USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 93
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Bruce, Major Thaddeus, was born in Massachusetts, and the family trace their descent from Robert Bruce of Scotland. He married Nancy Dana. Joseph Bruce came to the town of Canastota in 1800, and married Maria, daughter of John D. Nellis. He was a prominent merchant and farmer of his town; was appointed major in 1812, and went to Sackett's Harbor. He took an active interest in school and church matters, and died in 1872. Joseph W. Bruce was educated in the common schools and Cazenovia Seminary. In 1856 he married Caroline, daughter of Seth Starr, and they have one daughter, Mrs. Alfred E. Dew. Mr. Bruce is one of the leading men of his town, a practical and successful farmer, and is interested in all public matters. He received the nomination for governor of the State of New York from the Prohibition party in 1895. He is recognized as a man of conservative char- acter who has ever received and merited the respect of his associates.
Pennock, Charles F., p. o. Chittenango, only surviving son of the late Ebenezer
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Pennock, was born at Chittenango in 1854, where he still resides. His father w_ born in 1821, in Washington county, son of Samuel Pennock of German nativity, who at an early date settled in the vicinity of Perryville when twenty years of age. Ebenezer Pennock purchased a small farm near Chittenango, which became a nucleus for the really vast domain of which he was possessed at his decease in 1896, at seventy-five years of age. His operations in the acquisition and management of large pieces of adjacent realty were almost marvelous. An indefatigable worker, he was yet a kind and charitable citizen and left a cherished name in the community. One of the promoters and organizers of the Chittenango Cotton Company, once a large and flourishing concern, he was for many years its president. It is of interest to note that his estates hereabout comprised no less than 4,600 acres. Prior to the use of coal as fuel by the New York Central Railread he furnished it with large quantities of suitable wood; in one single season 36,000 cords. Miss Annie Coats, now deceased, became his wife, at Fayetteville, in 1851. Mr. Pennock found little time for political activity. An unswerving Democrat, he served several terms as supervisor of his town.
Blair, Alvan, was born of a Scottish family January 20, 1798, in Blandford, Mass. He came with his parents to the town of Nelson in 1810, when but a youth. In the war of 1812, when sixteen years of age, he went as a substitute for his uncle, John Knox, of the town of Nelson, who was drafted to defend our northern frontier. He went to Sacketts' Harbor and remained in the service until relieved by General Brown's army from Fort Niagara, when the drafted men were discharged. Some years after he married Vernera Brooks, daughter of Roger Brooks, of the town of Nelson. There were born to them thirteen children, twelve living to maturity, one dying at birth unnamed. The eldest child, Ezra K., died in 1898 through a very sad railroad accident; Oran A. died in 1896; Sarah died in 1890; William C. owns and lives on the old homestead in the town of Cazenovia, one mile south of the village; Harriet A. resides in the village; Ellen A. married J. M. Lyman, and resides in Toledo, Ohio; Rollin K. lives at the homestead; M. Lewis, married, resides in Scran- ton Pa., was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, going from Luzerne county, Pa., as captain of a company he raised. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg and the Wilderness, and others. He was promoted to major of volunteers in the national guard of Pennsylvania. Marcia V. Blair married J. J. Darrow of West Eaton, N. Y. She died in 1880, leaving five daughters, one following her in less than two weeks. The eldest, Laura, is wife of E. C. Palmer, a leading merchant in Cort- land, N. Y. Carrie B. is the wife of Prof. Ernest Merritt, of Southington, Conn. Elizabeth V. is a student in Syracuse University. Deigracia B. is a student in Mid- dleton University, Conn. The two latter graduated with honors in Cazenovia Sem- inary. M. Sophia Blair resides in Toledo, Ohio. Frances O. and O. Jennie reside at the homestead, where they were born. Alvan Blair held many minor offices in the town of Nelson, besides was a noted school teacher, having taught twenty suc- cessive terms of school in Nelson town, and one at Erieville in what is called the Temple district. He often had 100 names on his school roll. He was a successful business man and died at his home in Cazenovia, where he had lived since 1844. His death occurred on the morning of his wife's funeral. He was eighty-five years lacking a few days. His wife was eighty years. They were buried in a double
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grave, not separated even in death. He was much respected for his integrity and honor and his magnaminity; he had no egotism.
