USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 52
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April 4, 1861, he married Rachel L. Holmes, a daughter of David Holmes, and they became the parents of three children : Jennie, who died in girlhood : Delos, who also died in childhood ; and George A., who is living at home. Mr. Mathewson is quite prominent in social circles, and for the past eight years has been treasurer of the South Otselic Lodge, No. 659, F. & A. M. In po- litical belief, he is a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Mathewson are held in the very highest esteem in Otselic township, and have many friends, throughout the county, who will view with interest their portraits, which appear on near-by pages, in connection with the above biographical narrative.
PHRAIM LOOMIS is onc of the hon- ored residents of Smithville town- ship, and was reared in his native place when the habitations were few and far between. He has witnessed great changes, and has watched the march of improvement and civ- ilization with genuine satisfaction, while at the same time he has assisted materially in the development and progress of his county and community. His birthplace was in Smithville, Chenango County, November 5, 1836. Hc is a son of Roman and Christina (Smith) Loomis, and grandson of Ephraim Loomis.
The Loomis family is of Scotch and Eng- lish origin. The first family of that name to locate in America settled in the New Eng- land States. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Ephraim Loomis, was a farmer in the
town of Torrington, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Roman Loomis, the father of our subject, was born in Torrington, Conn., September 4, 1800, and about 1825 came to Smithville, and later married Christina Smith of Smith- ville, N. Y. He purchased a farm in Smith- ville, where he and his wife lived the rest of their lives; it consisted of a small tract of land, situated two miles north of Smithville Flats, which property he cleared and then carried on farming, and as fast as his funds increased he put his surplus capital into land, and at the time of his death owned 189 acres, an estate that ranked among the best farms in the county. He passed from this life in 1880. He was a true Christian, and a mcm- ber of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Christina (Smith) Loomis was a daughter of Henry Smith, one of the early settlers of Smithvillc. To Mr. and Mrs. Loomis were born the fol- lowing children, namely : Lauren, deceased ; Ephraim, subject of this personal history ; Sarah Z., deceased; George; Uriah; Oliver; Mariah; and Mary. Lauren Loomis, de- ceased, lived in Minnesota, and during an Indian uprising he and his wife were com- pelled to flee on horseback, during a hard rain. They went to Henderson, a neighbor- ing town, where Mr. Loomis died from the effects of a cold which he received in making his escape. George Loomis was a success- ful farmer in Smithville Flats, and when he heard the call for more troops to put down the Rebellion, he enlisted in the army with his brother, Ephraim, and remained through- out the war. Uriah Loomis was another of the Loomis family to make his headquarters
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in Smithville and to follow the occupation of an agriculturist : his life history appears on page 283 of this work. Oliver Loomis was late a resident of Austin, Minn. Mary Loomis is the widow of the late H. Skillman of Smithville.
Ephraim Loomis received his elementary training in the district schools of his native town, and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he followed for fifteen years. He then bought a shop and followed the vocation of a cabinet-maker until 1894. In January, 1864, he accepted a Government position to go to the south and build bridges. His work was mainly in the States of Alabama and Tennes- see. On September 5, 1864, he enlisted in Co. G, 185th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was discharged May 31, 1865. His regiment was in the Army of the Potomac and took part in all of its engagements; it was in the thickest of the battle known as Gravely Run; was in the battle of Five Forks, and when the color bearer was killed the Colonel of the regiment planted the flag staff in a pile of sawdust. Our subject also took part in the final engagement of Appomattox Court House, which decided the surrender of Gen- cral Lee to Grant; during that fight Lieu- tenant Hiram Clark, a member of our sub- ject's company, was the last man that was killed in the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Loomis is a member of the Col. Banks Post, G. A. R., of Greene, Chenango County.
Mr. Loomis has been twice married; to his first wife, Elsie A. Skillman, he was joined in matrimony in November, 1862, and
they reared two children, Frankie and Elsie, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Loomis passed away May 31, 1867, at the age of thirty-five years. September 4, 1871, he married Cornelia Pease, daughter of Philip Pease, a farmer of Smithville. Socially, hc is a member of the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M. of Greene; and is also a member of the Greene Chapter No. 10. Both Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are members of the Ladies' Order of Easter Star Lodge, No. 135. Mr. Loomis is a full-blooded Republi- can, and earnestly supports his party and its measures on all occasions. He is a repre- sentative farmer of his township, and is highly respected among his neighbors for his uprightness, intelligence and unfailing courtesy.
