BENJAMIN GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: BENJAMIN GARFIELD EDWARD GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: EDWARD GARFIELD ELIAKIM GARFIELD For full Biograhy please go here: ELIAKIM GARFIELD ELIAKIM GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: ELIAKIM GARFIELD 11:22 FLOYD JAY GARFIELD POSTED OCT 2001 Floyd Jay Garfield, was the 3rd. child and 1st. living son of Joe Garfield and Florance Ora Spinks, born November 3, 1917 near Blockville, in the Town of Harmony, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Floyd remembered with his older sister Helen, moving to the family farm midway between Durkeyville and Cutting, New York on the south side of State Road 474 when he was about 4 years old. There he had a normal childhood growing up on the farm and helping with the daily chores of farm life. He started school in the 2nd. grade (bypassing the first grade) at the one room school house at the corner of SR 474 and The New Buffalo Road. (The same school that all his brothers and sisters attended). This was a one room school house with 8 grades and one teacher. During his 7 years there he was taught by Donna & Mabel Wright and Frances Buxton. After finishing the 8th. grade he started high school at Clymer, New York., in a small wooden building setting where the current Clymer Central School now stands, and riding on a school bus driven by Lehman Green, who later become his brother-in-law after he married Helen, Floyd's older sister. Floyd graduated from high school on June 25, 1934 and moved away from home that fall. He first went to work for a cousin, Harry Moody, on his farm near Wattsburg, PA through the fall and winter of 1934/35. He then went to work for another cousin, Claude Garfield, on his fruit farm in Harborcreek, PA from the spring of 1935 until the fall of 1936. It was then (Oct 1936) he took employment with Lake Shore Materials Copt. in Harborcreek, PA and worked for them for 20 years. Lake Shore transferred him from Harborcreek lumber yard to first, Conneaut, OH and later (Feb 1941) to Lancaster, NY. It was while working in Conneaut that he met, Harriett Swanson, who became his wife on May 17, 1940. Soon after being transferred to Lancaster their first child, Lois Mae, was born on May 12, 1941. Phyllis Ann their second child was born on Jan 12, 1943. Floyd was inducted into the Army through Cleveland, OH on May 2, 1945 and served in the infantry for 1 year and 5 months as a company clerk after boot camp. He spent one year in Italy and was discharged in Sept. of 1946 as a Sergeant. He came back to Lancaster and returned to his prior job as manager of Lake Shore Materials Corp. On Feb 25, 1948 their third and last child, a son, John Allen, was born. Floyd left Lake Shore Materials Corp. in April of 1956 and along with George and John Marsden started a new retail lumber and millwork company in Alden, NY. He sold his interest in the company in Oct of 1960 and went to work for J. C. Weil Lumber Co. in Lancaster, NY until 1966. During the summer of 1966 he worked with his younger brother (Richard) and his wife at King Photographers, Inc. in Buffalo, NY, then in Nov of 1966 started working for Joseph & Elaine Giallanza at the Giallanza Corp. It was during this time that he and Harriett were divorced, and he never remarried. In the fall of 2001, after 35 years, at the age of 84, Floyd, is still working for the Giallanza Corp. GEORGE GARFIELD George GARFIELD,[06:38] was born in 1809 - 1810 in the state of Vermont. Sometime in his life, probably circa 1815, he migrated to Saratoga County, New York and then on to Onondaga County, New York where he met and married Ann HOYT,[06:38-S] circa 1833. He came to Chautauqua County, New York in 1835, where his first son Isaac Garfield was born. He remained in New York State until after the birth of his daughter Sarah in 1837. Sometime between 1837 and 1840 he moved to Pennsylvania where his daughter Martha was born. He stayed there until sometime after 1844 when his second son Minot "Hoyt" Garfield was born. He returned to Chautauqua County, New York in 1854 and settled in French Creek Township where his last son "Willie" was born. Somehow, whether through hard labor or by inheritance, George Garfield had acquired $ 19,400.00 in land and $ 2,000.00 in personal items by the age of 45. He apparently was a farmer most of his life. Although there are no records of land transfers, Isaac Garfield must have acquired better than 200-300 acres of land (probably from his father) in Chautauqua County, French Creek Township because the 1860 census records show him at the age of 25 to be worth $26,000.00 in land and $ 2,700.00 in personal items. The other sons apparently acquired nothing, "Willie" because he died at the age of 12 and "Hoyt" perhaps because of his age (16). The land records showed that "Hoyt" purchased his own land in 1874 when he was 30 years old. George Garfield died in 1865 and is buried in Old French Creek Cemetery in French Creek, N. Y. His wife, Ann, remarried (Abraham SMITH) and lived until she was 75 years old. She died in 1891 and is buried with George Garfield in Old French Creek Cemetery. HENRY SELDON GARFIELD Henry Seldon GARFIELD,[08:08] (who was always called "Sel") was the oldest son of Isaac GARFIELD and Marion COE. He was born October 30, 1858 on his fathers farm in French Creek, Chautauqua County, New York. Sometime between 1860 and 1862 the family moved to Pennsylvania. His early schooling and religion if any, was probably near Sheffield PA. Many of the Garfield family, including "Sel", worked in the oil fields around Titusville and Oil City, PA, such that the family tradition refers to it as the "Garfield Excitement". He worked there for five or six years before meeting and marrying his wife Ellen Estella HINKLEY,[08:08-S] at Sheffield, PA July 5, 1884. They came back to New York and lived in a house on Rouse Hill Road about mile from Durkeyville (junction of Belnap and Marvin Roads). He then worked in a sawmill for a man named Spence Hopkins. Around 1895 he bought 20 acres of land, some machinery, two or three cows and a horse. Henry Seldon Garfield was an independent, outspoken man who enjoyed life. He liked to hunt and fish and he was very irresponsible at times. Perhaps this is the reason why after selling his first farm, Marion (COE) Garfield in 1905 sold 60 acres of land to Estella (HINKLEY) Garfield his wife and not to him, Henry Seldon Garfield. He lived a good many years on this farm, about 1-2 miles east of Durkeyville. Lourie Garfield, grandson to Isaac Garfield and son to Maude and William Garfield, (Henry Seldon's brother) had bought a farm in Harbor Creek, PA. When Isaac Garfield died in 1914 either Lourie Garfield (he not being a farmer) and/or Marion(COE) Garfield asked Henry Seldon Garfield to help, because he went to PA; lived with Lourie Garfield and his mother Marion and worked the farm. After working for Lourie and also William Garfield his brother for a year or two he returned to French Creek, N.Y. Ellen Estelle (HINKLEY) Garfield died in 1920 when she was 53 years old. After his wife died, he make a "still" across the road from his farm. Perhaps it was a combination of heavy smoking and drinking and the fact that he had a "still" in his cellar that his house burned down. He then lived for many years in a very large hen coup that was present on the farm which his son Joe Garfield had converted into a home around 1930. The farm had two barns, a horse barn and a cow barn. After his horse barn got hit by lighting and burned, he made a deal with Donald MOODY (a son of Bertha (Garfield) MOODY, therefore his grandson) in that deal he could live on the land without charge and that when he died the land would go to Donald MOODY. In 1945, he went to live with his daughter Bertha (Garfield) MOODY in Union City, PA because he could not care for himself any more (mainly due to old age). He died May 23, 1945 in Union City, PA after being there for just a few months. He is buried in Cutting Cemetery, Cutting, N.Y. (Chautauqua County) next to his wife. ISAAC GARFIELD Isaac GARFIELD,[07:08] the oldest son of George Garfield and Ann HOYT, was born in 1835, probably in French Creek (Chautauqua County), New York. His early life was spent on his father's farm until his marriage to Marion COE,[07:08-S] circa 1857. Isaac Garfild must have acquired the land from Durkeyville (located at the crossroads of Belnap Road and Marvin Road) Chautauqua County to the New Buffalo Road (approximately 4 square miles) from his father because he was worth $26,000.00 in land and $2,700.00 in personal items by 1860 when he was 25 years old. During this time his oldest son, Henry Seldon, (October 30, 1858) and his oldest daughter, Isadore, were born. Sometime between 1860 and 1862, the family moved to Pennsylvania (probably near Sheffield, PA) where his last three children, William (1862) Adelaide "Addie" (1864) and Frank(1875) were born. Isaac Garfield probably stayed in Pennsylvania most of the time between 1860 and 1892. He then returned to French Creek, N.Y. By 1892 most of his children were married except for his youngest son Frank Garfield who was only 17 years old. Around 1898 Isaac (age 63) retired and sold his farm to his son Frank who was now age 23. Isaac and his wife Marion moved to Durkeyville and bought a house. In 1903 Frank sold the land back to Marion since Isaac (age 68) wasn't capable of handling financial matters. His wife Mirian (age 66) took over the matter of subdividing the land and selling off sections to Henry Seldon Garfield's wife, Ellen Estelle (HINKLEY) Garfield in 1905 and to her son William Garfield in 1907. Lourie Garfield, son of Maude (first wife of William Garfield) was left with a considerable amount of money when his mother died. He bought a large house and farm in Harbor Creek, PA and he had Isaac and Marion Garfield live there until Isaac died March 1, 1914. For some unclear reason (family feuds or otherwise), Isaac was buried with his daughter Isadore in Pine Grove Cemetery, Corry, PA on March 4, 1914. The remainder of the land was then sold by Marion (Coe) Garfield (age 77) to her grandson Joe Garfield who was 33 years old at the time. Some 12 years later on November 12, 1926, Isaac and Isadore Garfield were moved to the North East Cemetery, North East, PA by Isaac's son William Garfield and buried with the remainder of the family. Marion (COE) Garfield died in August 1930 and was buried August 20, 1930 next to her husband, Isaac. JOE GARFIELD Joe GARFIELD,[09:16] the oldest son of Henry Seldon GARFIELD and Ellen Estelle HINKLEY was born on November 26, 1888 on his father's farm in French Creek Township, New York. He attended Ray School until forth grade (approximately 10 years old). He went to work for various farmers until he was 14 or 15 years old, circa 1902 1903, then he went to Sheffield, PA and worked in a meat market for his uncle Gene Hinckley but he didn't like inside work, so he went to work in the oil fields around Sheffield. He came back from the oil fields circa 1906 and worked about four years for a place called Ottoway's hauling cherry wood to Union City, PA to the chair factory. When he was 22-23 years old, he went to work for New York State putting in the first state road (7 feet wide) between French Creek and the Pennsylvania border. After the completion of this road, he met a neighborhood girl, Florance Ora SPINKS,[09:16-S] (daughter of James SPINKS and Sarah CASLER) who he hadn't seen since she was eight or nine years old. She was 17 years old at the time and they went together for a year before they were married on January 28, 1913 in Clymer, New York by a preacher (ME Church) in his home. They then moved to Harbor Creek, PA and set up housekeeping. He went to work for his uncle William Garfield on a fruit farm (grapes, plums, apples, peaches & cherries). He stayed in Harbor Creek for a year, then returned to New York State and rented his father-in-law's farm on the Buffalo Road halfway between the Cutting School (Cutting, N.Y.) and the Mertz Schoolhouse (corner Buffalo RD. & PA State Line). During their stay at Harbor Creek they saved enough money to buy a house with 7 acres of land and a barn at Durkeyville (crossroads of Belnap Road & Marvin Road) in 1914 but rented the housE out while living on his father-in-law's farm. After a year, he moved into the house at Durkeyville and bought an additional 10 acres of land east of the house, then in another year he bought an additional 15 acres (north) behind the house. During this time he acquired a team of horses, some cattle, two hens and a hog. About 1916 David Lloyd, husband of Nellie Spinks Lloyd (his sister-in-law) was killed. He worked their farm for about a year until Nellie sold the farm. It was also