USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 13
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In his boyhood William H. Eells attended first the district school, and afterward the village academy at Walton. At the age of fifteen years he left home to serve an ap- prenticeship in the office of the Norwalk Gazette, at Norwalk, Conn .; and, having learned the trade of a printer, he was employed for the following year or more in the office of the famous Danbury News. Going thence to New York City, Mr. Eells secured a good position with the Bradstreet Mercantile Agency, remaining there until he had the misfortune to lose one foot by having it caught in the elevator. In 1875, being able to resume work, Mr. Eells accepted a situa- tion in the office of the Morning Journal and Courier, at New Haven, Conn., continuing there until 1881, when he went to the city of Washington, where he served six years in the government printing-office, a portion of his time being employed in reading proof.
In 1887 he again went to New York, and for four years worked on the Morning Journal,
afterward holding a position in the office of the Times, and then in that of the Commercial Advertiser. He subsequently returned to the place of his nativity, and accepted the posi- tion of managing editor of the Walton Chron- icle, resigning it to enter the office of the New York Tribune as operator of a typesetting machine. In 1892 Mr. Eells came back to Walton, and voted for Benjamin Harrison for President ; and in November of that year he started the Walton edition of the Delaware Express, published in Delhi, meeting with such good success that he was encouraged to make it an independent publication. Accord- ingly, in March, 1893, changing the name of the paper to the Walton Times, he established a plant, and began printing it himself. He began with two hundred and fifty subscribers, and in February, 1894, less than a year after the paper was started, the circulation had in- creased to fourteen hundred, new subscribers being added to the list each month.
Mr. Eells has been twice married. On June 24, 1880, was celebrated his union with Miss Huldah Stoddard, of New Haven, Conn., who was a daughter of George W. and Harriet Stoddard, and who died a few months later, on February 24, 1881. Mr. Eells was again married in 1886, leading to the altar Miss Eleanor Place, of Washington, D.C., the wedding ceremony taking place in that city. Of the five children born to them three are now living, namely: Hamilton, a manly little fellow of seven years; Martha; and Ruth. In politics Mr. Eells is a straight Republican. Socially, he is a member of the Golden Rule Lodge, No. 21, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Washington, D.C.
ITCHELL N. FRISBEE, the owner of one of the largest farms and most extensive dairies in the town of Kortright, of which he is one of the foremost citizens, comes of one of the leading pioneer families of Delaware County, his great-grandfather having been Gideon Frisbee, one of the most widely known and most important men of the early time in this neighborhood. Gideon Frisbee was a native of Columbia County, but was
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among the first settlers of the town of Delhi, where he became the possessor of a large tract of land. He was the first Judge of Delaware County, and his house was the scene of the first court held in the county.
William Frisbec, son of Gideon, was born in Delhi, and was possessor of a part of the old home farm. He was one of a family of nine children, a practical farmer and excellent business man, who took an active part in all town affairs, and held the office of County Treasurer. Eleven of his children grew to maturity; and three still live, namely: Mrs. Mary Churchward, of Janesville, Ohio: Mrs. Alice Cottrell, who resides with her sister; and Fritz W. Frisbee, who lives in Iowa. The mother of this large family died in the prime of life; but William Frisbee lived to a good old age, dying in his native town.
William Frisbee's son, Marcus W., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Delhi, April 8, 1817, and resided in that town throughout his life. He was industri- ous and persevering, and owned two excellent farms, which he cultivated. Politically a Re- publican, he held many town offices, among which was that of Superintendent of the Poor ; and he and his wife, Susan Mitchell, born in Meredith, October 8, 1816, were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both died in the town of Delhi, she at the age of sixty- one years, and he when seventy-six years of age. They were the parents of four children, three of whom arc still living, namely: Mitchell N. Frisbee, of whom this sketch is written; Mrs. G. L. Bell, a resident of Wind- sor, Broome County, N. Y .; and M. Dwight Frisbee, of Binghamton. One daughter, An- gelia, died when forty years of age.
Mitchell N. Frisbee was born in Delhi, October 27, 1847, and educated in the Dela- ware Academy. Making his home with his parents, he then taught school for three terms. June 13, 1873, he married Miss Frances Clark, who was born November 18, 1846, in Kortright on the farm purchased by Mr. Fris- bce and at present occupied by his family. Miss Clark was the daughter of Joseph Clark, an carly settler and prominent man of Kort- right, who marricd Jane Burdict, a descendant of one of the pioncer families of that town.
