Pioneer Families - ABBOTT
Extracted From
Chapter XVII
Early history of the town of Hopkinton :
history of East Village (Nicholville) and vicinity,
diaries of Elisha Risdon and Artemas Kent,
soldiers of the Civil War,
genealogical record of sixty of the pioneer families

Carlton E. Sanford
Boston: Bartlett Press, 1903

[Transcribed by Dave Swerdfeger]

IN this chapter is given the genealogical records of many of the pioneers of the town, of all that I have been able to gather sufficient data and information to make a fairly full record. The preparation of these records has required much time, labor, correspondence, persistence and patience. Had I had in the beginning a full comprehension of the tedious labor required, I now feel sure I should not have undertaken it. That there are some errors in dates and possibly a few in names I am quite satisfied, since considerable of my information came from elderly people who wrote feebly and indistinctly. I think it will be readily understood, if the reader will bear in mind that it is in continuous order; that the first, second, third and fourth generations are each carried slightly to the right, and that each generation always has the same indentation. SETH ABBOTT b. June 16, 1770; d. March 30, 1845; m. Sally Beebe, b. May 30, 1769; d. March 18, 1812; m. 2d, Elizabeth Webster, b. March 12, 1784; d. June 16, 1850. He was born in -----, Conn. Was in New Lebanon, N.Y., in 1792, and soon after moved to Addison, Vt., whence he came to Hopkinton in 1806. He was quite a cripple, using two canes to get about. His daughter, Mrs. Lucetta Peck, of Potsdam, has the staffs. He first built a log house close to the brook near Ashbel Squire's, whose house stood where F. Macomber's now stands. Upon making correct surveys, it was found that his house was on Mr. Squire's land and he had to abandon it. He then built a frame house on the knoll some eighty rods west, near Caleb Wright's. He did his family shoemaking. He sold farm to Reuben Wells and moved into the Olin neighborhood in Canton, where he lived eight years, when he and wife went to live with their daughter, Mrs. Lucetta Peck, at Nicholville, N.Y., where he died. Had ten children by first marriage and seven by the second: Jonathan B., b. July 19, 1789; d. March 31, 1825; m. Daraxa Russell, b. -----, 1794; d. April 20, 1885, aged ninety years. His widow married Stephen Eastman and died in Edwards, N.Y. Had two childern by first marrage: Emory W., b. July 26, 1819; 1. Gouverneur, N.Y.; m. Hannah S. Pickit, October, 1839; b. March 20, 1819; d. September 5, 1878. He was a member of Assembly for the years 1856, 1857, and is a reputable and highly respected citizen of his town. Had three sons: J. Henry, b. July, 1840, in Fowler; 1. Gouverneur, N.Y.; m. Harriet E. Phelps, February 11, 1862; b. -----, 1839. Had three children: Emory W., 2d, b. August, 1864; 1. Gouverneur; m. Sada Wistemier, December 4, 1890. Morton P., b. April 1, 1866; 1. St. Albans, Vt.; m. Maud Graves of Nevada City, Minn., June 8, 1897. Arthur H., b. June 7, 1873; 1. Gouverneur; m. Bertha M. Clapp of Gouverneur, October 17, 1901. Justus B., b. October 23, 1842, in Fowler; 1. Gouverneur; m. Frances A. Wright, May 5, 1864; b. October 30, 1841. Had three children: A. Sherman, b. March 18, 1865; m. Mary Rob, October I 2, 1887. Had three children: Hazel, Ruth and Robert. H. Lester, b. November 11, 1868; 1. Gouverneur; m. Jennie Fitzgerald, February 14, 1895. Had three children: Harry, Ross and Hope. Wright V., b. June 15, 1877. Vasco P., b. May 20, 1847, in Fowler; 1. Gouverneur; m. Anna E. Fanner, December 21, 1872; b. May 2, 1851. He