Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 21

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

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two brothers and two sisters, all living. Her father died February 10, 1884, aged seventy, and her mother a year earlier, on January 28, 1883, aged sixty-seven; and both these deaths occurred in the present home of their daughter Sarah, where they had lived during twelve years after Mr. Abell's retirement from active life. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Wood went West, as far as Jackson County, Iowa, where they remained eighteen months, thereafter removing to Dakota County, Ne- braska, where they took a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Always an agriculturist, and believing thoroughly in land-ownership, Mr. Wood now has six farms, aggregating in all fourteen hundred acres, to which he gives his attention. He is the father of two chil- dren now living. Stella Wood married L. W. White, land and loan agent in Woodbine, Iowa, and has three children. Frederick Abell Wood is just finishing his education at Hamilton College. The parents have lost three other children. Charles Emory Wood, named for his grandfathers, died in boyhood, aged fourteen months, while the parents were in Iowa. Nellie Wood died when only twenty-two months old, in Franklin. George F. Wood, a brilliant and promising scholar, a fluent speaker, and a graduate of Hamilton College, had completed his first year in the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, when he was called to give up his young life at the early age of twenty-six.

In religious belief the father is a Baptist and the mother a Methodist; but they agree in practical religion, adopting the sentiments of the immortal Washington: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indis- pensable supports. In vain could that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert those pillars of human happi- ness, those firmest props of the duties of men and citizens."

ALVIN McALLISTER is a well- known and highly respected resident of Walton, and a man who has always, since he settled in this been closely connected with local town,

CALVIN MC ALLISTER.

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affairs, and especially with all religious mat- ters. He was born in New York City, Octo- ber 22, 1844. His father, David McAllister, was born in 1800, in the north of Ireland, where he grew to manhood, and was married to Mary Scott Enrouth. Not long after that event he embarked with his wife in a sailing- vessel, and after a long, tedious voyage ar- rived in this country. He engaged in the dry- goods business in New York City, where they lived for twenty years, and then removed from the metropolis to Bethel, Sullivan County. A short time prior to his death he made his residence in Newburg, Orange County, on the Hudson. He died about 1870, leaving his widow with eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom Calvin was the seventh child. Mrs. McAllister died in Newburg, in 1887, at eighty-three years of age. They were members of the Reformed Presbyterian church, of which Mr. McAllister was an Elder. Their bodies rest in the ceme- tery at Coldenham, Orange County.

At the age of nineteen, after finishing his education in the district schools, Calvin Mc- Allister volunteered in the service of his country, and went to the front in Company G, Second Regiment, New York Volunteer Rifles, and was in the Army of the Potomac during the campaign at Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, and at Petersburg, Va. At the latter place he received a gun- shot wound in the left elbow. He went to the field hospital, and then by transport to Alexandria. Here he suffered from severe mortification of his wound, which at one time appeared so serious that he was given a leave of absence; and he came North to his father's, where he could receive treatment amid the comforts of home, and the kind ministrations of friends and kindred. A council of physi- cians was held, and decided that amputation was necessary. Dr. Apply, surgeon of the New York & Erie Railroad, was called; and through his excellent skill Mr. McAllister escaped all the discomforts of an operation and the loss of his arm, coming out of the crisis in good condition.

In 1867 Mr. McAllister married Maria, daughter of D. G. and Jane (Chambers) Mc- Donald, of Walton. Mrs. McAllister died

after one year of married life, leaving an infant who lived but three months after its mother's death. Mr. McAllister was again married June 13, 1870, to Mary Cowan, daughter of William and Elizabeth A. (Mccullough) Cowan. Mrs. Cowan was a native of New- burg, while Mr. Cowan was born in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Cowan were mar- ried in New York in 1836, and continued living in that city for seven years, when they moved to York, Livingston County, where they carried on agricultural pursuits until the death of Mr. Cowan in 1870, in his sixty-sec- ond year. His widow, now in her eighty-first year, is with her daughter in Walton, and although feeble in body is still vigorous in mind, and interested in all the affairs of the day. Her one living son, Moses, is a farmer in Livingston; and another son, William, died from an accident when but eleven years old.

