Livingston County New York Biographies - Surnames S-T

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Livingston County New York Biographies extracted from the History of Livingston County, New York: from its earliest traditions to the present, together with early town sketches.

Willard P. Schanck Biography

WILLARD P. SCHANCK, — A prosperous farmer and dairyman of the town of Avon, was born at Greece, Monroe county, March 28, 1862. He attended the Union schools of Pittsford and later the Rochester University. In 1883 he purchased the John Hillman farm of 125 acres situated one mile east of von, on which he has since resided. This is in many respects a model farm. Naturally rich, the soil is kept in the highest state of productiveness by artificial and natural fertilization. The farm is well stocked, Mr. Schanck having bred and imported Ayrshire cattle for a number of years now has one of the finest herds of pure bred stock in the country. October 15, 1884, he married Hannah A. Loughburrough, of Pittsford, and they have had one daughter Lura, who died and was buried on her fifth birthday in 1891. His paternal grandfather, John Schanck, was a native of Pleasant Valley, New Jersey, and served as captain in the Revolutionary war. So vigorous was he in the discharge of his duties that a price of fifty guineas was placed upon his head by the British government. He married Maria Dennison, of Pleasant Valley, and they had thirteen children, of whom nine were sons. Hendrix, the eighth son, was born and reared a farmer. He married Sarah Schanck, of Freehold, N. J., and afterward removed to Brighton, (now a part of the city of Rochester,) where he purchased ISO acres of land a large portion of which he devoted to the culture of peaches, and for many years was known as the "Peach King." They had eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity. They were Peter, Mary, Sarah, Lafayette, Elizabeth, John, Gertrude, Cassie, William, Henry and Adelia. John, the sixth son, was born at Pleasant Valley, in 1825. He married Mary Jane Pardee, of Irondequoit, Monroe county, and had two children, Sarah and Willard P. Sarah married C. A. Seaman, a citizen of Honeoye Falls, where they now reside.

Herbert J. Schmitz Biography

HERBERT J. SCHMITZ,— A native of Prussia, was born December 31, 1845. His education was begun at the Gymnasium of Germany from which he graduated in 1863. Four years later he came to America, locating in New York, where he secured employment with a firm of importers. In 1872, owing to ill health, he decided to spend a year on a farm near Saratoga, N. Y., and the following year he accepted the position of teacher of French and German at Ingham University, LeRoy, N.Y., remaining there until 1875, when he returned to Germany and finished his University course, later receiving the degree. P. H. D., at Strasburg. In the winter of 1877, he was tendered the position of principal uf Ingham University, which he accepted and continued in that capacity four years. He then resigned to accept the position he now occupies in the State Normal School at Geneseo, N.Y., as teacher of chemistry, physics and natural science. Dr. Schmitz was married in 1881 to Anna M. Smith, daughter of Timothy A. Smith of Watertown, N. Y.

Norman Seymour Biography

Obituary from the Mount Morris Union of February 25, 1892.

Our community was greatly sliocked on Sunday evening to hear of the sudden death of Norman Seymour, which occurred at seven o'clock, at his residence at the head of State street, where he had lived for thirty years. He had been in perfect and splendid health until Thursday morning, when an attack of bowel difficulty, which was thought only temporary, developed into a condition which prompt and active treatment by his physician failed to alleviate. It was decided on Sunday that his only chance for life lay in an operation, which was performed by Dr. Dodge of this village, and Dr. Lauderdale of Geneseo, assisted by Drs, Povall and Earle. When the necessity of the operation was told to Mr. Seymour, he met the news with the greatest calmness and nerve, and replied, without a question, that he was ready. The operation was pronounced a success by the surgeons. The patient's pulse had kept up unusually well through it, and it was generally and immediately felt that his life was saved, but despite this he died in one hour and a half from the shock produced by the operation, never fully recovering his consciousness after the etherization.

Norman Seymour was born in Herkimer, Herkimer county, on the 16th day of December, 1820. He was the son of Norman Seymour of West Hartford, Conn., who was own cousin of Henry Seymour, the old Canal Commissioner, and the father of Governor Seymour. They both went from Connecticut intO' Herkimer county about the same time. The then Norman Seymour, Sr., afterwards lived in this village for many years, and died here in 1859, aged seventy-seven years, and it was his intention, being a deeply religious man, to educate his two sons, Norman and McNeil, for missionaries. McNeil who afterwards became a distinguished lawyer of this place, and whose untimely death in 1870 is still remembered, was sent through college; and so would have been Norman but for the state of his health, which absolutely prevented the training and life which his marked literary ability naturally preferred, and towards which, during all the years of his business life, he continually turned.

His sister, Mary Seymour, having just become the wife of the late Judge Hastings, he came here as a young man of eighteen to visit her, and this led to his life residence in Mount Morris.

