Yates County, New York

Early Settlers for the Town of Milo

From the History of Yates County, NY

published 1892, by L.C. Aldrich

pgs. 274 - 285

Return to Home Page                                                                                 Return to Town Index

Benajah and Joshua ANDREWS were pioneers in the Friend’s settlement.  The former was an early school teacher and the latter was a merchant.  Benajah died during young manhood.  Joshua married in 1792, Mary, daughter of Thomas Lee Sr.   Their children: Jeremiah B., Elizabeth, Sarah and Maria. 

John ARMSTONG settled on lot 12, on land purchased by his father in 1793.  His wife was Sarah EMBREE whom he married in 1822, and by whom he had two children, Mary Ann and Henry.  The former was born in 1823 and died in 1858.  Henry was born in 1824, married first Adaline HUNT, by whom he had three children: Charles H., Marion, and John.  His second wife was Mercy J. BRIGGS.  The youngest son, John, now lives on the old farm.  He married Lucy, daughter of John SHEPPARD and has one child. 

William W. ASPELL and family settled near Milo Center in 1816.  He was born in Ireland.  His children, by a second marriage, however, were David B., Mary A., and Elizabeth S. 

Charles and Catharine (SMITH) BABCOCK were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, and became residents of Milo in 1816, settling on lot 45.  Both died in 1829.  Their children were Job, Eunice, Abiram and Stephen.

Gilbert BAKER became a settler on lot 8 in Milo, in 1811.  His wife was Margaret CONNER, by whom he had children, viz.: John C., Samantha, Jane, Darius, Lucinda, Eliza, Jonathan G., Cynthia and Gilbert D. 

Thomas BAXTER was born at Kinderhook, NY, in 1776 and his wife Lavina (BENJAMIN) BAXTER, was born ten years later. They lived for many years in Seneca County, but in 1839 moved to Milo, locating on lot 29.  He died in 1864.  Their children were Mahala, William, Elizabeth, Isaac, Phebe, Caroline, and Gilbert. 

Aaron BAYARD and his family were pioneers of Benton, having settled in that town in 1798.  Their children were Joshua and Benedict.  The former married Martha BLAKE and moved in 1811 to Milo, locating on lot 72.  Their children were Allen, Samantha, Martha Ann, Emeline, Marietta, Franklin, Calista, Serepta and John B. 

Thomas BENNETT and Charity (HEDGES) BENNETT, his wife, became settlers on lot 29 in 1812.  After clearing and improving a farm, Mr. BENNETT moved his family to Starkey.  Their children were David J., Polly, Elizabeth, Jerusha, Abraham H., Esther, Thomas, Sally, Samuel, Nancy, Stephen, Mehitable, Sophia and Charity. 

Lewis BIRDSELL settled on lot 18, in 11792.  He contracted with Enoch MALIN to build the first dam, flume and sawmill at the foot of Main street in Penn Yan, for a consideration equivalent to fifty-five pounds.  Shortly afterward Mr. BIRDSELL sold the property to David WAGENER and moved to Seneca County.  

John and Peleg BRIGGS were pioneer settlers on the location where is now the hamlet called Milo Center.  They were followers of the Friend.  The children of John and Elizabeth (BAILEY) BRIGGS were John Jr., David, Ruth, Ann and Esther.  The BRIGGS family came to this locality from North Kingston, Rhode Island.  

Peter H. BROWN settled in the town in 1816. 

Amzi BRUEN, the ancestor of the BRUEN families now living in Milo, was born in New Jersey in 1799.  His wife was Catharine HALL, daughter of John A. HALL.  The children of Amzi and Catharine BRUEN were John H., George, Sarah A., Horace R., Eveline H., Austin H., and Augustus. 

John BUXTON was born in Yorkshire, England, August 5, 1764 and came to this country and to Milo, in 1800, his family at that time consisted only of himself and his wife.  Their children were Catharine, John, Thomas, Bridget and Mary Ann.  John BUXTON Jr., married Lois LORD of Sharon, Conn., by whom he had three children, John J., Lois Lavina, and William W. 

