USA > New York > Chemung County > A brief history of Chemung county, New York > Part 7
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Some industries and interests have their news- papers advocating their own ideas. In 1850 there was a monthly called the Temperance Gem, whose name indicated its purpose. A monthly in the interest of the Conductors' Brotherhood was pub- lished for some years in Elmira; while its editor; Calvin S. Wheaton; was a resident there. The First Methodist Church has its Quarterly Register; and Trinity Church its Record. The Young Men's Christian Association publish a Young Men's Jour- nal, and the college for women its quarterly; The Sibyl.
A monthly general magazine named The Argosy was published for a while in Elmira.
The News, an evening penny paper; was started
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in 1894. The Morning Sun was published four times only, in January, 1895.
The Gazette is the oldest newspaper in the county. In 1856, then edited by William C. Rhodes, it issued a daily edition for one year. Its manage- ment has seen many changes. In September, 1870, it was made into a stock company, the presi- dent of which was the Hon. David B. Hill. On April 30, 1860, its daily edition was resumed.
The Advertiser was started on November 3, 1853; being called Fairman's Daily Advertiser, and dis- tributed free as an advertising sheet. It was issued from the job printing office of the brothers Seymour B. and Charles G. Fairman.11' The news- paper became a daily on February 19, 1855. It; too, has had numerous changes in its management. In October, 1870, it became a corporation or an association. In April, 1882, Mr. Fairman left the company, and it came under the control of another organization; of which the Hon. J. Sloat Fassett was the head.
On May 7, 1879, the first number of the Elmira Telegram was issued by three young men; Charles Hazard, Henry S. Brooks, and James Hill. It has had a remarkable career of prominence and pros- perity.
117 CHARLES G. FAIRMAN became one of the best-known men and newspaper man in the State. He possessed unusual faculties of facility and felicity in the use of language in his editorial writings. He represented his ward as Alderman in the Common Council of the city of Elmira, coming to the valley from Niagara County, N. Y., in 1845. He became Grand Master of the Odd Fellows of the State of New York, was postmaster of the city of Elmira eight years, and was Superintendent of the State Insurance Department one term.
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On May 24; 1888; the first number of the Evening Star was issued by Isaac Seymour Copeland !! and James S. Woodford. It is now almost in the twen- tieth year of its regular evening illumination.
High officials and eminent men .- The county has the honor and credit of supplying to the nation and State many distinguished men, more it would seem than could have been expected from the small area it occupies on the map. Some of these, not already accounted for elsewhere in this little book, are: The Right Rev. DANIEL S. TUTTLE, Bishop of Missouri, and the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States. He be- longs to the family of the same name that very early came into the town of Big Flats; and had very much to do with its history. The Hon. LUCIUS ROBINSON. He was a descendant of Dr. John Robinson; one who came over in the famous Mayflower. He came to Elmira in 1855, and was prominent in business and political matters for his whole life. He was member of Assembly; Comp- troller of the State twice, a member of the Consti- tutional Convention of 1871, and Governor of the State. The Hon. DAVID B. HILL. He was born in Chemung County; and came to Elmira in 1864; served the city as Alderman and Mayor, was elected Lieutenant-Governor in 1883, and Governor for three terms. In 1891 he was chosen to represent
118MR. COPELAND is a nephew of Seymour Fairman and his brother, Charles G. Fairman, being named for the former. There seems to have been much of what might be called first- class newspaper blood in the Fairman family. It was well developed in the brothers and seems somehow to have got into the veins of the nephew.
