BIO: Town of Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., NY Submitted June 2000 by Cattaraugus County Bio Project. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ TOWN OF FREEDOM BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES FROM: "HISTORICAL GAZETTEER AND BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORIAL of CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NY, ed by WILLIAM ADAMS, Published 1893 Page 681 Surnames: AUSTIN, WYMAN, DAGGETT, JAMES, JACKSON, BALDWIN, FINDLEY, NORTON, PECK David AUSTIN came from Taunton, Mass., in 1823 and settled on the farm now owned by Alonzo WYMAN. He was a shoemaker and a farmer. David AUSTIN, Jr., who came to Freedom with his parents, married Matilda, daughter of Elihu DAGGETT, who came from North Attleboro, Mass., in 1811, and settled on the farm now owned by David JAMES. Mr. and Mrs. AUSTIN had eleven children, of whom six are living: Melvin J., Caroline (Mrs. Andrew JACKSON), Almira (Mrs. Sylvester JACKSON), Elroy D., Louisa (Mrs. Lysander BALDWIN), and Edgar AUSTIN. Elroy D. AUSTIN, born in Arcade, N. Y., Feb. 7, 1836, was a farmer until 1885, when he purchased the grist-mill at Sandusky, which he still owns. He married Janette, a daughter of Stephen FINDLEY, who came from Scotland in 1833. Children: Sarah (Mrs. George NORTON), Arthur E., Elizabeth (Mrs. John E. PECK), William F., and Burton. -------- Page 681 Surnames: BEEBE, MEAD, PINNEY, GOULD, EDWARDS, DAWLEY Charles BEEBE, from Vermont, came to Arcade with his family about 1815, making the journey with an ox-team. In 1818 he moved to Freedom and settled on the farm now owned by his youngest son, Wellington, who resides at Aurora. Mr. BEEBE had eleven children. Charles BEEBE, Jr., born in Arcade was one year old when his parents came to Freedom. He married Harriet MEAD; children: Marion (Mrs. C. S. PINNEY), Frank, Verlette C., Ella, Earl, and Mabel (Mrs. Elmer GOULD). Frank BEEBE was born in Freedom, and for his first wife married Mary, daughter of Joshua EDWARDS; children: Lura and Alice. He married, second, Alida A., daughter of Albert and Melvina DAWLEY, and they have one daughter, Emma. -------- Page 681 Surname: BEEKMAN Frederick BEEKMAN, a Revolutionary soldier and a man of Dutch descent, came to this town in 1820, where he died at the age of 109 years, 6 months, and 5 days. His wife Susan died two years prior, aged 105 years, 8 months, and 8 days. Their son Christopher came with them and spent most of his life here. Of Frederick BEEKMAN many interesting stories are related. He was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of '76, and early on Fourth of July mornings with his old "howling-piece" on his shoulder, he would sally forth and rouse his neighbors with a grand salute, following it with a "Hurrah for Washington, Gates, Putnam, and Lee, und all der brave men who fought for libertee!" He was patriotic and became a sage for Dutch wit and repartee. -------- Page 681 Surnames: BIXBY, PHILLIPS, ROOT, WOODLEY Barnes BIXBY came from New Hampshire in 1817 and settled on the farm now owned by David R. PHILLIPS, where he encountered all the hardships of a pioneer. He married Hannah BIXBY; children: Daniel, William, Ann, and Lucy. Daniel BIXBY, born in 1816, was not quite one year old when the family came to Freedom; he was a farmer, and married Vastia ROOT. Children: Anson E. and Anna J. (Mrs. A. WOODLEY). Anson E. BIXBY, a farmer, married Margaret WOODLEY; children: David E., Harry J., and Carl A. -------- Pages 681 & 682 Surnames: CHENEY, SCOTT, HOLMES, BEEBE, FOOTE, WOOD, KNIGHT, JAMES, VAN AERNAM, LEWIS The CHENEY family is an early and reputable one in New England, and is of English descent. As early as 1680 the CHENEYs were residents of Roxbury (Boston Highlands) Mass. Subsequently some of them settled in New Hampshire, and their descendants are among the prominent people of that State. Josiah CHENEY, son of Ebenezer, came from Chesterfield, N. H., to Livingston county, N. Y., in 1820. In 1823 he removed to Freedom, where he built the first woolen-mill in the town in 1824 and operated it until 1836, when he engaged in farming, and continued in this vocation the remainder of his life. He died in October, 1865. He was a member of the militia and held town offices. Mr. CHENEY married Harriet, daughter of Lyman SCOTT, of Chesterfield, N. H. Their children were Harriet (Mrs. Myron HOLMES), deceased; George, deceased; Jane (Mrs. Darius BEEBE), deceased; Harrison; Wallace, of Java, N. Y.; Walter L.; and Wellington M., a physician of Dansville, N. Y. Lt.