Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 7

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 7

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ARVEY M. SEAMAN, a miller and dealer in flour and feed in DeLancey, in the town of Hamden, Delaware County, N. Y., led an eventful life, which has developed a strong character, mark- ing him as a man of indomitable will, high moral principles, and honorable ambition. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, whose bounty land included what is now the town of Geneva. His father, Joshua Seaman, was born in Bovina in 1803, and was educated in that place and the town of Delhi. In 1824 Joshua Seaman married Mary Millard, daugh- ter of Amos Millard, she having been born in Delhi in 1804. Eleven children blessed this union, all of whom lived to reach maturity.

Three sons and one daughter still survive, namely: Harvey M., of whom this sketch is written ; Amasa, a farmer on Hamden Hill; Joshua, who is engaged in farming in Mere- dith; and Ann Eliza, wife of Frank Welch, of Delhi. The mother of this large family died in April, 1883, the father having preceded her some sixteen years; and they sleep among their children in the old cemetery at De- Lancey.

Harvey M. Seaman was born in Delhi, February 13, 1829; and, when a lad of ten years, was sent to live with his uncle, H. R. Millard, a merchant of Delhi. For six years he acted as clerk in his uncle's store, and at the expiration of that time left for his father's farm near Montrose, Pa., where he remained for two or three years. The next scene of his labors was New York City, where he was oc- cupied for a few months as clerk in an es- tablishment dealing in woodenware. Again returning to the paternal home, he took up the role of teacher, and for three terms had charge of the district school. Urged by his restless nature, he then started out as a trav- elling salesman with a stock of tin trunks. This departure proved to be not as successful as he had hoped. Accordingly, he abandoned the life of a traveller, and settled down to the carpenter's trade and chain-pump business in Elmira, where he remained for one and one- half years.

In 1851 his desire for adventure once more predominated; and he departed for California, that golden Mecca of the New World, sailing around Cape Horn, spending one hundred and sixty-five days on the storm-tossed waves, and three or four weeks in St. Catherine, South America. He reached his destination in October, 1851, and remained five years in that country of sunshine and flowers, making his home with three brothers, Dent by name, a sister of whom married General Grant. Mr. Seaman was here engaged as a dealer in mining claims, and also had charge of a local ferry. In 1856 he returned to DeLancey by way of the Isthmus of Panama; and in com- pany with his brother Amasa, who had joined him in California, and had now come back with him to the old home, he bought the old Russell & Erkson tannery, which was built

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in 1844, and was occupied as a tannery until 1885. Mr. Seaman's father was a tanner, and from him the two sons learned the trade in 1859. After a time Harvey Seaman pur- chased his brother's interest in the business, and was its sole proprietor until he abandoned that industry and remodelled the buildings into a feed and grist mill. The new mill, since built on the old site, consists of a structure seventy-four by thirty-two feet, with a roomy wing and storehouse. A saw-mill is operated in connection with this, the water- power being furnished by Bayley's Creek, which never fails in its supply.

Mr. Seaman was married May 1, 1869, to Miss Isabel Goodrich, who was born in Ham- den in 1837. Her father was Hiram Good- rich, of Connecticut, who died at the age of eighty; and her mother was Betsey (Butler) Goodrich, who passed away April 10, 1871, aged seventy-four, her death occurring just one month previous to that of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman are the parents of four children, namely: Fanny, who is the wife of Herbert Chapman, and the mother of two chil- dren; Amasa G., a young man of twenty-one years, in business with his father; Clifford D., who at the youthful age of sixteen is teaching his first school; Bayard J., a school- boy of fourteen. Unlike the majority of his townsmen, Mr. Seaman is a Democrat, being an ardent follower of that party's code and a steadfast supporter of its platform. He is an industrious, honorable man, who throughout his varied occupations, travels, and experi- ences has merited the confidence and enjoyed the esteem of his wide circle of acquaintances.

