USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 15
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A LEXANDER DEWITT WALES, of Binghamton, Broome County, N. Y., a prominent member of the bar was born in Liberty, Sullivan County, N. Y., December 16, 1848, son of Blake and Ade- line A. (DeWitt) Wales, the former of whom was a son of Dr. Blake Wales, a well-known medical practitioner of that county, where he resided for sixty years. The family were from Windham, Conn., and were of Revolu- tionary stock, the great-grandfather of the
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subject of the sketch, Captain Nathaniel Wales, having commanded a company in the Continental Army. The following docu- ments and data are from official sources, and throw light upon the early history of the fam- ily as represented by its Revolutionary ances- tor and other of its members.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
HARTFORD, CONN., Feb. 23, 1894.
This certifies that NATHANIEL WALES of Windham, Conn., served in the War of the Revolution ; and the following is his service, as shown by the records of this office : -
Commissioned Ensign May 1, 1775, Cap- tain Ebenezer Moseley's Company, Nineteenth Co., Third Continental Regiment, Colonel Israel Putnam commanding. Discharged De- cember 10, 1775.
The regiment was raised on the first call for troops by the legislature of April-May, 1775. It was recruited in Windham County with one company from New London, march- ing in May by companies to the camps form- ing around Boston. It was stationed among the siege at Cambridge until the expiration of the term of service, December 10, 1775. A detachment of the officers and men were en- gaged at Bunker Ilill. A few men also joined the Quebec expedition. In re-enlist- ing troops for service, this regiment was re- organized with Benedict Arnold, then before Quebec, as Colonel.
Commissioned Second Lieutenant in Cap- tain James Stedman's Company, Colonel An- drew Ward's Regiment.
This regiment was raised in Connecticut on requisition of the Continental Congress, to serve for one year from May 14, 1776, and stood on the same footing as the other Conti-
nental regiments of 1776. It joined Wash- ington's army at New Jersey in August, and was stationed first near Fort Lee, marching with the troops to White Plains, and subse- quently into New Jersey. It took part in the battle of Trenton, December 25, 1776, and Princeton, January 3, 1777, and encamped with Washington at Morristown, N.J., until the expiration of term, May, 1777.
Commissioned Captain, Militia Company, Colonel Jonathan Latimer's Regiment, drafted August 22, 1777, discharged November 5, 1777-
Two large regiments of militia, composed of detachments from all the brigades, were ordered to re-enforce General Gates at Sara- toga in the summer of 1777. They were assigned to General Poor's Continental Brig- ade in Arnold's Division, and fought in both battles with the enemy, September 19 and October 9, 1777. In the first battle they lost more than any two other regiments in the field. Upon their dismissal after the sur- render of Burgoyne, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." They were commanded .by Colonel Jonathan Latimer, of New Lon- don, and Thaddeus Cook, of Wallingford.
Captain of militia company in Windham, received pay for service commencing March 2, 1780, discharged January 1, 1781.
The strength of the company is as follows : three commissioned officers, four sergeants, . four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, thirty- nine privates.
Invalid pensioner.
In testimony whereof the seal of this office is hereto affixed.
JONIN G. HEALY, Colonel and Asst. Adj .- General.
Nathaniel Wales, of Windham, Conn., was
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Judge of the County Court and Deacon of the First Church of Christ in Windham. He died October 20, 1783, aged sixty-two. He was a son of Eben Wales, Esq., of Windham, who was Deacon of said church a number of years, and in 1750 removed from Windham to Union, and departed this life April 12, 1774. He was noted for his piety, and died, much lamented, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, leaving a widow and sixteen children, and had buried four. He was born at Milton, Mass., and removed from there in the fif- teenth year of his age with his father, Deacon Nathaniel Wales, who was also Deacon of said church of Windham for a great number of years, and was remarkable for piety and exemplary life. Deacon Nathaniel Wales, who died at Windham about the year 1740, in the eighty-third year of his age, was a son of Timothy Wales, of Milton, Mass., an emi- nently pious man. In the latter part of his life Timothy Wales married a second wife; but, she being clamorous and uncomfortable, he built a cave in the woods, where he lived alone for a number of years, and died, being about eighty years of age. He was the son of Deacon Nathaniel Wales, who with his brother John came from Great Britain for the sake of religion and to save persecution, to Plymouth, among the first settlers of Amer- ica. There was one more brother, who came with them, Elkanah by name. He left no son. The above-mentioned Eben Wales, Esq., had two brothers, Deacon Nathaniel Wales, of Windham, and the Rev. Eleazer Wales, minister of the gospel, who had no
children. Solomon Wales, Esq., of Union, was a son of the above-named Eben Wales, Esq., and was born November 19, 1829. Deacon Nathaniel Wales, brother to Eben Wales, Esq., of Union, was Justice of the Peace at Windham a number of years. He died there in the year 1782, aged eighty years, and left two sons, Captain Nathaniel Wales and Jonathan Wales.
