The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 266

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES/ TOWN OF STERLING

Hugh became a farmer at an early age, and by close application to business finds himself, while comparatively young, the owner of one of the most productive farms in the town of Sterling, consisting of 102 acres. A view of his residence is shown on another page.

JOHN IRELAND.

JOHN IRELAND, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, was born in 1793, and came to Sterling, Cayuga County, in 1814. He died in 1868. His wife, Polly Rasmussen, was born in Genesee county, in 1796, and came to this town about the year 1815. They were married in 1816, and have had six children, four boys and two girls, William, Andrew, John, Joseph, Catherine and Margaret Jane. Mrs. Ireland is still living, wonderfully active for one of her years.

PETER VAN PETTEN.

PETER VAN PETTEN was born in Washington county in 1797. He came to this County in 1824 and settled on lot No. 34, in the town of Sterling. In 1820 he married Miss Catherine Myers, a native of Albany county, where she was born in 1803. Eleven children were born to them, nine of whom are still living. Mrs. Van Petten died November 3d, 1877. Mr. Van Petten is still living with his son George.

JACOB VAN PETTEN.

JACOB VAN PETTEN is the oldest child of Nicholas N. and Mary A. Van Petten. His father was a native of New York State and was born June 3d, 1800. He came to the town of Sterling in 1817. He married Miss Mary Grinnell, of Albany county, who was born May 14th, 1809. Mr. Van Petten was for many years a much esteemed citizen of this town, and died July 9th, 1876. His aged wife still survives him.

Jacob Van Petten was born in the town of Sterling, August 25th, 1828. His youth was passed at home in working on his father's farm during the summers, and attending the district school winters. At the age of 21 or 22 he left home and began life for himself, working for the two years following a farm "on shares." After that he spent another year at home. Then he was employed by the contractors on the Southern Central Railroad as foreman, during the year 1853. From that time to the present Mr. Van Petten has been exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits. The spring of 1855 he purchased 48 acres of land, on lot number 67, town of Sterling. He has from time to time added to his original purchase until now his farm lands comprise 360 acres. October 25th, 1855, he married Miss Margaret A., daughter of William and Maria Follett. To them four children were born. His wife died May 13th, 1863. Mr. Van Petten lost his wife and three children, all within two years. October 4th, 1863, he was united in marriage to his present wife, Miss Nancy J., daughter of Ashley and Julia A. Bowen, of the town of Ira, Cayuga County.

In politics Mr. Van Petten is an earnest Republican. Three times he has been elected supervisor of the town, serving during the years 1871-'2-'3. He has often served his town and party on committees and in other capacities.

He is in every sense a self-made man and has, by his own unaided efforts, risen to the prominent and influential position he holds in society. An engraving of his beautiful home adorns this work.

JOHN UPCRAFT.

The town of Sterling can boast of few, if any, farms so well improved as Lake View farm. Those who knew the place twenty-one years ago would not recognize it to-day. It has changed from a neglected, dilapidated place to, perhaps, the model farm of the town. Its present owner, John Upcraft, Esq., was born in Norfolk county, England, in 1830. He was the third child of Henry Upcraft. He came with his father to this country in 1840, and located in the city of Oswego, where for three years he was employed by the late F. T. Carrington and Myron Pardee. He left their employ and was a lumberman for the next three years. Then for a long period (18 years) he was engaged in mercantile business and farming, for Fitzhugh and Littlejohn.

In March, 1858, he purchased Lake View farm, consisting of over one hundred acres, on lot No. 3.

December, 1854, Mr. Upcraft was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Read. Their union was of short duration. Mrs. Upcraft died in June of the following year. He was again married in October, 1856, to Annie E. Briggs, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Briggs. Mrs. Upcraft was born in Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1832.

On another page of this work we show a view of Mr. Upcraft's buildings.

RALPH HEWETT.

RALPH HEWETT, a native of Northumberland county, England, was born October 16th, 1800,

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