My Genealogy Hound

SOLOMON B. NORTHAM. One of Ripley’s venerable farmer citizens, now nearly an octogenarian, is a son of Solomon and Anstruss (Jenkins) Northam, and was born at Fort Ann, Washington county, New York, May 28, 1814. The Northam family was a familiar one in Connecticut during the early half of the eighteenth century, grandfather Ebenezer Northam having been born at Colchester, that State, in the month of August, 1760. When the fertility of the western lands was being heralded throughout New England he gathered his family and effects about him, and with a team and covered wagon started through the semi-settled regions of western Connecticut and, although the roads were rough he kept on up into the wild and almost unknown county of Washington, and made a temporary residence at Fort Ann, New York, then pushed on, about 1825, to Ripley, this county, He subdued the forests and made grain to grow from which with other agricultural products he gained his livelihood. Ebenezer Northam married Rachel Bascom, a native of Connecticut, born in Lebanon, January 22, 1758, and they reared a family of five sons, the eldest being Solomon Northam (father). He was a member of the Universalist church and of the Jeffersonian party. The maternal grandfather was Abiah Jenkins, also a native of Connecticut, from which he emigrated to Jefferson county, where he died after farming for a number of years. He was a member of the Baptist church. Solomon Northam was born on the 16th of November, 1786, while his parents were living in Washington county. In 1825 he started westward and arrived at Ripley in 1825, settling west of the village. This place he made his home for eleven years following farming and land surveying, doing a considerable of the latter for the Holland Land company and then moved over into Westfield town where he farmed until 1858, and died October 3rd of that year. The Democratic party furnished the principles of his idea for good government and he heartily supported its platform, filling the office of justice of the peace and some minor town offices. Solomon Northam was a valorous and patriotic man. When the tocsin of war was sounded on the 19th of June, 1812, he responded to the first call of President Madison for twenty-five thousand men and served with credit. He married Anstruss Jenkins, for his first wife and she bore him one child, Solomon (subject). She was born June 13, 1784, and died October 7, 1817. In 1821 he married for his second wife Jane Hopkins, who was born in Washington county, March 3, 1792. They had five children: Jane, born September 10, 1822; Wallace, born September 4, 1825; Emmett, born November 16, 1828; Curran, born in October, 1830, now lives on the old homestead in the town of Westfield; and Mary, born in 1833.

Solomon B. Northam received a good education at the district schools and other places of learning and began life as a farmer, working shares. He has had a varied business experience. Beginning as a tanner he changed to merchandising which he followed in Ripley for fourteen years, holding a commission as postmaster at the same time. Then he bought a farm adjoining his present residence and for some years has given attention to that business, but is now growing grapes exclusively.

Solomon B. Northam has been twice married; first to Mary Ann Wood and then after her death to Louise Brayton, a daughter of Samuel Brayton.

Conceding that parties are necessary in the conduct of our form of government, Democratic principles more fully meet his views and he identifies himself with them, while the dogmas of the Universalist church are in accord with his ideas of true Christianity.