USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 2
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The subject of the present sketch is the eldest of the family of the second marriage. He was born one and one-half miles from Schenectady, in Saratoga County, New York, February 7, 1825. His boyhood was spent in that city, where he received a limited educa- tion in the public schools. IIe has made good use of the learning there acquired, building upon it as a foundation, securing by observation and personal application in the actual experiences of business life a store of useful information, and gaining a practical wisdom which is of much more use in a busi- ness life than a classical education. Ile learned his trade of boiler-maker in the Utica & Schenectady Railroad shops, where he served an apprenticeship of three years, mean- while giving attention also to other things which came under his observation. When twenty-two years old, he began to run a loco- motive on what is now the Utica and Sche- nectady division of the New York Central & Hudson ' River Railroad. The first year he shifted cars in the yards at Schenectady, and by this experience became familiar with the mechanism and working of the steam-engine, his knowledge and skill in these matters com- ing to him easily and naturally, so to speak. He was then placed in the regular service,
and continued as locomotive engineer for five years on that road. Ile then run on the old Rome & Watertown Railway, in the pas- senger service, for a period of thirteen years. He was quick-sighted, cool-headed, and care- ful, and had but few accidents while in this al- ways hazardous employment. His engine dur- ing the time left the track twice, and rolled down the bank, injuring several and causing the loss of some lives. In July, 1864, he left the railroad, and engaged for a time with Horton Brothers, hardware dealers at Binghamton. Having thus obtained an insight into that business, in 1867 he came to Deposit, and formed a partnership with M. C. Russell; and the name of the firm has remained the same since. Beginning in a modest way, having a small stock of stoves and tinware, they were successful, and in 1874 put in a general line of hardware and agricultural implements. For the last seventeen years they have been the agents for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company's coal, and for the purpose of hand- ling that commodity have erected extensive coal-sheds. They have been very active in business, and have had large success. Their present two-story frame building was erected by the firm in 1881, taking the place of one destroyed by fire on the same spot.
Mr. Wickwire was married in 1851 to Emma Horton, daughter of William II. Hor- ton, of Saratoga County. The union was blessed with six children, of whom Emma J., Frank H., Isabel, and Zenas are deceased. The living are: A. Seymour, a well-known Deposit business man; and Edward M., who
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is engaged with Charles Miller's Transporta- tion Company at Buffalo. Mr. Wickwire takes a lively interest in the affairs of the vil- lage and its neighborhood, being fully as wide-awake and active as the younger men of the place. He is the Vice-President of the Electric Light Company, and owns fifteen out of the thirty-two shares in the Deposit Build- ing and Improvement Association. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Deposit Lodge, A. F. &. A. M., No. 396, and of Utica Com- mandery, Knights Templars, No. 3. Politi- cally, he is a Democrat, and has been the Chairman of the Village Board. He traces his lincage back to English and Welsh ances- tors. He belongs to that foresighted, enter- prising class of people who make such towns as Deposit - a truth which carries with it to those acquainted with this stirring place its own conclusions.
HARLES T. DICKSON, Postmaster at West End, a suburb of Binghamton, Broome County, N. Y., was born in Colesville, in this county, May 5, 1843, son of. David and Laura (Watrous) Dickson. His grandfather, George Diekson, was born in Smallholm, Scotland, September 30, 1755, and, emigrating to America, arrived in Bos- ton, Mass., in October, 1761. At Brattle- boro, Vt., on May 4, 1780, he married Miss Eunice Greenleaf. The celebrated Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, was near rela- tive of his wife's family in a later generation. Mr. George Dickson was a soldier in the War
of the American Revolution. He removed with his family to Cambridge, N.Y., and, after residing there a few years, came to Broome County in 1809, and bought land near. Colesville May 4 of that year, and made a home in the woods. Eunice, his wife, died September 15, 1839. Ile survived her a little more than six years, and died January 30, 1846. She was a member of the Presby- terian church.
