Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 57

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

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(V) David, youngest son of Ebenezer (2) Barker, was born in Pelham, Massachusetts, June 2, 1777, died in Saratoga county, New York. He removed with his parents to Han- cock, New Hampshire, when a boy, and later settled in Saratoga county, New York, at a place known as Barkersville, named, it is sup- posed, in his honor. He was a farmer. He married Mary Harcourt, of Dutchess county, New York. Children, all born in Saratoga county : Asa, 1794, died 1864-65; Nathaniel, born 1779; Edward, 1800; James Madison, of further mention; Deborah, Maria, Lydia and Caroline.

(VI) James Madison, fourth son of David Barker, was born in Providence, Saratoga county, New York, March 18, 1809, died in Albion, Orleans county, New York, Novem- ber 8, 1877. His father was a member of the Society of Friends, and the lad was reared according to the tenets of these most excellent people. He attended the public schools of that early period, worked on the farm in early life, later was engaged in the manufacture of scythes and snaths, and had a partnership interest in a tannery. At the age of twenty-six he located in Galway, Saratoga county, where he married. For a number of years he was superintendent of a large farm. He was well known in Sara- toga county, and a man of prosperity. In 1868 he moved to Orleans county, locating in Albion. where for a time he was engaged in the retail coal business in partnership with Smith D. Shourds, but having many other business inter- ests in other localities. He was in very poor health for several years, and died in 1877, after several weeks of acute suffering. Although a resident of Albion but nine years, he had endeared to all who came within the circle of his acquaintance. He was a man of highest character, and to quote the words of the poet. "was as near the model man as we often meet in our journey through life." He was one of

.the founders and a trustee of the Baptist church of Galway, and in Albion was a deacon of the Baptist church of that village. He was most liberal in his benefactions for charitable purposes and in his support of the church. He was a Republican in politics, and interested in all that promised to benefit his town. He mar- ried, in Galway, New York, June, 1837, Emily, youngest daughter of Isaac Gere, born 1763, died 1843, a drummer boy of the revolution, and a prominent farmer and citizen of Galway, who married Deborah Wright, of Bennington, Vermont. Children, all born on the Gere homestead in Galway : 1. Mary, 1838; married Francis Larned; moved to Chicago, where Mr. Larned died. 2. Harriet G., 1840; married Henry H. Hewitt, and moved to Bloomington, Illinois, where her husband died. 3. William E., of further mention. 4. Julia E., 1844; re- sides in Albion, New York, with her brother. William E.

(VII) William E., only son of James Madi- son Barker, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, New York, December 6, 1842. He was educated in the public schools, and after coming to Albion engaged for a time as book- keeper for his father. His health always hav- ing been delicate, he has never engaged in any business beyond caring for his own estate. He lives a retired life at Albion, his home being presided over by Miss Julia E. Barker. He is a member of the Baptist church, which he has served for several years as trustee. He is a Republican in politics, and interested in the various societies and institutions of Albion. He is unmarried.

The Thompson

ORTON-HENDERSON family of Catta- raugus county. whose ancestry is herein recorded, descends from Anthony Thompson, of England, who came to America in 1637, the founder of the New Haven branch of the Thompson family.

(I) Anthony Thompson with his wife (name unknown), two children, and brothers, John and William Thompson, embarked at London, England, on the ship "Hector." for America, where they arrived June 26, 1637, according to Winthrop's Journal, but according to Cot- ton Mather, the date was July 26, 1637. They landed at Boston. They were a part of the company which came with Governor Eaton and Rev. Davenport, dissenters from the Church of England, who left their homes to

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take up a residence in the new world, where they could be free from the constant persecu- tions which characterized the reign of Charles I. The company was composed of men of wealth and energy, and after careful selection, they decided to follow their pastor, Rev. Daven- port, in his choice of location, which was Quin- nipiack, or New Haven, Connecticut. The Thompson brothers were allotted lands and became leading citizens. John lived at East Haven, where he died December 11, 1674. The farm he owned is said to be yet in possession of his descendants. He married but left no male issue. William made his will October 6, 1682, dying the same year. He resided and died in New Haven.

