USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 4
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The father of our subject was a spinner and weaver by trade. He came to America in 1848, and was joined by his wife and four children a year after his arrival in this coun- try. He first settled in Oneida County, and
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worked at weaving, but. afterward moved to the town of Nelson, Madison County, where he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and carried on general farming. He was an honest, hard-working man, and, be- sides running his farm, made a specialty of raising full-blooded Durham cattle, his herd consisting of about twenty head. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born seven children, of whom three are now living, namely: Elias J., our subject ; Mary E., wife of John E. Lewis; and Anna S., wife of Frank Blair, residing in the town of Nelson. The chil- dren who died were: Sarah, aged twenty-six years; Jane, eleven years; Evan C., nineteen years; and Anna, three years. The father and mother died on their farm in the town of Nelson, aged respectively sixty and seventy- four years. They attended the Baptist church, of which the wife was a devout member.
Our subject came to the town of Eaton when he was but nine years of age, was edu- cated in the district school, and when twelve years old began to work in the woollen mills at West Eaton, owned by Captain Smith. He commenced in the card-room, receiving at first only seven dollars and a half per month, and continued to work in this mill until the firm suspended in 1854. He then obtained employ- ment in the various mills along the valley until 1862, when he enlisted under Captain Henry B. Morse in Company D, One Hundred and Four- teenth Regiment, New York Volunteer In- fantry. He fought in several battles, among which were the siege of Port Hudson and Sabine
Cross Roads, under General Banks. He was also with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. He made a splendid record, and was honor- ably discharged at the close of the war, at Washington, D.C., June 8, 1865. He then returned to his home, and worked at his trade until 1882, when, with his brother-in-law, John E. Lewis, he bought the mill now owned by them, for a description of which see biography of John E. Lewis.
Mr. Thomas was married in 1867 to Miss Thirza C. Lewis, who was born in 1845. They have two children. Arthur R., born in 1868, was educated at Cornell preparatory School, and afterward a graduate of the Chi- cago Medical College of Chicago, Il1. He is now attending physician of the Cook County (Illinois) Hospital. A daughter, A. Luella, born in 1879, is at home with her parents. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and have a delightful resi- dence in the village. Mr. Thomas is a pleas- ant, agreeable man in social life, liked by his employees, popular as a citizen, and a thor- ough, energetic Republican in politics, as were also his father and grandfather.
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AMES L. BOYCE is an extensive and progressive young farmer, who is doing his share in keeping up the reputation of Stockbridge as a prosperous agricultural centre. A native of Canada, he was born in the village of Sydnom, Province of Ontario, November 7, 1858, and is a son of James and Lucinda (Clement) Boyce, who were natives,
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respectively, of New York State and Canada. His mother died in Canada at the age of sixty- five years. She was a sincere Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father of our subject, a well-known and respected resident of Augusta Centre, was formerly a lumberman. He is a Republican in politics, and stands firmly by the party. He and his good wife reared a family of six children, of whom five are living: Albert, a resident of Frankfort, Cattaraugus County; Walter, of North Dakota; James L .; Sarah Ann, a resident of Canada; and George, of Oswego County. Elijah was killed by the cars at the age of twenty-eight years.
James Boyce lived in Canada until four- teen years of age. He early displayed an active, self-reliant disposition, and became self-supporting at the youthful age of ten years, leaving the shelter of the home roof to work in a shingle factory, thus earning his board and five cents a day. As he grew older, he was ambitious to better his fortunes, and in 1872 sought new fields of labor in the United States. After his arrival he worked out by the month for some time. He was industrious and frugal, and his means accumu- lated until he became more independent ; and for several years he has been carrying on farming for himself. He has land in the town of Eaton, but the farm that he lives upon and operates belongs to his wife. He devotes his energies to general farming, and makes a success of every branch of agriculture that he undertakes. He grows hops, and has a good class of stock, having a dairy of four-
teen or fifteen fine cows and a flock of thirty sheep of the best breed. The farm, which comprises one hundred and ten acres of land, is kept up to a high standard of cultivation, and is amply provided with substantial, modern buildings that are the best in the vicinity.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary Diable took place November 4, 1877, and has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, - Amelia, Fred, and George. Mrs. Boyce was born in the town of Stock- bridge. Her father, Isaac Diable, was born in London, England, of which city his pa- rents, John and Sarah Diable, were also natives, but came to America late in life, and spent their last years in Madison County. Isaac Diable came to this country when a young man, located on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Boyce now live, and here spent the remainder of his life. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Fox. She was also born in London, and was first married to John Diable, a brother of Isaac. She still resides in Madison County.