Mrs. McAllister studied at Ingham Uni- versity, Le Roy, N. Y., and before her mar- riage engaged in teaching. A deep sorrow came to the family in the loss of the eldest daughter while still an infant, and great was the joy of the father and mother when two other children came to bless their home. The eldest of these is Anna Vida, who is now a Sophomore at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. The other child is David C. McAllis- ter, who has just graduated, in 1894, from the Walton High School, and although but six- teen years of age bore off the highest honors, being valedictorian of his class. He is now a Freshman in Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.

Since Mr. McAllister came to Walton, in 1874, he has been engaged in the produce busi- ness, especially in buying butter and shipping it to Eastern markets, and has established a flourishing trade, which is rapidly growing to large proportions. In politics he is a firm adherent of the Republican party. In the Congregationalist church both Mr. McAllister and his wife are valuable workers, he having been superintendent of the Sunday-school connected with that church for the past four years. He is a clear-headed, high-principled man, of strong personality and wide-reaching influence,

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APTAIN WILLIAM SMITH, a well- known resident of Tompkins, who earned his shoulder-straps by bravely battling for the Union in the late war, has passed through varied experiences, meeting with thrilling adventures; and the story of his life is most interesting. His great-grandfather Smith was one of the famous "Green Mountain Boys " who fought for free- dom under Ethan Allen in the Revolution. He was an extensive land-owner, and gave to each of his five sons, as they attained succes- sively their majority, a large farm. His last days were passed in Wardsboro, Vt., of which town the family were pioneers.

Richard Smith was born in Massachusetts, and moved with his parents to Vermont, where he was a prosperous farmer. He died there at an advanced age, in 1863. Many exciting stories of Revolutionary times, gleaned from his father, he in turn told to his son and grandson. Mason Smith, son of Richard, was born in Windham, Vt., but, when a young man, removed to Delaware County, New York, and purchased land in Masonville, which he proceeded to clear, and there erected a log house, being employed in the saw- mills in the winter. He married Caroline Reynolds, of Masonville; and they were the parents of six children - Mary, Henry M., Winchester, William, Stillman, and Charles. Mason Smith was killed at the age of forty-five by a fall from a building in Masonville. His wife survived him a number of years.

William, son of Mason and Caroline (Rey- nolds) Smith, was born in Masonville, Janu- ary 31, 1843, and passed his boyhood in Vermont, being educated in the town of Wardsboro in that State, and afterward at- tending the normal school in Geneseo, Il1. He started out in life on board the whaler, "Homer," of Fairhaven, Mass., and sailed to the coast of Morocco, where they were ship- wrecked. The natives being hostile, they were obliged to watch day and night, and twice fought them for their lives. The na- tives endeavored to smother them by closing the only opening for air in the hut, but were repulsed; and after five days a small boat was sighted. This proved to be commanded by a

Portuguese, and manned by a crew of negroes, one of whom was left on board while the others landed. Mr. Smith and his compan- ions lay in hiding until the sailors of the small boat had made their way inland, and then swam out and captured their prize, tak- ing prisoner the only man on board, whom they bound and took ashore. Gathering to- gether their possessions, they put out to sea, and after five days sighted one of the South Azores Islands, where they landed, and were most kindly received by the American consul. Mr. Smith then shipped on the American brigantine, "Candace," of Boston, engaged in the smuggling of tobacco into Portugal, and, after many exciting adventures, returned to Boston on her, arriving there in September, 1860. He then shipped for the winter on a coaster, after which he returned to Mason- ville, having been absent for two years, and found his mother mourning him as lost, the wreck of his vessel having been reported by a homeward-bound ship which saw her driving on to the rocks, but was unable to render assistance.

In March, 1862, Mr. Smith enlisted in the Eighth Vermont Infantry, and went South with General Butler, participating in the tak- ing of Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge. In the fall of 1862 he was detailed as Drillmaster, and in September was promoted by General Butler to the office of First Lieutenant. After raising the Union troops of Louisiana, he was made First Lieutenant of Company A, Second Reg- iment of that State, and, for bravery in action, twenty days later was promoted to the office of Captain, and assigned to Company H of the same regiment. He was present at the siege of Port Hudson, and participated with his regiment in all the fighting that followed, taking an active part in thirty-one battles, besides several skirmishes, and following General Banks on his Red River expedition. In 1864 he resigned his commission, and went to Illinois, three months later enlisting in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry from the town of Gen- eseo for one year. He was discharged July I, 1865, having been present at the battle of Nashville and in many skirmishes. After the war closed, Captain Smith engaged in farming

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for fourteen years in Clayton, Bay County, Mich., of which town he was Supervisor from the village of Mapleridge for twelve succes- sive years, also Commissioner of Highways, Superintendent Public Schools, and Justice of the Peace. His health failing, he removed to the State of Delaware, and was employed in building electric railways, being foreman in the building of several large lines. Eight years later he returned to New York State, and settled on the farm where he now resides, very near his birthplace, having been absent twenty-three years.

