My Genealogy Hound

JEROME HULBERT, deceased, was in his lifetime a very prominent and respected citizen of the village of Marathon, and he is still held in the most revered memory as a true Christian gentleman, the records of whose works in his lifetime should entitle him to the most tender remembrance. Mr. Hulbert was born February 23, 1829, in Truxton, this county, and died in Marathon, December 17, 1884. His parents were Timothy and Mehitabel (Miner) Hulbert, and his grandfather was Timothy Hulbert, Sr., who was born at Pittsfield, Mass., August 12, 1758, and who lived there all his life, dying in that town at an advanced age.

Timothy Hulbert, the father of our subject, came into this life in Pittsfield, Mass., October 2, 1789, and moved into Central New York about the year 1810, settling in Truxton, where he resided until his death, May 20, 1848. He practiced the trades of carpenter and joiner, and in those lines did a wonderful amount of business, much of his handiwork standing to-day in testimony to his careful workmanship and honest efforts. Prosperity coming his way, he eventually became the owner of a fine large farm, and attained prominence and high standing in his chosen section of the country. He was a Democrat of the most uncompromising type, and was an ardent and unhesitating supporter of whatever emanated from his party. He represented his town on the board of supervisors for years, and was at one time a leading candidate for the nomination of Member of Assembly, his outspoken honesty of purpose alone preventing his selection for that position of honor and responsibility. During his younger years of activity he organized a military company of which he was made captain. His commission, dated April 8, 1822, was signed by Governor DeWitt Clinton, and his company was assigned to the 124th Regiment, State Militia. In the Methodist Church he was a moving spirit, being a trustee of the local society. His marriage to Mehitable Miner resulted in eight children, namely: Emma Eliza, born March 24, 1818; William, December 26, 1819; Paulina, March 9, 1822; LaFayette, June 29, 1824; Jerome, our subject, February 23, 1829; George A., September 27, 1833; Marion M., November 7, 1835; and Edwin Murray, January 2, 1838.

Jerome Hulbert received a common school education, and in accordance with the edict of his father, that all his sons should learn a trade, learned the trade of a harness maker, but did not follow that occupation very long, except to perfect himself in all its details. About 1855, he embarked in the wholesale produce business, and continued in that line of industry until his death. He was eminently successful in all his ventures, and enjoyed the full confidence of the agricultural communities.

Mr. Hulbert married Mary Roe, a daughter of Sylvester Roe, and to them was given one child, Ella Roe, who married Mr. Ernest M. Hulbert of Cortland. Politically, our subject was a pronounced Republican, and deeply interested in the cause of good government, and unalterably opposed to the rule of party bosses, and the consequent corruption of politics. With all the interest manifested by him, Mr. Hulbert never sought office. He was a very active member of the Presbyterian Church. For many years he was the beloved superintendent of the Sabbath School, and was also president of the Young Men’s Christian Association. He was public-spirited, and ready at the first call to engage in any work, which would contribute in greater or less degree to the prosperity and welfare of the town or village of Marathon. That he was held in the highest respect is attested by the fact that upon the occasion, when all that was mortal of this good man was about to be laid in the grave to await the resurrection morn, all the business houses of the village closed in deference to his memory. His home life was beautiful. He was loyal, loving, and most indulgent to the members of his family, and no pleasure was quite complete that his family did not enjoy with him. One thing quite unusual was that all who had business relations with him felt that he was their friend, and that he was working for their interests as well as his own; all were sincere mourners at his death, feeling that they had lost a friend in whose honor and judgment they had never hesitated to place the most complete confidence. At one time, having bought a butter-dairy of a man, on whose farm there was an unpaid mortgage, the butter market advanced to a marked degree, thus realizing for Mr. Hulbert a profit on his butter, that he divided with the man from whom he had bought the farm, much to that person’s astonishment. Mr. Hulbert was quick to act in an emergency, energetic in his habits, and never relinquished a thing unfinished. He always carried to a successful termination all that he undertook. His judgment was keen, and he was rarely, if at all, deceived in the value of things. All in all, he was a man of rare attainments of mind and soul, who left a decided impress on the town, where he resided the most of his life.

We are indeed pleased to be able to present on a preceding page a steel plate portrait* of Mr. Hulbert, who merits well the distinction of having the place of prominence in this collection of biographies and portraits of leading citizens of Cortland County.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.