Part 21

Mr. Horton is distinguished for his business capacity, industry, strict integrity and honorable dealing with his fellow men. He is highly esteemed as a citizen and Christian gentleman, and is a liberal supporter of the Gospel.

III. BENJAMIN DE WITT, son of Osborn Horton and Sally Philips, born in Brooklyn, N. Y., 8 Nov., 1823; married 15 August, 1859, by Rev. Dr. Thrall, to AMANDA F. WELCH, daughter of William Welch, of Rockland, Me. Mrs. Horton died 12 Feb., 1871, leaving two daughters:

Florence Isabell and Elizabeth, who survived their mother but a few days, the former dying the 15th, and the latter the 22d of Feb., 1871. All died of malignant scarlatina, leaving the deeply-afflicted father and one son, viz.:--Frederick Osborn, born 4 July, 1860.

Mr. Horton married 2. in Brooklyn, 20 June, 1872, by Rev. Dr. Dillon, to LYDIA A. HOLBROOK, daughter of Capt. Samuel Holbrook, of Portland, Maine (a gentleman who weighs only about 300 lbs.), and Catherine Rogers, of Liverpool, England, and born in Rockland, Me., 8 Feb., 1851. Mr. Horton was formerly a partner in the dry goods business of the old-established firm of Horton & Sons, of Brooklyn. He retired from business some years ago, and now lives in princely style, with his amiable and accomplished young wife in Brooklyn, 223 Clermont Avenue. She is a member of the Episcopal Church.

II. MARY ELIZABETH, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Horton and Eliza Davids (_Col. Benjamin_, _Capt. Barnabas_, _Dea. James_, _Jonathan I._), born in Southold, 11 Jan., 1832; married in Southold, 26 June, 1856, by the Rev. Mr. White, to STUART TUTHILL TERRY, son of Daniel Tuthill Terry and Eunice Case, and born in Southold, 20 July, 1831. They reside in Southold near Hallock's Landing. They are both live members of the Presbyterian Church of Southold, and he is one of the ruling elders, and they are both wielding a strong influence for Christianity, and command the respect and esteem of the community. They own a good farm beautifully situated. Mr. Terry is a farmer, doing much of his farm-work himself, but still he finds time for study and reading, and for some years past he has been engaged in looking up, and collating and compiling the genealogy of the descendants of Richard Terry I. He has the work in a good state of forwardness, and much of it ready for the press. They have no children.

In a recent letter, he says, "I can truly say that I am a descendant of Barnabas Horton, the Pilgrim, although I do not bear his name. I descend from him thus:

"I. Stuart T. Terry; D. T. Terry; Esther Tuthill Terry; Christopher Tuthill; Henry Tuthill, who married Bethia Horton, grand-daughter of Barnabas I., being the 8th Generation.

"II. Stuart T. Terry; D. T. Terry; Thomas Terry; Lydia Tuthill, daughter of Mehitabel Bradley Horton, who married Deacon Daniel Tuthill, and was a daughter of Capt. Jonathan Horton, son of Barnabas I., 7th Generation.

"III. Stuart T. Terry; D. T. Terry; Eunice Case Terry; Israel Case, who married Zeruiah Horton, daughter of Joshua Horton, son of Barnabas I., 7th Generation."

V. HENRY DAVIDS, son of Thomas Jefferson Horton and Eliza Davids, born in Southold, 23 Jan., 1845; married in New York City, 28 Dec., 1868, by Rev. J. C. Annan, to MIRIAM REEVES OSBORN, daughter of Thomas Osborn and Miriam Reeves, and born in Southold, about 1847. They reside in Southold, and have--

1. Thomas Osborn, born 2 June, 1870.

I. MEHULA, daughter of Barnabas Horton and Anna Hawkins (_Col. Benjamin_, _Capt. Barnabas_, _Dea. James_, _Jonathan I._), born at Mt. Hope, Orange Co., N. Y., 7 April, 1809; married NATHANIEL CONKLIN; reside in Middletown, N. Y., and have--

1. Charles.

2. De Witt.

3. Robert.

4. Alice.--All born in Middletown.

X. FRANK, son of Barnabas Horton by his 2 wife, Sally Penny, born at Mount Hope, 28 Sept., 1828; married in Brooklyn, N. Y., 21 Sept., 1854, by Rev. Mr. Lewis, Rector of Trinity Church, Brooklyn, SARAH JANE REYNOLDS, daughter of John A. Dayton and Adelia Trowbridge, and born in New York City, 21 June, 1835.

