USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 65
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On November 28, 1878, Mr. Curtis was married to Gertie M. Bridge, of Madison. Two children have been born to them-M. Ethel, aged fourteen years, and Elma, aged thirteen years.
EDWARD F. HASKELL.
EDWARD FROST HASKELL, who died in Oneida November 2, 1892, in the thirty-ninth year of his age, was an honored member of the Madison County Bar, and a man who, although in the prime of life when he died, had already made a wide reputation. He was born at Orange, N. J., October 21, 1853, a son of Llewellyn and Marianna (Frost) Haskell. His father, a New York merchant of large interests, resided at Orange, and was the owner and founder of Llewellyn Park in that place, where he was an esteemed and prominent citizen. The people of Orange have honored his memory by placing his bust (by Powers) at the entrance of Llewellyn Park. His mother was a native of Charleston, N. C., and came of the old Southern family of Frost; her great grandfather was the first Governor of South Carolina. Mr. Haskell was prepared for college at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, and entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. John E. Smith of Morrisville, and was admitted to the bar in 1887. Following his admission he formed a partnership with Judge Smith which continued five years, or until Mr. Haskell's election to the State Legislature in 1883. During their association Mr. Haskell acted as assistant district attorney, Mr. Smith being then the prosecuting officer. Mr. Haskell served two consecutive years in the Assembly, and was chairman of the Committee on Railroads, being perhaps the youngest man who has held that position. He was a man of brilliant ability and wide attainments, and possessed social qualities which gained for him many warm friends. After his retirement from the Legislature he set- tled in Oneida where he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice uutil his untimely death. He was a member and for some years vestryman of
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St. John's Episcopal Church; he was also a Knight Templar Mason. Mr. Haskell married in 1873, Mary E. Howe, daughter of Henry Clin ton Howe, for nearly forty years a woolen manufacturer in Madison county. Three children were born to them: Edna Rutledge, Florence, and Edward Llewellyn.
VERY REV. JAMES A. KELLEY.
VERY REVEREND JAMES A. KELLEY, dean of this Diocese, and pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Oneida for nearly fourteen years, was born at Waterloo, N. Y., September 15, 1850. He received the rudiments of his education in the public and select schools of Syracuse, N. Y., and having completed the course at Niagara College, entered St. John's Jesuit College at Fordham, N. Y., where he took the usual course and graduated as Medal Man, the first of his class. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Seminary at Troy, N. Y., May 30, 1874, and was im- mediately delegated by his bishop to perform the duties of his sacred calling as pastor in the Adirondack region of Northern New York, where he labored about seven and one-half years in the erection of churches, five of which he brought to completion. Later he was trans- ferred to the pastorate of St. Mary's Church at Baldwinsville, N. Y., and remained there four years and a half, during which time he re- modeled and enlarged the church edifice, and was prominent in numer- ous works for the general welfare and advancement of his congregation. He came to Oneida in 1886 and his indefatigable labor here in the build- ing up of his parish speaks for itself; he believes in work rather than words. Known of all men, he is daily accomplishing work that will stand as an honor to the village, a pride to all its citizens, a beacon light of religious zeal and generosity, and a monument to Catholicity that will live in testimony of its founder and his people for generations to come. To his energy is largely due the erection of the new St. Pat- rick's. On May 30th, 1899, Father Kelley celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary, his silver jubilee. His parish extends twelve miles south, eight miles north, and five miles east and west of Oneida village, and numbers about 350 families. The church property includes the handsome new church edifice, dedicated in 1889, the parochial residence adjoining which was erected in 1897 and is an ornement to the village, and the beautiful parish cemetery of thirty-five acres. The history of
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GEORGE H. ENSIGN.
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the growth and development of the parish is given elsewhere in this volume. At the time of this writing (1899), the tenth anniversary of the dedication of the church is approaching, and in preparation the in- terior of the edifice is being redecorated, and a pipe organ and three marble altars are now being erected. The work of Father Kelley in this community has not only endeared him to his own people, but has gained for him the confidence and esteem of all.
