USA > New York > Delaware County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York > Part 80
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daughter of John Smith, of Walton. Their son, D. G. McDonald, was born in North Carolina, and, when thirteen years of age, re- moved with his parents to New York, wherc he was engaged in the lumber business and agricultural pursuits. D. G. McDonald mar- ried Jane Chambers, who became the mother of eight children, namely: Maria; Eliza, the wife of the subject of this sketch; John; Archibald; Jennette; Jane and David, who were twins; and Sloane. The family are Re- formed Presbyterians, and still reside on the old homestead. Mr. McDonald is a Republi- can in politics.
Mrs. Seymour resided with her parents in Walton, teaching school in various towns of Delaware County for five years. She is the mother of two children - David N. and Ethel N .; and both she and her husband are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. Seymour is a Republican, being a firm supporter of the platform of that party; and his position as a man of unquestionable integ- rity is manifested by the respect with which he is regarded by all who know him.
HARLES P. KNAPP, Cashier of the Deposit National Bank, is one of the enterprising citizens of this place. Hc has contributed largely, both in money and influence, to advance the interests of this part of the county. A glance at the village of Deposit will indicate what manner of men have the controlling power, and will show the sort of public spirit they possess. The electric lights, water-works, soldiers' monument, and various other public improve- ments would be creditable to a town four times its size; and Mr. Knapp has done his full share toward bringing these about. He is emphatically a Deposit man, having always made this village his home, and being famil- iarly known throughout the entire commu- nity. The bank of which he is the Cashier was started in 1854 as a private institution, being established by the Hon. Charles Knapp, his grandfather, who was one of the most promi- nent men of his time in this part of the State. In 1864 it became a National Bank, its num- ber under the national banking laws being 472.
The present President is Charles J. Knapp, of Binghamton; the Vice-President, Charles Maples, of New York City. The Cashier, Charles P. Knapp, and the Assistant Cashier, Charles Pinkney, are residents of Deposit. The bank is on the soundest financial basis, and has never failed to pay its five per cent. semi-annual dividend, which is good evidence of the character of its management and some- thing of an index of the prosperity of the village and community. The father of Charles P. was James H. Knapp, who was also inter- ested in the bank, and was its President from July, 1880, until his death, which occurred November 13, 1887. He had previously been one of the bank's cashiers and vice-presidents, and was elected Director January 9, 1866. He was a business man, and did not interest himself particularly in politics. His widow, the mother of Charles P., is living at Deposit, and is a lady of fifty years, possessing rare qualities of mind and heart, with the intelli- gence and refinement of the true woman.
The subject of this sketch is an only child. He was born May 16, 1863, and was brought up in the village of Deposit. He attended the well-known Phillips (Exeter, N. H. ) Academy, one of the best preparatory schools in this country, from 1880 to 1884. His father being in poor health, he was called to assist in the bank, November 21, 1884, and ranked as Teller. On February 17, 1888, he was elected to his present responsible position, which he has ably filled, contributing largely to the prosperity of the institution. Mr. Knapp is the President of the Deposit Board of Trade; and it has been through the untiring energy of this organization, made up mainly of the young men of Deposit, that the place has secured its varied industries, and has at- tained the proud distinction of being the most progressive placc of its size on the road. Mr. Knapp is also a stockholder and prime mover in the Deposit Electric Company. Frater- nally, he is High-priest of Deposit Chapter and Past Master of Deposit Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Malta Commandery. No. 21, at Binghamton, and of the Otseningo Consistory, S. P. R. R., of Binghamton. Socially, he is a gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet, genial and courteous, having
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the characteristics that make an agreeable com- panion and faithful friend.
UNCAN CAMPBELL, who is spend- ing the eventide of an active life in restful retirement in the village of Bovina, was born in Scotland on December 24, 1817. His paternal grand- father was Alexander Campbell. But little is known of him beyond the fact that he was a soldier in the British army. Duncan came to America in 1820 with his parents, Colin and Catherine (McGregor) Campbell, being on the Atlantic forty-two days. In Scotland, his native country, Colin Campbell had fol- lowed various occupations. After coming to this country, he settled on a farm in Andes, Delaware County, and, steadily applying him- self to agricultural pursuits, there passed the remaining years of his life. Both he and his wife lived to a green old age. They were loyal to the kirk of Scotland, never affiliating with the American branch of the Presbyterian church.
