USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 45
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dating and willing to please, and has suc- ceeded in building up a large and enviable trade. He also superintends his farm in North Norwich, which is one of the best improved properties in that section of the county, and brings him in a snug income each year. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and, while a resident of the village of North Norwich, served his fellow-townsmen as rail- road commissioner. He has held the posi- tion of vice-president of the Chenango County Agricultural Society.
On March 20, 1888, Mr. Sullivan was happily married to Agnes May Bissell, and they have a family of seven children, who are as follows: Francis; Henry ; Mary : Harriet; Julia; Harry ; and Charles. Mr. Sullivan has always been a man of sound judgment and good understanding, and has exerted a marked influence in his section. and has become a prosperous citizen as a natural result of his thrift and industry.
ANIEL D. BRADLEY, a prominent business man of Greene, was born July 29, 1828, at Greene, Chenango County, N. Y. He is a son of David and Sally (Ketchum) Bradley, and grandson of David Bradley.
David Bradley, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of New Haven, Coun., but later lived in Kent, Litchfield County, Conn., where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. In 1802, three of his sons, Zachariah, David and Smith, came to Chenango County, and settled at Greene, on the Genegantslett,
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about one-halt mile east of Genegantslett Corners. Mr. Bradley joined his sons three years later and brought the rest of his family with him. He bought lands one-half mile north of Genegantslett Corners, cleared them, and began farming. He married Lydia Fuller, also of Connecticut, and they became the parents of seven childen, namely : Zachariah (deceased), a farmer and pioneer settler of Greene : David, the father of our subject ; Smith and Timothy, farmers and pioneer settlers of Greene, both now de- ceased ; Polly, deceased, who was the wife of George Beckwith; Mercy, also deceased, who was married to Dr. Levi Farr; and Orlo, deceased. David Bradley was a true member of the Presbyterian Church. He was eighty-four years of age when he was called to the better land.
It is not definitely known where David Bradley, the father of our subject, was born, but his birthplace is supposed to have been either New Haven, or Kent, Conn. With his two brothers, he came to Greene as one of the pioneer settlers.
Beginning in a small way, by industry and successful management, he accumulated con- siderable property, wholly by his own efforts. His wife's maiden name was Sally Ketchum ; her father, a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., moved to the present sight of Greene, this county, in 1792. He came as far as Ox- ford with an ox-team, but there he was obliged to give up the team, as there were no roads. It is hard for us to realize the difficulties of travel in those days; we now have the use of railroads over which we can travel as many miles per hour as would have taken
days to travel with an ox-team on the poor roads of that day. At Oxford, he built a boat and floated his goods down the Che- nango River to what is now called Greene. He at once set about to fix a shelter for his family, which he did by piling bark along the side of logs. This did very well until he built a rude log house, which was the first house in the village of Greene, and probably the first in the town. It was in this rude structure that he entertained Captain Joseph Juliand, when that pioneer made his first trip to Greene a few years later.
Mr. and Mrs. David Bradley were the parents of six children, four boys and two girls, whose names are as follows: Dr. Stephen K., deceased, practiced medicine at Delaware, Ohio; Chauncey F., who has re- tired from active pursuits, lives in Delaware, Ohio; Esther S., deceased, was the wife of Daniel M. Layton of Vestal, Broome County, N. Y .; Timothy D., a retired farmer of Car- dington, Morrow County, Ohio; Maria M., deceased, married William S. Harrington, a retired farmer of Greene, N. Y .; and Daniel D., our subject. David Bradley reached an advanced age, dying in 1872 on the home- stead. He was an old time Whig, and later was a Republican ; he served several terms as poormaster.
Daniel D. Bradley was born and reared on the old homestead, and received his educa- tion in the district schools of Greene. After leaving school he followed farming as an oc- cupation ; he farmed the old homestead and owned 210 acres of fine farm land. In 1871, he bought a saw and feed mill at Genegantslett Corners, and two years later he moved there
BRADFORD G. GREENE.
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to look after the interests of the mill. In 1879, he built himself a fine country home near his mills, and has resided there ever sinee. He also owns and operates a grocery store at the same place. Mr. Bradley has made a success of every business he has undertaken, owing to his honest and eapable manner of dealing with the public.
