Dansville New York Family Sketches

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

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

Acomb, Fred D., Family Sketch

Fred D. Acomb, was born November 5, 1868. His paternal grandfather, was born in England and settled on Sandy Hill, where he died two years later of cholera, which raged in that locality. Thomas Acomb, the father of Fred D., was born in England February 9, 1827, and died March 29, 1893, aged sixty-six year. He came to America with his parents in 1832. He married Elizabeth Florey, by whom he had nine children: William H., Matilda Babcock, Frank, Ann Hall, Minnie Sterner, Jane Flint (M.D.), Daniel G., and Nellie. Mr. Acomb was an energetic man, who began life without a cent and at his death was possessed of 750 acres of land. He was assessor of Dansville for many years. Fred D. was educated in the common schools and attended the Dansville High School for a time. He resides on the old homestead and does quite an extensive dairy business. At Dansville, N. Y., October 8, 1891, he married Carrie Stone, who was born in Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y. , June 19, 1871, by whom he has one child; John F., born December 19, 1892.

Cook, Andrew W., Family Sketch

Cook, Andrew W., was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 14, 1828. His father, Andrew Cook, was born in East Haddam, Conn., and died in June, 1857, aged seventy-one years. He came from Connecticut in 1808 and settled in Geneseo, and in 1809 built a saw mill on the site of Sweet’s foundry. In 1814 he purchased the farm in Dansville, now owned by his son. He married Elizabeth McWhorter, who was born in Northumberland, Pa., and died in 1869, aged seventy-eight years. They had twelve children : Frances, born September 18, 1813, and died July 22, 1816; Sarah Sylvester, born June 23, 1815, and died in 1892; Gideon, born March 18, 1817, and died March 26, 1821; Thomas, born April 4, 1819, deceased ; Marion, born May 15, 1821, and died August 21, 1824; Huldah L., born April 17, 1823, and died October 1, 1887; Lucretia, born March 6, 1825, and died April 2, 1825; William, born September 9, 1828, and died March 21, 1828; Andrew W., born September 14, 1828; Caro- line E. Gould, born October 20, 1830; and John C. and James O., twins, born April 1, 1833. Andrew W. received a common school education and subsequently took a course at the Rogersville Seminary, after which he engaged in farming, and has also worked at the carpenter’s trade for sixteen years. He has held the office of justice of the peace of Dansville, and was elected superintendent of the poor for Steuben county in 1872 and served three years. He is a member of Dansville Ledge, No. 478, F. and A. M. In October, 1856, he married Mary J. Wellington, who was born in 1827 and died in 1874, by whom he had three children: Adah Bell Sponable, born July 27, 1857; Julia E. Wood, born October 12, 1859; and William S., born June 8, 1864. Mr. Cook married for his second wife, Ellen M. Howard, who was born in Albany, Vt, September 10, 1839.

Curray, Charles O. Family Sketch

Curray, Charles O., was born on Oak Hill, on the place where he now resides, in 1836. His father, James B. Curray, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., and died in Dansville, N. Y., on the place where his son now resides, in 1888, aged eightysix years. He settled on Oak Hill about 1835. He married Nancy Miller, who was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., and died on Oak Hill, aged sixty-six years. They had ten children: Eveline Coe; Angeline Hendy, deceased; William W., deceased; Mary A. Burdette; Fanny Newcomb, deceased; Emma Jane Miller, deceased; Milton S., deceased; Charles O., as above; Olivia Crow, and Emerdette Cane, deceased, Charles O. attended the common schools and took a course in the Rogersville Seminary. He has always followed farming, and now owns a farm of 150 acres. In October, 1861. he enlisted in the 104th N. Y. Wadsworth Guards, and was discharged in February, 1863. He took part in Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He is a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. and A.M. He married Mary A. Levers, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 22, 1836, by whom he had three children: Lillie M., born in January, 1872; John B., born in April, 1873, and Susan, born July 14, 1878.

