USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 70
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James Reed married, in 1870, Ellen Pud- ney. They reside at present in Norwich, Chenango County, and have two children, namely: Charles L., born October 11, 1871; and Arthur J., born August 18, 1879. Eliza- beth Reed married July 4, 1874, Leroy Decker; and they have four children: Samuel O., born November 16, 1876; Maud M., Au- gust 17, 1878; Lina H., June 12, 1880; Leroy, December 28, 1886. Their home is in Sodom, Colchester.
William Reed was educated in the district school at Sherburne, and later attended the Sherburne Academy, living at home with his parents till he was twenty-one. On July 4, 1876, he married Salome Decker, who was born September 18, 1858, daughter of Philip and Margaret Decker. Mr. and Mrs. William
Reed have seven children, as follows: Lillie M. Reed, born July 13, 1877; William Wal- ter, January 18, 1879; Myrtle V., March 16, 1880; M. Ellen, February 9, 1882; Floyd G., July 1, 1884; Charles I., October 31, 1887; C. Lesley, August 19, 1890.
Mr. Reed is a Democrat, being an active politician, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His career has been a successful and prosperous one, everything about his farm giving evidence of the good management and energy expended upon it. He began life in a most humble way, and to-day owns one of the finest farms in this section of the country, in connection with which he operates an extensive dairy. He may well be considered one of the most popu- lar men in the town, and is held in the great- est esteem by all his fellow-citizens.
AMES W. LAKIN is an esteemed resi- dent of Hancock, where he was born May 13, 1839. He is a descendant of some of the most noted men of this part of the country; and the history of his ancestors is a history of the trials, hardships, and bravery of the early days.
The grandfather of James W. was Jonas Lakin, who came with his parents from New London, Conn., in 1795, and settled on Part- ridge Island, the Wheeler family migrating at the same time. Though advantages for educa- tion were then but meagre, Jonas overcame all the difficulties in the way, and acquired a knowledge not only of the common branches, but also of law. His learning and sound judg- ment gave him a wide reputation in the sur- rounding country, and his advice was often called for in affairs of importance in town and State. For over thirty years he was Justice of the Peace, and for many years was Coroner. He was a Free Mason and a Democrat, and one of the most prominent men of his time in politics. Jonas Lakin's wife was Prudence Parks, daughter of "Boswin" Parks, the most noted scout and hunter in this part of the country in Revolutionary times.
"Boswin" Parks's real name was Josiah ; and he, with a man named Skinner, was the first to take a raft down the river to Philadel-
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phia. Skinner was nicknamed "Admiral"; and at the same time Parks received his sobri- quet of the "Boswin," by which he is gen- erally remembered in the Delaware Valley. Stories of him and his daring exploits are very numerous. He often lay concealed for days at a time to escape the Indians, at one time hid- ing with his family in a cave near Equinox, Pa., while the Indians searched the surround- ing country for him. He was a man of ath- letic build and matchless nerve, an antagonist to be feared by all who met him in combat, as was well attested by a Tory named Goodman, with whom he had a hand-to-hand contest. They were coming down the river in a canoe together, when a political dispute ensued ; and, leaving the canoe, they landed on an island in the Delaware River, about one mile above Fish's Eddy, and there fought it out, "Boswin " coming off victorious.
He was always scouting about the Indian camps, finding out their plans; and many defenceless settlers owed their lives to his timely warning. Once he started from Co- checton and made his way through the wilder- ness to the Wyoming Valley, to warn the settlers there of the approach of the Indians and Tories under Brant and Sir John Johnston. He was met with suspicion, and confined in the block-house, the officers thinking he was a renegade or Tory who was trying to entice them outside their defences, that they might the more easily fall upon them. He was, however, recognized by an officer as "Boswin" Parks, the scout, and allowed to depart ; but his warning was unheeded, and the terrible Wyoming massacre followed. One night, when he encamped on an island in the east branch of the Delaware River, being accom- panied by his wife and small children, they were attacked by three Indians. "Boswin" disposed of one with a shot from his rifle, and then turned and struggled with a second. While thus engaged, the third savage managed to twist his fingers in a handkerchief which the brave frontiersman wore knotted around his neck, and nearly succeeded in choking him, when Mrs. Parks came up from behind with a butcher's knife and cut the handker- chief ; and her husband, regaining his breath, made quick work of the remaining Indians.
This fiercest of the fierce combats of those wild days gave the name of Bloody Island to the place where it occurred. The reputation of Mr. Parks as an Indian fighter made him a valuable scout for the Revolutionary army. His thrilling adventures are still told in the valley where much of his life was spent. He was an old man when he died, and was buried on Partridge Island.
