Galen Historical Society, 31 N Park Street, Clyde, NY (2026)

08/27/2026

Get your tickets! We have great raffle and giveaway items coming in from all over. Syracuse University, NY Giants, Ohmann Theater, Genesee County Museum, GEVA Theater, Gourmet Gift Baskets are just a few that have sent theirs in already. More are coming daily. Also there is a $2000 grand prize and the other monetary prizes listed on the flyer.

*Letters went out in late April/May to local businesses to support this fundraiser for our Scholarship Fund and the Sports Hall of Fame. If you want to contribute, as a vendor or from your business, either an item, a raffle basket or monetarily please let us know. All donations are 100% tax deductible and you receive free advertising at the dinner, in a local paper, on our website and page.

08/25/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of John Disbrow.

We are sharing the wonderful article from The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History post about the young man and his service during the Civil War.

08/25/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of the Snedaker brothers James and Albert.

We are sharing the wonderful article from The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History post about the young men and their time in the service.

Here is the link to the video of Gone Graving working on the original headstone at Maple Grove Cemetery where the men were laid to rest after their father found and returned their bodies home. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1X3xiv2NBK/

08/25/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of brothers, Frank and Adin Forncrook.

Frank (Frances) was born in 1831 and was the oldest of eleven children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Hazzard) Forncrook. His younger brother Adin was born in 1841. There is not much on these brothers in our records but many of the family stayed here or in New York and were well known towns people.

Frank moved to Michigan where he enlisted in the Civil War. He was mustered into Company B of the 4th Michigan Volunteers. Adin also enlisted in the Civil War and was assigned to Company B of the 67th New York Volunteers. Unfortunately both Frank and Adin were killed 1862, just one month apart. Both men were brought back to Clyde and buried in the family plot at Maple Grove Cemetery.

* Thanks to Gone Graving both stones are clean and repaired now.

08/25/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of William John Porter.

William was born on March 10, 1924 to Mason Ammon Sr. and Leona (Smith) Porter. He was the third child of five. James the oldest died close to one year old. Mason Jr., Alice, and Robert are William's siblings. William was very well liked and well known for his athletic abilities. He attended Clyde High School. While there he was elected to be the athletic reporter. He played football, basketball, badminton, and tennis. In 1942, William secured the Wayne County Championship in badminton. Also in that same year, he and Roger Meade won the Wayne County Doubles Championship and went on to also win the Western New York Sectional Championship. In addition to his athletic and educational duties, William worked at the Acme Factory, active in Boy Scout Troop 82 and a member of the First Methodist Church of Clyde.

In March of1943, just three months from graduation, William decided to enlist in the United States Army. He left Clyde shortly after to attend training at Camp Gordon in Georgia. In June of 1944, William was sent overseas to the battlefields. He was a member of General Patton's 3rd Calvary, Reconnaissance Squadron as a Corporal, T/S. On December 10, 1944, he was wounded in battle and awarded the Purple Heart. He returned to the battlefields shortly after injury and continued fighting. Unfortunately, on March 3, 1945, just 7 days before his 21st birthday, he was killed in action in Germany. On July 12, 1948, William returned to the United States via the United States Army boat Oglethorpe. On August 24, 1948, he came home to Clyde via the New York Central train and laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery with full military rights and honors. William was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for "gallantry and supreme devotion to duty in battle".

In 1945, the War ended and the Clyde Alumni Association gifted the Clyde High School with a Electric Organ that had an inscribed plaque, that was inserted in the side of the organ, that had all the names of the Alumni that died in the battles of World War I and World War II as a everlasting reminder of their love and remembrance of their fallen classmates.

08/24/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Franklin "Frank" Hull.

Frank was born in Oneida, New York in 1840 to Jehiel and Margaret (Ritchie) Hull. He and his sister Harriet were the only children. Frank and his family came to Clyde in about 1862 and they lived in the Southside of the river. His father was a shoemaker by trade but Frank, being 22 years old set off on his own.

in September 9, 1863, he enlisted as a Sergeant in Co I of the Connecticut Volunteers. Soon after Frank was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 7th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteers. For a year he fought in battle and in May of 1864, he and his command were in Chesterfield, Virginia fighting in the Bermuda Hundred. On May 31, 1864, the Confederates shelled the encampment. Frank and another Private were killed when a 6 pound cannonball came into the camp.

Frank is laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery. He shares his headstone with his sister, Harriet, who never forgot her brother and chose to be with him again in death, even though her death came 51 years later.

08/24/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Willard L. Frisbie.

Willard was born in 1844. In 1851, his sister Ella died just shy of 3 years old. In 1855, his father Albert, also known as AR, died and shortly after his mother Sarah (Ford) remarried and had three daughters. AR ran the local grocery store called Frisbie & Nichols. The store was located on the corner of Glasgow and Genesee Streets, just in front of the Village Park. He was a very smart child at the age of 16, he left Galen and went to the Macedon Academy. He either graduated quickly or left the academy around a year later. Willard remained in Galen until June 30, 1862 when he enlisted in the Union Army. He was sent in as a Corporal in Company B of the 111th NY Infantry. Willard continued with the Union Army until May of 1864 when he was captured by Confederate forces and sent to Andersonville Prison. On August 9, 1864, Willard suffered the same fate as so many men that were there due to the inhumane and unsanitary conditions at the prison. He died of chronic dysentery and starvation. Willard was buried at the Andersonville National Cemetery.

In Maple Grove Cemetery there is what is believed to be a cenotaph headstone in the family plot for Willard as there is no indication that he was ever brought back home and buried.

08/20/2026

In remembrance and honor of our brave service people in our community we are paying tribute to those who parished in the line of duty. We will not forget their sacrifice for our freedom. The Galen Historical Society would like to remember the legacy of Silas C. Strong.

Silas was born in 1823 in Vermont. In 1843, he married Rebecca Jane Snedaker. He was a saloon keeper and carpenter by trade. Silas and Rebecca had three children (Julia, Ella, and John). Ella died at the age of 13 in 1862. He enlisted into the Civil War at Onondaga, NY on January 2, 1864. Silas was placed in Company D of the 111th New York Volunteers. His first battle sadly ended up being his last. While fighting in the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia he was killed in action.

In Maple Grove Cemetery there are two headstones that bear his name. His original stone and the one that he is listed on with wife, who never remarried. On this stone her family's last name is misspelled.

The family connections to the Civil War were very long and filled with sacrifice. Rebecca's nephews also died as a result of the Battle of the Wilderness. James Snedaker, who was her husband's 2nd lieutenant, died in the battle and his younger brother Albert was captured and died at Andersonville Prison shortly after. Both men were the sons of Rebecca's brother Adrastus Snedaker, the Wayne County Sheriff. After Silas' death, in 1866, his daughter Julia married Judson Stiles of Savannah. Judson also was in the Civil War in Company B of the 111th New York Infantry. Judson though deserted the Union on 12/8/1863 from the Hospital in Chicago and surrendered to the Army after the war was over and forfeited all pensions and pay.

In the comments you will find a great article from 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History about Rebecca's struggles after her husband's death.

This weekend there will be a dedication in the Lyons Central Park to the 111th soldiers. If you can attend please do. The dedication will be at 1pm. There are festivities all weekend beginning on Friday. Again we thank the The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History for all their research and dedication to make sure none of these great soldiers are forgotten.

Galen Historical Society

08/27/2026

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