-Col. Harrison CHENEY was born in Freedom, Jan. 3, 1830. After receiving his education in common schools and in Arcade Seminary he taught nine winter terms of district school and labored on his father's farm in summer. But this quiet farmer's life was not to continue. At the breaking out of the Civil war he was too true a patriot not to be aroused to action, and in Aug, 1862, he recruited every man of Co. D, 154th N.Y. Vols., and had more applicants than he could receive. It is said that "he was the only man who recruited, personally, every man of a company in this State." He was commissioned captain of the company at its organization. He was engaged at the battle of Chancellorsville and was captured by the enemy at Gettysburg. On the ninth day after his capture, while marching under guard through a piece of woods near Martinsburg, he broke from the ranks and ran, was hotly pursued into the woods, but escaped, and was a fugitive for twenty-two days before he reached the Union army. Captain CHENEY was promoted major in Feb., 1865, and lieutenant-colonel in March, 1865, and was mustered out at the close of the war in June, 1865. Colonel CHENEY married, first, Mary J., daughter of Harvey FOOTE, of Deerfield, N. Y. Mrs. CHENEY died in 1891. Their children were Ella M. (Mrs. Cassius C. WOOD), Mary E. (Mrs. Walter L. KNIGHT), and Harry F. He married, second, Frances D. JAMES, of Freedom. Colonel CHENEY has been prominent in his town and his district, which he represented in the Assembly in 1876 and 1888. How well he performed his duties can best be told by quoting from the "Review of the Assembly." He is spoken of among the most earnest working members, and "as a man of tone and character he had no superior. Far above the wily machinations of bad men, he had the interests of the people at heart, ever watching and working for sound legislation and good government. With this class of men in our legislative halls we should soon feel a welcome relief from the sad depression into which incompetent and dishonest men have plunged us; and we could once more enjoy the privileges and blessings of an honest prosperity." Colonel CHENEY made agriculture his vocation after the war, and since 1881, with the exception of three years, he has held the position of railway mail clerk. Courteous, affable, kind-hearted, and dominated by strong Christian principles, he has ever been a popular citizen and official, and holds a high place in the regards of his numerous friends. He rightly stands among the representative men of Cattaraugus county, and in the written words of Dr. VAN AERNAM to him: "You helped in clearing the forests of Cattaraugus, helped in opening up its roads, aided in establishing its schools and churches, aided in crushing out the Rebellion, and I think it is due to yourself and your special friends as well as the public that your memory should be perpetuated in its history." Walter L. CHENEY was born in Freedom and has always been a farmer. He married, first, Frances, daughter of Charles BEEBE, Sr., and had one son, Willie T., of Pike, N. Y. After her death he married Jane, widow of Capt. Alfred H. LEWIS, by whom he has two children, Hattie E. and John W. Ed. Note: This biography includes a photograph of Harrison CHENEY -------- Pages 682 & 683 Surnames: CROSSMAN, WORKMAN, STODDARD, RICHARDSON, WAIT, CHILDS William CROSSMAN and two brothers came from England to Connecticut at an early day and subsequently settled in the town of Williamsport, Pa. He married Sally WORKMAN and just before the War of 1812 removed to Pavilion, N, Y., where he died. Amos CROSSMAN, his son, was born in 1788, married Alice STODDARD, and in Nov., 1828, came to Freedom, where he bought 244 acres of land, on which there was a log house. He died in 1870 and his wife in 1868. Of their seven children six are living: Joel, Lurena (Mrs. Lyman RICHARDSON), Amos, Oren, Alice