The Sutton Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

The Sutton family are of English lineage and are found seated in that country through many centuries. The first of this branch of the family to settle in the United States was Elihu Sutton, born in England, settled on a farm at Sparta, New York, with his wife Eliza. They lived and died there; she in 1843, aged seventy-five years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Whig in politics.

Their children, all born in Sparta, New York

1. John Sutton. Of whom further.
2. David Sutton. Married Polly Dieter, both deceased; their children:
   1. William Sutton. Deceased.
   2. Wilson Sutton. Deceased.
   3. David Sutton. Died young.
   4. David Sutton (2). Resides in Scottsburg, New York.
   5. George Sutton. Deceased.
   6. May Sutton. Deceased.
   7. Mary Sutton. Lives in Livingston county, New York.
3. Abigail Sutton. Died in Sparta; married David Kuhn; their children:
   1. Mary Sutton. Of Sparta.
   2. John Sutton. Of Potter county, Pennsylvania.
   3. Simon Sutton. Deceased.
   4. Eliza Sutton. Of Sparta.
   5. Margaret Sutton. Of Sparta.
   6. Lucinda Sutton. Deceased.
   7. Elizabeth Sutton. Deceased.
   8. Jonathan Sutton. Living in Sparta.
   9. William Sutton. Living in Sparta.

(II) John Sutton

John, eldest child of Elihu Sutton, was born in Sparta, New York, in 1803, died there March 22, 1877. He received a public school education, learned the blacksmith’s trade and carried on that business in connection with farming all his life. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, in 1836, Sarah Hoffman, born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1816, died at Sparta, April, 1881. She was a Methodist. Her father, John Hoffman, was born near Bremen, Germany, died in Sparta. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Sparta, New York, where he prospered, owning two good farms. He married Mary Kline, whose brother David was a school teacher in Milton, Pennsylvania. Her sister Elizabeth married Adam Smith, of Milton, and died in Sparta; another sister, Susan, married Henry Shaffer, also from Milton.

Children of John Sutton, all born in Sparta, New York

1. Mary Cordelia Sutton. Of further mention.
2. Lucy Ann Sutton. Born 1840, died 1855.
3. George Sutton. Born 1842, died 1844.
4. Lamira Sutton. Born 1843, married Joseph Steffey, of Dansville, New York, and resides on the old Sparta homestead; their children:
   1. Sarah Steffey. Born February 14, 1871, died in Groveland, New York, in 1911.
   2. John Steffey. Resides in Sparta, unmarried.
   3. Josephine Steffey. Married a Mr. Jackson.
5. Frances Elizabeth Sutton. Born February 11, 1849; married (first) Wilbur N. Corwin, deceased, leaving:
   1. Grace J. Corwin Born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1884, married Vernon Drake, married (second) Robert George. and has with first husband:
      1. Wilbur A Drake. Born December 16, 1902.
6. John Sutton. Born 1851, died 1867, of diphtheria, which dread disease carried off four of the family in the same year.
7. William Sutton. Born 1854, died 1867.
8. Caroline Sutton. Born 1858, died 1867.
9. Jesse Sutton. Born 1861, died 1867.

(III) Mary Cordelia Sutton

Mary Cordelia, eldest child of John Sutton, was born in Sparta, New York, December 25, 1838. She was educated in the public schools and at Mount Pleasant Academy. After completing her studies she returned home, remaining until her marriage. She is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bradford, and a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Union Veteran Legion. She married Lorenzo Barton Prosser, born in Clarksville, New York, March 3, 1835, died February 27, 1909, aged seventy-three years, eleven months, twenty-four days.

Mr. Prosser received his education in the public schools of Clarksville. He decided upon the profession of law, but after a course of reading and study of Blackstone he settled down to a life devoted to agriculture. He moved to Bradford when still a young man, and during his long life there held many town offices. He was assessor, collector of taxes, constable and held other offices of lesser importance. He made a fine record during the civil war. He was mustered into the service of the United States at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1861, as a sergeant in Company I, First Regiment of Rifles Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers (the famous “Bucktail” Regiment, so called from each soldier wearing in his hat the tail of a deer) for a term of three years, and was discharged June 11, 1864, at Harrisburg, on expiration of term of service, having served “honestly and faithfully” as his discharge testified. He saw hard service, this regiment being one of the hard-fought regiments of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in various important battles, among them Drainesville, Harrisonburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Slaughter Mountain, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Catlett Station, Bristol Station, and all the engagements in the Wilderness campaign. At Fredericksburg, Virginia, he was taken prisoner, and was taken to Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, where he was held for three months before exchange. During his long service Sergeant Prosser never received or asked for a furlough, his service being continuous.

After the war Mr. Prosser purchased a farm at Mineral Run, Pennsylvania, on which he lived for about one year. At the beginning of the oil strikes he returned to Bradford, where he purchased another farm, and also engaged in the production of oil. This Bradford farm was his home during the remainder of his life with the exception of three years spent in Nebraska, where he took up a quarter section under the homestead laws, which he sold later and returned to Bradford. He was a member of the Masonic order and past master of Bradford Lodge, No. 334.

Children of Lorenzo Barton and Mary Cordelia (Sutton) Prosser

1. Myrtie Marion Prosser. Born in Bradford, August 9, 1865, died August 12, 1870.
2. John Eldridge Prosser. Born in Bradford, November 27, 1868; now an oil producer; resides with his mother in care of the Prosser estate; he is unmarried.
3. Grace May Prosser. Born in New Lexington, Nebraska, May 20, 1876; married Wesley Allen, a native of Tennessee, and now resides at Alma, New York, twelve miles south of Buffalo; no issue.

Lorenzo Barton Prosser was the son of the Rev. Holden Prosser, who was born in Connecticut, going from there to Clarksville, New York, and thence coming to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he died in March, 1879. He was an ordained minister of the Baptist church and a tireless worker in his Master’s cause. He married Penelope Satterlee, born in Munda, New York, died in 1879, aged sixty years.

Their children

1. Fannie Prosser. Born in Clarksville, New York, died in Savona, New York; married Cornelius Storms, deceased, of Bradford.
2. Lorenzo Prosser. Now a resident of Savona.
3. Mary Prosser. Deceased.
4. Millard Prosser. Resides in Nebraska.
5. Charles Prosser. Resides in Savona.
6. Minnie Prosser. Resides in Savona.
7. Holden Levi Prosser. Born December 5, 1832, in Locke, Cayuga county, New York; he was a carriage maker by occupation; he enlisted in the service of the United States, July 15, 1862, in Company H, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteers, and died August 4, 1864, in the hospital at Vicksburg, Mississippi, aged thirty-two years; he married, July 6, 1858, at Farmington, Lee county, Iowa, Mary Elizabeth Eager, born April 9, 1837, in the town of Kirtland, Ohio, daughter of Lewis and Mary Eager, the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Goldwin, of Farmington; children:
   1. Mary Adella Prosser. Born June 14, 1859, in Keosauqua, Van Buren county, Iowa, married, April 9, 1886, Louis Satterlee, and has children:
      1. Levi H. Satterlee.
      2. Clara L. Satterlee.
   2. Clara Elizabeth Prosser. Born June 23, 1861, in Keosauqua, Iowa, married, April 16, 1896, William Gilbert, and their children are:
      1. Mary E. Gilbert.
      2. Marjorie E. Gilbert.
8. Lorenzo Barton Prosser. Of previous mention.
9. Lafayette Prosser. Born in Bradford, in 1844, died 1889; married Myra Seward, of Bradford, deceased.
10. Emily Prosser. Deceased.
11. Lucina Prosser. Died young.

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.