USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 38
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lished their home at Bath, Steuben county, where they passed the residue of their lives. They were folk of sterling characteristics, honest, earnest and industrious, and they were not denied the full- est measure of popular confidenee and esteem. He whose name initiates this article was afforded the advantages of the old Haver- ling school, at Bath, an institution well known as Haverling Acad- emy, and in 1861, when about fifteen years of age, he assumed a position of elerk in the dry goods store of J. & L. Buhler at Bath. When this firm retired from business Mr. Davison entered the em- ploy of W. W. Willson, who here conducted a general mercantile establishment, and this position he retained until 1864, when he enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry. He proceeded with his regiment to the front and took part in all the engagements in which it was involved from the time of his enlistment until the surrender of General Lee and the close of the war. Mr. Davison received his honorable discharge on the 13th of May, 1865, and then returned to Bath, where he entered the employ of H. W. Perine, who was here engaged in the general merchandise business. In 1882 Mr. Davison and two others entered into partnership with Mr. Perine, under the firm name of H. W. Perine & Company. This partner- ship alliance was dissolved in 1884, but Mr. Davison continued with the concern until 1890, when he formed an individual partnership with Mr. Perine, under the title of Perine & Davison. This pleasing and effective alliance continued until the death of Mr. Perine, in 1896, and shortly afterward F. N. DeCamp, a son-in-law of Mr. Davison, became associated with him in the conducting of the busi- ness, which has sinee continued under the firm name of Davison & DeCamp. Mr. Davison is recognized as one of the leading busi- ness men of Bath, and the large and substantial trade built up by his establishment is based upon careful and conscientious methods and progressive ideas. Each of the several departments of the large and well equipped store is maintained at a high standard, and the trade of the concern is of an essentially representative character.
Mr. Davison has not hedged himself in with private business interests, but has shown a loyal eoneern in all that has touched the general welfare of his home town and county. He is a staneh sup- porter of the principles and policies of the Republican party and has served as township elerk, besides which he has been called upon to serve in other offices of publie trust. He is a member of the directorate of the Bath Savings & Loan Association and is the owner of valuable real estate in his home town. He is past master of Steuben Lodge No. 112, Free & Accepted Masons, and is affili- ated with Bath Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons, and DeMolay Commandery No. 22, Knights Templars, at Hornell. He also holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
In the year 1873 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Davison to Miss Eva Hall, who was born and reared in Steuben county. She is a daughter of the late Alexander Hall, who was long numbered
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among the well known and highly honored citizens of Bath. Mr. and Mrs. Davison became the parents of two children, William and Anna B., who is now the wife of F. N. DeCamp. Mr. and Mrs. DeCamp have one daughter. As has already been noted, Mr. De- Camp is associated with Mr. Davison in business, and he has proved an able coadjutor in the conducting of the enterprise.
HON. FRANK CAMPBELL is a son of one of the old and honored families of Steuben county and is one of its essentially representa- tive business men. He has wielded much influence in political af- fairs as a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and he served two years as state comptroller. He maintains his residence in the attractive little city of Bath, where he is president of the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank.
Mr. Campbell was born at Bath, this county, on the 28th of March, 1858, and is a son of Hon. Robert and Frances (Fowler) Campbell. His father was likewise a native of Bath, where he was born on the 1st of May, 1808, a son of Robert Campbell, who was one of the first settlers of Bath, where he took up his residence in 1795, having come to America from Glasgow, Scotland. Robert Campbell, Sr., was a carpenter and builder, and he became one of the prominent and influential citizens of Steuben county. The maid- en name of his wife was Martha McCauley, and she likewise was of stanch Scotch lineage. Hon. Robert Campbell, father of him whose name initiates this review, was afforded excellent educational ad- vantages, including a course of a preparatory character in Hobart College, which was then located at Geneva, New York, and in 1826 he began the study of law in the office of Kruger & Howell, which was then the leading law firm of Steuben county. He was admitted to the bar in 1829, and in initiating the active work of his profes- sion he associated himself with William T. Worden at Auburn, Cayuga county. About two years later he returned to Bath, where he became associated in practice with his former preceptor, General Kruger, under the firm name of Kruger & Campbell. He later formed a partnership with Hon. Samuel H. Hammond. He gained prestige as one of the leading members of the bar of this section of the state and long controlled a large and important practice. He was a stalwart in the camp of the Democratic party and gave effec- tive service in behalf of its cause. In 1842 he refused the nomina- tion of his party for the office of state senator, and in 1844 he was a member of the Democratic National Convention, which nominated James K. Parker for president. In 1846 he was elected by the legislature a member of the board of regents of the University of New York, and he continued incumbent of this office until the time of his death. He was a member of the state constitutional conven- tion of 1846, and in this position he gave most effective service in formulating the new constitution. He was twice elected lieutenant governor of the state-in 1858 and 1860-and as ex-officio presi- dent of the senate he manifested marked ability and dignity. As.
