USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 22
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He formed a matrimonial alliance with Adelia S. Davis, September 27, 1881, and two children were born to make their home happy, namely : Joseph E., who was born December 30, 1884; and Eva M., who was born February 5, 1895. In politics, Mr. Her- rick is a Republican, and has served as justice of the peace for six years. Socially, he is a member of the Susquehanna Lodge, No. 167, F. & A. M., of Bainbridge. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Herrick are members of the M. E. Church of Union Valley. As a representative farmer, and type of the best kind of citizen, we present Mr. Herrick's portrait on a preceding page.
L ANIEL BARBER is a substantial and reputable farmer of Norwich. He is a son of Benjamin and Elsie (Sweet) Barber, and was born August 20, 1834, in the town of Norwich, Chenango County.
Benjamin Barber was a man who reached affluence entirely by his exertions. Starting out in life as a poor man at the time of his marriage with Elsie Sweet, he worked for some time by the month on farms, until he had sufficient means to buy a small piece of ground. Thither he moved with his family, living in a small log house, and by exercising the closest economy, and living in the most frugal manner, he was enabled to lay by something each year, until at the time of his death he had accumulated about 400 acres of ! land. As his boys grew up they were of great assistance to him in clearing his farm
and raising his crops. He was a native of Rhode Island, but at the age of four years was brought to the town of Norwich, where he lived to the great age of eighty years. He was a very strong Republican, and a member of the Baptist Church, as was his entire family. He was the father of twenty- one children, eighteen of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Charles; Catherine ; Harriet ; Daniel ; Luthana; Rosina; Mary ; Maria ; Emma J .; Sarepta ; Sarah ; Whit- man; Edward; George; Florinda; Betsey ; John; and Salinda. The mother of this large family was also permited to live to the age of eighty years, and saw the members of her family grow up and gather about them families of their own.
Daniel Barber has a natural talent for farming, and has followed that occupation all his life. He owns a farm consisting of 100 acres of fine land, and his dairy of eighteen cows shows the care and attention they receive. He is a Republican. August 30, 1862, he was married to Sarah Mastin, a daughter of Silas Mastin, and their long residence in the town has but served to augment the esteem in which they are held. They have but one child, Mott H., who was united in marriage with Grace Shelton, and has one child, Marion. Mott H. lives at home and manages his father's farm.
m HOFFMAN FISH, D. D. S., is a valued citizen of the village of New Berlin, where he is active- ly engaged in dental practice. He is one of
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the oldest practitioners of dentistry in the county, and easily ranks among the first in skill and general ability. His labors in his chosen field have been rewarded by very re- munerative returns.
Dr. Fish was born in Litchfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., December 1, 1848, and is a son of Almanzor Denslow and Julia Ann (Howell) Fish, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (West) Fish.
Samuel Fish, with his brothers, Walter and Joseph, emigrated from his native place in Connecticut to Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1806, and located where the village of Frank- fort now stands. Three years later, our sub- ject's grandfather removed to Litchfield, same county, where he purchased a farm sit- uated some two miles from the Mohawk River. Two years later he changed his resi- dence to a farm near by, where our subject's father was born. He lived the life of a hardy pioneer, and grew up with the new country, where for many years after his arrival he had few neighbors that had not copper-col- ored visages. He attained the age of about sixty years, while his wife lived to be eighty- four years old. Their children were: Elias L .; Alonzo L .; Almanzor D .; Mary; and Nancy.