L., and Omar. Amos CROSSMAN married Olive E. WAIT and has two children: Homer S. and Lettie A. (Mrs. A. B. CHILDS). He lives in Cadiz in the town of Franklinville. Omar CROSSMAN was supervisor of Freedom in 1880 and 1881. -------- Page 683 Surnames: CUMMINGS, SHELDON Elbert CUMMINGS, son of Luther, who came from Herkimer county to Yorkshire and soon afterward settled in Freedom, was born on the farm where he now lives Oct. 5, 1844. In 1877 he started a market garden and now has a little more than thirty acres annually in garden truck. He married Cora, daughter of Gardner SHELDON; children: Nat. G., Della A., and Howard L. -------- Page 683 Surnames: EDWARDS, EVANS, LEWIS William EDWARDS, son of Thomas, was born in Wales, emigrated to America in 1855, and resided at Centerville, where he followed farming until 1867. He then removed to Sandusky and was a merchant's clerk until 1878, when he opened a general store. He married Sarah A. EVANS; children: Stephen A., George F., Cary T., and Lois M. Stephen A. is engaged in the insurance business at Sandusky. He married Mallie E., daughter of Miles and Amanda LEWIS, and has one daughter, M. Eleanor. -------- Page 683 Surnames: GIBBIN, WILLIAMS, LEWIS, BROWN, LEONARD Edward GIBBIN was born in Wales and came to America in 1851, locating in Farmersville. He married Phebe WILLIAMS; children: Hattie (Mrs. R. G. LEWIS), Sarah (Mrs. Jesse BROWN), Ann (Mrs. Byron LEONARD), James, Phebe, William, and Mattie (Mrs. William BROWN). -------- Page 683 Surnames: HASKELL, RICH, VAN DEUSEN, CRANDALL, CHENEY, WHITE, OWENS, LAW Sylvester HASKELL, son of Daniel and Mary (RICH) HASKELL, was born March 7, 1816. He learned the tailor's trade, which he followed in Youngstown, Niagara county, and in 1843 came to Freedom and engaged in farming. With the exception of one year he has since lived in this town. In 1862 he purchased of Abram VAN DEUSEN the farm on which he now resides. He married Julia A., daughter of John CRANDALL; children: Eugene (deceased), John T., George W., Calvin, and Dwight W. George W. HASKELL was born in Holland, Erie county, June 2, 1843, and in 1864 enlisted in Co. C, 13th N. Y. H. A., serving until the close of the war. He returned to Freedom and engaged in farming, and in 1889 purchased the hardware store in Sandusky of E. J. CHENEY, which he sold in 1890 to H. M. WHITE. Mr. HASKELL married Hettie, daughter of Sampson W. OWENS; children: John W., Alfred E., and Sherman S. Calvin HASKELL, born in Holland, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1847, lived on the farm with his father until 1879, when he opened a livery and carried the mail from Freedom to Arcade, continuing until the Tonawanda Valley & Cuba railroad was completed. In April, 1886, he disposed of his livery business and became a conductor on this railroad, which position he still holds. He married Rose, daughter of John C. LAW; children: Nettie J. and Eugene. -------- Page 683 Surnames: HOLMES, GALES, LAW Eber HOLMES, from York, Livingston county, came to Freedom in 1827. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and soon after he settled here he built a grist-mill on the site of Fred GALES's mill in Sandusky, about the same time he built a saw-mill on what is known as the John LAW estate. Subsequently he opened a general store at Sandusky, built an ashery, bought the farmers' ashes, and made potash. Mr. HOLMES was a very popular man and served as supervisor ten years. Myron HOLMES was supervisor in 1847. -------- Surnames: HOWLET, WATERMAN, METCALF, COUDERY Enoch HOWLET located in Freedom in 1810, settling finally where a son now lives. Coming from Bradford, N. H., he returned to that place almost immediately but came hence and made a permanent settlement in 1812, remaining until his death in 1856. He was a prominent man and highly respected, and at the first town meeting was vested with four local offices. On the farm now owned by G. A. WATERMAN he erected the first saw-mill in the town, kept also the first store and inn, and in 1831 was appointed the second postmaster, which office be held at the time of his death. He was also supervisor and justice of the peace. His first wife was Susan METCALF, who bore him five children; his