B OLIVAR RADEKER is a farmer in the town of Colchester, having returned to the place of his birth, and adopted the calling of his fathers after several years of experience in other oc- cupations elsewhere. The earliest Radeker that we hear of in this country is William, who came from Germany about the middle of the last century. His experience in crossing the Atlantic was far from pleasant; for he had not sufficient of this world's goods to pay for his passage, and he was therefore sold and

served his time, landing at last, together with his two brothers, who were also unable to pay the passage money, and were obliged to undergo similar inconvenience. After land- ing, William settled near Newburg; but since that time nothing has been heard of the other brothers, so that the members of the family here know not whether they returned to the Fatherland or settled in some distant part of this vast country.

William raised a family of six children --- Peter, Jeremiah, Henry, John, Jacob, and Kate - and, having lived to a good old age, died upon his own farm. His two sons Jacob and John came to Delaware County in the year 1795, settling in what is now Colchester, then called Soden, buying about four hundred acres of new land, which had never felt the touch of either plough or axe. Across the river was an Indian town, and the savages made their power felt to its full extent. Often did the settlers flee with their families to the mountains, that they might save their lives and their treasures from the red men. The brothers here built a saw and grist mill, and then a carding-mill, the first and for many years the only one of the kind for many miles around.

Jacob Radeker married Sarah Horton, who was born May 17, 1775, and had the follow- ing family: Elbridge; Annace; John R .; George; Barna; Sylvia; Hannah; William H .; Henry J .; Perry; Esther; Almeda and Almira, twins; and Betsy. Jacob Radeker died April 5, 1857, and his wife August I, 1834. Both were members of the Presbyte- rian church. In the latter part of his life he sold his mill property, and lived retired from business cares. His son Henry J. married Catherine Hitt, and raised a family of four children. He is still living in the full en- joyment of health and activity, although well along in years. Almira, widow of H. Wil- son, is also in excellent health, an example of the longevity of the race. She and her brother Henry are residents of Downsville.

Barna Radeker was married at the age of twenty-four to Elizabeth Fuller; and they reared a family of eight children, Bolivar being the eldest-born. The others were: El- bridge G., who married Adalinda Sprague;

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Milo C., who married Minda Fuller; Sarah M., wife of George R. Shaver; Margaret A., wife of William B. Shaver; Charles Porter, who married Electa Terry; James M., who married Estella Fuller; and Dr. Barna E. Barna, in company with his father, bought eighty-four acres of land, and after two years bought his father out and commenced work for himself in farming and lumbering and mercantile business, doing a large and pros- perous business for many years. He was a highly respected man, a kind neighbor, and helpful friend. He was a strong Democrat, and a man of liberal views in religion.

Bolivar Radeker was born on the old farm, where he grew to manhood, finishing his edu- cation at the Franklin Institute. On leaving school he accepted the position of cashier in the Deposit Bank, the duties whereof he faith- fully discharged for ten years. Then, sever- ing his connection with the bank, but remaining in that village, he started in busi- ness for himself, and continued it successfully for the next fifteen years. He was later em- ployed in the coal business with Rodney A. Ford in Binghamton for two years, and then came to Colchester and bought his father's farm. In 1866 Mr. Radeker married Anna L. Perry, who lived but four years after her marriage. He subsequently married Myra G. Ford, daughter of Rodney A. and Adaline (Whitney) Ford; and they have one child, Mary E., who is still at home.

Rodney Augustus Ford, the father of Mrs. Radeker, was a son of Daniel Ford, who for- merly lived in Herkimer County, but died at his residence in New York Mills. His wife, Adaline Whitney Ford, was daughter of Virgil and Marcia (Doty) Whitney, Virgil Whitney being son of Joshua Whitney, who was one of the first settlers of Binghamton, and who there built the first house, when the place was called by the curious name "Che- nang P'int." Joshua was a Democrat of the stanchest kind. His son Virgil, who was also of that political party, was Postmaster for many years, being the first to hold the office there.

R. A. Ford raised a family of eight chil- dren : Charles W., born June 9, 1845; Char- lotte A., born November 14, 1846, wife of

C. J. Knapp; Myra G., Mrs. Radeker, born August 26, 1848; Mary L., born April 29, 1854, who died March 17, 1888; George H., born February 22, 1865, who married Harriet Smith, and died May 21, 1894; Virgil W., born November 4, 1857, who married Della Sheppard, and died April 29, 1889; Helen J., born November 13, 1866, who married Ed- ward E. Powell; Frederick, who died in 1865; Edward A., born July 13, 1869, who married Maude McDonald. Mr. Ford is a large coal dealer in Binghamton, is a man of liberal views, a Democrat, and a supporter of the Episcopal church, of which his wife is also an attendant.

