History of Oxford, (Chenango County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Thomas Ryan, representative, was born at Oxford, N.Y., Nov. 25, 1837. In early life he went with his parents to Bradford county, Pa., where he lived on a farm until 1854. He was a student at Dickinson seminary, Williamsport, Pa., and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. He served in the Federal army, 1862?64; was severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and was mustered out with the rank of captain. He was married, Nov. 24, 1863, to a daughter of Edwin Coolbaugh of Towanda, Pa. In 1865 he removed to Topeka, Kan., where he was county attorney, 1865?73; assistant U.S. attorney for Kansas, 1873?76; and a Republican representative from the fourth district of Kansas in the 45th-50th congresses, 1877?89. He was re-elected to the 51st congress, but resigned to accept the office of U.S. minister to Mexico, where he served, 1889?93. He again practised law in Topeka until 1897, when he was appointed by President McKinley first assistant secretary of the interior, and was continued as such by President Roosevelt.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Benjamin Dudley, chemist, was born in Oxford, N.Y., July 14, 1842; son of Daniel and Maranda (Bemis) Dudley; and grandson of Benjamin Dudley. He was graduated in arts at Yale in 1871 and then entered Sheffield scientific school, receiving the degree of Ph.D. in 1874. He was instructor in physics in the academic department of the University of Pennsylvania, 1874-75, resigning in the latter year to become chemist to the Pennsylvania railroad company. He made numerous researches and discoveries of value, reports of which were published at various times in the Transactions of the American institute of mining engineers, of which society he became a member in 1883 and was twice elected its vice-president. In 1883 his investigations established the fact that milder and purer forms of steel were better adapted to the construction of rails for railways than the harder steels and those possessing greater tensile strength. He was president of the American chemical society for the years 1896 and 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Martin Curtis, representative, was born near Oxford, Chenango county, N.Y., April 1, 1844; son of John S. and Elizabeth M. (Carpenter) Curtis; grandson of William Curtis, and a descendant of Samuel Curtis of Massachusetts. In 1856 he removed with his parents, who were farmers, to Ogle county, Ill., where he was educated in the common schools and at the Rock River seminary, Mount Morris, Ill. He was clerk in a store at Rochelle, Ill., 1863-65, and engaged in merchandising at Cortland, Ill., 1865-67. The latter year he removed to Clinton, Iowa where he engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds and lumber. He was a member of the 22d general assembly of Iowa, a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1892, and a Republican representative in the 54th and 55th congresses, serving, 1895-99.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Ammi Bradford Hyde, educator, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N.Y., March 13, 1826; son of Asahel J. and Mary (Hinckley) Hyde; grandson of Nathan and Laura (Humphrey) Hyde and of Jared and Hopestill(Brewster) Hinckley, and a descendant in the seventh generation of William Brewster, of the Mayflower, and of Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. The Hyde immigrant settled in Derby (Oxford), Conn. Jared Hinckley was a soldier in the American Revolution. Ammi Bradford Hyde graduated from Wesleyan university in 1846, and was teacher of languages in Cazenovia seminary, N.Y., 1846-61. He was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rushville, N.Y., 1862-64; professor of Greek in Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., 1864-79, also serving on the U.S. sanitary commission at City Point, Va., in 1864. He was professor of Biblical literature in Allegheny college, 1879-84, and in the latter year was elected professor of Greek in the University of Denver. He was married, July 25, 1850, to Mira Smith. Syracuse college conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1874. He was a member of the Oriental society and a founder of the American Philological association. He wrote: "Book of Ecclesiastes" and "The Songs of Solomon" in the Commentary on the Old Testament (1881); and is the author of: The Story of Methodism, and a volume of Essays (1888).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor