USA > New York > Chenango County > Smyrna > Early years in Smyrna and our first Old home week > Part 7
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
Cortland has one son, Harry N., born here some twenty-five years ago, now in business with his father at Oriskany Falls, N. Y. Leland has three children, Leo, a bright youngster, a young- er son and an infant daughter. He has recently purchased the old Sweet farm, and is one of our prospering farmers. Other children of Jesse Ferris were Caleb, the father of William Ferris, of Sherburne; James; Abram D., father of Morell E., who now resides at Earlville with his family; George, the father of Court- ney E., so long a resident here, whose wife was Lepha, a daugh- ter of the late Ziba Tuthill. These were among the best of citi- zens, and also worthy soldiers in the War of the Rebellion.
Courtney E., the last mentioned, married Carrie Kellogg, of Norwich, and they have four daughters, Edith, the wife of Jesse H. Packer, now of Canajoharie, N. Y., and Harriet, Adelaide and Helen, all born in Smyrna, where they have many friends. They are now located at Berwick, Pa., where Mr. Ferris is en- gaged in business.
Elizabeth F., wife of the late Alexander Cleveland, Mary M., wife of the late Robert H. Willcox, and Lucina, wife of Wells Tallett, of Otselic, were each most excellent women and held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. The only remaining member of the family is James M., once well and favorably known here, now a resident of Frederika, Iowa.
Joseph Ferris married Sally, a sister of "Baby" Wood, nick- named on account of his immense weight, which was said to have been at least four hundred pounds. Their home was the present farm of Franklin D. Coy, on the opposite side of the road. His son Ziba built the original Coy home and died there the 14th of April, 1865, the day that President Lincoln was as- sassinated. There were two daughters. Ruth, who married Smith A. Cleveland, and Thankful, who married Dwight Wil- ber; also an adopted daughter, who married Charles O. Tuttle.
80
Our First Old Home Week
Benjamin married Lydia, a daughter of Joseph Hunt, and aunt of the late George Hunt, and settled on the farm known as the William Sprague farm. They had four sons: Fox, who was deaf and dumb, Myron, Sidney and Norman, and two daughters, Harriet, who married a gentleman named Glazier, and Serena, who became the wife of the late Gilbert Stanton.
John Ferris lived over the hill to the southwest on the farm now owned by Emmet Brown. He had one son, Austin, a kind hearted citizen, who lived upon the farm nearly if not quite all his lifetime, and died there some thirty years ago. There were also two daughters. One married James Cox, of Plymouth, the other Luther P. Blair, a former well known citizen of this town.
DEACON GARDINER JAMES KINYON, one of the early settlers of Smyrna, was born near West Greenwich in the state of Rhode Island, January 7, 1797, being one of six children, nearly all of whom in later years became residents of the state of New York. When Gardiner was about seven years old his father, after a brief sickness, died, and it became necessary for the family to be separated. At this time some neighbors and friends of the fam- ily were about to move west to join settlers in the state of New York and, after much anxiety on the part of his excellent Chris- tian mother, it was decided that Gardiner should be taken with this company to the settlement in Sherburne, Chenango County. He was hastily gotten ready and came with them to Sherburne Hill where he was placed in the family of Rev. Joshua Knight, pastor of the church there. Here he remained until he was four- teen years old, at which time he was apprenticed to Mr. Hial Hart, who lived in Smyrna village, to learn the trade of carpen- ter and joiner. He served an apprenticeship of seven years, or until he was of age, and the next day commenced business on his own account and met with commendable success.
On September 26, 1822, he was married to Miss Grace Col- lins, oldest daughter of Joseph Collins, a highly respected woolen manufacturer who lived and carried on business about two miles and a half north from Smyrna village. His residence still stands
81
Early Years in Smyrna and
and is now the property of Deloss Brooks; and the old factory, until recently, stood not far away. Soon after the marriage he moved to Utica, then a thriving village, but while there suffered severely from fever and he remained but a short period returning to Smyrna and continuing to work at his trade.