Day, Ira G. Family Sketch

Day, Ira G., was born May 17, 1841. His grandfather, Chauncey Day, was born in Vermont, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Dansville, where he settled about 1811. He bought the Mint farm and afterward owned the Pine farm and built the saw mill on Stony Brook. He afterward settled in Hillsdale, Mich., where he died. He was drum major in the Revolutionary war. Chauncey Day, father of Ira G., was born in Dansville, N. Y., in 1811, and died in 1885. He started a lime kiln in Rogersville and burnt lime for twenty years, when he bought a farm of 234 acres in Rogersville and built a commodious hotel which he run for twenty-five years. October 18, 1837, he married Almeda, daughter of Charles Oliver, one of the pioneers of the town. She was born in Rogersville, N. Y., and died March 25, 1895, aged seventy-seven years. They had ten children: Phoebe C., born September 4, 1838, and died May 15, 1860; Ira G., as above; Charles D., who was born August 3, 1843, and died November 27, 1845; Charles O., who was born April 13, 1846, and died November 19, 1891; Chauncey D., who was born April 27, 1848, and died June 29, 1849; De Ayllon, who was born January 13, 1851, and died January 19, 1892; Adah I., who was born December 20, 1854, and died March 27, 1858; Ida B., who was born February 14, 1859, and died June 5, 1885; and Mary and Sarah, twins, born November 16, 1860; Mary died February 15, 1863, and Sarah died July 15, 1885. Ira G. Day was educated^ in the Rogersville Seminary, and has always followed farming and produce buying. He has held the offices of supervisor, commissioner of highways, and superintendent of the poor of Steuben county one term. He is a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M., and Chapter No. 101 of Hornellsville. At Canisteo, January 1, 1868, he married Martha A. Jamison, who was born in Canisteo, March 6, 1841.

Driesbach, Henry Family Sketch

Driesbach, Henry, a successful and progressive farmer, born in the town of Sparta, Livingston county, N. Y., August 7, 1826, now resides on the old Driesbach homestead on Sandy Hill near the Rogersville station, C. N. Y. & W. Railroad. He married Eunice, daughter of William Faulkner, December 24, 1862. They have two children, namely: Fred R. Driesbach, born May 31, 1865; he received a thorough medical education and graduated from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, is a practicing physician and surgeon in Dansville, Livingston county. He married Lora E. Bastian, May 7, 1890. Mary Driesbach, born May 5, 1869, was married to O. H. Humphrey, December 11, 1894, a hardware merchant in Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Driesbach are charter members of Dansville Grange, No. 178, organized at Stone’s Falls, April 14, 1874, and were liberal contributors to the building of the fine Grange hall. Henry’s father, Michiel Driesbach, was born in Lehigh township, Northumberland county, Pa., May 15, 1795, and came to the town of Sparta, Livingston county, with his parents in 1806, and learned the blacksmith trade. He married Nancy Covert, October 21, 1824. She was born in the town of Ossian, May 14, 1802. They had six children, namely: Frederick, born in Sparta, July 4, 1825; he married Esther Wood, March 16, 1869; died December 24, 1893. Henry, born August 7, 1826. Catherine, born Aguust 7, 1828; died January 17, 1875. Elizabeth, born August 14, 1832; died July 26, 1851. Ann Marie, born June 22, 1834; died December 5, 1875; she was married to William H. Hall, March 22, 1871, and had two children, namely; Bertha May, born April 5, 1873, died November 9, 1892, and WYLliam, born July 17, 1875. Nancy Amelia, born April 1, 1838, was married to B. S. Stone, January 18, 1871, and have two children, namely: William P., born February 7, 1872, and Fannie D., born June 7, 1876. In 1830 Michiel moved with his family to Sandy Hill in the town of South Dansville, Steuben county. His was the usual experience of hard work and privation of the pioneer farmer, but having a strong and determined character, he cleared up his farm from an almost unbroken forest and made a good home for himself and family. To illustrate his firm Christian philanthropy, in 1834 many German emigrants settled in his vicinity; an epidemic of cholera broke out among them and nearly depopulated the whole of Sandy Hill. He was one of the very few who did not shrink from caring for the sick and burying the dead, working and watching night and day for weeks; and helped a trio of others bury eighteen of the victims. Mrs. Driesbach died April 3, 1838, leaving him with a large family of children. He married Maria Draper, April 11, 1839. He died with malignant erysipelas, January 28, 1845, followed by his second wife, Maria, May 4, 1890. Michiel’s father and mother, Henry and Catherine Driesbach, with their family of ten children, came from Pennsylvania to the town of Sparta, Livingston county, in 1806, where he bought and located on a large tract of land about two miles below Dansville, was one of the pioneers who helped crowd the forest and Indians back to make room for a more advanced civilization, and was one of the first to open a tavern or public house on the road to Genesee; the old house was known for many years as the Driesbach stand; it is now occupied by one of his descendants, William Driesbach.

