USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 26
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is a Baptist minister, and resides in Millville, N.J. The second son, Gilbert, died at the age of forty-two years.
The subject of this sketch gained his educa- tion partly in the district schools, finishing at Cazenovia Seminary. For six years he taught school in the States of Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York. In 1873 Mr. Button married Emma A., youngest daughter of Harry H. and Julia A. Freeman. Mrs. Button's father died in 1876, leaving a wife and two children; Mrs. Ella C. Goodell, of Canastota, N.Y .; and Mrs. Emma A. Button, of Cotton's, N. Y. His wife still resides on the old home farm, which was originally a part of the farm now owned by Mr. Button. This farm of one hun- dred and thirty-five acres was bought about the year 1800 by Charles Freeman, the great- grandfather of Mrs. Button, one of the first to settle in this vicinity, when it was all timber land. After his death, which occurred in 1821, it was owned by his son, Bradford, who died in 1831. His wife, Jane Freeman, owned it until her death, which occurred in 1873, at the advanced age of ninety-three; and it was then owned by her sons, Charles and George, who died, the former in 1874, and the latter in 1884. It was then bought by Mr. R. D. Button, and is still owned by him.
Mr. Button also leases other land, and at present is working about five hundred acres. He follows his father's idea in making a specialty of stock-raising, besides running a dairy of twenty head of full-blooded Jersey cows. He is one of the largest shippers of
the celebrated Cheshire hogs, sending to Ore- gon, Indian Territory, Wisconsin, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Maine, and Canada. He has exhibited them at the State fairs in Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Michi- gan, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. He also had an exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago. He has been very successful in raising fine poul- try, and deals in the following lines: brown and white Leghorns (rose combs), Domi- niques, Langshans, white and barred Plymouth Rocks, Dorkings (white, silver gray, and col- ored), bronze and buff turkeys; also Rouen and Aylesbury ducks, Toulouse geese, and tumbler pigeons, Belgium hares, and Angora rabbits. He is one of the largest exhibitors in the State, making from seventy-five to one hundred entries at the Fair, and in 1892 was the second largest exhibitor at the New York State Fair. He also raises sheep, among which the black top merinos are the finest. On the farm of Mr. Button are found the only plaster beds in the town of Sullivan, which have been worked for sixty years. Mr. But- ton has contracts for six hundred tons every winter. He gives his whole time and atten- tion to his stock and farm, and his two assist- ants and himself spend very few idle hours.
Mr. and Mrs. Button have two children. Elva C., born October 16, 1876, is attending school at Canastota; and H. Freeman, born August 17, 1879, is at school in Chittenango. Mr. Button and his wife are Universalists. Politically, he votes with the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a Free and Ac-
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cepted Mason, belonging to Canastota Lodge, No. 232, and also other Masonic organiza- tions. He is a member of the Farmers' Grange. At the time of the Civil War he became imbued with the spirit of patriotism and enlisted in the army, but was not ac- cepted, as he was under age.
There are very few men in this section of country who lead a more active life than this gentleman. Between the cares of his farm, his stock, and his poultry, he has very little time for outside interests, but still takes a commendable share in civic affairs, never for- getting to look after the welfare of his party, advocating its principles at the ballot-box, and being outspoken in its support.
HARLES F. BATES, one of the most substantial citizens of Oneida, resides in his pleasant home on Main Street, in the enjoyment of an excellent repu- tation, fairly won, and in the possession of a competence honestly earned. His father, Jeremiah Bates, was born in Otsego County, but removed to Oswego County in 1816, being at the time thirteen years of age. This was in the middle of winter, when the snow was very deep. At that time the country was new and wild; and the family lived in a log house, securing wood for their fire by cutting it in the forests and hauling it to the house, where it was burned in the open fireplace in large logs. The boy was thus inured to hard work early in life, and had plenty of labor preparing wood for the fire, as it required
large quantities to keep the family warm dur- ing that long and cold winter. In going to and from the woods to get this wood, a path was tramped down in the snow, and at length some obstruction seemed in a measure to block the way. This being removed, still other obstructions were found, quite a number of small logs being removed before it was dis- covered that the pathway, or road, was really on top of a fence.
