USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 62
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James Ingalls, father of our subject, was born in Connecticut; but from the time he was three years old lived with an uncle in Columbia County, this State. He had inher- ited much of the energy and enterprise of his forefathers, and on attaining his majority started out to make for himself a home, if not a fortune. Accordingly, in 1807 he came to Madison County, and took up new land from the government in Lenox. The present town site was then a wilderness, with an occa- sional clearing in which the smoke of some pioneer's cabin could be seen. Railroads had never been heard of. Canals and public highways were conspicuous only by their ab- sence. the necessary journeys to mill and market being made on horseback over a road marked by blazed trees. He erected a log cabin, in which he installed his wife, for- merly Annie Moot, as mistress ; and the family subsisted on the food they raised or the game found in the forests. The wife and mother ably did her part in caring for the household, being kept busy in carding, spinning, and weaving the homespun from which she fash- ioned the garments of the family. Ile la-
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bored unceasingly, improving his land, doing a good business as general farmer and stock- raiser. He and his wife spent their last years on the homestead, where they died at the ages of eighty-two and eighty-three years, respectively. Both were worthy people, and lived true Christian lives, being consistent members of the Universalist church. In politics Mr. Ingalls was a Whig. They reared five sons and one daughter, of whom the following are living: James and Joseph, who live in Lenox; and our subject.
Conrad Ingalls received his education in the district schools of his native town, and commenced the duties of life at an early age by assisting his father on the farm. He con- tinued at home thus engaged until thirty-two years of age. In 1851 he was united in mar- riage with Lydia Jane Tucker, a native of Lenox, born in 1826, a daughter of Eli and Eleanor Tucker, both of whom are now de- ceased. Mr. Tucker was a shoe-dealer in the town of Lenox, and a respected citizen of that place. Three years after his marriage our subject came to Smithfield, and bought a tract of land, containing fifty-six acres, which con- stitutes a part of his present homestead. He began farming on a small scale, but, as time progressed, increased his business and con- tinued to add to his landed estate, until now he has a rich and productive farm of two hun- dred and ten acres, all under excellent culti- vation. He carries on general farming and dairying, having from twenty to thirty good cows. He makes a specialty of raising hay, and is ranked among the progressive and suc-
cessful agriculturists of his county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls have been born three chil- dren : Albert, who is married, and lives at home; Willis A., married, and lives in McGrawville, Cortland County; Owen, who is a civil engineer, residing in the District of Columbia. Politically, our subject is a steadfast Republican, and a man of influence in his community, which he has served for four years as Assessor and for two years as Road Commissioner. Mrs. Ingalls is a val- ued member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
2 EORGE J. SHELDON, a prosperous farmer of this county, a descendant of an old and highly respected New England family, was born in the town of Sullivan, N. Y., June 21, 1828, son of Justus and Lu- cinda (Bates) Sheldon. Caleb Sheldon, the paternal grandfather of George, a native and farmer of the State of Massachusetts, had eight children, who all lived to be over fifty years of age. In politics he was a Federalist, and served as a very brave soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Chesterfield, Hamp- shire County, Mass., at the age of sixty-two years.
Justus Sheldon and his wife, who were both natives of Massachusetts, were married there, and afterward came to the town of Sullivan, and bought one hundred acres of new land, on which they did general farming. Mr. Shel- don was also a wagon-maker by trade, and was a hard-working man. He died, at the age of seventy-nine years, on the farm where he had
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resided since coming to the county; and his wite died when she was seventy-eight years old. They were good and pious members of the Presbyterian church, and in his political preferences Mr. Sheldon was a Whig. Of the seven children born to them, five grew to maturity, but only four now survive: George J., our subject; Henry W., of Ontario County; Mary L., widow of John J. Ingalls, residing now with George; and Martha L., also living with her brother. Richard B., a son, died at the age of fifty-three years. Henry and Louise died when infants.
