USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 46
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C. B., who married Miss Eunice Gill, and has one child; Melvin, who is unmarried. Franklin James died at the age of twenty - four, and two other children died in infancy.
Although of Irish descent, Mr. Marshall proves his English ancestry by strongly up- holding English laws. His grandfather was an Orangeman, and very prominent as a par- ticipator in the Irish Rebellion. Mr. Mar- shall keeps himself abreast of the times, and well posted in the political affairs of the country. He is a deep reader, and spends many hours in his amply filled library of excellent works. In his political affiliations he is a stanch. Democrat.
ILLIAM A. JOHNSTON, a practi- cal and successful farmer, living in the town of Lenox, Madison County, was born in the town of Smithfield, March 17, 1836. His father, Alexander Johnston, was born in Ireland, and was brought to this country by his parents when three years old. He was a son of Samuel Johnston and his wife (a Miss Thompson before marriage), who were the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom have now passed away. With the exception of one of the daughters, all became heads of families.
Alexander Johnston married Lois Mathew- son, of Smithfield, daughter of Winchester and Abigail (Swift) Mathewson, the former of whom was a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of Connecticut. They were mar- ried February 9, 1832, he at the age of
twenty-nine, she at nineteen; and they spent their married lives on their one-hundred-acre farm in the town of Smithfield, which they purchased of Gerrit Smith, paying therefor twenty-five dollars per acre. The timber which covered the farm at the time of pur- chase Mr. Johnston cut down and cleared off, burning it up, for the most part, to get it out of the way, but selling some of it for fifty cents per cord to the glass works in Peter- boro. Beginning life without cash capital, Mr. Johnston by industry and wise manage- ment acquired a good fortune. He and his wife reared a family of eight children, namely: Abigail, widow of James N. Green, living near the old home in the town of Smithfield; Mary Ann, who died at the age of sixteen, in 1850 ; William A., the subject of this sketch; Eliashib, a wheat - buyer of Ashton, Spink County, So. Dak .; Winches- ter, living on the old farm; Isabella, wife of Anderson Johnston, of Peterboro; Barton, a bachelor, living on the old homestead; and Marshall, who died in 1873, at the age of twenty-four, leaving two sons, merchants in Peterboro. The father of these children died August 25, 1850, at the age of forty-seven ; and the mother, after living a widow thirty- five years and having successfully reared and educated her children, died August 31, 1885. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church, and were earnest, consistent Christian people. They were laid to rest in the cemetery at Peterboro.
William A. Johnston was reared at home to farm life and labor, and, being the eldest
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son, was obliged to work hard in his early boyhood and youth. His education was re- ceived in the district schools, which he was able to attend only in the winter season. A universal feature of pioneer life seldom men- tioned in these memoirs, but which Mr. John- ston well remembers, was the wide, open fireplace, where cooking was done in a big black iron pot hanging on a crane over the fire. Victuals cooked in this way were, as Mr. Johnston now remembers, more palatable to the taste than any that he has eaten since. The food was of his mother's cooking, and was eaten with the appetite of youth. On August 16, 1862, Mr. Johnston left home to defend the flag of his country against armed rebellion, as a member of Company A, First New York Light Artillery, under Captain Bates, the company being known as Bates's Battery. After serving nearly three years, he was honorably discharged June 28, 1865, having been promoted from the ranks to a sergeancy. In his war experience Mr. John- ston was more than ordinarily fortunate, not being sick, wounded, or taken prisoner, al- though he had a narrow escape from capture at Chambersburg, Pa., when that place was burned by the rebels.
Mr. Johnston married March 17, 1869, Miss Mary Allen, daughter of George and Arvilla (Whitman) Allen, the former of Rhode Island, and the latter born on the farm upon which she died October 24, 1884, aged seventy-nine, her husband having died in 1851, at the age of fifty years. By trade Mr. Allen was a carpenter, and came, when
yet a young man, from Rhode Island to Madi- son County, where he married Fannie Pratt, August 30, 1825, who died of consumption July 30, 1828, leaving a son and a daughter. The son died at the age of seventeen, and the daughter at the age of twenty-two years. De- cember 24, 1829, Mr. Allen married Arvilla Whitman, by whom he had four children, and reared two sons and one daughter - Mrs. Johnston. John Milton, the eldest son, died at the age of twenty-six, leaving four chil- dren, of whom two are still living: Charles Milton, a manufacturer in Fulton; and John T., a carpenter, of Syracuse. Myron Stuart Allen, the younger son, now of Delphi, Onondaga County, married Miss Flaville Tucker, a sister of O. J. Tucker. They have four children, the eldest, John B., being a physician of Woodstock.
