USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 27
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business in Syracuse, N. Y., and is now, with his son Wellington, carrying on a general store at Nelson Flats, where they sell all kinds of farm produce. In fact, Mr. Rich- ards has been one of the busiest and best known men in Madison County.
He was married January 23, 1852, to Mar- garet, daughter of Roland and Margaret Rob- erts, natives of Wales, in which country she also was born, August 11, 1828. This union has been blessed with nine children, all but one living. Nelson E., born December 23, 1853, is a farmer of the town of Nelson. Wellington R., born August 7, 1855, is a merchant of Nelson. Edwin W., born April 20, 1857, and Newton D., June 2, 1859, both reside in Nelson. Milton H., born May 23, 1861, resides in Chicago, Ill. Washington L., born December 15, 1862, lives in the town of Fenner. Margaret E., born March 20, 1869, and John G., October 18, 1872, reside at home. Everett B., born March 20, 1867, died in 1876.
Among the old settlers in this town none have a stronger hold on the respect and esteem of the community than our subject and his wife. They are members of the Welsh Con- gregational church of the town of Nelson, and have been active participators in the success and fortune of the congregation, with whom they are deservedly pre-eminent. In his po- litical opinions Mr. Richards stands shoulder to shoulder with the best and stanchest sup- porters of the Republican party, and unwaver- ingly casts his vote for its nominees. He has held some local offices under its patronage,
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among them that of Assessor for nine years. By his own hard and earnest efforts he has accumulated wealth and prosperity; and in his domestic relations his loving kindness and parental care have secured for him a sunny, happy home, and the best wishes of all his friends are that he may enjoy these blessings for many years to come.
ARLIN BARBER, born August 10, 1812, on the farm he now resides on, is the son of John and Lovina (Thompson) Barber, and one of fourteen chil- dren, being the eldest of those now living. He was brought up on the home farm, and in his youth attended the district school, where he received a fair education. He assisted his father in the farm work, dividing his time pretty equally, as was the custom in those days, between a little schooling and plenty of hard work at home. The boy who now rises in time to eat his hearty breakfast and go only a few steps to his ward school cannot real- ize what his pioneer father had to endure in the early days of the settling of this country. Rising before dawn to feed the cattle, milk the cows, and do the "chores " so necessary on the farm, and then, after a homely meal, to trudge with spelling-book and arithmetic many weary miles through forest and glade to the little log school-house, where even the pens they wrote with had to be made by them, education was a hard and toilsome hill to climb; and the only wonder is that they were as intelligent and well read as they were.
When our subject was about twenty-one years of age, he married Miss Apema Annas, who was born in the town of Fenner, daughter of Oliver Annas, a farmer of that town. After his marriage he bought the old home farm from his father, which consisted of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, of which he still owns one hundred. He is one of the practical farmers of the town, and is foremost in the use of all the modern appliances, from the raising of grain to the improvement of stock on his place. Of his eight children six are living: Edwin J., a farmer of the town of Fenner; Eli M., a minister of the Baptist church in Manlius; Mary M., Mrs. Hilon D. Woodworth, of the town of Sullivan; Amelia T., Mrs. John Maginnis, residing on the home farm; Mason W., of Fayetteville, N. Y .; and Augusta E., Mrs. B. T. Ball, a resident of Cazenovia. Those deceased are: Cornelia M., who died in 1886, aged forty-nine; and Emily E., who died in 1879, aged thirty- seven. The wife of Mr. Barber died Septem- ber 4, 1885, aged seventy-four years.
Our subject still resides on the farm, carry- ing on its business, and is one of the oldest settlers of the town. He early affiliated with the Republican party, and supports and sus- tains its principles on every occasion. He has held several offices in his town, among them Assessor and Commissioner of High- ways. He is an earnest and consistent mem- ber of the Baptist church, and does not wear his religion as a cloak to cover ill deeds, but as a shining garment and an example of an upright and Christian life. A short history
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of his parentage and ancestry will not be uninteresting.
