USA > New York > Broome County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York. > Part 35
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Betsey, wife of Edgar Doolittle, having one son ; Fred E., a merchant at Whitney's Point ; Frank, dealer in live stock; Kate, wife of D. W. Page, of Syracuse; James, dealer in live stock; Arthur, a school-teacher; Her- bert, employed in a store; and Nellie, wife of Arthur Rooks. Mr. Allen is politically a Republican, and both he and his wife are Baptists in religious belief. He has been a man of great physical power and endurance, but now does not perform the severe physical labor of former years. lIe has a splendid farm, keeps from fifteen to twenty-five cows, and manufactures butter for the market. In the congenial society of his faithful wife Mr. Allen is passing his declining years in com- fort, amid pleasant surroundings, with the high regard of his neighbors and the warm esteem of his many friends.
R EV. ADELBERT J. SCHLAGER, of Binghamton, presents to us the type of an educated and cultured Chris- tian gentleman, possessed of good business qualities and sound, practical sense in the af- fairs of every-day life. lle is, on the pater- nal side, of German ancestry, his father having been born in Baden, Germany, and his grand- parents being natives of that country, where they resided most of their lives. They came to the United States late in life, and settled in Pennsylvania, where they spent their last years.
Their son Jacob, father of Mr. Schlager of this notice, was reared and educated in his
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native land, being sixteen years of age at the time his parents resolved to seek a home on Columbia's soil. On arriving in this coun- try, he found employment on the Lehigh Canal, and later in the copper mines of New Jersey. He was industrious, and saved most of his carnings, accumulating in timea sum sufficient to enable him to engage in business for himself. He chose tanning as his occu- pation, and prosecuted that business for some time in Andes, Delaware County, N. Y., and later in Hunter. In 1852, finding that bark was getting scarce, owing to that section of country becoming more thickly settled, Mr. Schlager removed to the wilds of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and there purchased a tannery. He was very successful, his busi- ness growing rapidly, until he operated three tanneries at one time, besides being engaged in various other enterprises. He was Presi- dent of the City National Bank of Susque- hanna for some years previous to his death, and was looked upon in business circles as a sound, substantial citizen, of sterling integ rity. For forty years he was associated in business with Mr. H. W. Brandt; and, when at last he concluded to retire, they satisfac- torily settled their large and complicated in- terests without assistance of arbitrators. In 1885 Mr. Schlager removed to Binghamton, and bought a home in which he resided until his death, which event occurred in December, 1886. The maiden name of his wife was Harriet L. Cornish. She was born in Jewett, Greene County, N.Y., her parents being natives of Connecticut and of English ances-
try. She died in 1872. She was a good and faithful wife, and was the mother of four chil- dren; namely, Freelove C., Adelbert J., Ruth, and Charles.
Of these children, the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. He was born in Jewett, Greene County, N. Y., and at an early age .. showed his interest in spiritual things, being converted at the age of twelve, at which time he joined the Presbyterian church, and identi- fied himself with the fellowship of believers. Ile received his education in Hamilton Col- lege, from which noble institution of learning he was graduated with the class of 1869. His religious studies he pursued in the Union Theological Seminary, graduating after three years in the class of 1872. He was ordained at Pleasant Mount, and preached there accept- ably for three years. He then went to Scran- ton, l'a., where he remained for a year, and at the end of that time went to Dubuque, la., to occupy the Chair of Greek and Hebrew in the German Theological Seminary at that place. Here he remained for ten years, find- ing his work pleasant and congenial, until in 1888 he came to Binghamton to take_charge of the business interests left him by his father. He has remained so engaged up to the present time. His marriage, which oc- curred in 1872, united him with Nora M. Taylor, of Lanesboro. This union has been blessed" with three children - Freelove C., Nellie C., and Mary. Since coming to Bing- . hamton Mr. Schlager has made many friends in that city, taking a high rank among its representative citizens, not because of his
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ample means and material possessions, but for his scholarly mind, refined character, and courteous bearing. llis wife shares in his popularity ; and among the many happy homes of his beautiful adopted city, where the Chris- tian graces are exemplified in family life, that of the subject of this brief memoir may be considered fairly representative.