Before marriage Mrs. Johnston attended Oneida and Cazenovia Seminaries, and later taught school three terms, beginning when seventeen years old. She was married at twenty years of age. The house in which she now lives was erected in 1813 by Asa Randall, and for a house eighty years old is still in a remarkably good state of preserva- tion. The farm on which this house stands was purchased by Mrs. Johnston's father in 1849, and she has lived upon it since she was three months old. The memories therewith connected are of the most sacred character to Mrs. Johnston; for it was long the home of her mother, who was a widow for thirty-three years, an invalid the last fifteen, and was the place where her father and her mother's
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father, John Whitman, spent their last days. Mrs. Johnston's maternal grandfather, John Whitman, was a son of Valentine and Barbara (Olin) Whitman, of Rhode Island. He mar- ried Mary James, and came with her first to Vermont, and thence to New York, where their first child was born in ISO1, the father being at that time only twenty years old. They became the parents of thirteen children. Mr. John Whitman died in 1862, when eighty-two years old. His wife died in 1853, aged seventy-two. He was a most remark- able man in many ways, and at the time of his death was worth some twenty-five thou- sand dollars. So much confidence had the people in him that they elected him to vari- ous positions of honor and trust, in every one of which, including those of Justice of the Peace and Representative in the State Assembly, he acquitted himself creditably and with satisfaction to all concerned. His wife's father, Mrs. Johnston's maternal great- grandfather, James, a farmer in good circum- stances, died at his daughter's home in 1814, a very aged man. He left eight children, of whom Mrs. Johnston's grandmother was the third child.
The subject of this sketch, William A. Johnston, has never failed to vote the Repub- lican ticket. In his farming, though he has not accumulated a fortune, he has been suc- cessful, and has justly acquired the reputation of being a most worthy citizen of the great republic. Not being blessed with children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston take great interest in the children of other people.
especially in their education, and are always ready to contribute to their happiness and advancement. Mrs. Johnston presides over her home with grace and dignity.
AMES B. NASH was born at Alex- andria Bay, Jefferson County, N. Y., June 27, 1856. His grandfather, Na- than Nash, was originally from Vermont, and first settled in Hamilton, subsequently remov- ing to Jefferson County, at which time the father of our subject, Timothy, was but a boy. He died at Alexandria Bay. Tim- othy Nash was a sailor, and, although his home was at the Bay, followed his vocation on the Northern Lakes, as master of a mer- chantman. The last vessel he commanded was the "Volunteer," which foundered in a terrible gale in 1869, all hands, including the captain, being lost. He left a wife and two children, James and Alida. The mother's name before marriage was Miss Caroline Smith, and she died at Alexandria Bay in I876.
Our subject was but thirteen years old when his father met his tragic death, and, being thrown on his own resources to make his way in the world, started out as cabin-boy in a vessel on the lakes, working his way up from the ranks, until at the age of nineteen he received his commission from the United States government as pilot. The first boat he ran. holding this position, was the "G. B. Farrington," which continued for one season, and then the "Wanwinet " and others for the
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next six years. Tiring by this time of the water, and embracing an opportunity to com- mence farming, he removed to Brookfield, Madison County, N.Y.
His first wife was Miss Mary Funk, who lived only three years after her marriage. He then married Mrs. Lucia Talcott, daugh- ter of J. V. R. Livermore, of Brookfield, Madison County. They have one child, Zil- lah. Mrs. Nash was previously married to Mr. Denslow H. Talcott, who died in Brook- field, leaving her with two children, William and Lulu. Lulu was graduated from the Brookfield Academy in June, 1892, carrying off its highest honors, and has since taken a course of stenography and typewriting at Keuka College, Yates County, New York. She is very talented, and bids fair to be a bright business woman. Her brother Will- iam finished at the Rochester Business Col- lege, and is now a telegraph operator in Greene, Chenango County, N. Y., employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company. Alida, the sister of Mr. Nash, married a Mr. Burdick, and lives near her brother.
In early manhood Mr. Nash became iden- tified with the Masonic fraternity, and be- longs to Sanger Lodge, No. 129, the Veiled Prophets of Hamilton, N. Y., also to Lodge No. 632, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Brookfield. Politically, he is a Democrat. He and his family are earnest members of the Baptist church.
