USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
try in 1848, bringing his family with him. He settled in Manlius, Onondaga County, N. Y., and engaged in farming. He bought a farm, and by making many improvements made it one of the finest farms in the county. He lived upon it the rest of his life. Mr. Fisher married Margaret Ritter of Bavaria, Germany, before coming to this country. Five children were born to them: Earhart (deceased) was a farmer in Onondaga County ; Eugene, who is in the butcher business in the town of Manlius; Henry (deceased) was a minister of the Evangelical Church; John E. M. is a partner in a tannery with our sub- ject ; and J. N., in whom the interest of this sketch centers. They were all born in Ba- varia, Germany. In religious belief, Yobst Fisher was a member of the German Evan- gelical Church. Politically, he sided with the Republican party. Mrs. Fisher is now ninety-one years of age, and is remarkably hearty for a woman of her years. She still resides on the old homestead.
J. N. Fisher received his education in the district schools, after which he learned the trade of a tanner at Fayetteville, N. Y. He followed this occupation until August 3, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. H., 2d Reg. N. Y. Vol. Cav. Hc was in the Third Division of the Army of the Potomac, and fought under Gen. Custer. He took part in all of the im- portant engagements, and rendered valiant service for his country. He remained until the end, and was at Appomattox Court House when Lee's surrender to Grant brought a conclusion to the strife. He returned home in Junc, 1865, having received an honorable discharge. The following year he and his
498
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
brother, John E. M., succeeded Elihu Thompson in the tanning business at South Otselic. They have conducted this business ever since, but it has greatly increased, and they now turn out 140 dressed hides per week. They are also interested in farming in South Otselic.
J. N. Fisher was joined in marriage with Nettie Cone, September 26, 1871. Her father, who is deceased, was Daniel Cone, a farmer in Chenango County. Two children have blessed their home: Clayton, who naturally follows the trade in which his father has been so successful; and Ida May, who lives at home with her parents. In politics, Mr. Fisher is a firm supporter of the principles promulgated by the Republican party. Be- sides being successful in business, he has been a good citizen and has made many friends.
DGAR S. BULLIS, M. D., is the skill- ful and efficient surgeon of the Albany and Susquehanna R. R. at Bain- bridge. He is a son of Chauncey De La Fayette and Hannah Storey (Leach) Bullis, and was born May 2, 1862, in Moriah, Essex County, N. Y.
Chauncey De La Fayette Bullis was a son of Isaac Bullis, whose parents came from Germany to Essex County, where he was born and passed his entire life. He was an extensive manufacturer of iron, using char- coal in his furnaces. His wife was a Scotch lady ; among the children born to them was Chauncey De La Fayette, whose birth oc-
curred about the year 1826. Our subject's father is a farmer of no small repute and has also engaged in merchandising to a consider- able extent. He has always resided in Essex County, and has been strongly identified with the Republican party in that section ; he has held several offices, and discharged the duties in such a manner as to elicit the highest praise. He was elected to the office of sher- iff, and later became justice of the peace, in both positions being a constant menace to all evil-doers. He is at present serving as cor- oner, an office he has held continuously for about twelve years, showing that he is a very popular and satisfactory official. His wife was Hannah Storey Leach, who was born in 1829 and passed away in 1890, after a life that spread sunshine and happiness on those about her ; she was a woman whose many deeds of kindness are indelibly inscribed in the loving memories of her friends. She left a husband and two children, three of her little ones having preceded her to the brighter shore. The record reads as follows : Lester died in infancy ; Luther died at the age of seven years; Ida died at the age of five years ; Edgar S., our subject ; and Adelaide, the wife of William Hooper of Westport, N. Y.
Dr. Edgar S. Bullis received a good educa- tion ; he had a retentive memory and was able to grasp almost at a glance a subject that would require hard study on the part of many. He first attended Sherman Academy at Moriah, then studied under the preceptor- ship of Dr. C. S. Mclaughlin and Dr. C. A. Hopper of Port Henry, N. Y., after which he entered the University of Vermont. He
JOSEPH K. FOX.
