Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 12

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 744

USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 12

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On October 21, 1861, Mr. Foreman was united in marriage with Miss Devina Laid- low, who was born in Roxburyshire, Scotland, daughter of David and Ellen (Hart) Laidlow, both natives of the same shire. Mr. Laidlow was a shepherd by early occupation, and came to America in 1851, settling in Bovina, where he bought land and engaged in farming. He was an industrious man, and after a well- spent life died on his farm at the age of seventy years, his wife departing this life at the age of sixty. They were both faithful members of the United Presbyterian church. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom now survive, namely: Isabella, wife of William Wight, of Delhi, N. Y .; Helen, who married William Cook, and resides in the town of Bovina; Margaret, now Mrs. George Currie, of Bovina; and Devina, Mrs. Foreman. The other children were Robert, who died at the age of thirty-two, and George, who lived to the age of forty-nine.

In 1862, the year after his marriage, Mr. Foreman purchased the farm where he now lives, and on which he earned his first dollar after landing on American soil. He has

since devoted his time to its cultivation with very happy results. He has a herd of twenty cows, Jersey grade; and the farm, which con- tains, as above mentioned, one hundred and eighty-one acres, is very productive. In all he may be considered as a prosperous and suc- cessful man, his good fortune being due to his own habits of industry and perseverance, under the blessing of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Foreman have four children, three sons and a daughter, namely: Archibald, Robert G., and James F., all residing at home, and engaged in farming; and Maggie B., a young lady attending school, and, like her brothers, living at home.

In 1889 Mr. Foreman, desirous of seeing once more the land of his birth and the friends of his early years, took a trip to Scot- land, remaining about three months, and pleasantly renewing old recollections. He has served his adopted town of Bovina as Road Commissioner (three terms) and Asses- sor, filling the latter office two terms. His politics are Republican, and the family are attendants and members of the United Pres- byterian church at Bovina Centre.

UGENE B. SOUTHWORTH, a worthy citizen of Trout Creek, Tompkins, Delaware County, N.Y., was born in Phoenix, Otsego County, May 19, 1855, and is of Pilgrim ancestry. His grandfather, Nelson Southworth, was born in Otsego County, and, after being educated in the dis- trict schools, learned shoemaking, and then became proprietor of a hotel at Seward. While engaged in this occupation, he was con- verted to the Methodist faith, and soon gave up the hotel business, and devoted himself to shoemaking and preaching. At the breaking out of the war he removed to Delaware County, settling at Masonville, where he pur- chased about three hundred and fifty acres of the best farm land in that section. He was well informed on legal niatters, and assisted in many trials at the courts in the vicinity of his home. For the last three years of his life he was engaged in mercantile business in Loomis, where he died at the age of seventy- four years, in 1888. He married Jemima

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Finch, of Otsego County; and sixteen chil- dren were born of this union, of whom the following lived to reach maturity, and have families of their own: Keziah, Austin S., Emery R., Adeline, Lysander D., Lydia, Nelson, William, Henry A., Gurley S., and Lois.

Austin S. Southworth, eldest son of Nel- son, was born in Seward, Schoharie County, and, after receiving his education in the dis- trict school at Seward, began to teach school when but fifteen years of age, and at seven- teen entered the Methodist ministry. For a time he preached in Otsego, and then went to Edmeston. He was next at Morris two years, and went thence to Bainbridge, where he remained one year. Later he preached two years in Gilford. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment New York Volunteers, at Oxford, as First Sergeant, and served throughout the terrible conflict. He was wounded in the foot by a shell at Cedar Creek, in the Shenan- doah Valley, and was discharged from the service on account of disability. But he re- enlisted in his old company, and was then transferred to the Ninetieth New York Vet- eran Volunteers, and served one year in Georgia.

At the close of the great struggle he en- gaged in farming at North Walton, preaching at Sidney Centre, North Walton, Merriott- ville, and Little York. After a time he disposed of his farm and entered the life in- surance and sewing-machine business. He preached at Clarksville, Albany County, for three years, and then removed to Wheeler- ville, where he was engaged in his good work for three years. His next parish was at Gloversville, where he remained one year; and after that he was employed as book-keeper for the Harmony cotton-mills at Cohoes, also preaching in the Independent Methodist church of that town for two years. His next move was to Schenectady, where he was one of the organizers of the Independent Metho- dist church, of which he became pastor, and was also employed there by the Appleton En- cyclopædia Company for two years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Phil- mont on the Hudson, where he preached one

year. He then settled in Albany, being again employed by the Appleton Company. After a year there he went to Chicago, his family going to live with his son Eugene at North Walton. For five years he was em- ployed in Chicago, and then returned to Wal- ton. While in Chicago he began to write a work on optimism, entitled "The Bright Side of Life," three parts of which have already appeared in pamphlet form, and, when completed, will be bound in one volume. Since that time Mr. Southworth has lived in retirement, and now resides at Ware, Mass., with his son, the Rev. Victor Emanuel South- worth, pastor of the First Unitarian Church.

He married, at the age of seventeen, Miss Jane E. Gage, of Milford, Otsego County, N. Y., whom he first met when they were both employed in a cotton-mill at Cooperstown. They were the parents of thirteen children, namely: Eugene B .; Thaddeus D .; Emerson ; Nettie A .; Victor and Victoria, who were twins; William A .; Ellen; Irena Vashti; Minnie M .; and Walter; Charles and Ira, who have passed away. Mrs. Southworth still lives at Walton on the farm owned by the family there, and is employed as a nurse in that vicinity.

Eugene B., eldest son of the Rev. Austin S. Southworth, was educated in the district school and at Walton Academy, after which he worked on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he took charge of a flour-mill at Clarksville, Albany County. Two years later he went to Wheelerville, Fulton County, and learned the currier's trade in a tannery owned by ex-Governor Claflin. This trade he fol- lowed for eight years. He then rented a farm in North Walton, remaining there for seven years, after which he purchased the farm where he now resides. It contains one hun- dred and forty-four acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation, over forty acres having been cleared and ploughed in three years. When he moved to his present farm, it would support but eight cows and a team; but he now keeps twenty-four cows, five horses, and forty sheep. His income in cash has resulted from the farm products, and for the year end- ing April 1, 1894, amounted to about two thousand dollars. His farm is rich in min-

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eral paint, part of which was disposed of by a former owner. Mr. Southworth is a Republi- can in politics, and is a public-spirited citizen.

Mr. Southworth married, in Sidney, Miss Nellie Scott, daughter of James E. and Mary (Gardner) Scott, of Beach Hill, Masonville. David Scott, the father of James E., removed to Masonville from Queemans, Albany County, N. Y., and was engaged in farming and car- pentering. James E. Scott was born at Masonville, where he also followed the life of a farmer and carpenter. He married Mary Gardner, a daughter of Andrew Gardner, of Tompkins; and they had eight children: Nel- lie, the wife of the subject of this sketch; Fred; Elmer; Inez; Oscar; Flora; Willie; and Wallace, who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene B. Southworth are the parents of eight children now living: Mabel C .; Alice Pearl; Henry A .; Nettie A .; Edith Maud; Alta May; and Thaddeus D. and Mary J., who are twins. They have been called upon to part with three children, who died when very young.

RS. SARAH RICH, who lives on the Rich homestead of two hun- dred and seventy-five acres in Almeda, in the town of Stam- ford, N. Y., and carries on the place with marked ability, is the widow of Stephen Rich. The Rich family, hers by birth as well as marriage, is one of the oldest and best estab- lished in the county.

The present record begins with James Rich, who was born in New York City in 1764, and was therefore a boy eleven years old when the Revolution began, and still older when the patriotic tide reached his native city. By trade he was a tailor, but died at the early age of thirty-five, only ten years after his marriage, and in the same year with the Father of his Country. His wife was Mary Altgelt, also a native of the metropolis, where she was born, July 30, 1769. She outlived her husband many years, and twice entered again the holy estate of matrimony. Her second husband was Joseph Thomson; and the other was Robert Forrest, of Stamford, who left her the third time a widow. Her

own death occurred in Stamford on December 6, 1857. To her first husband she bore three sons. Stephen Altgelt Rich, a grocer in New York City, grandfather of Mrs. Sarah Rich, was born August 4, 1790, during Washing- ton's first Presidency, and lived till 1858, when Buchanan was in the White House.

The next son, to whose line this sketch specially relates, was born October 23, 1791, and was named for his grandfather. James Rich was a Stamford farmer, and carried on the place subsequently owned by his son Stephen. This he did so practically and pro- gressively as to make agriculture a profitable pursuit. He was an old-time Whig, and an Elder and Trustee in the United Presbyte- rian church in South Kortright. His first wife, Miss Helena Marshall, was born in New York City, October 13, 1792. They were married in 1816, just a week before Christmas, when the second peace with the mother country had been finally declared, and praises of General Jackson's warlike pluck echoed on every hand; and she died on Christmas Day, 1835, aged forty-three, while Jackson was President, so that the great Christian holiday and America's democratic and autocratic statesman were peculiarly asso- ciated with her life.

