USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 37
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On October 14, 1872, Robert L. Drummond married Anna E. Burke, daughter of Nelson P. and Fannie Burke, of Cato, in this county. They have a family of four sons, namely, Honorable Richard C. S. Drummond, city judge of Auburn, Nelson Loudon Drummond, Alexander M. Drummond and Robert Wilfred Drum- mond. The Judge and Nelson L. are members, with their father, of of the law firm of Drummond, Drummond & Drummond; Alex- ander M. is one of the instructors in the department of oratory at Cornell University, and Robert Wilfred is in his senior year in the Auburn Academic High School, preparing for entrance to Hamilton College in the fall of 1908.
A clear sense of his duties as a man and a citizen has always char- acterized Robert L. Drummond, and all efforts directed toward the betterment of his fellowmen have ever found in him a friend and helper. He served for many years as trustee and treasurer of Calvary Presbyterian Society, as well as one of the ruling elders of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school and Temper- ance Society connected therewith. He was at one time one of the trustees of the Auburn Theological Seminary, and for many years has been one of the trustees of the Auburn Home for the Friendless. He has been remarkably successful in different ways, so that, while still a vigorous man, he enjoys the fruits of his labors, and, better still, realizes the fruition of the fondest hope of every man-that of seeing his sons achieve advancement and win high honors among their fellowmen.
HON. RICHARD CALDWELL STEEL DRUMMOND, son of Robert L. and Anna E. (Burke) Drummond, was born in the City of
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Auburn, January 2, 1879, and was prepared for college in the local high school, graduating with the class of 1897. He then entered Hamilton College and after an unusually brilliant college career was graduated in the class of 1901 with the degree of A. B. During his course in Hamilton he carried off many prizes and honors. He won the Truax Greek scholarship, the Mckinney prize in debate, and the Curran medal for excellence in classics, and he played on the college football team during the entire four years, and was captain of the track team in his senior year. He was also editor-in-chief of Hamilton Life, the college weekly, and of the 1901 Hamiltonian, the annual publication. Immediately after graduating from Hamilton College he entered the Albany Law School and was graduated in 1903 with the degree of L.L. B. In 1904 he received his A. M. from his Alma Mater, Hamilton College, and at the designation of the faculty delivered the oration in behalf of the candidates for the degree, at the 1904 commencement. Upon his admission to the bar, in 1903, he at once took up the practice of his profession in company with his father, Robert L. Drummond. Even then he was prominent in legal circles and public affairs.
In the fall of 1902 he was nominated by the Democratic party in Auburn for the office of city judge, and was not only elected, but sprang into fame as an orator and a formidable champion of the Democratic party. That election was invalidated because of being held too soon under the new city charter, but Judge Drum- mond was re-elected by a largely increased majority in the fall of 1903, to take office in January 1904. In the fall of 1907 he was again returned to office, and his popularity added greatly to the strength of the Democratic ticket in that contest. When first elected city judge he was the youngest man on the bench in the state of New York, perhaps in the United States, and the fine judicial develop- ment of his mind at an age when young lawyers are usually seek- ing for recognition indicates a useful career.
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Judge Drummond has kept in close touch with Hamilton College since leaving its halls. He is trustee of the Delta Kappa Epsilon society, a member of the Alumni Association, of the Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity, of the Pentagon Senior Society, of Phi Beta Kappa, and of the Advisory Board of the Athletic Association of the College. In connection with his profession he has been secre- tary of the executive committee of the Cayuga County Bar Association, and a member of the executive committee of the Albany Law School Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, the Young Mens' Christian Association and the Calvary Presbyterian church, and has been president of the Men's League of that church.
On September 14, 1904, Judge Drummond was married to Miss Lura Belle Wills, daughter of James G. Wills, one of Auburn's prominent contractors. They have one child, a daughter Elspeth, born October 16, 1905.
The desire is strong to write more glowingly of this brilliant young jurist, but every reader who considers his achievements and remembers his youth must appreciate what might justly be written. And, withal, he is democratic, affable, courteous; wearing his honors without ostentation, which is, perhaps, the truest indication of worth.
