Anson Hurlbut, a prominent farmer, stock raiser and dairyman, of the town of Otego, 
was born December 22, 1834, in the same town, on the farm adjoining that upon 
which he now resides.  He is a son of Jesse and Almira (Miller) Hurlbut, farmers 
of the same town.  Jesse Hurlbut was born on the same farm as our subject, and 
followed farming there all his life.  He reared two sons, John and Anson, both 
of whom are living.  John resides on a farm in the town of Laurens, and is the 
younger of the two.  Jesse Hurlbut lived to be forty years old, dying November 
26 1845; his wife died January 24 1893, aged seventy-nine years.  He served as 
Justice of the Peace for some years, and held several other minor offices.  He 
was a Democrat in politics.  His father, whose name was also Jesse, was born in 
Connecticut, and settled in the town of Otego, being among the early settlers of 
the town.  He reared a family of eight children, only one of who is now living, 
Mrs. Roxie Hyatt, of Afton, NY.  He lived to be eighty two years old, and his 
wife to be eight.  They were truly united in death, their mortal remains being 
enclosed in one coffin.  He was one of the hard working, honest pioneers, 
belonging to a class of men of which there can never be too many. 

Aanson Hurlbut was educated in the district schools, and remained at home until he 
was twenty one years of age.  He was married to Emily Shepherd February 25, 
1874.  She was born August 21, 1837, and is the daughter of Isaac and Caroline 
Shepherd, who reared a family of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, 
five daughters and one son, viz: Roxie, wife of Daniel Leonard, living in the 
town of Roxbury, delaware county; rebecca, widow of Charles Wescott, living in 
Oneonta Plains; Mrs. Hurlbut; Delilah, wife of S. S. Kilbourn, living in the 
village of Oneonta; Lurissa, wife of George Van Woert, a farmer residing in 
Oneonta; and Henry, a farmer living in Oneonta Plains.  Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd 
died on the farm now occupied by their son, the former when about seventy six 
years of age, the latter when eighty nine.  They were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and he was a Deomocrat in politics.

Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbut have always lived on a farm since their marriage in 1874.  They 
have a good farm of sixty five acres, well cultivated and well improved, and a 
pleasant, comfortable home.  Mr. Hurlbut is recognized as one of the best and 
most successful farmers of his town, and both he and his wife are very pleasant, 
hospitable people.  They are enjoying their days in ease and comfort, and are 
everywhere recognized as hones, reliable and kind-hearted neighbors.  Mr. 
Hurlbut is a Democrat in politics, but cares nothing for official position, 
preferring domestic quiet to political strife.