Joseph Clark died when sixty-three years of age, and his wife has also passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Frisbec are the parents of two chil- dren - Clark Frisbec and. Susan M. Frisbee, both of whom reside with their parents.
Mr. Frisbee first purchased the old home farm of two hundred and twenty acres where he was born; and there he resided for twelve years, selling it at the expiration of that time, and buying his present home of six hundred acres. Five hundred acres of this is cleared land, which is cultivated. Mr. Frisbee oper- ates a very extensive dairy, owning over one hundred head of grade Jersey cattle. He is also engaged in stock and sheep raising, giv- ing employment to five men throughout the year. His farm is one of the very best in the town, and his residence a fine, commodious one. Mr. and Mrs. Frisbee are liberal in re- ligious views. Mr. Frisbee supports the Re- publican party, and has held the office of Supervisor for two terms. He is a man of remarkable business qualifications, energetic, upright, and reliable, and enjoys the csteem of the community in which he dwells.
HOMAS L. CRAIG, M.D., who has but recently established himself as a regular practitioner in the town of Davenport, after a thorough medical course of study and two years of valuable experience in the Baltimore University Hospital, is emi- nently fitted for the practice of his profession. He claims Delaware as the county of his birth, which occurred April 10, 1865, in the town of Harpersfield. He is of Irish parent- age, and the descendant of a well-known pio- neer family of this county. His grandfather, Thomas Craig, who was born and bred in Irc- land, and lived there until after marriage, emigrating to this country in the carly part of the present century, settled in the town of Meredith, Delawarc County. He was accom- panicd by his wife and little ones, and therc took up a timber tract, from which by dint of persevering toil he developed a farm, on which he and his faithful companion lived to bc quite aged people. They reared a family of six children; namely, John, Samuel, Rob- crt, Mattie, Margaret, and Jane.
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Robert Craig, the third son, was born in Ireland, whence his parents came to America when he was eight years old. In the pioneer labor of clearing a homestead he was soon after strong enough to be of assistance; and he was thus engaged until twenty-one years of age, with the exception of the short time each year that he spent in school. Leaving home, he first worked out by the month; then, marrying, he purchased a farm in Meredith, where he lived thirteen years. Selling this at a good advantage, he removed to Harpers- field, and, buying a farm, continued his agri- cultural labors until his early death, at the age of thirty-nine years. He was a hard- working man, and by his honest life and sound religious principles gained the good will and esteem of all who knew him. He was an active member of the United Presby- terian Church of North Kortright, to which his wife, Mary Adair Craig, also belonged.
Mrs. Craig was born in this county, being one of five children of James Adair, a native of North Ireland, and his wife, who were for many years residents of Kortright. Of their union five children were born, namely: Sam- uel; James; Robert, a lawyer in Omaha, Neb .; Sarah E., deceased; and Thomas L. Mrs. Craig is still living, and makes her home with a brother in Harpersfield.
The childhood and youth of Thomas L. Craig were spent on the farm, assisting in its work, and attending the district school until sixteen years of age. The following year he worked by the month, then spent two years in hard study at Walton Academy, fitting him- self for a teacher, a profession which he sub- sequently followed in Bloomville and other towns in the vicinity for some years. Having acquired sufficient means to defray his ex- penses, he then entered Baltimore College, and later the Baltimore University, from which he was graduated, with an honorable record, in 1892. Dr. Craig then spent two years in the hospital connected with the University, where he had an excellent opportunity to put into practice the knowledge he had acquired through his many years of hard study. He came to Davenport early in the present year, 1894; and, judging from the success he has already met with in his professional labors, he
bids fair soon to have an extensive and lucra- tive patronage.
The marriage of Dr. Craig is an event so recent that he has not ceased to receive con- gratulations. On November 20, 1894, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Addie Earle, Head Nurse of the Balti- more University Training School for Nurses. Mrs. Craig's parents were natives of England; but she was born in Baltimore, Md., and always lived in that city, with the exception of a few years that she spent in Berlin in a training school preparing for her profession. She is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Her father died about twenty-three years ago. Her mother is still living in Bal- timore. Mrs. Craig has two sisters and three brothers. Her eldest sister, Nellie, is mar- ried, and lives in Baltimore. The youngest sister is at home with her mother. The two elder brothers are in business in Chicago, while the youngest is a draughtsman in the Baltimore car-shops. In politics Dr. Craig supports the principles of the Republican party. Although a member of no religious organization, he has been accustomed to at- tend the Presbyterian church.
