Hornby New York Family Sketches

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

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

Adams, H. De Loss Family Sketch

Adams, H. De Loss, son of George and Betsy Underwood Adams, was born in 1855 in Hornby. The father was a native of Montgomery county and came to Hornby when five years old with his father, Isaac. The mother was a daughter of Jesse Underwood and a native of Hornby. The parents died in 1893 and 1873, aged seventy-five and fifty-one. H. De Loss and an older brother, Charles R., comprise the family. In 1878, Mr. Adams married Cora Dickinson, a native of the town of Hornby. They have since resided on his present place known as the Daniel Goodsell farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres.

Armstrong, James E. Family Sketch

Armstrong, James E., the present highway commissioner, was born in Schuyler county in 1839, son of Benoni and Hannah Armstrong, who came to Steuben county in 1844 locating where Mr. Armstrong has since lived. The father was a lumberman and died in 1886, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Armstrong is the youngest of a family of five children. In 1867 he married Emma Hendryx of Potter county, Pa., who died in 1884. In 1893 he was elected to his present office for one year, and re-elected in 1894 for two years. He had also previously served three years. The old saw mill on his place which is still in operation was built by his father in 1846.

Duvell Bros. Family Sketch

Duvell Bros. — Albert Duvell and his wife, Martha, came from Montgomery county, locating in Hornby in 1848 where their sons Alfred and Daniel reside. They spent the balance of their days here. Daniel was born in 1830 in Montgomery county and married, in 1855, Mary E. Whitehead, who died in 1891. He has a family of two sons and three daughters. He afterward married Catherine Sharp, his present wife, who is a native of the town of Campbell. Alfred D. was born in 1841 and raised on the home place. In 1863 he married Rebecca Kembell, who died in 1894, leaving four sons and two daughters. January 1, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 9th Artillery, and was with Grant in the Wilderness. He served till the close of the war being promoted to the office of lieutenantcolonel. He is considered one of Steuben county’s largest and most enterprising farmers owning 900 acres of land. He has filled the offices of justice of the peace, assessor, and supervisor.

Easling, Minor Family Sketch

Easling, Minor, son of Abram D. and Emeline Masters Easling, was born in Hornby in 1854. The father came from Tompkins county in 1826, and in 1872 moved to Corning where he died in 1879, aged sixty-six. The mother came from New Jersey with her parents, Nehemiah and Harriet Masters, in 1827. In 1875 Mr. Easling married Sarah Sample, a native of Hornby and in 1876 came to his present farm, it being his mother’s home place. He has two children: Ellsworth and Emma.

Easterbrooks, Samuel Family Sketch

Easterbrooks, Samuel, of Painted Post, was born in Otsego county in 1816, and came to his present farm in 1821 with his parents, William and Mary Amy Easterbrooks, natives of Rhode Island and New York. The parents died here in 1854. Mr. Easterbrooks has always resided here since 1821. In 1842 he married Catherine Stanton, who died the same year. In 1844 he married Polly Underwood, his present wife. They have two children: Edwin J., and Samuel M. Mr. Easterbrooks has filled the offices of assessor and supervisor, the former office six years, the latter four years. He has the original home place of forty-nine acres, to which he has added eighty-nine acres.

Erwin, Samuel C. Family Sketch

Erwin, Samuel C., son of Arthur, and grandson of Arthur, the original Erwin of the town of Erwin, was born in 1823 and has always resided in the county. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Thompson, who is a native of Erwin. They have five children. Samuel C., Carrie N., Arthur A., James T., and Elizabeth. Mr. Erwin has 200 acres where he has lived in Hornby since 1865.

Ferenbaugh, John H. Family Sketch

Ferenbaugh, John H., was born in 1831 on the home place in Hornby where his father located about 1829. In 1858 he married Juliet W. Lewis, a native of Ontario county, and their children are as follows: Anna L., wife of George Sly, Augusta P., wife of David Rogers, Clarence H., and James L., who died in 1895, aged twentyone years Mr. Ferenbaugh has filled the office of justice of the peace sixteen successive years, assessor three years, and supervisor for seven different years, and for eighteen years has been postmaster of Ferenbaugh.

