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Author: bcfrench
Surnames: Cary, Colby, Cox, Fairbank, Ferris, Fincher, Hinkley, Hotchkiss, Olds, Parker, Parsons, Peck, Randall, Ross, Scribner
Classification: biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.colby/1500/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
As I was doing a search looking for the maiden name of someone in the Colby Street Cemetery, I ran across this three-part article from the BROCKPORT REPUBLICAN newspaper. I have transcribed all three articles here in hopes it may be of some use to Colby researchers.
(And yes, it did help me find a maiden name I was looking for).
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>From THE BROCKPORT REPUBLIC, July 3, 1890, pg. 2
[Brockport, Monroe, New York]
Ogden.
A PAGE FROM ITS EARLY HISTORY
The death of James Colby at his home in Ogden on the 18th inst., at the age of nearly 85 years, recalls many incidents in connection with the early settlement of this town. Thinking that perhaps the readers of the Republic would be interested in the relation of a few of them, I hereby give some historical facts concerning the family to which the deceased belong, gathered either from a visit to the Colby cemetery, where most of those to whom I shall refer to now rest, or from the lips of the living.
Among those who lived in New England homes, and heard such wonderful stories at the opening of the present century concerning the "Genesee country" -- the fertility of its soil and its advantages in other aspects -- that they were led to think of leaving their quiet places of abode for the purpose of carving out new homes for themselves in this western world, was Ephraim Colby and his seven sturdy sons, all of Salisbury, New Hampshire. Accordingly, in the year 1802, four of the young men of this family -- Abraham, Isaac, Timothy, and Ephraim Jr. -- wended their way to what is now the central part of the town of Ogden, and in the unbroken wilderness began life as pioneer settlers. In 1804 the father, Ephraim Sr., and the three remaining sons, Zaccheus, Eastman and Merrill, also came to Monroe County to live.
Zaccheus was a physician, and took up his residence on the Ridge Road, in what is now Greece, while the others came to Ogden. Eastman and Merrill settled on the same road as their father. Here for many years the following six brothers lived on the same street, and in the following order, reckoning from the east: Abraham, Isaac, Ephraim, Merrill, Eastman, and Timothy; hence it is not strange that the street should receive the appellation by which it is known to this day -- "Colby". On this same thoroughfare to-day are to be found four families bearing this name, and in three other households descendents of the Colby brothers, tho' known by a different name. Here also lie the remains of the father and mother, and each of their sons, except Zaccheus and Merrill, in a cemetery given by one of the number, Colonel Eastman Colby.
The father, Ephraim Sr., died May 7th, 1823, aged 77 years, and Mary his wife, died August 7th, aged 67 years.
To Ephraim Jr., and wife was born a daughter in October, 1803, the first white female child born in Ogden. This daughter, whose name was Betsey, married John A. Fincher, and died December 24th, 1872.
Abraham and his wife had a son, born May 24th, 1803 -- John M. Colby -- who was the first white male child born in the town. He lived until October 1st, 1830, and died at the age of 27 years. They had another son, James, whose death was noticed in the Republic last week. As he was born August 14th, 1805, he was just before his death, the oldest native of the town, and probably of the county also.
When the town of Ogden was organized Abraham was elected its first clerk, and continued to hold the office until the infirmities of old age interfered.
Eastman was an officer in the war of 1812, and afterwards became colonel of the militia, thus obtaining the title which he afterward bore. It is related of him that while the family were on their way to this country, he was cutting down a small tree when he had the misfortune to sever both bones of one leg with an axe. He called to the rest of the company a short distance off, telling them what he had done. They treated the statement as a joke and failed to respond, whereupon the future Colonel pressed that portion of his limb which was only hanging by the flesh up beside the stump, and that it was far from a joke soon became apparent. This accident caused Eastman to lay by in Canandaigua for a couple of weeks, where under the wise treatment of his brother, the doctor, he steadily recovered.
Most of these brothers with their families afterward united with the Baptist church and the land on which the Baptist edifice now stands was generously donated by Colonel Colby. This caused the society to sell its buildings on Union street to the town for a Town House, and to erect the present building in 1833-34, on Washington street, just east of the Colonel's residence.
The searcher after facts may gather the following additional data by a visit to the Colby cemetery: Ephraim Jr., died September 15th, 1809, aged 39 years. Abraham was born May 19, 1779, and died February 4, 1864. Isaac was born May 24, 1781, and died Feb. 8, 1852. Timothy died May 16, 1844, aged 61 years. Eastman was born in 1783(5?) and died Feb. 4, 1859.
