Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 73

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 73

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Mr. McIntosh has devoted his best energies to his work of making a newspaper that should educate its constituency, and keep its readers well informed on current topics and the affairs of this and other countries. This he has accomplished; and the paper is read far and wide, its circulation being fully equal to that of any other paper in the county. Mr. McIntosh, who is a man of undoubted integ- rity and sound convictions, has served on the Republican County Committee several times, and been delegate to as many as six State con- ventions, besides numerous county conven- tions. He was elected County Treasurer in 1869 for a term of three years, and served so satisfactorily that in 1872 he was re-elected for another term of three years. During the Warner Miller Senatorial contest Mr. McIn-

tosh, who was a warm personal friend of Mr. Miller, took an active part in the campaign, which was conducted in a most able manner, although Mr. Miller was finally defeated by Mr. Hiscock.

Mr. McIntosh was married in 1858 to Miss Frances S. Keeler, a daughter of the Hon. Stephen H. Keeler, of Bloomville, and a grand-daughter of the Hon. Martin Keeler, a former Sheriff and Judge of Delaware County, and one of the most prominent and influential men of his day. Into their pleasant house- hold circle six children have been born, five sons and one daughter. Robert P., the eldest son, is clerk of the town of Delhi, and assists his father on the Republican. Charles K., a railway postal clerk, running between Syra- cuse and New York City, married Nellie Rogers, of Syracuse; and they have one child, Walter. Henry M., who resides in Dexter, Mo., is one of the firm of Frisbie & McIn- tosh, lumber dealers. George W., formerly an assistant in the Republican office, is now with his brother in Missouri. Frances S., who was graduated from the Delhi Acad- emy, married, and resides at Cazenovia, N.Y. And Frank E. is a student at the Delhi Academy. Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh are held in high regard throughout the large circle of their friends and acquaintances. Religiously, they are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a Trustee.

LBERT P. MINOR, senior member of the firm of A. P. Minor & Son, of Deposit, N. Y., is the veteran hard- ware dealer, and one of the princi- pal business men of the village. The firm has a large trade in stoves, ranges, furnaces, paints and oils, agricultural implements, barbed wire, builders' and blacksmiths' sup- plies, and other goods. Mr. Minor takes a lively interest in all things beneficial to the village, and has aided by his influence and material support the various public enterprises which have made Deposit a prosperous and thriving place.

George Minor, father of Albert P., was born in the town of Coventry, Chenango

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County, and was very well known in Broome County, having been in business there when a young man. He was twice married. By his first wife, Maria L. Wattles, a native of Wal- ton, Delaware County, N. Y., the mother of our subject, he had two children - Albert P. and Lydia M. His second marriage was to Ann Eliza Smith, also of Delaware County, by whom he had three children: James S., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Henrietta; and the sister with whom she makes her home, Julia E., wife of Will- iam L. Laman, of Coventryville, N.Y. The daughter Lydia M. is the widow of Sherman Piersol, who was a farmer in Bainbridge, N. Y. Mr. George Minor was a very enter- prising man, and engaged extensively in the lumber business in this county. He bought up large quantities to be rafted down the river and to the Philadelphia market. Having made considerable money in various specula- tions, he put it nearly all into rafts of lum- ber, which were unfortunately overtaken by an immense flood, and lost. The prospective profits as figured by him had been very large, and the disappointment occasioned by the loss of all was great. This disaster interfered materially with his subsequent business ca- reer; for, being a strictly honest man, he could not take any of the advantages resorted to by many men under similar circumstances, but, as quick as a dollar was secured, it went to pay his debts. The money earned by the boys not of age was used for the same purpose, and to fully meet his obligations was to him the work of life. He was able in this respect to be satisfied; for, when he died, all debts had been fully met, every one of his creditors having received one hundred cents on the dollar. He died in his seventy-seventh year, and no man has ever left a better record for straightforwardness and scrupulous integrity.

