Bradford New York Family Sketches

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Bradford New York Family Sketches extracted from Landmarks of Steuben County, by Hon. Harlo Hakes, 1896.

Armstrong, Joseph P.

Joseph P. Armstrong, was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y. , June 21, 1842, son of Leonard and Margaret Rutherford Armstrong, both natives of Northumber- land, England. They came to America in 1819 and settled in Eagle Valley, town of Bath, where he died in 1876, and she in 1871. In religion they were Episcopalians. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Armstrong, lived and died in England. The maternal grandfather, Edward Rutherford, came from England and settled in Bath. He removed to North Kanona, but returned to Bath, where he died. In 1872 J. P. Armstrong married Elizabeth, daughter of O. P. Alderman of Thurston, and they were the parents of six children: Ethel, born July 26, 1880; Leonard, born August 28, 1882; James, born in August, 1884; Stanley, born February 22, 1887; and Benjamin and Florence, born July 27, 1890. Mr. Armstrong has always been a farmer by occupation, commencing in Bath, then removing to Thurston, where he remained four years, and in 1891 bought the farm of 180 acres, which he now owns in Bradford. He is a member of Savona Lodge No. 755, F. & A. M.

Bartholomew, John

John Bartholomew, was born in Bradford, October 20, 1824, the oldest of seven children born to Daniel and Manila (Tobias) Bartholomew. Daniel came with his parents, Daniel and Catherine Bartholomew, from Lancaster, Pa., to Bradford among the early settlers. Daniel, the grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and Daniel, his son, was in the war of 1812. Daniel Bartholomew, jr., was reared on a farm and always followed that line of work. John Bartholomew has always been engaged in farming in Bradford and owns a farm of 116 acres. He married Susan, daughter of William Baskins, and niece of Lawyer Baskins, of Watkins. They have two children: Daniel, a homoeopathic physician, of Holly, Mich., who was educated at Savona Academy, and Philadelphia and Cleveland Medical Schools ; and has taken the highest degree in Masonry ; and Alice, the wife of Henry Conley (mentioned elsewhere). Mr. Bartholomew has been road commissioner of Bradford. He and his family attend the Methodist church.

Carman, Alexander

Alexander Carman, was born in the town of Hector, N. Y., November 19, 1829, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Horton Carman, both of Ulster county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Carman came to Hector about 1826, and in 1886 moved to Bath, where they spent the remainder of their days. He was a farmer by occupation, and died April 8, 1876, and his wife in 1864. Alexander Carman was reared on a farm and continued farming and lumbering until about 1870, when he commenced working at carpenter work, which business he followed until about 1881, when he purchased the farm where he now resides and engaged in farming. In 1859 he married Melissa, daughter of Stephen and Jane Horton, of Bath, by whom he had two children: Rosa, who married James Stinson, a farmer; they have three children: Emma, William and Alexander; and Emma, widow of Charles De Waine, who died January 8, 1898, and she now resides with her father, Mr. Carman. Mr. and Mrs. De Waine had three children: Rosa, Ray and Melissa. In October, 1862, Mr. Carman enlisted in Co. D, 161st N. Y. Vols.; he was at the siege of Port Hudson and a number of other engagements, and was wounded on Cox’s plantation, July 18, 1868, and was honorably discharged October, 1865. Mr. Carman is a member of Knox Post No. 549, G. A. R.

Carman, Joseph W.

Joseph W. Carman, was born in the town of Vern, Sussex county, N. J., son of Joseph and Catherine (Rude) Carman. The parental grandfather, Thomas Carman, came from Long Island and settled in Bloomingdale, Passaic county, N. J., where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Carman sold his farm and learned the blacksmith’s trade. He died in Vern, N. J., aged sixty-four years. His wife came to Bradford and spent her last days with her children, dying at the age of eighty-six years. Joseph W. lived on a farm until twenty years of age, when he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he has since followed, since the war working six or seven years in Bath. In 1889 he married Jane, daughter of and Jane (Shaw) Terris, natives of New Jersey and Prattsburg, Steuben county, respectively. The maternal grandparents, John and Susan (Mace), came to Prattsburg from New Jersey, from thence to Yates county, where he died at the age of sixty years. The great-grandfather, Abel Mace, died in Steuben. Joseph W., enlisted in Co. F, 27th New Jersey Vols., in September, 1862, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1863. He was at Washington and Alex- andria. He has been town inspector, but does not now hold office. He is a member of New Jersey Lodge, No. 668 F. & A. M.