A family of ten children, four of whom are now living, were brought up on the Delaware farm; namely, Alexander, Jannette, Mary, Nancy, Duncan, Catherine, Susan, Elizabeth, Colin, and John. Duncan and Nancy were twins.
Duncan Campbell grew up and was educated in Andes, working at home until he was twenty-eight years old. Feeling then, doubt- less, that it is the part of wisdom for every man to establish himself independently, he began to take outside employment, and did whatever work he could find to do. He laid stone walls in the neighborhood, and toiled and saved his earnings until he had amassed a sum sufficient to purchase a farm of one hun- dred and ninety acres in Bovina. Here he established a dairy farm, which was financially so successful that he was able to extend the territory of his estate to three hundred and fif- teen acres. He lived here for thirty-five years, a conspicuous example of industry and thrift. In 1893 he moved into the village of Bovina.
On the 8th of January, 1857, he took for his wife and helpmate Miss Nancy Thompson,
a daughter of George and Elizabeth Thomp- son, of Bovina, both of whom are now de- ceased. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Campbell, and it is as yet an unbroken family circle. The eldest is a daughter, Mary C. Campbell, who lives at home. Elizabeth, the second, married David J. Miller, and lives in Bovina. Colin, the eldest son, is a farmer in the near town of Walton. John M. lives on the old home- stead. Jannette Campbell is a teacher in Hobart. Margaret lives with Mrs. Miller in Bovina. And Emma, the youngest, teaches in the village.
Duncan Campbell has always taken an active part in the politics of the Republican party, of which he is a clear exponent and strong advocate. He and his wife are both conscientious members of the Reformed Pres- byterian church, following the instincts and traditions of their Scottish ancestry.
A portrait is herewith presented of this worthy representative of the noted clan Camp- bell, of which it has been well said that no other family can show a more numerous and illustrious roll of names.
ON. CHARLES KNAPP, deceased, will long be remembered as one of the most distinguished men of his time in this part of the State, and one who contributed largely toward the devel- opment of Deposit and its vicinity. He was born in the town of Colchester, Delaware County, October 8, 1797. He had only such educational advantages as were afforded by the district schools of his native place eighty years ago, and they were certainly very limited. Colchester is situated upon the east branch of the Delaware (formerly Mohawk) River, and is one of the most rugged places in the State of New York. Lumber was the chief resource of the early settlers, as it is of their descendants, notwithstanding the tanning of leather is an important industry and in the past five years the dairy business has grown to considerable proportions.
Mr. Knapp was the son of a farmer, and was brought up to hard manual labor. His earn- ings till he reached his majority went into the
DUNCAN CAMPBELL.
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general fund for the support of his father's family. In 1815 he began his public career by venturing upon the occupation of a village school-teacher. For a few years teaching was his winter occupation, while in summer he returned to the farm. One instance of his thriftiness in his early life was teaching a six months' term of school for sixteen dollars per month, and presenting to his father at its close an even one hundred dollars, he having earned by overwork enough for his spending money and sufficient to add a small sum to the amount of his regular wages. Of course, his education did not stop with his school studies. He was gifted with a strong and assimilating mind, and became in a practical sense a thoroughly educated man. When he was twenty-one years of age, he embarked without capital in such local business as promised the best re- wards. He continued as a farmer for a while, but soon also engaged in the lumber trade. In 1825 he opened a general country store at Pepacton, near Colchester. The amount of his capital for that enterprise was only three hundred dollars; but he managed his little estate so that with the entire confidence of the public, which he always enjoyed, he gained rapidly by legitimate enterprise; and in the course of twenty years he amassed what would be regarded, even in these times, a handsome fortune. He did not confine himself to any one thing or a few things, but directed a large variety of paying enterprises.
