BIOGRAPHY: Alvin Wadsworth; 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

ALVIN WADSWORTH is descended from prominent ancestry on both sides of his
family. He was born October 4, 1825, in the town of Eaton, and is a son of
Harry B. and Esther (Brownell) Wads worth, the former of whom was born in the
town of Lanesborough, Mass., and the latter in Providence, R.I. Harry B.
Wadsworth was a general farmer, and was actively engaged in this occupation
until he was sixty years of age. He and his wife reared a family of seven
children: Alvin, the subject of this sketch; J. B., who lives at Hatch's Lake;
Clarissa A., who was the wife of Silas Chapman, and died when sixty-four years
of age; Susan, who married Austin Hawks, and died at the age of twenty-four;
Martha, the wife of Orlando Dutton; Henry A., who resides in Cortland County;
and Hannah A., wife of Asa Pritchard. The father of these children resides
with his son, Henry A., in Cortland, and is now in his ninety-second year.
When his wife died, she was in her eighty-sixth year. She was a member of the
Baptist church, as is her husband. In politics he has been a Republican since
that party was organized, in 1853.

Jeremiah Brownell, father of Mrs. Harry B. Wadsworth, was a native of Rhode
Island, but removed to Madison County, making the journey by means of
teams,-that being then the only way of travel through the country,-and finding
his way by following a trail marked by blazed trees. He was among the earliest
settlers in the town, and, taking up a large tract of land, erected a log
house. He lived upon that farm until his death, which occurred when he was
eighty-six years of age, his wife having died when sixty-five years old. They
lived in this county during the pioneer days, experiencing all the
hardships and enjoying all the pleasures peculiar to such times in all new
countries. The Indians still inhabited this part of the country when they came
here, but were usually peacefully disposed, and in many instances proved to be
good neighbors and friends. The woods were bountifully supplied with game,
which many a time enabled the pioneer to live upon nutritious animal food,
which would otherwise have been a difficult thing to accomplish. Both Mr.
Brownell and his wife were Quakers in religion, and in their lives carried
into practice the many beautiful tenets and principles of that sect, which now
appears to be so rapidly diminishing in numbers.

Asahel Wadsworth, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Connecticut,
by occupation a farmer, and an early settler in the town of Lebanon. From the
time of his settlement in that town he continued to reside therein until he
was seventy years of age, when he removed to Onondaga County, and died there
when eighty-four years of age, his wife dying at the age of eighty years, both
being buried in the same grave. They were members of the old school Baptist
church, and in politics he affiliated with the Democratic party.

Alvin Wadsworth was reared and educated in the town of Eaton, his education
being mainly acquired in the district school. Remaining at home until he was
twenty years of age, he then began life on his own account by working by the
month, receiving ten dollars per month for two years, at the end of which time
he took up a farm, his first purchase consisting of fifty acres of land in the
town of Nelson. To this original purchase he added from time to time, until he
at one time owned two hundred acres, but now owns only one hundred and
twenty-five acres, upon which he carries on general farming and dairying,
keeping from twenty-five to thirty cows. Residing on his farm until 1872, he
then removed to the village of West Eaton, though he still conducts his farm,
and is making a specialty of raising hay, which crop, according to the
statisticians, has become the leading one in the United States. Mr. Wadsworth
was married in 1847 to Lovisa A. Hopkins, who was born in the town of Nelson,
March 30, 1823, and was a daughter of Daniel Hopkins. She died June 2, 1862,
at the age of thirty-nine, leaving four children,- namely, Lysetna S., Lucinda
A., Orrilla M., and Gerry A., all of whom are married. Mr. Wadsworth was
married the second time January 17, 1863, to Miss Hattie A. Mackin, who was
born in Sullivan County, July 27, 1844, and is a daughter of Webster and
Caroline Mackin, both of whom were natives of Sullivan County. Mr. Mackin was
a wealthy man, owning more than one thousand acres of land and being engaged
in lumbering. Disposing of his property, he removed to the town of Nelson,
purchased a farm, and was a prominent man there for many years. He and his
wife reared a family of five daughters, namely: Emily M., wife of Lucius H.
Viele, of South Butler, N.Y.; Hattie A., wife of the subject of this sketch;
Sarah C., wife of George G. Grosvenor, of Lebanon, N.Y.; Alice M., wife of
Henry C. Howe, of West Eaton, N.Y.; and Elizabeth E., wife of Warren J.
English, of Buffalo, N.Y. Mr. Mackin died in the village of Norwich, Chenango
County, when sixty-eight years of age, and Mrs. Mackin in the town of Nelson,
when fifty-one years old. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and in politics he was a Republican. By his present wife Mr. Wadsworth
has one son, A. DeWitt, born May 8, 1876, and who is at present a student in
Colgate Academy, Hamilton, N.Y.

Both Mr. Wadsworth and his wife are active and valuable members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1875 was
elected Assessor. He has filled this position until the present time, with the
exception of one term, and was re-elected in the spring of 1893, his present
term ending in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have a beautiful home in the
village of West Eaton, are well - known people, and highly esteemed by all who
know them.