USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 19
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Those who turn over the leaves of this vol- ume will be interested in viewing the portrait of Mr. Charles O. Root, which has a place very near the present sketch, and may well
congratulate themselves on the progress in pictorial art which renders it possible to pre- sent in a popular work such good likenesses of worthy and favorite citizens.
LIVER II. WILLARD, a descendant of one of the first settlers of this country, was born at Chenango Forks, Broome County, N. Y., November 26, 1817, son of Deacon Oliver Willard, who was a native of Lenox, Mass., born April 24, 1783. The latter was one of four sons of Simon Willard; namely, Horace, Oliver, Joseph, and Simon. The wife of Simon Willard was, by maiden name, Abigail Belden; and he himself was the son of Solomon Willard, of Petersham, Mass., who was the son of Deacon William Willard and grandson of Major Simon Willard, a native of Liverpool, Eng- land, who came to Boston in May, 1634.
Ilis descendant, Deacon Oliver Willard, resided in Lenox, Mass., until reaching ma- turity, and there learned the trade of clothier and the manufacturing, dressing, and dyeing . of woollen goods. Ilis father having died some time before, he emigrated in the spring of 1805, with his mother and two apprentice boys named Stevens, to Chenango Forks, making the journey, which occupied about six weeks, in lumber wagons. The country through which they passed was wild and uncultivated, but beautiful to the eye and rich with the promise of future harvests. On arriving at the end of their journey, Mr. Wil- lard erected a log house, and set to work to
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establish a home for his family. In company with Simon Rogers and John Barker he built the first dam across the Chenango River, its location being in the centre of the town. He then erected a factory for carding, weaving, and dyeing cloth. His neighbors, Rogers and Barker, built a saw-mill, all three using water power provided by the dam, the result of their joint labors. Mr. Willard then re- turned to Lenox, Mass., and there married Orilla Matomb, bringing her West with him to his new home, where they lived together two years. His wife and infant child dying, in the year 1813 he married again, his second wife being Lydia Hall, also of Lenox, Mass. She became the mother of six children; namely, Emma, Orilla, Oliver H., Emily, Fanny, and John M.
Selling his business to the brothers Stevens, Deacon Willard purchased two hun- dred acres of uncultivated land on the line of Broome and Chenango Counties, and in 1818 built a hotel on a part of his farm near the river. This became known as Willard's Cof- fce House, but is now called Willard Station. Hle moved into the hotel when completed, and occupied himself in clearing and cultivating his new land. In 1821 he was one of the organizers of the Congregational church, and was an active member and Deacon of it from that time until his death. ITis wife, Lydia Ilall Willard, dying May 24, 1827, and leav- ing him with six small children, he married for his third wife Harriet Hollister, of Amenia, N.Y. By this marriage he had four children, who arrived at maturity, their names
being Sarah, Simon, Harriet, and Electa. Only the second and third are living at this date. Deacon Willard's third wife died June II, 1837; and, turning over the control of his hotel to his son Oliver H., he built a house on his farm, and moved his family there, marrying for his fourth wife Ann C. Gates, of Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y. She died June 5, 1854. Deacon Willard remained on his farm until his death, which occurred June 5, 1867. He was well known, and highly re- spected throughout his vicinity, taking an active interest in public affairs and holding several offices. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, and served the public well in his official capacity.
His son, Oliver H. Willard, received a common-school education, and learned the clothier's trade, continuing to work at it until he arrived at the age of twenty-six, when on October 20, 1843, he married Deborah Ann Richards, and succeeded his father in the management of the hotel, residing therein until July 15, 1870, when he sold the prop- erty to the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. Having previously pur- chased a farm, he moved on to it, and engaged in the occupation of raising stock. On this farm he still resides. From 1840 to 1865 Mr. Willard was a large speculator in live stock, shipping cattle, sheep, and hogs to the New York market, and also dealing in Canada .. horses. Ile has owned considerable land at different times, and among the rest owns now a large tract at Allegany, Cattaraugus County, N.Y.
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Mrs. Willard was born in Rye, Westchester County, N. Y., June 13, 1827, and is the daughter of Morgan and Armenia (Theal) Richards, the former of whom was a native of Mamaroneck, N. Y., born there October 4, 1804, and son of Isaac Richards. The last- named was a sea-captain, who died while on the ocean. llis son Morgan, father of Mrs. Willard, was a cotton-spinner by occupation, and moved to North Fenton, Broome County, N. Y., in June, 1842, making the journey by vessel to Albany, thence by canal to Fenton, where he took up land, and partly cleared and cultivated it. He and his wife had five chil- dren ; namely, Deborah Ann, George, Charles M., Undrill, and Juliette. Of these, four are now living.