In 1829 and 1830 he purchased a farm on the Sherburne road one mile east of Smyrna village. Here he lived for over twenty years conducting his farm and giving more or less atten- tion to his trade. Here two of his five children were born and here all grew to manhood and womanhood, attending school and church for the most part in Smyrna village.
In the spring of 1848 he bought a stock of merchandise and the store formerly occupied by Harvey Talcott, deceased, and taking his two eldest sons, Loren C. and James Hervey, into company with him, carried on a thriving business, continuing in company with one or both of these sons till near the time of his death. He never aspired to public favor or accepted public office. Early in life he became a Christian and united with the church, his name and that of his wife being among the first fifty names enrolled on the records of the First Congregational Church of Smyrna. His home was a Christian home, and his family all became members and active workers in that church. He served for a number of years as a deacon of the church and was ever responsive to the call of duty. He was not a great man, but he was a good man.
In 1852 he built for himself a house in the village of Smyrna, and not long after sold his farm to Robert H. Willcox, his sis- ter's son, and moved to the village, where he continued to reside till his death on February 17, 1857.
James H. Kinyon succeeded him in business and remained with the family until 1860, when they all disposed of their in- terests in Smyrna, and moved to Williamsport, Pa. Here Mrs. Grace Kinyon, the mother, died in 1868, beloved and lamented, at the age of 71 years.
All the family are now deceased but the youngest son, My- ron T., who resides in Pawtucket, in the state of Rhode Island,
82
.
MYRONET. KENYON.
Our First Old Home Week
and to him we are indebted for the interesting matter concerning the Kinvon family once so well and so favorably known here, Mr. Kinyon is a true Christian gentleman, who honors and re- spects his noble ancestry, whose life is but a reflection of the lives of his sainted parents long since gone before. Mr. Kinyon re- tains a deep interest in his native town, and is still an occasional and a welcome visitor to the old home. He was a promi- nent figure during the observance of Old Home Week in 1904, preaching an able sermon in the tent meeting on the evening of Old Home Sunday, in which he most earnestly admonished his hearers to hold fast to the religion of the fathers. At the ban- quet he gave a most interesting address, responding to the toast, "Our Musicians."
HORACE NEWELL and family came from Lewis County, N. Y., in the winter of 1829, settling on a farm northwest of Smyrna village, in the Reynolds district, remaining there sixteen years, moving in the spring of 1845 to Dark Hollow, where they lived one year. They then moved to Sherburne, near the Four Cor- ners, where they resided eight years and where Mr. Newell buried his second wife, Mary Boyd. In 1861 he married Phoebe Ca- hoon, of Norwich, and bought a small place at North Norwich, where he died on the first day of August, 1876, aged 78 years.
The Newells trace their ancestry back to 1635, when three brothers came from England, to Lynn, Mass. Nathaniel Newell came to Windsor, Conn., settling on land twenty miles north- east of Hartford, in 1772, receiving his deed under the reign of King George the Third. The original deed is now in the pos- session of Winifred Jaynes, of Collinwood, Ohio, in a good state of preservation. The descendants of Nathaniel Newell are now living on the original farm, and this Nathaniel Newell had five sons and one daughter. Asa, John, Charles, Nathaniel, Daniel and Love.
Nathaniel, the father of Horace Newell, Sr., had five sons and two daughters; Horace, Warren, Nathaniel, Amherst, Anson, Betsey and Moriva, their mother being Betsey Dewry, of Leba- non, Ct. Horace married Diadema Wood, of Somers, Ct., in
83
Early Years in Smyrna and
1820, by whom were born nine children, as follows: Horace J., Orrin W., Otis, Mary, Marvin, Maria B., Harriet, Loren D. and Frances, all now deceased except Orrin W., now of Sunnyside, Wash., who has kindly furnished this sketch, and Horace J., now well and favorably known as a resident of Sherburne.
