USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 36
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Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, although of the
sturdiest Scotch Presbyterian ancestry, have not professed membership with any church, but are liberal and broad-minded in their religious views. In politics Mr. Robertson is an outspoken Republican, and has served as delegate under its banner to the State Con- vention. For four years he has been Consta- ble, and for nine years Assessor of the town. He also holds the office of Supervisor of the town of Fenner, having served previously for one term. Fraternally, he is a Free and Accepted Mason, being a member of Lodge No. 231 at Canastota. He is also a member of Lodge No. 313 at Clockville, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The ordinary expres- sion in reference to Mr. Robertson is, "He is a pleasant man to meet "; and this distin- guishing trait of urbanity and cordiality has followed him all through life.
HERBERT TAYLOR. This gallant soldier was born July 4, 1846, and has illustrated by his brave career the signifi- cance of his glorious birthday. He was born in the town of Fenner, son of Edwin W. and Electa (Gallup) Taylor, the former of whom was a native of the town of Fenner, and the latter of Connecticut. Myron W. Taylor, the grandfather, emigrated from Scotland to this town when the country was wild and unsettled, the Indians being more numerous than whites, and wild game abundant. He died in Smithfield, N. Y., leaving a family of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, the latter, Mrs. John Brass, of Northum-
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berland County, Virgina, being the only survivor. Her father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a Whig in politics, and served with distinction in the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, Lyman Gallup, was born in Connecticut, but came to the town of Fenner, Madison County, took up new land, which he cleared, and there made his home. He had to go many miles on horseback to mill, his only guide through the woods being marked trees. He lived to be quite aged. In religious faith he was a Methodist, and in politics a Whig.
The father of our subject, Edwin Taylor, was brought up and educated in the town of Fenner. He was a general farmer, and owned his eighty-acre farm. Following in his father's footsteps, he was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was one of the first to join the Republican party. He died at his home on the farm, October 13, 1875, at the age of fifty-six. His widow sur- vived him a few years, dying at the age of sixty-seven. They were the parents of three children : Hulda E., Mrs. Robert Rountree, residing in Canastota; E. Herbert; and Her- man S., who is a mechanic, and resides in Syracuse.
E. Herbert Taylor resided in the town of Fenner until his fourteenth year. He then attended the district school in Onondaga County four years, going from there to Caze- novia Seminary. This being during the war, he left the seminary to enlist, entering the service in 1864, in Company F, Harris's Light Cavalry, Second New York Regiment,
Colonel Birdseye commanding, and partici- pated in ten battles and fifteen skirmishes. Ile was in the terrible battle of Cedar Creek, when General Early stole his march on the Federal troops, and almost gained the victory, when Sheridan made his famous ride and drove his flying army back, shouting, as he waved his cap over his head: "Face the other way, boys! Face the other way ! We will have our camps and cannon back again!" This was in the fall of 1864, and was one of the most memorable battles of the whole war. Again, at Five Forks - so named because there five roads met - he was in some desperate fight- ing, then on through Ashland and Appomat- tox, where the white flag came from General Lee's headquarters, requesting suspension of hostilities. After this peace was declared ; and June 5, 1865, Mr. Taylor received an honorable discharge. During his term of ser- vice he had many narrow escapes from death, once having his horse shot from under him, and another time having his clothes fairly riddled with bullets. He was conspicuous for his bravery and reckless fighting, and has reason to be very proud of his war record. The family were all strong Abolitionists, the father of our subject having been a close friend of Gerrit Smith. After his discharge from the army Mr. Taylor returned home, and, being still a young man, attended the Cazenovia Seminary for two terms, and then taught school for six years.
February 2, 1868, he was married to Miss Frances Hamblin, daughter of Lewis and Emily (Keeler) Hamblin, and born in the
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town of Cazenovia. Her parents were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are both dead. The father was a strong Abo- litionist, an intimate friend of Gerrit Smith, and closely associated with him in his efforts to benefit the colored racc. Mr. Taylor taught school for some years after his mar- riage, but, desiring to become a general farmer and stock-raiser, bought a farm of fifty acres of his father-in-law, settling upon it in 1874. Here hc and his wife have lived ever since. They have two children: Ella, born April 4, 1876; and Ethel, February 12, 1889. The family are adhcrents of the same faith as their parents and grandparents, being devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Taylor is an ardent Republican, stead- fast in his belief in that party, and is very naturally a Grand Army man, belonging to Reese Post, No. 49, at Canastota, N.Y. Sharing, as he did, in the last and most excit- ing cvents of the Civil War, his memories of those days are full of interest; but, while proud of his heroic record, he is ever modest and unassuming.
