USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of northern New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume II > Part 23
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(I) Isaiah Martin was born on South Hero Islet. Vermont. in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and resided there his entire life. He was the son of an early set- tler at South Hero who went there from Connecticut and cleared a farm from the wilderness. Information at hand states that this settler was wounded while serving in the revolutionary war, and that he carried a. British bullet in his body for the remainder of his life. Isaiah Martin was an industri- ous farmer. He was twice married, and the maiden surname of his wife, who was some years his senior, was Harrington. Both died at the age of sixty-seven years. His children, all of his first union, were: Levi, born in 1800: Miner. ISO1 ; Lewis, Andrew, Phebe, Lura. Caroline. Mariette.
( II ) Miner, son of Isaiah Martin, was born at South Hero in ISO1. He resided in his native town until thirty-two years old. when he purchased a farm in Plattsburgh. situated at Cumberland Head and contain- ing one hundred acres. He subsequently added twenty-five acres of adjoining land and demonstrated the fact that general farming could be made a very profitable oc- cupation. He was not only identified with the agricultural interests of Plattsburgh, but
became a prominent factor in public affairs as well, serving with ability as an assessor and member of the school board for a num- ber of years, and in various other ways he made himself useful to his fellow townsmen. In politics he was originally a Whig. but united with the Republican party at its for- mation and vigorously supported its princi- ples for the remainder of his life. Miner Martin died in Plattsburgh in 1868. He inarried Mallah Wheeler, born in Fairfax. Vermont. in 1808. died in 1875. Four chil- dren. all born at Cumberland Head, and the only survivor is Ansel Sherman. a brief biography of whom follows:
( HI) Ansel Sherman, son of Miner and Mallah ( Wheeler ) Martin, was born in Plattsburgh. April 17. 1839. He received an excellent education. having pursued courses at the academy and high school in Plattsburgh, and after the completion of his studies he became a valuable assistant to his father in cultivating the homestead farm. adopting that honorable occupation with an energy and enthusiasm which is always pro- fluctive of substantial success. At his fa- ther's death he succeeded to the possession of the property, and it may be truthfully said that he also inherited many of his fa- ther's prominent characteristics, particularly the progressive tendencies and thrift. for which his predecessor was noted. He has always kept his land up to a high standard of fertility by availing himself of improved agricultural methods and machinery. and both the quantity and quality of his products amply attest the efficacy of applying ad- vanced ideas in the treatment of the soil. Some twelve years ago he purchased the farm lying just south of the homestead. comprising one hundred and fifteen acres and possessing historie associations. as it was the home of General Benjamin Mooers during the war of 1812-15. Removing to this farm he has ever since resided there. but still owns the homestead farm, together with other property in the immediate vi- cinity. Mr. Martin cast his first presidential
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vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and has ever since acted with the Republican party in polities. While deeply interested in the welfare of the community he has never as- pired to political prominence, although fre- quently solicited to accept nominations to important publie offices, but he has invaria- bly deelined. He has, however, been actively concerned in forwarding the interests of public education at Cumberland Head for many years, serving as trustee of the school and contributing liberally toward its sup- port. He is a member of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry. is public-spirited whenever occasion demands, and is regarded as one of Plattsburgh's most substantial and influential citizens.
September 20, 1866, Mr. Martin was married in Plattsburgh to Hattie Elizabeth Weaver, his first wife. She was born in Schuyler Falls, New York, adopted daugh ter of Benjamin Weaver. and died in 1884. His second wife, whom he married in Holy- oke. Massachusetts. February 11. 1895, was Louise Furness, born in Malone. Franklin county, New York, daughter of Henry and Almira ( Case ) Furness. His children, all of his first union, are: 1. Frederick L .. born January 5. 1868 : married Bessie Allen and has one son. Herbert. 2. Ellen Louise, July 31, 1869; married E. J. Parmenter and has one child, Elijah. 3. Albert Sherman. Janu- ary 4. 1873 : married efirst) Margaret Hop- kins, one son. Lawrence : married (second ) Bertha Smith, one son. Lester. 4. Mary Phebe. December 20. 1870: married George Staves : two children, Quentin and Alice. 5. Alice. January n. 1884. now the widow of Wallace Hall.