September 20, 1866, Captain Smith married Sarah A. Scott, daughter of David and Cla- rissa (Eggliston) Scott, of Tompkins; and they had seven children: Elmer E., who died when ten months old; Clara E .; Rosa A .; Lela Irene, who died at the age of two and one-half years; Lulu May; Lena Maud; and Walter S., who died at nine months old. Captain Smith and his wife are members of the Kingswood Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, Del., and are most profoundly esteemed wherever they are known.

RANK MELVILLE ANDRUS, one of the leading lawyers of the town of Roxbury, Delaware County, where he was born on the 8th of February, 1861, is of English descent, and seems to have inherited the traits of sagacity, thrift, and industry that have through successive generations distin- guished the Andrus family. He is the son of Daniel D. and Catherine N. (Stratton) An- drus, and the grandson of Daniel D. and Polly D. (Demmon) Andrus, both of English par- entage. Daniel Andrus, the grandfather, a native of Albany County, where he was born March 26, 1786, came to Meeker Hollow, and settled upon a tract of land covering an area of one hundred and thirty acres. Later in life he moved to Victor, Ontario County, tak- ing his family with him, and established him- self there as a drover. In the fiftieth year of his age, while on a business trip in the east- ern part of the State, he was taken ill, and died on the 20th of July, 1836, leaving a wife, who did not long survive him, and eleven children, who were born in the follow-

ing order: Joseph D., born November 19, 1808; Alonzo B., March 19, 1810; Laura L., May 28, 1812; Justice D., August 8, 1814; Anna, August 29, 1816; Catherine, July 30, 1818; Polly D., September 10, 1820; Brazil, February 10, 1823; Maranda D., October 20, 1828; Daniel D., December 2, 1831; and Anna C., April 2, 1833.

Daniel D., the youngest son, was sent back to Delaware County at the age of five years, where he grew to manhood under the guidance and supervision of Mr. Ira Hicks. He was educated in the district school, and for some time was a clerk in Mr. Hicks's store, but finally embarked in the cattle business, inher- iting an aptitude in that line from his father, and proving himself equally successful. He married Kate N. Stratton, who was born March 17, 1839, a daughter of Lewis and Jane (Lockwood) Stratton. The grandfather of Mrs. Kate Andrus was one of the early set- tlers of that locality so famous for its beauty, and known as the Stratton Falls. Daniel Andrus was a Democrat in politics, and held the offices of Assessor, Supervisor, and Jus- tice of the Peace. Socially, he was a member of Cœur de Lion Lodge.

Frank Melville Andrus attended the dis- trict school of Delaware County, and after- ward went to Stamford, N.Y., where he pursued more advanced studies. He finally applied himself to the study of law, and, after reading with Mr. Henry C. Soop, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1885, since which time he has practised his profession, in partnership with his former tutor, Mr. Soop.

Mr. Andrus married Nellie E. Pierce, daughter of Roderick and Olive A. (Peck) Pierce; and their union has been blessed with one child, Olive E. In his political convic- tions Mr. Andrus is a Democrat, and in his religious views liberal. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is Past Master of Cœur de Lion Lodge.

RUMAN GUILD may properly be classed among the most prosperous business men of Walton, Delaware County, N. Y., where he is senior member of the firm of T. Guild & Son, druggists. Mr.

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Guild is purely American, his grandfather, Jeremiah Guild, having been born in Warren, Conn., September 4, 1746, in which town he also died in 1822. His mother, who was early left a widow, passed away in 1792, at the age of seventy-two years.

Jeremiah Guild was a navigator, who fol- lowed the sea for many years, experiencing the marvellous escapes and exciting advent- ures of a sailor's life. During one voyage his vessel was seized by the British, and he and his brother were taken prisoners and car- ried to Halifax. After their release he re- turned to Middletown, Conn., and later re- moved to Warren, where he engaged in the charcoal trade in connection with the iron works of that place. Mr. Guild was a mem- ber of Trinity Parish, and was most influen- tial in the building of the church.

