USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 50
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Matthew Griffin was married as far back as 1833, at the age of twenty-two, to Miss Cla- rissa Dodge, a daughter of Joseph Dodge, whose wife was Sally Burgin. Mr. Dodge was among the earliest settlers on the Little Delaware River, but died in Owego, at four- score, his wife having died young, after bear- ing him eight children - William, Erastus, Orin, Clarissa, Loretta, Electa, Sally, and Oliva Dodge. By his marriage with Cla- rissa, Matthew Griffin had seven children, five living to adult age. A brief record follows : William Dodge Griffin first married Miss Avery, and second Susie Hoffman, and then died, leaving two children. Of the second son, Dewitt Griffin, there is a separate ac- count in this volume. Mary Griffin married John O'Neil, and died, leaving four children. Sally Griffin marricd William E. Hull; and he died, leaving her with onc child. Char- lotte Griffin married William Rickey, who died, leaving four children; and she lives in Kingston. Mrs. Griffin died in 1877, in the Presbyterian faith.
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As a Republican, Mr. Griffin has been Tax Collector, and from 1872 to 1874 was a mem- ber of the State Assembly. Well hath Shak- spere said, --
" Therefore doth heaven divide the state of man in divers functions,
Setting endeavor in continual motion."
This disposition belongs especially to Mat- thew Griffin, who in his long and useful life has played many parts, always with advantage to the community, and generally to himself.
ILLIAM H. METCALF, the oldest blacksmith in point of residence in the village of Walton, is the pos- sessor of great mechanical ability, and has a very large and profitable trade, his upright and honorable methods of transacting busi- ness and his reliability securing for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has dealings. His record during the time of the civil strife in this country was creditable to him and an honor to the county from which he enlisted.
Mr. Metcalf is a native of this county, hav- ing been born in Masonville, March 7, 1841, and is a descendant of worthy New England stock. His grandfather, Eliphalet Metcalf, was born in New England, and served in the War of 1812. He subsequently removed to this State, and, after living for a time in Ot- sego County, came to this locality, settling in the town of Masonville. He married Susan- nah Place; and they reared a large family of children, of whom one only is now living. The following is recorded of a part of the family : Nancy married a Mr. Moore. Sa- mantha became the wife of W. A. White. Eliza married Linus Weed, of Walton; and both are now deceased. Harriet married the Rev. Martin B. Cleveland. Adeline married Henry Benedict, of North Walton; and both are deceased. Julia C. became Mrs. Bigelow. Hubbard was the father of William H. Metcalf.
Hubbard Metcalf was born in the town of Masonville, and was a resident of that place the greater part of his life. He married for his first wife Hannah Ferry, of Masonville,
the children of this union being: Hannah O., now a resident of Stamford, Conn., and the widow of Charles Knapp, who died in the Adirondacks; and William H., of whom we write. Mrs. Hannah Metcalf died in the spring of 1848, in Ulster County, New York; and Mr. Metcalf subsequently married Mrs. Mary Bennett, who bore him one child, George E., now a resident of Jamestown, N. Y. Mr. Metcalf spent his declining years in Walton, dying there April 5, 1888. He was a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
William H. Metcalf was reared to man's estate in the town of his birth, and there ac- quired a fair common-school education. He remained at home until October, 1861, when he volunteered as a soldier in the army of the Union, enlisting in the Forty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, familiarly known as the Tammany Regiment of New York City, where he was mustered into service. He joined the army at camp near Poolesville, Md., and on the 21st of October, 1861, was in the battle at Ball's Bluff, where Colonel Baker, United States Senator from Oregon, was killed, and the brave commander of his regiment, Colonel Cogswell, was taken pris- oner. In the spring of 1862 his regiment was sent to Washington to join McClellan's army, and was with him during the Peninsular cam- paign. During the subsequent months he participated with his regiment in many hotly contested battles. By an act of Congress, passed in August, 1862, all regimental bands were discharged, and Mr. Metcalf returned to Masonville, but on the 4th of January, 1864, again enlisted, joining the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, being mustered in at Fort Marshall, Baltimore, Md., where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1864 the regiment was ordered to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., where it remained until the close of the war, being honorably discharged from service at that place.
