USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 33
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DELOS BLISS .- One of the prominent and influential business men of New York city is Mr. Bliss, who is vice-president and gen- eral manager of Dodge & Bliss Company and president of the Meredith Shook Lumber Company, the former corporation having plants at Jersey City, New Jersey, and Tonawanda, New York, and the headquarters of the latter company are in Meredith, New Hamp- shire. Mr. Bliss has his office headquarters in New York City, at 50 Church street, and he is one of the prominent representatives of the lumber and packing box industry in his native state.
Delos Bliss was born at Truxton, Cortland county, on the 26th of January, 1841, and he is a son of George and Charlotte (Ames) Bliss, the former of whom was born at Rehoboth, Rhode Island, and the latter of whom was born at Leyden, Franklin county, Massa- chusetts, being a representative of a family that was founded in New England in the Colonial era. George Bliss devoted the major portion of his active career to agricultural pursuits and about the year 1820 he established his home in Cortland county, New York, where he operated a farm and also was identified with the lumbering business. Later he came with his family to Steuben county, where he continued to be identified with the same lines of enterprise until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age. His father likewise was a native of Rhode Island, in which state the family was founded in an early day. Mrs. Charlotte (Ames) Bliss survived her honored husband and attained to the venerable
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age of ninety-one years, having passed the closing years of her life in the home of her son, Delos, whose name initiates this review. Of the nine children three died in infancy. All of the others at- tained to adult age and of the number three are now living, Egerton A., who is engaged in the jewelry business in New York city is one of the interested principals in the E. A. Bliss Company, in which concern his brother, Delos, is a director; Sarah E. is the widow of Elikaim Rice and she resides with her brother Delos, who was the eighth in order of birth of the nine children and the eldest of the three now living.
Delos Bliss was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Steuben county, and here he was reared to the age of sixteen years, in the meanwhile having duly availed himself of the advantages of the common schools of the locality and period. On the 7th of February, 1857, he went to New York city, where he secured a position as errand boy in a jewelry establishment, at No. 13 Cort- landt street. After having been in the service of this concern about two years he was given a position as traveling salesman for the same, then being but nineteen years of age. He represented this house in the territory along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and proved a very able and successful salesman. In 1860 he entered the employ of McGraw & Company, a prominent concern in the lumber business in Jersey City. In 1861 he engaged in an independent enterprise in connection with the above concern by establishing a box factory, in which he manufactured wood boxes for the government, having initiated this enterprise about the time of the inception of the Civil war. In 1864 the business was disposed of to William E. Dodge, of New York city, and the enterprise was thereafter continued for some time under the title of Dodge & Company. In 1878 Mr. Bliss became associated in the organization of the present Dodge & Bliss Company, of which he is vice-president and general manager, and the other offices of which are as here noted: D. Stewart Dodge, pres- ident and William F. Brown, secretary and treasurer. This concern has finely equipped plants at Jersey City, New Jersey, and Tona- wanda, New York, and has prestige as being the largest box manu- facturing concern east of Chicago. Mr. Bliss was the originator of the effective device for the nailing and printing of boxes by machinery and he has also perfected a number of other mechanical inventions which have proved of great value in connection with this line of in- dustry. The products of the Dodge & Bliss Company are shipped into divers sections of the world, a large trade being controlled in Europe and also in South America. The factories of this corporation utilize an average of twenty-five million feet of lumber each year. The Meredith Shook & Lumber Company is also a large and sub- stantial corporation and has mills in Meredith, New Hampshire. In the factory of the Dodge & Bliss Company at Jersey City employ- ment is given to two hundred and forty men. Mr. Bliss is recognized as a business man of great initiative and administrative capacity and his success has represented the direct results of his own efforts,
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giving him precedence as one of the veritable captains of industry in the national metropolis. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party and he takes a loyal interest in public affairs, though he has never had aught of ambition for political office. In New York city he holds membership in the Steuben Society and also the Genesee Society, besides which he is identified with the Engle- wood Club. He holds membership in the St. Paul Episcopal church, as did his wife.
