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 40
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 40
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Mr. Cooper, the subject of this article, passed his early life in various places with his widowed mother, or with his brothers, until 1850, when he went to Troy to live with an uncle. Two years later he entered the office of the Northern New York Family Journal, published at Troy, to learn the printing business. From this office he passed to that of the Waterloo Observer, where he was employed two years, and later worked in Buffalo, Rochester and other cities, going to Bos- ton in 1856 as a journeyman printer. In the fall of 1857, driven by a love of adventure and a desire to see the world, he went to sea, shipping as a sailor before the mast in a vessel bound for the island of Sumatra, in the East Indies. After an absence of eighteen months, he resumed his work as a printer in Boston, where he was en- gaged until the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861. He was among the first to enlist in the Union army, and was mustered into the service April 19, 1861, in Company H, First Massachu- setts Infantry. After serving two years, he was discharged on account of disabling wounds re- ceived in a bayonet charge at Yorktown. He participated in the battles of the Army of the Po-
tomac from Bull Run until his honorable dis- missal on the eve of the terrible struggle at Chancellorville.
Again Mr. Cooper resumed his trade at Boston. In the winter of 1864 he came to Seneca County. and found work in the office of the Ovid Bee, and later was made the foreman of the Reveille at Seneca Falls. Following this, he was engaged in the Observer office at Waterloo as associate editor and foreman. In 1874 he was foreman of the LeRoy Gazette, and finally he came to Ovid, where he has accomplished a difficult undertak- ing, and made a good business out of the ashes of a great conflagration.
Mr. Cooper was married, on the 10th of July, 1859, to Miss Annie E. Patterson, daughter of Eliphett S. Patterson, a blacksmith of Boston. They have adopted two children, Bertha and William, brother and sister, that their home might know the delights of childhood. Mr. Coop- er is a Democrat, but his paper is independent. He is a member of the Grand Army, and is Past Commander of Charles T. Harris Post, G. A. R. He is a member of Masonic organizations, and Bretliren of the Mystic Square know him for a thoroughly good fellow. By riglit and by desire his name is on the roll of membership of the So- ciety of the Army of the Potomac. As he recalls his own military experiences, he remembers also that liis grandfather was a soldier in tlie Revolu- tionary struggle, and what one fought to estab- lish, the other fought to maintain.
EV SHEPHERD is not only a substantial and progressive business man of Reading Center, but is also the popular and efficient Postmaster of the place. He is an intelligent citizen, one who is thoroughly posted on all pub. lic affairs, and ranks high among the well-to-do merchants of the place.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The father of our subject was the late Roswell Shepherd, formerly one of the old and influential citizens of Reading Center, where he was engaged as a general merchant for a period of ten years. His prosperity was due to the attention which he paid to the minor details of his business, and in this manner he accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. Hedied here in 1888, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Maria Leak. She survived her husband two years, being at the time of her demise seventy- eight years old. Slie became the mother of one son and three daughters, our subject being the second-born of the family. Hc is a native of Schuyler County, and was born January 27, 1838, at Altay. There he passed the first sixteen years of his life, during which time he was well educated in the common schools, being permitted to attend the house of learning regularly. About that time his father removed to Reading Center, and Lev being then of an age to be of assistance to him, he was employed in the store as a clerk. After four years spent thus, he formed a partner- ship with Isaac Conklin, and for four years they carried on a thriving and profitable trade as gen- eral merchants. Mr. Shepherd then purchased the interest of his partner, and since that time has successfully operated the business alone.
To show the efficiency of our subject as Post- master, we have only to state that he has been the incumbent of the office for a period of eighteen years. He has also been Town Clerk for several terms, and has discharged the duties of County Treasurer for two terms in a very satisfactory manner. In political affairs he has always tak- en a very active part and is an influential worker in the ranks of the Republican party. Religious- ly he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been one of the Trustees.
The marriage of Lev Shepherd and Miss Al- meda Ross was celebrated at Reading in June, 1861. Mrs. Shepherd is a native of this place and the daughter of the late Samuel Ross, an old and honored resident of Reading Center. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd there have been born
two children: Louise, the wife of James W. Davis; and Harry, who chose for his wife Miss Alice Hoffeld. Mr. Shepherd is modest and unassumi- ing in manner and never fails to make friends of all with whom he comes in contact.
