NY-WARWASHSAR-L Archives

From: SLWillig <>
Subject: [NY-WWS] Rexford
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 13:52:17 -0500

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Below please find a biography of Cyrus REXFORD of Saratoga County. The
surnames of CRANDALL and HALISTON are also mentioned in this piece.
Source: *History of Saratoga County, New York*, by Nathaniel B. Sylvester,
Together with *Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Leading
Citizens*, prepared by Samuel T. Wiley and W. Scott Garner. Gresham
Publishing Co., NYC. 1893.

Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, happy holiday season.

Susan



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Capt. Cyrus W. REXFORD, senior member of the old mercantile firm of Rexford
& Son, and the largest landed proprietor of the village of Rexford Flats,
this county, is the eldest son of Eleazer and Jemima (CRANDALL) REXFORD,
and was born at Rexford Flats, in the town of Clifton Park, Saratoga
county, New York, December 28, 1819. The founder of the REXFORD family in
America was Edward REXFORD, paternal grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, who was born and reared in England, but while yet a young man,
about 1760, crossed the Atlantic, and settled in the colony of New York, at
what is now known as Burnt Hill, Saratoga county. Later he removed to what
is now Rexford Flats, where he purchased a large tract of land, including
the farm now owned by his grandson, Cyrus W. REXFORD. He was a very strict
man in every relation of life, particularly in business and religion, and
became widely known and quite prosperous, dying here at an advanced age.
One of his sons was Eleazer REXFORD (father), who was born at Rexford
Flats, December 17, 1787, was reared on the farm, educated in the common
schools of Clifton Park, and devoted most of his life to agricultural
pursuits. He was the founder of the village of Rexford Flats, situated on
the bank of the beautiful Mohawk river, in the town of Clifton Park, where
he owned a farm containing 300 acres of the best land in this vicinity. In
addition to this he also owned lands in the town of Glenville, Schenectady
county, and other property of various kinds. He built and for many years
conducted the well known Rexford Flats hotel, and was remarkable for his
energy, enterprise, and sound business methods. Politically he was a
democrat, and held a number of the local offices of his town. He died
December 19, 1829, at the early age of 42 years. In February, 1818, he
wedded Jemima CRANDALL, a daughter of Gideon and Dorcas CRANDALL, of
Glenville, Schenectady county, and they had a family of three sons: Cyrus
W., the subject of this sketch; Alonzo L., and Eleazer. Mrs. Jemima
REXFORD was born July 28, 1800, and died April 11, 1883, having survived
her husband for more than half a century.

Cyrus W. REXFORD was reared partly on the farm and partly in the hotel at
Rexford Flats, receiving a good English education in the public schools of
Clifton Park. After quitting school he engaged in farming, and has been
connected with agricultural pursuits more or less all his life, in addition
to the management of various other enterprises. He now owns a large farm
adjoining the village, and a half interest in the general mercantile
business of Rexford & son, beside being the owner of the Rexford hotel and
more than half of the tenement houses in the village of Rexford Flats. He
began her mercantile career at the age of 22 in the city of Schenectady,
this State, where he remained in business until 1848, and during two years
of that time he owned and operated a line of boats running between
Schenectady and New York city, on the old Erie canal, and engaged in
carrying the grain and produce which he handled in connection with his
store. In 1848 on account of failing health, he retired from the mercantile
business, and returned to his farm in Clifton Park, where he remained for a
period of six years. At the end of that time, having regained his usual
health and strength, he engaged in merchandising at Rexford Flats, with
which enterprise he has ever since been connected, doing a safe,
conservative business, which averages about thirty thousand dollars a year.
Inheriting a fine executive ability and a restless energy, he has led an
active and successful life, accomplishing more than most men, and seems to
be happy only when actively engaged in some worthy enterprise.

On December 4, 1841, Captain Rexford was married to Hannah H. HALISTON, a
daughter of William HALISTON, a prominent farmer of the town of Clifton
Park, and to that union was born a family of five children, three sons and
two daughters: Oscar, deceased; Jennie A., who became the wife of Dr. W.S.
BAKER, a practicing physician of Newakr, New Jersey; Cyrus H., deceased;
LeGrand, who is his father's partner in business, and half owner and
general manager of the store at Rexford Flats; and Fannie, who married
William A. GRAVES, now residing in the city of Denver, Colorado. Mrs.
REXFORD was born in January, 1822, in Saratoga county.

Captain Rexford was a democrat in politics until the formation of the
Republican party, when he became an adherent of that political
organization, and has been one of the most zealous leaders in this section.
He was made supervisor of his town six times in succession, and two years
afterward was again elected to the same position. In 1870 he was elected
justice of the peace, and held that important office for a period of six
years. During the troublous times of the great civil war he took an active
part in enlisting soldiers and filling the quota required from this State,
having charge of recruiting offices at Schenectady, New York city, Buffalo
and Cairo, and another at Hilton Head. For a number of years he was
connected with the State militia of New York, and served as captain of a
company in the 18th regiment, his commission being issued in April, 1839.
Captain Rexford owns a controlling interest in Rexford Flats Bridge
Company, which built and controls the bridge crossing the Mohawk river at
that place. He has been largely instrumental in the development and growth
of the village, and is regarded as among the most enterprising and useful
citizens of this old and important county of the great Empire State.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SLWillig

List Administrator: IRL-Palatine, NY-WarWashSar; Sullivan Co. & Cheshire
Co., NH; Addison Co., VT; and surnames lists; L.aursen, G.arfield, E.mpey

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