USA > New York > Schuyler County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 27
USA > New York > Seneca County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 27
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The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native village, and received but a limited education in the public school. He was a lad of nine years when his mother died, and at the age of fifteen he went into the mill of Elijah Howell, of Lodi, with whom he remained three years. Afterward he was employed with John Rhodes, of Morell Station, in the grist and shingle mill, and after remaining three years went to the Post Creek Mill, in Chemung County, where he re- mained one year. Later he was with Jonathan Bucher for one year, after which he came to Odessa and took charge of the mill of R. B. Lockhart, which he operated six months, when the son of R. C. Lockhart purchased the mill and our subject continued in its charge for six years. After leaving Odessa, he was employed in vari- ous mills, until finally he went back to Lodi and rented the mill of his uncle for one year. Sub- sequently he returned to Odessa and rented the mill from Mr. Lockhart, and has since operated the same.
On the roth of September, 1881, Mr. Ault was united in marriage, at Taugliannock Falls, with Anna M. Shelton, a native of Odessa, and a daughter of Alvin and Amelia (Stanley ) Shelton, who were old settlers of Schuyler County. To
thein was born one child, Lulu. Mrs. Ault, who died February 14, IS94, was a consistent men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in the hope of immortality. Mr. Ault is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi, of which he is a Trustce. In politics he is liberal, voting for the best man. In his financial affairs he lias been fairly successful, having a nice home in Odessa, with town property in Elmira and Ha- vana, and also a farm in the town of Catharine. Throughout Schuyler County he is well known and highly respected.
12 EAN SEAMAN, M. D., is the leading phy- sician of Beaver Dams, where he has been in practice for the past fifteen years. He was born in Reading Center, N. Y., October 31, 1856, the only child of Dr. Horace D. Seaman, who was a well known physician of Schuyler County. The latter was a native of Delaware County, N. Y., born in 1829, and was there reared. After graduating from Geneva Medical College he moved to Syracuse, but did not re- main there, however, instead commencing his practice at Reading Center. Two years later lie removed to Beaver Dams, where he died in Jan- uary, IS88. He was married in Redding, Miss., to Miss Ophelia Pope, wlio was a native of Peil- sylvania, and a daughter of James Pope, an early settler of the town of Reading.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood under the parental roof, received his primary education in the common schools, and finished his course at Cook's Academy, from which he was graduated. At the age of seventeen he entered a drug store at Watkins, where he remained three years, during which time, after business hours, he read medicine with Dr. Thompson, and later spent some time in reading with his father.
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In 1876 he entered Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent one term, and then entered Jefferson Medical College at Phila- delphia, from which he was graduated in 1879. In 18SI he commenced the practice of his pro- fession at Beaver Dams, where he has since con- tinued to reside, and where he has built up an excellent practice. On the 15th of February, 1882, at Branchport, Yates County, he was mar- ried to Miss Florence Paris, of that place, and a daughter of O. M. and Jane (Cole) Paris. Im- mediately after his marriage he brought his young bride to his home in Beaver Dams. To them has
been born one child, Bertha, who is now seven years old.
In politics, Dr. Seaman has been a life-long Democrat, firmly believing in the principles of that party. He has never sought nor accepted official position, as his professional duties require his undivided attention. He is a inember of Jefferson Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., of Wat- kins; of Watkins Chapter, R. A. M .; and of St. Omer Commandery, K. T., of Elmira, N. Y. As a physician, Dr. Seaman ranks with the best in Schuyler County, and as a citizen he is held in the highest esteem.
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THOMAS T. MUNSON.
PORTRAIT' AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
297 ;
THOMAS T. MUNSON.
1
HOMAS T. MUNSON. There is in the de- velopment of every successful life a prin- ciple which is a lesson to every man, a les- son leading to a higher and more honorable po- sition. Let a man be industriously ambitious, and honorable in his ambition, and he will rise, whether having the prestige of family or the ob- scurity of poverty. These reflections are called forth by the study of the life of Thomas Munson, who is one of the most extensive farmers in Sen- eca County. His possessions, which aggregate four hundred acres of some of the very best farm- ing land, are located in the town of Tyre. He was born in the village of that name, April 14, 1839, and is the son of Ebenezer and Laney J. (Brink) Munson, the former of whom was born in New Jersey in 1806, and the latter in Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y.