Dr. Blake Wales, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of Quaker stock, and went to Sullivan County, New York, about the beginning of the present century. His son Blake was reared in that country, where he became interested largely in tanning, allying his interests in store and mill with two brothers, Gideon and Gad. lle afterward went to New York City, and was for many years extensively engaged in mercantile busi- ness, finally removing to Broome County, where he died in the year 1888. He married Miss Adeline A. DeWitt, of Oak Hill, Greene County, N. Y., daughter of John DeWitt, and grand-daughter of Captain John DeWitt, who was a Captain in the British army at the breaking out of the Revolution. The only child of this marriage was Alexander DeWitt, who, when young, was taken by his parents to New York City, where he remained at school until the age of sixteen. At that time his father moved to Delaware; and some years later, in the fall of 1869, Alexander entered the University Law School. He paid a visit to Broome County in 1871, and, returning to New York, passed his examination, and was admitted to the bar. He then went immedi-
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ately to Binghamton, N. Y., to locate his office for practice. In 1876 he was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, also Corporation Counsel for the city from 1878 to 1886. At the present writing he is attorney for the Police Board. Mr. Wales is a trial lawyer, and has been engaged in many of the leading cases in Broome County and adjoining coun- ties, and has practised in all courts, from the Justice Court to the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Broome County Bar Association, and also of the State Bar Association.
Mr. Wales married Miss Lizzie H. Hart, daughter of Charles Hart, the marriage tak- ing place July 30, 1876. Mrs. Wales is the grand-daughter of the late Dr. Paddock of revered memory, one of the most saintly ministers of the Methodist church of Bing- hamton. He was at his death the oldest clergyman in the city, and was beloved and respected by men of all creeds. To Mr. and Mrs. Wales have been born six children --- Grace, Jennie, Charles P., Theodosia, Marga- ret, and Carlotta. As a relaxation from the cares of business, Mr. Wales conducts a stock farm about two and a half miles from Bing- hamton, where he and his family can enjoy the pleasures of rural life and yet be within easy reach of the conveniences of the city. He is an energetic man in his profession, keen and incisive in his arguments before the court, and has won many stubbornly fought cases. He and his family are popular in church and social circles, and are among the most esteemed residents of Binghamton.
ORENZO D. MEEKER, a highly re- spected, public-spirited citizen of Binghamton, N.Y., was born in this town May 4, 1845. Many years ago his grandfather, Eli, who was a native of Duanes- burg, N. Y., moved to Quaker Lake, Pa., and purchased a tract of land covered with its primitive growth of timber, not a tree of which had ever known the edge of the wood- man's axe. He cleared and brought the land up to a high state of cultivatior, residing there until the time of his death. This farm is still kept in the family, and the private cemetery on the original purchase of land is full of monumental stones commemorating the virtues of three generations of the Meeker name.
Samuel Meeker, the father of Lorenzo, was a native of Duanesburg, and lived with the grandfather until his marriage, when he moved to the town of Binghamton, N. Y., where he purchased timbered land, which he cleared, and carried on a farm. Here he resided for a number of years, and later went into the city of Binghamton, and lived with his son Eli, Jr., dying there in 1891, at the age of eighty-nine years. He married a Miss Sarah Finch, of Duanesburg; and their eleven children were as follows: Alfred, Eli, Ann Eliza, Van Rensselaer, Deborah, Elijah, Oliver, Andrew, Lorenzo, Elvira, and Sam- uel. The mother is still living, making her home with her son Eli at Binghamton, N. Y.