in 1916 that his first daughter HeleN was born. (Their first born was a son Elmer, who died soon after birth.) Hethen returned to his own farm and worked that until an agent from Erie, PA bought his farm for "50 cents on the acre", which was very good money for this kind of land during those times. He bought another farm from his grandmother, Marion COE Garfield directly across from his father, Henry Seldon Garfield, circa 1920-1921. During this transition period, his third child, Floyd, was born November 3, 1917. They lived in this farmhouse until 1930. During this time Mildred, August 12, 1920 - Robert, July 26, 1922 - Jean, March 11, 1929 were born. He built a new house on the same land directly in front of the old house, and converted the old house into a garage. His last two children, Leona, February 5, 1933 and Richard, November 13, 1934 were born in the new house. He farmed the land until circa 1958 when he retired. He bought the old Durkeyville Schoolhouse circa 1956 intending to live in it after he retired. He sold the house on the farm to his brother Eugene "Pete" Garfield, but continued to live there, and sold the farm land to a neighbor. With the death of his wife in September 1960, he never used the remodeled schoolhouse, but went to live with his daughter, Leona Mae Garfield THOMPSON in Clymer, N.Y. for 13 years, then living with a son, Robert Garfield in Corry, PA for several years. He than went to live at the Rondale Nursing Home in Erie, PA and died there in 1982 at the age of 93 years old. LEONA MAE GARFIELD Leona Mae GARFIELD,[11:26] the 7th child and 4th daughter of Joe GARFIELD and Florance Ora SPINKS was born February 5, 1933 on her father's farm located on the south side of SR 474 midway between Durkeyville and Cutting, Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Leona had a normal childhood growing up on the farm helping her mother and older sisters around the house and learning the skills needed to manage a household and raising children. She, like all her siblings, attended a one room schoolhouse on the corner of SR 747 and the New Buffalo Road for her first 5 years of education before attending the central school at Clymer, NY. Leona graduated in June of 1949 having completed the 12 years of study in 11 years. During her senior year of high school and until she got married she roomed at Mary Ton's in Clymer, working evenings during school and full-time after graduation at the Clymer Drug Store for James Eickler. It was here that she met her future husband, James Carrington THOMPSON,[11:26-S] b. November 1, 1929 in Warren, PA. (son of Ralph A.THOMPSON,SR and Doris BULL). Leona and James got married on March 17, 1950 at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Clymer, NY with a reception at the Garfield farm in Cutting, NY. After the wedding they moved into the large farm house on the Thompson Farms about 2 miles west of Clymer on the north side of SR 747. It was while living here that the first 2 of their 3 children were born at the Corry, PA Hospital, Larry Alan, on December 25, 1950 and Linda Sue on September 14, 1952. Besides being busy raising her children and doing her house work she also helped during potato harvest time supplying the hired workers with coffee and cookies mid morning and afternoon. She also was used sometimes in the grading of potatoes readying them for market. In 1955 she and her family moved into the village of Clymer renting a house on Mohawk, St. At this time she started working part-time at the local Red and White Store for Earl Beckerink. In 1956 they bought the William Damcott house on Freeman St. in Clymer, and it was while living here that there 3rd. child, Scott Tracy, was born on January 23, 1963 in the Corry Hospital . Leona's mother(Florance Ora Spinks) died in September of 1960 and her father (Joe Garfield) started making his home there with her and her family. Leona started working full-time at the Bank of Jamestown, Clymer branch in 1965 until 1974 having to quit because of medical reasons, and at that time her father went to live with his son in Corry, PA. During this time her husband Jim, had purchased the Exxon gas station and service garage, and later adding the Troy-Bilt line of gardening equipment and repair. Leona handled all the bookwork required to operate the business until 1996 at which time the two businesses had been sold or dissolved. She also worked part-time starting in the fall of 1985 until the spring of 1999 at seasonal work at Peek'n Peak Recreation Area. Leona and her husband have both retired and now spend there summers caring for their magnificent home, lawn and garden. Visiting with their children and grandchildren, traveling though-out the United States with their travel trailer which included a trip to Alaska and the west coast. They also try to spend a few months each winter with their travel trailer in Florida. RICHARD JAMES GARFIELD Richard James Garfield, [10:25] the youngest son of Joe Garfield and Florance Ora Spinks was born on his fathers farm on November 13, 1934, in the Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York, about mid-way between the New Buffalo Road and the Rouse Hill Road on the South side of SR-474. He attended the one room school house (with 8 grades, one teacher and 13 students) at the corner of the New Buffalo Road and SR 474 for his first few years of education. After that he attended Clymer Central School in Clymer, N.Y. about 4 miles East of the farm. He had a normal childhood, living on the farm and helping with the chores. As he got older taking over a lot of the work on the farm as his father was now approaching 65 years of age. In 1954 while he was still 18 years old he joined the Air Force for 4 years. He took his Basic Training at Sampson AFB on Lake Seneca, N.Y., his Tech schooling (electronics & camerarepair) at Lowary, AFB in Denver, CO. He served at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV and one year in Korea at K-55, Osan AB with a 3 month TDY to Taiwan to serve on a Chinese Base there. During Tech School in Denver, he married his highschool sweetheart, Nancy Lou Bayle, [10:25-S] They were married in Washington, D.C. by the Rev William Davis Peck, on July 23, 1954. She traveled with him to Denver and Las Vegas, and lived with his parents while he was in Korea. Their oldest daughter, Colleen Zoe was born in 1955 at the base hospital in Las