USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 31
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any existing political organization. He has served as trustee of the village of Greene. Socially, he is a member of the Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Greene.
EORGE W. WILLCOX, M. D., one of the rising young physicians of Greene, who has a bright future before him, was born in Plymouth, Chenango County, N. Y., September 9, 1866, and is a son of A. Wallace and Lovinia ( Wales ) Willcox.
The Willcox family is of English ancestry. The grandfather, Edward T. Willcox, spent the greater part of his active life in the vil- lage of Verona, N. Y. He purchased a large tract of land, which was covered by the dense forest, which he immediately cleared, and with the lumber he engaged in the lumber business, and farmed the land which he had already cleared. At first he met with great success, but later lost his fortune by the de- signing plans of his enemies. In political views he was an adherent of the Whig and later of the Republican party. He was wedded to Miss Harriet M. Houghton, and they reared three children, who were as fol- lows : A. Wallace, the father of our subject ; Emily, who married Wright Christian of Verona, N. Y., and has three children, William, Sherley E. and Edna ; Anna was the wife of Henry Gregory of Plymouth, and is now a resident of Mt. Upton, N. Y. Mrs. Willcox died in 1885. Mr. Willcox passed from this earth in 1888, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. In religious views
Mr. and Mrs. Willcox were consistent work- ers of the Methodist Church, of which both were members.
A. Wallace Willcox received his schooling in his native village, after which he accepted a position as watchman on the railroad at Verona. Taking a dislike to the railroad business, he resigned and moved to Plymouth, where he purchased a small tract of land and engaged in farming. He was a man of many good business qualities and a valuable man in railroad circles, which the company knew ; while engaged in agricultural pursuits, he was offered any position on the railroad be- tween Oncida and Schenectady, but he would not accept, as he had quit that line of work for good. He casts his vote for Republican candidates, and is one of the political leaders in his community. He has served as road commissioner for several years, and has also filled the office of excise commissioner. He was joined in marriage with Miss Lovinia Wales, daughter of George Wales, and they reared a family of three children, who are as follows : Clara, the wife of Eugene Sabin of Plymouth, and the mother of one son, George: George W., our subject ; and Bertha L. Mr. Willcox, in religious views, is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church, of which he has been steward for a number of years. Mrs. Willcox entered the world of rest in 1883, aged thirty-six years. A. Wallace Will- cox chose for his second wife Edna Bently of West Winfield, N. Y., and she has borne him one child, Elsie.
George W. Willcox received his primary education in the public schools of Plymouth and then entered Colgate Academy at Ham-
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JAMES K. WETMORE.
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ilton, N. Y. Upon graduating he began the reading of medicine under Dr. Charles B. Flint of Hamilton, with whom he remained one year, when he entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College, from which he graduated in 1895, with the honors of his class. He then successfully passed the state examination at the University of New York, June 5, 1895, where he again carried off honors. He also took a course at the Broome Street Maternity Hospital. He chose the village of Greene for his field of practice, ' where he has successfully followed his pro- fession since June 10, 1895. September 22, 1894, he was joined in marriage with Miss Susie Stone, daughter of J. D. F. Stone of Hamilton, N. Y. Socially, he is a member of the Chenango County Medical Society, of which he is vice-president, having been hon- ored with that position January 1, 1897. He is also a county delegate to the State Home- opathic Society. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, of Greene. Mr. and Mrs. Willcox are both popular and consistent members of the Methodist Church.
AMES K. WETMORE, president of the First National Bank of Bain- bridge, this county, was born August 29, 1819, in the town of Bovina, Delaware County, N. Y., and is a son of James and Hannah ( Sackrider ) Wetmore.
James Wetmore, the great-grandfather, was a native of England, and a minister of the Episcopal Church. He came to this
country at an early day and engaged in min- isterial work in Rye, Westchester County, where he probably died.
James Wetmore, the grandfather, was born in the town of Rye, Westchester County, in 1762 ; when a young man he moved to Dela- ware County and followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married to Hester Sneffin, who was born in Rye, Westchester County, in 1754. They were the parents of a large family of children, who grew to adult years, married and left numerous descendants, who are scattered all through the state, and are among the best families. These children were: Susannah, born December 18, 1780, the wife of Caleb Johnston of Hobart, Del- aware County, who was born in Septem- ber, 1782, and died in Greene County ; James, born May 1, 1784: Hester, born September 20, 1786, married Henry Sackrider of Dela- ware County ; Elisha, born September 16, 1788 ; Mary, born September 21, 1791, wife of Zera Baldwin, a merchant of Hobart; John, born February 27, 1794, a farmer of Delaware and Otsego Counties; Elizabeth, born October 8, 1799, married Alexander Easton, a sailor until forty-five, then a farmer. All the above are now deceased.
