USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 1
USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 1
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 1
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume II > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Gc 974.7 M49h v.2 1340702
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01797 0077
History
of
Central New York
Embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties
By HARRY R. MELONE
IN THREE VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME TWO
HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 1932
1340702
Southum - $27.50 (3. com)
NEman
History of Central New York
Robert H. Treman, one of the outstanding bankers of New York State and for years a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is well known throughout this region as a pioneer in the Finger Lakes Parks movement. Two of the natural beauty spots in the region, Enfield Glen and Buttermilk Glen, were given to the State by Mr. and Mrs. Treman and he was largely instru- mental in securing the land for another beautiful State Park at Taughannock. He has also been keenly interested in the devel- opment and beautification of the ravines and gorges of Fall Creek and Six Mile Creek Glens in Ithaca, two of the loveliest beauty spots in Central New York. Their development came about through the association of Mr. Treman and Colonel Henry W. Sackett, of New York, who spent approximately $200,000 in the development of these gorges as a memorial gift to Cornell University.
Mr. Treman was born in Ithaca March 31, 1858, the son of Elias and Elizabeth (Lovejoy) Treman. He attended the Ithaca Academy and then graduated from Cornell University in 1878 as a mechanical engineer. While in college he was active in ath- letics, playing four years on the Cornell baseball team of which he was captain in his senior year. He also rowed on three class crews and played football.
He became associated with the business of Treman, King & Company, in September, 1878, which firm was founded in 1844 and is therefore one of the oldest hardware firms in up-state New
577
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
York. He was trained in the business and became a partner in 1881. Later he became president of the company and is now chair- man of the board. His association with this business covers more than fifty years and during that time the firm developed from a small retail business into a large corporation.
The hardware men of the State recognized his standing and honored his preeminence by electing him president of the New York State Association of Hardware Jobbers for the years 1910- '11-'12-'13 and the hardware men of the country honored him a few years later by making him president of the National Hard- ware Association. He served in that capacity for the two years 1918-1919.
Early in his business career Mr. Treman became interested in banking. He was elected a director of the Tompkins County Na- tional Bank in January, 1891, and has served as a director ever since. He was president of this bank from 1901 to January, 1932, when he became chairman of the board. He also has been a director of the Ithaca Trust Company for many years and he be- came vice-president in December, 1930, and in January, 1932, was elected president. He is also a trustee of the Ithaca Savings Bank. For about ten years he was vice-president of that institution, retiring from that office but not as a trustee when he became president of the Ithaca Trust Company.
In 1913 Mr. Treman was elected a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by the votes of group number two of New York State banking institutions which are members of the Federal Banking System. He retained this position until he re- signed January 1, 1931. In the critical years, 1916-1919, the war years, Mr. Treman served as deputy governor of the bank and during the illness of the governor, Benjamin Strong, Mr. Treman was acting governor of the largest and most influential Federal Reserve Bank in the most critical time in American banking his- tory. He is now serving in the Federal Advisory Council, an important board provided by the Federal Reserve Act, and its personnel consists of one banker selected by the Reserve banks in each district.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
The New York State Bankers' Association recognized his standing in the financial world in 1912 by making him president for the year 1913-1914.
One of Mr. Treman's most pleasant and perhaps to him most precious associations is his long service as trustee of Cornell Uni- versity. In 1891 he was elected by the alumni to the board and served as alumnus trustee for five years. He then was chosen by the full board of trustees to be a board member and is still serving in that capacity. In June, 1932, he completed his forty- first year of service as a trustee, the longest continuous record as a trustee in the history of Cornell University.
While a member of this board, Mr. Treman became associated with Col. Henry W. Sackett, a native of Ithaca, and a graduate of Cornell in the class of 1875, and a friendship grew which meant much for the beautification and development of Cascadilla and Fall Creek glens, on the north and south sides of the Cornell Uni- versity campus. Mr. Treman is now serving as chairman of the Grounds Committee of the University.
As a citizen of Ithaca he has been actively interested in public affairs. He served the city as a member of the Creek, Drainage and Park Commission, 1907-09, was a member of the Board of Public Works in 1909, and served as president of the Ithaca Com- munity Chest for two years.
