USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 31
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RS. ELIZABETH W. ALEXAN- DER, widow of the late Charles Alexander, may properly be counted among the most es- teemed and respected women of Walton, where she is well known as a devoted mother, a true friend, and a genial acquaintance. Her father, Malcom Wright, was a native of Scotland, where he was born in 1805. When seventeen years of age, he came with his par- ents to America, and settled in Delhi, Dela- ware County, N. Y. Here he married in 1828 Margaret Shaw, and commenced life as a farmer, being possessor, in company with his two brothers, of a large farm. With one of these brothers he later purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Walton, about two and one-half miles above the village; and
it was on this estate that Malcom and Mar- garet Wright lived for many years, and reared a family of six daughters and three sons.
Seven of these children are still living, and, with one exception, all are residents of the town of Walton. John Wright, the only member of the family who has forsaken the town of his birth, is now a resident of Cali- fornia, the Golden State and Italy of Amer- ica. After a long period of faithful labor in his adopted home Malcom Wright died in 1877, at the age of seventy-five years; and thirteen years later his wife, having reached the good old age of eighty-three years, passed away, their bodies now resting side by side in the Walton cemetery, where a fitting monument marks the graves of the beloved husband and wife.
Elizabeth W. Wright, the subject of this sketch, was married October 19, 1854, to Charles Alexander, who was born in Pound Ridge, Conn., in 1833, son of John and Susan (Knapp) Alexander. When Charles Alex- ander was a small boy, his parents moved to New York, settling at Unadilla, and a few years later removed to Walton, where they became the possessors of one hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land. Of the four sons and one daughter born to them here two of the sons, Charles and Albert, and the danghter, Mrs. William Townsend, are still living, and occupy their pleasant homes in Walton.
For fifteen years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Charles Alexander operated their farm with great success, but at length bought a small piece of land near the village, and a few years ago erected a fine, pleasant home at .94 North Street. Here Mr. Alexander died September 15, 1888, having reached the age of fifty-six years. By his unbounded industry and patience he had accumulated a goodly amount of worldly possessions, which at his death became the property of his widow and four daughters. One of these daughters, Elma S., wife of Charles Pierson, died June 17, 1891, aged thirty-five years, leaving one child, Nellie M. Pierson.
Mrs .. Pierson had been a teacher in the pub- lic schools, where she was greatly beloved; and her family has the most profound sym-
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pathy of a host of friends in their great be- reavement. The surviving daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are: Jennie, wife of Welles L. Baker, of New York City; Mary and Martha, twin sisters, who reside with their mother at Walton, the former being a musician of some distinction. Mrs. Alexan- der and her daughters are members of the Congregational church of Walton, and take an active part in all the good work of this society, whereby the public is benefited and men and women are encouraged to lead nobler and better lives.
BENEZER W. LINDSLEY, a highly respected citizen of Downsville, was born December 12, 1826, in Sulli- van County, son of Samuel C. and Sebiah (Worden) Lindsley. Samuel C. was born May 16, 1798, and was the son of Nehemiah and Mary (Guildersleeve) Lindsley, the for- mer of whom was born December 31, 1 769, son of Joniah and Hannah C. Lindsley, who were of English descent.
Nehemiah came to Delaware County shortly before 1798, and during the first three years assisted Mr. Stone, a merchant on the Pine place, acting as clerk and shoemaking, and adapting himself generally to the work at hand. " Mr. Stone, thinking him lonely with his family so far away, sent for Mrs. Lindsley and the children; but, contrary to expecta- tion, this displeased Mr. Lindsley to such an extent that he wished them to return imme- diately. As the team with which the journey had been made had given out, they were obliged to stay. Some time after this Mr. Lindsley left Mr. Stone's employ, and settled in Lindsley Hollow, buying a farm of several hundred acres.
He was for a short time with Mr. Wilson in the tanning business, in Lindsley Hollow, where he erected a house, barns, and out-buildings; and there is stand- ing to-day a barn built by him in 1809. Mr. and Mrs. Nehemiah Lindsley had these children - David, Ira, Samuel C., Ezra, Han- nah, Agar, Rachel, Abigail, Cyrus G., and Sarah M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lindsley were Presbyterians, and the church lost a faithful worker when he died, August 8, 1835. His
wife survived him several years, and died December 30, 1850.