In 1843 he married Miss Francis H. Metcalf, a daughter of Henry Metcalf, of Keene, N. H., who, after her father's early death, had lived with he.' uncle, the late James R. Bond, in his residence on State street, from which she was married, and which for the past fifteen years has been the home of Mr. Seymour's son, Norman A. Next year he would, therefore, have celebrated his golden wedding. He was also a brother-in-law of the late Edward Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasur}' in Lincoln's Cabinet. It was interesting to hear Mr. Seymour describe his first coming to Mount Morris in a stage from Canandaigua. From that year until this, he has been an active, interested, go-ahead business man of Mount Morris. For the last twenty-five years, and until he retired from business three years ago, he had been a hardware merchant, and when he left the store, which he purchased fortysix years ago, and owned at his death, he had been man and boy fifty years under the same roof. But during all this time the real interest of his life was in that literary work which could be presented to the public by an oration or an historical address. He was an eloquent speaker, and he had the faculty of only touching upon interesting topics, and struck at once to the key note of the subject. For this reason, in the old days, though the Mount Morris bar had strong men, he was selected often to make addresses. He gave the oraiion at the time of Lincoln's funeral s»drvices here, also the oration on the return of the soldiers from the war, and the historical address at the opening of Livingston Hall. He gave once the annual address before the pioneer picnic at Silver Lake, and as recently as 1890 he gave one before the same society on. Mary Jemison, the white woman. He gave an annual address once before the Genesee County Historical Association and a great many others before various associations of a pioneer and historical character. He was a member of the Albany Institute, a life member of the New York Historical Society, and honorary member of many others. He was one of the chief promoters of the Livingston County Historical Society, was once its president and for many years its secretary, never missed its annual meetings and made numerous addresses before it, among others, one on the late John R. Murray of Murray Hill, who was a man he admired and prized, and who reciprocated his friendship. The last address delivered by Mr. Seymour was at the meeting of the County Historical Society in this village last month, at the Seymour Opera House, when he read an article upon the late Dr. Ames.

Not many now, save old residents, can recall, nor perhaps have even heard of the old Mount Morris days--the days of the canel, the old toll bridge across the river, of riding down to the second lock on the packets, as they left here at seven p.m. on the ringing of the bell on the old Howard Athenaeum. Of those days, when Mr. Seymour was an ardent, keenly-observing man, he had innumerable anecdotes and recollections that would have filled a volume. He was, too, a whitty man, saw the ludicrous side of things, as well as the serious, a capital judge of charactor, sized up men in an instant, though never saying much about them, and with an wonderful memory that retained till his last day, the impression of every instant of his life, he could talk for hours until one saw vividly again the old charactors of the old days.

During all the years, over thirty, when Mr. Hugh Harding was the editor of this paper, Mr. Seymour contributed to it constantly. He wrote for it and for the Rochester Democrat, under the pen name of Robert Morris, the obituaries of his friends and acquaintances and historical articles, year in and year out, until the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. It was a standing joke with his friends that he had the obituaries written and pigeon-holed of every one, ready to be drawn at sight. He once prepared a long one of his wife, which he used to read in her presence, with great merriment, to his friends. He probably was the best posted man in the county on all matters of its historical lore; an authority and a reference on all such topics, and his interest in them was undying and never flagged.

He was an ardent Republican from the birth of that party until he died, and attended, as a delegate from this county, the first State convention at which it came forth. He greatly admired Horace Greeley, and took the Log Cabin and Tribune for forty years. He knew Mr. Greeley, and used to tell the atory of once when riding from here to Perry with him in the. dead of winter, very cold, and snow filling the cross-roads, how, when half way over, Mr. Greeley •started up with, "Good God! Mr. Seymour, I have left my lecture," and they had to return here for his satchel.

He was once collector of the port in the old canal days, and once postmaster, member of the Board of Education, trustee of the Presbyterian church, of the village, of the Cemetery Association from its organization, and member of its executive board. He was one of the three commissioners who selected its present beautiful location, and threw all his influence to have that site chosen instead of enlarging the old cemetery, as was talked.

Mr. Seymour was fond of his home, fond of the country, fond of this beautiful valley of the Genesee, and he seldom went away from it. In 1882 he spent the summer in Europe, which he greatly enjoyed, and he made several public addresses, after his return, on his travels, for the benefit of local organizations, and had he lived he would have gone again.

He had a broad mind and generous heart; in business honest; among friends sincere, a citizen of pure conscience, reverencing law, and devoted to the public weal; a thorough gentleman, bearing himself gently to every man, whether of high or low estate. He filled a useful and distinguished place among the people in whose midst his life was spent, and by his death they have suffered a great loss, socially as well as in a public sense.

He was a religious man by temperament, though not caring much about theology, but early united with the Presbyterian church. He was a man utterly without any nonsense about him. No fad or freak ever could get any lodgement in his mind, and society, which he enjoyed greatly, had no gradations for him. His tastes were simple and elementary. He attached a proper value to money, but that was all. He enjoyed life immensely in that true and elementary way through which real and lasting pleasure can only come. No one ever saw him look bored or tired of life. He was honesty itself. The idea of taking advantage of any one, or advancing himself at the expense of any one, never entered his mind. He was always ready to do more for any one else than himself, and gentle and simple things gave him pleasure.

During nearly fifty years of his married life no human being ever heard him say one harsh or unkind word to his family; no, not one!

He never gossiped; never said an unkind word of any one in his long life; never gave a thought to the schemes and bickerings of men no more than if on some other planet they rose and fell; but he was nevertheless ambitious, and considering his gentle and literary temperament, and his early assuming all the responsibilities of life, he was a successful and a happy man. His perfect health contributed also to this. He was a great walker, fond of tramping with his grand-children; of a nervous, quick temperament, and to within one week his step was as active, and his figure, if you did not see the gray hair and face, like a man of twenty-five.

Mr. Seymour was greatly saddened by the sudden death in March, 1891, of his only grandson, George Seymour Howell, who was a junior in Harvard College, and between whom there was great sympathy and affection. He bowed his head to let the terrible grief roll over him, and he used often to say that it seemed as if the great waves would bear him down. During all this past year, two or three times each week, he could be seen walking alone up the hillside to the cemetery, where he would sit down and mourn for one whose gentleness was akin to his own, and who saw with him the tender and ludicrous side of life. Here on the seat he would sit while far away rose up the mighty hillsides of our beautiful valley — signs to him of the eternal, immutable, silent majesty of nature, that knows not that it exists itself, or is a part of any beauty.

