USA > New York > Chenango County > Smyrna > Early years in Smyrna and our first Old home week > Part 2
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His son, Frederick H. Foote of Binghamton, and wife, and his sister Margaret, of Norwich, were most welcome guests at our Old Home Week Banquet, on the evening of August 9, 1904, and to him we are indebted for the silhouette photograph of his great-grandfather, Hon. Isaac Foote, which appears with this sketch of the family.
SIMEON REXFORD was born at Barkhamsted, Ct., May 7, 1776, and in the spring of 1794 came to Smyrna, where he bought land in the north part of the town, and built a house for a home for his father's family on the lands still known as the Rexford farm.
He returned to his home at Barkhamsted in the fall and early in the spring of 1795, with his father's family, he moved to the new home, then almost a wilderness, where they after- wards resided. Here Simeon became a prosperous farmer, and a leading man in the town, but in later years became blind, never recovering from the malady, his death occurring at the homestead December 31, 1857. He was four times married, his first wife being Weltha Carver of Smyrna, and his second Bersheba Taylor of Vermont, by whom was born Joseph T., a good natured citizen, an excellent story-teller, and a most successful pedagogue of his day, spending his later years in the state of Illinois, still later in Northern Michigan where his death ¿Acurred some ten years since.
His third wife was Milly Carver of Sherburne, and by her 'cre born Francis K., and William D., the former studying Medicine in the office of Dr. N. B. Mead from April 1, 1833, to 1ay, 1836, taking in the meantime a course of lectures at Fair- ield Medical College, where he graduated in February, 1847. n June of that year he moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., and on the 144th of that month entered into a partnership with Dr. Richard
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Early Years in Smyrna and
E. Morse and so continued till the year 1850, when he left the profession and engaged in the mercantile business continuing the same until he retired in favor of his three sons. He was one of the founders of the enterprising city of Ypsilanti, and for many years one of its most prominent and foremost citizens. He died at his Ypsilanti home nearly ten years ago.
William D. was born in Symrna, and married Eliza Potter, of Sherburne, both now deceased. Mr. Rexford was a success- ful farmer, and a good business man, having the respect of all who knew him. Their children were Sidney D., who married Cynthia, a daughter of Benjamin Lyon of Sherburne, now deceased; Loverna C., who became the wife of Nathan Eldridge, by whom one daughter was born, Mabel, now the much esteemed wife of Rev. M. O. VanKeuren of Little Valley, New York; Mary E., who married Russell, a son of Henry H. Willcox, to whom were born three children, one daughter, Vernie, who married Henry Kinyon, and two sons, Sidney, whose home is in Kansas, and Henry, who remains at home.
Frank D. Rexford married Cornelia A. Foreman of Delhi, N. Y., and retains the homestead, so long in the Rextord name. They have three children, Frank A., holding at present an ex- cellent position in the Erasmus Hall High School at Brooklyn, N. Y., Harry D. of Earlville and one young daughter, Agnes.
Simeon Rexford's fourth wife was Betsey Merrell, a sister of the wife of John Munson.
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Allen, a cousin of Simeon Rexford, was born at Barkhamsted, Ct., September 9, 1819, marrying Almira Hart, of that place, moving to Sherburne, and thence to Smyrna, and in later years back to Sherburne, where his death occurred Dec. 5, 1875. He was a well to do farmer and a good citizen, his farm being the present farm of Christopher C. Kinyon.
Among their children were Lovisa, the esteemed wife of the late Yale Northrup; Adaline H., who married the late William E.
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5
LILLIBRIDGE WILLCOX AND WIFE.
Our First Old Home Week
Howd, of Barkhamsted, and Electa, the only remaining member, of the family, now residing in Sherburne village.
THE WILLCOX FAMILY were descendants of Edward Willcox of Acquidneck, Rhode Island, who was said to have conducted at one time a trading post at Naragansett, with Roger Williams, the famous founder of the Colony. Hopson Willcox and his son Lillibridge Willcox, came to Smyrna on horse back from Exeter, Rhode Island, in the early summer of 1795. They selected land enough for five farms on the River Road between Smyrna and Earlville, but when they arrived at the Land office in New York with the money, they learned that part of this land had been sold, so they took up what was left on the River Road, which was enough for three farms. They then returned to Rhode Island.
