USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 67
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his employ who has worked for him at the bench for the last thirty-two years, and one or two others who have worked for periods of twenty to thirty years.
Mr. and Mrs. Morse are the parents of one daughter, Hattie, wife of Richard L. Miller, of De Ruyter. She is a lady of great musical talent, and a graduate in piano music of the school of Professor Hinton, of Syracuse. She has one infant daughter, Belle. Mr. Morse is a Republican in politics, and has served as Postmaster of his village. He is one of the Trustees of the Baptist church, is also School Trustee, and holds the same office in connection with the cemetery. Ile is well preserved, and is still actively en- gaged in business, conducting his shop and managing his farm of thirty-eight acres in the village, on which his shop, dwelling, and three tenant houses stand. His farm-house across the way was the first hotel in New Woodstock, and is now about seventy years old, but still in good repair. His first visit to New Woodstock was made when a bare- footed boy of twelve, about two years after his father's removal from Connecticut, to at- tend the raising of the Methodist Episcopal church; and the circumstances are the more vividly impressed upon his memory as he was upon that occasion treated to a pair of shoes -an event in those days not to be lightly regarded, being of very infrequent occurrence.
He began life without any capital save health, intelligence, and a good name. The latter. however, proved equal to a bank account, as he always found himself able to
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procure credit, when necessary, from any who knew him, and often from those who were acquainted with him only by reputation. He can look back over his past life with pride, conscious of the fact that the place he now holds in the confidence of his fellow-citizens is owing to his own habits of self-reliance, industry, perseverance, and rectitude. He believes that practice is better than preach- ing, and, though not a member of any church nor an adherent of any man-made creed, his moral influence and substantial support are always given to every useful and worthy enterprise calculated to promote the public good.
A W. LINDSLEY, an industrious and enterprising young farmer, profitably pursuing his laborious but pleasant and healthful calling in the town of Stock- bridge, Madison County, N.Y., was born in this place, October 28, 1849, son of Alden and Mary (Rockwell) Lindsley. The father was a native of Connecticut, the mother of Massachusetts. Alden Lindsley, who was a son of Eliab Lindsley, also of Connecticut, removed to Sullivan County, New York, when but a boy, and there grew to manhood, when he bought a farm of one hundred acres in Madison County, New York.
Of the four sons and one daughter included in the household of Mr. and Mrs. Alden Lindsley, the theme of our sketch and his sister, Ida M., Mrs. Dwight Davenport, alone survive. They live on the old home farm with Mrs. Davenport's mother, where the
father died, October 15, 1876, at the age of sixty-eight years.
A. W. Lindsley was reared in the town of Stockbridge, and attended the district and high schools of Oneida. When of age, he decided to become a farmer, and received eighteen dollars per month for his first season of work. In 1878 he bought a farm of fifty- three and a half acres, which he has re- modelled and greatly improved, making for himself and family a very comfortable and tasteful home. He is a general farmer, and among other profitable products of his farm are hops and maple syrup. He also manages an extensive dairy, having many fine Hol- steins in his herd of cattle.
On March 6, 1878, Mr. Lindsley married Miss Etta Mallory, who was born in Columbia County, April 12, 1853. Her mother, who is her only surviving parent, resides with Mrs. Lindsley. To this household have been born three children, of whom only two are living, Alma Bell and Emma Grace. Anson, their only son, died at the age of five years -a loss that has been greatly felt.
Mr. Lindsley is an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party, having in youth imbibed its principles from his father's teach- ing, and, while not seeking office, discharges his duties as a citizen with promptness and fidelity. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, never backward in seconding its good work, and always pleased when an opportunity offers to serve the cause of righteousness.
Mr. Lindsley's well-tilled fields, amply
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stocked barns, sleek and healthy cattle, and pleasant dwelling, all show his energy and thrift. The prosperity he enjoys he has justly earned. He is comparatively a young man; but his influence is felt and will doubt- less increase as he rounds out the measure of his days, pressing toward the mark set on high.
