Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 64

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 744

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are now living a retired life, and both retain excellent health. Mr. Ballard is a Republi- can; and both are members of the old-school Baptist church of Roxbury, as were their par- ents. John T. Ballard married Miss Peace Scudder, daughter of O. Smith Scudder, whose wife was before her marriage Miss Sarah Chase. The children of John T. Bal- lard and his wife were two: Smith S .; and George E., whose name heads the present sketch.

Smith S. Ballard was born at the old home- stead, February 3, 1850. He attended the district school, and then began work on his father's farm. When he was thirty-six years old, he married Miss Estelle Stewart, daugh- ter of Augustus and Margaret ( Ballard) Stew- art, who live in the town of Hardenburg, Ulster County. Mr. Stewart was a well- known farmer of that locality, and lived to be about sixty years old. His wife is still liv- ing at Hardenburg. They had five children - Sarah, . Martin, Estelle, Ernest, and George. Mr. Stewart was a son of Abijah Stewart, one of the early settlers, and was a Democrat in politics. After his marriage Mr. Smith Ballard bought two hundred acres of land adjoining the homestead, and has re- sided on his place until recently, keeping twenty-five cows, his dairy constituting his principal industry. Having leased his farm, he now has his residence elsewhere in the neighborhood. Mr. Smith S. Ballard is a Republican in politics.

George E. Ballard, second son of John T. Ballard, continues to reside on the old home- stead farm, which he bought in 1886. It is located on the west side of Batavia Kill, about four miles from Roxbury. On this flourish- ing estate he makes a specialty of dairy pro- ductions, keeping a herd of thirty cows, chiefly graded Jerseys, and furnishes choice qualities of dairy produce for shipment and for local trade. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Katie Morse, have two chil - dren, namely: Smith W. Ballard and John F. Mrs. Ballard's parents, Ira and An- toinette (Simmons) Morse, reside at Batavia Kill. Mr. George E. Ballard is a Republi- can in politics, and both himself and wife are members of the Roxbury Baptist church.

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It is interesting to note, in these days of unrest, the appreciation manifested by both brothers, Smith S. and George E. Ballard, of the aim and intention of their father and grandfather before their time. To respect their career by continuing to improve the land they pre-empted so many years before, and to establish homes which should perpetuate their arduous labors and preserve them from ob- livion - this has been an accomplishment so far. Withstanding any enticements to locate elsewhere, or to follow some other occupation than that of their father, they have set an example worthy of record and imitation.

EWIS H. OWENS, a well-known dairy farmer of Tompkins, Delaware County, N. Y., was born here on the old Owens homestead in 1847, son of J. Wilson and Eliza (Kelsey) Owens. Eliza Kelsey was the daughter of James and Mary (Brode) Kelsey. James Kelsey came from New Hampshire with Martin Lane; and together they took a tract of land, which was then a perfect wilderness, and erected log cabins and a saw-mill on the banks of the Del- aware River. And this for years they worked together, sawing up logs, building rafts, and floating the lumber down the river to the Philadelphia market, making the return jour- ney, which often took them four days, on foot, and carrying on their backs packs filled with provisions and family supplies weighing over fifty pounds.

In 1797 James Kelsey married for his first wife Avis Hoag, of Tompkins; and by this marriage there were these children: Mahala, born in 1799; Roswell, born in 1801 ; Mariam, born in 1803; Dayton, born in 1805; James. Jr., born in 1809; and Enos H., born in 18II. His second wife was Mary Brode, daughter of Michael and Mary (Funk) Brode, of Philadelphia. The latter was the daughter of Christian Funk, a noted Baptist clergyman of those early days, who was located at Ger- mantown, and was a descendant of one of the earliest Dutch settlers of this country, as were also the Brode family. James Kelsey and Mary Brode were married in March, 1823, and had three children; Michael, born in

1825; Eliza, born in 1827; and John B., born in 1829. James Kelsey was very suc- cessful in his undertakings, and at one time owned over one thousand acres, extending from the bank of the Delaware River back over the hills to where the Sands Creek road now is. He offered one hundred acres to any of his sons or sons-in-law who would clear ten acres of land and live upon it, and his descend- ants occupy the land thus obtained.