Our subjeet is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and takes an active interest in anything that tends to the improvement of farming life. In polities, he is a stanch Re- publiean. Mr. Bradley was united in mar- riage, January 4, 1859, with Deborah H. Franeis, a daughter of David Franeis, late a farmer of Greene. Five children have blessed their home: Eleanor S., who is teaching sehool at Kattelville, Broome County, N. Y .: Mary E. is the wife of Cyrus A. Kinsman, a farmer of Greene ; Franeis, who died in childhood ; Frederick E., who married Marian Curtis of Greene, N. Y .; and George B., now living at Genegantslett Cor- ners, and engaged in operating the mill for his father.
B RADFORD G. GREENE, deceased, whose portrait appears on the op- posite page, was one of the honored and progressive business men of Oxford, and was born April 16, 1839. He was a son of Frederick and Sophia (Baldwin) Greene, the former a native of Oblong, Dutchess County, N. Y., and the latter a native of Oxford, this county. Thaddeus Greene, the grandfather of our subjeet, was a native of Rhode Island, and was a hatter by trade.
Frederick Greene reecived his elementary education in the publie schools of his native town. He then taught school during the winter months and farmed during the sum- mers. He was a man who believed in the ad- vaneement of educational institutions, and anything caleulated to better the community found a warm supporter in him. In politics he was a staneh Whig, but was not an aspirant to office. He chose for his life-eom- panion Sophia Baldwin, daughter of Jonathan Baldwin, and they reared and educated a family of four children, namely : Harvey M., deceased, a physician; Bradford G., who heads the above lines ; Charles F., a member of Co. H, 114th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf., in the late Rebellion, who was killed while fighting for his country ; and Clara C. In religious views, Frederick Greene was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. IIc passed to the unknown beyond August 13, 1846. Mrs. Greene departed from this life July 22, 1885.
Bradford G. Greene, the subject of this biography, received his primary education in the common schools in his native town, and supplemented it with a course in Oxford Academy. He then read dentistry with Dr. Eeeleston of Oxford, N. Y., and later entered into a partnership with the Doctor. When the Civil War broke out, he and four of his sehool ehums enlisted in the Union Army, to defend the Government and help put down the Rebellion. He was assigned to the U. S. Navy, and was placed on board the ship North Carolina, whose duties were to patrol the harbor of New York City. Shortly after entering the navy, he was taken sick, and for
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six months he was unable to perform hard labor, and was placed in the hospital as a steward. After the expiration of his service for the U. S. Government, he shipped before the mast, on an expedition which lasted three years. Upon his return he engaged in the jewelry business as clerk for Coville & Cady of Oxford, and remained in their em- ploy for eighteen years. In 1881, he became connected with the National Express Com- pany, and later he found employment in the American Express Company. In 1883, he engaged in business for himself, operating a coal office, in which business he was very successful.
Mr. Greene participated in village and town affairs with his usual spirit and energy, and on occasions when party politics pre- vailed, he unflinchingly maintained the plat- form and principles of the Republican party. He held the office of postmaster under the administration of President Harrison, and served as township collector for several years. Socially, he was a Mason of Oxford Lodge, No. 175, also a member of the E. E. Breed Post, G. A. R., of Oxford. He was a director of the Chenango Mutual Life Insurance Co .; was also a member of the board of education, and took an active part in agitating for a Union School, and was made chairman of the building committee. He was joined in wedlock with Marianna Sisson, daughter of Thomas Sisson of Norwich. To Mr. and Mrs. Greene were born three children, namely : Frederick B., who married Minnie A. Howard of Greenfield, Mass .; Harry M., who lives at home with his mother ; and one that died in its infancy. Mr. Greene was a
liberal giver to all worthy enterprises at large, and was never known to turn a deaf ear to true charity. He was a man of broad information and well rounded character, and carried on business in many different parts of the county, always sustaining the charac- ter of an upright man, good neighbor and honest citizen. He lived a useful, patriotic and practical life, and died full of honors, respected and esteemed by all who knew him.
Mrs. Greene has always been a bright, active woman. She received a good educa- tion, and her bright, cheerful ways have always made her very popular, while her shrewd, business like methods entitled her to the respect of all. Her property she manages wisely and well. She owns con- siderable real estate in and about the village of Oxford, and conducts the coal business formerly managed by Mr. Greene.
