USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 38
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He remained acting inspector general until after the battle of Fredericksburg, where, in addition to his other position, he acted as aide-de-camp to General Reynolds, and was complimented by his superior in general orders for gallantry on the field. Sub- sequently he was assigned assistant provost-marshal general on the staff of General Hooker, the Army of the Potomae. where he remained until his term of service of two years had expired, when, after only two weeks' respite at home, he returned to the front as colonel of the: One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteers -- the first New York regiment raised and mustered into the service
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under President Lincoln's call for 300,000 men. The state prom- ised a flag for the first regiment mustered in under that call and there was sharp competition for that emblem of honor by differ- ent localities in the state; but the one hundred and seventh won by the united efforts of Hon. Alexander S. Diven of Elmira, New York, and General Robert B. Vanvalkenburg of Bath, New York, both members of congress; Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, of Elmira, and. Miss Kellogg, who at the various meetings held throughout Che- mung, Schuyler and Steuben counties, accompanied by martial music, most effectively and with great enthusiasm, sang, "We are Only Going Down to Richmond to Plant the Old Flag There." Colonel Crane joined and took command of the one hundred and seventh at Leesburg, Virginia, then on the march to Gettysburg. In that battle, he had command of his regiment during the sharp- est of the fight. After that battle and the retreat of General Lee, the twentieth corps, to which his regiment was attached, under the command of General Hooker was ordered to join General Sher- man at Chattanooga, and there commenced the famous march to the sea, equalling if not surpassing any similar movement of an- cient or modern times; made immortal by the household story and song, "From Atlanta to the Sea." On that renowned march, Colonel Crane, with his regiment, participated in the hard-fought battles of Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, where many of its best men were killed and wounded, plunging many northern homes in grief and despair; from Atlanta to the investment and fall of Savannah, and thence through the Caro- linas until surrender of General Johnston's Confederate Army. During the campaign in South Carolina, Colonel Crane was, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the field and in battle, com- missioned brevet brigadier general, with rank from March, 1865. General Crane was mustered out of the service at Washington in June, 1865, and retired to his home in Hornellsville, New York. In the fall of the same year he reopened his bank under the name of Crane's Bank, with N. M. Crane, president, and Sidney H. Crane, cashier. In 1869 General Crane was elected clerk of Steu- ben county, which office he held three years. Upon the organiza- tion of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Bath, General Crane was appointed by Governor Lucius Robinson, one -of the nine trustees of that institution, and by them elected its treasurer. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been identified with it, but was never a professional politician.
In the panic occasioned by the stringency of the money mar- ket, so universal through the country, General Crane was unable to lawfully and honestly pay his depositors, because he had not the money to meet their demands. Stocks, bonds and first-class securities were at his eommand, but he could not realize a dollar on them. With these eollaterals he applied to his correspondents in New York for relief, but was told they would not part with a dollar for a government bond, because they dare not imperil the drafts of their depositors. He therefore, on July 1, 1893, turned everything over to his assignee. Mrs. Crane was the owner of an untilled few acres in Schuyler county, New York, to which, after leasing her home in Hornellsville, they removed. There they lived in a small, cheap and unfinished house, which was called
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"The Crane's Nest." Mrs. Crane, after disposing of her Hornells- ville property, purchased the farm in the town of Wayne, on the west bank of Lake Waneta, the former home of Gen. William Kernan, and opposite to the "Crane's Nest" on the east side of this lake. Here a pleasant and comfortable home was built, to which the General and Mrs. Crane, with their daughter Marion and youngest son, Guy M. Crane, removed and ventured into the business of farming and grape-raising. The remaining ehild, Sid- ney H. Crane, found ready and congenial employment, where he is now in business in Boston. General Crane did what he under- stood of farming, devoting his leisure time in writing out a legendary romanee of Waneta, a captive white girl, alluded to in the earlier pages of this work, which he placed at the disposal of the writer of this as future space and time will determine. General Crane was never reconciled to his misfortunes. His pleas- ant home and the devoted attention of his family were his only solace. He died at Wayne September 23, 1902, leaving the repu- tation of a brave soldier, good citizen, beloved companion and parent. He was buried in Hope Cemetery in the city of Hornell, among the graves of those he loved so well.
