USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 103
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Often opposed by strong men in matters of public interest, yet his resolution, firmness, and good judgment led others to seek his counsel.
In politics, first a Whig, afterwards a Republican, he stood in the front rank ; considered principles rather than men ; never consented to take a publie office, although often solicited. He was a warm supporter of the constitution and laws of our country, and lived to see the bane of the Republic, slavery, abolished.
He was consistent in his views of religion and education, and always gave liberally for the support of both, having built the first school-house at Oswego Falls, and employed a teacher at his own expense.
He married Miss Polly Barnes, of Johnstown, New York, January, 1815, and of this marriage were born two daugh- ters, Julia A. and Ordelia Phillips, the second one dying in the year 1842. After a life of active toil and an almost un- paralleled record as a pioneer, he died in the year 1865, aged seventy-two, his wife dying some four weeks before, aged also seventy-two years, leaving his property with his only surviving and eldest daughter, Mrs. Julia A. Broadwell, a lady of good executive ability and high culture.
SETH PAINE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Herkimer county, in the year 1797 ; his father being a native of Connecticut, and of English descent. At the age of twenty-five, in the year 1822, he married Lucy Brewster, whose parentage was also of New England origin, and who was born in 1801 ; she being the daughter of Frederick Brewster, who was a lineal descendant, in the sixth generation, from Rev. Wil- liam Brewster, who came with the Puritan fathers from England in the " Mayflower" December 11, 1620, and settled in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and afterwards remov- ing to the State of Connecticut in the year 1648. Seth Paine, while quite young, came to Onondaga county, New York, with his mother, his father having been killed before they removed, about three years, by the falling of a tree. The mother and son settled in Camillus, the mother having been married again to Mordecai Ellis before they removed. He lived at home with his step-father for a few years, and at the age of twenty started for himself; took charge of Judge Geddes' farm while he was surveying for the Erie canal; engaged in boating when the canal was finished, 1833-34. He, at the age of thirty-four, and in the year 1831, came to Oswego County and settled on lot No. 24 in the town of Granby, buying some one hundred and
eighty-two acres of timber land, a large part of which he cleared himself.
lIe is justly classified among the pioneers of the county, locating first in a rude cabin, but the next year built the house where he spent the remainder of his days, an engrav- ing of which will be seen between his and his wife's por- traits in another part of this work.
Before removing from Onondaga county with his family he came to what is known as Horse-shoe dam, in the town of Granby, and built a saw-mill, in company with his brother- in-law, William S. Geer. He, in the year 1812, enlisted in the military service, and was engaged in defending the frontier at Oswego and other points against the attacks of the British, receiving afterwards title and land-warrant,-a soldier's claim ; was promoted to the office of captain of the State militia. In politics he was originally a Whig, and upon the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks, remaining firm to its principles through his life, and voting for every president of the United States from the time of casting his first vote, regarding the right of suffrage & boon conferred upon every American citizen ; was school-super- intendent, and held town offices, never soliciting an office ; held in high estimation by his fellow-men.
At an early period in his married life he and his wife con- nected themselves with the Baptist church of Jacksonville, Onondaga county, taking a very active part in the interests of that body, having held the office of deacon in the church for many years before his death. He was a warm sup- porter of the common schools of his town, and ready to contribute liberally to advance education about him, not having enjoyed the highest privileges himself while young. He was especially interested in Bible history and chro- nology, and to those subjects he addressed all the energies of his determined mind more like a student than like a laboring farmer. His researches were well repaid by the amount and kind of knowledge which he secured. He wrote an article on the subject of Northern-lights, which was generally received as giving a very correct theory and the result of much study and thought.
To him and his wife were born three children, viz., Lucy G., Clarissa S., and Oliver Paine. Of these, Clarissa S. married Marshall Hale, of Phoenix, Oswego County, and had one child, named Oliver A. Hale, who resides with his father in San Jose, California. The mother died June 3, 1852, at his father's house, at the age of twenty-four years.
Lucy G. married Charles S. Fuller July 8, 1845. To them was born one daughter, Clarissa P'. Fuller, who married Mr. Wm. G. Betts in 1875, and resides with her parents.
