USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 30
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Henry C. Bennett received a liberal edu- cation in the common schools, and then fol- lowed the trade of a mason in the town of Guilford; later he moved to Norwich, and worked with his brother for three years, when he started in contracting for himself, and is now the leading mason and contractor in Norwich. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican. He is a member of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the I. (). O. F. Lodge, No. 205; Encampment, No. 52 ; and Rebecca Lodge, No. 95. He is a mem- ber of the Norwich Tribe of the Improved
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Order of Red Men. He was married No- vember 7, 1871, to Miss Georgia A. King, daughter of R. H. King. One child, Charles, blessed their happy home. Since Mr. Ben- nett has been a citizen of this town, he has earned for himsell the reputation of being a good, honest, upright citizen, and it is with pleasure that we publish his portrait on a preceding page.
R. LOUIS P. BLAIR, the repre- sentative physician of McDonough, whose superior abilities are every- where recognized, since coming to this vil- lage in 1878, has had an ever increasing prac- tice. He was born in the town of Chenango, Broome County, N. Y., and comes of a good family, being a son of A. Edson and Caroline (Pease) Blair.
His paternal ancestors, hardy Scotchmen, came to this country at an early day. His great-grandfather, born in Massachusetts, was a minute man of the Revolution, and had two sons, who also fought for Independence, one of whom died from wounds received in battle.
A. Edson Blair, the father of our subject, was born in the State of Massachusetts, and came to Chenango, Broome County, with his father. He was one of the good, solid farmers of the town, and was well and favor- ably known throughout the community. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and a true Christian gentleman, in whom a friend in trouble would always find a ready helper and sympathizer. In
politics, he adhered to the principles of the Republican party. He was united in mar- riage with Miss Caroline Pease, and seven children blessed their union, namely : Mrs. Dr. Moody of New Haven, Conn .; Morris P., now a resident of Binghamton, N. Y., served in the War of the Rebellion, from the first battle of Bull Run, to close of War, in the 27th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf .; Mrs. William H. Bristol of Binghamton, whose husband was a major in the War of the Rebellion ; Mrs. Ella E. Johnson ; Minnie B., who mar- ried George Reynolds of Binghamton ; Louis P., the subject of this biography ; and Dr. Arthur E., who died in 1889, at Castle Creek, Broome County, N. Y., where he had prac- ticed medicine several years.
Mrs. Blair's ancestors came from France in 1630, only 10 years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, and settled in Connecticut. Her brother, Rev. Lewis Pease, founded the Five Points Home of Industry in New York. Mrs Blair was a woman of high literary talents, and many of her works, written under the nom de plume of " Waif Woodland," have been widely read. Both our subject's parents are now numbered among the departed, his father dying in 1883, aged seventy-four years.
Dr. Lewis P. Blair was born July 8, 1853, on his father's farm, upon which he lived until his education in the district schools was completed. He then taught school for some time, and later became a commercial traveler. At the age of twenty years, he began the study of his chosen profession, medicine, under the preceptorship of Dr. J. A. Pettit, a learned physician of Buffalo, N. Y. He later
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took a course at the Buffalo Medical College, an institution ranking high among similar colleges of our country. Later, he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine of Louis- ville, from which he graduated in 1877. Pos- sessing superior natural abilities, and being of studious habits, he ranked among the first in his classes, and at the time of his gradua- tion was awarded the Thesis Prize, a much sought honor. He immediately took up his residence in McDonough, and entered upon his present practice, which is one of the best in his section of the county. He is of a kind and sympathetic nature, and is always a friend to his patients, who look upon him not only as an honest and capable physician, but as a personal adviser. He has a true sense of professional honor, and is always fair in his treatment of fellow-practitioners. He has been successful beyond his fondest hopes and has accumulated a handsome competency. In connection with his practice, he takes time to superintend the work on four good farms, which he owns in the town of McDon- ough. Dr. Blair's farms are all operated in an up-to-date manner, and he has not been slow to employ the use of new and improved machinery where it seemed for the best. The buildings are large, neat, and substan- tial, and the farms are well stocked. He makes a specialty of Jersey cattle, and has a fine herd of thorough breds, which attracts the admiration of all who chance to see them.