If Mr. Treman's vocation is that of banker and merchant, his avocation is distinctly that of a public spirited citizen, especially in the field of making the beauties of nature available to all the people. Long before the State of New York had developed its park program, Mr. Treman had seen the possibilities of opening up the many beauty spots in the region he loves, to the enjoyment and appreciation of the general public.
In 1916, with Mrs. Treman, he purchased the upper portion of Enfield Glen, seven miles southeast of Ithaca, and for some years thereafter they continued to acquire various properties in the water shed of Enfield Creek covering the Glen for about two miles. Mr. and Mrs. Treman also purchased in 1916 the Buttermilk Falls property, located about a mile and a half south of Ithaca, and
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
portions of the Buttermilk Falls Glen. Both of these properties are now State Parks given to the State by Mr. and Mrs. Treman.
Mr. Treman began this particular excursion into the field of philanthropy by buying in December, 1915, with Mrs. Treman the Enfield Falls hotel property including a portion of the Enfield Glen. This purchase included approximately forty acres of land and was made with the idea of saving the property against com- mercial encroachment and to preserve its natural beauty. Sub- sequent purchases in the Enfield Glen brought more than 300 additional acres into the Enfield Falls Park property, together with water rights, an old mill, rights of way, entrances for high- ways and large holdings of beautiful forest to protect and ,pre- serve the water ways, etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Treman presented the Enfield Falls property to the State of New York for a State Park Reservation in May, 1920, on condition that all this land should be maintained as a park free to the public. The gift was accepted by the State promptly and the first Enfield Park Commission was created. Its membership consisted of Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey, Mayor Edwin C. Stewart and Robert H. Treman, of Ithaca, Senator George Blauvelt, of New York, and W. E. Leffingwell, of Watkins. In October of that year Warren H. Manning, landscape architect, was employed to take charge of the landscape work and develop- ment of the Enfield Falls State Park.
Another beauty spot now included in the Finger Lakes State Parks is Buttermilk Falls State Park. In 1916 Mr. Treman with Mrs. Treman had purchased the Buttermilk Falls property located just south of Ithaca. This purchase had also included part of the Buttermilk Falls glen.
The original purchase consisted of a farm of about 130 acres of land, giving control of the Falls and water rights. Later, over a hundred additional acres of land and water rights were pur- chased by the Treman's and, in 1924, they gave the property to the State of New York for use as a State park.
Mr. Treman has also been actively interested in the beautifica- tion of the famous gorges in the City of Ithaca and in making them accessible to the public. Through his association with Col.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Henry W. Sackett he interested the latter in the possibility of the development of these gorges and before Colonel Sackett died he had spent about $200,000 in the opening up of these two glens. In order to make the beautiful Cascadilla Gorge more available for public enjoyment, Mr. and Mrs. Treman in 1914 purchased a house and lot on Linn Street which had partially obstructed the view of the entrance to the gorge and removed the house so that the gorge would be more easily accessible and a better view of the Falls be made available. In 1915 the Cascadilla Company, of which Mr. Treman was president, turned over to Cornell Univer- sity its property which included a portion of the Cascadilla Glen, creek bed, water power, etc., on condition that the University would maintain this property in good condition for the University community and nature lovers. The offer was accepted by the trustees of Cornell University and the property thus turned over became a part of the University Campus.
On the southeast side of the city of Ithaca is another glen almost equally as beautiful. The Treman's had long since ac- quired what is known as the Halsey Mill property in that ravine and, in August, 1918, turned this property, covering about a half mile or more of Six Mile Creek Glen, over to the city of Ithaca for park purposes. This park remains to be developed by the city.
In January, 1912, they had become interested in the proposal to have a Tompkins County Tuberculosis Hospital and gave to the county land and buildings on the south side of Taughannock Falls ravine known as the Meany property for that purpose. This property is now held by the county subject to a reservation that if it ceases to be used as a hospital its ownership shall revert to Tompkins County to be used for recreational purposes, otherwise to the donors. This property is on the south side of the famous Taughannock Falls State Park, the grandest park in the Finger Lakes region.
