Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 82

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 82

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from Ludingtonville with his family, in 1795. He and his son Henry cleared up adjoining farms in Bovina, N. Y., the whole being now owned and occupied by Henry's son, Thomas H. Ludington.

Stephen B. Adee and his wife Elizabeth D. reared six children - Henry L., George, James S., William A., Elizabeth R., and Mary H. The mother died April 22, 1847, aged thirty-seven years. The father, Stephen B. Adec, married Miss Nancy Orr, of Kort- right, in 1848. He died February 15, 1870, and his wife in 1877. They are now resting in a cemetery in the upper part of Bovina, where the eldest son, Henry L., who died at the early age of sixteen, was laid by the side of his mother in 1848.

George Adee, the subject of this notice, spent his early years on the old homestead where his father and grandfather had lived before him. He attended the common schools, and out of school hours assisted his father on the farm. In 1854, at the age of twenty, he entered the. Delaware Academy at Delhi, N. Y., where he remained for two years, except one term, during which he taught school. In August, 1856, he entered the law office of the late Hon. Samuel Gor- don, of Delhi, where he read until July 15, 1857, and was then admitted to the bar at a general term of the Supreme Court held at Cooperstown, N.Y. He began practice in Hobart, where he remained four years. In 1861 he removed to Davenport Centre. On October 4, 1864, he married Miss Frances M. Forman, daughter of Stephen Forman, M.D., of Bloomville, who practised there for more than fifty years. Her mother was Miss Pru- dence Roberts, a daughter of Eli Roberts, a successful farmer, who moved from Dutchess County, New York, and settled about four miles above Bloomville, when it was all a wilderness. She was an interesting lady, a leader in society, and a worker in the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Bloomville, of which she and the Doctor were members. She died in 1857. The Doctor afterward married Mrs. Emiline Wright. He died September 4, 1884, and was laid at rest beside his wife and two daughters in the cemetery at Bloomville, N. Y. His widow now resides at Inwood,

Iowa, with a daughter of her first marriage. The Doctor was a son of Henry Forman, a thrifty farmer residing across the river from Bloomville, who was a son of Jacob Forman, an early settler in that vicinity, and whose father came to this country before the Revolutionary War, and had a flail made of iron with which to thrash Tories. He was taken prisoner with his flail, and sent to England for trial. He was acquitted, and returned to this coun- try: but his flail is in the English Museum to this day. George Adee remained at Dav- enport Centre till 1875, having a large law practice. In the year mentioned he removed to Delhi with his family, and still resides there, having a successful practice in all the courts of the State, including the general terms of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, where he has met with great success.

George and Frances M. Adee have one child, a son, Stephen Forman Adee, born August 22, 1865, at Davenport Centre, where he attended the common school till he moved to Delhi with his parents in 1875. He then entered the Delaware Academy, and was grad- uated in 1885. From this institution he went to Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., where, after a year of unceasing study, his health gave way; and he returned home for a year. His health improving, in September, 1887, he entered Columbia College Law School in New York City. While there, in 1889, he was admitted to the bar at a general term of the Supreme Court held in Brooklyn, and was graduated at the close of the term in June, 1889. Returning to Delhi, he then entered upon the practice of law with his father, the firm being G. & S. F. Adee; and they enjoyed a good and successful practice until February, 1891, when he bought the Delaware Express, and was a successful editor and proprietor of that paper. Soon thereafter he started and was proprietor of the Andes Recorder, at Andes, N. Y., and also started and was proprietor of the Walton Times, at Walton, N. Y., cach of which he sold; and October 1, 1894, he sold the Delaware Express to William Clark, and then formed a copart- nership with G. W. & H. D. Crawford, under the firm name of Crawfords & Adec, and they entered into an extensive lumber business as

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manufacturers, importers, and wholesale and retail dealers at Delhi, N.Y. The family attend the Second Presbyterian Church of this place, of which the mother and son are active members.

George Adee, in the mean time, continued the practice of the law. He has always been a consistent Republican, and in many a politi- cal contest has stumped the county, and made speeches from time to time in almost every town therein, being hailed as one of the best Republican speakers of the county. He is a good orator, whether in a political contest or at the bar, his aim being to follow down the lines of truth and so arrange the facts and law as to carry conviction to jury and court. His pleas are interspersed with touching pathos and cutting sarcasm, and he so fully debates both sides of the issue that opposing counsel have but little to say except to repeat his arguments. His audience often sit in breath- less silence, except when he turns a point of mirth, and then break forth in cheer upon cheer. He has won many a legal contest by his superior eloquence over his adversaries.

