Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
Jabez BEARDSLEE - Pittsfield
William BEARDSLEE, a native of Stratford, England, emigrated
to America in the year 1639. His family consisted of three sons,
viz., John, Joseph, and William. John, of the second generation, is
supposed to be the father of William, second, who had five sons, viz.,
Ebenezer, John, William, Jabez, and Enos. Jabez lived in Connecticut,
where he passed his days; to him were born three sons, viz., Abel,
Abijah, and Enos. Abijah Beardslee, the father of our subject, was
born in Weston, Fairfield Co., Conn., in 1749. At the age of twenty
he married Bethiah SHERWOOD.
Jabez Beardslee, an only child of Abijah, was born Feb. 19, 1770.
His father died during the Revolutionary war, and at the age of eleven,
being left without any means of support, he was taken into the family
of his grandfather where he remained until he became able to make a
start in life for himself. At the age of twenty-one he married Eunice
SUMMERS; and, in 1799, he moved to the present town of Pittsfield,
then more familiarly known as Unadilla, and located on the farm now
owned and occupied by his son Jesse and grandson Augustus, making
a purchase of 200 acres, for which he paid $2500. In connection
with carrying on the farm, he conducted a milling and manufacturing
business to the date of his death. He was an extensive land-holder,
owning more 900 acres.
To Jabez and Eunice Beardslee were born twelve children, viz.,
Bethiah, who died at the age of two years; Abijah, a very excellent
man, of considerable wealth, who died at the age of seventy-one;
Nathan, a distinguished member of the bar, who died Oct. 16, 1831;
Sarah, wife of Edward C. WILLIAMS (deceased), resides at New
Berlin; Levi, born 1800, died 1825; Jesse, born 1802; Aaron, born
1805, died 1864; two, who died in infancy; William, born February,
1811, died Sept. 4 ,1870; Cyril, born October, 1813, now living;
Alanson, died in Florida, 1840.
Jabez Beardslee died Oct. 14, 1854, in the eighty-fifth year of
his age. He contributed largely to school and church interests, and
was a constant member of the Episcopal church at New Berlin. In
the year 1814, when the church was erected at New Berlin, he gave
nearly one-half its entire cost for the purpose; and also, in 1848,
when the parsonage was given to the society, he owning one-half,
presented it. He was supervisor seven years, and held many
prominent positions of trust in the gift of the people.
Jesse Beardslee, at the age of twenty-four, entered into
copartnership with General Augustus C. WELCH, of New Berlin,
in the mercantile business, where he remained three and one-half
years. He was with Edward C. WILLIAMS (a brother-in-law) six
years, after which time he purchased the old homestead, where he
now resides. In connection with farming he took much interest in
the cotton manufacture, and assisted in the erection of the Arkwright
cotton-mills, located on his farm. He was married, Jan. 23 ,1826,
to Adaline ANGELL. The result of this union was three children,
viz., Mary Cornelia, Elizabeth Ambrosia, and Augustus J. Mrs.
Beardslee died September, 1843. In March, 1845, Mr. Beardslee
married Mrs. Mary Ann HARDAWAY, to whom was born one son,
Nathan Summers.
Mr. Beardslee has ever been a man of integrity and uprightness
of character, contributing largely to the church, with which he has
been connected since childhood. When the new stone edifice was
erected in New Berlin he gave liberally, furnishing all of the stone
from his own farm, which has ever been known as the "Garden of
Otsego."--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, page 292