Ferenbaugh, Lyman G. Family Sketch

Ferenbaugh, Lyman G., wms born in Hornby in 1837, son of Joseph and Anna Sweet Ferenbaugh, natives of Germany and Vermont. The father and five brothers came from Germany with their father, locating at first in Pennsylvania, coming afterwards to Steuben county. The parents when married came to Hornby, locating in the wilderness. They afterwards moved to Corning and died in 1868. Mr. Ferenbaugh married Cynthia, daughter of George Sly, and they have one child, Ada, now the wife of Clifford O’Brien. Mr. Ferenbaugh and his brother, John H., have kept up the old saw mill built by their father. They also own a farm of 500 acres and a grocery store.

Ferenbaugh, Willis S. Family Sketch

Ferenbaugh, Willis S., was born in Hornby in 1849, son of Benedict and Eliza Ferenbaugh. The father was a native of Germany, and located in Corning with his parents about 1827, and came to Mr. Ferenbaugh’s present place. The father died in 1892, aged eighty-five. Mr. Ferenbaugh has two sisters who reside with him on the home place, their names being Sarah A. and Delle. They have 205 acres, including the old homestead. Mr. Ferenbaugh follows general farming, stock raising and bee-keeping.

Fero, Albert Family Sketch

Fero, Albert, was born in 1830, son of Abram and Catherine Fero, natives of Montgomery county and Pennsylvania, and came to Hornby at an early day, and raised a family of six children. The parents died in 1887 and 1885, aged eighty-six and seventy-nine, father and mother, respectively. Mr. Fero, who is the oldest of the family, married Caroline L. Easling in 1855 and located on his present place of ninety-six acres adjoining the old homestead. They have four children: Lucy, George Frank, Harriet Belle, and Arthur.

Hathaway, James V. Family Sketch

Hathaway, James V., was born in Chemung county in 1833. He married there and about 1858 came to Corning and has since resided in Steuben county. He followed canal boating for eighteen years and in 1880 located on his present farm in Hornby. He has 110 acres and follows general farming. In politics he is a Republican. In September, 1856, he married Sophia Hoffman, of Millport, Chemung" county.

Hoffman, A. H. Family Sketch

Hoffman, A. H., of Corning, was born in Millport, Chemung county, December 11, 1854, son of Gottlieb and Eva R. (Groener) Hoffman, natives of Germany, who in about 1848 located in Chemung county, where they lived and died, in 1880 and 1888, aged sixty-six and seventy-three, respectively. Mr. Hoffman was raised in Chemung county and followed boating till 1882, when he moved to Hornby. In 1879 he married Aurelia Pellca, born on Stony Island, Jefferson county, N. Y., April 3, 1862. He has 175 acres and follows general farming and affiliates with the Democratic party.

Jewett, Amos Family Sketch

Jewett, Amos, was born where he resides in Hornby, in 1833, son of Thomas and Sylvia Haradon Jewett, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts. The father.came to Steuben county in 1818 locating first within the present limits of the town of Campbell, moving two years later to Hornby and on Mr. Jewett’s farm about 1820. The mother came with her parents about 1822; they died in 1873 and 1877 aged seventy-nine and seventy-seven, respectively. Mr. Jewett is one of a family of seven children, six of whom were raised to maturity. In 1863 he went to the Pacific coast, prospecting and mining there till 1867, when he returned home and spent about four years here. He then spent a couple of years traveling through the South and then located permanently. In 1868 he married Sarah L., daughter of Rufus Platt, a native of the town of Campbell. They have three children: Lizzie, Laura L., and Thomas P. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, it being a part of the old homestead. He was the candidate of his party for the State Legislature in 1890; was president of the Steuben County Agricultural Society in 1890 and 1891; has represented his county in some half dozen political and agricultural State Conventions, and has held various other positions of honor and trust.

