Source:Book of Biographies. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Chenango County, N.Y. Buffalo, N.Y.: Biographical Publishing Company. 1898.
Rev. George G. Perrine was a descendant of Lyons pioneers, and George Willis Quackenbush's family hailed from Savannah. Theirs are the only Wayne County-related bios in this 630 page book.Personal information published in books of this type was provided by the persons being profiled, and it was common for the submitters to pay to be profiled in these books. The information below was submitted to the compilers 105 years ago. It is subject to error in recall, family legend, misinterpretation by the compilers, or exaggeration. On the other hand, these books are terrific sources of information taken from family documents and Bibles that may no longer exist. All information - dates, locations, names - should be verified by other sources. Spellings of names and locations are as in the original book and will not be changed within the body of the original text. Submission of additional or more accurate information about the two men profiled or their relatives is most welcome, to post at the end of this listing.
We thank you in advance for directing ALL requests for information about persons listed to the local historical societies and libraries, not to the site coordinators.
REV. GEORGE G. PERRINE, the esteemed rector of the Christ Church of Guilford, was born at Lyons, Wayne County, N.Y., December 24, 1838. He is a son of William D. and Lucinda S. (Kendig) Perrine, and a grandson of Peter Perrine.
The Perrine, or Perrinn, as it was originally spelled, family is of old French Huguenot stock. Henry Perrinn and his brother, Daniel, came to America in 1685 to escape the persecution that followed the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, by Louis XIV of France. Henry, the paternal ancestor of our subject, settled on Staten Island, where he was married and reared four sons, namely: John; Henry; Peter; and Daniel. Peter Perrine, our subject's great-great-grandfather, located in Cranbury, Middlesex County, N.J., and there married Margaret Day, who came from a well-known New Jersey family. They reared a family of fifteen children, the seventh of whom was William, the great-grandfather of our subject. William Perrine was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and served in the 3rd Reg., Middlesex Militia, under his brother, Capt. Peter Perrine.
Peter Perrine, the son of William and Hannah (Mount) Perrine, was one of the pioneer settlers of Lyons, Wayne County, N.Y. His mother was a daughter of Matthias Mount, the grandfather of Judge John Bailey Mount, of Heightstown, N.J. Peter was a farmer and builder by trade and was well known as a man of great physical strength. He was 1st lieutenant and later captain in Col. Swift's regiment of militia from 1806 to 1814, and took part in the War of 1812. He was united in marriage with Ann Duncan, and they reared seven children.
William D. Perrine was the oldest son born to his parents and first saw the light of day at Lyons, October 20, 1812. He was a jeweler and watchmaker, conducting a store in the village of Lyons, where he was well patronized. He took an active interest in public affairs and did all within his power to promote the condition of the community, socially, morally and religiously. He was bound in the holy bonds of wedlock with Lucinda S. Kendig, a daughter of Martin and Leah (Bear) Kendig, a family of high standing in Waterloo, N.Y. Four children blessed their union, namely: Annie G., the relict of the late N.B. Mirick of Lyons; George G., whose names heads these lines; Eugene D., who enlisted in the army in 1861, but before his regiment went to the front he contracted a fever and died at home; William N., deceased, was freight agent of the Erie R.R. at Buffalo; and Duncan K, an employee of the freight department of the Erie R.R. in New York City. [Note: error - five children are listed] Politically, Mr. W.D. Perrine was formerly an old time Whig, but after the reorganization of the Republican party, he actively supported the principles of that party. He was president of the village corporation for a number of years. Religiously, he was a member of the Episcopal Church and contributed liberally toward the support of that organization. He belonged to the Agricultural Association and acted as president of the society for a number of years. His long and useful career came to an end April 14, 1884.
Rev. George G. Perrine, after having completed the course required in the Union School at Lyons, entered Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., graduating in 1861, and receiving the degree of A.M. in 1865. Immediately thereafter, he became a student in the Episcopal Theological Seminary in New York City, and graduated in 1865. He was ordained a deacon in Calvary Church in New York City, June 2, 1865, and received priest's orders from Bishop Coxe at Grace Church in Utica, N.Y., May 27, 1866. His first charge was at Aurora, Cayuga County, N.Y. where he remained for three years. August 8, 1868, he accepted the rectorship of St. John's Church of Oneida. Remaining there until May 1, 1873, he became rector of St. John's Church of Cape Vincent, keeping that charge until September 1, 1880. For the following twelve years he officiated as rector of the churches at Thursa and Redwood. October 1, 1892, he was installed as rector of the Christ Church at Guilford, and has presided over that charge since. He is a man of great power, of exceptional organizing ability, and merits the esteem in which he is held; he is popular among all classes, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, for he always has a friendly greeting ready for every one, and ever looks on the brightest side of life.
December 20, 1861, our subject was united in marriage with Mariah L. Hamblien, a daughter of the late Rev. Lemuel Hamblien of Geneva, N.Y., and they became the parents of five children, whose records are as follows: Edward E. was born at Lyons, January 9, 1865, and is superintendent at the Gilson Asphalt Company of Kansas City, Mo.; William D., who was born January 27, 1867, and died in Guilford, November 2 2, 1896, was in the employ of the Gilson Asphalt Company; Bessie L., who was born July 9, 1870, and died in Buffalo November 20, 1895, was the wife of J. Reynolds, a son of Judge James Reynolds of Brockville, Ontario, Canada; and two other children who died in infancy. Mrs. Perrine entered the world of rest, May 5, 1890. Mr. Perrine's second union was with Miss Mary Ellen Smith, only daughter of M.H. Smith of Redwood.
GEORGE WILLIS QUACKENBUSH, an enterprising and successful business man of Oxford, is the proprietor of a bakery on North Canal Street. He was born in Weedsport, Cayuga County, N.Y. February 24, 1876, and is a son of George and Ida (Stivers) Quackenbush.
His grandfather was Abraham Quackenbush, was a life-long resident of Savannah, N.Y., a prominent man in the town and one of its leading merchants. He was a dealer in meats and vegetables, and became well-to-do. He reared four children, who grew to maturity and became a credit to the various communities in which they lived. Their names are as follows: Eugene; Katherine; Libbie; and George, the father of our subject. In religious belief, they were Baptists.
George Quackenbush followed closely in the footsteps of his sire, where he was highly esteemed as one of that town's good substantial citizens. His wife was formerly Ida Stivers, a native of New York State, and a daughter of George Stivers of Weedsport. This union was blessed by the birth of three children, namely: George Willis, the subject of this biography; Grace J.; and Alfred G. Mrs. Quackenbush survives her husband and still lives at Weedsport, in the midst of a large circle of friends, who know her as a kind and loving woman.
George Willis Quackenbush, at a very early age, became an apprentice to the baker's trade, under Charles Remington, a baker of Weedsport. But he took great care not to neglect his education, as he attended school during his spare moments. After remaining in the bakery there for three years, he went to Jordan, N.Y., whence after two years' work he moved to Syracuse, remaining in that city for two years. He then returned to Jordan, but only stayed a short time, going from there to Port Byron. February 24, 1897, he came to Oxford, and has since conducted a bakery on North Canal Street. Being an ambitious and energetic young man, he soon placed his business on a paying basis. In politics he is an active Republican. He is a young man, but a little past twenty-two years of age, and has a bright future before him.
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