Eveland, Daniel Family Sketch

Eveland, Daniel, was born April 28, 1887. His father, Jacob Eveland, was born in Pennsylvania, June 14, 1805, and died in June, 1887. In his early day he was known as a river man, pilot on barges, rafts, etc., which business he followed for ten years, after which he bought a farm on Oak Hill and moved there about 1882. In Pennsylvania he married Sophia Kreidler, who was born January 4, 1810, by whom he had nine children: William, Susan Phelps, Peter, Catherine Allen, Daniel, Wesley, Harry, Robert P., and Henry N. Daniel Eveland has always followed farming, and he and his wife now own 880 acres of land. In Rogersville, in 1874, he built a beautiful and commodious house, where he now resides. He was town clerk of Dansville in 1876, and has held the office of commissioner of highways for four years, which office he still holds. In Dansville, N. Y., in December, 1858, he married Lydia Ann Bowers, by whom he had three children: Lizzie, who was born June 28, 1860, and married Leroy Kingsley, and they have one child, Verna B., who was born October 26, 1888; Frank U., who was born October 20, 1866, and married Ida May Hartman; and Irwin B., who was born October 29, 1879.

Fritz, Clark C. and Alice C. Family Sketch

Fritz, Clark C. and Alice C. Fritz were born August 11, 1870, and October 5, 1852, respectively. Their grandfather, George Fritz, was born in Columbia county, Pa., September 4, 1793, and settled on the place now occupied by G. W. Fritz, in 1826. He married Catherine Kile, who was born at the same place, by whom he had ten children. Wesley Fritz, father of Clark and Alice, was the eldest son, and was born in Columbia county, Pa., Sugar Loaf township, March 6, 1819, and died April 11, 1889. He owned 175 acres of land situated at Doty’s Corners. He was a man of retiring diposition, honest and upright, and was known as one of the model farmers of Dansville. June 26, 1851, he married Jane E. Clark, who was born March 6, 1828 and died November 14, 1880, by whom he had four children: Alice C., as above; George T., who was born January 11, 1856; Wesley W., who was born March 3, 1858, and died February 18, 1875; and Clark, as above. Alice, George, and Wesley attended the Rogersville Seminary, and Clark C. attended the Canaseraga High School. George married Mary E., daughter of Spencer Jones, by whom he had two children: Spencer, who was born March 10, 1887, and Carl, who was born in February, 1889.

Fritz, Elias Family Sketch

Fritz, Elias, was born at Sugar Loaf, Columbia county, Pa., November 9, 1821. His grandfather, Philip Fritz, was born on the River Rhine, Germany, and emigrated to this country and settled in Philadelphia, where he was a mail carrier between Philadelphia and Baltimore, traveling on horseback. He subsequently settled at Sugar Loaf township, Columbia county, Pa., where he taught school. He was a fine scholar in both English and German. He married Greiner, by whom he had eight children: Charles, Philip, Henry, John, George, Samuel, Betsey Kyle and Maria York. George Fritz, father of Elias, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 4, 1793, and in the spring of 1825 he settled in Dansville, at Doty’s Corners, where he purchased 100 acres of land, and subsequently was possessed of 350 acres. He married Catherine Kile, who was born February 2, 1792, and died May 16, 1887, by whom he had ten children: Wesley, born March 6, 1819, and died April 1, 1889; Maria Baily, born March 8, 1820; Elias, as above; Hiram, born July 7, 1823, and resides in California; G. W., born May 26, 1825; Matilda Munday, born in Dansville, April 8, 1827; Betsey Ann Wood, born April 9, 1829, and died December 15, 1875; Lewis, born September 8, 1831; Phidelia McLain, born June 25, 1835, and died Juty 21, 1857; and Lucius P., born August 13, 1837, and died January 31, 1866, a soldier in the civil war. Mr. Fritz died March 3, 1868. Elias Fritz received his education in the common schools, and has always followed farming. He is a member of Oak Hill Grange, one of the charter members and first overseer. At Conesus, N. Y., he married Lucretia S. Flint, who was born December 20, 1828, by whom he had five children: South wick E., born June 21, 1849; Leora G., born January 26, 1852, and died May 8, 1863; Grata L. Dick, born November 2. 1857; Cassius J., born April 9, 1868; and Adelbert, who died in infancy.

Hall, Daniel B. Family Sketch

Hall, Daniel B., was born in Dansville, N. Y., February 26, 1857. His grandfather, William Hall, wTas a native of Vermont, and died April 28, 1871. He settled in Dansville about 1833, and purchased and cleared the farm where Daniel B. now resides, and was finally the owner of 400 acres of land. He married Diana Griswold of Vermont, who died June 8, 1885, aged seventy-six years, by whom he had six children. William H., father of Daniel B., was born December 8, 1830. He married for his first wife Mary E. Blank, who died November 11, 1861, by whom he had two children: Daniel S., as above, and one who died in infancy. In 1872 he married for his second wife, Ann Driesbach, who died in 1875, by whom he had two children: Bertha, deceased, and Willie, who is a farmer and the largest land owner in town. Daniel B. Hall received a common school education and took a short course in the Dansville High School. He is a farmer by birth and occupation, also a produce buyer. At Dansville, N. Y., November 12, 1879, he married Ann Acomb, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., April 21, 1858, by whom he had three children: Effie L.. born April 4, 1881; Ida M., born February 20, 1883: and Daniel R., born October 3, 1884.

