"Di" to "Dz" Surname Family Sketches



From Ontario County Times 8 April 1885

East Bloomfield, N. Y. -  It is never too late to record the remarkable history of such a couple as the late Mr. and Mrs. Alanson Dibble. Both were born in 1800 in Sheffield, Mass.; both came when small children with their parents to this town; both were the eldest in their respective families, and outlived every brother and sister. They settled in the same neighborhood in the northwest part of the town; married, raised a large family of children, of whom six survive their parents; both died of pneumonia, the wife on the 26th of February, 1885, and the husband following her in nineteen days, on the 17th of March. They lived together over sixty-four years; were hard-working, economical, and highly respected people, and accumulated quite a little property. Mr. Dibble was the son of Joseph Dibble, one of three brothers who came here together; and the wife, Diadema, was the daughter of Archibald Ransford.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;


Newton Ward Dibble
, West Bloomfield, was born at Stone Church, Genesee County, September 15, 1848.  His father, Charles, at the age of twelve came with his father, Sineus, from Sheffield Mass., to East Bloomfield in 1821, and soon after went with his parents to Stone Church, where he spent his early manhood.  About 1851 he returned to East Bloomfield where he followed farming until about 1883, when he retired from active work and took up his residence in the village.  He married in 1827 Eunice Ward, born in Connecticut in 1809, but a resident of Stone Church, by whom he had six children:  Charles Adelbert; Maria I. and Mary (twins); Sineus Bridgeman; Cassius Horatio; and Newton Ward.  His wife's father, John Ward, came from Connecticut bringing with him his family to Stone Church.  Newton Ward Dibble, son of Charles, came from Bergen with his parents in 1851 and graduated from East Bloomfield Academy, then worked on his father's farm til twenty-three years old.  In 1873 he removed to Massachusetts and carried on a coal and lumber business for three years, since which time he has engaged mostly in buying and selling produce at Miller's Corners.  In 1870 he married Emma Bennett, daughter of Abel Bennett, of East Bloomfield, and they have three children:  Maria Louise, Leslie Newton and Henry.  Mr. Dibble lives at Miller's Corners and is the present supervisor.  Abel Bennett, father of Mrs. Dibble, was a native of Massachusetts, and lived many years in Nelson, Madison county.  In 1867 he came to East Bloomfield, where he died in 1886.  His wife was Jane Keith of Nelson, who is now living with her son at East Bloomfield.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Charles F. Dickinson
, of Victor, was a son of Charles F. and Abigail (Jones) Dickinson, and was born in Norfolk, Litchfield county CT February 7,1803.  In 1818 he emigrated with his parents, sister and three brothers: Lemira, William D., George and Arah P. to Victor, the family settling on Boughton Hill, on the farm now in the possession of the heirs of William D., the old homestead occupied by them being still standing.  He received his education in Norfolk and Victor, and was married in January 1825 to Minerva C., daughter of Jared Boughton, of Boughton Hill.  In 1826 he removed to Rush NY, known also as Webster's Mills where, in connection with his brother-in-law, Charles S. Boughton, he engaged in milling and in general merchandising.  In November, 1829, his wife died, leaving one son, Charles B., born in 1829, now a resident of Ripon Wisconsin.  In February, 1835, he was again married to Ann Eliza Adams, daughter of Green and Sophia (Boughton) Adams, the latter being a daughter of Enos Boughton.  The children of this union were:  Julia E. born at Rush in 1840, who married in September, 1861, William R. Dryer, son of the late William C. Dryer of Victor, and died in June 1873; and Ellen A., born at Victor in 1848, who married in November, 1878, the late Col. Henry P. Underhill of Baltimore MD, after whose death in October, 1889, she returned to Victor, and now resides there.  During his residence at Rush he also acquired an interest in the mercantile business conducted by his brother, Arah P. Dickinson at Victor, and in April, 1843, disposing of his interest at Rush moved to Victor village, and in 1845 purchased a property on Boughton Hill, which had been the old homestead of Enos Boughton.  Here he rebuilt the old residence, and occupied it as a home for several years, returning in 1853 to Victor village, where he resided, somewhat impaired in health, and engaged in no active business, until his death June 14 1869.  His widow survived him, occupying the home at Victor until her death April 3, 1892.  Kind and genial in manner, though quiet and retiring; declining political preferment and position repeatedly offered; of impeachable integrity and uprightness; he commanded the fullest respect and confidence of his entire acquaintance, and his counsel and advice in private and public matters were often sought, and when so sought freely given.



