Dr. William Wait, born at White Plains, N.Y., in 1784,
came from Darien, Genesee County, and made the first settlement
in West Valley in 1829. With his sons he cut a road from
Riceville to West Valley, and settled on the farm now owned
by his grandson, Hudson Waite. He was for a long time the
only doctor in the place. He died May 20, 1873.
He had four sons and two daughters: Weston, Lorenzo D.,
Henry, Esek B., Fanny M., wife of
Parmenus P. BARLOW, and
Melissa, who married Apollos Lincoln.
Lorenzo D. Waite was born in January, 1807, and came to
Ashford with his father. Like many other pioneers they
had a hard struggle to live. Their homestead twice reverted
to the Holland Land Company. It was finally reclaimed and
paid for by Lorenzo D., who in 1849 built a saw-mill on
the site of the old tannery which was the only saw-mill
in the place for several years. Mr. Waite was a Baptist.
He held several town offices, and in the State militia
he attained the rank of captain. He died February 12, 1877.
Mr. Waite married, first, Laney Quackenbush, of Ashford,
who was the mother of Hudson, Charlotte, and Sarah A. (deceased).
He married, second, Nancy M., daughter of James Leach,
and their children were Lovinus B., a Union soldier who
died in Lincoln hospital of fever contracted in front of
Richmond; George N., of West Valley; and Ira, deceased.
Hudson Waite was born December 16, 1834, and is a farmer
and formerly a dealer in horses and cattle and breeder
of fine Holstein cattle. With his son he is now breeding
thorough blooded Shropshire sheep, their fine flock numbering
160 head. Mr. Waite married Lydia A., daughter of James
Leach, and their children are James S., of Salamanca, and
Bert L.
George N. Waite, born January 26, 1847, was a farmer with
his father until 1865, when he learned the carpenter's
trade. For several years he has been a millwright and a
contractor and builder. Since 1882 he has also been a dealer
in lumber. He married Adelaide Hitchcock, of Ashford, who
died and left one child, Thirza J. He married, second,
Mary J. Scott, of North Collins, N.Y. |