USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 13
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ing, believing that a farmer is more apt to make a success with a diversity of products than he would if he devoted all his ground to one or two crops. He was married Feb- ruary 26, 1878, to Mrs. Frances Ellinette Baldwin, a widow, who by a former union was the mother of one child: Grace M. Baldwin; and this union was blessed by the advent of two children : Achsa Emily; and Minerva Ellinette S. Mrs. and Mr. Packer are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and do much for the advancement of the cause. He has always been quite an in- fluential Democrat and active in the work- ings of that organization. His friends have recognized his great executive ability, and have prevailed upon him to accept several offices, such as road commissioner, assessor, poormaster, and at the present time he is the efficient justice of the peace of the town of Preston. The strictly conscientious manner in which he has discharged the duties of these various posts has proved beyond a doubt that his fellow citizens' confidence in him has not been misplaced.
R. R. H. PHELPS, one of the lead- ing physicians of the town of Nor- wich, was born in the above town, August 7, 1869. He is a son of Hamilton and Anna (Keyes) Phelps, and grandson of Elisha Phelps. The name is of English origin ; the ancestors of the family, upon coming to this country, settled in the State of Massa- chusetts. The first authentic history we have of the family is of one William Phelps,
KINYON TERRY.
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a native of Massachusetts, who with two brothers, Pliny and Joseph, at an early date, about 1794, came to New Berlin, this county. They are supposed to have been the first of . that name to settle in this section. Elisha Phelps, the son of William, was a farmer by occupation, and was also engaged extensively in lumbering and rafting. He was the father of seven children, three sons and four daughters.
Hamilton Phelps was born in New Berlin, October 12, 1823. He received a good edu- cation in the public schools of his native town and in Norwich Academy, and then taught for some years, when he made his choice of a profession for his life work. He took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar, September 5, 1848. He opened an office and practiced law in his native town for forty-five years. He was a special county judge of Chenango County in 1863, and served as deputy collector of internal rev- enues for some years; he also served as justice of the peace for several years. He was married to Miss Anna M. Keyes, and they reared two children, Minna B., and R. H., who heads the above lines. Mr. Phelps is now a retired citizen of Norwich.
Dr. R. H. Phelps graduated from Norwich High School with the class of 1887, was as- sistant bookkeeper in the David Maydole Hammer factory two years, and then entered the Medical Department of Syracuse Uni- versity ; graduating from that department in 1894, he spent one year in securing the re- quisite experience in St. Joseph's Hospital of Syracuse. Returning to his native town he engaged in his chosen profession, and soon
built up a large practice. Politically, he is an avowed Democrat. He is a member of the Chenango County Medical Society and secretary of that organization.
INYON TERRY, a leading agricul- turist of the town of Norwich, is a son of Thomas K. and Nancy D. (Shaw) Terry. He resides on the old Terry homestead, a farm which has belonged to the Terry fam- ily for generations, and which was the place of his nativity, October 11, 1834. The family is of Scotch origin, the great-grandfather having come from Scotland and settled in Rhode Island, where he spent his last years.
Elnathan Terry, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Rhode Island, leav- ing that state for New York, and settling in the township of Norwich, Chenango County, in the year 1804. He was a man who, for that day and age, attained a superior ed- ucation; a man of bright intellect, he was a keen observer of passing events, and an in- cident once impressed on his memory was never forgotten; he was well informed on all general subjects, and could converse intelli- gently upon them. He was one of the pio- neer settlers of Chenango County, coming here when the country was an almost unbro- ken tract of wild woodland, over which beasts of the forest roamed, in great part unmolested ; the neighbors were miles apart, and the only surety of not getting lost in the wilderness was in following "blazed " trees. He bought 150 acres of heavily timbered land, only two acres being cleared, and im-
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mediately set about the improvement of his property. He worked steadily at this, with the assistance of his sons, and at his death had cleared 115 acres. Some of the trees had attained an immense growth, measuring twenty-one feet in circumference. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and bore several saber marks, which were plainly visible up to the time of his death. One of the most highly prized heirlooms, now in the posses- sion of Mr. Terry, is the old musket willed to him by his grandfather, who carried it, when he gave his assistance to America to throw off the British yoke. Elnathan Terry was a deeply religious man ; he was a deacon and one of the founders of the Bap- tist Church, at Norwich, known as the Free Will Baptist Church. He was a very zeal- ous worker, and gave both time and money for the cause so dear to his heart. He was married to Mary Kinyon, and reared the fol- lowing children; Joannah ; Esther ; Ursula ; Salinda ; Elnathan; Thomas K .; and Alanson. Elnathan Terry died at the age of eighty- four years, after a long and useful life.
