USA > New York > Madison County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Madison County, New York > Part 72
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to New York State, having to travel by team the entire distance. He was one of the earli- est settlers in the town of Madison, where he bought four hundred acres of primeval forest land, and soon, with strong hands vigorously toiling, cleared a tract for cultivation, and built his house of logs. For many years there were no railroads, and Albany was the nearest market for supplies. Farmers kept sheep and cultivated flax; and the women of the pioneer households had to card, spin, weave, and make all the wearing apparel of the family. But, if in those days there were privations, hardships, and poverty, their hearts were hopeful, their temptations few, and their simple, every-day life of toil made their coarse farc all the sweeter and their sleep the more refreshing. Mr. White im- proved the farm, and remained there until his death. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Stean, was born in Massachusetts, of Scotch-Irish ances- try. She died on the home farm. The father of Mrs. Henderson was Alexander White, who was born in Belchertown, N. Y., and was reared on his father's farm in Madison County, where he was successfully engaged in farming for many years, later carrying on the manufacture of woollen goods at West Eaton. He was a resident of Madison County his entire life. The mother of Mrs. Henderson was Miss Polly Armstrong, who was born in Frankfort, N.Y., and died on the home farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Henderson have been deeply afflicted in the death of three of their six children : Emma, aged five years ;
Carrie, aged three; and Ada, at the age of twenty-nine. They have three now living; namely, Wilber M., John, and Lizzie. John married Miss Ella Hatch; and they have two daughters, Grace and Ruth. Lizzie married Peter Keiffer; and they likewise have two daughters, Emma and Ada. Mr. Henderson has lived to see many important changes in this county. Where were once log cabins and virgin forests are now commodious dwell- ings, stately mansions, and blooming gar- dens; and his own comfortable and attractive home is a type of what industry, energy, and ability can accomplish. He and his estima- ble wife occupy a very high place in the regard of the community.
LEXANDER MCWHORTER BEE- BEE, D.D., Professor of Logic in Colgate University at Hamilton, N. Y., was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, in 1820. His father, Alexander McWhorter Beebee, LL.D., was a son of Samuel Beebee, a broker of New York City. He was a graduate of Columbia College, stud- ied law in the office of Judge Hoffman, and was admitted to the bar in 1807. He was a life-long friend of Washington Irving, with whom he was for a time a fellow-student. For thirty years he was editor of the New York Baptist Register, published at Utica, N. Y., now the Examiner, published in New York City. He was a grandson of Rev. Alexander McWhorter, D.D., who for forty-seven years was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
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A. M. BEEBEE.
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of Newark, N. J., and of whom there is a biographical sketch in the American Cyclopædia.
Alexander M. Beebee, the father of the subject of this sketch, married Mary Margaret Roorbach, daughter of Barent Roorbach, M.D., a surgeon in the British army, and a grand-daughter of Rev. John Ogilvie, D.D., who from 1764 to 1774 was assistant minis- ter of Trinity Church, New York City. This marriage took place in New York City, May 30, 1807, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Benjamin Moore. They reared four children, two sons and two daughters, namely : Pierre Ogilvie, who was for a time a lawyer in New York, died in Utica in ISSS, aged seventy-seven; Mary Ella, who married Hon. James M. Hoyt, LL.D., of Cleveland, Ohio, and died there when she was over sev- enty years of age; Alexander M., of whom we write; Augusta Margaret, who married Will- iam Middleberger, a prominent business man in Cleveland, Ohio. She died in that city at the age of sixty years. The parents of the Rev. Dr. Beebee removed to Skaneateles, N. Y., in 1807. The journey from New York to Albany was in a sloop up the Hudson River, before Robert Fulton's great steamboat experiment, and occupied an entire week. The mother died in Utica, December 11. 1830, at the age of forty-five; and the father married the second time Mrs. Mary Hoyt. widow of David P. Hoyt, of Utica. He died in 1856, aged seventy-three.
