USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 100
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Mrs. Jane Peters, his wife, died at Bloom- ville, March 7, 1879, at the age of sixty-eight years, after having spent a busy and in many respects an exemplary life. Of slight frame and never physically strong, she shared the spirit of activity and ambition which has char- acterized the life of her husband. Her kind disposition and gentle manners deserved and were rewarded with the respect of all with whom she mingled. Her remains are resting beside those of her husband's parents, Richard and Susannah Peters, who, after living about twenty years in Cortland County, returned to Delaware that they might spend their last days near the scenes of their early married
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life, and in the year 1853 were, within a few weeks of each other, laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Bloomville. Mr. John Peters is living with his son, William B. Peters, at Bloom- ville, hale and hearty, and still full of busi- ness projects, at the age of ninety-one years. His long and active life, crowding hard upon a century, has been to a greater extent than that of any other man now living identified with the history of the village in which he dwells.
ILLIAM B. PETERS, third child and eldest son of John Peters and Jane Blakely, was born in the town of Stamford, Delaware County, N. Y., Decem- ber 23, 1837, in the same house in which his father first saw the light, and took his name
from his maternal grandfather, William Blakely. Since the age of twelve years he has been a resident of Bloomville, having removed with his parents to that village in 1850, on the same day in which Simon B. Champion, the now venerable editor of the Stamford Mirror, took up his abode therein. Being a boy of an inquisitive turn of mind, his time for the following four years was about equally divided between the district schoolhouse, his father's store, and the print- ing-office, with odds probably in favor of the latter. At the age of sixteen he was placed in Harpersfield Union Academy, at that time under the supervision of the Rev. Robert Rogers, and remained for two years, at the end of which time he entered Delaware Acad- emy at Delhi, in the old building which is now standing, opposite the County Clerk's office, it being the first term in which Profes- sor John L. Sawyer was in control of that in- stitution. He remained a student there for about three years, during which time the pres- ent buildings were erected and the school was removed into its more commodious quarters ; and during the same time he taught two win- ter terms of school. At twenty-one years of age he entered into mercantile business at Bloomville with Samuel McCune, under the firm name of McCune & Peters, and the fol- lowing winter was elected Justice of the Peace, his opponent being the honorable Stephen H. Keeler, now deceased.
July 17, 1861, four days previous to the battle of Bull Run, he married Hannah Rich, of South Kortright, daughter of James Rich and Jane Southard, and a grand-daughter of the Rev. Robert Forrest. Mrs. Peters is a sister of Captain John Rich, late of Jackson- ville, Fla. Like her husband, Mrs. Peters was for a time a student at Delaware Acad- emy under the tutorage of Professor Sawyer. During the war Mr. Peters was a member of the town board, and was for some time en- gaged in the recruiting service, being later appointed to assist Colonel Robert Parker and the Hon. James H. Graham in looking after the just apportionment of State military credits in Delaware County, at Albany, and elsewhere. After the war, having closed out his mercantile business, he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits on what was then known as the John Bathrick farm in Bloomville, and continued to make this his business, in part, for about four years. In this short period he entitled himself, as he declares, to be re- garded as one of the most unsuccessful farmers in the community; and, feeling a particular respect for men who succeed in employments where he cannot, he to this day feels like raising his hat when he meets a prosperous farmer. Mathematics was his favorite study, and he had a special fondness for mechanical pursuits. The astonishing development of the watch-making industry about 1870 led him to engage in the watch and jewelry business; and this occupation, together with that of sur- veying, to which he has from boyhood given more or less attention, have for the past twenty-five years furnished him with sufficient and fairly remunerative employment. As a surveyor and draughtsman, Mr. Peters is said to have no superior in Delaware County.
Mr. and Mrs. Peters have had a family of four children, three daughters and one son, named, respectively, Jennie, who died at the age of eleven years; Lizziebell, who pursued a course of study at Delaware Academy, and afterward graduated from the Oneonta Normal School; James R., who was for a time a stu- dent at Delaware Academy, and also at D. L. Moody's school at Mount Hermon, Mass. ; and Sarah, who finished a course of study at Delaware Academy.
