Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 89

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 89

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ures. A beautiful view of the valley below and the surrounding country can be obtained from his house, making the place one of the most attractive spots in Delaware County. In addition to general farming, Mr. Hilson has a fine dairy of twenty milch cows, mostly Jersey gradcs, which in 1893 yielded him an average of two hundred and ninety pounds of butter per head.

Mr. Hilson has been twice married. In 1861 he was united to Helen Graham, who died in 1866, leaving him with two children. On March 28, 1868, he married Jeanette O. Stott, a native of Bovina, and a daughter of George and Ellen (Storie) Stott. Mr. Stott was a native of Scotland, who was for many years engaged in farming pursuits in Bovina, where he died at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who lived to the good old age of eighty-six years, was a life-long resident of Bovina. Both were worthy members of the Presbyterian church. Of the large family of children born to them six lived to maturity, and four are now living, namely: George, a farmer in the town of Andes; Walter O., a truck gardener in Colorado; Jane, a resident of Bovina Centre; and Mrs. Hilson.

Mr. Hilson has four children living, as fol- lows: Mary S., the wife of David Finkle, of Bovina Centre; Jennie; Nellie J. ; and Bessie M. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and are greatly respected among their neighbors and associates. In politics he is a strong adherent of the Repub- lican party and a man of influence in local affairs. He has served with fidelity as Asses- sor for the past seven years.

AMUEL EGGLESTON, a prosper- ous farmer of Tompkins, N. Y., was born in this town, December 27, 1838. His grandfather, Samuel Eggleston, was a native of Saratoga County, where James, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. In 1828 they removed to Tompkins from Corinth, the journey being made overland in ox teams; and there they erected a log cabin. The father worked for a time in a saw-mill, and also at his trade as a mechanic, in connection with farming. He

married Ruth Cook, of Tompkins, and died in 1844, upward of seventy-eight years of age, having been father of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity.

James Eggleston was a famous hunter, and had many exciting adventures with wolves and panthers, more than once narrowly escaping with his life. - He died in 1864, at the age of seventy-four years. His grave is in the fam- ily burial-ground on the homestead farm. His wife, Ann Gifford, daughter of Joseph Gifford, a farmer of Saratoga County, died September 2, 1886, and is buried beside her husband. They had the following children : Nancy, who married Theodore Sisson, a farmer of Pennsylvania; Clarissa, who mar- ried David Scott, a farmer of Tompkins; Rachel, the wife of Isaac Scott, of the same town; Susan, who married Jacob Gordenies, a farmer in Tompkins; Betsy A., wife of Henry M. Smith, a mechanic and farmer of Mace, Mich .; Simon C., a farmer, who married Alice Russell, of Tompkins, and died there in 1892; James, who married Mary Avery, and has since passed away : and Samuel.

Samuel Eggleston's boyhood was passed on the old farm in Tompkins, where he attended the district school. His father being an in- valid for twelve years, the care of the farm fell upon young Samuel when he was but fifteen years of age. December 31, 1859, he married Olive Miner, daughter of Abram and Keziah (Golden) Miner, of Drayton, Catta- raugus County, where Mr. Miner was engaged in carpentcring and farming. Mrs. Eggles- ton was left an orphan when very young, and was educated at Walton. She and her hus- band have had three children: Albert J., born April 30, 1861, who died January 6, 1888; Curtis S., born November 27, 1865; and Mel- vin A., born November 25, 1870.

Albert J. Eggleston married Estella Coll- ier, of Tompkins; and they were the parents of two children - Hattie B. and Maggie M. Curtis S., a carpenter of Binghamton, married Katc M. Shaw, of that city. Melvin A., who assists his father on the home farm, married Emma A. Webster, daughter of Hiram B. Webster, of Tompkins. Mr. Samuel Eggles- ton is a successful farmer and a highly re- spected citizen of the town where he resides,

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and to promote the welfare of which he is ever ready to lend a helping hand.

HARLES DOYLE, a representative farmer of the town of Hancock, N. Y., was born in this town September 6, 1828, and died on April 16, 1871. The Doyle family is well known in the pio- neer history of this section of the country, having been the first settlers of Doylestown, Pa., and also among the first to settle Han- cock, coming to the latter town early in the nineteenth century. Edward Doyle, the father of Charles, was born in Hancock, and spent a long life in his native town, dying at the age of eighty-two. His wife was Harriet Leonard, also of Hancock.

