USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 27
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pluck they succeeded in accumulating a com- fortable property and were well-to-do far- mers, highly honored and respected in the community in which they lived. For a num- ber of years he was justice of the peace and poormaster of the town of Guilford. They were the parents of seven children, one daughter dying in infancy ; four sons and two daughters reached maturity. Of these the oldest, Hiram Johnson, was born in Con- necticut, and came when fourteen years of age to Guilford, where he engaged in farm- ing. He lived to be ninety years old. Alpheus Johnson, a farmer of Guilford, now deceased, married a sister-in-law of the late Daniel S. Dickinson of Binghamton. Seth Johnson, the father of our subject, was next in order of birth. Joel Johnson was a minister of the Baptist Church, and was for many years a missionary in Georgia. It was hardly safe to speak your thoughts there during the late Rebellion, as Mr. Johnson found. They threatened to hang him for ex- pressing his opinion as to the result of the war. When his friends advised him to get away he told them that to be successful in hanging him, it would be very necessary for him to be there, and therefore he respectfully declined to leave. When they found that he meant nothing worse to the cause than a timely warning, they molested him no fur- ther, and he lived among his southern friends until he reached his seventieth year, when he was called to his reward. Samantha Johnson married Ethan Pier and moved to Pennsylvania, where she died. Louisa John- son married Lyman Bradley, late farmer and shoemaker of Guilford. Mary Johnson was
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married to Ithuel Blake, farmer of Coventry, Chenango County, now deceased.
Seth Johnson, the father of Daniel, was born on the old homestead, in Guilford, October 4, 1802, and died there in July, 1866. His death was caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, said to have been caused by overwork. He was an industrious and suc- cessful farmer, as was attested by his farm, which consisted at his death of 360 broad acres. This land was under a high state of cultivation, well improved and stocked. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Guilford, of which his parents had been two of the twelve charter members. He was united in marriage with Miss Jer- usha Root. They were the parents of the following children: Hiram T., who went to the State of Oregon, where he died in 1853; Lucia, wife of Thomas Fleming, a farmer of Schuyler County, N. Y .; Daniel; Charles, a shoe merchant of Pueblo, New Mexico; Ellen died in young girlhood ; Robert, who enlisted in the 89th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., was discharged after a short service on account of disability-he returned home to recuperate, and when better again enlisted in the 20th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Cav., but his disability again returned, and he died at the Soldier's Lodge, at Portsmouth, Va., November 18, 1864; Esther, the widow of A. O. Shepherd, late of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Sarah, widow of late John H. Brower of Chicago, Ill.
Mrs. Seth Johnson's father, Ebenezer Root, was a native of Great Barrington, Mass. He left home at an early day, coming with his family to Oxford, where he located on a farm. He was a natural mechanic, and
brought with him several different kinds of tools, which proved of great value to him in the new country, where tools were neces- sarily scarce. His principal occupation was farming, but he also dealt extensively in live stock, which he drove to New York City. He was but a boy of eighteen years when he enlisted as a soldier of the Revolution. He was twice married ; his first wife was Miss Jerusha Dogister of Mass. After her death he was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia Whipple of Bainbridge, N. Y. He was the father of sixteen children, eight by each wife. One of his daughters, Mrs. Young, is still living ; she is an intelligent, well informed lady, and held in high esteem by her acquain- tances. She makes her home with Daniel Johnson, the subject of this biography. She has one sister living, Charlotte Godfrey, aged ninety-three; and a brother, Silas Root, aged eighty-one.
Daniel Johnson received his education in the district schools, and later attended the academy at Binghamton for one term. He taught district school four terms, but had been brought up on a farm, and was con- vinced that farming was more to his taste than teaching. He then engaged in farming on the homestead of his fathers; and there he found the training he had received as a boy of much value to him. His farm contains 200 acres of good land, and is well adapted to the uses to which he puts it. He makes a specialty of dairy and stock farming. His dairy consists of 25 cows, and he raises a num- ber of cattle and horses. Mr. Johnson is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Grange. He was for forty years a deacon of the Con-
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gregational Church of Guilford Center, of which he is a member. Politically, he is an independent Republican. October 3, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary A. Hale, daughter of the late Ebenezer Hale of Cayuga County, N. Y. This marriage was blessed with five children : Ellen M., wife of William C. Stubbs, a veteran of the late war ; Alice, de- ceased, wife of Fred Conklin of Deposit, N. Y .; Charles H., a quarry man of Oxford ; F. May, wife of Willis Hyer of Mt. Upton, where Mr. Hyer farms; and Louisa, who married Walter Palmer of Masonville ( Del. Co.), N. Y. After the death of the first Mrs. Johnson, our subject was united to Mrs. Mary Jane (Young) Hastings, a daughter of John Young of Guilford Center, a farmer and blacksmith, and the widow of William Hast- ings, a farmer and liveryman, late of Unadilla, N. Y. This wedding occurred October 13, 1888. They have no children.
