USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 23
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Mr. Spaulding was married October 18, 1847, to Fannie Parker, who was born in Cicero, Oneida County, being a daughter of Chester Parker. Both of her parents are now deceased. Mrs. Spaulding passed away long since, her death occurring on the home farm, July 20, 1878. To her and her husband were born four children, the following being their record: Adelbert, who lives on the old Ar- mour farm, owned by his father; Ruth, who married Edwin Morse, of Lenox; Letha, who lives in Augusta; and Imogene, who married Joseph Smith, and died at the age of forty- one years.
ENJAMIN F. MEAD is a fine exam- ple of our self-made men. He has pushed his way to the front among the enterprising, prosperous farmers of this county while still in the prime of life, and has a valuable, well-conducted farm in Hamilton. He is a native of Constantia, Oswego County, and was born January 7, 1852. His father,
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Burr K. Mead, was born in Jefferson County, and there passed his boyhood on a farm, learn- ing by practice how to do all kinds of farm work, and whenever opportunity offered at- tending the local schools. He left home at an early age, and followed the work of clear- ing land and selling farms after he attained manhood. In that way he accumulated a comfortable property, and aided in the devel- opment of his county. He died at the ripe age of sixty-eight years, December 24, 1870, in the town of Paris, Oswego County. He and his good wife were blessed with four chil- dren : Lafayette, the eldest; Jane; Mary H .; and Benjamin F.
The subject of this biographical sketch ob- tained a fair education in the public schools, and, when only twelve years old, bravely took upon himself the cares and responsibilities of life, and thereafter was self-supporting. The sturdy little lad began his career as an em- ployee on the Erie Canal; and he, too, can boast of rising to an honorable position in the social and industrial world from the tow-path. He continued to work on the canal four sum- mers; but at the end of that time, obtaining a situation on a farm, he returned to the oc- cupation of which his childhood days had given him some knowledge. Since that time he has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been signally pros- pered. Unremitting in his labors, combining frugality and excellent judgment with his work, he has come into possession of a choice farm, that is nearly all paid for, and is amply supplied with substantial buildings. Here,
in his comfortable, hospitable home, so pleas- antly situated, he may well take pride in what he has accomplished, and in the thought that, in advancing his own interests, he has also materially benefited the town and county whereof he has proved himself a good citi- zen. He is an intelligent member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and belongs to the E. A. U. Society. Politically, he stands with the Republicans, and, religiously, is a faithful member of the Methodist church.
At the age of twenty-eight years Mr. Mead was married to Miss Jennie E. Morey, a daughter of Charles W. and Eliza Morey. She died in 1884, leaving one son, Floyd A. Our subject's second marriage was with Mel- vina W. Smith, a daughter of Lewis C. and Clarissa A. Smith. Mrs. Mead is one of six children, the others being Elizabeth, Henry C., Sarah E., George, and Clara A.
Lewis C. Smith was born January 13, 1815, in Greene. Early in life he left home, and became self-supporting. Diligent and sav- ing, at the age of twenty years he was the happy owner of a farm in Lebanon. In 1836 he married Clarissa A. Beebee. Soon after marriage misfortune overtook him in the form of a note which he had indorsed to oblige a cousin, and the payment of which left him once more a poor man. Moving to Madison, he bought a small place, and with a brave heart and willing hands set to work to re- trieve his fortune. Yet more sorrowful was the loss that next befell him in the death of his wife, who passed away in the eighth year of their married life, leaving five little
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ones to be loved and cared for. Two years later he married Martha Burdick, who proved a worthy and helpful eonsort. At the time of his death, in 1877, he had aecumulated enough property to be able to leave one thou- sand dollars to each of his two surviving daughters, Elizabeth M. and Melvina W. Sarah and Clara had passed away some years before. Having started out at ten years of age to make her own way in the world, Mel- vina W. Smith, before the time of her marriage with Mr. Mead, had acquired an experimental and thorough knowledge of the meaning of industry and economy. Her hus- band has found in her a true helpmate, - in Seripture phrase, "an help meet for him." The ownership of the farm has happily been brought about by their joint efforts.