Vegas, and the 2nd daughter, Denise Lynn was born in Corry, PA in 1956 while he was in Korea. After leaving the service in 1957 they moved to the Buffalo, N.Y. area and lived for 12 years working mostly at millwork and lumber outlets. Richard also stayed in the NYANG for 9 years, and had one call-up for a period of one year during the Cuban Crises. It was in the Buffalo area that the rest of their family was born. Wanda Corinne & Teresa Dawn (twins) were born in 1959 and Keith Allen was born in 1961. A male baby named, Richard Scott was born in 1963 but died soon after birth, and is buried in Cutting, N.Y. In 1969 Richard, Nancy and children moved to Orlando, FL. There he continued to work in the lumber business for a few years before going back into driving charter buses which he had done some in the Buffalo area. It was at this time, while still working full time and helping with the raising of the family that he attended college and received his degree in Business Management. In 1986 he and Nancy put a home on their daughter, Denise and her husband, Gerald Fowler's property in High Springs, FL. They sold their house in Orlando and moved to High Springs permanently in 1990. Both, Richard and Nancy worked at various jobs in the area, his last as staff at Lake City Community College in Lake City, FL until retiring in the spring of 1999 They now spend there winters in Florida and the summers traveling with their RV or camping in the Clymer, N.Y. area. ROBERT SELDON GARFIELD Robert Seldon Garfield, [10:22] was the 5th child and 2nd living son of Joe Garfield and Florence Ora Spinks, born July 26, 1922 in the Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Robert, like the rest of his siblings, was born at home on his father's farm midway between Durkeyville and Cutting on the south side of State Road 474 across from his Grandfather's farm to the north. He had a normal childhood growing up on the farm, and helping with the daily chores of farm life. His first years of education were received at the Cutting School, a one room schoolhouse with 8 grades and 1 teacher for all the grades. During the last couple of years at Cutting School before transferring to Clymer High School, his job was to arrive early and ready the school for the day by building the fires, pumping water and etc. After leaving High School, circa 1939-1940 he went to Harbor Creek, PA to help his cousin, Claude Garfield, on his fruit farm. After the fall harvest he stayed on in Harbor Creek and went to work as an apprentice for a plumber in North East, PA. Robert continued working in and learning the plumbing business until his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Force as a flying cadet in Sept. of 1942. He received his basic and advanced training at Keesler Air Force Base in Boloxi, Miss. From there he was transferred to a training base in Liberal, Kansas (which is now the home of the "Mid America Air Museum") where he helped in the upgrading of air crews flying 2 engine medium bombers to the heavy 4 engine B-24 "Liberator Bomber". After 1-1/2 years in Kansas he was shipped to the South Pacific, Clark Field, in the Philippines for the remainder of the war. He was discharged in the spring of 1946. After returning home, Bob went to work in Corry, PA for a plumber by the name of Guy Roger first, then started working for a Carl Peterson until he started his own plumbing business in 1956 and operated it until 1993. During his first few months back home he trained for and received his private pilots license. It was also at this time that he met his future wife, Dorothy Louise HAUENSTEIN, ,[10:22-S1] who was employed in an insurance office. Bob and Dorothy were married in Corry, PA on August 23, 1947. Together they had 3 children all born in Corry, PA. Mary Louise, 1952 - Susan Jane, 1957 - Jonn Robert, 1963. After Robert and Dorothy were divorced, he married on June 30, 1984 Rachel Naomi ROUSH, [10:22-S2] who had 2 grown children of her own from her first marriage. They were Cynthia Loveland, born in 1954 and Stephen Loveland, born in 1955, they were both born in Clinton, Iowa. Robert was a lifetime member of the Stanford Hose starting in 1942 and the VFW starting in 1947. He also worked as a dispatcher and driver for the Corry Fire Department from March 1966 until March 1986, and was a member of the Erie/Crawford State Police unit for 30 years. In the early 1960's he also found the time to attend some classes at the University of West Virginia in plumbing and A/C and was certified as a Master Plumber. Robert suffered a stroke on August 11, 1992 which left his right side disabled. After retiring from the Fire Dept. and disposing of his plumbing business, he and Rachel started spending their winters in Florida and the summers in Corry. Robert died after retiring for the night on January 29, 2000 while in Florida, and was buried on February 4, 2000 in the Cutting Cemetery, Cutting N.Y. with full military honors. SAMUEL GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: SAMUEL GARFIELD SAMUEL GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: SAMUEL GARFIELD |
BIOGRAPHIES |
BENJAMIN GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: BENJAMIN GARFIELD EDWARD GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: EDWARD GARFIELD ELIAKIM GARFIELD For full Biograhy please go here: ELIAKIM GARFIELD ELIAKIM GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: ELIAKIM GARFIELD 11:22 FLOYD JAY GARFIELD POSTED OCT 2001 Floyd Jay Garfield, was the 3rd. child and 1st. living son of Joe Garfield and Florance Ora Spinks, born November 3, 1917 near Blockville, in the Town of Harmony, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Floyd remembered with his older sister Helen, moving to the family farm midway between Durkeyville and Cutting, New York on the south side of State Road 474 when he was about 4 years old. There he had a normal childhood growing up on the farm and helping with the daily chores of farm life. He started school in the 2nd. grade (bypassing the first grade) at the one room school house at the corner of SR 474 and The New Buffalo Road. (The same school that all his brothers and sisters attended). This was a one room school house with 8 grades and one teacher. During his 7 years there he was taught by Donna & Mabel Wright and Frances Buxton. After finishing the 8th. grade he started high school at Clymer, New