USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 33
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URDON L. PALMER, now deceased, was a representative of one of the pioneer families of Madison, -- a family which traces its history back through several genera- tions in New England. The ancestry of Mr. Palmer was not only closely identified with the general history and development of the New England States, but also actively and prominently concerned in the struggle for the independence of the American colonies; and,
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if ancestral pride is ever justifiable, it is where a long line of ancestors has been dis- tinguished for both honor and patriotism, as is the case with this family.
It is believed that Walter Palmer was the first of the race to settle in what is now the United States; but Gurdon L. Palmer traced his lineage back to Samuel Palmer, who settled in Connecticut at the close of King Philip's War. The tract of land upon which he established himself in that State was con- tinuously in the possession of the Palmer family until 1881. Joseph Palmer, the grand- father of Gurdon L., and his son, Seth, both served in the Revolutionary War. The former, who was quite old at the time, and unable to perform active service in the field, was set to guard stores and ammunition; but Seth performed active duty as a soldier in the army. Joseph Palmer died on his farm in Connecticut, at the age of ninety-six. Calvin Palmer, another son of Joseph, was the father of Gurdon L., and was a native of Windham County, Connecticut.
Gurdon L. Palmer was born in New Lon- don County, Connecticut, May 2, 1801. Re- maining in his native State until seventeen years of age, he then came to New York State, locating in Edmeston, Otsego County, where he resided two years. Removing then to Madison County, he settled in the town of Lebanon, one and a half miles from the vil- lage of Eaton, where his father, Calvin, died, at the age of seventy-seven years. Gurdon L. Palmer purchased fifty-seven acres of land for his first farm, upon which he resided twenty
years, when he removed to the Robert Stew- art farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and lived thereon eight years. In 1861 he finally removed to the farm of eighty acres upon which his widow and daughter now reside, and where he died, November 22, 1877. During his entire life in Otsego and Madison Counties Mr. Palmer was a highly respected citizen, an honest, faithful man. March 4, 1831, he married Miss Anrietta Brown, who was born October 4, 1805, in the town of Eaton, and whose parents, Samuel and Mary Brown, were both natives of the same school district, though of separate States, the district including portions of both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Samuel Brown settled in the town of Eaton in 1804, at a time when wild beasts and Indians inhabited the country. The Indians and the pioneers usually lived on terms of peace and friendship, and it was frequently the case that Mr. Brown had red men sleeping round his fireplace. Occasionally, though, as was also true of the pioneers themselves, differences and disagreements led to personal encounters, as when the notorious Indian chief Antoine, who was afterward hanged for his many crimes, was horsewhipped by Mr. Brown for having attempted, in a drunken fit on one Fourth of July, to stab a neighbor, Mr. Nathan Wick- ware. It is said that Mr. Brown was the only man, white or red, that this savage chief ever feared. Samuel Brown and his wife reared six children that grew to mature years. Mrs. Palmer and her sister, Mrs. Mary Petrie, of Herkimerville, widow of Aaron Petrie, are
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the only ones now living. Mr. Brown died in Herkimer County, at the age of eighty- four, his wife having died in Eaton, Madison County, at the age of thirty-seven.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Palmer has continued to reside upon the farm and to manage it, with the assistance of her daugh- ter Mary, the only one of her three children now living at the home. The others are: Helen A., born May 13, 1833, now the wife of Samuel Brown, living at Morrisville Sta- tion; Albert G., born October 20, 1834, and residing at Marshall, Calhoun County, Mich; Mary B., born June 9, 1843. Mrs. Palmer is one of the oldest inhabitants of the town of Eaton, has always been a good and true wife, mother, and a kind neighbor, and, though now in her eighty-eighth year, is still an active and intelligent woman, retaining her faculties to a remarkable degree.
· EUGENE SPENCER. This gentle- man is a well-to-do retired farmer, residing at Wampsville on his fine homestead of thirty acres. He was born in Canastota in 1825, and comes of good old New England stock, his grandfather, General I. S. Spencer, having been born in 1780 in Sheffield, Mass., and reared in Great Barring- ton of that State, where his brothers and sis- ters were born. General Spencer was well educated, and became an eminent lawyer. He married Miss Polly Pearson at Alford, Mass., in 1801. They came to Madison County in 1802; and the wife survived her
husband for many years, dying at Wamps- ville, February 19, 1865, when she was over eighty years of age. During her early life Mrs. Spencer was thrown much in the com- pany of the Oneida Indians. She spoke their language fluently, and was regarded by them as a benefactress. Her children were three sons and one daughter, namely: Julius A., father of our subject; Frederick R., an artist of much ability, who resided in New York City and attained great celebrity, afterward retiring to his farm at Wampsville, where he died at an advanced age; Charles A., an opti- cian of excellent reputation in Canastota, whose son is now a manufacturer of optic glasses in Buffalo, N.Y .; Caroline, who mar- ried A. A. Bradley, of Little Falls, where she lived and died.
