Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 2

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 2

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Mr. Holley, wlio is a true-hearted man, and an esteemed and worthy citizen, is a zeal- ous worker in the cause of temperance, being a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party. He has also been a member of the Baptist church for forty-five years.

EBSTER M. BOUTON, Principal of the Bloomville Graded School, is a promising young man of supe- rior mental attainments, and during his pro- fessional career has given evidence of special aptitude for his chosen vocation. He is a native of Delaware County, Stamford having been the place of his birth, and June 23, 1871, the date thereof. He is the descendant of an ancient and respected family of this county, his paternal great-grandfather, Stephen Bouton, a native of Greene County, having been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and subsequently a pioneer of the town of Roxbury. He was a farmer by occupation, and, settling in Rox- bury in 1780, resided there until his death, at the venerable age of ninety years.

Anson Bouton, son of Stephen, was born in the town of Roxbury, and was bred to a farmer's life. He owned a good farm, and became one of the representative farmers of that vicinity, living there until his departure from earthly labors, when seventy-four years old. He married Elizabeth Craft, who died

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in the prime of life. She bore him six chil- dren, of whom the following three are yet liv- ing: Ann, the wife of Robert Earl, residing at Beaver Hill; Adelia, the wife of George Bookhout, living in Roxbury; and Henry C., living in Kortright.

Henry C. Bouton was born May 2, 1844, in the town of Roxbury. He has devoted his entire life to farming, and is well known throughout this section of the county as a practical and prosperous agriculturist and an extensive landholder. His homestead in the town of Kortright contains three hundred acres of choice land, and constitutes one of the finest farms in the locality. He was mar- ried in the town of Stamford, February 13, 1868, to Hannah M. Haines, who was born in Jefferson, Schoharie County, in February, 1846. Both he and his wife are conscientious members of the Presbyterian church at Kort- right Centre; and in politics he is a firm sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party. He has served as Collector, and in various town offices, and is in all respects one of the foremost citizens of his community. To him and his wife seven children have been born, as follows: Cora, the wife of George Parris, of Meredith; Charles E., of Pennsyl- vania; Webster M .; Frank H .; Anson S .; Grace M .; and Carrie A.

Webster M., the second son, who is the subject of this biographical notice, acquired the rudiments of his education in the district schools of Kortright, where he laid a substan- tial foundation for his present mental acquire- ments. He afterward pursued his studies at Stamford Academy, making such good use of the opportunities afforded him that before six- teen years of age he passed a standing exami- nation for teaching. When seventeen years old, he assumed the duties of a pedagogue, his first school being in Harpersfield Centre; and from that time until the present he has con- tinued in this useful and pleasant occupation, enjoying a well-merited reputation as a teacher of more than ordinary ability and success. Mr. Bouton came to his present position in 1893; and under his régime the Bloomville school maintains a high rank among the graded schools of Delaware County, its excellent con- dition reflecting great credit upon him, and

upon his industrious pupils, and the intelli- gent parents of the district, who heartily co-operate with him in his efforts for its im- provement. Religiously, Mr. Bouton is a valued member of the Presbyterian church ; and, socially, he is a member of Delaware Valley Lodge, No. 612, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bloomville. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, taking an active in- terest in local and national affairs; and dur- ing the campaign of 1892 he delivered stirring and sound political addresses on the issues of the day throughout Delaware County.

EWIS BUSH, of Walton, is one of the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic who still live to tell of hardships undergone and deeds of valor done in the most perilous period of our nation's history. Descended from good old stock, he was born and bred on a farm, and early engaged in such studies and toils and pastimes as opportunity afforded or duty directed. His native place was in Rens- selaer County, New York, where he was born on June 12, 1843. His father, John Bush, was born in the same county on August 23, 1807, and died at his home in Walton in 1884. Mr. Bush's grandfather was Daniel Bush, who also died in Walton, and whom many will still remember as having retained all his faculties to an extreme old age. Thc wife of Mr. John Bush was Mary Launt, a na- tive of Hamden; and she was the mother of nine children, six sons and three daughters, Lewis being the sixth child. He and his sister Margaret, wifc of Asa Weldon, of Dry- den, Tompkins County, arc the only survivors of this numerous family.