George J. Sheldon grew to manhood in the town of Sullivan, and has always resided here. When he was a boy and attended the district school, it was a common sight to meet the red men of the forest as they strolled along; and often they would give him wild game and venison in exchange for a little package of ammunition. They were peaceful and friendly Indians, seeming not to under- stand the value of the land they were so easily bartering away, and content with a little powder and shot. a few pounds of tobacco, and perchance a little "fire - water." Mr. Sheldon remained on his father's farm until his marriage, which occurred in 1863, to Miss Mary Rankin, a native of Madison County, daughter of John and Abigail Rankin. Mrs. Sheldon died July 19, 1877, at the age of fifty-three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon's domestic circle was never cheered with the sounds of children's songs and laughter; and, when Mrs. Sheldon died, her husband was indeed left desolate.
He has never married again, but takes fra- ternal pleasure in the society of his sisters, who manage his household. He has a large area of land, over two hundred acres, on which he raises hay, wheat, oats, corn, and also small fruits. Ile runs a dairy of four- teen cows, but does not care for fancy stock, preferring native breeds. By birth and con- victions Mr. Sheldon is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and steadfastly adheres to the principles of that party. He has a comfort- able supply of this world's wealth; and in his beautiful home, surrounded with shade-trees and flowering shrubs, evidently the abode of one who thrives by good husbandry, he leads a serene and contented life.
ROFESSOR NATHANIEL SCHMIDT, A.M., a member of the faculty of Colgate University, a gentleman of superior linguistic attain- ments, an Orientalist of much proficiency, is a fine representative of that large class of for- eign-born citizens that has rendered to this country such eminent services in the various branches of art, science, and letters. Profes- sor Schmidt was born in Hudiksvall, Sweden, May 22, 1862, and in 1882 was graduated from the Hudiksvall Gymnasium. He de- voted himself to scientific and linguistic stud- ies at the University of Stockholm from 1882 to 1884. In the summer of 1884 he came to the United States and entered Hamilton Theological Seminary, from which institution he was graduated in 1887. During the years
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1887 and 1888 he was pastor of the First Swedish Baptist Church in New York City. In the latter year he was appointed Associate Professor of Semitic Languages in Hamilton Theological Seminary. During the year 1890 he devoted himself to studies in Ethiopic and Arabic literature, in history and theology, at the University of Berlin, learning of such men as Dillmann, Schrader, Dieterici, Pfleiderer, and Harnack. He also visited a number of other German universities, becoming person- ally acquainted with the leading representa- tives of his chosen branch of study. Upon his return he was made full Professor of Semitic Languages and Literature in Hamil- ton Theological Seminary, and Professor of Semitic Languages in Colgate University. The Professor is the author of a large number of treatises, brochures, and articles in Eng- lish, German, and Swedish, and is known as an accomplished Semitic scholar. His lin- guistic attainments, however, are not limited to Oriental tongues, as he is equally familiar with European languages, and speaks several of them with fluency. In 1887 he received from Colgate University the degree of Master of Arts. Professor Schmidt was married Sep- tember 26, 1887, to Miss Ellen Alfvén, of Stockholm, Sweden.
IDNEY T. FAIRCHILD, for many years a leading member of the New York bar, was born in Norwich, Chenango County, N. Y., November 15, 1808, and died at Cazenovia, February 15, 1889.
His father, John Flavel Fairchild, son of Abijah Fairchild, was born in 1787, in Mor- ristown, N.J., the birthplace and home of the family for several generations. David Fair- child, father of Abijah, was born May 6, 1734, a son of Zacharias, who is thought to have been a lifelong resident of that town. David Fairchild married Catharine Gregory. Abijah Fairchild, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, served under Washington in the War of the Revolution, and participated in the battle on Long Island. A few years after peace was declared he emigrated to New York, and was one of the pioneers in the town of Otsego, Otsego County. He spent his last years in Cooperstown, where he died at the venerable age of ninety-three years. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Howell.
John Flavel Fairchild was but a lad when his parents came to this State. Learning the trade of a printer in his youth, he worked at that occupation in Washington, D.C., and in various places in the State of New York, at length settling in Sherburne, Chenango County, where he started a newspaper called the Olive Branch. Subsequently removing to Norwich, he there published a paper for a time. Later he lived successively in Coop- erstown and Georgetown. About the year 1820 he went to Morrisville, where he edited a paper for four years, at the end of which time he came to Cazenovia, and bought the Republican Monitor, which he published a number of years, making his home here till his death, January 5, 1864. The maiden name of his wife was Flavia Merrill. She
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was born in Hartford, Conn., and was the daughter of Thomas Merrill, also a native of Connecticut and a pioneer of Chenango County.