Samuel C. Lindsley, the third son of Ne- hemiah, was born in New Jersey, but was brought in his infancy to Delaware County, where he continued to live until after his marriage. He took up surveying, and suc- cessfully followed this throughout the re- mainder of his life. He taught common schools a long time, beginning when he was sixteen. In September, 1824, he married Sebiah Worden, daughter of Pardon and Mary (Haines) Worden. She was born May 8, 1794, and died in May, 1864. They raised a family of four children, namely: Phoebe Ca- lista, who died when young; Ebenezer W., the subject of this sketch; Ira D., born April 30, 1828; and Emeline Adelia, born Novem- ber 29, 1829, who married John Baer, and now lives in Walton. After his marriage Samuel C. bought two hundred acres of his father's farm, erected a house and barn, lived here about twenty-nine years, and then sold out and went to Walton. A little later he went to Downsville, where his wife died, and then to Sand Pond to live with his daughter, but finally came back to Downsville, and here died March 6, 1878. Mr. S. C. Lindsley was a strong Democrat, and was greatly interested in all that concerned the town and the people. He held several public offices, among them being that of Assessor and Commissioner of Highways. Hc was a member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife.
Ebenezer W. Lindsley, who was born in Sullivan County, came to Downsville when a boy seven years of age, and was here reared to manhood. Deciding to follow his father's profession, he took up the study of surveying, and by diligent application, together with his father's assistance, he soon mastered this use- ful branch of mathematics, becoming in time one of the best and most patronized of Col- chester's surveyors, his practice extending to the neighboring towns and counties. His first work in this line was done in 1849, when he surveyed the old Wilson property; and shortly after he corrected the lines of the Bax- ter farm on Baxter Mountain. April 15, 1851, he entered the store of Downs & El- wood (located where F. B. Bear's block now
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stands) as clerk, and in May, 1855, was taken as a partner in the firm, continuing in this but three years. In May, 1858, he sold out and went West, seeking for a good location in which to establish himself, and during this time visited Wisconsin and Kansas. But, meeting with little success in this quest, he finally came back to the town where he had started in life, and on February 1, 1859, bought his old stand, and carried on a general store for about ten years, when he sold out, and then gave his whole attention to sur- veying.
On October 10, 1855, Ebenezer W. Linds- ley married Mary A. Finch, born May 7, 1826, the daughter of Jesse and Hulda (Mal- lory) Finch. Mrs. Mary A. Lindsley died May 21, 1857, leaving one child, Lilian E., born October 3, 1856, who is now married to Henry Bates, lives in Walton, and has a fam- ily of three children. On April 23, 1860, Mr. Lindsley married for his second wife Julia Ann Shaffer, born August 20, 1821, daughter of Colonel Adam and Helena (Yeaples) Shaffer, and by this second mar- riage has one child, Mary Emma, born Au- gust 23, 1863, who resides at home, and is a teacher of music. Three brothers, Jacob, Adam, and Philip Shaffer, came to Delaware County, and settled. Adam, the eldest son of Philip Shaffer, raised a family of twelve chil- dren, namely: Sally; Daniel B .; Aaron P .; Deborah A .; Jane C .; Asa G .; Julia A .; Nicholas Y .; Adeline; La Fayette; Morgan S .; and Helena, Mrs. Lindsley. Colonel and Mrs. Shaffer were members of the Baptist church, and died many years ago, she in June, 1831, and he in June, 1854.
Mr. Lindsley is an honored and trusted member of the community in which he lives, was executor of the estate of G. W. Downs, son of Abel Downs, who started a small store in Downsville in 1798, was administrator of the R. W. Elwood estate, and has held several town offices, such as Clerk and Assessor, where he has faithfully performed the work assigned him. He is a Prohibitionist, and what better thing could be said of a man than that he is a worker for the cause of temper- ance? He has been Notary Public continu- ously since April 1, 1867.
YRON HILL, a wealthy farmer of Kortright, was born in that town January 18, 1824, and is a son of Cyrus and Abigail (Burdict) Hill. His grandfather, John Hill, was one of the first settlers of Kortright, and a shoe- maker by trade. He was a local preacher of the Methodist faith, and spent the last days of his life in Livingston County, where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife, Phoebe Smith Hill, was also an octogenarian, and was the mother of a large family, of which Benjamin Hill, of Livingston County, is the sole survivor.