Spring is nigh at hand, but

"His share of all the pomp that fills
The circuit of the summer hills
Is, that his grave is green."

Still the honest, manly, gentle, unasking heart has hot beat in vain. Its influence will not be lost; and let us, in concluding, quote his old, favorite obituary couplet — quote it, alas! for him, now in turn:

"Sow with a generous hand.
Pause not tor toil or pain;
Weary not through the summer heat. Weary not through the cold spring rain,
But wait 'till the autumn comes
For the sheaves of golden grain."

Mr. Seymour's wife and his four children survive him, Mary S. Howell of Albany, wife of George R. Howell, State Librarian; Henry H. Seymour, attorney, of Buffalo; Norman A. and Edward C, of this village. Also two sisters, Mrs. Lydia Hinman and Miss Catherine M. Seymour of Mount Morris.

His funeral was held on this (Thursday) afternoon at the Presbyterian church, where Rev. Dr. Parsons gave a feeling and admirable funeral address.

The honorary pall bearers were: Hon. O. D. Lake, H. E. Brown and Lyman Carr of Mount Morris; Chas. Shepard of Dansville; Archibald McLean and Hon. Wm. Hamilton of Caledonia, and Theodore Swan of Groveland.

The active pall bearers were: M. B. McNair, George S. Ellicott, J. M. Prophet, Jerome A. Lake, Frank H. Sleeper and M. B. Turpin.

From the New York Sun, February 23, 1892.

Norman Seymour of Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, died at his home on Sunday, after a surgical operation. He was in his seventy-first year. Few men in Western New York were as widely known among the old residents as was Mr. Seymour. He had made a special study of the history of the Genesee Valley, including the region from Glen Iris to the Rochester Falls and Charlotte. He was the author of numerous papers concerning Mary Jemison, "The White Woman"; Red Jacket, and the Six Nations and their treaties and warfare in Western New York; and in the last twenty-five years few meetings of historical societies in Livingston and adjacent counties have taken place without addresses from him on the early history of the towns in which they were held. At the time of his death he was secretary of the Livingston county Historical Society, and had almost completed a voluminous history of Livingstun County, for which he had gathered a rare collection of pamphlets, prints and original manuscripts of the eighteenth century. Mr. Seymour was native of Herkimer, in this state, and went to Mount Morris early in life. He retired from business some time ago and devoted his time to his historical work.

Rochester Democrat and Chronici^e, February 23, 1892.

Norman Seymour died at Mount Morris on Sunday evening, at ths age of seventy-one years. He had been a resident of Mount Morris more than half a century, and was one of the most prominent and widely-known citizens of the place. His illness lasted only four days, he having enjoyed perfect health up to Wednesday of last week. He was engaged in the hardware business in Mount Morris for many years, retiring about three years ago. He was a man gifted with rare literary ability, and distinguished himself as an eloquent public speaker and fine writer. He was regarded as authority on all matters of local history, and for many years had been gathering material for a county history, which he intended to publish. He was one of the promoters of the Livingston County Historical Society, in which h'e had always taken a deep interest. Mr. Seymour was a man of broad mind and generous heart; in business honest; among friends sincere; a citizen of pure conscience, reverencing law, and devoted to the public weal; a thorough gentleman, bearing himself gently to every man, whether of high or low estate. He filled a useJul and distinguished place among the people in whose midst his life was spent, and by his death they have suffered a great loss, socially as well as in a public sense.

Walter H. Sherman Biography

WALTER H. SHERMAN — A prosperous agriculturist of the town of Avon comes from a family who had much to do with the making of early colonial history. Among his ancestors appears the name of Richard Warren, of the Mayflower. He also traces his ancesti^ in a direct line to Philip Sherman, who emigrated to America, from Essex, England, in 1634 and settled at Roxbury, Mass. A few years later he removed to Rhode Island and became an associate of Roger Williams in the founding of that colony. He was the first secretary of the colony, and in critical periods, as a man of intelligence, wealth and influence, was consulted by those high in authority. Benjamin Sherman was burn in Dartsmouth, Mass. He was fourth in descent from Philip Sherman, and in 1764. removed to Duchess county and settled at the foot of Quaker Hill. His house was for a time the headquarters of General Washington and it was under his roof that the trial of General Schuyler took place. Pie and his son Abiel were wagon makers and farmers, whigs in politics, and Abiel became a member of the State Assembly, The wife of Abiel was Joanna Howland of Dutchess county. Their son Henry, followed the trade of his ancestors and in 1836 came to this vicinity, seeking a new location for a home. He returned to Dutchess county and the year following, with his family sailed up the Hudson in a sloop as far as Albany, thence by Erie canal to Pittsford and by teams to the town of Rush, Monroe county, where he bought land and established a home. He died at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Emma Halloway of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, was a grand-daughter of William Halloway, an officer in the Revolutionary army. Howland Sherman son uf Henry and the father of Walter, purchased the Sherman homestead, in Avon in 1856. He married Mary Price of Rush, who was born September 26, 1823, and was the daughter of George Price, a native of Frederick, Md., who came with his parents to central New York in 1801. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Amanda J., wife of Horace L. Bennett, of Rochester; Frances C, wife of John A. Munson, of Savannah, Wayne county, and Walter H. Weaker H. Sherman was born in the town of Rush, Monroe county, May 28, 1854. His education was obtained in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Fairfield Seminary, in Herkimer county and the Albany State Normal School. His entire life, with the exception of a few years spent in business in Rochester, has been passed on the home farm. In August 1879 he married Harriet C. Mitchell, daughter of Wm. Dean Mitchell, a merchant of Lima, N. Y., and a native of Penn Yan, where he was born November 8. 1823. He married Nancy Barstow Coryelle in June 1854 and they had but one daughter. He died-in October 1880. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Laura Coryelle, born January 18, 1882; Mary Howland, born September 6, 1883 and Frances Caldwell born May 27. 1887.

