products to New York, and soon found himself in command of a
first-class sloop, of extra heavy tonnage, and his carrying
trade of merchandise, passengers, &c., became very extensive.
The immense traffic at White Hall Street, East River, prompted
Captain Vail to seek some other quarters, more commodious than
that he occupied--the city at that time having a population of
only about 100,000. He soon found an old acquaintance, formerly
a Miss Horton, of West Chester Co., N. Y., who had married
Mr. James Van Nostrand, a wholesale grocer. An arrangement
was soon consummated, by which Van Nostrand was to move his
stock to West Street, and Vail to leave East River and land
at the Albany Basin, adjacent to Van Nostrand's store, which
arrangement was at once announced to the Hudson River boatmen
at White Hall, when, in derision, they laughed at the young
Captain's presumption; but Vail and Van Nostrand soon had the
laugh on the White Hall advocates, for the entire craft from
Orange County soon followed Capt. Vail, discharging regularly
his heavy loads of produce from the _Bayard_,[7] the first
to establish a regular wharf for Orange County produce and
passengers on the North River side of New York, and Van
Nostrand's grocery was the first ever located in West Street.
The following summer Capt. Vail's eyesight became impaired,
and he moved to Goshen, New York, where he and Mrs. Vail were
popular hotel keepers until the year 1834, when he was elected
Clerk of Orange County, and re-elected in 1837, and again in
1840. In 1832 he established at Goshen a Baptist periodical,
called the _Signs of the Times_, which is still in existence,
and edited and published at Middletown, New York, by Elder
Beebe, the venerable Old-School Baptist preacher. He, also, in
1844, established in Goshen the _Clarion_, the first Free-Soil
newspaper ever established in this part of the State of New
York. His religious and political opinions were regarded as
_ultra_ or _radical_, and he was a recognized leader of his
sect or party. His general urbanity and good judgment, and his
enthusiastic nature, combined with his fine appreciation of the
arts, made him popular with all classes of people. He died in
Goshen.
"Mrs. Vail survived him over a quarter of a century. She was
devotedly attached to him and his children. She was a beautiful
woman, and her happiness seemed to centre in their welfare,
which her husband reciprocated by leaving her his entire
estate, which she left unimpaired at her death, after a life
of over four-score years. Their youngest daughter is the well
known Madame Martinez, the eminent soprano vocalist and teacher
of the voice."
We are indebted to Nathaniel Vail, Esq., of Goshen, for the foregoing
record and sketch of Lebbeus L. Vail and family.
I. SARAH, daughter of Phineas Horton and Bethia Luce (_Nathan_,
_Caleb_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in Chester, N. J., 27 March,
1799; married about 1820, JEREMIAH WILCOX. He died in Illinois. His
widow married a MR. RHOADS.
Children, probably, born in Chester:
1. Wilbur.
2. Phineas; he was taken by the Mormons and probably killed.
3. Esther Ann.
II. NATHAN, son of Phineas Horton and Bethia Luce, born in Chester,
27 Dec., 1801; married about 1825, JULIA HORTON, daughter of
Nathaniel Horton and Eunice Horton, and born in Chester, about 1803.
Children, probably all born in Chester:
1. Nathaniel Jackson, born 1804; died 21 Jan., 1859;
unmarried.
2. Phineas W.; died 2 May, 1849.
3. Eunice Ann, married Westbrook.
4. Mary Elizabeth.
5. Caroline.
6. Julia Elmira, born 28 Aug., 1836; died 8 Jan., 1838.
7. Martha.
III. ELIAS, son of Phineas Horton and Bethia Luce, born in Chester, 6
Feb., 1803; married MELINDA LEWIS.
Children, born in Chester:
1. David Lewis, married Mary Ann Dilldine.
2. Elias.
3. Mary Ann, married Frederick Morrow.
4. Esther, married William Moore.
IV. MARY, daughter of Phineas Horton and Bethia Luce, born 6 Feb.,
1806; married DANIEL SKELLINGER, and had
1. Joseph, dead.
2. William.
3. James.
4. Phineas.
5. Elias.
6. Lydia, dead.
VI. DANIEL, son of Phineas Horton and Esther Horton, born in Chester,
3 Aug., 1820; married 8 Nov., 1851, by Rev. Mr. Fisher, to LYDIA
CRAIG HORTON, daughter of Jonah Horton and Hannah Bryant, and born in
Randolph, N. J., 2 Jan., 1827. She died 16 July, 1870; no children.
