USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 56
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Shah Thurston, enl in Co. C, 152d Rogt., in Sept. 1862 ; d.s. in 1865.
Zu vanY W. Pearsall, enl. in Co. E, Ed Art., Jun. 14, 1864; in battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor; wounded at Cold Harbor, and iled.
Muchall Sergeant, enl. In Co. L, 22d Cav., Jan, 25, 1864; in battles of the Wil- 1-muess, Sunthefield, Winchester, Front Royal, Milford, Way nesbing, Fisher's Lill, and Cedar Creek.
2. 3. Hammond, eul. in Co. C, 152d Regt., in Aug. 1862.
7. 3. Goodrich, enl. in Co. (, 132d Regt., in Sept. 1962 ; dis, in 18c1.
.a. P. kinney, enl. in Co. C, 152d Regt., m Oct. 1562.
4. in K nnoy, enl. iu Co. C, 152d Regt., Jan. 19, 1864; mortally wounded at . . 14 Hartor.
"A. s . Farbush, enl. in Co. C, 147th Regt., In July, 18633; in battles of Cramp-
um's Pass, Mine Run, Weldon Radroad, Poplar Church, etc. ; wounded nt HAtcher's Ran, and discharged.
7 -terak Phillips, ent. in Co. 0, 26th C. I., in Jan. 1864; in battles of Blair's Landing and John's Island; dis. in Isis.
William Titus, enl. In Co. C, 26th C. I., in Jan. 1864; in battles of Blair's Lan1. Ing and John's Island ; dis. in 1945.
Richard Harris, oul. in the 114th Regt.
Christopher Tobey, cul. in Co. C, 152d Regt., in Sept. 1862.
P. W. l'acker, enl. in the art lery in Feb. 1864.
Edward Grafton, enl, in the 1524 Regt. in Sept. 1862.
Frantus Broellle, enl. in the 2d Art. in Dec. 1863.
Caleb llard.
Leonard Place, enl. in Co. C, 152d Regt., In Sept. 1862.
Henry Stock well.
Gev. Davis, enl. in the 1524 Regt.
The two following enlisted in the navy : German Weedan, in Ang. 1861; was in engagements at Fort Fi-her, etc. ; dlis, in 1865.
Chas. S. Kenyon, eul. in 1864; dis., in consequence of sickness, in Jan. 1>65, and died in the following April.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JUDGE PASCAL FRANCHOT
was born March 30, 1774, in the Department de la Hante Marne, Canton de Sainte Dezier, Commune de Chamouilly, and married for his first wife Miss Catherine Hansen, of Greenbush, N. Y., and for his second wife Miss Deborah Hansen, both of whom were daughters of Derrick Hansen. His family consisted of ten children,-three sons and sevou
JUDGE PASCAL FRANCHOT.
daughters, viz. : Miss Julia A. Franchot, resides in the village of Morris. Helen, married Volkert De Peyster Douw, of Albany. Joanna married Heury R. Van Rens- selaer, of Morris. Francis G., married A. C. Powell. of Syracuse. Meta married Robert Wells, of Riverton, N. J. Miss Antoinette and Charles F., reside in Syracuse. Louis Franchot, deceased ; his widow resides in the village of Mur- ris. Marie Augusta, in Canandaigua. Richard Franchot, deceased ; his widow resides in Schenectady, N. Y.
Richard, son of Pascal Franchot, was born in Morris. in 1816; was a leading citizen of the county. He held the office of supervisor of the town, and was for several years president of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad.
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MRS. J. K. LULL.
DEACON JOSEPH LULL.
MRS. MARTHA LULL.
217
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Tu 1860 he was elected to congress, and in 1862 he was tale colonel of the 121st Regiment, N. Y. S. V. He aforwards resigned his commission to Colonel Upton, of the rular army, and, after serving out his term of office, re- moved his residence to Schenectady.
He was chiefly instrumental in establishing the cotton and woolen factories at Morris, and did much to advance the general interests of the town. He died in Schenectady, Nov. 23, 1875.
Further particulars of the life of Judge Franchot will be found in reminiscences written by himself, and published elsewhere in this volume.
EDSON WHEELER.
Edson Wheeler was born in Butternuts,-now Morris,- July 5, 1822. He has always lived on the farin where he was born. July 12, 1849, he was married to Sophrona E. Newton, who was born in Butternuts, Nov. 8, 1827. Her parents were Daniel Newton and Polly Bishop, who were born and always lived in Butternuts.