Mr. Sherman has for many years taken an active interest in politics and has served the town of Avon two years as supervisor.

S. Truman Short Biography

S. TRUMAN SHORT, — A retired farmer residing in the village of Hemlock, is a son of Josiah Short, a native of Rehoboth, Mass., who in 1821 at the age of twenty-seven, journeyed westward and located in Ontario county, where he purchased ninety acres of land embracing what is now the town of Richmond. He made the entire journey of five hundred miles on foot. He remained but a short time when with two companions he returned on foot to his native town where he remained two years. During that time, in 1823, he married Sarah P. Carpenter, of Rehoboth. Shortly after their marriage, they returned with tneir earthly possessions in a covered wagon to Richmond, where they proceeded to clear ihe land and establish a home. This farm was sold by him in 1832 and he then purchased of Sylvester Wheeler a tract of land in the town of Livonia n<^ar what is now the village of Hemlock. It was in close proximity to what was then the thriving village of Jacksonville. A frame house was erected and here Mr. Short passed in comfort the remainder of his days. He died at the age of seventy-four years. Seven children were born to them, six of whom lived to maturity Josiah C, Orin L., S. Truman, Anna married Dudley Reed of Richmond, N. Y., Mary B., married Alvah Bullock, of Pawtucket, R. I,, Cordelia S. died at the age of seven and Lurana N. marled Lyman Ray.

S. Truman Short was born in Richmond, N. Y., November 19, 1829. He was educated in the Hemlock district school, said to be the first school organized in the county, and from 1849 to 1856 was engaged winters in teaching this school and summers assisted his father in the care of the farm. He also taught for one year in Michigan. His marriage with Delia M. Stevens, daughter of Jesse Stevens, of Richmond, N. Y., occurred in 1856. Jesse Stevens was a native of Massachusetts and his family was one of the earliest who settled in Ontario county. His father kept an inn at Honeoye Flats and the farm he owned is still in the possession of the Stevens family. Mr. and Mrs. Short have four children: Jane C. married Ellis Stone, a farmer of Livonia. Delia S. married Orvell Macomber, now of Saulsbury, Md. Mary S. married Dr. F. A. Wicker of Livonia Village, and Ernest T. married Bernice Smith and resides on the homestead. In 1856, shortly after his marriage, Mr. Short purchased a farm at Honeoye Lake which he sold after five years when he removed to the home farm and after his father's death purchased the interests of the heirs in the homestead, which consists of two hundred acres of productive land lying north and east of Hemlock village. In politics Mr. Short is a loyal Republican. His first presidential vote was cast for General Winheld Scott in 1852, since which time he has taken an active interest in politics, local and national. He has held for three years the office of assessor for the town of Livonia.

Professor L. N. Steele Biography

PROFESSOR L. N. STEELE,— Principal of the Mount Morris High school, has held that important office since the fall term of 1896, coming here from Lyons, N. Y., where he had served two years as vice principal of the public schools of that place. Prof. Steele was born at East Bloomfield, N. Y., in 1868, His education was begun in the East Bloomfield Union school, after which he entered the Normal school at Brockport, N. Y., graduating in 1889 and in 1893 he graduated from Hamilton College. His thorough educational training, together with a systematic course of self culture, has well fitted him for the responsible position he occupies. The Mount Morris High School of today comprises nine grades and a high school with thirteen teachers in all, and from 520 to 540 scholars in regular attendance. The academic department has more than doubled in attendance since 1896, when Prof, Steele became Principal, In 1897 an addition was built to the main building — which allowed an increase of three grades over six, the former number — two recitation rooms a library and an office for the superintendent. The present preceptress is Miss Laura Mills Latimer, a graduate of Syracuse University, and her assistant is Miss Fannie Baker, a graduate of the Geneseo Normal School.

Timothy C. Steele Biography

TIMOTHY C. STEELE, — Of Mount Morris, is a native of Hamilton, Ontario, having been born at that place August 26, 1858. When seven years of age his parents came to this place where they have since resided. Mr. Steele received a good common school education, after which he learned the broom making trade which he followed nine years. He then during the two years following clerked in a grocery store and while serving in that capacity acquired a thorough knowledge of tlie grocery business. Possessed of an ambitious spirit, Mr. Steele established himself in the grocery business in Mt. Morris in 1888, which he has since conducted upon enterprising and progressive lines. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Susan Sturm, daughter of Morris Sturm, of Dansville, N. Y. They have four children: George E., James LeRoy, Beatrice and Dorothy.

Thomas V. Stephenson Biography

THOMAS V. STEPHENSON, —A prominent harness manufacturer and dealer, of Avon, N. Y., was born in Livonia, N. Y., January 6, 1866. When an infant his parents removed to Avon, where his father, Robert R. Stephenson, purchased a farm on which he has since resided. Thomas received his education at the public schools and in 1891 purchased the George Nowlen stock of harnesses and in 1903 added to his harness business carriages and agricultural implements which has proved a profitable venture. He now occupies his own building; has a thriving business which he conducts upon thoroughly sound business principles and enjoys the entire confidence of the people with whom he has dealings. A Republican in politics. Mr. Stephenson has always taken a deep interest in the success ot his party and has served in various local political offices, having never been defeated for any office to which he was nominated. He has served two years as corporation collector, three years as member of the Board of Education and was recently elected to a second term of three years, and is now a member of the town board of assessors. He is a member of the Avon Springs Lodge No. 570 F. & A. M., and for the past fifteen years has been a member of the Avon Springs cornet band. He was married in 1893 to Alida J. Redmond, of Tuscarora and has two children: Frank H. and Lindale V.