Bolivar Radeker is a farmer of the modern type, adopting all the improvements which time has brought; and his twenty-five Jersey cows, sheep, and other live stock are tended and sheltered in the most approved manner. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. He comes from good old German stock, char- acterized by courage, endurance, and sagacity, and has profited much by his varied experi- ences in life.

RANCIS E. TIFFANY is an enter- prising citizen of that part of Colches- ter called Pepacton, owning there a great deal of property, which he is constantly improving. His paternal grandfather, Jeffer- son Tiffany, came here at an early date and bought one thousand acres of land in what is known as Tiffany Hollow, where he was the first settler. He and his wife, Louisa McIn- tyre, reared three children - Henry, William, and Sylvenas. At length, disposing of his farm, he removed to DeLancey, where he re- sided until his death, both he and his wife living to a very old age. Jefferson Tiffany was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party. Sylvenas, his youngest son, was born in the town of Hamden, and grew to manhood on the old homestead. He married Miss Mary Stevens, daughter of Zebra Stevens, an extensive farmer in Catta- raugus County. Mr. and Mrs. Sylvenas Tiffany were the parents of six children - Augusta, Marshall, Eugene, Sylvenas,

FRANCIS E. TIFFANY.

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Charles, and Francis E. Mr. Tiffany was a Republican, like his father, and was a highly respected farmer. His wife, who survived him, resides in Randolph, Cattaraugus County.

Francis E. Tiffany, youngest son of Syl- venas and Mary (Stevens) Tiffany, was born in Tiffany Hollow, December 22, 1854, and was educated in the common schools of the town, where he was studying his early lessons when the patriotism of the country was aroused by the firing on Fort Sumter. He was far too young to go to the front, even as a drummer-boy; but no doubt he longed to be a soldier and follow the flag. Happily, the conflict was over before he had seen eleven summers. Hence, as he grew to manhood, he had no call to engage in any other than the peaceful pursuits of husbandry, with which he became familiar on the home farm. His first purchase of land was a tract of ninety-seven and one-half acres, known as the Hunter farm. It being well wooded, he employed himself in clearing it and dealing in lumber. Later he sold that place, and bought a farm of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres at Pepacton, known as the Townsend-Shaver farm, on the east branch of the Delaware River. Here he built a cottage, hotel, and barns, the house being four stories high with basement. It is a charming location for summer boarders.

On April 4, 1879, Mr. Tiffany married Miss Ella, daughter of N. B. and Margaret (Gregory) Fuller, who was born August 2, 1861. Mrs. Tiffany's father is a son of Jo- seph Fuller, and resides in Colchester. He has three daughters: Ida, who married John Flint; Rachel, the wife of Parker H. Sprague; and Ella, who is the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany have one daughter still living - Clara, born July 27, 1890. Their elder daughter, Lena, was born October 28, 1882, and died in De- cember of the same year.

Mr. Tiffany is at present carrying on a large lumber business, and also managing his extensive farm, where he keeps a fine herd of Jersey cattle. He is a person of great per- severance and industry, who exhibits much ability in the conduct of his affairs, being, as would be judged from his portrait, which

meets the eye of the reader on another page of this "Review," a man eminently capable of

" bravely hewing

Through the world " his " way."

The Republican party claims him as a sup- porter of its platform, he being a stanch ad- herent of its principles; and throughout the community in which he is a resident he is highly respected.

IRAM N. GEORGE, a highly re- spected resident and successful farmer of Middletown, was born on the old homestead where he now re- sides, November 12, 1832, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Tremper) George. His father was the son of John George, a native of Germany, who came to America before the Revolution- ary War, and during that arduous struggle was engaged as military tailor, making uniforms for the Continental soldiers. In addition to his knowledge of the tailor's trade, John George was also skilled in music, which he had followed as a profession for seven years in his native country. At the close of the Rev- olution he settled in Dutchess County, New York, and was engaged as gardener by the Livingston family, also working to some ex- tent at his original trade of tailoring. Both he and his wife lived to a good old age, he dying in his eighty-first year, and she at the age of seventy-five. They had three children, two of whom died in infancy.

