William Underwood, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1827. He was a farmer by occupation. He married a Miss Orton and reared a family of eleven children. At the age of seventy-seven, in 1804, his death occurred in Connecticut, whither he had removed.
Chester Underwood, father of our subject, was born in Durham, Mass., October 15, 1784, where he grew to manhood. On the 14th of October, 1812, he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Betsey Tuttle of Colebrook, Litchfield County, Conn. Three sons and one daughter were the results of this union: Lydia A., deceased; Timothy W., deceased; Lauren C., living in Michigan at the advanced age of eighty years; and Harlow E., our subject. Previous to his marriage, Chester Underwood went first to Livingston County, N. Y., then to Chenango County, where he remained two years. In 1825, with his wife and family he came to Truxton, this county, living there seven years, then to East Scott, where he died February 6, 1855. He was a farmer and a hard worker in his younger days, but his health was such during the latter part of his life that he was unable to do much severe manual labor. When in the western portion of the state, he was afflicted with asthma, and while everything possible was done for his relief, he was ever afterward a sufferer from the disease. He was a Whig in politics, and in religion a Presbyterian.
Harlow E. Underwood has been a resident of this county since 1825, forty-three years of the time being spent in East Scott. He was educated in the district schools of the county, and after leaving school he earned his living for a time by following the trade of a mason. He was very successful, a good worker and his services were in almost constant demand. He followed this business for many years, but in later years his attention has been almost entirely taken up with farming, a calling to which he has been an honor. His farm consists of 100 acres of land in good condition and under a high state of cultivation; his buildings are comfortable and commodious; his home a model of neatness and cosiness, where a hearty welcome awaits the casual visitor or the old time friend. One branch of farming to which he is paying especial heed is dairying, and the excellent condition, to which he has brought his herd of twenty cows, speaks well for his methods. His motto has always been "A thing worth doing is worth doing well," and the success that has attended his efforts has been a proof of the correctness of his views.
Mr. Underwood has taken an active and intelligent interest in politics, and has represented his party in both county and district conventions. He was justice of the peace for a number of years, and filled many other town offices. He married Phoebe Ames, a daughter of Samuel and Polly (Brown) Ames, and five children have been born to them: Adelia, wife of Frederick A. Smith, a farmer of Scott; J. B., who married Estella Thompson, and is a farmer of Scott; Eugene H., who married Mary M. Stoker, and is engaged in farming; Ada B., wife of Bryant C. Sherman of Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y., and George H., who married Nora Gaylord, and lives in Cortland. The mother of Mrs. Underwood, Polly (Brown) Ames, was a daughter of James Brown, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He was a brave man and did much to help along the cause of the young nation, then struggling for its very existence. Mr. Underwood and his estimable wife are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are both consistent members. They are active workers of that organization, and he is a steward of the church. No more popular or highly esteemed family are to be met with; Mr. Underwood's strict integrity in all his dealings, and his wife's many excellent qualities of mind and heart, have endeared them to all with whom they have come in contact.
Source: pages 358-359.
1898 Biographies
V
CAPT. GERRET S. VAN HOESEN, a retired citizen of Cortland, was born December 24, 1834, at Preble, Cortland County, N. Y. He is a son of Garit Van Hoesen, and grandson of Garret Van Hoesen---each generation spelling the first name different. The first representatives of the family on this side of the water were three brothers who came from Holland and settled in Greene County, N. Y. The little house which they built soon after their arrival in this country was made from the brick that they carried in their vessel with them as ballast from their native land.
Garret Van Hoesen, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Coxsackie, Greene County, N. Y. His early manhood days were spent in his native county; later, accompanied by his brothers Francis and Albert, he came to Cortland County where they purchased a large tract of land and engaged in the tilling of the soil the rest of their days. His life companion was chosen in his native county, and three children were born to them: Garit; Jacob; and John, who in young manhood lost his life in a fire while rescuing his child. Garret Van Hoesen was a regular, old-fashioned Jacksonian Democrat. He was a most active and zealous member of the Presbyterian Church, and devoted much time and means to enhance its well being.
Garit Van Hoesen was born at Coxsackie, Greene County, N. Y., and came to Preble with his parents when quite young. He was reared and educated to agricultural pursuits and made farming his life vocation. The old homestead was his abode. He was married to Lana Van Buskirk, and they reared a large family of children, namely: Catherine, deceased; Susan (Skeele); Keturah (Hollenbeck); Jemima (Van Hoesen); Robert; Angeline (Palmer); Benjamin; Elmira (Manchester); Tryphena (Hoag); Gerret S.; Martin; and Luther. Garit Van Hoesen was a successful farmer, a good citizen, and a man who enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, after which he continued faithful to the latter party. During his boyhood days he was a member of the state militia. The entire family favored the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1863.
Gerret S. Van Hoesen, the subject of this sketch, first attended the common schools and was advanced at Homer Academy. Soon after reaching his majority, he went as far west as Minnesota, located in Rice County, that state, where he engaged in farming for a time, and later went to Kansas and took up a quarter section of land, where he sojourned for a short time, and finally returned to his native town. He then engaged in the cooper business; after following it a short time he determined to seek the oil fields, where he remained until the war broke out. He returned home and enlisted in the 157th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. He entered as a private; was promoted to be First Lieutenant of Co. K.; and later was commissioned Captain of Co. H. He was the ranking captain of the regiment when discharged. During the battle of Gettysburg, the commanding officer of Co. D. was wounded, and after his retirement Capt. Van Hoesen also guided that company through the fight. He saw three years of service. There is perhaps nothing of which a man may be more excusably proud than that of loyal, gallant service in the cause of his country, nor is there any service which lives longer in the memory of his fellow-countrymen. He was among those who early offered their lives in defense of their country in her hour of peril, and never relinquished their posts until an enforced peace had crowned all efforts. After the war he engaged in the grocery business for two years, then returned to his cooper trade, which he followed for four years. In 1857 he became proprietor of the Union House, which hotel he conducted until 1879. In that year he was elected sheriff of Cortland County, and served a full term; then after acting three years as deputy sheriff, he was again elected sheriff; after the expiration of his official term, he retired from active life. He was elected justice of the peace of Preble in 1872, but resigned when he engaged in the hotel business.
Capt. Van Hoesen was married October 2, 1866, to Carrie S. Markham, daughter of Chester Markham of Preble. His wife died from the effects of an injury received by being thrown from a buggy in 1892. A devoted husband and two children mourn her death: Ella M., and Finley, an efficient bookkeeper of the Cortland Wagon Co. The Captain is a member of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., and in the Masonic Order has advanced as high as the Knight Templar degree.
Source: pages 372-373
All biographies are from Book of Biographies - Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cortland County, NY
Biographical Publishing Company - Buffalo, NY - 1898
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