Benton Biographies 

F - R

History & Directory of Yates Co., Vol 1, Pub 1873, by Stafford C. Cleveland  Pg172 - 345 

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FERGUSON   pg 334

Peter FERGUSON was from Orange county and settled in the town of Seneca in 1807. Two of his sons, John S. and Walter S., settled in Benton in 1833, buying the tavern property at what is now know as Ferguson�s Corners, which they purchased of John BUCKLEY, a son of Major Robert BUCKLEY. Both have resided in that vicinity for the most part since that time. 

John S. married Mary, daughter of John READ, and sister of Melancthon S. REED of Seneca.  They have two daughters, Melissa and Ellen.  Ellen is the wife of George DINEHART of Potter.

Walter S., married a daughter of Andrew W. MC ALPINE of Benton. Their children are Marion, Rosetta B., Sarah Alice, Jane and Colton. Sarah Alice is the wife of Walter FITCH of Potter.

John S. and Walter S. FERGUSON are both farmers. Martha, a sister of theirs, is the wife of John SOUTHERLAND, of Potter.

FOX   pg 339

Among those who escaped the massacre by Indians and Torries in 1778, in the ill-fated Valley of Wyoming, was a Mr. FOX, who left the burning fort and swam the river, while his wife and two or three children, unknown to him, escaped by some other means.  They resided some years after in Pennsylvania, where he died. She came with her children, seven in number, to what now is Benton, in 1800, and lived near the Centre many years. The children were: Worthy, Althea, Polly, Brentha, Lee, Phineas and Chauncey.  Worthy married Elijah CLARK, son of Col. William CLARK, the pioneer of Naples. Althea married Salmon HULL, son of Eliphalet HULL. Polly married Mr. DAVIDSON, one of the earliest residents of Rochester.  Brentha married a Mr. WRIGHT, and the two families of WRIGHT and DAVIDSON were afterwards settlers on what was know in Genesee county as �The Triangle�.  Lee married Cynthia WADSWORTH of Potter.  Phineas married Fanny LENNOX of Benton and moved to Michigan.  Chauncey married Rosana LENNOX, sister of Fanny, and also moved to Michigan.  Mrs. Davie BOTSFORD of the Waverly House, Rochester and David B. HULL of Buffalo are her grandchildren. 

GAGE  pg 230 � 236

Moses GAGE was a native of Rhode Island, and moved early to Dutchess county, NY, where he married Sarah BUCKBEE.  They resided in the town of Southeast during the Revolution. Their children were Mariam, Buckbee (b1764), Reuben, Aaron and Isaac D.(b1773), all of whom with their parents came to this county in 1801. The parents and one son, Aaron, settled on a farm of 200 acres, at Spencer�s Corners.  Moses GAGE died there in 1812, at the age of 83 years, and his wife the following year at the age of 86 years.

Mariam GAGE became the second wife of Jonathan J. HAZARD Sr., near City Hill. He died within a year after the marriage and subsequently in 1811, she became the third wife of James PARKER, the distinguished pioneer leader. He died sixteen years later, and she survived him 25 years, reaching the advanced aged of 96 years. 

Reuben GAGE married Azuba HOYT of North Salem, NY.  They settled on the farm west of Bellona, now owned by Charles COLEMAN, and subsequently exchanged farms with Aaron GAGE and moved to the paternal homestead, where they died, he in 1845 at 77 and she in 1840 at 64 years. Their children were: Jesse T., Horace, Martha, Aaron, William H., and Reuben P.  Jesse T. GAGE, who was a prominent citizen of Benton, married Mary, daughter of Jonathan J. HAZARD 2^nd,and settled on a portion of the homestead in Benton. He died in 1858, at the age of 61 years, leaving his widow and eight surviving children: Murray, Arnold C., Martha, Daniel, Albina, Susan Ann, Patience and Charles. 

Of these, Murray married Ann TRAVIS and occupied the homestead in Benton, where she died.  Their children are David, Remoin, Lewis and Sabra.  Arnold C., married Mary, daughter of Josiah PAGE of Benton.  She died leaving two children, Isadore and Byron. He resides on a part of the homestead, and has a second wife, Amanda LINKLETTER of Torrey.  Martha married Lewis RANDALL and resides in Benton. Their children are George and Sarah. Albina married Thomas J. VANDERLIP. They reside in Penn Yan. 

Daniel married Caroline UTTER, and settled on the homestead.  He volunteered during the war of the rebellion, but sickened and died in the recruiting camp at Rochester, leaving three children, John, Sarah and Jesse.  

Susan Ann became the second wife of Lewis P. HOLMES of Benton. They have two sons, David and Bradley. Patience married Solomon BATES and resides in West Benton. They have several children.  Charles married Emma BENNETT of Milo and resides on the homestead. They have one child.

Horace GAGE, born in 1800, married Sarah, daughter of Anthony TRIMMER Sr., of Benton, and settled near Lima, Michigan.  He died in 1851.  Their children are Anthony, Sylva and Heman.

Martha GAGE married Lewis GREGORY of Dutchess county in 1837. They settled on Pre-emption road adjoining the homestead of Moses GAGE, where she died in 1859, leaving three sons,

George W. married first, Asenath B., daughter of Lewis D. GAGE, who died soon and his present wife is Caroline E., daughter of George LARHAM of Seneca. Ezra E. married Mary E., daughter of Benjamin BUSH.  Aaron Y., was a soldier and died in the service in 1862.

Aaron D. GAGE born in 1808, was educated a physician, emigrated to North Carolina, married Mary M. YOUNG and resides there.  They have a daughter, Sarah.

William H. GAGE born 1810, married Abigail R., daughter of Dr. Calvin FARGO, settled on the KIDDER farm, and resides now in Penn Yan.

Reuben P. GAGE emigrated to Marshall, Michigan, where he married Fanny PARKER and settled.

Aaron, the next son of Moses GAGE, born in 1766, married Delilah FRANCIS of Benton, and settled on West street, about two miles northeast of Benton Centre, where his wife died leaving six children: Clarissa, Franklin, Benjamin, Eliza, Ruth and Ambrose.  The father moved his family to Marshall, Michigan, where he died. 

Isaac D. GAGE, the youngest son of Moses GAGE, born March 8, 1773, married Huldah BENEDICT of South Salem, NY, born March 19, 1779.  They settled in 1805 where they lived thereafter and died, on lot 30. Their family of fourteen children all reached adult age, viz: Sally, Betsey HEWSON, Moses B., Mariam, Isaac N., Nancy M., Charlotte C., John M., Seneca H., Henry H., Huldah A., Lewis D., Armida J. and Augusta D. 

Sally, born in 1798, married Samuel TOWNSEND of North Salem, where he died and she now resides on the homestead, a widow, without children. Betsey, born in 1800, resides on the homestead, unmarried.

Moses B., born in 1802, married Ann M. DAVIS of Churchville, Monroe county, and resides there, a physician.  They have five children, Texas B., Ann M., Frances, Emma and Homer. Ann M., the oldest daughter, married Maurice WELCH, who was a Sergeant in the 108^th Regiment of NY Vol., was wounded at Antietam, fought at Chancellorsville and fell at Gettysburg in the thickest of the fight. Frances M., married Mahlon BALCOM of Orleans county, and resides in Chili, NY.  Texas B., the oldest son, died young.

Mariam, born in 1803, married Thomas VARTIE of Seneca and settled near Hall�s Corners, where both died, she in 1864 and he in 1865, without children.

Isaac N., born in 1804, married Helen A. QUICK of Benton, and resides on the homestead, a prominent and useful citizen. Their children are Robert Bloomer and Helen Arabell.

Nancy, born in 1806, married Jewett MARINER.  They lived in Penn Yan, where she died, leaving one child, Olive.  He resides now in Jerusalem, and married for his second wife, Arminda Jane, sister of his first wife, born in 1820. Their children are Elizabeth, Francis, Ida and Charles Z.

Charlotte C., born in 1808, married James Parker BARDEN. John M., born in 1810, married Martha, daughter of Jesse COOK of Potter. He died at Branchport leaving one son, Franklin. His widow is now the wife of Michael GAGE of Middlesex.

Seneca H., born in 1811, is a physician at Belleview, Michigan. He married first, Julia HARRIS who died leaving no children. His second wife was Amanda HEWES and they have six children. 

Henry H., born in 1813, married Emeline, daughter of Otis BARDEN and resides adjoining the BARDEN homestead.  Their children are: George G., Henry Hazard, Emma and Carrie. The two sons are merchants at Bellona. Henry Hazard GAGE married Mary SCHOONMAKER, and they have one child, Genevieve.

Henry Harrison GAGE represented Yates County in the Assembly in 1856.

Huldah A., born in 1815, married James BURGESS of Benton, and emigrated to Janesville, Wisconsin, where they reside.  Their children are Gage and Texa. 

Lewis D., born in 1817, married Abigail PEMBROKE of Benton.  They settled on the homestead, where she died, leaving four children, James P. Asenath B., Oliver N., and Abigail M.  Eliza BALLS of Benton was his second wife, and they moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he died in 1862.  The children of the second marriage are Mary and Albert. James P., the oldest son, married Mary, daughter of Thomas HALL of Seneca, and removed to Wisconsin.  Asenath B. married George W. GREGORY and died soon after. Oliver N., married Janette QUICK of Penn Yan, and settled at Rose Hill, Wisconsin. 

Abigail was the adopted daughter of Thomas VARTIE of Seneca, married George, son of James SOUTHERLAND of Seneca, and resides on the VARTIE homestead. 

Augusta D., born in 1822, married Alvah, son of Jonathan KETCHUM, a harness maker at Bellona.  Of this remarkable family, it will be seen that all were married except two, and ten are still living. Isaac D. GAGE died in 1854 at the age of 81 years, and his wife in 1833at the age of 54 years.

Buckbee GAGE, the oldest son of the senior pioneer, Moses GAGE, was born in 1765,married Ruth TRUSESDELL of Greene county and came to this county in 1801. they settled on a new farm southwest of Bellona, where they reared two sons, Martin and Samuel Governeur.  The parents subsequently lived at Bellona, where Buckbee GAGE died in 1837, at the age of 72 years.  His wife lived thereafter with her sons and died in 1858 at the age of 86 years. 

Martin GAGE born in 1790, married Abigail ROCKWELL. He was a merchant at Bellona very early, and the first at that place; was also a tavern keeper there and the first postmaster. He had a large and prosperous business, advertising extensively and in a quaint style.  He said his goods were usually received by the boats Dread and Driver, Captain RUMMERFIELD, Master, at the port of Kashong. He offered cash, and what he said was better, lottery tickets, for all kinds of grain.  He had the fortune to draw on one occasion half of a $6,000prize.  His trade included all branches of the business, hardware and drugs as well as dry goods and groceries, and for many years an extensive supply of liquors. But when the great evils of the traffic became apparent to his mind, he espoused the cause of Temperance, abandoned the whisky trade, exposed all its frauds and wickedness, took strong ground for total abstinence and became noted as a writer and lecturer in behalf of the Reform. As a business man he was active and diligent, established a high reputation for intelligence and honorable dealing, and accumulated a large property.  He was a highly respected member of the Baptist church at Benton Centre, and one of its deacons for several years; and died of apoplexy in his 51^st year, leaving six children: DeWitt C., Rockwell, Mary A., E. Darwin, Charles and Webster. 

DeWitt C. married Catharine A., sister of Justus S. GLOVER of Penn Yan, and moved to east Saginaw, Michigan, where he is a lawyer, a leading citizen and postmaster. Their children are Glover, Henry and James. 

Martin R. is a physician, married first, Martha, daughter of David BARNES of Seneca, who died a few years after; and his second wife is a lady of Beloit, Wisconsin. He now resides at Sparta, Wisconsin.

Mary A. married Stephen M. WITHAKER.  E. Darwin married Emeline FARRINGTON of Bellona, and resided at Geneva. He was a captain in the 148^th Regiment, and died of wounds received in battle; was buried in Geneva.  He left several children.  Charles was a lawyer and settled at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he recently died, a young man of noble qualities of character and much promise. He was unmarried.  Webster is a resident of California, unmarried.

Samuel G. GAGE, born at Greenville in 1793, married Martha, daughter of Matthew COLE in1823.  She was born in 1801. They settled on a part of the paternal homestead, where they lived ten years and then moved to Benton Centre.  MR. GAGE was early appointed a Justice of the Peace, and held his courts at Bellona. After he made his residence at Benton Centre, he was several times re-elected and held the office over 20 years in all, making a magistrate seldom equaled for his fairness, integrity and discriminating judgment. The office of Supervisor, he held seven years, and in all public positions, as in private life, he was a diligent, correct and methodical man. His work was always performed well, seeking to give and impart useful knowledge, and he had a rare appreciation of the value of exact statistics. For many years he compiled annual tables of mortality for the town of Benton, which were published in the Yates County Chronicle, and for a considerable period monthly statements of fires throughout the United States and the lose of property thereby as gathered from the published accounts. It was his pride to make clear and accurate record of all matters of public importance.  In 1841 he united with the Baptist church at Benton Centre, and was one of its deacons. He was a man of good example, frugal, temperate and thrifty, and died in1867 at the age of 72 years.  The last six years of his life he was afflicted with paralysis. Their children were: Helen M., Ruth M., Samuel B. and Francis G. The youngest died in childhood. Helen M. married Lewis P. HOLMES of Benton,  and died in 1858, leaving three children, Bradley, Alice and Ada  Bradley was a soldier of Co. I., 33^rd Regiment. He was a determined and enthusiastic soldier, and kept the field till his captain, (Edward E. ROOT), took his arms away and sent him to the hospital at Hagerstown, Maryland, where he died December 17, 1862, at the age of 19 years. 

