USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 20
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
Mr. Ackley has been elected Supervisor of his town three times, having won the confi- dence of his townspeople by his unswerving rectitude. Both he and his wife are members of the Universalist church, and by their Christian lives attest the sincerity of their belief. Their benevolence and charity to the , poor are well known; for they consider them-
selves as only stewards of their wealth, giving freely of their abundance to those less fortu- nate than themselves.
AMES BETTS. Like many another United States citizen, James Betts, a thriving landholder of Lebanon, a man of marked intelligence, liberal - minded, and progressive, although unlearned in the lore of the schools, is of foreign birth and breeding, - an American of his own sagacious, doughty will. He was born in Oxfordshire, England, November 14, 1829, the youngest child of William and Mary Betts, who were also na- tives of that land, where their entire lives were spent. Having the misfortune in in- fancy to lose his father, he was brought up by his mother, a worthy woman, who did the best she could for her little ones, training them to habits of industry and ways of virtue. Mrs. Betts remained a widow until James was eleven years old, when she was again married. The lad continued to make his home with her till he was fifteen years old. By this time he may be considered to have come into posses- sion of his entire patrimony, auspicious in- heritance of the poor man's son, -
"Stout muscles and a sinewy heart, A hardy frame, a hardier spirit."
"King of two hands," he began life on his own account by working as a shepherd for the beggarly pittance, as it seems to-day, of four shillings per week, out of which sum he was obliged to board and clothe himself, paying one shilling per week for his lodging. As he
186
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
grew older and became experienced in dif- ferent kinds of farm labor, his wages were increased, but never to a large amount. However, he managed by the time he was twenty-two years of age to lay up enough money to pay liis passage to a country where a workingman might hopc in time to own land and a home. Sailing from Liverpool, October 16, 1851, in the ship "Calhoun," he arrived in New York Harbor five weeks later. There was much sickness among the emigrants on board, and two hundred and sixteen pas- sengers died during the melancholy voyage. The survivors were detained in quarantine ten days, in circumstances of much discomfort.
Our young adventurer landed in New York with twenty shillings in his pocket. Paying his fare to Utica, he walked from there to Eaton, Madison County. His first employ- ment here was threshing grain with the time- honored implement, - soon to be superseded, - the flail, for which he received ten dollars per month and board. He continued working by the month at different kinds of farm labor, each in its season, until he had acquired a sufficient sum of money to carry on the land which he now rented in company with his brother-in-law. Prospering in this undertak- ing, he was enabled five years later to buy a farm in the north-eastern part of the town of Lebanon. This farm he occupied and im- proved until 1878, when he sold it, and bought his present homestcad of one hundred and forty acres in School District No. 4, town of Leba- non, with forty acres of out-field. No slack hand has brought this goodly farm to its pres-
cnt state of high and profitable cultivation. The place is pleasant and homelike. Every- where are evidences of diligent, skilful hus- bandry and well-earned prosperity.
In 1858 Mr. Betts married Selina Baker, a native of Buckinghamshire, England. Her father, John Baker, emigrated from that coun- try with his family in 1854, embarking at Liverpool in the sailing-vessel "Phoenix," and, after a voyage of seven weeks, landing in New York, whence he came directly to Hamilton. Having in early life learned the useful trade from which, doubtless, many gen- erations before the family had derived its name, he established a bakery in that town, and continued in the business many years. His vigor, physical and mental, was so re- markably preserved that at eighty-six years of age he returned to England on a visit of a few months to the scenes of his younger days, and to such of his friends as were living in the old familiar places. His closing years werc spent in Hamilton, where he died at the age of ninety. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Gilkes. She was born in England, and died in Hamilton eight weeks after landing, leaving four children, happily not of tender years, - John, Ann, Selina, and James.
Mr. and Mrs. Betts have five children, who have profited by the advantages of good home and school training. They are: William D., who married Della Kimball, of Madison County, and has two children, Willie H. and Mabel M .; Ella M., who is the wife of George Buell, and has one son, James Betts; Edward J .; John Baker, who married
E. NORTON.
189
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Addie Kinney, of Earlville, and has one son, John; and Jay L. In politics Mr. Betts is a stanch Republican.