From this union came ten children, two of whom survive. Henry Marshall Rich was born September 12, 1819, and lived, unmar- ried, on the homestead with his brother's widow until his death, August 24, 1894. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Republican, greatly respected by his asso- ciates. Robert S. Rich was born March 7, 1823, and is a merchant in Hobart village. Helena Jane was born on February 14, 1832, and is now the widow of Hector Cowan, of Stamford, of whom a sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. The eldest child, James Altgelt Rich, a Stamford farmer, named for his grandparents, was born in Oc- tober, 1817, and died March 5, 1894. Mary Rich was born February 17, 1821, and died unmarried in New York City on April 3, 1842. Stephen was born October 8, 1824; and he died July 6, 1884, at the sound age of sixty. Of him more hereafter. Thomas Rich, a farmer, was born August 28, 1826,

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and died in Mexico on the last day of April, 1852. Alexander Rich was born on the first day of November, 1830, became a New York plumber, and died February 18, 1854. Ann Eliza, twin sister of Helen, died in October, 1889, at fifty-seven. James Rich's first wife, as already stated, was Helena Marshall; but he was married again. The second wife was Jane Southard, a native of Dutchess County, and by her he had three children. The eld- est, Hannah Rich, born July 17, 1838, mar- ried William B. Peters, of Bloomville, of whom a sketch may be found in its proper place in this volume. John Rich was born December 14, 1839, and died March 19, 1885, in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was act- ing as agent for the Mallory line of steamers. Isabella Rich was born April 10, 1841, four days after the country was appalled by the sad news of the death of General Harrison, when only a month in the Presidential chair. She

married the Rev. James M. Stevenson, and died December 19, 1893. Thus we see that James Rich was indeed a patriarch, with one more child than Jacob, of the Bible history he so loved. He was also an Elder in the Pres- byterian church, and a Whig in politics, but would have rejoiced over the triumph of Abra- ham Lincoln, which occurred three years after Mr. Rich's death on the homestead, July IO, 1857.

The father of James Rich's first wife, Henry Marshall, was born in Scotland, and came to America before his marriage. He studied medicine, became a successful practi- tioner in Kortright in pioneer days, and reared a boy and six girls, all of whom have passed away. Dr. Marshall died in Hobart, at threescore and ten, an Elder in the Presby- terian church, and a Whig in politics. His wife also lived to a good old age.

Stephen Rich grew up on the Stamford farm where he was born, and which had been bought by his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Alt- gelt Rich (Thomson) Forrest, of its former owner, Mr. Sheldon, early in this century, and upon which the widowed Mrs. Stephen Rich now resides. After attending the dis- trict school, Stephen went to New York City when he was eighteen, and found work with James Buchan & Co., manufacturers of soap

and candles. In due time he was able to buy an interest in the concern, and pursued a suc- cessful trade till 1865, after the war, when he returned to Stamford, bought the old home- stead, passed his last days there farming, and died July 6, 1884.

He was married May 6, 1869, at the mature age of forty-five, to his cousin, Sarah Rich, a native of New York City, the daughter of Stephen Altgelt Rich and his wife, Jane Oliver, who was born October 22, 1788. These parents were married May 12, 1812, by the Rev. Robert Forrest. Stephen A. Rich died August 29, 1858, and his wife on February 25, 1868. They had ten children, half of whom survive. Charlotte and Rachel are both widows in New York City, the for- mer having married William Patterson, and the latter Mr. Buchan, of the firm above men- tioned. Jane Rich lives with her sister Sarah on the homestead. Elizabeth Rich is the wife of James Rintoul, of New York City. Sarah Rich married her kinsman, Stephen Rich, as before stated. The five deceased children are as follows: James B. was born on the first day of March, 1813, and died in Alabama, August 12, 1844. Mary Struthers Rich was born March 18, 1815, and died Jan- uary 28, 1892. Robert Forrest Rich, born January 3, 1820, died November II, 1872, in New Jersey. Hannah Thomson was born November 19, 1822, and died March 27, 1852, in New York City. Andrew Mather Rich, born December 23, 1825, died August 17, 1826.

