USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 81
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Sawyer, Ambrose E., was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y., August 16, 1838, a son of Rev. Elisha Sawyer, a Baptist clergyman, and Clarissa (Baker) Saw- yer. He was educated in the public schools and at the Parma Institute, Parma, N. Y. For some years he followed the profession of teaching, and subsequently became engaged in business in both eastern and western New York. He served two years in the 13th N. Y. Volunteers during the Civil war; was taken sick in Virginia and sent to the hospital where he suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever. In 1875 he was elected school commissioner of Jefferson county, which office he held six years. In 1879 he formed one of a syndicate of five in purchasing Round Island in the St.
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Lawrence River and in forming what is known as Round Island Park. This com- pany was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, and Mr. Sawyer became its secretary, continuing until 1888, when he, with his associates, sold their holdings to New York capitalists. With L. V. Rathbun, he purchased the Oneida flouring mills in 1888. The mill was then in poor condition, the equipment being antiquated and practically useless. They at once introduced the most modern machinery and made other improvements in the property, with the result that this plant is now one of the most perfect in Central New York, and the business one of the important enterprises of Madison county. In March, 1893, the Rathbun-Sawyer Company was incorpor- ated with a capital stock of $50,000. Mr. Sawyer serves as vice-president, treasurer, and local manager, giving his entire time to the business. Mr. Sawyer is well known to the business community as a man of ability and integrity. He has been for many years an official member of the Baptist church, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Frances E. Cox, of Byron, Genesee county, and two children were born to them. Both his wife and children are now deceased. In the spring of 1899, he married Miss Alice Lincoln Decker, daughter of A. L. Decker of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Scheifele, George L., was born in Verona, Oneida county, N. Y., February 1, 1865, son of John and Elizabeth (Uhl) Scheifele. His parents, who were both natives of Germany, came to this country in the early fifties and settled first in Oneida, thence removing to the town of Verona. Mr. Scheifele was educated in the Oneida public schools, and for a period of three years was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Douglass & Cowles. In the fall of 1887 he began the grocery business for himself, forming a partnership with Adam Neir under the firm name of Neir & Scheifele which continued about eighteen months. Mr. Scheifele then sold his interest and associated in a similar business with F. B. Petrie, (Scheifele & Petrie). Mr. Petrie retired from this firm in 1894, and since that time Mr. Scheifele has continued the business alone. He has been at his present location eleven years. Mr. Scheifele has served two years as village trustee, 1896-97; he is a member of the K. O. T. M. and of Eumenia Lodge of Odd Fellows. He married, October 14, 1892, Mary E. Wilbur, daughter of Samuel Wilbur of Fenner. Of this union are two children: Mildred and Harry.
Scott, Henry, son of Samuel and Rosina Scott, was born in Cazenovia, June 25, 1828. His father came from Ireland when a young man and worked for John Linck- laen until he bought a farm in the town of Nelson, where he lived one summer, then bought the farm on which Henry now lives, and died there May 15, 1876. His chil- dren were Willis, Helen, John, Charles, Walter, and Cyrus (deceased), Henry, Jona- than, Lucinda of Cazenovia and Andrew of Minnesota. Henry Scott was educated in the district schools and has always followed farming, having a farm of 130 acres three miles south of Cazenovia village on which he was born. In politics Mr. Scott is a Democrat and well known in this vicinity as a man of strict integrity. On Sep- tember 19, 1871, he married Polexina Slocum, who died March 6, 1897.
Stebbins, John, son of Hon. Charles and Eunice (Masters) Stebbins, was born in
h
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Cazenovia, October 20, 1825, aud resided there all his life. He was a lineal descend- ant of Rowland Stebbins, who came from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled in Springfield, Mass., later removing to Northampton. The family, it will thus be seen, were of old Puritan stock; many representatives were prominent in the earlier Indian wars and in the wars of the Revolution and of 1812. John Stebbins's father was one of the earlier residents of this vicinity, whither he had removed from Massachusetts in 1810. He entered the law office of Hon. Perry G. Childs and was admitted to the bar in 1813. On the maternal side John Stebbins came of remote English ancestry. His maternal grandfather, Hon. Josiah Masters, was a prominent citizen of Schaghti- coke, Rensselaer county, and held several positions of public trust, serving as county judge, member of assembly, and congressman. Mr. Stebbins was educated in his native town and at the Bartlett collegiate institution, Poughkeepsie. For many years he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods and also gave some attention to farming. He was for a time president and superintendent of the Chittenango Turnpike Company and later superintendent of the Cazenovia and Canastota rail- road. He was for a number of terms a trustee and also president of the village of Cazenovia; served the town as supervisor in 1858, 1859, 1882, and 1883 and from 1878 to 1881, and from 1884 to 1890 was assistant State superintendent of public works, having under his direct supervision the middle division of the Erie Canal ex- tending from the west side of Oneida county to Wayne county, and including the Oswego, Cayuga, Seneca, and Black River Canals. Mr. Stebbins married, in 1860, Katharine Fairchild, daughter of Sidney T. Fairchild, and they had two daughters: Katharine, wife of J. H. Ten Eyck Burr, and Helen Lucy, wife of Arthur W. Ken- nard of Boston, Mass. Mr. Stebbins died at Boston, Mass., April 29, 1892, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.
