USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 15
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and the two young men never knew a prouder day than when they inserted a notice in the journals that on a given day every man should be paid in full and with interest added. The year after his marriage with Miss Eliza Ran- dall they settled in the beautiful home where his family now resides, still surrounded by many manifestations and mementoes of his loving and providential care.
In December of 1851 Niles Higinbotham organized the Oneida Valley Bank. His fa- ther, Mr. Samuel Breese, and others were the incorporators; and Mr. T. F. Hand, of Ver- non, N.Y., was appointed Cashier. This bank was the first one opened in Oneida, was incorporated a State bank in 1852, and a Na- tional one in 1865. Mr. Niles Higinbotham was elected its first President, and was suc- cessively re-elected by his fellow-Directors to that position, retaining it until his death. He was eminently fitted to join in and carry out the plans of his public-spirited father, for whom he entertained the most devoted sentiments of filial affection. Hand in hand he worked with him for the development of their beautiful village, and to these wise and discriminating men is largely due the spirit of integrity and honesty which are character- istic of its citizens. Mr. Niles Higinbotham gave the grounds on which were built the Cherry Strect school house, the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal churches, besides that where the park is, at the lower end of Broad Street, his father having given the land on which the Roman Catholic church was built.
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Among the early incidents indicative of the character of these two men was their en- terprise in securing a telegraph station in Oneida, - an idea considered by some as fool- ish, preposterous, and sure of failure. Being confident, however, of the growing necessity, they secured the station by guaranteeing to pay the expense themselves for two years; but it soon became self-supporting. In 1844 Mr. Higinbotham, having bought large portions of land from his father, built a store, and commenced business as silent partner with his brother-in-law, Mr. Goodwin, on Madison Street, where he was interested for many years. Among the many enterprises which were dear to his heart was that Oneida should have the very best facilities for the higher education of its children, and to that effect he spared neither time nor money in having the Oneida Seminary established. He was al- ways the first to aid the seminary when in need, often paying from his own pocket the salaries of the teachers. He was their friend and adviser, and interested himself in having a good building, library, and necessary equip- ment for making it a first - class academy. Unostentatious, his charitable works were not heralded to the world; and many were helped in their adverse circumstances quietly and silently.
He was a Presbyterian by faith, and was all his life a devout reader of the sacred Script- ures. He united with the church March I, 1874, and ever gave evidence before the world of the beauty of a Christian and well-ordered life. His honesty and uprightness were con-
spicuous traits in his character; and, while courteous to the opinions of others, he was never afraid, when once his judgment was convinced, to follow out persistently his own undertakings. His life of temperance, pu- rity, and regular habits gave him naturally excellent health; and until the autumn of 1886 he had never experienced any serious illness. In that year he suffered a slight shock of paralysis, and steadily declined until his death, which occurred March 17, 1890. He was the last survivor of five children, and left a widow and three daughters, who in their loss have the mournful satisfaction that the husband and father lived "honestly in the face of man," and that his epitaph may appro- priately be, "Mark the perfect man, and be- hold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."
The portrait of Mr. 'Higinbotham, which accompanies this sketch, will be viewed with pleasure, as being that of one whose genius, enterprise, and influence contributed in such a marked degree to the building up of the beautiful and thriving village of Oneida, and whose memory will long be cherished by his many friends, in the hearts of whom he held a warm place.
LVIN A. BURROWS, the son of Alan- son and Mary Devendorf Burrows, both natives of Herkimer County, New York, was born in the town of Fenner, July 6, 1849.
The father was a cloth-dresser and a tanner by trade, but was afterward a boot and shoe
GILBERT BIRDSALL.
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merchant. In 1838 he went with his family to Perryville, where he spent his last days. His two children are still living, - Henry D., a farmer in Wisconsin, and our subject, Alvin A. Alanson Burrows, a well-known and respected man, instilled into his chil- dren's minds good moral and religious teach- ings and an implicit faith in the principles of the Republican party. He died at the age of seventy-three, in 1878; his wife, nine years later, at the age of eighty-five years.