His grandfather was a native of Massachu- setts and a farmer in that State, living to be over eighty years of age. He was an active participant in the Revolutionary War, and did good service for the American cause. He had a family of two sons and one daughter, who grew to maturity. The father of our sub- ject was reared in Massachusetts, and came to Madison County in March, 1798, settling in the town of Fenner, on the farm which is now owned by his son Darlin. He bought land which was all dense woods and occupied by its original denizens - bears, wolves, and other wild animals, including the predatory Indian. The Six Nations abounded, espe- cially the Oneidas; and they made Mr. Bar- ber's log house a frequent stopping-place. After he had cleared his farm, he went into the making of potash, in order that he might have money to secure the necessaries of life and pay for his farm. He had to carry his grist on horseback to the nearest mill, which was at Whitesboro, taking from two to three days for the journey, and leaving his wife and children miles away from the nearest neighbor, and unprotected save by the watchful care of Providence. No one can appreciate in these days of peaceful serenity what a load of anxiety oppressed the heart of a loving father as he travelled through those trackless forests to procure sustenance for his family. Mr. Barber was well known throughout the coun- try, and was held in the highest estimation. His family consisted of fourteen children,
thirteen reaching manhood and womanhood, but only four now surviving. They are as follows: Darlin, our subject ; Amanda, Mrs. O. B. Hamblin, of Perryville, N.Y .; Perme- lia, widow of Paul P. Maine, residing in Fay- etteville; Nancy, Mrs. Harrington, of Michi- gan. Mr. Barber was nearly ninety-five years old at the time of his death, which occurred November 30, 1869, on his farm. His wife also died there, aged eighty-four years. They were zealous Baptists, and reared their chil- dren in that faith. He was a stanch Repub- lican, being among the first to become a member of that party on its organization. Thus it is to be seen that Darlin Barber's industry, honesty, and integrity are as much his by inheritance as by his own native worth. "Blood will tell," as "good wine needs no bush"; and in the case of our subject these proverbs are justly verified.
WHEELER was born in Brookfield, N. Y., January 8, 1814. When his grandfather, Amos Wheeler, who was born in Concord, Mass., but moved to Madison County, New York, from Vermont, where he had lived, reached this new country, it was a complete wilderness, and the nearest habitation to his was some miles away. He cleared his farm, built his home, and lived there until his death, at the age of eighty-two years. The grandmother died at the age of ninety-one years. The father of our subject, Josiah Wheeler, was born in Vermont, and was a lad of tender age when his parents
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removed to Brookfield, but soon realized the importance of assisting in the farm work, and with the energy of youth helped in its toilsome labors. He remained with his father until his marriage to Miss Eunice Crandall, and then lived in adjacent places to his old home, but later removed to Friendship, Allegany County, N. Y., where he died. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children; namely, Jo- siah, Elmira, Calvin, our subject, Reuben, Lyman, Laura, Eliza, Catherine, Amos, and Alanson. The mother died in the town of Friendship, at the age of seventy years.
Our subject can proudly show, in these days of such marked attention to Colonial pedigree, an ancestry which counts a great-grandfather and a great grand-uncle who received their baptism of blood in the first struggle at Con- cord, Mass., in the Revolution. Captain John Lock and Silas Wheeler were the names of these heroes ; and after peace was declared they moved to New York State, Captain Lock and his wife going to Cedarville, Herkimer County, N. Y., where she died at the age of one hundred and three years, and Silas Wheeler going to Steuben County, settling the town of Wheeler, which was named for him.
The subject of this biography went to live with his grandfather when he was but nine years old, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving but a common-school edu- cation. He remained on the farm, assisting his grandfather, and after that gentleman's death carried on the work of the farm for his grandmother until she died. There were very
few of the joyous free days of boyhood for him. Living in an isolated country, with scarcely any young companions, his only recreation after a hard day's work was reading the well-thumbed books that constituted their small library. The youth of to-day, who have the benefit of the almost unlimited supply of newspapers and periodicals, cannot realize what a boon a stray book or paper was to the early settler, and with what avidity the con- tents were devoured. The nearest market to the household of our subject was at Albany, N.Y .; and the eighty-mile trip with teams has been often made by him. He has gone as far as East Haddam, Conn., with loads of produce, the journey taking three weeks to make. One can imagine the anxiety of the wife and mother during the absence of the loved one; for the country was wild, and many dangers beset the path of the traveller. But, when he returned safe and sound, one can also sympathize with her simple joy and delight over his escape from peril, and her pleasure in the little gifts of the dress for "mother " and the toys for the children, which had a wonderful value, coming so far from the market town.
