The first of this branch of the Rich family in America was John Rich, born in Kentmoor parish, England, 1754. He married there Elizabeth Aiken, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1740. The date of their coming to the United States is not given, but they were residents of the town of Chatham, Hartford county, Connecticut, before they came to New York state in 1810. They settled in the town of Starkey, Yates county, New York, where John Rich died, May 10, 1815; Elizabeth survived him until December 17, 1837. Both are buried in the town of Starkey. Children:
- Richard, of whom further.
- Ansel, born March 4, 1784, died July 30, 1852; married Rhoda Griswold, born November 14, 1786, died April 12, 1853; children:
- Minor, born January 28, 1805, died January 14, 1819;
- John, born August 3, 1808, died June 15, 1848, and married Lany Horning, 1823;
- George, born August 5, 1810, died March 6, 1821;
- Milo, born August 13, 1813, died 1886, married, December, 1832, Elizabeth Sutphen;
- Richard, born August 24, 1816, died February 23, 1838;
- Henry, born November 30, 1820, died 1878, married, February 14, 1841, Sarepta Rich, a widow;
- Sanford, born January 9, 1824;
- Philann, born August 11, 1826, died October 5, 1800 [sic], married, December 5, 1841, Simpson Hallock.
- Alfred, born April 21, 1786, died December 10, 1847; married (first) Sarah Griswold, born 1785, died November 12, 1823; children:
- Harriet, born February 2, 1805, married Addison Lewis, and has a daughter Adaline;
- Erastus, born May 7, 1808, killed when young while engaged in a wrestling match;
- Polly Ann, born October 10, 1809, died October 9, 1886, married, October 29, 1829, Joseph Reynolds, who died in Dundee, New York, a very old man;
- Sarah Ann, born January 7, 1821, died 1852; married James Hawley; had a son Erastus.
Alfred Rich married (second) Almy Roberts and had a son
- Alfred, born December 7, 1824, died January, 1888; married ———— Drake; they were both killed by a runaway team; children: Charles B., and a daughter.
- Elias, married, and had Richard and Amanda; this family removed to Michigan, where all died; Amanda married and left children.
- Clara.
(II) Richard, eldest child of John and Elizabeth (Aiken) Rich, was born, probably in England, November 4, 1778, died July, 1839. He settled at Mason's Hollow, near Comstock's Landing, Washington county, New York. He married Amy Mason, born 1782, died 1862. Children:
- Lyman, married Kate Dailey; children:
- Sarah Jane, married ———— Ogden;
- Richard Henry;
- Owen;
- Mary Ann;
- Leonard;
- Emma, married ———— Livingstone;
- Olin;
- Kate, married and removed to Canada.
- Warren, married Helen Dailey; children:
- Cornelia, married Warren Wilson;
- Seymour.
- Rosanna, married Barker Mason; children: Addison, George, Edgar, and three others.
- Diana, married Cyrus Ferris; children:
- Charles Edward, married ———— Rogers, and removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
- Marian, married Rufus Gardiner;
- Walter, married Eliza Kingsley;
- Maria, married Noble Clark; children: Nellie, William and Sophia;
- Letitia, married Russell Hall; children: Anna Sweet, Harriet, Charles and Kitty;
- Lyman, married Minerva Miller; children: George, Noble and James.
- Maria, married Belden Rich, a kinsman, and removed to Michigan.
- Jane, married John Gillette; children: Charles, Melvin, Avery, and a son settled at Clyde, Warren county, New York.
- Lucy, married Charles C. Rich, a kinsman; children: Charles, Henry, Cyrus, Amy, Jane and Alice.
- Ellen, married Adolphus Hawes; children:
- Ada;
- Cora E., died February 14, 1905;
- Clinton;
- Ida;
- Lina, married H. F. Woodward;
- Amy, married B. F. Irish, and removed to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, thence to Wapato, Washington; has daughter Nina.
- Cyrus Ferris, of whom further.
(III) Cyrus Ferris, youngest child of Richard and Amy (Mason) Rich, was born at Comstock, Washington county, New York, December 23, 1826, died at Saratoga Springs, New York, November 1, 1897. He was educated in the public schools, and, after completing his school years, began the study of dentistry. He was regularly admitted to practice and followed this profession in Schuylersville [i.e., Schuylerville] until 1865, when he removed to Saratoga Springs, his business home and residence until death. He was master of his profession and was well known and highly regarded. During the civil war he enlisted in Company K, Seventy-seventh Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, with the rank of lieutenant. He was a Republican in politics. He married, November 11, 1852, Harriet E. Cooke, born 1835, died June, 1872, daughter of Peter J. Cooke, of Edinburg, Saratoga county, New York. Children:
- Waldo Leon, of whom further;
- Amos Cooke, born April 5, 1856, married Ella Bristol;
- Leigh, August, 1859, died October, 1861;
- Guy Cyrus, July, 1861, married Mrs. Katherine Nason;
- Lynn Richard, September 11, 1864.
(IV) Waldo Leon, eldest son of Cyrus Ferris and Harriet E. (Cooke) Rich, was born in Schuylersville [i.e., Schuylerville], Saratoga county, New York, November 11, 1853. His early and preparatory education was obtained in the public schools of Schuylersville and Saratoga Springs, after which he entered Williams College, where he was graduated A.B., class of 1876. He decided upon the profession of law and pursued a course of legal study under Judge Lester, of Saratoga, was admitted to the bar, but never practised. In 1876 he entered the employ of the old Commercial Bank (now out of existence), from there going to the First National Bank of Saratoga, where he remained until 1894. Then he formed a connection with the Adirondack Trust Company, of Saratoga, and is now (1910) paying tell of that institution. In politics he is a Republican. His social club is the Saratoga, and he holds fraternal membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Saratoga Business Men's Association. He married, April 25, 1883, Sarah W., daughter of Alembert and Elizabeth (Lester) Pond.