USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 25
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Rosalie L., wife of Eddie Stoddard - whose home is still under the parental roof.
Mr. Cypher has twenty-five acres of farm land, on which he raises small fruit and gen- eral crops. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and, while leading a quiet and uneventful life, enjoys that most inde- pendent and, in many respects, enviable sta- tion of a farmer owning his own lands. By his own energy and industry Mr. Cypher has established himself comfortably and with pleasant surroundings. His various farm buildings are sufficiently commodious and well adapted to their use, his cattle are in good condition, and his watchful eyes see that everything about his place is kept in working order.
Mr. Cypher's record may be summed up as that of a patriotic and honorable citizen, a true American - not an aspirant for place and power, but one who is content to till his own fields, and only ambitious to do it well. Cheerfully,
Along the cool, sequestered vale of life He keeps the noiseless tenor of his way.
ETER R. DUFFY. This gentleman was born June 11, 1828, in the town of Eaton, Madison County, son of Fergus and Elizabeth (O'Rourke) Duffy. His parents were both born in Ireland. His paternal grandfather, Ross Duffy, was a prom- inent farmer in the Emerald Isle, and spent his life there. Of his four children - Ross, Jr., Francis, Fergus, and Margaret - none
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are living at present. Constantine O'Rourke, father of Elizabeth, cmigrated to this country when a young man, a college graduate, and settled in Herkimer County. Much of the land on which the village of Herkimer now stands was owned by him. Hc was one of the foremost men of his time, being highly re- spected for his public spirit and enterprise. He spent his last days ncar Richfield Springs, Otsego County, N. Y., where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He had a family of six children, all now deceased.
Fergus Duffy camc to America when he was twenty-four years of age. After a brief stay in New York City, where he landed, he went to the Southern States, but did not remain there long. He finally located him- self in Madison County, New York. After his marriage, which took place in Herkimer County, he resided for some years in the town of Eaton, ending his days, however, in Georgetown, N. Y., dying at the age of sixty- eight years. His wife lived until she reached the age of seventy. Of their seven children, six are now living, namely: Thomas A., a retired farmer of Oneida Castle; our subject, Peter Ross; James Francis, a farmer of the town of Eaton; William Fergus, residing at the old homestead in Georgetown; Elizabeth (Mrs. R. Wallace), of the town of Nelson; Eleanor, wife of Marshall Marvin, a farmer, of Georgetown. Sebastian Duffy, onc of the sons, died at the age of forty-five. Hc was a graduate of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and was Principal of Pulaski Seminary for seventeen years. Had the district been
less overwhelmingly Republican, he would probably have held a seat in Congress. The parents of our subject were Catholics in relig- ion, and the father a Democrat in politics.
Peter R. Duffy grew to manhood in the town of Eaton, and received his education in the district schools and in the Morrisville Academy. When he first hired out, he worked for one Sidney Spring, and received, to begin with, five dollars a month, giving his earnings to his father. For the first year's toil his remuneration was one hundred and eighty dollars, and he continued to work at the same place for some time. He then for eight years managed the farm owned by Mrs. Ruth Jen- nings, for the latter part of the time receiving five hundred dollars per year. On the death of Mrs. Jennings, in 1858, he rented her farm. He was so successful financially that in 1859 he enlarged his business, engaging in speculating and sheep-raising. He was at one time the owner of the largest sheep-fold in his vicinity; and in 1864 he made one sale of sheep which amounted to fifteen hundred dollars, and this was for only a small part of his flock. He sold wool as high as one dollar per pound, and was known as one of the most successful speculators in Madison County.
During the last year of the war he gave up this business, and invested some of his money in land. Having bought a farm in the town of Nelson, in the vicinity of Erieville, he now carries on general farming, and is one of the principal men of that village. In 1867 he bought the cheese factory, which is one of the oldest and largest of the kind -a vast
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concern, having a record of using twenty-two thousand pounds of milk in one day. Mr. Duffy also owns the saw-mill at Erieville, and, keeps a good stock of lumber constantly on hand. He owns considerable real estate in various places, having lands in Georgetown, farms in the town of Nelson, and several resi- dences in Erieville. He was married May 24, 1869, to Miss Helen M. Cloyes, who was born in the town of Eaton, December 13, 1832. She was the adopted daughter of Hiram D. Cloyes, and died March 18, 1873, aged forty-one years, leaving no children.