For twenty-nine years he lived in Oswego County, experiencing all the hardships of pio- neer life in a new country, as well as all the pleasures, which were neither few nor far be- tween. Removing then to Onondaga County, he lived there three years, then came to Madi- son County, and bought a farm about one mile from Oneida, upon which he lived ten years, removing at the end of this period, and living in the house now occupied by the subject of this sketch. Here he died in 1869. He was married, when thirty-two years old, to Lucy Norton, of Herkimer County, who died in 1884. She was the mother of six children, namely: Harvey, who died in the town of Verna; Alfred and Alvin, twins, the former living in Indiana, and the latter dying at the age of one year; James, of Oneida; Augustus, who died in Yates County, New York, in 1867; and Charles F., the subject of this sketch.
The latter was born in Scriba, Oswego County, N. Y., July 6, 1842. His education was obtained in the common schools, but he afterward learned more by actual contact with the business world than he had from books;
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and his knowledge is of that practical kind needed to make life a success. He lived with his parents upon the farm until they removed to Madison County, then became clerk in a store, and subsequently worked upon a farm. He was then engaged in a clothing store for thirteen years, in which position he was un- usually successful, being well adapted to his business and gentlemanly in his deportment - necessary qualifications in a salesman.
When thirty-nine years old, Mr. Bates mar- ried Caroline Everhart, a native of Oneida County. Politically, he is a Republican. He was brought up as a Presbyterian, but has never been a member of any church, being independent in thought, believing there is good in all systems of religion, and that it is the good that should be sought in all relations of life. He has always been one of the best of citizens, and maintains an excellent char- acter and reputation among his fellow-men.
TORACE STOWELL, one of the oldest native citizens of Madison County, an octogenarian worthy and re- spected, was born in the town of Lebanon, where he now resides, November 29, 1811. His father, Enoch Stowell, a native of Win- chester, N.H., was a son of Captain Enoch Stowell, also of New England, whose birth occurred in 1737, and who commanded a com- pany in the Revolutionary War. Captain Stowell spent the last years of his life with his son in Woodstock, Madison County, N. Y. He was an influential member of the Baptist
church, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. The maiden name of his wife was Field.
Enoch Stowell, Jr., father of Horace, came to this State when about twenty-one years of age, accompanying the family of Jonathan Bates. They were the first settlers in what is now the town of Lebanon, the territory at that time being included in Herkimer County. Their nearest neighbors on the east were at Whitesboro. Buying a tract of forest land in the almost unbroken wilderness - the haunt of deer, bears, and other game- he put up a log cabin, and began to clear the land for cultivation. Later the log structure gave place to a frame building, and that, in its turn, to a house of stone, which continued to be his home until his death, June 3, 1859, at the age of ninety-two years. He had lived to see Madison County developed from its prime- val wildness to the home of a numerous and wealthy population. Enoch Stowell, Jr., served a short time in the War of 1812. He married Cynthia Church, who was born in Pelham, N.H., and who died September 5, 1827.
Of the six children of Enoch and Cynthia (Church) Stowell, the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. May 16, 1833, Horace Stowell married Annie Andrus, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Andrus, and a native of this county. She died May 13, 1883. Mr. Stowell lived in Lebanon until 1836, then emigrated to the Territory of Michigan, going by way of the canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Detroit, and from
HORACE STOWELL.
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that place by team to Oakland County, where he was one of the first settlers. Selecting a tract of government land, then selling at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, he built a log house, in which he lived for five years. At the end of that period, selling his house and land in Michigan, he again started forth with his team, and went to Illinois, where he bought land now included in the city of Bloomington. In 1844 he sold this place, and returned East, coming with his team as far as Detroit, thence across the lake to Buffalo, and from there, also by team, to his father's homestead in Lebanon, which he continues to own and occupy. This farm is one of the choicest in the Chenango Valley. Its im- provements rank with the best in the country - sure evidence of industry and skilful man- agement on the part of the owner. Three children of Horace and Annie (Andrus) Stow- ell are now living: Kate, wife of Colonel Harlow Shapley; Sarah, wife of Willis Shap- ley -residents of South-western Missouri ; and Andrew, who served in a New York regi- ment during the late war, and who now lives upon the home farm. He married Rilla Millard.
