USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 8
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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
Charles Duane Baker was afforded excellent educational ad- vantages in his youth, having gained his early discipline in the common schools of his native county and having later attended Overland College for two years. He was then matriculated in Cornell University, at Ithaca, in which institution he completed the classical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1874, duly receiving his degree of Bachelor of Arts. Shortly
afterwards he returned to his native county and located at Corning, where he began the study of law, under effective preceptorship, one of his instructors having been Judge Bradley, a representative member of the bar of that county. He made excellent progress in his absorption and assimilation of the science of jurisprudence and was admitted to the bar in 1876. Thereafter he was actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Corning for a number of years, having been associated for some time with John W. Brown and later with Henry Thompson. In 1884 he was elected to repre- sent the Second district of Steuben county in the state legislature, in which he served three consecutive terms and in which he made an admirable record. At the close of his last term, he removed
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to New York city, where he engaged in the general practice of his profession. Two years later he was appointed assistant United States attorney, under the administration of President Harrison, and during his incumbency of this office his headquarters were maintained in the Federal building. He finally resigned the office and resumed the private practice of his profession but under the administration of President McKinley he was again appointed United States district attorney, of which position he continued in tenure also during the administration of President Roosevelt. He resigned the office in 1908 and thereafter was engaged in private practice until 1910, when he was appointed to his present im- portant office, that of special counsel and attorney for the newly organized department of justice in New York city, this appointment having been made by Attorney General Wickersham. Mr. Baker has ever given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party and he has rendered yeoman service in behalf of its cause in the various campaigns, being known as an able exponent of its principles and as an especially resourceful campaign orator. He is recognized as one of the finely equipped members of the bar of his native state and he has won distinctive prestige both as an advocate and as a counselor He continues to take a lively interest in the affairs of his native county and signifies the same by his membership in Steuben County Society of New York City. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and holds membership in various civic organiza- tions.
In January, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Baker to Miss Letitia Beattie Rock, a daughter of Alfred Rock, a well known citizen of Brooklyn, New York. The three children of this union are, Charles Duane, Jr., David Dudley Field and Caroline Beattie.
ELMER S. REDMAN .- Among those citizens whom Hornell is happy to call representative stands Elmer S. Redman, who since September, 1898, has held the position of city superintendent of public schools. As an educator of high ideals and splendid accom- plishment he enjoys prestige throughout this section of the Em- pire state. No field is more important and nowhere is enlightened effort farther reaching in effect than in public education and to Dr. Redman's progressiveness Hornell is indeed indebted, her schools being of excellent order. He is also a lecturer of note, being eloquent, logical and convincing and many educational bodies have reaped the benefits of his originality.
Dr. Redman was born in Allen, New York, August 19, 1861, his parents being John D. Redman, Jr. and Clarissa A. (Scoville) Red- man. These worthy people are representatives of old and honored families of New England, that cradle of so much of our national history. The father was born in the city of Boston and the mother in Vermont, the immediate forebears of both parents having been prominent in the Revolutionary war. The Redmans were the stanchest of patriots, and among the dearest possessions of Dr. Redman is a small chest taken from a "tea-ship" in the Boston
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harbor by his great-great-grandfather. In the matter of vocation the subject has in a measure followed in the footsteps of his father, that gentleman having answered to the double calling of farmer and schoolmaster.
Dr. Redman enjoyed the advantages of a wide and varied edu- cation. His preliminary schooling was in the country schools and he subsequently attended Belfast high school, from whose portals he advanced to the Geneseo State Normal School, from which latter institution he was graduated. By no means of the type which is content to let well enough alone he attended university after uni- versity and added degree to degree, receiving the inestimable benefit of association with some of the finest minds of the age. In 1892 he was graduated from the Illinois Wesleyan University, in 1894 ob- taining the degree of Master of Arts by post-graduate work, and in 1898 becoming entitled to that of Doctor of Philosophy. In 1894 he was also awarded the degree of Master of Arts by Alfred University of Alfred, New York, and later he attended lectures at the New York University. To add to all this he studied abroad, in the years 1896, 1905 and 1909, the scenes of his foreign study being all the countries of Europe except Russia and Spain.
Dr. Redman has been a teacher from his earliest youth. Dur- ing his first years of college life he taught school in order to obtain money to pursue his education, and his success from the first, and the never-failing satisfaction taken by the public in his efforts in the training of the youthful mind, led him to adopt the pedagogical profession as a life work. He has held various important posts, all of them in his native state. He was for three years principal of the Angelica high school and then removed to Belfast, where he was engaged in a similar capacity for a like period of years. Rockville Centre became the scene of his endeavors, and for six years he acted as principal of the schools of that thriving Long Island town, just outside Greater New York City, severing his associations there to accept the superintendency of the schools of Hornell, where he has continued for more than twelve years. He has also had a short but interesting experience as a newspaper man, having for a time edited the Livingston County Progress.