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the State of New York in the U. S. Senate. Rear- Admiral FRANCIS A. ROE, U. S. N. He was the son of Isaac Roe, a very prominent man in the early history of the valley, and especially in the annals of the Methodist Church. He served with great credit in the Civil War. He died at Washington; D. C., on December 28, 1901. Rear-Admiral AARON KONKLE HUGHES. He was born in Elmira and is descended on both sides of his house from settlers that early came to the valley. He also served gallantly in the Civil War. He died in Washington, D. C .; in 1905. Rear-Admiral THOMAS PERRY, U. S. N. He also was born in Elmira; and also descended on both sides from the earliest settlers of the valley. Lieu- tenant-Commander LEWIS S. VAN DUZER, U. S. N. He was born in Horseheads and is on the high road to positions of importance in the arm of the service to which he is attached. FRANCIS COLLINGWOOD; also born in Elmira, and educated in its public schools. He is one of the most eminent engineers of the country; has been connected with very im- portant undertakings, and was very prominent in the construction of the first East River bridge in New York. The Hon. JOHN ARNOT; JR .; who en- joyed the unique experience of making his second canvas for member of Congress in a populous dis- trict without any one to contest the matter with him. He had been repeatedly Mayor of the city of Elmira. The Hon. J. SLOAT FASSETT. He was born in Elmira, being descended from one who; during revolutionary times, was of immense assis- tance financially to the new and struggling gov-
-
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ernment, and was poorly recompensed therefor. Mr. Fassett has been District-Attorney of the county; a member of the State Senate, Secretary of the Republican National Committee, member of Con- gress; and has a future full of promise of still higher honors. The Hon. SEYMOUR DEXTER. He came to Elmira in 1864; was County Judge for two terms; member of Assembly; and president of the Second National Bank of Elmira. He was greatly inter- ested in the matter of Building and Loan Associa- tions, having made a thorough study of it, and pub- lished a book on the subject, which had a large sale and is still an authority thereof. He died on May 5, 1904. The Hon. H. BOARDMAN SMITH. He came to Elmira in 1850, and was during his lifetime a notable man in the professional, politi- cal, social, and Christian life of his time. He had few equals as a public speaker. He served two terms as member of Congress, and was Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. He died in 1888. The Hon. JOHN B. STANCHFIELD. He was born in Elmira; a son of Dr. J. K. Stanchfield, a wise and skilful physician. Mr. Stanchfield has been Mayor of the city of Elmira; and member of Assembly. Gen. EDWARD M. HOFFMAN. He was also a de- scendant of one of the earliest settlers of the valley; whose name is frequently on the records and annals of the county. He was very prominent in military affairs from his youth. He became the Adjutant- General of the State, and died suddenly while in the discharge of his duties; on May 19; 1901; having developed an unusual aptitude and skill in the management of the military affairs of the State.
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Col. ARCHIE BAXTER. He came to Elmira in 1880 from Steuben County; N. Y. His record in the Civil War was one of which any officer could justly be proud. He was County Clerk of Chemung County for one term; and became U. S. Marshal for the Northern District of New York. Few pub- lic speakers equal him on the platform; and he is constantly in demand for all sorts of occasions. He has the unusual distinction of having served as clerk of the New York State Assembly for four- teen years. EDWARD B. YOUMANS, ESQ. He came to Elmira in 1870; served on the Elmira Board of Education for several years; was chairman of the Democratic County Committee through several cam- paigns, and was the Chief Clerk of the Treasury Department in Washington for four years. He died in 1892. It may not be exactly accurate to claim that Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain); was supplied to the world and mankind by the county, but it is certain that he lived there several years, wrote many of his works in his little cottage on "Quarry Farm," on the hills east of Elmira; and chose for his wife a member of a family the head of which came very early into the valley. We can correctly say that "once tarried he here."
AT THE END .- It would seem eminently proper that at the conclusion of a little book like this some further account of the sacred spots where are laid away forever the bodies of those who have passed away should be given. What was called the Second Street Cemetery119 in Elmira; laid out
119The first burial in this spot was that of the body of Mrs. Dr. E. L. Hart, the services being performed in the summer of 1839.
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in 1838; then far in the country; now almost in the center of the city, was in use for twenty years, when a new association was formed, the plot chosen dedicated by public services on October 9; 1858; and called "Woodlawn." The first body buried there; and at this time; was that of Col. John Hendy; which was taken from the Main Street burying- ground and deposited in a permanent spot; from where it had laid since 1840. In 1877, all the bodies buried in the Main Street ground were also removed and placed in a separate spot in "Woodlawn," leaving the ground to be a part of Main Street Park.120 There are cemeteries in Elmira in which the bodies are buried of those belonging to the Roman Catholic and Hebrew faiths. They lie near each other and were both dedicated about 1850.