1 Mathew Dillon was born 1737 in Ireland, and died 24 March 1814 in Hopewell, Ontario, NY. He and at least three sons  came to America some time between 1768 and 1790 first living in Dutchess County; then Ontario County New York.

Children of Mathew and wife unknown are:
John b. 30 November 1757 in Ireland, d. 24 March 1827 in Hopewell, Ontario, New York
Moses b. 30 April 1762 Ireland, d. 24 May 1813 in Hopewell, Ontario, New York
William b. 1768 Ireland, d. 26 July 1814 at the age of 46, in Hopewell, Ontario, New York.
All are buried at Greenhouse/Dillon Cem. in Hopewell, Ontario, NY.

2 John Dillon married Phebe b. 5 November 1761, d. 18 August 1847 in Hopewell, Ontario, New York, buried at Greenhouse/Dillon Cem. They married before 1791 in Ireland or NY.

Children of John and Phebe are:
Benjamin b. 14 September 1791 NY, d. 15 April 1866 Ontario, NY, buried at Greenhouse/Dillon Cem.; m. Christana Kennedy b. 8 March 1791 NY
Elizabeth b. Sept. 11, 1784 NY
Mathew b. Sept. 10, 1786 NY, d. 1852 MI
John D. b. 2 July 1790 NY, d. 21 June 1813, 23 yrs.
William b. 15 Oct. 1792 NY
Sarah b. 6 Nov. 1794 NY, d. 20 Dec. 1815 w/o John Aldrich, b. 30 Oct. 1790, d. 15 Dec. 1860
Leah b. 30 July 1797 NY
Polly b. 30 July 1797 NY
Martha b. 28 June 1799 NY
Joshua b. 15 June 1801 NY, d. 22 July 1825, 24 yrs.
Moses b. 11 Sept. 1805, m. Mary
.
Some of the children of this family moved to Hillsdale Co MI.

Many thanks to Janie Dillon for contributing this data. If you have an interest in this family, please contact her.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

E. O. Dimock, Phelps, was born in Phelps March 17, 1843, one of three children of William P. and Lydia (Ottley) Dimock. The other being William O. and F. J. The grandfather was Rev. Solomon Dimock, a Baptist clergyman of Ohio. The grandfather on the mother's side was William Ottley, born in Yorkshire, England, who came to this country when a young man and was one of the early settlers here. G. O. Dimock married January 18, 1865, Mary H. Holbrook, of Phelps, daughter of Lewis and Christine (Hartman) Holbrook, and they have two daughters, Kate (Mrs. E. S. Kregloh) and Annie (Mrs. Chas. C. Pardee). Mr. Dimock was born and brought up on a farm, but for many years has given much time and attention to conducting public sales, in which he has been uniformly successful, not only in New York but several of the Western States.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

George F. Ditmars
, Geneva, was born in Schuyler County January 18, 1862.  He graduated from Cornell University with the class of '84, was admitted as an attorney and counselor-at-law in 1885, and came to Geneva in 1886 and began the practice of his profession.  By diligent effort he has secured an extensive practice, and is now the senior member of the firm of Ditmars & Wyckoff.  He was instrumental in organizing the East Geneva Land Company, a corporation that purchased land, platted and started the building up of the village of Border City, Seneca County.  He now holds a number of important positions, is interested in several manufacturing enterprises, is treasurer of the New York State Business Men's Association, a trustee of the village of Geneva, and one of the executors of the estate of the late John V. Ditmars.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;


Mrs. J. B. Dixon, Geneva, married first, June 2, 1853, William C. Tyler, of Geneva. He was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1831, and came to this country at an early day. They had three daughters: Mary, who died aged four years and six months; Amanda J., wife of William H. Frautz of this place; and Nellie, who married John H. Beard, of Geneva. Mr. Tyler was mustered into Company D, One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols, September 14, 1862. This regiment was in many important battles. Mr. Tyler was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. For her second husband on July 3, 1867, she married John B. Dixon, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to the United States in 1851, locating in Geneva. They had four children: John B., who died aged thirteen months; Catherine E., A. Clark, and James B., all living at home. Mr. Dixon died March 4, 1890. He was a veteran tile manufacturer. Mrs. Dixon's father, Sidney Slarrow, was born in Dutchess county, and came here when a young man. He married Ann Taylor, of Seneca, and they had two children: Abram, who resides in the West, and Nancy S. Mr. Slarrow died in 1841, and Mrs. Slarrow in 1851.