Orrin W. married Martha Lord, of Pitcher, to whom were born five children, Illini H., Ida D., Celia E., George E. and Winnie L. The first named died September 10, 1876, in his 23d year. Ida married L. Austin, of Walla Walla, Wash., and they have two sons, Clarence and Frederick N. Celia married A. F. Randolph, of Sunnyside, Wash., and they have two daugh- ters, Grace and Blanche, and one son, Stanley. George E. mar- ried Myra B. Bassett, of Plainfield, N. Y., who died in Baltimore, Md. His second wife was Bertha Cramer, of Wisconsin, to whom was born one son, George E., Jr. George E., Sr., is a very prominent physician at Buena Vista, Col. Winnie L. mar- ried W. H. Jaynes, of Collinwood, Ohio, and they have two daughters, Mabel and Edna, and one son, Lee. Mary married for her first husband, Robert Drummond, of Sterling, Scotland, (uncle to the late Henry Drummond) by whom she had one son, who died in youth. Her second husband was Rev. William Parry of the Free Methodist Church, now also gone over the river.
Horace J. Newell married Jennie Smith, of McGraw, Cort- land County, by whom were born two children, one dying in infancy, the other, May, who married our former townsman, Lynn D. Willcox, now of Sherburne. His second wife was Cleopatra Willey, by whom were born three children, all now deceased except Florence, who a few months since married Wal- ter P. Faulkner, of Sherburne, and they now occupy the Newell farm making a pleasant home for the father who remains with them. His third wife, also now deceased, was Almira Dexter.
Loren D. was a member of the 114th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., and was killed in the battle of Winchester. Harriet married Al- bert Lord, of Taylor, by whom were six children; Mary married
84
Our First Old Home Week
a gentleman named Powers, of South Onondaga, N. Y., and Frances married Albert Wynn. Nathaniel Newell married Dia- dema Wood, of Somers, Conn., whose mother was Mary Dim- mick of that place, related to the Eber Dimmick family else- where mentioned in this volume. We have not space to men- tion all the different members of this most interesting family. but it is one of the largest of any mentioned, though now scat- tered to all parts of the country, and the descendants of the fam- ily have a high standing in the different sections wherever they are located.
JAMES PURDIE and family, natives of Paisley, Scotland, came from Norwich, England, to New York Mills, Oneida County, in the spring of 1827, and in the fall of 1831 moved to Smyrna, onto the farm known as the Purdie farm, now the property of Clarence Moore. Mrs. Purdie was Margaret Lisle. Mr. Purdie's death took place at this farm December 29, 1839, in his 71st year, and that of his wife September 21, 1857, in her 82d year. Their children were Alexander, father of the late Dr. A. J. Pur- die, a successful physician of Otselic, N. Y .; James, whose death occurred some seventy years ago; Thomas, who married Abi- gail Burgess, and was a long time resident of our town, residing on the old Purdie farm. Of the children of Thomas and Abigail were Theodocia, now the wife of George Jenness; Thomas J., now deceased, whose wife and young son now reside in New York; Ellen J., now deceased; and James L., also deceased, who married for his first wife Emma Green, by whom was one son, James L. S., now in business in this village, and for his second wife Esther, a daughter of the late Erastus G. Hall.
Samuel Purdie died in 1891, in his 87th year, and Margaret, who married Benjamin R. Knowles, died October 10, 1893, in her 86th year. John, married Dorcas Williams. Other members of this family were: Priscilla; Marion L., who mar- ried Henry H. Willcox, and who still survives him, greatly es- teemed by all, in her 97th year; and Jane, who married Collins Stanbro, of Brookfield.