The First National Bank of Hornellsville was organized un- der the national banking act, in November, 1863, with a capital of $50,000. It commenced business in the small wooden building which was an addition to the store of Martin Adsit, on the south- east corner of Main and Canisteo streets. Ira Davenport was its president for a short time, and Martin Adsit its cashier. On the 26th of June, 1865, Mr. Davenport resigned the presidency of this bank and Martin Adsit was appointed in his place; Charles Adsit became its cashier upon the death of Ira Davenport, in 1869. His son, John Davenport, became the owner of his stock and there- after and until his death, was a direetor. In 1870 the bank erected a new and substantial briek building on the north side of Main street, and removed thereto, which it has since oeeupied as its place of business. In 1875 the capital stock was inereased to $100,000, where it now remains. Upon the death of Martin Adsit, December 20, 1903, Charles Adsit became president, and James M. Welsh, who had occupied a subordinate position, became cash- ier, holding it until his death a few years later. Sinee that time Mr. Francis E. Bronson has held the position.
This bank has always been a safe and conservative institution, and never, until in later years, supporting any new enterprise un- less a certain and safe investment was in sight and a broad mar- gin of profits was assured. It has always therefore been one of the most reliable banking institutions in the state. It is a bank organized, managed and controlled by one family, with an abun- dance of capital behind it.
Col. Ira Davenport, the first president of this bank, was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, New York, September 20, 1795, and died at Batlı, that state, May 2, 1868. His active business life eommeneed in his early boyhood in his father's stores at Speneertown and Harpersfield, in Delaware county. He went to the last-named place at the age of fifteen years, and there re- mained until he attained his majority; then in 1815 he started for the west, loeating at Canisteo, then in a wilderness. He took
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with him a wagonload of goods and a peddler's outfit. At the upper part of the town of Canisteo was a settlement, containing a grist and saw-mill, a ferry across the run and a postoffice. Here Davenport made a stop, built a small store with his own hands, put in his goods, started a store and became the first mer- chant. The mills here were built about 1795, by George Hornell, who also erected and kept a tavern near them. Later he mar- ried a daughter of George Hornell. Davenport was a merchant at this place about thirty-two years and was actively engaged in all of the principal businesses of the times. He also had stores at Alfred, Angelica, Burns, Canisteo, North Almond, Almond, Dansville, Hammondsport, Bath and Independence, and was also engaged in running lumber down the Canisteo river; in building arks, buying produce, lumber, shingles and cattle, and shipping his purchases down the river from Hornellsville. He built rafts and arks extensively at that point, where he had large yards for that purpose. He also constructed several canal boats there, which has been before adverted to. He invested largely in land in and about Hornellsville, and by its rapid rise realized large accu- mulations to his rapidly increasing wealth. But he did little to advance the material interests of the place. One of the later opened streets is named for him; this is the only remembrance of him there. In 1820, the town of Canisteo was divided. Through Davenport's exertions and influence, the upper part was, with the village, called Hornellsville, because Mr. Hornell was his father-in-law, and kept a tavern, and had mills there. The name of the postoffice was, by the same influence, changed from its orig- inal name to Hornellsville, and the Canisteo postoffice was re- moved down the river to Bennettsville, now Canisteo. The name of the postoffice should never have been changed, or the location moved; the name was historic and its location well known, and to- day the city of Canisteo would have been where the city of Hor- nellsville now is. The later and present name has no signification, ex- cept that its namesake had a mill and a tavern there.