Children, born in Brooklyn:

1. Franklin Reynolds, born 17 August, 1856.

2. and 3. Twins, Edwin and Ella, born 27 Oct., 1854.

Frank has a jewelry store in New York. His residence is in Brooklyn. He is an out-spoken, intelligent man, apparently in good circumstances.

XII. GILBERT, son of Barnabas Horton and Sally Penny, born at Mt. Hope, 22 March, 1833; married in New York City, 8 March, 1855, ELIZABETH PARDEE PERKINS, born in Ridgefield, Conn., 19 May, 1834.

Children:

1. Mary Perkins, born in New York, 7 March, 1856.

2. William Robinson, born in New York, 19 July, 1860.

3. Jessie Pardee, born in New York, 12 August, 1862.

4. Gilbert La Fayette, born in Elizabeth, N. J., 9 July, 1864.

They moved to St. Paul, Minn., where his wife and children now reside, and where he died 10 Jan., 1873. He was a blacksmith by trade.

XIII. CAROLINE, daughter of Barnabas Horton and Sally Penny, born at Mt. Hope, 10 Nov., 1837; married in New York City, 14 Sept., 1858, by Rev. R. G. Dixon, to HENRY ALFRED BRADFORD, of New Jersey, son of Judge D. Bradford and Ann Brightwell, and born in England in 1830. He died in New Jersey, 7 April, 1866.

Children:

1. and 2., David and Carrie, twins, born 6 July, 1859, in New Jersey; David lived to be thirteen months old; Carrie died twelve hours after her birth.

3. David, born 23 Sept., 1860.

4. Lizzie, born 30 July, 1862, both in New Jersey.

Mrs. Bradford, with her children, now resides in Brooklyn. She is an intelligent and pious lady, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and attending faithfully to the proper training and education of her children.

I. ALMIRA MINERVA, daughter of Erastus Horton and Tryphena Burleigh (_Dea. Ezra_, _Rev. Ezra_, _Dea. James_, _Jonathan I._), born at Union, Ct., 1 June, 1809; died 17 March, 1860; married about 1830, ANSON RANNEY. They have two children:

Horton and Frances. Horton is now (1875), engaged as Inspector on the boundary line of Mexico.

II. MARY EMILY, daughter of Erastus Horton and Tryphena Burleigh, born at Union, Ct., 19 July, 1811; married at Ft. Atkinson, Wis., 5 Jan., 1835, HENRY FRANCISCO, son of John Francisco, who came from France, and born in Wellstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., 20 March, 1811; died 13 April, 1865, at Lake Mills, Wis., where he moved in 1845.

Children, 1, 2, 3, and 4 born in Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y.; 5, 6, and 7 born in Oakland, Jefferson Co., Wis.; 8 born at Ft. Atkinson, Wis.:

1. Philena Theressa, born 28 Sept., 1837.

2. Henry Alonzo, born 2 Sept., 1839.

3. Oscar Newton, born 16 Oct., 1841.

4. John Day, born 25 Sept., 1843.

5. Charles Francis, born 2 Sept., 1845.

6. Horton Erastus, born 25 Nov., 1848.

7. San E., born 29 Sept., 1852.

8. Manley Clayton, born 25 Sept., 1858.

Mrs. Francisco now resides in San Diego, Cal. Her son, Charles Francis, married Mary Evelyn Harvey, a niece of Gov. Harvey, of Wisconsin.

III. ALONZO ERASTUS, son of Erastus Horton and Tryphena Burleigh, born at Union, Ct., 24 Oct., 1813; married in Jefferson, Wis., 22 Dec., 1841, by Charles Rockwell, Esq., to SALLY MILLINGTON WRIGHT, eldest daughter of William Cobb Wright and Sylvia Shelden, and born in Russia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., 11 May, 1822. She died in Jefferson, Wis., 29 Dec., 1846, leaving no issue. He married 2. at Keyport, N. J., 29 July, 1861, by N. J. Beedle, Esq., to SARAH WILSON BABE, daughter of Joseph Babe and Margaret Wilson, and born at Sing Sing, N. Y., 3 Sept., 1824. They have no children.

