Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 66

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

USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 66

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William R. Beckley, having received his education at the district school of his native town, learned the harness-maker's trade with his father, and continued in this for two or three years. His first removal was to Cox-

sackie, N.Y., where he stayed a year and a half, and then came to Stamford in 1844, and bought a harness store, in connection with which he carried on a tannery. His under- takings thus far being very successful, he bought land east of the creck, and erected buildings, which he sold when completed. From this time he engaged in building exten- sively, and was the first to erect business blocks at that end of the town. He has en- gaged in various lines of business, including clothing, grocery, dry goods, tannery, and blacksmithing. Mr. Beckley also started a stage route between Catskill and Delhi, touching at Hunter, also from Stamford to Richmondville, and from Stamford to Em- mons Station via Davenport, owning in this connection nearly sixty horses. He bought tracts of land by the acre, cutting streets and walks through them, setting out shade-trees, among which were one hundred of the most beautiful maples in the town, and selling house lots with the contract that the purchaser was to build thereon. By this means he carried out his favorite idea of building up the town, and making it one of the most beau- tiful places in this part of the county.

In 1846 William R. Beckley married Re- becca H. Maynard, daughter of Samuel May- nard, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Beckley have had three children: Fremont, who died when four years of age; Fannie, born August 19, 1854, who married William Riseley, a successful blue-stone and granite dealer of Kingston, and who is the mother of six boys and two girls: Frederick B., Clarence M., Claude F., Carrie B., Helen I., Raymond B., Edmund, and Earl D. ; and William M., born October 2, 1868, who, after finishing his studies, started as a clerk in the post-office, also working at telegraphy, and three years later went as clerk in the post-office at Shandaken, after- ward being employed with his father in the post-office at Stamford. He is now the owner of the gentlemen's furnishing and tailoring business which formerly belonged to R. W. Laughlin; and this he carries on in a well- appointed store. William M. Beckley was married December 27, 1894, to Cornelia L. Preston.

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Mr. William R. Beckley, after selling out his stage route, retired from business life; but, being of an active temperament, unable to endure idleness, he bought a piece of land near the railway station, erecting thereon a building in which he carried on a produce and commission business. His health fail- ing, he at length gave up business, and is now spending his last years in well-earned rest, having the satisfaction of looking back upon a life well spent. He served as Post- master during President Cleveland's first

administration. Mr. Beckley is an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Hobart Lodge, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Beckley is widely known for his extensive labors in building and improving the town, and his long-continued efforts in this direction have been highly appreciated by his fellow-citizens.

"ON. WILLIAM L. FORD, one of the older citizens of Deposit, Broome County, has been promi- nently identified with local interests in this part of the country for many years, and has taken an active part in promoting the welfare and advancement of the community in which he resides. His aspirations through life have ever been toward an ideal manhood; and, following in the path of duty and honor, he has gained the respect and approbation of his fellow-men. He represented the county of Broome in the State Assembly in 1852, in 1872, and in 1873, and assisted in the enact- ment of wise and wholesome laws, refusing his sanction to unjust measures and those of doubtful expedience. Impervious alike to bribery and intimidation, he is a man who cannot be induced to perform any act which to his mind would involve a breach of prin- ciple or a betrayal of his own conscience. He was an able and trustworthy legislator, and was not one of that class of politicians who maintain their positions by corrupt meth- ods and questionable practices.

Mr. Ford is of Scotch and Irish extraction. His grand- father, Benjamin Ford, who was a resident of Newport, Herkimer County, was a Deacon in

the Baptist church, a consistent Christian gentleman, and a man of high moral influence. The father of our subject was Daniel Ford, who married Elizabeth Scott, a native of the town of Bernardston, Mass. Daniel Ford was a native of Albany, and when a boy came to Herkimer County, where he lived on a farm. In 1836 he removed to Whitestown, Oneida County, residing there until his death, which occurred in 1883, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife lived to be seventy-nine years old. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Philander, deceased; Eliza, who became the wife of James S. Whitman, of Muncie, Ind .; Philinda, who lives at Yorkville, Oneida County; Mary A. (de- ceased), who was the wife of Nathan Davis, of Panama, Chautauqua County, N. Y .; Rod- ney A., coal agent for the Delaware & Hud- son Railroad at Binghamton; Ann M., who married Charles Graham, and is living at Whitesboro, Oneida County, N.Y .; S. Au- gusta, wife of Sylvanus Hoag, of Yorkville, Oneida County; and William L., the subject of this sketch.