Anthony Thompson signed the Colonial Con- stitution, June 4, 1639, and appears in the original list as having shares in the first and second divisions of land. He took the oath of allegiance in 1644. His will was made March 23, 1648, shortly before his death. It was probably made "in extremis." It was drawn up by Rev. John Davenport, pastor, and Robert Newman, ruling elder of the church. He is called Brother Anthony Thompson, and seems to have been a devout member of the church. The name of his first wife is unknown. His second wife was Kathern. By first wife he had two sons and a daughter, and by sec- ond wife, two daughters and a posthumous son. Children of Anthony Thompson, the immi- grant: John, see forward; Anthony, born in England, December, 1634, died at age of twenty years; Bridget, born 1637, married Rev. John Bowers, of Guilford. New Haven and Derby, Connecticut; Anna, baptized June 8, 1645, married Stanton ; Lydia, bap- tized July 24, 1647, married, September 20, 1665, Isaac Crittenden, of Guilford ; Ebenezer, baptized October 15, 1648, married. June, 1671, Deborah Dudley.

(II) John, eldest son of Anthony Thomp- son, was born in England in 1632. He is called Skipper John Thompson and John Thompson, the "Mariner." This to distinguish him from "farmer" John Thompson. He was a seafar- ing man and a resident of New Haven. He married Hellena ,who died April 8, 1690. Captain John Thompson survived her until June 2, 1707. Children: 1. John, born May 12, 1657; was called Lieutenant John; married Rebecca Daniel; children : Anna, mar- ried Thomas Ives ; Daniel, married Mary Ball; Rebecca, married Caleb Mix; Elizabeth, mar-

ried John Bassett; John, Anthony. 2. Wil- liam, born 1660; married Hannah Glover ; children : James, Abigail, Mary, married John Hitchcock; Josiah and Benjamin. 3. Joseph, born April 8, 1664; married Elizabeth Smith ; children: Anna, Joseph and Ebenezer. 4. Samuel, see forward.

(III) Samuel, son of Captain John and Hellena Thompson, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, May 12, 1669, died in Goshen, Connecticut, March 26, 1746. He was a highly- esteemed merchant of New Haven, but later in life removed to Goshen, where his sons, Samuel and Amos, had settled. He was suc- cessively a sergeant, ensign, lieutenant and captain of militia. He seems to have been a man of importance. There is no record of the settlement of his estate nor of the time of his removal to Goshen. He married, November 14, 1695, Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant- Governor Bishop. Children : 1. Samuel, born December 2, 1696. He settled on the east line of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, New York, where he built a grist mill. He married Hester Alling; children: Elizabeth, Samuel, Sarah and Esther. 2. James, born June 5, 1699. He settled near his brother Samuel in Stanford. He was killed by a fall from a tree in 1737. He married Harriet Wil- mot; children: Mary, James, Hezekiah, who was a lawyer of Woodbury, Connecticut, and whose son William was the first judge of Sul- livan county, New York, and his son James, an Episcopal clergyman, of New Durham, Greene county, New York. 3. Amos, see for- ward. 4. Gideon, born December 25, 1704. He settled in Goshen, Connecticut, was deputy, and died in Hartford, Connecticut, while at- tending the fifth session of the assembly to which he was elected. He married Lydia Punderson ; children : Elisha, Daniel, Stephen, Lydia, James, Chloe and Lois. 5. Rebecca, born February 23, 1708; married - Aus- tin, of New Haven. 6. Judah, born June 10, 1710, died August 5, 1712. 7. Judah, born August 5, 1713, lived and died in New Haven. 8. Enos, born August 18, 1717, lived in New Haven. He was the grandfather of Enos Thompson Throop, charge-de-affaires to Na- ples and governor of the state of New York. Married Sarah Hitchcock. A distinguished descendant of Samuel Thompson was Smith Thompson, judge of the supreme court of the United States and secretary of the navy.

(IV) Amos, third son of Samuel and Re-

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spread commendation. In speaking of Judge Henderson during his candidature for the of- fice he had so ably filled, the Buffalo Courier says :

It need scarcely be said that his integrity is with- out a blur; he stands among men upright and clean handed. His whole manhood before he was placed on the bench was spent in the diligent pursuit of his profession and he became a lawyer with an estab- lished reputation based on solid grounds, the proof of which lies in his success.