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a member of the state canal board and in all other official positions to which he was called his course was characterized by utmost loyalty and fidelity, and he was indefatigable, in his efforts to promote the best interests of the state and its people. As a member of the bar he achieved prominence, though he was never notable as an elo- quent advocate. The solidity of his legal learning was uniformly recognized, and his briefs were models in diction and in the pre- senting of the salient points at issue. He was very systematic and laborious in his business habits and was a dignified and courteous gentleman of the old regime, genial and kindly in his association with his fellow-mnen and a man who ever commanded a secure place in popular esteem and confidence. Both he and his wife continued to reside at Bath until their death.
Hon. Frank Campbell gained his early educational discipline in Haverling Academy, in Bath, and in a well-ordered educational institution at Trenton, New Jersey. He early identified himself with business interests, and in this connection he has been very success- ful, having shown distinctive initiative and administrative ability. In 1883 he became associated with his brother Clarence and others in the organization of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Bath, and of this solid and popular financial institution he is now president.
Mr. Campbell has long been a potent factor in connection with the affairs of the Democratic party in this section of the state, and he served several years as a member of the Democratic state com- mittee, to which position he was first called in 1889. In 1891 he was elected state comptroller, of which office he remained incum- bent for the regular term of two years and in which he gave a most careful and effective administration. In 1892 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, and from 1896 to 1900 he was a member of the Democratic national committee. He is identified with various fraternal and social organizations of representative order.
Mr. Campbell married Miss Louise Willson, a daughter of War- ren W. Willson, a representative citizen of Steuben county. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one son, Willson R., who is now vice-presi- dent of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank.
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JOHN B. SMITH .- A native son of Steuben county, New York, John B. Smith is now engaged as engineer at Wayland, and he is recognized as a loyal and public-spirited citizen whose contribution to progress and development in this section has been of prominent order. Mr. Smith was born near Hornell, this county, on the 20th of July, 1880, and is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Lisman) Smith, the former of whom is a native of Wayland township, this county, where his birth occurred on the 14th of September, 1839, and the latter was born in Prussia, on the 15th of August, 1838. Nicholas Smith is a son of Jacob Smith, who was born and reared in Prus- sia, a province of Germany, whence he came to America with a fam- ily of six children in 1831. Settlement was made in the township
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of Wayland, Steuben county, New York, where the father engaged in farming and the timber business, reclaiming a fine farm from the virgin wilderness. The nearest market for lumber in those days was Rochester, New York. About the year 1846 Jacob Smith dis- posed of his first farm and purchased two hundred and sixty-five acres of most arable land in the vicinity of Perkinsville, where he operated a saw mill. sending his lumber to Dansville by way of the old plank road. He was a devout communicant of the Catholic church, and his death occurred in 1875. at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Raber, was sum- moned to the life eternal in 1849, at the age of forty-five years. It is interesting to note here that Jacob Smith built the first log house in Wayland township, and many a time the family awoke in the morning and found snakes coiled up near the old fireplace.
Nicholas Smith received such educational advantages in his youth as were afforded in the locality and period, and after leaving school he farmed for his parents until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, at which time he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, at Perkinsville, where he remained for two years, at the expiration of which he began to travel, working at his trade for the ensuing six years. He married and started black- smithing at Hornellsville in 1861, residing in that village until 1865, in which year he removed to Patchinsville, where he was similarly engaged for three years. In 1868 he removed to Perkinsville, where he maintained his home for some ten years. Thereafter he lived for two years at another town and for another two years at still an- other, then returned to Perkinsville for six years, and in 1885 he came to East Wayland, where he was identified with agricultural pursuits for the ensuing twelve years. In 1897 he went to Cohoc- ton, where he engaged in the hotel business, and in 1899 permanent residence was made at Patchinsville. In 1865 was recorded his mar- riage to Miss Mary Lisman, who was born in Prussia on the 15th of August, 1838, a daughter of John and Mary (Schat) Lisman. The Lisman family came to America in the year 1848 and located at old Sandy Hill, near Perkinsville, where the father engaged in farming ; he was county highway commissioner at one time. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Smith became the parents of eleven children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : Peter is a farmer near Patchinsville; Nicholas is similarly engaged in the vicinity of Rogersville; Jacob is a farmer near Cohocton ; William is a machinist in the city of Rochester: John B. is the im- mediate subject of this sketch; Lena is the wife of Mr. Grant and resides in Butte, Montana, as does also Mary, who wedded William; G. Smith; Barbara is the wife of Charles Brizette, who has a book bindery at Butte, Montana; Lizzie married a Mr. Romey, of New York; and Katie and Susie both maintain their home in Rochester, New York.