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HERMAN STREET BOUTON
was born in Griffin's Corners, May 17, 1864, son of David A. and Rollins (Covell) Bouton. His great-grandfather Bouton came from West- chester County, and settled in Delaware
County in 1807. David A. Bouton, Sr., son of the emigrant, moved from Batavia Kill to Beaver Dam, and thence, in 1823, to Red Kill, where he bought seventy-five acres of land, and made his permanent home. He served in the War of 1812. He married Katie Williams; and they reared ten chil- dren, briefly named as follows: John Bouton married Betsey Smith. Katie married D. Northrop. Betsey married the same after her sister's death. Walter is deceased. Avery A. married H. Richards. Polly married S. Reynolds. Louisa married Henry Powell; and Sarah, her twin sister, married Martin Kelly. Julia married Mr. Thomas O'Connor. David A., Jr., married Miss Rollins Covell, and was the father of Sherman S. Bouton, the first white child born in Halcott, Greene County.
David A. Bouton, Jr., settled on the farm of the wife's father, to which he added two hundred and fifty acres, and upon which he built houses and barns, and made many im- provements. Here on the family estate seven children were born. John died in the Civil War. Avery A. married Anna K. Lasher. Harley married Gilbert Moseman, living in Halcott. Mary married three times, first to D. A. Morrison, second to L. Faulkner, and third to C. Sanford; she has one child, and lives in Margarettville. Daniel H. married Ettie Lasher, by whom he had one child, and after her death married Minnie Newton. Henry married Mary Van Valcurbing.
Sherman S. Bouton was the youngest child of his parents. He received his education at Griffin's Corners, and at the age of twenty- three years was united in marriage to Hattie Todd, the daughter of John and Emily (Utter) Todd. Mr. Todd is a successful farmer at Dry Brook, Middletown, and has reared a family of seven children: Charles; Warren; Nettie; Hattie, Mrs. Bouton; Bertha; Liz- zie; and Ida. Mr. Bouton established a gro- cery and ice-cream parlor in the village of
Griffin's Corners, which he conducted for two years. He then came to Margarettville, and, buying the Scriven place, converted it into a restaurant, and later on enlarged it into a hotel, which he has conducted successfully, and in a way to elicit the commendation of his patrons and the travelling public who enjoy his hospitality. Mr. Bouton is full of busi- ness enterprise and public spirit, and has been among the foremost in every project for the advancement and development of the town's resources. In the parlance of the present era of active effort, he is a "boomer." In politi- cal faith he holds fast to Republican tradi- tions. He has one son, Forrest, born July 13, 1888.
ILLIAM THOMSON BLACK, who is holding the highest office in his town to-day, is a grandson of Will- iam Black, a Scotch herdsman who came to seek his fortune in America in 1841, and who settled on a farm in Bovina, Delaware County. He left seven children, four of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Mary Whitson, of Dutchess County ; Mrs. Jane Taylor, of Andes; Mrs. Rebecca Thompson, of Minne- sota; the Rev. James Black, of Hamilton, Ontario. David, the father of William T., and two others, are dead.
David was a boy of seventeen when he came to America, and was a farm laborer for some years before he became a land-owner. His first possessions lay in Grant County, Wiscon- sin; but he moved back to Delaware County, and here he spent the last years of his life. He died in 1883. His wife, Margaret Thom- son, who was fourteen years his junior, died thirteen years before him. David was an honest, industrious man, who held the respect of the entire community in which he lived. He was an Elder in the United Presbyterian church, in whose communion he lived and died; and he was elected Supervisor for eleven consecutive terms. He left two sons - William T. and James, the latter a Presby- terian clergyman in Boston, Mass. Two
other children died in childhood.
William T. Black was born in Beetown, Grant County, Wis., on August 5, 1861. He
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grew up in Bovina, where he was educated in the district school. Opportunity for pursuing a higher course of study was denied him, as the management of the farm fell to his lot at his father's death. In his youth he taught school for two terms, which helped, no doubt, to fix thoroughly in his mind the learning he had already acquired. The homestead has now passed into his hands, and has been re- modelled and greatly improved. He takes a pardonable pride in the three dozen Jersey cows, whose cream and butter are of wide local reputation. On his farm is one of the finest groves of larches to be found in Bovina.
In 1885 Mr. Black was married to Miss Bell J. Irvine, a daughter of Henry and Jean- nette (Ainslie) Irvine, of Delhi. Both he and his wife are members of the United Pres- byterian church in Bovina Centre, of which he is a Trustee. William Black is a Repub- lican in politics. He is a very capable man of affairs, well informed, and possessed of sound sense. He is now acceptably serving his second term as Supervisor.