From The Story of Geneva; compiled by E. Thayles Emmons; 1931;

John Boynton Dixon, expert tile and brick maker, was born in Rellington, England, Feb. 3, 1812. He served an apprenticeship at tile and brick making with his grandfather in his native town and in 1832 engaged in that business for himself at Leeds, Eng., remaining there for about twenty years. He migrated to America in 1851 and came to Geneva where he established a tile and brick yard. Mr. Dixon introduced the manufactured drain tile which the farmers of Western New York were not slow in adopting. Mr. Dixon was an Episcopalian and attended Trinity church. Politically he was a Republican. He died March 4, 1890.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Walter J. Dixon, West Bloomfield, a native of Mayfield, Fulton county, came with his father Jacob to Gorham in 1826.  He was born August 28, 1814, and died August 16, 1891.  He began his business career by working a farm at East Bloomfield for Mrs. Fairchild, and later came to Gorham, near Reed's Corners.  He married Adaline Roat, a native of Jerusalem, Yates county, and daughter of John Roat of Orange county, who settled in Gorham near Hopewell, where he died.  Walter lived twenty-seven years in Gorham and came to this town in 1863, where he bought a farm now occupied by his widow and her daughter, Addie.  He was supervisor here two years, and was a Democrat.  Of the three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, the oldest, Mary L., married H. A. Metcalf, and died in Lima.  Hannah E. married Thomas Lubbock and resides near Battle Creek, Mich.  Addie, the youngest daughter, resides at home.



From The Story of Geneva; compiled by E. Thayles Emmons; 1931;

Jonathan Doane was one of the early mechanics and erected the primitive churches in Geneva. He was one of the incorporators of the Geneva Academy. He was the father of the late Bishop Doane of New Jersey, who received his early education in Geneva.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Peter Donnelly
, Victor, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, November 14, 1822.  October 28, 1843, he married Catherine McNeilly of County Down, and they have eight children; four of whom were born in Ireland and four in the United States.  In July 1850, they came to America, locating at Canandaigua.  Mr. Donnelly was educated in the Queen's College at Belfast, was also trained in the National Training School for school teachers at Dublin.  He taught school in Ireland eight years.  Upon his arrival here he taught school six months, devoting his time mornings and evenings assisting the agent, a Mr. Ross, with his accounts.  In the fall of 1850 he was appointed general ticket agent of the Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railway Company, which position he filled until 1859, when the company failed.  He was retained a year to close up the accounts.  In 1861 he spent considerable time traveling in the West.  In the fall of 1861 he taught school at Seneca Falls, and afterwards entered the employ of the New York Central, assisting the station agent, McFaggan.  On the 11th of June, 1864, he received the appointment of station agent at Canandaigua from the president of the New York Central Railroad Company, Dean Richmond, and held the position until he died March 19, 1886.  His honesty and integrity were appreciated by the railway company, and his obliging and pleasing manners by the traveling public.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Frank Doolittle
, Canadice, was born here May 4, 1851.  He was educated in the common and Honeoye Select Schools.  His father, William S., was a native of Vermont, and came with his parents at the age of nine years to Canadice.  The latter was a son of Thomas Doolittle, and married Cleora, daughter of John Adams, whose farm he subsequently purchased and located upon, and where Frank now resides.  There were four children, one of whom died in infancy.  Lucy Jane married Sydney Gaskey; Eliza P., deceased, was the first wife of D. W. Bean.  Frank Doolittle married Emma Hartson, daughter of Asa Hartson of this town, and they have four children:  Arthur born May 12, 1873; Jennie B. born May 8, 1877; Claud D. born February 3, 1886; and Bessie L. born  July 24, 1887.  Mr. Doolittle follows farming and has 240 acres in the north part of town.  His father built the residence.  Frank is a Republican, and has been collector two years.  He and his wife are members of the M. E. church.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Erastus R. Doty
, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, August 10, 1818, a son of Chester and Cynthia (Reed) Doty.  Chester Doty was born in 1783, and had eight children, two of whom are living:  William, a blacksmith of Centerfield; and Lucinda, widow of Cyrus Witter, of Michigan.  Erastus R. was the third son, and when a young man moved to Niagara county, where he followed farming until 1869.  Returning to his native county, he bought a farm of seventy-two acres, where he lived until the fall of 1886, when he bought a place of twelve acres on which he built a beautiful residence.  July 8, 1887, he died.  Mr. Doty was a firm Republican but his interest in public affairs was small, as his time was all given to home affairs and business.  He married Elizabeth B. McNair of Bristol who died in 1862.  He married second, Melissa D. Bedell of Niagara county, and they had two children:  one who died in infancy, and Bert E. of Centrefield.  Mrs. Doty died April 14, 1881, and he married third December 27, 1881, Julia J., daughter of Norris Bedell, of Royalton, Niagara county, and widow of Alexander C. White of the same town.  Mrs. Doty has one child, Rosa L. White, wife of John L. Hook of Michigan.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;