Jimerson, Hibbert T. Family Sketch

Jimerson, Hibbert T., is a native of Orange, Schuyler county, formerly Bradford, Steuben county, born in 1847, son of Abram and Sally Ann Rolfe Jimerson. The parents lived and died in Schuyler county, and Mr. Jimerson was raised on a farm, and in 1871 married Bertha Hendrick and located on his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres. He follows general farming, dairying, and sheep husbandry. He was highway commissioner in 1889.

Lake, Isaac Family Sketch

Lake, Isaac, was born at Urbana, Steuben county, in 1824, son of Timothy and Catherine Sanford Lake, natives of New Jersey, who came to this county in 1814, locating at Urbana where they died in 1865 and 1879. Mr. Lake’s brothers and sisters are as follows: Hannah, Rebecca, Thomas, Sarah, and James. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, of the 161st N. Y. Vols., serving fifteen months. In 1866 he married Gittie Sample and has since resided on his present place of 137 acres. His wife died in 1892 leaving three children: Bertie, Katie, and Eddie.

Lane, A. Eugene Family Sketch

Lane, A. Eugene, was born in Hornby in 1856, and is a son of David H. and Mianda C. Weed Lane, who came from Erie county, Pa., about 1860. The father died in 1857, aged forty, the mother resides with A. Eugene. In 1880 he married Lottie Thomas of Schuyler county, and in 1883 located where he now lives on the farm of 130 acres. In connection with farming he follows bridge building for the Vulcan Road Works. His children are: Norma S., Ray T., and Ralph D.

Lilly, Willis S. Family Sketch

Lilly, Willis S., was born in Hornby, where he now resides, in 1843, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Wolever Lilly, natives of Pennsylvania. They located on Mr. Lilly’s present farm in 1820. The parents died in 1882 and 1865, aged eighty-nine and sixty-five. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 188th N.Y.Vols., serving till the close of the war. In 1866 he married Cynthia Buck, a native of Schuyler county, and they have two children: Cassin G., and Roy O. He is serving a second term as justice of the peace, and has also filled the office of assessor.

Masters, Herbert J. Family Sketch

Masters, Herbert J., was born where he lives in 1854, son of Lewis H. and Effie Schuyler Masters, natives of New Jersey and Montgomery county, N. Y. The father came from New Jersey in 1827 with his parents, Nehe.miah and Harriet Masters, who died on the home place in Hornby. The father also died here in 1888, the mother is still residing on the home place. Mr. Masters is an only child. In 1893 he married Caroline Timerman. a native of Painted Post, and they have one daughter, Gertrude.

Oldfield, Thomas Family Sketch

Oldfield, Thomas, was born in Hornby in 1831, son of Samuel and Harriet Hurd Oldfield, natives of New Jersey and Connecticct. The father came to Hornby about 1820 and married here. The parents died in 1867 and 1839, aged sixty-eight and thirty-eight, father and mother, respectively. When Mr. Oldfield was seven years old he came with his parents to his present farm, where he has since resided. At the age of twenty-one he purchased the place, consisting of 169 acres. In 1853 he married Phoebe M. Gould, a native of New Jersey. They have five children: Gideon G., Samuel, Hattie, Ann May, and Sarah G. Hattie is the wife of J. W. Bucher; Ann May is the wife of E. L. Townley; Sarah G. is the wife of L. H. Ferenbaugh. Five children are deceased, all under the age of ten years. Mr. Oldfield has filled the offices of assessor, justice of the peace, and supervisor.

Rogers, David S. Family Sketch

Rogers, David S., of Ferenbaugh, was born in the house where he now lives in 1860. His parents, Daniel and Lois Angeline Roloson Rogers, natives of Ulster county and the town of Hornby, are residents of Beaver Dams. Mr. Rogers was raised and has always been a farmer. He married Augusta Ferenbaugh in 1885. He has a farm of 260 acres.