APTAIN JAMES IRA WEBB, a scarred and pensioned veteran of the Grand Army, now engaged as a dealer in wagons and agricultural implements at Walton, Delaware County, N. Y., was born in Delhi, N. Y., August 18, 1837. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. His
grandfather, Alanson B. Webb, who emi- grated from the north of Ireland about the year 1800, settling in Hobart, N. Y., was the father of three children: Josiah, father of Captain Webb; Cornelia, widow of John Wesley Hawkins, of Delhi, N. Y .; and James, deceased. Josiah Webb was born at Hobart in January, 1804. He was first mar- ried to Miss Hannah Bowen, of Meredith, the daughter of William and Emma Bowen. The great-grandfather Bowen was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as were also two of his sons. At the time the alarm came that New York was taken he was engaged in ploughing in the fields. He at once unyoked his team
JAMES I. WEBB.
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of oxen; and, his sons having taken all the firearms along with them, he hastily gathered together a few clothes, and, armed with a pitchfork, started for the seat of war, where he remained for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Webb settled on a farm near Delhi, where six children were born to them, the youngest being James Ira. The others were the following: Hannah E. mar- ried Chester E. Wellman, and settled in Laurens, Otsego County, where Mr. Wellman died. She is now a resident of Morrice, Mich. Emma married Major E. H. Noyes, who was on the "Congress " at the time that vessel was sunk. He was Captain of one hun - dred and twenty marines, all of whom were aboard; and most of them perished. He was made Chief Commissary at Fortress Monroe, with the rank of Major. Juliette married James A. Harvey, a wholesale liquor dealer of Sparta, Wis. Ruth Adaline married John Hastings, now deceased. Mrs. Hastings at the present time resides in Kansas City. Dr. Josiah Watson Webb went to Chicago, where he took up the study of medicine, graduating from the Bennett Medical College of that city. He began practice in Chicago, subse- quently going to Salt Lake City, where he lectured for one winter. Thence he went to Oakland, Cal., and there founded the Oakland Medical College. He died February 13, 1879, being at that time President of the college. His wife was an own cousin of Robert G. Ingersoll. Mr. Webb's second marriage was to Miss Polly Krofft, by whom he had six children, namely: George, who enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred and Forty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, serving with honor and distinction throughout the war, and died at Hornellsville, N. Y .; Mary, wife of Thomas Kane, of Susquehanna, Pa .; Elizabeth, wife of George Chubb, of Hor- nellsville; Aletta, of Addison, N.Y., widow of J. Morse; Arthur L., an engineer on the S. & E. Railroad; and Charles, a conductor on Delaware Division Railroad.
James I. Webb, who lost his mother when he was about a year and a half old, resided with his father until he was fourteen years of age, and up to this period had never attended school. He now started out in the world
alone. Having a sister at Laurens, he went there to live, working at any honest employ- ment he could get, a portion of the time earn- ing only about three dollars per month. The winter he was seventeen years old he attended a district school, working for his board. He afterward spent two terms in the high school at Hancock. In 1858 he had attained the position of Superintendent of the plank road between Summit and Hancock. On the Ist of May, 1861, he enlisted in the Seventy-first New York Volunteer Infantry, Company I.