Mrs. Stephen Rich belongs to the United Presbyterian church in Kortright, in which her husband held the birthright office of Elder. He was also a Republican and a thor- oughly good citizen, and left his widow well endowed. Both the land and house are val- uable. In her management of the place Mrs. Rich was aided by her brother-in-law, Mr. Henry Rich, until the time of his death.

ENRY S. GRAHAM, who is one of the foremost citizens of Delhi, is carrying on a prosperous business as a dealer in hardware, at No. 477 Main Street. He is a native of this State

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

and county, having been born in Meredith on October 23, 1860. He comes of pure Scotch ancestry, the first of his forefathers to emi- grate to this country being his great-grand- father, James Graham, who was born and reared to manhood in Scotland. Crossing the stormy Atlantic in search of a fortune, he came from New York City, where he had dis- embarked, to Bovina, and there engaged in tilling the soil for a time, and also established a mercantile business on a small scale. He afterward removed to Franklin, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for many years, but later became a resident of Meredith, where he passed the remaining years of his earthly existence. He reared a family of eleven children, seven boys and four girls, of whom two are still living, one in Afton, N. Y., and one in Toledo, Iowa.

Henry R. Graham, son of James, was reared a farmer, and followed that peaceful occupation through the days of his active life. He purchased a tract of timbered land in the town of Meredith, from which he cleared and improved a comfortable homestead, and there made his abiding-place for many years. Later he removed to Delhi, where he de- parted this life at the age of seventy-three years. He married Esther Stilson, a daugh- ter of Cyrenus Stilson, and a native of Mere- dith, of which town her parents were pioneer settlers. She is still living at the venerable age of eighty-six years, and is one of the old- est members of the Baptist church at Delhi. She became the mother of five children, namely: Edwin J., the father of Henry S .; Rosella, deceased, who married Edward Fris- bee, of Delhi; Emeline, the wife of Darius Grant, pastor of the Baptist church, West- ville, N.Y .; Elmer M., who married Jennie Mein, of Meredith ; and Lyman S., who mar- ried Jennie Kemp, of Meredith.

Edwin J. Graham was born in Meredith, January 19, 1832, and was reared on the farm, tilling the soil in season, and attending the district school in the winters. On attaining his majority he left the parental homestead, and was for some time employed as a clerk in a store. He subsequently purchased a farm; and, putting in practice the knowledge which he had acquired in the days of his youth, he

successfully engaged in its cultivation for sev- eral years. In 1865 he came to Delhi, and invested a portion of his money in the store, where he still continues carrying on a flour- ishing business in general merchandise. Ann Eliza Bill, who became his wife in 1857, was a native of Meredith, but of New England descent, being a daughter of Charles Bill and Lois (Woodworth) Bill, both of whom were nátives of Connecticut, the latter being the daughter of a substantial farmer of that State. Four children were born of their union, as follows: Charles W., who was engaged with his father in business until January, 1880, when he entered into the drug business ; Henry S .; George E., now a resident of Cali- fornia; and Grace M., now the wife of Henry R. Gibbs, and residing in Sewickley, Pa. On June 10, 1888, the family fireside was made desolate by the death of the beloved wife and affectionate mother, who passed away at the age of fifty-seven years. She was a conscientious member of the Presbyte- rian church, to which her husband belongs. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

Henry S. Graham was five years old when he came with his parents to Delhi, where he has since resided. His elementary education, which he obtained in the public school, was supplemented by an attendance at the Dela- ware Academy. As soon as old enough to be useful, he became a clerk in his father's store, a position which he occupied until the spring of 1881. In the fall of that year Mr. Graham opened a grocery store, purchasing a complete stock of groceries, and continuing in that business until 1886, when he sold out his es- tablishment, and entered the employment of Wright & Frost, dealers in hardware. He subsequently purchased their goods and build- ing, and has since conducted a large and very successful business, which he has extended and increased from year to year.

Mr. Graham has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united on July 8, 1884, was Frankie B. Ward, a daughter of William Ward, a former resident of Tioga County, but later superintendent of the Delhi Woollen-mill. After a brief period of wed- lock she died in November, 1886, leaving one child, Bessie. His second wife, Mary A.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Russell, is a daughter of the late John Rus- sell, of Delhi, who was for many years en- gaged here in trade. Of this union two children have been born-E. Russell and Howard R. Mr. Graham is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, and is a true and loyal citizen, always using his influence to promote the best interests of the town, and well deserving the esteem and favor in which hc is held by all. Both he and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Delhi.

