USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 11
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Honorable and upright in character, Mr. Cafferty stands high in the estimation of his fellow - citizens. He is a pleasant, whole- souled man, full of life and jollity, but, nevertheless, alert and keen in matters of business and never neglecting its interests. The family are communicants and supporters of Christ Church (Episcopal) on Washington Street, Binghamton.
IL.LIAM MASON, who has in charge the interests of the Stand- ard Oil Company at Binghamton, Sidney, Cooperstown, Cobleskill, N. Y., and Scranton, Pa., was born at Boston, Mass., April 14, 1847, son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Parker) Mason, the family having been residents of
that city for several generations. A native of the Hub, it is hardly necessary to say that our subject enjoyed the best educational facili- ties, which he profited by in due course. On attaining manhood, he engaged as a commer- cial traveller, selling oils as a specialty, his territory including the New England States, New York, and Pennsylvania. After twenty- one years of valuable experience in this voca- tion he became connected with the Standard Oil Company, his first location, in 1886, being at Scranton, Pa. Since that year he has made his home in Binghamton. lle is one of the oldest of the commercial travellers in this vicinity, and is deeply interested in everything concerning the welfare of the fra- ternity with which he has so long been identified.
Mr. Mason was President of the local branch of the Commercial Travellers' Home Association, and organized the branch at Binghamton. IIe is at present Vice - Presi- dent for the State of New York in the National Commercial Travellers' Home Asso- ciation. He has spent much time and energy in establishing a Home for commercial travel- lers, having been largely instrumental in securing its location in the city of Bingham- ton. He is Chairman of the Finance Com- mittee for this Home. He was manager at first of the Binghamton and Scranton oil sta- tions, and within the last few years has come to have charge of the others mentioned above, giving employment to twenty men in Scran- ton, sixteen in Binghamton, and several in . the other stations - about fifty all together ..
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When Mr. Mason took charge of the busi- ness in Binghamton, it was very small, and has been brought up to its present high stand- ing by his energetic work. The company have a very large plant on Erie and Clinton Streets, with an immense tanking capacity for the storage of the various grades of oil. They also have cooper and barrelling houses, and own four hundred feet of railroad siding, which gives them fine shipping facilities. Accommodations for ten horses are provided, for running their tank-wagons and drays. The station at Scranton is doing even a larger business, having a lubricating oil plant as well as the other kinds. The works at Sid- ney cover a space two hundred and fifty by two hundred and fifty feet, with a large tank- ing capacity. The one at Cobleskill is eighty by two hundred feet. All of these sta- tions have been built or rebuilt under the direction of the efficient manager.
On April 17, 1872, Mr. Mason married ' Miss Anna M. Bigelow, of Quincy, Mass. The happiness of their domestic life is greatly enhanced by two bright sons, Lawrence B. and Bertram A. The family are attendants and supporters of the First Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Mason is a thor- ough-going Republican, illustrating his alle- giance to the party by carnest work. The family reside in one of the most beautiful homes in Binghamton, situated on Chestnut Street. The house is built in the most mod- ern style, with every appliance for luxurious comfort, and is an ideal gathering-place for the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Mason, who dis-
pense generous hospitality. Personally, Mr. Mason is genial, large-hearted, and every- where a favorite. IJe is a fluent and eloquent speaker, and at the last banquet of the Board of Trade given in Binghamton his speech was considered among the finest delivered.
LARK W. GREENE, M.D., who has recently taken up his residence in Binghamton, N.Y., is among the prominent men of the medical profession in this part of the State, having been success- fully engaged in practice at Chenango Forks more than twenty years. His opportunities when a boy for obtaining an education were good, and he made fairly good use of them. Moreover, not being among those who con- sider their knowledge complete when their school-days end, but believing his education only commenced, he continued study, making diligent search in various fields of thought, storing in his mind facts and truths which were in his maturer years to do him good service in administering to the wants of his fellow-men.
