USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 50
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HAMLIN WHITMORE, an intelli- gent young farmer of Georgetown, where he was born and has always resided, is a son of Russell Whitmore, who died at his home in Georgetown on the 2d of May, 1885, at the age of seventy-one. The father of Russell Whitmore was Dr. Epaphro- ditus Whitmore, well known throughout this section of the country as the first resident physician of Georgetown, where his son Rus- sell was born, February 4, 1814, the family removing the following April to the farm upon which our subject now resides.
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Russell Whitmore was well known in his community as a particularly industrious and successful farmer, having chosen an occupa- tion for which he was naturally well endowed. His educational advantages were limited to one term at Smyrna, supplementary to attend- ance at the common schools of the period. He made the best use of his opportunities, however, and at the age of sixteen taught school in the town of Lebanon. Throughout his life he was interested in everything per- taining to educational work, and for several years was Town Superintendent of Schools. His sterling integrity and rigid adherence to prineiple procured for him many enemies, who, however, though they might disagree with his views, could not but respect him personally. He took active part in the anti- slavery agitation at a time when to do so was to invite a storm of personal abuse and bitter invective, and was an early worker in the almost equally despised eause of temperance. In spite of his support of these unpopular reforms, his integrity was such, and his per- sonal honor so unquestioned, that he was at various times chosen to fill offiees of trust in his town ; and he invariably acquitted himself with credit in the performance of his public duties. He was frequently applied to for advice in the settlement of estates, and in- trusted with numerous interests which gave evidence of the confidence reposed in him as a man of honor and diseriminating judgment. He was plain of speech, and opposed to all kind of ostentation and meretrieious display ; and at his death Georgetown lost one of her
most useful and honored eitizens. An obitu- ary which appeared in the Madison County Observer of May 5, 1885, from which we have liberally quoted, gives evidence of the esteem in which he was held by those among whom his lot was cast.
He was twice married, first February 25, 1838, to Miss Julia M. Niles. In a little more than two years after Mr. Whitmore suffered a severe bereavement in the loss of his wife, who died on the 7th of May, 1840, leaving him with an infant son less than a year old. He was married again November 10, 1840, to Jane M. Conant, of the town of Eaton, who was a faithful and loving wife to him during the rest of his life, they becoming the parents of a large family, all of whom arrived at maturity and became respected and useful citizens. Addison R. Whitmore, his son by his first marriage, married Philie Livermore, of German, Chenango County, N. Y., and resides in Willet, Cortland County, this State. They are the parents of six children. By his second marriage Russell Whitmore had the following children: Eu- gene, who died when a child; Cornelia, who became the wife of Edwin Smith, and died January 1, 1877; Wesley and Martha L., both of whom died in infancy; Otis H., born June 29, 1848, died March 17, 1890 - he married Nellie Tillotson, December 4, 1878, and they became the parents of two children, Lida S. and Louise; Franeis E., married Carrie H. Thompson, daughter of William Thompson, of Georgetown; Mary J., born December 27, 1852, died April 26, 1872,
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unmarricd; Martha J., born November 28, 1855, is unmarricd; Lincoln L. and H. Hamlin, twins, were born March 3, 1861 - the former died January 1, 1862. Otis H. Whitmore, brother of our subject, was edu- cated at Cazenovia Seminary and Oswego Normal and Training School, and was for many years a successful teacher in the public schools. At the age of sixtcen he joined the Baptist church, in which he became a recog- nizcd leader. He was greatly interested in Sunday - school work, and held at various times the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the County Sun- day School Association. He was an ardent Prohibitionist. In 1875 he was elected Jus- tice of the Peace, which office he filled eight years. At the time of marriage he settled on a farm near the old home. His death was deeply regretted by the entire community.
H. Hamlin Whitmore was reared on the old homestead, just on the outskirts of the vil- lage of Georgetown, where he still resides. In boyhood hc attended the district school, and made the most of his opportunities for securing an education, but early became initi- ated into farm life and work, which pursuits he has followed up to the present time, and in which he has been eminently successful. He possesses in a large degree those qualities which made his father respected and es- teemed, and keeps up with the times in every- thing that pertains to his calling, using the latest and best farm machinery, and adopting the most improved methods in his work. In addition, he is a man of much general knowl-
edge, keeping well informed on all the impor- tant events of the day, his opinions on which are guided by an intelligent appreciation and discriminating judgment. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to Leba- non Grange, No. 753.