Chrisler, William

William Chrisler, was born in Barrington, Yates county, N.Y., September 8, 1818, the oldest of three children born to Frederick and Charity (Rerrick) Chrisler, natives of New York and the town of Wayne, N. Y. , respectively. The grandfather, William H. Chrisler, was a farmer of Barrington, where he died. Frederick Chrisler came to Bradford and engaged in farming and lumbering. He died, leaving 173 acres to William and his brother and sister, Elias and Eliza. Mrs. Chrisler died in 1825. Mr. Chrisler sent a substitute to the war of 1812.

Conley, Henry

Henry Conley, was born in Fermanaugh county, Ireland, September 22, 1840, a son of James and Margaret (McGuire) Conley, both of Ireland. They came to America about 1870, settling in Dundee, where James was engaged in farming. He died in 1877, and she in 1879. The grandparents, John and Mary (McManus) Conley, died in Ireland. They were Episcopalians. Henry Conley was reared and educated in Ireland and came to America at the age of eighteen. He settled in Tyrone, Schuyler county, N. Y., and engaged in farming, which he has since followed. He has owned farms in Yates and Schuyler county and in 1872 came to Bradford and purchased sixty acres, to which he has since added forty acres. August 31, 1872, Mr Conley married Alice, daughter of John Bartholomew, by whom he has five children: John, Ora, James W. , Arvilla, and Herbert. Mr. Conley and his family are members of the M. E. church.

Elyea, William H.

William H. Elyea, was born in Orange county, N. Y., August 3, 1828, and is the oldest of four children born to Peter and Mary (Campbell) Elyea, both natives of Sussex county, N. J., who came to Steuben county in 1834, being pioneers of Bradford. He died in 1855 and his wife died in 1876. The grandfather, Henry Elyea, lived and died in West Jersey. The family are of Huguenot origin, but were several generations in New Jersey. William H. engaged in farming and was in a saw mill, and was also engaged in teaching school. In 1862 he married Catherine, daughter of William and Hannah (Sanford) Fuller of Bradford, by whom he had two children: Frank, who is a farmer at home, and married Mary Stinson; and Cora, wife of Glen Earl, a farmer of Orange, and they have one daughter, Carrie. Mrs. Elyea died in 1888. Mr. Elyea located on the farm he now owns in Bradford in 1856. In 1890 he retired and his son now runs the farm. He is a Republican in politics, and has been assessor three terms, also justice of the peace. He is a member of Jersey Lodge No. 668, F. & A. M.

Eveland, Isaac

Isaac Eveland, was born in Wayne, N. Y. , May 13, 1848, son of Abel and Matilda (Houck) Eveland, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Wayne, N. Y. In early life Abel Eveland took to the study of law, and has made the practice of law and speculating his life work. He has spent a number of years in the West where he now owns considerable property. He now resides at Bradford, N. Y. Isaac Eveland was reared in the village of Bradford. He learned the carpenter’s trade when young, which business he followed until 1875, when he bought the farm he now owns and where he has since resided. In 1875 he married Carrie, daughter of James and Eunice Loree of Tyrone. Mr. Eveland is a Democrat in politics, and has been collector and justice of the peace, and is now road commissioner. He is a member of Jersey Lodge.

Gilmer, Joseph B.