Lorenzo, of whom this sketch is written, remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he made a bargain
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with his father for twenty-eight acres of land and a team of horses for three years' work. He then came to Hawleyton, N.Y., and bought a farm at this place, which he kept and worked for some years, and then, buying his present small farm, built his dwelling- house and farm buildings. He opened a store directly opposite his residence in Ilawleyton, and conducted a mercantile business for seven years, when his health failed him; and he was obliged to give up all active occupation. For the past three years he has lived practi- cally retired
At twenty-five years of age he married Miss Caroline Hoag, of Tracy Creek, town of Ves- tal, N.Y. She died in 1881, leaving one child, Edward, who is now in the West, en- gaged in the cigar business. Mr. Meeker married for his second wife Miss Eva Boles, of Silver Lake, Pa. Two children have been born to them: Carrie, now seven; and Lena, two years of age.
Mr. Meeker has been a very prominent and important citizen of his town, and until the time his health failed was very energetic and active in its affairs. He was for two years Commissioner of Highways and Notary Public for three years. For three years he was a Deputy Sheriff, and for two a l'ath-master. Politically, he has been a lifelong member of the Republican party, and enjoys the confi- dence of the organization to such an extent that he has been for several years Chairman of the Republican Committee, and works ac- tively in behalf of his party. In the Masonic fraternity he stands deservedly high, being
a member of Binghamton Lodge, No. 177, A. F. & A. M .; and Malta Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templars. He is also promi- nently connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to Chickasaw Tribe, No. 144.
With the Methodist church he and his fam- ily have been long closely identified, he hav- ing been a Steward for twenty years, and is also a Trustee. His interest in religious duties is not simply confined to church at- tendance; but he is an energetic worker in the Sunday-school, to which he has given his services as teacher for a long time. Repre- senting, as he does, one of the oldest families of his section, Mr. Meeker in his daily life maintains the excellent reputation which has come to him by inheritance, embodying in himself the sterling virtues which have char- acterized his family for generations.
ARREN M. SHARP, D.D.S., one of the most successful and talented young men in the dental profession in the city of Binghamton, N. Y., was born in Sus- sex N.B., January 5, 1863, a son of Joseph and Margaret Eleanor (Johnson) Sharp. His mother was of Scotch and English ancestry. His paternal ancestors were men of promi- nenice in that province, to which his great- grandfather, Samuel Sharp, came from Eng- land at an early day. They were members of the Episcopal church.
. Joseph Sharp was by occupation a miller, and also held several local public offices. He
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died in July, 1888, leaving a family of five children; namely, the Doctor and his two brothers and two sisters. George A. is a sta- tion-master in Prince Edward's Island. The other three, residing in Sussex, are: Beverly J., a druggist; Augusta, wife of William Stockton; and Ada E., wife of Frank Roach. The mother also lives in Sussex.
Warren M. Sharp received his literary edu- cation in the common schools of Sussex, fin- ishing it in the high school of that place. In 1886 he went to the Baltimore Dental Col- lege, where he studied for his profession, and, on returning to his old home, practised there for two years. Going again in the fall of 1890 to the college in Baltimore, he was graduated in 1891, with high standing and honorable mention, both in the theoretical and practical parts of his profession, in a class of eighty-four men. He shortly afterward located his office in Binghamton, where he has a large, paying practice. In 1893 Dr. Sharp received the appointment of Instructor of Mechanics in the mechanical department of that college, and now spends his time in Baltimore during the term, which lasts twenty weeks. He is especially gifted in that line, and has originated many valuable aids to dental work. Among them he has invented machinery for the manufacture of dentures and fillings for porcelain and aluminum plates, which are spoken of very highly by the profession, and are bound to rank as important improvements in dentistry.
Dr. Sharp is a member of the Sixth Dis- trict Dental Association. He belongs to
Sussex Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the First Presbyterian Church of Binghamton, and is a gentleman highly esteemed and respected, both as a citi- zen and professionally.
EORGE L. CRANDALL, senior mem- ber of the firm of Crandall, Stone & Co., a prominent and enterprising resident of the city of Binghamton, N. Y., was born in Truxton, Cortland County, N. Y., November 7, 1826, son of Justus and Lydia (Holt) Crandall. The father was a woollen manu- facturer, and an early settler in Cortland County, having gone there from the New England States. In 1835 he removed with his family to Pitcher, Chenango County, where he carried on his business until his death.