MARTIN The founding of the Martin family of Lewis county, New York, herem recorded. was accompanied by a tinge of romance, prob- ably often duplicated in the settlement of all new countries. John Martin, the founder. was born in tygo. in county Meath. Ireland. near Dublin. In ISIS a party of emigrants
from his neighborhood were starting for the United States, and among them his sweet- heart. John Martin went to Dublin to see them on board ship, but when the hour of parting came could not endure the sorrow. so sailed with them. He landed at Quebec. Canada, where he married the girl who had drawn him so far from home and kindred. Ellen Connell. They settled, after some drifting around, in the town of Wilna, Jei- ferson county, New York, where they lived on a farm and reared a family of eight chil- dren : Mary. Thomas. Ann. Margaret. James. Rosanna. Michael and Ellen. John Martin lived a long and useful life that ended in December. 1882, after he had at- tained the great age of ninety-two years.
(II ) Thomas, son of John and Ellen (Connell) Martin, was born in the town of Wilna. Jefferson county, New York, about 1820, died January 16, 1905. He was edu- cated in the publie school located on his fa- ther's farm. It was the usual pioneer build- ing made of logs and simple of furniture. He obtained a good education there, and after leaving school was employed at honit in farm labor. He worked at different oc- cupations, was saving of his earnings, and in course of time he and his brother bought a large farm in the town of Wilna. They di- vided the property equally, each having a good sized farm as his share. He lived .:: and cultivated his farm until his death. Hu married Nancy Commins, January 1. 1854 She was born March 14. 1835. daughter Richard and Johanna ( Mahar) Commits. Richard Commins was born in county W .- terford. Ireland. where he married. Soon. afterward he emigrated to Canada, landing at Quebec, where he remained a few years In 1845 be removed to Carthage. Jefferson county. New York, where he establish himself and worked at his trade of black- smith. Children : Anastatia, Nane .. Thomas, Margaret. Richard, Patrick, Mar and Peter. Richard Commins was une: celled as a smith. that trade having scended through six generations of his far
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ily, father teaching the trade to son. Thomas and Nancy (Commins) Martin had chil- dren: 1. John T., see forward. 2. Richi- ard, born July 15, 1858; married, June, 1894. Carrie Lyons. 3. Patrick, born Janu- ary II, 1862, died February 7. 1884. 4. William, born August, 1865. died August 12, 1872. 5. Edward, born May 22, 1868; married Adah De Temple. 6. Frederick, born July 31, 1870; married, June 22, 1898, Grace Hines. 7. Emmet Augustus, born January 23, 1876; married, June 27. 1906, Catherine Karnally. 8. Mary, born July 6, 1878: married, January 13, 1904, Charles Bullis.
(III ) John T., eldest son and child of Thomas and Nancy (Commins ) Martin, was born in the town of Wilna. Jefferson county, New York, October 1. 1855. He was educated in the public schools and reared on the home farm, where he grew to manhood. In 1875 he engaged with Jo- seph C. Otis, a farmer of Lewis county, with whom he remained several years. In 1881 he purchased a productive farm in the town of Denmark. Lewis county, located near the village of Denmark, which he has since then very successfully operated. He makes a specialty of dairy and poultry farm- ing, having a choice herd of graded Hol- stein cattle, and for the latter branch a large flock of "White Leghorns." Mr. Martin is modern in his methods of con- ducting business, and has made his life a success. His strict integrity and manly. up- right life has earned him the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He is an active member of Denmark Grange. Patrons of Husbandry, having held the offices of mas- ler. overseer, treasurer and insurance direc- tor. He is also a member of Lewis County Pomona Grange. He is a director of the "Crown Brand" Milk Company of Den- mark. a flourishing industry. Politically he is a Democrat. and a member of St. James' Church. Carthage, New York. He married, April 20, 1881. Maryette, born January I, 1853. daughter of Edmund and Delaney
(Dingmian) Leonard. Edmund Leonard was born in the town of Harrisburg. Lewis county. New York, July 14. 1826, died March 30. 1903 ; married Delaney Dingman, born in Lowville. New York, January 16, 1817. died February 13. 1890. Children : I. Genio, born November 2, 1848; married, in 1891, Mary Dolton ; children: Anna D., born September 14. 1892; Agatha, born De- cember 25. 1893; Mary ( Dalton) Leonard died April 5, 1896. 2. Vivaldia George, born January 29, 1851, died April 1, 1854. 3. Maryette. Edward Leonard owned and operated one of the finest farms in the county. He was a son of Edward and An- nie (Risnee) Leonard. His wife Delaney was the daughter of William and Polly ( Lawrence) Dingman. The Dingmans were among the very earliest settlers of Lewis county, New York.
