USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 60
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So well did William McDonald in his boy- hood improve his opportunities for study in the schools of Fergusonville and at the Frank- lin Seminary that at the early age of sixteen years he was well fitted for the position of teacher in the district school, an occupation in which he was engaged until twenty years old. In 1855 he made a trip to California, and for ten years thereafter was engaged in mining in that State. The major part of that time was spent in Nevada County, where he took an active part in local affairs, serving for some time as Justice of the Peace. Return- ing to New York, Mr. McDonald prepared himself for a business career by entering the commercial college in Albany, from which he was graduated after taking the full course of study. Removing to Davenport, he then bought the store of Colonel Goodrich, which he conducted with signal ability and success for many years, gradually increasing the capac- ity of the store and enlarging the business, his honest methods of dealing and his cordial and friendly ways attracting an extensive patronage. Owing to the invalidism of his wife, Mr. McDonald retired from active busi- ness, and has since lived in comparative leis- ure in the beautiful residence which he built in 1883. He has, however, since dealt to a considerable extent in real estate, buying and selling village property.
Mr. McDonald was married in 1868 to Miss
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Mima Wickham, the daughter of John Wick- ham, of Harpersfield, a prosperous farmer, and a representative of one of the old Quaker families of that town, his father having been a noted Quaker preacher. On April 2, 1894, Mrs. McDonald, after many years of patient suffering, passed to the higher life, leaving in the hearts of her friends a pleasant memory of her cheerful presence.
Mr. McDonald is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason, and formerly Master of Charlotte River Lodge, No. 593, of Davenport. He is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in local affairs, having served as Postmaster eighteen years, and as Supervisor four terms. Although not an attendant of any church, he is in sympathy with the religious and moral advancement of his community, and contrib- utes liberally to the support of all the churches.
POLLOCK HOWLAND, a prominent representative of the farming and dairying interests of the town of Wal- ton, possesses one of its model homesteads, which is pleasantly situated in that part of the town called East Brook. Here he has an extensive and valuable farm, which is espe- cially adapted to the raising of grain and stock, and which in its appointments and improvements will compare favorably with any in its vicinity, being a credit to his industry and good management, and a pleas- ing feature of the landscape. Mr. Howland is one of the most promising of Walton's native-born citizens, and has resided on the farm which he now occupies since the date of his birth, April 9, 1861. He is of sturdy pioneer ancestry, his great-grandfather, Phin- eas Howland, who was a native of Long Island, having come to Delaware County in the early days of its settlement. He pur- chased a tract of unimproved land in the town of Hamden, and there erected a log house, in which he and his family lived for many years.
Elias Butler Howland, son of Phineas, was born in the town of Hamden, and there spent a large part of his life. He remained on the parental homestead until attaining his major-
ity, when he began farming on his own account. He afterward bought land, and en- gaged in mixed husbandry until his decease. The maiden name of his wife was Fannie Mallory, and to them were born eight chil- dren.
The date of the birth of Edwin R. How- land, the next in line, was 1830. He was reared on the farm of his grandfather How- land, educated in the district schools of Ham- den, and at an early age began life for himself, working on a farm by the month. Having acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture, he rented land and engaged in farming on shares for a year, then purchased the farm where his son now lives. Prosper- ing in his labors as a tiller of the soil, he bought other land, and erected more commo- dious and convenient buildings. His farm, three and one-half miles from the village of Walton, contained three hundred acres of fertile land; and in connection with its man- agement he operated a feed-mill and carried on an extensive dairy business.
He was called from this life in the midst of his usefulness, dying in 1888, at the age of fifty-eight years. A well-informed man, of sound judgment, he took an active interest in local affairs, and served as Road Commis- sioner for many years. He married Margaret A. McDonald, the daughter of Archibald R. and Jeanette (Smith) McDonald, the former of whom was killed by being thrown from a wagon one Sunday, while going to church, and the latter dying at the home of his son Roderick. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald reared a family of seven children, as follows: Robert; Catherine; Jane, who married John Hender- son ; Mary, who married Amos Ensign, and is now deceased; David; Roderick; and Mar- garet. Of the union of Edwin Howland and Margaret McDonald six children were born, namely: Elias B .; Fanny J .; T. Pollock; Edgar R .; Ella, who died when ten years old; and Owen L. Mrs. Howland is still living, making her home with her daughter in the village of Walton.
