USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 3
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ing to America and taking up his abode in this Quaker settlement, many of his neigh- bors being of that faith, Colonel Hall became a member of the Society of Friends. George Hall, Jr., died at the Portsmouth homestead, at the age of eighty-four. His wife, Charity Fish, of Newport, R. I., died four years later, at the same age.
William Hall, son of George Hall, Jr., was born March 28, 1767. He married first Mary Durfee, by whom he had ten children. She died January 26, 1816. His second wife, Mary Harrington, was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N.Y., in December, 1793, and died January 26, 1838. She was the mother of five children. It is a remarkable fact that these fifteen children of one father all married and had families of their own. William Hall made his first visit to New York in 1797, and bought a tract of timber land in what is now the town of Madison, then a wilderness, the price of land in this yet unorganized county being from two dollars and a half to five dollars per acre. In the autumn Mr. Hall returned to Portsmouth, travelling back and forth several times. In the course of five years he cleared twenty acres and built a log house. The family removal to the new home took place in 1802, wife and children jour- neying in a wagon drawn by a single horse, the household goods and other movables being brought in a cart to which were yoked a pair of oxen and two cows. Industrious and thrifty, William Hall worked at his own profit- able trade, - boot and shoe making, - learned in Rhode Island, and hired men to clear his
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land, which soon came to be an excellent farm. Surviving his second wife fifteen years, he died at his son Frederick's home in Waterville, in 1853, aged eighty-six years. He was a consistent member of the Society of Friends.
The death of the second Mrs. William Hall, in 1838, brought great changes to the household. Frederick, then in his eleventh year, went to live with his step-grandmother Durfee. At the age of sixteen he was sent to Waterville to learn harness-making. After two years of apprentice work in this place he served six months at Richfield and six months at Utica. He then followed the trade one year at Binghamton, another at Owego, Tioga County, and next, after a short time at Water- ville, went to North Brookfield, and became a carriage-trimmer. In this occupation he continued until his enlistment in August, 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty- seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. He went with the regiment to Charleston, S.C., and was in all its campaigns until his dis- charge at Charleston, July 10, 1865. Being at this time sick in a hospital, he remained there some weeks. On his return home he resumed his old trade, continuing at it until a recent date. In 1869 he bought his present farm, the birthplace and home of his wife, Hannah M. Hatch, whom he married in 1851.
Ira B. Hatch, the father of Mrs. Hall, was born in Egremont, Mass., in 1790, the son of Benjamin Hatch, a native of the same place, who served seven years in the War of the Revolution, and who emigrated to Lebanon
with his family in 1802. Here he died in 1854 in his one hundredth year. His wife's maiden name was Christina Pierce. Ira, a lad of twelve years, accompanied his father to Lebanon, and, succeeding him in the owner- ship of the home farm, resided upon it until his death. Mrs. Hall's mother, Polly Sharp before her marriage, was born in the town of Greene, Chenango County, N. Y., a daughter of Hendrick Sharp, a pioneer in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have five children living, - Edward, Frederick, Julia, Lucia, and Thomas. Mr. Hall is a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and in his daily life illustrates the well-known virtues of the dis- ciples of George Fox. Mrs. Hall is of the Presbyterian faith.
NSON C. BROOKS, an esteemed and highly respected resident of Hamil- ton, is a worthy representative of the intellectual, moral, and progressive ele- ment of Madison County. He was born in Hamilton, September 12, 1842, and is a son of Nelson Brooks. The latter was born in the town of Madison, and there reared to the peaceful occupation of farming, which he fol- lowed the greater part of his life. He spent his last years in Earlville, dying at an ad- vanced age. Anson Brooks, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Connecticut, born in the town of Stratford. He emigrated to New York when a young man, it is thought, being a pioneer of Madison.