And in order to preserve another natural gem in Ithaca, the Treman's in 1926-27 purchased ninety-seven acres on the north side in and adjacent to Coy's Glen just west of Ithaca in order to prevent the glen from becoming commercialized.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Mr. Treman has been chairman of the Finger Lakes State Parks Commission since it was organized in 1924. He has been a member of the Genesee State Park Commission for several years and he is also a member of the Stewart Park Commission which has in charge the beautification and improvement of the city's large park area at the head of Cayuga Lake.
Mr. Treman is still actively interested in civic matters and all that pertain to the development and beautification of this region.
He is a member of Ithaca Country Club and the University Club of Ithaca and of the Cornell and University Clubs of New York City, Chi Phi and Quill and Dagger of Cornell.
In politics he is an independent Democrat. His religious affil- iation is Presbyterian and he has served for about twenty years as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca.
Upon his retirement as director of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York his associates on the board of directors subscribed a permanent fund of $21,500 to be given to Cornell University to be known as the Robert H. Treman Memorial Fund. The resolution announced that:
"As an enduring testimony to the unselfish, devoted and dis- tinguished service in finance rendered to the nation at its finan- cial capital during the critical period 1916-19 by Robert H. Tre- man, and with appreciation of the sterling character and attrac- tive personality that have won for him our respect and esteem,
We, his recent associates in the Liberty Loan Committee of the Second Federal Reserve District, by our joint subscriptions here- by establish a permanent fund of $21,500 to bear the name and to perpetuate the memory of Robert H. Treman at Cornell Uni- versity, of which he is an alumnus, trustee and ardent well-wisher.
We give this fund to Cornell University with the understand- ing that Mr. Robert H. Treman shall have the privilege of desig- nating the use to which the income from this fund shall be applied. J. S. Alexander J. P. Morgan F. A. Vanderlip
Geo. F. Baker
Albert H. Wiggin
Martin Vogel
Allen B. Forbes
Charles H. Sabin
Seward Prosser
Walter Frew Jacob H. Schiff
William Woodward"
G. W. McGarrah Benj. Strong
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
In February, 1932, the Hardware Merchants and Manufactur- ers Association of Philadelphia has for many years selected each year an individual connected with the hardware industry who in the judgment of its committee has by his activities and standing reflected credit upon the hardware industry, and in 1932 they selected Robert H. Treman of Ithaca, passed suitable resolutions and presented him with a gold medal, duly inscribed. The jury of award were: Charles W. Asbury, Fayette R. Plumb, S. Horace Disston.
On February 16, 1925, the Chamber of Commerce of Ithaca gave a testimonial dinner in honor of Mr. Treman. It was one of the most widely attended banquets ever held in Ithaca. Among the testimonial letters and telegrams read by the toastmaster, President Livingston Farrand of Cornell University, were mes- sages of friendship and praise from Governor Alfred E. Smith, Owen D. Young, Chief Justice Frank H. Hiscock, George Foster Peabody, Benjamin Strong, Albert H. Wiggin, Paul M. Warburg, Murray D. Hulbert, Walter P. Cooke and other prominent men.
A richly embossed testimonial was presented Mr. Treman bearing the signatures of over 450 of his fellow citizens. The text was as follows:
"The Chamber of Commerce, in behalf of the citizens of Ithaca, hereby testifies to
ROBERT H. TREMAN
its esteem for his achievements in city, state and nation.
Born to a position of opportunity and responsibility in this community, he has extended his public services far beyond its borders without estrangement from his fellow townsmen. Active in civic, social and commercial enterprises, he has been especially devoted and generous to the cause of preserving to the people the natural beauties of his home land.
In grateful appreciation, his fellow citizens subscribe this Tes- timonial the sixteenth day of February in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-five."
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Harry G. Stutz .- As vice president, general manager and editor of the Ithaca Journal-News, Harry G. Stutz is prominent in the city and is also widely and favorably known in Central New York. He was born at Albany, New York, March 30, 1885, the son of George Frederick and Wilhelmina (Diedrich) Stutz.
George Frederick Stutz was a native of Washington, District of Columbia, and his wife was born at Alleghany, Pennsylvania. He was a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and held various pastorates over a period of forty-seven years. Most of his career as a minister was spent in Albany, New York. Rev- erend Stutz died January 16, 1915, and his wife died July 18, 1931. To Reverend and Mrs. Stutz were born the following chil- dren: 1. Rose C., lives at Washington, District of Columbia. 2. Clara K., lives at Washington, District of Columbia. 3 Walter F., lives at Washington, District of Columbia. 4. Louis P., lives at Albany, New York. 5. Laura S. Rogalsky, lives at Ithaca. 6. Harry G., the subject of this sketch.
