USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 20
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Daniel Andrews grew to manhood on the old farm, and was extensively engaged in farming all his life. He was a large land- owner, having had possession during his life of seven or eight hundred acres. Most of the improvements on the old place were made by him. He was married twice, his first wife being Isabella Ann McDonald, who was born in Kortright, December 26, 1819. Of this union there were two children: Mary H., wife of DeWitt C. Sharpe, born June 13, 1844; John T., born July 31, 1846, who now resides in New York City. Mr. Andrews's first wife died April 27, 1859; and in 1861 he married Clarissa (Palmer) Sharpe, the mother of DeWitt C. Sharpe. There were no children by this union. Mr. and Mrs. An- drews were members of the Presbyterian church, in which both were active workers. He was a Republican in politics, and inter- ested in the welfare of the town. For several years he held the office of Supervisor of Stam- ford. He died at the old homestead Septem- ber 21, 1871. His wife also spent her last days here, and passed away January 3, 1883.
DeWitt C. Sharpe came to Stamford with his mother in 1861, being then a young man of seventeen. For about four years he was engaged in mercantile business in Brooklyn, but in 1865 moved to Hobart, and carried on a general store for about seven years, when, closing up his business there, he moved to the farm where he now resides. October 6, 1865, Mr. Sharpe married Mary H. Andrews; and five children have blessed their union. DeWitt C., born October 28, 1866, is a farmer in the town of Kortright. Daniel A., born July 15, 1869, is a telegraph operator and station agent in Brooklyn. Clara Belle, born April 3, 1871, is the widow of M. J. McNaught, and now resides at home. Mary E., born August 4, 1881, is also at home. John A. was born February 9, 1885.
Mr. Sharpe is liberal .in his religious views. Politically, he is a Republican. He has taken an active part in the Hobart Agri- cultural Association and Horse and Cattle Show, has been President of the association, and held many of the other offices. The weather signal station, "Volunteer Observer Weather Bureau," which is located on his
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farm, was established in 1886 under General Hazen, and is now conducted by Mr. Sharpe. The farm, which contains three hundred and seventy-five acres, is beautifully located in the valley of the Delaware River, and is sur- rounded by the grand hills and mountains of the Catskills. It is devoted to general farm- ing and dairying, the dairy comprising seventy-five head. That Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe have been successful in life is indicated by their surroundings, which plainly denote the good judgment and foresight of the owners.
AMES S. ADEE is a respected and well-to-do agriculturist, descendant of a widely known pioneer family, and a fine representative of the citizen- soldier element, who so bravely served their country during the dark days of the Rebellion. He is a native of Delaware County, having been born on April 14, 1836, in the town of Bovina, on the same farm which some years before had been the birthplace of his father, Stephen Adee.
His grandfather, Samuel Adee, was born and reared in the town of Rye, Westchester County, N. Y., and lived there until 1790, when he came to this county, where he took up a tract of forest-covered land in the town now called Bovina. He built a log house to shelter his wife and children, and entered upon the hard task of clearing a farm. His persevering toil was in due time rewarded, the dense wilderness giving way to a well- cultivated farm, on which he had erected a good set of frame buildings; and there he and his faithful wife lived until called to the bright world beyond.
.Stephen Adee was one of eight children born to his parents. He received as good an education as the pioneer schools of his day afforded, and early began to perform his full share of the arduous labor required in clearing and improving the wild land of the parental farm. Diligent and faithful, he remained with his parents, laboring day after day in the pioneer work of felling trees and upturning the sod, and, after the death of his father, took possession of the old homestead. Year by year he added to the improvements of the
place, residing there until two years prior to his decease. Selling the old homestead to his son James, he at length removed to Kort- right Centre, where he spent his last days, dying there at the age of sixty-nine years. He was twice married. His first wife, Eliza- beth Luddington, was one of a family of ten children, five girls and five boys, born to Henry and Jane (Northrup) Luddington, of Bovina. Of their union six children were born, namely: Henry, deceased; George, a lawyer in Delhi; James S .; Augustus, a resi- dent of Indiana, engaged in the stock busi- ness; Ruth, the wife of Robert McLouny, a farmer in Stamford; and Mary, the wife of Charles Martin. The mother of these chil- dren passed to the higher life at the compara- tivly early age of thirty-six years. She and her husband were faithful members of the Baptist church. After her death Mr. Adee married Nancy Orr, of Kortright, who died on the old homestead, leaving no issue.