Ruth M. GAGE married Tilson C. BARDEN and moved to Portage City, Wisconsin, where she died in 1860, at the age of 28 years.  Samuel B. GAGE, born in 1833, married Louise A. BENNETT of Benton, and settled on a farm adjoining the homestead, where he resides. He is the only surviving member of his father�s family. They have one surviving child, Samuel Granger GAGE. The mansion and premises of Samuel G. GAGE are still occupied by Mrs. GAGE, his widow, who survives him.

Dr. Anthony GAGE - It was at quite an early day that Dr. Anthony GAGE located at Bellona, and built a log house near the town line, where he afterwards, built a fine residence and died about 1826.  He came from Herkimer county, was a graduate of the Fairfield Medical College, a physician of celebrity and popularity, and a warm hearted, excellent citizen. He was a cousin of the children of Moses GAGE, the head of the numerous and notable GAGE family of Bellona.  In politics he was a zealous Democrat, unlike most of his relatives of that name.  His wife was Rhoda EVANS, and she was a woman of fine appearance, much spirit and taste, and in every way a person of superior character.  Dr. GAGE died at the age of 55, and his wife is said to be still living. Their children were: Caroline, George, Mary and La Fayette. Caroline married DeWitt C. LAWRENCE.  George died from injuries caused by a land roller, by which a leg and arm were broken. La Fayette resides in Michigan, and Mary at Washington with her sister. 

 GANUNG  pg 299 �300

John GANUNG was a native of Dutchess Co., where he married Esther, daughter of John RANDALL.  They settled on the Pre-emption road, and afterwards moved to the town of Richmond, Ontario Co. They had several children, but three of whom were identified with Yates county.  These were: Edward, Hannah and Anna.  Edward married Celia, daughter of Allen EGGLESTON of Potter, and settled in Canadice, where he died leaving three children, Mary, William and Asa.  Hannah resided with her father, and died single. Anna married Anthony TRIMMER Jr. of Benton.

GUTHRIE   pg  337 - 338

Joseph GUTHRIE was born in the city of New York in 1784.  His father died while he was a child, and his mother took him to the providence of New Brunswick, where he grew to manhood, and married Eleanor GRANT, who died leaving two surviving children that reached adult age, Jane and Eleanor.  He afterwards returned to New York, removed thence to Dutchess Co. and thence to Benton in1819.  He settled at Benton Centre, where he married Rhoda, daughter of Ezra M. COLE. He was both a shoemaker and a farmer, and for two years kept a tavern on the southwest corner at Benton Centre.  Not relishing that business, he abandoned it and pursued his former avocations. He died in 1861, and his widow still survives. The children of the second marriage were: Henry A., Oliver P., Joseph C., Rhoda A., John C., Horace C. and Myron A. 

Henry A. married Harriet, daughter of Josiah YOUNG of Benton, in January 1870, and resides at Benton Centre, a farmer.

Oliver P. married Mary, daughter of Nahum RUGG of Potter, and resides at Benton Centre. He is a tailor, and is now engaged as a merchant. He is town clerk and postmaster.  He owns and resides on the property lately owned by John H. HAIGHT. They have two surviving children, Henry W. and Edward F.

Joseph married Mary MC DOWELL, of Barrington and is a merchant at Warsaw, in that town. They have a daughter, Jane.

Rhoda A., married George A. RINGER of Dresden.  They reside at Watkins, NY.  Their children are: Clarence, Susan A., John, Willie and Emma.

John C. went to California in 1850 and died after returning home, unmarried.

Horace C. is a book and stationery dealer in Penn Yan.  He married Albina BENEDICT of Schoharie, NY. They have one son, Charles.

Myron married Louisa ROBINSON of Watkins, where he is a mercantile clerk. He was a solider in the 148^th regiment, enlisting in 1862 and serving till the end of the war.

Of the other children of Joseph GUTHRIE by his first marriage, Jane married Horace HOLMES of Benton.  He was a merchant at Warsaw in Barrington, several years and emigrated thence to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he died.  His widow resides at Warsaw.

Eleanor married James G. BAILEY of Barrington.  They emigrated to Macon, Lenawee County, Michigan, where she died leaving two sons, Joseph and Martin. 

HAVENS   pg 288 � 291

Thomas HAVENS, a native of Wickford, Rhode Island, was a soldier of the Revolution, and served from the beginning to the end of that memorable conflict. He fought at Bunker Hill, and was a militia man, minute man and volunteer, at call, but not belonging to the regular army, never received a pension.  He married Mary SMITH of Wickford, in 1770 and after the war, they moved to Ballston, Saratoga county, where the family was mostly reared.  Some of the older children came to this county before their parents, who came in 1810.  Their children were: Joseph, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Stephen, Robert, John, Polly, Nancy and Susan.

Joseph, born in 1773, married Mary WEED of Ballston, in 1800.  She was born in 1780, on the day CORNWALLIS surrendered, October 17^th.  They moved to this county early in 1806, and first settled on the farm now known as the LAMPORT place, which he sold to William LAMPORT and his son, Robert. He then purchased, in 1812, the farm on the four corners, since known as the Joseph HAVENS farm, on lot 76, where he lived the remainder of his days. He died in 1856 at the age of 83 years, and his wife survives at the age of 88 years.  Here they reared their family of twelve children.  Mr. HAVENS was a carpenter, and worked at the building of the first hotel and spring-house at Ballston Spa.  After coming here, he devoted himself to farming, and kept a public house from 1822 to1832, which was noted as a good country tavern. Becoming disgusted with the traffic in whisky, he quit the business. He served in various official stations in his town with credit, was an ardent politician, and especially warm admirer of General JACKSON, to whom he presented soon after his election to the Presidency in 1828, a sulky made entirely of hickory saplings with the bark on. It was a unique vehicle, and attracted much attention as he road in it to Washington to witness the inauguration.  It was received by the old hero as a handsome compliment. The children of this family were: Hiram, John H., Ephraim S., Fanny, Horace, Mary, Harriet, Minerva, J. W. Harrison, Nancy, Caroline and Eveline. Hiram married Louis STETSON of Boston and settled in Buffalo, where both died leaving one son, Joseph S., a resident of that city.

John H. married Elizabeth, daughter of Nehemiah COLE of Benton, and moved to Hudson, Michigan, where they reared a family. 

Ephraim S. married Mariette MOORE of Alexander, Genesee county and they reside in Buffalo.

Fanny married Hezekiah FERGUSON of Seneca, and moved to Dansville, Michigan, where she still resides with a second husband, Mr. BLAKE.  There were several children of the first marriage.

Horace married Emeline BACHELOR of Perry, NY and moved to Lansing, Michigan. They had three sons, two of whom, Egbert and Edgar, were soldiers during the rebellion.  Egbert marched with SHERMAN to the sea, and afterwards died in a hospital in New York, after the close of the war.  He was three or four years in the war, and left a widow and one child at Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Edgar was six months in the rebel prison at Belle Isle, was in all the battles of the Wilderness, Gettysburg and many more.  He resides in Skaneateles, NY and is married.

Mary married Philander WINSLOW of Marion, NY, where both died, leaving three sons. 

Harriet married James HUNT of Gorham, and settled at Perry, (Wyoming Co.), NY where he died leaving four children.  The had two sons in the war of the rebellion; George and Marriot, who both died in the hospital.  The widow married Edward RICHARDS of Perry. 

Joseph W. H., married Louisa WAGENER of Fort Plain, NY.  They reside on and own the homestead; and their children are Mary, Jennie and Charley. 

Nancy married Peleg GARDNER of Potter, and resided at Yatesville, where she died leaving four children: Mary, Kate, Hiram and John. 

Caroline married Bleecker L. WEBB of Fairport, NY.  They now reside at Coldwater, Michigan and have four children. 

Eveline married William PENFIELD of Buffalo, and resides at St. Joseph, Michigan. He was engaged as a contractor in the construction of the first Pacific railway.

Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas HAVENS, born in 1780, married Griffin SWEET and moved to Chautauqua county.

Benjamin, born in 1777, married Lovina PHELPS of Auburn, NY.  She died leaving one child, Calista.  He married a second wife, Paulina ADKINS of Ballston. They settled in Benton in 1807, on the farm known by his name near the LAMPORT farm, where both died, leaving two additional children: Lusilva and Morgan S.  

Calista married Daniel MILLER of Auburn, near which place they settled, and where he has since died. Lusilva married Wellington SECOR of Benton. They reside in Bath, NY, and have one son and two daughters.  Morgan S. married Marietta BATES of Potter, owns and resides on the homestead and has five sons: Byron, Emmet, Benjamin, Frederic and Charles.

Stephen, born in 1774, married Phoebe SPRAGUE of Ballston, and settled in the neighborhood of his brothers in Benton.  Their children were James, Stephen and Uretta.  James married Ruth COLEMAN of Jerusalem; Stephen married Mary CRANE of Penn Yan; Uretta married Henry HUTCHINSON of Benton, and all emigrated west.

Robert, born in 1786, married Hannah, daughter of Levi BENTON Sr., and emigrated with him to Indiana.

Polly married Mr. NORTHRUP and moved to Detroit at an early day.

Nancy, born in 1788, married Jacob BRIGGS, of Potter, where they settled and he died leaving four children, Miles, Elizabeth, Susan and Perry, with whom the mother emigrated west. 

HILTON  pg 213 �  214

William HILTON was a native of Connecticut and married Ruth BUTLER in 1772, he at the age of 30 and she 21 years.  They settled in Benton in 1794 on lot 56, moving there from Unadilla. He bought the whole of lot 56, of a man who had straggled in into the country, had become homesick, and was returning to Connecticut. He accepted an old horse for the premises, describing the place as rough, stony and forbidding, and declaring he would never go back to it. Mr. HILTON, who made the purchase as a dubious venture, was greatly surprised as well as pleased to find it all he could desire, and not as it was painted by the homesick Yankee who sold it. They had a family of five hardy sons and three daughters, who in the earlier years were among the most sprightly and active of that muscular age. William HILTON died in 1828, at the age of 75 years. Their children were: William, Daniel, Ruth, Benjamin, Clark, Eli, Hooper, Mary and Phoebe. 

William married Catharine, daughter of Samuel BUELL Sr., and after his decease, his widow became the wife of Clark HILTON. 

Daniel married Mary WILLIAMS of Seneca and settled in Benton. She died leaving three children: Orange and Olive, who reside in Steuben county, and Paulina, who married Brown DAVIS of Benton, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   Davis married a second wife, Mary HOVEY of Benton and their children were: William, Eli, Emily and Daniel, all of whom are West, except Daniel, who resides at Benton Centre. 

Benjamin, Eli, and Hooper HILTON, enlisted in the United States Army, about the period of the embargo, 1810, for five years and served in the War of 1812. They marched on foot from Geneva to Albany, and only Benjamin ever returned home.  He soon after went West and was not further heard from.  Mary and Phoebe also emigrated West, and the family seems to be extinct in Yates County. 

HULL   Pg. 194 - 203 

Eliphalet HULL - This pioneer was one of the noblest of the early settlers of Benton, a good man with endowments and acquirements that made him useful to his own generation and doubly so to the youth of the new settlement. He was the first school teacher in what is now Benton, the first Methodist class leader west of Utica, and a teacher of singing, capable of writing musical note books with his pen, hardly surpassed in beauty by the neatness of his print.  His zealous labors in behalf of education and religion, no less than the long line of his descendants, mark him as a noted father in the land. He was a native of Connecticut, and married Huldah, the sister of Jared PATCHEN.  The first settled in1771 at Ballston (Saratoga Co.), NY, where they lived till after the Revolutionary War, being twice obliged to flee to Connecticut for safety during that period.  

He was largely engaged in the war, and in his absence his wife and children sometimes fled to the woods for safety.  With his team of two yoke of oxen, he aided in placing the great chain across the Hudson, below West Point, by which British vessels were to be kept from passing up the river. Receiving no pay from the government, Eliphalet found his reward in the blessings of that independence, in which he and his children�s children have rejoiced.  In 1788, he and his brother in law, Ezra COLE, moved with their families to Unadilla, (Otsego Co.), NY, where they lived four years; and in the spring of 1792, united with the family of Samuel BUELL, whose son, Cyrus BUELL, was already Mr. HULL�s son in law, and formed a company of thirty for emigration to the Genesee Country.  There came first seven to spy the outland, Eliphalet HULL and his son Daniel, Samuel BUELL and his sons, Samuel, Cyrus and Ichabod, and Mathew, a son of Ezra COLE.  They made judicious locations for settlement, and all but Ichabod BUELL and Mathew COLE returned to bring their families and possessions to their wilderness home. The two who remained took care of a field of corn planted by the company at Kashong, and worked what other times they had in Dr. BENTON�s sawmill.  The entire colony arrived in July.  The women and children were placed in four large canoes, lashed in pairs, and covered over, making two respectable barges, and carrying the household goods, while the men and boys drove the stock by land; and thus they followed the Susquehanna to Owego. There, taking sleds and a cart, the reached Ithaca, a distance of 29 miles, in four days, and found not a single house on the road. They found the people celebrating the Fourth of July at Ithaca, and it is worthy of remark, that Mrs. Cyrus BUELL was present at a celebration at Ithaca just fifty years after that date, in 1842.  They descended Cayuga Lake in boats to a point opposite their destination, crossed the peninsula between the lakes with their ox cart and sleds, and again taking water passage, crossed the Seneca to Kashong, the stock being driven around by Geneva.  Elijah SPENCER stood on the shore at Kashong, and was the first to welcome them to the new country. 

Mr. HULL located at first on what is now the homestead of the Joseph KETCHUM family, but on account of the frostiness of the valley, he soon removed and made his home on lot 58 where David L. BECKER now resides, which was long known as the �HULL Farm.� Here, he was the first settler, and here he died. 

