USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 10
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which he gave valiant service, and he spent his last days in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, his demise occurring there in 1892 at the age of sixty-nine years. Of the four children born to this hero of the '60s Mortimer W. is the only one who survives.
Mr. Read at a very early age began to make his own way in the world, and not only earned his own living, but also took care of his youngest brother, who was a cripple. He had no school educa- tion and at his first enlistment (for he, as well as his father, offered his services in defense of the union) he could neither write, nor read writing, but could read print. His youth was shadowed by the lowering Civil war cloud and very early in that tragic con- flict, April 22, 1861, he enlisted at Bath, New York, for two years as a private in Company A, Twenty-third Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Barney A. Hoffman and with his command joined the Army of the Potomac. His faithfulness and efficiency were recognized and in 1862 he was promoted to second sergeant and acted as orderly sergeant until discharged May 12, 1863, when his term expired. He re-enlisted August 24, 1864, in the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was orderly sergeant of his company, C, when the com- pany was formed and he was promoted to second lieutenant. While with both regiments he was in every march, battle and skirmish in which they participated, and in his last service was offered promo- tion to major and lieutenant colonel, but refused both, since ac- cepting these offices meant going into another regiment than the one to whose members and officers he was so loyally attached. During his service with the first named regiment he much improved his education, under the tutelage of his officer, Captain Theodore Schlick, learning to write and figure by helping to keep the com- pany's books. After being mustered out the second time, in June, 1865, he returned to his home in Steuben county, where he has since lived. While he has worked at different trades, his life has been spent chiefly as a farmer, the scene of his latter operations being in Wheeler township, where he has a farm and vineyard. Since 1906 he has been practically retired from active work.
Mr. Reed married Miss Axie Angel, daughter of Alonzo D. and Rachel (Pickett) Angel, of Wheeler, Steuben county, and to them have been given five sons and five daughters, one being de- ceased. Those living are: Rachel, wife of William Foster; Minnie, wife of Frank Bates; Hannah, wife of Albert Crants; Diantha, wife of A. LaRew, Jr .; Edwin, who married Miss E. M. Crants; Cloa, wife of C. Young; and Ely and Mortimer, Jr., at home. Of those married all are residents of Mitchellville, Steuben county, except Edwin, who lives on a farm in Bath township, this county ; and at this writing the grandchildren in the family number eleven. He had six great-grandchildren, but only one is now living.
Mr. Read has membership in the post at Bath of the Grand Army of the Republic, and finds great pleasure in continuing the pleasant relations with the comrades of other days.
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HON. JAMES B. DAY, of Hornell, was born in Union, Broome county, New York, March 29, 1847. Abram Day, his father, was a native of Owego, Tioga county, New York, by trade a tailor. He lived and died there, passing away at about the age of forty- seven years, and the family records show that he was a lineal deseendant of one of two brothers from Scotland who came early to the eolonies, locating, the one in New York, the other in Connee- tieut. Abram Day married Gertrude Stillman, of German extrac- tion, but a native of the state of New York, who was about fifty years old when she died. She bore her husband a daughter and two sons. All of these children are living. Elias S. is a eitizen of Akron, Ohio. Mary is the widow of Charles Cooper, of Bingham- ton, New York. The subject of this notice was the last born of the three. He was reared and educated at Binghamton, and in 1866, when he was about nineteen years old, went to New York city, where he was for eight years connected with the municipal police department. In 1874 he took up his residence in Hornells- ville, engaging in the wholesale wine and liquor business, and he has continued in that branch of trade ever since with mueh suceess.
Almost ever sinee Mr. Day came to Hornellsville he has been active in the loeal polities of that village and of Hornell, as well as in the polities of his state and of the nation at large. He was the last president of the village of Hornellsville and the first mayor of the eity of Hornell, filling the office two sueeessive terms. For five years he was a Demoeratie state committeeman, and as a mem- ber of the national electoral college from New York, he voted for Mr. Cleveland for the office of president of the United States. Since then he has sought so far as has been possible to withdraw from active participation in politieal work.