Root, Samuel, who died in Cazenovia, August 22, 1891, in the seventy-first year of his age, was for many years a substantial farmer and leading business man of the town of Cazenovia. He was born in 1820 in the town of Fenner, a son of Edward and Hannah (Turner) Root. He was a member of an old New England family, rep- resentatives of which were among the first settlers of this region. His grandmother, Nancy Turner, was the second white woman to come to Cazenovia Mr. Root was educated in the schools of Fenner and at Cazenovia Seminary. He was engaged in farming all his life, but also interested in other business enterprises and was one of the pioneer cheese manufacturers in the county. In politics he was a strong Repub- lican, but could never be induced to accept public office. He married Miss Sarah Comstock, daughter of Zephaniah Comstock, and four children were born to them: Charles Z. (deceased), Anna Averill, wife of Dr. J. F. Place of Binghamton, N. Y. ; Martha of Cazenovia, and Sarah Grace (deceased).
Lowe, C. H. S., was born in Amber Settlement, Chenango county, N. Y., March 5, 1860, a son of James and Hannah R. Lowe, who were both born in England. James was born in Norfolk county, January 26, 1838. Hannah R. was born April 9, 1836. He came to America with his parents, Thomas and Martha, at the age of twelve years. Thomas Lowe was for many years a shepherd in his own country. James Lowe began work at the age of thirteen years for a Mr. Hazeltine, a tanner and currier. He afterwards went to Chenango county and secured a position in the tannery of Hiram Smith of Norwich, N. Y., afterwards bought a tannery in a place called Grey Brooks, N. Y., and in 1860 he became agent for a publishing house and traveled on the road selling books for three years. He then signed a contract to furnish the Auburn States Prison with wood for the manufacture of planes. At the expiration of that time he came to Munnsville, N. Y., and the following three years was en- gaged as a butcher, where his son, C. H. S., helped him. Later he and C. H. S. Lowe entered the furniture and undertaking business, C. H. S. Lowe doing the un- dertaking business. Dropping the former business, they substituted hardware and jewelry. C. H. S. Lowe, then at the age of fifteen, began learning the jeweler's trade; they remained partners for twelve years, then C. H. S. Lowe entered into the gen- eral mercantile business with his father and brother-in-law (Henry Freeman), under the firm name of Lowe, Freeman & Co. One year later C. H. S. Lowe entered into the jewelry business for himself in the Cook block, remaining there one year, then moved to Holly, Mich., with his wife and family of three children, two boys and one girl (George S. Lowe, born October 29, 1882; Harry C., born August 12, 1885; Ena S., born September 25, 1888), where C. H. S. Lowe remained for five years, after which he returned to Munnsville and remained with his father until his death, which oc- curred February 28, 1898, after which C. H. S. Lowe succeeded his father in a gen- eral mercantile business and in connection with the same did repairing of watches, bicycles and guns; being a natural mechanic he could turn his hand to all kinds of repairing. December 8, 1898, Mr. Lowe married Winnifred M. Lowe for his second wife. Mr. Lowe's maternal grandfather, E. J. Hostler, was born in England in 1817;
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at one time Mr. Hostler was owner and manager of the flour and saw mill at Stock- bridge, N. Y. He moved to Oquawka, Ill., and owned a large farm; he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. D. D. Devore, May 17, 1899. C. H. S. Lowe is a Repub- lican in politics; is a member of Prosperity Lodge, No. 484, Adieno Encampment, No. 115, and Canton Oneida, No. 34, P. M.
Coley, Joseph the great-grandfather of Franklin R., Judson O., and Charles H. Perkins, was born 1765 in London, England, where his father was a jeweler. In 1773, when Joseph was about eight years old, his father moved from London and settled in Johnstown, New York. Here he cleared a farm and resided for some time. Joseph Coley, married Mary Willess and moved to Saratoga county, where they oc- cupied a farm for a few years. Soon after they moved to the town of De Ruyter, Madison county, and purchased a farm which included the spot since known as the "De Ruyter Springs." The family resided here until 1806, when they moved to New Woodstock in the town of Cazenovia. Here he purchased and cleared a valu- able farm. On the 15th of August, 1810, Joseph Coley was ordained as a minister in the Baptist denomination and became quiet prominent as a preacher and pastor. After one revival in the town of Eaton he baptized forty converts. Here he organ- ized a church in 1816, and was its first pastor. The old records show that he did ex- cellent work in several churches of Madison county. His wife Mary died September 30, 1845, at the age of 77. After the death of his wife, Rev. Joseph Coley lived with his son William at New Woodstock, until his death, September 25, 1856, at the age of ninety-one. Ten children were born to Joseph and Mary Willess Coley. One an infant in the cradle, perished when the log house was burned, during their residence in De Ruyter. The remaining nine children, viz. : Willess, Betsey, Polly, Nancy, Laura, Clarissa, William, J. Madison with his wife composed the family of Joseph Coley while he resided in New Woodstock. Nancy Coley the mother of Willess C. and Wilson L. Perkins was born May 9, 1795.