When Mr. Wheeler was thirty-eight years of age, he married Joanna M. Hoxie. There were three children sent to gladden their home; namely, Laura F., Herbert L., and Cora A. Laura is the wife of Charles W. Rogers, and has two children, Herbert C. and Joanna C. Cora is the wife of Carroll Cheesbrough, son of Dr. Amos Cheesbrough. Mrs. Wheeler died after fourteen years of
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married life, and our subject's second wife was Miss Catherinc E. Rogers.
The farm Mr. Wheeler resides on he has owned since 1857, in which year he purchased it from John A. Dix, then Governor of the State. Among the many fine buildings on the place is one which was built in 1776. He has greatly improved the land, and has made for himself a beautiful home. In his religious proclivities hc is a free thinker.
His preference in politics is for the Re- publican party, and of its interests he is a warm advocate and sincerc supporter.
RS. MARY A. RAY is the widow of James L. Ray, who was a pros- perous farmer and a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of his community. She was born in East Hamilton, June 5, 1831, and is a daughter of Huron Foot. Her grandfather, Reuben Foot, came from Col- chester, Conn., to Hamilton, making the jour- ney through the boundless woods with ox- teams. He bought a tract of heavily tim- bered land, and at once began its improve- ment. After clearing a space, he erected a log cabin, which was for some years the home of himself and family. When he first settled here, matches were an unknown quantity; and they brought fire in an iron teakettle from Payne's Settlement (now the village of Hamil- ton). Hcre he lived the remainder of his life, dying on the old homestead in 1849. Huron Foot was reared to agricultural pur- suits on the farm of his father, and, when old
enough, assisted in its management. In due course of time he married Miss Mary Com- stock, and brought his bride to the homestead, which was their permanent home thereafter. They reared three children - Phama L., Mary A., and Seneca H. The latter enlisted for nine months in the Union army during the late war, as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Regiment, serv- ing under General Banks in the South. He served onc year, and was honorably dis- charged, but died in New York City while on his return home, aged twenty-six years.
The subject of this brief biography was reared and educated in the place of her nativ- ity, attending the district school, and receiv- ing from her mother a practical training in household duties that well fitted her for the helpmate of her future husband. In 1863 she was united in marriage to James L. Ray, a son of William and Eunice Ray. James L. Ray was born in the town of Middlefield, Ot- sego County, N.Y. He was reared to agri- cultural pursuits, chose farming as his life occupation, and for many years was identified with the agricultural and business interests of this section of the county. He was a man of sterling worth, respected for his many excel- lent traits of character; and his death, which occurred December 27, 1884, was deeply re- gretted. Since his decease Mrs. Ray has superintended the management of the farm, which she inherited from her father, with ability and success. She is a woman of much force of character and energy, and is held in universal regard throughout the community.
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In religious matters she is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Universalist church, hav- ing been reared in that faith from early childhood. In her home Mrs. Ray has the companionship of her sister Phama, who has resided with her since the death of her hus- band, the late Henry Farnsworth, who passed away September 2, 1891. He was a native of Bellville, Canada, born June 3, 1828, being a son of Abram and Sarah Farnsworth.
ILLIAM HAMBLIN. The interest- ing biography of our subject has been furnished by his widow, Mrs. Phally Hamblin, who is, as was her husband, one of the oldest settlers of the town of Sullivan, and who still resides on the farm left to her by his provident care. Mr. Hamblin was born in the State of New York, March 6, 1803. His father was Lewis Hamblin, also a native of New York, who was a farmer, and came to Madison County, settling there when the country was more populous with Indians, bears, and wolves than white people. His first home was a log cabin on the edge of the clearing he had made; and there he and his wife reared a family of four sons and one daughter, none of whom are now living. Lewis Hamblin died at the age of eighty; and his wife, who was Mercy Selleck, died aged seventy years. They were members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Hamblin was a Whig politically.
