BIOGRAPHY: William Gulliver; Scipio, Cayuga co., New York

transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com)

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA
COUNTY NEW YORK
BOSTON
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894

WILLIAM GULLIVER has been a resident of Scipio for more than forty years,
and during that time he has established for himself a reputation as a
thoroughly honest man and a good citizen. Many of the most thrifty and
successful agriculturists of Cayuga County were born and reared on the other
side of the Atlantic; and to England, especially, is the county indebted for
some of her most enterprising and prosperous citizens. Prominent among these
is the gentleman whose name is placed at the head of this sketch.

 Mr. Gulliver was born in Wiltshire, England, September 15, 1818, being one
of the eight children of David and Jane Gulliver, both of whom spent their
entire lives in their native country, where the father had the care of one
of the estates belonging to the Duke of Somerset. John Gulliver, grandfather
of William, was also a life-long resident of Wiltshire, where many of his
descendants are yet living.  The parental household included the following
children: John, Thomas, George, David, William, Mary, Catherine, and Sarah
E., of whom William, the fifth son, and Sarah, who married Jehu Barnard and
emigrated to America in 1848, were the only ones to leave their native land.

 William Gulliver had very limited opportunities for acquiring an
education, attending school but one year. When a little lad of nine years he
began to be a wage-earner, his first employment being the active and not
very remunerative one of keeping birds off of the crops. He was an
industrious and ambitious boy, and at the age of twelve years he was
advanced to the position of a teamster; and three years later he received
another promotion, being made head teamster, remaining thus engaged until
twenty years old. Securing the position of keeper of the toll-gate on the
turnpike, he took the toll for two years, when he married Sarah Golden, the
daughter of George and Hannah Golden; and during the succeeding two years
his wife attended the gate, while he worked at any employment he could find.
Mr. Gulliver was subsequently engaged for three years as the keeper of a
public house in Moundsbury, the inn standing near the site formerly occupied
by the Catholic cathedral that Cromwell destroyed. Seeing little opportunity
for accumulating any property in England, Mr. Gulliver, accompanied by his
wife, emigrated to America in 1848, landing in New York City after a tedious
voyage of six weeks and three days in the bark "Elizabeth." After his
arrival in this country he worked for a short time with William King.
Leaving New York, he came to Cayuga County, sailing up the Hudson River to
Albany, thence by canal-boat to his destination. When he reached Scipio his
moneyed capital consisted of just' four shillings and sixpence. But he had
strong hands, a willing heart, and a resolute spirit; and, filled with a
determination to succeed, he set to work. After working out for three years
he had, by downright labor, perseverance, and judicious economy, saved
enough money to warrant him in buying a home for himself and wife. After
purchasing a house and lot in Scipioville Mr. Gulliver rented twenty-three
acres of land, also renting the farm he now owns, working it on shares for
some time. In his operations he succeeded well; and in 1862 he bought the
farm where he now resides, and on which he has, from time to time, made
substantial improvements, having built a new barn and corn-crib and entirely
renovated the other buildings, his homestead now comparing favorably with
any in the vicinity. He has also invested in other real estate, and has a
good farm of forty-seven and one-half acres in the town of Ledyard.

 Mr. and Mrs. Gulliver had no children of their own; but in the kindness of
their hearts they took into their household a niece, Susie K. Gulliver, and
a nephew, Henry Golden, whom they loved and cherished as tenderly as if they
were their own offspring, giving to those relatives the advantages that they
themselves were deprived of in their younger days. Mr. Gulliver was six
years ago bereft of his estimable wife, who died September 10, 1888. Like
himself, she was a conscientious and valued member of the Methodist churchof
Scipioville.

 Among the respected citizens of Scipio Mr. Gulliver holds an assured
place, his industry, uprightness, and neighborly dealing having gained for
him the confidence and esteem of the whole community. His loyalty to the
country of his adoption is never questioned; and at the time of the Civil
War, though forty-five years of age, he stood the draft. He became a
naturalized citizen in 1853, and since the formation of the Republican party
he has been one of its firmest adherents. Previous to that time he was
identified with the Whig party, and his first Presidential vote was cast for
General Winfield Scott.