USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Mr. Young is a member of the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineers' Club of New York City, the New York Railroad Club, the National Electric Light Association, the New York Electrical Society, the National Geographical Society, the American Electric Railway Association, and the Steuben County Society of New York City. He is a man of much initiative and marked resourcefulness, and his high standing in his chosen field of endeavor affords the best evidence of his fine technical and executive powers. He is a man of genial personality and his sterling characteristics have gained to him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has come in contact during his wide and interesting business ex- perience as well as those met in connection with social activities. His political allegiance is given to the Gold-Democratic party, but, subordinating all other interests to his profession, he has never cared to enter the turmoil of so-called practical politics, although interested in and identified with civic activities.
In October, 1891, Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Curtis Leonard, daughter of Solomon M. and Elizabeth (Hastings) Leonard, the former of whom was born at Troy, Penn- sylvania, and the latter at Hammondsport, Steuben county, New York, where her father was an honored pioneer and influential citizen. Mr. and Mrs Young have one daughter, Elizabeth Gordon Young.
WILLIAM H. FARNHAM .- Few citizens of Addison contribute in larger measure to the prosperity of that attractive little city than William H. Farnham, a gentleman who is well known in the tobacco
897
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
trade throughout the southern tier of New York counties and in Northern Pennsylvania. It is he who figures as captain of the im- portant firm of Farnam & Reynolds, packers and wholesalers of leaf tobacco, the business mentioned being one of those which lend prestige to Steuben county. He is also one of the county's large landowners, his property including several farms of great value.
Mr. Farnham has particular reason for that loyalty he gives to Addison and the county, for it is dear to him through many asso- ciations, among them the primary tie of birth, for in Addison his eyes first opened to the light of day, November 11, 1860. The scene of the early history of the Farnham family in America is New England, that cradle of so much of our national history, and the state of Connecticut was the birthplace of Mr. Farnham's father, George Farnham, who came a pioneer to Steuben county in 1856, only a few years previous to the birth of the subject. The father was a merchant and lumber dealer and played a prominent and praiseworthy part in the affairs of the community in which his interests were centered. He was a man of remarkable business sagacity and energy and there were few matters looking towards the advancement and upbuilding of the community in which he was not concerned. He was a Democrat, subscribing with enthusiasm to its articles of faith and very influential in politics. This well- remembered citizen died when seventy-six years of age. His wife, mother of the subject, was a daughter of Steuben county, her maiden name having been Julia Wambaugh. Her father, William Wam- baugh, was an early settler here and has a place in history among the leading pioneers. A man of force and ability he became a large land owner and proprietor of sawmills and gristmills, and his active and useful career was terminated by his death about 1856. George Farnum and Julia Wambaugh were married in Steuben county and became the parents of three children. Hannah C. is the wife of Hon. Byron C. Stout, of Pontiac, Michigan; George, Jr., is a wholesale dealer in boots and shoes in Buffalo, New York; and William H. is the youngest in order of birth.
William H. Farnham has given Addison unmistakable proof of the sincerity of his devotion by electing to pass his active career within its borders. Here he passed his boyhood and early yonth and to the excellent public schools is he indebted for his early edn- cational advantages. He was fortunate in securing an exceptionally good education, following his public school career with attendance at Alfred University, in Alfred, Allegany county, and going thence to that noted institution, the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He had had some experience in the management of agri- cultural property and after receiving his degree from the last- named university, he took charge of the home farm for a time. He eventually engaged in the produce and leaf tobacco trade and was chiefly instrumental in developing the concern now known as Farnham & Reynolds. In Masonry Mr. Farnham is locally promi- nent.
