Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 97

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 97

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HORACE BAKER.

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ceeded in clearing a good farm, replacing the pioneer cabin with a set of frame buildings, and remained there several years. He subse- quently sold that farm, and bought another in the same town. He died at the age of eighty-two years. He married Esther Gallup, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Gallup, of Schoharie County. Five children were born of this marriage: Augusta, who married Oliver Butts, of Meredith ; Abraham; Elihu; Maria, the wife of George Munson, of Meredith; and Ezra, who was the first-born of the household. The mother, who survived her husband, lived to be ninety years old.

Ezra Osterhout spent the first thirty-six years of his life on the parental homestead, where he engaged in different branches of farming, and also operated a saw-mill for sev- eral years. He afterward became the owner of the adjoining farm, which he conducted successfully for about thirty years. Finally, disposing of that, Mr. Osterhout bought his present small but valuable farm of thirty-four acres, located in the village, and has since devoted his attention mostly to dairying, making a specialty of fine table butter. He also bought a saw-mill and a grist-mill in the village, which he ran for several years, carry- ing on an extensive business.

Mr. Osterhout and Miss Juliet Jackson were married in 1839. Mrs. Osterhout is a daughter of William Jackson, who was for- merly numbered among the most prosperous farmers of Meredith, where the last years of his life were spent. He and his wife reared a family of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity and married. The union of Mr. Osterhout and his wife was brightened by the birth of one child, Jeannette, who married Ira George, a son of Charles George, a well- known farmer of Meredith and Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. George own the farm formerly in the possession of Mr. Osterhout ; and in its management they are assisted by their only child, Louis E. George. Politically, Mr. Osterhout is a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic ticket, and has always taken a lively interest in town and county matters. He has served as Assessor for a period of nearly thirty years, twenty-three consecutive years in Davenport, and six years in his present home

town. He is not a member of any religious organization, but is a regular attendant at Sunday worship at either the Baptist or the Methodist church.

ORACE BAKER, late of Sidney, Delaware County, N. Y., for many years a well-known farmer and pro- prietor of a saw-mill in this town, was born at Cummington, Mass., January 5, 1813, and was a son of David and Rebecca (Hill) Baker. His father and mother were of New England ancestry, and lived for a time after their marriage at Cummington, which is noted as the birthplace of William Cullen Bryant. They moved to Sidney in 1817, and occupied for a short time the farm now owned by George Beakes. Mr. Baker afterward bought a farm in the vicinity. He was a hard-working man; and, as in those days most of the land in this region was wild, he had to cut and clear away a good deal of timber, eventually having a large part of his fifty-five acres under cultivation. Mr. Baker was a member of the Congregational church, and Mrs. Baker of the Baptist. They reared the following family, namely: Milton, Persis, Harvey, Armenia, Horace, and Mercy, all deceased; William, living at Sidney Centre; Amelia, wife of Delos J. Bailey, of North Dakota; and Polly, widow of Solomon John- son, living in Wisconsin. Both Mr. and Mrs. David Baker died on the homestead, at a good old age. Horace Baker was educated at the district schools of Sidney, the school- house being built of logs, and the furniture of a very primitive description. At the age of twenty he commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter with Hubbard Niles, following this business during the best years of his life. Mr. Baker was engaged in farming, as well as conducting a saw-mill, and for fifty years was an extensive manufacturer of coffins. He owned the home farm on which he resided, and also other arable land, in all about one hundred and fifty acres. In the latter part of his life he dealt extensively in real estate, besides looking after his other business inter- ests. In 1870 Mr. Baker had the misfortune to lose his left arm in his planing-mill.

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This calamity did not, however, deter him from continuing to work with his accustomed energy.

Mr. Baker was married October 6, 1841, to Martha Fowler, who was born in Meredith, January 21, 1814, a daughter of John and Bet- sey (Whitney) Fowler. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler were natives of Connecticut, moving from there to Meredith when the country was young. He was a hard-working and success- ful farmer, and was the father of thirteen children, twelve of whom grew up to be men and women, and two of whom are living at the present day, namely : Sherman W. Fowler, of Winnebago County, Wisconsin; and Harriet Andrews, of Walton, widow of John Andrews. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler were members of the Baptist church at Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Baker both lived to be past fourscore, and died within a few months of each other, less than a year ago, in 1894, she on May II, and he on October I. They had two chil- dren, only one of whom was spared to brighten their home, and is now living; namely, Ophelia E. Her sister, Althea L., wife of Charles W. Niles, died September 15, 1879, aged twenty-eight.