Mrs. Prudence Parks Lakin lived to the extraordinary age of one hundred and eight years. Her memory was excellent; and she never tired of telling of the perils of her early youth, of which she retained a distinct recol- lection. She was well acquainted with Tom Quick, the noted Indian slayer of the Revolu- tionary days, who was a companion of her father. Well did she remember how on two different occasions the family were taken by their father into his canoe in the night to escape from the Indians, and how many times they lay for days concealed in caves and woods until the enemy was put off the scent. She retained her faculties until the last. About twenty years previous to her death she dis- carded her glasses, being able to read without them, and at the age of one hundred often took walks by herself, going three or four miles. She had two brothers, William and Moses, natives of Hancock, who lived to be nearly ninety ; and her sisters also lived to a good old age. Moses Parks was a pensioner of the War of 1812.
Jonas Lakin and his wife cleared the land now occupied by their grandson, James W., and erected thereon a log house. They were the parents of nine children. Their eldest son was William G., father of the subject of this sketch. Their other children were: Homer, a farmer and lumberman at Como, Pa., Justice of the Peace, and a prominent citizen; Salose, a merchant lumberman and blacksmith at Pease Eddy, Hancock; George, a Pennsyl- vania farmer, now engaged in the livery busi- ness in Hancock; Arad S., a minister and missionary, a self-educated man, who, ex- periencing religion at eighteen, studied for the ministry, preached in Delaware County and New York City, enlisted in the army as Chaplain, under Sherman, and after the war went South and established a church and
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school for the enlightenment of the negroes ; Elvira ; Thankful; Louisa; and Sally.
William G. Lakin was educated in his na- tive town of Hancock, and was a lumberman and farmer. He was a prominent man in town affairs, and one of great ability in business. He married Sophia Wheeler, daughter of Royal Wheeler, and grand-daughter of Freder- ick and Mary (Comstock) Wheeler, of Han- cock. Mr. W. G. Lakin died October 26, 1851, in the prime of life; and his wife sur- vived him a number of years, dying Septem- ber 23, 1880. Their children now living are as follows : Oscar, a farmer and lumberman at Dingmans, Pa. ; Earl S., a farmer at Fish's Eddy ; Porter, a farmer and lumberman in Han- cock; and the subject of this sketch.
James W. Lakin was educated in the district school of his native town, and started as a lumberman at an early age. He is a promi- nent member of the Free Masons, and has for two terms been an able Commissioner of Highways. On May 10, 1883, Mr. Lakin was married to Lucy Sherman, daughter of George and Susan (Lakin) Sherman, natives of Pennsylvania. They have one child, Grace Lakin, born July 5, 1887. Mr. Lakin has inherited from his illustrious ancestors much of their strength of character, and is to-day one of the ablest men of the town.
ROFESSOR JOHN Y. SMITH, teacher, well known in Delaware and adjacent counties, now engaged in the work of his profession at Roxbury, N. Y., was born at Potter Hollow, Albany County, July 8, 1843. His great- grandfather, William Smith, came overseas from England, and settled at Bangall, Dutch- ess County, N. Y., where he obtained a large tract of unreclaimed land, and set to work to make it productive. After some little time he sold this farm, and moved to Potter Hol- low, where he bought a much larger estate. The new farm was still a wilderness when he took it, and he had to clear the land before he could plough it. He built a comfortable house and a good barn, and soon had a beau- tiful home. Before this, however, he had served in the army throughout the French and
Indian War. He lived long enough to see the beginnings of the United States of Amer- ica, and to take some part in the early political life of the country. He was a Jef- fersonian Democrat in politics. He died at the age of eighty-seven, leaving thirteen chil- dren, who all lived to good old age.
Isaac J. Smith, one of the sons of William, was born on the old farm at Potter Hollow. He was educated in the district school, and at the age of eighteen began to learn the car- penter's trade - an occupation which he fol- lowed through life. He was one of the leading contractors and builders in the region, and left behind him as witness of his energy and skill many well-built tanneries and grist- mills. When he was twenty years of age, he married Miss Phoebe Wyatt, a lady of Welsh parentage. He built a comfortable home, and had a family of seven children - Lot J., Dan- iel, Leonard, John W., Orin, Platt A., and Sarah M. Isaac J. Smith was a Democrat. He lived to the age of eighty-five years, his wife having died when she was sixty.
