USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 27
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In 1880 Governor Cornell appointed Mr. O'Connor one of the Trustees of the Bing- hamton Asylum for the Chronic Insane, which position he still holds, and, as Senator, has done much toward securing aid for this insti-
tution from the State. Since 1881 he has been Chairman of the Auditing Committee of the Board of Trustees, and over a million of dollars has passed under his supervision. This is the only office he ever held prior to his election as Senator. In 1890 Mr. O'Con- nor received the flattering nomination for Senator, to which office he was elected by a very large majority ; and so well did he rep- resent his district that he was renominated, and was again elected by a plurality of two thousand four hundred and sixty-six votes. Mr. O'Connor holds a distinguished rank in the Senate, where his ability is recognized in his being made Chairman of some of its most important committees, such as Judiciary, Mil- itary Affairs, and Rules. In the session of 1894 Senator O'Connor had a large number of bills changing the judicial system of the State. But his chief bill was a political one providing for an equal division of the election officers of the State between the Republican and Democratic parties, the object being to secure pure election by giving cach of the strong political parties the same power at the polls. In another bill Senator O'Connor deprived the State Commission in Lunacy of its power to supervise the financial accounts of the State llospital for the Insane. Ile also introduced a bill making an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars for the armory at Walton, N. Y .; a bill for the insurance of State buildings; a bill authorizing the filling of vacancies in the Constitutional Conven- tion; a bill for the making of repairs to the State Storehouse, and many others of practi-
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cal value. The most important one, however, to the citizens of Binghamton, was an act appropriating not more than one hundred thousand dollars for the construction of a viaduct at the railroad crossing at Chenango Street.
Mr. O'Connor was married November 18, 1880, to Miss Murphy, of Deposit, N. Y. Their union has been blessed with five chil- dren, of whom four are living; namely, Edmund, Helen, William, and Florence. The Senator and his family reside in an ele- gant residence on Prospect Avenue, one of the most beautiful streets in Binghamton. They are members of St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Church, and to the new edifice in process of construction Senator O'Connor has been a most liberal contributor. He is a man of handsome presence, and is considered one of the most eloquent and impassioned speakers in the Senate, at the bar, or on the political platform. The history of this gentleman is an interesting one, as it illustrates the force of well-directed ambition coupled with in- domitable will, industry, and perseverance. Entirely dependent on his own resources, he has, by his own efforts, worked his way from a poor, friendless boy to his present exalted position as a Senator of the State of New York. Ilis active and useful career in that august body thus far gives every promise of a continuance of the prominence he has at- tained; and there is no doubt that he will maintain his high standard among his distin- guished colleagues and his constituents in the city of Binghamton.
INA A. SMITH, a veteran of the late war, having served for three years in the Construction Corps attached to the Army Corps in the extreme Southern States, is now a farmer and successful apiarist of the town of Windsor, N. Y. He was born in this town, April 1, 1827; and his parents were Enoch and Electa (Griggs) Smith. The father was a native of Broome County, and the mother was born in Connecticut. Ira Smith, the grandfather of Zina, came from one of the Eastern States in the early years of the settlement of Broome County, where he bought land in the town of Windsor. Be- sides farming, he here followed his trade of carpenter, which was quite remunerative in those days, as the first need of the many set- tlers arriving was to have habitations built for them. He and his wife reared a family of seven children, as follows: Willis, Miles, Polly, Julius, Nathaniel, Enoch, and Eliphat. Mr. Ira Smith died at about middle age. Ile . was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Enoch Smith, the fifth son of Ira, was born in Broome County, and grew to manhood in . the town of Windsor. Ile owned one hun- dred and thirty acres of land, where he carried on general farming, and was a man of thrifty and industrious habits. He and his wife Electa reared a family of seven children, of whom five are now living, as follows: Ira and Zina A .; Tirzah, widow of G. Alden; So- phronia, widow of Erastus Andrews; and Sid- ney. The two who died were: Theodore, at the age of thirty; and Alvin, at nineteen years. Enoch Smith died in the town of
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Windsor, at the age of seventy years. HIe was a strict member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was a Deacon for many years. His wife also belonged to the same church. She departed this life at the age of sixty-five years.
