Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 9

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 9

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Orlando Gould was the youngest child of the parental household. During the days of his youth he remained at home, assisting on the farm, receiving his elementary education in the district school, and afterward for two or three terms attending the Walton Academy. After his marriage Mr. Gould lived for seven years on a part of the homestead. In 1864 he entered into the livery business in Walton, buying out a stable owned by George Smith, devoting his time to that for the next two years. Disposing of his livery interests, he again went to New Jersey, where he lived for a year, learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a time. He then returned to Walton, and, buying out the interests of the other heirs, soon after took possession of the homestead. He now carries on a substantial business in general agriculture, devoting his farm in the main to dairying, which he finds very profitable.

The first wife of Mr. Gould, to whom he was united in 1857, was Mary St. John, who was one of six children born to John and Sarah (Acker) St. John, early pioneers of Walton. She lived but a few years after their

marriage; and Mr. Gould subsequently mar- ried Eliza Jane Kerr, the daughter of Joseph and Antoinette (Honeywell) Kerr. Of this last union two children have been born, Mary Anna and Frank Wheeler. In local affairs, Mr. Gould is a man of influence, and in what- ever position he has been placed has acquitted himself in a creditable and praiseworthy man- ner. In politics he supports the Republican party, and has served as Inspector of Elec- tions. He has been a stockholder and one of the directors of the Delaware County Bank. Socially, he is an active member of the Sons of Temperance. Religiously, he and his fam- ily are members of the Congregational church, toward the support of which they are liberal contributors.

ENRY ENGLAND, a retired mer- chant, has been an important factor in advancing the wealth and pros- perity of Delhi, whose position among the flourishing villages and towns of Delaware County is due to the men whose excellent judgment singled it out as an eli- gible point for business, it being situated in the midst of a country possessing vast re- sources ready for development. Prominent among the keen, far-sighted men who took advantage of this condition was the subject of , this personal history, who for more than half a century has been closely identified with its interests, and taken an active part in pro- moting its welfare. He is a native of Eng- land, having been born on April 21, 1807, near the city of Bath, where his father, John England, carried on the trade of a cloth- dresser, dying, however, when comparatively young. He married Elizabeth Bleakley, a life-long resident of England, and a native of Bradford on the Avon. She was a beautiful type of true womanhood, and a conscientious member of the Baptist church, her long life of eighty-nine years being spent in doing good. She reared the following children: Rachel, Ruth, Thomas, Henry, Isaac, and George.

Until twenty years of age Henry England lived with his parents, obtaining a substantial education in the excellent schools of Bath, and a practical knowledge of the cloth-

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dresser's trade from his father. In the mean time he won the affections of an attractive girl, Mary Knapp, one of the seven children of William and Mary Knapp, the former of whom was the superintendent of a large cloth manufactory; and their banns were soon pub- lished. The same year, on May 6, 1827, their marriage was solemnized in the old church of Bradford Wells, England. The following day the youthful couple bade adieu to home and friends, and started on their wed- ding trip, going by stage coach to the coast, and then crossing the Channel, and spending the first month of their honeymoon in France. Finally, embarking at Havre de Grace in a sailing-vessel, they came to America, their long voyage of nine weeks and three days being one of pleasure. After landing in New York, they proceeded to Fishkill on the Hud- son, thence, after a short stop, to Glenham, Dutchess County, where Mr. England began working at his trade. Five years later he re- moved to Poughkeepsie, where he continued at his occupation until 1839. In that year he came to Delaware County; and, securing em- ployment with Mr. Titus, the owner of a fac- tory in Delhi, remained with him ten years. Mr. England then entered into business as the American agent for Hatfield & Shaw, boot and shoe manufacturers of England. In 1844 the firm dissolved partnership; and Mr. England established a dry-goods business, opening a store on the corner of Meredith and Main Streets, in the building now occupied by Groat & Ferguson, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this book. From that time until 1884 Mr. England carried on an extensive and very lucrative business, occupying a conspicu- ous position among the leading merchants of the county. He then sold out to Bell & Honeywell, and has since lived retired from the active pursuits of life, enjoying the com- petency which he earned by his many years of honorable labor.