York., in a small wooden building setting where the current Clymer Central School now stands, and riding on a school bus driven by Lehman Green, who later become his brother-in-law after he married Helen, Floyd's older sister. Floyd graduated from high school on June 25, 1934 and moved away from home that fall. He first went to work for a cousin, Harry Moody, on his farm near Wattsburg, PA through the fall and winter of 1934/35. He then went to work for another cousin, Claude Garfield, on his fruit farm in Harborcreek, PA from the spring of 1935 until the fall of 1936. It was then (Oct 1936) he took employment with Lake Shore Materials Copt. in Harborcreek, PA and worked for them for 20 years. Lake Shore transferred him from Harborcreek lumber yard to first, Conneaut, OH and later (Feb 1941) to Lancaster, NY. It was while working in Conneaut that he met, Harriett Swanson, who became his wife on May 17, 1940. Soon after being transferred to Lancaster their first child, Lois Mae, was born on May 12, 1941. Phyllis Ann their second child was born on Jan 12, 1943. Floyd was inducted into the Army through Cleveland, OH on May 2, 1945 and served in the infantry for 1 year and 5 months as a company clerk after boot camp. He spent one year in Italy and was discharged in Sept. of 1946 as a Sergeant. He came back to Lancaster and returned to his prior job as manager of Lake Shore Materials Corp. On Feb 25, 1948 their third and last child, a son, John Allen, was born. Floyd left Lake Shore Materials Corp. in April of 1956 and along with George and John Marsden started a new retail lumber and millwork company in Alden, NY. He sold his interest in the company in Oct of 1960 and went to work for J. C. Weil Lumber Co. in Lancaster, NY until 1966. During the summer of 1966 he worked with his younger brother (Richard) and his wife at King Photographers, Inc. in Buffalo, NY, then in Nov of 1966 started working for Joseph & Elaine Giallanza at the Giallanza Corp. It was during this time that he and Harriett were divorced, and he never remarried. In the fall of 2001, after 35 years, at the age of 84, Floyd, is still working for the Giallanza Corp. GEORGE GARFIELD George GARFIELD,[06:38] was born in 1809 - 1810 in the state of Vermont. Sometime in his life, probably circa 1815, he migrated to Saratoga County, New York and then on to Onondaga County, New York where he met and married Ann HOYT,[06:38-S] circa 1833. He came to Chautauqua County, New York in 1835, where his first son Isaac Garfield was born. He remained in New York State until after the birth of his daughter Sarah in 1837. Sometime between 1837 and 1840 he moved to Pennsylvania where his daughter Martha was born. He stayed there until sometime after 1844 when his second son Minot "Hoyt" Garfield was born. He returned to Chautauqua County, New York in 1854 and settled in French Creek Township where his last son "Willie" was born. Somehow, whether through hard labor or by inheritance, George Garfield had acquired $ 19,400.00 in land and $ 2,000.00 in personal items by the age of 45. He apparently was a farmer most of his life. Although there are no records of land transfers, Isaac Garfield must have acquired better than 200-300 acres of land (probably from his father) in Chautauqua County, French Creek Township because the 1860 census records show him at the age of 25 to be worth $26,000.00 in land and $ 2,700.00 in personal items. The other sons apparently acquired nothing, "Willie" because he died at the age of 12 and "Hoyt" perhaps because of his age (16). The land records showed that "Hoyt" purchased his own land in 1874 when he was 30 years old. George Garfield died in 1865 and is buried in Old French Creek Cemetery in French Creek, N. Y. His wife, Ann, remarried (Abraham SMITH) and lived until she was 75 years old. She died in 1891 and is buried with George Garfield in Old French Creek Cemetery. HENRY SELDON GARFIELD Henry Seldon GARFIELD,[08:08] (who was always called "Sel") was the oldest son of Isaac GARFIELD and Marion COE. He was born October 30, 1858 on his fathers farm in French Creek, Chautauqua County, New York. Sometime between 1860 and 1862 the family moved to Pennsylvania. His early schooling and religion if any, was probably near Sheffield PA. Many of the Garfield family, including "Sel", worked in the oil fields around Titusville and Oil City, PA, such that the family tradition refers to it as the "Garfield Excitement". He worked there for five or six years before meeting and marrying his wife Ellen Estella HINKLEY,[08:08-S] at Sheffield, PA July 5, 1884. They came back to New York and lived in a house on Rouse Hill Road about mile from Durkeyville (junction of Belnap and Marvin Roads). He then worked in a sawmill for a man named Spence Hopkins. Around 1895 he bought 20 acres of land, some machinery, two or three cows and a horse. Henry Seldon Garfield was an independent, outspoken man who enjoyed life. He liked to hunt and fish and he was very irresponsible at times. Perhaps this is the reason why after selling his first farm, Marion (COE) Garfield in 1905 sold 60 acres of land to Estella (HINKLEY) Garfield his wife and not to him, Henry Seldon Garfield. He lived a good many years on this farm, about 1-2 miles east of Durkeyville. Lourie Garfield, grandson to Isaac Garfield and son to Maude and William Garfield, (Henry Seldon's brother) had bought a farm in Harbor Creek, PA. When Isaac Garfield died in 1914 either Lourie Garfield (he not being a farmer) and/or Marion(COE) Garfield asked Henry Seldon Garfield to help, because he went to PA; lived with Lourie Garfield and his mother Marion and worked the farm. After working for Lourie and also William Garfield his brother for a year or two he returned to French Creek, N.Y. Ellen Estelle (HINKLEY) Garfield died in 1920 when she was 53 years old. After his wife died, he make a "still" across the road from his farm. Perhaps it was a combination of heavy smoking and drinking and the fact that he had a "still" in his cellar that his house burned down. He then lived for many years in a very large hen coup that was present on the farm which his son Joe Garfield had converted into a home around 1930. The farm had two barns, a horse barn and a cow barn. After his horse barn got hit by lighting and burned, he made a deal with Donald MOODY (a son of Bertha (Garfield) MOODY, therefore his grandson) in that