USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 56
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W. H. PATTEN.
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subject of this sketch, and two daughters, namely: Mary Ann, who married J. J. Bon- ney, of Westmoreland; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Martin Parson, of the same place. Osmond Patten died at West- moreland about 1870, under very peculiar cir- cumstances, being at the time in full health and vigor. Soon after eating a hearty meal he was stung on the temple by a honey-bee. and lived but three hours afterward, his strange death being commented upon by many of the newspapers in the country. His widow survived him some three years, and died at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Patten was a suc- cessful and progressive farmer, and a man of much general information. He was a great reader of newspapers, and an ardent admirer of Henry Clay. His entire life was spent on the farm upon which his father settled when first coming to this State. He was a man greatly respected throughout his life, and deeply mourned at death.
William H. Patten, the subject of this sketch, during his youth lived at home upon the farm, acquiring the rudiments of educa- tion in the district schools, and perfecting his studies at an excellent academy at Westmore- land, N. Y. At the age of twenty-eight he removed to Clockville, where he engaged in the manufacture of wheel rakes, a business in which he has ever since remained. He was at first associated with J. L. Mansfield & Co. This was in 1866. Two years later the name of the firm was changed to Patten, Clarke & Co .; and in 1872 it became Patten & Staf- ford, thus remaining until 1882, when John
E. Myers became a member of the firm, and the name was then changed to Patten, Stafford & Myers. In 1892 Mr. Myers retired; and the firm then became Patten & Stafford, under which name it is now known.
Mr. Patten has always been closely identi- fied with the interests of the village of Can- astota, and, although averse to public office, was Chief of the Fire Department of the vil- lage for years, and was also one of the prime movers in securing the fine system of gravity water-works established in 1885, and of which the village is justly proud. Ile was also one of the organizers of the State Bank, of which he is a stockholder and President at the pres- ent time. It was also through the energy of Mr. Patten that in 1878 the Electric Light Plant was established at this place, he being one of the leading spirits in its incorporation. The capitalization of the company is twenty thousand dollars; and Mr. Patten owns over one-half the stock, being at the same time its Secretary and Treasurer. This business en- terprise is conducted on a sound basis, and its value and utility are much appreciated by the citizens of Canastota. Mr. Patten is also a member and one of the promoters (being now Vice-President and a Director) of the Justin Projectile Company of Syracuse, N. Y., which firm, established in 1891, manufactures a shell that can be fired with high explosives in any rifled cannon, the peculiar construc- tion of the shell having the effect of overcom- ing its inertia, which is regarded as the prime difficulty in the firing of high explosives. An exhibition and test given in Perryville,
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N. Y., June 20, 1892, before the full Board of Ordnance and Fortification, including Major- General Schofield, Colonel Henry Mabbott, Colonel Henry W. Closson, Major Clifton Conly, General Byron H. Cutcheon, and Cap- tain C. C. Morrison, of the Ordnance De- partment and Recorder of the Ordnance Board, was considered highly satisfactory. A second and similar test was made in Septem- ber, 1893, at Sandy Hook, with similar results, and with the effect of securing the approbation and recommendation of the mili- tary authorities.
The Wheel Rake Manufacturing Company of Patten & Stafford is the leading industrial establishment of the village of Canastota, and is, in fact, one of the leading industries of this part of the State of New York. The plant covers about two acres of ground, the buildings being three-story frames, two hun- dred feet long by forty wide. The company turn out about eight thousand five hundred rakes per year, as compared with one hundred and fifty the first year it started. These rakes are worth at wholesale about twenty dollars apiece. The firm employs six travel- ling men; and their trade covers a territory extending over New York, Pennsylvania, New England, and the North-western States. One of the first horse dump rakes made was manu- factured under the patent of Smith & Cowles; but it was left to Mr. Patten, by his inventive genius, while working in the Smith & Cowles shops, to improve and perfect this compara- tively crude implement for gathering hay. The rake now manufactured by his company
has been on the market for many years, and is generally considered to be the best of the kind made. The business of the firm is well established, and is based upon the sterling character of the company for integrity and honest business methods, and upon the sub- stantial and reliable nature of the article man- ufactured. Few men have more or warmer friends in the business world than the gentle- men composing the firm of Patten & Stafford.
