Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, Part 72

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 960

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

26, 1862, he married Mary E. Myers of Frankfort, Herkimer county. Her father was D. H. Myers and her maternal grandfather was the late Judge Sterling of that county. It is related of Mrs. De Witt's grandmother that when about four years of age she was captured by the predatory Mohawks, but was rescued after some weeks of aborig- inal life. Their children are George M. De Witt, of this place, and Ella M. De Witt, who has become a successful teacher, now in charge of a normal training class at Johnstown, N. Y.

Dunster, John L., was born near Wood Church, England, March 2, 1846, and was the fifth of a family of eight children of Charles and Ann Dunster. The family came to America in 1849 and settled in Camden, and thence removed to Augusta in two or three years. Still later they came to Madison and from the latter town removed to Cayuga county. From 1859 to 1864 John L. Dunster lived chiefly in Clinton, but in September, 1864, he enlisted in Co. C., 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, and served until the general muster out in 1865. He then came to Madison, worked on a farm a few years and then opened a market in the village. In January, 1897, he started a gro- cery business and has built up an extensive trade. The Dunster building was erected in 1894. In politics Mr. Dunster is a firm Republican, but is almost wholly without political aspirations. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the M. E. Church, holding the offices of trustee and steward. On October 15, 1867, Mr. Duns- ter married Anna, adopted daughter of James House. Four children have been born to them: Sarah (wife of Herbert Stowell), James H., Harry and Gertrude.

Denison, Milton L., p. o. Peterboro, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., October 18, 1844, a son of George T., son of Latham M , son of Daniel Denison, who came from Scotland and settled in Roxbury, Mass. The family trace their ancestry to William Denison, who came from England about 1631. Latham M. and brother, Samuel Denison, came to Oneida in 1800, being among the first settlers and there lived and died. Latham M. was a farmer; his wife was Eleanor Tifft; he died in 1847 and his wife in 1846. George T. Denison was born in Oneida county, January 23, 1813, and educated in the common schools. He was a contractor and builder, also an extensive farmer in Oneida county. In politics he was a Republican, and was supervisor of Lee, Oneida county. His wife, Arabell Davis, was born in Hol- land Patent, N. Y., a daughter of Barney Davis, one of the first settlers of Oneida county. M. L. Denison was educated in the common schools and Delta High School and Cazenovia Seminary. In 1863 he enlisted in Capt. Mann's Independent Com- pany of Cavalry and served one year and nine months. At the close of the war he came to Smithfield and married Helen Berry, daughter of Hiram Berry; they have three children: George M , a farmer on the farm of his father; William H. and Ma- bel L. George M. married Julia Bennett; William H. married Anna Moon, and Mabel L. married Robert C Avery of Perryville. She died in April, 1894, leaving two children: Clark M. and Rubie M. In 1879 Mr. Denison engaged in the selling of musical instruments and sewing machines, in which he has been very successful. In politics he is a Republican, but not an aspirant to office. He is a member of the Smithfield Lodge No. 120, I. O. O. F.

Enos, W. E., p. o. West Eaton .- Joseph, Benjamin and David C. Enos, brothers

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and pioneers in this county, were sons of Col. Joseph Enos, a Revolutionary officer and patriot. They came from New Lebanon, Joseph to Eaton village (then called Log City), Benjamin to De Ruyter and David C. to West Eaton. Joseph's family is not now represented in the county. Benjamin reared two children: Samuel D. and Sena Ann. David C. settled on the hill in West Eaton and brought to the town a wife and two children. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and served at Sacketts Harbor. In 1813 he married Mary Judson, by whom he had six children: Emilius J., Mary Jane, David C., De Witt C. (better known as Dr. D. C. Enos, professor of anatomy in Long Island College Hospital, and whose widow generously donated his splendid library to that institution), Annette Elizabeth (married S. W. Lawrence), and William Edwin. The latter, now one of the few surviving members of the family in the county, was born in De Ruyter, July 2, 1826, and since 1828 has lived in Eaton. He has engaged in various business enterprises and occupations, but since 1856 has been a farmer. On February 10, 1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 10th N. Y. Cavalry; was wounded April 7, 1864, at Kelley's Ford while trying to release his nephew from an unfortunate position under a fallen horse; was sent to Campbell Hospital for two months; transferred to Grant's U. S. Hospital at Willett's Point; was mustered out on account of disabilities September 13, 1864. He then returned to the farm he now owns and occupies. On May 14, 1848, Mr. Enos married Lu- cinda M. Barrett, who died August 13, 1898. and by whom he has two children: William Diverson and Edwin Newell, the latter of whom manages the farm in Eaton.