The first member of the HIRSCHEY family here under consid- eration of whom we have definite information was John Hirschey, born at Huisuig. France. 1789. married Barbara Guirich, a native of Braudenfingen, France, who hore him seven children, three of whom died before attaining maturity. Children : Joseph. Loorn December 10. 1810; John, January 3. 1812 : Christian, April 3. 1814. see forward; Michael, December 27, 1815: Anna. September 6, 1817; John, Au- gust 20, 1819: Peter, 1821.
(II ) Christian, son of John and Barbara t Guirich , Hirschey, the founder of the family in America, was born in France, .April 3. 1814. When a youth he emigrated to America, and being favorably impressed with the country and its possibilities. re- turned to his native land for his bride, Mary Farney, whom he married in France, he at the age of nineteen and she at age of fifteen. In 1833 they returned to this country and established a home in what was then a new country, northern New York, settling in that part known in France as the Castorland. which was then a wilderness, but is now the
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town of New Bremen, and they cleared the farm on Beach Hill, now occupied by Na- than J. Hirschey. a son. and here they reared a family of six sons and four daugh- ters, of whom five sons and two daughters are now living ( 1910). There they laid the foundation for lives of usefulness, thrift and enterprise. They built wisely and well. for the name of Hirschey is a synonym of hon- esty, integrity, progressiveness and good citizenship. The privations of those early days are well known to those familiar with the early history of northern New York. yet these young people overcame all obsta- cles and developed into successful farmers. which vocation their descendants have con- tinued and in which they have achieved simi- lar success. The town of New Bremen was formed from the towns of Croghan and Watson, March 31. 1848. fifteen years after Mr. and Mrs. Hirschey founded their home on Beach Hill. The town of Croghan was founded in 1841 : the town of Watson was taken from Leyden. March 30. 1821. em- bracing all of Lewis county on the east side of Black river. When this town was or- ganized there were forty-four families in all that territory, and only four hundred and eighty-one acres of improved land. one hundred and fifteen head of cattle, eighteen horses and one hundred and seven sheep within its borders. Mr. Hirschey died in ISOS, and his wife in 1805. Children: 1. John, born March 4. 1830; married. Feb- ruary 10. 1807. Margaret Schloof. 2. Ja- cob. April 1. 1838, died January 21. 1865. 3. Christian, see forward. 4. Jonathan. May 28. 1844: married. August 17. 1873. Anna Virkler, cousin of the wife of his brother Joseph. 5. Kate, May 20, 1846. died April 23. 1902: married a Mr. Bre- ham. 6. Joseph. June 28, 1848: married. March 5. 1876. Anna Virkler. 7. Rachel. August 5. 1854: married. December 22. 1878, Joseph Virkler. 8. Maria .A .. April 15. 1857; married. August 13. 1885. Chris- topher Schantz. 9. Barbara. September 5. 1859. died January 13. INSS : married Chiri --
topher Schantz as his first wife. 10. Na- than J .. August 25, 1861; married, Oc ber 1, 1885. Louise Schwendy.