DWARD NORTON, the late proprietor of the Madison Observer, -the oldest newspaper in the county, established in 1821, - is believed to have been connected with this enterprising weekly as editor and man- ager longer than any one man has ever been similarly connected with any other paper in the State. He retained his physical and mental vigor to the close of a long and ac- tively useful life, dying suddenly and unex- pectedly after a brief illness, seemingly but a slight indisposition of scarcely forty-eight hours, on November 19, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years, having been born in Clin- ton, Oneida County, November 2, 1817.
The founder of this branch of the Norton family in America was John Norton, whose name appears in the records of the town of Branford, Conn., July 7, 1646. In 1659 he went to Hartford, and in 1661 to Farmington. He married a lady named Clark, and died in 1711. Their son, Thomas, was born in 1697. He lived on his father's place, and died there in 1760. The next in line was his son, Colo- nel Ichabod Norton, who was born in 1736, and inherited property from his father at Third Meadow, within the limits of Northing- ton, and lying on both sides of Farmington River. Hle married Ruth Strong, daughter of Asahel Strong, and by her had nine chil- dren. In the early days of the Revolutionary
War he commanded a company of militia in the service of the colonies. From August I, 1776, he was stationed at Ticonderoga. In 1777 he was at Peekskill; and from April to November, 1779, he represented Farmington in the Lower House of the State Legislature. With the exception of one year, he was a rep- resentative from 1785 to 1791. His death oc- curred at Granby, Conn., August 1, 1825.
Thomas Norton, a son of Colonel Ichabod Norton, was born at Farmington, Conn., De- cember 31, 1773. In his native town he learned the trade of silversmith, and afterward for a few years was engaged as a merchant, first in Hartford, Conn., later in Clinton, Oneida County, N.Y. Then, buying a farm, he was engaged in farming until 1823, when he removed to Morrisville, where he followed his trade of silversmith until 1827, when he removed to Albion, Orleans County. At that time Albion was but a small place, and the country around but little improved. Mr. Nor- ton remained there until his death, December 14, 1834. He married Mary (Dickinson) Big- elow, who was born in Granville, Mass., a daughter of Captain Dickinson, a Revolution- ary soldier, and the widow of Dr. Aaron Bige- low. On the death of her second husband Mrs. Norton returned with her family to Mor- risville, and died at the home of the subject of this sketch. She reared three children, namely : Margaret, who died in 1888, at the age of eighty-one; James, who lives with his brother's family, and who, though eighty-two years old, is still engaged as a compositor on the Madison Observer ; and Edward.
190
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Edward Norton began to learn the trade of printer in the office of the Orleans Republican, while his parents were residents of Albion, in 1830. In 1834 he removed to Morrisville with his mother, and in 1839 became one of the proprietors of the Madison Observer, with which paper he remained connected till his death, - a period of nearly fifty-five years, being for a portion of this time sole editor and proprictor. He was twice married: first, in [843, to Almira Westfall, who died in 1852, leaving three children; namely, Mrs. Mary E. Cornell, Mrs. Harriet Mackie, and Mrs. Elizabeth Shedlock. In 1855 he was married to Nancy Daniels, who died in 1860, leaving two children, namely: Miss Sarah D., at home; and Mrs. Emma Browne.
Mr. Norton, though a Democrat from his youth, was never an offensive partisan. He was always a stanch defender of the principles of his party as laid down by Jefferson and Jackson, and, as editor of the Madison Ob- server, which has for a period of upward of half a century been a welcome visitor in very many of the best families of Madison County, through its columns made those principles household words. Mr. Norton's editorial . ar- ticles were uniformly characterized by honesty of thought, and evinced a desire to instruct his readers in the true principles of politics and in the facts of history. That his efforts throughout his long editorial life were fully appreciated by the people of Madison County is abundantly evident from the fact of the extensive patronage of his paper, resulting in a good circulation and profitable advertising,
by which means he was enabled to accumulate a comfortable competence.