When Charles Doyle started in life for himself, he purchased the farm on which his widow is now living. This estate is beauti- fully situated on the banks of Lake Somerset, and here Mr. Doyle spent the remainder of his life. His death, at the age of forty-three years, removed from the community a man of much usefulness, of sterling qualities, and highly respected by all who knew him. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an active interest in his party.

On June 7, 1858, Mr. Doyle married Ma- tilda Lakin, daughter of Jonas Lakin, second, and Mary (Thomas) Lakin. They were the parents of three children: Walter, who lives on the home farm with his mother; Herbert, a telegraph operator on the O. & W. Rail- road at Cook's Falls; Evelyn, wife of Au- gustus Reyen, of Hancock, and the mother of one child, Charles Reyen.

AMES COWAN STORIE, M.D., a well-known physician and surgeon of Walton, was born in Bovina, Delaware County, N. Y., January 12, 1855, the son of Alexander and Esther A. (Calan) Storie. James Storie, the father of Alexan-

der, was born in the north of Ireland, and was there married to Mary McCurrie, of Scotch descent. They emigrated to America soon after his marriage, settling in Bovina, where Mr. Storie cleared his land, and in course of

time had a fine farm under cultivation. His family consisted of Mary A., now a resident of Bovina; Nellie, who married George Stott, and died at Bovina; Mrs. Bruob; Samuel, who died in the town of Tompkins; and Alex- ander, born in 1814.

At the time of the Rebellion Mr. Alexan- der Storie was active in raising men for the Northern army, during which period he was Supervisor of the town. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, and for many years held the responsible office of Justice of the Peace. He is a Republican in politics. He married Esther A. Calan, who was born in Delaware County in 1820; and they had five children, briefly recorded below: William died at eigh- teen years of age. Marion died at the age of ten. James resides in Walton. Alexander F. is a resident of Orange County, New York, married to Miss Gussie Hastings. John William, married to Miss Jennie Laidlaw, re- sides in Bovina. Both Mr. and Mrs. Storie are members of the Presbyterian church, which they were instrumental in building.

James Cowan Storie received his early edu- cation at the district schools, afterward at- tending the Stamford Seminary, where he was graduated. He read medicine in the office of Dr. Henry Ogden, a prominent physician, was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 1884, and at once came to Walton, where he has re- mained in active practice ever since. Dr. Storie is a member of the Delaware County Medical Society. He has never been active in politics or sought any office, but devotes his whole time to his profession.

HARLES S. ADAMS represents one of the old pioneer families of Stam- ford, of which town he is a highly respected citizen. He was born on June 29, 1839, in the same house in which he now resides. He is a great-grandson of Joseph Adams, a descendant of one of four brothers of the name of Adams who came to New England with the early colonists.

Joseph Adams was born in Connecticut in 1740, his father, Abram Adams, being one of the first settlers of that State. Joseph was a

JAMES C. STORIE.

DAIRY FARM OF JOHN T. MC DONALD, DELHI, N. Y.

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farmer, and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He died in Fairfield County, Connect- icut, at a good old age. His son, another Joseph, was born in August, 1770, and mar- ried Sarah Smith, born in May, 1776, also in Connecticut. In June, 1797, this worthy couple moved with horse and cart to Delaware County, New York, and settled in Stamford, where they cleared land and built a log house. Joseph Adams, Jr., was a weaver by trade, and followed this occupation to some extent after moving to Delaware County. He was one of the sturdy, courageous farmers of that time, industrious and faithful to his duties, and at his death owned a productive farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres of land. He died September 6, 1819, a Whig, of liberal religious views; and his wife passed away February 2, 1839. They were the parents of four children, namely: Smith, born Septem- ber 12, 1796; Philemus, born in August, 1801; Fidelia, born in October, 1806; Edwin, born July 24, 1810. Edwin is the only survivor of this family; and he is one of the oldest citizens of the town, residing with his son Charles.

Smith Adams, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born September 12, 1796, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and was brought to Delaware County by his parents when but eighteen months old. He grew up to a farmer's life, and succeeded to the old home- stead, where he died August 5, 1870, having passed a useful, successful life. His wife was Rachel Taylor, born in Fairfield County, in December, 1797, a daughter of Zalmon and Hannah (Whitlock) Taylor. She died June 16, 1856, the mother of three children, only one of whom, Charles S., of this sketch, is still living. The others were: Sarah Adelia, wife of John M. Bennett, who died in 1886; and Eliza Jane, wife of David Sturgess, who died in 1892.