ILLIAM V. DOLPH is a true type of the American self-made man, and has passed his entire life in this section of the state. At present he is residing in Montour Falls, where he is very popular, and from July 18, ISS9, to April 1, 1895, occupied the position of Postmas- ter. He has also been Justice of the Pcace, dis- charging the duties of the office witli great credit to himself.
Chester V. Dolph, the father of our subject, was also a native of Schuyler County, his father, Grandfather Joseph Dolph, having located in this county in ISo2, when it was known as Tomp- kins County. In 1814 the latter made his home in the town of Hector, where he was one of the earliest settlers. By trade he was a surveyor. He was born near New Haven, Conn., and for a time also lived in Schenectady, departing this life December 21, 1827, when advanced in years. The race is very long-lived, the great-grandfather of our subject, Abdah A. Dolph, living to be ninety-one years of age. He, too, was born in the Nutmeg State, and subsequently lived in Ashtabula County, Ohio. For many years he was engaged in general merchandising, but dur- ing the last twenty years of life lived retired. The Dolph family is of German extraction, and our subject comes of a somewhat noted ancestry. Generations ago Charles Dolph, of the same branch, raised a company of soldiers and defended Saybrook against the English.
The father of our subject married Miss Eliza- beth Steele, a native of Tompkins County.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Grandfather Steele was born in Bucks County, Pa., of Irish parents. The grandmother was taken to Ithaca, or where that city now stands, in 1804, when it contained but four houses and the country round about was nothing more than a wilderness. Mrs. Elizabeth Dolph, who died January 22, ISS4, became the mother of five chil- dren. Joseph Norton, now living in Portland, Oregon, is a member of the law firm of Dolph, Nixon & Dolph, the firm comprising his son, son-in-law and himself; he is known more parti- cularly as Senator Dolphi, as he served two terms in the United States Senate. William V., of this history, was the second of the family. Cyrus A. is a very prominent and able attorney of Port- land, Oregon. Roselia is the wife of Rev. James H. Ross, a retired minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John M., who graduated . with the Class of '72 from Syracuse College, is now a resident of Port Jervis, this state, where he is Superintendent of Schools; he is a very able instructor and is much liked by his pupils and those under his charge. In addition to farming, the father owned and operated a steam sawmill, which was located in the woods. He was a Democrat up to 1848, when he joined the Free- soil party. After the organization of the Repub- lican ranks, however, he again changed his views, and thereafter voted for its candidates.
William V. Dolphi was born October 6, 1837, in the town of Catharine, this county, at which time it formed a part of Chemung. County. His boyhood days were passed on the old homestead, which estate is now in his possession. He was a very apt pupil, and in attending the district schools gained a good knowledge of the common branches taught. For twelve years, from 1854 to 1866, he taught school with fair success. Following in his father's footsteps, he is also a Republican, tried and true. He has taken a great interest in public matters, holding tlie office of Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and has also been Pension Attorney, being very success- ful in presenting claims. Mr. Dolph possesses a wonderful memory, and with his keen, analytical mind would have made a brilliant lawyer, liad he made that profession a study. He was appointed
Postmaster July IS, 1889, and such satisfaction did he give to his fellow-townsmen that he was retained in office until 1895, or for a period of six years.
March 22, 1860, Mr. Dolpli and Miss Hattie E. Reed were united in marriage. The latter was the daughter of Jolm A. and Margaret ( Houness) Reed, and was born March 22, IS39. She survived her union about two years, depart- ing this life May 20, IS62, leaving a daughter, Della, who followed her to the land beyond about four months later. Mr. Dolph afterward mar- ried the twin sister of his first wife, Miss Eliza D. Reed, the ceremony which made them one be- ing solemnized December 3, 1863. His second wife died April 19, 1890, leaving two daughters: Augusta, born July 4, IS70; and Rose E., June 7, 1876. One child died in infancy. Both daugh- ters are well educated and accomplished young ladies, and move in the best circles of society in Montour Falls, and the eldest daughter is house- keeper for her father.