Alexander M. Beebee passed his early childhood and youth in Utica. though for
quite a period of his youth he had an impor- tant business training under Mr. D. G. Dor- rance, now of Oneida Castle, the outline of whose life is given in this volume. He received his education at Madison, now Col- gate University, was graduated from the college in 18447, and from the Theological Seminary in 18449, in which latter year he was ordained to the Baptist ministry. In 1850 he became a professor in the univer- sity, and occupied the Chair of Logic and English Literature for eighteen years, at the same time giving instruction in Political Economy. In 1868 he was made Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the seminary, and in 1869 received the degree of D.D. from Shurtleff College. In 1872 he was trans- ferred to the Chair of Homiletics, retaining Logic in the college. The duties of these last professorships he discharged for nineteen years. In 1891 he retired from the Chair of Homiletics, and was made Professor Emeritus in that department.
Dr. Beebee was married in 1850 to Cathe- rine J. Hall, of Sullivan, Madison County, daughter of Daniel Ilall, a pioneer settler and agriculturist of that town. In 1842 Miss Hall was graduated from the Oneida Confer- ence Seminary. Cazenovia, and in 1843 from the Albany Female Academy. Then happy union has been graced by three children, namely: Alexander Mc Whoiter, employed in the Live-stock Exchange in Kansas, Mo., is married, and has one son; James Hoyt, a graduate of Colgate University, and a dentist in Rochester, N. Y., who is married, and has
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a son and a daughter; and Catherine Mar- garet, wife of Albert G. Harkness, Professor of Latin in Brown University, Providence, R.I., who has one son.
Of Dr. Beebee's characteristics as a teacher one of his former pupils says: "During his entire professorship he has been an intellect- ual and moral force of the rarest educative quality. To analytical powers remarkably keen and strong he joins literary and aesthetic perceptions unusually delicate and discrimi- nating. So that in critical ability he has few equals. In the lecture-room he has handled his classes with peculiar skill. His pupils have learned to distinguish between what they knew and what they only supposed they knew. Mental sluggishness has been transformed into mental activity. Shirks could not thrive in an atmosphere so stimu- lating to intellectual endeavors. Requiring of the student intelligent apprehension of an author's meaning, and then the clear and facile reproduction of that meaning, he has developed in hundreds of young men powers of thought and of expression which would have remained half dormant under a method less masterful than his. The literary work of the students was for many years under his oversight, and his criticisms upon their pro- ductions were always most highly valued. The rich treasures of his wide reading were laid under tribute, and his refined taste had all the certainty of literary instinct. His influence upon the student's intellectual proc- esses tended to cultivate robustness as well as grace. No mere flesh-tints of rhetorical em-
bellishment could compensate for feebleness in the logical sinews of thought.
"His services to young men have not been limited to the subjects of his instruction, but he has ministered in many ways to the culture of his students. To a teacher so alert and sympathetic the topics of his teaching or the incidents of the class-room have often supplied suggestions leading him out into lines of wise and inspiring counsel which have been most helpful toward the formation of character and the right conduct of life. His classes have always recognized in him not only an intellectual man of large re- sources, but a high-toned, cultivated Chris- tian gentleman. To few teachers is it given so to impress their personality upon young men as has Dr. Beebee impressed his upon the students of Colgate University."
Dr. Beebee's relations to his fellow-citi- zens have always been cordial and influential, and his character above reproach. In 1852 he bought and moved into his present home. The house is a substantial structure, with massive oak frame, and, although erected one hundred years ago, is still sound and strong, and is one of the ancient landmarks of the place.
In this connection is presented a portrait of the Rev. Dr. Beebee.
ALTER M. LITCHFIELD, M.D., an able and rising young member of the medical profession of Madison County, was born March 4, 1863, in Sandusky, N. Y.,
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and is a son of Noah S. Litchfield, whose ftl.er was Simeon Litchfield, a farmer of Cattanaugus County, New York. The Litch- field family came originally from Litchfield, Conn., and settled in Cattaraugus County, New York. Simeon Litchfield, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, married a Miss Williams; and his son, Noah S., was born in Ellicottsville, N. Y., and grew up on a farm. He attended the district school in his boyhood, and later learned the trade of wagon and carriage making. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Jane E. Morris. who was the daughter of Joseph Morris, a native of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and a gun- smith by occupation. Mr. Morris was a well- educated man, and imparted much of his knowledge to his children. He was affiliated with the Odd Fellows. and at his death was buried with all the ceremonies of the order.