The high regard in which he was held by his fellow-citizens was shown in 1841 by his election to the State Assembly. He dis- charged his public duties at Albany, as he did his private business at home, in a manner which sustained him before the public as an upright, conscientious, and able man. In 1848 he moved to Deposit, as the Erie Rail- way appeared to be likely to make important changes in business channels and to aid him in larger enterprises than he had before been able to carry on. Here he engaged in farming to some extent, but largely in lumbering and tanning. In 1854 he opened a banking house under the individual banking law of the State. This was the beginning of the Deposit Na- tional Bank, which has always been one of the soundest and, it m y be added, one of the
most successful financial institutions of the State. Two years later the bank became the property of an association with a capital stock of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Knapp retained a majority of the stock, which gave him the control; and the business management was still under his immediate supervision. In 1864 it became a National Bank; and in 1873 the capital stock was increased to two hundred thousand, which, to avoid the payment of excessive taxes, was in 1878 reduced to one hundred thousand. Under the efficient management of Mr. Knapp the bank paid a good dividend, besides adding to its resources year by year.
In 1868 Mr. Knapp was nominated by a Republican convention held at Sidney Plains for member of Congress. It was a long and tedious convention, in which Chenango County presented the name of the Hon. Isaac S. New- ton, Delaware County presented that of the Hon. Samuel F. Miller, and Otsego County urged the nomination of the Hon. David Wil- bur. Mr. Knapp, being finally asked by telegraph if he would take the nomination, consented, and was elected by a large majority. He served in Congress with ability along with such representatives as Mr. Hotchkiss from this district, Hamilton Ward, William A. Wheeler, John A. Griswold, General Slocum, Porter Sheldon, and others from this State.
In 1870 he was offered a renomination, but declined, as he was over seventy-three years of age, and did not care to burden his life with the responsibility of the position. He was originally a Democrat, believing with Jackson and Benton on national issues and financial matters, but was an inflexible opponent of the extension of slavery, and was consequently among the first in the ranks of the Republican party. His whole career furnishes a remark- able example of the stalwart, self-made men of this country. He learned to struggle with poverty when a boy, which taught him the proper use of wealth when he became a man. It was no great step for him to go from the mountain school-house to the national Con- gress, because the school-teacher possessed the ability of the statesman. Early in life he was united in marriage with Sylvia Radeker at Colchester. The union was eminently a happy
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one, and was not ended until after its golden anniversary had been passed. Mr. Knapp died in 1887. Ten children were the fruit of their marriage, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are now living.
The Hon. Charles Knapp died in July, 1880. His life had been an eventful and a useful onc. The world was the better for his having lived in it, and it is with pleasure that the publishers of the "Review" can place in their work the biography of so illustrious a representative of this part of the country. He was an ambitious man, it is true; but his aspirations were always within their proper limits. There is in the human mind a natural desire for distinction, for being or acquiring something which shall lift the individual above the mass, and give him consideration with his fellows. A desire so natural and so universal as this, a desire that so readily joins hands with the highest motives, must have a legitimate sphere of operation, and must, when confined to this sphere, be entirely consistent with the noblest life. When it is united with a sincere love of men and an honest regard for the effect of one's action upon others, when it is held subordinate and subsidiary to the uni- versal good, when it grasps at nothing which actual excellence of power and character may not legitimately claim, then it is good in itself and good in its results. It is right for a man. to desire to excel in anything worthy of a man, and in all these desires and ambitions Mr. Knapp had this conception of the truth; and, whether in business affairs or political affairs, he was not held or controlled by selfish mo- tives. He was a man who reached his posi- tion of influence solely as a result of honest methods properly applied, and was enabled to become distinguished by virtue of his own in- herent worth.
LARK CABLE, a substantial and esteemed resident of the town of Delhi, was born in Hamden, Dela- ware County, N. Y., October 19, 1832, being a grandson of Calvin Cable, who settled in Delhi at an early period of its his- tory, and there spent his last years. The father, Simon Cable, was born in Columbia
County, New York, and removed with his parents to Delaware County, remaining with them until he became of age, and assisting in the work of clearing the farm. He then pur- chased a farm in Walton, which he carried on until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years old. His wife was Maria Launt, a native of Delhi, and a daughter of Jeremiah Launt. She survived her husband many years, living to the unusual age of ninety-four. She bore her husband three chil- dren ; namely, Betsey Ann, Maria, and Clark.