EV. WILLIAM B. OLIN, a prominent and successful resident of the town of Junius,
2 Seneca County, is the possessor of a fine farm in this town, which he operates in addition to doing contracting and building, and it has been his privilege to erect some of the best dwellings in this town.
Mr. Olin was born in the town of Sennett, Cayuga County, N. Y., November 20, 1836. His parents were Jonathan P. and Eliza H. ( Mer- rill) Olin, the fatlier born in the town of Link- laen, Chenango County, this state, and the mother near Rutland, Vt. Early in life Jonathan Olin served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and followed that trade for a half-century, work- ing in the counties of Chenango, Madison, Cort- land, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
For several years he also resided in both Madison and Cortland Counties. He was fairly well-to- do, and by his honorable and upright methods of transacting business won hosts of friends.
The parental family included six sons and six daughters, of whom nine grew to mature years, and eight reared families of their own. Of this household three are living. The father was first a Whig in politics, but later became a strong anti-slavery man and a Republican. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributed liberally toward its support.
The subject of this sketch was a small boy when his parents went to Chenango County, and when in his fourth year he was taken by them to Madison County, where he made his home for the succeeding eight years. The next six years of his life were spent in Cortland County. He was naturally gifted in the use of tools, and when a lad of ten years was of great assistance to his father in his work. During the winter months he attended school, and while living in Cortland County had the opportunity of carrying on his studies in a splendid school. At the age of nine- teen he began to teach in the winter, and worked at his trade in the summer, and in this manner ob- tained a good income. When in his eleventh year he commenced to make his own way in the world, and first went to live with Calvin Sever- ance, of Cortland County, a most estimable gen- tleman and a farmer, and while there was con . verted and joined the Baptist Church.
May 3, 1856, Mr. Olin was married, in the above county, to Miss Margaret Sleeth, whose birth occurred in Paterson, N. J., August 18, 1833, and who is the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Sleeth, well-to-do residents of that lo- cality. In November of that same year our sub- ject came to Seneca County, and, renting a home in the town of Junins, began working at his trade. Having no income aside from what he could make at this business, he applied himself very closely, and shortly afterward became well known to the people of the community.
In 1860 Mr. Olin purchased three acres of land, on which he erected a house, and gave con- siderable attention to cultivating his land. He
found farming to be a very profitable business, and from time to time was enabled to add to his possessions, until now he is the owner of a fine tract of land, embracing some eighty acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Olin there have been granted five children. Alice, born August 24, 1859, married Adin Thom, and is also living on a farin in the town of Jimius. Hattie M., born May 15, 1862, is now Mrs. Charles Gridley. She is a finely educated lady, first attending the schools of Waterloo, after which she was graduated from the high school at Syracuse. The course there was supplemented by attendance at the State Normal at Cortland, after which she began to teach, following this profession for several years prior to her marriage. William B. was born July 25, 1864, and after completing his educa- tion in the schools of Waterloo, began learning the carpenter's trade with his father. He was . married, when twenty-four years of age, to Miss Lena Royston, of Leslie, Mich., and two years later moved to Omaha, Neb., where he is carry- ing on a good business as a general merchant. John S., who was born April 28, 1867, was also educated in Waterloo Academy; he is still at home, assisting his father in contracting and building. Jennie M., born March 25, 1874, mar- ried Horatio Augustus Serven, of the town of Junius, and they are now living in Border City, Seneca County, where Mr. Serven is a merchant.
Mr. Olin is a strong supporter of Republican principles, and voted for Lincoln in 1860. He has been the incumbent of the office of Justice of the Peace for several years, and although he has decided several difficult questions, he has never had a case appealed. Upon first entering the church, he became a great worker, but hesitated at entering the ministry, as he felt that his edi- cation was not sufficient. He became identified with the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he was made President, and aided in or- ganizing the society in the town of Junius. For many years he was Deacon, Clerk and Trustee of the Baptist Church, and in 1886 was granted a license to preach. He was ordained in the town of Clarksville, Allegany County, N. Y., where he performed his first pastoral work. After
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
abandoning regular work as a minister, he was engaged as an Evangelist by the New York Bap- tist Missionary Society, and met with a good de- gree of success in this field of labor.