HE OXFORD TIMES. The history of Chenango County would be in- complete without reference to one of its oldest and best newspapers and its con- ductors.
The Oxford Times was founded in 1836 by a joint stock company. In 1841 it passed into the hands of Purdy & Brigham, both of whom gained some prominence in public affairs after leaving Oxford. They trans- ferred the paper to Waldo M. Potter, in 1844, who, after conducting it alone for a year, sold an interest to Judson B. Galpin, who was then residing in Greene, and who
had conducted a general mercantile business with his brother-in-law, Elisha N. Hawley. Potter & Galpin conducted The Times for four years, or until 1848, when Mr. Galpin assumed the entire management and control, and retained it up to the time of his death, in February, 1893, a period of forty-five years' continuous service.
Waldo M. Potter removed from Oxford to Saratoga, N. Y., where he conducted The Saratogian, first as a weekly, then with a daily edition, for a number of years. He became prominent in Republican politics, and was postmaster of Saratoga at one time. In the later years of his life, he was a resi- dent of North Dakota, and edited a paper and held a prominent state office. He died there.
Judson B. Galpin was born in Washington County, Conn., May 15, 1816. At the age of seventeen years he entered the office of the New Haven (Conn.) Palladium, as an appren- tice, and after a faithful service, he, in Jan- uary, 1838, became one of the publishers of that paper, in partnership with James F. Babcock, a leading man of his time. Mr. Galpin sold his interest in the paper in 1839, but remained in the office until May, 1841. During his residence in New Haven, he married, May 16, 1841, Catherine Jane Brownson of Middlebury, Conn., who at this date (1898) survives him, together with four children : Theodore B .; Henry J. ; Florrie G. (Walker) ; and Jennie HI. (Stark- weather), the last named residing in Hart- ford, Conn.
On assuming control of The Times, and during the long years of Mr. Galpin's man-
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agcment, he was constantly at the helm, and gavc close attention to all details connected with the work up to within a few months of his death, when disease compelled him to lay down the pen and his stick and rule. The Times never failed to be issued on the day sct for publication, and was hardly ever behind the usual hour. During his active management he was never absent from his post but twicc on publication day. That he was faithful to his trusts, true to his friends, and conducted The Times for the best inter- ests of the town and its welfare, the readers of the paper are his judges, and the files of the paper his monument. Public office he never sought, nor ever held. In connection with The Times, Mr. Galpin conducted a book store, which at his deccase passed into the hands of his son, Henry J. Galpin, who now conducts it. During the last sickness of Mr. Galpin, the management of The Times fell to Theodore B. Galpin, who for one year discharged the duties of that position, and for about onc year after his father's death. At the beginning of a new year, he disposed of a one-half interest to Wellington Alex- ander, and under their joint management the business is now conducted.
Theodorc Galpin was born in Oxford, January 23, 1846, and from a boy up has always been identified in one way or another with The Times, first as roller boy on the old Washington hand press, which still has a retired nook in the office, and an age of upwards of one hundred years, then as com- positor, writer and manager. The only intervals that occur to break a continucd connection with the paper were his attend-
ance at Oxford Academy, and two terms at Cazenovia Seminary.
Wellington Alexander was born in Greene, November 25, 1871. His father died some two years later, and his early life was spent with his grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Millard, in Oxford. Later he went to the State of Connecticut, where he lived with relatives, whilc receiving his education. At the age of seventeen, he entered the office of The Seymour (Conn.) Times, where he learned the printer's trade, and later he was employed on The Record of the same place. From there he returned to Oxford, found employment on The Times, and in January, 1894, became associated with Mr. Galpin, as one of that paper's editors and managers. Mr. Alexander was married in 1895, to Lilian M. French of Oxford, by whom he has one son.
