USA > New York > Tioga County > Historical gazetter of Tioga County, New York, 1785-1888. Pt. 2 > Part 11
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
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ber 13, 1788, lot 166, 2,400 acres ; James Clinton, George Denni- ston, Alexander Denniston, and others, November 6, 1788, lot 167, 3,000 acres, with all islands in Owego river opposite said lot ; and to James Clinton, James Humphrey, William Scott, and James Denniston, lot 168, 4.000 acres ; Brinton Paine, November 13, 1788, lot 169. Soo acres ; Peter A. Cuddeback, Peter Cantine, Peter Jansen, and Elisha Barber, November 6, 1788, lot 172, 4.000 acres; William and Egbert De Witt, March 4 1791, a lot of land containing 1,600 acres.
It seems to be conceded, generally, that among the earliest pioneers within the limits of the present town of Tioga, were Samuel and William Ransom and Prince and Andrew Alden. Samuel and William Ransom were sons of Samuel Ransom and Esther, his wife. This elder Samuel Ransom was a captain in the Continental army, and was killed July 3, 1778, at the histori- cal massacre of Wyoming. These four persons came up the Susquehanna river, from Wyoming Valley, and made a settle- ment in the town about the year 1785. William Ransom and Andrew Alden settled a short distance south of the mouth of Pipe creek, upon the westerly bank of the river, where they built a log house, supposed to have been the first structure of the kind erected in the town.
In his "Centennial History," Hon. W. F. Warner, however, inclines to the opinion that there were transient settlers here earlier, remarking as follows :
" The late" Judge Avery was clearly in error in stating that there was no settlement of the white race in the county earlier. than 1783 or '84. In a journal kept by Lieut. Van Hovenburg, who accompanied Gen. James Clinton in the expedition down the Susquehanna to join Sullivan in 1779, mentions that the division marched ten miles from Owego down the river and en- camped at Fitz Gerrel's farm.' This establishes the fact that as early as 1779, there was a settler either in the town of Tioga or Nichols.
" In the journal of Daniel Livermore. another officer, is the following entry : 'Saturday, August 21. This morning the troops march early, make but few halts during the day : at 5 p. m. en- camp on the banks of the river, opposite farm, about seventeen miles from Owego.' Another journal described it as 'an abandoned plantation.'
" These are sufficient, however, to prove that at a much earlier period than has heretofore been claimed, there were settlers along the river. A settlement was made in the Wyoming Valley in 1769, and doubtless about the same time there were a few in
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this county, though they may have been forced to leave by rea- son of the disturbed state of the country during the revolution."
Samuel Ransom and Prince Alden settled about two miles fur- ther down the river, nearly opposite of Spendley's high bridge over the New York, Lake Erie & Western, and the Southern Central railway tracks. Of. the ancestral history of the Alden brothers, nothing is known. Andrew Alden removed to the State of Ohio, about the year 1808, and Prince Alden died about the same year. Samuel Ransom was born September 28. 1759, at Canaan, how Norfolk, Ct .; married, in 1783 of 1784, to Mary Nesbitt, near Plymouth, Pa., and was drowned in the Susque- hanna river, near Tioga Center, by the upsetting of a skiff, about the year 1807. His widow and seven children subsequently moved West, where they died. During his life-time, Samuel Ransom built on his land the first tavern, and the first school- house in the town. The tavern was situate a very few rods east of Spendley's high bridge, upon the highway. It was a log struc- ture, but afterward a framed addition was built on to it. A few years before he died, he became involved financially, and dying, left but little property to his family. William Ransom was born May 26, 1770, at Canaan, now Norfolk, Ct .; married, in 1792, Rachel Brooks, daughter of James and Mary Brooks, at Tioga Center. This was the first marriage in the town of Tioga. Will- iam Ransom died in Tioga Center, January 8, 1822, leaving a widow and ten children, another child of theirs having died in infancy. Nine of the ten children have descendants living. These children of Major William Ransom make up the Tioga branch of the Ransom family, and the following is their genealogical record : Ira, born December 4. 