Mr. Guild married Miss Hannah Hale, of Middlefield, who became the mother of nine children, five of whom were sons: Timothy; Gael; Albon; Everett, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch; and Jeremiah. When but forty-four years old, this tender, loving mother was taken away; and September 2, 1800, the husband was again married, to Miss Lucinda F. Eaton, who was born in Coventry in 1768, and lived to reach her eighty-first year. Five children were the issue of this second mar- riage, all of whom have passed away: Lu- cinda; Frederick, a soldier of the late war; Sophrona; Truman; and Anna Maria.

Everett, son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Hale) Guild, was born in Warren in 1773, and died in Walton in 1849. On May 5, ISTO, he married Miss Hannah Perkins, of Massachusetts, who was born August 31, 1775, and died November 27, 1850. Soon after their marriage they settled in Walton, N. Y., where Mr. Guild gave his attention to the manufacture of harnesses and saddlery. Like his father, he was a member of the Epis- copal church, and in politics a Democrat. He and his wife were parents of nine chil- dren, namely: Everett; Lyman ; Delia; Emily ; Edwin; Truman; Marshall; Emma ; and Ed- ward, who died in infancy. Only two, Mar- shall and Truman, are still living. Everett E. was a Universalist minister in Bingham- ton, where he died when seventy-six years

old, leaving one daughter. Edwin was a prominent merchant of Walton, where he died, aged sixty-four, in 1884, mourned by a widow and one son. Delia became the wife of Gabriel Hoyt, of Walton, in which town she passed away in 1892, being seventy-five years old and the mother of eight children. Lyman, a harness-maker, was born in Walton in 1813, and died at his birthplace in the prime of life. Emily, who was born in 1817, married B. F. Griswold, and died in Atlantic City in the fall of 1892, leaving one son.

Truman Guild was born in Walton, Sep- tember 1, 1825, and, like most of his brothers, learned the harness-maker's trade from his father. In 1849, on the fifth day of September, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Keen, daughter of George M. and Matilda (Saybolt) Keen. The Keens were natives of Orange County, where Mr. Keen was em- ployed as a stone-mason. They were the par- ents of nine children, and lived to a good old age, Mr. Keen dying in Prompton in 1865, aged eighty-one, and Mrs. Keen living till her ninety-sixth year, when she died, Decem- ber 23, 1871. Of these children the follow- ing are now living: Mary Jane, widow of William F. Wood, a livery man, of St. Jo- seph, Mo. ; Abigail M., wife of W. T. Palmer, of Milwaukee; Valentine Mottkeen, who is a railroad machinist at Scranton, Pa .; George P., a drayman in Honesdale, Pa .; Frederick ; Ira; Lucy; and Elizabeth, the wife of the subject of this sketch.

Although Elizabeth was very young at the time of her marriage, she was an excellent housekeeper, and with her husband's aid has guided to maturity four children, namely : George Everett Guild, born November 9, 1850, a Presbyterian minister of Scranton, Pa., who married Mary Clark, of Florence, Mass., by whom he has three children - Clark G., E. Burnham, and Gertrude E .; Fannie M., widow of Herbert Twaddell, who has three sons - Ralph S., Howard J., and Everett E. ; Edwin L., a druggist in partner- ship with his father, who married Julia C. Ogden, of Walton, and has two children - Edna S., eight years of age, and Emily O., who has seen but four summers; Harriet E., wife of Henry O. Tobey, a grocer of Walton,

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who is the mother of two daughters and one son --- Anna G., Martha B., and Truman C. Mr. and Mrs. Guild have been called upon to part with two sons and three grandchildren, who have passed on to the eternal home. The family are all members of the Congregational church, where they are constant and interested attendants.

Mr. Guild is a Democrat, but has never held office in that organization, content that his vote should always favor the men best qualified in his estimation to rule the people of this land. A gentleman of rare mercantile ability, high moral principles, and genial, affable manner, he has founded a reliable business, in the successful conduct of which he is ably assisted by his son. The sterling qualities of Mr. Guild are most thoroughly appreciated by his large circle of friends, all of whom regard him as a man of noble charac- ter and upright life.