E WITT C. CASE, one of the act- ive and energetic citizens of Sher- burne, N. Y., now engaged in the life insurance business, was born in North Norwich, this county, August 5, 1844. He is a son of Albert and Sylvia (Randall) Case, both born in the above town, and grandson of Cyrus and Gertrude (Titus) Case. Cyrus Case, who was of Scotch parentage, emi- grated to this country, and settled in the State of Connecticut. Later he moved to Chenango County, where he became ac- quainted with Gertrude Titus, whom he later married. He bought 360 acres of land, where his grandson, Randall A. Case, now lives, built a substantial log house, and cleared a
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good portion of the land and otherwise got it into shape for cultivation. He also built the frame structure now standing, and at the present time used as a storehouse. He was one of the eminent men of the county, be- cause of his progressive methods of farming. He retired to the village of North Norwich and led a private life, dying at the age of eighty-two. He was married three times. By his first wife, whose name is not known, he became the parent of one child, Warren, now deceased. His second wife was Ger- trude Titus, and as a result of this union four children were born to them : Chloe ; John W .; Albert ; and Cyrus. His third wife's maiden name was Roby Bryant, and they reared five children : Reuben ; Harriet; Russel ; Julia ; and Marcus.
Albert Case, our subject's father, was born on the homestead, and his first start in life was when he and his brother, John W., bought their father's farm, consisting of 360 acres. Later, Albert bought John's interest, and immediately began to make many im- provements, building a fine house and a very large, commodious barn. Mr. Case was very successful in life, and succeeded in accumulat- ing a small fortune. He reared and educated a very large family, as follows: Gertrude, who taught school when she was fourteen years of age; Roxie L .; Mary E .; Sarah ; Albert; De Witt ; Randall A .; Cryus ; Emily, who died aged two years; and Emma L. Mr. Case passed from this life at the age of seventy-one years. Mrs. Case died aged forty-six years. Upon the formation of the Republican party our subject's father joined the ranks, and remained with that political
organization until his death. Religiously, he was a Universalist.
De Witt C. Case received his primary edu- cation in the district schools, and later attend- ed Norwich Academy. Being the second youngest son in the family, he remained with his parents until after his marriage, when he moved to the town of North Norwich and opened a grocery store. Besides having the trade of the village, he supplied the canal boats with supplies for two years, when he sold out and bought the old Dick Gorton farm. He remained upon this farm for eight years, during which time he made many im- provements, building an entirely new house. He then traded this farm for 260 acres be- longing to G. Waters of Sherburne, and re- mained upon this estate, engaged in general farming for five years. He eventually sold this farm and bought a house in the village of Sherburne, and for the succeeding seven years he worked in a sash and blind factory. He traded his village property for the Hec- tor Ross farm, where he rebuilt and remod- eled the buildings, and carried on farming until 1896, when he rented the farm for a term of years. He then moved back to the village and bought the Dunham House, on the corner of State and East Streets, which is considered one of the best locations in the town. He now devotes himself to life insur- ance, and has represented the Chenango Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Oxford, N. Y., for the past two years, with very successful results.
Mr. Case has been married twice; to his first wife, Irene Foot, were born four chil- dren : Harriet L., who married John Howard
.
SCOTT B. LEWIS.
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of Sherburne, and who is the mother of one child, Gertrude; George V., a reporter on the New York Journal, married Jessie Lyon, and has one child, Julia Irene; Anna V. D., who married H. Y. Burlingham ; and Harry E., a granite cutter of Utica, N. Y. Mrs. Case was forty-four years of age at her death. He was joined in wedlock the sec- ond time to Louise M. Wheeler of Water- ville, and they have reared two children, Amy L .; and Ruth M. Politically, Mr. Case is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Sherburne Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 444, in which he is a devoted worker, and has filled many offices. Mr. Case is very liberal in his religious views. He is an energetic and thorough business man, and commands the respect of all who know him.