Albert P. Minor was born in Coventryville, Chenango County, N. Y., January II, 1830. His mother died when he was but nine years old, and he was only fifteen when his father was overtaken withi misfortune. So that early in life he was thrown upon his own resources, not having the paternal hand and purse to assist or the advice and love of a mother to encourage and sustain. Having spent the

first twelve years of his life in Coventryville, he came with his father to Deposit, returning to his birthplace when fifteen, and, when nineteen, coming again to Deposit, to enter in good earnest upon the tasks of real life. He engaged in a hardware store as clerk for Elias Childs, who was doing business on the identical spot where his own store is now sit- uated. He had received a cominon-school education, supplemented by a brief course of study at Oxford Academy in Chenango County. He had no practical knowledge of business methods; but by diligent applica- tion to his work he soon mastered the details, and became an efficient and valuable help in the store.

He had but five dollars in his pocket to begin with, and his wages were not large; but he managed to save in a few years the sum of five hundred dollars. He had by this time become so thoroughly conversant with the trade that he felt competent to go into busi- ness on his own account. Accordingly, in 1853 he formed a partnership with John M. Smith, the style of the firm being Minor & Smith. They put in a new stock of goods at the old stand, and were successful from the first, having a liberal patronage, and realizing handsome profits year by year. They con- tinued in business together for twenty years, and, among other additions to it, had built up a carriage manufacturing enterprise, to which, upon the dissolution of the partnership, John M. Smith succeeded; and Mr. Minor retained the hardware and other trade in the store. After continuing the business for some years under his own name, in the spring of 1888 he associated with him his son, Clinton S., the style of the firm being then established as it now remains. The firm of Minor & Smith were burned out in 1869, and did business on the other side of the street until the comple- tion of the Minor Masonic Block, into which they moved in the following year. This building, which has since been occupied by the store, is of three stories, forty-five feet by sixty-five, and was erected in 1870 on the spot of the old hardware store.

Mr. Minor was married in 1856 to Emily L. Ogden, a daughter of John Ogden, of Deposit ; and they have one son, Clinton S.,

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who is a graduate of Eastman's Business Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, and, as above men- tioned, the junior member of the firm of A. P. Minor & Son. He was married to Ida S. Dean, of Deposit. Albert P. Minor owns, besides the building where he does business, a good residence property on Front Street and the building now occupied by the Courier printing-office. He and his brother James S. are owners of the Deposit Marble Works. He is a member of Deposit Lodge, No. 396, A. F. & A. M. He has held the office of Supervisor, and has long been an active mem- ber of the Board of Education, having served continuously since the grading of the schools in 1875. In politics he has been a Republi- can since the time John C. Fremont was a candidate for the Presidency.

Mr. Minor has reached his present comfort- able position in life by personal effort, and is held in universal regard as a man of integ- rity, honor, and ability. He believes the Golden Rule to be the sufficient law for the conduct of social life, and is disposed to judge people rather by their acts than by any pro- fession they may make. He is genial and generous, not given to criticism, but liberal in his views, and willing that others should enjoy that same freedom. A kind neighbor, a judicious counsellor and faithful friend, his advice is much sought after, especially in money matters by widows and orphans. It may well be said of him that he has served those truly who have put him in trust.

The publishers of this "Review " are happy in being able to present to their readers a life-like portrait of this enterprising business man and public-spirited citizen, who has done so much toward making Deposit what it .is - one of the most lively and prosperous villages in the Empire State, an important trade cen- tre, the seat of pleasant homes and flourishing schools.

ILLIS CRONK, a well-known man- ufacturer of Grand Gorge, N. Y., was born in this place, May 4, 1855. The great-grandfather of Mr. Cronk was Lawrence Cronk, who with his wife, Nancy Crary, came to New York from Con-

necticut, and, settling near Grand Gorge, carried on one of the earliest taverns in this part of the country. He lived to be eighty years of age, and was the father of nine chil- dren - John, Hannah, Betsey, Sally, Nathan- iel, Edward, Nathan, Phebe, and Roseta. John, the grandfather of Willis, was born on Clay Hill in the town of Roxbury. When ready to start out in the world for himself, he bought one hundred and twenty-four acres of the D. Lee farm, owned by the Dent family. .Selling this later, he bought one hundred and forty acres near by, put up new buildings, improved the farm, and here lived until his death at forty-four years of age. His wife lived to be sixty years of age, and was the mother of eight children - Hiram, David, Almanran, Harrison, Lawrence J., Eliza J., John, and Isaac. John Cronk was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a Whig.