Politically Dr. Redman is independent, in his convictions the best man and the best measure far outweighing mere partisanship. His fraternal affiliations extend to the ancient and august Masonic order and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in which he has held various offices, such as deacon, president of the board of trustees, etc. He is a valued member of several organiza- tions having to do with his profession, these including the National Education Association, the State Council of School Superintendents and the State Association of Normal Schools; the second and third having claimed his as president.
In the year 1884 Dr. Redman insured a congenial life com- panionship by his union with Miss Mary L. Dexter, daughter of William Dexter, of Angelica, New York. The children of this
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marriage are Iona Fern, born in 1892; Gladstone Elmer, born in 1894, and Olive, born in 1900.
COLONEL ANDREW JACKSON SWITZER, who resides in the attrac- tive little city of Bath, is a native son of Steuben county and a member of one of its sterling pioneer families. He has been con- spicuously identified with the upbuilding of grape-culture and the wine industry, which have given this county wide prestige and have added largely to its material and civic prosperity. Colonel Switzer was born at Bradford, Steuben county, on the 8th of February, 1833, and is a son of John and Sarah (Rowles) Switzer, the former was born in Newark, New Jersey, and the latter also in New Jersey. The father died in Bradford, Steuben county, where he passed the major portion of his life and he was an octogenarian at the time of his death. His cherished and devoted wife lived to at- tain to the venerable age of more than ninety years. John Switzer was a son of John Switzer, who, with his wife, immigrated from Germany to America and the limitations of whose financial resources may be realized when it is stated that for three years after their arrival in the United States they utilized all their surplus earnings in paying for their passage on the vessel which brought them to the new world. They became the parents of four children, Henry, John, William and Peter, and when John, the second son, was nine years of age they removed to Steuben county and located in Brad- ford township. Here the father purchased about two sections of land and he reclaimed a considerable portion of the tract to culti- vation, continuing to reside on the homestead until his death. After the death of his father John Switzer, Jr., inherited about one hun- dred and sixty acres of the old homestead and he developed this tract into a productive farm, upon which both he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their death, their marriage having been solemnized in Steuben county.
Colonel Andrew J. Switzer passed his boyhood days on the home farm and after availing himself of the advantages of the common schools he continued his studies in Alfred University. That he made good use of the opportunities thus given him is shown by the fact that as a young man he became a successful and popular teacher in Haverling Academy, at Bath, an institution that has long held a high reputation. He finally went to Watertown, Wisconsin, where he taught school for one winter and he then went to the city of Chicago, whence he proceeded to Lawrence, Kansas, where he remained a few months. From that place he went to Topend and thence he accompanied his cousin, John Brown, to Atchison, Kan- sas. He met with numerous adventures on his trip through the west and at Kansas City, Missouri, he met his brother, Richard, whom he accompanied to Council Bluffs, Iowa. From that point the brothers proceeded by stage to Burlington, that state, and thence to central Illinois, where the brother of the Colonel purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at Mendota. The Colonel himself soon afterward returned to the old homestead farm near Bradford,
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Steuben county, having inherited this property from his father. A year later he sold the farm and located at Hammondsport, where he studied law for a short time, under the preceptorship of Clark Bell, with whom he soon became interested in the growing of grapes. Messrs. Bell and Switzer, together with Henry H. Cook, purchased about thirty acres of grape vineyard and Colonel Switzer assumed the active supervision of the same. In December, 1864, the three interested principals, Colonel Switzer and Messrs. Bell and Cook, effected the organization of the Urbana Wine Company, which was incorporated in January, 1865. John W. Davis, Henry Harlow Hakes and D. M. Hildreth later became stockholders in the company and Colonel Switzer became general manager of the busi- ness. He has been actively and prominently identified with grape culture and the manufacturing of wine during the long intervening years and is at the present time secretary of the Urbana Wine Company, as well as a member of its board of directors. The product of this company is of the highest standard and has done much to give precedence to Steuben county as a wine manufacturing center. The company has long controlled a large and substantial trade and it is one of the largest concerns of the kind in this section of the state. While the manufactory of the company is located at Hammondsport Colonel Switzer has maintained his residence at Bath since 1880. He has been connected with the company forty- six years.
Colonel Switzer has long been recognized as one of the progres- sive and public-spirited citizens of his native county and he has done all in his power to further its social and material development and upbuilding. He has given his allegiance to the Republican party since the time of its organization, with the exception of the occasion when Horace Greeley was the nominee of the Democratic party for president of the United States. Horace Greeley, in fact, made him a Republican for he was born a Democrat. Colonel Switzer served on the military staffs of Governors Crane and Cornell with the rank of colonel and from this service he gained the title by which he is familiarly known. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church.