John Benjamin Smith received his preliminary educational training in the public schools of his native county, and he was asso- ciated with his father in his various enterprises until he had at-
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tained to his legal majority. In 1901 he went to Rochester, where he engaged in the restaurant business for a period of four years, after which he became manager of a similar establishment for an- other firm, and thereafter he spent three years as an engineer in that city. In May, 1907, he established his home in Wayland and here became interested in the hotel business, continuing to be iden- tified with that line of enterprise until he again turned his atten- tion to the work of engineering. Though never ambitious for the honors or emoluments of public office, Mr. Smith is a stanch Demo- crat in his political proclivities, and he gives his aid in support of all worthy projects advanced for the general welfare. In a fra- ternal way he is affiliated with various representative organizations of a local character, and in his religious faith he is a devout com- municant of the Catholic church. He is highly respected and trusted by his fellow-citizens.
GEORGETTA SMITH was born at the old Smith home, Bath township, Steuben county, New York, April 4, 1854, a daughter of Matthew Smith. Her father, a native of Scotland, learned the stone mason's trade when young and worked at it in the intervals of farm- ing after he came to the United States. He bought a farm near Savona, to which he added another, purchased later. He married Agnes Smith, daughter of another Matthew Smith, but no known relationship to himself. Her mother was Harriet Richardson. Mr. Smith of this sketch was a Democrat, active and influential in the work of his party and in religion a Presbyterian, liberal and helpful in advancing all the interests of his church. He was accidentally killed by a horse in 1875.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith had five children, only one of whom-Miss Georgetta Smith-is living. Their son John died aged fifty-six years and their daughter Jeanette aged twenty-four. The others died in infancy. Their mother died January 23, 1895, aged seventy- six years. Miss Georgetta Smith was her father's favorite and was much with him as long as he lived. After his death she devoted herself to the care of her mother, whose faithful and sympathetic companion she was until she too passed away.
Miss Smith is a woman of many accomplishments, friendly, help- ful, charitable a member and supporter of the Methodist Episco- pal church. She has given her life for the comfort of those dear to her and looks forward hopefully to the true Christian's reward.
HARRY C. BROWNSON .- A native son of the fine old Wolverine state, Harry Clark Brownson has been variously engaged in different cities and states since attaining to his legal majority and he is now following the trade of painter and paper-hanger in Wayland, where he has resided since 1905, and where his contribution to progress and good government has been of the most insistent order. He was born at Jackson, in the county of the same name, Michigan, on the 27th of May, 1883, and is a son of Clark and Cora (Hotchkiss) Brownson.
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the former of whom was summoned to eternal rest in 1883, at the age of thirty-four years, and the latter is still living, her home being in Jackson, Michigan. Mr. Brownson was engaged as a carpenter during his short life. He became the father of three children,-John Wesley, who is a shoemaker at Dansville, Livingston county ; Maud, who is the wife of Charles Mayer, resides at Jackson, Michigan; and Harry C., the immediate subject of this review. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Brownson contracted a second marriage, being united to James W. Holmes, who is now deceased. They became the parents of one child, Jennie, who is the wife of Frank Staub, of Jackson.
Harry C. Brownson was an infant at the time of his father's death and his rudimentary education consisted of the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county and Eaton Rap- ids, Michigan. He began to work when fourteen years of age and later engaged in the lumber business in northern Michigan. Later he was similarly engaged in the lake region and subsequently he spent seven years at Exeter, Michigan, attending school in the winter time and following the lumber business in the summers. He returned to Jackson, his parental home, and entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company. He continued to be iden- tified with railroad interests in this city for one year. He was then employed by the Pennsylvania Montpelier Railroad Company for an- other year. Proceeding to Cleveland, Ohio, he spent seven months in that city operating machinery, at the expiration of which time he removed to Dansville, Livingston county, New York. There he was engineer in the Blumther factory and in 1901 he severed his con- nections with this concern to accept a position with the A. J. Werd- ing Company in Dansville. Four years later, in 1905, he established his home in Wayland, Steuben county, where he was employed by Maynard Rosenkrans, and thereafter for about one year he worked at the Gunlock Chair factory. In 1907 he turned his entire time and attention to the trade of painter and paperhanger and in this line of enterprise he is achieving most gratifying success. In politics Mr. Brownson accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Re- publican party and though he has never desired public office he has ever given freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises advanced for the general welfare of the community. He is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife is a zealous communicant of the Catholic church.
On the 6th of February, 1907, Mr. Brownson was united in mar- riage to Miss Katherine Barbara Kuhn, who was born in Wayland on the 13th of November, 1878, and who is a daughter of Jacob and Thekla (Vogt) Kuhn. Mr. and Mrs. Brownson have two children- Walter Jacob, who was born in 1908, and another child, born on the 13th of November, 1910.
