Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 85

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 85

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Tompkins, near Deposit, where he spent the remainder of his earthly life, dying at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, Catherine Delemater, was the daughter of Isaac Dele- mater, a pioneer of Middletown, to which place he came with his wife when the tim- bered land was the home of wolves, bears, and other wild animals. The log cabin, which was their first dwelling-house, was the place of birth of the larger number of their large family of children, but was eventually re- placed by a substantial frame house. Of the union of Mr. Van Aken and Catherine Dele- mater nine children were born, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: Jeremiah, who died in the army; John D .; William; Jacob; James; Matilda ; and Sarah Jane. The mother, who lived to a good old age, died in what is now Deposit.

John D. Van Aken was educated and spent the earlier years of his existence in Middle- town, tilling the soil in season, and attending the district school in winter and whenever he could be spared from work. At the age of eighteen years he came with his parents to Walton, and for some time thereafter assisted in the labor of clearing the land and improv- ing the farm. He subsequently worked out by the month for a while, and, when twenty- eight years old, bought the homestead of his father, in which he has since made extensive improvements, building the present fine resi- dence and the convenient barn and out-build- ings. In addition to the raising of the cereals common to this section of our country, Mr. Van Aken devotes his attention to the dairy business, keeping from twelve to fifteen cows, and making a superior grade of butter, which he disposes of to private customers.

Mr. Van Aken was united in the bonds of matrimony, in 1862, to Miss Jane C. White, a daughter of Robert and Anna White, and who came from Scotland in the year 1833 with her parents. A brother, John G. White, now resides in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. White were carly settlers in the town of Bovina. The only child born of this happy union was a bright and interesting boy, named White G. Van Aken, who passed from this life when only eleven years old. Although no aspirant for political honors, Mr. Van Aken keeps well

informed on topics of general interest, and in politics indorses the principles of the Republi- can party. Mrs. Van Aken has been actively identified with the Presbyterian church, of which she is a valuable member, since 1857, first in Bovina, and later in Walton.

AMES WILLIAM CURTIS is the pro- prietor of Maple Villa, situated three- quarters of a mile from Fleischmanns depot. He was born in New York City in 1860, October 24. His grandfather was Samuel Curtis, and the grandmother's maiden name was Mary Ann Kell. Samuel Curtis was born in London, and was a seafar- ing man, dying at the age of thirty-five, while in command of a ship. His wife long out- lived him, dying at the great age of ninety- five. Her last years were spent in this country with her grandson at Maple Villa.

John Kell Curtis, eldest son of Samuel, was born in London, but came to America at the age of sixteen, and learned the jeweller's trade with his uncle, John Brock, whose shop was on Chatham Street, New York City. After six years' apprenticeship John began at the age of twenty-two, to trade for himself, at No. 83 Bleecker Street, New York City, and soon was the head of so good a business that at the end of five years he sold out the Bleecker Street shop, and opened a larger establishment on Broadway, between Eigh- teenth and Nineteenth Streets, where he re- mained for seven years. By this time he was nearly thirty-five years oll, and he engaged in the antique furniture trade for two years. Then he went in with the firm of Sypher & Co., at 593 Broadway, where he continued many years, when he died at the age of sixty. His wife, Mary Frazier Gibson, was the daughter of a thriving jeweller, James Gib- son. Their only child now living forms the special subject of this sketch. After her hus- band's death Mrs. Mary F. Curtis came to Delaware County to live with her son, and is still in the enjoyment of excellent health. She is attractive in person and manner, with an excellent faculty for business, and belongs to the Dutch Reformed church, in which her husband was an influential Eller.

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James W. Curtis was educated in the New York schools. At the age of eighteen he became a clerk with Pope & Stevens, hard- ware dealers at 114 Chambers Street, New York City. After three years he went into the antique establishment of Sypher & Co., where his father was also employed, at 593 Broadway. Still later he came to Delaware County, bought the sixty-five acres constitut- ing the old Patrick Redmund farm, and moved into the little frame house, where for a few years he entertained a few city boarders in summer. Being of an enterprising disposi- tion, and having a wide metropolitan acquaint- ance, he then built the large four-story house called Maple Villa, besides a barn and smaller buildings, and fitted up the grounds with a shaded lawn and four maple groves, the whole estate being situated twenty-two hundred feet above the level of the sea. A fine road leads from the village to the Villa, which affords accommodation for nearly sixty boarders, and is always well filled in the season. The land- lord also owns fine turnouts for pleasure- driving, and keeps eight Jersey cows, which supply cream for the table. He also raises his own chickens, geese, ducks, and turkeys.