In 1801 John CAPELL, then a resident of Middlesex, Mass., married Sally BLOOD and immediately afterwards came to Yates County and to Milo, where he worked his trade, that of millwright.  He eventually moved to a farm just out of Penn Yan.  The children of John and Sally CAPELL were Harriet, Columbus, John, Eliza Ann and Mary Ann (twins), Daniel, Racelia, Henry, William P., Emily and Thomas A. 

Another of the pioneers of Milo was Stephen CARD, whose settlement dates back to 1788.  Both he and his wife, Hannah, were natives of Rhode Island.  Stephen CARD and John REYNOLDS cleared the land and sowed the first wheat west of Seneca Lake.  Mr. CARD first settled near City Hill, but afterward moved to a farm near Himrod.  The children of Stephen and Hannah CARD were John and Sarah CARD.  

Samuel CASTNER was a pioneer of Milo.  His wife was Mary Magdalene, daughter of David WAGENER.  Their children were Rebecca, Mary Ann, Rachel W., Ann M., Rachel W., Ann M., Elizabeth and Susan S. 

Augustus CHIDSEY, native of Connecticut, became a resident of Milo in 1817, setting on lot 17.  His wife was Anna RATHBUN, by whom he had five children: Freelove, Augustus C., Sarah, Samuel B. and Joseph.  His second wife was Sarah BIDLACK, who bore him three children, Frank, Anna and Ambrose. 

Libbeus and Comfort (BOOTH) CLEVELAND were natives of Vermont, but became residents of Milo in 1811.  The were the parents of four children: Hannah, Naomi, Stephen H., and Harriet.  Comfort CLEVELAND died in 1831 and in 1839, Libbeus married Lavina ONDERDONK. 

John CORNER and his family came here in 1812.  

Dr. William CORNWELL came to Penn Yan about the year 1809.  He was an educated physician, and in connection with his practice taught school for a time.  He also studied law and was admitted to practice.  He married Sarah CHIDSEY, of an old and respected family of Milo, by whom he had ten children: John, Achsa Ann, Emily, William Augustus, Henry Baldwin, Elizabeth, Samuel, Caroline, George Rathbun and Frances Helen. 

Peter EASTMAN and Sarah, his wife, located on the “Pine Tract” in Milo in 1818.   They afterward moved to Seneca County, Ohio.  Their children were John W., Daniel W., Polly, James T., Peter O., Moses W., William W., Henry M. and Charles L. 

John and Solomon FINCH, brothers, with their families settled on Seneca Lake in 1808.  John moved from this town to Michigan.  Solomon married Sally RANDOLPH, by whom he had eleven children, viz.: Azariah, Nathaniel, David, Solomon, John R., Betsey, Keziah, Catharine A., Caroline, Jeffrey and Lewis.  The second wife of Solomon FINCH was Phylura MARKHAM. 

George and Hannah (DAVIDS) FITZWATER, husband and wife, came to Milo from Pennsylvania in 1799.  Their children were John, Sarah, George, Hannah and Thomas (twins) and Rachel. 

Among the forty or more pioneers from Pennsylvania, who with their families settled near Himrods, was Malachi DAVIS and his family.  His wife was Catharine GILKERSON and the children who came to this town were Jonathan, Samuel, Rachel, Jesse, John, Malachi and Nathaniel. 

Jacob FREDENBERG is said to have been a setter in Mil of earlier date that the Friends.  He was a refugee from Massachusetts, having fled the State during the famous Shay’s rebellion, and took up his abode with his wife and children on Jacob’s Brook, in the north part of Milo as afterward organized.  He is said to have come here in 1787.  The Senecas permitted the settlement but restricted his liberties. 

Mary GARDNER, the wife of George GARDNER, formerly of Rhode Island, became one of the early settlers in the Friends colony.  Her husband remained in the East, and she and her children, Dorcas, Abner and George came to the Genesee county, locating first near the Friend’s home, but later moved to Milo.  Dorcas GARDNER married Eleazer INGRAHAM Jr., and had seven children: John, Abigail, Mary, George, Rhoda, Rachel and Nancy.  Abner GARDNER married Mary CHAMPLIN, and had these children: Mary, George W., Rowland J. and Abner.  Abner Sr.,  died in 1860 and his wife two years earlier.  

