Hartsville New York Family Sketches

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

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

Comstock, Charles Family Sketch

Charles Comstock, was born in Allegany county, N.Y. May 18, 1854, and was the son of Martin Luther Comstock, who was born in Otsego county, N. Y. He came to Allegany county in 1835, where he followed his trade of wagon and carriage builder. He married Naomi Adams of Vermont and they had ten children: Luisa, Thomas, James, Lillian, Frank, Nancy, Etta and Charles. Charles Comstock is a blacksmith by trade, and at present is the owner of two farms in the town of Hartsville. He married Charity E., daughter of John Oaks of Hartsville, who was one of the first settlers in that town. They had two children: Clara and Daniel. In politics Mr. Comstock is a Republican.

Corbett, George R. Family Sketch

George R. Corbett was born in Massachusetts, December 31, 1830, son of Joseph Corbett, who was also born in Massachusetts, and came to the town of Harts- ville in 1840, where he bought a claim of 112 acres. Joseph Corbett married Jane Babcock, of Massachusetts, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom George R. is the oldest son living. George R. was educated in the district schools of Hartsville, and learned the carpenter’s trade. He entered the 16th New York Artillery, served from January 4, 1864, to November 1, 1865. He married Phebe D., daughter John Van Buskirk, of Hartsville, who was a farmer and lumberman, and they have seven children. Mr. Corbett has held the office of justice, assessor, and other minor offices. At present he is notary public, and mail carrier from Purdy Creek to Canisteo, a member of Post Abram Allen, No. 194, and also member of the Grange. In politics he is a Democrat.

Donaldson, William R. Family Sketch

William R. Donaldson, was born in the town of Hartsville, N. Y., June 19, 1847, and is a son of Hiram Donaldson, who was born in Vermont, and came to Hartsville when five y ears of age. Joel Donaldson, the grandfather, settled in Hartsville when that part of the country was a wilderness and was obliged to clear land on which to build a log cabin. Hiram Donaldson married Louisa Webb, daughter of Henry Webb, of Hartsville, and they had five children: William R., Martha, Henry, Adell, and Lillie. William R. has been a miller for over thirty years in the town of Hartsville, owns two saw mills and manufactures lumber in large quantities. He married Anna Crousin, daughter of Francis Crousin, of Hartsville, and they have one son, Arthur, who follows in the same occupation as his father.

Hemphill, George Family Sketch

George Hemphill, was born in the town of Hartsville, September 12, 1840, and is the son of Robert Hemphill, who was born in New Hampshire, March 13, 1796. He first settled in Oneida county in 1822, and remained there fourteen years; then he came to Steuben county, on the farm where George now lives. He married Lucy Kimball, of New Hampshire, and they were the parents of six children: William, John K., John R., Silas H., George and Addie E., all of whom are living. George Hemphill acquired his education in the district schools of Hartsville. He married Martha, daughter of James M. Hovey, a farmer of Hartsville, and one of the oldest settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill have no children. They reside on a farm which consists of 200 acres, about seventy-five acres of which is timber. He has filled the office of assessor.

Hendee, Clark L. Family Sketch

Clark L. Hendee, was born August 24, 1854. Charles Fremont was born February 22, 1856, sons of James B. Hendee, who was born in Dansville, but has resided in Hartsville for nearly fifty years. James B. Hendee has always been engaged in farming; the old homestead, consisting of two hundred and five acres, is now owned and occupied by Clark L. and Charles F. Hendee. James B. married Angeline, daughter of James Curry of Dansville, by whom he had twelve children, of whom eight are still living; three are living in Hartsville. Clark L. and Charles F. received their education in the district schools of their native town, but have since followed farming. Clark married Lell, daughter of Albertus Hall of Hartsville, by whom he has one child. Charles F. married Rettie, daughter of George Wells, a farmer of Potter, Yates county. Mr. Wells was one of the first settlers of that county. Mr. Hendee is at present one of the assessors of the town.

Powell, Edmund K. Family Sketch

Powell, Edmund K., was born in the town of Chemung, Tioga county, Septem- ber 9, 1821, son of Frost Powell, who was born in Dutchess county. The parents moved from Tioga county to Hartsville in 1723, and settled near where Edmand now lives, on what is known as the Daniel Tucker farm, clearing a space of about 100 acres. Frost Powell married Rebecca Gleason, by whom he had six children: Caroline, Asa, William, Edmund, Charlotte, and Lucy. At the present time only three of the above are living. Edmund K. was educated in the schools at Hartsville, is a farmer by occupation and is the owner of 100 acres of land. He was married, first, to Mary Baird, by whom he had one son, George R. Powell, a druggist by profession. The second time he married Francis Baird, and they had one daughter, now in Canisteo. His third wife was Sarah E. Moore, and two children were born to them: James, and Angeline L. The latter graduated from the Academy at Canisteo, and has been engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are members of the M. E. Church.

Zeliff, Samuel J. Family Sketch

Samuel J. Zeliff, was born in the town of Burns, Allegany county, N.Y., June 16, 1832, and is the son of Joseph Zeliff, who was born in France, and came to the United States in 1812, when a young man. Settled in Pennsylvania, then near Ark- port, Steuben county, they took up land for a farm consisting of 108 acres, where they remained until a few years ago. The homestead is known as the Albert Ellis farm. The antecedents of Samuel J. have always followed farming. He was edu- cated in the district schools of South Dansville, but has greatly improved his educa- tion by his judicious reading. Mr. Zeliff for a time was engaged in dealing in agricultural implements, but now devotes his entire time to farming, owning a farm of 155 acres mostly of improved land. Mr. Zeliff married, first, Theoda, daughter of Sidney Frisbey, of Hartsville, who was one of the first settlers of that town. They had one daughter, Emma D., who married Milton Grey, of Hammondsport, N. Y. Mr. Zeliff married, second, Ann K., widow of George O. Henry, of Hartsville, by whom he had two children : Clayton and Merton, both living at home. Mr. Zeliff has served as highway commissioner, excise commissioner, and assessor. The heads of the family are members of the M. E. church.