Cyrus Hill was born in Kortright, Septem- ber 18, 1794, and died in 1834, at Bloomville. He was a hard-working farmer, and by his in- dustry and honorable dealing made a comfort- able fortune. Politically, he was a Democrat. The Methodist Episcopal church found in him a consistent member. His wife was Abigail Burdict, born April 27, 1794, in Kortright, a daughter of Alden Burdict, a pioneer of that town. She lived to be seventy-eight years old, and was the mother of five children, four of whom are living, namely: Alden A., of Stamford; Myron, of whom we write; Eliza- beth, the wife of Lewis Avery, of Kortright; and Freelove Jane, residing with her brother Myron. A daughter, Louisa, died at the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Abigail Hill was an adherent of the Baptist church.
Myron Hill was educated in the district school until fourteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself, working on the farm of John Avery, and receiving ten dollars per month. In 1859 he assumed the control of his grandfather Burdict's farm, agreeing to pay off the debts and support the aged couple for life. In this undertaking he was emi- nently successful. The present farm contains four hundred acres, the original purchase con- sisting of sixty-nine acres. Mr. Hill is in- dustrious and thrifty, and by his untiring efforts and indomitable perseverance has in- creased his farm to its present large propor- tions. He leases about two hundred acres, and cultivates the rest himself, devoting his time to stock-raising and dairying. He has never married, his sister living with him and taking charge of the household affairs. Mr.
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Hill is liberal in his religious views, and a Democrat in politics, eminently successful in his occupation, and respected throughout the town where he resides.
ORENZO D. KELLY is a prominent resident at Kelly's Corners in the town of Middletown, Delaware County, but was born in Halcotts- ville, in the same county, September 29, 1831, the son of Hiram Kelly, who was born August 8, 1784, in Putnam County, New York, and his wife, Sally Borden, whose birth was on January 15, 1784. His paternal grandparents were David and Susan (Jones) Kelly. David Kelly was born in Putnam County, and came to Delaware County as a pioneer farmer in 1802, taking up land in Halcottsville, now owned by the Kelly brothers. His one hundred and thirty acres were part of the wilderness. Yet, when the family came thither, they brought all but one child, the journey being accomplished in wagons. Of their seven children five grew up to adult age - Susan, Reuben, Phineas, Nor- man, and Hiram Kelly. The little hut which already stood on the place eventually became but a central point surrounded by houses, barns, and a grist-mill; and there David Kelly lived till he lacked only four years of a complete century. His wife did not live so long by sixteen years, but eighty may be con- sidered a reasonably good old age. In relig- ion they were stanch Presbyterians, and the grandfather was a private in the Revolutionary War. He was the more prosperous in his undertakings because he owned the only mill in this section of the country.
The birthplace of his son, Hiram Kelly, was in the south-east part of Putnam County, near what is now called Dykeman Station, but was then called Bullet Hole. After the re- moval, which took place when he was eigh- teen years old, Hiram assisted his father on the new farm and in the mill. In later years he came into possession of the homestead, adding thereto some two hundred and fifty acres more land, besides enlarging and re- modelling all the buildings. His wife, Sally Borden, was the daughter of Joseph Borden,
an early settler on the farm adjoining the one where Hiram L. Kelly now lives. Hiram and Sally Kelly had ten children: Judah, born January 21, 1809; Jane Ann, born March 17, 1812; Caroline, born February 8, 1815; John, born January 20, 1818; Electa, born October 20, 1819; Emeline, born September 24, 1822; Deborah, born November 4, 1824; Hiram B., born July 16, 1827; Norman, born on the last day of June, 1829; Lorenzo D., born September 29, 1831, and named doubt- less for the eccentric but large-hearted Chris- tian who in those days went from hamlet to hamlet throughout the States, preaching the gospel with fervor. On this farm Hiram Kelly continued to live until his death, at threescore and ten, his wife living to be seven years older. Mrs. Kelly was a member of the Baptist church. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, and re- joiced at the national triumph of the Republi- can party during the year preceding his death, in 1861.
