Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 95

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 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

673

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

died when seventy-nine years old. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a Republican. They had eight children, seven of whom are now living - William, Edward, Albert, Anna, Eliza, Har- riet J., Juliet, and Sarah.

William, the eldest son, and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the homestead, October 23, 1825, and received a district-school education. He married Mary C. Shaw, daughter of Alexander Shaw, who was born in Scotland, and came to Stamford when a boy. Here he married Marjorie Grant, who was born December 9, 1803, and was the daughter of Alexander and Jane (Thompson) Grant. Mr. and Mrs. William Terry had but 'one child, Albert, the subject of this biography. Mr. Terry went to Kings- ton, and with his two brothers engaged in ex- tensive brick business; but at his father's death he came into possession of the farm. He sold his interests in this, however, and went to Buffalo, where he entered into a real estate business, which he conducted for some time. He then went to Ohio, and bought a stock farm, upon which he is living at the present day. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church.

Albert W. Terry received an excellent edu- cation, attending the Stamford Seminary and Kingston public school, and completing his course at the Oberlin Collegiate Normal School in Ohio, after having graduated from the Buffalo High School. Having completed bis studies, he went to Kingston, and acted as treasurer for his father's firm for a short time, and then assisted in the office of a steamboat company in New York. He mar- ried Sarah J. Stevens, a teacher in the acad- emy at Kingston, daughter of William Stevens, a farmer who lived and died in Lewis County. Mr. and Mrs. Terry have four children: Ruth Lowell, born October 28, 1884; Helen Stevens, born November 29, 1885; James Grant, born June 9, 1888; and Margaret Josephine, born February 24, 1891.

After marriage Mr. Terry returned to Ohio, and studied at the theological department of the Oberlin College, and served for five years as the pastor of the Congregational church. In the mean time the old home farm had come

back into the possession of his father, and Mr. Terry now gave up his pastorate and undertook the management of this estate. Here he made many improvements, building a large barn and making of the old home a beautiful three-story house, finely furnished, in which he keeps about thirty city boarders. Mr. Terry has a dairy of Jerseys, twenty in number, and in his productive orchard and garden raises abundant fruit for the table.

ILLIAM J. DOIG, a prosperous young farmer in Bovina Centre, is the son of Walter L. and Jane (Mc- Nair) Doig, and was born in the town of Bovina, December 19, 1862, under the Presi- dency of Abraham Lincoln, when the Civil War was at its height. In this year slavery in the District of Columbia was abolished by Congress, and forever prohibited in the Terri- tories of the republic.

The history of Mr. Doig's family will be found in the sketch of his brother, Andrew T. Doig, which appears elsewhere in this volume. William J. Doig, the special subject of the present sketch, was educated in the district school, and early in life became familiar with the duties of a husbandman. His father hav- ing died, William still lives on the home farm, which he manages with marked success. He married Clara Margaret Sloan, daughter of David and Margaret (Hilson) Sloan, Janu- ary 27, 1890. She was born in Bovina Cen- tre, October 4, 1868. Her father now lives in California, but her mother died when only thirty years of age. Mr. Doig is a general and dairy farmer, keeping, besides other cat- tle, a fine herd of twenty-six grade Jerseys, from whose milk he averages no less than two hundred and eighty pounds of butter per head annually. This farm is especially adapted to the requirements of the dairy ; for a fine nat- ural and never-failing spring of water effects the temperature for cooling the cans, and also furnishcs power by which the churning is done. Indeed, Mr. Doig has gilt-cdged facil- ities for making gilt-edged butter; and every pound he puts upon the market proves that he thoroughly understands the business he has undertaken.

674

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Doig is blessed by the benign presence of his mother; and it is also brightened by one child, a little daughter, Jennie M. Doig, who was born November 10, 1891. The family are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church at Bovina Centre, which was formed largely by the untiring efforts of their worthy ancestor, Walter Doig, one of the enterprising pioneer settlers of the town. In politics our subject is a Republican, living up to the traditions of the Doig family, of which he is an excellent and popular representative. The Doigs live in much comfort, the old farm being a pleas- ant abiding-place; and their residence is a fine specimen of the homes possessed by our prosperous and enlightened agriculturists.