David Cronk was born on the Dent farm in the log cabin which was the family home- stead. He attended the district school until thirteen years of age, when he commenced working in the tannery of D. Lafrom, his duty being to grind the bark for the tanning. He afterward was employed by A. Moore in the tannery business, and later went west to Ox- ford, and for three years drove a stage. Re- turning then to Grand Gorge, he worked in the tannery business for some months, after which he bought a farm of sixty-four acres near the village, and for a while employed his time in so improving it that he was enabled to sell it to good advantage. After engaging in several farming investments, he removed to Schoharie County, and thence went to Greene County, where he dwelt for six years, having a farm of three hundred acres, and carrying on a large dairy. Again he came back to Dela- ware County, and after a short residence here bought the house in which he now lives. His wife was Frances, daughter of Philip and Priscilla (Bangs) Sines, by whom he had eight children - Nettie, John, Willis, Addi- son, David, Ella, Roma, and Frank. Mrs. Cronk died at the age of sixty-three, but her husband is still living. He is a Democrat, and has held the office of Constable several terms.

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Willis Cronk was educated in Grand Gorge, and worked at home on the farm until twenty- three years of age, when he began working at the carpenter's trade. After two years thus employed, he went into the factory of W. P. Moore, a manufacturer of sashes and blinds. Here he rose to be foreman, and in 1887 bought out the business. He has enlarged and remodelled the factory, and continues here engaged, making sashes, blinds, doors, mouldings, and other accessories of buildings. He has an excellent trade, and all his work is done in the best style and with the greatest thoroughness.

When thirty-eight years old, Mr. Cronk was married to Jennie West, daughter of The- odore West, a carpenter of New Haven. Mr. Cronk is a Democrat, and has held several minor offices. Notwithstanding his many business responsibilities, he has shown him- self to be a public-spirited man, who has at heart the welfare of his native town.

ERMAN F. INDERLIED, of the Inderlied Chemical Company at Rock Rift, Delaware County, N. Y., with his residence at Wal- ton, was born at Lienen, Germany, April 12, 1827, a son of Henry Casper Inderlied, born in Newkirchen, Germany, and Elizabeth Tigges, a native of Lienen. Of their family the following-named came to this country : Frederick J., who came in 1842, married Elizabeth Bruisik, and is residing at Orange, N. Y. They had five children, namely: Will- iam H., who enlisted in the army during the Civil War, and died of disease contracted in service; Herman F., Andrew, and Frederick J., who are still living; George, who is de- ceased. Henry Inderlied married Miss Eliza- beth Lagemann, and settled in Youngsville, N. Y., where he died in 1883. William, who was the first to come to the United States, married Miss Mary Chittenden, a native of Greene County, New York, and is now a resi- dent of North Branch, N. Y.

Herman F. Inderlied, the subject of this sketch, emigrated to America in 1843. He was married July 16, 1848, to Miss Rachel Kratzer, a native of Germany, who was

brought by her parents to this country when she was but eighteen months old. Mrs. In- derlied was a daughter of John Kratzer, who first settled in New York City, and later in Sullivan County, where he engaged in farm- ing. To Mr. and Mrs. Inderlied were born the following-named children: William K., born September 24, 1849, is a tanner residing in Allegany, N.Y. Henry H., born January 6, 1852, is a prominent merchant of Walton. George F., born May II, 1854, is now a resi- dent of New Milford, Pa. Edward C., born December 14, 1856, is in business with his father at Rock Rift. Julius J., born July 12, 1859, is a tanner, and resides in Allegany, N. Y. Rachel S., born May 10, 1861, mar- ried Morton Wimple, of Thompson, Pa. Theodore M., born June 22, 1863, is a shoe dealer at Warren, Pa. Charles F., born July 20, 1865, is a resident of Walton. Oscar K., born May 3, 1867, is engaged with the Erie Railroad Company. Alfred, born June 5, 1868, died September 30 of the same year. Minnie was born September 25, 1869. Lillie, born January 28, 1872, died September 2, 1872. Mrs. Inderlied died November 3, 1873, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Inderlied married for his second wife Mrs. Ida Schneppendahl Bueddemann, a na- tive of Germany, who was born April 12, 1844.