In their later years Mr. and Mrs. Baker were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were formerly members of the Congregational church, of which Mr. Baker was a Trustee and an ardent worker in the Sunday-school. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but latterly cast his vote with the Prohibition party. The iron bridge of the Ontario & Western Railroad, which is one hundred feet in height at the highest point, and nearly a quarter of a mile in length, crosses a part of the Baker farm, he having given the right of way to the company. Mr. Baker was known for many years as one of the oldest and most representative settlers of Sidney. An energetic and progressive man, he was always ready and willing to de- vote his time and use his influence to forward the best interests of the village, where his name will long be held in honored remem- brance. The portrait of Mr. Baker presented on another page of this "Review" is consid- ered a very good likeness of the departed worthy.

OHN D. SALTON, a substantial farmer of the town of Hamden, is the proprietor of a fine estate of two hun- dred and thirty acres lying in Terry Clove, where he has lived since the date of his birth, August 12, 1853. He is of Scotch extraction, a son of the late John Salton, Jr., who was born in Scotland in 1812, and seven years later, with his brothers and sisters, ac- companied his parents, John Salton, Sr., and Jane (Murray) Salton, to America. On the voyage they had a very exciting and frightful experience, the vessel getting on fire in mid- ocean, and the passengers and crew having a very narrow escape from death, Soon after their arrival in New York they came to this neighborhood, and, being possessed of more means than the average emigrant, bought a tract of three hundred acres of land, the major part of which was in its primeval wildness, almost the only improvement of the place being the small log house into which they moved and spent their first years of occupancy of the farm. They improved a good home- stead, and made it their permanent abiding- place, the grandfather dying in 1838, at the age of fifty-eight years, and his widow dying in 1858. They were of the Presbyterian faith. Of the children born to them only one is now living, namely: Jane, the wife of Rob- ert Elliott, of Belle Plaine, N. Y.

John Salton, Jr., lived with his parents until his marriage, and became familiar in the days of his youth with the life and labors of the pioneer. His wife, Elspeth Davidson, whom he wedded in 1849, was born in the town of Andes, of Scotch parents. In the month of April, 1850, they settled on the farm now occupied by their son, the subject of this sketch. Its two hundred and thirty acres were partly cleared, and some improvements had been made. Mr. Salter labored assidu- ously to place it all under cultivation, re- paired and remodelled the buildings, and in 1870 erected the substantial residence now standing here. One of the most noticeable of his betterments was the grubbing out of the thicket of elders, which occupied a large part of the yard, and the setting in their place of the beautiful hard maples which now orna- ment and shade the grassy lawn. Mrs. Salton,

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an active and intelligent woman, quite ad- vanced in years, still lives on the home farm. She is a faithful and exemplary member of the United Presbyterian church, to which her husband also belonged. Of the six children born to her one son died in infancy, his twin sister surviving him. Five are now living, namely : Ellen, wife of Duncan McDougall; John D .; Joanna, the wife of E. A. Tabor, a merchant, in Davenport; James W., a farmer near Walton; Agnes, a teacher by profession, residing with her mother.

The boyhood and youth of John D. Salton were passed on the home farm, and in attend- ing the district school. After the death of his honored sire he assumed the entire man- agement of the home property, carrying it on with great success. He was the inheritor of an unlimited stock of energy, perseverance, and thrift, and occupies a leading position among the progressive and prosperous agri- culturists of this section of the county, taking delight in adding to the improvements of his property. In 1888 Mr. Salton built a com- modious barn, sixty feet by forty-six feet, with twenty-two-feet posts above a basement nine feet in height. The driveway to this building is fourteen feet above the first floor, and the bay for the hay has a capacity of eighty tons.

On the 8th of June, 1887, Mr. John D. Salton and Miss Maggie J. Blair were united in marriage. Mrs. Salton is a native of Hamden, and is the daughter of William and Rebecca Elizabeth (Holmes) Blair. In poli- tics Mr. Salton is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and supports its principles by voice and vote.