The latter was born in the village of Middleville, Herkimer County, N. Y., March 12, 1820. He remained there until the age of sixteen, attending the common schools as he had opportunity, and working on the farm when required. He then engaged at New York Mills as a clerk in a general store, meanwhile pursuing his education as best he could. He continued there till 1841, in which year he went to Binghamton, where his brother Rodney was engaged in the dry- goods business, remaining there until 1846, when he came to Deposit, bringing with him a stock of general merchandise. In this place he went into business, and after about three years formed a partnership with George T. Belding, the style of the firm being Ford & Belding, and they operating on the Delaware County side of the line. This arrangement continued for about three years, when Mr. Ford bought out Mr. Belding, and took for a partner John B. Perry, the firm being then known as Ford & Perry. This firm carried on a considerable business, the partnership remaining intact for about twenty-five years ; and during that time, in 1865, they built the

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three-story frame building known as Ford's store, and also an addition to the post-office. In 1882 Mr. Ford bought out Mr. Perry's in- terest, and conducted a successful business till, compelled by failing health, he sold the stock in 1892 to Mr. W. H. Wilcox; but, continuing to deal in butter, he for that pur- pose retained an office in the building. Mr. Ford was first married in Binghamton to Sarah A. Morgan, daughter of Augustus Morgan and a sister of Tracy Morgan. From this union sprang two children, both now de- ceased. Mrs. Ford died in 1848; and our subject was married the second time, in 1858, to Sarah C. Ward, a daughter of Austin Ward, of Holland Patent, Oneida County, and by her had three children: Sarah E., residing at home; Anna W., wife of Dr. Ward, of Binghamton, having two children, Charles A. and Sarah F. ; and A. Ward, who married Ada Ford, of Oneonta, and is now residing at Binghamton, being the father of three chil- dren, William L., Jr., Elizabeth, and Flor- ence W. Mr. Ford's second wife, the mother of these children, died in 1878. Our subject, in addition to other public service, was Su- pervisor of the town of Sanford, Broome County, and called the attention of the Board to many matters of importance, being well calculated to advance the true interests of the people in any public place or position. Mr. Ford was a great admirer of Henry Clay, and cast his first vote for him in 1844, when Clay was the Whig candidate for the Presidency. His defeat was a bitter dis- appointment to Mr. Ford, for all through his younger days Clay was his model and ideal.

Mr. Ford has served for years on the Board of Education, and has also been the President of the Village Board. He is a Director in the Broome County National Bank, and has always manifested much interest in the social, moral, and intellectual well-being of Deposit and its neighboring communities. He is a man of strong mentality, and is remarkably active for one of his years. His useful life and honorable career have made him many admirers; and all will hope that years of com- fort and honor, as well as public utility, may still be before him.

RS. SARAH H. TOWNSEND is one of that older circle of benevo- lent and high-minded women in Walton, daily growing smaller, which is looked to for advice in all the works of charity of the town. She is the widow of John Townsend, who died October 3, 1870, aged sixty-seven, and occupies the old home- stead which was built by his father, William Townsend, about 1796, nearly one hundred years ago.

Dr. Platt Townsend, father of William, was born on Long Island in 1733; and, when he came to this part of the country with his fam- ily in 1795, he found nothing before him but an unbroken forest. Here he cleared for him- self a homestead and built a log cabin, which his son afterward replaced by the stanch farm- house where his descendants now live, and which bids fair to stand for many years to come and shelter many generations more of Townsends. Dr. Platt Townsend was three times married. His first wife was Elizabeth Hubbard; and she was mother of William, Isaac, and Platt, the latter dying when but eight years old. The Doctor's second wife was Martha Dickinson, by whom he had one daughter, Frances, who became the wife of Lancaster Lupton, an Englishman of wealth and influence, in the direct line of the nobil- ity. His third wife was Ann Goslin, who survived him thirteen years, and died March 29, 1828, ninety-two years of age. Dr. Townsend died at the old homestead in 1815. He rests in the family burial-place on the an- cestral farm. He was a much beloved and public-spirited citizen, and at his decease left a very large property in land and stock ; but, what was better than all earthly possessions. he had laid up for himself a goodly store of the high regard and respect of his fellow-men and the sure approbation of his God.