Almanzor Denslow Fish was born in Litch- field, December 10, 1813, and there grew to manhood. He spent some time in the private school of J. C. Underwood of Otsego County, and then went to Connecticut in the follow- ing spring with the intention of going on a fishing voyage, but was deterred from carry- ing out his plan because of the cholera, that was then raging there. He next went to
Clinton to complete his education under the direction of George R. Perkins, since profes- sor of mathematics in the State Normal School, but he fell sick with an intermittent fever, and returned home to recuperate his strength. During the following winter and summer he was an attendant of the Clinton Liberal Institute, and in the next year went to Sauquoit. When he was nineteen years of age he began the study of law in the office of Griffin & Allen of Clinton, with whom he remained one summer. He then went to Utica, N. Y., to study in the office of Cooper & Hunt, and was for a time a student in the office of Aaron Huckley of Herkimer. His next removal was to Watertown, N. Y., where he entered the office of Sterling & Brownson, but he soon returned to Herkimer County, and continued his studies until his admission to the bar, under the direction of J. C. Un- derwood, who was then in practice with Judge Michael Hoffman. He practiced in Herkimer County until his health failed him, when he bought a farm in the town of Litch- field, Herkimer County, removed his family thither, and followed agricultural pursuits the rest of his life; he retired from active labor at last, and died at Sherburne, when making his home with his son, M. Hoffman Fish, the subject of this sketch, when sixty- two years of age, February 27, 1875. He was a man of fine educational attainments, and was a trenchant as well as a brilliant writer on various subjects ; he was a happy versifier, and composed a number of short poems that reflect credit on his ability. He married Julia A. Howell, a daughter of Capt. William Howell, who served at Sackett's
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Harbor in the War of 1812. They were mar- ried in Herkimer in 1837, and had a family of two sons and one daughter, as follows : Win- field S., who for twenty years and more was engaged in practicing dentistry in the village of Sherburne, who is now with his wife en- gaged in conducting the Hotel Daniels, the finest hostelry in Sherburne, and the equal of any in the county ; Hattie A., born in Litch- field, December 8, 1841, who married William H. Round, and died at Richfield, N. Y., No- vember 24, 1868; and M. Hoffman, the sub- ject of this writing. Mrs. Fish lived to be seventy-four years old. Our subject's father was a Democrat after the formation of the Republican party, and from then until his death steadfastly supported the men and principles of the party of his choice.
Dr. Fish, the subject of this writing, obtain- ed a first-class education in the West Win- field (N. Y.) Academy, taking the full course, and standing high in his classes. Leaving school at eighteen years of age, he studied the theoretical part of surveying and civil engineering under his father, and ran prop- erty lines for the land-owners of his locality for some time. His first railroad surveying was as assistant to T. W. Spencer in locating the route of the Cassville & Richfield Spring branch of the D., L. & W. R. R. He also assisted in surveying the New York, Utica & Ogdensburg R. R., Col. M. O. Davidson of Yonkers being his chief in this work. Dr. Fish also surveyed school districts in nine towns of Herkimer County, N. Y. In 1868, our subject took up the study of dentistry under F. E. Easton, D. D. S., of Cedarville, and one of the present editors of the lion
Citizen. He finished his professional educa- tion in 1872, and located in Sherburne, buy- ing a half interest in the practice and equip- ments of Dr. T. M. Mann, and continuing in partnership with that gentleman for a year and a half, when he secured the exclusive control of the business. From then until April 1, 1880, our subject practiced his pro- fession alone, with uniformly successful and flattering results. His popularity grew, and in a few years after he located in Sherburne he commanded a practice, that is not ordi- narily built up in a decade. From April I, 1880, for five years thereafter, our subject and his elder brother, Dr. Winfield S. Fish, were associated in the practice of dentistry, under the name of Fish Brothers, running three different offices : our subject spent the first three days of the week in New Berlin, and the last three in Sherburne, while his brother had his headquarters in Earlville. In 1885, Dr. Fish located permanently in the village of New Berlin, where he was already well known and reckoned as one of the lead- ing business men. He has built up a large and profitable practice, and is highly es- teemed and respected as a man of solid, sub- stantial worth, whose word is as good as gold, and whose ability as a dentist is alone equaled by his professional zeal and honor. His neat and well ordered office bears every evidence of prosperity and highly successful . practice. He is a member of the Sixth Dis- trict Dental Society, which organization he joined on May 1, 1878; he has served two years as the president.
Dr. Fish's first wife, whom he married in February, 1872, was Myra A. Cole of Cedar-
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ville, N. Y .; she bore him one son, Leroy, born March 24, 1875, who lives at home, and who is employed in the milk condensery. Mrs. Fish died in May, 1879. In October, 1884, our subject was again joined in nuptial bonds, the bride being Cora A. Medbury of New Berlin. Dr. Fish is a Democrat in his politics, but of late years he has not been active in supporting his party, and has never aspired to office. He is a man of marked social instincts, and is a Mason of consider- able prominence. He is a member of Phoebus Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M .; and Chenango Chapter, No. 253, R. A. M.
