History of Herkimer county, New York, Part 58

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1028

USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 58

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Elihu Booth was a Democrat and commissioner of highways, also constable for many years. He died May 3, 1859, and his wife September 13, 1877. The wife of Elibu N. was Margaret Caruthers, daughter or William Caruthers. They had one child, Mar- garet N., who owns and resides on the old homestead. Castella C. married Thomas Smith, of Brooklyn, and had one son, Thomas E., who died aged two years. Mrs. Smith died November 6, 1883, at Prospect. Elihu N. Booth died January 19, 1892, and his wife February 27, 1892, in Grant. Elihu Booth was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after its close was a captain and general of militia which had general train- ings each year in different localities of the town. He helped build the first church in Grant, and took an interest in all movements to build up the village and its religious growth. Alexander Booth came to Russia with his family and settled four miles in the wilderness, where he built a saw-mill on Black Creek, cleared a small plat of ground and erected a frame house for the family to live in. He commenced clearing off the farm, sawed logs at the mill, built a bridge over Black Creek and erected a number of buildings, a post-office, established mail once a week. The name of Black Creek was changed to Pottsville, and later to Booth, after the first settlers. At the time of the assassination of Lincoln it was changed to Grant. After the death of Alexander, Elihu bought out the interest of the other heirs in the saw-mill and farm, and kept the first store, made potash, and took a load to Albany once in two weeks, across the country, there being no railroads at that time. At his death his son Elihu N. bought out the other heirs, and followed his father in religious zeal and enterprise. Ilis daughter, Margaret N., was the sole heir to the estate, which has passed to the fourth generation, and has been in the Booth family possession for nearly 100 years. Mehritable Booth taught the first school in the barn, opposite the house on the Booth farm. Nine years ago the old saw-mill was carried off by high water.

Bemiss, Oscar, Winfield, one of the representative farmers of Winfield, was born in Richfield, Otsego county, May 1, 1822, and came to Winfield in 1832, with his father Asahel C. Bemiss, who was born May 9, 1780, and died December 27, 1848. He mar- ried Betsey Harding, born September 20, 1792, who died March 27, 1884. Oscar F. Bemiss married, February 20, 1850, Esther A. Bemiss; born September 26, 1822, died September 23, 1892, aged sixty-nine years, eleven months, and twenty-three days. She was a daughter of Jonathan Bemiss, of Edmeston, Otsego county. Oscar F. and Esther A. Bemiss had five children : E. Elizabeth, Martha O., Lyman D., Kate M., and Flora C. Bemiss. Martha married Frank M. Westfall, and they have two daughters, Mabel Bell, and Orrilla May.

Brace, Woodruff A., Winfield, was born on the old homestead joining the farm where he now lives, April 17, 1816, and has lived on this same farm over fifty years, having bought it with his brother Asahel G. in 1839. He married Julia MI., daughter of Israel Young, of Columbia, May 31, 1843. They have one daughter, Florence A., born June 10, 1850. She married May 15, 1879, Mr. Arlington Spicer, and they have two children, Elsie Eusebia and Bertha Brace Spicer. They all live as one family on the old homestead. M. Arlington Spicer was born in Plainfield, Otsego county, Febru- ary 16, 1853, is a son of Minor and Mary Ann (McFarland) Spicer. Minor was a son of Edward Spicer, a soldier of the Revolution, and one of the first settlers of Plain-

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

field. Mary A. McFarland was a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Palmer) Mc- Farland.

