My Genealogy Hound

PHILANDER K. CARVER, a man of much influence in his community, and one of the prominent agriculturists of Seneca County, now residing in the town of Tyre, is a native of this state, and was born in the town of Fleming, Cayuga County, March 20, 1821, to Daniel and Eunice (Irish) Carver. The father of our subject, who was born in Connecticut, went with his parents to Vermont, whence he came to Cayuga County, this state, when eighteen years of age, or in the year 1791. He was consequently one of the pioneers of that locality, and was one of ten men who opened the road from Cayuga Lake through Seneca Falls, Waterloo and Geneva. His father, David Carver, later removed to Cayuga County, where he passed the remaining years of his life.

Daniel Carver was drafted into the War of 1812, but he secured a substitute and was released. In Cayuga County he was married to Miss Irish. He became the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he accumulated entirely by his own efforts after coming to this county. The parental household included nine children, of whom our subject was the eldest but one. Two of this family are now living, and it is possible that Horace is also alive, although nothing has been heard of him since he went West a number of years ago. Philetus makes his home in Jamestown, this state. The father of this family was in early life a Whig in politics, but in 1856 joined the ranks of the Republicans. He died the following year, and in him the community lost one of its most reliable and respected citizens. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject came to this country from Wales, where he was married to Miss Abigail Chapman.

Mrs. Eunice Carver was the daughter of David and Mercy Irish, who had a family of fourteen children, all of whom grew to mature years. Of this family eleven were daughters, and all of them, with one exception, were married and had families of their own. Mr. Irish was a minister of the Baptist Church, and was well known through this part of the state and in Canada, his charges covering a large scope of country. In addition to following the ministry, he was also an extensive farmer, owning valuable property in Cayuga County. Mr. Carver was often called upon to perform marriage services, and on one occasion, the bridegroom not having the customary fee to present to the minister, his bride suggested that “maybe the Missus would take spinning for pay.”

The boyhood days of our subject were spent in Cayuga County, and when fifteen years of age he came with his father to Seneca County. Location was at once made on the property which Philander K. now occupies, and here the father resided until his decease, as before stated, in the year 1857. His remains were taken back to Fleming and interred in the cemetery at that place by the side of his wife, who had died in 1844.

The subject of this sketch was given a fair education, and after completing his studies taught two terms of winter school in the town of Savannah, Wayne County. In 1851 he went to California with a party of five, making the journey by way of the Isthmus. There he began working in the mines, but, being taken ill, was compelled to return home. On this trip he rode half way across the Isthmus of Panama on the new railroad, and was obliged to pay $8 for riding twenty-four miles. He was prospered during his short stay in the Golden State, and was very loath to return home. He began working, however, at farming, hiring out by the day until his marriage. At that time he possessed quite a snug little sum of money, and this he invested in eighty acres of land.

March 21, 1855, Mr. Carver was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Burnett, a native of Waterloo, and the daughter of George and Mary (Brown) Burnett. To our subject and his wife were born four children. Helen married Robert Hungerford, and died in 1883, leaving a son, Elmer; Mary departed this life in 1864, when six years of age; and Gardner when a lad of four years, both dying of diphtheria. Elmer R., who married Josephine Earl, March 21, 1895, lives with his father and superintends the operation of the farm.

In politics our subject was first a Whig, and voted for Henry Clay in 1844. On the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has ever since voted for the candidates of that party. From 1860 to 1869 he served as Assessor of his town, and again from 1874 to 1877. As an official he was very popular, and gave those most concerned perfect satisfaction. Mr. Carver was originally the owner of a large tract of land, but from time to time he has disposed of a portion, until now his acreage numbers one hundred and forty-three acres, all excellently improved with the best class of buildings. He commands the utmost respect as well as the personal regard of his fellow-men, and we are pleased to be able to present his sketch to our readers.