Town of Starkey Family Sketches
Yates Co., New York
From the "History of Yates Co., NY", by L.C. Aldrich, published 1892
Family Sketches for Town of Starkey
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Pg. 570
ANDREWS,
John T., a son of Ichabod and Lola T. ANDREWS, is a native of Green County, NY,
born May 29, 1803. He was reared on
a farm, received a business education in the common schools of the old town of
Reading. In 1828 he engaged in the
mercantile business, at Reading, continuing until 1832, when he was elected
sheriff of this county in which capacity he served three years.
In 1835 he was elected a member of Congress, serving one term with
distinction and honor. At the close
of his Congressional term, he again turned his attention to the mercantile
business, forming a partnership with Martin & Vosberg at Dundee.
They carried on a successful business for several years.
Mr. ANDREWS married in Steuben County, Miss Ann Eliza ANDREWS, daughter
of Amherst ANDREWS, in 1831. One
daughter was born to this union, who died in infancy.
Mrs. ANDREWS died in 1877. Mr.
ANDREWS is one of Dundee’s most prominent and enterprising citizens.
Pg.
570
ARCHER,
James M., born in Bradford, England, June 27, 1836, came to America ion 1842,
with his parents, Thomas and Sarah, who settled in Starkey, where they resided
until their deaths. James M. was
educated at the Starkey Seminary, and in 1860 married Mary HATHAWAY.
Their only child, Fred, born July 23, 1862, married Florence ALLEN of New
York City, where he resides, being in the employ of the United States Express
Company. James M., in 1857 entered
the store of C.W. BARNES of Rock Stream, as clerk, remained until 1862, when he
enlisted in the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, and was sergeant,
quarter-master sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and was mustered
out as adjutant at the close of the war. Returning
to Rock Stream he entered the store of his old employer as clerk, remaining
there until 1876. He then engaged
as traveling salesman for four years, then opened a store at Rock Stream, where
he now resides. He was elected
justice of the peace in 1889. He is
a Republican, and takes an active interest in political affairs.
Pg.
571
BARNES,
Charles W., an extensive business man, and a highly respected citizen, was born
January 1, 1823, and died in Rock Stream within a quarter of a mile of the place
of his birth, on February 5, 1884. His
father, Enos, was born in Litchfield, Conn., and his mother in Lansingburg, NY.
At the age of sixteen, Enos BARNES went to Lunenburg, Va., where he
remained eight years, studying medicine and commencing practice as a physician.
He served as a surgeon in the War of 1812, and afterward returned to the
north. June 22, 1814, he married
Miss Rebecca WICKS. They came from
Hyde Park to what is now Rock Stream, in 1815, the first of the following eight
children having been born previous to their removal: Dr. Harry R. BARNES, of
Rock Stream; Woodruff L., who died in Brooklyn; Morris T., who died in Watkins,
and whose two daughters, Mrs. A. C. PIKE and Mrs. R. H. CANFIELD, and their
mother, Mrs. M.S. PHINNEY, now reside in Corning, NY; Delia M., who married Dr.
J. S. STEVENS of Penn Yan, and Charles W.; Edmund F., who died at Folly Island,
S.C. during the rebellion; Emma H., who became the wife of Julius BANCROFT and
died in New Madrid, Mo.; and Hattie N., wife of Mr. Otis WHITNEY, of Oswego,
Kan. Dr. Enos BARNES was twice
married, and two children were born of the second union, Enos W. BARNES, editor
of the Allegany county “Reporter”, who died at Wellsville, NY in 1888, and
Rebecca, wife of Rev. J. T. OTIS, of La Preston, Dak.
Charles W. BARNES, after attending the Penn Yan Academy, at the age of
fifteen became a clerk in the store then kept by Alonzo SIMMONS at Rock Stream.
He remained there two years and then entered the employ of L.G. TOWNSEND,
at what was then called Big Stream Point, now called Glenora, where he remained
until going into business for himself, which was nine months previous to his
attaining his majority. April 18,
1853, he married Mary S., daughter of Alonzo SIMMONS.
Two children were born to them: Delia M., wife of John D. GOUNDREY, and
Alonzo S. Mr. BARNES was a member
of the Masonic order, but not of any religious society.
He gave freely for charitable purposes and for years gave liberally to
the Presbyterian Church of Rock Stream. At
two periods of his life partners were associated with him in business, Mr. SHARP
for a term of years, and subsequently his brother in law, George SIMMONS.