James S. Adee was reared on the home farm, and acquired a substantial foundation for his education in the district school. This was supplemented by a thorough course of study at the Delhi Academy, after which he taught two terms in the district schools at Kortright and Bovina. He then formed a partnership with James Elliott, and entered into business in Bovina Centre, opening a store for general merchandise. They con- ducted a flourishing trade for four years, when Mr. Adee sold out his interest in the concern to his partner. The late Civil War was then in progress, and Mr. Adee took steps to place himself among the brave men who were going forth to fight for the defence of the country's flag. He enlisted in September, 1862, as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and did faithful service until receiving his honorable discharge, July 15, 1865. He was an active participant in many skirmishes and in some of the most decisive battles of the war, and for gallant and meritorious conduct was promoted first to the rank of Sergeant, then to Orderly, or First Sergeant, and finally to the First Lieutenancy, which rank he held at the time of his discharge.
Returning to civil life, he settled in Bo-
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vina, and the following year, 1866, bought his father's farm, which he carried on most successfully until 1880, improving the land and erecting new buildings, greatly increas- ing the value of the estate. In 1880 Mr. Adee moved to the farm of his father-in-law in Kortright, where he remained until the purchase of the estate on which he now re- sides. This farm contains three hundred acres of rich and fertile land, beautifully lo- cated on the river road, about four and one- half miles from Delhi. Mr. Adee devotes a good share of his attention to his dairy, keep- ing fifty-six cows and about thirty head of young stock, and in this branch of industry meets with rich returns.
In 1866 Mr. Adee married Mary E. Wet- more, one of the three children of S. S. D. Wetmore and Rebecca A. (Jacobs) Wetmore. Mr. Wetmore was formerly engaged in farm- ing in the town of Kortright, but recently sold his farm to his son-in-law, W. O. Hill. The pleasant wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Adee was blessed by the birth of three chil- dren - James W., Lucia, and Ferris. In the chill November days of 1891 the home of this family was saddened by a great bereavement, the loving wife and tender mother being then called to the "life immortal." The domestic cares and duties now rest upon Miss Lucia, the daughter, who has become presiding gen- ius of the household. Both she and her father are members of the Presbyterian church, and are active participants in all charitable works connected with that organ- ization. Politically, Mr. Adee is a strong Republican, and is a member of England Post, No. 142, Grand Army of the Republic.
OBERT E. OLIVER was born Janu- ary 12, 1860, on the farm upon which he now resides. Both his father and grandfather were natives of Perthshire, Scotland, from which place the grandfather emigrated to America with his family in 1830. They took passage in a sail- ing-vessel, and were seven weeks in making the voyage. Thomas Oliver, the emigrant, settled in Meredith, Delaware County, where he spent the remainder of his life.
His son William, who was a boy of nine when he was brought to this country, became a clerk in a general store when he was old enough to earn his living, and was so indus- trious and economical that he was soon able to buy an interest in the establishment, and become a partner of his employer, Mr. Rich. Some years later he sold out and engaged in business at Delhi with a Mr. Elwood. De- ciding at length to engage in agricultural life, he again sold his mercantile interests, and purchased a tract of land in the town of Tompkins, where he lived until his death. Only five acres of land were in cultivation ; but William Oliver possesscd both energy and judgment, and he soon added to his posses- sions, and left at his death, July 11, 1876, a farm of four hundred acres, two hundred of which were in an improved condition. Will-
iam Oliver married Harriet Parsons, of Franklin, a daughter of Simeon and Rebecca Parsons. There were eight children born of this union, six of whom are still living.
Robert E. Oliver was a lad of sixteen when his father died; and he worked with his brothers until 1885, when he undertook the management of the place alone. He is exten- sively engaged in dairy farming, and owns a dairy supplied with all the modern improve- ments. In 1890 he married Miss Susie M. Gregory, of Tompkins ; and they are the par- ents of two children - Mary and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are members of the Presbyte- rian church.