Abiezer Perkins, another great-grandfather of Franklin R., Judson O.,and Charles H. Perkins was born near Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1754, and in 1781, he was married to Irene Loomis, and in 1803 he came through the woods with his family to the town of Cazenovia, and settled on a farm which he had previously purchased, about two and one-half miles south of Cazenovia village. The school district is still known as the " Perkins District." At that time the farm was thickly covered with heavy timber, and a line of marked trees indicated the pathway leading past his new home. He cleared the land and resided upon this farm until his death, which oc- curred September 20, 1825, at the age of seventy-one; his wife, Irene Loomis, lived eleven years after his death, and died September 6, 1836. They were both members of the Baptist church. Abiezer Perkins was a deacon in the Baptist church for many years. "Near him the well remembered Perkins School House was built, in which the early religious meetings of the Baptist church of Cazenovia village were held." One of his sons taught school in this log school house. Seven children were born to Abiezer and Irene Loomis Perkins, viz .: Byram, Jeduthun, Eliab, Polly, Sally, Elemander and Stillman.
Elemander, the fourth son, was born September 13, 1792, and on the 9th of May,
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1813, at the age of twenty-one, he married Nancy Coley, before mentioned, who was at the time of their marriage eighteen years of age. After their marriage they re- sided several years in the family of Deacon Abiezer Perkins, where on the 5th of De- cember, 1814, Willess C. was born and on the 8th of October, 1816, Wilson L. was born. Elemander Perkins, with his wife and two sons, moved to the farm then re: cently purchased by his father-in-law, the Rev. Joseph Coley, about one-half mile farther south on the De Ruyter road, which he carried on for several years, occupy- ing the same house with his father-in-law. In the autumn of 1824 Elemander pur- chased a farm of about seventy acres, located on the hill about one and one-half miles from Cazenovia, on the road leading from Rippleton to Delphi. He moved with his family on to this place in the spring of 1825. The scenery of this place is delightful; beautiful for situation. The stately elms are now standing which were set out by Elemander and his two sons many years ago. Here was born on the 26th of April, 1830, the only daughter, Mary Irene. She was married, December 20, 1847, at the age of seventeen, to Charles J. Halliday, and died the following year, October 10, 1848. Elemander continued to reside here until his death on the 10th of April, 1854, in his sixty-second year of his age. His widow, Nancy Coley, survived him many years in vigorous activity, but after a short illness died December 21, 1876, aged eighty-one years. The two brothers, Willess C. and Wilson L., lived and worked together, with the exception of a brief period, until Willess C. died March 17, 1890, nearly seventy-six years of age. By continued industry and faithful atten- tion to business they added from time to time to the original farm until they owned and cultivated about 500 acres, which they held in common. Willess C. was never
married; he was a very genial, social man, His close attention to farm work and the vigor of his life have been rarely equalled. Wilson L., at the age of twenty-four, on March 11, 1840, was married to Lucretia Rice, daughter of Isaac and Anna Rice of Cazenovia. At the time of her marriage she was in the twenty-second year of her age. They lived on the hill in the family of Elemander Perkins, before mentioned, where on May 6, 1841, Franklin R. was born. On the 17th of the same month the young wife and mother passed on to the better land. On May 1, 1843, Wilson L. was married to Sarah M., daughter of Mason and Rhoda Salisbury, of Cortland, N. Y. She was twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage. They lived in Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., for a short time, but returned to the town of Cazenovia and lived on the farm which the brothers, Willess C. and Wilson L. had then recently purchased from the David Billings estate, situated on the De Ruyter road and adjoining on the
south the farm owned by their father, Elemander. Here on the 10th of October, 1847, was born to them a son, Judson O., and on the 31st of March, 1850, was born another son, Charles H. On August 1st 1853, the husband was again left a widower and his children left without a mother and another faithful christian life was closed to this world forever. Shortly after this sad event, Wilson L., with his three sons returned to the old home on the hill, where, with his mother and brother, all lived as one family. On the 28th of October, 1856, Wilson L. was married to Sophia E. May, of Akron, Ohio, granddaughter of Luke and Patience May, of Cazenovia, in the twenty-first year of her age. Wilson L., died July 10, 1896, nearly eighty years of age. He had great integrity of character, strong conviction and remarkable busi- ness sagacity. The eldest son of the family, Franklin R., graduated at Cazenovia Seminary in 1860. He soon began the study of law in the office of Charles Stebbins