In 1847 Colonel Davenport removed to Bath, where he lived till his death. Because of his superior judgment in making in- vestments, the large returns thercfrom and his abstemious habits, he made an immense fortune, probably the largest ever accumu- lated and left by any resident of Steuben county. After the death of his wife, Colonel Davenport married Lydia Cameron, the eldest daughter of Hon. Dugall Cameron. Though Colonel Da- venport will be chiefly remembered as a shrewd, active and selfish business man, he will be gratefully remembered by posterity as the founder, builder and sustainer of that noble charity, the Da- venport Home for Orphan Girls. It is said that the only sym- pathy he ever manifested during his whole life was for friendless orphan female children. This institution that bears his name is ample proof of this. In 1861 a corporation was formed by him for this purpose; the building finished and the first inmate re- ceived. He conveyed to this home sixty-five acres of the beautiful flat land immediately opposite the main portion of the village of Bath, and within the limits of the village. The building is three stories high, of stone and iron. In his lifetime he also endowed the institution with $100,000, and by his will bequeathed to it an
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additional $50,000. Orphans of Steuben and Allegany counties are first entitled to admission; then those of adjoining counties, to the extent of the accommodations. It is a noble benefaction, for which the donor will be ever gratefully remembered.
Martin Adsit, the next president of the First National Bank of Hornellsville, was born in Columbia county, New York, in December, 1812. In December, 1826, at the age of fourteen years, he came to Hornellsville to live with his uncle, the late Col. Ira Davenport, whose store and dwelling were in the building which stood on the present site of the Washington school building. Ad- sit was then a small boy; he could just sce over the store counters and his business was to sell fish-hooks, clay pipes and gun flints. That was as far as his uncle would allow him to deal at that time. This was the first store in the place. The stock was made up of everything conceivable that was kept in a country store of those days, and everything the settler could raise or make was taken in exchange for goods. Little money was in circulation. The business was about all done on credit. A glance at the books of the early merchant would astound the present-day trader. The price of everything that was carried out of the store, as well as all that was taken in, was fixed by the storekeeper. Mr. Adsit succeeded Davenport; and he had the same assortment of goods, and carried on business in the same manner as his predecessor. Afterwards Mr. Adsit built the large frame store on the southerly side of Main street, at the corner made by Canisteo street, and on its east side. Later he erected an addition on the east side of Canisteo street, and here the First National Bank of Hornells- ville commenced business. Later .Mr. Adsit built the large brick store on the northerly side of Main street (now No. 118 Main street ) and there he continued in the mercantile trade, either alone or with partners and associates, until he retired from that busi- ness. Before this he built the present place of operations of the First National Bank of Hornell and there he was daily found, as attentive as ever to the various enterprises in which he was in- terested until failing health compelled him to relinquish all. Hc died December 20, 1903. He married Miss Esther, daughter of Dr. Richard Charles of Angelica, New York, one of the most noted physicians of the western section of the state. Martin Adsit was a man of excellent judgment, possessing, by training, learning and experience, sound, safe and sane business qualifications. He ac- quired and held the confidence of his neighbors and associates.
The Bank of Hornellsville, the second of that name, was or- ganized under the laws of the state of New York, with a capital of $50,000. Francis G. Babcock was president and principal owner and with him were associated William H. Johnson, as cashier, and D. D. Babcock, his brother. The bank began business February, 1875, and soon became a very popular institution, with heavy deposits, largely augmented by the wealth of Mr. Babcock and his family. The home of this bank, a large and imposing three-story brick and iron building on the north side of Main street and used by this bank during the entire period of its ex- istence, is now occupied by the Bank of Steuben. The institution went into voluntary liquidation and ceased to exist on November 28. 1898, twenty-three years after it opened. All of its deposits
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and liabilities were fully paid, and its securities returned by the bank department of the state.
