Thomas Jefferson Tone (1830-1903)

Thomas Jefferson Tone (1830-1903)
- Residence
- Civil War

Lived in Bergen, NY, where he married Catherine D. Spafford (1836-1916) in 1858. This brought the Tones and Spoffords together.
Mentioned in Gazetteer_and_biographical_record_Genesee_County_NY (p. 328) as having been a trustee of Bergen for two years.
Operator of Bergen Roller Mills
Further mentioned in Gazetteer_and_biographical_record_Genesee_County_NY, "Town of Bergen" (p. 347):

Thomas J. Tone, the eldest son of John A., was born in Bergen, June 5, 1830, and received his education at the district school of the town and at the Brockport Collegiate Institute. At the age of 22 he went to Claysville, Kentucky, where he taught school, thence to Cincinnati, O., where he taught 12 years, and then resigned and went into the commission business for a year and a half. He after wards returned to Bergen, where he has remained, engaged in the business of dealer in grain, produce, and coal, and proprietor of Tone's elevator. October 18, 1858, he married Catharine D., daughter of Sumner Spafford, of this town, and has three children, viz.: S. La Rue, born November 1, 1864; Frank D., born October 16, 1868; and Florence M, born January 3, 1871. Mr Tone has been a prominent member of the First Congregational Church, leading the Sunday-school, and acting as trustee and clerk of the society. He is also largely interested in all matters of public interest, so much so that he has long been one of the board of trustees of the public school.
Later in part 2 of that document, the business registry (p. 79):

TONE THOMAS J, grain and coal dealer, prop, elevator, Church, h Lake
An undated newspaper column ("BERGEN MILLS SOLD" in my archives) describes some property of his being sold after his death to Alfred R. Butcher, reading in part

The foundation for the mills was laid on May 24, 1898, by Thomas J. Tone, and on December 12th of the same year they were completed and milling was begun. Mr. Tone died on May 6, 1903.

Some other details found in an obituary (in a newspaper clipping in my archives):

Mr. Tone was born on the farm on the Townline road now occupied by F. Van Sickle, June 5, 1830.
...
In 1852 Le went to Claysville, Ky., where he taught school about six months, going from there to Cincinnati, O., where he became principal of public school No. 12, which position he held 12 years.
...
After his resignation he remained in Cincinnati about a vear and a half and carried on a commission business. When he had been in Cincinnati six years, he came to Bergen and, on October 18, 1858, married Miss Catharine D. Spafford, daughter of the late Sumner Spafford, and returned to Cincinnati, where eight years of their married life were spent.
...
Mr. and Mrs. Tone removed to this village in 1867, and Mr. Tone formed a partnership with A. T. Southworth in the grain and coal business, which they carried on with success until March 1, 1880, when their grain elevator was destroyed by fire. In May, 1880, the partnership was dissolved, the business being continued by Mr. Tone, who built a grain elevator. On May 24, 1898, he laid the foundation of a 70-barrel roller flouring mill, which was completed anI milling begun on December 12, 1898. The care of the milling business impaired the health of Mr. Tone and during the last two years life furnished but little enjoyment for him. On December 22d while going to a neighbor's to make a call with his wife, he fell, and his nervous system, owing to his enfeebled condition, sustained such a shock that he was obliged to take to his bed. Since then he failed gradually, and last Saturday evening he lost consciousness, passing away at ten minutes of 1 o'clock yesterday.
...
Mr. Tone enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen, who elected him many times town clerk and school trustee. He was one of the first trustees of the Mt. Rest Cemeterv Association, holding the office from 1879 to 1901. As a member of the Republican party he was always in favor of clean politics and advocated the selection of the best men for office. In his home he was genial and companion-able, and gave to all his guests a bright smile and a warm hand clasp.
...
He is survived by his wife; two sons, S. La Rue Tone of Pittsburg and Frank J. Tone of Niagara Falls; one daughter, Mrs. Bert H. Terwilliger of Ellenville: four sisters, Mrs. Mary A. Gray and Mrs. Maria Hodges of Montpelier, Idaho, Mrs. Electa Hubbard of Des Moines, Ia., and Mrs. William Steere of Sheridan, Mich.; and one brother, Hubbard Tone of Los Angeles, Cal.

Regarding the surviving relatives, Thomas had a brother Ithiel Hubbard Tone (1849-1913), however there's no record of him residing in Los Angeles. No other relatives seem like matches, however-- Thomas had no other surviving brothers.

Residence

31 S Lake Ave, Bergen NY, still standing as of 2018.

![](/%F0%9F%93%81%20Tone/assets/Thomas%20J%20Tone%20house%2C%20Bergen.jpeg)

Seen on this old Bergen map:

Civil War

Served in the Civil War. My archives include a discharge dated March 4, 1863 and noting service in the Ohio "Squirrel Hunters" and mentioning service in September of the previous year. There's no record that he lived in Ohio but he may have traveled there and stayed with Tone relatives. The discharge reads in part

But for gallant services of yourself and the Other members of the corps of patriotic "Squirrel Hunters" rendered in September last, Ohio, our dear state would have been invaded by a band of pirates determined to overthrow the best government on earth, our wives and children would have been violated and murdered, and our homes plundered and sacked. Your children, and your children's children will be proud to know that you were one of this glorious band.
The Squirrel Hunters were a group of civilian men who assisted in defending Cincinatti, OH from a confederate invasion in 1862. Some details from https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Squirrel_Hunters

A number of Ohio counties offered to dispatch men to Cincinnati as well. Tod immediately accepted the offers on Lew Wallace's behalf. He stated that only armed men should report and that railroad companies should transport the men for free and then later send a bill to the State of Ohio. Civilians from sixty-five counties numbering 15,766 men reported for duty at Cincinnati. These volunteer men became known as the "Squirrel Hunters."
The Squirrel Hunters got their name from the wepons they owned, which were mostly used for small game hunting. More info is at various online sources including https://ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org/archives/4021

Thomas Jefferson Tone (1830-1903)

Residence

Civil War

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