Daniel Horton resides at the old homestead, a few miles from the
borough of Chester. He is a well-to-do farmer, and his mother, now
(1874) aged and feeble, resides with him. They are pious people, and
of good repute among their neighbors.
_Eighth Generation.--Caleb I._
I. ISAIAH, son of Elisha Horton and Polly (Mary) Horton (_Dea.
Nathaniel_, _Nathaniel_, _Caleb_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in
Chester, N. J., 21 July, 1796; married in Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N.
Y., 31 Jan., 1817, to CHARLOTTE CHATFIELD. She died 21 Feb., 1854. He
died in Wayland, at Spring Water, Livingston Co., N. Y., 22 May, 1873:
Children, probably all born at Spring Water, N. Y.:
1. Amarilla, born 1818; married Stephen Pearl.
2. Maranda, married Luther T. Norton, Esq.
3. Hiram, married Mary Briggs.
4. Eliza, married Luther F. Norton, Esq., being his 2d wife.
5. Esther, married Augustus Boughton.
6. Elisha C., dead.
7. Isaiah, married Ruth E. Adams.
8. Mary, married J. B. Tiffany.
MARY, born at Spring Water, N. Y., 1 Sept., 1833; married 27 Feb.,
1855, at Spring Water, by Rev. H. M. Boothe, to J. B. TIFFANY, son of
Jacob Tiffany and Lavina Andrews, and born in Lenox, Madison Co., N.
Y., 24 March, 1828. His father and mother were born at Austerlitz,
Columbia Co., N. Y.; he, 1 Sept., 1795; she, 25 Sept., 1796; he died
at Spring Water, 8 Jan., 1873; she is still living. Mr. and Mrs.
Tiffany and family reside at East Bloomfield, N. Y. They have one
son, viz.:
Charles Horton Tiffany, born 2 March, 1875.
ESTHER, born at Spring Water, 17 Aug., 1826; married at Spring Water,
by Rev. Mr. Hunter, 9 Feb., 1848, to FREDERICK AUGUSTUS BOUGHTON, son
of Nathaniel Boughton and Tryphenia Hart.
Children, all born at East Bloomfield, N. Y.:
1. Dwight Boughton, born 18 Aug., 1849; married Josephine Hunt;
has Frank Dwight, born 26 Jan., 1873, and Grace Isabella, born
3 Aug., 1875.
2. Hiram, born 4 March, 1854; died 25 Sept., 1856.
3. Harriet Elizabeth, born 15 Nov., 1857.
4. Frederick, born 28 April, 1868.
HON. NATHANIEL COE, son of Huldah Horton and Joel Coe (_Dea.
Nathaniel_, _Nathaniel_, _Caleb_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in
Morris Co., N. J., 12 Sept., 1788; moved with his father to
Scipio, N. Y., in 1795; went by sloop to Albany--4 days--thence in
wagons up the Mohawk, by way of Schenectady--thence to Cayuga and
Wood Creek to Auburn, N. Y., and then Scipio, being one month on the
journey. He married in Auburn, N. Y., 5 Oct., 1827, to MARY TAYLOR
WHITE, daughter of Lawrence Emery White and ---- ---- and born on
Pearl Street, near Broadway, N. Y., 11 March, 1801.
Children:
1. Lawrence White.
2. Cornelia Elizabeth.
3. Charles Carroll.
4. Eugene Francis.
5. Susan Amelia.
6. Henry Clay.
Nathaniel Coe was an honest lawyer and an upright politician. He
possessed a superior intellect, and always commanded the respect
and esteem of his fellow men. He was long a magistrate, and for
four years in succession he represented Livingston and Alleghany
Counties in the Legislature of the State of New York. He was often
an arbitrator, both in the Church and out of it. In religion he was
what was then called, by way of reproach, a _radical_. In 1829 he
went to Nevada. In 1851 he was appointed U. S. Mail Agent for Oregon.