Julius A. Spencer, our subject's father, was born at Quality Hill, near Canastota, in the year 1802. His wife was Miss Lucy K. Plumb, of Middletown, Conn. To this mar- riage there were four children born: J. Eugene; Oscar, who was a hardware merchant in New York City, and died at the age of sixty; Josephine, widow of Roscoe McCon- nell, who was a silk merchant of New York City, and has one son living; the fourth- child died when an infant. Mrs. Spencer died at Utica, N.Y., a short time previous to the death of her husband.
J. Eugene Spencer spent the greater part of his youth in Utica, N. Y., and received an excellent education in the high school of that place. He was a clerk for a few years after leaving school, and later became
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engaged in railroad and express business, which he followed for many years. His first marriage was in 1862, with Miss Jennie N. Hoffman, of Fort Plain, Montgomery County, N. Y. She died a few years after- ward, leaving no children. Mr. Spencer married in 1871 Mrs. Harriet M. Corey. whose maiden name was Spence, although she was not akin to him. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Spencer moved to Wampsville, Madison County, where he bought a farm with a hand- some house and ample barns thereon, paying the round sum of ten thousand dollars for the property.
For many years Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spencer lived in this large pillared and por- ticoed house which he bought with the farm; but in 1888 he built his present elegant home, where they now live, surrounded with every needed luxury and comfort. The road that runs in front of their residence is the oldest in this region, if not in the whole State, being the "old trail" of the Six Nations from Albany to Buffalo. In the twilight hour one can easily imagine the first occupants of the land flitting along, in their paint and feathers, to interview the "white Father," and seek redress for their wrongs from the head of the government.
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have no children; but their hospitable home is always open to the young people of the village, who find the cheer of sympathy with their pursuits and pleasures in this genial couple, who have never allowed themselves to grow old in heart, even if advanced in years. Mr. Spen-
cer is a member of the fraternal orders in high standing, being a Royal Arch Mason, and having occupied the several chairs of Odd Fellowship. He and his wife are attendants of the Episcopal church, with which they have been connected since early childhood. Politically, Mr. Spencer is a Democrat, and in his life of retired ease follows with much interest the progress of the party of which he . proudly claims himself to be a supporter.
T HOMAS P. PARKER, deceased. The memoir of this estimable man is fur- nished, as a mark of filial love, by his daughter Jennie. He was born in Stock- bridge, Madison County, N.Y., in 1827. His long line of ancestors date farther back than the Revolutionary War, and were early colonists in Connecticut. His great-grand- father was Gamaliel Parker, a patriot soldier; and his grandfather, Joel Parker, was reared and married in Connecticut, where he lived until the winter of 1804-5, emigrating then to New York State, accompanied by his wife and infant son. The journey was made over- land with oxen and sled, and all their house- hold effects were brought with them. He settled in what is now the town of Stock- bridge, and it is said that there were only two white families in the vicinity at that time. Mr. Parker bought a tract of timbered land, and commenced at once to fell trees and lay out a farm. On the edge of this clearing he built his little log cabin; and, surrounded with the primeval forest, whose silence was
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only broken by the stealthy tread of the prowling Indian or the scaring cry of the panther, the young husband and wife started their new home. Those pioneer women must indeed have had strong nerves and a still stronger faith.
After residing on this place for many years, they sold it, and removed to Georgetown, Madison County, where they bought a farm, and resided there until the death of Mr. Parker, at the age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of his wife, who was from New Haven, Conn., was Alba Cinda Bunnel. She lived to be eighty-seven years old, having reared ten of her fourteen children.