The union of Mr. Metcalf and Miss Frances A. Everest, a resident of Harpersfield, and a daughter of the Rev. George T. Everest, was solemnized in October, 1862; and to them six children were born - Martha O., William A., Olive C., Mary E., Georgiana A., and
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Henry E. Martha married W. A. Shepard, of Walton; and Olive C. is the wife of James M. Ball, of West Troy. Mrs. Metcalf died in 1878; and Mr. Metcalf was again married, his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Keeler, who lived but a brief time after marriage. He formed a third matrimonial alliance, marrying Miss Lettie Embree, of Catskill, N. Y.
In the community where he has so long re- sided Mr. Metcalf is held in high esteem. He is influential in local affairs, promoting by every means in his power the welfare and advancement of the town and county. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln during the time he was in the army. Fraternally, he is a member of Ben Marvin Post, No. 209, Grand Army of the Republic, being ex-Commander and Senior Vice-Com- mander, S. M. V. M.
AMES G. BALLARD, a foremost citi- zen of Middletown, Delaware County, now residing at Griffin's Corners, was born in the town of Roxbury, near by, March 12, 1828, son of Jonathan and Roxy (Foster) Ballard. His paternal grandparents were James and Polly (Stratton) Ballard, the former of whom was the son of Peleg and Martha (Haines) Ballard, who came from Put- nam County to Delaware County, and were among its first settlers. Taking up a farm in the location known as Red Hill, Pcleg Bal- lard built thereon a log house, partially clear- ing the land and raising a little grain. The nearest mill was at Kingston, and to get his grain ground Mr. Ballard was obliged to make a long journey through the forest. They were very poor at first, but gradually accumu- lated a little money, with which they bought some stock, mostly sheep. To protect these from wild animals, as bears, wolves, and pan- thers, Mr. Ballard built high log pens, a most necessary precaution. A family of six chil- dren were born of this couple, by name James, Judith M., Asa, Banager, Elizabeth, and Zil- lah. Their father, Peleg, died at the age of seventy ; but the mother survived to the re- markable age of one hundred and two years.
The son James always worked on the home farm, which, after it became his property, he continued to improve by clearing the land and putting up new buildings. His wife, Polly Stratton, was the daughter of David Stratton, an early settler of Delaware County. A fam- ily of seven children were born to them - Jonathan, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Louisa, John, Jessie, and Polly Ann. The mother died when she was fifty years old; and James chose for his second wife a widow, Mrs. Sally (Chase) Scudder. He lived to be eighty years of age.
Jonathan Ballard was born on the old home- stead, and early brought up to farm work. He was twice married. His first wife, Roxy, was the daughter of Gilbert and Roxy (Ellis) Foster. Mr. Foster was a mason by trade, and a native of Dutchess County. His wife Roxy died in early womanhood, leaving five children; namely, Roxy, Jane, Orville, Ma- zilly, and Cloey. After her death Mr. Foster was married again, this time to Anna Hodge, by whom he had three children - Eliza A., Catharine, and Adaline. Mrs. Roxy (Foster) Ballard, like her mother, died in early life, leaving four children - James, Asa, William, and Orville Ballard. Jonathan Ballard mar- ried for his second wife Rosanna King, who raised two children - Polly Ann and Ira Har- ris. He was a prominent man in his town, and followed agricultural pursuits to the close of his life. His death occurred on the same day as that of his wife Rosanna, May 8, 1893, their son Ira having died a week previous.
James G. Ballard, after receiving a practi- cal education, went to Halcottsville, and en- gaged as a clerk in the store of his uncle, Orville Foster. After one year he became a partner, and finally bought the entire busi- ness. Later he sold, and went to Batavia Hill, where he invested in a general merchan- dise store, and remained there for two years. Disposing of his store, he worked for his father two and a half years, and then bought one hundred and fifty acres of land in Middle- town, which he improved, and upon which he erected good buildings. Mr. Ballard married Nancy Travis, who was born in 1827, a daughter of Ethele and Salacha (Jenkins) Travis. Her father was a progressive farmer
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of Delaware County, and had a family of eleven children - Nathan, Joseph, Harvey, Lydia, Eson, Achsah, Nancy, Elsie, Mar- garet, Anna, and Frances M. Travis. He was a sturdy Whig in politics, and a man much respected by his neighbors. He lived to the age of sixty-seven years; and his wife, who was an old-school Baptist, died when eighty- eight years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have two children. The elder, Roxylina, born 1854, married Ceily Slason, and lives on the old Ballard homestead in Roxbury. The younger, Ach- sah, born in 1857, became the wife of Andrew McNeil, of Griffin's Corners, and died in 1889. James G. Ballard has lived on his present farm for thirty-eight years, and is in fine physical condition, having always pos- sessed excellent health. He takes a deep in- terest in the cause of education, and holds the responsible offices of School Trustee and Overseer of the Poor. He is a Democrat in politics. He is a useful man in the commu- nity, and does all in his power to promote every good cause, thus commanding the re- spect of his fellow-townsmen.
