USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 36
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The interest and value of this biographical sketch are greatly enhanced by the accompany- ing portraits of Captain Burrows and his widowed wife, the faithful sharer of his joys and sorrows for more than a half-century.
AMUEL JESSUP WHITE, M.D., a successful physician of Franklin, although still a comparatively young man, has already achieved an hon- ored position among his professional brethren, and built up a good practice in this locality. He was born on August 12, 1862, in Gilberts- ville, Otsego County. His father, the Rev. Samuel J. White, D.D., now a resident of Walton, was born in Durham, Greene County, in February, 1814, was graduated from Will- iams College in 1839, and studied theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His first settled pastorate was over the Presbyterian church in Franklin, where he presided from 1844 until 1852. In the mean time he was united in marriage in 1846 with Mary A. Finch. Their family circle was completed by the birth of six chil- dren, one of whom, a daughter named
Frances, died at the age of six years. The record of the living children is as follows: Mary, the wife of the Rev. T. D. Barclay, resides in Kent, Conn. William F., a lead- ing light of the legal fraternity, and junior member of the firm of Fancher & White, of Walton, is District Attorney. Elizabeth M., the wife of Charles S. Hitchcock, lives in Fruitland, Fla. Sarah F., the wife of Will- iam R. North, is a resident of Goshen, Conn. Samuel J. is the subject of further mention below.
Samuel J. White acquired his elementary education in the public schools of Walton, going from there to Claverack Institute, and afterward fitting for college at Kent, Conn. After pursuing the course of study at Will- iams College, he entered the Medical Uni- versity of New York City, from which he was graduated with an honorable record in 1888. The following year and a half Dr. White had a valuable experience as physician in the Bellevue Hospital. In November, 1889, he opened an office in the village of Franklin, and since that time has devoted his entire attention to the active labors of his profession with most satisfactory results to both himself and his patrons. On the Ist of January, 1894, prior to going South with his wife, who was out of health, Dr. White took as partner George H. Brinkman, M.D.
The union of Dr. White and Mary I. Hoag was solemnized on August 5, 1891. Mrs. White is a daughter of Mrs. Julia Hoag, of Franklin; and she has but one brother, Frank Hoag, of Franklin. Mrs. Hoag is the daughter of David and Isabel (Hotchkiss) Penfield, both of whom were born in the town of Harpersfield, this county, but settled in 1841, after marriage, on a farm in Ridgeville, and lived there seven years. Returning to the scenes of their youthful days, they bought a farm in Harpersfield; and on that they labored successfully until 1862, when they disposed of that property and purchased another farm, situated about two miles from Franklin. They were the parents of five children, one boy and four girls, namely: Julia, the mother of Mrs. White; Fannie Maria, a resident of Franklin, and the widow of A. W. Metcalf, who died in Otsego County in 1889; Mary
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M., the wife of David C. Shaw; Orrin L., a farmer, who resides on the old home farm; Ida Isabel, the wife of Alfred Ogden.
In politics the Doctor cordially indorses the principles of the Republican party. Relig- iously, both he and his estimable wife are consistent members of the Congregational church. With his other attainments, Dr. White is a fine musician, and with his cornet adds to the music of the best choir in the town of Franklin.
ILLIAM ORR, a most successful farmer and dairyman of the village of Almeda, town of Kortright, Delaware County, N. Y., was born on Febru- ary 18, 1837, on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of David and Nancy (Spence) Orr, whose history may be found in the sketch of the Orr family in this volume. He was educated at the district schools of the town, and then gave his attention to farming, always living at the old home.
On January 4, 1865, Mr. Orr married Mary Knight, who was born in Broome County, September 24, 1839, a daughter of Stephen Knight. His wife Mary died March II, 1867; and four years later, on May 30, 1871, Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Kate Evertson, a native of Troy. Her parents were John H. and Finetta (Sipperly) Evert- son, both of whom have passed away. In 1872 Mr. Orr purchased the old homestead of one hundred and fifty-one acres, where he now resides, and is employed in farming and dairying, keeping thirty head of cattle and manufacturing butter of superior quality. He is a hard worker and good manager, and his evident success in life is due to his own un- tiring efforts. His farm is one of the best on the Betty Brook Road, where he erected a fine residence in 1880.