William Townsend was born before the family left Long Island, and died Decem- ber 24, 1849. He married Abigail Smith, by whom he had ten children: Maria, born in 1791; Nancy, born in 1793; Smith, who died in the prime of life; Platt, born in 1801; John, before named, born in 1803: Cornelia, born in 1805; Eliza, born in 1807, wife of Rev. E. Wills; Edward, born in

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18II, died in Morrisville, N.Y., 1884, after all his family had passed away; Charles B., born in 1813; Abigail, born in 1815. The mother of these children died eight years before her husband, in 1841.

Mrs. Sarah H. Townsend, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Franklin, Delaware County, in 1821. She was the daughter of Simeon and Mary McGregor Mul- ford. Her father was a native of Long Island, and her mother came from Batavia. In 1824 Simeon Mulford moved from Frank- lin to Walton, where he purchased a farm of several hundred acres, a part of which is now village residences and the fair ground. When his failing health made active business impossible, he sold his Walton property, and moved to Bainbridge, Chenango County. He died in Unadilla in 1856, at eighty years of age; and his wife died in 1866, having also reached fourscore. Mrs. Townsend had one half-brother, Captain Daniel Howell, who served through the Civil War. He was for many years a distinguished citizen of Wau- kesha, Wis., in which place he died in De- cember, 1890, aged eighty-three. He was high in the Masonic orders, and in many ways distinguished himself, being the prime mover in establishing a post-office at Salem cross- roads in Chautauqua County, N.Y. A sister of Daniel Howell is still living in Waukesha. She is the widow of Mr. Lockwood, of that town, and is still a vigorous lady, although nearly an octogenarian. Mrs. Townsend's own sister is the wife of M. N. Kline in New York City.

Mrs. Townsend was educated at the Franklin Institute, and was a teacher before her mar- riage to John Townsend in her twenty-second year. She has three children, namely: Charles W. Townsend, a member of the Stock Exchange, New York City, and having a fam- ily of one son and one daughter; William, a successful lawyer in Utica, N. Y., married, but without children; and John H., who re- sides here with his mother on the home farm and in the old and spacious house already spoken of and so well known to all who are at all familiar with Walton and its surround- ings. John H. Townsend married in January, 1880, Florence Bostwick, of Walton, daughter

of Jabez and Jane (Chase) Bostwick, and grand-daughter of Judge Bostwick, of this county. After the death of Mr. Bostwick his wife married Robert Launt; and after his decease she came here to Walton, where she still resides. John H. Townsend and his wife have but one child, Howell Bostwick, a promising youth of thirteen, tall and manly in bearing, an apt student, and one who shows much decided talent for art.

Much of the village of Walton now occu- pies the Townsend farm; and both the Con- gregational and Episcopal churches are on sites presented by the Townsends from their ancestral acres, the former church having been given by William and the latter by John Townsend, who also presented to the town the land for the high school, or acad- emy, as it was called in the earlier days. He was an excellent man, public-spirited and benevolent, setting the example to his towns- men of giving freely to all worthy objects, and through his influence carrying out many schemes for the improvement of the town and its people. He was a stanch Democrat, but never held office, allowing the casting of his vote to suffice for his share in the country's welfare. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church, to which his wife still belongs. The name of Mrs. Townsend will long be re- membered, not only for the honor cast upon her family and the noble race with which she is connected by marriage, but more because of her high-minded moral earnestness and the disinterested service which she is always ready to give.

SCAR I. BENNETT, a retired farmer and a public-spirited and philan- thropic citizen of Hobart, was born in Stamford, September 21, 1828, dur- ing the Presidency of John Quincy Adams. His parents were Isaac and Nany (Foot) Ben- nett.