The subject of this brief sketch was reared to manhood in his native town, attending the
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district schools, where he received a sub- stantial foundation for his further education. At the age of fourteen years he began to be self-supporting, and secured work on a farm, continuing thus engaged for several seasons, - working on the farm in the summer and attending school in the winter season. He was an earnest student, and by close applica- tion to his books had, at the age of eighteen years, acquired such knowledge that he was enabled to fill the position of instructor in the public schools of his native town with marked ability, and for fifteen consecutive winters taught most successfully. At the expiration of that period Mr. Brooks was, by a unanimous vote, elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. His unswerving integrity and stanch loyalty to the cause of right gained for him the approval and confidence of his fellow- townsmen; and he was four times re-elected to this office, each time filling a term of four years. Subsequently he became a firm be- liever in the principles promulgated by the Prohibition party; and the high sense of jus- tice and duty which have characterized his every action led him to join its ranks, and work ardently for the good cause. This change in politics not meeting with the ap- proval of his constituents, Mr. Brooks was not again re-elected to his former office. He is of thrifty habits, prudent and economical. By a judicious use of his earnings, combined with skilful management, our subject and his wife have purchased the home where the fam- ily now reside, and where they are surrounded by the comforts of life.
When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage with Miss Marcia Brainard, daughter of Oliver and Eliza (Bee- bee) Brainard. Of this union four children have been born, two of whom are now living; namely, Anna, born in 1874, and Clarence in 1878. One son, Newton, died when six years of age, and a daughter, Emma, at the age of fourteen years. In politics Mr. Brooks was formerly a Republican, but now affiliates with the Prohibition party. During the years 1880 and 188t he served acceptably as Secre- tary of the Madison County Temperance Asso- ciation, and for two years was President of the same association. During the past twelve years he has, perhaps, settled as many estates as any man in town; and, as he is Notary Public, he has a large business in drawing wills, contracts, decds, mortgages, etc., and has considerable practice as attorney in jus- tice's courts, while he is trustee or guardian for several old people. Mr. Brooks is decided in his opinions, and firm and conscientious in the expression of them, fearlessly maintaining what he believes to be true and right. Relig- iously, he is a regular attendant at the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
T HEODORE F. HAND, SR., a gray- haired veteran in the realm of finance, Vice-President of the Oneida Valley National Bank, was born in the town of Verona, Oneida County, August 14, 1815. His father, Ichabod Hand, Jr., was born in Guil- ford, Conn., a son of Ichabod Hand, Sr., who
T. F. HAND.
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was, so far as known, a lifelong resident of that town. The younger Ichabod, having been brought up and married in his native State, resided there until 1813, when, accom- panied by his wife, who was also a native of Guilford, and four children, he emigrated to New York, making the journey overland with their own conveyance. He settled in Verona. where he bought real estate, and built and kept a public house on the highway leading from Oneida Castle to Rome. In 1832, the year of the fatal cholera scourge, which brought business nearly to a standstill, he removed to Vernon, where he kept a hotel until nearly the time of his death, at the age of sixty-three years. The maiden nanie of his wife, who was the mother of seven chil- dren, was Amanda Leete. She survived her husband several years.
The subject of this sketch received his ele- mentary education in the district schools in his native town, and pursued the study of higher branches of learning in Cazenovia Seminary. At twenty years of age he became a clerk in a store of general merchandise, and four years later, in 1839, began his long and honorable career as a banker, being appointed teller and book-keeper of the bank in Vernon. Here he remained until 1851, when he came to Oneida, and, with Niles H. and Sands Hig- inbotham and Samuel Breese, started the Oneida Valley Bank, the first bank in the village. In the following year the bank was incorporated under the laws of the State. As a State bank it was operated till 1865, when it was organized as a National bank, the
charter being renewed in 1885. After forty years of competent, faithful service as bank cashier, the daily duties of which were be- coming onerous to one of his age, Mr. Hand in 1890 was succeeded in this position by his son, Theodore F. Hand, Jr., he himself being elected Vice-President, holding also the same office in the Oneida Savings Bank, of which he is a Trustee.