Harter, Lafayette Family Sketch

Harter, Lafayette, was born January 4, 1855. His grandfather, Andrew J. Harter was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., April 8, 1802, and died March 28. 1887, on the farm of 100 acres which he purchased of the land office, about 1825, and which he cleared. Cornelius Harter, father of Lafayette, was born in Dansville, on the same place, June 22, 1827, and died May 12, 1878. He married Mary L. Merrill, who was born in Fremont, September 11, 1833, and died January 14, 1893, by whom he had seven boys: Lafayette, as above; Eugene, born July 29, 1857; Sidney A., born December 5, 1858; John W., born May 13, 1861; Elmer E., born August 6, 1863, and died November 30, 1874; Etna, born November 8, 1865, and Cornelius, born November 9, 1872, and died November 6, 1894. Lafayette Harter has always been a farmer, and is now the owner of the homestead. At Howard, N, Y., he married Lucy Hecox, born August 30, 1857, by whom he has three children: Viola, born May 26, 1881; Clarence, born April 11, 1884, and Clyde, born February 25, 1890.

Healy, Joshua Family Sketch

Healy, Joshua, is of New England stock. His grandfather, Benjamin Healy, was born in Massachusetts and was a soldier of the Revolution. Joshua Healy, father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, June 16, 1791, and died July 27, 1858. He moved to Shoreham, Addison county, Vt., with his parents at six years of age, and in 1814, immediately after the war of 1812, in which he participated, he started across the country on foot in company with Elisha Robinson, Gross Gates, John Robbins and Joseph Phelps, and settled in Dansville, where he purchased 200 acres of land, and subsequently purchased 150 acres. He was a man of prominence not only of Dansville, but of Steuben county. He was the first supervisor of Dansville, which office he held for several terms, and represented Steuben county in the State Legislature in 1834-35. He was also justice of sessions for several years. He died July 27, 1858. Joshua Healy has always followed farming, and he now owns 225 acres of land. He has held the office of justice of the peace of Dansville for three terms. He is a member of Canaseraga Lodge, No. 781, F. & A. M. At Wheeler, N. Y., in 1857, he married Julia A. Chichester, who was born in 1833, and died in 1890. In March, 1894, he married for his second wife Julia Swain, of Nunda, who was born in 1855.

Healy, William W. Family Sketch

Healy, William W., was born in Dansville, N. Y., August 30, 1822, and is of New England stock. His father, Joshua Healy, was born in Massachusetts, and moved to Shoreham, Vt., and died in Dansville, N. Y., July 27, 1858, aged sixty-seven years. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and William W. has a canteen picked up on the battlefield of Plattsburg, which was left there by the British. He came to Shoreham, Vt., on foot and built a log house on the place near the Healy school house, he being the first settler in that locality, where he purchased 200 acres of land and subsequently purchased 150 acres. He was the first supervisor of Dansville, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1834-35, also was associate judge of Steuben county. In 1815 he returned to Shoreham, Vt., where he married Lucy Wilson, who was born in Shoreham, November 11, 1793, and died August 23, 1838, aged fortyfour years, and they returned to Dansville in an oxcart. They had eleven children: Azro, born January 20, 1814, and died January 15, 1895; Lucy Lathrop Slusser, born September 23, 1816; Sophia, born August 1, 1818, deceased; Caroline Clark Kreidler, born May 22, 1820; William Wilson, as above; Benjamin S., born April 18, 1825; Joshua, born January 2, 1828; Byron, born January 10, 1830, judge of Wyoming county for twenty-two years; L. B. Healy, M. D., born August 13, 1832, and died February 9, 1880; Mary Clark, born July 10, 1835, and Doris, born December 3, 1837. William W. was educated in the common schools of Dansville, and has always followed farming, and is now the owner of Pine Grove farm, containing 400 acres. He is known as the largest potato buyer in Steuben county, and is a large raiser of the same, being the pioneer potato grower of Dansville. He has also engaged extensively in buying sheep, and has at one time bought and driven 2,000 sheep from Vermont to Dansville. He sold one crop of yrool for $108,000, and has had 5,000 sheep at one time. He is a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M. December 25, 1845, he married Harriet I, Clark, who was born at Conesus, in 1824, and died in November, 1883, by whom he had seven children: Sarah B.; L. C., who resides at Arkport; Lucy S. Day, Caroline Eliza, Nettie M., a teacher in Salamanca High School; Harriet, deceased, and Edith May, deceased. Mr. Healy married for his second wife Martha R. (Robinson) Wilbur, who was born in 1838.