898
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
SHERMAN SMITH, an enterprising and successful farmer in Bath township, Steuben county, New York, is a native of the town- ship, born on his present home, January 14, 1866. He is a son of Andrew Jackson and Zidana (Le Gro) Smith, and grandson of Charles and Azilla (Morgan) Smith. He great-grandfather, An- drew Smith, immigrated to America in 1793 and the following year took up three hundred acres of land in Bath township, as men- tioned in the sketch of Miss Nancy Smith, found elsewhere in this work. Charles Smith, a pioneeer farmer of Bath township, was born in 1796 and died in 1864. His wife was a daughter of General Morgan, a soldier in the Revolution, who was captured by the British and kept a prisoner in a man-of-war in New York harbor, where he died. Andrew Jackson Smith was born on the old Smith home, October 24, 1827, and died November 26, 1889. His wife was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dudley) Le Gro. His early married life was spent in Columbus, Ohio, where he kept a tin shop. Later he returned to New York state and became a farmer. Mr. Smith and his wife had nine children, as follows: Jeannie Azilla, Samuel Le Gro, Mary Angeline, William Charles, Sherman Tecumseh, Hoxie Wilber, Fred Douglass, Nellie Louisa and James Lee.
After completing his education, Sherman T. Smith began farm- ing with his father. He has been a farmer all his life, and has a good dairy, keeping twenty cows and making a specialty of Hol- stein cattle. He has been a Republican in politics, although he has never cared for public office. He has always been identified with every good cause and used his influence to promote the welfare of the community. He is a worthy representative of a family that has been most highly esteemed for many generations in Steuben county and is accounted a public-spirited, useful citizen.
Mr. Smith married, March 14, 1900, Lizzie Grace Hadden, daughter of James L. and Eliza Adelia (Silliman) Hadden, of Bath township. She was born July 31, 1873, in Bath township. Children as follows have blessed this union: Sherman T., Jr., nine years of age, and Leon Burton, six years of age.
DR. GEORGE CONDERMAN was born October 15, 1868, in Fre- mont, Steuben county, New York, and is a son of John D. and Aseneth Conderman. His father first saw the light of day in Warren, Herkimer county, New York, and eventually became one of the early settlers of Steuben county. The grandfather, Adam Conderman, brought his family to this section many years ago, John D. being young at the time of the exodus. The maiden name of the mother of the subject was Aseneth Spaulding, she being a native of Tompkins county, New York, and a daughter of George Spaulding, also born there, and who subsequently became a promi- nent resident of Howard, New York. The father died July 30, 1890, in Hornellsville, New York, at the age of seventy, and the mother is living in Hornellsville at the age of eighty-five. They
899
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
reared a family of four sons-Frank, Laverne and George now be- ing residents of Hornell, while Charles met with an accidental death at the age of thirty-eight.
Dr. George Conderman was the youngest of the children born to his parents. When six years of age he was brought by them to Hornellsville, now Hornell, where he has since resided, his early education being received at the public schools, he graduating from the Hornell Free Academy in 1884. Taking up the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. Clair S. Parkhill, he entered the College of Physicians & Surgeons, of New York city. Taking his degree from the University of Vermont in 1889, he completed his medical education at the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital in 1890. For twelve years he followed the practice of his profession in Hornellsville, New York.
In 1892 Dr. Conderman became financially interested in the Clemons Belt Sander, a machine which eventually revolutionized the question of sanding and today the same is in use in all the principal countries of the world. He organized the Clemons Ma- chine Company in 1892 and has served as its president since its incorporation. The profits resulting from the manufacture and sale of their product netted the company very satisfactory returns and inasmuch as Dr. Conderman has ever been a firm believer in the future of Hornell, he has invested largely in Hornell real estate and today is the owner of some of the choicest property in the city.
Politically Dr. Conderman has been prominently identified with the Republican party. He has represented his city for six years on the board of supervisors and is at present a member of the board of public safety. He is past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 364, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and has been prominent in other fraternal societies. He affiliates with medical associations, has been a contributor to professional literature and he owns a fine and constantly growing library. In 1884 he married Miss Mildred J. Boyd, of Hornellsville, New York.
Dr. Conderman is a type of citizenship characterized by those of Dutch descent. He is liberal in his views, temperate in his habits, upright and honorable in all his relations in professional, business and social life. He is conservative in his business deal- ings and possesses a well-poised intellect which qualifies him as one of sound judgment. He is therefore able to hold positions of responsibility and trust in a manner to merit the confidence of the public.