The Brace Family, Winfield. It was in the year of 1793 that Abel Brace, a man of fifty-three years of age, who had served as captain in the Revolutionary War, and been a member of the State Legislature of Connecticut, left his home near Hartford, Connecticut. to make a new lyone in the wilderness of Central New York. By the aid of marked trees, he found his way from Herkimer to the central part of the town of Litchfield (the town of Winfield was not formed until 1816), and built a log house but a few rods distant from the present residence of his youngest great-grandson, Sew- ard H. Brace. Ile was accompanied by his wife, her aged mother (Mrs. Lydia Wood- ruff ), and his entire family, consisting of nine sons and five daughters, most of whom were married, and with their families made an important addition to the population of the new country. One son, James Brace, did not like pioneer life, and soon returned to Connecticut. The others settled in the immediate vicinity of their father's home. After a time, these early settlers did not feel secure in the possession of their farms, and it seemed wise that some one go to Washington and adjust matters. Abel Brace was the man chosen for the hazardous undertaking. Most of the journey must be made on foot. His neighbors and friends met to bid him God-speed, and many earnest prayers were offered that he might return in safety. He was for many years deacon of the ('ongregational church, and when he passed away in 1832 he was carried to his last resting-place, a mile away, by the hands of loving friends. As the years rolled on death claimed some of his descendants, and others followed the tide of emigration westward until there were none left in the town of Winfield bearing the name except the family of Capt. Isabel Brace. He had married Caty Curtis, of Farmington, Connecticut, and occupied the paternal home. They raised a family consisting of five daughters and six sons. The daughters married and left their native town, as did the second son, James Brace. But for more than forty years Captain Asahel Brace and five of his sons lived within a mile of each other, enjoying peace and plenty. In 1867 change eame, and Captam Asahel Braee was gathered to his fathers. In: 1869 Asahel Gridly Brace passed away, leaving no descendants. In 1871 Eleazer Curtis Brace also died. He left three sons and three daughters. His only descendant bearing the name now living in Winfield is Murry Eleazer Brace, who has just attained his majority, and occupies his father's home. Of the three sons of Captain Andrew Brace now living, the eldest is Abel Woodruff Brace, seventy-six years old, who lives on the farm that he bought more than fifty years ago. His only child is a daughter, Mrs. M. Arlington Spicer, who, with her husband and children, reside with him. The next, Lucius F. Brace, has also attained to three score years and ten. He lives on the farm to which he removed forty-five years ago, when he left the parental home. His only child is Frank L. Brace, the pres- ent supervisor of the town, who has been for some years a successful grower of small fruits, and has recently launched an editorial bark in the form of the West Winfield Star. The youngest is Henry L. Brace, who inherited the family home, and did much to make it a model farm. Ten years ago he removed to West Winfield, leaving his place in the care of his only son, Seward Brace He has also one daughter, Mrs Adel-

FAMILY SKETCHES.

bert Leach. In religion the Brace family have been Congregationalists ; in politics Re - publicans; and by precept and example total abstainers from all intoxicating drinks ; most of the family abstaining also from the use of tobacco.

Bartlett, Rush, Winfield, owns a dairy farm of 400 acres, and ships milk from the fam to New York. He and his brother have a stock farm twenty five miles west of Topeka, Kan., where they raise horses and ship them here for sale. Mr. Bartlett was born in Winfield June 27, 1849, where he has since resided, with the exception of thirteen years spent in Kansas. He is a son of Emery Bartlett, who was born here June 24, 1818. His father, Jonathan, was one of the first settlers of the town, and the first on the farm now occupied by Charles Burgess on the town line. He came here from Massachusetts when the town was a wilderness. Rush Bartlett married Cora, daughter of Dwight Burgess, March 23, 1881. They have three children, Dwight, Estelle and Carrie. His farm came to him through his father, Emery Bartlett, who purchased it of Dean Burgess.

