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 29
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 29
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While Robert was yet young, his parents and the entire family, excepting John and Richard, removed to the shores of Seneca Lake, in Seneca County, within four miles of where the village of Romulus now stands. The homestead then located has remained in the family ever since. The other members of the family were John, Rich- ard, Mary, Stites, Rebecca, Thomas, Margaret and Hetty Aun, in the order named.
The father died February 14, 1820, survived by all his children, and Nancy, his wife, who lived to be eighty-four years of age, died March 6, 1851. Mary, Thomas, Margaret and Hetty re- mained single, while all the others married and added to the family growth. Rebecca married Peter L. Dey, of Varick, and has two sons: Da- vid P., an engincer; and John, manager of the New York Evangelist, both of whom live in New York City, and a daughter, who resides in Mis- sotiri. In 1840 Stites Steele came to Romulus and entered into the mercantile business with Robert R., which was continued up to the time of his death, five years later. He left a widow, Sarah (Ten Eyck) Steele; a daughter, Mary Ann, now Mrs. Charles H. Sayre, of Romulus; and a sou, Alexander, who is deceased. After their father's death Richard and John also came to Romulus. When about seventy years of age, the former married Mrs. Mary Fleming, and by her had two children, John and Mary. The former resides in Romulus with his mother, and the lat- ter is the wife of Henry Becker, and resides at Geneva. All the sons and daughters of Alex- ander Steele died and are buried at Romulus, being near in death as they were in life.
Robert R., the subject of this sketch, spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the family homestead. When about eighteen he returned to New Jersey, taking a clerkship at Reading- ton. While there he was married to Amanda
Taylor, and three children were born to them during their residence in that state. While he was living in New Jersey he had a remunerative trade, which he sold in 1840 to his chief clerk, and returned with his family to Romulus, N. Y. In connection with his brother Stites, he opened a merchandise establishment at Romulus, which he controlled until both his brother and himself were laid with the father in the old churchyard cemetery. At the time of his death he was the oldest merchant in the western section of New York, having done business for forty-three con- secutive years in one location, selling goods to many families for several generatious. This in itself is the best possible evidence of his upright business methods.
In politics our subject was a Democrat, and represented his county in the State Legislature from 1857 to 1859, and again from 1872 to 1874. While not a polished speaker, he was recognized as a man of force, serving on many important committees in the House, also in his party, and was a delegate at the famous Charleston Conven- tion, where his party split. He took strong sides with Douglas, and when the war broke out there was no more stanch Union defender than Robert R. Steelc. He was known as a "war Democrat," though he favored peace when the war was over. In the campaign of 1872 he supported Greeley, and thereafter affiliated with the Democratic party, of which he was one of the recognized leaders in his section until his death. The peo- ple of the town of Varick showed their confi- dence in his integrity and good judgment by re- peatedly choosing him to fill town offices. Al- though not a church member, he was Parish Trustee all his mature life.
For a short time after returning to New York our subject occupied the old homestead, but soon built a mansion of his own. He was interested in various enterprises in and about Romulus and Waterloo, also with his son George W. at Pcoria, Ill. He died April 18, 1883, and his wife in 1881. To them were born seven children, the eldest of whom is Richard M. The other mem- bers of the family were George, who died in 1885, aged forty-eight; Elizabeth, Mrs. George H.
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Mcclellan, of Chicago, Ill .; John R., who mar- ried and resides at Ontario, N. V .; Robert, wlio never married, and dicd here in 1873, aged twen- ty-seven years; William G., who resided for a time at Peoria, Il1., and died in 1887, aged tlir- ty-nine, leaving no family; and Eugenia S., who married George Bryan, of Peoria, Ill., where she now resides.
Richard M. was born at Readington. N. J., and was six years of age when his father re- moved to New York. When sixteen years old he entered his brother's store, and at maturity was taken into partnership, the firm being styled Robert R. Steele & Son. In 1873 he retired from the firm to accept the position of Vice-Presi- dent of the Geneva & Ithaca Railroad, now a part of the Lehigh Valley System. It was largely through his exertions that the road was built, it being the first road constructed in the county, and he opened it up for both east and west connec- tion. While he was identified with the road it was extended from Ithaca to Sayre, a distance of about one hundred miles, with headquarters at the foriner place.