He always evinced a desire to promote the welfare of philanthropic and educational in- stitutions. He was president of the board of trustees of the Chamberlain Institute and Fe- male College, and also president of the board of trustees of the Western New York Home for Homeless and Dependent Children. He was an attendant of the Episcopal church. Upon his death he left a goodly estate.

He married (first) Anna M., daughter of Rev. Thomas Morris, and (second) Emily Thompson, who survives him and is a resident of Randolph. Children, both by first wife: Mary M., born June 15, 1859; Willie R., born March 10, 1867.

PARKER The Civil War was fought by armies of boys. When they came home, however, although they were but little older, they had become men, fully developed, self-reliant and magnifi- cently equipped. Their patriotism, bravery and endurance had been proved. Youngsters as they were they had joyously grappled with tremendous problems, unheard-of conditions, absolutely novel situations, for which there was no preparation whatever. They had ac- complished results which trained experts twice their age now view with amazement. They had re-written the science of war and made many axioms obsolete. They had proved that an army can live in an enemy's country. They had made each private soldier an engineer, and reduced the art of fortification, even under fire, to a simple question of a few minutes time. They had relegated the navies of the world to the scrap heap. Armies which, according to all traditions, theories and practice, had suffered so severely as to be properly considered anni- hilated, had returned again and again to the contest and finally won. Those boys on both sides had in battle after battle broken all the records of the world for stubborn fighting. The troops who surrendered with Lee and who

marched in the Grand Review at Washington were the finest soldiers the world has seen. But they were not professional soldiers. They were patriots who had enlisted "for the war," and the war was over, so home they went to resume the usual occupations of peace. Then they discovered that during the long struggle their country had expanded with leaps and bounds. The governmental machinery and methods of '60 were absolutely inadequate in 65. Many of the tremendous innovations of the war must be retained. The new and ex- tremely difficult problems of reconstruction were imminent. Great tasks were at hand. Many of the recently discharged soldiers promptly volunteered for the new campaign, and for thirty years they administered the government, developed our great federal ma- chinery, outlined its policy for future genera- tions, perfected its details, and left for their successors only the adjustment of thoroughly tested systems to increasing growth.

One of those boys who thus continued in his country's service was David Bigelow Parker. late of Ellicottville. Born Christmas Day, 1842, at Ashville, Chautauqua county, New York, the son of Dr. Charles Parker, a coun- try physician, he received the meagre education afforded by the district schools and a term or two at the academies at Fredonia, Jamestown and Forrestville, and he developed the practical self-reliance natural to a sensible energetic boy in a country community. Honesty, courage and patriotism were inherited from both pa- rental lines. His mother's father was Major Samuel Sinclair, an officer during the revolu- tion in the First New Hampshire Regiment, which was commanded by his uncle, Colonel Joseph Cilley. His father's father was a rev- olutionary soldier from Rhode Island.

When the Civil War broke out, the family finances were at low tide. The shadow of a mortgage was over the home, and the boy of eighteen was trying to help by breaking a pair of green colts and ploughing a rough side-hill at the same time. He responded eagerly to Lincoln's first call for troops, and went with Captain Stevens' company from Dunkirk, in what was afterward enumerated the Seventy- second New York, of Sickle's brigade. The regiment saw its first fighting at the battle of Williamsburg, and held its position on the ex- treme left of the line during the afternoon un- der conditions which would have won signal honor for veteran troops of any army. They

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lost one hundred and ninety-five in this, their first engagement, and never faltered. Soon after the Peninsular campaign, Parker was de- tailed to get the regimental mail, and showed such marked efficiency in this direction that his duties were speedily expanded, and he was soon acting mail agent for Hooker's division, then for the Center Grand Division, and then early in '63 for the Army of the Potomac, which position he continued to hold until the end of the war. Mails had not been in use many years. Stamps were first used in 1840, and the army regulations contained no provis- ions concerning mail service. The whole question of handling the mails of a great army had to be taken at the beginning, systematized, organized and perfected. In time this branch of service was added to the provost marshal general's department, and Parker was made a second lieutenant, and detailed as superintend- ent of the mails and dispatch bearers of the Army of the Potomac. He substantially alone was entitled to the credit for the significant expression in General Grant's final report that the armies under him had mail service equal to the most favored community.

