USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 16
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Frank J. Quinn attended the common schools of Norwich and Preston townships ; after leaving school, he worked for different farmers until 1884, since which time he has been farming for himself near Preston Cor- ners. He is the owner of 100 acres of fine land, but at present is residing on another farm of 100 acres, which he has leased. He is engaged in general farming, as he is not a man of one idea, who thinks it necessary to
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devote his whole time to one thing in order to make it a success ; on the contrary, he has clearly demonstrated the fact that a man can successfully operate two or more lines of business, if he is possessed of sound judg- ment, and uses it to the best advantage. His farm is well stocked, and carried on under the most approved modern methods. He has about thirty cows, among which are to be seen some of the finest Holsteins that are brought to this country. He takes a great deal of pride in his cattle, and no pains are spared to provide for their comfort, and at the same time produce the best results in the yield of milk and cream ; to this end Mr. Quinn has erected a large silo, which holds over eighty tons, and which is filled in the fall with a fine lot of ensilage, ready for the winter, when other green feed for cattle is necessarily scarce. He also handles fertili- zers, selling to the farmers round about. During the season of 1897 he sold over $1800.00 worth of such machinery for which he has the agency, such as mowers, binders and corn-harvesters. He has always been active in politics, as in his business, being a stanch Republican and serving his party in a number of different offices; for six years he was postmaster, four years under Harrison and two years under Cleveland's administra- tion ; in 1882 he served as collector of Pres- ton township, was trustee of the school for a number of terms, and is at present performing the duties of assessor. He is a member of the Grange, which he thinks does much to advance the interest of the farmer, when properly conducted. He was united in mar- riage, February 26, 1883, with Florence E.
Coville, daughter of George Coville, and their pleasant home is ever open to a large and appreciative circle of friends. He and his estimable wife are advocates of the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which they attend.
UCIUS B. POWERS, a prominent and successful farmer of New Berlin township, is entitled to be classed among the early pioncers. He has lived in his native state all his life, and has witnessed the growth of a country which gave early promise of great things to be. He has assisted in its development and progress, and has a just pride in contemplating the position which the Empire State occupies in the galaxy of sister states. Mr. Powers was one of that class who began life amid difficulties and with limited advantages. His oppor- tunities for education were only such as were afforded by the pioneer schools, but his industry and perseverance supplied what at this later day the youth of America seemingly acquire without a struggle. Great credit is due Mr. Powers for the posi- tion which he occupies among the honored citizens of the Empire State, and in his later days he may be wholly pardoned for viewing with pride the result of what he has accom- plished by sheer force of will and the ele- ments of character with which nature en- dowed him.
Mr. Powers is a son of Abel and Emily (Lutton) Powers, and was born in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County, N. Y., Decem-
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ber 26, 1821. His father was born in the town of Leverett, Mass., April 2, 1795. He grew to manhood in his native place and then moved to Herkimer County, thence to Otsego County, where he remained but a short time, when he returned to Herkimer County. Upon his taking up his permanent residence there he settled down in the wilder- ness, converted a tract of timber land into cultivated fields, lived to enjoy a rich reward for his toil and privations, and terminated his labors upon the spot which had witnessed his early struggles and final triumphs. He married Emily Lutton, and they reared and educated a large family of children, who were as follows: Lucius B., subject of this biography; Sallie, who died July 2, 1825; Lyman R., born October 31, 1825, and died November 28, 1892 ; Mary, born August II, 1827 ; Zenas C., born Aug. 11, 1829, and died in January, 1895 ; Almon D., born November 10, 1832, and died March 6, 1876; Damon, born May 26, 1835, is a resident of Guilford, this county ; and Alvin, born June 14, 1838, and died April 3, 1885. Mr. Powers died October 16, 1841. Mrs. Powers passed from this life November 21, 1893, at the ripe old age of nearly ninety-three years.
Lucius B. Powers received his elementary training in the district schools of Columbia, and at the age of seven went to live with one Spencer Field, of Richfield, Otsego County, where he made his home until 1849. There he followed the occupation of a far- mer, and also operated a saw-mill. In 1850, he moved to Worchester, where he farmed one year; thence he went to Sidney, Dela- ware County, where he remained five years.