Harvey M. Doubleday, Farmington, was born in the town of Kingsley, Washington county, April 10, 1822. He was educated in the common schools, has been a clerk, general merchant, commercial traveler, and now a farmer in Farmington. He married twice, first on May 21, 1850, Mary G. Carey of Stillwater, Saratoga county, and had four children: William C., Florence, Carey, and Ruth E. For his second wife, he married Mrs. Melvina (Humphrey) Wright, formerly of Delaware county, on May 15, 1884. He has resided in this town since 1866. The Doubledays can be traced from one Elisha Doubleday, who came from England in 1676, locating in Massachusetts. Mr. Doubleday had seven great uncles in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Doubleday has married three times, first on May 28, 1849, Cyrus Baldridge of Seneca county, and had four children: Alexander, Anna, Cyrus, and William. Mr. Baldridge died in 1866. January 9, 1878, she married Charles Humphrey of Phelps, who died in 1879, and third Mr. Doubleday. Her father, the late Augustus Wright, was born in the town of Danbury, Conn., in January, 1786, and came to this State with his mother and stepfather when he was two years old. In 1810 he married Margaret Fowler, formerly of Schoharie county, and had eleven children; eight survived: Aaron, Olivia, Mary, John, Martin, Hulda, Melvina, and Harvey. Mrs. Doubleday's mother's father was a colonel in the Revolutionary War.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Bainbridge Douglass, Gorham, was born in Gorham January 4, 1841, a son of Henry, son of Caleb, a native of Connecticut. When a young man Caleb went to Whitesborough, and married Sarah Roberts, by whom he had six sons and three daughters. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist church at Whitesborough, and was its first minister. In 1824 he came to Gorham where he died in 1836. Henry was born in Whitesborough in 1808, and came to Gorham with his parents. He was thrice married, first to Amanda Blodgett by whom he had two children; second to Angeline Bainbridge of Romulus in 1810, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Douglass died March 15, 1861, and he married Mrs. Martha Newman. In 1857 he moved to Penn Yan where he resided six years, then went to Southern Kansas. He was a deacon in the Baptist church at Gorham for forty years. Bainbridge Douglass was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and followed teaching for some time, and then attended Eastman's Business College, graduating in 1861. October of the same year he enlisted in Company G, Eighth N. Y. Cavalry, and was in the following engagements: The retreat of Banks from Winchester to Harper's Ferry; battle of Harper's Ferry; and of Antietam. He was injured by being thrown from a horse at Barber's Cross Roads, when he was conveyed to the regimental hospital and afterwards to the hospital at Washington. Here he remained a few days and was taken to Philadelphia where he remained two months, and received a furlough for thirty days. On his return to join the regiment he was taken sick at Elmira, and was discharged February 19, 1863. In 1864 he married Caroline Stone, a native of Phelps, born June, 1841, and a daughter of Harvey, son of Harvey H. Stone, a native of Connecticut, who came to Gorham in 1809. Harvey H. married Dolly Lake by whom he had three sons and two daughters. He died in 1856, and his wife in 1851. Harvey Stone was born in Gorham in 1811 on the farm he now owns. June 20, 1838, he married Caroline Ottley, born in Phelps October 6, 1818. Her father was William Ottley who emigrated from England to Phelps in 1806, and married Lydia Peck by whom he have five daughters and three sons. Mr. Harvey Stone and wife have had six daughters. Mr. Douglass and wife have had two daughters: Alice A., wife of Fortis Gates of Gorham; and Lilian L. who married Levi Lincoln, and had one daughter, Gertrude N., who died aged twenty-two months. Mr. Lincoln died September 3, 1891.