GEORGE H. ENSIGN,
PROPRIETOR OF MAPLE GROVE STOCK FARM,
OF the town of Nelson, Madison county, N. Y., was born in that town March 2, 1852. He is a son of Thomas Ensign and Laura, daughter of James and Betsey Bailey. Thomas Ensign was born in Hartford, Conn., October 27, 1812, and is a son of Isaiah and Eunice (Vining) Ensign, who came to this county about 1823 and was soon followed by his fam- ily of eight children, named as follows: Louisa, Alma, William, Hul- dah, Sally, Willis, and two others (Isaiah and Eunice) who died in Sims- bury, Conn. Thomas Ensign's children were James, Albert, Anson, Amelia (wife of Minor Anderson), George H. (the subject), and Cor- nelia.
George H. Ensign was educated in his native town, at the same time sharing in the farm life of the homestead, in which occupation he be- came well know as one of the progressive and successful farmers of the county. In addition to his dairying interests, he has given a large share of his attention to the raising of Holstein cattle, of which he has one of the finest herds in the country. The name of Maple Grove Stock Farm, the homestead, is now widely known and its pure blooded stock finds an extensive sale. Mr. Ensign is a public spirited citizen, has shown an active interest in the advancement of education in his town and in the general welfare of the community, but has not aspired to political honor.
Mr. Ensign married Carrie Louise, daughter of Ralph Ross Wallace, on July 6, 1886. He has four children: Anna Laura, Charles Sidney, Belle Elizabeth and Wendall George.
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GERRIT A. FORBES.
GERRIT A. FORBES, justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, was born May 30, 1836, near Clockville, Madison county, a son of Isaac J. and Abigail (Sayles) Forbes. His grandfather was Jacob Forbes, a farmer of the town of Lenox, who reared a family of ten sons and three daughters, of whom Isaac J. was the youngest. He died in Clockville at the age of eighty-six.
The father of Jacob Forbes was a Scotchman, who came to Mohawk valley at the time of its early settlement. The family name, although known as Forbes in Scotland, in the Mohawk valley took the form of Forbush. Isaac J. Forbes, the father of the subject, was born at Clock- ville, Madison county, and died at La Fayette, Ind., when about fifty years of age. His wife was a daughter of Silas Sayles and a grand- daughter of William Sayles, formerly of Connecticut, who came to this part of the State. Silas Sayles was at one time postmaster at Peter- boro. To Isaac J. Forbes and his wife were born eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, of whom Gerrit A. was the sixth in order of birth. The mother of these children died in 1852, at the age of forty-six. She had been a schoolmate of the famous American philan- thropist, Gerrit Smith. Only two of her daughters are now living, namely Mary A. H., widow of Daniel King, residing at Syracuse, N. Y., and Harriet T., widow of Darius Johnson, Canastota, N. Y.
Judge Forbes was reared a farmer boy and received a common school education. In 1860, feeling a strong inclination toward the legal pro- fession, he began the study of law with the Hon. B. F. Chapman of Clockville, was admitted to the bar May 13, 1863, and became the law partner of Judge Chapman August 1, 1863. From January 1, 1871, to January 1, 1874, he occupied the office of district attorney for Madison county and was elected to the office of Justice of the Supreme Court in November, 1887.
July 10, 1862, Mr. Forbes married Ellen Brooks of Clockville, N. Y., daughter of Colon and Matilda (Hills) Brooks. She is the mother of two children, Maude I., wife of Daniel Fiske Kellogg, city editor of the New York Sun, and Claude L., a graduate of Yale University, attorney at law, Syracuse, N. Y. Mrs. Kellogg is a graduate of the Canastota Academy and her husband of Amherst College. He was valedictorian of the class of 1881; they have one son, Daniel Fiske Kellogg, jr.
W. Jenrue Haxx
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Judge Forbes has practiced law in Canastota since 1868, where he settled in 1873. In 1884 he became the head of the law firm of Forbes, Brown & Tracy at Syracuse, N. Y., having taken the place of the Hon. George N. Kennedy in the firm of Kennedy & Tracy. Mr. Brown was of the old law firm of Pratt, Mitchell & Brown. Mr. Pratt was justice of the Supreme Court and attorney-general of the State. Judge Kennedy was retired by age from the Supreme Court bench January 1, 1893.
Judge Forbes is a Republican and in fraternal matters is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was president of the Board of Education of Can- astota for twelve years, and has been prominently connected with all public enterprises and all movements having for their aim the material prosperity and moral advancement in the community in which he lives.