A LBERT E. RICHARDSON, a worthy representative of New England an- cestors, was born June 8, 1850, in Erieville, town of Nelson, Madison County, and is a son of A. F. Richardson, a native of the same place, who there carried on general farming on his own farm. Lemuel Richard- son, father of A. F., a native of Massachu- setts, removed thence to the town of Nelson at an early day, being among the first settlers of that town. He settled in the woods. because there was then no cleared land, built him a log cabin, cleared up his farm, with his wife reared quite a large family of children, and spent his last days in the town of Nelson. A. F. Richardson in company with his brother bought the old home farm, the former afterward selling his interest to the latter and buying another farm in the same town. He and his wife reared one son, Albert E., the subject of this sketch. He died in the vil- lage of Erieville, at the age of twenty-six, his widow still surviving.
Albert E. Richardson remained in his native village of Erieville until he was eight years of age, and then removed to the village of Eaton. He received his education in the
district schools and at the academy at Water- ville, and started out in life for himself at an early age, working on the farm for four dollars per month. After working in this way for some time, he concluded to try a different employment; and, entering a drug store, he followed that business some three year, when, tiring of the close confinement in a store, he learned the trade of machinist, beginning when seventeen years of age to work for Wood, Tabor & Morse for seventy- five cents a day. By strict attention to his work, and by serving the interests of his em- ployers, he has gradually risen to his present place, that of Superintendent of the establish- ment. The business of this firm is the manu- facture of portable and agricultural engines ; and Mr. Richardson has under his supervision from fifty to seventy-five men, according to the demand for the articles manufactured in the works of the company. Mr. Richardson's career is a distinguished demonstration of the value of sincere and honest service as com- pared with the restless dissatisfaction of those who think their wages are too low, and who are led by captious, designing men to strike for higher pay, thus often - like the dog, crossing a stream and seeing his shadow in the water apparently carrying a piece of meat, dropping what he had in his own mouth and plunging into the water to secure what he supposed was another piece of meat - losing even what they have had.
Mr. Richardson married Emeline O. Ben- nett, a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. L. Bennett, both of whom
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are living. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson havc one son, Linnwood A., born February 24, 1879. Mr. Richardson has been prominently identified with several different fraternities, as the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias; and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. They have a pleasant home in the village of Eaton, and enjoy the society of many friends by whom they are highly appreciated. Mr. Richardson is in politics a Democrat, though he has no ambition to occupy public station, preferring to attend strictly to his private duties. He is a most genial gentleman, and is very popular with all classes of his fellow- men.
LVA P. HUTCHINSON, an esteemed native resident of the town of Fen- ner, Madison County, N. Y., a prac- tical farmer, energetic and thriving, was born May 15, 1830, son of Loren and Nancy (Woodworth) Hutchinson, of this town. The father was a well-known man in his day, and one of the leading farmers in this vicinity, being engaged in general farming, and also paying particular attention to sheep-raising. He was a man much interested in politics, being a strong Republican and a great friend of the celebrated philanthropist and reformer, Gerrit Smith. Loren Hutchinson was always deeply interested in military matters, and was a Colonel of the State militia. He was Jus- tice of the Peace for some years, and was a class - leader in the Methodist church. He died in the town of Fenner, at the age of
seventy-two, and his wife when she was sixty- eight years of age. Of the nine children born to them, five sons and four daughters, only two are living : our subject; and Myron, of Cazenovia.
David Hutchinson, father of Loren, was one of the early settlers of the town of Fen- ner, having come here, it is probable, from New England, where the name was known as long ago as the first half of the seventeenth century. He had to clear the land, which was all a forest, and erect a log cabin, before proceeding to cultivate the soil. He died on this farm, at the age of eighty years. His family were nearly all members of the Baptist church, and in politics he was a Whig.
The subject of this sketch grew up in the town of Fenner, and was educated in the dis- trict school, when at home assisting in the work of the farm. He was twenty-seven years of age when, in 1857, he married Miss Pamelia Lattimer, who was born in Stock- bridge in 1837, daughter of Elisha and Ann (Edson) Lattimer, of Stockbridge. Her mother was born in New York State; and her father was one of the old Lattimer family, of Massachusetts. There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lattimer, of whom four are living - Mrs. Hutchinson, Linda, Polly, and Adelphia.