LRA MOSEMAN, an enterprising mer- chant of Halcottsville, was born in the town of Halcott, Greene County, March 23, 1869, a son of William H. and Margaret (Whitney) Moseman. His grand- parents were Birdsill and Chloe (Faulkner) Moseman, the former of whom, when a young man, travelled afoot through the forest to Hunter, Greene County, where he obtained employment in cutting wood at fifty cents a cord, thus earning the first dollar he ever had. He worked in this way through the winter, boarding himself, and gaining early experi- ence in industry and thrift. He married Chloe Faulkner, and bought a farm in Hal- cott, where J. Scudder now lives. Improving the farm, he lived upon it for some time, then sold it, and bought another one at Windham, where he lived about eighteen years. He then sold it, and bought another farm in the south part of the town, where his son opened a small store. After some time he divided this farm into house-lots, and started a pretty village, now called Big Hollow, which is rapidly increasing in population. It has a school, three churches, one store, a black- smith-shop, etc., all due to the enterprise of the Moseman family. Mr. Moseman lived to be eighty-three years of age. His wife still survives him. He was a life-long Democrat, and a member of the Free Methodist Episco-

pal Church. He left five children - William H., Susie, Mattie, Robert, and John.

William H. Moseman received his educa- tion in the district school in Halcott. At the age of twenty-one he bought a one-hundred- and-sixty-acre farm in the town, where he lived two or three years, and then sold out and bought a farm of one hundred acres at Big Hollow. Two years after, his health failing, he went into the mercantile business. He built a store at Big Hollow, started on a small scale, and gradually increased the business, but was finally obliged to give it up on ac- count of ill-health, having been in the busi- ness eleven years.

Mr. Moseman is now living a retired life at Big Hollow. He married Margaret, daughter of Alfred and Phebe (Hammond) Whitney, and has two children : Mattie, living at home; and Elra, subject of sketch. In politics Mr. Moseman is a stanch Democrat.

Elra Moseman, the subject of our sketch, was educated at Big Hollow. After leaving school he worked in his father's store for one year, and then took half-interest in the busi- ness. A year later he sold his interest; and after some time spent in looking for a good location he became associated with A. A. Lewis at Windham, with whom he remained two years. Next he was employed as clerk in the hotel. From there he came to Halcotts- ville, and formed a partnership with F. W. Faulkner in the general merchandise business. This partnership continued six months, when Mr. Faulkner sold out his interest to Robert Moseman, an uncle of Elra. A short time after the formation of this new partnership Robert Moseman died, and Elra is now carry- ing on the business alone. In addition to the usual merchandise, he carries a good line of agricultural implements, drugs, etc.

Mr. Moseman married Mary A. Lockwood, daughter of Milo and Adaline (Lord) Lock- wood. Her father is a well-known and pro- gressive farmer of East Jewett, and has four children : George, who married Nancy Wood- worth, and has one child; Mary, wife of Mr. Moseman; Henry, who married Lena Peter- son, of East Jewett; and Pierce, who lives at home. Elra Moseman has two children: Lloyd, born November 18, 1888; and Ger-

675

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

trude, born November 29, 1890. Like his father and grandfather, he adheres to the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and like them is energetic and enterprising. He is liberal in his religious views.

UGENE THOMAS KEATOR, of Rox- bury, Delaware County, was born Octo- ber 19, 1863, a son of Thomas B. and Maria Sturgis Keator, and a grandson of Jacob C. Keator. His great-grandfather, Cornelius Keator, came to Delaware County with his wife, Jenny S. Keator, and bought the fifty acres of land now owned by Thomas B. Keator. He built a small house, which he afterward enlarged, and kept an inn. He had six children - Isaac, Jacob, Abraham, Betsy, Rachel, and Polly. Their mother died young ; but their father married again, and lived to the great age of ninety-four.

Jacob Cornelius Keator, son of Cornelius, was seven years old when he came with his parents to Delhi, where he afterward married Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of David and Jenny Moore Smith. David Smith came over from Scotland, and settled in Delhi, where he was known as one of the most progressive men of his time. His children were : John M., Jairus, Maria, Jeannette, David, Bruce, Jane, James, William, Elizabeth, and Ann. Before his marriage Jacob C. Keator learned shoe- making with George Frisbee. His father then gave him fifty acres on the flats where the old red house now stands. Later Mr. Keator became an extensive land-owner, at one time owning seven farms, upon one of which, in 1820, he built a house a story and a half high. In 1848 he completed the comfort- able farm-house where he lived until his death, at ninety years of age, having been born November 23, 1797. He had seven children.