Dr. Walter M. Litchfield received his pre- liminary education at the district schools, and afterward attended an academy, graduating in 1879. He taught school for some time in Cattaraugus County, and was subsequently engaged awhile with his brother. Royal S. Litchfield, in the banking business in Frank- linville, N. Y. He then went to Lima, Ohio, where he was employed in the inspection of lumber for the firm of Joseph Morris & Co., Mr. Morris being his uncle. Two years later he returned to his native State, and took up the study of medicine with Dr. Francis D. Findley, of Franklinville, which he continued by attending lectures at the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Buffalo. N.Y. Ile
received has degree of M.It. February 21. 1886, after a course of fom vous, and was the valedictorian of his class, being so appointed for his high scholarship. On August 6, 1880, he married Miss Ide M. Shops, of Louisville, Ky .. and since his manage has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a gentleman of upright character, skilled as a physician, and of genial and courteous manners, which qualities have secured for him many friends and well- wishers. His practice is already large and steadily increasing; and, although young, he takes a high rank among the professional men of Madison County.
AMES S. DIXON, a thriving farmer of the town of Brookfield, was born in Utica, N. Y., August 1, 1833. In re- viewing the history of this branch of the Dixon family in New York, we find that Rufus Dixon, grandfather of James S., com- ing, like the majority of the carly settlers of Madison County from New England long be- fore the days of railroads, his early home having been in Litchheld, Conn., travelled by ox-team with all his household goods. campel in the unbroken forest, cleared a few acres of its heavy growth of timber, and here estab- lished his dwelling.
James Dixon, son of the pioneer and father of James S., was born in litchfield, Herki- mer County. N. Y., where the grandt ther first madde a settlement. He was only taught the trade & wash and blind making, which he
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followed many years. One of his earliest recollections is driving the team which took the sashes and blinds for the insane asylum which was being built at Utica, N.Y. He married Miss Cordelia Church; and they had three children - Delia, James S., and A. M. Dixon. The parents both died in Utica, the mother surviving her husband some years.
Left fatherless at thirteen years of age, James S. Dixon went to Bridgewater to live with an uncle, Russell Dixon, where he remained about three years, or till the death of his uncle, after which he came to Brook- field, N.Y., residing there six years, then going to Brisben. Having passed three years in that place, he returned to Brookfield, and there married, moving immediately afterward to Indiana, where he lived for eight years. He next went to Rutland, Ohio, and from there came to Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., remaining for some years, and lastly settled in his present home near Leonards- ville in the town of Brookfield. On this farm he has erected fine buildings, and has brought the land into a high state of cultiva- tion. He has very extensive hop-fields, mak- ing that culture a specialty, and getting a profitable crop ever year.
While being an active and conscientious citizen in his duty at the polls as a Demo- crat, he does not care to pose as an office- seeker. An enterprising, hard-working man, deprived of his father at an early age, he has had his own way to make in the world. That he has succeeded is well evinced in the pros- perity he enjoys to-day.
OHN GILL SANDERS, occupying a valuable farming estate in Smithfield, is successfully engaged in general agriculture, hop-raising, and dairying. He was born in Stockbridge, son of John and Sophia (Gill) Sanders. The paternal grand- father of our subject, Aaron Sanders, was a native of the old Bay State, where he grew to manhood and married. Coming from there to Madison County, he settled in Smithfield when the country was new, before railways or canals were built, and when trips to the mill or market were made on horseback, the road through the pathless woods being marked by blazed trees. He bought a farm of one hun- dred and ten acres, improved and cultivated his purchase, established a comfortable home, and remained there until his death, at the age of threescore and ten years. Politically, he was a Whig, and a man of influence in the community. He was twice married, and reared a family of eleven children, four of whom are now living.