It is a noteworthy fact, in connection with the longevity of this family, that Mr. Stowell's grandfather, having been born in 1737, as above stated, and having lived until 1829, the lives of himself and grandson, our subject, have covered a period of nearly one hundred and sixty years. Horace Stowell himself has a record upon which he can look back with pardonable pride. In early manhood, being
impressed with a deep sense of the sin of human slavery, he became an ardent Aboli- tionist, and was a coworker with Gerrit Smith and other noted leaders of the Abolition movement. While in Bloomington, Ill., he assisted in the organization of an Abolition Club, and was there associated in the good work with Lovejoy and other prominent workers in that section. His home was one of the stations on the "underground railroad "; and many a fugitive slave passed through on his way from chains and cruel taskmasters to a new life of liberty and freedom, the God- given heritage of every human soul. The activity which Mr. Stowell manifested in his younger days in behalf of a down - trodden race, and in many other ways, he has never ceased to exhibit whenever a voice has been needed to proclaim the right or a willing arm to advance its triumph. Though now well along in years, he is still young in heart and spirit, and is one in whose society the young can take pleasure as well as the old. Possess- ing a large fund of information, the result of his extended reading, he takes a great interest in current events, having been particularly interested in the recent World's Fair at Chi- cago, the success of which, being acquainted with the energy and enterprise of Western character, he foresaw and prophesied.
In political matters Mr. Stowell is a stanch Republican, having been a member of that party ever since its formation, and believing its principles to be the best adapted to the continued prosperity of this country. Believ- ing also that true religion is the source of
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pure morality and the basis of good govern- ment, he has for many years been identified with those who publicly profess the name of their Divine Master, and is connected by membership with the Baptist church of his village, as was also his wife.
Such has been the useful and active life of this veteran in the cause of human freedom; and, with such a record before us, the presen- tation to our readers of the accompanying por- trait of Mr. Stowell may almost be viewed as an act of public duty. For, while succeeding generations read of the lives of those who took an active part in the great emancipation movement, their interest will be quickened and their sympathies more deeply aroused if, in such connection, they are privileged to view the features and study the lineaments of those grand old heroes in the cause of liberty, freedom, and human progress
ONATHAN M. WILSON, one of the oldest and most revered among the citizens of the pretty village of Stock- bridge, was born June 12, 1813, in the town of Wilmington, Windham County, Vt. His father, Thomas Wilson, born in 1785, and Rachael (McGee) Wilson, his mother, born in 1789, were natives of the State of Massachu- setts, and married there November 28, 1811. Thomas Wilson was a tanner and currier, and also followed the trade of shoemaker for some years. He came to the town of Stockbridge, N.Y., in 1825, being among its earliest set- tlers. As in the case of nearly all the pio-
neers, they came into a wilderness where their guns and ammunition served not only to provide their table with the plentiful game, but also to keep the wild and prowling Indian at a safe distance from their lowly log cabins. The journey was made by team, going by way of the old Cherry Valley turnpike; and in their humble cabin, on the site of which now stands their comfortable home, the only music heard was the whirr of the spinning-wheel, as the mother of the family, after her day of household toil, would end the evening in spinning the yarn that made the clothing for them. Rachael (McGee) Wilson died at the age of fifty. Her only child was Jonathan M.
Thomas Wilson died in the village of Stockbridge, at the age of sixty-four. His second wife, Clara Pannell, survived him a few years. Mr. Wilson was a Democrat, holding some minor offices; and he and his wife were Universalists in their religious pro- fession.
Jonathan M. Wilson was twelve years of age when his parents came to Stockbridge, and through his boyhood he assisted his father on the farm. When he was about twenty-one years old, he bought a piece of land consisting of fifteen acres, and has since added to it until he now owns three hundred acres. He is one of the leading farmers in his vicinity, and has a dairy of from sixty-five to one hun- dred cows. Mr. Wilson also follows his fathers' trade as tanner, currier, and shoe- maker. He has lived in his present home since 1825. January 6, 1841, he married Miss Betsey M. Durfee, who was born in the
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town of Madison, Madison County, October 24, 1820. Her parents were William and Ursilla Durfee, who were natives of Rhode Island. The former was a farmer, and settled in the town of Eaton, Madison County, in 1787, being among the first settlers. The first land he bought was in the town of Madi- son, where he pursued general farming. Of his seven children, six grew up; but only three are now living. Thomas S. died at the age of forty-seven. Betsey Maria is now Mrs. J. M. Wilson. Eliza Ann died at the age of sixty-two. Deborah S. was fifty-eight years old at her death. J. S. Durfee resides in the town of Byron, Genesee County, and is a retired farmer. William V. lives in Water. ville, Oneida County. William Durfee died when he was fifty-seven years old, and his wife at the age of forty-seven. He was a Democrat in politics.