George GOUNDRY and his wife Elizabeth (HESLOP) GOUNDRY, were both of English birth.  In 1798 they came to America and to Geneva.  George was employed to look after the Hopeton mill, which brought him to this country.  In 1802 he bought a farm on the Garter.  The children of George and Elizabeth GOUNDRY were Thomas, Elizabeth, Catharine, George, Ann, Julia A., Matthew, and Cornelius. 

Jonathan J. HAZARD and Patience his wife, and their family became residents of Milo during the early years of this century.  Their children were:  Jonathan J., Griffin B., Joseph H., Thomas, Susanna, and Abigail. 

Richard HENDERSON was born in Ireland, March 17, 1767, and died January 23, 1850.   His wife, Anna WAGENER, was born September 10, 1777 and died November 13, 1864.  Their children: Samuel, born March 5, 1797, married Harriet ARNOT and died April 12, 1834; David, born December 25, 1798, married December 9, 1819, died February 18, 1883; Maria, born August 11, 1800, married Samuel GILLETTE, May 9, 1820 and died April 6, 1886; Mary, born March 16, 1803, married Johnson A. NICHOLS, died April 16, 1889; Rebecca, born November 8, 1805, married George NICHOLS first and afterwards Nehemiah RAPLEE, lives at Bath; Elizabeth born January 14, 1809, married Caleb J. LEGG, lives in Torrey; Richard, born January 15, 1810, died May 15, 1864; Anna B., born July 11, 1812, married Barnum MALLORY, lives in Illinois; Jane, born June 1, 1814, married Smith L. Mallory, lives west; Harriet, born November 17, 1816, married Louis MILLARED, lives in Dundee; James W.,  born March 19, 1819, married Martha A. DRAKE and lives at Milo Center; Rachel, born July 9, 1821, married James C. LONGWELL, lives at Penn Yan.  Children of Richard and Rosalinda HENDERSON: Samuel S., born October 9, 1836; Charles, born February 27, 1838, died May 28, 1872; Marvin and Marsden, born April 2, 1842; James A., born October 6, 1845.  Richard HENDERSON, the pioneer, settled between Milo Center and Himrods about the year 1795. 

Thomas HOLLOWELL was the head of a pioneer family in Milo, which family consisted of his wife and three children, William, Joseph and Thomas.  William was born in 1774 and married Hannah HUNT.  Joseph, born in 1776, married Eleanor SMITH of Milo, who bore him ten children: Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Hannah, Ann, Martha, William, John B., James and George. 

Adam HUNT and Mary, his wife, were natives of Rhode Island, and came to the Friend’s settlement as pioneers, locating near Milo Center on the Garter.  Their children were Sarah, Silas, Mary, Abel, Hannah, Lucy and Lydia. 

Josiah JONES and family settled near Himrods in 1806.  His wife was Sarah ELLIS, who, as well as himself, was a native of Rhode Island.  Their children were Timothy, Seth, Nancy, Abigail, and Eunice an Lydia (twins). 

The family of James KNAPP settled in Milo in 1815.  He had been a soldier of the Revolution, and was with General SULLIVAN on his famous campaign against the Senecas.  His wife was Lucy G. BALL.  Their children were Anna B., Samuel C., Augustus, and Pamelia.  Augustus KNAPP married Margaret HELTIBIDAL, by whom these children were born: George H., Marsena V.R., Aaron P., Samuel A., Mary L., Charles F., Oliver C., William C. and Franklin. 

John LAWRENCE, follower for a time of the Friend, came to Milo from New Bedford, Mass.  He was one of the leading men of the settlement and in comfortable circumstances.  His wife was Anna HATHAWAY, relative of the prominent Thomas HATHAWAY.  The children of John and Anna LAWRENCE were Melatiah, Mary, Samuel, Reliance, Anna, Olive, John, Sabra and Silas.  John LAWRENCE, the pioneer, built the first mill struction on the privilege now utilized by John T. ANDREWS. 

