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 64
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Before leaving Madison county, at the age of twenty-nine and in the year 1843, he married Miss Harriet Risley, daughter of Eleazer Risley, of Ohio, whose forefathers were of English birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Markham were born five children : Emma, Charles S., Helen E., Estella, and Isabella Markham. All are alive except Emma, who died at the age of eighteen, September 10, 1861.
Charles S. married Miss Almary Waugh; have three children, and live near his father.
Helen E. married Mr. Monroe Skeels ; have one daughter, and reside in the town of Volney. Estella married Mr. James Jones, and resides in the town of Scriba. Isabella, youngest daughter, resides at home and is unmarried.
Jason S. Markham united with the Methodist Episcopal church when twenty-one years old, and remained a member of that body until the present time. He has taken the lead in his vicinity in the building of churches and schools, and supported liberally all interests looking to the advancement of education and the establishment of good society.
In politics, he is a Republican, having formerly be- longed to the Barn-burner party. Never takes a very active part in political matters, but uses his vote with consideration.
He is now in his sixty-fourth year, having spent a life of activity and usefulness, honored and respected by all who know him.
JASON S. MARKHAM.
MRS. JASON S. MARKHAM.
RESIDENCE of JASON S.MARKHAM, TOWN of VOLNEY, OSWEGO CO.,N. Y.
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
253
RER
FREEMAN GASPER.
MRS. FREEMAN GASPER.
FREEMAN GASPER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ashford, Wind- ham county, Connecticut, November 10, 1794. He was the son of Joseph Gasper, of French parentage, who married Miss Eunice Stanley, of English descent, in the year 1789. The father removed to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, when Freeman was only one year old, and in the year 1795, and there remained some seventeen years, when the father died, at the age of fifty, leaving a widow and five children, viz. : Joseph, John, Freeman, Joel, and Mary. About one year after the death of the father the mother and children removed to Oswego County, New York (then called Oneida county ), then an almost trackless wilderness. This was in the year 1813. With his brothers he bought one hundred and ten acres of timber-land, and began clear- ing off the forest and making the land tillable, enduring all the hardships common to pioneer life. By economy and perseverance he, in the course of a few years, became quite forehanded, and began to see the fruits of his toil and endurance.
When twenty-three years of age, and in the year 1817, he married Miss Betsy Tuttle, daughter of Joseph Tuttle, of New England parentage.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gasper were born three children, viz. : Sophia, Freeman Stanley, and Lois Ann.
Of these the eldest, Sophia, died at the age of sixteen.
The son was formerly a farmer, but now resides in the village of Fulton. He married Miss Sarah Beardsley, daughter of Ephraim Beardsley, of the town of Volney, in the year 1841. They have two children, Joseph and Flor- ence. Both children are living.
Lois Ann married John Van Buren, a shipper of Oswego city, in the year 1843. He died November 17, 1870.
They had six children, viz. : Lois Aun, Freeman L., Anna S., John H., Irwin, and Frank I. All of these chil- dren are dead except Frank I. John H. was drowned in
the canal at Fulton, July 27, 1876. He was a promising young man of culture and refinement, and was thirty-two years old.
At quite an carly day, some fifty-eight years ago, Free- man Gasper and his wife united with the Methodist Epis- copal church at Hubbard's Corners (now Mount Pleasant), a small band of Christians of only sixteen members.
With true Puritan courage they often went twenty miles to attend meeting, were active members of the church, and at a very early day started a union Sunday-school in that vicinity. He officiated as Sunday-school superintendent, steward, and class-leader during the same day and for the same church, never tiring in the toil of his Master from that time until the date of this brief sketch of his life, 1877. He has always thrown his doors open to the wander- ing, looked after the needy, and labored earnestly for the good of his fellow-men.
His wife, after a life of care and anxiety looking after the moral and religious instruction of her children, lived to see them become respectable members of society, and died August 24, 1870, honored by all who knew her.
Freeman Gasper has been a farmer by occupation during his active days of life, and now, in his eighty-third year, lives retired in the village of Fulton with his daughter, Mrs. L. A. Van Buren, who cares for him in his old age, and as the sun of life hides itself in the horizon of life's journey.
In politics he is a Democrat. In middle life took an active part in political matters. He was always opposed to human bondage, and stood firm to support the govern- ment in her years of peril. Being too old to encounter the duties of military life, he encouraged a grandson to fight for his country's cause.