The happiness of our subject and his wife has been greatly added to in being blessed with children and grandchildren. Thomas A., who was born February 12, 1844, on the old home farm where he resides with his wife and two children, married Chloe A. Perry in 1868; and their children are: Ella Maud, born June 1, 1870; and Bessie Bell, July 29, 1872. He has been Postmaster for six years, and is a stanch friend and supporter of the Republican party. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson was Willie McGee. Ella M., Mrs. A. J. Barber, resides in the village of Oneida. Alzade R., Mrs. F. H. Brownell, also a resident of Oneida, has one daughter, Roslin Wilson Brownell.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have the handsomest home in the village of Stockbridge, which they thoroughly enjoy, feeling that after a life of hard work and toil they have earned the rest and competence they have gained. In their religion, which is the Universalist, they are shining lights of true Christian fervor, and give a glorious example of the beauties of a well-spent life to the younger generation growing around them. Respected and vener- ated by their fellow-citizens, they have reared a monument to themselves in the hearts of the people; and, though their faces are turned toward the setting sun of life, they have no fears, confident in the hope of a joyous im- mortality. Mr. Wilson is a strong Republi- can, has always taken an active part in the politics of his town, and for ten years was Supervisor.
HITMAN CLARKE, a prominent farmer of the town of Lebanon, was born June 29, 1838, and is a son of Whipple Clarke, who was born in East Green- wich, Kent County, R.I. He was a son of Silas Clarke, also a native of Rhode Island. Silas Clarke was a son of James Clarke, of Rhode Island; and James was a son of Corne- lius Clarke, who was born in Wales, of which country his father, Wesson Clarke, was also a native, born there toward the latter part of the sixteenth century. Wesson Clarke was one of three brothers who came from Wales to America, landing on the island of New- port. One of them went to Pennsylvania; and at the time of his separation from his
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brothers they all agreed to add an e to their name, thus changing the spelling from Clark to Clarke, in order to distinguish their poster- ity from others by the same name. Wesson Clarke resided in Rhode Island until his death, as also did his descendants, Cornelius and James.
Silas Clarke was born January 27, 1779, and on March 10, 1800, married Ruth Wight- man, of Rhode Island, who died June 19, 1808, leaving two children, Whipple and Major. He then, on August 13, 1809, mar- ried Elizabeth Reynolds, by whom he had four children; namely, Henry R.,. Ruth, James, and Pardon Tillinghast. In 1814 he removed to East Hamilton, where he had brothers and a sister living, the country then being new and wild, the woods full of bears and other wild beasts, and an abundance of wild game. The streams were also full of fish. After residing in East Hamilton until 1834, farming and working at the cooper trade, and a part of the time keeping hotel, he removed to Lebanon, where he built a house for the purpose of boarding the men who were engaged in constructing the Che- nango Canal, which passed through his farm. While he worked at the cooper trade, he had plenty to do making barrels for the numerous distilleries then in existence. At length, however, preferring outdoor life to working under cover, he abandoned the cooper trade, devoting himself altogether to agricultural pursuits, and thus spent the remainder of his life, dying June 9, 1859.
Whipple Clarke, father of Whitman Clarke,
was born in East Greenwich, R.I., March 4, 1801, and was therefore thirteen years old when his parents removed, as above narrated, to Madison County. While his father kept hotel, he assisted him, and afterward on the farm. He continued to live on the farm until his death, which occurred March 28, 1888. He was married December 21, 1836, to Eliza C. Tripp, who was born July 19, 1814, and was a daughter of Richard Tripp, of Hamilton. Whipple Clarke and his wife had but one child, the subject of this sketch, who re- mained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four, in the mean time attending the district school and working on the farm. At the age just mentioned he came to Earlville, and has since resided here on a farm of his own; but much of his time he spends upon his old farm, in order to be near his aged mother .. He married Frances E. Hitchcock, of Madison, Madison County, April 16, 1862, and by this union has one son, Millard J., born June 14, 1863, and married to Hattie C. Wilcox, daughter of Charles W. Wilcox, No- vember 28, 1883, by whom he has one daugh- ter, Lulu, born January 27, 1887.