Nichols II., the father of Edson Wheeler, was born in Connecticut, Sept. 15, 1783, emigrated to this town in 1808, and was married to Martha P. Burns, of Hartwick, on Dee. 30, 1813. The mother of Martha P. was takeu prisoner by the Indians at Cherry Valley. The grand- mother, being unable to travel, was killed before her daugh- ter's eyes.
Nichols H. Wheeler, soon after his marriage, seeing the necessity of defending his country's rights, enlisted as first sergeant in the War of 1812-14, served to its close, and was honorably discharged; after which he lived on the farm now occupied by E. Wheeler until Aug. 16, 1848, when he died, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
Stephen Wheeler, the father of Nichols H., and grand- father of Edson, came, with his family, from Danbury, Conn., to this town about 1808. He served his country all through the Revolutionary war, and in 1815 died, aged fifty-nine. His wife was Jerusha Hawley, daughter of one Captain Hawley, of Connecticut.
Thus, Edson Wheeler, being descended from a line of his country's defenders, feels firm iu the faith that union is strength, and that our rights should be preserved, our union strengthened, our rulers given due reverence, and our laws enforced, education encouraged, and our country's best good looked after in every respect.
In 1862 he became connected with the Baptist churchi in South New Berlin. The church esteeming him worthy, appointed him one of its deacons in 1864, which position he has since held, earnestly desirous of the prosperity of all things pertaining to the interest of the Kingdom of our Lord and his Christ.
In the family of Edson Wheeler there have been four children. The oldest, Nichols H., at the time of this writing, is twenty-eight years of age, is an architect and builder, and settled at Moberly, Mo. He was married, in the fall of 1877, to Miss Leona Ward.
The second, Linn E., is twenty-one years old, and a stu- dent in Madison university, with the ministry in view. The third, an only daughter, was born Jan. 8, 1858. She
was married, Oct. 5, 1876, to Rev. I. J. Bailey, then of Mount Upton, Chenango county, and died Aug. 22, 1877. A rare and noble Christian woman, loved by all who knew her, and adorned with all the radiant virtues of true womanly and Christian character.
The fourth and last child, John F., is ten years of age, and the only one at home.
DEACON JOSEPH LULL
came to the town of Butternuts (now town of Morris), Ot- sego County, with his father and finnily previous to the Revolutionary war, in 1773, at the age of seventeen, when the town embraced but two or three families. Three years after he married Martha, daughter of Ebenezer Knapp. They were the first couple married here, the ceremony being performed by a justice appointed by the few inhabitants to manage their affairs in the little colony. They built the first house to entitle a settler to his land. In 1778 they were obliged, in consequence of the war, to leave their home. Mrs. Lull carried two children in her lap, on horse- baek, to Dutchess county, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles, where they resided five years and a half, during which time Deacon Lull experienced religion. After his return the family maintained the worship of God on the Sabbath, and generally at the house of the deacon, until June 1, 1793, when the few professors met at his house to propose articles to form the (now) first church of Butter- nuts. On the 2Sth of August following, when the church was constituted, he was baptized by Elder Joseph Craw, of Greenfield, Saratoga county. Nov. 12, 1798, he was chosen deacon, which place he honorably and satisfactorily filled forty-two years. During the two last years of his life he was deprived from attending meeting by reason of his in- firmity, but ever exhorted his brethren to persevere, as the reward was sure at the end of the race.
He was the father of sixteen children, fifteen of whoni lived to adult age and married. The oldest was sixty- three the day the father died. Twelve of them, in answer to fervent prayer, and the example of pious parents, have made a professiou of Christian religion ; nine united with the church. It may be truly said of this family, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Four of the children were called home by death previous to their father's deecase.
Deacon Lull left a pious, godly widow, whose society he had enjoyed in the sanctuary and family circle for sixty- four years, and eleven children and ninety-nine grandchil- dren to mourn his loss. In him the church lost one of its most exemplary members, and society one of its most benevo- lent citizens.
MRS. MARTHA LULL,
daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Knapp, was born at Nine Partners in 1762. Her earliest years were passed with few advantages save those afforded under the parental roof. The facilities for education in those days were few ; hence her attention until her cleventh year was chiefly confined to the ways and arts of domestic life, which necessity as well as the customs of the age made of an intricate and arduous nature.