His son, Thomas B. Keator, was born on the old homestead in 1826, and until his eigh- teenth year was a pupil at the district school. He finished his education at the Ferguson Academy, graduating after only four terms, and then worked with his father until his thirty-fifth year. On January 14, 1862, he married Maria Sturgis, a daughter of George and Sarah Sturgis, and a descendant of Aaron

Burr. George Sturgis had eight children - David, Levi, John, Salina, Elizabeth, Mary, Maria, and Charles Sturgis. The children of Thomas B. and Maria (Sturgis) Keator are Eugene T. and his sister, Sarah L., who was born August 15, 1865.

Eugene T. Keator was educated at the Rox- bury Academy; and worked on the old home- stead until his twenty-fifth year, when he bought a farm of two hundred and forty-five acres in the northern part of Roxbury, now owned by H. Reed. Mr. Keator spent four successful years in raising Holstein cattle, and was the owner of the noted Morgan stallion, but thereafter sold the farm in order to buy the large boarding-house formerly owned by Dr. J. J. Keator, which he has since converted into a first-class hotel ; and through Mr. Keator's good management it has become a favorite summer resort for fashionable city boarders. The grounds are beautifully laid out, with paths sloping down to the Delaware River, which flows through the estate. Mr. Keator married Lillian Mayham, daughter of Lorenzo and Emma (Brewster) Mayham. Mr. Keator is a Republican, and has held many small offices in the town. In religious views he is very liberal.

HERMAN BISBEE, a retired farmer, living in Meredith Square, has long been numbered among the most substantial men in the business and agricultural community of this part of Dela- ware County, being possessed of more than average ability, great resolution, and energy of character, and those qualities upon which the prosperity of a town and county depend. He has spent his entire life in this section of the county, Delhi having been the place of his birth, which occurred June 6, 1828. He comes of stanch old New England stock. His grandfather, Elisha Bisbee, who was of Massa- chusetts birth, came to Meredith as one of its early settlers, and, purchasing a tract of forest land, carried on farming until his death, which was caused by a cancer. To him and his wife were born five children - Allen, Elisha, Sumner, Harrison, and Bathsheba.

Of the children above mentioned, Sumner

676

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

was the father of Sherman. He was born in Massachusetts, learned the tanner's trade, and worked at it there until after his marriage, when he came with his wife and one or two children to this county. His first occupation after coming here was in the saw-mill with his father, where he remained some time. Then, buying a partly cleared farm in Meredith, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits several years, but ultimately went West, where his last years were spent. His wife was Charlotte Crane, one of several children born to Sumner Crane, a former resident of Massachusetts, but later one of the successful farmers of Meredith. They reared a family of nine children - Sum- ner, Charlotte, Sherman, Oman, Nancy Ann, Francis, Julia, Angelia, and Harriet.

Sherman was reared on the farm and edu- cated in the district school, remaining a mem- ber of the parental household until attaining his majority. He was an industrious boy, and in his earlier years became an adept in the various branches of agricultural industry. He began his independent career on the farm of Reuben Meekey, his father-in-law, carrying it on with success for twenty-five consecutive years. After the death of Mr. Meekey he came into possession of the estate, and con- tinued its care and improvement until 1893, when, having by industry and judicious .man- agement accumulated a competency, he retired from the active pursuits of life.

Mr. Bisbee was married in 1859 to Miss Adelia Meekey, the only daughter of the late Reuben Meekey, a farmer of Meredith, repre- sentative of an old family. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee have an adopted daughter. In politics Mr. Bisbee supports the Prohibition ticket ; and he and his wife are sincere members of the Baptist church, of which he is a Trustee.

OVATUS M. BLISH, of Stamford, is a great-grandson of David Blish, a native of Connecticut, and a lineal descendant of Abraham Blish, who settled in Duxbury, Mass., in 1637, buying a farm of twenty acres at what is known as Eagle's Nest. In .1640 Abraham removed to Barnstable, Cape Cod, where he was among the first settlers, residing in the western part

of the town, which is known as Great Marshes ; and this property was owned by the Blish family for over two hundred years. July 17, 1658, Abraham Blish purchased for seventy- five pounds a farm called the Dolar Davis place, situated in the eastern part of the town, which was known as the common field, and since that period has been called Blish's Point. He was an active, energetic man, prominent in all town affairs, and died Sep- tember 7, 1683, leaving a numerous family. Many of his posterity took an active part in the Revolution and the War of 1812, some also in the French and Indian War.