He still resides at Delhi, hale, hearty, and robust, pursuing the even tenor of his way, and enjoying great popularity. He has al- ways been an able counsellor, a true and trusted friend, an accommodating neighbor, beloved and respected by every one, a kind and affectionate husband and father. His house is fitted with all the modern improve- ments, and furnished in the best and latest style; and it is often the scene of joyous social gatherings, presided over with graceful hospitality by his loving wife, a lady of rare gifts of heart and mind.

The accompanying portrait of this distin- guished member of the Delaware County bar, together with the illustrations of the escutch- eons of the ancient family of which he is a notable representative, will be highly appre- ciated by the readers of the "Review."

ern part

OSEA JENKINS, well-known dealer in agricultural implements at Trout Creek, in the town of Tompkins, was born in Roxbury, in the east- of the county. His great-great-

grandfather was Solomon Jenkins, whose son, Nathaniel, was born in Dutchess County. Nathan Jenkins, son of Nathaniel, was also a native of Dutchess County; and his son Hor- ace, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Roxbury. The Jenkins family came to this country from Wales. One of the ancestors of Mr. Jenkins was killed in the battle of White Plains; and for many years some of his clothing, torn with buckshot, showing where he received his death wound, was preserved in the family.

Nathan Jenkins was one of the pioneers of Batavia Kill, being the first man to drive a wagon into that town; and there he cleared his land, and erected a log cabin, subsisting chiefly on the fish and game which abounded in the vicinity. His father was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and received a pension for his services, dying in Roxbury when over ninety years of age. Nathan Jenkins married Lydia Morse, of Roxbury; and nine children were born of this union - Horace, Hosea, Benja- min, Smith, Albert, Phœbe, Celia, Margaret, and Irene. Nathan Jenkins died at Batavia Kill, aged eighty-three years.

Horace Jenkins attended the district school in Roxbury, assisting his parents on the farm, and later purchased land for himself, which he cleared and cultivated. His wife was Annie Vermilya, daughter of Solomon and Susan (Milnix) Vermilya, of Middletown, Delaware County; and she became the mother of five children, as follows: Susan, who married Jesse Howes, of Sullivan County; Orson, who married Helen Chandler, of Pennsylvania; William, whose wife was Sarahette Southard, of Tompkins; Irene, who married John A. Wilber, of Sidney; and Hosea, subject of this sketch. Horace Jenkins, after disposing of the old homestead, removed to Tompkins, and purchased land on Knickerbocker Kill, clear- ing one hundred acres, and engaging in farm- ing and dairying. On the death of his wife in 1890, he sold this place, and retired from active pursuits, going to live with his daugh- ter in Tompkins; and here he still resides, strong and hearty as of old. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and his last with the Democratic party was for James K. Polk. He then gave his support to the Republican

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party, voting with that organization at the time of Lincoln's second election, and has ever since been a stanch defender of its prin- ciples. He is a highly respected member of the Baptist church, in the good works of which he is always prominent.

Hosea Jenkins, son of Horace and Annie (Vermilya) Jenkins, removed to Tompkins from Roxbury with his parents when but ten years of age, and, besides attending the dis- trict school and assisting in the care of the farm, learned the carpenter's trade. He pur- chased a farm containing a portion of the old homestead and some adjoining land; and here he lived until 1894, when he sold it and bought a home in the village of Trout Creek, where he now resides. For twenty years he has dealt in all kinds of farm implements, and is still engaged extensively in this business.

March 13, 1858, he married Miss Mary Ann Sherwood, daughter of James and Chloe (Steward) Sherwood, of Roxbury. The Sher- wood family are of German ancestry, the father of James Sherwood being Moses Sher- wood, a pioneer of Roxbury, and a sharp- shooter in the War of 1812. It has always been said that he was the man who killed General Brock; and his own explanation of the affair was, "I don't know as I killed him; but I took good aim, and saw him fall." Moses Sherwood settled in Roxbury at the beginning of this century, his first habitation being a log cabin with a blanket for a door. The wolves and other wild animals howled about the house at night; and many a time, while her husband was at war, the wife of this sturdy pioneer was obliged to lift her oldest boy to the horse's back that he might go to the mill. He lived to be over ninety years of age, active and rugged to the end, being able to read without glasses. His wife, Sarah Cator Sherwood, was born in Roxbury. Their son James, the father of Mrs. Jenkins, was a successful farmer of Roxbury, following that occupation throughout his life. His children were: George, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Sarah, Eleanor, Chloe, Peter, and Melissa. H died at Roxbury in 1894, at the age of eighty- four years, having been for many years a member of the Methodist Episopal church.