Chester G. Parker, the father of the subject of our present sketch, was the eldest child of this pioneer couple, and was but a few months old when he was brought to New York State, having been born in 1804. His child- hood days were the very rough ones of pioneer life, his only playmates the stolid little Ind- ians, who looked on the white child as some- thing almost supernatural. When old enough to learn a trade, he adopted that of carpenter, and followed it for a time. He then went to Stockbridge to reside, and married Miss Electa Park, who was born in Smithfield, Madison County, daughter of Barney and Fanny (Hiscock) Park, natives of Connecticut and pioneers of Smithfield. A few years after his marriage Mr. Parker went to Cicero, Onondaga County, and there followed the trade of cooper and did some farming for ten years. He returned to Stockbridge in 1838, and in 1848 bought twenty-two acres of land
in the town of Lenox, adding to it from time to time, and lived there until his death, Octo- ber 12, 1881. Seven children were reared by them - Franklin E., Fanny L., Thomas P., Ruth A., Betsey E., George W., Harriet F. The mother died July 9, 1883.
Thomas P. Parker, the second son of Ches- ter G. and Electa (Park) Parker, followed gen- eral farming and hop-raising. He married Miss Hettie Haskin, who was born in Sulli- van, Madison County, where her father gave her such opportunities as offered of acquiring a good education. After marriage her hus- band bought a farm in the town of Lenox, two and one-half miles south of the village of Oneida. On this he erected substantial frame buildings, improved the place greatly, and resided there for the rest of his life. He died in 1877, at the age of forty-nine years. His wife survived him sixteen years, dying May 20, 1893, aged fifty-seven. They had buried two sons, Jay A. and Frank H. The family were members of the Methodist church, and the father was a Republican in politics.
Miss Jennie M. Parker, daughter of Thomas and Hettie (Haskin) Parker, was born on her father's farm in Lenox, and here continues to make her home. Her maternal great-grand- parents were Paul and Patience (Tripp) Gif- ford. They came from Massachusetts with her maternal grandparents, Daniel A. Haskin and Anna R. (Gifford) Haskin, in 1828. They travelled via the Long Island Sound, Hudson River, and Erie Canal, settling first in Sullivan, before there was any Oneida Vil- lage and when there were but very few log
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houses at Oneida Castle. They were pos- sessed of considerable means when they came to this part of the county, which they did not fail to increase by judicious investments. The great-grandmother died in her ninety- fifth year, in July, 1877, in Massachusetts, having buried her husband some years before. Grandfather Haskin died August 16, 1889, aged eighty-four. The farm on which Miss Parker lives comprises twenty-four acres, eight of which are devoted to hop-raising - a branch of husbandry which has been carried on by the family for some years. She main- tains the place in excellent order, and her beautiful home and pleasant surroundings are as attractive as any in the town. Finely edu- cated both in literature and music, Miss Parker fills her place in society with grace and dignity, and gives good evidence in her daily life of the eminent lineage of which she may well be proud.
M. AYLESWORTH, Eso., an hon- ored resident of Leonardsville, some time District Attorney of Madison County, was born January 23, 1841, in Burlington, Otsego County, N. Y. The pa- ternal grandfather of this distinguished legal advocate, Elhanan Aylesworth, who was born in Providence, R.I., August 31, 1772, when he came to the State of New York, stopped for a short time at Hoosick, near Albany, N. Y., proceeding thence by ox-team to Burl- ington, N. Y., where he began a clearing in the forest, and there made his home until the
time of his death, October 17, 1857. The ancestors of the family were originally from England.
The father, named Perry, was reared on the farm, but received an academic education, and carly developed a taste for literature. He had also a natural bent for mechanics. Hav- ing no inclination for agricultural pursuits, he did comparatively little in that line. He was married March 29, 1836, to Miss Luna Norton DeLong, daughter of James DeLong. She reared three children: Homer E., who died in 1886; our subject; and Nelson O. At the time of marriage Mr. Perry was en- gaged in teaching, which vocation he followed for some years. Later he returned to the farm, and took care of his parents in their last days. The year of his death he had been on a visit to Illinois, and on his return home unfortunately fell from the train at Thorold, near Niagara Falls, C.W., and was instantly killed. This was indeed a tragic ending for this gifted gentleman. He at one time held a license to exhort in the Methodist church, but on account of the opposition of his fam- ily did not take up the ministry as a calling. The mother is still living, at the age of eighty-thrcc.