It is at least a tradition, and is probably a fact, that the first house built in the town of Lebanon was built on the home farm of Mr. Clarke by William Smith, an aide-de-camp to General Washington during the Revolutionary War, and who married a daughter of John Adams. This house was erected in June, 1778. It was a white oak frame, with brick and mortar between the studs, so that no rifle- ball could penetrate it. The old stone door-
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steps used in its construction are still in use. It ought to be noted that the place upon which William Smith settled was selected for him by an Indian chief from Fort Stanwix, by request of Mr. Smith, and was very near a good trout spring of pure water. Afterward he conveyed the title to this valuable farm to his brother, Justus B. Smith.
Mr. Clarke was District Clerk and Clerk of the Board of Education in three different school districts for thirty - six consecutive years. He has been more than ordinarily prominent in different societies, and is at the present time Past Master of Hamilton Lodge, No. 120, A. F. & A. M .; Past High Priest of Cyrus Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M .; P. E. C. of Norwich Commandery, No. 46, K. T .; T. I. M. of Chenango Consistory, No. 31, S. P. R. S .; P. C. of Alderbrook Lodge, No. 124, K. P .; D. D. G. C. of 33d District, K. P. of New York; D. D. G. M. of Che- nango County, A. O. U. W .; Smyrna Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F .; Mokanna Grotto, No. 1, V. P. E. R. In all of these societies Mr. Clarke stands well. and his standing in gen- eral society and in the community in which he lives is as high as in the fraternities.
ILLIAM RICHARDS, born Janu- ary 1, 1819, in Merionethshire, Wales, is the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Hughes) Richards, of the same shire. Grandfather and Grandmother Richards were Welsh, and lived and died in their native country. The former was a leading man in
his shire, and died at the age of eighty-two. His wife died at the age of sixty-five years. They had seven children, five sons and two daughters. All grew to maturity. The father of our subject was, like his father, a practi- cal farmer. He came to America with his wife and eight children in 1840, locating first in Oneida County, where he bought a farm near Oriskany. Here he lived for about ten years, moving in 1853 to the town of Nelson, where he purchased the farm on which his son John now lives. Finally, securing property in Williams Corners, town of Eaton, he re- mained there until his death, at the age of eighty-two. The mother died at the age of eighty-four. Both were members of the Pres- byterian church, the father being a deacon. He was a Republican in politics, and the whole of his life was a hard-working, honest, and upright man. There were eight children in this family, seven of whom are living, our subject being the eldest. Catherine, Mrs. Richard Roberts, resides in Oneida County. John is living on the old home farm in Nel- son. David is a retired merchant in Utica. Margaret resides in the town of Nelson. Mary, Mrs. J. J. Williams, is residing in Oneida. Elizabeth is the wife of Rev. John H. Jones, who is a Presbyterian minister at Rome. Jane, the wife of Hugh Jones, died at the age of forty-five years.
William Richards was reared and received a good business education in Wales, and re- mained with his father, assisting on the farm, coming with him to America in April, 1840. They landed in New York City in June of
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that year, having been six weeks on the ocean, the voyage having been made on the sailing- vessel "Virginia," Captain Higgins com- manding. They made their way to the wilds of Oneida County, where our subject engaged on a farm, working out by the month. The first wages he earned were fifty cents a cord for chopping four-foot wood. He next went into the harvest field, receiving twelve dol- lars per month, and afterward engaged on the farms of Thomas Carr and Barnhart Neilis for nearly ten years. Having been economical and prudent, he had saved money enough to start in business, and with his father hired the Neilis farm for about three years. In 1850 they bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, known as the Anson Bailey farm. Shortly afterward the farm was di- vided, and our subject took one hundred acres, to which he soon added eighty more. This farm he sold to J. J. Williams, and bought his present place in 1857. His landed prop- erty now consists of over fourteen hundred acres in the towns of Nelson and Fenner. He has always been a general farmer, but has besides given especial attention to his dairy, keeping on the home farm from fifty to sixty cows, and about eighty on his other farms. The grade of cattle he prefers is the Guern- sey, and he devotes a large part of his farm to grazing. For the past forty years he has been a dealer in butter, cheese, and all farm products, and for eighteen years has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of cheese, but at present lias only one factory. He was for seven years in the mechanical
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