USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 20
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ILLIAM C. CUMMINGS, an en- ergetie and prosperous citizen of the town of Windsor, N. Y., was born in Oskaloosa, Ia., July 15, 1858, son of Dr. William C. and Mary II. (Lonsberry) Cum- mings. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Cummings, was an early settler of Otsego County, and was a prominent farmer there. He died at the age of ninety years, leaving a wife and six children, all now living, the widow being a resident of Westford, N. Y. Dr. William C. Cummings is a popular and leading physician of Marshalltown, Ia., and is the oldest medical practitioner in that vicin- ity. Of their two children, William C. is the elder. The second, Benjamin F., is a practising lawyer and city attorney of Mar- shalltown. The mother was born March 12, 1831, and died February 17, 1891. In relig- ion the family were Congregational, and the father is a Republican in his politics.
William C. Cummings, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Mar- shalltown, where he attended the public. schools. Later he pursued a course of study in the Grinnell Agricultural College. He was for some time book-keeper of the Build- ing and Manufacturing Company of Marshall- town, and was afterward in the employ of the North-western Railroad Company. His work in the railroad service was first as brakeman, and next as conductor, which posi- tions he filled for about four years, and then entered into the office of the Railway Com- pany, making in all about ten years in that line of business. He resigned in 1889 on
account of ill-health. In November, 1881, he had a marvellous escape from death, being a guest at the Alamo Hotel in Texas when that building took fire and a number of peo- ple perished in the flames. In 1889 Mr. Cummings removed to New York State, and purchased a large farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in the town of Windsor, where he carries on a general farming and stock- raising business, managing a dairy of fifteen full-blooded Jersey cows.
Mr. Cummings was married September 5, 1882, to Miss Ida Hall, of Quincy, Ill., daughter of Henry and Adelia (Fox) Hall. He and his wife now reside with Miss Polly Guernsey, the great-aunt of Mr. Cummings, on the excellent farm which was settled by Joel Guernsey in 1791. Mr. Guernsey was a Revolutionary soldier, and was born and reared in Connecticut. ITis birth occurred January 3, 1763 ; and he was married March 14, 1783, to Miss Persis Strickland. There were three children born to this marriage, - William G., Blake, and Diantha. They all grew up, and had families. April 11, 1791, Joel Guernsey removed to the town of Windsor, and bought three hundred acres of land, where he con- dueted a fine and productive farm. Before settling it he worked for a while for a Mr. Beebe. He became a leading man in the set- tlement, and was for many years the only ~ Justice of the Peace in the county. The first wife of Joel Guernsey having died, he married again, his second wife being Miss Fanny Judd, the ceremony taking place on October . 13, 1805, at Windsor. By this marriage
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there were three children born, of whom Miss Polly P., born November 6, 1806, is the only surviving one. The others were: Ruth M., born March 1, 1809, died February 13, 1836; and Fanny l'., born March 19, 1812, died April 25, 1893. The Guernsey family were among the oldest and most respected people of the town of Windsor, Joel Guernsey, the founder of it, having been an upright, consci- entious, and public - spirited citizen. His death occurred in 1843. He was the first l'ostmaster at Grigg's Settlement, now called Lester. The second wife died at an advanced age.
Mr. Cummings's mother, when but a small child, lived with Miss Polly Guernsey, of whom she was a niece. When the last sister died, leaving Miss Polly alone on the farm, she prevailed on Mr. and Mrs. Cummings to come and make their home with her, to which they consented, and now cheer and comfort this estimable lady in her declining years. No children have been born to them. Mr. Cummings is a member of the Republican party, and is actively interested in the Im- proved Order of Red Men. He belongs to Tuscarora Tribe, No. 68, of Windsor; and also to the O. R. C., No. 179, of Marshall- town, la.