His grandfather, Daniel Bennett, came from Connecticut to Delaware County, New York, as a surveyor, and, buying a tract of land in Stamford, began to clear away the forest. While thus engaged, he was surprised and captured by the famous Indian chief, Cap-

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tain Brant, and his band of savages, who took him to Canada, where he remained in captiv- ity six years. Discovering that he was a tailor by trade, the British forced him to make clothing for the army officers, keeping him thus occupied until the close of the Revo- lution, allowing him small wages in payment for his work. The soldiers often robbed him of his earnings; but, by covering his gold pieces and using them as buttons, and by other ingenious devices, he contrived to con- ceal, and thus retain, a part of his earnings. After his release he returned to Stamford to engage in farming, and built a log cabin, in which he dwelt some years. Daniel Ben- nett's family consisted of seven children : William; Abijah; John; Isaac; Charity; and two other daughters, whose names are not re- corded. All grew up, though not one of them is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett both lived to a good old age, he dying while on a visit to one of his sons in Cayuga County. He was a man of industry and intelligence, liberal in his religious views, and in politics what was then known as a Whig, or Patriot.

Isaac Bennett, son of Daniel, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hart- ford, Conn., March 12, 1777, and came to Stamford with his father in childhood. He married Nany Foot, also a native of Connecti- cut, where she was born in 1785. He began life as a merchant, but after a time turncd his attention to agriculture. Hc first bought forty-two acres of land, and then added to it from time to time, until he became the pos- sessor of a farm of two hundred and ten acres, besides a wood-lot of fifty. He was a hard- working, frugal man, who began life with no capital save energy and ability, and raised himself to the independent and desirable posi- tion of a well-to-do farmer solely by his own exertions. He was Supervisor for several terms, and held other minor offices. He was a man of a benevolent nature and enlightened views. Believing in the goodness of God and man, his opinions were reflected in his relig- ious belief, which was that of the Universal- ist church. In politics he was, like his father, a Whig, but became a Republican on the formation of that party. He died at the old homestead, April 15, 1864; but his wife

had departed this life fourteen years earlier, on February 10, 1850. Their children were: Mrs. Laura Griffin and Mrs, Charlotte Stevens, both deceased; Mrs. Volucia Grant, now a resident of Hobart ; Daniel R. Bennett, a farmer, who died December 23, 1847, at the age of thirty-two, and who at the time of his death was town Supervisor; John M. Bennett, who died in 1887, aged sixty-six years; and Oscar I. Bennett, the youngest of the family.

Oscar I. Bennett, the special subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the old Bennett farm; and the instruction which he received in the district school was supplemented by that of private schools, and he also taught for one winter. When twenty-one years of age, he took charge of the home farm, of which in due time he became the owner, paying off the other heirs, continuing to live on his ances- tral acres sixty-four years. For a long time he carried it on as a general dairy farm, toil- ing faithfully, and proving himself successful in every undertaking. The farm is in excel- lent condition. Most of the buildings now standing upon it were erected by him, and many other improvements are the result of his industry and enterprise. In December, 1893, he moved into the village of Hobart, leaving his two sons to carry on the farm. On June 3, 1856, he married Selina W. Sturges, who was born in the town of Stamford, July 2, 1832, and was the daughter of George and Maria (Olmstead) Sturges. Her parents were of the pioneer stock, and resided in the town to the end of their days, dying at an advanced age. They had four sons and as many daugh- ters, all but one of whom are living to-day. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have three children : Lotta Sturges Bennett, living at home; Em- erson Sturgcs Bennett, single; and Sherman Oscar Bennett, married. Both boys are on the farm. Mrs. Bennett is a most estimable woman, a lady of refined tastes. Mr. Bennett has always been a public-spirited man, likc his father, deeply and actively interested in the welfare of his town, where he has held various public offices. He is Vice-President of the National Bank of Hobart, and a mem- ber of the village Board of Trustees. In religion he is liberal, and in politics a Prohi-

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bitionist. Though possessing an abundance of this world's goods and a keen intellect, he shows the fine simplicity of his nature by a modestly unassuming and comfortable manner of life. His genuine kindness and strict hon- esty are proverbial among the people of his town, where truly it seems,

None know him but to love him, None name him but to praise.