The subject of this memoir was but three years of age when his parents moved to the
town of Sullivan, making the journey by ox- team. He attended the little log school- house of the district, and afterward owned the home farm of his father. When he was twenty-one years of age, August 24, 1824, he married Miss Phally Ransom. She was born November 24, 1805, in the town of Blenheim, Schoharie County, daughter of Russell and Elizabeth (Jones) Ransom. They were natives of Connecticut ; and he was one of the first settlers in the town of Blenheim, locating there when the country was almost a wilderness. Mrs. Hamblin well remembers how, when she was a girl, they used to pen up and guard the sheep, to keep them from being eaten by wolves. Her father, Russell Ransom, went to the town of Fenner in 1810, when it was all new land; and she was edu- cated in the ordinary log school-house of the day. Mr. and Mrs. Ransom had eight chil- dren, of whom seven grew to maturity; but only two are now living: Mrs. Hamblin, who was the eldest ; and Mrs. Betsey Hodge, who is a widow, and resides at Chittenango Falls. The parents were members of the Baptist church of Fenner. They died at the ages, respectively, of eighty and sixty years.
After his marriage William Hamblin lived on his father's farm of one hundred and thirty acres, where he remained until his health failed. He then bought the present farm of forty acres on which his widow now resides. They had no children, but adopted two boys, whom they reared and educated, namely : William H. Smith, who resides on one of the farms in the town of Sullivan owned by Mr.
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Hamblin; and Franklin P. Storm, a resident of the same town. Mr. Hamblin died March 3, 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years, deeply mourned by his friends and neighbors. During his life he was an attendant at the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his widow is a member; and from their religious convictions he drew strength to die in hope and trustfulness in his Saviour, and she gained faith and resignation to bear her afflic- tion. Mr. Hamblin was an industrious, active man; and his long life was one of usefulness in his district. He was never an office- seeker, but was a conscientious and loyal follower of the Republican party. Mrs. Hamblin is a well-preserved old lady, and is deeply reverenced and loved in the com- munity.
NDREW JACKSON KNICKER- BOCKER, a successful agricultur- ist and representative of a dis- tinguished pioneer family of the county of Madison, was born December 3, 1833, in the town of Eaton, on the farm he now owns and occupies. His father was Harley Knicker- bocker, and his grandfather was John Knick- erbocker. The latter was born in Con- necticut, and removed to Madison County, locating in the town of Eaton in 1803. To describe the changes that have been made since then in this county in the habits, cus- toms, and mode of living would require a vol- ume of considerable size. When he arrived here, the face of the country was covered with timber, and Indians still lived in their native
haunts. There was also plenty of wild game, which was by no means a detriment to the early pioneer. In politics John Knicker- bocker was a Democrat. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. Mr. Knickerbocker spent his last days in Cincinnatus, Chenango County, N. Y., dying there when he was one hundred years old.
Harley Knickerbocker was also a farmer of the town of Eaton, and a successful man. He was born in Connecticut, and came to this town when he was eight years old. He died in Morrisville, in his eighty-seventh year. His farm contained one hundred and thirty acres, and upon it he carried on general farm- ing. He and his wife, who was a Miss Henri- etta French, reared a family of eight children, namely: Edwin resides in Morrisville, and his biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Sophia; Susan is the wife of Mark Holroyd; Andrew Jackson; Maria, who married Seth Whitmore, of Rathboneville, N.Y., is deceased, as is also her husband; Jannett and her husband, Albert Howard, of Rathboneville, are both deceased; Juliann was the wife of James Brown, of Eaton, and both she and her husband are now dead; Cordelia became the wife of Mark Holroyd, of Wyanet, Ill., and is now deceased.
Andrew Jackson Knickerbocker was edu -. cated in the district schools and in the schools at Morrisville, being thus well pre- pared to sustain the struggle for existence, and to cope with other men in any field or line of work. Remaining at home until
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thirty-three years of agc, he then married Mary Reed, who was born in the town of De Ruyter, Madison County, and is a daughter of Josiah and Amanda (Shipman) Rced, the former of whom was born in Madison County, and the latter in Massachusetts. They reared six children, namely : Melvin Recd, now liv- ing in Cortland County; Mary, wife of Mr. Knickerbocker; Alice, wife of John Wood- ward, of Denver, Col .: Clara, wife of Milton Foote, of Syracuse, N. Y .; Adellia, wife of Truman Williams, of Wisconsin; and Ida, wife of J. Millard, of Madison, Wis. Mr. Reed died, at the age of forty-six, in the town of De Ruyter, and Mrs. Reed in the town of Eaton, at the age of seventy-five. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Reed was a Democrat in politics.