EORGE R. SLITER, the Postmas- ter, and one of the leading mer- chants of Halcottsville, was born in Margarettville, Delaware County, November 20, 1847. His parents were Nicholas and Susan (Tremper) Sliter. His father was born in Delaware County, and was educated in the district school at Margarettville. When a young man, Nicholas Sliter worked on his father's farm, and afterward learned the shoe- making trade, at which he worked the greater

part of his life. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religion a Methodist. He mar- ried Susan, daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Yeaples) Tremper, and died at the age of sixty-three, leaving a widow and seven chil- dren, thus briefly named: John married Dolly Kettle, lives at Margarettville, and has five children. George R. is the subject of this sketch. Edward is a farmer, and lives in Arena. Sarah died at twelve years of age. Sherman married Miss Beardsley, and lives at Andes. Ida, wife of M. Wood, lives at Downsville. Alfred married Jane Kettle, lives in Arena, and has two children. Mrs. Sliter is still living, is sixty-seven years old, and enjoys fair health for a woman of her age. She makes her home in Arena, and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.

George R., the second son, received his education in Greene County, and after leav- ing school, at about the age of twenty-one, worked at farming for some time. He after- ward worked two years at shoemaking in Arena, and then came to Halcottsville, where he has since continued to reside. He married Bema Henderson, a daughter of James and Hannah (Sprague) Henderson. Mr. Hender- son was born in Jedburgh, Scotland, Decem- ber 25, 1805, and at an early age came to America. In January, 1894, Mr. Sliter opened a general grange store at Halcotts- ville. He is constantly increasing his stock, and the enterprise is proving to be a decided success. The shoe business, also, continues to occupy some of his attention. He recently bought a house here, which he has remod- elled, and upon the lot adjoining he has built a barn and other buildings.

In politics Mr. Sliter is a Democrat, and works hard for the success of his party. His appointment as Postmaster he received in March, 1894. He holds broad views on mat- ters of religion, and is not a member of any church. Straightforward and diligent in busi- ness, he has won well-deserved success.

FORGE P. BASSETT, M.D., a prom- inent citizen and successful physician of Downsville, town of Colchester, was born in that town, December 3, 1837, a

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son of Philip and Margaret (Hitt) Bassett. The father was born September 7, 1803, near Catskill, where he grew to manhood on the ancestral farm, attending the district schools. When very young, he began to study medicine with Dr. Wells, of Middleburg, Schoharie County, at the same time teaching school. He then located his office in Colchester, and there married February 5, 1835, Margaret, daughter of Jerrid and Betsey (Barker) Hitt. She was born January 7, 1803, and died No- vember 9, 1849, having given birth to two children ; namely, George P. and Frances, the latter of whom was born October 25, 1842, and is the wife of W. E. Holmes, a resident of Downsville. Philip Bassett's second wife was Maria Barber, whom he married Decem- ber 24, 1851.

He was the only physician in the town of Colchester, and had an extensive practice, visiting his patients on horseback, and carry- ing his medicine in saddle-bags. He was one of the men to attend the first course of medi- cal lectures at the Albany Medical College in Albany, whither he went on horseback, al- most the only mode of travelling in those days. Philip Bassett was a kind-hearted, generous, benevolent man, of extraordinary nerve power, with special aptitude for his pro- fession, in which he was eminently success- ful. He was a Republican; and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in which faith he died, July 27, 1866.

George P. Bassett was educated at the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin, after which he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, from which he was graduated in 1862, and began the practice of medicine in Downsville. In Sep- tember, 1861, he married Anna, daughter of Abel and Clarissa (Flowers) Palmer. Mr. Palmer was born in the town of Delhi, and late in life went to Oregon, where he died. His wife has also passed away. Mrs. Bassett died September 12, 1874, aged thirty-five years and eight months, having had one child, Jennie, who is the wife of Edward C. Smith, a merchant of Downsville, a nephew of David Anderson. Dr. Bassett has recently married a second time, his wife being Mrs. Elizabeth (Parker) Beers, daughter of Professor James

O. Parker, a noted musician of Deposit. Her first husband was Nelson Beers, by whom she had one son, Fred P. Beers, who is now a leading hardware merchant in Downsville.