He was married March 26, 1890, to Luella V. Hay, daughter of Charles Hay, a well- known and respected citizen of Georgetown. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore attend the Baptist church, and are universally recognized in their community as people of high moral excellence and useful and upright citizens.
RS. MARY (ROOT) ALLEN, a resident of the village of Morris- ville and widow of the late John S. Allen, was born in the town of Eaton, Madison County, N.Y. Her father, Chaun- cey Root, was a native of the town of Greene, Chenango County; and his father, Joshua Root, was, it is supposed, born in Connecti- cut, and emigrated from that State to the State of New York, being one of the early pioneers of the town of Greene. He secured a tract of timber land, on which he erected a log house, cleared his farm from the wilder- ness, and resided thereon for a number of years, then removed to Oxford, where he spent his last days. The maiden name of his wife was Mehitable Belden, and by her he reared a family of seven children.
Chauncey Root, father of Mrs. Allen, when eleven years of age removed to Eaton to live with Daniel Hatch, residing with him until
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he was about fifteen. Soon afterward he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and fol- lowed it a number of years. At the time of his marriage he located on a farm in the town of Eaton, it having been inherited by his wife; and this he occupied until 1850, when he removed to Morrisville, where he pur- chased a home. Here he also bought a saw- mill, which he operated for a few years. The last years of his life he lived retired, and died August 4, 1884, at the age of eighty-four.
The maiden name of his wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Betsy Pitts. She was born in Cranston, R.I., and was a daughter of Rufus Pitts, a native of the same locality. For a number of years he followed the sea, but in 1802, together with his wife and four children, came to the State of New York, making the journey with teams, and purchased a tract of land in what is now the town of Eaton. At that time the town was very sparsely settled, and of course but little improved. In removing to the village of Morrisville, they followed a trail marked by blazed trees. Upon the farm he selected he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, engaged in improving the land and in rearing their family. The maiden name of his wife was Waitie Joy. She was also a native of Rhode Island.
Mrs. Allen was the only child of Chauncey and Betsy (Pitts) Root, and was married to John S. Allen at the age of twenty-two. The latter was born in the town of Willet, Cortland County, N. Y., and was a son of Horace Allen, an early settler of that town,
who followed farming there for a number of years, but spent the latter part of his life in Chenango County. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Wheeler. When cleven years of age, John S. Allen went to Cincin- natus, Cortland County, and made his home for a few years with Ray Cole, a farmer. He then removed to Madison County, where he was employed in woollen mills for a time, and after his marriage engaged in farming, which occupation he continued to follow till his death, which occurred September 8, 1870. He was a member of the Baptist church, as were also Mrs. Allen and her parents. Mrs. Allen is a lady of estimable character, strong in her convictions of right and duty, and in every way a woman worthy of honor and respect .
YMAN AVERY. This gentleman, who has for over thirty-two years held the position of station agent of the New York Central Railroad at Wampsville, Madison County, was born at Paris Furnace, Oneida County, in 1819. His father, Gardi- ner Avery, was born at Munson, N. Y., in 1773, and died at Saratoga Springs in 1849. The grandfather, Gardiner Avery, died of diphtheria in December, 1831, when he was eighty years of age: and his wife, whose maiden name was Amy Newell, fell a victim to the same disease but one day before. They had fourteen children, namely: Gardi- ner B., born in 1773, and died in 1849; Stephen, born in 1775, died in 1813; Han- nah, born in 1778; Benjamin, born in 1780,
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died in 1885; Betsey, born in 1783, died in 1815; Calvin, born in 1785, died in 1829; Anson, born in 1786; John, born in 1788, died in 1855; Lyman, born in 1790, died in 1809; Amy, born in 1793, died in 1827; Charles, born in 1795; Sophia, born in 1798, died in 1799; Sophia, born in 1800; and Jared, born in 1803, died in 1880.