Mr. Patten was married first in 1869 to Miss Gertrude Smith, of Westmoreland, a daughter of William Smith and a sister of the former wife of Mr. Stafford, Mr. Patten's partner. She died in 1878, leaving no chil- dren, her sister, Mrs. Stafford, having died in 1876. Mr. Patten was married the second time to Miss Louise M. Cady, a daughter of George B. and Nancy (Way) Cady, of Clock- ville. Mrs. Patten is a refined and highly cultivated lady ; and her true womanly quali- ties make her a general favorite in society. She and her husband are the centre of a large circle of friends. Mr. Patten is a man of a generous disposition, and is quick to respond to appeals in behalf of every worthy cause, giving liberally of his large means to such enterprises as are designed to benefit the com- munity at large.
It has been said that he who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a benefactor to mankind, and it will be acknowledged that no country can claim pre-eminence over the United States in the degree of inventive genius possessed by its citizens. Mr. Patten, therefore, can surely
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be counted among those who by their natural talents and life-work have been of useful ser- vice to their fellow-men; and it is as a repre- sentative of such that the publishers of this volume take pleasure in presenting their readers with the portrait that appears in con- nection with this biographical sketch.
DWIN R. BODEN, M.D., was born in Orange County, New York, January 14, 1860, and was reared and educated by Jabez Boden, by whom he was adopted. Of his own father and mother he has no recollection or record. Jabez Boden was in many respects a remarkable man, and was well educated and well adapted for business. He brought up eight children, though the subject of this sketch was the only one legally adopted, and was the eldest of the boys whom he educated.
Edwin R. Boden had every opportunity for securing a good education. first at the com- mon schools, and later at Trinity High School. Not having any particular predilec- tion for any vocation, and being advised by the Rev. Dr. John Potter to study medicine, he followed that advice, and took a regular course of lectures at Long Island College Hospital, being graduated when twenty-one years of age, after four years of study. After practising for four months near his old home in Orange County, he removed to Munnsville, and successfully followed the practice of his profession there for six years. In 1887 he removed to Oneida, and practised here for some time, then retired from the active prac-
tice of his profession, and established a gen- eral merchandise house, where he carried on business successfully until January 1, 1894. He then resumed his profession, opening an office in Oneida.
Dr. Boden is a frank, pleasant gentleman, and is exceedingly popular. He married Lena Rockwell, by whom he has two chil- dren. John F. and Frank R., both at home. Politically, Mr. Boden is a Republican, and fraternally a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He is a regular attendant at the Episcopal church, and for eight years has been a mem- ber of the choir. Ile has been Auditor of the village for one year. Appreciating to its full extent the value of the education of the young, he is in favor of compulsory educa- tion, perceiving the difficulty of procuring universal education in any other way. He is one of the most progressive and intelligent men in the place, and favors all enterprises calculated to advance the material interests of his adopted town. He and his wife, with their bright and intelligent sons, are domi- ciled in a pleasant home, where their friends and acquaintances ever find a most hospitable welcome.
R. LEVI P. GREENWOOD, one of the most eminent physicians of the town of Nelson, Madison County, now deceased, was born September 26, 1816, in the town of Lebanon, Madison County, N. Y., son of Paul and Betsey (Brig- ham) Greenwood, who were natives of Massa- chusetts, where the father was born in 1767,
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and the mother in 1777. About the year 1800 Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood settled in Lebanon, and, being among the first comers there, endured the various trials and hard- ships of pioneer life. They had ten children, as follows: Jonas, Lucy, Eli, Sally, Marion, Erastus, Ira, Levi P., Cornelia, and Roxanna. Mrs. Greenwood died February 9, 1839. Her husband, surviving her nearly three years, died November 17, 1841.
From his early years fond of books and learning, the youth Levi was enrolled as a pupil at Hamilton Academy until he had qualified himself for teaching, and thereafter taught school a few terms, subsequently beginning the study of medicine with Dr. P. B. Havens at Hamilton, Madison County, N. Y., in whose office he continued for some time. He also attended lectures at Fairfield, Herkimer County, N.Y., and was graduated from the Physicians' and Surgeons' College there, with the degree of M.D., in February of 1840. On May I of that year Dr. Greenwood formed a partnership with Dr. John Heffron, settling in Erieville, Madison County, N.Y., remaining there until 1863, when they sepa- rated; and our Doctor took in for his new partner Dr. W. M. Carpenter, a former fel- low-student, they working together until Dr. Carpenter was elected to the Assembly, and his place here was filled by Dr. C. H. Ran- som. Dr. Carpenter was born in Erieville, August 2, 1839. He was brought up on his father's farm, and assisted his father until he was a young man. He entered the State University at Ann Arbor, Mich., and was
graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons there in 1868. In 1869 he was elected to the Assembly of the State of New York by the Republican party, and served one term. He died in New York City, at the age of fifty years.