They had eight children: Salmon, Hannah, David, Sarah, Martha, Anna, Eliphalet and Seth.  Salmon married Aletha FOX, settled at first on the homestead, and finally moved to Erie County, where he died.  They had seven children: Samuel, Mary, Harriet, Eliza, John, David B. and Lewis.  Of these, Mary married David BOTSFORD, then of Canada West. They reside now at Rochester and have no children. Eliza married David REAM of Canada West, and finally removed to Rochester, where both died, leaving several children, among whom were George, John, Mary, Harriet and Eliza.  Harriet HULL married Clinton TRUE, who is the present U.S. Consul at St. Thomas, in the West Indies. 

Hannah HULL married Jacob BALDWIN, of Ballston, NY, and settled on the north part of the HULL homestead, where both died, well advanced in years.  Their children were: Mary, Daniel, Alfred, Delorville, Eliza, Emeline, and Huldah.  Mary married Wakeman BURR of Ballston, who bought the farm first occupied by Salmon HULL, and resided there till the death of Mr. BURR, when she moved with one of her sons to Italy, where she died. Their children were, Mary A., George, Nelson, Huldah, Hannah and John. Mary A. married Lyman GRISWOLD of Italy. George did not marry, was a soldier in the late war and did honorable service.  Nelson married and resides in Italy.  Huldah married Simon STEVENS and moved west.  

HULL   Pg 196 - 197

Hannah HULL married Jacob BALDWIN, of Ballston, NY, and settled on the north part of the HULL homestead, where both died, well advanced in years.  Their children were: Mary, Daniel, Alfred, Delorville, Eliza, Emeline, and Huldah. Mary married Wakeman BURR of Ballston, who bought the farm first occupied by Salmon HULL, and resided there till the death of Mr. BURR, when she moved with one of her sons to Italy, where she died. Their children were, Mary A., George, Nelson, Huldah, Hannah and John. Mary A. married Lyman GRISWOLD of Italy. George did not marry, was a soldier in the late war and did honorable service.  Nelson married and resides in Italy.  Huldah married Simon STEVENS and moved west.   

Daniel HULL married Nancy CHAPMAN, of Urbana, Steuben county, where he settled and kept a public house many years. They have one surviving son, Wakeman HULL (b. abt 1811) of Wayland, NY.  

Sarah HULL was the wife of Cyrus BUELL. 

Martha HULL was the wife of George WHEELER, Jr. They settled on the farm now owned by Mason L. BALDWIN, which was long known as the �Wheeler Place".  Their children were, Huldah, Eleanor, Ephraim, Samuel, Henry C., Catharine and Martha.  Huldah, was the first wife of James S. LANSING.  They lived near Benton Centre, and had several children, of whom Abraham is married and is a merchant at Palmyra, Missouri, and Eleanor married Lansing KOON, and resides in Virginia, near Washington.  

pg 200

Anna HULL married Elisha WOLCOTT, who came from Litchfield County, Connecticut in 1795, and settled on lot 59, where they resided till 1834, when they removed to Barrington, with their youngest son, where both died, he nearly eighty, in 1856 and she, in 1857. They were a pair happily united, and lived to improve and enjoy life, for others as well as themselves.  The gentle and kindly amenities of social intercourse, were beautifully illustrated by their example, in which a frank and generous sociability triumphed over selfishness.  Their children were, Gideon, Hannah, Oliver P., Erastus B. and George W.  Gideon was born November 7, 1798.  He married Anna, daughter of Daniel BROWN Jr., of Jerusalem, January 22, 1825.  They settled in that town and resided there till recently. Mrs. WOLCOTT died in 1864, and Mr. WOLCOTT resides in Brooklyn with his daughter, Mary, an only child, the wife of Gen. C. L. KILBOURN, of the U.S. Army.  

Pg 202 - 203

Eliphalet HULL Jr., married Mary, daughter of Moses VAN CAMPEN of Benton.  He was a soldier in the War of 1812, belonging to Captain STANLEY�s Rifle Company.  The heavy cannonade at the storming of Fort Erie, with sickness that followed, caused him to become deaf. He removed west where he died, and where he has numerous descendants, widely scattered. 

Seth HULL was thrice married. His third wife and the mother of his children, was Mary BROWN, a widow, of Benton.  They resided some time in Italy, from whence they removed to Michigan, where he died.  Their surviving children are Cyrus and Emeline. Cyrus did honorable service under Gen. SHERIDAN in the war oft he rebellion. 

In reviewing the HULL family, it is proper to say, that however praiseworthy the male members of the several families were as men and citizens, Grandmother (Huldah)  HULL, the wife of Eliphalet HULL, was a woman of remarkable capacities and worth.  Her experiences covered the whole period of the Revolution and many years thereafter, buffeting the trials and perils incident to pioneer life, which involved hardships and privations inconceivable to our time, and made her an oracle of her period among a wind circle of acquaintances.  Her four daughters who settled near her, Mrs. Cyrus BUEL, Mrs. Jacob BALDWIN, Mrs. Elisha WOLCOTT, and Mrs. George WHEELER Jr., all partook largely of her characteristics, and each filled the station of an intelligent and exemplary mother and citizen so conspicuously, as to receive unusual consideration and respect from all who knew them.  The social favor of Grandmother HULL and her daughters, was proudly sought and rejoiced in by those who appreciated a elevated womanly standard, assumed in early life, and maintained with increased dignity and a loving spirit to the end of a long life, as was the case with each. Such mothers deserve the kindest regards of history. 

Seth (b. 1755) was a brother of Eliphalet HULL. He was a soldier under Gen. MONTGOMERY at the siege and storming of Quebec.  He came to township No.8 about 1800, and located on the South Centre road near his brother. His wife was Sarah, the sister of Jared PATCHEN, and their children were Jared, Nathan, Polly, Milley, Seth, Daniel and Laura. Polly became the wife of Artemas BUEL.  Nathan married a Miss LAMB of Barrington and settled in Benton, where she died, leaving three children, Abel, Dillis and Sarah.  The sons emigrated to Chautauqua county, and Sarah married Reuben WELLS and settled at Italy Hill.  Milley married Dr. Archibald BARNETT and settled in Potter. Laura married Rev. Mr. CHANDLER, a Methodist preacher, and moved to Illinois.  The other children of Seth HULL did not become married residents of Yates county. 

JAYNE  pg 241 � 242

Samuel JAYNE Sr. was a native of Orange Co., Florida, born in 1763. Near the close of the Revolutionary war, he served nine months, and was stationed in the Minisink county, as a guard against the British and Indians, for which service he received a pension, and ultimately a land warrant was issued to his widow.  

He came to the Genesee country in 1792, stopping at Geneva, where he wrought for a time.  Geneva was an embryo then and had but one framed house. Mr. JAYNE built a rail fence about a lot on which the Methodist Church in Geneva now stands.  He was present at the raising of the old Geneva Hotel, now Water Cure and the Mile Point House. To raise the latter building, Mr. WILLIAMSON hired men by the day, and it was a job of three days.  Mr. JAYNE came to Benton, then Jerusalem and in 1797, bought the farm still owned by his son Samuel, the east half of lot NO. 8, of Nathaniel NORTON, then Sheriff of Ontario county.  After a commencement at clearing his land, he returned to Orange county, (FL) where in1802 he married Eleanor VAN ZILE, originally from New Jersey. In 1803 they came with an ox team to their home in Benton, by way of Albany and the Mohawk Valley.  The Indian trail from Kashong to the foot of Keuka Lake, passed over Mr. JAYNE�S farm.  Samuel JAYNE Jr., says that he will recollects seeing and traveling this path, which was a hard and thoroughly beaten track, and so remained until broken by a plow.

Samuel JAYNE Sr., after a very industrious and useful life of 90 years, died in April1853, and his worthy consort died in 1858, at the age of 83 years. They had three sons, Samuel, Henry and William. Samuel, born March 3, 1804, married Elizabeth BACON, a native of London, England, born February 26, 1806, and married April 12, 1828. Mr. JAYNE applied himself for some years to the trade of a mason and assisted in that capacity in the erection of the DOX mansion, in Torrey, but for man pears past he has been a farmer, fruit culturist and nursery grower. He has on his place a pear orchard of 600 trees in good bearing condition.  He has occupied many of the official positions of his town, and represented Yates county in the assembly in 1851.  He was also a candidate of the Grand and Colfax Electoral ticket in 1868.  He and his wife are held in high esteem by their neighbors. They are without children.

Henry JAYNE married Sarah, daughter of John JOHNSON Jr., of Benton, emigrated to Grass Lake, Michigan in 1834, where he was a farmer for some time, and is now a druggist.  They have three children, Elizabeth, John E. and Ella L.  William died unmarried in 1831.

JONES    pg 221

Betsey RIGGS married JOSEPH JONES, the Quaker, and early surveyor and hatter. They settled near the Friend�s mill, and afterwards in Penn Yan, here he pursued his trade as a hatter.  He was much employed as a surveyor, and as a referee in regard to disputed lines and landmarks, and in the division of lands. He also surveyed several townships in Allegany county and the Indian Reservation at Tonawanda when it passed out of Indian ownership. He was held in high respect.  Their children were: Mary, Rachel K.., Elizabeth R, Samuel K, Joseph R. and Richard M.     Mary married Richard SNELL of Lockport. Their children are: Rachel, Elizabeth, Martha and Caleb.   Rachel K., married Dr. Stephen DEAN of Hamburg, NY where she died leaving three children: Sophia L., John W. and Arthur M. 

Elizabeth R., married Isaac BAKER of Hamburg where she died leaving two children, Charles and Mary J.  Samuel K, married Mary A. BUCKLEY of Milo, and finally emigrated to Sparta, Wisconsin, where both died leaving one child, Mary E.  Joseph R. was a physician and married Anna BAKER of Hamburg and both are deceased. 

Richard M. JONES married Rachel KESTER of Hamburg, lived there for a time and moved to Penn Yan.  He joined the 148^thRegiment in the war, served usefully and faithfully as a soldier and died in1865, at the age of 52 years, in the Point of Rocs hospital, Virginia.  Their children are: Joseph, Augusta M., William K. and Sophia E.   Joseph is a graduate of Genesee College and is entitled to high credit for working his own way through.  He was principal of the Dansville Seminary for some time, and was associated for one or two years with O. A. BUNNELL, in the editorial and business control of the Dansville Advertiser.  He married Susan A. GEORGE of Dansville, and emigrated to Waterloo, Iowa, where he is principal of an important school and a local preacher of the Methodist faith. They have two children, Lewis B. and Winnifred. Augusta M. married Royal G. KINNER of Penn Yan. Their children are Josephine L. and Royal E.

Joseph JONES, the surveyor, married in 1819 a second wife, Susan ATKINSON of Junius, NY and they had three children: Joshua W., Susan A. and Ann N.   Joshua W. married Cordelia WEBSTER of Hamburg. The have one child, Sarah A.  Susan A. married Levertt HOLBROOK, now a physician in Chicago. Ann N. married Samuel JENNINGS and also resides in Chicago.

KETCHUM   pg 296 � 299

Locey KETCHUM married Susannah SCOFIELD and lived in the town of Kent, Putnam (then Dutchess) Co.  The family was originally from Long Island, and of German descent. Their children were: Elias, Jonathan, Joseph, James and Sarah. Elias settled near Hammondsport, where some of his descendants still reside.  The others became residents of this county about 1812.

Jonathan, born in 1788, married Matilda CUSHMAN of Frederickstown, Dutchess Co. She was born in 1789.  They came to this county with one child, Charles, and settled first on Flat street, but subsequently located on  the Pre-emption road, where he died, leaving five children: Charles, Darius, Rhoda, Alvah and Charlotte. 

Mrs. KETCHUM is still living, and resides with her daughter Charlotte, in Prattsburg. She is the daughter of Consider CUSHMAN of Duxbury, Mass., who was of the sixth generation from Robert CUSHMAN, born in England in 1580 and one of the Plymouth colony of 1620, coming in the second vessel that brought over the liberty seeking Puritans.  He was prominently associated with the leading characters of the colony and preached the first sermon printed in America, in the English tongue. This sermon was preached form the text, �Let no man seek his own, but every man another�s worth.�  This was a discourse of two parts; the first proposition of the text a de-hortation and the second an exhortation.  It was a pointed homily, and has become memorable, having been printed in London in1622, re-published in Boston in 1724 and several times since at Plymouth and other places in New England.  It is reprinted entire in the �Historical and Biographical Genealogy of the CUSHMANS�, descendants of Robert CUSHMAN.

Charles, the eldest son of Jonathan KETCHAM, born in 1813, married Aurelia, a daughter of Dr. Nathan L. KIDDER of Benton and is a resident of Penn Yan. He is a Machinist, Inventor, and Patent Solicitor. They have one son, George A., who married Ida HAVILAND of Middlesex, and also resides in Penn Yan.  They have one son, Charles.  Darius was a physician, married Clarissa VANDENBURG of Jackson, Mich., and died in Penn Yan in 1854.  Rhoda, born in 1818, married Erastus B. MILLER of Pultney.  They reside near Seneca Lake, in Milo, and have four children: Lee, Jonathan, Adelaide and Mary.  Alva, born in1821, married Lucas VOORHEES of Benton.  They reside in Prattsburg, and their children are :  Matilda, Augusta, Emma  and  Horatio S.

Joseph KETCHUM, born in 1790, married Mercy, daughter of John RANDALL. She was born in Dutchess Co., in 1790. They settled on lot 45, on Flat street, where he died in 1860, at the age of 70 years.  They had thirteen children, of whom eight reached adult age: Abel, Norman, George R., Celina B., Anna M., Oliver J., Caroline E. and Charles H. Norman and Oliver C., died in early life. 

