Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
St. JOHN, Platt - Otsego
This gentleman was born in Norwalk, Conn., March 2, 1786, the
eldest child of Aaron and Mary ST. JOHN. Aaron moved from
Connecticut in 1807, and settled on the farm in the town of Otsego
which has since been held in the family. He had one brother, Martin,
who went to Florida, - the last heard of him. He had four sisters,
Sarah, Cynthia, Mehetabel, and Maria, all of whom were married,
raised families, and are deceased. The father died Jan. 26, 1815,
the mother Aug. 31, 1844. Upon the death of his father Platt
received 100 acres of the homestead farm, and afterward bought
the remaining 100 acres belonging to the heirs. He was married,
Dec. 30, 1812, to Rebecca RUSSELL, daughter of Jethro and
Rebecca Russell, who were natives of New Bedford, Mass. They
had children as follows:
Mary A., born March 5, 1815, married, Feb. 5, 1845, to Pardon
H. RUSSELL, who was born in Rensselaer Co., N.Y., Sept. 18, 1814.
They had two children who died in infancy. Mr. Russell died Jan. 30,
1875. Mrs. R. has been living since his death with her mother, Mrs.
St. John. At her insistence a representation of the old homestead,
with portraits of her father and mother, appear on another page of
this work. Polly, born April 4, 1817, wife of Chester TAYLOR.
Juliet E., born April 15, 1846, the wife of S. Wilson CHENEY;
Arthur W., born Oct. 28, 1871, and Maude May, born Feb. 21, 1873,
are the children of the latter. Lillie M., born May 8, 1857, wife of
George A. BAILEY. Stephen, born June 29, 1821; died March
19, 1844. Juliet, born Sept. 25, 1824, wife of George HINES;
died April 9, 1845. Louisa, born Dec. 28, 1826; died Nov. 20, 1868.
Of the latter we quote the following from an obituary notice by her
pastor, the Rev. H. V TALBOT:
She was a warm and zealous advocate of the doctrine of
holiness, and her consistent walk, Christian conversation, devotion
to Christ and his cause, bore unmistakable evidence that she enjoyed
it. When death came it found her ready. She quietly folded her hands,
exclaiming, "All is light before me!" and peacefully fell asleep in
Jesus.
Mr. St. John was as member of the Methodist Episcopal church
of Fly Creek from its organization. We cannot better close this
record of his life than by quoting from an obituary notice furnished
the Northern Christian Advocate by his pastor, the Rev. David L.
PENDALL:
Brother St. John was one of the oldest members of the Methodist
Episcopal church of Fly Creek, and one of its firmest friends. The
last love-feast he enjoyed with us, which was a few weeks previous
to his death, he gave in a fervent, melting testimony of the effects of
the love of God in his soul; and we thought, while listening to it with
delight, that if it was the last testimony we should ever hear from him,
it would be a blessed legacy to leave to his family, the church, and
the world. It was the last. Ere he was again permitted to tell of the
power of Jesus to save, in a public capacity, he was summoned to
the paradise of God. . . . He lived a Christian, died a Christian, and
doubtless is a sharer in the Christian's blessed reward.
The mother is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-four,
surrounded with the loving attention of her children, grand and
great-grandchildren.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, page 255