On September 13, 1845, Levi P. Green- wood, M.D., married Miss Susan J. Blair, daughter of the late Jeremiah Blair. She was born September 21, 1822, and died at the age of fifty-eight years, leaving no children. On May 29, 1892, Dr. Greenwood married for his second wife Miss Marion Norton, a native of Georgetown, Madison County, daughter of Jerome A. and Phebe (Atwood) Norton. Her father was born in the town of Cazenovia, N.Y., September 21, 1821, and was a mer- chant in Georgetown for about twelve years, dealing in general merchandise, and for about fifteen years a farmer in the town of Nelson. His wife died in August of 1889; and he now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Greenwood, the only surviving one of his three children. Dr. Greenwood practised medicine in Erie- ville for more than fifty-two years, making a record for himself second to that of no other physician in Madison County. He died at his home on December 25, 1892, after a brief illness of five days, mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and grieved over by the poor to whom he had been a benevolent friend, cheerfully giving to them his time and services.
Having been prepared by thorough study for his chosen profession, to which he was untiringly devoted, and gathering wisdom by
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daily experience, winning his way to the con- lidence of the people, his practice became large and widely extended. He was fre- quently called in counsel by his medical brethren of the neighboring towns, and his judgment was always considered exceedingly valuable.
A Methodist in religion, Dr. Greenwood died happily, steadfast in faith. In politics he was a Democrat, and served as Supervisor for one term. Mrs. Greenwood, his widow, still resides in her pleasant home at Erieville, a lady of intelligence and cultivation, highly appreciated in society, and an active and val- ued member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
OHN STEBBINS, who was a lifelong resident of Cazenovia and a useful and valued citizen, actively concerned in the development of its business interests, was born in this town, October 20, 1825, and died suddenly in Boston, Mass., April 29, 1892. He was connected both by descent and by marriage with worthy and honored people not a few. The history of the Steb- bins family in America dates back to 1634, in which year Roland Stebbins with his wife and five children emigrated from Ipswich, England. He first settled in Springfield, Mass., and later in Northampton, where he died December 14, 1671. His elder son, Lieutenant Thomas Stebbins, represents in direct line the paternal history of John Steb- bins. The latter's father, Charles Stebbins, was the only son of Lewis Stebbins, a native
of Springfield, Mass. Lewis Stebbins was the eldest son of Captain Thomas Stebbins, who was the eldest son of Thomas Stebbins (3d), who lived and died in Massachusetts, as did all the Stebbins family to the time of Lewis Stebbins. Thomas Stebbins (3d) was the eldest son of Thomas Stebbins (2d), who was the son of Lieutenant Thomas Stebbins.
The latter was the eldest son of Roland Stebbins, the first ancestor to come to America.
The father of our subject, the late Hon. Charles Stebbins, a native of Williamstown, Mass., and a graduate of Williams College, class of 1807, came to Cazenovia in 1810, making the journey on horseback. Entering the office of Hon. Perry G. Childs, he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1813. His death, after many years of active prac- tice, occurred at his home in Cazenovia in March, 1873. Eunice Masters, with whom he was united in marriage, was a native of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County. This town was also the birthplace of her father, Hon. Josiah Masters. Her grandfather, James Masters, a farmer and powder manufacturer of Schaghticoke, was born, it is thought, in Connecticut, of remote English ancestry. Hon. Josiah Masters continued both the farm- ing and the powder - making, and took a prominent part in public affairs. He was appointed County Judge in 1808. He served successively as a Member of the Assembly and as a Representative in Congress from 1805 to 1809. Although his public duties sometimes necessitated long absences from
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home, he always retained his residence in his native town. He married Lucy Hull, who was born in Derby, Conn., and who spent her last years in Schaghticoke. Five chil- dren grew to maturity in the home of Charles and Eunice (Masters) Stebbins - Lucy, Mary, Catherine, John, and Charles.