During his long and prosperous business career his dealing were ever
honorable and his relations with acquaintances were such that only death could
sunder the bonds of friendship formed. Alonzo
S. BARNES was born October 22, 1860, and educated at Starkey Seminary and Cook
Academy, and in 1888 married Erma L. MILES.
He succeeded his father in the mercantile business at Rock Stream.
Pg.
572
BASKIN,
Lyman J., farmer and attorney at law, is a native of Yates county, born June 16,
1853. HI is a son of William R.
BASKIN, and grandson of William BASKIN, who settled here at a very early day.
The latter was born about 1777 and died January 7, 1866.
The father of Lyman J., was born February 14, 1817, a farmer and stock
dealer. He married Eliza A. GRAVES,
a native of Ireland, by whom he had six children, five surviving in order of
birth, Lyman J., Herman C., Estella A., Winifred E. and Mabel A., all of whom
received their education at Starkey Seminary.
The mother was a very earnest churchwoman.
The children are all Episcopalians, as also is the family of Lyman J.
In 1872-73-74, the latter having read law with Hart & Tomlinson,
attorneys at law at Elmira, for one year attended the law department of Michigan
University, Ann Arbor, Mich., receiving the degree of LL.B. in 1874.
He located at Jackson, Mich., where he had a large and paying practice,
while there. In 1876 he was elected
court Commissioner of Jackson County on the Democratic ticket, by about 1,000
majority, the highest vote accorded to any Democrat on the ticket, in that
usually Republican county. June 7,
1877, his father, William R. BASKIN, died, and the subject of this sketch
returned to his old home in Yates County, resigning the office of court
commissioner to which he had been previously elected, not having served out the
official term. Since that time, Mr.
BASKINS has traveled through the greater portion of the west, and has been
engaged in speculations in the west, where he now has investments.
He has also practiced law more or less in Yates and Schuyler Counties,
and is particularly interested in grape growing, giving it his personal
attention. His law and business
office is at Watkins, NY, where he also has valuable real estate interests.
In June, 1878, he married Miss Ella INGALLS, of Watkins, NY, by whom he
has one daughter, born November 18, 1879. The
old homestead, comprising 200 acres, one-half mile north of Starkey Station, is
operated by Lyman J. BASKIN, his brother and sisters, who, excepting the elder,
are also engaged in breeding standard bred trotters in connection with farming
and grape growing. Lyman J., is in
politics a zealous, though conservative Democrat; a man of positive and strong
convictions, and a Knight of Pythias.
Pg.
573
BELLIS,
Captain Joseph, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Barrington about 1816, and was
a captain in the War of 1812. He
was a cooper by trade and carried on the business for many years, at Barrington
and Eddytown. He married Sarah FOX,
of Easton, Pa., and they had seven children, three of whom survive, Charles, who
resides in Starkey; J. Lewis, who resides at Berlin, Wisc., and George F., who
was born at Barrington, April 21. 1829. He
married Mary J. YOUNG of Central Square, Oswego Co., NY, a direct descendant of
Charles PELTON of Ithaca, NY. They
have three children, Louille, Mark G., and Newman.
In 1871 he settled in Warsaw, Wis., he is owner and builder of three
blocks there, besides two hotels, of which he is also the proprietor, The
Arlington and Hotel Bellis.
Pg.
573
BENEDICT,
Jewett, a farmer and fruit grower of Starkey, and a native of Steuben county,
NY., born June 19, 1843, is a son of Lewis and Catherine (HENDRICS) Benedict,
both natives of Sullivan County, NY. The
father was born 1805. Of their nine
children, four survive: Mary J., wife of Harrison HORTON; Harriet M., widow of
Marcus J. HILTON, of Bradford County, Pa; Delia M., wife of J. M. SHOEMAKER.
The father learned the blacksmith trade and followed the same for thirty
years, after which he engaged in farming and stock raising.
He died in 1878. the mother
makes her home with her son, Jewett, and is eighty-six years of age.
Jewett BENEDICT was educated a the Dundee Academy.
In 1851 he came with his parents to the farm where he now lives.
In 1862 he joined the Union army, enlisting in the 126th NY
Infantry, serving but a short time, when he was discharged for disability. In 1863 he was drafted, re-enlisted and served until the
close of the war in 1865. November
13, of the same year, he married Julia E. ROGERS, a native of Illinois, born
July 12, 1844. Her father built the
first steam saw-mill in Chicago, Ill, and made the first set of chairs
manufactured there. Mr. And Mrs.