This service made him a member of the mili- tary family at headquarters, and gave him un- excelled opportunities to make acquaintances with the leaders of the army and to observe events from the inside. He early won the confidence of his superiors and was frequently used for special missions. After the battle of Gettysburg, Meade sent him alone to Balti- more to shake up an old regular army commissary and get rations for the whole army shipped at once regardless of routine. He car- ried dispatches directly from Grant to Lincoln after the battle of the Wilderness, and was the first bearer of dispatches to get through. At the fall of Richmond he was specially in- trusted by General Grant with the safeguard- ing of Miss VanLew, the famous Union spy, who lived in Richmond. He took possession of the Richmond postoffice on the day of the fall, and immediately put it in running order, for which he received the thanks of the Post- office Department.

During the last year of the war he held a commission from the Postoffice Department as special agent to enable him to administer the mail affairs of the army directly, and although but twenty-one years of age he introduced the money order system in the army, and sold and handled millions of stamps without the slight-

est question of any kind. One shipment alone consisted of eight hundred thousand three- cent stamps. At the close of the war, by vir- tue of his position in the Postoffice Depart- ment as a special agent, he stayed in Richmond and reorganized the postal service throughout Virginia, having the postoffices of Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg and Danville all on his hands at once. He rode horseback into every county in the state, establishing new post- offices and new post routes, investigating of- fenses against the mails, and arresting and prosecuting the offenders.

When Grant became president, he promptly appointed Parker United States marshal for the District of Virginia, and made it a personal appointment, telling him that he need not place any papers on file, but adding, "in the case of a personal appointee going wrong I would be more severe than I would upon any one else." The new marshal had lived in Richmond four years, and although he had been well known as a Republican, and had served upon Repub- lican committees, yet he had acted with such straightforwardness and tact that Isaac Daven- port and Robert Edmond, two of the leading bankers in the city, voluntarily signed his bond and made the fact public in order to give him their endorsement before the community. Gov- ernor Wells, of Virginia, also made him a mem- ber of his staff with the title of colonel. He con- tinued as marshal until March, 1874, when he resigned to enter private business. This was during what is now called the Reconstruction, and there had been abundant occasion for the young northern officer to exercise his tact and shrewdness, but when he resigned, a large number of the Richmond lawyers and those connected with the courts joined in giving him a handsome testimonial, and Hon. H. L. Bond, United States circuit judge, wrote him as fol- lows: "For your exemplary administration of your office you not only have received the highest encomiums of the Department of Jus- tice at Washington and of your political friends here, but you are almost the only person I know in office south who has had, shall I say, the felicity, at any rate, the fortune, to win the praises of the adversary."

He was not permitted to remain in private business but a very short time, before General Grant asked him to reenter the postal service and investigate some charges of corruption in Louisiana, which were said to involve General Grant's brother-in-law. He investigated the

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charges, discovered and exposed the corrup- tion, and thoroughly absolved General Grant's brother-in-law from any connection therein. Then he was sent to the Pacific coast to re- organize the service generally of California, Oregon and Washington, and handle numer- ous so-called depredation complaints. He was recalled from there in the summer of '76 to accept the position of chief postoffice inspector, which position he held during six changes in the office of postmaster-general until 1883. This was during what might be called the for- mative period of the postoffice department ; and, together with the late General Richard A. Elmer, who was afterwards the first president of the American Surety Company ; Frank Hat- ton, well known later as the editor of the Mail and Express; Henry D. Lyman, the present president of the American Surety Company ; William B. Thompson, Esq., of Washington ; Dr. C. F. McDonald, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Theodore N. Vail, president of the Amer- ican Telephone and Telegraph Company, he labored to initiate and perfect the details of our present postoffice system. The railway mail service, the rural free delivery, the regis- tered letter and money order service, and sub- stantially all of the present features of our postoffice department, were originated by these men working together.

In 1883 he resigned from the postoffice de- partment just as President Arthur appointed him postmaster of the city of Washington, but he declined to accept the appointment, and joined Mr. Vail in the telephone business.