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AMES M. FLETCHER, a prominent farmer and dairyman of the town of Sanford, Broome County, is a man of more than ordinary enterprise and intelli- gence, and pursues the occupation of farming . on a scientific basis. IIc fully understands the capacity and possibilities of the soil and the most improved methods of agriculture. . He is largely engaged in the milk-shipping business from McClure Station, and was one of the prime movers in the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Broome County, · of which organization he is the present Secre- tary, having efficiently filled that position for the last four years. His grandfather, Benja- min Fletcher, was a native and lifelong resi- dent of Connecticut, and by occupation a farmer. Mr. Fletcher's father, also named Benjamin, at the age of twelve removed with his mother, then a widow, to Half Way Brook, Sullivan County, where he grew up, engaged in farming, and married Saloma Skin- ner, who died, leaving three children - Dan- iel, Benjamin C., and ITelen" M. Purchas- ing a farm in Sullivan County, Mr. Fletcher made a considerable payment upon it, but
upon the death of his wife lost courage, and met with financial disaster, losing his farm and all his property, save a yoke of oxen, a cow, and some sheep. He then removed to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, where he set- tled on a piece of land in Preston Township, and where he married the lady who became the mother of the subject of this sketch. This union was blessed with five children: Clarissa M .; Sylvina Jane, wife of Moses Travis, living at Port Jervis, N.Y .; James M .; Eliza, who died when eighteen months old; and Edwin, who died at the age of twenty-five years.
James M. Fletcher was born on his father's farm, June 6, 1836, in Preston Township, Wayne County, Pa. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, and attended the district schools as he had the opportunity. He was married May 8, 1862, to Laura Wheeler, a daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, who was of English extraction. The grandfather of Mrs. Fletcher settled at Mt. Pleasant, Wayne County, Pa., in 1814. He took part in the War of the Revolution, and fought under General Putnam. lle was subsequently en- gaged to some extent in farming, and had at one time a flourishing hotel at Winchester, Conn. Ile bought considerable land near Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in 1814. Mrs. Fletcher's mother was formerly Louisa Simonds, and was born in Mt. Pleasant Township. She became the mother of four children : Lucy A., wife of William Spence, of Kirksville, Mo .; Ambrose, who died in infancy; Laura M., Mrs. Fletcher; and Hattie A., who lives at
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Kirksville, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher are the parents of seven children: Russell Benja- min, who married Emma Lowe, and is en- gaged in farming in Sanford; Everett C., also engaged in farming; Orville T., who is a graduate of Hamilton College, and is now a student in Union Theological Seminary; Jen- nie, wife of Dexter King, living at North Sanford; Anna D., residing at home; J. Lee G., attending the high school at Deposit ; and Earl S., who died at the age of three years. Mr. Fletcher purchased his father's farm in Pennsylvania, his father living with him until the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. Mr. Fletcher's mother died in Penn- sylvania, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. Fletcher sold out his farm in Pennsyl- vania in 1873, and came to the town of San- ford. He then rented a farm in the town of Tompkins, Delaware County, which he man- aged for one year, and then bought the farm where he now lives, which consists of one hundred and seventy-nine acres. Ile has improved the place, and engaged quite exten- sively and successfully in dairying. He was one of the charter members of the Farmers' Relief Association, and is its present Secre- tary, which position he has held for the last four years, having been re-elected three times. He has been Assessor of the town three years, and Commissioner of Highways two terms. He is interested in the Co-operative Dela- ware Valley Milk Company, and has been its Secretary and Treasurer since , its organiza- tion. Before coming to this State, he was
engaged to some extent in the lumbering business in Pennsylvania. Politically, he is a member of the Republican party, and ad- heres to the general polity of that organiza- tion. Religiously, he and his family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church at McClure. Mr. Fletcher believes in education for the masses, and is well informed on the leading social and political questions of the day. He makes of farming a pleasant and profitable occupation, and has the respect of the community in which he dwells.