Shortly after finishing his course of study in the district school, young Bush became in- terested in the questions that stirred the pub- lic mind, and, at the brcaking out of the War of the Rebellion and the call to the front, was ready and willing to go. Hc en- listed from Walton in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, Company B, and served in the ranks for three ycars, thus becoming accustomed to the hard- iest kind of life, and showing a most com-

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mendable bravery. For a long time the ravages of disease made it necessary for him to remain at Upton Hill, Fairfax Seminary, where typhoid fever bereft him of much of the manly vigor of which he had always been proud. He experienced some of the worst horrors of the war; and, when honorably dis- charged at its close, he came home to the farm, thankful that his life had been spared.

On the first day of the year 1869 he was married to Elizabeth Cornwell, of Otsego County, who was the daughter of William and Fidelia (Worden) Cornwell. Mrs. Bush never knew her father, he having died before her birth. Her mother, however, lived to be sixty-eight years old, and died in 1882, hav- ing been twice married, and leaving nine children. Mrs. Bush has one own sister, Louisa, wife of Augustus Fuller, of Downs- ville, Delaware County,. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are without children of their own, but have an adopted son, Clarence K. Bush, a promising young man of twenty-one, now at Amherst College, who has already shown much intel- lectual ability. Mr. Bush is a member of General Marvin Post, No. 209, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been Junior Commander and Quartermaster Sergeant.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush came to this village eleven years ago, and it is now three years since they purchased the property where they now live. They have remodelled the place so that their present home is a credit to them -. selves and an ornament to the town. Here Mrs. Bush carries on the flourishing millinery business which she established eleven years ago, and in which she stands at the head of the trade in the town in the excellence and good taste of her work.

The family are zealous and valued members of the Methodist church, being among the most earnest workers and liberal contributors toward completing the new house of worship and paying off the debt, all of which by eager and heroic effort they hope to accomplish be- fore the end of 1894.

Mr. Bush is a Republican in politics, and has proved himself a faithful citizen, having quickly responded in the hour of his country's need, bravely venturing his life in its cause. Beginning early to make sacrifices, he has

been always influenced by high motives and aspirations; and he is to-day one of the men who are looked to with assurance for earnest help in works for the uplifting and advance- ment of humanity.

ILBERT T. SCOTT, M.D., a prac- tising physician in East Davenport, was born March 30, 1854, in the town of Bovina, Delaware County, that town being likewise the birthplace of his father, James R. Scott. His grandfather, Adam Scott, was a native of Scotland, whence he came to America when a young man. He took up his abode in Bovina, where he devoted his time to the pioneer labor of clearing a farm. He had made excellent headway in his work, having redeemed a very good homestead from the wilderness, when he was accidentally killed by his horses running away and throw- ing him over a bridge. He married Nancy Russell, who survived him, and spent her last years on the old homestead. They reared eight children - James R., Henry, Frank, John, Nancy, Elizabeth, Mary, and Ellen.

James, the eldest son, was brought up by an uncle, Andrew Hamilton, in Delhi, where at an early age he learned the carpenter's trade. He first located in Bovina. In 1861 he re- moved to the town of Andes, and thence went to New Kingston, where he departed this life at the age of sixty-five years. When a young man he was united in marriage with Mary Winter, who was born of Scotch parentage in Middletown. Her parents were pioneers of this county, settling in Middletown when the place was one vast forest, wherein wolves, panthers, and other wild beasts disported at will. During their first year's residence there they depended largely on the game they shot for meat; but each succeeding twelvemonth saw a few more acres of land under cultiva- tion, and in course of time they had a com- fortable homestead. They reared a large family of children -a full dozen. Of the union of James R. Scott and his wife eight children were born, as follows: James A., a carpenter, living in New Kingston; Thomas H., a farmer living in Walton; Gilbert T .; Andrew H., deceased; Anna Bell, deceased;

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Mary Ellen, the wife of Jacob N. Thompson, a farmer, of New Kingston; Fanny, deceased, who married Oscar Faulkner, of New King- ston; and Elizabeth, who makes her home with her brother, the Doctor. The mother spent her last years in New Kingston, dying at the age of threescore years.

