My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN J. HORTON. A prominent secret society man is Grand Recorder Horton of the A. O. U. W., whose office is located in Dunkirk. Nathan J. Horton is the son of Truman and Betsy E. (Carr) Horton and was born at Boston, Erie county, New York, July 25, 1841. The family is of English extraction but long established in America, the pioneer landing here during the seventeenth century. His grandfather, Jacob Horton, was born November 5, 1770, in the town of New Lebanon, Columbia county, this State, and died in 1848. Truman Horton (father) was born May 29, 1796, at the last named town, and in 1818 went with his family to Boston, Erie county, New York, where he lived until his death which occurred in 1869. He was a licensed Baptist preacher, and although a man of ferce and eloquence, was never ordained, yet he worked zealously for his church, and was most ably supported by his wife. In polities he was a whig, abolitionist and republican. He married Betsy E. Carr, of New Lebanon, on December 28, 1816, by whom he had ten children. Mrs. Horton died at her home in Boston, Erie county, New York, in 1886, aged eighty-six years.

Nathan J. Horton was reared near the scene of his birth and received a common school education. On August 5, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 116th regiment, New York infantry (Col. E. P. Chapin, commanding), and served until the close of the war; two years of the time being spent in the gulf department, participating at the siege of Port Hudson and in the Red River campaign. In the spring of 1864 his regiment was returned to Washington, attached to Sheridan’s command and was with it in the Shenandoah Valley campaign. He was wounded at the battle of Fisher’s Hill, September 22, 1864, which prevented him from further active service. The latter part of 1865 and early part of 1866 were passed in the Pennsylvania oil region. In August, 1866, he returned to this State and was engaged in teaching school and in taking a course at Bryant A Stratton’s business college, Buffalo, New York, the better to fit himself for a mercantile life. In March, 1868, Mr. Horton located at Ripley, forming a partnership with Fletcher Dawson, under the firm name of Dawson & Horton, and conducted a general store for two years, when Mr. Dawson died and his interest was bought by our subject, who continued the business until 1874. After this date the ensuing six years were profitably spent in buying and shipping country produce. He has served his town in the capacity of supervisor, justice of the peace and town clerk. Mr. Horton went to Buffalo in 1881 and became a member of the firm of Oatman Bros., the name being changed to Oatman Bros. & Co., doing a jobbing and commission business. They continued this partnership until September, 1883. In February, 1884, Mr. Horton, for a second time, attended the Grand Lodge, Ancient Order United Workmen, held at Syracuse, New York, and after a spirited contest was elected to the responsible office of Grand Recorder for the State of New York and has been re-elected without opposition at every session held since.

Nathan J. Horton married Susie E., a daughter of Hon. C. O. Daughaday, of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, on November 11, 1869; since which the village of Ripley has been their home. In all matters of a public and social character connected with the village and town, both Mr. and Mrs. Horton take a lively interest. Mr. Horton’s interest in fraternal societies is attested by his position in the Grand Lodge A. O.U.W., as well as the fact that he is a member of Bidwell-Wilkinson Post, No. 9, G. A. R.; Summit Lodge, No. 219, F. & A. M., Dunkirk Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar and intermediate orders and a thirty-second degree mason, being a member of Rochester Grand Consistory.