William's Letter Correspondents

Four different people were addressed in the 26 surviving letters of William Graham. The great majority were sent to his sister Elizabeth (Libbie) Graham. One was addressed to John Boyes and one to Andrew Scobey. The rest were addressed to his cousin, Dr. Robert Bell. All the known correspondents were either relatives of William or, in the case of Andrew Scobey, living with a relative.

Elizabeth 'Libbie' Graham

Elizabeth 'Libbie' Graham, c1870

Elizabeth 'Libbie' Graham was born in 1838 in County Down, Ireland. She immigrated with the rest of the family from Ireland in 1850 at the age of 12. In one of his letters, William states that Libbie is his only sister. 

By 1855, Elizabeth Graham was age 17 and living in the Town of Dix, Schuyler County, New York with Andrew and Harriet Scobey (both age 28). She had also been adopted by them. She is living not far from the Brewster Platt’s, whose daughter Mary would eventually marry Elizabeth's brother William after the Civil War.

In 1860, Elizabeth Graham is a domestic servant still living with the farmer couple, Andrew and Harriet Scobey. Brother William Graham sends his respects to the Scobey’s in a number of his letters sent to Libbie (Elizabeth) during the Civil War.

In 1870 and 1880, Elizabeth is a housekeeper still living with the Scobey’s and just down the road from the Platt/Graham household. In 1884, Elizabeth Graham married the widower, Eugene Pangborn of the Village of Townsend in Schuyler County. Eugene had five children by his previous wife, Jane Huey. Elizabeth helped raise the 3 youngest children. 

Affidavet by Elizabeth regarding Mary Platt Graham's
Pension Application

She probably had the greatest influence on the youngest child Ruth, who was age five when Elizabeth married Eugene. Ruth eventually married Edwin Van Deventer in October 1900 in Monterey, New York. Ruth survived to the age of 102, dying in 1982.

The 1900 Census for the Town of Dix shows a farmer Eugene Pangborn and wife Elizabeth born in May 1843 (she probably lied about her age so as to appear no older than husband). Elizabeth died on February 1, 1910 at age 71. Her husband Eugene, who survived her, married a third time to Iva Warden. He died on January 12, 1929 at age 84.

Documentary evidence (other than the letters) of Elizabeth's relationship with William Graham comes from an affidavit. She signed this in 1900 in support of Mary Platt Graham's application for a pension as a widow of a Civil War veteran, William Graham. This affidavit on the left (with emphasis added), attests to her lifetime acquaintance with William Graham (which would reach back to life in Ireland) and her presence at the marriage between William Graham and Mary Platt. Strangely, she never states that she is William's sister.

John Boyes

John Boyes was likely the nephew of the family William lived with in 1860. William was then living with farmer Thomas Boyes, his wife Mary and seven children in the Town of Orange, Schuyler Co., NY. Mary and her sister Eliza were William's cousins, daughters of William Bell and Elizabeth Graham (sister of William's father James). They were also sisters of Dr. Robert Bell, another of William's correspondents

Eliza Boyes' farm was in the same neighborhood as her sister's in the Town of Orange. Eliza had married James Boyes who died in 1846. She remarried a James Criddle. One of Eliza's sons was named John Boyes and would have been age 22 in 1862. In 1860, 20 year old John Boyes was working as a farm laborer in nearby Seneca, Ontario County, NY. By 1870, John Boyes, age 30 and employed as a physician, is living in Tyrone, Schuyler County with his wife Cynthia, age 26. John lived until age 90, dying in 1930. He and his wife had two daughters.

Dr. Robert Bell

Dr. Robert Bell

Robert Bell was William Graham's cousin. According to a A biographical record of Schuyler County, New York, Robert was born August 24, 1815, in County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland, or Ulster), about 12 miles from the City of Belfast. He was the son of William Bell and Elizabeth Graham (aunt of both William Graham and his sister 'Libbie'). He was 12 years old when his family left Ireland and landed in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada in 1827.  They then made their way to Boston, Mass., and resided in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Later Robert Bell was a student in Newburg, NY where he contracted and survived typhoid fever.  The family then moved to Fishkill Landing where his brother and sister died.  Subsequently, they moved to Newtown, NY (now Elmira, NY). By 1840 they moved about 3 miles south of Monterey Village in the Town of Orange, Schuyler Co., NY.