Charles S. Adams was educated in the dis- trict schools, after which he gave his attention to farming. His farm contains one hundred acres of land, and here he operates an exten- sive dairy. March 9, 1871, he married Miss Maria M. Ballard, a native of Roxbury. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are the parents of five chil- dren - Francis B., John Q., Eva M., Mary,

and Sarah. They are liberal-minded and pub- lic-spirited, and Mr. Adams is a Republican. He has made extensive improvements in the buildings on his place, which give evidence of his good judgment and ability.

OHN T. - McDONALD, general farmer, stock-raiser, and manufacturer of fancy dairy butter, owning and ably manag- ing a finely improved farm on Elk Creek, in the town of Delhi, has spent his entire life on the beautiful homestead which he now occupies, his birth having occurred here October 4, 1842. He is one of Delhi's most brainy and progressive agriculturists, possessing in an eminent degree those traits that command respect in the business world and gain esteem among his neighbors and associates.

Mr. McDonald is the rightful inheritor of those habits of thrift and enterprise which have been the stepping-stones to his success- ful career, being the scion of an excellent Scotch family. His great-grandfather, who was a native of old Scotland, emigrated with his family, and was one of the earliest pio- neers of Delaware County, where he took up land in the town of Stamford. Alexander McDonald, a son of the emigrant, was a little lad of four years when he left his native Highlands; and the larger part of his after life was spent within the limits of this county, although, when a young man, he was for several years .the captain of a sloop on the Hudson River. He subsequently bought a timber tract in Stamford, where he established a home, and he and his good wife reared their family of seven children - Ann, John, James, Jane, William, Alexander, and George.

James McDonald, the father of the subject of this sketch, was quite a young man when his father, Alexander, died; and from that time until his marriage he resided on the paternal homestead, taking full charge of it. In 1841, soon after his union with Elizabeth Rose, the daughter of Hugh Rose, a farmer of Stamford, he bought the farm now owned by his son, John T. It was then partly cleared: and in the succeeding years he placed a large share of it under cultivation, erected a fair

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set of buildings, and established a most com- fortable homestead for himself and family. He was a skilful farmer, an upright man, and one of the best-known and most valued citi- zens of this section of the county. His wife was the descendant of a respected pioneer of Delaware County, her grandfather Rose hav- ing removed here from Scotland in 1776, while this region was but a vast forest, find- ing his way by means of blazed trees. Ind- ians still roamed the woods in those days. One night a party of them came to his house, and took a boy out of bed, where he lay be- tween two others, and carried him away to Canada. His mother never knew what be- came of him. He was well treated, however, by his captors; and, after he had grown to manhood, he came back on a brief visit, re- turning then to Canada, accompanied by two of his brothers. Mr. Rose built the first mill in the locality in 1792, on Rose Brook. His son, Hugh Rose, improved a good farm in the town of Stamford, and there reared a family of ten children - Mary, Margaret, Lydia, Sarah, Eliza, Elizabeth, Hugh, Abigail, Edmund, and Catherine. The family circle of James Mc- Donald and his wife included seven children, as follows: Alexander; Clark H .; James H. ; Catherine, the wife of William Gaffers, of Albany County ; John T., of Delhi; Isabella, the wife of James W. Hills, of Albany County ; and Charles R. Both parents spent their entire wedded life on the homestead, the father dying in 1868, at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother when sixty-seven years old. She was a woman of sterling worth, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of West Kortright.

John T. McDonald received a good com- mon-school education. During his youth and early manhood he assisted in the care of the farm; and after the death of his father he bought out the interests of the remaining heirs in the estate, running heavily in debt therefor, and has since been successfully en- gaged in general farming and dairying, carry- ing on his operations in that systematic and intelligent manner that is a sure guarantee of prosperity. His farm contains two hundred acres of choice land, some one hundred and sixty of which are under cultivation, and on