Mr. Stephenson's father came to America when a young man from South Scotland and for a time was located in New York, where he followed the trade of marble cutter. He came to Livingston county about 1860 and loca*^ed at Livonia, where he engaged in farming. He married Frances Staudenmeier, of Wurtemburg. Germany, and reared a family of six children, of whom Thomas was the youngest. He departed this life in February, 1883. His wife died four years previously. Of his six children only three are now living: Harry, who lives at East Avon; Frank and Thomas V., both of Avon.

Neil Stewart Biography

NEIL STEWART — Who died in the town of York on the thirtieth day of April, 1893, was for years one of the leading business men in that town. He was of Scotch parentage, his father Alexander Stewart, having been born in the Highlands of Scotland in the 3'ear 1778. When about thirty years of age he married Margaret McDougal of the same neighborhood and came to America in 1810, settling in the town of York where Mr, Stewart purchased a tract of heavily timbered land. Here they established their home and reared to maturity six children, four sons and two daughters. Alexander Stewart died in February 1845, and his wife Margaret survived him fifteen years.

Neil Stewart was born in the town of York, July 12, 1811. He acquired a good education, first attending the district school and later a select school in Caledonia, following which he began teaching and pursued that vocation in the schools of York and Caledonia for several years. As he grew to manhood he developed an unusual aptitude for business and at the age of twenty-three he entered the employ of J. H. and E. S. Beach, millers of Rochester and Auburn, and soon thereafter was given full charge of their large warehouses and boats at York landing on the Genesee river. He continued in that capacity for six years when he established a grain and wool business at York village. He also in early life was engaged in a mercantile business at York Center, where he conducted a thriving establishment for the sale of dry goods, groceries, etc., for many years and during a portion of this time he served as postmaster. He also at one time owned and conducted a large flour mill at York landing. In 1870 he began dealing extensively in grain, wool and lumber, and for a period of fifteen years was undoubtedly the largest purchaser of wool and grain in the country, having a warehouse at Livonia as well as York, the direct management of the business being vested in his son, Alexander N. On October 1, 1871, he engaged in the banking business at Livonia, which proved successful, and a few years before his death his son, Alexander N., became a partner in the enterprise and thereafter managed and controlled the business, eventually becoming the sole proprietor. In early days Mr. Stewart affiliated with the Whig party but after the organization of the Republican party in 1854 he allied himself with them. He served his town three years as Supervisor and also held the office of Assessor and Justice of the Peace for several years. His marriage with Jane Nichol, a daughter of William and Jane Nichol, of York, took place March 12, 1840. Ten children were born to them. Margaret, the widow of Homer McVean, late of York; Jane R., the wife of George K. Whitney, of Geneseo; Eliza, the wife of John Sinclair, of Caledonia; Ella, the wife of Edward C. Caldwell, of York, Alexander V.; Agnes, the wife of George D. Smith, ut New York City; Charles N., William N., Mary K., the wife of George A. Donnan, of York; and Neil. Jr., who died in New York City March 30, 1891. Mrs. Stewart died May 20, 1891. Neil Stewart at the time of his death was possessed of nearly two thousand five hundred acres of land, which he acquired through various purchases during the course of his successful career, and the management of which during the later years of his life occupied all his time.

Truman Lewis Stone Biography

TRUMAN LEWIS STONE. — In a history of pioneer settlement of Livingston county and Western New York, as this is intended to be, there is very little to say of the present generation that is of interest.

Mr. Stone is a descendant of a long line of pioneers. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, bore a conspicuous part, and close connection with the growth and prosperity of this region; their biographies alone, if followed closely in all their relations to our local region, would be almost a history of the Genesee country. The Stone family came from Kent and Surrey counties, England, to Guilford, Conn,, in 1639. The English ancestor was the Rev. Samuel Stone, of Ockley, England. He was a nonconformist divine, and, for good reasons, could not leave England himself, advised his sons John and William to emigrate to the New England across the seas where they could escape Lauds persecutions and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.

These two brothers joined the Rev. Henry Whitfield's Colony and sailed for America, landing at New Haven in June, 1639, their ships being the first to drop anchor in that harbor. In September, of the same year, the Colony purchased a "plantation" of the Indians, including what is now Guilford and Madison, Conn, Here, five generations of the family lived and died.

Russell, the fifth descendant of John, the emigrant, soon after the Revolutionary war, and about one hundred and fifty years after the landing of the Colony at New Haven, moved with his family to Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass.. where Reuben Stone, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born, and in 1790-91, removed to Greenville, Green county, N. Y., where he (Russell) died in 1801.