Freeman Gasper is numbered among the representative pioneer men of Oswego County, and now enjoys an honor- able and righteous old age.
254
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
SAMUEL HART.
The subject of this sketch was born in the village of Highhalden, county of Kent, England, October 30, 1806. He is the youngest son of Thomas and Lætitia Hart, who had four children, viz. : Mary, James, Elizabeth C., and Samuel.
His father was a potter by trade, and not in circumstances to afford his children the opportunities of a common-school education, and Samuel's education from books has been only what he could gain in connection with his daily work. His father died about the year 1838, his mother dying about five years before. He lived at home until he was eighteen years of age, learning with his father the pottery business. He then spent some three years learning the mason trade with his brother-in-law, John Cleaver. In the year 1828 he embarked for America, and landed first at Albany, 28th of June, not being permitted to land at New York on ac- count of a contagious disease among the passengers on ship- board. He soon left Albany and came to Oswego, and re- mained there four years, working at the mason trade. Ile then came to Fulton in the year 1832, and with his brother, who had emigrated two years before, built a pottery, and began the manufacture of stoneware. At the end of eight years he bought his brother's share of the property, and from that time until the present has continned the business on the same site, an engraving of which, with his beautiful residence and surroundings on the right bank of the Oswego river, will be seen on another page of this work under the portraits of himself and wife.
Upon reaching Albany, he found he had only a few dol- lars, but by well-disciplined habits of economy and industry, and natural executive ability, he has accumulated a fine property, and, by increasing prosperity, ranks among the wealthiest of the village of Fulton.
At the age of twenty-eight, and in the year 1834, he married Miss Ann Hill, born in Kent county, England, December 7, 1816. Of this marriage were born two chil- dren, viz. : Lætitia Ann and Samuel George. The first married John A. Scribner, who died. She afterwards mar- ried Richard Rolfe, and now resides in Iowa. Samuel George married Annette Monroe, and resides in the city of Syracuse.
His first wife died 1839, and he married, in 1840, Miss Cornelia Beard, of Volney. Of this marriage one child was born, named Lucelia Maria, who married Ira R. Car- rier, and lives in the town of Volney.
He lost his second wife in 1842, and married for his third wife, 1843, Miss Miranda Taft, of New England birth and of English descent, and whose forefathers came from Eng- land and settled first in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, about two hundred years ago. She was born 29th of February, 1816. Of this marriage were born seven children, viz. : Angelina Vienna, Alcena Miranda, Thomas Stephen, Mary Susan, a twin sister, the boy dying in infancy, Charles Addison, and Elwin Erskine. The eldest son died in infancy.
The eldest daughter married Joseph W. Foster, and re- sides in Humboldt, Iowa.
Alcena Miranda married George I. Lazier, and resides in Pictou, Providence of Ontario. Mary Susan married James E. Barker, and resides in Humboldt, Iowa.
The last two sons are carrying on business with their father in Fulton, New York, and reside at home.
In the year 1852 he united with the Baptist church at Fulton, New York, but in a year severed his connection with that church and united with the old-school Baptist church at Palermo, and has since remained a member of the same. His wife is a member of the same church, hav- ing been connected with religious interests since she was twenty-four years of age.
In politics, Samuel Hart is a Republican, never neglecting business to gain prominence in political matters.
Samuel Hart is classed among the self-made representa- tive men of his village, is honored and respected by all who are connected with him in any business transactions, and ready to encourage all enterprises looking to the advance- ment of good society around him.
He has lived to see four generations in his own family,. and is now in his seventy-first year.
F. W. SQUIRES.
Francis W. Squires was born in Lebanon, Madison county, New York, October 22, 1820.
In the spring of 1838, he moved, with his father, Pierce Squires, to Martinsburgh, Lewis county, where he worked on a dairy-farm in summer, and attended school in winter, until his majority.
LITTLF
F. W. SQUIRES.
In the winter of 1840-41, he went to the academy at Martinsburgh village; walking two and a half miles every night and morning, in his zeal to acquire an education.
In the spring of 1846, Mr. Squires changed his residence to New Haven, Oswego County, and, in the winter of 1848-49, taught school in the district in which he lived. On the 9th of October, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah R. Rice, of New Haven, and, in the spring of
HON. RANSOM H. TYLER.
NOT only prominently identified with the bar of Oswego County, but also with the legal history of the Empire State, is the subject of this sketch. A brief outline of his life, so long connected with the interests of society, demands a place in this history.
