USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 26
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Mr. Breese has filled an honorable place in the business life of Norwich; he is a great lover of home and family, always standing by his friends, and has ever thrown his influence on the side of morality and right living. As may be inferred from the fore- going, he has shown himself a friend to all the different fraternal orders, having been both a Mason and an Odd Fellow since he was twenty-one years of age. At the same time he has never considered it necessary to neg- lect his business, or any of his private affairs, in order to remain a conscientious member of the several orders to which he has be- longed ; that being in his estimation, not only an injustice to one's family, but a crime against morality and the good of the order.
ENRY S. GUY, a much respected farmer and a native of Chenango County, is a highly esteemed resi- dent of the town of Guilford. He has a farm consisting of 66 acres of finely improved land, and as a man and citizen is richly endowed with those characteristics which render our population of so much value in this land of thrift and progress. He is a son of Hammon and Mary Elizabeth (Sheldon) Guy, and was born in the town of Guilford, July 21, 1860.
William Guy, the colonist and founder of the family in America, was a native of Lon- don, England ; leaving his native country he
landed in America, January 2, 1734. Timo- thy Guy, grandfather of our subject, was one of the early pioneers to settle in Chenango County, locating on what is now known as Root's Corner in the town of Guilford. There he followed the occupation of an agriculturist the remainder of his life. He was connected with the Baptist Church, to the support of which he contributed of his means cheerfully and generously. He mar- ried a Miss Phelps. The household circle included eight children-six sons and two daughters, who were carefully trained in those principles of honesty and morality for which the family was especially noted. They were as follows: George, justice of the peace and a public-spirited man of Mendota, Ill .; Joel, a well-to-do farmer of Afton, Chenango County ; Dr. Ezekiel, a leading physician of Harpersville, Broome County ; Albert, a minister of the Baptist Church of Hartford, Conn .; Hammon, father of our subject ; Dr. Timothy, deceased, who was a physician of Binghamton, N. Y .; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Charles Stoddard of Rock Island, Ill .; and Susan, wife of Philetus Yale, a promi- nent citizen of Utica, N. Y.
Hammon Guy was born in the town of Guilford, September 24, 1818. He was reared on the farm and received his educa- tion in the district schools. As an occupa- tion he chose the pursuits of an agriculturist, and labored upon the old homestead at Root's Corner for a number of years. He then moved to Broome County and located in Colesville, where he farmed until 1882, when he moved to Binghamton, where he lived practically in retirement until the time of his
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death. Religiously, he was a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist Church. In politics he was an ardent Republican, and invariably voted to uphold the principles of the party. He was twice married; to his first wife Elizabeth Sheldon, three sons were reared,- George H., a hotel clerk in the city of Albany ; Henry S., subject of this personal history ; and John R., who passed from this life at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Guy died July 24, 1873, aged forty-four years. She was a true Christian and a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. His second wife's maiden name was Amelia Hoyt, and her native place was Binghamton.
Henry S. Guy remained with his parents during his earlier years, attending the com- mon schools and Windsor Academy, and assisting in the lighter labors of the farm. In 1888, he bought his present home, the plot then consisting of 41 acres of good farm land. He has since increased his farm to 66 acres, which is now well improved and in a fine state of cultivation. He is a member of the local Grange of the Patrons of Hus- bandry, in which he takes an active interest. He is identified with the Episcopal Church, of which he is a vestryman. Mr. Guy prides himself, politically, upon being identified with the Republicans, and takes an active interest in all measures tending toward the public good.
November 7, 1888, our subject married Carrie M. Moore, daughter of Artemus Cooper Darling of Deposit, Broome County, N. Y. Artemus Cooper Darling was born March 10, 1820, and spent the most of his life in following the painter's trade. In religious
views he was a member of the Methodist Church. He married Nancy E. Hunt, daughter of Dexter Hunt, who was formerly a farmer of Rhode Island, but now of Nor- wich, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Darl- ing were born nine children-seven daughters and two sons, namely: Mary D., wife of Edward Cheney of Norwich ; Mercy Estella, deceased, at the age of twenty-six years ; Nettie, deceased; Luna Ann, widow of the late Zalmon Lamphere of Oxford; Carrie M., wife of our subject ; R. Ervin, a success- ful farmer of Grand Junction, Col .; Dexter H., a jeweler of Guilford; Hattie S., wife of William Johnson, a farmer of Nineveh, Broome County ; and G. Eliza, who married Frank R. Hall, a prominent farmer of Cort- land, N. Y. Mrs. Guy's first husband was George L. Moore, son of John and Mary Ann (Dodge) Moore. He was a native of Greene, and after attaining his majority he moved to Oxford, where he engaged in farming.