Aaron Blish, son of David, was born in Connecticut and married Roxie Webster, of the same State. In 1790 they moved to Stamford, Delaware County, where he pur- chased two hundred acres of wild land, which he cleared and improved, building a log house. He belonged to the State militia, and was well known as Colonel Blish. He was an active member of the United Presbyterian church at South Kortright, was a Whig in politics, and held the office of Justice of the Peace. Dis- posing of his first farm, he purchased one at Rose Brook, where he and his wife passed away, both having reached the age of seventy- five years. Of their ten children, three are still living : Mrs. Sally Gould, of Stamford; Mrs. Elmira French, of Otsego County; and Mrs. Emily Sutherland, of St. Paul, Minn.

Their son, Novatus Blish, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Litchfield, Conn., but grew to manhood in the town of Stamford. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for some years, and then purchased a farm and adopted a farmer's life. Moving to Roxbury, he kept a general store for about five years, selling it at the expiration of that time, and returning to Stam- ford, where he became possessor of a farm of one hundred and fifty acres and a store. These he operated for twenty-one years, adding land from time to time to his original pur- chase, until at his death he owned two hundred and fifty acres. He was a practical and suc- cessful business man, a Democrat in politics ; and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church at South Kortright. He came to his death at the age of fifty-seven

677

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

years by falling from a scaffold. He married Mrs. Mary Mapes Barlow, of Albany County ; and she died at the old homestead when seventy-four years of age, leaving two chil- dren by her first husband and six by Mr. Blish, namely: Joseph Barlow, a resident of Ripon, Wis., and his sister, Mrs. Harriet Silliman, wife of A. G. Silliman, of Hobart ; Mary, who died when sixty-one years of age, the wife of William S. Foot, of Hobart ; Novatus M., the subject of this biography ; David P., who lives at Atchison, Kan., and is engaged in the wholesale hardware business ; Alonzo, who died at the age of seventy-five ; Aaron, who passed away when sixty years old ; and Henry, a resident of Broome County.

Novatus M. Blish was born in Roxbury, July 16, 1828, and grew up in the town of Stamford, attending the district school, and later the Hanford Academy at Hobart. When nineteen years of age, after the death of his father, he assumed the charge of the old home- stead, and settled his father's business affairs. He then purchased the home farm and the store, operating the latter until 1861, when he sold it. Until 1892 he occupied the old home, but then moved away to make room for his son. He increased the extent of the farm land to four hundred and thirty acres, making it one of the largest and most pro- ductive farms in the town. Here he operated a dairy, in which industry he was very suc- cessful.

On September 22, 1849, Novatus M. Blish married Miss Marietta Cowan, who was born in Stamford, December 13, 1830, a daughter of John and Nellie (Grant) Cowan. Mrs. Blish passed away March 25, 1893, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Griffin, having been the mother of four children: Charles A., born in 1852, and at present the General Agent of the Portland Insurance Company in San Fran- cisco, Cal., where he resides with his wife and four children; Helen, who was the wife of Bruce Chisholm, but has passed away ; John C., who is married, has one child, and lives on the old homestead; Mrs. Etta Griffin, wife of Thomas Griffin, and mother of two children- Bruce B. and Kenneth B. Mr. Blish is a Presbyterian and a Republican, having held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve

years and Justice of the Session for two terms. He has now retired fiom active business, and lives with his daughter, Mrs. Griffin. An upright, trustworthy man, he holds an exalted position in the regard of all who are fortunate enough to claim his acquaintance.

ORRILL BURRELL, Postmaster at Davenport Centre, and a lead- ing merchant of the town, is numbered among the active and enterprising citizens of Delaware County, of which he is a native. His grandfather, Caleb Burrell, was for many years an esteemed resi- dent of this town, but later lived in Otsego County. He reared a family of six children, his son Charles being the father of the subject of this brief sketch.

