My Genealogy Hound

WARREN SALISBURY is one of the citizen farmers of Homer, whom all look up to with respect. The duties that have fallen to his lot during his long and useful life have been in every case performed with a cheerfulness and steadiness of purpose, that have made him at once a model and a source of encouragement for others. He is now living at a good and respected age, surrounded with the fruits of his thrift and his toil, and among a people whom his kindly ways and ready good will have drawn to him.

Mr. Salisbury is a son of Joseph M. and Ann (Smith) Salisbury, and was born in Homer, Cortland County, March 10, 1832. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Salisbury, who was born, raised, and married in the State of Rhode Island. When the son, Joseph, was about four years of age, Thomas Salisbury with his entire family came out to Central New York, and settled in Cortland County. The country was then new, and many of the dusky braves of the forest, whom Cooper made famous, were in their accustomed haunts in this historic region. With brave heart and ready arm, the pioneer set about making a safe home for his family, locating in Homer township at a point near Scott. On the home acre of his own clearing, he lived and labored to a good old age. Besides being a good farmer, Mr. Salisbury was a cooper by trade, and his handiwork was held in high esteem in the growing community, so that as his sons grew to manhood and could take the farm labor off his hands, he was able to devote much of his time to his craft.

Joseph M. Salisbury, father of our subject, grew to manhood on the Homer farm. In addition to farming, he learned from his father the cooper’s trade, and followed it through life in connection with farming. He spent all his life on and about the home place. Mr. Salisbury was a man held in high repute in the community, was a member of the Baptist denomination, and in politics a Whig and later a Republican. His wife, a Miss Ann Smith, bore to him a family of two sons and four daughters.

Our subject, Warren Salisbury, was one of the two sons. He was reared in Homer, his native town, and remained on the home place until he was twenty years of age. He then struck out for himself, and followed farming three or four years. Next he learned the carpenter’s trade, and worked at that occupation for a time, but his natural inclinations asserted themselves, and he went back to tilling the soil. In 1877, he located on the place where he now resides, and during all of his active life he has devoted himself to agricultural labors. Besides his many cares and duties, he finds much time to devote to other affairs. He is a leading member and supporter of the M. E. Church of Homer, and used to be a Republican in politics. Realizing full well what a curse the use of spirituous liquors was becoming to the American people, he became an ardent Prohibitionist, and is now a supporter of that party. He wedded Roxanna Gay of Preble in 1862, and one child, Cora, has been born to them. She is now the wife of Charles Dewey, who lives with his father-in-law and is a mechanic employed in the W. N. Brock Wagon and Carriage Works at Homer. Mr. Salisbury is a gentleman, who has traveled life’s long road, attending strictly to the affairs that he has encountered along the path. Not at all ambitious for place or power, he has attained the standing which uprightness, sobriety, and attention to the better things of life are bound to give.