ICHAEL FINIGAN, the popular roadmaster of the Northern Divi- sion of the O. & W. R. R., is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Guinane) Finigan, and was born March 12, 1859, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jeremiah Finigan is a native of Ireland, and emigrated to this country in 1845, set- tling in Rochester, N. Y., where he followed farming for a short time, until he moved to the State of Wisconsin, where he farmed until 1861 ; then he returned to New York State and settled in the town of Butternuts, Otsego
RANSOM M. HERRICK.
HIRAM W. HERRICK.
3º3
CHENANGO COUNTY
County. He farmed there until 1864, when he moved to Chenango County and settled in the town of Preston, where he farmed for a short time, and finally took up his residence in the village of Preston, retired from active life. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He married Miss Mary Guinanc, and they reared a family of six children : Mary, the wife of Robert Brock: Sarah, who married Timothy Regan of Newark, N. J .; Emma, the wife of Michael Quinn, and a res- ident of Middleton; Lovina, who marricd Joseph Crawford; Katherine; and Michael, the subject of this personal history. Mrs. Finigan died in 1887.
Michael Finigan received his education in the public schools and then worked as a laborer on the O. & W. R. R. from 1876 until 1882, when he was made roadmaster of the Northern Division, which position he still holds to the entire satisfaction of the com- pany. In politics Mr. Finigan is an avowed Democrat, and has contributed much to his party's success. He has been a delegate to county and state conventions, and has been a member of the town committee. He is an active member of the Roman Catholic Church of Norwich. Since Mr. Finigan has been in the employ of the railroad, he has won the confidence of the railroad boys, and is a kind and true man to work under.
R ANSOM M. HERRICK, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits, resides on a farm of 107 acres, in the town of Bainbridge. IIe is a son of
Henry, Jr., and Diana (Burlison) Herrick, and was born on the farm upon which he now lives, September 27, 1853.
The great-grandfather of our subject was born March 13, 1773, and was a pioneer of Dutchess County. His son, Henry Herrick, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of that county, but at an early age came to Chenango County. He brought his family, and came by means of ox carts, and on the way encountered many hardships, as the journey was considered a very long one in those days. It is almost an impossibility for the imagination to picture the difficulties with which they contended. At that time the roads were few, and at the best permitted only very slow progress, a distance of from five to ten miles per day being averaged. It was also a very dangerous journey, and a sharp lookout was kept for unfriendly Indians or wild animals prowling about at night. The pioneers subsisted mainly on wild game, which was to be found in abund- ance in the forests. IIenry Herrick cleared up a tract of land, upon which he built a small house, and during the rest of his life was engaged in clearing and cultivating the farm. He died December 28, 1865, at the advanced age of ninety years. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Pearsall, and she proved a worthy companion to this hardy old pioncer. She was born in 1774, and passed into the unknown beyond October 23, 1856. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Nancy, who was born October 28, 1795 ; Samuel, February 20, 1798 ; Hughey, June 20, 1800; Polly, March 23, 1803; Phobe, October 13, 1805: Joseph,
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February 5, 1808; Elizabeth, October 10, 1810; Matilda, December 19, 1812; and Henry, Jr., the father of our subject.
Henry Herrick, Jr., was born on the home- stead, at West Bainbridge, October 11, 1814, and lived there until his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven years. He soon after purchased a small farm, and from time to time, as his means justified, he added to it, until he owned 107 acres, and the farm upon which our subject now lives. He was one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of West Bainbridge, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. Although he had received only a common schooling, he was of more than ordinary intelligence, and was well read on all current topics and subjects of interest to the people of that day. Politi- cally, he was an unswerving supporter of the Republican party, and exerted his entire influence in behalf of that organization. In religious belief he was a Methodist, and generously supported that church. He was united in marriage with Diana Burlison, a daughter of Azar Burlison, who was a native of Massachusetts, and an early settler in the town of Guilford. As a result of this union, five children were born, namely : Lucetta ; Luretta; Nancy F. ; Ransom M., our subject ; and Hiram W. Hiram W. Herrick, de- ceased, married Della F. Francisco, and resided at Sidney, Delaware County. He graduated from the Eastman Business Col- lege in 1878, after which he accepted a posi- tion as clerk in the First National Bank of Bainbridge. He was later called to assume the duties of cashier of the First National Bank of Sidney, which position he held
until the time of his death. Our subject's father died February 26, 1881, after passing a long and useful life.
