USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 51
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
beth, born March 6, 1880, in Guilford, who is attending the Bainbridge High School ; Charles A., born October 23, 1884 ; and Ver- non F., born July 21, 1886. Mrs. Hovey died October 11, 1894. Our subject's second wife, whom he married December 10, 1895, was Mary Dell Fletcher, who was born in July, 1 863.
In the fall of 1878, our subject returned to Guilford, and took charge of his father's farms, which he managed from November, 1878, until about 1887, when he removed to Bainbridge, and became a stockholder and director of the Gilbert Manufacturing Co .; in this enterprise he had charge of the ship- ping department until the spring of 1889. On that date he entered into a partnership with Fred White, under the firm name of White & Hovey, and engaged in the man- ufacture of butter, wax, and paper sizings. The present company is known as Hovey, Clark & Co., the proprietors being Charles C. Hovey and Linus R. Clark. The total receipts of milk for the year 1896 were 9,111, 162 lbs., the product of 2,500 cows. In 1896, the company manufactured 190,000 lbs. paper sizings from the skimmed milk, while their butter output was 418,000 lbs., of which about 300,000 lbs. was made into pound prints and small packages. They also sold some 63,500 cans of milk and cream. The year's business, ending December 31, 1897, exceeded the previous year's by 20 per cent. The company also operates a farm in Bain- bridge township, in connection with their creamery. Reade & Comrick, manufactur- ing chemists of New York City, have their laboratory for the manufacture of invalid's
and baby foods located beside our subject's factory, and receive from the creamery the skimmed milk, which they utilize for the manufacture of their foods. Hovey, Clark & Co. also have a large cold storage ware- house, commensurate with the nature and magnitude of their business. Their enter- prise has been of great service in building up the town, and making farming and stock- raising profitable.
Mr. Hovey was one of the prime movers in the organization of the American Separa- tor Co., which was incorporated June 1, 1895, was elected its president, and has since filled that position. The company is capital- ized at $50,000.00, of which $20,000.00 is pre- ferred stock. Its object is the manufacture and introduction of the American Cream Separator, whose merits are fast winning popular favor, and giving it a standard repu- tation. Wherever it has been exhibited, un- limited praise has been given it; first honors were given it in the St. Louis Industrial Ex- position of 1897, and in the Toronto Exposi- tions of 1896 and 1897.
The Bainbridge Express was founded in 1894 by our subject and Owen L. Crumb, and F. L. Ames, and is now owned by C. C. Hovey and O. L. Crumb as equal partners. It is a ten page weekly, published every Friday. It is neat and attractive in appear- ance, and contains an epitome of the general news of the day, as well as a full account of the local happenings of the community. With its circulation of 1,600 subscribers, it is a valuable medium as an advertising agency. In its politics it is independent, but, how- ever, does not allow politics to influence it in
CHENANGO COUNTY
575
matters where the welfare of the community at large is at stake.
Our subject has taken a prominent part in the social and political life of Bainbridge, and at all times may be relied on to advance the best interests of the town and village. He is a member of Susquehanna Lodge, No. 167, F. & A. M .; Vallonia Chapter, No. 80; and Norwich Commandery, No. 46, of Afton. Hc is also an active member of Tribe No. 274, of Bainbridge, Improved Order of Red Men. Politically, he is a Rc- publican, and has been trustee of the village corporation for seven years, a member of the board of cducation for a like period, and the board's secretary for a considerable period, and was elected supervisor of the town of Bainbridge for the term 1896-98. He is a Presbyterian in his religious sympathics, and is the superintendent of the Sabbath School. On another page is presented Mr. Hovey's portrait.
EVILLO WHITE CORBIN is an influential and wealthy farmer, who has spent his entire life ncar Ben- ncttsville, Bainbridge township, and has won for himself the regard of the entire com- munity by his upright dealings and his strict integrity in every walk of life. He is a son of William W. and Eunice Ann (White) Cor- bin, and was born October 8, 1835, on the farm upon which he still residcs.