In the year 1798 Hopson Willcox with his four sons, Russell, Lillibridge, John and Hazard came and settled upon the land taken up in 1795. Hopson Wilcox and his two sons Russell and Hazard took the farms on the River Road, and his two sons Lillibridge and John took the farms on the hill northwest of Smyrna village. His son Robert came later from Rhode Island and purchased of a Mr. Guthrie, the first settler, the farm where his grandson, Robert, now lives.
Upon his farm on the River Road Hopson Willcox and his wife died, the former in the year 1822 at the age of 83 years. Their children were Robert, Russell, Lillibridge, John, Hazard and Betsy. The sons of Robert were Thomas, Hazard, and Samuel, the first of whom was the father of Jonathan Willcox; the second, the father of the late Robert H. Willcox, and the third the father of Robert and Calpherna Willcox, who still reside upon the homestead.
Of Robert H. Willcox it can be said he was a man of strict honesty and integrity, and a most excellent citizen. His wife was Mary M., a daughter of Jesse and Zeruah Ferris. They had four children, all now living except Hazard, who passed away in
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Early Years in Smyrna and
the fall of 1884, leaving his wife, Cornelia, a daughter of the · late Rensselaer Potter of Cazenovia, and one daughter, Arzelia D., to mourn his loss. Dorcas married Dwight L. Sweet; Samuel married Ella, a daughter of the late Smith Calkins, and they reside with their family in the city of Binghamton. Jesse M., the youngest, married Clara, a daughter of the late Henry Holley, and there was born to them one son, Burt H., who died when but two months of age.
Mr. Willcox spent several years in conducting creameries, first at Avon, Ct., next at Schuylerville, N Y., afterwards at Lee, Mass., and later at Hinsdale in the latter state, and was said to be a first class butter maker. He is now connected with the general store of Willcox & Preston in this village.
Russell was the father of the late Henry H. Willcox, who married Marion, a daughter of James Purdie, who still survives. By honesty and integrity he became one of our most worthy citizens, and had the confidence and respect of all. His farm was well tilled, and one of the best in the Chenango Valley.
Lillibridge married Anna Hoxie, of Rhode Island, and settled on the farm now owned by his grandsons, a little over a mile northwest of Smyrna Village. Here after a well spent life their deaths occurred-his in 1853, at the age of 80 years and that of his wife in 1858, at the age of 77 years. There were seven children, Thomas L., Susannah, Samuel, Russell, Lavina, Anna and Orville. Thomas L. was born September 21, 1803, in a log house which stood a little north of the site of the present handsome and commodious house which adorns the place. Here he spent his boyhood days, and received what education he could from the common schools of the day. He married Catha- rine B. Stover, a daughter of William Stover, to whom were born four children, a daughter and three sons, the former, Anna E., who married Benjamin Cone of Columbus, where her death occurred some twenty years since. The oldest son, Arthur L., lives in the house where he was born, having married Delphina, a daughter of James H. Dimmick, a respected citizen of Plymouth, N. Y.
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THOMAS L. WILLCOX.
MRS, THOMAS L. WILLCOX.
Our First Old Home Week
The two younger sons, Stephen K. and William R., own the original Willcox farm, which has been much improved, and become widely known. The former has charge of the farm, and has been a breeder of choice White Leghorn fowls, since the year 1872, exhibiting his birds and winning premiums in New York City, Washington, Pittsburg and all the leading cities, and shipping eggs and fowls to nearly every point in the United States, as well as to Canada, Trinidad, Germany, Ireland and South Africa. He was formerly a breeder of fine Devon Cattle, but now breeds Holstein-Friesians. He is also a breeder of Cheviot sheep, and continues to breed his fine strain of White Leghorns. Mr. Willcox is a member of the American Devon Cattle Club, American Cheviot Sheep Society, and also the Holstein-Friesian Association of America. He has held various offices in the town, and was for two terms the efficient Treasurer of Chenango County, receiving handsome majorities at each election.
Of William R., the youngest son, more will be found at the close of this article.
Thomas L. Willcox became a most excellent citizen, holding a number of town offices to the satisfaction of all. In politics he was a Democrat, until the Free Soil movement was advanced, when he became a member of the Republican Party, always afterwards affiliating with that party.
In earlier years he was a Captain in the State Militia, and was always at his post on general training day. No man ever lived in Smyrna who had more friends or was more esteemed than Thomas L. Willcox. His death occurred January 13, 1884, and that of his wife May 14, 1904. Both rest in the family lot in the cemetery at Sherburne West Hill.