which he has made extensive and expensive improvements, such as draining swampy land, pulling out stumps, and placing it in a pro- ductive condition. He has entirely rebuilt the residence, furnishing it with many of the modern improvements so conducive to the comfort of the family, including among other things a furnace for heating. He has also erected a commodious barn, sixty by one hun- dred feet, and about fifty feet high, the base- ment of which is devoted to the swine. The second floor, which has stalls for a hundred head of cattle, contains the cow stable; and on the upper floor is the wagon-room and the horse stable, and he has recently annexed a creamery, with all the conveniences for mak- ing five hundred pounds of butter per day. Each floor of this "animal palace" is most conveniently arranged; and the conveniences for feeding, watering, and caring for his stock can scarcely be improved. We must not for- get to mention that above the wagon-room is a threshing-machine, run by power from the mill, in which the grain harvested upon the farm is threshed. He also has a large poultry- house, built on the most improved plans, accommodating about eight hundred hens. With characteristic enterprise Mr. McDonald built a mill upon his farm a few years since ; and here, from timber which he cuts on his own land, he manufactures the boxes in which he ships his butter, and has also a grist-mill for grinding feed and a cider-mill in which, when the seasons are propitious, he makes large quantities of cider and cider jelly. Every acre of the land is made available; and, in order that the sugar maples of his orchard may bring him good returns, he has erected a sugar-house near his mill, and here the sap from seven hundred trees is annually con- verted into syrup or sugar, for which he finds a ready market. Mr. McDonald is a man of great native ability, possessing unusual me- chanical talent; and the major part of the various improvements of the place emanated from his own brain, and are the productions of his own hand. In his workshop are tools of many kinds, in the use of which he is an adept. Although a general farmer, our sub- ject pays especial attention to dairying, his fine herd of graded Jerseys numbering about

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ninety head, from which in 1893 he sold twenty-three thousand one hundred pounds of butter, sending it direct to private customers, and shipping it to all parts of the country. In the sale of his farm products, which, be- sides butter, include fresh eggs, chickens, maple syrup, condensed cider, and cider jelly, Mr. McDonald has built up a most extensive and lucrative trade, his goods having a fine reputation, and bringing the highest market price.

On February 1, 1871, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Catherine Covell, a na- tive of Roxbury, daughter of Edmund and Araminta (Wilson) Covell. The father was for some time engaged as a carpenter in Rox- bury. The last twenty-eight years of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Covell were spent in the town of Walton, where they successfully managed a large farm, and where, within one short week, both passed to their final rest. They were excellent Christian people, and es- teemed members of the Methodist church. During the wedded life of John T. McDonald and his estimable wife, in which sorrow as well as pleasure has had its sway, eight chil- dren have been born, of whom we record the following: James died at the age of six months. Eddie died at the age of nine years. Elizabeth, an accomplished young lady, was graduated from the Delaware Academy in the class of 1895. Earl died at the tender age of two years. The others are Amelia, Catherine, Isabella, and Araminta. Religiously, Mr. McDonald and his family are connected with the Presbyterian church; and in him the Re- publican party finds an earnest advocate. On an accompanying page may be seen a view of Mr. McDonald's farm.

EV. CHARLES A. HUBELL, pas- tor of the First Baptist Church at Trout Creek, Tompkins, N. Y., was born in Goshen, Litchfield County, Conn., July 2, 1845. He is of old Puritan stock, being descended from early settlers of New England. Loveman Hubell, his grand- father, was born in Warren, Conn., December 5, 1784. He married Rosannah Mead, born March 28, 1792, daughter of Abner Mead, of

Warren, and removed to Franklin, Delaware County, N.Y., of which town he was one of the pioneers. He and his wife were the par- ents of eleven children, namely: Orilla, born December 31, 1809; Lucy, born August 24, ISII; James F., born July 18, 1813; Lucius S., born September 12, 1815; James L., born December 29, 1817; Sarah, born October 25, 1819; Henry S., born January 6, 1822; Charles W., born July 7, 1823; Clarissa A., born December 2, 1825; David C., born De- cember 4, 1829; Mary R., born April 30, 1832. Loveman Hubell moved to Walton, and spent his last days at the home of his grandson, of whom this sketch is written, dying October 22, 1866, a firm believer in the Baptist faith.