The subject of the present sketch was the eldest son of John F. and Flavia (Merrill) Fairchild. The father's removal to Caze- novia brought him within easy reach of the seminary, where he finished his preparatory studies. Entering first Hamilton College, he went later to Union College, where he was graduated in 1829. Studying law in the offices of Childs & Stebbins at Cazenovia and of Joshua A. Spencer at Utica, he was ad- mitted to the bar in 1831, and began practice in partnership with E. P. Hurlbut at Utica. In 1835, returning to Cazenovia, he became a partner of Charles Stebbins. The firm of Stebbins & Fairchild were the attorneys of the Syracuse & Utica Railroad Company, having charge of its local business after its consolidation with the New York Central Railroad Company, Mr. Fairchild being ap- pointed about the year 1858 general attorney of the last-named company, having his office at Albany. His last work in his profession was the argument of a cause in the Court of Claims of the United States, in which the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company was complainant, and in which a favorable decision was rendered in January, 1889. He was a Director and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Third Great Western Turnpike Road Company during the last twenty-five years of its existence, a Director of the Madison County Bank, President of
the Cazenovia & Canastota Railroad Com- pany, and for many years previous to his death a Trustee of the Union Trust Company of New York.
Some of the foregoing particulars are gleaned from an outline sketch of the life of Mr. Fairchild, which appeared as an obituary notice from the pen of a friend, whence also discriminating sentences like these, showing what manner of man he was : " In his profes- sion Mr. Fairchild was thoughtful, studious, indefatigable, cautious, persistent, sagacious, learned. As an adviser, he was discreet and candid. In the preparation of his cases he was thorough and exhaustive, both as to the facts - as far as possible - and as to the law. . . . His aim was always to enlighten the dullest juror in the panel or to convince the court. His forensic efforts were therefore labored, exhaustive, and often prolix. For clearness, conciseness, comprehensiveness. aptness, and neatness, his papers of all kinds were models. Upon arriving at manhood, he, contrary to parental influence, united with the Democratic party. For the last forty years, at least, he has been a prominent and trusted leader of that party, attending its conventions -- local, State, and national -- and largely influencing its policy and the policy of the administration whenever that party was in power. He was the valued friend and adviser of Seymour, Richmond, Cassidy, Hoffman, Tilden, Robinson, and Cleveland; and his opinions were always received with respect and deference. He was, however, no slave to party platforms or political chieftains ;
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and, whenever his party strayed from what he regarded as true Democratic principles or practice, no criticism was more scathing than his. He never sought or held office except that of Clerk and President of his village.
"As a man, he was absolutely pure and just. From this it resulted that he had little tolerance for those whom he regarded as vicious or dishonest, and judged them un- sparingly. His opinions were not borrowed from others, but were the product of his own intellect. He was modest and unassuming, and without a spark of personal vanity. To his friends he was loyal and true; to his de- pendants, a kind and indulgent master. . . . In the practice of his profession the widow and the helpless found in him a painstaking, prudent, and feeling adviser, defender, and helper, and all without fee or reward. For those who were nearest to him he had a lav- ishness of affection, a wealth of tenderness, a depth of sentiment little suspected by those who knew him but casually."
August 20, 1834, Mr. Fairchild married Helen Childs, second daughter of Hon. Perry G. Childs. She died in Cazenovia, October I, 1892. Her father was a native of Pitts- field, Mass., and a graduate of Williams Col- lege. He came to Cazenovia a young man in 1804, and, entering into the practice of law, kept his residence here till his death. He served in the State Senate from 1819 to 1823, and in 1822 was a member of the Governor's Council. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Ledyard. She was born in Mor- ristown, N.J., daughter of Benjamin and
Catherine (Forman) Ledyard. Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild had three children - Katharine, Charles S., and Sophia. The first-named was married to the late John Stebbins, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Sophia is the wife of Rev. T. G. Jackson, rector of the Episcopal church at Flatbush, L.I. The only son, Charles S., late Secre- tary of the United States Treasury, married Helen Lincklaen, daughter of Ledyard and Helen Clarissa (Seymour) Lincklaen.
