USA > New York > Chenango County > Oxford > Annals of Oxford, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and early pioneers > Part 33
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FANNY, married John Crosier; died January 20, 1886, aged 73, in Buffalo. Child : Fanny, died in infancy.
ESTHER, married William Terrel; died July 26, 1876, aged 72, in Buffalo. Child: James, died May 12, 1906, aged 80 years; married Alinda Crannell.
EUNICE, died in Oxford. Unmarried.
NANCY, married Stephen Bentley ; died in Ellicottville, N. Y. Children: Ada, Burr, Anna.
ABIGAIL, married William Sherwood of Oxford; died August 21, 1850, in Norwich.
NEHEMIAH, 4th., married Susan Gordon of Oxford; died June 14, 1873. Children: Jane, died December 26, 1901; married John Thurber; (their children : Elizabeth, mar- ried Warren Smith; Ida, married George Ketchum; Min- nie, married Delbert Jenks; Dell R., married Jennie Sharp; Guerdon, died unmarried). Sophia E., born Oc- tober 19, 1828, married Hiram D. Walworth, died De- cember 3, 1905. (Children : Louise W., married Edward B. Loomis; Susie E.) Margaret, died in 1856, unmarried. Almira, married LaFayette Briggs. (Child : Margaret E., married G. B. Bretz of Brooklyn.) Nehemiah, 5th, mar- ried Sarah Barr. (Children : George, N. Y. C. R. R. mail agent; Charlotte; Matilda, married Frank Root; Eliza- beth. )
JAMES, died in New Orleans. Unmarried.
CHARLES, died in California. Unmarried.
BETSEY, died in 1836, in Oxford. Unmarried.
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It is uncertain in what place death may await thee; therefore expect it in any place.
-SENECA.
Frederick Greene.
Frederick Greene came at an early date from Dutchess county and located in Oxford. He married Sophia Bald- win, daughter of Jonathan and Parthenia (Stanford) Baldwin. His death occurred August 13, 1846, in Oxford. Mrs. Greene died July 22, 1885, at Grand Rapids, Mich. Children :
HARVEY M., born November 23, 1837, commenced the practice of medicine in November, 1868, and in January, 1870, removed to Grand Rapids, Mich. December 12, 1872, he left that city for Dutchess county to be married and stopped in New York to transact business, where he was stricken with apoplexy and died on the 17th of that month.
BRADFORD G., born April 16, 1839, in Steuben county ; died suddenly December 6, 1896, at his residence on Clin- ton street, now owned by Dr. Chas. B. Payne. Married September 7, 1870, Marania Sisson of Norwich. Children : Frederick B., married Minnie A. Howard; Harry, resides at Greenfield, Mass.
Mr. Greene was public spirited and untiring in his de- votion to public improvement. Upon finishing his edu- cation at Oxford Academy he entered the office of Dr. Eccleston to learn dentistry. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the navy, being assigned to duty as surgeon and steward on the gunboat Port Royal, and afterwards in transport service. In 1863 he entered the merchant marine, where he continued two years, serving under his flag at many
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European stations, principally in the Mediterranean. In 1865 he returned to Oxford and resumed dentistry, which he continued a short time, and was soon after engaged at the jeweler's bench in the store of H. H. Cady. A year later Coville & Moore succeeded Mr. Cady, and Mr. Greene continued with them for about sixteen years, in the mean- time taking the ticket and express agency for the N. Y. O. & W. R'y., and subsequently adding the coal business. Mr. Greene had an agreeable disposition, enjoyed hearing and telling a good story, in which he was an adept; and had a good word for everyone and everywhere. He was an active member of Breed Post, G. A. R., and also of Oxford Lodge, F. & A. M. He was one of the incorporators and a director of the Excelsior Mutual Insurance Company. He was largely instrumental in procuring the adoption of the Union Free School system and the passage of the necessary resolutions to provide for the erection of the building. He was appointed postmaster under the ad- ministration of Benj. Harrison, which position he occupied four years and eight months.