The father of our subject later became one of the pioneers of Seneca County, where he was well known and highly respected, coming hither in 1820 with his parents. He at once located in this town, on the place where his decease occur- red March 7, 1889, when in his eighty-third year. "Brother" Munson, as he was familiarly called, was in many respects a remarkable man. At an early age, it is said, he began to manifest the strong traits of character for which liis life was so conspicuous as a citizen and a Christian. He was a man of fine physical powers, and possessed a well balanced mind, stored with a rich fund of ,
useful information. He was a thorough temper- ance man and was fearless in his opposition to the liquor traffic. According to the best information we have, he was converted about 1823, and was one of the founders of the first Methodist Episco- pal Church in Tyre, continuing through life to be one of its most zealous supporters. He shared the honors and bore the labors of all the offices of the church for years, and was a representative to many of her councils, where he distinguished himself for piety and sound judgment.
Ebenezer Munson first married Miss Laney J. Brink, and one year after hier decease was joined in wedlock with Miss Julia Kosbeth, who de- parted this life April 12, 1888. During his younger years the father of our subject learned the hatter's trade, which he later abandoned in order to engage in milling, following this latter business for many years in Tyre. He afterward purchased a farm of two hundred acres, which is now included in the possessions of his son Thomas T.
The parental family included eleven children. nine of whom grew to mature years, and of whom six still survive. One son, George E., also lives in the town of Tyre, and a daughter, now the wife of Benjamin Armitage, makes her home in Clyde, Wayne County, N. Y. Ebenezer Munson became a strong Republican after the formation of the party, prior to which he served as Overseer of the Poor for many years. He received the nomi-
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nation of his party for the Assembly in IS60, and although the county was strongly Democratic he was defeated by only eight or ten votes.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed on the farm where he now lives. In this locality he received his primary education in the district schools, and later attended Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls. After reaching his majority he secured a school, and so satisfactory were his services that he was retained as teacher for sev- eral winters in the vicinity of his home. During the summer season he carried on farming, and in this way reaped a good income.
About 1870 our subject went West to Wilson County, Kan., where he entered from the Gov- ernment a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land. He made his home there for three years and a-half, when, in company with others, he drove from Kansas to Texas, spending one win- ter in the Lone Star State working on the rail- road. On the expiration of that time he returned to Kansas, and after disposing of his interests there returned to New York, arriving here in 1874. He at once rented the old homestead, paying his father from that time until the latter's death about $8,ooo. Desiring to retain possession of the farin, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the estate and is now sole proprietor. He has been remarkably successful in all his under- takings, and to this tract of two hundred acres has added a like amount, so that now he is the owner of a handsome property, one of the most highly cultivated and best stocked farms in this portion of the state.
Following in the footsteps of his honored fa- ther, the subject of this sketch is a strong Repub- lican in politics, casting his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. He has filled the position of Jus- tice of the Peace for four years, notwithstanding the fact that the Democratic majority in this lo- cality is very large. Mr. Munson became identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Tyre when nineteen years of age, and in this congregation has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school, teacher of the Bible Class, Trus- tee and Steward.
The lady to whom Mr. Munson was married,
May 25, 1886, was Miss Sara P. Beers, who was born and reared in Saratoga County, this state. She, too, possesses an excellent education and has taught school for many years. Her parents were George W. and Mary A. (Wilson) Beers, natives of this state. By her union with our subject there has been born a son, Ebenezer Thomas, his birthi occurring January 16, ISSS.
EMAN R. LYBOLT, one of the representa- tive farmers of the town of Dix, Schuyler County, was born in Steuben County, Jan- uary 13, IS38, and was fifth in a family of eight children born to Jacob and Azuba (Eveleth ) Ly- bolt. His paternal great-grandfather, who was an officer in the German army, came to this country during the last century, and was the founder of this branch of the family in America.
