Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 24

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 24

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Mr. John H. Baumes inclines to liberalism in religion, and is a Democrat in politics. He has served as Highway Commissioner one year and as Assessor five years, being a man of unquestioned integrity and sound judg- ment in regard to property values. He is a Mason, being a member of Lodge No. 606, A. F. & A. M., and of Deposit Chapter, No. 283. Although only in his sixtieth year, Mr. Baumes is one of the oldest settlers in this part of the town of Masonville, which by his untiring enterprise he has done much to build up and improve. Diligent in business, self- respecting and respected, he lives not for himself alone, but as a useful member of so- ciety, a valued citizen of the great republic.

R. MARCUS O. LANDON, den- tist, whose office is on Main Street, Delhi, possesses great professional knowledge and skill, and occupies a leading position among the prominent dentists of this part of the State. He is a native of this place, where he first opened his eyes to the light on March 15, 1859, being a son of David G. Landon, one of Delhi's most re- spected citizens, and a descendant of an hon- ored pioneer. Asa Landon, the father of David, was born in New England, and there spent several years of his early life. Accom- panied by two of his brothers, he migrated to this part of New York when the intervening country was little more than a wilderness, and leased a tract of wild land in Delhi, and after- ward reclaimed from the forest a valuable homestead. His brothers were equally suc- cessful in their pioneer labors, and the trio spent their remaining years in this locality.

David G. Landon, son of Asa, was reared on the parental homestead, receiving as good educational advantages as the schools of his time afforded. He was a very active, enter- prising youth, and at the age of fifteen years began clearing a tract of land in Delhi. When at a suitable age to assume the respon- sibilities of a benedict, he married Mary Ann Dibble, the daughter of Cornelius Dibble, a prosperous farmer of Bovina; and they com- menced housekeeping in the log cabin which he had previously erected on his land. He worked with untiring industry, and, as time progressed, had the satisfaction of seeing the once heavily timbered land covered with wav- ing fields of grain, and the log cabin, in which the older children of his household were born, replaced by a substantial frame house. He subsequently sold that farm, and bought the one where he now lives, and has since con- tinued his agricultural pursuits. To him and his wife four children were born, namely : Amelia, who died when young; George A .; Cornelius F .; and Marcus O.

Marcus O. Landon spent his boyhood days in this town, acquiring the rudiments of his education in the district school, and afterward attending the academy. In 1876 he removed to Cobleskill, where he began the work of his profession, remaining there four and one-half

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years in active employ. In 1881 Dr. Landon returned to the place of his nativity, and was very soon in the possession of an excellent and lucrative practice. He has now, with- out doubt, the largest business in dentistry in Delaware County, and is reputed to be one of the leading men in his profession in the State.

The nuptials of Dr. Landon and Emma B. Browne were solemnized on August 6, 1885. Mrs. Landon is the daughter of the Rev. George Browne, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Hamden, and his wife, Maria (Mc- Laren) Browne. Religiously, the Doctor and his wife are esteemed members of the Episco- pal church of Delhi, in which he is a Vestry- man. In politics he is identified with the Re- publican party; and socially he is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, having belonged to Delhi Lodge, No. 439, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master. He is also a member of Delhi Chapter, No. 249, of Norwich Com- mandery, No. 46, and of the Scottish Rite.

ARTIN CHURCH, wagon-maker, residing in Sidney, is a hearty and vigorous man of seventy-seven years, still an active worker at his tradc. His grandparents, James and Lois (Dart) Church, were born in Connecticut, and were there married. They reared a family of six children, all of whom were married ex- cepting one daughter, Nancy, who died in Otego, at the advanced age of seventy-two years. Other children were born to them, but were called to their heavenly home when young. In 1806 Mr. and Mrs. James Church migrated from their New England home to the wilds of Otsego County, starting in the month of February or March, making the journey in an old-fashioned cart, drawn by a pair of oxen. On their way through the Cat- skill Mountains they were snowed in, and had to exchange their wheels for runners, fitting up a sled, in which they completed their trip. They settled in the town of Butternuts, Ot- sego County, where their children grew to maturity, and where they spent their remain- ing years, Grandfather Church living to the venerable age of ninety-three years, departing this life in 1857.