While Mr. Norton was never in any sense an office-seeker, he was frequently requested to accept the people's trust in this way, and in a few instances consented, serving as Clerk of the County Board of Supervisors - elected by said board - for a period of six years, as Jus- tice of the Peace four years, and as a member of the Morrisville Village Board of Trustees fifteen years, a greater portion of this time being its President, elected by the members of the board. He also held an office on the Board of School Trustees for about thirty- five years. Naturally, he was interested in national, State, and local politics. Few were more ready than he to foster schemes for vil- lage improvement, to promote measures con- ducive to the common weal. To his intel- ligent zeal in the cause of education were largely due the consolidation of the school districts and the establishment of the Union School. At the time of his death he was a Trustee of the Congregational church, of which he had been a faithful member for nearly thirty-five years. Exemplary in con- . duct, irreproachable in character, he has left his children the priceless inheritance of a good name.
It is eminently fitting that the excellent likeness of Mr. Edward Norton here presented to our readers should adorn the pages of the "Biographical Review " of Madison County. Most highly esteemed by those who knew him best, faithful to his convictions of duty, ever daring to say and to do what he thought was
*
191
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
right, few have shown themselves more worthy than he of being held in honored remembrance.
RUMAN D. CRUMB, a resident of East Hamilton, is a prominent representa- tive of one of the early pioneer families of this county, of which he is a native, and with whose agricultural industries he has long been closely identified. Brookfield is the place of his birth, and August 10, 1836, the date "thereof. He is derived from a sturdy, ener- getic New England ancestry. His father, William Crumb, was born in the town of Stonington, Conn. His grandfather, who passed his early life in the same town, mi- grated with an ox-team to this State when the father of our subject was but seven years old. He found the country still in the hands of the pioneers; and he himself became one of the first settlers of Brookfield, where he bought a tract of timbered land, on which he erected a log cabin, and then began the task of mak- ing a clearing in the forest for a farm. He was well adapted to pioneer life, as he could turn his hand to mechanical work, having acquired the trade of a cooper; and he also often made shoes for his family. His wife was equally skilful at the loom, understanding how to weave cloth of all kinds, and not only kept her own family supplied with homespun garments, but employed three or four others in manufacturing cloth for sale. In those early days the marketing was done at Albany. There was a mill for grinding grain at Hub- bardsville. A trail marked by blazed trees
led to this; and once the grandfather of our subject lost his way while on a journey to the mill, and wandered a long distance from home. The land on which he settled when coming to the county remained his home until death. He placed it under good cultivation, and erected a substantial set of farm buildings in place of the primitive log dwelling. His wife also died in Brookfield. They reared to maturity a family of twelve children.
William Crumb was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents on their memorable journey with an ox-team from the old New England home to a new one in the wilderness of New York. His education was obtained in the pioneer schools of the day, while at home he learned how to farm and was taught the trade of a carpenter. He assisted his father until he attained his majority, and then began life for himself. He married Miss Betsy Burdick, and they continued to reside in Brookfield until their demise. They had seven children, - William (the eld- est), Joseph, Lucy, Truman D., George, An- drew, and Daniel.
Truman Crumb attended the public schools in his boyhood, and helped his father in his work, acquiring a practical knowledge of agri- culture. He also learned the millwright business. Upon leaving the parental home, at the age of twenty-one, he came to East Hamilton, where he still resides during the summer season, but spends the winter seasons at Hubbardsville, at which place he has also a fine residence. For fourteen years after en- tering upon an independent business career
192
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
he manufactured cheese boxes and operated a large saw-mill in conjunction with his farm of two hundred acres. He has accumulated a handsome property by his business energy and careful management of his interests, and is one of the moneyed men of the town. He is not behind others in public spirit, all feasible plans for local improvement always meeting with his encouragement; and his reputation as a man of honor and sound integrity is irreproachable.