In 1883 he married Elizabeth L. Hatfield, daughter of Charles R. and Christina (Miller) Hatfield, of whose family sketches may be found elsewhere in our volume; and they have one child, John K. Curtis, born May 26, 1888. Mr. Curtis is a Democrat in politics ; and both himself and wife are still members of the Presbyterian society in New York City, to which they belonged many years ago. A poetic preacher, Dr. Cyrus A. Bartol, has wisely written : -

"Labor is never a thing of mere muscle or nerve. Are not intelligence, will, fidelity, and the sweat of the brow alike in the stu- dent's and the digger's task?" And this is the spirit of Mr. Curtis's life.

CTAVE B. FISH, one of the younger veterans of the late war, a well- known blacksmith of Fish's Eddy, is a native of Hancock, of which this village forms a part. On the paternal side he is of Welsh descent, his progenitors

having come to America from Wales in the seventeenth century, being among the pio- neers of the New England States.

Edmund Fish, great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, married Lydia Billings, of Connecticut. He was a Revolutionary sol- dier, and was employed throughout his life in farming. His children were: Isaac, Jehu, Daniel, Billings, Franklin, Lydia, Hannah, Lucy, Rebecca, and Grace. He removed to Vermont after the Revolution, and later went to Liberty, Sullivan County, N. Y., where he was one of the first settlers. Isaac Fish, son of Edmund, was born in Stonington, Conn., April 14, 1777, and received his education in Vermont. . Removing with his parents to New York, he assisted his father on the farm, and taught school in Liberty. He married Rachel Stewart, daughter of Jehial and Rachel (Williams) Stewart, of Massachusetts; and they had five children - Hiram, Jane, John, Stuart, and Charlotte.

Hiram Fish was born in Rockland, Dela- ware County, February 5, 1809, and was an infant when his parents moved to Hancock. Later he removed with them to Rockland, and afterward to Ellenville. Having received his education in the public schools, he began while quite young to follow the life of a lum- berman on the Delaware River, and has now for many years been a steersman. When

twenty-six years of age, he removed to Dela- ware County, where he married in 1836 Miss Persis A. Underwood, daughter of Silas Underwood, whose former home was near Bos- ton, Mass. Hiram Fish has been honored by having the thriving little village where he resides named for him; and he gave the land on which the depot of the O. & W. Rail- road stands, that it might be placed on his side of the river. He has held many town offices, as Justice of the Peace, Assessor, and Highway Commissioner, and was Postmaster from 1873 to 1887. He attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He and his wife had eight children, five of whom still live, namely: Rachel J., who resides in Denver, Col .; Octave, the subject of this sketch ; Emma M., wife of S. V. Proudfit, a lawyer of Glenwood, Ia .; Martha H., who married E. Martin Edwards, of Sidney Centre; and Ed-

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mund. The latter, who was born in 1839, enlisted at the breaking out of the war, and served until 1863, when he was discharged on account of sickness and returned home. In 1871, hoping to improve his health, he went to the Adirondacks, and remained in that re- gion five years, following the occupation of guide and hunter. In 1876 he returned to his native town of Hancock, and seven years later, in 1883, was appointed Assistant Superin- tendent of the Yellowstone National Park, and held that position until the park was placed under the control of the War Depart- ment in 1886. He returned home in poor health, but in 1893 his health was greatly benefited by a course of treatment. He has served as Justice of the Peace, and votes with the Republican party.

Octave B. Fish was educated in the district schools, and in 1864, when but seventeen years of age, enlisted in Hancock in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, Com- pany F, and took part in the engagement on James Island, in February, 1865, serving until the close of the war, and being mustered out July 14, 1865. He then returned to his native town, where he engaged in lumbering until 1870, when he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he has since been employed. In the spring of 1881 he went to Colorado, where he worked at his trade for a timc, after which he returned to Hancock.

November 14, 1873, he married Miss Ellen M. Houck, daughter of Edwin and Mary (Read) Houck; and they have had four chil- dren : Jennie, born November 28, 1875; Syd- ney, born March 14, 1878; and Emma and Mary, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fish attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and are highly respected members of society. Mr. Fish has been Constable for a number of years, is a Republican in politics, and is cs- teemed wherever he is known.