Zina A. Smith was educated in the district schools and in the academy of Windsor, his native town. He learned the carpenter's trade at about the age of twenty-one years; but previous to this he had worked two sea- sons on a farm, receiving thirteen dollars per month. April 4, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Pine. She died in 1868; and Mr. Smith married again on March 26, 1869, his second wife being Miss Harriet A. Parke, who was born in the town of Kirkwood, March 11, 1835, a daughter of William A. and Adeline H. (Alden) Parke. Her father, William A. Parke, was born in Schoharie County, and his wife in the town of Wind- sor. Ile was a farmer in Kirkwood, and re- sided there until his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. She died at the age of seventy-three. They were Baptists in their religious belief, and Mr. Parke was a Demo- crat in politics. They had five children, namely: Harriet A., Mrs. Smith; Theodore, a farmer of Windsor; Carrie M., wife of Peter Davidson, a farmer of Kirkwood; Virgil A., a contractor and builder of the city of Bing- hamton; and Alice L., residing in Kirkwood at the old homestead.
Mr. Smith worked at his trade of carpenter in Windsor for many years. He also lived in Colesville for about two years, and erected
buildings there and in adjoining towns. The first land he bought was a tract of eighty acres in Delhi, Delaware County ; but he never lived on it. When he sold it, he purchased another place of one hundred and thirty acres in the town of Windsor, but disposed of that, and bought a farm of twenty-six acres, where he now resides, and on which he raises hay and grass principally, and conducts a dairy. He is particularly interested in the culture of bees, to which he has given much attention, and has been very successful. He now has seventy-seven stands. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Zina A. Smith are as follows: Helen, wife of William HJ. Smith, a merchant in Windsor; Dalaverge M., a telegraph ope- rator, residing in Pennsylvania; George P., a farmer, and Mary A., both residing at home.
Mr. Smith and his wife are good, earnest Christians, and are active members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Smith does active service in the cause of the Republican party, of which he is a devoted adherent. His war record is of the very best, and no doubt can ever be cast upon him as a true and loyal citi- zen of this great Union.
AMES M. LUCAS is a prominent farmer of the town of Lisle, and is not only successful in his present oc- cupation, but is also an able business man. Being a competent judge, having had varied experiences, he appreciates the independence and enjoyment to be mainly found on a farm. Within his own beautiful domain he not only
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enjoys the sense of ownership, but is satisfied that his prolific fields and orchards will leave him unharassed from the anxiety incidental to other pursuits of life.
Mr. Lucas was born at Triangle, June 25, 1855, son of William Lucas, and grandson of Ezra Lucas, who was born April 18, 1789, in Goshen, Litchfield County, Conn. Ezra was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Thompson) Lucas, old and respected citizens of that county. IIe was reared and educated in his native town, and removed to the State of New York in 1822, accompanied by his wife and three children, making the journey by team. HIe lived in the town of Triangle for a few years, partially clearing the land he bought and engaging in farming, and afterward re- moved to the village of Triangle, remaining there until the death of his wife, when he made his home with his children. He died September 24, 1871. The maiden name of his wife, who was born in Canaan, Conn., January 20, 1790, was Polly Pendleton. Joshua and Deborah Pendleton, her parents, were natives of that State, and removed to Broome County in 1822, residing there for a few years, going thence to Ohio, where they spent their last days. Mrs. Ezra Lucas died on May 22, 1859. Iler husband was for many years a cripple, the result of an accident, and, although obliged to use crutches, was quite active, and outlived his son William, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch. There were four children born to them, two sons and two daughters, namely : William, born in Goshen, Litchfield County,
Conn., November 22, 1815; Maria, May 16, ISIS, married Darwin Spencer, and died in Binghamton, September 25, 1888; John, born December 8, 1821, died in Wysox, Pa., Feb- ruary 17, 1894; Mary L., born March 22, 1832, married Jonathan Leach.
William Lucas was but seven years old when he accompanied his parents to the State. of New York. He never learned a trade, but was employed at various kinds of work. He died in Smithville, Chenango County, N. Y., in 1868. His wife was Emily Roberts, born August 15, 1823, in Willet, Cortland County, daughter of Ezra and Sarah Roberts. She died on November 13, 1881. Ezra Roberts was born in New Berlin, N. Y., January 26, ' 1803, and came to Willet, N. Y., with his father's family when six years old. He died in Willet, January 29, 1879. His wife Susan was born in Ilerkimer County, New York, January 6, 1805, and died in November, 1886, at Otselic, N.Y. Nine children were born to William and Emily (Roberts) Lucas, three of whom are dead. One of them, Mrs. J. HI. Osborn, died in February, 1882, at Spring Valley, Minn., leaving three children. The living members of the family are: Charles, of Keating, Pa .; Emma, Mrs. Will- iam W. Baker, of Broome County; George; Sarah, Mrs. Charles A. Covey, of Albany; and James M., who was the sixth child.