Mr. Boyce has risen to be one of the lead- ing farmers of his district, and is accounted a valuable citizen. In his political views he is a decided Republican.
LVIN WADSWORTH is descended from prominent ancestry on both sides of his family. He was born Octo- ber 4, 1825, in the town of Eaton, and is a son of Harry B. and Esther (Brownell) Wads-
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worth, the former of whom was born in the town of Lanesborough, Mass., and the latter in Providence, R.I. Harry B. Wadsworth was a general farmer, and was actively engaged in this occupation until he was sixty years of age. He and his wife reared a family of seven children: Alvin, the subject of this sketch; J. B., who lives at Hatch's Lake; Clarissa A., who was the wife of Silas Chap- man, and died when sixty-four years of age; Susan, who married Austin Hawks, and died at the age of twenty-four; Martha, the wife of Orlando Dutton; Henry A., who resides in Cortland County ; and Hannah A., wife of Asa Pritchard. The father of these children re- sides with his son, Henry A., in Cortland, and is now in his ninety-second year. When his wife died, she was in her eighty-sixth year. She was a member of the Baptist church, as is her husband. In politics he has been a Republican since that party was organized, in 1853.
Jeremiah Brownell, father of Mrs. Harry B. Wadsworth, was a native of Rhode Island, but removed to Madison County, making the journey by means of teams, - that being then the only way of travel through the country, - and finding his way by following a trail marked by blazed trees. He was among the earliest settlers in the town, and, taking up a large tract of land, erected a log house. He lived upon that farm until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-six years of age, his wife having died when sixty-five years old. They lived in this county during the pioneer days, experiencing all the hardships
and enjoying all the pleasures peculiar to such times in all new countries. The Indians still inhabited this part of the country when they came here, but were usually peacefully disposed, and in many instances proved to be good neighbors and friends. The woods were bountifully supplied with game, which many a time enabled the pioneer to live upon nutri- tious animal food, which would otherwise have been a difficult thing to accomplish. Both Mr. Brownell and his wife were Quakers in religion, and in their lives carried into practice the many beautiful tenets and princi- ples of that sect, which now appears to be so rapidly diminishing in numbers.
Asahel Wadsworth, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Connecticut, by occu- pation a farmer, and an early settler in the town of Lebanon. From the time of his settlement in that town he continued to reside therein until he was seventy years of age, when he removed to Onondaga County, and died there when eighty-four years of age, his wife dying at the age of eighty years, both being buried in the same grave. They were members of the old school Baptist church, and in politics he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party.
Alvin Wadsworth was reared and educated in the town of Eaton, his education being mainly acquired in the district school. Re- maining at home until he was twenty years of age, he then began life on his own account by working by the month, receiving ten dollars per month for two years, at the end of which time he took up a farm, his first purchase con-
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sisting of fifty acres of land in the town of Nelson. To this original purchase he added from time to time, until he at one time owned two hundred acres, but now owns only one hundred and twenty-five acres, upon which he carries on general farming and dairying, keep- ing from twenty-five to thirty cows. Resid- ing on his farm until 1872, he then removed to the village of West Eaton, though he still conducts his farm, and is making a specialty of raising hay, which crop, according to the statisticians, has become the leading one in the United States. Mr. Wadsworth was mar- ried in 1847 to Lovisa A. Hopkins, who was born in the town of Nelson, March 30, 1823, and was a daughter of Daniel Hopkins. She died June 2, 1862, at the age of thirty-nine, leaving four children, - namely, Lysetna S., Lucinda A., Orrilla M., and Gerry A., - all of whom are married. Mr. Wadsworth was mar- ried the second time January 17, 1863, to Miss Hattie A. Mackin, who was born in Sullivan County, July 27, 1844, and is a daughter of Webster and Caroline Mackin, both of whom were natives of Sullivan County. Mr. Mackin was a wealthy man, owning more than one thousand acres of land and being engaged in lumbering. Disposing of his property, he removed to the town of Nelson, purchased a farm, and was a prominent man there for many years. He and his wife reared a family of five daughters, namely : Emily M., wife of. Lucius H. Viele, of South Butler, N.Y .; Hattie A., wife of the subject of this sketch; Sarah C., wife of George G. Gros- venor, of Lebanon, N.Y .; Alice M., wife of
Henry C. Howe, of West Eaton, N. Y .; and Elizabeth E., wife of Warren J. English, of Buffalo, N.Y. Mr. Mackin died in the vil- lage of Norwich, Chenango County, when sixty-eight years of age, and Mrs. Mackin in the town of Nelson, when fifty-one years old. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he was a Republican. By his present wife Mr. Wads- worth has one son, A. DeWitt, born May 8, 1876, and who is at present a student in Col- gate Academy, Hamilton, N.Y.