He was the son of Peter and Eunice Tyler, who were both of New England birth,-the former born in Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, and the latter a native of Alstead, New Hampshire,-and whose ancestors emigrated from England in the early part of the seventeenth century. He was born in Leyden, Franklin county, Mas- sachusetts, November 18, 1815. When only three years of age his father removed from Massachu- setts, and came to the town of New Haven, Oswego County, New York, and settled as a farmer with his family.
From this time until Ransom was sixteen years of age he worked on the farm with his father, but enjoyed the advantages of a good district school during the winter months. So eager did his desire for an education become that his parents, perceiving this, gave him the full advantages of the academy at Mexico, in obtaining not only an English but a classical education; and in 1853 Hamilton college conferred upon him the degree of " master of arts."
In the winter of 1836 he came to Fulton Village and took charge of the principal public school, and the same year began the study of the law ; since which time he has made Fulton his home, and has devoted a large part of his time to his pro- fession as a lawyer. He early became notably prominent as an attorney, and, having been admitted to practice in all of the courts of the State in 1840, he, in the year 1844, was ap- pointed master in chancery, and continued in that office until it was superseded by the constitution of the State. He was first appointed district attorney of Oswego County in 1846, and the next year elected to the office, and held it until 1851.
In the year 1851 he was elected county judge, and at the end of the first term re-elected to the same office, which closed in the year 1858.
For one year, including the presidential campaign of 1856, he rendered gratuitous service as editor of the Oswego County Gazette, sustaining the election and subsequent administration of President Buchanan. He became the Democratie candi- date for representative in Congress in 1858, but, his party being largely in the minority in the district, he was defeated.
Firmly attached to the Democratic party and its principles until 1861, he at that time strongly supported the administra- tion of President Lincoln to put down the Rebellion, and has since acted in the main with the Republican party.
R.A. F.e.
While young he had a desire for military renown, and early ac- cepted an inferior office, but was regularly promoted until he was appointed brigadier-general, which latter office he held for four years, resigning in 1858.
Judge Tyler has been largely identified with the newspaper and periodical press as a writer. He in 1860 completed the writing of a book entitled "The Bible and Social Reform," which had an ex- tensive sale, and was very favora- bly noticed by the press of the United States.
He is also the author of six law books published by William Gould & Son, of Albany, viz., " A Trea- tise on American Ecclesiastical Law," published in 1866; "Com- mentaries on the Laws of Infancy and Coverture," published in 1868; " A Treatise on the Remedy of Ejectment and the Law of Adverse Enjoyment," published in 1870; " A Treatise on the Law of Usury, Pawns or Pledges, and Maritime Loans," published in 1872; "A Treatise on the Law of Boundaries and Fences and Window-Lights," published in 1874; and lastly, " A Treatise on the Law of Fixtures," published in 1877. These books have all had a large sale, both in this country and in England, and are regarded as standard works.
His first marriage was to Miss Nancy D. Cadwell, of Car- thage, Jefferson county, with whom he lived only four years, she dying at the age of twenty-six. Two years after he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Douglas, of Westfield, Massachusetts, daughter of the late Captain Charles Douglas, and grand- daughter of the late Major Thomas Douglas, who was a pay- master in the Revolutionary war, and a lineal descendant of the celebrated clan of that name in the Highlands of Scotland.
Many years ago Judge Tyler had by economy and prudence accumulated, mostly by the practice of his profession, a fine property, and in the later years of his life has spent much time and money in visiting not only nearly all the States of his own country but the countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Some twenty years ago he united with the Presbyterian church at Fulton, and has since been a member of that body, and taken a part in its councils at home, and represented his presbytery in the general assembly of the churches. Always taking a deep interest in the building up of good society, he has been a constant supporter of the spread of the Bible at home and in foreign countries, has acted as president of the Oswego County Bible society for seven different years, and as trustee of Falley seminary for a long period.
Such are a few of the incidents in the life of one of Oswego County's prominent men, connected as he has been for a period of over forty years with the best interests of society in that county.
DR. RANSOM HOWARD.
MRS. RANSOM HOWARD.
RANSOM HOWARD, M.D., the subject of this sketch, was born in Windsor, Massachusetts, March 7, 1793. He was the son of John Howard, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of the New England States, and embarked on the " Mayflower" for America, in the year 1620.
His father was a farmer, and unable to give his chil- dren any advantages above the common school. It was so with Ransom, who, self-reliant, paved his way to promi- Dence as a medical man by his own exertions, and also became a master of the French, Latin, and Greek lan- guages, in the study of which he spent very much of his time.