Dr. Greene traces his ancestry back to the family of the illustrious General Nathaniel Greene, second only to Washington in the Revolutionary War. The Doctor's paternal grandfather was Henry Greene, a native of Rhode Island, who was there married to Sally Whitford, and came with her to Cortland County, New York, in 1815, settling in what was then a wild, desolate spot in the woods, and having all the varied experience incident
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to pioncer life at that early day. Their place was about twenty-five miles from Chenango Forks, which was the nearest point to a mill, and was reached by a trail through the woods. They were in better circumstances than most of the settlers, and made good use of their means and their opportunity, although denied many of the comforts of life. They cleared and cultivated a farm, made a home, and upon their decease left the same in fair condition and unencumbered. They assisted in the formation of society, the establishment of schools, and general public improvement, and lived to witness great change from the time they entered the country in a boat by the streams, when there were no roads or other means of transportation. They brought up five sons and three daughters, namely: Will- iam Greene, who became a Western farmer, and died at Prophetstown, Ill., leaving a fine estate and a large family; Colonel Alfred Greene, now living in Cortland County, New York; Eliza, deceased; Gilbert, the father of the subject of this sketch; and Thomas, a resident of Genesco, Ill .; Mary Ann, de- ceased; Nelson, who died in the prime of life; and Alvina, deceased. The father of these children, Henry Greene, died on the old farm, when sixty-nine years old; and' the mother, six months previously, in 1849.
Gilbert Greene was born at Willet, Cortland County, N. Y., in 1816, and married Theresa E. Newcomb, who was born in Pennsylvania. She was brought here very early in life by her parents, who settled at Willet in 1829, her father, Samuel E. Newcomb, being a
blacksmith by trade and an excellent man. He married Emma Tyler; and there both of them died, the father at the age of seventy-six, and the mother when fifty-four years old. Gilbert Greene died at the age of sixty-nine years; and his wife, the mother of the Doc- tor, is now living with her son.
Clark W. Greene, M.D., was born at Wil- let in 1848; and his youthful days were mostly spent at school. He engaged in teach- ing school when but seventeen years old, meanwhile continuing his studies, and gradu- ating from the State Normal at Albany when twenty-one years of age. His attention was early called to the medical profession, for which he prepared himself by studying medi- cine with a maternal uncle, Dr. Gilbert New- comb, who was a graduate of the University of the City of New York, a very excellent physician, a man of rare ability. He was graduated at Bellevue Medical College in New York City March 1, 1873, and began the active practice of his profession at .Che- nango Forks in April directly following.
Dr. Greene was married on March 4, 1869, the day of the inauguration of General Grant as President of the United States, to Emma . V. Smith, of Albany, daughter of Charles and Alice (Keating) Smith. Dr. and Mrs: Greene have had three children, two of whom . are living: Alice Theresa, now sixteen; and Lizzie Smith, thirteen years old.
Dr. Greene has been quite prominent in his chosen field. He has been President of the County Medical Society, is a member of the State Medical Association, has been Secre-
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tary of the Pension Board of Examiners for the past four years, and filled many other places of trust and honor. His influence is not con- fined to matters immediately associated with his professional duties, but extends to other fields of usefulness. He has been superin- tendent of the Congregational Sunday-school for over eighteen years, has been President and Secretary of the Congregational Sunday School Association, and for the last nine years has been a Deacon in the church. He removed with his family to Binghamton April 1, 1894.
B ENJAMIN T. ASII, proprietor of a department store in that part of the city of Binghamton, N. Y., called the North Side, was born in the town of Windsor, Broome County, N. Y., June 11, 1867, a son of Robert and Rebecca (May) Ash. The father was born at Gedney Dyke, Lincolnshire, England, in 1819, and was a · gardener. The mother was born in the same shire in 1824. They were married in the old . country, and, when they emigrated to Amer- ica in 1848, brought with them two children, a son and a daughter - Amelia. The boy died soon after their arrival at Damascus, Wayne County, Pa., where they first made their home in this country.
In 1863 Mr. Robert Ash bought a farm near Windsor village in Broome County, and moved on to it with his family. Some years later he and his wife moved into the village of Windsor, where they now live retired. Seven children were born to them in this
country, of whom six are living, namely : Charles, residing in Susquehanna, Pa., a con- tractor; Robert O., contractor at Windsor, N.Y .; Emma, Mrs. II. T. Mallory, of Scran- ton, Pa. ; William E., special adjuster of the American Fire Insurance Company of Phila- delphia, P .; John Walter, a jeweller of Bing- hamton, whose sketch is on another page of this Review, with some further account of ancestry; and Benjamin T. Amelia, the eld- est child, is now Mrs. Knowlton, of Windsor. A daughter Hannah died young. The pa- rents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The subject of this sketch received his ele- mentary education in the district school at Windsor, entered upon an advanced course of study at the Susquehanna High School, and finished at the Binghamton High School. In 1882, at about fifteen years of age, he began to work for E. D. Vosbury in the city of Binghamton, of whom he learned the jewel- ler's trade. Having become skilled in this business, he at length opened a jewelry store on the North Side, to which he has since added a stock of boots, shoes, and gentlemen's furnishing goods. Hence he is sure of a trade even in the dullest season and the hard- est of hard times, as everybody must have clothes, while some people can do without ornaments.
Mr. Ash was married to Miss Fanny Stroud Smith, of Binghamton, on March 18, 1891. They have one son, Harold. The family are attendants and supporters of the North Pres- byterian Church, of which Mrs. Ash is a
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faithful and consistent member. Mr. Ash is a Free and Accepted Mason of high standing in Binghamton, belonging to Binghamton Lodge, No. 177, Binghamton Chapter, No. 139, and Malta Commandery, No. 21. He is not only deservedly popular on the North Side, where he is one of the most prominent citizens, and where his business enterprise is recognized as materially contributing to the prosperity and value of that section of Bing- hamton, but also throughout the city. Heir to a good name, trained to habits of industry and thrift, while yet young in years, he is well started in life, and, it is to be trusted, has before him a long career of usefulness and honor.
AMES F. CARL, for many years an ex- cellent representative of the printing and book-binding business of Bingham- ton, N. Y., and for some time previous to his death the oldest practical printer in the city, was born in Blenheim, Schoharie County, N. Y., April 6, 1834, son of Abram and Ellen (Dunn) Carl. The parents were natives of the State of New York, and were married in Albany, but began their married life in Scho- harie County, residing in various places in that and in Broome County until 1845, when they took up their permanent abode in Bing- hamton. The father died here in the fall of 1888, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, who is yet living, resides with her son Jacob in this city, and is eighty-six years of age. She was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, all but one reaching maturity, and of
whom five are yet living; namely, Mary, Lo- vina, Antoinette, John, and Jacob.
When James was a year old, his parents migrated from Schoharie County to Oak Hill in the town of Chenango, Broome County, where they remained about eight years, and then went to the town of Lester. One year later, moving to Union, N.Y., they lived at what is now called East End, remaining there two years, and then coming to Binghamton, which has since been their home. James at that time was but twelve years of age, having had so far very few educational advantages. Starting out, as he did, to work at a tender age, his opportunities were exceedingly lim- ited; but, being ambitious and studious by nature, he grasped every chance he could obtain for study, and many a night, by the . " feeble glimmer of lamp-light, pored over his. books, and stored his mind with useful knowl- edge, which was of inestimable value to him in later years. When not quite sixteen years of age, having his mind made up to become a printer, he entered the office of the Daily Republican in Binghamton on the very day it was started, February 22, 1849, and began his apprenticeship in the art of printing. He. filled successively all the several positions in a newspaper office, beginning as printer's "devil," or errand boy and paper carrier, and going through all the grades, working up by close attention and untiring industry to the post of manager of the job department, and then to hold the entire management of the . office. The first proprietor of the Republican was William Stewart, who died several years
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JAMES F. CARL
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ago, but whose memory is still cherished by the old citizens of Binghamton, who recog- nized in him a gifted intellect and past mas- ter in the art of politics. Mr. Carl felt that much of his knowledge and success in busi- ness was due to the kindly instructions and gracious assistance given him by Mr. Stewart, who was his warm friend, and by another dis- tinguished son of Binghamton, the Hon. Dan- iel S. Dickinson. It was truly a fortunate circumstance for the young printer, and speaks volumes for his character and ability, that he should have found such eminent guides in his carly career.
In 1863 James F. Carl became a member of the firm of Carl Brothers & Taylor, at that `time publishers of the Republican, Mr. Stew- art still retaining his place as leader of the editorial department .. The Civil War was then at its height, and the public pulse at fever heat, so that, when the managers of the Republican made arrangements with the Asso- · ciated Press to bring their despatches to them, it was considered that they had effected a master stroke of policy. This was the first paper in that section that secured the services of this valuable news - gatherer. The firm continued till the close of the war, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Carl remain- ing as Business Manager of the Republican, in the employment of Messrs. Marlett & Reid, who were the new proprietors of that paper.