Our subject lived with his father in the vi- cinity of Perryville, where he attended district schools and also the seminary at Cazenovia. Besides assisting in farm work, he followed the trade of painter for some years. In 1883 he engaged in the mercantile business in Perryville, where he carries on a general store, and also deals in agricultural implements. His stock being well kept up, he has an excellent trade, and, in the exclusive care he gives to its management, has little time for civic affairs or outside interests, although he always shows a commendable zeal in the prog- ress and improvement of the village.
At the age of twenty-three, feeling himself competent to take the happiness of another into his keeping, Mr. Burrows sought and obtained in marriage the hand of Miss Addie V. Ransom. She was born in 1853, in the town of Fenner, a daughter of Eli and Eliza Ransom. Mr. Ransom, her father, was a farmer, a strong Republican, and with his family attended the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in 1878. His wife still lives in Perryville, sixty-eight years old at the
present time, 1893. In their comfortable and pretty home Mr. and Mrs. Burrows have been blessed with one child, - a son, Charles Floyd Burrows, - born February 25, 1876, whose years thus far have been mainly spent in acquiring an education fitting him to take up a course of professional study. The young man is now qualifying himself to become a physician.
In all his relations - business, political, social, and religious - Mr. Burrows is ever the same genial and thorough gentleman, and in his household a kind husband and father. His success has been well earned. He has, by untiring industry, worked his way from a small start to. his present prosperity; and in his case honor is given where honor is due.
R. BIRDSALL, a prominent and re- spected physician of the town of Brookfield, was born in the town of Otego, Otsego County, N. Y., October 30, 1839. The family were originally from Dela- ware County, the grandfather having been a native of Sidney, N.Y., whence he removed to Otego at an early age, and resided there until his death. The father was educated in the district schools of the place, and worked on the farm until his twenty-fifth year, when he married Miss Harriet Gilbert. He re- moved to the town of Butternuts after his marriage; and, having long had the desire to serve in the Lord's vineyard as a min- ister of the gospel, he began studying di- vinity, and was soon assigned to the charge
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of the Baptist church in that town. He preached there many years, and later in Otego Village. His last charge was at Sand Hill; in the Unadilla Valley, in which plaee he was compelled to retire from the ministry on account of his poor health. He was for nearly half a century a devoted follower of his Master; and, when he died at Otego, his death was universally mourned. To Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Birdsall a large family of children were born, namely: Millie M .; A. J. Bird- sall, our subjeet ; Samuel, a physician of Sus- quehanna, l'a., who was assistant surgeon in the late war; William O .; Albert, of Otsego County; Mary E .; Hattie. The mother died suddenly in Union, Broome County, N. Y., while visiting her brother.
Our subject received an excellent education in the district school of his town, and also under the able tutorship of his father. At the age of twenty-three, it being during the Civil War, he entered the Federal Army, en- listing in Company E, Second New York Heavy Artillery. Soon after reaching Vir- ginia, he was appointed Hospital Steward, and about six weeks later was transferred to the general hospital at Fairfax Seminary, near Alexandria. Four months later he was dis- charged, with the rank of Hospital Steward.
Previous to the war Dr. Birdsall had eom- menced the study of medieine with Dr. E. Guy, of Harpersville, Broome County, N. Y., and had taken a course of lectures at the Albany Medical College of New York State. After his discharge from the army he again took up his studies, graduating from the Uni-
versity of Buffalo, N. Y., in February, 1863, and in the spring of that year went to North Brookfield, N.Y., where he opened an office for the praetiee of medicine. He married November 10, 1863, Miss Mary O. Green, daughter of Henry and Celia Green, of North Brookfield. The family eame to the State of New York from Rhode Island, and were early settlers in Madison County. At the time of his marriage the Doetor purchased and re- moved to the farm previously owned by his father-in-law. He has ereeted new buildings, and has greatly improved the farm, putting it into the highest state of cultivation, availing himself of all the modern inventions for labor- saving which are of sueh help now in the art of agriculture. The mother of Mrs. Birdsall, a well-preserved lady at the age of ninety-one years, resides with her daughter.