Evans, Lewis Vincent, p. o. Chittenango Station, agent for the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. at Chittenango, is a native of Oneida county. He was born at Remsen, N. Y., Sep- tember 13, 1859. His father, of the same name, and now deceased, was born in Wales and came to America when about twenty years of age. Finding a home with relatives near Rome, he took advantage of the superior educational facilities there afforded, as we note his name in the roster of students at the old Rome Academy for the year 1848. He died at Rome in 1894, aged seventy-four years. The present Lewis Evans also received his education at Rome, and shortly before attaining his majority he became manager of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph office. In 1881 he went west, spending nearly a year in Missouri, then in 1882 became telegraph oper- ator and freight clerk at Rome, N. Y , during which engagement he made another western tour, this time to Illinois, returning in 1883. During the succeeding four ` years he was freight clerk and operator at Rome, and ticket and freight agent at Pierrepont Manor, N. Y. In June, 1888, he assumed the duties of agent and operator here and upon the decease of the acting freight agent in 1891, took charge of that office also. He proves a most efficient and popular official. Soon after locating here he became a Mason and was for two years, 1896 and 1897, master of the local lodge, Sullivan No. 148.

Edgarton, John, came from Shirley, in the vicinity of Boston, Mass., was a pioneer on the site of Bouckville in 1798, and spent his life in the town. His son, Jackson, moved to Wisconsin in 1858; his other children were Caroline, Abbie, Betsey, Lucetta, Mary, Ann, Jackson and Joseph, but none of them or their descendants is now in the

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

town except Libbie, wife of J. W. Townsend, and daughter of Abbie. William Ed- garton came in 1801 and occupied a log cabin on the farm now owned by William W. Edgarton; here he died in 1862, his wife having died 1858. Of their eleven children, only one now survives. They were Sally, Benjamin, James, Allaseba, Dorinda, Arabella. Dorinda 2d, William 1st, Miranda, Sylvia and William W. 2d., the first child of this christian having died young. The pioneer William was both farmer and brickmaker, and his only living son, William W., is a farmer and one of the most substantial men of the town. He was born July 22, 1825, and has spent almost his whole life on the same farm. The farm he purchased from his father, and it has not in any sense lost its productiveness under his management; indeed, in one season, (1886) he alone raised the only crop of hops in the county. Mr. Edgarton is a sub- stantial Democrat and one whose name is frequently found on his party's ticket for some important town office. In 1850 he married Maria W. Howard, by whom he had two children: A. Lawrence, who died at twenty-one years, and Clara, wife of George Groves, station agent at Bouckville. His wife died in 1868, and in 1872 Mr. Edgar- ton married Elsie Keyes, by whom he had two children: William W. jr., and Sylvia E., both of Bouckville.

Eisaman, Willard, p. o. Peterboro, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., April 9, 1849, a son of Jeremiah, son of Peter Eisaman, whose father was born in Germany and was an early settler in the State of New Yord. Peter Eisaman lived and died in Little Falls, N. Y. Jeremiah Eisaman was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1820, and came to Smithfield in 1854 and purchased the farm Willard now owns. He spent his last twenty-five years in Canastota, retired, where he died in 1897. In politics he was a Republican, and held the office of street commissioner a number of years. His wife was Lucinda Ritter, born in Herkimer county, N. Y., a daughter of Joseph Ritter, who lived and died in Canastota. Mr. and Mrs. Eisaman had three children, two now living. Willard Eisaman was educated in the common schools and Evans Academy. He is a farmer and owns 225 acres of land. April 6, 1870, he married Victoria Benn of Madison county, a daughter of Peter P. Benn, and grand- daughter of Peter P. Benn, an early settler of Lenox. Mr. and Mrs. Eisaman had two daughters: Lena, born March 8, 1871, married Frank Weller of Lincoln, a farmer ; and Mabel, born July 17, 1872, married Albert Henderson and has two sons: Willard D. and Eugene C. Mr. Eisaman is a Republican in politics, but not an aspirant to office. He is a member of Smithfield Lodge, No. 120, I. O. O. F.