The father of our subject was married to Miss Hulda Haskell, of Albany, N. Y., whose only child, Eliza, died young. The mother also died early, and was buried in Albany, while her husband was attending the Legis- lature, to which he was elected for two terms. He was a man of limited schooling, but of great natural ability, and was very wealthy. He was one of the founders of the Paris Fur- nace, holding stock in the company, and later of the Lenox Furnace, now of Hobokenville. He married for the second time Miss Betsey Sage, of Connecticut, who became the mother of seven children, of whom our subject was the youngest. He and his brother, Newell Avery, together with their father, were inter- ested in a cotton factory near Sauquoit. All the members of the family but himself are now deceased.
Lyman Avery was brought up on a farm belonging to his father and situated near Paris Furnace. He went to school in Clin- ton, N. Y., and remained at home with his parents until his marriage with Miss Cynthia Spencer, daughter of William and Polly (Fletcher) Spencer, natives of Massachusetts. This marriage took place in May, 1847, at the home of the bride's parents in Wampsville,
N. Y. For about four years after their mar- riage he and his wife lived on a farm in Oneida County, but in 1861 removed to their present residence. Their beautiful home is pleasantly situated near the Wampsville sta- tion, across the road from the New York Central station. This handsome dwelling was erected on the ruins of their former house, which was burned in September, 1878. They have four acres of land at this place, and thirteen more about half a mile away. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have one daughter, Mary Ada, wife of F. M. Benjamin. Mrs. Benja- min resides with her father and mother; and she and her husband are the parents of one little girl, Ruth Avery, born August 12, 1889. Mr. Avery is a strong Republican in his political creed, though not an aspirant for office. He once served, however, as Town Collector in Oneida County. He has been for many years an Odd Fellow, and has filled all the chairs up to that of Noble Grand.
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, the parents of Mrs. Avery, were married in Deerfield, N. Y., and lived in Utica for some years, where they kept a hotel, later keeping one in Vernon. They afterward came. to Wampsville. Mrs. Avery's mother died in 1853, at the age of fifty-seven, leaving four children, three daughters and one son, William, who died in his seventeenth year. The father died in 1856, when he was over seventy years old. His death occurred in Milwaukee, Wis., to which place he had moved some seven years before. He left considerable property. He was a Master Mason, and in religion a mem-
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ber of the Methodist church, standing high in the regard and esteem of the community.
Mr. Lyman Avery is now in his seventy- fifth year, strong and sturdy, with undimin- ished faculties, and with every prospect of many years of usefulness and comfort before him. Honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men, he stands as high as any citizen of his town in the esteem and confidence of the people.
RS. HARRIET T. JOHNSON, widow of Darius HI. Johnson, who died September 1, 1892, is a daughter of Isaac J. and Abigail (Sayles) Forbes, and was born in 1834. Mr. Johnson was born in the town of Smithfield. Madison County, September 13, 1836, and was a son of William F. Johnson, who was born in Saratoga County in 1798, and died in Troy, N. Y., about 1860. He was a grandson of Sir William Johnson, a native of England, who came to America previous to the Revolu- tionary War, and settled in Saratoga County, where he became a prosperous farmer, and was a patriot during the war, supplying the sol- diers with provisions. On one occasion when he was away from home with a wagon-load of farm products for the army. his house was visited by Tories and Mohawk Indians, and was pillaged and burned. His wife, seeing the band of marauders coming, concealed her- self and her children in the garden among the hop vines, where they were compelled to wit- ness the _struction of their home. but were
more than glad to escape with their lives. There is still in existence a family relic that is highly prized, which is in the possession of Professor John D. Conley, formerly of Canastota, now Vice-President of (and Pro- fessor of Geology in) Wyoming State Uni- versity, situated at Laramie. Professor Conley is a son of John W. and Pamelia E. (Johnson) Conley, Mrs. Conley being the eldest sister of Darius HI. Johnson. This interesting relic is a powder-horn which was carried in the Revolutionary War by one of the noble ancestors of Mr. Johnson, who was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at the battle of Saratoga. It is finely chased or engraved by hand, the work having been done by Dr. Darius Johnson, a bachelor, and a grand-uncle of Darius H. Johnson, deceased husband of the subject of this sketch. The engraving shows skill and taste on the part of the artist, and commemorates the scenes and incidents of the great and successful struggle for liberty in 1776.
