Purcell Cemetery participants peruse past

by Joy Lewis –

On September 23, 2017 the Honeoye-Richmond Historical Society held a program at the Purcell Cemetery, located on Route 20A west of Honeoye.  Many interesting facts were presented about some of the people who lived long ago in that area and who are buried in the cemetery.

Ira Bullock (1826-1864) was the son of Rufus Bullock and his second wife, Amanda.  In 1817 Rufus and first wife Ruth Short came from Massachusetts to Richmond and settled on a farm just to the west of Purcell Road on Route 20A.  They had two little boys and two little girls.  The Bullocks were pious Baptists and within a year of their arrival they were instrumental in founding the Richmond Baptist Church.

Rufus was prominent in the business of the church.  In the record book, covering the years 1817 to 1832, his name appears twentu-eight times: serving in various offices, delivering the sermon, and visiting absent members.  One note mentions that “Brother Bullock’s wife departed this life” February 5th 1821.  Within a year Rufus remarried.  His new wife, Amanda, joined the church on March 23, 1822.  Their son Aaron was born later in the year.

After Aaron, three more sons were born and a daughter.  Son Ira, born in 1826, married and stayed in Richmond.  He and his all family died early deaths and are buried in Purcell Cemetery.  Ira was in his late twenties when his first wife Rhoda died childless at age twenty-five.  He married Caroline Foster the next year and she had three children.  The youngest, Mary, was born in 1863.  Both mother and baby died within the year.  Only a few months after Mary’s death, Ira died leaving his two boys orphans: Foster was seven and Charles, five.  The boys were sent, separately, to live with relatives of their father.  Neither boy lived to adulthood.  Foster was not quite fifteen when he died in 1872 and Charles almost eighteen when he died four years later.

Obed Stoddard (1778-1854) was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, three months after his father died while serving with the local militia during the Revolution.  In 1815 he came to Richmond with his wife Susan and six children.  An 1884 entry in the “History of Richland County, Wisconsin” (where his son Valentine later settled) records that: “they made the journey in the winter season and took their household goods upon a sled drawn by two pairs of oxen, and were thirty-one days upon the road, a distance of 300 miles.”

He owned a farm of 100 acres on (today’s) Route 20A, at the corner of Canadice Lake Road.  Four more children were born to Obed and Susan while they lived in Richmond, giving them six sons and four daughters.  Of his girls, two stayed in the area and two moved away.  Mary and Almira went to Michigan; Betsey married a McCrossen and lived in Livonia.  Emily married Willis Adams, lived in Richmond, and raised four children.  Both Emily and Willis are buried at Purcell Cemetery.  Of Obed’s six sons, none settled locally.

Ira Justin (1785-1864) was a young man when he left Connecticut for Pennsylvania.  There, he “got religion” and decided on a life in the ministry.  He came as a Baptist missionary to Geneseo in 1824.  After serving that early church for fifteen years, he came as minister to the Baptist Churches in Hemlock and Richmond.  In 1842 he bought a fifty-acre farm in Richmond, and built a house – the north half of the house at #4812 Barnard Road.

A biography of the minister written by a church member in 1870 says: “He was not a great preacher but he stood fast in all gospel doctrines, he preached everywhere from house to house in the shops, in the stores,  in the street, always engaged in his Master’s service.  He was a sound reasoner and an edifying and safe counselor, always combining a happiness with the solemnities and inspirations of a pure and holy religion; he was kind and gentle and faithful to God and His cause, full of faith in the Holy Ghost, called upon to preach nearly all the funeral sermons.”

Ira Justin married Sarah Lathrop and had four sons and three daughters.  He, his wife, his daughter Mary, and two sons (Ira Jr. and Joel) are buried in Purcell Cemetery.  His Bible is on display at the Honeoye-Richmond Historical Society Museum.

Willard Doolittle (1802-1875) was born in Bristol, the son of Asa and Phylena Doolittle.  He had an older sister, Clarissa, who attended the Richmond Baptist Church.  She was twelve years old when this note was made in the church record book: “Clarissa Doolittle baptized October 26th 1818.”  After teaching school at the Toad Hill District for a number of years, Willard studied to become a doctor.  He was much beloved in his practice which included Richmond, Canadice, and Hemlock.

He lived on Huff Road and was married twice.  His first wife had a daughter and his second wife had five daughters and four sons.  The Ontario County Journal (December 10, 1875) reported on the doctor’s death: “Dr. Willard Doolittle, an old and highly respected physician of the town of Richmond, was almost instantly killed last Monday.  He was returning from visiting a patient, when coming to a hill his horse started to run.  The Doctor was thrown out of his sulky, his head striking a large stone and he died in a short time after the accident.”

Two of Dr. Doolittle’s daughters, Helen and Phylena, both married Grove Mather.  Many members of the Mather family are buried in Purcell Cemetery, including both of Grover’s wives and some of his children: Ida, Ruth, and Helen.

Peter Pitts Barnard died October 5, 1876 at age 64.  His obituary mentioned that he “was a man who by integrity, industry and perseverance had attained a useful and honored position among his townsmen.  He was a thorough and successful farmer, his farm being the model one in all the neighborhood.  He was a man of public spirit, and to all matters of general interest was ready to lend a helping hand.”  He was buried in Purcell cemetery next to his first wife Fanny.  Their bodies were later moved to Union Cemetery in Livonia, but their stone remains in Purcell.

Elizabeth Barnard (1842-1872), who is buried in Purcell Cemetery, was the daughter of Peter and Fanny.  She married John P. Ray (1840-1909).  Libbie died quite young, and John married twice more.  He and his later wives are buried in Union Cemetery in Livonia.

His obituary (August 20, 1909) gives details of his life in Richmond: “In the passing of John P. Ray the town of Richmond has lost one of its most noted citizens – one who cannot be replaced…In sheep breeding and wool growing he won his way among his fellowmen to a position of national importance, recognized and respected by his associates and all who came in contact with him…His doings and sayings attracted the attention of the agricultural papers and stock magazines of the country, and he had many calls for articles from his versatile pen.  Many times he was invited to deliver addresses before conventions of sheep breeders and wool growers…Mr. Ray was a member of the First Congregational church of Honeoye.  He was chorister of the church and a Sunday-school teacher for many years…Mr. Ray stood for all that was manly and of sterling worth.  He was a dutiful son, a faithful husband and a loving father.  He always had an encouraging word and a warm hand-shake for everyone.”

The Honeoye-Richmond Historical Society holds meetings throughout the year on the first Thursday of September, October, November, April, and May.  Their programs are held at the Richmond Town Hall at 7:00 in the evening and are open to the public (except for the last meeting in the spring, which is a special event for members).  To become a member of the historical society, contact Bonnie Callaghan at 752-2939; or send a note with your name, address, phone number and $10 to Bonnie at 7860 Williams Road, Honeoye.