Joseph B. Gilmer, was born in the town of Bath, N. Y. , October 9, 1828, son of William and Eunice (Benedict) Gilmer, he a native of North Hector, born in 1803, and she of the town of Lodi, N. Y., bom in 1804. The paternal grandfather, James Gilmer, was a farmer in North Hector, where he died September 15, 1830, aged sixty-seven years. William Gilmer settled in Bath, three miles east of Savona, in 1825, and lived there until the time of his death in 1877, and Mrs. Gilmer died in 1865. He was a deacon in the Baptist church for a great many years. Joseph B. was reared on a farm and for six years taught school winters and farmed summers. In 1851 he married Melinda, daughter of Rev. J. D. Carr, of Bradford, by whom he had three children: Rose; Charles W. ,a farmer and vineyardist on the old homestead in Bath; and Ray C., a farmer in the town of Bradford. In 1864 Mr. Gilmer settled on the farm of 100 acres, where he still resides. Mrs. Gilmer died January 2, 1895

Gillmor, James M.

James M. Gillmor, was born in the town of Bath, August 81, 1883, son of William and Eunice (Benedict) Gillmor. William Gillmor was born at North Hector (now Schuyler county) in 1803 ; his wife in Lodi, Seneca county, 1804. William Gillmor came to Bath in 1824, purchased a farm, cleared the land, built a log house, went went back to Lodi, married and brought his wife to Bath in March, 1825, where they both died. The farm is now owned by his grandson. Mr. Gillmor was one of the founders of the South Bradford Baptist church and was deacon for many years. James M. was reared on the old farm and has always been a farmer. He came to Bradford in 1857, and settled on the farm he now owns of 100 acres. He has all the modern improvements and makes a specialty of raising sheep. January 16, 1856, he married Maria Ann, daughter of David and Anna Dennis of Bradford. Mr. and Mrs. Gillmor have three children: Sarah E., wife of D. L. Walling of Bradford; Arthur W., of Bradford; Albert D., of Weston, N. Y., both farmers. He was super- visor in 1875-76, and has served his town as commissioner of highways, assessor and bond commissioner. He is a member of the Grange at Savona. He, his wife and daughter are members of the Baptist church at South Bradford.

Havens, Thomas

Thomas Havens, was born in Seneca county, March 26, 1809, son of Jabez and Ester Cryell Havens, a native of Long Island, and she of New Jersey. They settled first in Lodi, and then came to Steuben county, settling in Pulteney in 1810, where they cleared a home, and where he died at the age of sixty-one years. Mrs. Havens died in Corning, aged seventy-seven. He was a Republican and was justice of the peace for a number of years. They were members of the Presbyterian church, of which he was deacon. Thomas was reared on a farm, and in 1860 he bought the farm in Bradford on which he has since resided. He retired from farming in 1885. In 1837 he married Lydia, daughter of Jacob and Charity Cole Bryon, and they have one adopted daughter, Hannah, wife of Oren Bartholomew, a farmer of Bath. Mr. and Mrs. Havens are members of the Methodist church.

Hedges, Benjamin Y.

Benjamin Y. Hedges, was born in Bradford, N. Y. , July 15, 1843, and is the eighth of ten children born to Caleb S. and Nancy (McDowell) Hedges, who came from Barrington to Cameron in 1830, and in 1838 came to Bradford, where they en- gaged in farming. He died December 19, 1884, and his wife in May, 1883. The grandfather, Isaac Hedges, was a blacksmith, and lived and died in Yates county. Benjamin Y. has always followed farming and lumbering; he cleared sixty acres of land where he now lives. He has been a hard working man ; in clearing up his land he has burned log heaps all night and for many nights till past midnight. He now owns 152 acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been assessor of Bradford for six years. In 1864 he married Eliza J., daughter of Isaac Sutfin of Tyrone, by whom he had three children: Mary A., who died in infancy; Cora, who married David Whitehead, a farmer of Bradford; and Hila, who married N. Van Curen, a farmer of Schuyler county, N. Y.

King, Hammond A.