The subject of this sketch received his edu- cation in the schools of Cazenovia and at Bartlett's Collegiate Institute in Poughkeep- sie. Having no inclination to a profession or political life, and possessing an aptitude for business, he devoted himself with energy and profit for many years to the manufacture of woollen goods, also giving some attention to farming. He was for a time President and Superintendent of the Chittenango Turnpike Company, and was also for a time Superin- tendent of the Cazenovia & Canastota Rail- road. He was elected Supervisor of the town of Cazenovia in 1858 and 1859, and again in 1882 and 1883. He was for a num- ber of terms a Trustee and also President of the village of Cazenovia. In 1878 he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Public Works, having under his direct supervision the middle division of the Erie Canal, extend- ing from the east side of Oneida County to Wayne County, and including the Oswego, Cayuga, and Seneca and Black River Canals. He held this office until 1881. In 1884 he was reappointed to the position, and con- tinued to hold it until 1890.
We quote from an obituary notice, as fol- lows: "Mr. Stebbins was one of Cazenovia's foremost citizens. He was universally re-
spected for his unimpeachable integrity, and trusted for his business sagacity. He was kind and devoted to his family, and loved by his servants and employees, of whom he had many. He was emphatically a friend to the poor man, and many are the grateful memories of his kindness cherished in humble Caze- novia homes."
September 27, 1860, Mr. Stebbins married Katharine Fairchild, daughter of the late Sidney T. Fairchild (of whom see sketch) and sister of Hon. Charles S. Fairchild, ex- Secretary of the United States Treasury. Mrs. Stebbins inherits many of her father's sterling qualities and his decided type of character. She has two daughters, Katharine and Helen Lucy. The first-named is the wife of J. H. Ten Eycke Burr, a banker in Caze- novia. Mrs. Stebbins continues to occupy the Childs homestead, endeared by the clus- tering remembrances of her early years, and now rich with the associations of three gen- erations.
ARNA J. STIMSON. The legal profession of Madison County is ably represented by this gentleman, who is influential in all that tends to promote its religious, educational, social, and political progress. He is a well-known figure in the public life of the village and town of Hamil- ton, where he has a pleasant home; and his record as a civic official is above reproach. Our subject was born in the town of Nelson, April 24, 1837, a son of James H. Stimson, who was a native of Blandford, Mass. He,
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in turn, was a son of Barna Stimson, who is thought to have been born in the city of Salem, in the same State. He was a resident of Blandford for many years, but the latter part of his life was passed in this county. Hle married Mary Nimox, who survived him many years.
James H. Stimson was reared in his native town, and, having received exeellent educa- tional advantages, began to teach sehool in early manhood. He subsequently abandoned that profession to give his attention to mer- eantile business. In 1840 he took up his residenee in Canandaigua, whenee five years later he removed to Michigan, going by rail and eanal to Buffalo, and thenee by the lakes to Detroit. He settled about ten miles south of that eity, and devoted himself to the trade of a cooper, continuing to live there until death elaimed him, in 1875. His wife, who was Cornelia Button before marriage, was a native of this eounty. They reared a family of six children.
Barna J. Stimson of this sketch laid the foundations of a liberal education in the academy at Canandaigua and in the public schools of Wayne County; and, following in the footsteps of his father, he, too, com- menced his career as a sehool-teaeher, enter- ing upon that vocation at the age of nineteen. When he attained the age of twenty-one, he began to prepare himself for his life - work, pursuing his legal studies in Detroit. He was admitted to the bar in that city in 1865, and in Binghamton the same year. He prac- tised in Detroit two years, and then, return-
ing to his native county, opened an office at Brookfield, where he remained until 1873, when he came to Hamilton, in which place he has sinee been actively and lucratively engaged in conducting an extensive law busi- ness. Through close application to his work, and by thoroughly familiarizing himself with the laws of the country, as well as by his aeumen, taet, and fine business qualifications, he has risen to an enviable position in his profession. He is a safe counsellor, ever watchful of the interests of his clients; and they, in turn, repose in him perfeet confidenee on account of his well-established reputation for fairness, justice, and strict integrity in all matters whatsoever.