The early education of Harry G. Stutz was received in the public schools of Albany, and he entered Cornell University after his graduation from Albany High School. He received the degree of LL. B. in 1907 but although admitted to the bar during the same year, Mr. Stutz has never followed that profession. He has always been interested in the newspaper business. He served as reporter, city editor, telegraph editor, editorial writer, of the Ithaca News, and in 1915 became managing editor of the Ithaca Journal. He became managing editor of the Ithaca Journal-News in 1919, and has held his present offices as vice president, general manager and editor since 1927.
On April 22, 1908, Mr. Stutz was united in marriage with Miss Edith Swan, of Glens Falls, New York, the daughter of Stephen and Mary (Cashen) Swan, natives of New York. Mr. Swan died in January, 1914, and his wife died in July, 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Stutz have been born three children: Frederick Harry, Peter Swan, and Mary Edith. All are students in the Ithaca public schools.
Mr. Stutz is a member and past president of the Ithaca Rotary Club. He has served two terms as president of the Ithaca Com-
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
munity Chest and three terms as general manager of the Ithaca Community Chest Campaign. He is a member of Delta Chi Fraternity and a director of the Thompkins County National Bank and the Cornell Daily Sun.
Franklin C. Cornell .- Numbered among the solid and respon- sible business men of Ithaca, Franklin C. Cornell holds a prom- inent place as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ithaca Trust Company. He is also a trustee of the Ithaca Savings Bank. Mr. Cornell was born in this city, November 24, 1866, the son of Franklin C. and Susan D. (Pettigrove) Cornell.
Franklin C. Cornell, deceased, was a member of one of Ithaca's most prominent pioneer families. He was born here and educated in Ithaca Academy. Throughout his life he had extensive agri- cultural interests and was one of the large land holders of Tomp- kins County. In 1891 he was one of the founders of the Ithaca Trust Company, in association with Mynderse Van Cleef, and he held the office of president of the institution until the date of his death, January 22, 1907. His wife was born at Owego, Tioga County, and died in 1891. Both are buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Ithaca. Their children were: 1. Eunice, married Charles L. Taylor. 2. Ezra, who died in Ithaca in 1906. 3. Dor- othy, unmarried. 4. Frederick, who died in infancy. 5. Franklin C., the subject of this sketch. All are residents of Ithaca. Mr. Cornell was a trustee of Cornell University and a trustee of the Ithaca Savings Bank. He was a Republican, held membership in the Episcopal Church, and Town and Gown Club.
Franklin C. Cornell grew up in Ithaca and obtained his early education in the public schools of Ithaca. He attended Cornell University. It was in 1900 that Mr. Cornell purchased the inter- ests and business of the C. T. Stephens Coal Company, with which he has since been identified. For a number of years he was trustee and chairman of the finance committee of the Ithaca Savings Bank.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Early in 1900 Mr. Cornell was elected a director of the Ithaca Trust Company, later vice president and in 1931 he was elected president, and Chairman of the Board in 1932.
On June 2, 1906, Mr. Cornell was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia Hearne, who is a native of Ohio, born September 15, 1869. She moved to Sherman, Texas, with her parents when a child, later living at Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The daughter of James W. and Edith (Bristol) Hearne, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of New York. Mr. Hearne was a successful and well known lumber dealer of Fort Worth, Texas, and died in 1922. His wife died in 1924. Both are buried at Dryden. He was a Republican and a member of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Cornell is a graduate of the public schools of Fort Worth, Texas, and College of Fine Arts, University of Penn- sylvania. She was a teacher of art and interior decorating at St. Mary's College, Dallas, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have two adopted daughters: 1. Edith A., married Stewart A. Cush- man, lives at Chicago, and has a daughter. 2. Margaret A., unmarried, lives at home. Both daughters are graduates of National Cathedral School, at Washington, District of Columbia.
Mr. Cornell is a Republican in politics, and is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church.