FARY BUCHANAN BEECHER, a leading lawyer of Atlanta, Steu- ben county, is also a prominent Democrat of this section of the state, and has demonstrated his reliability, as well as merited pop- ularity in the community, by his many years of service as justice of the peace. A native of Fremont township, he was born on the 2nd of June, 1856, and is a son of Randall F. and Statira (Sand- ford) Beecher. The father, who was born June 4, 1814, after
900
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
receiving a thorough education, according to the standard of his day, adopted veterinary and agricultural matters as his life work. In 1835 he settled in Howard township, where he remained until 1850, when he moved to Fremont township, purchasing a home- stead near Joab's Corners. There he resided and honored the family name until his death November 12, 1876.
The wife and mother was a native of Bald Hill, Ontario county, New York, born on the 7th of September, 1821, and she died at Atlanta, New York, October 6, 1909. She was of substantial New England and German blood her father, Hezekiah Sandford, being a native of the Green Mountain state, and her mother, Catherine Yerton (before marriage), a daugter of the Germanic fatherland, whose family first took roct in the United States in 1817.
Although there were fourteen children in the family, Mr. Beecher managed to give them all a good education, and as Fary B. evinced a special aptitude for the acquisition of intellectual capital he was particularly encouraged to continue his studies be- yond the average standard. After mastering the common branches, at the age of seventeen he commenced a course at the Rogers Union Seminary, and afterward entered the office of O. S. Scool, of Cohocton, as a law student.
Admitted to the bar in 1891, Mr. Beecher was granted the privilege of practicing in all courts of the United States, 1894, and still later received his LL. D. diploma. He has spent his entire professional life in Atlanta and is a most worthy representative of his calling and of the best citizenship of the Empire state. He commenced his official service as justice of the peace in 1880, and in his capacity as a citizen has actively promoted the interests of Democracy through his membership on the county committee and his private efforts in behalf of the party which he so stanchly supports.
As a man of domestic tastes and virtues, Mr. Beecher in- augurated this phase of his life by his marriage to Miss Emma E. Johnson, daughter of William L. and Eliza J. (Ellsworth) John- son. His wife was born on Christmas day of 1862. She certainly has proven to be a precious gift to him and has presented him with two sons and two daughters who have matured in a way to gladden the hearts of their parents. Don. L., the eldest, is a de- partment head in the large Sibley store of Rochester, New York; Dana C., a progressive electrician of Canada: Una M., a teacher now in Geneseo, Livingston county, and Marion is a bright student in the Atlanta high school.
Mr. Beecher is a descendant of Hezekiah, one of three famous brothers, Dr. Lyman, Hezekiah, and Linas, being descendants of two brothers who came to this country on the Mayflower in 1620. Mr. Beecher has devoted some time in collecting historical records of the county and state, and that of the Randoll family, one of whom was his father's mother, as well as the Beecher family, and is now in possession of many interesting facts connected with this subject.
901
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
REV. WALTER L. LEE, pastor of St. Patrick's parish, in the eastern section of the city of Corning, is one of the most eminent members of the Catholic priesthood of Steuben county, New York. Devoted heart and soul to the cause to which he has given his fine intellect, inspiring character and splendid executive traits, he is revered and honored by priesthood and laity, and his work, al- though virtually but begun, has been one of high and admirable achievement. Father Lee was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, February 10, 1871. coming to Buffalo in early childhood. His parents were John and Honora (Walsh) Lee, both of whom had their nativity in Ireland, the former in County Westmeath, and the latter in County Clare. John Lee was born May 9, 1834, and when a lad but sixteen years of age he hearkened to the call of opportunity from the shore of the New World and crossed the Atlantic to claim his share. He made permanent location in the state where he first touched American soil, drifting to the city of Buffalo, where he resided almost continuously for the rest of his days. The elever young Irishman learned the carpenter's trade and later became a general contractor, the independence and pros- perity of which he had dreamed falling to his share in fullest measure. He was a man of undoubted ability and among the responsible offices held by him was that of lumber inspector at Buffalo. The mother's birth was upon March 25, 1835. She came to America in 1854, when a maiden less than nineteen years of age, and two years later, June 2, 1856, she and John Lee were united in marriage. After fifty years of devoted and ideally happy married life, in 1906, they celebrated their golden wedding in Holy Angels church, Buffalo, the church in which they had first exchanged their marriage vows. The father died in Buffalo, June 28, 1909, and the mother survived him only a little over a year, her demise occurring September 14, 1910.