1792: married. January 22, 1814, Sarah Forman, at Nichols, N. Y .. and died June 1, 1848, at Wysox, Pa. Sybil, born August 14, 1794; married, February 1, 1816, Henry Light, at Smithboro, and died there April 15, 1877. David, born October 14, 1796; died unmarried, May 9, 1827, at. Philadelphia, Pa. Benjamin, born September 26, 1799 ; married, July 7, 1821, Lucy Frost, at Tioga Center. and died there, January IS, 1830. William, born April 9, ISot ; married, September 14, 1831, Ange- line. Martin, at Owego, and died at Tioga Center, February 7, 1883. Rachel, born August 23, 1803 ; married, January 23, 1823, David Wallis, at Tioga Center, and is still living upon the Wallis homestead, in the town of Tioga. Charles, born September 19. 1805 ; married, October 2, 1832, Hope Maria Talcott, at Owego, and died August 12, 1860, at Tioga Center. Printice, born Sep-
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tember 17, 1807 ; married, October 19, 1830, Fanny Thurston, at Owego, and is still living, at Iowa City, Ia. Harriet, born August 15, 1809; married, May 19, 1840, Asa Guildersleeve Jack- son, at Tioga Center, and died there, June 4, 1847. Charlotte, born April 13, 1811 : died, June 26, 1811, at Tioga Center. Mary Johnson, born November 24, 1812; married. January 29, 1833, Gilbert Strang, at Tioga Center, and died there, June 9, 1872.
The next advent of settlers appears to have been Lodowyck Light, Jesse Miller, the elder, and Enos Canfield, who came from the vicinity of Bedford, Westchester county, and located upon a tract of five hundred acres, known as the "Light & Miller Location," next west of where Samuel Ransom located, extending southwesterly well toward the village of Smithboro. They came on, made clearings and built their houses in about the year 1787, and brought on their families about the year 1790. Lodowyck Light first built a small cabin, upon a small knoll nearly directly across the road from the residence of the late Henry G. Light, and soon afterwards built his log house near the site of the latter, near the old well thereon, where he lived until his death, August 26, 1830, being a month and four days past seventy-eight years of age. His wife, Martha, died September 28, 1842, four months and four days past eighty-six years of age. The remains of these venerable pioneers lie buried in the old burying-ground, upon the top of the hill, about one mile east of Smithboro village. This old burying-ground is now in a sorry state of dilapidation, and its condition ought to be im- proved at once for the sake of its preservation. This is also the site of the first meeting. house in the town of Tioga, built in IS12, by the Methodist and Baptist denominations. It was destroyed by lightning in the summer of 1826 ; and there are those who are so irreverent as to say that, it was the meet judgment of the wrath of God, because of the intensity of the denominational jealousies and unchristian differences between the two church organizations. Lodowyck Light was a prominent citizen, and took an active part in the political affairs of his day.
Jesse Miller, the elder, built his log cabin upon the site of the old Miller homestead, very near where Thomas Watkins now lives, a few rods east of the residence of Amos Canfield. His wife's name was Kesiah, and they had four sons-Jesse, Jr., Ezra, Ziba and Amos; and several daughters, among whom were Jerusha, Lucy and Polly. Jesse Miller, Sr., died April 9, 1812, at the age of sixty-four years. Jesse Miller, Jr., removed West,
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and died there. "Ezra, Ziba and Amos spent their lives in the town of Tioga, where they died, all of them leaving descendants, among the most venerable of whom is Mrs. Lucy Brooks, daughter of Amos Miller, and widow of Benjamin V. Brooks. She now lives with her children in Owego village, and has passed the very ripe age of eighty four years. The wife of Amos Miller was Polly Jayne, daughter of the Rev. David Jayne, who was the first preacher of the town, and who is said to have begun his ministerial work here as early at least as 1795.
