USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 19
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He cleared off nearly all the timber, sold building lots, and in 1821 built a tavern which he opened to the public; it had a rum pole seventy feet high with three large balls on the top. Later he rented this hotel and built a farm house, where he resided the remain- der of his life. This farm is now owned and occupied by . Mrs. William Terwilliger. He helped to build the first church which was erected by the Congregational society, and did a great deal to help improve and build up the village. He was a stanch Dem-
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ocrat and held many town offices. He ac- cumulated a nice fortune, and died June 5, 1867, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. After disposing of his carding and cloth dressing factory, he returned to Lenox, Mass., and there contracted marriage with Orilla Matomb, who died at the end of two years, as did her infant. In 1813 he was again married, the lady being Lydia Hall, also of Lenox. She died, leaving six chil- dren : Emma; Orilla; Oliver H .; Emily ; Fanny; and John M. He then married Harriet Hollister, who died leaving four children : Sarah, Simon, Harrict, and Electa. His fourth wife was Ann C. Gates.
Oliver H. Willard, the father of our sub- ject, was born November 27, 1817, and at the age of twenty-six bought the hotel of his father and carried on the business until 1870. During this time he had enlarged the hotel and added a livery stable, while he dealt in horses and at the same time ran a grocery storc. He then bought a farm, which he im- proved, until it was second to none in his part of the county. He sold his hotel prop- erty to the D., L. & W. R. R. and moved on his farm, remaining there until 1897, when he retired to the village of Chenango Forks. He is a Democrat and has held several offices. He is a member of the Eastern Light Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 126. He was joined in mar- riage with Miss Deborah Ann, daughter of Morgan and Armenia (Thral) Richards, by whom he had five children, as follows : Lucy Jane; Revila Charles; Wilbur G; Rosalie A .; and Frank L. Mrs. Willard entered into her eternal rest, July 24, 1897, at the age of seventy years.
R. Charles Willard received his primary education in the district schools, which train- ing was supplemented by a course at the Ames Commercial College of Syracuse, from which he graduated. His first work was performed as a clerk for D. Lowell, and his next engagement was with J. H. Hunter, when he took the management of Mr. Hun- ter's patent hay fork, representing him through the west. After severing his con- nection with Mr. Hunter, he built himself a handsome residence in Chenango Forks, where he has since lived and plied his trade of house decorator and painter, with the ex- ception of eight years. Four of these eight years were spent at Ralston, Pa., as manager of the mills, and in building a line of railroad for the MeIntyre Coal Co. He also furnished props for these mines, a business connection that proved quite profitable to him. The next four years were spent in Elmira as sup- erintendent of construction of the Telephone Company's lines. Since then he has been manager of the painting for the D., L. & W. R. R. from Binghamton to Utica.
Mr. Willard was united in marriage with Miss Alice E. Salisbury, to whom has been born but one child, a son, Oliver L., who resides at home. Mrs. Willard is a daugh- ter of Loren and Eveline (Hoard) Salisbury, a granddaughter of Cyrus and Sarepta (Lull) Salisbury, and a great-granddaughter of Thomas and Hannah Salisbury of Situate, R. I. Cyrus Salisbury was born there in 1794, and came to Solon, N. Y., where he followed farming until his death, which oc- curred at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died at the age of seventy years. Their
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children were Loren ; Noyes ; and Hannah. Loren Salisbury, the father of Mrs. Willard, was born at Solon, N. Y., and studied medi- cine, graduating from the Vermont Medical College, at Burlington. He began the prac- tice of his profession at Castle Creek, this state; from there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and later to Killawog, N. Y., in both of which places he ran a drug store in con- nection with his practice. He was for a time located in Oak Park, Ill., but later returned to Marathon, N. Y., where he spent the re- maining years of his life. He was a skillful and painstaking physician, and was well liked by all. He died at the age of sixty- four years, his wife at the age of seventy-one. Their children were, Cyrus, Frank, Alice E., Judson, and Ellen G. Mr. Willard has nearly all his life been a resident of this county, and is well known, everybody being his friend. He is a Democrat politically, and for five years served as justice of the peace, and is at present notary public. He is a member of the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., and also of the Tioughnioga Lodge, I. O. R. M.
On another page of this work in proximity to this, and in connection with the foregoing biographical record, is shown a portrait of Oliver H. Willard, the esteemed father of our subject.