Abel married Phebe Ann, daughter of Lewis BOYD, of Michigan, formerly of Benton. He was a merchant in Penn Yan and afterwards lived on the Jonathan KETCHUM farm, in Benton, where he died, leaving five children: Henry W., Sophia, Frank, Emma C. and Edward.  Norman and Oliver, sons of Joseph KETCHUM, died single and the remaining children are unmarried, and reside on the homestead with their mother. The sons are enterprising farmers and noted for raising chose and thoroughbred stock, especially short horn cattle.  Charles H. is the present President of the Yates County Agricultural Society. 

Joseph KETCHUM was by trade a tanner and shoemaker. He served his apprenticeship with Abel PECK, and came to this county under his patronage, two years before Judge PECK.  He started a tannery, and established the shoe and leather business, which, on becoming 21, he assumed on his own account, and conducted prosperously for many years.  His industry and economy were such, that wealth could not resist his grasp, and he had the sagacity to invest his gains chiefly in adjoining lands, sometimes at prices that others thought high, until his home farm embraced 500 acres; and he was the owner of other farms of much value, amounting to 1,200 acres. He was elected Sheriff of Yates county in 1832, and served three years in that office; and in the militia, rose from corporal to colonel. His life was remarkably busy and laborious and left him but little time to mingle in political excitements, though he was identified with the Democratic party, and finally with the Republicans.  Religiously, his tendencies were toward the Quakers, having been reared within their influence.  He was a man of integrity, and highly honorable character. His wife, who survived him ten years, is still in the enjoyment of health and vigor of body and mind, and has evidently been a strong stay to her husband and family in their remarkable history. 

James KETCHUM married Clarissa DEAN of Putnam Co., settled first in Benton and subsequently in Barrington, where he owned the Old TEEPLES place, and kept a tavern many years.  His widow still resides on the homestead.  Their children are: Susan, Harriet, Joseph and Tyler.  Susan married Joshua D. COREY. They reside on part of the KETCHUM homestead, in Barrington, and have one child, Hattie.  Harriet married Lewis MC CONNELL of Barrington, and resides oh the homestead, occupying the house long used as a hotel.  Joseph married Angelina DE GRAW, of Barrington, and resides near Hammondsport. They have two children, Edmund and one other.   Tyler married Miss ELLSI, of Barrington and emigrated to California. Sarah KETCHUM died single, at Prattsburgh.

The KETCHUMS were noted for patriotism in the revolutionary struggle. In August 1775, an association was formed in Dutchess and adjoining counties, for prosecuting the war.  Twent-yeight of this name signed the compact of this league, in the counties of Dutchess, Orange and Suffolk. (See Appendix to Cushman�s Genealogy.)

KIDDER  pg 237 � 238

Ephraim KIDDER was from Spencertown, Columbia county, born about 1754. He settled in Benton on the farm opposite the Dr. Nathan L. KIDDER farm, in 1800.  His wife was Sarah SPENCER, an aunt of Truman and Elijah SPENCER, born in Columbia county in 1763. All their children, except one, was born previous to their coming to this county.  They were seventeen inn umber, fourteen of them reaching adult age. The father died in 1836, at the age of 82, and the mother died in 1821,aged 58 years.  Their children were: David, Ephraim, Amos, Nathan L., Louisa, Sarah, Charlotte, Olive Anice, Isaac, Erastus, Abel, Cyrus and Horace.

David married Miriam STANTON of Columbia county. They settled in Benton east of the Pre-emption road, where he died in 1853 at the age of 75 years, and she in 1856 at the age of 80 years. Their children were: Samuel S., Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Olive and Nancy.   Samuel S., married Elizabeth BELL of Benton and settled on a farm adjoining the parental homestead, where his wife died leaving three children, Milan, David and Miriam.  Milan married Susan CARR of Milo and moved to Saline, Michigan, where they live and have three sons, Albert, Amos and Frank.  David married Elizabeth SHERIDAN and resides on the homestead. They have three children, Samuel, Betsey and Anna.  Miriam, the daughter of Samuel S. KIDDER, married Clement W. KIDDER of Benton. Sarah, daughter of David KIDDER, married Dr. Henry PETTIBONE and settled at Naples, where she died, leaving three children, William, David and Harvey. Mary, the daughter of David KIDDER, married Joseph, a son of Samuel HARTWELL and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. 

Elizabeth, the next sister, married Robert SHEARMAN of Penn Yan, settled on the farm now owned by John HUTTON, and finally moved to the village, where he died in 1852, leaving eight children: Joanna, Francis, Henry, Robert, Jane, Elizabeth, David and George.  Joanna married George HOWELL, a saddler of Penn Yan, and moved to Indiana, where both died, leaving two sons, Charles and Jonas.  Francis married Mary KNAPP and moved to Minnesota. Henry married Harriet HARTWICK and resides at Mishawaka, Indiana. They have two children, Mary and Dora. Robert resides in Penn Yan, single. Jane married Edward KIMBLE and moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Elizabeth married Miles V. BUSH, moved tin Independence, Iowa and died there.  David lives in Penn Yan, single. George married Virginian BARKER of Branchport, and resides in Penn Yan. Olive, daughter of David KIDDER, died young and Nancy married Henry WITNERS of Benton, where he died leaving seven children: William, Mary J., ???,  Samuel, Adaline, Frank and Edwin.

Charlotte KIDDER, born in 1787, married Amasa KNEELAND of East Haddam, Connecticut, at Benton in 1807, and settled in Marcellus, Onondaga county, where he died leaving ten surviving children: Stella, Ellen, Stillman, Spencer, Mary, John, Adonirma Judson, Jane, Ann, Benjamin and Adolphus.  Ellen married Seymour TRACEY and his son, William are largely engaged in the purchase and shipment of grain and wool. Mr. TRACY is a prominent citizen and was recently President of the village.  Their children are: William C., Morgan D., Stella, Spencer S. and John. William married Adella GOULD.  Morgan D. married Emma, daughter of Daniel MORRIS. He was for some time a Special Detective in the US Revenue service, and is now a merchant in this village. 

Jane Ann KNEELAND married Martin SPENCER, for many years a resident of Penn Yan and now a resident of Galva, Illinois.  They have one son, Judson.   Adoniram J. KNEELAND married Esther GRISWOLD of Homer, NY, was a resident of Penn Yan for some years and held the office of Police Justice and other positions. He is now a resident of New York City, where he is an able officer in the Revenue service.  Mrs. Charlotte KNEELAND survives with the living at the age of 83, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Seymour TRACY in Penn Yan.

Ephraim KIDDER Jr., married Mary BOUGHTON of Columbia county, and lived on the Pre-emption road north of Dr. KIDDER.  They had four children: Hiram, Desdemona, Nathan B. and Calista. Hiram married Mary BROWN of Bristol, Ontario county and moved to Michigan, near Adrian, where he engaged largely in the lumber business. Desdemona became the wife of Abraham H. BENNETT Sr.   Nathan B. married Miss STROWBRIDGE of Geneva where he was a lawyer and a banker; was previously a school teacher of note and now resides at Chicago. They have two daughters: Calista married Spencer BOOTH, who was an important businessman at Branchport for many years, and is now a resident of Syracuse.  Mr. BOOTH died at Branchport, leaving four children: William S., Virginia, James and Kitty.  William S. married Frank, only daughter and only child of Robert FERRIER of Dundee, and is cashier of Harvey G. STAFFORD�S bank in that village. Virginia married Pratt HAMILTON and resides in Illinois. James is unmarried and a merchant at East Saginaw, Michigan. Kitty married Robert, a son of Tompkins W. BOYD, who is a partner of her brother,  James in trade at East Saginaw.

Nathan L. KIDDER, was a physician, and married Mary, daughter of Asahel STONE, Sr., of the Friend�s Society, and settled in Benton on what has since been known as the Dr. KIDDER farm, where he died in 1847. They had five children, Almon S., Asahel S., Addison, George and Aurelia. Almon S. married Maria, daughter of Job BRIGGS of Potter, and settled on a part of the Asahel STONE homestead in Jerusalem, where he still resides.  They have two children, Susan Ann and Frank. Susan Ann married Hiram SPRAGUE, and resides on the homestead. 

Asahel S. married Anna LACEY and settled in Warren, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Nathan H.

Addison married Mary A. PEARCE, and lived in Penn Yan, where he died in 1868, leaving five children: Adaline, Mary E., Caroline, Ann and Amorette.   Adaline married Mr. WINANTS and moved to Iowa. Caroline married Peter MEAD of Penn Yan. Ann married Homer WHEELER of Jerusalem. 

George married Hansey QUICK of Benton and moved to Michigan.  Their children are Mary, Helen and Emma. 

Aurelia A., daughter of Dr. Nathan L. KIDDER, married Charles KETCHUM of Benton.

Amos KIDDER married Anna MOORE, a widow, and settled at Lewiston, NY where he died leaving seven children: William, Benjamin, Ephraim, Amos, Joseph, Jane and Susan.

Louisa died single on the homestead.

Sarah married George BROWN, brother of James, The Friend, and resided on the family homestead during his life.  They had two children, Darius and Ann.

Olive married Abraham OLDFIELD of Benton, and settled in that town where both died. Their children were Orson, Sabrina, Charlotte, Maria, Valentine and Nelson.

Anice married Simeon HURD of Benton and they now reside near St. Paul, Minnesota.

Abel married and resides in the town of Flint, Michigan.

Isaac was a physician, married Betsey HAXTON of Benton, settled at Liberty, Steuben county and removed thence to Pekin, Niagara county, where he died, leaving three children.

Erasmus married and resides in Michigan.

Cyrus, born 1799, married Maria WALDRON and settled on the homestead where he has lived since he was six months old, and where his wife died about 1858. They had twelve children, eleven of whom reached adult age. They were: Wellington, William, Caroline, Ephraim, Emily, Charlotte, Oliver C., John, Edwin, Clement W., Ann and Marietta. Wellington resides in Michigan.  William married in Tennessee and settled in southern Illinois, where he died leaving two sons.  Caroline, married Jeremiah RAPALEE of Milo, and died leaving five children. Ephraim is married and resides in Prattsburg and has two children. Emily married Albert ENOS and settled in Benton, where she died leaving one son, Cyrus.  Charlotte married Leonard BOHALL of Benton, where she died leaving two children. Oliver C. is a physician and emigrated to Tennessee. John emigrated West. Clement W. married Miriam KIDDER.  Annis, unmarried.  Mariette married Mr. MOORE of Benton.  They moved to Michigan with three children.

Horace KIDDER married Lydia RIPPEY, and settled in Benton, where she died leaving one son, Henry.  His second wife was Rachel JONES of Seneca, and they reside at Honeoye Lake, Ontario county, and have three children, Mary J., Henriette and Horace.

LAMPORT    pg 291 � 292

William LAMPORT was a native of Wickford, Ireland, ran away from a master to whom he was apprenticed, and whom he disliked, and came to America while a lad. Landing at Newport, Rhode Island, he learned the trade of blacksmith, and was engaged in the Revolution as a minuteman, and as a blacksmith for the army.  In one case of emergency he was sent on horseback for powder, and returned with two kegs suspended across the back of his horse. He was accosted by British marauders, who demanded what he had. He replied that it was �black pepper�, and was allowed to pass and reach the American camp in safety.  He married Mary, sister of Thomas HAVENS.  They moved first to Rensselaer county, NY, where their family grew up. Their children were: William, John, Robert and Mary.  William Jr., settled at Troy NY, as a merchant. John and family located in Gorham, Ontario County. Mary married John PALMER, and also settled in Gorham. William LAMPORT Sr., and his son Robert, with their families, came to Benton in 1812.  The wife of Robert was Abigail SISSON of Swanzea, Rhode Island, and they were married in 1810. The father purchased of Joseph HAVENS about 300 acres of land, one mile and a half north of Haven�s Corners, where they all settled, and where the parents died well advanced in years.  Robert also finished his life on the same premises in 1865, in his 80ty years, and his wife still survives at the age of 81 years. Their children were: Erastus, Caroline, Emeline C., May S and Edwin.   Erastus married Racelia WARE of Trumbull Co., Ohio and settled on the Jared PATCHEN farm.  They have two children, Grace S. and Franze W. 

Caroline marred Aaron CRITTENDEN of Gorham, where she died, leaving two children, Emily J. and James L.   Mr. CRITTENDEN afterwards married Martha, daughter of George WHEELER of Benton, and removed to Allegany county.

Emeline C. married George B. STANTON of Benton, and settled on the James HAVENS farm, south of the LAMPORT farm.

May S. married George B. COOK of Gorham, and they reside at Bethel, where he is a merchant.  Their children are: Caroline M., Mary A., Nathaniel B. and Eliza.

Edwin married Mary J., daughter of Benjamin STANTON of Benton and resides on a portion of the old homestead. Their children are Olive E., Elizabeth S. and John R.

MC FARREN  pg 244 � 246

Samuel MC FARREN was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and married Susannah CAMPBELL of the same place, in 1800. He died in 1828 at the age of 68 years, and she in 1856, at the age of 75 years.  They came to the Genesee country in 1806 and landed at Long Point, south of Dresden on the day of the Great Total Eclipse (June 16^th). After a year�s sojourn on the farm where Herman S. BARNES now resides, they purchased and removed to the farm where they died, which is still owned and occupied by their son, Samuel, on lot No. 10 in Benton. Their children were: James, William, Nancy, Samuel, John, James, Andrew C. and Robert N.  James died single in 1864, at the age of 62 years.  William died single in 1827, at the age of 23 years. Nancy, born in 1807, married Aaron b. MUNN in 1830 and in 1838 they emigrated to Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where they reside. Their children are: Mary J., William, Andrew N. and Asa. 

