My Genealogy Hound

WILLARD PULLMAN. The venerable gentleman whose honored name opens this sketch is well known throughout Seneca County. He has endeared himself to the people among whom so many years of his life have been passed, and is now living in their midst retired from work of any kind. He is the owner of a splendid estate, which is the result of his own labors, and which is pleasantly located just outside the corporate limits of Waterloo.

Mr. Pullman is a native of this state, and was born in the town of Berne, Albany County, August 31, 1814, and is therefore over eighty-one years of age. His parents were Darius and Lucinda (Betts) Pullman, the former of whom was born in Albany County, while his father, who bore the name of Salter, it is thought was a native of Wales, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, and spent one winter at Valley Forge. He also witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis. Darius Pullman was a well educated man, and taught school for some fifty winters, passing his time in the summer as a farmer. He commenced teaching when a young man of eighteen years, and followed it until after attaining his seventy-fifth year. He served his community as School Commissioner and Inspector, and in whatever position placed never failed to give entire satisfaction. At one time he lived at Nine Partners, on the Hudson, but later took up land in Albany County, which he cleared and improved, making it his home until his decease, which occurred when our subject was eleven years of age.

The subject of this sketch attained mature years on his father’s estate in Albany County, and, being the eldest of the household, assisted his mother in looking after the family while his father was engaged in teaching school. He was thus permitted to attend school but a short time, and his knowledge of books during his younger years was very limited. After reaching his majority he was given $100 in money and board and clothes for performing eighteen months’ work for his father.

Mr. Pullman was married to Miss Phebe Ann Goff, a native of Albany County, and to them was born a daughter, who died when five years of age. In the year 1837 Mr. Pullman bought the old homestead of one hundred and eighteen acres, and to this added the twenty acres which he already owned. His parents in the mean time moved to Wayne County, where they lived for a number of years, and then became residents of Palmyra, where Darius Pullman departed this life when past eighty-two years of age. His good wife preceded him by just three hours.

In May, 1841, our subject moved to Ontario County, where he conducted a grocery business for a period of five years. At the end of that time he sold out his stock and invested his means in a tract of land consisting of one hundred acres in Wayne County. On this place he lived for five years, meeting with fair results, when he centered his interests in the town of Van Buren, Onondaga County, giving in exchange his farm in Wayne County for the same amount of land in that locality. After identifying himself with the interests of that section for five years, he located where he now lives. His possessions here first comprised fifty acres, to which he later added a like amount, and some time thereafter bought one hundred acres more. He has remodeled the buildings on the place from time to time, and is now living in comfortable circumstances in his pleasant home.

Mrs. Phebe Pullman departed this life in Ontario County, and prior to his removal from that locality Mr. Pullman married Miss Betsy Dugan, a native of the town of Sand Lake, Rensselaer County. To them has been born a son, Charles, who is married and the father of four children. He make his home on the farm of our subject, looking after the cultivation of the place.

In his early years Mr. Pullman was a Whig, and voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840. In 1856 he cast a ballot supporting Fremont, and ever since has been an independent Republican. When a boy he had the privilege of seeing and forming the acquaintance of Mr. Williams, who aided in the capture of Major Andre.