Our subject was first married at the age of twenty-one to Miss Ann Eliza Cheesbro, a daughter of Harry Cheesbro. Three children were born of that union, - Herris, Lewis, and Betsy. The estimable wife and mother died in 1872. By his second marriage Mr. Crumb has one child, Truman A. Mrs. Crumb's maiden name was Jerusha Ramsdell. She is a daughter of John and Lydia Ramsdell. Her paternal grandfather was Silas Ramsdell, who was born in Saratoga, and resided there until he was twenty-two years old. Then, in the flush and vigor of early manbood, he cast in his lot with the pioneers of Brookfield. He bought a tract of eighty acres of land, and began a clearing in the forest, having first erected a log house for a habitation. He had journeyed to his new home with an ox-team, following a trail marked by blazed trees, and was one of the very earliest to settle in that town. By diligent labor he cut down the wood on his land, and placed the soil under fine cul- tivation. He bought other land, and at the time of his death had a choice farm of two hundred acres, amply supplied with good
frame buildings and everything necessary to carry on farming to advantage. His wife ac- tively co-operated with him in the upbuilding of their home. The substantial frame house in which they passed their declining years in comfort is still standing in the town of Brook- field. The grandmother of Mrs. Crumb was well versed in all the domestic work of her youthful days; and after her marriage her family were clad in garments that were spun, woven, and made by her faithful hands. She was the mother of ten children. Mrs. Crumb's grandfather lived to the good old age of eighty-eight years, and was hale and sound in health until two days before his death. He retained much of the activity and vigor that characterized his earlier years, and only two days before he died indulged in the pleas- ure of hunting. For fifteen years previous to his death he walked half a mile every Sunday to be shaved. In his last sickness he was tenderly cared for by his grand-daughter, Mrs. Crumb.
FRANKLIN BLANDING, a resident of Hamilton, held in high repute for worth and works, was born in this town, No- vember 28, 1831. He is one of the widest- known business men of Madison County, being one of the most extensive cheese manufact- urers in the State, and emphatically the ar- chitect of his own fortune. He is of New England descent, his father and paternal grandfather having been natives of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Mass., whence they removed to Richfield, Otsego County, N.Y., early in
193
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the century. At a later period the father of the subject of this sketch came from that town to Hamilton, where he made his home until his death, in 1835. Bred to the work of a farmer, he also learned the trade of a shoemaker. As was the custom in those primitive times, he went from house to house in the country, fitting each family with shoes. He married Amanda Filkins, who became the mother of four sons, of whom Franklin was the youngest, the others being Ebenezer, Henry, and William.
Left an orphan by the death of his parents when he was but four years of age, Franklin Blanding was brought up in the family of a neighboring farmer. He pursued his primary studies in the district school, and had the advantages of a course in the higher branches in the Brookfield Academy. In the mean time, it may be safely affirmed, his industrial training in the art of agriculture was not neg- lected. At the age of twenty-one years, not being the possessor of inherited or purchased acres, and desiring to see a little of the world before settling down to his life-work, he went forth as a travelling salesman for a jewelry house, in whose employ he continued for the next three years, journeying through the East- ern States, adding to his knowledge of men and affairs and developing his inborn faculty for business.
Returning to New York at the end of the time mentioned, Mr. Blanding bought a farm in Brookfield, and devoted himself assiduously for a number of years to its cultivation and improvement. In 1866 he embarked in the
business of manufacturing cheese, in which he has since been continuously and increas- ingly engaged. The rapid growth of this important branch of dairying in the Chenango Valley has been largely due to his enterprise and administrative ability. He has superin- . tended the erection of several cheese factories besides those which he is directly concerned in operating, the average daily output of which is thirty-seven cheeses at fifty pounds each, or eighteen hundred and fifty pounds per day. His business interests and influence are not confined within the narrow limits of a single town. He has been a prominent mem- ber for several years of the State Dairy Asso- ciation, and now ably fills the position of President of that body. He has been an active member of the Board of Trade of Utica since its organization. His brother, William Blanding, a contractor, built at Philadelphia the structure known as the National Dairy Building, which was devoted exclusively to the exhibits of butter and cheese at the Cen- tennial Exposition of 1876.
In 1860 Mr. Blanding married Miss Catha- rine Brigham, daughter of Lawson and Pru- dence Brigham, by whom he had four sons, - William L., Olin E., Homer F., and Hart- well. The latter died young. William, the eldest son, married Miss Minnie Stanton, daughter of Moses Stanton. Mrs. Blanding died in March, 1880; and in 1881 Mr. Bland- ing married Miss Carrie J. Gorton, of Morris- ville, Madison County, N.Y. Her parents were from Rhode Island.
The religious faith of the family is that of
194
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the fervent followers of John Wesley; and they are regular attendants at the Methodist Episcopal church, generously aiding in its work for the good of mankind. A loyal Re- publican, Mr. Blanding regularly votes the party ticket. His record as a public-spirited citizen and an honorable, straightforward business man is of the best, and in private life his character is above reproach. He is interested in the affairs of the community, and for ten years has admirably filled the office of Justice of the Peace.