Ransom M. Herrick was reared on the old homestead farm, and received his mental training in the district schools. It was but natural that he should follow in the footsteps of his forefathers, and engage in that ancient and truly most honorable of callings, farm- ing. He remained on the farm with his father for some time, and inherited it upon his father's death. He is a man of shrewd business ability, and recognizes the advantage of farming by improved methods and using the best of machinery. The estate is well supplied with all conveniences in the way of out-buildings, and everything about the place has an air of prosperity and successful management.
March 4, 1885, Mr. Herrick was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Emma E. Pearsall, a daughter of William Pearsall of Bainbridge, by whom he has five children : Saphronia D., born May 21, 1887; Clyde H., September 16, 1889; Ray A., June II, 1891 ; Lee Ervin, September 17, 1894 ; and Ralph W., September 24, 1896. Politically, our subject is an active Republican. In re- ligious belief he is a Methodist, and is active in the support of the local organiza- tion. He has performed all the labors of a dutiful citizen, and is respected and esteemed by a large number of friends.
It gives us pleasure to present on preced- ing pages, in connection with this biograph- ical notice, portraits of both Ransom M. Herrick, our subject, and Hiram W., his brother, now deceased.
3º5
CHENANGO COUNTY
RS. ANN CHAPMAN, a respected lady of the town of Smyrna, widow of the late Smith S. Chapman, is a daughter of Leman H. Talcot. The Talcot family was among the first families to settle in the town of Smyrna.
after his next marriage he moved to Sher- burne, and cleared the Hubbard farm, later known as the Gardner farm. Joshua helped organize the Congregational Society at West Hill. There his wife died, at the age of forty-nine years. His son, Joshua Talcot, married Sarrissa Taylor. He bought the present farm of our subject, which at that time possessed little or no improvements. There stood a log house on this farm at the time of its purchase, the property then being mainly timber land.
Leman H. Talcot was born on the farm owned by our subject, and was a son of Joshua and Sarrissa (Taylor) Talcot. Joshua Talcot was born in Stonington, Conn., and was one of Connecticut's oldest citizens. In 1799 he married Miss Sarrissa Taylor of Springfield, Mass., and came to the town of Joshua Talcot, the grandfather of our subject, was the first settler of the town of Sherburne, and at the time of his death he was buried on the present farm of Mrs. Chapman. Mr. Talcot's log house stood near the center of 200 acres of timber, and the only way out of this wilderness to civiliza- tion was by "blazed" trees. After the road had been laid out he built a log house, nearer the edge of the timber and along the road. Mr. Talcot being a public-spirited man, he allowed his brother settlers to hold court in the rooms of his house, and on the second floor were held the meetings of the Masonic lodge, the only means of access being a ladder from the outside. As the years went by he cleared his farm, set out an orchard and built the house, which is still standing. In 1867 he died, at the age of ninety-three years, the cause of his death being a broken hip, which refused to knit. Mr. Talcot was a very active man in his last days, and could stand on the ground and mount his favorite riding horse. In 1870 his wife died, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. When Smyrna, this county, and bought the farm of Joseph Porter, now owned by our subject. He was a son of Joshua and Jemima Talcot, grandson of Joshua and Rachel (Hollister) Talcot, and great-grandson of John Talcot. The latter was a native of England, having been born at Braintree. He married Dor- othy Mott, who was also a native of Eng- land, and in 1632 emigrated to the United States and settled in Boston, Mass. He made a speech on November 6 of the same year, and was chosen a representative to the Gen- eral Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1634. He moved to Cambridge, Mass., and later to Hartford, Conn., where he was one of the chief magistrates of the colony. He died in 1660. Among his sons were Joshua Talcott, who married Rachel Hol- lister, and settled in Bolton, Conn. To them were born ten children, of whom one was a son called Joshua, Jr., who was baptized January 4, 1750. Jemima, the wife of Joshua Talcot, Jr., bore him the following children : Joshua, born in 1776; Tirzah; Jemima ; Harvey ; and Mary. His wife died, and | the town of Smyrna was set off from Sher-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
burne, he was elected commissioner of high- ways of Smyrna, and in 1824 he was super- visor. Joshua and Sarrissa (Taylor) Talcot had a very large family of children, namely : Sally; Julius and Julia, both of whom died in their infancy ; Joshua, who died at the age of twenty-one years ; Julia ; Leman H., the father of our subject; Sally Ann; Sar- rissa ; Olive ; and Henry. It is said in an obituary, "He was one of the best citizens of Smyrna, unswerving, honest, and full of integrity in all his dealings.". He gave the ground on which to build the Friends' Church and lay out the burying ground ; he always respected their views, although he was a member of another religious society, the Congregational Church. Leman H. Talcot, the father of Mrs. Chapman, was born in 1810, and was married to Sally Ann Spencer, daughter of Obadiah Spencer. She died at the age of twenty-two years, leaving an only child, our subject, to be cared and reared by her grandfather, Joshua Talcot. Leman H. Talcot married for his second wife Aurora Holcomb. He had charge of the old homestead, and made many improve- ments, building a large, commodious and handsome house, and a large barn. He was railroad commissioner at the time of the building of the O. & W. R. R, which runs through Smyrna. Outside of his farming, he dealt extensively in live stock, driving large herds of cattle to Albany, N. Y., before the advent of the railroads. He died at the age of eighty-five years. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and took part in the advancement of the Knight Templars organization of Norwich. Mr.