Enos Canfield settled and built a log house near the present . residence of Amos Canfield, his son, and lived there until he died, December 14, 1822, aged fifty five years, ten months and seven- teen days. His wife was Polly (Robinson) Canfield, and she died May 7, 1849, at the ripe age of eighty-three years, ten months and nine days. Enos Canfield was a promient citizen, and took an active part in the church affairs of his day, being a staunch ad- herent of the Baptist orthodox faith. There were fourteen chil- dren born to this couple, of whom Amos Canfield still survives, and was eighty-eight years of age in March, 1887. The latter married Ellen Knapp, and the fruit of their marriage has been nine children, now living.
- Ezra Smith also immigrated into this town from Westchester county, about the year 1791, and settled at the point where the village of Smithboro is. The land in that vicinity had been granted by the state to Poirs & Koles prior to that time, and by them assigned to Jesse Smith, a brother of Ezra. Ezra Smith kept the tavern situate near where the store building of Walter C. Randall now stands. He removed to the town of Candor, about the year 1809, and was succeeded by Isaac Boardman.
Colonel David Pixley was a pioneer, who had made exploring and surveying expeditions through this country, in the interest of the proprietors of the Boston Purchase, and finally settled in this town, just south of the Owego creek, on what is called the Camp- bell location. He built his log house near where Ephraim Good- rich now resides, and a portion of the old structure is still stand- ing. In 1802, he sold his property in this town to Noah and Eliakim Goodrich, and removed to Owego. A more extended sketch of Colonel Pixley will be found in the history of the town of Owego.
Dr. Samuel Tinkham settled in the town about the same time as Colonel Pixley, on the place now owned by A. J. Goodrich. He was a physician, and married Colonel Pixley's sister, Polly.
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Abner Turner, of New Hampshire, who also accompanied Col. Pixley upon his exploring expeditions in the interest of the pro- prietors of the Boston Purchase, settled near the east line of the town, and opened a tavern. He died upon his homestead in this town.
Another notable family of early settlers was the Brooks family. Three brothers, James, John, and Cornelius, it is stated, their father having died in the old country, emmigrated from Dublin to this country. Their widowed mother died upon the vovage, and was buried at sea. John and Cornelius settled, one in Massa- chusetts, the other in New Jersey. James Brooks married Polly Johnson, in New Jersey, and settled in this town in 1791, on the old Brooks homestead, upon the corner opposite where the Inde- pendent Order of Good Templers' lodge building now is, in Tioga Center, near the house owned by Jerome Schoonover. The exact locality is marked by the old Brook's well, at that point. James Brooks died in ISto, and had five sons, -Cornelius, David, John, Benjamin, and James, Jr. Cornelius took up his location and built a log house in the orchard between the Susquehanna river and the railways, opposite the blackwalnut tree, just west of the present residence of Theodore Horton. He subsequently moved West, and died at Olean, N. Y. David Brooks married Susan Allen, and lived in a log house upon the bank of the Sus- quehanna river, opposite the present residence of James Higbee, near the DuBois hay barn. He subsequently removed to Michi- gan, where he died. John Brooks built a tavern near the well, by the present residence of Samuel Kuykendall, which he kept for a few years, and then removed to Cincinnati, O. James - Brooks married Amy, daughter of Lodowyck Light, and for a while lived in a house near the residence of Judson Gardner, at Tioga Center, having taken up twenty-five acres of land there. He afterward enlisted in the war of 1812, and was killed while in the service. His widow. Amy, subsequently built a framed house upon the top of the hill, immediately west of the residence . of the late Henry G. Light, and lived there. Three children were born of this marriage, Chloe, Benjamin Van Campen, and Patty ..
In 1820. Chloe Brooks married John H. Yontz, who came into this vicinity from Virginia, about ISIS, and for a long time was a prominent citizen of Smithboro and Tioga Centre. He died in 1875. His widow is still living at Smithboro, and is now eighty- six years of age, with mental vigor unimpaired.