These brothers also had one sister, Mary, who married Judah Church, and lived many years in the town of Sweden. They afterward removed to Michigan and probably have been dead many years.
[Our correspondent will have the thanks of our readers for his very interesting sketch of a family of high standing and wide acquaintance. He will furnish other sketches of pioneer history. - Editor]
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>From THE BROCKPORT REPUBLIC, July 24, 1890, pg. 2
[Brockport, Monroe, New York]
Ogden.
SECOND GLIMPSE AT ITS EARLY CITIZENS
BY E. B. W.
In a former article a brief sketch was given of the Colby brothers, sons of Ephraim Colby, of Salisbury, N.H., who were among the very earliest settlers of Ogden. Perhaps a few items concerning their immediate descendents might not prove uninteresting to the readers of the Republic, hence in accordance with the editor's suggestion, the following are presented. In giving these sketches the writer cannot believe that no mistakes or omissions of importance will occur, but can only promise to make them as accurate as can be done with the information at hand.
(1) EPHRAIM COLBY, the eldest son, died September 15th, 1809, aged 39 years, leaving a family of seven children, four daughters and three sons.
Susan went to Michigan and married a Mr. Hotchkiss in Pontiac.
Stephen died in Ogden when a young man and was buried beside his parents. He left one son, Silas, now living in Oakland county, Mich., where many of his relatives also reside.
Betsey married John A. Fincher and spent her days in this town. She died December 24th, 1872, aged 67 years. Her only descendent residing in Ogden, is Martha, wife of Joseph Parker.
Samuel, after residing in town many years, removed to Michigan.
Polly married Isaac Parsons, and died in Michigan. Their daughter, Mrs. Jane Colby, now lives in Ogden, being the widow of Isaac Colby's son Eastman.
Ephraim Jr., dropped dead in his home in Michigan, leaving twelve children, each of whom lived to mature age.
Sally married Mr. Hotchkiss of Pontiac, who had formerly been the husband of her older sister Susan.
It will be noted by the above that all of Ephraim's children, except Stephen and Betsey, removed from their native town to the State of Michigan, as did many other of the early citizens of Ogden.
(2) ABRAHAM COLBY had two sons: John M., who died October 1st 1830, aged 27 years, and James, who died June 18th, 1890, aged nearly 85 years, as mentioned in the former article.
James was a very intelligent and thoughtful man, whose mind was very clear until clouded by his last decline and sickness. One day last May the writer in calling upon him, found his memory very alert as he referred to many incidents connected with his early life; and had there been any thought of preparing these articles many more interesting items, worthy of record, might have been gathered. He spoke of the little log cabin in which he was born, that stood on the farm now owned by John Kincaid and several rods east of where Mr. Kincaid's home is now. He told of the Indians, whom he used to see as they came in the neighborhood hunting and fishing; and could well remember seeing the ruins of wigwams on his father's farm. He spoke of the daily fear in which he lived during the war of 1812, lest the British should stir up the Indians against the Americans, and they should come and massacre all the people of the town. He could well remember the year 1810, known as "the cold year!
" when frost was seen each month and of course crops were almost a complete failure. The first school he attended was held in a log schoolhouse, which stood on the farm now owned by Mrs. Sheldon Wright, and a few rods west of her buildings, near a small stream which had its origin in a spring a short distance south of the road. The school house was located there so the children would not have far to go for drinking water. The sides of the building were but three logs high, being made of large timbers. The first term of school he attended there were nine scholars -- three of them coming from his father's home -- himself, his brother John, and a cousin who was living with them -- so that under the old rate his father had a third of the teacher's wages to pay. As the people were, to use Mr. Colby's expression, "as poor as poverty could make them," he said we could readily see how limited their educational advantages must have been.
Although Abraham Colby held the office of Town Clerk many years, James would never consent to hold office. He was once elected commissioner of highways, but refused to qualify. Still he was a man deeply interested in political affairs, being a strong Democrat. He remembered the time when the citizens of what is now the town of Ogden, had to go to Hanford's Landing, on the Genesee river north of Rochester, to do their voting and transact their town business. As an index to his thoughtfulness it might be mentioned that many years ago James reasoned out and constructed a barometer. Though it was rude and simple, yet he relied upon it to quite an extent until he was able to purchase a better one.
His son, Oscar P. Colby, was a soldier during the rebellion, being a member of the 140th Regiment. He is now serving the town as a Justice of the Peace.
(3) ISAAC COLBY had four children, three daughters and one son. The eldest was Matilda, who married Albert G. Scribner. She died Nov. 15th, 1885, aged 76 years. Mr. Scribner is still living.