David Dickson, the father of Charles, was born February 27, 1801, in Cambridge, N.Y., and was the second youngest of a family of eleven children. He was a farmer and mill- wright, and erected several mills in Broome County and its vicinity. A mill built by him at Centre Village, N.Y., is still in opera- tion, and also one at Ouaquaga. He mar- ried Miss Laura Watrous September 16, 1824. She was born May 25, 1804, and died January 19, 1887. Of their ninc children, seven lived to maturity, namely: Nancy, deceased; the Rev. William W., a minister of the Metho- dist church at Colorado Springs, Col. ; Delia M., wife of James R. Belding, of Benkleman, Neb .; Almira D., Mrs. J. C. Hulce, of Cen- tral City, Neb .; Sarah A., wife of John Ben- nett, of Windsor, N.Y .; Charles T .; and George M., deceased.
After finishing the course of study taught in the schools in Windsor, N. Y., Charles T. Dickson took up farming, which he continued until some time after the beginning of the late Civil War, when he was enrolled in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. This was in
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EDWARD E. SNYDER
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January of 1863 ; and he entered as musician, which position he filled under John M. Davis, chief band-master. He was in the depart- ment of the South, and was stationed at Folly Island, Jacksonville, Fla., and Fernandina, Fla. He was in the service until April, 1866, when he was honorably discharged at Wrecker's Island, N. Y. He then returned to Windsor, N.Y., where he carried on a farm for some years, coming from there in 1873 to Binghamton. He purchased property near what is now the village of Lester Shire, N. Y., and has since been engaged in different occupations. The post-office at West End was established November 25, 1889; and on November 1, 1892, Mr. Dickson received the appointment of Postmaster.
Mr. Charles T. Dickson married for his first wife Miss Alice Moon, who died leaving two children, Lewis and Henry. The last- named is General Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association at Buffalo, N. Y. lle married second, on September 16, 1864, Miss Nettie B. Brown, daughter of Alfred M. Brown, of Binghamton, N. Y. They have one son, Alfred B. Another, Ralph C., died at the age of two years. The family are members of the Floral Avenue Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Dickson is one of the elders.
lle was Assessor for four years, and also for one year Clerk of the town of Bingham- ton. In Grand Army circles Mr. Dickson is a prominent member of the John J. Bartlett Post. He is a thorough and faithful adherent of the Republican party. He enjoys the re- spect and esteem of the community, and well
deserves honorable mention in this book of biographies.
DWARD E. SNYDER, M.D., a gentle- man of the highest professional attain- ments, and one of the most distinguished homeopathic physicians in Central New York, is a fitting subject for biographical representa- tion in a work designed to perpetuate the life records of the eminent citizens of Broome County. A resident of Binghamton, he was born in Newark Valley, Tioga County, N. Y., August 3, 1848, and is the son of William C. and Eliza (Simmons) Snyder, the former of whom was at one time a well-known mill- owner and manufacturer of lumber, but who later in life devoted his time to agriculture. Mr. Snyder was born in Sempronius, N. Y., and was of German ancestry. He came to Newark Valley when a young man, and in- vested largely in timber lands, becoming in course of time a well-to-do and prominent citizen. Removing later to Candor, N.Y., he died there July 23, 1882. His wife, a daughter of Ezra Simmons, was a New Eng- land lady of the Puritan stock. She died December 28, 1883. They were Methodists in religion, and were people who contributed in no small degree to the physical, moral, and spiritual development of their community, leaving behind them the fragrant memory of lives spent in harmony with the law of God and with love to their fellow-men.
Their son, Edward E., received his rudi- mentary education largely by carefully di- rected home study and tutoring, which was
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supplemented by various schools about the country. Ile then taught for a time, and read medicine with the late Dr. J. F. Dyke- man, of Candor, N. Y., attending medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he took his first degree as M.D. Becoming inter- ested in the philosophy and practice of the homeopathic system of medicine, he after- ward attended medical lectures at the Hahne- mann Medical College of Philadelphia, at which institution he was graduated in the class of 1872. After his graduation at Phila- delphia he practised medicine at Candor, N.Y., for two years, and then, to obtain a deeper knowledge of his profession, went to Vienna, where he took thorough post-graduate courses of instruction, attending the lectures and clinical and laboratory demonstrations given by the distinguished professors of this most celebrated institution of medical learn- ing. Here he enjoyed abundant privileges in the wards of the famous hospitals and in taking special courses of instruction of the celebrated specialists of the university, thus acquiring a solid and practical knowledge of his chosen profession. On his return to America he practised medicine a short time at New Milford, Pa., after which he located himself permanently in Binghamton, N. Y., on February 7, 1880.