Y. CHAMBERLAIN is a retired farmer and a prominent citizen of Rockwell's Mills. He is a son of Calvin and Wealthy ( Demmin ) Chamberlain, and was born on his father's farm at Rock- well's Mills, June 4, 1828.
Wyatt Chamberlain, his grandfather, a native of England, came to Butternuts, Ot- sego County, as one of the first settlers of Central New York, when all this vast section was a wilderness, inhabited only by the wild beasts and Indians. It is largely due to the courage and perseverance of such men
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that this region is to-day civilized and highly cultivated. Wyatt Chamberlain became a very successful farmer, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He raised a large family of children. Rev. Israel, the eldest, was the first class leader of the Rockwell's Mills Union Church in 1819, later was well and favorably known as a minister of the Methodist Church in Genesee County, and for four years was chaplain of the Auburn State Prison. He also edited the Christian Advocate of Syra- cuse, N. Y., for a number of years. He raised a large family of children, some of whom are prominent in religious circles of the Methodist Church, and one son was for many years a teacher in Buffalo. Of the remaining members of the family, Wyatt was a member of the Methodist Church, and went in the interest of that church as a missionary to Canada; Calvin became the father of our subject ; Zetosch was a farmer of Mt. Upton ; Joel was a miller of the same place ; and Ashley, who was a speculator.
Calvin Chamberlain, the father of our sub- ject, was born near Mt. Upton in 1800, and became one of the most successful farmers of Rockwell's Mills, where he owned a large farm. He learned the carpenter trade and worked at it in the early part of his life, but the latter part of his career was devoted en- tirely to farming. He was a Methodist and an official in the church for a great many years. He was a stanch Whig and Republi- can, and was always interested in the welfare of his party. His wife, Wealthy, daughter of William Demmin, a gunsmith of Unadilla, Otsego County, bore him seven children, as follows: Catherine, deceased, wife of Byron
Upton, a shoemaker of Mt. Upton; Caroline, deceased, wife of Benjamin Peck, cabinet maker and undertaker of Rockwell's Mills; Clark, a farmer of the same place; Clarissa, deceased, wife of George Bowen, a farmer of Norwich ; Caldwell, a retired farmer of Mt. Upton ; C. Y., our subject; and Cordelia, wife of Joseph Morris of Mt. Upton.
C. Y. Chamberlain received his early train- ing on the farm, and attended the district schools in his youth. He succeeded his father as owner of the homestead, where he has 500 acres of fine farm land under a high state of cultivation. He lived on this farm until a few years ago, when he bought a fine residence in the village of Rockwell's Mills, where he has since resided. He has been most successful as a general farmer, and is one of the most highly respected residents of the county.
Mr. Chamberlain chose as his life partner Elizabeth Talcott, whose father was a farmer of the town of Guilford. Their nuptials were celebrated July 4, 1852, and three children were born to them, namely: Ruby A., de- ceased, the wife of Harvey A. Trucsdell of Mt. Upton ; Calvin, a farmer now residing on the homestead, married Eva Hoag, daughter of Milton Hoag, a farmer of Norwich, and has two children, Ruby and Mildred ; and Jennie, who became the wife of Frederick Winsor, a farmer of the town of Guilford. and bore him one child, Earl. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are carnest and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which organization our subject is a steward. He is a stalwart Republican, and has filled a number of the town offices.
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R. F. E. ROPER is a leading phy- sician of the village of Norwich, where he has very successfully en- gaged in the duties that pertain to his pro- fession since July, 1896, having received his diploma in 1888 from the Homeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland, Ohio. His boyhood days were spent in Danby, N. Y., afterwards attending the high school at Ithaca, and leading the usual lifc of a young lad full of youthful spirit. Having acquired a liking for the medical profession in his younger days, and having directed his studics in that direction, it seemed the natural thing to our subject's friends that he should have fully decided upon a physician's career, and perfected himself toward that end, and that his skill and learning should be so widely recognized as of the best. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., January 20, 1864, and is a son of Luther and Maria (Egbert) Roper.