deal he could live on the land without charge and that when he died the land would go to Donald MOODY. In 1945, he went to live with his daughter Bertha (Garfield) MOODY in Union City, PA because he could not care for himself any more (mainly due to old age). He died May 23, 1945 in Union City, PA after being there for just a few months. He is buried in Cutting Cemetery, Cutting, N.Y. (Chautauqua County) next to his wife. ISAAC GARFIELD Isaac GARFIELD,[07:08] the oldest son of George Garfield and Ann HOYT, was born in 1835, probably in French Creek (Chautauqua County), New York. His early life was spent on his father's farm until his marriage to Marion COE,[07:08-S] circa 1857. Isaac Garfild must have acquired the land from Durkeyville (located at the crossroads of Belnap Road and Marvin Road) Chautauqua County to the New Buffalo Road (approximately 4 square miles) from his father because he was worth $26,000.00 in land and $2,700.00 in personal items by 1860 when he was 25 years old. During this time his oldest son, Henry Seldon, (October 30, 1858) and his oldest daughter, Isadore, were born. Sometime between 1860 and 1862, the family moved to Pennsylvania (probably near Sheffield, PA) where his last three children, William (1862) Adelaide "Addie" (1864) and Frank(1875) were born. Isaac Garfield probably stayed in Pennsylvania most of the time between 1860 and 1892. He then returned to French Creek, N.Y. By 1892 most of his children were married except for his youngest son Frank Garfield who was only 17 years old. Around 1898 Isaac (age 63) retired and sold his farm to his son Frank who was now age 23. Isaac and his wife Marion moved to Durkeyville and bought a house. In 1903 Frank sold the land back to Marion since Isaac (age 68) wasn't capable of handling financial matters. His wife Mirian (age 66) took over the matter of subdividing the land and selling off sections to Henry Seldon Garfield's wife, Ellen Estelle (HINKLEY) Garfield in 1905 and to her son William Garfield in 1907. Lourie Garfield, son of Maude (first wife of William Garfield) was left with a considerable amount of money when his mother died. He bought a large house and farm in Harbor Creek, PA and he had Isaac and Marion Garfield live there until Isaac died March 1, 1914. For some unclear reason (family feuds or otherwise), Isaac was buried with his daughter Isadore in Pine Grove Cemetery, Corry, PA on March 4, 1914. The remainder of the land was then sold by Marion (Coe) Garfield (age 77) to her grandson Joe Garfield who was 33 years old at the time. Some 12 years later on November 12, 1926, Isaac and Isadore Garfield were moved to the North East Cemetery, North East, PA by Isaac's son William Garfield and buried with the remainder of the family. Marion (COE) Garfield died in August 1930 and was buried August 20, 1930 next to her husband, Isaac. JOE GARFIELD Joe GARFIELD,[09:16] the oldest son of Henry Seldon GARFIELD and Ellen Estelle HINKLEY was born on November 26, 1888 on his father's farm in French Creek Township, New York. He attended Ray School until forth grade (approximately 10 years old). He went to work for various farmers until he was 14 or 15 years old, circa 1902 1903, then he went to Sheffield, PA and worked in a meat market for his uncle Gene Hinckley but he didn't like inside work, so he went to work in the oil fields around Sheffield. He came back from the oil fields circa 1906 and worked about four years for a place called Ottoway's hauling cherry wood to Union City, PA to the chair factory. When he was 22-23 years old, he went to work for New York State putting in the first state road (7 feet wide) between French Creek and the Pennsylvania border. After the completion of this road, he met a neighborhood girl, Florance Ora SPINKS,[09:16-S] (daughter of James SPINKS and Sarah CASLER) who he hadn't seen since she was eight or nine years old. She was 17 years old at the time and they went together for a year before they were married on January 28, 1913 in Clymer, New York by a preacher (ME Church) in his home. They then moved to Harbor Creek, PA and set up housekeeping. He went to work for his uncle William Garfield on a fruit farm (grapes, plums, apples, peaches & cherries). He stayed in Harbor Creek for a year, then returned to New York State and rented his father-in-law's farm on the Buffalo Road halfway between the Cutting School (Cutting, N.Y.) and the Mertz Schoolhouse (corner Buffalo RD. & PA State Line). During their stay at Harbor Creek they saved enough money to buy a house with 7 acres of land and a barn at Durkeyville (crossroads of Belnap Road & Marvin Road) in 1914 but rented the housE out while living on his father-in-law's farm. After a year, he moved into the house at Durkeyville and bought an additional 10 acres of land east of the house, then in another year he bought an additional 15 acres (north) behind the house. During this time he acquired a team of horses, some cattle, two hens and a hog. About 1916 David Lloyd, husband of Nellie Spinks Lloyd (his sister-in-law) was killed. He worked their farm for about a year until Nellie sold the farm. It was also in 1916 that his first daughter HeleN was born. (Their first born was a son Elmer, who died soon after birth.) Hethen returned to his own farm and worked that until an agent from Erie, PA bought his farm for "50 cents on the acre", which was very good money for this kind of land during those times. He bought another farm from his grandmother, Marion COE Garfield directly across from his father, Henry Seldon Garfield, circa 1920-1921. During this transition period, his third child, Floyd, was born November 3, 1917. They lived in this farmhouse until 1930. During this time Mildred, August 12, 1920 - Robert, July 26, 1922 - Jean, March 11, 1929 were born. He built a new house on the same land directly in front of the old house, and converted the old house into a garage. His last two children, Leona, February 5, 1933 and Richard, November 13, 1934 were born in the new house. He farmed the land until circa 1958 when he retired. He bought the old Durkeyville Schoolhouse circa 1956 intending to live in it after he retired. He sold the house on the farm to his brother Eugene "Pete" Garfield, but continued to live there, and sold the farm land to a neighbor. With the death of his wife in September 1960, he never used the remodeled schoolhouse, but went to live