Jacob Lybolt, who was born in Orange Coun- ty in 1790, removed with his father from the lat- ter county to Onondaga County when he was a boy. His father, who had lost his property by endorsing for friends, was in very straitened cir- cumstances, and Jacob was therefore compelled to work for wages at whatsoever he could find to do. About 1825, in company with his elder brother, Abraham, he came to Schuyler County and bought land on Sugar Hill, in the town of Orange, and made his home with him until his marriage. His brother was a man of some note in Schuyler County, and held office for many years, being Supervisor a number of terms, and Justice of the Peace for many years. He also hield a number of the minor town offices, and in the '40S represented his county two terms in the Legis- lature.
In 1828 the father and Azuba Eveleth were united in marriage. She was a native of Massa- chusetts and a daughter of Theophilus Eveleth, who was also a native of Massachusetts, but who
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removed to Schuyler County early in the present century. After their marriage they remained a number of years on the farm, and then Mr. Ly- bolt engaged in the lumber business in company with a younger brother. He finally disposed of the latter business and removed to the town of Dix, where he died in June, 1865. His wife sur- vived him a number of years, making her home with our subject, at whose home she died in June, 1876. The parents were both members of the Baptist Church, in which he was a Deacon for years, and both were respected and honored citi- zelis.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the old farin and attended the common schools of his neighborhood, receiving a limited education. In his youth he took charge of the home farm, which he helped clear of indebtedness, and continued with his father until after attaining his majority, without arrangement as to any remuneration. In September, 1864, he enlisted in the New York Light Artillery, which was attached to General Whistler's brigade of the Army of the Potomac. He remained in the service until the closc of the war, but just at its close he had word from home that his father was at the point of death, and he hastened home, only to find that he had already passed away.
During the war our subject purchased the old Underhill Farm, and on the 22d of November, 1865, was married to Miss Melissa A. Harden- burg, who was born in Tompkins County, May 10, 1843, and who was a daughter of William and Anna Eliza ( Havens) Hardenburg, the for- mer a native of Orange County, and the latter of Tompkins County, N. Y. After his marriage Mr. Lybolt located on the farm which he had purchased, making it his home for seven years. Before taking possession, however, he spent two years working in Huron for his father-in-law, and it was at his house that his only daugliter, Nettie, was born October 20, 1866. She is now the wife of Brandt Wixon, and lives on a part of the home place, known as the "Town Farm."
In 1875 Mr. Lybolt sold his farm and bouglit the Smith place, consisting of eighty acres, to which he later added forty-six acres. This was his
home one year, when he was given the contract of keeping the town house and farm, where he re- mained one year, and then returned to his own farm. In ISS6 the place which is now his home came into the possession of Mrs. Lybolt, and they decided to make it their home. The farm then consisted of ninety-eight acres, and in the spring of IS95 they bought the old town farm, and now have a farmi of two hundred and seventy-seven acres.
For thirty-five years Mr. Lybolt has been a Master Mason, holding membership with Jeffer- son Lodge No. 332, at Watkins. He is also a member of D. W. Washburn Post, G. A. R. In politics he is a consistent Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to business affairs, but has, however, served three terms as Town Assessor. Mr. Lybolt and three of his brothers served in the late war. thus showing that the Lybolt family was a patriotic one. Albert, his eldest brother, was killed at Petersburg, and Edwin was wound- ed while in the service.
P JEORGE M. DEMAREST, who resides in the village of Seneca Falls, was born in Fay- ette, Seneca County, May 7, 1834, and is a worthy descendant of the sturdy pioneers who laid the foundations of this Republic. As his name implies, he is of French descent. His great- grandfather left France in the seventeenth cen- tury and settled in New Jersey. His son, Daniel Demarest, was one of the most prominent citizens of New York City at the beginning of the present century, and was the first to introduce into that place a line of trucks-an enterprise in which he retained an interest until his death.
At his death, Daniel Demarest left two children.
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His daughter married a Mr. Terhune, of Aim Arbor, Mich. His son, Peter D., our subject's father, was born in New York City, March 17, 1800, and spent his early years there and in Jer- sey City. At the age of about eighteen he re- moved to Seneca County, where he was occupied as a carpenter and joiner. He married a Miss Bachman for his first wife, but she and her two children died young. His second wife, Mrs. Susan (Reifsnider) Haines, was a native of Northumberland County, Pa., and died October 20, 1885.