NELSON LOUDON DRUMMOND, second son of Robert L. and Anna E. (Burke) Drummond, was born in the City of Auburn, N. Y., December 21, 1880. After a thorough preparation in the Auburn High School he entered Hamilton College and was graduated in the class of 1902, with the degree of A. B. He then took a course in the Albany Law School and was graduated with the degree of L.L. B. in the class of 1904. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and immediately entered the law firm of Drummond, Drum- mond & Drummond, with his father and brother.
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Mr. Drummond is a member of several societies and fraternities of Hamilton College, among them the Delta Kappa Epsilon, the Theta Nu Epsilon, and the Pentagon, a senior society. Besides his college affiliations he is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Veterans, the Cayuga County Bar Association, and the City Club of Auburn. In politics he is a Democrat and takes an active part in the work of the local organization which has sent him as delegate to city, county and judicial conventions.
Nelson L. Drummond is a young man of unusual promise, and has already attracted attention by his ability both as a counsellor and as an advocate in the courts. His mentality is fortified by a commanding presence and fine physique, and he has won the respect of lawyers ripe in years and experience.
DAVID WADSWORTH JR. In 1818, Joseph Wadsworth, grand- father of the present proprietor of the Wadsworth Scythe Works in Auburn, founded this business. In 1829 he purchased the land where the plant now stands, and converted an old carding mill, which stood upon the property, into a scythe factory. The industry grew and prospered, and in 1845, David Wadsworth, son of the founder, became proprietor. In 1876, David Wadsworth Jr., became a partner with his father, and for years he has been the guiding genius of the business of which he is the representative.
Between the years 1860 and 1867 most of the buildings con- stituting the splendid plant of the scythe works were built, but some have been erected since that period, and many improvements have been made, from time to time. The plant consists of a ham- mer shop four hundred and fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions, a grinding shop two hundred and fifty by thirty feet, a polishing, painting and packing shop two hundred by fifty feet, and two frame storehouses sixty by thirty feet, and thirty-six by twenty-four feet, respectively. All the buildings are of one and one-half stories.
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A force of one hundred men is regularly employed, and the yearly output of the plant reaches 25,000 to 30,000 dozen of scythes, 3,000 dozen hay knives and 12,000 dozen grass knives. The trade of this house covers not only the United States and Canada, but extends into England, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, the Argentine and South Africa.
Because of the quality of its goods, honorable methods of dealing and splendid business management, this house has enjoyed a long and prosperous career. From grandfather to grandson the busi- ness has descended; for a period of ninety years it has flourished, and during that time it has encountered dull markets, hard times, money stringencies, financial panics, but, like an ocean liner pur- suing its way through gale and storm, it has outridden them all, and its reputation has grown with the years.
David Wadsworth Jr., was born in the city of Auburn, New York, April 22, 1852, and was educated in the local schools and at Aurora Academy, of which Warren Higley was then the principal. In 1871, his connection with the scythe works commenced, and in 1876 he became a partner with his father, and the firm name became David Wadsworth & Son. His father died March 11, 1905, and since that date he has been sole proprietor.
On March 21, 1877, David Wadsworth, Jr., married Mary Cramer, and they have a family of three children, namely: Mrs. Mabel Pomeroy, Miss Anna Wadsworth and David Wadsworth Third.
Mr. Wadsworth is regarded as one of the best representatives of Auburn's commercial life, and he takes a close interest in the city's welfare. He was a member of the board of alderman from 1884 to 1886, and was water commissioner from March, 1904, to March, 1907. He was mayor of the city during the years 1901-3, and was a mayor of the people, conducting his office regardless of politics.
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The Wadsworths have been manufacturers in this country for more than a century The great-grandfather of Mr. Wadsworth had a factory in Grafton, Mass., before the beginning of the eight- eenth century, and was the inventor of a trip hammer. In the year 1800, his son Joseph Wadsworth, who founded the Auburn business, was making scythes in Massachusetts. The family is a notable one in this country which owes so much of its greatness to inventors and manufacturers.