In 1856 he moved to Butternuts, Otsego County, and engaged in farming until 1871, when he moved to Holmesville, where he continued farming, but on a much smaller scale.
In politics Mr. Powers is a strong Repub- lican, and served as assessor for nine years in the town of Butternuts; excise commis- sioner for three years; member of the board of auditors of New Berlin ; overseer of the poor of New Berlin for two terms ; pathmas- ter for a number of years; and is now treas- urer of his school district. He was joined in matrimony October 24, 1849, with Miss Agnes Mellor, daughter of John and Ann Mellor of Middlefield, Otsego County. Mr. Powers is well known and highly respected throughout the county, and has performed his share in the building up of Chenango County.
RANKLIN EDWARDS, a substantial farmer and business man of Chenango County and Preston township, is a son of Thomas H. and Martha (Wilcox) Edwards, and was born January 24, 1823, in the town of German, this county. The first of the name to locate in this country were from Ireland.
Paul Edwards, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Connecticut, from which state he came to the town of Pitcher, this county, where he located and engaged in farming. He was a soldier of the Revolution, taking part in several battles, among which was the battle of Ticonderoga. He was wounded, and carried a ball in his left breast, but suf-
GEORGE L. SPRAGUE.
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fered no serious consequences from it. His wife, Martha Allen, bore him ten children, as follows: Rhoda; Hannah; Sallie; Alinda; Patty; Thomas H .; Ethan; Russell ; Paul, Jr .; and Sexton. He lived to the advanced age of about eighty years.
Thomas H. Edwards came from Stoning- ton, Conn., in which state he was born, and located near the village of Norwich, and afterwards lived in the town of Pitcher; a few years later, he removed to Allegany County, this state, remaining there the re- mainder of his life a resident of Almond. Politically, he was a supporter of the Demo- cratic party, as was his father before him. He was united in marriage with Martha Wilcox, and to this union were born five sons and five daughters: Almira Eaton ; Rebecca Irons; Martha Dye; Franklin ; Roswell; Theodore; Jane; Sexton ; Ellen Church; and Tracy. The father entered into his eternal rest when eighty six years of age.
Franklin Edwards, the subject of this biog- raphy, attended the public schools of Pitcher township, this county, and afterwards fol- lowed agricultural work, coming to Preston in 1843, and working as a farm hand for ten ycars. At the expiration of that term he en- gaged in farming on his own account, on the farm known as the Waite farm, continuing there for fifteen years, at the same time being an extensive speculator and dealer in cattle, having as a partner in the cattle business, De- lancey Waite. He was married to Lucretia M. Ashcraft, a daughter of Leonard Ash- craft, a native of the town of Preston. He took his bride to the farm he had just pur-
chased in Preston township, and there they still reside, in one of the most attractive resi- dences in the township. The farm consists of 1071/2 acres under the highest cultivation. Mr. Edwards makes a specialty of dairying, keeps sixteen cows, and everything around his stables is in the best condition, neat and clean, as he thinks a great deal of his cows, and believes in keeping them in the best order, and in the most comfortable quarters. Everything about his farm bears evidence of thrift and care. He has but one child, a daughter, Eva, who is the wife of D. B. Heady, a farmer residing in the town of Plymouth, this county. Mr. Edwards is an ardent Democrat, and has been prevailed upon by his friends to accept some local offices, having served as road commissioner and postmaster at Preston. He has on his place an apple tree of which he is justly proud, it being the oldest in Chenango County and the first to bear fruit.
EORGE L. SPRAGUE, manufac- turer of lumber and cheese boxes, and a prominent citizen of McDonough, and county superintendent of poor at Preston, is a son of Marcus L. and Safrona (Gale) Sprague. The family is of English ancestry ; three brothers emigrated to the United States and settled in the State of Massachusetts. Caleb S., one of these brothers, is known to be the great-great-grandfather of our subject.