Dr. Birdsall is a eareful, painstaking prae- titioner, and has a large and sueeessful prae- tiee. He is the only physician in the village, and is looked upon as one of the most skilful in the county. A member of the Madison County Medical Society, he has served as its Seeretary for ten years, as Viee-President two terms, and as President one year, absolutely refusing at the end of that time to hold offiee any longer. He is also connected with the New York State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. In his relig- ious opinions he follows the example set by his good father, and is a member of the Bap- tist ehureh. He early identified himself with the Masonie fraternity, and is attached to Sanger Lodge, No. 129, also to Brookfield
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Lodge, No. 632, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has endeavored to so order his life as to accord with the designs which the Grand Master has marked out. Naturally, he is devoted to the interests of the Grand Army of the Republic, and affiliates with Searle Post in his town.
Dr. Birdsall is the only one in his father's family who is a Democrat. In the year 1891 he was elected Supervisor of the town by that party. His services in this capacity gave thorough satisfaction, as the ratio of taxation was lower that year than at any time since the war.
In his wife, who is of a lovely type of char- acter and is possessed of all the true womanly qualities which go to make a home happy, Dr. Birdsall has ever found a sympathetic and ready helper. Together they enjoy the high- est esteem of the best people of their section. Their handsome residence is an attractive spot to their legion of friends, who are ever welcome, and are entertained in a most pleas- ant and affable manner.
R ICHARD W. ELPHICK, one of the brave veterans of the late war who fought so nobly in defence of the Union, is now assisting in carrying on the extensive agricultural interests of this county, owning and successfully managing a good farm in Stockbridge, which he devotes to gen- eral husbandry.
Mr. Elphick's early home was in Oneida County, where he was born January 1, 1841.
He is of sterling English stock. His pa- ternal grandfather, Richard Elphick, a native of England, came to this country and settled on a farm in Hubbardsville, dying there at an advanced age. His parents, Charles and Ann (Wright) Elphick, were born, reared, and married in England.
Charles Elphick was a farmer by occupa- tion ; and, when he came to America in 1836, he bought land in Clinton, and actively en- gaged in cultivating the soil and in stock-rais- ing. He resided on his farm some thirty years ; but the latter part of his life was spent in Poolville, where he died at the ripe age of eighty-three years. He had ever been a loyal citizen to his adopted country, and the Repub- lican party found in him a stanch adherent. His wife lived to be seventy-nine years old. They reared fourteen children, of whom eleven are living, as follows: Robert, a resident of Iowa; Emeline, of Nelson; Nancy Jane, of California; Richard W .; Wallace, a farmer of the town of Fenner, who was a soldier during the Civil War, a member of the One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Infantry, and was wounded at Cedar Creek; Sarah, a resident of Hamilton; Luther, of Stock- bridge; Josephine Adaline and De Forest, residents of Hamilton; and Martha, of Otse- lic. One son, Charles, who entered the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth New York Infantry at the time of the war, gave up his life for his country while fighting at the battle of Antietam.
The subject of this biographical sketch was trained in his boyhood to industrial habits,
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and early became self-supporting. At the age of fourteen he left his native county, and was employed in working out at twelve dollars a month until the war began. He then learned the moulder's trade. In 1863 the gov- ernment was in sore need of good soldiers, and true, to help put down the rebellion; and, feeling it his duty to respond to his country's call, in that year he laid aside his work to join the boys in blue at the front, enlisting in Company A, First New York Artillery, under command of Thomas H. Bates. The opening years of his manhood were passed on Southern battlefields, where he won a fine record for good soldiership. He was honorably dis- charged at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, June 28, 1865.
Returning home after his trying experiences in the army, Mr. Elphick gave his attention to farming two years, and then engaged in the manufacture of cheese eight years. In 1875 he bought the farm in Stockbridge where he now lives, conducting a good business in vari- ous agricultural lines, making a specialty of raising hops. His farm comprises forty-three acres of fertile, well-developed land; and he has it provided with all the necessary im- provements. He was first married, November 14, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Edson, a native of Stockbridge, and a daughter of one of its first settlers, Willard Edson. Her parents are both dead. She passed away July 12, 1885, leaving four children, - Charlie, Lena, Eddie, and Lee,- all of whom reside in Stockbridge. Mr. Elphick married his pres- ent wife, whose maiden name was Betsy Tay-
lor, in October, 1888. She was born in England in 1860.
