Thomas Blythe

b. circa 1832, d. circa 1852
  • Thomas Blythe was born circa 1832 in New York.
  • Thomas Blythe and Elizabeth Wilson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1840 in Madrid, St. Lawrence County, New York. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Thomas Blythe, Isabellla Blythe and Jane T. Blythe.
  • Thomas Blythe and Elizabeth Wilson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Madrid, New York. Other members of the household included Thomas Blythe, Isabellla Blythe, Jane T. Blythe, Ellen Blythe, Betsey Cannon Blythe and Caverhill Tate Blythe.
  • He was attending school and working on the farm, according to the 1850 census.
  • Thomas Blythe died circa 1852.
  • The following appeared on 2 March 1911 in The Madrid Herald: Mrs. Betsey Cannon Blythe Pringle died, age 66, on Sunday at midnight Feb. 26 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Edmund G. Walker, after an illness of over one year of a complication of diseases. The funeral was held at the home of her daughter and burial was made in the Dailey Ridge cemetery. Betsey Cannon Blythe was born in Waddington Dec. 6 1845, the 5th daughter of Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth “Betsey” Blythe. She grew up and lived on the home farm in Waddington until she married Gilbert Pringle on Mar. 1 1871, just 40 years ago to the day of her funeral. Until one year ago she always had lived on her home farm formerly known as the Forbes place, but on account of failing health she then came to live with her daughter, Mrs E. G. Walker. Mr Pringle died 17 years ago. Mrs. Pringle’s death is the first break in the family circle of 6 sisters. There was a brother Thomas who died 59 years ago (1852).
  • The following appeared on 11 February 1913 in the Canton Commercial Advertiser: (Louisville, Feb. 8) It is interesting to note that Richard Brannen of Louisville, who is past 82 years of age, holds the distinction of being the only surviving member of a party of 28 young men whose homes were in northern New York, who organized themselves in a party in 1851 to take a trip to the gold fields in California, the journey those days being perilous indeed. The party sailed from New York in September the same year, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The following were from Louisville: Richard Brannen, Dave Willson, Ben Willson, Charles Whalen, Alex. Brigham, Jas. Lane, Samuel Alexander, Andrew Hadley, Charles Phillips and Samuel Douglass; from Waddington, Thomas Blythe, John Short, Ripley Hatch, Hank Monk, Wagner Monk, James Bacus, Nat Reddington, Peter Daulton, John Rutherford and Christie Gorman; from Massena, Jim Perkins and Allen Maley; from Lisbon, John Tait, Tom Tait and Alonzo Lawrence; from Norfolk, Robert Douglass.
         Many hardships were endured in crossing the isthmus on account of the hostile feelings of the natives and the intense heat of the tropical sun. Many pathetic and exciting incidents occurred on board the ship, among which were the deaths of several passengers, among whom was Charles Phillips of Louisville, a member of their party, whose death occurred Oct. 31 while passing up the Pacific coast and gave the party a wierd Hallowe’en experience indeed. The bodies of the former victims had been tossed overboard but through a special request the ship’s captain, who was a member of a Masonic order, the ship was halted and the body buried at Acapalco. The Mr. Phillips deceased was brother of Mrs. E. P. Whalen of Louisville and an uncle of James Curran of Massena and of Edward Creighton of Chase Mills. They landed in San Francisco and found the place to be in a state of embroil and excitement. One of the party, Hank Monk, from Waddington, soon became famous as the pioneer stage driver of the Rocky Mountains. It was he who had charge of the stage that carried Horace Greeley into Placerville, on one occasion when Mr. Greeley was to lecture there. The stage was far from the village and Mr. Greeley became impatient as the horses were moping slowly up the long grade. He leaned out of the stage window and asked Hank Monk, the driver, if he could not push the horses on more rapidly. The driver replied in the quietest of tones, “Keep your seat, Horace, I’ll get you there on time.” The stage crept slowly on until the hilltop was reached, after which, at a signal from the driver, the coach and six horses, with its passenger, went at terrific speed down the mountain slope, covering 40 miles in four hours. Mr. Greeley, the noted editor, some time after, presented the driver with a beautiful gold watch bearing this inscription, “Presented to Hank Monk in commemoration of his celebrated drive in landing Horace Greeley on time. ‘Keep your seat, Mr. Greeley, I’ll get you there on tome.’” [:CR;] [:TAB;] Hank Monk when twelve years old, commenced driving a four-coach stage between Waddington and Massena and many shook their heads and said he was too young but he showed the doubters that he was a natural driver.
  • Last Edited: 6 Dec 2015