Roloson, Alfred Family Sketch

Roloson, Alfred, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., March 12, 1830. He was the son of Peter and Judith Kirby Roloson, the father, being a native of New Jersey, and the mother of Massachusetts. They came to Hornby, Steuben county, in the spring of 1832, and were among the pioneer settlers of the town. The father was a prosperous farmer, living upon the same farm until his death, which occurred February 9, 1888, aged eighty-three years. Alfred Roloson was the fourth child of a family of fifteen children, there being eight sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood, and were all married. The mother, aged eightyseven years, and all of the children except two are living at the time of this writing. Mr Roloson was married September 20, 1855, to Mary R. Knowlton, who died August 20, 1888, leaving three sons: Melvin P., Clayton C., and Lyman K. He afterwards married Mrs. Melissa Roloson nee Hays. Since 1856 he has resided on his present farm of sixty-three acres, and has also an adjoining farm of sixty acres. He has been highway commissioner two terms and supervisor four terms.

Roloson, Sylvester Family Sketch

Roloson, Sylvester, of Painted Post, was born in Hornby, son of Peter and Julia Kirby Roloson, natives of New Jersey and Rhode Island, who in about 1885 located in the eastern part of the town of Hornby, where the father cleared and at one time owned 500 acres. He died in 1890, aged eighty-three. The mother still survives. Mr. Roloson is one of a family of fifteen children. He has followed farming as an occupation all his life. In 1877 he married Ophelia Stanton, who was born on their present place. They have a farm of 100 acres.

Sly, Robert O. Family Sketch

Sly, Robert O., was born in the place where he now lives in 1846, son of George and Lovina Irvin Sly, natives of Corning and Watkins. The grandparents came from Richmond, Va., and Connecticut, paternal and maternal respectively. Mr. Sly has always resided on the old home place consisting of 250 acres of the original 370 acres. In 1872 he married Sarah Cutler, a native of Corning, and their children are as follows; George Elliot, Mary Lovina, Idalia, Aletha.

Townley, Edward L. Family Sketch

Townley, Edward L., was born in Corning in 1861, son of William Townley and Harriet C. Lyon Townley, natives of New York, who came to Corning about 1850. The father was a cabinetmaker and died in 1891, aged sixty-seven; the mother resides in Corning. Mr. Townley is one of a family of three children raised to maturity, the others being Lauretta, who died in 1866, aged twenty-eight, and William F., jr., who resides in Corning. Mr. Townley married Anna May Oldfield in 1886. He has 220 acres where they reside and 186 adjoining. He follows general farming and small fruit growing.

Van Alstine. George W. Family Sketch

Van Alstine. George W., was born in Schoharie county in 1847, and came to Horn by the following year with his parents, James and Mary Ann, who resided here till their death in 1892 and 1874, aged seventy-six and fifty-four, father and mother, respectively. He is the youngest of three children, the others being Martin H., and James W. He resided at home till 1875 when he married Ella O. Roloson, daughter of Peter Roloson, a native of Hornby, and then moved to his present farm of seventythree acres.

Wheaton, J. Henry Family Sketch

Wheaton, J. Henry, was born in Hornby in 1867, son of Samuel A. and Eleanor J. Covenhoven Wheaton; the mother is a daughter of Henry Covenhoven, and the father a son of Peter S. Wheaton, representatives of the oldest families in the county. The mother resides in Hornby with her son; the father died in 1875; he twice enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and was twice honorably discharged. Mr. Wheaton has one brother, Grant Wheaton, younger than himself, who resides at Painted Post; he owns the leading meat market of the place and 108 acres of land in Hornby. Mr. Wheaton has 150 acres of land in Hornby and follows general farming, lumbering and sheep husbandry.

Wolever, Daniel Family Sketch

Wolever, Daniel, was born in Hornby in 1837, son of Andrew and Eliza Grover Wolever, who were married in Columbia county, Pa., and came to Hornby in 1836. Both parents died here and are buried in the Oldfield burying ground. At the age twenty Mr. Wolever spent one year in Michigan and Illinois. In 1860 he purchased his present farm adjoining the old homestead. He has 165 acres, and follows general farming and stock raising. In 1862 he married Fanny Hendrick, who died in 1864, and he afterward married Augusta Hendrick, his present wife.