EORGE B. COE, dealer in real estate and a prominent citizen of Oxford, was born in the city of Oswego, N. Y., Janu- ary 6, 1849. He is a son of Dr. Alfred and Sarah A. (Mygatt) Coe.
Ira Coe, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New York State, where he lived and grew up to follow the pursuits of an agriculturist, and was identified with the development of the soil all his life. Mr. Coe was very prominent in his day, both in na- tional and local politics. He was a Democrat, and earnestly advocated and supported the principles of his party. He was a good man and a valuable citizen, and held several offi- ces. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Nor- ton of Guilford, Conn., and six children were reared by them, namely : Alfred B., father of our subject ; Elizabeth ; James N .; Cath- erine ; Charles, deceased ; and Mary J. Ira Coe was a member of the Episcopal Church. Dr. Alfred Coe received his primary edu- cation in the common schools and then attended Fairfield Seminary of Herkimer County, N. Y. He then read medicine for some time and entered the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Philadelphia, Pa. After receiving a diploma, and after becom- ing qualified to practice, he located in Os- wego, N. Y., and took up his chosen profes- sion. He was a man whose trained abilities and skilled resources brought him into public notice and won for him the regard, esteem and respect that were justly due a man of his usefulness in the life of the community. His work as a physician, from its innate nature, was of the kind that brought him into the closest relationship with the people. Mr. Coe was an unyielding Democrat, and was appointed health officer for a number of years. In religious views he was a member of the Episcopal Church. He was married to Sarah A. Mygatt, and they reared three
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ARTHUR GREENE.
MRS. HARRIET E. GREENE.
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children, namely: George B .; William M. married Lucia Windsor of Guilford, N. Y., and there were born to them two children, James W. and Alfred W .; and Caroline E., deceased. Mr. Coe died August 13, 1854, at the age of thirty-six years. Mrs. Coe passed to the unknown March 1, 1893, at the age of seventy-one years.
George B. Coe was educated in the com- mon schools of Oxford and then attended the Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y. Leav- ing school at an early age he joined a sur- veyor's party and went to the State of Min- nesota, where he remained a short time; re- turning home he soon left in company with his cousin, Benjamin S. Miller, for the south- ern part of Kansas and Indian Territory, where they engaged in ranching. In 1881 he returned home and has since looked after the estate. He also deals extensively in real estate, in which he is very successful. He has always been a Republican, and supports the party of that name both by vote and voice. He chose for his life companion Florence Brewster of Schoharie County, N. Y., and they were married June 28, 1882, and their home has been blessed by one child, Ralph B., who is now attending school at Ox- ford, this county. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Coe and family are in their religious views members of the Con- gregational Church, and support the church of that denomination in Oxford. Firm in his convictions, and decided in his opinions, he never hesitates to take a bold stand against what he considers to be injustice, and to fight to the best of his ability against the threat- ening evil. He is one of the best of good
citizens, in the number of which Oxford is especially fortunate, and has ever done what he could toward the betterment of the differ- ent phases of society found there.
RTHUR GREENE, formerly a pros- perous farmer of the town of Butter- nuts, Otsego County, is now living in retirement in the village of South New Berlin, having carried on the pursuits of agriculture successfully and accumulated a competency. He was born on the old home- stead in the town of Norwich, August 17, 1826, and is a son of Arthur and Cynthia (Thornton) Greene.
His grandfather was Captain Edward Greene, who was born and reared in Rhode Island. In 1790, accompanied by his family, he came to the State of New York and lo- cated in the town of Norwich. The journey was long and tedious as they came overland by means of ox teams and encountered many hardships. They often went to bed hungry, subsisting mainly on wild game and fish, in which the forests and streams abounded. They settled on the Unadilla River a short distance below White Store, in the town of Norwich, where they took up a large tract of land. The country was wild and unbroken ; and the hand of civilization had as yet made but few changes. They were obliged to go to New Berlin for their flour and meal, and as there was no pathway they were obliged to follow " blazed " trees. When returning by night they were often followed by a howl- ing pack of wolves, and found it necessary to
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carry fire-brands with which to keep them off. It was the persistent determination of those pioneers who first opened up the way, that has brought about the splendid results which are now so familiar to us that we sel- dom pause to reflect upon what they cost. Two prominent contemporaries of his in pio- neer life were Major Richmond and Jacob Reynolds. Besides farming he conducted a hotel which was a popular meeting place of the settlers, who would gather in the even- ings and spin yarns and smoke their pipes. He was a captain of the old state militia. In religious belief, he was an earnest supporter of the doctrines of the Universalist Church. Capt. Greene's long and useful life came to an end about 1824, and his wife passed away in 1814, dying at the age of fifty-six.
