TOWN OF PRATTSBURGH. 



375 



Hartford, Aug. 31, 1763; Mark Hopkins, born in New 

 Hartford, Oct. 14, 1764. 



In 16 — two brothers by the name of Hopkins emigrated 

 from England and settled in Rhode Island, and the above 

 are descendants from one of them. 



Capt. Consider Hopkins was a farmer, and, it is said, was 

 very fond of hunting, often braving extreme danger in 

 searching out the hiding-places of the panther and wolf 

 He died at the age of about forty-six, leaving a wife and six 

 sons and one daughter, viz., Consider, Roderick, George, 

 Elias, John, Mark, and Hannah (Mrs. Asher Bull). His 

 father, Mark, was the youngest of the sons, and the only 

 one who did not reach the advanced age of eighty. When 

 a young man, Mark Hopkins and his mother removed to 

 Oneida County, where he was married, first to Lydia Mer- 

 rill, of which union were born Elisha G. and Lydia. The 

 mother of these children died in 1794, aged twenty-six. 

 For his second wife he married Sarah Kellogg, Feb. 14, 

 1802. Of this union were born in Oneida County Ralph, 

 Erastus, and Eliza C. (Mrs. Simeon Hayes, of Prattsburgh) ; 

 after reaching Steuben County, Emily M. (Mrs. George E. 

 Hayes, of Buffalo), Ralph W., Mark, Joseph Mark, and 

 Hiram. 



The father first came to Prattsburgh and settled the farm 

 now owned by his son, Joseph M., in the spring of 1806, 

 taking up some one hundred and eighty-two acres of timbered 

 land. In 1807, March, he moved his family here and began a 

 pioneer life in the new country. In 1814 he built the residence 

 now standing on the premises and occupied by his son, and 

 with the exception of some repairs, is as it was built, sixty- 

 four years ago. A view of the same with its surroundings 

 may be seen on another page of this work. He and his 

 wife were among the early members of the Congregational 

 Church, and he was one of the founders of the Franklin 

 Academy, and one of its trustees for many years. He 

 died in 1843, at the age of nearly seventy-nine. His wife 

 died in 1852, at the age of nearly seventy-eight. Of all the 

 children, only Joseph M. and Mrs. Hayes have remained 

 residents of Steuben County, they being now the only sur- 

 viving ones. 



Mr. Hopkins spent his minority on the farm, received a 

 fair education at the common school and at Franklin Acad- 

 emy, and was a teacher for one term. For many years 

 after reaching his majority, on account of ill health, he 

 spent little of his time on the farm. He was early identi- 

 fied with the society of Odd-Fellows, and was District 

 Deputy Grand Master in 1853-54, and visited officially the 

 various lodges of the county ; and prior to that time had 

 represented the society in the Grand Lodge of Northern 

 New York several times. 



In 1854, March 30, he married Laura A., daughter of 

 Henry G. and Laura (Hopkins) Linsley, of Prattsburgh. 

 She was born Oct. 26, 1831. Since his marriage he has 

 given his attention mostly to farming. His children are 

 Mark H., Charles E. and Harriet E. (twins). 



July, 1860, Mr. Hopkins became a member of the Ma- 

 sonic fraternity, and has been identified with that body in 

 Prattsburgh since. 



He has not been actively identified in political matters, 

 but ever interested in the questions of State and National 



importance. Was formerly identified with the Whig party, 

 and upon the formation of the Republican party became a 

 supporter of its principles. 



Mr. Hopkins has always been interested in educational 

 matters and local improvements, and for some twenty years 

 following the death of his father was a trustee of Franklin 

 Academy. 



He has been prominently identified with the " Patrons 

 of Husbandry" since the organization in 1874, and liber- 

 ally supports that interest looking to the welfare of the 

 agriculturist, and is at present Worthy Master of the 

 " Steuben County Council," and has been for three years 

 elected Master of the " Prattsburgh Grange." 



At the annual meeting of the Steuben County Agricul- 

 tural Society, held in Bath, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1879, Mr. 

 Hopkins was elected president of the society for the ensuing 

 year. This is a just recognition of the ability of Mr. Hop- 

 kins, as well as of his entire devotion to the business of 

 agriculture. 



JOHN VAN HOUSEN 

 was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 7, 1802. His 

 grandfather, Henry Yan Housen, was one of the first settlers 

 of Albany County ; resided there until about thirty years 

 of age ; removed to Johnstown, Montgomery Co., where 

 his six children were born, except the eldest, viz., Henry, 

 John, Wynard, Jacob, Mrs. Linkinfelter, and Mrs. Flans- 

 bury. The mother of these children died in that county, 

 at the age of about forty. The father subsequently resided 

 with his son Jacob, in Cato, N. Y., and died there at the 

 age of sixty-nine. All of the children are dead. 



His father, Henry Yan Housen, was a native of Albany ; 

 at the age of sixteen went to Montgomery County ; married 

 Betsey Benedict, of the same county, but a native of Dan- 

 bury, Conn., and her father, Robert Benedict, was an early 

 pioneer of Saratoga County. 



Of this union were born six sons and three daughters, — 

 Henry, Robert, John, Sarah, Ann, Rebecca, Susan, Charles, 

 and James ; of whom Robert, John, and Sarah are living. 

 The father was a farmer, gave his children a fair opportunity 

 for an education, and in the latter part of his life lived 

 with his son John, in Prattsburgh, where he died, aged 

 seventy-four, in the year 1853. The mother survived her 

 husband some three years, and died at the residence of her 

 daughter, in Boston, Mass., about the year 1856, at the age 

 of seventy-six. 



Mr. John Yan Housen spent his life until he was twenty- 

 seven at home on the farm. In 1829, September 24, he 

 married Ann, daughter of Cornelius Hoffman, of Mont- 

 gomery County. She was born Sept. 23, 1805. Her 

 father was a cousin of the father of ex-Governor John T. 

 Hofi"man. 



He began life after marriage without pecuniary assistance 

 from his parents, and by self- exertion, prudence, and strict 

 economy through a business life of over half a century has 

 secured a sufficient competence to place him and his family 

 beyond the apprehension of want. For five years as a far- 

 mer in Montgomery County, and forty-four years as a suc- 

 cessful and leading agriculturist of Steuben County, he has 

 led an active, industrious life of manual labor. In 1834 