March 20, 1875, Dr. Blair was united in the bonds of matrimony with Mary J. Slater, a daughter of Milo Slater of Triangle, Broome County. Mrs. Blair is a kind and
loving wife, possessing many virtues, and has proven a true help-meet and comfort to her husband. Obr subject is a stanch Republi- can, and actively advocates the principles of the party. In recent years there have been many warm fights by the two leading parties for supremacy in the town of McDonough, and it is with great satisfaction that Dr. Blair has seen the Democratic majority of sixty votes overcome, and the town safely in control of his party. He is a county coroner, and is now serving his fifth year as supervisor of the town. He is president of the board of health, and has been notary public for the past fifteen years. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, and an original member of the New York State Medical Association. The New York State and Chenango County Medical Societies also include him as a member.
ENJAMIN F. HARRINGTON. The gentleman whose name heads this notice is a prominent and highly esteemed agriculturist of Green town- ship. He was born July 12, 1852, on the old homestead, and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah A. ( Barrows ) Harrington, and grand- son of Joshua Harrington, and great-grand- son of John IIarrington.
John Harrington, a native of Ireland, emi- grated to America, and settled in the State of Connecticut. At this time the Empire State was attracting much attention on ac- count of the bright prospects held out to pioneers, and he joined the tide of emigra- tion, took up his residence in Chenango
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County, and purchased a small farm. He was among the first white men to locate within the borders of Chenango County, and to begin the work of transforming a wilder- ness into a prosperous and thickly inhabited country. At the time of the outbreak, which occurred between the colonies and the mother country, inspired by a spirit of patriotism, he joined the army and rendered valuable service. At the close of the war he held a captain's commission. He passed from this life in the village of Oxford, at the age of eighty-four years. He married and reared a family of six children, who were as follows: Joshua; John; Hillman; Ebes ; Daniel ; Mrs. Polly Harrington; and Mrs. Rebecca Smith.
Joshua Harrington, grandfather of our subject, was born in the State of Connecticut, and when but a mere lad of twelve years, he accompanied his father west and located in Oxford, Chenango County, N. Y. Rapidly the old settlers of Chenango County are crossing the river of death to meet the loved ones gone before, and the time is not far distant when none will be left to tell the tale of the trials incident to the early settle- ment of this country. The beautiful farms will, however, be left as monuments of their handiwork, and their memories will be per- petuated by just such records as those which the reader is now perusing. Joshua Har- rington spent all his life in this district as a farmer. He chose for his wife Thankful Harrington, daughter of Thomas Harring- ton, who was a native of Connecticut, and who later came to the village of Oxford and engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist.
To Mr. and Mrs. Harrington were born the following children: Lucinda, deceased, was the wife of Darius Cooper, late farmer of Greene ; Malinda, deceased ; David, deceased, was a well-to-do farmer of Greene ; Joshua, deceased, was also a prominent farmer of Greene; Benjamin, a successful farmer and father of the subject of this sketch ; Mar- riette ; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of James Tuttle, a successful blacksmith of Greene ; Thomas W., an enterprising farmer of Greene; and Charles P., who died in his boyhood days. In politics, Mr. Harrington was an avowed Democrat.
Benjamin Harrington, father of our sub- ject, was a native of Oxford, and was born May 1, 1816. Upon attaining his majority, he took up the occupation of a farmer, and followed it all his active life. He attended the early schools of his native village, and obtained a liberal education. He was a strong Democrat in politics, a man of great force of character and decided views, and labored zealously for honor, right and the truth. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Burrows, daughter of Simeon Bur- rows, a well-to-do farmer living in Greene. They are the parents of the following chil- dren : Mary A., the wife of Floyd Wylie of Broome County, N. Y .; Benjamin F., subject of this sketch; Eugene, a prominent farmer in Greene ; Reade E., also a wealthy farmer of Greene; Victoria, who married George B. Bly, a barber of Carbondale, Pa .; and Evelyn, who was united in marriage with Joseph Spanley, a barber of Greene. Mr. Harrington was a great favorite socially, and the home of himself and wife was a pleasant resort for
JOHN J. SHERMAN.
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the cultured people, with whom they enjoyed large acquaintance. He died in Greene, Jan- uary 26, 1897, leaving an estate of 500 acres, and a large bank account, to his heirs.
Benjamin F. Harrington was born on the old homestead, July 2, 1865, received his early training in the public schools of his native town, and remained under the paren- tal roof until he was thirty-one years of age. He then went to Binghamton, N. Y., where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars. In 1886 he returned to his native village and bought his present home, which consists of 118 acres of highly cultivated land. He has his farm well stocked with cattle and runs a dairy, keeping about twenty head of Holstein cattle.