Dr. Snyder is now pleasantly situated at No. 27 Main Street in this city, enjoying an extended practice of the better class, and oc- cupying a most prominent place among his brother practitioners. He is a member of the Broome County Homeopathic Medical Soci-
ety, of which he has been the President a number of times, and is now one of the Board of Censors. He is also a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society, having been Chairman of Bureaus, and is now one of the Censors. lle is also a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Besides his connection with these prominent socie- ties, the Doctor was a member and delegate to the International Ilomœopathic Society held at Atlantic City, and is a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners for the University of the State of New York. At the recent annual meeting of the Interstate Homopathic Medical Society he was elected its President.
He is the Consulting Physician of Glen- mary, and is also interested financially in this sanitarium, which is a private retreat for those suffering with nervous ailments and mental diseases and those addicted to the use of alcohol, opium, or other narcotics. It has been in active and successful operation since .January, 1889, when it was opened under a license granted by the State of New York. Glenmary, at Owego, N.Y., is well known as formerly the picturesque country seat of Nathaniel P. Willis, the prose writer and poet, who named it for his. lovely English bride. The accommodations have been in- creased by the addition of two annexes, which are separate buildings - the one known as the South Cottage, for ladies only ; and the other, the North Cottage, for gentlemen. Various other improvements have been made in this institution since its inception, the grounds
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having been enlarged by the purchase of addi- tional land, a greenhouse erected, and various facilities for the comfort and diversion of the patients introduced, including an amusement hall for billiards, bowling, and other recrea- tions, making it one of the most thoroughly equipped and best appointed institutions of the kind in the country. The medical treat- ment is homeopathic; and great care is exer- cised in the selection of attendants, those only being employed who are thoroughly ex- perienced and who are courteous in their demeanor and kind and attentive to the pa- tients. The results, as witnessed in the number of recoveries and improvement in the condition of the patients, have been most en- couraging, and justify a continuance in the same methods and lines of treatment as are now employed. The general arrangement and construction of the buildings are on what is known as the "cottage plan," which secures the best sanitary conditions, greatest facili - ties for the proper classification of patients, and the most homelike environment, and also enables the 'management to give to each patient a maximum of individual attention, a private room, private nurses, and private table when needful. The limitation of the number of patients insures to each regular visitation by the physicians, and affords them an oppor- tunity for examination of each case daily. The prices range from ten dollars per week upward, according to location, apartments, and the degree of luxury desired.
Dr. Edward E. Snyder married Miss Emma A. Smith, of Otsego, N.Y., daughter of Ed-
ward Smith. Two children have graced and perfected their happy union, William C. and Bessie E. Both Dr. and Mrs. Snyder are attendants of the Congregational church and are prominent in social circles, having many sincere and admiring friends. In the task of rescuing from despair and the grave so many helpless victims of misfortune and restoring them to an equal place among their fellows capable of fighting the battle of life once more on their own behalf, the Doctor is doing a great and noble work, and one that brings its own reward, not simply in the shape of material prosperity, but in the consciousness of work well done and the loving gratitude of those to whom, as a good physician, a friend in- need, he has been a preserver and bene- factor. No portrait in this collection will be more highly appreciated than that of Dr. Ed- ward E. Snyder. To such as he, of the noble army of healers, speaks the beloved poet, -
" The holiest task by Heaven decreed, An errand all divine, The burden of our common need To render less is thine.
"The paths of pain are thine. Go forth With patience, trust, and hope. The sufferings of a sin-sick earth Shall give thee ample scope ..
" Beside the unveiled mysteries Of life and death go stand, With guarded lips and reverent eyes And pure of heart and hand.
" That Good Physician liveth yet, Thy friend and guide to be. The Healer by Gennesaret Shall walk the rounds with thee."
