John S. Northup
Biography

Contributed by Rene' Treffeisen



John S. Northup, a farmer of the town of Pittsfield, was born near where he now resides, 
in 1839. he is a son of Nicholas Northup, who was born at Hebron, Washington Co., N.Y.,
and he was son of Christopher C. Northup, of Rhode Island, who removed to Washington
County, this State, from Rhode Island when a young man. He was married to Penelope Hall,
a sister of Caleb G. Hall, a member of a wealthy family which in those early days owned
slaves. Christopher C. Northup and his wife had six children, viz: William, Sarah,
Christopher, Isaac, Nicholas (father of our subject) and Gardner, all of whom have passed
away. John S. Northup was reared on the farm at home with his parents.
His mother, previous to her marriage, was Sarah Medbury, and she was a daughter of Isaac
Medbury. She and her husband had six children, four sons and two daughters. They buried
an infant daughter. One son Clark died in 1857, at the age of fifteen and was buried
during the memorable heavy snow of that year. Isaac died when about ninteen years old
in 1863. The children living are as follows: Helen, wife of Truman Boatman, of Edmeston;
William H., a farmer of Edmeston; and John S. John S. Northup was married, October 15, 1864, to Miss Sarah F. Medbury, a daughter of
Charles Medbury, Jr., and who was born in the sasme house in which her husband was born,
in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Northup began life at their present home, the farm then containing
132 acres, but now only 121 acres. Upon this farm Mr. Northup carried on general or
mixed husbandry, and keeps a dairy of from ten to fifteen cows. His land usually yields
him fifty bushels of shelled corn to the acre. He has three good horses, and finds
plenty for them to do. In politics Mr. Northup is a Democrat, but is not an
office-seeker. He and his wife agree in political views. Both are honest and good
people, who take an interest in all things, industrial, religious and educational, which
in their views are calculated to improve the condition of mankind.
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