David LEE came from Putnam County and located at the foot of the lake in 1812, but afterward moved to Pulteney.  His wife was Patty MEAD,  by whom he had eight children:  Polly, Jacob, Robert, Rachel, Joseph R., Jehiel, Erastus and David B. 

Thomas LEE and Waty (SHERMAN) LEE, his wife, with a large family. Settled on lot 2, in 1790.  Their children were Abigail, Mary, Elizabeth, Waty, Joshua, Nancy, Patience, Thomas Jr., James and Sherman. 

Samuel V.C. MILLER was a native of New Jersey, born in 1781.  In 1806 he married Esther CUTTER, also of New Jersey, and came to Milo in 1822, settling on the Lake road.  Samuel, the pioneer died in 1852 and his wife in 1858.  Their children were Maria, Isabel, John C., Sarah F., Samuel V., Abram and Esther (twins), Susan C., Ephraim C., David, Phebe A.W., Stephen W. and Robert F. 

Isaac and Anna (BOON) NICHOLS were numbering among the Rhode Island contingent of pioneer settlers in Milo.  They were followers of the Friend, steadfast and true.  Isaac NICHOLS located on the Garter, and after him the place was named Nichols’s Corners, afterward and now known as Milo Center.  Isaac Nichols died in 1829, and his wife nine years later.  Their children were George, Alexander, Benjamin and Jacob.  George married Hannah GREEN and had one child, George B. NICHOLS.  Alexander married Polly or Mary CHAMBERS and by her had these children: Joisah G., Johnson A., Alexander and Loring G. NICHOLS. 

Eliphalet NORRIS was born in New Hampshire in 1763 and in 1792 came to this town, locating at what became known as Norris’ Landing, where he established a trading post.  In 1793 he married Mary, daughter of Thomas HATHAWAY, who bore him five children, viz.: Thomas H., Benjamin G., George W., James H. and Joshua F. 

Terry OWEN and his wife, who before marriage was Polly FINCH, both of Orange County, NY, came to Milo in 1810, settling near Seneca Lake near Dresden.  Terry died in 1821 and his wife in 1844.  Their children were Nathaniel, Hannah, Jonathan, William, Julia, Daniel, Ira, Isaac and Maria. 

The PERRY family were early settlers in the town and were in good numbers.  The children of the pioneer parents, James and Elizabeth PERRY were: Thomas, Lewis, Phebe, David, Enos, Abigail, Amarillis, Delila and William. 

John PLYMPTON and Rhoda, his wife, both natives of Massachusetts, came to Milo in 1795 and settled on lot 17.  John died at Deerfield, Oneida County and his wife in 1833 at West Bloomfield.  Their children were Esther, Rachel, Moses A., Aaron, Rhoda, John, Polly or Mary, and Henry.  Aaron PLYMPTON married Elizabeth HELITIBIDAL, by whom he had four children, Daniel L., George W., Ezra W. and Mary E. 

Jephtha F. RANDOLPH and his family came from New Jersey and settled on lot 15 of the Potter tract in 1809.  His children were William, John, Daniel, David F., Finch F., Eliza, Morris, Jephtha F. and Azariah. 

Charles ROBERTS came from Philadelphia to Milo in 1799.  He married Hannah STONE and settled on lot 14, near Milo Center.  He was the first town clerk of Milo, holding that office from 1818 to 1837.  He died in 1839 and his wife in 1861.  Their children were Charlotte, Charles H., Robert and Clarissa. 

The surname SHEPPARD is well known throughout Yates County.  The pioneer of this prominent family was Morris F. SHEPPARD, born at Germanton, Pa, November 28, 1774.  In 1799 Mr. SHEPPARD came to Penn Yan.  He had heard of the Friend, possibly he knew her, but he never became her follower.  By occupation Mr. SHEPPARD was a cloth fuller and established himself in that business soon after arriving here.  Later he added a tannery to his business interests.  On October 22, 1801, Mr. SHEPPARD married Rachel, daughter of Peter SUPPLEE, by whom he had children as follows:  George Ashbridge SHEPPARD, born September 11, 1802, died February 26, 1874; Sarah Fletcher SHEPPAARD, born July 26, 1804, married September 14, 1843 to Eli SHELDON, died Oct 5, 1849; John Shoemaker SHEPPARD, born June 18, 1806 died at Geneva, March 2, 1828;; Charles Clement SHEPPARD, born June 9, 1808; Susan SHEPPARD, born February 26, 1812, died July 28, 1842.