He has been twice married. Of his union with the bride of his youth were born three children - Theophilus, Henry J., and Eme- line. Henry J., who married Elizabeth Barns on January 1, 1852, now resides in the South; and his household includes five chil- dren - Mary, Charles, Augustus, Libbie, and

Jessie. Of these, Mary married Edgar Wat- kins; and they have two children - Bessie and Harry. Libbie married James G. Jester, of Delhi. Augustus married Jennie Covert ; and they have one child, Henry. Emeline, the youngest child, married Thomas Carter, the pastor of a Methodist church; and they are the parents of four children- Josie, Annie, George, and Harry. Theophilus, who was born October 2, 1834, was educated in the schools. of Fergusonville, and was con- nccted with his father in the dry-goods busi- ness until 1861, when, inspired by an earnest and patriotic zeal, he raised a company of one hundred men from among the best and most chivalrous of Delhi's population, and on Oc- tober 21 went to the front as Captain of Com- pany I, Eighty-first Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was as brave and true-hearted an officer as ever drew a sword, and for gallant conduct and meritorious ser- vices was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He showed his valor in several hard-fought battles, among which might be mentioned those of South Mountain, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, the advance on Peters- burg, and many others. While passing over the battlefield after a severe engagement on June 18, 1862, and when stooping to give a gray-coated private from the Rebel army a drink from his canteen. he was shot by a sharpshooter, receiving his death wound. He was loved, honored, and respected by every man in his regiment; and his body was ten- derly cared for and subsequently brought home, and is now interred in the beautiful cemetery of Delhi. He was the idolized child of his father, who has never fully recov- ered from the shock of this sudden bereave- ment. The Grand Army Post of Delhi takes its name from the memory of this heroic soldier.

A few months after the loss of this beloved son, sorrow again laid its chastening hand upon Mr. England in the death of his wife, who was taken from him, after a blessed com- panionship of more than thirty-five years, on the 25th of October, 1862. In her daily life she exemplified the teachings of the Methodist church, of which she was a consistent member. Mr. England subscquently formed a matri-

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monial alliance with Mrs. Margaret Beller, widow of the late James E. Beller, and the daughter of Henry C. and Magdalen (Becker) Shaver, life-long residents of Schenevus. Her mother died at the age of sixty-two years, and her father at the venerable age of eighty- two years. Both of the parents were mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. England attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, having been one of the organizers, and in which he has held all the offices.

Mr. England is a straight and stanch Re- publican. He has filled several of the more important offices of the town, and served as Justice of the Peace for many years. He has always been a leader among men, and was for years a stockholder and a director in the bank. The beautiful home occupied by Mr. and Mrs. England was built in 1862, and is one of the most complete and attractive resi- dences in the village.

AMUEL M. WHITE, a practical and prosperous farmer of the town of Tompkins, was born in the town of Kortright, September 10, 1838. He is of Irish descent, his parents, James and Catherine (Pursell) White, having been born in the Emerald Isle, the former in the year 1793 and the latter in 1798. In 1818, soon after their marriage, they emigrated to Amer- ica, landing in New York City after a voyage of fourteen weeks. They proceeded directly to Kortright, where Mr. White bought one hundred and fifty acres of land, on which many improvements had already been made. He labored with unceasing energy, and, as time passed on, bought other land, owning at the time of his death a valuable farm of two hun- dred and fifty acres and being classed among the leading farmers of the town. Politically, he was identified with the Democratic party, and held liberal views in regard to religious matters; while his good wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are now living, as follows: James, a farmer, lives in Unadilla. John, also en- gaged in farming, resides in Kortright.

Susan, the widow of John B. Burdick, lives in Davenport. Samuel M. lives in Tomp- kins. Amelia is the wife of E. N. Thomp- son, a farmer of Meredith. The deceased are: Edward, who died when sixteen years old; Mary, who passed away at the age of twenty years; Henry, who died when forty- five years old; and Catherine, at the age of fifty-one years.