T. Pollock Howland received a common- school education, and until the death of his father assisted him in the care of the home farm, becoming well versed in agriculture.
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He has since, with the assistance of his brother Owen, taken the farm, and, assuming its management, has continued the improve- ments and enlarged its business. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping about one hundred head of cattle and several horses, cutting sufficient hay for their use. He and his brother are following in the footsteps of their honored sire, and have already acquired a substantial reputation as farmers of signal ability, ever ready to do their part as loyal and worthy citizens.
In 1890 Mr. Howland was united in mar- riage with Lydia Patterson, a daughter of James and Mary (Neale) Patterson; and they are the happy parents of one child, a son, who was born on November 17, 1894. Mrs. How- land's father, formerly a farmer, is now liv- ing, retired from the active cares of life, in Walton village. Politically, Mr. Howland takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. He is a regular attendant of the United Pres- byterian church, of which his wife is an es- teemed member.
J OHN W. BRAMLEY is probably the richest citizen of Bovina, where he has an excellent home, and carries on a fine farm, the outcome of his per- sonal pluck and industry. He was born in this town on September 27, 1818, shortly after his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Wright) Bramley, returned from Ohio.
William Bramley, father of Henry, was born in England, about the middle of the eighteenth century, and came to America when a boy. He fought in the Revolution, and subsequently received a government pen- sion for his military service. By trade he was a carpenter. His first settlement was in Schoharie County; but a few years after mar- riage he moved to Delaware County, among the first settlers, and died at an advanced age in the town of Andes. The farm he pur- chased now belongs to Alonzo Tuttle. Mr. Bramley was politically a Democrat. Having been brought up in the Church of England, he remained faithful to its ritual, and in this country was an adherent of its American
daughter, the Episcopal Church. His wife was a native of this State; and her maiden name was Kidney, her father being a sea captain. Their seven children all grew to maturity, though, as might be expected, none are now living. The eldest, Elizabeth Bramley, was born December 4, 1774, only four months before the outbreak of the Revo- lution; John Bramley was born November 16, 1777; James on November 4, 1779; Henry on November 13, 1782, when the war was nearly over; Gertrude was born Novem- ber 5, 1787; Jane on January 4, 1786; and Maria, May 4, 1789.
Henry Bramley, whose birthplace was in Schoharie County, went to the district school, but was a mere boy when he started out in life for himself, working on a farm by the month. He married Elizabeth Wright, who was born October 17, 1791. By carefully saving what he earned he was able to buy a farm in Andes. This he sold when he was thirty years old. Filled with the venture- some pioneer spirit, he then went to Ohio, the Far West of that day, making the journey with a wagon train; but after five years' ex- perience he returned to New York, which in- volved a similar trip to the first. This was in 1818, when Mr. Bramley was thirty-six years old. The family then settled on the Bovina land now owned and occupied by the son, S. G. Bramley. Few acres of it were then cleared, and there were few improve- ments; but Mr. Bramley erected a small frame house with some of the lumber which mostly covered the hundred acres, whereto he soon added eighty more. Like his father, Henry Bramley worked hard and successfully. The nearest market was at the mouth of Cats- kill Creek; and the grist-mill was at Hobart, on Rose Brook. Of course, the wool-carding, spinning, and weaving were done at home by the women, and everybody wore homespun. As there were twelve children in the family, it requires no stretch of the imagination to make sure that Mrs. Bramley was a hard- working woman, though happily they all grew up to be pillars of strength in the household, and seven are still living. The eldest sur- vivor is the subject of this sketch, John W. Bramley. His sister, Amanda C. Bramley,
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was born on August 14, 1821, and now lives in Davenport Centre, the widow of William Roberts. " The next, Susan Bramley, born August II, 1826, is the wife of John Coulter, of the same town. Their brother, Charles Bramley, was born February 28, 1829, and is now a farmer in the town of Andes. Miles Bramley was born December 19, 1831, and now resides on his farm in Walton. Alex- ander Bramley, born December 18, 1834, is a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, now in Lewis County, working under the direction of the New York Conference. Stephen G. Bramley was born April 16, 1838. Mary Ann Bram- ley, the eldest child, was born January 17, 1810, and died unmarried, March 16, 1886. Her brother, Sylvanus W. Bramley, was born September 16, 1811, and died July 27, 1865. A sister, Phœbe Ann Bramley, was born Oc- tober 2, 1813, and died April 6, 1877, the widow of Alexander Dean. William Bramley, named for his grandfather, was born February 3, 1816, in Ohio, and died September 28, 1874. James H. Bramley was born February 2, 1824, and lived till the last day of March, 1883. The parents both died on the home- stead, which belonged to them by right of conquest in the fight with nature, he on November 1I, 1870, and she on March II, I879. In religion Mr. Bramley was very lib- eral. Politically, he was a Whig till the Republican party was formed and he joined its ranks. He was ever a good citizen and a thriving farmer.