He finally settled at Hood River, where, on the 10th Oct., 1868, he
died. For several years before his death, he carried on an extensive
business in raising fruit, and became quite rich. He was a thoroughly
anti-slavery man, and while the Liberty party was in existence, he
was its firm and warm supporter. Mrs. Coe resides at Hood River, and
her son Charles, who was a superior young man, noted for his piety
and sound moral and Christian character, carried on successfully his
father's business until his death, which occurred 24 Dec., 1874. His
mother said of him, "My heart's beloved has left me, nothing can fill
the void. He not only filled his father's place on the farm, but also
at the family altar, and notwithstanding his youth, older men came to
him for advice on matters temporal as well as religious."
Mrs. Coe is an educated, refined and talented Christian lady--an able
and finished writer, and the author of many very pretty verses and
poems, and though aged, and having suffered much from ill health,
yet her penmanship is neat, and her thoughts and words fresh, warm
and vigorous. Speaking of her deceased little infant, Susan Amelia,
she says, "To whom, like a dew-drop, kissed off by the sun's morning
beam, a beauteous existence was given, whose soul seemed to come down
to earth in a dream, only to wake up when it ascended to Heaven." She
has kindly given much valuable information in regard to the Hortons
of New Jersey and their connections, only a small part of which can
appear in the "Chronicles." Mrs. Coe's ancestors, both on her father
and mother's side, were originally from England.
RACHEL BENNET, daughter of David Bennet and Mary Coe, and
grand-daughter of Huldah Horton, is a maiden lady, intelligent, well
educated and possesses good social qualities; she is a successful
teacher. We are indebted to her for many interesting letters, giving
genealogical data of members of the Horton family. Her residence was
in Chicago, where she was a teacher a few years ago.
II. JOHN SEWARD, son of Edward Horton and Charlotte Seward (_David_,
_Nathaniel_, _Caleb_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in Randolph,
Morris Co., N. J., 24 Oct., 1801; married 13 March, 1823, by Elder
Hough, of Port Byron, N. Y., to PAULINA CARRIER, daughter of Amziah
Carrier and Wealthy Hatch, and born in Brutus, N. Y., 29 Sept., 1804.
Children, all born at Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y., except Jane A.:
1. Charlotte, born 8 Jan., 1826; died 14 Aug., 1858.
2. Mary Ann, born 1 March, 1828.
3. Hetty M., born June 9, 1830; died 2 Sept., 1830.
4. Edward L., born 28 Aug., 1824; died 28 March, 1839.
5. Paulina E., born 11 Feb., 1842.
6. Jane A., born at Clarence, Calhoun Co., Mich., 7 Nov., 1847.
Mr. Horton moved with his father to Brutus, N. Y., when three years
old; moved to Calhoun, Mich., in 1846, and resides now at Marengo,
Mich.
III. DAVID, son of Edward Horton and Charlotte Seward, born in
Randolph, Morris Co., N. J., 4 July, 1804; married in Conquest,
Cayuga Co., N. Y., 19 Jan., 1826, by the Rev. Mr. Twist, to JANE
MCCALLAM, daughter of William McCallam and Anna Crowell, all of
Conquest, N. Y.
Children, all born in Conquest, N. Y.:
1. Margaret Ann, born 13 June, 1827; resides in Folsom, Cal.
2. Edward W., born 27 Jan., 1831; resides in Helena, Montana
Ter.
3. Victoria E., born 1 May, 1839; resides in Conquest, N. Y.
4. David C., born 2 Sept., 1841; he is a merchant, keeps a
general country store in Conquest, N. Y., where he resides.
He was married in Conquest, N. Y., 19 April, 1871, by Rev.
Daniel D. Davis, to Emma A. Slayton, daughter of Joseph Slayton
and Nancy Crowell, and born in Conquest, 20 March, 1851; no
children.
David Horton is a farmer--was largely engaged in the oil
trade--carrying on a large business in the oil region in Pennsylvania
a few years ago. He gave the compiler the first account he ever had
of the old tombstone of Barnabas I., as we happened to meet on the
cars between Lyons and Rochester, in Oct., 1870.