Dr. Bassett has continued to practise in Colchester, where he has a private office, and is considered one of the most skilful and ad- vanced physicians of the county. In 1864 he enlisted in the service of his country in the Tenth New York Regiment, as Assistant Sur- geon, with rank of First Lieutenant. In politics he is a Republican. For two years he has been Town Clerk, has held the office of Supervisor for three years, and during the last five years has been Pension Examiner. He is a member of the Fleming Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 280, and is a Mason, a member of Downsville Lodge, No. 464, A. F. & A. M. Dr. Bassett is a member of the Presbyterian church, which organization has his hearty support. He is an energetic, pro- gressive man, thoroughly competent in his vocation, and deservedly esteemed in both private and public life.

HARLES H, VERMILYA, of Fleischmanns, in Middletown, Dela- ware County, has long held the important and trusted position of station agent, besides trading on his own account. He was born in Shandaken, Ulster County, in 1851, on a day of the year which has always been a holiday with at least one nationality, March 17.

He is a great-grandson of William Ver- milya, who came from Holland, and bought and improved a farm in Putnam County, liv- ing prosperously there with his family till his death of old age. William was the eldest son, named for his father. The others who lived to adult age were Jessie, John, and Samuel; and it is in the line of the youngest that the special subject of this sketch has de- scended. Samuel Vermilya was born in Put- nam County, but came to Delaware County when a young man, learning the art of shoe- making. On account of ill health he was unable to continue in this business, and so turned miller, buying an establishment on the Plattekill River, which is now known as the

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Morse mill. There he remained the most of his life. His wife, Catherine Robinson, was the daughter of Issachar Robinson, who was a soldier in the Revolution, and married into the Gregory family. In religion Samuel Ver- milya was a Baptist, and in politics a Demo- crat ; and he died at the age of fifty-eight, his wife living to be seventy-two. They reared six children. Edward Vermilya, the eldest, married Jane Whipple. Of the next son, Orville, more hereafter. William Vermilya married Sarah Kelly, and more of the Kelly family may be found under the proper head- ing. Melissa Vermilya married Nelson Beardslee. Edgar Vermilya married Melissa Todd. The youngest, Olive Vermilya, had two husbands, John D. Elmore and Rexford Hewitt.

Orville Vermilya was born in Middletown, and began adult life as a clerk in the corner store in Clovesville. His wife was Margaret Stone. In due time they left Clovesville, and he found employment as foreman in a tannery in the town of Shandaken, Ulster County. Thence they removed to Griffin's Corners, where he was in the store of William Doolittle (of whose family some account may be found under that name in this volume), and also with A. H. Burhans. Later he kept a large boarding-house in Griffin's Corners for summer visitors from the city. Both he and his wife lived to a good old age. They had five children. Of these the eldest, Mary Ver- milya, married W. H. Oconnor. The second, Charles H., is the special subject of this sketch. Willard Vermilya married Alice Van Huten. Judson makes his home in Griffin's Corners. George died at the early age of seven.

Charles Henry Vermilya attended the dis- trict school, and then worked for three years in a store near home. Next he went to Brooklyn, where he worked for a short time in another store, till he received an appoint- ment as station agent on the Ulster & Dela- ware Railroad, in the centennial year, when he was twenty-five years old. Coming to Fleischmanns, he bought the house now owned by Daniel Slover. In 1882 he bought a lot from the Vandermark farm, and built thereon a house, which he afterward sold to

A. Kaufmann, Esq., of New York City, for a summer home. In 1893 Mr. Vermilya built his present fine residence, commanding the best view to be anywhere found in this neigh- borhood. In 1888, at the age of thirty-seven, he had married Lettie Doolittle, daughter of George W. and Sally Jane (Dodge) Doolittle, of whom a sketch may be found in this vol- ume. About the time of his marriage Mr. Vermilya resigned his place on the railroad, and went to New York City, where for two and a half years he was a grocer; but then on account of his wife's health he found it expedient to return to Fleischmanns, where he resumed his old position as station agent. In addition to his official duties, he is a but- ter commission merchant, handling nearly all of that indispensable commodity churned in this region, and also the flagging from the blue stone quarries. In company with John Blish, he deals also in coal. As a Democrat Mr. Vermilya has held the office of Tax Col- lector for the town three years, and in religion he is a Methodist. In large measure Mr. Vermilya possesses that good roundabout quality whereof a Spanish statesman, Firman Caballero, has well said, -

" If common sense has not the brilliancy of the sun, it has the fixity of the stars."