His grandfather, Sylvester Corbin, was born in Vermont June 17, 1771, and dicd at North Norwich, July 12, 1836. Grandfather
Corbin came to Bainbridge, this county, at an early day and purchased a large tract of land almost a mile square, where the greater part of his life was spent. Hc was engaged in the lumber business, and after clearing his farm he went to North Norwich, where he built and thereafter operated a saw mill until he was removed from the scenes of his ac- tivity by death. He was a man of consider- able influence in the neighborhood, and his judgment was taken as conclusive on many knotty points. In politics he was a Democrat, and for a number of years he served as justice of the peace and supervisor of the town. He was married to Eunice White May 2, 1796, and to them were born the following children : Ezra, born February 20, 1797 ; Richmond, July 18, 1798; Patience, January 28, 1801 ; William W., February 23, 1803 ; and Squire W., born April 19, 1806. Mr. Corbin entered upon a second matri- monial alliance August 24, 1833, the lady with whom he was this time united being Nancy Hunt.
William W. Corbin was born on the home- stead purchased by his father, which contin- ued to be his home as long as he lived. He was a farmer and also dealt in lumber, float- ing it down the Dclaware River to the Phil- adelphia markets. Hc bought up cxtcnsivc tracts of timber land, which hc cleared, sell- ing the cleared land at a good price, and rcalizing handsomely on the lumber thus obtained. In after years he became a gen- eral dealer in cattle and wool, and did a large business in that linc as well as in the lumber trade. He built two saw mills, which he operated, one on the homestead, the other at
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North Norwich, and was one of the shrewd, clearsighted, prosperous mcn of his time. Hc was originally a Democrat, but when that party took up so many ideas that were cn- tirely foreign to his notions of right, hc re- grctted that he had ever affiliated with them, and became, as it were, a charter member of the Republican party. He served for eight or ten years as assessor, but was not in any sense an office seeker, as this was the only office for which he ever allowed his name to appear as a candidate. He was a man of large intellect and a great Bible student. His conception of the Bible and its lessons was far in advance of the majority of the pcople of the day and age, and his liberal views and close attendance of the Universal- ist Church was but an outcome of the decp thought and study he had given to the sub- ject of religion. Hc was highly csteemed by all, but most especially was this truc in regard to the poor, to whom he was indeed a benefactor, and by whom he was regarded with little short of veneration. He was united in marriage with Eunice May White, with whom he lived an ideal life of wedded happiness until death claimed him, May 24, 1875. The children resulting from this mar- riage were six in number, as follows : Francis G., born March 24, 1832, and died young ; Devillo White, the subject of these memoirs ; William H., born December 16, 1839, and died young ; Chester W., born December 31, 1842; Frank Jerome, born April 8, 1849, and died October 27, 1876; and George A., born March 9, 1852, and died August 31, 1875. The father of Mrs. Corbin was Dr. Asa White, one of the most skillful and success-
ful practitioners of Chenango County, whose tragic end was bemoaned by the whole com- munity. He had left Sherburne, this county, on a prospecting tour through Michigan, with the intention of purchasing land thcrc if hc found it satisfactory, and was caught in one of the terrible snow storms that some- times sweep over the Northern Statcs. Thc snow was blinding, and the strong wind madc it impossible to sec even a few feet in any di- rection, much less to travel and find the way in a strange country. Dr. White became bewildered, lost his way, and, after vainly trying to reach somc shelter, was overcome and lost his life in his struggle with the ele- ments.
Devillo White Corbin owns a part of the paternal acres, on which he has erected largc, commodious buildings, where he lives and carries on farming, giving a great deal of attention also to the lumber business, and to the buying and selling of live stock and wool. He is known as one of the reliable, influential men of the county, and is univer- sally respected because of the honorable methods employed by him in all his transac- tions. He was educated in the common schools and later attended the Franklin and Sherburne Academies, being obliged to dis- continue his studies, however, on account of weak eyes. This was a source of much dis- appointment to him, but hc made the most of his opportunities, and has become pos- sessed of a much more varied knowledge than is obtained by many who rely more ex- clusively on text-books. While still a young man the Civil War broke out, and Mr. Cor- bin enlisted in Co. G., 5th Reg. N. Y. Heavy
WILLIAM H. LALLY.
579
CHENANGO COUNTY
Artillery, in November, 1863, and served about a year, fortunately without receiving a wound, and without being given a taste of the horrors of the southern prisons. Politically, he has always been a Republican, and has been interested in having good men elected to office, but has had no desire to hold office himself, his time being entirely taken up with his extensive business interests.