CHARLES F., born January 4, 1842; Corporal Co. H., 114th Reg't., N. Y. S. V., during Civil war. Killed at battle of Cedar Creek, October 19,, 1864.
CLARA C., graduated from Oxford Academy and taught for nearly thirty years in the Grand Rapids, Mich., public schools. She left her home July 2, 1903, in that city, and for several days the mystery surrounding her disappear- ance was not cleared until her body was found in the suburbs of the city behind a piece of underbrush. Indica- tions pointed that death was due to poison taken with suicidal intent. The body was cremated and the ashes sent to Oxford and placed within the grave of her mother.
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The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
-GRAY.
Van Wagenen Family.
Gerrit Huybert Van Wagenen, son of Huybert and Angenietje (Agnes) Vreden Burgh Van Wagenen, born at No. 5 Beekman slip, now 33 Fulton street, New York, January 21, 1753; died November 20, 1835, in Oxford; married March 11, 1783, Sarah, daughter of Derick and Rachel (VanRanst) Brinckerhoff, born November 5, 1764, in New York ; died December 9, 1833, in Oxford.
Gerrit VanWagenen was a Revolutionary soldier and received the appointment of second lieutenant in the 8th company commanded by Captain John Quackenbos, in Colonel McDougal's regiment, being the first regiment in the New York State troops. He left New York in August, 1775, with part of the regiment for Canada, and partici- pated in the storming of Quebec in the columns of General Montgomery. He remained in Canada till May, 1776, when he returned to New York in charge of prisoners whom he was ordered to take to Philadelphia. Returning to New York and finding the British were landing on Long Island, he offered his services to General Sullivan, and was sent by him with four other officers to the Jamaica Pass. The entire party was captured, and he was held as prisoner twenty-two months, when he was exchanged. He then received an appointment in the department of Com- missary of Prisoners, with the pay and rations of a major, which office he held three years, being stationed most of
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the time at Fishkill and West Point. After the war he engaged with his father in the hardware business in New York, which the latter had carried on at No. 5 Beekman slip since 1760. This was dissolved May 1, 1791, and he continued the business by himself, and afterwards with his son Hubert, till about 1820, when it was sold out to others. He was a vestryman of Trinity church from 1808 to 1811. In 1821 he removed to Oxford, where he established the first hardware store in the south end of the Hotchkiss House. He subsequently built and occupied a store on Washington park. He was largely engaged in the pur- chase and sale of land, and at his death owned about two thousand acres between the Chenango and Unadilla rivers. Mr. VanWagenen built on Lyon brook, then affording a good water power, a grist mill, carding, or woolen mill, and a saw mill. At the time of his removal to Oxford his household goods and merchandise were brought on sloops up the North river and carted over the Catskill mountains to Oxford. Bishop Hobart, one of the early pioneers of the church and whose diocese was the entire State of New York, was an intimate friend of the family and was accus- tomed to make his headquarters at their house, and from there made his visitations to the surrounding parishes. Mr. VanWagenen was a liberal contributor to all religious and public enterprises. By his will he established the VanWagenen missionary fund for the support of a mis- sionary of the Protestant Episcopal church in the county of Chenango, and the VanWagenen cemetery was be- queathed to St. Paul's church of Oxford.
Children :
RACHEL, born October 5, 1783, in New York; died May 8, 1839, in New York; married in 1811 Tyler Maynard, an attorney-at-law, who died in 1817 in the West Indies.
HUBERT, born February 3, 1785, in New York ; died Octo-
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ber 31, 1852, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; married March 20, 1808, Mary Wheeler of Red Hook, N. Y.
RICHARD AND GERRIT, twins, born November 22, 1786; died in infancy.
AGNES, born December 12, 1787, in New York; died Feb- ruary 13, 1868, in Oxford; married June 18, 1822, in Oxford, Erastus Perkins.