OHN DOWELL, a canny Scotchman from the Land o' Cakes, who has made his own way in the world, by industry, foresight, and thrift gaining a competence, and a resident of Hamilton these forty years and more, was born in Dumbarton, Dumbar- tonshire, Scotland, October 15, 1825. His ancestors so far baek as known were all Scotch. Bereft of his mother when three days old, he had the misfortune a few months after to lose his remaining parent, Christo- pher Dowell, a sailor who suffered shipwreck on the American coast, and returned home to die of injuries there received. A kind- hearted, motherly woman named Kern took the little orphan in charge, faithfully caring
for him until he was ten years old, when he was sent to live with an unele in Givin, Ayr- shire County. The boy was so ill pleased with his new home and the treatment aecorded him by his uncle that he ran away, with that irate relative in full pursuit. Sixteen long miles passed over, with weary feet he reached the dock of the nearest seaport town just in time to cross the gang-plank to the Greenock- bound steamer before it was pulled in and the paddle - wheels began to turn. From Greenock he went to Dumbarton, and sought the hospitable roof of his foster - mother, where he was made weleome and permitted to stay, notwithstanding a warning letter that followed from his uncle to Mrs. Kern, telling her she would receive no further pay for his board.
Self-help was determined on by the resolute lad. He found employment in the ealieo print works three miles from Dumbarton, and, lodging with Mrs. Kern, walked to and from the mills daily for two years. Then a year and a half in a chandler's shop, making can- dles, a few months in the rope-works near Dumbarton Castle of historic fame, and six months of herding eattle on the banks of the Clyde. Next a period of farming, eventually to be the chosen life-work. At the Bryson farm, better known as the Dumbuek farm, to which he gave two and a half years, he was gradually promoted from working the odd horse to managing the third pair. With the aim of making himself master of farm work in its various branches, he often changed plaees. One year on the Scott farm in Lanark, the
JOHN DOWELL.
MRS. JOHN DOWELL.
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Green Hills of Kilbride, one year on the farm of Andrew Struthers, known as the Kirmon- ick Moor, one year at the Burnside farm of John Love, four years with James Jack at Campsie, - thus his time was filled up until 1849, when he decided to seek his fortune in a new land, - the free soil of America.
Leaving Glasgow in June of that year; in the sailing - vessel "Hinderfore," Captain Stevenson, he landed in New York August IO, after a voyage of seven weeks and four days, and went directly, via the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to Utica, and thence came by stage to Hamiton. He first worked by the montil, and later did day and job work in the neighborhood. Diligent and saving, he laid up a large part of his earnings every year. His ambition was to be not only a working farmer, but a landed proprietor; and with this end in view, that he might more speedily acquire the needful purchase money, he late in 1851 turned his steps to the newly opened gold diggings of California, going from New York to San Francisco by the Isth- mus. The Pacific Ocean belied its name, and gave them a stormy passage of three months in the sailing-vessel from Panama to Acapulco, Mexico. At this point he took the steamer "Winfield Scott," on her first trip, to San Francisco. From that place he proceeded to Sacramento, thence to Mud Springs, and from there to Hangtown, now Placerville. For one day's work here he received five dollars. Going that night to Coon Hollow, he bought some tools, and mined one day on his own account, then, returning to Mud Springs, en-
tered the employ of Mr. Baird for eighty dol- lars and board per month. After three weeks their water failed, and the work ceased.
His next job, of three weeks' duration, was to cut hay and to split rails at five dollars per day and board. He now bought a claim, and did sufficient work to hold it until the water should come. Most of his mining was on Webber Creek, where he continued to work until the last of March, 1854, when he started for New York, via the Nicaragua route, arriv- ing at that city about three weeks later, and immediately proceeded to Philadelphia to get his dust coined. He waited a week for his grist, and then returned to New York, and at the Hudson River Railroad station met his old friend, Joel Osman, of Earlville; and they journeyed together by rail to Utica, and there hired a carriage to take them to Hamil- ton, where he arrived in season to deposit his money, four thousand dollars, in twenty-dollar gold pieces, in the bank. A home of his own was now within his reach. He bought the Loveland farm, took to himself a wife, and successfully engaged in dairy and hop farming until 1872. In that year he removed to another farm which he had bought, one mile from Earlville, near the East Depot. In 1875 he purchased a residence in Earlville, in which he lived until it was burned in the fire which devastated this village, August 21, 1886. He then built his present convenient and comely residence. Of late years he has become quite interested in village property, and is the owner of eight dwellings, besides that in which he lives, and several vacant lots. In
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addition to this, he still owns the farm situ- ated near the depot, is a stockholder in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, in the Arnold Manufacturing Com- pany, the Earlville Land Company, and also of the Earlville Opera House.