J. GEORGE is a prominent farmer, residing in Arkville, in Middletown, Delaware County, and was born on the site of his present home, July 24, 1843. His great-grandfather was John George, of whom more may be found in the biography of Hiram N. George. Henry George, son of John, married Elizabeth Trem- per; and their fourth son was Edward, who married Olive Todd, and became the father of the special subject of this sketch. Edward George received his education in a log school- house. At the age of nineteen he learned coopering. About this time his marriage took place, his wife being a daughter of Lyman and Polly (Craft) Todd. Buying the homestead farm, he built thereon a new frame house, besides a saw-mill. This land he finished clearing, and then bought more, so that in time he owned five hundred and seventy-five acres. The timber was worked up in his mill, and then sold, mostly in the neighborhood, though a small quantity was shipped to Philadelphia. By these enter- prises he was able to leave a comfortable fort-
une when he died, at the age of sixty-seven. He had two children. The eldest is the sub- ject of this sketch. The other is a sister, Catherine George, the wife of Abraham Broadkill, of Beaver Hill, and has three chil- dren. Their father was a Republican, and a very influential and honorable citizen. The mother has outlived her husband, and is still a cheerful Christian of the Methodist Episco- pal faith.
A. J. George went to the public school in the Arkville district, and, like his father, early began life for himself, being married at the age of twenty, during the great Rebellion, to Hannah Elizabeth Myres, who was born in April, 1843, and was therefore his senior by a few months. She was the daughter of Jacob Myres, a farmer in Margarettville. Her
grandfather, Henry Myres, married Catherine Shaver. He was born in Germany, but came in early life to this country, and settled at Shavertown, where he met his wife, by whom he became the father of fifteen children. Those who grew up were: Jacob, George, Henry, William, Adam, Sally, Betsy, Cather- ine, and Jane Myres. Jacob Myres reared seven children. Of these Jackson Myres mar- ried Catherine Gavett, of Pine Hill, and has seven children. James Myres married Har- riet Wycoff, lives in Margarettville, and has five children. Catherine Myres married Wes- ley Gavett, of Livingston Manor, and has three children. Daniel Myres died in the great Rebellion, fighting for his country's honor. Hannah Myres is Mrs. George. May Myres is the wife of Jackson Corbin, of Rox- bury, and has four children. Charles Myres married Sarah Slack, lives in Margarettville, and has one child. In youth Mr. George worked with his father, lumbering and farm- ing, and now is the owner of the old home- stead; but he has built a new residence, and done much to keep the estate fully up to the times. He keeps twenty-five cows, and also has thirty head of other cattle, four horses, and fifty sheep. In fact he is the most exten- sive farmer in the valley.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. George has been blessed with five children. Edward J. George was born February 5, 1866, and lives at Griffin's Corners, in this county. Marcus
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was born July 14, 1870, and lives at home. Merritt was born February 6, 1873, and has followed the paternal and grand-paternal ex- ample in his youthful marriage to Lillie War- ren; and they live at Griffin's Corners, with onc child. Cyrus George was born Novem- ber 13, 1875, and lives on the home farm; and so does Harvey George, born October 21, 1879. Arthur George was born May 10, 1868, and died at the early age of four. In polities Mr. George is a Republican. Thc Greek poet, Hesiod, has wisely written, “Let it please thce to keep in order a moderate- sized farm, that so thy garners may be full of fruits in their season." Hardly can the George farm be called moderate in size, but its owner faithfully obeys thc injunction to keep it in prime shape.
BENEZER LAIDLAW, of Margarett- ville, was born in the town of Andes, July 28, 1828. His grandparents, Thomas and Margaret (Stewart) Laidlaw, were both natives of Hawick, Scotland, wherc Thomas was a spinner in a woollen factory. Three children were born to them: namely, William, Ebenezer, and Mary. Thomas carne to America in 1823, and bought in New Kingston, Delaware County, a farm of one hundred and cighty acres of land, which was of more than ordinary value, as it had already been cultivated and improved. He died at eighty-seven years of age, being a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Whig.
William Laidlaw settled in Weaver Hollow in Andes, where he purchased two hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land. The lcase of the previous tenant having run out, William took the estate on a new lease, the contract of which stipulated for twenty bushels of wheat a year as rental. He pur- chased this farm eventually, and married Miss Isabella Liddle, by whom he had twelve chil- dren, briefly mentioned as follows: Andrew, who married Margaret Miller, and to whom were born six children; Ebenezer, of whom this memoir is written; Thomas, who married Catherine Robertson, and is now a farmer in Kansas; Margaret, who married Daniel Hizer, became a widow in 1891, and is the mother of
seven children, and lives in Andes; Stewart, a farmer and blacksmith, who married Mary Johnson, and has a family of five children; Christina, who married James Reynolds, and has one child; James, who died young; Will- iam, Jr., who was in the war, and now lives in Michigan; John, deceased; Mary, who marricd James Miller, and has five children ; Isabella, who married F. Ferguson, a farmer of Bovina, and has three children; Alexander, who married Milla Gibbs, and is a stock dealer and blacksmith in Kansas. The father was a Republican, and a Presbyterian. He died at the age of sixty-five years.