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Jr., Cazenovia, and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1864. In the same year he was commissioned as captain of Company E, in the Twenty-second regi- ment of N. Y. V. Cavalry and served in that regiment in the war of the Rebellion until January, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He returned to the study of law and in August, 1866, he commenced the practice of law in Buffalo, N. Y. He served two successive terms, from January 1. 1872 to Janunry 1, 1876, as city attorney of that place. Besides his extensive practice, he has been the attorney for the A. L. Barber Asphalt Paving Company, of New York, for several years. On the 10th of May, 1876, he was married to S. Louise Wright, daughter of William W., and Eleanor Wright, of Buffalo, N. Y. Six children were born to these parents. Three daughters died in childhood, Irene when quite young; Lulu at twelve years of age; and Doris, the last two within two weeks of each other. Three daughters are living, Marion, Eleanor and Rachel. The second son of this family, Judson O., was a student for some time at Cazenovia Seminary, entered Madi- son (now Colgate) University in the fall of 1868 and graduated with the class of 1872. He took the first prize in oratory in his junior year, and on account of excellent scholarship became a member of the famous old Phi Beta Kappa Society, when a chapter was instituted at Madison University in 1878. He graduated from the Hamilton Theological Seminary in 1874. He was ordained as a Baptist minister at North Bay, Oneida county, N.Y., while a student, December 30, 1873. He was pastor of the Baptist church in Copenhagen, Lewis county, for eleven years and during six years of this time, in addition to his church work, was principal of " Perkins Academy." He has been pastor in Chittenango, N. Y., for over eight years and during this time took a post-graduate course in Syracuse University, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1889. He has been pastor of a large church in the town of Adams, N. Y., and was there president of the public school board for four years. He has assisted a large number of students in their work and awakened many young people to a higher idea of life. He was married to Ella M., daughter of Christopher and Mary Newton, of Cazenovia, N. Y. Three children were born into their home Copenhagen, N. Y., viz .: May L., April 13, 1876; Wilson N., June 25, 1879; Willess C., September 17, 1883. Willess C. died in Copenhagen, N. Y., February 10, 1885. May L. graduated from the Adams Collegiate Institute, June, 1896, and has since taught three years in the home of Hon. F. H. Gates. She is at present attending Cazenovia Seminary. Wilson N. graduated from Colgate Academy in June, 1898, and entered Colgate University in September of the same year. The third son, Charles H., after attending school for some time in Cazenovia, remained at home assisting in the business of the farm. He was married to Alice C., daughter of A. Z. and Polly Kingsley of Hamilton, October 16, 1872. She was twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage. They began housekeeping on the farm in the ' Horace Williams" house. Here on the 15th of July, 1874, Alice C. was born, and on the 28th of September of the same year the young mother died, leaving the new home sad and desolate. Alice C. lived with her grandparents, Wilson L. and Sophia E. Perkins and grew to womanhood on the hill. She graduated from Cazenovia Seminary in June, 1893. On December 2, 1879, Charles H. married his second wife, Charlotte A., only daughter of B. W. and Amanda Taber of Cazenovia. After this mar- riage two sons were born into this home. Wellington Taber was born November 30, 1880, and died August 18, 1881. Charles W. Taber was born August 16, 1882. He is at
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present a student of Cazenovia Seminary. Charles H. and his wife are both active members of the Presbyterian church and are very prominent in temperance work. Wilson L. made a request that the three sons meet at the old home on the hill Janu- ary 9, 1892, and on that day gave Franklin R. the Hendrick de Clercq farm of nearly ninety acres.' He also gave to Judson O. the farm at Rippleton Junction of nearly ninety acres and at the same time gave Charles H. the Billings farm of about one hundred and fifty acres and other valuable real estate. Charles H. has a large brick house and commodious barns on his farm. Franklin R. has fitted up the old historic de Clereq house for a summer residence. At his death Wilson L. left the homestead and one hundred and thirty acres of land to his wife, Sophia E. She moved to Caz- enovia in October, 1896, having lived just forty years in the old house. She now re- sides in the village with Alice C., daughter of Charles H. Perkins. Having resigned his pastorate in Adams, N. Y., Judson O. is at present occupying his home on the hill, overseeing his farm at the Junction and doing some literary work.