Darius H. Johnson received a common English education, and began his life-work without the assistance of capital, relatives, or friends. notwithstanding which he made his life a notable success. He was married in 1854 to Harriet T. Forbes, the subject of this sketch; and they began their married life in Canastota, Mr. Johnson at that time being engaged in boating on the Erie Canal. Afterward they removed to New York City, where Mr. Johnson was engaged for twenty- one years in the insurance and transportation business. They had one child. Pamelia J.,
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who married William A. Eurich, and died in Canastota in 1884, at the age of twenty-six, leaving one son, William D., now a bright lad of thirteen, and living with his grand- mother.
Mr. Johnson was a Mason of the thirty- third degree, and held various positions of honor in the fraternity. He was a straight- forward, successful business man. Since his death his wife has carried on the coal busi- ness which was left by him. She purchased her present home in 1880, and here lives, sur- rounded by the comforts of life and by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
DWARD H. VIDLER was born in Clinton, Oneida County, N.Y., Sep- tember 4, 1842. This gallant soldier of the late war, who carries the scars of many bat- tles, is the son of James Vidler, a native of Battle, Sussex, England, who came to this country, settling first in Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., but removed from there to Brookfield, N. Y. His wife was Eliza Curtis, born in Fonda's Bush, Schoharie County, N. Y. Their children were: Edward H., the subject of this biographical mention; Arthur B .; Arvilla M .; Mary A .; and Victor J. The parents died in Brookfield in the year 1885.
Our subject remained at home on the farm until he was fourteen years old, attending the district schools, and then hired out with a farmer to work, availing himself of his unoc- cupied time in the winter to go to school in
the vicinity, which he continued to do until he was about twenty years of age. At this time the Civil War broke out; and, filled with a patriotic impulse, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, marched to the front, and served for three years. He took part in seven battles, and was twice severely wounded. At the battle of Winchester, which, as is well known, was one of the hottest engagements of the war, there were fifty men of his regiment killed around him. After being desperately wounded, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, where he remained for nine months. At the close of the war he was mustered out, and went to work for a short time on a farm, later buying the place where he now resides.
At the age of twenty-seven he was married to Miss Jane Mason, a daughter of Henry and Deborah Mason, whose family consisted of five children; namely, Hannah, Charles, William, Jane, and Angeline. The parents of these children died in Brookfield. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vidler, Clarence and Benny. The great- grandfather of Mrs. E. H. Vidler was one of the pioneer settlers of her native county, moving there when the country was an un- broken wilderness, and after clearing a farm fashioned a plain log cabin with his own hands.
In religious views our subject and his wife are Baptists, being connected by membership with the church of that denomination in Brookfield. They are sincere Christians, as
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exemplified in their daily lives, and do their part in assisting to promote every good and worthy cause. In political matters Mr. Vid- ler is a Republican, and not only has an intelligent understanding of the principles of his party, but believes that, when carried out, they are conducive to the best interests of the country at large. During his term of military service he was a brave soldier, fear- less in danger, and never afraid of a foremost place in the conflict, and since his return to the more peaceful avocations of private life has won the esteem of his fellow-citizens, who respect him not only for his former record of bravery in the field, but for his qualities as a man and citizen.
JUDSON GAUL. The subject of this sketch is a well-known citizen of the town of Eaton, this county, hav- ing been associated as foreman in the office of the Madison Observer at Morrisville for many years. He was born in the town of Lenox, Madison County, N. Y., October 29, 1853, and comes of an old family, the history of which dates back to Colonial times. The family name is of French origin, the first progenitor of the family in this country having been a native either of France or the German-French provinces. The first of the name however, of whom there exists any defi- nite record in this country, so far as known to the family, was one Jacob Gaul, the great- grandfather of our subject. He settled in Ghent, Columbia County, N. Y., where he
lived the rest of his life, and died at a ripe old age. Before his settlement there he had married Catherine Wrought, who was German by birth; and she, like her husband, lived to an advanced age. They were farmers by occupation, and were numbered among the sturdy pioneers of Columbia County.