After his first marriage Mr. Inderlied set- tled in Sullivan County, New York, and embarked in the tanning business. He re- mained there, however, but a short time, when he took up farming, continuing at this new venture for seven years, after which he again went back to his original trade of a tan- ner, and was superintendent of a tannery at Salladasburg, Pa. After four years he moved to North Branch, purchasing his brother's interest in a tannery. In 1868 he went to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a tannery for twenty-one years, during this time doing a large and in- creasing business. He came to Walton in 1889, and has conducted his business here ever since.

When Mr. Inderlied came to this country, he had nothing but courage, honesty, and a pair of willing hands to start out in the battle

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of life. He has now by hard work and econ- omy amassed a comfortable property, and to-day ranks as one of the most prosperous business men in the county. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has never sought any office, but is well posted in all county and State matters. Mr. Inderlied is an attendant of the Congrega- tional church. Fraternally, he is a member of Walton Lodge, No. 559, A. F. & A. M. In 1890 he erected a residence which is a great acquisition to the many fine dwellings in Walton.

Mr. Inderlied has been the architect of his own fortune; and, when once he has put his hand to the plough, he has never turned back. His success in life is an object lesson to the younger generation.

SAAC S. BOOKHOUT, one of Dela- ware County's prosperous and progres- sive dairy farmers, finely located at Ba- tavia Kill, was born in this same town of Roxbury, January 31, 1838, and inherits the blood of two races, the Irish and the Dutch, combining characteristics of the Gaelic and Teutonic peoples. His paternal grandfather was John T. Bookhout, a Hollander, whose wife was a native of Ireland. Both came to America in the latter part of the eighteenth century, after the Revolutionary War, and met for the first time aboard ship, the voyage oc- cupying thirty-six days.

Soon after their arrival on these shores John T. Bookhout and Nancy Smock were married, and at once began farming in West- chester County, New York, where they re- mained a number of years. In 1808 they came to Delaware County, and bought a hun- dred acres of wooded land, which lay about two miles above the village of Roxbury. This land they cleared and made arable, putting up new buildings, and making many improvements, Mr. Bookhout having the reputation of an industrious and successful farmer. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, and his wife to about the same age. Politically, he was a Whig, and supported that party from its organization. Enlisting as a private, he served through the

War of 1812, and to the day of his death was a respected and honored citizen of Roxbury. He and his wife had a family of ten children, of whom eight grew up; namely, William, James, John, Peter, Anna, Jane, Margaret, and Mary Bookhout.

William Bookhout, the eldest son, was born in Westchester County in 1790, and was therefore eighteen years of age when his father moved to Delaware County. Although young, his labor was equal to any man's in clearing and working the farm. There were no roads by which the farmer could drive to town and exchange his produce for wares that he needed. Every farm had to supply its occupants with nearly all their necessities. To get meal to make the daily bread for the family, William had to carry a sack of grain on his back to a mill some distance away to be ground, his path leading through the woods, and marked by blazed trees.

When William was twenty years old, he married Caroline Hull, and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres in the same section of the county. This farm, which is now owned by Michael O'Hair, was then nearly all new land. Mr. Bookhout cleared it and erected substantial buildings, proving himself a sagacious farmer, and was well known throughout the neighborhood. Like his father, he supported the Whig party in politics; and both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist church. He died at the age of sixty, and his wife at sixty-five. They had eleven children, all of whom have married.

Isaac S. Bookhout received only a common- school education ; but by home study he pre- pared himself for a business career, and, being very ambitious, was always on the lookout for a chance to improve himself. When he was but fourteen years old, his father died; and he at once took charge of the farm, and looked after the interests of the children. When he was twenty-five years old, he married and bought an adjoining tract of two hundred acres, which is now owned by Caleb Rey- nolds, in North Roxbury. After clearing and improving the land, he sold it, and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres on Hubble Hill, where he stayed ten years. He

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then sold that farm and bought his present place at Batavia Kill. The farm is about two hundred and forty-four acres in extent ; and it was the first farm settled in this beautiful valley, the former owner having come here in 1794. It is finely located ; and Mr. Bookhout has improved it very much, so that it is now reckoned as one of the best dairy farms in the valley. Mr. Bookhout has an excellent dairy, owning many fine cows of different breeds, the farm being well adapted for grazing.

