USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 53
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ARON M. LATHROP, one of the wealthy, retired business men of Bennettsville, Bainbridge town- ship, is a son of Levi and Patience (Rowley) Lathrop, and was born November 1, 1829, in Unadilla, Otsego County, N. Y. His great- grandfather was a minute-man in the Revo- lutionary War, enlisting from New York and giving his life in the service of his country at Saratoga.
Elisha Lathrop, the grandfather, was born near Albany, but grew to young manhood in Norwich, Conn. When he was nineteen years old he came to this state, locating on Sand Hill Creek, Otsego County, where he secured a tract of woodland and at once set about clearing it. When this was accom- plished he had a fine farm of 300 acres, where he lived and was buried, when dissolution fin- ally occurred at the extreme old age of ninety-two years. His mother was Susan- nah Gates, a first cousin of General Gates.
Levi Lathrop was born on the paternal acres in 1793, and was reared and educated in Otsego County, dying at the age of sixty- eight. His life was spent in farming and in working at the trade of a cooper. He owned a cooper shop and did quite a large business. He was well posted in the politics of the day; and voted with the Whig and Republican parties. He was twice married, his first wife being Patience Rowley, by whom he had eight sons and four daughters. After her death he married Phoebe Halbert, and to them was born one child, a daughter. The maternal grandfather of Aaron M. Lathrop was Seth Rowley, a native of the town of Rowley, situated about forty miles north of Boston, in Essex County, Mass .; he entered the Revolutionary War and served through the entire war as captain. He was a farmer, and settled at the mouth of Otego Creek, where he died.
Aaron M. Lathrop received his education in the common schools, and has since added to his stock of knowledge continually by reading and intelligent observation. He is a great reader, and keeps abreast the times in
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all matters of importance. When a lad he learned the trade of a cooper in his father's shop, where he worked until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he went to Oxford, Chenango County, where he went into the cooperage business on his own account. He remained there for fifteen years, removing in 1865 to Bennettsville, and working at the trade there for another twenty years. He has not been engaged in business since 1885, having accumulated considerable means, which enables him to live a life of compara- tive ease. He was one of two persons who issued the first call which resulted in the or- ganization of the Republican party of Che- nango County ; the other man being Isaac H. Pendleton. Mr. Lathrop has never been ยท an aspirant for official honors, for his wish has been always to see good, responsible men in office, and he has been modest in having his name used in connection with public office. He entered the Civil War in August, 1863, as a private in the 146th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served until March 15, 1864, taking part in several engagements; the most important were : the battles at Rappahannock Station in October, 1863; the explosion of the mine at Richmond ; and the battle of the Wilder- ness. He is a member of the H. H. Beccher Post, No. 582, G. A. R., and has many excit- ing adventures to relate concerning the time spent in the service of his country. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Binghamton, and is an honest, upright gen- tleman. He was married January 1, 1861, to Mariet Crane, a daughter of Simcon Crane of Sanford, Broome County, this state. Their only child, Laura, died in childhood.
IIILANDER H. LOOMIS. Among the notable business men of West Bainbridge is the enterprising and respected gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born November 21, 1830, in the picturesque old house in which he still resides, and which was purchased by his father about nine years previous to our sub- ject's birth. He is a son of Philander and Phoebe (Herrick) Loomis, who were resi- dents of this county for over half a century.
Philander Loomis, our subject's father, was born in Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y., December 10, 1799, and died June 3, 1882. In 1821 he came to this county and purchased 50 acres of ground, upon which he made his home, while he carried on his trade, that of a carpenter and joiner, while at the same time he cultivated the land, making it one of the most desirable homes in that locality. He was a public-spirited man and showed an in- terest in all the local events ; was at one time captain of a military company, and an enthu- siastic Whig, and later a Republican. He married Phoebe Herrick, and seven children were born to them, as follows: Alonzo ; Samuel; Elizabeth ; Philander H .; Andrew, who died while young ; Joseph, deceased ; and Phoebe Ann.
