For many years a stockman of Oneida township and the cattle king of Delaware county and was as well prominent in political circles, serving as a representative in the lower house of the state legislature and also as state senator. He was born in Maine on the 1st of October, 1828, a son of James and Olive Hersey, both likewise natives of the Pine Tree state, where their entire lives were spent. Mr. Hersey was the youngest in a family of seven children. He was reared and educated in Maine but in 1851 he started for California, thinking, as did many others, to find there great wealth. He remained for two years in the Golden state, after which he returned to Maine, where he lived with his parents for eight years. There he engaged in the manufacture of shoes until 1863, when he came west and located in Oneida township, this county, devoting his time to general farming for a year. After that he went into the stock business and so continued during the greater part of his life. He was an authority upon everything pertaining to the raising of stock for the market and his judgment rarely failed him in buying or selling, so that he gained a gratifying income. He was also connected for a time with a general store at Earlville and was a man of much practical wisdom and strong common sense, these qualities making him a valuable state representative and state senator. He was elected to the former position from Delaware county in 1882; and the latter in 1875. His fellow citizens never had occasion to regret calling him to these offices of trust and honor, as he used his influence to secure the passage of measures that proved beneficial to the state at large. He married Miss Mary Ann Crafts, a native of Maine, and to their union were born three children. Mrs. Hersey died in 1862 and was laid to rest in her native state. The following year Mr. Hersey was again married, Miss Flora O. Bolster becoming his wife. She was born in Maine on the 12th of July, 1834, a daughter of Jacob and Ruth (Daggett) Bolster, both natives of the same state. Mr. Hersey was a republican and his advice was often sought in the local councils of that party. Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Congregational Church.
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