USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 17
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Marshall G. Hill received his intellectual training in the Union School and Academy of Afton. After completing his schooling he became a partner in the grocery business with his father, with whom he continued until the time of his death. He has since conducted the business alone, but the firm name remains unchanged. He has greatly enlarged the store, added many improve- ments, and has made it one of the most de- sirable trading places in the county. Every- thing is neat and orderly, systematically arranged, and indicates the successful man- ner in which it is managed. After the death
WILLIAM NEWTON.
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of D. C. Church, our subject purchased Mr. Johnston's interest in the private banking cstablishment of E. M. Johnston & Co., Mr. Church having been the other partner, and business was conducted under the firm name of Church & Hill. He was made president of the bank, Fred Church, vice-president, and George L. Church, cashier. In 1897, Mr. Hill with several others organized the Afton Gas Light Co., and was elected treasurer of the concern.
Our subject was joincd in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Rubie E. Avery of Ararat, Pa., October 6, 1878, and they are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Leona; Nan; Bellc; Bernice ; and Erma. In regard to his politics, it may be said that he is a Democrat of pronounced views, and takes an intelligent. and hearty interest in all local affairs that concern the public welfare in the least.
ILLIAM NEWTON, son of Asahel and Versalle (Booth) Newton, was born at Colchester, Conn., October 15, 1786, the eldest of seven sons. Ilis father was a soldier of the Revolution.
In boyhood William evinced the qualitics of energy, resourcefulness and pluck that distinguished his after carcer. With the slightest opportunity for an education, he yet valued it highly; improved his little chance to the utmost; and in after years gave his children the fullest advantages, three of his sons being graduates of Yale College.
Before Mr. Newton was twenty years old he came on foot into the wilds of Central New York, and, purchasing a lot of land in East Hamilton, built a log house, and the next ycar returned to Connecticut and brought on his father's family, of which at that time he was largely the mainstay. On the farm then settled, now known as the Hubbard placc, his parents lived and died. Two brothers, Anson and Daniel, lived there for many years after attaining their man- hood.
After the family was well settled, Mr. Newton came to Sherburne, in 1806, and learned the trade of carding, weaving and cloth dressing of a Mr. Mills, whose factory was a mile below Sherburne village, near the Paddleford bridge. Not satisfied with a dependent position, he soon commenced business for himself, building a factory on the Handsome Brook, near the Sherburne Quarter. This factory was burned, as was also another, soon after its erection. The manu- facture of cloths, especially of a very fine grade of satinet, occupied his attention, and such goods being little, if at all, manufac- tured west of Albany, his trade extended quite largely into the western part of the state, so that at the close of the War of 1812 he lost large sums by reason of the failure of many dealers through the influx of English goods. He, however, continued his cloth manufacture, and with such a prospect of success that about 1820 he bought a large farm and built the family homestead resi- dence now owned and occupied by his son, Lucius, expecting to pay for it out of the profits of his business. But the burning,
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about 1821, of his last factory, filled with new and expensive machinery, left him almost hopelessly in debt.
Never were his manly qualities more sorely tried, and never did he exhibit more resourcefulness and grit. It was the era of canal building. Mr. Newton sought and obtained contracts in the construction of the Erie Canal, and worked on the Utica section, when Utica was a hamlet. He had subse- quently a contract on the famous Carbondale R. R., in Pennsylvania, and also large con- tracts for bridge and lock building and canal excavation upon the Chenango and Black River canals. His success in contract work kept him engaged in it more or less for from thirty to forty years, and though long burdened with debt, he finally threw off the load, and at his death, August 9, 1879, at the age of ninety-three years, left a large estate, had provided a large family generously with educational advantages, and had supplied the pecuniary help they needed for a start in life. His wife, Lois, whom he married in 1810, was a worthy helpmeet. She was a daughter of Dea. Richard Butler, of the best stock in New England, and was born at Wethers- field, Conn .; pure, simple and energetic, she was an example to her daughters and a true mother to her sons. A humble and consistent follower of the Master, she trained her chil- dren in the path of virtue, and blessed them with her presence until called away at the age of ninety-four.