Reuben, with his brother, Joel Stone, came to Livonia, Livingston county, in the winter of 1809-10, where he settled on lot number 39. This land was owned by the Pulteney estate and was left by Sir William Pulteney to his daughter, Henrietta Laura Pulteney. She died in July, 1808, leaving a cousin. Sir John Lowther Johnson, her sole heir, who also died in 1811. He had made a will, willing all his real estate in America in trust to Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, Charles Herbert Pierpont, David Cathcart and Masterton Ure, as trustees, for the two sons of George Frederick Johnstone, the heirs being twins and both born after the death of their father. Joseph Fellows was a subagent of the Pulteney estate in 1810, and later, the successor of Col. Troupe. Owing to the chaotic condition of the ownership of these lands and the prospect being very poor of procuring a title, Reuben, in the fall of 1813, decided to go on further into the Genesee country and let another brother, Orin, who had come on from Greenville with their mother, Lois Stone, have his claim to this land. The records show that the farm was deeded to Orin Stone on November 13, 1813, by Joseph Fellows, as attorney for the aforesaid parties, Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, &c. The deed was recorded December 6, 1813, in Liber 20 of Deeds, page S3, Ontario county; the consideration named was $450.00. This is the farm on which the Retsof salt mine is located, south of Livonia.

Reuben moved to Orangeville, Wyoming (then Genesee) county, in September, 1813, and settled on lot number 28 of land owned by the Holland Land Company; he was one of the early settlers, being a leader in the organization of the town, the placing of public roads, locating schools and organization of the first Presbyterian chuich in the town of which he. afterwards, became a useful member.

He was one of the earliest dairymen on the Holland purchase, selling home manufactured cheese in eastern markets as early as 1823.

He held numerous public offices, the duties of which he always discharged with ability; his manner was pleasant and agreeable; he spent his entire life and declining years on the large tract of land taken up by him; he was a true type of the old Puritan stock, from which he came, honest, industrious, upright man whose whole life is a worthy example.

Here, on this farm, he raised a large family, among whom was Harvey, born February 14, 1818, the father of the subject of this sketch. He married Miss Eliza Lewis, February 20, 1840, who was born February 20, 1820, on the farm adjoining. She was a daughter of the Hon. Truman Lewis and Lucy (Porter) Lewis.

Truman Lewis was born November 5, 1784, at Newhartford, Conn., and died at Warsaw, N. Y., September 15, 1865, He married Lucy Porter, October 3, 1811, who was born March 6, 1795; she was the daughter of Seth and Sarah (Cowles) Porter and a grand-daughter of Capt. John Porter, of Revolutionary fame. Truman left his father's house at Vernon, N. Y., in the spring of 1807 and made his way on foot much of the way through a wilderness to Orangeville, Wyoming (then Genesee) county, where he" bought a tract of land of the Holland Land Company, in what was then an unbroken forest. Here, he and his wife literally hewed out, for themselves and their children, a home; he was a member of the Presbyterian church; in the War of 1812, he was in active service, holding a commission as ensign from Governor Daniel D. Tompkins. His grandson, Mr. George A. Lewis, of W^arsavv, N. Y., now has the parchment; he held many important offices, representing Genesee county in the Legislature in the years 1834-35, and was the first treasurer of Wyoming county.

For a great many years, he was the agent for Wyoming county of the Farmers Loan & Trust company of New York, and of the trustees under the will of James Lloyd deceased, of Boston, Mass. These parties were the successors of the old Holland Land Company, and held a large number of mortgages and owned a great number of farms in that part of Wyoming county included in the Holland Land Company's purchase. This business entrusted to him was, therefore, one of great magnitude; he so discharged his duties, however, as to both merit and receive the most gratifying commendation of the companies he represented and the thanks and confidence of all persons occupying these lands, and liable to pay these mortgages, who everywhere expressed their gratitude for his kindness and forbearance and their perfect faith in his integrity and justice.

He was a man of great executive ability, of eminent good judgment and of the strictest integrity; he was also a genial, companionable man, possessing an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes with wiiich he often entertained his friends. He was a son of Oliver Lewis. Jr., of Farmington, Conn., a grandson of Oliver Lewis, a great grandson of Nathaniel Lewis, of Farmington, Conn., a great, great grandson of Nathaniel Lewis of Farmington, who was a son of William Jr., who was born in England and came to Aiuerica with his father, William in the ship "Lion" landing in Boston, September 16, 1632. William, the emigrant, was a member of the Braintree Company, which located at Cambridge, Mass. He moved to Hartford, Conn, in 1636, being one of the early settlers. He moved from there to Hadley, Mass., in 1659; he again moved to Farmington, Conn., in 1677 where he died August 2, 1683.

Harvey Stone. Esq., purchased a large farm in the township of Orangeville soon after his marriage; subsequently, he purchased more land and erected fine buildings; he lived on a portion of this land, in comfort, all his life. He held the office of Justice of Sessions for the county for twelve 3'eais, and was a Justice of the Peace for more than twenty years; he traveled all over that region, trying lawsuits and settling disputes of citizens. The late Judge, Andrew J. Lorish in a letter says:

"He presided in, and run his own court, and no party in a suit before him failed to receive justice; no matter who his lawyer was, impartial justice was always dealt out to suitors; he was remarkable along that line; he could grasp the question in dispute and readily see what justice required and was fearless in administering it. He never permitted technicalities to stand in the way, and, in a great many matters of dispute between his neighbors, he sat as a mediator and peacemaker. The same independence and fearlessness that characterized his official acts was seen in his political life. He was always ready, when disagreeing with political associates, to give a reason for the faith that was in him. His commanding presence and personal address, with an inexhaustible fund of good humor and agreeable conversational powers, made him a welcome party in any gathering. Everybody conceded conscientiousness and honesty to the acts of Harvey Stone, whether personal, judicial or political."

He was a man of sterling virtue, remarkable uprightness of character, possessing a great dislike for anything petty or mean; he was ever ready to oblige when it could be done without sacrifice of principle, but would not give up his own personal opinions. He attended and supported the Presbyterian church; his education was obtained in the pioneer log school-house, and constant contact through a long life with the best educated men of his locality, good books and a keen observation of occurrences.

