William Bellinger, one of the leaders in the public life of Canajoharie, New York, where he is engaged in general insurance, was born in the town of Root, New York, December 19, 1844, his parents being William I. and Eliza (Putnam) Bellinger. The father, born in the same place, December 6, 1806, in early life ran a tannery and in later years a farm. He died in the town of Root, February 17, 1872. He was a colonel in the State Militia of New York and during the Civil war offered his services but was refused, probably on account of his age. He was a son of John and Margaret (Mitchell) Bellinger. John Bellinger, the paternal grandfather of William Bellinger, was born in the town of Root in 1785 and died in the same place on March 30, 1816, having followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life. Margaret (Mitchell) Bellinger, grandmother of William Bellinger, was born July 5, 1780, at Sprakers, New York, and died there on February 4, 1857. Her father was Major Andrew Mitchell, and was born in Healmilling town parish, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1732. He was married to Maria Van Epps, on February 23, 1761, and died October 13, 1812, at Sprakers. He was second major of the Twelfth Albany County Regiment of the New York State Militia.
William Bellinger has behind him an ancestry of Revolutionary fame, his greatgrandfather, William, who was born October 6, 1759, and died at Currytown, June 13, 1833, fought in the battle of Oriskany and in the attack on Fort Plain and West Canada Creek. His parents were taken prisoners by Major Ross and the life of his brother was taken. He was twice married, his first wife, Hannah (Matice) Bellinger, was born in 1751, and died May 22, 1825. Philip Bellinger, great-great-grandfather of William Bellinger, was born in German Flats and died in the town of Root in 1803. His wife Elizabeth Finck, was born in 1728 and died in 1780. The great-great-great-grandfather of Mr. Bellinger was Johanas Bellinger, born in Germany or Holland. He came to America in 1723 and took deeds of land in German Flats, now Herkimer county, New York.
Eliza (Putnam) Bellinger, mother of William Bellinger, also comes from Revolutionary ancestry. She was the daughter of Louis V. and Margaret (Moyer) Putnam, and was born in town of Root and died in the same place. Louis V. Putnam was born in the town of Palatine and died in the town of Root, and his wife was born in Canajoharie and died there. Victor Putnam, great-grandfather of Mr. Bellinger, was born in town of Palatine and died in the town of Root.
William Bellinger is one of thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. William I. Bellinger: Mary Bellinger, born May 22, 1833, died April 19, 1919; Margaret Bellinger Jones, died August 22, 1906; John Bellinger, born January 13, 1835, died November 20, 1871; Caroline Bellinger Putnam, born November 5, 1831, died October 22, 1909; Louis H. Bellinger, born February 13, 1841, died March 7, 1886; Andrew M. Bellinger, born March 4, 1845, died January 25, 1874; William Bellinger, born December 19, 1844; Elizabeth Bellinger Wessels, born May 3, 1849, died May 25, 1899; Winifred S. Bellinger, born December 25, 1853, died May 27, 1910; and Clarence H. Bellinger, born July 10, 1857, is now living in Johnstown, New York. Three children died in infancy.
As a boy William Bellinger attended a district school in the town of Canajoharie and for a year was a student in the Canajoharie Academy, after which he took a three-months' business course at Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He then returned to Canajoharie and was associated with Sayles and Stowitts for a year, as grocery clerk, then went back to farming for several years. He then decided to learn a trade and went to Fayetteville and began as an apprentice carpenter and helped to build the first St. John's School at Manlius, New York. For three years he worked at carpentry and then went back to the old home place on the farm left him by his father and followed the life of an agriculturist for ten years. He returned to Canajoharie in 1886 and entered the general insurance business and has been so engaged since that time. Mr. Bellinger was justice of the peace for the term of four years in the town of Root and auditor for the town of Canajoharie for a number of years. In politics he casts his lot with the republican party. He is a member and elder in the Reformed church, a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 79, A. F. and A. M., and of the Fort Rensselaer Club. For diversion he enjoys fishing and automobiling in the country.
On January 19, 1876, Mr. Bellinger was married to Miss Anna B. Garlock, born in the town of Canajoharie, daughter of Elijah and Rebecca (Vischer) Garlock. He was a farmer and was born in the town of Canajoharie and died in Canajoharie village. George Garlock, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bellinger, was also born in the town of Canajoharie and died there, as well as her great-grandfather, George W. Garlock. Rebecca Vischer was born in the town of Fonda, and died in Canajoharie. She was a daughter of Daniel Vischer, who was a son of Colonel Fred Vischer, who was scalped by the Indians prior to the Revolutionary war.
Mr. and Mrs. William Bellinger have two children: Florence V., born in the town of Root, May 29, 1879, is a graduate of the Canajoharie high school and also attended Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, for one term. She married William J. Fox, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Fox of Utica, New York, and they have two children, Donald N. Fox, born in Utica, February 18, 1901, and Anna V. Fox, born in the same city, September 1, 1909; Elijah W. Bellinger was born July 18, 1888, and was graduated from the Canajoharie high school in 1907 and from Cornell University in the class of 1911. He is an insurance auditor for the Lumber Mutual Insurance Company.
The business affairs of William Bellinger are capably conducted. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, a genius for devising the right thing at the right time, joined to everyday common sense, form all that is admirable in his conduct and character.