BIOGRAPHY: Eli Near; Eaton, 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

ELI NEAR, whose beautiful farm of one hundred and forty acres is the
admiration of all who visit this part of the country, was born about a quarter
of a mile from his present home in the year 1821. His father, Jasper Near, was
born in 1791 at Mohawk Flats. He met his death suddenly at the Lenox
grist-mill, October 31, 1853, by falling from his horse and breaking his neck.
The family trace their ancestry to some of the earliest pioneers of the
country. John Near, who was born in 1746, was a soldier in the Revolution. In
one encounter he narrowly escaped death from the Indians, who were pursuing
him from an ambush. Discovering his danger, he was running very hard, when a
savage threw his tomahawk after him, and the weapon, striking close to his
backbone, cut off three of his ribs. Being a strong man and fleet runner, he
was, however, able to make his escape. He died about 1831 in Ellisburg, N.Y.
He was the father of four sons and four daughters, of whom Jasper was one of
the first born.

The mother of our subject was Betsey E. Yerton, of the Mohawk Flats; and she
bore him three sons and five daughters, as follows: Catherine, wife of Eli
Watson, who died at the age of seventy-four, leaving one daughter; Louisa, who
died at the age of sixty-seven, leaving one daughter; Mary, wife of Orpheus
Borrows, now of Cleveland, Ohio, and mother of two daughters; Eli, of our
sketch; Margaret, widow of George Clark ; Timothy, who died when sixty-two
years of age, leaving three sons; Delia, who died when about forty-five years
of age, leaving a son and daughter. The latter's husband, Henry Dunton, died
on the overland trip to California. Their son went to the war, and was wounded
in the head, which partially deranged him; and he disappeared mysteriously
about twenty years ago. The eighth child, Jasper, Jr., was accidentally killed
in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of forty-five years. The maternal grandfather of
our subject, Peter Yerton, settled early in the century on the spot where his
grandson's home now stands. He built his modest house there; and, when in 1877
Eli Near erected his beautiful home, he preserved a part of it, and made it a
portion of his fine, large, and commodious residence. He could not bear to
sacrifice the sacred old relic, with all its tender and primitive
associations.

Our subject was brought up on the farm, and received but a limited
common-school education, though his brothers and sisters had bet-ter
opportunities, having been educated at Cazenovia, three sisters and his two
brothers becoming teachers. They were Christian people in the Methodist
Episcopal church (of which the parents were earnest and zealous members), with
the exception of Jasper, Jr., who was a Universalist preacher. Eli Near
married for his first wife Miss Maria Huyck, of Clockville, in 1844. She died
eighteen months later, leaving an infant son, Charles A. Near, now a farmer in
Dakota, and also a Deputy Sheriff, who is so keen and alert that, when he
pursues a prisoner, he generally secures him. He has a wife, five daughters,
and two sons. The second wife of Mr. Near was Mrs. Francy Julia Perry. She
received an excellent education at the best seminaries in the State. She was
married to George Perry, of Skaneateles, but at the age of twenty-seven was
left a widow with three daughters, namely: Sarah A., who married Charles A.
Near, the son of her stepfather; Laura, who is the wife of Franklin Cooper of
Buffalo, N.Y., and mother of three sons and one daughter; and Georgianna, wife
of John F. Wilson, of Penn Yan, N.Y. By his second marriage Mr. Near became
the father of two daughters and one son: Francis M., wife of Roselle Webster,
of Clockville; Seth H., unmarried and living at home; Lida, wife of Stephen
DeVoe, a druggist of Syracuse. They have all had good educations, and hold
excellent positions in society.

Mr. Near is a Democrat in principle, but believes in voting for the best man
for the office, irrespective of party. He is engaged in general farming, keeps
about thirteen horses, and is noted for his excellent stock. He formerly kept
a large dairy, but at present only has cows enough for his own use. He and his
wife heartily enjoy their beautiful home, which is situated on an eminence
over-looking the Oneida Valley and the village, taking in the most charming
view of the picturesque landscape for many miles around them. Both are held in
the highest regard by their neighbors.

Charles A. Near, of whom we have already written, was a soldier in the Civil
War. He enlisted from Canastota in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh
New York Volunteer Infantry, going into the service a private, and returning
at the close of the war with the rank of Captain. At Honey Hill he was wounded
by a ball that ploughed its way across his temple. It was a close call for his
life; but he had the wound dressed, and immediately returned to the field. He
was recklessly brave, as was evinced on the Gettysburg battlefield, when his
Captain, Harrison Frank, was shot down. Although the Confederates were right
upon him, he stayed by his Captain until he breathed his last. He was captured
by the enemy, and all his valuables taken from him. When they tried to take a
Masonic ring from his finger which Captain Frank had given him, he told them
they would get it when he was dead, and not before; and some of them,
recognizing the Masonic emblem, let him go.