Button, Gould, Winfield, was born in Brookfield, Madison county, November 12, 1809, a son of John H. and Esther (Bentley) Button. He is a member of the Meth- odist church, in which he has been trustee. He married Thurza, daughter of Thomas and Lucina (Fisk) Adams, and they have one son, Ilenry W. They lost one, Sergeant Samuel Guile, who died on the battle field May I0, 1864. He was a member of Coni- pany B, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, Sixth Corps, and died at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, in Virginia. Alonzo Young, born in the town of Win- field March 15, 1835, a son of Hiram W. and Polly (Hay) Young. He was educated in the common schools. He left Winfield in 1847 and settled in Clyde, Wayne county, which has been his residence ever since. He went to California in 1858, and enlisted June 1, 1862, in the Third California Regiment of Infantry, Company I, and served, three years. He enlisted at Jackson, Amadore county, Cal. The regiment was or- dered to Salt Lake City, and the whole time was served in Utah. He took part in the battle of Big Bend of the Bear River, where four companies killed over 300 Indians. There were thirty-six killed in the battle and 140 wounded. He returned from Cali- fornia in I865.

Brown, Charles II., Winfield, was born in Columbia, MIerkimer county, December 21, 1831, and is a son of James Brown, who came to this county when a child, about 1810, with his father, Philip Brown, of Half Moon, N. Y., who was one of the first settlers of Columbia. James Brown had five children, Charles H., Milo H., Ensebia, Euphemia L. and Philip H. Their farm is in the northeast corner of Winfield, a part of the farm being in Columbia, also a part in Richfield. Charles II. Brown married November 11, 1857, Barbara A., daughter of Marks Folts, of Herkimer, who was a son of Peter Folts and Barbara Rasbach. She was a daughter of Marks Rasbach. They were some of the first settlers of the town of Herkimer. Charles II. and Bar- bara A. Brown have had eleven children, three of whom are deceased : James Il., Charles J. and Leon L. There are eight li ing, Carrie E., Laura E., Flora E., Mary E., Fanny E., Nettie L., Philip H., and. Benjamin G. Marks, and Elizabeth Folts, have had ten children, of whom three have died, Mary A., Isaac and Saloma A. Seven are

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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

livir g, Catharine, Fanny, Marcus, Joseph M., Barbara A., Elizabeth and Andrew. Mr. Brown is one of the assessors of the town of Winfield, which position he has held most of the time for about twenty years. Ile is a member of the Pomona Grange of Herkimer county.

Brace, Henry L., Winfield, was born in Winfield January 4, 1827, a son of Asahel Brace, who was born in Har ford, Conn., in 1779. He came with his father. Deacon Abel Brace, to what is row Winfield in 1793. The latter married in 1799 Katy Curtis, by whom be had thirteen children. Asahel was made captain of militia, and in the Wat of 1812 he went with his company to Sackett's Harbor. Abel, grandfather of II. L. Brace, died in 1831 at the age of ninety two. H. L. Brace succeeded his father as proprietor of the homestead farm in 1947. In 1848 he married Pamelia Holmes, and they have a son and daughter, Ellen H., who married Adelbert Leach, and has a son and danghter; Seward A. and Lena A. Leach, and Seward H., who married Mary A. Vincent. They have one son, Howard M. Abel Brace was deacon of the First Con . gregational church, and his son Charles was a deacon of the same church, as is also Ilenry L., who was appointed dearon June 16, 1858, of the church at East Winfield, and retained that office after the removal of the church to West Winfield. The church was raised in West Winfield June 2 and 3, 1876. Henry L. Brace sang in the choir over fifty years, and has been a member of this church forty- four years. Pamelia A. Brace has sung in the choir of this church since 1848.

Carran, Thomas G., Litchfield, was born in this town and owns a dairy farm of 160 acres. He was collector of the town in 1874. He is a son of IIenry and Philenda Carran, who had four children, of whom two are living : Thomas G. and Mary E. Two died: Francis M., who enlisted in Company B., 121st New York Volunteers. Ile was first corporal of his company, he was wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville May 3, 1863, and died in the hospital June 5, 1863. The other son was Wilham H., who died September 16, 1874, in his twenty-eighth year. He was educated at the Winfield Academy, read law with R. O. Jones, of Utica, and was admitted to the bar. After that he taught the Boonville Union school nearly three years, and then went to New York city, in practice first with the Gazzan Collection Company, after which he formed a co-partnership with Mallory & Ritter, which firm existed until his death. The father, IIenry Carran, was a native of the Isle of Man, and came to this town and settled near Cedar Lake, about 1830. Ile died December 1, 1852, in California, aged about thirty four years, after being there only ten days. The mother, Philender Car- ran, was a native of this town, having been born on the same farm where the son and danghter now live. She was a daughter of Thomas Goodier, a son of Rev. Aaron Goodier.