At the time of his birth, the struggles of his parents for a comfortable home were by no means ended. When we remember also that he was seven years old when DeWitt Clinton made his memorable journey from Albany to Buffalo on the Erie canal; that he was twelve years old when the first short railroad was built in this country, and that he was twenty-seven years old when Morse first exhibited to the world the wonders of the telegraph, we can easily understand that, in his younger days, his environment was unfavorable to a liberal education. He was, however, a great reader, keeping constantly abreast of the times, in current literature and the general news of the day.

While the names of such men are not always written in flaming characters on historic pages, it is nevertheless true that, in more respects than one, their lives are heroic. When we recall their limitations and remember their interest in others, and their labors freely given for others, as well as their successful struggles against every obstacle standing between them and their hope, we may well apply to their lives these words of Wordsworth: —

"Life, I repeat, is energy ot love.
Divine, or human; exercised in pain,
In strife, and tribulation; and ordained
If so approved and sanctified, to pass
Through shades and silent rest, to endless joy."

Harvey and Eliza (Lewis) Stone had three children: Morris L. Stone who now lives in Wamego, Kansas, Mrs. Geo. L. Parker who lives in Buffalo, and Truman Lewis Stone, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Orangeville, Wyoming county, July 1, 1853. He married Miss Helen A. Lewis, a daughter of Oliver and Eliza (Preston) Lewis, of Cattaraugus county, N. Y. He has held numerous public positions, and has worked continuously for the past nineteen years, for the public, nov^ holding position of steward of the Craig Colony for the care and treatment of epileptics at Sonyea, Livingston county, N. Y., an account of which is given in this history.

Now, when that little company of nonconformists in Surrey and Kent counties, England, with Elder Henry Whitfield at their head, having lost all but conscience and honor, took their lives in their hands and fled to America, seeking nothing but freedom, to worship God in their own way, crossing the Atlantic in the crazy little barks that bore at the peak the cross of St. George, the sole emblem of their country and their hopes, leaving home and dear friends behind when they knew not where to lay their heads —

"They little thought how clear a light
With years should gather round that day.
How love should keep their memories bright,
How wide a realm their sons should sway."

We honor them for their courage, for their virtue, for their self denial, for their hard work, for their common sense, for their sense of duty, for their fear of God, for their sense of desire for liberty. In common with all those generations through which we trace our lineage, to their hardy stock, we owe a great share to all that we have achieved, and all that we enjoy of strength, of freedom and of prosperity, and so long as people continue to love truth, duty, liberty and justice, they will never tire of hearing the praises of the Pilgrims, the Puritans and Pioneers, or of heaping fresh flowers upon their graves.

Charles N. Strobel Biography

CHARLES N. STROBEL, — A prominent merchant and postmaster of Moscow, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., February 2, 1855. His education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood and his early life was passed on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one he came to Livingston County and first located at Greigsville, where he was engaged in the threshing machine business for about five years. He then removed to Kansas, where he farmed during the succeeding Hve years, after which he returned east and for some five or six years operated a farm in Wyoming county. In 1891 he came to Moscow and purchased the grocery business of John Barrett. This he conducted profitably until 1900, when the fire that destroyed the business portion of the village destroyed his establishment as well. He, however, immediately opened in new quarters with a new stock of goods and is conducting a thriving business. Upon becoming established in his new quarters in 1900 he received the appointment of postmaster, which office he now holds. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Mary J. Barrett, a daughter of William Barrett, an influential farmer of Greigsville, N. Y. They have three sons, Elmer M., Leon H. and William B. Mr. Strobel has acquired his present standing in the business community through his own efforts entirely, with no financial assi&tan-ce from any source whatever, he has through the early practice of economy and with zeal and perseverance steadily advanced from a state of penury to one of modest independence. He is a member of the Mount Morris lodge of Masonsand a valued member of the Historical Society of Livingston county.

Warren D. Shultz Biography

WARREN D. SHULTS, — Of Mount Morris, was born at Avoca, Steuben county, N. Y., June 25, 1854. His education was obtained first at the district schools of Wheeler and Avoca, and later he took a three year course in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. At the age of seventeen he entered the office of a produce dealer at Bath, N. Y., where he remained until 1874. In 1877 he accepted a position as salesman and collector for a large produce house in New York and continued in that capacity until 1881, when he engaged in the produce business on his own account having an establishment, first on Reed street and then on Barclay street in New York. In 1887 he disposed of his business and returned to Avoca where he remained until 1891 when he became associated with the firm of Ferrin Bros. (Inc.,) produce dealers, and has since been the resident manager of the Mount Morris branch. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Emma Frances Pierce of New York City. Mr. Shults is a member of the F. & A. M. Mount Morris lodge No. 122, and R. A. M. Chapter No. 137, Avoca Lodge No. 538 I. O. O. F. and Cyrene Commandery No. 39 K. T. of Rochester.

William H. Swan Biography

WILLIAM H. SWAN,— Of Mount Morris, was born at New Berlin, N. ¥., July 26, 1835. While an infant his parents removed to Mt. Morris, where they resided at the time of their death. Henry Swan, the father of William, was born September 12, 1802. He was an energetic, progressive business mat). Upon his arrival in Mt. Morris in 1836 he secured the contract for building a portion of the Genesee Valley canal, then in course of construction. He afterward entered mercantile life and some years later established a commission business in Mt. Morris, which he conducted until his death, which occurred August 3, 1867. His wife, formerly Sarah Maria Mills, a sister of the late Hiram P. Mills and daughter of William and Mary Mills, was born Mar. 3, 1815. She has one sister living, Mrs. George H. Bradbury, of Mt. Morris.