In the year 1864 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bliss to Miss Emily F. Field, of Jersey City, and after a long and happy life companionship Mrs. Bliss was summoned to the beyond, Novem- ber 19, 1910, her demise occurring at her home at Highwood. In an account of her death published at the time the following lines of tribute were contained: "This sad event has plunged her relatives into a grief which is shared by a large number of their friends, who sincerely mourn the loss of one whose genial personality won such a warm place in the community. As a friend and neighbor Mrs. Bliss commanded an honored position socially that will cause her to be greatly missed and deeply regretted. Her illness was of less than a week's duration, but it defied all that care or skill could render for her relief. She passed away at the age of sixty-nine, leaving her husband and six daughters surviving."
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bliss: Emily B., who is the widow of William M. Kidder, and who subsequently married Mr. Edward Roberts, of Manchester, England, and resides in New York city ; Miss Susan F., who remains at the parental home ; Laura B., who is the wife of Thomas B. Cummings, of New York city ; Bertha, who is the wife of Charles Bumsted, of Jersey City ; Ethel, who is the wife of Daniel Fellows Platt, a successful stock broker in New York city and Alma, who resides at the parental home.
ROBERT W. GARDNER .- In New York city Mr. Gardner has gained distinctive prestige and success as an architect and he is well entitled to consideration in this publication by reason of the fact that lie is a member of one of the well known and highly honored families of Steuben county. He was born in the city of Jackson, Mississippi, on the 17th of November, 1866, and is a son of Major Hezekiah R. and Eliza (Wheeler) Gardner, the former of whom was born at Belvidere, Illinois, on the 31st of October, 1839, and the latter of whom was born in Steuben county, New York, where the family was founded in an early day. Major Gardner was summoned to the life eternal on the 25th of April, 1901, and his widow still resides at Hammondsport, Steuben county. From an article published in the Wine Press at the time of the death of Major Gardner are taken, with but slight change of phraseology, the following appreciative statements :
"Few men were better or more widely known in the wine trade than Major Gardner. For the last thirty years he has been connected with the business in one way or another and he was personally
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known to the leading wine makers and wine dealers of the country. He had traveled extensively and had visited all the prominent centers of grape-growing and wine-making from New York to California. Everywhere he went he made friends by reason of his fine qualities as a man. It was only natural that Major Gardner should have en- deared himself to a wide circle of friends. He was honorable and straightforward in all his dealings. His word was as good as his bond. He was very frank and outspoken and he did not hesitate to call things by their right names. There was no sham about Major Gardner. You could always tell where he stood and what he thought. He despised meanness and mean things, for he never did a mean action in his life. He appreciated a good story and could tell one himself, as he had a keen sense of humor.
"Hezekiah Ripley Gardner was born at Belvidere, Illinois, on the 31st of October, 1839. He was seven years of age at the time of the death of his father and soon afterward his mother removed to Hammondsport, Steuben county, New York. He showed his loyalty to the cause of the Union when its integrity was jeopardized by armed rebellion and in 1862 he assisted in the organization of Company I, One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he went to the front as captain. He served with great credit and distinction on the staff of General Buell and in the battle of Mission- ary Ridge, in November, 1863, he received the wound which resulted in the loss of his right leg. He was discharged for disability in Aug- ust, 1864, but joined the Veterans' Reserve Corps, and soon after- ward enlisted in the regular army, being brevetted major. He did provost marshal and reconstruction duty at Jackson, Mississippi, and later commanded the Forty-fourth Infantry for several months, while stationed in the rear of the White House at Washington, D. C. "Soon after retiring from service Mr. Gardner became identified with the grape and wine industry at Hammondsport and he always took great interest in his vineyard and grape culture. For several years Major Gardner represented the Pleasant Valley Wine Company and in the '70s, when American champagne was not so well known or appreciated as it is today, he had plenty of missionary work to do in the trade. Later on, after retiring from this position, he was induced to travel in the interests of the Urbana Wine Company, in which connection he made a splendid record. The ability and ex- perience of Major Gardner were recognized by his appointment as special agent of viticulture for the United States census of 1890. His census work will always stand as a lasting record of patient in- dustry. It was the first time that the statistics of grape-growing and wine-making had been gathered in the United States. Having no data or material to guide him, Major Gardner had to collect personally and with great pains the figures at first hand. So well did he do his work that he received the praise of his superior, and his report is one of the few that were printed over the agent's sig- nature in the complete volume of the Census Report. Early in 1900 he was appointed to collect the exhibits of wines from the eastern
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states for the Paris Exposition and it was largely due to his ex- perience and ability that such a fine exhibit of our eastern wines and champagnes was made at that exposition."