SIMON C. HAYWARD, whose father was Benjamin B. Hay-
85
Early Years in Smyrna and
ward, and whose mother was Sally A. Rice, of Stockbridge, Mass., came to Smyrna in 1832, at the age of sixteen. He mar- ried Abigail, a daughter of Seymour Isbell, by whom were four children, only two surviving as follows: Sarah J., who first married Algernon, the oldest son of the late Alonzo Bennett, and after his decease, became the esteemed wife of our respected townsman, Abel Comstock; and Mary D., who married Isaac D. Wade, a veteran of the Civil war, now deceased, by whom was one son, Frank D., who passed away in early life. Mr. Hayward's death occurred June 1, 1889, and he was survived by his wife till April 23, 1903.
GARDNER STANBRO was born November 1, 1813, at Plain- field, Otsego County, and on August 29, 1832, was married to Diadema Caswell, of Exeter, in the same county. On April 1, 1833, they moved to Smyrna, where they afterwards resided, living sixty-seven years together. Mr. Stanbro's death occurred Novemher 4, 1903, his wife surviving him but six weeks. Mr. Stanbro, in his day, was one of the foremost and most promi- nent men in our town and, with his wife, excellent entertainers and their home was always most hospitable. He established a tannery and successfully continued the same until failing health compelled him to withdraw from active business. In connec- tion with the same he also conducted a boot and shoe shop, and even in later years, did nearly all his own work in that line. A man of strong principles, generous and kind to all, especially to those in trouble, he was liberal in supporting churches, consider- ing them a necessity for the good and welfare of the community. Later in life he was a member of the Congregational Church in this village. In politics he was a Democrat and was many times chosen as a delegate to the County and State Conventions. In 1858 he was a candidate for Member of Assembly, making a strong run in spite of a large opposition majority in the county. There were four children, all now deceased except Julia D., who became the wife of the late Dr. F. D. Beebe, of Hamilton, who still lives to enjoy the esteem and respect of all who know her. Levi G. married Lucy, a daughter of the late Benjamin R.
86
EBER DIMMICK.
Our First Old Home Week
Knowles, and to them were born two children; Gardner married and is in business at Atlanta, Ga .; and Margaret, the wife of G. Bert Tracy, residing on Smyrna Hill, with one young daughter, Lucy, and a young son. Sabrina married James P. Willcox, son of the late Henry H. Willcox, to whom were born two chil- dren, Hadwen P., now a successful physician at Central Square, Oswego County, and Harriet, now the wife of William P. Briggs, of Norwich, and they have one son, William, now in his tenth year.
EBER DIMMICK was born in Stafford, Tolland County, Ct., March 18, 1794, the oldest of a family of nine children born to Ephraim and Polly Saxton Dimmick, none of whom are now living. In 1818 he married Rosetta, a daughter of Captain Jesse Foote, of Stafford, and was the father of five children; Frances E. Dimmick born January 23, 1819, who married Calista Rey- nolds Willcox, April 26, 1851, both now deceased; there was born to them one son, Cyrus E., an exceedingly bright young man, the pride of his parents, whose untimely death occurred in his twenty-first year, in the spring of 1873. Cyrus Foote Dimmick, born January 26, 1822, died March 18, 1851, from an injury received from trying to stop a runaway team; Mary R., born December 3, 1825, married Asa Wilbur September 27, 1847, and died July 15, 1892; Emily C., born February 28, 1829, married Addison Taylor, of Pitcher, March 19, 1857, died February 7, 1889, and Duane D., born October 2, 1836.
Eber Dimmick came to this county in 1820, and settled in the town of Plymouth, Chenango County. Five years later he moved to Hamilton, and soon after that to Sherburne. In the spring of 1833 he moved to Smyrna, where he lived until his death August 10, 1876. He was one of the pioneers of the Methodist Church in Smyrna, with which he united at an early day, and remained faithful through life. He was very active in building the first M. E. Church of the town, and was always one its most influential members. A kind and affectionate husband and father, a man of strict integrity, and an earnest advocate of Anti-Slavery and Anti-Masonry as well, did not hesitate to ex-
87
Early Years in Smyrna and
press his views on those subjects at any time and place. He was called upon at different times to fill various town offices, Super- visor, Justice of the Peace, and minor offices, and in 1840 repre- sented Chenango County in the New York State Legislature, to the greatest satisfaction of all his constituents.
