USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 32
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It must be a matter of some interest to the citizens of Bainbridge township and the county at large to read of the success of this company, which interest no doubt ex- tends to a desire to read the history of the men who brought the company into being, and who have since directed its course. On other pages of this work will be found narra- tions of the lives of Charles C. Hovey, O. L. Crumb, Prof. Fred. W. Crumb, and Wads- worth B. Matterson. We shall, therefore, confine ourselves to relating the salient points in the lives of Ernest L. Hartman, Thomas Collins, and Edson C. Burdick.
Ernest L. Hartman, the superintendent of
manufacturing, was born in Werdau, Ger- many, in 1848, and was a son of Andreas and Henrictta (Buchert) Hartman, both natives of that province. Andreas Hartman was a machinist by trade; he came to the Unitcd States in 1871, and located at Greenfield, Mass., where he died. Our subject is one of a family of sixteen children, of whom nine are still living,-six boys and three girls. Ernest L. Hartman learned the machinist's trade in his father's shop in Germany, and came to America in 1867, and has ever since followed his trade. He readily found em- ployment in some of the best machine shops of America, among which were Wiley & Russell, Holyoke Machine Shop, James Smith & Co., and the Pratt & Whitney Co. About the time he came to this country, the first cream separators were coming into the United States from Sweden. Finding a great increase in their business, and also wishing to avoid the heavy duty. on ma- chinery, the Swedish concerns arranged to start a branch company in America, hiring their machines made on contract in the shops, where Mr. Hartman was foreman ; for about nine years he continued to super- intend the construction of these separators, directly and indirectly. It was, therefore, no small item in the success of the American Separator Co. of Bainbridge that Mr. Hart- man was one of the inventors of the Ameri- can Cream Separator, and among the organ- izers of the American Separator Co. From the first he has acted as superintendent of the manufacturing department, and has per- sonally overseen the construction of each separator turned out of the shop. In Feb-
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ruary, 1870, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage with Margaret Reuth, and to them were born the following children: Anna ; William; Walter; Louisa ; and Edith.
Thomas Collins, the superintendent of agencies, who shares with Ernest L. Hart- man the honor of inventing the American Cream Separator, is a practical machinist and able business man, and has abundance of experience in constructing separators. He was born in London, England, February 22, 1866, and is a son of Thomas and Isabella (Lonsdale) Collins, both natives of that city. The father of our subject was a ship-builder, with his yard on the Thames River. Thomas Collins was educated in the public schools of England, and in the Polytechnic School of Stockholm, especial attention being given to a full and complete study of mechanics. Upon completing his trade education, he entered the employ of the Aktiebolaget Separator Co. of Stockholm, Sweden, which company is well known in creamery and dairy circles over the United States as the De Laval Separator Co. In their interests he came to America, in 1887, and repre- sented the company in Philadelphia until 1889, when he engaged for himself in the creamery business in Winchester, N. H. From 1891 until 1894 he busied himself in perfecting a machine, known as a butter ac- cumulator. In 1894, with Ernest L. Hart- man, Mr. Collins invented and patented the American Cream Separator, and accom- plished in the same year the organization of the American Separator Co. He is a shrewd, enterprising young man, and all who know him predict a bright future. Mr. Collins
married Elizabeth Brennan, daughter of Patrick Brennan, a native of Dublin, Ireland, January 21, 1892, and to bless their home have come three children: Isabella M .; Thomas; and Edwin L. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Edson C. Burdick, the superintendent of the corresponding department, and acting secretary, is a son of Luke C. and Martha L. (York) Burdick, and was born May 3, 1867, in the township of Lincklaen, Chenango County. The father of our subject was also a native of Lincklaen where, he farmed all his life. He was a son of Phineas Bur- dick, who was born in the State of Con- necticut, and came to Lincklaen at an early day, when the country was a wilderness of forest. Luke Burdick reared a family of one son and two daughters, as follows: Etta, who died at the age of four years ; Edson C., our subject; and Cora, the wife of Frank L. Coon, who lives on the old Burdick home- stead. The subject of this brief sketch com- pleted his education at the De Ruyter Union School, graduating in 1891, and then went into the mercantile business with his cousin, at De Ruyter, under the firm name of Card- ner & Burdick. After a year and a half in the grocery business, Mr. Burdick sold out, and taught school for two years in the Wood- stock Graded Union School. He removed to Bainbridge in 1893, and became connected with the Swedish Cream and Butter Sepa- rator Co., as bookkeeper. In 1895 Mr. Burdick took a position with the American Separator Co., of which he became one of the organizers and stockholders. He is now acting secretary of the company. In politics
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hc is a Republican. On June 6, 1894, he married Cora L. Stillman, a daughter of Jesse Stillman, who now residcs in De Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y.
