My Genealogy Hound

FRED C. WHITMARSH is one of the representative and prominent men of the County of Cortland. He is a son of Hon. Hiram and Zelia (Brown) Whitmarsh, and was born in Cuyler, this county, June 30, 1862. He is engaged in dairy-farming, cheesemaking, and in operating a feed store with his brother under the firm name of Whitmarsh Bros.

His grandfather, Job Whitmarsh, was born in Massachusetts; moving west from his native state, he located in Cuyler, where he took up a tract of land consisting of 220 acres, which is now resided upon by our subject. His wife, Arabella (Wheat) Whitmarsh, bore him a large family of fifteen children, of whom three were boys and the rest daughters. He passed from this life in 1854, his death being mourned by his family and a large circle of friends.

Hon. Hiram Whitmarsh was born on the old homestead on May 25, 1830. After he attained his majority he moved to the town of Fabius, Onondaga County, where he attended the academy, in which he received a liberal education. Later he went to Syracuse with his brother Jesse, and engaged in the hotel business for a couple of years, renting the old Fayette House. After the death of his brother, he sold out and returned to the old homestead, where he followed the pursuits of an agriculturist the rest of his days, passing away on April 11, 1890. Politically, he was an active Republican, and received many expressions of confidence from his fellow-citizens; he served as supervisor and represented his county in the Assemblies of 1869-70. Religiously, he was an earnest worker of the Methodist Church He was joined in wedlock with Miss Zelia Brown, and a family of four children blessed their home. They are: Carrie, the wife of Dr. F. C. Clark, a prominent physician of Catskill, N. Y.; Jesse B., a prominent farmer of Keeney, this county; Fred C., subject of this personal history; and Paul L., who is associated in business with Fred C., and conducts their feed store in Cuyler. Mrs. Whitmarsh died November 18, 1891, aged fifty-nine years.

Fred C. Whitmarsh received his primary education in the ward and high schools of Syracuse, which was supplemented by a course in Cazenovia College, from which institution he graduated in 1884. He remained home a short time, when he was appointed clerk in the War Department at Washington, D. C., which office he filled for six months, being forced to retire because of ill health. After spending six months in California, he returned home and went to Catskill, N. Y., and engaged in the drug business with his brother-in-law, Dr. Clark, the firm being known as Clark & Whitmarsh. After the death of his father in 1890, he took charge of the old homestead and engaged in dairying, and in the manufacture of cheese; he also operated a feed store with his brother, under the firm name of Whitmarsh Bros. His farm is stocked with forty-five milch cows.

On September 12, 1888, he married Miss Ruby A. Webb, daughter of James Webb of Syracuse, N. Y. Two children have been born to them — Margaret and F. Clayton. The family favors the Methodist Church. Mr. Whitmarsh is a zealous Republican, and an active worker in the interests of his party. He is now officiating in the capacity of assessor. He is a member of Cuyler Lodge, No. 701, I. O. O. F.