Hyatt, Hon. Francis A., p. o. Perryville, was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield county, Conn., August 5, 1828, a son of Aaron S. and Electa (Keeler) Hyatt. His father settled in Madison county in 1832. The first of the Hyatt family to come to this country from England, was Thomas Hyatt, who settled in Stamford Conn., in 1641, and was founder of this branch of the family in America. Francis A. Hyatt began business on the farm in 1850, and has since resided in the town of Fenner. He was elected town clerk in 1856 serving several terms; justice of the peace in 1859 and held that office eight years; was elected road commissioner, but declined to serve; was member of Assembly in 1861 aud again represented the district in the Legislature in 1872; was a delegate to the Republican State conventions of 1861, 1872, 1881, 1882, and 1895, and for many years was a notary public and often employed in the settlement of estates. He is a member of Sullivan Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 148. Mr. Hyatt is one of the best known men in Madison county, a representative citizen and although in a measure retired from active public duty, is still interested in everything pertain- ing to the general welfare of the county. While courteous and liberal in his attitude towards the opinion of others, he holds firmly his own views, and acts upon them in a conscientious manner.
Higinbotham, Niles, who died in Oneida, March 17, 1890, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, was for years one of the foremost citizens of that village and a man who bore the respect and unqualified esteem of the entire community. He was a son of Sands Higinbotham and was born in Vernon, Oneida county, March 9, 1813. In 1827 he was sent by his father to the well known school of Mr. Morse in Hamilton, and at the age of nineteen entered the store of Alexander Seymour at Utica, where he remained about one year. In March, 1834, at the age of twenty-one he entered the store of his uncle, Isaac Carpenter of Ithaca, with whom he later foi med a part- nership. When twenty-four years old he severed his connection, and taking his little fortune went West with his close friend, Samuel Breese. They spent about two years buying large tracts of land which in after years became quite valuable. In the spring of 1840 Mr. Higinbotham and J. P. Manrow took a contract on the old Erie railroad from Oswego to Corning; the railroad company failed in less than two years, owing the young contractors about $100,000, of which they only received
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about $30,000. In the spring of 1849 they received their balance and paid their men in full with interest; Mr. Higinbotham often said that he never knew a prouder day than when these waiting men were paid, Mr. Sands Higinbotham, having bought from the State a large tract of unimproved land where Oneida now stands, had removed thither from Vernon as early as 1834, giving to the village its first im- petus by presenting to the railroad (now the New York Central) lands and right of way, on condition that it should stop all passenger trains at Oneida, a contract ob- served until late in the Fifties. Some years later Niles Higinbotham bought large portions of land here from his father, and in 1844 built and commenced business in the old Goodwin store on Madison street. There he remained as silent partner with his brother-in-law, Mr. Goodwin, for some years. In December, 1851, he organized the Oneida Valley Bank with Sands Higinbotham and Samuel Breese. This was the first bank opened in Oneida, and was incorporated as a State bank in 1852, and as a National bank in 1865. Mr. Higinbotham was elected first president and re- tained that position until the day of his death. There were some traits of character very strongly marked in Mr. Higinbotham even as a young man. To the most trans- parent honesty and uprightness in small, as well as great transactions, he added an independence which made him courageous in striking out for himself in any line of action where his judgment was once convinced as to the duty or reasonableness of the undertaking, and he was persevering and hopeful to a degree which never ad- mitted in his often self-imposed tasks, either weariness or discouragement. These qualities eminently fitted him to join in and carry to even higher fulfillment the plans of his wise and public-spirited father, for whom he had the most beautiful feel- ings of trust and affection. Together they labored for the development of the little hamlet, and even in its early days Oneida began to be known as a busy and public- spirited village, attracting to itself men of integrity and good character. Mr. Hig- inbotham's efforts were put forth in behalf of religion, of education, of increased business and railroad facilities, of wide streets, and town extension on every side. In particular, he labored long and patiently to arouse public interest in the cause of higher education It was one of the deepest wishes of his heart that Oneida should have an academic boarding and day school of the highest order, and he spared neither time, pains or money in the effort to establish the Oneida Seminary on an honorable and scholarly basis. Again and again he came to the rescue when the seminary was in need; started subscriptions, at times guaranteed and even paid from his own purse, the salaries of the teachers, and spent time and thought in securing fine school grounds, a good building, library, and apparatus, and became the per- sonal friend and adviser of the teachers in everything that looked to the better equipment of the school, and the interest of the young people of Oneida and vicin- ity. In these labors were associated with him as trustees of the seminary (which was opened in 1858), such men as Messrs. Breese, Hand, Ellinwood, Goodwin, Stone and others. In everything that he did Mr. Higinbotham had always in his mind to do that which should be best for the poor as well as the rich, and in many unosten- tious ways he gave help to those whom he saw struggling under adverse circum- stances. The park on lower Broad street near the Central railroad, and the lands upon which stood all the church buildings except one, were given by Mr. Higinbot- ham. On March 1, 1874, he was baptized in and united with the Presbyterian church, of which many of his relatives were members, and he was, all his life, a rev-
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