B. MONROE of Plymouth is one . of the oldest residents of Chenango County, and is also a pioneer merchant, having been engaged in the produce busi- ness since 1860. Mr. Monroe remembers well the first building standing in the town; it was built by the French as a public building. and was known as the " Town Barn," and many a time has he and his brother played under its roof. Although his early educa- tion was limited, by comprehensive reading he has stored his mind, naturally strong and receptive, with a varied knowledge, which makes him a well posted, intelligent man. In business he is most careful and conservative, and, withal, a man of rare, good judgment. He is a son of Dyar and Lydia ( Cutting ) Monroe, and was born November 17, 1821, in the village of Plymouth.
The Monroes were among the first settlers in the county, and were the first in the town
of Plymouth. In 1816 Daniel Monroe brought his family here from New Lebanon, Conn., coming overland with a yoke of oxen, a slow, tedious means of travel, fifteen miles being considered a good day's journey for such a team. The country was new, the only building in the town at that time being the old " Town Barn," before mentioned. Daniel Monroe's log house, built on a quarter sec- tion of ground purchased by him, was one of the first residences. There, amid the priva- tions and want, which only pioneers have felt and can understand, he helped to lay the foundations of those sterling principles which have made Chenango County what it is to-day. After a short time he built a card- ing machine, the first in the town, and fol- lowed carding. As new inhabitants moved in and work increased, he built a second ma- chine at Sherburne Four Corners, which he also operated for a number of years. He went to Ohio and staid a short time, but returned finally to Plymouth, where he died at the home of his son, Dyar, aged eighty- four years. He was a strong advocate of the Christian Church, of which he was a member. He was twice married, his first wife being the grandmother of our subject ; his second wife was Wealthy Plumb. Seven children, all now deceased, were born to the first marriage, viz: Aristareus ; Isaac, a brick manufacturer, whose yards were on the present site of Syracuse ; Fletcher ; James ; Dyar ; Eleanor ; and Almeda.
Dyar Monroe was born in New Lebanon, Conn., and came with his parents, in 1816, to the town of Plymouth, settling on the pres- ent site of the village of Plymouth. He was
HENRY J. HALSTEAD.
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a blacksmith, and followed that trade in Ply- mouth the remainder of his life. He was an Anti-Mason, and opposed to all secret societies. He was one of the founders of the Chenango Telegraph, a paper still pub- lished at Norwich, and was always ready to promote any enterprise that promised to add to the well being of the community. He was married to Miss Lydia Cutting, and her example as a faithful wife and loving mother will long be remembered by those who knew her. Theirs were Christian lives, and while they were unostentatious in their re- ligion, yet they found quiet satisfaction in endeavoring to follow the lead of the Good Shepherd, and were long members of the Congregational Church. Their children were : W. B .; Joseph ; Martha; Mary ; and Francis. W. B. and Francis are the only ones now living. The father was called home at the good old age of eighty-four, and the mother when seventy-three years old.
W. B. Monroe attended the district schools when a lad, leaving school at an early age to learn the trade in his father's smithy. He became a first-class blacksmith, working at the trade for fifteen years with his father. He then thought to try his fortunes in specu- lating in eggs, with such good results that he afterwards added butter and cheese to his stock in trade, and has met with the most flattering success. His first investment was made in 1860, and he still conducts a large and increasing business, the result of almost forty years' close application to business. He has a cold storage house in Plymouth, and in 1897 he had stored 2,500 dozen eggs. This
business was carried on under the name of Monroe Bros., his brother Joseph being as- sociated with him in the enterprise. They were the owners of three large farms, in the towns of Plymouth and Smyrna, containing in all about 450 acres. In 1895 Joseph Monroe died, and since then Mr. Monroe has con- tinued the business alone. He is the owner of a mine in South Dakota which has a good output of tin.
Mr. Monroe was married in 1842 to Hulda Fox, daughter of Reuben Fox of Pitcher, this county. One child, Polly, was added to their home, but only for a short time was she permitted to cheer it; when two and a half years old she was taken from earth to that brighter kingdom on high. Mrs. Monroe died January 31, 1898, aged seventy-five years.
Our subject is a Republican, and has held a number of local offices, but is not in any manner a politician. He is a most pleasant social addition to any company, and his fund of pithy stories, concerning the adventures of the early settlers, makes him an interest- ing and instructive talker.
ENRY J. HALSTEAD, a representa- tive and prominent citizen of New Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., who is engaged in carrying on a very lucra- tive hardware business in the above village, was born in Clarksville (now Middlefield), Otsego County, June 9, 1844, and is a son of Rev. Henry and Eliza A. (Parks) Halstead.
