USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 71
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Eugene B. Robie was reared in the village
of Eaton, and educated at the union schools of that place. At the age of sixteen he entered the drug store of Mead & Hamlin, and followed the drug business about ten years. On November 11, 1885, he married Miss Fannie Snell, who was born May 13, 1862, in New Haven, Oswego County, N. Y., and is a daughter of Lyman D. and Malinda Snell. Her father, a prosperous farmer of Oswego County, was born in 1834, her mother in 1839. They are the parents of three children; namely, Fannie, Carrie, and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Snell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in poli- tics Mr. Snell is a Republican.
Since his marriage Mr. Robie has resided in the village of Eaton. In 1887 he became engaged in the grist-mill with his father, buying the entire business in 1890, and run- ning it until 1892, when he sold it. Mr. Robie has always been a Republican in poli- tics, and, though not caring for official posi- tion or preferment, was elected Town Clerk in 1890, and served till May, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Robie are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and are highly re- spected in the community. They have two children, Harry E. and Nina L. The family live together comfortably and happily in their beautiful home in the village of Eaton.
REDERICK H. HODGES, a promi- nent and representative citizen of Can- astota, ex-Deputy Sheriff of Madison County, was born in the town of Stockbridge, N. Y.,
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in 1833. His father, Frederick Hodges, was born in Connecticut about the year 1812, and was a son of Matthew Hodges, a Connecticut farmer, who was a lifelong resident of that State, and died there when eighty years of age. He married a Miss Millman, and they reared twelve children.
Frederick Hodges on September 17, 1815, married Lovina Gilbert, a native of Connecti- cut, by whom he had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom five are still living, namely: Elizabeth, widow of Rev. Chester Percival, who was an Episco- pal rector, of Marshalltown, Ia .; Frederick B .; Lyman, an engineer, of Bradford, Pa .; Caroline, wife of George Houseman, a farmer; and Laverna, wife of John House- man, of Chicago. Rev. Chester Percival was a graduate of Hamilton College at Clinton, N. Y., was a successful teacher when a young man, was a writer of poetry, and an able preacher of the gospel - a man of superior talent and character. His wife, Elizabeth, also a graduate of Hamilton College, a woman of culture and refinement, was a teacher pre- vious to her marriage.
Frederick H. Hodges remained at home until he was fifteen years of age, and then began to learn the printer's trade with his brother-in-law, Frederick W. Cook. In 1852, in company with thirty-one others, he went to California, all reaching that State in safety after a journey of five months, and each after arriving there striking out for himself, independent of the rest. Mr. Hodges se- lected mining as his occupation, and was very
successful, making twenty thousand dollars in money. While residing in California, he was married to Anna M. Corbett, a cousin of Boston Corbett, who shot John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln. She bore him one son, and soon afterward died. The infant, having been sent by its father East to be reared, died when eleven months old. Some time afterward, when East on a visit, Mr. Hodges married September 27, 1859, his present wife, Malvina Coe, who was born in 1837, and is a daughter of Rensselaer Coe. By this marriage Mr. Hodges has had five children, one of whom, Flora, died at the age of two years. The four living are as follows : Gertrude, wife of Henderson Hinman, a farmer, of Stockbridge, who has two sons and one daughter; Lilian, wife of William Brown, living in Cold Water, Mich .; Susie, a young lady at home; and Vettore, a young man of twenty years. Mrs. Hodges is the eldest of a family of seven children, two daughters and five sons. Her sister died when three years old; and one brother died when one year of age, and one at three years. The three brothers living are: Hiram M., a farmer of Kenwood; Alasco, a farmer of Stockbridge; and Jay R., of Fort Atkinson, Wis. The mother of Mrs. Hodges died in April, 1885, aged seventy-four; and her father died in June, 1892, aged eighty-four. Mr. Coe was a man of decided character and strong peculiarities, and one of the most suc- cessful farmers of his day.
In politics Mr. Frederick H. Hodges is a Cleveland Democrat. He has served as
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Deputy Sheriff six years and as Constable twenty years, the latter office being filled by him during the war and during the construc- tion of the Midland Railroad, giving him considerable warlike experience without going to the front. Mrs. Hodges has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episopal church for the past forty-three years, her husband being now also a member of that church. Both are active in the support of religion and of educa- tion, believing that the right training of the young is essential to true social progress.
