My second great grandfather, James Monroe Adsit, was born in Spencertown, Columbia County, New York, and was in Chicago, Illinois by 1838, becoming one of its earliest bankers. I previously shared his photograph and I share it again here.
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| James Monroe Adsit (1809-1894) |
His younger brother, Martin Noah Adsit, also born in Spencertown, was in Hornellsville, Steuben County, New York by 1826 (according to obituaries) with his uncle Ira Davenport (brother of my third great-grandmother, Fanny (Davenport) (Adsit) Davis). He remained in Hornellsville until his death in December 1903, just shy of his 91st birthday.
Hornellsville is about 300 miles west of Spencertown.
I found great information about this third great uncle in New York newspapers.
This obituary includes a photograph. I can see a family resemblance between Martin and his older brother James.
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| Front page of the Buffalo Evening News, Dec 22, 1903, courtesy Newspapers.com |
Prominent and Respected Citizen of Hornellsville, Who Died There Yesterday.
Hornellsville, Dec. 22 - Martin Adsit, one of Steuben County's oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home here Sunday, Aged 91 years. He was born in Spencertown, N.Y., Dec 26, 1812, and in 1826 came to this city, where he has since resided. Mr. Adsit engaged in the mercantile business and later established, in 1849, the First National Bank of Hornellsville, of which his son Charles is now president. Mr. Adsit resired [sic] from business in 1891 and has since been in poor health. Three children - Charles Adsit of this city, John O. Adsit and Mrs. Henry Bull of Buffalo - survive.
On the same day, The Buffalo Enquirer shared additional information in its obituary for Martin Adsit.
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| The Buffalo Enquirer (p. 4), Dec 22, 1903, courtesy Newspapers.com |
Pioneer Citizen's Funeral
Hornellsville, Dec. 22 - The funeral of the late Martin Adsit will be held at his late residence in Main Street this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Mr. Adsit had attained his 91st year and for 77 years had been a resident of Hornellsville. He was born in Spencertown, Columbia County, this State, December 26, 1812, and came here December 2, 1826, having accepted a clerkship [at age 14!] in the store of his uncle, Col Ira Davenport. In 1833 Col Davenport sold out his business to Mr. Adsit.
In 1870 Mr. Adsit entered into a partnership with Martin A. Tuttle and later with his son, John O. Adsit, and continued in the general merchandise business until 1881. In 1863 the First National Bank of Hornellsville was organized, with Col Ira Davenport as president and the late Martin Adsit cashier. In 1865 Mr. Adsit succeeded Col Davenport as president of the bank and continued in that capacity until 1901. During all these years Mr. Adsit was the recognized leader in the local financial and commercial circles, but could never be influenced to take any active participation in politics.
Mr. Adsit was married to Esther J., daughter of Dr. Richard Charles of Angelica September 8, 1841. She died in February 1898. Three children survive Mr. Adsit - Charles and John O., of this city, the latter president of the First National Bank, and Mrs. Henry Bull of Buffalo. Mr. Adsit in life was a member of Christ Church.
Newspapers.com also carries issues of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune, but only up to 1899, so I couldn't see Martin Adsit's obituary in his local newspaper.
This advertisement for Martin Adsit's merchandise business is found many times throughout the 1850s.
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| MARTIN ADSIT & CO, Dealer in dry goods, groceries, provisions, paints, oils, &c, Cor. Main and Canisteo sts, Hornellsville, N.Y. |
As mentioned in his obituary, his uncle, Ira Davenport, started the First National Bank of Hornellsville in 1863. This advertisement in an April 1865 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune names Ira Davenport as President and M. Adsit as Cashier.
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| First National Bank of Hornellsville This Bank, under the National Banking Law, is now in operation, and is doing a general Banking and Exchange Business. Subscriptions received for the U.S. 7-30 Loan. Sight Drafts on England, Ireland and Scotland Ira Davenport, President M. Adsit, Cashier |
By July 1865, Uncle Ira had retired and Martin Adsit had taken his place as President of the bank, with his son, Charles Adsit as Cashier.
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| First National Bank of Hornellsville This Bank, under the National Banking Law, is now in operation, and is doing a general Banking and Exchange Business. Subscriptions received for the U.S. 7-30 Loan. Sight Drafts on England, Ireland and Scotland M. Adsit, President Chas Adsit, Cashier |
The following censuses reported that Martin Adsit was a merchant: 1850 Federal Census, 1855 New York State Census, 1860 Federal Census, and the 1865 New York State Census.
The following censuses reported that Martin Adsit was a Banker: 1870 Federal Census, 1875 New York State Census, 1880 Federal Census, 1892 New York State Census, and the 1900 Federal Census.
Perhaps younger brother Martin, although successful as a merchant, heard how successful his older brother, James was in banking in Chicago, and thought he'd try his hand at it.
I descend from the parents of Martin Adsit as follows:
This week's theme is Taking Care of Business.
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