Hon. Francis G. Babcock, the president of the Bank of Hor- nellsville, was a native of Connecticut. In early manhood he came to Scio, Allegany county, New York, where he was extensive- ly engaged in manufacturing and dealing in lumber, his territory of operations also covering the counties of western Pennsylvania bordering on the Allegheny river, and the state of Michigan. In the latter state he was associated with Governor Crapo and Senator (afterwards secretary of war) Russell A. Alger. He purchased, with his father-in-law, Charles S. Clark, of Scio, one of the wealthy men of Allegany county, large tracts of land densely covered with hemlock lumber of the best grade. After the timber was taken off, the land proved to be excellent oil-producing territory. It was contiguous to Bradford, Pennsylvania, then the metropolis of the best oil-producing section of Pennsylvania. This combina- tion of circumstances made the owners very wealthy. After op- erating at Bradford and vicinity and in the oil fields of the Al- legheny valley, Pennsylvania, Mr. Babcock located at Hornells- ville. He was then reputed to control $1,000,000. He organized and opened the Bank of Hornellsville, and controlled it during its existence of twenty-three years. Mr. Babcock also made ex- tensive purchases of land, including the Reynolds, Brown and Stephen tracts, aggregating several hundred acres of the most desirable and valuable varietics in Steuben county. Upon these purchases he erected extensive buildings, barns and stables, stock- ing the land with high grade cattle and horses. He constructed a kite-shaped, running and trotting track on this land, becoming the owner of some of the most famous horses and cattle in the United States, for which he paid fabulous prices. His high-grade stock farm attracted well-known turfmen not only from this state, but from Maryland, Kentucky and elsewhere. He was a public-spirited man and took a deep interest in nourishing im- provements that seemed to him to be for the best interests of the locality.
During the last administration of Governor David B. Hill a law was enacted providing for the location and building of an additional reformatory for disorderly females, to be known as the Western House of Refuge for Women and located in the Seventh or Eighth judicial districts of the state, and authorizing the gov- ernor to appoint commissioners to examine and select a site to be offered without expense to the state. Several cities and villages offered sites; among them was Hornellsville, and a local commit- tee was raised there to receive propositions for such sites, the pur- chase price of which was to be paid by voluntary contributions from the citizens. Some five or six locations were offered and the high prices put upon them were usually by men who could well afford to be generous, considering the object for which the land was to be used. The commissioners came and viewed the lands, and thought favorably of most of the offers, but would make no decision, or report, until their final meeting at a later day, when all the sites offered should have been considered. Prices demanded for sites in Hornellsville were so exorbitant that but little in- terest in the subject was manifested. The day before the final
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meeting of the commissioners Mr. Babcock executed a deed of one hundred acres of the best part of his land lying on the westerly side of Seneca street (now known as North Hornell) and handed it to one of the committee to be by him delivered to the commis- sioners. The instrument conveyed this splendid tract to the state, provided Hornellsville should be selected; otherwise it was to be void and returned to the donor. The consideration was one dollar. As soon as Mr. Babcock's action in the matter became known, vigorous protests were made, chiefly inspired by persons who had submitted sites upon which they had placed exorbitant values. The result was that Hornellsville was climinated from further consideration, and Albin, in Orleans county, was selected. A large and imposing building was there erected, and is now doing the reformatory work designed with commendable success. Before the choice of site had been determined, Mr. Babcock had disposed of his stock of horses and transferred part of his cattle to the state of Kansas, where he had bought a large ranch, convinced that cattle raising would be more profitable in that state than in the east. He then commenced proceedings to wind up his banking affairs; disposed of his lands and real estate, and went to Kansas, returning to his home as often as his busines required. Mrs. Bab- cock remained in their beautiful palatial home, where she died. The residence has been converted into the Masonic Temple, and is now occupied for that purpose.
During the administration of Governor Roswell P. Flower, Mr. Babcock was by him appointed a trustee of the Adirondack Park and Reservation. By reason of his early occupation, he was an excellent woodsman, appreciated the beauty and value of that wild and romantic region, made au excellent guardian of the state's forestry interests and with Col. Alanson J. Fox, the super- intendent of the park, devised and carried into successful opera- tion many improvements of practical and lasting utility. It is to be regretted that Mr. Babcock's generous offer was defeated and rejected. Mr. Babcock died in his western home, at Terre- cotta, Kansas, in 1901, at the age of seventy years, a lonely, kind- hearted and unappreciated man. His remains were brought to Hornell, where, beside his wife and sons, they repose, at a spot overlooking the beautiful and extensive domain of which he was once the proprietor.