Mr. Corbin was married January 20, 1859, to Emeline L. Mosher, and they are the pa- rents of four children, all of whom are mar- ried and doing well. They are as follows: Isabelle C., born September 24, 1859, the wife of Uri Mitchell, a Universalist minister ; Jes- sie, born May 16, 1862, married October 18, 1882, C. S. Hynds; Ralph W., born Decem- ber 15, 1865, married Laura Teed, October 28, 1896, and lives with his father; Lizzic, born October 27, 1867, married, August 16, 1890, Ward Lewis, Jr., of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Corbin is a pleasant, social gentleman, holding the most liberal sentiments, and re- taining in a wonderful degree the cheerful- ness and activity of youth. His life is an example of the success and honorable status that may be attained by honesty, industry, and well applied energy.
ILLIAM H. LALLY, a leading lumberman in the village of Nor- wich, whose portrait is shown on the oppo- site page, is a son of William and Mary (Hynds) Lally, and was born in Coventry, N. Y., May 8, 1863.
William Lally, the father of our subject,
was born in the city of Galway, Ireland, in April, 1831, and emigrated to the United States in 1854, locating in Chenango County, N. Y., where he spent the rest of his days in cultivating the soil. He became a resident of Guilford in the early part of 1878, and had lived there but a short time when he passed from this life, October 7, 1878. Politically, he was an avowed Democrat, upholding the principles of that party both by voice and vote. In religious views he was brought up as a Catholic, and remained a communicant of that church all his life. He was united in wedlock with Mary Hynds, and they reared cight children, namely : Anna, deceased ; William H .; Mary, who married C. B. Grand; Susic, the wife of C. C. Adams, now deceased; Edward A., a prominent lumber- man of Guilford and Norwich; Agnes, de- ceased ; Martha, who married E. J. Albert ; and Julia, the wife of J. W. Martin.
William H. Lally received his primary education in the grade schools of his native town, and as he grew to manhood he en- gaged in the lumber business at Guilford. Later he opened a branch office in the vil- lage of Oxford, and as business increased he opened another office in the village of Nor- wich, and on February 19, 1895, he moved to the last named place with his family, and has since made it his honic. He operates a saw mill in the village of New Berlin, and one in Plymouth. He also lias leased a blue stone quarry in Oxford, N. Y., that supplies New York City with much of her finest building stone. In 1896, he built a large and hand- some residence on South Broad Street, one of the principal streets as well as the most
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beautiful in the village, and has since lived there until the present time. His home is an elegant one, and well bespeaks his tastes. Politically, he is an ardent Democrat, but in local elections he always votes for the best man regardless of party. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. In 1890 he was joincd in matrimony with Luella Nash, and two children have blessed their happy home,- Harry William, and Ethel Martha. During the short time Mr. Lally has been a resident of Norwich, he has gained a reputation as an honest, upright and good citizen. He has led an active and ener- getic lifc, and his enterprising spirit has been felt in all the movements to advance the busi- ness and social interests of the village.
AVID SHATTUCK is a resident of Haynes, in the town of Nor- wich, Chenango County, N. Y. When a lad he attended No. 13 District School of Norwich, and Oxford Academy, which was at that time under the manage- ment of Prof. John Abbott. This was con- , ccded to be one of the best schools of the state, and the pupils who were desirous of learning had no difficulty in obtaining a good, practical education. Mr. Shattuck's school days were well employed, and at their close he returned home and assisted his father until he became of age. He had been desirous of engaging in railroad work, as it had always held a sort of fascination for him, and, having an opportunity to take a posi-
tion with the Illinois Central R. R., he took advantage of it, and began his career of rail- roading that was carried on for over a quarter of a century. For two years he was foreman for a contractor on the Midland R. R. The O. & W. R. R. then secured his services as conductor on a passenger train ; he continued with this road for twenty years, until 1891, during which time he ran over the entire line and its branches. Mr. Shattuck then concluded it was time for him to retire from the road and take life more easily, and, after severing his connection with the O. & W. R. R., with whom he had been so long engaged, he entered upon the life of a hotel keeper, conducting most successfully the Eagle Hotel at Norwich for three years and six months. Not finding this work con- genial, however, he disposed of the hotel, and for two years lived a life of leisure. Idleness did not suit him as well as work, so in 1895 he took up his residence on the farm of 150 acres which he owns, the old Shattuck home- stead, where he is still living. He is a son of John and Mary (Knapp) Shattuck, and was born July 26, 1834, in the town of Norwich, ncar what are known as the "old mineral springs."