The Times, now in its sixtieth year, still follows the old and well established custom of issue on time. It is neither a day ahead nor a day behind, scarcely an hour, and its readers expect it and receive it regularly every publication day, which is Tuesday morning. The paper has an established rep- utation for originality and for the advance- ment of anything and everything that is for the interest and welfare of Oxford. While the paper itself is well along in years, modern machinery and typc have replaced old from time to timc, and The Times of to-day is a model of typographical neatness, that will compare favorably with any country weekly. The paper enjoys a large subscription list, and an extensive advertising patronage, won on its own merits.
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FLOYD H. COWLES.
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J LOYD H. COWLES, postmaster and the leading druggist of Greene, Che- nango County, N. Y., was born in Smithville Flats, January 6, 1860. Hc is a son of Orlando and Olive P. (Hotchkiss) Cowles, and a grand- son of Myron Cowles.
Myron Cowles was a native of Greene, his father having been one of its earliest settlers. His vocation was that of a farmer, but he also owned and conducted an inn. Maryetta Towsley, of Greenc, was his companion in life, and their union was blessed by cight children, whose names are as follow : Floyd ; Edward; Orlando; Leroy ; Charles; Dallas : Alice; Flora. In religious belief, the mem- bers of the family were Universalists. Hc was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to office. Mr. Cowles was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He was a public- spirited man, and took an active interest in any movement tending to improve the con- dition of the town and its people.
Orlando Cowles, after completing his edu- cation in the common schools, turned his attention toward tilling the soil, in which he is now engaged ; he also makes a specialty of buying and selling fast horses. People have always found him a man of his word, and are not afraid to trust him in a business transac- tion. He married Olive P. Hotchkiss, a daughter of Amos Hotchkiss of Smithville Flats, N. Y., and they became the parents of two children, namely : Myra and Floyd H., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Cowles' wife passed from this life in 1865, when but twenty- seven years of age. He was again united in marriage with Julia Hotchkiss, a sister of his first wife, but she too passed from this life.
In religious belief, he is a member of the Universalist Church. Politically, he is an active supporter of the Democratic party, and has served in an official capacity as col- lector, constable, and assessor. Socially, he is a Mason, and belongs to the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, of Greene.
Floyd H. Cowles received a good common school education in his native town, after which he became a clerk in the pharmacy of J. S. Wood. He remained there several years, and then went to Wellsboro, Pa, where he operated a drug store for one year. Then after conducting a similar establish- ment at Oxford for one year, he returned to Greene, and there purchased the drug busi- ness owned by his former employer, J. S. Wood. To-day it is the leading pharmacy in the beautiful little village of Greenc. Mr. Cowles is a man of more than ordinary busi- ness ability. At present he is the efficient postmaster of the village. In politics, he is an active Democrat, and has held a number of responsible positions. He has been town clerk, and a member of the board of super- visors, and has faithfully performed the duties of these offices to the entire satisfaction of all. Socially, he belongs to the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M .; and Greene Chapter.
Mr. Cowles' first wife was Anna M. Wood of Greene. Their marriage occurred in 1885, and they lived together happily for seven years, when Mrs. Cowles passed away. Hc was again married, Josephine L. White being his second wife. In religious belief, they are liberal. Mr. Cowles is still a young man and has a bright future before him. It is with
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feelings of satisfaction and pleasure that wc publish on another page an excellent portrait of Mr. Cowles, who is included among the most enterprising and wide-awakc citizens of Grecne.
R. THOMAS JEROME TIF- FANY, a medical practitioner of Afton village, N. Y., is a gentle- man whose trained abilities and skillcd rcsources have brought him before the pub- lic, and have won for him the regard, esteem, and respect that are justly duc a man of his uscfulness in the life of the community. Thc work of a physician, from its innate nature, is of the kind that brings him into the closest relationship with the people. The way in which he carries his heavy responsibilities is ever to the public a matter of the most vital importance. That Dr. Tiffany knows fully the ethics of his profession, as well as the teachings, and every day livcs up to them, admits of no discussion. His high standing everywhere proves his fidelity to his patients' interests, and his success proves his talents. He is a son of Thomas J. and Matilda ( Rought ) Tiffany, and was born in Brook- lyn, Susquehanna County, Pa., December 23, 1854.