Mr. Orr has lost two children, but is the father of five who still live, namely: Leonard K. Orr, a wagon-maker, dealer in hardware, and the Postmaster at Almeda; Mary F., who is unmarried, and lives with her parents; Agnes A., William E., and John H., the three last-named also residing at home. Mr. Orr is a Republican and a representative man
of his town. He is a member of the Kort- right Insurance Company, and, with his wife, is a regular attendant at the Reformed Pres- byterian church. A man of good moral prin- ciples and sound judgment, Mr. Orr holds an enviable position in the hearts of his many friends.
OHN M. LYON, contractor and builder, is one of the best-known and thoroughly successful business men of Walton, having gained a wide reputation for his well-planned and well- finished work, of which many buildings in this village and elsewhere are illustrations. He was one of seven children, five of whom are still living. Three of his brothers fought in the Civil War, namely: Elijah, who died of fever while in the army in the prime of life; another, William, who was in his country's service for one year, and was wounded in the battle of Honey Hill; Giles, who died in 1894, his death being caused by a fall.
John M. Lyon was born in Andes, Dela- ware County, October 30, 1826. In his boy- hood he worked on his father's farm, and attended school until he reached his twen- tieth year. He then taught school one winter term, but when twenty-one adopted the carpenter's trade, and, being a natural mechanic, was not obliged to serve the re- quired term as an apprentice. In 1858, in company with two brothers, he purchased a planing-mill and a sash and blind factory, which they operate in connection with their business as contractors and builders. They have been the contractors for seven churches, among them the Baptist church in Walton, the others being fine structures in some of the surrounding towns. In 1883 this firm con- structed the city hall, a building of fine pro- portions and unquestionable beauty, which the citizens of the town are proud to exhibit to strangers as a sample of the work accomplished by the firm of which Mr. Lyon is a member.
September 17, 1856, Mr. Lyon was mar- ried to Miss Julia Eells, a native of this county and daughter of Mead and Philena (Johnson) Eells. Mrs. Lyon was the young-
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est of a large family of children, six of whom lived to reach maturity. She died March II, 1873, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving one son and four daughters: George Lyon, a contractor and builder of Denver, Col., who is married and has a home in that city; Jessie, who was a photographer and re- toucher, now the wife of Van D. Case, of Walton, and mother of one daughter; Jennie F., who resides with her father, and is a compositor on the Chronicle ; Julia E., a teacher at Babylon, L.I., who is a graduate of the Walton schools and of the Oswego Normal School; and Mattie A., who is a stenographer, having received her instruction under Graham in New York, N. Y.
Mr. Lyon is a Chapter Mason and a stanch Republican. He has been Justice of the Ses- sion, and has held the office of Justice of. the Peace for thirty years. In religion he is a conscientious Congregationalist, in which denomination he has ever been a faithful worshipper. He built his present dwelling in 1868, having previously disposed of two residences which had been built under his supervision. In this pleasant home Mr. Lyon now lives with his daughters, a much beloved father, and highly respected friend and citi- zen. Of greatest integrity and noble prin- ciples, he is a man whose friendship is prized by all who are fortunate enough to be num- bered among his associates.
OHN S. HOBBIE, one of the leading dairymen of Bovina, was born on the 26th of November, 1838. His pater- nal grandfather, Ebenezer Hobbie, was a native of Dutchess County, who came to Delaware County, and bought land near Bovina, the deed for which bears the date of I794. In those early days of the settlement the nearest market was Catskill, so a farmer's life was necessarily a hard one. The wife of Ebenezer Hobbie was Lydia Hait, and to them were born five children, all of whom are now dead. Grandfather Hobbie was a Bap- tist in religious faith and a Democrat in politics.
Joshua of the second generation was also a farmer, and lived and died on the farm where
he was born. He was a teacher and for many years a clerk of the district school, although these avocations did not interfere with his chief occupation, which was farming. He married Miss Sally Reynolds of Bovina. Both were church members, though differing in creed, the husband being a Baptist, while she was in the communion of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their seven children, of whom six are now living, were the follow- ing: Orman E., a grocer in Illinois; Selah R., a farmer in Nebraska; John S., of this memoir; Joshua K., on the old homestead ; Addie, the wife of Mr. Byron Frisbee, of Delhi; Stephen, a resident of Kansas; and Augusta, who died on the threshold of maid- enhood, at the age of fourteen years.