J. Wilson Owens, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tompkins, and here received such education as the district schools of the town afforded. In 1844 he married Eliza Kelsey, and settled on Sands Creek, where he engaged in farming and lum- bering, and met with such success in these pursuits that at the end of a few years he erected frame buildings on his land, put up a saw-mill, and was considered well-to-do for the times in which he lived. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians in their belief, and energetic workers in the church at Cannons- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Owens had three chil- dren: Lewis H., the subject of this sketch; James, who married Augusta Seymour, daugh- ter of Charles Seymour, of Tompkins, and has two children - Lenore and Charles S .; and Charles Owens, who married Clara Otis, daughter of Nathaniel Otis, of Iowa, and died in August, 1893, leaving three children - Wilson, Clyde, and Ethel.

Lewis H. Owens was educated in his native town, where he has always engaged in farm- ing. He and his brother James now have charge of the old homestead farm located on the banks of the Delaware River. They are progressive farmers, having all the modern improved machinery, graded stock, and an ex- cellent dairy. Farm affairs do not occupy all of Mr. Lewis H. Owens's time, however; for he is prominent in town interests, has always been identified with the Republican party, and has held positions of trust and honor in his native town.

ILLIAM R. REYNOLDS, who oc- cupies an influential position in business circles in this county, is the junior partner in the firm of Eells & Rey-

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nolds, dealers in hardware, in the village of Walton. He is of English parentage, and was born in the town of Walton, October 18, 1858. His father, Samuel F. Reynolds, was a native of Bristol, England, and lived there until sixteen years of age, when he emigrated to America. Landing at New York City, he shortly afterward made his way to Catskill, and from there journeyed to Hamden, where he obtained work in the woollen-mills. Possess- ing a good deal of mechanical ability, he next learned the trade of carriage-making in the village of Walton, and for many years fol- lowed that trade. He afterward worked as a carriage-maker, carrying on a substantial business as such for some time in the firm of Wade & Reynolds, which was subsequently changed to Berry & Reynolds. Selling out his interest in that business, he became a car- riage painter, continuing in that occupation until his death, at the age of threescore and three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Amy Rowlstown, was one of four children born to her parents, William and Mary Rowls- town, she and her sister emigrating to this country at the same time. She is still living, and is a beloved member of the household of her son William, the subject of this sketch. The following are her eight children : Charles B .; Carrie W .; William R .; Mary A., the wife of G. A. Barton, of Walton; Samuel F. ; Frederick W .; Jennie, who married J. O. Lunn, of Walton; and Harry W.

With the exception of a few years spent on the Pacific Coast, William R. Reynolds has passed his life in the village of Walton, re- ceiving a practical education in the village school and academy, and from his good par- ents a careful training in the duties of life. When old enough to decide upon an occupa- tion, he learned the tinsmith's trade .of Eells & Wood, and afterward the trade of a plumber, subsequently entering their employment as a clerk. After remaining with them three years as such, he secured a position with L. S. & J. W. St. John as a plumber, work- ing for them about a year. Then, desirous of trying his fortune in the great and growing West, Mr. Reynolds made a trip to Cali- fornia, and for two and one-half years was en- gaged in the plumbing business in Sacramento

and other places in that State. Returning to Walton, he entered the employ of St. John & White, later buying his present interest in the business carried on by the firm now known as Eells & Reynolds, Captain St. John, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, hav- ing retired on March 1, 1894. A more im- portant as well as more recent date in the life of William R. Reynolds is November 14, 1894, when he was married to Miss Kate Launt, of Walton, N. Y.

Mr. Reynolds is a gentleman of most agree- able manners, courteous at all times, and very popular with the citizens of Walton, among whom he has a host of friends. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being Treasurer of the lodge, and formerly belonged to the order of Red Men. He has been in all the ranks of the engine company, from torch

boy to chief engineer, and is a treasurer of the corporation. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and a regular attendant of the Episcopal church, of which his mother and sisters are active mem- bers, and in the choir of which his father sung for many years.

ALTER T. ARMSTRONG is a well-known Delaware County man, living in the town of Andes, where he carries on an extensive and varied busi- ness, both with land and machinery. He was born March 27, 1853, in the town of Hamden, and his parents were Andrew and Jeannette (Hastings) Armstrong. Andrew Armstrong was the son of Walter Armstrong and his wife, Violet Anderson.