Hammond A. King, was born November 23, 1861, the youngest of five children born to William N., who was born in Bradford, June 7, 1824, and Clara (Littell) King. The paternal grandfather, Barzilla King, came to Bradford from Seneca county in pioneer days and was a millwright and carpenter. The parents of Mrs. King were Isaac D. and Lena (Vosburgh) Littell, born in New Jersey in 1793, and Minden, Montgomery county, respectively. Isaac Littell died in 1847. His father, Benjamin Littell, came from New Jersey to Reading, but died in Bradford. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Catherine Switzer, wife of Barzilla King, eame with her parents, Henry and Anna May (Niff) Switzer, from New Jersey to Bradford. William N. King worked at wagonmaking in his younger days, but has followed farming mostly, and he and his wdfe now reside in Bradford, Hammond A. King was edu- cated at the Union School of Bradford. December 30, 1885, he married Julia A., daughter of Justus and Mary (Covert) Lamb, by whom he has two children: Charles N., born November 15, 1887; and Clara L., born February 18, 1889. Mr. Lamb is a vineyardist of Hammondsport. In 1886 Mr. King began running a hotel in Bradford and in 1887 purchased the Ellis House, which he now calls the King House, and keeps a first class house. Mr. King has been president of the Board of Trustees of the Union School of Bradford for five years. He is a member of Savona Lodge, I. O. O. F.

Knapp, William S.

William S. Knapp, was born in Warwick, Orange county, N. Y., February 3, 1814, and is the youngest and only survivor of six children born to John and Elizabeth (Sutton) Knapp, both natives of Orange county. John Knapp was a farmer and blacksmith, and spent most of his life in Warwick, but the latter part of his life was spent in Barrington, Yates county, where he died at fifty-six years of age. Mrs. Knapp died at Tyrone, where she was living with her daughter, aged seventy-two years. William S. was reared on the farm, and was engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He now lives retired in Bradford, where he settled in 1836, and the same year he married Emily, daughter of Ira and Hannah Crane of Putnam county, but early settlers of Barrington, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp had five children: Ira, who died in the army, aged twenty-four years; Beldon, who was a prisoner at Andersonville, and died in ten days after reaching home; Augusta, who was the wife of E. Richardson of Bath, and died at twenty-nine years of age, leaving two children (Beldon and Carrie A.); Aurelia, who was the wife of Charles H. Ide, and died in 1880, leaving five children (William J., Bert B., Ira, Scott, and Emily); and William E., who is a druggist in Michigan. Mr. Knapp has been a Republican since the party’s organization. Mrs. Emily Knapp died February 19, 1891.

Longwell, Hosea

Hosea Longwell, was born in Sussex county, N. J., in August, 1811, and is the oldest of thirteen children born to James and Sarah Carver Longwell, both natives of Putnam, N. Y. They moved to New Jersey, where they remained about twelve years, and then came back to New York, locating at Urbana, Steuben county, where they lived and died, he in 1871, aged eighty-one years, and she in 1848, aged fifty-seven years. He was a farmer by occupation. The father of James Longwell was David L., who was born in 1737, and followed farming in Putnam county, and he was the son of John Longwell, who came from the North of Ireland, being of Scotch-Irish descent, and settled in Stonington, Conn., where he died. The Carver family came from Cape Cod. In 1832 Hosea married Harriet Brundage, daughter of John Brundage, and they were the parents of eight children: Eliza, born July 26, 1834; Azariah, born December 22, 1835, died December 1, 1873; Franklin, born October 24, 1837; Phebe, born January 25, 1839; Hosea, born May 8, 1841; Rachel, born May 18, 1843; Carver, born March 4, 1847; Eugene, born July 4, 1856, is on the old homestead. He resided about six years in Wheeler and while there was supervisor for two years. He came to his present location in Bradford in 1841, where he owns 225 acres, and has made a specialty of sheep husbandry. He is a Democrat and was candidate for member of assembly in 1850. He has been supervisor of Bradford, also justice of the peace. Mrs. Longwell died February 18, 1887. Mr. Longwell died November 8, 1895, aged eighty-four years, since the above was put in type.

Ney, Charles

Charles Ney, was born in Northampton county, Pa. , in 1828, son of Andrew and Amy (Fisher) Ney, and is another example of what a young man may accomplish by industry and economy. He has had to make his own way in the world, and when a boy he learned the carpenter’s trade, but soon bought 130 acres of land in Urbana, which he sold and bought 143 acres in Bath, which he still owns. He came to Bradford and bought 158 acres where he still resides, all of which he has paid for by hard work and careful management. He married Minerva Bronson, by whom he had these children: Frankie, who died at twenty-three years of age; Sarah A., who died at twelve years of age; and William, who died at two years of age.