Mr. Hand has married twice. By his first wife, Elizabeth Higinbotham, a native of Vernon, daughter of Sands Higinbotham, he has three sons now living, -Theodore F., Jr., Niles H., and William H. His second wife was a widow, Mrs. J. J. Stewart. A man of sound judgment and unquestioned integrity, Mr. Hand has long been known as one of the best business men, as he is now one of the oldest living bankers, in the State. Oneida of to-day - populous, flourishing, and fair to view - is much indebted to him for steady growth in prosperity. He has taken an ever- active interest and often a leading part in public affairs, having for several years served as a Trustee of the village and Treasurer of the Board. Glenwood Cemetery owes not a little of its present attractiveness to the good taste and zeal for improvement exercised by him as one of the Trustees of the Cemetery Association, he being also its Secretary and Treasurer, and continuing to devote to its ser- vice much time and thought. Always a man in earnest, Mr. Hand has taken a decided position in matters of religion and politics, being a member of the Presbyterian church, and giving his allegiance to the Republican
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party. The fine portrait of Mr. Hand pre- sented on an accompanying page is a valuable addition to this volume, and will be viewed with interest by his many friends.
AMUEL BARR, a highly respected farmer of Stockbridge, is the owner of ninety acres of good land, and on his comfortable homestead is enjoying the reward of earlier years of toil and industry. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Barr fam- ily having originated in Scotland, going from there to Ireland. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Samuel Barr, came to this country from Ireland with his parents when a boy. He grew to manhood in New Hampshire, and did active duty in the Revolutionary War, after- ward returning to his adopted State, where he remained until his death. Samuel Barr, father of our subject, was born in New Hamp- shire, and there reared and educated. When a young man, he came to Madison County, and located in Stockbridge, being one of the first white settlers in the town. He bought a tract of wild land from the Indians, on which stood an Indian hut, which was his first dwelling-house in this county. Returning to the Granite State, he married the maiden of his choice, Mary McMillan, and, bringing her to Stockbridge, installed her as mistress of his home. He traded and lived on friendly terms with his dusky neighbors for many years, always finding them honest and fair in their dealings. He cleared his land, improving a farm of fifty acres; and he and his wife spent
their entire wedded life on the homestead, dying at the ages of seventy-nine and sixty- four years, respectively. They were honored members of the Universalist church, and he was a Republican in politics. They reared a family of four children : Mercy Jane, wife of Levi Collins, of Florida; Nancy Ann, widow of Calvin Bush, and living in Stockbridge; Samuel, our subject; and Margaret M., wife of Alvin T. Campbell, of Munnsville.
The subject of this brief history, the third in order of generation to bear the name of Samuel, has spent his entire life in the place of his nativity. He obtained his education in the pioneer schools of his day, assisting his father when at home in the labors of the farm, doing his part in clearing the land of the heavy timber, breaking the sod, and tilling the soil on the homestead, which eventually came into his possession, and where he has always lived. Since becoming the owner of the farm he has added to it by purchase, and is now the owner of ninety-eight acres of excel- lent land, where he is successfully engaged in stock-raising and general farming, hops being the principal crop. In addition, he always had a good dairy, which he managed with profit.
Mr. Barr was married April 3, 1858, to Rosetta Clements, a native of Stockbridge, born April 3, 1840. She died on the home- stead, September 3, 1886. Of their marriage there are five children. James Francis, born January 20, 1859, and William E., born October 12, 1860, are married, and reside in Stockbridge. Mary L., born January 25,
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1864, is the wife of C. A. Moore, a druggist in Wayne County. Robert S., born January 21, 1874, resides with Mrs. Moore in Lyons, and is a clerk in the drug-store of his brother- in-law. Leon C., born September 20, 1877, is attending school at Canastota.
Mr. Barr still resides on the homestead, although he has given up the care of the farm to other hands, leasing it each year. He has been prominent in the affairs of his town, and is a valued member of the community, well worthy of the high regard in which he is held. For three years he served his town as Ex- cise Commissioner, and has several times been elected Constable, but has never served. Politically, he is a steadfast Republican.
2 EORGE A. BROWN, an enterprising young business man of the town of Eaton, was born in Madison County, October 8, 1851. He is a son of Adon and Rosanna (Tuckerman) Brown, the former of whom is a prominent and influential citizen of Madison County and a native of the town of Nelson, where he owned a farm upon which he lived until 1853, when he removed to the town of Eaton, where he lias been engaged in farming until the present time. For the past twenty- five years he has owned and lived on the old Tuckerman homestead, formerly known as the Standish farm. His family consists of four children, all of whom are living, namely : Mary J., wife of George C. Mayo, and residing in Burlington, Vt .; Delia A., wife of Eugene Brown of the village of Eaton, and whose
biography appears elsewhere in this work ; George A., the subject of this sketch; and Alletta J., living at home. The parents of these children now reside in the town of Eaton, the father at the age of seventy-five, and the mother sixty-six. The latter attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and, although not a member, is a Christian woman, al- ways remembering the poor. Mr. Brown is a Democrat in politics, and is not afraid to advocate what he believes is right.