When Mr. Hutchinson married, he bought a farm of forty-one acres in the town of Fen- ner, and also a saw-mill, which he conducted for twenty-five years. He lived on that farm for about fifteen years, and then purchased the old home farm of one hundred and thirty
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acres, where he now resides, raising excellent crops of various kinds of grain, and carrying on a dairy of thirty head of young cattle, principally Holsteins and native breeds. Mr. and Mrs. Alva P. Hutchinson have five chil- dren, three girls and two boys - Josephine A., Willie W., Henry A., Jennie A., and Gertrude C., all at home. While Mr. Hutch- inson attends the Methodist church, he is liberal in his religious views and not a mem- ber of any denomination. He is a Democrat, taking much interest in politics and in pub- lic affairs generally, and has filled many town offices. His fine farm is in a high state of cultivation, the owner's restless energy and good management being everywhere visible in continual improvements. The example of Mr. Hutchinson, showing what may be ac- complished by persistent labor, should prove an encouragement to others who are strug- gling to secure a competency for their later years.
PRED I. BURNHAM, M.D., a success- ful physician of the village of West Eaton, and a worthy representative of an old and important New England family, was born in Lowell, Mass., April 24, 1859. He is a son of Filius and Eliza (Wade) Burnham, the former of whom was a native of Maine. and the latter of Nova Scotia. At the pres- ent time Filius Burnham is a resident of Lowell, Mass., and is the Superintendent of the Massachusetts Cotton Mills of that city. He was born in 1835, and his wife in 1834. They have two sons, namely: Clarence E.,
born January 16, 1858, in Lowell, Mass., and now a lawyer of Chicago; and Fred 1., the subject of this sketch. The parents of these two children are members of the Congrega- tional church, and in politics Mr. Filius Burnham is a Prohibitionist.
Fred I. Burnham was reared in Lowell, Mass., surrounded by influences calculated to develop the best of character, educated in the excellent public schools of the far-famed City of Spindles. Dr. Burnham remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, in the mean time beginning the study of medicine, when eighteen years of age, with Dr. Hunter, a resident physician of high repute, remaining with him one year, and then attending the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating from that institution in 1882. Almost immediately after receiving his di- ploma he settled in West Eaton, and has remained there until the present day. Dr. Burnham has a large practice, extending over a wide region, and has already become one of the leading physicians in this part of the county. From the fact that he is a graduate of a homeopathic college it will be seen that he practises the art of healing according to a system founded on resemblances-a sys- tem which appears to have grown rapidly into popular favor within the last fifty years, hav- ing by the quiet but intelligent and active persistence of its advocates and practitioners steadily overcome much of the prejudice which greeted its establishment in this coun- try, so that it is now regarded with tolera- tion, if not with favor, by the adherents of
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the regular school of medicine. Dr. Burn- ham is one of the most successful men of his class, and is a kind-hearted, genial gentle- man. While taking but little personal inter- est in the question of office-holding, yet he is much interested in politics as they apply to the general welfare of the people, and usually votes the Republican ticket.
R" ALPH E. GREGG, the third child and second son of John Gregg, was born at his present home on his father's farm in the town of Lenox, November 24, 1858. In his youth he attended the Caze- novia Seminary, and on reaching manhood became a farmer and stock-buyer, which occu- pation he has followed all his life. For one year only was he absent from the farm; and that was when, in 1886, he was in Albion, Mich., where he had a contract for purchasing live stock for the Buffalo market. He is a general buyer, and has shipped as many as five hundred calves in three weeks, and four thousand in one season. His principal mar- kets are New York and Jersey City. On his large farm he has fourteen acres of fine hops under cultivation, this having been the lead- ing industry with his father on the same farm for over twenty-one years.
Mr. Gregg married December 6, 1882, Miss May Cleveland, whose birthplace was Winnebago City, Minn. Her father was George Cleveland, of Stockbridge, N.Y., a mechanic by trade, who married Miss Lovina Hodges, by whom he had three children, Mrs.