Arthur Greene, the father of our subject, was born in the State of Rhode Island, Au- gust 2, 1785, and came with his family to the town of Norwich, where he spent his entire life on the old homestead. He owned and cultivated 160 acres of the tract settled upon by his father. He was a Democrat in his po- litical affiliations, and took a great interest in the local politics of his county. He was a man of decided opinions and fearless in giv- ing them expression. He is amply entitled to the reward of the upright man and good citi- zen in the memory of his co-laborers. In re- ligious belief, he was a Universalist in early life, but later became a member of the Methodist Church. He was united in mar- riage with Miss Cynthia Thornton, who was born in Rhode Island, June 6, 1791, and six children brightened their home, namely : Alanson, deceased, who was a farmer of the
town of Guilford; Philander, deceased, late a farmer of the town of Moriah ; Almena S., who became the wife of Ziba Windsor; Nel- son, a farmer and hop grower of the town of Guilford; Edward R., a retired farmer of the town of Butternuts, Otsego County, N. Y .; and Arthur, the subject of this personal his- tory. Mr. Greene died June 11, 1848, and his beloved wife survived him fifteen years.
Arthur Greene was reared on the old homestead and received his primary educa- tion in the public schools. After his mar- riage in 1852, he moved to the town of But- ternuts, where he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1885. He was an industrious worker and a successful manager, and he accumulated considerable wealth dur- ing his active life. In 1885 he retired to the village of South New Berlin, where he still lives. He rents his farm of 170 acres, which is located on the Unadilla River near White Store.
In political belief he is a Democrat, and votes uniformly and conscientiously with that party. February 4, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet E. Thompson, and they were the proud parents of one son, George T., a progressive and energetic young man, who resided on his father's farm. George T. Greene formed a matrimonial alli- ance with Fannie M. Colburn, October 24, 1883, but she was bereaved of his companion- ship by death, April 24, 1886, and she herself died May 20, 1893. Mrs. Arthur Greene is a loving mother and wife, an amiable and ac- complished lady, and makes her home a pleasant and attractive spot. Mr. Greene is truly a self-made man, having started out in
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life with little means but with perseverance, a desire to do well what was to be done, and an evident determination to win his way in the great battle of life. He has succeeded beyond his fondest expectation. He is not only one of the prominent men of South New Berlin, but is honored and respected wherever known. Portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. Greene arc shown on other pages of this work.
ENRY HOLMES, a retired farmer and produce dealer of Columbus, N. Y., was born in the town of Bridgewater, Oneida County, N. Y., July 13, 1816. Hc is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Ketchum) Holmes, grandson of Jacob and Anna (Titus) Holmes, and great-grandson of Jonathan Holmes. Jonathan Holmes is supposed to have emigrated to this country from the Old World. He moved to Oneida County, and after remaining there some years he died. His son Jacob was born in Dutch- ess County. About the time he attained his majority, he moved to Bridgewater, Oneida County, N. Y. There he remained several years, but died in Columbus, this county, in 1864, aged eighty-six years. He was known to his neighbors as an honest, upright man, and an honor to his chosen occupation. He had three children,-Titus, Sarah, and Isaac. Isaac Holmes was born in Dutchess County, and with his father he moved to Oncida County. In 1827 he came to the town of Columbus, Chenango County, and settled where Eugene Hopson now resides. There
he carried on general farming until he re- tired, a well-to do and successful man, to Co- lumbus village to live. He died at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Holmes died aged sixty- one years. They reared a very large family of children, of whom only three are living : the record is as follows: Elias; Eliza ; Gil- bert ; Jonathan ; Phocbc ; and Mellc, all dc- ceased ; and Charles ; Henry ; and Platt, who still survive.