Mrs. Oliver belongs to a family whose record is worthy of more than a passing note. One of her ancestors, who was among the ear- liest settlers of this part of New York, came from New England in 1775, and selected a tract of land upon which he intended to set- tle; but the hostility of the Indians in the vicinity made it unsafe to remain. He ac- cordingly burned his stacks of grain; and then, taking his wife on horseback behind him, he journeyed back to New England. He enlisted and served throughout the Revo- lutionary War, and, after the establishment of the American republic, returned to his forest possessions in New York, which he cleared and improved, and from which a home was gradually evolved. Here he lived until his
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death. Her great-grandfather, being raised up as a farmer, naturally followed the lead of early training, and purchased a tract of land in what is now known as Gregorytown, where he passed the residue of his life. He married Miss Sally Fuller. The grandfather of Mrs. Oliver, Josiah Gregory, removed to Tompkins in 1840, and remained there. His wife was Viletty Sutton, the daughter of a lumber dealer and farmer. The mother of Mrs. Oliver was Mary Fisher, a daughter of Frederick and Eliza Fisher.
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ALLACE B. GLEASON, who is prosperously engaged in the flour and feed business with Charles E. Kiff, a sketch of whose life appears on an- other page of this work, is a representative citizen of Delhi, and intimately identified with its industrial interests. He is a native of the town, and first saw the light of this world on March 14, 1859. He is of stanch New England ancestry, his grandfather, Will- iam Gleason, having been a native of Connect- icut and a descendant of a well-known and honored family of that State. After spending the days of his early manhood in the town in which he was born, William Gleason came to Delaware County, being among its earliest settlers, arriving here in 1802, and, buying a tract of unimproved land in the town of Rox- bury, there continued the occupation to which he had been reared. By unwearied and skil- ful labor he cleared a good homestead from the forest, and remained one of Roxbury's most respected citizens until his death in 1861. He reared a family of eight children, one of whom was a son, also named William.
William Gleason, Jr., was born in Mores- ville, now Grand Gorge, in the town of Rox- bury, and until the age of twenty-one years remained a member of the parental household. He attended the district schools, and fitted himself for a teacher by private study, in which he obtained a knowledge of the higher branches of education. For some time he was engaged in teaching school, and later studied law in the office of Judge Munson at Hobart, in the town of Stamford, remaining with him until admitted to the bar in 1843. He began
the practice of his profession in Hobart, con- tinuing there seven years, when he came to Delhi. Here he engaged in the active prac- tice of law until he was elected a member of the State Assembly in the year 1850. After serving one term he was made Surrogate and County Judge, an office which he so ably and faithfully filled that after the expiration of his term of service, in 1859, he was re-elected for another term. During the progress of the late Rebellion Judge Gleason was Commis- sioner of the drafts for the United States ser- vice. His eminent legal qualifications were recognized throughout the county; and, hav- ing built up a lucrative practice, he continued in active work until 1890, when he retired, having in his honored career by his own un- aided efforts amassed a competency. In his home life he was a most affectionate and tender husband and an indulgent father, revered by his children.
On May 9, 1894, after a lingering illness of sixteen weeks, Judge Gleason, at the age of seventy-six years, passed beyond the confines of earth. His death was deemed a public calamity ; and at a meeting of the Delaware County bar, held at the court-house in the village of Delhi, May 10, 1894, W. H. John- son, Esq., upon taking the chair, paid an elo- quent tribute to his many virtues and great intellectual attainments, George Adee, Esq., gave a graphic and interesting biographical account of the Judge, Arthur More, Esq., spoke feelingly of the great assistance which he had in his youth received from the wise counsel and friendly advice of Judge Gleason, Alexander Cummings, Esq., spoke of his un- swerving integrity and unwavering fidelity to his clients, and J. A. Kemp, Esq., and C. L. Andrus, Esq., spoke in behalf of the younger members of the bar. Resolutions in honor of the memory of Judge Gleason were subse- quently prepared, of which the following is a copy : -
"On the ninth day of May, 1894, Judge William Gleason passed from among us. His familiar face we shall never again see, except as we look upon it in the stillness of death. His busy life is ended, and all that is left of him for us is a memory. But that memory, thanks to the natural gifts with which God
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endowed him, and his own industry, persever- ance, integrity, and upright life, is to all of us a most kindly recollection. His work is ended, but his character for good has left its impress on all our minds. He will be re- membered and honored as a most able lawyer, sound jurist, and conscientious citizen. His habits, morality, industry, and integrity gave to him the proud distinction of being one of the leaders of the Delaware County Bar. The world is better for Judge Gleason's years and life. The present generation of young men in and out of the legal profession may learn from his life and character a lesson of incal- culable value. They should study and con- template the lesson of his life. In honor of our deceased brother we desire that this ex- pression of the sentiments of the bar of Dela- ware County be ordered placed upon the re- cords of the court. Abram C. Crosby, George Adee, Arthur More, Committee of the Bar."