The next daughter was Eliza. She became the wife of James P. Ross and died June 8, 1877, aged 65 years. They had one son, George Ross, who served in the war of the rebellion and now resides in the West.
The youngest daughter, Mary Etta, never married. She died December 20, 1865, aged 52 years.
The son, Eastman, died in Rochester in April, 1887, aged about 74 years. His remains were brought to Ogden for burial.
(To be continued next wk.)
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>From THE BROCKPORT REPUBLIC, July 31, 1890, pg. 2
[Brockport, Monroe, New York]
Ogden
SECOND GLIMPSE AT ITS EARLY CITIZENS
BY E. B. W.
(Continued from last week.)
[Article relating to the immediate descendants of Ephraim Colby]
(4) TIMOTHY COLBY died May 16th, 1844, leaving a large family of children -- four sons and four daughters.
Lucy, married Isaac Cox, and died Sept. 10th 1838, aged 29 years.
Curtis, died the past winter in Medina, about 40 years of age.
Benjamin Pettingill, generally known by his second name, while a resident of Ogden, went to visit relatives in Wilson, and was there taken ill and died April 24, 1851, aged 39 years. His remains were brought to Ogden and laid beside those of his kindred. He had a son, Henry S., who was a soldier in the Union army, and who died at Lockport in June 1888, aged 52 years. He was also laid to rest in the Colby cemetery -- the last honors being paid to him by J. H. Martindale Post G.A.R., of Spencerport, June 22d, 1888.
Timothy's son, Jesse, died in Albion a year or two ago, aged about 65.
Nancy married Perry Randall. Mr. Randall died, and she afterwards remarried. She died about a dozen years ago.
Mary married Orsemus Ferris, and lives in Wilson, Niagara county.
Charlotte married Coolidge Fairbank and lives [sic] in Wilson. Both are dead now, and also their only child.
Timothy, Jr., moved to Michigan many years ago, and his history is unknown.
(5) EASTMAN COLBY. This family consisted of five sons and three daughters.
Harriet, who died Dec. 18th, 1827, aged 7 years.
Eastman, Jr., who for years has resided in Brockport, where he is well known.
Amos N., who risides [sic] in Ogden, and who is one of the deacons in the Baptist church.
Hannah, who married Horatio N. Peck., and who resides in Rochester. They have a son, H. Nelson Peck, who is one of the rising young lawyers of Rochester. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester in the class of 1876.
Edward H., who resides on the old homestead near the Baptist church. His son, George E., was last March elected commissioner of highways for the ensuing three years.
Charles, whose home is now in Benton Harbor, near St. Joseph, Michigan.
Sarah, whose home is with her sister Hannah, in Rochester.
Abram, who graduated from the University of Rochester in 1856. In 1862 he was appointed quartermaster of Mack's Battery, and is now residing at Waverly, Ia.
(6) DR. ZACCHEUS COLBY died in Greece in the prime of his life, leaving five children, four sons and a daughter. After their father's death, Hall and Luke, the eldest two boys, lived for some time with the family of their uncle, the Colonel in Ogden.
Hall died while his residence was near New York city, and was buried in Greece.
Luke died at his home in Nunda two or three years ago -- about 86 years of age. He was the first person licensed to preach by the Ogden Baptist church, his license being granted August 17, 1827. The writer believes, however, that he was never ordained as a minister of the gospel.
Merrill became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the State militia when "training days" were in style. He was found dead in his seat in the cars, about four years ago, while coming from Rochester to Spencerport.
Zaccheus Jr., is still living in the town of Greece, about 80 years of age.
Their sister Sophia married Hemon Hinkley. He died, and she afterward married Sherman Ferris, they finally removing from the town.
(7) MERRILL COLBY, the youngest of the seven brothers, settled on the south-east corner of Washington and Colby streets. Here for several years he conducted a tavern in addition to farming; a tavern being a thing quite frequently seen along the country roads in these early days. He also opened a store in the building now used by Mrs. Charlotte E. Trowell, and used by her as a dwelling. It then stood opposite the present home of George W. Ross. Merrill afterward removed to Michigan -- perhaps 45 or 50 years ago. His family then consisted of five children -- three daughters and two boys -- Louise, Mary Ann, Lucinda, Merrill Jr., and John.
Louisa married Joseph Cary, and finally removed from town.
Mary A. married Stephen Olds, and removed to Michigan.
Lucinda, Merrill, and John also went to Michigan to live -- accompanying their father -- and their subsequent history is unknown.
______
By the death of James Colby on the 18th ult., William Brown of Spencerport becomes the oldest native of Ogden living. Mr. Brown is in his 80th year of age.
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