USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 52
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Judge Chapman retired from active business
cares some five years previous to his death, which occurred March 29, 1892. He left not only the results of his industry, sagacity, and economy, but what his friends and family may prize and value more - his principles of honor and his high moral standard of justice and right. In connection with this memoir the publishers take pleasure in presenting to their readers an excellent portrait of the late Judge Chapman, which will be highly appre- ciated by his numerous friends, by whom he was held in the highest esteem, and who tenderly cherish his memory.
ORRIS N. CAMPBELL, an enter- prising and progressive agricultur- ist and a fine representative of the farming community of Lebanon, was born on the old homestead where he yet lives, No- vember 17, 1824. His grandfather, Archi- bald Campbell, who was of Scotch ancestry, was born in Massachusetts, February 16, 1761. His early years were spent among the rugged hills of that State. In the struggle between the colonies and Great Britain he took an active part, entering the Revolutionary army in the latter part of the war, and serving until its close, after which he came to Madison County (then a part of Chenango County, Madison County not having been organized until 1806). Upon his arrival here he pur- chased a tract of land near the present site of the reservoir, on which was a fine water privi- lege, which he took advantage of by building one of the first saw-mills in this section of
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the country. He cleared a part of his land and engaged in farming, residing in the town until his death, when about eighty years of age. His marriage occurred in Lebanon, May 4, 1786, to Mary Wiley. She was the daughter of a pioneer family, and was born April 20, 1762. She died in Lebanon, and with her husband now sleeps in the Campbell Cemetery. To them were born four chil- dren; namely, Harvy, Polly, Asenath, and Archibald.
The latter, father of our subject, was born in Lebanon, Madison County, March 15, 1795. In the primitive pioneer dwelling of his pa- rents he grew to manhood, assisting in the farm labors, gleaning his education in a rude log school-house, and starting out for him- self even with the world. He began his career working by the month at small wages, but by industry and careful economy saved enough to purchase a tract of land, build a log cabin, and warrant him in taking a life com- panion. His prosperity continuing, he pur- chased the adjoining farm, and followed agri- cultural pursuits many years. Late in life he relinquished the arduous duties of farming to younger hands, and removing to Hamilton, there lived a retired life until his death, in 1863. The maiden name of his wife was Susan Niles. She was born in the town of Madison, May 6, 1798, being a daughter of John and Susan (Bryant) Niles, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Otsego County, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Niles were the parents of a large family. Mr. Niles left his home in the old Bay State to
take up government land in the town of Mad- ison. Securing a tract, he improved a farm, which he subsequently sold for seven dollars per acre. He then bought wild timber land in the town of Lebanon, the journey to which he made with teams, going by wagon road part of the distance, but at times having to follow a trail marked by blazed trees. Upon this land he lived several years. Later, seeing an ex- cellent opportunity to secure a farm in the north-eastern part of the same town, near the present site of the reservoir, he availed him- self of it, and bought the property, there spending the remainder of his years. The parents of our subject reared a family of four children, bringing them up religiously in the faith of the Baptist church; and two of them, Harvy M. and Mary C., imbued with the true spirit of Christianity, went as missionaries to Burmah, where both died while yet in the prime of life. The former, Harvy, married Clarissa Conant, of an early family of this town, and at his death left two children, Clarissa and Harvy, who returned to this country. Archibald B., the youngest son, died in Hamilton, June 1, 1881.
Morris N. Campbell, of whom we write, was born in the old log house in which his parents began their wedded life. He grew to manhood under the parental roof-tree, re- ceiving a substantial education in the district school, which was supplemented by a course of study at Hamilton Academy. At the age of eighteen years he secured a position as teacher, engaging himself for a term of three months, at a salary of twelve dollars and a
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half per month and board around among the patrons of the school. He proved himself a very capable instructor; and the term was extended another month, that the pupils might have the benefit of his instruction. Not taking kindly to the profession of a teacher, however, Mr. Campbell determined to try the mercantile business, and for two years was employed as a clerk in Hamilton. At the end of that time, tiring of the busi- ness, he resumed the occupation to which he was bred, and has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has an excellent and productive farm of one hundred acres, ten of which were a part of his father's original homestead, and whereon he was born. This he carries on most successfully.