Philander H. Loomis received a good com- mon school education and then started on his career as a farmer, while during the long, cold winters he engaged in the lumber busi- ness. This arrangement he continued for sev- eral years, when he discontinued the work of a lumberman and opened a general store, which he has operated for the past seven years. This is operated under the theory
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that his customers are deserving of the best goods and most considerate treatment, and the largc trade he has securcd proves thc correctness of his views. At one time he was connected with a large music house, having his headquarters here; for six years he represented this firm upon the road, be- ing classcd among the best traveling salcs- men, while his reputation for honcst dealing and high moral character was without a question. He is one of the most influential and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held vari- ous offices. Mr. Loomis was married in March, 1852, to Eleanor Janctte Barber, a daughter of Alonzo N. and Rosanna K. (Greene) Barber. Her father was born in the town of Afton, this county, January 1I, 1813; her mother was born January 12, 1815, and died November 6, 1882. Her maternal grandfather was John K. S. Greene, a resi- dent of New Canaan, Conn., and among the first settlers in the town of Afton. Mrs. Loomis was born April 4, 1835, and is the only one of her family surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis arc the parents of one child, a daughter, Ellen Ann, born September 6, 1855, the wife of Charles G. Norton.
Charles G. Norton stands high in the com- munity in which he lives. Born July 31, 1851, in the town of North Norwich, he re- moved with his parents to Sherburne Falls, where he grew to manhood, and entered the large army of men who make their living by the cultivation of the soil. He became a first-class farmer, and also learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he carried on in con- nection with farming. So constantly were
his services required at the forgc, that he gave up farming after coming to Bainbridge, and devotes his entire time to the work of his shop. He is connected in some way with most of the local affairs of Bainbridge, and is an active politician, working hard for the suc- ccss of the Republican party. He is at pres- ent highway commissioner, an office he has held continuously for five years past ; for threc or four years hc was poormaster, rc- ceiving much commendation for the manner in which he discharged the duties devolving upon him. He also served as constable, and was a member of the Republican County Committee. He is connected with the Sus- quchanna Lodge, No. 167, F. & A. M .; and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men of Bainbridge. Hc is an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which organization he is a member. He is a son of John G. and Cecelia (Leonard) Norton, and a grandson of Miles Norton, a farmer of Shcr- burne. Mr. Norton was one of a family of seven children, as follows : Alice, the wife of William McMillan, the proprictor of a large flouring mill in Michigan; Harriet E., dc- ceased, the wife of Nelson Ireland of Bing- hamton; John W., a blacksmith living in Michigan ; Charles G .; David L., a farmer residing in Columbus; Ida, who died in 1860; and Emma, who died March 15, 1861, agcd threc years.
John Gilbert Norton, the father of Charles G. Norton, was a man of admirable nervc and possessed of great courage. In Novem- ber, 1863, he entered the Civil War as a member of the Ironside Regiment, and re- ccived a serious wound in one of the battles in
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which he was engaged. In speaking of this encounter, one of the prominent papers pays him this tribute : " Gilbert Norton was a man of iron frame, slow to move, always good natured, but with the grit of a bulldog imaged on his face. He was one of the last to yield, and this he did not do, although covered by three Confederate rifles, until," shielding himself behind a hogshead, he laid one of the riflemen low. Before he could re- load for the others they rushed upon him and disarmed him, demanding his surrender. Even then he refused, and was immediately knocked down by a clubbed musket, when one of the enemy, placing a foot upon him, plunged a bayonet sheer through his body and into the ground under him. The bay- onet was so rusty that it was only with con- siderable effort that the man wielding it could withdraw it. He raised it for the second thrust; then for the first time the old soldier cried 'enough.' The upraised arm was stayed, and the desperately wounded man managed to crawl to a building a short dis- tance away, where the Confederate surgeon was attending to the wounded, and was cared for by him. 'You don't stand more than one chance in one thousand of living, though,' said the surgeon, when he looked at him. The wound was in the region of the small of the back, from side to side. Strange to say, he did not die, but recovered suffi- ciently to return on crutches to Sherburne, N. Y., his home, where he finally died of the wound after carrying it nine years. He never walked without crutches after that fearful bayonet thrust."
Mrs. Charles G. Norton was for many
years a prominent music teacher in Bain- bridge, and was a pupil of S. N. Copley of Bainbridge, and Miss Ida Goodrich of New York City. At one time she had a class of 25 students, and is considered one of the fin- est musicians in Chenango County. She also played in the choir at the M. E. Church at Union Valley for 25 years, and until 1893, but had to relinquish the position on account of failing health.