second marriage was with Sally COUDERY, by whom he had three children. -------- Page 684 Surnames: JACKSON, CORNES, SHALLIES, McMILLAN William JACKSON, son of John, was born in Essex county, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1810. His parents moved to Columbia, Herkimer county, in 1811, and to Cattaraugus county in 1833, settling first in Machias. He purchased the farm where he now lives and moved onto it in 1841. He married Elizabeth CORNES; children: Rev. Benjamin F., Dr. William H., Elizabeth (Mrs. J. Henry SHALLIES), Delphia B. (Mrs. Daniel H. McMILLAN), and Charles E. -------- Page 684 Surnames: JONES, CRAMER, NEWCOMB, HATFIELD, HARPER Levi JONES, from Greenwich, Mass., came to Freedom in 1824 and made the first settlement on the farm now owned by David CRAMER. He married Rachel, daughter of Elisha NEWCOMB, of Massachusetts; children: Josiah, Elisha, Levi, Elizabeth, William, Elbert, George, Selina, Marshall, and David. Levi JONES, Jr., born in Massachusetts was nine years old when his parents came to Freedom. He was a cooper and a mason, trades which he followed several years. He married Sophronia, daughter of William HATFIELD; children: Horace W., Elisha, Parley C., W. Henry, Elliott, Fayette, Mamie, Adelbert, Mary, Runy, and Luther. Since Mr. JONES has lived in the town he has assisted in killing several bears, one panther, and many deer. W. Henry JONES was born in Freedom and has conducted a meat market for several years. He married Mary HARPER; children: Mildred, Isadore, Myrtie, and Florence. -------- Page 684 Surnames: JONES, RICHARDS, ELLITHORPE, LINCOLN Morris M., JONES, a native of Wales, emigrated to America in 1827 and first settled in Oneida county. Mr. JONES removed to Freedom in 1854, where he is a farmer. He married Elizabeth RICHARDS, of Wales, who was the mother of his children Mary (deceased), Thomas, Richard, and Catherine (Mrs. Millard ELLITHORPE). Mrs. JONES died and he married, second, Ann JONES, by whom he has a daughter, Jennie, wife of Bishop LINCOLN, of Yorkshire. -------- Page 684 Surname: LAMMIE Daniel LAMMIE was a prominent factor in the town's prosperity. He was its supervisor in 1851, 1852, 1857, and 1863-66 in all seven terms, and served during the war period with signal ability. John LAMMIE held the same office five years from 1875 to 1879. -------- Page 684 Surnames: LAW, CONGDON, ROUNDS, HASKELL, LEWIS, DAVIS William LAW, a native of England, deserted the British army in the War of 1812 and settled in Washington county. He married Fanny, daughter of John CONGDON, and both families came to Freedom in 1825. His children were Eliphalet, John C., and Mary A. John C. LAW was born in Washington county about 1821 and married Emeline, daughter of Lemuel ROUNDS. In 1864 he moved to Sandusky, where he died July 22, 1892. His widow and children survive him. Children: Denis, Rose (Mrs. C. HASKELL), Cora (Mrs. B. B. LEWIS), and Ada (Mrs. George DAVIS). -------- Pages 684 & 685 Surnames: LANCKTON, CHENEY, MEAD, HAYDEN, WOOD, CHAPIN, FERRAND Harvey LANCKTON, son of Seth and a native of Massachusetts, born Nov. 11, 1797, settled in Freedom in 1842, and purchased the wool-carding and cloth-dressing-mill of Josiah CHENEY and Guy C. MEAD on the present site of the HAYDEN woolen-mills at Sandusky. He had previously lived in Holland, where he built a saw-mill and woolen-mill, and in Hurdsville, where he had conducted similar business. After a few years in Sandusky he sold to his son Albert, who transferred the property to HAYDEN. Harvey LANCKTON purchased a saw-mill of Elias WOOD, rebuilt it, and with it built a furniture and undertaker's shop. He constructed the hearse that he used, which was the first one in the town, and continued the furniture and undertaking business till his death in 1870. Mr. LANCKTON married Eunice CHAPIN. Children: Albert, Ann C. (Mrs. George CHENEY), deceased, Rosetta (deceased), William Mearns, Emeline and Elvira (deceased), Millard F., Maynard W., and Harriet (Mrs. L. H. FERRAND). Mr. LANCKTON was succeeded in business by his sons Millard F. and Maynard W., who continued together until 1878, when Maynard W. retired and is a merchant at Delevan. M. F. continues alone. -------- Page 685 Surnames: LEWIS, TARBELL, WILDER Laban LEWIS, son of Reuben and Mary LEWIS, was born in Chesterfield, N. H., Sept. 17, 1787. In 1810 he married Sarah TARBELL, of Groton, Mass., who was born Jan. 1, 1793, and by her he had fifteen children, of whom only William F., of Arcade, N. Y., was born in Freedom. Laban LEWIS was a soldier in the War of 1812. He came to Freedom from Sherborn, Mass., in 1832, and settled in the east part of the town. Mr. LEWIS died Nov. 26, 1861. Mrs. LEWIS survives him at the age of ninety-eight years and receives a widow's pension. She resides with her daughter Calista M. (Mrs. Barnard WILDER) in Armada, Mich. -------- Page 685 Surnames: LEWIS, VAN DUSEN, SMITH, WILDER, SPARKS, LAW, JEWELL, GRIFFIN, PHILLIPS, MORGAN Jerome B. LEWIS was the second son of Nathan and Sally LEWIS, was born on the 10th of October, 1830, in the town of Penfield, Monroe county, N. Y., and at the age of three years moved west with the family and settled in Rushford, Allegany county. He married in December, 1852, at Freedom, Mary E., daughter of John B. and Gertrude M. VAN DUSEN, who came west from Otsego county and settled in the town in 1835. In the spring of 1853 he moved onto a farm of 157 acres situated about one and one- half miles east of Sandusky village, which he had bought the year before, and which he still owns. Remaining there until the fall of 1855 he rented the farm and moved with his family to East Rushford, Allegany county, to operate a saw-mill. As a result of their marriage two daughters and one son were born to them: Lillian, Burton B., and Iva. In the fall of 1858 he removed to his farm in Freedom, remaining there until the spring of 1862 when he moved to Sandusky to engage in the saw-mill and cheese-box business with William V. SMITH and John L. WILDER, running the mill which is at present owned and operated by Thomas S. SPARKS. In the spring of 1866 he, in company with John L. WILDER, built at Sandusky the first cheese factory erected in the town, and at present is operating ten factories. Burton B. LEWIS, born at East Rushford, Allegany county, Sept. 3, 1856, was educated in the common schools of Sandusky, at Ten Broeck Free Academy in Franklinville in 1872, at Arcade Academy in 1873, and at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Buffalo during the fall and winter of 1876-77. He worked at cheese making from 1870 to 1876, attending school during the fall and winter of each year, and is now engaged with his father in the manufacture of cheese as cashier and book-keeper of the Sandusky Combination Cheese Factories. He was married to Miss Cora V. LAW, daughter of John C. and Emeline LAW, of Sandusky, Sept. 24, 1878, and has a family of six daughters: Leah, Lora, Ruth, Mary, Genevieve, and Margary. In politics Mr. LEWIS has always been a staunch Republican. He was elected to the office of town clerk of Freedom in 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881, and was supervisor in 1882 to 1889 inclusive and again in 1892-93. He was a member of the County Committee in 1884 and 1889, was nominated by his party to the office of member of Assembly in 1889, and elected over E. B. JEWELL, Esq. (Democrat) and Paul B. GRIFFIN (Prohibitionist) by a plurality of 457, and was again re-nominated in 1890 and elected over Charles W. PHILLIPS (Democrat) and H, B. MORGAN (Prohibitionist) by a plurality of 563. Mr. LEWIS is quite largely interested in real estate operations in Buffalo, and is an estimable citizen enjoying great personal popularity. Ed. Note: This biography includes a photograph of Burton B. LEWIS -------- Page 686 Surnames: LEWIS, OWENS, DAVIS Capt. Alfred H. LEWIS was born in Perrington, N. Y., and came to Freedom with his parents. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. D, 64th N. Y. Vols., was engaged in seventeen battles, and for meritorious service was promoted to sergeant, to lieutenant, and to captain, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. He married Jane, daughter of Sampson OWENS, who came from Wales in 1838; they have one daughter, Kittie (Mrs. Hugh W. DAVIS) of Salamanca. -------- Page 686 Surnames: LEWIS, WILLIAMS Griffith LEWIS, a native of Wales, came to America in 1844 and to Freedom in 1849. He married Ann, daughter of Thomas WILLIAMS, of Remsen, Oneida county; children: Thomas P., Richard G. (proprietor of the hotel at Sandusky), John G., and William G. -------- Page 686 Surnames: MERRILL, DAY, LOOMIS Perry E. MERRILL, son of Smith and Melinda MERRILL, was born in Freedom, June 30, 1845, was educated in the common schools and in Rushford Academy, and in 1870 entered the office of W. A. DAY, of Franklinville, as a student of dentistry. After learning the profession he entered into partnership with Mr. DAY, and in April, 1872, opened an office at Yorkshire Center, continuing there until 1873, when he came to Sandusky, but still continues the Yorkshire office. In May, 1877, he opened a drug store. Mr. MERRILL in 1878 was elected justice of the peace, and after serving nearly four years was appointed notary public. He was appointed postmaster under President Harrison and is the present incumbent. Jan. 10, 1877, he married Mary I., daughter of Sereno and Lucinda LOOMIS, of Arcade; children: Eugene L. and Floyd S. -------- Page 686 Surnames: METCALF, SAWYER, IRISH Rufus METCALF, a simultaneous settler with Earl SAWYER and Jonas C. IRISH in 1811, and whose brother Gregory located in the southeast part of the town in 1812, became somewhat famous during the Mormon meetings of 1835, for it was at his house that the leaders made at times their headquarters and early converted him and his family to Mormonism. Mr. METCALF followed them to Ohio. He was one of the first cheese manufacturers and his son Rufus was the first white child born in Freedom, his birth occurring Dec. 24, 1812. -------- Page 686 Surnames: MORGAN, GRIFFITH, HOOPER Evan MORGAN was born in Wales, where he married Margaret, daughter of Thomas GRIFFITH. He came to America in 1830 with his wife and six children and settled in Oneida county. In 1850 he removed to Freedom, where he engaged in farming. Children: Thomas, John, Jane, Evan, Margaret, Joel, and Isaac. Isaac married Martha, daughter of John HOOPER, and is a farmer. Children: John, Richard, Thomas, Charles, and Albert. -------- Page 686 Surnames: NORTON, HEATH, WOOD Samuel NORTON came from Barnston, P. O., in 1838, and by trade was, a millwright. He married Orphia HEATH; children: Hiram, Harriet, Olive, Sally A., Amanda, Elon Alonzo, Melvina, Samuel, Clarissa, and Mary. Elon Alonzo NORTON married Sarah, daughter of Elias WOOD, and they have two sons and two daughters. The sons, Arthur M. and George C., are the proprietors of the NORTON lumber mills at Sandusky. Arthur M. NORTON was born in Farmersville, where he resided until his parents returned to Freedom in 1856. In April, 1865, he enlisted in Co. G, 81st N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. -------- Page 686 Surnames: PEET, DAVIS, OWENS, LEONARD, GIBBS John PEET, a native of England, came to America and located first in Oneida county. In 1837 he moved with his family to Freedom and settled on the farm now owned by J. J. DAVIS. He married Mary DAVIS. Five children survive them both, viz,: Evan, George, William, David, and John. John PEET was born in Oneida county March 24, 1833. He is a farmer and has served several years as assessor of Freedom. He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas W. OWENS; children: Martha (Mrs. Melvin LEONARD), Mary (Mrs. John L. GIBBS), Arthur O., John E., Eva S., and Fannie. -------- Page 687 Surnames: SAWYER, IRISH, METCALF Col. Earl SAWYER, with Jonas C. IRISH and Rufus METCALF, became a settler in 1811, coming here from Vermont. In 1822 he erected the first frame dwelling, was the first town clerk and an early Justice of the peace, and was one of the first to introduce improved farming implements. In other ways he was first and foremost. J. W. SAWYER was supervisor of Freedom in 1867. -------- Page 687 Surnames: SHALLIES, CHENEY, VALLANCE, CARTER, JACKSON Nelson SHALLIES, son of Joseph, came to Freedom from Woodstock, Vt., about 1840. He was first a blacksmith here and then a farmer, and married Ellen CHENEY; children: Emily (Mrs. J. VALLANCE), Elbert C., Edgar M., Ella (Mrs. A. CARTER), and J. Henry. J. Henry SHALLIES was born near Freedom, was educated at Arcade and Ten Broeck Academies, and has followed civil engineering