J. HERMAN WOODRUFF. The Auburn Button Works, of which Mr. Woodruff is the proprietor, is one of the best known and most stable of the industrial enterprises which spread the name of Auburn afar, and form the basis of her commercial prosperity. This great industrial house which furnishes employment to an average force of three hundred people and whose plant occupies ten acres of ground on the Outlet, was founded in this city in 1876 by J. Herman Woodruff, and was then known as Woodruff's Button Factory. A short time prior to that date, Mr. Woodruff had com- menced the manufacture of buttons in New York City, but being a native of Auburn and knowing the facilities for manufacturing in this city, he speedily transferred his operations to his native place. At first he occupied the old building of the Auburn Paper Bag Company, but the rapid development of his business demanded more capacious quarters and in 1878, in association with his brother, E. Woodruff, he built a factory on Logan street, which was occupied until 1900, when he purchased the Stevens plant on Washington street. This plant he remodelled and improved to adapt it to his paticular business. A vast variety of buttons are manufactured, which are disposed of largely through Mr. Woodruff's New York agency. He also manufacturers typewriter keys, gun butts, pipe stems, electrical goods, and an innumerable number of fancy articles. His two sons, Carlton H. and Douglass are associated with him in the business.
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J. Herman Woodruff married Caroline P. Beardsley and they have a family of seven children, the two sons mentioned above and five daughters, namely: Anna, Hermina, Carrie Belle, Dorothy and Mildred. Mr. Woodruff's parents were Harmon Woodruff, a life long and highly respected merchant of Auburn, and Jane (Cook) Woodruff. His mother was a daughter of Philip Cook of Cohocton.
J. Herman Woodruff was educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, and at Yale College, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1863. He has been, all his life, essentially a business man, and his great success is due entirely to his admirable manage- ment and honorable dealings. He is a cultured, courteous gentle- man who is highly esteemed by his fellowmen for his sterling quali- ties as well as for his successful business career.
GENERAL CLINTON DUGALD MACDOUGALL, marshal of the United States for the Northern District of New York, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, June 14, 1839, and came to America with his parents in 1842. After receiving an academic education he studied law, but instead of pursuing a professional career decided to engage in business, so he became a bookkeeper and then a bank teller. In 1860 he joined General Seward in forming the banking house of William H. Seward Jr. & Co., and was a partner in that house for ten years.
But although General MacDougall has been connected with several business enterprises and has had unusual opportunities to enter high political offices, his highest achievements and his place in history were won in war. In 1861, he enlisted in the Seventy- fifth Regiment, and was elected Captain of Company A. In May, 1862, as he was returning to camp in the night, after scouting after the rebels near Pensacola, Florida, he was mistaken for the enemy by Union pickets, and severely wounded. While at home, recover- ing from his wound, he assisted in raising the One Hundred and
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Eleventh Regiment, of which he became lieutenant-colonel, after declining the colonelcy, because he considered himself too young, being then but twenty-three. His regiment was assigned first to the Twenty-second Army Corps, and after a year's service became part of the Second Army Corps in General Hays' division of Han- cock's Corps. On January 3, 1863, Lieutenant-Colonel MacDougall, was made colonel of the One Hundred and Eleventh. He did gallant service at the battle of Gettysburg where he lost seventy-one per cent. of his regiment in two days' fighting, and where he was himself wounded. In that battle, after the death of Colonels Willard and Sherrill, he commanded the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, and was especially mentioned by General Hancock in his report to the War Department. On the reorganization of the army he commanded the Third Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps and later commanded the First Division of that Corps, being in command at the grand review of the Army of the Potomac by the President and cabinet, in Wash- ington, in May, 1865. He served with distinguished gallantry throughout the war, during which he had six horses shot under him and was wounded in four different battles: at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; at Bristow, Virginia, October 14, 1863; at, Petersburg, June 22, 1864, and at Sutherland's Station, April 2, 1865. He commanded the post at Centerville, Virginia, from January 3, 1863, to June 25, 1863. In March, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier- general, there being no vacancy in the full rank, and in June of that year he declined a lieutenant-colonelcy in the regular army. He was appointed postmaster at Auburn, in 1869, and was elected to Congress in 1872, representing the counties of Cayuga, Wayne and Seneca, and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he declined the office of treasurer of the United States and also that of conmis- sioner of internal revenue. In the same year he declined the appointment of commissioner of patents, and in 1877 was made marshal of the Northern District of New York. During the admin-
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istration of President Hayes, he was tendered the post of consul general to either England or France, or the consulate at Cairo, but preferred to remain United States marshal, to which position he was re-appointed by President Garfield. He twice declined to be a candidate for State senator, and refused the appointment of clerk of the United States Court for the Northern District of New York, tendered him by Judge Alfred C. Coxe. In 1888, he was a presi- dential elector on the Republican ticket. On January 3, 1901, he was again appointed to his old position of United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York by President Mckinley, and was re-appointed by President Roosevelt.