PREDERICK ALLEN, deceased, re-
moved to Oneida in 1866, and during his residence here was well known, not only to the citizens of this village, but to many people from all sections of the State. He was a son of Phineas Allen, who was born in Amherst, Mass., October 3, 1778. The latter was a mechanic during his entire life, and always lived in his native State. Feb-
ruary 12, 1800, hc married Mary Carroll, who was born March 20, 1780; and to their union there were born eleven children, namely : Augustus, Nancy, Mary E., Abigail, John C., and Sarah -all deceased; Frederick; Lukc, deccased; Martha, living at Worcester, Mass., agcd seventy-five; Lavina and Lu- cinda, both deceased.
Frederick Allen was born at Oakham, Mass., March 31, 1813. A portion of his education was obtained in the common schools of Massachusetts, but he acquired most of his practical knowledge by subse- quent observation and experience in actual business life. He appeared to inherit the mechanical genius of his father, and readily became a mechanic himself. When a young man, he began life for himself, removed to the State of New York, and worked for a number of years in Springfield, Otsego County, later returning to his native State, and being em- ployed in the armory at Springfield. After- ward he worked in Norwich, Conn., and other places.
In 1843 he was married to Ann M. Dem- ing, daughter of Henry and Lucia (O'Brien) Deming, and in August, 1847, removed to Worcester, Mass., remaining there until 1861, when he removed to Boston, and lived there one year. He then for some time re- sided in Mohawk, N. Y., but in 1866 settled in Oneida, where for some time he managed the National Hotel, and later became manager of the Allen House, which he continued to conduct until his death, which occurred May 10, 1876. He was a member of the Baptist
FRANCES STAFFORD.
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church. In politics he was a Republican. He and his wife had six children, namely : Washington, deceased; John C., of Buffalo; Luther J., living in Oneida, a retired hotel proprietor; Edward A., married to Hattie C. Allen; Theodore D. ; and Walter R .- the last four living at home.
Mrs. Allen has recently purchased a beau- tiful home in Oneida, where she and her fam- ily live, comfortably situated and surrounded. She is one of the excellent women of this pleasant village, and has many friends and acquaintances, as had her husband. He was a successful man, and accumulated a hand- some property, at his death leaving his widow in most comfortable circumstances.
PRANCIS STAFFORD, whose portrait
S is presented in this connection, is a public-spirited citizen of Oneida, a man of good judgment in affairs, and one whose counsel is sought in matters pertaining to the common weal. He was born March 31, 1843, in the town of Fenner, which was also the birthplace of his father, Joseph Stafford, Jr. His grandfather, Joseph Stafford, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1798, and died in Madison County, New York, October 18, 1870. His great-grandfather, David Stafford, was one of the early pioneers of Madison County, New York. He bought and cleared a large tract of land, and lived long to enjoy the fruits of his toil, dying at the age of ninety-four years. Joseph Stafford, Sr., in his young manhood followed the trade of
carpenter and joiner. Later in life he moved from Fenner to Ontario County, and bought a farm one and one-half miles from Bloom- field, henceforth devoting himself to its culti- vation. He married Polly Ann Jones, who was born November 7, 1800, in Massachu- setts, of which State her parents were also natives. She died in West Bloomfield, N. Y., April 9, 1870.
Joseph Stafford, Jr., son of the above- named, beginning life in the early part of the century, when Madison County was newly organized and sparsely peopled, lived to witness the remarkable development of its agricultural resources, the growth of its manufactures, and to see it become the seat of a numerous and thriving population. Farm- ing was his occupation. In 1863 he moved from his native town to Lenox, and contin- ued henceforth to occupy and improve the excellent farm which he there owned till two weeks before his death, March 20, 1876, when he took up his abode in Oneida. The maiden name of his wife was Cornelia Hill. She . was a native of Fenner, a daughter of Stephen and Lucy (Woodworth) Hill. Two of her children grew to manhood, Francis and Nor- man, the last-named being a prominent citi- zen of Canastota. A daughter, Josie C., died at the age of nine years.