Fairchild, Sidney T., who died in Cazenovia, February 16, 1889, in the eighty-first year of his age, was for many years a leading member of the New York bar. He was born in Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., November 15, 1808, a son of John F. and Flavia (Merrill) Fairchild. He was educated at Cazenovia Seminary and at Hamilton and Union Colleges, graduating from the latter in 1829. He began his legal work with Childs & Stebbins of Cazenovia, and later studied under Joshua A. Spencer at Utica, where he was admitted to the bar in 1831, and began practice in association with E. P. Hurlbut. In 1835 he returned to Cazenovia and formed a law partnership with Charles Stebbins. Both gained a reputation as corporation lawyers and in 1858 Mr. Fairchild became general attorney of the New York Central railroad company, having his office at Albany. He was also a director, secretary and treas- urer of the Third Great Western Turnpike Company. During the last twenty-five years of its existence he was a director of the Madison County Bank, trustee for many years of the Union Trust Company of New York, and president for a time of the Cazenovia and Canastota railroad company. Mr. Fairchild's politics were Dem- ocratic, and he was a valued worker in the party, the friend and adviser of Cleve- land, Cassidy, Hoffman, Richmond, Seymour, and Tilden. Notwithstanding all of this he never sought political preferment and never held a public office except that of clerk and president of his village. In this brief notice we could not give adequate mention of his personal character. He was a man of modest and unassuming tastes
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and without a spark of personal vanity. It is enough to say that he is remembered in Cazenovia as a man of absolute integrity and justice. Mr. Fairchild married, in 1834, Helen Childs, second daughter of Hon. Perry G. Childs. Three children were born to them: Katharine, who married John Stebbins of Cazenovia; Charles S., late secretary of the United States treasury; and Sophia, who married Rev. T. G. Jack- son.
Shute, George S., was born in Chittenango, February 24, 1842, a son of Stephen and Caroline (Parmlee) Shute. The family is of New England stock, Stephen Shute, having been a native of Bridgeport, Madison county, where several generations of the family lived and died. At the time of his death Stephen Shute, a cultured and earnest educator, was an instructor in Cazenovia Seminary. On the maternal side Mr. Shute descends from Moses Parmlee, remembered as one of the leading business men of his time in this region and Chittenango. Mr. Shute was educated at the Chittenango polytechnic institute and Cazenovia district schools. In 1859 he com- menced to drive the stage from Cazenovia to the New York Central railroad at Chittenango, a distance of twelve miles. Three stages made this trip daily, the first mail leaving Cazenovia at 5:30 A. M., and the last arriving at 8:00 P. M. This line was owned by Keller & Hubbard and he drove a stage on it until the latter part of 1860, when he went on the line from Cazenovia to Syracuse, where he remained until 1865, H. J. Mowry proprietor. He then drove a stage to Chittenango until the rail- road was built, and then went into the employ of O. W. Sage, for whom he worked several years. November 18, 1876, Mr. Shute established his present stage line and baggage transfer in Cazenovia village, and has now conducted it for a period of over twenty two years. By virtue of his life-long employment in this vocation he has be- come well known to both residents of and visitors to Cazenovia, and has many friends. He married Harriet Rogers, a daughter of John Rogers, and a member of a family of early settlers near Chittenango. Four sons and one daughter have been born to them. He still has one of the old fashioned Concord coaches in his posses- sion such as were used in the early days.