HILETUS A. HAYES, M. D., who entercd upon a practice in Afton in 1871, has succeeded beyond his fondest cxpectations, and now has an estab- lished practicc, which will compare favor- ably with any in this section of the country. He is a son of Caleb F. and Harriet N. (Wcst) Hayes, and was born in the town of Barkcr, Broomc County, September 10, IS48.
The Hayes family is of Welsh decent and is one of the oldest and most distinguished families of the New England States. The members of this family trace their ancestry back in an unbroken line to one, Samucl F. Hayes, who lived in the southern part of the State of Vermont about the ycar 1700. His son, Samuel, came to the State of New York and settled in Dutchess County, wherc hc was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and becamc one of the leading citizens of that community. Samuel Hayes, a son of the Samuel named above, was the great-grand- father of our subject, and was also an agri- culturist by occupation.
Rev. Caleb Hayes, our subject's grand- father, moved to Broome County in 1800, and lived therc until his death in 1856, agcd cighty-five years. His entire life was de- voted to the work of Christ, and he was an cxpounder of the doctrincs of the Baptist Church. His life was onc of much good,
and he materially aided the cause of Chris- tianity in his vicinity. He was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, one of whom was Caleb F., the father of our subject.
Caleb F. Hayes was born in Broome County, July 12, 1813, and resided there his entire lifc. He was a prosperous farmer, well and favorably known throughout the county, and had a large number of friends. He was an active member of the Baptist Church, and filled most of the important offices of the local society. He was united in marriage with Harriet N. West, who was born November 3, 1819, and still survives her husband. She enjoys excellent health, and is now living at Castle Creek, Broome County. As a result of their union, thrce children were born: Eugene, a farmer of Castle Creek; Philetus A., the subject of this personal history ; and Mary A., the wife of George F. Stackpole, an attorney of River Head, Long Island. Prior to her marriage, she graduated from the Oswego Normal School, and taught several terms. Mr. Hayes' useful life came to a close May 22, 1862, at the age of forty-nine years.
Philetus A. Haycs was reared on the farm and received his preliminary education in the district schools, after which he took a course in the Greene Union school, and later in the Greene Academy, from which he graduated in 1868. He then took up the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. S. P. Allen of Castle Creek; by teaching during the summer months he earned enough to attend the Geneva Medical College in the winter. After graduating from that institu-
AUGUSTUS W. SLATER.
MRS. L. JANE SLATER.
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tion of learning in January, 1870, he began the practice of his profession at Killawog, Broome County. He remained there one year, and then came to Afton, where he has since resided, and has had charge of a large, general practice. He has the confidence of all his patients, to whom he is a friend as well as physician. He is looked upon as one who has elevated the standard of his profession, and possesses the esteem of his fellow-practi- tioners, with whom he has always dealt fairly and honestly.
Dr. Hayes formed a matrimonial alliance, September 30, 1869, with Permelia M. Huntly, a daughter of Joseph and Adelia Huntly of Broome County. Their union was blessed by the birth of one son, Carleton H., who was born in 1882. The doctor is an active member of the Baptist Church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday School for eight years past. Politically, he is an unswerving Republican, and has been called upon to serve the party in many offices of trust. He has held the office of coroner for six terms, and has often been a delegate to county, district, and state conventions. In 1896, he was a delegate to the state con- vention, and helped nominate Frank S. Black for Governor. Socially, he is a member of the Chenango County Medical Society, of which he is vice-president ; the New York Medical Association ; and an honorary mem- ber of the Broome County Medical Society. He is a member of Afton Lodge, No. 360, F. & A. M .; Vallonia Chapter, No. 80, R. A. M .; and Norwich Commandery, No. 46. He is also a member of Calumet Tribe, No. 174, Improved Order of Red Men.