General MacDougall was vice-president of the board of trustees of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home for some years and is now the president of the board. He is a member of the G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, the City Club, the Owasco Country Club, and is governor and vice-president of the Country Club and trustee of the City Club. He has one son, William Dugald Mac- Dougall, a lieutenant-commander in the United States navy, and has two daughters: Mrs. William Watts Carr, of Radford, Va., and Mrs. Lyman H. Balcom of Bath, N. Y.
GORTON W. ALLEN is a prominent citizen of Auburn, of which city he has been a resident since March 1, 1861. He has been well known for the work that he did as one of the commissioners for the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, in 1893.
He was born at Lawrenceville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1840, and is the son of Daniel D. and Mary Wair Allen. Daniel D. Allen was a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., who removed to Pennsylvania in 1830.
Gorton W. Allen came to Auburn in 1861 and entered the law office of Parker, Allen & Beardsley, William Allen, of this firm, being his uncle; after spending about a year in the law office he was one year in the employ of the Cayuga County National Bank. In
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October, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixtieth New York Regiment of Volunteers, and was appointed its adjutant by Colonel Charles C. Dwight.
The regiment was sent to the Department of the Gulf in Decem- ber, 1862, and did valiant service in the campaign that resulted in the fall of Port Hudson. Gorton W. Allen served on the staff of Brigadier-General Godfrey Maitgel until after the capture of Port Hudson, after which he was detailed by Major-General Banks as clerk of the provost court at New Orleans, where he spent a year.
He resigned from the service in 1865 and returned to Auburn where he engaged in the manufacture of steel plows in connection with D. M. Osborne and E. D. Woodruff, this business was disposed of in 1868 and he became connected with D. M. Osborne & Co., he was afterward treasurer of this company for some ten years. On November 1, 1890, he resigned from that company and spent practically three years in the work of the Columbian Exposition. He was appointed one of eight commissioners at large by President Harrison and upon the organization of the National Commission was elected its fourth vice-president, he was a member of two of its most important committees, those of ceremonies and electricity. He was also one of the managers of the New York State Board of Managers for the State exhibit, which made the greatest display of any state in the Union, not excepting the state of Illinois.
Mr. Allen, in 1894, again engaged in manufacture at Auburn and has been since that time the treasurer of Henry & Allen, who have built up one of Auburn's important industries.
In 1865, Gorton W. Allen married Miss Caroline Bulkley Osborne who died in 1888, leaving one son, Munson Osborne Allen, who died in April, 1891, just after he reached his majority. In November, 1891, Mr. Allen married his second wife, Ada R. Myers, of Auburn.
COURTNEY C. AVERY, secretary of the Eagle Wagon Works, is a native of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, but has resided in
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Auburn for the past twenty-two years, having settled here in 1886. For many years he was in the employ of the D. M. Osborne Company as advertising manager, and when that corporation sold out to the International Harvester Company, the Eagle Wagon Works Com- pany was formed of which he is secretary.
Courtney C. Avery married Carrie L. Bryden, and they have two children, namely: James C. C. and Rosamond B. Avery. One daughter, Alice, died at the age of thirteen.
In addition to being the secretary of the Eagle Wagon Works, Mr. Avery is the outside representative of the company, and travels all over the country in the interests of the business. He is essen- tially a business man.