R. CHARLES M. PURDY. This cultured and learned gentleman, whose talents and superior natural ability were given during his long profes- sional career to the relieving of pain, and to the caring for of those who were brought into dire straits of sickness by inimical diseases, was at one time the leading practitioner of Chenango County, but is now living in retire- ment in the village of Norwich. He is a son of Judge Smith M. and Prudence (Gates) Purdy, and was born in the village of Sher- burne, N. Y., August 16, 1824.
Abner Purdy, the grandfather of our sub- ject, came from Westchester County, N. Y., to Chenango County, locating near Chenango Lake, or North Norwich. He took up 300 acres of land, now owned by Isaac Perlec, upon which he built a log house, and cleared a large farm. Later he erected good frame build- ings on the place, made other improvements, and made it one of the most desirable farms in that section of the country. Prior to com- ing to Chenango County, he owned and operated the mills at Amenia, N. Y., which
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are now owned by the Guernseys. His wife's maiden name was Fisher, and they reared the following children: Smith M .; Abner ; Daniel; Hannah, who was married to Steph- en Merritt; Tammy, who married Ammon Merritt ; Anor, whose husband was a Mr. Stevens ; Mrs. Saxton ; Mrs. Ferris ; and five who died in early life. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy were kind neighbors and good citizens, and both lived to reach an advanced age. Mrs. Purdy had almost reached the century mark when called to her eternal reward.
Judge Smith M. Purdy was one of the ablest and best known attorneys Chenango County has ever known. After taking a thorough course of study in the academy at Norwich, he spent some time in the study of law with Judge Birdsall. He then went to Sherburne, N. Y., where he practiced for a short time. Upon returning to Norwich, he was associated with Abial Cook for one year, and then was in practice alone. He rapidly rose before the people, both in his profession and in the field of politics, to which he was no stranger. He was a man of high attainments and varied accomplishments. He was a lead- ing factor in the political affairs of the coun- ty, and was made county surrogate by the Democratic party. He was also prevailed upon to accept the nomination for Congress- man. He was duly elected, and served his constituents in a manner that won their hearty plaudits, and added to the honor and esteem in which he had always been held. While a judge of the Supreme Court his health failed and he was forced to retire. He purchased a small farm known as the Homer Johnson place, and moved into the country.
When his health was completely restored, he returned to the village and purchased the Judge York homestead, where our subject now lives. For keen judgment, either in politics or in business, he was unexcelled. The Chenango County Bank was placed in his charge, and he successfully directed its business policy for several years. He was one of the most popular men of his day, and as an adviser was much sought, his counsel having the pleasant feature about it, that it could always be relied upon. Being a ready speaker, and the possessor of a mine of infor- mation, he was never worsted in a political debate or argument. No social gathering was so complete as when he was present. He was extremely active, of a cheery, genial disposition, and had warm friends by the hundreds, wherever he was known. He was united in marriage with Prudence Gates, a daughter of Newman Gates, and two children were born to them, Charles M., our subject, being the only one to reach maturity. Judge Purdy died in 1870, at the age of seventy- four years.
Dr. Charles M. Purdy, after completing his elementary education in the academies at Oxford and Norwich, studied medicine with Dr. Baker, and attended the Medical College at Albany. He was taken sick and obliged to give up his studies for a time. However, preferring the profession of medicine to that of any other vocation, he directed his studies in that direction so assiduously that he was enabled to graduate with the class of 1847. He then practiced one year with Dr. Baker of Norwich, after which he continued alone. It was not long before his skill as a physician
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became known. He rapidly grew in the confidence of the people, and soon possessed an enviable reputation. He stands high as a member of the medical fraternity, and is highly respected as a man of enterprise, who has been remarkably successful in his efforts. Dr. Purdy has lived in retirement since 1890, and enjoys the prestige he gained by many years of almost incessant work. His valu- able advice is still sought by many and will be as long as he is able to give it. He has spent time and money in fixing up the old home- stead, and is rewarded by having one of the most beautiful residences in the village.
