USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 43
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Mr. Stansbury was married July 11, 1892,
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to Miss Bertha Nash, of Clockville, a daugh- ter of F. R. Nash and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Bosworth. Mr. Nash is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stansbury have a charming infant daughter, Ruth B., born March 26, 1893. Mrs. Stansbury has one brother, Burt Nash, of Norwich, N. Y., and a half-sister, Mary, wife of Thomas Lunn. The mother of Mrs. Stansbury came from England, when she was eleven months old, in 1838, with her parents, Obediah and Hannah (Vials) Bosworth, who settled in Chenango County, where they followed farming for a livelihood. Our subject belongs to the Sons of Veterans, and in his political views is a Republican, though he comes of Democratic ancestry. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in which they are active workers; and both have made for themselves many warm friends in the community in which they live, and are numbered among the useful, enterprising, and worthy citizens of their county.
DGAR L. BEEBE, a progressive farmer and extensive cheese manufacturer, re- siding at Nelson Flats, was born April 26, 1848, in the town of Eaton, son of Wicome and Julia (Stewart) Beebe. His grandfather Beebe was at one time a resident of the town of Fenner. His maternal grandfather, Charles Stewart, a native of Connecticut, came from that State to Madison County, settling first in the town of Fenner, and from there re- moving to the village of Eaton, being among the early settlers of the town. He was a car-
penter, and worked at his trade, and also owned and cultivated a large farm. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, Betsey Rockwell, lived to the age of seventy-five years. They were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Beebe was their only child.
Wicome Beebe grew to manhood in the town of Fenner, where he learned and fol- lowed the trade of carpenter, but, like Itis father, also carried on farming, as was the rule with all the settlers. For a few years after his marriage he occupied his farm in the town of Fenner, but later bought one about a mile north of West Eaton, where he lived for twenty years, then moved to the town of Nelson, and bought the Reuben Cook farm. After remaining here for fifteen years, he went to Erieville and spent his last days, dying in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife is still living in Erieville, about seventy-three years old. Of their fam- ily of six children, four are now living : Charles, a farmer, residing in Nelson; Cor- nelia, Mrs. James Mantel, and Herbert, living in Erieville; and Edgar L. Mr. and Mrs. Wicome Beebe were members of the Metho- dist church, and the father was a strong sup- porter of the Democratic party.
Edgar L., the third child and second son, was brought up in the town of Eaton, at- tended the district schools of the place, and remained on the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He learned the trade of butter and cheese making, and has owned factories in Madison and Chenango Counties. In 1879 he disposed of half his interest in the factory,
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and bought the old Reuben Cook farm, which his father had owned in the town of Nelson, and which consisted of two hundred and twenty-four acres. Here he carried on farm- ing on a large scale. He also bought and sold stock to quite an extent, and carried on a dairy of twenty-five cows, principally Hol- stein cattle. After living five years on the Cook farm, in 1884 he purchased the Whit- ney estate, and now gives his attention to his three cheese factories - two in the town of Nelson and one in the town of Fenner. Mr. Beebe's farm consists of ninety-four acres of productive land, on which are good buildings, with all necessary adjuncts and appliances. It may be mentioned as an evidence of his will- ingness to give new things a trial that Mr. Beebe built the first silo in the town of Nelson. Under the firm name of English & Beebe for a few years he did quite a business in eggs, pickling from ten to fifteen thousand dozen.
He married November 22, 1871, Miss Ella Williams, who was born in Williams Corners in the town of Eaton, April 6, 1851, daughter of Sumner and Sophina (Bailey) Williams. Mr. Williams was a prominent business man of his day. He carried on an extensive tan- nery, and a shoe-store, at Williams Corners, which was named in honor of the family. Mr. Williams was but thirty-five years old when he died. His widow still resides at Nelson Flats, aged seventy-five years. They had three children, all of whom are living : Mrs. Beebe, wife of our subject; Mary, Mrs. Albert Martin, residing in Erieville; and
Elijah, living in the town of Nelson. Mr. Williams was in politics a Republican, and he and his wife were Methodists in their religious belief and connections.