In 1871 Mr. Carl retired from the paper, and, purchasing the interest of Mr. Miller, of the firm of Miller & Stoppard, formed a part- nership with Mr. Moses Stoppard as job
printers. They reorganized the business, and increased its capacity, bringing it up to the highest point of success. Some years later Mr. Carl became a partner of Mr. J. M. Spaulding; and in 1878 Fred R. Matthews was admitted to the partnership, they carry- ing on an extensive business until June of 1893, when Mr. Carl became the sole proprie- tor. At the time of his death, in February, 1894, he was the owner of the largest and best equipped job printing-office in the city of Binghamton. Step by step he had won his way, little by little increased his gains.
Mr. Carl's long residence in the city of Binghamton, and his close connection with its interests, made his knowledge of its his- tory and people quite extensive, so that he was considered an authority on such matters. In his latter days he well remembered when the population was but two thousand in num- ber, and he personally knew every man, woman, and child by name, as he carried the daily paper through the village. He took some part in local affairs and political matters connected with the city. Although a Demo- crat, he served in a non-partisan way, being for ten years a member of the Board of Edu- cation, and in the latter part of the time Chairman of the Board. While acting in this capacity, he drew up the rules governing the entire school system, including library, janitor, and also defining the duties of the Board. He was Excise Commissioner for three years, having been appointed by Mayor John Rankin; was for three years on the Board of Health, and nine years a member of
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the Police Board. He organized the present efficient system of government of that Board, and gave valuable aid in forming the rules of the other commissions on which he was placed. He was disinterested and judicious in his public work, which has ever been highly appreciated by the people of Bingham- ton. In the fraternal orders he was an active and energetic worker, being Past Master of Otseningo Lodge, which he represented at the Grand Lodge for two years. He was an Ex- empt Fireman of the Binghamton Depart- ment, and was organizer and at one time Foreman of Rescue Hose, the first company formed on the west side of the Chenango River; but his services for the last years of his life were given to the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company, of which he was an honor- ary and retired member.
In 1858, in the city of Binghamton, James F. Carl married Miss Mary E. Palmer, daugh- ter of Calvin and Susan (Mix) Palmer, of Chenango Forks, Broome County, N. Y. The parents of Mrs. Carl were natives of the State of New York and early settlers of Chenango Forks, where they died at advanced ages. To Mr. and Mrs. Carl have been born five chil- dren, namely : Mary E., recently deceased, wife of Crawford C. Martindell, of Trenton, N.J., who left one son, Harry J., nine years of age; Flora, wife of George HI. Allen, residing in La Crosse, Wis., with their two children, Carl H. and Ralph D .; Thaddeus R .; Fred A., who married Emma L. Lester; and James F., Jr. The three brothers last named carry on the printing business for-
merly owned by their father. The mother of Mr. Carl has always been a devoted member of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Carl are connected with the Centenary Methodist Church on Court Street. The family are kind, social, and agreeable, and are highly respected in the community.
Mr. Carl belonged to a noble type of Amer- ican citizens, enterprising founders of useful industries, vigorous promoters of social prog- ress. The publishers are pleased to present his portrait with this sketch, as that of a man of character and worth, and deservedly held in honored remembrance.
ARMON JACKSON KNEELAND, . attorney and counsellor-at-law, whose office is at 71 Court Street, Bing- hamton, was born in this city, November 21, 1852, and has been engaged here in the prac- tice of his profession since May, 1880. His parents were Andrew Jackson and Lucy Ade- line (Parker) Kneeland. The mother, a kind, worthy woman of true Christian char- acter, died May 4, 1889. Iler paternal grandfather, Amos Parker, was for seven years ". a soldier in the War of the Revolution, tak- ing an active part for our country in that sanguinary conflict, serving some of the time under General Lafayette. At the close of the war he settled in Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., where he was pioneer on some land ceded to him by the government for faithful services. A part of this land since brought under cultivation and improvement is now the
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family homestead. Mrs. Kneeland's father, Harmon Parker, son of Amos, was. also a farmer, and was a man of considerable enterprise.