Susannah Willcox married Stephen Knowles. There were no children, excepting one adopted daughter, Charlotte A. Buckley, a woman most highly esteemed by all who have made her acquaintance. She is now an octogenarian, passing her last remaining days with friends at Canastota, N. Y.
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Early Years in Smyrna and
Samuel and Russell Willcox died when they were young men, and Orville's death came when he was but six years of age. Anna married Harlow Billings, and they had three children. Susannah D. was a most excellent woman of strong christian character, once a leading member of the Methodist Church, and an ardent worker in the Sunday School of that Church, and who was very much missed at her decease. She was a kind sister to her brother Pomeroy T., who still survives her. Samuel R., was a bright scholar, and graduated from the Eclectic College of Medicine, of Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 23rd of May, 1857, his untimely death occurring a year or two later at Norwich, where he had a large and lucrative practice. John, was the father of the late John and Gardner Willcox, who will both be remem- bered by nearly all our older citizens.
John Willcox was born on the hill northwest of Smyrna and spent his whole life in the town, no citizen being better known or more respected. At the age of seventeen he began the cabinet and undertaking business here, as an apprentice to Josiah Hayward, whose business he bought out at the age of twenty-one years, conducting the same for over sixty years or until his death in January, 1898. He was a kind, obliging and good natured citizen, friendly to all, and his companionship was sought after by his numerous friends. In politics he was a Republican, but he never allowed political prejudice to interfere with personal friendship. His wife was Sarah, a daughter of Anson Brooks, born September 5, 1878, (her mother Sally . Brown born January 31, 1794.) There were born to them three children, Avaline and Etta J., now both of Chicago, the former marrying Gardner Wilson, now deceased, the latter becoming the wife of Carlos L. Shepard of Joplin, once a resi- dent of Smyrna, now deceased, to whom were born one daugh- ter, Agnes L. Her second husband, also now deceased, was David A. Preston of Chicago, and there was born to them one daughter, named Esther. Walter G., the only son, was born here in 1859, and has remained here since his birth. He married Alida, a daughter of Charles Hartwell, and they have one son,
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Our First Old Home Week
Fred H., now a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Boston. Mr. Willcox still conducts his father's business which has become very successful.
Gardner N. Willcox, his brother, was also a good citizen and a prosperous and well to do farmer, his death occurring in 1869. His wife was Genora, the oldest daughter of the late Deacon Levi B. Collins, and there were four children: Gardner, the oldest, whose first wife was Sarah L., a daughter of Abel Comstock, by whom were three sons and one daughter, Abel C., now at Cornell University, Ralph C., at the Ithaca High School, Clarence, who remains at home, and Sarah L., who makes her home with her grandfather, Abel Comstock. His second wife was Ida L., a daughter of the late Zephania Dix, and there was one daughter, Alice. His third wife is Cora, a daughter of our townsman, Julius S. Barber.
Hazard was the father of Hazard Willcox, and grandfather of Melvin Willcox, who now resides at the homestead on the Earlville Road and also of the late Dr. O. B. Willcox of Earl- ville.
Betsey married a man named Curtis and raised a family of four children, one of whom, Mrs. Swift, living in Brooklyn, N. Y., visited Smyrna a few years since, but the writer has been unable to secure any further data regarding that branch of the family.
It has been our intention to write but little concerning the present generation, leaving that for some future writer, but in a few special cases, we have deviated from the rule, when we have deemed that the occasion demanded it, and we are sure it will be most satisfactory to our readers, and that we will voice the sentiment of the entire community in making mention of the rise and rapid growth of one of our young men, born among us, esteemed by all, primarily educated in a little brown school house not far from our village, a most worthy scion of the family whose founder was Hopson Willcox, and whose respected father and mother, if living to-day, would well be proud of
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Early Years in Smyrna and
their youngest son, a great-grandson of the founder of the family in Chenango County.
We refer to our friend and former townsman, William R. Willcox, some four years since chosen Park Commissioner, by Hon. Seth Low, Mayor of New York, whose term of office gave him an enviable reputation as a most capable official, and who about a year since was appointed Postmaster of New York by President Theodore Roosevelt, an office which he is now filling most acceptably to the entire city. We can perhaps best refer to him in the language of a New York newspaper, in an article published very soon after his appointment.