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar 1 .. Beebe have no chil- dren. They reside in their beautiful home at Nelson Flats, surrounded by a host of friends, and are deservedly esteemed. They are ac- tive and influential members of the Metho- dist church, interested in all its good work. As to his political affiliations, Mr. Beebe is a follower of Thomas Jefferson - a sound and thorough Democrat. He is among the fore- most in his ideas and methods of farm work, devoting much thought to the science of agri- culture. He is Master of the Farmers' Grange, No. 615, at Nelson.
UGUSTUS E. BURHYTE, a thriv- ing farmer, of South Brookfield, a noted breeder of carriage horses, was born in North Brookfield, N. Y., February 2, 1853. His grandfather, a tailor by trade, came to this country from Germany. His father, Egbert Burhyte, who was born at Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y., was educated in the district schools, and trained to farming pursuits.
When he was twenty-one years old, he mar- ried Miss Pauline Marsh, by whom he had a family of seven children. He died when he had scarcely reached middle life. Some years after the father's death his widow married a Mr. Crocker, by whom she had no children. She is still living in North Brookfield, N. Y.
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Left fatherless when but six years of age, Augustus E. Burhyte remained at home with his mother until twenty-one years of age, being educated in the schools of the town, and as soon as able to work assisting his mother in the management of the farm. When he reached manhood, he was united in marriage to Miss Alicia, daughter of Welcome and Gracia Dennison. She was from New Berlin, N. Y .; but the parents were formerly from Connecticut. This couple had but one child, Earle D., whom they had the misfortune to lose by death at an early age. After two years of marriage the young wife died on the 3d of July, 1878. The second wife of Mr. Burhyte was Miss Jessie Crego, who was a resident of Columbus, Chenango County, at the time of her marriage, but was a native of South Brookfield, N. Y. They have two chil- dren, Egbert L. and Bessie E. The grand- father of Mrs. Burhyte was a native of Herkimer, N. Y., and an early settler in the town. Her mother was one of a family of fourteen children. Her people were pioneers of New Berlin, Chenango County.
The farm on which our subject now resides is one of two hundred and forty-three acres, of which a large number are devoted to the culture of hops. He also carries on a dairy of twenty-two cows, yielding about eight hun- dred pounds of milk per day. He has a wide- spread reputation for his success in raising stock, and his farm is a Mecca for buyers of sound and reliable carriage horses. Some of the finest in the county have come from his place. Mr. Burhyte is a leading, model
farmer of the town; and what he undertakes is generally understood to be a guaranteed success from the first. He is a Free and Accepted Mason, and is also a member of the Grangers. He has not always resided at his present home, having lived for two years in North Brookfield. He is a man who gives close attention to his farm work. His beauti- ful home and its surroundings are sufficient evidence of what he has accomplished in years of industry. The family attend the Baptist church, and are loyally devoted to its teach- ings. The principles of the Republican party meet the approval of Mr. Burhyte, and find in the county no more consistent or warmer sup- porter than he. A sketch of his brother, Dr. O. W. Burhyte, a leading physician of Madi- son County, appears elsewhere in this volume.
ATRICK F. MILMOE, editor and proprietor of the Canastota Journal and the Canastota Bee, has for seven years been prominently connected with jour- nalisin in Madison County. As to the great importance of journalism to the general pub- lic there can be no doubt or question. It is not, strictly speaking, a modern art; for it dates back to ancient Rome, when the Acta Diurna, an official gazette, probably the earli- est approach to a newspaper, first appeared. Since then the newspaper has gradually grown up in all civilized countries to be a most powerful political and social engine, diffusing information on all subjects of interest, and acting on the public mind, especially in times
IRA SHEPARD.
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of excitement, to an immeasurable degree. It is in this great and important field of labor that the subject of this sketch is honorably engaged.