Major Gardner was a stalwart Republican in his political alle- giance and was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, with the Military Order of Loyal Legion and other fraternal and social organizations. He was a member of St. James' Episcopal church, as is also his widow. Of their children two sons and two daughters are now living.
Robert W. Gardner was a child at the time when the family home was established at Hammondsport, where he received his pre- liminary educational discipline in the public schools, after which he continued his studies in the high school in the city of Buffalo. In 1886, when twenty years of age, he removed to New York city, where he began the study of architecture in the office of one of the leading architects of the national metropolis. He gained a thorough knowl- edge of all the details of this important profession and has been concerned with much important work in his chosen vocation. In 1904 he engaged in business on his own responsibility and in the private practice of his profession his success has been of the most unequivocal order. He makes a specialty of fire-proof country dwell- ings and is one of the pioneers in this important field, as well as in the utilizing of reinforced concrete for such architectural pur- poses. He designed all of the dairy buildings for the Briar Cliff Farms in Dutchess county, New York, and it is worthy of note that these farms are the largest producers of certified milk of all in the world. These farms maintain a herd of fully one thousand Jersey cows and the buildings are model in design, sanitary ap- pliances and all facilities. Many buildings designed by and erected under the direction of Mr. Gardner have attracted wide attention and it may be said without fear of legitimate contradiction that he is one of the leading representatives of his profession in the great metropolis. He has designed many fine modern residences in New Jersey and New York city and his experience in his chosen profession has been wide and varied.
In politics Mr. Gardner is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party and he is a charter member of the Steuben Society of New York City, besides which he holds member- ship in the Planters' Society of Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal church, senior warden.
In the year 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gardner to Eleanor (O'Neill) Dean, daughter of William O'Neill, a repre- sentative citizen of Elmira, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner be- came the parents of one daughter, Persis, who died at the age of ten years.
JOHN HARVEY HULBURT .- A citizen whose enterprise has done much to further the commercial and agricultural interests of Way- land and who is now proprietor of a saloon, and an influential factor in the community, is John Harvey Hulburt, formerly a farmer. Mr.
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Hulburt was born September 9, 1851, and is the son of Clark Hul- burt. The father, a native of Warsaw, New York, was a millwright by trade and a well known man, whose demise occurred in the year 1887, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Lavina E. Phil- lips, who survived him until 1891, her age being sixty-three years. After his retirement the elder Mr. Hulburt made his home with his son until summoned to the life eternal. There were three children in the family, the two sisters of the subject being deceased.
After the termination of his school days Mr. Hulburt adopted farming as an occupation. He continued thus employed for a great many years, or until 1903, when he embarked in the hay shipping business and in the sale of timber. In the latter branch he bought timber land and cut and shipped the logs. He was successful in this and in a very few years found no small amount of financial gain. In 1909 he removed to Wayland, where he now makes his residence, secure in the enjoyment of a large circle of friends.
Mr. Hulburt laid the foundation of a happy married life by his union with Mary Letitia Curry, daughter of James and Naucy Curry, natives of Ireland, who answered the beckon of opportunity from the shores of the new world, and crossed the Atlantic to claim their share of the good things on this side. Shortly after their arrival they settled in Canisteo, where the father pursued the trade of a shoe- maker. The name of the wife of the foregoing was Nancy Gregg. To Mr. and Mrs. Hulburt have been born the following children : Ray C., aged twenty-six, who married Pearl Mann, and their two children, Gladys and Edward, giving to the subject the pleasant role of grandfather ; Erwin, aged twenty-three, who resides beneath the home roof ; Mahel, aged seventeen, and Edith, aged fourteen, both of whom are at school.