Sanford, John

John Sanford, was born in Urbana, N. Y., in 1823, son of Thomas and Matilda (Miller) Sanford, both natives of New Jersey, who came to Urbana at an early day, where he cleared a farm and followed sawing and farming. He died in 1864 and his wife in 1860. He was a Whig in politics, and afterward a Republican. The grand-father, Thomas Sanford, came from New Jersey and settled in Urbana, where he engaged in farming. John Sanford engaged in sawing in early life, which he followed about forty years. In 1875 he bought the farm in Bradford where he has since been located. In 1847 he married Mary H. Bartholomew, by whom he had two children: Alonzo, who is a farmer in Michigan; and Mary A., wife of N. French, a mason and bricklayer.

Stedge, Harrison

Harrison Stedge, was born in the town of Hector, Schuyler county, October 4, 1824, and is the seventh of eight children born to Peter and Betsey Rorabuck Stedge, both of New Jersey. The grandfather, William, was a tanner and currier in New Jersey. Peter learned the tanner and shoemaker trades, at which he worked throughout his life. He came from New Jersey to Chemung county, and then went to Schuyler county, and died at Beaver Dam, aged seventy-two years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1842 Harrison Stedge married Fairmenia Rhodes, of North Hector, Schuyler county, and they have had six children: Laura, wife of W. O. Preston, a carpenter of Elkland, Pa.; Mary, wife of Jack Gordon, a mason at Flint, Mich.; Catharine, wife of James Randall, a carpenter of Watkins; Della, wife of Henry Crandall, a mason by trade, and a farmer of Cattaraugus county; William, of Corning; and Ernest, a farmer of Bradford. Mrs. Stedge died in 1860. For his second wife Mr. Stedge married Abigail Chandler, and they have one son, John, who is a hardware merchat of Harvard, 111. Mrs. Stedge died, and he married for his third wife, Susan M. Pickley Benette, widow of Hiram Benette. Mr. Stedge came from Hector to Campbell in 1863, and to Bradford in 1870, where he has a farm of eighty acres, and carries on general farming and a dairy, making a specialty of thoroughbred Durham cows. In politics he is a Republican, and has been assessor.

Walling, Daniel L.

Daniel L. Walling, was born in the town of Bradford, January 9, 1847, the third of six children born to Asa and Sarah (Wilson) Walling. Asa Walling was born in New Jersey, July 7, 1810, and Mrs. Walling was born in Starkey, N. Y., August 21, 1811. In 1820 the parents of Asa Walling, Samuel and Susana (Swarts) Walling, came from New Jersey and settled in Starkey, N. Y. , and had nine children, and Samuel Walling died in 1869, and his wife died in 1847. Asa Walling was a successful farmer and owned a large farm in Bradford, where he died April 25, 1894. Mrs. Walling died February 7, 1888. Daniel L. was reared on a farm and has always been engaged in that line, commencing on the farm where [he now resides, which consists of 100 acres, in 1881. He then spent nine years on the homestead, caring for the old people, returning to his present home in 1895. January 9, 1881, Mr. Walling married Sarah E., daughter of James M. and Maria (Dennis) Gillmore, and they have one son, Asa J., who was born March 30, 1885. Mr. Walling is a member of the Grange and Farmers’ Alliance.

Walling, Edgar L.

Edgar L. Walling, was born in Bradford, August 12, 1853, the youngest of five children born to Asa and Sarah Walling. The other children were Thomas, Daniel, Charles A., and Della. Asa Walling came to Bradford in 1845 and took up about 200 acres. Edgar L. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He now owns 100 acres of land and follows general farming. September 23, 1883, he married Melissa, daughter of Stephen and Catherine Jacoby, of Schuyler county, now deceased, he dying in 1883, and she in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Walling have one child, Thomas E., born September 25, 1890. They also have an adopted daughter, Delia. Mr. Walling has been collector and is a member of Farmers’ Alliance, and has been deputy sheriff of Steuben county.