Charles Burrell has spent the larger part of his life in Davenport. He is now a resident of the village, where he is carrying on a sub- stantial nursery business, his enterprise and intelligent application to this branch of horti- culture being rewarded by eminent success. To him and his wife, formerly Catherine Rowe, a native of Davenport, four children have been born; namely, Herman, Anna, Morrill, and Seymour.

Morrill, the second son of his parents, was born on July 26, 1865, and was reared on the farm of his father, receiving a practical edu- cation in the days of his youth. Farming not being congenial to his tastes, when quite a young man he established himself in a mer- cantile business as a dealer in groceries ; and, having in the course of a year built up a good trade, he was encouraged to build his present store, which is one of the fincst of its kind in the place. He carries a complete stock of general merchandise, containing all the arti- cles usually called for by the country or vil- lage housewife, and has an extensive and lucrative business.

In 1892 Mr. Burrell married Nellie Ward, the accomplished daughter of Dexter Ward, a mechanic residing in Davenport; and their home is one of the genial and hospitable places of resort in the village. Mr. Burrell, politically, is an uncompromising Democrat, and has served as Town Clerk three years.

678

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

In 1893 he was appointed Postmaster, and is fulfilling the duties of the office with fidelity and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Both he and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

OHN McGIBBON, a prominent farmer of the town of Walton, Delaware County, N. Y., was born January 7, 1854, only son of Robert and Margaret McGibbon. Robert McGibbon was a native of Scotland, but came to this country with his father when quite young. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and settled upon the farm which is now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. He was one of the leading men of his vicinity, and was highly respected as a man of sterling worth. His death occurred on the old homestead at the age of fifty-three. He and his wife were the parents of two children, John and Mary. Mrs. Margaret McGibbon spent her last days in the village of Walton, where she died in 1884.

John McGibbon received a good common- school education, and remained at home work- ing on the land, being still a young man at the time of his father's death, on which event he assumed control of this excellent farm of. one hundred and seventy-five acres. Here he keeps a very large dairy, making a celebrated grade of butter. He has a fine maple orchard of eight hundred trees. He uses a Vermont evaporator, and has made as high as two thou- sand five hundred pounds of sugar in one season. Mr. McGibbon has always taken an active interest in politics, being a strong sup- porter of the Republican party. He was elected to the office of Excise Commissioner, a position which he filled in a most capable manner for three years. In 1882 he was elected Highway Commissioner; and so well and acceptably did he fill that important office that he was re-elected each year until 1888, and has been again elected this present year, 1894. In this capacity Mr. McGibbon has done an immense amount of work, being instrumental in building several important bridges, among others being the iron bridge at Walton over the Delaware River,

Mr. McGibbon was married in 1876 to Miss Nettie C. McDonald, a daughter of David G. McDonald, an old settler of this locality, presumably also of Scotch origin.

Mr. and Mrs. McGibbon have five bright and interesting children; namely, Maria L., Robert F., Margaret, Jane A., and Donald D. In religious views Mr. McGibbon is a sup- porter of the United Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member. Mr. McGibbon has always been known as one of the thoroughly representative men of his district, ever ready and willing to devote his time and influence to the best interests of the community. A man of the highest probity and honor, his character is unstained.

In close proximity to the present sketch will be found a portrait of this useful and es- teemed citizen.

P DWARD S. METCALF, a prosperous farmer residing about a mile south of West Davenport, extensively engaged in general farming, stock-raising, and dairy- ing, was born in Davenport on October 29, 1846. His grandfather, Ira Metcalf, was among the early settlers of the town, where he cleared and improved a tract of wooded land ; but he subsequently removed to Fox Lake, Wis.

Edward W. Metcalf, son of Ira, was born in Davenport, and from his earliest years was engaged in farming, first on the paternal homestead, and later on a rented farm, where he lived five years. He then bought a farm in Stamford, and was for many years one of the leading farmers of the locality. He married Fannie Smith, the daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Smith, who reared a large family of children, the following being their names : Maria; Harriet; Keturah; Phœbe; Emma, the only one now living; Mary; Fannie, Mrs. Metcalf; and Charles. Three children were born into the parental household, namely: Edward S., of this sketch; Albert, formerly a farmer in Davenport, but now en- gaged as a butcher in Stamford; and Spencer, who died at the age of thirteen years. The parents were both earnest workers in the Pres- byterian church at Stamford, the father being

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 95

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