The family consisted of seven sons and four daughters, namely : William Butler, now living on his farm at Parma, N. Y., at the age of eighty-seven years; Louisa
(Lathrop), now living in Sherburne, aged eighty-five years; Lucinda (Buell), Warren, Maria, Amelia M. (Little), and Isaac S., all deceased ; Lucius, now living on the old farm, setting an example to the country around of a practical and progressive farmer, girt about with modern farm build- ings and appliances, and proud of his sleek herds of Jersey and other stock ; Hubert A., lately deceased ; Albro J .; and Homer G. The daughter, Amelia M., was married to the Rev. Charles Little, a graduate of Yale Col- lege, went with him as a missionary, and fifty years ago was buried in India.
Warren Newton, as a young man, spent several years in contract work on the state canals. Afterwards he studied law in the office of Benjamin Rexford, at Norwich, N. Y., and was a law partner of Mr. Rexford until about 1852, when he formed a partner- ship with his brother, Isaac S., which con- tinued until 1856. He then left the law, and with the late James H. Smith or- ganized a bank, which in 1865 became the National Bank of Norwich, of which he was cashier and chief manager until his death, in December, 1891. He was untiring and ab- sorbed in his business as a banker, with a capacity for work that was wonderful. The present substantial condition of the National Bank of Norwich is proof of his wise judg- ment.
Isaac S. Newton was graduated at Yale College in 1848, and proceeded at once to the study of law. After a few months of practice at Sherburne, he formed a partnership with his brother Warren at Norwich, where the rest of his life was spent. He was soon
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made district attorney of the county, and held the office for six years. It is unneces- sary to say to any one rcsiding in Chenango County between the years 1850 and 1890, that Isaac Newton was an able lawyer, for few men were better known in this region than he, and his counsel was sought far and near, not alone upon questions of law, for his breadth of knowledge-another evidence that the law is the " learned profession "- made him a ready counselor in other mat- ters. It is doubtful if the life of any man in the county was ever more filled than his with activity, to the very hour of his sudden death in 1889. Skilled in the law, retentive of memory, trenchant in argument, and earnest of purpose, his antagonist needed alertness to meet him. He had an innate sense of justice, and the rights of men were sacred to him. A true Christian and an honest lawyer, hc was trusted as such, and served his generation faithfully, and many mourned his death.
Hubert A. Newton was born March 19, 1830; was graduated from Yale College in 1850; was made tutor in 1853; and at the age of twenty-five was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the college, which position he occupied until his death, August 12, 1896, a period of more than forty years. Under his instruction passed thousands of young men, who can testify to the accuracy, indi- viduality and enthusiasm of his methods and the exhaustive value of his work.
But his reputation rests largely upon his mathematical and astronomical researches. The published records of these arc found mostly in the American Journal of Science,
of which journal he was an associate editor from 1864 to 1896. These records begin in 1853, and few years of his life passed with- out the publication of some new research. The great star shower of November, 1833, filled the miuds of a few thoughtful astron- omers, notably Professor Olmstead and Mr. Edward C. Herrick of Yale College, with questioning as to its cause. Professor New- ton, with his thorough geometrical training, set himself to the task of studying the mete- oric displays. He sought carefully all past records of star showers. He instituted a careful system of observation, many of the observers bcing trained by himself for the work; and out of the data thus obtained de- monstrated by acute mathematical reasoning that these apparent vagrants of the heavens were under law, and he sought to find to whose kingdom they belonged. He became convinced that the great display of 1833 ap- peared at regular intervals of thirty-three and one-quarter years; and that, therefore, it might be expected to return in 1866. His anticipation was abundantly verificd that ycar in all parts of the world, and congratu- lations poured in upon him from astronomers of many nations.