Mr. Isaac S. Bookhout married Eusebia Craft; and they have had four children, namely: Charles, who was born July 8, 1866; W. Ward, born January 1, 1869, and died October 29, 1889; Lillie F., born May 2, 1871, and died April 13, 1880; and Ray- mond, the youngest, who was born July 22, 1884, and now lives on the farm. Mr. Book- hout is a Republican, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a respected citizen, and a popular man throughout the neighborhood.

AMES W. PIERCE, a well-known and respected farmer residing in the town of Hamden, about six miles from Wal- ton, was born in Dutchess County August 8, 1822. His father, Daniel, and grandfather, Timothy, were natives of the same county. Daniel Pierce was brought up as a farmer, residing with his grandfather until he came of age, his mother having died when he was quite small. He then started out in the world for himself, first working by the month. Being of a frugal and saving turn of mind, he was soon enabled to purchase a farm in Andes, upon which he resided for some years, then moved to Meredith, where he rented a farm. He spent his last years with his son, James W., dying at the advanced age of seventy- eight. He married Miss Mary Reynolds, a daughter of James and Sarah (Campbell) Rey- nolds, and a native of Dutchess County. Of this union there were eight children ; namely, James W., Elizabeth, Timothy, William, Robert, Daniel, Lavinia, and Marcus. Three of them are still living, namely: James W. ; Lavinia, who is the wife of George Foster, and lives in Nebraska; and Robert, a promi-

nent farmer of Walton. Mrs. Pierce died in Meredith, at the age of forty-four years; and Mr. Pierce married for his second wife, Betsey Lockwood, a native of this county. She died at the home of James W. Pierce, aged sixty- two.

James W. Pierce spent his early years in the town of Andes, where he acquired a common- school education. He assisted his father for a time, afterward working on a farm by the month. He then turned his attention to the blacksmith trade, working at that business for sixteen years. In 1859 he purchased the farm of two hundred acres which he now occupies, upon which he has built a fine residence and commodious barns. He is specially interested in butter-making, shipping it by wholesale to New York City and Newburg.

Mr. Pierce was married in 1849 to Miss Frances C. Clark, a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Gay) Clark. The Clark family originally came from Connecticut, the parents of Charles Clark coming to Franklin when he was but eight years old. The mother of Mrs. Pierce was the daughter of Edward Gay, a school-teacher, and the first to teach school in the village of Franklin. Mr. Clark reared a family of seven girls, namely: Clarissa, the wife of Jacob Warner, of Walton; Amanda, who is married to Sylvester Brown; Amelia, married to P. Young; Mary, the wife of Aaron Houghtaling; Aurelia, the wife of William Fisher, of Croton; Frances, Mrs. Pierce; Kate, married to Stephen Benedict, of North Walton. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce be- came the parents of twelve children, namely : Mary R., who died in infancy; Edward T., who married Belle Wooden, and has one child - Ethel ; Robert W., who married Ellen Hastings, of New York; Herbert A., who married Mary Moat, of Roxbury, and has four children - James W., Mno, Nellie, and Lillie Belle; Charles A., who is a Baptist minister, and married Mary Fitch; William, who mar- ried Mary H. Newton, a daughter of Dr. Newton, and has two children - Sterling and Gertrude F. ; Marcus, who married Lulu Frick ; Frederick, who is a veterinary surgeon at Oakland, Cal., who married Alice Palmeter, and has one child - Lena ; Kate, the wife of the Rev. F. I. Wheat, a pastor of the Congrega-

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tional church at Woodhaven, and the mother of one son - Charles Irving; Frank, who mar- ried Lillie Cook, and assists his father on the farm ; Clarence W., who is a clerk ; and James R., who is residing with his brother at Oak- land, Cal., and is studying for the ministry.

In 1864 Mr. Pierce enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served for about eleven months, fortunately escaping being either wounded or taken prisoner. He was honorably discharged from the service at Elmira in 1865. He is a member of Benjamin Marvin Post, No. 209, Grand Army of the Republic, of Walton. He is a strong sup- porter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to any official position. The family are active members of the Baptist church, Mr. Pierce having been a Deacon for a number of years. He is one of the strong representative men of his district, and all his life has been a respected and honored citizen, ever forward and active in those matters pertaining to the good of the community.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 73

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