USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 27
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In 1895 Mr. Sebring located in Corning, and has since built up an extensive and exceedingly remunerative law practice. In Febru- ary, 1902, he formed a partnership with Warren J. Cheney, under the firm name of Sebring & Cheney, which is one of the strongest law firms in Steuben county. Mr. Sebring is a large real estate owner, among his cther holdings of value being Sebring Park, which contains one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining Corning.
On August 29, 1889, Mr. Sebring was united in marriage with Mary A. Bushnell, a daughter of the late Watts Bushnell and Har- riet (Whecler) Bushnell, of Kenona, New York. In polities Mr. Sebring is a Democrat, and is now serving as city attorney for Corning.
JOHN B. R. CAMERON, a prominent agriculturist and grape- grower in Steuben county, also controls a large trade in the meat business in Urbana. He was born at Hammondsport, this county, December 27, 1852, and is a son of Dugald Cameron, a native of Scotland, his birthplace being Glasgow and the year 1817. Dugald Cameron emigrated to the United States in 1817, in company with his parents, and he was summoned to the life eternal in Steuben county in 1893. The Camerons first settled at Bath, whence they removed to Hornellsville, where they became known as farmers and lumbermen. The grandfather of him whose name initiates this re- view, Dugald Cameron, at one time owned as much as two thousand acres of land in and adjacent to Hornellsville. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Taylor. Grandfather Cameron was a linen weaver by trade and Grandmother Cameron was a lace maker.
After due preliminary education Dugald Cameron, father of John B. R., went, at the age of nineteen years, to Hammondsport
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and there found employment as a clerk in the establishment of A. M. Adsit, an old-time concern of considerable prominence. Regularly for twenty-one years this firm sent Mr. Cameron to New York city to attend to business connected with transportation. During that period he became part owner of the old "Navigation Company," then the firm of Adsit & Rice. Associated with him in this enter- prise was John W. Davis. In 1860 Mr. Cameron turned his at- tention to farming on one hundred and sixteen acres of land near Hammondsport and eventually he began to specialize in grape-grow- ing. He was one of the original stockholders in the Pleasant Valley Wine Company and was connected with this concern for a number of years. His religious belief coincided with the teachings of the Protestant Episcopal church and he was an influential factor in the religious life of the community. A Republican in politics, he was active and efficient as a worker for the success of his party and the furtherance of its principles. Incidentally, as they came to him, not as he sought them, he held many offices. He was tax collector and town auditor at different times and was long a deputy sheriff. His public spirit made him a useful citizen, helpful to all worthy local interests. As a citizen he was alert for the advancement of his town and the prosperity of his neighbors. He was ever held in high esteem by his fellow men and he was a man of good judgment and fine mental caliber. He married Miss Rachel Brundage, a daughter of John and Rachel (Conger) Brundage, farmers of Urbana. She passed away in 1895, at the venerable age of seventy-six years. Of their children two now survive: John B. R., of this review, and Azubah, who is the widow of S. S. Smith, of Joliet, Illinois.
John B. R. Cameron was reared and educated in this county and he continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of his farm until the latter's death. Then he relieved his mother of all care relative to the conduct of the business during the remainder of her life and eventually he inherited the property and he has since continued its management on his own account. Besides diversified agriculture he is extensively engaged in the grape- growing industry and since 1906 he has conducted a meat market at Urbana. He is a useful and popular citizen, public-spiritedly de- voted to the general good and identified with many important in- stitutions. He is a devout member of the Episcopal church and is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Grange, in addition to which he is also a member of the Hammondsport Hook and Ladder Company. Though not an active politician, his political views are in harmony with the principles and policies of the Re- publican party and he has ever contributed in liberal measure to all matters projected for the general welfare.