501
CHENANGO COUNTY
was a young man who determined on push- ing his way to the front, and applied himself diligently to achieve that purpose, so we are not surprised to hear of him as among the youngest graduates of Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa, in the class of 1884. Af- ter graduating he went to Ames, Iowa, to locate, where his ability was soon recognized and his services secured as instructor in the State Agricultural College of that place ; there he remained two years, until 1886, giving the best of satisfaction. Feeling, however, that he had a more important mis- sion to perform, he came back to the home of his childhood and located in Schroon Lake, Essex County, where his invalid pa- tients found him a kind and skillful healer. His mission was to cure the sick, and his aid was freely given alike to rich and poor, with no thought of the sufferer's ability to repay him. He remained but a year in this village, where everyone was his friend, coming thence to Bainbridge, a much better field in which to practice medicine. In his present field he has secured a wonderful reputation for the skill and care displayed in all the cases that come under his charge, while the success that has attended his efforts has jus- tified the confidence that has been placed in him. His success both as a physician and surgeon soon attracted the attention of out- siders, and the officials of the Albany and Susquehanna R. R. at once set about secur- ing his services for their road. He at length accepted the charge, and has been called upon to relieve many an injury that has seemed almost past relief, but which, under his judi- cious and skillful care, has been entirely cured.
Aside from railroad work he enjoys a very large practice. He takes a deep inter- est in everything pertaining to medicine, and is a member of the Academy of Medicine at Binghamton. He is also connected with a number of fraternal societies, namely : the F. & A. M .; I. O. O. F .; Knights of Pythias ; Patriotic Order of Sons of America; and the Improved Order of Red Men of Susque- hanna. He has always been interested in the success of the Republican party, and does his share towards its advancement. He never loses an opportunity to help along the cause of education, and is one of the most able members of the board of education of Bainbridge.
On the 24th of March, 1886, Dr. Bullis was united in marriage with Ella Louise Leland. Their home is the embodiment of cosiness and home comfort, and the guest in their household is made to feel a hearty welcome. Two children have added their bright pres- ence to this home circle : Leland Storey and Louise Griffin.
OSEPH K. FOX. While the news- paper is such an important auxiliary in our civilization, yet to embark in a journalistic enterprise is a hazardous under- taking, and is oftener attended with disaster than success. It requires a person of pe- culiar talents-in fact, a combination of talents to be a successful editor. In the first place, he must be educated in the broadest sense : he should be a man of dispas- sionate judgment, and free from prejudices ;
502
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
he should be a ready writer, and quick at analysis of subjects; last, but not least, he should be a brainy man. But it is a rare thing to find this combination, and this is the cause of so many newspaper failures. THE NEW BERLIN GAZETTE, in its mature age, has such a combination, yet it had a hard and long road to travel, before it reached its present height in newspaper fame. Its suc- cess is mainly due to the untiring efforts of the editor, Joseph K. Fox.
He was born in Reephamshire, England, in 1830, and is a son of Robert and Susannah (Keeler) Fox. Robert Fox was also born in Reephamshire, England, and was educated for the ministry. He preached in England for a short time, but in 1830 came to this country, bringing his wife and infant son. They landed in New York City, then went to Utica, N. Y., where they located. There he entered the Wyoming Conference, but later was transferred to the Troy Conference. From Utica he went to Albany, where he was pastor of the State M. E. Church, and while there was made chaplain of the State Legisla- ture. He next moved to Troy, where he was living at the time of his death. In his minis- terial work, he filled the pulpits of many of the principal churches in the State. He was a well educated man and possessed natural oratorical ability ; he was a strong and forci- ble speaker, firm in his convictions and fearless in the expression of them. He was united in marriage with Susannah Keeler, and they reared a family of five children, whose rec- ords are as follows: Charles W., deceased, was for many years conductor on the New York Central R. R .; Flora A., the relict of E.
Bennett, who was a druggist of Troy ; Fanny is the widow of Dr. William Bonesteel, who for many years was a prominent physician of Troy ; Robert N., who died while at work in a printing office in Troy, was employed for many years in the Times office; and Joseph K.