Leman H. Talcot was an honor to his chosen occupation, a live, thorough going business man, of the class who succeed.
Our subject, Mrs. Ann Chapman, was her parents' only child. She married Smith S. Chapman, who was born in the town of Plymouth, this county, a son of Simon Chapman. Smith S. Chapman early in life followed the occupation of a farmer, and later, in association with Mr. Turner, he went to Norwich, N. Y., and bought a large interest in the firm of Foote & Clark, and under the firm name of Chapman, Foote & Turner, carried on a large dry goods store. After six years of mercantile life he followed commercial life for some time. Later he moved to Earlville, where his health failed him, and he died in 1890, at the age of fifty- three years. His death was mourned by his wife and son and a large circle of friends. Mr. Chapman was successful in all his under- takings, was a man of great energy, and commanded the respect of all who knew him. Will Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman's only son, was joined in wedlock with Mary Wilcox, and they have full charge of the farm. The citizens of Smyrna are proud to have Mrs. Chapman return to her former home, and keep up the old homestead, where, through the efforts of her forefathers and the present generation, the land has been made to blossom and bring forth the fruits of civilization and prosperity ; and while history may bear the names of the pioneer settlers down to posterity, their early strug- gles with untamed nature and its final sub- jugation through their labors and the results thereof, erect a lasting monument to their
JOSEPH E. PACKARD.
309
CHENANGO COUNTY
memories. The surface is beautiful, and was formerly covered with heavy timber ; but time, the fertility of the soil, and necessity of man have transformed nearly all the county into rich farms. The soil is rich and pro- ductive, and the improvements are among the best in the northern part of the county ; the farm is close to the village of Smyrna. Mr. Chapman, in his lifetime, was a most active and zealous member of the Episcopal Church, and devoted much time and means to enhance its well being. Mrs. Chapman, who is also an Episcopalian, is a woman of many virtues, excellent qualities, and is beloved by all.
OSEPH E. PACKARD is a private banker of Oxford, N. Y., and com- mands the confidence and respect of all with whom he has had dealings. He was born in Bainbridge, this state, December 12, 1853, and is a son of Peter M. and Sarah J. (Wiley ) Packard, and a grandson of Anscl S. Packard, who was a tool maker of Massa- chusetts and later of New York, where he became widely known through the celebrated Packard axe, of which he was the manufac- turer. Ansel S. Packard was a Democrat, and a good and true man. He was the father of seven children, as follows : Cornelia, deceased; Annie, who married D. L. Scott, a lieutenant in the late war, by whom she had one child, Julian ; Almira, now deceased, the wife of Eli Stockwell of Hammonton, N. J .; Mary married Porter R. Putnam, a promi- nent man in California, and founder of
Porterville, that state, and bore him two sons, William R. and Frank L .; Steven S. is a prominent dry goods merchant of Coving- ton, Pa., and married Mary Wilson of that place, by whom he had two children, Cornc- lia and Fred L., the latter a promising young real estate dealer of Oakland, Cal .; and Peter M., the father of our subject. In religious views the members of this family were Presbyterians, and were consistent Christian people.