The parents of Martin, Ebenezer, and Char- ity (Emmons) Church were natives of Con- necticut, and were both born in the year 1790. Their union was celebrated in the town of Butternuts, where they afterward lived and labored as long as their lives were spared, the mother dying in 1871, and the father some seven years later. Of their four children one, Julia, the eldest born, died at the age of twelve years. Levi B. died at Butternuts in 1866, leaving one son and four daughters. Isaac, a wagon-maker and a farmer, is a re- spected resident of the town of Butternuts. The other, Martin, as above mentioned, lives in Sidney.

Martin Church was born in Butternuts in 1817. He received a limited amount of schooling in his youth, and at the age of four- teen years began working at the carpenter's trade with his father, continuing in that occu- pation for several years, having inherited in a large degree the mechanical ingenuity of his father and grandfather. In 1852 he began the trade of wagon-making, without, however, having served any apprenticeship. In com- pany with his brother Isaac, he opened a shop in the village of Gilbertsville; and this they operated in partnership until 1867, when they dissolved by mutual agreement. In 1870 Mr. Church established his business in Sidney, meeting with such encouraging success in the first year that he resolved to make this his permanent abiding-place. He accordingly built his comfortable residence at No. 24 Main Street, and the shop where he is work- ing he erected in 1889. He is a thorough- going business man, prospering well in his labors, and a valued and esteemed citizen of the village.

The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Church, to whom he was united in 1841, was Huldah Ann Fairchild. She was a native of Otsego County, having been born in the town of New Lisbon, in 1820, being the descendant of a pioncer family of that place. She bore her husband six children, two of whom died in infancy, and onc daughter, Mary, when only six years of age. Of the three children now living William D., now fifty-one years of age, is a printer by trade, and has a wife and onc son, Daniel: Sanford E., who was named

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for the governor of that period, a cousin of his father, is a railway man, and is married, but has no children; and Emma, the wife of Willard B. Ruland, has eight children.

Mrs. Church, who was most worthy woman, and trained her children to habits of industry and virtue, passed on to the higher life in 1878. In politics Mr. Church is a stanch Republican, having been identified with that party since the time of John C. Fremont, and, although interested in the wel- fare of his town, has never held any office, ex- cepting that of Town Collector for a while in Butternuts.

ILLIAM R. SWART was born on Beeman Hill, town of Middletown, Delaware County, on the thirtieth day of January, 1821. His grandfather, Tunis Swart, was a farmer at Esopus, on the Hudson River, and had accumulated quite a competence when his possessions were sud- denly lost during the Revolutionary War, at the time that the village of Kingston was burned. Having lost his property in the pa- triotic cause, he received afterward a lot of two hundred and fifty acres from the Livingston tract in Delaware County, at what is now known as New Kingston. His father gave him a team and lumber wagon, also some farming implements, with which to begin life; and he bravely set forth upon the way, but, when he reached Delaware County, found it impossible to go farther until a road was opened from Margarettville, and here- re- mained until a way was cut through the un- cleared country. When at last, after a long delay, he arrived at his destination, he cut timber, and built a log house, and commenced the improvement of the land. Later he leased a lot on Beeman Hill, from which place he finally moved to the town of Ham- den, where he remained until his death. He reared the following-named children: John, Samuel, William, Richard, Abraham, Anna, Electra, Attie, and Mary.

Samuel Swart was born in Esopus, and came to Delaware County in his youth. Here he married Anna Beeman, a daughter of Sol- omon and Deborah Beeman. He bought a

tract of eighty acres of land, doubling it by a later purchase, and here reared the following- named family: Solomon, who married Miss Mary J. Akerly, and had two children; Will- iam R. of this notice; Peter F., who married a Miss Drummond, and died, leaving five children; Attie, who married E. J. Faulkner, and became the mother of one child; Charles, deceased; Mary, who married Peter Dela- mater, and died, leaving two children; Orson, who married Miss Gussie Decker, and had three children. Samuel Swart afterward moved to Margarettville, residing there until his death. He died at the age of seventy-two years, having served in the War of 1812, been a faithful Democrat, and a conscientious member of the old-school Baptist church.