ISS RHODA FOSTER, who is a representative of one of the old- est pioneer families of Madison County, is a daughter of Joseph Foster, who was born in Warren, Conn., in 1786. Hc was a son of Joseph Foster, a New England farmer, whose eldest son, Nathan, removed from the land of his fathers to Madison County, New York, about 1780, and was followed to this then new Western country in 1799 by the father of the subject of this sketch. Joseph Foster, the grandfather of our subject, married Desire Hopkins, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, the daughters being: Deborah, who married John Pomeroy; Thursa, who married Joshua Tucker, and whose son, Adoniram Tucker, now resides near Hamilton; and Azubah. who removed to Michigan. Joseph Foster and his wife lie at rest in the cemetery at Hamilton Centre, Madison County.
Joseph Foster, the father of our subject.
married Lois Aldermm about 1805. They were the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, namely : Nathan, who died at the age of three years; Melinda, who died, unmarried, at the age of twenty-six; Abbey Ann, who died in 1882, aged sixty-four ; Harley, who died in 1887, aged sixty-eight, leaving a son and daughter; Lyman, who has three daughters: Harriet E., widow of Benja- min Richmond: Spencer, a farmer on the old homestead, who has one daughter; Rhoda, the subject of this sketch; and Cynthia, wife of Charles W. Wilcox, who has one son. Miss Rhoda Foster has been a milliner in the village of Hamilton for the past forty years, and through strict attention to her business has been quite successful.
HIL BENNETT SPEAR, A.M., D.D. Prominent in the educa- tional and literary circles of Madi- son County stands the gentleman of whom we write. During his entire life he has sought to raise the standard of education in his native State, leaving nothing undone that would advance the progress of civilization, and has been a substantial help in making Hamilton one of the most important centres of learning in the State. He was born in Palmyra, Wayne County. May 23. 1811. Ilis grandfather, Lemuel Spear, was, it is thought, a native of Massachusetts. In 1789 he came with his family to New York, mak- ing the journey overland with teams, at times being obliged to cut a path through the
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wilderness. He bought a tract of land in the town of Palmyra, and improved a farm, living there until shortly before his death, which occurred at the home of his son, Dr. Spear, in Hamilton.
Abram Spear, father of our subject, was born during the residence of his parents in Massachusetts, his birth occurring November 19, 1780, in the city of Boston. He was a lad of nine years when he came with his parents to Palmyra, which was afterward his home. He was trained to agricultural pursuits, and, when he attained his majority, started out for himself, with no capital excepting willing hands, vigorous youth, and a stout heart. By thrift and economy he accumulated enough in a few years to buy a small tract of land in Palmyra, on which was a house that had been built for a tavern. He did not open it as a public house, however, but turned his atten- tion to farming, continuing his habits of industry, and occasionally purchasing adjoin- ing land. His landed property increased until he had a rich and productive farm, one mile long and one-half mile in width, and mostly under good cultivation. He married Clarissa Bennett, who was born in Perinton, Monroe County, September 8, 1782. To them were born four daughters and one son - Irene, Cordelia, Philena, Clarissa, and Phil Bennett. They resided on the home- stead all their lives, Mrs. Spear dying August 26, 1859, her husband following her a few days later, his death occurring September 9, 1859.
The subject of our sketch was the only son
of the household, and received the best educa- tional advantages of that period, attending the common schools and the high school of his native town. He made a further study of mathematics under Tobias Ostrander, and received instruction in the languages from Dr. Seth Davis, an Episcopalian clergyman. At the age of twenty he entered the Hamilton Literary and Theological Seminary of Ham- ilton, N.Y. After completing the academic and literary course, in 1836 he entered the Theological Department, from which he was graduated in 1838. He had commenced teaching when in the Literary Department, and, after being graduated from the Theo- logical Department was appointed to the chair of Hebrew and Latin. He taught both lan- guages for some years, but subsequently con- fined his teaching to Hebrew, and continued an instructor in the university until 1889, when he resigned. He has always labored for the interests of his Alma Mater, which had a hard struggle for life in its earlier years. In 1846 application was made for a charter for the Literary and Scientific Department, which was granted under the name of Madison University. Soon after an attempt was made to remove the institution. To this Dr. Spear very much objected, and all of his influence was used to retain the location at Hamilton. The contest waxed warm until 1850, when the location at Hamilton was made permanent. Those who were in favor of removal withdrew from the university; and, though dire results were predicted, the opposite happened, how- ever, for the institution at once flourished as
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it never had before. The chief financial responsibilities of the institution rested upon Dr. Spear, and how well he fulfilled his part eannot be told without giving a complete history of the institution. Suffice it to say that its landed estates have been largely in- creased, and the endowments raised to upward of one-half million dollars. In 1889 the name was changed to Colgate University, and it is now recognized as one of the solid insti- tutions of the country.
