My Genealogy Hound

HONORABLE THEODORE A. CASE, a banker and sterling citizen of the town of Ellington, is a son of Salmon T. and Sophia (Ayers) Case, and was born June 17, 1841. His father was originally a citizen, as well as a native of Massachusetts, but at a very early day moved west to the county of Chautauqua, New York, where he purchased land and took up his residence in the town of Ellington. His father’s experiences there were those of the pioneer settler; he cleared, improved and tilled until his farm was brought into a fair state of cultivation and productiveness, so that those who might succeed him would be spared the privations and inconveniences incident to pioneer life. His earthly career ended in 1864, when, at the age of fifty- four, he serenely passed away. Salmon T. Case was a Calvinist of the strictest type and a life-long member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he was first a whig and then a republican, under both of which parties he held local offices. He was a man of fine intellectual attainments, and when young engaged in the vocation of school teaching. He was an inveterate reader, and always endeavored to keep fully abreast of all the issues then agitating the political, literary and social world. Grandfather, Eliphalet Case, also born in the “Bay State,” and removed to Chautauqua county, shortly after the arrival of his son. His occupation was that of farmer, which claimed his life-long attention. In the year 1847 he died at the age of eighty-two. The Cases are of English descent, and came to America during the colonization of the New England States. Our subject’s mother was born in Massachusetts, and died in September, 1890, at the age of seventy-seven years.

Theodore A. Case passed his childhood and youth upon his father’s farm, alternating his time in school and farm duties. His education in the district schools was supplemented by a course of study at the Ellington academy, upon the completion of which he entered the law office of Hon. Obed Edson, of Sinclairville, with a view to fitting himself for the profession of the law. In 1862 he left the law office and enlisted in Company G, 9th New York Cavalry, as a private, and served till the close of the civil war. He was wounded by a minie-ball at the battle of Old Church, Virginia, on the day preceding the battle of Cold Harbor, May 30, 1864, but soon resumed his place in the regiment and took part in all subsequent engagements. After returning from the war, he finished the study of law with Hon. Charles B. Green, of Chautauqua county, and was admitted to practice before the various courts of New York State in June, 1871. Mr. Case first opened an office in Ellington, where he continued to practice until 1880, when he engaged in private banking business in his native village. He has practically given up the law, and now devotes his time to banking interests. Politically Mr. Case is a republican, and for some eight or nine years was a member of the board of Supervisors of Chautauqua county. In 1876 he was elected to succeed Hon. Obed Edson as a member of the New York Legislature, and served in that capacity with honor and distinction for two years, 1876-77.

He was united in marriage in 1865 to Miss Lucy, daughter of Allen Bagg, of Ellington. Mr. and Mrs. Case have one daughter, Cora E., married to Clyde C. Hill, of Clymer, Chautauqua county.

Theodore A. Case is an attendant of and contributor to the Methodist Episcopal church, and member of the A. O. U. W., of which he has been twice elected Grand Master for the State of New York, and for four consecutive terms Supreme Overseer of the Supreme Lodge, composed of the United States and Canada. He is a man of fine address, great versatility and withal a marked geniality, and as a citizen, as an advocate, as a man, enjoys the entire confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.