USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 24
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
227
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
. twenty-two years ago, the father dying in 1879, at the age of eighty-four, and the mother in 1882, she having reached her ninety-first year.
Virgil M. Armour is the eldest of the five children born to Preston Armour and wife. The others were: William W., the fourth child, deceased; Lucian B. of Morrisville, the third child; Volney, of Calhoun County, lowa, the fifth; and Esther, the second child, widow of William F. Bonney, who lives in Austin, Il1., a suburb of Chicago. Mr. Ar- mour's first wife was Mary Bayless, whom he married in Smithfield, N.Y. She was born in Worcestershire, England, and was but eighteen years of age when she arrived in this country. She lived in Philadelphia, Pa., for two years, coming from there to Smithfield, Madison County, where she mar- ried Mr. Armour in 1847, and died twenty-two years later, at the age of fifty-one. Six chil- dren were born to them, of whom four are now dead, namely: William W., at the age of thirteen years; Adalpha J., five years old; Isabell B., who was the wife of DeLoss Nor- ton, and died in June, 1885, at the age of thirty-four, leaving one child, Lynn; and Minnic B., who married Dr. Wesley Reeve, and, dying June, 1879, left one child, James Wesley. The children living are: Eliza, widow of William Chaffin, who has one child, Benjamin B., and resides in Oxford, N.Y .; and Mary E., wife of Mr. Jay Curtis, who with their three children reside at Exeter, Otsego County.
Mr. Armour's second wife was Mrs.
Wealthy J. Reeve, nce Reese, whom he mar- ricd in Smithfield, Madison County. She was born in Nelson, a town of Madison County, in October, 1833. Her parents, Samuel and Sallie (Hart) Reese, came from the valley of the Mohawk, where they were born and married. They settled on a farm in Nelson town early in the present century. The mother died in the prime of life, but the father lived to a ripe old age. Mrs. Armour, by her former marriage to Mr. Ramsey Reeve, had three children, who are still living: Mary V., wife of Bertrand Hardy, a farmer and me- chanic of Smithfield, Madison County, has one child, Ruby; Anna, wife of William Curtis, a farmer of Butternuts, Otsego County, has one son, Walter W .; and James W., a physi- cian, of Morrisville, N. Y., whose present wife was Miss Maude A. Miller. By her second marriage Mrs. Armour is the mother of two sons, - Virgil M., Jr., and John P., both prosperous hop-growers and dairymen of the town of Eaton. Virgil M. Armour, Jr., mar- ried Miss M. Louise Bentley, a native of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and has one child, - John H. John P. Armour married Miss Frankie Gregg, of Stockbridge, Madison County. Both the sons are Republicans in politics. They live on handsome one-hun- dred-acre farms, which are among the finest in the county.
While Mr. Armour has been and is a thrifty, well-to-do farmer, he has met with many financial losses, but, fortunately, has been most generously assisted by his cousin, Philip Armour, the millionaire pork-packer
228
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and philanthropist of Chicago, Ill., to whom he feels indebted for much of his present prosperity. He never wearies in extolling the kindness and benevolence of this noble- hearted relative, who truly proved himself a "friend in need." By his timely help Mr. Armour's affairs were placed on a secure basis and his declining years made comfortable. In politics our subject is a firm and stanch Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Armour attend the Baptist church, Mrs. Armour being a pro- fessed member of that religion.
LANSON ALEXANDER is a repre- sentative of one of the early settled families of the town of Lenox, Mad- ison County, N.Y. He was born in London- derry, Rockingham County, N.H., January 14, 1817. His father, Jonathan Alexander, was born in the same town, July 24, 1776; and his grandfather, James Alexander, was born on the ocean during the voyage of his parents when emigrating to America, in 1728. His ancestors were originally from Scotland, but took refuge in Ireland in the time of the Revolution. James Alexander married Miss Jennie McCurdy. They reared a family of eight children, spending their lives on their farm in the town of Londonderry.
Jonathan Alexander spent his early man- hood in his native town, residing there until 1817, and then with his wife and five chil- dren came to New York State, making the entire journey with two yoke of oxen and a covered wagon, in which were loaded all their
worldly possessions. Attracted by the beauty and fertility of Central New York, he bought a tract of timbered land in the town of Lenox, on which a comfortable log house was already built. Moving into this house, the family resided there until 1835, when, being blessed with prosperity, Mr. Alexander was able to build a substantial frame house, where the family lived until after the death of the mother. The father then made his home with his son Joseph, in Mifflin County, Pennsyl- vania, remaining there until his death, Octo- ber 6, 1853. The name of his wife was Sarah Davidson. She was born in Londonderry, N.H., and became the mother of fourteen children, eight reaching maturity.