Both Mr. Wadsworth and his wife are active and valuable members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and in 1875 was elected Assessor. He has filled this position until the present time, with the exception of one term, and was re- elected in the spring of 1893, his present term ending in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Wads- worth have a beautiful home in the village of West Eaton, are well - known people, and highly esteemed by all who know them.
ESSE WILSON HALL, a prominent resident and leading jeweller of Caze- novia, where he has been engaged in business for the last twenty-three years, was born in New Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., November 5, 1850. His father, also named Jesse W., was born in the town of Brookfield, Madison County, in 1810, and died in Caze- novia in 1874.
He was the son of Stephen Russell Hall of the town of Dracut, Middlesex County, Mass.,
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who was born in 1766, and married Hannah Wilson, of Rockingham County, New Hamp- shire. She was born in 1768, and was the daughter of Jesse Wilson, a son of Nathaniel. Stephen Russell Hall was converted to the Methodist faith about 1792; and his father, Ephraim Hall, a devout Baptist, was so dis- pleased with his son's apostasy that he dis- carded him. The latter removed to New Hamp- shire. and in 1803 to Brookfield, Madison County, N. Y., removing by team, and bring- ing with him his wife and family, which at the time he left Massachusetts consisted of six children. Three other children were afterward born to them. Four sons and three daughters attained maturity, of whom Jesse W., the father of our subject, was the youngest.
Soon after reaching his majority, Jesse W. Hall married Barbara T. Clarke, of Brook- field, a daughter of James and Sarah (Boone) Clarke, both of New Hampshire, and the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and came to Brookfield with his wife about 1808, settling on Clarke Hill. The father of James Clarke was also named James, and the maiden name of his wife was Barbara Tilling- hast. The marriage of Jesse W. Hall and Barbara T. Clarke occurred in Brookfield in 1832, where he followed his trade of carpenter and millwright for some years, and then moved to New Berlin, where Mrs. Hall died in 1854. Mr. Hall was again married, to Hannah (Brightman) Woodward, widow of Asa Woodward, of Brookfield; and in 1858 they removed to Cazenovia, where for eight years he was steward of the Cazenovia Semi-
nary. Her death occurred September 3, 1893, at her home in Cazenovia, when in her sev- enty-third year. She had resided in Caze- novia thirty-five years, and for two years before her death had been an invalid. She left many friends, and was much esteemed as an earnest and sincere Christian woman.
Jesse W. Hall is one of three surviving children, a brother, Ephraim Hall, having met his death by drowning at Fitch's Dam, when nineteen years of age. The other two children are: Lovisa, wife of William Ross, of Broome County; and Sarah Jane, wife of Rev. L. C. Queal, D.D., a prominent minis- ter of the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject received a good education at the Caze- novia Seminary, and in 1869, when in his nineteenth year, began to learn the jeweller's trade with John Greenland, for whom he worked one year, and then six years for W. H. Cruttenden. He resided in Sherburne one year, and in 1878 bought out the estate of John Greenland, then deceased. In his store, which he purchased in 1882, he has done a large and increasing business; for, although crippled in body since a child, he is possessed of intellectual abilities of a high order, is sagacious and enterprising in business mat- ters, and an expert workman at his trade. In fraternal matters he is an Odd Fellow in high standing, and in politics a Republican. That he enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow-townsmen is attested by the fact that he has served as Town Clerk for fifteen con- secutive years.