Dr. Purdy has twice been joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. His first wife was formerly Mary Grant, a daughter of Prentice Grant, and they reared two children : Cath- erine, deceased, who was the wife of Charles F. Hall, by whom she had one son, Franklin W .; and Julia, who married Charles Berry, a reporter and printer of Syracuse, and they had one son, Ansel P. Mrs. Baker died in 1888, at the age of sixty-two years. Our sub- ject's second marriage was with Julia Hall, a daughter of Warren and Arthusa (Rogers) Hall. Her grandfather was Warren Hall, Sr., who was one of the earliest settlers of the county. He came from Stonington, Conn., and settled in Pharsalia, where he farmed and worked at the carpenter trade. He was united in marriage with Elsie Minor, and they reared the following children : Warren; Charles M .; William ; Eunice; Martha; and Nancy. Warren Hall, the fath- er of Mrs. Purdy, was born in Stonington, Conn., and after coming to this county became a dealer in live stock. He was one of the largest
drovers of his day, buying cattle and sheep and driving them to New York City to mar- ket. He purchased a large farm on West Hill in the town of Norwich, where his son, Warren Hall, now lives. He retired several years before his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife still survives him and is past eighty-four years of age. His wife's maiden name was Arthusa Rogers, and she is a daughter of Eber Rogers. They were the parents of three children : Charles F .; Julia, the wife of our subject; and Warren. Charles F. Hall, who married our subject's daughter, Catherine, was born in the town of Norwich. At an early age he became manager of the Howe Sewing Machine Co., and acted in that capacity for six years. He . then went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he manu- factured the English Leather Sewing Ma- chine for three years. He sold out in 1883, and located at Norfolk, Va., and became one of the firm of Walters & Co., operators of a large peanut factory, which employed 150 men, and did an annual business of $863,000. In 1886, he gave up the business and pur- chased the Southern Hotel at Petersburg, Va. He rebuilt it and made many improve- ments, and now rents it. He then went to Evansville, Ind., where he built a large pea- nut factory and operated it until 1896, and is now living a retired life. Dr. Purdy is a Democrat in his political belief, and votes uniformly and conscientiously with his party. Socially, he is a member of the Chenango County Medical Association. Although his active carcer is now closed, his is the satis- faction of looking back over years of useful- ness and thrilling incidents, such as occur
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only when the human life hangs in the bal- ance, and his privilege of being regarded as a personal benefactor by numberless friends whom his skill has helped in some way or other.
RANK E. HOLMES, organizer of the Preferred Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, located in the village of New Berlin, and one of the popular and respected citizens of that place, holding the position of post- master, was born in the town of Columbus, this county, October 22, 1863. He is a son of Isaac and Louisa (Lottridge) Holmes, and grandson of Gilbert Holmes.
Gilbert Holmes was a son of Isaac Holmes, a native of Dutchess County, who came to Columbus in 1802, and was one of the early pioneer settlers of this county. At that time the land was wild and rough, and required an outlay of incessant labor and energy to fit it for becoming productive of the commodi- ties necessary for consumption and the mar- kets. From its wild and primitive condition, he lived to see a prosperous community grow up around him, and the march of civil- ization not only overtaking him from the East, but in the course of time passing far beyond to the West. He was well fitted for the duties and obligations of a pioneer, for upon the men who first made settlement in this wild country depended the extent and rapidity of its growth and progress. He industriously labored to improve the farm, and increased his acreage as time progressed and his means permitted. The location
proved a fortunate one, and the farm is now surrounded by other fine farms and all the evidences of modern thrift and luxury. In addition to raising cereals, Isaac Holmes conducted a hotel. Gilbert Holmes came with his family to Columbus and lived there all his life. He died in 1846, at the age of forty-four years, being killed by a falling tree. He was a distiller by occupation. He married Nancy Finch, and they reared three children : Isaac, father of our subject; Mrs. Arnold, deceased ; and Melle, wife of Henry Lewis of New Berlin. Mr. Holmes has three brothers who survive him: Charles, aged ninety ; Platt, aged seventy-five; and Henry, aged eighty-four years. They possess strong constitutions, and in their prime were men of great physical strength and un- doubted courage, true types of that pioneer class who are rapidly passing away.
Isaac Holmes was born in New Berlin in 1829, but spent most of his life in Columbus, where he was engaged in working at cooper- ing and farming. He followed coopering for twenty years, and was considered an excellent workman, and then took up farming and fol- lowed that line of business until 1873, when he moved to the village of New Berlin and lived in retirement. He married Louisa Lottridge, daughter of William Lottridge, who was a Baptist minister, but later in life became a preacher in the Universalist Church at Columbus. He was also a fariner and was the father of sixteen children. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were born three chil- dren, namely: J. G. of Norwich, an attor- ney-at-law and clerk of Chenango County ; Charles A., a prominent jeweler of New
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Berlin ; and Frank E., our subject. Mrs. Holmes died in 1872, aged thirty-six years.