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Benjamin V. Brooks married Lucy, daughter of Amos Miller, as has been stated before, and was for a long time a leading and prominent citizen of Smithboro, engaged in the industrial pur- suits of farming and lumbering. He died December 27, 1873, at Owego, leaving his widow, and the following children : Horace AAgard, Mrs. E. A. B. Mitchell. Chester, Mandana, and Chloe M.
Benjamin Brooks, son of James, married Patty Stowe, and lived in a double log house on the original Brooks homestead, at the old well, near the house now owned by Jerome Schoonover, as aforesaid. Four children survived him, of whom Ira and James are dead, and Mary Ives, living in Illinois, and Conelius Brooks, living at Tioga Centre, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years.
Francis Gragg also immigrated into this town at a date uncer- tain, but supposed to be prior to 1800. He came originally from Schomokin Creek, Pa. His wife, Margaret, came with him. They moved into the old tavern built by John Brooks, upon the site of the residence of Samuel Kuykendall, and lived there until IS19, when they moved into an old house which stood almost ex- actly upon the site of the present house of Charles C. Van Nor- stran, where he lived the rest of his live. Margaret Gragg died July 26, 1824, and Francis died April 15, 1854. They are buried in the Van Norstran vault, about one mile west of Tioga Centre. They had only one child, Sally, who married John Van Nor- stran. Mr. Van Norstran also originally came from Shamokin Creek, Pa., and July 20, 1819, he moved into the Brooks-Gragg tavern, and was the proprietor of it until he died. June 6, 1837. Sally, his wife. died December 30, 1873. Eight children were born of this union, of whom John, Silas, Frank, Margaret, and William, are dead; and James, Charles C., and Mrs. Eliza Coburn (widow of Charles R. Coburn), are living.
Joel Farnham, who was a native of Wyoming and there at the time of the famous Indian massacre, located upon the old Farn- ham homestead, off road 12, about the year 1794, and died here August 15, 1858, aged over eighty-four years. His wife, Ruth, died August 30, 1862, aged eighty-five years. None of their ten chil- dren are now living. His son, Frederick A., born February 26, 1818, married Agnes L. Barclay, who bore him five children, Joel S .. Alice L. (Mrs. George H. Day), Elisha W., Herbert A. and May E. Mr. Farnham died February 21, 188;, and his widow still occupies the old homestead.
George A. Farnham, the eldest grandson of Joel, Sr., and son of Sylvester, now resides on road 12.
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Jeremiah White settled about 1794, on the place afterwards owned by Elizur Wright, Abel Stafford, and subsequently by John Dubois. He was a good mechanic, and was the first hus- band of Mrs. Whitaker, who was taken captive at Wyoming in 1778, when twelve years of age, carried to Canada, kept two years, then released and sent home. He removed to Catatonk Creek, and died suddenly, in 1805, from injuries received in a mill.
William Taylor accompanied James McMaster to Owego, in 1785, as a bound boy. After planting and securing a crop of corn, they returned to their headquarters on the Mohawk. Jacob Catlin, son of Nathaniel Catlin, said he used to hear Amos Dra- per tell of McMaster's raising corn and the Indians watching and caring for it in his absence, and who, at the harvesting of the same, received from him a share of the crop. He cut dead pines on the bank of the creek, felled them into the water, bound them together with withes, forming a raft, on which he put his corn and floated it down the river to Wilkesbarre to mill. Mr. Taylor did not return to Owego until 1793, and soon after came to this town and occupied the Henry Young farm. In 1800, he made arrangements to sell his property, and in 1801, removed to Can- dor, and died in 1849, aged eighty-two years. Nathaniel came from Orange county in 1800, and decided to purchase the farm of William Taylor, and in 1801 brought his family and com- pleted the purchase.
Daniel Mersereau emigrated from Staten Island, in 1794, and settled where Brindley Wallace now lives. He was impressed by the English, taken on board a vessel, and kept several days, but by interference of friends was released. He died in 1848, aged eighty-six years.
Cornelius Taylor settled here in 1794, and was from Plymouth, Wyoming-sold part of his farm to Mersereau. He died in 1848, aged seventy-seven years.