The career of Richard W. Elphick as a sol- dier is commemorated by his membership in the William H. Stringer Post, No. 556, Grand Army of the Republic, at Munnsville, in which he holds the office of Officer of the Day. He also belongs to Lodge No. - , A. O. U. W., of Morrisville. Politically, he is a true Re- publican. His neighbors trust and respect him as a man of genuine worth, who has never shirked the responsibilities of life.
ASHINGTON IRVING TILLOT-
SON. The hardy and enterprising colonists of the New England States have contributed a large majority of the founders of Central New York. The family of this gentleman were from Connecticut.
His great-grandfather distinguished himself as a soldier in the struggle for independence. His grandfather, General John Tillotson, emi- grated from Connecticut to New York State about the year 1790, and was one of the first settlers of Genoa, Cayuga County, where he secured a tract of timbered land one mile east of Cayuga Lake. Here in the virgin forest, untenanted save by bird and beast, he pre- pared to make his home,
" And in the twilight of the forest noon
Wield the first axe these shores ever heard."
On this farm he built his rude log cabin, and settled down to a lifelong residence with his wife and little family.
The General's son, the father of our sub-
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ject, was born in Genoa, Cayuga County, in 1796. He was fortunate in receiving an excellent education, and in young manhood taught school and gave lessons in vocal music. He was for a time book-keeper in the employ- ment of Mack & Andrus, publishers in Ithaca, Tompkins County. From Ithaca he moved to Utica, and engaged as contractor and builder, conducting the business there for a number of years. Miss Eleanor Montague, daughter of Nathaniel and Eleanor Montague, who be- came his wife, was born in New Hartford, N. Y., and died there in November of 1883. Her husband spent his last days at this same place, where he died July 2, 1850. They had three children who grew to maturity ; namely, Caroline E., Ellen, and Washington Irving.
Washington Irving Tillotson grew up and was educated in New Hartford, which is situ- ated near the city of Utica, N.Y. He was born in Utica, January 10, 1833. An inher- ited talent for drawing led him to adopt archi- tecture as his profession. Beginning his studies at sixteen years of age. he followed that calling in New Hartford until 1854; in Elgin, Ill., the next six years; in Kalamazoo, Mich., for two years; coming thence to Oneida, where he has since remained. He has been an important factor in the place, his good taste and skill in designing, and the variety in style of his work, making the vil- lage of Oneida one of the handsomest and most artistically built in New York State. He has been the architect of nearly all of its principal business blocks and private residences.
Mr. Tillotson has been twice married, - first in 1857, while at Elgin, to Miss Abigail A. Bangs, who was born in Dundee, Kane County, Ill., and was the daughter of David W. Bangs, one of the first settlers of that county. Mrs. Abigail A. Tillotson died April 17, 1863. There was one son by this marriage, - Sherwood D. In 1866 Mr. Til- lotson contracted a second marriage, his bride being Miss Carrie H. Bowen. Her birth- place was in Ogden, Monroe County, N. Y. She was the daughter of Benjamin F. Bowen. This estimable couple have been blest with four children, - Luella J., Carrie R., Rena B., Daisy E.
In their beautiful residence on Park Ave- nue, shaded by noble trees many of which were planted by our subject, he enjoys, with his charming family, a delightful home life, their hospitable fireside being withal an at- tractive rendezvous for a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Tillotson is pre-eminently a leading citizen, and his interest in the progress and advancement of Oneida Village never wearies. His opinions are uniformly respected; and, being possessed of unblemished integrity, he has endeared himself in the hearts of the com- munity, and made a reputation of which his children may well be proud.
Mr. Tillotson, having associated himself, on attaining his majority, with the Sauquoit Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, takes a lively interest in the good and charitable works of the Masonic Order. He votes the Republican ticket.
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IOGENES D. CHASE, M.D. From the earliest dawn of history, and perhaps from even an earlier date, the science, and more especially the art, of medicine have been held in the highest es- timation by mankind.
