Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical Review of LIVINGSTON and Wyoming Counties, New York Biographical Review Pub. Co., Boston, 1895 [147 - 148] NOAH COOLEY, a pioneer settler of the town of Leicester, Livingston County, N.Y., was born in the town of Hawley, Franklin County, Mass., March 24, 1781, and died at his home in Leicester on July 21, 1850. His father, NOAH COOLEY, Sr., was born in Palmer, Hampden County, Mass., on August 21, 1741. He married ESTHER HYDE, who was born in the neighboring town of Monson on May 31, 1748. MR. COOLEY bought a farm in Hawley, and after marriage came there on horseback, his wife riding on a pillion behind him, a part of the intermediate country being as yet untraversed by wagon roads. MR. COOLEY died on March 19, 1818, his wife ESTHER on August 7, 1838. They had four children - NOAH, named for his father; ESTHER; ASHER; and CALVIN. The second NOAH COOLEY was brought up under the shadow of the Berkshire Hills, in the strenuous moral atmosphere of the old Bay State, where he grew to a stalwart manhood, and in due time became a husband and father. In 1816 he, in company with his wife and six children, came to New York State, the family making the journey through the woods in a wagon drawn by a single horse; and, bringing their household goods in an ox wagon, they settled on a tract of thickly wooded land in Leicester, where MR. COOLEY built a log house for shelter, all the lumber of which, compris- ing "shakes" for the roof and plank for the floor and door, was split or hewn by himself. There were no railroads for many years; and, as there was no easy means of intercourse between the various cities, the people depended largely for meat on the game which then abounded in the forest, and dressed in the homespun flax and woollen made by the housewife. NOAH COOLEY cleared a large farm, on which he raised wheat and flax, and kept sheep. He was prosperous as a farmer, and after a few years had erected good frame buildings and made for his family a pleasant home. He was a hard-working, self-respecting, and honest man, and was always held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. He married SABRA WELLS, also a native of Hawley, Mass., the date of whose birth was April 5, 1784, and who lived to be nearly eighty-three years old, dying on March 7, 1867. NOAH and SABRA (WELLS) COOLEY reared nine children; namely, ASHER, LOVISA, ELECTA, ESTHER, DAVID, ELISHA, SABRA, EMMA, and NOAH. Miss SABRA COOLEY was born in the new log house home the year after the arrival of her parents in Leicester, on March 14, 1817. In her childhood she attended the district school, and later completed her education at Wyoming Academy, after which she entered upon the work of school teaching. A woman of char- acter and influence, she is to-day one of the oldest native residents of the town, and well remembers the scenes and inci- dents of pioneer life. She and her brother NOAH occupy the old homestead. NOAH, the third of the name, married LUCY ABBEY, who was born in Leicester, the daughter of DEXTER and HANNAH ABBEY. MRS. LUCY COOLEY died September 23, 1881, leaving three children - PERLEY E., LILLIAN, and SABERT. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more information for Livingston County, N.Y. by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ny/livingston/ ===========================================================================