Whatever education the youngest son re- ceived was in the district schools. In 1853, at the age of twenty-two, Lorenzo began farm- ing at Bragg Hollow, where he bought one hundred and fifty acres, and married Sarah Ann Smith, daughter of Hiram and Susan (Chase) Smith. Father Smith was the son of Edward Smith, a native of Kent, Putnam County, where he not only carried on a farm, but was County Judge. He lived to be four- score, was a Democrat, and left six children - Polly, Hiram, Phoebe, Clara, James Ed- ward, and Joseph Smith. Hiram Smith was a farmer in Putnam County till his death, at the age of forty. His wife died at thirty-six ; and they left two children, Naomi and Sarah Ann Smith, the latter becoming the wife of Lorenzo Kelly. She was born October 19, 1831, a month after her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly lived in Bragg Hollow six years, and then sold their farm and removed to Prink Street, where they bought two hundred and six acres, and lived for another six years. In 1864 they again sold ont, and bought their present estate of the same size, two hundred and sixty acres, in the village now named Kelly's Corners, after Mr. Kelly himself. About twenty years later, in 1886, he built a
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fine large dwelling-house, besides new farm buildings, barns, and a house to let. There he leads at present a comparatively retired life. He and his wife have four children: Emma F. Kelly was born August 26, 1859, and is married to A. F. Sweet, a wagon- maker in the village. Edward Kelly was born December 13, 1855, and died, greatly lamented, on June 13, 1871, before he was sixteen years old. Clara J. Kelly was born December 15, 1862, and died July 21, 1884, at twenty-two, the beloved wife of B. L. Searl, of Margarettville. W. Grant Kelly was born September 1, 1870, and is still at home, helping his father.
Mr. Kelly is a Republican. The family attend the New-school Baptist church. Their residence is on the banks of the Delaware River, where in summer twenty or thirty boarders from the city find a most attractive home. In every nook of the village is felt the influence of Mr. Kelly, easily its first citizen in progress and public enterprisc.
HARLES GILBERT HOUCK, car- pentcr, contractor, and builder, re- siding in Walton, is conducting a successful and well-established busi- ness, which occupies an important position among the various industries of this flourish- ing town. Reed's Creek, in the town of Hancock, was the place of his birth, which occurred on December 1I, 1858. His father, Levi T. Houck, one of Walton's valued citi- zens, a son of the late Rufus Houck, was born in the town of Franklin, November 4, 1838.
Rufus Houck, who was presumably of New England parentage, was born in Dutchess County in the year 1808, and departed this life in Delaware County about the year 1875. He was three times married. His first wife lived but a few months after marriage. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda Whaley, and who was a native of Mas- sachusetts, he had seven children, namely : Rufus, a farmer, residing on Beer's Brook in Walton; Edwin, also a farmer, a resident of Reed's Creck in Hancock; Cordelia, the widow of Jonathan Bolton, of Harvard; Levi T., of Walton; Maria, who married her
cousin, Abram Houck, residing in Mason- ville; Mariette, the widow of Edwin Denio, step-son of Rufus Houck, living in Hancock; and LeGrand, a resident of Walton. After the death of the mother of these children Rufus Houck married Phoebe (Lewis) Denio, the widow of Joseph Denio, and the daughter of Henry and Mercy (Holly) Lewis. She is now deceased, the only surviving member of the family of her parents being Mr. Joseph Lewis, an aged farmer of Shelby County, Iowa. Of this union one child was born, Zeliaettc, the wife of Dwight Curtis, of Wal- ton, both of whom are deceased.
Levi T. Houck was reared among the rural pioneer scenes of earlier years, and educated in the old log school-house on Reed's Brook, which had the customary puncheon floor and old-fashioned open fireplace. He remained at home assisting his father in clearing the farm until his marriage, when he began life on his own account. He married Jerusha Denio, the daughter of his step-mother and a sister of Edwin Denio, the husband of his sister Mari- ette. Besides the subject of this sketch, four sons and one daughter were born of their mar- riage, the others being as follows: Julius, a farmer at Carpenter's Eddy; Erkson, a real estate dealer in Antigo, Wis .; Sylvester, a resident of Rock Rift; Hattie M., a dress- maker, living at home; and Abram, a farmer, on Baxter Brook.
Charles G. Houck, the eldest son of Levi, was brought up on the home farm, and had a common-school education. Possessing a good deal of mechanical ingenuity and little taste for a farmer's life, he began when about eigh- teen to learn the carpenter's trade, which he has continued to follow; and as contractor and builder, as well as carpenter, he has met with excellent success. He is an energetic, active citizen, whose public-spiritedness is unques- tioned, and is a warm supporter of the princi- ples of the Republican party. Hc is warmly interested in the American Protective Asso- ciation, of which he is a member, and is also influential in the wigwams of the Red Men, having passed the chairs.