W. JEROME HICKOX.
W. JEROME HICKOX, who died at his home in Oneida Castle, March 4, 1894, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, was one of Oneida's most valued and influential citizens. He was born in Syracuse, N. Y., Octo- ber 24, 1839, and until he reached young manhood resided in that city. He then located in New York where he was engaged for several years in a commission business. Previously he had been for a considerable period in the employ of the Syracuse and Oswego Freight Company. In 1873 he located in Oneida, and two years later at Oneida Castle, where he resided until his death. Mr. Hickox was identified with most of the leading business enterprises of this community; he built the handsome block on Madison Square which is an ornament to the village of Oneida; was a director of the Oneida Valley Bank, the Oneida Sav- ings Bank, and in numerous local corporations from which he withdrew finally on account of increasing business cares. He was a large holder of real estate in and about Oneida; a man of great public spirit he showed no lack of zeal in promoting the welfare of the village and will be remembered as an exemplary citizen; he did much to beautify the streets and adorn the parks of the village. Mr. Hickox was a man of sterling integrity, and excellent executive ability, a genial and whole hearted friend, and possessed of sympathetic qualities of heart and mind which caused his untimely death to be mourned by a wide circle. As a business man he was eminently well fitted to control
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large interests, being keen of perception and prompt of action. Mr. Hickox possessed a fine physique and was a man of commanding pres- ence and gentlemanly bearing. During the Civil war, he was stationed at City Point, Va., with Colonel Bradley of Syracuse, in the Commis- sary Department, whom he assisted for some time. Endowed with all those qualities of character which command respect, few citizens of Oneida have attained a more honored name than he. Mr. Hickox mar- ried, June 9, 1875, Florilla, daughter of the late Timothy Jenkins, who survives him.
EDGAR LAKE MILLER, M. D.
THIS well known physician is a son of Hiram and Susan (Powers) Miller, is the second of their seven children, and was born in Columbus, Chenango county, October 11, 1839. His father was also a native of that town, where he was born in 1808. He was an intelligent farmer and taught school in the winter seasons. He died at Oelwein, Iowa, at the age of eighty years. His father, Drake Miller, was born at Catskill, N. Y., in 1775, and after spending a few years at Sharon Springs he re- moved to Columbus, N. Y., where he cleared a large farm and reared a family of six boys and six girls. Drake Miller's father was Lemuel Miller, a son of Stephen Miller, both of whom passed their lives on the Hudson river. Stephen Miller's father was Johaan Mueller, who came to this country from Holland and settled on what was then the Tappan Zee, near Tarrytown, on the Hudson river.
Edgar L. Miller was educated in the district schools and in Professor Lamb's select school at West Edmeston, N. Y. Whan he was eighteen years old he taught a school of seventy scholars at Burdick Settlement, Chenango county. At the age of nineteen he went to Iowa, where he worked as clerk in a store at Coytown, Fayette county, and taught school during the years 1859-60. On September 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. F, 13th Wisconsin Infantry. He served one year when an attack of malaria fever compelled his discharge, in September, 1862, and he returned home. In July, 1863, he again enlisted in Co. D, 15th New York Cavalry, as sergeant, and for "bravery in action " was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and later to First Lieutenant of his company. He was finally mustered out of the service October 1, 1865, after which he took a course in the Bryant & Stratton college at
EDGAR L. MILLER, M. D.
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Buffalo, N. Y. He then went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and was en- gaged in insurance business about two years; but in 1869, determining to enter the regular army, he enlisted in the 1st United States Artillery, from which he was soon transferred to the General Service Corps and stationed in the Adjutant-General's office in Detroit. He regularly ap- plied for an army appointment, but owing to his disabilities incurred in previous service he was disqualified; he was, however, retained in the paymaster's department until March 1, 1874. He then came east and settled in Eaton, where he studied medicine with his brother, Dr. H. P. Miller, for one year. He then took a two year course at the Syracuse University and was one year in the Long Island Hospital Medical Colledge, graduating June 21, 1877. Dr. Miller at once began practice at Eaton and is at the present time one of the most widely known and successful physicians of the town. He has been attending physician to the Madison county hospital and insane asylum for twenty- two years.
On October 17, 1875, Dr. Miller married Adelaide White. They have one son, James Edgar Miller, a student in Colgate University.
CALVIN HUBBARD.