In 1847 Mr. Campbell was united in mar- riage to Patience, daughter of John Rowell and a native of Madison County, born in Hamilton in July, 1825. Of this union there are four children living, namely: Ida, widow of W. H. Jones, of Eaton; J. Archie; Mary C., wife of W. G. Hitchings and Post- mistress at Randallsville; and Na Motte, whose wife died in December, 1890, and is in- terred in Woodlawn Cemetery at Hamilton in the same plat where his mother was interred later in the same month. Mr. Campbell is one of the leading men of his town, having held many varied offices of public trust. Among others he has served as Commissioner of High- ways, was Supervisor for many years, and is now Justice of the Peace. In 1875 he was elected Member of the Assembly, serving in 1876 from Madison County. He has also
served the public as civil engineer and sur- veyor, acting some time as assistant in the State's employ. Politically, he was always opposed to slavery, and has been a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party ever since its formation, believing in its principles and in- dorsing its measures by his influence and vote. In social and fraternal matters he is a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 120, A. F. & A. M .; of Cyrus Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M .; and of Norwich Commandery, No. 46, K. T.
Mr. Campbell has always been the friend of every worthy enterprise, and has ever manifested deep interest in whatever was designed to promote the public good. That his qualities as a public-spirited man have been appreciated is attested by the fact that he has so often been elected to serve his town and county in public office, and that his high standing in the community as a man and citi- zen is recognized by all.
H. KILEY, attorney-at-law and President of the Village Board, residing in Cazenovia, is one of the leading attorneys of Madison County. His parents, who live in Warren County, came to this country from Ireland previous to their marriage. Five of their six children still survive. Michael H., of this notice, was the eldest child. He was born in War- ren County, and during his boyhood and early youth attended the common schools as he had opportunity, and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years old. He was ambitious to
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become a scholar and a learned man, and at the age mentioned went to Chittenango, and attended school there for one term, working for a Dr. Eaton for his board. After spend- ing the following summer at work on the farm, he the next fall attended the seminary in Cazenovia, doing chores generally for his board. He was graduated from the semi- nary in 1883, having completed the course of study through years of trial and poverty which certainly would have discouraged most young men. While engaged in the pursuit of knowledge in Cazenovia Seminary, he carefully considered the advantages and disadvantages, so far as he could, of various fields of labor, in order to make an intelligent selection of a calling, and, deciding upon the law, entered the office of D. W. Cameron. For three years afterward he pursued the study of law with characteristic energy and determination, and then became junior partner in the firm of Cameron & Kiley, which firm was in existence for a period of six years, at the end of which time Mr. Kiley opened his present office, and has since been engaged on his own account. He has built up a large practice, and enjoys the entire confidence of the community.
Mr. Kiley was married in 1888 to Celia Sterling, of Herkimer County, by whom he has two daughters, Marguerite and Helen Gertrude. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been an office-seeker, although, as stated in the beginning of this sketch, his fellow-citizens have chosen him for Presi- dent of the Village Board. He is one of the Law Committee for the Catholic Benevolent
Legion. Fully appreciating the value of edu- cation, seeing clearly what it has done for himself, he is doing what he can in a general way to extend its benefits to others, besides educating one of his brothers, his intention being to do likewise by another. Mr. Kiley has made his mark on the tablet of the history of his county, and has the ability of a first- class lawyer. Taken all in all, he is a young man of great promise; and much may confi- dently be expected of him in the future.
ICHAEL DORAN. Old Ireland, which has contributed so many able men toward the history of Amer- ica, was the home of the ancestors of this gentleman. His father, Edward Doran, emi- grated from that country, and after a voyage of nearly two months settled in Canada with his wife and two children, this being in the year 1827. He bought a farm of two hun- dred acres, on which he lived until his death, in 1887, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife was Miss Anna Powers. She sur- vived him two years, dying at the age of eighty-two years. There were nine children, six sons and three daughters, all living with the exception of two daughters - one buried in Canada, the other in Michigan.