The wife of Judge Gleason, formerly Caro- line Blanchard, was one of four children born to John Blanchard, of Meredith. Mr. Blanchard subsequently removed to Delhi, and, forming a partnership with Charles E. Kiff, became one of its most successful merchants. Mrs. Gleason, who still occupies the home- stead, reared three children born of her union with Judge Gleason - John B., Wallace B., and La Fayette B.
Wallace B. Gleason, second son of Judge Gleason, received a substantial foundation for his education in the district schools of his native village; and this instruction was sup- plemented by a course of study at the Dela- ware Academy. After leaving school, Mr. Gleason read law for a while with his father; but, being desirous of entering upon a mer- cantile career, he formed a partnership with Charles E. Kiff in 1882, and, establishing a flour, feed, and general grain business, has since built up an extensive and lucrative trade.
The most important event in the life of Mr. Gleason was his marriage with Miss Maggie Fletcher, the daughter of William Fletcher, a blacksmith of Delhi, and a native of Scot- land, and of whom a sketch may be found on another page. Their nuptials were celebrated August 22, 1883; and their pleasant home
circle has been brightened by the birth of two children - Caroline Louise and Donald William. In politics Mr. Gleason affiliates with the Democratic party, and takes an intel- ligent interest in whatever is for the general good of the community. Religiously, he at- tends the Presbyterian church, of which his wife and mother are devout members.
R. EDGAR B. LAKE, a talented young physician of Meredith Hol- low, was born at Cherry Valley, Ot- sego County, N. Y., March 4, 1864, a son of Thomas and Louisa (Wood) Lake. His grandfather, Joel Wood, was a native of Connecticut, coming to Otsego County when a young man. He purchased a tract of land, which he cleared, and followed the occupation of a farmer. He was the father of five chil- dren; namely, Joel, Henry, Jehial, Elizabeth Ann, and Thomas.
Thomas Lake was brought up to farming pursuits, residing at home until he was twenty-five, when he rented a farm for a time, afterward purchasing one in Jefferson County, where he lived for several years. Some years ago he moved to Schenevus, where he is now living retired. Mr. Lake married Louisa Wood, a daughter of John Wood, of Jefferson County, who was of Quaker ancestry. Of this union the following children were born : Frank, Edgar B., Merritt, Elmer, and Adel- bert.
Edgar B. Lake spent his early years on his father's farm, receiving an education at the district and normal schools. He afterward taught school for three terms at Milford and Cartersville. For one year he read medicine with Dr. Manchester, of Oneonta, and then entered the University of New York City, whence he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1888. After graduation he prac- tised for two years at Marion, Ohio, but left there on account of his wife's health, locating at Meredith, and has to-day a large and lucra- tive practice.
Dr. Lake was married August 15, 1890, to Miss Mollie J. Taylor, a daughter of Arthur Taylor, a shoe dealer of Cardington, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Lake have one living child,
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Eva B. Mabel died in infancy. Dr. Lake is a member of the Delaware County Medical Society, also of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He is an attendant of the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Lake is a member. Dr. Lake is Postmaster of Meri- dale, formerly Meredith Hollow, receiving the appointment under the Cleveland adminis- tration, and his wife occupying the position of Deputy. He is also Health Officer of Mere- dith. For several months he has studied under Dr. Swinburn, the celebrated specialist, thereby adding to his already large fund of medical knowledge.