John W. Bramley grew to manhood on the old place, and attended the district school. Till the age of twenty-seven he stayed at home, and worked hard from earliest boyhood. On January 7, 1847, when nearly thirty years old, he married Margarct McCune, born in Bovina, February 17, 1825, the daughter of John McCune, a native of New York State, and his wife, Catherine McNaught, a Scotch immigrant. Grandfather Samuel McCune was a pioneer Bovina farmer and blacksmith, who died there in middle life. John McCune died at the age of sixty, but his wife lived to be seventy-seven ; and both were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bramley was the second of their ten children, half of whom are still living. Her brother, Samuel McCune,
lives in Jefferson. Jane McCune is now Mrs. Squires, of Nebraska. Sally Ann McCune is Mrs. Miller, and lives on the old homestead. William McCune resides in Bovina Centre. The deceased McCune children are: Mary, John, Gilbert, Nancy, and Marie.
About the time of his marriage John W. Bramley bought a farm consisting of one hun- dred and sixty acres of forest land, which he has since increased to nearly three hundred, and devoted especially to dairy products. Beginning with a dozen Alderney cattle, he has quadrupled their number, and his full- blooded and graded cows average each three hundred pounds of butter annually. He also has a farm in Andes of a hundred and six- teen acres, and devotes himself thoroughly to his work. Whatever he owns is the prod- uct of his own indefatigable industry and frugality. Of his eight children four are now living: John G. Bramley, born in 1848, is a lawyer in Jordan, Onondaga County. Will- iam Henry Bramley, born in 1850, is a cattle drover and speculator in Delhi. Mary Eliza- beth, born in 1852, is the wife of Edward Dean, of Delhi, who is in partnership with his wife's brother William. Frederick H., born in 1856, still lives at home. Catherine Jane Bramley, born in 1857, died at the age of twenty-five. Sarah Cordelia, Charles, and Alexander Bramley all died in infancy. Like his father, Mr. Bramley is a Republican in politics, and a free thinker in religious mat- ters; but his wife belongs to the local Meth- odist society.
HARLES E. KIFF is a member of the firm of Gleason & Kiff, proprietors of the steam flour and feed mill in Delhi, and extensive dealers in coal. A sketch of the life of his partner, Wallace B. Gleason, may be found in another part of this work. Mr. Kiff is an active, wide-awake young man, rapidly winning his way to an important position among the influ- ential business men of the place. He was born in the town of Kortright, April 18, 1862, being a son of Richard D. W. Kiff.
Richard D. W. Kiff was reared to agricult- ural pursuits, and began his business career
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as a tiller of the soil, carrying on this occupa- tion in Kortright until 1869, when he came to the village of Delhi. Here he established himself in an entirely different line of busi- ness, buying the American House and a large livery stable adjoining, and conducting the business of both several years. Later he purchased an interest in the present business of his son Charles, but continued to manage the hotel until the Ist of January, 1893, when he rented the house, preferring to give his attention to his livery stable and a small farm which he has since bought in the cor- poration of Delhi. When a young man, he was united in marriage with Calista Ritch- meyer, a native of Gilboa, Greene County, being one of eight children born to Martinus Ritchmeyer, a successful farmer, and an early settler of that locality. Two children have been born of their union: Charles Everett, the subject of this sketch; and M. Louise, who married William Gemmel, of Syracuse. The mother is a woman possessing many Christian virtues, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.