The Democratic party claims the allegiance of Mr. Hulburt and he is very public-spirited, always giving his support to those causes likely to result in the attainment of the greatest good to the greatest number. He has held the office of trustee of the school district of Livingston county for two terms.
J. NELSON SHUMWAY, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born at Addison, Steuben county, February 13, 1862, a son of John and Mary (Wettenhall) Shumway. John Shumway was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, October 4, 1825, and died at Addison, November 17, 1910, aged about eighty-five years. He was brought by his parents to Oxford, New York, in 1827, when he was about two years old. The family remained there about ten years, then moved to Addison, where his father and his elder brothers secured a considerable tract of timber land. His father was connected with the lumber interests. in the vicinity of Addison from that time until he died. Mary Wettenhall, who became the wife of John Shumway and the mother of Dr. Shumway, was born in Massachusetts July 30, 1826, married September 7, 1845, and died June 10, 1892, having borne her hus- band five daughters and three sons, all of whom grew to manhood
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or womanhood. The family of Shumway in America is descended from emigrants from the border region between France and Ger. many.
These meager facts concerning the children of John and Mary (Wettenhall) Shumway other than Dr. J. Nelson Shumway, the eldest son and sixth child in order of nativity, will be of interest in this connection : One of them is Mrs. Gertrude Page of Hancock, New York. Another is Mrs. F. H. Wheaton of Addison, New York. Sarah is Mrs. Kilbourne, of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. Ella died aged seventeen years. Cora became Mrs. Hepworth and was killed in a railroad accident. William and Rush are deceased.
Dr. Shumway passed his boyhood days at Addison and acquired his primary education in the Addison public schools and at the Addison academy. He was graduated in 1889 from the New York State Normal School at Geneseo, Livingston county, and taught school for seven years thereafter. Then, after two years' study in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, he entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, New York, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1895. He soon located in Woodhull, Steuben county, for the practice of his pro- fession, but remained there only about eight months. In 1896 he removed to Painted Post, where he has won satisfactory success and has a large and increasing practice. He is a member of the Stenben County Medical Association, of the New York State Medical Society and of the Corning (New York) Medical Association, of which he is vice-president. In politics he is strictly Republican. His interest in his community is such that he is helpful to all measures which in his judgment promise to benefit any considerable number of his fellow citizens. He has served as trustee of the village of Painted Post and has from time to time served his townsmen in other capacities.
In 1888 Dr. Shumway married Miss Nettie Stapley, of Geneseo, New York, a daughter of Humphrey and Jane Stapley, and they have a son and a daughter, named Clare and Fannie. The son, aged about nineteen years, is a student at the Buffalo Medical College, Buffalo. New York.
Dr. Shumway's honored father, above mentioned, was a pioneer in this vicinity, lumbering in the early days when the product of his mill was taken down the river by rafters to be marketed and later until about 1880, when he retired from active life. His father, the doctor's grandfather, was born in Massachusetts January 24, 1790, and passed most of his mature life at Addison, where he is enshrined in the memory of old citizens as one of those by whom the wheels of civilization were put in motion in that vicinity.
JOHN EARL PHILLIPS is incumbent of the responsible position of chief engineer of the Wayland Light & Power Company and is one of the well known and popular officials of the village in which he maintains his residence. He was born in Livonia township, Livings-
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ton county, New York, on the 15th of August, 1882, and is a son of Henry and Hattie (Shepard) Phillips, the former of whom died in 1894, at the age of forty-five years, having been a successful farmer and stock-grower of Steuben county, and the latter of whom still resides in the village of Wayland. Three children besides the subject of this review survive the honored father and all of them re- side in Wayland, namely: William, Edward and Hazel May.
John E. Philips attended the public schools until he had at- tained to the age of thirteen years and for the ensuing two years he was employed in a sawmill. He then came to Wayland, where he was identified with farm work and teaming for some time, after which he removed to the city of Rochester, where he engaged in the dealing in and training of horses. Later he returned to Wayland, where he was employed for a time as a painter and later as a miller and fireman. Since 1907 he has held his present position as chief engineer of the power house of the local light and power company and he has shown much discrimination and care in the handling of the duties devolving on him in this connection. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party and he takes a loyal interest in all that touches the welfare of the community.