COTT B. LEWIS, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is without question the most widely known citizen of New Berlin township, Che- nango County, N. Y. He is a comparatively young man, but his life has been crowded with events of importance, which have fol- lowed one another in close succession. His fair reputation is known not only throughout the entire central part of the Empire State, but his connection with vital human interests has given him a state-wide fame. He is a son of Henry and Eliza (Hall) Lewis, and was born in the town of Morris, Otsego County, N. Y., April 14, 1857.
Nathaniel Lewis, grandfather of our sub- ject, came from the State of Massachusetts
in 1800, and located in the town of Morris. The early part of his life was identified with the medical circles of Chenango County as a regular practitioner, but later he turned his attention toward the tilling of the soil. He passed from this life in 1859, aged eighty years. He was the father of eight children.
Henry Lewis, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Morris, Otsego County, N. Y., 1814, and died in the town of Butternuts in 1886. The most of his life was spent on the old homestead, where he was engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist. Mr. Lewis was formerly an old time Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party he became identified with that political power and remained with it until the time of his death. Religiously, he was a Free Will Baptist and held many offices in that church. He was united in marriage with Eliza Hall, and they reared nine children.
Scott B. Lewis received his elementary education in the South New Berlin Union School, and at the age of twenty years he engaged in the mercantile business. He formed a partnership with Oliver Angell, and for the first two years the firm name was Lewis & Angell. He then bought out the interests of his partner, Mr. Angell, and con- ducted the business alone for the succeeding thirteen years. In 1892 he began to specu- late in live stock and produce, and has built up a very large, successful business.
He formed a matrimonial alliance with Sarah A. Babcock, daughter of Chancellor H. Babcock, and they were happily wedded January 2, 1881. Laura is the only child that has blessed their union. Mr. Lewis is a
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Republican in polities, with his convictions as deeply settled and fixed as his father's ideas of freedom. He believes in true Re- publieanism, not the party spirit which aetu- ates men to do the bidding of some self-consti- tuted leader who has no claim on their support except it is by his own unblushing audacity or willingness to perform aetions that a true man would be ashamed of. The kind of Republieanism that Mr. Lewis loves is the kind whose banner John C. Fremont dared earry ; that honest " Abe " Lincoln pro- elaimed ; that to-day William MeKinley rep- resents. To Mr. Lewis's mind a free-born American's right of suffrage is his dearest possession. A citizen should vote with a elear idea behind his ballot of what he wants that ballot to do. Men, who are leaders, should have won the right to lead by having performed actions entitling them to leader- ship. He is in a position to know the eor- reetness of the stand he takes, for his experi- enee in polities has been life-long. He has been supervisor of New Berlin two terms; has been justice of the peace sinee 1893; and in 1893 he was elected commissioner of high- ways for a term of three years. He is presi- dent and manager of the South New Berlin Water Co., and was one of the organizers, in 1897 ; and is treasurer and a director of the South New Berlin Gas Co., of which he was one of the chief promoters in 1896. Socially he is a member of the Phoebus Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M .; Harmony Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M .; Norwich Commandery, No. 46, Knight Templars ; and Winnebago Tribe, No. 362, I. O. R. M., of New Berlin. Re- ligiously, he is a member of the Methodist
Church of which he is a trustee. The man- ner in which Mr. Lewis has executed the responsibilities of the trusts that have de- volved upon him proves the genuineness of his integrity and the justice of the reputa- tion he has earned for energy and executive ability, as well as probity and unswerving reetitude.
ATTHEW BUTLER LUDING- TON is a farmer of North Nor- wieh, Chenango County, and was one of the first to answer to the call of his country, cheerfully giving three and a half of the best years of his life to her service, and taking part in some of the fiercest engagements of the Civil War. He was at one time a prominent instructor of the county. He is a son of James Stewart and Volina (Butler) Ludington, and was born July 15, 1826, at Salisbury, Herkimer County, N. Y.
Nathaniel Ludington, the grandfather, who was of Seoteh and English aneestry, lived in Stonington, Conn. He eame with part of his family to this state and settled in the town of Warren, Herkimer County, where he owned a farm and conducted a tavern on the Erie Canal. He was a Henry Clay Whig. His family consisted of twelve children : Nathaniel; Harley ; James Stew- art; William ; Phillip; Moses; Euniee ; Polly ; Patty ; Sally ; Betsy ; and one other.