Pelatiah Tiffany, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Attleborough, Mass., September 12, 1788. He moved to Brooklyn, Pa., and engaged in the tilling of the soil until his death, which took place August 27, 1862. In politics he was an ardent Democrat. Religiously, he was a consistent member of
the Universalist Church. He was married February 26, 1793, to Hannah Miller, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., and they reared a large family of children. Mrs. Tif- fany died at Brooklyn, Pa., October 31, 1839.
Thomas J. Tiffany, our subject's father, was born in Brooklyn, Pa., January 2, 1816, and besides being a prosperous farmer, he followed the occupation of a carpenter and joiner. He was united in marriage January 1, 1840, with Matilda Rought. She was born in Nicholson, Wyoming County, Pa., Febru- ary 4, 1818, and died at Brooklyn, Pa., December 27, 1888. Shc was a daughter of George and Sarah ( Roberts ) Rought. Mr. Tiffany was the owner of 100 acres of the best improved land to be obtained in his scc- tion. Politically, hc was an avowed Demo- crat and took an active part in politics, but had no great desirc to distinguish himself as a public officer. He and his family were in their religious views Universalists, and sup- ported the church of that denomination in Brooklyn, Pa. Mr. Tiffany passed from this life in Brooklyn, Pa., March 15, 1896. His family consisted of the following children : Laura Ann; Fernando Americus; Mather Clemons ; Rosetta Amelia ; and Matilda Lor- etta. Laura Ann was born June 2, 1842, and marricd Emery T. Oakley December 24, 1869. They had two children, namely : Rozetta, born July 5, 1871, and died April 11, 1875 ; and Stella May, born March 28, 1877. Mrs. Oakley died March 15, 1892, at Ncw Milford, Pa. Fernando A. Tiffany was born February 4, 1845, and married Mary Helen Oakley February 20, 1867. Thcir home was blessed by two children, who were as follows:
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Ida Lena, born May 8, 1870, and died Sep- tember 3, 1870: and Nellie Louisa, born September 22, 1872. Mr. Fernando A. Tif- fany is following the trade of a carpenter in the village of Greene. Mather Clemons Tiffany, who is a farmer and owns the home- stead in Brooklyn, Pa., was born October 8, 1847, and was united in marriage July 15, 1873, with Clarissa Rerigo, and their family consists of three children, namely : Earl, born January 28, 1880; Ralph Ray, born March 28, 1881, and Arta Laton, born August, 1883. Rosetta Amelia was born March 30, 1850, and she formed a matrimonial alliance with Henry T. Seaman, and they were happily married July 3, 1876. They are the parents of two children. Matilda Loretta was born November 1, 1852, and died December 19, of the same year.
Thomas Jerome Tiffany was reared on the old homestead, and received his early mental training in the public schools of his native town. He left home in 1880 and moved to New Milford, where he was employed in a tannery for several years. In 1884 he began to study medicicine under Dr. S. A. Brooks of New Milford, Pa., and in 1886 he entered the Homeopathic Hospital College, at Cleve- land, Ohio, and was graduated in the spring of 1888. Moving to Scranton, Pa., he fol- lowed his chosen profession until 1891, when he went to Wyoming, Pa., where he remained one year. His next field was in Afton, N. Y., where he has since grown to be one of the most necessary and useful citizens of the community.
He was joined in the bonds of matrimony February 1, 1877, with Eva Louisa Bennett
of New Milford, who was born in New Mil- ford, August 14, 1855, and died June 21, 1892. Her only child was : Emma Leila, born July 5, 1878, and died February 11, 1897. He was again united in marriage October 12, 1892, the bride being Susan Amelia Carpenter of Afton, this county. Mr. Tiffany is a member of the Inter-State Homeopathic Medical So- ciety. He also belongs to the Afton Lodge, No. 360, F. & A. M. Politically, he is a Re- publican. In spite of a life filled to the utmost with the many cares and duties of a general practice, Dr. Tiffany has kept in step with the wonderful advances made by his profession during late years. He is pre-emi- nently of a studious turn of mind, and his reading covers an extensive field over and beyond the actual needs of his vocation. He is fortunate in his home surroundings and in the fact that his life work has been among a people who know well how to appreciate real worth and honest endeavor.
ENRY WINTER, a veteran of the late Civil War and a farmer of the town of Greene, was born at that place, March 6, 1836. He is a son of Wil- liam and Margaret (Van Dyck) Winter, and grandson of Thomas Winter.