The district school and the academy of Pitcher furnished George L. Crandall with the means of education in his boyhood and youth; and, when grown up to manhood, he followed his father's occupation, and in the latter part of his father's life was in business with him for several years. He went to Win- chester, Va., in 1869, remaining there two years, and in 1872 removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he bought an interest in the car- riage hardware business, then carried on by Walker & Doane.
The business was originally founded in 1871 by Messrs. James HI. Doane & Co. In 1878 Mr. Crandall bought out Mr. Doane, and with his son, under the firm name of
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Crandall & Son, controlled the whole busi- ness, materially increasing it and extending the field of its operations. After the death of his son, in 1880, Mr. Crandall remained alone until about 1881, when he sold an interest to Messrs. Charles M. and W. II. Stone; and more recently Mr. C. E. Titchener was taken into the firm, making four partners. It is one of the largest manufacturing concerns in the city of Binghamton, giving employment to about one hundred and fifty men. They manufacture a large line of carriage hardware and trimmings of various descriptions, mak- ing a specialty of a medium grade of goods, which, however, are the best of their class. They have on the market many products of their own invention, which are protected by patents. In connection with their business the firm maintain a fully equipped electro- plating plant, with which they not only finish their own goods, but fill large orders through- out the country. The works of the concern are located in the eastern section of the city, and adjoin the railroad centre, which affords them the best facilities for the transportation of their goods. The factory is supplied with all the latest improved special machinery and a complete assortment of the most modern tools known to the trade. The main building is a large four-story brick structure, and a fifty horse-power engine provides the motive force for the machinery. Mr. Crandall also owns the Crandall blocks on Commercial Avenue, including a large power plant fur- nishing power for a number of other parties, and also lighting the new Stone Opera House.
Our subject married Miss Elizabeth Breed, of Pitcher, N. Y .; and of their family three daughters are living: Theresa, wife of L. C. Warner, of Naugatuck, Conn .; Lucia, Mrs. Ira J. Mcagley, of Binghamton; and Myrtie E., residing at home. Within the last few years Mr. Crandall has built an elegant resi- dence on South Front Street, one of the finest locations in the city of Binghamton, where he and his family enjoy to the full the comforts and luxuries of life made possible by modern invention. He also owns a beautiful summer home at the Thousand Islands, where they spend many weeks during the hot season, sailing over the beautiful waters in his steam yacht, indulging in the delights of fishing and other rural recreations. The Congregational church finds Mr. and Mrs. Crandall earnest and liberal supporters.
Mr. Crandall's firm is represented in the Binghamton Board of Trade, and they are uni- versally popular and respected. They have, by their wise management, reared a large establishment, which is a credit to Bingham- ton and an honor to themselves. Since his . residence in Binghamton Mr. Crandall has been too deeply immersed in business to take an active interest in political affairs, and, while not an aspirant for any office, yet does his. duty as a loyal citizen at the polls. While living at his old home in Pitcher, he was Supervisor, and held other positions of trust.
The lifelike portrait of this worthy gentle- man which appears in the present volume will be widely recognized as the semblance of one
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of the best-known business men of the city; a man of push and progress, honorable in his dealings; one who by his enterprise has done much toward building up the high repu- tation of Binghamton as a manufacturing centre.
RS. ALMIRA BACON, of Che- nango Bridge, had at one time a husband and five sons defending their country's flag, battling for the right, in the Federal army during the "great American conflict." She worked hard during those try- ing years for the support of herself and small children ; and, when later her husband came home, the joyful reunion was but temporary, for the seeds of disease from exposure and army life soon matured and brought dissolu- tion. For many years she has been deprived of his strong support and pleasing compan- ionship.
Such women are the true heroines of our time; and, but for their gifts and sacrifices, we should not now enjoy the blessings of peace and liberty. Her husband, Alfred Bacon, died in March, 1865, when fifty-nine years old. He was a soldier in the One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh. Regiment, 'Company F, New York Volunteer Infantry, and re- mained in the service nearly three years. His father was Asa Bacon, of Windsor, Broome County, a farmer who lived in what was known as the Flanders Settlement. He was a man of good heart and highly esteemed by those who knew him best. He left a fam- ily of ten children, seven sons and three
daughters, of whom Mrs. Bacon's husband was next to the oldest.