SARAH, born July 4, 1791, in New York; died in infancy.
WILHELMINA MARIA, born March 24, 1793, in New York; died November 2, 1873, in Oxford; unmarried.
SARAH BRINCKERHOFF, born December 20, 1794, in New York; died December 21, 1878, in Oxford; unmarried.
CATHERINE, born October 2, 1796, in Newtown, L. I .; died February 14, 1886; unmarried. ,
RICHARD, born October 8, 1798, in Newtown, L. I .; died September 27, 1837, in St. Josephs, Mich .; unmarried.
GERRIT, born November 6, 1800, in New York; died Sep- tember 27, 1858, in New Brunswick, N. J .; married March 17, 1835, Anna C. Pierrepont of Brooklyn, N. Y.
WILLIAM, born July 26, 1802, in New York; died Decem- ber 6, 1864, in Oxford; married January 8, 1840, Ursula A., daughter of James A. and Ann (Bradley) Glover of Oxford; died May 24, 1887, in Oxford. Children: John Richard, born November 9, 1841; married December 26, 1872, Clara L., daughter of George W. and Clarissa (Whitmore) Lester of Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. Van Wagenen was supervisor of Oxford in 1868, elected county treasurer in 1872, and is now president of the First National Bank of Oxford; (children, Helen M., William Lester, Henry Tracy, Florence, Harold W., and Ursula). James G., born December 1, 1845, in Oxford; married April 9, 1867, Mary E., daughter of Stephen H. and Mary (Gillman) Millard of Oxford; he was in service in the Civil war in Co. L, 20th N. Y. Cavalry, which was the advance
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regiment into Richmond at the surrender; (child, Anna M., married Jared C. Estelow of Oxford). Anna G., born September 24, 1853; died in infancy. Mary E., born Feb- ruary 21, 1857; married August 25, 1886, William W. Lester of South Norwalk, Conn.
JOHN, born July 28, 1804, in New York; died July 2, 1846, in Oxford; married November 13, 1833, Sarah A., daughter of Captain Frederick and Susan (Smith) Hop- kins of Oxford, born December 12, 1807; died December 26, 1886, in Oxford. Children: William Hubert, born November 11, 1837; married January 21, 1874, Anna L., daughter of Jacob and Sarah J. Selden of Williamstown, N. Y .; in drug business twenty-seven years in Oxford; residence Rome, N. Y .; (children, all born in Oxford, Sarah Louise, Grace S., married Arthur F. Carpenter of Rome; Nellie E.). Susan Elizabeth, married June 6, 1866, Major Oscar Henry Curtis of Oxford, who died December 26, 1903.
If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
-FRANKLIN.
Kinney Family.
Solomon Kinney died November 14, 1839, in Oxford. He married (1) Grace Wise, a native of Connecticut ; mar- ried (2). Phila Gifford.
Samuel Kinney, only child of Solomon and Grace (Wise) Kinney, married Amelia Crumb of Stonington, Conn. He died April 3, 1847, and his wife's death occurred Decem-
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ber 22, 1865. Their children were: Charles Albert, Susan, Mary Mead, Samuel Wise, and Jane Elizabeth.
Samuel Wise Kinney was a prominent and well-known farmer of Oxford, where he resided during his lifetime. He was born June 5, 1821, and died June 6, 1894. Mr. Kinney was twice married; his first wife was Sophia Symonds of Oxford, born January 11, 1819; died Novem- ber 25, 1864. His second wife was Mrs. Huldah (Seeley) Jeffords, who survives and resides in a western state. Children by first wife: HENRY, died June -, 1883; mar- ried Frances M. Rowley of Guilford. FRANCES, married Archilaus Haynes of Colesville, N. Y. ISABELLA, died April 8, 1851, in infancy. WARD, married Helen Minor of McPherson, Kan., where he resides. CHARLOTTE, married Edgar W. Edmunds of Oakville, N. Y., and resides on the old homestead.