Charles Clement SHEPPARD married May 26, 1835, Jane W., daughter of Henry BRADLEY.  Their children were: Jane s., born July 21, 1838, married William PATTESON, died in Chicago in 1865; John Shoemaker, born August 18, 1840, married January 21, 1866; Morris F. SHEPPARD, born July 20, 1843; Henry Bradley SHEPPARD, born July 10, 1845, died April 6, 1865; Susan SHEPPARD, born September 26, 1847, died April 24, 1861; Charles Clement SHEPPARD Jr., born October 20, 1851, died December 30, 1855; Sarah Fletcher SHEPPARD, born December 15, 1856, wife of Hatley K. ARMSTRONG.   Charles C. SHEPPARD died January 17, 1888.  

Silas SPINK settled on the Gore in 1790.  He was a native of Rhode Island, and journeyed to the home of the Friends in company with several other persons who sought a home in the New Jerusalem.  Silas SPINK married Martha BRIGGS, and had two children, Mary and Silas W. SPINK. 

Three brothers and one sister, Frederick, William, Luther and Sophia SPOONER, children of Benjamin and Freelove SPOONER, settled in Milo during the pioneer period about or after 1800.  Frederick and his wife, Martha, were parents of four children: Calvin, Benjamin, Polly and Berlin.  William’s children were: William, Elizabeth, Bennett, Polly, Alanson and Cynthia.  The children of Luther and Hannah (ALLEN) SPOONER were Luther, Allen, Freelove, Benjamin, Leonard T., and James C. 

Andrew STONE was a pioneer of Milo.  His wife was Mary DAVIS by whom he had these children: Jesse, Hannah, Sarah, John, Mary, Samuel, Andrew, Ruth and Eliza.  The family came to the county in 1799.  

The pioneer of the STRUBLE family in Milo was Adam STRUBLE, who was of Holland Dutch descent, but himself a native of New Jersey.  His wife was Mary DEAN.  In 1814 the family came to Milo and settled near Himrods.  Adam STRUBLE died in 1867, and his wife, Mary, in 1868.  Their children were Moses, Henry, Levi, Louisa, Dean, Sidney, Phebe, Ira, Hannah, Elizabeth, Morgan, Fowler and Ellen.  Hanford STRUBLE, the present county judge of Yates County, and Dr. Henry A. STRUBLE are sons of Levi STRUBLE by his marriage to Mary MISNER. 

John SUPPLEE was a pioneer of the Friends tract, coming thither from Philadelphia prior to 1790.  In that year he married Achsa, the daughter of Jonathan BOTSFORD.  Mr. SUPPLEE first located in Torrey, but after one or two years moved to the locality of Himrods.  He was one of the early distillers of the region, but in 1815 turned his attention to the more agreeable occupation of running a saw-mill on Plum Point.  He, in 1825, built two small riverboats, named respectively, Trader and Farmer, in which lumber, grain, and produce were carried to Albany.  Peter, John and Jonathan were the children of John and Achsa SUPPLEE. 

Sarah SUTHERLAND, widow of Stephen SUTHERLAND, of Dutchess County, NY, with three of eleven children, were early settlers of Milo.  The children referred to were Mead, Lewis and William.  From these three sons have descended the several members of the Sutherland families who now lives in Milo. 

George F. SWARTHOUT was the fifth son of Anthony SWARTHOUT Jr., and was born in the town of Ovid, October 28, 1790.  He married Rowena RUSSELL, of Barrington, December 3, 1818 and settled in Barrington in 1819.  In 1843 he settled in Milo, three miles south of Penn Yan, where he died July 13, 1853.  His children were Seymour, William R., Irene, Willis, Norton R., Anthony, John, George, Nancy N. and Heman S. 