Joseph Sprague, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Athol, Wor- cester County, Mass. In 1820 he moved
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from the state of his birth to New York and settled in McDonough, Chenango County, where he operated a farm of 200 acres. He was an old-time Whig. He married Melinda Chamberlain, and they reared seven children, namely : Marcus L .; Lois; Lucy ; Otis; Francis L .; Sarah; and Eliza. He died at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Marcus L. Sprague was born in Peter- sham, Mass., in 1819. He was a man that could operate two or more trades success- fully. He was a farmer, mechanic, carpen- ter, and lumberman. At the time of Mr. Sprague's death, he owned a farm of 300 acres. In politics, he gave a life-long adher- ence to the Republican party. He was twice married; by his first wife, Safrona Gale, he was made the father of five children : George L .; Harriet; Francis; Mary; and Otis J. His second wife's maiden name was Betsey A. Evans, and they were the parents of five children : Charles E .; Edwin M .; Freddie S .; Willard B .; and Morris. Mr. Sprague died in 1881 at sixty-two years of age.
George L. Sprague received his education in the public schools of McDonough, and then turned his attention toward cabinet- making, which he followed for three years. In 1863, he entered the army, and served gal- lantly until the close of the war. He was a member of Co. B, 32d Reg. Mass. Vol. Inf., the regiment being under the command of the venerable Col. Prescott. I He took part in all the engagements of the First Division of the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Poto- mac, among which the most important bat- tles were : Mill Run, Wilderness, Cold Har- bor, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, South
Side Railroad, Five Forks, and Appomattox Court House. He is now a member of the G. A. R., William A. Miles Post, No. 442, of McDonough, in which organization he served as adjutant for several terms. In politics, he is an avowed Republican, and takes an active part in the advancement of his chosen party. He is eminently worthy of public office, and his marked executive ability has been recog- nized on more than one occasion. He was elected road commissioner for two terms, has served as supervisor of the town of McDon- ough for two years, and in 1893 was elected superintendent of the poor of Chenango County, a position he now occupies. He owns a farm in the town of McDonough, and a mill and cheese factory, which is operated by his son, G. Merton. Mr. Sprague is a member of the Masonic Order of the Thirty- second Degree, is a Knight Templar, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, and the local Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. In his religious attachments, he is a Baptist.
Our subject was joined in wedlock, in 1867, with Miss Alice M. Harrington, daughter of S. Harrington. They are the proud and happy parents of four children : G. Merton ; Agnes E. ; Winona ; and Alson J.
In 1870, when Mr. Sprague was in business with his father, they had the misfortune to have their lumber yard and mill destroyed by fire, a loss of several thousand dollars being entailed by the catastrophe; our sub- ject again laid out his lumber yard, but in 188t he was again overtaken by misfortune, by having the property burn for the second time. He then purchased a farm, known as the Merritt Daniels place, upon which he
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began to manufacture lumber and cheese boxes, a business which his son, G. Merton Sprague, continues to the present time. On a preceding page will be found a portrait of the subject of these lines, who is recognized as one of the most prominent men of the county, and entitled to the fullest notice.
HARLES J. HUMPHREY. Among the prominent citizens of Bennetts- ville, Bainbridge township, and one of the best millers of Chenango County, is the gentleman whose name heads the lines. He was born February 13, 1829, in the town of Bainbridge, this county, and is a son of James V. and Harriet ( Olin ) Humphrey.
The grandfather, Thomas Humphrey, was a lumberman and also a farmer. The methods employed in getting the products of the pioneer farms and forests to the markets in those days were necessarily slow and labori- ous ; the lumber was floated down the Dela- ware River to the market at Philadelphia. Mr. Humphrey was a strong Democrat, and held very decided views. He was born in Connecticut, but was a resident of the town of Bainbridge, this county, at the time of his death, which occurred June 10, 1839.
James V. Humphrey was engaged in the same business as his father, farming and lum- bering, and like his father was a Democrat in his political belief. He was born June 7, 1799, and died at the advanced age of eighty- four in February, 1883, in the town of Osceola, Pa. He was united in marriage with Harriet Olin, whose father, William
Olin, was born in Bainbridge, but later re- moved to the town of Greene, where he died. To this couple were born six children, of whom four are still living : William T., born December 22, 1824, and died July 31, 1897 ; James M., born October 7, 1826, and at this time a resident of Anoka, Minn .; Charles J .; Henry D., born April 3, 1831, and died Janu- ary, 1863 ; Harriet A., born June 2, 1833, the widow of Mr. Heath, and now living at Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pa .; George F., born August 18, 1835, now a resident of Gale- ton, Potter County, Pa.