Mr. Day has been interested, direetly and indirectly, with many important enterprises. As a stoekholder and otherwise he has had to do with some of the leading interests of the village and eity. In the street railway system of the eity he is especially interested, and he is the owner of much valuable real estate. He is a thirty-sec- ond degree Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Proteetive Or- der of Elks (Lodge 346 of Hornell), and is identified with the Maennerchoer of the city. He married, in 1872, Jennie L. Twadell and they have three children. He has been a resident of the place, village and eity for thirty-six years, and during that long period has been one of the best friends that it has had, always contributing liberally toward its advancement in every way that has appealed to him as praetieal and likely to prove efficient.
JOHN B. VOGT, JR .- One of the aggressive business men and loyal and publie-spirited eitizens of the village of Wayland is Mr. Vogt, who is here incumbent of the position of manager of the Schwarzenbach Brewery, which is owned and operated by the Hor- nell Brewing Company, of Hornell, this state. He is a represen- tative of the third generation of the Vogt family in Steuben county,
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where his paternal grandfather located upon his immigration from Germany and where this worthy ancestor secured a tract of land and developed a productive farm, this continuing to be his home until the close of his life.
John Bernard Vogt, Jr., was born in Wayland township, on the 12th of February, 1878, and is a son of John B. and Barbara (Shuster) Vogt, both of whom now reside in Spring Water town- ship, Livingston county, where the father is a prosperous farmer and stock-grower. Of the children seven sons and three daughters are now living: Clara, is the wife of J. Cramer, a farmer of Wayland township; George, is engaged in the merchandise busi- ness in Wayland; John B., Jr., is the immediate subject of this sketch; Frank Meton, is identified with the brewing business under the direction of his brother; Peter resides on the home farm; Will- iam, is a resident of Atlanta, this county; and Anna, Herman and Irene, remain at the parental home. It may be noted that Peter was a twin of Rosa and that the latter died in infancy, as did also Henry, who was a twin brother of William. John B. Vogt, Jr., is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his early educational discipline and he continued to be identified with the work of the home farm until he had attained to his legal majority when, in 1899, he became associated with a partner and they acted as agents for a Rochester brewery, whose products they distributed in Steuben county and adjacent sections. Mr. Vogt continued to be thus engaged until 1905, on April 3d of which year, he assumed his present position as general manager of the Schwarzenbach Brewery of the Hornell Brewing Company, at Wayland. He has since assumed charge also of the company at Dansville and Cohoc- ton and he now has charge of the distribution of the products of the company for the entire district tributary to these three towns.
Mr. Vogt is uncomprising in his allegiance to the Democratic party and he has been an active worker in its local ranks. Both he and his wife are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic church in Wayland, where he also holds membership in the local organization of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.
On the 18th of June, 1907, Mr. Vogt was united in marriage to Miss Julia Sauerlier, who was born on the 21st of March, 1880, and who is a daughter of Albert and Mary (Meyers) Sauerlier. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt have no children.
O. F. KIEFER is the secretary and manager of the Wayland Cement Works at Wayland, and is one of the progressive and in- fluential men of the city. The cement plant adds much to the wealth and business enterprise of Wayland. It was organized in 1883, as the Thomas Millen and Sons Cement Works, and in 1901 the name was changed to that of Thomas Millen and Company, while in 1909 it underwent another change and has since been known as the Wayland Portland Cement Company. The president of the company is John Kimmel, the vice-president, F. K. Smith,
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the treasurer, F. C. Lander and the secretary and manager, O. F. Kiefer. The ground of the works cover a space of two hundred and three acres, while their marl bed covers one hundred acres and reaches a depth of twenty-four feet. The plant furnishes em- ployment to fifty-three operatives, and the Erie, D. L. and W. and the Shawnee Railroads furnish it with splendid shipping facilities.