More than forty of his published papers relate to shooting stars, meteors, meteorites and comets. Upon receiving a gold medal, awarded him by the National Academy in 1888 for investigations upon the orbits of meteors, he said: "To discover some new truth in nature, even though it concerns the small things in the world, gives one of the purest pleasures in human experience. It gives joy to tell others of the treasure
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found." This remark is the key to his life- long enthusiasm. He sought truth and not reputation. But he was held in high repute; for as early as 1862 he became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; in 1863 he was named by Congress one of the original charter members of the National Academy of Sciences; was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1867; in 1868 the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the University of Michigan; he was elected Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London in 1872; and Foreign Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1886; and in 1892 was elected Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London.
" But the studies which have won for their author an honorable reputation among men of science of all countries," says his biogra- pher, Professor Gibbs, "form only one side of the life of the man. Another side, prob- ably the most important, is that in which he was identified with the organic life of the college and university with which he had been connected from a very early age. In fact, we might almost call the studies, which we have been considering, the recreations of a busy life of one whose serious occupation has been that of an instructor." * * " In all these relations of life the subject of this sketch exhibited the same traits of character which are seen in his. published papers, the same modesty, the same consci- entiousness, the same devotion to high ideals. His life was the quiet life of the scholar, en- nobled by the unselfish aims of the Christian gentleman."
Albro J. Newton, the sixth son of William Newton, was born August 16, 18.32, at Sher- burne, where his boyhood was spent on the family homestead. Ill health interfering with his plans of study, he turned his atten- tion to business, in which he has inet with a large degree of success. Early he became associated with that excellent man of busi- ness, Mr. Whitman Kenyon, Sr., well known to Sherburne residents of forty years ago, and early in the fifties they joined partner- ship in the manufacture of doors, sashes and blinds in the City of Binghamton. This busi- ness was transferred, in 1861 to the City of Brooklyn, where, in connection with a general lumber trade, it is now carried on under the style of " The Albro J. Newton Company," but with very different methods and machinery, and with products of a vastly higher finish than those of the early days. The business has kept a large number of men employed for many years. Mr. Newton is
conservative, and yet has not failed to take advantage of opportunity, and is a man whose judgment is relied upon by business men. In the thirty-seven years he has spent in Brooklyn, he has been a prominent figure in the city's life and development, and although not holding public office, has been sought after as director in several of the city's strongest financial institutions, and has been identified with many of the prominent philanthropic organizations of the place. In the religious life of the city he has always been active, being first a member of the Re- formed Church and later a member of the Church of the Pilgrims. He is also a director of the Brooklyn Young Men's Christian As-
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sociation and of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Dr. Homer G. Newton, the youngest son, born in Sherburne, in 1835, has for the past twenty years been a resident of his native town. His professional life consisted of a service of nearly two years as a regimental medical officer during the Civil War, and a subsequent practice in the City of Brooklyn, where, associated with Dr. Cornelius R. Agnew of New York, and Dr. Arthur Mathewson, he actively helped in the or- ganization and establishment of the Brook- lyn Eye and Ear Hospital, of which he was a medical officer and director until leaving the city.
In 1874, he and his wife, as seekers for health, went to Southern California, where they had some years of pleasant experience and strenuous work among the earliest set- tlers of the infant colony of Pasadena. For the past fifteen years Dr. Newton has been con- nected with the Sherburne National Bank, cither as cashier or vice-president. He was married in 1869 to Miss Grace Pratt, daughter of Mr. Joshua Pratt of Sherburne.
A portrait of the subject of this sketch, William Newton, appears in connection with the foregoing life history on a preceding page. It was executed from an oil painting that hangs in the home of his son, Dr. Ho- mer G. Newton.
A. IVES. Among the self-made men of Chenango County, farmers by voca- tion, who have succeeded through their own energy and perseverance, and to-
day arc the proprietors of fine and produc- tive farms, is the above named resident of Guilford township. The gentleman, whose name stands at the head of this narrative, proudly traces back for several generations his ancestors, of whom he has a good record ; they were a long-lived race, full of honest purposes and good decds. The history of the early citizens of Chenango County can- not fail to be deeply interesting to the rising and succeeding generations. The perusal of such history is the only means by which we of the present day can form any adequate idea of the difficulties which beset those who, leaving old homes and old associations, set their faces westward to open up, improve and cultivate a new country. Not only were there difficulties in the soil with which to contend, but there was also the melancholy of solitude and the deprivations of human companionship, often when this companion- ship was most needed of anything on the face of the earth. As to their reflections and the internal battles which they waged, often with home-sickness and apprehension, these brave old souls arc mostly silent. As a record of how they overcame this and other difficul- ties, for the most part they point silently to the smiling fields and beautiful villages, which stand as symbols of victory.