Dr. Spear has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, to whom he was united August 29, 1838, was Esther Jack- son. She was born in Palmyra, N. Y., and died January 19, 1878. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Mary Dielle, of Platts- burg, N. Y. Of the first marriage four chil- dren were born - Frank B., Charles, John, and Mary. The Doctor is now living retired. enjoying his well-merited rest from active duties, happy in having won the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact during his many years of busy life. The people, not only of his town, but of the whole county, look up to him with respect ; and his name will be handed down from gen- eration to generation as one whose highest aim was to benefit his fellow-men.
ERTON H. BROWN, an enterpris- ing young merchant, doing a thriv- ing business in Brookfield, was born in this town, December 16, 1859. Asa Brown, great-grandfather of Merton, was born
in Connecticut m 1765, and came to the State of New York at the close of the last century. settling at a place in Brookfield called the Five Corners. His youngest son, Noah, who was born in Stonington, Conn., came with him to Brookfield, at the age of sixteen, and assisted in the work of the farm. Noah Brown was educated in the district schools, and at the age of twenty-one married Cathe- rine Brown, and settled on his farm, one mile south of North Brookfield, where he resided until his death, he and his wife having reared eight children - Noah K., Crary, Eunice, Cyrus, Catherine F., Cynthia E., Susan J., and Henry. The mother died at the home of her daughter, Susan J., March 30, 1881, aged eighty-eight years
Henry Brown, the father of Merton Il., was born in Brookfield at the old homestead. lle was reared on the farm, married and lived there for nine years, and till the death of his wife. Two years later he went to Clarkville, a village of the town of Brookfield, where he was given the offices of Constable and Deputy Sheriff, which he held for about eight years, having been several times re-elected to office. His second wife was Miss Jennie White: and they reared six children - Adin P., Katie. Charlie, Louie. Wendell P., and Bessie. The name of Mr. Brown's first wife was Arditsa Palmiter. Their three children were Carrie, Merton 11., and Ardy. Carrie mar- ried Mr. Frank Sherman; and Ardy married Mr. William Fitch, of North Brookfield, and has one child, Emma.
Merton Il., oldest son of Henry Brown,
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was educated at South Brookfield and at the union school of his town. At the age of twenty he entered the employment of A. J. Stillman, where he remained one year, and then engaged for six years with Irving Cran- dall. He moved to the village of Brookfield in 1886, where he has since continued, pros- perously engaged in trade. In 1885 he married Miss Hattie E. Babcock, of Leon- ardsville, N.Y., whose father, William A. Babcock, a native of Truxton, Cortland County, N.Y., was born November 19, 1820. Christopher Babcock, grandfather, and Asa, father of William, were born in Rhode Island, and moved to New York State, where they were farmers, the father in the latter part of his life residing in Jefferson County. He married Miss Elizabeth Barker, and they had a family of nine children. William, who was but three years old when his mother died, lived in Smyrna until he was nine years old. At the age of thirteen he went to the western part of the State, remaining there ten years at work on a farm, and then came to Brook- field, where he now resides, engaged in mechanical pursuits. He married Miss Har- riet Pelton, a native of Waterville, Oneida County, N. Y., born September 9, 1846. They have two children living: Mary, wife of Calvin Birch, of Brookfield; and Hattie E., Mrs. Merton H. Brown, as above noted. Mr. Babcock is a Deacon in the Seventh-day Baptist church. In politics he votes the Pro- hibition ticket.