" But what good came of it at last?" Quoth little Peterkin.
" Why that I cannot tell," said he ;
"But 'twas a famous victory." -SOUTHEY.
In Military Days.
Few incidents in the past attracted so much attention as that of the muster of the local citizen soldiers at " general training," or drills and muster under the militia system. The event was looked forward to with pleasure, as it gave the men a chance to meet old acquaintances, and the boys to invest their pennies in the inevitable gingerbread. The companies, glittering with tinsel and flaunting with
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feathers, were duly paraded through the maneuvers on " the green," much to the satisfaction of all emancipated school boys and idlers.
The militia consisted of all able-bodied white male citi- zens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Among those exempt from military duty were clergymen, school teachers, students in colleges or academies, and members of fire companies; though in cases of insurrection or in- vasion all but clergymen and teachers could be called upon.
Each militia company was obliged to assemble for train- ing on the first Monday in September; and between Sep- tember 1 and October 15, at a place designated by the com- mander of the brigade, the regiment was directed to assem- ble for one day's general training. Each militiaman was personally notified of an approaching muster, and failure to appear or to bring the necessary equipments resulted in a court-martial and a fine, unless a satisfactory excuse could be given. Those who could not pay were imprisoned in the county jail. The military spirit that existed in those days was a prominent feature of the country in general. Many that gathered every fall at " general train- ing " had seen active service in the Revolutionary war. Almost every large town had its militia company, but in Oxford they had an artillery company and a cannon. Simon Throop was the captain, and with his sword, epaulets, black feather, black coat trimmed with red, and red topped chapeau, he appeared to the youth of that day greater than any king or potentate. Peter Sken Smith, soon after he came to Oxford, entered into the spirit of the community and raised the first company of riflemen in the county, which in a short time developed into a bat- talion, and for several years were applauded for their military bearing. About the same time, Wayne Berry of Preston was captain of a cavalry company that looked very
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attractive and valiant. They appeared at the yearly mus- ters at Oxford and Norwich, but the horses, excepting the captain's, looked as though they enjoyed the harrow and plow much better than the military ordeal to which they were subjected, especially late in the day, when the captain always showed himself on his favorite steed to the terror of all beholders.
The place of meeting for muster was designated by the commanding officer, and the sale of spiritous liquors on the grounds could only be carried on by special permission of this officer. Total abstinence was not the rule by any means, and any officer had the right to take a bottle from a private and destroy it, but the contents were usually stowed away about the officer's person, and often the bur- den was rather heavy to carry conveniently.
At " general trainings " the regiment was made up of odd, ill-sorted, and ungainly men for the most part. Men from the back hills, who sometimes came in barefooted, carrying their boots and militia outfit in a bundle; cob- blers, tailors, and farm hands from neighboring hamlets, short, tall, fat, lean, bow-legged, sheep-shanked, cock-eyed, hump-shouldered, and sway-backed, equipped by art as economically, awkwardly, and variously as they were en- dowed by nature. The officers of the volunteer companies, on the other hand, were generally selected for their hand- some appearance and martial bearing. There were also a few veterans of the war of 1812, who were noticeable for their precise bearing and contempt for their crude com- panions.
As before mentioned, the regiment assembled yearly for general training between September 1 and October 15, usually for one day, though sometimes they were on parade for a longer time. On one occasion they camped in Oxford for a week, and about forty officers' tents were pitched.
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On Monday and Tuesday the officers of the regiment met for drill. On Wednesday the uniformed militia, number- ing 400, with nearly as many more without uniforms, met their officers for parade, inspection, and review. Thurs- day, Friday, and Saturday the uniformed continued in the field, drilling and exercising. There were organized com- panies present from neighboring towns besides the Oxford companies. Stalwart Captain Zadoc Adams of the Rifle Brigade of Preston combined the greatest tact, skill, and pride in military evolutions, and the exhibition drill given by his company in uniforms of gray, and their military band, was an event not soon to be forgotten. Brigadier- General Rathbone reviewed the militia; General DeFor- rest the cavalry, and General Peter Sken Smith the rifles.
