My Genealogy Hound

OLIVER STETSON is now an agriculturist living in the town of Ripley, who, while yet a young man, was a sailor before the mast, and knew the peculiar whistle of a stiff north wind as it blew through the rigging. Oliver Stetson is the third of his family of that name, father and grandfather also bearing it. His mother’s name was Rhoda Alice Stetson, who gave him birth August 25, 1833, in the town of Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York.

Oliver Stetson (grandfather) was a native of Vermont. He came to the town of Westfield, this county, about 1827, and kept a tavern and stage line running from Erie to Buffalo. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Ripley at the time of its organization, served as a soldier in the war for Independence, and died in 1839. He married and reared a family of eleven children: Delia Ann, married John Taylor, and is dead; Betsey, wife of Frank Slater; Quincy; Edwin died, aged twenty-two; John, died when seventeen years old; Asenath, wife of Ezra Burrows (both she and her husband are dead); Moses, married Fanny Porter, died in 1870, leaving a daughter Jennie, now the wife of Henry Burgess; Henry A., married Elizabeth Spink, and moved to Michigan; Robert M., married Ann Ross; Oliver, and two sons who died young.

Oliver Stetson (father) was born in Vermont, and died in the town of Westfield, having, when a young man, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and voted with the Whig and Republican parties. He married Rhoda Adams and reared a family of four sons and three daughters. Three of the former are yet living: Oliver, Moses and Robert M.

Oliver Stetson (subject) was taught the lessons of the early schools, and then went on board of a ship and learned to be a sailor. He followed a seafaring life for a number of years, and then returned to terra firma and worked with the carpenter force on the railroad, but finally abandoned this life for farming.

In 1858 he married Elizabeth Lay, daughter of William Lay, who came from England in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson became the parents of two daughters: Josephine, who became the wife of Franklin Rayce, but afterwards died; and Elizabeth, who married a farmer named Frank Winters, and now lives in Ripley.

Oliver Stetson is a democrat, and belongs to Lodge No. 988, Knights of Honor. He is a social gentleman of integrity and stability of character.