Sheldon, E. B., p. o. Hamilton, was born near Madison village, Madison county, N. Y., December 18, 1855, a son of William P., and Adeline (Beebe) Sheldon, and has lived in Hamilton since his boyhood. He was educated here and afterwards spent four years in the west. Returning to Hamilton at the age of twenty-one years, he embarked in the grocery business, which he has since successfully con- ducted and has to-day the leading grocery establishment in Hamilton and vicinity. He is also builder and owner of the fine opera block, which he erected after the fire of 1895. Mr. Sheldon is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Odd Fellows, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the progressive, enter- prising men to whom Hamilton owes its beauty and prosperity. He married Katie Piotrow, of Hamilton, and they have two children: Frederica and Victor.
Smith, Adon N., p. o. Hamilton, one of the enterprising business men of Hamil- ton, was born in that village and educated in the public schools of that place and New York. He began the active business of life as a clerk, in which capacity he
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passed seven years, when he embarked in the grocery business in Hamilton and con- ducted it three years. He then ran a mill and feed business seven years, when he established his present hardware house, the leading one in Hamilton. Mr. Smith has long been an important factor in the business and public life of Hamilton. He was trustee of the village eight years and has been president of the school board nine years. He is also vice-president of the National Hamilton Bank and has occu- pied that position since 1892. He is a prominent Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, Norwich Commandery, Knights Templar, Ziyara Temple, Mystic Shrine and Veiled Prophets. Mr. Smith married Ella J. Tompkins; their children are Adon, Philip T., Alice I., Herbert I., and Le Roy F. Mr. Smith's par- ents were J. D. F. and Martha (Snow) Smith. His grandmother was a daughter of Rufus King, whose name is familiar in connection with both the Revolutionary war and King Philip's war.
Southworth, O. W., p. o. Brookfield, N. Y., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., July 28, 1843, a son of Horace Southworth. He obtained his education in Leonards- ville, N. Y. His chief occupation has been the manufacture of revolving horserakes. He resides on a farm of forty acres near the village of Brookfield; he also owns a farm of 175 acres, on which perhaps is the best barn in the town; he is also engaged in the sale of wall paper. He is a Prohibitionist, and firm in his advocacy of tem - perance principles. On July 2, 1882, Mr. Southworth was married to Bertha Hill; they have had three children: Wallace H., born September 22 1883; Wiot C., born August 23, 1885, died in 1895; and Eva May, born December 20, 1894. Mrs. South- worth is a member of the M. E. church, which the members of the family attend.
Stanbro, William, p. o Brookfield, N. Y., was born in that place, July 24, 1865. He is a grandson of Peleg Stanbro (born in Stonington, Conn., March 28, 1790,) who came to Brookfield when a young man, was married to Rhoda Collins, a native of Rhode Island (born August 19, 1798, died December 21, 1849), and lived in Brook- field till his death, March 2, 1888. William Stanboro, son of Peleg and father of William, the subject of this sketch, was born in Brookfield, October 15, 1829. He was one of the leading farmers of the town, cultivating 416 acres of land. He was a prominent member of the Republican party in his town, serving as assessor twelve years, supervisor seven years, justice of the peace four years, and many years on the Republican county committee. He was a member of Brookfield Lodge No. 632, I. O. O. F. In 1852 he was married to Phoebe, daughter of Hoxie Collins, who bore him six children: Elmer, J. Duane, and Jennie, (all deceased,) William, Frank, and Jay (deceased). Mrs. Stanbro died in 1872, and he was married to Esther Palmiter; he died June 16, 1898. William Stanbro, jr., was educated in Brookfield union school, taught school four winters, was a cheese maker three seasons, and is now engaged in farming, living on the homestead and keeping about fifty head of cattle. He is a Republican, has represented his town in county conventions and at present is a jus- tice of the peace. In 1886 he was married to Maud Poppleton of Brookfield; of their union there are are three children, Leon E., Jennie E. and William Hallard.