November 19, 1854, he was united in mar- riage with Mary A. Sawdy, born in Hamil- ton, March 6, 1830, daughter of Frederick and Ruth (Wait) Sawdy. Frederick Sawdy was a native of Hamilton, a farmer, and spent his whole life here. His father, Peleg Sawdy, born, it is thought, in Rhode Island, and probably of Welsh descent, was a pioneer in the town of Hamilton, and died here. He married Louisa Crandall, whose ancestors were Scotch. She was born in the State of New York, and died on the home farm. Mrs. Dowell's mother was born in Brookfield, a daughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Maine) Wait, who were of English descent. Mrs. Dowell's great-grandfather Wait, a pioneer of Brookfield, came from Rhode Island, and died here at the remarkable age of one hun- dred and one years. Mr. and Mrs. Dowell have had but one child, a daughter, named Lena, who died in her fourteenth year.
Mr. Dowell is a Republican in politics. Ever since finally settling in Earlville, which is admitted to be one of the most enterprising and thriving villages in the country, he has taken a keen interest in its growth and pros- perity, and has done his full share toward the building up and improvement of the place. That his services have been appreciated is illustrated by the fact that he has been re-
peatedly called upon to fill various offices of public trust, serving as Highway Commis- sioner one year, Village Trustee three years, and President of the Village Board for two years, and is now Street Commissioner. In social and fraternal matters, he is a member of Earlville Lodge, No. 622, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Cyclone Fire Engine Company of Earl- ville. In view of these facts, his portrait, accompanied by that of his excellent wife, is invested with additional interest, as repre- senting a type of citizen that is the boast of our great Republic. A man of great natural resources and strength of character, inheriting the vigorous and sturdy qualities of his Scot- tish ancestors, he owes to these qualities the remarkable success he has achieved in life. Starting with nothing in the way of fortune, and at first possessing but the simplest ele- ments of an education, he has not only suc- ceeded in surrounding himself with physical comforts and some of the luxuries of life, but, aided by a retentive memory and his own nat- ural intelligence, has greatly increased his stock of knowledge, and so cultivated his mind as to be in touch with and have a sympathetic comprehension of the foremost writers and thinkers of the day. His library is one selected with rare discrimination, and consists largely of standard works, the recog- nized classics of English literature, with whose contents he possesses an intimate acquaintance.
Much of the comfort and refinement that he now enjoys can be traced to the influence and
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exertions of his amiable and devoted wife, who has been his companion for so many years. Her true womanly qualities have found many opportunities for exercise in the beautifying of their home, as may be seen in the tasteful arrangements and pleasant sur- roundings. She has been, indeed, a true helpmate to her husband, and is widely known and highly esteemed for her Christian and womanly virtues. Realizing that true relig- ion is not only the basis of sound morality, but is the secret of happiness here and lias the promise of the life to come, she many years ago gave her heart to her Divine Master, and has long been an active worker in the Metho- dist Episcopal church, her influence in the sphere of Christian activity and church work equalling that of her husband in the business circles of the village and town. It is to be hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Dowell have yet before them many years of useful activity and honorable distinction.
A NDREW S. HART, a resident of the village of Morrisville and a successful farmer, is a man of much more than ordinary intellectual ability, the peculiar bent of his genius lying in the direction of me- chanical invention, his achievements in this line being very remarkable. No one can doubt the value of this faculty, all governments hav- ing testified their sense of it by granting the exclusive use, for different periods of time, of the improved process or article to the man whose genius and study brought it forth. Be-
sides this, a mere glance at the history of the race, even by a casual observer, is sufficient to show that the inventive talent is of incal- culable advantage to mankind, as it is con- stantly at work revolutionizing industrial, scientific, and other methods and processes, thereby increasing the rapidity of progress in almost every field, and bringing into opera- tion forces which gradually tend to supersede, to a large extent, both animal and manual labor, and to elevate man to a higher, if not to an ideal, plane of existence.