V. HORACE, son of Edward Horton and Charlotte Seward, born in
Randolph, N. J., 2 July, 1810; married MELISSA PUTNAM about 1833.
Children, probably all born in Weedsport or Brutus, N. Y.:
1. Isabella, born 1834; married William E. Merrick, of
Weedsport.
2. Eliza, born 31 Dec., 1836; married in Weedsport, 28 Sept.,
1869, by Rev. A. R. Hewett, to Augustus Harley Whiting, son of
Caleb Whiting, and born in Virgil, Cortlandt Co., N. Y.; have
one son, Horace Horton Whiting.
Horace Horton died at Weedsport, in Jan., 1869. His widow lives at
the homestead with Mrs. Whiting, who is an intelligent, active and
lady-like woman. They are in good circumstances. Mr. Whiting holds
some position under the United States Government, in Washington City.
HARRISON FAULKNER HORTON, son of Gabriel H. Horton and Margaret
Faulkner (_Elihu_, _Silas_, _Barnabas_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._),
born at Newburgh, Orange Co., N. Y., 11 Sept., 1804; reared at
Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and educated in the Presbyterian
faith, and Democratic political school. Removed to Warwick, Orange
Co., N. Y., in Nov., 1825; from thence to Newburgh, Orange Co., N.
Y., in March, 1831, and from there to New York City, in Feb., 1841;
married 15 Dec., 1829, at New Milford, Orange Co., N. Y., by Rev.
William Timlough, to EMILY COLEMAN, daughter of Merritt Coleman and
Mary Smith. He is a retired merchant, living in New York City at the
present time.
Children:
1. Annie M., born at Amity, Orange Co., N. Y., 7 Nov., 1830;
died at St. Augustine, Fla., 9 May, 1852.
2. Mary Helen, born at Newburgh, Orange Co., N. Y., 3 Feb.,
1740.
Mary Smith, the mother-in-law of Harrison Faulkner, was the daughter
of Deacon Smith and Sally Wisner, of Goshen. Dea. Smith was the
father of Dea. William Smith of Florida, Orange Co., N. Y. Margaret
Faulkner, the mother of Harrison, was the daughter of Samuel Faulkner
and Helen Murray, who were early inhabitants of Orange Co., N. Y.,
and pioneers in Wallkill Township. Samuel Faulkner was of French
origin. His wife, Helen Murray, came from Scotland. Samuel Faulkner
and his brother, Col. William Faulkner, were staunch Whigs in 1776.
"So far as my knowledge extends, the Hortons as a family have
not been renowned for their attainments in literature, in
the fine arts, or in natural science; not distinguished as
warriors or statesmen, or in the learned professions. Indeed
they have not been celebrated for great heroic achievements
of any kind. Nevertheless, with but few exceptions, they
have been industrious, peaceable, law-abiding, and very
respectable citizens, possessing commendable self-reliance
and independence. They belong to the middle class of the
people--the class which has always constituted the basis of
a good-ordered, well-regulated, and prosperous State and
Nation. Let their merits and their virtues be inscribed on the
tablets of our memories, and preserved for our veneration and
emulation."--_Letter of Harrison Faulkner Horton, September,
1872._
VI. NELSON, son of Silas Danes Horton and Mary McClean (_Silas_,
_Silas_, _Barnabas_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in Wallkill, 5
June, 1807; married in Wallkill, 1 Jan., 1836, by Elder Beebe, to
SARAH SHONS, daughter of ----.
Children, all born in Wallkill, N. Y.:
1. Ruth Ann, born 14 June, 1838.
2. Ellen V., born 2 Feb., 1840.
3. Samuel Danes, born 31 Dec., 1843.
4. James M., born 26 April, 1845.
5. Charles Shons, born 3 March, 1850.
6. DeWitt Shons, born 4 Aug., 1857.
Nelson Horton is a well-to-do farmer--resides on the old homestead
farm, to which he has made additions and improvements. He possesses
fine social qualities--a remarkably retentive memory--tracing his
ancestry back to the old Southold home, without the aid of written
records.