George A. Brown was three years old when his parents removed from his native town, Nelson, to the town of Eaton; was educated in the district schools, and remained at home until he was twenty years of age. In 1871 he established himself in business as the proprie- tor of a meat market in the village of Eaton, which he conducted some years, but at length sold out and went to Nebraska, where he re- mained about one year. In 1883 he returned to Eaton, and reopened his market in the vil- lage of Eaton, besides running a wagon to West Eaton, which he has conducted ever since, at the present time having a large trade among the best people of both places.
Mr. Brown was married July 11, 1875, to Frances M. Lyndon, who was born in Canada in 1854. To this marriage there have been born five children; namely, Mark G., Mabel V., Mollie E., Mayo C., and Mira P. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Brown is independent in politics, voting for the candidate of his choice. He believes that in following this course voters can com- pel parties to nominate only good men for
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office, and that in this way the public will secure the services of the best men. In this way civil service reform can be very materi- ally assisted, if not rendered altogether un- necessary. Mr. Brown and his wife are excel- lent members of society, and have many friends wherever they are known.
AMES C. LYNCH, a general farmer and stock-raiser of the town of Smith- field, has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-six acres, all under a good state of cultivation.
He was born in the town of Eaton at Pratt's Hollow, September 1, 1819. His parents, Terence and Jane (Kern) Lynch, were na- tives of Ireland, emigrating from there to America in the early part of this century, presumably in 1801. After landing in New York, Mr. Lynch went first to Albany, where he stopped for a while, thence proceeding to Utica, being employed there for a time in Bagg's Hotel, and subsequently became a clerk in the log store of John C. Devereaux. He was industrious and frugal, and after a few years of steady work saved enough money to buy seventy-five acres of land in Pratt's Hollow. He at once began the work of clear- ing a farm, and in the course of a few years had a good homestead, which he devoted to general farming and stock-raising. There both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, both dying at the advanced age of seventy-six years. In politics he was a strong Republican. He and his wife reared a family
of ten children, four boys and six girls, four of whom are now living: James C., the sub- ject of our sketch; Edward, who lives at Oneida Castle; Mary, who is the wife of R. Combs, of Michigan ; and Eleanor, who resides on the old farm.
James C. Lynch, of whom we write, was reared to manhood on the home farm, and early initiated into the mysteries of agricult- ure. Being the eldest soir of a family of ten children, he was early put to hard work, and ably assisted his father in establishing a home in the wilderness and in cultivating the soil, remaining under the parental roof until twenty-eight years of age, with the exception of two summers when he worked for a neigh- boring farmer. He was an energetic, indus- trious young man of thrifty habits, and had accumulated some money during those years of toil. Having sufficient to warrant him in taking a wife and establishing a home of his own, in 1847, on the 27th of April, he was united in marriage to Lucinda Marshall, and the same year bought the farm where he now resides. Their wedded life was of short dura- tion, his wife dying January 8, 1852, leaving him with two young children. On March 22, 1854, Mr. Lynch married Maria Abbott, who lived but a few years, her death occurring August 3, 1863. Of this marriage four sons were born. Mr. Lynch was again married February 6, 1865, taking for a wife Mrs. Hannah M. Eddy, a native of Oneida County and widow of the late Harvey Eddy. Of the six children in his family, our subject has only four now living, as follows: Lucinda, who
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lives in Pratt's Hollow; Terence, who lives in Fenner; James C., who is a widower with two children, - May and Eva, - and resides with his father; and Lafayette, who lives on a part of the homestead, is married, and has two children, - Ernest and Early.
Mr. Lynch is a man of much ability, a pro- gressive and enterprising agriculturist, and by his untiring energy and application has made life a success in every respect. In poli- tics he is a steadfast Republican, and has served as Highway Commissioner for six years.