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Fred G. Douglass, Canandaigua, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, February 14, 1853, the oldest son of Samuel and Waity (Gifford) Douglass. He moved with his parents to Gorham on the east shore of the lake, and in 1858 they bought a farm on the west shore of the lake in this town, where the boyhood of our subject was spent. In 1867 they moved to the farm in the north part of the town where Mr. Douglass still resides. Fred was educated at Canandaigua Academy and when he left school at twenty took up teaching, which he followed two years in Farmington, one winter in the fifteenth district, and three winters in district No. 8, Canandaigua. He married in March, 1879, and conducted his father's farm until April, 1889, when he bought the old Kelsey farm of 100 acres in Canandaigua. Mr. Douglass does a general farming, making hay the principal product. He is also agent for the American Road Machine Company, and the Lester Phosphate Company. He has always taken an active interest in politics and is a Democrat. He was selected in 1888 commissioner of highways, serving three years. His wife, Sarah R., was the daughter of George C. Mather, of Canandaigua. They have six children: Emma M., born February 3, 1880; Samuel M., September 11, 1881; Ray, September 9, 1883; Waity R., September 18, 1884; Fred M., March 21, 1886; Ira P. Cribb Douglass, December 26, 1890.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Samuel Douglass
, Canandaigua, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, March 5, 1825.  The grandfather, Samuel, was born in Rensselaer county about 1750.  He married second Priscilla Wood; they had one son, Samuel, the father of the subject.  He was born in Rensselaer county December 5, 1802.  Until the last few years of his life he always made his home in this town, and was a very prominent man.  He was supervisor a number of terms, and in 1844 was elected assemblyman from his district.  In politics he was a strong Democrat until the war when he became a Republican.  He married at twenty-two years Asenath, daughter of Stephen Sherman, a native of Rhode Island, who lived in Rensselaer county, and they had eight children, six surviving:  George in the mercantile business in New York; Mary S., wife of Nathaniel Gifford of Canandaigua; Sarah Frances, wife of James Halkin of Indian Territory; John of Troy; Ellen of Canandaigua; and Samuel.  Samuel, the father, died February 2,1884, and his wife died June 21, 1886.  The early life of our subject was spent in Rensselaer county.  In politics Mr. Douglass is a Prohibitionist.  He has been assessor of his town and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church.  He married in 1847 Waity, daughter of Nathaniel Gifford, of Rensselaer county, and they have six children:  Caroline A.; Phoebe E., wife of Isaiah Case of Canandaigua; Mary M., who lives at home; Fred G.; Estella F., wife of Ira P. Cribb; and James S. who conducts his father's farm.  He was educated in the common schools and at a select school.  He assisted on his father's farm until about twenty-four years of age, when he bought a place for himself, which he conducted until 1857, when he bought seventy acres on the west shore of Canandaigua Lake, which he conducted for ten years, and then bought 170 acres where he now resides.  He has since added 106 acres to it, making one large farm of 276 acres, devoted to hay and stock.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

