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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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ELIAL W. SKINNER. One of the best known and most successful of Portland town’s grape growers is Elial W. Skinner, who is a son of David and Mary (Williams) Skinner, and was born on the farm where he now resides, September 30, 1838. David Skinner is a native of Chenango county, New York, and came from there to Chautauqua county in 1820, when he located in what is now Portland town and has ever since resided there. Although now (1891) in his eighty-ninth year, he is active and vigorous and enjoying much better health than would be expected of one of his age. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale; at one time he was the largest individual real estate owner in that town, and kept great numbers of live stock. Mr. Skinner is a democrat and is a great worker. His staying powers in any kind of work were at one time a matter of renown. He is of Irish descent, while Mary Williams, his wife, was Scotch. She is still living, aged eighty-seven years, and is quite an active old lady.
Elial W. Skinner has spent his entire life on the farm. He received his education at the common schools and academy. He owns forty acres of his father’s homestead and has a very fine vineyard and is one of the leading farmers. In 1870 he married Bessie, daughter of Luke Haight of Brocton and they have two children, one son and one daughter: William and Lillian.
Elial W. Skinner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Equitable Aid Union. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 154th regiment, New York Volunteers and served three years as a private, participating in the battles of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. At the latter place on July 1, 1863, he was taken prisoner and held for eighteen months. Ten months of the time were spent in the vile and notorious Andersonville, where so many perished from want of the necessaries of life. June 25, 1865, he was discharged at Elmira, New York, and returned to his home. Mr. Skinner is a companionable gentleman and has a pleasant home, in which his friends are royally entertained. He is intelligent and well informed and has the courage of asserting his convictions.
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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
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