Thomas K. Terry, the father of our sub- ject, was but four years old when his father moved from Rhode Island to New York ; when he reached more mature years, he helped in clearing the farm, and was in fact his father's main help. After his marriage he took up his abode on the land which he had helped to clear, and which had been his father's home for so many years. He carried on general farming, and added several acres to the original 150. He was twice married, his first wife being Nancy Shaw, the mother of the following children ; Harriet (Wals-
worth); Phebe M. (Harris); Sarah A. (Mar- ion); Cordelia N. (Bradley); Ursula, who died at the age of seventeen ; Maria M. (De Lavan); Kinyon; and Byron Shaw, who was a student for the ministry when the war broke out, having prepared to enter college, which he would have done had he not entered the service of his country. He joined the Christian Mission Commission, and in that work his health suffered severely, as he was unable to withstand the rigor of the Southern climate, with the sad result that he contracted malarial fever, from which he died soon after leaving the service. Thomas K. Terry was an old line Whig. He was a devout Christian, a member of the Baptist Church, and one of the most active and en- ergetic workers in that organization. His family early had instilled in their minds the true religion, as laid down by the teachings of Christ, and it was their aim to make it the rule of their daily life. They were regular attendants of the Church and Sunday School, and he had the satisfaction, enjoyed by few, of raising a large family, and knowing they were all members of the flock of the Good Shepherd. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy-four years; his wife, the mother of our subject, died at the age of forty-seven, in 1847. She was a true help- mate to her husband, much of his success in life being due, in a great measure, to her help and encouragement.
Kinyon Terry is a man of undoubted in- telligence and energy-traits no doubt large- ly inherited, as his ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were people widely known for their superior mental attainments. His ma-
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ternal grandfather, John Shaw, was a native of Rhode Island, in which state he received his education, taking a college course, after which he entered the Baptist ministry, preaching first in Pennsylvania, afterwards in Lebanon, Madison County, this state ; he was the first minister of the Chenango Val- ley, and at the time of his death was pastor of the Baptist Church, at Willet, Cortland County. He was engaged in the Christian ministry fifty years, being seventy-four years of age at his death, which occurred in 1858. He was married, when a young man, to Phebe Manchester, and this union was blessed by a large family of children : Nancy, mother of our subject; Harriet; Phebc; Hannah ; Orpha; Orlinda; Betsey ; John; and Thomas. Grandmother Shaw was a woman of remarkable vitality, living to the age of ninety-six years. Her daughter Nan- cy was a great church worker, being active in all the departments, but especially so in the musical circles of the church, and the choir. The great-grandmother of our sub- ject, Phebe Manchester, mother of the Phebe Manchester named above, was an author of considerable reputation upon subjects of na- ture and travel, as well as upon religious topics. Some of her works were published in pamphlet form, and were widely circula- ted. It is a pleasure to be permitted to chronicle the romantic meeting of grand- father Terry and the maiden who was to be- come his life partner, Mary Kinyon. She was a member of the village choir, and her bright face and attractive manners attracted the notice of the young man, who sought and obtained an introduction. The acquaint-
ance thus formed proved in no wise disap- pointing, as it led to friendship, love and finally matrimony. They were not wanting in pluck, and when they moved from Rhode Island, they came overland with their three little children, driving a pair of three year old colts-a journey which would make us hesitate a long time before undertaking, at this day. Grandfather Terry carried in his pocket $1,000.00, with which he bought a farm, paying cash, as he was never known to go in debt.
