My Genealogy Hound

S. P. WADSWORTH, a progressive citizen of Berrien County and a successful fruit-grower of St. Joseph Township, is a native of New York State, having been born in Madison County June 11, 1818. The family of which he is an honored member was founded in America twelve years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, at which time two brothers of that name, William and Thomas, emigrated to the United States, William settling in East Hartford, Conn., and Thomas establishing his home in New Hampshire. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Wadsworth, was a native of East Hartford, Conn., where he married and reared a family.

David Wadsworth, father of our subject, was born in East Hartford, Conn., where he was reared and in his childhood attended the schools of the place. At the age of about fifteen years he shipped as a sailor on a whaling-vessel and visited the principal ports of the world, in that way gaining a practical knowledge of the different nations and the customs of the people. Returning to the home of his birth, he married Miss Clarissa Porter, whose paternal ancestors were among the most substantial citizens of Connecticut, many of them having been ministers of the Gospel.

After his marriage, David Wadsworth removed to New York State in the opening year of the nineteenth century and made settlement in Hamilton, Madison County. In his removal thither, he had been accompanied by three brothers, Timothy, Thomas and Moses, who settled within three miles of Utica. In 1835 Mr. Wadsworth removed to Geneseo County, and there purchased land, but had made his home upon the place only a short time when he was called from earth, in 1839. He was a man possessing many noble and manly traits of character and was highly regarded by all who knew him. In his political sympathies, he was a Whig, and continued to vote the ticket of that party throughout his entire life. One of his cousins, Gen. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, N. Y., served in the War of 1812, and he also had a son, James, who enlisted in the service of the Union during the late war and was killed in active service.

Unto the union of David and Clarissa Wadsworth there were born ten children, of whom nine grew to manhood and womanhood and four are now living, namely: Norman, who is a farmer residing on the Rock River in Illinois, and is at present (1893) eighty-three years old; Leander, a resident of Macomb County, Mich., and seventy-three years of age; Clarissa, who makes her home with our subject; and S. P., of this sketch. The latter spent his boyhood years in Madison County, N.Y., and at the age of seventeen removed to Geneseo County, the same State, where he attained the vigor of fully developed manhood.

The lady who in 1840 became the wife of Mr. Wadsworth was known by the maiden name of Sarah Boyce, and was born in 1819. Their destinies united, the young couple resided in Geneseo County, N. Y., until about 1859, Mr. Wadsworth working meantime at farming, carpentering and operating a gristmill. During the year above named he removed to Benton County, Iowa, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land. He devoted his time to the clearing and cultivating of this property, and made his home there for seven years. Removing to Sterling, Ill., he resided for three years and carried on a good business as a furniture dealer. In 1870 he came to Berrien County, where he has since resided. He and his wife became the parents of three children, namely: Franklin, who died at the age of about eighteen months; Hester, the wife of Rufus Goodell, a resident of St. Joseph Township, Berrien County; and Edward, who makes his home m the same township.

At one time Mr. Wadsworth was the owner of twenty-eight acres of fruit land, but he has divided his property, retaining in his own name only nine acres. Here he engages successfully in raising peaches, grapes and apples, although a large portion of the property is rented to others, Mr. Wadsworth thereby deriving a good income.

During war times he was an Abolitionist and had the courage of his convictions at a time when the expression of one’s sentiments often meant deadly peril, if not death. In early life he had been a Whig, and later affiliated with the Republicans, but at the present time he is a strong advocate of the platform of the Prohibition party. During his residence in Iowa he served as Justice of the Peace. He was agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Fairfax, Iowa. He and his wife are identified with the Congregational Church, and he is serving as one of the Deacons.