James M. Lucas received a fair but limited education in the common schools, leaving them before he had reached the age of four- teen, and carly engaging in the lumber busi- ness. He remained at home working in the
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saw-mill until he was twenty-one years of age. The following year, on December 24, 1877, he was married to Miss Mary M. Tick- nor, who was born near the village of Tri- angle, March 5, 1855, and was the daughter of Samuel and Eunice (McGee) Ticknor. Iler father died May 21, 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years; and her mother, Novem- ber 27, 1871, at the age of thirty-eight years, eight months, and eighteen days. Six chil- dren were born to them, of whom Mrs. Lucas is the eldest. The others are: Lafayette, a physician of Binghamton; Albert, Oscar, Franklin E., and William, all living in Broome County. The latter was but one week old when his mother died; and until he was six years old he was cared for by his sister, Mrs. Lucas.
James M. Lucas and his wife resided in Upper Lisle in this county for about eighteen months, and afterward in Lisle and one or two other places. At length, finding that there was money to be made in a portable saw-mill, Mr. Lucas purchased one, which he was able to run in different places, cutting millions of feet of lumber, buying timber lots, and working up the logs into lumber ready for the market. Mr. Lucas began life "even with the world," and worked hard, living economically and frugally, and, with his steadfast principles of honesty and sobri- ety, soon found himself on the high road to prosperity. Ile has now a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, containing a splen- did sugar bush of twelve acres, all clear of debt. Ilis handsome house, excellent barns,
and the thrifty condition of his whole place is a true indication of the success which he has so deservedly earned.
Mr. Lucas is a Republican in politics. He is a Trustee of the district schools, and a gen- erous supporter of every good work. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have one son living, Arthur J., a lad of fourteen years. Their only daughter died when an infant. They have worked hard for what they have gained, and are now enjoy- ing the fruits of their labor in a happy home, surrounded with the comforts and elegances of life. Mrs. Lucas has by her active help, wifely counsels, and her economy contributed her full share in securing their prosperity, and presides over her fine establishment with housewifely thrift and grace.
B EN BUFFUM, dealer in fancy gro- ceries and table wines, has been a resident of Binghamton since 1872. Ile was born in Pennsylvania, October 22, 1851, a son of Lewis and Bridget (Kane) Buffum, and was educated at Apalachin, Tioga County, N. Y., where his father was in business fourteen years before coming to Broome County. Lewis Buffum was also a native of Pennsylvania, a prominent citizen, and a man always actively engaged in some enterprise or work all his life, having been Supervisor for the Second Ward, and having held many other positions of trust and honor in the community. He is still a resident of Binghamton, but has practically retired from active business life.
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Ben Buffum worked for his father, obtain- ing a practical knowledge of the business in all its details, until 1885, when he bought out his father's interests, and since then, keeping up with modern improvements, has acquired an increased patronage among a desirable class of customers. His business methods, while strictly honorable, are char- acterized by that element of "push " so requisite in times of close competition. Ile employs three persons to assist him, takes the lead in his department of trade, and, while independent and particularly mindful of his own interests, is genial and pleasant in all his associations, ready to assist others worthy of support, and to lend a helping hand to those in distress.
He is connected with the Masonic Order, being a member of Binghamton Lodge, No. 177; Binghamton Chapter, No. 139; Malta Commandery, No. 21; and Otseningo Con- sistory, No. 32. Since 1879 he has been connected with the Elmira Telegram, having charge of the circulation department for the. city of Binghamton.
IMON P. QUICK, one of the most enterprising citizens of the town of Windsor, a prominent lumber- dealer, has attained his present excellent posi- tion by his own industry, foresight, and judi- cious management. He was born in the town of Rochester, Ulster County, N. Y., June 27, 1850. IIe attended the district schools of his town in his boyhood, and in later years im-
proved his mind by reading and study. His parents were James and Jane (Wheeler) Quick, who were also natives of Ulster County. The father was born August 1, 1821, and the mother, July 15, 1820. They had four children, namely: Simon P .; Jere- miah R., a farmer, stone-cutter, and wood- turner of Winterdale, Pa .; Jacob M., a farmer and stationary engineer of Scott, Pa .; and Anna M. J., wife of Edward Dwy, a sawyer of Clinton County, New York.