HARLES O. DEWEY, A.M., Ph. D., formerly Principal of the high school in Binghamton, N.Y., is a gentle- man of extended experience in educational work and of high personal qualifications. His grandfather, Ezekiel Dewey, was born in
Connecticut, in the Connecticut River valley, near the Massachusetts line. The parents of Ezekiel dying when he was but a lad, he con- cluded to try his fortune in the Western set- tlements, and accordingly set out alone. and without means, and, foot-sore and weary, arrived in Tioga County, New York, where he found employment in clearing land for cultivation. The country was wild and but sparsely settled at the time, and the opportu- nities for hard work with small pay were as good as might be desired. But Ezekiel pos- sessed the qualifications of a good pioneer, and went steadily to work. Little by little he added to his savings, until he had accumu- lated sufficient means to purchase a small tract of land. Increasing his acreage from time to time by subsequent purchases as he was able, he continued to prosper until he was the owner of several farms and considerable landed property. He died at the venerable age of ninety-one, highly respected and well known throughout the county.
David W., son of Ezekiel, was born on the old homestead near Berkshire, N. Y., and there remained until attaining his majority, when he went to Freetown, N. Y., and en- gaged in general merchandising. He re- mained there until 1859, when he returned to Tioga County, and assumed the management of the home farm. He continued thus employed until the time of his death in 1869. While in Cortland County, he was married to Miss Phebe E. Delavan, daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth (Pugsley) Delavan. Her people were of old Revolutionary stock, and fought
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1
for liberty in the struggle between Great Brit- ain and the colonies. She died in 1866.
Charles O., son of David W. and Phebe (Delavan) Dewey, was born at Freetown, Cortland County, N. Y., June 17, 1854, and first attended the public school at Berkshire, N. Y., and then the common and high schools of Binghamton. In 1877 he was graduated at the Cortland Normal School, and engaged for some time in teaching; but, considering his education as yet incomplete, he entered Syra- cuse University, where he was graduated in 1885 with the degree of A. B., later receiving the degree of A.M. from the same univer- sity. He continued his studies in the Uni- versity of the City of New York, from which he was graduated with the degrees of Ph.D. and A.M. Between his Junior and Sopho- more years at Syracuse he was Principal of Robinson Street Grammar School, holding that position about four years, or until 1883. After leaving the University of New York, he was Superintendent and Principal of the schools at Englewood, N.J., where he re- mained until receiving his appointment as Principal of the high school of Binghamton, in the summer of 1891. Under his manage- ment this school took a high place among the educational institutions of the State, the course of study being designed with a view of preparing students for college.
At the close of the school year of 1892-93 Dr. Dewey resigned his position to enter the field of life insurance, believing that his health would be better, and that his financial opportunities would be greatly improved. In
1894 he became the General Agent of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company at Rochester, N. Y., with the surrounding coun- ties included in his territory. In severing his connection with educational work, he de- clined several flattering offers for principal- ships in excellent institutions of learning. On August 12, 1886, occurred the marriage 'of Charles O. Dewey and Miss Louise Hig- ley. They are the parents of one daughter, Mary Agnes.
Dr. Dewey is a member of Malta Com- mandery, Knights Templars, and Calumet Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Methodist in his religious associa- tions, and during his residence in Bingham- ton was an official member of that church. He is a man of true Christian character and scholarly attainments, and one whose mind and heart are in touch with the mental, moral, and spiritual elevation of mankind.
IRAM A. STANLEY, President and General Manager of the Evening Herald Company, was born Febru- ary 12, 1859, in the town of Vestal, Broome County, N. Y. ; and the early years of his life were spent there and in Centreville and Bing- hamton. The story of his boyhood days is one of hard labor and self-sacrifice. Inspired with a laudable ambition to gain an educa- tion, he walked five miles to Binghamton to . attend the old academy, rising with the dawn to do his work on the farm. Five days in the week he followed this routine; and on the
II. V. BOGART, Mgr. Circulation.
611-612
II. J. MITCHIELL, Set'y and Treas.
F. D. VAN AMBURG) Vice-Pres, and Adr .
1
H. A. STANLEY, Pres, and General Manager.
THE EVENING HERALD CO., PROPRIETORS OF THE EVENING HERALD, DAILY AND WEEKLY, BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.