Our subject remained at home until his fif- teenth year, having finished a course at the public schools and at the Cooperstown Semi- nary. At that age he went out to Central Illinois, and commenced teaching at a place four miles from Springfield. This school was composed of eighty-six scholars, and had the reputation of having the "hardest" set of
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boys in that section, whose exploits in run- ning the school were the talk of the country. For one so young the new preceptor developed remarkable ability as a teacher, both in gov- ernment and in the art of imparting knowl- edge, and won laurels for himself which brought him into prominence. He was prob- ably the youngest teacher who had ever man- aged so unruly a public school, compelling obedience and commanding the respect of his pupils as well. After teaching in this coun- try in various schools for some years, he fi- nally returned to Otsego County, New York, where he resumed his studies at the Cazenovia Seminary and at Cooperstown Seminary. He was also a private pupil under Professor Homer Anderson, A.M.
Having made up his mind to become a lawyer, he first entered the office of George S. Graham, of Burlington Green. Finishing his course of study with S. S. Morgan, of West Winfield, N. Y., he was admitted to the bar in October of 1865, the general term at Syracuse, N.Y. He opened an office in Bridgewater, N. Y., where he remained one year. He then went to Brookfield, N. Y., for a short time, and in the fall of 1867 removed to New Berlin, N. Y., entering into partner- ship with Hon. Henry Bennett, one of the most gifted lawyers of his day, who had just retired from a successful Congressional career, and continued with him until the death of Mr. Bennett, and then practised alone and in partnership with Hon. H. H. Harrington until 1873, when he retired from active work for a year. In 1875 he went to Leonards-
ville, where he has since remained. During three years of this time he was District Attor- ney of Madison County, and discharged the responsible duties of that important office with marked ability and success.
At twenty years of age Mr. H. M. Ayles- worth married Miss Lucinda Bradley, daugh- ter of Horatio Bradley, of Hartwick, Otsego County, N.Y. They have one son, Elmer B., and one daughter, Minnie E. Elmer B. mar- ried Miss Grace Sampson, and has two chil- dren. Minnie E. is a graduate of Cazenovia Seminary and the Utica Conservatory of Music, and is now at the head of the Musical Department of Downer College at Fox Lake, Wis. This young lady has achieved consider- able reputation as an elocutionist, and is also attracting attention in musical composition, in which she shows great ability.
The wife of Mr. Aylesworth died July 17, 1887, deeply regretted by her large circle of friends and mourned with intense grief by her husband and family. Mr. Aylesworth is as skilled in literature as in the law, and many exquisite bits of poetry have emanated from his facile pen. He takes a front rank in the Masonic Order, having been a member since 1865. He has been Master of Western Star Lodge, No. 15, and is now a member of Phœ- bus Lodge, No. 82, of New Berlin; Warren Chapter, No. 22; and Norwich Commandery, No. 46. The record of this gentleman is truly interesting and instructive. Beginning the world for himself at the age of fifteen, he has battled successfully with the difficulties of life, he has won recognition as a man of
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letters and advanced culture, while as a legal advocate he stands admittedly at the head of the bar in his county.
MITH K. HYATT, an estimable citizen of the town of Fenner, was born in Connecticut, August 21, 1824, son of Charles and Rachel (Smith) Hyatt. His father was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and his mother in West- chester County, New York. The grandfather, Abajai Hyatt, was a native of Connecticut, and a farmer in that place. Of this grand- father who went to Madison County and bought land in the town of Nelson, a full history is given in our sketch of Hon. Francis A. Hyatt, published in this book.
Charles Hyatt married in his native State, and with his wife and three children came to Madison County, settling in the town of Fenner in 1827, where he bought a farm and made their home. The land was new, and a great portion of it covered with thick forest. It was hard labor to fell those trees, clear the land, and to lay out the farm; but the virgin soil was productive, and readily yielded grain and fruits to the work of the husbandman. The place was a home, even though in a com- parative wilderness; and, though the neigh- bors were few and far between, he had comfort in the society of his wife and children, who made his rural fireside happy. Here three more children were born, making a family of six, who were in the following order: Jane Ann, who became the wife of John Wilson,
and died at the age of sixty; Smith K. ; John H .; Mary E., widow of Charles Allen; Charles, Jr. ; and Helen, Mrs. Summers Hill. Mr. Hyatt held some minor offices in the Democratic party. In his religious views he was a Methodist.