Joseph K. Fox received his intellectual training in Owego Academy, and later in the Ithaca and Binghamton Academies ; he also took a two years' course at Cazenovia, grad- uating in 1846. He then became an appren- tice to the printer's trade with the late R. W. Roberts of Utica. After the first six months the job office was merged into the Utica Herald, and he worked on the first edition published. He served a three years' appren- ticeship, and in December, 1850, came to New Berlin, and, in connection with Rev. M. E. Dunham, embarked in the newspaper busi- ness. They established THE NEW BERLIN GAZETTE and conducted it jointly for one year, when our subject purchased the entire plant and published the paper alone until 1894, when the firm became Fox & Willard. Mr. Fox is the oldest publisher in the county ; he began on a small scale, publishing a five- column, four-page paper, but it is now one of eight columns, four pages, and is an up-to- date paper in every respect. It is a weekly sheet, published on Saturday, and has a large circulation. Through the medium of his paper, Mr. Fox has maintained a firm and de- cided stand for all public improvements. He organized the first fire department of the vil- lage, and it is due to his efforts that New Berlin is supplied with electric lights, water works, and an opera house. He is a bold,
503
CHENANGO COUNTY
fearless and versatile writer, and a deep thinker. With his contemporaries he is courteous, indulgent and forbearing with them in their attacks, but when fully aroused he is in his retaliation like a lion attacking his prey. Truthful and conscientious on all sub- jects with which he treats, zealous in his de- votion to principle, he has won a place in the confidence and affection of the people that time cannot shake.
He formed a matrimonial alliance with Mary E. Hugill, of Whitesboro, Oncida County, and three children have blessed their union, namely : Will, who lives at Muscatine, la., and is an engincer on the Lightning Ex- press of the C., R. I. & P. R. R .; Florence E., the wife of Dr. J. B. Noyes, whose personal history is given elsewhere in this book; and Lizzie, who is living at home with her father. Mr. Fox was at one time a Democrat, and in 1856 was elected by that party to the office of town clerk. He later became identified with the Republican party, and in 1868, was made town clerk by that party, also serving in that capacity in 1871, 1872, and 1873. For a number of years he was president of the village corporation. We take pleasure in presenting on a preceding page the portrait of this pioncer newspaper man of Chenango County.
RANK B. MITCHELL is a represen- tative and highly esteemed citizen of the town and village of Norwich, who is now living in practical retirement, his sole business care being the conservation of the
ample fortune he has accumulated by a life of great activity. He was born in Norwich, September 19, 1852, and is descended from one of the first families in the country, and from one of the pioncer settlers and phys- icians of Chenango County. Mr. Mitchell is a son of John and Caroline (Foot) Mitchell, grandson of Dr. Henry and Rowena (Wales) Mitchell, and great-grandson of John Mit- chell, who was born in 1754, and settled in Woodbury, Conn.
John Mitchell was a son of John Mitchell, and grandson of John Mitchell, Sr., from whom the line runs back to Experience Mitchell, who was of the company of Pil- grims who sought refuge in Holland from religious persecution ; from there he came to America in the ship Ann, the third vessel that crossed the Atlantic with the Pilgrim Fathers, and settled in Plymouth, Mass. Our subject's great-grandfather, John Mitchell, married Elizabeth Sherman, a daughter of Joseph Sherman, and brother of Roger Sherman, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Dr. Heury Mitchell was born in Wood- bury, Conn., where his father had settled in 1784, and was graduated from Yale College in 1804. He studied medicinc in Philadel- phia, and in 1806, qualified to practice, he came to Chenango County, and settled at Coventry, moving thence after a short resi- dence to Norwich, where he followed his profession, administering healing medicines and friendly counsel to those in physical afflic- tion, and making himself a real public bene- factor. He was one of the most noted and successful physicians and surgeons that Che-
504
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
nango County ever had the fortune to claim as one of her citizens. He was a noble man, taking part in all good work, and by his exam- ple showing many the path to truth, righteous- ness, and a proper mode of living. He dicd in 1856, and even now the mention of his name calls to mind a man of wonderful skill, tried judgment, and benign influence. He did considerable work in the building up of Norwich village, and was one of the original promoters of the progress and enterprise, that has since been steadily maintained. The village, where half a century of his life was spent, should ever hold his memory dear, and should see that the work, so well com- menced by him, ncver lags or halts till its cntirc completion. The death of his first wife left him a widower with six children, namcly : Charles; John; Janc; Harriet ; Mary ; and Maria. In order to fill a vacant placc in his household and to provide one who would care for his children in place of their mother, who had been taken to hcr Home, Dr. Mitchell married Mary (Zclla- may) Guernsey, daughter of James Zcllamay, and widow of Peter B. Gucrnscy, and this union resulted in the birth of sev- eral children. Dr. Mitchell was a very active politician, as was very natural for a man of his prominence before the public, and was elected to the State Assembly and even to a seat in the National House of Representatives.