The Shattuck family is German in its origin ; about two hundred years ago we find that members of the parent family left their native country and took up their residence in England. There they lived and multiplied, and there the first known ancestor of our subject, William Shattuck, was born. Hear- ing wonderful stories of the new country across the ocean, he determined to risk his fortunes on her shores, so embarked for
581
CHENANGO COUNTY
America and located in Watertown, Mass. One of his descendants, David Shattuck, emigrated to the town of Norwich, where he purchased a large estate, now known as the Shattuck farm, and at once built a log house for his family and set about clearing the land for cultivation. He had a family of three sons; the first died in infancy ; the second was Leroy; and the third was John, the father of our subject. He was inclined to be favorably disposed toward Democratic principles. He was possessed of great energy and determination, and was doing much to smooth the pathway of those who were to follow him, when he was cut down by death while still a young man in years.
John Shattuck was born on the farm, and during the early part of his life resided there. After his marriage to Mary Knapp he engaged in the saw mill business for a short time, and then gave his attention to farming. He purchased a farm of 150 acres, upon which our subject now lives, where he resided during the rest of his life. He en- gaged in dairying, and had the satisfaction of knowing that his goods were second to none on the market, while the Lyon Brook Cheese Factory, which he established on his farm, soon won a reputation all over the state for the superior excellence of its products. It also carried off the medal and diploma for the best exhibits of cheese at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876. He was thoroughly posted in all the details of the dairy business, and was tendered the posi- tion of State Commissioner of the Centen- nial, to represent the United States dairy business, but declined the honor on account
of poor health. He was a member of the State Dairy Association, and was also closely identified with the agricultural interests of the state, being a member and several times president of the Chenango Agricultural Society. He had a wide acquaintance throughout the state, and was most popular wherever known. He was one of the con- tractors engaged in the building of the Che- nango Canal, and at one time was superin- tendent of it.
Mr. Shattuck was one of the main pro- moters of the New York and Oswego Mid- land R. R., now known as the New York, Ontario and Western R. R. He was present at the first meeting when the road was or- ganized, and was offered a directorship, but declined, giving freely of his time, however, to aid the interests of the new enterprise. He spent a couple of years, rendering invalu- able assistance toward the promotion of the road, securing the right of way for a large portion and giving eight acres as right of way through his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck had but two chil- dren, David and Mary F. The latter, who is now deceased, married Dr. Pier, a physician of Scranton, Pa., who was prothonotary of the county and generally prominent in polit- ical affairs. Dr. Pier was a native of Oxford, this county. Mr. Shattuck served as captain and afterwards as colonel of the state militia, was a member of the Masonic Order and also of the I. O. O. F. of Norwich. He was a man greatly in advance of his day in intel- lectual ideas, high minded and ambitious, with pronounced Democratic views. His friends prevailed upon him twice to allow the use of
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his name, once for sheriff and once for Mem- ber of Assembly, and he consented, although there was no prospect of carrying the elec- tion, as their party was decidedly in the minority. He was a great friend of educa- tion. His own education had been limited as far as school-book learning went, but he was a great reader, and, having a retentive mem- ory, he acquired a fund of varied and useful knowledge which placed him among the most intelligent and best posted men of his time and district. However, he felt the draw- back that a lack of early schooling had been to him, and never let slip an opportunity to help along the cause of education. He was a liberal contributor to the churches and to the Liberal Institute, now known as the Clinton Liberal Institute. He was an advo- cate of the Universalist Church, and contrib- uted with a liberal hand to the work of that organization in Oxford. He had a good command of language, and became quite a prominent public speaker ; he was frequently importuned to address public gatherings, and was a familiar figure on the platform at agri- cultural, political, and other meetings where his fearlessness and strength of expression, and his intellectual vigor easily made him the favorite of the day. He was a public bene- factor, and a most liberal dispenser of hospi- tality in his home.