Jonathan Catlin was an early settler at what is known as Goodrich Settlement. Five of his six sons located, in 1820, at what is still known as Catlin Hill, viz .: Stephen, Jonathan, Joseph, James and Nathaniel. Nathaniel, born September 4, 1787, mar- ried Elleanor Van Riper, March 22, 1829, who bore him ten children. Mrs. Catlin died September 16, 1856, and Mr. Catlin married for his second wife Mrs. Mary J. Wolverton, who bore him two children, and still survives him. Mr. Catlin died Octo- ber 31, 1866. Ten of the children are living, viz .: George,
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Sarah (Mrs. Herman N. Goodrich), Charles M., Frederick H., Frank K., Andrew R., Nathaniel R., Chauncey R , William and Lavern. Joseph married three times and had born to him fifteen children. He died February 17, 1885. Stephen married twice, Chloe Higgins and Betsey Decker, respectively, had a family of seven children. Jonathan married Patty Spencer, and had a family of six children. James married Mary Heacock, who bore him eight children.
Noah Goodrich, from Connecticut, with his family, in 1802, located in what is known as Goodrich Settlement. He was born August 30, 1764, and died July 19, 1834. He married twice, and reared a family of five children. All his four sons, Erastus, Aner, Norman and Ephraim, located in this vicinity, spending their lives here, and of whom Ephraim is still living. Aner was born September 30, 1789, and married, January 19, 1815, Ruth Strat- ton, who bore him four children, two of whom, Andrew J. and Emily N. (Mrs. L. Truman), are living. The former was born October 18, 1827. Aner's children were John, born December 5, 1830, and died July 20, 1876; one, who died in infancy ; Emily N., born December 30, 1817.
Norman Goodrich, son of Noah, was born December 30, 1792. He married Eliza True, in 1822, who bore him eight children, viz .: Noah, born April 5, 1823; Herman N., born October 1I, IS24, married Sarah E. Catlin, had one son, Charles T., and died in November, 1874; Mary L., born August 20, 1826; Rhoda A. (Mrs. B. C. Stiles), born May 29, 1828, married October 23, 1849, and her children are Fred H., Mary E. (Mrs. Stephen Goodrich), Sarah A., Helen G. (Mrs. William Millrea), and George B. (Mr. Stiles died February 27, 1882) ; Mortimer N. and Malvina, twins, died in infancy ; Abner T., born March 23, 1830, died September 12, 1853 ; and Jairus T., born November 18, 1838, married Alice Smith, May 8, 1884. Noah, son of Norman, married Charlotte R. Lane, May 15, 1845, who has borne him five children, three of whom are living,-Hiram E., born December 31, 1847, Jennie E. (Mrs. F. C Steele), born August 29, 1849, and Ella J. (Mrs. W ._ Luce), born December 30, 1859.
Ephraim Goodrich, son of Noah, Sr., was born October 31, 1815 ; married Hannah B., daughter of George C. Horton, who has borne him two children, Ruth A., born May 22, 1844, died December 26, 1878, and Charles E., born October 7, 1850, mar- ried Mary E. Raymond, June 10, 1874, and died March 3, 1882.
Eliakim Goodrich came to Tioga with his cousin Noah, in 1802.
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He married Sarah Leland, in 1781, and had a family of twelve children, as follows : Ansel, born in 1782, married Mary Strick- land, and died in 1819; Ira, born in 1785, married Fear Potter, and died in 1825 ; Cyprion, born in 1786, married Abigail Giles, and died in 1850; Lucy, born in 1788. married Joseph Berry, and died in -; Alanson, born in 1790 ; Silas, born in 1793, married Mary A. Goodrich, and died in 1863; Sarah, born in 1795; Betsey, born in 1797, married Jonathan Platt ; Fanny, born in 1799, died young ; Jasper, born in 1801, married Betsey Thorn ; William, born in ISo4, married Mary Fox, and died in 1872 ; and Fanny, born in 1806.