Henry George, the third child, and the only one who grew to maturity, was born in Dutch- ess County. On arriving at manhood, he chose for his wife Elizabeth Tremper, daugh- ter of John and Rachel Tremper. They came to Delaware County together and settled on the present site of the Cogburn farm, near Margarettville. After residing there three years, Mr. George purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land at Arkville, and, after building a log house, set to work to clear off the heavy growth of timber. He built a saw- mill, and succeeded in bringing the land into a state of fair cultivation before arriving at middle age. He was a popular man in his neighborhood, and was much respected, filling

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several town offices during his long and active life with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. In the War of 1812 he served in the American army as a musician. He became a Republican on the formation of that party, and ever after adhered to Republi- canism as his political creed. In religion he was a Methodist. He lived to the remarkable age of ninety-five, and his loss was much de- plored by all who knew him. His faithful wife died at the age of seventy-five years, after a life of toil and devotion. She was the mother of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Catherine, John, William, Daniel, Peter, Edward, Alfred, Rachel, Walter, An- drew, and Hiram N.

At the age of twenty-one Hiram N. George, who had received a plain but practical educa- tion in the district schools of his native town, engaged in lumbering, and continued in that occupation until he came into possession of the old homestead. On this event he went to work to improve the place. He remodelled the buildings, bought more land, and made other improvements, until he now has a fine farm of over two hundred acres. He owns twenty Jersey cows, and raises some fine horses and sheep. Realizing the truth that it is not good man should be alone, he obtained in marriage the hand of Phebe Seager, daugh- ter of Hiram and Synthia Bly Seager, the for- mer of whom was a native of Ulster County, New York, and was a large lumber dealer and farmer. Mr. Seager was twice married, first to Tirzah Murwin, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: Murwin, who married Ada Todd, of Ulster County, and has two children ; Lucy, who became the wife of Dyer Todd, and died, as did her husband, leaving one child : Susan, who married Daniel Todd, and has a family of six children; Aylwin and Hiram H., both of whom died when quite young. Mr. Seager's second marriage (to Synthia Bly Lemore) added to his family three more children, namely: Elizabeth, now deceased, who married Judson Haynes, and at her death left five children; Phebe, wife of Hiram N. George, of this biographical notice; and James, who married Estella George, and has two children. The father of these children died at the age of seventy years, and his sec-

ond wife when seventy-seven. The latter, previous to her marriage to Mr. Seager, was the widow of James Lemore, and by him had three children - George, Mary, and Melissa. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram N. George has been blessed with two children: Samuel, born May 28, 1869, who died at the age of thirteen; and Seager, born February 12, 1884.

Mr. George is a man of influence in his town. By industry and judicious economy, qualities doubtless inherited from his pioneer ancestors, he has improved his worldly condi- tion and achieved a fair competence. He does not confine his attention to local affairs, however, but takes a keen interest in the gen- eral welfare of the country, keeping himself well informed upon national issues. He ad- heres to the principles of the Republican. party, and votes as he believes. In religious matters he is an active and sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Arkville, as is also his wife. Both are much esteemed members of the community in which they re- side, and may well be counted among Dela- ware County's representative citizens.

OSIAH MARTIN, proprietor of a stone quarry in the town of Walton, where he also carries on the trade of a carpen- ter, is a practical, well-educated man of good business talents, which have made him highly successful in his present enterprise. Mr. Martin is a native of this State and county, his birth having occurred in the town of Hancock, September 19, 1829. He is of German descent, his paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Martin, having, it is thought, been born in Germany, whence he emigrated to America, settling in Connecticut, where he took up land, and there passed his remaining years.