"William R. Willcox, the recent selection of President Roose- velt to succeed the late Cornelius Van Cott as Postmaster of New York City is the youngest incumbent who has ever held that office. . The new Postmaster was born in Smyrna, Chenango County, New York, in 1863. He obtained his education in the State Normal School at Brockport and at the University of Rochester. After his graduation he served as principal of the Webster Academy and in the Spring Valley High School. In 1889 Mr. Willcox was graduated with high honors from the Columbia Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1890. About this time he became interested in Sociology and Political and Economic matters, and wrote several articles on these subjects, and devoted much time and energy in work among the boys on the East Side.
"Mr. Willcox's first appearance in the political field was in 1900 when he became the Republican candidate for Congress in the Thirteenth District against O. H. P. Belmont, and it was at this time he made the phenomenal record of reducing the Democratic majority from seven or eight thousand to three thousand.
"In 1901 Mayor Low appointed Mr. Willcox as Park Com- missioner and for two years he served as President of this Board. The work of establishing playgrounds for children was first undertaken during Mr. Willcox's administration, and in
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WILLIAM R. WILLCOX.
Our First Old Home Week
this work he was closely associated with Joseph A. Riis and other prominent East Side workers. During his entire term as Commissioner he was known as the man who "does things," and in no way was this so well proven as when on March 8th, 1903, Commissioner Willcox, with forty laborers and a squad of policemen raided the contractor's strongest outpost in Bryant Park and destroyed the obnoxious stone crusher which was being operated by the subway contractors in defiance of repeated warnings from the Department, thus restoring Bryant Park, City Hall Park and Union Square to their normal conditions as public parks. Mr. Willcox was also intrusted with unusual responsibilities in the direction of large expenditures pertaining to the construction of the Public Library in Bryant Park, the addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the extensions of the American Museum of History."
The new Postmaster is a member of the Union League, Century, Alpha Delta Phi, Republican, and the N. Y. Yacht Clubs, the Bar Association and Chamber of Commerce. About a year ago he married a daughter of William F. Havemeyer.
Cousins of the Hopson Willcox family, who also settled in Smyrna, were Robert, who lived near Upperville; Thomas, who was the first settler on the farm known as the Munson Jersey Farm, recently owned by the Munson Brothers, and Jonathan, who lived and died in Norwich. Other distant cousins were early settlers in Lebanon, Oxford and other places in Central New York.
WILLIAM STOVER came to Smyrna from Dutchess County very early, probably about 1796, purchasing two lots near Dark Hollow where he lived until his death. He was a very popular man holding at various times nearly all the offices within the gift of his townsmen and it is said that when he was Supervisor of the town, town meetings were always opened with prayer. He was a conscientious man of strong convictions, with deep and ardent piety. For many years he was a prominent and leading member of the Methodist Church, contributing largely
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Early Years in Smyrna and
to its support. He was strongly opposed to the taking of collections in the church on Sunday, it being to him a desecration of the day. He said he would prefer to pay all the bills himself rather than take a collection. Being unable to induce the church to discontinue the practice, he withdrew and built a "Meeting House" on his farm, styling the same a Reform Methodist Church and here until his death he was in the habit of meeting with his own family and as many neighbors as might come, usually in sufficient numbers to fill the house. The services were conducted in the usual manner, he himself usually preaching unless some traveling minister was present when he was invited to preach the sermon, those present joining in congregational singing.
Mr. Stover was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Hollenbeck, died in 1806. His second wife was Betsey Elwood, by whom there were the following children: Susan, who married Russell Willcox; Lydia, the wife of Alfred Seymour, formerly of Norwich, who removed later to Roscoe, Illinois; Benjamin, whose home was at Roscoe, Ill., and who died in 1883, at Nordhoof, Cal., to which place he had gone for health; John A., an eccentric individual and a bachelor, now deceased, whose home was the present Anthony Chapman farm in Smyrna; Catherine B., who married the late Thomas L. Willcox, and Richard E., a leading and well to do citizen, who held various town offices, to the satisfaction of all his townsmen. He was a strong man in the Methodist Church, of which he was a most substantial member. It was through his influence as much as that of any other member that the church was remodeled in the summer of 1871, and it was during the years immediately fol- lowing that the church saw its most successful period.
Richard E. Stover married Philura P. Keeler, and there were born two sons both of whom have kept up the high stand- ing of the family. William E., born in Smyrna nearly forty- six years ago, has always been held in the highest esteem by all our people, and still resides here. He was a Justice of the Peace for many years, Supervisor of the town from February, 1892,
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BENJAMIN STOVER.