Oliver H. Willard and his wife became the parents of five children, as follows : Lucy J., born May 2, 1845; Revelo C., April 15, 1848; Wilbur G., May 10, 1854; Rose A., September 11, 1855; and Frank L., July 12, 1858. The first of these, Lucy J., married James W. Tombs, February 23, 1864. Mr. Tombs has held the position of station agent at Willard Station since the Utica branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad was built. 1Ie and his wife have had three children born to them: Herbert W., who married Hattie Kenyon, and has two children, Willard K. and Lelah G .; George R .; and Grace M. The second son, Revelo C., after finishing his studies at the district school, took a full course at the Commercial College at Syracuse. He was married March 19, 1866, to Alice E. Salisbury, daughter of Dr.
E. L. and Eveline Salisbury, of Killawog, N. Y. They have one son, Oliver L. Revelo C. Willard was first engaged in the lumber business, and then purchased an interest in the Bell Telephone Company. This he sold out to accept a position in the employ of the Utica & Binghamton Railroad Company, as overseer of the painting department of bridges and buildings. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and has held several offices, being at the present time Justice of the Peace.
Wilbur G. Willard was graduated at Cort- land Normal School, and took up the occu- pation of teaching, remaining thus engaged several terms. He died August 13, 1878. Rose A. Willard was married in 1876 to Albert D. McDonald, son of Asa and Eliza- beth McDonald. In 1885 she went with her husband to Dwight, Neb., where Mr. Mc- Donald took charge of a large stock farm. He died December 9, 1893; and his wife came back to Chenango Forks, where she now resides. Frank L., the youngest son of Oliver II. Willard, was married December 3, 1879, to Lottie 1 .. English, daughter of William and Catherine English, of Chenango Forks, N. Y. He was engaged in the meat market business in Binghamton for some nine years, and later followed the road as travelling sales- man, being thus engaged three years. 1Ie then leased the Eagle Hotel at Windsor, and is employed in its management at the present time. He and his wife have one daughter, Anna May, born August 8, 1889.
Oliver H. Willard has taken an active part in politics, and has held several offices, such
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as Supervisor, Assessor, and Justice of the Peace. Hle is a Free Mason, a member of Eastern Light Lodge, No. 120. His busi- ness methods have always been honorable. He has never been sued. It is worthy of mention that in the Willard family, from the earliest generation of which there is any record, there has been not a single inebriate, criminal, or pauper. Most of the members have been Presbyterians in religious faith and Democrats in politics ; and all have performed the part of good citizens, and dealt in justice, honor, and charity with their fellow-men.
OSEPH W. HOBBS, attorney and coun- sellor-at-law, founder of the largest carriage manufactory in the vicinity of Nineveh, N. Y., was born October 8, 1821, in the village of Andes, Delaware County, son of Samuel and Catherine (Williams) Hobbs, who were also natives of that county. Jonas Hobbs, father of Samuel, a native of Ver- mont, was one of the pioneer settlers of Dela- ware County. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed this occupation until his death at the age of ninety-two years. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this biography, George Williams, was a drum-major in the British army at the time of the Revolution- ary War, and came here with his regiment to fight the rebellious colonists." But he was not long in this country before he felt the justice of the patriots' cause, and, leaving the service of King George, joined General Washington's forces, and fought for American
independence during the rest of the war. He seems to have been of a naturally martial character; for he afterward volunteered in the War of 1812, and died in the service. Sam- nel Hobbs was one of ten children. Like his father, he worked at the "gentle craft of leather," but was not equally long-lived. He died at the early age of thirty-three years, leaving a wife and five children, of whom Joseph W. was the eldest, and at that time only eight years of age. It was a sad be- reavement for this young mother; but she bravely bore her sorrow, and reared and edu- cated those fatherless little ones. While the children are now all grown, the mother who watched and tended them sleeps her last sleep in the beautiful village cemetery. The fol- lowing are the brothers and sisters of Joseph W. Hobbs: Ephraim G., residing in De Kalb County, Illinois; Olive, Mrs. Edward McIn- tire, of St. Louis, Mo .; Jonas, a millwright in Nineveh, N. Y .; and Sarah, Mrs. Walton Babcock, of Oswego County, New York.
