My Genealogy Hound

HON. PEREZ HASTINGS FIELD. A plain statement of the facts embraced in the life of Mr. Field, formerly well and favorably known to the people of Schuyler County, is all that we profess to be able to give in this volume. Yet, upon examination of these facts, there will be found the career of one whose entire course was marked by great honesty and fidelity of purpose. He followed the active and industrious life of a business man and met with substantial results, possessing at the time of his decease a fine farm in the town of Hector, besides much other valuable property.

Mr. Field was born in Geneva, this state, in 1820, and met his death August 31, 1872, by being drowned during a collision on Long Island Sound. His parents were David and Electa (Hastings) Field, natives of Deerfield, Mass. Our subject, however, passed his boyhood days in his native place, and was there well educated. He was a great reader, and during his life gathered a fine collection of books, on the merits of which he was well informed. He early in life assisted in the support of the family, and when ready to engage in business on his own account began dealing in grain in Geneva. He erected a grain elevator at that place, and also owned a malthouse, which he disposed of a short time prior to his decease. He purchased grain from the farmers along both sides of Lake Seneca, and at one time was honored by having a boat bearing his name. Politically he was a very prominent Republican, and on this ticket was elected to the Assembly in 1865, being twice returned to that body. At the time of his death he was temporarily out of business.

Hon. Perez H. Field was married, December 23, 1869, in Albany, to Miss Clara Eddy, of that city. Her girlhood days were passed in Ohio, although her education was completed in the fine schools of Albany and New York City. In 1866 her husband purchased the fine property on Lake Seneca, near Peach Orchard, where his widow now resides. Until his decease Mr. Field spent his summers at this beautiful home, which the family has since continued to do. It contains about eighty acres, eighteen of which are devoted to a vineyard, and ten or fifteen acres to other fruits. It is an exceptionally beautiful place and is also very remunerative and valuable.

To our subject and his devoted wife there were born two children. Alice Electa, a talented musician, was educated at Geneva, N. Y.; and William Perez is pursuing his studies at Yale and will be graduated with the Class of ‘96. Mr. Field was a shrewd and successful business man and took great interest in public matters.