Samuel born in1809, married Olive BAKER of Benton in 1855.  They have two children, Samuel A. and Olive Adelia. 

John was born in 1811, married Caroline JOHNSON of Benton in 1833, and settled finally in Shiawassee county, Michigan.  They have twelve children, of whom nine survive.

James, born in 1813, married Emily BIGGERS of Wayne, NY in 1833, where they remained till 1854, when they emigrated to Kite River, Ogle county, Illinois. Their children are Sarah, Marietta, Nancy J. and Susannah. 

Andrew C., born in 1815, married Mary HUBER of Geneva.  They reside at Painted Post and have one son, William R.

Robert N., born in 1818, married Harriet A., daughter of Linus BATES of Benton, in 1843, and settled on the �Stokoe farm,� lot No. 34, in Benton, where they still reside.  This farm was originally owned by William EARL, an uncle of Jephthah and Arthur EARL, and Mr. MC FARREN found on the outer bark of a beech tree in 1865, on his premises, the plain and legible inscription � �W. E., 1808,� and the tree still alive and growing, but since, uprooted by the wind. Mr. MC FARREN is an active and prominent citizen of this town and held in high esteem as a neighbor.  He has recently had charge of a store in Penn Yan, and is now Deputy U. S. Revenue Assessor for Yates County.  Their children are Cassius N,  S. Runette and Wendell R. 

Cassius N, born in 1845, married Helen A. ROSENKRANS of Benton and has been a merchant in Penn Yan.  He was a soldier in the Pennsylvania militia in 1863, drafted from Williamsport, where he then resided, to meet the rebel army at Gettysburg; and afterwards enlisted in the company of Captain Morris F. SHEPPARD in the 16^th NY Heavy Artillery, where he served till the end of the war.

MC MASTERS     pg 242 � 244

John MC MASTERS was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1792, landing at New Castle, Delaware.  In 1795 he married Jane BARNES in Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and in 1797, located on what is still known as the BARNES farm in Seneca, on the Pre-emption road, a short distance north of Bellona. In 1806 he bought a farm on the west side of the Genesee river, within or near the present bounds of Rochester, but before moving his family, he was cutoff by death.  The family remained in Seneca till 1810, when Mrs. MC MASTER purchased two separate parcels of land in Benton, on one of which she moved with her family and both were afterwards owned by her sons.  She died in1829.  Their children were: James W., David J., Mary, Jane and Sarah.  James W. married Jemima, daughter of Stephen HAIGHT. She is a native of Fishkill, NY, born in 1797. They settled on the premises west of the mother�s homestead, where he died in 1863, at the age of 66 years.  He was a man of energy and thrift, and left his family a good estate. He filled various public stations and was several years one of the Loan commissioners of the county.  His widow survives him.  Their children are: Mary J., Sarah C., John J., Edwin R., George W., Laura E., James M., Jemima E. and Nancy E. 

Mary J. MC MASTER married David WILSON of Seneca. They have two children, Caroline and Mary C.  Laura married Arthur EDIE, of York county, Pennsylvania, and resides in Seneca.  They have one child, James A.  

John J., married Elizabeth CROZIER of Seneca, and resides in Benton. They have had six children: James W., Eliza J., George C., Arabell, Charles and John J.  The mother died in 1869.  Edwin R. married Cynthia SMITH of Connecticut, and resides in Benton. They have one child, Mary.  George W., married Margaret RIPPEY of Seneca, and resides near his brother, John, on what is known as the WATSON farm.  They have three children: John R., William and Fred. 

James M. is unmarried, resides on the homestead and owes it. Sarah C., Jemima E. and Nancy E. are unmarried and reside on the homestead.

David J., the second son of John MC MASTER, born in 1799, married Martha BLACK of Seneca and settled in that town where she died in 1828, leaving five children, Elizabeth, Emeline, John R., Aaron B. and Martha.  His second wife was,  Laura HULBURT, widow. They settled in Potter where she died in 1859, leaving four surviving children by the second marriage, Mary, Sarah J., Laura, and David M. His third wife, now living, was Eleanor DAVIS, widow, of Grand Rapids, Ohio.  He has been a prominent citizen of Potter, held various local offices and was six years a Loan Commissioner of the county.  His oldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Alfred PAGE of Seneca, and resides on the old David BENTON farm.  Their children are, Lucetta, wife of Rev. Newell S. LOWREY of Gorham, and Emma. 

Emeline married William CRONKHITE of Sandy Hill, NY. They have six children, Augusta and five sons.   John died single. Aaron married Sarah HARLOW of Grass Lake, Michigan, and resides near Detroit.  Martha married Dr. Alexander B. SLOAN of Bellona.  Mary marries Daniel W. DINTRURFF of Potter, now of Fowlerville, Michigan.  Sarah is unmarried and resides at Fowlerville, Michigan. Laura married Ashley THOMAS 2^nd, of Potter and resides at Ada, Michigan.  David M. married Emma, daughter of the late Charles BORDWELL  of Potter.  They reside on the MC MASTER homestead in Potter, and have one child, Nellie.

Mary MC MASTER born in 1802, married Moses BLACK of Seneca, and settled near the �No. 9 Church�, where they have remained. Their children are: Aaron, John, Elizabeth, James and Mary.

Sarah MC MASTER born in 1806, married Fletcher C. BATEMAN of Benton, and emigrated to Centreville, Michigan.  They have three sons: Emery J., David and Fletcher.

MERRIFIELD   pg  315- 317

John MERRIFIELD Sr. was from Columbia county, where he married Catharine SIMMONS. They came to Benton with their family of six children, after 1820,located at first in the neighborhood of the Carroll schoolhouse, and removing to Potter in 1832, where they lived on a farm now belonging to the Charles BORDWELL estate.  The parents finally emigrated to Colona, Michigan, where the father died in 1851, at the age of 64 years.  The mother still survives at the age of 81 years, residing with her children in this county. Their children who reached adult age were: John, Robert, George C., Charlotte, Jacob, William H., Elizabeth, Sarah A., Peter S., Hannah C., and Thomas J.

John Jr., born in 1809, married Sarah, daughter of John CRANK of Benton in 1832. They remained for a time on the home farm in Potter, of which Mr. MERRIFIELD was joint owner with his father; subsequently he returned to Benton, residing on various farms till 1848, when they purchased the Abner WOODWORTH farm, of 160 acres on Flat street, where they still reside, having added other acres to the original purchase, till their farm embraced nearly 400 acres. Mr. MERRIFIELD began with nothing, and seconded by his wife, he gained a handsome competence by industry and frugality, the only trusty keys of fortune. Happily they are well preserved for the enjoyment of their well-earned abundance, in their advanced years.  He is a leading citizen of this town, enjoys in the fullest degree the confidence of his fellow citizens and has been several times supervisor, serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. They have two surviving children, John W. and Mary D. John W. married Elvira, daughter of William M. CROSBY of Benton, and resides at Vineland, New Jersey.  They have one child, Sarah A.  Mary D. married James M. LOWN of Jerusalem.  They reside on the parental homestead, and have two children, Jennie and John M.

Robert married Eliza, daughter of Josiah RUDD, of Italy.  They reside in Michigan and have six children. 

George C. married Mary A. PARKS of Benton and resides at Mishawaka, Indiana. They have four children.  He is a teacher and fruit culturist; has represented his county in the State Assembly and holds the office of US Revenue Assessor.

Charlotte is the wife of Culver S. BARBER of Potter. Jacob married Emily, daughter of James P. ROBINSON, of Potter and emigrated to Mishawaka, Indiana, where she died leaving three children. He is now living with a second wife, at Decatur, Michigan, and is a Universalist Clergyman and fruit culturist.

William H., married Emily PAUL of Coloma, Michigan, where they reside. He is a farmer and they have five children. 

Elizabeth married Ira BARBER of Potter.

Sarah A. married Charles BOSTWICK, a physician of Colona, Michigan and reside at New Troy, Michigan.

Peter S. married Sally A. DAYTON, of Welshfield, Granger Co., Ohio. He is a farmer and teacher. They have one son.

Hannah C. married Charles READING of Colona, Michigan, where he died, leaving three children.  She is now the wife of Franklin VINTON and resides at Carlisle Hill, Indiana. They have one child.

Thomas J., married Paulina SKINNER, of Valparaiso, Indiana.  He is a lawyer and has been Mayor of the city. He also has represented his county (Porter) in the Legislature. They have six children.

MESEROLE    pg 312 � 313

The forefathers of both Jacob MESEROLE and his wife, Ann REMSEN, were among the first settlers of Long Island.  The paternal ancestors of Mr. MESEROLE were French, and the maternal HOLLANDERS and the parents of Mrs. MESEROLE were also French or Flemish Hollanders. He was born in 1783, and she in 1801, and the homes where both were born have belonged to their respective families for a long period and are now both embraced within the city of Brooklyn, and divided into city lots. The MESEROLE farm originally contained 60 acres and the taxes thereon in1800 amounted to one dollar; in 1801 to one dollar and fifty cents, and were thought to be excessive or erroneous.  The same territory is now judged  (1870)to pay not less than $100,000 of annual tax. The MESEROLES were the first settlers in Bushwick, now known as Green Point, and the REMSENS and SCHENCKS on the Wallabout; and the first white child born on Long Island, was on the SCHENCK farm. The paternal farm of Mrs. MESEROLE and her ancestors, of about 72 acres, lines east of the U S Navy Yard, and borders on the Wallabout Bay. Thus are these two persons representatives of great changes and developments, the period of their lives having witnessed the growth of the great city of Brooklyn, on the ground whereon they were born in rural seclusion. In about the same period, Yates county has merged from the wilderness and reaches its present fruitful condition.  They were married in 1829 and in 1831 purchased and settled on the place known as the Jonathan HALL farm, on the East Centre road leading to Seneca Lake, and about one mile west of the Lake, now in Torrey, where they lived till 1863, since which time they have resided in Penn Yan.  Their children were: Jeremiah Remsen, Peter, Elizabeth, Catharine and Matilda.  Jeremiah died single in 1845, at 22 years. Peter married Louisa STONE of Trumansburg, was a hardware merchant in Penn Yan from 1851 to 1857 and then moved to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he engaged in the forwarding and commission business. His health failing, he returned to Trumansburg, and died in 1867, at the age of 38 years. 

Elizabeth, born in 1833, married John P. BANKS, a son of Summers BANKS of Benton, in 1853. They resided on the William HALL farm, near her father�s homestead, where he died in 1856, leaving one child, Fanny Loella. The widow subsequently married a second husband, William ROY and they reside in Penn Yan.  Their children are Elizabeth, Ann and William.

Catharine, born in 1837, married Mason L. BALDWIN, of Benton.

Matilda, born in 1840, married Silas KINNEY of Ovid, a son of Cyrus KINNEY, and a lawyer. They have one child, Elsie. 

PATCHEN   pg 248

This early settler of Benton, was a native of Norwalk, Connecticut. He settled on lot 70 of No. 8, in 1807, and died there just fifty years later, at the age of 84 years.  His wife was Nancy NASH, of Connecticut.  She died in 1852 at the age of 73 years.  They redeemed their farm from the wilderness, and made a highly cultivated and productive homestead.  He was a man of positive character and great energy and his wife a woman of high moral and social standing, widely known and much esteemed. Their children were: Abel, Levi, Sabra, Emily and Nancy. Abel married a daughter of the late Judge Aaron YOUNGLOVE of Gorham and emigrated to Washtenaw county, Michigan.

Levi PATCHEN married Harriet ADKINS of Benton, where she died leaving three children: Volney, Emily and Harriet.  He married again and he died in Michigan.  Emily married Rezie YORK of Benton, and moved to Michigan.

Sabra PATCHEN married Joseph WHEELER of Waterloo, and settled at Brighton, Monroe county, where she died (July 11, 1866, aged 67y), leaving three children: Jared, Jesse and Fanny.  Jared is a physician, and was a surgeon in the army during he late war. [Civil War].   He married Miss BALDWIN and resides in Brighton. Jesse was a solider in the war and died in the hospital at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Emily PATCHEN became the wife of Daniel GILBERT of Benton, where he died without children.  She married a second husband, John POWELL of Penn Yan, where she died leaving one son, John J. POWELL.

Nancy PATCHEN married Peter YORK of Benton.  They reside in Geneva and have had three children: Delos, Frank and Ella.

PATTERSON  pg 225 - 226

Robert PATTERSON was of Irish birth and married Mary, daughter of Phillip RIGGS, at Lower Smithfield, Northhampton county, Pennsylvania in 1788. He as an ingenious and noted mechanic, working with facility at most sorts of handicraft, but principally as a carpenter. As early as 1795 he worked on the Hopeton Mill, but did not bring his family to this county till a year or two later. They abode temporarily on Robert CHISSOM�S place until he could erect a house on his own wilderness farm, on lot 43, in NO. 8, where they moved soon after, with their family of five children, subsequently increased to ten.  They all reached adult age, and all married except the youngest, Hiram R., who died at the age of 24 years.  The others were: Elizabeth, John, William, Rhoda, Mary, Reuben R., Robert, Ira S. and Adelia A. 

Elizabeth married William, son of Thomas HOWARD of Benton (now Torrey), where she died, leaving one daughter, Sidna, who emigrated with her father to Maumee Valley, Ohio.   John was a carpenter and married Sarah HALSTED.  They settled at Niagara Falls, and he was a Solider throughout the war of 1812, during which his property was destroyed by fire. He received a land warrant for his military services and afterwards resided at Hopeton, where he died.

Rhoda married Daniel SHAY and settled in Barrington, afterwards moving to Italy Hill, where he died leaving his widow with four children. 