His father, also named Josiah Martin, was born on a farm in Mansfield, Conn., and was there reared to man's estate. He received a good education, and in his early manhood was a popular teacher. He was a remarkably fine reader, a circumstance which is well remem- bered by his children. He also learned civil engineering, a vocation which he followed for many years. When about twenty-five years of

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age, he came to Delaware County, and in the town of Hancock carried on his former occu- pation for a while, but finally became a tiller of the soil, following this occupation until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Rachel Williams, the daughter of Titus Williams, a farmer of Hancock, and also a local preacher in the Methodist denom- ination. Of this marriage seven children were born, namely: Charles, Williams, of East Branch, and Josiah, now living; and James, Jane, Levi, and Rachel, deceased. The mother of these children was an esteemed member of the Methodist church, of which the family were regular attendants.

Josiah, son of Josiah and Rachel (Will- iams) Martin, was reared upon his father's farm in Hancock, and passed the years of his boyhood in the usual manner, attending the district school in the winter, and working on the farm during the summer season. He had some native talent as a mechanic, and worked at the carpenter's trade when he could con- veniently, remaining with his parents until attaining his majority. He secured work as a bridge-maker for the Pittsburg, New Castle, & Erie Railway Company; and during the year that he was in their employment he assisted in the construction of eleven bridges, and, as foreman of the workmen, made every pattern and laid out the entire work. He afterward worked for a while for the Ontario & Western Railway Company. In 1871 Mr. Martin came to Walton, and, purchasing a lot, erected his present fine residence, which he has since occupied. Forming a partner- ship with E. P. Berray, he established the cabinet business here, and conducted it for about six years. He then resumed his former vocation of carpentering, which he continued until 1889, when he bought the stone quarry, where he has since been actively employed in getting out stone. He is an enterprising representative of the industrial interests of the town, and is widely and favorably known in business circles as an upright, incorrup- tible man and a good citizen.

An important step in the life of Mr. Martin was his marriage with Fannie Niles, the daughter of Festus and Sarah Nilcs, the for- mer of whom was a native of Walton and the

latter of Hamden. The only child of this union was a son, James Curtis Martin, who is now studying law. He was born during the residence of his parents in Hancock, the date of his birth being October 7, 1869. When he was four years old, his parents removed to Walton, where he was educated, attending first the district schools, and subsequently being graduated from the Walton Academy. He began his business career as a clerk in the store of D. McLean, and was afterward with G. O. Mead, with whom he remained for a time, relinquishing that position to accept the general agency of the publishing house of H. J. Smith & Co., of Philadelphia, for whom he travelled about a year, his territory being in the State of New York. He after- ward entered the United States mail service as a clerk on the train running from Oneida to New York City, continuing in this busi- ness about eighteen months. Going then to Cornwall, he was for a short time a clerk in the general store of Oliver & Bogara. On his return to Walton, he entered the law office of Marvins & Hanford, where he is rapidly qualifying himself for admission to the bar. He is a young man of exceeding promise, genial and courteous, and very popular in social circles. Entering the Thirty-third Separate Company, N. G. S., New York, October 12, 1887, as a private, in 1889 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and in March, 1892, to that of Sergeant, and in the same month was elected Second Lieutenant, a rank which he still holds.

Mr. Josiah Martin has always been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in local and national affairs. During his residence in Hancock he served as Justice of the Peace two terms, and was elected to the same office the third term, but refused to qualify. While there he acted as Inspector of Elections, Constable, Collector, and as Assessor, filling each office with credit to himself and satisfactorily to all. Since coming to Walton, he has been Road Commis- sioner and Inspector of Elections; and he came within forty votes of being elected Su- pervisor and Justice of the Peace, which spcaks well for his standing in the commu- nity, this town being a Republican strong-

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hold. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

AMUEL E. WHITE, who lives in the town of North Walton, in Dis- trict No. 9, is the owner of one of the finest homesteads in this part of Delaware County. It consists of one hun- dred and sixty-five acres of land, with a comfortable and substantial residence, a good barn, and all necessary outbuildings for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. The fences and farm machinery are kept in good repair, and everything about the prem- ises indicates the supervision of an intelligent and practical farmer. Mr. White is a native citizen of Walton, and is the offspring of a New England family, his father, Daniel White, having been born in Stamford, Fair- field County, Conn., in which town William White, his grandfather, was a life-long resi- dent. He was a successful farmer, and also carried on an extensive shoe business, and was closely identified with the industrial in- terests of the town. He reared a large family of twelve children.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 7

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