Lot J. Smith was born and grew to man- hood on the old Smith homestead, at Potter Hollow. When he was seventeen, he began learning the carpenter's trade with his father, and worked at this for four years, until he was of age. But he was more interested in agriculture, and, soon taking up that occupa- tion, followed it to the end of his days, putting forth his best efforts to make it pro- gressive. In this he was abundantly success- ful. When twenty-one years old, Mr. Lot J. Smith married Almina Young, daughter of John T. and Margaret Young, of Albany County. Mr. Young was a farmer, and died at the age of sixty-eight, survived by his wife, who lived to be eighty years old. They had seven children - Peter J., Julia M., Henry, John W., Margaret, Jeremiah, and Almina. Mr. and Mrs. Lot J. Smith had six children - Samuel, Isaac, John Y., Rosina, Ann E., and Julia M. Samuel married Amy Haga- done, and has five children. Isaac married Cynthia Coppernoll ; and both he and his wife are now dead, leaving three children. The three daughters -- Rosina, Ann, and Julia Smith -- are deceased. Mr. Lot J. Smith died in the sixty-eighth year of his age, from
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the effects of a fall. His wife died when she was sixty-eight. Mr. Smith was a Democrat, and he and Mrs. Smith were members of the Baptist church at Preston Hollow.
John Y. Smith began his education at the district school. He was a good scholar, and when he was only sixteen he got a situation as teacher. He afterward went to the academy at West Durham, and took an advanced course to fit himself more thoroughly for this work, and was graduated from that institution in 1863. Then for seven summers and eight winters he taught school during the winter term, and worked at carpentering in the sum- mer. In 1876 Professor Smith accepted the offer of a school in Durham. This was his first school which kept in session the year round. After three years of satisfactory ser- vice in Durham, he accepted a call to Middle- burg, where he stayed four years, and was well liked and much respected. Then he went to Gilboa, and taught there for six years. He won many friends, and left the schools in a good condition. For the past five years Professor Smith has been teaching in Rox- bury, where his record is well known.
Professor Smith married Lucy Hisert, daughter of Benjamin F. and Ann Hisert. Mr. Hisert was a blacksmith and inventor, who lived at Norton Hill, Greene County, afterward at Coxsackie, and now lives at Hoo- sick Falls. Mrs. Smith had four brothers and sisters - Dallas M., Jannett, Philip B., and Frank Hisert. Mrs. Smith was a Methodist. She died April 30, 1888, at the age of thirty- nine years, leaving three daughters, who have all been school-teachers. The eldest, Alice Jeannette, was born September 27, 1869. She married Zopher E. Reed, lives in Rox- bury, and has one child, John Henry Reed. Julia Franklin Smith was born December 23, 1872, and is now living at home, as is also Almina Ann, who was born March 7, 1875. All three of the daughters belong to the Methodist church. Professor Smith is a Democrat in politics. He is now fifty-one years old, and has the respect and esteem of the town's people, who know him as a public- spirited man, a man who has at heart the best interests of his school and of the com- munity.
AMES D. CHRISMAN, carpenter and builder, an intelligent and worthy rep- resentative of the industrial interests of the village of Walton, was born in the Weed settlement, in the town of Walton, in March, 1831, being a son of Jacob Chris- man, who was born at German Flats, on the Mohawk River, July 15, 1784, and died in Walton on October 24, 1877. Jacob was a son of Frederick Chrisman, whose early life was spent in the home of his nativity, Ham- burg, Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1772, bringing with him his wife, and also two or three of his family of four sons and two daughters. He bought a large tract of unimproved land in the fertile flats of the Mohawk Valley, and he and his sons be- came well-to-do farmers. A brother of Fred- erick Chrisman, William Chrisman, accom- panied him to this country, and settled in Chester, Pa. He reared seven children, five of them sons, one of whom became a whole- sale grocer in Philadelphia, and another a well-known druggist in the same city.
Jacob Chrisman did his full share of pio- neer work, and eventually became an exten- sive land-holder. During the War of 1812 he did gallant service for his country at Sackett's Harbor. On September 11, 1810, he was united in marriage to Betsey Day, who was born in Craig's settlement, in the town of Tompkins, Delaware County, May 20, 1790, and who died in Walton in 1850. She was a daughter of John and Nancy (Craig) Day, both natives of this county, and prosperous members of the farming community. Mr. Day made a voyage to the Sandwich Islands, where he was taken sick and died, leaving his widow with one daughter and four sons, of whom John Day, of Titusville, is the only one now living. In 1830 Jacob Chrisman and his wife came to the town of Walton, and, buying one hundred and fifty acres of land on the Delaware Flats, in the Weed set- tlement, carried on general farming as long as they lived. Six children were born to them, as follows: Henry Chrisman, of Wal- ton; Mary Ann, the wife of Michael Hess, who died in Buchanan, Mich., at the age of forty-four years, leaving two sons; Eliza, the wife of Peter Hess, who resides in Hesston,
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Ind .; George, for many years a hotel-keeper in Hurley, Wis., dying there in October, 1893, leaving three daughters and two sons; Abram and James D., residing in Walton. The mother died September 7, 1850; and Mr. Chrisman subsequently married Mrs. Redeker, a widow.