BENEDICT have three children, Lewis H., Millie M. and Fernwood.
In 1855 he formed a partnership in the grocery business with his brother
Wesley, at Dundee, where he continued until the fall of 1862 when he sold out
before entering the army. After the
war he engaged in farming until 1867, when he moved to Caldwell County, Mo.,
remaining until 1870, when he returned to New York to his old home and commenced
fruit farming.
Pg.
BITLEY,
Peter H., of Jerusalem, NY, was born at Moreau, Saratoga Co., NY, in 1801,
and was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (DONALDSON) BITLEY.
His ancestors on the paternal side were from Germany, and on the
maternal, they were of Irish and Holland extraction. His parents were natives of Moreau, NY. Mr. BITLEY came to Yates County in 1833, being in the employ
of Paddock & Nichols, who were lumber merchants of Yonkers, NY.
He commenced furnishing square timber and spars by contract and
delivering same at his employer’s dock at Yonkers.
In 1843 he commenced operations for himself, buying timber in Yates
and Steuben Counties and other localities and shipping to eastern markets
by way of the Erie Canal. His
shipments amounted to as high as 300,000 cubic feet in a single year, and
average, till 1867, when he retired from the lumbering business, 250,000
cubic feet. After 1867 he
devoted himself largely to the management of his farming lands.
He became a resident of Branchport soon after that place was
founded and where he accumulated a large fortune and was one of its most
valued and worthy citizens. Mr.
BITLEY was a man of large and generous heart, and was noted for his
benevolence. He was for many
years closely identified with the interests of the Universalists
denomination, and mainly through his efforts a church was erected and
sustained in the village of Branchport.
He gave largely of his means for general religious purposes and was
always a steadfast friend to the poor and needy.
Mr.
BITLEY married in 1839, Mary J., daughter of Benjamin LAIRD.
They had one daughter, Mary E., who married in 1868, Rev. Henry B.
HOWELL. Mrs. HOWELL’s death
occurred in 1876. There comes
a time when all useful and well-regulated lives must close their earthly
career. Mr. BITLEY passed
away August 12, 1888. His
widow still resides at Branchport, lending a helping hand to all those in
need of assistance, and enjoying the love and respect of all who know her.
Pg
Hon.
William S. BRIGGS
Judge
BRIGGS entered upon school teaching at an early age of seventeen years,
and continued in that work for about four years, during alternate terms
of which period he attended schools as a student in Lyons in this State.
In
the spring of the year 1840 he took up the study of the law in Penn Yan
in the office of the late David B. PROSSER, with whom he continued until
the year 1844, when he commenced the active practice of his profession
with the late Hon. Abraham V. HARPENDING, although he was not admitted
to the profession until January 1845.
In the fall of the year 1846, the law firm of Harpending &
Briggs terminated because of the failing health of the latter, which
caused him to engage in agricultural pursuits for three years.
In
October 1849, the co-partnership law firm of Prosser & Briggs was
formed, Judge BRIGGS having regained his health and sold his farm.
At the general election in the year 1855, Judge BRIGGS was
elected County Judge and Surrogate of Yates County, and was continued in
that office by virtue of three additional elections thereto.
In 1871, he declined a proffered fifth election, preferring to
again resume his place at the bar.
Judge
BRIGGS and John T. KNOX, who had read law in his office, commenced doing
a general law business on the first day of January
1872, under the firm name of Briggs and Knox.
This co-partnership continued for six years, and proved to be
both pleasant and profitable alike to both members, and the firm arose
to the first rank in the law business of the county.
But
the people demanded that Judge BRIGGS should again be their servant in
the office of County Judge and Surrogate.
It therefore, so happened that Judge BRIGGS was again nominated
to fill that office in the fall of the year 1877, and his partner was at
the same time placed in nomination for District Attorney.
The
election of either followed almost as matter of course, and so Judge
BRIGGS served a term of six years in that office, the official term
having been lengthened since he occupied the office before.
At the first of January 1884, the firm of Brings & Baker came
into existence, the junior member being Charles S. BAKER, and continued
until Mr. BAKER’s death, March 27, 1891.
After the death of Mr. BAKER, a partnership was formed by Judge
BRIGGS and Judge Martin J. SUNDERLIN,
which still exists under the name of Briggs & Sunderlin.