Mr. Duffy is a popular and busy man in the community. In 1879 he was elected Su- pervisor, and has held that position nine out of the ten terms that he ran. The town is strongly Republican by from one hundred and fifteen to one hundred and twenty-five major- ity; but he stands so high in the regard of his fellow-citizens that, although a stanch Demo- crat, he has thus succeeded in winning over all opposition. He is a Free and Accepted Mason of Cazenovia Lodge, No. 616. As an enterprising and progressive man of good mental endowments, Mr. Duffy is worthy of the high consideration accorded to him in his native town. His judgment of men and affairs is esteemed of great value.
A TWELL M. SMITH is a general farmer and dairyman, and is admin- istrator for property of two hundred acres on the line of Smithfield and Eaton towns, which he has managed for two years
very successfully. He was born in the town of Eaton, October 26, 1863, and is now thirty years of age. Ile has always lived in the town, except during the time of his attendance at a mercantile business college and at the seminary in Cazenovia, N. Y., where he completed his education. His grandfather, Joseph Smith, a hardy tiller of the soil, died in 1846, comparatively young.
Judson Smith, son of Joseph, the father of our subject, was born about the year 1826, and was for quite a while a farmer in Eaton town, where he lived. In 1881-82 he went into business as a hop dealer and commission merchant, in which he continued for nearly ten years, when he removed to Clinton, N. Y. He is now connected with the Rose Gold Cure of that place. He is one of a large family of brothers and sisters, several of whom are yet living. His wife was Miss Josephine Wake- lee. She was born in Chenango County, New York, but in early life went to Smithfield, Madison County, and was there married. She died November 2, 1892, aged fifty-seven, much esteemed as a devoted wife, a loving mother, and an extremely intelligent woman. Her parents were Atwell and Ellen (Lacy) Wakelee, both of whom died on the farm they had improved and owned, which is now the property of their grandchildren, Atwell, and Benaja and Lorena, his brother and sister, who live with him. The grandfather died in 1889, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife in 1890, when she was seventy-six years old. They were good, frugal, and industrious people, loved and respected in their neighbor-
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hood. Mr. Wakelee was for many years a large land dealer, was a Democrat, and, while taking a reasonable interest in politics, was not an office-seeker. They had but two chil- dren : Mrs. Judson Smith, deceased; and Miss Sarah Wakelee, who is still living in Morris- ville, N.Y.
Mr. Atwell M. Smith, the subject of the present sketch, is the eldest of the three chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Judson Smith. He married Miss Lenna Tookc in the town of Eaton, Madison County, N.Y. She was born in the town of Smithfield, May 8, 1863, and was reared and educated in Madison County. She is the daughter of Joseph and Salinda (Burroughs) Tooke, who were born in Pratt's Hollow, in the town of Eaton. Mr. Tooke has retired from business, and he and his family live in a beautiful home in one of the handsomest locations of the town. They have seven children, Mrs. Smith being next to the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the happy parents of three children - Harry W., C. Leslie, and Doris J.
Although a young man, probably no one stands higher in the estimation of his fellow- townspeople than Mr. Smith. He has car- ried on his business systematically and suc- cessfully, and is among the most prosperous and honored men in his county. He went to work early in life, beginning to farm some time before he became of age; on attaining his majority, taking charge of the large farm he now manages, conducting its affairs with honesty and sound judgment, for the benefit of the heirs as well as himself. Intelligent and
discriminating, he takes a keen interest in local public matters. In his political views he is a strong Democrat. He and his charm- ing wife and family are members of the Con- gregational church.
W. DOOLITTLE, a prominent and wealthy business man of Canastota, is descended from ancient and honorable ances- try, and is himself one of the patriots of the late Civil War. He has always been op- posed to anything in the form of slavery, and is one of those who arc able to fully appreciate the value to mankind of liberty to think each one for himself and of liberty for each to work out his own destiny.