Kershner, Mrs. E. L. Family Sketch

Kershner, Mrs. E. L., is the widow of the late B. F. Kershner, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., Septemher 15, 1829, and died March 14, 1887. He was a representative citizen of Dansville and respected by all who knew him. He represented the town of Dansville on the Board of Supervisors two terms, and highway commissioner two terms. He was a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 116, F. & A. M., and was buried with the Masonic ceremony. In 1834 he moved with his parents to the place now occupied by his widow, at the time when the cholera was raging in that locality. Mr. Kershner was educated at the old academy of Dansville, and was a great reader. His father, Philip Kershner, was born in Washington county, Md., and in 1812, when 28 years of age, he came to Genesee county when it was a wilderness, in company with Nathaniel Rochester and Leonard Coon. He was one of the first settlers of Dansville, and purchased the place now occnpied by his son’s wife, which was at that time occupied by an Indian encampment. He died October 12, 1850. His wife, Mary Knappenberg, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and died in 1879, aged eighty-five years. They had six children: Elizabeth M., born October 13, 1815; Nathaniel D., born May 8, 1817; Henry A., born March 26, 1820; Joseph, born June 22, 1822; Mary C., born January 3, 1825; and Benjamin F., born September 15, 1829, and on December 4, 1854, he married Eliza L. Southmayd, who was born in Ossian, N. Y., in 1831, by whom he had three children: Rosa A., born September 27, 1856, and died February 8, 1864; Lilia Clare, born April 6, 1867, married, August 27, 1895, Charles S, Browning of Bay City, Mich., born in 1866; and Mamie Peck, born November 9, 1869, and married George E. Walter, who was born December 21, 1857.

Kershner, Maria Family Sketch

Kershner, Mrs. Maria, is the widow of the late Henry A. Kershner, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., March 26, 1820, and died August 24, 1892. He moved on the farm where his widow now resides when he was sixteen years of age. He was a man of strict integrity, a model farmer, and had the respect of his neighbors and townsmen. He received a common school education and improved his opportunities until he was called one of the best posted men in the locality. He held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-two years consecutively, and resigned the office on account of poor health. As a magistrate he did a large amount of business. He married his first wife, Eliza Osborn, who was born February 18, 1880, and died in February, 1848, by whom he had two children: William, born May 15, 1843, and died in March, 1877; and Frances Amanda, born July 7, 1845, and died February 5, 1863. October 24, 1850, Mr. Kershner married for his second wife Maria A. Shutt, born August 26, 1825, by whom he had two children: Elizabeth Alvaretta, born December 22, 1851, and married Frank Whalen and resides in Lima. They have three children: Fannie E., Robert H., and Annie Livingston; and Robert Campbell, born April 22, 1857, and married Carrie Robinson, of Dansville, N. Y., by whom he had one child, Flossie Marie. Mrs. Kershner’ s parents were born in Moore township, Pa. Her father was John Shutt, who died in February, 1873, aged seventy-three years; and her mother was Christie Ann Weldie, who died March 28, 1877, aged seventy -five years.

Kreidler, Addison E. Family Sketch

Kreidler, Addison E. — Mrs. Edward Kreidler is the widow of the late Edward Kreidler, born in Columbia county, Pa., near Easton, in 1812, and died in Dansville, N. Y., June 11, 1894. He came with his parents when a lad and settled on the farm which he owned at his death. He wras president of the board of trustees of Rogersville Seminary for twelve years, and has held many town offices, commissioner of highways, assessor, etc. His father, Frederick, Kreidler, was born in Germany, and died on Oak Hill, in 1862, aged seventy-four years. He married Susannah Ehrett, who died in 1862, by whom he had eight children: Simon, deceased; Sophia Eveland; Edward, born in 1812, and died in 1894; Elizabeth Henshaw; Daniel, John; Susanna Robinson, deceased; and Catherine Swick, deceased. In 1837 Edward Kreidler married Lucretia A., daughter of Cyril and Philura (Hall) Buck, by whom he had eight children: Frederick M., born October 14, 1838, and resides in Milo City, Mont.; Philura Willey, born December 2, 1839, and resides in Dansville, N. Y.; Edward A., born April 18, 1842, and resides in Washington, D. C., and held a clerkship in the Interior Department; Amanda M. Swink, born April 29, 1844; Hiram F., born August 24, 1846, and died November 4, 1860; Clifford C., born August 21, 1851, and resides in Montana; Adrian S., born June 4, 1857,and died October 25, 1860; and Addison E., born July 1, 1861.