He was married December 3, 1885, to Miss Ella Thornton, daughter of A. Thornton, a progressive farmer of Afton, this county. In politics, Mr. Harrington is a strong Demo- crat. Socially, he is a member of the War- wick Chapter, Mystic Chain, No. 9, of Page Brook.
OHN J. SHERMAN, deceased, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, was born in Holmesville, Chenango County, N. Y., January 19, 1846, where he was reared and educated, after which he fol- lowed farming with his father until 1881. Upon leaving the farin he went to New York City, where he was employed by the Van Hoff Manufacturing Co., manufacturers and wholesale dealers in fishing tackle. After re- maining with them for two years he accepted
a position as brakeman on the New York El- evated R. R. Three years later he was ap- pointed to the police force of New York City. He was a brave and courageous man, always on hand in the time of need, and one who was ever ready to discharge his full duty. For five years he faithfully performed these duties, and gained the respect of his fellow officers, and the good-will of the inspectors. On September 1, 1891, he attempted to arrest a desperate negro, and in the encounter he met his death. His removal by such foul means was a cause for universal mourning on the force, and by a large number of friends in private life. He was a man of excellent habits, kind and sympathetic in his demean- or toward the deserving, but a terror to those traveling the paths of crookedness. He was in the prime of life, when he was called Home, and had a bright future before him. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Lo- dema Woodman, and two children blessed their home, namely : Ada; and Claude N. Mr. Sherman was a member of the A. O. U. W. of New York City.
The Sherman family is one of the oldest and best known in the county. George Sherman, our subject's paternal grandfather, was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Morris, Otsego County, but at an carly day he came to Chenango County and located near Holmesville. He was a farmer, and en- dured the many hardships incident to pioncer life.
Nelson Sherman, the father of our subject, was born December 31, 1826, at Holmesville, where he was reared and spent his entire life. He was a mason and carpenter by trade, but
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also did considerable farming. He passcd away May 1, 1894, after a long and success- ful life. He was united in marriage with Eliza Barton, and they became the parents of a son, John J., the subject of this personal sketch.
Mrs. John J. Sherman is a woman of ex- cellent qualitics and comes of a well known English family. She is a daughter of Wil- liam and Harriet Woodman. William Wood- man was born in England in 1831, and at the age of nineteen years came to this country and located at Mt. Upton. At that place he was united in marriage with Harriet Baird, after which they moved west to Iowa. He was a hero of the Civil War, and fought in many hotly contested battles. After the close of hostilitics he again came to the State of New York and settled in Holmesville, but two years later he moved to Madison County. There he lived and tilled the soil the remainder of his days. Mr. and Mrs. Woodman were the parents of seven chil- dren : Mrs. Sherman ; Ida M. Kattau of New York City ; Mrs. Clara E. Clark of New York City ; William D. of Rockwell's Mills ; Eugene C. of Holmesvillc; Mrs. Lizzie A. Fairchilds of Madison County, N. Y .; and George W., also of Madison County. Mrs. Sherman now lives at Holmesville, where she has many friends.
ILLIAM H. SAGE, a respected citizen of the village of Holmes- ville, New Berlin township, Chenango County, has extensive farming and dairy
interests, and ranks with the first agricultur- ists of his section. He comcs of a family, that has chiefly followed the peaceful pur- suits of agriculture, but many members have achieved distinction in other walks of life as judges, lawyers, clergymen, college profes- sors, physicians, army and navy officers, statesmen, merchants, manufacturers, and mechanics. Whatever their avocations, or wherever they live, the members of the Sage family are known as sober-mindcd citizens, industrious in their work, and loyal to home and country.
The Sage family traces its descent from Scandinavian stock, far back in the Dark Ages; the name was spelled "Saga," but when the Norsemen conquered Normandy, and over-ran France, the final "a" was changed to "e," thus making the present name, -- Sage. The name as it appears first in English history is found upon Battle Abbey Roll, year 1066, A. D.,-the roll made by William the Conqueror after the battle of Hastings, when he divided the English lands among his own followers,-the spelling there being "Sagcville." As a mark of dis- tinguished favor, a coat of arms was granted by the King. The coat of arms is surmount- ed by grain, fruit and flowers, indicating that the Sage family was then, as it is now, an agricultural people. The motto is "Non Sibli,"-" Not for ourselves."
