USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 16
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ATSON E. ROBERTS, Justice of the Peace for the city of Bingham- ton, was first elected to this position in the spring of 1892; but, there being some error or discrepancy resultant from an unexpired term, he was re-elected in the spring of 1893 for a full term, to expire in February, 1897. He was born at Page Brook, Chenango County, N. Y., August 29, 1862, a son of George and Jane (Watrous) Roberts. The father, who was a farmer, going West shortly after this event to seek to better his fortunes in a new country, the infant was taken to the home of its grandfather Watrous, who lived on a farm at North Colesville, Broome County. Here young Watson grew to man- hood, spending his boyish days in conning his books in the public school, in acquiring a practical knowledge of farm work, or indulg- ing in the sports and games which happily tend to promote both mental and physical alertness and vigor. Having a commendable desire for higher education, he attended the Cortland Normal School, the Afton Academy, and Brooklyn Academy, and thus prepared himself for teaching, in which calling he was
for some time successfully engaged. In 1884 he commenced reading law with Messrs. Car- ver and Deyo, remaining with them until his admission to the bar in January, 1888, after examination at a session of the general term of court at Syracuse. Hle then opened an office in this city, and continued in general practice until his election to his present posi- tion. He was first elected on the Republican ticket, but subsequently had the support of all parties. He is regarded as a fair-minded, competent Judge, able and impartial in his decisions; and it is to be hoped that he will long remain in office.
1 RA NEWMAN, one of the younger farmers of the town of Barker, lives on the place where he was born in 1848. IIc has worked to earn the good things he has enjoyed, and has not much sympathy with that class of people who try to get their board and clothing by some shift or trick of lazi- ness, and who frequently say the world owes them a living. His family is one that has long had a good standing in the community. Ilis father, Isaac Newman, of Westchester, was born in 1809, and married Harriet Crane. They came here with their first child about sixty years ago, and had some means with which they purchased seventy-five acres of improved land, to which they subsequently added until they had over two hundred acres. The elder Newman continued here engaged in farming and dairying, raising stock, and manufacturing butter, until his death, which
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occurred in March, 1890. His wife, the mother of Ira, died in 1875.
Ira Newman is the youngest of the family of five children. His brother Henry was killed by a runaway team. He has two brothers and one sister living, namely: Stephen; Newton; and Hannah, widow of F. N. Stone, of Whitney's Point. Ira was ' brought up on the farm which has always been his home, and received a good district-school education. He was married September 3, 1872, to Ilattie Stoddard, a daughter of Thomas and Laura (Iloadley) Stoddard, of Chenango Forks. Her mother died when young, and her father in May, 1893, when seventy-five years old. The living of her family are: Charles Stoddard, of Chenango Forks, a commercial traveller; Henry, of Chip- pewa Falls, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have one son, Charles Newman, a young man twenty years old, who is at home on the farm. Mr. Newman is classed as belonging to the Democratic party, and supports that ticket at national elections, but is not an unreasoning partisan. He believes in good men, and is willing to vote and work in local issues for the best interests of the community without regard to party lines.
OHN F. PRATT, M.D., a well-known and prominent physician of the regular school of medicine in Binghamton, N. Y., was born in the town of Chautauqua, N.Y., November 19, 1856, son of John G. and Sarah C. (Franklin) Pratt. The family
are of sturdy Scotch origin, the Doctor's great- grandfather, Rufus Pratt, Sr., having been a native of Scotland, born in 1774. His son, the Rev. Rufus Pratt, was for a time a resi- dent of Columbia County, being reared near Canaan in that county, and removed from there to Mayville, Chautauqua County, early in the present century, being a pioneer settler of that town. He purchased a tract of land, which he cleared, and there engaged in farm- ing at that place for the rest of his life. IIe was a devoted pastor for many years of the Methodist church, and did much toward its progress in Chautauqua County. Ile was a man universally liked and honored. Ile mar- ried many prominent people of Chautauqua County, and also preached at many funerals throughout that region.