Hosea Jenkins and his wife are the parents

of four children: Eva, the wife of Smith Shultes, a farmer in Tompkins, and the mother of one child, Blanche; Emma, who married Marvin Hinman, of Walton, and has one daughter, Mary; Nora, the wife of Homer Pierson, formerly of Masonville, but now a resident of Tompkins; and Orson, who resides with his parents. Mr. Jenkins is regarded by his neighbors with much esteem and defer- ence. He has occupied various positions of trust in the town of Tompkins, in 1883 serv- ing as Commissioner of Highways. He and his estimable wife attend the Methodist Epis- copal church at Trout Creek.

ORTER LAKIN, a respected citizen of the town of Hancock, was born October 9, 1845, on the old home- stead in Hancock, now occupied by his brother, James Lakin, whose biography, together with the family history, may be found in another part of this volume.

Porter Lakin was educated in the district schools of his native town, and since his six- teenth year has followed the river as a lumber- man, besides carrying on an extensive farm business. His home has been in the neighbor- hood of Hawk Point. June 16, 1867, he mar- ried Mary Mills, a native of Prattsville, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Rowe) Mills. Henry Mills came from Glasgow, Scotland, and settled at Prattsville, Greene County, where he was for a time employed in the woollen-mills. Later he moved to Equinunk, Pa., where he bought a firm and lived for some years, after which he came to Hancock, first making his home on Greene Flat, later at Hawk Point, where he passed his last days, dying in 1868. His wife, who was a native of Greene County, survived him a number of years. She was the mother of a large family.

Mr. and Mrs. Lakin have had ten children, namely: Julius, born December 30, 1868; Ernest, born October 7, 1871 ; Harry Egbert, born October 16, 1872; Maud Lillian, born January 10, 1876, died September 20, 1880 ; Porter D., born March 28, 1878, died April 7, 1880; Earl R., born February 23. 1880; Her- bert D., born January 8, 1882: Margaret M., born November 9, 1884; Ellen Mills, born

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June 26, 1887; Porter H., born November 4, 1892.

Mr. Lakin has over eight hundred acres of land, much of which is under. cultivation, the methods used being the most modern. By his interest in the public welfare and his diligent application to business he commands the re- spect of his fellow-townsmen, whose apprecia- tion of him has been often attested by their votes at the polls. He is a Democrat, and has held a number of positions of trust and honor, having been Assessor of the town for six years, and being now Commissioner of Highways.

EV. MILTON C. HAMBLY was or- dained in October, 1893, as pastor of the Presbyterian church of Ham- den, Delaware County, N.Y. He is a Canadian, having been born in Nobleton, County York, Ontario, in 1858. His grand- father was William Hambly, of Nova Scotia, who married Nancy Fisher, and died in the

prime of life, leaving a widow, three sons, and one daughter. Their son John was born in Nova Scotia in 1828, and married Mary Ann Holden, who was born at Brampton, Ontario, in 1839. Mr. Hambly is engaged in mercantile life in Toronto. He and his wife are the parents of seven children : Amelia C., wife of W. H. Ayer, of Toronto; William S., a commercial traveller, residing in Toronto; the Rev. Milton C .; Jennie E., wife of John A. Trollope, a Methodist minis- ter in Ontario; John W. F., a commercial traveller, who is unmarried and lives at his parents' home in Toronto; George J., who is also a commercial traveller; and M. C. F. Hambly, who is married and in business with his father.

Milton C. Hambly received his early educa- tion at Nobleton, and was graduated from Knox College, Toronto, in April, 1893. He is an energetic, earnest worker in the gospel, intent on rightly divining the word of truth. On May 19, 1885, he married Miss Elspeth L. Butchart, of Mildmay, Ontario, daughter of John and Isabella (Kennedy) Butchart. Mr. and Mrs. Hambly are the parents of three children: Ivan C., born February 5, 1887; Elwood C., who was born December 7, 1888;

Knox H., a child of two years, having been born October 18, 1892.

