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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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ELLSWORTH LAMOREAUX. Among the names held in honor in Seneca County, the one which introduces these lines has for many years held a prominent place. Our subject is one of the influential and substantial farmers of the town of Covert and is widely known throughout this section. He was born in the town of Lodi, this county, December 22, 1828, and ever since attaining to man’s estate has borne an important part in the growth of his town, maintaining an unceasing interest in its prosperity and contributing to its upbuilding. Some mention of his ancestry and personal history will, in view of his prominence, be of especial interest to our readers.

Our subject is the son of John A. Lamoreaux, a native of Orange County, and the grandson of Daniel Lamoreaux. The latter, in company with his son John A., came to Seneca County in 1803. The journey hither, which was made with an ox-team, proved a very tiresome and tedious one, and on reaching their destination in the town of Lodi the father located on a tract of land which contained between two hundred and three hundred acres of land, and in conjunction with his older sons worked hard to clear and improve it. He was successful in his undertaking, and at the time of his decease, which occurred when he was eighty-two years of age, had the satisfaction of knowing his estate was classed among the most productive in the locality.

The father of our subject married Miss Catherine Swarthout, and to them were born six children. William, the eldest, is deceased; our subject was the next in order of birth; Louisa is deceased, as are also Margaret and Daniel; Ralph makes his home in the town of Ovid. After the death of his first wife the father married Catherine Slack, by whom he has two children, Ditmus and Malanah.

Ellsworth Lamoreaux received a fair education, and remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age, when he took possession of his present estate. It comprises one hundred and twenty-seven acres and is devoted to general agriculture. The buildings thereon are first-class in every particular, and the machinery is improved and of the latest patterns. July 29, 1857, he was married to Catherine A. Brokaw, whose birth occurred in the town of Ovid, November 20, 1833, and who is the daughter of Peter A. and Catherine Brokaw, for many years residents of that portion of Seneca County. Mrs. Lamoreaux was the eldest of their family of eight children, the others bearing the respective names of Rachel, John N., Aletta J., Daniel Y., Sarah E., Aden L. and Emma A. To our subject and his wife were born two children, George D. and Jennie L., the former of whom is deceased.

Mrs. Lamoreaux is well-to-do in her own name, being the possessor of the old homestead in the town of Lodi on which her grandfather first settled, a valuable tract of seventy-one acres, from which she derives a handsome income. In addition to this estate she inherited her father’s farm, which is located in the town of Ovid. Her grandfather was married in Somerset County, N. J., whence he came with his wife to Seneca County, this state, by means of an ox-team. They became well-to-do and were highly regarded by all who knew them.

Both our subject and his wife are members of the Reformed Church at Farmer, in which congregation the former has been both Deacon and Elder. In politics he always votes for Democratic candidates, as he firmly believes that party to be in the right regarding national issues.

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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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