Calvin Hubbard
(February 16, 1784-May 17, 1876)
CALVIN HUBBARD - The subject of this brief memoir from whom the village of
Hubbardsville was named, was born in Sunderland, twelve miles from
Northampton, Mass., Feb. 16, 1784. He was a son of JONATHAN and HANNAH
(BARNARD) HUBBARD. But little is known of his boyhood days, except at the
age of fourteen he accompanied his parents to what was then Litchfield,
Herkimer Co., N. Y., and that he learned the shoemaker's trade at Warren, in
the same county. At the last named place he married SUSANNAH ALLEN,
daughter of AMASA and SUSANNAH (FISH) ALLEN. Her father was born at
Petersham, Mass., Oct. 9, 1753, and was a son of EDWARD and MARY ALLEN who
were settlers there in 1750. The late Dr. SAMUEL ALLEN of Copenhagen, Lewis
Co., N. Y., for many years agent there of the late ABRAM VARICK, of Utica,
and in the war of 1812, of the firm of Allen & Canfield of that place,
merchants and contractors for the fleet at Sackett's Harbor, was her
brother. She died Dec. 16, 1863, aged 76 years, 8 months and 6 days. By her
Mr. HUBBARD had two children: EMILY, born Nov. 4, 1808, and CORYDON, born
June 5, 1814. The latter died at the age of four years. EMILY married
ELIAS K. HART, of Oneida county, March 25, 1828, she died Sept. 10, 1853.
Her husband is yet living.
In 1808 Mr. HUBBARD removed with his family to Sherburne, Chenango county,
where he remained about five years. In June, 1813, he settled where the
village of Hubbardsville is now located and engaged in distilling and
subsequently in tanning and farming occupations that he followed up to the
close of his business career in 1853.
Mr. HUBBARD was most thoroughly an active and successful many a respected
citizen will gratefully recall his generous financial assistance in early
business life.
Physically, Mr. HUBBARD was delicately framed, and was active to a
remarkable degree, even up to the close of his life. At times he was gloomy
and despondent, and at others he was happy and vivacious, quick at repartee,
and was noted for his sharp pithy sayings. He was a man of strong
convictions, frank and fearless in their expression, and energetic in
carrying them out. He was a kind and indulgent husband and father, a genial
friend, a generous neighbor and a useful and public spirited citizen.
He was liberal and kind to the poor; and it can be said of him that "he
made the wilderness blossom as the rose," and kept pace with the foremost
men of his time in agricultural improvements valuable to himself and to his
neighbors as well.
In political sentiment Mr. HUBBARD was a whig, then an abolitionist of the
Gerrit Smith stamp. His money and a hearty God-speed was ever ready to
assist the slave from bondage, until the formation of the Republican party,
with which he united, and was ardent and energetic in his support of its
principles and measures. He lived to see the close of the great rebellion,
and no man was more gratified than he when Abraham Lincoln read his famous
emancipation proclamation announcing to forty millions of people that
slavery was forever abolished in the United States.
He was liberal in his religious views, and charitable towards all, ever
trying to find some excuse for the erring.
Up to this death which occurred at his residence in Hubbardsville, May 17,
1876, at the age of 92 years and 3 months, he was the oldest man living in
the town.
The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. MARSHALL of Madison,
there being present a large attendance of the substantial residents of the
community, among whom he had lived sixty-three years.
From "History of Chenango and Madison Counties, NY" starting on page 682.
Transcribed by Sandy Goodspeed
Date: Friday, September 17, 1999 12:04 PM
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