The Citizens National Bank was organized under the national banking act in 1881, with a capital of $100,000, by John Santee, James S. McMaster and others. Messrs. Santee and McMaster had, shortly before that time, carried on a banking business as a copartnership under the name of the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank, in the Canisteo Hall block, on the north side of Main street, Hornellsville, where the postoffice is now located. This firm was dissolved upon the opening of the Citizens' National Bank, and the business transferred to the last-named bank. James Smith McMaster was the cashier of this bank from its organization un- til he was appointed to a responsible position in the state bank- ing department, which he held until his death a few years ago. Mr. John Santee, by reason of ill health, retired from the presi- dency of the bank, and in 1887 was succeeded successively by Charles Hartshorn and Charles Cadogan, the latter on October
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17th of that year. Since Mr. McMaster retired from the position of cashier of this bank the place has been filled by Hon. J. E. B. Santee, apparently to the satisfaction of both sides of the counter.
John Santee, the first president of the Citizens' National Bank, was born in the town of Cameron, Steuben county, Feb- ruary 6, 1817. He was educated in the common schools of the town; was thoroughly grounded in the three "Rs" and at the time of his retirement from connection with the bank was said to be the best orthographist in the Canisteo valley. He began teaching school when about twenty years old, following that call- ing-the early occupation of so many eminent men-for twelve years. In 1842 he bought an interest in a grist mill in Scio, which was the foundation for his future accumulations. Three years later he returned to Cameron and became a speculator in lumber, cattle, sheep and farm produce. He also furnished mate- rials and supplies to an unlimited extent to the New York and Erie Railroad Company and its successors, and handsomely realized from this business source. In 1864 he became a resident of Hornellsville, where he employed many men in the various enter- prises in which he was interested. He always manifested a keen interest in schools, school buildings and school work, declaring that a new school house was more credible and beneficial to the city than any other building. He built the Santee block, at the corner of Main street and Hakes avenue, and several apartment houses in different parts of the city. He gave much attention to reading standard and useful books and was a well informed and genial man. Mr. Santee died October 8, 1890.
Charles Hartshorn, -the second president of this bank, was born in Lebanon, Madison county, New York, in 1815, and came to Steuben county in 1838. He was largely engaged in lumbering and farming, a large part of his extensive land holdings being now within the limits of the city of Hornell. Mr. Hartshorn boasted that he could walk on his own land from Hornell to Arkport, a distance of four miles, and all on the river bottoms; as fertile and valuable lands as any in the county. He acquired this large property by industry, good management and frugality, though not well versed in accounts and finances. He was a safe and careful officer and president of the Citizens' National Bank of Hornellsville, acceptably holding the last position several years, and died August 20, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years.
The Bank of Steuben was organized in 1902 with a capital of $100,000. William Richardson is its president; Charles W. Etz cashier, and William E. Pittinger assistant cashier. It transacts its business in the apartments of the Babcock building, occupied by the late Bank of Hornellsville, and is organized as a state bank under the laws of New York. Although but recently opened, and the youngest bank in the city of Hornell, it rapidly secured pub- lic confidence and by its accommodating and conservative meth- ods has become a popular institution.
Mr. William Richardson came to Hornell from Almond, in the neighboring county of Allegany, where he conducted a large shoe manufactory. Removing to Hornell, about 1870, he continued the business on a much larger scale, building and equipping his factory according to the most modern methods of construction and
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machinery. The reputation of the output of the Richardson fac- tory was so high that a ready sale was always assured to the re- tailer and his customer. During the years of the greatest activity of these factories, his brother, Mr. Cass Richardson, a first-class man of business, was associated with William Richardson, under the name of William Richardson and Company. About fifteen years since Mr. Cass Richardson retired from the business, to seek a more congenial occupation. He was a great lover of lit- erature, and is an authority upon that subject. He became asso- ciated in the business of E. P. Dutton and Company, of the city of New York, the justly celebrated publishers of and dealers in the highest grade of books. Mr. Richardson, in the interest of this firm, annually visits the literary and book-publishing centers of Europe for the purpose of securing the rarest, best and latest publications. Mr. William Richardson is now retired from the shoe business, and, with much well-earned leisure, devotes his at- tention to his private interests and those of his bank. Mrs. Rich- ardson and an only son died many years ago. Their only daughter is the wife of Dr. H. M. Biggs of New York,, the noted bacteriol- ogist, with whom Mr. Richardson passes a portion of his declining years. He is now upwards of seventy years of age.
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