Andrew Jackson Kneeland, who was born in the town of Marcellus, Onondaga County, N. Y., came to Binghamton a short time be- fore the birth of his son Harmon, and re- mained here engaged as a contractor and builder till 1867, when he removed with his family to Augusta, Oneida County, purchased the interest of the other heirs in the family homestead above mentioned, and became a successful farmer. His death occurred there April 17, 1886. Of the eleven children of Andrew J. and Lucy A. (Parker) Kneeland, four sons and five daughters are now living. Three of the sons, including the subject of the present biography, are successful lawyers.
A studious youth, bent upon the acquisition of knowledge and the training of his men- tal faculties, Harmon J. Kneeland attended school in Binghamton, and later at Augusta Academy and at Whitestown Seminary, where he was salutatorian of his class on the day of graduation. While at Binghamton he carried daily newspapers for two or three years; and afterward, while at Augusta, he worked on the homestead farm and for other farmers in that neighborhood at farm labor and carpenter work. He also taught school in Oneida and Ulster Counties, and thus acquired the means for obtaining his education, which was fur- ther continued at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y. Long prior to this he had decided upon the profession of the law, to which he
began to turn his attention in 1877, reading most of the time with A. D. Wales, Esq., of Binghamton. He made rapid progress in this study, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1880, at the general term of the Supreme Court held at Ithaca, N. Y. He then entered upon the active practice of his profession at Binghamton, where he has since remained. llaving a natural aptitude for his calling, and being well furnished with legal lore, he has succeeded in reaching and maintaining an enviable position at the Broome County bar.
While not an active politician in the sense of being an office-seeker, as a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party and an earnest worker in its ranks, Mr. Kneeland is a patriotic citizen, and greatly interested in the public weal. He has been a member of the County and City Republican Committee, a worker and speaker during different cam- paigns, and a considerable power in the poli- ties of the county. Ile is interested to some extent in real estate, and is connected with the Shinhopple wood - acid works. In the Masonic Order he belongs to Otseningo Lodge, Binghamton Chapter, and Malta Com- mandery. lle is also a member of Anawan Tribe of Red Men, and an honorary member of the Twentieth Separate Company, having served six years, a part of the time as Ser- geant. He was married June 14, 1893, to Miss Seddie M. Bonnell, of Binghamton, a charming and accomplished young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Kneeland are members of the First Presbyterian Church. They have a residence
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at No. 123 Chapin Street, where they enjoy a delightful home life and exercise a generous and graceful hospitality.
A LEXANDER B. CARMAN, a useful and highly respected citizen of Bing- hamton, N.Y., is engaged in a calling indispensable to the existence of this and every other city - that of contractor and builder. ITis great-grandfather was a hero of the Revolution and a member of the staff of General Washington. IIe was, as far as known, a lifelong resident of Ulster County, New York. A son of this patriot, the pa- ternal grandfather of Alexander, is said to have been born in a place called Old Paltz, and in early manhood to have moved to Am- sterdam, Montgomery County, N.Y., and there engaged in farming, afterward coming to Broome County, where he purchased land which was yet an uncultivated forest, and, making a home, remained here until he died. lle married a Miss Bloomer, from whom Alexander takes his middle name.
Thomas Carman, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1808, and was brought to Broome County soon after his birth, and educated in the com- mon schools there, and at Unadilla, N.Y. When he grew to manhood, he carried on farm- ing, mostly in Vestal, Broome County, near the city of Binghamton. He married Miss Elizabeth Bunn, daughter of Conrad Bunn, who moved to Broome County about the year 1828. She was born in the town of Esper-
ance, Schoharie County, N. Y., in the year 1810. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carman reared eleven children, six of whom still live, namely: Charles, of Vestal Centre, N.Y .; Keziah, Mrs. S. J. Hoyt, of Candor, Tioga County; Esquire, of New York City; Sarah, wife of Hiram S. Pierce, of the town of Bing- hamton, whose biography is given on an- other page; Alexander B .; and Christopher, residing in the city of Binghamton. The father died in the year 1890; and the mother, who was an earnest and devoted member of the Methodist church, passed from this world in 1884.
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