Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 33

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 33

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In 1890 the house of Allen Mead, on North Street, came into possession of Mr. Mead; and he has had it thoroughly renovated and remodelled, so that it is now one of the larg- est and most beautiful residences in the town, presenting to the beholder the effect of the stability and dignity of the old manor house united with the beauty and delicacy of modern decoration. Mr. Mead has always been deeply interested in religious matters, and for twenty years has been connected wih Sunday-school work, having had a class for that length of time. He is a man of spotless integrity - one who has shown himself honest to the letter, and just to his fellow-men. In all his transactions he has shown an astuteness which few possess, combined with disinter-

estedness and unselfishness of purpose, which are fully appreciated by his fellow-townsmen and the many friends who have reaped the benefit of his noble qualities and abilities.

J AMES R. FRAZIER, pastor of the United Presbyterian church at Daven- port, was born August 27, 1854, in West Virginia, his parents being James and Mary (Orr) Frazier. The family originally came from Scotland, the grand- father, Samuel Frazier, emigrating to Ohio County, West Virginia, where he purchased a farm. He reared the following children : Samuel, William, Andrew, James, Robert, Robinson, Hamilton, Rosanna, Betsy, and Peggy.

James Frazier, Sr., was educated in the district schools, and brought up to agricult- ural pursuits. In 1855 he went to Ohio, where he purchased a farm, residing there, with the exception of two years, until his death, in 1889, at the age of eighty years. He was twice married, his second wife being Miss Mary Orr, daughter of Hugh Orr, a na- tive of Ohio. Mrs. Frazier reared seven chil- dren; namely, James R., Mary, Rosanna, Hamilton, William, Emma, and Callie. Mrs. Frazier is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-eight, and makes her home in Ohio.

James R. Frazier resided in Ohio until his twenty-fifth year. He was educated in the district schools, the graded school at St. Clairsville, and later attended Franklin Col- lege, Ohio, and the Theological College at Allegheny, Pa. After graduation he accepted his present charge at Davenport, and has re- sided here since 1879.

Mr. Frazier was married October 7, 1886, to Miss Ella Adee, a daughter of Augustus W. Adee, of Bovina; and their union has been blessed with four children - James S., Mary D., Earle J., and Harold S. In poli- tics Mr. Frazier joins issue with the Republi- can party. During his residence in Davenport he has made many friends. He is a gifted and talented preacher, a man of generous im- pulses, and thoroughly earnest and painstak- ing in his work; and under his pastorate the

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membership of his church has steadily in- creased.

OHN B. MABLE, of Hamden, pre- sents a type of upright, conscientious manhood, unobtrusive in prosperity, cheerful and resigned in adversity, universally respected and beloved by his townspeople and friends. His great-grand- father, Robert Mable, was a shepherd in the highlands of bonnie Scotland, living that poetic life extolled in verse and song, where one holds close communion with the wonders and glories of nature, a rugged life, too, of stern and uncomfortable realities. The wife of this sturdy shepherd was Janette Bell, and together they reared five children.

One of these, named John, who was born in 1762, and brought up to follow his father's occupation, married Agnes Stevenson; and in 1820, accompanied by his wife and five chil- dren, he left the old home in Scotland, and sailed for America. Here the family became scattered, the eldest son, Robert, who was born in 1803, married and settled in Georgia about 1831. His plantation was thirteen miles from Atlanta; and here he accumulated great wealth, having slaves, who had become his property on his marriage, being part of his wife's dowry. Sixteen of these slaves were freed by the war; and it is a curious fact that at the expiration of eight months one- half of them had died. Mr. Mable was not favorably disposed toward the war; but three of his sons were obliged to serve in the rebel army, although they withstood the demand as long as possible. However, all three sur- vived the terrible struggle, and are now resi- dents of Georgia or Alabama. Mr. Mable's home was in the path of General Sherman in his famous march to the sea; and, conse- quently, at the close of the war little re- mained of the beautiful place but devastation and ruin. The house had been used as a field hospital, and great was the destruction made of it by shot and shell. The fences were en- tirely demolished, and for many years bullets were frequently found on and about the grounds. Although he had sustained a tre- mendous loss by the war, Robert Mable went

to work with a will, and before his death in 1888 had managed in a great measure to re- establish his fallen fortunes.

