BIOGRAPHY: Theodore F. Hand, Sr.; Vernon, Madison co., NY

submitted by W. D. Samuelsen
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Biographical Review
The Leading Citizens of Madison County, New York
pub. 1894, Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company

THEODORE F. HAND, SR., a gray-haired veteran in the realm of finance,
Vice-President of the Oneida Valley National Bank, was born in the town of
Verona, Oneida. County, August 14, 1815. His father, Ichabod Hand, Jr., was
born in Guilford, Conn., a son of Ichabod Hand, Sr., who was, so far as known,
a lifelong resident of that town. The younger Ichabod, having been brought up
and married in his native State, resided there until 1813, when, accompanied
by his wife, who was also a native of Guilford, and four children, he
emigrated to New York, making the journey overland with their own conveyance.
He settled in Verona, where he bought real estate, and built and kept a public
house on the highway leading from Oneida Castle to Rome. In 1832, the year of
the fatal cholera scourge, which brought business nearly to a standstill, he
removed to Vernon, where he kept a hotel until nearly the time of his death,
at the age of sixty-three years. The maiden name of his wife, who was the
mother of seven children, was Amanda Leete. She survived her husband several
years.

The subject of this sketch received his elementary education in the district
schools in his native town, and pursued the study of higher branches of
learning in Cazenovia Seminary. At twenty years of age he became a clerk in a
store of general merchandise, and four years later, in 1839, began his long
and honorable career as a banker, being appointed teller and book-keeper of
the bank in Vernon. Here he remained until 1851, when he came to Oneida, and,
with Niles H. and Sands Higinbotham and Samuel Breese, started the Oneida
Valley Bank, the first bank in the village. In the following year the bank was
incorporated under the laws of the State. As a State bank it was operated till
1865, when it was organized as a National bank, the charter being renewed in
1885. After forty years of competent, faithful service as bank cashier, the
daily duties of which were be-coming onerous to one of his age, Mr. Hand in
1890 was succeeded in this position by his son, Theodore F. Hand, Jr., he
himself being elected Vice-President, holding also the same office in the
Oneida Savings Bank, of which he is a Trustee.

Mr. Hand has married twice. By his first wife, Elizabeth Higinbotham, a native
of Vernon, daughter of Sands Higinbotham, he has three sons now living,
Theodore F., Jr., Niles H., and William H. His second wife was a widow, Mrs.
J. J. Stewart. A man of sound judgment and unquestioned integrity, Mr. Hand
has long been known as one of the best business men, as he is now one of the
oldest living bankers, in the State. Oneida of to-day populous, flourishing,
and fair to view - is much indebted to him for steady growth in prosperity. He
has taken an ever-active interest and often a leading part in public affairs,
having for several years served as a Trustee of the village and Treasurer of
the Board. Glenwood Cemetery owes not a little of its present attractiveness
to the good taste and zeal for improvement exercised by him as one of the
Trustees of the Cemetery Association, he being also its Secretary and
Treasurer, and continuing to devote to its service much time and thought.
Always a man in earnest, Mr. Hand has taken a decided position in matters of
religion and politics, being a member of the Presbyterian church, and giving
his allegiance to the Republican party. The fine portrait of Mr. Hand
presented on an accompanying page is a valuable addition to this volume, and
will be viewed with interest by his many friends.