As a natural result of training and home environment John S. Hobbie followed in the footsteps of father and grandfather, and turned his attention toward practical farming and breeding dairy stock. As a youth he worked out for seven years, and, being of an economi- cal turn of mind, was able to save something each year from his paltry wages, which for the first year only amounted to a hundred dollars. In these days, when such labor brings a much greater reward, it seems almost incredible that the hard toil of twelve months should have brought an able-bodied adult man a sum so inadequate for the common needs of life. But self-denial and determination are strong forces; and in the year 1855 John S. Hobbie purchased a farm of two hundred and three acres of land, upon which he now resides.
At twenty-five years of age he married Miss Einily J. Reynolds, a girl who did not dread the prospect of a life of honest labor and care, such as a woman who marries a working farmer must expect. Miss Reynolds was a daughter of Morris S. Reynolds, a farmer of Bovina. Both of her parents are dead. With the aid that wifely encouragement and sym- pathy brings, Mr. Hobbie has been able to steadily accumulate property about him, and to-day owns a very fine dairy, supplied by a herd of thirty sleek, well-kept cows, grade Jerseys.
A comfortable residence was completed in 1889, in which he now resides. The sweet influence and central figure of the home fire-
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side is lacking in the new abode, however, Mrs. Hobbie having died in 1881. Mr. Hob- bie has been faithful to the memory of the wife of his youth, and lives quietly with his twin daughters, who have the charge of the affairs of the household. His only son, Charles W. Hobbie, is a real estate dealer in Binghamton. The daughters, Sarah and Mary, have done much to cheer and brighten their father's life since his bereavement, and have displayed much executive ability in their management of his domestic concerns. Mr. Hobbie devotes himself almost exclusively to his dairy, in which he takes pleasurable pride, although he does not neglect the duties of citizen and neighbor. He is affiliated with the United Presbyterian church, and holds Democratic principles.
MOS PHINEAS WOOD, Postmaster at North Hamden, N. Y., received the baptismal names of his two grand- fathers, Amos Wood and Phineas Howland, the latter of whom was Captain of a militia company, and in his younger days was a famous sportsman and an expert deer hunter. Mr. Wood is a skilled mechanic, and an able and experienced farmer. He is a native-born citizen of the town, and first opened his eyes to the light on October 19, 1841.
His father, Ira Penfield Wood, was born in Massachusetts in 1814. He lived there, how- ever, but a few months, his parents, Amos and Sophia (Kilbourn) Wood, removing from the old Bay State to this county in 1814, the year following their marriage. Hc was a man of great mechanical genius, working in either iron or wood; and after his arrival in this county he erected several saw and grist mills along the river, but, though a very industrious man, never accumulated much property. His wife dicd in 1843, somewhat past middle age; and he survived her but a few ycars. Of their six children, four daugh- ters and two sons, all grew to adult life, mar- ried, and reared familics. Onc daughter, Pamelia, the widow of John Roff, resides in Washington, D.C., being an active and intel- ligent woman of seventy-five years.
Ira P. Wood was married on the Ist of Jan- uary, 1834, to Sally Howland, the daughter of Captain Phineas Howland, and the grand- daughter of one Gershom Howland, who came to the town of Hamden from Rhode Island, in 1796, bringing with him his wife and four sons - Joseph, Job, Phineas, and Gershom. These sons all married and reared children, many of whom are settled in this part of Delaware County. The Howland family are lineally descended from Henry Howland, who was one of three brothers that were living in Plymouth, Mass., in 1625. The other brothers were Arthur and John Howland, the latter of whom crossed the ocean in the " May- flower" in 1620. Henry Howland subse- quently settled in Duxbury, Mass., being one of the pioneers of that place. After their marriage Ira P. Wood and his wife lived one year in Delhi, then came to Hamden, where they bought a tract of wild land, fifty acres, paying for it one hundred and seventy dollars. This land had been obtained from the govern- ment by Mrs. Wood's father the previous year, he having paid one dollar and fifty cents per acre. Renting a small log house for three months, they proceeded to build a cabin of their own. Having cut down the trees, Mr. Wood hewed out the rafters himself, and erected a comfortable house, consisting of two living-rooms and a bedroom. Mrs. Wood did many a baking in the old-fashioned tin oven, before a stump fire.