We are indebted to Mr. J. A. Shepherd, of San Diego, for the following interesting sketch of the life of Mr. A. E. Horton:

ALONZO E. HORTON.

To a person acquainted with this gentleman our introduction would sound unfamiliar. "Here is A. E. Horton, of San Diego," is all that he would allow to be said before he would be acquainted with a room-full of strangers. His motto is "action," and he has practiced it long and faithfully. He would leave ceremony in the lurch to talk _business_, and never think apology necessary; and we can think of no better rule to follow in writing what we know of him.

His parents commenced their westward march in 1815, from Union, Ct., when Alonzo was two years old. Their home for the next four years was in Stockbridge, Madison Co., N. Y. Then a residence of two years in New Haven, Oswego County, where the first school lessons were taken under the direction of Miss Patty Woodward. When he was eleven years old the family reached the shore of Lake Ontario, in the town of Scriba, and moved into their new log-house.

Then followed a year of muscular as well as mental discipline to the lad Alonzo. His father was suddenly bereft of sight by a severe inflammatory attack upon his eyes. School was two miles away, and to and fro our student made his morning and evening tramps in pursuit of knowledge. But he was the eldest boy of the household, and to him after study came toil. His evenings were spent in basket-making, which assisted largely in providing for the wants of the family. Thus for about a year he bravely essayed to lift the burden from his father's shoulders. From that time until he was half through his twenty-first year, he was first assistant wood-chopper on the home-lot, where they filled Oswego orders for hewed timber.

He commenced business for himself by purchasing the remaining six months of his minority, agreeing to pay $50 to his father for that purpose. In eight months from that time he had been a grocery clerk at $12 a month; a lake sailor before the mast; and the last half of the time owner and captain of the "Wild Goose," a small vessel he had purchased, and put into the wheat trade between Oswego and Canada. His marine speculation proved quite a profitable one for those days; he sold out and closed business, paid all his obligations, and had $300 in his pocket. During the winter of 1834-'35 he learned the trade of a cooper, and his specialty for a time was flour-barrels. Then the city of Oswego elected him constable, by the largest majority given to any man on the Whig ticket. The young officer was too kind-hearted to make his office pay, and he lost all he made in trade by failing to enforce payment from poor debtors according to law. Out of office he invested $7 in a contract for land, and in a month made $336 on the venture. Young Horton had another strong point, which was often brought into play in the inevitable wrestling-matches incident to town-meetings of long ago. His 130 pounds was a most animated and unmanageable load for his largest companions to handle, and at "square hold" he was the acknowledged champion of the township. Yet he was pronounced a consumptive by Dr. Van Schaick, with the advice "Go West--it may do you good; but I think it probable you will not live more than six months." He took the doctor's prescription, and went West.

He landed in Milwaukee, in May, 1836, and soon after was one of a party of six on the _trail_ for the Rock River country. There were no roads, and the best inn to be found was to turn in their blankets under an oak tree. But the mosquitoes promptly presented bills for their lodgings. After thirty nights camping, they reached the cabin of Mr. and Mrs. Janes, the parents of the now lively city of Janesville. Theirs was the only house, and that about 10x16 feet in size, but immense in hospitality. After partaking of the latter, the party (among whom were the names of Churchill, Odell, Ogden and Jewett) continued on until reaching the foot of Koskonong Lake, where each one made a quarter-section claim, built a cabin, and went back to Milwaukee. One of those claims, at least, was left for another pre-emptor, with the cabin thrown in, for Horton was soon too busy to think farther about it. Others waited, with hands in pockets, for the approaching land sales; he took up the shovel and worked on the new streets. Money was worth too much to be wasted by idleness. A working-man always gains more profitable knowledge than a loafer. His capital was labor and observation, and out of these were to be wrought a fortune.