At the time the Alexander family settled in Madison County the Indians still held their titles to the land, and inhabited all this section. They were peaceful and friendly ; but the white man felt none the less inse- cure, and lived under constant apprehension. There were no railroads, no canals, no means of travel but by horseback or team; and, as the nearest market towns were Vernon Vil- lage, Oneida County, and Peterboro, Madison County, each several miles away, the jour- neys to and fro were made with some diffi- culty. The subject of this sketch was but an infant when his parents brought him to Madi- son County. Here he grew to manhood, re- maining with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he commenced life for himself. He worked out at first by the month, and was industrious and prudent, sav- ing his earnings until able to buy the old
229
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Lenox homestead, where he farmed until 1867. The next sixteen years he spent in Oneida, at the end of that period returning to the farm, where he remained four years. He has now definitely taken up his residence in Oneida, and lives in quiet retirement.
He married Miss Harriet M. Adams, No- vember 13, 1844. She was born in Grafton, Mass., daughter of Nathaniel and Polly (Mer- riam) Adams. She died January 28, 1880. A son and a daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander: Nathaniel Q., who died, aged eleven years; and Ida M., now wife of William Webb. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have four children, - Hattie Belle, Lulu Emma, Nellie A., and Ruth A. Mr. and Mrs. Alan- son Alexander have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church all their married life. Politically, Mr. Alexander is a Repub- lican. No subject is more worthy of his place in these brief memoirs than this gentleman, whose integrity and noble character have won for him the esteem and confidence of his fel- low-citizens.
A® SA R. BAILEY was born in the town of Nelson, N. Y., January 22, 1826. His parents, Anson and Roxanna (Payne) Bailey, were natives of this State. The father was a prominent farmer of his day, although he commenced his working life modestly enough, laboring by the month for Mr. Ruggles Payne, and proving so acceptable to his employer as to be rewarded finally with the hand of his daughter. For a few years after his marriage Anson Bailey followed the
fuller and clothier trade, but afterward bought a farm in the town of Nelson, and adopted the occupation of farming for the remainder of his life. At the age of fifty-two he met with a sudden and appalling death by falling from the roof of a barn upon which he was working, and leaving a wife and three children bereft of his care and protection. Of those chil- dren, only one is now living, - Mrs. F. M. Darrow, now of West Easton, N. Y. Mrs. Roxanna Bailey, the mother, died at the age of seventy years. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
David Bailey, father of Anson and grand- father of Asa R. Bailey, came to Madison County from his native New England State early in the present century. He settled in the town of Nelson, taking up new land which was yet covered with its primeval woods. Here he erected his log cabin, and worked hard and persistently to provide for the wants of his large family, which consisted of ten children. Besides the labor of his farm, he was a shoemaker by trade, and used to go from house to house, making shoes for fam- ilies. He was married three times, and died, at the age of eighty years, in the western part of New York State. In his politics he was a Whig. In his religious faith he followed the tenets of the Methodist church, of which he was an ardent and hard-working member, holding many prominent offices.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Ruggles Payne, was also an early settler of the town of Nelson, where he suffered all the hardships of pioneer life. While building
230
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
his first home in the wilderness, his dwelling was in the woods, his couch a hollowed log, and his roof the twinkling stars, which kept watch over his slumbers. But out of all these unpropitious conditions he worked success, and died, at the age of eighty years, on the farm of three hundred acres which he had brought to the highest state of cultivation. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Su- sanna Daniels, and his second Miss Betsey Farnham. He was a Republican in politics and a Universalist in religion.
Asa R. Bailey grew to manhood in the town of Nelson, attending the district schools, and receiving a good common education. He remained on the home farm until 1849, when he was married to Miss Cemantha M. Farn- ham, who was born in the town of Nelson, November 28, 1829, daughter of Calvin and Nancy (Donaldson) Farnham. Her mother was a native of Scotland; and her father was born in the town of Nelson, where he became a successful farmer. Mr. Farnham died at the age of forty-two years, leaving a wife and eight children, five of whom are now living, as follows: Maria (Mrs. Holt), residing in Morrisville, N. Y .; Clark A., living at Nel- son; Mrs. Bailey, wife of subject; John D., a resident of Minnesota; and Caroline M. Lelland. Mrs. Bailey's mother died at the 1 age of ninety-one years. They were Baptists, and Mr. Farnham was a member of the Demo- cratic party.
