USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 10
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Mr. Spaulding now owns over one hundred
acres of fine farming land, from whose rich and well-tilled soil he obtains a substantial income. His farm is amply provided with suitable buildings for every possible purpose, and everything about the place evinces care and good order. He is engaged in mixed husbandry, and makes a specialty of hops, having from twenty to thirty acres devoted exclusively to the growth of that plant, he being one of the largest hop-growers in the vicinity. He has another farm, which is under the management of his son. Mr. Spaulding is one of the prominent men of his town, possessing those elements of character, such as energy, firmness, common sense, and honesty of purpose and act, that cause others to rely upon him, and look to him for counsel and help in the hour of need. His political views are in accord with the tenets of the Democratic party. In his social relations he is connected with Lodge No. 658, A. F. & A. M., at Morrisville.
RS. ALMA J. HUBBARD. It is always a pleasant task to write the memoirs of the women of this State, who have so nobly helped their hus- bands and shared their privations so uncom- plainingly in its early history. The lady who is the subject of this sketch is the widow of the late Seth J. Hubbard, who died July 18, 1888, in his sixtieth year. He was born in Steuben, Oneida County, where he was reared on his father's farm, and was the son of Jacob Hubbard, of the same town,
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who died there in 1876: the latter's wife was Betsey Sprague, of the same place. Their family consisted of one son, Seth J., and two daughters. The mother died at the home of Mrs. Alma Hubbard in 1880, in her seventy- eighth year. The grandfather of Seth J. Hubbard was a native of Connecticut, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Oneida County. He was not only a farmer, but was also a car- riage-maker.
The maiden name of our subject was Alma J. Tanner. She is a native of Trenton, Oncida County, and the daughter of Benja- min and Catherine (Sterling) Tanner, both of Herkimer County. They lived on a farm in Trenton, and reared five daughters, of whom Mrs. Hubbard is the second in order of birth. They are all living. The mother died April 9, 1893, aged eighty-three years, bright, intelligent, and vivacious to the last. Her husband still resides on his farm at Oneida Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Seth J. Hubbard were married at Trenton, Oneida County, October 30, 1851, and began their domestic life on a farm of their own in Steuben, residing there nearly twenty years, when they sold it, and moved to their present home and farm in 1871. They bought one hundred and seventy- five acres of land, of which the West Shore Railroad has taken a few acres, paying there- for $17,000. It was with the praiseworthy intention of giving their children better school advantages that this couple left the tender associations of their early married life, and removed to a strange place with their children. There were two sons and two
daughters in the family; namely, Clara J., Ella, Horace, and Edward G. Clara J. is the wife of Charles A. Allen, a farmer of the town of Lenox; they have three daughters and a son. Ella is living at home. Horace married Miss Hattie Perkins, of Wampsville, and resides in Aspen, Col. Edward G. is unmarried, and lives at home. Thanks to the loving interest of the parents, the family all received sound and excellent academic educations.
Mr. Hubbard left a fine estate and personal property. He was a plain farmer, but a man of good practical business ability, and by industry and application left his wife and family in comfortable circumstances. The wife who seconded him so ably is entitled to fully as much praise. By her economy and admirable housekeeping qualities she assisted him in building up this fortune, and after his death bent all her energies to maintaining the prosperity he had achieved. Considering her years, she is still active, giving her personal supervision to the farm, having five acres under cultivation of hops, and managing a dairy of from fifteen to twenty cows, besides having young stock and fine horses.
AMUEL WILBER, born November 29, 1830, on the farm owned by his father, and on which he now resides, is the son of Willard and Susan (Ives) Wilber, both natives of the town of Adams, Berkshire County, Mass. Gideon Wilber, the grand- father, was born March 16, 1763, and was a
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farmer in Massachusetts, emigrating to the town of Fenner, and taking up land. The usual adventures of the pioneer settlers fol- lowed him in his journey through this un- .known country, -the patient oxen plodding along with the family belongings, the fright- ened children huddling together as the growl of the bear or the cry of the panther startled the echoes of the forests, and their only path through this trackless wilderness the "Indian trail." On this land the grandfather built his log cabin, and set to work to clear the farm. His wife, Thankful Wilber, was born January 5, 1767. They were married Sep- tember 9, 1784; and to them were born eleven children, nearly all growing to man- hood and womanhood. The grandfather died in 1813, and his wife some years afterward, at an advanced age.
The father of our subject, Willard Wilber, was born in 1788, and was but twelve years of age when his father came, in 1800, to the town of Fenner. He was brought up on the farm, assisting his father, and finally pur- chased it. His wife and he began life to- gether with a scant store of worldly goods, but rich in energy and hopefulness. By their thrift and industry they were able to add to the original farm until they owned three hun- dred and fifty acres, and besides had a large dairy of some fifty head of choice cattle. There were four children in the family: Ross, who was a farmer in Illinois, and died at the age of forty; Thankful, Mrs. F. W. Barrett, residing in the town of Fenner; Samuel; and Matilda, Mrs. Caleb Le Count, living in
Wisconsin. The father died on his farm, December 17, 1873, his wife having passed away in 1872.
Samuel Wilber attended the district school and worked on the farm. He remained here, assisting his father, and at the age of thirty- five became the owner of the old home. He was married, October 24, 1857, to Miss Bridget Heslin, who was born November 27, 1836, in Bouckville, N. Y., the daughter of Edward and Ellen Heslin. The father was a farmer, and died at the age of eighty-two, and the mother at the age of seventy-four.
Of their ten children four are now living: Ellen, Mrs. A. Mallison, living in Morris- ville; Mrs. Wilber; John, living in Michi- gan; and James, residing in Lenox. The parents of Mrs. Wilber were Catholics. The father was a Republican in politics.
Our subject and his wife live on the old home farm, where he has built a handsome home, which ranks among the finest places in the town. Large crops of barley, oats, and hay make the one hundred and sixty-three acres of land under cultivation well paying, and, in connection with a dairy of seventeen head of choice cattle, bring him a comfortable income. They have been blest with six chil- dren, as follows: Florence, Mrs. P. Hyatt, born December 29, 1859, is a resident of the town of Fenner; Mary, born November 9, 1866, is the wife of G. Scheifele, and resides in Oneida; Maud, born November 6, 1868; Nellie, January 24, 1874; Ross W., June 13, 1876; Grace, August 21, 1880. The four last reside at home.
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In his religious views Mr. Wilber is lib- eral and broad-minded. He is a thorough Republican in politics, a good and law-abiding citizen, and is highly esteemed and respected by all classes of the community.
LBERTUS I. GUTHRIE, one of Leba- non's well-to-do farmers, was born in Smyrna, Chenango County, N.Y., May 23, 1836. Being very young when his father died, his earliest memories are of living at home with his mother. At seven years of age he was taken into the family of Mr. John B. Buell, a farmer in Lebanon. His bringing up was of the practical kind which strengthens and trains the muscles, fosters self-reliance, and cultivates habits of diligent application.
In 1846 Mr. Buell moved to Chautauqua County. The journey at that time was by no means an expeditious and monotonous one by rail, but partook of variety, and required days, being accomplished by means of a team to Canastota, canal-boat to Buffalo, steamer to Barcelona, and team thence to Mayville, their destination, and the home of young Guthrie for the next ten years. At the end of that period, a youth of seventeen years, he returned to Lebanon, and took up his abode at Mr. Chauncey Buell's. Working for him and in the vicinity until his marriage, February 17, 1863, with Miss De Ette Card, when he went to live at the home of her parents, on the farm which was her birthplace, and where she had always lived. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie
have two children, Myrtie Cornelia and Floyd Felt.
Stephen Card, the father of Mrs. Guthrie, was born in the town of Exeter, R.I., July 25, 1806. He still resides with his daugh- ter's family, enjoying very good health, and with mental faculties well preserved. Hav .- ing come to this State when but two years old, he has no recollection of his former home. His father, Joseph Card, was born in Rhode Island, and remained a resident of that State until 1808, when, with his wife and six children, he emigrated to New York. The journey was made entirely by land, oxen drawing their baggage, while the family rode behind a pair of horses. Purchasing a tract of partially cleared land in what is now the town of Lebanon, he engaged in farming, and here remained until his death. Albany was then the chief market for all the surplus prod- uce. He kept sheep and raised flax. His wife used to card, spin, and weave, and dress the children in homespun made by her own hands. His wife's maiden name was Martha James. She was born in Rhode Island, and spent her last years in Lebanon. Three chil- dren were born to them after the removal to this State.