Southworth, Oscar L., M. D., p. o. Leonardsville, N. Y., was born at Edmeston,
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Otsego county, N. Y., July 21, 1839, a son of Horace and Sophronia (Crumb) South- worth. He is a representative of the fifth generation from the original Southworths who emigrated from England to Plymouth, Mass., in 1628. Joseph Southworth, grandfather of the Doctor, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Ed- meston. Horace Southworth, father of the Doctor, was born April 30, 1809. He was a prominent temperance man, a Whig, and later an Abolitionist; was a Captain in the Militia; and cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison. He was an excellent mechanic, and was engaged in the extensive manufacture and sale of farming implements. He was married to Sophronia, daughter of Joseph Crumb, one of the first settlers of Plainfield, N. Y. Their children were Horace, jr., Lucy A. (both deceased), Susan L., Oscar Lemuel, and Orville W. Dr. O. L. Southworth received his primary education at South Trenton Academy, after which he worked on a farm for his father one year and was engaged as clerk in a store at Leonards- ville for several years, paying over the principal part of his wages for that time for the support of his parents. At the age of twenty-three he began the study of medi- cine with D. Chauncey Perkins, of Columbus, N. Y .; and in 1866 was graduated from the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, since which time he has been in active practice at Leonardsville, and has been eminently successful. In 1867 he be- came a member of the Eclectic Medical Society and later served as its vice-president. He is a Mason, a Republican, is president of the Board of Education of Leonardsville Union School, and served as Supervisor of Plainfield, Otsego county, in 1885 and 1886. October 2, 1862, Dr. Southworth was married to Isiphire J., daughter of Dr. Chaun- cey Perkins. They have one son, Horace C., who, after graduating from Leonards- ville School, entered the Medical Department of the University New York City; at the end of two years failing health compelled him to forego his studies, but after recover- ing his health, resumed his studies, and graduated at the Medical Department of the University of Chicago. He is also a registered pharmacist, of admitted ability, and a member of the N. Y. State Pharmaceutical Association. At present he is meeting with success in the manufacture and sale of Dr. Southworth's Remedies, and in treating cases by correspondence. He was married to Maud Burdick, and they have one daughter, Mertie Lee.
Stoddard, S. J., p. o. Merrillsville, was born in Lenox, Madison county, October 30, 1847, a son of Preston M., and grandson of Mitchell Stoddard, a native of Eng- land, born June 30, 1792. Preston M. Stoddard was born in Madison county, May 1, 1815. He was a carpenter by trade, and a farmer. He married Diantha Strong, born May 16, 1820, in Connecticut, a daughter of Alexander Strong, mentioned in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard had twelve children: Anna L., born January 1, 1843, died September 25, 1851; Mitchell P., born December 25, 1844, died April 7, 1899; Thaddeus A., born February 25, 1846, was a soldier in the Civil war: Schuyler J. (as above); William D., born February 12, 1849, died November 1, 1874; Albert W., born May 1, 1850; Emma L., born October 3, 1851, married E. O. Moore of Sid- ney; Alvin, born August 1, 1853, died in infancy; Ciara A., born March 23, 1855, died July 12, 1872; Joseph D., born September 23, 1856; Edward, born June 28, 1858; and Hattie M., born March 8, 1860, wife of De Forest Rutman of Syracuse. Mr. Stoddard died February 24, 1875, and his wife October 29, 1888. Schuyler J. Stod-
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dard was educated in the common schools and is a farmer. He owns 146 acres where he lives and forty-four in the town of Oneida. December 22, 1874, he married Ellen A., daughter of Emerson Stone. Mrs. Stoddard was educated in Oneida Seminary and taught for four years; she is a writer for the Oneida Union. They had three children: Nora D., born March 23, 1876, educated at Peterboro Academy, and taught school five years, and on December 22, 1898, married Frank Moon; Grove S., born October 27, 1878, at home; and Harry D., born May 11, 1882. Mr. Stoddard is an ardent Democrat and has been assessor of Lincoln one year, being one of the first of the town, and was highway commissioner one term. Mrs. Stoddard's grandfather, Joseph Stone, came from Hadley, Mass., and was one of the pioneers of the town of Lincoln. He married Wealthy Bennett and they had six children, of whom four are now living. Both were members of the M. E. church and spent their last days in Lincoln. Emerson Stone was born in Lincoln, and carried on farming; at the time of his death he was owner of 266 acres of land, having accumulated his own property. In politics he was a Republican. In 1846 be married Diana Ward, born in Massachusetts, a daughter of Haden and Chloe (Ward), natives of Massachusetts, and who were early settlers of Lincoln. He was a leader in the M. E. church for many years. Emerson Stone and wife had four children: Edwin, born in Novem- ber, 1847, died in infancy; Dwight, born November 26, 1849; Ellen, born March 22, 1853; and Elnora, born November 17, 1857, and died at the age of ten. Mr. Stone died May 21, 1891, and his wife December 10, 1883.