Peter M. Packard was born December 3, 1820, and received his schooling in the com- mon schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed until he became connected with Ethan Clarkc, who at that time was the owner of a line of stage through the Chenango Valley. Mr. Packard then for a time engaged in the hotel business in Bainbridge and later associated himself with Jarvis and Truesdall, conduct- ing a stage line through the Susquehanna Valley ; he finally purchased the entire busi- ness. Hc owned 100 horses and a large number of coaches, and at one time was a very prosperous man, doing an extensive business. He continued in this business until the present railroad system was built, when his occupation was rendered useless, and he turned his attention to the pursuits of agri- culture. He also owned and operated a hotel in Allegheny County, Pa. He was united in marriage with Sarah J. Wiley. whose father was a native of Brownsville, N. Y., and a very prominent Mason, having taken the highest degree in the order. Mr. and Mrs. Packard were the parents of five children, of whom four grew to adult years ;
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
the record is as follows : Albert, born July 5, 1847, and died August 5, 1862; Peter N., who married Libbie S. Wittes of Wellsville, N. Y., and has onc son, Albert T .; Joseph E .; Isabel, who married A. B. Strong of West- field, Pa., and is the mother of one child, Chapman P .; Fannie L., the youngest of the family, who married G. H. Simmons of Westfield, Pa. Mrs. Packard was an adher- ent of the Episcopal Church, while Mr. Packard was inclined to be more liberal in his religion.
Joseph E. Packard was an attendant of the Bainbridge schools when a child, and after- ward entered the graded schools of Sidney, remaining there until he was fourteen, when hc went to Mansfield, Pa., and attended the schools of that place one year. He was then fifteen years old when he sccured a position as clerk with F. G. Clarke, with whom hc remained five years. He then became book- keeper in the National Bank of Oxford, staying there five years more and becoming familiar with the routine of bank work, and proving very proficient in the service re- quired of him. At the expiration of this time, Dr. N. G. Sands, a prominent physician of Oxford, and one of the wealthiest men in the county, cngaged his serviccs as as- sistant in the carc of his cstate. Hc has bcen superintendent of this estate since Dr. Sands' death, and is a most energetic and persevering worker, adding greatly to its improvement. In all these years, having been able to accumulate quite a snug for- tune, Mr. Packard engaged in the bank- ing business as the best means of investing his means. He has met with merited suc-
cess, and his honorable, upright dealings in all transactions have won him a high place in the regard of the entire community.
January 17, 1882, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Catherine A. Sands, a daughter of Dr. Sands, and by this union became the father of five children, three of whom are still living: Edith S., born May 28, 1885 ; Henry, deccased, born September 26, 1886; William G., born October 13, 1889; Cather- ine O., born September 19, 1890; and a child that died in infancy. Mrs. Packard dicd October 7, 1890, and four years later Mr. Packard formed a second matrimonial alli- ancc with Sophia S. Bixby, a most estimable lady of Norwich. Mr. and Mrs. Packard are members of the Episcopal Church, and give valuable aid to that organization. He is a Democrat, and takes great interest in the success of the party, but has never cared to enter the list of office seekers, preferring to leave that field to those whose ambitions lie in that direction.
The portrait of Mr. Packard, appearing on another page, adds a decided interest to the foregoing record.
ANIEL JOHNSON, Trestle P. O., a prominent dairyman and stock raiser of Chenango County, Guil- ford township, is a son of Seth and Jerusha (Root) Johnson, and was born April 21, 1833, on the old homestead, where he still resides.
The Johnsons are of English origin. The great-grcat-grandfather of our subject was a sailor, whose home was in Long Island. He
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CHENANGO COUNTY
was probably of English birth. Daniel John- son, his son and great-grandfather of our sub- ject, moved from Long Island to Connecticut, where he continued to reside until his death, working at his trade, which was that of a weaver. Sometime in the latter part of the eighteenth century one of his sons, Joel, located in the wilds of New York, in what is now the town of Guilford. In the year 1799, his brother Daniel, grandfather of our sub- ject, made him a visit. With the wonderful foresight that he ever exhibited in business, he saw the great possibilities of this unculti- vated country, and decided to locate here. To this end he purchased a tract of land con- taining 160 acres, immediately joining his brother Joel's property, on which he built a log house. He then returned to Connecti- cut, and the following winter moved his family to this new home. Moving in those days meant slow travel by ox-team, when it took many days to cover but a short dis- tance, and when many hardships were neces- sarily endured. He lived on this farm forty years until his death, which occurred at the advanced age of eighty years. He was buried in the old cemetery near his home. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisting for a short period, which he served, after which he re-enlisted, in all serving through six campaigns. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Norton, were both bound out in their childhood, as their parents were poor people. At the expiration of his indenture, he received a yoke of three year old oxen, and she received beds and bedding. With this humble beginning they made their start, and by their frugality and
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