Stephen Card was bred to agricultural pur- suits, and stayed at home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he began life for himself even with the world. Work- ing out until after his marriage, he then rented land for a time, and finally bought the land which he has since occupied and im- proved, aided in later years by his son-in-law,
SAMUEL CHAPIN.
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Mr. Guthrie. This is a fine farm, in a good state of cultivation, situated in that part of the town of Lebanon included in the Che- nango Valley. March 3, 1831, he married Flora Felt. She was born in the town of Lebanon, April 8, 1811, and died November 23, 1890.
Elam Felt, the father of Mrs. Card, was born in the town of Somers, Conn., August 21, 1775. His father, Samuel Felt, a native of the same town, was one of the first settlers of Madison County. He came here with one of his sons in 1793, and secured a tract of five hundred acres in the heart of the wilder- ness, on the banks of the Chenango River, in the present town of Lebanon, Madison County. They cleared a part of the land, and raised a crop of potatoes and Indian corn. In the autumn they killed one pair of their oxen, salted the meat, and concealed it under the floor of the cabin. Returning East to spend the winter, they came back in the following spring with the rest of the family. Madison County being without roads at that early period, in going from one place to another they followed a trail of blazed trees. There were no mills here for some years; and the only way to grind corn was by making a fire with coals on the top of a stump, and digging out the charred wood and ashes from the centre until a deep hollow was formed. Into this the corn was put, and pounded with a great stone fastened to a long stick hanging from a spring pole. The finest part of the pounded corn was used to make bread, the coarsest for samp. Elam Felt brought back
with him from Connecticut his newly wedded wife, Elizabeth Davis, who was born in that State, March 22, 1778. Establishing himself on his father's land in Lebanon, he continued a resident here until his death, August 7, 1843. He was an extensive hop-grower, hav- ing from thirty to forty acres of hops. Mrs. Felt used to card and spin, and made all the hop-sacking, besides the cloth for the family. She survived her husband nearly eleven years, and died at the home of her son, Nelson, in April, 1854.
AMUEL CHAPIN, SR., the first jeweller in Oneida, and for many years the only one in the town, was born on a farm four miles from Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, August 10, 1806. His shop for the sale of watches and jewelry was first opened December 7, 1848, when Oneida was a village of about two thousand inhabitants. These seven years an octogenarian, having outlived most of his contemporaries, he now enjoys the distinction of being the oldest business man in the place.
His father, Rufus Chapin, was born, reared, and married in Massachusetts, of which State his grandfather is supposed also to have been a native. The name is an honorable one in the annals of New England, and has been borne by people of talent and wide reputation. Rufus Chapin was a pioneer at Ballston Spa, where he bought a forty-acre tract of land and built a house. He worked at carpentering in the summer season and cabinet-making in the
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winter. In 1813 he removed his family, with his household goods and tools, to Nelson, Madison County, where he bought one hun- dred acres of land. Hiring the farm work done, he still worked at his trades, living in that place till after the death of his wife, when he moved to Morrisville, where he died in his eighty-fourth year. The maiden name of his wife, mother of his seven children, was Polly Tobey. She was a native of Massachusetts.
Samuel Chapin, Sr., well remembers the family removal to Nelson, when he was seven years old, and the character of the life that was led on the outskirts of civilization, - the toilsome husbandry with old-fashioned imple- ments in vogue before the invention of modern machinery, the cooking by the great log fire on the hearth, the durable homespun clothing of the mother's own carding, spinning, and weaving. At the age of sixteen, already skilled in the use of edge tools, he began to work in a carriage shop in Oneida Castle. Being a natural mechanic, and having the clear vision and nicety of touch needful for finer work, he set about repairing watches and clocks, and in 1830 embarked in the jewelry business in Vernon, where he continued until his removal to Oneida, as above stated. He still has an interest in the business at Oneida, which is now mainly conducted by his son, Samuel Chapin, Jr.
