372 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



the Academy. Their children are Jeduthun (who died 

 in infancy) ; John C, a graduate of Hamilton College in the 

 class of '61 ; was a school commissioner, first district, 

 Steuben County, for one term, and is now a farmer in the 

 town of Prattsburgh ; and Lydia L. 



The Higbys of Prattsburgh have been representatively 

 connected with the growth of the town in all its various in- 

 terests for over sixty years, and known as useful members of 

 society, and citizens of integrity in all their business rela- 

 tions. 



AARON PINNEY. 



MRS. AARON PINNEY. 



AAEON PINNEY 



was born in Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1801. 

 His father, Philander Pinney, with his brother Joseph set- 

 tled in Saratoga County soon after the close of the Revolu- 

 tionary war ; another brother, Alexander, settling in New 

 Canaan, Columbia Co. His father was a farmer by occu- 

 pation ; was married to Lucy Phelps, a native of Con- 

 necticut, of which union were born four sons, — Philander, 

 Martin, Calvin, and Aaron, — and five daughters, — Mrs. 

 Enoch Cornell, Mrs. John Phelps, Lura, Louisa, and Mary. 

 Of these children only the subject of this sketch and Louisa 

 are living. 



The father died in 1817 at the age of fifty-seven. The 

 mother died April 14, 1849, at the age of eighty-five. 



Mr. Pinney remained at home, working on the farm, 

 and attending school a part of the time — winters — until he 

 reached his majority, at which time he came to the town 

 of Prattsburgh (1822) and purchased some eighty acres of 

 land, which he soon sold, and bought one hundred and 

 thirteen acres on the county line in the north part of the 

 town. He was married, January, 1826, to Sophronia, an 

 adopted daughter of Jeduthan Higby, of Prattsburgh, and 

 settled on his farm. The log house, the monotony of clear- 

 ing off the forest, the necessary privation of the early set- 

 tler, the economy and prudence required in order to make 

 a favorable balance at the end of each year, were all ex- 

 periences of Mr. and Mrs. Pinney. 



He resided on this farm for some ten years and then 

 purchased one hundred and seventy acres, one and a half 

 miles from the village, on which he resided mainly as long 

 as he carried on farming. In 1854 he sold this farm and 

 moved into the village of Prattsburgh, where he has resided 

 nearly all the time since. Besides his farming interest, Mr. 

 Pinney had many other transactions in real estate, and has 

 given his attention quite largely to buying and selling stock. 



He has been a member of the Democratic party since 

 his first vote, and for several years represented the town of 

 Prattsburgh on the Board of Supervisors. Soon after set- 

 tling in the town both Mr. and Mrs. Pinney united with 

 the Baptist Church of Prattsburgh, and remained in that 

 connection, the latter until her death, Aug. 6, 1872 ; the 

 former is still a supporter of the church and kindred in- 

 terests. 



Their children are Martin, a merchant and dealer in real 

 estate of Prattsburgh, and who has for several years been 

 supervisor of the town ; Mrs. Richard Playsted, of Wayne 

 County ; Isabella (deceased) ; Mary (deceased) ; Dwight, 

 of Wisconsin ; Mrs. John McCarrick, of Prattsburgh ; 

 James (deceased) ; Philander, with his brother Martin in 

 the mercantile business ; Kate, and Mrs. Wm. Hunt, of 

 Erie, Pa. 



Mr. Pinney is a plain, unassuming man ; his life has 

 been one of industry and self-exertion, and his integrity in 

 all his business operations has won for him the confidence 

 and esteem of all who know him. 