.. Joseph was but a mere boy when he started out to work at what he could find to do. He first engaged on a farm, where he remained a short time, and then learned shoemaking. At the age of seventeen he went to Ilamden, Delaware County, N. Y., and there began the business of his life, and laid the foundation of his future prosperity by learning the trade of carriage-making. So well did he progress that at the age of twenty-two he was compe- tent to start into business for himself, which he carried on at Delhi for two years. In 1845 Mr. Ilobbs located his carriage manu-
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factory at Nineveh in the town of Coles- ville, Broome County, starting in a humble way, giving it his active personal supervision, extending it gradually, and in 1870 turning it over to his sons, George W. and Charles H. IJobbs. Mr. Ilobbs studied law when a young man about twenty years old; and, that profession having more attraction for him than any other, he turned to it with renewed ardor when his circumstances permitted him to do so, and now attends to it as his sole employment.
At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Joseph W. Hobbs married Miss Mary E. Williams, who was born December 25, 1823, in Dela - ware County. He and his wife are now among the oldest residents of Nineveh, and are well known and esteemed throughout Broome County. Mr. Hobbs has filled many local offices, among them Commissioner of Highways for three years, and Justice of the Peace for eighteen years. He is practically independent in politics, voting for the best man instead of party candidates. He is prominent in social and business circles of his town, and his reputation as a courteous and well informed gentleman stands second to none in the county. In their religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs are Universalists, cher- ishing the eternal hope for all, seeking to make the most and best of the life that now is, and trusting the Father for that which is to come.
The firm of Hobbs Brothers, who have been proprietors of the Hobbs Carriage Works since 1870, are George W. and Charles H.
George was born in Delhi, Delaware County, N. Y., November 2, 1843; and his brother, Charles II., in Nineveh, Broome County, April 22, 1845. George grew to manhood, and was educated in Broome County district schools and at the Harpursville Academy. He studied law for two years in his father's office, and then taught school for three years. For a few years he was engaged in business as a collector, and afterward went to work in the carriage factory of his father. Since owning the factory, Ilobbs Brothers have increased its equipment and its busi- ness. They make a specialty of turning out the finest kind of work in light and heavy carriages, and also manufacture the Bike sulky, having had a large trade in this new invention. The firm employ from fifteen to twenty men, and their average sales amount to thirty-five thousand dollars per year. They are wide-awake, energetic, and progressive young men, and are among the foremost citi- zens of their town. Charles H. Hobbs, be- sides his interest in the carriage works, is also successfully engaged in the insurance . business.
The two brothers married sisters, daugh- ters of the late Lyman and Emily Buck, of Afton, Chenango County. The marriage of George W. Ilobbs and Miss Ellen S. Buck occurred on November 2, 1864; that of Charles H. Hobbs and Miss Florence T. Buck on October 20, 1869. The brothers are, like their father, independent in politics and liberal Christians 'in religion. These gentlemen are eminently useful citizens,
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their factory giving employment to many skilled mechanics, and thus incidentally bringing trade to the village. Where one useful industry prospers, it helps others to thrive.
FREDRIC W. JENKINS, EsQ., is the third partner of one of the leading professional firms of Binghamton, N. Y. - Carver, Deyo & Jenkins, attorneys - at - law. Ilis parents, Jeremiah D. and Melissa Abbie (French) Jenkins, lived in Rochester, Straf- ford County, N. II., where he was born May 12, 1859. The Jenkins family were among the very carly New Englanders. Jeremiah D. was born on the homestead which was set- tled by his grandfather, who went there from Portsmouth, N.H., about 1770, when that part of the country was a wilderness. His wife, Melissa A. French, was born in Strat- ham, N.H. The family, on the father's side, had been for many generations members of the Society of Friends. In later years the family, on the mother's side, were all con- nected with the Baptist communion. They were of very old New Hampshire ancestry.