Oliver Paine married Miss Sarah E. Works, daughter of Andrew Works, of Oswego County, in 1864. Of this marriage were born two children, viz., Fred. Brewster and Clara E. Paine.
At the death of Seth Paine, October 30, 1860, his son Oliver came into possession of his father's estate, and now has erected one of the finest residences in the town of Granby, an engraving of which, showing the result of his ambition and energy, may be seen under his father's and mother's portraits, contrasting as the picture does the rude structure of a half-century ago with the enterprise and thrift of the present generation.
402
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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AARON STRANAHAN.
MRS. AARON STRANAIIAN.
AARON STRANAHAN
was born in Columbia county, New York, in the town of Chatham, October 18, 1807, being a son of Aaron Stran- ahan, grandson of John Stranahan, and great-grandson of James Stranahan, who emigrated from Ireland in the year 1725, and settled in Rhode Island.
Aaron Stranahan, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer by occupation, and had a family of seven children, of which Aaron, Jr., was the third son.
Means for obtaining a good education from books being very limited, he only received instruction sufficient to be able to read and write very poorly, but his success in after- life shows clearly that one's education does not all come from books.
Brought up to the occupation of a farmer, he has mainly followed it through life. At the age of nineteen years he removed to Onondaga county from Herkimer (his father having previously removed to that county), and engaged in farming and teaming. In the year 1830 he came to Oswego County, and settled in the town of Granby, in which town he has since resided, buying various pieces of timber-lots, clearing off the timber and making the land tillable, and in all has cleared and caused to be cleared several hundred acres, engaging very largely in the lumber trade and wood business, delivering to Salt Point.
In the year 1829 he married Miss Mercia Eggleston, daughter of Paul W. Eggleston, who was of English de- scent, and of New England parentage. Of this marriage were born eleven children, six of whom died in infancy. The second daughter, Elsey, died at the age of twenty- three years, in the year 1864, having married Mr. Isaac Dann; they lived in California at the time of her de- cease, she, with her two children, having been burned to death in their own house at the time of its destruction by fire.
The names of the surviving children are Adeline J., Smith N., Gipson, and Luvilla. The eldest is in Cali- fornia; Smith N. resides in the town of Granby, near his father; Gipson lives near his father, and carries on his father's farm, looking after his every want in his de- clining years, and as his sun sets in the horizon of life.
The daughter, Luvilla, now Mrs. Cooper, resides in the town of Hannibal, in this county.
Learning early in life from the father the secret of suc- cess as business men, the sons stand among the first farmers of the town and county in which they reside.
The mother, now in her seventy-second year, has lived to see her children grow up and ripen into manhood and womanhood; a woman of high moral culture, and always caring for the needy and helpless.
Aaron Stranahan was first identified with the Whig party, casting his first vote for Henry Clay, for president of the United States. At the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and has never swerved from its principles, at all times asking of his party to put forward its best men, looking to the representative principles held by the man as sufficient guarantee to command his vote.
He now resides on the homestead (an engraving of which will be seen on the opposite page) where he has lived for some twenty-five years, having accumulated sufficient. of this world's goods to place his children in comfortable cir- cuinstances, and have enough left to supply the comforts of life during the balance of his days here.
He has willingly supported the cause of education in the vicinity, and only asks that inasmuch as means are pro- vided for the education of all, let all be educated.
Very few men have spent so long a life of activity and usefulness as has the subject of this sketch, and he now lives to see the results and fruits of some of his labor.
RESIDENCE OF AARON STRANAHAN, GRANBY, OSWEGO CO, N.Y.
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WM. H. TOMPKINS
MRS. WM. H. TOMPKINS.
الضاد
RESIDENCE of WM. H. TOMPKINS, GRANBY, OSWEGO CO., NEW YORK.
