USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 17
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finest pieces of property in Delaware County, it containing from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land.
Mr. Lasher has been twice married. His first wife was Jane Townsend, the daughter of Alfred Townsend, of Halcott, Greene County; and to them three children were born, as fol- lows : Willard, who died at the age of thirteen years; Hester, who died at the age of twelve years; and Isaac, who married Libbie Butler, of Sullivan County. After fifteen years of peaceful wedded life the wife and mother passed to the better land, laying down the burdens of life in 1878. Mr. Lasher subse- quently married Melissa Sherwood, daughter of James Sherwood, of Roxbury; and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children - Frederick and Eathel, the latter deceased.
Politically, Mr. Lasher votes the straight Republican ticket. Both he and Mrs. Lasher are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and are numbered among its most generous and liberal supporters.
J OSEPH H. FOOTE, M.D., a resident of Franklin, and one of its most re- spected and highly valued practi- tioners, resides about one mile south of the village, where he has a most delightful home. The ancestors of Dr. Foote were na- tives of Southington, Conn. His grandfather was Robert Foote, of that town; and his grandmother's maiden name was Deming. Robert Foote was a well-to-do farmer, and reared five sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity, married, and reared fami- lies of their own. His son Leonard, father of the Doctor, was born in Southington in 1789, and died in Oxford, N. Y., in 1875. He mar- ried Bede Wright, daughter of Enos Wright, of Connecticut. Mr. Wright moved to New York in 1814, and settled on a farm of about fifty acres; and in 1817 his daughter and son- in-law, the parents of Dr. Foote, followed him to their new home, occupying a farm of one hundred acres, part of both of these farms being included in the estate which is now the property of the Doctor. When Mr. and Mrs.
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Foote came here, the mode of conveyance was very crude, the journey being made in a one- horse lumber wagon, and Mrs. Foote being installed in a chair among her household goods, while the husband and father walked by the side of the horse.
Dr. Foote is the youngest of five sons, all of whom have been called from earthly toil except himself and one other, Robert, of Ox- ford. The early life of the family was a stern struggle, but in their old age Mr. and Mrs. Foote enjoyed the quiet of a well-earned rest. Mrs. Foote survived her husband several years, and died when eighty-seven years of age.
Dr. Joseph H. Foote received his early edu- cation at the district school, a mile and a half from his home, and by his own exertions suc- ceeded in obtaining sufficient training to enter Oxford Academy. After teaching three win- ters he studied with his brother, Dr. Ira Foote, in Wellsboro, Pa. The latter was a promi- nent physician, and one who showed great promise in his profession; but his health failed, and that dread disease, consumption, soon made itself manifest, he falling a victim at an early age.
Dr. Joseph Foote settled in North Walton in January, 1851, and practised there five years. On May 21, 1855, he married Pamelia Fitch Churchill, of Delhi, and in September of that year came to Franklin, where he has since practised. In 1867 he purchased the hotel property, which with the old buildings he bought for five thousand dollars. He re- built it, erecting the large barn and sheds in connection, and sold it in January, 1894. During the twenty-seven years in which he was connected with the hotel business he also continued his practice, being as popular a practitioner as he was a host.
In July, 1893, Mrs. Foote passed away, leaving one daughter, Stella, who is still at home. An elder daughter, Julia, died when an infant. A niece of the Doctor's, Ruth Foote, now lives at his home, and keeps house for him, her two sons and two daughters also living there. He moved to his present home in 1894, having bought a most delightful farm of ninety acres.
Dr. Footc is a Democrat, but does not allow party principles to interfere with his always
voting for the best man. For over forty years he has been engaged in arduous toil for his fellow-men. Often sleeping but five hours out of the twenty-four, he has labored with disin- terested service, acquiring for himself a name which will far outlast his earthly possessions. He is generous and large-hearted; and his congeniality of spirit has made him a friend to be highly prized, and a welcome guest in all the homes of Franklin.