John G. Pratt, the father of Dr. Pratt, was born in Columbia County, New York, and was quite young when his parents removed to Chautauqua County. He was educated there, and when he grew to manhood engaged in the trade of carpenter, and was for many years a contractor and builder. He built many hand- . some residences, and in other ways did much toward improving and beautifying the village. Mr. Pratt was a Collector and member of the town Board, and was one of the most active of the citizens in working for the advance- ment of Mayville. He has always been a strong Methodist in his faith, and is as zeal- ous in the cause of Methodism as was his father. For a while he kept a drug store, but gave it up, and now resides in Buffalo, N. Y., where he holds the position of Superintendent
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of stair-building. Mr. Pratt is a Democrat in his politics, and has always taken a great interest in the affairs of that party.
John F. Pratt received his early elementary education in the Mayville Academy, and afterward pursued his more advanced studies under excellent private instruction .. His father being in the drug business at the time, he engaged in his store to qualify him- self as a druggist, meanwhile studying medi- cine, which he had decided to make his pro- fession. In 1874 he entered the Buffalo Medical College, at which he was graduated in 1878. HIe immediately opened an office in the town of Mayville, where for nine years he had an excellent practice, besides being fre- quently called to make professional visits in the surrounding country. While living in Mayville, he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Chautauqua County Medical Society, fill- ing this important and honorable position with satisfaction to all concerned. In 1886 Dr. Pratt removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he has a successful and paying prac- tice. While competent to treat any of the diseases to which human flesh is heir, and although a general practitioner, he has for the past five years devoted his practice exclu- sively to the nose and throat, and, having given great study to these subjects, has been able to secure most fortunate results. Dr. Pratt belongs to the several medical societies of Broome County, also to the American Medical Association, and is the Assistant Medical Director and Examiner of the Secu- rity Mutual Life Association.
Dr. John F. Pratt was married May 6, 1884, to Mrs. Elva H. Hodgson, of Fredonia, N.Y. They are members of Trinity Church (Episcopal), to which Mrs. Pratt has given valuable musical assistance in the choir for some years, as also in the Sunday-school. Dr. Pratt stands well among the physicians in Binghamton, and his kind and courteous manner with his fellow - men makes him deservedly popular. While taking no suffi- ciently active part in public affairs to inter- fere with the duties of his profession, in politics he follows the footsteps of his father.
UGUSTUS BABCOCK, EsQ., of the city of Binghamton, N. Y., senior member of the firm of Babcock, Sperry & Van Cleve, attorneys and counsel- lors-at-law, was born at Scranton, Pa., Octo- ber 7, 1855. 1Tis parents were Gilson L. and Margaret (Cox) Babcock, and his paternal grandparents were Ezekiel and Lydia Bab- cock. These latter reared a family of four- teen children, the mother four times giving birth to twins. Gilson Babcock was born in the town of Bridgewater, 'Susquehanna County, l'a., shortly after his parents emi- grated from Connecticut. When he reached manhood, he went to Scranton, Pa., then only a small town, where he started in the grocery business ; but after a brief stay he removed to Wilkesbarre.
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Augustus Babcock was but one week old when his mother died; and he was taken to the home of his maternal grandparents (Cox),
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with whom he stayed until his fifth year, when his uncle, Gardner Babcock, who was then living at Harford, Pa., adopted him. Upon the removal of Gardner Babcock and family to Binghamton, N. Y., in 1872, Augus- tus accompanied them, and was educated in the high school of that city. He was a re- markably bright scholar, and, having an am- bition to enter college, was well advanced in his preparatory course when a serious trouble with his eyes prevented him from accomplish- ing his desire. But withal he was a close student; and, when his health permitted, he entered the office of E. K. Clark, Esq., with whom he began reading law in January, 1877. He was admitted to the bar by examination at Albany, N. Y., in January of 1880, and on April I of that year was taken into the firm of Clark, Brown & Babcock of Binghamton, and commenced the practice of law.
December 1, 1883, he withdrew from that firm, and with a new partner opened an office under the name of Babcock & Harroun. This firm continued in practice until January I, 1889, when Mr. Harroun retired, and Al- miron M. Sperry, Esq., formed a partnership with Mr. Babcock. On October 1, 1889, William F. Van Cleve; Esq., became the third member of the firm, which is now known as Babcock, Sperry & Van Cleve. They have had many important cases, and do a large and lucrative business. Mr. Babcock has been especially fortunate in his extensive practice, a notable instance being the Perry case, which had been in litigation for four- teen years when he was retained by the
plaintiff. Through many complications and discouragements the case was conducted to a successful issue, and established the reputa- tion of the attorney as well as the right and title of his clients to valuable real estate.