Clark Cable spent his early years in Walton on the parental homestead, and acquired his education in the district school. After attain- ing his majority he purchased a farm, and for twenty years was engaged in general farming. He then moved to Harvard, and for five years was the keeper of a hotel in that village. Re- turning to Walton, he worked in a mill there for the succeeding five years, giving up that position to come to the farm of his father-in- law, where he has since resided. On July 2, 1858, Mr. Cable was united in wedlock to Miss Sarah Launt, a daughter of John Launt, one of the oldest persons now living in Dela- ware County, and of their union two children have been born; namely, John and Henry. The elder son, John, married Lizzie Wade; and they have one child, May.
John Launt, the father of Mrs. Cable, is of German descent, being a son of Jeremiah Launt, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and whose father was a native of Germany. John Launt was born November 23, 1803, in Worcester, N. Y. ; but, when a little fellow, his parents removed to Nassau, Rensselaer County, where he lived seven or eight years. In 1812 he went to Greenbush to see the soldiers, an event which he distinctly remem- bers. He afterward went with his parents to the town of Schodack, and was about fifteen years old when the family came to Delhi. In the latter place he attended the district school and worked on the farm, remaining at home until his twenty - first birthday. He then went for a time to the Black River country, and later bought a farm in Hamden, which he managed for fifteen years, and then sold, and the next five years was engaged in farming on Walton Mountain in the town of Walton.
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Five years thereafter he bought his present farm, which then consisted of very wild land, but was pleasantly located on Plattner Brook, about three miles from Walton. By per- severing industry he cleared and improved a fine homestead. At the age of twenty-four years he married Jeanette Warren, a native of Hamden, and one of a large family born to Elias and Nancy (Goodrich) Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Launt reared four daughters, of whom we record the following: Sarah be- came the wife of Clark Cable, whose name heads this sketch. Mary married Ephraim Wakeman, of Walton, and they reared five children. Matilda became the wife of Will- iam Leonard. And Angeline, who married Clark Tripp, became the mother of six chil- dren - Betsey Ann, Cecilia, Sarah, Judson, Laura, and Julia.
A® LONZO SEYMOUR is a native resi- dent of the town of Tompkins, which he represents as a member of the County Board of Supervisors. His great-grandfather, William Seymour, who, it is supposed, was of English birth, for many years was a prominent business man at New- burg, N. Y. He also built two Liverpool packets, the "William Penn" and the "On- tario," the latter being a vessel of five hundred tons' burthen, the largest packet at that time in the Liverpool trade. He was an extensive dealer in real estate, and did much for the im- provement of the village, where he was a resi- dent to the time of his death.
His wife, accompanied by his son William, who was born in New Haven, Conn., moved then to Delaware County, where they were among the first settlers. This son purchased a tract of heavily timbered land on the south side of the west branch of the Delaware River, which included the land now owned by the subject of this sketch. In these carly days no railroads or canals shortened the distances be- tween towns and villages, and the isolated pioneers subsisted chiefly on the products of their own land and the deer and fish which were then abundant in the surrounding country. William Seymour, Jr., commenced at once on his removal to his new home to clear his land
and take his lumber by means of rafts down the river to Philadelphia, returning over the long route on foot. December 16, 1803, he mar- ried Dorothy Lord, daughter of Eliphalet and Mary (Green) Lord. She was born August, 28, 1788, and died January 28, 1866, the mother of ten children, having lived to see the wilderness about her home transformed into the seat of a prosperous, wealthy community.