is an able and very successful lawyer, was surrogate of the county twelve years, from 1880 to 1893. Had two children: Worth P., b. August 30, 1879. Hugh, b. June 5, 1884. Caroline M., b. September 27, 1822; d. November 17, 1898; m. Charles V. Haile; b. October 14, 1823; d. September 6, 1891. Had one child: Celia D., b. November 29,1851; single; 1. Gouverneur. Samuel B., b. January 19, 1792; d. July 6, 1878; m. Hadassa Post. (See his record.) Hannah S., b. January 10, 1794; died March 12, 1855; m. Ai Powers, September 26, 1811; b. April 24, 1783; d.-----, 1865, Potsdam. Had ten children: Sarah R., b. September 11, 1812; single. Harriet, b. September 26, 1814; d. May 4, 1891, Garnett, Kan.; m. Phineas Austin; b. March 18, 1807; d. March 25, 1896, Garnett, Kan. Had three children: Addie H., b. July 6, 1851, Potsdam; 1. Fremont, Neb.; m. John W. Andrews, March, 1874, Sterling, Ill. Had six children: Herbert R., b. August 19, 1875. Hugh C., b. November 10, 1876; d. March 31, 1878. Leon J., b. February 22, 1882. Francis C., b. September 2, 1884. Gertrude A., b. July 16, 1888. John A., b. December 17, 1891. Edward Ai, b. June 9, 1853, Potsdam; 1. Topeka, Kan.; m. Carrie Snow, April, 1883; b. August 12, 1863. Had three children: Jean E., b. August 19, 1885. Charles, b. July 1, 1891. Roger S., b. January 5, 1898. Ella Bertha, b. June 24, 1857, Potsdam; 1. Mont Ida, Kan.; m. Elery D. Parks; b. May 9, 1857, Lyndon, Ind. Had two children: Fred Austin, b. March 17, 1880. Sylvia A., b. July 21, 1889. Mary M., b. May 19, 1818. Potsdam; m. Levi Maynard; b. July 8, 1822; 1. Potsdam. Had one child: Herbert C., b. March 9, 1851; 1. Childwold, N.Y.; m. Sarah E. Taylor, October 17, 1878. Had four children: Mabel G., b. July 31, 1879. Anna J., b. June 1, 1884. Emma L., b. December 19, 1886. John L., b. September 3, 1888. Salmon, b. July 28, 1820; d. March 10, 1900, Neosho, Mo.; m. Susan Depew, October 2, 1844, Hopewell, N.Y.; b. November 16, 1821; 1. Neosho, Mo. He served three years and two months in Co. F, 2d Iowa Cavalry, in Civil War. Had six children: M. Ai, b. June 27, 1848; 1. Iowa Falls, Iowa; m. Emma Martin, March 3, 1872. Had three children: Harvey Salmon, b. March 18, 1873; m. Ida Lowry, March 1, 1899. Nellie I., b. December 1, 1875. Maud, b. July 27, 1883. Esther Emily, b. February 7,1851; 1. Neosho, Mo.; m. Dewitt E. Bingham, August 71 1867; killed in railroad accident; m. 2d, Austin E. Merrill. Had three children by first marriage: Eugene, died in infancy. Nora, b. September 10, 1870; 1. Savannah, Ill.; m. George P. Lindsay, November,1890. Oral, b. September 3, 1876; 1. Kansas City, Mo.; m. Ellsworth M. Eckman in 1898. Mary Antoinette, b. December 17, 1852; 1. Webster City, Iowa; m. A. B. Millard, December 17, 1871. Had three children: Rossa, b. October 27, 1872; 1. Redlands, Cal.; m. Edgar D. Meissner, August 29, 1894. Myrtle, b. December 19, 1876; 1. Webster City; m. Percival Stearns, August 16, 1899. Fern, b. September 12, 1887. Emma C., b. September 13, 1855; d. October 28, 1891; m. Thomas J. Walker, November 12, 1878. Had four girls: Susie, b. September, 1880; 1. Neosho, Mo. Mabel, b. June, 1882; 1. Neosho, Mo. Grace, b. August, 1887; 1. Neosho, Mo. Glenn, b. November, 1899; 1. Neosho, Mo. Seth F., b. July 10, 1856; died October 3, 1870. Scott B., b. June 7, 1861; 1. Waterloo, Iowa; m. Cora E. Freeborn, March 11, 1883. Had one child: Frank, b. July 21, 1889. Martha M., b. May 9, 1822; d. in Potsdam; m. Fielding Smith. No issue. Joseph, b. February 5, 1824; d. single. John D., b. May 7, 1826. Seth A., b. February 7, 1829; d. single. Cynthia E., b. August 13, 1833; d. in