Lamont, Henry C. Family Sketch

Lamont, Henry C., was born April 27, 1847. His parents were both born in England. His father, James Lamont, died in Rochester in 1893, aged eighty-two years. He purchased the farm where his son now resides about 1837. He married Eliza Pratt, who was born in 1813, and died May 11, 1878, by whom he had ten children: William, Charlotte Traxler, James P., Charles (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Thomas, a soldier of the civil war, who died in Andersonville prison; Henry C., as above; Eliza P., Ida Bushman, and Rosa Bircham. James Lamont was a tanner by trade and worked in the tannery which was erected in 1835 by a Mr. Kyser. He studied medicine in England, and finally resumed his studies and was graduated from the Eclectic College of New* York city, and practiced his profession until his death. Henry C. received a common school education, and has always followed farming. At Hornellsville, N. Y., August 29, 1872, he married Maggie Dernbacher, who was born in 1854, and died May 29, 1891, by whom he had two children: Charles W., who was born June 21, 1873; and Raymond J., who was born March 15, 1876.

Lander, Frederick Family Sketch

Lander, Frederick, was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 19, 1842. His grandfather, Christian Lander, was born in Prussia, and emigrated to this country in 1832, and settled on Sandy Hill, Dansville. He married Margaret Kouch, by whom he had these children: Fred, Christian, Peter, Augustus, Jacob, Catherine Wagoner, and Margaret Miller, all deceased, Christian Lander, father of Frederick, was born in 1809, and died November 19, 1882. He married Sophia Wagoner, born in Prussia, in 1816, and died in 1875, by whom he had these children: Frederick, as above; Jacob, born in 1844, deceased; Christian, born in 1846; Lewis, born in 1848; and Louisa, born in 1850, and married George Conrad, of Wayland. Frede:ick Lander worked on the farm until 1861, when he went to learn the wagonmaker’s trade with H. S. Stone, of Dansville, N. Y., where he remained three years, after which he worked one year for James Lindsley, thence to Scottsburg and worked for John Shutt one year, thence to Cohocton, where he carried on the same business for six years. He also worked four years at house building in Dansville. In 1883 he purchased the wagon shop in Rogersville, and has since been engaged in the same business. He has held the office of overseer of the poor three years. At Dansville, N. Y., in 1864, he married Mary Hoffman, born in 1840, by whom he had eight children: William, born January 26, 1865, and married Ida Millamen by whom he had one child, Vernie; Elizabeth, born May 23, 1866, and married William Small, of Kanona, and they have four children; Lewis, Fred, May, and Edith; Frederick, born May 27, 1868; Peter, born April 19, 1870; Anna, born June 9, 1872; Benjamin, born August 15, 1874; George, born February 22, 1876; and Alexander, born June 12, 1881.

Levers, G. Frank Family Sketch

Levers, G. Frank, was born on the place where he now resides, September 18, 1849. The family are of English origin. His father, John Levers, was born in Northampton county, Pa., October 18, 1802, and settled in Dansville, N. Y., in 1888, and purchased 176 acres of land and has since devoted his time to farming. He was formerly a tanner. He married Ruffina Heckman, born in Northampton county, Pa., November 15, 1813, and died January 26, 1892, by whom he had six children: Thomas born January 11, 1835, and resides in Chicago; Mary E. Curry, born July 2, 1836; Samuel A., born April 9, 1838; Susan C. Wilson, born September 16, 1844; John E., born April 29, 1846; and Frank G., as above, who received a common school education, and has since followed farming. At Dansville, N. Y., he married Anna Rivett. born in England, September 15, 1862, aud died March 20, 1884, by whom he had two children: Thomas E., born May 27, 1882; and Anna R., born March 9, 1884, and died April 7, 1887.