Pre-eminent on this roll of honor stand the names of Abraham and Samuel Ives-the one the great-grandfather and the other the grandfather of our subject. Abraham Ives was a native of the State of Connecticut, and followed farming most of his life ; he also did considerable work in the line of a stone mason. In 1796 his eldest son, Samuel, came
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west and located in the wilds of New York State, and was followed by his father a few years later, and for the past century the com- munity has been known as the Ives Settle- ment. Abraham Ives was the father of four sons and five daughters, who were as follows: Samuel, the first to locate in the Ives Settle- ment; Lyman; Elias and Abraham, both of whom were farmers of the afore-mentioned district ; Clarissa, the oldest daughter, mar- ried Ozias Bush, who was also a farmer of this community; Fannie, who was twice married-her first husband was Simon Trask, and she then married Ozias Bush, who was the widower of her eldest sister; Eunice married Abijah Cornwall; Mariab married Stephen Yale, and has one daughter, Elam Yale.
Samuel Ives, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was one of the first to move into the wilderness of New York, which was at. that time inhabited only by the red men and by wild beasts. After selecting a small spot of timber land, he returned home and was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Ann Atwater, and in the winter of 1797, they placed their household goods upon a sled which was drawn by a yoke of oxen, and started for their new home, arriving there sometime in the spring of 1798. The only way they found their way through the dense forest was by following the trees which had been blazed by Mr. Ives on his previous trip. He felled trees and built a log house in which he and his new bride lived for many years. Mr. Ives was a peacemaker in his neighbor- hood, and all disputes that arose were left to him to settle. He died at the age of forty-
five years, leaving a wife and six children to mourn his death. The children were as fol- lows : Alfred, the father of our subject ; Orin died early in life ; Isaac A., a farmer of Ives Settlement; Samuel G., a farmer ; Edwin, who was a farmer at Sidney, N. Y .; Lucy, deceased, was twice married-her first hus- band was Eldad Bush of Guilford, and after, his death she married James Edgerton of Smithville. Mr. Ives was a strong Democrat and was a leader in politics in his community.
Alfred Ives, father of our subject, was born in the town of Guilford, N. Y., January 22, 1798. He was one of those gentlemen to whom the growing population of Chenango County can point with pride as being a self- made man; he did a world of good through his own indomitable enery and perseverance. His school privileges were quite limited, and what education he acquired in the district schools was later supplemented by practical information. His life was that of a farmer, and his younger days were passed on the old homestead of his parents, assisting his father in the labor about the farm. He pur- chased the old homestead and later increased the farm by buying another 100 acres adjoin- ing the original estate. He followed farming and ran a dairy, owning the largest herd of cattle in his neighborhood. He was the owner of the only horse in the community, and many a time he carried grain on the horse's back to the mill at Oxford or Una- dilla, a distance of ten miles. Returning home late at night with his grist, his only. company was the howling wolves, which were very plentiful in those days. In relig- ious views he was an active and consistent
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member of the Congregationalist Church of Guilford Centre. He was a stanch Democrat, proud of his life-long connection with that party, and had much to say and to do in the guidance of that party in his section. He held many local offices in his day. He died February 22, 1866, on the old homestead. His wife, Roxalena, was a daughter of Jehial Parsons, a native of Connecticut, who came to the town of Guilford and engaged in farm- ing. To Mr. and Mrs. Ives were given three children : Emeline P., widow of the late Edwin M. Whiting, who was a mail agent on the C. & N. W. R. R .; L. A., who heads the above lines : and Rufus S., who is farming on the old homestead.