The history of the Dimmick family can be traced back through thirteen generations, to Sir John Dymoke, who held the title of King's Champion, and as such officiated at the Coro- nation of King Edward II, of England; and until the present time that title has remained in the family, descending to the male heir, in each generation, the present holder of the same being Frank Seman Dymoke, of Scrivsby Court, Holmcastle, Eng- land. Later some of the younger sons emigrated to America, where their descendants now live, some spelling their names Dimock, others Dimick, and still others Dimmick.
The first account of the Dimmick family in this country was in 1630, when Thomas Dimock and Joseph Hall, received from the Crown of Great Britain a grant of land which is now the town of Barnstable, Ct. The best known and most influential remaining member of this excellent family, is Duane D. Dim- mick, who was born here October 2, 1836, spending his boy- hood days here, and in 1861 enlisting in the 44th New York In- fantry, (Ellsworth's Avengers,) serving two years. He is a re- spected resident of Earlville, where he has been Village Clerk for ten years, and a Justice of the Peace of the town of Hamilton for fourteen years and it is saiJ he has never had a decision ap- pealed. Mr. Dimmick is also much interested in Grand Army matters and is a leading member of Stephen Weaver Post, G. A. R., of this village. His wife was Amelia E. Bacon, and they have one daughter, Gertrude A., now the wife of Rev Fred. S. Smith, of Bernardston, Mass.
THE NEARINGS were of German descent. Henry Nearing came from Brookfield, Ct., to Otsego County, in the very early days of 1800, having a family of eight sons and five daughters. Philo Nearing, one of the sons, came to Smyrna in the spring of 1835, and located on the farm recently known as the Alfred Tay-
88
FRANCIS E. DIMMICK.
Our First Old Home Week
lor farm, his death occurring in 1862. He had three sons and four daughters, as follows: Marcus E. left Smyrna, when a young man, spent his life in the western part of state and died at Wellsville in February, 1891; another son, Addison, died in the Civil war; Charlotte A. married Lyndall Holley, their home being the old Holley farm until later years when they moved to the village, where they resided until her decease June 28, 1883; Jane C. married Alfred Taylor, a well-to-do farmer who came from Plymouth. Of both Mrs. Holley and Mrs. Taylor it may be truthfully said, theirs were lives of usefulness and earnestly devoted to the interests of the Methodist Church of Smyrna, of which they were most faithful and sincere members .. Lois M. Nearing married Seymour Fairman and now lives at her only daughter's, Mrs. S. F. Charmell, at Wellsboro, Pa. Myra mar- ried William Taylor, of Pitcher. and still survives him. Perci- val D. Nearing married Clara, a daughter of Richard D. Taylor, and purchased the old Foote farm one mile south of the village. He became a prosperous farmer and cattle dealer, rising to prom- inence in the town and county. In 1891 he sold his farm and moved with his family to Middletown, N. Y., where he has be- come well and favorably known. They have three daughters, Florence, the older; Fanny, now the wife of W. W. Reade, a resident of New York city; and Persis, the youngest, the wife of Charles A. Diering, of Philadelphia, Pa. Eloise, the second daughter, was an invalid for several years, and died at the Near- ing home some eighteen years ago.
Horace T. Nearing the only member of the family now re- siding here, has reached the age of 89 years, and is respected by all his neighbors and friends, who try to cheer and brighten his last remaining days. His family, now all deceased, will be pleasantly remembered by all. Annotte, the oldest daughter, be- came the wife of William P. Hall; Ellen, the younger daughter, the wife of C. Dever Stokes; Marshall E., the only son, married Diana Widger, of Oxford, both now deceased, and the only grandchild is Mrs. Frank Campbell, of Earlville, the only daugh- ter of William P. Hall.