Young Samuel spent the earlier part of his life in the town of Kortright, obtaining his elementary education in the district schools, and afterward attending the Delhi Academy two terms. He remained under the parental roof-tree until twenty-nine years of age, work- ing most of the time on the home farm, al- though for three years he worked out as a farm laborer, receiving for his wages three hundred dollars a year, a portion of which he saved. In 1871 Mr. White purchased the farm where he has since resided, and which was known at that time as the Brundage farm. To the eighty acres that then constituted the farm he has since added by purchase, and now has a beautiful homestead of one hundred and seventy acres. Here he is interested in gen- eral farming and dairying, keeping twenty- four cows and young cattle, the proceeds of his dairy yielding him an annual income of one thousand dollars. He also makes a spe- cialty of raising sheep, having a fine flock of twenty-six, of the Shropshire breed.

Mr. White was united in marriage October 15, 1867, to Catherine M. Hammond, born in Delhi, April 5, 1848, being a daughter of William and Maria (Burgett) Hammond, both natives of Delaware County. Her father was born in Delhi in 1806, and her mother in Davenport in 1812. William Hammond's father, Gideon Hammond, served in the Revo- lution, and afterward became one of the pio- neer settlers of the town of Delhi, where he took up a tract of wild land, and made his home thereon until his death.

Mr. William Hammond is still living on his farm in Delhi, and is an active, hearty old gentleman, bearing well his burden of eighty-eight years. He has always been an industrious and energetic man of business, evincing excellent judgment in the manage- ment of his affairs. In religious matters he

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is liberal, and in politics is an uncompromis- ing Democrat. Mrs. Hammond passed to her rest in 1868, being then but fifty-six years old. Three of the children born of their union are yet living, as follows: David G., who lives in Peoria County, Ill .; Walter W., on the home farm in Delhi; Catherine M., Mrs. White. Their other children were: Harmon S., who enlisted to serve his country in the late Civil War, in the Sixth New Jer- sey Volunteer Infantry, and died in Ander- sonville Prison, aged twenty-five years; and Hulda A., the wife of J. D. Gardener, who died at the age of fifty-one years.

Mr. and Mrs. White have three children living, namely: Florence A., born June 26, 1872; Marsha M., born July 25, 1880; and Susan H., born April 16, 1886. A son, William H., born September 22, 1875, passed to the life eternal on February 17, 1891. Mr. White is one of the useful and valued citizens of his town, and is contributing his full share toward its prosperity and advance- ment. Mrs. White is a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is liberal in his religious views. In politics Mr. White is a sound Democrat, and invari- ably casts his vote in support of the principles of that party. Socially, he is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 289, A. F. & A. M., at Hobart.

AMES H. JENKINS, a prosperous lumber merchant of Union Grove, was born April 14, 1860, at the family home on Barkerboom Creek, in the town of Andes, Delaware County. His par- ents were Anson and Sarah (Mekeel) Jenkins. Anson Jenkins was born on December 3, 1833, in Roxbury, and was the son of James and Polly (White) Jenkins. His brothers and sisters were Alonzo, Nathan, David, Egbert, Delilah, Elephan, Lucinda, Ella, and Ange- lina. James Jenkins was in several different occupations in his younger life; and in 1849, a number of years after his marriage, he bought one hundred and thirty acres of new land in the town of Andes, where in company with John Mekeel & Son he built a saw-mill on the Barkerboom Creek. Here they sawed

their lumber and rafted it down the river to Philadelphia. To this estate he afterward added two hundred and seventy acres, on which he worked till his death, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a man of great activity, accumulating quite a large property, the care of which during his life occupied his whole attention. In politics he was a Repub- lican. His widow now lives with her son Nathan at Union Grove.

Anson Jenkins, who came with his father to Andes, here grew to manhood, and worked at clearing the land and running the saw-mill. He married Sarah Mekeel, daughter of John Mekeel. This latter gentleman, already spoken of as the partner of the elder Jenkins, was born October 6, 1798, and was the son of Lewis and Mary (Birch) Mekeel, natives of Connecticut, who came from there to the town of Middletown, and settled on a farm of one hundred acres. Their children were John, Charles, George, Phebe, Martha, Betsy, and Axie. They were members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Mekeel was a Democrat in politics.