Mr. Hart is a representative of one of the oldest families in Madison County. He was born in the town of Eaton in August, 1834. His father, Solomon Hart, was born in Con- necticut, and was a son of Phineas Hart, a native of the same State, who, accompanied by his wife and seven children, emigrated to the State of New York, making the entire journey by means of ox-teams. Purchasing a tract of land covered with the primeval forest, which is now included in the County Farm, Phineas Hart began in the true pioneer spirit to clear up his land and to make a home for himself and his family, aided by their presence and by their sympathy and love. He was destined, however, within a few years to lose his wife and four of his children, who died within a few days of each other, and who lie buried in the churchyard at the village of Eaton. Thus ruthlessly deprived of the com- panion of his labors, his sorrows, and his joys, and a large part of his family, he sold his land and returned to his native State, and there spent the remainder of his life.
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Upon the return of Phineas Hart to Con- necticut, his son Solomon went to live with Samuel Wickwire, of Hamilton; and when, some years afterward, he began life for him- self, he was without indebtedness and without money or other property of any kind. Pos- sessed, however, of a stout heart and willing hands, he began working by the month, and so continued to labor for fourteen years. Then, with the money he had earned having purchased a tract of timber land in the town of Eaton, paying therefor seven dollars per acre, he took possession of the little log cabin previously erected, and soon began to increase the small acreage already cleared. In this log house the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Hart, being a very indus- trious man, soon had his farm well improved, and after some years sold it for fourteen dollars per acre, thus doubling the purchase price. Besides being a man of industry, he was also a man of sound judgment. He made profitable investments, and became possessed of wealth. He married Lucinda Palmer, a native of the town of Eaton, and a daughter of John and Mary (Pitts) Palmer, natives of Rhode Island and pioneers of the town of Eaton. Captain Rufus Pitts, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Solomon Hart, for many years commander of a vessel upon the ocean, retired from the sea when forty-five years of age, and settled in the town of Eaton, pur- chasing land upon which he resided till his death. Mrs. Hart, now eighty-five years old, resides with her daughters in California. She and her husband reared seven children ;
namely, Jane, Marion, Susan, Andrew S., John A., Milton F., and Addie (deceased).
Andrew S. Hart, having been reared and educated in his native town, upon attaining his majority engaged to work for his father for one hundred dollars per year and his board and clothes. Continuing thus engaged for five years, he purchased fifty acres of land, for which he paid forty dollars per acre,- a portion of the same tract previously pur- chased by his father at seven dollars per acre. Being a very industrious man, his property increased; and he bought other land, until at the present time he owns upward of seven hundred acres, - eighty in the town of Smith- field and the rest in the town of Eaton. Residing on his farm until 1888, he then re- moved to the village of Morrisville, and has lived there ever since, though he still gives his personal attention to the management of his farms. The inventive genius mentioned in the beginning of this sketch as possessed by Mr. Hart has manifested itself in many different ways. One of his important inven- tions is known as "Hart's Omnibus and Car Heater," patented November 4, 1890. An- other is "Hart's Vine Trellis," patented April 18, 1893. This invention is destined to come into general use in hop yards, as its merits become known to hop-growers. Another, and perhaps his most important one, is an elevated railroad to be worked by horse-power, but which has not as yet gone into operation.
December 5, 1861, Mr. Andrew S. Hart married Nancy Louisa Winslow, who was born in Eaton, Madison County. She is a
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daughter of Captain Oliver P. Winslow, a native of Greenwich, R.I., a son of Perry Winslow, who, so far as known, resided in Rhode Island during his entire life. The maiden name of his wife was Judith Greene. Captain Oliver P. Winslow began life as a sailor in the whaling service when a boy, and rose to the rank of Captain of a vessel, fol- lowing the sea until he was forty-five years old. In 1838, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to Madison County, bought a farm in the town of Eaton, and followed agricult- ural pursuits until his death. He married Eliza W. Raymond, who was born at Nan- tucket, Mass., and was a daughter of Ebenezer and Abigail (Way) Raymond. The parents of Mrs. Hart reared five children; namely, Roland, Judith, Oliver, Elza, and Mrs. Hart. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have reared three children, namely: Bernice L., now wife of James G. Wilsie, a farmer, of Eaton; Blanche L., wife of E. C. Niles, a clerk in the wholesale gro- cery house of Walworth & Co., Syracuse, N. Y; and Palmer A. Mr. Hart has always been a Republican, having cast his first Presi- dential vote for John C. Fremont, and is thoroughly versed in the political history of the country. He and his wife are truly excel- lent people, highly respected by all who know them.