UTNAM C. BROWNELL, ex- Sheriff of Madison County, was born in the town of Hamilton in 1835, a son of Nathan and Polly (Brown) Brownell. His father was born in Little Compton, R.I., March 13, 1789, and died in Brookfield, Madison County, May 24, 1866. He was a son of George Brownell, of the same place, who was born March 31, 1744, and who married Lucy Richmond, born July 26, 1751. George and Lucy Brownell were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom Nathan was next to the youngest child. About 1793 they removed from Little Compton to the State of New York, bringing with them only limited means, and upon arriving here bought a farm on Paris Hill, Oneida County, upon which farm they lived and labored, loved and died; and there the husband and father lies buried. Their eldest son, Loring, was a sea- faring man, owning the schooner of which he was the captain. He came to this State with
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his parents, and bought the farm upon which they afterward lived, and then returned to his vessel to make one more voyage to the West Indies, taking with him his two brothers, Peres and Putnam, both single men. None of them ever came back, nor were any tidings from them ever received. This was about the year 1792. Loring left a widow and one son, who, having been born after his father left on this last fatal voyage, was never seen by him. He became a prominent man, and died in Piqua, Ohio.
On December 30, 1817, Nathan Brownell married Polly Brown, of the town of Madison, he being at the time twenty-eight years old, and she seventeen. He followed farming for some time, and then engaged in general mer- chandising in Madison Centre, afterward in Hubbardsville, and still later in Brookfield, where he died. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, five of the sons and one of the daughters living to mature years, and four of the sons surviving to the present time, namely : George, a painter, living at Earlville, who has three sons and two daughters; Nathan, a farmer, of Hubbardsville, who was Supervisor during the War of the Rebellion, and later County Clerk, and who has one son and one daughter; Peres, of Utica, who has one son and one daughter; and Putnam C .. the subject of this sketch. Lucy married Jerome Terry, who died, leaving one son, George B., who in the spring of 1861 was one of the first to respond to his country's call. A fine young man, a good soldier, he died of
small-pox in a hospital near Washington, D.C., at the early age of nineteen. Nicanor died at Hubbardsville in 1887, at the age of sixty-four, leaving one daughter. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Lucy Terry became the wife of Alfred Babcock, who died in December, 1866, leaving her again a widow, with three children: A. Jerome, now a successful mechanic, of Chicago; Hattie, wife of Dr. Chase, of Morrisville, N. Y., and Charles, who was adopted by Mr. E. A. Brown, of the town of Brookfield, N. Y.
Putnam C. Brownell married February 12, 1857, Cornelia E. Morgan. a daughter of William and Minerva (Curtis) Morgan, both now deceased, the father having died in 1883 at Ilamilton, N. Y., aged eighty-three years, and the latter at Brookfield in March, 1867, aged sixty-two. Six of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are still living, namely : Mary Morgan, of Hamilton; Wealthy, widow of Martin P. Willis; Mrs. Brownell; Myron, of Clinton, Oneida County; Sarah, wife of S. D. White, attorney-at-law, of Hamilton, who has one son; and Mandalia, wife of Myrtus A. Sanders, of Rochester, N.Y. Mr. and Mrs. Brownell have buried two sons : Everett, who died April 10, 1862, aged twenty-one months; and Willie H., who died July 27, 1866. aged three years. They have one daughter, Florence Minerva, an interest- ing young lady of good capacity, who at six- teen years of age has finished with credit her course of study at the Hamilton public school.
Mr. Brownell began life for himself as a
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general merchant at Brookfield, when twenty- two years of age, and remained there until 1866, when he sold out his business and removed to Hubbardsville, where for sixteen years he was a buyer of hops for Charles Green & Son. In 1882 he was elected Sheriff of the county, and removed to Mor- risville, after the expiration of his term coming to his present fine home in Hamilton on the east side of the beautiful park. He has a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres one mile south of the village. He was out of business for some years, except as a buyer of hops. In the spring of 1893 he became a stockholder and manager of the Hamilton Lumber Company, which company purchased the business of Wedge & Allen. In connection with this business he has travelled over twenty-eight States and Ter- ritories of the United States, and is thus well acquainted with the country, with its conditions and possibilities. In politics he is a Republican, and has been true to its policies and its career since the candidacy of its first nominee, General John C. Fre- mont, the brilliant young "Pathfinder of the Rocky Mountains."