RS. EMMA (McCALL) EELLS is the widow of Edward Eells, one of Walton's old residents. She was born. in Athens, Pa., in 1835, and at an early age was married to Ed- ward Eells. Most of the years of their mar-

ried life were spent in Coventry, N. Y. ; but shortly before the death of Mr. Eells, on April 9, 1894, they moved to Walton, where she now resides with her children. Ten chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Eells - Gran- ville, Benjamin, Edward, Junius, Clarence, Fannie, Adelaide, Sophronia, Gcorgiana, and Juliet ; and all are living but three. Mrs. Eells also has seventeen grandchildren to comfort her in her declining years.

UNIUS HIRAM EELLS is one of the successful business men of Walton, where his paternal grandfather, Benja- min B. Eells, was an early settler, coming from Connecticut in 1770. In those days horseback was the only means of travel- ling; and the family emigrated in that way, bringing their household goods. Benjamin's son, Jeremiah Baird, the father of Junius H. Eells, is now seventy-three years old, and for over fifty years has been in the carriage busi- ness. He founded the firm of J. B. Eells & Son, of which his son Frederick now has charge. J. B. Eells, or "Baird," as he is better known to the older residents, is one of the respected citizens of Walton; and during the late war he was elected Supervisor. He and his wife, Sarah Olmsted, are enjoying the fruit of a well-spent life in their comfort- able homc on North Strcet.

Mr. Junius H. Eells is a member of the firm of Eells & Mott, of Oneida, N. Y., and represents them on the road. He was born in Walton, February 21, 1846, and when sixteen years old entered his father's carriage-shop as an apprentice. This trade he followed for seventeen years, leaving it to travel for Spencer & Co., of Oneida, whose business was purchased by Eells & Mott over nine years ago. Mr. Eells was married December 27, 1866, to Eunice C. St. John, and four chil- dren were born to them; namely, Frank. Howard, Bessie, and Emma, of whom only Frank and Emma arc living. Mrs. Eunice Eells died October 23, 1883. On February 12, 1885, Mr. Eells married his second wife, Minnie Bass Tibbals, of New York City, by whom he has had two children --- Martha and Alden. The latter died August 4, 1892.

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Mr. and Mrs. Eells also have an adopted child, Charlotte Brownell. Mrs. Minnie B. Eells was born in Stockbridge, Mass. Her grandfather was Jonathan Chamberlain, a Colonel in the War of 1812. A sturdy and patriotic citizen, with physical powers of re- markable endurance, he lived to be eighty-two years old without the loss of a tooth; and it was his boast he did not know what the tooth- ache meant.

In closing, it should be said that the sub- ject of this sketch, Junius H. Eells, is one of the best-known men in the carriage trade of the East, and the business of his firm covers six or seven States. Since May 1, 1892, he and his family have occupied their spacious and comely new residence, built in the Colo- nial style, opposite the attractive home of the North sisters.

LYSSES S. CAMPBELL was born on Campbell Mountain on December 5, 1837. The ancestor of this family of Campbells in America, and the grandfather of Ulysses, was Archibald Camp- bell, born in Scotland, September 24, 1776. Early in 1800 he emigrated to America; and in Westchester, N. Y., on November 29, 1803, he was married to Miss Mary Jones. Archi- bald moved to what is now known as the town of Colchester, but which at that time was al- most a trackless wilderness. With the cour- age and strength that marked the Scottish emigrant, he bought a tract of this land, and immediately began the arduous task of clear- ing a site for a habitation. There were Ind- ians in the vicinity more to be dreaded than the wild animals of the forest, and more jeal- ous of the encroachments of the "pale faces," who each year came in greater numbers to usurp the domains.

In spite of the almost inconceivable diffi- culties of the situation, he brought his wife to their humble woodland home; and amid these rough surroundings they reared a family of eleven children. Daniel C., their eldest son, born November 20, 1804, married Phœbe Bogart, and died November 12, 1874. Eliza- beth, born May 7, 1806, married Eleazer Conklin, and died July 30, 1853. Mary Ann,

born March 29, 1808, married David Warren. Robert, born May 4, 1809, married Hannah Radeker, and died July 5, 1891. Janette, born May 15, 1812, married Samuel Hitt, both deceased. Jane M., born May 7, 1814, married W. H. Radeker, deceased. Archi- bald, born September 8, 1816, married Charity Voorhees, and lives on Campbell Mountain. Cornelia, born August 1, 1818, married Josiah Warren, and died June 13, 1869. John, born April 30, 1820, married Catherine Sprague, and died January 9, 1867. Esther, born June 3, 1822, married George Gregory, who died; and she was married a second time to Enoch Knapp. Caroline, born August 25, 1824, was married twice, first to George Elmwood, second to Isaac Wil- son, and lives in Downsville.