Rev. Father Lee received his preliminary education in the Holy Angels' school, of Buffalo, and subsequent to that entered St. Joseph's College, where he completed his classical course, grad- uating in 1888. In September of the same year he entered Niagara University, at Niagara Falls, where he began his seminary course in preparation for the priesthood. In 1891 he received his Bae- calaureate and in 1893 the degree of Master of Arts from Niagara University. He is a student of rare attainments and that a useful and brilliant career lay before him was evident even at that time. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1895, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryan, at Niagara University, and a few days later took up the work to which his many years of valiant preparation had looked. It was in fact on June 20, 1895, that he was appointed by Bishop Ryan, assistant to Very Rev. Dean Colgan of St. Mary's church, Corning, New York. In this important field he had an opportunity of manifesting his zeal and ability, and of assisting in no small measure in the growth of the parish. In 1902, in evidence of the marked approval of the elders of the church he was assigned
902
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
by Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester, to the pastorate of the new St. Patrick's parish, founded that year in the eastern section of the city of Corning, and in that pastorate he has since continued his labors which have been crowned with the greatest success. As an expounder of the Scriptures Father Lee is eloquent and en- lightened and the affection and respect in which he is held by his flock is of the highest order. He maintains fraternal relations in two of the organizations for which the Catholic church stands sponsor,-the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association to which he has belonged since 1898, and to the Knights of Columbus, his member- ship being with Corning Council No. 281. In both of the above he has several times served as chaplain or spiritual director.
In the ensuing paragraphs is given a brief sketch of the history and affairs of St. Patrick's parish, of Corning, New York, to which have been devoted for the past decade the labors of Father Lee. St. Patrick's parish was organized August 10, 1902, by Rt. Rev. B. J. McQuaid, Bishop of Rochester, who appointed as its first pastor Rev. Walter J. Lee, who, as previously mentioned, at that time was assistant pastor of St. Mary's parish, of Corning, from which parish the new St. Patrick's was detached. During the first year, the services of St. Patrick's were held in the building which stood at the corner of Market and Steuben streets, but these humble quarters of course, were understood to be but temporary. In 1903 Father Lee began the erection of a handsome new building, de- signed to serve as a parochial school, with church quarters on the first floor, a plan adopted by the bishop of the diocese for every new parish. The cost of this building was about $23,000. The corner stone was blessed on June 21st by Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid, who also officiated at the dedication of the church and school on the 1st of November, 1903. The site includes about two hundred and eighty- two feet on East Erie avenue, west of Steuben street, on the corner of which is located the rectory of St. Patrick's parish. The school is under the supervision of the rector and is taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have their residence in the adjoining convent on East Erie avenue. The parish numbers over 1,100 souls and the school has an enrollment of two hundred and sixteen pupils. Regents examinations are held in the school each year and at their conclusion are held the graduating exercises for the pupils entitled to diplomas, such admitting them to the Corning Free Academy. The Alumni Association, at the end of eight years numbers over one hundred members. The building is of the most commodious character, and in the basement of the combined church and school building is an assembly hall and library for the church societies. St. Patrick's parish is now (in 1910) practically free of debt and a building fund is in progress to provide the future new church.