Of the two hotels then in the new city, he had selected the Bellevue for his lodgings. Two bits a night paid for his share of a room, and his own blankets were bed and bedding. His room-mates were sometimes as many as sixteen; and his rule was "early to bed." Two nephews of the Receiver at the Land-Office came in one evening full of an important secret which they must talk over. The young fellow who worked on the road was the only one retired, besides themselves, and his hearty snoring satisfied them that he was beyond hearing. Their authority was official, so no danger of mistakes. The bills of the Michigan State Bank and Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank would be taken at par at the land sales, and consequently would be as good as gold, and worth the premium of at least 10 per cent. They would quietly gather it in for the occasion. The next day our sleeper was _not_ shoveling on the street. He was learning the whereabouts of holders of certain styles of Michigan currency, and was soon doing a brisk exchange business with his New York Safety Fund Savings, amounting to $300. At night he was in his room, happy in the prospective addition to his funds; but there were two other persons there who thought they had little success in securing the coveted currency. It was unaccountable, for were they not the only individuals to whom the secret had been imparted?

The sales of Government land commenced the following day, and Horton was present with his receivable funds. He bought no land, but his money was in immediate and continuous demand. Many times during the sale he retired to replenish his bank stock by exchanging bank notes with numerous parties according to previous arrangement. The enterprise was a financial success. Here his quick perception did him good service, for he was marked as a prize by a thieving gang. One of them formed his acquaintance on the evening of a profitable day, and tried to learn his intended movements. Yes, he would soon go to his lodging-place; but that night he concluded it would be best _for him_ to remain where he was, and he did so. But another young man, about his age, and similarly dressed, was waylaid on the very route Horton was expected to travel, caught, gagged and carried off to a safe place for robbery. In the dark they had captured the wrong man, as his empty pockets and the cut of his coat proved on careful examination.

Thinking the country a safer place, he went out three miles, to where his uncle, Dwight Foster, was superintending one of the first saw-mills built in Wisconsin. While there another attempt was made to entrap him. One, Robinson, came from town to inform him that a man named Johnson would take a named sum for some land which he had talked of buying. He must be sharp if the trade was secured, and should take his money with him for that reason. Horton promptly decided to take _more_, and quietly deposited a loaded pistol in each pocket of his hunter's coat. His caller carried a suspicious-looking hickory cudgel, altogether too cumbersome for a cane, and explained that he had been tracking a wild animal, which he hoped they could identify by the marks. In a low, marshy place, a little off their road, its tracks were most clearly made. Descending to the spot indicated, he urged Horton to follow him, and determine what sort of creature had crossed there. Instead of complying Horton presented a pistol, told his man if he found no tracks there as described, he would shoot him without further notice. The villain was outwitted, and preferred returning to town a short distance in advance of the ready weapons of his captor. It was ascertained that Johnson knew nothing of the fellow's errand, and that the only foot-prints about the miry trap in which Robinson had hoped to catch his game, were made by himself. He was next heard of, a few years afterwards, in the Iowa penitentiary, committed for horse-stealing.

Returning to the East Mr. Horton passed the time until 1840, in various places and employments, the last being at St. Mary's with the American Fur Co. His first western _home_ was purchased in the town of Oakland, Wis., that year, to which locality his father and family followed not long after. In a few months more he had established himself matrimonially and happily. Three years engaged in miscellaneous trade, land figuring as the principal item, he became a cattle-dealer. He bought his beef in Illinois, did the largest part of the driving, and averaged two trips in five weeks. He furnished his customers so satisfactorily in his own and adjoining counties, that in one year his original capital of $150 was increased to $4,000. In St. Louis he saw profits in land-warrants, and bought sufficient to locate 1,500 acres of land. Out of this investment grew the village of _Hortonville_, in Outagamie Co., Wis. His first town was buried in the woods, and he went to work with eight men to cut a four-mile road to his proposed mill-site. By the time he had lots to sell, he was sawing lumber with which to improve them. The prices and payment for material was of small account with the proprietor. Houses must be built, whether settlers had money or not. In a year from the completion of the mill, 150 people were _living_ in Hortonville, and at the end of two years sold out the remaining property, being $7,188 better for his enterprise.