Mary, married Salmon SMITH of Bradford, Steuben county and settled adjoining Daniel SHAY, in Barrington, afterwards removed to Dansville, NY, where he died. His family emigrated West.

Robert went to New Orleans, where he married and died.

Ira S. married Phoebe, a daughter of James SCHOFIELD of Benton, resided on the homestead a few years, and emigrated with their family to Johnsonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Adelia A., is the wife of Orrin SHAW of Benton.

PECK   pg 292 � 293

One of the noted citizens of Benton in the early days, was Abel PECK, a native of Newtown, Connecticut.  He learned the trade of shoemaking, and lived at Fishkill, NY , in the family of Hezekiah PECK, till he became of age, when he established himself as a shoemaker, tanner and currier, at Kent, Putnam Co.  There he married Elizabeth, daughter of John RANDALL, in 1798. She was a native of Westchester Co., born in 1776. In 1813 they moved with sleighs, taking ten days for the journey, to Benton, with their family of five children and located on what is know as the Samuel RANDALL farm, between Flat street and the South Centre road. In the autumn of 1814, they purchased the Eli KELSEY farm on the Pre-emption road, where they permanently settled. Here they pursued chiefly the business of farming. Mr. PECK working at his trade only for his own family and a few preferred neighbors.  He occupied official positions for many years in his town, and as school commissioner, aided in the organization of most of the early school districts in Benton, then embracing Milo and Torrey.  He was appointed one of the judges of Yates county, and held the office until exempt by age (at sixty), under the constitution of 1821.  He sustained a high character for integrity, and his wife was a worthy aid in upholding the family name and credit.  She died in 1856 at the age of 80 years, and he in 1859 at the age of 83 years. Their children, three of whom were born in Benton were: Lemira, Mary, Sarah, Emeline, Mercy, Eliza, Lewis R. and Darwin S.

Lemira became the 3^rd wife of Robert BOYD of Benton, and they resided on the BOYD homestead where she died.  Mary is single and resides on the homestead.

Sarah married Henry RILEY of Herkimer Co.  They remained on the homestead until his death, leaving one child, Elizabeth, who became the wife of George LONG.  They are both dead.  Mrs. RILEY married a second husband, Andrew ROSS of Pultney. She is a second time widow, residing in Penn Yan.

Emeline married Romulus GILDERSLEEVE of Scripio, NY. They reside in Penn Yan, and have one surviving son, Frederick P.   He married Mary, daughter of Samuel STREET, of Yatesville, and resides in Chicago, where he is engaged in the stationery trade. They have two children, Grace and Nellie.

Mercy married Harvey C. BOYD, of Benton.  They emigrated to Sylvan, Mich., and have four children, Darwin W., Orlando A, Merritt and Homer.  Eliza died single.

Lewis R. married Olive VANDEMARK, of Junius, NY. They reside on the Pre-emption road, adjoining the old homestead on the south, and he is a thorough and prosperous farmer.  Their children are Henry A. and Elizabeth. Henry married Elvira WHEELER, of Bath.

Darwin S. married Rebecca E. MILLER of Seneca.  They reside on the homestead, which, under his enterprise, thrift and taste, is one of the finest places in Benton.  Their children are: Alice E., Mary L. and Walter D.

PECKENS   pg 318-319

David PECKENS was a native of Massachusetts, and married Experience PIERCE of that State.  They came to this county in 1810 and finally settled on a farm known as the SEELEY farm, in Jerusalem. Their children were: Hannah, Elipha, David, Lydia, James, Alexander, Sabra, Elisha, Martha, George and Samuel.  Of these, but three remained in the county, Martha, James and Elipha. Martha never married.  Elipha married Patty RAYMOND of Benton and settled on what was known as the SHERWOOD farm on the Potter road, where they lived many years. He pursued the trade of a carpenter and joiner, having served his time as an apprentice with James SHERWOOD.  By means of unwearied industry and economy, they gained a generous competency, securing a fine homestead on the South Centre Road for themselves and other farms for their children.  They two are examples of the infallible success of thrifty integrity and careful economy, engrafted on a life of earnest labor.  Their children are: Myron, Arabell, Charles R. and Jane.

Myron married Sarah J., daughter of Alva TAYLOR of Benton, and resides on the farm, long owned by the BUCKBEE family on lot 84. Their children are Jane and Byron E.

Arabell married Daniel SPRAGUE of Benton, and resides on the original family homestead. They have one child, James E.

Charles R. married Eleanor A., daughter of Seth B. BRIGGS, of Benton and resides on what is known as the Nathan LACEY farm on the South Centre Road in Benton. Their children are, E. Burnett and Martha J.

Jane married Lester B. CHISSOM of Benton.  James PECKINS married Matilda BRIGGS of Marcellus, NY. They settled in Jerusalem, near Sabin town, and on a part of the tract that went by that designation at an early day, where they still reside. They have nine children, of whom seven survive: George, Edward, Olive, Sabra A., Mary, Amanda and James.  Four of these are married.

George married Ellen, daughter of Elisha WEST of Jerusalem, and emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois.  Their children are Ellen, De Witt and Ida.

Edward married Caroline AYERS of Michigan, and resides near Lyons in that State. Their children are Jennie, James, Eleanor and Oscar.

Olive married Daniel W. BENEDICT of Jerusalem and resides in Prattsburg. Their children are Frank and Carrie.

Sabra Ann married David CLARK of Jerusalem, where they reside. Their children are, Wilson and James.

POWELL    pg 248-249

John POWELL was a native of Dutchess count and came to Penn Yan about 1816. After having worked at his trade as a blacksmith, for some time with Benjamin SHAW, his brother in law, whose apprentice he was, he married first, Almira, a sister of Carlton LEGG and they had two children: James S. and Mary J.  His second wife,  was Emily, the widow of Daniel GILBERT and daughter of Jared PATCHEN.  They had one son, John J.  His third wife, was Jane BELLOWS of New Hampshire.  They had five children: Charles F., William, Emily, Sarah and Lewis B.  

John POWELL was a leading Methodist, and a man of sterling, upright character.  For about twenty years, he was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Yates county. His shop on Head street, was where his son, James S., subsequently followed the same trade for many years.  He died in 1852 at the age of 58 years.  Only his oldest two children remain in the county. James S. married Maria, daughter of Enos EASTON of Middlesex, and resides on the old homestead.  They have four children: George K., Cornelia B., Mary J. and Charles.  George K. is a graduate of Genesee College and a teacher of celebrity. 

He was a clerk in on the US War Steamer, Wateree, when it was stranded on the coast of Peru in 1868, being carried high on shore, by a mighty earthquake wave and left by the returning tide. 

Mary J. is the wife of Henry M. STWART, a lawyer at Penn Yan, and a man of rare intellectual and moral characteristics.  Their only son, John P., was an amiable and promising young lad who died while an apprentice in the printing office of the Yates County Chronicle in 1858. 

John J. POWELL, married Harriet MARBLE of Angelica, and resides at Bellaire, Ohio, a merchant.  They have two children: Mary and Hattie Bell.

Charles F. POWELL married Juliette ALVEN and resides at St. Cloud, Minnesota. They have one child, Mary. 

William POWELL married Annette MARVIN and resides at St. Cloud where the two brothers are partners in the hardware trade.  They have two children, James and Gertrude.

Sarah POWELL married Jesse BUTTERFIELD of Piqua, Ohio.  He died at St. Anthony, Minnesota and she resides in Scranton, Pennsylvania. 

Lewis B. POWELL is unmarried and a successful dealer in music and musical instruments, at Scranton, Pennsylvania.

RANDALL   pg 293 � 296

John RANDALL was from Frederickstown, Dutchess Co., where he married Elizabeth BUCKBEE.  He was born in 1746 and died at the age of 86 years.  They came to this county and settled between Flat street and the South Centre road, bringing but one unmarried member of their family, Mercy, who married Joseph KETCHUM in 1812.  Their sons were: Elijah, John, James B., Lewis and Samuel; their daughters, Esther, Elizabeth, Anna and Mercy.

Esther, born in 1771, married John GANUNG.  Elizabeth was the wife of Abel PECK.  Anna, born in 1781, married Robert BOYD.  Mercy, born in 1790, became the wife of Joseph KETCHUM.

James B., born in 1778, married Eunice CROSBY of Putnam Co., and settled near and west of Milo Centre.  Of their thirteen children, eleven reached adult age, and married.  They were: Darius C., Orlin, Orson, Emily, Eliza, Eunice, James H., Jarvis W., Angeline, Louisa and Lewis B. Darius C. married Eliza J. SOVERHILL of Wayne Co., and emigrated to Michigan.  They had one child, Joseph.

Orlin married Loana MAIN of Milo, and moved to Michigan where she died. His second wife was Eliza J. DILTZ. They now reside near Maumee in Ohio. Orson married Laura J. GILBERT of Benton, and settled near Cold Water, Michigan.  They have five children. Emily married Samuel LINKLETTER of Howard, NY They have two surviving children, Amanda and Orson. Eliza married Newman, son of David J. BENNETT, of Milo, and settled in Tyrone.  Their children are: Matilda, Lucius B., Emma E., Sarah, Amelia D. and Myron C. Of these, Lucius B. married Sophronia PHELPS of Dundee. He was drowned in Seneca Lake in 1869. Emma E. married Charles C. GAGE of Benton, and resides on the homestead of Jesse T. GAGE.  They have one son, Hobart.  Sarah R. married Charles, son of Caleb J. LEGG.  They reside in Penn Yan, and have one son, Albert H.  Amelia D. married Robert MC VEAN, who was also drowned, at the same time with Lucius B. BENNETT, while crossing in a skiff from Ovid Landing to Dresden, with a third person, who was also drowned. 

Myron C. is married and resides in Penn Yan.  Eunice, the third daughter of  James B. RANDALL, married Calvin LINKLETTER, brother of Samuel, and died in Michigan, leaving two children, Charles and Homer.   Homer was a solider in the war of the rebellion and died in the service of fever.  James H., married Martha, daughter of Jesse T. GAGE. They have two children, George and Sarah. James W. married Mary ENOS of Benton, and resides in Torrey. Their children are: Frank, Frederick and Ella. Angeline married Stephen LOZIER of Dansville. She resides there a widow with three children, Rockwell, Miner and Kate. Loana married Walter P. HOBART of Potter. They have one child, Arthur. Lewis B. married Harriett COREY of Jerusalem, and resides at Bellona. They have one child, Rolla.

Lewis RANDALL, born in 1783, married Sally MAPLES of Milo, and settled on the Bath road.  Among their children were: Palmer, George, John W., Amos C., Elizabeth, Purdy B. and Charles C. Mr. RANDALL married a second wife, Rachel MONROE of Benton. They resided at Starkey and finally in reading, where he died, leaving one child by the second marriage, Lewis A. His sons, Palmer, George and Charles, died single, after reaching adult age.  John W. married Keziah, daughter of Thomas RAPLEE of Milo, where he died, leaving five children: Ceylon, Edwin, Byron, Sophia and Norton.  Byron married Catharine HENDRICKSON of Penn Yan and emigrated to Michigan. Amos C. married Sophronia ANDERSON of Milo and moved to Michigan. Their children are: Cedrick, John D. Llewellyn and Lewis (twins), and Elizabeth. 

Of Lewis RANDALL�S daughters, Elizabeth married John D. KING of Seneca Co., and resides at Farmer, where he died.  Purdy B., married Louisa DRAKE of Starkey, and settled in Jerusalem, where he died, leaving three children, Myron, Purdy and one other.  Lewis A. married May E. NICHOLS of Reading. They have one daughter, Esther. 

Samuel RANDALL born in 1785, married Irene, daughter of Dr. Partridge PARSONS, of Litchfield, Conn., who was an early resident of Penn Yan. They lived on the RANDALL homestead in Benton, where five of their six children reached adult age: Edwin R., Albert P., Homer W., Charles H. and Francis H.  The father died in 1836,and the mother resides with her son, Albert P.     Edwin R. married Annette, daughter of Uriah HANFORD and resided in Penn Yan, where he died in 1869, leaving three children, Louisa, Willie and Mary J. Albert P., married Emeline MC ALPINE, of Benton, and resides on the outlet, a short distance below Penn Yan, where he has a sawmill and an establishment for the manufacture of flax straw into tow for upholstering purposes.  Their children are: Frank K., Henry, John and Alida.

Homer W. died single. Charles H. married first, Jane SMITH of Bellona, and for a second wife, Sarah HAYES of Prattsburg, where they reside. They have one son, George.  Francis H. married Eunice, daughter of John H. LAPHAM of Penn Yan. He died in California, and his widow returned to Penn Yan.  She is now the wife of Ralph T. WOOD, Deputy U.S. Revenue Collector for the 25^th district of New York, residing in Penn Yan.

RECTOR   pg 325 � 330

Andrew RECTOR was a native of Copake, originally Taghkanick, Columbia Co., NY and was born in 1762.  He married Charity ROCKEFELLOW of the same place.  He died in Benton in 1842, at the age of 80 years, and she in 1838 at the age of 72years.  They came to Benton in 1817,bringing most of their family of nine children, and settled in the West Woods, on lot 104, where there was no house or clearing, buying the land from Samuel COLT, of Geneva, who was a considerable landholder in that vicinity, and paying ten dollars per acre.  Here they tarried the remainder of their days.  Their children were: William, Hannah, Mary, Teal, Andrew, Eve, Christiana, Catharine and Elizabeth.

William, born in 1782, married Hannah SIMMONS in Columbia county. They settled in Benton in 1810, and on lot 101 in 1813, coming with Henry SIMMONS previous to his father.  Hannah, his wife, was born in 1786, and died in 1870. Their children were: Elizabeth, Andrew W., Conrad, Jacob, Charity, David, Catharine and William J.