Mr. Nash began life a poor boy, but worked his way up from the humble position of
cabin-boy to the high one of first pilot, and by his carefulness and capability won an en- viable reputation. The same integrity and strict attention which he gave while on lake service he has brought into his affairs on land, and his energy and industrious habits have brought about a productive result for his labor on the farm. He has remodelled the houses on the place, and has proven himself an adept in the vocation he has chosen. In all matters pertaining to the improvement of his town he shows an active interest, and is looked upon as a model citizen in every sense of the word.
A. RISLEY was born, March 14, 1848, in the town of Hamilton, N. Y., where he abides at this day -a use- ful and respected citizen, a thriving farmer. His grandfather, Benjamin Risley, and his father, Elijah, were natives of Glastonbury, Conn., the former having spent his whole life there. Elijah Risley came to New York State in 1823, making the journey on foot. Working at his trade, carpentering, he earned money, and bought the farm now occupied by his sons. He was twice married, his first wife being the mother of eight children; namely, Cyrus, Irvin, Marion, Matilda, Good- rich, George, Albert, and Luman. By his second wife, Amanda Allen, a native of En- field, Conn., daughter of James and Eunice (Clark) Allen, he had two sons, J. A. and Romaine. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Risley both died at their home in the town of Hamilton. James Allen was a son of Ebenezer and Chloe
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(Osborne) Allen. The father and son were farmers and lifelong residents of Connecticut. The Allen homes were at Enfield and East Windsor. Mrs. Elijah Risley's mother, Eunice Clark, was a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Davis) Clark.
J. A. Risley received his education in the district schools of his native town, and began to work while quite young on the home farm, the same now conducted by him and his brother Romaine in partnership, which under their excellent management has become one of the finest farms of the town. At the age of twenty-eight years our subject was married to Miss Nellie Kinney; and their union has been happily blessed with one son, Allen. In their religious views Mr. and Mrs. Risley adhere to the tenets of the Methodist church, of which they are earnest members, showing the beauty and value of their faith in their lives. Just as honest and consistent are Mr. Risley's opinions and doings in politics, he being persuaded that the leadership of the Republican party is essential to the safety and prosperity of the country.
Mr. Risley's brother Romaine was married, when he was twenty-eight years old, to Miss Ada Crandall, a daughter of John and Sedana (Fuller) Crandall. The great - grandfather and grandfather of Mrs. Romaine Risley, on her mother's side, who were each named Joseph Fuller, came from East Haddam, Conn. The senior married Miss Mary Briggs, and his son married Miss Sarah Bon- ney. An aunt of Mrs. Risley, Mrs. Matilda Fuller, who in her seventy years has seen
five generations of the Risley family, now makes her home with Mrs. Romaine Risley. The brothers Risley are well known and highly esteemed citizens of their town, being men of ability and push, farmers in prosper- ous circumstances, who, asking favors of no man, have won success by hard work, good judgment, and indomitable persever- ance. The noble example of diligence and fortitude given them by their father in sus- taining the hardships of pioneer life has, no doubt, been of material benefit to them, as the competence acquired by his years of in- dustry has not been idly frittered away, but has been largely increased under their judi- cious administration.
Mr. and Mrs. Romaine Risley are the parents of two children: Luella, eight years of age; and James A., aged six. These chil- dren and their cousin Allen, the son of Mr. James Risley, are remarkably bright and promising, and are the centre of affection and the pride of their parents. Safe to say, no happier homes are known throughout the county than those of the Risley brothers. As people of real worth, these families hold an enviable position in the society of their town, and as hosts are proverbial for their gener- ous hospitality.
B EARD LEAVENWORTH. Among the prominent and successful gen- eral merchants of the village of Eaton is Mr. Beard Leavenworth, who carries on a very prosperous business, having every article needed in a store of the kind in such
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a village. Although Mr. Leavenworth is now nearly seventy years of age, he is still as actively engaged as when a younger man. He was born in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Conn., August 6, 1824, and is a son of David B. Leavenworth, a Connecticut farmer and a native of that State. When past middle life, he went to Illinois with his son, Birdseye, and died in that State at the age of seventy- eight, his wife, Sarah, dying in Ohio at about the same age. They reared a family of nine children, two of whom still survive, namely: Sarah, who resides at No. 408 West Adams Street, Sandusky, Ohio, and is the wife of Charles Ryan, who has been an extensive lumber dealer; and the subject of this sketch.