John Mitchell, our subject's father, gradu- ated from Norwich Academy, and early in life entered the drug business, in which he prospered and bccamc well-to-do. His prof- its he invested with discretion and far-
sightedness; his transactions were chiefly confined to Norwich real estate, so the Nor- wich business world benefited indirectly from his own prosperity. He was active in furthering the growth and advancement of his native village, and in 1863 erected the Mitchell Block, which was for that period the finest business block in the village. His home was the Col. Perlee house, which he remodeled and fitted up in the most substan- tial as well as handsome manner. This splendid residence is now owned by our sub- ject. Mr. Mitchell was a Republican, but was not quite so prominent in public affairs as was his father, and therefore did not fill many public offices. His wife, Carolinc, was a daughter of John Foot, which gentleman was born in Colchester, Conn., in 1788, and settled in Hamilton, N. Y., where he died in 1883. His daughter, Carolinc, the mother of our subject, was born in Hamilton, N. Y., in 1821, and is still living and enjoying excel- lent health, with a promise of remaining many more years with her children and grand-children. Our subject's parents rearcd five children, who are all alive to-day ; they are as follows: Frederick, a druggist of the village of Norwich, and one of the prom- inent men of the place; John W., M. D., of Providence, R. I .; Franklin B., our subject ; Caroline, who married R. Little of Pasadena, Cal .; and Mary, who became the cherished wife of B. Newton of Los Angeles, Cal.
Franklin B. Mitchell acquired the first rudiments of his education in the public schools, Norwich Academy, and at Williston Seminary, where he fitted for college. Hc then attended Yale University, from which
505
CHENANGO COUNTY
high institution of learning he graduated in 1875. The ensuing two years were spent in the Columbia Law School, providing himself with a legal education ; he was graduated from this professional school in 1877, his diploma of graduation including the right to practice in any court in the state. He then spent some two years in the city of St. Louis, Mo., engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, and then turned his energies and at- tention to contracting, chiefly in public works, carrying on his operations in the States of New York, Ohio and California. After he gave up this work, he returned to Norwich, and was appointed postmaster of the village, a position he held some five years, after which he served two years as secretary of the Fishing, Game and Forest Commission. Since he withdrew from the latter position, he has only busied himself in caring for his extensive estate, which his assiduous labors have netted him. It is needless to remark that he is most highly regarded as an astute business man, whose record is clean and open to inspection. As a public officer, his integ- rity and faithfulness in the performance of his duties ever rendered him popular. His interest in his native place has never flagged, though at times his lot has been cast in places far from Norwich ; upon his return he casily rose to a place of prominence because of the public character of his services in behalf of the village.
Mr. Mitchell married Helen Sage, daugh- ter of Col. C. H. Sage of Brooklyn, and has three children, namely : Sally, born January 31, 1881; Minot, July 27, 1882; and Marguerite, who was born June, 1887, and died a year
later. He has always supported the Repub- lican ticket, and has been chairman of the Republican committee, and has served his town as supervisor and as trustee of the schools.
B ENJAMIN B. READ, an insurance solicitor and a justice of the peace of Greenc, Chenango County, N. Y., was born April 7, 1833, in Smithville, N. Y. He is a son of Hiram and Sarah ( Ketcham ) Read, and grandson of Silas Read.
Silas Read was a native of Massachusetts, who came to Chenango County at an early day and settled in Smithville. He was a prosperous farmer, and owned 2,000 acres of land, being the heaviest taxpayer in the town. He married Lucy Lund, a native of Connect- icut, and they became the parents of the following children: Merrick; Polly; Hiram; Clifton K .; Harriet ( Chappell ) ; Prescott ; and Sophia ( Howc). They were carnest members of the Baptist Church, and were very liberal in the support of that organiza- tion. In politics, Silas Read was a Democrat until 1840, when he became a Whig and cast his vote for William Henry Harrison. So- cially, he was a member of the Masonic Order. Although he received but little schooling, he was a well-informed man, being a constant reader.