120 In Horseheads and Breesport there are well-kept ceme- teries. In the Breesport one, the first person buried was one by the name of Schoonover. In Horseheads the first purchase of land for the purpose was made in 1856. By sub- sequent purchases the ground became eleven acres in extent. It is under the management of the village board. In VAN ETTEN village the cemetery is called "Mount Hope." It lies within the boundaries of the corporation and the plot was purchased on December 1, 1879. In ERIN there is an association called the "Scotchtown Cemetery Association," which was organized on February 11, 1881. In VETERAN at Pine Valley, the Pine Valley Cemetery Association was incorporated on May 5, 1883. Previous to this the burying ground was on a knoll near the Baptist Church. The ceme- tery near the village is now used. În Millport the first burial ground was on the old Bently farm, and there many of the bodies of the old settlers lie. The Millport Cemetery Asso- ciation was incorporated on November 18, 1870. It has control of the cemetery east of the village. The BIG FLATS Cemetery Association was incorporated on July 24, 1855, William A. Tuttle being the president of the organization. By various purchases the extent of the plot amounts to about four acres.
PART V
Recapitulation of Important Events Happening in the County
Recapitulation of Important Events HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY.
1779-August 29-Battle of Newtown and the beginning of the History of Chemung County.
1786-Isaac Baldwin and eight sons settle in Chemung.
1787-Timothy Smith settles in Southport.
-John Breese settles in Horseheads.
-Christian Mynheer (Minier) settles in Big Flats.
1788-Abraham Miller settles in Southport.
-Abner M. Hetfield settles in Southport.
-John Hendy settles in Elmira.
-Township of Chemung erected, being a part of Mont gomery County.
-Green Bentley settles in Wellsburg.
1789-Eunice Kelsey, first white child born in Wellsburg.
1790-Village of Newtown laid out.
1791-Final treaty with the Indians at Elmira.
1792-April 10-Township of Newtown erected from Che_ mung Township.
-First sawmill built in Wellsburg by Abner and Henry Wells.
1793-June 28-First Masonic lodge, Union No. 30, organized in the county.
1795-Joel Thomas settles in Van Etten.
-Gen. Jacob Swartwood settles at Swartwood.
-First Presbyterian minister the Rev. Daniel Thatcher, comes to Elmira.
1796-First Court House erected at Newtown.
1797-The valley visited by the Duke of Orleans, who be- came the King of the French.
1798-First settler in Veteran, Green Bentley. -Van Ettenville first settled.
-First school-house, a log one, built in Newtown.
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1801-January 1-First post-office established in the county at Newtown, Aaron Konkle, postmaster.
-April 1-First post-office established in town of Che- mung, George W. Buck, postmaster.
1807-July 1-First turnpike through the county from Elmira to Seneca Lake.
1808-April 6-Township of Elmira formed from Chemung. 1812-Newtown regularly included in Methodist circuit.
-First Baptist Church built in Wellsburg.
-First settlers in town of Baldwin, Charles and War- ren Granger.
1815-First settler in Erin, Basil Sperry.
-First newspaper printed in county, the Investigator.
-March-Village of Newtown incorporated.
1816-First settler in Catlin, Capt. John Martin
1818-Stephen Tuttle settles in Newtown.
-First frame building erected in Van Ettenville by James Van Etten.
1819-First stage route established from Newtown to Wilkes- barre, Pa.
1820-First woolen mill set up in Southport by Silas Billings.
1822-March 29-Township of Erin formed.
-April 16-Township of Southport formed.
1823-April 16-Townships of Big Flats, Southport, Veteran, and Catlin erected.
1823-Myron Collins establishes woolen mill in Veteran.
1824-Court House built in Newtown; second one.
-First bridge built over the Chemung at Newtown.
-March 20-Township of Cayuta formed.
1826-January 29-First dam over the Chemung River built.