HARLES A. SLOANE, who is engaged in farming in the town of Montour, has been a resident of Schuyler County for twenty years and has become well and favorably known. He is a native of Herkimer County, born May 19, 1850, and is a son of James K. and Louisa (Reno) Sloane, the former a native of Massachu- setts, and the latter of Otsego County, N. Y. In early life the father learned the currier's trade, but abandoned that and engaged in the foundry business at Springfield Center, Otsego County. Previous to this time, however, he located in Herkimer County, where his family was born, and where his wife died. They were the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons, of whom our subject was the youngest. His mother died when he was but two years old. The father was a well educated man, and owned a large li- brary, which he made use of as opportunity was afforded him. Although he never accepted office, he was quite prominent in public affairs. His old store building still stands in Springfield Center and is known as Sloane's Block.
In 1861, when the first call was made for vol- unteers in defense of the Union, James K. Sloane sacrificed his interest in his business and re- sponded to the first call, enlisting in the Seventy- sixth New York Infantry, with which he remained. After serving two years, his full time, he started home, and reached Albany just as Lee made his raid into Pennsylvania. A call was then made for three-months men and he again enlisted, re- turning to the front just in time to take part in the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded. While in the two-years service he was wounded
at the battle of Antietam, and also in another en- gagement. At the close of his three-months serv- ice he was again mustered out, and started home, reaching Albany the second time. Here he again enlisted for three years, or until the close of the war. Returning to the front, he was killed, in the spring of 1865, at the battle of Ft. Fisher, and his grave, like those of thousands of other brave sol- diers, is marked "unknown."
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood in his home at Springfield Center, and until the death of his father attended the common schools and academy at that place. When seventeen years of age he entered a shop to learn the trade of carriage-ironing with a man named Durfee, with whom he remained one year, and then went to Fulton County and entered the carriage-shop of Moses L. Stockley, who married his sister Annie. He remained with Mr. Stockley six years, and June 13, 1873, was united in marriage with Annie Newton, a daughter of James New- ton. Her father was an extensive manufacturer of gloves at Johnstown, N. Y., where he was a prominent citizen. Though advanced in years, he is a man of unusual talent, and for a number of years has made his home with our subject. Mrs. Sloane is an only daughter and is a highly educated and refined lady, a graduate of the Young Ladies' Seminary of Schenectady. By our subject's marriage were born two sons: James N., a graduate of the military academy of Aurora, N. Y., who is now making his home with his parents; and Charles A., at home.
After his marriage Mr. Sloane entered into partnership with his father-in-law in the glove- manufacturing business, and was the first to suc- cessfully introduce the hog-skin glove. Soon after entering into the business he went on the road in the interest of the firm, traveling in Penn- sylvania, Vermont, New York, Ohio, and other states, and continued to be thus occupied for ten years, when, on account of the advanced age of his father-in-law, he quit the business and entered the employ of D. McCarthy & Son, of Syracuse, in the dry-goods trade, traveling for them six years, principally in New York and Pennsylvania.
In 1877 our subject removed to Havana, which
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
4
was his home until 1893, when he bought his present farmi of eighty-five acres, to which they moved, and where lie has since engaged in gen- eral farming and market-gardening on a large scale, raising his products and shipping in car- load lots. He also gives considerable attention to the dairy business, furnishing butter to private families. In politics lie has been an active Re- publican since attaining his majority. From boy- hood he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which body his wife is also a member. He has been a Master Mason since twenty-one years of age, holding membership with Kenney- etto Lodge No. 599, at Broadalbin, N. Y.
In this connection it may be said that James Sloane, the grandfather of our subject, was a prominent physician of Otsego County, and in early days was known as one of the most skillful physicians of that county, where lie practiced for many years and where his death occurred.
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EORGE C. WALSH. In compiling an ac- count of the different business enterprises of Schuyler County, we desire particularly to call attention to Mr. Walsh, who is one of the successful general merchants of the thriving vil- lage of Tyrone. The thrift and energy displayed in the management of his affairs are apparent when you enter his store, and his pleasant, genial manner, and his honorable, upright conduct have won for him many friends and patrons.