The completion of this road and the driving of the last spike at Romulus was an event in the history of the town that will not be forgotten as long as one of the participants survives. Good financering put the road in a rising position, and after a connection with it for about five years Mr. Steele and his associates disposed of it to advan- tage to themselves, a rather rare occurrence in the history of railroad building. After disposing of his railway interests he went to Peoria, Ill., where he was engaged in business for five years. His health failing. he returned to Romulus, where for the past ten or twelve years he has devoted liis time to the cultivation of the soil. He has a fine grape farm, consisting of some forty acres, and has assisted in making New York the greatest grape-growing state in the Union. He has al- ways taken an active part in politics, affiliating with the Democratic party. I11 1852 he was mar- ried to Miss Frances A. Swan, daughter of Henry Swan, of Romulus. They have one son, Henry Frederick, who was engaged in business for a time in Chicago, Ill., but is now residing in
Romulus with his parents on the old homestead. and is in partnership with his father in grape culture and other interests. He married Mary Grier, daugliter of Robert G. Grier, of Peoria, I11.
Richard M. Stcele is a public-spirited citizen, taking much interest in the advancement of the town. He is a Trustee of the Episcopal Churchi at Romulus, and was instrumental in building the Catholic Church at this place. Since his father's death he and his family have resided on the old homestead.
ABEZ W. MILLER is not only a prosper- ous and progressive farmer, but is an intelli- gent citizen, one who is thoroughly posted on all public affairs. Now in the prime of life, he occupies a front rank among the energetic farmers of Schuyler County, and, owing to the attention paid to every minor detail, he has ac- cumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He is now the owner of a fine farm of eiglity-six acres in the town of Reading, on which he located in 1884.
Mr. Miller is the son of Sergeant and Jane (Smith) Miller, the former of whom departed this life in this town November 30, 1874. He was the father of nine children, five of whom grew to mature years, namely: Lewis, Jolin H., Jabez W., Carrie M. and Clay.
Our subject was born in the town of Reading June 22, 1855, and remained with his parents until the time of his marriage, in Schuyler Coun- ty, to Miss Mary Jane Hicks. Mrs. Miller is the daugliter of Solomon and Christania (Powell) Hicks, the former of whom was killed by a tree falling on him, March 22, 1861, while he was in the woods cutting timber. His widow still sur- vives, making her home at the present time in
.
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Radford, Steuben County, N. Y. Their family included four children: Charles, Albert, Cordelia and Mary Jane. (Albert Hicks' history may be found on another page in this volume. )
Mrs. Miller was born in the town of Orange, this county, March 2, 1860. By her union with our subject there were born seven children, of whom those living are Minnie C., born October 29, 1878; Mott D., January 3, 1881; Bessie M., April 25, 1884; Delia, November 25, IS86; and Orville C., March 22, IS89. Sargeant died when an infant of twelve months, June 12, 1883, and Jabez also passed away in infancy, March 19, 1895.
At the time of his marriage our subject rented a tract of land in the town of Tyrone, and after residing upon it for a year changed his location
to rented property in the town of Orange. His stay there also lasted twelve months, after which he removed to the town of Dix, with the inter- ests of which place lie was identified for five years. At the expiration of that time he worked on a farm in the town of Reading for a year, and then, or in 1884, purchased and removed to his present fine estate, since which time he has made it his liome. Everything about the place indicates that an experienced and competent hand is at the helm.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active workers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are active in all good works, and are classed among the public-spirited and esteemed citizens of the county. Politically Mr. Miller is a Re- , publican.
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JOHN W. WARNER.
MRS. JOHN W. WARNER.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
3192
JOHN W. WARNER.
OHN W. WARNER. This, in brief, is the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in life has been reached entirely through his own perseverance, and the facts con- nected with his life only show what a person with courage and enlightened views can accom- plish. His reputation for honesty and integrity has been tried and not found wanting; his finan- cial ability has been more than once put to the test, but never without credit to himself; his social qualities are well known and appreciated, and he has hosts of friends, whose confidence and esteem are his highest eulogium. He is now living in the town of Reading, Schuyler County, where he is the owner of a quarter-section of fine land.