Mary Mable, a sister of the younger Rob- ert, became the wife of James N. Scott, a farmer and speculator of Andes, N.Y., in which town she died, in July, 1869, the mother of five children. . Another sister, Ja- nette, married James Oliver, and passed away in 1874, leaving three children. The fifth child was James Mable, now living in Delhi, old in years, but with a heart yet young and fresh. Alexander, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. John Mable, was born in Roxburgh, Scotland, in 1810. In 1840 he married Rachel Brown, of Bovina, daughter of James and Isabella (Forsyth) Brown. One son, whose life is narrated in this sketch, was the result of their union, Mrs. Mable dying at the age of twenty-seven, soon after his birth. The second wife of Alexander Mable was Elizabeth Middlemast, who died in 1890, the mother of three sons and three daughters. He died March 9, 1893, after an eventful, upright life, having held several offices, among which were those of Supervisor and Assessor. He was a stanch Republican, and an active member of the Scotch Presbyterian church.

John B. Mable was born in the town of Delhi in 1841, and was brought up to farm life in his father's home. He attended the district school, and later the Delhi Academy. At twenty-one years of age he first engaged in teaching school, and taught for eleven terms in this county and in Long Island, Michigan, and Iowa. On January 5, 1870, he was mar- ried to Mary A. Davidson, of Delhi, daughter of George and Margaret (Dunn) Davidson.

Mrs. Mable's father died in September, 1887, in his eighty-fourth year, leaving a widow and nine children. Two of his sons were volunteers in the Civil War, John David- son having enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Ncw York Infantry, where he served for three years, and was shot in a skirmish near Nor- folk. He died eleven months later; and his brother Thomas, who had enlisted when but eighteen years of age in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, was killed in the battle of Honey Hill. Mrs. Davidson was

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born in 1807, in Rochester, Northumberland County, in the north of England, a daughter of John and Margaret Dunn, and came to this country in 1831 with her husband, George Davidson, and her two children, being on the ocean for seven weeks in the good ship "Delta," Captain James Wood. Mr. David- son was a native of the same county as his wife, and was born in 1803. The family set- tled in West Delhi in a small clearing in the midst of the forest, where they built a rough frame house. After the death of Mr. David- son the family removed to Hamden, and took up their residence with the youngest daugh- ter. Mr. and Mr. Davidson were the parents of fourteen children, six sons and five daugh- ters growing to maturity and marrying. Four sons and four daughters are still living, all in this county with the exception of Allan, who is a farmer in California. Although Mrs. Davidson has been confined to her bed for two years, she still retains her mental faculties, and is able to read and write without glasses. She has a wonderfully strong constitution, and has passed through many hardships which she has met with patience and fortitude. Though receiving only a limited education in her childhood, she has done much toward self- improvement, and is now a most interesting and well-informed woman.

Mr. and Mrs. Mable have been called upon to part with both their beloved children, whose death made a sad break in the happy household. Their son, George D. Mable, died at nine years of age, March 1, 1881, of scarlet fever, after a short illness of twenty- eight hours. Their daughter, M. Ray, a beautiful young girl, was taken away at the age of eighteen, in July, 1891. In their double sorrow the bereaved parents have had the heartfelt sympathy of a host of friends. Soon after their marriage in 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Mable removed to Charles City, Iowa, but returned to this State in 1876, and in 1886 occupied their present place, where they have a pleasant cottage and a small farm of forty-four acres. Here they keep a horse and twenty head of cattle, grade Jerseys, and fur- nish dairy products for the New York market. In July, 1893, three of these choice cows, including one whose yield was about four

hundred pounds of butter yearly, were killed by lightning.

Mr. Mable is a representative Republican, is Overseer of the Poor, and has been Secre- tary of the Hamden Insurance Company for several years. Both he and his wife are de- voted and deeply respected members of the Presbyterian church at DeLancey.

