Nicholas Shevalier was a brother of my 3rd great-grandmother, Lucy Ann (Shevalier) Hollenbeck, making him my 3rd great-uncle, on my father's side. Nicholas was born Sept. 10, 1822, in Virgil, Cortland, New York, a son of Peter Shevalier and Joanna (Huntley) Shevalier. His life is summarized beautifully in Cortland County's 1875 Atlas, published by Everts, Ensign and Everts, complete with illustrations, as follows:
NICHOLAS SHEVALIER was born in the town of Virgil, Cortland County, New York, September 10, 1822. He was one of a family of six children, the son of Peter and Johannah Shevalier, who moved to the town of Marathon about the year 1829, being at that time seven years old. It would be a needless infliction to record here all that he endured and suffered in his childhood and youth, and even in his early manhood, on account of the poverty and the habits of his father. As soon as he was large enough to earn six or eight dollars a month, he began to work for the farmers in the neighborhood, and his wages, as soon as earned, were taken by his father, not leaving enough to comfortably clothe him. He continued in this way until he was seventeen years of age, when, by the advice and assistance of one of his employers, he bought the four years' service remaining due to his father for one hundred and twenty-five dollars, which sum he paid as soon as earned. He had already gained the reputation of being a diligent, trusty, faithful, first-class hand, and, accordingly, could obtain work at the highest price, which was about twelve dollars a month for the summer season. In the winter, and when he was not employed by the month, he would work by the day, and take jobs in cutting and drawing wood, splitting rails, chopping and clearing land,-anything that he found to do for pay, however small, he did, and what he earned he saved. He would take a job cheaper than any other man would do it, and make it pay average day-wages by working uncommonly hard and extra time. By that policy he accumulated while other laborers wasted. He bought a piece of wild land one mile east of Marathon village, now known as the Chauncey Hillsinger farm, which he improved by clearing and building when he was not otherwise employed.
In May, 1846, he married Lydia Youngs, a daughter of Abram Youngs, and moved on his farm, where he remained until the year 1852, when he sold it, and bought what was then known as the Blakesley farm, two miles north of Marathon, a part of which is here represented.
His wife died less than a year thereafter (January 21, 1853). She left no children. The purchase of the Blakesley farm was his greatest undertaking. It comprised about ninety-five acres, in a state of semi-improvement, with no house, one barn, and a heavy debt; but hard work and strict economy paid it in a few years, and eighty acres more were added, which, by the same means, was likewise paid for. And still he continued to exert himself as long as life and strength remained, so strong had the habit of industry become, though the necessity for such thorough application to business no longer existed.
It is said that he chopped and cleared one hundred and seventy acres of land, in addition to all the other labor that he performed. In 1854 he married Delia Barnes, daughter of William Barnes, of Delaware County, New York. The result of their union was six children, one of which, a daughter, died at the age of eleven years. He died of spinal disease, at his late residence, November 5, 1875, his wife and five children surviving him. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a good neighbor, a respected citizen, and an honest and self-made man.
Based on the maps found in the same atlas (a segment shown below), it appears the farm may be the one shown here, although the house appears to be different. It is not improbable that it has since been remodeled and parts of the front do look similar. The layout of the out-buildings is the same, with the addition of a larger barn. It is located almost exactly two miles north of the village, as stated above. Do you think this is the same property? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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