Kinyon Terry is a graduate of Norwich Academy, having taken the full academic course. In addition to this, he devoted seven years to teaching, part of the time in the dis- trict schools of neighboring towns, and also in Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wis. He then purchased the old homestead, a farm highly prized on account of having been in the pos- session of the family for so long a time, and carried on general farming, adding to his es- tate, until at present he is the owner of 205 acres of as fine farm land as can be found in the community. Mr. Terry has some very fine blooded stock on his farm, stock of which any man might be proud. He keeps a dairy of thirty-five cows, his herd being composed of fancy stock Guernseys and Durhams. He has given much thought and attention to the dairy business, and for five years bred the Ayrshire cattle, then the Jersey and Durham for fifteen years, but finds the Guernsey the best breed by far for the dairy. His stables contain some very fancy, high-priced horses, and he has made a great financial success of the business; he has always taken great pride in his horses, and has raised some
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Morgans and Hambletonians of which any man might be proud, as they are in demand, and command very fancy prices. He sold one colt for $300.00, which afterward sold in New York for $2,000.00. Everything on his farm is of the best; even the sheep are thor- oughbreds, being Southdowns and Shrop- shires. Everywhere about the premises are to be found the same evidences of care, and the desire to excel in whatever is undertaken, and so it is not to be wondered at that Mr. Terry is looked up to by his neighbors as a model business man and farmer. For many years he has been connected with some man- ufacturing company ; at present he is repre- senting the Appleton Machinery Co. of Ba- tavia, Ill., handling all kinds of farm machin- ery. He has sold goods for that company for seven years, occasionally going on the road, but the bulk of his trade consists of home patronage, selling for the season of 1896 two car loads of their machinery.
Mr. Terry has been united in marriage three times ; his first wife being Elvira Glea- son, whose death occurred in 1866, after five short years of happy married life. In Aug- ust, 1867, he married Naoma Van Patten, a daughter of Nicholas V. Van Patten, a farmer of Sterling, Cayuga County. This marriage resulted in three children, only one of whom is living,-Elvira Naoma, who is a highly accomplished young lady, a member of the class of 1892 of Mt. Holyoke Seminary, Mass., but on account of poor health was not per- mitted to graduate; Edna May died at the age of four years; and Kinyon died at the age of eight months. In 1872 Mr. Terry was united with Miss R. A. Lyon, a daughter of
Benjamin T. Lyon, one of the oldest settlers of this county, and a resident of Sherburne. She was the mother of one child, which blessed their home for a short space of time, but when this bloom had scarcely reached its fifth year, it was taken to blossom in the gar- den of the Lord. In politics Kinyon Terry is a Republican, and has held many minor offices. He is a member of the Chenango County Farmers' Club. Mr. and Mrs. Terry are both communicants of the Calvary Bap- tist Church of Norwich, of which he is pres- ident of the board of trustees. He has held every office in the organization, and has always taken an active and prominent part in its councils. Mrs. Terry is at present clerk of the church, and they are both untiring in their work for the Master. As an excellent representative of the best class of agricultur- ists and stock raisers in Chenango County, it is but fitting that a portrait of Mr. Terry should accompany this sketch, and it may be found on a preceding page.
OHN M. ALBEE, a carpenter and farmer of Bainbridge township, is a son of John and Mary Ann (Ball) Albee, and was born in Colchester, Dela- ware County, N. Y., March 28, 1828.
His grandfather, Emery Albee, was reared in the State of Massachusetts. John Albee, the father of our subject, was born in Massa- chusetts, December 27, 1800; after attaining his majority, he moved to Monticello, Sulli- van County, N. Y., thence to Delaware County, and thence to the State of Pennsyl-
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vania, settling in Susquehanna County. In connection with farming, he followed the trade of a stone mason, in which he was very successful. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Ann Ball, and a large family of children was born to them. They are as fol- lows: John M., the subject of this sketch ; William, an old bachelor, who resides in Sul- livan County, and follows the carpenter trade; Horace, a resident of Susquehanna County ; James, a carpenter and joiner of the town of Walton, Delaware County ; Lorenzo D., a prominent farmer in Colchester ; George, a paper hanger, and a resident of Susquehanna County ; Thomas, also a resi- dent of Susquehanna County, and paper hanger ; William, Lorenzo and George, all of whom served in the late Civil War; Clarinda, the wife of Paige Lyman, a resident of Great Bend, Susquehanna County, Pa .; and Abigail, wife of Charles Huff, of Susque- hanna County, Pa.