YRUS GEMMEL was born July 20, 1850, in the town of Stamford, a son of Hugh and Mary (McArthur) Gemmel. Hugh Gemmel was born in Stamford, August 14, 1803, and his wife in the town of Jefferson, Schoharie County, December 31, 1809. The grandfather, also Hugh Gemmel, was born in Scotland, but in 1790 came to America, and settled at Rose Brook, Delaware County. He was a weaver by trade, and followed this occupation to some extent. He bought about two hundred acres of land, most of which was in a state of nature. Hobart, then called Watertown, was the nearest market and depot for supplies; and the people lived chiefly off the products of their land and the wild game. Mr. Gem- mel was a hard worker and a practical farmer, and succeeded in his undertakings. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at South Kortright, and in politics a Whig. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, but have now passed away. He died on the farm which the subject of this sketch now owns and occupies, when seventy- five years of age, his wife dying at the same age.
Hugh Gemmel, the father of Cyrus, grew to manhood on the old homestead at Rose Brook. He was one of the early school-teachers, and taught for about eleven years, after which he gave his attention to farming, continuing in this occupation the rest of his life. He bought the farm where his son now lives, just before his marriage, it then comprising one hundred and twenty acres. This he improved and increased so that at his death he owned two hundred and five acres. He was a hard worker and a successful farmer, and an active
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member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a Trustee. His wife was a member of the same church. He was a Re- publican in politics, was a conscientious, hon- ored citizen of the town, and held several public offices, including Highway Commis- sioner, Collector, Constable, and School In- spector, besides several minor positions. He died on the old homestead March 6, 1878, and his widow July 22, 1884, making them at the time of their deaths the same age to a day, seventy-four years, six months, and twenty- two days.
He was twice married, his first wife being Nancy McArthur, who died February 13, 1845. He was the father of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and seven still survive: Robert, born February 14, 1833, re- sides in the village of Delhi. James R., born August 4, 1834, is manager of the Lookout House at Utsayantha Mountain, and lives with his brother. Mrs. Nancy M. Iser- man, born September 13, 1840, resides in Rockland County, New York. Mary I. Brown, who was born July 1, 1844, resides in Montgomery County, Iowa. Cyrus, the subject of this sketch, was born July 20, 1850. Mrs. Francis H. Allison, born De- cember 4, 1851, is a resident of Kortright. Homer R., born October 5, 1853, is also liv- ing in Kortright. Thomas H., born October 21, 1831, died January 24, 1886. George E., born February 15, 1837, died June 29, 1872. Margaret J., born December 8, 1838, died October 9, 1842. The Rev. William A., born August 4, 1848, died October 7, 1876.
Cyrus Gemmel grew to manhood in the parental home, and received his education at the district school. When nineteen years of age, he went to work on the farm of H. K. Rose, receiving for his services twenty-three dollars per month, which at that time was considered a good salary. When twenty-three years old, he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he was engaged for some eight or nine years, but finally gave it up and devoted his time to farming, buying the old homestead after his father's death.
January 1, 1878, Mr. Gemmel married Mary E. Higbie, who was born in Stamford, a daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah (Titus)
Higbie. Thomas Higbie was born in Stam- ford, and his wife in Harpersfield. He was a farmer, and also a merchant in New York City for some years, a descendant of the pio- neer family of that name, his father, Nathan- iel Higbie, being the first to locate in this vicinity. Thomas Higbie was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, politi- cally, a Republican. He died at Rose Brook when seventy-eight years of age. He was the father of six children, five of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Gemmel have two chil- dren : Mary A., born April 29, 1879; and Ida Bell, October 29, 1889.
Cyrus Gemmel has an excellent farm of two hundred acres, where he carries on general farming and dairying, owning forty head of Jersey cattle. In connection with this he is agent for Buckley's Watering Device. He has been fortunate in his business life, and is a highly respected citizen, showing much in- terest in the welfare of the town. He has been Inspector of Elections, and for six years Overseer of the Poor. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., belonging to St. Andrew Lodge, No. 289, at Hobart, and Delta Chapter, No. 185, Royal Arch Masons, at Stamford. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gemmel are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rose Brook, and in politics Mr. Gemmel is a Republican. He occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
AMES ARTHUR HOLLEY, M.D., is a prominent physician and surgeon of Walton, and, being a close student, is well versed in medical lore, and has a large and successful practice. A native of Delaware County, he was born in the town of Hamden, October 10, 1854, on the farm of his parents, George and Maria (Bice) Holley, the former of whom was born in 1818, of English ancestors, and the latter in 1819, of German antecedents.