William R. Swart passed his boyhood at Beeman Hill, receiving an education at an old log school-house on Hubble Hill. Upon at- taining his majority he began farming, and a year later learned the trade of carpenter, which for some years he plied through the long winters, driving stock and doing farm work during the summer seasons. Gradually, by industry, he accumulated enough capital to invest in a store at New Kingston, and en- tered into a partnership with Isaac Birdsell, this being the first store of general merchan- dise established in that village. This enter- prise was sold out, however, and a similar one started in Margarettville, Mr. Swart engaging in business with his brother. Six years later he bought the old Drummond farm, which he finally sold, and purchased a dwelling in Margarettville. Having been successful in these various enterprises, he has retired from active business, although his services as a veterinary surgeon are still in demand. He is the owner of the handsome stallion, Pride of Dutchess.

In 1842 Mr. Swart was united in marriage with Elizabeth Drummond. Her father was a progressive farmer in New Kingston, and lived to attain the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Swart had one sister, Mrs. Henry Rey- nolds, of New Kingston; but both are now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Swart married Mrs. Julia E. Carpenter, widow of Richard Carpenter, and daughter of Abram Akerly, who served in the War of 1812, and

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died at the age of ninety-eight. Mr. Carpen- ter passed away at the age of eighty-four.

Mr. Swart is a stanch adherent of the Dem- ocratic party. He has been an active and useful citizen, has held various local offices, for two terms having been President of the village, and has taken great interest in educa- tional matters, at the present time being a member of the Board of Education.

ALLMAN C. BOOKHOUT. In the annals of Delaware County the name of Bookhout is of frequent and honorable mention, and the gentleman whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch is a worthy representative of the first of that family to settle in this section of New York. Mr. Bookhout is a native of this county, and was born in the town of Roxbury, November 24, 1841. For many years he was identified with the agricultural element of Walton, and in the pursuit of his chosen occupation amassed a competence. He is a man of great cnergy, enterprise, and financial ability, and occupies an important position among the successful and influential business men of Walton. He is of German origin, and is a grandson of John Bookhout, a pioneer of the county.

John Bookhout was born in Krakow, Ger- many, and emigrated to America prior to the Revolution, settling in the Dutch settlement then called New Amsterdam, now New York. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War he enlisted in the service of his adopted coun- try, serving seven years; and the musket which he carried during that time is still in the possession of one of his descendants. After the close of the war he married Nancy Smart, and the first decade of their wedded life they spent in Dover, Westchester County. Following the tide of emigration to Delaware County, they located in the town of Roxbury, where he was one of the first settlers. He se- cured a tract of timbered land, on which the family camped until the customary log cabin was raised, and for a short time one end of that was used for a stable. Standing at his cabin door, rifle in hand, he had no trouble in shooting sufficient game to furnish himself and family with a dinner at any time. The

nearest grist-mill was twelve miles distant, and he frequently carried his grist to and fro on his back. He and his faithful wife lived together for upward of sixty years; and both dicd in the town of Roxbury, he passing away at the age of cighty-two, while his widow sur- vived him, living until the venerable age of ninety-four years. They were the parents of nine children. Both were religious people, and were charter members of the Congrega- tional church of Roxbury, of which the father was Deacon for many years.

William Bookhout, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the oldest son of his par- ents, and was born on the farm in Roxbury. He was a farmer by occupation, and in early manhood married Caroline Hull, a native of Connecticut, a daughter of William Hull, and a niece of the world-renowned Commodore Isaac Hull. They became the parents of a large family, as follows: Nancy married Urion Mckay, and settled in Lenawee County, Mich., where both died. Sabra is the wife of Francis O'Connor, of Delaware County. Elizabeth is the widow of G. W. Plough, and livcs at Roxbury. Isaac married Useba Craft, and they are residents of Rox- bury. Mary, the widow of Urion Mckay, also lives in Roxbury. Tallman C. is our subject. Margaret died at the age of four years. George W., a resident of Roxbury, married Adelia Bouton. John resides in Dallas, Tex. Rose died, unmarried, in Michigan. James, who resides in the town of Franklin, married Emma Hall, of Walton. The father was a life-long and much esteemed resident of Roxbury, and in his political views was a Jacksonian Democrat. The mother lived to the advanced age of seventy- two years, dying on the old homestead in Roxbury. She was a woman of superior char- acter, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Tallman C. Bookhout assisted his brother John to obtain an education. The latter went to Texas, where in course of time he became wcalthy, and paid his brother all he had ex- pended for him. He was afterward unfort- unate, and lost his all through the failure of a bank. He was fortunate, however, in having friends in the North who had confidence in

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him, and loaned him a few hundred dollars. With this money he purchased the site upon which the city of Dallas now stands. In the boom which afterward followed he made a vast amount of money, and is now one of the wealthiest men in the State. He married Ella Randall, of Dallas, where they now re- side, and of which city he has been Mayor.