( HHE) Christian (2), son of Christian ( I ) and Mary ( Farney ) Hirscher. W .. born in New Bremen, New York, June 1 .. 1842. He was educated in the comm .. schools, and upon attaining manhood c. gaged in farming, which occupation he ft- lowed for about sixteen years. He then disposed of his farm and engaged in the manufacture of cheese at Beaver Falls, Ne York, which line of work he followed spr- cessfully until 1909, when he disposed i his factories and retired from active busi- ness. He is a man of integrity and hon r. upright and honest in all his dealings. a. : his active career was well worthy of eme' .. tion. He is a consistent member of the Evangelical Baptist church, in the work of which he has taken an active part. He ma". ried, at Croghan, New York, 1872. Willer- mina. born in Prussia, May 22. 1843. daughter of Karl F. Bachman, who, accon .- panicd by his wife, and infant daughter. Wilhelmina. three months old, came to America from his native land. Prussia. M: and Mrs. Bachman had six children : WE helmina. above mentioned : Charles F .. Fre '. erick Egbert. Gottleib F .. Sarah F., Nane .. deceased. Children of Mr. and Mrs. 11.r. schey : 1. Samuel L .. see forward. 2. Sa ." B .. born May 1. 1876. 3. Minnie M .. D cember 18. 1877. 4. Urban C .. April 1 ;. 1881. Mrs. Hirschey died in 1907.
(IV) Samuel L., son of Christian and Wilhelmina ( Bachman ) Hirschey. born at Beaver Falls, New York, July 1874. He attended the common school his native town, and upon the complet his studies, assisted his father in the wp facture of cheese, remaining thus end for a short period of time. Ile worked for a short time in a paper :.?! Beaver Falls, but not being favorably pressed with that occupation, resigned position and once more engaged ..
cheese business, operating factories un !!
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ing charge of milk stations for a period of about nine years. In his early manhood, Mr. Hirschey was deeply interested in what was then a novel way of hatching eggs : he built an incubator. never having seen any- thing of the kind. but felt that a more prac- tieal and convenient way was needed. The tirst incubator was rather a crude affair, but since then he has remodeled and improved upon it, and now his ideas are perfected. In the years 1901-02 patents were granted in the United States and Canada, and machines were exhibited at the Pan-American Exhibi- tion at Buffalo in the summer of 1901. Mr. Hirschey personally attended the exhibition and made demonstrations of what his ma- chines would do, and was much gratified that the highest award of merit was placed on his machine Mr. Hirschey's ingenuity was further recognized when the great In- dustrial Exhibition that was held at To- ronto. Canada. 1902. awarded him first prize. For several years his chicken ma- chinery, known as the "Climax," has se- eured the highest award in the competitions and they are indorsed by experimental col- leges. Both "Incubators" and "Bronders" when stamped with "Climax" are known from coast to coast, having patrons in every state in the Union. as well as in Canada. In 1904 the Climax Incubator & Brooder Com- pany was organized by Mr. Hirschey: a large building was erected and properly equipped with the special machinery neces- sary, at Castorland. New York. The busi- ness was a success from the start, and it has continued to prosper with each succeeding vear. In connection with the incubator and brooder industry the company has now a large force of employees at work in their factory making folding pasteboard boxes. used as florist. millinery and hat boxes. and this branch of the business has been very successful. In all his enterprises Mr. Hir- schey has met with a large degree of suc- cess, this being due to his ingenious nature. coatpled with a bright. active mind. inherent lonesty, and a courteous, friendly manner,
which draws men to him. Mr. Hirschey married ( first ) October 21. 1898, Carrie A., born at Croghian, New York, February 22, 1869. died May 26, 1902, daughter of Darius and Elizabeth ( Snell ) Bent, of Cas- torland. New York. They had one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Hirschey died May 26, 1902. He married ( second ) Sep- temiber 28. 1905. at Namburgh. Anna L., born November 1. 1881. daughter of Henry E. and Anna ( Farney ) Einbeck. Children : 1. Naomi Wilhelmina, born January 31, 1907. 2. Malcolm E. April 4. 1909.