THE subject of this brief memoir from whom the village of Hubbards- ville was named, was born in Sunderland, twelve miles from Northamp- ton, Mass., February 16, 1784. He was the son of Jonathan and Hannah (Barnard) Hubbard. But little is known of his boyhood days, except at the age of fourteen he accompanied his parents to what was then Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., and that he learned the shoemaker's trade at Warren, in the same county. At the last named place he mar- ried Susannah Allen, daughter of Amasa and Susannah (Fish) Allen. Her father was born at Petersham, Mass., October 9, 1753, and was a son of Edward and Mary Allen, who were settlers there in 1750. The late Dr. Samuel Allen of Copenhagen, Lewis county, N. Y., for many years agent there of the late Abram Varick, of Utica, and in the war of 1812, of the firm of Allen & Canfield of that place, merchants and con- tractors for the fleet at Sackett's Harbor, was her brother. She died December 16, 1863, aged seventy-six years, eight months and six days. By her Mr. Hubbard had two children: Emily, born November 4, 1808, and Corydon, born June 5, 1814; the latter died at four years of age,
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and Emily married Elias K. Hart, of Oneida county, and died Septem- ber 10, 1853.
In 1808 Mr. Hubbard went to Sherburne, Chenango county, where he remained five years, and in June, 1813, settled on the site of Hub- bardsville, where he engaged in farming, distilling and tanning. He was successful in his business and followed it until his final retirement from active life in 1853. He was a man of strong convictions, fearless in expressing them, and of great energy. His integrity was never questioned and he always stood high in the respect of his fellow towns- men. Originally a Whig, he later became an ardent Abolitionist, and was instrumental in aiding many poor slaves to reach a land of freedom. When the Republican party was formed he joined its ranks and was active in promoting its interests. He lived to see the triumph of the Union and the downfall of slavery. Mr. Hubbard died on May 17, 1876, at the age of ninety-two years.
STEPHEN H. FARNAM.
STEPHEN H. FARNAM, who died in Oneida, November 17, 1897, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, was for many years a well known and highly esteemed citizen and merchant of this village. He was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., May 22, 1822, a son of Noah and Rhoda (Bancroft) Farnam. When quite young he took up his residence in Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., where he was engaged for many years in a manufacturing business, his principal product being axes. At one time his factory was entirely demolished by high water, but he demonstrated his excellent business ability and characteristic energy by at once rebuilding, and few knew or realized the blow his interests had suffered. Mr. Farnam conducted this factory for some time after his removal to Oneida in the spring of 1862. On his arrival here he bought the hardware business of Saunders & Barnett, forming
a copartnership with A. R. Turner. This association continued until 1867 when Mr. Turner was succeeded by Mr. Farnam's son, W. J. Farnam, and the business was conducted under the firm name of S. H. Farnam & Co., until 1890 when Mr. Farnam retired, having gained a competency and well merited rest, for he was essentially a self-made man, and the architect of his own fortunes, having started in life at the early age of thirteen years with no capital. During his residence
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STEPHEN H. FARNAM.
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in Oneida he was identified with many prominent local enterprises. At the time of his death he was president of the National State Bank, having been one of the original directors of the old First National Bank. He was also president of the Glenwood Cemetery Association, and to him and T. F. Hand, and the late Hon. George Berry, are the public indebted for one of the handsomest burial grounds in Central New York. He was one of the organizers and first directors of the Oneida Gas Light Company, and served on its board of directors until his death. Mr. Farnam was a valued citizen, and on every occasion pos- sessed and exhibited the most genial and manly traits of character; he gave earnest and faithful service to many of the town's enterprises, and was generous in his support of all public institutions. He was a regu- lar attendant of the First Presbyterian church, and a member of Oneida Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M. Mr. Farnam first married Elizabeth McChesney, and four children were born to them, two of whom sur- vive: W. J. Farnam, and Mrs. James Selkregg. In 1886 he married Sarah Laraway Newkirk of Leeds, N. Y., who survives him.
JAMES COOLIDG.
JAMES COOLIDG, of Bouckville, Madison county, was born in Box- borough, Massachusetts, July 23, 1786. He, with his father, James D. Coolidg, came to Madison county in 1806, and settled on a farm near the present village of Bouckville. J. D. Coolidg was the first person who owned a hop yard in the county, and the success and growth of that business dates back to the early period of his settlement. He was a successful farmer and April 11, 1844, owned five hundred acres of land.