Mr. Milmoe was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, in 1860, and is a son of Michael Milmoe, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States when a young man, and here followed his trade - that of a stone- cutter - for several years. After his mar- riage to Mary Wheeler, of Cornwall, Ontario, he bought a farm, and has followed that occu- pation to the present time. Patrick F. Mil- moe, the eldest of ten children, was reared upon his father's farm; and, as his labor was required to assist in paying therefor, his edu- cation was during his boyhood limited to that acquired in the district school. When about twenty years of age, he entered the Ogdensburg Free Academy, and was in at- tendance there two years, during which time he contributed to the columns of the Ogdens- burg Advance. Upon leaving the academy, he went into the office of that paper, and remained there until April 1, 1887, when he removed to Canastota, and purchased the Can- astota Journal, which paper he has since owned and edited. In June, 1892, he pur- chased the Canastota Bee ; and since then he has conducted both papers.
Mr. Milmoe was married August 5, 1891, to Miss Margaret E. Mooney, of Ithaca, N. Y. She is a graduate of Cornell University (1885), and for the past six years has been Preceptress of the Canastota Academy. She is one of Canastota's leading society ladies, is
a most successful teacher, and presides over her household with becoming dignity and grace. Mr. Milmoe is a loyal Republican, and is a member of the New York Press Asso- ciation. In his editorial work he is earnestly laboring to give the readers of his two papers, which circulate largely among intelligent people, the most accurate information obtain- able, and to teach them the correct principles of politics and political economy, knowing full well that it is only truth that can lead to satisfactory results.
Mr. Milmoe in 1892 was elected a mem- ber of the Village Board of Trustees, and is now in office, his term of two years not having yet expired. The Bee is a local paper, whose influence is exerted for the good of the com- munity, its editor being one of the foremost in encouraging and aiding enterprises calcu- lated to benefit the village and the adjoining country.
RA SHEPARD, a New Yorker of New England stock, who after many years of active industry is now at the sunset of life, enjoying the restful quiet of his pleasant home in Oneida, was born in Paris, Oneida County, June 19, 1807. His father, Asa Shepard, was born in Connecticut. Reuben Shepard, a farmer, father of Asa, was probably a native of the same State, being known to have emigrated thence, and to have been one of the pioneer settlers of New Hartford, Oneida County, where the re- maining years of his life were passed. Com- ing to this State when a young? man, Asa
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Shepard bought a considerable tract of land in the town of Paris, and devoted himself energetically to its improvement. Removing about the year 1827 to Oswego County, he spent his last years in the town of Volney. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Gilbert, was born in Connecticut, and died in Oswego County, New York. She had been twice married, and had reared ten chil- dren, nine sons and one daughter.
The subject of this sketch well remembers when much of this part of the Empire State was a virgin wilderness, when there were. neither railroads nor canals to facilitate jour- neying and transportation. He was early familiar with the healthful toil and the hard- ships as well as the pleasurable pursuits of pioneer life. Naturally, his first work was on his father's farm. This he left at about the age of fourteen to become a millwright, at which trade he served an apprenticeship of five years, and afterward worked two years. At the end of this time he purchased a mill in the town of Lenox, which he operated for about twenty years. He next engaged suc- cessfully for a number of years in the malting business in Oneida. He now lives retired from all these activities, enjoying the fruits of his early and long-continued toil.
In 1833 Mr. Ira Shepard married Mary Avery, a native of Paris, Oneida County, who died in 1870, leaving four daughters, only one of whom, Julia A., now survives to cheer the darkened home and minister to her father's needs in his declining years. The others, who have followed their mother
to the Silent Land, were Mary E., Susan, and Sophia, all of whom were married and had children. Mr. Shepard always votes the Republican ticket, but has taken no further part in politics, having never held office.
The accompanying portrait of Mr. Shepard is that of a man who lagged only a little behind the century in coming into the world, and whose physical and mental strength give him fair promise, if one may venture so to speak of anything so uncertain as the tenure of life, of seeing the century through. The fourscore and six full years of his pilgrim- age which he can now look back upon have been years of wonderful achievement, such as the world never saw before. And he has done his part.
PRANK VANE, a retired business man, has been a resident of Oneida since 1857. His father, Frank Vane, lived in Montreal, Canada, and was a farmer by occupation. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Brooks. She died when about sixty-five years of age, and he at the age of forty-four. They were the parents of three children, namely: Frank; Mary, deceased; and Joseph, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio.