In 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cameron to Miss Nellie L. Carr, who was born at Hammondsport April 26, 1860, and who is a daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Coon) Carr, long prominent citizens in Steuben county. William and Mary (Lati- more) Carr, great-great-grandparents of Mrs. Cameron, emigrated to
a.B. Straight m. &
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America about 1705 from Londonderry, Ireland. They were Scotch- Irish Presbyterians and William Carr was a blacksmith by trade. Tradition has it that Mary (Latimore) Carr was a descendant of Bishop Latturin, the early English martyr. Their son, John Carr, married Amy Armstrong and he was a farmer and a valiant soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving in the Fourth regiment of the Orange County Militia. Amy Armstrong was the descendant of a Scottish chief, concerning whom the following legend is written: In combat to prove the superiority of his clan, Chieftain Armstrong encountered the chieftain of another clan and killed his adversary. The next day he met the chosen one from a second clan and was again victorious, killing his man. The third day a similar meeting oc- curred, but this time Chieftain Armstrong was less fortunate and tradition has it that he returned to his camp dead, sitting in his saddle. The next in line of direct descent to Mrs. Cameron was John Carr, who wedded Sarah Hutches. He was born in 1775 and was a soap and candle maker. He lived at Pine Island, Orange county, New York, and came to Hammondsport about 1825, his death having occurred at that place about 1850. He had sons, Aus- tin, Lansing, Vincent, John, Alfred, Jackson and Morris, the latter remaining in Orange county,-and daughters,-Mary, Elizabeth and Almeda. Alfred Carr married Elizabeth Coon and they became the parents of Nellie L. Cameron, wife of the subject of this review, as previously noted. Alfred Carr was born in Orange county, New York, November 6, 1825, and he died January 2, 1882. His wife was born at Pulteney, New York, September 11, 1823, and she passed away February 17, 1862. They had seven children, Mrs. Cameron being one of twins. Her twin sister is now the wife of S. A. Breding, of Rochester, and her sister, Mary Carr, resides in the Cameron home. Mrs. Cameron was an expert stenographer prior to her marriage to Mr. Cameron.
AMOS B. STRAIGHT, M. D., who was formerly in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, is widely known as a gentleman of versatile ability. He was born in the town of Burns, Allegany county, New York, on the 4th of February, 1866. Elijah Abbott Straight, his father, was a native of Avoca township, Steuben coun- ty, where he was born on the 31st of October, 1833. From 1867 to the time of his death, which occurred on the 19th of July, 1894, he was a resident of Burns, Steuben county, New York. Dexter
Straight, father of Elijah Abbott Straight and grandfather of Dr. Amos B. Straight, was born in Haskinsville, this county, in 1806, and he was summoned to the life eternal October 25, 1855. His father, Elijah Straight, was born in 1776 and died in 1847. He was a pioneer in Steuben county in the days of really primitive things, a friend of education and one of the promoters and builders of the first schoolhouse in the vicinity of his early home. He was twice married, his first union having been prolific of five sons and one daughter, namely-Dexter, John B., Augustus Elijah, Cyrus,
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Albert and Maria. For his second wife he married Mrs. Polly Abbott, who was the widow of Elijah Abbott and who had three daughters-Hannah, Betsy and Lucinda. Dexter Straight, the Doc- tor's grandfather, married Betsy, daughter of his step-mother, thus making the unique history of a son marrying the daughter of his father s wife. Elijah Abbott Straight, father of the Doctor, mar- ried Eunice Jane Burdick, who was born at Almond, Allegany coun- ty, New York, September 18, 1835, and who passed away in Hornell, New York, October 31, 1909. Her father, Bradford Burdick, was a native of Vermont and an early settler in Allegany county. Their wedding was celebrated at Almond November 14, 1860, and to this union were born five children, two of whom, Bradford and Bur- dick, died in infancy. Their only daughter, Libby Kate, was born on the 15th of February, 1861, and she died August 18, 1890. Olin Leroy, who was born November 6, 1862, is now a resident of Almond, New York, and Amos B. is the immediate subject of this review.
Dr. Straight was the fourth in order of birth of the above named children and he was about one year of age at the time of his parents' removal over the border line from Allegany into Steuben county, to whose public schools he is indebted for his preliminary educational discipline. After attaining to years of responsibilty he taught school for two years, at the expiration of which he entered the medical office of Dr. J. R. Walker at Arkport, under whose able preceptorship he made rapid progress in the absorption and assimilation of the science of medicine. In the spring of 1891 he was graduated in the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine, and for one year succeeding his graduation he was engaged in practice with his former preceptor, Dr. Walker. Thereafter he entered upon an independent practice . at Silver Springs, New York, where was solemnized his marriage and where he resided for three years, after which he removed to Perry, New York, where for seven years he was engaged in a pro- fessional way, controlling a large and lucrative patronage and gain- ing prestige as one of the ablest practitioners in that section.