The family of which our subject is a member consisted of six children, namely: George M .; Lyman W., who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is engaged in railroading; Peter P., of Benicia, Cal .; William M., who died in Seneca County, March 16, 1886; Jane M., wife of John White, of Tyre; and Amy A., who married Edmund Brandt, of Sumner, Neb. The parents removed from Fayette to Tyre in 1838, and twelve years later, in 1850, went to Lockport, N. V. Later, how- ever, they returned to Seneca County, where they died, the father November 21, 1894. Both were earnest Christians, Mr. Demarest being a Univer- salist and his wife a member of the Lutheran Church.
In youth our subject was an apprentice under his father, and became a proficient carpenter, cabinet-maker and painter. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Fiftieth New York Engineers, and served with distinction until the close of the war, being constantly at the front, and receiving the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant. While with the Army of the Potomac he contracted dis- ease, from which he has never fully recovered. At the close of the war he returned to Seneca Coun- ty and took up the paint brush once more. In 1866 he attempted farming in Cayuga County, but his health was too poor to permit of manual labor, so he opened a furniture and undertaking establishment at Port Byron. In 1869 he started a similar business at Marshall, Mich. In 1872 he returned to Seneca Falls, where lie conducted a similar business until 1879, but since then his failing health has compelled him to confine him- self solely to office work.
January 1, 1856, Mr. Demarest married Sarah A. Gregory, daughter of Isaac Gregory, a black- smith of Seneca County. Six children were born of this union, namely: Hattie S., wife of Charles H. Possons, of Glens Falls; Willie L., who died September 13, 1861, at the age of thirteen months; Libbie T., now Mrs. Michael Eck, of Seneca Falls; Lulu, who was born April 29, 1866, and died April IS, 1870; Georgia May, born May 28, 1867, and died April 30, 1891; and Nettie, who was born June 21, 1872, and passed away Sep- tember 12, 1872. The wife and mother departed this life August 15, 1872, in Chicago, and was buried at Marshall, Mich.
November 15, 1875, Mr. Demarest was united with Mary T. LaFlour, who was born in New- port, R. I., July 30, 1845. Her father, Joseph LaFlour, was a native of Canada and of French extraction. Her fifty years sit lightly on her brow, for she possesses the beauty and grace of the Gallia ladies, whose charms never fade. Mr. Demarest is a member of the Episcopal Church, and socially is a Royal Arch Mason and a mem- ber of Cross Post No. 78, G. A. R., In poli- tics he is a Republican. In his beautiful modern residence at No. 20 Daniels Street, he is enjoying the autumn of a life of hard work and devotion to his country.
ON. WILLIAM B. CLARK. The success which has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Clark is the result of his self-sacrificing labors in earlier life, together with the exercise of sound judgment and executive ability in every transac- tion. The concern of which he is the head is one of the largest of the kind in New York, and has increased the reputation of Waterloo as a manu- facturing center. It was in 1860 that he first turned his attention to the manufacture of car- riage wheels, and since 1870 lie has devoted his
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undivided attention to this industry, making his sales direct to the large carriage manufacturers. Steam power is used in the operation of the plant. Fifty men are employed in the works, and the quality of the products is of the highest grade.
In Sullivan County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch was born June 9, 1835. The family of which he is a member originated in England and was first represented in Connecticut, where sev- eral succeeding generations resided. In Durham, that state, our subject's grandfather, James Clark, was born. Reuben Clark, his father, also a na- tive of Connecticut, became an early settler of the town of Thompson, Sullivan County, N. Y., where he owned and operated a large and valua- ble farm. In1 1850 he came to Waterloo and here continued to reside until his death, which oc- curred at eiglity-two years of age. His mother attained the advanced age of ninety-seven.