Smith K. Hyatt was but three years of age when his parents settled in the town of Fenner. The rudimentary education of the district school was all that he was able to obtain; but he made the best use of his lim- ited opportunities, and at least laid a sub- stantial foundation for the fund of information which he has since acquired by experience and observation, which has proved in his case even more valuable than that obtained by books. He assisted his father in the farm work until he started out for himself by get- ting a wife and setting up a home of his own. The farm which he bought at first consisted of seventy-two acres, but has been added to until it has reached two hundred acres. Like the majority of the farmers of the county, he raises grain and fruits, and also deals largely in full-blooded cattle, and has a fine dairy. The buildings and improvements on his place are first-class, everything being neat, com- pact, and of modern construction. He is a practical farmer, and is a leader instead of a follower in the ranks.
He married September 11, 1849, Miss Clarinda Woodworth, who was born in 1831 in the town of Fenner, daughter of George Woodworth, one of the early settlers of Madi- son County. Mrs. Hyatt died in April, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years. An
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estimable woman, a good and faithful wife and mother, beloved and respected, her death was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends. She left six children: Ida M., Mrs. John Harter, residing in the town of Sullivan; J. Wilson, a farmer in the town of Fenner; Newell W., also a farmer of that town; Lee, living in Oneida; Eddy, residing in Cortland; Rachel, living at home. Mr. Smith K. Hyatt is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and has held several local offices in the town, among them that of Assessor for three years. An upright, honor- able, conscientious man, he has the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, irrespective of creed or party.
EANDER W. BURROUGHS, though comparatively a young man, has met with unusual success in life, both as a farmer and as a hop merchant, his loca- tion in Morrisville being especially favorable for the buying and selling of hops, as New York is probably the leading State in the Union in hop culture, and Madison, more- over, one of its most productive counties.
Mr. Burroughs was born in the town of Stockbridge, Madison County, January 21, 1845, a son of William Burroughs, who was born in Lincklaen, Chenango County, N. Y., April 20, 1814. William Burroughs, being very young at the time of the death of his father, was reared by his mother and his step- father on the farm, and while growing to manhood learned the cooper's trade. In 1834
he went to Cicero, Onondaga County, where in company with his brother-in-law, Andrew Parker, he purchased a large tract of land, and engaged in farming there until 1837, when, selling their land, they returned to Madison County, bought another large tract in Stock- bridge Valley, and there engaged in dairy farming. They also established a cooper shop and a cheese-box factory, and operated a saw-mill and a grist-mill, all of which is evidence of the enterprise and business capac- ity of the two gentlemen. After continuing in partnership until 1855, they divided their stock and lands, Mr. Burroughs remaining on his farm until his death in February, 1880. William Burroughs married Laura Parker, who was born in what is now the town of Stockbridge, April 16, 1813, and lives at the present time in Pratt's Hollow in the town of Eaton, past eighty years of age, bright and cheerful, a Methodist in religion. She was a daughter of Joel Parker, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., and was a son of Gama- liel Parker, supposed to have been a life- long resident of that place. The wife of Gamaliel Parker was Martha Parker, no rela- tive, though of the same name. She sur- vived her husband many years, and spent her last days in the State of New York.
Joel Parker, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, after living in his native State until 1805, emigrated, together with his wife and one child, to the State of New York, making the journey overland by means of ox-teams, bringing with him all his earthly possessions, and being three weeks on
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the way. Settling in what was then Oneida County, now Madison County, and remaining there ten or eleven years, he then bought a tract of land in the town of Stockbridge, now known as the True farm, which he occu- pied some years, and then exchanged it for one in Stockbridge Valley, to which he re- moved. For many years after his arrival in the State of New York there were neither canals nor railroads; and Albany, one hun- dred miles distant, was the nearest market for the surplus products of his farm and the near- est depot of supplies. The people lived prin- cipally upon what they raised on their farms; and the grandmother of Mr. Burroughs, dur- ing her early married life, was accustomed to card and spin, and weave the cloth from which she afterward made the clothing for her family. Selling his valley farm, Mr. Parker removed to Georgetown, and there sojourned till he died in a good old age. His wife, whose maiden name was Albacinda Bunnell, was born in Connecticut. She spent her last years with her children, and died at an ad- vanced age. The parents of the subject reared seven children; namely, Laperla, Lois S., Celinda B., Almina, Leander W., Lorenzo J., and Ella M., all of whom are living but Laperla and Almina.
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