Willet Seymour, a son of William and Dorothy Seymour, and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the old farm in Tompkins, May 6, 1805, and was reared to agricultural and lumbering pursuits, in which he was employed throughout his life. On the death of his father he became the possessor of the old homestead; and here he still resides in his ninetieth year, retaining to a remarkable degree all his faculties. His wife was Mary Goodrich, to whom he was married July 28, 1830. She was born in Sidney, N. Y., Sep- tember !, 1814 .. Her grandfather, Zenas Goodrich, who was a Revolutionary soldier and a pioneer of Sidney, married Mercy Law- rence. Allen Goodrich, the father of Mrs. Willet Seymour, married Miss Elizabeth Lord, a daughter of Eliphalet and Mary (Green) Lord. Nine of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Willet Seymour lived to reach maturity ; namely, Amanda, Alonzo, Gil- bert, Charles, Erastus E., Willet, Florence, and Rector, Lewis dying in infancy, and Washington dying at the age of forty-eight years. Mrs. Seymour was a thrifty housewife, and before her marriage had learned, besides the necessary household accomplishments, the art of weaving, carding, and spinning, so that in her early married life she dressed her children in the homespun which she made entirely with her own hands.
Alonzo Seymour was brought up to the lumber business, assisting his father in buying the standing lumber and rafting it down the river to Philadelphia. Upon reaching his majority he purchased a tract of land in the town of Tompkins, on which there was an im- proved water-power and saw-mill, and has been since that time continuously engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He has also been greatly interested in farming, and in 1888 purchased the old homestead which he now
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occupies. In 1860 he married Miss Josephine Bradbury, who became the mother of six chil- dren : Oakley A .; Irvin W .; Ziba A .; John W. ; June; and Kate, who died at the age of five years. And they have also an adopted child, Belle.
Politically, Mr. Seymour is a Republican, being a stanch supporter and active worker of that party, and has held many offices of trust and responsibility, among them being that of Supervisor, to which he was elected in 1893 and re-elected in 1894. He has also held positions on various committees, his long ex- perience and natural business ability and well-known integrity making his co-operation doubly valuable. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour are both earnest, active members of the Baptist church, where they are universally esteemed.
R ILEY SANFORD was born on Hub- bell Hill in Middletown, Delaware County, on the Fourth of July, 1822. His grandparents, William and Phoebe (Hull) Sanford, came to New York from Connecticut in 1790, bringing with them a family of small children. Their jour- ney was through a wilderness, and the only landmarks that the travellers could depend upon in the trackless depths of the northern forests were blazed trees.
The Sanfords were among the very earliest settlers, and lived in great isolation, being two miles distant from the few emigrants who had settled in the neighborhood previously. Some time was spent in selecting a good location for the future home, and a spot was at last chosen which is now known as Hubbell Hill. Here a tract of one hundred and eighty acres was bought, and the sturdy pioneer fell to the task of cutting down trees for the construction of an humble home. For a week at a time he saw no living things save the wolves and panthers that infested the limitless forest around him and prowled dangerously near the lonely set- tler's rough fortress of defence. As the sons grew up, they were each one taught the use of axe and spade; and before long the beautiful timber was cut down and burned, in order to clear a space where grain could be raised. Just as he had begun to enjoy the fruition of
his labors, he died, at the age of eighty years, leaving a wife and eleven children - Charles C., William, Ziba, John, Mrs. Bennam, Mrs. Reed, Ruanna, Lucy, Marauca, Betsey, and Amy.
Charles C. was born in Connecticut, and was nine years old when his father came to Delaware County. It fell to his lot to con- tinue the work begun by his father; and he improved the property by putting up buildings of a more substantial sort, and by cultivating the land more extensively. He was joined in the holy estate of matrimony to May Smead ; and to them also were born eleven children, namely : Daniel, William Perry, Harriet, Charles, Alonzo, Riley, Levi, John S., Jona- than, Edgar, and Irving, all of whom grew to maturity. The father, Charles C., lived to be eighty-six years old. Both he and his wife were members of the old-school Baptist church.
Riley Sanford, whose name is the title word of this biographical memoir, was married at twenty years of age to his first wife, Miss Temperance Jenkins, whose full history is contained in the I. H. Jenkins biography. She died at the age of about thirty-two years, leaving four children to mourn with her bereaved husband -- Henry, Asol, Emery, and David. Mr. Sanford's second wife was Miss Phebe Jenkins, a daughter of John Jenkins. The offspring of this marriage were two chil- dren, Charles H. and Esther T.
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