English, George E., was born in the central part of the town of Nelson, December 4, 1834, a son of Samuel Ellis and Lavina Smith English, who had six children: Cor- nelia, Wilson, George E., Lucius D., Henry C., and Flora, all born in that town. Samuel E. followed farming and was the son of Joseph English, whose children were William, Joseph, Thomas, Mary, Abigail, Nancy and Elizabeth. George E. was educated in the common schools of the town of Nelson, and his life was spent with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he married and started in life as a farmer and carpenter. He married Ellen M., daughter of Seth and Lydia Bates Dawson; they have four children living: Charles D., Nellie, Ellis S., and Lill- ian. Mr. English first rented the farm where Horace K. Smith now lives, but later

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

moved on to the Asa Coville farm. In 1860 he moved on to the farm where he now resides and follows general and dairy farming. He is interested in town and county affairs.

English, Henry Charles, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 9, 1842, a son of Samuel Ellis and Lavina (Smith) English. He was educated in the common schools of the town of Nelson and his early life was spent on the homestead with his parents, where he now resides. April 18, 1866, he married Harriet A., daughter of David A. and Lucy (Chaffee) Hamilton, who died November 29, 1896; they had four children: James D., who married Hattie Judd; Fred E., who married Mamie Roberts; Blanch E., who married Dexter P. Maynard; and Fayette H. Henry C. is a public spirited man and takes a great interest in school and educa- tional work.

Fox, Eugene C., was born in the town of Lenox, February 24, 1867, a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Bellenger) Fox. His father, who is still living and active, although of advanced age, was born in Montgomery county where the family were among the earliest settlers, and came to this vicinity in 1865, and has made many friends here, being known as a man of strict integrity and honorable dealing. He first bought what is called the Morrison farm, of fifty-three acres, and later added the present farm, making a total of 155 acres, all of which is under fine cultivation. He has been a lifelong Democrat but has never sought or held public office. Eugene C. Fox, who now conducts the home farm, was educated in the Oneida common schools, and has always been engaged in farming. He is a member of Eumenia Lodge of Odd Fellows. Of the union of Solomon and Elizabeth (Bellenger) Fox are three children: Eugene C., Alfred D., and Addie E.

Ferguson, Almira, who died in Oneida, June 3, 1899, in the seventy-sixth year of her age, was for many years a resident of this village where she made many friends. She was born in the town of Springfield, Otsego county, N. Y., one of a family of eight children, three of whom resided in Oneida. Her family was somewhat re- markable in genealogy and history. Silas Ferguson, her father, was a minute man in the Revolutionary period, and a native of Pelham, Mass. He moved to Otsego county, this State, among the earliest settlers, and became a man of considerable local importance; he was a Free and Accepted Mason. Her mother was Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Abner Wilson of Otsego county, and on the maternal side, a a lineal descendant of the house of Campbell of Scotland. In fact her branch of the family was considered of sufficient importance to be recognized by Victoria's invita- tion when there was a wedding in the royal family. Miss Ferguson was of Scotch- Irish and Pilgrim stock; her grandfather fled to this country at an early date in its history to escape religious persecution. She came to Oneida to reside in 1875, with her sister, Eleanor Young Ferguson, who died April 1, 1898, in her seventy-sixth year, and her brother, Augustus B. Ferguson. All three were unmarried.

Frost, Clark A., son of Josiah A. and Adelle (Wood) Frost, was born in Oneida, N. Y., September 13, 1852. His grandfather, Jacob G. Frost, came from Stockbridge,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Mass., to this region among the earliest settlers, driving an ox team and bringing his family. He settled on East Hill in the present town of Stockbridge, and bought land of the Indians for which he was afterwards compelled to pay the State. His son, Josiah A., was in early life a farmer, and subsequently a builder and contractor in Oneida, erecting the Oneida Seminary. He died June 18, 1890. Clark A. Frost attended the old Oneida Seminary, and began business as a clerk in the Oneida jew- elry store of Henry Williams. Later he worked in like capacity for Dwight Chapin, in whose store he bought an interest, forming the firm of Chapin & Frost which con- tinued fifteen years. For two years following this period Mr. Frost was employed as a traveling salesman for the Smith Granite Co., of Westerly, R. I., said to be the largest concern of its class in the country. He formed his present co-partnership with W. E. Hazeltine in July, 1897. Mr. Frost has served six years as a member of the village board of education. He married, in 1881, Alice Bender, daughter of Silas Bender of Oneida. One son has been born of this union, Clayton Frost.