EORGE W. HUBBELL, a well- known and prosperous citizen of Halcottsville, was born in Middle- town, March 14, 1850, and is the son of Har- vey and Emeline (Hewitt) Hubbell. His grandfather Hubbell, who married Polly Faulkner, was a native of Connecticut, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Dela- ware County, being distinguished for his sturdy enterprise and progressive spirit.

His son, Harvey Hubbell, was born at Kelly's Corners, Delaware County, received a fair education in the district school, and at an early age began working on a farm. Sev- eral years later he bought a farm of two hun- dred acres, on which he lived the greater part of his life. He was at one time engaged in the grocery business at Kelly's Corners, and he also acted for a short period as a clerk in a hotel at the same place. In politics he was a

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Democrat, a man of sound judgment and good standing, holding office at various times. He was an active member of the Baptist church. He died at the age of fifty-six, ending his days on the old farm, his wife living to be fifty-nine. Four children survived him, namely: George W., the subject of this sketch; Adelaide, the wife of Clarence White, of Roxbury, mother of one child; Norwood, who married Millie Van Aukin, of Kingston, and has one child; Peace, who be- came Mrs. George Roberts, of Catawba Hill.

George W. Hubbell acquired a practical education in the district school; and at the age of eighteen he began to learn the carpen- ter's trade, at which he worked for four years, when he became a butcher. He remained at the latter occupation for five years, and then went into mercantile business, in which he continued for many years. Previous to 1894 there had never been a public house in Hal- cottsville; and Mr. Hubbell, perceiving with his usual sagacity a good opportunity in this direction, opened a hotel on the main street, and is doing a thriving business. It is built in the cottage style, and presents a very at- tractive and homelike appearance. Besides the hotel Mr. Hubbell owns one hundred acres of land, and is also engaged extensively in the business of building and selling houses in the village, thus greatly improving the place. Halcottsville owes no small share of its pros- perity to his enterprising spirit and successful business ventures.

Mr. Hubbell has been married twice. His first wife was Ella Roberts, who died at the age of thirty-one; and his second wife is her sister, Inez R. Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Hub- bell have two children: Ira R., born Decem- ber 30, 1883 ; and Loren H., born December 10, 1890, to whose training they devote much careful attention. Mrs. Hubbell is the daughter of J. F. and Hulda (Wells) Roberts, her father being a successful farmer of Bragg Hollow, Delaware. County, one of the early settlers of that district, and a man of high standing in the community. Mr. Roberts was born in Putnam County, December 27, 1808, his parents being Ira and Phoebe (Baker) Roberts. His father, who was also a native of that county, settled on a farm of one

hundred acres in Bragg Hollow in 1815, but died six months afterward, leaving eight chil- dren. His widow survived him many years, dying at the age of eighty. J. F. Roberts, father of Mrs. Hubbell, lived on the old farm at Bragg Hollow for eighteen years, at the end of which time he bought a farm of fifty acres on Hubble Hill, where he still resides. He keeps thirty cows, and carries on a suc- cessful dairy business. Mr. Roberts is a Democrat, and a member of the Baptist church, and, although of advanced age, is still quite an active man. His wife, who died at the age of eighty-two, was Hulda J. Wells, daughter of Daniel Wells, who was one of the early settlers of Delaware County, and who later in life went West, ending his days there.

In politics Mr. Hubbell gives his support to the Democratic party, and he holds liberal views on religious matters. He is not only a successful business man, but is also a devoted husband and father, a kind friend, and a man of sterling character.

ILLIAM B. OGDEN. The follow- ing brief delineation of this dis- tinguished son of Delaware County is here reproduced from the eloquent tribute of his friend, the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold :-

"The most prominent figure in the history of Chicago from 1835 until his death, in 1877, was William B. Ogden. His active mind originated most and aided largely in the erec- tion of nearly all our public improvements. He laid out and opened many miles of streets in the northern and western divisions of the city, aided in digging the Illinois and Michi- gan Canal, advocated with ability laws neces- sary for its construction and enlargement, pro- jected and built hundreds, nay, thousands of miles of railways. He had much to do with our water supply and sewerage and park sys- tems, and, indeed, nearly all our great enter- prises and public improvements.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Delaware County, New York, Part 97

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