June 17, 1830, he married Fanny Sage, a native of Hartford, Conn., born February 14, 1809. Mrs. Chapin's father, Elisha Sage, was born in Middletown, Conn., and lived
there till after his marriage, when he migrated to New York, settling three miles from Troy. A shoe manufacturer, he carried on that busi- ness till 1816, when he removed to the town of Verona, Oneida County. A year later he crossed the line into Madison County, and settled on Indian land, living in a log house, working at farming, and also at his trade. After five years in that place he returned to Oneida County, and, establishing himself in the town of Verona, resided there, following his trade until his death. His wife's name before marriage was Prudence Risley. She was born in Glastonbury, Conn., and died in Verona. Mrs. Chapin was one of a family of six children. Her brother, Russell Sage, the well-known financier of New York City, is the only one besides herself now living. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have ten children living,- Samuel, Jr., Earl, Helen, Dwight, Angeline, Maria J., Francis W., Homer E., Taylor, and Fremont. All are residents of Oneida, with the exception of Earl, who lives in the West. They are all married except Helen and Fre- mont. There have been two deaths in his family: Charles, who died in infancy; and Henry R., who died at the age of twenty- three years.
Mr. Chapin was for some years in early life a Whig in politics, and since the organ- ization of the Republican party has been a stanch adherent of its principles. His sons are all Republicans also. He is a Baptist in religious belief, as was his father before him. In fact, the family generally were communi- cants of that church. The Sage family are
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Presbyterians. It is with pleasure that the publishers of this volume present in this con- nection a portrait of Mr. Chapin, who is such a worthy representative of the village of Oneida. His business career has always been characterized by careful and straightforward dealing, his aim being to live up to the principles of the Golden Rule. Although impaired in health, he is cheerful and un- complaining, and is passing his declining years in ease and comfort.
ARVIN M. HESS. Among the many successful men in Madison County who may with justice take pride in their own lives and in those of their ancestors is Marvin M. Hess, the sub- ject of this sketch, who has been engaged in his present business, that of a retail grocer, for the past twenty-six years.
Mr. Hess was born in the town of Fenner in 1837, and is a son of David Hess, who was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1791, and who in 1813, accompanied by his wife, in order, as they hoped, to better their condition in life, removed to the town of Fenner, Madi- son County, where they purchased a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, upon which they lived during the remainder of their lives. Mr. Hess was one of the best and most suc- cessful of farmers, and took an active part in State and county agricultural societies, often taking first premium for the excellence of his exhibits. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for eighteen consecutive years, and
was also Supervisor several years. In his earlier years he was a Whig, but later became a Republican, acting with this party the rest of his life. Though a member of no church, he was yet a man of good moral character and conscientious in all his actions, his influence everywhere being felt for good. His wife was Prudence Shaw, of Connecticut, whom he, as School Trustee, engaged as teacher in his district school, and afterward, as lover, engaged her as his wife. She was a good woman, intelligent and refined. By her he had three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to mature years, though now all but the subject of this sketch and two daugh- ters have passed away. These two daughters are: Amaretta J., widow of Stephen Hill, who was a farmer of the town of Fenner; and Clementine H., widow of Spencer Beach, and residing in Wauseon, Ohio. The father of these children died in 1866, at the age of seventy-five, and the mother two years later, aged seventy-six. They are buried in the cemetery in the town of Fenner.
The father of David Hess was Diedrich Hess, also born in Albany County, but whose father was born in Germany, and came over the sea at an early day. The grandfather of our subject reared four sons and five daugh- ters, one of the daughters being the widow of David Williams, the latter being one of the three captors of Major Andre during the Revolutionary War, which fact is preserved by the monument to David Williams in Albany County. The Hess family has a record for great longevity, having always been
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temperate, some of them even abstemions, in their habits.
Marvin M. Hess was fifteen years younger than his youngest sister. He was reared to farm life, and was well educated in the dis- trict school, and afterward attended Cazenovia Seminary for five terms. At the age of eigh- teen he began teaching, and taught five suc- cessive terms. At twenty-one he became a clerk for Dal. Crouse, of Canastota, remaining with him one year, and then engaged in gen- eral merchandising on his own account, being thus successfully engaged two years. After- ward he established himself in the wholesale produce business, having had his office where he is now engaged in retailing groceries for twenty-five years. When he was twenty-one years old, he received $1,000 from his father, and at the latter's death received his share, $14,000, from the estate. Otherwise, he has himself made what property he now possesses.