James Baker. immigrant an- BAKER cestor of this family, was born in England. December 18, 1731. and died November 9, 1806. He set- tled on Long Island, but at the time of the invasion by the British army in the Revolu tion he took his family to Salt Point, Dutch- ess county. New York. He married Jemima Kirke, who died December 1. 1803. Among their thirteen children were Jamies. men- tioned below, and Peter, a soldier in the rev- olution, who died in 1853, and was buried near a corner of the old church at Hemp- stead. Long Island.
( II) James (2). son of James (1 ) Ba- ker. was born April 28, 1765. He married ( first ) Cornelia Westervelt. a woman of distinguished ancestry. descendant of An- neke Jans, who died at the birth of her son Peter. November 28, 1791. He married ( second ) Ruth Post. born April 14. 1778. died in 1853. Ile had one son by the first and fifteen by the second wife. At the time of his death in 1840 all of the sixteen sons were living.
( IIE ) Ransom Clary, son of James (2) Baker, was born February 23. 1812. and died March 22, 1805. He married. August 7. 1843. Laura Augusta Kenney, born March 25. 1821, died November 18. 1876. daughter of Silas and Eunice ( Newton ) Kenney of Newtone. Windham county. Ver- nient. He was a well-to-do farmer and much interested in public education. He
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gave to his large family of children much more than the ordinary public school educa- tion. All of them attended the district school at Stillwater. New York. and as many as six of the children were enrolled at the same time as pupils, and afterward each of them attended the Mechanicsville Academy, one of the popular educational in- stitutions of that day.
The ancestry of Laura Kenney extends back to the first settlement of the Ameri- can colonies. Her grandfather, Marshall Newton, Jr., served through the Revolu- tion, and was at Boston during the siege. at the time of the evacuation, March 17. 1776, and with Washington's army at the surrender of General Burgoyne in the north. His father, Marshall Newton, was a lieuten- ant, serving with distinction in the French and Indian wars under Colonel Williams. for whose family Williams College is named.
Children of Ransom Olney Baker : Fran- ces Augusta, born September 16, 1844: Abi- gail Lauretta. July 21. 1846 ; Chauncey Ken- ney, April 5. 1848: Joseph William, men- tioned below: Silas Newton. August 18. 1852; Sylvia Lucy, January 1. 1855 ; Laura Lowantha, January 29. 1857: Herbert Ran- som. April 18. 1858: Willard Marshall, February 13. 1860: Eugene Kelly, August 9. 1863; Frederick Allen, February 9. 1865.
(IV) Joseph William, son, of Ransom Olney Baker, was born in Mechanicsville. Saratoga county. New York. April 3. 1850. He attended the public schools and the Me- chanicsville Academy. He assisted his fa- ther during his youth on the farm, and when he was eighteen years old became clerk in a grocery store in his native town. Two years later he went west and visited various west- ern states. Returning home. he located at Little Falls, New York. where his brother Chauncey had already established himself in business, and became clerk in a drug and grocery store. Ile was admitted to partner- ship after a time, and finally became sole proprietor of the business. He was in this
business for eighteen years altogether, and for ten years was alone in business. Il. sold out in 1892 and removed to Herkimer. New York, where he purchased the well- known Waverly Hotel, which he has since conducted with success. He is a popular host. and his house has a deservedly high reputation among the traveling public. M: Baker served the village of Little Falls as president with wisdom and dignity. In 1897 he was elected sheriff of Herkimer county. He has also been a trustee of the village of Herkimer. Mr. Baker owns one of the most valuable farms and suburban places in the whole Mohawk Valley. He is a lover of good horses and owns several. Ile has some fancy stock also in his dairy. IIe is a member of Herkimer Lodge, No. 423. Free and Accepted Masons, of Herkimer : Astoroga Chapter. Royal Arch Masons, i Little Falls : Little Falls Commandery, No 26, Knights Templar, and of Oriental Tem- ple. No bles of the Mystic Shrine, of Troy. He is eligible to membership in the Sons . i the American Revolution, the Society of Founders and Patriots, and other patrioti orders, by right of descent from revol !- tionary and colonial ancestors on both pat- ternal and maternal sides. He married, M ... 23. 1883. Mary Ann Pierce, born Noven !. ber 4, 1859. daughter of Charles and Jane (Dixon ) Pierce. (See Pierce I. ) They have one child. Amanda Jane, born July 13. 1896, student in the Herkimer highi sche .