In the year 1862 was solemnized the marriage of Colonel Swit- zer to Miss Fidelia Hastings, who was born in Bath and reared in Howard township, Steuben county, where her father settled in the pioneer days. Colonel and Mrs. Switzer became the parents of four children, concerning whom the following brief record is given : Luin is engaged in the drug business at Southport, Connecticut; Charles C. is a representative dentist of Norwich, New York; George H. is an electrical engineer by profession and resides at Bath, Steuben county ; and Henry died in infancy.
CHARLES A. MILLER .- A prominent member of that progres- sive and public-spirited citizenship in which Steuben county takes
Vol. II-5
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proper pride is Charles A. Miller, a prosperous farmer and poultry raiser residing in Rathbone township. As in so many instances when tracing the lineage of America's best stock it is discovered that Mr. Miller's forebears are German, his parents, Maurice and Marie (Schaefer) Miller, both being natives of the "Fatherland." They followed the westward course of emigration to America early in the fifties, breaking home ties for the fuller opportunities of a new land. They lived for a time in New York city, and it was in this metropolis that Mr. Miller was born. The father was a tin and copper smith and was a mechanic of a high order of ability, and he continued to pursue his trade in this country. When Mr. Miller was still a youth his father moved his family to Chicago. The father continued to reside in that city until the time of his death and Mr. Miller's residence there was of twenty-three years' dura- tion. After he had received his education in New York city he almost immediately took up his struggle with the world, and entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It is a favor- able comment upon his ability and trustworthiness that he con- tinued in the service of this railway for over twenty years, serving for seven and a half years as fireman and for fifteen and a half as locomotive engineer.
In course of time Mr. Miller, who had always had some inclina- tion toward agriculture, came eastward again to Steuben county and became the possessor of a farm of eighty acres of valuable land. This farm, which he has had under his management since 1895, is centrally located and has many natural advantages in addition to the up-to-date improvements whichi have been lavished upon it. In connection with his farming Mr. Miller raises poultry and his efforts in this line have been crowned with undeniable success. He winters about three hundred laying hens, besides his other fowls for breeding purposes, and his poultry is of the best strain of White Leghorn. It was in 1904 that Mr. Miller decided to devote part of his attention to the poultry business and he has found in it much pleasure as well as profit. He stands high in the affection and esteem of his neighbors and he is serving his second term as a justice of the peace, in which capacity he has given the highest sat- isfaction. He is a member of the Grange and he and his family are earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to which they give generous support in every way.
Mr. Miller laid the foundation of a happy household in 1878, in which year he was united in marriage to Miss Ida Falkner, daughter of Rensselaer and Mary Falkner. Mrs. Miller was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1856. She comes of fine Amer- ican stock, many of her ancestors having been stanch patriots who gladly risked their lives for their country. Her father did valiant service at the time of the Rebellion. He served three years and was Quartermaster Sergeant of Company H, Second Regiment Colorado Volunteer Cavalry. In one encounter he had a horse shot from un- der him. Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Smith, was mar- ried three times to three sisters in succession, by whom he had
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seven children. One of these sons, Asa, was a classmate of President Arthur. The Smiths are closely related to the Howlands, who came to this continent in the Mayflower. They ultimately settled in Pennsylvania and their descendants migrated to Steuben county. The previously mentioned Benjamin Smith saw service in the war of 1812. This heritage of patriotism has been an inspiration to Mrs. Miller's children, who are of the best type of young American citizenhood. Mr. Miller's children are five in number : C. Arthur, who married Miss Florence Merring; Herbert F., who married Miss Kate Young; Maud E., now Mrs. F. Perry; Marie I., now Mrs. R. Hannah, and Maurice E., who is a law student.
DOUGLASS H. SMITH, M. D .- It is gratifying to enter record concerning the career of Dr. Smith, from the fact that he is a native of Steuben county, a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families and a worthy representative of the profession which was dignified and honored by the life and services of his father. He is engaged in the active practice of his profession at Bath and is known as one of the able and successful physicians and surgeons of his native county.