Hiram Read was educated in the common schools of Smithville, after which he followed agricultural pursuits until April, 1859, when he moved to Greene to spend his declining years in retirement. He was united in mar-
24
506
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
riage with Sarah Ketcham, a daughter of Benjamin Ketcham. She was a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y., and in 1798 came to Chenango County with her father. Mr. and Mrs. Read were the parents of six chil- dren, namely : Alice M .; Elizabeth, who was the wife of Joseph Limburger, by whom shc had one daughter, Josephine ; Benjamin B., our subject; Henry K., who married De- borah C. Roberts of Greene, and became the father of three children-Carlton, Anna, and one that dicd in infancy ; the sixth child died young. They were Baptists in religious be- lief. He was an active member of the Dem- ocratic party, but never aspired to office. He was a prosperous farmer and a much respected citizen.
Benjamin B. Read, better known as Judge Read, received his primary education in the common schools, after which he pursued a two years' course in Norwich Academy. He then followed agricultural pursuits until 1864; he found farm life uncongenial to his tastes, so he went to Greene and entered mercantile business. He successfully conducted his store for twelve years, three years of the time in partnership with his brother. In 1876, he cntered the insurance business, and has been connected with that line of work ever since.
Benjamin B. Read was joined in Hymen's bonds with Mary Jane Hill, a daughter of J. P. Hill of McDonough. They arc the par- ents of two children: Helen, who married E. B. Merriam, a member of the firm of Cole & Merriam, druggists of Niagara Falls, N. Y .; and one child, who died in infancy. Judge Read in his religious views is liberal, but at-
tends the Episcopal Church, of which his wife and daughter are members. In political belief, he is a stanch supporter of the princi- ples advocated by the Democratic party. He has held the town offices of clerk and sup- ervisor. He was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland, during his first adminis- tration, and is now acting as justice of the peace. Socially, he has been a Mason since 1858, and is a member of the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, of Greene; Greene Chapter ; and has been affiliated with Malta Comman- dcry, No. 21, of Binghamton, N. Y., since October, 1868.
ICHAEL H. SULLIVAN, one of the encrgetic and progressive busi- - ness men of Norwich, and pro- prietor of a boot and shoe store, was born March 30, 1857, in the above village. He is a son of Patrick and Mary (Hill) Sullivan.
Patrick Sullivan was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and was born March 17, 1834. After receiving a good education in the parish schools of his native town, at the age of fourteen he emigrated to the United Statcs, and settled in New Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., where he engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist ; he also followed the tradc of a stone mason to some extent. After living there a short time he moved to North Norwich, and located in what is com- monly known as King's Settlement, where he followed his chosen occupations for ten years. His next move was to Wood's Corners, in Norwich, where he lived until 1870, when he
1
507
CHENANGO COUNTY
moved back to a farm in North Norwich, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred May 18, 1891. Religiously, he was attached to the Catholic Church, and was one of the efficient and valued workers of that church. He was a member of the first Catholic congregation that met regularly for worship in Norwich, and was one of the chief promoters of St. Patrick's Catholic Church that was erected in that village a few years later. He was an excellent workman at his trade as a stone-mason, and was for a number of years superintendent of masonry on the Utica Division of the D., L. & W. R. R. In politics he had great confidence in the Demo- cratic party, and never failed to cast his vote for that party when a legitimate opportunity was given. He chose for his companion Mary Hill, and they reared six children, all of whom are well-to-do in the various locali- ties in which they reside ; they are as fol- lows: Julia M .; Michael H., the subject of this personal history ; Annie, the wife of M. W. Dolan ; Jane, who married Ed. Quinn ; William H., a young attorney of Norwich, whose biography appears elsewhere ; and Mary L.
Michael H. Sullivan received a liberal education in the district schools of his native village ; upon attaining his majority, he turn- ed his attention toward the tilling of the soil, which occupation he pursued successfully until 1891, when he came to the village of Norwich and engaged in his present business, as a dealer in boots and shoes. His store is located on North Broad Street, where he carries a large variety of goods, and in his dealings with the public he is very accommo-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.