Photo: William and Cynthia (Maxham) Bishop

William Bishop was born in Rensselaer County, New York on December 21, 1818 moving with his parents when he was a child to Sandy Creek. He was the oldest of a family of twelve children. His grandfather, Hiram and father, Morris W., came from Vermont and settled in Rensselaer County and were among the early pioneers of that county. From the little book of marriages compiled by the Rev. Jacob Hadley we learn that on the 2nd of March 1842 William Bishop married Cynthia S. Maxham, age 20, of Oswego County. He was a mariner and began sailing the lakes at the age of sixteen, continuing this occupation for twenty years, a part of the time as captain in the old Oswego line. The News at the time of his death, October 30, 1896, mentioned him as being the last of the old lake captains who made their home in this locality, among them being the late Captain Stephen Lindsey, and further remarked that “He was highly respected as a citizen and was a kind neighbor and a loving husband and father.” His home was on a farm in the vicinity of South Pond. William and Cynthia had two sons, Amber S. and Asa M. and a daughter, Rose J (Cornwell).

From the Archives: Fifty Years Ago: October 3, 1907:
Mrs. Cynthia Bishop, one of the oldest and most respected residents of the western part of the town passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Olin Cornwell, Monday of last week. She was the wife of the late Captain William Bishop and was a lifelong resident of the Town of Sandy Creek. She was the daughter of Asa and Cynthia Maxham and was married to Captain William Bishop October 2, 1842. She was a member of the Center Methodist Church and in former years was welcomed in many homes during times of sickness as she was an excellent nurse and freely gave her services to the community in which she lived. Five months ago she suffered a stroke and has been confined to her bed as helpless as a child. She was tenderly cared for by Mrs. Cornwell, her only surviving child.