Philo K. Stoddard, M.D., whose English ancestor settled in Northampton, MA, was born 
in Jerusalem, Yates County, NY, September 28, 1825. His great-grandfather moved 
to Danbury, CT, and of his seven children, five sons were fit for military duty 
in the Revolutionary war, viz: Benjamin, Joel, Mosely, Cyrenus and Darius. 
Cyrenus served in that struggle, became a pensioner, married Candace Mix, and 
removed from Greene county to Cherry Valley, NY. His children were Sabra 
(married Vander Northrup and lived in Pulteney, Steuben County NY. Vander died 
in Andersonville Prison in Civil War-AC); Philo, Cyrus, Benjamin, Orra, Olive 
and Esther. Benjamin Stoddard, born in Cherry Valley in 1776, was the first 
settler in 1817 on lot 12 in Jerusalem, Yates Co, purchasing his farm for $6 per 
acre. He was a lieutenant and in 1828 a captain in the 103rd NY Inf militia, 
held several town offices, and died June 4, 1878. In 1818 he married Hannah 
Kelly, and their children were Chester, Survina, Charles, Philo K., Susan, Ann, 
Esther and Thomas F. Dr. Philo K. Stoddard was educated at the Franklin Academy 
and taught school seven terms. When Twenty-one he began the study of medicine 
with Dr. Elisha Doubleday, of Italy Hill, and later studied with Dr. Andrew D. 
Voorhees, of Prattsburgh, with whom he also learned dentistry. He attended 
lectures at Geneva Medical College in 1845-46 and was graduated as M.D. from 
Buffalo Medical College in June 1848. The same year he commenced his practice of 
his profession in Prattsburgh, where he has ever since followed medicine, 
surgery, and dentistry. After the battle od Second Bull Run he became a 
volunteer surgeon with the Union Army, was stationed for a time at Armory Square 
Hospital, D. C., and in September, 1883, was commissioned assistant surgeon in 
the 161st Regiment, in which he served until the close of the Rebellion. In 1875 
Dr. Stoddard introduced the first thorobred Jersey cattle and in 1879 the first 
thorobred Holsteins into Prattsburgh. July 4, 1850, he married Sarah Jane, 
daughter of Sebastian Lewis, of that town, who died July 4, 1854, leaving one 
son, Philo L., who was educated at Franklin Academy, studied dentistry with his 
father, was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in March, 1882, and 
practiced in Prattsburgh and Geneseo until his death, Nov. 26, 1887. Sept. , 
1856, Dr. P. K. Stoddard married Sarah, daughter of Albert Cowing, of Jerusalem 
NY, who died August 13, 1892. On Nov. 29, 1894, he married Mrs. Ella R. 
Crossman, daughter of Luther and Martha M. (Allen) Foster of Prattsburgh, who 
had one son, William F. Crossman born June 17, 1877 by her first marriage. Mr. & 
Mrs. Foster were natives of Yates county, where their parents were very early 
settlers, and in March, 1857, came to Prattsburgh, where both died, he on August 
26, 1890, and she December 29, 1891. Their childwere L. Myrvin, Ella R. 
(Mrs. P.K. Stoddard), Alice L. (Mrs. Samuel P. Cogswell), and Martha Anna, all 
of Prattsburgh.

From "Landmarks of Steuben County" by Hon. Harlo Hakes 1896 
Migration Biographies Index


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