Mr. Walshi was born in Wayne, Steuben County, N. Y., October 8, 1857, and is the son of Thomas E. Walsh, whose decease occurred in the above county. His mother, whose maiden name was Maria Gould, was a native of New Jersey, where her family was well known. By her union with Thomas Walsh she became the inother of eight children, five sons and tlirec daughters, of whom onr subject was the sixth in
order of birth. He was rcared to the age of eighteen years in Wayne, and although his par- ents were people of limited means, he was per- mitted to attend the district school, and in this way laid the foundation for after years of study and learning.
Our subject was deprived of his father's care when a lad of fifteen years, and in order that his mother and younger brothers and sisters miglit be made more comfortable, he began working out by the month, continuing in this manner for the following seven years. Over and above what he was obliged to spend for the family, lie laid by for future use, and when ready to begin in life for himself, possessed a snug little sum of. money. This he invested in a stock of merchandise, and for three years was engaged in the sale of goods at Weston. Afterward he sold out, and was em- ployed as clerk for Willis & Sargeant, prominent merchants of that place; but at the end of two years he left their employ, and purchased a cie- half interest in the mercantile establishment of his brother James H., who was then living at Wayne. They continued together for three years, when our subject sold his share in the bus- iness, and a twelvemonth later bought a stock of merchandise in Savona, N. Y. After remaining there only a few months, however, he came to Tyrone, purchasing the stock of C. T. Willis, and here he has successfully carried on business ever since. Although he began with small means, his credit was good, and as the years passed by he was enabled to add to his business such conven- iences as made it more profitable. He has con- nected with him in this enterprise Charles G. Winfield, and the firm operates under the firm name of George C. Walshı & Co.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Augusta J. Winfield occurred in Weston, N. Y., Septem- ber 2, 1885. Mrs. Walsh is the daughter of Charles G. and Adeline M. (Shannon ) Winfield, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of a son, Jolin W., who was born November 27, 1887. Mrs. Walsh was one in a family of three, and was born in Toledo, Ohio, February 18, 1867.
Mr. Walsh is an active Democrat in politics,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and on that ticket was elected to the office of Collector, which he satisfactorily filled for two years. Religiously he is a member of the Metli- odist Episcopal Church, with which his good wife is also connected, and both take an active part in church work. During Cleveland's second admin - istration Mr. Walsh was appointed Postmaster of Tyrone, entering upon the duties of the position in February, 1895. He is very popular as an of- ficial, and is a man of whom the village may well be proud.
OHN G. REYNOLDS. This well known farmer and lumberman of the town of Cay- uta, Schuyler County, was born January 27, 1832, in this town (then a part of the town of Erin, Chemung County ). He is a son of Thomas and Nancy ( Colwell ) Reynolds, natives of Brattle- boro, Vt., the former born August 14, 1800, and the latter in 1798. John Reynolds, grandfather of our subject, moved with his family from the Green Mountain State to New York, and settled in the town of Reading, Schuyler County, but soon removed to the town of Veteran, Tioga (now Chemung) County, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. The Colwell family removed from Vermont and located in Chautauqua Coun- ty, N. Y., about the same time that the Reynolds family moved to Schuyler County. Thomas Rey- nolds was a substantial farmer, and in politics was a Democrat, though not active in political affairs.
The subject of this sketch was fifth among seven children comprising the family of Thomas and Nancy Reynolds. His boyhood and youth were spent upon the old farm, and during the win- ters he attended the district school, while in the summer he assisted in the farin work. At the age of twenty-one he commenced life for himself,
teaching school winters and performing any kind of work that came to hand during the summer. Four years later he embarked in the lumber busi- ness in company with his brother Jerome, pur- chasing a sawmill in the town of Cayuta, which they conducted for twenty-seven years. Our sub- ject then purchased his brother's interest and has since continued alone. His plan has been to pur- chase timber-land, clear it and convert the timber into lumber. In the time in which he has been engaged in the business he has cleared one thou- sand acres, and now owns about that amount of land in this, Chemung and Tompkins Counties. In farming he has given special attention to stock- raising, and has raised some valuable blooded horses, and now owns some well bred young roadsters.
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