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ANDFORD O. LACEY, architect and builder, of Binghamton, N. Y., is a grandson of David Lacey, who about the year 1790 migrated from New England to Susquehanna County, Pennsyl- vania, whose forests had scarcely heard the ring of an axe, and, with a few families that had come to make themselves new homes, cut down timber, built his log cabin, and settled there for life. When after a time a village sprang up around them, he was appointed Jus- tice of the Peace, which office he held for many years.
James, son of David and father of Sandford, was born in Susquehanna County in 1831, and was in turn farmer, tradesman, and con- tractor, but being really by trade a mechanic. In 1871 he removed to Binghamton, N. Y., and worked on a great many handsome build- ings in this city, but has not been in business here now for some time, as he holds a posi- tion in the Construction . Department of the State Capitol at Albany, N.Y., under Mr. I. G. Perry, the Superintendent. Mr. James Lacey has held this situation since 1888, but still retains his home in Binghamton. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Lacey married Miss Nancy A. Butler, of Browntown, Bradford County, Pa. They reared a family of five children, namely: Liz- zie A., wife of Frank E. Brown; Sandford O .; Frank B .; Mary A .; and Harry J.
Sandford O. Lacey was born at West Au- burn, Susquehanna County, Pa., October 9, 1856, and, when about fifteen years of age, came with his parents to Binghamton, N.Y.,
where he completed his education in the high school. Deciding to take up the profession of architecture, in 1883 he entered the office of I. G. Perry, one of the most celebrated architects in the State of New York, his rep- utation being second to none. ,When Mr. Perry was appointed Capitol Commissioner, he accompanied him to Albany, and was in the office there for nine years, having a large range of public business. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Lacey returned to Binghamton, and formed a partnership with E. H. Bartoo, with whom he has since carried on the work of designing and contracting for buildings. The Bijou Opera House and the new brick block for George F. O'Neil, also several first- class residences in Binghamton, were among the first contracts they filled, making a pretty good showing for one summer, doing many thousand dollars' worth of business in that time, which was considered extraordinary, as it was a very dull year, and they had been started only five months. Besides these, the firm has built a large block for State Treas- urer Elliot Danforth at Bainbridge; the annex to the court-house at Delhi, N.Y .; and other buildings in different parts of the State. There is a beauty of design and elegance of finish in the work of Mr. Lacey which speaks . well for his artistic talent, and assures him an extensive patronage in the future.
May 3, 1876, Mr. Lacey married Miss Nel- lie Maxwell, of Heath, Franklin County, Mass. She was born January 11, 1857, daughter of Seth A. Maxwell, a member of one of the old pioneer families of Massachu-
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setts, and a descendant of Colonel Hugh Max- well, so celebrated during the Revolution. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lacey; namely, James K. and Halbert A. The family are members of Trinity (Episco- pal) Church.
Mr. Lacey is a gentleman of intellectual attainments and fine social qualities, and is highly popular in Binghamton. The same energy and ambition which are marked char- acteristics of his father can with equal truth and propriety be said to distinguish him. He is an active and useful member of society, and takes an important part in the building and beautifying of Binghamton. While he is a Republican, as is his father, politically, neither of them has ever been ambitious of office.
B ENJAMIN ENGLISH, a highly re- spected resident of the town of Tri- angle, died at his home on April 18, 1894. He was one of the representative farmers of Broome County, and had occupied his farm of one hundred and twenty acres for thirty-seven years. He was born in Wash- ington County, New York, in 1810, a son of Nathaniel English, who was a native of the same county. His father was born in 1787, and died in the town of Barker, Broome County, in 1858. The grandfather of Benja- min was Luke English, also from Washington County, where he was an extensive farmer. He was the father of thirteen children, all of whom reached maturity and had families of their own. Luke English died in middle life
while on a visit at Hamilton, and was there buried. His wife, the mother of this large family, who was formerly a Miss Prince, of Chenango County, outlived him many years, and, remaining on the old farm when over eighty years old, was still bright and active. She was a woman of wonderful vitality, and lived to be nearly ninety years of age.