Gilbert T. Scott, having spent his early years in New Kingston, where his first les- sons were conned, subsequently attended the district schools of Middletown and Andes, and was next enrolled as a student at Stam- ford Seminary, and later at the Andes Col- legiate Institute, where he finished his preparation for college. Matriculating at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, he was there graduated, after a four years' course, with the degree of B.A. He first pursued the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Allen, of Pittsburg, Pa., and afterward entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, from which he received his diploma in 1884. Dr. Scott began the prac- tice of his profession in the town of Roxbury, where he remained three years, at the expira- tion of which period he came to Davenport, succeeding to the practice of Dr. James M. Donnelly.

Dr. Scott was married in 1885 to Miss Mary Birdsall, one of six children born to the Rev. Isaac and Isabella (Davidson) Birdsall, of New Kingston, where Mr. Birdsall is en- gaged as a local preacher of the Methodist denomination. Their happy wedded life was not of long duration; for on December II, 1893, Mrs. Scott passed to the spirit world, leaving one child, Clifton R. Scott. She was a woman of superior merit, possessing a deeply sympathetic nature, excelling in the Christian virtues, and was an esteemed mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church, of which the Doctor is a Trustee.

ILAS M. OLMSTED, a practical and progressive agriculturist of the town of Masonville, was born within its precincts, the date of his birth being August 8, 1843. His parents, John and Delilah (Tallman) Olmsted, were both natives of Greene County, New York, his

father having been born February 21, 18II, and his mother October 13, 1822. His grandfather, Moses Olmsted, was a pioneer of Greene County, and prominent among its early settlers. He was an enterprising man, full of life and activity, and was engaged as a contractor of public works, as a successful hotel-keeper, and as a prosperous farmer. He belonged to a loyal and patriotic family, and one of his brothers served in the Revolution- ary War. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Cornelia Pitcher, died in Greene County. They had a family of eight children, three of whom are now living, the family record being as follows: Frederick, deceased; Wilbur, deceased; John, who re- sides in Bainbridge, Chenango County; Will- iam, deceased; Dorr, who lives in Greene County ; Lany, deceased; Adaline, deceased ; Emeline, the widow of Daniel Linon, resid- ing in Greene County. Jedediah Tallman, his maternal grandfather, was born in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and died before 1830. But little of his life record has been preserved. His wife, Melinda Trip, was born in 1800, and died in Greene County in the seventies. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are living, namely: Ursula, widow of Ezekiel Palen, residing in Rome, Ga .; Delilah, wife of John Olmsted, in Bainbridge, Chenango County, N.Y .; Ar- mida, deceased; Jeannette, widow of Lewis Hunt, in Quaker Street, Schenectady ; Elijah, in Greene County.

John Olmsted was reared and educated in Greene County, in early life turning his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. He made his first purchase of land in Delaware County, coming to Masonville in 1841, crossing the intervening country with teams, and bringing with him his family and all their worldly pos- sessions. Buying the land now owned and occupied by Jonas Finch, which was at that time heavily timbered, he erected a frame house that is still standing, and resided there for many years. He cleared much of the land, and, buying other tracts, was at one time the possessor of a farm of three hundred and forty acres. He was well known as one of the leading farmers of his locality, and during his residence in Masonville was numbered among

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

its influential citizens. He served his fellow- townsmen in various official capacities, hav- ing been Assessor three terms, Road Com- missioner, and the incumbent of several minor offices. In 1867 he and his wife moved to Bainbridge, where he bought the valuable farm of one hundred and forty acres, on which he still lives, and carries on general farming. Although advanced in years, he and his wife are still vigorous both mentally and physi- cally, and happy in the enjoyment of good health. Politically, he is a firm Republican, and in religious matters is liberal. Of the fourteen children born of their union nine are now living, as follows: Theodore and Silas M., both farmers in Masonville; Levi, a farmer in Sanford, Broome County; Adelbert H., a civil engineer, in Bloomfield, N.J .; Jonathan, living with his parents in Bain- bridge: Armida, who married Samuel Smith, living in Bainbridge; Arcella, the wife of Charles Osborne, living in Milford, Otsego County ; Rueyette, wife of Elmer Ford, resid- ing in Batavia, N.Y .; and Josephine, the wife of Eugene Brightman, living in the vil- lage of Sidney. The names of the deceased are: Jeannette, who died at the age of sixteen years; Walter, who died at the age of five years; Elizabeth, who died when an infant; Adaline, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Harriet, who died when an infant.