In direct line was their son Adam, who was born in that county and grew up a farmer, marrying a Miss Eve Finger, who was born in Johnstown, Columbia County, N. Y. They spent their entire lives in Columbia County, dying when full of years, and rearing quite a large family, of which their son, Jacob A., the father of our subject, was one. His birth occurred at Ghent, February 15, 1826. Growing to manhood on his father's farm in Columbia County, he later, at about the age of twenty-three, came to Lenox, Madison County. N. Y., and was here married to Miss Elizabeth Harder, who was born and reared in the town of Lenox, and is the daughter of Peter I. and Lana (Van Dusen) Harder, both of whom were natives of Columbia County, N. Y., but who after their marriage came to Madison County, and were early settlers of the town of Lenox. They secured and im- proved a new farm in this town, but afterward moved to Will County, Illinois, Mr. Harder dying at Lockport, that county, and his wife some time later in Wisconsin. Both were old people at the time of their death.
Jacob A. Gaul and his wife lived for some time after their marriage on a farm in Lenox, and later removed to the village of Oneida. They afterward went to Morrisville, where
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they resided for about eighteen years, after which they returned to Oneida, where they now live, Mr. Gaul being engaged in the grocery trade on Lenox Avenue, having spent a great many years in that branch of business. To them have been born four sons and one daughter, of whom our subject is the eldest son. The others are: Mary, wife of L. E. Todd, of Oswego, N.Y .; Charles F., of Utica, N.Y .; Sidney E .; and James B., of Oneida, N.Y.
He of whom we write grew up in his early years on his father's farm in Lenox, but on the removal of his parents to Oneida attended the village schools of that place, and later the union schools of Morrisville. While his opportunities for securing a thorough educa- tion were not such as he might have desired, he was gifted with the happy faculty of close observation, which did much to make amends for other deficiencies, his present liberal knowledge and large store of general informa- tion being the result of his own painstaking efforts and earnest application. These quali- ties of perseverance and industry have also gained for him the high degree of success which he has attained in his chosen calling. While yet a boy, he entered the office of Mr. Norton to learn the printer's trade. This was in March, 1867; and after four years of steady application, having acquired a consid- erable knowledge of his trade, he went to work in the office of the Union at Oneida, N. Y. Here he remained two years, and then returned to the office of the Madison Observer, and again (in May, 1873) engaged with his
old employer, Mr. Norton, for one year. The year rolled around, and after it another, and another, without any further arrangements than their mutual understanding, until more than twenty years had passed; and only the death of Mr. Norton came to break the close association, which had become so welded by their friendly as well as business relations that they worked together more like father and son than employer and employee. A biographical notice of this veteran printer will be found elsewhere in this volume; and Mr. Gaul never tires in his praise, as of one whom he regards with almost filial love, and as a devoted and lifelong friend. Mr. Norton was not slow to notice the worth and high qualities of Mr. Gaul, and after a few years made him the foreman of his officc, which position he has since held. The latter after some time associated with his other business a line of stationery. Close application and attention to business have made Mr. Gaul a skilful and valuable man in his chosen pro- fession. Having mastered every detail of his trade, he is competent to have charge or assume the duties of each department, as but a thorough, practical printer could do.
Mr. Gaul was married in Troy, N. Y., to Miss Carrie P. Losee, who was born in Sara- toga County, this State, and reared and edu- cated in Schenectady. She is the mother of one daughter, Jennie L., a bright and inter- esting girl of thirteen. Mr. Gaul is con- nected by membership with the Methodist Episcopal church of Morrisville, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church of
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the same place. He is a man of genial and pleasant disposition, and with his excellent wife is popular among his fellow-townsmen, who recognize in him one who has always had the best interests of his town and county at heart, and has always lent whatever assistance might be in his power to all plans for the betterment of the community in which he lives.
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