RTEMAS G. MCINTYRE, born in Brookfield, N. Y., July 2, 1845, son of William Harrison and Jerusha (Welsh) McIntyre. The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, like many of the
pioneers of this county, was a New England man. He came from Rhode Island to the State of New York, making the journey, as they did, with an ox-team, over the roughest kind of roads, often having no guide but the marked trees, and enduring toils and priva- tions difficult for their descendants to realize in these days of luxurious plenty. Ile pur- chased a tract of timber land, erected his log house, and made a clearing for his farm.
The grandfather of Mr. McIntyre was born on this farm, and in this sparsely settled country had very little, if any, educational advantages, and few boyish sports to enliven the monotony of the wilderness. But, in spite of all difficulties, he obtained an educa- tion far superior to that of most people in those days. His daily toil on the farm, and his hunt for game with his trusty rifle, consti- tuted the duties of his earlier life. The grandfather and great-grandfather were prac- tising lawyers in the town of Brookfield, N. Y., and were able and prominent in their profession. William McIntyre, the father of Artemas, was educated in the district schools, which by this time had been established, and were excellent of their kind. He also as- sisted in the work of the farm. At an early age he had prospered so well as to be able to buy the farm on which our subject now re- sides. To his wife and himself were born six children ; namely, Almon H., Alonzo, Arte- mas, Adeline, Ellen, and Jeanette.
Artemas spent his youthful days alternat- ing between the district schools and the farm work. The major portion of his schooling
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consisted in the few weeks of winter; but he managed to make a good foundation, which he has since improved by judicious reading. In his vigorous manhood, at the age of twenty- ninc, he married Miss Esther Talbot; and they are blessed with two children, - Emeline and Adeline. Mrs. McIntyre was born in Edmeston, Otsego County, N. Y., and there received her education in the public schools, besides being trained at home by her excel- lent mother in the cares and duties of the household. Her people were originally from Connecticut, and have mainly been engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Since Mr. McIntyre took possession of his present farm he has greatly improved the land. His home is a neat and substantial dwelling with attractive surroundings. He naturally takes great pride in his farm, which has long been owned by the McIntyre family. We find throughout his career that he has strictly attended to his own affairs, and has never evinced any burning desire to be an office-holder. He does his duty at the polls as a man and citizen, and in his invariable vote for the Republican party shows his pref- erence for its principles. Both Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre are of the Methodist faith, and no good work of the church fails to receive their aid and encouragement.
The charming family of Mr. McIntyre are remarkable for their intelligence. The youngest daughter, though but fourteen years of age, stands among the foremost in her classes, and in business matters has a keen- ness of perception far beyond her years. In
historical matters, and also in genealogy, she takes an absorbing interest, and with her parents is justly proud of her honorable ancestry.
IRGIL M. ARMOUR, now retired from active business and living at Morris- ville, N. Y., was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., November 13, 1818, and was only a few months old when his parents settled on a new farm in Madison County, in the early part of 1819, and built a log cabin for their home. His father, Preston Armour, was born in Union, Tolland County, Conn., in 1795, grew to manhood, and was educated there. For some years he taught school, and was rec- ognized throughout that section as an intelli- gent and well-informed man. His wife, Betsy Brown, was born in Killingly, Conn., and brought up in Berkshire County, Massa- chusetts. She was of Rhode Island parent- age. At sixteen years of age she returned to her native State, and was married to Mr. Armour in the town of Union. After their marriage they went to Chenango County, in 1818, but, as above mentioned, moved to Madison County early in the following year, and here spent the rest of their lives. They were devout members of the Methodist church. While Mr. Preston Armour was not particu- larly successful as a financier, he was uni- versally esteemed for his integrity and high mental gifts. In their later years the parents resided with their son, Virgil, at his beauti- ful home, one mile from Morrisville, N. Y., where he settled when he left Smithfield
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