Mr. Houck was united in wedlock Septem- ber 23, 1885, to Miss Jennie H. Howland, a native of Walton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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William P. Howland, the latter of whom died in 1879, leaving her widowed husband and four children to mourn her loss. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have no children of their own; but they have an adopted son, Philo C. Houck, the son of Sylvester Houck. He is an active little lad, eight years old, quick at his studies, and already showing a good deal of mechanical genius. The cosey and com- fortable home of this family, into which they moved in 1891, is pleasantly located on St. John's Street, and is made very attractive to their many friends. In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Houck are worthy and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
R. HENRY A. GATES, one of the leading physicians of Delhi, was born in Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y., December 9, 1849, and is a son of William H. and Marietta (Strong) Gates. William Gates, the grandfather, was an early settler in the town of Franklin, be- ginning life there in a log cabin, but, as his means increased, built a fine frame house and out-buildings. He spent his life on the farm, which was brought by his energy and care to a high state of cultivation. He was the father of three children - James, Herman, and William.
William H. Gates, the father of Henry A., was educated in the district schools of Frank- lin, and, as was the custom in those days, went to school in the winter and assisted his father on the farm during the summer. Upon reaching his majority he purchased a farm of his own, upon which he and his help- mate quietly passed their days. He married Miss Marietta Strong, a daughter of William Strong, of Meredith, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children - Henry A., Clifford J., Julia A. (the widow of Samuel J. Donnelly), and William H.
Dr. Henry A. Gates received his early education at the district schools of Franklin and at the Franklin Literary Institute, where he remained for two years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. Ira Wilcox, of Franklin, with whom he prepared for col- lege. In 1874 he entered Bellevue College,
being graduated with high honors in 1877. Upon the completion of his college career, he commenced practice in Delhi, and has con- tinued here ever since. He makes a specialty of diseases of the eye and ear, being well known in this branch of the profession throughout the county. He is a prominent member of both the State and county medical societies.
Dr. Gates was married in 1880 to Miss Jeanette C. Hudson, daughter of Mrs. M. D. Hudson, a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families in Delhi. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party, but has never sought any public office. He is a member and Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he takes a deep interest, and is also a Trustee of the Delaware Academy. The genial man- ners and kindly disposition of Dr. Gates have made him esteemed by all classes; and, as he is still in the prime of vigor and manhood, he has the promise of many years of usefulness in the pursuit of his profession, of which he is a distinguished member.
D. WOOD, one of the most popu- lar station agents on the Ulster & . Delaware Railroad, was born April 12, 1862. His grandfather, David Wood, was born in Connecticut, and removed to Delaware County, where he engaged in farming, living to a good old age. William Wood, son of David and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut, No- vember II, 1824. He received a good dis- trict-school education, and at an early age began to work on a farm. He had the mis- fortune to break his arm; and, as there were no skilled surgeons in his vicinity at that time, it was not properly set, and troubled him for the remainder of his life He learned the shoemaker's trade, and first worked at Grand Gorge. He married Sarah M. Fredenburgh, who was born May 10, 1830, the daughter of John and Fanny (May- bic) Fredenburgh. The latter was born in Schoharie County, and was one of the carly settlers of Gilboa, buying one hundred and fifty-six acres of land at Grand Gorge, where
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he was very prosperous as a farmer. He had a family of sixteen children. He was a Re- publican in politics, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fanny Maybie was a daughter of John Maybie, a farmer and one of the early settlers, who raised six children. William Wood had six children, namely: Fanny J., who was born December 24, 1856, and died October 15, 1861; Malinda A. Wood, who was born De- cember 16, 1859, and died October 14, 1861; O. D., the subject of this biography; Fanny E., who was born August 29, 1864, and mar- ried Charles G. Keator, a farmer of Grand Gorge, and has one child; Alfred L., who was born August 28, 1870, and now lives with his brother, O. D. Wood; Albert, the twin brother of Alfred, died September 9, 1871.
O. D. Wood lived at the home of his par- ents, and was educated in the district schools. At the age of seventeen he entered the store of W. P. More as clerk, and there remained for two years. He then learned telegraphing, remaining in his first position two years. For one season after that he took charge of the station at Tannersville, Greene County, on the Kaaterskill Railroad, going from there to Pine Hill, where he stayed one year. May I, 1886, he was appointed station agent at Grand Gorge, and has since remained here.
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