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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  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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LYMAN H. HEBERD. There comes a time in the life of each man when he is suddenly called to face the great unknown beyond the grave, and leave behind him friends, loved ones, wife, children. It seems hard enough when all the immediate relatives are prostrated by the blow, but when the man is prominent and useful in the community, his decease creates a vacancy that is hard to fill, and which will cause him to be remembered with affection and the best of feelings for many a long day. Hard it does seem sometimes, but who shall question the workings of an All-wise and Inscrutable Providence? It is all for the best, and we can trust in God and lean on Him for support in the hour of calamity, knowing that He even numbers the sparrows.

The subject of this sketch, who was for many years one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Cortland County, was born in Homer, September 3, 1837, and died on his farm two miles north of the village on August 7, 1897. The summons came without warning. He had gone to the barn after supper to attend to some of the evening work, and was noticed by his daughter to fall; help was summoned, he was removed to the house, and medical aid sent for, but it was too late, for life had ended. He had passed the most of his life on his late estate on the plank road north of Homer. He had always taken an active interest in everything that tended to the advancement of the material prosperity of the town of Homer, and held in a high degree the esteem and respect of his fellow townsmen. His taking away left a vacancy in the community that it will indeed be hard to fill, while a host of admiring friends will wear for a long time to come the marks of their bereavement, not perhaps in outward symbol, but graven on their hearts.

Mr. Heberd’s father was a native of Homer. He was an ax-maker by trade, and followed that occupation all his life. In his politics he was an aggressive and ardent Democrat, while his religious views coincided with those held by the Presbyterian Church. His first wife, Arville Hubbard, died in 1837, leaving him one son, Lyman H., the subject of this sketch. He was again joined in the bonds of matrimony to a Miss Louisa Platt, by whom he was made the father of one daughter, Rachel, who married William Kellogg, and lived in Homer village on Clinton Street.

The mother of our subject died when he was only six weeks old, and he was then brought up by his uncle and aunt, Lyman and Polly Hubbard, on the farm which adjoined the one which he afterwards farmed, and where his death took place. He was educated in Homer Academy, and on leaving school at the age of twenty, in 1857, went to Detroit, Mich., where he entered a ship chandler’s store. Subsequently he engaged in milling on his own account, and continued in that line until he retired to the farm on which he was reared, where he was industriously engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he removed to his present farm, which he operated until his death. Politics had no especial attraction for him beyond what they should have for a patriotic American citizen, who was ready and willing at all times to perform what was required of him to the best of his ability. On all questions of local moment he was well informed, and proved himself a good counsellor on more than one occasion in meetings of the town’s citizens, when important subjects came up for consideration and discussion. He was faithful to the covenant vows and obligations assumed in the Congregational Church of Homer. He contributed liberally of his means in support of the church, and evinced an interest in all affairs of a religious nature that was most energetic and zealous in its nature. He possessed the entire confidence of his fellow townsmen, and was regarded by all as a safe, conservative and successful business man. In educational matters he evinced a ready interest and a desire to provide liberally for the education of the youth. At the time of his death he had just been re-elected a member of the school board of Homer, of which he had already been a useful member for some years. In general social circles he was popular and highly respected; he was a member of Homer Lodge, F. and A. M. To a large circle of friends the sad event of his death came as a direct personal loss, for his judgment and advice were valued highly, and were freely accorded to those who sought them. In everything that tended to promote the material advancement and prosperity of Homer he was sure to be deeply interested.

Lyman H. Heberd was united in marriage, March 2, 1863, to Clara A. Hobart, daughter of Deacon Manley Hobart, whose personal history may be found on another page of this Book of Biographies. Five children sprang from this union: Marion A.; Caroline L., who married Fred B. Corey, who is secretary of the Springfield (Mass.) Elevator and Pump Co.; Grace E., who died early in years; Cora E., the wife of Linus S. Paddock, the assistant manager and engraver of the Utica Burial Case Co. of Utica, N. Y.; and Jessie A., who lives with her mother and elder sister, Marion A., at the family residence on the Little York road north of the village of Homer. A portrait* of Mr. Heberd is shown on a preceding page.

*An engraving was included in the original printed volume.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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