FRANK DOUGHTY .- In the matter of concrete accomplishment Frank Doughty has marked the passing years with very intelligible
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and appreciable achievement, and he is today numbered among the oldest and essentially representative business men of the thriving little city of Wayland, where he is a successful dealer in farm produce and where his course has been so guided as to retain to him unqual- ified popular confidence and regard.
Frank Doughty is a native son of Steuben county and a scion of one of its old and honored families. He was born on the old home- stead farm of the family, in Wayland township, on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1839, and is a son of Wesley Doughty, who was born in New Jersey. He passed the closing years of his life in the village of Way- land, where he died in 1896, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. Wesley Doughty was a son of Zachariah and Phoebe Doughty, both of whom were born and reared in New Jersey, whence they came to Steuben county in the pioneer days, making the journey with two ox teams and wagons, by means of which were transported their household goods. Zachariah Doughty secured one hundred acres of wild land in Wayland township, selecting a tract on which were large pine trees and a creek. He erected a slab shanty and in this prim- itive dwelling established a home for his wife and two children. He set to himself the herculean task of reclaiming his farm from the forest and eventually brought the greater portion of his land under cultivation. He erected the first saw mill in this locality, and his farm was two and one-half miles distant from the present village of Wayland. Here he continued to reside until his death, in 1864, at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife preceded him to eternal rest, both having been zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Zachariah Doughty was originally a Whig, but he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party at the time of its organization, thereafter supporting its cause with all of loyalty, besides which he did all in his power to support the Union at the time of the Civil war, before the close of which his death occurred.
Wesley Doughty was a child at the time of the family removal to Steuben county and here he was reared to manhood under the conditions and influences of the pioneer era, assisting in the devel- opment of the home farm and securing such advantages as were afforded in the primitive schools. of the locality and period. He eventually engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own responsibility and became the owner of a good farm near the village of Wayland. The locality has long been known as Doughty's Corners. Eventually he purchased the old homestead secured by his father in the early days, and members of the family have been prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of this section of the county, the name standing exponent of sterling integrity, well directed indus- try and generous accomplishment in connection with normal lines of enterprise, including not only agriculture and stock-growing but also dealing in timber, lumber, horses, cattle, produce, etc. Wesley Doughty continued to be identified with farming and stock-growing, as well as with the lumber industry, during his entire active career, and he became one of the substantial business men and influential
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citizens of this section. He was loyal and progressive in his civic attitude and contributed in large measure to the furtherance of en- terprises and measures conserving the prosperity and advancement of the county. He was one of those largely concerned in the build- ing of the plank road between Wayland and Dansville, and in the carly days this was maintained as a toll road, having nine toll sta- tions. He assisted in the upbuilding of the village of Wayland, where he lived virtually retired during the closing years of his life. He was a zealous and intelligent supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party and both he and his wife were devout mem- bers of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He served six years as county commissioner and was also called to other local offices of trust. In a reminiscent way it is interesting to record that he was the first citizen of Wayland township to have the distinction of owning a buggy, and the vehicle attracted much attention at the time. Of the six children of Wesley Doughty the subject of this review and the four others survive: Murray, who is a representative agriculturist of Springwater township, Livingston county, this state; Danford, who is a successful farmer in Steuben county ; Elijah W., who is now a resident of Batavia, Genesee county; and Mary, who is the wife of Mr. Loucks, of Avoca, Steuben county.
Frank Doughty passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm and early began to contribute his quota to its work, the while he availed himself of the privileges of the local schools, whose discipline was supplemented by a two years' course in Starkey Seminary. He purchased a farm in Springwater township, Livingston county, but two years later he sold that property and took up his residence in the village of Wayland, where he was employed in a warehouse for the ensuing five years and where he became the owner of a good resi- dence property. He finally sold his house and lot in the village and purchased a farm near Avoca, where he remained one year. He then returned to Wayland, but shortly afterward he purchased his father-in-law's farm, in Springwater township, Livingston county, a property which he still owns. After residing on the farm for one year he returned to Wayland, where he served for nine years as sales- man and bookkeeper for the firm of Humphrey & Morris. Since 1901 he has been successfully established in business as a dealer in farm produce, as junior member of the firm of Oliver & Doughty. The firmi controls an extensive business in the buying and shipping of produce and branch establishments are maintained at Perkinsville, Dansville and Cohocton, with headquarters at Wayland. The firm ships an average of five hundred cars of produce each year and the enterprise thus proves a valuable adjunet to the industrial and com- mercial activities of this section of the state. Hay, grain and wool are handled in large quantities and the reputation of the firm for fair and honorable dealings is unassailable. In politics Mr. Doughty gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and while he takes a loyal interest in all that touches the welfare of the community he has never had aught of ambition for official preferment. He is affil-
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