Horatio Nelson Hand was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., Dec. 22, 1807.  He was a son of Samuel and Chloe (Waddams) Hand, early residents of the country, who settled first at Hancock, Mass. and then at Lebanon Springs, N. Y.

     Horatio was brought up on his father's farm till twenty-one years of age, when he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed about five years.  He married Hannah E. Gardner, April 25, 1833, daughter of Benjamin and Didemma Gardner, of Rensselaer Co., N. Y.  The fruit of this union was five children,---three sons and two daughters, ---all living at this writing, viz."  Louisa, now Mrs. Ebenezer Smith Strait, of Troy, N. Y.; Cornelia, now Mrs. Charles B. Campbell, farmer, of New Lebanon; Samuel, married Cornelia Elliott, farmer, residing at Malden, Columbia Co., N. Y.; Horatio Benjamin, married Mary Jane Waterbury, and resides on the old homestead in New Lebanon; Albert, married Mary E. Dickerman, of Spencertown, and is a farmer, residing in North Chatham.

     [p. 316] Mr. Horatio N. Hand, after following the occupation of a carpenter five years, hired the "Hill farm" of his father, on which he resided fourteen years, when he purchased the present homestead, which he greatly improved and enlarged, erecting new buildings, where he spent the remainder of his life, occupying an honored and respectable position among his fellow-townsmen.  He was a Republican in politics, and represented his town several years on the board of supervisors, and also held other minor offices of trust.  He departed this life on the 10th of November, 1862, highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him.  Mrs. Hand still survives him, and resides on the old homestead with her son, Horatio B. Hand.  A view of their beautiful place appears on another page of this work.