Yawger, Philip

Philip Yawger, was born in Bradford, N. Y., July 16, 1827, son of Henry S. and Nancy (Scott) Yawger; he a native of New Jersey and she of Bradford. The grand-father, Francis Yawger, was a pioneer of Bradford, coming from New Jersey to Connecticut, and from there to Bradford, thence to Seneca county, where he resided about twenty years, but returned to Bradford, where he died. Henry Yawger, father of Philip, was born in 1800 and reared on a farm in Cayuga county. He came to Bradford, where he engaged in farming. He died December 12, 1857. Philip Yaw- ger helped his father to clear the farm, and has always followed farming on the farm of 130 acres which he now owns. He married Lucretia, daughter of Stephen and Emeline Moss of Bradford, by whom he had five children: Josephine, wife of J. B. Day, who died at twenty-three years of age, leaving one son, C. M. Day, who was reared by our subject; Sarah Eva, wife of Alford Seybold of Bradford; Nancy, wife of George Blyss of Penn Yan; Frankie, who died at fourteen years of age, and Herbert, who is a farmer on the home farm. Mr. Yawger is a Democrat in politics, and has been road commissioner three years and supervisor three terms.

Zimmerman Bros.

Zimmerman Bros. — The firm of Zimmerman Brothers, the leading business house of Bradford, consists of John C. and H. P. Zimmerman, both natives of Bradford, the former born June 29, 1850, and the latter August 24, 1854. They are sons of Jacob and Catherine Hedges Zimmerman, and grandsons of John Zimmerman, a native of Austria, who is mentioned elsewhere. November 28, 1880, John C. married Alma Read, stepdaughter of Rev. George Shearer. Her father, Joseph Read, died in the Civil war. He commenced business as a clerk when about sixteen years of age in Bradford, and also clerked for a number of years in Bath. In May, 1882, he and his brother, H. P., established the firm, as above, and in 1886 took their brother, Mortimer W. Zimmerman, in company with them, who died Octobers. 1891, leaving a wife and two sons, John and Austin. In 1893 they erected a two-story building 30x80 feet, which they now occupy. They carry a complete line of general merchandise and agricultural implements, and condyct a large business. In 1869 H. P. Zimmerman married Annie M. Givens, daughter of James H. Givens of Bradford, and they have two children: George, born May 18, 1881; and Harvey, born March 17, 1889. He was educated in Bradford and followed farming until he went into business with his brother. The Messrs. Zimmerman are Democrats and have had the post-office during Cleveland’s administration.

Zimmerman, Sylvanus A.

Sylvanus A. Zimmerman, was born in Bradford, June 20, 1831, and is the fifth of seven children born to John and Elizabeth Stocum Zimmerman. John, who was a native of Austria, was taken from his bed at midnight by the Austrian army and pressed into service, and being taken prisoner by the French army, he fought under Napoleon. He was afterward taken prison by the English and sent to Canada to serve in the British army, and in 1812 he was sent out to look for a deserter, and he came to the United States. At Buffalo he received a pass to Canandaigua from General Brown, and from there he made his way to Bartle Hollow, now Bradford, and engaged with Mr. Bartle in the distilling business. He soon went to Lancaster, Pa., and engaged in the same business, being very successful. He finally returned to Bradford where he built and run a distillery. He died in 1862, aged eighty-two years, and Mrs. Zimmerman died in 1880. Sylvanus was educated in the common schools and the Dundee Academy, and in music at Reading, Mass., and has been a music teacher the most of his life. In 1878 he married Maggie Houck, by whom he has three children Mary E., Sylvanus A., jr., and Hattie. August 29, 1862, Mr. Zimmerman enlisted in Co. G, 23d N. Y. Vols., and served until May, 1863, when he was transferred to Co. B, 80th N. Y. Vols., and sent to provost-general’s headquarters, where he had charge of the commissary department under Capt. H. P. Clinton, where he remained until the close of the war. He is a member of Lamoka Lodge, F. & A. M. In politics he is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for eight years and is now notary public, and in 1892 was elected supervisor, which office he still holds.