Tallman C. Bookhout, to whom we refer in this brief sketch, was reared to man's estate in the town of Roxbury, and received a liberal education. At the first call for troops he enlisted in defence of his country in Company I, Seventy-second New York Volunteer Infan- try, being the first volunteer from his town. With his regiment he served in Sickles's Bri- gade, and was an active and courageous par- ticipant in many of the most important and decisive engagements of the Rebellion, among the earlier ones being the siege of Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, and the Peninsular Campaign. He was stricken with fever, and sent to the David Island Hospital, New York, where he re- mained five months. He rejoined his regi- ment at Brandy Station, Va., and was attached to General Hancock's corps at the battle of the Wilderness, but during the second day's fight was wounded and left for dead on the field of battle, which, says Draper, "was throbbing with the wounded." He was wounded in the left shoulder and left eye, the ball striking his gun and being shattered, three pieces entering his body.

Mr. Bookhout was a very courageous soldier and an expert marksman, and in relating the history of his army life often says that, if every Union man had killed as many of his adversaries as he did, there would not have been a rebel left to tell his side of the con- flict. Among his victims was the rebel who killed the Major of his regiment, Mr. Book- hout shooting at him six times before killing him, and being shot at the same number of times by his opponent. He was subsequently sent to the hospital at Fredericksburg, nar- rowly escaping capture on the way thither. This was within fifteen days of the time for the expiration of his term of enlistment, and he was offered a furlough. He proceeded as far as Washington on his, way home; but his

patriotic impulses were in the ascendant, and he returned to Fredericksburg, starting from there on foot, with the hope of striking a train. Arriving at Fredericksburg, he found himself in the rear of Grant's army, and fol- lowed with his own regiment, which he joined at Cold Harbor. He went into the midst of the fray at that place with his arm in a sling, and without fire-arms, but soon procured the latter from the body of a dead comrade. He did heroic duty with his uninjured arm, prob- ably firing as many effective shots as others with the use of both. He next went with his company to Ream's Station, at Bermuda Hundred, and was subsequently at the siege of Petersburg, this being after his term of ser- vice had expired. 'He was also in the engage- ment at Weldon Railroad, afterward retiring from active duty, and returning home the 8th of July, 1864. His wound was very painful, and gave him much trouble, not healing for more than a year, and costing him about one hundred and fifty dollars.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Bookhout was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Ellen Ferris, of Ashland, Greene County, N. Y. Three children have been born of this union : Carrie is the wife of Lewis Benedict, of Walton, Alden is a student in Union Col- lege, and Sarah lives at home. In 1893 Mr. Bookhout retired from his farm labors, and removed into the village of Walton, where he is enjoying the pleasant leisure to which his previous years of toil entitle him. In politics he is a firm adherent of the Republican party, and, although not a politician, is deeply in- terested in local and national matters. Fra- ternally, he belongs to Ben Marvin Post, No. 209, Grand Army of the Republic, and is prominent in Masonic circles.

ARDNER L. RIDER, who died at his home in Masonville, N. Y., Au- gust 12, 1894, was born in the town of Sidney, January 8, 1828, son of John and Charlotte (Smith) Rider, the father being a native of Vermont, and the mother of Otego, Otsego County, N. Y. The grandfather, Gil- ead Rider, was a resident of Vermont, little being known of his antecedents.

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John Rider settled in Otsego County when a young man, and there followed the trade of a blacksmith, his specialty being the manu- facture of a high grade of scythes. He after- ward moved to the town of Sidney, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres. This, however, he soon disposed of, and bought an- other farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres in the same town. He thenceforth turned his attention exclusively to farming, and was a hard-working and successful man of his day. In politics he was a Democrat, but never aspired to any publie office. He was married to Miss Charlotte Smith, by whom he had the following children: John G., residing on the old homestead in Sidney; Gilead, a farmer of Sidney; Hannah, wife of Olmstead Flint, of Otego; Hattie Rider, of Unadilla; 'Elvira, wife of Adelbert Houston, of Otego; Gardner L .; and Charlotte, who died young. Mrs. Charlotte Rider died aged sixty-five, and her husband at the age of eighty-seven.

