Lindley New York Family Sketches

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

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

Brennin, John

Brennin, John, was born on the adjoining farm to where he now resides, July 7, 1851, son of Thomas and Mary Doyle Brennin, who settled here about 1848. They were the parents of nine children: Catherine Rose, James, John, William, Thomas, Abner, Mary Day, Ellen Wheeler, and Margaret Day. John married Mary Louisa, daughter of Charles and Catherine Ballard Perbasco, who resided in Pennsylvania, and they have nine children: Annie Louisa, James Fred, Henry, Abner, Erwin S., Arthur M., Ruby, Jessie, and Ellen. Annie Louisa married Frank Raplee, who resides in Addison; John is a tobacco and dairy farmer, his farm consisting of 150 acres. He has been collector and is now highway commissioner, which office he has held five years.

Elmer, Sanford

Elmer, Sanford, a son of Curtis and Violet, formerly residents of Corning but natives of Connecticut was one of four children named Mary Jane Ranney, Ella Merriman, Ellen deceased, and Sanford. The latter and his father settled in Big Flats about 1850, and raised the first crop of tobacco that was raised in that section. Sanford married May Matilda, daughter of Isaac Clute, of Corning, and they have three children: Fred, Joseph, and Ida M. Mitchel. Mr. Elmer has a farm of 180 acres, was formerly in the extract business in Tioga county, Pa. , also a merchant at Hartford Corners for one year. Mr. Elmer is a member of the Addison Methodist church.

Hill, Henry Franklin

Hill, Henry Franklin, was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, N. Y., March 17, 1846, moved to Corning in 1860, and settled in this town in 1866. He is the son of Henry F. and Clarissa Lindsley Hill, and they were the parents of seven children beside him: Henrietta (deceased); Sarah (deceased), Harriet, W. Harlow, Arthur A. (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), and Charles P. Henry F. married Ada, daughter of William and Georgianna Burr, residents of this county. They have one daughter, Doris, and one adopted daughter, Ella May. Mr. Hill is a successful merchant of Lindley.

Orr, Joseph J.

Orr, Joseph J., was born in the town of Addison, a son of James C. and Orrena (Day) Orr. James C. came here with his father, Joseph, about 1880 from Delaware county. Joseph J. was one of five children named James C., Calvin D., Sarah C. Smith, Oliver J., and Joseph J., all residents of the county. Joseph J. married Sarah, daughter of Stephen and Mary Dillon, and they have five children: Edna Robinson, Celia Plunkett, Luna Hill, Clara Mead, and Edwin S. The last named married Josie Ayers. Joseph J. is a member of Addison Union Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 118.

Morgan, S. Maurice

Morgan, S. Maurice, was born in the town of Lindley, November 6, 1839, son of Albert C. and Catherine Barnard Morgan, who settled in Lindley in 1828 and 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were the parents of five children: Harriet A., Sarah E., Nellie A., Catherine A., and S. Maurice. The latter was married to Helen B. Williams, and they have one child, Rose W. S. Maurice enlisted in Co. F, 86th N.Y. Vols., September, 1861, and was commissioned first lieutenant, Co. F, 86th N.Y. Vols.; May, 1862, was appointed aide-de camp to John C. Robinson in Kearney’s Division, Army of the Potomac, afterwards served in First Division, Third Army Corps, also Second Division of First Army Corps, and February, 1864, was appointed assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Vols., and was assigned to the Second Division of Fifth Army Corps, was appointed adjutant-general in First Army Corps in May, 1864. He was captured May 30, 1864, at Cold Harbor, and confined in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., Macon, Ga., Charleston, S. C., and Columbia, S. C., and was paroled for exchange from Columbia. Escaped from Columbia prison and was free fourteen days. He holds a commission as brevet lieutenant-colonel, given by President Lincoln for meritorious services in the field. He is now commander of the G. A. R. Post at Lawrenceville, Pa.

Pepper, George

Pepper, George, was born in Germany and came to New York city with his father, Jacob Pepper (spelled Feffer in German), a sister, Margaret, and two brothers, John and Valentine, when about five years of age. He left his father in New York and came to Lindley when about eleven years of age. George Pepper lived with Joseph Rorabaugh until twenty-one years of age, when he married Mary E., daughter of Jared and Hannah (Marks) Upham of this county. They had four children: John J., Gertrude Manley, William H., and George M. Mr. Pepper was engaged in lumbering with Fox, Weston & Co. for thirty-five years He is now engaged in farming and owns 335 acres of land, seventy-five of which is improved.

Stowell, Henry

Stowell, Henry, was born in the town of Afton, Chenango county, July 17, 1853, son of Richard S. and" Almira Vinton Stowell, who settled in Lindley in 1871. He married Alice, daughter of Theron and Mary Wheat Harris, and they have four children : Claude, Burt, Allie, and Richard. Mr. Stowell is a. dairy and tobacco farmer. He has been justice of the peace for three terms. He is a member of Lawrence Lodge, No. 918 of I. O. O. F. , and Encampment, No. 227, of Lawrenceville, Pa., has passed the chairs in the subordinate lodge and was selected as past grand to represent the lodge at the session of the Grand Lodge held in Philadelphia, May 21, 1895, at the time of dedication of the Odd Fellows’ Temple. Mr. Stowell is interested in the Lindley Fairview Cemetery Association, having been its president since its organization.

Stowell, Marcus

Stowell, Marcus, was born in the town of Afton, Chenango county, March 1, 1847, a son of Richard S. and Almira (Vinton) Stowell, who settled here in 1871. They had four children: Emily J., Mary Young, Marcus, and Henry. Marcus Stowell married Helen, a daughter of Sterling Hart, by whom he has four children: Floyd, Arthur, Guy, and Frank. Mr. Stowell has been supervisor of the town for seven terms. He is a member of the Lawrenceville I. O. O. F., Lodge. No. 913. He is a farmer and owns 105 acres of land. He also carries on the merchandise business and was appointed postmaster of Lindley in 1893.

Toby, Benjamin F.

Toby, Benjamin F., was born in the town of Addison (now Tuscarora), March 6, 1846. He is a son of Alonzo and Margaret (Boyer) Toby, who settled in Addison in 1840. They had five children: Benjamin F., Adeline Hoff, Libbie, Katherine, Frances, and William A., of whom the four latter are deceased. Benjamin married Jennie A., a daughter of James L. and Samantha A. Lemunyan, residents of. this county. They have four children ; Will, Maud, Harry, and Fannie. Mr. Toby is a member of the Maccabees Lodge of Lindley and was commander for two terms. He was sent as delegate to the State Grand Lodge at Niagara Falls in 1893.

Vastbinder, Nelson H.

Vastbinder, Nelson H., was born on the farm where he now resides, son of Horace and Etha Harrison Vastbinder, who were the parents of five children; Charles, deceased, Nelson H., Grace, Archie, and Addie. Nelson H. married Effie, daughter of John (deceased) and Armania Hollenbeck, residents of this county, and they have two children: Wallace and Charles Read. Horace settled here about 1851 on the farm where he now resides, and was in the late war. He and his wife are members of the Bindley Methodist church. Nelson and his father have a farm of about 500 acres.