John M. Albce was married to Miss Clarissa Thomas, daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Miles) Thomas. She was born in Broome County, October 18, 1822. Her father was born November 18, 1791, and her mother was born September 12, 1794. Their children were: Polly, born September 10, 1812, the wife of John Reekhow ; Phebe, born June 19, 1815 ; Lucy Ann, wife of Nel- son Baker, a resident of Great Bend, Susque- hanna County, Pa., who died October 2, 1897; Truman, born February 12, 1821 ; and Clar- issa. Mrs. Albee was first married to Leman Guernsey, and to them one child was born, Leman T., February 23, 1845, who married Miss Georgianna Hilton of Omaha, Neb .;
after her death he married Miss Frankie Vail of Susquehanna, Pa., and his third wife was Cecilia Mills. They now reside in Los Angeles, Cal., where Leman T. Guernsey is a large land owner and real estate dealer ; he is also president of the Redondo Beach R. R., which runs between Redondo Beach and Los Angeles. He began his fortune-making as a fruit dealer in Binghamton, N. Y., and in 1888 he moved to California, where he fol- lowed the same occupation. He is a very successful, thrifty business man, and has won many friends by his honest ways of dealing. Politically, he is an avowed Democrat.
To Mr. and Mrs. Albee were born the fol- lowing children. William Morrison, who was born January 13, 1854, learned the call- ing of a bookkeeper and married Miss Jeanie Stephenson of St. Louis, Mo .; they now reside in Los Angeles, Cal., where he is secretary of the Water Company, also treasurer of an insurance company, and of two churches ; Ida A., born April 2, 1856, died at the age of eighteen years ; Edgar A., born March 16, 1858, is a resident of Los Angeles, a painter by vocation; Helen J., born October 22, 1860, is the wife of William E. Tupper, a prominent hardware and plum- ber merchant of Binghamton, N. Y., and Carrie E., born November 4, 1862, who is the wife of William D. Evans, a well-to-do farmer of Bainbridge. John M. Albee, the subject of this personal sketeh, received his educa- tion in the district schools of Delaware County. He learned the trade of a carpen- ter and joiner, and has followed it ever since : he has also carried on general farming in connection with his chosen profession. Polit-
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ically, he is an ardent Republican, and has never sought public distinction. During the late Civil War he was messenger boy on the railroad, and was stationed at Alexan- dria, Va. He takes an interest in the Sturucia Lodge, No. 423, I. O. O. F., of which he is one of the members. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Methodist Church.
The mother of our subject was born in Philadelphia, and was a daughter of Stephen Ball, who was a wealthy man. Her grand- father, Stephen Ball, was a native of Eng- land, and was a first cousin to General George Washington. Mrs. Albee had two uncles who fought in the Revolutionary War, one of whom, Aaron, was killed in battle. Her grandmother on the maternal side, Elizabeth Barry, was captured by the Indians while living in the Mohawk Valley, and was carried to Canada, where she was held a captive for two years. At the time of her capture, or immediately before, she hid her silverware, and upon her return she found it safe where she had placed it. Two of her children were also captured, leaving behind her husband and two sons.
ENRY G. CARR, an honored resi- dent of Chenango County, and pro- prietor of a drug store in Afton, is a gentleman of great enterprise and energy, and one who has met with well-merited suc- cess. He is a native of Bainbridge, this county, and was born November 6, 1844. He is a son of John and Cordelia (Hoag)
Carr, and grandson of Peleg Carr. Peleg Carr occupied a prominent place in the solid agricultural interests of Laurens, Otsego County, N. Y. In 1856 he passed to the unknown beyond, being seventy-five years of age. He was the progenitor of a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters.
John Carr was born at Laurens, Otsego County, N. Y., December 25, 1811. After obtaining a liberal education in the district schools, in 1843 he came to what was then called South Bainbridge. There he pur- chased a tract of land and soon became one of the foremost farmers in that section of the county ; he also dairied extensively and met with great success. Mr. Carr departed this life April 22, 1872, mourned as a kind father, a loving husband, a generous, warm-hearted neighbor, as well as one of the foremost citizens of Chenango County. In politics he was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and he had decided opinions upon all the leading questions of the day, whether of local or general interest. He was justice of the peace and assessor at one time. He was married to Cordelia Hoag, daughter of Justus Hoag of Laurens, Otsego County. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Carr was blessed by two sons and two daughters, who were as follows: Henry G .; Justus H., who died October 19, 1887, from the injuries received in a railroad accident ; Ida E., deceased ; and John_R., a conductor on an electric street railroad of Aurora, Ill.