The children of Anson Jenkins were: John W., deceased; James H .; and Emery, of whom a sketch, with further account of the father and grandfather, may be found on an- other page. James H. grew up in the town of Andes, and was educated in the district school. At the age of twenty-two he married Inez J., daughter of James H. and Melissa (Miner) Davis, farmers on Tremperskil in the town of Andes. Mr. Jenkins bought of Mr. Hitt a house below his saw-mill, which was built by Harris Hulbert. This he has entirely remodelled, and here he dwells near his business. The work at the saw-mill is in a flourishing condition, about two hundred thousand feet of his own lumber being run, beside much custom work. The manufacture of shingles and laths forms an important branch of his industry, which also includes planing and matching boards.

Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have one child, a son Roy, born October 6, 1882. They are mem- bers of the Episcopal church, and he is a stanch upholder of Republican principles. Mr. Jenkins is widely known throughout this section for his extensive lumber interests, and

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personally is held in high regard for his straightforward business ways and manly character. He is much respected, and is one whose opinion and advice in regard to mate- rials for carpentry and cabinet-work are highly valued.

LBERT O. SCOTT, attorney-at-law of Croton, Delaware County, N.Y., is a gentleman who possesses rare quali- fications for his profession, and enjoys a well- established reputation as an able counsellor and advocate. He is a grandson of Caleb Scott, a Connecticut farmer who fought in the Revolution, and three years before his death, at seventy-four years of age, received a pen- sion from the government. In 1812 he and his wife, Phebe (Webb) Scott, with their two-year-old child, Harvey, left the land of their birth and removed to the town of Frank- lin, N. Y.

In 1831 Harvey Scott married Miss Mary Blair, who was born in Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, daughter of Elam and Anna (McOnoughey) Blair. This worthy couple were natives of Hampden County, Massachu- setts, whence in 1811 they moved to Ohio, where they remained but one year, after which they returned eastward, and engaged in farm- ing in Stamford, Delaware County, and later in Jefferson, Schoharie County. Mr. Blair died in 1865, at the advanced age of eighty- five, his wife surviving him nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Blair were blessed with nine chil- dren, of whom these four daughters still live: Mrs. Scott, the mother of the subject of this sketch; Angeline Blair, a maiden lady of Franklin Village, aged eighty; Arvilla, who taught in the public schools for sixty-one terms, but retired seven years ago, and now lives in Croton; and Mrs. Juliet Shepard, a widow lady, who lives in Croton.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Scott spent most of their wedded life on the farm which Mr. Scott's father bought eighty-two years ago; and here, on November 10, 1891, they cele- brated the sixtieth anniversary of their mar- riage. On this joyous occasion there were present two of the ladies who had acted as bridesmaids at the wedding - Mrs. Scott's

sister and Mrs. Hine (Nell Green); and it is needless to say that they occupied the places of honor next to the bride and groom. At the death of Harvey Scott, the farm of one hundred and sixteen acres adjoining the old homestead was left to his son Elbert. Mrs. Harvey Scott is still living, in her eighty- third year, spending the summers with her son Elbert in Croton, and going to her other son at Oneonta for the cold, hard winters. She is a well-preserved lady, being still active both in mind and body.

Elbert O. Scott was born March 6, 1839, in Franklin, where he attended the district school until about fourteen years old, after which he entered the academy, and at eigh- teen began the study of law. In 1860 he was admitted to the bar, for which he was fully prepared one year earlier, but had not reached the required age. Previous to this, he had been in charge of the office of Judge Lamont in Schoharie County during the five months' absence of the judge at the meeting of the legislature. For one year he remained in this office, practising on his own responsibil- ity. In 1863 he left for New York City, where, in company with his brother, he be- came a salaried attorney for Henry A. Burr, which position he occupied for three years. After one year in business with Major J. B. Caryl in Candor, Tioga County, he opened an office for himself in that flourishing village, and continued to practise his profession with no other help than his own well-balanced brains, remaining there for twenty-two years. During his residence in Candor, Mr. Scott was a candidate for Special County Judge; but, as he was a Democrat and the county Republican, he was defeated, although in his own district he stood far in advance of the other candidate. Mr. Scott now spent a year in practice in Owego, and in the spring of 1889 removed to Croton.

In 1860 Mr. Scott married Miss Anna R. DeGraff, of Schoharie County; and two sons have been born to them: Harry D., a com- mercial traveller in Syracuse, who is married and has one son; and William H. Scott, an accomplished electrician, who for several years has occupied a responsible position at Fishkill on the Hudson.