Frank Vane, the subject of this notice, was born near Montreal, Canada, December 29, 1828, was brought up on a farm, and was edu- cated at the common schools in the French language. When eighteen years old, he went to Upper Canada, and there worked in the woods in the lumbering business for one year. He was early thrown upon his own resources
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because of the death of his father, which occurred in 1840; but his experience in early life, which he then considered very severe, was in reality what made him a successful man. After the year spent in the woods of Upper Canada he returned to his old home, his mother having married again, her second husband being John Provo. Remaining at home until 1849, he then removed to Troy, N. Y., and the same year to Canastota. In 1857 he removed from that place to Oneida, where, as previously stated, he has resided ever since. Upon his arrival in Madison County he engaged in cutting timber and in lumbering for a considerable time. Subse- quently he worked on different farms, and in this way succeeded in getting together some money, with which he made a start in life for himself.
Having but little knowledge of the English language, it was necessary for him to acquire it; and many a night was passed by him in its study. At length he decided to learn the trade of carriage-maker, and served an appren- ticeship of three years at Canastota, when, having fully mastered every detail of the busi- ness, he went to work in the same place, remaining there some time, and afterward went to Munnsville, where he remained from July, 1856, until March 14, 1857. He then removed permanently to Oneida, and was engaged at his trade until 1861, when the Civil War caused him to lay down his tools and take up arms in defence of his adopted country. Having considerable knowledge of military tactics from his connection with a
military company for some years, he began recruiting a company, which was one of the finest bodies of men in the service. It was known as the Oneida Independent Cavalry. Mr. Vane became Second Lieutenant of this company, was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and served until June 14, 1865. His company, which was a most remarkable body of men, was in constant demand for spe- cial duty, and was a component part of the Army of the Potomac. The individual mem- bers were variously employed, but always where special bravery or unusual intelligence was required. Some of them served as staff officers, others as special messengers, others as bearers of special despatches on the field of battle and at other times when there was less danger. Lieutenant Vane had an unusually varied experience in the army, and knows much about war in all its phases, having wit- nessed and participated in all the principal battles of the Army of the Potomac.
When mustered out of the service, he returned to Oneida and resumed work at his trade, but soon realized that his health and endurance had been much weakened, and that his former splendid physical constitution would no longer stand the strain of hard work as before the war. He therefore reluctantly abandoned his trade, and in 1866 bought a billiard hall, later engaging in the hotel business. Being a popular and successful landlord, he made money in the latter busi- ness, and in 1887 sold out, and has since lived in the main a retired life.
Mr. Vane was married in 1876 to Frankie
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Saltsman, a daughter of Peter W. and Mary (Fox) Saltsman, who soon afterward died; and he then married Mary Saltsman, a sister of his first wife. Politically, Mr. Vane is a Republican, and is an intelligent observer of the tendency of the parties which from time to time strive for the suffrages of the Ameri- can people. Fraternally, he is a Mason, be- longing to Oneida Lodge, No. 270, to Doric Chapter, No. 193, and to Rome Command- ery, No. 45. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to John R. Stewart Post, No. 174. Few men, if any, are more highly respected by the entire com- munity than he, not only for his success in business, but also for his excellent character as a private citizen, his splendid record as a patriot soldier during the War of the Rebel- lion, and his attention to the necessities of the old soldiers since the war came to such a happy conclusion for the people of the United States and the world at large, preserv- ing, as it did, the liberties of the individual, and extending so materially the blessings of liberty to a large number of human beings long held in cruel and unjust bondage.
ELEG STANBRO, a late citizen of Brookfield, long venerated for prac- tical wisdom, integrity, and con- stant acts of kindness, was born in Cortland County, New York, February 12, 1817, and died at his home in Brookfield, October 13, 1893. By loving hands his remains were laid to rest in the Brookfield cemetery.
When a man has illuminated his whole life by acts of benevolence, earning for himself from the whole community the endearing title of "uncle," the writing of his biography is truly a pleasant task.
Far back in the early part of last century John Stanbro, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, having grown to manhood in Connecticut, the State of his birth, came to New York, settling first in Plainfield, Otsego County, being a pioneer of the town. Later he removed to Cortland County, where he resided until his death.