Luther Roper was reared and educated in his native county, and has followed farming therc all his active life. He is one of those gentlemen to whom the growing population of Tompkins County can point with pride as being a self-made man, for what he has of this world's goods has been accumulated through his own indomitable energy and per- severance, and not as the recipient of any legacy. His school privileges were quite limited, and what he acquired in the district school has since been supplementcd by prac- tical information gained in the school of cxperience. The life of Mr. Roper has been that of a farmer, and his younger years were passed on the homestead, assisting his father
in his labors. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, the furtherance of whosc principles he believes to be for the best good of the community and the country at large. He is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. He was united in marriage with Maria Egbert, and they reared three children : Dr. F. E .; William E., also a prominent physician; and Mary Eliza- beth, dcceased, the wife of De Witt Burg- hardt. Mrs. Roper was called to her well earned rest in 1879.
Dr. F. E. Roper received his mental train- ing in the Ithaca High School. When he at- taincd his majority he entered the Homeo- pathic Hospital College of Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from that institution in March, 1888. He then followed his chosen occupa- tion in the village of Deposit, N. Y., for three years, and then went to Colorado, where he was engaged in practice five years. In July, 1896, he returned to his native state and settled in the village of Norwich, Che- mango County, where he is practicing his chosen profession with good success. He is a member of the Masonic Order of Deposit, N. Y., and also a member of the Woodmen of the World, of Colorado. He chose for his life-companion Miss M. Louise Wilcox, daughter of W. R. Wilcox, the nuptial cere- mony being performed October 20, 1892. They have one child, Reba Louise. In the community, although a comparatively young man, he is highly rated as having extremely good judgment and an experience which stands him in good stead in all the varied duties of life. The Doctor is eminently social. He is a skillful and successful prac-
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titioner, combining firmness and tenderness. He overflows with kindness and good nature. His professional attainments are superior, while toward all he manifests a gentlemanly demcanor that has given him the good-will and respect of the entire community.
EORGE P. RUGG, proprietor of the steam laundry of Oxford, was born July 31, 1845, at Carter's Mills, N. Y. He is a son of Seth and Anna (Hallett) Rugg, the latter a native of England, her parents emigrating to this country when she was eight years of age.
Seth Rugg received his education in the common schools of Milton, N. Y., and then learned the trade of a tanner, which he fol- lowed all his life. He owned a large tannery in Milton and operated it for some time, when he sold out and moved to Rochester, N. Y., later to Ithaca, and thence to George- town, N. Y., where he lived in retirement. In politics he was an active Republican, and always voted to uphold the principles of his chosen party. He was united in marriage with Anna Hallett, daughter of Richard Hal- lett, and they reared the following children, namely : George P., the subject of this biog- raphy ; Adelbert, who married Mary Hol- comb of Georgetown, N. Y., and has one child, Maisie ; Frank S., married Emily Fan- cett of Munnsville, N. Y .; Charles married Mary Ryan of Norwich, and has one child, Bernard; and Flora, the wife of George Albro, and the mother of seven children,
who are as follows,-Homer, Charles, Cora, Ida, Newell, Irene, and one that died in its infancy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rugg were ac- tive and consistent members of the Baptist Church.
George P. Rugg passed his boyhood days in his native village, and in attendance upon the common school he received a fair educa- tion. He was an ambitious lad and very eager to get an carly start in life, conse- quently he sought a position in a tannery, in which he worked for several years. He then engaged in milling, which he found more suit- able, and followed that line of business for twelve years. He then learned the trade of a carpenter, which he continued to follow until 1893, when he engaged in his present business as a laundryman. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and casts his vote in support of Repub- lican candidates. Our subject was united in matrimony, in 1872, with Emma C. Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, of Georgetown, N. Y., and their home has been blessed by the birth of two children, Grace and Ward L., deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Rugg are strict adherents to the principles and doctrines of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rugg is very successful in his laundry business and commands a large pat- ronage in the village and surrounding coun- try. In his business dealings, he is distin- guished by his square and honest methods, and conscientious scruples against taking the least advantage of anyone with whom he may chance to have business. He is an intelligent man, well read and well informed, and takes a keen interest in local and general matters.
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. W. FLETCHER, a prosperous farm- er of the town of Guilford, is well known, not only for the successful manner in which he has managed his farm, but for his integrity and straightforwardness in dealing with his fellowmen. He was born October 2, 1857, and is a son of Joseph and Susan ( Sherwood ) Fletcher.