Mr. Doolittle was born in the town of Lenox, April 13, 1839, a son of Francis W. Doolittle, who was a farmer and the son of a farmer, and who died at the early age of thirty-five in August, 1839, leaving his wife with seven children, the youngest, as is evi- dent from the dates above given, being then but three months old. The mother of these little ones before her marriage to Mr. Doo- little was Olive Lee. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Esther (Wheat) Lee, who came from Conway, Mass., to Madison County, New York, in 1806, when Olive was four years old, and settled on a small new farm in the town of Sullivan. Mrs. Olive Doolittle lived to be seventy-seven years old, and died at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch. She and her husband were the parents of six children, namely: F. W., the
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subject ; Benjamin, a miller of Oswego, N. Y., who about 1879 served one term in the State Senate; Charles, who died of heart disease at the age of fifty-four years; Esther, wife of Marcus Wilcox, of Corunna, Mich .; Joel, who died at Canastota, at the age of nineteen ; Amelia, who also died at the age of nineteen ; and Harriet, who died at the age of eighteen - all three of consumption.
When about nineteen years of age, the sub- ject of this sketch was given up by the doctors to die of the same disease which had taken three of the family, as above narrated; but, by virtue of a good constitution and of a de- termined will-power, which is beginning to be recognized largely as a remedial agent, he still survives, and is a rugged, healthy man, having endured, and being now capable of en- during, a vast amount of hard work, and of transacting a great deal of business. In poli- tics Mr. Doolittle is a Republican. He served during the late Civil War in the One Hun- dred and First New York Volunteer Infantry, from September, 1862, to February, 1863, being then discharged on account of physical disability. He is a member of Reese Post, No. 231, Grand Army of the Republic, of Canastota, and has belonged to the Masonic Order more than thirty years. He is also a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow. His father, Francis W. Doolittle, at his death left three small farms, slightly encumbered, one of which farms fell to the subject as compen- sation for labors from the time he was four- teen years of age. On the death of his brother, F. W. took charge of his father's
estate. At the present time Mr. Doolittle is the owner of two hundred acres of land within two miles of the village of Canastota. In the village he has two hotels. At the close of the war he erected a brick business block in the village, at a cost of thirty thousand dol- lars, which contained stores and a public hall. This fine building was destroyed in the great incendiary fire of 1873, and upon the same site Mr. Doolittle has since erected his pres- ent business building. Financially, Mr. Doolittle has been far more than ordinarily successful, and is at the present time one of the most wealthy men in the village. His methods have always been straightforward, his dealings upright. His reputation for integ- rity is second to none in the place.
Mr. Doolittle was married February 18, 1862, to Miss Charlotte E. Dietz, of Sullivan, Madison County, a daughter of Tobias and Mariette (Hitchcock) Dietz. Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle have buried three children, namely : Cora, who died at the age of eleven months ; Hattie, who also died in infancy; and Francis W., a bright and promising boy, who died at ten years of age. The living children are as follows: Minnie, wife of Edwin Grant, of Canastota, and the mother of two sons; Nellie, wife of Burt W. Posson, a grocer in the Doolittle Block in Canastota; Carrie, a young lady of twenty-one years, a graduate of the Canastota Academy, and now a sales- woman in the grocery store of Mr. Posson; and Lottie, a bright and intelligent miss of fourteen.
F. W. Doolittle has served three years as
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Trustee of the village of Canastota and four terms as its President. He has also been President of the glass factory, and is now a Director of one of the banks. He has al- ways done his share in everything that has been started to improve the place and benefit the public.
AMES WALKER, a resident of the village of Oneida, is one of the most successful men of the State of New York. He has always followed farming - not merely as an occupation, but as a busi- ness - and by adhering to business methods in his occupation has made it more than ordinarily successful. He has accumulated a competency by his own exertion and good management.
John Walker, the father of James, a native of Connecticut, starting out on his own ac- count while yet a young man, left the old farm in his native State, and came to the State of New York, settling in Herkimer County, and marrying Miss Katie Oxner. He lived in Herkimer County the rest of his life, a highly respected citizen, dying when sixty years of age. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, lived to the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of six children, namely: William, deceased; Henry, living in Richfield Springs, N. Y .; Mary, wife of Judson Brown, of Rich- field, N.Y .; James, the subject of this sketch ; Cornelia, wife of William Johnson, of Rich- field, N.Y .; and Lucius, of the town of Rich- field. All these children were born in
Herkimer County, and all have always been residents of their native State.