The founder of the American branch of the now numerous family of Sages was David Sagc, a native of Wales, born in 1639, who emigrated to the American Colonies in 1652, settling in Middletown, Conn., where he died in 1703. His descendant, Daniel
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Sage, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Connecticut in 1756, and in 1803 came to the town of New Berlin, settling on a tract on Great Brook, where, after passing through the usual experiences incident to a pioneer life, he passed away in 1852. His farm consisted of 200 acres of interval land on Great Brook. He served in the War of the Revolution, and three of his sons fought in the War of 1812, for the rights of Americans against British oppression. He married Sybil Jewett of Rensselaer County, and had the following family : Sylvia, born in 1779; Erastus, 1784; Faith, 1786; Betsey, 1788 ; Simeon, 1789; Abigail, 1791 ; Jewett, 1793 ; Daniel, 1795 ; and Nathan, 1800.
Daniel Sage entered upon the stage of life in 1795, in Rensselaer County, and came with the other members of his father's family to New Berlin township, and settled on Great Brook. He made no mistake when he adopted the pursuit of farming as an occupa- tion to follow through life, for the natural aptitude he manifested in that direction, com- bined with the earnest efforts he put forth to achieve success, conspired to make him a very prosperous man, and an extensive land- owner, for at the time of his death he held a clear title to 800 acres of land that he had acquired. He was a man of great force of character, and proved himself a model citizen of his township. Party lines did not hold him very strongly, but when called upon to give his preference, he declared himself to be a Democrat. He married Eliza Burton, by whom he had nine children, five sons and four daughters, who grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows : Sylvia, born in 1831;
Richard, 1832; Olive A., 1834; Lois, 1836; George H., 1837 ; William H., 1840; Augus- tus, 1843; Emeline, 1848 ; and Daniel B., 1854.
William H. Sage, a member of the sixth generation from David Sage, the first of the family in this country, was born in New Berlin township, April 20, 1840. Hc obtain- ed an excellent mental training in the com- mon schools, and the South New Berlin Academy, pursuing his studies in that insti- tution, when Prof. Barber was principal. He afterwards attended Oxford Academy, pay- ing his own way through school, and receiv- ing no financial aid from anyone in obtaining his education. Excellently cquipped for life's battles, he left the academy at the age of twenty-one, and taught school one term in Schuylkill County, Pa. He then returned home to New Berlin township, married in 1861, and located on a farm near Holmes- ville, which is now occupied and conducted by his brother, George H., a notice of whose life appears on another page. On this farm he followed agricultural pursuits for a period of fourteen years, and then purchased a farm of 107 acres in the town of Morris, Otsego County, N. Y., upon which he resided for fifteen years. In 1880, he moved into the village of Holmesville, where he has since made his home in a comfortable and commo- dious residence. Although living in the vil- lage, he still continues to conduct his farm, and has also been engaged in the manufac- ture of butter and cheese, keeping a choice dairy. In 1898 he purchased a beautiful property, called Riverside Farm.
Mr. Sage is a Democrat in his politics
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though somewhat independent in his views ; he has been a commissioner of roads. On December 17, 1860, our subject was united in marriage with Sarah E. Thornton, a sister of C. H. Thornton, a merchant of Holmes- ville, and daughter of David and Abbie Ann (Clark) Thornton. Her great-grandfather, Jonathan Thornton, a native of Rhode Island, brought his family, in 1812, to New York State, locating in Norwich township, Chenango County. He followed the occu- pations of a stonemason and a farmer all his life. He died in 1862. His son, William Thornton, grew to maturity in Rhode Island, and came to this state with his father after his marriage, and followed farming in Nor- wich. David Thornton, Mrs. Sage's father, was born in Rhode Island in 1806, and was six years of age when his father brought him to Norwich. He engaged in stock-raising and other agricultural pursuits, and owned a farm of 200 acres. The last years of his life were spent in the town of Guilford, where he died in 1885. His wife bore him these children : Charles H., a prosperous general merchant of Holmesville, whose sketch appears on another page; Sarah E., the wife of our subject ; Anson, a farmer of Morris, Otsego County ; and Samuel, who is a retired farmer of Mt. Upton.