Asa Bailey after marriage worked a farm on shares for a few years, and then bought the farm, residing on it until his death, February
15, 1892, at the age of sixty-six years. His widow manages this farm of one hundred and seventy acres, with the assistance of her son- in-law, Thomas H. Roberts, who resides with her. Mrs. Bailey has no children living, her one daughter, Helen M., who was married to Mr. Roberts, having died at twenty-eight years of age. Mrs. Bailey is a worthy and intelli- gent lady, displaying excellent ability in the management of her affairs, and highly re- spected by her neighbors and friends for her Christian character. She is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church, as was also her late husband, giving ample proof in their lives of the beauty of their religion. Mr. Bailey was a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and held many minor offices in his town.
OHN TERWILLIGER was born on February 24, 1827, in Albany County, eldest son of George and Nancy (Coughtry) Terwilliger, both natives of that county, as was also his paternal grandfather, Simon Terwilliger, who served as a teamster in the Revolutionary War. While Albany County was the home of the veteran during the greater part of his life, he died, at the age of seventy-nine years, in Onondaga County. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Coon, died when she was seventy-five years old, having reared eight children. George Terwilliger was a carpenter, and also a farmer. He moved in 1834 to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, where he bought a farm, on which he lived for forty years.
231
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
He died in Madison County at the age of eighty-six years, his wife at the age of sixty- five. Eight children had been born to them, six sons and two daughters, of whom five are now living: John, the subject of the present sketch, a resident of Sullivan; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Town) and Jane (Mrs. John Edgerton), residing in Michigan; James, who died in the late war at Andersonville Prison in 1864; Henry, who died in 1869, leaving a wife and one child; William, living in Indiana; Richard, who died in the service during the Civil War; Stanley, residing at Manlius Station, Onondaga County. The father was a Republican in politics, and the family were Presbyterian in religion.
John Terwilliger left Albany County when he was about seven years of age, moving with his father to Onondaga County. In this sparsely settled section of the country the district school was a log cabin, with its puncheon floor and rough benches - a strik- ing contrast to the elegant buildings which are now erected for the youthful scholar. He had to trudge many miles to acquire the simple rudiments of learning, and marvellous were the adventures of the urchins who were "treed by a bear" or scared by an Indian as they journeyed through the woods. Simple and frugal were the manners and customs of those days. The mother was cook, nurse, weaver, and tailor for the family; and our subject was eighteen years of age before ever he wore a suit of "store clothes." When he was twenty-five years of age, he started out to work for himself; and, as salt-making was the
principal industry of Onondaga County, he became a cooper, and was a long while em- ployed in the making of salt-barrels.
The first piece of land bought by him was a tract of twenty-five acres in the town of Cicero, which he sold shortly afterward, and in 1866 purchased the farm of one hundred and forty acres which he now owns and occu- pies. He has increased this to one hundred and sixty-five acres, on which he raises wheat, oats, corn, and hay. He gives a great deal of attention to stock-raising, and in his dairy work prefers Holstein cattle. Mr. Terwil- liger's buildings stand on the spot mentioned in Mrs. Hammond's "History of Madison County " as the site of the palisade enclosure where in 1780 a band of Tories and Indians who had come from Canada on a marauding expedition left a guard to protect their boats filled with stores, which they had moored in the creek near by, while they went on, and, under command of Johnson Butler and Brant, burned Schoharie. Captain Vrooman, acting under the orders of General Van Rensselaer, hastening to this old fort with a small body of men, captured the guards and sank the boats, but was himself, with his prisoners, surprised and taken by a detachment of Butler's rangers, and marched off to Canada.
The marriage of John Terwilliger and Miss Margaret Morrison took place in 1853. She was born in the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, N. Y., January 29, 1836. Her par- ents, Archibald and Sarah (Conway) Mor- rison, are natives of Washington County, the father having been born in 1811 and the
232
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
mother in 1817. Their only child is Mrs. Terwilliger. Mr. Morrison is a carpenter, and has always followed the trade. He is an ardent Republican, and has never missed an election.