AMES H. ARNOTT, Manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office at Binghamton, N. Y., was born at Utica, N. Y., March 30, 1847, son of Benjamin and . Hannah (Stowe) Arnott. The parents of Mr. Arnott were born at Chatham, England, and were there married. They emigrated to America, and settled in Utica, N.Y., where the father kept a stationery and book store on Genesee Street. He was an active business man of that place at one time, but some years previous to his death removed to Albany, N. Y., where he held a position in the State Banking Department. He died there; and his wife survived him but a year, dying in' : Utica. They were members of. Calvary Epis- copal Church of Utica, the father having been a Trustee for many years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Arnott consisted of five children, of whom the subject of this mention was the only son. The four daughters are: Mary, widow of J. J. Crump, who died in the ser-
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vice during the late Civil War; Elizabeth, Mrs. James G. French, of Utica; Sarah, widow of S. E. Mayo, of Utica; and Emma, wife of W. D. Miles, of Binghamton, N. Y.
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James 1I. Arnott was educated in the city schools of Utica, and then learned telegraphy in the Utica office of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company, commencing at the age of fourteen years. After one year as a student, he was sent as operator to Nor- wich, Chenango County, N. Y., being em- ployed by the same company for five months, transferred from there to Sharon Springs, N. Y., for the summer season, and then sent to Binghamton, opening the first commercial office in that city, and taking one of the win- dows of Preston & Sears's bookstore on Court Street for his office. This was in 1863; and at that time there was but one wire, which extended from Syracuse to Ithaca, N.Y., via Binghamton. The only other telegraphic communication for the citizens of Binghamton · were two wires on the line of the Erie Rail- way, both of which were so crowded with rail- road business that it was nearly impossible to secure the use of them for any other purpose. When the New York, Albany & Buffalo Tele- graph Company was consolidated and became a part of the Western Union system, two additional wires were put up from New York to Buffalo on the line of the Erie Railway; and since that day there has been a continuous growth in telegraph business in the city of Binghamton, until at the present time upward of thirty commercial wires enter the office, connecting it with all points in the United
States. The office of the company is now sit- uated on the ground floor of the Ackerman Building, on the corner of State and Henry Streets, extending through to Commercial Avenue. About twenty people are employed there, all under the charge of Mr. Arnott.
Mr. Arnott was also deeply interested in the introduction of the telephone service into the city of Binghamton, and acted as manager of the Exchange between seven and eight years, the business at the end of that time growing so large that he had to give it up on account of his connection with the Western Union, which required all his time. He is also Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Tele- graph Company, and has been a prominent member of the Fire Department of Bingham- ton. He has been especially connected with Fountain Hose No. 4 since 1864, and has held every office in the gift of the company except that of President, which has been hon- orably and continuously filled by that veteran fireman, James HI. Bartlett, Mr. Arnott is at present Treasurer of the company. Ile is also a member of the Exempt Firemen's Asso- ciation, but is still counted on the roll of active firemen. In politics he is a Democrat, and has received numerous offers from his party to accept the nomination for Assessor, Supervisor, and Alderman, but has invariably refused, having no aspirations for official position.
Mr. Arnott has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Lenora Phillips, who died, leaving one daughter, Katherine. His sec- ond wife was Mrs. Bertha C. Tyler, to whom
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he was married in October of 1887. Mrs. Arnott is a member of the Universalist church. Mr. Arnott is considered a valuable and energetic citizen in his community, and enjoys the confidence, not only of the company that he has served so faithfully, but of the people of Binghamton in general.
ILLIAM G. CRESSON was born October 26, 1840, in the town of Windsor, son of George and Sarah (Gardner) Cresson, both of whom were natives of that town. Mr. Cresson, who was distinguished in the late war by his bravery and gallant deeds, comes of an old family in Windsor, his grandfather, Silas Cresson, having been a well-known farmer and one of the early set- tlers of that place, spending his life there, and dying at the age of ninety-two years. The grandmother's name before marriage was Hannah Hendrickson. They reared a family of twelve children, of whom six are living. Mrs. Silas Cresson was a devoted believer in the Methodist faith, and after a useful Chris- tian life died at the age of eighty-five years. Her husband was a pronounced Democrat of the old school. Their Son, George, father of William G., was reared and educated in his native town of Windsor, and, when he grew to manhood, followed farming for his occupa- tion. He was killed at the age of fifty-seven years by a runaway team, leaving his widow with eight children to care for. All of these attained maturity, and five are now living. They were named: William G .; Robert D.,
resident in Wisconsin; Herbert, living at the old home farm; Jane, wife of William Wheeler; Frank, Mrs. Linas Dickson, of Holyoke, Mass. The three who died were: Milton, at the age of forty-eight years; Phil- ler, at thirty; and Davenport, at twenty-one years. The father and mother were Metho- dists in their religious proclivities, but were not members of the church. George Cresson, like his father, was a Democrat, and steadily adhered to the principles of that party during his life. The mother died at the age of seventy-three years.