89
Early Years in Smyrna and
SIMON TAYLOR was a British soldier, becoming a prisoner by the surrender of Burgoyne's army October 7, 1777, coming to the town of Plymouth, this county, about the year 1805, where his death took place April 4, 1834, at the age of 78 years. Richard D. Taylor, his son, married Laura Harrington, Decem- ber 14, 1823, and moved to Smyrna, onto the farm generally known at present as the Byron Wells farm. In later years he moved to the present Robbins place, where their deaths occurred. Like his worthy sire the son was a man of strict integrity and sterling character, becoming not only a leading man in the town, but with his worthy wife very influential in the Methodist Church of which they were both earnest members. Politically he was an old school Democrat, and though his party was in a large minority in his town, he many times headed his party for town offices.
His daughter, Pamelia, married Cyrenus M. Briggs, a worthy farmer citizen, now deceased, and there were three children, Wil- liam P., the oldest, now of Norwich, whose first wife was Minnie E., a sister of Lawrence B. Cleveland, and there was one child, a daughter, Minnie C., now the wife of Charles P. Knight, of Binghamton; Charles R., of Apulia, N. Y., with his wife and interesting family of five children at Apulia, N. Y., and Clara E., the wife of our former citizen, John C. Smith, now of Chitte- nango, N. Y. Mrs. Briggs' second husband was Rev. James Er- win, now deceased, whose early years were spent in preaching the gospel to the people of Northern New York, before the for- ests were cleared away, and when the different charges were sometimes far removed from the larger settlements and only reached on foot or on horseback. Mrs. Erwin is still living, a devoted mother, and an earnest Christian woman, ever faithful to her family and her church, always true to the interests of those around her, whether rich or poor. Clara, as has been stated, married Percival D. Nearing, Addison married Emily, a daughter of the late Eber Dimmick, becoming a resident of Pitcher, this county. Alfred, as has also been stated, married Jane C. Nearing, and was one of our prosperous citizens, in pol-
90
Our First Old Home Week
itics a Democrat, alive to the interests of his party. Of this most excellent family, we desire to mention the oldest son, Ar- thur A., whose small stature did not deter him from obtaining a good education. His scope could not be hemmed in by the lit- tle hills of Smyrna, and in the early seventies he wended his way by steamer to California, and found a new home in one of the most delightful valleys in that whole state, in the handsome city of Santa Cruz. Here he has made for himself a name, and is the editor and proprietor of the Santa Cruz Daily and Weekly Surf, and a leading citizen of the place. Fred P., the second son, a worthy and most conscientious young man, became a prosper- ous minister in the Wyoming Methodist Conference, his sad and lamentable death occurring at Wells Bridge, Otsego County, where he was located, in the summer of 1879. Frank R., the third son has always been a resident of our town, and is now lo- cated at the village where he has a successful harness and wagon business in the Fagan building. His wife was Ella P., the adopt- ed daughter of the late Charles G. Dixon, and they occupy the old Dixon homestead. Alfred Burt, the youngest son, is a resi- dent of Palmyra, this state, and has a family of his own.
BENJAMIN BARBER resided in Smyrna some seventy or more years ago, a man most useful in the community, a decidedly christian character whose strong influence for good was espec- ially felt. He was a son of a minister of the same name in Richmond, R. I., and he indeed honored his revered parents. Both Mr. Barber and his esteemed wife were many years devot- ed members of the Baptist Church in Smyrna, and their hospi- table home was always open with a warm welcome to the stu- dent preachers of those days. Of their children, the three sons were endowed with fine mechanical skill which they very suc- cessfully improved. James S., the oldest, moved to Illinois early in the forties, and engaged in the grain and lumber busi- ness after which for twenty years he was in trade in the city of Philadelphia. Eight years ago he returned to Norwich, mak- ing his home with his aged sisters. The younger son, George, spent several years in Illinois and Pennsylvania, but the most of
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.