HORACE DYER BALDWIN, who was lawyer and prominent citi- zen of Steuben county, represented one of its pioneer families. He was born at Sherburne, Chenango county, New York, June 24,
6.3-06
Horace W. Baldwin
905
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
1838. His family history presents many distinguished members, the name having been one to which attached much honor in Colonial days, and its luster having by no means dimmed with the present generation. Abram Baldwin, great uncle of him whose name initiates this review, was born November 27, 1754; graduated from Yale College in 1772; was chaplain in the Revolutionary war; studied law; and settled in Savannah, Georgia. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1788 and a member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. He was representative in Congress from 1789 to 1799 and a mem- ber of the United States senate from 1799 to 1807. He died March 4, 1807. A detailed history of this eminent statesman and patriot is to be found in the American Monthly Magazine (published by the Daughters of the American Revolution) for March, 1910, pp. 313, 314, 315 and 316. Joel Barlow, the renowned author of "Hasty Pudding" and other productions, one of the "Hartford Wits," married Ruth Baldwin, a member of the family of the sub- ject. He was brigade chaplain in the Revolutionary war and pub- lished the ."Columbiad" in 1808. He was minister to France in 1811. Another distinguished Baldwin was Judge Simeon E. Bald- win, of the Connecticut supreme court.
Horace Baldwin, father of Horace Dyer Baldwin, was born at Goshen, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August, 1796, and came to Woodhull, Steuben county, in 1840. He was a merchant, one of the first, in fact, in the village. He became well known and influential in the county and was active as a business man until his death, which occurred February, 1854. Horace Baldwin's father, Elisha Baldwin, a native of Goshen, Connecticut, lived and died there. He was of English descent and his family history was of the most interesting character. By occupation he was a farmer. Rev. Theron Baldwin, son of Elisha and brother of Horace Baldwin, clergyman and educator, was born at Goshen, Connecticut, July 21, 1801, and was graduated from Yale College in 1827. After two years' study in the theological seminary there he was ordained a home missionary in 1829 and became one of the celebrated "Yale College Band," or "Western College Society," of which he was corresponding secretary during most of his life. He was settled as a Congregational minister at Vandalia, Illinois, for two years and was active in procuring the charter of Illinois College at Jackson- ville, of which he was a trustee from its organization to his death. He served for a number of years following 1831 as agent of the Home Missionary Society of Illinois and in 1838 became the first principal of the Female Seminary at Monticello, Illinois, of which he was at the head for five years. He died at Orange, New Jersey, April 10, 1870. Abram Baldwin, brother of Horace and Theron Baldwin, also a graduate of Yale, died in the foreign missionary service.
Horace Baldwin married Penelope Allen, who was born at' North Kingston, Washington county, Rhode Island, in 1796. Their
906
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
wedding took place in 1835. He died in 1854, she in 1879; he aged about fifty-eight, she aged eighty-three. They had but two chil- dren, Horace Dyer and Clarendon. The latter was born in Nor- wich, Chenango county, in April, 1836, and died in September, 1897.
Horace Dyer Baldwin passed his boyhood days in Woodhull, attending district school and J. S. Dolson, of Hornell, was one of his earliest teachers. He later studied at Troupsburg Academy, under the principalship of Professors Newell and Reynolds; he attended the historic school at Woodhull in 1851; and was grad- uated from Oxford Academy, Oxford, Chenango county, under the principalship of Prof. Humphrey, in the fall of 1855. In 1859 he matriculated at Alfred University, Alfred, Allegany county, where he was graduated in 1863. In this latter interval-in 1861, almost immediately after the outbreak of the Civil war-he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infan- try, at Addison, and served with that organization until honorably discharged for disability. After completing his education, he taught school at Rathbone, Erwin, and Addison, Steuben county, for three years, meantime studying law in the office of Hon. F. C. and Col. J. W. Dininny, at Addison. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester, New York, at the general term of the supreme court of the state of New York, in June. 1866, and was for three years thereafter associated in the practice of law with his former pre- ceptors at Addison. Since then, individually, he gave his attention to general practice in all the courts of the state, with a degree of success that is well known to his fellow citizens at Addison. He presented the somewhat remarkable record of having been for forty years continuously a notary public. He inherited Republican prin- ciples and naturally and without debate with himself became a member of the Republican party when he became a voter. From that time he acted consistently with that great and progressive political body, voting for Lincoln in 1864 and voting at every presi- dential election afterward for the Republican nominee.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.