childhood. Hartwell A., b. January 19, 1835; 1. Cincinnati, Ohio; m. Naoma Pennoyer. Had four children: Odiorne S., b. January 17, 1867; 1. Cincinnati, Ohio. Ruth, b. December 12, 1870; d. May 12, 1872. Agnes Rose, b. January 7, 1873; 1. Lyndon, Ohio; m. Smith G. Dunning, June 29, 1899. Had one child: Normal Pennoyer. Charis B., b. December 2, 1877; 1. Cincinnati, Ohio. Seth, Jr., b. June 10, 1798; d. November, 1877; m. Emily Cleveland. No issue. He was a Wesleyan Methodist minister and died at Crown Point, N.Y., where he had lived many years. Rhoena H., b. September 13, 1800; d. June 6, 1825, at Fort Jackson; m. Eben Wright, January 1, 1820, died in Michigan. He m. 2d, Lucy McAllister. Had two children by first and three by second marriage. Children of Rhoena only given: Amelia, b. March 5, 1821; d. 1850, in Michigan; m. Ben. Mallory, b. in Michigan. Had one child: Alzada. Sarah, b. December 12, 1823; 1. Castleton, Ont.; m. Oliver Pettet; d. July 2, 1847, Castleton; m. 2d. Nathaniel Gaffield, b. February 14, 1823; d. May 4, 1900, Castleton. Had two sons by each marriage: Alanson, b. April 21, 1842; d. 1853, Castleton. Digene, b. May 4, 1845; 1. Lake Geneva, Wis.; m. Harriet Gregg. Had three children: Gertie (Mrs. Dr. Perry Corune), Ypsilanti, Mich. Herbert, b. 1870; drowned January 14, 1889. Allie, b. 1884. Oliver, b. April 5, 1851; d. December 25, 1862, Castleton. Nathan, b. August 29, 1853; 1. Castleton; m. Elizabeth Gerow, b. December 11, 1857; d. June 9, 1885; m. 2d, Johanna Leslie, b. February 26, 1868. Had three children by first marriage and one by second: John L., b. October 13, 1878, teacher, Frankford, Ont. Arthur G., b. June I 3, 1881; 1. Casdeton. Sarah M., b. August 16, 1884; 1. Castleton. Olive A., b. February 2, 1894; 1. Castleton. Philo, b. January, 1803; d. in infancy. Sally, b. July 12, 1807; d. May 26, 1848; m. Luther Humphrey, May 23, 1837. Had two children: Ellen A., b. 1845; d. same year. Frank M., b. March 31, 1847. (See Lucetta Peck.) Lucetta, b. June 9, 1809; d. September 29, 1813. Infant, b. July, 1811; d. in infancy. Infant, b. March 18, 1812; d. at birth. The mother died a few hours later and was buried with her babe in her arms. (See diary.) Lucetta, b. February 3, 1814; d. April 14, 1903; m. Alphonso R. Peck, May 10, 1838; b. June 22, 1813; d. May 28, 1883. Adopted the son of her sister, Mrs. Humphrey, Frank M. Peck, b. March 31, 1847; 1. Potsdam, N.Y.; m. Addie B. Henderson, December 31, 1874; b. June 28, 1854; d. February 4, 1902. Mr. Peck has been cashier of People's Bank since 1896. He adopted Etta Kingston, b. October 18, 1879. Philo, b. March 22, 1815; d. January 10, 1897, Greeley, Cal.; m. Adaline Chandler, September 1, 1842; b. October 10, 1823; d. August 24, 1901. He was nominated for county clerk at opening of the Civil War. The Republican leaders prevailed on him to step aside that they might put a "war Democrat," James F. Pierce, on the ticket in his place for the good of the cause, with their pledge and promise that he should have it next time. When the next nomination came around they had forgotten their promise and utterly ignored him. He needed it, and it hurt him. Had twelve children: Ellen L., b. October 1, 1843; 1. Pueblo, Colo. Eugene H., b. April 29, 1845; m. Marion B. Getty; 1. Greeley, Colo. Had one son: James F., b. September 27, 1876. Charles C., b. December 22, 1847; d. September 6, 1848. Marriah, b. August 16, 1849; d. May 13, 1850. Frances W., b. August 28, 1851; d. May 9, 1881. Frederick P., b. June 26, 1853; d. May 26, 1857. Jennie E., b. March 1, 1858; m. Melton P. Henderson; 1. Greeley, Colo. Had two children: Alice