John Dove
, Geneva, was born in Yorkshire England August 5, 1821, and was a son of William, who came to Geneva about 1830, and who was a contractor and builder.  John Dove was a builder here for many years, and also a manufacturer of brick.  His son, William G., was born in Geneva November 5, 1847, received a common school education, and when seventeen years old went to work with his father at the mason's trade.  When twenty-one years of age, he formed a partnership with his father.  He spent a year at Defiance OH making boxes for the Standard Oil Company.  In the fall of 1879 he was elected county clerk and served three years.  He next engaged in real estate and building, and in 1889 bought his father's interest in the brick yard.  In 1892 he started a new yard with a capacity of 1,500,000 brick per year.  He has been highway commissioner and collector of his town, is a Republican, and takes an active part in politics.  In 1877 he married Anna E., daughter of William Chipps, and has two sons, Arthur G. and Paul M.  He is a member of the F. & A. M. (No. 33).  He built Christ church at Rochester, Warner's cottage at the Thousand Islands, and the North Presbyterian church at Geneva, besides many other buildings of note.



From The Story of Geneva; compiled by E. Thayles Emmons; 1931;

William Dove was born in England, October 14, 1794, and died at Geneva September 16, 1877. He was for many years a bricklayer and prominent master mason in Geneva, and is cited as "an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance."



From The Story of Geneva; compiled by E. Thayles Emmons; 1931;

Abraham Dox, was born July 7th, 1780, and died August 19, 1862. He came to Geneva in 1805 and commenced business in partnership with John Johnstone, a Scotchman, who came over with Capt. Williamson and who finally was the agent of the Hornby Estate, in which he was succeeded by John Grieg of Canandaigua. Mr. Dox conducted business alone after the death of Mr. Johnstone, his sales being large and his receipts amounting to $50,000 to $200,000 a year -- his customers being from as far west as Niagara and as far south as Pennsylvania. His store was on the East side of Water (now Exchange) Street a little north of the Franklin House, and opposite the foot of Seneca Street. During the War of 1812 he commanded a Volunteer Company, having for his lieutenant Col. John Sweeney. He was an aide of General Stephen Van Rensselaer at the battle of Queenstown, October 13, 1812, and the bearer of the General's dispatches to the headquarters of the Army then at Albany. He was a member of the Legislature from Ontario County in 1813. In addition to his career as a merchant, miller and sailor, Mr. Dox engaged in many other enterprises during his residence in Geneva, all having for their object the improvement and prosperity of the place. He was a large contributor to the fund subscribed for the erection of the First Presbyterian and Episcopal churches in Geneva, of which latter he was for many years a member. He was one of the founders and largest original stockholder of the old Ontario Glass Factory Company. He was efficient in procuring the charter of the old Ontario Bank at Canandaigua, the first bank chartered west of Utica, of which he was a stockholder and a director. He was also instrumental in obtaining the incorporation of the Seneca Lock Navigation Company. He was likewise one of the incorporators of the Geneva Academy and one of the founders and first trustees of Geneva, now Hobart College. Mr. Dox married the eldest daughter of Judge Nicholas, a most estimable and universally beloved lady, and who died in 1860. He eventually removed from Geneva to Hopeton, where he died in 1862.



From The Story of Geneva; compiled by E. Thayles Emmons; 1931;

Dr. George Nicholas Dox was born in Geneva, February 28, 1819. He graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1845, and at once began the practice of his profession in Geneva. Except for a short period spent in the country because of ill health, Mr. Dox passed his professional life of forty years in Geneva. One historian says of him: "His life was lived not simply in a professional way, but in doing good and making his profession count in the world. His life activities were in the direction of helping others. He responded to every call, and gave his energy, his services, his kindness and sympathy to all in times of distress. He had the love, respect and honor of everybody, and when he died he was mourned by all who had known him."



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

James F. Draper
, Victor, was born at White Creek, Washington county; was educated in the public schools and at the Tecumseh branch of the Michigan University; studied medicine with his grandfather, James Post, of Adrian MI; graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1846; began practice at Saline MI in that year.  In 1853 he went to Chicago, remaining there until 1866; returning to Saline for three years; came to Victor 1869, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession. He married twice, first January 27, 1855, Adelaide Haywood of Saline MI; they had one son, Frank J. Draper, who is traveling salesman in the west for a New York city shoe house; second October 30, 1861, Mary A. Hutchins of Victor, who was born in the house where they now reside.  They have had five children, three survive:  Allen H., Mary L., and Mabel. Allen H. has been in the shoe trade since boyhood, and is now with Eastwood & Son, Rochester.  Dr. Draper's father, Phillip N., was born in Dutchess county in 1800, studying medicine with the same Dr. James Post, then of White Creek NY; graduating from the New York University, marrying Sila A. Post, daughter of his preceptor, with whom he began practice.  In 1825 he removed to Manchester, Ontario county, and died in 1827.  He was a member of Manchester Lodge, F. and A. M. The last recorded act of the lodge was the resolution to attend his funeral.  His grandfather, Friend Draper, was a Methodist minister, well-known in Western New York, who spent his last years on a farm at Bellona, dying at the age of ninety-one.  One of his ancestors, William Draper, commanded a company of minute men, and died at his post of duty while on the Ticonderoga expedition.  A number of his ancestors were revolutionary soldiers.  The Drapers are of English extraction.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