Ebenezer was educated in the district school of Andes, and at twenty-two started to work as a stone-mason. Three years later he learned blacksmithing, which he plied for six- teen years at Margarettville. After some years of industrious toil he bought a small estate near the village, where he established and conducts a dairy of grade Jerseys, not, however, neglecting his trade, at which he continues to work. He won the heart and hand of Miss Sabra Kelly, a daughter of Jesse and Priscilla (Ackerly) Kelly, to whom he was joincd in marriage in 1857. Six children werc born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly: Demaris; Naoma; Dennis; Sabra K., Mrs. Laidlaw; Jane; and Emery. Ebenezer and Sabra (Kelly) Laidlaw are the parents of two chil- dren : Bell, born November 23, 1864; and William, born November 14, 1872. The lat- ter married Fanny Moore, a daughter of Ben Moore, and resides in Margarettville, where he follows the trade of blacksmith. Ebenezer Laidlaw has inherited the thrift and cool sagacity of his Scottish ancestry, with whom the national characteristic of shrewdness was strongly marked. He is a Republican, and among other offices has held that of Overseer of the Poor.
R OBERT B. VAN AKEN, a well- known furniture dealer in the village of Walton, has long been connected with the mercantile interests of this part of Delaware County, having owned and managed a jewelry store in the village prior to the time of opening his present place
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of business. He is a man in the prime of life, and during his residence in this thriving village has built up for himself a reputation for honesty and good business methods. His birth occurred in Delhi in 1847. His father, Jeremiah Van Aken, was born in Middletown in 1820, and died in the town of Walton in 1 890.
Mr. Van Aken is a grandson of Gideon Van Aken, who emigrated to this country from Holland, and settled in Kingston, N. Y., but later came to Delaware County with his wife, and took up a small tract of thickly wooded land on Platner Brook. They reared a family of twelve children, all of whom grew to adult life, and all but two married .. These four are now living: Joseph, a venerable man of ninety years, whose home is near Fort Ann; Cather- ine, residing on the old home farm; Nancy, the wife of Alvan Burdick, near Delhi; and Eliza, the widow of Lucian Stillson, a resi- dent of Meredith.
The father of the subject of this brief sketch became one of the prosperous farmers of Delaware County, carrying on his occupa- tion for a few years in Delhi, and afterward removing to Hamden, close to the town of Tompkins. He married Ann P. Ballentine, who was born in the town of Bovina, their nuptials being celebrated in 1836. Six chil- dren were born to them, two of whom died in early infancy, the record of the living being as follows: Solomon, a farmer, owns and occupies a farm adjoining the paternal home- stead in Tompkins, is a widower, and has one son. Catherine, the eldest daughter, keeps house for her brother, Solomon Van Aken. William, a farmer, residing on the old home- stead, is married, and has three children, one son and two daughters. Robert B. is further mentioned below. The mother survived her husband about a year, and died in Walton in 1891. They were sincere Christian people, he being a member of the Methodist church, and she of the United Presbyterian church.
Robert was educated in the district schools, and assisted on the home farm until twenty- three years old, when he followed the bent of his inclinations and learned the jeweller's trade, coming to Walton and entering the em- ployment of Harvey Morton. He afterward
opened a jewelry store in Liberty, Sullivan County, where he spent two years. In 1882 Mr. Van Aken returned to Walton, and estab- lished a store for the sale of jewelry and silverware, succeeding so well in this enter- prise that five years later he bought out the store of Mr. Morton. In 1893 he disposed of his jewelry store and its contents to Laverne White, and opened the store he now occupies, putting in a complete line of furniture; and his prospects are good for building up a sub- stantial business.
