon the farm owned by Benjamin Davis, on road 19. Here he resided for a few years, then removed to Morristown, where he cleared up the farm now the property of Alfred Dodge. In 1845, he returned to Elmore, remained here five years, then removed to Franklin county, N. Y., where he died, in April, 1882, aged about ninety-two years. His wife died five days later, aged over ninety-three years. Of their family of six children, three are now living, one, Joseph W., in this town. He was … Read more

Biography of Aaron Rose

AARON ROSE. – This gentleman, one of the earliest pioneers of the Umpqua valley, was born in Ulster county, in the State of New York, June 20, 1813, and was raised a farmer. He was married to Minerva Kelley in 1838. He crossed the plains with his family in 1851, arriving at Foster’s August 22d, and came directly to the valley of the South Umpqua, and settled at the mouth of Deer creek, upon the present site of the flourishing city of Roseburg, Oregon, September 23, 1851. He at once built a house and engaged in farming, in which he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Kelley

James Kelley, from New York, located in the eastern part of Eden at an early date, where he died in 186o, aged sixty-one years. John D., the fourth son of his seven children, born in 1847, now resides on road 22.

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer Sheldon

Ebenezer, son of John Sheldon, was born November 15, 1691. He was captured by Indians in 1704. but returned, and lived in the old Indian House, Deerfield, where he kept a tavern. In 1735 the general court granted to him and his sister Mary three hundred acres of land in consideration of the cost of entertaining Cahuawaga Indians (with whom they had become acquainted during their captivity) on their frequent visits afterwards. In 1744 he sold the Indian House to Jonathan Hoyt, and removed to Fall Town. The first proprietors’ meeting held in the latter town was at his home, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rememberance Sheldon

Remembrance, son of Lieutenant Ebenezer Sheldon, was born October 16, 1717, died April 31, 1787. In 1749 he was sergeant in the French war, in Israel Williams’ company, also in the same company. December 11, 1755, to October 18, 1756, doing scout duty. He was stationed at Colerain, October 19, 1756, to January 23, 1757, and for his services there received five pounds, eighteen shillings, one pence. His name also appears on John Burk’s enlistment roll, ending November 30, 1758, at which time he had charge of a fort in Fall Town. In 1777 he was on the committee of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cephas Sheldon

Cephas, son of Remembrance Sheldon, was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts, 1754. He was a soldier in the revolution from Bernardston and Deerfield, in Captain Amasa Sheldon’s company, Colonel Elisha Porter’s regiment, from July 10 to August 12, 1777, in the northern army; also in Captain Joseph Sheldon’s company, September 23, to October 18, 1777, in the northern army. He removed to Vermont. According to the first federal census he was living in 1790 in Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont, and had in his family two sons under sixteen and four females. He went thence to Waterbury, Vermont, where his sister, Persis … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Humphrey Avery

(IV) Humphrey, son of Samuel and Susanna (Palmes) Avery, was born in Groton, July 4, 1699, died there, March 28, 1788. He married there, February 25, 1724, Jerusha, daughter of William and Margaret (Avery) Morgan, who died September 20, 1763. Children: 1. Humphrey, born March 10, 1725, married, June 19, 1745, Mary Baldwin. 2. William, born September 13, 1726, married Abigail Williams. 3. Solomon, referred to below. 4. Samuel, born October 17, 1731, married (first) in 1760, Sybil Noyes, and (second) Mary Ann Rose. 4. James, born August 13, 1733, married Williams. 5. Jerusha, born June 17, 1735, married Latham … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Sheldon

Richard, son of Cephas Sheldon, was born in Vermont and died suddenly while in Canada. He lived most of his life in Waterbury, where his father and aunt and perhaps other relatives settled. He had four sons: Erastus, born June 2, 1810; Charles, mentioned elsewhere; William R., August 24, 1815; David F.. September 24, 1819. William R. was a bachelor, of a roving disposition, and very courageous: he piloted trains over the plains through to California at an early day; he also served as city policeman in Sacramento.

Biographical Sketch of Solomon Avery

(V) Solomon, son of Humphrey and Jerusha (Morgan) Avery, was born in Groton, June 17, 1729, died there, December 23, 1798. He married there, February 18, 1751, Hannah, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, who was born about 1783 and died February 5, 1775. Children: 1. Zipporah, born February 8, 1752. 2. Esther, born November 19, 1754. 3. Solomon, born August 13, 1757, died May 13, 1833; married Sarah Bugbee. 4. Miles, born September 5, 1760, died June 27, 1850, married in November, 1783, Malinda Pixley. 5. Stephen, born August 13, 1762, died in October, 1842; married (first) in 1780, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Sheldon

Charles, son of Richard Sheldon, was born in Waterbury, Vermont, March 16, 1813. He was educated in the common schools. He came to Phelps, Ontario county, when a young man. Afterward, he decided to locate in what was then the west and he went on foot to Illinois where he took up a large tract of land, but he eventually sold out and returned to Phelps. He engaged in farming there the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Phelps and superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. He married Sarah Crittenden, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Avery