·
G. W. BEARDSLEY, Managing Edit
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sixth, when the ordinary boy enjoys a well- earned holiday, he was forced to toil even harder than ever, as his father could not afford to hire help. He had a natural love for learning, and was always an omnivorous reader, using every opportunity to gain knowl- edge, studying far into the night after his day's labor. He toiled in various ways, earn- ing every penny he has in the world. When he had a leisure moment in the city, he was often found around the printing-offices, devel- oping thus early a liking for the newspaper business, and many times was proud and happy to gain a little money by selling papers on the street. He was always ready to do whatever offered itself to earn a livelihood, and, while working under many disadvan- tages, never forgot his principles of honest dealing with his fellow-men.
When he had obtained an adequate educa- tion, Mr. Stanley taught in the district schools, so often the nurseries for the mental development of statesmen and littérateurs. This, however, gave him employment but for a few weeks in the winter months; and so he sought other means of supporting himself. Ile did not disdain to accept the position of switchman on the railroad, for it was honest and self-respecting; and, while this occupa- tion did not require much culture, his mind was quite as active as his hands. He ocea- sionally wrote articles for the local press, and it was one of these which attracted the atten- tion of the proprietor of the Binghamton Republican. Mr. Stanley was requested to report at that office, and was offered a posi-
tion on the staff, which he willingly accepted, although at small pay; and for eight years he was faithful to the interests of that prominent paper. During this time he won his promo- tion from the humblest position, step by step, until he became business manager of that newspaper, and remained there, receiving a good salary, until 1889, when, with Mr. C. II. Turner, he decided to purchase the Daily Evening Ilerald of Binghamton, which was founded February 28, 1889, by Mr. J. B. Briggs, of Elmira, N. Y., and Mr. E. 1I. Bogart, of Binghamton. Prior to September I of that year this firm had sunk four thou- sand dollars, and were losing one hundred and sixty dollars per week at that date. When it was purchased by Mr. Stanley, then the busi- ness manager, and Mr. Turner, managing editor, of the Daily Republican, from which both resigned to start for themselves, it sunk in the first four months about three thousand five hundred dollars, but nearly doubled in circulation, having two thousand seven hun- dred and fifty subscribers on January 1, 1890. January 1, 1891, saw a circulation of four thousand one hundred and fifty, an eight- column folio, with eight pages Saturdays - all printed on a brand-new nine-thousand- dollar stereotype web - perfecting machine. The advertising patronage had increased, a job office had been added by purchase from the sheriff at low rates, and the business was known to be on its feet. January 1, 1892, it had a circulation of five thousand one hundred and fifty, with more advertising at better rates, and had enlarged its job office, and
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was far more prosperous than one year before, notwithstanding the fact that its two local competitors had seen fit, April 30 of the pre- ceding year, to concertedly cut subscription rates from fifty and sixty-five cents per month, respectively, to twenty-five cents per month cach, and send out canvassers by the score.
January 1, 1893, the Herald could prove a circulation of six thousand two hundred and fifty, had added one or two first-class job presses, making five in all, besides its news-press, and a completely equipped steam bindery, occupying nearly all of three floors, each one hundred and five by eighteen feet. April 15, 1893, it had a circulation ot about six thousand four hundred, when it purchased the circulation (eighteen hundred) of the Evening Times, a recently defunct "attempt," making a circulation of eight thousand two hundred, and, being severely crowded for room in its three floors, had purchased a cen- tral site, one hundred and twenty-seven and one-half feet on Henry, thirty-two on Centre, and twenty-two on Water Street, on which it purposes to erect a five-story home, to be ready for occupancy when its present Icase expires. It owes no more on all its posses- sions than the book account would pay if col- lected, has never, since owned by its present proprietors, borrowed a cent or received a dol- lar for championing any cause or party, and has so systematized its affairs as to know what- it is worth as an investment and what divi- dend it can pay on that investment. It has built itself up solely from itself, broken up
a city printing ring, foiled an attempt on the part of certain politicians to gain control of the public schools and non-partisan pub- lic boards, whittled down electric-lighting bills, and defeated numerous corrupt municipal schemes. The following are some of the things the Herald has aimed to do, and some others it has refrained from doing : -
"To so organize its business and general conduct that its success would not be entirely dependent on any one man, but still to main- tain a head; to train proper men for proper places, and impress on each man his individ- ual responsibility; to exact fair prices for fair service from all patrons, collect every thirty days, and meet all obligations as agreed; to buy good stock as close as any competitor, and pay enough for labor to insure the best in every department ; to carry the advertisement of every live home merchant; to change such advertisements as often as desired, and give the smallest patron as good treatment and a rate as close to the card as that granted any advertiser, foreign or local, however large - in fact, to refuse all commissions to all adver- tising agents; to state circulation frequently and truthfully - if possible, daily; to dis- courage street sales and encourage regular subscriptions; to employ truthful representa- tives in every capacity - men who will not only state the truth, but who will make the patron who orders an advertisement without asking the price as low a rate as is made to the man who haggles a month.
