Martin VanBuren Stetson (1839 - 1914)

Born 6 Aug 1839 in Champlain, Clinton, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 24 Jan 1914 at age 74 in Gloversville, Fulton, New York, United States

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Biography

Martin VanBuren Stetson was the youngest child of Robert and Amanda Stetson. He served in the New York Infantry during the Civil War (1862-1865) and rose to the rank of Captain. After the war he used his leadership and bookkeeping skills to rise, first in the banking industry and then as the City Clerk of Gloversville, New York. He was a beloved member of the City Government in Gloversville for 18 years.

He was married to Ellen "Nellie" Cook and had 5 children, 4 of whom survived to adulthood.

His life was chronicled by his youngest daughter Philena in a presentation to the Stetson Kindred Annual Meeting.

Birth

Martin VanBuren Stetson was born in August 1839 ^[1] at Champlaine, New York. He was the 1th child and son of Robert Stetson and Amanda (Beach) Stetson ^[2][3].

Marriage

Married Ellen C. "Nellie" Cook, 24 Oct 1867 ^[1] Probably at Gloversville. ^[A]

5 Children: ^[4] (all prob born in Champlain, New York. 4 survived to 1900 ^[1])

1. Albert H. Stetson, b. 1869; m. (1) Della (Unknown) m. (2) Mabel Stearns; d. aft 1940
2. Lawrence Stetson, b. 1874; m. Aleda Wells, 21 Oct 1908, Johnstown, New York; d. Oct 1960 - No Children.
3. Jennette Stetson, b. 1877; d. 1920 (a music teacher, died unmarried)
4. Philena H. (Stetson) Kinkaid, b. Jul 1882 ^[1] m. Herbert Reed Kinkaid, 5 Apr 1910^[5]; d. 14 Oct 1965. (She is the Philena Stetson - "PSK" who wrote her father's biography for the Stetson Kindred ^[6])

PSK Writes: Regarding his home life, there is little to say, the most considerate of husbands, a father always interested in the undertakings of his children, sympathetic in their misfortunes, praiseful of their successes, a man to be instantly obeyed... -- PSK ^[6].

Residence

• 1850, Age 11, Living with his family on their farm at Champlain, New York ^[7]
• 1860, Age 20, Living on his family farm at Champlain, New York. He had not attended school in the previous year, nor married. ^[8]
• 1870, age 30, Living with his wife at her family home in Champlain, New York ^[9]
• 1880, Age 40, Living with his wife Ellen, 3 children (Albert, Lawrence and Jennette), Mother in Law Philena Cook and other family n 16th street at Champlain, New York ^[4]
• 1900, Age 60, Living with wife Ellen and daughter Philena in Ward 2, Gloversville, New York ^[1]
• 1905, Age 65, Living with his wife Ellen and 3 children (Lawrence, Jeannette and Philena) in Ward 2, E.D. 1, Gloversville, New York ^[10]
• 1910, age 70, Married for 43 years, Living on First Avenue, in Ward 3, Gloversville with his wife and daughter Jeanette, and his son-in-law Herbert R. Kinkaid (and his daughter Philena) ^[5]

Occupation

• Prior to 1862, no occupation was listed in the Census Records ^[8]
• aft 1865 - went to Champlain (New York) where he became cashier of the bank ^[6]
• 1870 - Cashier in Bank ^[9]
• 1880 - Bank Cashier ^[4]
• 1889 - ...left Champlain ... going to Gloversville (NY) to accept the position of cashier of the Manufacturers and Merchants', now the city National Bank -- P.S.K. ^[6]
• 1896 - In October City Clerk of Gloversville, 18 years until his death. During the years he served in this capacity he never had an opponent. The last time he was reappointed, all but one ballot was for "Mr. Stetson" and that one was for "The Grand Old Man." -- P.S.K. ^[6]
• 1900 - City Clerk ^[1]
• 1910 - City Clerk ^[5]

Military Service

2nd Lt, 1st Lt, Capt Martin Stetson served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug 21, 1862
Mustered out: Jun 13, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 118 Regiment, New York Volunteers

Service Record: ^[11]

• August 1862 - at age 23, Joined the New York Volunteers and assigned to the 118th Regiment, Company I as 2nd Lieutenant ^[3].
• 1863 - Promoted to 1st Lieutenant ^[3]..
• 1864 - Promoted to Captain ^[3].
• Fought in the Battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Drury's Bluff ^[3].
• Wounded (arm) at Chapins Farm and in his thigh, at Fair Oaks ^[3].