(VI) Henry, son of Solomon and Hannah (Punderson) Avery, was born May 4, 1767, died March 25, 1853. He removed to Columbia county, New York, where he married in Taghkanick, May 20, 1i94 or 1795, Hannah Rockefeller, who was born August 5, 1780 and died February 4, 1865. Children: 1. William, born October 16, 1796, died January 1, 1846; married Sarah Armstrong. 2. Hannah, born January 24, 1800, died September 10, 1855; married Edward H. Reynolds, M. D. 3. Amanda, born July 17, 1802, died August 9, 1841; married, July 23, 1820, Isaac Schaurman. 4. Henry Cyrus, born October 26, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cassius C. Sheldon

Cassius C., son of Charles Sheldon, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, April 2, 1844. He was but four years old, however, when his parents returned to Phelps and he was educated there in the public schools. He has always followed farming. He is an active member of the Methodist church at Seneca Castle. He is a prominent member of the Seneca Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and has been a trustee for thirty years. He married, in 1865, Frances Fiero, of Gorham. They have one son, Charles E., born in 1867, a farmer, married Clara Francs and has one son, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Peter Rockefeller Avery

(VII) Peter Rockefeller, son 0f Henry and Hannah (Rockefeller) Avery, was born in Columbia county, New York, March 20, 1807, died March 4, 1854. He married, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, December 6, 1829, Elizabeth, daughter of Asahel and Mary (Rockefeller) Blakeman, born October 4, 1807, died December 18, 1883, Children 1. Mary, born April 3, 1831, married (first) Cunningham Case and (second) Mark Johnson; children: Esther and Bertha Case, and Caroline Johnson. 2. Asahel Blakeman, referred to below. 3. Esther, born May 23, 1836, married Nelson N. Newman; children: Libbie, Morton, Avery and Ray.

Biographical Sketch of C. Willard Rice

C. Willard, only son of Edward H. and Lucy (Dixon) Rice, was born in Seneca, New York, June 2, 1872. His preparatory education was acquired in the Canandaigua Academy, and he then became a student at Hamilton College, from which institution he was graduated. For a number of years he was engaged in teaching, and served as supervisor of schools at Seneca Falls for a period of six years. He was admitted to the bar in 1907, and immediately opened offices in Geneva, New York, where he is still located. He is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Asahel Blakeman Avery

(VIII) Asahel Blakeman, son of Peter Rockefeller and Elizabeth (Blakeman) Avery, was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, May 16, 1834, and died in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, September 19, 1894. He came to the town of Phelps as a boy of fourteen and engaging in farming there, he became and was for many years one of the representative men of the region. He married Julia, daughter of Ashbel and Emily Horsford, of Phelps. Children: Minnie L., born in 1864, died in 1884; Elizabeth, born in 1873, married Elmer Miller; Willis, referred to below; Frank A., referred to below. (IX) … Read more

Biography of Frank Rice

The present work would be incomplete were it not to record the life of Frank Rice, an eminent lawyer of Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, who has risen to a position in the first ranks of his profession by a series of successful efforts, who has achieved prominence as a statesman and whose tenure of office has always been beneficial to his city, state and country. Frank Rice was born in Seneca, Ontario county, New York, January 15, 1845. His preparatory education was acquired in the Geneva Classical and Union School and Canandaigua Academy, and he then matriculated at Hamilton … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Tilden

Nathaniel Tilden, the immigrant ancestor, came in the ship “Hercules” of Sandwich, England, from Tenterden, England, in March, 1634, bringing with him his wife Lydia, seven children and seven servants. He settled at Scituate where he was living and had a house built according to Parson Lothrop, as early as September, 1634. He was the first ruling elder of the Scituate church, indicating that he was one of the foremost citizens. He held many town offices. His was the third house on Kent street, south of Greenfield lane. He also had lands at Long Marsh, and in 1640 land on … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cornelius Conover

Cornelius Conover lived in the town of Mohawk, Montgomery county, New York, and came thence to Victor, Ontario county. He married Margaret Bowers and they had nine children, two of whom were born in Mohawk, the others in Monroe and Ontario counties, viz: Vincent, Catherine, Benjamin, Betsey, William, Mary J., Angeline, John, mentioned elsewhere, Hannah.

Biographical Sketch of Stephen Tilden

(II) Stephen, son of Nathaniel Tilden, was born in England, about 1630-34; married in 1661, Hannah Little, daughter of Thomas Little, of Marshfield. He resided most of the time at Marshfield. Children: Hannah, 1662; Stephen, 1663; Abigail, 1666; Mary, 1668; Judith, 1670; Joseph, mentioned elsewhere; Mercy, 1674; Ruth, 1676; Isaac, 1678; Ephraim. 1680.

Biographical Sketch of John Conover

John, son of Cornelius Conover, was born at Victor, New York. April 20. 1817. He was educated in the public schools of Victor. He and his three brothers worked on the father’s farm of four hundred acres during their youth, and he followed farming in Victor throughout his active life. In 1860 he planted an apple orchard that has made his farm one of the best fruit growing places of the town. In politics he was a Republican, in religion a Presbyterian. He died in Victor, October 10, 1908. He married, at Akron, Ohio, January 9, 1858, Elizabeth Tucker, who … Read more