Thomas Winter was a native of Warwick- shire, England, where he lived, and was engaged in farming all his life. He was united in marriage with Catharine Gilbert, and they reared five children,-three sons and two daughters, namely : Mary, who remained in England until after her marriage,
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when she and her husband went to Calcutta, India, where they both died; Hannah, who married Lewis Lee Morris, a farmer of the town of Morris, Otscgo County, N. Y., and a descendant of Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; William, the father of our subject; John, deccascd, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, and for a num- ber of years was associated with his brother William in the tanning business at Grcene, N. Y., but later was a farmer of Wisconsin, where he died; and Thomas, who at an early age went West to live. Shortly after her husband's death, Mrs. Winter, with all of her family but Mary, came to America to live, and settled in the town of Morris, Otsego County, N. Y., about the year 1804.
William Winter was born in Warwick- shire, England, in the year 1789, and was but fifteen years old when he came to this country with his mother. Being the oldest son, a large share of the responsibility of bringing up the younger members of the family, and of establishing a home, fell upon his shoulders. He learned the tanner's and currier's trade, and for a number of years he and his brother John conducted a tanyard in the village of Grcene. In 1845, he bought a farm on the Lower Geneganstlett, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits the remain- der of his life. He was prospercd in his labors and accumulated a neat fortune, because of his frugal habits, his untiring energy, and his ability to do his work well. At an early age he was united in marriage with Margaret Van Dyck, a former resident of Albany, N. Y., and a daughter of Peter Van Dyck. As a result of this union, thirteen
children were born, who were as follows : Thomas, deceased, who was a merchant of Greene, N. Y .; Catharine ; Margaret, de- ccased, who was the wife of Charles G. Bun- nell, formerly a merchant of Chenango Forks, later a hotel keeper of Keokuk, Ia .; Mary, a maiden lady ; William, a farmer in Greene, now deceased; Maria, deceased, was the wife of S. P. Thomas, a farmer of the town of Greene; Charles, a retired farmer of La Fayctte, Ind., who was a soldier in the Civil War, serving in Co. D, 27th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf. for two years ; Helen, who is the wife of S. A. Gross, a farmer of Milford, Iowa ; Jane, who died young ; Martha, who is the wife of L. R. Davis, a carpenter of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Hannah, the widow of W. S. Hoag, now living in Elizabeth, N. J .; and John, a farmer of West Berlin, Ohio. Mr. Winter was a consistent member of the Episcopalian Church. His useful life came to an end in 1870.
Henry Winter was reared on the farm and received a good common school education. He worked on his father's cstate until Octo- ber 14, 1861, when the terrible Civil War began ; he enlisted at Greene, in Co. H, 89th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf., being one of the first to respond to the call of his country. He took part in many engagements, some of the most important being the battles of Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, and the Burnside Expedition. In August, 1863, hc was taken sick and sent to a hospital to recuperate ; he remained in different hos- pitals until April, 1864, when he considered himself sufficiently recovered to join his com- pany, which was situated near Petersburg.
CHARLES G. ADAMS.
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After returning, he took part in the engage- ments of Petersburg, Cold Harbor, and Chapin's Farm, and soon after received an honorable discharge, October 14, 1864. There is, perhaps, nothing of which a man may be more excusably proud than of gal- lant service in the cause of his country, nor is there any service which lives longer in the grateful memory of the people. He returned to the homestead, and cultivated it until a few years ago, when he became a painter, as his health was such as to prevent him from engaging in the more arduous labors of the farm. He was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Gross, by whom he had three chil- dren, who are as follows: Edmund, who died in infancy ; William Thomas, a clerk in To- wanda, Pa .; and Charles Everitt, who died in childhood. His second wife was formerly Mrs. Lydia J. (Purple) Wagner, whose first husband was S. C. Wagner, by whom she had three children, namely : Annie E., who is the wife of Ansel Parker, a resident of Oxford; Dora A., a teacher of Yonkers, N. Y .; and Nellie, who died in infancy. Mr Winter is a member of Banks Post, G. A. R. of Greene, N. Y
HARLES G. ADAMS. Among the pioneer residents of this county, who have accumulated largely of this world's goods through their own efforts, backed up by a conquering energy and per- severance, and who are now retired from the active labors of life, upon a well-earned com- petency, is the gentleman whose name heads
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