Mr. James Quick, seeking to improve his fortunes, went in 1862 on a prospecting tour out West, and died there at the early age of forty years. Simon was but twelve years of age at this time, and, being the eldest of the children, became at once the main support of his mother and guardian of the younger mem- bers of the family. Nothing could exceed his devotion and love to his widowed mother; and, with her sound sense and judgment to aid him, he succeeded in keeping the house- hold together in comparative comfort. He worked out by the month on the Delaware & Hudson Canal for about seven seasons, get- ting three dollars for the first month, but showing such aptitude and attention to his duties that his wages were soon raised much higher. He remained in Ulster County until- his marriage. In that year, 1871, he pur- chased fifty-five acres of land in the towns of Sanford, N. Y., and Scott, Wayne County, Pa., and, with the assistance of his brothers, built a home for his mother, where she re- sided with her son Jeremiah till her death. In 1878 Simon bought a large tract of land in
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the towns of Windsor and Colesville, Broome County. The Colesville purchase consisted of five hundred and fifty acres, which he still owns, with the exception of seventy acres that he has sold. The property was covered with a heavy growth of timber; and here he set up a steam mill with houses and a barn, at an expenditure of many thousand dollars. He has been connected with the lumber firm known as Waite, Quick & Atwell for about two years. This firm employed about one hundred and fifty men, and carried on a very extensive business. Mr. Quick was also identified with the John Davis & Co. mercan- tile business for a few years. lle resided in Colesville, where he was actively engaged in looking after his lumber interests till 1890, when he removed to Windsor, where, in con- nection with his other outside affairs, he con- ducted the Eagle Hotel. This well-known hotel was built by David Hoadley as far back as 1831, and passed into the possession of Mr. Quick from James Warner, who had been the proprietor a short time. Mr. Quick thor- oughly remodelled and refurnished the build- ing, besides adding to its dimensions and introducing steam heat. But his time was needed in his lumber business; and, while he still owns the hotel, it is now managed by Mr. F. L. Willard, one of the most experi- enced men in that line in the country. His house is carried on in a first-class manner, and is a haven of rest for the commercial traveller, who here finds all the comforts of a home. Mr. Quick is still actively engaged in the lumber trade, and owns two saw-mills,
one in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and the other in the town of Windsor. From these he turns out all kinds of lumber, and also railroad sup- plies. One of the most enterprising of the citizens of Windsor, he is always ready to take an active part in any industry which will be of benefit to the town, where he has many investments in real estate. In the introduc- tion of water-works in Windsor Village he was a prime mover; and to his energy and perseverance, in connection with Dr. Stillson, its citizens are greatly indebted for their fine system.
On January 1, 1871, Mr. Simon P. Quick married Miss Mary Bowen, a native of Jack- son, Pa., and daughter of William and Sally (Washburn) Bowen. Her father was born in the town of Bridgewater, Susquehanna County, Pa., June 11, 1821. The mother was born in Hartford, Conn., September 2, 1822, and died in 1893. She was a Metho- dist in her religious belief. Mr. Bowen is a liberal Christian, and is one of the represen- tative farmers of the town of Sherman, Pa., where he now resides. Politically, he is a Democrat. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, namely : William B., a farmer of Buckingham, Wayne County, Pa .; Oliver F., a farmer of Scott, Pa. ; Horace B., of Binghamton, N. Y .; Mary A., Mrs. Simon P. Quick; Nathan L., residing on the old Bowen farm at Scott; Dolly, wife of J. S. A. Case, of Colesville, Broome County; Rose, Mrs. Jacob N. Quick, living in the town of Scott ; Jane, who died at the age of thirty- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Quick have one
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child, whom they adopted at the age of six months, and who is now a loving girl of four- teen years, the joy and comfort of the household.
In his hours of leisure the greatest pleasure of Mr. Quick is in the divine art of music; and it is largely through his liberality, both in contributions and instruction, that the present Windsor Band has attained its excel- lence and fine reputation. He is a member in high standing of the Masonic Order, belonging to Windsor Lodge, No. 442, A. F. & A. M .; Malta Commandery, No. 21, Knights Templars, of Binghamton; and Ziara Temple, of Utica, N. Y. Politically, Mr. Quick is connected with the Republican party. The success in life attained by Mr. Quick is plainly the result of the diligent use of his abilities and his opportunities, his manly self-reliance, good business sense, and sound methods, and his untiring industry ; while his dutifulness as a son, his years of filial devotion to his bereaved mother, brought their own blessing from Divine Providence day by day.