James Walker was born on a farm in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County, Febru- ary 26, 1827, and during his youth, like most other boys, attended common school during the winter season and worked on the farm during the summer time. He was a most in- dustrious boy, being very ambitious, and feel- ing that the only way to make a success of his life was to do well what came to his hands to do. Remaining at home on the farm - faith- ful as a boy and as a young man - until he was twenty-three years of age, he then started out for himself, having at that time no money nor property of any kind, his previous labors having been for the benefit of others. At first he worked on a farm by the month, re- ceiving what was then considered good wages, twelve dollars per month, and continuing thus engaged on different farms for about eight years, in the mean time doing other work which required an educated mind. So that at the end of the eight years he had saved up two thousand dollars.
Returning to the old homestead in Herki- mer County, he now purchased the interests of the other heirs, and engaged in farming as the owner of the property. After paying for the old place upon which he was born, he purchased additional lands, and was altogether successful in whatever he undertook. He made money when others failed, and accumu- lated a handsome property. Subsequently he sold out the old place, and bought a farm in the town of Sullivan, Madison County, near
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North Manlius, containing eighty-two acres of good land. Upon this farm he remained for twenty-six years, or until April 1, 1893, when he rented it, and removed to Oneida. During his residence upon the farm he had materially improved it, and erected good buildings upon it, so that it was left in excellent condition. Mr. Walker was married to Margaret Hill, by whom he has had three children, namely: Jay W., living near Syracuse; Olive, deceased; and Ida, the wife of John X. Smith, living at Oneida. Politically, Mr. Walker is a Repub- lican, and is a well-read and well-informed man. He takes sufficient interest in political affairs to perform his duty as a voter and as a citizen, but has never cared for office, pre- ferring his own private business to the busi- ness of the public, with the cares and uncer- tainties of official position.
LIAS J. THOMAS, a prosperous mill- owner of the town of Eaton, was born December 13, 1843. in Newtown, Montgom- ery-shire, Wales, and was the son of Elias and Eliza (Jones) Thomas, both of whom were born in Wales. The grandfather, Thomas Evan Thomas, a native of Wales, was a spinner by trade. He emigrated to America in 1854, and settled in Utica, N. Y., where he followed his trade until his death. His family consisted of five children, of whom three are now living, namely : John and David, both residing in Utica; and a sister Mary, who lives in London, England. The grandfather died when seventy - seven years
old, and his wife at the same age. They were devoted members of the Methodist church.
Elias Thomas, the elder, came to America in 1848, and was a weaver and spinner by trade. His wife and four children joined him a year after his arrival in this country. He first settled in Oneida County, and worked at weaving, but afterward moved to the town of Nelson, Madison County, where he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and car- ried on general farming. Ile was an honest, hard-working man; and, besides cultivating his land, he made a specialty of raising full- blooded Durham cattle, his herd consisting of about twenty head. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born seven children, of whom three are now living, namely: Elias J .; Mary E., wife of John E. Lewis; Anna S., wife of Frank Blair, residing in the town of Nelson. The children who died were: Sarah, aged twenty- six years; Jane, eleven years; Evan C., nine- teen years; and Hannah, three years. The father and mother died on their farm in the town of Nelson, aged respectively sixty and seventy-four years. They attended the Bap- tist church, of which the wife was a devout member.
Our subject came to the town of Eaton when he was but nine years of age, was edu- cated in the district school of the town. and began to work in the woollen mills at West Eaton, owned by Captain Smith, when he was twelve years old. He commenced in the card- room, receiving at first only seven dollars and a half per month, and continued to work in
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this mill, until the firm suspended, in 1854. He then obtained employment in the various mills along the valley until 1862, when he enlisted under Captain Henry B. Morse, in Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He fought in several battles, among which were the siege of Port Hudson and Sabine Cross Roads, under General Banks, and was also with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. He made a good record for himself, and was honorably discharged at the elose of the war at Washington, D.C., June 8, 1865. He re- turned to his home, and worked at his trade until 1882, when with his brother-in-law, John E. Lewis, he bought the mill now owned by them, for deseription of which see biog- raphy of John E. Lewis.