Charles J. Humphrey cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire in 1852, but after that gave his political support to the new party, organized in 1853 or 1854, that has since been known as the Republican party. He has taken an intelligent interest in local politics, and made a splendid run for sheriff while in Tioga County, Pa., and was elected justice of the peace of the same place, where he gave universal satisfaction in his interpretation of the law. Mr. Humphrey was a farmer lad and received his intellectual training in the common and the select schools, remaining on the farm until he had attained his eighteenth year. He then taught school in Bainbridge, and after five years' teaching entered upon the career of a miller. He en- gaged to work for Mr. Samuel Corbin four years in order to thoroughly learn the mill- ing business. Mr. Corbin was an expert mil- ler, understanding the work in all its details ; he was also a very fine musician and enliven- ed many a company with his melodies. When he left the employ of his old friend, Mr. Humphrey was considered an excep-
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tionally good miller, and readily obtained employment. He first went to Osceola, Pa., and took charge of a new mill that had but recently been built there ; this he conducted for five years, when failing health obliged him to return home for a year, when he once more took charge of the mill at Osceola. He then rented a mill at Tioga, Pa., which he operated for seven years; he then purchased a mill in the same county which he operated for eleven years, gaining an excellent repu- tation for the superior quality of his flour and mill stuffs. In 1874 he sold this prop- erty, or rather traded it for a farm upon which he lived for one year, but his thoughts still dwelt on mills and milling, and in 1876 he came to Bennettsville and again took up his old work. Since becoming the propri- etor of his present mills he has greatly im- proved and remodeled them, until they rank among the best in this section. He carries on a general milling business, and has all the custom work that he can attend to. He keeps flour and feed on sale, and so highly is his flour prized, that some of his customers come for miles to obtain it rather than use any other brand. He also owns a saw mill, a shingle mill and a cider mill, but his whole attention is taken up with the making of flour, the other plants being rented.
Mr. Humphrey chose as his bride Mrs. Eu- nice A. Kirby, whom he led to the altar Oc- tober 11, 1853. Her maiden name was Eunice A. Corbin, daughter of Ezra W. and Pamelia (Church) Corbin, both natives of Bainbridge. She was educated in the common and select schools, and is a lady of very great intelli- gence, a prime favorite among her neighbors.
They have two children: Charles B., born January 31, 1856, a jeweler at Bainbridge ; and Minnie Amelia, born April 13, 1860. Charles J. Humphrey is one of the shrewdest and most intelligent, as well as the most affa- ble of gentlemen, and has aided in no small degree in the prosperity of Bennettsville. While Mr. Humphrey lived in Pennsylvania, he was much thought of as a musician, and devoted all of his spare time for many years in organizing string, brass and reed bands.
LISHA PHELPS, deceased, a prominent and influential farmer of New Ber- lin, was one who left the world better for his having been in it. He was a true Christian, an honest man and good citizen, and a valu- able member of society. He came from one of the oldest and best known families in the county, his father being one of the earliest pioneer settlers. He was born in New Ber- lin, November 2, 1795, and was a son of William and Polly (Warner) Phelps.
William Phelps, better known as Deacon Phelps, was born in Springfield, Mass., but at an early day came to the State of New York, being one of the first to settle in his section of Chenango County. He was accom- panied by his two brothers, Pliny and Jo- seph, and they each took up a tract of land in the town of New Berlin. At that time it was an unbroken forest, inhabited by deer, bears, wolves and other wild beasts, which have since become almost extinct in this district. Here these hard-working farmers spent their entire lives, clearing and putting their prop-
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erty into a state fit for cultivation. One by one these old pioneers have passed away, and the time will come when they will live only in the memory of their descendants ; but the work of their hands will continue as a monument to their deeds, and as a reminder of the trials and struggles through which they passed in developing Chenango County from a wild and uncultivated tract of land to the rich and productive agricultural position which she occupies to-day in comparison with her sister counties of the state. The tract upon which William Phelps settled is situated about two and one half miles south of the village of New Berlin, and consists of 140 acres of fine farm land. His son Elisha succeeded to the ownership, and it has re- mained in possession of the family since. He was united in marriage with Polly Warner, and six children, all now deceased, were born to them ; their names are as follows: Elisha, the subject of this biography; James; Eli; Dolly ; Sally ; and Mary. He was a Free Will Baptist and an exhorter in that church. For many years he was a deacon in the church and an active worker, also contributing largely from his own means to its support.
