The Minor Family of Somerset

1880 U.S. Census
Place Cummingsville,Livingston,New York
FHL film 1254859 NAfilm T9-0859 page 299B
Household
George Zerfass self widow male white 75 PaFarmer Pa Pa
Margaret Bailer Sister Widow female white 58 NY keeping House P
a Pa
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George Zerfass
George Zerfass, the subject of this sketch was born in Northampt
on county,Pa., the 28th of January, 1805. He was a son of Abrah
am and Hannah (Kanause) Zerfass. The former was born in Northam
pton county, Pa. the 27th of November,1772 and the latter was b
orn in the same county January 23, 1783. The parents of Abraha
m were Adam and Elizabeth Zerfass. They came from Germany whe
nthey were quite young. The former was born in 1742, and the l
atter was bornFeb 11 1746. Adam was a Captain in the Revolutio
nary army and was in the battle of Germantown and Brandywine, an
d after the close of the war of Independence he was engaged in f
ighting the Indians. Adam and Elizabeth died in Pennsylvania, i
n the early part of the present century.
Abraham Zerfass and Hannah Kanause, were married the 19th of Apr
il, 1802, and came to Steuben county,now Livingston county, an
d located in Dansville in 1813. Here they followedfarming unti
l they died, the foremr Dec 17, 1837 and the latter Feb 4, 1845
. They had twelve children - as follows:- Elizabeth, (dead), Ge
orge, our subject, Hannah (dead) Abraham (dead) Mary, Living,) S
aloma, (dead), John, (living,) Vienna, (living,) Lydia, (dead) M
argaret (living,) Henry, (living) andAnna, (dead.) Six of thes
e children are yet living and residing near Dansville, except Ma
ry now residing in Wisconsin. The children all lived at home un
til they died or started out in life for themselves. Their educ
ation was such as could be obtained in the common schools of the
ir town, and was very limited. George never left the parental r
oof, but remained at home assisting his father until the latte
r died, when he bought the old hom farm and settled up with th
e rest of the heirs. He lived in the old house until 1858, at w
hich time he moved into the handsome edifice he finished that ye
ar and which heoccupies at the present time. Owing to a paraly
tic shock received the 24thof April, 1878, he has been ubale t
o manage his farm and since that time it has been operated by hi
s brother Henry.
The 12th of April, 1838, George was untied in marriage with Poll
y Kanuase, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Diresbach) Kanaus
e of Dansville. She was born in steuben county the 15th of Jan
, 1819, and died February 23d, 1872. In the death of his wife M
r. Zerfass met with a lost almost unbearable. She was a careful
, economical helpmeet andloving wife, and was respected by al
l who knew her. Mr. Zerfass cheerfully conceded that to her h
e is greatly indebted foe much of his success. They hadnot chi
ldren that grew up.
Mr. Zerfass has never been an aspirant for public trusts, but ha
s been elected to the office of assessor for two years, and high
way commissioner three years. He is a life-long Democrat, but i
n home affairs he gives his suffrage to the man or men he deem
s best qualified for the various offices. In religious sentimen
t he is a Lutheran and was a memberof the German Lutheran Churc
h of Dansville many years. He was a trustee of that Church seve
ral years and Deacon of the same six years.
Mr. Zerfass has passed with honor through all the vicissitudes o
f life, and has lived to see the County of Livingston develop fr
om almost a wilderness into one of the finest agricultural distr
icts in the State. He has been successful in life and is enjoyi
ng in his old age a competency, the result of a long life of ind
ustry, economy and honorable dealing.
From: History of Livingston County, New York, by James H. Smit
h published by D. Mason & County, Syracuse, N.Y. 1881 Pages 104 & 1
05