On the occasion of a military review Major Benjamin Ray, a Revolutionary veteran, would come from Norwich in great state, accompanied by Captain Harvey of Preston, a patriot of '76, to enjoy the events. The Major also had another comrade, Jason. Gleason, who was sometimes called " Bildad," whom he would, in the height of his ex- citement, enthusiastically punch in the ribs and exclaim, referring to General Peter Sken Smith: "What eyes!" " Remember the battle of Monmouth, bub? "
Captain Wayne Berry would loudly declaim on the fading glories of the past, and irreverently proclaim that certain judicial functionaries then on the bench should " withdraw " and give place to better men, by reason that " they could not stand so much popularity." " Perez, Perez! " he would proudly exclaim, " Old Wayne foots the bill; eat like a fattin' hog!" At the same time making an assault on the gingerbread stands and drawing from his pocket a well-filled purse, from which he promptly settled all bills.
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He wears a brown old Brunswick coat, With silver buttons,-round his throat, A soft cravat ;- in all you note An elder fashion.
-DOBSON.
Lewis Family.
Samuel Lewis, born May 20, 1744, in Voluntown, Conn., now a part of New London, came to Preston, N. Y., in the spring of 1804 with his wife and seven children. They made the trip in covered wagons and were a month on the way. He settled on Fly Meadow creek, on the farm occu- pied by his grandson, Samuel E., during his lifetime, now owned by Jerry Sharp. Samuel served in the Revolution- ary war as private in Captain Benjamin West's company in Colonel John Topham's Reg't. (R. I.). He married Sarah Edwards, born August 18, 1750, and died May 1, 1831. Mr. Lewis died February 9, 1818, both having lived and died upon the farm which they settled.
Among the children who accompanied them was Clark, born February 20, 1778, in Rhode Island, and died Octo- ber 27, 1853, in Preston. He married Mary Willcox of Exeter, R. I., who died November 21, 1855, in Preston. Children :
EUNICE, born in Rhode Island; died May 19, 1873, aged 70, in Norwich; married Elnathan Terry, whose death oc- curred June 25, 1866, in Norwich, aged 71.
MARY, born November 18, 1804, in Preston; died Janu- ary 27, 1883, in Bainbridge; married Charles Eccleston of Preston.
STEPHEN, born August 7, 1806, in Preston ; died January 20, 1892, in Oxford; married Aurilla Eccleston, born
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August 29, 1810, in Preston; died December 9, 1885, in Oxford. Children: Hiram E., born February 7, 1838; died March 22, 1880, in Oxford; married Jane Webb. Henry C., twin to Hiram, died June 12, 1892, in Oxford; married Mercy Edmunds. Arvine S., married Sarah Loomis of Smithville; resides in Oxford.
CLARK, born December 23, 1808, in Preston; died July 31, 1893, in Oxford; married October 22, 1839, Mary Strat- ton of South Oxford; born May 26, 1821, in South Oxford ; died March 21, 1873, in Oxford. Children: George W., enlisted in the United States Navy August 15, 1862, for one year, and was discharged October 15, 1863. He en- listed from New York and first served on U. S. Bark " Arthur " from Pensecola, Fla., for about five months. Transferred to U. S. Bark " Anderson," for a time on blockade duty at Aransas Pass, Texas. Married Olive A. Brooks of Oxford, who died March 31, 1904. Marietta, married (1) J. B. Jenkins of Oneida ; married (2) A. Van- Emburgh of Ridgewood, N. J. Charlotte A., married Enoch Henry Currier, principal of the New York Institu- tion for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb.