(The Pierce Line).
(I) Francis Pierce, immigrant ance: " of Mrs. Joseph W. Baker and Mrs. I. O Nellis, was born in England. September 2 : 1704. He came to this country with ts brothers, Luther and Calvin.
(II) Francis (2), son of Francis (1 Pierce, was born in 1734. and settled in S . field. Connecticut. He was a soldier in : French and Indian war, and was in . army of General Wolfe at the capture Quebec. He was in the company of C' tain John Wood at Albany in 1756 ( Et.
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company ), and in Captain Samuel Hubbell's company, Fourth Regiment, in 1757. He was a sergeant and captain in the Revolu- tion. In early life he was a school teacher of considerable prominence. One of his pupils, Hon. Gideon Granger, was after- ward postmaster-general of the United States from 1801 to 1814. He married (first) Mary Smith; ( second ) Mrs. Phebe ( Kingsley) Ainsworth, born 1746. died March 3. 1830: married (first ) February 2, 1764, Nathan Ainsworth, born at Wood- stock, Connecticut, in 1740. and died in 1776, a prisoner in the British army. Chil- dren of first wife : Luther : Francis: Maria : Elizabeth ; Calvin. Children of second wife : Prosper: Alvin, mentioned below; Mercy : Hulda ; Rebecca (twin of Hulla). All the ten children were born at Suffield.
(III) Captain Alvin Pierce, son of Fran- cis (2) Pierce, was born at Suffield. August 16, 1782, and died at De Wittville, New York. February 26. 1862. Children: Al- vin Jackson. mentioned below; William Burt : Mary: Walter Burt: Mary Kinsley; Torrey Langdon : Rev. Francis Kingsley.
(IV) .Alvin Jackson, son of Captain Al- vin Pierce, was born in Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts, February 3, 1815. and died October 27, 1868. He came with his parents to Herkimer county prior to 1817, and settled at Fairfield. New York. He married Bet- sey Weaver (or Weber), and they lived most of their lives in Herkimer county. They had ten children.
(V) Charles, eldest child of Alvin Jack- son Pierce, was born in 1837, and married. in 1856, Jane Dixon, daughter of Philip Dixon, who served through the Mexican war and received on account of this serv- ice a large traet of land in Texas. The land was afterwards sold by his heirs. The eldl- est daughter of Charles and Jane ( Dixon ) Pierce. Mary Ann Pierce, married Joseph W. Baker, mentioned above, and Mrs. Ba- ker's sister. Jennie A. Pierce, married Dr. irving Orlando Nellis of Herkimer. (See Nellis IV.)
William Nellis. immigrant NELLIS ancestor of this family, was born in Germany, and came with the early Palatines, landing in New York in 1710. He settled in Schoharie county. New York. His son Andrew was born there in 1715, and died in 1779; was one of the principal founders of the Pala- tine church. the oldest church in the Mo- hawk Valley. Andrew was a farmer. He was confirmed by the Lutheran pastor at Schoharie in 1735. He married Catherine Fox, of German Flats. Andrew's son Philip was born December 1, 1746, in Fair- field, and died in 1818: was a soldier in the revolution, and was father of Peter Phillip Nellis, who had some distinguished descend- ants. The family became numerous before the revolution. In 1790 the federal census shows as heads of family, all living in the Mohawk Valley, mostly at Palatine town, Montgomery county: George. Adam, An- drew, Christian, David, George, Henry. Henry W., John (2), John D .. T.hn H .. Ludman, Peter W., Philip, Robert, William and Yost. David, mentioned below, had two males over sixteen, one under that age, and four females in his family.
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