Fitch, Jared W., M. D., who died in Oneida, December 8, 1881, in the seventy- fourth year of his age, was for years a prominent and highly respected citizen of this village. He was a native of Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., where he was born in 1807, a son of Dr. John Fitch, a practicing physician of that village. He was graduated M. D. at the Berkshire Medical College, Mass., in 1829, and soon there- after commenced practice about thirty miles east of St. Louis in Illinois. Thence, after a few years, he removed to New York State, and engaged in a manufacturing enterprise in the city of Rochester. In 1851 he removed to Oneida, being interested for a time in the manufacture of the Northrup printing press, Later he resumed the practice of medicine which he continued almost up to the time of his death, being at the same time associated with two of his sons in the manufacture of drain tile. The foregoing covers the general record of his active life-a life that won for him a large measure of the respect and esteem of his fellows. Few men have secured a more honored name in this community ; possessed of a warm social nature, he naturally drew the affection of others; honorable and upright he was trusted by all; a Chris- tian man, conscientiously but firmly discharging his duties, his influence for good was widely felt, and as an exemplary member of the Presbyterian church he was always active in all that pertained to its prosperity.

Fox, Charles A., a son of Hubbard and Maria (Finch) Fox, was born in De Ruy- ter, April 4, 1844. His father was a native of Sherburne, Chenango county, and for some years was engaged in business as a harness maker and dealer. In 1857 he was licensed to preach the Gospel and joined the Oneida Conference, and from that time until his death in 1893 was a preacher of the Methodist faith, holding pastorates in Borodino, Fayetteville and Amber in Onondaga county; Preble and Marathon in Cortland county ; Westford, Otsego county ; Whitney's Point, Broome county ; Smyrna and Sherburne in Chenango county; and at Eaton and New Woodstock in Madison county. The family originally came from Connecticut and settled first in Sherburne, Chenango county, then removed to Pitcher in the same county, where they lived on the "old Fox farm." Charles A. Fox was educated in the common schools and at Cazenovia Seminary. For about fifteen years he was engaged in farming at Preble,

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and in 1877 removed to New Woodstock and established the general store which he still continues. He is a Republican in politics, and has held several town offices. He is a member of the A. O. U. W , and for many years has been an official member of the New Woodstock Methodist church. He married, in 1862, Helen Banks, daugh- ter of Alanson Banks of Preble, Cortland connty.

Fuller, John H., who died in New Woodstock, June 7, 1890, on his eighty-first birth- day, was for a number of years one of the leading business men and representative farmers of the vicinity. He was born in the town of Nelson, near the Cazenovia line, June 7, 1810, a son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Howe) Fuller. His father was a native of Connecticut and an early settler of Nelson, where he purchased a farm which became known as the Fuller farm and remained in possession of the family until its recent purchase by Seymour Holmes. John H. spent his boyhood upon this farm and obtained his education in the schools of the vicinity. He was possessed of much natural business ability and early began the business of buying live stock and wool, which he followed all his life. For over thirty years he was associated in this business with Wells Richmond, and they annually bought thousands of dollars worth of live stock and large quantities of wool. Mr. Fuller was a Republican in politics, but never held a public office, although his friends often endeavored to persuade him to do so. He was a man of the strictest integrity and had a pleasing manner and disposition, which won for him many warm friends. He was twice married, first to Wilhemina, daughter of Thomas Tucker of Cazenovia, and they had one daughter who died in infancy. His second wife was Susan Gardner, daughter of Dwight 'Gardner of De Ruyter. They had three children, all deceased. In 1854 Mr. Fuller adopted Ella S. Ham, a niece of his first wife, who was only one year old. She always lived in his family until she married Irving A. Savage of New Woodstock in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Savage and their two children, Carrol H. and Laura I., are now living in Syracuse.

Freeborn, Leonard W., a substantial farmer and almost lifelong resident of the town of Cazenovia, was born here May 27, 1819, a son of Stephen and Lucy (White) Freeborn. His mother's father, Joseph White, fought with the Continental army during the war of the Revolution, and later moved from Connecticut to this vicinity, bringing his household goods and family with an ox team. He died in Cazenovia in 1820. Stephen Freeborn had five brothers, David, Gideon, Noel, who was killed in the war of 1812, Christopher and Jonathan. They came originally from Rhode Island, where their progenitors had settled on coming from England. They were among the earliest settlers in Cazenovia, Gideon Freeborn having driven the ox team for John Lincklaen when he first penetrated the wilderness. Stephen Freeborn built a log house about two miles north of the present village of New Woodstock, and cleared large tracts of land in the vicinity, not only for himself, but by contract for others. He lived on his farm of fifty acres in Cazenovia until 1830, and then removed to a farm of some 100 acres near Erieville in Nelson, where he lived until his death in 1852. Leonard W. Freeborn was the third son and eighth child of Stephen Free- born's family, in which were eleven children. During his youth he, like the others, was obliged to contribute to the support of the family by hard work at farming, and

