By Jan. 11, 1861 four states have seceded from the Union and a rescue effort is underway at Fort McHenry in Maryland. On Jan. 10, 1861 William Seward accepts President elect Abraham Lincoln’s appointment as Secretary of State.
We are on Stafford Street in our search for Civil War soldiers and the history of Colonel Joseph Corning and others. We have found that a man named Captain Stephen Taber came from Walworth by way of New Bedford, Mass. This information on his native home gives us a clue that the Taber family was sea-faring and took up the life of whaling. Brother Abraham was also a sailor and both moved to Walworth buying farms.
Adjoining land from Mr. Tabor was a property to the west owned by Joseph Truax who was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Truax was a carpenter by trade and married Hariett Shirtliff. Mr. Truax lost his leg in the Civil War and as coincidence would have it, we have a painting of an old man holding a crutch standing with a young boy, apparently his grandson, missing his left leg. Could this be Mr. Truax? Next to Mr. Truax lived Abner Cole whose house was moved to Stafford Street. Mr. Archer purchased this old place and began practicing law with Colonel Corning. The firm’s name was Archer & Corning. Their office was housed in the old Jarvis block when it was made of wooden boards before the great fire of 1876. Mr. Archer also served as a member of the New York State Assembly as did his partner, Col. Corning.
This visit to the west side of the village leads us to review many of the names and people that resided there for many years. We are at the north side of Main Street across from Stafford heading east. We come to Carroll Street and then the old Beckwith house which many know as the Wheeler house, the old Blackmer’s blacksmith shop which turned into one of the old stone school houses. We now come to the Boeheim home which will be the site of a love story ending in Canandaigua during World War II and a newly published book of love letters.
Mr. Baxter lived near the current garage and Perry Lee and his family lived at 311 West Main Street. Mr. Lee was a barber and also a horse doctor. Both families were involved in the Underground Railroad and Abolition movement.
By Jan. 11, 1861 four states have seceded from the Union and a rescue effort is underway at Fort McHenry in Maryland. On Jan. 10, 1861 William Seward accepts President elect Abraham Lincoln’s appointment as Secretary of State.
We are on Stafford Street in our search for Civil War soldiers and the history of Colonel Joseph Corning and others. We have found that a man named Captain Stephen Taber came from Walworth by way of New Bedford, Mass. This information on his native home gives us a clue that the Taber family was sea-faring and took up the life of whaling. Brother Abraham was also a sailor and both moved to Walworth buying farms.
Adjoining land from Mr. Tabor was a property to the west owned by Joseph Truax who was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Truax was a carpenter by trade and married Hariett Shirtliff. Mr. Truax lost his leg in the Civil War and as coincidence would have it, we have a painting of an old man holding a crutch standing with a young boy, apparently his grandson, missing his left leg. Could this be Mr. Truax? Next to Mr. Truax lived Abner Cole whose house was moved to Stafford Street. Mr. Archer purchased this old place and began practicing law with Colonel Corning. The firm’s name was Archer & Corning. Their office was housed in the old Jarvis block when it was made of wooden boards before the great fire of 1876. Mr. Archer also served as a member of the New York State Assembly as did his partner, Col. Corning.
This visit to the west side of the village leads us to review many of the names and people that resided there for many years. We are at the north side of Main Street across from Stafford heading east. We come to Carroll Street and then the old Beckwith house which many know as the Wheeler house, the old Blackmer’s blacksmith shop which turned into one of the old stone school houses. We now come to the Boeheim home which will be the site of a love story ending in Canandaigua during World War II and a newly published book of love letters.
Mr. Baxter lived near the current garage and Perry Lee and his family lived at 311 West Main Street. Mr. Lee was a barber and also a horse doctor. Both families were involved in the Underground Railroad and Abolition movement.
A mystery filled the community when a Mr. Coppins, Mr. Sheridan, and a Mr. Kelley had been involved in selling wood. It was 1860 just before the start of the Civil War and Mr. Baily of Walworth who had words with Mr. Sheridan. A stabbing occurred and Mr. Sheridan was hit with a piece of wood. Death followed but not without a witness Mrs. Coppins. She became the main witness in the case. Her husband John Coppins had just signed up for the Civil War and after moving the family to Fayette Street enlisted. After many postponements, shortly before this case went to trial, Mrs. Coppin was found strangled in her house. Bailey was the suspect and as been typical drink was the catalyst. Mr. Bailey would not be caught and ended his pursuit forever with a poison.
Many things lead up to days in history, but none so hard to believe as the truth, which is always stranger than fiction.