In 1867 Mr. Stimson was united in mar- riage with Miss Rosalia B. Green, who was born in Sangerfield, Oneida County, but was reared in Brookfield. They have an attractive home, in which eulture and true hospitality abide, and have many warm and steadfast friends. One son, William D., has blessed their union. A man of Mr. Stimson's eali- bre and standing, professionally and socially, is naturally regarded as eminently qualified for places of publie trust ; and we find him an incumbent of the office of Village and Town Clerk, and a member of the Village Board of Education; and he has also served three terms as Justice of the Peace. He is very active in the social life of the county, and is identified with the following organiza- tions: Hamilton Lodge, No. 120, A. F. & A. M .; Cyrus Chapter, No. 150, R. A. M .; Norwich Commandery, No. 46. K. T .; and
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Mokanna Grotto, No. 31, Veiled Prophets. Politically, he is a Republican of no uncer- tain tone, and in religion a communicant of the Episcopal church.
2 EORGE G. SPERRY. The great philosopher and cynic of Chelsea, Thomas Carlyle, wrote a famous book about clothes, in which he moralized at length upon their exterior character as something foreign to the inner man, but did not venture to dis- pute their potentiality in influencing opinion and determining the degree of estimation in which we are held by our fellow-men. This most truly applies to civilized communities, where, in the ceaseless rush and whirl of life's battle, one is forced at first acquaintance to estimate others by mere externals; and the clothes of a man -- their style, quality, his manner of wearing them - afford in many cases a correct clew to the character of the wearer. Those, therefore, who in any stage of the world's history have been engaged in the production, improvement, manufacture of, or traffic in, the raw material or finished prod- uct of these articles of use, whether designed for protection from the severity of nature in northern climes or for mere personal adorn- ment, have been a potent influence in the onward movement of civilization, and have formed an important wheel in the complicated machinery of human society.
It is in connection with such an important branch of industry that the subject of this biographical sketch stands forth as a repre-
sentative. A member of the firm of Sperry & Sperry, leading dry-goods merchants of Hamilton, Madison County, he is a prominent representative of an ancient pioneer family of the State of New York, and an honorable, successful business man of Hamilton. He was born in Augusta, Oneida County, in 1830, and is a son of Minot Sperry, born in Connecticut in 1787, and died in Augusta, Oneida County, in 1869. Minot Sperry mar- ried Miss Nancy Sperry, who was not a rela- tive, though of the same name. She was also of Connecticut. They reared a family of six sons and five daughters, the subject of this sketch being their seventh child. All grew to maturity but one son, Albert, who was accidentally killed, when seven years of age, by a fall from a tree. Of these eleven chil- dren there are now living four sons and two daughters, namely: I. M. Sperry, who resides at Oriskany Falls, near the old home, and is now about seventy-six years of age; Charles B., a carpenter of Beatrice, Neb. ; George G., the subject of this sketch; Mary A., wife of A. Delevan, of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County ; Frank B., a farmer on the old home- stead; and Albertina R., who is unmarried and in the store with her brother, the subject of this sketch.
George G. Sperry remained at home until he was fifteen years old, attending school and working on the farm. At the age mentioned he became engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, and has thus continued up to the present time. Being a man of industrious habits, persevering disposition, and of unsullied per-
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sonal integrity, he has acquired an ample competence by means of his own exertions. Ilis store in Hamilton is one of the best of its class, and is conducted on the most approved business methods, the stock being replenished at frequent intervals, according to the demands of fashion or the wants of his customers. In the light of his successful career he may be truly considered as one of the self-made men of Madison County.
In 1853 he was married to Miss Eunice L. Durkee, of Augusta, Oneida County, a daugh- ter of Samuel D. and Laura (Hurd) Durkee, both of the State of New York. Mr. Durkee was a successful farmer of the town of Au- gusta, and died there at the age of seventy- five, in 1871, leaving a fine estate to his widow and four children. Mr. and Mrs. Durkee had buried one daughter, Sarah A., who was the wife of S. F. Lathrop. She died at the age of twenty-five, leaving one daugh- ter. Mrs. Durkee is still living on the old home farm in Oneida County, and is in her eighty-seventh year, still healthy and active for her age. It has been her custom for years to spend her winters in Florida and to pass the summer months in Canada - a practice which she has found greatly conducive to health. Those of her children who are living are: S. Morris Durkee, of Burlington, Ontario, Can- ada; Joseph H., of Jacksonville, Fla .; H. Jay, of Augusta, Oneida County; and Mrs. Sperry. Our subject and his wife are the par- ents of one daughter, Augusta, wife of C. S. Strowbridge, and one son, Samuel M., of Ham- ilton, who is married, and has two daughters.
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