Archibald Campbell was left a widower, his wife Mary, who was born in Wales, June 17, 1783, dying on the date of her birth, in 1827, in Colchester. He returned to Scot- land after his second marriage, and died in his native land on August 8, 1856. Robert Campbell, the second son of Archibald, and the father of Ulysses, started out for himself at twenty-one years of age. He bought one hundred acres of his father's land; and then, as he saw that the business in which he had embarked - lumber dealing - was proving a successful venture, he purchased other timber tracts, and was soon considered the most skil- ful steersman who floated a raft on the Delaware. All of the lumber was sent to Philadelphia down the river; and the raftsmen were piloted back to Kingston, from which point they had to walk home. This return journey of sixty miles Robert often made in a day, being of remarkable physique and very athletic. He was deeply partisan during the anti-rent war, and was a Captain in general training at that time.

He won the hand of Miss Hannah Radeker; and to them were born five children, namely : Ulysses S .; Francis, born September I, 1839, dying November 5, 1866, who was a Sergeant in the Civil War; Orin, born Octo- ber 28, 1844, who died in 1875; Helen, born October 31, 1841, now Mrs. C. T. Bogart, living in Downsville; Celestia Jane, born October 20, 1846, who married Mr. E. Brad-

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ley, and is now dead. Robert Campbell died at the age of eighty-two years, having lived a useful Christian life worthy of the respect and imitation of all who knew him. He was a Whig in political faith and a Presbyterian in religious convictions. His wife, Mrs. Han- nah Radeker, born May 26, 1804, was one of a large family, and the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Radeker. Her father was born Sep- tember 9, 1776, and died April 3, 1857. The dates of her mother's birth and death were May 17, 1775, and August 1, 1834.

Ulysses S. Campbell grew up on the old homestead, which he afterward bought. He enlisted in the United States service in 1862, in Company K, One Hundred and Forty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1863. In 1864 he re-enlisted, and remained in the ranks until the end of the struggle. In 1871 he was married, in Franklin, to Miss Sarah Francisco, a daughter of DeLancy and Jeannette (Davidson) Fran- cisco. Mrs. Campbell's parents were among the early settlers of Colchester. Her father was born September 19, 1807, and died at the age of eighty-three years. Her mother, whose home is with Mrs. Campbell, was born September 11, 1811. Mr. Campbell has held several offices, and is now Commissioner of Highways. He formerly turned his attention to dairying, and has lately bought land in Downsville, where he has built a handsome residence. He has always been an advocate of Republican principles. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are in the communion of the Pres- byterian church. They have no children ex- cept two by adoption, namely: Mac D., who now resides with them; and Sherwood D. Francisco, who is now married, and resides on Mr. Campbell's farm. They also gave a home to Robert C. Bradley and Orin Mathews for a number of years.

EORGE J. HUYCK, a thriving farmer of Deposit, was born in Tompkins, N. Y., September 7, 1840, son of l'eter Huyck, Jr., who was born in the same town, March 26, 1810, he being the son of Peter Huyck, a native of Schoharie County. Isaac Huyck, father of Peter, was also born

in Schoharie County, and was of Dutch de- scent, his ancestors having been among the original settlers of New York State, while he was one of the founders of the town of Scodic, or, as it is now called, Schoharie. Removing from that place, he eventually bought a farm in what is now Cannonsville, on Trout Creek. As time went on, improvements were made by him, and the acreage increased. Isaac Huyck died when ninety- six years of age, on the farm he had cleared, and which is still held in his family. His son Peter assisted with the work on the farm, and later added to the number of acres on Trout Creek. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War he enlisted with the American forces under different com- mands, and many and various were the anec- dotes of those exciting times he would relate to his grandchildren. He distinctly remem- bered the flight of his parents from their home near Kingston, whence they were driven by the Indians. Peter Huyck was married twice, first to Susana Gardner, of Kingston ; and from this marriage there were four chil- dren - Lottie, Annie, George, and Isaac. He married for his second wife Cornelia Huyck, a distant relative; and from this union there were seven children - Peter, Andrew, Jacob, Elisha, Susan, Julia, and Lavinia. Mr. Huyck lived on the homestead on Trout Creek, and died there when a very old man.