Gregg being the only one who reached matu- rity. Her father died in Minnesota in No- vember, 1870, at the age of thirty, when she was but seven years old. She was then brought to Stockbridge, Madison County, to the native home of her parents, where her mother subsequently became the wife of John Housman, at present of Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Gregg's grandfather, John Cleveland, was one of the early settlers of Stockbridge - a gen- tleman well known for his radical principles on the question of temperance. He died in 1869, well ou in years. His large farm was noted for its neatness, substantial buildings, fine stone fences, and the beautiful long avenue of stately trees leading to the door of his handsome residence. Mrs. Gregg was educated at Oneida in the fine boarding-school of that village, and taught school with excel- lent success for three terms before her mar- riage. Four little daughters brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg, namely: Allie Cleveland, aged eight years; Ellen Field, four years; Polly M., two years; and Ruth Elmira, one year old.
While Mr. Gregg is a decided Democrat and a strong supporter of the principles of that organization, his friends are not confined to any political or religious party. He has served on the Board of Excise Commissioners with honor to himself and benefit to his village. He is an intelligent, energetic, and successful man of affairs, thoroughly at home in the details of his business, and is an au- thority in his neighborhood on any question relating to the buying or raising of live stock.
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IBERTY HALL, . practical farmer and stock-raiser, resident in Smith- field, N. Y., nearly seventy years, was born December 19, 1814, in Vermont, son of Newell and Sophia (Stockwell) Hall, natives of Massachusetts, but then residents of the Green Mountain State. The name given to the child in those early days of American independence is a sufficient indica- tion of the political principles of the family. Hence the reader will not be surprised to learn that far back in the Revolution the grandfather was a soldier of Massachusetts, his native State. After the war he was a farmer, and died there, when seventy years of age. Newell Hall, one of the five children of this patriot, was born, reared, and married in Massachusetts, and moved from there to Ver- mont, where he owned and cultivated a farm. In 1824 he sold that land, and, moving to Madison County, New York settled in Smith- field, where the subject of this sketch now lives. The farm was one of the finest and first cultivated in the vicinity, as a tract of timber land having been once owned by Judge Smith and cleared by Mr. Jonas Cleveland. When Newell Hall came to this part of the country, he travelled on foot, viewing the land, and, being pleased with this farm, bought it, paying for half of it in cotton and woollen goods and horses and farming imple- ments. It consisted of one hundred and thirty acres of land; and, although some of it had been broken by the plough, bears and Indians were nearer neighbors than any white set- tlers. Mr. Hall moved his family to this
farm, making the journey all the way from Vermont by team. Of the three sons born to him, only one lives now - he whose name heads this sketch. Those who died were: Palmer, at the age of sixty-four; and Albert, aged thirty. Newell Hall was seventy-two years of age when he died, and his wife was eighty-two. He was well known and es- teemed in his vicinity. In politics he was a Democrat.
Liberty Hall came to the town of Smith- field when he was but ten years of age. He remained on his father's farm, and attended the district school in his boyhood, obtaining a fair education. After marriage he managed the old farm on shares for about six years, removing at the end of that period to the farm of his father-in-law. in the town of Nelson, where he stayed three years. He then bought a place of sixty acres in Smithfield, which he afterward sold. He now owns his father's old home farm and other land, making in all about two hundred and fifty-four acres. He has given special attention to the raising of sheep, horses, and cows, and has a very fine dairy. Ile married in 1836 Miss Lydia Cutler, who was born in the town of Nelson. Her father was Frazier Cutler, one of the early settlers of that town, who went there with his few belongings by ox-team. He was then considered an old bachelor, but shortly after arriving in Nelson was capti- vated by a charming young lady of the place, and married her. He died in the village of Eaton, aged eighty-two years.
There were three children born to Mr. and
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Mrs. Hall; but only one is living, a daugh- ter, Jeanette, wife of Henry Isaacs, a resident of the village of Peterboro. A son, Newell, died at the age of fourteen years; and Clark, the other son, at the age of thirty-two years. His widow and daughter, Flossie, the only grandchild in the family, reside with his father. Mrs. Hall died at the age of seventy- two, October, 1891.