In 1851, Mr. Horton went to California for the first time. Mining-stock was his first business experience, and it cost him $1,000. It was his _last_ transaction in that line also. Spent a few months at mining in El Dorado and Placer Counties, and then opened a store at Pilot Hill. There also he devised and constructed a ditch 6½ miles in length, purposing to supply the miners with water as well as other commodities. At the end of a year he had sold out his water-works and other interests for $6,500, of which sum he had used the larger portion in his improvements. Next he was trading in gold-dust on account of Adams' Express Co., realizing usually $30 a day in commissions. A day or two before the failure of his employers, in 1853, a friend suggested to him, that his money remaining in their office at ----, might be safer in his own pocket. It was "a word to the wise," and before noon the next day he had ridden 30 miles, and much to the dissatisfaction of the agent, drawn his money from the safe of the company. His next care was for his friends hard at work in the mining-camps and elsewhere. To all whom he could reach he gave the hint, and thousands of dollars were secured, by his prompt efforts, to those who had earned the money by the hardest of toil. The following day the express offices were closed, and payments suspended. He was in capital standing in the mining districts where he had operated, and resumed the business with himself for banker. He bought at the mines and sold in the towns, often with a profit of $4.50 per ounce. He was a man of _dust_, and with his native adroitness, managed to carry valuable deposits of the precious article upon his person without a single mishap. Sometimes his outer garments would scarcely secure him other than the slightest attentions. His landlords were afraid their bills would be unpaid, except his fares were collected in advance. He arrived one evening at one of the rough taverns of those times, with treasure enough about him to incite the gamblers about him to worse crimes for its possession. His good clothes were covered with very dirty overalls and woolen shirt. In calculating Yankee phrase, he interrogated the proprietor as to his accommodations for man and beast, and the reasonableness of his _charges_. Card-playing ceased for a time in the general astonishment, then the party shouted with laughter at the green chap from Connecticut. They bantered him to play off a Yankee trick. He showed them how to eat the mush and milk, which he had stipulated for as his supper, and with a yawn of indifference to the jests made at his expense, he signified his desire to sleep. The door of his room was without lock or bolt, but the landlord laughingly assured his guest, that he would be the last man anybody would think of robbing. He awoke next morning from an undisturbed sleep, and at breakfast-time was up and _dressed_. He passed over a small package of _dust_ in settlement, which was accepted and pronounced all right. Word was sent to the stable, his horse could _now_ be brought out--his bill was paid.

"Mister, want to _buy_ some more o' that stuff?"

"Yes;" replying with a surprised look.

"How much?"

"Suppose I can buy all _you_ have to sell."

"Will you treat this 'ere crowd ef you can't?"

"Yes, I will, and _yeou_, too."

Diminutive sacks of dust were handed to the wondering host, and the coin counted out in return. By the time $2500 had exchanged hands, the landlord's $20-pieces were exhausted, and our Yankee had played the "trick" with a $250 pile still in reserve. The laugh came in then louder than the night before; and as the glasses were being filled the buyer of gold-dust remarked, irreligiously, that he would have robbed the fellow himself if he had known how he was playing him.

The business was as suitable as profitable to the man, and so well did he manage it, that his profits for the last quarter of 1854, were $1000 per month. Another success was in a novel undertaking for those golden days. He went prospecting for ice-fields, and finding a favorable situation 25 miles above Georgetown, in El Dorado County, put up 312 tons of the cool mountain product. A few months afterwards the speculation returned him eight thousand dollars.

In March, 1856, among the passengers on board the steamship _Cortez_, for Panama, was Mr. Horton. Soon after their arrival at the isthmus, the memorable rising of the natives took place. The mob would have had easy work in carrying out the plan of outrage and plunder, but for the prompt and courageous action of our friend and a few of his companions. Among nearly 200 people from the steamer, who were dining at the hotel where the attack was made, there were but three with fire-arms. The announcement that the rioters were coming, caused a stampede from the table to the upper rooms. On bursting into the house, the leading ruffians were halted at the stairway by _Capt._ Horton and his aids, and as the attempt to ascend was made, a few effective shots drove the assailants into the street. Immediately the reign of terror and bloodshed began.