EORGE BIEHLER, a respected citi- zen of Arkville, is a wagon-maker, and carries on a thriving business near the railway station. He is the son of Christjahn and Mary (Cunnerlin) Biehler, and was born in Germany, October 30, 1824. His mother, Mary (Cunnerlin) Biehler, was the daughter of Michael Cunnerlin, a farmer in Germany. His father, Christjahn Biehler, was also a farmer in Germany. Both parents died at the age of sixty-eight.

George Biehler, the subject of this sketch, received his education in Germany; and at the age of fifteen he began to learn the trade of wagon-making. When quite a young man, he went to Switzerland, where he remained two years, coming from there to America in 1848. After a long and stormy passage of fourteen weeks, he landed in New York City on New Year's Day, and, coming to Dela- ware County, tarried first in Roxbury, and from there went to Andes, where he lived three years. He then went to Margarettville, and started in the wagon-making business. During the first year of his residence here he married Rebecca Warden, daughter of Ira Warden, a well-known farmer of Andes. Mr. Biehler remained in business at Margarettville for sixteen years, after which he sold out and bought a farm, on which he lived for fifteen years. Selling the farm, he next moved to Arkville, where he worked at farming five years, and then bought the house in which he lives at the present time, having in the lot adjoining the house a shop, in which, al- though quite an old man, he still does a good business.

Mr. Biehler has eight children: Edward R., a furniture dealer in New York, married Ella Chapman, and has two children. Mar- ion O., married, is a railroad conductor in

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Idaho. Willard W., a brakeman, lives at Union Hill, N. Y .; he married Sadie Peets, and has one child. Myra C. married William Steinhauf, of Vermilion, Kan. Chancy H. lives at home. Emma married J. Van Ben- scotten, of New Kingston. Cora, wife of H. M. Todd, has two children. Effie A. lives at home. His eldest son, Ira G. Biehler, was for twenty years engaged in the service of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Company, work- ing his way up by his indefatigable energy and push to the position of agent of one of the most important stations on the road. He was industrious and painstaking; and, no matter how great the rush of business, he had always a pleasant word for every one. His strict attention to business and his courteous demeanor won him a host of friends. He had scarcely reached middle life when he was stricken down with an inflammatory disease which baffled the skill of the best medical ad- visers in this part of the country. He died at his home in Arkville, on August 25, 1888, aged thirty-seven years. Being a Mason, and at the time of his death Master of the Mar- garettville Lodge, No. 389, he was buried with Masonic rites, the funeral being one of the largest ever held here. His brothers are members of the same lodge.

A few years ago Marion O. Biehler, who is now in the Far West, went to South America. The following extract from a letter written by him to his father and mother shows the jour- ney to have been one of hardship and peril rather than of pleasure. It was dated Quibdo, Colombia, November 26, 1886, two months and four days after he left New York City. The writer then felt that, if he had known beforehand the dangers and hairbreadth es- capes he was to meet with, not all the gold in South America would have tempted him to leave Arkville. He says: "We arrived at Aspinwall, October I, were detained there four days, transferring our provisions, arms, and baggage, and trying to get papers from the authorities to insure safe passage along the coast. They would not grant them; but by good luck we got along just as well with- out them. The first day after leaving Aspin- wall our vessel was nearly swamped several times. But we had no desire to become food

for fishes; and we worked heroically through the day, and at night landed at Porto Bello. The third day we succeeded in procuring a pilot who was perfectly acquainted with every mile of the coast. First day from there had good winds, then it turned dead against us; have pulled four hours at a time, and not gained more than one mile. On the 19th we came to the mouth of the Atrato. This river rises and falls with fearful rapidity. Have known it, farther up stream, to fall fifteen feet in one day, also to rise ten feet in one day. .

"We crossed the Gulf of Darien to get men to pole us up the river. It would have taken eight men to pull against the current, but two natives can pole it. They have poles ten feet long, stand on forward end of boat, place the pole against a tree on the bank, walk the length of the boat, pushing the boat forward. It was necessary to keep close to the bank, and pass under large bushes that hang over the water. We would hear from a native, 'Coolavery, coolavery!' and, looking up, would behold a monstrous snake directly over our heads. They are hideous-looking mon- sters, and very deadly. We shot fifteen, and some of them were over ten feet in length. We were over a month in making the river, surrounded by dangers on every hand, and did not meet with a person who could understand a word of English. But I found some breth- ren of our noble fraternity at one town where we were obliged to anchor -two Master Masons; and, although neither of us could interpret a word the other said, I was as warmly welcomed as I could have been in my native State. They insisted that my friend, J. D. Vermilya, and I should accompany them to one of their homes to dinner. At Quibdo we were kindly received by Mr. Prindle's brother, who was watching for our arrival. . . . We still have one week's journey before us, to reach the gold regions."