John Sanders, father of John Gill, was born during the residence of his parents in Massa- chusetts, and was but a young lad when he came with them to this county, making the long and tedious journey overland with teams. He was reared on the home farm, which he assisted in clearing, gleaning his education in the primitive log school-house of that genera- tion. After arriving at manhood, he engaged in farming on his own account, and eventu- ally bought the old homestead, where he died at the age of seventy-three years. In politics he supported the principles of the Republican
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party. He was three times married, and reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Louisa J., widow of M. T. Morgan, who lives in Leba- non; John G .; Silas, who lives in Smith- field; Ellen, who is the wife of Delos Faulkner, of Fenner; Romaine, who lives in Michigan ; Mary, who is the wife of William Burnett, of Smithfield; Fillmore, who lives in Michigan; Orville, who died in Penn- sylvania, when twenty - two years old; and Sarah, who married L. Butler, and died in Wisconsin, when twenty-five years of age.
John Gill Sanders grew to maturity under the parental roof-tree, receiving a careful home training, a good education in the dis- trict school and in a select school at Peter- boro, and practical instruction in the details of farming. Deciding on agriculture as a life occupation, he purchased forty acres of land in the town of Eaton, where he remained about ten years. Selling that property, he next bought a farm of one hundred and four- teen acres in Smithfield, which he managed with success for about fifteen years. Having an opportunity to sell that advantageously, he did so, and moved to Peterboro, where he resided for five years. In 1886 he bought the old home farm, which he now occupies. At the time he purchased it the farm consisted of two hundred and ten acres of land, but Mr. Sanders has sold part of the land, so that his estate now comprises one hundred and ten acres, all under good cultivation and well stocked with a high grade of domestic ani- mals. His dairy consists of a fine lot of
Holsteins, and his machinery and implements for carrying on agriculture are of the most approved patterns. He at one time did an extensive business in buying and selling stock, and now devotes himself to general farming and hop-raising.
On January 17, 1851, were married John G. Sanders and Paulina J. Haling, a native of this State. Neither of the two children born of this marriage is now living, Sarah having died when five years old, and Sophia at the age of thirteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are very pleasant, affable people to meet, and are held in high respect throughout the com- munity. Mr. Sanders is a Republican in politics, and has served as Assessor twelve years.
AMES W. STEWART was born in the town of Essex, Essex County, N. Y., September 17, 1874. His father, Albert G. Stewart, was born in Eaton, Madi- son County, N.Y. The grandfather, Jonathan Stewart, was born in Scotland, and came to this country when a young man, locating in the town of Eaton, where he bought a farm upon which he resided until his death. His son, Albert G., was reared on the homestead until the age of twenty-one, when he went to Essex County, and there followed agricultural pursuits. Shortly after his marriage to Miss Mary Jane Knox, of Essex County, but whose birthplace was in Canada, he returned to Brookfield. N.Y. They reared three chil- dren - James W., Iliza Ann, and Loretta Jane. Eliza Ann became Mrs. Michael
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Flanagan, and died about 1877, leaving one daughter, Jennie, who married Fred Sherman, a farmer of South Hamilton, N. Y. Loretta married Louis Crouse, of Elmira, N. Y., and has two children, May and Albert. The father died on the home farm; and the mother, who is still living, marricd for her second husband Mr. John Lont, of West Eaton, N. Y.
Very early in life James W. Stewart had to start out to make his way in the world. When barely twelve years of age, having had but few opportunities to acquire an education, he commenced to work by the month, receiv- ing for his first summer's work the sum of seven dollars per month. At the end of this time he entered the employ of a Mr. Bene- dict, with whom he remained for four seasons, here obtaining the opportunity of attending school during the winters. From there he went to the woollen mills at West Eaton for two years, after which he again worked on different farms for about seven years.
On November 19, 1873, he married Miss Ida May Eaton, only daughter of Levi and Elvira Eaton, of Brookfield, and after working for Mr. John Garnett for some time purchased his present fine farm of one hundred acres. While at work for Mr. John Garnett, of Brookfield, Mr. Stewart had the misfortune to meet with a terrible accident. He was driving out of the barn, when in some manner he was crushed between a bale of hops and the beams of the barn. For many months he was a helpless invalid, but by tender care was nursed back to health. Mr. and Mrs. Stew-
art have had their family circle blessed with five children; namely, Kirkland, Zeaday May, William Wort, Germain, and Statira R. These children have had every advantage that the best schools could afford of gaining excellent educations, and their natural bright- ness and abilities have been thoroughly cultivated.