M., b. August 30, 1881. Ralph P., b. June 2, 1884. Adaline C., b. January 26, 1860; d. March 24, 1889; m. Adolph W. Petrikin. Had two children: Lloyd A., b. April 13, 1883. David L., b. December 28, 1885; d. Alice C., b. October 31, 1861; 1. Pueblo, Colo. ; m. Fred H. McDonald. Had one child: Alfred S., b. April 1, 1889. Sylvia M., b. October 29, 1863; 1. Greeley, Colo.; m. Joseph R. McRoberts. Had one child: Margurette A., b. September 30, 1889. Flora M., b. July 7, 1865; d. May 4., 1891; m. Fred B. Henderson. Had one child: Fred, b. April 29, 1891. William P., b. August 16, 1867; 1. Laramie, Wyo.; m. Annie Cook. Had two children: Florence M., b. April 14., 1899. Ruth A., b. May, 1901. Annie W., b. September 26, 1816; d. young. Elizabeth, b. September 8, 1817; d. young. Babe, d. young. Webster, b. November 18, 1821; d. December 31, 1878, Vancouver, Wash.; m. Mary L. Coffey, December 23, 1853, in San Francisco; 1. Vancouver, Wash. Had eight children: Frances Heman, b. September, 1854; d. October, 1855. Alice Ella, b. January 1, 1856; d. November 21, 1863. Lucetta Caroline, b. May 14, 1859; d. November 19, 1863. Flora May, b. August 31, 1861; d. November 18, 1863. Minnie Alabama, b. December 16, 1864; d. July 22, 1880. Robert Edward, b. August 6, 1867; d. March 8, 1868. Henrietta Mackay, b. January 24, 1869; teacher, Portland, Ore. Webster, b. October 2, 1871; 1. old home, Vancouver, Wash. Elizabeth, 2d, b. February 17, 1824; d. May 19, 1896, at Oshkosh, Wis.; m. James M. Olin, October 10, 1842; b. October 1, 1820, Canton; 1. Oshkosh, Wis. Had two children: Frances A., b. August 25, 1845; 1. Oshkosh, Wis.; m. Richard E. Bennett, May 13, 1869; b. September 9, 1838; d. February 9, 1902. Had four children: Carey L., b. July 27, 1870; d. December 8, 1889. Anah C., b. March 10, 1872; m. William A. Fair, October 3, 1894. Had two children: Catherine L., b. October 3, 1897. Robert B., b. September 23, 1899. Floy Elsie, b. December 4, 1873; d. September 1, 1875, at Oshkosh. Ida May, b. May 2, 1875; teacher at Oshkosh. Millard M., b. September 20, 1850; 1. Lanark, Ill.; m. Lulu May Reasoner, September 16, 1897, at Lanark, Ill. No issue. SAMUEL B. ABBOTT b. January 19, 1792, New Lebanon, N.Y.; d. July 6, 1878, Willoughby, Ohio; m. Hadassa Post, b. February 13, 1786, Dorset, Vt.; d. September 29, 1867, Hopkinton. He was son of Seth Abbott. He worked some four years for Mr. Hopkins, when he married and moved on to a tract on the Turnpike, a mile and a half southwest of Hopkinton village, in 1814. An old map of Mr. Hopkins's shows that this "farm" was first booked to one Rockwell, whose betterments Mr. Abbott purchased, including a small clearing and a log house and barn. He in turn sold his betterments and rights to his brother-in-law, Elisha Risdon, in 1825, when he built the frame house next west of Phineas Durfey. He later built the house next west of this, where John Leach now resides. He hunted falls and winters as a business. On one of his trips he was with Asa Squire and Albert Dewey when they got lost. Mr. Dewey froze his foot so badly that it had to be amputated. Messrs. Abbott and Squire were cornpelled to cut boughs and whip him severely to keep him awake and moving till they could find their camp. His daughter, Mrs. Harriet Adsit, living at Perry, Ohio, is the sole survivor of the family. She has helped materially on several points in the preparation of this work. (See also Elisha Risdon's record.) Had seven children: Reuben P., b. June 23, 1815; d. June 8, 1882, Willoughby, Ohio; m. Betsey (Hornby) Pike, January 2, 1844; b. May 24, 1819; d. September 15, 1847; m. 2d, Louisa