While living at Perry Dr. Straight felt that he was called to the Christian ministry and in 1899 he was appointed pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hamlin, Monroe county, this state. One year's work there was crowned with success, his church having the distinction that year of adding more members to its roll than any other church in the Niagara district of the Genesee conference. The following year he was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Canaseraga, Allegany county, New York. He was then appointed to Spencer Methodist Episcopal church, Hornell, New York. After having been pastor of that church for two years he was appointed to the pastorate of the Methodist Episcopal church at Corning, this county, and a large addition to the membership and great financial gain to the church was the result of his labors there. Two years after that appointment impaired health com- pelled him unwillingly to relinquish platform work. After a post-
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graduate course and hospital work in New York city during the winter of 1905 Dr. Straight located the following spring at Hornell as a practicing physician.
On the 23d of December, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Straight to Miss Eva Eliza Pryor, who is a daughter of George Pryor. Her paternal grandfather was Sylvester Pryor, who traced his ancestry back to stanch English extraction. He was an early settler in Allegany county, where he lived to the venerable age of eighty years. Sylvester Pryor married Olive Brockway, and they became the parents of four boys-Alden, George, Jesse and Luther- and two girls-Mary and Eleanor. George, father of Mrs. Straight, was born in Almond, New York, July 25, 1837, and died at Ark- port, New York, June 24, 1877. Mrs. Straight's maternal grand- father was William C. Ward, who was born in the state of Ohio, whence he came to Allegany county, New York, where he lived to the age of seventy-seven years. He married Rachel Head, who passed away at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Willianı C. Ward had twelve children, five boys and seven girls, namely : Samuel, Ashabel, Otis, Seymour, George, Electia, Mary, Elizabeth, Eliza, Maria, Helen and Harriett. Mary Ward, who married George Pryor, was born on the 27th of February, 1838, in the town of Almond, New York, and she became the mother of five children- three girls and two boys-Ella, Rosetta, Eva Eliza, Frank and Will- iam Sylvester. Eva Eliza was born in Almond, New York, May 25, 1872, and she was afforded excellent educational advantages in her youth. Dr. and Mrs. Straight have three children: Katie Nat- alie, who was born at Silver Springs, Wyoming county, New York, on the 16th of December, 1893; Erie Abbott, born at Perry, Wyom- ing county, New York, June 9, 1896; and Thomas Benjamin Neely, born at Corning, Steuben county, New York, on the 5th of October, 1904.
In politics Dr. Straight is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Prohibition party stands sponsor, and in 1904 he received the nomination for member of assembly from the thirty-third district. He has done much to ad- vance the general welfare of the community. He is affiliated with various professional and fraternal organizations of representative character, and no citizen in Steuben county is held in higher con- fidence and esteem than is the Doctor. He has been described as "a broad-minded man, an earnest student, a deep thinker and an eloquent and convincing speaker." His success as a medical man gives him eminence among his fellow-practitioners. His office and residence are on the corner of Seneca and West Genesee streets, in the old William O'Connor residence, which he bought in August, 1906. This is one of the best locations in Hornell, and the property is one of the finest residence properties in the city. Dr. Straight in his professional service has been prompted by a laudable ambi- tion for advancement as well as by deep sympathy and humani- tarian principles that urge him to put forth his best efforts in the
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alleviation of pain and suffering. He has gained recognition from the profession as one of its able representatives, and the trust reposed in him by the public is indicated by the liberal patronage awarded him.