The subject of this sketch lived on the farm of his parents in Kortright until seven years old, coming then to Delhi, and thenceforward attending school until old enough to assist his father in the hotel, and during the ab- sence of his father attending to the interests of the house. He continued thus occupied until January 1, 1882, when at twenty years of age he bought an interest with his father in the firm of Gleason & Kiff, Wallace B. Gleason at the same time becoming a pur- chaser; and the business was carried on under the superintendence of the two fathers for a time. At the death of William Gleason the two young men purchased the interests of Messrs. Gleason, Sr., and Kiff, Sr., and have since met with excellent success in their operations.
On October 28, 1891, Mr. Charles E. Kiff wedded Miss Mabel Gilfillan, youngest daugh- ter of James Gilfillan, who was for many years Treasurer of the United States. Mr. Gilfil- lan is a resident of New York City. In early manhood he married Miss J. E. Thomas, and to them were born four daughters. Politi- cally, Mr. Kiff is a stanch adherent of the
Republican party. His many sterling quali- ties are everywhere recognized; and he is held in high esteem by the citizens of Delhi, and is a prominent member of all social organizations of the town.
OHN CHICHESTER, a respected citi- zen of Stamford, is descended from some of the earliest settlers of New York State. His grandfather, James Chichester, who married Lavinia Huston, dwelt for many years at Coxsackie on the Hudson, and thence removed to the town of Broome, now Gilboa, Schoharie County. In the wilderness he bought a small farm, which he cleared of the luxuriant forest growth with which it was covered, and there lived until seventy years of age, when he died, leaving a family of six children. These were: Stephen, Mace, Joseph, Lavinia, Ephraim, and Adi- nager. Joseph, the father of the subject of this biography, received his education at the district school of his native town, and then settled near Broome Centre, on a farm of one hundred acres, where he became one of the most progressive farmers of the vicinity. He built a comfortable house and good barns, continuing his improvements as opportunity offered and his means permitted. This farm is now owned by his youngest son, George. Joseph Chichester lived to be ninety-eight years of age, and his wife was seventy at the time of her death. They were members of the Baptist church, and in politics he was a Republican. They left ten children - Mary Ann, Eunice, John, Clarinda, Betsey, Louise, Theron, David, Caroline, and George.
John Chichester was the eldest son of Jo- seph, and was born in the town of Broome on April 13, 1827. He received a common- school education, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to the hotel at Gilboa, and was employed there for three years as clerk. After giving his attention to different lines of business for several years, he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Gilboa, and four years later sold out, and bought again near Broome. Having occupied the Broome farm five years, he sold it, and bought one of
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eighty acres in Gilboa. Finally, after a short residence in that place, he purchased the home- stead of his wife's family, a farm of one hun- dred and twenty-six acres, which he has vastly improved, and on which he has built a new house and farm buildings. He keeps a large herd of cattle, and from his dairy supplies much milk for the creamery.
Mr. Chichester and Sarah M. Simmonson were married on March 1, 1854. Mrs. Chi- chester's parents were Tunis R. and Sally (Cook) Simmonson. Tunis Simmonson was born in the town of Roxbury, N. Y., March 16, 1800, and was the son of Cornelius and Christine (Rapelyea) Simmonson. Cornelius was born in New Jersey, and came with his father to Delaware County, where each of the four sons received a farm, that of Cornelius being about three miles from Stamford and near the old Windham turnpike. Here he brought his wife and family, the journey from the old home being made on horseback, and, after clearing the land, built the primitive abode in which he lived to be seventy-eight years old. His wife died at the age of seventy-two. They were both members of the Presbyterian church, and he was a Demo- crat. They had nine children; namely, Anna, Christopher, Christina, Gerrit, Maria, Elizabeth, Tunis, Lydia, and Schemhern. Tunis received his education at the district school, and in early manhood bought a farm, whereon he lived throughout the remainder of his life. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and the parents of eight children - Eliza, Delia Ann, Sarah, Lucinda, Luman, Augusta, Omar, and William.