Mr. and Mrs. Merton H. Brown have one child, Elsie. Mr. Brown is one of the most
prosperous merchants in Brookfield, and is a prominent and highly respected citizen. By his own intelligent industry and by honora- ble methods of dealing he has gained his present excellent position in financial and social circles. He and his wife are exem- plary members of the Seventh day Baptist church. Mr. Brown votes with the Republi- can party, and, while being too much en- gaged in his own extensive business to aspire to any political office within the gift of the people, still takes a reasonable and commend- able interest in public affairs.
FRED SAUNDERS, proprietor of cheese and butter factories in the town of Georgetown, N. Y., was . born in Madison, Madison County, N. Y., January 13, 1861. His father, Henry Saun- ders, a native of London, England, born there in 1820, in 1855, at the age of thirty-five years, emigrated to America, com- ing directly to Madison. He remained here about fifteen years, working at the trade of carpenter, and then removed to Binghamton, N.Y., and bought a farm. He remained at that place only one year, and then moved to Georgetown, following his trade as long as his health permitted. He afterward travelled for six years as an insurance agent; but his physical condition would not permit his con- tinuance even at this occupation, and he was obliged to retire from active business.
By his wife, Jane Watson, of London, Eng- land, he had five children, namely: Sarah,
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deceased wife of R. R Hall, of Pitcher, N. Y., mother of three children - Hovey, Grace, ind Fred; Mary, widow of De Witt Whitmore, of Rochester, N. Y., whose four children are Henry, LaMott, Marion, and Hovey; Henry C., deceased, of Norwich, who married Miss Emma Evans, of the same place, and had two children. Harry and Ilon- orine; Lena, Mrs. E. J. Bowdish, of Mara- thon, N. Y., who has one son. Clifford; and B. Fred, the subject of this biographical sketch.
After the removal of the family to George- town B. Fred, the youngest son, pursued his studies for a time at the district school of his neighborhood, and later took a course at the Rochester Business University. Returning to his home prepared for the labors of life, he found employment in the butter and cheese factories of Georgetown. He continued this work as an employee for several years, and then, hiring a factory, became a manager, the first year conducting the business alone, and then forming a partnership with P. E. Briggs, which continues at this day. Such has been the growth of the business that the firm has now eight factories in full operation. By careful supervision and untiring industry. united with a high standard of fair dealing. Mr. Saunders has established a reputation in his business second to none in the county; and his present prosperity is by no means the effect of luck, but of honest work.
Mr. Saunders married a daughter of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who for forty-five years was a noted physician of Georgetown, N. Y.
Her grandfather, Nathaniel Franklin, was a descendant in the direct line of the great Benjamin Franklin, "printer," whose illus- trious life sheds a glory on his country's his- tory. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders rejoice in the possession of a little daughter, now tom years of age. named Honorine. In politics Mi. Saunders is a sound Republican. His wife is a member of the Baptist church of Georgetown.
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m R.S. ANN S. BOWERS, one of the excellent women of the village of Oneida Valley, Madison County, was born in the town of Turin, Lewis County, in 1831. Her ancestors were among the pio- neers of that county, and were eminently respectable people. Her father, Jonathan R. Davis, was a native of New Jersey, a son of Samuel Davis, a New Jersey farmer, who removed to Collinsville, Lewis County, N. Y., about 1828. He was a cousin of Mayor Op- dyke, of New York City, and also of the Strykers. His wife die l in the prime of hfe, leaving five sons and two daughters that grew to mature years. Of these seven children Jonathan Reddinghouse Davis was the oldest but one; and their father, the grandfather of the subject, died in the town of Lenov. M.ali- son County, when about eighty-five years old, leaving a fine property, and having settled his children well.
Jonathan R. Davis manviel Mary Allen, of Lewis County. New York, a daughter of Ebenezer Allen and a grand-mece of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. Jonathan R.
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Davis died at Oneida Valley in 1877, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Bowers has one brother, George Davis, a farmer, of the vicin- ity of her home. She has two daughters : Mary Pamelia, wife of Bruce Sterling, a farmer near by; and Ella Eliza, wife of Frank Keller, a merchant and Postmaster of Oneida Valley. Mrs. Sterling has had five children, one of whom, a little son, was drowned. Those living are as follows: Leonard B., Edna, George D., and Bruce. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have two children: Hugo, four years old; and Ernest, two years. Mrs. Bowers has a farm of fifty-five acres, left her by her father, and one of thirty-three acres in Oneida County, near her Madison County farm. In religion Mrs. Bowers was reared a Presbyte- rian, and, though not a member of the church, yet does her full share in its support. She is one of those who believe in living a relig- ion in preference to a mere profession thereof, and consistently strives to carry out in prac- tice her views of right and duty.