Mr. Hess was married November 4, 1862, to Sarah E. Haynes, of Cortland. They have adopted one son, Arthur C. Hess, whom they received from the New York Home when he was six years old, and who is now a fine young man of eighteen, of excellent habits, and an enterprising newsdealer. Mr. Hess has always taken a deep and practical interest in all enterprises calculated to promote the prosperity of the village and county in which he lives. He erected his fine large brick house in 1869. Within the village corpora- tion he has a farm of twenty acres, and also has a fifteen-acre farm near Toogood's farm, upon which he raises onions, the twenty-acre
farm being also devoted to garden truck. Mr. Hess has always been a successful, exem- plary man, in business and in the social and family relations, and has many admirers and friends.
TWELL M. SMITH is a general farmer and dairyman, and is administrator for property of two hundred acres on the line of the towns of Smithfield and Eaton, which he has managed for three years very successfully. He was born in the town of Eaton, October 26, 1863, and has always lived in the town, with the exception of the time he studied at a business college, and a time in Cazenovia, N.Y.
His grandfather, Joseph Smith, was a hardy tiller of the soil, and died in 1846, when com- paratively young. His son, Judson Smith, the father of our subject, was born in the year 1838, and was for twenty years a farmer in the town of Eaton, where he lived. In 1881-82 he commenced business as a hop- dealer and commission merchant, which he has since continued. Mr. Smith is one of a large family of brothers and sisters, several of whom are yet living. His wife was Miss Josephine Wakelee, who was born in Che- nango County, New York, but in early life came to Smithfield, Madison County, and here married Mr. Smith. She died November 2, 1892, aged fifty-two. She was known as a devoted wife, a loving mother, and an ex- tremely intelligent woman. Her parents were Atwell and Ellen (Lacy) Wakelee; and both died on the farm they had improved and
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owned, which is now the property of their grandchildren, Atwell M., our subject, and his brother and sister, Benajah and Loretta, who live with him on the farm. The grand- father died in 1889, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife in 1890, when seventy-six years old. They were good and industrious people, loved and respected in their neighborhood. Mr. Wakelee was for many years a large land- dealer. He was a Democrat, but, while tak- ing a reasonable interest in politics, was not an office-seeker. They had but two children : Mrs. Judson Smith, deceased; and Miss Sarah Wakelee, who is still living, and resides in Morrisville, N. Y.
Atwell M. Smith is the eldest of the three children born to his parents. He married Miss Lenna Tooke, in the town of Eaton, Madison County. She was born in the town of Smithfield, May 8, 1863, and was reared and educated in Madison County. She is the daughter of Joseph and Salinda (Burroughs) Tooke, who were born in Pratt's Hollow, in the town of Eaton, have always resided there, and are in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Tooke has retired from business, and he and his family live in a beautiful home in one of the handsomest locations of the town. They have six children, Mrs. Smith, of this notice, being the second in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the happy parents of three children, - Harry W., C. Leslie, and Doris J.
Although a young man, no one stands higher in the estimation of the people than Mr. Smith. He has carried on his business systematically and successfully, and is among
the most prosperous and honored men in his county. He went to work early in life, com- mencing to farm some time before he became of age; and at the time he attained his major- ity took charge of the large farm he now manages, conducting its affairs with sound judgment and honesty, for the heirs as well as himself. He is a bright, intelligent, and prominent man, takes a keen and absorbing interest in the local affairs of his town, and in his political views is a strong Democrat.
USTIN A. HAWKS, one of the best known and most substantial citizens of Georgetown, is a son of Horace Hawks, who was born in Hawley, Franklin County, Mass., November 19, 1795, and was a son of Zedock Hawks, also a native of Hawley, Mass. The father of Zedock, Zur Hawks, came to America from Scotland in company with two brothers, and settled in Massachusetts.
Zedock Hawks grew up on his father's farm, being trained to agricultural pursuits from an early age. When arrived at man's estate, he united his destinies to those of Rhoda Parker, daughter of David Parker, a native of Massachusetts; and they became the parents of eleven children. About 1815 he removed to Oriskany Falls, remaining there a year, and coming in 1816 to George- town, where he settled on land upon which his grandson now resides. His purchase, which consisted of forty acres, was covered with a dense growth of timber, which he
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