Mr. and Mrs Terwilliger have two children. Sarah, who resides at home, was born in 1858. Arthur, born in 1854, is married, and with his wife and one son, named John Howard, resides on a part of the home farm.
Mr. Terwilliger is a strong Republican in his political ideas, and unflinchingly supports his party in every election campaign. He has been Commissioner of Highways and Col- lector in the town of Manlius, and is a stir- ring, active worker in the district. In the Masonic Order he is a member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 148, F. & A. M. He is a prom- inent and deservedly esteemed citizen of his county. By reason of his many years in this region he is fully conversant with its history, and, having keen observation and a fine mem- ory, is a delightful mine of information to those wishing to learn of the days that are one. He and his wife, in their upright and Christian lives, are a beautiful example to the generation around them; and the earnest wish of their fellow-citizens is that they may be spared long in the land.
AVID H. PHIPPS, these thirty years and more an enterprising and well- known citizen of Oneida, an octo- genarian whose step is still firm and whose mind is clear, was born in the town of
Thompson, Windham County, Conn., Octo- ber 7, 1807. His father, David Phipps, who was born in the same State, August 3, 1768, son of Jason Phipps, received a good edu- cation and became a civil engineer, learn- ing also the trade of joiner. He, however, devoted much of his time to the care of the farm which he owned in the town of Thomp- son till the year 1821, when he sold his real estate in Connecticut, and with his family, consisting of a wife and seven children, came to New York, the journey by team to Oppen- heim, then Montgomery County, now Fulton, requiring ten days. Here he resided, engaged in farming, until his death, July 29, 1850. He was a Whig, and had served as Justice of the Peace in Connecticut. His mother's maiden name was Chapin. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of his seven children, was Betsey Cloyes. She was born in New Hampshire, November 15, 1775, and died August 4, 1863. Her father served in the War of 1812, and died of wounds received in a severe skirmish with the Indians.
The subject of this brief biography, having been fourteen years of age when he came to New York, well remembers the incidents of the removal and the varied experiences of the pioneer life that followed. Albany was the market to which country produce was teamed, even from the western part of the State. At fifteen years of age he began to earn his own living, working out at five dollars per month and board. At twenty-one years of age he received ten dollars per month and board. A short time before his marriage he bought a
D. H. PHIPPS.
-
MRS. ELIZA H. PHIPPS.
235
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
saw-mill in Oppenheim, and engaged in the lumber business three or four years. Having learned the trade of carpenter, while running the mill he took contracts to frame buildings. After selling the mill, he worked at his trade for a time, then engaged in farming. He lived in Oppenheim till 1840, when he sold what interest he had there, and, coming to Madison County, bought a farm in Nelson, in which town he was the first to engage in the dairy business. Always on the lookout to better his condition, two years later he sold his property in Nelson, and, moving to the town of Eaton, bought twenty acres of land. He worked at farming and at his trade there till 1856, when he became proprietor of a public house, which he kept for the next five years.
In 1861 Mr. Phipps came to Oneida, and has since continued a resident of this village, to the growth of which he has materially con- tributed, chiefly by purchasing and improving real estate. In the first place, having formed a partnership with S. H. Farnham, he bought property on Madison Street, which he held as a storage warehouse for two years, when he sold it to be converted into stores. He has since engaged in other similar enterprises. His business of late has been looking after his private interests; in other words, the care of his property as it is, without entering upon any new undertakings.
December 19, 1831, was the date of the marriage of David H. Phipps and Eliza H. Brown. Mrs. Phipps was a native of this State, the daughter of Chad and Elizabeth
(Healey) Brown. She was born April 22, 1813, and died March 17, 1889. Mr. Phipps was formerly a Whig, and cast his first Presi- dential vote for John Quincy Adams. He has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He served as Justice of the Peace in Eaton, and has been a member of the Oneida Village Board of Trustees.
We take pleasure in calling the reader's attention to the fine portrait of this venerable and respected gentleman.
EORGE T. FEARON, a very exten- sive farmer and horticulturist, and one of the truly representative citizens of Madison County, is eminently worthy a place in this "Biographical Review." Agriculture is much older than the Christian era, and its literature is richer than perhaps that of any other occupation of mankind. The art itself is, as a matter of course, older than its liter- ature, which may be said to have begun with Cato the Great, who was born at Tusculum in 234 B.C., who inherited from his plebeian father a small farm in the country of the Sabines, and who was the first and most cele- brated writer on this subject. The art of agriculture consists in rearing those animals and plants best suited to supply the wants of man; and, in all probability, no part of the United States is better suited to its perfect development than Central New York.