Mr. Babcock was married February 1, 1887, to Miss Jane Q. Miller, daughter of Abram Miller. Mrs. Babcock, who is highly culti- vated and accomplished, was before her mar- riage a popular and efficient teacher in the high school of Binghamton; and it was with unfeigned sorrow that her pupils, to whom she had endeared herself by her gentle and lovable qualities, parted with her when she severed her connection with the school. One child has been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock, a daughter named May. The family attend Trinity Church, and Mr. Babcock is a member of the Broome County Bar Association.
HARLES E. BRIGIIAM, a public- spirited citizen of the town of Bing- hamton, N. Y., at present holding the office of Assessor, was born on December 25, 1841, in Waverly, Tioga County, N. Y.
The family of our subject were early New England settlers; but the same spirit of push- ing out into new regions which has made nearly every portion of the United States claimants of descendants of those colonists led the grandfather of the subject of the pres- ent sketch, Moses Brigham, to leave his native State, Massachusetts, to make a new home in Binghamton, Broome County, in the extreme south of Central New York. The town was
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sparsely settled at that time, but Mr. Brigham found it a "land of promise "; and here he erected his dwelling, cultivated his farm, and spent the remainder of his days.
Edward Brigham, son of Moses, emigrated with his father, and lived with him a short time. He soon after married, and then moved to Waverly, N.Y., where he built a hotel, of which he was proprietor and manager for many years. In Bradford County, Penn- sylvania, where was his next home, he pur- chased a farm. He afterward built a store in another part of the county, and carried on mercantile business, finally going to Horn- brook, where he resided until the time of his death. The first wife of Edward Brigham was Miss Sarah Ann Tissot, of Newburg, N. Y., whose only child was named after her- self. llis second wife was Miss Clarissa Swain, by whom he had seven children; namely, Clarissa, Mrs. Erasmus Bennett, Charles E., Eubulus, Lester, Frank, and Elizabeth. The mother died at Topeka, Kan.
When the great Civil War between the North and South broke out, Charles E. Brig- ham had only attained the age of nineteen. Although young in years, he was too true an American, by birth and education, not to feel the duty that he owed to his country; and, patriotically, he enlisted in the Sixth Penn- sylvania Reserve in 1861. For three years he served, facing death in weary march and on bloody field, and in 1864 received his hon- orable discharge with the rank of Corporal. His brother Lester was also in the army, and was killed in battle. ITis body, which could
never be identified, sleeps in a nameless grave. After returning to his home, Mr. Brigham was connected with his father for three years in the mercantile business. In 1874, being then aged thirty-two, he was mar- ried to Miss Matilda Horton, of Hornbrook, Pa., and in 1879 purchased his present resi- dence in the town of Binghamton, where he has since remained.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brigham, Lester E. and Edward H. Although Mr. Brigham's parents and himself and wife were reared in the Methodist church, they attend the Presbyterian church, which is more accessible to their residence. Mr. Brigham has filled many local offices in his town with honor and credit, among them that of Trustee on the Board of Education and Overseer of Highways, and is at present serv- ing on a term of three years as Assessor, hav- ing been elected in 1892. In his politics he is an out and out Republican, and prides him- self upon belonging to what he considers the best party the country can have. In the Im- proved Order of Red Men he takes a great interest, and is a member of Pawnee Tribe, No. 120, of Binghamton.
EORGE LOVE, the village black- smith at Whitney's Point, of which place he has been a resident for the past thirty-five years, is a self-made man, having accumulated a competence solely by his own endeavor. Ile was born in the town of Bar- ker, April 29, 1838. His father, Moses
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Love, who worked at the blacksmith's trade in the town of Barker for twenty-five years, was born in Washington County, New York, about the year 1791, and died at Whitney's Point in May, 1874. llis first wife died, leaving three children; and he was again married to Emily Strickland, of Barker, a daughter of Samuel Strickland. By this union were four children, as follows: Charles, living in Scranton, Pa .; Sarah, Mrs. Ben- jamin; George; and Clara, wife of A. T. Decker, who died in the prime of life with- out children.
George was sent to the district schools when a boy, and began to work in his father's shop at the age of fifteen. He was a natural mechanic, and at the age of nineteen had mas- tered the trade, and could do all kinds of work usually done at a smithy. He began work in his present shop twenty-two years ago; and, in addition to his blacksmithing, he has established a livery stable, keeping from eight to fourteen horses, which he has suc- cessfully managed for the last nineteen years, while others who have started in the same business here have given it up.