Hon. Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, was the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was of Puritan stock and became Ithaca's most outstanding citizen. A biography of Ezra Cornell may be found in the general History of New York, Volume I.
Ernest David Button, who is president and general manager of the J. B. Lang Engine & Garage Company, of 117-133 East Green Street, is among Ithaca's best known and most successful business men. He was born at Schaghticoke, New York, March 10, 1878, the son of David Morgan and Eliza Jane (Baucus) Button.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
David Morgan Button grew up and was educated at Fort Edward, New York. As a young man he was interested in the manufacture of paper, and was associated with the Wiley & Button Paper Company, at Schaghticoke, New York, until 1897. He then was one of the organizers of a farmers' produce and supply company, which was operated as the Empire Milling Com- pany, and Mr. Button served as its president until the time of his death. He was a lifelong Republican and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Button were born the following children: 1. James Warren, deceased. 2. Minnie Elva, deceased, was the wife of Lorenzo Van Arnam. 3. Ernest David, the subject of this sketch. Two children died in infancy.
Ernest David Button is a graduate of the public schools of Schaghticoke, Troy Academy, and Cornell University. He received a degree as Civil Engineer at the latter institution in 1899, and immediately became identified with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, at Freeport, Illinois, as a civil engineer. Later, he was transferred to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he spent one year as construction engineer in the building of a road between Lisle and Albert Lea, Minnesota. He then was sent to Effingham, Illinois., as resident civil engineer and in December, 1900, went to Memphis, Tennessee, as assistant engineer. On June 1, 1901, Mr. Button was transferred to Fulton, Kentucky, in the same capacity and after several months came to Ithaca with the firm of Lang & Button. The business was incorporated in 1907 with Mr. Button as president and general manager.
On December 27, 1899, Mr. Button was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Geraldine Lang, who was born at Ithaca, March 15, 1878, a graduate of Ithaca High School and the Ithaca Con- servatory of Music, class of 1898. She is the daughter of John Barr and Frances (Patterson) Lang. Mr. Lang was born at Stockbridge, New York, in 1833 and died in 1908. His wife was a native of Connecticut and died in 1898. At the age of 12 years John B. Lang became a clerk in a general store at Great Bar- rington, Connecticut. He came to Ithaca in 1865 and formed a partnership with James Reynolds, whose foundry was then
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
located at the rear of the Rumsey, Blood & Schuyler Building on North Tioga Street. Under the firm name of Reynolds & Lang the business began operations in 1865 and removed to the present location in 1871. Later Mr. Lang became sole owner of the business and in 1901 he took Mr. Button as his partner in the enterprise, which was reorganized as Lang & Button. Mr. Lang was a trustee and served as treasurer of the First Baptist Church for many years and was a member of Fire Com- pany No. 1. He was also a director of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music and treasurer of Eastlawn Cemetery Association. He was the sixth mayor of the city of Ithaca, having succeeded LeRoy G. Todd in 1898. Politically, he was always a Republican.
To Ernest David and Bessie Geraldine (Lang) Button were born three children: 1. John Lang, born October 22, 1900, is vice president of the J. B. Lang Engine & Garage Company. He is a graduate of Ithaca High School and attended Cornell Uni- versity. He married Miss LaMarr Hanson, of Dubois, Penn- sylvania, and they have two children: Janet LaMarr and John Lang Button, Jr. 2. Ernest David, Jr., born July 12, 1904, is engaged in the advertising business in New York City. He is a graduate of Ithaca High School and Hamilton College, class of 1926. He married Miss Helen Mann, of New York City, and they have a daughter, Margaret Elizabeth. 3. Margaret Eliza- beth, born September 21, 1911. She is a graduate of Ithaca High School and attended Goucher College at Baltimore, Maryland, for two years. She is now a student at Cornell University.
Politically, Mr. Button is a Republican, and has served for more than twenty years as fire commissioner of the city of Ithaca. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with Hobasco Lodge No. 716, F. & A. M., Masonic Club, Cornell Club of Ithaca, Director of the Ithaca Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, of which he is past president, and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He is serving his second term as presi- dent of the Finger Lakes Association, and is a former vice presi- dent and trustee of Eastlawn Cemetery Association. Mr. Button is an associate member of Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council, Boy
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