HARLES W. TIFFANY, M.D., of Binghamton, N. Y., Vice-President of the Broome County Medical Soci- cty, was born in Harford, Susquehanna County, l'a., May 27, 1859. Ilis paternal great-grandfather was Hosea Tiffany, who, in company with eight other sturdy pioneers, came from Attleboro, Mass., and penetrated into the wilds of Pennsylvania about the year 1790, and bought extensive tracts of land
where the village of Harford now stands. The Doctor's father was an attorney, and practised law for many years at Montrose, being also a Justice of the Peace. On ac- count of failing health, he returned to the homestead at Harford. He was married to a Miss Coon, of Rhode Island.
Their son Charles received his first educa- tion in the llarford school, and when about twelve years old came to Binghamton, where he attended the high school. After finishing the course of study at that school, he went to the University of New York, graduating in the medical department of the university in the class of 1881. ITe opened an office, and practised in Montrose for six months, and then moved to Brackney, a small village in Susquehanna County, where he resided for nine years, having a very large country prac- tice, there being no other Doctor in the vicinity for nearly twenty miles. In 1891 he removed to Binghamton, where, making gyne- cology a special study and office practice, he has built up a successful business.
Dr. Tiffany is Vice - President of the Broome County Medical Society, a member of the Academy of Medicine and of the Susque- hanna County Medical Society. He is also a prominent member of the Order of Red Men ' in Binghamton. Ile has but very little time to give to matters outside of his profession, as he is a close student and has many patients, but, when he can spare the time, is fond of taking a day's sail at beautiful Quaker Lake, near where he spent so many years, and indulging in his passion for angling. His
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prompt attention to the needs of his patients and conscientious methods have secured for him his present prosperity.
LFRED BAGLEY, Postmaster at Conklin Centre, Broome County, was born in the town of Delhi, Dela- ware County, N. Y., November 13, 1811, a son of Eli and Eunice (Goodrich) Bagley. llis father was born in Columbia County, New York, and his mother in Massachusetts. Eli was a son of Josiah Bagley, a native of Massachusetts, who owned a good farm lo- cated on the border line between that State and New York. He spent his life on this farm, and was seventy-five years old when he died. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters, none of them living at present.
Isaac Goodrich, the father of Mrs. Bagley, was one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Delhi, where he kept a tavern, and was one of the best known men in that vicinity. IIe served in the Revolutionary War, and heroi- cally endured all the trials and sufferings of those carly days. A rich man, for the times, he spent his last years in case and plenty in the town of Hamden, Delaware County, N. Y., dying at the age of eighty-five years. His wife was also quite advanced .in age at her death. They had seven children, who grew up, but are all dead now.
Eli Bagley lived in Massachusetts until he arrived at manhood, when he went to Dela- ware County, New York, and there married. He engaged in various business enterprises,
among them lumber and mercantile business. He spent his last days in the town of Ham- den. He and his wife became the parents of six children, five of whom grew to maturity; but only three now survive. They were as follows : Alfred; Edward and Marcus, resid- ing in the town of Hamden; William; Sally Ann; and Church -the three latter dying respectively at the ages of thirty, forty, and sixteen years. The father died at the age of sixty years, but his wife lived to the age of ninety-three. They were members of the Christian church, and in his politics Mr. Bag- ley was an active and energetic worker in the Democratic party.
Having received a good education in the district schools of Delhi, at nineteen years of age Alfred Bagley came to Broome County, settling in the town of Conklin when the country was wild and sparsely populated. This was in 1830; and Binghamton was then called "Chenang l''int," and consisted of but a few houses. Mr. Bagley engaged in work- ing in a brick-yard, and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for thirty years ; and many of the buildings now stand- ing in the towns of Kirkwood and Conklin were erected by him. He also bought a tract of wild land, which he cleared, and followed farming in connection with his trade. When he was twenty-two years of age, he married Miss Mary Wheaton, a native of New Jersey, and daughter of Bethuel and Mary Wheaton. Their domestic life was made happy by the birth of nine children, of whom six are now living. They are: Emily, wife of E. Brandt,
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