Rev. Henry Halstead was a minister of the Methodist Church, and spent all the ac-
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tive years of his manhood in ministerial labors in Central New York. After wearing himself out, he finally retired to the village of New Berlin, where his death took place soon after at the advanced age of ninety- seven years. He was, as an evangelist, a man of more than ordinary ability, deep Christian fervor and convictions, possessed
of a warm, sympathetic heart which beat for all. In times of trouble and distress he was sure to be the first to offer consolation and to bind up the wounds. On joyful occasions none added more to the pleasant hour. His piety was undoubted. He was withal a broad-minded man, and alive to human feel- ings and interests. As a leader, a teacher, and an expounder of true Christian principles, he succeeded beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was married to Miss Eliza A. Parks, and they reared two sons and one daughter.
Henry J. Halstead received his elementary educational training in the common schools, and then took a course in the Unadilla Val- ley Academy. Leaving school at the age of sixteen years he began to work at the print- er's trade at Unadilla, but when there came a call for men to volunteer in the service of the United States to put down the Rebellion, Mr. Halstead laid down his work and enlisted August 12, 1861, in Co. D, 3d Reg. N. Y. Vol. Cav., for a term of three years. When the three years came to an end, he re-enlisted in the same company, and continued to wear the "blue" until the close of the war, re- ceiving his honorable discharge November 29, 1865, at City Point, Va. He enlisted as a private and left the service a sergeant. The following list of engagements with the Reb-
els, in which our subject took part, gives some slight idea of what hard and continuous service was seen by his company: Goos Creek, October 22, 1861 ; Winchester, March 7-10, 1862 ; Houghton's Mill, April 27, 1862 ; Burnt Church, May 7, 1862; Trenton, July 25, 1862; Pungo Creek, October 29, 1862; Kinston, December 11, 1862; Goldsboro, De- cember 17, 1862 ; Sandy Ridge, February 13, 1863 ; Newberne, February 27, 1863; Blount's Creek, April 9, 1863 ; Peletier's Mills, April 16, 1863 ; Case Creek, April 30, 1863 ; Stony Creek, May 7, 1863 ; Gum Swamp, May 22, 1863 ; Bachelor's Creek, May 29, 1863 ; New- berne, October 7, 1863; Wall's Bridge, May 5, 1864 ; Stony Creek, May 7, 1864; Jarratt's Station, May 8.9, 1864; White Ridge, May 8-9, 1864; Chula Depot, May 14, 1864 ; Belch- er's Mills, May 16, 1864; Hatch's Run, June 2, 1864; Petersburg, June 15-19, 1864; South Side Road, June 22-30, 1864 ; Ream's Station, June 29-30, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 26-29, 1864; Meherrin Hill, August 1, 1864: Wel- don Railroad, August 18-21, 1864 ; Ream's. Station, August 21-25, 1864 ; Lee's Mills, Au- gust 31, 1864; Prince George C. H., Septem- ber 25, 1864; Jerusalem Plank Road, Sep- tember 15, 1864: Prince George C. H., Sep- tember 22, 1864; Chaffin's Farm, September 29-October 1, 1864; New Market Roads, October 7, 1864; Derbytown Road, October 13, 1864; Charles City Pike, October 20, 1864; Fair Oaks, October 27-29, 1864; and Derbytown Road, November 15, 1864.