Liberty Hall is one of the progressive and influential citizens of the county, and both in farming and stock-raising has been eminently successful. He gives much attention to mod- ern improvements, and the prime condition of his buildings and his cattle attests his good husbandry.
In his political opinions Mr. Hall takes sides with the Democratic party, and has been elected to several offices, but never cared sufficiently about the honor to even qualify for them.
AMES A. MOORE, a worthy successor of the brave band of toilers through whose prolonged exertions the former wilds of Madison County, New York, have been brought into a high state of cultivation and thickly set with prosperous towns and vil- lages, was born in Brookfield, September 16, 1841. From the long-settled State of Mas- sachusetts, in the early part of the nineteenth century, the grandfather of our subject pushed out into New York State, the interior of which had not yet become populated. Here he secured his tract of land, which was well covered with timber, cleared a part of it, and
built his temporary home of logs, which be- fore his death, by his thrift and industry, he was able to replace with a handsome frame dwelling and good farm buildings also. This enterprising man was named Josiah Moore; and he made his home in the town of Brook- field, Madison County.
His two brothers, Elijah and Jacob, left Massachusetts with him to explore the new country which has since become the family home. The three worked side by side, tilling the land and harvesting the crops, and re- mained on their farms as long as they lived. Alfred Moore, son of Josiah, and the father of our subject, was born on the home farm, and was reared as a farmer, going to school in winter and working in the summer. He was a shingle-maker, and was also engaged in cut- ting and selling timber. At the time of his marriage he bought the farm adjoining his father's, and resided there until his death, at the age of forty-four years. His wife was a Miss Sarah Saley, daughter of James Saley, of Sherburne, N. Y., by whom he had but one child, James. Mrs. Moore died, at the age of fifty-six, on the home farm.
James A. Moore was sixteen years old when his father died, and had been educated in the district school and a select private school. As his mother now needed him on the farm, he remained at home, assisting her in its management till he was able to take full charge. Being the only child, he succeeded to the ownership of the home farm, and still carries it on. For a short time he managed a hotel at Earlville, known as the "Teft House."
B F. BONNEY.
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In 1861, at about twenty-three years of age. he married Miss Abigail Saunders, and has since resided on his farm. He attends the Universalist church, and in his politics is a strong adherent of the Democratic party. Quiet and unobtrusive in his manner, he is yet a man of strong character and high moral principles, and is consequently thoroughly respected by his fellow-citizens.
for the musket, and fought for liberty. This wife. formerly Hannah Day, survived him, and died in Hamilton at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. The father of the subject of this sketch, also named Benjamin, was born in Chesterfieldl. Mass., in 1781, and there grew to manhood, and married. In 1800 he came to Madison County, accompa- nied by his family, making the slow and tedi- Having a well - cultivated mind. Mr. Moore's literary tastes are of a high order. He is a great reader, and in these days of exceeding interest in the Colonial history of the United States cannot fail to approve of a work like this, which makes a specialty of ous journey overland with teams. He bought a tract of land near the centre of the town of Hamilton, on which stood a log house sur- rounded by a few acres of cleared land. At that time there were neither railways nor canals; and all surplus produce had to be recording the names and fortunes of the | hauled to Albany, which was the principal county's pioneers, who may well be held in grateful remembrance, seeing that
" These are they who made this wilderness Turn fair enough for angels to caress, Who set this heart of empire throbbing forth Its sterling manhood round the belted earth."
B ENJAMIN F. BONNEY, for many years a leading business man in the town of Hamilton, where he is now living in retirement, is numbered among the most honored and respected citizens of Madi- son County, New York. He was born May 24, 1818, in the town of Hamilton. llis grandfather, Benjamin Bonney, was. it is sup- posed, born in Massachusetts; and there he spent his last years, dying in Chesterfield. He was a farmer by occupation, and during the Revolutionary War gave up the plough
market and depot for supplies. The people in the settlements depended upon their farms or the game found in the vast forests for their daily sustenance; and the families were clothed in garments made from cloth which was spun. woven. and fashioned by the in- dustrious wife and mother. Hle improved a fine farm. subsequently created substantial frame buildings, and remained on the home- stead until his death, in 1837.
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