Peleg Stanbro, the first of the name of whom record is here made, a son of the immi- grant, after his education in the public schools pursued farming, and, when he was eighteen years of age, purchased his time from his father, and hired out by the month. This continued for twelve years, when he went to Brookfield, N.Y., and became a dealer in real estate, owning several large farms. His first wife was Miss Rhoda Collins, born in Rhode Island. They reared eight children : Peleg, Jr., characterized in the opening para- graph above; Rhoda Jane; Hannah Serene; Joseph C .; Mariette; Joshua F .; William; Hoxie. The mother died in Brookfield, and Mr. Stanbro's second wife was Miss Laura Burdick. She died in the town of Brookfield, of which she was a native. The father then resided with his eldest son, Peleg, Jr., until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-eight.
Peleg Stanbro, son of the elder Peleg and grandson of John Stanbro, received but a
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brief common-school education, and before the age of twenty had been initiated into the work of farm life. When he reached his majority, he learned the carpenter's trade, and remained working for an uncle for three years. After this he went to Illinois as a commercial traveller, but soon returned to Brookfield, N. Y., and at the age of twenty- four married Miss Bathsheba Kenyon, daugh- ter of Gideon and Sarah Kenyon, who, like himself, were Quakers.
At this time he bought a farm of two hun- dred and fifty acres in the town of Brookfield, beginning his married life with only. four hundred dollars in cash, but a princely fort- une in the possession of a thrifty, able wife, and his own stock of indomitable will and perseverance.
He soon paid for his farm, and lived on it in a simple dwelling for twenty-five years, moving then into a beautiful new residence, which he supposed would be his home for the remainder of his life, but which the fire fiend laid in ashes, destroying in a single day the fruits of his years of toil. Nothing daunted, however, by this misfortune, with his habit- ual hopefulness and energy he set about building another house upon the same site - a lofty hill, overlooking all the surrounding country.
He continued to buy land until he was the owner of a farm of four hundred and sixty- seven acres, finely improved, with all neces- sary buildings, besides various other pieces of property in West Brookfield.
About five years ago his greatest sorrow
came to him in the death of his wife, who was called away March 22, 1888.
Mr. Stanbro always clung to the Quaker faith, finding strength and comfort in its doc- trines of peace, its teachings of simple good- ness of life. In no more marked way did he show his greatest trait, benevolence, than in his kindness to orphans. Having no children of his own, his home was ever open to the fatherless and motherless; and in three cases he took and reared children, providing them with ways and means to make their own liv- ing in the world. One young man who expe- rienced his generosity is now married, and is a prosperous farmer in Iowa. Another grate- ful beneficiary, who was taken by him and his wife into their home when only three weeks old, and there grew to womanhood, superin- tended his household after the death of his wife, and gave him in his declining years the loving care and devotion of a daughter. Her mother was Mrs. Jane Greene. Five years ago she was married to Mr. Henry Dyball, who, with Mr. Stanbro's nephew and name- sake, Peleg S. Jennings, now carries on the farm.
Others besides these already mentioned were the recipients of Mr. Stanbro's bounty, among them a Miss Carter and a Miss Cham- plain, who had a home in his family for many years. He was never known to deny aid and comfort to the worthy unfortunate and dis- heartened, but, on the contrary, was always the first to help such as these by encouraging words and kind deeds.
"Uncle Peleg" he was familiarly called,
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and well deserved the affectionate appellation, being practically so near akin to all. He was Commissioner of Highways for fourteen years. At the time Mr. Stanbro was ap- pointed to this position the townspeople were about determined to abolish the office, as it was considered useless. He soon demon- strated the fallacy of this view by showing the necessity of good, substantial bridges; and during his time of office he built an iron bridge over every stream in the town, fourteen in all, which are pointed out by his townspeople as a monument of his sagacious energy. He always voted the Republican ticket, and repeatedly served as Inspector of Elections. He was a man of rare intelli- gence, having an especially fine library, in which he took great pride and pleasure. He was an honor to his town, where he was re- vered and beloved by all, and where his fra- grant memory will long be cherished. His inward light shone clear. He walked with unfaltering steps in the narrow way the "faithful fathers knew."
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