Francis Stafford, having mastered the com- mon English branches in the district school of the neighborhood - between the sessions being industrially trained on the home farm - pursued a higher course of study in Caze- novia Seminary, and then sedulously betook
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himself to his hereditary calling, "the manly employment of agriculture." His father's home was his own during the life of that parent, and he has always lived under the same roof with his mother. Francis Staf- ford and Mary Sherwood, a native of Brough- ton, England, daughter of John and Rebecca (Hare) Sherwood, were married in 1887. They have two children, Josie and Norman. Mr. Stafford cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has always been loyal to the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the County Board of Supervisors, representing the town of Lenox, having been first elected in 1891, re-elected in 1892, and again in 1893. He has served acceptably on several important committees - on Equalization, Physicians' and Coroners' Accounts, Abstracts of County, Ways and Means, etc. He also served for some years as Assessor in the town of Lenox and for the village of Oneida. He is a Director in the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Oneida, and also of the State Bank of Canastota. Mr. Stafford was reared in the Baptist faith, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. They are consistent in their profession, and always ready to help in ad- vancing any cause for the public good.
T. SQUIRES was born in Hub- bardsville, N. Y., March 15, 1853. His father is a native of Canada, and came to the United States about 1848, when he was twenty-three years of age. He had
previously learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed after settling at Hubbards- ville, N.Y. At the time of the Civil War he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seven- teenth New York Volunteers, but had only seen one year of service when, by the ex- ploding of a shell, he lost his right arm, which had to be amputated at the shoulder joint ; and he was consequently in the hos- pital at Portsmouth for some time. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to his home in Hubbardsville, of which village he is considered the oldest inhabitant, as there are now only two persons living who were contemporary with him in his youth. His wife was Miss Hannah Wilson, and they reared three children -- Henry W., Anna, and W. T., our subject.
W. T. Squires received a good education in the district schools and at Hamilton. Be- sides being a teacher, he was by trade a painter, which occupation he followed dur- ing the summer season, teaching during the winters in Hubbardsville and Madison. When he was twenty-five years of age, he mar- ried Miss Jennie M. Spurr, daughter of Dan- iel and Martha Spurr. Her people were residents of South Edmeston, Otsego County, but came originally from Pennsylvania. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Squires were born two children, George A. and Charles D. The former assists his father in the store dur- ing vacations, and attends school the rest of the time.
In the year 1887 Mr. Squires went to Penn- sylvania, obtaining a very fine position in a
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creamery, where he remained for three years. But, while financially prosperous, in his domestic life a heavy sorrow came to him in the death of his beloved wife, who was taken from him when her son Charles was but three weeks old. This sad blow shattered his home; and he returned to North Brookfield, where in the spring of 1890 he purchased the store of S. A. Fitch. He has greatly increased the concern, and is to-day carrying on an immense business. In June of the same year he was appointed Postmaster, and is still (January, 1894) holding the appointment. In this office he has won golden opinions from the people by his able handling of its affairs, and by his courtesy and affability. He is also Secretary of the Board of Education of North Brookfield, and was Justice of the Peace at Hubbardsville for eight years.
Fraternally, Mr. Squires belongs to Sanger Lodge, No. 229. He is an active Republican in politics, but has the respect and admira- tion of the men of all parties, and in his pres- ent prosperity can truly say that it has been achieved by upright and diligent attention to business.
R ICHARD E. JONES, superintendent of the carding and spinning depart- ments of the woollen mills of Lewis & Thomas at West Eaton, Madison County - a position he has held through vari- ous changes of ownership since 1867 -is an illustration of the value of technical educa- tion in youth, and also of the value to the United States of many of its foreign-born
citizens, or descendants of the latter, who acquired skill in a trade learned when they were young. He was born July 29, 1839, and is a son of Hugh and Elizabeth Jones, both of whom were born in the northern part of Wales. Hugh Jones came to the United States when a young man, settling in the town of Eaton, Madison County. He mar- ried, and reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, five of whom are still living. In politics Mr. Jones was a Republican. His wife was a member of the Baptist church. He died at the age of seventy-seven, and she at the age of sixty-two.