Judge
BRIGGS was called upon to fill several important offices.
He was clerk of the village for several years, a trustee of the
village, clerk of the board of supervisors of the county from 1852-56, a
member of the board of education of Penn Yan Union School district for
may years, and vice present of the First National Bank of Penn Yan from
the time of its organization in April 1873 until the fall of 1885.
Judge
BRIGGS has been three times married.
In 1843 he married Elizabeth S. DORMAN, a daughter of the late
Joel DORMAN. This estimable
lady died in the month of May 1877.
By this marriage, four children survive: Mrs. Wilson W.
QUACKENBUSH, Mrs. Charles H. ROSS, Mrs. George R. WHEELER and William S.
BRIGGS Jr. The second
marriage was in April 1883 with Adelaide L. POST, widow of the late John
POST of Geneva, NY. This
lady died very suddenly on the 19th day of May 1888. The third marriage occurred in the city of Chicago in October
1889 with Joanna M. OLIVER, widow of the late Gen. John M. OLIVER.
The parties to this union now have one of the happy homes of Penn
Yan.
Judge
BRIGGS is easily one of the first in the profession of law in Yates or
neighboring counties of the State.
He possesses a sound, reasoning, judicial mind.
The ability to weigh legal questions is possessed by him in a
pre-eminent degree. Well
grounded in the principals of the common law, equity has become his
strong point in the practice. His
deep research and strict application to the dues of the judicial offices
he has filled have tended to make him a sound and safe adviser and
counselor. In all th4se
points his ability and penetrating knowledge have become so well known
that he has enjoyed the rare distinction of being a chosen referee by
the members of his profession in an exceedingly large number of
important litigated cases in Yates and surrounding counties.
As
a neighbor and friend he has the admiration of all him acquaintances.
Clever, kind, tender, all appreciate and love him.
He is ever ready to aid the young, while those of his years have
his full confidence. As was
pronounced of Brutus, so may be truthfully said of Judge BRIGGS:
“His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him that
nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man’
.”
Pg.
574
BUNCE,
Loomis, was born in Massachusetts in 1840, and when nineteen years of age came
with his father and settled in Barrington, Conn.
His father, Peter BUNCE, was a farmer, and had eleven children.
Loomis was a millwright by trade, and in company with John SPICER carried
on that business, building many mills in this and adjacent counties, also
carrying on framing extensively. He
married Mary, daughter of William HOLMES, of Steuben County, NY, by whom he had
two children, Melvin N., who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and
Eliza, wife of Hon. Geo. P. LORD, who resides in Dundee.
Loomis BUNCE died in March 1878. He
was twice married, his first wife dying in 1867, and his second wife, Eunice C.
OLNEY, widow of Rev. D. B. OLNEY, in 1880.
Pg.
574
CONKLIN,
Thomas J., one of the wealthiest farmers of Starkey, and a native of Yates
County, was born in Barrington, February 20, 1826; a son of Samuel and Esther (FERRIER)
CONKLIN. The parents settled in
this county in 1823 and had six children, three surviving; Mary A., wife of John
H. SHANNON; Sarah, wife of William T. BEAUMONT; and Thomas J.
The parents were members of the Baptist Church of Himrods.
The father, who was a stone mason in early life, afterwards a farmer,
died in 1868. aged sixty-eight. The
mother died in 1890, aged ninety-two. Thomas
J. married in Starkey, April 17, 1853, Mary A., daughter of Martha TITSWORTH, by
whom he had one daughter, Charity, born July 22, 1855.
she married December 21, 1876, B. F. ALLEN, a native of Buffalo, son of
Ralph and Sephronia (JENNEY) ALLEN. He
was born March 9, 1848. Mr. ALLEN
is largely engaged in the oil and lumber business in Pennsylvania.
Mr. CONKLIN is one of the prominent farmers of Yates County, and owns 320
acres of land adjoining Dundee. Mr.
And Mrs. CONKLIN make their home with their daughter, Mrs. ALLEN.
Pg. 575
COOK,
Samuel, proprietor of the European Hotel at Dundee, is a native of Yates County,
born June 16, 1851, son of James and Betsey (KINNEY) COOK. He received a common business education at the Dundee
district school. In 1875 he learned
the miller’s trade, with John RICHARDSON, of Dundee, worked at his trade until
1888, after which he was clerk at the Wilson Hotel, of Dundee, until 1890, when
he opened a hotel of his own. He
has conducted a nice and neat little house, and received his share of the trade. Mr. COOK married on June 16, 1875, Emma A. BURNS, a native of
Dundee, born May 5, 1853, and daughter of Thomas and Sarah (WILSON) BURNS.