Covey, January 27, 1848; d. October, 1880. Had one child by first marriage: Robert S., b. September 12, 1847; 1. Perry, Ohio; m. Julia Ann Pearson, August 28, 1867, Bluffton, Iowa; b. October 4., 1851. His mother died at his birth, when his aunt Harriet cared for him, and now he is caring for her. Had five children: Ellen Jane, b. March 10, 1869; teacher, Painesville, Ohio. Reuben Isham, b. January 2, 1871, Bluffton; d. February 22, 1873. George Frederick, b. January 22, 1874, Dimond, Kan.; 1. Madison, Ohio; m. Esther Tyler, August, 1899. Had two children: Julia Estelle, b. January 26, 1901; d. June 29, 1901. Gertrude Esther, b. July 14, 1902. Lucy Maria, b. November 4, 1876; 1. Perry, Ohio; m. Max Craine, December 29, 1896. Had two children: Alara, aged four years in 1902. Roger Paige, aged two years in 1902. Will Arvil, b. August 22, 1879; 1. Freedom Station, Ohio; m. Lilla Bradford, December 18, 1901. No issue. Gideon S., b. April 6, 1817; d. San Jose, Cal., May 10, 1894; m. Eloise A. Miles, January 1, 1843; d. San Jose, March 17, 1882; m. 24, Caroline A. Brown; 1. Akron, Ohio. Attended at the old Academy, Potsdam, was there in 1834, had a room on third floor in dormitory with small stove and table at $5.50 per term. At first it was an even struggle whether he or the bedbugs would hold the room. He became a Universalist minister, and later settled on the farm a half mile south of Jonah Sanford, where Orman Beecher now lives. His first wife wrote a book entitled "Personal Recollections and Essays." Had two children: Marion A., b. January 2, 1849; 1. San Jose, Cal.; m. Dr. Albert 0. Hooker, September 19, 1871, Montpelier, Vt. Had four children: Leda Verus, b. July 1, 1872. Iva Eloise, b. January 19, 1874; 1. San Jose, Cal.; m. Joseph R. Prevost, June 12, 1900. Francis Albert, b. September 19, 1877. Edwin Davis, b. April 9, 1880; 1. San Jose, Cal.; m. Vernia Moore, August 1,1900. Had two children:. Gladys Eloise, b. May 2, 1901. Vernia Agnes, b. July 21, 1902. Francis L., b. April 12, 1850; d. December 30, 1868, Lawrence, Mich. He was a fine scholar and had he lived would have become a highly cultured man. Lucy Maria, b. November 1 2, 1818; d. May 16, 1900, at Painesville, 0.; m. Sheldon Allen, January 4, 1855; d. February, 1873. No issue. Harriet, b. September 20, 1820; 1. Perry, Ohio; m. Alvin Adsit, November 14, 1867, of Essex, N.Y.; d. November 5, 1895. No issue. Sarah E., b. June 7, 1822; d. February 20, 1897, Willoughby, Ohio; m. Alvah Brownell, August, 1842; b. January 5, 1820; d. June 8, 1894. Had seven children: Martha C., b. 1843. James F., b. 1845. Celestia, b. 1846. Ellen C., b. 1848. George W., b. 1857. George F., b. 1862. Hattie M. All died young except Celestia, who died August 29, 1863, and Hattie. She is Mrs. Elwie Stoddard of Elmira, N.Y., and has two sons: George Brownell, b. October 2, 1885. Gail Elwie, b. June 15, 1887. Jonathan B., b. May 27, 1825; d. September 3, 1848, from a kick in the stomach by a horse. Jerusha Jane, b. August 8, 1828; d. March 8, 1896, Willoughby, Ohio; m. George Newton in 1854; 1. Willoughby, Ohio. Had one child: Jennie, b. April 28, 1860; m. Nathan Downing, December 25, 1876; 1. Cleveland, Ohio. Had eight children: Lloyd N., b. June 25, 1878; m. Myrtle C. Johnson, September 9, 1897. William N., b. April 2, 1880. George N., b. August 3, 1882; m. Grace L. Roe, January 16, 1902. Mabel J., born May 10, 1884; m. William A. Seaton, February, 1899. Had one child: Dorothy B., b. September 14, 1900. Harrison M., b. September 23, 1888. Bernice A., b. February 8, 1891. Esther H., b. February 13, 1893. Paul N., b. April 2, 1897.     INDEX