JAMES J. O'HARA, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Corn- ing, New York, is a Canadian by birth and comes of Irish parents. His father, Patrick O'Hara, was born at Temple House, County Sligo, Ireland, in 1850, and is still living; his mother, Elishie (Burk) O'Hara, born in Ireland in 1836, died in 1870. They left Ireland soon after their marriage and directed their course to Can- ada, Hullet their objective point, where they spent twelve years, at the end of that time coming to Steuben county, New York. Of the children born to them, now married and scattered, we record that Mary (O'Hara) Baxter lives in Corning, New York; Mar- garet (O'Hara) Noke is a resident of Brooklyn, New York; James J., the subject of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Martin resides in Michigan, and Julia, at Brooklyn, New York. At the age of twenty-one Patrick O'Hara joined the police force in Ireland, with which he was connected for three years or until his departure for America. Upon his arrival at Hullet, Canada, he went to work as a farm laborer, and was thus occupied there for a period of twelve years. Then he came over into New York state and at Addi- son, Steuben county, spent another year in farm work. Next he moved to Gang Mills in the same county and turned his attention to the lumber business, as an employe of Fox Weston & Company, with whom he remained until the mill closed its business in 1880. From 1880 to 1887 he was in the employ of the same company in Michigan, and the latter year he returned to Steuben county and settled at Corning, where he went to work for the Corning Glass Works. At intervals, now at a ripe old age, he still works for this concern.
James J. O'Hara was born July 25, 1862, at Hullet, Canada, and in his boyhood accompanied his parents to New York. At the early age of twelve years he began doing chores nights and morn- ings while he went to school, and thus spent his time for four years. Then he went to Michigan, where for three years he worked in a mill during the summer months, and in the winter in the lumber camps. Coming back to Steuben county with his father, he entered the Corning Glass Works, where he thoroughly learned the glass busi- ness and where he remained until about the age of thirty years. Following this service he was variously employed until 1894, when he accepted a position as salesman in the shoe store of J. L. Clark, where he still remains.
For more than twenty years Mr. O'Hara belonged to Corning's volunteer fire department, and he is now an exempt fireman. Po- litically he is a Democrat. In 1904 he was elected a supervisor, has been re-elected three times, and is now chairman of the board. He belongs to the Elks and to the Knights of Columbus.
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In 1894 Mr. O'Hara married Miss Josephine Leary, daughter of Patrick Leary, of Painted Post, New York, and the children given to them are as follows: James, born July 6, 1899; Frances, De- cember 25, 1901; John, May 23, 1903, and Helen, April 22, 1906.
MYRON C. SHERMAN .- This man, well and favorably known in northern Steuben county, an extensive handler of grain and produce, was born in Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York, August 16, 1875, a son of William and Sarah (Lamphere) Sherman. He was reared and educated among the people with whom he now does business, and among his many patrons none are more loyal than are some of his old schoolmates. Soon after leaving school he became connected with the produce business, buying and selling on his own account or otherwise, as conditions were from time to time. He is now the manager of the Scofield-McMichael Produce Company, of Prattsburg, New York, which handles hay, grain and produce on an extensive scale. His relations with the farmers round about him have been long and to them eminently satisfactory, and he is getting the gilt edged business of Prattsburg and vicinity in his line.
Mr. Sherman married Miss Edna Moore, of Prattsburg, New York, and she has borne him three children-Esther, aged nine years ; Francis, aged seven years; and Edna, aged six years.
Politically Mr. Sherman is a Republican, zealous for the suc- cess of the principles and men of his party; but he is not in the ordinary sense a politician. At the same time he is a discriminating voter and has the reputation of being a man of public, spirit who has the welfare of the community at heart and may be depended on to do everything within his means and ability to further any move- ment for the common good.
H. B. SMITH, M. D .- Devoting his time and energies to the practice of his chosen profession, H. B. Smith, M. D., of Corning, has gained a position of note, being widely known throughout this section of Steuben county as one of its most able and successful physicians. He was born July 27, 1876, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a son of B. F. and Fannie E. (Ryno) Smith, natives also of New Jersey.
Completing his early studies in the public schools of New Jersey, H. B. Smith began the study of medicine in 1896, and in 1899 was graduated from the medical department of the New York University in New York city, receiving the degree of M. D. After serving in Bellevue Hospital for about one year he came to Corning. He has met with eminent success in his professional career and has built up a remunerative patronage, his knowledge and skill gaining for him the confidence and respect. of the people.
The Doctor belongs to numerous organizations of a professional nature, including the Corning Medical Association, the Steuben County Medical Association, the New York State Medical Asso- ciation and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is
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a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the consistory, and he is also an Odd Fellow. He is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations and is now serving as county coroner.
Dr. Smith married, June 26, 1900, Nora Thomas, and they have one daughter, Marianne Smith.