OSEPH D. VAN VALKENBURGH, who is acting as agent for several dif- ferent insurance companies, and who is one of the encrgetic and thrifty business
men of the village of Greene, was born in the above town September 16, 1849, and is a son of Joseph D. and Maria (Wheeler) Van Valkenburgh.
Lambert Van Valkenburgh was the first of that name to represent the family in this country. He was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and emigrated to America in 1645, settling in New Amsterdam, now New York City. He was the father of Jochem Van Valkenburgh, who was born in 1646; grand- father of Bartholemew Van Valkenburgh, born in 1680; grcat-grandfather of Jochem Van Valkenburgh who was born in 1702; and great-grcat-grandfather of Claudis Van Valkenburgh, who was born in 1747. Clau- dis Van Valkenburgh was the great-grand- father of our subject and the father of Adam Van Valkenburgh, who was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1773. In 1830 Adam Van Valkenburgh moved to Greene, Chenango County, and settled on a tract of land, which was then covered by a dense forest. He cleared a part of his farm, engaged in the tilling of the soil and was one of the lead. ing agriculturists of his section. He mar- ried Jennie Backus, who was born in Co- lumbia County, N. Y. They were the par- ents of ten children, who were as follows : John; Peter; Jeremiah ; Joseph ; George ; Christina; Maria; Jane; Katherine; and Margaret. In religious views Mr. and Mrs. Van Valkenburgh were members of the Pres- byterian Church. He passed from earth's scenes, its toils and its troubles, in 1859. She was called to her well earned rest in 1875.
Joseph D. Van Valkenburgh, the father of our subject, was born in Albany County,
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N. Y., in 1822, and attended the common schools in his native town until his parents came to Chenango County and located in the town of Greene. He was rcared to fol- low the pursuits of an agriculturist, and farming continued to be his principal oc- cupation throughout life. In 1851 he went to the State of California, where he remained five years, engaged in operating a saw mill, and in working extensively in a gold mine. Mr. Van Valkenburgh returned to his former home, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred June 4, 1895. He was a stanch Democrat in politics. He sincerely believed in the principles endorsed by this party, and always voted for the maintenance of these principles whenever an opportunity presented itself. He was very popular in his community, and was elected supervisor and filled many other minor offices, the duties of which offices were faithfully and honestly discharged. He was united in marriage with Miss Maria Wheeler, daughter of William D. and Prudence Wheeler, and five children blessed their home, namely : Joseph D., the subject of this biography; Charles W .; George A .; Emma; Prudence D .; and Mar- garet M. Charles W. Van Valkenburgh mar- ried Hortense Wright of Greene, and they reared a family of four children, namely : Lilian ; Nellie; Neil ; and Edna. George A. was united in marriage with Miss Effic Bry- ant of Greene, and two children blessed their home, Charles and Margaret. Emma, de. ceased, was the wife of R. A. Race of Greene, and the mother of two children, namely, Earl and Ethel. Margaret M. married Frank Leary of Greene, and they are the parents of
one child, Francis. Mrs. Van Valkenburgh entered the world of rest March 15, 1893.
Joseph D. Van Valkenburgh, whose name heads this brief notice, received a good edu- cation in the public schools of Greene, and then worked as a keeper in the State Prison at Sing Sing. After remaining there some months he went to Auburn, N. Y., where he accepted a like position. Disliking that kind of employment he resigned his position, and engaged in the insurance business for La Con- fiance Insurance Company, a French com- pany, whose headquarters werc at Paris, France. Three years after he engaged with the American Central Insurance Company of St. Louis, Mo., and for fourteen years he acted in the capacity as general agent of the Eastern States. He was required to travel a great deal over the territory to which he had been assigned, and spent on an average two nights a week in a sleeping car.
In 1875 he was joined in bonds of matri- mony with Miss Emma S. Boynton, daughter of George W. and Eliza Boynton of Greene, N. Y. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Van Val- kenburgh consists of the following children, namely : Ralph D .; Raymond H .; Helen S .; and Joseph D., deceased. Mrs. Van Valken- burgh died in June, 1888, at the age of thirty- five years. In 1889 our subject was married to Nellie G. Mears of New Haven, Conn., and four children were born as a result of this union. They are: Emma J .; Richard M .; Edward A .; and Gertrude. Religiously, his family arc devoted members of the Con- gregational Church. Mr. Van Valkenburgh is identified with the Democratic party, whose principles he believes to be the best of
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