In the year 1903 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Ada Kittle, who was born in Attica in 1878, and who is a daughter of Holton and Alice (Robinson) Kittle, the latter of whom died in 1908 and the former of whom is now residing in the home of Mr. Phillips, the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have two children, Ruby and Ruth, twins, who were born on the 20th of June, 1906.
CALVIN G. HUNGERFORD .- This well known citizen of Corning was born in Hornby township, Steuben county, August 26, 1855, eldest son of Elias B. and Jane E. (Gibbs) Hungerford and brother of Charles A. and Harry H. Hungerford, who are repre- sented in this work by biographical sketches which throw light on the family history not particularly suggested here. He was educated principally in the good public schools of Corning. Some of his earlier active years he passed as a steam engineer on the Great Lakes, visiting many western and northwestern ports, then he was likewise employed on the Hudson river by the West Shore Railway Com- pany. He abandoned that work to become a liveryman at Corning, and as such he had a successful career for twelve years. In 1896, when the Standard Manufacturing Company was organized, he was one of its stockholders and was made its manager, in which capacity he has since directed its affairs. The concern employs an average of fifteen men the year around. Its catalogue shows that it makes a fine and comprehensive line in its peculiar field.
Mr. Hungerford married in 1888 Miss Cora L. Sanford, a native of Corning and a daughter of Alfred Sanford. He is popular and prominent as a citizen, is a member of the Corning board of water commissioners and has fulfilled other public obligations, and is an Odd Fellow well known throughout the county.
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Daniel C. Hungerford, son of Elias B. and Jane E. (Gibbs) Hungerford and brother of Calvin G. Hungerford, was born at El- mira, New York, April 8, 1865, and is foreman for the Standard Manufacturing Company. The family had removed from Hornby to the city of his birth. From there they came to Corning when he was about three years old. After leaving school he was for about eight years in the grocery business at Corning. When the Standard Manufacturing Company began business he assumed his present responsible position.
In 1887 he married Miss Nettie Mercereau, daughter of Mack and Belle ( Armstrong) Mercereau, a native of Union, near Bing- hamton, Broome county, New York, who has borne him nine chil- dren : Percy M., Cedric E., Marguerite, A. Bell, Nellie M., Adeline, Leiella, Daniel C., Jr., and Lacy. As a Republican Mr. Hungerford takes an active interest in local politics. He is a man of influence in the city, scarcely less well known throughout the surrounding country than is his brother Calvin G. In all the relations of life the two represent all that is creditable in good citizenship.
REV. JAMES M. BUSTIN .- This devoted and efficient minister of the Roman Catholic church, pastor of St. Mary's parish, Corning, was born in Towanda, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1860. His boy- hood days were spent there and he was graduated at seventeen from the graded school. He was graduated from Niagara University in 1881, with the A. B. degree, received the A. M. degree in 1883, and was ordained on May 30, 1885. After a brief temporary pastorate at Cuba, Allegany county, he was for about two years assistant pastor at Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county. Then his abilities were recog- nized by his appointment to organize a new parish at North Tona- wanda, Niagara county, with his headquarters at Buffalo. In that undertaking he was successful, building a fine church edifice in 1888 and a parochial residence in 1889. In 1893 both church and residence were destroyed by fire, and with characteristic energy he set about rebuilding them. In this effort he succeeded in 1894. He remained at North Tonawanda till July, 1896, when he was called to St. Mary's parish, Corning, where he has since labored with the most satisfactory results, increasing the membership of the church from about three thousand to nearly three thousand six hundred. He has organized another parish of about one thousand seven hun- dred members and has a fine parochial school at Corning, in which about six hundred and thirty-five children are being educated. His influence in the town is in all things for the best interests of society and he is popular with citizens of all creeds and of all shades of political belief. His success has not been attained without great zeal and much hard work. His administration of the affairs of his parish marks him not only as a good man but as a business man of conspicuous constructive ability.
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