FREDERICK G. NASH, one of the best known decorators in Central New York, and commissioner of police in Auburn, is a native of England, but has lived almost his entire life in America. He came to this country in 1879 and after a sojourn of four years in Canada and Syracuse settled in Ithaca, N. Y., where he remained for eight years. In 1892 he came to Auburn and during most of the sixteen years that have elapsed since then he has been a factor in the business and public life of the city. He has done a great deal of decorating in Auburn, but his reputation as a decorator has extended his business all over the state and even beyond its bound- aries. His work has uniformly been done for patrons of more than ordinary discernment and who speak enthusiastically of his Taste. There are many exhibits of his work in Auburn in both residences and churches. In Rochester, in the homes of Mesdames Sibley and Lindsay and many others; in Syracuse, the residence of A. E. Nettleton, and others. Mr Nash also finished and decorated the home of Senator Sawyer, Justice Henry Brown in Washing- ton, the magnificent country house of David B. Ivison, at Ruther- ford, N. J., the city residence of Mr. Ivison in New York City, the homes of Birdsye Blakeman in Stockbridge and New York City ;
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the residences of Dr. Frederic Dennis and Warren E. Dennis, of New York City, and the residences of John A. Dix and Mr. Sage of Albany, besides many clubs and public buildings in various parts of the country.
From January, 1907, to October, he had the entire charge of the decorating and painting of the fine residence built by Mr. D. P. Montague of Chattanooga, Ten.
In public affairs Mr. Nash is a man who represents the people and their interests. He has been alderman of the fifth ward since January 1, 1906, and was appointed commissioner of police by Mayor Koenig, January 6, 1908.
F. E. SWIFT, president of the Eagle Wagon Works, was born in the city of Auburn and received his early education in the local schools. In 1879 he entered the office of the D. M. Osborne Com- pany as a clerk and remained with them for twenty-seven years, being superintendent of factory and manager of the sales depart- ment when the company sold out to the International Harvester Company. For some years also he was a director in the Osborne Company. In 1905 the Eagle Wagon Works Company was formed and Mr. Swift has been its president from the beginning. He has also been president of the Auburn Young Men's Christian Associa- tion for some time.
F. E. Swift married Lizer A. M. Perry of Michigan. His parents were Seth F. and Phoebe (Coddington) Swift.
E. S. NEWTON, manager of the Burtis Auditorium and the Burtis Opera House in Auburn, has been a resident of this city for the past forty-one years. For seventeen years he served as cashier of the National Exchange Bank in which he commenced his business career as an office boy, successively filling every position in that fiduciary institution up to that of cashier. After
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serving faithfully for these years, Mr. Newton resigned and has since devoted his attention to the management of his own affairs and also the Burtis interests. He has been solicited many times to accept public office and has been mentioned for the position of state bank examiner, for which he is eminently qualified. but in all instances he has declined such honors.
The Burtis Auditorium of which he is so justly proud, is a magni- ficent theatre one hundred feet wide, with depth from footlights forty-two feet, containing twelve dressing rooms lighted by elec- tricity and all modern and up-to-date facilities, in which only high class companies are engaged. The Burtis Opera House is also a modern establishment catering to the best element and taken to- gether, these two institutions furnish Auburn with places for public entertainment unexcelled elsewhere. Mr. Newton is a member of the City Club and identified with other social and benevolent institutions.
CHARLES BROUGHTON QUICK was born in the city of Auburn, April 15, 1860, and received his education in the city schools. graduating from the high school in the class of 1880. After grad- uating he accepted a position as bookkeeper in a dry goods house at Warsaw, N. Y., where he remained from January, 1880 until July, 1881. He then returned to Auburn and became assistant city treasurer under Colonel J. E. Stroke, which position he filled until 1883, when he became cashier in the telephone office. A few months later he was appointed deputy collector of customs, and remained in the Collector's office for six months. In 1884 he became stenographer for A. W. Stevens & Co., manufacturers of threshers and engines. He remained with Stevens & Co. for eighteen years, being secretary of the company during the last five years of that period. During ten years of the time he was with Stevens & Co., he was engaged in the grocery business with his father Isaac W. Quick, and after leaving the company, he engaged
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