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An honorable man, highly intellectual and strongly practical, Mr. Scott stands in the front rank of his profession; and the high regard in which he is held gives abundant proof of his ability as a lawyer and his strong and noble character.

MASA PARKER COOK, who has converted his home at Butternut Grove into a most delightful sum- mer hostelry, which is well patron- ized by the inhabitants of the neighboring cities, is one of the best-known and most pop- ular citizens of the town of Colchester. He is a great-grandson of John Cook, who came to America as an English soldier, and was wounded at the battle of Monmouth.

During his confinement in a hospital John Cook met Miss Dolly Parker, whom he after- ward married, and who became the mother of four children - Daniel, Joseph, Prudence, and Catherine. He lived for a short time at Collicoon, Sullivan County, where he was en- gaged in the lumber business, and whence he moved to Pepacton in the town of Colchester, there building a log house and barn. The family, being subsequently attacked by Ind- ians, were obliged to flee for their lives, leav- ing the redskins to carry off all of their earthly possessions which were of any value and to burn all the buildings on the place. After peace was again restored, John Cook returned to the old location, which was unusu- ally attractive, rebuilt the demolished house and barn, cleared the land, and raised grain and cattle. He remained there for several years, but in 1797 sold the farm, and with his family and some stock crossed the mountain to Beaver Kill, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared, erecting buildings, and sending the logs down the river to Philadelphia. Bears, deer, wolves, and panthers were frequently killed, the two former for food, the latter to prevent their depredations. A herd of elks, at first twelve in number, which lingered near the clearing, for some time supplied the family larder with game. Trout, also, were very plentiful in the neighboring brooks and creeks, and furnished an agreeable and wholesome

article of diet. This was fortunate, as, al- though John Cook raised grain on his farm, he was obliged to carry it to Kingston to be ground, the nearest mill being in that town. The journey to this mill and return occupied four days, and so was only made when absolutely necessary. John Cook made his home at Beaver Kill for the remainder of his days, but died at Downsville while on a visit to his daughter, at the advanced age of eighty years, his wife also living to be very old.

Joseph, son of John and Dolly Cook, was born in 1777, at Collicoon, Sullivan County, where he grew to manhood, and married Miss Eleanor Carrier, afterward settling at Lib- erty in the same county. They were the parents of four children - Halsey, Munoris, Alonzo, and Lucretia. At Liberty Joseph Cook built a hotel, of which he was proprietor for ten years, at the end of which period he returned to the old homestead, and with the assistance of his brother operated the farm there, being at the same time engaged in the lumber business. He was a volunteer in the War of 1812, taking part in the engagements at Brooklyn and Sackett's Harbor. When peace was declared, he once more returned to his old occupation, and devoted much of his leisure to hunting, killing over four hundred deer, which with other game he exchanged for groceries. He was an ardent Demo- crat, and died, a firm believer in the prin- ciples of that party, in 1851, his wife living until 1879.

Halsey, eldest son of Joseph Cook, was born at Liberty Village in 1820, and removed with his parents in 1832 to Beaver Kill, where he was educated in the common schools, and followed the occupation of his father, that of a lumberman and farmer, in which he was very successful. By patient labor and eco- nomical living he managed to accumulate enough money to purchase a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres near that of his father, which he also bought some time later, and was then the possessor of seven hundred acres. Halsey Cook married Elsie Lawrence; and they had two children: Amasa Parker, the subject of this notice; and Emily, who was born July 21, 1850, married Horton Cook,

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and died in 1875, leaving one daughter, Viola. Halsey Cook resided on his farm until his death in 1867. He was a Republi- can, and always voted with that party. His wife passed away in 1880.

Amasa Parker Cook was born February 8, 1847, and was but four years of age when he came to his present home, where he was reared to manhood, and received his education in the common schools of the town. His days were devoted to the work on the farm and lumbering, and his evenings he spent in studying and reading. By this means he be- came well informed and a good business man. He began to ship his lumber to Philadelphia when he was but twenty years of age, sending one thousand dollars' worth down the river in a year. For five years he continued in this business, cutting the trees himself.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 9

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