My Genealogy Hound

ADIN DENNING SOUTHWICK. It is probable that the gentleman of whom we write has an experience extending over as many years in this particular locality as any one in the county, for he was born in the town of Junius, Seneca County, in the same house in which he now resides, January 2, 1813. His parents were David and Eunice (Denning) Southwick, natives of Pittsfield, Mass., where they were reared and married. They removed to this county in the year 1795, and here lived for the remainder of their lives. Unto them were born five children, of whom Adin D. was the youngest. Of this family all are deceased with the exception of our subject and his sister Clarissa, the widow of Dr. Amherst Childs, who makes her home in Waterloo.

The father of Adin Southwick at one time was the possessor of three hundred acres of excellent land, and was deservedly classed among the substantial and representative citizens of the town of Junius. In politics he was an old-line Whig. For many years he was Supervisor of his town, and also filled the responsible office of Justice of the Peace. He departed this life in June, 1843.

The boyhood days of our subject were not unlike those of other farmer lads — working on the home place, and attending the district school. He remained under the parental roof until the death of his father, when the estate was divided, he receiving as his share one hundred and fifty acres. He had been married several years prior to this time, in 1834, to Miss Susan Hunt, by whom he became the father of six children, one of whom is now deceased. The wife and mother passed away in 1860, and in 1869 Mr. Southwick was married to Miss Margaret Hunt, a sister of his former companion. The second wife died in 1879.

The estate which Mr. Southwick now owns contains one hundred and twenty-six acres, he having disposed of twenty-four acres. He cultivates his farm with the aid of hired help, and is well repaid for the care which he expends upon it. He takes great pride in this splendidly cultivated tract, and proves fully the fertility of the soil of Seneca County. In politics he was in early life a Whig, casting his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, in 1836, and has also had the pleasure of voting for that worthy gentleman’s grandson. He is now a stanch Republican, and on this ticket has been elected Supervisor, Road Commissioner and Inspector of Elections.

Of the children born of Mr. Southwick’s first marriage, we mention the following: Morell is now living in Livingston County, Ill., where he is a well-to-do farmer; Charles is engaged in the real-estate business at Louisville, Ky.; Cornelia, the wife of Warren H. Howe, makes her home in Kalamazoo, Mich.; Ellen became the wife of Alonzo Scribner, a citizen of the town of Junius, this county, which locality is also the home, of Mrs. Clarissa Garrett, another daughter. The father of our subject and himself have lived on this farm for one hundred years, the father having settled here in 1795. No other instance of the kind occurs in the county.