In 1880 Mr. Hall was married to Miss
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Lucy Nichols Bailey, daughter of Lewis and Mariette (Nichols) Bailey, both of Onondaga County. Lewis Bailey was born in Albany County, and died in Syracuse in 1860, when in the prime of life. His widow still sur- vives, at the age of sixty-nine, and is active and strong for her years. She resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hall. Mr. Hall is one of the successful and representative business men of Cazenovia; and both he and his estimable wife deservedly hold a high place in the regard of their fellow-citizens, and have the good will of all in the community in which their lot is cast.
BI A. PHIPPS, a retired farmer, living on his seven-acre farm in the village of Clockville, upon which he has resided for the past twenty-six years, was born in the town of Thompson, Windham County, Conn., in 1810. Like his ancestors for many generations back, farming has been his occupa- tion. Jason Phipps, his grandfather, died in Connecticut in May, 1817, when nearly eighty- two years of age. H. Phipps, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Thomp- son, Conn., in August, 1768, and died in Oppenheim, Fulton County, N. Y., in 1850, aged eighty-two. He was the third son of his parents, was a well-to-do farmer, and was one of the five Selectmen who transacted the busi- ness of his town. Besides being a farmer, he was a civil engineer and a skilful surveyor, and stood so high in the estimation of his fellow-men that they sent him to the Legis-
lature and elected him a Justice of the Peace, in which latter position he served more than twenty years, this office being then of much more importance and dignity than it is at the present time. He was also a conveyancer. In politics he was first a Federalist and then a Whig. He married Betsy Cloyes, of Fram- ingham, Mass., by whom he had nine chil- dren, seven of whom grew to mature years and four of whom are still living. Of those who have died, Paris M. died in February. 1848, aged forty-six; Elmer C., who was a farmer at Oppenheim, died August 16, 1889, aged eighty-two; and Lewis L., the youngest of the family, died at the age of twenty-one. D. H. Phipps, one of those still living, is a well-preserved old man, eighty-six years of age, living in Oneida, N.Y.
The boyhood of the subject of this sketch, and also his young manhood up to the time he was twenty years of age, were spent upon his father's farm. He was married first, when twenty-four years old, to Lydia Kibbie, daughter of Eldad Kibbie, of Oppenheim. They had two children, a son and daughter, the son dying when about nineteen years of age, and the daughter being the wife of James G. Messenger, living south of Peterboro, and having two sons and one daughter, one of the sons being a college graduate, and now a stu- dent at the Buffalo Medical College. The daughter was graduated at the age of nineteen, is a fine scholar, and a teacher at Glovers- ville. The mother of these children died in March, 1860, at the age of forty-nine; and Mr. Phipps was married the second time to
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Diana Hess, who lived with him twenty years, and died at his present home, April 3, 1880, aged fifty-seven. He was married the third time December 28, 1881, to M. Gena Park- ell, of Clockville, daughter of John T. and Helen Parkell, the former of whom is now in his ninetieth year, strong and healthy for a man of that age, and the latter of whom died in April, 1888, aged eighty years and six months. Mr. and Mrs. Phipps have buried one little girl, who died at the age of five months ; and they have two children living, - Alton A., in his seventh year, and Mary Alice, four years old. In politics Mr. Phipps is a Republican, having previously been a Whig. He served as Supervisor of Smithfield five years, and has served as Town Auditor four years in the town of Lenox. Though he never studied law, he has a fine legal mind, and has, by careful reading, gathered together a large fund of legal information; and, had his thoughts been turned in that direction, he would certainly have succeeded.
PRANK B. GILL, one of the most prom- inent general farmers of the town of Eaton, belongs to that large class of young men who are manifesting much wisdom in their choice of a calling. In devoting himself to agricultural pursuits, he is following what is not only one of the most useful and honor- able of vocations, but which is at the same time the most independent. Besides general farming, he has been for years interested in the growing of hops and in dairying, two of
the most profitable branches of agriculture in the State, which State is admittedly the lead- ing one in the Union in all three lines.