Henry G. Carr received his education in the public schools of Afton, where he has since lived the greater part of his life. He spent his early life on the old homestead,
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HON. JOSEPH BUSH.
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assisting his father until he was twenty-six years old. In 1878 he engaged in the drug business, handling a full line of drugs, medi- cines, and also stationery ; prior to that time he clerked in different stores in the village of Afton. His store is well situated in the vil- lage, is neatly arranged, and he does a thriving and prosperous business ; he is care- ful and accurate in compounding medicines and filling prescriptions, and therefore pos- sesses the entire confidence of a large patronage.
Mr. Carr married November 4, 1868, Mary Grover, daughter of William Grover, and they are the happy parents of three children, namely : William H., a tinsmith, who mar- ried Clara Greig ; Frank L., station agent at Cadyville for the Chateaugay R. R .; and George H., who is a music teacher. Politi- cally, Henry G. Carr is identified with the Republican party, and has served as town clerk and treasurer of the village corporation. He is a member of the Alton Lodge, No. 360, F. & A. M .; Vallonia Chapter, No. 80, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Susquehanna Lodge No. 185, A. O. U. W. Mr. Carr is leading a quiet and unostentatious life as a good citizen, a kind neighbor and generous friend, and filling his place in life as the pro- moter, to the best of his ability, of every good work and purpose socially, morally, and politically.
PC® ON. JOSEPH BUSH, deceased, was one of the prominent and influential citizens of Chenango County, and a leading member of the agricultural class.
He was a descendant of the sturdy old Dutch race, his paternal grandfather, Elna- than, being a native of Holland. Elnathan Bush, upon coming to this country, settled in the State of Massachusetts, where he re- mained until 1790, when he moved to Bain- bridge, Chenango County, with a family of four children, of whom the father of our sub- ject was the youngest. They came through the unbroken forest as far as Cooperstown, and there built canoes which carried them down the Susquehanna to a point one mile from Bainbridge, where the Bush homestead is located. The tract upon which they settled consisted of 250 acres of timber land, and by many years of unceasing toil it was brought up to its present state of cultivation, making it a very valuable piece of land.
Joseph Bush was born on the old home- stead, February 23, 1823, and was the young- est of seven children born to his parents. He was intellectually equipped for life's bat- tles in the common and select schools of his native town, and was also greatly assisted by his brother, who was a graduate of Hamilton College. Until he reached manhood, he was surrounded by all the best influences of home life, and thus the foundation of a long and successful career was formed. His inherited energy and adaptability to business did not suffer him to remain quiet, but forced him to push out among his fellow men. In 1852, he engaged in lumbering in Upper Canada, and followed that industry for five years. In 1859 he was nominated as Member of the As- sembly, and his popularity was shown by the fact that of the votes cast he received all but sixteen. In the Assembly he was on the
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Ways and Means committee and took an ac- tive part in obtaining assistance from the state for the construction of the Albany & Susquehanna R. R., materially aiding the pro- ject with his wealth and influence. After his term in the Legislature had expired, he went to. New York City and dealt in real estate with splendid results. He was a man of fine presence, a good judge of character, and pe- culiarly fitted for all the affairs of life. In 1870, he returned to the farm, which he per- sonally conducted until his death. The life of Mr. Bush forms a striking example of what industry and determination may accomplish. He made profitable investments, became in- terested in remunerative enterprises, won honorable success in business, and secured considerable wealth as a product of personal industry and good judgment put forth in fields wisely selected.
In political life he was a zealous adherent of the Republican party, having been a mem- ber of that organization since its inception. Prior to that time he was an ardent Whig. He was one of the founders of the First Na- tional Bank of Bainbridge, and his influence was at all times exerted in behalf of public en- terprises, which have resulted in much good to the community. In connection with the business transactions of a remarkably indus- trious career, he gave due attention to the cultivation of his mind and the gratification of naturally fine tastes. After nearly two years of suffering, death overtook Mr. Bush, on Monday, January 25, 1897. At different periods in his illness he rallied, and his strong constitution would assert itself, only to sink back again. During the declining years of
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