William G. Cresson received all the advan- tages attainable in the district schools of his town, and after leaving school learned the stone-mason's trade. Ile was but a little over twenty years of age when the call of his country for troops summoned him to fight in defence of the old flag. He enlisted in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, and under Captain ' Shipman of Binghamton,, N. Y., marched to 'the front. Few volunteers in the service saw more active fighting or met with more narrow escapes from death. In the twenty-one en- gagements in which he participated he was wounded but once, although the bullets came perilously close, tearing his clothes and per- . forating his cap in many places. Among the battles in which he took part the following were the most prominent : Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wahatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaca, New Hope Church, Dalton, Pine Knob, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee, Atlanta, Benton-
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ville, Averasboro, and Peach Tree Creek. In the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Pea Vine Creek, and Taylor's Ridge our subject acted as Captain. He entered the service as a private, but was honorably dis- charged with the rank of Sergeant, June 9, 1865, at Bladensburg, Md. When he re- turned to Windsor, he purchased a farm of ninety-three acres, which he now conducts, besides carrying on his old trade of stone- mason. He has filled many contracts for the railways throughout the State. Naturally, Mr. Cresson is deeply interested in Grand Army matters, and is a member of Judd Post. At their camp-fires he is a favorite narrator of many of the stirring incidents included within his own personal experience during the late war. In Masonic circles he is a Free and Accepted Mason of Windsor Lodge, No. 442. Mr. Cresson seems to be as invincible to the shafts of Cupid as he was to the bullets of the enemy; for he has never married, but lives heart-whole and fancy-free in his beautiful home in Windsor. He is well known and deservedly popular in his town.
ENRY S. MARTIN, Secretary and Treasurer of the Binghamton Indus- trial Exposition, is now serving his third year in that capacity, and is connected with other incorporated companies as a Di- rector. He is also interested in the real estate business with Nelson Stow. Mr. Mar- tin was born at Chaseville, Otsego County, N. Y., September 8, 1868, a son of the Rev.
Albert and Betsey Martin. The Rev. Albert Martin was a native of this county, born at Colesville. Daniel Martin, the grandfather of Mr. Martin of this notice, was one of the old pioneers of Broome County, having come from Danbury, Conn., to Colesville. Here he reared a family ; and among the children was Albert, who subsequently became a min- ister in the Baptist denomination, his field of labor having been in Otsego and Broome Counties, and later in Steuben County, where he now resides.
ITis son, Henry S., received his education at Penn Yan, Yates County, N. Y., Cook Academy, Havana, N. Y., and at Colgate University, then went to Boston, Mass., and engaged with a wholesale tea and coffee house. There, beginning in the attic where the coffees were roasted, he learned that busi- ness in all its detail, being salesman and pri- vate secretary at the time he left. He came to Binghamton in June, 1889, to engage with Mr. Stow in the present business. He took an active part in the organization of the In- dustrial Exposition, called the first meeting, and was largely instrumental in placing the organization on a working basis. The capital stock is twenty thousand dollars. The Hon. J. K. Welden is President ; Julius E. Rogers, Vice-President ; and Mr. Martin, the Treas- urer and Secretary.
The company leased for a term of ten years sixty acres fronting on State Street, graded and completed a first-class track, built a com- modious hall for the exhibition of agricultural products and manufactured goods. They hold
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meetings' annually, and offer prizes aggregat- ing fully ten thousand dollars. These exhi- bitions are largely attended, the average daily number being about fifteen thousand persons. The Stow Driving Park Association was in- corporated in 1892, with a capital of six thousand dollars, for the purpose of furnishing a suitable place where the best horses of the country might meet in friendly competition, and be assured of fair treatment. Mr. Martin was married to Miss Alida Thomas, of Bing- hamton, November 3, 1892. He has demon- strated that he has the qualities of a good organizer, and the ability to carry great undertakings to a successful issue. In poli- tics Mr. Martin is a Republican of no uncer- tain principles, but has always declined office, being contented to devote his energies to the prosecution of his own business affairs.