William R. Dryer
, Victor, was born in Victor February 3, 1841.  He was educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary.  He was discount clerk in the Flour City Bank of Rochester three years; bookkeeper in the State Treasurer's office in Albany four years until 1879, and after this became cashier of the First National Bank of Abilene, Kan., for five years, returning to Rochester in 1885.  For some time he has been vice-president of the Genesee National Savings and Loan Association of Rochester.  September 18, 1861, he married Julia E., daughter of Charles F. Dickinson of Victor, who died June 1, 1873.  They had two children, Carrie E., who married Prof. Elmer Sherman of Port Jervis, and died in November 1886; and William C., a farmer on the old homestead, who married Clara Outhouse of Canandaigua and they have one son, Truman C.  Mr. Dryer's father, William C., was born in Victor March 28 1810, and married Phoebe M. Ball, sister of Drs. Wm. and Chas. Ball, of that place.  He died in Victor, February 21, 1891.  They had two children:  William R., and Caroline C., who died when sixteen years old.  Mr. Dryer's grandfather, Rufus, was born in Stockbridge Mass. in 1870, and came to Victor in 1798.  He married Lydia Cobb in 1804, formerly of Conway Mass.  They had five children:  Selecta, Minerva, George, William and Truman.  His grandfather was an R. A. Mason, and his father a Master Mason, and Mr. Dryer himself a thirty-second degree Mason.  In politics the family have always affiliated with the Democratic party.  His father was postmaster under General Jackson and others for twelve years, was United States marshal four years under Buchanan's administration, a presidential elector several times, and member of the Democratic State Committee ten years.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

Wm. B. Dunning, Geneva, was the founder of the New York Central Iron Works, one of the largest of the kind in the Empire State. He was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1818, and spent his boyhood days in Auburn until 1833, when he took his departure for Dunkirk, where he learned the trade of an engineer and machinist. There he served an apprenticeship of four years and two months until he reached the age of twenty years. He was an earnest and faithful apprentice, bound to learn and be at the head in his business. From Dunkirk Mr. Dunning went to Syracuse, where he was employed in a large machine shop, and owing to his ability as a mechanic he was given the highest wages paid to journeymen in those days. It was in 1841 when Mr. Dunning came to Geneva through the advice of the late Thos. D. Burrell, and was given a position which he held with efficiency at a large salary for five years. In 1845 he entered the employ of John R. Johnson, the owner of the Seneca Lake Foundry and Engine Works and also the Seneca Lake steamers. There he took full charge of the immense business. Mr. Dunning placed the machinery in the old Kanadesaga and the famous Ben Loder, steamers that plied the waters of Seneca Lake years ago. He also put the machinery in the Maid of the Mist and ran her the first fall and did excellent service as an engineer. He built the first engine and boiler for the Woodbury Steam Engine Works of Rochester. The New York Central Iron Works, now owned by a stock company, of which Mr. Dunning is president, was built by him in 1853. He started on his own account with a cash capital of seventy five dollars, and today is doing an increasing business each year. Mr. Dunning is highly regarded by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He has been in public life since 1867. He has been president of the village of Geneva several times, and is always interested in the welfare of the village, and no one is more deserving of a share of the credit for Geneva's "boom" today than is Mr. Dunning.



From the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

John J. Dwyer, Canandaigua, was born in Ireland in 1844, and when five years old left there with his parents for this country, locating in Canandaigua, where his whole life has been spent.  His education was received in the commons schools, and at the age of sixteen he went to work for the Northern Central Railroad, where he remained for about seven years, and then opened a saloon on Main Street, Canandaigua, which he conducted until 1884, when he started the brokerage business, giving that up after two years to take up the insurance business, which he still conducts.  In 1869 he was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriffs Clark and Cheney, which office he held six years.  In 1888 Mr. Dwyer was elected on the Democrat ticket to the office of police justice of Canandaigua, and in 1892 he was renominated on the Democrat ticket and endorsed by the Republicans.  He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the C. M. B. A., and was a member of the Canandaigua Fire Department for seventeen years.



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