The secretary and manager of the Wayland Cement Works was born at Cohocton, New York, February 4, 1884, and is a gradu- ate of the high school of his native town with the class of 1900 and of the Rochester Business Institute with the class of 1901. Since then he has been a resident of Wayland. He is the sixth of the eleven children born to Charles and Lena (Wagner) Kiefer, who emigrated from their native Germany to America in 1863 and lo- cated in Rochester, moving from there in 1880 to Cohocton in Steuben county. Charles Kiefer is a miller and a first class me- chanic, and both he and his wife are living. O. F. Kiefer after com- ing to Wayland entered the employ of N. Kimmel and Sons as a bookkeeper in their hardware store, and after three years there he became associated with the Wayland Cement Works. During the five years which he has served the corporation as its secretary and general manager he has in many ways increased its value, and he is prominently numbered with this coterie of substantial business men. In 1905 he was married to Miss Florence, a daughter of L. A. Schwan, and a son, Orrin O., has been born to them.
W. W. BABCOCK .- Among the prominent citizens of Hornells- ville, New York, is W. W. Babcock, who takes a prominent part in public affairs and is well established in business. Mr. Babcock was born in the town of Fremont, four miles from his present resi- dence, May 21, 1849, and is a son of James Ross Babcock. James R. Babcock came to Steuben county with his father, James Bab- cock, when he was eighteen years of age. The latter settled on the Cohocton river and later moved to Buffalo, when it was only a village. James Ross Babcock lived for some time in Cohocton, Ohio, but returned to Steuben county and engaged in business as a contractor and builder, as well as a farmer. He erected a large number of buildings in the county and lived on his farm in Fre- mont until eighty years of age. He took an active part in local politics and was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. When he located on his farm there was but two acres of land cleared and he continued the work of clearing and improving it. He owned one hundred and thirty acres. He was of English descent. 1: 0
James R. Babcock married Ruth Phillips, a native also of Cohocton and she lived to be eighty-five years of age. They were among the early settlers of Steuben county and were very well known. They had six children, of whom five reached maturity. All were born in Steuben county, and W. W. is the oldest son and third child.
Vol. II-6
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The boyhood days of W. W. Babcock were spent in his native place and he was educated in the public schools. He was reared on a farm and carried on his farm in young manhood. When he started business on his own account he began dealing in monu- ments, working first as traveling salesman for the Field & Alden Granite Company, with whom he remained fourteen years, when he left their employ to engage in business on his own account at his present location. He is an expert in his line, having been en- gaged in the business as salesman and proprietor about thirty-two years. He has been very successful in establishing himself in the esteem and confidence of the people of his vicinity, and besides this business owns a farm of one hundred and twelve acres near by, which is mostly devoted to grain. He rents this land to good advantage.
Mr. Babcock married December 29, 1870, Electa H. Helmer, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Hannah) Helmer, who was born also in Fremont. Her parents were early settlers of the county and came from Herkimer, New York. Mr. Babcock has two children living: Claud F., a merchant of Hornellsville, and Lela, living at home, supervisor of music in the public schools of the city. One son, Hermie, died at the age of eight years.
Mr. Babcock is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is very active in church work, having been a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church for about fifteen years. He has been a lifelong Republican and has taken great interest in public and political affairs, and has held various offices. He has served as town clerk and commissioner of highways, has been postmaster of Fremont and is now a member of the board of public works of Hornell. He has always supported every cause which he considered for the benefit and welfare of the community, and is looked upon with great respect by all who know him. About 1875, while Mr. Babcock was carrying on his farm, he lost his left arm in a threshing machine. However, in spite of this misfortune he continues in excellent health and is as much interested as ever in matters of public moment.
WILLIAM R. SUTTON, musician and opera house manager, Bath, Steuben county, New York, was born at Avoca, that county, August 10, 1869, a son of George W. and Louisa (Wells) Sutton, natives of Ontario county. With the exception of one half brother, who is living at Naples, New York, he is the only survivor of his family, once well known not only at home but throughout the country wherever good music was appreciated. He attended school at Wallace, near Avoca, till he was seventeen years old and later was for years a member of the Sutton family band, an organization which traveled extensively and met with much success. It was com- posed entirely of members of the Sutton family and was under the leadership of M. C. Sutton, and George W. Sutton was in active service as a bandmaster twenty-two years.