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218
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In 1773, removing with her parents from the place of her birth into a dreary wilderness, uninhabited except by savages and wild beasts, she was not unfrequently called from the performance of household duties to participate in the severe toils of the fields and forest. She on several oe- casions had her nerve tested in an exceedingly trying manner by being attacked by wild beasts and savages, a brief men- tion of which we give. Early in the spring of 1775 she employed herself in the sugar-bush, where on one occasion she was obliged to remain until midnight, and while engaged in keeping up the fire under four kettles she heard a fierce howl, which betokened the near approach of hungry wolves. She immediately returned it, at the same time swinging fire- brands in defiance of their attack. This ingenious device was attended with success.
The following year the first marriage that little settlement had witnessed took place between her and Joseph, son of Benjamin Lull. They soon after settled upon a farm about a mile distant from their father's, to enjoy, however, but a brief repose. The Revolutionary war, which began the year previous at Lexington, had now penetrated the wilderness, and broken in upon the peace and quiet of those valley homes. Her husband, father, and brother were arrested on the charge of being Tories, and conveyed to Albany for trial. Thus left a lonely occupant of her new home, she was in a few days called upon to defend herself and property against the frequent attacks of the enemy. She finally, with her children, set out for her father's house, where they arrived in safety, and found the people there entirely ignorant of what
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. had occurred. Restless aud discontented while separated from her husband, and fearing a repetition of the same alarm- ing scenes through which she had just passed, she desired to go to Cherry Valley, from which place a communication with Albany was more direct, and where friends and a more thickly-settled region offered greater protection to herself and little ones. Resolved to proceed thither, she returned to her own house in search of a horse which she had left pasturing in a field ; but the search was vain. The Indians had been there, killed a hog, and taken the horse to carry off the pork. Almost despairing of being able to accom- plish her object, she was now cheered by the return of her brother from Albany, with three horses, one of which she obtained; and, with her sister, she set out for Cherry Valley, thirty miles distant, the path leading through an unbroken wilderness, marked trees being their ouly guide. They rode alternately, carrying three children. After enduring many hardships, they reached their destination ; but here another difficulty presented itself,-they were without pro- zvisions. On application to the colonel commanding, how- ever, they received an order on the commissary for half- ratious for three weeks, when Joseph, Martha's husband, returned. He had been found innocent of the charge alleged against him and released. Hearing that the Indians designed an attack upon the place, he immediately obtained a horse, and, with his family, started for Dutchess comity. which then seemed to be a place of refuge. They had ad- vanced four miles, when the loud report of fire-arms told that the attack had commenced. Congratulating each other upon their timely escape from this scene of devastation and bloodshed, they hastened onward, and reached in safety the
place of destination,-a distance of one hundred and sixty miles. There they remained until the close of the war. After pence was declared they started for their long-d ... serted home, which they reached with great difficulty, after five years' exile.
So far, Mrs. Lull's life had been one of continued hard. ship and adversity. It had, however, served to cherish and develop those principles which parental fondness had in- stilled into her young mind. Her husband died in the eighty-fifth year of his age-sixty-four of which had been passed with her on the farm where they first settled. Soon after this event she removed with her son, Jacob, to Louis- ville (now village of Morris), where she remained until her death, which occurred June 6, 1851, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, retaining her faculties until the last, and relying upon those sacred promises which had been the comfort of her declining years. She died surrounded by her kindred, honored by all who bore her name, and pro- nouneed blessed by all who kuew the extent and uuvarying character of her example.
HON. JACOB K. LULL,
son of Joseph and Martha Lull, was born Sept. 12, 1794, he being the tenth child of a family of sixteen children. When he was seventeen years old he engaged with John P. Bowers, of Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., to learn the tan- ner's and currier's trade. He remained with him two years, wheu iu consequence of Mr. Bowers making a change in his business he left, and about a year after resumed his trade with Willard Caughey, of Butternuts. He remained with him something over three years, when he rented a small tannery and commenced business for hinuself. Que year later he built a tannery, where he carried on the busi- ness twenty-one years, making in all twenty-seven years ex- perience in the muanufacture of leather.
He then suspended that branch of his business, and gave his whole attention to the manufacture of boots and shoes, which business he had established some time previous. Mr. Lull has at different periods of his life been called to fill positions of trust. In the fall of 1837 he was elected to the State legislature. After the expiration of his termi as as- semblyman he returned to his home and again turned his attention to his former business. For the last twenty years he has lived a retired life.
JAMES P. KENYON.