The marriage of Mr. Van Aken and Miss Emily Alverson took place on December 20, 1882, in the town of Walton, the place of na- tivity of the bride. Mrs. Van Aken's parents, George and Hettie (Morton) Alverson, were natives of Walton, Her mother passed to the higher life in 1890, at the age of sixty-four years, and her father in 1891. They left five children, as follows: Esther, the wife of Oren G. Barlow, of Davenport, Ia. ; Emily, Mrs. Van Aken; Thomas, a farmer on the old farm in Walton; Damaris, the wife of Ransom Wilson, a lumberman in Mckean County, Pa .; Seymour, an unmarried man living in Walton. Mr. and Mrs. Van Aken have no children. Both he and his wife enjoy the es- teem of their neighbors; and both are active workers in the Congregational church, of which they are regular attendants. Politi- cally, Mr. Van Aken has decided tendencies toward the teachings of the Republican party, although he claims the right of voting for the man best fitted for the position.
DWARD C. LASHER, residing at Griffin's Corners, is the proprietor of Fleischmanns Hotel at this place, and is looked upon as a sound business man and good citizen. He was born in Halcott, Greene County, N. Y., in 1854, son of Allen and Eliza A. (Crosby) Lasher, and grandson f Conrad and Anna Maria (Sagendorf) Lasher. Conrad Lasher was born in Dutchess County, son of a German emigrant, but after his marriage came to Delaware County, where he was an carly settler. He and his wife made the journey on horseback by the aid of marked trees, carrying what little they had
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with them. They made a home; and he became a successful farmer and prosperous man, both he and his wife living to the age of eighty-three years. They were members of the Lutheran church, but never learned the English language. They raised a family of eight children, by name Robert, Edward H., Allen, Abraham, Frederick, Susan, Maria Susan, and Katherine.
Allen Lasher was born in Red Hook, Co- lumbia County, N. Y., and was in every sense a self-made man. His educational opportu- nities were so limited that he received in all but twenty-three days' schooling. He en- gaged in farming and lumbering, and worked hard to get ahead in the world, cutting tim- ber, and then carrying it to Kingston, where he purchased supplies. This journey took four days, and was made under difficulties. Mr. Lasher was born in 1823, and lived to be sixty-nine years of age, his wife dying at the age of fifty-two. They left seven children : Edward C .; Emmett M., who married Al- lerina H. Vaudermark, and had one child; Mary E .; Viola V., who married Theodore V. Floyd; Hulda, who became the wife of Will- iam H. Whispul, and has two children; Charles, residing in Newport; and James, who lives at Griffin's Corners.
Edward C. attended the district schools, then commenced farming and lumbering, and in 1893 bought the hotel built by Asa Griffin, which under his efficient management is well patronized. The property covers two acres, and the hotel accommodates a large number of boarders. Mr. Lasher's first wife was Harriet Kelly, daughter of Kelsey Kelly. She died in 1879, leaving one child, Edna, who did not long survive her mother. Mr. Lasher chose for his second wife Jennie V. Ferio, daughter of Peter and Jane (Jones) Ferio, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer on Bingle Hill. Her mother, daughter of Robert and Jane (Newton) Jones, was born in Wales in 1765, but came to this country when she was five years old. Robert Jones lived to be eighty-eight years of age, and his wife was ninety-four at the time of her death. They had a family of fourteen children. By his second marriage Mr. Lasher has one son, Samuel A., born July 12, 1882.
Mr. Lasher has inherited the characteristics of his German ancestors in energy, persistent effort, and good business qualities, ready to work hard with any worthy object in view. He is a Republican in his political opinions, and a Methodist in religion. He is consid- ered one of the solid business men of Middle- town, and is doing all he can to aid in advancing the business and social interests of the town.
EORGE HENRY BARNES, an able and prosperous business man, and an esteemed citizen of Franklin, is here successfully engaged as a dealer in furniture, having a substantial trade in this and the sur- rounding towns. He is the worthy representa- tive of a pioneer family, being the grandson of Lyman Barnes, and the son of Levi Barnes, both of whom were formerly well-known citi- zens of Franklin.
Lyman Barnes was born in Branfort, Conn. After arriving at years of maturity, he re- moved to New Haven, where he engaged in general farming, residing there until after the birth of all his children. In 1830 he came from his New England home to this county, locating in the town of Franklin, where he spent his last years. He married a Miss Brackett, who was of Scotch extraction, but a native of Connecticut. She bore him several children, including, besides Levi, the father of the subject of this sketch, the following: George L., who came here from the State of his nativity, and, after spending a few years in this vicinity, moved with his family to Michigan, where he died, leaving a widow and three children; Merrick, who spent his last years in Georgia; Sherman, who accom- panied his brother Levi to Georgia, where both were slave-holders, and lived and died in that State; and three sisters, Betsey, Jane, and Lurinda. None of this family are now living.
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