Our subject was born in Starkey, Yates Coun- ty, this state, February 9, 1832. His father was Dr. John Warner, a native of Litchfield, Conn., while his mother, whose maiden name was Mary DeWitt, was born in Chemung County, N. Y. After their marriage they located in Yates Count- ty, where the father continued in active practice until his death, when in his sixty-sixth year. His wife survived him many years, passing away at the age of eighty years. They became the parents of a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, and of these our subject was the youngest.
John W. was a lad of eight years at the time of his father's death, and soon thereafter his widowed mother with her children came to Schuy-
ler County, locating in the town of Reading. Here our subject was reared and educated, and with the exception of two or three years spent in his native county, has made this locality his home since that time. He has been engaged in various enter- prises, in one and all of which he has met with success. For about four years he was employed in shipping lumber, used for the building of ves- sels, to New York City, and upon abandoning that enterprise was engaged for the same length of time in the United States revenue service.
The marriage of Mr. Warner with Miss Nancy Corbett was celebrated January 6, 1853. The lady was born in the town of Reading. Septem- ber 19, 1833, and was the daughter of Chester and Sally Corbett, well-to-do and highly es- teemed residents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Warner became the parents of three children: James W., who died in infancy; Ada M. and In- dianola W. Ada is now the widow of John R. Linzey; the younger daughter married Henry Vosburgh, and makes her home on the old honie- stead.
Although at all times interested in the welfare of his conununity, Mr. Warner has in no sense of the word been an office-seeker. He has proved himself to be a valued citizen of the county, and when the First National Bank of Watkins sus- pended, he was appointed Receiver for the defunct institution. Since 1876 he has been employed by the Fall Brook Railroad Company as agent at
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Reading, and in his duties he is greatly assisted by his daughter Indianola. From his long term of service it must be conceded that he gives en- tire satisfaction. He takes no part in politics other than to cast his vote in favor of Democratic candidates and principles. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which both he and his wife are connected, he is actively interested, hav- ing filled many offices in the same, and by con- tributing liberally of his means has aided greatly in pushing forward the good work in his conmu- nity. As stated above, Mr. Warner is the pro- prietor of one hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated land, on which have been erected good and substantial buildings, and there all the farm machinery necessary for carrying on a first-class estate imay be seen1.
LISHA KENNEY HULBERT. Engraved upon the seal of the state of Michigan, one finds this question and its answer, "Would you seek a beautiful peninsula? Look around." So might the man whose name opens this arti- cle say, "Do you seek for monuments and evi- dences of my handiwork? Look upon the stores and dwellings of the village of Waterloo; for I have erected many of them, and advised and planned the construction of others." This has been the life work of Mr. Hulbert. Although he is now retired from active life, he can look back over years of honest toil in which his industry, honesty and native good sense have greatly de- termined the growth of the town and county, and even beyond ..
Mr. Hulbert is a native of Waterloo, having first seen the light November 8, 1820, and is a son of Elijah and Rebecca (Kinney) Hulbert. For two generations his paternal ancestors had lived in Columbia County, his father having been born there in 1790, and his grandfather being
among the earliest settlers of that county. In 1815 the father of our subject removed with his family to Waterloo, where he resided until the day of his death, in 1853. By trade he was a carpenter, and built the first frame house that was erected in the limits of the present village of Waterloo. The building is still standing, and is in a good state of preservation, which shows the honest character both of goods and labor of that early day. His wife long survived him, dying in 1875.
Mr. Hulbert, our subject, is the eldest of a family of five children, who lived to maturity. Reuben D. has since died; Gideon F. is at pres- ent a citizen of Waterloo; Harriet, the only sis- ter, has gone over to the "great majority;" Charles II. is an inhabitant of Montgomery County, Kan. As a boy, Elisha attended the Waterloo common school, and when old enough to go to work undertook to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner under his father's instruc- tion. This he thoroughly mastered, becoming alı adept not only in woodwork, but in the sci- ence and art of building, and in this he lias been actively engaged for more than fifty years. At first everything had to be made by hand, involy- ing not only a vast amount of hard work, but honesty and faithfulness in a high degree. He kept pace with the rapid improvement of his call- ing, and has profited by all the new ideas in labor-saving machinery. As noted above, he has constructed many of the dwelling-houses and stores of the village, always to the satisfaction of those with whom he has had dealings. During his active years he had a long engagement with the New York Central Railway in building wa- ter-houses and tanks along the line between Syra- cuse and Rochester, being employed in this ca- pacity for more than eight years. For a time he was engaged in an express business, and in 1886 he came into control of the city scales, which he still owns.