Harriet Haring Bell

In 1839 & 1840 Robert was a student in a select school in Montour Falls, taught by Artemus Fay and later by Mr. Gillett.  Then Robert became ill again, and Dr. Nelson Winton attended him, and offered him a course of medical study for three years in return for one year of service to Dr. Winton.  Eventually the now Dr. Bell was persuaded by the people of Monterey to set up a permanent office there.

In 1846 his mother Elizabeth Graham died and is buried in the Monterey Cemetery. Robert Bell's father William continued living on the family farm outside Monterey, New York with his unmarried son James. In 1864 William remarried a woman named Margaret, whose surname is unknown.

In 1849 Dr. Bell married Harriet M. Haring.  Mrs. Bell was an active and influential member of the Presbyterian Church, being especially active in its missionary organizations. In the spring of 1878 they went on an extensive trip through the west and south, with the hope of benefiting Mrs. Bell's health. She died on September 3, 1902 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Watkins, with a large monument in the center of the cemetery. 

Dr. Bell was important in the building and development of Monterey village  He built a large block in Monterey for the post office and 3 stores, and a community hall upstairs. Dr. and Mrs. Bell were said to live in the most beautiful residence in Monterey.

Former Dr. & Mrs. Bell Residence in Monterey
'Still the most beautiful'

Dr. Bell had no children, but was much attached to his wife, and took much interest in all his relatives. As a preceptor (teacher) he gave many young men a good start in the medical profession. He was known for his kindness of heart and charitable deeds, and ever contributed liberally to any worthy cause. Dr. Bell died in 1907 and is buried next to his wife.

Andrew Scobey

Andrew Scobey and his wife Harriet were childless. According to the 1855 New York State Census, the Scobey's adopted Elizabeth 'Libbie' Graham (although only 11 years younger than them) sometime after her 1850 arrival in America at the age of 12. Libbie lived as a servant on their farm during the Civil War.

Andrew was active in his community. Appointed postmaster in the town of Townsend in 1854. Still listed as postmaster in the 1860s. Listed as the Townsend justice of peace and a farmer in the 1868 city directory.

The 1875 NY Census illustrates the Scobey interest in adoption. An Archey* C. Scobey age 16 is listed as an adopted son along with adopted daughter Elizabeth Graham. According to the 1880 Census, Elizabeth 'Libbie' Graham was still living as a domestic with the Scobeys. Also living next door were Andrew Scobey's 'nephew' and 'niece', Archule* 21 and Mary Scobey 22.

In 1880 the Scobeys lived just down the road from the Platt’s where Libbie's sister-in-law, the widow Mary Platt Graham was living in her parent's home with her two children. This was four years before Libbie's marriage to widower, Eugene Pangborn in 1884. 

In the early 1890s Andrew was  listed as a retired merchant farmer living in the Village of Watkins. Libbie's then husband, Eugene Pangborn, was working 'on shares' on 100 acres owned by Andrew Scobey. Scobey was providing the land and Pangborn the labor, in return for which Pangborn would receive a share of the crop. Wonder if this was some of the land that Scobey bought while William was fighting in the war.

According to the 1900 Census, the Scobeys finally produced a daughter. A Mary Scobey age 22 is listed in the household as such. Curiously, no such Mary is listed as a two year old living with them in 1880. Probably they adopted her as was their wont. Very strange!

Andrew died in 1902 at the age of 76. Interestingly, adopted son Archey together with wife Harriet are listed as executors for Andrew's 1902 estate. Andrew's wife outlasted him by more than a decade, dying in 1911 at age 86.

*Archule age 21 and nephew in 1880 must be the same person as Archey age 16 and adopted son listed in 1875. Sounds like adoption by the Scobeys was a little bit loosey goosey.