Israel Catlin, Fayette, Seneca Co., NY - NYGenWeb, part of the USGenWeb Project

Israel Catlin, Fayette, Seneca Co., NY

Biographical Sketch from Centennial Historical Sketch of Fayette, Seneca Co., NY 1800-1900 by Diedrich Willers [Press of W.F. Humphrey, Geneva, NY, 1900; reprinted by W.E. Morrison & Co., Ovid, NY, 1982], p.93.

      "Israel Catlin was born in Litchfield County in the State of Connecticut, it is understood, on the 15th day of Sept., 1762. Nothing definite has been learned of his early history. He is supposed to have accompanied several brothers, who it is said were early settlers in Chemung County (now in Schuyler Co., N.Y.). The Town of Catlin, Chemung Co., received its name from one of the brothers. Removing in early manhood to the Town of Romulus, while it still formed a part of Onondaga County and included within its territory the Town of Fayette, he engaged in garming and at the town meeting held in Romulus in the Spring of 1796 was elected one of the assessors and also one of the fence-viewers of that town. He was re-elected assessor in 1797, '98 and '99. In 1797, he was also elected one of the highway commissioners of Romulus, and in 1798 and 1799 one of the overseers of highways of that town.
      After the erection of the Town of Washington (Fayette) he served as one of its justices of the peace as early as the year 1800.
      In the spring of 1804 he was elected supervisor of Washington (Fayette) and was re-elected annually up to and including the year 1813. At the annual session of the board of supervisors in 1808, he was chosen and served as chairman of the board.
      He died May 8, 1813, survived by his wife and several children.
      His mortal remains rest in the Burth Cemetery in Fayette. His head-stone gives his age at 42 years, but there is evidently an error in these figures.
      It is to be regretted that so little data has been obtained as to Mr. Catlin, his descendants hereabouts having failed to reply to repeated requests for information.