Of those sufficiently fortunate to inhabit this favored region is Mr. George T. Fearon, who is one of its leading farmers and horti-
236
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
culturists, having successfully followed two branches of agriculture during most of his life. Mr. Fearon was born April 21, 1835, in the town of Eaton, on the farm which he now owns and occupies. He is a son of Robert and Ann (Christian) Fearon, both of whom were born in Ireland, the former having been the son of George Fearon, whose bio- graphical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Robert Fearon was a prosperous stock-raiser and hop-grower, and owned the farm on which the subject of this sketch now lives. Being an honest, hard-working man, he was highly respected wherever known. Religiously, he was a Methodist; and, po- litically, he was a Republican. His death took place September 13, 1875, when he was sixty-nine years of age. Mr. Fearon was twice married, by his first wife rearing seven children, and by his second one, who is yet living. All but one of the family grew to mature years. The three now living are: George T., the subject of this sketch; Robert M., a lumber dealer, living in Ohio; and Henry, of Oneida, N.Y.
George T. Fearon remained at home until he reached his twenty-fifth year, having in the mean time acquired a good education in the district schools and by attendance five terms at Cazenovia Seminary. In June, 1860, he married Miss Adell F. Thurston, who was born in the town of Stockbridge, and is a daughter of Hiram and Emily (Hamilton) Thurston, the former of whom was a success- ful farmer of the town of Stockbridge, and died there at the age of eighty-one, his wife
having passed away fourteen months before, aged eighty years. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still liv- ing, Mrs. Adell F. Fearon being one of the three younger. The farm of Mr. George T. Fearon contains one hundred and sixty-five acres, seventy acres of which he has devoted to large and small fruit, such as apples, pears, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes. Be- sides this farm, Mr. Fearon also owns one in Lake County, Florida, upon which he raises oranges, lemons, grapes, and peaches. On his Madison County farm he raises stock, and also keeps about one hundred sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Fearon have two sons - David C., born January 18, 1864, and Fred M., born Septem- ber 7, 1867 - both of whom are engaged in fruit-growing with their father. On April 12, 1893, in the town of Eaton were married Mr. Fred M. Fearon and Miss Lepha Lewis.
The bride, a very capable young lady, of good attainments, was born and brought up at the home of her parents in Pratt's Hollow. Mrs. George T. Fearon is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Fearon is a voter with the Prohibition party, and an advocate of its principles.
ESSE CYPHER, who is the worthy subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Lenox, N. Y., March, 1826. His father, Andrew Cypher, was born there in 1779. The Cypher family is of Dutch de- scent, and came to Madison County from the Mohawk Valley. Andrew Cypher married,
237
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
rather late in life, Betsey Snider, several of whose people were farmers, residing within a half-mile of her birthplace in the Dutch set- tlement of the town of Lenox. Four sons and two daughters were born to this couple, Jesse being the youngest. The four now living are: Betsey, widow of Robert Siver, living in Lenox; Ephraim, a farmer at Oak Hill; Ce- rena, widow of Thomas R. Guy, owner of a pleasant house and garden in MacKinley Square, N. Y., where she resides; and Jesse. The father died in 1829, at the age of fifty; and the mother lived for many years with her son Jesse, dying at his home in 1879, aged seventy years.
Mr. Jesse Cypher, having received in his boyhood a fair common-school education, has lived on a farm, and closely applied himself to farm work the greater part of his life, the exception being fourteen years, when he was engaged in manufacturing glass boxes. He inherited nothing from his father's estate, and has had to work hard, to toil early and late for what he possesses. He purchased his comfortable home in which he now resides about ten years ago, paying about two thou- sand dollars for the property. In 1856 he married Miss Caroline E. Wright, daughter of Orson and Bathsheba (Clark) Wright, of Bath, Madison County, N. Y. Mrs. Wright died in 1865, at about fifty years of age, and her husband in 1883, aged seventy - one. They had six children - two sons and four daughters - of whom one son and two daugh- ters have reached maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Cypher has been born one daughter -
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.