ETH S. MORTON, a retired farmer, living in the village of Eaton, one of the oldest and most highly es- teemed citizens of Madison County, and a descendant of a prominent pioneer family, was born May 1, 1816, in the town of Eaton, on his father's farm. He is a son of David
and Polly (Snow) Morton, both natives of Massachusetts. The father of Mrs. Morton, also a native of Massachusetts, emigrated to Madison County by means of ox and horse teams, and at a very early day settled in the town of Eaton in the woods, erected a log house with accommodations for travellers, and became one of the first tavern-keepers in the town. The conditions under which he lived and labored were those common to pioneers, and have been repeatedly described, in part at least, in the various personal memoirs of the old settlers incorporated in this volume. At that time the Oneida Indians still inhabited the country, but were generally friendly to the whites, and in many instances proved good and useful neighbors. Game of various kinds, as turkeys and deer, abounded; and wolves and bears were also numerous. Grandfather Snow reared a family of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity. He died in Ohio, having attained the remarkable age of nearly one hundred years. His wife also died at an advanced age.
David Morton migrated to the State of New York after he had arrived at manhood's estate, his marriage taking place after he reached this county. Selecting for a farm near the village of Eaton a tract covered with timber, he erected a log house thereon, and spent his days for the most part in clearing, improving, and cultivating the land. Being a man of industry, honesty, and high personal charac- ter, he had many friends; and his influence was always exerted for the good of the com- munity in which he lived. He reared a
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family of five sons and two daughters, of whom four of the sons are still living, name'y: Alfred, who resides in Pennsyl- vania; Seth S., the subject of this brief sketch; Hiram, of Steuben County, New York; and George, living in Ohio. David Morton was a Democrat in his political views. and in religious matters a member of the Bap- tist church. His death, at the age of sixty- nine years, was regretted by all who had known him.
Seth S. Morton was educated in the district schools, and remained at home, assisting in the care of the farm, until his father's death, when he bought the interests of the other heirs, and has ever since owned the old home- stead. In 1846 he married Miss Maria Allen, who was born in Cayuga County, a daughter of David Allen and wife. Mr. Allen was one of the pioneer settlers of Cayuga County, and died there on his farm. Of his three children, only Mrs. Morton now survives. After his marriage Mr. Morton settled down to farm life and labor, and con- tinued to live on the old homestead until 1879, the entire period of his life there hav- ing been sixty-three years. In the year last mentioned he removed to the village of Eaton. where he has since resided, surrounded by his family and friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Seth S. Morton reared five children, namely: Lutie, wife of Stewart Payson, of Middletown, N.Y .; Allen D., of the village of Eaton; George H., of Erie. Pa .; Charles E., now residing on the old home farm ; and Eddie S., of Hume, Bates
County, Mo. Mr. Morton is a Trustee of the Baptist church, of which both he and his wife are members. In politics he has been a Republican since that party was organized, believing that its principles, when practically applied to the affairs of the nation, are the most conducive to the prosperity and happi- ness of the people. Mr. Morton has never sought office, preferring to faithfully perform the duties of a private citizen rather than to seek publicity in town or county affairs. He and his excellent wife, his faithful companion for so many years, are among the oldest and best known citizens of the town of Eaton; and none are more highly esteemed by their friends or better respected by all who know them.
OHN A. ARMSTRONG, an enterpris- ing and prosperous miller of Perry- ville, N. Y., who has done much. to promote the industrial development of the village, was born February 7, 1848, in the town of Lime, Jefferson County, N.Y. His parents, Robert and Elizabeth ( Liddy) Arm- strong, were born in Ireland; but the Arm- strong family, as is well known, is of very ancient origin in Scotland. G. F. Arm- strong, who went to Ireland from that coun- try, was the founder of this branch. Robert and his wife came to America in the early years of their married life; and he still re- sides on his farm of fifty-six acres in Jefferson County, New York, and is a general farmer. Of the four children born to them, two are living: our subject, who is the elder; and
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