At an early age he came with his father to Sangerfield, Oneida county, and remained there until he was about twenty-seven years of age, when he came to Oswego County and commenced the practice of medicine, first at Volney Centre, where he continued, with the exception of six years spent at Gilbertville, during his professional career.
He received his medical instruction from Dr. White, a man of high reputation, with whom he studied. At the age of thirty he married Miss Eliza Johnson, daughter of James Johnson, of Massachusetts, whose forefathers were of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Howard were born four children, viz. : Silence, Elizabeth, William Burr, and Ran- som. Of these, Ransom was drowned, at the age of five years, at Gilbertville. Silence married Professor A. R. Benton, a man of high reputation as a scholar, ex-chancellor of Lincoln university, Nebraska, and at present professor in the Northwestern Christian university, at Indianapolis. They have three children, Grace Eliza, Mattic, and Howard. Elizabeth married Albert A. Durfey, of this county, a farmer, and now looks after and cares for her mother in her declining years,-she being in her seventy-sixth year. William Burr married Miss Lucy Mary Hinman, of this town, whose father was one of the first settlers in the town of Volney. They have five children, viz. : Libbic May, Ozander, Benton, Burr, and Mira.
At the age of thirty Mrs. Dr. Howard united with the Presbyterian church at Bristol Hill, and has since remained
a member of that body. Her example before her children has been such as to leave an impress of the value of morality and virtue upon their minds, which has resulted in their becoming respectable members of society and connected with church interests. Dr. Howard was indefatigable as a medical man, was among the pioneers of his profession in the town, and ranked among the first. His ambition was so great, and the hardships he was called upon to endure as an early practitioner so severe, that his health gave way and his constitution became undermined while only fifty years of age, and for the next twenty years he was obliged to leave his large practice for others. He gave much attention to the education of his children, and placed in their possession the boon of priceless value, by the best opportunities that the schools of this vicinity could afford. His son William Burr is held in high estimation by his fellow-men, having held the office of school commissioner one term, and re- ceived the nomination from the Democratic party of the assembly district, on two different occasions, to represent it in the State legislature.
Dr. Howard lived to the age of seventy-one years, and died in the year 1864. Possessed of an excellent physique, he not only gained eminence as a medical practitioner in Oswego and other counties, but, what is less notorious, yet generally truc, he was a man of fine intellectual taste, and possessed of an unquenchable thirst after knowledge. Apart from his professional study, he was a great student of lan- guages and general literature, and even in his advanced life was eager to master the German language as he had the French. Such intellectual tastes at an advanced age are rare, and remind one of the elder Cato, who began the study of Greek in his old age ; and he, like the old Roman, was remarkable for the simplicity of his life and the fewness of his wants. Though living without ostentation or self-asser- tion, his influence was great in his region. This was gained without the arts men usually employ, but by the simple power of a pure life and grand personality. He was an illustrious example of that native force and character found in the struggle of fortune, life, and effect.
255
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1853, again changed his place of abode; going to North Volney, where he has since resided.
In the spring of 1859, he was elected a justice of the peace, and was re-elected in 1867, and again in 1871; serving in all twelve years. He was elected a justice of sessions of Oswego County in the fall of 1874, and served one year. He was commissioned postmaster at North Volney in October, 1861, and still holds that position.
Mr. Squires' first wife died March 8, 1860, leaving three children ; another, the eldest, having died the fall before. On the 29th of August, 1875, he married his present wife, previously Mrs. Maria L. Coe.
During the war for the Union he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth New York Infantry, and served as clerk of the company.
For the last three years he has devoted much time to the subject of local history, having visited every town in the county to search the records, collect data, etc. His diligence and accuracy are well known. The sketches of Volney and New Haven in this work are from his pen, besides which he has furnished us with much other valuable information.
MILITARY RECORD OF VOLNEY.
Twenty-Fourth Regiment, Infantry .- Orville J. Jennings, captain, Co. E. Enlisted Apr. 18, 1861; promoted on organization of co .; was in battles of 2d Bull Run, Falmouth, Rappahannock Station, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville; discharged at end of term of two years.
Albert Taylor, capt., Co. H. Enlisted May 17, 1861 ; was in battles of Falmouth, Rappahannock Station, Cedar Mountain, nnd 2d Bull Run ; re-enlisted in Co. A, 24th Cav., Dec. 28, 1863 ; pro. to major Dec., 1864 ; in battles of Cold Harbor, before Petersburg, and under Sheridan at Lee's surrender ; dis. June 26, 1865.