Alanson Goodrich, son of Eliakim, was born December 26, 1790, married Mary A Pixley, March 1. 1815, who bore him seven children,-Charles P., born September 27, 1816 ; Frederick, born October 1, 1818; Harriet D. (Mrs. Sherman Mosher), born June 22, 1821, died November 9, 1877 ; Eunice (Mrs. Horatio Brown), born March 11, 1826, died June 6, 1852; Elizabeth (Mrs. John C. Searls), born March 11, 1826. died January 8, 1856 ; Frances (Mrs. George O. Stroup), born September 24, 1830: George L., born August 22, 1836, married Harriet S. French, April 9, 1863, and resides on the old homestead.
Silas Goodrich's children were Augusta J., born in 1829, mar- ried James S. Griffing ; Sarah A., born in 1831 ; James J., born in 1833, died in 1868 ; Ralph, born in 1836, married Jennie Con- net, and second Dora Beebe ; Rachel, born in IS36, died in 1852 ; Mary C., born in 1839, married Gurdon Horton, March 26, 1863 : Stephen S., born in 1842, married Mary Stiles, and resides on the old homestead, their children being Helen L., Mary F., Ralph H., and an infant.
Charles P. Goodrich, son of Alanson, married Harriet Stiles. October 1, IS40, who has borne him two children, Edgar and Mary.
Jonathan C. Latimer is the great-grandson of Colonel Jona- than Latimer, who, soon after the revolutionary war closed, in which he served as a colonel, moved from New London, Conn .. his ancestral home for over a century, to the now state of Tenn- esee. . Jonathan Latimer, the father of Jonathan C. Latimer, in 1831, when twenty-eight years of age, moved to Illinois and set- tled at Abingdon, Knox county, where he became a prominent and successful business man, accumulating a large estate, and commanding the love and respect of the entire community. Jona- than C. Latimer was born at Abingdon, Knox county, the young-
Jonathan C. Lalimen
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est child of a family of ten. His early years were spent on his father's farm, and he was trained to take part in the manual labor incident to a farmer's life ; enjoying however all the advantages of a liberal education. In 1862, while a student at Knox College, he enlisted for a short term of service as a private in Co. E., 7Ist Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was in service until his regi- ment was honorably discharged. In 1864, he finished the regu- lar classical course in Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and gradu- ated with the degree of A. B., and in 1867, received from the same institution the honorary degree of A. M. During the year of 1865 and 1866, he completed the course of study in the law department of Harvard University, at Cambridge, Mass., and secured from that University the degree of LL.B.
Mr. Latimer was admitted to the practice of law in the Supreme court of Illinois, in 1866, and practiced law successfully in Chicago until 1877, when, on account of the illness of his father-in-law, Col. William Ransom, he moved to Tioga Centre, his present place of residence. In 1871, he was married to Angie D. Ransom, daugh- ter of Ira Ransom, and adopted daughter of Col. William Ran- som. They have had three daughters, of whom Angie and Clara are now living, the second daughter, Sally, having died in infancy.
The Ransom family are well and favorably known along the Susquehanna valley, and noted for strong characteristics, and marked ability. Capt. Samuel Ransom, the great grandfather of Mrs. Latimer, and head of the family, as we have shown, was originally from Connecticut, but early settled in the Wyoming Valley. Col. Ransom was born at Tioga Centre, in 1801, and died there in 1883. He was a man of great executive power, and has left a lasting impress upon his town, being its leading business man, and citizen for many years. He was the promoter of seve- ral business enterprises, and at his death, left a large property to his adopted daughter.
Since moving to Tioga Centre, in 1877, Mr. Latimer has thor- oughly identified himself with the interests of the people of Tioga county, and is actively interested in the moral and busi- ness problems coming before the people. He is largly engaged in farming, and lumbering, giving employment to a large number of men. In politics, he is a Republican, and has been three times in succession elected supervisor for his town, which is strongly Democratic. He has served one term as member of the legis- lature, and has received the unanimous nomination from his party, for a second term. Mr. Latimer is a member of the Methodist
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