James D. Chrisman spent his younger days in school, and at the age of seventeen began a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and afterward was employed for a year as a journeyman carpenter. In February, 1852, he started for California, via Nica- ragua, arriving at the Golden Gate city on March 25. From San Francisco he went to the placer mines at Rattlesnake and Wild Goose Bar, six miles from Auburn, the county seat of Placer County, and for three years thereafter he engaged in mining, owning two claims, one on each side of the river. The following year Mr. Chrisman was engaged in the lumber business, with a yard at Wild Goose Flats. Although quite successful in his ventures, the love of home was strong within his breast; and he returned to this State, having been absent four years to a day. Resuming his former occupation in Walton, he has since been profitably employed, not only in this county, but beyond its borders, having erected some of the fine residences and busi- ness buildings in Wellsville, Friendship, Hornellsville, Andover, Independence, and elsewhere, also churches in Addison, Wallace, South Addison, Orrville, Cameron, and other places too numerous to mention.
While working in Independence, Allegany County, N. Y., Mr. Chrisman met, wooed, and won the estimable woman who became his wife. She was then known as Julia A. Bas- sett; and their wedding . was celebrated September 9, 1856, at the residence of her parents, John C. and Martha (St. John) Bas- sett. Three children have been born to them, one of whom, George B., died at the age of twenty months. Two daughters, Harriet J. and Lizzie, are living. The former is the wife of Julius St. John, and they have three sons. Lizzie, who married William Wade, of Walton, has a son and a daughter living, and has lost one little son. Mr. and Mrs. Chris- man are finely located in the pleasant house
which he built some thirteen years ago, and which his son-in-law, Mr. St. John, and fam- ily occupy with them. Mr. Chrisman occu- pies a good position in the community, possessing in an eminent degree the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen. Socially, he is one of the eldest Free Masons in Walton, having belonged to that fraternity thirty-three years. He is a Chapter Mason of the Scottish rites, and has served as Sec- retary and Treasurer of Blue Lodge. In poli- tics he casts his vote with the Democratic party, doing his full duty at the polls, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
DGAR O. LAKIN, the prosperous pro- prietor of a well-stocked and finely equipped farm bordering on Lake Somerset, in Hancock, Delaware County, N. Y., was born in this town in July, 1837. The Lakin family is one of the oldest in New York State, and the early ancestors of the subject of this sketch were among the pioneer settlers of the Delaware Valley. A further history of the family may be found in this volume in connection with the biography of John T. Lakin, a brother of Edgar.
Edgar O. Lakin was educated in the schools of Hancock, and was still quite young when, owing to the death of his father, he learned to rely upon his own resources. His early occu- pation was that of lumbering, working in the saw-mills, and teaming the lumber to the river. In 1861 he came to Homand Pond, since called Lake Somerset, the country being then but a wilderness; and here he cleared his land, and engaged in farming and lumber- ing, which occupations he still follows. His extensive farm buildings are of most modern architecture; and his two hundred acres of land near the lake, together with one hundred and fifty-six acres of woodland, are carried on by the most improved methods.
Mr. Lakin married July 26, 1860, Mary Emma Evans, whose parents were Nathan and Mary Ann (Jordan) Evans. She was born near Philadelphia, her father being an engi- neer on the Reading Railroad. Mr. Evans was struck by an engine, and killed while yet in the prime of life, and at his death left a
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widow and three children. His daughter Mary Emma, came to Delaware County when about twelve years of age, and till her mar- riage made her home with an aunt, Mrs. Loe- mans, of Pcase Eddy, Hancock. Mr. and Mrs. Lakin are the parents of four children, namely: Leonie, born October 15, 1862; Charles E., born October 8, 1864; Edward D., born February 8, 1876; and Reuben A., born August 10, 1890.