Returning to Bath Mr. Sutton became connected with the Soldiers' Home Band, of which he was later leader. He was the
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leader for a time also of the Forty-Seventh Separate Company Band. In 1909 W. R. Sutton leased the Casino opera house at Bath, one of the best establishments of its class in this part of the state, seating five hundred and fifty persons and giving employ- ment to seven, of which he is making a business success.
Mr. Sutton is a member of the Bath lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has passed all its chairs as well as those of the Encampment and he represented his home lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state. He is identified with the order of Maccabees and is a Red Man and a member of the order of Sons of Veterans. He married Miss Anna R. Murphy, a native of Bristol, England, and a daughter of William and Anna (Howell) Murphy, who brought her to the United States when she was about five years old. Her parents died at Penn Yan, Yates county, where her father was a merchant. Mrs. Sutton has borne her husband two daughters-Marie V., a graduate of the schools of Bath, and Florence Cherry, who was graduated from the Bath high school and is a student at the New York State Normal School at Syracuse, where she was admitted on a scholarship which she won in fair competition.
Mr. Sutton is a man of much public spirit who does his full share in promoting the public welfare and who is confidently looked upon by his fellow citizens for help when it is necessary for some one to take the lead in a movement for the general advancement of the town.
JOHN H. LARRISON .- The great basic industry of agriculture in Steuben county has as one of its most progressive representatives John H. Larrison, who is owner of the well improved landed es- tate of two hundred and eighty-five acres, eligibly located in Caton township and devoted to diversified agriculture and stock-growing. Mr. Larrison is one of those sturdy citizens who has realized the possibilities of large and definite success in connection with the farming enterprise and his life has been one of action, as shown in his prominence in his chosen field of endeavor. He is one of the substantial and honored citizens of Steuben county, is the largest land holder of Caton township and is a member of the directorate of the Farmers' Alliance & Co-operative Insurance Company, one of the important corporations of this county in this section of the state.
John H. Larrison reverts to the fine old Keystone state as the place of his nativity. He was born in Ridgbury township, Brad- ford county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of March, 1853, and is a son of Oscar and Dora (Edgerton) Larrison. Oscar Larrison was born near Dieget Hollow, in Jackson township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of February, 1820, and was a son of John Larrison, who was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, and whose wife, Mary (Huntley) Larrison was born June 17, 1805. John Larrison was a son of Theodore Larrison, who was
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born on the 26th of August, 1773, and whose wife, Elizabeth Up- dike, was born on the 29th of July, 1785; their marriage was solem- nized on the 27th of November, 1802, and they became the parents of four children: Anna, Jacob, John and Lewis. John and Mary (Huntley) Larrison became the parents of six sons,-Theodore, Oscar, Lewis, Levi, Horace and David. Oscar and Dora (Edger- ton) Larrison became the parents of four children, of whom John H., of this review, is the eldest; Amanda is the wife of George T. Davenport; Florence is deceased; and Ethel unmarried.
John H. Larrison was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and his early educational advantages were those af- forded in the public schools of his native township. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-five years, when he married and initiated his independent career. In 1878, shortly after his marriage, he located upon his present fine homestead where he has continued to reside during the loug intervening years and where he has made improvements that have given the place precedence as one of the finest rural estates in Steuben county. As a citizen Mr. Larrison has been essentially progressive and public-spirited and he has been called upon to serve in various local offices of public trust. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alliance & Co-operative Insurance Company and has been a mem- ber of its board of directors since 1894. He is known as a busi- ness man of marked ability and in the handling of his various in- terests his discrimination and progressive ideas have brought to him the most generous measure of success, the while he has main- tained a strong hold upon popular confidence and good will.