RTHUR F. BOUTON, well known as a leading business man of Roxbury, N. Y., was born in this town, July I, 1872, son of Burrett and Eliza- beth (Frisbee) Bouton. The paternal grand- parents were John T. and Betsy M. (Fuller) Bouton, the former of whom was the son of Samuel Bouton.

Burrett Bouton was born in Roxbury in 1847, and received his education at the Rox- bury Academy. At the age of fifteen he began to work as a clerk for his father, who kept a store of general merchandise, and after- ward became a partner in the business. Having acquired a knowledge of the legal pro- fession, in 1885 he gave up commercial interests, and devoted his cntire time to the practice of law. He was an active and useful citizen, a strong Democrat in politics, and twice served his town as Supervisor. He died in 1891, at the comparatively early age of forty-three, leaving three children - Ar- thur F., Anna, and John Frisbee Bouton. The mother of these children, Mrs. Elizabeth (Frisbee) Bouton, daughter of John and Jane (Smith) Frisbee, survives her husband, and is a lady much respected by a wide circle of friends. She is a member of the Reformed church of Roxbury.

Arthur F., the elder son of Burrett Bou- ton, received his early education in the com- mon school at Roxbury, and later attended the Stamford Seminary. At the age of seventeen he began to read law with his father, and after the latter's death continued his legal studies with A. C. Crosby, Esq. Later he turned his attention to the insurance business, and at this time represents the New York Life In- surance Company, and also some of the best fire and accident insurance companies. In 1892 he married Miss Lulu Craft, a daughter of A. J. and Elizabeth (Faulkner) Craft, of Roxbury. Mr. Bouton's office and residence are both on Main Street. He is the Town Clerk, and is connected with the fraternal orders, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 608, of Roxbury.

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AMES HUNT, a practical farmer and highly respected citizen of Tompkins, Delaware County, N. Y., was born in Charlestown, N.H., May 27, 1827, and

was of English and American parcntage. His father, Henry Hunt, was a native of Lon- don, England, and led a sailor's life for a num- ber of years, afterward settling in America. He married Esther Hart, who was born near Charlestown ; and for a time he resided in the State of New Hampshire. He then moved to Springfield, Vt., where he died in the prime of life, leaving his widow with four children. She lived near Springfield until her death.

James Hunt was very young when his father died, and he came to live with his aunt, Mrs. Benjamin Lane, about one mile from Can- monsville, Delaware County. Here he grew to manhood, and lived until his marriage at thirty-four years of age. Starting out in life for himself, Mr. Hunt purchased a tract of timbered land, which he cleared, and then sold a few years later, buying one hundred acres now included in his present farm. About twenty acres of this land had been cleared, and it contained one log house. Mr. Hunt at once began to fell the trees and prepare more land for cultivation. He has at present upward of seventy acres cleared, and has erected good frame buildings.

Mr. Hunt was married on November 6, 1861, his bride being Miss Harriet Elizabeth Hathaway, who was born in Tompkins, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hatha- way. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt arc the parents of two children: Gracc B., who married Samuel L. Halbert; and Frank L. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Presbyterian church at Can- nonsville, and both she and her husband are respected throughout the community in which they reside.

EVI SYLVESTER CHACE, druggist, also Postmaster of Walton, Delaware County, N.Y., was born in the town of Hamden, January 21, 1837. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Chace emi- grated from Holland previous to the Revolu- tionary War, and at the breaking out of hostilities was a soldier under General Wash-

ington. He settled in Rhode Island, and was the father of three sons who lived to maturity, all of whom came to Delaware County. They were Sylvester, Philip, and George. George Chace married Christina Van Hunsen, by whom he had ten children, who may be thus bricfly mentioned: Hiram G. scttled near Bethany, Pa., where he married and reared a family. William G. settled in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and married Miss R. Church. Francis, who went to California, died young. Henry is a resident of Delaware County. Edward lives in Illinois. Sarah married Allen Crandall, of Alba, Pa. Maria married Henry Lill, of Delhi, both of whom are deceased. Lydia A., married to George Furman, died in Pennsylvania. Amy married Warren Peak. Augustus B., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamden in 1813, and married Miss Harriet Monfort, of Kortright, by whom he had these children : Levi S. is our subject. Jared, a farmer of Dclos, N. Y., died 1891. William is a resi- dent of Binghamton, N. Y. Mary, married to Clark Gould, of Walton, died in 1871. Emily is the wife of Robert Harvey, of this county. Hattie died 1889, at Elmira, N. Y. Mr. Chace lived to see many important changes in the county, all the outcome of progress and prosperity. He was an old-time Democrat up to the time of his death, in 1874. Mrs. Chace is still living, residing with her son at Walton.