-First brick house built in Elmira by Matthew Mc- Reynolds.
1827-First restaurant opened in Elmira.
1828-First tavern built in Horseheads by James Shute.
-April 21-Name of village of Newtown changed to Elmira, and the village incorporated.
1829-First brick building erected in Chemung by Isaac Parshall.
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1832-First store built in Southport by Isaac Reynolds. -Chemung Canal completed.
1833-Famous brick hotel built in Southport: "Auster Portus Diversorun."
-January 2-First post-office established in Erin, William D. Stewart, postmaster.
-April 9-Chemung Canal Bank chartered.
1834-The "Elmira Guards" organized; first military com- pany in the county.
-January-The "Elmira Mechanic's Society" organized.
-March 31-Trinity Church in Elmira organized.
-May-First fire-engine for Elmira bought.
1836-March 29-Chemung County organized.
-May 8-Chemung County Medical Society organized.
1837-May-Horseheads incorporated as a village under the name of Fairport.
1840-June 25-Post-office established in Lowmanville under the name of West Chemung.
1846-First telegraph in the county.
-January 4-Park Church in Elmira organized
1847-Photography introduced in Elmira.
1848-First hotel built in Pine City.
1849-Illuminating gas introduced in Elmira. -Burning of the Eagle Tavern.
-December-The New York and Erie Railroad finished to Elmira.
1853-First store built in Lowmanville by George Lowman. -Elmira College for Women opened.
1854-February 8-Township of Horseheads erected. -April 17-Township of Van Etten erected.
-April 17-Portions of Chemung County taken to help make the new county of Schuyler.
-June 22-Post-office established in Catlin, Joseph Cooper, postmaster.
1854-August 1-Elmira and Williamsport Railroad opened.
1856-April 7-Township of Baldwin erected.
1858-July 1-First meeting of the Elmira Young Men's Christian Association.
1859-Elmira Board of Education organized.
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1860-July 30-Post-office established at Swartwoods, Jacob Swartwood, postmaster.
1861-July 30-Elmira established as a military rendezvous.
1862-New Court House built in Elmira.
1864-April 7-Elmira made a city.
-May-Rebel prison camp established in Elmira.
1865-March 17-Great flood in the Chemung River.
1866-Northern Central Railroad shops established in El- mira.
1867-Elmira Opera House built.
-April 21-The Township of Ashland erected.
1870-April 6-Post-office established at Tompkins Corners, Catlin.
-The Lehigh Valley Railroad extended to Elmira.
-November 18-The Village of Millport incorporated. 1872-Street railway established in Elmira.
-August 28-The Village of Wellsburg incorporated.
1874-October 13-First post-office established at Pine City, Emmet Holmes, postmaster.
1875-New county clerk's office built.
1876-The Utica, Ithaca, and Elmira Railroad built. -The Elmira Reformatory occupied.
-October 24-The village of Van Ettenville incorpor- ated.
-The Elmira and State Line Railroad built.
1877-New Sheriff's residence and jail built.
1878-Paid fire department in Elmira established.
1879-August 29-Centennial celebration of the battle of Newtown.
1880-The Elmira post-office moved into the new Masonic Temple.
1882-The Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad completed to Elmira.
1883-Electric lighting established in Elmira.
-The Erie Railway changes its broad guage track to the "standard" guage.
1888-The new State armory occupied.
1889-July 15-Post-office established at Fero, Catlin, James H. Bennitt, postmaster.
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1896-New City Hall in Elmira built. -Village of Elmira Heights incorporated.
1899-New charter for the City of Elmira providing for twelve wards.
1900-March 14-Death of the Rev. T. K. Beecher.
1903-September 13-New Federal building in Elmira occu- pied.
-October 14-Monument to the Volunteer Fire De- partment unveiled at Woodlawn.
1904-March 6-The Lyceum and Auditorium buildings burned.
1905-April 10-The Elmira Chamber of Commerce or- ganized.
1905-The Lyceum and Auditorium reopened. -The Lake Street bridge completed.
APR 20 1907
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