Mr. Gill is a son of Sumner Gill, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and who has for many years been re- garded as one of the leading citizens of Madi- son County. Frank B. Gill was born May 31, 1852, in the town of Smithfield. In his early youth his education was not neglected; for, besides attendance at the district schools, he was a student at the Normal School in Cortland, and afterward took a full course at the Utica Business College. So that he is well prepared for practical life and business in any direction. Remaining at home on the farm until 1876, he then married Rebecca Robinson, who was born in Ireland, and who died June 28, 1888, leaving a son, Edgar Gill, born January 6, 1883. In February, 1891, Mr. Gill married Miss Kittie L. Cook, who was born in Kenosha, Wis., and is a daughter of Gilbert and Jennie (Jones) Cook, both of whom are now deceased, the former dying in Wisconsin, and the latter in Cazeno- via, N. Y. After the death of her father Miss Cook came with her mother to Cazenovia, where she received an excellent education.
About the time of his marriage Mr. Gill purchased his first farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, to which he has since added from time to time, until he owns now two hundred and forty acres of land. Upon this fine farm, besides being interested in general farming, he grows about thirty acres of hops, and keeps a large herd of high-grade
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Holstein cows, believing this breed to be the best for general dairy purposes. His farm is well improved; and his buildings, which he himself erected, are much superior to the average farm buildings in their commodious- ness and in their substantial construction. In politics Mr. Gill has always been a Demo- crat, is well informed as to his party's poli- cies, principles, and history, and is sound in the faith. Fraternally, he is a member of Morrisville Lodge, No. 658, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Farmers' Grange. Socially, Mr. Gill is a most pleasant and genial gentle- man. He is popular among his fellow-citi- zens, and is highly regarded by all who know him, as is also his wife, who is an intelligent and accomplished lady. They attend the Congregational church in Morrisville, and are prominent in all local matters socially.
Edgar D. Gill, another son of Sumner Gill, is a young and enterprising general farmer of the town of Smithfield, owning the old home- stead of one hundred and fifty acres of land. He was born April 9, 1861 ; and, after secur- ing such education as was afforded by the dis- trict schools, he attended Cazenovia Seminary, and then took a course in the Syracuse Busi- ness College. Preferring the pursuit of agri- culture to a professional life, he turned his attention to farming, and has ever since been a general farmer, dairyman, and hop-grower, keeping from twenty to twenty-five high-grade Holstein cows, and having from twenty-five to thirty acres of hops. In all three lines he has been eminently successful, and is one of the most prosperous farmers in the county.
Mr. Gill was married, November 11, 1891, to Miss Hattie E. Smith, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., July 12, 1871, and is a daughter of Leonard and Cora Smith, well- known people of that city. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Episcopal church. Politi- cally, Mr. Gill is a Democrat, and, frater- nally, is a member of Morrisville Lodge, No. 658, A. F. & A. M.
ILLIAM A. TIFT, a retired farmer, still making his home on his farm, was born in Oneida County, March 11, 1833, and is a son of Amazia and Martha (Pierce) Tift, the former of whom resided in Oneida County until 1837, when he removed to Madi- son County, and bought the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides, it con- taining sixty acres of land. Amazia Tift was a general farmer, and lived on his farm until his death, at the age of sixty-three years, his wife having died at the age of thirty-four. Both were born in 1810. He was a success- ful man, and was highly esteemed by all for the general worth of his character and for his ability. In politics he sustained the princi- ples of the Republican party after its organi- zation in 1853. He and his wife reared two sons, William A. and James Alfred, the latter of whom enlisted to fight for the flag of his country in the Tenth New York Cavalry, and was killed when he was about twenty-five years of age.
The father of Amazia Tift was Jonathan Tift, a native of Connecticut, who about
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1800 removed with ox-teams to the State of New York, and settled in Oncida County, crecting a log house. Wild beasts and game were at that time abundant ; but Mr. Tift was a most successful pioneer hunter, and was thus enabled to protect his domestic animals from the ravages of wild beasts and to supply his table with the best of animal food. Be- sides being a successful hunter, he was also one of the most prominent farmers of his day, . and was a mechanic as well, so that he was in every way fitted for an independent life in a new country, being able to do everything needed on the farm and in the shop. In poli- tics he was a Whig, and a most reliable, hon- orable man. He and his wife reared three sons and two daughters, one of the daughters, Lydia A., being a resident of Waterville. He died suddenly on his farm, at the age of eighty-four, never having been sick a day in his life. His wife died when about eighty years of age.
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