ILLIAM H. EELLS, editor and proprietor of the Walton Times, is conducting this paper with signal ability and success, and holds a prominent position among the journalists of Delaware County. He is a native of this State and county, having been born in the town of Wal- ton, April 16, 1853, youngest son of Stephen Decatur and Mary (Marvin) Eells, and comes of good New England stock, being a lineal descendant of one John Eells, who emigrated from old England to Massachusetts in 1628.

A son of the emigrant, Samuel Eells, born in Hingham, Mass., January 23, 1629, was married August 1, 1663, to Annie, daughter of the Rev. Robert Lenthal, of Plymouth, Mass .; and they reared seven children. Their son Samuel, born in Milford, Mass., April 2, 1666, was twice married. His first wife, Martha, died on October 27, 1700. His second wife, Widow Bayor, nee Russell, bore him a son named John, who was baptized April 1, 1703, was graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1724, and became a minister of the gospel, presumably a Congregationalist. He married Annie Baird, January II, 1727, and died in New Canaan, Conn., October 15, 1785. His two children were: Anna, born May 1, 1729; and Jeremiah, born December 21, 1732.

Jeremiah Eells, the great-great-great-grand- father of William H., was a life-long resident of New Canaan, and was there engaged in farming and shoemaking. He married Mrs. Louise Benedict, a Huguenot of France, and the daughter of Dr. Benten, of Norwalk, Conn. Their cldest son, John, born Novem-

ber 16, 1765, married Anna Mead, the daugh- ter of General John Mead, who during the Revolutionary War had command of the Con- tinental troops stationed near the neutral ground between Horse Neck, now Nyack, and New York, and on whose farm General Israel Putnam rode down the steep precipice and escaped the British dragoons. Their children were as follows: John, Jr., born February 24, 1786; Benjamin B., born March 8, 1788; Meade, born July 3, 1790; Samuel, born in Walton, March 12, 1793; Mary, born May 12, 1795; Baird, born October 10, 1797; and Allen, born May 13, 1800. Some years after their marriage, which took place on December 20, 1784, the parents of these children came to Delaware County, and were among the ear- liest settlers of Walton. John Eells estab- lished the first hotel of the place, running it for nineteen years. He was one of the lead- ing citizens of the town, and served nineteen years as Justice of the Peace. Taking up a tract of wild land, he cleared up a good farm, on which he spent the latter years of his life. The father of Mr. William H. Eells, Stephen Decatur Eells, is in possession of the desk, now about one hundred years old, on which John Eells during his official life did all of his writing. It is well preserved, and is re- markable in conception and in workmanship.

Meade Eells, who was born in New Canaan, was little more than an infant when his par- ents removed to Waltou, where he was reared. He was a lumberman, was in the War of 1812, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He married Philena, daughter of Dorman Johnson, who was the keeper of a hotel in Walton for many years. They reared seven children, as follows: Stephen Decatur, Allen, Sylvia Ann, Hannah Marvin, Philena, Mary, and Julia. The mother passed away in 1865, at the home of George Marvin in Walton. She was a most estimable woman and a mem- ber of the Congregational church.

Stephen Decatur Eells, the father of Will- iam H., was born on the parental homestead in that part of Walton known as Mount Pleasant, November 3, 1815. He was the recipient of good educational advantages, and, after leav- ing the district school, was fitted for college, and matriculated at Oberlin, but was unable

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to complete his course. He was industrious and ambitious, and, having but little money, supported himself while in college by work- ing as a painter. This trade he completed after his return to Walton, and for upward of threescore years was the leading painter of the village. Having during these years of labor acquired a competency, he is now living in retirement in the village of his birth. His union with Mary Marvin, a daughter of Jared Marvin, was celebrated on November 12, 1 840, the date of the marriage of Queen Vic- toria. They have reared four children, namely : John M .; Ellen M .; Emma Isabel, who died in 1878; and William H. Mr. Stephen D. Eells enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volun- teer Infantry, at the time of the late Rebel- lion, and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge at Hilton Head, S.C. He has been closely identified with all enterprises calculated to improve the educational or moral status of the town, and has been an active worker in the cause of temperance. Both he and his wife, in relig- ious matters, are in sympathy with the teach- ings of the Congregational church, of which they are members.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 12

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 744

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 744