Their first rendezvous was Staten Island, where they remained until after the battle of Bull Run. Soon after that the regiment was called to Washington, D.C., where young Webb was made Orderly Sergeant. He was sent on an expedition, in company with six- teen hundred men, to Stafford's Court House, Va., and participated in the engagement of April 7, 1862. Thence he went to Fortress Monroe, and was there at the time of the fight between the "Merrimac " and the "Monitor." On the 12th of April he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was sent to take charge of a saw and grist mill near Cheeseman's Creek Landing, having under him thirty men who were engaged in sawing lumber for use in the fortification of York- town. He reported to his regiment on the night of the evacuation of that city. He was next sent to Williamsburg, and for a time was occupied in gathering up stragglers from the army, being successful in picking up about three hundred, taking them to White Oak Swamp just as the engagement com- menced, and narrowly escaped being made prisoner by General Jubal Early. He went thence to Fair Oaks, participating with his company in the desperate bayonet charge. While lying in the redoubt in front of the Twin House, he, in company with Colonel H. L. Potter, resolved to find out the position of the rebels. Starting forth on their peril- ous undertaking, and coming to' a large white oak, the Lieutenant climbed to the top, and, by the aid of a powerful glass, gathered much valuable information. The following day he and the Colonel again went out to recon- noitre; but, by the time the Lieutenant was fairly located in the top of the tree, the
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bullets flew thick and fast around his head. He at once hurried down from his lofty posi- tion, and betook himself to safer quarters. He was next engaged in the seven days' fight, and at the second battle of Malvern Hill was made Adjutant.
Arriving at Warrenton on August 27, 1862, he retired as Adjutant, and took command of his old company in the Seventy-first Regi- ment. He could rally only twenty-four men fit to enter into the engagement, and seven- teen out of this number were killed and wounded. He himself was twice hit, and carries one of the bullets in his side to this day. For meritorious service he was pro- moted to be Captain on September 12, 1862, and was sent to the hospital at Washington, D.C. The following winter, to save his life it was thought best to send him to New York, under the care and charge of Surgeon-general Hammond. The following April he returned to Washington, out of money, and with no means of obtaining it, as he had never been mustered in as Captain of his company. At that time a special order had been issued dis- charging all officers and men who had not been in their companies for a certain length of time. This would have discharged Captain Webb; but, being desirous of remaining in the service, he wrote to Adjutant General Sprague, who advised him to go to his regi- ment. The General forwarding his commis- sion, he joined his regiment, where he was soon mustered in as Captain, and took com- mand of his company, although he was then carrying his arm in a sling. He was at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellors- ville, and was ranking Captain and acted as Lieutenant Colonel, his two companies being engaged at the front when the rebel general, Stonewall Jackson, fell. Captain Webb soon after resigned, with the rank of Brevet Major. He draws a pension for a gunshot wound of the right arm and shoulder.
Captain Webb was married April 26, 1871, to Miss Florence M. Roff, a daughter of Lieutenant William H. Roff, of the Second New York Heavy Artillery, who received his death wound at Cold Harbor, dying in the hospital .at Washington, D.C. After his marriage Captain Webb purchased a farm of
four hundred and fifty acres. In October, 1887, he came to Walton, where he has since been engaged in the sale of agricultural im- plements. Captain and Mrs. Webb have two children: Etta J., born June 12, 1874; and Ethel E., born February 15, 1878.
In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and served as a member on the Town Committee. He is a Director of the First National Bank of Walton, and a member of the Financial Committee. He is a member of the Ben Marvin Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 209, and has served as Adjutant, at the present time being Senior Vice-Commander. He is a member of Walton Lodge, No. 559, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of She-hawken Chapter, No. 258. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is Trustee- and President of the Board, and is at present the President of the village.
Captain Webb is a man of strong patriot- ism, and eager to promote the welfare of his country. He has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of the town, and has at all times exhibited an unwavering rectitude of charac- ter. A portrait of this true-hearted Ameri- can citizen, who fought and bled for the Union in its hour of peril, and has now ex- changed rifle and sword for ploughshares and harvesters, may be seen on another page.
AMES S. WILSON, who was one of the youngest Union soldiers in the late war, was born in Delhi, Delaware County, April 25, 1847. His grand- father came to New York in the early days from Vermont, and had a son, Freeman Wil- son, who was born in Colchester, June 10, 1812, and died July 12, 1862. Freeman Wilson was brought up on a farm, being one of a family of six; namely, Daniel, Freeman, William, Thomas, Sylvia A., and Adaline. He kept a store in Delhi, and was a success- ful business man. His wife, Eunice Page, who was born in 1812, and died September 13, 1856, was the mother of three sons -- Daniel P., James S., and William H. Her father, Solomon Page, came from Vermont early in this century, and settled in Franklin on what is called "Page's Hill." His wife,
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Irene, died February 14, 1848, aged sixty- nine years, leaving the following family: John, Horace, Hiram, Ralph, Solomon, Laura, Letitia, Miranda, Marcia, Eunice. Mr. Page was a carpenter; he passed his last days in Unadilla.