Richard E. Jones was reared and educated in the town of Eaton, and at the age of four- teen began working for Bamford & Son in their woollen mill at Eaton. Beginning on the lowest rung of the ladder, he was so dili- gent in his business, and worked so faithfully in the interest of his employers, that, when twenty-six years of age, he had full control of the carding and spinning machines in the mills. In 1880 he became a member of the firm of Barnes, Jones & Lewis, which firm was engaged in the manufacture of woollen goods, but continued as superintendent of the carding and spinning departments. He con- tinued as a member of the firm until 1887, when he sold out to Lewis & Thomas, the present proprietors, but remained in his old position.
Mr. Jones was married September 3, 1865, to Cassa A. Munger, by whom he has one child, Minnie A., born November 8, 1867.
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She is the wife of Adolphus L. Anderson; and they reside half a mile from the village of West Eaton, Mr. Jones making his home with them. He is a man of character and influ- cnce, and in politics is a Republican.
HECTOR GALE. The follow- ing sketch was written especially for this work by Joseph Beal, Esq., of Oneida. Mr. Gale is a son of John and Sophia (Gilbert) Gale, and was born at Oneida, N.Y., January 15, 1847. He at- tended the common schools until he arrived at the age of twelve years, and then went to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Oneida Sachem, and on April 1, 1863, entered the office of the Democratic Union. In the following November, when he was sixteen years old, he enlisted as a private soldier in Company M, Second New York Artillery, inheriting his patriotism and military ardor from his paternal ancestry, his grandfather having been a soldier in the Revolutionary army and his father in the War of 1812-15, while his great-grandfather on his mother's side was a surgeon in the patriot army of the Revolution. Young Gale was continuously with his regiment, participating in many of the battles of the Civil War, among them the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North. Anna, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Hatcher's Run, Patrick Station, Five Forks, Southside Railroad, Amelia Springs, Farmville, and the battle resulting in the surrender of Lec. Immediately after the sur-
render he took charge of a government print- ing-office in Washington, D.C., located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Nine- teenth Street, where were printed nearly all the general orders mustering out the Army of the Potomac. Hc was honorably discharged October 10, 1865.
Returning home, he at once resumed work in the Union office at Oneida, but left this office the next spring to engage in lumbering and in the inspection of logs in the Saginaw Valley, Michigan. Until 1869 he travelled extensively in the far Western States and Territories, and joined a surveying party which operated in North British America in the vicinity of Hudson Bay. In 1874 he established the Streator Pioneer at Streator, Ill., which paper he published for three years, at the end of which time he removed his office to Oneida, where he ran a job printing-office for a time. In 1880 he established and has since continued to publish the Oneida Free Press, a weekly paper devoted to local news and to the interests of the survivors of his regiment, which venture proved a success, his office being now located on the lot upon which he was born, at Nos. 5 and 7 Gale Street.
In 1879 Mr. Gale was married to Jennie E. Moore, and has since had a home at Oneida. He has also a handsome summer residence called "The Maples," which is sit- uated at Sylvan Beach, N.Y. In politics Mr. Gale is an ardent Republican, but has never taken part in political matters except to vote and to fill the position of Village
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Clerk. He is a Mason, and prominent and active in Masonic affairs, and is at this writ- ing (1893) the Worshipful Master of Oneida Lodge, No. 270, A. F. & A. M.
ALLEN CURTIS, a prominent farmer and a trusted official of the county of Madison, is a son of Allen and Arabelle (Richardson) Curtis, the former of whom was born in Madison County, September 11, 1811, and the latter in this county, August 30, 1815. Both Allen Curtis and his son, S. Allen, the subject of this sketch, are distinguished for the confidence placed in them by their fellow-men, having frequently been elected to important positions of honor and trust. Allen Curtis is a suc- cessful farmer, and resides in the village of Madison. In early days he followed both shoemaking and tanning for a number of years, then purchased a farm in the town of Madison, where he has since followed agri- cultural pursuits, and at the same time per- formed public duties to the satisfaction of all interested. For some years he was Consta- ble, and for the past thirty-five years has been Justice of the Peace, and still holds that office. He was Supervisor thirteen years, and was for some years Chairman of the Board. For twenty-one years he was Super- intendent of the Poor, and was Railroad Commissioner twenty years.