Mr. Love married, and is the father of four children : Minnie, wife of Henry Black, liv- ing at Chenango Forks; Lilly May, a life- long invalid, who died when nineteen years old; Nellie, a young lady who lives at home; and Maggie, a graduate of the school at Whit- ney's Point, now a teacher in the Chenango Forks Academy. These daughters have natu- ral ability of a high order, and particularly excel in music, being good performers on the piano.
Mr. George Love votes the Democratic ticket at general elections. Socially, he is an agreeable gentleman, having many strong friends. Fraternally, he is a Knight of Honor and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religiously, he was brought up in the Baptist faith, but is not a member of any church, nor does he adhere especially to that doctrine. Ile is broad, liberal-minded, and not bigoted or narrow in his views. He has great respect for Chris- tianity, but none for hypocrisy, and is apt ) gauge men rather by their deeds than by their professions.
ILLIAM H. VAN SLYCK, Second Assistant Engineer of the Bing- hamton Fire Department, has been a resident of this city since 1869, and is a well-known and respected citizen. He is a native of Homer, Cortland County, N. Y., where he was born January 21, 1840, son of Philip and Abi (Rider) Van Slyck. As the name Van Slyck implies, his ancestors were from Hol- land; and the family records show that the first of the name in . this country were among. the early Dutch settlers of Kinderhook, N. Y. Philip Van Slyck was born at that place, and was a farmer there for some years, afterward moving to Exeter, Otsego County, N. Y., and from there going to Upper Cincinnatus, thence to Homer, and finally settling in Cayuga County, where he died in 1862, leav- ing a widow and six children. The names of the children are as follows: DeWitt, deceased; Eliza, Mrs. Higday, of Kansas;
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Mary, Mrs. Joseph Burt, deceased in 1888; Delevan, present publisher of the Republican of Hamilton, N. Y., and a former Trustee of the Binghamton State Hospital; Emily, Mrs. P. T. Hill, of Orleans County, New York ; and William H. The mother was an aunt of John J. Rider, a prominent citizen of Otsego County, and to the hour of her death was a devoted and exemplary member of the Metho- dist church.
William H. Van Slyck was educated at the academy in Homer, N. Y., and after leaving school went to work in the printing-office of the Cortland Banner, of which paper his brother was at that time publisher. Finding a good opening for bill-posting, he began that occupation in Cortland, N. Y., afterward, April 1, 1869, settling in Binghamton, where he most successfully carried on this business, increasing it from a small beginning to a large and profitable paying concern. Mr. Van Slyck is now, with one exception, the old- est bill-poster in the State of New York, his senior being Mr. Eaton, of Auburn, N.Y. In 1888 Mr. Van Slyck disposed of the busi- ness to John W. Abbott, but still had charge of it for most of the time, and since the death of Mr. Abbott has taken the entire manage- ment of the business for his widow, Mrs. S. M. Abbott, having under control twenty- five large and two hundred small bill-boards.
Mr. Van Slyck is a veteran fireman, hav- ing served in the ranks since 1857, when he joined the Tempest Fire Company at Homer. Hle afterward belonged to the Water Witch Engine Company and the Hook and Ladder
Company of Cortland, being Assistant Fore- man of the latter when he came to Bingham- ton to settle. In this city he has been identified with Crystal Hose Company since 1869, holding the office of Secretary of that company for seven years. Mr. Van Slyck was elected in 1872 Second Assistant Engi- neer of the Binghamton Fire Department.
Two years ago he was severely afflicted in the death of his son, William l'. Van Slyck, who had assisted him in the bill-posting busi- ness, and who was also an employee of a large cigar firm of Binghamton. He was a young man of great ability and of much promise; and his demise on June 10, 1892, at thirty- three years of age, was a source of deep sor- row to his family and friends. Mr. Van Slyck is a faithful and carnest adherent of the principles of the Republican party, and is a well-known and progressive citizen of Bing- hamton.