James S. Wilson, second son of Freeman and Eunice, when five years old came to Trout Creek, receiving there the ordinary education of that time. At the outbreak of the Southern Rebellion he had not seen his fourteenth birthday, but he was none the less shortly fired with patriotic zeal and military ardor. When the Eighty-seventh Regiment was being recruited at Elmira, he, with four other boys, ran away from home, and at- tempted to enlist; but the officer in charge re- fused to accept him on account of his youth. His determination, however, was strong; and, through the intervention of Elder Covey, Chaplain of the One Hundred and First New York State Volunteers at Hancock, he suc- ceeded in enlisting in Company D, late in 1861. This company was consolidated with five companies from Syracuse, and proceeded to Calaroma Heights, Washington, thence by transport to White House Landing, Va., in the spring of 1862. Private Wilson was first put under fire at Fair Oaks, and for seven days was in the fight before Richmond. Afterward he participated in the engagements at Savage Station, Ream's Station, Charles City Cross-roads, Harrison's Landing, Mal- vern Hill, Yorktown, whence he went by transportation to Alexandria, marching then to Warrington Junction, then to Bull Run for the second battle there. On the following day the company was ordered to Chantilly. In the darkness they came upon the enemy before they knew it; and, at the same time that General Kearny received his death wounds, Mr. Wilson was shot, barely escap- ing with his life. Not a commissioned officer was left, and scarcely seventy-five out of the whole regiment remained to tell of the slaughter. These were then consolidated with the Thirty-seventh New York State Vol- unteers. In the night of September I, dur- ing a heavy thunder-storm, the troops were drawn up in line of battle. While engaged, and after firing over twenty rounds of car-
tridges, Mr. Wilson was struck by a musket- ball, which lodged in his right side, and would probably have ended his life had its course not been checked by a rubber blanket which was slung over his shoulder. He was carried to the rear, when General Burney ordered his comrades to the front again; and he crawled under a large beech-tree, which was riddled with bullets, and lay there till his comrades, one of whom was John C. Has- kins, of Tompkins, were released from duty after the battle, and he was then taken to a barn and received medical attention. When the ball was taken out, a piece of the blanket was found on the back of it in the wound. In the morning they were taken prisoners, paroled, and after seven days the ambu- lances came and took them to Washington. Mr. Wilson was at Douglas Hospital for three months, and was then ordered to Annapolis. Before going there, however, he went home, staying two months, and then reporting at Elmira, whence he went to Annapolis, and joined the Thirty-seventh New York State Volunteers. He afterward was present at Falmouth, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors- ville. Being taken sick after the last battle, he was sent to Alexandria; and after his re- covery, the Thirty-seventh being mustered out, he was transferred to the Fortieth at Brandy Station. With them he was at Mine Run, after which his regiment re-enlisted, and he with them, and then came home on a furlough. After thirty days he returned to Brandy Station, and was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, North Anna, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, and Weldon. There was now continuous fighting until Lee's surrender, and Mr. Wilson never missed a battle or skirmish in which his regi- ment took part. After the surrender he marched with the rest to Washington, where the troops were reviewed; and he was mus- tered out in July, 1865, after four years of continuous service.
After the war Mr. Wilson came to Trout Creek, and engaged in various business vent- ures. He was at first proprietor, in company with his brother Daniel, of the hotel which he now carries on. Buying out his brother, he then successively traded the hotel for a farm,
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and the farm for a grist-mill, starting his younger brother in the hotel business in Masonville. He next bought a saw-mill, which he carried on with Daniel for eight years, then worked it alone for two years, and finally sold it to L. L. Teed, trading his grist-mill for a farm in Aroostook County, Maine. Selling the farm, he bought a hotel in Unadilla, and after three years bought an- other in New Berlin, which he sold, and. bought one in Sidney. This he sold inside of a week, and leased the Ouguaga House at Deposit. After a time he sold his lease and his furniture, and, removing to Roxbury, went into the livery business. A year later he went to Middleburg, Schoharie County, lived there two and one-half years, and then re- turned to Trout Creek, and bought the hotel he first owned, and which he now runs in con- nection with his other business of buying and selling cattle.
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