Oliver, Gale Family Sketch

Oliver, Gale, was born October 18, 1853. His grandfather, Charles Oliver, was born in Athol, Mass., June 8, 1789, and moved to Shoreham, Vt., where he learned the trade of blacksmith. He settled in Dansville in 1816, and bought 200 acres of land and built a blacksmith shop near Loon Lake, where he remained about six years, when he built a shop at Rogersville and carried on the same business there until his death, February 20, 1866, aged seventy-six years. He married Phoebe Wilson, who was born in Vermont, December 11, 1795, by whom he had these children: Charles, who was born in Shoreham, Vt., August 22, 1815, and died August 19, 1887; Almeda, who was born September 9, 1817; Lois, who was born September 26, 1819; Seraph, who was born November 3, 1831; Sally W., who was born January 5, 1824; Phoebe, who was born June 11, 1826; Amory G., who was born December 26, 1828; and Mary P., who was born June 27, 1832. Charles Oliver, father of Gale, was a man of affairs, having held the offices of assessor sixteen years, justice of the peace and supervisor four years; he was a surveyor. He married Clarissa Griswold, who was born January 10, 1817, on Lake Champlain, by whom he had these children: John Tyler, who was born March 31, 1840, and died August 29, 1840; Phoebe A., who was born October 16, 1841; Daniel H., who was born March 19, 1843; Charles, who was* born December 18, 1845; Woodruff, who was born October 8, 1852, and died April 21, 1888; and Gale, as above, who received a common school education and took a course in the Rogersville Seminary. He has always followed farming, and now owns a farm of 200 acres. He has held the office of assessor nine years.

Rau, John Family Sketch

Rau, John, was born in Bethlehem. Pa., in 1814. He is of English and German extraction. His grandfather was born in Germany and settled in Philadelphia. He married and settled in Bethlehem, Pa., and had three children. Erhardt Rau, father of John, was born at Bethlehem, Pa., September 3, 1786, and settled in Sparta about 1821, and died in 1884. He married Susan Kidd, born in Bethlehem, and died in Sparta in 1885, aged seventy-eight years. They had sixteen children: Benjamin, Daniel, Joseph, John, George, Betsey Wampole, Polly Carney, Susan Johns, Sally Ann Traxter, Hiram, Owen, David, Mary Ann Strong, Nelson, and Samuel. John Rau received his education in the common schools, and has always followed farming. In 1853 he purchased 158 acres of land in Dansville, N. Y. January 18, 1838, he married Charity Johns, born December 4, 1817, and died December 3, 1885, by whom he had seven children, two of whom died in infancy; Erhardt, born November 28, 1854, and John Wallace, born March 5, 1849; Sarah J., born April 7, 1839, and died May 11, 1855; Simon P., born August 18, 1841; Watson D., born March 11, 1844; Abner D., born March 23, 1846; and Rose E., born March 5, 1851. Abner D. resides with his father and has charge of the farm, also owns and runs a restaurant near Stony Brook Glen. He married Nancy Fries, of Naples, born June 16, 1841, by whom he has two daughters: Minnie C., born August 30, 1875; and Myrta E., born November 25, 1876.

Scherer, John P. Family Sketch

Scherer, John P., was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 14, 1852. His father, John P., was born in Germany and died in Cumminsville, N. Y., in 1888, aged seventy-three years. He married Mary Elizabeth Schnyder, who was born in Germany, and died in Dansville, in 1854, aged forty-four years. They had twelve children; Elizabeth Raich, deceased; Catherine Raich; Mary Flickner; Harriet White; Effie Philips; Flora Wildey, deceased; Cordelia Dimick; Louisa White; Conrad, who resides in Louisiana; Endress, deceased; John P., as above; and Henry, who was born October 14, 1854. Mr. Scherer worked the Russel Day farm from 1841 to 1881. John P. Sherer received his education in the common schools of the town of Dansville, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns ninety-four acres of land. In 1887 he took the agency for the Sweet Manufacturing Co., of Dansville, dealers in reapers, mowers, spring tooth harrows, and spring tooth cultivators, and has also sold binders and mowers for the McCormick Co. for five years. He is a member of South Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M., and Oak Hill Grange No. 574 of Dansville. At Dansville, N. Y., in January, 1875, he married Amelia Hulbert, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., May 6, 1851, daughter of Justice Hulbert, by whom he had two children: Floyd J., who was born October 20, 1880; and Clifford, who was born February 8, 1887.

Swink, Nelson H. Family Sketch

Swink, Nelson H., was born in Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., in 1845. He received a common school education, and attended Rogersville Seminary six months but has improved his scanty opportunities when a boy by a thorough course of reading and is well posted on many subjects. He is a farmer by occupation and owns a fine farm on Oak Hill. His father, Henry Swink, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Dansville, N. Y., March 10, 1886, aged seventy-two years. He married Sarah Miller, wTho was born in Dansville, in 1825, by whom he had three children: Nelson H., as above; Jennie, who was born in 1849; and Charles, who was born in 1852. In 1876 Nelson H. Swink married Amanda M. Kreidler, who was born in Dansville, April 29, 1844, daughter of Edward Kreidler, by whom he had three children: Edna S., who was born April 30, 1877; Essie M., who was born September 9, 1878; and Edward H., who was born March 28, 1887.