His son, James L., was educated in the dis- trict schools, and graduated from the Franklin High School. Being offered a position as foreman in a large machine-shop at Goshen, Conn., he removed to that town, and was Cap- tain of a cavalry company in the State militia for a number of years. He married Polly Ann Wedge, daughter of Lyman Wedge, of Warren, Conn. James Hubell died of ty- phoid fever when a young man of twenty-nine years; and his death was followed two months later by that of his wife, she being a victim of the same fatal disease. Their two sons, John L., born October 2, 1842, and Charles A., born July 2, 1845, were thus left orphans at an early age, and were cared for by their grandparents, Loveman Hubell and his wife. John L., the elder, enlisted in the Civil War in 1863, going to the front from Walton in Company I, Twenty-first New York Cavalry, and serving under Sheridan in the. Shenandoah Valley. He was taken ill while in service, and died in 1864, being buried in Washing- ton, D.C. His wife was Martha J. Beagel, of Walton, a daughter of John Beagel. Mr. and Mrs. John L. Hubell were the parents of one child, Oliver A. Hubell.

Charles A. Hubell, son of James L. and Polly Ann (Wedge) Hubell, was a mere boy of seventeen at the breaking-out of the war, but enlisted August 12, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and served through the great struggle, being mustered out June 25,

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1865, at Hilton Head. September 25, 1867, he married Electa L. Bulkley, daughter of James M. and Rebecca (Hopkins) Bulkley. The Bulkley family was one of the oldest in Dutchess County, Mrs. Hubell's grandfather being James, a son of Moses Bulkley, a sea- captain and native of that county. The Hop- kins family early settled in Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Hubell have four children : Alice M .; Libbie R., who married F. W. Baker, of Hattenburg, Ulster County, and is the mother of one child, Carson; James S., who is engaged in lumbering in Colchester; and Hattie G., who lives at home.

About 1879 Mr. Hubell entered the minis- try, and for twelve years preached at the Col- chester Baptist Church, after which he accepted a call to the Baptist church at Trout Creek. He is a member of Ben Marvin Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 209, of Walton. As a pastor he is beloved by his people, and his work in the Master's vineyard has been blessed with good results.

AMES BALLENTINE, a prominent citizen of Andes, N. Y., was born here on January 27, 1855. His grandfather, David Ballentine, was born in Rox- burghshire, Scotland, and came to this country in 1814, settled in Bovina, where he engaged in mercantile business and farming, and mar- ried Anna Grant.

Duncan Ballentine, son of David, was born in Bovina, February 28, 1821. He kept a store there till 1846, when he came to Andes and engaged in business, afterward organizing the national bank of this place, in which he continued to be interested till his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. In 1864 he was a Republican delegate. Mrs. Duncan Ballen- tine, who is still living, is a strong supporter of the church, as was also her husband. They had eight children, six of whom grew to ma- turity, namely: David, who married Elizabeth Frazer, and had one child - Raymond; James ; George, who married Ella Ferguson, and had four children - Mabel, Laura, Hattie, and Lillian; Ephraim, who married Eva Crispell, and had one child - Duncan; Agnes, who married F. Newman, and had one child -

Hazel; Lillian, who married John Knapp, and had one child - John.

James Ballentine was educated in the Andes and Ferguson Academies. In 1874 he suc- ceeded his uncle David in the produce busi- ness, which he now carries on so successfully. He married Kate Shaw, daughter of Archibald and Mary (Grant) Shaw. Mr. Ballentine has had a very prosperous business career, and is a well-known and highly esteemed citizen, a leader in many of the town affairs. He is a Republican, has been a Supervisor, and a member of the Assembly.

LBRIDGE F. DOUGHERTY, a practi- cal farmer of Masonville, Delaware County, N. Y., was born November 12, 1854. His father, John Dougherty, was a son of Jacob Dougherty, who married Eunice Robinson.

John Dougherty attended the district school in his boyhood, and assisted his father on the farm. Upon reaching maturity, he began farming for himself at Terry Clove, where he was an early settler. He married Maria Signor, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Linderbeck) Signor, of Dutchess County, a descendant of two old pioneer families. In the latter part of the Civil War John Dough- erty enlisted in an engineer corps and served ten months. When peace was declared, he returned to his home and purchased the farm now occupied by his son Elbridge at Mason- ville, where he now passes most of his time, having retired from active life. He and his estimable wife were the parents of five chil- dren, three of whom are still living: Hannah J., who married James Carroll, a farmer at Trout Creek ; Eunice O., the wife of Daniel Hoyt, of Tompkins; and Elbridge F., of whom this sketch is written.

Elbridge F. Dougherty's early life was pleasantly passed in pursuing his studies at the district school and helping in the work of the farm. On July 3, 1877, he married Miss Lydia A. Banker, daughter of Brazillia and Susan (Frear) Banker, of Franklin. The

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 89

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