A UGUSTUS W. SLATER, a leading agriculturist of the town of Preston, is a remarkable man, not only in the manner in which he manages his exten- sive farming interests, but also in the rare good judgment he displays in all matters brought to his notice. He is a son of Nelson M. and Mary A. ( Kelsey ) Slater, and was born January 5, 1835. He remembers seeing his grandfather, although but three years old at the time. This grandfather, Moses Slater, came from Vermont when his son, Nelson M., was but four years old, and located in the town of Preston. After a short residence at this place, he moved to the town of Mc- Donough, this county, being one of the first settlers, and there he passed the remainder of his life, working at his chosen pursuit, which was that of agriculture. He married Miss Mill Fisher, who was the mother of his three children : Louis; Delanay; and Nelson M., the father of our subject. Moses Slater died at the age of forty-two.
Nelson M. Slater was born in Vermont, came to Preston at an early age and married and settled in the town of McDonough, where his parents resided. He received a good common school education, and was a man who made the most of his advantages, being considered one of the substantial farmers of the town. He lived in McDon- ough from early childhood, and had the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens ; this was shown by their choosing him for sev- eral town offices. He was a Democrat, as was his father before him. At the time of his death, which occurred at the age of sixty- two, he owned one of the largest farms of
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the town, which was among the best im- proved. He was a member of the Home Guards Training Co., and an influential mem- ber of the Baptist Church of Preston. He was the father of two children : Hartwell N., and Augustus W., our subject.
Augustus W. Slater received his early ed- ucation in the public schools of the town of McDonough. Later he attended select schools, and afterwards was a student under David G. Barber for several terms at Nor- wich Academy. After leaving school, Mr. Slater was engaged as a teacher for several terms, a work for which he was particularly adapted ; he was possessed of that happy fac- ulty, so especially desirable in teachers, of so presenting a subject that it was most readily understood and easily remembered. He gave to his school his most earnest efforts, and it was with sincere regret that his patrons heard of his decision to retire from that field of usefulness. After teaching for nine terms, he married and moved on a farm and soon became known as one of the niost skillful farmers, a calling which had always had great attractions for him.
On November 14, 1861, he led to the altar L. Jane Rogers, daughter of Zebulon Rogers, a native of Connecticut. Mr. Slater and his bride began housekeeping on a farm in the town of McDonough, where they continued to reside for ten years. In the course of time, two children came to bless this home : Burton E., a farmer by occupation, married May G. Franklin, and resides with his father ; Geor- gia L., the second child, had only reached the threshold of young womanhood, when she received the call to the Heavenly Home, on
September 11, 1892, at the age of eighteen years. In 1871 Mr. Slater moved from the farm he was then occupying to the home in the town of Preston, where he now resides. This farm consists of fourteen acres, and is a very attractive piece of land, it having been brought to its present state of perfection by its present owner. It is well suited for the use to which it has been chiefly put-dairy- ing, for Mr. Slater has given that branch of farming much careful consideration, and has placed on the market an article of butter of fancy grade, a class of goods that can not be excelled in the state. He has proven con- clusively, that there is such a thing as scien- tific farming, and successful farming, at that. Ever an earnest student, even in his early schooldays, he still retains that trait, and keeps well posted in what is going on in the world of science and letters, and is not slow to see and also to apply a principle that will be of advantage to him. He is not one to take up with a plausible appearing scheme simply because it is new-fangled, but if, on deliberation, he thinks it suited to his pur- pose, the idea is adopted, seldom without showing the wisdom of his choice. He is one of the largest farmers of the town, own- ing two large farms besides the homestead, as well as another farm near Oxford, in Pres- ton township, making about 390 acres in all. These farms he has rented out. He has always been a Democrat, has served for nine terms as supervisor, and at present is a justice of the peace. He is connected with the fol- lowing fraternal orders : Oxford Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M .; the Grange at Preston Corners; during the Rebellion he belonged
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to the New York State Guards. He has always been identified with all movements tending toward the advancement of local in- terests, and his advice is much sought in matters where a clear head and sound judg- ment are needed.
Portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. Slater are shown on preceding pages, and will be viewed with a large degree of interest by their many friends and acquaintances.
HARLES H. SANFORD, deccascd. The gentleman, whose name heads this sketch, mct his death as the re- sult of an accident January 3, 1884, and the village of Sherburne was called upon to mourn for the loss of one of her most promi- nent and progressive citizens. It was on this date that Mr. Sanford started for Syracuse. He was obliged to change cars at Earlville, and it was necessary to signal the train he wished to takc at that point. As the train pulled into the station, in some unaccount- able manner he slipped from the station plat- form beneath the cars, and two coaches passed over his arm and wrist, and a bad gash was cut in his forehead. It was found necessary to amputate his arm, but the shock proved too great for him, and he passed into the world of rest a few hours later. It was a sad blow to his loving wife and many friends, who loved and honored him as a kind husband, and a true friend.
Charles H. Sanford was born in the town of Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., June 10, 1844, and was a son of Sidney D. and
Margaret (Jones) Sanford. His grandfather was Edmund Sanford, who was born Octo- ber 25, 1781, at Litchfield, Conn., and moved to Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1800, and later came to Chenango County. He settled near where his son Sidney D. Sanford now lives, and engaged in the manufacture of hats. He established a large trade there, and made it a well known place of business. His compan- ion through life was Sarah Lynd, by whom he had the following children: Carolinc; Charles W .; Edmund ; Sarah Eliza; Horatio ; and Sidney D., the father of our subject.
Sidney D. Sanford was born in the town of Sherburne, Fcburary 16, 1819. Hc followed speculating as a means of earning a liveli- hood and was eminently successful. Hc ac- cumulated considerable wealth, purchased the farms owned by Hubbard & Gardner, and in 1876 erected one of the finest houses in the county. Besides speculating he loans money and is engaged in brokerage to a considerable extent. Although he is now nearly cighty years of age, he is still active and energetic and in the best of health. September 12, 1843, he was united in marriage with Mar- garet Jones, a daughter of David H. Jones, and they became the proud parents of two children: Charles H., our subject; and Carolinc Eliza.
Charles H. Sanford received an excellent common school and college education, after which he accepted a position as clerk in the Sherburne National Bank. After a timc he travelcd abroad, and upon returning to this county entered the hardware business with Walter F. Blanchard, under the firm name of Sanford & Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard was suc-
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cecded in the business by J. P. Wilbur, and the firm became Sanford & Wilbur, but later our subject secured control of the entire business. It was his aim to do business promptly, sys- tematically, and successfully, and under his skillful management it bccamc the most com- plete and clegant store in Sherburne. He al- ways identified himself with any measure which had for its ultimate aim the advance- ment of Sherburnc, and he was looked upon as one of her progressive citizens and held in csteem by the entire community. He never sought public officc, but was willing to perform his duty when called upon to do so. He was chosen as town auditor, and in per- forming the duties of that position the same keen judgment was uscd that characterized his own business venturcs. He recognized the need of a first-class fire department in the village, and his whole influence was used in keeping that organization up to a high standard of efficiency.
Mr. Sanford formed a matrimonial alliance with Marion A. Blanchard, who was born at Poolville, Madison County, N. Y. She is a daughter of Walter F. and Amanda (Wil- liams) Blanchard, and a grand-daughter of Walter Blanchard. Walter F. Blanchard was born at Stockbridge, Mass, and upon com- ing to this state located at Poolville, where he was engaged in making sashes and blinds. Hc then moved to the Quarter where he was engaged in the same line of business until the estalishment burned down. He built a ncw factory and operated it until 1885, when it too burned to the ground. Although very unfortunate in having his property destroyed by fire, he was nevertheless very successful
and was recognized as one of the prosperous men of the village. After the last disaster hc retired from active life and lived the re- mainder of his life in ease, dying in the month of January, 1886, aged sixty-four ycars. He was united in marriage with Amanda Williams, a daughter of William Williams of Cazenovia, N. Y., and they werc the parents of one daughter, Marion A .. the wife of our subject. Mrs. Blanchard met her death at the age of seventy years by being thrown from a buggy. As a result of their union, Mr. and Mrs. Sanford became the parents of one son, Walter S., who is now a sophomore in Yale University. In religious belicf, they were members of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Sanford now owns and re- sides in the beautiful home on Main Street, which was erected by her father. Since the place has been in her possession she has made many important improvements, making it one of the most beautiful residences in the vil- lage of Sherburne. Mrs. Sanford is a woman of many virtues, kind, loving and charitable, and has many friends.