OHN T. SHAW, a well-known and prominent lawyer of Delhi, Delaware County, N. Y., was born in the same town, May 14, 1844. His father, Dan- iel Shaw, was also a native of Delhi. The grandfather, John Shaw, was a Scotchman by birth, and came to this country about 1800, bringing his wife, who was a Miss Anna McBain, also his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. They all settled in Delaware County, with the exception of James Shaw, who went to Genesee, where he reared a fam- ily of ten or eleven children, some of his de- scendants still living there.

John Shaw was one of the earliest settlers in Delhi, purchasing land here at a period when there was but one store in the village, Main Street being at that time nothing but a country road. Mr. Shaw was one of the active men of his day, possessed of good judgment, and eminently successful in busi- ness. He moved from his first location to a farm on the Little Delaware River, where he lived for many years, but later sold it to one of his sons, and retired to Delhi, where he died July 3, 1868, at the advanced age of ninety-six. His wife was also long-lived, dying in her ninety-third year. The follow-

ing-named children of their family lived to years of maturity; namely, Ann, Nellie, Isa- bel, Margaret, Daniel, Alexander, John, James, and William.

Daniel Shaw was educated at the district school, afterward working with his father on the farm, and remaining with him until he was twenty-one. Later he purchased a farm, which he conducted successfully until 1847, and then bought one near Delhi. Mr. Shaw was a member of the Republican party, and held several important town offices. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Lenox, a daughter of James Lenox, an early settler in Delhi and a prominent man of the town. To them were born eleven children, of whom the following- named reached maturity: John T., Jennie A., Daniel W., Emma, Hattie, Nettie, Perry, and Lillie. Mrs. Shaw died May 30, 1870, aged forty-seven, and Mr. Shaw in 1881, aged sixty.

John T. Shaw, the subject of this notice, received his education at the district school, afterward assisting his father on the farm. A farmer's life not being to his liking, however, he took a course at the Delhi Academy, and then taught school during the winter season until he was twenty, when he entered the employ of Mr. D. Ballantine as clerk, re- maining with him for one year. He was next employed in New York City for a year, after- ward returning to Andes, where he com- menced the study of law in the office of William H. Johnson. In 1867 he went to Iowa, where he taught school, but the follow- ing year returned to Andes, and for a time acted as clerk for Mr. Johnson. In May, 1869, he was admitted to the bar at Bing- hamton, at the general term of the Supreme Court, to practise in all the courts of the State. He continued as clerk for Mr. John- son until 1870, when he opened an office at Margarettville, remaining there for eighteen months. In 1872 he commenced practice in Delhi, and has remained here ever since, practising in all the courts of the State. For eight consecutive years he held the office of Justice of the Peace.

January 4, 1871, Mr. Shaw married Miss Margaret S. Maxwell, a daughter of Ebenezer K. Maxwell, grandson of Judge Foot, first

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judge of Delaware County; and to this union have been born three children: Maxwell D., a clerk for Mr. Hudson, of Delhi; Frederick F. and Frances R., both students at the Delhi Academy. Mr. Shaw is a strong supporter of the Republican party. The family are all members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Shaw is essentially a self-made man, having gained his present honorable position by dint of en- ergy and perseverance.

DWARD EDGERTON, a leading citi- zen of Franklin, Delaware County, was born in Sidney Plains, on April 26,

1829. An enterprising ancestor was Richard Edgerton, one of a company of nine men who purchased and settled on a tract of thirty-nine square miles, in that part of Connecticut where the city of New London now stands. From his three sons are descended most of the Edgertons now to be found on this side of the Atlantic. One of these three was Nathan Edgerton, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. This Nathan Edgerton had a son, to whom he gave the same name. The second Nathan was born in Connecticut, but came early to the region where the town of Franklin now stands. The nearest mill was at Cooperstown; and, when there was a bag of corn to be ground, he rode with it as far as the port of Unadilla, on the river, where he took a canoe. This involved a trip of two or three days; and on his return his wife would meet him at the landing, with the horse, and they would ride home together. Their son Thomas was the first white child born in the town of Franklin. Nathan Edgerton was at one time Sheriff of Delaware County. He died some years before his wife, who lived to within four years of a century. They were industrious farmers, and able to pass their declining years in comfort; and their bodies rest in the family burial-yard. The grand- mother was Sally Belshaw, a lady with some Irish blood in her veins; and her seven chil- dren all lived to a good old age, having fami- lies and farms of their own. One son, John, lived to be eighty-six. Grandfather Nathan Edgerton had a brother Roger, who fought in the Revolution, and was captured at New

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 21

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