Henry Holmes' first settlement was on a tract of purchased farming land that is now known as the David Bryant farm, one of the best in the town of Columbus. There hc carried on farming and made many improve- ments. Besides carrying on general farming he dealt in butter, cheese and wool. After living there for fifteen years, he sold his prop- crty and bought a home in Columbus Center. Later he purchased the present homestead, where he took up his former trade, and was the most active business man in butter, cheese, wool, and produce that the town ever had. Hc succeeded by his persistent energy and industry, with the exercise of good com- mon sense, in accumulating a comfortable fortunc, and has gradually retired to private life. Excepting the supervision he gives to his property, he is now practically retired, but is still a very active and energetic man. Physically, he is tall and as straight as an arrow, of powerful build, with features bc- traying energy, and maintaining an imposing appearance. He married Lucinda Howard, daughter of Stephen Howard, one of the first settlers that came to the town of Colum- bus. She died in 1895, at the age of eighty. six years. Their only child, Mary Ann, was
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born July 12, 1848, and is caring for her father. She married O. D. Larchar, who for many years carried on carriage making and engaged in mercantile life at Columbus Center. In 1891 he departed this life, aged fifty-one years, leaving a wife and four chil- dren: Henry H. married Maud E. Hopson, and has one child, Roy H .; G. Myron, a pros- perous farmer of Columbus, married Nellie M. Lottridge, and has one child, Guy HI .; Dela M. remains at home; and Uri C., who also lives at home. In political views our sub- ject is a stanch Republican, and has served his fellow-citizens as supervisor for two terms.
Mr. Holmes is a man of pleasing address ; social and hospitable ; generous and liberal in his sentiments; retaining the activity, vivac- ity and cheerfulness of youth, his life reveals the success that may be attained by self re- liance, integrity and persevering industry.
ILLIAM H. HOPSON, proprietor of the American Hotel at Sher- burne, is "mine host" of one of the most popular public houses in this section of the State of New York. He was born in the above village, December 2, 1859, and is a son of Lewis D. and Lucy (Finks) Hopson, and grandson of Linas R. and Hannah (Gates) Hopson. Linas R. Hopson was a son of Herman Hopson, and was a native of Con- necticut.
Linas R. Hopson learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed some years. In 1840 he came to the village of Sher- burne, and built the old house where the
Central Hotel is now located. He followed his trade as a shoemaker until the Chenango Canal was built, and then he took contracts to build a portion of it near Oxford. Return- ing home, he enlarged his residence and open- ed a public house, which was known as the Union House. In connection with the hotel business he engaged in the distillery of malt liquors, but some forty years later he sold both establishments to James Harris, and bought and sold different properties, among which were the Agen, Olcott, White, and Knapp farms. He was residing upon the latter estate when his death occurred, in 1885, when he was aged eighty-two years. His wife, Hannah Gates, died at the age of cighty-one ycars. Their children werc : Henry ; George; Lewis D .; Smith P .; New- man G .; and Charles.
Lewis D., father of our subject, was born in the old Central Hotel, and after attaining his majority, he operated a saloon where the Whalens Hotel is now standing. The build- ing and its contents were burned to the ground one night, and later Mr. Hopson sold the lot and purchased a tenement house, which he enlarged and opened the American Hotel, conducting it under the name of L. D. Hopson & Son. The building was a large three-story structure and contained forty rooms. Mr. Hopson passed from this life aged fifty-eight years. He was married to Miss Lucy Finks, daughter of William Finks. She is at present living with our subject, her only child, and is enjoying her usual good health.
Our subject received a liberal schooling, and then assisted his father in his business
COLONEL WILLIAM B. GUERNSEY.
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CHENANGO COUNTY
until he grew to manhood, when he entered into the hotel business with his father, and after his father's death carried on the hotel business alone. He has enlarged the build- ing, fitted up the dining room and the sleep- ing apartments, and sets one of the finest tables of any hotel in this seetion. He is popular with the transients, and does all in his power to make it as homelike as possible.
He married Miss Catherine Hogan, who has proved herself a kind and loving wife, and much of the success of her husband is due to the part she has taken in the man- agement of the hotel. They are the parents of one child, Maude, an aecomplished musi- cian and vocalist, who has rendered mueh service to the choir of the Christ Episcopal Church, and to musical conventions. Mr. Ilopson is an active and consistent Republi- can, but has never aspired to offiee. He is an upright eitizen, highly esteemed in his community, and exerts his influenee in the promotion of its best interests.