VIII. JANE, daughter of Silas Danes Horton and Mary McClean,
married BRINK. "Her son, Leander, is a warm advocate of the Horton
genealogy."--_Ruth A. Horton._
IX. WILLIAM HARRISON, son of Silas Danes Horton and Mary McClean,
born in Wallkill, 18 Jan., 1814; married 1. at Mason, Mich., 8 Aug.,
1840, by Rev. John W. Burchard, to MATILDA ROLF, daughter of Hazen
Rolf and Mary ----, and born in 1814.
On the 27th Sept., 1841, she gave birth to two female babes, and
survived but a short time afterwards. He married 2. 16 April, 1846,
by the Rev. Bezaleel Hill, to ACHSA SAMISA CHAPIN, daughter of Levi
Chapin and Achsa ----, and born in Springfield, Mass., in 1819. They
reside in Eden, Mich.
Children:
1. Willis Hall, born in Eden, Mich., 23 July, 1849.
I. REBECCA ROSE, daughter of Hiram Horton and Mary Rose (_Dea.
Nathaniel_, _Col. Nathaniel_, _Caleb_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born
in Chester, 29 Dec., 1809; married at Chester, by the Rev. Stephen
Overton, 3 May, 1828, to DAVID SCHUYLER DE CAMP, son of Zechariah De
Camp and Experience Halsey, and born at Chester, 25 May, 1804.
Children, all born in Chester except Stephen H., born in New York:
1. Hiram Horton, born 6 April, 1829; married Althea Laing; they
live in Plainfield, N. J.
2. Stephen Halsey, born 23 May, 1831; married Catherine Maria
Crouse. He is a Justice of the Peace; resides in Syracuse, N. Y.
3. Mary Eugenia, born 13 June, 1833; died 4 Oct., 1839.
4. Alonzo Dickerson, born 28 Sept., 1834; married Loretta
Dixon; resides at Bound Brook, N. J.
5. Abbey Louisa, born 18 Sept., 1837.
6. Alfred Eugene, born 12 June, 1843; married Catherine
McCurry. He is a hotel keeper, at Succasunna Plains, N. J.
7. Harriet Elizabeth, born 2 March, 1847; is a music teacher.
8. Silas Olney, born 3 April, 1849; is a merchant at Kingsland,
N. J.
Mr. De Camp is a wealthy farmer; his farm, a little below the surface
of the ground, has many valuable beds of iron. He and his wife are
intelligent, conscientious people, kind and hospitable; in religion,
they are firm Universalists. They reside within about three miles of
the borough of Chester, N. J.
I. CLARISSA JANE, daughter of John Horton (_Matthias_, _Silas_,
_Barnabas_, _Barnabas_, _Caleb I._), born in Goshen, in 1810; married
in 1832, to DAVID CONGER LOCKWOOD, son of Samuel Lockwood, and born
in Goshen, in 1806; died in 1860. Samuel Lockwood's maternal great
grandmother was JUDITH PECK, who came over in the _May Flower_.
Children, all born in New Windsor, Orange Co., N. Y.:
1. Susan May, married William Allison; resides in New York City.
2. Charles Burrell.
3. Sarah Elizabeth; dead; her family live in Brooklyn, N. Y.
4. Samuel Mann, lives in Indiana.
5. Catherine Arletta, lives in New Jersey, near New Brunswick.
6. Elias Riggs, lives in Indiana.
7. Abbie Anna, lives in New Brunswick.
8. Margaret Julia, lives in New Brunswick.
9. Lewis John, is in College in New Brunswick.
Mrs. Lockwood moved from New Windsor, N. Y., to New Brunswick, N. J.,
some years ago, where she now resides.
II. ANN, daughter of Jason Horton and Sallie Miller (_Israel_,
_Israel_, _Jonathan_, _Jonathan_, _Caleb I._), born in Lansing,
Tompkins Co., N. Y., 11 Aug., 1808; married in Reading, N. Y., 26
Dec., 1826, by Rev. Elder Noell, of the Baptist Church, to DANIEL
SUTTON. He was born in Ovid, N. Y., 13 May, 1807.
Children:
1. Lucinda, born in Reading, Steuben Co., N. Y., 13 Nov., 1827;
married in Phelps, N. Y., 3 July, 1852, to John E. Roberts.