403
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
WILLIAM H. TOMPKINS
was born in Saratoga county, New York, January 23, 1823. He was the son of Benjamin Tompkins, of Greene county, New York, of New England parentage and of English descent. His father, in the year 1827, moved from Sara- toga county, and settled in Jacksonville, Onondaga county, having at that time two children, of whom William H. Tompkins was the eldest. In the year 1835 the father, with his family, which at that time consisted of himself, wife, and four children, viz., William H., Israel, Phebe, and Charles, all of whom are now living, removed from Onon- daga county, and settled in the town of Granby, on lot No. 17, on Oswego river. His father followed the occupation of a farmer, and was among the pioneers of this State, but not so early in this county as many. He gave his children only a limited opportunity for obtaining an education, but all that his means would afford at that time.
William H. was reared upon a farmi, and accustomed to the hardships coincident with clearing off the forest and making the land tillable. At the age of twenty-five years, and in the year 1848, he married Miss Harriet Emeny, daughter of James Emeny, who emigrated from England in the year 1831, and settled in Herkimer county, and after ten years came to Oswego County with a family of two children, of whom Harriet was the eldest, and was born January 28, 1823. To Mr. and Mrs. William H. Tomp- kins were born two children, Daniel James and Hattie E. The father, by a life of great industry and activity, has accumulated a fine property, making a specialty of fine stock-raising, and as an example of his ambition will be seen an engraving of his intended new residence on another page of this work. He is classed among the most enter- prising farmers of the town of Granby.
His son, Daniel James, after receiving the advantages of a common school, first graduated at the Falley seminary, at Fulton, and in the class of 1875 graduated at Cornell uni- versity, Ithaca, New York, and has now connected himself with the law firm of Pratt, Garfield & Brown, in the city of Syracuse. As a mark of his ability and standing, he represented the university of which he is a graduate, in New York, at the inter-collegiate oratorical contest, and stood second.
In politics William H. Tompkins is a Democrat, but with such standing as a man in the town in which he lives as to command the support of both parties. He and his wife both united with the Methodist Episcopal church of West Granby in the year 1865, and still retain their mem- bership with that body. His father died in the year 1858, but his mother still lives, being in her seventy-seventh year.
He has held the office of postmaster for three years, and was also poor-master of his town.
JASPER H. WHITCOMB.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rutland county, Vermont, March 7, 1822. He was the son of Ephraim Whitcomb, of New England parentage, and grandson of Colonel Elisha Whitcomb, of the war of 1812, and of English descent.
His father, when Jasper only fourteen years of age, was
killed while engaged in raising a barn. Of his father's family there were ten children, six by the first wife and four by the second, he having been married twice.
His father married Miss Olive Harris, daughter of Deacon David Harris, of New England origin, for his first wife.
Jasper H. was the fifth child of the first family. His father came to Oswego County in the year 1827, and set- tled on lot 22, buying one hundred and seventy acres, in company with his brother-in-law. He put up a log cabin, and began clearing off his land, making quite large improve- ments before he was killed.
Jasper H., in after-years, bought the other shares of the children of his father's estate, and has since resided on the same farm ; and a reference to the engraving on another page of this work will show not only the improvement in agriculture by fields of wheat and tobacco in place of the original forest, but the rude cabin supplanted by the finest brick farm residence in the town of Granby, as the result of his ambition and toil.
Since he came in possession of the estate he has from time to time added some one hundred and forty acres, which now commands one of the finest locations in this part of the county.
In the year 1852, January 8, he married Miss Louise A. Harris, daughter of David and Polly Harris, of New Hampshire, and of English origin.
Of this marriage were born seven children, viz., George H., Herbert E., Mary L., Frank I., Emma F., James D., Charles E., and Fred. E. Whitcomb, all of whom are now living. The eldest son is a graduate of Union college, New York, and a practicing physician in Phoenix, Oswego County, and ranks high not only as a medical man but as a member of society.
The rest of the children still remain at home. He re- ceived a very limited education from books while young, but his success as a business man gives a record showing that one's education does not all come from booka.
Willing to assist others in what he was denied of, he has contributed liberally for the support of schools and church, and taken all pains to give his children an opportunity to receive more than a common-school education.