Waggoner, Albert J. Family Sketch

Waggoner, Albert J., was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 80, 1851. His grandfather, John Waggoner, died on the farm where Albert J. now resides, May 28, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. He married Sally Ann Van Alstine, who was born in Holland, and died on the farm January 24, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. They had eight children: George J., Lambert, John S., William H., Harriet Bilson, Abigail Davis, Catherine Cranmer, and Jane Wallace. George J. Waggoner, father of Albert J, was born in Canajoharie, N. Y., November 7, 1808, and died January 25, 1894. In 1840 he settled in Dansville, and 1846 purchased the farm where his son now resides He was also a shoemaker by trade, and worked at that until his eyesight failed, when he gave it up. April 80, 1828, he married Laura Ann Degolia, who was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., October 25, 1808, and died February 2, 1854, by whom he had five children: George W., born February 6, 1831, and died April 23, 1888; Lucinda M., born March 11, 1833, wife of Thomas Cotton; Nelson V., born March 10, 1835, deceased; J. Degolia, born July 17, 1842, and died May 29, 1856; and Albert J., as above, Albert J. received his primary education from his step-mother, Cornelia Wadhams, and at twelve years of age attended the district school three terms and subsequently attended the Rogersville Seminary for four years, from which institution he was graduated June 22, 1871. In 1872 he went to California for his health, returned and taught school for nine years, and is now, the owner of the homestead. At Canadice, N. Y., July 5, 1879, he married Martha A. Hartman, who was born in Canaseraga, N. Y., February 8, 1863, by whom he had six children: Charles J., born May 25, 1880, and died December 7, 1894; George A., born June 7, 1882; Henry E., born November 19. 1885; Laura E., born April 14, 1889; Gale, born June 13, 1891; and May, born January 31, 1894.

Williams, John J. Family Sketch

Williams, John J., was born in Dansville, N. Y., October 23, 1841. His grandfather, John Williams, was born in Pownal, Vt., March 19, 1781, and took up the farm of 175 acres a portion of wdiich is now occupied by our subject, about 1821. March 24, 1805, he married Lucy Card, who was born in Pownal, Vt., November 17, 1788, by whom he had ten children: Jotham T. born in Smithfield, N. Y., June 6, 1806, and died in Dansville, March 1, 1866; Semantha, born in Nelson, N. \., May 13, 1809; Sophina, born in Lenox, N. Y., July 24, 1812; Laura, born in Lenox, August 22, 1814; Huldah C., born in Nelson, August 8, 1816; Sally, born in Lenox, October 26, 1818; Joseph C., born in Lenox, January 14, 1821: Hannah, born in Dansville, April 17, 1823; John F., born in Dansville, October 12, 1825; and James, born in Dansville, January 30, 1827. Mr. Williams died in Dansville, May 7, 1852. November 3, 1829, Jotham T. Williams, father of John J., married Lovenia Jones, who was born May, 6, 1810, and died July 3, 1858, by whom he had six children: Charles, born in Burns, N. Y., February 3, 1830, and died February 4, 1830; Philander H., born in Dansville, March 1, 1832; Shepard J., born in Dansville, March 23, 1835; John J., as above; Jotham H., born in Dansville, March 20, 1844; and Lucy Elvira, born in Dansville, February 4, 1847, and married H. C. Royer, January 23, 1867, and resides in California; they have two children, Herbert and Effie. Mr. Williams was a farmer, school teacher, and constable. October 19, 1858, he married for his second wife, Matilda Robertson, who died in 1880, aged eighty-two years. John J. attended the common schools, and Dansville Seminary three terms, and has always followed farming. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in 1 30th N. Y. Vols., afterwards reorganized and called the 1st N. Y. Dragoons, and was discharged July 13, 1865. He took part in the battle, Deserted House, and was wounded in action at the siege of Suffolk, Va., April 30, 1863, and in the battle of Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864. On February 3, 1865, he was transferred to the 19th Regt. Veteran Reserve Corps, at Elmira, N. Y., and discharged July 13, 1865. He is a member of Seth N. Hedges Post, G. A. R., of Dansville. At Savona, N. Y., September 19, 1867, he married Martha A. Tyler, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, December 24, 1842, by whom he had five children: Lottie M., born in Dansville, September 20, 1869, and died January 20, 1870; Vinnie, born November 24, 1870, and died February 26, 1873; Minnie and Menzo, twins, born July 8, 1873, at Savona, and Minnie died at Dans ville October 29, 1873; and John Tyler, born May 24, 1875.