THOMAS BURROWS, present Su- pervisor of the town of Deposit, Dela- ware County, N.Y., is one of the prominent residents of that part of the country, and comes from a family that was identified with the interests and development of the county at an early day. He has for twenty-two years been engaged in general merchandising in the village of Deposit, and has a high standing among the business men of that place. Mr. Burrows is of Scotch an- cestry; and some of his ancestors were officers in the Continental army during the War of the Revolution, one of them bravely meeting his death while facing the foe at Stonington, Conn. This martial spirit appears to have been transmitted to some, at least, of their descendants, Mr. Burrows of this notice hav- ing well sustained the family reputation dur- ing the late civil strife. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Peris Burrows, a native of Connecticut, who came to York State many years ago, and was among the early settlers of the town of Tompkins (now the town of Deposit), Delaware County. His son, Harry Burrows, was born in Delaware County, and married Betsey Whitaker, a na- tive of Wayne County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of five children: Wealthy, now Mrs. A. R. Davis, and living in De- posit ; Eliza, wife of D. L. Demoney, of De- posit; George A., a farmer of the town of Deposit; James Thomas, of this sketch; and Frances, wife of W. W. Main, of Rock Val- ley, Delaware County.

James Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Tompkins, now De- posit, Delaware County, November II, 1841. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits; and, his father dying when he was quite

young, the boys of the family were obliged to work hard, having to care for two farms. He was thus employed until he enlisted in Au- gust, 1864, in Company A of the One Hun- dred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry. Although needed at home, he could not remain a passive spectator of the great struggle for national life that was then being carried on ; and so he went forth, as a soldier and patriot, determined to do his part, and have a share in saving the Union. He was in the battles of Hilton Head, Honey Hill, various skirmishes in South Carolina, in the charge on the Confederate works at James Island, and in a number of skirmishes about Charlestown. He was discharged on the close of the war at Hilton Head, June 20, 1865, and was mustered out at Elmira, N. Y., July 20 of the same year. He then went to work as clerk for his brother-in-law, D. L. Demoney, remaining thus engaged for five years, during which time he became familiar with the business. He then formed a part- nership with C. T. Edick, the style of the firm being Burrows & Edick. They bought out Mr. Demoney's store in Deposit, and con- .tinued together for ten years. In 1880 our subject bought out his partner, and has since been sole proprietor. He was married Au- gust 3, 1870, to Lola Evans, daughter of Newell and Harriet (Webb) Evans. Mrs. Burrows is a lady of refinement, and was edu- cated in the high schools of Syracuse, where she was a teacher previous to her marriage. They have had three children: Marian H .; Walter, deceased; and Lloyd, deceased.

Mr. Burrows was first elected Supervisor in 1883, and served that year, being defeated the year following for the same position. He was again elected in 1892, and again in 1893. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of Deposit Lodge, No. 396, and a member of the Deposit Chapter. Po- litically, he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a courteous, affable gentleman, of well-defined opinions, but liberal-minded, and always willing to hear both sides of a question. He is popular in his town and vil- lage, and his life history is one that is worthy of a place among those of the most honored residents of Delaware County.

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R EV. THOMAS PARK, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Walton, N. Y., is a native of Scotland, and was born there, April 16, 1845. His father and grandfather were both natives of that country. The grandfather spent his life there engaged in the vocation of a shepherd, and was the father of thirteen children. One of his sons, Andrew Park, who was superin- tendent of a large woollen factory at Hawick for many years, came to this country in 1857 with a wife and eight children. He pur- chased a farm at Andes, Delaware County, N. Y., where he remained for eleven years, and then moved to Iowa. He has in later years made his home with his son Thomas. Mr. Park was married in his native land to Miss S. Milligan; and the following children were born to them, three after their arrival in this State: George R., William, Thomas, David, Andrew, Jane, Janet, Isabella, Sophia, Ellen, and Margaret. Ten of the eleven chil- dren are living, all residents of this country.

Rev. Thomas Park received his early edu- cation in Scotland, attending the parish schools until he was thirteen. After coming to America with his parents, he went to work on a farm. In the year 1870 he began his preparation for the ministry, attending Mon- mouth College, Ill., for five years, graduating in the class of 1876. He afterward spent two years at the Theological Seminary at New- burg, N.Y., graduating from there in 1878. His first charge was the United Presbyterian church at DeLancey, where he remained from 1877 until 1892, when he came to his present charge at Walton. He is the first pastor to preside over the fine new church, which was dedicated in November, 1891. During Mr. Park's charge at DeLancey the church mem- bership increased nearly fourfold, and since his advent in Walton sixty-six new members have been added.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 66

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