Vanness, William H. was born in Jefferson County NY on 4 March 1829; and lived there twenty-one years; went to California in 1850 and was engaged in mining and irrigating. He returned to New York in 1857 and moved to Sandusky, Ohio. Served in the Civil War; came to Cedar County in 1864 and engaged in sheep raising and farming. He married Ellen A. Jones from Jefferson County NY on 20 October 1859.
Sheldon, Charles P. was born in Jefferson County NY 27 April 1818; he lived there 23 years, then moved to Michigan and farmed for 13 years; came to Cedar County in 1854. He married Laura Mantle from Jefferson Co NY on 1 September 1841 and she died 5 June 1876.
Cronkhite, G. A. was born in Jones Co, Iowa on 10 Dec 1846. He married Maria Hines in 1871 who was born in Jefferson Co NY.
Bates, Dr. Nelson was born in Jefferson County NY in 1813. He came to Fontanelle in 1866 from Lewis Co NY. He was known as a good doctor.
Bretsch, Floyd Henry was born at Fishers Landing, Jefferson Co NY 22 Nov 1878 son of George W. and Sabrina (Robbins) Bretsch. On 14 Sept 1925 Floyd married Grace McNab of Gary, Indiana. Floyd and Grace Bretsch were members of the Indiana Bar in 1920.
His paternal grandfather, Henry Bretsch, was born in Germany. Both paternal grandparents are buried at Omar, NY. George W. Bretsch, father of Floyd, was born at Omar, NY and in 1890 began a hotel business in Fishers Landing NY and later became a proprietor of a hotel at Theresa NY. A few years prior to his death, which occurred on 26 May 1928, George disposed of his hotel interests. George is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Theresa, NY. He married on 8 Dec 1875 to Sabrina Robbins who was born at Fishers Landing, NY; she died 19 March 1926 and is also buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Theresa, NY.
Converse, Thomas Jr. was, during the Revolutionary War, captain of the Seventh Company, CT Line; served under Washington at Valley Forge, where he was appointed sub-inspector, Huntington's Brigade; was also adjutant. After the War he was a member of the Society of Cincinnatus in CT. He moved to Rutland, Jefferson Co NY, where he was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and colonel of a regiment of militia.
Pitzer, Almeda (Rexford) was born in Jefferson Co NY; at age four her parents moved to Michigan and the following spring the War of 1812 began. She married in 1826 Jacob Pitzer, who died in 1844; she married 2) John D. Armstrong in 1847, who died 21 Aug 1853. Almeda's brother, Philander Rexford, was born in Sandy Creek, Jefferson Co, NY on 5 Sept. 1809 and in 1811 moved to Detroit, MI with his parents. Eventually he moved to Syracuse, NY and in 1901 gave an interview to the Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse: "Philander Rexford, of 408 Park Avenue, this city, was not only alive at the time of Perry's great victory over the British on Lake Erie in 1813 but he lays claim to have been practically an eye witness of the famous naval battle. He was within hearing distance of the guns, and although he is now a man ninety-two years of age, his recollection of the engagement and the events surrounding it seem quite distinct."
Van Camp, William was born in Herkimer Co NY on 16 Jan 1828; at age seven, his parents moved to Jefferson Co NY where his father purchased 360 acres of land. The farm was devoted to dairying for many years and William's father died in 1856 at age 50, while his widow died at age 90. William Van Camp married in Jefferson Co NY on 6 Dec 1854 to Harriet Winne who passed away in April, 1903. In 1875 William moved to Wood Co, WI and was in the lumber business but moved to Knox Co, Nebraska .
Smith, Daniel was born in Spencertown, Columbia Co NY on 26 Feb 1775; a farmer by occupation who came to Ellisburg, Jefferson Co NY in 1802 and spent the summer clearing land. In the fall of that year he went to Schuyler, Herkimer Co, NY where he married and in Dec. 1803 with his wife and infant daughter, came to Rutland, Jefferson Co, and purchased a farm near Burr's Mills. Two years later he moved to Hounsfield and purchased some land where he erected a sawmill, the place being known for some time as Smith's Mills and later as Camp's Mills. From Hounsfield he returned to Rutland, purchased another farm, built a frame house where he lived until 1818; he then purchased and removed to a large farm in Rodman where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a lieutenant in the War of 1812, and distinguished himself by bravery at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor, the Smith house was virtually a hospital for sick soldiers.
Payne, Alonzo L. was born in the town of Champion, Jefferson Co NY in 1810. He married Selecta Harris of his native place. Alonzo died in 1886.
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