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The subject of this biography was thirty years of age when he purchased his first farm, which contained one hundred and forty-four acres. At the present time he owns two hun- dred acres of fine farming land, and carries on mixed husbandry, dairying, and hop-raising, devoting about eighteen acres to the latter crop. For the dairy hc considers the Hol- stein's the best. He is well known for his industry and good judgment, and is one of the most successful farmers in the county. He and his wife have two children: Effie May, born October 29, 1867, now the wife of George Todd; and Nina Belle, born July 7, 1869, and living at home.
In politics Mr. Knickerbocker follows in the footsteps of his ancestors, and sustains the principles of the Democratic party, though,
like all reasonable men, he secs good in all parties and a modicum of truth in their theo- ries and doctrines.
ERRY T. DURHAM, Attorney-at-law and Justice of the Peace, Oneida, N. Y., was born in Verona, N. Y., October 18, 1865, son of D. Harvey and Ellen (French) Durham. His people were pre-eminently connected with this section of the county, the town of Durhamville having been named after them many years ago. The family trace their ancestry partly to English extraction. The father was a farmer, and died in 1870. The mother is still living. Our subject spent his early days on the farm, attending, as did the rest of the children, the village schools. He has two brothers living: Edward E., now a resident of Oneida, and in the furniture business, in which Jerry T. holds an interest; and Daniel H., who also lives in Oneida. A twin brother of the latter died in infancy.
Jerry T. Durham supplemented his com- mon-school education by an academic course, and, having a natural inclination for the study of law, when nineteen years old commenced reading in the office of Sayles, Jenkins & Devereaux, lawyers in Oneida, remaining with them until July, 1887, later with Searle & Sayles at Romc, N. Y., and studied there until admitted to the bar at the general term of the Supreme Court at Syracuse, N. Y., No- vember 18, 1887. He was an apt student, and mastcred the details of the profession
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early, his judgment on points of law being always good. He first practised with A. D. Kneeland, Esq., at Rome, N. Y., continuing until February, 1888, when he came to Oneida, and formed a partnership with Charles Shumway. This lasted until June, 1890, during which time our subject was prominent in a number of cases of consider- able importance, among them the Jackson murder trial. He is now a member of the New York State Bar Association. In Febru- ary, 1890, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in June, 1890, ap- pointed Justice of the Peace to fill a vacancy in the town of Lenox, and was subsequently elected to that office by such a majority of votes as to give ample evidence of his popu- larity. Besides the honor of the office, he has considerable business, because of his reputa- tion for fairness and impartiality, coupled with correct decisions. He has an excellent practice, and is one of the most popular men in his town, having the happy faculty of gain- ing and retaining the friends he makes. His father dying when he was but a child, he was early thrown on his own resources, and has worked himself up by his own energy and industry to his present enviable position.
Politically, Mr. Durham is a firm Republi- can, and has been, and is, able to give good reason for the faith he holds. He is heart and soul identified with the fraternal orders, being a Mason since February, 1887, and is now Worshipful Master of Oneida Lodge, No. 270, A. F. &. A. M. ; a member of Doric Chap- ter, No. 193, R. A. M .; Rome Commandery,
No. 45, K. T. ; and of Eumenia Lodge, No. 196, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was one of the originators of the Central New York Masonic Association, which is a social organization of extensive membership, is its present Treasurer, and also a member of the Executive Committee. He is not a member of any church, but affiliates with the Baptists.
Mr. Durham was married in 1891 to Miss Alice Toogood, of Rensselaer County. Being a permanent resident of Oneida County for many years, he is thoroughly identified with the work of his profession and the interests of the town. In personal appearance he is ruddy, handsome, pleasant-faced, and jolly ; and no more genial gentleman is known in the town than Jerry T. Durham.
LBERT WILLIAM MORSE is a prominent and successful farmer of the town of Eaton, and comes of an an- cient pioneer family of Madison County. He was born January 3, 1824, in the town of Eaton, and is a son of William and Sally (Shaw) Morse, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts in 1799, and the latter in 1795. William Morse was one of the suc- cessful farmers of his day, but died on his farm in the town of Eaton at the early age of twenty-eight. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Lieutenant in the State militia. His life - work was but just begun; and his untimely death was greatly mourned, not only by his immediate family,
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