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Note: William McCallum came to Canada with his parents in 1820 and the next year moved to the United States. In 1830 he and his parents settled in the Town of Parish on a farm later owned by his son-in-law Hosea Pickens in 1890. Nine years before he died he moved to the Town of Clay. He and Cynthia had five children, three of whom survived him. They were listed on the 1880 Census in Parish, son James living with them. The farm is shown on early maps of the Town of Parish and the New York State Census reports on farms in 1865 contains details of the extent of the production. The report states that there were 50 improved acres and 83 that were unimproved. The nearby farm owned by his brother-in-law Abram Huested had 30 acres improved. The McCollum farm was worth $2,000, the stock $500, and the tools $300. 14 acres were plowed, 65 were in pasture, and 25 were meadow. The product included: 18 tons of hay; 45 bushels of oats; 39 bushels of winter rye; 45 bushels of buckwheat from 3 acres; 30 bushels of Indian corn from 3 acres; and 90 bushels of potatoes from 1 acre. 4 calves were born in 1864 and 3 in 1865; there were 8 milch cows, 8 butter cows that yielded 800 pounds of butter, and 3 two year old steers; 4 pigs were slaughtered which yielded 1,250 pounds of pork, 13 sheep yielded 35 pounds of wool; and 2 sheep were slaughtered. The poultry was worth $6 and in the previous year eggs worth $5 were sold. They produced 9 yards of fulled cloth, 24 yards of flannel, and 20 yards of linen. Apparently the area was safe as no sheep were reported as killed by dogs. When William died, he was eulogized in an obituary that recited his having come from Glasgow and settled in Parish when he was 19 years old. The article continued that he ". . . was an esteemed citizen, honest and true to his convictions of right. He was a successful farmer and by industry and frugality acquired considerable property. Politically he was an ardent republican. His death is a great loss, not only to his family, but to his many friends and his present and former neighbors in Clay and Parish. For some time before his death he was in feeble health. The funeral services were held May 8th, at the church in Parish. Rev. W. H. Hall conducted the services and spoke consoling words to the relatives and friends that the future would be well with the deceased."
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