James Coolidge, when a youth, assisted his father in all the arduous duties of the farm, and as was too often the case in those early pioneer days, his advantages for securing an education were extremely limited, not being able to attend school more than five or six weeks during the winter. After his marriage he fitted himself for a surveyor, giving proof of severe application and praiseworthy ambition. In after years he devoted much time to the work of surveyor. Mr. Coolidg, in early life, worked at the carpenter's trade, and was always quite ingenious in the use of carpenters' tools. He served his town in many ways, and gained the respect of all. He was a magistrate twenty-four years. He
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engaged in farming until about 1860, when he sold his farm and en- gaged in lighter occupation, until his death. His first wife, Janet Ken- dall, was born in 1792, married 1814, died 1816. Second wife, Sophia Stebbins, born 1798, married 1819, and died January 26, 1832. Third wife, Sallie Simmons, born 1801, married 1833, and died September 24, 1834. Fourth wife, Harriett Hazzard, born 1802, married 1834, and died 1838. Fifth wife, Phoebe Thompkins Lawrence, born 1798, mar- ried 1842, and died January 6, 1849. Sixth wife, Mary Coburn Smith, born 1803, married 1851, and died May 11, 1877. He had four children, three dying in infancy and one son, Francis Coolidg, born December, 1814, who removed to Kansas.
JOHN E. SMITH.
IT has been truthfully said that Judge Smith knows personally more people in Madison county than any other resident. He was born in the town of Nelson, and Madison county has been the scene of his boy- hood; of the struggles of his young manhood, and of the well earned success of his maturity. His father, James, was a native of Massachu- setts and lived several years while a boy at New Lebanon, N.Y. After attaining his majority he purchased fifty acres of woodland in the town of Nelson, built a log house thereon, and cleared a farm to which he gradually added. He had eight children by his first wife and after her death married Susan Tackabury. Of this union two sons were born: James W., and John E. Smith. When the latter was ten months old the mother died, the father followed a few years later, and these two sons were left with their half brother, S. Perry Smith. John E. Smith early decided to embrace the profession of law, and when 21 years old borrowed money and began to read with Lucius P. Clark. In 1867 he was graduated from the Albany Law School, and immediately opened an office at Morrisville, where he has ever since resided. He assisted his brother James to acquire a professional education and that gentle- man until the time of his death was a successful physician. He later assisted his half-brother Perry to acquire a professional education.
In the fall of 1877 Mr. Smith was elected district attorney of the county on the Republican ticket. He was succeeded by Henry Barclay, who became ill, and Mr. Smith consequently continued to officiate, be- ing appointed to succeed Mr. Barclay, after the latter's resignation, by
truly yours
Very
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Governor Cornell. In the fall of 1885 he was elected to the New York State Senate from the twenty-third district, comprising the counties of Herkimer, Madison and Otsego. While serving this term he was on the committees on Judiciary, Privileges and Elections, Commerce and Navigation, and others. During the first winter as chairman of the committee on Privileges and Elections, he heard and decided the con- test made by Judge Yates for the senatorial seat occupied by Senator Wemple. A good deal of partisan feeling was engendered and although he was politically opposed to Senator Wemple, Mr. Smith decided in his favor. He introduced many important bills, and took an active part in the contests between Morton and Miller, supporting the latter gentleman to the last. In debate he spoke frequently and effectively. In 1887 he formed a co-partnership with C. V. Kellogg and E. M. Wells of Syracuse, which continued until July, 1889, when he was appointed First Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. In this responsible position he served until July, 1891, and during his incumbency prepared the Gould Bank cases and tried and convicted William Gould. He was also connected with the Faulkner cases at Danville, and briefed and argued in the United States Circuit Court the noted opium cases of the northern part of the State in which Gardner was convicted, although defended by Richard Crowley of Lockport. He also briefed and argued several other important cases in that court, among them that of Stephen A. Merzan, who was tried and convicted in the United States Ministerial Court at Alexandria, Egypt, for muder. He also briefed and argued the case of Charles M. Ross, a British subject sailing on the vessel " Bullion," who murdered the second mate, Kelly, in the waters of Japan. Intricate questions involving international constitutional law were involved. Upon his conviction being sustained, the case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Attorney General, in arguing the case, used Judge Smith's brief, and the court affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal. In 1889 he again became a candidate for State Senator. At first Hon. S. R. Mott made a vigorous contest against him for the delegation of the county, but finally withdrew. In the convention, how- ever, he was opposed by Wilbur of Otsego, and Sheard of Herkimer. The balloting continued for seven days; on the 938th ballot Mr. Smith was nominated. He ran against John Henderson on the Democratic ticket, and Professor Green on the Prohibitionist ticket, and was elected by about 2,100 plurality. During this term he served on the Finance
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