Wilbur F. Taylor, sergt., Co. H. Enlisted May 17, 1861 ; in battles of Falmouth, Cedar Mountain, and 2d Bull Run ; killed Aug. 30, 1862.
Charles A. Taylor, sergt., Co. H. Enlisted May 17, 1861 ; in battles of Falmouth, Rappahannock Station, Cedar Mountain, and 2d Bull Run; dis. at end of term; re-enlisted in the 24th Cav., Dec. 28, 1863; pro. to Ist lieut. on organization of regt .; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, before Petersburg, and at Lee's surrender ; dis. June 26, 1865.
Norman G. Cooper, 2d lieut., Co. E. Enlisted May 4, 1861 ; was in battles of Rappabannock Station, Gainesville, 2d Bull Run, and Chancellorsville; dis. in 1863.
Charles N. Tiffany, private, Co. F. Enliated May 2, 1861; was in battle of Catlett Station ; dis. Dec. 20, 1862, for injuries received in service; re-enlisted, private, in Co. D, 193d ; dis. June 16, 1865. Lewis Sberman, Co. H. Enlisted May 10, 1861 ; in battles of 2d Bull Run and Chancellorsville; dia. May 29, 1863.
Lorenzo D. Cooper, Co. E. Enlisted Muy 12, 1861; dia. for dianb'y, Ang. 27, 1861; re-enlisted in 1862; dis. Feb. 3, 1864.
Truman Snow, Co. A. Enliated April 19, 1861 ; in battles of Fred- erickaburg, Chancellorsville, and 2d Bull Run; dia. Jan. 2, 1863; re-enlisted, corp., Veteran Reserve Corps, Feb. 14, 186 5.
Thomas Gofield, Co. E. Enlisted May 6, 1861 ; discharged for disa- bility May, 1862; re-enlisted in Co. A, 12th Cav .; discharged March 8, 1864.
Francis Seymour, Co. E. Enlisted May 1, 1861; dis. for disability Sept. 1, 1861.
Michael Keefe, Co. F. Enlisted April 27, 1861; in battles of 2d Bull Run, Fredericksburg, South Mountnin ; wounded, and dis- charged June 1, 1863 ; re-enlisted, corp., Co. F, 15th Cav., June, 1864; in battles of Lynchburg und Winchester, and at Lee's surrender; discharged June 27, 1865.
Ilenry Knapp, Co. E. Enlisted May 6, 1861; dis. for disability Aug., 1861 ; re-enlisted as corp., Co. A, 24th Cav., Dee. 4, 1863 ; in battles of Wilderness and Cold Harbor ; taken prisoner, ond died at Andersonville, July 31, 1864.
James McDonald, Co. I. Enlisted May 5, 1861 ; in battle of 2d Bull Run ; dis. June 1, 1863; re-enlisted in Co. I, 15th Cav., Jan. 2, 1864; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and before Petera- burg, where ho was wounded ; dis. Aug. 9, 1865, with regt.
Alfred La Port, Co. E. Enlisted April 21, 1861 ; in battles of Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville, 2d Bull Run; wounded ; discharged May 29, 1863.
William Sherman, Co. H. Enl'd May 9, '61 ; killed at 2d Bull Run. Abram C. Seriver, sergt .- muj. Enlisted May 9, 1861; in buttles uf Fredericksburg, 2d Bull Run, and Antietam.
William Platt, Co. G. Enlisted April 29, 1861 ; in battles of Fal- month, 2d Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancelloraville; dia. July 1, 1863 ; re-enlisted Co. G, 24th Cav., June 4, 1864; in but- tles before Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Five Forks; dis- charged Aug. 4, 1865.
Patrick Fleming, sergt., Co. F. Eulisted Muy 6, 1861 ; was in battles of 2d Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville; dia. May 13, 1863; re-enlisted, 2d lieut., Co. A, 24th Cav., Dec. 15, 1863; in battles of Wilderness, Spottsylvanin, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg; killed nt Weldon Railrond, in January, 1865.
James Fleming, Co. F. Enlisted Sept. 5, 1861 ; in battles of 2d Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville; dis. Muy 13, 1863; re-enlisted, private, Co. A, Ifancock's 5th Inf. Corps, Jan., 1865.
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