Beard Leavenworth left his native county at the age of nine years, going in a canal-boat from Albany to Syracuse, N. Y., where he learned the cutlery business, following that line some ten years. March 22, 1849, when the gold fever was running very high, he, like many another ambitious, aspiring young man, went to California, making the voyage by way of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, crossing the Isthmus of Panama. While in California, he was engaged in the clothing business for two years, but in 1852 returned to his native State, and engaged in selling goods for his brother, David B. Leavenworth, in Smyrna until 1856.
He was married in 1857 to Catharine Coman, who was born in the town of Eaton in 1835, and is the daughter of Ellis and Sophronia Coman, who were among the first settlers of the town of Eaton, Mr. Coman
being one of the first merchants of the village of Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Coman had two children : Mrs. Leavenworth; and a son, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Coman died in the village of Eaton when seventy-three years of age, and his wife at the age of eighty. In politics. he was a Republican, and a most exemplary man throughout his life. Since his death Mr. Leavenworth has carried on the business left by his father-in- law, the house being one of the oldest in the place. He keeps a general store, and carries a complete stock of goods. The business transacted is very large, he being strictly honorable in his dealings and possessing the confidence of all.
Mr. and Mrs. Leavenworth have had two children, only one of whom is now living, Lucian Coman, who was born in 1859, and is engaged in a clothing store at Syracuse, N.Y. Ellis B., a bright and promising boy, died when ten years old. Mrs. Leavenworth is a consistent member of the Congregational church. In politics Mr. Leavenworth is a Republican, but has never been an office- seeker.
ROFESSOR AARON WHITE, at present occupying the chair of Math- ematics at Cazenovia Seminary, was born in the town of Paris, Oneida County, N.Y., September 18, 1824. His lineage has been traced through several generations of Americans to English ancestors. The first known member of the family in America was Elder John White. Neither the time nor
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the place of his birth can be named with cer- tainty. It is supposed that he came from Chelmsford, England. The earliest knowledge of him is as a passenger in the ship "Lyon," Captain Pierce, which sailed from England about the 22d of June, 1632, and arrived at Boston on the 16th of September. He was admitted a freeman March 4, 1633. At the first election in the town of Cambridge, in 1635, he was chosen one of the seven Select- men. In 1636 he went to Connecticut, and was one of the earliest settlers at Hartford. After the death of Rev. Mr. Hooker he, with other members of the colony, formed a settle- ment at what is now Hadley, Mass. Later he returned to Connecticut, and died there. His son Nathaniel, the next in line, who was born in England about 1629, was one of the original proprietors and first settlers of Mid- dletown, Conn. His home was in the upper part of the town, now included in the town of Cromwell. He filled several offices of trust, and was eighty-five times elected to represent the town in the General Court, as the Legis- lature was called in Colonial days, the ses. sions being semi-annual. He was about eighty-two years old when he died.
Ensign Daniel White, son of Nathaniel, was born February 23, 1661, and died in Middletown, Conn., December 18, 1739. He married Susanna Mould, daughter of Hugh and Martha (Coit) Mould. Hugh Mould and John Coit were noted ship- builders. Deacon Isaac White was a son of Ensign Daniel. He was born in Upper Mid- dletown, Conn., November 9, 1696, and died
June 30, 1768. He was chosen Deacon of the church June 15, 1749. He married Sibbil Butler, who was born March 6, 1702, and died November 7, 1781. Their son, Moses White, was born in Upper Middletown, Conn., August 22, 1727. A hatter by trade, he spent the greater part of his life in his native State, residing a short time in Guilford and Chatham. In his old age he removed to Newport, N.H., where he died October 12, 1796. He married October 12, 1749, Huldah Knowles, of Hartford. A son, Isaac, was born in Guilford, Conn., October 14, 1752. He resided in Southington, Conn., a number of years, but about 1790 emigrated to the State of New York, and settled a few miles from Utica. About the year 1815, again starting westward, he went to Springville, Erie County, N. Y., and there spent the rest of his days, dying January 15, 1822. He married December 7, 1775, Thankful Clark, of Southington, Conn., who was born Janu- ary 1, 1760, and died June 27, 1836. She was a daughter of Colonel Joel Clark, who died in New York in 1776, while a prisoner of war.