Mrs. Almira Bacon is a daughter of Nor- man and Matilda (Mayo) Bacon, of the town of Windsor, who traced their ancestry back to England, where the family started. She had but a limited opportunity to secure an educa- tion in any school, her principal instruction being from the old Cobb's Spelling Book ; yet she is by no means an ignorant woman, but has remarkable intelligence and a good deal of useful knowledge, secured by observa- tion and the necessities of the circumstances in which she has been placed. She has been also schooled in the sad experiences of severe affliction, which has quickened her naturally sympathetic nature.
She was married at the age of fourteen years, and is the mother of many children, most of whom, as indicated below, are now living. The deceased are Ichabod and Nor- man. The first-named was a volunteer in the service of his country, was wounded at .the battle of Antietam through the hand. Gangrene having set in, he submitted to three different amputations, and died within six weeks from the time, at the age of twenty- three years. His body was returned, and now rests at Fort Scott, Kan. Norman died at . Chenango Forks of brain fever, at the age of twenty years. The living are the following : Elizabeth, widow of Joseph Heron, who lives in the Indian Territory, and has two sons and one daughter; Charles, an old soldier and a farmer of this town, who has two sons and one daughter; Wallace, a farmer of Binghamton,
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who has a wife, four daughters, and one son -- he was also in the army for about three years; Franklin, a single man, at home; Will- iam, of Marathon, N. Y., who has a wife and two daughters; Delia, wife of William Ben- ner, residing in Indiana, who has five chil- dren ; Clarinda, widow of Selden Flint, living at Binghamton, and having one daughter and one son; Polly, wife of Peter Hilsinger, of Marathon, who has three sons and two daugh- ters; and Ida, wife of Charles Knox, having one son, and living at Binghamton. Mrs. Bacon, although now seventy-seven years old, is still of a healthy body and clear mind, attending to her household duties and dispens- ing a wonderful amount of good cheer, not- withstanding the years of trial and sorrow.
ARVIN LANGDON, a practical and prosperous farmer of the town of Vestal in Broome County, is grandson of a patriot who laid down his life at the battle of Lundy's Lane. His son, Alvin, who was at that time but six years old, went to Otsego County, where he grew to manhood on a farm, and learned the trade of brick-making. For some years he worked at Coxsackie, Albany, and other places in New York State. He died at the age of sixty- seven, on his farm near the one now owned by his son Marvin. The mother was Miss Nancy Griggs; and, of the twelve children born to herself and husband, seven are still living. They are Desdemona, Minerva, Isaac, Mar- vin, John, William, and Henry. The mother
died in Vestal, N.Y., at the homestead, at the age of sixty-four years.
Marvin Langdon was born in Worcester, Otsego County, N. Y., in the year 1834. 1Iis early education depended on home study and the scanty schooling customary in the winter months of this rigorous climate. For his trade he took up that of shingle-making, which in those days had not the advantages of labor-saving machinery, but had to be all done by hand. Marvin worked at this for five years with Mr. James Haley and several others, afterward purchasing his present fine farm near Vestal Centre, N. Y., where he has since resided.
At the age of twenty-two he set up his own household by marrying, taking for his wife the presiding genius of his home, a Miss Hillgast. To this union were born the fol- lowing children: Frederick, Emily, and Ed- ward. Mrs. Langdon was taken from her family by the relentless hand of death in 1876. Mr. Langdon's second wife was a Mrs. Amanda Potts, whose maiden name was Peabody. She reared three children : namely, Ray, Carrie, and Nettie.
Mr. and Mrs. Langdon are among the faith- ful members of the Baptist church of Vestal. In Mr. Langdon the Republican party has one of its stanchest supporters, he being a Republican by instinct and education. From his early boyhood Mr. Langdon has been a hard-working bread-winner, and has obtained his present prosperous condition by no outside influence, but by his own untiring diligence. In the sanctity of home life he is a devoted
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husband, a loving, gentle parent ; and his first thought is for the happiness of his household. In his connection with the outside world Mr. Langdon is zealous for the best interests of the county and its advancement; and in his association with its citizens his manly, honorable character has won for him confi- dence and esteem.
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