Sabine, A. M., p. o. West Eaton .- Ethan Sabine was one of the early settlers in Lebanon, to which town he came from the East. He was a farmer and worthy citi- zen; he died in 1830. His children were Phoebe, Ezra, Chester, Stephen and Alonzo Sabine. Ezra was born January 4, 1806, and died July 17, 1871. His wife was Harriet Wadsworth, by whom he had seven children: Henry E., Sullivan, Austin M., Harriet E., Phoebe C., Caroline A., and Ann O. Sabine, all of whom except one grew to maturity and raised families, but of whom only Austin M. lives in this county. He was born in Lebanon, July 10, 1833, and came to live in Eaton in 1854. In 1859 he bought the Miles farm of eighty acres on which he has since lived. On April 6, 1856, he married Elgirtha Wilcox, by whom he has four children living: George W., Lena M., Gertie E., and Austin M. Sabine, jr. George W. married Cora M. Suits; Lena M. married George Sternberg; Gertie E. married Frank E. Tooker. Isaiah Wilcox, one of the early settlers in this region, was born in Rhode Island. He married Amanda Darrow and in 1853 settled in Eaton where both afterward lived and died. Their children were Ethel B., Morris, Elgirtha, Lester H., and Mary F.
Stebbins, H. L., p. o. Hamilton .- Gilbert Stebbins was born in Wilbraham, Mass., March 11, 1769, and was one of the pioneers in Madison, as the history of that town shows, though the exact year of his settlement is not now recalled. He had two children: Betsey and William. The latter married Nancy Murdock; their children were Rufus L., Betsey H., William E., Nelson G., and Hamilton M. Rufus Stebbins married Sarah M. Woodard, July 11, 1827, and both spent their early married life on the old Stebbins home farm. Later on they removed to Hamilton, where Mr. Steb- bins was a cabinet maker and undertaker, as well as farmer. He died December 18,
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1891, and is remembered as being a generous and public spirited man ; a prominent Mason and worthy citizen. His only child was Horace L. Stebbins, born May 28, 1850, a prosperous farmer in Eaton. His wife was Ella C. Ackley, by whom he has two children: William A., and Alice M.
Sherman, William C., p. o. West Eaton .- Knowles Sherman was born in New Leb- anon, Columbia county, and about, or soon after 1820 settled in Nelson, west of Erie- ville. He was then a young man and well equipped with determination to open and develop a new farm. In this he was successful, but died when only thirty-seven years old. His wife was Amanda, daughter of Cyrus Finney of Eaton. Their chil- dren were William C., Elias, Seth, Henry G., Eunice, and one other who died in infancy. After the death of Mr. Sherman his widow remarried and went west and the only member of this old and respected family now living in this county is Wil- liam C. Sherman of West Eaton. He was born in Nelson, September 7, 1824, and has always been a farmer. At the age of twenty-three he went to Chenango county and began his life work there. On January 12, 1848, he married Amanda Leonard, daughter of Abial Leonard of Lebanon. Of this marriage two children have been born: Theresa, who married Edwin Stanton, and Addie, who married Clarence Brown. Mr. Sherman began life with small means and by industry and frugality gained a comfortable property. In Eaton he is a highly respected and worthy citi- zen. Abial Leonard came to this county from Mayfield, N. Y., in 1836, and worked in several places before settling in Georgetown. He later on lived at Lebanon Cen- ter and died there about ten years ago. He was a blacksmith by trade and an hon- est industrious man. By his first marriage he had one son, Joseph; his second wife was Lois Hall, by whom his children were Amanda (Mrs. William C. Sherman), Ade- line (Mrs. William Morris). Oresta (Mrs. Elias Sherman), Emeline (Mrs. Russell Sherman), and Mary (Mrs. Devillo Robinson, and later Mrs. Sidney Dart).
Stafford, Norman, was born in the town of Fenner, February 10, 1840. His father, Joseph Stafford, jr., was also born in the town of Fenner, where his father, Joseph Stafford, settled in 1815. Joseph Stafford, jr., married Cornelia, daughter of Ste- phen Hill, and through life was engaged in farming; he died in 1846. Norman Stafford was educated in Peterboro and Cazenovia, entering into partnership with his father and brother in farming and dealing in stock. In 1873 he formed a part- nership with W. H. Patten for the manufacture of horse rakes at Clockville, having an output of 300 rakes and employing ten men in that year, and in 1898 an output of 8,000 and employing 100 men, the firm now being located in Oneida, where their business is one of the leading industries of Madison county. In 1873 Mr. Stafford married Nettie, daughter of William Smith, who died in 1878; later he married Jen- nie, daughter of George Bull. Mr. Stafford is one of the progressive men of Madison county, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious institutions. He was a member of the board of education for nine years, of the water board eight years, president of the village in 1898 and 1899 and vice-president of the State Bank.
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