Frank E. Holmes received his elementary education in the New Berlin Academy, and at the age of fifteen he began the study of music, and in 1881 went to Port Henry, N. Y., where he was engaged in band and orchestra work, and furnished music at sum- mer resorts in the Adirondacks for four seasons. He also clerked in the postoffice. In 1883 he went to Boston, Mass., and com- pleted his musical education in the New England Conservatory of Music. While there he had a position in the leading orches- tra under the leadership of E. N. Catlin, and upon completing his education, in 1884, he went to Minneapolis, and in partnership with T. B. Brooke conducted a band and orches- tra. Brooke is now leader of the famous Chicago Marine Band. In 1885 Mr. Holmes moved to Port Henry, N. Y., and superin- tended the Telephone Company. In 1887 hc returned to New Berlin and entered into partnership with S. L. Morgan under the firm name of Morgan & Holmes, and engaged in the fire insurance business, continuing until 1890, when Mr. Morgan dicd, and Mr. Holmes continued alone until July, 1896, when he sold the agency and organized the Preferred Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he is secretary ; I. L. Richer, presi- dent : and A. D. Sprague, treasurer. They do a large business in five counties, have twenty-one agents and have one and a half million dollars' worth of insurance in force. Mr. Holmes is an ardent Republican, and votes to uphold the principles of his chosen party. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster
of New Berlin without opposition, which speaks well for his popularity and the high esteem in which he is held. He is a member of Phoebus Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M .; Hil- lington Chapter, No. 224, R. A. M .; and Nor- wich Commandery, No. 46, Knight Tem- plars.
Ile chose for his life companion Cora A. Jones, daughter of Fred Jones, and they were happily married August 13, 1889. Mr. Holmes is a careful, conscientious and thor- oughly enterprising business man. He is a pleasant and genial companion, hospitable in his home and highly esteemed throughout the community. His reliable work and straightforward manner of doing business have attracted to him hosts of friends and patrons. He occupies an enviable position in the community, and is fulfilling at all points the duties of an honest man and good citizen.
R OBERT EMERSON, proprietor of the leading general merchandise store of the village of MeDon- ough, Chenango County, N. Y., was born in that village, March 6, 1872. He is a son of Varanes C. and Ruth (Morley) Emerson, and a grandson of Moses S. Emerson.
Moses S. Emerson was a native of Candia, N. H .; upon coming to this county he located at MeDonough. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but also followed farming in the summer time. Most of his time, how- ever, was devoted to public business. For many years he was a justice of the peace and
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a conveyancer ; he was called upon to settle many estates, which he always did satisfac- torily. In his political belief, he was a radical Democrat of the Jeffersonian type. He was a keen, shrewd business man, and during life accumulated an ample competency. While on a visit to Candia, N. H., he was taken sick and died, at the age of fifty-one years. His companion in life was Eliza Lawton of McDonough, by whom he had the following children : Varanes C., the father of our sub- ject ; Herbert, the efficient postmaster of Oxford; Elizabeth, the wife of David Ran- dall of Wilkesbarre, Pa .; and Lucinda F., who is the wife of J. C. Jones of German.
Varanes C. Emerson was born in the vil- lage of McDonough, July 11, 1829. For thirty-five years he conducted a general mer- chandise store in McDonough. He was a Democrat and a very prominent man in polit- ical circles. He was justice of the peace for fifteen years, and at the end of that time re- signed. He was supervisor for ten years, and served in that capacity during the Civil War. He was postmaster of the village during the administration of Andrew John- son, and the first administration of Cleveland, and was chairman of the board of super- visors during 1883. He was united in mar- riage with Ruth Morley, a daughter of Dr. Russel W. Morley, who was a native of Mas- sachusetts and a surgeon in the War of 1812. As a result of this union seven children were born, namely : Bertrand M., a pharmacist of Oxford ; Arthur E., a musician of Columbus, Ohio; Frank H., a traveling salesman for the Benton Heath Wallpaper Co. of New York City ; Frederick R., who died at the age of
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