James Wetmore, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Delaware County, and when a young man engaged in mercan- tile pursuits at Bovina, which he followed for some time, but at a later period turned his attention to farming. He bought land in the town of Stamford, and became one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers in that section, accumulating a considerable property. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat
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and took an active interest in the affairs of his party. He was a member of the Episco- pal Church. His wife, Hannah, was a daughter of Moses Sackrider, a man of prominence and influence in Delaware Coun- ty ; he was a member of one of the old Dutch families of Kinderhook, N. Y., and was very wealthy. To Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore were born the following children : Solomon S. D., born in 1810, a prosperous and wealthy farmer of Delaware County ; Thomas H., born in 1812, now deceased, was a farmer by occupation ; Mary H., born in 1816, wife of Rodney Dunham, a farmer of Davenport, this state, both deceased ; James K .; Charles, born in 1826, lives on the old homestead in Stamford; Henry O. died in early boyhood.
James K. Wetmore was educated in the common schools of his county, and reared on his father's farm, where he lived until his marriage, November 18, 1847, to Miss Amelia Butts, a daughter of Henry Butts; he then went to Davenport Center, Delaware County, and engaged in conducting a hotel and farm- ing. The hotel business he conducted for seven years, and then disposed of his hotel, and purchased a farm near Oneonta, where he remained eleven years. In 1866 he took up his residence in Bainbridge and became identified with mercantile business for three years, when he began to deal extensively in live stock, and also in general produce and wool. He is a shrewd business man, and can tell just what class of goods is most apt to be profitable : when is the time to sell to the best advantage ; and when to hold his stock. He is a very public-spirited man, and it was largely through his efforts and influ-
ence that the First National Bank of Bain- bridge was established. He saw the need of the institution, and that it could be made to pay a good dividend, and was the first man in the village to suggest its organization. This bank was organized in 1882, and he has been connected with it in some capacity ever since. The first officers were: president, Jervis Prince, now deceased; vice-president, Joseph Bush, also deceased ; cashier, Irving Pruyn; directors-James K. Wetmore, H. G. Phelps, William Laimbeer, M. L. Keyes, and James Yale, deceased. Mr. Wetmore was chosen ·vice-president in 1890, and in 1891 was elected president, which office he still holds. Ervin Ramsdall is vice-president ; Ralph W. Kirby is cashier ; and the directors are-William Moshier of Bainbridge, H. G. Phelps of Sidney, M. L. Keyes, I. L. Pruyn, Elliott Danforth, and H. D. Copley, the latter succeeding C. S. Hynds. Mr. Wetmore is a Democrat, believing in the single gold stand- ard. He is a man well and favorably known all over the county, but nowhere is he more highly regarded than in the village in which he lives. Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, earnest and consistent. They have but one child, a daughter, Angelia W., born August 11, 1849. She is the widow of George L. Windsor, a prominent young lawyer, who practiced before the Chenango County bar. They were married September 29, 1874, and but four short years had passed away, when he was called from his labors, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn him. They were the parents of one child, George, born May 12, 1876, but this bright blossom was only
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given for a short time; it was transplanted to the Heavenly Home, March 12, 1878.
We present on another page in proximity to this a portrait of Mr. Wetmore, executed from a recent photograph.
ILLIAM M. WADSWORTH, who with his brother, Erastus J., con- ducts a drug and grocery store in the village of Mt. Upton, is one of that community's enterprising and progressive business men. He was born in Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., March 27, 1860, and is a son of Rev. William A. and Nancy (Parker) Wadsworth. The family comes of good old Puritan stock, and traces its ancestry back to one of three brothers, who located in the State of Massa- chusetts, sometime during the seventeenth century. William A. Wadsworth, the grand- father of our subject, with one of his brothers, upon leaving Massachusetts, came to this state and settled near where Utica is now situated. They were among the earliest pioneer settlers in that district. His brother later located in Genesee County. Our sub- ject's grandfather reared a family of nine children, of whom William A. was the fifth born.