Our First Old Home Week
till February, 1901, and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 1898.
Burt W., his younger brother, born some thirty-six years ago, spent his younger days in this town, later attending school at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass. He married Jessie, daugh- ter of George Nash of Poolville, and a few years later was appointed Deputy County Clerk of Chenango County, under County Clerk Jay G. Holmes. This position he held for several years and made many friends. He is at present manager of the Palmer House at Norwich, and as a landlord is very successful.
Richard E. Stover and wife are both deceased. The death of the former occurred suddenly in the summer of 1873, being caused by a falling limb in the woods on his farm near Dark Hollow. He survived his wife some four years.
THOMAS REX TRACY, youngest son of Thomas and Lucy Sprague Tracy, was born in Lenox, Mass., October 23, 1770, being the seventh of a family of nine children. In 1777 his father died of smallpox in the Revolutionary Army, thus throw- ing the care of a large family upon the widowed mother. About 1780 Ebenezer, the only brother enlisted in the service, leaving Thomas, a boy not yet in his teens, the only male member of the household. March 1, 1792, he married Lydia Williams, of Washington, Mass., and settled on a portion on the homestead. There were rumors of richer lands in the then far west, in the valleys of Chenango and Chemung in Central New York, and following the example of many others, he sold his farm in 1796, and moved to Sherburne with an ox team and a single horse. Their entire household belongings were loaded into the cart with the mother, who accompanied them, while the wife with true yankee grit, made the journey on horseback, with her baby on her lap.
He had previously purchased lands about two miles south of where the village of Smyrna now lies, and thither he went, with his family, and while they of necessity endured the privations
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Early Years in Smyrna and
and hardships incident to settlement in a new country, they were neither discouraged nor disheartened. Game was plenty and being a good shot, he easily furnished his family with plenty of meat, and in the line of peltries, not a small portion of their bedding and clothing was secured from the surrounding forests, while the rich soil gave vegetables, and grain quite equal to the demands. Here his first wife died, in 1805, and in 1806 he married Abigail Sage, of Norwich, and soon after moved to Plymouth. There were born to them four children, of whom Harriet, the older, became the wife of William Stover. His second wife died at Plymouth in 1813. In 1817 he married Lydia Bell, of Pharsalia, and soon after moved back to his old home in Smyrna, where he continued to reside until he removed to Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1837.
The children of this last marriage were as follows, all born in Smyrna: Joseph Rex, who married Hannah Burdick, was a visitor at our old home week gathering, and though eighty- four years of age was hale and hearty, and one of those most interested in the proceedings on that occasion. His reminis- cences were most interesting to all present and he was most cor- dially greeted. (Mr. Tracey's death occurred at his home in To- ledo, after a short illness, in January, 1905.) Isaac married Sarah Norton and William married Susan Harrington, of Sher- burne West Hill. William was well and favorably known in this vicinity, being a leading member of the Odd Fellow fratern- ity in Chenango District. Lydia and Ruth both died during the year 1834, and Mason passed away in 1851.
Thomas Rex Tracey was said to be a model of physique, standing six feet one and one-half inches in height, erect, broad shouldered and strong of limb. He made no profession of relig- ion but usually attended the Congregational Church. Living in those days when religious excitements were numerous and sensa- tional manifestations frequently seen, his strong mind was not easily led astray by any such so-called revelations. He took a lively interest in everything pertaining to the state or nation, and
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30.
RICHARD E. STOVER.
Our First Old Home Week
was in his way an active politician, but always for principle and not for personal preferment. Nevertheless he served as a Justice of the Peace for several years in Smyrna, and was Postmaster at Bowling Green, Ohio, at the time of his death, December 31, 1841.
APOLLOS ALLEN with his family came from Gill, Mass., in 1798, settling on a large farm, a portion of which is now the site of the present village of Smyrna, and building a log house where the so-called Eastman house now stands. His son, Chester Allen, who was but three years of age when the family ar- rived at their new home, became an excellent citizen, well and pleasantly remembered by many present day residents. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Church, joining that socie- ty when it was only a circuit station. Later he joined the Re- formed Methodist Church, of which William Stover was at the head, and afterwards the First Methodist Church in Smyrna, becoming one of its leading members.
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