In 1844 Miss Susan Warren became the wife of our subject. She was a resident of Waterloo, but came originally from the old Bay State. They have had four children. Ella F. is at home; Charles S. has long since entered into the
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"land of the leal;" Harriet is Mrs. William H. Shand, of Rochester. There was one child who died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Hulbert votes with the Demo- cratic party. He has been Commissioner of Highways, and Assessor of the village of Water- loo. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he has been a great help, both he and his wife having been devoted members of that organization. She died in 1881. The family residence is on Vir- ginia Street, and here Mr. Hulbert has resided for fifty years.
The ancestry of our subject was of the best that the colonies afforded. His great-grandfather, Samuel Hulbert, emigrated from England and settled in Sharon, Conn., afterward removing to Burlington, Mass. His grandfather died in Co- lumbia County in ISIS, and was associated with many of the stirring events of early New York history.
EORGE W. BOCKOVEN, who is now living retired from the active duties of life, at one time owned his father's old homestead in Seneca County. He was born in what was then the town of Junius, now a part of the town of Seneca Falls, July 17, 1816. His parents were Peter and Rachel (Riggs) Bockoven, the father a native of New Jersey. Of the mother's people but little is known, but it is supposed they were born either in Rhode Island or Connecticut. In Morris County, N. J., she was married to Peter Bockoven, and to them were born, in that state, two children, who also died there.
Mr. Bockoven then came to New York, making location in this county, on the west bank of Cay- uga Lake. He was accompanied on this trip by his brother-in-law, and together they bought a squatter's claim, but afterward paid the Govern-
ment for the tract. For his share Peter Bock- oven was given one hundred and fifteen acres, and to this he afterward added seventy-five acres ad- joining, and at another time he bought an estate containing one hundred and forty-five acres. Of the parental family, one child died in this county and three grew to mature years. Betsey Ann, one of our subject's sisters, married William Boardman. They afterward moved to Cook Coun- ty, Ill., where the wife died, leaving two chil- dren. Phebe became the wife of George Powis, and is now living in Geneva; her family includes three children.
The father of our subject, who was born in the year 1785, lived to be eighty-seven years of age. He was a life-long Democrat, and in 1834 was elected to the General Assembly, serving one term. At one time he was also Assessor of the town of Junius, which district was then made up of what is now the towns of Tyre, Junius, Water- loo and Seneca Falls.
George W. Bockoven is what may be called a self-made man, both in the matter of education and finances. He was obliged to work very hard when young, being permitted to attend school but a short time each winter after he was old enough to be of any assistance to his father. On attaining his majority he assumed the manage- ment of the home place, carrying on affairs in a most satisfactory manner. November 1, 1838, he was married to Miss Maria Woodruff, of the town of Fayette, and four children were granted them, two of whom are married and still living. One son, Peter, enlisted in the late war in 1861, and died soon after the battle of Gettysburg, in which conflict he had taken part. He was a member of Lincoln's cavalry, and as a result of the exposure to which they were subjected he sickened and died in the hospital at Washington. His remains were brought home and interred in the cemetery at Canoga. Mrs. Bockoven died April 10, 1847, and was buried at Bridgeport, N. Y.
Our subject was married, in October, 1849, to Miss Fessonia Chatham, a native of the town of Fayette, this county. Two children have been born to them: Chauncey, a graduate of the Uni-
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versity of Pennsylvania; and Laura, the wife of Charles Wayne. After completing his literary education, Chauncey engaged in the commission business in Philadelphia. He was married, and departed this life in Chicago.