Mr. Edgar O. Lakin has served his town as Collector for two years. He has one of the most beautifully located homes in the town or county, standing on the picturesque shore of the delightful sheet of water known as Lake Somerset, the homestead being surrounded by stately and venerable trees. Everything about the estate gives evidence of a man of taste and good judgment, as well as thriftful industry.
DWARD A. ACKLEY, managing edi- tor of the Stamford Recorder, was born in Troy, N. Y., May 30, 1869. He comes of excellent parentage, his father, Ferdinand W. Ackley, having been a man of exceptional ability. Ferdinand W. Acklcy was born in Washington County, where he re- ceived his early education, and when quite young began the study of law, and was ad- mitted to the Rensselaer County bar. From his youth he took a great interest in politics, being a stanch Democrat, and in the interests of his party made many brilliant speeches, which won for him a lasting reputation. When he died in the prime of his life, being but forty-two years of age, Rensselaer County lost one of its best-known lawyers and most energetic political workers.
Edward A. Ackley received his education at the St. Paul's School at Salem, N. Y., and at the Bulkeley High School at New London, Conn. He began the work of life in New York City, as an office boy, and step by step was promoted until he became manager of the business. Here he remained five years, when he started a manufacturing business for him- self under the firm name of Ackley, Allen & Co. After two years his health failed, and he sold his business and came to Stamford,
where among the Catskills he rapidly im- proved. Being possessed of literary taste and ability, he went into the office of the Re- corder, assisting in the editorial work as a pastime and as his health would allow. On September 1, 1893, he became a stockholder in the company, and was appointed director. September 1, 1894, Mr. William Clark, the editor, resigned; and Mr. Ackley was chosen editor and general manager.
Through his efforts the Stamford Recorder has become the leading weekly paper in Dela- ware County, and is a stanch supporter of Re- publican principles. In the spring of 1894 the Recorder printed and distributed four thousand illustrated souvenirs of Stamford by way of showing their appreciation of the sup- port which it had received from the people of the town.
Mr. Ackley is interested in all enterprises calculated to promote the welfare of the town, and in all things shows himself a public- spirited citizen, his efforts in behalf of good government and the advancement of local interests meeting with the hearty co-operation of his fellow-citizens.
ATTHEW W. MARVIN, a promi- nent lawyer of Walton, and one of the firm of Marvin & Hanford, has always resided in the town of his birth, taking an active part in its political and social affairs. He is descended from an old pioneer family, a full account of which is given in the sketch of his brother, Mr. Nathaniel C. Marvin.
Thomas Marvin, the present Matthew's father, was born in Connecticut, but, when a very small boy, was brought to Walton by his father, Matthew Marvin, a hero of the Revo- lution, who had married Mary Weed, of that State. This worthy couple were the parents of six children, five of whom lived to reach maturity; and they now sleep side by side in the Walton cemetery, having died at ad- vanced ages, firm believers in the Congrega- tional faith, in which they reared their children. Thomas Marvin's wife was Dency Tiffany, of Hamden; and after their marriage they began life on the farm in that town, but
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soon removed to the old homestead, where his wife died in 1845. Thomas Marvin was a soldier in the War of 1812, where he fought gallantly for his country. He was a Deacon of the Congregational church, in which he had been reared from childhood. In 1861 he took up his residence in Walton with his son, Nathaniel C. Marvin, where he died, leaving eight children, namely: Andrew Marvin, who has since died in Brooklyn, N. Y., the father of two sons; William, who died in New Jer- sey in 1886, leaving a widow; Thomas E., of Walton; Joseph T., now in Kansas; Nathan- iel C., a popular lawyer of Walton; Fred- erick F., of Kansas; Eliza, the widow of the Rev. J. P. Root, of Boston; and Matthew W., the subject of this sketch.
Matthew W. Marvin was born in Walton, November 18, 1832, and grew up on his father's farm, attending the district school. When nineteen years of age, he entered the Walton Academy, where he pursued his stud- ies two years. For five terms he taught in the district schools of his native town, but left the teacher's desk in 1862, to enlist in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He took the field as First Lieutenant of Company B, and in March, 1863, became Captain of that com- pany. He served throughout the war, fort- unately escaping injury, and returned in good health when the struggle was over. Mr. Mar- vin has received five commissions from the governor of New York, among them those of Adjutant and Major of the regiment. In 1879 he organized one of the best companies of the State, of which he was Captain for thir- teen years, resigning in 1892. After the war he began the study of law with his brother, Nathaniel Curtis Marvin, and has been prac- tising for about twenty-four ycars. Mr. Mar- vin is a Chapter Mason, and has served as High-priest and Master of the Lodge. He is also a Past Master Workman in the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
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