In this log house were born their two chil- dren, Willard Samuel and Amos Phincas, the latter being the subject of this sketch. The elder son was born in 1837, and was reared on the home farm, receiving a better education than many of the pioneers' sons, attending the seminary after leaving the district school, and began a professional career as a teacher, following that vocation in New Jersey. At the breaking out of the late Civil War, he enlisted in the First New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, going to the front as First Sergeant in Company D. He was an active partici- pant in many engagements; and on May II, 1864, at the battle of Spottsylvania, he was made prisoner. He was first confined at Dansville, and afterward taken to Anderson- ville, and thence to Florence, S.C., where he
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died of starvation, leaving a widow, whose maiden name was Orpah Wilson.
Amos P. Wood was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and since he was old enough to assume the responsibility has had charge of the paternal homestead. He inherited in a large degree the mechanical ability of his father, who was equally competent to clean a clock or build a mill; and at the age of twenty-four years he learned of A. D. Bishop, at Decatur, Otsego County, the trade of a gunsmith, working for him a year. He opened his present shop in 1866. In addition to this handicraft, Mr. Wood also carries on general farming and dairying, making butter from his eighteen grade Jersey cows. His farm is well improved, and his buildings kept in good repair, everything about the premises indicating the careful supervision of an intel- ligent proprietor. In 1894 he built an exten- sion to his barn, which is now thirty feet by eighty feet, and in the basement has room for thirty cows and two or more horses. An in- valuable luxury of his farm is a spring of pure, cold water, which is carried to the house from a distance of seventeen rods.
Mr. Wood was married in 1868 to Sally M. Howland, a cousin, and the daughter of Will- iam Howland. Of this congenial union three children have been born, one of whom, Min- nie, a beautiful girl of thirteen years, died in 1880. The living children are: Ira P., born July 16, 1877; and Ella Mabel, born August 15, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are worthy and valued members of the Christian church, to which his parents also belongcd. In poli- tics he follows in the footsteps of his father, and is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
OHN B. BONNEFOND, who was for some time a resident of the town of Hancock, was a native of France, hav- ing been born in that country, in the department of Saône and Loire. In his early manhood he was a popular restaurant-keeper in Paris; but on account of his Republican sentiments he fell under the displeasure of the government of Louis Philippe. He was repeatedly arrested and confined without a
charge being made against him, although he constantly demanded to be brought to trial. In the revolutionary movement of May, 1839, he was one of the leaders of his party in Paris, at the barricades, where they fought and repeatedly repulsed the government troops; but, the barricades being taken, he was obliged to roam over the country in dis- guise, being kept in hiding by his compatriots until a passport could be obtained for him. This was secured by a friend who was high in office, and who gave him also a letter of recommendation to an old acquaintance in Chili. But, knowing Chili to be a republic in name only, when he arrived at Havre, and saw the stars and stripes, he said to himself, "I will go to the country which represents the government I wish to see established in my own." He took passage to New York City, leaving his wife and two children be- hind till he could make a home for them in the country of his adoption. He arrived in New York City, August 21, 1839. Declaring his intentions, he took out first papers, and became an American citizen in 1844. Meet- ing with an old friend, who owned thousands of acres in Hancock, and had established there the French colony known as French Woods, Mr. Bonnefond came to this place, and pur- chased one hundred and fifty acres of timbered land on the border of the beautiful Sands Pond, then in a state of wild beauty, where the deer roamed at will and all kinds of game and fish abounded.
The wife of Mr. Bonnefond was Annette Marigny, of Côte d'Or, Burgundy. When her husband was obliged to flee the country and leave his extensive and lucrative restau- rant business in Paris, representing about ten thousand dollars, Mrs. Bonnefond was unable to save any of the property; and it was con- fiscated by the government. She came to America with her daughter Octavia, leaving her son Octave at school in Paris, where he remained for two years, and, when eleven years old, followed his parents to their new home.
John B. Bonnefond was an upright man of good education and pleasing address, and counted among his friends some of the best and most influential men in the county. In
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1848, after the revolution of that year, he re- turned to France to see if he could not re- cover some of his property, but was unable to do so, and received no recompense for his loss and suffering. On the outbreak of the gold fever in 1849, he made his way overland to California, and was successful in finding some gold, which he is said to have sent home, but which never reached its destination. He died of fever in August, 1849, and was buried in his cloak, far from his friends and family.
His wife survived him many years. Dur- ing the life of her husband, by the exercise of her skill as a cook she had done much to assist him in the support of the family; and after his death she so ably managed her affairs as to pay off the indebtedness on the home in Hancock. Besides the children born in France they had two sons born in America - Aristias H. and Francis.