Silas M. Olmsted obtained his early knowl- edge of book lore in the district schools of Masonville, and on the home farm early be- came initiated into the mysteries of agricult- ure, and remained at home, assisting in the management of the farm, until September I, 1864, when he enlisted in the service of his country, as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volun- teer Militia, under the command of Captain M. W. Marvin, his term of enlistment being for one year, or until the close of the war. With his company Mr. Olmsted participated in several skirmishes and battles, among others being the battles at James Island and Honcy Hill. While at the front he con- tracted a disease from which he has never fully recovered. On June 25, 1865, he re- ceived his honorable discharge, at Hilton Head, S.C. Returning to Delaware County,

he resumed his former occupation in the place of his nativity, and subsequently bought one hundred acres of land in the town of Sidney, where he pursued farming until 1873. He then disposed of his property there, and bought the farm of one hundred and ten acres on which he now resides, carrying on mixed husbandry with excellent pecuniary results. He has a choice dairy of fourteen cows, mostly native cattle. He thoroughly under- stands his work, and is acknowledged to be one of the most able and successful agricultur- ists in his locality.

On May 15, 1867, Mr. Olmsted was united in marriage with Emma L. Sikes, a native of Connecticut, where she was born January 4, 1846. Her parents, Thomas and Pamelia (Barnes) Sikes, both natives of the same State, removing to Delaware County in 1850, settled on a farm in Masonville, on which the father still lives. Mrs. Sikes departed this life in 1882. She bore her husband eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Henry W., of Pittsfield, Mass .; Mrs. Olm- sted; Sila, the wife of Rufus Randall, of Masonville; John, a farmer, of Masonville; Celestia, the wife of Nelson Wilcox, of Masonville. The names of the deceased are as follows: Julia, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Ellen, who died at the age of eleven years; and an infant. Mrs. Sikes was an esteemed member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, while Mr. Sikes is lib- eral in his religious views. Politically, he is a straight Democrat.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted has been blessed by the birth of eight children, the following being their record: Ida, born April 4, 1868, is the wife of Frank Wright, of Oneonta. Walter J., born January 24, 1871, resides at home. Blanche, born Janu- ary 31, 1875, married George Reynolds, and resides at home. Janette, born January II, 1880, lives at home. Clara died at the age of six years, Leah died when ten months old, Iva died when a week old, and John died when two and one-half years of age.

" There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there ;

There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair."

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Mrs. Olmsted, a sincere and Christian woman, is a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal church; and Mr. Olmsted is quite lib- eral in his views on religion. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, support- ing its principles by voice and vote. So- cially, hc is a member of Masonville Lodge, No. 180, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is Past Commander.

EV. RICHARD C. SEARING, rec- tor of Christ Episcopal Church at Walton, has been potent in elevat- ing the moral and religious status of this part of Delaware County, and in- fluential in forwarding its educational and literary interests. He was born April 13, 1851, in Saratoga Springs, which was also the place of nativity of his father, William M. Searing. His grandfather, Richard Searing, was a pioneer of Saratoga County, whither he went from Hempstead, L.I., where he was reared and married. During the Revolution- ary War he was engaged as teamster, but also handled a musket to good purpose at the battle of Stony Point. Removing to Saratoga County, he purchased a tract of land which was still in its virgin wildness, and there en- gaged in general farming until his death. He was twice married; his second wife, from whom the subject of this sketch is descended, was Hannah Stanley Marsh Searing, the daughter of Samuel Stanley, and the widow of William Marsh. She borc him three chil- dren, namely: William M .; Sarah, the wife of J. Ingersoll; and Hannah.