ERNEST J. GUTTINGER .- The gentleman whose name heads this notice has perhaps had more to do with the development of the silk industry in southern and central New York than any other one man. The history of that industry is so interesting that the little that Mr. Guttinger's modesty permits us to put on record here will be hailed by the average reader as especially edifying material. Mr. Guttinger, like so many experts in our various industries, is of European birth. He first saw the light of day in Lyons, France, June 2, 1880, and was there given a liberal education. When he was nineteen he went to Germany and other silk manufacturing centers and by practical experience acquired expert knowledge of silk mak- ing. In 1900 he came to the United States and put in operation for a French company a silk mill at Hazleton, Pennsylvania. From there he went to Hoboken, New Jersey, where he identified himself with the enterprise of the Schwarzenbach-Huber Company, the larg- est operators of silk mills in the world. In 1904 he started a silk mill at Andover, Allegany county. From there he came to Hornell in 1906. Until September of that year he was foreman in the weav- ing mills, and then he took charge of the entire mill. This business is operated by the Canisteo Silk Company in connection with other mills at Wayland, all of which are now in charge of Mr. Guttinger. In these various establishments about four hundred people are em- ployed. Their notable success is due in no small measure to the skill and business ability of Mr. Guttinger.
In 1908 Mr. Guttinger married Miss Nina E. Laughlin. They have a son named Jack. Mr. Guttinger is a progressive, up-to-date, public spirited man who takes an interest in the communities with which his business has made him acquainted and may be depended on to do whatever he can to aid their growth and prosperity.
RUFUS C. BALDWIN .- This popular and successful farmer and commercial traveler is a native of Addison and was born February 8, 1857. James Baldwin, his father, was born at Lawrenceville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and was brought to Addison when he was about four years old by his parents, Rufus and Parmelia (Wom- baugh) Baldwin. Rufus Baldwin, born in Connecticut, was a soldier, serving the patriot cause in the Revolutionary war, as was Isaac Baldwin, his father. This family of Baldwins is descended from Henry Baldwin, who emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1627 and settled at Woburn, Massachusetts. His grandson, Isaac Baldwin, Sr., removed with his family from Norwalk, Connecticut, to the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, whence they were driven by border wars to a more peaceable part of Pennsylvania north and west.
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In 1787 they settled on the Chemung river, then in Tioga county, New York. Isaac Baldwin, Sr., was born at Norwich, Connecticut, in June, 1730, and married Patience Rathbun in November, 1751. They had eleven children, of whom Rufus Baldwin, great-grand- father of Rufus C. Baldwin, was one. Rufus Baldwin, Jr., his son, was born in Canterbury, Windham county, Connecticut, in 1795. In December, 1812, he became connected with the Light Guards, in which he soon rose to the rank of major. In 1825 he removed to Lawrenceville in Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He married Parmelia Wombaugh, daughter of William Wombaugh, of Addison, New York. In 1838, having disposed of his Pennsylvania property, he settled a mile east of Addison, on a tract of six hundred acres of farming and timber land that he had bought.
In 1851 Rufus Baldwin, Jr., retiring from active life, moved into the village of Addison, where he died June 10, 1854. Ten years later his widow passed away. The following suggestive items of information concerning their children will be of interest in this connection. One of his daughters married Rufus N. Weatherby. William W., who became a lawyer, dicd in 1852. Walter H. died in 1854. Henry, a lawyer, financier and banker, was supervisor of Addison township from 1859 to 1861 and sheriff of Steuben county from 1886 to 1889. In 1861 he recruited Company E, Thirty- fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, was elected its captain, saw service in the Shenondoah Valley, at Yorktown, at West Point, at Fair Oaks, at Seven Pines, in Mcclellan's seven days' retreat to the Potomac, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg and else- where. and came out of the Civil war with high honor as a soldier and as an officer. In 1867 he was brevetted major; in 1868, colonel. Rufus, the next son in order of nativity, died young. Parmelia married the Hon. Byron G. Stout, of Pontiac, Michigan. R. Haskell died in childhood. James, father of Rufus C., was born at Law- renceville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and was brought to Addison by his parents when four years old. There he was reared, acquiring his primary education in the village school. After hav- ing taken a preparatory course at the old Addison Academy he fin- ished his education at a historic old time college at Lima, New York, which was in its day a boon to western New York.
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