JUGENE M. SPENCER, a progressive farmer of Greene, who has made a splendid record for successful work along agricultural lines, and is an honor alike to his township and his county as a representative of the best class of citizens, was born in Af- ton, Chenango County, October 2, 1853. He is a son of Dr. Herschel D. and Alvina (Marcy) Spencer. The Spencers are of Eng- lish origin, and were among the first settlers of the Mohawk Valley.
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The great-grandfather of our subject was born in the Mohawk Valley and spent most of his days following the pursuits of an agri- culturist. He was a well known and highly respected class-leader and preacher of the Baptist Church. Later he moved to the Un- adilla Valley, Otsego County, where he spent his remaining years.
Dr. Gaius L. Spencer, grandfather of our subject, was born in Unadilla, March 9, 1794. He followed farming until he attained the age of nineteen years, when he took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Kolby Knapp of Guilford, this county. After re- maining there one year, he entered the office of Dr. P. Smith of Masonville, Delaware County, N. Y .; thence he went to the office of Dr. Stockton of Walton, where he finished his studies, and on April 1, 1817, was licensed to practice by the Delaware County Medical Association. In the following month he be- gan the practice of his chosen profession in the town of Triangle, Broome County, where he met with great success. He soon arose to be the leading physician of that town, and as such enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large number of patrons in that bor- ough and scattered about in the surrounding country. He was one of the early members of the Broome County Medical Association, and took an active part in the advancement of that organization. He passed from this life June 18, 1852, in the village of Triangle. He was married to Lucy Cady, a native of Norfolk, Conn., and a resident of Guilford, and they reared six children, who were as follows: Caroline M., who married William Baldwin, now deceased, of Binghamton, N.
Y., after the death of her first husband, John W. Blakeslee; Erasmus S. D., a commercial traveler, whose headquarters were in Bing- hamton, who died August 13, 1896; Dr. Herschel D., the father of our subject; Dr. Cyrenius D., one of the leading physicians of Binghamton, N. Y .; Lawrence H., a com- mercial traveler of Binghamton, died De- cember 5, 1890; and Dr. Marshall D., a prom- inent physician of Guilford, this county.
Dr. Herschel D. Spencer was born in Tri- angle, August 4, 1823. Belonging to a class of men whose duties compel them to be not only healers, but also to be counsellors and advisers as well in matters of the most deli- cate nature, he has done well by his large clientele. That his name is respected and his individuality esteemed is but a well-earned reward for his faithful efforts. He studied medicine under the watchful eye of his father, and then entered the Berkshire Medical Col- lege of Pittsfield, Mass., graduating Novem- ber 8, 1848. He then practiced with his father a short time, when he moved to the village of Afton, where he soon built up a large and successful practice. He was joined in marriage with Alvina Marcy, daughter of Ambrose L. Marcy. To Dr. and Mrs. Spen- cer were born the following children : Eu- gene M., who heads the above lines ; and Virgil C., deceased. Dr. Spencer passed from this life at South Bainbridge July 27, 1857. Mrs. Spencer died in 1856.
Eugene M. Spencer was reared by his un- cle, John Marcy, a prominent farmer of Greene, the parents of our subject dying when he was three years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Oxford and
18
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at Gilbertsville Academy. When he reached the age of manhood he engaged in the lum- ber business in the above town, and followed that line of business for eighteen years. In 1893 he engaged in farming, which pursuit is now occupying most of his time. Mr. Spen- cer is an active member of the Grange, being a past master of Genegantslett Grange, No. 555, and is at the present time serving his third year as county deputy ; he has also been secretary of the County Grange since 1894, and was a delgate to the State Grange in 1894-96-97. In politics, he is a stanch Re- publican. Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational Church.
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