In politics Mr. Biehler is a stanch Demo- crat, and always takes an active interest in local affairs. He is an honored member of the Lutheran church, and has ever exemplified in his life what a true Christian should be. Upright in his dealings, he enjoys the respect of all who know him.

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ILLIAM A. HULL is a native resi- dent of Andes, Delaware County, N. Y., who has been closely identi- fied with the local affairs of the town since his early manhood. His parents, Ira and Elizabeth Hull, dwelt on the old homestead which he now occupies. Ira's father was Ebenezer Hull, and his mother's maiden name was Summers. They came from Connecticut, and settled first on Hubble Hill, and afterward on Trempers Kill. Having lived to a very ad- vanced age, they died at the home of their son Ira. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters - Eri, Ira, Rebecca, Phebe, and Arluna - all of whom are deceased.

Ira Hull was born on Hubble Hill, April 5, 1798, and received a common-school educa- tion near his home. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Ackerley, who resided on the Slade farm. Mr. Ackerley had the following family: William, Jonathan, Nich- olas, Elizabeth, Laura, Polly, Susan, not any of whom are now living. The father was an industrious farmer of high repute and a leader among the Baptist brethren of this vicinity, holding the meetings at his own house before the church was built. Ira, after living on his father's farm, bought the one now occupied by the family, consisting of three hundred acres of land and fine buildings. He was industrious and prosperous, and was father of five children, as follows: Alanson, who mar- ried Ann Felton, of Andes, and is a farmer ; Henrietta, widow of Frank C. Reside, who lives at Union Grove; William A. ; Stephen, deceased; Calvin, who married Josephine Bussy, and is a lawyer. In politics Mr. Ira Hull was a Democrat. Mrs. Elizabeth Hull was a Baptist in her religious faith. She lived to be nearly eighty years of age.

William A. Hull was born on the farm where he now resides, and received his educa- tion from the district school. In 1865 he married Fannie D. Hitt, daughter of John Hitt, a farmer of Downsville, who died at the age of forty-four years, leaving his widow the care and responsibility of bringing up their family alone. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hitt were: William, living in Downsville; Charles, a resident of Colchester; Fannie, wife of Mr. Hull; Maggie, widow of

George Warren. Mrs. Hitt was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hitt erected a hotel in Downsville, but at its com- pletion sold it and engaged in carpentering.

William Hull first started a farm, bought of D. Palmateer and of his brother, one hun- dred and sixty acres all together. This farm includes part of the picturesque sheet of water called Perch Lake; and here he has laid out delightful picnic grounds furnished with a cottage, tables, boats, and other conveniences that minister to the comfort and gratification of his guests. This is considered one of the finest places for fishing in Delaware County, and here Mr. Hull accommodates large num- bers of lovers of sport during the season.

Mr. and Mrs. Hull have reared two chil- dren: Sarah, who is the wife of Lee J. Fris- bee, and has two children - Willard and a daughter not yet named; Lillie, who is still at home. This farm is one of the best in the section, having upon it a comfortable house, built in 1871, and commodious barns, new in 1874. Mr. Hull keeps twenty-five Alderney cows of the finest stock, and yielding yearly a handsome profit. In politics Mr. Hull is a Democrat, and has been Excise Commissioner for many years. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Hull is much re- spected for his strict integrity, his high moral character, and his business ability.