Mr. Thomas was married in 1867 to Miss Thirza C. Lewis, who was born in 1845, and is a sister of John E. Lewis. They have two ehildren. Arthur R., born in 1868, was edu- eated at Cornell Preparatory Sehool, and after- ward a graduate of the Chieago Medieal College of Chicago, Ill. He is now Attend- ing Physician of the Cook County (Illinois) Hospital in Chieago. A daughter, A. Luella, born in 1879, is at home with her parents. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and have a delightful resi- dence in the village. Mr. Thomas is an agreeable man in social life, is liked by his employees in the factory, and is popular as a citizen. He is a thorough, energetic Repub- lican in polities, as were also his father and grandfather.
AMUEL B. BENEDICT, a promi- nent farmer of the town of Lebanon, was born in that town, Mareh 5, 1825. He is a son of Elijah Wescott Bene- dict, who was born in the town of Otego, Otsego County, August 4, 1799. His father, Zar Benedict, formerly a resident of Conneeti- cut, came thenee to Otsego County, New York, and lived for a time in the town of Otego, removing afterward to the town of Lebanon, Madison County, settling in the vicinity of Lebanon Centre. In addition to farming, he kept public house for a number of years, residing on his farm until his death. Elijah W. Benedict was a young man when his father came to Madison County. He assisted on the farm and in the hotel until he attained his manhood, when he himself settled on a farm in South Lebanon, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying there August 26, 1881, at the age of eighty-two years. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of the subject, was Lois Harrison. She was a daughter of Daniel Harrison, of Chautauqua County, New York. She reared eight ehil- dren, namely: Elizabeth B., born November 19, 1823; Adah L., born April 23, 1827; Thirza E., born February 20, 1829; Sarah R., born February 14, 1831; Mariette D., born April 25, 1836; Ur ula H., born August 15, 1839; Luey A., born January 9, 1843; and Franklin J., born June 8, 1850.
Samuel B. Benediet attended school in his youthful days, and worked upon the farm until he was eighteen years old, when he com- menced teaching sehool, and taught six winter
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terms. The rest of the year he was engaged in farming. Remaining at home with his parents until his marriage, he then settled on the farm in South Lebanon which he now owns and occupies. The name of his first wife was Louisa A. Foot; and she was a daughter of James W. and Lovisa Foot, of Otselic, Chenango County. By her he had one child, a daughter - Addie, wife of E. D. Squires, of Milford, Otsego County. Mr. and Mrs. Squires have three children; namely, Ida, Lula, and Eldora. Mrs. Benedict died November 12, 1863. For his second wife Mr. Benedict married Julia L., only daughter of James E. and Lucy Cady, of Lebanon, by whom he has four children; namely, L. Angela, Agnes V., Edith M., and M. Ernes- tine. L. Angela is the wife of Walter F. Ingalls, of Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls have two children - Ruth B. and Raymond F. And Agnes V. is the wife of George W. Os- borne, of Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne have two children - Dorothy E. and Rob- ert H.
Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Benedict is a Republican. He is a man in whom the people place confidence, as is evident from their having elected him to a position on the district School Board and having made him Town Collector, and about ten years ago hav- ing elected him Justice of the Peace, which office he holds at the present time. He was a successful teacher of vocal music and a choir leader for about eighteen years. Mr. Bene- dict was one of the patriots of the Civil War,
enlisting in April, 1861, at the first call for troops, and being mustered in as principal musician of the Twenty-sixth New York Vol- unteer Infantry, remaining in that position until he was mustered out. He was present with his regiment through all its marches, campaigns, and battles, including the battle of Antietam, after which he was honorably discharged, and came home to take up again the duties of the private citizen, which he had laid down to aid his country in its struggle with armed treason and rebellion.
IR OMAINE D. BUTTON, a grandson of Chauncy Button, was born June 26, 1846, in the town of Cazenovia, N. Y. His parents were Giles H. and Betsey (Standard) Button. The former was born in Montgomery County, and was a general farmer, owning a place in the town of Cazenovia, which he sold in 1861, and came to the town of Sullivan, where he bought another large farm. He was an extensive stock raiser and breeder, making a specialty of Cheshire hogs, and was the first to introduce them into the town of Sullivan. He died on his farm in 1879, aged fifty-eight years; and his wife, who was a native of Connecticut, died in 1885, aged sixty years. Mr. Button was a strong and fearless member of the Republican party, an industrious and energetic farmer, and an ac- tive and devoted worker in the Baptist church. There were three children born to this couple, of whom two are now living, Romaine D., the eldest ; and George H., the youngest, who
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