Joseph Fletcher, a native of Connecticut, came to this county about 1848, settling in East Guilford. He was a tanner by trade, but was also quite successful as a farmer. Religiously, he was a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Fletcher reached the age of sixty-one years, passing away July 1, 1869. As a result of his union with Susan Sher- wood, twelve children were born, namely : William, deceased, a speculator, who resided at Bainbridge; Adelia, deceased, married William Dunlevey of East Guilford; Ger- trude, who makes her home with her brother, the subject of this biography ; Emily, de- ceased; Stephen is a farmer in the town of Coventry ; Sarah, the wife of Chauncey Ramsdell, lives in Dunkirk, N. Y .; Maryett, the wife of H. C. Bedford, of Oneonta, N. Y .; Georgia, the relict of William Weller, who was a farmer of Madison County, N. Y .; O. W., the subject of this sketch; and Milton, who is a professor in Unadilla Academy.
O. W. Fletcher received his education in the common schools of his native town, after which he devoted his time to tilling the soil. He started in life with very little means, and his success forms a striking example of what industry and determination may accomplish. He worked hard and managed his affairs shrewdly, and in 1894 he was able to buy 287
acres of fine farm land, upon which he has since resided. He has made many improve- ments since living upon it, and it is now one of the finest farms in the neighborhood, being well supplied with neat and substantial buildings.
Mrs. Fletcher's maiden name was Mary Gilbert, and she is a daughter of John Gil- bert, a late farmer of Gilbertsville, Otsego County, N. Y. She is a woman of excellent qualities, and has contributed largely to her husband's success. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher are very fond of children, and as none were born to bless their home, they adopted a son, Fred. They are earnest members of the M. E. Church of Bainbridge, and are liberal in its support. Believing that liquor is the curse of our country, Mr. Fletcher became a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party a number of years ago, and has proved himself a valued worker for temperance. He has performed the labors of a good citizen, and possesses the esteem and friendship of all his neighbors.
WEN L. CRUMB, a prominent and well known citizen of Bainbridge township, is secretary and treasurer of the American Separator Co., and manager and part proprietor of the Bainbridge Ex- press. By his connection with these two im- portant concerns he exerts a wide influence in the community where he resides, and is much respected by the best class of citizens throughout the county. He was born in Madison County, N. Y., and is the fourth and
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youngest son of Benjamin and Mary Eliza- beth (Maxson) Crumb.
William Crumb, the great-great-grand. father of the present scion, was born in 1696, in a province of Southern Germany, and married a young lady of French descent, who bore the name of Le Face. Upon com- ing to this country they located in Rhode Island, near Providence, where our subject's ancestor became one of the leading mer- chants. Their son, Joseph Waite Crumb, born in Providence, R. I., removed from his native place in 1796, and took up his resi- dence on a farm in the vicinity of De Ruyter, Madison County, the remainder of his life being devoted to agricultural pursuits. He brought seven sons and one daughter with him; one of these sons was Hosca Waite Crumb, grandfather of the subject of this notice, whose birth occurred in Providence in 1794, and therefore being only about two years of age when the family moved into New York State. Our subject's grandfather lived ncar De Ruyter all his life, and com- bined coopering with farming. His wife, Martha Irish, bore him three children, as fol- lows: Sarah, who died in infancy ; Benjamin Waite the father of our subject ; and Sarah J., wife of Giles D. Johnson, who still sur- vives her, and lives in Cazenovia, N. Y.
Benjamin Waite Crumb advanced from the common schools to De Ruyter Institute, then the leading school in Central New York, and there acquired a very good equipment for life's battles. From the time he left school until his death, which occurred February 10, 1891, he was engaged exclusively in farming on the old homestead, and in dealing in and
breeding fine horses. In politics he support- cd the Republican party. His first wife, Janet Coon, made him the father of two chil- dren-Janet and Phincas B. Ilis second union was with Mary Elizabeth Maxson, a daughter of John Maxson, a direct descendant of the first white child born in Rhode Island, who came to the town of Preston, N. Y., in middle life, having followed the trade of a ship carpenter in carly life on the sea coast. Four children resulted from this union, as follows: Herbert Frank, who is a resident of the town of Oxford, and has been town assessor for many years ; John Maxson, an enterprising and progressive farmer, residing in Oxford township, who has been very successfully engaged in dairy- ing for the past few years ; Prof. Fred Waite, the principal of the Bainbridge High School, and a director of the American Separator Co .; and Owen Lovejoy, the subject of this writing.
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