Peter Huyck, Jr., started in active business life for himself as steersman, rafting logs to Philadelphia. Later he took to buying and selling live stock, walking long distances, driving his herd before him, buying and sell- ing as he went. At the end of a few years he bought a farm, which he stocked well, and in connection with his farm work engaged again in lumbering. When twenty-seven years of age, he married Esther Seeley, daugh- ter of William and Mary (Benedict) Seeley, of Sidney. They had five children, namely : William E., who married Lavinia (Begeal) Houghtaling, the widow of Elias Houghtal- ing, who was killed in the late war; George J., the subject of this biography; Julia A., who married Charles Downs, of Deposit : Mary E., who married William Begeal, son of Samuel and Charlotte (Barley) Begcal, of Schoharie County; and Celia Ann, who mar-

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ried Charles A. Palmatier, of Tompkins. Peter Huyck, Jr., still lives at this writing, scarcely showing his advanced age of eighty- five years, and remembers all important events that have occurred during his life. He was one of the founders of the Presbyte- rian church in his town, and its first Deacon. He was in his young days a Democrat; but at the starting of the Republican party he cast his vote with them, and has continued to do so up to the present time.

George J. Huyck received his education at the district schools, helping his father with the farm work at odd times, and had just be- come of age, in 1862, when the war broke out. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volun- teers, served three years; and at James Island, in front of Charleston, on February 17, 1865, was shot by two minie balls, which struck both legs. After lying in the hospital at Beaufort, S.C., he returned to the regi- ment, and was granted a furlough of thirty days. He reported for duty at the end of that time, and was mustered out in July of the same year. After remaining at home about two years, he went to Riceville, Mitch- ell County, Ia., where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. He remained there three years, then sold out, returned East, and bought the homestead, where he engaged in farming, dairying, and lumbering to a certain extent. In 1892 Mr. Huyck sold that place, and went to the DeMoney farm, where he re- mained but a short time, as in 1894 he bought the Whitaker estate, one of the best and old- est in the country.

On November 27, 1872, George J. Huyck married Ann E. Travis, of Hale's Eddy, a descendant of the old Whitaker family, the original owners of his estate, and a sister of Squire Travis, of Hale's Eddy, town of De- posit. Mr. and Mrs. Huyck have three chil- dren - William Jan, Rutherford Squire, and Celia Ann. Mr. Huyck is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his wife a member of the Baptist church of Tompkins. He was a charter member of Hathaway Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Deposit, and is hon- ored and respected as a patriotic and useful citizen,

URDEN W. BATES, a descendant of an old and honorable Scottish fam- ily, was born in the town of Col- chester, Delaware County, N. Y., October 13, 1863. His great-grandfather, Robert Bates, left Monedie, Scotland, in 1801, and came to America, bringing papers attesting a highly honorable Christian parentage.

James, the grandfather of Gurden, was a boy of ten years when his father emigrated to this country; and he grew up thoroughly im- bued with American ideas and Republican principles. He owned a place in Delhi, which he sold, and then settled on the estate in Colchester known as the "Squire Tate farm," a tract of four hundred acres of land. Here he conducted an extensive business in lumber dealing, floating his timbers down the Delaware to their markets. He belonged to the political party known as Whig in his gen- eration, and was of the old-school Presbyte- rian faith. To him and his wife, Elizabeth Bates, were born six children, namely: Mary, the wife of William Polleck, of Iowa; Sarah, the wife of Mr. Jared Fuller, of Iowa; Har- riet, who married Simon Horton, both dead; Robert; James, Jr., who married Amanda Dann, of New York City; Gurden E., who, after serving in the Civil War, went to Kan- sas, and died there in 1888.

Robert Bates, son of James, was born in Delhi on February 25, 1823. He was edu- cated in the district schools, and worked with his father in the lumber business until he was twenty-four years old, when he married Miss Mary Wilson, a daughter of John and Millicent (Rumsey) Wilson. Robert Bates bought the northern portion of his father's farm when he first began farming, and finally purchased the entire estate. He was largely engaged in lumber dealing, in which he was eminently successful. He held the office of Postmas- ter from 1849 to 1852, and was Justice of the Peace for twelve years. He was a Republi- can, and in 1879 was elected a member of the Assembly, and was Sabbath-school superin- tendent for thirteen years. He died on the 13th of July, 1888, leaving his wife, who sur- vived him two years.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 85

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