Gardner L. Rider was edueated in the town of Sidney. He lived at home until he was twenty-one; and after that he worked out by the month for four years for one man, making good wages, but unfortunately losing over four hundred dollars of his savings by the failure of his employer. In 1858 Mr. Rider settled in the town of Masonville, buying at first seventy-five acres of land and adding to it until he had a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-three aeres, and carried on a large dairy business, keeping about thirty head of native cattle.

Mr. Rider was married, April 8, 1858, to Sarah E. Thompson, who was born November II, 1837, in Masonville, daughter of Rufus A. Thompson and Prudence E. Wells. Mr. Thompson was born in Otsego County, and his wife in Masonville, the Wells family being among the early settlers of the town. Mr. Thompson was a tanner in early life, his latter years being devoted to farming. He died in the village of Sidney, April 18, 1890, aged eighty-six; his wife died November 3, 1840, aged thirty-one. Mr. Thompson, who was twice married, had three children by his first wife and four by his second. Four chil- dren survive him, namely: Foster W. Thomp- son, a farmer of East Sidney; Sarah, wife of

Gardner L. Rider; Rufus A., a practising physician of Norwich; and Mrs. Ellen Pin- der, now residing in California. Mr. and Mrs. Rider had two children. Their daughter, Edith L., wife of Orville Dean, a farmer of East Masonville, has four children - Jessie, Leslie, Frank, and Ralph. Frank Rider, the only son, resides at home with his mother. He married Alice Robertson, and has one son, Foster Thomas Rider.

Mr. Rider, like his wife, was liberal in his religious views, and in polities was allied with the Democratic party. He possessed one of the best-kept farms in Masonville. He was distinctly the architeet of his own fortune, having by diligent application, good judgment, and economy acquired the compe- tency which he enjoyed in his declining years.

DMUND A. HOWES, a worthy citizen of Tompkins, was born in this town February 27, 1857. The Howes family, which is of English ancestry, eame to New York from Cape Cod. Edmund Howes, grandfather of Edmund A., was engaged in farming and lumbering in the town of Thomp- son, Sullivan County, where he ereeted a house, which still stands. His wife was Polly Fields; and they had the following family: George, Benjamin, Jesse, Samuel, Edmund, Deborah, Emily, Elizabeth, and Jane. Ed- mund Howes died in 1838, having passed the greater part of his life in Thompson, where he was buried.

Jesse, the third son, was born in Bridge- ville, and spent his boyhood on the home farm. When about twenty-one, he started out for himself as a carpenter and joiner, follow- ing that oeeupation until 1850, when, in eom- pany with his brother George, he purchased a tract of land on the Delaware River near Long Eddy, and here engaged in shipping lumber to Philadelphia. He was an excellent swimmer and an expert hunter, the hero of many thrilling adventures. After about eight years he sold his interest to his brother, and in 1855 purchased a tract of one hundred acres of timbered land on Bullock Hill, where he erected a log cabin, and began to fell the

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trees. He later built a frame house on the same site, and engaged in farming and dairy- ing. He married Susan Jenkins, daughter of Horace and Anna (Vermilyea) Jenkins, of Roxbury, N.Y. She is still living, and is greatly esteemed by all. Her father was in his younger days one of the most prominent men of his town; he now spends much of his time with his grand-daughter, Mrs. Howes.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Howes were the parents of twelve children, namely: Anna F., widow of Charles Drake, a farmer of Tompkins, who died in 1881, and is buried on Knickerbocker Hill; Loomis; Horace J., who married Ella A. Drake, a sister of Charles Drake; Eva A., who married S. L. Niles, of Tompkins; Hiram J., a school-teacher; Edmund A., whose name heads this sketch; Annetta, who married Jesse Gardner, a physician in Anem- deta, Ohio; Emily J., the wife of Frank Clark, a butcher of Walton, of the firm of Clark & Webster; Samuel, who died at the age of two years; Mary E., who teaches school on Knickerbocker Hill; Arthur R., who follows the occupation of a butcher; Helen M., wife of Frank Wells, of Mason- ville; Frank C., who lives on the old home- stead and carries on the farm.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 24

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