At the close of the war Mr. Halstead re- turned to Unadilla, where he remained two years and then went to Oxford, N. Y., where he entered the employ of the hoe factory,
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and worked one year. He then learned the trade of a tinner with a view toward engag- ing in the hardware business ; coming to the village of New Berlin, N. Y., with a capital of $300.00 he formed a partnership with B. J. Haight, under the firm name of B. J. Haight & Co., and began to deal in hard- ware. After four years of satisfactory re- sults he bought the interests of Mr. Haight, and continued in business alone. His store is located on Gencsec Street, has a 36 foot front, 150 foot depth, and is three stories in height. Mr. Halstead handles a full line of general hardware, tinware, stoves, etc. He is a stockholder in the New Berlin Elec- tric Light and Power Co. The school board had our subject as one of its members and its president for a number of years. He is a member of the Lewis E. Tew Post, No. 388, G. A. R., and was commander for eight years. Religiously, he is a consistent and devoted member of the Methodist Church, and is at present steward and trustee of that church. For his first wife he chose Anna C. Van Schoick of Colesville, Broome County, N. Y., and they reared two children, as fol- lows : Jennie C., who has charge of the Dea- coness House at San Diego, Cal .; and Cath- crine, who resides with her father. Upon the death of his first wife, Mr. Halstead mar- ricd Hattie A. Chase of New Berlin, N. Y. The business of Mr. Halstead from the very start has ever exhibited a steady growth, and has now assumed large proportions, a result that is wholly duc to the proprietor's excellent business sense, and to his efforts to deal fairly and alike with all. His persever- ance and untiring energy are much admir-
ed in the community in which his success has been as steady as it has been deserved. The publishers of this Book of Biographies of Chenango County esteem it a privilege to be able to present on a preceding page a portrait of Mr. Halstead, who well repre- sents the commercial interests of the county, and that great body of men who left home and dear ones to fight for a united country.
ENRY G. PARSONS. The leading tailoring establishment in Norwich is that which is conducted at 182 South Broad Street, by the gentleman whose name heads these lines. Mr. Parsons is a native of London, England. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth E. Parsons, and a grand- son of Charles Parsons who was born in Snet- tisham, a village near Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England.
Charles Parsons was a country merchant. He was a devout member of the Methodist Church and conspicuous for his integrity and piety. He was father of a family of twelve children, seven boys and five girls, of whom the eldest son, Henry, was the father of our subject. After a long and useful life Charles Parsons died in the year 1875.
Henry Parsons was also born in the County of Norfolk, England, and received his cdu- cation at the village academy. On attaining his 21st year he went to London, and was engaged in business for a number of years as a merchant tailor, until age compelled him to retire. He is living at present in London. He was united in marriage with Miss Eliz-
.
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abeth Ellard, who was born in the city of Exeter, Devonshire, England. Three chil- dren were born to them, namely : Elizabeth, deceased ; Mary, deceased ; and Henry G., the subject of this personal history. Henry Parsons is a member of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Parsons was a loving wife and a devoted mother ; she died in March, 1895, deeply lamented.
Henry G. Parsons acquired his education at Prof. Bond's Classical and Commercial Academy, Notting Hill, London. He was apprenticed to the tailoring trade upon leav- ing school. After following his trade for three ycars, he left London in 1866, and cross- ing the Atlantic, scttlcd in America. He located in Washington, D. C., following his trade for one ycar, and next went to New York City, where he remained for two years, and then followed his trade in different cities for some years, finally locating in Norwich, N. Y., as a cutter for Peacock & Brown, with whom he remained until they closed out their business. He then entered the employ of Albert Pendleton, and after a period of three years purchased the business, and has since conducted it with good results. He has had nearly thirty years' experience as a cutter and fitter, and is now an expert. He gives his whole attention to this branch of the work, and employs in his workshop skilled men, who under his supervision do the remainder of the work. Thc stock carried by Mr. Parsons is a most perfect one, and embraces a complete line of domestic and foreign woolens for suitings, cassimercs, broadcloths and cheviots of the most reliable manufacture, as well as a handsome line of
pantings; he also carries every grade and style of fabrics for overcoats and ulsters, and the trimmings used are of the best quality in every particular. He makes a specialty of fine work, and numbers among his customers the best people of Chenango County and many from other sections, who find it to their advantage to overlook the matter of distance in order to sccure a really first-class articlc. The success and increase of patronage, coupled with the straightforward and liberal manner of transacting business for which this establishment is noted, bespcaks for it in the future a prosperous and permanent business.
In 1872, Mr. Parsons was unitcd in mar- riage with Julia Gamper, a daughter of Abraham Gamper, who is a resident of Elmira, N. Y. Four children have blessed their union, namely : Elizabeth M .; Mabel M .; Charles, deceased; and Harvey, also deceased. In political belief, our subject is a Republican. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a good citizen, with broad vicws of the dutics of citizenship, well-formed convictions on im- portant subjects, and takes a deep interest in whatever pertains to the financial, education- al, social, moral or spiritual advancement of the township and county at large.
AMES A. JIPSON, one of Sherburne's energetic business men, and proprie- tor of one of the best cquipped and best kept liveries in Central New York, was born at Union Vallcy, Cortland County,
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