Allen Curtis and his wife have ten children living out of a family of twelve: Martin V., born November 19, 1834, died April II,
1883; Adelia L., born January 9, 1836; Abner, born September 5, 1838, died August 5, 1841; Marion L., born December 13, 1840; Fidora R., February 5, 1843; Lucinda R., January 8, 1845; S. Allen, December 24, 1846; George H., October 25, 1848; Joseph- ine M., November 13, 1850; Ida D., January 8, 1853; Louis A., March 22, 1855; and Cora A., January 11, 1859. Allen Curtis and wife are members of the Baptist church, and in politics he is a Republican. They have twenty-three living grandchildren.
S. Allen Curtis was reared in the town of Madison, and was well educated both in the district schools and in Hamilton Seminary, which latter institution he attended two terms. Remaining at home with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, he then took charge of the railroad station at Sols- ville as agent, and remained there eight and a half years. January 1, 1879, he was ap- pointed Keeper of the Poor, holding that position four and a half years, also being engaged a short time in the coal business at Eaton. In 1885 he was elected Superintend- ent of the County Infirmary and Farm, tak- ing charge January 1, 1886, and has held this position to the present time. Here he has given, and is giving, general satisfaction, being a careful and economical manager of the institution and a kind and considerate superintendent. He is also Superintendent of the Children's Home at Peterboro.
Mr. Curtis was married November 21, 1878, to Gertrude M. Bridge, who was born at Bouckville, Madison County, and is a
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daughter of Rodney and Emily Bridge, the former of whom was born in Stockbridge, July 27, 1819, and died at Solsville, October 19, 1889. The latter was born February 26, 1823, in the town of Madison, where she still resides. Mr. Bridge was in politics a Demo- crat. He was, as is his widow, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They reared three children, namely: Llewellyn, born February 6, 1847; Mattie J., October 27, 1850; and Gertrude, Mrs. Curtis, August 8, 1858.
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have two daughters, namely: M. Ethel, born October 8, 1884; and Elma G., December 9, 1885. Mr. Curtis and his wife are members of the Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the most popular citizens of Madison County, and a very pleasant, genial gentleman.
DE FOREST BLANCHARD, a prac- tical printer and public - spirited journalist of Earlville, was born in Cuyler, Cortland County, July 2, 1855. His grandfather, Daniel Blanchard, came to Cuy- ler as a pioneer, and lived and died here on a farm. Levi Blanchard, father of the sub- ject of our present sketch, was brought up in this (his native) town, and continued a resident here until 1859, when he removed to De Ruyter, and established a wagon factory, which he conducted until the time of his death. Before leaving Cuyler, he married Louisa Hakes, daughter of Nathan and Phy- linda Hakes, and a descendant (of the fifth
generation) of Solomon Hakes. (See geneal- ogy of the Hakes family, by Dr. Harry Hakes, of Wilkesbarre, Pa.) Her birthplace was Grafton, N. Y. She still lives at De Ruyter.
De Forest Blanchard is the fourth of the five children of Levi and Louisa (Hakes) Blanchard, the others being Harris C., Or- rington M., Ella J., and Silas D. His edu- cation in the common and some of the higher branches of learning, in the village schools and in the De Ruyter Institute, was early supplemented by the study of telegraphy. While but a youth, he held a position of re- sponsibility as telegrapher and station agent at Cook's Falls, Delaware County. Resign- ing this position in 1875, he returned to De Ruyter, and set himself to learn the printer's trade. A few years later, having become a master of the art in its various branches, he ventured, in connection with C. E. Beekman, to start a paper, the De Ruyter New Era, the first issue of which was dated May 6, 1880. This enterprise proved successful; and the firm continued in business till 1885, and then sold out to another party, Mr. Blanchard re- maining in the office till December, 1887, when he removed to Earlville, then a village of five hundred people. Here he established the Earlville Standard, at first a seven- column, four-page paper, now enlarged to a seven-column sheet of eight pages, with a goodly circulation. In 1875 he married Helen A. Storrs, daughter of Rev. John and Eliza (Smith) Storrs, of Worcester, Otsego County. They have five children - Leon D., Earl, Linn, Gladys, and Fred H. While a
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