James P. Kenyon was born in Cooperstown, Feb. 26, 1822. His parents were of Welsh deseent. He came to Butternuts (now Morris) when only five years old, and lived with Samuel Somers, a tailor, until the spring of 1837, working the last two years at the tailor's trade. He then apprenticed himself to Wing & Waite, working at wagon-making.
In the fall of 1841, when only nineteen years old. he commenced business for himself. In 1847 he married Miss Permelia S., only daughter of Satton Pearsall. by whom he had three children. The eldest, Charles l., vul-
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
unteered in the defense of his country in the United States navy, where he contracted brain-fever, and died in 1865, aged seventeen years. Mr. Kenyon by industry and econ- omy acquired a competeney, but his temperament would not permit him to be idle ; and, in 1870, he purchased the drug- and grocery-store formerly occupied by R. B. Wing, and at the present time is still engaged in that business. He was an indefatigable worker: whatever he undertook he generally accomplished. He has the reputation of being one of the best business men in the place. He is of a social nature and liberal in his ideas.
CHAPTER LIII.
TOWN OF NEW LISBON.
Organization-Geographieal-Geologieal-First Settlers and their Locations-Early Events-Supervisors from 1807 to 1878 -Present Town Officers -- Agricultural and General Statistics-Area-Equal- ized and Assessed Valuation-Population-Churches-Military.
UPON the organization of Otsego County, in 1791, the territory embraced in the present town of New Lisbon comprised a portion of the town of Otsego. In 1792 it was embraced in the town of Burlington ; in 1797 was set off from Burlington as Pittsfield; and April 7, 1806, was organized 'as Lisbon. It retained this name until April 6, 1808, when it was changed to its present nawie.
It is an interior town, lying west of the centre of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Ed- meston and Burlington; on the east by Hartwick and Lanrens ; on the south by Laurens and Morris; and on the west by Morris and Pittsfield.
The surface of New Lisbon presents a varied scene of hills and valleys. The highest smumits range from 300 to 500 feet above the valleys. .
This town is well watered, the principal streams being Butternuts creek, which flows southwest through the western part, and the west branch of the Otsego creek, which takes a southerly course through the eastern part. There are two small lakes in the town,-Turtle lake, in the north- west part, and Gilbert's lake, on the south border, near the centre.
The soil of New Lisbon consists chiefly of a clay and slaty loam, and is well adapted to graziug. It is purely an agricultural town.
This town was settled before the War of the Revolution. The first settlements date back to 1773, when Increase Thurston and Benjaiuin Lull and sons located in the south- west part, near the town of Morris. Numerous descendants of Increase Thurston are still residents of the town, and Joel Thurston occupies the old homestead. The Lulls were more closely identified with the history of the town of Morris, where numerous representatives of that honored name still reside.
The first settler in the vicinity of Garrattsville was Johu Garratt, who purchased land here prior to the Revolution, and from him this village derived its name. He and his wife were taken prisoners during the Revolution, and were absent from their wilderness home seven years. It is related
ofthem that they saw the Indians approaching their eabin, and quickly divining the object of their visit, Mrs. Garratt seized her clock and silverware and fled out of the rear door, eoneealing the silver under an inverted pig-trongh, while the clock was thrown hastily under the garden fence. After an absence of seven years they returned to their home, to find their clearings covered with underbrush and a rauk growth of weeds about their doors ; but there under the pig trough was found the silver, and down by the garden fence the old clock.
Others of the pioneers were driven away during the Revolution, their buildings burned, and their crops de- stroyed. A haystack belonging to the Thurstons was set on fire by the Indians and burned over on the outside, and upon the return of the settlers at the close of the war the inside of the stack was found to be in a good state of preservation.
William, brother of John Garratt, was the pioneer mer- chant. His store was located at Garrattsville.
Among the earliest settlers were Hughey Marks, Wil- liam Pierec, O. Park, S. W. Park, and John Johnson.
Elnathan Noble was one of the pioneers who located in the southwest part of the town, where the village of Nobles -. ville is located, from whom it derived its name. George I. Peek, Esq., a descendant of Elnathan Noble, resides at Noblesville.
Johu S. Stetson, familiarly known as Deacon Stetson, was an early settler in the locality known as Stetsonville. Joseph Baldwin was also a pioneer in this locality.