"Editorially, it aims to publish all local and important wire news; to be charitable,
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but truthful, avoiding scandal and gossip as much as possible; to justly criticise actions of public officials, condemning all extrava- gance; to encourage all proper business enter- prises, but not to such a degree as to give the paper the reputation of a 'boomer'; in brief, to lead the procession in genuine enterprise, showing everywhere a strong endeavor to do good to everybody - for who has such a privi- lege in this direction as the publisher of a newspaper? The teacher has not half so large a school, the preacher only a tithe of the congregation, the legislator but a minor influ- ence in shaping the laws in comparison with an influential newspaper."
Now for some things Mr. Stanley claims that the Herald has refrained from doing, and advises all publishers to refrain from : -
"Not to depend on personal friendship for subscriptions or advertisements; not to expect your friends to buy your paper or advertise in it if they can secure the same service in a better one; never to barter an editorial opin- ion for money, goods, or influence; never beg for business; never lose pride in your profession; never, within or without the office, forget the respect due every honest man, woman, or child - no. matter whether rich or poor; never refuse proper recognition of any conservative, respectable labor union - in fact, it is your duty to encourage those who would uphold the dignity of labor; never abuse the power of the press vested in you and every publisher, to a greater or less degree, nor forget that this is the besetting sin of journalism - more blackmail is levied
by the press of this country than by all other transgressors in prison or out."
To the wise course of Mr. Stanley above indicated the great success which the Herald has achieved is largely due; and to the energy and enterprise of himself and staff the city of Binghamton has given proper recognition, the paper having the highest circulation of any journal within its limits. September 30, 1893, the Evening Herald Company was incor- porated, with a paid-up capital of forty thou- sand dollars, and officered as follows: H. A. Stanley, President and General Manager; F. D. Van Amburgh, Vice-President and Ad- vertising Manager; 1I. J. Mitchell, Treasurer and Chief Clerk; G. W. Beardsley, Managing Editor; and N. M. Sheffield, Manager of the New York office, No. 85 Tribune Building, New York City. The stability of the paper, which is run independent of political views, has won for it many friends among all classes; and its policy of encouraging well - earned merit is in contrast with many newspapers, as it has always been the aim of the managers to maintain the highest respect and consider- ation for their employees. Since the incor- poration the paper has been doubled in size, and its prosperity continues undiminished. One important change took place at the in- corporation of the present stock company. Mr. C. II. Turner, who, as an equal partner with Mr. Stanley, secured the paper and aided materially in building it up, retired from it at the time the stock company was formed. lle is yet extensively engaged in various kinds of literary work, and is well
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and favorably known as an able and fluent writer. Ile has contributed many fine arti- cles to leading magazines and periodicals of the day; and, although his home is in Bing- hamton, he spends a great deal of his time in travelling.