William A. Wadsworth was reared on his father's farm, and was educated for the min- istry. After completing a preparatory course in Winfield Academy, he attended a theo- logical seminary in the city of Boston, and was ordained to preach when he was thirty years of age. He was originally connected with the Oncida Conference, but later trans-
ferred to the Wyoming Conference. During his career as a minister, he filled some of the best charges in the conference, among them : Mt. Upton ; Norwich ; Unadilla ; and Coopers- town. He was a true and devout Christian, and by his faithful and earnest endeavors, won many to the cause of Christianity. He was united in marriage with Nancy Parker, a daughter of Hiram Parker, who was a pio- neer farmer of Cazenovia. Three children blessed this union, namely : William M., who heads these lines ; Erastus J., who is a part- ner in business with William M .; and Parker, who lives in Cazenovia.
William M. Wadsworth received his educa- tion in Cazenovia Seminary of Cazenovia. He then engaged in farming in the town of Guil- ford. For fourteen years he labored indus- triously, and at the end of that time owned a farm of 140 acres as a fruit of his labors. He then entered business in the village of Mt. Upton, but still retained the ownership of the farm. Dr. B. F. Smith engaged in the drug and grocery business, and Mr. Wads- worth was given full charge of the same. Upon the death of Dr. Smith, Erastus J. Wadsworth became a partner, and they have conducted the business since. They carry a full line of groceries, patent medicines, paints, oils, crockery, etc., and produce in season. They enjoy a large share of the patronage of the citizens of Mt. Upton and vicinity, and are conducting their trade operations on business principles.
He formed a matrimonial alliance with Catherine M. Colburn, a daughter of the late Amasa Colburn, August 22, 1879. They are the parents of the following children : Wil-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
liam A .; Carrie; Catherine: Claude; and Carl. In religious belief, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held many of the minor offices of that or- ganization. Politically, he is a Republican, and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and has held it since 1893. Socially, he is a member of the A. O. U. W., Mt. Upton Lodge, No. 200.
HARLES L. CARRIER, who is one of Sherburne's young and progres- sive business men, is junior mem- ber of the firm, Collins & Carrier, dealers in boots and shoes, and gents' furnishings. He was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., March 13, 1871. He was the only son born to Rush W. and Lovisa L. (Reese) Carrier.
His grandfather was Harley Carrier, who was a native of Bainbridge, but later became a resident of Sherburne. He earned a compe- tency by dyeing cloth and dresses, and card- ing wool. He married Lovinia S. White, who passed to her eternal reward in 1884. Their union resulted in the birth of three children, all deceased ; they were as follows : Rush W., the father of our subject ; Charles D .; and Dwight.
Rush W. Carrier was born in Marshall, Madison County, N. Y., and later came to Sherburne. After completing his schooling, he followed the calling of a harness maker. He soon became an expert, and, as soon as he had gained enough experience, opened a shop of his own. His hand-made harness proved 1
much more servicable than any that could be made by machine, and his skill became well known throughout the county. During the twenty years he was in business, he was looked upon as the leading harness maker in the county, and he did a large and profitable business. He was an extensive real estate owner, owning four houses on Chapel Street. After the war broke out, he put aside his work and enlisted in 1862, and served until 1864. He was a member of the 76th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was in many important battles. He was in the thickest of the fight at the second battle of Bull Run, and re- ceived a wound from which he never re- covered. A bullet entered his left hip and was never extracted, thus ruining his consti- tution. He returned home, but his health was very poor, and he passed away in No- vember, 1896. His memory is held in grate- ful remembrance by his family and friends, who are proud of his record as a patriotic citizen, who gave up both a happy home and a successful business to do battle for his country. His wife was formerly Lovisa L. Reese, who was born in Sherburne, Che- nango County, N. Y., and is a daughter of Otto A. Reese. She was a kind and loving wife and mother, and has many friends in the village of Sherburne, where she now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Carrier's union was blessed by the birth of one son, Charles L., our subject. In political life Mr. Carrier was an unswerv- ing Republican, and at one time was president of the village corporation.
Charles L. Carrier's intellectual training was begun in the common schools of Sher- burne, and supplemented in the Fort Plain
DANIEL B. CUSHMAN.