2. Jason, born in Hector, Tompkins Co., N. Y., 25 Feb., 1830;
died in Catlin, Chemung Co., (now Schuyler), N. Y., 7 Sept.,
1831.
3. Mary Etta, born in Catlin, N. Y., 26 April, 1832; married
28 Aug., 1866, in the City of Lansing, to James Van Kuren; now
lives in Wheeling, West Virginia.
4. Emily Ann, born in Phelps, 9 Nov., 1839; married 9 Aug.,
1865, in Phelps, to W. W. Minturn; now lives in Williamston,
Ingham Co., Mich.
5. Phebe Maria, born in Phelps, 23 Nov., 1845; married in
Phelps, 16 March, 1864, to Robert Martin Town; lives in Phelps.
6. Helen Gertrude, born in Phelps, 5 June 1850; unmarried;
resides with her mother in Lansing.
III. PHEBE, daughter of Jason Horton and Sally Miller, born in
Phelps, N. Y., 11 May, 1811; married to DAVID BEEMAN, 26 March, 1829;
died 1 May, 1844, at Leoni, Jackson Co., Mich.
V. ISRAEL, son of Jason Horton and Sally Miller, born in Lansing, N.
Y., 26 Feb., 1817; married in the town of Rathbone, Steuben Co., N.
Y., 29 April, 1847, to ELIZA ADAMSON, daughter of John Adamson and
Minerva Mulford, and born in Lindley, N. Y., 27 Jan., 1827.
Children, all born in Rathbone, except Nellie, born in Watkins,
Schuyler Co., N. Y.:
1. Helen, born 29 Feb., 1848; died 9 Jan., 1849.
2. Florence, born 23 April, 1850.
3. Allie W., born 14 Dec., 1852.
4. Samuel B., born 30 June, 1854.
5. Israel, born 25 Dec., 1859.
6. Mary L., born 23 April, 1862.
7. Minnie, born 7 Jan., 1866.
8. Nellie, born 26 March, 1871.
"We moved from Rathbone to Morris Run, Pa., in 1870, and
thence to Watkins, N. Y., 15 March, 1871, and 2 November,
of the same year, moved back to Rathbone, and next from
Rathbone to Merchantsville, N. Y., 1 April, 1872, and lastly
to Williamston, Mich., where we are now located. Father's
health is quite poor, he has been lame in one ankle from his
boyhood, and while in Morris Run, Pa., he was nearly killed by
the cars. Brother Israel has the old powder-horn, made by his
great grandfather, Israel Horton, of Southold, L. I., N. Y.
It descended to my father, by virtue of his name, Israel, and
by him to Israel, my brother, who now has it, and it is to be
handed down in regular succession to each of the family bearing
the name of Israel. It will hold about three pounds of common
rifle-powder; nicely carved on it are the words, 'Lieut. Israel
Horton, his horn, made at Fort Stanwix, Nov. 3, 1758.' The same
paint is yet on it that he put on it, and doubtless it will
long be an heir-loom in the family of Israels."--_Letter of
Allie W. Horton, 1874._
VII. MINOR THOMAS, son of Jason Horton and Sally Miller, born in
Phelps, N. Y., 2 June, 1819; married in Sandstone, Jackson Co.,
Mich., 7 October, 1841, by J. Haddock, Esq., to LUCINDA SOPHIA
SPAULDING, daughter of Joseph Spaulding and Lucinda Spaulding, and
born in Sandstone, Mich., 18 Sept., 1820.
Children, all born in Williamston, Mich.:
1. Charles Francis, born 23 Sept., 1842; died in Baltimore,
Md., 19 March, 1864.
2. John, born 3 Sept., 1845; died in Williamston, Mich.,
accidentally shot, 9 July, 1863.
3. Joseph Nephi, born 23 Sept., 1850.
4. Matison B., born 24 Sept., 1852; died 30 Sept., 1858.
5. Mary Ann, born 23 Feb., 1855.
They reside in Williamston, Michigan.
I. JOHN MARTIN, son of John Horton and Rachael Hiler (_Israel_,
_Israel_, _Jonathan_, _Jonathan_, _Caleb I._), born in Phelps, N.