UREA F. GETTER, a well-known contractor and builder of Masonville, N. Y., where he is a large land- owner, was born June 30, 1830, in the town of Schoharie, in the county of the
same name. His father, Christian J. Getter, was born in Schoharie County, July 29, 1800; and his mother, Maria (Greene) Getter, was born in Rhode Island, November, 1798, and was a relative of General Nathaniel Greene. Stephen Getter, father of Christian, was born in Germany, and came to this country with his father, William, Sr., in the time of the Revolutionary War. William Getter, Sr., was killed in the battle on Long Island. Stephen came to Schoharie County when but four years old; and his brother, William, Jr., who came with him, was but six years old. William became a gunsmith, and followed this trade through life.
Stephen owned land in Schoharie County, and was one of the sturdy type of old pio- neers. He settled in Masonville, Delaware
County, in 1834, having made the removal with teams, camping out nights while on the way. He bought one hundred and eleven acres of wild land, and put up a strong double log house. In those days a man did not stray far from his home without a gun to protect him- self and his domestic animals from the assault of wild denizens of the forests, or to shoot deer or other game for the family dinner. Grandfather Getter lived on this farm for about twenty years, and then moved to an- other in the same town, now owned by Will- iam Fuller, where he died at ninety-six years of age. When in middle life, he had a com- fortable share of this world's goods; but by unfortunate speculations in his latter years he lost the greater part of his property. He and his wife, Lavina (Schufeldt) were members of the Lutheran church in their earlier years, but before their death belonged to the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He was a Democrat. Mrs. Getter died at the age of ninety-two years. They had thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. One is now living ; namely, Mrs. Sylvina Deyo, of the town of Masonville.
Christian J. Getter grew to manhood in Schoharie County, and there married. He was a farmer and a mechanic, both of which callings he followed through life. In the spring of 1837 he came to Delaware County, making the removal with a team and lumber wagon, being four days on the way. He bought a partly improved farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which he occupied and con- tinued to improve till 1848, when he traded it for a smaller one of sixty-seven acres about a mile distant, still owned by his son, the sub- ject of the present sketch. Christian J. Get- ter was strictly temperate, never using either tobacco or intoxicating liquor, and was scru- pulously honest in his dealings, but in finan- cial matters was never quite successful. In size and strength he was a giant, weighing two hundred pounds. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his early manhood he was a Jeffersonian Democrat, or anti-Federalist. When, later in life, he voted the Republican ticket, he used to say that the party, not he, had changed. He died at the home of their
AUREA F. GETTER.
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son, Aurea F., in Masonville, November 9, 1879, at the age of seventy-nine years, his wife, in November, 1885, at the age of eighty-seven years. Their four children all grew to maturity, but Aurea F. is the only survivor at this day. A daughter, Maria, wife of J. H. Couse, died at forty-four years of age. Elizabeth, wife of John Houghta- ling, died at twenty-two years. Stephen T. married, went away, and has not been heard from for thirty-five years, supposed to be dead.
Aurea F. was the youngest child of his par- ents, was seven years old when they moved to Masonville. He received a good practical education in the public schools, and at sixteen years was allowed to start in life for himself. This he did by entering the employ of Garri- son Baldwin, of Middletown, Conn., as a salesman, receiving for the year seventeen dollars a month and board. Not quite satis- fied with his work there, and having an inclination for mechanics, he went to the town of Farmington, Conn., and learned the tradc of cabinet-making under Mr. Henry Hitchcock, who carried on a large manufac- tory. He began by working as errand boy in the establishment, but, staying there four years, mastered the trade, and in the latter part of the time received high wages. Lcav- ing Mr. Hitchcock's employ, he next held the position of foreman in the large paper mill of Messrs. Platner & Porter in the same town. After remaining with them a year, he returned to Masonville in 1852, and, buying a farm adjoining the old homestead, was here engaged in farming for two years. Not yet prepared to settle down to the monotony of agricultural pursuits for a lifetime, he vent- ured upon another decided change, removing to Windham, Portage County, Ohio, where he engaged in contracting and building, having a business giving employment to five workmen the year round. From Windham hc removed to Hiram, also in Portage County, where he followed the same business, retaining his residence there till 1866.