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CHENANGO COUNTY
Military Academy. Upon leaving school, he went to Erie, Pa., where he was employed as bookkeeper for one year. He returned to Sherburne, and in January, 1893, in company with Levi Collins, purchased the gents' fur- nishing store of W. F. Jaquith. The store is centrally located at No. 6 North Main Street, and is well stocked with an excellent line of goods. It is neat and orderly, and everything about the place has the appearance of pros- perity. Mr. Carrier is one of few men who can successfully carry on more than one line of business at the same time. In 1897, he formed a partnership with Mr. Tillotson, as undertakers, and they enjoy the patronage of a large share of the citizens of the village.
Mr. Carrier formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Louise A. Fuller, who comes from one of the most prominent families of Sher- burne. She is a daughter of Hon. Charles A. Fuller, whose personal history will be found elsewhere in this book. Mr. Carrier takes an active interest in politics, and is a member of the Republican party. He has served as clerk of the water board, chief of the fire department, and foreman of the Whit- more Hose Company. All of these offices he has filled satisfactorily and in a manner that gained him many friends. He is a well educated man, informed on all current topics, and takes a deep interest in public improvements.
ANIEL B. CUSHMAN. The Che- nango County Bar has an excellent representative in the person of the subject of this sketch, whose name appears
above, and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. His own native ability and rare judgment, his excellent education, and his many years of practical experience in the courts of the State of New York all conspire to give him a prestige, that is enjoyed by few other attorneys of his district. Since commencing his professional career in Nor- wich, he has met with steady success, that has resulted in his securing for himself a large and lucrative practice, and in his build- ing up a good-sized competency. Mr. Cush- man was born at Plymouth, Chenango County, in December, 1853, and was a son of Danford R. and Ruth (Potter) Cushman, and grandson of Luke Cushman, a resident of the State of Connecticut. He traces his ancestry back to Robert Cushman, who came to this country in the Mayflower.
Danford R. Cushman was born in Tolland County, Conn., and after receiving a common school education began to trade in furs in New York and Pennsylvania, trafficing and dealing with the Indians all through this and other regions farther south. He continued this commercial activity for six years, and then bought a large tract of land in Ply- mouth township, Chenango County, where he resided in comfort the remaining years of his life, engaged the while in following pursuits of an agricultural nature. He was a Demo- crat in his politics, and an active member of the Baptist Church. He was a very good man, strictly honest, the reverse of quarrel- some, and the most constant of friends. In all his long life, which extended to as late a date as May 30, 1893, he was never a party to a law-suit, and was never sued. His was
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a singularly peaceful life, with no enemies to wish him ill, and with as many friends as acquaintances, for to know him was to love and respect him. Four children composed his family, as follows: George P., now de- ceascd, who was at one time master of the State Grange of New York; Bert, deceased ; Lorin; and Daniel B., the subject of this writing. Mrs. Cushman passed from life's scenes January 10, 1875.
Daniel B. Cushman was given one of the best educations possible to procure. From the public schools of his native town, he went to Yale University, and graduated in 1876. His legal education was obtained in the Columbia College Law School of New York City, finishing his course in 1878. He at once located in Norwich, Chenango County, for the practice of his profession, and has been identified with legal proceed- ings cver since. He is also a large real estate owner, and has a number of fine farms. He has the degrees of A. M. and LL. D. While in college he won distinction as an athlete, and took the prize for wrestling.
Mr. Cushman is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was supervisor of the town of Plymouth for several years. In 1882 he made a gallant fight for clection to the office of distriet attorney ; he was defeated by a very small margin, the county then going strongly Republican. He was appointed by Governor Flower as a trustee of the Bing- hamton State Insane Asylum, and held that office a number of years until the expiration of his term.
Our subject was united in the bonds of matrimony, December 4, 1891, to Sadie Van
Cleft, a daughter of Rev. A. J. Van Cleft, which union has been blessed with the birth of one son, Jesse Danford ; and onc daughter, Ruth Elizabeth. Mr. Cushman is a member of the Masonic Order, Norwich Lodge, No. 102, F. & A. M.
HARLES E. KEOUGH, who con- ducts the leading drug and grocery store of Smithville Flats, was born in the town of German, Chenango County, N. Y., March 11, 1852. He is a son of Francis and Eleanor (Ramsey) Keough.