Pg. 575
CURTIS,
Thomas R., son of Roswell and Jerusha CURTIS, who were born respectively August
1, 1795 and November 3, 1794, were married October 13, 1816. To their union, eight children were born; Thomas B.; Charles,
a resident of Howell, Mich.; Lester, of Prairie, Ark.; Samuel, living in
Illinois; Isabella, wife of J.J. HOOPER (deceased); Esther, wife of Dr. E.
MOSIER, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Caroline M. (deceased), wife of John T. Williams.
Agar, the grandfather of Thomas B., moved to
New York in 1796 with ox team and cart, the wheels of which, with an
ancient clock, are now in the possession of Damon, a nephew of Roswell CURTIS,
of Exeter. He also owns the farm
that belonged to his grandfather. Roswell,
father of Thomas, learned the carpenter and joiner’s trade, which he followed
during the early part of his life, afterwards, turning his attention to farming.
He died October 29, 1869, his wife died July 24, 1869.
Thomas B. CURTIS was born on the farm where he now lives, July 28, 1817,
and married September 10, 1842, Alvira, daughter of William B. and Martha
(WILSON) BRIGGS. She was born April
7, 1820. Two children have been
born to them. Lydia, wife of J. E. TENO; Frances, wife of Byron H. DISBROW.
Mr. CURTIS has served three terms as justice of the peace of this town;
two terms as master of service, and several years as master of the poor.
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Starkey.
Pg. 576
ELLIOTT,
Edwin L., of Starkey, a fruit grower and nurseryman was born in Auburn, February
22, 1855, a son of Smith D. and Clarinda (LEAVENWORTH) ELLIOTT.
The father followed the machinist’s trade in early life, but for the
past thirty years has been a farmer, being now in his seventy sixth year, and
his wife in her seventieth. They make their home with their son Hiram.
Edwin L. married August 20, 1890, Abbie, daughter of John and Catherine (MARONEY)
FORDHAM. She was born November 16, 1869 in Schuyler County, NY, and is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. ELLIOTT owns a farm of forty two acres with thirty acres of fruit.
He shipped 1,000 bushels of peaches this year, one and one half tons of
grapes, 1,500 pounds of raspberries, and forty baskets of currants.
Pg. 576
ELLIOTT,
Hiram, a fruit grower of Starkey, born September 19, 1857, in Yates County, is a
son of Smith D. and Clarinda (LEAVENWORTH) ELLIOTT.
(See sketch of parents elsewhere). He
owns a farm of sixty three acres with seven acres of peach orchard, sixteen
acres of vineyard, eleven acres of raspberries, one of plums and pears.
His farm produced this year $2,440 worth of fruit and $470 worth of hay,
grain, etc. During the six years
that he has been the owner of this place he has made many improvements, the last
of which was the erection of a fine, large grape-packing house at his vineyard.
Pg. 576
FRENCH,
Benjamin of Eddytown, this county is a farmer, residing on the farm of his great
grandfather, David, who was born in New Jersey, February 6, 1747.
His wife, Sarah WILCOX, of New Jersey, was born October 8, 1755.
David FRENCH settled on this farm about 1794. Benjamin, son of David, was born November 7, 1776, and
received title of his farm June 8, 1803. He
married Mary CONKLIN. He died on
his farm November 7, 1808 and his wife February 9, 1811. They had two sons, David, who died in infancy, and Levi, born
January 17, 1805. The latter
married, in this county, December 17, 1826, Elizabeth SCHENCK.
He died November 26, 1868, and his wife March 5, 1879.
Levi FRENCH, was the first to set grapes in Yates County, on his farm on
the west bank of Seneca Lake. He
was noted for his interest in fruit growing.
Benjamin FRENCH, son of Levi, was born January 22, 1830, and married at
Framingham, Mass., August 6, 1860, to Catherine H. GALLAGHER.
They have three children, Eliza H., Hattie B., wife of M. WILSON of
Washington DC and Grace. Mr. FRENCH
has been trustee of Starkey Seminary for the past twenty years.
The family are members of the Presbyterian Church of Dundee.
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