Elizabeth, daughter of William RECTOR, born in 1806, married James JENNINGS of Benton, where she died.  Her children were: Hannah, Thomas, William J., Nelson, Sarah and Jerusha. Hannah married Jesse TIERE of Benton. They reside on the Pottertown road and have one child, Hannah. Thomas married Anna WHEAT ? of Benton. They reside in Naples and have six children. William married Cynthia KIRKHAM of Benton. They settled in Naples and have three children. J. Nelson married Ursula WHEAT of Benton, a sister of the wife of Thomas, and has resided with his father.  He had a second wife, Annie E. WASHUBURN of Naples. They reside now in Penn Yan.  Sarah married John MILLER, resides in Michigan and has one child. Jerusha married William WASHBURN of Naples and has one child. 

Andrew W., son of William RECTOR, born in 1806, married Elizabeth COONS, of Benton and settled in Potter.  He has held the office of Justice of the Peace in that town several years. Their children are: Nelson, Hannah E., Sarah C., Emily J., Amelia M., and Julia A.  Nelson married Caroline COONS of Naples and resides in Benton, where she died leaving two children, Elizabeth and William.  He has a second wife, Harriet SHAW, of Benton, and there are two children of the second marriage, Caroline and Andrew.  Hannah E. is unmarried. Sarah married Orson LINKLETTER of Steuben County. They reside in Naples.  Emily married Daniel REYNOLDS of Middlesex and resides in Michigan. They have one child, Llewellyn.  Amelia M. married Daniel OLCOTT of Naples, where they reside. They have one child.  Julia married Addison HAWLEY, of Potter and resides with her father. (Julia had a son, George b. 1873)

Conrad RECTOR, born in 1809, married Mary WHEELER of Benton, and settled in Naples. They have one child, Caroline.  Jacob, born in 1812, married Maria COONS of Benton and resides in Naples. Their children are Werder, Malcolm and Hannah.  Charity, born in 1815, married John RECTOR of Benton. David, born in 1815 married Susan BATES of Potter and resides in Naples. They have one child, Hannah.  William J. born in 1826, married Cataline KELSEY of Benton, and resides with his father on the homestead.  He is an enterprising and thrifty farmer.  He had a second wife, Eleanor, daughter of Thomas DAVIS of Benton.

Hannah, daughter of Andrew RECTOR Sr., married Henry SIMMONS.

Mary married Christian NIVER of Columbia county. They did not come to this county.  Their children were: Andrew, Elizabeth, Henry, Charity, Hannah, Catharine, Mary A. and Norman.  Elizabeth and Catharine only became residents of this county.  Elizabeth NIVER married Col. William CARROLL, and settled in Benton, where she died, leaving seven children, James, Peter D., Alfred, Ann, William, Worthy, and Mary E.  Col. CARROLL married a second wife, Catharine NIVER, sister of his first wife.  Their children were Adelaide, Hannah J., Mercena and Frank.  William CARROLL was the successor of Col. Gilbert SHERER, as colonel of the old 103^rd regiment of Militia. He died in 1860, at the age of 51 years.  His son, James CARROLL is a Methodist clergyman.  He is married and resides in Connecticut. Peter D. married Mary J. MILLER of Columbia Co., and resides on a portion of the paternal homestead, on lot 106.  Their children are: Jane, Deloss, Seneca, Gazelle and Floyd.  Alfred married Sarah DOREMUS of Penn Yan and resides on the place known as the LOVEJOY farm, south of Cranks corners.   Their children are: Grace, Charles and Fred. 

Aaron, married Mary, daughter of Simon FORSHAY, of Penn Yan.  They reside in Torrey on the Penn Yan and Dresden road , and their children are Job and Will.  William married Alice NIVER of Columbia county and resides there. Mary E. is the wife of William Miner TAYLOR of Benton. Worthy is single, and is one of the firm from of S. J. Larham & Co., grocers and resides in Penn Yan.  Adelaide married Charles SWARTHOUT of Torrey and resides on the SWARTHOUT family homestead.  They have one son, Henry.

Hannah J. married Dudley OLENY of Torrey.  They reside at Ypsilanti, Michigan.  Marcena and Frank are unmarried and reside in Penn Yan.

Teal RECTOR, born in 1789, married Eleanor FINGER of Columbia County, and settled on the homestead in Benton, where he died in 1859, leaving eight children: Charity, John, Jacob T., Eliza, William T., Simeon and Lucetta and Lewis, twins. Chartiy, born in 1812, married David LOVEJOY, of Benton and they reside in Ohio.  Their children are: John, Albert and Simeon. John, son of Teal RECTOR, born in 1813, married his cousin, Charity, daughter of William RECTOR.  They reside in Naples and their children are James and Hannah. 

Jacob T., born in 1815, married Catharine BAKER of Benton and resides in Milo, on the Conrad SHATTUCK farm.  Their children are, Madriff, May and Stephen.  Madriff married Sarah GORDON of Barrington and resides with his father. Mary married Holly SNYDER of Barrington. Eliza, born in 1817, married John FINGER Jr., and settled in Benton, where she died within one month, the children of diphtheria, and she of pulmonary disease.   He married a second wife, Catharine HARRIS of Coshocton and resides there. Simeon, born in 1822, married Hannah ELDER of Benton, and resides at Iona, Michigan.  They have two children, George and Oscar.  Lewis married Catharine POTTS of Benton and resides in Jerusalem. Lucretia was the first wife of Freeman G. WHEELER of Penn Yan, and died in 1864.  Eleanor, wife of Teal RECTOR, died in 1866.

Andrew RECTOR Jr., born in 1792, married Dorothea FINGER of Columbia county, and settled in Benton, with his father.  He died in 1842.  Their children were: John H., Andrew, Edward and Henry, twins, Elizabeth, Jane, Jeremiah, Norman, Polly, William F. and Jacob.  John H., born in 1814, died single in 1833.  Andrew, born in 1816, married Elizabeth FINGER of Benton. Their children are John and Helen.  Edward, born in 1820, married Diantha SHAW of Benton, and moved to Rockford, Michigan. Henry married Harriet GILBERT of Benton and resides in that town.  Their children are: William W., Charles, Albert, Madison, John and Rosa, of whom William W. married Margaret SHAW, and resides in Naples. 

Elizabeth, born in 1828, married Freeman CARROLL and resides at Benton Centre. Their children are James and Anna.  Fanny Jane, born in 1825, married Jefferson B. BRIGGS of Potter and they reside at Potter Hollow, Michigan.  Jeremiah, born in 1827, married Artimetia SHAW of Benton, and resides on the old Andrew RECTOR family homestead on lot 104.  Their children are, Dorothea, Miner and George. 

Norman married Harriet, daughter of Baltus WHEELER, of Jerusalem, and resides in that town.  They have one son, Jerome. William F., born in 1834, married Phebe Jane, daughter of Theron R. FINCH of Potter.  They have one child, and reside at Cascade, Michigan.  Jacob T., born 1836, married Esther J. COREY of Jerusalem. They reside at Birchtown, Michigan.

Eva RECTOR, born in 1794, married Jeremiah FINGER of Columbia county, and settled in the �West Woods�.  Their children were John J, Andrew, Mary, Catharine, Charity, Hannah and Norton.   John J., born in 1813, married Sally COONS of Benton and resides in that town. Their children are Emily, Hannah, Jane, William and Sidney.  Emily married Charles OWEN. Their children are Wilkie and Florence. The others are single. 

Andrew married Rosetta, daughter of Julius BARNES Jr., of Jerusalem, and resides in Benton.  Their children are Samuel, Rachel and Margaret.  Mary was the second wife of Martin BROWN Jr., of Benton. Hannah married Abraham BAIN of Benton and resides there. Their children are Theodore, Andrew and Martin. Catharine died single.  Charity is unmarried.  Norton married Emily HAINER of Benton and resides on his father�s homestead.  Their children are Oliver, Mary, Alice, Margaret, Irene and Eva.

Christiana RECTOR, born in 1789, married Garnet CRANK, of Columbia county. They settled near her father.  He was a blacksmith and gave the name to Crank�s Corners, where they reside. Their children are: Andrew, Amy, Charity and John M. Andrew married Mary A. SIMMONS of Schoharie county and resided in Benton, at the old MC INTYRE blacksmith stand on the Pottertown road, where he died ,leaving three children, Emma, Catharine and Bradford. Emma married George SAMPSON of Benton. They reside in Penn Yan and have one son, George. Catharine married William BARRINGER of Benton, where they reside.  They have two children, Lizzie and Minnie. Bradford married Della HATCH of Penn Yan and resides in Benton. Amy CRANK died single.  Charity married Clinton CHRYSLER of Benton, where she died, leaving one child, Charity. John M. married Samantha SIMMONS, sister of the wife of Andrew 3^rd,and settled on the homestead with his father. He died leaving two children, Christina and Maria.

Catharine RECTOR born in 1802, married William H. SIMMONS. 

Elizabeth RECTOR born in 1806 was the first wife of Martin Brown Jr., and the mother of his children.

REMER   pg 274 � 282

George REMER of New Jersey, descended from a family of German Lutherans, that came across the Atlantic in the ship, Caledonia, to escape religious persecutions. The vessel, which landed these emigrants was worn out, condemned and sunk in Raritan Bay.  George REMER had six sons and three daughters.  All the sons participated in the War of the Revolution, and fought for independence. Two of them, John and Bryan, were early settlers of this county. John, born in 1744 came with his family in 1800, and first settled on the farm now owned by Griffin B. HAZARD in Torrey. His wife was Leah ANTEN, of New Jersey, and their children were: Rebecca, George I., Polly, Aaron, Sarah, John, Jane V. and Abraham.  They afterwards purchased a farm near the Hopeton Mills, where they died, he in 1819 at 75 years and she in 1817 at 63 years. They were buried at City Hill.

Rebecca was the wife of James PITNEY, who settled in 1796 and afterwards moved to a farm adjoining the paternal homestead.  Mr. PITNEY died in 1845 at 83 years and his wife, in 1853 at 80 years. Their children were Jonathan, May, Rebecca, Phebe and Aaron R. Jonathan died single, in 1854 at the age of 60 years. May married Jacob ELLIS of Orange Co., NY and settled near the homestead, where he died in January 1870, at the age of 81 years.  Their children were: James P., Rebecca P., Phebe H., Lawrence R., Abram R., David D. and George Y.    

David D. was killed at Petersburg, VA, while a soldier, by a shell and died single. James P. married Hannah RODMAN of Milo. They had one son, Isaiah, who died single and one daughter, Phebe Ann, who married John LAMPHIER.  They all reside in Torrey.  Rebecca P., married Frederick POYNEAR.  They have three sons, George E., Lawrence E. and Norton, all residing in Penn Yan. Phebe H. married Elijah SCOFIELD.  They live in Milo and have one son.  Lawrence R. married Miss KNICKERBOCKER, and moved to Iona, Michigan. Abram R. is single and lives with his mother in Torrey. George Y., married Mary RODMAN.  They have children now living in Torrey.  Rebecca PITNEY was the wife of George YOUNGS, and Phebe was the wife of David HENDERSON.  Aaron is a bachelor, and resides on and owns the homestead.

George I. REMER married Rachel VAN ARSDOL of New Jersey.  They resided on a farm west of and near Thomas HATAHAWAY�S old place in Torrey, where both died.  They had three sons: Abraham V., Daniel and George N.  George I. REMER had a second wife, Arabella, sister of the late William BABCOCK of Penn Yan. He died in 1845 at the age of 70 years. His sons, Daniel and George N., died single, and Abraham V., married Sarah, daughter of Ransom T. OLNEY of Milo, now Torrey, and settled on the farm of his father, in Torrey.  Their children are Ransom O., George N., William H., John S, Charles H., Catharine and Henrietta.  He married a second wife, Adelia ELDRED of Milo. Ransom O. married Jane BROWN, of Geneva, and resides with his father. George N. married Mariette LEWIS, of Orange Co. They have two sons and two daughters, now living in Orange Co. John S. married Mary WOOLOVER.  They reside in Dresden, and have one daughter.  William H. married Harriet SPOONER.  She died in 1866, leaving two sons.  He married a second wife, Widow UHL, of Bellona, where they reside.  Catharine married Reuben THAYER, of Milo.  Charles H. married Mary SHERMAN of Benton.  They have one son.  Charles H. is a merchant at Dresden.  Henriette is single and resides with her father.

Polly REMER, born in 1766, died in 1803.  She married John ANTON Sr., of New Jersey.  They had one son, John.  She subsequently married Stephen DAINS, and removed to Jerusalem. John ANTON Jr., born in 1801, married Catharine, daughter of Byron REMER. They had two sons, Joseph R. and George R.  Joseph R., born in 1826, married in Illinois and has three children.  He was a volunteer in the war, and marched with General SHERMAN to the sea.

Aaron REMER, born in Somerset county, New Jersey, married Phoebe, daughter of Lawrence TOWNSEND in 1804.  They located, for a time, at the Lawrence Mills, on the outlet, then embracing a distillery, carding machine and cloth dressing, in which he was interested. Subsequently they settled on a farm now owned by Thomas GRISTOCK, on the Penn Yan and Dresden road and adjoining what became and is still known as his homestead farm, where he died, and his son, William T. REMER, now resides. He was also interested in building the Mosher Mills.

In accordance with the custom of his German ancestors, and indeed with many of the present families of New Jersey, Aaron learned a tread, and served his apprenticeship as a shoemaker in the city of New York. After coming to this country he directed his mind and energies to other pursuits, soon attained the ownership of land and pursued the avocation of a farmer. He was early inclined to politics and being an active and energetic, soon made his influence felt.  Associating with such men as Elijah SPENCER, the LAWRENCE'S and others of that day, then young men, he became conspicuous as a leader. His first associations were with the Federal party like most of his family.  But the War of 1812 aroused his patriotic spirit, and he proceeded to the front as Captain of a Company of Calvary, organized in Benton. This company did three months of stirring service near the close of the war.  From that time he was identified with the Democratic party, and adhered to it till 1840, when he espoused the cause of Gen. HARRISON, the Whig candidate for President. 