On the 6th of March, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Larrison to Miss Julia W. Soule, who was born in Tioga coun- ty, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of May, 1859, and who is a daughter of Seneca Soule, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, being a representative of one of the pioneer families of that sec- tion of the Empire state. In conclusion of this brief sketch of one of the sterling citizens of Steuben county is entered brief record concerning his children,-May, who was born on the 23d of De- cember, 1878, is the wife of James H. Mclaughlin ; Roland S., was born on the 30th of April, 1880; Bertha, who was born on the 23d of January, 1883, is the wife of John Hopkins; Liston E., was born on the 23d of May, 1886; Ruth E., born on the 23d of Decem- ber, 1888; Irene B., born on the 31st of January, 1890; Florence died at the age of four years; Frank C. was born July 16, 1894; Millicent, October 31, 1897; and Oscar C., born in 1901.
WILLIAM WALLACE ORCUTT, a prominent attorney of Bath, New York, who makes a specialty of pensions, was born in Lacona, New York, April 15, 1843, son of Lorenzo and Julia N. (Ward) Orcutt, the former a native of Lacona also.
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After acquiring his education in the public schools of Lacona, William W. Orcutt took up the trade of shoemaker, which he learned and followed until 1890, when he removed to Bath. Mean- while he had been studying law and upon coming to Bath engaged in practice as an attorney. He has met with pleasing success and has gained the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. His work in the line of pensions has been especially successful.
Mr. Orcutt served in the Civil war as a member of Company H, One Hundred Eighty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, of New York, and participated in several important engagements. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and is prominent in the or- der. Politically he is a Republican. He is actively interested in public affairs and is highly esteemed for his public spirit and for the valuable service he rendered as a soldier. He is the friend of progress and advancement and has a large circle of friends.
Mr. Orcutt married Melinda J. Buckingham, who was born at Marshall, Michigan, August 5, 1847. The following children have been born to them: Effie Florence, wife of B. DeGroat, a pho- tographer of Bath; John Lorenzo, of Chicago, married Lena Hunn, and they have one child-Tracy; Julia Ward, married William Reynolds, and is now a widow, having two children-Harold and Hobart; Daniel Jasper, a clerk in the employ of the government, at Washington, D. C., married Lila Lewis; William Wallace, Jr., of Buffalo, New York; and Edith and Alice L., twins, the former at home and the latter married F. Dudley, a contractor of Bath, and they have one child-Edith.
BENJAMIN JACOB WRIGHT, an influential lawyer and justice of the peace, at Hammondsport, New York, was born at Hammonds- port, on the 8th of August, 1852, and is a son of John and Lucy (Strong) Wright. The father was born at Naas, county Kildare, Ireland, whence, in company with his wife and family, he immi- grated to America about 1850. On landing at Quebec, they made their way to Albany and thence to Hammondsport by canal. Mr. Wright was a gardener by trade, having served a seven years' ap- prenticeship and having worked as a journeyman in his native land. On his arrival in Steuben county, he early gave his attention to grape-culture and continued to be identified with that line of enter- prise until his death, which occurred in 1879, at the age of sixty- six years. Mrs. Wright's father was Joseph Strong, who was high sheriff of county Kildare, Ireland, for fifty-four years. Mr. Strong married a Miss Dunbar and they passed their entire lives in Ireland. Mrs. Wright survives her honored husband and is now residing at Hammondsport, aged eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Wright be- came the parents of thirteen children, three of whom are now liv- ing,-Lucy, who is the wife of Judge Hollis; Mary, who married W. H. Edwards, resides at Hammondsport; and Benjamin J., the immediate subject of this review.
Benjamin J. Wright completed the curriculum of the public schools of Hammondsport, was graduated in the home high school
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and in the Hammondsport Academy. Thereafter he began the read- ing of law in the office of his brother, William W. Wright, and he was admitted to the bar of the state. After his marriage, in 1876, he turned his attention to farming and followed that vocation for a period of twelve years, at the expiration of which he established his home in Hammondsport and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1888 he was elected justice of the peace and he has acted in that capacity during the long intervening years to the present time. He has won a creditable success as a legal practi- tioner and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest lawyer in point of continuous practice in the northern part of Steuben county. In 1884 he became interested in viticulture and has made a big success of the grape-growing industry. Since 1890 he has devoted consider- able attention to a milling enterprise and he has been identified with various other business affairs of broad scope and importance.
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