J ONAS L. REEVE was born August 14, 1828, in the town of Nelson, Madison County, N. Y., the son of James and Malinda ( Lovejoy) Reeve. James Reeve was born in 1797 on Long Island, and the grand- father, Silas Reeve, in 1772, at the same place. The grandparents came to Madison County in 1801, settling in the town of Nel- son. The journey was made by conveyance as far as Utica; and from there they trudged their weary way on foot to the town of Nel- son, knowing no pathway but the blazed trees, which were the only "finger-posts " to guide their steps. The grandfather was a wheelwright and furniture-maker, and owned and worked a farm in the town. He died at the age of eighty years, and his wife when seventy-four. He was a deacon and active worker in the Baptist church. There were nine children born to them, all of whom are deceased.
The father of our subject was but four years
of age when his parents came to the town of Nelson. Upon reaching manhood, he learned the trade of a wheelwright and general me- chanic, but afterward gave his entire attention to his farm, which contained one hundred and fifty acres. He was well known and esteemed throughout the town of Nelson, and his death in 1856 was universally regretted. The mother died January 31, 1873, at the age of seventy-one. They were members of the Baptist church; and the father was a strong Abolitionist, and a personal friend of Gerrit Smith.
Jonas L. Reeve was educated at the district schools and the High School at Morrisville. Besides learning the trade of carpentry, which he has followed to some extent, he has made farming his main business. January 1, 1849, he was married to Miss Maranda R. Lovejoy, born in the town of Nelson, February II, 1830, daughter of Abner and Maranda (Reeve) Lovejoy. Her grandfather, Jonas Lovejoy, was one of the early pioneers of the town of Nelson, Madison County, N. Y. Abner Love- joy died in Livingston County, New York, at the age of fifty-seven, and his wife in the town of Nelson, at the age of twenty-four. They had born to them two children : Darius, who died at the age of eleven; and Mrs. Reeve, the wife of our subject.
In 1852 Mr. Reeve bought the farm of his grandfather Reeve, which consisted of one hundred acres, and there lived for about six- teen years. He is a practical farmer and dairyman, and has also made a great deal of maple sugar. He moved to the village of
195
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Erieville in 1868, and has lived here ever since, with the exception of three years spent in the town of Cazenovia. He has a lovely home, and good, substantial buildings. The land consists of thirteen acres, and here he devotes his time to gardening.
Mr. and Mrs. Reeve have one child, a daughter, Minnie, born September 20, 1865. She resides in the village of Cazenovia. Our subject belongs to the Republican party, and is a warm supporter of its principles. For six years he has served as Assessor. The family are Presbyterians in belief. Mr. Reeve is a man of intelligence and general information, keeping himself well posted on the topics of the day, and taking a keen inter- est in everything pertaining to the welfare of the country. In his pleasant home and in the society of his wife and daughter he takes his greatest comfort, and counts among his friends the best people of his village and town.
RS. KATE E. LOUNSBERY, a resident of Oneida, is the widow of John Edward Lounsbery. The latter was born in Onondaga, Madison County, N. Y., November 29, 1842, and when but two years of age removed with his parents to Montgomery County. Here he was brought up on a farm, and was early inured to the work incident to farm life. His education was received in the common schools; and by close application he acquired a fairly good practical education, making rapid progress and understanding well what he undertook to
learn. Subsequently he took a course of study at the Fort Plain Institute; and, having been all through his student career an apt and ready scholar, he became well qualified for the practical work of life.
When he was twenty-three years of age, he married Miss Kate E. Seeber, the subject of this sketch; and in 1866 they removed to Oneida, where Mr. Lounsbery engaged in the stove and tinware business, as book-keeper and salesman. Being a man of pleasing address, he made a success of his work, but died before he really had time to develop the qualities that he undoubtedly possessed, his death occurring May 24, 1868. By his mar- riage with Miss Seeber he had two children ; namely, Louis Edward and George Willard. Both boys learned the printer's trade, the elder being now editor and manager of a newspaper in Warsaw, Wyo. The younger, George W., is engaged in the drug business in Oneida, in which village there is no more pleasant and popular young man in business. Both he and his brother are strong Republi- cans, as was their father before them; and both are well versed in the policies of that party.
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.