Francis Keough was born in County Monag- han, Ireland, in 1817, and left the "ould sod " for the United States in 1837, on the day which witnessed the coronation of Queen Victoria. He located in the town of German, in 1840, where he purchased a fine farm of 100 acres, and became one of the good solid farmers of that community. He was united in marriage with Eleanor Ramsey, who was also a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of the following children: Margaret, wife of Milo V. Carr, who has charge of the Rush- more Creamery of Norwich, and is now a candidate for sheriff; Jane Elizabeth, de- ceased, was the wifc of George Dunning ; John Franklin, who is a farmer of the town of German ; Charles E., in whom the interest of this sketch centers; James R., who is proprietor of a saloon at Smithville Flats ; Mary Mariah, the wife of Julian Seeber of Frankford, Herkimer County, who is a bar- ber by trade; William Robert, a resident of Binghamton; Joseph G., who has charge of
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a milk station in Schoharie County ; Eleanor, who is now deceased ; and Francis, who makes his home in the village of Norwich. Our subject's beloved mother passed into the world of rest in 1864, at the age of forty- two years.
Charles E. Keough was reared upon the farm until he was twelve years of age, and received his education in the district schools of Greene and German. At the age of twelve, he went to live with his uncle, Dr. M. M. Wood of Greene. He attended school and worked in his uncle's drug store for some years. In 1874, he moved to Smith- ville Flats, and entered the employ of Purdy & Skillman, proprietors of a drug and grocery store. He was a man of good habits, industrious and energetic, and during the five years he clerked for that firm, he not only gained greatly in experience, but saved a part of his salary, and in 1879 was able to purchase the store. He has since conducted it, and in such a inanner as to gain for him the patronage of the leading citizens of the village. He also follows farming and deals extensively in real estate. He owns twelve valuable lots in the city of Binghamton, and a half interest in the opera house at Smith- ville Flats. He also owns a farm in the northern part of the town of Smithville, con- sisting of 180 acres of good farm land, well supplied with good buildings and other modern improvements, which are so neces- sary for carrying on farming successfully.
Mr. Keough formed a matrimonial alliance January 1, 1878, with Miss Flora E. Nichols, a daughter of Harvey Nichols, a blacksmith of McDonough. One daughter, Josie E.,
was born to bless their union. In political belief, Mr. Keough is a stanch Republican, and was appointed postmaster of Smithville Flats under President Harrison. Socially, he belongs to Victor Lodge, No. 11I, I. O. O. F., of Smithville Flats. He is also a member of Chenango Encampment, No. 51, I. O. O. F., of Norwich.
HE AMERICAN SEPARATOR COMPANY of Bainbridge township, in the few years that have marked its growth since its inception, September 4, 1894, has made such a reputation for itself by reason of the excellence of its products, that it is entitled to rank with the first enterprises of Chenango County. Certainly, it has done much to familiarize the public at large with the name of Bainbridge, for the company has had its American Cream Separator in a number of exhibitions with great credit, winning first place, among many competi- tors, at the St. Louis Industrial Exposition of 1897, and carrying off first honors also at the Toronto Expositions of 1896 and 1897. Many old, and heretofore considered standard separators, were in competition, but the Bainbridge machine proved itself far su- perior, and demonstrated its points of excel- lence to an appreciative public, quick to perceive and to reward real merit. It is the consensus of opinions among the creamery operators, who have scen the American Crcam Scparator in operation, that it is destined to become the leading article of its
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kind in the market. The simplicity of its mechanism, and the satisfactory way in which it accomplishes the work designed for it, are elements that must commend the pro- duct of the American Separator Co. to uni- versal favor. Orders are now coming in faster than they can be filled, and success is in every way assured. The fondest expecta- tions of the projectors have already been fully realized. The American Separator Co. was organized June 1, 1895, and was capital- ized at $50,000.00, of which $20,000.00 was preferred stock. The officers chosen were : Charles C. Hovey, president ; William C. Gibson, since deceased, vice president ; Owen L. Crumb, secretary and treasurer; Ernest L. Hartman, superintendent of manufactur- ing; Thomas Collins, superintendent of sales and agencies; Edson C. Burdick, acting secretary and superintendent of the corres- ponding department; Prof. Fred. W. Crumb, director; and Wadsworth B. Matterson, attorney.
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