In this as in other cases the art is prob- ably older than the science; and it is believed that this, as well as most other arts of civil- ized life, had its origin in Egypt, and was there first cultivated with any measure of suc- cess. As an evidence of the esteem in which the healing art was held even in ancient times, it may perhaps be mentioned that ÆEsculapius, the first great Grecian physician, who in his practice, according to his biogra- phers, so far surpassed in skill and success his teacher, Chiron, as to be able to restore the dead to life, and who, by this startling innovation, threatened to prevent the desired increase in the population of the realms of Pluto, was, upon complaint of this ruler, de- stroyed by Jupiter with a flash of lightning, and was afterward, by the gratitude of man- kind for his great services to them, raised to the rank of a god and worshipped at Epidauris in a grove and temple consecrated to him. Since that time the healing art has been so much improved by being elevated to a more rational plane, and has been so much enlarged by the addition of the science of sanitation, or the elimination of the conditions which pro- duce disease, that it is at this day held in higher estimation, in point of fact, than it was in the days of ÆEsculapius.
One of the most eminent of those in Madi-
son County who have devoted their intelli- gence and their energies to the alleviation of suffering and the curing of the sick is Dioge- nes D. Chase, M.D., a resident of Morris- ville, who was born in Georgetown, that county, October 27, 1843. While he is yet in the prime of life, he has met with deserved success, and has won a fine reputation as a physician and surgeon. His father, Orrin Chase, was born in 1802 in Connecticut, and came of Puritanical stock, his family being the same as that of the late Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. After his mar- riage in Winfield, N. Y., he bought land, and was engaged in farming for a number of years. Later he removed to the town of Eaton, and lived there until his death, at seventy-two years of age. His people were naturally long-lived. The maiden name of his wife was Deidamia Button. She was born in 1802 in Winfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., the eldest child of John and Polly Button. She came of a family possessing many noble qualities of mind and heart with much physi- cal strength. Their kind and generous dispo- sition and their vigorous traits of character were especially manifested in Mrs. Chase, who bore herself bravely, cheerfully, and success- fully through the severe trials and hardships of her early years. Losing her father under very trying circumstances, when she was in her girlhood, she bent her energies to acquir- ing an education that should fit her for usefulness in life. She was interested in phrenology, which she found of great help to a knowledge of human nature. In the study
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of medicine she became quite proficient, and was known as the pioneer woman physician of Madison County, - a shining example to her sex. Loved and revered by all who knew her, she died in Eaton, full of years and of virtues, at the age of sixty-eight. Her memory is cherished to this day.
Nine children were born to Orrin and Polly (Button) Chase, - Avery W., Mary Annette, Alzina, Luna, Sarah, Sullivan G., Julius, Diogenes D., and Vernette M. All of the daughters and two of the sons are now living. Avery served in the late war, being a member of a New York State battery. He died from injuries received while in action before Petersburg, Va., being paralyzed by severe concussion. Sullivan came to his death at twenty-two years of age by being precipitated into a mill pond by falling timber, the result of a heavy freshet.
Diogenes D. Chase was educated first in the common schools. Later he attended Cortland and Homer Academies, then taught school one year. At the early age of eighteen he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and with that regiment participated in numer- ous battles, the more important ones being those of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the latter his regiment was placed in the ex- treme front to resist the onward movement of the advancing rebels; and in the fearful fight- ing of that battle it lost more men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, in proportion to its numbers, than any other regiment on the field. It was the third in the actual number
of its killed and wounded. Dr. Chase was one of the most severely wounded of his regi- ment, a ball passing through his body and coming out on the front side. From this wound his sufferings were long and severe. He was left upon the field for dead, and was thus reported in home papers, lying where he fell from 2 P.M. on the first day of the battle to 4 P.M. of the second day, when he was removed by the rebel soldiers. In a place exposed to the Union shells and bullets, he was compelled to remain for a considerable time, when he crawled behind a wood pile. He was four days in all without food and without attention being given to his wound. After the retreat of the army of Lee from the field he was removed to the corps hospital, and there suffered from paralysis of the lower limbs for three months. During this time he could not even turn himself in bed. At length, becoming able to get around on crutches, he was transferred to the Second Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps, and as- signed to duty in the hospital at York, Pa. Here, appointed Ward Master, he made him- self generally useful in dressing the wounds of his comrades and in caring for the sick. Remaining in the service until the close of the war, he was then honorably discharged, returned to Morrisville, and there continued the study of medicine with Dr. Mead, hav- ing prior to this studied medicine two years while in the army hospital. In the winter of 1866-67 he attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan, and in 1868 entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New
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