James Stewart Ludington was born in Herkimer County, and edueated in the dis- triet schools. He was a man of large intel-
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lect and a strong Anti-Slavery advocate. He was quite a public speaker, often held de- bates, and in the year when James G. Birney made his run for the Presidency, Mr. Lud- ington made a canvass of the country, agitat- ing the Anti-Slavery question, and was noted for the fearlessness and strength of his utter- ances. Apart from his political activity, he was a prominent member of the Baptist Church and opposed to secret societies. He married Volina Butler, and raised a family of three children, viz: James S., Jr., who was a graduate of the Albany State Normal School, and taught several years, subse- quently embarking in the lumber and mer- cantile business,-he first resided in this county and afterwards in New York City, where he died ; the second son was Matthew Butler, our subject ; and the youngest was Elizabeth Hunt, deceased. The father died November 13, 1866, at the age of seventy-one years.
Matthew Butler Ludington was a diligent scholar and received a good education in the district schools and later in Norwich Academy. He was most assiduous in his efforts at self-improvement, and came to be classed among the foremost instructors of the county. He was a teacher for twenty years, until he entered the late war. His vacations were employed in his brother's stores at Plymouth and Pitcher, and he after- wards took the management of one of the stores belonging to his brother, at Columbus Center, where he remained until 1862. On October 13, 1862, he was mustered in as First Lieut. of Co. K., 16ist Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., 19th Army Corps, Gulf Dept., under Gen.
Banks, and was mustered out at Tallahassee, Florida, November 12, 1865. They landed at Baton Rouge and took part in the engage- ments that were fought on the Mississippi and Red rivers. He was at the battle of Port Hudson, and at the taking of Mobile. He was then made quartermaster of the commissary department stationed at Key West, Florida, where he remained until November 12, 1865. He was relieved from duty and mustered out in November, 1865, as Captain, having been promoted to that position March 8, 1865. After returning home he engaged in farming for a short time, when he accepted a position as postal clerk, serving ten years on the Ontario and Western R. R., seven years of which was between Norwich and Oswego, and three years between New York and Oneida. He continued in the postal service for ten years, and then once more gave his attention to the work of farming. He owns a nice little farm where he lives, which consists of 30 acres, and a piece of woodland of 5 acres, and is pleasantly and comfortably situated.
Mr. Ludington married J. Louise An- thony, a daughter of Stephen Anthony, and to this marriage one child was born, Everett. Both mother and child were removed to the better world ; the son in early childhood and the mother but three years after her mar- riage. Mr. Ludington then once more entered the matrimonial state, the bride being Sophia J. Paul, a daughter of Alfred Paul, a farmer of North Norwich. They were the parents of seven children : Ella, Willie, and Cora died in childhood ; the next two were twins, who died when a few days of
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age; Charles G., who is in New York City ; and Herbert C., who is an operator and sta- tion agent on the O. and W. R. R. at Central Square, Oswego County. Herbert C. Lud- ington graduated from the Norwich High School in 1894, and taught school for several years. Mr. Ludington is a Republican and cast his vote for John C. Fremont, his first vote being for Zachary Taylor. He has held several town offices; was town superintend- ent of schools at one time, also served as town clerk, was supervisor one term, and has held the office of justice of the peace for the past twenty years, and is still serving in that capacity. He was county school commis- sioner for nine years, and assisted in the organization of the Union High School at Norwich, and also at Sherburne. He was a member of the Good Templars Lodge, when that lodge was in existence, and is an advocate and liberal supporter of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is an amiable and accomplished gentleman, with engaging manners and a kindly nature that treasures few resentments, and takes pleasure in bene- fiting others.
ELOSS WHEELER, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Norwich, is a son of James and Eliza J. (Handy) Wheeler, and was born July 4, 1844. The original ancestor of this family came from Rhode Island and settled in Madison County, N. Y.
James Wheeler, the father of our subject, was born in Clinton, Madison County, and
early in life moved to the town of New Ber- lin, where he followed the vocation of an agriculturist. Politically, Mr. Wheeler was always an unswerving Democrat. He was united in marriage with Eliza J. Handy, and as a result of this union, three children were born to them, as follows: Deloss, the sub- ject of this personal history ; Cyrus, a suc- cessful farmer and a resident of the town of Norwich ; and George, who operates a saw and planing mill in Norwich, and deals exten- sively in lumber.