The subject of this sketch received an ex- cellent classical and professional education, pursuing his studies first at the common schools of his native town, then at the Austin Academy, Exeter Iligh School, and the fa- mous Phillips Academy at Exeter, N. H., and graduating at the Columbia Law School, Washington, D.C. Having entered govern- ment service while yet a student, he was ordered away to a distant State a few days
previous to the conferring of degrees, and hence, not being able to appear in person before the college faculty, failed to receive the degree of LL. B. to which he was en- titled. He afterward read law in the office at Dover, N.H., of the Hon. Joshua G. Hall, then member of Congress, and was admitted to the bar by examination at Concord, N.II., August, 1884. He practised law for a short time in Rochester, N.II., and later was for three years a special agent of the United States Pension Office, being employed by the government in New York, l'ennsylvania, Ne- braska, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming, travelling over most of those States. In July, 1886, he resigned that position, and came to Binghamton, N.Y., to enter into his present partnership, the other members of the firm being David H. Carver and the Hon. Israel T. Deyo. 1
The firm has a very large practice, and makes a specialty of corporation law, in which Mr. Jenkins is particularly well versed. They are attorneys for a number of the strong- est corporations of Binghamton, N. Y., and also do a general business in civil cases.
On March 20, '1889, Mr. Jenkins was ap- pointed United States Commissioner for the Northern District of New York, which in- cludes all of the State north of the north line of Pennsylvania extended cast.
Ile married Miss Minnie L. Boalt, of Una- dilla, N.Y., daughter of Charles A. Boalt, August 5, 1884. They have one child, Min- nie Ethel. The family attend the First Con- gregational Church of Binghamton, of which
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Mr. Jenkins is a member of the Prudential Committee, and one of the most active men in the church. He has been for three years superintendent of the Bible school, which is a large and flourishing branch of the church. He was united with the Congregational church in his youth, while attending school at Exeter, N.II. In the Masonic Order he is a member of the Otseningo Lodge, No. 435, Binghamton Chapter, No. 139, and Malta Commandery, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Jenkins is very highly regarded by the community, as a consistent and honorable man, an carnest promoter of just and beneficial work, filling ably and worthily the various positions he has been called to hold as a church member and as an American citizen.
ILLIAM RUFUS SHIPMAN, a successful merchant of the village of Triangle, was born in Cortland County, June 15, 1847, a son of Lawson Shipman, who was born December 27, 1820. David Shipman, father of Lawson, was a farmer in Otsego County, where he was born about 1776. He was there married to Sophronia Wentworth, who was also a native of that county. They settled in Cortland County, where they purchased a small farm. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom reached adult life; and two are now living, namely: Lawson; and Samantha, the wife of Milo Cook, residing in the West. The father of these children died in 1849, and the mother in 1850.
May 15, 1842, Lawson Shipman was mar- ried to Julia Ann Brown, a daughter of Rufus and Lucy (Jacobs) Brown. They began life together on a farm of their own, which in 1858 they sold, and moved then to the town of Triangle, Broome County. Here, after living on one farm for ten years, they sold it, and moved to an eighty-acre farm on the west side of the Tioughnioga River, near where now stands the post-office of Itaska. About seven years later he sold this place or exchanged it for a stock of goods at Chenango Forks. He was in trade there but one year, when he was burned out, and sustained a heavy loss. In 1878 he moved to his present farm of forty- three acres, where in 1892 his wife died, leaving three children, namely: William Rufus; "David Franklin, of Greene, Chenango County, a wagon-maker by trade, having one son, William; and Marion D., wife of Joseph W. Eggleston, who is a farmer in Triangle.
William R. Shipman received a fair educa- tion in the district schools, in which he early excelled in penmanship, to him an art easily acquired. He attended D. D. Ames's Busi- ness College in Syracuse, and became profi- cient, and then taught writing school for some years, first in Syracuse, and then in the Commercial College at Binghamton, N. Y. In 1875 he went to Chippewa County, Wis- consin, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he owned for about eight years, and then sold it. He followed his pro- fession somewhat during the time he was in the West, writing cards and executing other
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artistic chirography. Returning to the State of New York in 1883, he bought a farm of ninety acres near Triangle, and for four years was engaged in agriculture. He then sold the farm, and purchased his present business. He has been Postmaster four years of the time since moving here.
1Ie was married February 2, 1869, to Net- tie Purdy, a daughter of Joseph and Armenia (Palmer) Purdy. Her parents were origi- nally from Westchester County, New York, and later were engaged in farming near Greene, in Chenango County, where her mother died at the age of seventy-three. Fif- teen years after, in 1892, her father died in Broome County, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Mrs. Shipman is the youngest of ten children, of whom four sisters and two brothers are living. The latter are: William Edward, a farmer of this county ; and Floyd J., of Triangle. Mr. and Mrs. Shipman have buried one son, Marshall, at the age of seven years, and have two children living: Lida, wife of William Leonard, a farmer in the town of Barker, having one son and one daughter; and Burdette, a boy of thirteen. Mr. Shipman affiliates with the Republican party, has been Town Collector, and stands well in the community.
