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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York published by Chapman Publishing Co., in 1895.  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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CHARLES E. HOSKINS. As one of the oldest living residents of Seneca Falls, and as one of the pioneer business men of the place, the subject of this sketch is entitled to especial mention on the pages of this work. His business career, which covered a period of more than a halt-century, was one reflecting the greatest credit upon his energy, honesty and judgment, and through his untiring labors he became the possessor of a comfortable competency. His declining years are being spent retired from active cares and surrounded by every comfort which can enhance the pleasure of existence.

The son of Ebenezer and Eliza (Dixon) Hoskins, the subject of this sketch was born in Lansing, N. Y., October 16, 1799. Until twelve years of age he attended the common schools of his native town, after which, in 1812, he took a three-months course at Auburn, N. Y. On leaving school he commenced his mercantile experience as a clerk in his brother’s general store, and continued clerking until his twenty-first year, when he came to Seneca County and started in business for himself at Bearytown. In 1829 he removed his business to Seneca Falls, where he embarked in merchandising on the corner of Cayuga and Fall Streets. Here he built a fine store building and continued actively engaged in business until 1880, when he retired, transferring his business to his son, Lansing S. For some years he was in partnership with his brother Ebenezer.

Although giving his time and attention to his mercantile business, Mr. Hoskins was also interested in the various industries of the place. He owned one-third of The Seneca Falls Paper Mill, being financially interested in it for three or four years, and was one of the first Board of Directors of the Exchange Bank of Seneca Falls, with which he was prominently connected for a number of years. For several years he was President of the Seneca Falls Gas Company, and was also one of its Directors.

In 1820 Mr. Hoskins married Miss Sophia Giddings, by whom he has three daughters, Frances, Laura and Annett. After the death of his first wife our subject married Eliza Goodwin, by whom he had one daughter, Eliza. His second wife also died, and he later married Mary Woolsey, by whom he had three children, Lansing, Helen and Katharine.

In early life Mr. Hoskins was a Whig, and in 1820 was appointed and served as Treasurer of Seneca County. He was also Postmaster at Bearytown in 1824. On the dissolution of the Whig party he became a Republican and has been identified with that party up to the present time. After casting his first vote for John Quincy Adams he voted at every Presidential election up to 1892, when he cast his vote for Benjamin Harrison. For several years he was United States Loan Commissioner for Seneca County, receiving his appointment from the Governor.

Mr. Hoskins is now in his ninety-seventh year, but is a well preserved man, and with his mental faculties unimpaired. He looks after his own business affairs and also after those of his two widowed daughters, and almost every day his familiar face is seen on the streets of Seneca Falls. For sixty-six years he has been a resident of the village and has worked early and late, not alone for his own private interest, but for the material interest of the place. No man in Seneca County is better known and none more highly respected than Mr. Hoskins.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York published in 1895. 

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

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

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