William H. Swan received his education in the public schools of Mount Morris. He then entered his father's warehouse as his assistant and at his death succeeded to the business, which he ran until 1898. In 1885 he received the appointment of postmaster, which office he held during the Cleveland administration. Mr. Swan is now engaged in the news and confectionery business, which he started in 1901. May 8, 1862 he was united in marriage with Helen L. Fuller, daughter of Dr. Fuller, of Fredonia. She died January 8, 1867, at the early age of twenty-six years, leaving on6 son, Henry V. Swan, born February 14, 1863. A bright, intelligent, progressive young man, imbued with Christian qualities and just entering upon a life of usefulness, he had for some time been a valued employee of The Whiting Manufacturing Co., in New York, and had every prospect for a successful career, when death severed earthly ties on February 14, 1903. Mr. Swan took for his second wife Emma L. Price, of Avon, N. Y.. the ceremony occurring June 10, 1868. She was born Oct. 29, 1846. They have had two children, Elizabeth Bradbury born March 27, 1869, and died Feb. 28, 1875, and Frances Louise born January 4. 1879. Mr. Swan has served the village in which he lives in various offices. He has been a trustee and a member of the Board of Education for many years and was the first President elected after the place became incorporated.

Charles H. Swartz Biography

CHARLES H. SWARTZ, — A prominent farmer of Sparta, was born October 6, 1850. His father, Jonas Swartz came from Pennsylvania in 1820 and first settled in Dansville, v^here he remained three years, he then came to Sparta and purchased 200 acres which is now owned by his sons Charles and John jointly. Charles H. Swartz was married in 1882 to Addie, daughter of William Morris, of Conesus, and they have a son Morris and daughter Hazel. Mr. Swartz has always been a leading factor in local politics. He has held the office of town collector, was elected supervisor on the democratic ticket in 1881, and was again elected to that important office in the spring of 1903.

Adelbert L. Thomson Biography

ADELBERT L. THOMSON, — A well known farmer and extensive fruit, grower of the town of Avon, was born in the Thomson homestead, December 26, 1841. His paternal great grandfather, Daniel Thomson, a veteran of the Revolutionary army, was for many years a resident of Holliston, Mass., where he was engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the war for independence he gave up farming and all other interests and enlisted as a Patriot soldier under that immortal hero, George Washington. He took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the powder horn and copper bullet mould that he always carried are among the highly prized possessions of our subject. The bullet mould will run nine balls, ranging in weight from one half ounce to one ounce. He spent his last days in Peru, Mass., where his son Simeon was born and reared. Simeon Thomson spent his entire life at Peru, Mas5., a farmer by occupation he owned and conducted the stage line between Pittsfield, Mass., and Albany before the days of steam. He marrried Sybilla Leland, who was born in Holliston, Mass., and was a daughter of Daniel and Sybilla (Fames) Leland, a member of the family whose descendant, Sherman Leland, afterward became noted as the publisher of Leland's Magazine. Leland S. Thomson, the father of Adelbert L., and a son of Simeon and Sybilla Thomson, was born in Peru, where he remained until fourteen years of age, his father having died when he was five years of age. J^He then came west by stage to Livingston county and made his home with his elder brother at East Avon, N. Y. Some years later he returned to his native place to visit friends and while journeying back to Avon secured a ride on the first train of cars ever run in America with steam as the motive power. This line was between Albany and Schenectady. He married and resided for a time in Monroe county, later purchasing a farm of James Wadsworth in East Avon and for a number of years resided in a log house. His wife's maiden name was Mary Wilber, a daughter of Jephthe and Catherine (Cookingham) Wilber. Two children were burn to them, Merrill and Adelbert L. Merrill is a resident of Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs. Mary Wilber Thomson departed this life December 25, 1890. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church of East Avon. Leland S. Thomson survived her nearly eight years, his death occurring August 12, 1900. Adelbert Leland Thomson received his education in the district school and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He was joined in marriage with Adelaide Stover, of Point Pleasant, Bucks county. Pa., in May, 1880. They have been blessed with four children: Mary, Ella, Leland S. and Adelbert. Mary married Judge Clyde C. Raynier, of Elkhart, Ind. The ceremony took place December 31. 1903, in accordance with the old Scotch custom of selecting the last day of the year for the wedding nuptials. Judge Raynier, a graduate of the law school of Indianapolis, is now the City Judge of Elkhart, having been elected to that office when twenty-six years of age. Mr. Thomson has always been a farmer, not a plodding easygoing farmer, but a man of enterprise and thrift. He now owns two farms, the homestead consisting of one hundred and sixtyfive acres and the Jeptha Wilber farm of one hundred and ninety acres on which he now resides. Both of these farms are highly productive and yield a handsome revenue. He has for many years been an extensive grower of fruit, an occupation he has found both congenial and profitable; and his home farm contains an English walnut orchard of twelve acres from which a valuable yield is expected annually. The house and farm buildings are pleasantly situated on an eminence in a grove of maples, the former a substantial frame building of modern architecture is heated and lighted throughout with gas piped from a well recently located on the farm. This well is the largest and most productive of any in the town. The residence is also supplied with both the long distance and the Interocean telephones, has free mail delivery daily, and as a model rural home lacks only the convenience of [an electric road. Such a road has been projected and surveyed from Rochester to Elmira to pass through this farm and there is every prospect of its early completion.

[ Surnames U-Z ]