Levi S. Chace was educated at the schools of his native village, afterward settling upon a farm, where he remained until 1864, when he came to Walton, shortly embarking in the drug business, which he has continued up to the present time. He was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Tiffany, a daughter of Harry Tiffany. Miss Tiffany was born at Black River in 1839. They reared five children, namely: Harry, who was killed on the rail- road in 1889; Marcia, wife of William Borst, of New Jersey; George, who resides in Nor- folk, Va., a jeweller by trade, and married to Miss Maggie Sutherland; Helen, wife of Alvin Reinhart, of Walton; Herman, a grad- uate of pharmacy. Mr. Chace has been Chief of Police of Walton, and twice occupied the position of Collector of Walton. He was ap-

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pointed Postmaster of Walton, February 21, 1894. He is a member of Walton Lodge of Free Masons, No. 559, and a charter member of Walton Chapter, No. 251. Mr. Chace has done as much as any man of his time in pro- moting the welfare of Walton.

DWARD F. TOMPKINS, a very suc- cessful merchant of Union Grove, was born January 8, 1867, son of Daniel and Sarah (Turner) Tompkins. His paternal grandfather, a farmer, married Elizabeth Post, and had a family of seven children - Daniel, John, Charles, Robert, Mary, Esther, and Libbie.

Daniel Tompkins was born in Roxbury, where he was educated and grew to manhood. When quite young, he commenced working at lumbering, and to some extent in the tan- nery business. In 1862 he enlisted at Delhi in the Fourth New York Cavalry, and served throughout the war. While carrying de- spatches, he was taken prisoner, and held for nine months. After his release he met and married Sarah E. Turner, whose father was a large planter, of Portsmouth, Va. At the close of the war he returned North, buying a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Canada Hollow, in Middletown, about six miles from Margarettville. Here he was very successful in his farming career. He and his wife be- came the parents of the following children : Edward F., the subject of this sketch; Mar- garet, who married W. C. Sanford, of New Kingston; Susan, who now lives at New Kingston; Charles, a farmer of Margarett- ville; Frona, who lives

in Stamford ; Chauncy, who resides at New Kingston; and Edna, whose home is also at New Kingston. Daniel Tompkins sold his farm, and removed to Arena, Delaware County, where his wife died October 31, 1887. He has since lived with his son Edward. He is a Republican, and an active worker in politics, being also very liberal in religious views.

Edward F. Tompkins was educated at Jack- sonburg, but when quite young commenced to work on a farm. At the age of eighteen he became a clerk in the store of D. A. Fletcher, in whose employ he remained for five years.

He then came to Union Grove, buying a store from Mrs. F. B. Mason, on the corner of River and Barkerboom Streets. He here car- ries a complete line of general merchandise, is always obliging and courteous to his cus- tomers, and has a very large patronage.

The wife of Mr. Tompkins is Flora, daugh- ter of Warren and Elizabeth ( Brower) Weaver. Peter Weaver, the grandfather of Warren, was born in Dutchess County, and came to Dela- ware County, settling in what is now known as Weaver Hollow, where he owned a large farm. He married Sarah Phenix, by whom he had ten children. His son William, the father of Warren, was born on the old home- stead, and was educated in the common schools. He married Eva Austin, and had four children - Warren, Angelina, Ira, and Sarah. William Weaver bought a part of the old homestead, and lived there till his wife died. He then married Mary Travis, and went into a hotel at Lumberville, now called Arena, where he resided several years, and afterward bought a farm in Prattsville, but on account of his wife's ill health removed to the village of Durham, Greene County. In 1885 he came back to Delaware, and has lived with his son Warren. His second wife died in 1894. He is a Republican, and an es- teemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At the age of twenty-one Warren Weaver, the father of Mrs. Tompkins, bought one hundred and fifty acres of land on the Delaware River, where his sister Angelina kept house for him a few years. In 1866 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Louis and Mary Brower; and they have two children now living: Flora, who married the subject of this sketch; and Alma, who is at home with her parents. A daughter, now deceased, was named Olive. In 1887 Mr. Weaver bought an adjoining upland farm, removed there, and now makes that place his home, while he still owns the farm on the Delaware.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 82

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