Mr. and Mrs. John Chichester have four children : Ella A., born July 2, 1858; Irwin D., born June 1, 1860, who married Rhoda Maybee, and is a farmer; William O., born January 18, 1862, who married Susan Wal- lace, and is a very successful merchant in Stamford; Adelbert J., born May 4, 1865, who married Nettie Young, and is also a mer- chant in Stamford. The two younger sons established themselves in Stamford in 1890, and by good management have built up a large and successful business. In 1892 they built a four-story structure on Main Street, in which they carry on their trade in general
merchandise. Mr. and Mrs. Chichester are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He is a man much inter- ested in all that concerns the welfare of his town, and his hand is ever ready to help a friend in need.
LLEN RANDALL EELS, a prosper- ous representative of the industrial element of the town of Walton, has successfully followed the painters' trade for many years, and has had his full share of the business of the place. He has been a life-long resident of the Empire State, and has lived in Walton since he was sixteen months old, having been brought here from Bainbridge, Broome County, where his birth occurred in 1831.
Mr. Eels is the scion of an excellent New England family, and the descendant of a re- spected pioneer of this section of Delaware County, his grandfather, John Eels, having been a native of Connecticut, where he spent the earlier years of his life. He married Anna Mead, a native of the same State; and after the birth of several children they mi- grated to this State, coming to this county in 1799, prior to the time of public highways, the journey hither being made on horseback. They had some means, and bought a tract of timbered land on Mount Pleasant, and for some little time after their arrival lived in a tent, which was not a sure protection from the wolves which roamed through the woods, as it is related that one of these animals, when making his nightly prowls, thrust his nose under the canvas and stole one of the chil- dren's shoes. They reared six sons and two daughters, all of whom, with the exception of one son, Baird, who died when a young man, grew to maturity and married. Mead Eels, the father of the subject of this sketch, and his brother Allen, who died in California, were the last members of their generation of the family.
Mead Eels, who was named for his mother's family, was born in New Canaan, Conn., in 1793, and died in Marvin Hollow, two miles from Walton, in 1879, after a long and indus-
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trious life of eighty-six years. He retained his mental and physical vigor in a remarkable degree, and the year prior to his death, to show that his hand had not forgotten the skill and cunning of former years, did a good day's work scoring timber. He was an active sol- dier in the War of 1812, and after his return from the field of battle, in 1813, married Phi- lena Johnson, a native of Vermont, who came here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dorman Johnson, when she was a little girl. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Eels lived for a few years in Masonville, going thence to Bainbridge, where Mr. Eels engaged in gen- eral farming for a time. In 1833 he returned to Walton, resuming agricultural labors, to which he afterward added lumbering, the home being in Marvin Hollow, where the death of Mrs. Eels occurred some five years before that of her husband. They were the parents of six children, namely : Stephen De- catur, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; Silvia Ann, who is the widow of Robert N. Berry, and lives in Massachusetts; Hannah, who married George Marvin, and died in Walton in 1893, at the age of seventy years, leaving a son and daughter; Allen Randall, of whom we write; Mary, who is the wife of the Rev. Charles Marvin, and resides in Minnesota; and Julia, who married John M. Lyon, and died in 1878. The parents were active Christian people, and members of the Congregational church, in which the father was an officer for several years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, having served as Ensign.
Allen Randall Eels, the subject of this brief personal record, worked with his father in the saw-mill for a short time after leaving school, and then spent a few years in farm labor. This pursuit he abandoned to learn the painter's trade, working at it for some time with his brother, Stephen Decatur Eels. In 1864 he enlisted in the service of his coun- try as a private in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was detailed as drummer in the regiment band, serving until the close of the war. On his return to Walton he resumed his former occupation, and has since been prosperously engaged, having earned a fine reputation for
skilful and satisfactory workmanship. He finds constant employment, and is ever ready to put forth his best efforts in behalf of his numerous patrons, who fully appreciate his promptness and trustworthiness.
The marriage of Mr. Eels to Maria Eels, a distant relative of his, and a daughter of Hor- ace Eels, was celebrated December 8, 1858. Their pleasant wedded life has been cheered by the birth of three children: Frank M. is the wife of J. H. Bates, and has one child, Agnes, a bright little girl of five years. Fred M., a painter and decorator, residing in Binghamton, married Della Demarell. Julia is the wife of Stephen Woollett, of Bingham- ton, and has one child, a daughter seven years of age, named Edna.
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