L. A. Ives received his education in the common schools and at Guilford Academy, and when he arrived at years of manhood purchased a tract of land, consisting of 100 acres, near that owned by his father. The farm was known as the Joel Hendrick farm, having been settled by that pioneer in 1795. He also owns 64 acres of timber land. His farm is stocked with a large herd of cattle, which are well kept. He operates a dairy, which is considered to be the largest in the village, if not in the county. Upon the or- ganization of the Republican party, he joined its ranks, and has voted to uphold the princi- ples of that party ever since. He is a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, to the support of which he contributes cheerfully and liberally.
Mr. Ives was married January 12, 1853, to Mary Ann Van Cott, daughter of John Van Cott, a farmer and speculator of Guilford, N. Y. Seven children were born to them,
namely : Samuel A., a farmer of Guilford, N. Y .; John A., also a well-to-do farmer of Guilford, N. Y .; George A., a coal and feed merchant of Bainbridge; R. Lena ; Ella A .; Mary E., wife of M. B. Shelton, a farmer of Guilford ; and Otto L., who assists in oper- ating the farm. Mr. Ives is now on the sunny, western slope of life, surrounded by friends of the present and the dear memories of the past. He is filling out a life that has been of use and advantage both to himself and to everyone who has come into the circle of his good influence.
EORGE N. HARRINGTON was
born June 8, 1827, in the town of Greene, on the farm where he now resides, and has for many years occupied a place among his native town's leading farmers. He is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Smith) Harrington, and grandson of Thomas Har- rington. Thomas Harrington was a native of Vermont, but after his marriage he moved to this county, locating at Bainbridge, where he resided for some time. He then cast in his lot with the pioneers about Greene, where he bought a tract of forest-covered land, about three miles south of the village of Greene, which he cleared and developed into a fine farm. This piece of land has remained in the family every since, his son, Benjamin, succeeding him in its ownership, and his grandson, George, now owning it. His fam- ily consisted of four sons and one daughter, namely: Thankful, who became the wife of Joshua Harrington; Ezekiel; Daniel; and
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Benjamin. Benjamin Harrington was born at Bainbridge, N. Y., in 1788, and was but fourteen years old when his father came to the town of Greene, which was his home for so many years. He was always engaged in farming, and he succeeded his father in the ownership of the old farm ; he cultivated the farm until 1858, when he retired from active work to enjoy the accumulations of years of hard labor. He then moved to Lisle, Broome County, where he resided until his death, which occurred July 4, 1866. His wife's maiden name was Mary Smith; she was born at Troy, Pa., in 1791, and lived there until her marriage. Her earthly career came to an end at Lisle, N. Y., January 12, 1869. As a result of this union, eight children were born to them, four boys and four girls; their names are as follows: Cynthia, deceased, the wife of the late Dr. S. H. French of Lisle ; Sally, deceased, wife of the late Ira French ; Lydia, deceased, who married John Inger- son ; William S., a retired farmer of Greene ; George N., the subject of this sketch; and Dr. Salphronius H., now retired, who lives at Chenango Forks.
George N. Harrington grew to an active and self-reliant manhood in his native town, and received his education in the public schools. He has always resided on the old homestead, and now owns it; it is an excel- lent farm of 120 acres, and is amply provided with good buildings and all of the improve- ments necessary to carry on agriculture profitably. He also owns two other fine farms in the county. Mr. Harrington has a well balanced mind, sound judgment and a good understanding of business matters,
which traits have undoubtedly contributed to his prosperity, while his work as an agri- culturist has been of material benefit to his native county.
November 5, 1857, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Adaline M. Aldrich, a daugh- ter of William Aldrich, whose home is in New Berlin, this county ; she was born in But- ternuts, Otsego County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1833. They are the parents of three children: Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Ira Carley of Lisle ; Lynn died in boyhood; and Ralph, who is living at home with his parents. They are consistent Christians, and are faith- ful members, she of the Baptist and he of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Harring- ton was at one time a member of the Good Templars Lodge. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.
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