HARLES- KNIGHT, a highly intelli- gent and influential citizen of Han- cock, Delaware County, was born April 8, 1826. His father, John Knight, was born in 1780, in Philadelphia; and his grandfather, who was also John Knight, was born in the same city in 1750. The Knight family are of English descent, having probably come to this country with William Penn, and have long been promi- nently identified with the affairs of the Quaker city. The records of the family may be found on the books of Christ's (Episcopal) Church, on Second Street. Henry Knight, great-grandfather of Charles, was born on June 10, 1726. He married Elizabeth Har- din, who was also of Philadelphia; and they raised a large family. Their son John was a

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soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was at the battle of Monmouth, after which he lay on the field all night, contracting a disease from which he never recovered. He died in 1786, when but thirty-six years old. His wife was Mary Coran, a native of the Quaker city ; and they had three children, two of whom, Will- iam and John, Jr., grew to manhood.

William Knight was a sailing-master in the United States navy. His commission is now in the possession of his nephew Charles, who is justly proud of such an uncle. It reads as follows : - -

"Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, to all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know ye that, reposing special trust and confidence in the valor, fidelity, and abilities of William Knight, I do appoint him Sailing Master in the Navy of the United States. He is therefore carefully and dili- gently to discharge the duty of a Sailing Master by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all officers, sea- men, and others under his command to be obedient to his orders as a Sailing Master and he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America, or the superior officer set over him according to the rules and discipline of the Navy. This warrant to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. To take rank from the Second of October, 1799. Given under my hand at the city of Washington, the twenty-seventh day of December, 1802, and the twenty-seventh year of the independence of the United States.

"(Signed) THOMAS JEFFERSON. " By command of the President of the United States,

"R. SMITH.

"Registered in the Navy Office, "SAMUEL T. ANDERSON."

The following is an extract from an in- teresting letter written by William Knight to his mother while he was on board the United States steamship "Macedonian" at

New London, Conn., then blockaded by the British, and is dated August 1, 1814, that being the anniversary of his birth :-

"On Monday last we fitted out an expedi- tion, consisting of four whale boats, eight officers, and twenty men. We lost one boat, and captured three officers and five men, no lives being lost on either side. The boats returned on Friday, the one that was lost being from this ship. On Tuesday, early in the morning, it being very foggy weather, our boat-lost sight of the other three; and the officer in charge ordered our men to pull in for the westward. In so doing they came in sight of a seventy-four, and they immediately pulled the other way; and, seeing a light- house, they used every exertion to get be- tween the ships and the shore. They pro- ceeded on for some time; but the men became weary, having pulled all night, and the officer thought it prudent to pull to the shore and haul the boat up, which they did. At daybreak they found themselves within gunshot of several ships of war, and, aban- doning the boat, took to the woods. Soon after they saw a boat pull off from one of the ships and land three officers, who went to the house of Mr. Gardner, to whom the island belongs. Our officer, seeing this, immediately made for the boat, where he captured five men, and then went to the house, where he took Lieutenants Dance and Hope and one midshipman. . We had two midshipmen and six men. After taking the eight English men, our officer found himself in a dis- agreeable position, without a boat and on an island. The Englishmen were ignorant of this, and our officer ordered them to sign their parole or go with him to Long Island. They hesitated some time, for to be taken prisoners by equal numbers would not do: but after serious consultation, and rather than go to Long Island, they signed their parole. The next business for our men was to look out for a boat. The ship saw their boat was taken, and manned five boats, which they sent toward the shore. By Mr. Gard- ner's house we found a boat hauled on the land, which we quickly launched, and made our escape to Sag Harbor, being joined by the three American boats, who also arrived

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at the harbor. The commanding officer then was a lieutenant, who brought another whale boat for our use, and hauled the boats across a neck of land about six miles westward of the English ships, and on Friday arrived here all right."

William Knight was aboard the United States frigate "Philadelphia" when she ran aground and was lost in the Bay of Tripoli. There were three hundred and eleven souls on board the frigate; and they were taken on shore, and put in a building formerly occu- pied by a United States consul. They were kept as slaves for two years by the bashaw of Tripoli, and then redeemed for sixty thou- sand dollars by the United States government. A part of the ransom was paid in pine timber cut on the Preston property at Stockport, run to Philadelphia, and shipped to Tripoli. After a long, useful, and eventful sea life, Mr. Knight was transferred to the navy yard in Philadelphia, where he died in 1834, aged fifty-nine.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 33

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