The military achievements of Mr. Getter belong to this period of his life. In 1856 hc organized a company known as the Garretts- ville Rifles, and was commissioned Captain,
the company belonging to the State militia. And on July 29, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D of the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Regiment, under Colonel James W. Reilly, he took with him twenty-two of his former men to help fill out the company. He was promised the First Lieutenancy ; but, on arriving in camp, the company being fully officered, he shouldered a rifle, and went into the ranks as a private. He was offered a commission as First Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, which he did not accept; and after six months' time he was given the command of the company. As the other officers were captured, he filled their places from time to time, but was never a regularly commissioned officer. He was wounded in the battle of Fort Mitchell, near Cincinnati, on September 10, 1862, and lost wholly the sight of his right eye. His regi- ment was in the battles of Cumberland Gap, Wataga Bridge, siege of Knoxville, and Dean's Station, and started from Blue Springs with General Sherman in his march to the sea, and entered in the Atlanta cam- paign, being in the battles of Maple Hill, Resaca, Dallas, Pine Mountain, Little Kene- saw, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Untio Creek, and Jonesboro. Colo- nel Reilly was then made Brigadier-general : and the regiment went with General Schofield to Atlanta, being then sent to re-enforce Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville. It was in the Pulaski skirmish, took part in the night retreat of Spring Hill, and passed the rebel camps at Franklin. On November 30, 1864, was fought one of the hottest fights in which Company D took part, in support of the Sixth Ohio Battery. The rebels under General Pat Cleburn made five assaults, and were rc- pelled with a loss of six to seven thousand killed and wounded, including General Cle- burn. The Union loss was two to three thou- sand killed and wounded. On December 15 and 16 the regiment capturcd two guns, with two stands of colors, and on January 16, 1.865, started for Washington, D.C. Company D had travelled about eight thousand miles, and had lost two hundred men, killed and wounded, and had captured fifteen rebel flags and six cannon. Mr. Getter was honorably
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discharged in June, 1865, after nearly three years of hard service, his health being much impaired.
Returning to Masonville in 1865, Mr. Getter bought about four hundred acres of land; and, as soon as he had sufficiently re- covered his health, he devoted himself to farming. The years 1872 and 1873 hc spent in travelling, visiting five States west of the Mississippi River. Hc has travelled quite extensively in North America, having been in twenty-nine States of the Union and in Canada. From 1888 to 1890 he was in the South, and was largely engaged in contract- ing and building in Kentucky and Tennessee, having in his employ some of the time as many as twenty-five men. He erected in Middletown, Ky., two large brick blocks, two churches, and fifteen dwellings, all in two years, being very successful in this busi- ness. Since 1890 he has resided in Mason- ville. He leases his land, and is himself engaged in contracting and building. He married February 12, 1852, Minerva M. Case, who was born in Hartford County, Connecti- cut, November 19, 1832, daughter of Nelson and Nelsea (Brockway) Case. Her parents were both natives of that county, and her father was a carpenter and joiner. He moved to Windham, Ohio, in 1850, and died at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife at the age of seventy-two years. They had eight children, seven of whom are now living. Hosea K. Case died at thirty years of age. The others are: Mrs. Minerva M. Getter; Flora R., wife of Sherman W. Fuller, of Portage County, Ohio; Asa N. and Charles B. Case, residing in Bavaria, Kan .; Mrs. Amelia A. Thayer, residing in Garrettsville, Portage County, Ohio; Eugene F. Case, liv- ing in Watervliet, Mich .; Mrs. Lamira C. Kleckler, in Fillmore County, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Case were liberal in religious views. In politics he was a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Getter have one child, a daughter, Mrs. Rosa M. Gilbert, born August 3, 1860, wife of Eugene A. Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert was born May 2, 1860, in the town of Sidney, Delaware County, son of George and Olive (Olmsted) Gilbert. His father was a soldier in the late war, in the Eighty-sixth
Regiment, New York Volunteers, Company M, and died from disease in 1861, at the age of thirty years. Mrs. Olive Gilbert resides with her son Eugene, who is a member of the Sons of Veterans of Unadilla, One Hundred and Nineteenth Thorne Corps. Mr. Gilbert is a Republican in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Getter are liberal in religion, and politically he is a Republican. He is a charter member of the Masonville Lodge, No. 606, A. F. & A. M., of Unadilla Chapter, Norwich Commandery, No. 46, Norwich Con- sistory; also of Wells Post, No. 180, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was the first Commander, holding the office for three ycars. It should go without saying that Mr. Getter is a popular man in the county, widely known as a kind neighbor and a good citizen, a man of excellent understanding and general information, and one who has a host of friends. He is interested in everything which is for the benefit of the community, and may be counted on ever to lend a hand to the cause which is right.