Octave, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bonnefond, married, June 3, 1857, Mary E. Lakin, daughter of Jonas Lakin, of Hancock. She was educated in her native town of Hancock and in the Franklin Insti- tute, and lived with her parents until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Octave Bonnefond had ten children: Edgar B .; John B .; Ho- ratio Seymour; Leonie; Lucien; Louis and Louise, who were twins; and three who died in infancy. Leonie married S. M. Bouchoux, a farmer in Hancock, and has three children - Seymour J., John Batiste, and Eugenie A. Horatio Seymour was killed by a falling tree in 1879. Louise lives at home with her parents. Edgar B. married Elizabeth Miller, of Hancock, and has one child, a daughter Lena. John B. Bonnefond, son of Octave, marricd Jenny M. Baxter, of Hancock. They have two children - John M. and Octavia L. Bonnefond. Octave Bonnefond has been prominent in town affairs, having for ninc years served as Commissioner of Highways, being also Excise Commissioner. He is a Democrat.
Aristias HI. Bonnefond was born March 16, 1845, and received the education which the farmers' sons of that time were able to obtain. Early in life he started to follow the river as a steersman and lumberman. July 4, 1864, he married Mary Hunter, daughter of Richard
and Hannah (Mason) Hunter, of Colchester, Delaware County. Hannah Mason was a na- tive of Hamden, Delaware County; and her father was one of the pioneer settlers of Col- chester. Mr. and Mrs. Aristias H. Bonne- fond are the parents of five children: Frank, born May 19, 1866; Helen, born March 27, 1869; Annette, born March 28, 1873; Mar- garet A., born January 6, 1879; Alice, born September 29, 1881. Frank married Emily Dirnier, daughter of John Dirnier, of Han- cock; and they have three children - Mary Caroline, Eugene, and George. Helen mar- ried Arthur Denio, of Hancock, and has one child, Ernest. Aristias H. Bonnefond has been well known in the affairs of the town, among the offices he has held being Highway Commissioner, in which capacity he served four years.
Francis Bonnefond, the youngest son of John B. Bonnefond, was born in the town of Hancock, and was educated in the schools of the French Woods district. When about twenty years old, following the example. of most of the young men of the district, he started to follow the river as a lumberman. On November 19, 1879, he married Ellen G. Thomas, daughter of Moses and Eunice (Biggs) Thomas, of Hancock. Mr. Thomas was a native of Fremont, Sullivan County, and now, with his wife, is enjoying a good old age on the farm he has occupied since his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bonne- fond have three children: Montcelle, born November 19, 1880; June, born June 7, 1885 ; and Ethel, born July 31, 1889. He has been Collector of Taxes, Excise Commissioner, Constable, and Assessor for two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnefond are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Harvard.
Octavia, the only daughter of John B. Bonnefond, was born in Paris, and accompa- nied her mother to this country. She was edu- cated in New York City and at Georgetown, D.C., and married John Livingston, of Camp- ville, Tioga County, N. Y. He was an emi- nent lawyer and writer, among his works being the "Lawyer's Manual " and " Eminent Men of America," a biographical work of large circulation. He died in March, 1893, leaving seven children.
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The Bonnefond family have been important members of the community in which they have lived; and in the early days of the settle- ment, as well as in later years, their integ- rity, good judgment, and ability in the man- agement of affairs have been of great use to their fellow-townsmen.
HARLES GORSCH, a native of Neu- enburg, West Prussia, and the son of Ludwig Gorsch, whose wife was Florentine Dangers, came to Amer- ica in 1854, after a voyage of six weeks land- ing at New York, where he earned his living as a cabinet-maker. In 1857 he came to Andes, where he was employed by Mr. Will- iam Oliver, of that town, for three years. After that he came to Margarettville, and here purchased a lot, upon which from time to time, as his prospects enlarged and bright- ened, he erected buildings. During the Civil War of 1861-65 Mr. Gorsch joined the Union army, enlisting in Company B of the Nine- tieth Regiment, Nineteenth Corps, under Captain Lamb, serving during the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, under General Sheridan, and took part with his regiment in that memorable battle of Cedar Creek. In 1865 he returned to Margarettville, where he applied himself so assiduously to business that in ten years he was able to purchase the largest and oldest mercantile building in the village.
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