The grandfather, Walter Armstrong, was born in Scotland, where he married. Subse- quently he came to America with his family, and bought an Andes farin of a hundred and sixty acres, now owned by L. J. Strangeway. Here he put up various buildings, besides clearing the land, and raising seven children. James Armstrong, the eldest, now lives in Delaware. Ellen Armstrong married Rich- ard Hamilton, and lives in Sidney. John Armstrong married in Montana, where he is still living, though his wife is dead. Jennie Armstrong is in DeLancey, Delaware County.

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Andrew Armstrong, as already noted, married Jeannette Hastings, and is no longer living; but his wife is with her son in Andes. Belle Armstrong lives in DeLancey, unmarried. Walter Armstrong married Jane Marks, and is an Andes farmer. Their father lived on the homestead till his death, at the age of seventy-two, having already buried his wife. They were both members of the United Pres- byterian church, and he was first a Whig and then a Republican in politics.

Andrew Armstrong was born in Scotland before the emigration of the family to Amer- ica. Like his father, he bought a farm, though it was not situated in Andes, but in Hamden. On these two hundred acres he lived six years. Then he sold out, and bought another place in Andes, of a hundred and forty acres, nearer his father's. This also he sold, and moved to Brushland, where for eighteen months he worked as a stone- mason. His next move was to Delhi, where he bought another farm of a hundred and forty acres; and there he lived eight years. Once more he sold, and went again to Andes, where he bought another tract of nearly a hundred and fifty acres. He did not change again, but continued on the same place until his death in middle life, only forty-eight years of age. Andrew Armstrong was a hard-working and enterprising man, as may be judged by his frequent changes. His wife Jeannette was the daughter of James Hastings, who married Elizabeth Elliot, of Bovina, where they owned a section of a hundred and sixty acres, and reared seven children. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Armstrong were: Martha, Elizabeth, Isabelle, Thomas, John, and James Hastings. Their father was a very prosperous and active man, a Presbyterian and a Republican. He died a short time ago, at the age of ninety-seven, having been born in

1797. Andrew Armstrong had six children, all of whom are living but one. The eldest is Walter T. Armstrong. James H. Arm- strong married Lillie Covet, has one child, and is a Roxbury farmer. Ella Armstrong married Thomas Smith, another Roxbury farmer, and has three children. Violet Arm- strong married Andrew Browne, an Iowa mer- chant, and has one child. Belle Armstrong

married William J. Hizar, and Martha Arm- strong married his brother, Charles C. Hizar, both being Andes farmers; and Belle has two children. Like his father, Andrew Arm- strong became a Republican. He was a long time an Assessor, and the family belonged to the United Presbyterian church.

Walter T. Armstrong was educated at the Delhi schools and Andes Academy. In 1872 he married Mary C. Hyzer, daughter of Thomas Hyzer and Rachel Ferguson. Thomas Hyzer was born on May 22, 1819, and was the son of Abraham Hyzer and his wife, Han- nah Worden, and the grandson of Peter Hyzer and Eve (Scriver) Hyzer. Peter Hyzer was born in Dutchess County, and came to .Andes as a farmer. His children were: Abraham, Peter, Isaac, Jacob, Polly, Eleanor, Betsey, and Katie Hyzer. Their father lived to be very old; and, their mother having died very young, he was married again to the Widow Wilson, who lived to an advanced age. The family attended the Presbyterian church. Abraham Hyzer was born in Dutchess County, but bought a farm in Gladstone Hollow. He soon after sold out, came to his father's farm, and took charge there until the death of the old man, at the age of seventy-three. Abra- ham Hyzer was a Republican, and the family attended the Methodist church. There were nine boys, of whom four died young; but Thomas, David, Abraham, Ira, and James Hyzer grew up. Thomas Hyzer was born in Andes, and there educated. At twenty-one he married Rachel Ferguson, daughter of John David and Asenath (Hall) Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was a son of David Ferguson, who came from Scotland, dwelt awhile in Schenectady, and then came to Andes with his family, and lived into old age. David Ferguson, who was an enterprising farmer, went to Iowa, and raised these girls and boys - Martha, Samuel, David, Huldah, Ra- chel, Seneca, and Abigail Ferguson. After the death of their mother he married Eliza Lidger, and lived to be very old, a Whig and a Methodist. In his young manhood Thomas Hyzer bought a farm on Cabin Hill, which he subsequently traded for his present estate, the Armstrong farm, where he raised a family of nine children, of whom six lived to grow up.