('randall, Otis N, Winfield, was born in Independence, Allegany county, October 27, 1825, and came to this town with his father, Almond Crandall, who was born July Il, 1801, a son of Col. Nathaniel Crandall, who was born August 9, 1771, in Massa- chusetts, and settled in Winfield before 1800. He died October 31, 1838. His wife, Olive Grey, was born July I, 1776, and died November 3, 1838. Their son Almond died December 17, 1876. Ilis wife was Lorinda Cook, born September 6, 1803, and

FAMILY SKETCHES.

died August 9, 1871. Her father, Otis Cook, was born October 26, 1769, and died June 2, 1856, aged eighty-six years. Otis Crandall married Flora F. McKee October 7, 1858. She is a daughter of Samuel McKee, of Winfield, and they have three chil- dren : May C., Almond and Myron M.

Croak, John B., Winfield, was born in Carlow county, Ireland, August 13, 1838. He came to Frankfort in 1848 and to Winfield in 1852, where he worked at farming until 1856, and since that at mason work until December, 1863, when he went to Washing- ton in the quartermaster's department, remaining there until the spring of 1864. He was drafted in the fall of 1863 an I paid $300 commutation. In the spring of 1864 he returned to Winfield and worked at his trade in that town, and Rome, Utica and other places as a contractor and builder, and did quite an extensive business. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster of West Winfield, which he held until June, 1889, when he returned to his trade He married Nancy Rice in 1869, and they have four children : Wi liam T., George H., Maggie and Julia. John B. Croak is a son of Martin and Margaret (Maher) Croak (both deceased). The former died in Dakota, and the latter died on the ocean of cholera, June 23, 1848.

Caruthers, Henry, Russia, was born in Russia, N. Y., November 12, 1824, a son of William, a son of Henry, a native of Scotland, who married Jane Davidson and had one son, Will'am. In 1818 Mr. Caruthers and family came to America and settled in Russia, where he erected a log house and there resided until his death in 1852. His wife died in 1838 William Caruthers married Margaret Smith, a native of Scotland, by whom he had six sons and three daughters. He was assessor and commissioner of highways. He died in 1875, aged seventy-two, and his wife in 1869, aged sixty- seven. Henry Caruthers married Cynthia H. Woodin, by whom he had four children : Elma S., deceased; Frank W .; Retta M., deceased; Libbie J. Frank is with his parents and Libbie is Mrs. Heidel and resides in Los Angelos, Cal. Mr. Caruthers owns a farm of 250 acres and keeps a large dairy. He is a Republican. He and fam- ily are Free Will Baptists. The father of Mrs. Caruthers was Isaac J., a son of Isaac Wooden, a native of New Haven, Conn., who came to Russia about 1813, where he died April 13, 1841. His wife was Rebecca Micks, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. She died July 23, 1852. Isaac Wooden, jr., was born in Connecti- cut in 1795. When eighteen years of age he came with his parents to Russia. His wife was Sylvia Cory, a native of Russia, by whom he had five children He was cap- tain of militia, and died September 24, 1881, at the age of eighty-five.

Chapman, Byron E., Little Falls, was born in Little Falls August 21, 1854. He re- ceived his education in the academy of this village, after which he was for eight years an assistant in the Little Falls post-office. Immediately after severing his connection with this department, he established in August, 1872, his present lucrative news and stationery business. Mr. Chapman married Hattie A. De Witt, of Chittenango, and they have two children. Mr. Chapman's ancestry is New England, the record of the family dating beyond Revolutionary times.