Y., 30 Dec., 1819; married in Rushville, Ontario Co., N. Y., 25
Nov., 1851, by Rev. Robert Parker, to MARY MARTIN BOARDMAN, born in
the town of Goshen, Ontario Co., N. Y., 30 Dec., 1824. She is the
daughter of Jesse Churchill Boardman and Mary Bunyan.
Children, all born in Phelps:
1. Ellen Maria, born 25 June, 1853; died 19 Feb., 1859.
2. Cyrus Van Renssalaer, born 7 Oct., 1859.
"Our dear little daughter died where she was born. Should you
ever visit the Pine Wood Cemetery, in Phelps, you will find a
quite beautiful valley, shaded with evergreens, where she and
her Grandpa Horton are buried, and they will be no doubt among
those who have a part in the first resurrection, for they were
true Christians."--_Letter of Mrs. J. M. Horton._
The little girl whose death is mentioned above, was a remarkable
instance of early piety. She possessed a precocious intellect, which
very early became deeply pervaded with the religious element soon
ripening into genuine Christianity. Her death-bed scene, though she
was less than six years old, was like that of a matured Christian,
exhibiting a brilliant trophy of Divine grace, deeply impressive and
comforting to all who witnessed it.
II. SAMUEL MINNIS, son of John Horton and Rachael Hiler, born in
Phelps, 29 Oct., 1836; married in Phelps, 19 March, 1867, by Rev.
George Van Alstine, to SYLVIA ANN COLE, daughter of Cyrus Chapman
Cole and Charity Boardman.
Children:
1. Julia May, born in Parma, Jackson Co., Mich., 4 May, 1868.
III. VAN RENSSALAER WAUGH, son of John Horton and Rachel Hiler, born
in Phelps, N. Y., 11 Aug., 1829; married in Orleans, N. Y., 28 Aug.,
1862, by Rev. Jacob Wader, to ROWENA SPENCER RAFTER, daughter of John
Rafter and Eleanor Wilson, and born at Orleans, Phelps Township, 15
April, 1841.
Children:
1. Edgar Clayton, born at Clifton Springs, N. Y., 9 Feb.,
1864; died 29 March, 1872. He was a wonderfully intellectual
little boy. He seemed to pass through childhood and youth in a
few months, and become, as it were, a man in intellect at the
age of seven years. He died of scarlatina. On the third day,
knowing that his sickness would prove fatal, he said, "Oh dear,
I wish it would not be so long," and then added, "Methusalah
only lived 969 years." At another time, when his father was
fixing the pillow under his head, he said, "I would rather
have a stone for my pillow, for Jacob, when he had a stone for
his pillow, saw a ladder whose top reached to Heaven, and the
Angels of God ascending and descending upon it." Just before
he died he repeated the Lord's prayer, and then said, "I am
ready to die and go to Heaven," and in a solemn tone, added, "I
go down into deep water," and soon after, in a cheerful tone,
exclaimed, "but I got into the Ark." On the evening of the
third day of his sickness, without a struggle or a groan, "He
neared the tide,--sunk as to cradle-rest and died."
2. Minerva Inez, born in Arcadia, N. Y., 6 Sept., 1866.
3. Carlton, born in Parma, Mich., 28 Oct., 1872.
IV. PETER DAVIS, son of John Horton and Rachael Hiler, born at
Phelps, N. Y., 17 April, 1826; married in Arcadia, Wayne Co., N. Y.,
8 Jan., 1855, by Edwin Pultz, Esq., to MARY SOPHIA AIKEN, daughter
of William Burr Aiken and Mary Marinda Clark, and born in Arcadia, 3
Jan., 1836. They have one son, an only child:
George, born in Arcadia, 11 Oct., 1857; he graduated at
Marshall College in June, 1874, with high honors. For his
graduating thesis, he wrote a very pretty poem, which was
published. He, also, during the last year of his college
course, made a translation of a portion of Virgil, remarkable
for its smooth versification, and also for retaining the
sublimity of the original.
Mr. P. D. Horton is one of the best masters of penmanship in the
country, is widely known as a teacher, and much respected; he resides
in Marshall, Michigan.