George Holley was one of the early settlers of this section of the county, and an important factor in its development and improvement. He began life here as a farmer, with limited means, but by sturdy industry not only hewed out a good farm from the wilderness, but ac-
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quired a comfortable competence. He was a man of probity and ability, and of a religious character. Both he and his excellent wife were conscientious members of the Baptist church, wherein he served for many years as a Deacon. Eight children were born into their household, mentioned as follows: William, a resident of Walton, married Emma Robinson. He was a volunteer soldier in the late Civil War, serving in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infan- try, and was wounded at the battle of Hany Hill. Sylvia, who was the wife of Jacob Boyer, of Broome County, New York, died at the age of twenty-five years. John, a farmer, living in Walton, married Emma Benedict, a daughter of D. B. Benedict, of the same town. Eliza, who married George E. Benedict, died in Walton in 1870. Lois died when twelve years old. George, a carpenter residing in Sidney Centre, married Hattie Smith, a daughter of Horace Smith, of Hamden. James A. is the subject of this notice. Jen- nie is the wife of William Olmstead, of Walton.
James A. Holley was reared upon the pa- ternal homestead, and during the times of sowing and reaping assisted his father on the farm, and devoted the winter seasons to the pursuit of knowledge, being a regular attend- ant at the district school, and one of its most promising pupils. He subsequently attended Walton Academy, and, after receiving a teacher's certificate, engaged in teaching for several terms, with the money thus earned making his way through college. In 1883 he entered the office of Dr. O. H. Young, of Sid- ney Centre, remaining there for two years, in the mean time attending Albany Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated with honors in 1886. In the autumn of the same year, being well equipped for a medical career, Dr. Holley located in Walton, where he has since resided. His ability and talent are every- where recognized; and he has built up an ex- tensive and lucrative practice, and won an assured position among the foremost practi- tioners of the county. He is very popular among his professional brethren, and is a prominent member of the Delaware County Medical Society.
Dr. Holley was united in marriage, in 1876, to Miss Flora Benedict, a daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Weldon) Benedict; and their union has been a most happy one. They have no children of their own, but have taken to their home and hearts an adopted son, Frank Holley, and are bestowing upon him the same attention and advantages that they would give to one of their own blood.
ILLIAM TWEEDIE is a prominent farmer in the town of Hamden, Delaware County, his estate being located on East Brook, Joint District No. 5. He was born in Peeblesshire, Scotland, in 1830, and in the spring of 1849 came to America with his parents and nine brothers and sisters. The father was Alexander Tweedie, and the mother was Mary Bruce, a descendant of Robert Bruce. One of their children died in Scotland, at the age of three, and an infant in Hamden. William was the fifth in order of birth, two brothers and two sisters being his predecessors. All but one of these adult children are now living, and all the sons are in Walton except William. The one exception is James Tweedie. In 1856 he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and engaged in mining. For gen- erations his ancestors had been shepherds; and so, after tiring of gold-digging, he fol- lowed his inherited instincts, and turned his attention to sheep-raising in Nevada, where he died at the early age of twenty-eight, and was buried in Virginia City, on November 6, 1862. As he was unmarried, his lands, flocks, and herds should naturally and legally have belonged to his relations; but they never came into possession of any of his property.
The paternal grandfather was John Tweedie, and his wife's name was Nicholas; but noth- ing more is known of her parental families. John Tweedie had five boys and a girl, but the only one who came to America was Alex- ander. He became (thanks to freer institu- tions) a far more successful man than his home-keeping brothers. His wife died June II, 1881, aged seventy-eight; and he passed away on the 8th of November, 1882, at the age of eighty-five. On coming hither, they
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had thirteen hundred dollars left after paying the passage for their party of twelve in the sailing-ship, which made the ocean passage in thirty days, arriving when the echoes of the Mexican War were yet flying in the air, and General Taylor had ridden into the White House on the strength of his military popular- ity. As might be supposed, the Tweedies are Presbyterians in religion ; and the father was an Elder in the kirk.