He was one of the five members of Assembly that represented Ontario county, in the session of 1822, and one of the six, of the following year, when Richard HOGARTH of Seneca, and Philetus SWIFT of Phelps, were also members. During that session he succeeded in procuring the organization of Yates county.  He was also honored with the first election to the Assembly from the new county. Again in 1831 and 1832, he filled the same position, making five terms that he served as Member of Assembly.  In obtaining the construction of the Crooked Lake Canal, and the Charter of the Yates County Bank, he was largely instrumental. In 1832 (March 2), a special committee of the Assembly was appointed to examine and put before the Committee of the whole House, such bills as in their judgment should receive the consideration of the House, as of the greatest public importance.  This committee consisted of nine of the leading members and Aaron REMER was its Chairman.  With public men and leading citizens he held an extensive correspondence, and was for a long time, sole agent of Henry TREMPER, a wealthy citizen of Philadelphia, owning extensive tracts of land in Ontario county. Mr. TREMPER had an early interest in the operations of the Lessee Company.  In 1831, �Peter GANSEVORT, James STEVENSON and John WEBB, of Albany, Charles L. LIVINGSTON, Mordecai MYERS and James MONROE, of the city of New York, and Aaron REMER of Yates county,� were associated in the purchase and sale of the village plot of Little Falls, Herkimer county. Mr. REMER was largely interested and furnished the principal means for the purchase of the Wagener Mill and the village property in Penn Yan.

Among his personal correspondents were such men as Mordecai M. NOAH and William M. OLIVER.  In all his business elations he was prompt, active, generous and reliable, and he accumulated a fine estate.  He was regarded as a man of tried fidelity, social and politically, was affable and kind, made friends easily and kept them.  It followed that he was a popular and influential citizen. He died in 1841 of consumption, at the age of 61years, and his decease was regarded as a public calamity.  His excellent wife died in December 1867, at the age of 83 years. Both were buried at City Hill.  Their children were Lawrence T., Ann, Phebe, Mary, Jane, William T. and Sarah.

Lawrence T. married Sarah SEARS, of Penn Yan, and was for some time a merchant at Dresden.  Subsequently he occupied a farm near the homestead, and finally moved to St. Clair, Michigan, where he resides, a farmer.  His wife died leaving one child, Phebe J., and he married a second wife, Sarah J. GAGE of St.Clair.  They have two daughters, Frances E. and Anna F. Annis unmarried and resides on the homestead.

Phebe married Ray G. WALT, a lawyer, who settled on a place in Milo, know as the VOSBINDER farm where both died leaving three children: Aaron B., Mary E. and Francis E.  Aaron B was accidentally drowned in Keuka Lake in 1854.  Mary E. married John FISH of Kentucky, and resides at Moorsville, Missouri. Francis E. is unmarried.

Mary married Bradley SHEARMAN.  They lived on a farm in Benton, where she died. Mary, their only surviving child, is the wife of Charles H. REMER, a merchant of Dresden. 

Jane and Sarah died single.

William T., born in 1822, married Mary H., daughter of Anthony TRIMMER Jr., of Benton. They reside on and own a portion of the homestead, on lot 46. He has erected a fine mansion of greatly improved the premises, making his home one of the most desirable country residences in the county. He is an intelligent and progressive farmer, and his wife is a genial and efficient helpmate.  In all public affairs he has been active and prominent and has held various public stations: was Sheriff one term, having been elected in1858, and Provost Marshal of the 25^th Congressional District from April 1863 till the close of the war, and is now (1870) Member of Assembly. They have three sons: Melville W., William A. and George A.

Sarah REMER, born in 1789, married David DAINES of Jerusalem, and died at the age of 80 years.  Their children were Mahala, Rebecca, Thompson, Richmond, Abram R., Phebe, Chloe, Jane, Bryan and Esther.  These are all mentioned in a preceding sketch of the DAINS family, except Phebe, who married William MARINER, and resides, a widow, on his former homestead on the Pre-emption road, lot 42, in Benton.  Samuel S. MARINER, a son of the late Miles, and nephew of William MARINER, occupies with her and has charge of the old homestead.

John REMER Jr., went to Cincinnati, where he married and had two sons. He removed thence to Davenport, Iowa.

Jane V. REMER was the wife of John A. MC LEAN of Benton, now Torrey.

Abraham REMER, born in 1794, died in 1832, married Anna TERREY of Milo, now Torrey. Their children were: David D., Oscar, Leah, Rebecca P., Mary Ann and Sarah Jane.  The family lived on the old homestead of John REMER. After his death, the widow re-married, and moved to Springwater, Livingston county, NY.  Leah REMER ,the oldest daughter, married Edward QUICK of West Bloomfield. Margaret married Shubael BARBER of Springwater, and they reside in Ontario county.  Rebecca married William CHASE of Ontario county.  Sarah Jane married William STACY of Ontario county. Mary Ann married Homer HILL of Ontario county.  All these families have children, except that of Leah. 

Bryan REMER was born at Bridgewater, New Jersey, in 1762 and married Mary RUNYAN of the same place, born in 1770.  They came to this county in 1804 and soon settled at Hopeton.  He was a shoemaker and worked at and conducted the business until 1812.  They moved to a farm for a short period, when Mrs. REMER died in 1813, after which he returned to Hopeton, and resided there till he died in 1825. Their children were: Joseph, Maria, Catharine, Benjamin M. and Enos S.

Joseph, born at Princeton, New Jersey, in 1793, married Mary, daughter of Rowland EMBREE in 1820.  She was born in 1795 at Stillwater, Saratoga county.  They were married by Elijah SPENCER.  They lived at Hopeton, where he followed the trade of his father. He says the folly of fashion, then as now, compelled women to submit to the excruciations and distortions of high heels and the fashionable �knotheel, � which then prevailed, was made of a hard knot of wood, and was often as high as one and a half or two inches, and tapered until a quarter of a dollar or an old fashioned cent, cut in two, would face the bottom, and one or the other was applied as a finish, according to the grade and means of the wearer. Such was the power and rule of the autocrat, fashion, that even the meek followers of the Universal Friend, mounted upon them on all occasions of form, and he made them for both Rachel and Margaret MALIN and others, and they cost ,in those days, from two to five dollars per pair. The Friend, herself, wore the low �court heel� on account of her infirmities.  This note is made to show how very little we change, in fact, from generation to generation, where folly is the rule.   Mr. REMER finally changed his shoe business to that of a general mercantile trade, and in1830 moved to Dresden, and there conducted a forwarding and shipping business, established the Dresden Hotel, kept it about ten years, and also was interested in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Briefly, he may be said to have been an industrious and busy man.

He was called out several times on alarms and emergencies during the War of 1812, and acted as Ensign in his company.  He stood every requisition by draft during the war and drew clear each time, to the number of nine.

He was the first Postmaster of Hopeton, in 1819 and served as Collector on the Crooked Lake Canal, at Dresden, several years.

In his advanced years, he is a well preserved man of much intelligence and highly social nature, and is able to relate many incidents of the earlier history of Yates.  He helped with his own hands to cut the road from Hopeton to Penn Yan, the only previous road having been byway of Smith�s Mills.  He stated that until 1812, it was an unbroken forest at Dresden.  When his father�s family moved to Hopeton, there was no clearing form the Mile Point house in Geneva, to Samuel TAYLOR�S, a mine north of Kashong.  He remembers well the great Indian trail leading from the Chemung to Kanadesaga.  The Friend settled at first almost directly on this trail. At Dresden he is confident there was an important center of Indian population for a long period, and especially one of their favorite burying grounds.  In digging the canal at that point, and in other excavations, hundreds of skeletons have been exhumed. He has taken not less than a bushel of arrow heads from his own garden, and cleared off at an early period what seemed to have been an ancient council ground of the Aborigines, on the flat near the lake. This was shagged by about 30 old and very large butternut trees, which had apparently been planted with remarkable regularity. The enquiring mind of Mr. REMER, has made him a careful observer of all these evidences of the Indian occupation in that locality. 

The children of Joseph and Mary REMER are: Susan, Bryan, John L., Mary E., Catharine F. and Nancy A.  Susan married Dr. Charles A BOGART.  They reside at Bay City, Michigan.  Bryan is single and resides in Dresden.  John married Rachel, daughter of Moses A. LEGG of Torrey and resides at Dresden. Their children are: Charles B., Frederic A., Gilbert Y. and Mary C.   Mary E. is single and resides with her parents. Catharine is unmarried and resides at Bay City, Michigan. Nancy A. died in 1868, unmarried.

Maria married Hosea PALMER.  They reside in Geneva, and both died leaving three children: Catharine, Helen and Napoleon B.

Catharine married John AUTON Jr., of Milo, and died at Dresden, leaving one child, Joseph R., who resides at Copperas Creek, Illinois.

Benjamin M. married Anna, daughter of Abraham TOWNSEND of Benton. He was a merchant and forwarder in Penn Yan, and afterwards moved to Albany, where his wife died leaving five children: Charles L., Ellen M., Theodore, Clarence and Josephine.  He married a second wife, Catharine FONDA, and died, leaving his widow and one child, Mary E., by the second marriage.  Theson, Clarence, was a solider in the war of the Rebellion, and died from disabilities contracted in the service. 

Enos S., the only member of the family born at Hopeton, married Catharine BLOOD of Rushville, where he was for sometime a merchant.  He moved thence to Canton, Illinois, from there to Ottawa and finally to California.  His wife died in 1868 at Canton, Illinois.  Their children were: Charles B., Harriet, Caroline and Henry. 

 RIGGS   pg 220 � 223

An interesting and important family in the early settlement about Benton center, was that of Phillip RIGGS, who came a widower from Pennsylvania in 1795 and settled on lot 116, nearly opposite the residence of David H. BUELL. His children were: David, Reuben, Benjamin, John, Mary, Hannah, Anna, Betsey and Susan.  They were a family of intelligence and superior qualities of character. David married Betsey JAYNE of Pennsylvania and settled on the eastside of the homestead lot, where he remained till 1819, and then moved to Indiana. He was a prominent member and deacon of the Baptist church. One of his sons, William S., married Eunice, a daughter of David BROWN of Benton and emigrated to Michigan.

Reuben and Benjamin emigrated while single to Angelica, NY and became prominent in that locality.  John married Nancy, daughter of Levi BOUGHTON and settled about 1800 on the south side of lot 116,now known as the JUDD farm.  They also moved to Angelica where they kept a public house several years and afterwards returned to Benton, where he died, leaving one child, Saluvia. His widow, married Ezra RICE.  They emigrated to Michigan and returned and died in Benton. Mary married Robert PATTERSON.  Hannah married George ARMSTRONG and settled in Seneca.

Ann RIGGS married Moses VAN CAMPEN of Pennsylvania, a tailor and lived for a time on the present premises of Samuel B. GAGE and afterwards removed to Fairview, Erie county, Pennsylvania.   Their children were: Mary, Hannah, Benjamin and John.

Susan RIGGS married Armstrong HART of Benton, a hatter.  They removed to Farmington, NY where she died leaving four daughters: Mariah, Eliza, Emma and Susan. A.  Mr. HART removed to Missouri, where he married a widow MURPHY and died leaving three sons, Albert J., Joseph F and Epenetus.

Maria married William SHATTUCK of Penn Yan, a lawyer, whose house and office stood on the present premises of B. W. FRANKLIN.  Shattuck was a Quaker, and he had a partner by the name of John WILLEY. He was one of the earliest lawyers in Penn Yan, and about 1825 moved to Prattsburg and thence to Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged largely in land speculation.  He was Lieutenant colonel of the old 103^rd Regiment of Infantry, his commission bearing date June 3, 1820.  This was no doubt before he became a Quaker.  He now lives at Steamburg, Cattaraugus county. Their children were: Sophia, Ann, Susan, John, Lydia, Emma, Philinda, Ellen, Clara and William.  Eliza HART married Dr. James HEERMANS of Milan, NY, long a noted citizen of Potter. 

Phillip RIGGS, the father of the foregoing family, died in 1821 at the age of 77 years. His first wife was Polly PIERCE, the mother of all his children. He was afterwards married four times; to Hetty SMITH, widow INGLES, Polly SMITH and widow RADLEY.  His granddaughter, Mrs. Orrin SHAW, daughter of Mary PATTERSON, relates that she had five grandmothers on the maternal side; and as her father�s father had two wives, her husband�s father two, and her husband a grand mother on the maternal side, she recognized ten grandmothers. 

REMER   Pg.  IX    

History& Directory of Yates Co., Vol 1, Pub 1873, by Stafford C. Cleveland   

Native born to Yates County, William T. REMER represents pioneer families of prominence on both lines of his ancestry. His father was a man of remarkable energy of character and extended influence.  Politically he was a power of no common significance during the active period of his mature life. Aaron REMER as a member of the Legislature was chiefly instrumental in securing the organization of Yates county, and afterwards was repeatedly its representative in the assembly. His son, William T. REMER, has since held the same position and others of public responsibility.  Another son, Lawrence T. REMER, was a member of the last legislature of Michigan. William T REMER is a liberal citizen, a good farmer, and generously responsive to every duty that belongs to a kind neighbor and a well-wisher of the public good. 

As a grower of fine wooled sheep he has taken a leading rank with the farmers of the county.  Asa representative of the family name nom ore appropriated selection could be made.  But it is proper to add that if any portrait of his father had ever been taken, he would have preferred such picture as an illustration for this work.

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