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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ADELBERT A. NEWBURY, one of the progressive and shrewd farmers of Ripley town, was born January 13, 1847, in the town of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, and is a son of John A. and Margaret (Osterman) Newbury. The old home which his father established so many years ago has sheltered two generations. The paternal grandfather was drowned in the Delaware river. He married and reared a family of four sons and five daughters. Grandfather Osterman came to this county, and settled in Ripley. He was a farmer and married, and his wife bore him two sons and four daughters. John A. Newbury (father) was born in Delaware county, New York, in 1808, and lived to be eighty-two years of age. He came into Chautauqua county and bought a farm in the town of Ripley about 1830. When he came to Ripley, he saw nothing but forests. Two or three small settlements were scattered about, but they were so small as to be hardly noticeable to a migratory crow passing over them. Mr. Newbury set to work at once, and cleared up his farm, and erected an immense farm house, which is still standing. While primarily a farmer, he was also a carpenter, at which he did considerable, and bought and sold real estate. His property consisted of two hundred and twenty-five acres of fine land. He was high in the councils of the Republican party, and was a local leader of renown. Many of the town offices were filled by him, and the duties of the office honorably discharged. When the Baptist church was organized, Mr. Newbury was active in accomplishing it, and has since served as a deacon. The latter part of his life was passed in Ripley village. He was twice married; first to Louisa Spencer, who bore him two children: William S., now a lawyer at Portland, Oregon, and Libbie. His second wife was Margaret Osterman, by whom he had three sons and two daughters: Sarah, wife of Rush R. Brown, a farmer living at Silver Creek; Julia, wife of Frank Griffin, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Kansas; Adelbert A.; John, a farmer of this town, married Clara Palmer, who is now dead; and Clarence, who died young.

Adelbert A. Newbury was reared a farmer, and secured a country education at the district schools. When still a young man, he bought the old homestead, and has spent his life upon it, engaged in tilling its soil. It now consists of one hundred and thirty-five acres, and eight acres of vineyard.

On September 14, 1870, he married Sarah Smith, a daughter of Daniel and Cordelia (Cushman) Smith of Silver Creek. Their union has been blessed with four children, — three sons and one daughter, two of whom are dead: Eva, died young; Clarence; Arthur, dead, and Allie.

A. A. Newbury is a republican, and has served as assessor two terms, and is a member of Council No. 164 of the Royal Arcanum at Ripley. He is a very popular man in his locality.

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Chautauqua County, New York here: Chautauqua County, New York Map

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