Our subject was born in Upper Canada in the year 1830, and at the age of eighteen left his home and went to Boonville, Oneida County, N.Y., where he worked on the con- struction of the Black River Canal. He started out to make his own fortune with
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just six dollars in his pocket, having but a very limited education, but later secured one winter's hard study at State Bridge, Oneida County. At the age of twenty-one, in the year 1851, he began boating, very soon becoming boatswain and steersman. Within three years of that time he was put in charge of a boat on the Syracuse and Oswego line, which position he filled for five years. During these years he bought a lake boat, which he quickly sold at a great profit. He then had one built at Durhamville, and called it the "Major Good- sell." In the spring of 1863 he purchased the dry dock at Durhamville, in company with Frank Hosley; and, although it was but half finished, they paid therefor six thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. This firm contin- ued in business for eleven years, when Mr. Doran bought out the interest of his partner, and entered into partnership with a Mr. Hol- lenbeck. Four years later Mr. Doran pur- chased his interest, and has since carried on business alone. He builds from four to six boats per year, nearly all being sold on con- tract before being built, and during the sum- mer of 1893 employed a force of thirty-five men. The dry dock, under his efficient man- agement, is one of the best on the canal.
Mr. Doran is one of the kind of men who are of use in a community; one who, with energy and enterprise. keeps money moving and business interests progressing. He has been the architect of his own fortune; and, though he has lost much by bad debts, owing to him by persons who have traded on his charity and benevolence, still his honesty and
integrity are such, and his reputation as an experienced workman is so well known, that his name is good for any amount of credit.
Mr. Doran married Miss Margaret Dunn, of State Bridge, in the winter of 1863. She is the daughter of John Dunn, who came to America in 1844, and died at the home of our subject in 1883, at the age of eighty-four, leaving three sons and two daughters. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Doran, of whom three are living. Edward M. is a graduate of Poughkeepsie Business College, and assists his father at the dry dock. He is married, and has one daughter. Mamie E. is a graduate of the Oswego Nor- mal School and a fine musician and teacher. She is in her nineteenth year. William P., of Buffalo, N. Y., is employed as a collector for his father, and represents him in a grain commission house. He is twenty-two years old, and was educated at Georgetown College, District of Columbia. The family are exem- plary Catholics, faithful in fulfilling their religious duties and charitable to the poor. In politics Mr. Doran is a Democrat.
RS. GENEVIEVE CULVER, wid- ow of the late William Culver, who died at his home in Canastota, March 12, 1893, in his seventy-eighth year, was born in Fenner, Madison County, and is a daughter of James and Nancy (Cramer) Wilder, the former of whom was born in Genesee County, New York, and the latter in Schuyler, Herkimer County. He died at
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Perryville in 1890, at the age of seventy- seven, leaving his wife and five children, one son and four daughters. They had previ- ously lost their eldest daughter, Mary Jane, who was the wife of D. Pickctt. Their son, Alfred, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and, after serving his country but a few months, died in his twenty-second year, and was buried at Fairfax, Va. Esther L. Wilder died of consumption at the age of nineteen. The mother of these children is now more than eighty-one years old, and is yet active and healthy for her great age. She is living with her daughter, Mrs. Culver.
Mrs. Culver is a woman of superior ability and education, having attended a first-class academy in her youth. She was married December 21, 1881, to William Culver, who was a noble and upright man and one of the best of husbands. He was a son of Elias Culver, of Southampton, Conn., who became a pioneer farmer of Madison County, settling here when everything was new, and literally hewing for himself a fortune out of the wilderness. Hc was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Sarah Lupton, of New England, who died in middle life, leaving three sons and two daughters, all of whom have now passed away, William of this sketch being the last survivor. Elias Culver died at Canastota in his eighty-eighth year, leav- ing a moderate fortune. William Culver was married twice, being united to his first wife, Mary Smith, at the age of forty. She died March 28, 1881, when past middle life, leav-
ing no children. Mr. Culver was a very industrious man and a most successful farmer, beginning with but a small capital and accu- mulating a comfortable competence for his later years, which his widow is now enjoying. In politics he was a Republican, and, though not a member of any church, was a man of the highest integrity, a good citizen, and an excellent neighbor. The fine house in which his widow now resides he erected in 1884 on the ruins of their former dwelling, which was destroyed by fire, the loss being re- lieved only by the receipt of some little in- surance. In connection with this residence there are one hundred and twenty-eight and one-half acres of land, the entire estate being left by will to the subject of this sketch.