and school teaching. He was elected in 1878 to the position of school commissioner for a term of three years and re-elected for another term in 1881, and was supervisor of Freedom in 1890 and 1891. He married Libbie, daughter of William JACKSON; children: L. Ethel and Eleanor B. -------- Page 687 Surnames: STRONG, JONES, LANE, CHAFFEE, SHATTUCK, HELLMAN, PHELPS Ezra B. STRONG, a native of Vermont, came from Monroe county to Farmersville in 1832, settling on the farm now owned by Mrs. Bradford JONES. He married Eleanor, daughter of Matthias LANE. Eleven children were born to them, of whom eight are now living, viz.: William, Sally (widow of Henry CHAFFEE), Josephine (Mrs. Danforth SHATTUCK), Reuben, Joseph (captain in the 28th Iowa Inf.), Walter, Lucy (Mrs. HELLMAN), and Jacob L. Jacob L. STRONG, born in Monroe county, came to Cattaraugus county in 1832, is a farmer, and married Phebe Louise, daughter of James PHELPS; children: Osee James, William W., Eugene H., Jacob L., Phelps G., Ezra B., and Mary L., all of whom reside in Freedom. Mr. STRONG and his six sons all vote in the same election district. He has been a deacon of the Baptist church over 30 years. -------- Page 687 Surnames: WHITE, RUSHMORE, SMITH, PHELPS, CUNNINGHAM, RUNYON, HASKELL, CONROY, THOMPSETT Francis WHITE, a descendant of Rev. John WHITE, who came from England to America in 1635 and settled in Cambridge, Mass., was born in Connecticut, came to the Mohawk valley and thence to Springville, N. Y., in 1809 and was one of the first school teachers in the county. He also taught singing school and frequently took his pay in wheat. In 1844 he moved to Yorkshire and engaged in farming, which he followed until his death in 1876. He married Emma, daughter of Jacob RUSHMORE, of Springville; children: Roderick (at one time State senator), Justice, Francis, Jacob, and Isaac. Isaac WHITE was born in Springville, was educated at Springville Academy and subsequently taught school, and about 1830 went to Scotland, Canada, to teach, being also engaged in the mercantile trade. He married Anna, daughter of Chauncey SMITH, of Burford, Canada, and was a farmer at the breaking out of the Patriot war in 1836. Taking sides with the Patriots he had to flee the country; the Tories made a vain attempt to capture him, but he escaped to Buffalo at night in a wagon secreted under some household goods which he saved. He settled in Arcade and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1844 he removed to Yorkshire, where he died in 1887. Children: Lucinda (Mrs. C. J. PHELPS), James, and Marana (Mrs. William CUNNINGHAM), who reside in Boston, Canada; Hiram M.; Chauncey J., of Arcade; and Elouise (Mrs. E. J. RUNYON), of Yorkshire. Hiram M. WHITE, born July 4, 1845, was educated in the common schools, and in 1863 went to the Pennsylvania oil fields, where he worked five years. He then came to Arcade, where he learned the tinner's trade, which he has since followed. In 1890 he came to Sandusky and purchased the store of G. W. HASKELL. He married Kate E. CONROY (deceased), who bore him one son, Charles F. He married, second, Lottie B. THOMPSETT. -------- Page 688 Surnames: WILLIAMS, LEWIS, HIGGINS, DAVIS, BENJAMIN, OWENS William E. WILLIAMS, born in Wales, emigrated to America about 1833, and was a farmer at Trenton, Oneida county, until 1847, when he removed with his family to Freedom. Mr. WILLIAMS married Margaret LEWIS and six children survive them: Laura (widow of John HIGGINS), Ann (Mrs. David D. DAVIS), Samuel W., William W., John W., and Ellen (Mrs. Romaine BENJAMIN). John W. WILLIAMS was born in Trenton, N. Y., came to Freedom with his parents, and was engaged in farming until 1877. In 1882, in company with H. H. OWENS, he purchased the store at Freedom, where Mr. WILLIAMS was appointed postmaster in 1883, being the present incumbent. -------- Page 688 Surname: WORTHINGTON John WORTHINGTON, who settled in Freedom in 1818, had eight children, of whom Thaddeus, a farmer, was born in Waterloo, N. Y., was one of the first members of the M. E. church of Sandusky, and had ten children. His son John, a native of Freedom, being born here June 9, 1834, has been most of his life a farmer and a prominent man in his community.