PRANK BEMAN is a well-known pipe- organ manufacturer of Binghamton, N. Y., and a skilled and popular leader of bands and orchestras. He was born in that city, December 23, 1853, son of O. D. and Elizabeth (Marsh) Beman. His grandfather, Daniel Beman, took up land at Colesville, Broome County, N. Y., and there made a homestead. The father was born and grew up on this farm, and at first followed agricult- ural pursuits, but afterward took up the trade of watch-maker and jeweller, which he carried on at Montrose, Pa., from 1860 to 1870. Ile then removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he carried on the same business. He was a
member of the Episcopal church, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Beman was accidentally drowned in 1875. His wife was the daughter of Orson Marsh, a resident of Broome County, and a retired farmer, making Harpursville, N.Y., his home. He held different local county offices. Mrs. Beman is still living.
Frank Beman received a good education at Montrose, finishing his studies at the Bing- hamton High School, and, having a marked talent for music, commenced its study under Professor Edward F. Heinburger, of Stuttgart University, who went to live in the family of Mr. Beman for two years, giving Frank fre- quent lessons, and exacting ten hours' prac- tice on the piano daily. For the first year the tuition applied entirely to technical exer- cises and theoretical work. Later he studied with Dr. William Mason, the great pianist of New York City, and then took lessons on the organ from Professor Matthews, of Chicago, ' Ill. Brass and orchestral work he learned from his father, who was a fine amateur musi- cian. Mr. Beman is a versatile and accom- plished performer, playing as well in brass, especially on the trombone, as on the viola, double-bass, or other stringed instruments. Under his leadership the Dickinson and Beman Band and Orchestra attained great celebrity, and have received commendation and praise in some of the largest cities of the State. With D. S. Dickinson, another fine musician of Binghamton, our subject started the first organized orchestra that city ever, had. This was in 1873-74, when the late
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Colonel Dwight had built his magnificent hotel, Dwight House, where, in the ad- joining handsome park, the new orchestra gave open-air concerts. The Dwight House is now a block of private residences, and the park is filled with dwellings; but the citizens of Binghamton will never forget the delight- ful hours they spent when enjoying the gener- ous hospitality of the lamented Colonel, and listening to the beautiful music of the Dick- inson-Beman Orchestra.
Mr. Beman first commenced work as a pri- vate teacher of piano and other instruments, and soon received the appointment of organist at Christ Episcopal Church. The latter posi- tion he has held continuonsly, with the ex- ception of two years, for over twenty years. One of these years of absence was in 1877, when he filled an engagement with the famous American Band of Providence, R. I .; and the other was when he had charge of the organ of the First Baptist Church of Binghamton. He combined with this work the tuning and repairing of pianos, and is also a practical watch-maker. In 1880 Mr. Beman started organ-building as his regular business, and has since turned out twenty-one fine church organs, including the magnificent one for the newly built First Baptist Church at Bingham- ton, which has sixteen hundred pipes, three manuals and pedals, pneumatic action through- out, and compares favorably with the organs built in the large cities. Among the list of his manufactures are the organ for the Penn- sylvania Avenue Baptist Church, Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, all of Scranton, Pa. The latter church had two, as the first was burned soon after completion. He has also built one for Ithaca, N. Y., and in Binghamton the organ for the North Presbyterian Church and the one in the Masonic Hall. He em- ploys six or seven thoroughly skilled work- men, all of them taught by himself with the exception of one, who had an experience of twenty years before going to Binghamton.
Mr. Beman was married December 1, 1880, to Miss Fanny Abbott, daughter of L. S. Abbott, a prominent resident of Binghamton. One child has been born to this marriage, Myron C. Mr. Beman is careful, industri- ous, and skilful in his undertakings; and his work has received merited recognition and support, both in his own city and elsewhere, which speaks much for its excellence. Ile is thoroughly respected and esteemed in Bing- hamton, as is also his amiable wife, whose efficient and zealous work in her church makes her of inestimable value in all its charitable entertainments.
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