Nathaniel English married Elizabeth Bar- ber; and they came to Broome County in 1819, bringing three children with them, and later having their little family increased by ten more, who were born to them here. Of these eight sons and five daughters, all grew up but Elizabeth, who died when eleven years old. There are now living four sons and three daughters. One of the number, Barber English, went to Michigan in 1850 with his family, and later to Pike's Peak, where he died in 1858, leaving a widow and two chil- dren. Sidney went also to Michigan, and subsequently to Iowa, where he died in 1890, sixty-eight years old, leaving a widow and two children. Frederick died in Greene, N. Y., leaving six children. Jane, wife of Jerome Baker, reared thirteen children, hav- ing three times given birth to twins. She was a noble wife and a kind mother, and died in 1891.
Benjamin English was brought up on the farm and had to work hard, commencing when but a lad. He had but a limited education, attending the district school, which was kept in the octagon frame school-house at Sap Bush, acquiring a fair knowledge of the ele- mentary branches most needful in practical
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life. In March, 1838, when twenty - nine years old, he married Sylvia Hubbard, who was born in Paris, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1819. Her father was Oliver Hubbard, of Jefferson County, New York; and her mother was formerly Sophronia Williams, of Madison County. Mr. Ilubbard, who was a lawyer, had a farm near Poolville, where the family lived for many years. He died at seventy- two years of age. His widow died nine years later, aged eighty-one. They were the par- ents of eight children who reached maturity and of five who died when young. Three of the daughters are now living: Lucy, widow of William Preston, at Poolville; Sarah, wife of Orrin Shoals, of Iowa, who has five children ; and Sylvia, Mrs. English. Intelligent and studious, Sylvia Hubbard received a good education, becoming competent to teach, and for a time contemplated following that occu- pation. Being otherwise led, at nineteen she was married, and, entering domestic life, has found an ample field of usefulness and full employ for all her excellent capabilities and" acquirements. Time did not lie heavily on the hands of either. She was always inter- ested with her husband in the improvement of the farm and the care of the stock. Mr. English was a successful breeder of good horses, keeping in his stables from twelve to thirty-two, and taking several premiums at the fairs. Mr. and Mrs. English have had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. James died at seven years, Frank at eight years. Oliver was a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York
Volunteer Infantry, and after about one year's service was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, where he was buried July 4, 1863. Charles was killed by a falling tree on February 18, 1880, when twenty-nine years old, leaving a widow and two children. George Leroy died October 5, 1843, when only eight months old. Sidney A., who was born June 30, 1846, and is the only one now living, is managing the farm at home. He was married to Alice Stowett; and they have one adopted son, Willie, a youth of sixteen.
Kind-hearted, liberal - minded Christians, Mr. and Mrs. English at the time of his death had been connected with the Congrega- tional church for forty-seven years, he most of the time being a Trustee of the organization. In politics Mr. English was a sound Republi- can. He was familiarly known as " Uncle Ben," and will long be remembered as a man of many virtues and many friends.
ILLIAM E. AMES, editor and pro- prietor of the Broome County Her- ald, was brought up on a farm, and in his early life was accustomed to farm work. He was not as enthusiastic an agriculturist as many who make a success of that useful and. honorable calling, his tastes leading in other directions. He was a youth of bright intel- lect, fond of reading, and interested in mat- ters requiring mental application rather than physical exertion; and it was, therefore, but natural he should seek work in a different field. The press is an immense power in the
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country; and this power is sometimes exer- cised to pull down rather than build up, to work harm rather than good. But Mr. Ames has a more exalted idea than this of the duties of his position, making his paper a reliable news-carrier and a medium of thought having a tendency to instruct and elevate its readers. William E. Ames was born at De Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y., April 8, 1860, son of Fordyce W. and Electa E. (Ray) Ames, of Georgetown. His father was a farmer; and William remained at home until eighteen years old, attending school and working on the farm. When he was twenty-one years old, he went West to the State of Iowa, and there lived for two years. About seven years ago he entered the office of the De Ruyter Gleaner, a paper published by his brother, where he remained for six years, obtaining a thorough knowledge of both printing and edi- torial work. Having served this apprentice- ship, and thus become well equipped for the business for which he had a natural adap- tation, he purchased on the ist of March, 1893, the printing plant of the Broome County Herald. Under his efficient manage- ment this paper has made rapid progress. The circulation is increasing, the improve- ment advancing fully in keeping with the pa- tronage; and, as editor and proprietor, Mr. Ames has occasion to be gratified with his success.
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