OLONEL WILLIAM B. GUERN- SEY, a retired and honored citizen of Norwich, is an important factor of a well-to-do and intelligent community, and is contributing more than his share toward the maintenance of morality, good order, and all those things which constitute the welfare and prosperity of a prosperous eity or village. He is a son of Peter B. and Mary (Bellamy) Guernsey, and a grandson of Peter B. and Mary (Spiers) Guernsey.
The family is of old colonial stoek, Joseph
Guernsey, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, being a eolonist of New Haven, Conn. His son, John Guernsey, was born in Litehfield, Conn., and at an early age came to Amenia, Dutehess County, N. Y., where he purchased a large traet of land. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits and was one of the good substantial men of his time. He also practieed his profession. The farm has remained in the family since he settled on it, and is now a very valuable piece of property. He married Azubel Buel, by whom he had fifteen ehildren, namely: Isaae; Azuba; Sarah ; Lorus; Ebenezer; Rachel; Rhoda ; John; Peter B., the grandfather of our sub- jeet ; Joseph ; Lydia ; Ezekiel; Samuel ; Ann; Davice. The family name was formerly spelled "Garnsey."
Peter B. Guernsey was born in Amenia in 1770, and was reared on his father's farm. He began the study of law with Chester Walworth of Saratoga, N. Y,, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1795. He then went to Salina, Onondaga County, N. Y., remaining there two years, eoming thence to Norwich in 1797. At that time there was no village, a very few settlers composing the community. In after days his family often heard him speak of the times when he was obliged to go to the mill at Chenango Point, now Bing- hamton, for provisions, or to attend eourt at Painted Post. He became a very prominent man, and did much to build up the village of Norwich, giving land freely for sites for the county buildings, and for the establishment of a park. He was an active and energetie man, and carried on several different lines of busi- ness ; he manufactured linseed oil, operated
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a woolen mill, and owned an ashery and saw and grist mills. His position in political circles was no unimportant one, for he was held in the highest esteem, and was the first Whig Assemblyman sent to Albany from the Chenango district. His companion in life was Mary Spiers of New Lebanon, and they were the parents of the following children : Peter B .; Polly ; William; and Lavinia.
Peter B. Guernsey, Jr., our subject's father, assisted in the duties that presented themselves upon his father's estates, but at an early age his health failed him. He traveled in England and on the Continent in the vain hope of securing freedom from the disease that was oppressing him, but it was all of no avail, and he was called to lay down his burden at the early age of thirty years. His marriage had been with Mary Bellamy, daughter of Joel Bellamy of Catskill, N. Y., a union that was productive of two children, namely : William B., the subject of this per- sonal history; and Augustus, who died in infancy. Mrs. Guernsey's second union was with Dr. Henry Mitchell of Norwich. She passed to her reward in 1878, at an advanced age.
William B. Guernsey, our subject, is a man of superior education, having graduated from Troy University. He also studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He inherited considerable property, which re- quired his undivided attention, leaving him no time, therefore, for the practice of his profession. During the late War of the Rebellion, he served successively as captain and as colonel ; he enlisted in the summer of 1861, and received his final discharge in the
fall of 1865. Upon resuming peaceful occu- pations, Colonel Guernsey remodeled the old homestead, made other improvements, and has lived there since. It is one of the most beautiful residences in the county, and the interior is fully in keeping with the prepos- sessing architectural exterior. It is furnished with rare good taste, and adorning the walls are to be seen beautiful paintings, some by the masterly hand of Mrs. Guernsey. She is without doubt the best artist in her section of the county, and her works are highly com- plimented by all who have the pleasure of viewing them. This talented lady takes great pride in her collection of paintings, and has purchased some very fine ones, hav- ing the most valuable in this part of the state. Besides the old homestead, Colonel Guernsey owns other valuable estates in and about Norwich.
Mrs. Guernsey, who before her marriage with our subject, was known to a large circle of acquaintances as Jane Madelia Maydole, doubtless inherits her acknowledged artistic and executive abilities from her father, David Maydole, who by means of his hammers acquired fame and prosperity for himself and the village of Norwich, where he passed his life. An interesting account of his life appears on another page. Our subject and wife are liberal in their religious beliefs, and contribute generously to whatever affects the welfare of their town. Colonel Guern- sey is living a quiet and unostentatious life as a good citizen, a kind neighbor and generous friend, and filling his position in the world as a promoter of every good work and purpose, socially, morally, and religiously.
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