The publishers of the " Review " are pleased to present a portrait of Mr. Getter, a very good likeness of this patriotic and eminently useful citizen, in connection with this brief sketch of his personal and family history.
ORACE M. COMBS was born in Hamden, Delaware County, N. Y., January 8, 1821. His grandfather, John Combs, was born in Devon- shire, England, in the year 1757. Being the only son of wealthy parents, he was given the opportunity of a thorough education; but at the age of eighteen years, becoming impatient of the restraints of school life, he ran away, and enlisted in the British regulars, suppos- ing he was going to Ireland. But that was not to be his destiny; for, instead of being ordered to Ireland, his regiment was sent to America. During his service in the British army he was in the battles of Long Island, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, and was taken prisoner during the campaign of Rhode Island.
After he was paroled, believing the Amer- icans were fighting in a just cause, he went to
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Connecticut, and hired himself to a farmer, remaining there three years; and during the time he married Miss Currance Southworth. After his marriage he took his wife and all that he possessed of this world's goods on horseback, and "went West," and settled in the town of Broome, Schoharie County, N. Y. Here they took up and cleared a large farm; and here to them were born four sons and two daughters, whose names were as follows: Polly, John, Seth, Anson, Joseph, and Electa. Remaining in Schoharie until his eldest chil- dren were grown up, he again moved West, and bought the farm now owned by Mr. Rait near Hawley's Station, in town of Hamden, where they spent the remainder of their lives, he dying in 1844, at the age of eighty-one, she in 1845, at the age of eighty-four. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.
Joseph Combs, the father of Horace, came with his father from Schoharie in his child- hood. In those primitive times mail came but once a week, carried on horseback. Jo- seph being the youngest son, it became his duty to cross the river on post day in a boat, and go after the newspaper, which was then quite a rarity, and, after he returned, to read it through from first to last to the rest of the family, with his father for teacher. Under his father's instruction and by his own energy he became noted among acquaintances as a reader, debater, and teacher of common schools, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years. He married Maria Brisack, and settled down on a farm at Haw- ley's Station. Their marriage was blessed with the advent of these children - Charles, Elmira, Horace Marcus, Adeline, Seth, and Willard.
At that time Delaware County was a great lumber region, immense quantities of pine and hemlock lumber being manufactured and floated down the Delaware River to Philadel- phia in rafts during the spring freshets. Jo- seph became a prominent lumberman, and one of the most expert and noted steersmen of his time. It is a very remarkable fact that he steered down the river the second voyage he ever made.
In 1840 Mrs. Combs died, and Joseph sold his farm at Hawley's and removed to Gregory
Hollow, in the town of Colchester, where he built a saw-mill, and again engaged in the lumber business. Here he remained till 1858, when he removed to Ohio, thinking a change of climate might restore his failing health. After his return to New York in 1863 he made his home with his son Horace until his death in 1864. Joseph Combs was a stanch Whig until the Republican party was formed, and then he became a firm adherent to Repub- lican principles. Both he and his wife were members of the Universalist church.
Horace M. Combs, whose name heads this biography, was born in Hamden, Delaware County, N. Y., on January 8, 1821. He ob- tained education in the district school, and at the age of twenty-one began business for him- self by purchasing a tract of two hundred acres of land, whence he proceeded to clear the monarchs of the forest, the mighty hem- locks, with which it was densely timbered, and manufacture them into lumber to be run down the Delaware to Philadelphia in rafts. After spending about a year and a half in this place, he sold out and removed to Walton, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade. Having followed this occupation two years, he returned to his native town, and worked the succeeding fifteen years at the carpenter's trade. Being naturally ingenious, by dili- gence and close attention to all the details of his work he became an expert and noted mechanic. In 1856 Mr. Combs removed to Colchester, where he purchased sixty-five acres of land, partly on the Delaware River, and, erecting a house and necessary farm buildings, prepared for himself and family a permanent home.
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