William Tweedie fed his father's flocks on the Cheviot Hills; but he also received a fair schooling there, which was increased by one term after he was nineteen and the family had come to America, though his time was mostly occupied by work on the two-hundred-acre farm adjacent to the one now owned and culti- vated by himself. During two summers he worked out by the month. In 1859, when he was twenty-nine, came an important change; for he then married May D. Munn, daughter of John and Margaret (Clark) Munn, both Scotch people, though they were married in
Bovina. Mrs. Tweedie was born in 1838, so she is her husband's junior by eight years. She has one brother, Hugh, and two sisters: Mary, the wife of Andrew Doig; and Mar- garet, the widow of James Arbuckle, of Wal- ton. The mother, Mrs. Munn, died when her youngest child, Margaret, was born, though only in the prime of life. The father re- mained a widower many years, and died on his farm, April 22, 1879, aged seventy-six.
After their marriage, April 6, 1859, Mr. and Mrs. William Tweedie began united domestic life in a log cabin in the woods, with a log barn and log out-houses to keep it company. The original hundred and twenty- six acres cost fourteen hundred dollars, and the young couple ran in debt seven hundred dollars in order to stock it. Among other things they bought a yoke of oxen, six cows, and (true to the Cheviot training) three sheep. In due time the hundred acres in- creased fourfold, with from eighty to a hun- dred sheep, and a dairy of from forty to sixty cows. In later years Mr. Tweedie gave his attention largely to a flock of Cotswold sheep, but never did he forget his native Cheviots. In connection with his active enterprise as a sheep-breeder, he has exhibited at the State
and county fairs his Cotswold specimens, yielding fleeces weighing over twenty pounds: and very often he has been appointed one of the judges, for nowhere is there a better judge of wool. One Cotswold lock, cut from a Canadian yearling ram, was sent to Washing- ton because of its extraordinary length of twenty-one inches; and the owner was awarded a diploma. The patient oxen have been dis- placed by five fine horses, and the master can drive a fine team before plough and wagon. After the martyrdom of Abraham Lincoln, for whom he wore crape a month, Mr. Tweedie gave his adherence to the prohibitory cause, but has never held any office, though he was once placed on the Prohibition ticket as can- didate for the General Assembly, and received a large vote. The family residence is far from the main road, and is a fine dwelling, built in 1887, embowered amid Norway spruce and other evergreen trees, set out in 1870, and now grown from nine inches to thirty feet high.
In religion, as well as in daily pursuits, the Tweedies have followed in the parental paths, and are members of the United Presby- terian church. Forty years has the head of the household had charge of a Bible class, besides being a Trustee, Deacon, and the in- cumbent of other offices. Besides being re- spected for his ability and thought, Mr. Tweedie is a popular man. The Weekly Re- porter instituted a voting contest for the most popular farmer, and Mr. Tweedie won by two thousand majority; and on his shelves is a set of historic books, received as the prize for the best article on farming. It is somewhat re- markable that a man whose days have been necessarily passed in plodding, agricultural pursuits should have developed so much liter- ary ability, suggestive of great possibilities in the line of scholarship had Providence called him into academic grooves. His wife has borne her full share of the labor, having a vigorous physique. Though the mother of nine children, she can to-day walk miles without fatigue. The heroes of the world are not all in parliamentary halls or battlefields. These old farms represent years of labor. How many times they have been cleared - first of timber, next of stumps, and then,
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once, twice, and even thrice, of successive stone crops, and finally from moitgages! Well has that dear lover of outdoor life, Tho- reau, written : -
"Did you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an object, and in no measure obtained it? If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated? Did ever a man try heroism, mag- nanimity, truth, sincerity, and find that there was no advantage in them, that it was a vain endeavor ? "
Of Mr. Tweedie's children, the eldest is Alexander, who was born April 23, 1860, is married, and now a farmer at Dunk Hill, in Walton. Margaret, born December 17, 1861, is the wife of Walter Miller, of North Ham- den, and has one daughter. Mary, born April 8, 1864, is the wife of Frank Doig, a farmer, and has one daughter. John Tweedie, born August 5, 1869, is a stone worker in Hamden, and unmarried. William James, born Febru- ary 7, 1872, is still at home; and so are Lizzie M., born September 7, 1874, George Bruce, June 22, 1877, and Robert A., July 19, 1881. One child died in infancy.