William M. Searing was reared to agricult- ural pursuits on the home farm, assisting in its labors during the years of his boyhood and youth, but not neglecting his educational advantages. After mastering the common branches of learning, he taught school several terms with unquestioned ability and success. Having a logical and analytical mind, with a taste for jurisprudence, he began the study of law in the office of William A. Beach in Sara- toga Springs, and subsequently entered upon the practice of his profession in that place. He has always taken an active interest in works of philanthropy and reform, ever being

foremost in the cause of the oppressed, and was prominent among the Free-soilers, who spent some time in Kansas in the stirring period of its settlement. During the latc Civil War he won a record as a brave man and a loyal officer, of which he and his descendants may well be proud. He cnlisted in the ser- vice of his country in 1861 as Major of the Thirtieth New York Volunteer Infantry, and for gallant conduct was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and subsequently was appointed Colonel of his regiment, serving as such until honorably discharged in 1863. He was an active participant in several heavy en- gagements, being at the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, and others, and at one time having his horse shot from under him. Returning to Sara- toga Springs, he resumed his law practice, and is still an honored resident of that place, where he is filling the office of Pension Agent.

He married Caroline M. Huling, daughter of Beekman and Maria (Smith) Huling, the former of whom was born in the town of Beekman, Dutchess County, N. Y., being the son of John Huling, a native of the same place and a pensioner of the Revolution. Jacob Smith, the father of Maria Smith Hu- ling, was a resident of Kinderhook, Columbia County, where the latter was born, December 8, 1799. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William Searing seven children were born, namely: Beekman; William, deceased; Rich- ard C .; Edmund; Carrie; Samuel, Chaplain of City Institutions, Boston, Mass. ; and Han- nah, deceased. Both parents are esteemed members of the Bethesda Church at Saratoga.

Richard C. Searing, the subject of this brief biography, spent the first ycars of his life in the village of Saratoga Springs, acquir- ing his elementary education in its district schools, which was further advanced by attend- ance at the gradcd school. He went thence to St. Stephen's College at Annandale, N. Y., and was graduated from the General Theologi- cal Seminary in New York City in 1877. His first pastoral work after graduation was at Walton, in the church where he is now offici- ating, of which he had charge until 1879, when [he accepted a call to Columbia, Pa. After remaining there three years and eight

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months, Mr. Searing spent a short time at Middle Haddam, Conn., and subsequently two years in Willimantic and two years at Union- ville, in the same State. He next had charge of a church at Arlington, Vt., for nearly five years, and from that place returned to his first pastorate in July, 1893. Through his untiring efforts when at Arlington, the church at Sunderland was established. He is a man of great perseverance, and in his present re- sponsible position in the Master's vineyard is acquitting himself with the same fidelity to duty, and with the same lofty purpose, clear judgment, and tempered zeal which have ever been among his distinguishing characteristics. Under his faithful ministrations many per- sons have been added to the different congre- gations under his charge, and he has made his influence felt for good in the community wherever he has resided.

The marriage of Mr. Searing with Lizzie Chrisman Seeley, the daughter of Aaron C. and Caroline (Jennings) Seeley, of New Ca- naan, Conn., was solemnized on January 15, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley removed from their New England home to the town of Wal- ton, and were numbered among its most valued citizens. They had four children - George C., Erastus C., Carrie C., and Lizzie C. Mr. Seeley died while yet a young man, at the age of twenty-nine years. Mrs. Seeley survived her husband until 1882, when she passed to the higher life at the age of fifty- three years. Both were sincere communicants of the Episcopal church. After the death of her husband Mrs. Seeley, who was a woman of fine character and rare mental endowments, devoted herself with faithful solicitude to rearing her little family, who all continue to reside in Walton, and have become useful members of society, George being junior member of the firm of Fitch Brothers & See- ley, and Erastus member of the firm of Tobey & Seeley.

Politically, the Rev. Mr. Searing is a Republican; and, socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined Walton Lodge, No. 559, in 1878. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Adoniram Lodge, Royal Arch Masons, of Manchester, Vt.

RED H. GRIFFIS, proprietor of the Edgerton House, the leading hotel of Delhi, has, by his ready tact and uni- form courtesy, made his well-managed estab- lishment, with its beautifully supplied table and its excellent service, one of the most at- tractive resorts for the travelling public that can be found within the limits of Delaware County, and has won for himself a far more than local reputation. He is a native of Delaware County, having made his first en- trance upon the stage of life October 22, 1858, in the town of Hancock, where his father, Calvin B. Griffis, was then engaged in business.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 2

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