|
|
Higinbotham, Niles, who died in Oneida, March 17, 1890, in the seventy seventh year of his age, was for years
one of the foremost citizens of that village and a man who bore the respect and unqualified esteem of the entire
community. He was a son of Sands Higinbotham and was born in Vernon. Oneida county, March 9, 1813. In 1827 he was
sent by his father to the well known school of Mr. Morse in Hamilton, and at the age of nineteen entered the store
of Alexander Seymour at Utica, where he remained about one year. In March, 1834. at the age of twenty one be entered
the store of his uncle, Isaac Carpenter of Ithaca, with whom he later formed a partnership. When twenty four years
old he severed his connection, and taking his little fortune went West with his close friend, Samuel Breese. They
spent about two years buying large tracts of land which in after years became quite valuable. In the spring of
1840 Mr. Higinbotham and J. P. Manrow took a contract on the old Erie railroad from Oswego to Corning; the railroad
company failed in less than two years, owing the young contractors about $100,000, of which they only received
about $30,000. In the spring of 1849 they received their balance and paid their men in full with interest; Mr.
Higinbotham often said that he never knew a prouder day than when these waiting men were paid, Mr. Sands Higinbetham,
having bought from the State a large tract of unimproved land where Oneida now stands, had removed thither from
Verøon as early as 1834. giving to the village its first impetus by presenting to the railroad (now the
New York Central) lands and right of way, on condition that it should stop all passenger trains at Oneida, a contract
observed until late in the Fifties. Some years later Niles Higinbotham bought large portions of land here from
his father, and in 1844 built and commenced business in the old Goodwin store on Madison street. There he remained
as silent partner with his brother-in-law, Mr. Goodwin, for some years. In December, 1851. he organized the Oneida
Valley Bank with Sands Higinbotham and Samuel Breese. This was the first bank opened in Oneida, and was incorporated
as a State bank in 1852, and as a National bank in 1865. Mr. Higinbotham was elected first president and retained
that position until the day of his death. There were some traits of character very strongly marked in Mr. Higinbotham
even as a young man. To the most transparent honesty and uprightness in small, as well as great transactions, he
added an independence which made him courageous in striking out for himself in any line of action where his judgment
was once convinced as to the duty or reasonableness of. the undertaking, and be was persevering and hopeful to
a degree which never admitted in his often self imposed tasks, either weariness or discouragement. These qualities
eminently fitted him to join in and carry to even higher fulfillment the plans of his wise and publie spirited
father, for whom he had the most beautiful feelings of trust and affection. Together they labored for the development
of the little hamlet, and even in its early days Oneida began to be known as a busy and publicspirited village,
attracting to itself men of integrity and good character. Mr. Higinbotham's efforts were put forth in behaff of
religion, of education, of increased busine3s and railroad facilities, of wide streets, and town extension on every
side. in particular. he labored long and patiently to arouse public interest in the cause of higher education It
was one of the deepest wishes of his heart that Oneida should have an academic boarding and day school of the highest
order, and he spared neither time, pains or money in thç effort to establish the Oneida Seminary on an honorable
and scholarly basis. Again and again he came to the rescue when the seminary was in need; started subscriptions,
at times guaranteed and even paid from his own purse, the salaries of the teachers, and spent time and thought
in securing fine school grounds, a good building, library, and apparatus, and became the personal friend and adviser
of the teachers in everything that looked to the better equipment of the school, and the interest of the young
people of Oneida and vicinity. In these labors were associated with him as trustees of the seminary (which was
opened in 1858), such men as Messrs. Breese, Hand, Ellinwood, Goodwin, Stone and others. In everything that he
did Mr. Higinbotham had always in his mind to do that which should be best for the poor as well as the rich, and
in many unostentious ways he gave help to those whom he saw struggling under adverse circumstances. The park on
lower Broad street near the Central railroad, and the lands upon which stood all the church buildings except one,
were given by Mr. Higinbotham. On March 1, 1874, he was baptized in and united with the Presbyterian church, of
which many of his relatives were members, and he was, all his life, a reverent and constant reader of the Bible.
During all his long life he preserved habits of temperance, purity and regularity, and he enjoyed almost uniformly
good health until within a few years of his death. Mr. Higinbotham married, in 1849, Eliza, daughter of Nicholas
P. Randall, an eminent member of the Onondaga county bar. Of their union three daughters were born: Julia Randall,
died February, 1895; Louise Adelaide and Eliza Rhobie.
FROM:
Our County and it's people
A Descriptive and Biographical Record of
Madison County, New York
Edited by: John E. Smith
The Boston History Co., Publishers 1890
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Madison County, NY
Biographies
Names A and B
Names C to E
Names F to K
Names L to Z
Online
Biographies
New York
Histories
New York
Biographies
Maine
Histories
Pennsylvania
Histories
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|