IRAM D. WILBER, an esteemed citi- zen of the town of Vestal, Broome County, N. Y., was born March 17, 1818, a son of Larry Wilber, who early in the present century left his home in Dutchess County, New York, and penetrated into the wilds of Pennsylvania, where he made a home near the beautiful sheet of water known as Silver Lake. His first work was to build a log cabin for a shelter, and then to clear the land of its virgin growth of timber. The father afterward moved to Liberty, N. Y., where he resided until his death. He had been a Whig in politics until the formation
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Alul Bennett
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of the Republican party, when he became one of its steadfast supporters. His wife was a Miss Hannah Potter, and they reared eight children, namely: Carrie; Elijah; Jane; Elias, deceased; Jeremiah; Sally; Ruth; and Hiram D. The father died at the age of sev- enty-seven, and the mother at eighty-two years.
The subject of this brief biography was reared at the home of his birth, and was given the best opportunities of education that the time and place afforded. As was common for boys living in a sparsely settled country like that, he grew up with his gun and rod for his daily companions when not otherwise em- ployed, roaming the woods and fields for game and whipping the waters of the beautiful lake for fish. This life was an education in itself, both mental and physical; for, while his mind was enlarged with knowledge gained from observation of nature, his daily tramps in the health-giving forest made him robust and rugged, and thus he grew to a vigorous manhood. Until the age of twenty-five he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits on the home farm, assisting his father. But, desiring to make his own way in the world, he went to the town of Binghamton, N. Y., the most thickly settled part of which was then little more than a hamlet, large farms occupying the places of the present city streets, where he hired himself out as a farmer for some years.
In 1843 he married Miss Lucy Ann Meri- cle, of South Orange, N.J., and then pur- chased a farm in the southern part of Hawleyton, N. Y. When his father died, he came in for a portion of his estate, which con-
sisted of the original farm; and, buying out the interests of the other heirs, he conducted both places until the great. sorrow came to him in the death of his wife, with whom he had lived happily thirty years, . when he sold both farms, and moved to his present home in Vestal, near Binghamton, N.Y., in 1881. Six children had been born to them, who are as follows: Georgianna, who :married Mr. Charles Meeker, of Binghamton; Emily, wife of Mr. Charles Mead, Chief of Police of the city of Binghamton; Frederick; Jerome; Es- tella; and Tompkins.
Mr. Wilber married for his second wife Miss Mercy Adams. They are influential members of the High Street .. Methodist Epis- copal Church of Binghamton, and faithfully attend to their religious duties .. Mr. Wilber is an ardent supporter. of the. Republican party, and, while not an office-secker, liber- ally promotes by his suffrages the candidates of his party. Mr. Love has a most excellent record in his town and county: He has la- bored industriously and economically to attain his present position, and is fully entitled to . his good reputation. Religious and upright, he is a worthy representative. of the pioneer families of Broome County.
TON. ABEL BENNETT, first Mayor of the city of Binghamton after its incorporation in 1867, was born November 16, 1818, in Bennettsville, Che- nango County, N.Y. Ilis grandfather, Caleb Bennett, whose ancestors were among
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the early English colonists of America, was born in Rhode Island, and was the first of his family to remove to the Far West, as the State of New York was then called by Eastern people, and settle in the neighborhood of Unadilla, Otsego County, where he engaged in milling and farming. Later he removed to Bennettsville, at which place the water power was all that could be desired for the grist and lumber mills, which were called Bennett's mills, and have been known as such for the last one hundred years.
Caleb Bennett was married to Miss Eliza- beth Potter; and their family consisted of four sons - Abel, Phineas (twins), Arnold, and Hiram -and four daughters - Annie, I'ru- dence, Hannah, and Abigail. The eldest daughter, Annie, married a Mr. Cornwall, of Afton, N. Y .; Prudence became Mrs. Enos Goodman; Hannah, Mrs. Charles Merritt; and Abigail, Mrs. Thurber. The sons of Caleb Bennett were industrious and energetic men, and carried on the milling business to- gether, establishing a lucrative and prosper- ous trade for their children. Abel, one of the twin brothers, married Miss Flavilla . Hoag, of Bennettsville. Seven children were born to this marriage, of whom Abel, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was the second. The others were: Sallie, who married Enoch Cope- ley, of Oneonta, N. Y .; Ann Eliza, wife of Dr. Anson G. Curtis, of Pittston, Pa .; Amelia, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-five; Edward L., residing in Bing- hamton; and James W., who lives at the old homestead in Bennettsville.
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