with his daughter, Leona Mae Garfield THOMPSON in Clymer, N.Y. for 13 years, then living with a son, Robert Garfield in Corry, PA for several years. He than went to live at the Rondale Nursing Home in Erie, PA and died there in 1982 at the age of 93 years old. LEONA MAE GARFIELD Leona Mae GARFIELD,[11:26] the 7th child and 4th daughter of Joe GARFIELD and Florance Ora SPINKS was born February 5, 1933 on her father's farm located on the south side of SR 474 midway between Durkeyville and Cutting, Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Leona had a normal childhood growing up on the farm helping her mother and older sisters around the house and learning the skills needed to manage a household and raising children. She, like all her siblings, attended a one room schoolhouse on the corner of SR 747 and the New Buffalo Road for her first 5 years of education before attending the central school at Clymer, NY. Leona graduated in June of 1949 having completed the 12 years of study in 11 years. During her senior year of high school and until she got married she roomed at Mary Ton's in Clymer, working evenings during school and full-time after graduation at the Clymer Drug Store for James Eickler. It was here that she met her future husband, James Carrington THOMPSON,[11:26-S] b. November 1, 1929 in Warren, PA. (son of Ralph A.THOMPSON,SR and Doris BULL). Leona and James got married on March 17, 1950 at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Clymer, NY with a reception at the Garfield farm in Cutting, NY. After the wedding they moved into the large farm house on the Thompson Farms about 2 miles west of Clymer on the north side of SR 747. It was while living here that the first 2 of their 3 children were born at the Corry, PA Hospital, Larry Alan, on December 25, 1950 and Linda Sue on September 14, 1952. Besides being busy raising her children and doing her house work she also helped during potato harvest time supplying the hired workers with coffee and cookies mid morning and afternoon. She also was used sometimes in the grading of potatoes readying them for market. In 1955 she and her family moved into the village of Clymer renting a house on Mohawk, St. At this time she started working part-time at the local Red and White Store for Earl Beckerink. In 1956 they bought the William Damcott house on Freeman St. in Clymer, and it was while living here that there 3rd. child, Scott Tracy, was born on January 23, 1963 in the Corry Hospital . Leona's mother(Florance Ora Spinks) died in September of 1960 and her father (Joe Garfield) started making his home there with her and her family. Leona started working full-time at the Bank of Jamestown, Clymer branch in 1965 until 1974 having to quit because of medical reasons, and at that time her father went to live with his son in Corry, PA. During this time her husband Jim, had purchased the Exxon gas station and service garage, and later adding the Troy-Bilt line of gardening equipment and repair. Leona handled all the bookwork required to operate the business until 1996 at which time the two businesses had been sold or dissolved. She also worked part-time starting in the fall of 1985 until the spring of 1999 at seasonal work at Peek'n Peak Recreation Area. Leona and her husband have both retired and now spend there summers caring for their magnificent home, lawn and garden. Visiting with their children and grandchildren, traveling though-out the United States with their travel trailer which included a trip to Alaska and the west coast. They also try to spend a few months each winter with their travel trailer in Florida. RICHARD JAMES GARFIELD Richard James Garfield, [10:25] the youngest son of Joe Garfield and Florance Ora Spinks was born on his fathers farm on November 13, 1934, in the Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York, about mid-way between the New Buffalo Road and the Rouse Hill Road on the South side of SR-474. He attended the one room school house (with 8 grades, one teacher and 13 students) at the corner of the New Buffalo Road and SR 474 for his first few years of education. After that he attended Clymer Central School in Clymer, N.Y. about 4 miles East of the farm. He had a normal childhood, living on the farm and helping with the chores. As he got older taking over a lot of the work on the farm as his father was now approaching 65 years of age. In 1954 while he was still 18 years old he joined the Air Force for 4 years. He took his Basic Training at Sampson AFB on Lake Seneca, N.Y., his Tech schooling (electronics & camerarepair) at Lowary, AFB in Denver, CO. He served at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV and one year in Korea at K-55, Osan AB with a 3 month TDY to Taiwan to serve on a Chinese Base there. During Tech School in Denver, he married his highschool sweetheart, Nancy Lou Bayle, [10:25-S] They were married in Washington, D.C. by the Rev William Davis Peck, on July 23, 1954. She traveled with him to Denver and Las Vegas, and lived with his parents while he was in Korea. Their oldest daughter, Colleen Zoe was born in 1955 at the base hospital in Las Vegas, and the 2nd daughter, Denise Lynn was born in Corry, PA in 1956 while he was in Korea. After leaving the service in 1957 they moved to the Buffalo, N.Y. area and lived for 12 years working mostly at millwork and lumber outlets. Richard also stayed in the NYANG for 9 years, and had one call-up for a period of one year during the Cuban Crises. It was in the Buffalo area that the rest of their family was born. Wanda Corinne & Teresa Dawn (twins) were born in 1959 and Keith Allen was born in 1961. A male baby named, Richard Scott was born in 1963 but died soon after birth, and is buried in Cutting, N.Y. In 1969 Richard, Nancy and children moved to Orlando, FL. There he continued to work in the lumber business for a few years before going back into driving charter buses which he had done some in the Buffalo area. It was at this time, while still working full time and helping with the raising of the family that he attended college and received his degree in Business Management. In 1986 he and Nancy put a home on their daughter, Denise and her husband, Gerald Fowler's property in High Springs, FL. They sold their house in Orlando and moved to High Springs permanently in 1990. Both, Richard and Nancy worked at various jobs in the area, his last as staff