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LY O. EVARTS, for six years the effi- cient Superintendent of Streets, a well- known resident of the city of Binghamton, N.Y., was born in the town of Kirkwood, Broome County, N.Y., September 5, 1838,
son of Samuel and Betsy (Osborn) Evarts. Amos Evarts, the father of Samuel, was a native of New England, and an early settler of Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, N. Y., where he was engaged in the manufacture of glass until the time of his death. His wife survived him many years, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gideon Hotchkiss, in the town of Windsor. Samuel Evarts was born in the town of Sand Lake, April 20, 1809, and when a young man removed to Broome County, where he found employment on the farm of Ely Osborn, a prominent farmer of Osborn Hollow, now called Sana- taria Springs. On March 26, 1830, Mr. Evarts married Miss Betsy Osborn, daughter of his employer, and immediately located on a portion of the land of his father-in-law, at whose death he became owner of the whole property of two hundred acres. Ile followed farming for his occupation through life, dying March 16, 1873, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife died June 16, 1871. Three children were born to their marriage, namely : Parthenia Anna, who died in infancy; Ellen Antoinette, Mrs. Johnson Atwood, who died at the age of twenty years, leaving one child, Theodore; and Ely O. Evarts.
The maternal great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Lot Osborn, who was born.in Denmark, and went to England, , where he remained for some time, and then emigrated to America, settling in Watertown, Conn., and making that place his permanent home. Ilis great-grandson, Ely Osborn, was . born in Watertown, July 16, 1768, and re-
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moved to Broome County, New York, about the year 1790. He married Miss Parthenia Guernsey, of Windsor; and his first home was at North Osborn Hollow, where he resided for some years, then removing to South Osborn Hollow, where he died November 18, 1835. He and his wife reared two children: Anna M., born July 6, 1801, who became the wife of Jedediah Bump; and Betsy, born October 16, 1804, who married Samuel Evarts, above named. The Osborns were an old and deeply respected family, and prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, giving valuable assistance always to its organizations throughout that region. They were of high social position, and contributed in no small degree toward the formation of an excellent class of citizens, whose descendants to-day are among the best in the county.
Ely O. Evarts received a good practical education in the district schools of his native town, and remained with his father until of age, when he bought the home farm, and took care of his parents as long as they lived. He continued farming until 1878, then removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he opened a meat market, following this business for about two years. Receiving an appointment on the police force, he served for fourteen months only, being obliged to resign at the end of that time on account of ill-health. Ilis next venture was in the hide and wool trade, which, with his partner, Mr. Leander Davis, he conducted for some years. In 1887 Mr. Evarts was appointed by the City Council of Binghamton to be Superintendent of Streets
for one year, and in 1888 was again ap- pointed. It was during this year that the Board of Street Commissioners was created by law, giving them the power to elect the Superintendent ; but Mr. Evarts still held the office until the expiration of his term, by virtue of his election by the Council. He was unanimously re-elected at the end of the term, and was Superintendent of Streets in all six years, and only avoided a continuance in the office by positively refusing to accept it any longer. While in office, he annually disbursed about thirty-five thousand dollars, exclusive of the expense of paving and sew- age; and the city was never better or more efficiently managed as to its order and clean- liness than when under his care.
Mr. Evarts was married to Miss Ellen M. Darling, of Dutchess County, New York, September 1, 1855. Three children were born to them, namely: Mary E., Mrs. Albert Surdam, of Binghamton; Nettie E., Mrs. Mont F. Butterfield, of Oneonta, N. Y .; and Bessie E., wife of A. E. Wilbur, of Bing- hamton. Mr. Evarts has accumulated a com- petence, and now, living a practically retired life, enjoys his pleasant home, fairly won by his own honest endeavors. He is a member of the Centenary Methodist Church, and takes a lively interest in its welfare and in its work. He has been Chairman of the Board of Stewards for a number of years, and has also occupied other positions in the church. Mr. Evarts adheres to the Republican party in his politics, and is a popular man in the organization.
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