The mother of our subject was Julia A., daugh- ter of Eleazer Crosby. She was born in the town of Thompson, Sullivan County, N. Y., and died in Waterloo at the age of eighty-two. Her fam- ily consisted of twelve children, of whom six at- tained years of maturity, and two sons and two daughters are now living. William B., who was the fifth in order of birth, passed the days of boy- hood in Sullivan County, where the foundation of his education was laid. After accompanying his parents to Waterloo he carried on his studies in the academy here.
The business experience of Mr. Clark com- menced when he formed a partnership with Al- bert Stebbins in the drug business, under the firm name of Stebbins & Clark. Later our sub- ject sold out his interest and went into the boot and shoe business. In1 1860 he started the wheel business, which he has carried on successfully ever since. In the year 1864 he became interested in the dry-goods business, but discontinued this line ·seven years later, the firm being Clark & Draper.
Besides the enterprise with which his name is most closely associated. Mr. Clark is a Director in the Waterloo Wagon Company, Limited. He is also a stockholder and Director in the Cortland Wagon Company, at Cortland, N. Y., which is the largest of the kind in the state, and for which
he has furnished all the wheels used for the past twenty years. He is also one of the original stockholders in the Watertown Spring Wagon Company, of Watertown, N. Y., which interest he yet holds. Politically, he affiliates with the Democrats, believing the principles of liis party best adapted to the prosperity of the nation. Upon that ticket in 1885 he was elected to repre- sent the county in the Assembly, and in that ca- pacity his services were efficient and satisfactory to hiis constituents. He previously had served two terms as President of the village of Waterloo.
In 1857 Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte M. Crosby, daughter of Platt Crosby, of Waterloo. They have an only son, Frank M., who is interested with his father in the wheel works. In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Clark are identified with the First Pres- byterian Church, and for the past twenty years he has served as President of the Official Board of the church. There are probably no citizens who take a deeper interest than he in the advancement of the village, and whatever conduces to its prog- ess commercially, materially, or along social and religious lines, receives his hearty support and co-operation.
OHN M. BENNETT, a prominent agricult- urist in the town of Dix, was born January 22, 1822, in the town of Catlin, Tioga Coun- ty, and is a son of Col. Green and Cynthia (Mc- Clure) Bennett. His father was a native of Penn- sylvania, and when a young man located in Ti- oga County, N. Y., where he married Cynthia McClure. His father, Ephraim Bennett, was an early settler of Pennsylvania, where three of his brothers were killed in the Wyoming Valley Mass- acre. Colonel Bennett was well known through- out Schuyler County, and while here filled nul- merous public offices, among them being Super-
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visor of the town of Catlin. For some years he was Superintendent of the Chemung Canal, and in 1835 was elected to the State Legislature. His death occurred in the town of Dix in 1889, his wife having preceded liim to the better world a number of years.
When our subject was but ten years of age he commenced work on the tow-path of the canal, which occupation he followed until he attained . his majority. He then entered the select school of Professor Gillett, of Havana, which he attend- ed three years. When twenty-three years old he purchased two hundred and twenty-three acres of timber-land in the town of Dix, which he par- tially cleared and finally sold. His marriage with Miss Clymena Shutts, a native of Schuyler Coun- ty, occurred January 11, 1851. Three years of their married life were spent on the home place, and then he purchased the farm which has since been his home, with the exception of five years spent in Arizona. In 1875, on account of the failing health of Mrs. Bennett and their son, he was induced to travel with them in the far West. After traveling through a number of the West- ern States and Territories he finally concluded to remain in Arizona. During his residence there he engaged in stock dealing and grazing, and for three years was Postmaster of Walnut Grove. He was also appointed a Justice of the Peace, and at the election following his appointment lie was elected to the office, which he retained until his return to New York. While there he also filled the office of School Trustee.
The sojourn of the family in the West was at- tended with gratifying results, both Mrs. Bennett and her son fully recovering their health. In 1879 they returned to their old home and again became identified with its history. In his agri- cultural operations Mr. Bennett has been very successful, and in spite of his recent disastrous loss of $10,000, caused by the failure of the First Na- tional Bank of Watkins, he is still carrying on improvements, at the present writing (1895) be- ing engaged in the erection of a large barn on the place. In addition to general farming, he has engaged in stock-raising, and until recently car- ried on sheep-raising quite extensively. For fifty
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