Although his early advantages were limited, Mr. Stewart has always been a great reader, and, having a good foundation, has built up a solid education. He takes much interest in civic affairs, and is a firm advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He and his family attend the Universalist church. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have many warm and devoted friends, and are highly esteemed in the county.
D. BANNING, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Ham- ilton, where he was born February 3, 1830, for many years has been closely identi- fied with the agricultural interests of this part of the county, his well-kept farm ranking among the most desirable here. His grand- father, who was of English birth, came to this country at the age of thirty-five; and it is thought that he first settled in some small town in Connecticut, whence he removed to New Haven in the same State. He subse- quently cast in his lot with the pioneers of this county, journeying all the way through the intervening wilderness with ox-teams. He became an early settler of Hamilton, buy- ing a tract of timbered land here, which he
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partly cleared, and whereon he erected a log house and barn. Later he returned to Con- necticut, and after that made his home there and here alternately, dying in that State. His wife, who lived to the advanced age of one hundred years, also died in Connecticut.
The father of O. D. Banning continued to live in Hamilton on the tract of land his father had bought after the return of the latter to Connecticut, busying himself in its further improvement. He tilled the soil with profit, and eventually bought other land, on which he erected a substantial set of buildings. He died here at the venerable age of eighty-five years. By his wife, Lucilla, he had three children besides our subject - Joseph D., Helen L., and John M.
Here on the old homestead O. D. Banning grew to a stalwart manhood, assisting his father in its management. He subsequently purchased a rich tract of farming land, which he has developed into a fertile, well-tilled farm, and has provided it with convenient buildings. He is an excellent farmer, hav- ing a practical knowledge of agriculture in all its branches; and his industry has placed him in comfortable circumstances. He is a man of good habits, is well liked in his com- munity, and has the reputation of always dealing with fairness and justice in all his transactions. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. To the wife who has been his devoted helpmate these many years Mr. Banning was married June 26, 1861. She was Sarah Williams in her maiden days, and her parents were Will-
iam and Floy Williams. The one child born to them died when quite young.
B. JOHNSTON AND BROTHER, general merchants of Peterboro, hold high rank among the rising young men of this county, being already valued factors of the mercantile industries of their native town, giving promise of attaining still greater success in the near future. Clarence B. Johnston, the senior member of the firm, was born in Smithfield, June 11, 1872; and Marshall Johnston, the junior partner, was born in the same town, August 15. 1874. Both brothers were reared and educated in the town of Smithfield, living on the home farm and attending the district schools, where they received a good common-school education. They were active, wide-awake. energetic boys, and endowed with good busi- ness talents.
When old enough to begin life on his own account, Clarence secured employment in the store of I. O. Wright. of Peterboro. lle proved a most competent and faithful clerk. discharging his duties ably, and during the two years he remained there obtained a clear insight into the business. On March 1. 1893, he formed a partnership with his brother Marshall. under their present firm name, and, buying the stock and fixtures of Mr. Woodbury, opened a store for general merchandise. They carry a stock valued at from five thousand to six thousand dollars, have a large and steadily increasing trade,
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and are classed among the reliable business firms of this vicinity. They are' young men of exceptionally good habits, courteous and genial in their manners, and frank and honest in their dealings with all. In politics they are steadfast Republicans.
Among the pioneers of Smithfield the name of Johnston holds an honorable place, the grandparents of our subjects having been among the original settlers of the town, and having aided materially in the development and growth of this section of the country. The parents of our subjects, Marshall and Adelia Johnston, were natives of this county, born in Smithfield. The father was a pros- perous farmer and stock-raiser, owning a good homestead in the town, on which he spent his last years, dying in 1874. Mrs. John- ston, surviving her husband for several years, managed the home farm, rearing and educat- ing her two sons. Both she and her hus- band were regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church In politics Marshall Johnston was a Republican.
EORGE O. C. LAWRENCE, a na- tive of Lancaster, Worcester County, Mass., is a member of the well-known Law- rence family of Massachusetts - a name emi- nent in the annals of its commerce and manufactures, and honorably associated with its educational and philanthropical work, and which has recently furnished a successor to the lamented Bishop Brooks in the diocese of that State. Mr. Lawrence is the eldest
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