Before coming to Oxford Clark Lewis was for a few years engaged in the lumber business in Pennsylvania. In 1838 he came to Oxford and in partnership with his brother Stephen bought the grist and saw mill one mile south of the village. In 1850 he bought the plaster, grist, and lumber mill in the village, now owned by Fletcher and Corbin; here he did a large business, as he had a planing mill in connection with the plant. Before the Civil war he did a thriving business in plaster and employed many hands at the mill. During the winter months when the sleighing was at its height the farmers coming from neigh- boring towns, Morris, Unadilla, Sidney, and other outlying villages, would reach Oxford in the afternoon, trade at the
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stores, spend the night at the hotel, and in the early morn- ing get their load of plaster and start for home. Up to the serious flood of 1865 he had prospered and acquired wealth, but the great losses he sustained in mill and stock from water damage ruined him, and he never recovered therefrom. Previous to this he erected the building known as the Lewis block, now owned by C. A. Gillman, T. C. Pettis, and T. W. Robinson, on the third floor of which was a ballroom extending the whole length of the building. This ballroom was on several occasions the scene of large dancing parties, under the auspices of the Masonic fra- ternity, and the firemen, and during the Civil war, luncheon was served in this same room to the 114th Regi- ment by the ladies of Oxford on their departure from and their return to the county. Mr. Lewis's residence was on Clinton street, now the home of C. O. Wilcox.
HANNAH, born November 21, 1810, in Preston; died February 23, 1900, in McDonough; married September 4, 1836, William R. Burdick, born May 5, 1812, in Pharsalia, N. Y .; died March 3, 1893, in McDonough. He lived for some time in Oxford, where he learned the currier's trade in the Mygatt tannery. Children: Oresta L., married Rev. William L. Hiller; died November 6, 1901, in Par- sons, Pa. Lewis Dayton, born in Guilford, N. Y .; was educated at Oxford Academy and Fairfield Seminary, Herkimer county. He entered Madison University, now Colgate, and completed nearly half the classical course when he left and enlisted in Co. K, 10th N. Y. Cavalry. He was commissioned second lieutenant with rank from September 30, 1862, but owing to protracted ill health resigned December 18, same year. Mr. Burdick taught public and private schools in Guilford, Otselic, Smithville, Earlville, and McDonough, and for some time was em- ployed in the First National Bank of Oxford. He has
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written occasionally for publications since 1860 on literary, political, religious, historical, and oriental subjects. He is the author of several books, which have received many flattering notices from the leading journals of the country. His books have been published in the order named, viz. : Through Field and Wood, Foundation Rites, Magic and Husbandry, Oriental Studies, and The Hand. Mr. Bur- dick resides in Oxford, and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Folk-Lore Society, and Corresponding Member of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Sarah L., died June 9, 1875, in McDonough, unmarried. Mary E., married William Eber Jones and resides in Oxford. Erford W., married Charlotte Brundige of Gilbertsville, and re- sides in Chicago. Ellen H., died December 4, 1878, in Mc- Donough, unmarried. Henry R., died in childhood.
SARAH, born July 24, 1813, in Preston; died January 3, 1814, in Preston.
SAMUEL, twin to above, died August 29, 1816, in Preston.
IRA W., deaf mute, born March 16, 1815, in Preston; died suddenly November 21, 1893, in Preston; married Catherine P. Ellerson, deaf mute. Children: William, Prudence, Catherine, James, John, Charles, Sarah.
EDWARD, born August 16, 1817, in Preston ; died in child- hood.
SAMUEL E., born August 9, 1819, in Preston; died on the old homestead October 24, 1885; was a member of Assem- bly from this county in 1861. Married (1) Maryette Tur- ner; married (2) Lydia Smith; married (3) Lemira D. Sanford. Children by second wife: Wilson D., deceased.
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S. Edward. Child by third wife: Florence married Hubert C. Stratton, Esq., of Oxford.
SARAH E., died in childhood.
CLARINDA, died in childhood.
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