In politics Mr. Bockoven is a Republican, al- though lie cast his first Presidential vote for Van Buren in 1840. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and in 1856 supported John C. Fremont, and in 1860 voted for Abraham Lincoln. Helias ever since been identified with the "grand old party." On the Republican ticket he was elected Highway Commissioner, serving acceptably for one term. When sixteen or seventeen years of age he joined the Presbyterian Church, and has from that time to the present been an influential member of his congregation, which he has served many years as Trustee.
At one time Mr. Bockoven owned his father's entire estate, but from time to time he has dis- posed of portions of it, only retaining a few acres for his own use. He has been very successful in life and is now in the receipt of a handsome in- come, which enables him to live peaceably and enjoy the comforts of life.
ALKER GLAZIER, late of the town of Covert, Seneca County, was a representa- tive fariner of this section, and a higlily re- spected citizen. Our subject was born in Wor- cester, Mass., January 16, 1789, and was the son of Oliver Glazier, whose birth occurred in Shrews- bury, May 23, 1763. The latter served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was a brave and fearless man. The maiden name of his wife was Rachel Hastings. To them were born ten chil- dren, six sons and four daughters.
Walker Glazier, of this history, was fairly edu- cated, and at the age of nineteen he began life for
himself. He went from Boston to Baltimore and Philadelphia, and finally to Peekskill, N. Y., where he married Miss Cornelia Travis. To them was granted a family of eight children. Of this household Henry, born November 6, 1813, died at the age of eighty years; John, born May 7, 1816, passed away at the age of fifty-two years; Rachel, born May 10, 1818, was married to Asaph K. Porter, and died in 1894; Pliebe was born June 15, 1820, is unmarried and owns and lives on the old homestead; James T. born September 5, 1822, is living at Hornellsville; Eliza, born May 29, 1825, is the wife of Travis Hopkins; Susan, born July 30, 1828, is the widow of Lewis Rappleye, and makes her home at Os- wego: Cornelia, born October 28, 1830, is the wife of William H. Van Dusen, and lives at Hornellsville.
The original of this sketch was reared to farin work, and when nineteen years of age began life for himself. He first engaged in the manufact- ure of nails, following this for a number of years, and then abandoned it to engage in the niercan- tile trade. This occupied his time and attention for four years, and at the end of that time, in 1825, the records tell us that he removed to Sen- eca County. He made his way to the town of Covert by means of the canal. Previous to com- ing here, however, he had purchased eighty acres of land located one mile north of Covert, and here Mr. Glazier lived nine years.
We next find our subject living in the town of Ovid, where he became the proprietor of two hundred acres of land, which he cultivated two years, and then, or in 1836, took possession of the place now occupied by his daughter, Phebe Glazier. It comprises one hundred and twenty- five acres of excellent land located one mile north of Trumansburg, and it has been in possession of hiim or some one of his family about sixty years. His death occurred in Trumansburg in 1873, and his remains were laid in Grove Cemetery. In the Baptist Church, of which he was a member, he was one of the workers. For some ten years he was Justice of the Peace, and filled many places of trust in his town. Mr. Glazier was a very successful man, and accumulated a goodly
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share of this world's goods. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Miller. Mr. Glazier was mainly self educated, of which fact he was justly proud.
INCENT DE PAUL HAMILL. Agricult- ure has one of its miost energetic representa- tives in our subject, who is living on the estate where he was born, three miles southcast of Seneca Falls, June 24, 1867. His parents were John and Mary (Gilmore) Hamill, both of whom were born in County Louth, Ireland.
John Hamill made the journey across the At- lantic in 1847, in company with his parents, who at once made their way to this county, and for a few years resided in Seneca Falls. There the fa- ther was married, making it his home for some time. Being desirous of engaging in farmn work, he purchased a small farin in the town of Lodi, where he remained five years, after which he as- sumed charge of a stone-quarry in the town of Fayette, where he continued for about four years, after which he purchased the estate on which his son, Vincent de Paul, now makes his home. He became a successful farmer, and lived on this place until his decease, which occurred on the 27th of March, 1890. He took an active part in the public life of his community, and was the candidate of the Democratic party on several occasions for positions of responsibility and trust. For five terms he was Highway Com- missioner, and it was while the incumbent of this position that his death occurred.
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