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His daughter, Lena Hyzer, married Wilrod Scott, and died, leaving four children. An- other daughter, Hannah, also deceased, was the wife of David Elijah. Abraham Hyzer married Mary Cathels, and they have three children. Frances Hyzer died unmarried. Mary Hyzer is Mrs. Armstrong. Thomas Hyzer married Anna Bell Liddle, and is a thriving farmer, very social and popular.

Mr. Walter T. Armstrong is a Republican, like his father and grandfather, but belongs to a different religious sect, the Methodist, in which his wife sympathizes with him. He has two children : Emory Armstrong, who was born February 2, 1880; and Cora, on June 19, 1882, both of whom live at home. At first Mr. Armstrong lived in Middletown, where he bought a saw and grist mill of Moses Jackson, which he carried on four years. Selling out his mill property, he next came to Andes, where he worked as a carpen- ter and millwright for a year, staying with his father. Then he came to his present place, the old Hyzer homestead of a hundred and thirty-two acres. In addition to agriculture, he does more or less carpentry, having a sepa- rate shop, containing an engine which runs a circular saw and a turning-lathe, wherewith all sorts of bracket work can be done. Not only is he a good mechanic and farmer, but an enterprising man in other directions. He keeps eighteen choice Jerseys, and everything about the place bespeaks thrift and progress. Says wise old Seneca :

"Opportunity has hair in front: behind she is bald. If you seize her by the forelock, you may hold her; but, if suffered to escape, not Jupiter himself can catch her again." Mr. Armstrong fcels the force of this doctrine, and has seized opportunity the right way.

RS. RACHEL BUTLER owns and occupies a fine homestead in the town of Hamden, where she and her husband settled almost a half a century ago. She is a capable, hard-work- ing woman, who has led a noble and heroic life, rearing and educating her children in ways of usefulness and honor, and is well worthy of the esteem and respect accorded her

throughout the community wherein she dwells. She was born and reared to womanhood in County Carlow, Ireland, her maiden name having been Rachel Scanlon.

On the 24th of March, 1846, she was united in marriage to Edward Butler, a native of the same county ; and the following year they left their native isle, going first to Liverpool, England, where they spent a few weeks. On the Ioth of May they sailed from Liverpool in the good ship " Agnes," and after a voyage of nearly seven weeks they landed in New York City. While on the ocean their first child was born, and was named John Atlantic But- ler. They settled in the town of Hamden on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Butler and her sons, and were the parents of seven children, two of whom, both boys, died in infancy. Five are now living, and through her judi- cious teachings have become valued citizens of this locality. The eldest son, John A., an agriculturist, carries on the home farm of two hundred acres, which was bought and paid for through the energetic and persevering efforts of Mrs. Butler. William E. is a carpenter in the town of Hamden. Charles A. is a rail- way employee in Port Jervis, N. Y. Edward L. is a carpenter. And the only daughter, Rachel A., is the wife of George A. Brainard.

George A. Brainard, a prosperous farmer, residing in District No. I in the town of Hamden, was born on the homestead where he now lives, in the month of October, 1857. He comes of excellent New England stock, his grandfather, also named George A. Brain- ard, having been of Connecticut birth. The elder George was a man of good business ability, possessing some means, and came to Delaware County when a young man, settling in the town of Colchester, where he bought a large farm. He was a wide-awake, energetic man, and, besides carrying on general farming on a large scale, was extensively engaged in buying and selling stock, and was likewise for a time a well-known hotel-keeper in Hamden. He married Polly Bogart; and they became the parents of two sons and three daughters, and of these one son and two daughters are now living.

James M. Brainard, son of the first, and

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father of the present George A. Brainard, was born in Downsville in this county, in 1831, and died in the town of Delhi, April 30, in 1885. Following in the footsteps of his an- cestors, he chose farming for his life occupa- tion; and the success that has crowned his efforts showed that he made no mistake in his choice. He was united in marriage with Phylira Signor, the daughter of Theodore and Sarah (Brown) Signor; and of their union three children were born, namely: George A .; Mary E., wife of Harry Hooper; and Annie M., wife of Alfred Bailey.

George A. Brainard was the only son of his parents, and his entire life has been spent on the farm where he was born. He obtained a good common-school education, and early be- came very familiar with the art of agriculture. He carries on general farming, and pays a good deal of attention to his fine dairy of thirty-five cows, the milk from which he ships directly to New York City. On April 17, 1878, Mr. Brainard married Rachel A. But- ler, as above mentioned; and they are the parents of four promising children, namely : George William, born November 20, 1881 ; Mary G., born December 15, 1884; James E., born June 20, 1887; and Fred H., an irrepressible little lad of four years, born June 4, 1890.