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

clearing timber lands. His father was not a man, however, to neglect the education of his family, and he found time to attend the district schools and also the Eaton vil- lage school one term. He has been engaged in farming all his life, but having a Yankee shrewdness and business ability has also engaged extensively in business enterprises of various kinds. For a number of years he was quite extensively en- gaged in buying and shipping to outside markets butter and cheese, often handling over $100,000 worth of these products in a single year. He also bought pork, dried apples and other farm products, acquiring by industry, frugality and the exercise of his native ability, a goodly competence. His first farm was in the town of De Ruy- ter, where he lived about fifteen years. In 1866 he bought 180 acres of the farm on which he now resides, and has since added to his possessions by purchase until he now owns some 700 acres, divided into three farms. Mr. Freeborn has always been a Whig or a Republican, and has held several minor town offices. He cast his first vote for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." He married, in 1847, Ruby Louisa Morse, daughter of Gershom Morse of Nelson, and nine children were born to them: Mary Louisa, wife of Edward S. Damon; Frank L., John C., Etta, wife of Deacon L. H. Slocum; Gardner Morse, Emmett Dayton, Dora Lucy, wife of J. A. Loyster, and Ella Josephine, all of Cazenovia. George Roselle, their seventh child, died in infancy.

Faurot, Captain Henry, p. o. Stockbridge, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, N. Y., September 9, 1828, was educated in his native town and was gradu- ated from the Albany Law School and practiced his profession in partnership with his brother, J. P. Faurot of Canandaigua. When the war broke out he raised the first company organized in his county, was chosen captain, and on May 13 1861, his company was attached to the 18th Regiment, N. Y. Vols., Col. W. A. Jackson com- manding. He was in the Peninsula campaign and took part in the battles of Bull Run, Mann's Junction, Bailey's Cross Roads, Gaines Mills, the siege of Richmond, and on account of incapacity through illness was honorably discharged in August, 1862. For three years after his discharge from the army he served as clerk of the Court of Appeals. Then, his health having failed as a result of army service, he went to Gaines, Mich., where he engaged in real estate and mercantile business un- til his death on July 8, 1869. He married Theresa D. Hadcock of Stockbridge, N. Y., on June 3, 1861, and they had one son Henry, who is engaged in the manufacture of felt in Chicago. Henry married Catherine Silverthorne of Chicago and they have four children: Henry, Frances de Ferrier, Julia Belle and William Silverthorne. Mrs. Faurot was a daughter of John and Nancy Hadcock who were among the first settlers of Stockbridge. He was a farmer and settled on a farm which has since been in the family; he was agent for the Indians for a number of years; was a Dem- ocrat in politics and captain of State militia. He and his wife had ten children of whom six are now living. Mrs. Faurot and her sister, L. Jeannette Hadcock, have the old homestead of two hundred acres and follow dairying and hop raising.

Fisk, David L., p. o. North Brookfield, N. Y., was born in Brookfield, January 1, 1829. John Fisk, great-grandfather of David L., was born in Worcester, Mass., on August 16, 1749, and on August 30, 1777, he was married to Irena Buck. His build- ings were burned during the Revolutionary war while he was in the service. David,

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

son of John, was born in Worcester, November 12, 1782, and came to Brookfield in 1797, and his son Dennison, father of David L., was born in Brookfield in 1807, and was married to Polly P., daughter of John Bush (who lived and died in Sangerfield, N. Y.); they were members of the M. E. Church; he died March 7, 1883, and his widow January 6, 1892. David L. Fisk was eduated at Brookfield Academy, Ham- ilton Academy and De Ruyter Institute. Mr. Fisk is a farmer, operating 300 acres of land, chiefly devoted to hop culture. He has been a lifelong Republican, has been justice of the peace many years, justice of sessions one term, county coro- ner for some years, and in 1871 served as member of assembly. He is a member of Hamilton Lodge No. 120, F. & A. M., and of Cyrus Chapter No. 50, R. A. M. He was married to Frances E. Green of Brookfield, February 24, 1880.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, Part 72

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company Number of Pages: 960

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 960