Dr. Douglass H. Smith was born at Bath, Steuben county, New York, on the 22nd of October, 1879, and is a son of Dr. Ira P. and Harriet Amelia (Smith) Smith. Dr. Ira P. Smith was born at Rogersville, Steuben county, on the 19th of August, 1835, and he died at Bath, this county, on the 26th of May, 1905. His wife was born in the town of Bath, this county, on the 28th of February, 1842, and here she passed away on the 11th of December, 1907. Andrew Smith, the maternal great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this review, was a native of Scotland, whence he emigrated to America in 1792, coming with Colonel Williamson, the first set- tler of Steuben county. Andrew Smith for some time had charge of the farming operations of his friend and associate, Colonel Williamson, and he had the supervision of the reclamation of much land in Steuben county, where he directed the work at various times of from thirty to fifty men. About 1798 he established his home on his farm, a short distance from the village of Bath, where he continued to reside until his death. He was a man of ability and sterling character and as he was a skillful surveyor he found much requisition for his services in this capacity in the early pioneer days. He was one of the first settlers of Steuben county and his name is enrolled on the roster of its sterling pioneers. His son, John J. Smith, grandfather of him whose name introduces this sketch, continued to reside in the vicinity of the village of Bath throughout his entire life and his active career was one of successful and close identification with agricultural pursuits.
Dr. Ira P. Smith was a son of William Smith, who removed from Vermont to Steuben county in an early day and he here passed the residue of his life as did also his wife. Both were representatives of families founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our national history. Dr. Ira P. Smith was one of a
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family of four children and he was reared to the sturdy dis- cipline of the farm but was afforded the best educational ad- vantages available in the locality and period, including those of Union Seminary at Rogersville. For some time he was engaged in teaching in the schools of Steuben county and later he passed one year as a student in the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He began the study of medicine under the able preceptor- ship of Charles S. Ackley, of Rogersville, Steuben county, and finally he entered the Albany Medical College, in which well ordered institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1859, with the well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Avoca, Steuben county, where he remained until 1862, when he tendered his services to the Union by assuming the position of acting assistant surgeon in the regular army; an office which he retained for two years. He then returned to his native county and located at Bath, where he continued in the active practice of his profession until the time of his death. He gained prestige as one of the earnest and well fortified physicians and surgeons of the county and kept in touch with the advancement made in both departments of his profes- sion. He was in the most significant sense humanity's friend and he labored with all of zeal and devotion in the alleviation of suffer- ing and distress. At the time of his demise he was the eldest mem- ber of the Steuben County Medical Society, of which he had served as president. He also gave effective service as a member of the board of pension-examining surgeons of Steuben county and was president of the Bath Bible Society. Both he and his wife were zealous and devout members of the Presbyterian church. They became the parents of four children, Alice, who still resides in Bath; Fannie, who died in infancy; Edward R., who died at the age of thirty-one years ; and Dr. Douglass H., of this sketch, who is the youngest of the number. It should be noted that Edward R. Smith was an employe in the office of the county clerk of Steuben county at the time of his death and that he had devoted consider- able attention to the study of law, though he had not been ad- mitted to the bar when he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors.
Dr. Douglass H. Smith was graduated in Haverling High School in Bath as a member of the class of 1898, and after leaving school he secured employment in a drug store in his native town. Through the discipline and study gained in this connection he be- came a licensed pharmacist in 1902. In 1900 he entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, in which he completed the prescribed course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1904, receiving from this well ordered institution his degree of Doctor of Medicine. After his graduation he passed one year as interne in the Erie County Hospital, in the city of Buffalo, where he gained most valuable clinical experience and in 1905, shortly after the death of his honored father, he engaged in practice in his native town of Bath, where he has put forth every effort to give
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as effective service in his profession, as did his father, to a large amount of whose practice he has succeeded. The Doctor is a mem- ber of the Steuben County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was reared in the faith of the Republican party and has never wavered in his allegiance thereto and he is affiliated with Bath Lodge No. 112, Free & Accepted Masons. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is prominent in connection with the social activities in the community which has represented his home the greater portion of the time since he was ushered into the world. He and his sister still reside in the old homestead, which is a center of refined hospi- tality.
CHARLES HENRY CHRISTIAN .- Actively identified with the in- dustrial interests of Corning as a successful dealer in real estate, an insurance agent and a loan agent, Charles Henry Christian has done much towards promoting the prosperity of the community, and as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen is held in high respect and esteem. A native of Steuben county, he was born, August 14, 1862, in Woodhull, where his father, James W. Christian, was a pioneer settler.
Locating in Woodhull when there was but one store and one blacksmith's shop in the place, James W. Christian acquired title to considerable land, among other tracts owning the present site of the village of Addison. He continued a resident of Steuben county until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. He married Lydia Allen, who lived but fifty-five years. They became the parents of ten children, nine of whom are now, in 1910, living, Charles Henry being the eighth child in succession of birth.
Having completed his early studies in the Elkland graded schools, Charles H. Christian soon began the battle of life on his own account. Establishing himself in the insurance business in Corning in 1891, he has carried it on continuously since, each year enlarging his operations. He deals extensively in real estate, rent- ing, buying and selling, his straightforward methods securing him a large patronage.
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