at Lake City Community College in Lake City, FL until retiring in the spring of 1999 They now spend there winters in Florida and the summers traveling with their RV or camping in the Clymer, N.Y. area. ROBERT SELDON GARFIELD Robert Seldon Garfield, [10:22] was the 5th child and 2nd living son of Joe Garfield and Florence Ora Spinks, born July 26, 1922 in the Town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Robert, like the rest of his siblings, was born at home on his father's farm midway between Durkeyville and Cutting on the south side of State Road 474 across from his Grandfather's farm to the north. He had a normal childhood growing up on the farm, and helping with the daily chores of farm life. His first years of education were received at the Cutting School, a one room schoolhouse with 8 grades and 1 teacher for all the grades. During the last couple of years at Cutting School before transferring to Clymer High School, his job was to arrive early and ready the school for the day by building the fires, pumping water and etc. After leaving High School, circa 1939-1940 he went to Harbor Creek, PA to help his cousin, Claude Garfield, on his fruit farm. After the fall harvest he stayed on in Harbor Creek and went to work as an apprentice for a plumber in North East, PA. Robert continued working in and learning the plumbing business until his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Force as a flying cadet in Sept. of 1942. He received his basic and advanced training at Keesler Air Force Base in Boloxi, Miss. From there he was transferred to a training base in Liberal, Kansas (which is now the home of the "Mid America Air Museum") where he helped in the upgrading of air crews flying 2 engine medium bombers to the heavy 4 engine B-24 "Liberator Bomber". After 1-1/2 years in Kansas he was shipped to the South Pacific, Clark Field, in the Philippines for the remainder of the war. He was discharged in the spring of 1946. After returning home, Bob went to work in Corry, PA for a plumber by the name of Guy Roger first, then started working for a Carl Peterson until he started his own plumbing business in 1956 and operated it until 1993. During his first few months back home he trained for and received his private pilots license. It was also at this time that he met his future wife, Dorothy Louise HAUENSTEIN, ,[10:22-S1] who was employed in an insurance office. Bob and Dorothy were married in Corry, PA on August 23, 1947. Together they had 3 children all born in Corry, PA. Mary Louise, 1952 - Susan Jane, 1957 - Jonn Robert, 1963. After Robert and Dorothy were divorced, he married on June 30, 1984 Rachel Naomi ROUSH, [10:22-S2] who had 2 grown children of her own from her first marriage. They were Cynthia Loveland, born in 1954 and Stephen Loveland, born in 1955, they were both born in Clinton, Iowa. Robert was a lifetime member of the Stanford Hose starting in 1942 and the VFW starting in 1947. He also worked as a dispatcher and driver for the Corry Fire Department from March 1966 until March 1986, and was a member of the Erie/Crawford State Police unit for 30 years. In the early 1960's he also found the time to attend some classes at the University of West Virginia in plumbing and A/C and was certified as a Master Plumber. Robert suffered a stroke on August 11, 1992 which left his right side disabled. After retiring from the Fire Dept. and disposing of his plumbing business, he and Rachel started spending their winters in Florida and the summers in Corry. Robert died after retiring for the night on January 29, 2000 while in Florida, and was buried on February 4, 2000 in the Cutting Cemetery, Cutting N.Y. with full military honors. SAMUEL GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: SAMUEL GARFIELD SAMUEL GARFIELD For full Biography please go here: SAMUEL GARFIELD |
FREDA JEAN GARFIELD Freda Jean Garfield, who always went by her middle name, Jean, was born on March 11, 1929 the sixth child and third daughter of Joe and Florence Ora (Spinks) Garfield, in the town of French Creek, County of Chautauqua, State of New York. Jean was the last child of Joe and Florence to be born in the "Old House", as the new house was completed in 1932 before the last two children were born. At birth she only weighted 3 pounds and to keep her from being injured while handling her she was carried on a pillow. Jean lived a normal childhood growing up with her siblings on the family farm which was located on the south side of SR 474, midway between the Rouse Hill Rd and the New Buffalo Rd. Like the rest of the Garfield children she attended the one room schoolhouse on the corner of SR 474 and the New Buffalo Rd. for her first 6 grades of schooling, then transferred to the central school in Clymer, N.Y. for the rest of her education. In 1945 at the age of 16 she moved to Corry, Pa to care for her older sister's daughter Pat, while her sister Mildred, worked in a defense plant in Corry. After the end of World War II she moved back to Clymer and worked in the Clymer Restaurant, until she married on November 7, 1946 Albert (Bud) Frank Beckerink. She and Albert had two children, Cheryl Lee, b. Nov 24, 1947 and Dennis Albert, b. Mar 29, 1952. Jean and Albert were divorced in 1971. In 1973 Jean met and married Raymond Webster Ladley, who was employed by a construction firm located in Denver, Colorado. They spent many years living around construction sites, sometimes many miles away from other civilization. During their marriage they lived and worked in Arizona, Utah, Texas, Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky, Nevada and Wyoming. While living and traveling through these states they also visited many state and national parks along with points of interest. In 1990 while living in Tucson, AZ, Ray, died and Jean sold their house and moved to Philadelphia, PA to be near her daughter as her son Dennis had died in 1983 of cancer. While living in Philly she met her third husband Merle A. Hibbard, a retired Air Force pilot. They were married in 1992 and moved to his farm in Bridgton, Maine. They did a lot of traveling with their moterhome winters through out the Southern part of the United States and after selling their farm in 1995 they moved to Florida in 1996 where they are still living. They are both very active members of their community and still enjoy traveling, golfing and flying in their airplane. |