Although his father was a Democrat of the old school, he cast his first vote for the president of the United Statea for James K. Polk ; but, at the next election, being opposed to the extension of slavery, joined the Free-Soil party, and latterly merged into the Republican party, where he has since remained firm to its principles.
He was drafted into the home guards during the late Rebellion, but never served.
He is now in his fifty-fifth year, and, although in middle life, ranks as a farmer among the first of Oswego County.
He was the main man in establishing a shipping-post for produce at South Granby, and as in that, so in all public enterprises in his vicinity, stands in the front rank.
Jasper II. Whitcomb is very favorably known among hia fellow-men as a man of high morals and integrity ; never was a seeker of public patronage, but has held some town offices, and his residence has been the central location for the polling-place of district No. 2 in his town for the last twenty years.
404
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
DAVID WILLCOX.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ashford, Wind- ham county, Connecticut, October 20, 1797. His father, Stephen Willcox, was also of New England parentage, and descended from an English family who early came from England and settled in the New England States.
There were six children in his father's family, of whom David was the eldest, and when he was only six months old his father removed to Marcellus, Onondaga county, New York, with his wife and son, traveling the entire dis- tance with an ox-team, being some twenty-one days on the" road.
Coming into a new country he at first rented a piece of land, but in the course of two years bought seventy-five acres of timber-land, and in the course of time cleared most of it of its original forest. Brought up to endure the hardships of real pioneer life, and subject to its privations, David Willcox received only a very limited education from books, but the hardy lessons of economy and labor being early put into practice, he became successful in business as life progressed. At the age of thirty-seven, and in the year 1834, he removed to the town of Granby, Oswego County, and settled on the farm where he now resides, buying then four hundred acres, and since adding to it some five hundred acres more,-all of which, except one hundred and forty acres, he has now divided among his children.
At the age of twenty-five he was married to Miss Sally Starr, daughter of Ephraim Starr, of New England parent- age. Of this marriage were born ten children, viz., Milo,
George, William, Emmet, Stephen, James, Cyrus C., and David. There were two daughters, but both died in in- fancy. Six of these sons are now living, and located near their father.
Among the old men of this county few, if any, can look back upon a life of so much hard labor as David Willcox, --- having cleared of the original forest, and caused to be cleared, some five hundred acres of land.
The mother of these children was an example of high moral worth and true womanlood to all who knew her, although obliged to leave her children while some were quite young. She died about the year 1857.
Originally a Federal, afterwards a Whig, and latterly a Republican, and at times casting his vote for men in the opposite party, when their principles advocated coincided with his views of right, but never took a very active part in politics.
In his carlier days David Willcox did much to support educational interests in his vicinity, often paying the taxes of the poor from his own funds.
Like many other men who were and are now the bone and frame-work of the country, he now lives, in his eightieth year, one of the few old living landmarks of our country's pioneers, surrounded with kind children to smooth his pathway as his time of release from earth draws near, --- having led a life of integrity and uprightness of character, honored by all who knew him, -- and at the writing of this brief sketch bids fair for more years of usefulness to his friends.
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MRS.MILO WILCOX
MILO WILCOX.
RESIDENCE & CHEESE FACTORY OF MILO WILCOX , GRANBY, OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
DAN. S. SHATTUCK
MRS. DAN. S. SHATTUCK.
405
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
DAN S. SHATTUCK.
The subject of this sketch was born in Washington county, New York, May 13, 1839. He was the son of Smith and Sarah Shattuck, now residing in the town of Hannibal, Oswego County, but natives of the State of Con- nectieut. His father and mother came to Onondaga county in 1840, and settled in the town of Lysander, having five children, viz., Lurett, Juliett, William, Sarah, and Dan S. Shattuck. After removing to New York State they had three more children, viz., Caroline, Nat, and Desire. All of the children are now living.
The parents remained in Lysander only one year, and removed to the town of Ira, Cayuga county, and engaged in the occupation of farming, and in the year 1863 removed to the town of Hannibal, Oswego County, where they now reside.