Many citizens of New England left the comforts and conveniences of their castern homes and sought an abode in these forests in what was known in about 1800, and prior thereto, as way out west in Otsego County. They eame bringing with them the energy, industry, and char- acter of the sons of New England, and have left their im- print upon their posterity. Prominent among this number was Captain Josepli Peck, who early settled at Noblesville, where he remained until his death. He was, during a long period, a successful merchant there, and eminently respected and esteemed. He was prominently identified with the interests of his town and county, and represented the See- oud assembly distriet in the legislature. He was also supervisor of this town thirteen consecutive years. Three children are living. A daughter is the wife of Mr. Beanett, son of Ilon. Harmon Bennett, and resides in New Jersey. Martha and George I. Peck reside in the town. George I. is a merchant at Noblesville, where he has been in business many years as the suceessor of his father and David M. Hard.
Linus N. Chapin, a surveyor, settled iu the vicinity of Noblesville in 1812, and still resides here. A family named Smith were also early settlers in this vicinity.
Joseph Neff, father of Joseph Neff who now resides at Garrattsville, was an early emigrant from Connecticut to this county, and settled in the adjoining town of Burling- ton, where he lived and died. He was a celebrated violinist, al many of the oldler citizens of Otsego remember .. Fid Her Neff," as he was commonly called, in connection with the dances, " paring bees," etc., of " ye olden time." Hi- violin, now over one hundred years old, is in the possession of Jona-
£
220
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
than R. Neff, and was the first violin played at Fort Washing- ton, now Cincinnati. Four sons and two daughters are living, the oldest eighty-five and the youngest sixty-five years. Zora, widow of Timothy Morse, son of Judge Timothy Morse, resides in the town of Pittsfield, and has during the last half-century ; Joseph Neff, as mentioned above, resides at Garrattsville ; Sophia, widow of Joseph Cone, and Orris, Samuel, and Abel are residents of Wisconsin ; and Jonathan W. Neff resides in this town, South Garrattsville.
An honored pioncer and prominent citizen was Elias Cummings, who located on lands north of New Lisbon Centre. Three sons reside in the county; Harris in Plainfield, and Leman and Moses D. in this town. The latter has retired from active business, and is a resident of Garrattsville.
The Gregorys are an honored family, and are also men- tioned among the pioneers of New Lisbon. Numerous representatives of this family are residents of the town. William Gregory resides northeast of New Lisbon Centre.
The Pattengills were pioneers, and the family has been closely identified with the history and progress of the town. Several of the family have joined the ministry, and became talented clergymen. Numerous representatives of this honored family still reside in town, among whom is Hon. D. F. Pattengill, the present member of assembly from the second assembly distriet. He is a Democrat, and was elected in a Republican district.
The Robinson- family were pioneers in the eastern part of the town, on premises now owned and occupied by their descendants. Honorable and upright, they enjoyed the respect of their fellow-citizens. Mathew Robinson, a worthy descendant, resides in the east part of the town.
The Rockwells were prominent pioneers, and did much to advance the interests of the town. Abner and George B. Rockwell, descendants, are leading citizens of the town.
The locality known as " Gross Hill" was early settled by a family named Gross. Ellis Gross, now at an advanced age, resides in the vieinity.
Elisha Parker, who resides near Garrattsville, has been a resident of New Lisbon since 1802.
A family of Nearings were carly settlers, of whom Asa Nearing, who resides south of Garrattsville, is a descendant.
Prominent among the New England people who came to this locality were the Perrys. They ranked among the worthy citizens of the town. The widow of Noah Perry, now at an advanced age, resides with her son, James II. Perry.
North of Garrattsville one Johnson was an carly settler on lands now owned by L. I. Rockwell. On this farm is located the Garratt monument. The William Garratt farm is now owned by R. B. Hume.
A prominent settler in the north part of the town was James Harris, who came from Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in about 1816, and located on lands now owned by Mr. Laidlaw. The farm upon which he settled was in the possession of the Harris family abont seventy-five years. A son, Ora Harris, came into the town with his father, and lived and died here. A son, Henry T., is a practicing physician in Laurens. Hon. Edwin M. Harris is a prac- ticing attorney in Cooperstown, and is an ex judge of this
county. The youngest son, Albert, resides in this town on a farmi adjoining the old homestead.
Jonathan W. Neff, a native of the town of Burlington, has resided on the farin he now occupies nearly forty years. This was one of the first settled farmus in the town, and was originally owned by Mr. Chaumont. Jonathan R .. a son of Jonathan W. Neff, resides on the farm with his father ; is at present justice of the peace.
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