ORTER G. NORTHUP is a success- ful agriculturist and life-long resi- dent of Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y. His father, William Northup, was a native of Rhode Island, but when very young was brought by his parents to Franklin, where he later engaged in farming. He mar- ried Amanda Foote, a daughter of Jairus Foote, whose wife was a Miss Wilson; and they became the parents of eight children. One daughter, Martha Northup, was educated in the district school, but for many years suffered from ill health. September 8, 1886, she married Mahlon Rowell, who was born in Walton, January 6, 1837, a son of Alvah and Sarah (Wakeman) Rowell. Alvah Rowell was born in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in May, 1803, and became a successful teacher and prosperous farmer. He died of heart dis- ease, April 3, 1869, his widow living to reach her seventy-eighth year, and passing away September 16, 1881, leaving five children, namely: Helen M., widow of Isaac Elderkin; Mahlon ; Charles D., a farmer in Franklin; Julia Ann, wife of Robert Woodburn, of Addison, N. Y .; Edward P., a teacher, re- siding in California. Mahlon Rowell was reared on his father's farm, but, being in delicate health, received only a limited educa- tion. Until his marriage to Miss Northup he lived on the old farm with his sister, but now owns a small place of thirty-one acres near East Handsome Brook. His has been a quiet, uneventful life, passed in peace and happiness in the country, where the excite-
ment and noise of the bustling city never penetrate. It is a remarkable fact that Mr. Rowell has never ridden in a public convey- ance or attended a circus. He is a Republi- can, although never an office-holder, and religiously is a member of the Congregational church.
Porter G. Northup was born in Franklin, April 24, 1829, and attended the district school and academy of that town. When seventeen years of age, he determined to start out in the world for himself, and accordingly accepted a position as travelling salesman for a firm dealing in jewelry and silver, which position he occupied for several years. April 31, 1850, he married Miss M. Mary Chamberlin, daughter of Deacon David Chamberlin; and the newly married couple began life on Mr. Northup's farm of two hundred acres. This he sold in 1866, and bought another, compris- ing one hundred and thirty acres, which they occupied until 1888, then rented it. Mr. and Mrs. Northup have lost one son, Louis, who died at the age of six years; but one daugh- ter, Mary Augusta, is still spared to them. She graduated at the Delaware Literary Insti- tute, and taught for several terms. She is now the wife of William D. Ogden.
Mr. Northup was a member of the Republi- can party until 1873, when he espoused the cause of the Prohibitionists, representing this party in the State Convention in 1876, and being the only Prohibitionist in the county at that time. He is familiarly known as the "Prohibition War Horse," so ardent is he in the work of his political platform. He held the office of Highway Commissioner under a Republican administration, and has been a candidate for Supervisor, Assemblyman, and Congressman on the Prohibition ticket. For many years he has been intensely interested in all matters pertaining to agriculture, being President of the Agricultural Association for two years, and serving as its Secretary for a long period. He has taken prizes to the value of five hundred dollars on his choice sheep, cattle, horses, and farm produce at the different fairs.
Mr. Northup's parents were Congregation- alists; but he joined the Baptist church, and for many years was a leading member of this
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society, from which he resigned, August 8, 1879, at a public meeting, claiming as a rea- son for his resignation that the church was en- couraging the liquor traffic. At present he is not a church member, but gives proof of his strong convictions in upright, honest living, true to his conscience and his country's welfare.
ILLIAM HENRY WOOD, a wealthy farmer in Franklin, was born in this town, March 8, 1834, during the second Presidency of General Jackson. His grandfather was John Wood, who died while Charles, William's father, was a small boy. John came from Ireland, settled in Bos- ton, and fought in the Revolution. His wife was Mary Sarles; but what became of his four brothers, who immigrated at the same time with himself, nothing is now known by this branch of the Wood family. Charles Wood was born in 1804, just thirty years earlier than his son William, in Tompkins; but he died in Franklin, November 22, 1893. He married Eliza Wheat, daughter of a sea cap- tain, William Wheat, and his wife, Mary Bolles. The Wheat family was of Welsh de- scent. Eliza and Charles were married in September, 1831; and they had three boys and a girl. The third son, Charles, named for his father, died at the early age of eleven. Rufus Sylvester Wood is a retired farmer, liv- ing in Franklin, at the age of sixty-two. The second son is the subject of this sketch. Their sister Jane married D. Colby Dibble, a farmer now in Dakota County, Nebraska. The mother of these children died in 1883, aged seventy-two, and rests beside her husband in the Ouleout cemetery. William Henry Wood grew up on the farm, and went to the district school and to the academy in Frank- lin. His father was by trade a blacksmith. The homestead was on an estate of one hun- dred and thirty-four acres, not far south-east of the village of Franklin. William Wood was married October 23, 1855, to Sarah Jane Abell, daughter of Emery Abell, of Franklin, and Ruth Northway Abell, both natives of Massachusetts. They came to Delaware County in 1824. Mrs. Sarah J. Wood has
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