Mrs. Culver is a lady possessed of all true womanly virtues, and one of those who prefer the quiet of home life and family comforts to the empty honors and exacting demands of social life. She has a wide circle of friends in her town and county, and has the good will and esteem of all.
AVID TORREY, D.D., formerly pastor of the Presbyterian church, and who for the last twenty-four years has been a resident of Cazenovia, pre- sents a high type of the cultured Christian gentleman. He was born in Bethany, Wayne County, Pa., November 8, 1818. His father was a native of Williamstown, Mass., and came from the old Bay State to Pennsylvania about 1793, when a young man. He was
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born in 1772, and married Lois Welch, of Williamstown, returning to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania for that . purpose. By occupation he was a surveyor and land agent, being employed for many years by Philadel- phia capitalists. He died at the home of his son John in Honesdale, Pa., when advanced in years. This son succeeded to his father's business, and is now a man of wealth, though eighty-six years of age, being still fairly active and able to conduct his own business.
He of whom we write is the youngest of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, all of whom arrived at mature years, with the exception of two sons. All have now passed away except our subject and his brother above mentioned. The mother of these children died in middle life, being forty-five years of age. David Torrey received a good educa- tion, and in early life acquired a knowledge of surveying. At nineteen he began prepar- ing for college, and entered Amherst at the age of twenty, graduating in 1843. He then spent one year in Andover, Mass., and two in the Union Theological Seminary of New York. He received his ordination at Delhi. N. Y., in 1849, was installed, and remained there until 1861, when he removed to Ithaca. in which place he was pastor four years. Owing to poor health, he went abroad for one year in 1865, visiting Europe and the East in the endeavor to recuperate his exhausted faculties, and on his return received a call to Ann Arbor, Mich. In this place, where he remained for a year and a half, he had the misfortune to lose his wife. Her maiden
name was Mary E. Humphrey; and she was a daughter of Dr. Heman Humphrey, the President of Amherst College. Their mar- riage had occurred in 18448; and she died in 1868, at the age of forty, leaving two chil- dren, namely: Sarah, now the wife of Will- iam D. Wells, of Cazenovia, and the mother of two daughters and one son ; and James H. Torrey, a prominent attorney of Scranton, l'a., who is married, and has two sons and two daughters.
Dr. Torrey was married for the second time to Georgiana (Mitchell) Moseley, widow of George F. Moseley, who died in Janesville, Wis. He was a well-to-do bookseller, and a man of high reputation personally. Mrs. Torrey is the daughter of Dr. David and Sarah (Coman) Mitchell, the former of whom was from Westmoreland, N.11., born there in May, 1793, and died at the present home of the Doctor and his wife August 31, 1873. His father died in Walpole, N.H., when he was a child of four; and there he spent his youth. later becoming a student and graduate of Dartmouth College and of the Hanover Medical College. He came to Cazenovia in 1816, and was married here in the following year, his wife being seventeen and he twenty- four at the time of their marriage. He prac- tised his profession in Cazenovia for many years, and at his death left his widow with seven children, two sons and five daughters. His wife was of the town of Eaton, and was a daughter of pioneers of this county. One son and three of their daughters are now living, namely: Nancy D. Mitchell, of Chi-
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cago; Maria E., widow of Rev. A. P. Smith, a rector in the Episcopal church, and who resides in Chicago; Mrs. Torrcy, of this sketch; and Lucian Coman Mitchell, who has been a resident of Chicago for many years, and was one of the sufferers of the great fire of 1871. He holds a prominent position in the house of A. C. McClurg & Co. of that city.
The subject of this sketch, although ad- vanced in years, is well preserved both men- tally and physically, and is a man of pure and upright life and true Christian character. All who arc acquainted with him and his es- timable wife will surely wish that they may yet enjoy many years of comfort and happi- ness here below; for their loss would be a se- vere bereavement to their numerous friends and well-wishers who reside in this county and elsewhere.