Elisha Phelps was reared on the old home- stead, and obtained his mental training in the common schools. He followed closely in the footsteps of his sire, and chose farming as his occupation. He was a man of great energy and industry, and worked not only as a means of support, but for the love of it. He was a shrewd business man, and during his life-time accumulated considerable wealth, and upon his death left his family in good circumstances. He was looked upon as one
of the good, substantial men of the county, and his death, which occurred July 8, 1870, was a cause for universal sorrow. He was a public-spirited man, and did all that was pos- sible to promote the interests of the com- munity. Though Mr. Phelps has passed into the land of Death, he will linger long in the grateful memory of the people, for whom he labored so faithfully.
February 10, 1818, he was joined in Hymen's bonds with Hannah Vale, and seven children blessed their union; they are as follows : Melvina, deceased, was the wife of William Hall; Hamilton, an attorney-at-law of Nor- wich : Vernon, deceased; Catherine, who now resides in Michigan; Henrietta, who lives in Otsego County ; Adelia, a resident of New Berlin ; and Andrew J. of Norwich.
m ARSHALL G. HILL is president of the private banking house of Church & Hill, having been made the head of this solid financial institution at the time of its organization in 1894. Banking in- terests have in recent years claimed the most of his attention, although he has other impor- tant interests both in the village of Afton, and throughout Chenango County. Sound finan- cial judgment and integrity of conduct are keynotes of Mr. Hill's success. His connec- tion with a business enterprise is a guarantee for safe conservative methods. The bank of which he is at the head holds an enviable reputation among kindred institutions of the county, and this reputation he has ever made his business to sustain. He has thus been of
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vast assistance in maintaining the credit and integrity of the business interests of Afton.
Mr. Hill is a son of Charles and Nancy H. H. (Graham) Hill, and was born in the town of Meredith, Delaware County, N. Y., March 17, 1854. The Hill family is of sturdy New England stock, having settled in the State of Connecticut during the colonial times. Jus- tus Hill, the grandfather of our subject, a native of Connecticut, came to New York State in 1820, and settled at Meredith. He was a sea-faring man, and during the War of 1812 cruised on a United States privateer. He led this style of life until 1820, when he located on a farm at Meredith and followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1850. His wife's maiden name was Eliza Brooks, and they were the parents of three children : Charles, the father of our subject; Almira, deceased ; and George, who is of an inventive turn of mind and resides at Meredith. Silas Brooks, father of Eliza Brooks, and great-grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier, being seven years in the service.
Charles Hill was the proprietor of the leading grocery store in Afton, and was one of the village's substantial and progressive citizens. He was born in the town of Mere- dith, April 23, 1820, and was educated in the common schools of that place. His first oc- cupation as a means of earning a livelihood was that of a farmer, which he followed for about twenty years. He came to Afton in 1868 and opened a grocery store. Later, his son, our subject, was taken into the firm and they conducted it under the firm name of Charles Hill & Son. They did a large and
paying business and enjoyed the patronage of the leading citizens of Afton. Mr. Hill died January 21, 1894, after living a long and useful life of seventy-four years. In politics, he was formerly a Republican, and in 1872 became a Liberal Republican, supporting Horace Greeley for the Presidency, but dur- ing his latter years he was a Democrat. For a number of years he acted as captain of a company of Meredith artillery, and was serv- ing in that capacity during the Anti-Rent War excitement. He was united in marriage March 4, 1845, with Nancy H. H. Graham, who was born in 1823, and died in 1891, aged sixty-eight years. Her father was James Graham, a native of Scotland, who upon coming to this country settled in Franklin township, Delaware County, where he en- gaged in tilling the soil. As a result of their union, Mr. and Mrs. Hill became the parents of two sons, namely : Charles M., a traveling salesman, residing in Binghamton, N. Y .; and Marshall G., the subject of this brief biography.
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