When he left the service he was the recipient of many letters, tributes and marks of sincere affection from his superiors, associates and subordinates. The dominant note of his character was touched by Postmaster-General W. Q. Gresham, in accepting his resignation in these words, "You leave behind you an ex- ample of faithful devotion to duty of which you may well be proud, and which is worthy of imitation in all branches of the service."

falo, which was near his home. During his career as an officer in telephone companies, his marked executive ability, skill as an organizer, and general good judgment, were well recog- nized. He was obliged to retire from active work in the summer of 1898, and after spend- ing a year and a half at the Virginia Hot Springs he returned and resided for the last ten years of his life at Ellicottville. He had previously made his home at Randolph for some years, and then upon a farm seven miles from Randolph on what is known as Parker Hill, a farm which he had cleared and develop- ed almost from the virgin timber.

During his active life he had formed a large circle of acquaintances. He knew most of the public characters of the time-Presidents Grant, Garfield, Arthur and Mckinley; Gov- ernors Fenton, Wells and Wise; Horace Gree- ley, Tom Reed, Generals Sickles and Hooker, and many others were among his friends. Blessed with a wonderful memory, which he had still further improved by persistent care and cultivation, his knowledge of men and the affairs of his country was extremely large. During the last ten years of his life, although a helpless invalid, he nevertheless retained both his hold upon everyday affairs and his interest in them, and his associates in the telephone business made frequent use of his experience, his judgment and his acquaintanceship.

The surest index to a man's character and his greatest monument are his friends. Al- though out of the active struggle, confined to his room and chair in a little village in West- ern New York, still his friends, who were many and far spread, kept in close touch with him both by telephone, by letter and by per- sonal visits. Many times men came to see him with the avowed purpose of "cheering up the Colonel," but after a few moments in his room he it was who, by brilliant, practical, up-to- date conversation, and most interesting and amusing reminiscences, was furnishing the cheer. He was patient, uncomplaining in the midst of great suffering and most considerate of all about him. During the last three years of his life he was blind, but nevertheless he dictated a volume of reminiscences of his army and official life, which is not only of great interest but of large historical value .* A Har- vard professor, one of the leading historians

In the telephone business he was first with the New England Telephone Company in Bos- ton. Later he was made general manager of the New York Telephone Company, and repre- sented the parent Bell company as director in nearly all of the companies incorporated in New York state. His health began to be seri- ously affected by rheumatism and he accepted *"A Chautauqua Boy, Reminiscences by David B. D., LL. D., Litt. D. Small, Maynard & Company. Boston, the position of vice-president and general man- - Parker." Introduction by Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph. ager of the Bell Telephone Company of Buf-

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of to-day, Albert Bushnell Hart, has written the introduction for it, and says in closing, "The remarkable interest of this book is due in part to the large scenes and large men among whom the relator's life was passed; but still more, to his own interest in what he was doing, which was the reason why he stood among men in high places. A third element is his thorough enjoyment of a good story and a dramatic situation. There are many volumes of reminiscences in the same period of time by people who were more immediately connected with the political side of the government ; but hardly any of them reveal so much of the inner workings of the army, of soldier life, and of the public service during the critical period of the civil war, and the years immediately following. It is an extremely entertaining account of a resolute and eventful life, devoted for many years to straightforward unflinching public service."

He was a soldier to the last, and on Sep- tember 22, 1910, having completed his book to his own satisfaction, and having put the rest of his affairs in order, he received his most honorable discharge from the service of this world, and went to the Great Paymaster for his pay. His body lies in the cemetery at Go- wanda.

His widow, Victoria Anna Howe Parker, daughter of the late Judge Chester Howe, and his eldest son, Sinclair, reside at Ellicottville ; his younger son, Torrance, is an attorney, member of the firm of Southard & Parker, at Boston, Massachusetts. TORRANCE PARKER.

Thomas Fish was born at Uxbridge,

FISH Massachusetts, 1771, died at Chel- sea, Vermont, 1837. He came from Uxbridge to Chelsea when a young man. It is believed that he was a son of one of the Fish family of Providence, Rhode Island, and descendant of one of the early settlers of whom there were many both in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Thomas was a farmer of Chel- sea, Vermont, and the first ancestor of the Fish family of Erie county, New York, of whom there is definite record. He married (first), 1797, at Lebanon?, Elizabeth Lathrop, born March 23, 1772, at Lebanon, New Hamp- shire, died November 15, 1814, at Chelsea, Vermont, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth ( Elderkin) Lathrop. He married (second), 1816, Polly Lathrop, sister of his first wife, born April 21, 1766, at Lebanon, died at Chel-

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 57

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680