R. OSCAR L. SOUTHWORTH, a public - spirited citizen of Madi- son County, a skilful physician of wide-spread popularity, was born in Edmes- ton, Otsego County, N. Y., July 21, 1839, son of Horace and Sophronia (Crumb) South- worth, and fifth in the line of descent from Constant Southworth, who from England came to Plymouth, Mass., it is presumed in 1628. (See Savage's Genealogical Diction- ary.) His mother, Alice Southworth, a widow, became the wife of Governor Brad- ford. Joseph Southworth, grandfather of the Doctor, was born in Plymouth, Mass., and upon the death of his father left that State,
and went to what is now Stonington, Conn. The same love of liberty which had animated his ancestor made him a minute-man of the Revolution. As a beardless boy he enlisted, and marched out "to die or be free." After three years of hard service he re-enlisted, and remained in the army until his country had gaincd its independence. When the war closed, he went to Mansfield, Conn., where he married Miss Lydia Barrows, and from there moved to Edmeston, N. Y., being one of the first settlers of that place. There he kept a store and potash factory and built a trav- eller's home. He died in Edmeston at an advanced age.
Horace Southworth, son of the patriot sol- dier and father of Dr. Southworth, was born April 30, 1809. He was the youngest child in the family, his brothers and sisters being Sally, Betsey, Joseph, Thomas, Dennis, and Polly. He was reared to the carpenter's trade and agricultural pursuits. When he reached manhood, he was strongly interested in military matters, and rose to the rank of Captain in a company which was located at Burlington, N.Y. He was also a prominent temperance man, and organized many lodges. In his politics he was a Whig as long as that party lasted, and a pronounced Abolitionist in principle. He cast his vote for William Henry Harrison as President. He married Miss Sophronia Crumb, daughter of Joseph Crumb, who was one of the first settlers of the town of Plainfield, owning all the land, nearly one thousand acres, lying in the vicin- ity of our subject's home. Mr. Crumb had
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fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, several of them being well-known professional men. Their names were: Will- iam Sidney and Gardner, who died in infancy in Rhode Island; Varnum, Stephen, Joseph, Sophronia, Archibald K., Orville, Julia, Susan, Miriam, Russell, Franklin P., and Louisa.
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Southworth had five children, namely: Horace, Jr., and Lucy A., deceased; Susan L .; Oscar Lemuel; and Or- ville W. The mother died in the town of Plainfield, at the age of sixty-one years.
The education of Oscar L. Southworth in the district schools of his native town was supplemented by a three years' course in the South Trenton Academy. His first work was on his father's farm, where he began at the age of twelve years to earn a living. He hired himself out by the month, and gave his father one hundred dollars every autumn for nine years, leaving home at the age of twenty- one without a dollar in his pocket. At twenty-three years of age he began to study medicine with Dr. Chauncey Perkins, of Co- lumbus, N. Y., remaining there until the death of this estimable physician. He after- ward attended a course of lectures at the Philadelphia College of Medicine and Sur- gery, and was graduated from that institution in February, 1866, and has been in active practice ever since. October 2, 1862, he mar- ried Miss Isiphine J., daughter of his first tutor, Dr. Chauncey Perkins, of Columbus. N. Y. They have one son, Horace C., who was graduated from the graded school at
Leonardsville, attended the Whitesboro Acad- emy, and entered the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York; but, his health failing, he was compelled to give up his studies and return to his home. Horace C. Southworth married Miss Maud Burdick; and they have one child, Mertie Lea.
Dr. Southworth's practice covers a very large territory, extending as far as Smyrna, twenty-two miles away, and taking in the towns of Burlington, Edmeston, Winfield, Columbus, New Berlin, Bridgewater, and all the sur- rounding country. The Doctor became a mem- ber in 1867 of the Eclectic Society of New York, and was subsequently Vice-President of the Eclectic Medical Society for the 23d Senatorial District. He is a Free Mason in good standing, belonging to Western Star Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., one of the oldest lodges in the State. He was elected Supervisor on the Republican ticket in 1885 by a large majority, overcoming both the Dem- ocrat and Prohibition opposition. In 1886 he again received the nomination, and was re- elected. While Supervisor he served upon the Equalization Committee both years, as well as acting upon other important committees. He has been a member of the Board of Educa- tion of Leonardsville, N. Y., for a number of years. He attends the Methodist church. Madison County is noted for the high stand- ing and particular excellence of its medical men, but none among them hold a more deservedly popular position than Dr. Oscar L. Southworth. Of a genial disposition,
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