Henry Frederick Phinney, eldest son of Elihu and Nancy (Tiffany) 
Phinney, was born at Cooperstown in 1816.  He was educated at 
Cooperstown and at Hartwick Seminary, and after finishing his course, 
engaged in the publishing business with his father and uncle in 
Cooperstown and Buffalo, remaining in the latter place until 1854.  
Then, in company with Henry Ivison, he founded a publishing house in 
New York City, known afterward as Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co., 
eminent as publishers of school books, with which company he remained 
until 1869.  He then returned to Cooperstown, and resided there until 
his death, in October, 1875.  While he lived at Cooperstown he 
purchased and improved a valuable property.  The maiden name of his 
wife was Caroline M. Cooper.  She was the second daughter of James 
Fenimore Cooper.  She died in January, 1892