EORGE A. ROGERS, farmer, a worthy representative of one of the first families of Brookfield, N.Y., was born here, December 25, 1865, on the farm on which his father, DeLoss, and his grand- father, James, were born before him. The great-grandfather, Thomas Rogers, who was born and reared in Rhode Island, came to Brookfield, and took up a tract of timber land there, he and one other man being the very earliest settlers of the town. This great-
grandfather and his son died on the farm which they had cleared.
The centennial bells that have been making their joyful music around the country at in- tervals for the last twenty years have stimu- lated research, have set people to counting back the years and rehearsing the deeds of their ancestors, the emigrants from the Old World who colonized the thirteen original States. Scarcely less interesting than those twice-told tales is the history of the interior counties of the State of New York, which were founded by scions of the old English and Dutch stock. DeLoss Rogers was but eight years of age when his father died. He attended the good public schools of the town in his boyhood, and early took up farming for his occupation. He married Miss Cynthia Parmenter, of Brookfield. Their family con- sisted of four children: Gena C .; Elmer, deceased; George; and Nellie. The mother and father still live at Leonardsville, N. Y.
George A. Rogers was educated in the Brookfield Academy, and has followed farm- ing for a pursuit in life. He married at the age of twenty-three Miss Bertha Langworthy, of the town of Brookfield, and after his mar- riage bought the farm where he now lives, carrying on general husbandry. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have one child, a daughter - Edna.
The family attend the Seventh-day Baptist church. In politics Mr. Rogers regularly votes the Republican ticket. Longevity seems to be an inheritance in the family, as the forefathers of Mr. Rogers lived to a good
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old age; and his grandmother is still living with his parents, at the age of ninety-four years, a well-preserved and active lady. Mr. Rogers is ambitious and enterprising, taking pride in his farm, which is one of the best cultivated and most productive in the town. He brings energy and intelligence to his work, and with most satisfactory results, holding his own as one of the most progres- sive agriculturists of the day.
OLOMON HENDERSON, a gen- eral farmer and hop-raiser of the town of Madison, was born in Chester. Warren County, N. Y., November 29, 1817. This gentleman can boast of thrifty Scotch ancestry, being a grandson of Guy C. Henderson, a native of Scotland, and one of the pioneer settlers of Warren County, whose first work after securing his land was to cut timber and build the modest house of logs, where he lived the rest of his life. Guy Carlton Henderson, son of the emigrant and father of Solomon, was born, reared, and edu- cated in Chester. When grown to manhood. he purchased land and engaged in farming, residing in the town until 1833. In that year he sold out, and removed to Oneida County. going first by team to Amsterdam, N. Y .. then through the Erie Canal to Utica, there again packing their goods and chattels in wagons, and driving to the town of Marshall, where he settled for a number of years and followed his trade of masonry. Mr. Hender- son's next move was to the town of Madison.
where he stayed for about four years, when, hearing of a job of work in Sherburne, he started to walk to that place, and was never heard from afterward. He married Sarah Lo- vina Smith, also a native of Chester; and to them were born twelve children.
Solomon Henderson was sixteen years old when his parents moved to Marshall. He lived and worked on the farm until his twenty-second year, and then was appointed Superintendent of Repairs for torty miles of the Third Great Western Turnpike, which position he held for twelve years. During that time he bought a farm, comprising one hundred and twenty-three acres, on which he erected good buildings, where he now resides, engaged in general farming and hop-raising. He was united in marriage October to, 1847. with Miss Emily A. White, who was born in Madison, Madison County, N. Y., February 8, 1824. Like her husband, she was of Scotch descent. her great-grandfather having been a native of Scotland. He was a weaver by trade, and went while yet quite young to Ireland, where he worked for a time, and then emigrated to America, dying in Massachu- setts during the Revolutionary War. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Calhoun. She survived her husband many years, and died in the town of Madison.
Their son. John White, grandfather of Mrs. Henderson, was born in Massachusetts, and was fourteen years old when his father died. He served as a Captain's waiter during the Revolutionary War. Some years afterward he came with his family from Massachusetts
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