Cronkhite, Jonas, Danube, was born November 12, 1836. He succeeded to the old homestead upon which his grandfather Cornelius settled in 1786. This was originally

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

part of the Lansing patent. Cornelius, upon his death, left the land to his son. John C. Cronklute, father of Jonas, to whom it descended. The farm contains 118 acres of fine dairy land, upon which Mr. Cronkhite has erected a magnificent residence. Ile married Ann Mckenzie, and they have one son, Grant J., who married Kitty Seeber, and they have one son, Ralph. Jonas Croukhite has served as inspector of elections, commissioner of highways, etc.

Cooper, Henry C., Norway, was born in Cold Brook, Herkimer county, February 6, 1828. llis father, Charles Cooper, emigrated from Tolland county, Conn., with his father, Sylvanus Cooper, and mother, Mary Meacham Cooper, two brothers, W'm. G. and Anson, and two sisters, Rosannah and Roxana, and settled in the town of Rus- sia about 1816. Rosannah and Roxana both died of consumption in Cold Brook tu early womanhood. William G. married Eunice Congdon, emigrated to Port Leyden, Lewis county, raised a family of six children, three sons and three daugh- ters, where he died aged eighty-two. Anson married Esther Hall, moved to North Bay, Oneida county. His children, one son and four daughters, still reside there. He lied in North Bay aged seventy-seven. Sylvanus Cooper died in Cold Brook in 1861, at the age of eighty-four. His wife, Mary, also died there, aged seventy-six. Charles Cooper married Margaret Thompson, the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Thompson. Charles Cooper was a mason and farmer by occupation. Ile died in Cold Brook. July 6, 1889. His wife survives, aged eighty-nine Hugh Thompson was a native of Ire- land and emigrated to this country before the adoption of the constitution, was married at. Schenectady, resided for a few years at Johnstown, moved from there to Ri-sia In 1806, where he died in 1848, aged eighty-three. llis wife, Elizabeth, survived him several years, dying at the age of eighty-six. Ilis family consisted of eight children : five sons, William, Jolin, Jessie, Henry and Archibald ; three daughters, Jennett, Je- mima and Margaret, all of whom are dead except the latter. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in the common and select schools of his native town and Fairfield Academy. At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching school and followed that three years. May 4. 1854 he married Jane M. Richards, who bore him five children : Wendell P .; Adelbert R., who died at the age of fourteen; Lillie, who died in infancy ; Etta M., and Charles W. Mr. Cooper is a farmer by occupation. Early in life he was a Garrisonian Abolitionist and when the Republican party was or- ganized united with that party and remained with them until 1868. In 1872 he voted for Horace Greeley, in 1870 for Peter Cooper, in 1880 he was presidential elector for Weaver, in 1884 and 1888 and 1892 he voted the Democratic tickets. Ile has held numerous town offices, lle resided in Russia until 1859 when he went to Norway where he has since resided.

Geo. 11. Casler, Warren, was born June 5, 1835, in the town of Warren, and is a son of Adam Casler, whose father was also Adam, a pioneer of Minden, Montgomery county. Adam, jr., was born October 30, 1802, and after his marriage came to War- ren, where he lived until a few years before his death. Then he went to Columbia, where he died October 24, 1863. His wife was Barbara Snyder, who was born Octo- ber 26, 1803, and died April 22, 1872, at the home of ber ser George H flclue

FAMILY SKETCHES.