Simeon THAYER was the pioneer in Milo of a family that has been as prolific as perhaps any in the town.  He was born in this Sate, as also was his wife, Elizabeth LUCAS, whom he married in 1805.  They first settled on lot 35 but afterward moved to the lake shore about five miles from Penn Yan.  Their children were Jacob, Joseph, James, Samuel, Sally Ann, Simeon, David, William, Laura, Emeline, Reuben, Andrew and John. 

Allen VORCE and his family settled on lot 51 in 1818. 

Abraham WAGENER settled near Himrods in 1792, but afterward moved to Penn Yan.  On may 26, 1796, he married Mary CASTNER, by whom he had seven children: David, Samuel, Jacob, William, Mary, Charles and George.  In 1809 Mary, wife of Abraham, died and in 1811 he married Joanna EDMANDSON of Philadelphia, who bore him these children: Abraham N., George, Annette, Henry N., Henrietta and Henrietta 2^nd (the first child of that name having died in extreme infancy).  Abraham WAGENER died May 21, 1853. 

Where now is situated the principal business portion of the village of Penn Yan, was prior to 1796 an extensive area of untilled and uninhabited land.  In that year, David WAGENER became the owner by purchase of nearly all this tract, extending north to about the present Court street, and including about 275 acres of land.  David WAGENER was the head of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Yates County, and he was, moreover, a faithful and ardent follower of the Friend.  He was born January 25, 1752.  His wife, Rebecca SUPPLEE whom he married January 13, 1774, was born November 25, 1749.  As near as can be determined at this time, David WAGENER came to the New Jerusalem in 1791, form which will be discovered the fact by reference to the following record, that nearly all of his children were natives of Pennsylvania, near or at Norristown, from whence the family came to Yates county.  The children of David and Rebecca were as follows: Abraham, born November 9, 1774; Mary Magdalene, born February 14, 1776; Anna, born September 10, 1777; Melchoir, born January 31, 1779; Elizabeth, born August 27, 1780; David, born April 27, 1783; Rebecca, born January 1, 1785; Lament, born November 13, 1787; Rachel, born September 11, 1789; Rebecca 2^nd , born February 1, 1794.

It is said that David WAGENER came to live upon his lands at Penn Yan soon after making the purchase; and that he dwelt for a time in a log house.  In 1796 he commenced the erection of a saw-mill on the south side of the outlet, but in constructing a dam across that stream, contracted a severe cold that ultimately resulted in his death.  He died August 26, 1799, and his body was buried in the cemetery west of where the village was built up.  He donated this land for  burial purposes, and was himself the first person to be interred therein.

To his eldest child, Abraham, David WAGENER devised that part of his lands which lay north of the outlet, while to his second son, Melchoir, likewise descended the lands south of the stream.  Abraham subsequently purchased Melchoir’s portion and later moved to Pultney, Abraham came upon the lands immediately following the death of his father, completed the improvements the latter had begun, and became one of the foremost men of the county.  No man contributed more than he to the establishing and building up the village.  The story of his life and actions are told on later pages in this chapter, relating particularly to village history.   

In 1803 Jonas YOCUM, Philip YOCUM, his son, George Heltibidal, son-in-law, John REYNALT, and Peter COLDREN with their families came from Northumberland, Pa., and settled near Penn Yan.  George Heltibidal was a man of influence and large means, and had much to do with the early affairs of the locality.  He died in 1808.  His children were Elizabeth, Peter, Catharine, George, Polly, Jacob, Margaret, Phebe and John.   

Isaiah YOUNGS settled in 1802 on the Potter location, near Seneca Lake.  He was a native of New Jersey and there married Mary HAGGERTY.  Their children were: Experience and Temperance (twins), Stephen, Peter, George, Mary and Benjamin.  George YOUNGS was prominently connected with the early history of this town and of the village of Penn Yan.  He married Rebecca PITNEY, by whom he had these children: George R., Isaiah, Caroline, Harriet, Rebecca and Phebe Ann.

HTML by Dianne Thomas

These electronic pages may be printed as a link or for personal use, but is NOT  to be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by ANY other organization  or persons.



Copyright 2004 - 2008

[NY History and Genealogy]                                                                                  [ALHN]