ATHANIEL J. TACKABERRY, who has resided on his fine farm of two hundred acres for the past twenty- three years, was born in the town of Eaton, this county, in 1821.
His father, James Tackaberry, was a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1795, and came to this country with his parents when but eleven years of age. The grandfather of our subject was named Nathaniel, and, as nar- rated, came to America from Ireland in 1806, bringing with him his wife and family. His wife's name before marriage was Sarah Neu- sum. They were the parents of four sons and five daughters, and lived to a ripe old age. In 1818 their son James was united in mar- riage to Ann Belton, also of Ireland, the marriage taking place in the town of Eaton. He was a farmer by occupation; and he and his wife spent their entire lives in that town, becoming the parents of a family of eight sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was
the second child. One son died in infancy, all the rest attaining mature age. They were as follows: Elizabeth, wife of James Bauder, of Canastota; Nathaniel J., our subject; Rob- ert, engaged in the publishing business in Dakota: George, who resides in Canastota; Wesley, a resident of Detroit, Mich. ; Henry, a farmer on the old homestead; John, a bright and intelligent young man, and formerly a teacher in the village of Madison, died at the age of twenty-three, greatly deplored; Mar- garet, widow of Harrison Darrow, resides in Denver, Col., and has five sons; Sarah J., wife of Harlow Hopkins, died in middle life, leaving one son and one daughter; Susanna, wife of James W. Marshall, died when about forty-three years of age in Stockbridge, this county ; Samuel, died in 1888, when about fifty years of age, leaving one daughter. He was a preacher in the Methodist church, but in later years of advanced and liberal views.
Nathaniel J. Tackaberry was married No- vember 28, 1848, to Miss Ellen Bowers of the town of Eaton. She is a daughter of Isaac and Betsy (Hughs) Bowers, - the former of whom was from England and the latter from Ireland, - coming to this country at the age of twelve. Robert Hughs, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Tackaberry, came to America about 1808. He was a farmer in good circumstances. Mrs. Tackaberry has one living sister, Millie, widow of Samuel Morris, and residing in Cass County, Michi- gan. These two ladies are the only survivors of a family of six daughters and one son. The father died in the prime of life, and
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his widow when sixty-four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Tackaberry began life as farmers and hop-growers in the town of Eaton, where they owned a good farm. After residing there some time, they sold their farm, and bought another on Quality Hill, known as the Stroud farm, on which they lived three years. They next purchased a thirty-two-acre farm in Canastota Village, residing there two years, and in June, 1869, bought their present farm of two hundred acres, with fair buildings, for seven thousand dollars. This place is two and one-half miles north-west of Canastota, on a good road, and is one of the best and most productive farms in the county. Mr. Tacka- berry, in company with his son Newton, who is his partner, does general farming. They keep a dairy of twenty-four cows, sending the milk to the factory. They let a part of their land for onion-growing.
In politics Mr. Tackaberry is a Republican, and has served as Assessor in the town of Eaton. His wife is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. They are the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: Julia Moffat, who is the mother of two sons, - Milton and De Verne, - and makes her home with her parents; John B., who is a resident of Alpena, Mich., and has one son and two daughters; Libbie G., who is the wife of T. A. Debselle, of Bay City, Mich., and has one daughter; Anna A., who is the wife of Stephen Avery, a merchant and coal dealer of Canastota, and has two daughters; and Newton, who resides at home on the farm. The latter married Grace Van Buren, of Ful-
ton; and they are the parents of an infant son.
Mr. Tackaberry has for some years been a cripple from rheumatism, but in other respects enjoys good health for one of his years. He and his faithful wife are well known in this part of the county, and are highly respected for their many sterling qualities. Their home is beautifully situated, and is a most charming spot; and here they are passing their later days in comfort and in the loving society of their children and grandchildren.
LIAS J. THOMAS, a prosperous mill- owner of the village of West Eaton, was born December 13, 1843, in Newtown, Montgomery-shire, Wales, the son of Elias and Eliza (Jones) Thomas, both of whom were born in Wales. The grandfather, Thomas Evan Thomas, - also 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 grandparents both died when seventy-seven years old. They were good and devoted mem- bers of the Methodist church.
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