Letter from a Colonel C quoted by PSK: I have pleasant memories of Captain Stetson. I know I had his friendship and enjoyed more itimacy with him than with many of our officers, for he was not only a soldierly officer but a manly man, plus a Christian gentleman. That was a fine and attractive combination. ^[6]

Death

Died January 1914 at Gloversville, New York ^[12] (Working at the Gloversville offices) ^[6]

Research Notes

• Stetson Kindred Genealogical Index: 1-1-2-8-1-6-2-11

A. Census Documents from Champlain, New York list Ellen as his wife, and a Philena W. Cook as his Mother-in-Law. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZP7-L6N?cc=1325221&wc=9B7K-PYT%3A1030551901%2C1032699401%2C1034451101 : 5 August 2014), New York > Fulton > ED 9 Gloversville city Ward 2 > image 18 of 24; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ Stetson: Vol 1, No, 3, Pg 179
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Philena Stetson Kindkaid (PSK) Martin Vanburen Stetson Pg 44
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB6-9D8L?cc=1417683&wc=XH63-K68%3A1589409304%2C1589400273%2C1589410414%2C1589395184 : 24 December 2015), New York > Clinton > Champlain > ED 12 > image 22 of 27; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington,, D.C., n.d.)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRJB-9HV4?cc=1727033&wc=QZZ7-L8B%3A133641301%2C137083101%2C140652701%2C1589089025 : 24 June 2017), New York > Fulton > Gloversville Ward 3 > ED 15 > image 7 of 28; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6} Kinkaid, Philena Stetson; Martin Vanburen Stetson Pg 47
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6X39-HYC?cc=1401638&wc=95RH-N3T%3A1031313801%2C1031371301%2C1033606901 : 9 April 2016), New York > Clinton > Champlain > image 75 of 122; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBS4-C46?cc=1473181&wc=7QPF-17G%3A1589422212%2C1589423928%2C1589431520 : 24 March 2017), New York > Clinton > Champlain > image 16 of 148; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6Q33-TZ6?cc=1438024&wc=K5SL-RM9%3A518819101%2C518725601%2C519363401 : 13 June 2019), New York > Clinton > Champlain > image 25 of 131; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVB9-DPS : 8 March 2021), Marten B Stetson, Gloversville, Ward 02, E.D. 01, Fulton, New York; citing p. 43, line 36, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 465,985.
11. ↑ Photo of Official NY State Document on 118th Nyew York Infantry
12. ↑ "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSG8-BQM9-P?cc=2803479 : 2 July 2021), > image 1 of 1.

See Also:

• Kindkaid, Philena Stetson; Martin Vanburen Stetson, Presentation to the Stetson Kindred in Booklet 5 (Account of annual meetings ; Short biographical sketches ; Historical papers ; Genealogy ; List of members, etc. ; (Stetson Kindred of America, 1907; Medford Press: Press of J.C. Miller; pgs 44-47) Compiled by Stetson, George Willaim for the Stetson Kindred.
• State of New York Civil War Roster Records: Rosters Of The New York Infantry Regiments During The Civil War—118th New York Regiment.
• Stetson, O.F., Ed.;Descendants of Cornet Robert Stetson of Scituate, Massachusetts (Stetson Kindred of America, Inc., 1933, 1956, 2008).
• Various Contributors; FamilySearch.org entry for Martin Van Buren Stetson; accessed July 2021; © 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.