Roderick White, son of Isaac and Thankful (Clark) White, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Southington, Conn., December 8, 1788, and was in his third year when his parents settled in Oneida County. His last years were spent in the town of Paris, where he died January 12, 1877. His wife, Lucy Blakeslee, whom he married July 5, 1816, died March 15, 1873. She was born in Paris, Oneida County, September 1, 1798.
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Her father, Eli Blakeslee, a native of Litch- field, Conn., and a pioneer of Paris, Oneida County, was a farmer and blacksmith.
Aaron White, son of Roderick and Lucy (Blakeslee) White, received his primary edu- cation in the district schools of Paris, and was fitted for college at Cazenovia Seminary. His father's means being limited, he was obliged to earn his living, and pay his own way through academy and college. Entering Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., he studied and taught alternately till his graduation in the class of 1852. In the year 1852-53 he taught in a young ladies' insti- tute at Flushing, L.I. In the latter part of 1853 he came to Cazenovia as a teacher in the seminary, remaining here till 1866. The ensuing three years, spent at Sauquoit, Oneida County, as Principal of the academy in that town, were followed by one year as Professor of Mathematics in Cazenovia Seminary, then by nine years at the head of the academy and union school at Canastota. From that place he went to Oneida, where he established a classical school, which he continued one year. At the end of this time the seminary trustees, recognizing his admirable qualifications as a teacher, offered him inducements to return to Cazenovia, which he accepted. He has since continued teaching in this institution, with his usual marked ability and success.
Professor White married April 6, 1859, Isadore Maria Haight, who was born in Caze- novia, March 13, 1835. Her grandfather, James Haight, was born December 19, 1776, probably in Dutchess County, where he mar-
ried Rebecca Slater, a native of that county, whose birth was on June 4, 1774. Mr. and Mrs. James Haight came to Madison County, accompanied by two children, making the journey with an ox-team, about the year 1803, when Madison County was a part of Chenango County. Buying land three miles north of Cazenovia, they resided there a number of years, then sold out, and bought at Bingley. Mr. Haight followed the trade of blacksmith in addition to farming, and also operated a saw-mill. He spent his last years on his farm at Bingley, where he died July 7, 1839. His wife died at the home of one of her eight children, William H. Haight, the father of Mrs. White, September 8, 1859.
William H. Haight was born in Cazenovia, August 8, 1807. His occupation was farm- ing. The pleasant homestead on the lake shore in this town, where he lived till his death, September 22, 1885, was purchased by him shortly after his first marriage. The maiden name of his first wife, the mother of Mrs. White, was Cornelia Cushing. She was born in Fenner, Madison County, October 12, 1808. Her father, Enos Cushing, was born December 27, 1779, in Hingham, Mass.
The father of Enos, Thomas Cushing, great- grandfather of Mrs. White, who was born in the same town, March 21, 1747 (O.S.), emi- grated from Massachusetts to Madison County in 1796, and was a pioneer in the town of Fenner. He was a farmer, and bought a tract of land, a part of which is now owned by his grandson, De Witt C. Cushing. He died on his farm, December 15, 1823. His wife,
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Elizabeth Turner, was born at Scituate. Mass., April 5, 1747 (O.S.), and died Octo- ber 31, 1823. Mrs. White's maternal grand- father, Enos Cushing, a man of good educa- tion, was one of the early teachers in Madison County. He had a practical knowledge of civil engineering, and did much surveying. His surveys are still referred to, and accepted as authority in cases of disputed titles. In- heriting a part of his father's farm, he later bought land in the town of Sullivan, where he resided a number of years. His death occurred in 1866. The date of his marriage with Clarissa Needham, a native of Massa- chusetts, was September 2, 1804. She was born October 12, 1786, and died in 1839. Mrs. White's mother, the first wife of Will- iam H. Haight, died January 9, 1848. Her father afterward married Sarah Clark, who still survives him. A sketch of her appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. White has two brothers: William H., Jr., born December 12, 1836; and George P., December 9, 1839.
The children of Professor and Mrs. Aaron White are Cornelia C., Henry S., and Lucy B. Henry S. is a graduate of Wesleyan Uni- versity, Middletown, Conn., class of 1882. In 1887 he went to Göttingen, Germany, where he took a three years' course of study in the university, and in 1890 received the degree of Ph. D. He is now Professor of Mathematics in the North-western University at Evanston, Ill. Professor and Mrs. White are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The political principles of the fam- ily are those of the Republican party.
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