David Shattuck, our subject, has been twice married, his first wife being Harriet A. Noble ; his second wife was Rachel A. Com- stock, a daughter of Abel Comstock, a real estate dealer of Norwich. Three children have been born to this union, and Mr. Shat- tuck has spared no expense to educate them
and fit them for honorable and useful posi- tions in life. The eldest, John David, is a civil engineer, a graduate of Yale, class of 1891, being one of twelve honor men out of a class of ninety. He also took the post grad- uate course, and is at present holding the responsible position of engineer of distribu- tion for the People's Gas & Coke Company of Buffalo, N. Y. He married Frances Fitch of Norwich, N. Y. The second child is Harriet C., a graduate of Vassar, and at present occupying the position of instructor in the art department of Oxford Academy. Edith M., the third and youngest, is still a student in the Norwich High School. Mr. Shattuck is a Democrat. He has been the candidate of his party once for sheriff of the county, and twice for Member of Assembly. That he is a very popular man is shown from the fact that he came within 36 votes of being elected in a county that had 1,400 Republican majority. This was considered a most complimentary vote. A few years ago he was the conductor's candidate for rail- road commissioner, a state office paying a salary of $8,000.00. The State Board of Railroad Commissioners consists of three members, whose duties are to arbitrate any question that arises concerning the railroads of the state, and to this office Mr. Shattuck would undoubtedly have been chosen had it not been deemed expedient to place the office with an engineer, with the understanding that the next encumbent should be chosen from the ranks of the conductors. He is one of the most prominent Masons of the state; is past high priest of Harmony Chapter, at Norwich ; past commander of Norwich Com-
1
CHARLES G. MATHEWSON.
MRS. RACHEL L. MATHEWSON.
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CHENANGO COUNTY
mandery, No. 46; and has taken all the de- grces from the Blue Lodge to that of Mystic Shriner and Scottish Rite Mason, being a member of the Ziyara Temple, at Utica, N. Y., and also a member of the Grotto, at Hamilton, of which Ex-Postmaster General, Gen. James of New York City, was one of the founders.
HARLES G. MATHEWSON, who resides on the pleasant family home- stead, in the town of Otselic, is numbered among the enterprising, well-to-do farmers, who have contributed so largely to the growth and substantial prosperity of the town. He was born in the town of Smyrna, Chenango County, N. Y., November 18, 1836, and is a son of George W. and Electa (Isabel) Mathewson, and a grandson of Joseph Mathewson. Joseph Mathewson was a na- tive of Connecticut, and located in the town of Smyrna, Chenango County, N. Y., in 1805, being one of its pioneer settlers. Hc was a skillful, clear-sighted, well-informed farmer and business man, and was quite suc- cessful in speculations. He married Betsy Allen, a native of Connecticut, and relative of Ethan Allen, who so gallantly led the Green Mountain Boys in the Revolutionary War. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, namely: George W .; Mrs. Louisa (Hills); Charles; Mrs. D. Melissa (Carry); Gardner; Mrs. Corena (Howland) ; Mrs. Ju- lia (Tubbs); Mrs. Elizabeth (Stratton); and James. All of the above are deceased but Mrs. Hills.
George W. Mathewson was born in Con-
necticut, July 2, 1807, and came to Smyrna with his father. He learned the trade of a wagonmaker, and worked at it a short time in Smyrna, after which he became engaged in a grist and saw mill. From there he moved to Beaver Meadows, where he farmed until 1866, when he bought the place upon which our subject now lives. It is an excel- lent farm of 178 acres of excellent land, with good buildings upon it. He married Electa Isabel, a daughter of Seymour Isabel, a late farmer of the town of Smyrna, and they be- came the parents of three children, whose names are as follows : Charles G., our sub- ject ; Andrew, a farmer of the town of Linck- laen, this county ; and Sabina, who makes her home with Charles G., our subject.
Charles G. Mathewson was reared on a farm and received his education in the dis- trict schools of Smyrna. After attaining his majority, he engaged in the grist and saw mill business at Smyrna, where he remained for six or seven years; he then learned the trade of a blacksmith, at which trade he worked for 20 years at different places. Hc then engaged in the hotel business at Nor- wich, but only conducted his hostelry for one year, when he traded it for a farm in the town of Otselic. About 1883 he returned to the old homestead, and to the original 178 acres he has added an adjoining tract of 90 acres, and another, close by, of 65 acres. Like most of the farmers in the vicinity, he makes a specialty of dairying, and it is car- ried on by the most improved methods. He is by no means lacking in enterprise, and has not been slow to adopt modern methods where it seems best to use them.
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