Deloss Wheeler was thrown entirely upon his own resources at the early age of seven years ; self-educated and self-made, he has shown what a brave and determined spirit can do in battling for recognition in the world. The doubts, difficulties and impedi- ments were each in turn overcome, and Mr. Wheeler stands to-day a representative of the most enterprising men of the county. He lived with Thomas E. Lewis, a farmer of the town of Sherburne, and remained with him until that gentleman moved to Norwich, when our subject left his employ, and for nine years worked on neighboring farms by the month. He then moved to the town of Plymouth, and rented a farmi of 234 acres, where he engaged in farming on his own ac- count. After spending eight years upon this farm he moved to the town of North Nor- wich, where for seven years he followed gen- eral farming. March 1, 1891, he rented the present farm for one year, after which he purchased it. The farm is a part of the old Barber homestead, and consists of 170 acres of highly cultivated land. In connection with farming he runs a dairy, and has his
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farm stocked with some thirty head of fine cattle.
Mr. Wheeler married Flora Barber, Feb- ruary 19, 1875. She is a daughter of Benja- min Barber, a native of Rhode Island, and a successful and enterprising farmer of Nor- wich, who at his death in 1880 left an estate of 400 acres of land. In political views, Mr. Wheeler is an avowed Republican. He was formerly a member of the Good Templars, and an active worker in the local grange of the Patrons of Husbandry.
R. JAMES B. NOYES is a man of prominence in New Berlin, Che- nango County, not only as a phy- sician, but also in political and social circles. He was born in the village of Norwich, De- cember 19, 1853, and is a son of Thomas J. and Ellen G. (Hale) Noyes.
The family is of English extraction, and is one of the oldest in the county. His grand- father was John Noyes, who for many years owned and lived upon what is now the coun- ty poor farm, in the town of Preston. He followed that ancient and most honorable of all callings, farming.
Thomas J. Noyes was born in Preston, December 3, 1811, where he was reared on the farm. There he grew to manhood, and in 1847 he went to Brockport, and later took up his residence in Norwich. While in Brockport he conducted a general merchan- dise store, but upon coming to Norwich he engaged in the hotel business. He conduct- ed the Midland Hotel for a number of years,
and it was a very popular hostelry. When it burned down in 1872, he decided not to rebuild, and has since lived a retired life. In political affairs, he took an active interest, but never held office, for he was content to lead the life of a private citizen. Mr. Noyes was originally and until recent years a decided Democrat, but objecting to some of the planks in the Chicago Platform of 1896, he is inclined to be independent in his views and actions. John Noyes, deceased, the un- cle of our subject, was one of the most prom- inent politicians in Central New York, when the State of New York was divided into four senatorial districts, South, East, Middle and West. For five years he represented the Middle District in the State Senate. Thomas J. Noyes was united in marriage with Ellen G. Hale, and they became the parents of three children, namely : Clara P., who makes her home in Norwich ; James B., the subject of these lines; and Nellie D., whose death occurred in 1895. Mrs. Noyes passed to her . eternal reward in 1893. Although nearly eighty-seven years of age, Mr. Noyes enjoys good health and looks to be a man many years younger.
Dr. James B. Noyes, after completing his course in Norwich Academy, was employed for two years in the drug store of George E. Hawley of Norwich. In 1872, he began the study of medicine with Dr. George W. Avery, remaining with him one year. He then took a two years' course in Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City, graduating in March, 1875. He then located at New Berlin, where he has prac- ticed since. Having graduated from one of
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the best medical schools there is in the coun- try, he is capable of treating the most com- plicated cases, and he soon made a reputation in the vicinity of New Berlin as a skilled physician. He has a true sense of profes- sional honor and is always fair in his treat- ment of competitors.
His companion in life is Florence E. Fox, a daughter of Joseph K. Fox, editor of The New Berlin Gazette, to whom he was mar- ried April 25, 1883. Two children were born to them, namely : Grace Edna ; and Henry F. Dr. Noyes is a member of the Chenango County Medical Society, and officiated as president one term; he also belongs to the State Medical Association. In politics he is a Democrat of the old school. He has been a delegate to county, district and state con- ventions. He has been candidate for coroner and Member of Assembly. Dr. Noyes is a young physician of fine attainments and thorough culture, and comes of a family noted for ability and energy, and he is no exception to the established records of the family.
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