Dan S. Shattuck, fifth child, remained at home until of age, engaged with his father as a farmer. At the age of twenty-two years he married Miss Amanda Osborn, daugh- ter of Leonard Osborn, of Cayuga county, and formerly of Connecticut, whose forefathers were among the early set- tlers of that State, and of English descent. She was born December 21, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck have one child, viz., Verner W. Shattuck.
Dan S. Shattuck commeneed farming in Cayuga county, in the town of Ira, but remained there only four years, and removed to Bowen's Corners, in the town of Granby, Os- wego County, 1864, and settled on lot No. 11, remaining only six years ; removed to the place where he now resides, consisting of two hundred and nine aeres, on lot No. 5. An engraving of his farm and residence, showing his pros- perity in business as the result of a life of industry, will be seen on another page of this work.
Although only in middle life, he ranks among the repre- sentative farmers of his town. While at his father's home he enjoyed liberal means for obtaining an education from books, and spent some time in teaching.
Like his forefathers, who were among the standard- bearers of the old Whig party, he accepts the Republican platform of to-day.
He and his wife, before they were married, and in early life, united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and re- main members of that body, contributing liberally for the support of both church and school, and taking an active part in the work of Sabbath-school instruction in the vicinity in which they live.
CALVIN FRENCH.
The subject of this sketeh was born in Norwich, Che- nango county, New York, June 22, 1800. He was the son of Asher French, who was a native of Connecticut, and whose parentage was of English origin. Asher and Joanna French had a family of eight children, of whom Calvin was the second son. His father died before he was thirteen years of age, and in the year 1812; and, as in the early times of our country's history means for securing property or getting an education were very limited, it was so with
this family. During the time after his father died and before becoming of age, he worked out and earned money to enable him to support his mother, whom he continued to care for up to the timo of her death, which took place about 1850.
At the age of twenty he married Miss Eunice Stanton, daughter of Daniel Stanton, a native of Massachusetts, and of English descent. This was in the year 1820. Of this marriage were born Eliza M., Erastus D., Asher D., Martha E., and Calvin W. French.
All of these children are living except Erastus D., who died in 1853, and Martha A., who died in 1856.
Eliza married Cyrus S. Hall, lives at Granby Centre, and has three children.
Asher D. resides at home with his father, and is an invalid.
Calvin W. French carries on his father's farm, and cares for him in his deelining years. He married Miss Cynthia Cary, daughter of William Cary, of Albany, New York, whose ancestors were of Irish birth. He has one daughter living, named Cora E. In the year 1821 Calvin French, his wife, and mother, came and settled on lot No. 73, in the town of Granby, Oswego County, buying twenty-five aeres of timber-land at first, but had not one dollar to pay for it with. For the first five years he lived in a log house, previously erected on the lot, and at the end of that time he built a frame house on the spot where he now resides, which has since been supplanted by another and more com- modious one, an engraving of which will be seen in another part of this work.
He and his wife encountered all the hardships of pioneer life, added to their first purchase from time to time, and cleared off its original forest until they had one hundred and twenty-five acres, which may now be seen with fruit- bearing trees of over half a century old, and the results of a life of hard labor.
Only receiving a limited education himself, he has given his children the advantages of competent teachers in the common school and iu the seminary at Fulton.
At the age of thirty-one he united with the Methodist church, his wife connecting herself with that body about two years after; since which time he has remained stead- fast to its principles, consistent in his views of religion, giving as liberally as his means would afford for the support of church and school. The wife and mother, after a life of industry and anxiety for the moral and religious training of her children, died May 2, 1877, at the age of seventy-three, respected and honored by all who knew her; hospitable and generous.
In politics Calvin French is a Republican, originally a Democrat ; but at the breaking out of the Rebellion of 1861 stood firm for the union of the States and the eman- cipation of the slave, looking upon the rights of men as equal in nature, but unequal by the acts of men.
Ile is now in his seventy-eighth year, having been born with the eighteenth century; and as his sun sets in the horizon of life, although active and with a prospect of many years to come, still looks to the end of life's journey as only a little way, being surrounded with the results of a life of labor, and cared for by a kind son and daughter.
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