Mr. Brainard is an active Republican in politics, and has served with great acceptance as School Trustee, and has in many other re- spects assisted in promoting the welfare and advancement of the community. Both he and his estimable wife are sincere members of the First Presbyterian Church, toward the support of which they contribute generously and will- ingly.

ROSBY KELLY, a contractor and builder of Middletown, residing at Griffin's Corners, is well and favor- ably known for his good business abilities, and takes a high stand in his chosen occupation. He is the son of John B. and Mary A. (Crosby) Kelly, and was born Sep- tember 16, 1862, in Granville, Bradford County, Pa. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Kelly, was the son of Edward, a

native of Connecticut, and one of the first set- tlers in Greene County. Edward Kelly cleared some land on the mountain in the town of Halcott, built a log house, and lived there to an advanced age. His son Thomas married Jane Molyneaux, and continued on the old homestead until he died, at seventy years of age, in 1869, his wife living to be seventy-five years old. Both were members, in good standing, of the Baptist church. A family of fourteen children was born to this worthy couple, the following being a brief mention: Justice K .; Hannah, who married P. Fellows; Clara, who became the wife of B. Ballard; Betsey, who married A. Chase; Chauncey, who chose for his wife Calisa Win- chel; John B .; Amy, who became the first wife of W. Scudder, after her death her sister Theresa being his second wife; Edwin and Philip, who died young; and Phebe, who mar- ried M. Kelly. The others died in infancy.

John B. Kelly received a common-school education, and commenced farming when he was twenty-one years old. He married Mary A. Crosby, daughter of Benjamin L. and Hulda (Hull) Crosby, and grand-daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Crosby. Her father, Benjamin L., born in 1797, was a hale and hearty old farmer of Greene County, who almost cheated time by living to the remark- able age of ninety-five years. His wife, less sturdy, died when forty-two; and he then en- tered a second time into the bonds of matri- mony. His second wife, Elizabeth Dickson, was more of a match for him, for she attained the age of ninety-one. After his marriage John B. Kelly moved to Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm, but died there in a short time, leaving two chil- dren: Crosby, born September 16, 1862; and John B., born July 18, 1864. The latter married Sarah Van Acken, and lives in Kings- ton, being a mechanic by trade. Their mother, Mrs. Mary A. Crosby Kelly, lives at Griffin's Corners, and is highly esteemed by all who know her.

Crosby Kelly was educated at Delaware Academy, and at twenty-one learned the car- penter's trade. His first work on his own account was building the Elemdorph store at Arkville. Since then he has built many fine

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houses, among them many of the beautiful buildings at Fleischmanns and Griffin's Cor- ners. In 1884 he married Miss Ettie Hitt, daughter of Albert Hitt, a prosperous farmer of Union Grove, residing now at Griffin's Corners. One child, Mary, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, April 5, 1887. Mr. Kelly has had a large business experience, and occu- pies a high position in this community. He is an authority on all matters pertaining to building interests. Socially, he is a pleasant man to meet, and is interested in the leading questions of the day. He is a Democrat po- litically, and in all things is bright and enter- prising, a useful citizen, and well appreciated by his fellow-townsmen.

OHN D. FERGUSON, a prominent merchant of Delhi, N. Y., was born in Andes, May 8, 1845, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Pierce) Fergu- son. His paternal grandfather, John Fergu- son, came with his father, David, to this country from Scotland, settling in Dutchess County, but later came to Andes. He had been brought up to agricultural pursuits, and after the death of his father took charge of the old homestead, where he remained for many years. During the last years of his life he moved to Clarence, la. He was twice mar- ried, leaving five children by his first wife and six by his second. David Ferguson was · brought up as a farmer and miller, buying a grist-mill near Bovina, which he conducted up to the time of his death, May 24, 1884. He left a family of seven children ; namely, Robert, John D., Elizabeth, William, David, Thomas, and George.

John D. Ferguson was educated at the dis- trict schools. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was attached to the Eleventh Army Corps, serving through the campaign of the Peninsula. He was honorably discharged, September 26, 1865. He then came to Bo- vina, and worked on a farm for one year, afterward learning carpentry, and following that for ten years. In the spring of 1877 he went to California, engaging in the lumber

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 64

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