him ten children : Lucinda, born August 26 1824; Catherine, born June 12, 1826; Almira, born June 30, 1828; Charity, born August 9, 1830; Betey M., born June 21, 1833 (died at the age of two years) : George H., born June 5, 1835 ; Diana, born March 25, 1836; James M., born March 26. 1838; Julia, born February 16, 1840 (died in childhood) ; Mary J., born December 4, 1842 (died at the age of eight years). Geo. H. Casler at the age of nine, was bound out to Geo. M. Cleeland, until twenty-one, for $150 and schooling. He worked out by the month until married and then rented farms on shares until 1867, when he bought one hundred acres where he now lives. He now owns three hundred acres. He is a Republican and has held the office of col- lector for one year and poormaster for thirteen years, of which he is now serving. He married, November 2, 1856, Betsey, daughter of Isaac and Leah (Bronner) Max- field, and has had three children : Myron J., born November 8, 1858, and married, first, Libbie Shaver, who bore him two children, Willie and Georgie, and second, mar- ried Alice Guyer, who bore him one child, Edna Blanche, Charles E. was born De- cember 31, 1860. He married Estella Ecker, who bore him two children, Ray and Lee, and Libbie Leah, born May 15, 1869.

Christman, W., Herkimer, is a native of this country and was engaged in farming for many years. Then he followed the trade of carpenter and mason for some time, and then took np shoemaking which he still follows. In 1858 he married Miss Helen E. Petrie, and they have seven children living, three sons and four daughters. Two of the daughters are married, one being the wife of Victor Barnes, and the other H. L. Mckeever. There have now been six generations of this family in this county and the name is a well-known one in this part of the State.

Churchill, Henry, Herkimer, is a native of New York, and took a university course at Yale College, graduating with honors. In 1866 he came to Herkimer from Glov- ersville and entered into the manufacture of paper with his brother-in-law, the Hon. Warner Miller. He has since that date given the greater part of his time to the pros- ecution of his manufacturing enterprise, but is also president of the First National Bank of Herkimer, in which he takes a great interest and just pride.

Cole, Truman, Fairfield, one of the enterprising young men of Herkimer county, is a native of Fairfield, and a son of Justice A Cole. He manages 213 acres of dairy farm, and a herd of forty-five cows. He was educated at Fairfield and Fort Plain, and then spent two years in the study of law in the office of Mills & Palmer, Little Falls. He then took np farming, which he has successfully followed. Mr. Cole is a broad-minded man, and is held in much esteem. He is at present one of the assessors of Fair- field, and is a member of the Grange and of the Grange Mercantile Association of Little Falls.

Clive, Henry, German Flats, is a native of England, and traces his ancestry to the celebrated Lord Clive. He was born February 11, 1844, and came to America in 1864. He has been in the Armory for many years and is a Mason, and a member of the United Friends. In 1861 Mr. Clive married Emma Wall and they have ten chil- dren. The Clives were among the first gunmakers of England,

HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.

Crumby, George Fenner, Newport, was born is Newport, September 14, 18 , a son of Dav'd and Julia E. Fenner. David D. was born at Troy, N. Y., March 13, 1816, and settled in the town of Norway when two years of age, with his parents. Here he lived until the age of thirty. He was a merchant at Norway and Newport until 1859, when he moved to St. Paul, Minn., and was engaged in the livery business for eight years. He then returned to Newport and followed farming and milling un- til his death, March 31, 1889. IIis marriage occurred May 17, 1852. His two sons were George F., born September 14, 1855, and Charles B., who was born September 17, 1866, a graduate of the Eastinan Business College, and one of the promising young men of the day. George F. attended the public schools at New- port until sixteen years of age, when he entered Fairfield Seminary, from which he gradnated in 1874. He was valedictorian of his class. He then taught school at Dansville, N. Y., for one year, when he entered Hamilton College and graduated in 1879 as valedictorian of his class. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practicing in New York city. After several months be returned to Little Falls and formed a co-partnership with R. H. Smith. In 1882 be entered into partnership with Hadley W. Joncs, which lasted until his death, July 27, 1887, aged thirty-one years. He was school commissioner in 1881, and that same year received the nomi- nation for assembly on the Democratic ticket. He was president of the village of Little Falls at his death. October 4, 1882, he married Lillian Gardner, and they had two children, Bessie and Mabel.

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History of Herkimer county, New York, Part 58

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 1028

Author: Hardin, George Anson, 1832-1900, ed; Willard, F. H. (Frank Hallett), b. 1852, joint ed
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1028