Addison Stanley, the father of H. A. Stan- ley, was a brave and faithful soldier, serving his country almost the entire period of the Civil War. At the first call for troops he enlisted for three months, being discharged at the end of that time at Annapolis, Md. He returned to Binghamton, and at once re-en- listed for three years, being the first to enroll his name in the One Hundred and Ninth New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, organized by Colonel George W. Dunn, of this city. Mr. Stanley was assigned to Company D, and went to the front, where he was known as a daring soldier, and was soon appointed a non- commissioned officer. He was one of the first to volunteer to make the charge on what is . historically known as the "Hell Hole" at Petersburg, where one of the bloodiest hand- to-hand battles of the war occurred. Mr. Stanley was captured in this engagement, and sent to Danville Prison, and from there to Libby Prison, where for many months his sufferings were such as it is almost impossible to describe. He went into the prison weigh- ing one hundred and seventy-eight pounds ; and, when he was finally exchanged on parole, he weighed less than one hundred pounds. In 1865 he was honorably discharged, and returned to his family, his health badly im- paired; and, after the death of his good wife
in 1887, he removed to the West, where he now resides. The death of Mr. H. A. Stan- ley's mother when he was about eighteen years of age is a never-to-be-forgotten grief for him. She was a superior woman, the presiding genius of her home, a gentle wife and mother, possessed of a rare quality of pa- tience, and constantly exercising the sweet influences of charity and love.
Mr. H. A. Stanley was married in Bing- hamton to Miss Rose Lester, a native of this city, who, having received an excellent edu- cation in the city schools, was a successtul and popular teacher in them up to the time of her marriage. The pleasant home of this couple is enlivened by their three bright and intelli- gent children -Clifford L., Bert H., and Marjorie L. Mr. Stanley's life history is a good object-lesson to the growing generation of young men, who can see for themselves what success has followed a country boy with nothing to aid him but his own laudable ambition, untiring industry, and indomitable perseverance.
RED D. VAN AMBURGII, the well- known, genial, and able Vice-President and Advertising Manager of the Herald, has had an experience that few men in his line. have enjoyed. He knows the common people, can sympathize and counsel with them, and, with all this, is as well equipped as any man in Binghamton to tell a business man how to '- advertise, what to advertise, when to adver- tise it, and where to advertise it, too. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the "soul of
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truth and veracity " in matters of circulation of newspapers and other publications; for, as he says, it doesn't pay to lie about matters of that kind. It is probably safe to assume that Mr. Van Amburgh would not falsify if it did pay, for he has the reputation of careful veracity; but in his present position, as he says, he has no need to exaggerate, for he works only on a paper of "known circula- tion." He has been with this paper but a few months, less than a year; but, so marked has been his success, it is but just that it is spoken of here as among the achievements of his busy and successful life.
Born at Newburg on the Hudson, April 5, 1866, it will be seen that he is yet a young man. His parents removed to Binghamton, or, rather, the county ten miles north of Binghamton, when the subject of this sketch was two years old. His carly educational advantages were those of any ordinary country boy, but he was always interested in news- papers - so much so that, when he was less than a dozen years of age, he was the proud possessor of an editorial "sit " on a six by nine juvenile home-made publication. As he grew older, he no longer thought or played as a child; and he is found at a tender age a driver on the Erie Canal. So bright a boy could not be long kept at this business; and, interesting some one in his behalf, he soon obtained a chance to learn telegraphy and run with messages. He became an ex- pert operator in a few years, and can "cut in ". to-day at a moment's notice, and send or take at a 2.40 gait. As above intimated, he
always had a weakness for the newspaper business; and on the 2d of May, 1888, he threw up a good situation to establish what he proposed to call the Chenango Forks Herald in a town where everybody said it could never succeed. It not only lived, but throve; and he ran that paper in a style that brought him money and reputation until March 1, 1893, when he sold it for several thousand dollars, came to Binghamton, and began to look about for a wider field. His writings having at- tracted the attention of the Herald, he was given an opportunity to buy an interest, and October 1, 1893, went into that concern as part owner. On the organization of its Board of Directors he was chosen its Vice-Presi- dent, and has since taken an active part in its development. His activity and ability were such, and he had so good a thing to lay before the advertising public, that he soon compelled the management to enlarge; and in the hard times of 1893 the hazard of doubling its size was attempted. To exemplify its success, due almost entirely to Mr. Van Amburgh's efforts, it may now be added that at present writing it is being enlarged once more, to admit the press of advertising. As an adver- tisement writer, Mr. Van Amburgh has few superiors; and his work is copied in all the leading trade publications in his line as samples of the writer's art. To Mrs. Carrie Seeber Van Amburgh, his accomplished and amiable wife, can much of her husband's suc- cess be attributed; for her influence, indomi- table courage, and wise counsel have carried him through many a trial that would have
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