Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
HALE, Reuben - Otego
The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin, Delaware Co.,
Sept. 21, 1822. He was third child in a family of four children (two
sons and two daughters) of Levi HALE and Emily MILLS. The
former was a native of New Hartford, Conn., born Sept. 6, 1791.
Left Connecticut in the year 1805, came to Franklin, and settled
there with his father, Reuben Hale. Was married Sept. 8, 1818.
Remained in that town as a farmer until 1844, and removed to the
town of Otego, Otsego Co., where he died Aug. 16, 1866, and his
remains are buried on the homestead now occupied by his son Reuben.
The Hale family, representing the line to which the subject of
this memorr belongs, is descended from Samuel Hale, who emigrated
from England, and settled in Weathersfield, Conn., 1635, afterwards
to Derby, and subsequently in Middlebury about the year 1740. Many
of the first white men of the nation have sprung from this family,
and to-day represent many positions in connection with the affairs of
state in the United States, viz.: the late Reuben C. Hale of
Philadelphia, quartermaster-general of the State of Pennsylvania during
the Rebellion; Rev. Charles Reuben Hale, of the Episcopal church,
residing in New York city; Rev. Dr. Albert Hale, of Springfield, Ill.,
and Rev. George Hale, of Philadelphia, both of the Presbyterian
church; and the wife and mother of the late Secretary of the Navy,
Hon. Gideon Wells, who now resides at Hartford, Conn. The latter
Emily MILLS, was born in Great Barrington, Conn., June 5, 1801,
and was supposed to be of English descent. She died June 2, 1873.
Of Levi Hale's family only two children survive: Celestia, wife
of Nicholas SIGSBIE, of Otego, and Reuben. Eunice became the
wife of George SCRAMLING, and died July 24, 1840.
Albro A. Hale died young.
Reuben worked at home on the farm with his father, and since
his father's death has owned and occupied the homestead first
settled upon in coming to Otsego County, a view of which, with
the portraits of Reuben Hale and his wife, will be found on another
page of this work.
At the age of thirty-one, and in the year 1853, Feb. 22, he married
Miss Helen Ann (born May 31, 1835), daughter of Hon. Harvey HUNT
and Louisa SCOFIELD, of Otego; the former was a son of Ransom
Hunt, one of the first settlers of the town, and who came here in
the year 1800, and what is now Otego for many years was called
"Huntsville." The latter was only three years of age when she came
to Otego with her parents from Troy, N.Y. She died in March, 1843,
leaving a family of six children, mostly small.
Reuben is among the representive farmers of the town in which
he lives. In politics a Republican, has represented his town as a
supervisor one term, and was connected with the railroad interest
as town comimssioner, which offices have been filled with honor to
himself and satisfaction to his constituents.
To Mr. & Mrs Hale have been born four children: George, at
present postmaster at Otego; Emma Louise, wife of W. S FLEMING,
of Otego; John P. (died at the age of five years), and Celestia Alice.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, page 246