J OHN D. CLANCEY, of Margarettville, N. Y., the well-known proprietor of the largest cooper's shop in Delaware County, was born in Olive, Ulster County, on July 14, 1864. His parents, William and Elizabeth McCadden Clancey, were both natives of West Maid, Ireland, and came to America on their wedding journey in 1839. They bought a farm of eighty acres in Olive, and remained thercon for thirty-two years, prosperously engaged in farming. William Clancey died in 1871, leaving these children : Thomas, who married Sarah Beeker, to whom one child was born, lives in the town of Hurley. Anna, who married M. A. Meagher, of Kingston, a commercial trav- eller, is the mother of eight children. Cath- erine, who married H. P. Kelly, lives near Arkvillc. Lizzie, who married B. Soper, a real cstatc agent in Illinois, has one child. Willie, who married L. Lavy, lives in Shan- daken, Ulster County, and has one child. John D. is the subject of further mention
below. Joseph and George are both in the ice business in Jersey.
John, the original of this sketch, grew up on his father's farm, and at eighteen learncd the cooper's trade at Margarettville, under the training of M. A. Meagher, whose place was on the corner of Walnut and Orchard Streets. Mr. Clancey afterward bought out Mr. Meagher, and has since conducted a large business, manufacturing tubs, firkins, churns, and barrels, and dealing in cooper supplies of all kinds, having many varieties of wooden- ware. His shop caught fire on the 4th of July, 1894, and was burned to the ground; but, with the energy which is characteristic of the man, he has built a new shop on a larger scale, two stories in height, and anticipates making still further additions.
In 1891 he married Maggie B. Carey, daughter of Lute and Sarah (Kelly) Carey. The father-in-law of Mr. Clancey lives on Red Kill, near Griffin's Corner, and is consid- ered one of the best farmers in the neighbor- hood, conducting a fine dairy, in which he takes great pride. He has four children: Maggie, Mrs. Clancey; Nellie; William; and Rose.
Mr. Clancey is a faithful Democrat, and is as active in the political interests of the country as he is in his own business affairs and personal concerns. As is well known in these parts, his shop has always been consid- ered to be one of the best in the county ; and it is a fact worthy of being here recorded that firkins and tubs manufactured in John D. Clancey's cooperage have taken first premium in Delaware County five years in succession.
Mr. Clancey has always had a great many warm friends among the farmers of this sec- tion, and may be trusted by manly dealing to merit the continuance of their patronage and good will.
AMES E. HARPER, a dealer in watches, diamonds, jewelry, and silver- ware, whose attractive store is located on Main Street, Delhi, well represents the mercantile interests of this village, and is classed among its most substantial business men. He is here carrying on a brisk and thriving trade, and, although young in years,
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has already fully established himself in the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. Mr. Harper is a native of Delaware County, hav- ing been born February 1, 1867, in the town of Kortright. His immediate ancestors were also of this county, his grandfather, Henry Harper, having been a life-long resident of the town of Harpersfield, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, William H. Harper.
William H. Harper was reared on the home farm, in Harpersfield, and acquired his early knowledge in the district schools. At the youthful age of fifteen years, by reason of the death of his father, Henry Harper, he was obliged to assume the entire management of the old homestead, where he faithfully labored for thirteen years. Going then to Kortright, he purchased a farm on which some improve- ments had been made, and for thirty-five years thereafter cultivated the land, making essen- tial and valuable improvements, and placing it among the most productive homesteads in the vicinity. Having by diligence and thrift amassed a comfortable competency, he re- moved to the village of Delhi, where he is living, retired from active life, and heartily enjoying the well-deserved reward of his many years of toil. His wife, Sarah McEckron, was a native of Washington County, New York, and one of six children of Alexander McEckron. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harper, of whom four are living; namely, George, William, Anna, and James. The parents were both members of the United Presbyterian Church of North Kortright, where the father served as Deacon for many years.
James E. Harper spent his boyhood and youth on the parental homestead in the place of his nativity, pursuing his studies in the public schools until seventeen years old, when he came to Delhi to learn the jewelry trade, serving his time with J. S. Page, the leading jeweller of the village. Four years later Mr. Harper bought out the jewelry business of O. C. Mann, of this place, and, after carry- ing it on in his own name for three years and six months, largely increased his trade by purchasing the long-established business of his former employer, Mr. Page. This large
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