My Genealogy Hound

AMOS T. MEAD, JR., is one of those farmers in Portland town who by energy, industry and frugality has become enabled to enjoy the sunset of life with pleasure and has no apprehension for the morrow. He is a son of Amos T. and Ann (Purdy) Mead, and was born in the town of Marcellus, Onondaga county, New York, September 10, 1823. Amos Mead (grandfather) was a native of Dutchess county, this State, where he was born in 1760. He moved to Chenango county in 1790, and about 1820 or ‘22 he went to Onondaga county, where he died in 1827. The family is of French extraction. While living in Chenango county his son, Amos T. Mead (father) was born in the town of Norwich in 1792. In 1822 the latter moved to Onondaga county; eight years later he removed to Aurora, Erie county, and in 1836 he came to Chautauqua county, He arrived at Ellery the day the land office was destroyed. Amos T. Mead remained in this county until 1845, when he removed to Versailles, Cattaraugus county, where he died in 1865. Farming had its charms for him and he always followed it. Politically Mr. Mead was a whig and served in the American army during the second war with the mother country. He married Ann Purdy in 1818. She was a native of Wyoming county, Pa., a member of the Baptist church and died in La Porte, Ind., in 1873. Her father was Stephen Purdy (maternal grandfather), who came from Pennsylvania to Chenango county, this State. He was a Revolutionary soldier and spent his last years farming in Chenango county, N. Y., and died March 27, 1812, aged 61 years. He married Mary Pellett in 1792. She was at Forty Fort during the frightful Wyoming massacre and joined in the flight with the rest of the terror-stricken people when their men were defeated by the Tories and blood-thirsty Indian allies under Butler. Mrs. Mead now has part of a wedding dress which has been in the family over nine generations. It was buried July 4, 1778, the day of the massacre at Wyoming, Pa., lay there seven years and has been handed down from parent to child for three hundred years, nearly two hundred before the incident mentioned above. They have been the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters. Amos T. Mead, Jr., came to Chautauqua county in 1836; was brought up on the farm and secured his education at the public schools, supplemented by a course at the Fredonia academy. After leaving school he entered the office of the Mayville Sentinel in 1843. From there he went to the Erie Observer and then to the Buffalo Express, following the business for about twenty years. In the fall of 1847 Mr. Mead began the publication of the Conneautville Courier, in Crawford county, Pa., which he conducted for one year. It started with good health and a strong constitution and continues to run with the same name and increased influence. In 1864 Mr. Mead moved on to his farm, which is located one mile from the village of Portland, where he now resides and is engaged in the culture of grapes.

May 1, 1848, he was united in marriage with Achsa Buel, a daughter of John B. Buel, of Mayville, and they have been blessed with six children, three sons and three daughters: Addle M., wife of Robert Burhans, who resides in Portland; Charles A., who also resides in Portland and is married to Minnie E. Hipwell; Will B., too, resides in this town and married Ella M. Williams; and Nettie I. The oldest child died Dec. 27, 1850, aged 20 months; the youngest child died Sept. 2, 1888, aged 22 years.

Amos T. Mead, Jr., is a democrat and has filled a number of the chairs of the town executives, notable, court-crier and constable. He takes an active interest in politics and is a member of the Equitable Aid Union and the Farmers’ Alliance. He is an active, energetic man and has several times been a delegate to the county convention.