USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 38
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for a year in the grocery business with C. G. Meaker. In 1902, in connection with his present partner, George W. Bowen, he purchased the plant of the Spencer Threshing Machine Com- pany, at Union Springs. In 1903, they came to Auburn and estabilshed their present business, that of the manufacture of agri- cultural machinery and pressed steel specialities.
In 1902, Mr. Quick married Bessie Meeker. His parents were Isaac W. and Vallonia (Broughton) Quick.
DAVID MONTGOMERY DUNNING was born in the city of Auburn, December 30, 1844, and is a son of Henry Silas, and Jane (Wads- worth) Dunning. Henry S. Dunning was born in the town of Aurelius, Cayuga County, N. Y., September 6, 1816, his grand- father, Silas Dunning, having settled there in the latter part of the eighteenth century, when his father, Ira Dunning, was three years old. It is quite safe to say that the Dunning family is as old as any in the county, for the great-grandfather of David M. Dunning settled in Aurelius about the time that Hardenbergh located upon the bank of the Outlet. Also the family has been a distinctive force in the life of the county Henry S. Dunning was a justice of the peace, a member of the board of supervisors, president of the Cayuga County Agricultural Society, and super- intendent of the Auburn Gas Company from 1864 to 1868.
The family dates back to Revolutionary ancestors who lived on Long Island and in New England.
David M. Dunning was prepared for college at the old Auburn Academy in the class of 1868, after which he entered Union Col- lege, graduating with the degree of civil engineer. He then became a member of the engineering corps of the Southern Central Rail- road, then in process of construction, but after a time resigned that position to become treasurer of the Auburn Gas Light Com- pany, of which his father was superintendent, and, later on, when his father's health began to fail, he took up the duties of super-
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intendent for the company in addition to those of the treasurer- ship. He finally became the largest stockholder in the company and was its guiding genius until its sale and transfer on January 1, 1902, to the Auburn Gas Company. Always interested in agricultural and horticultural work Mr. Dunning has established on the Dunning farm-his birthplace-in the western part of the city, a large dairy farm, also extensive horticultural gardens from which contributions to the World's Fairs at Chicago, St. Louis, and many other exhibitions have given it a wide reputation.
Mr. Dunning has been connected with other enterprises in Auburn and also with its civic life. Before he went to college he was city surveyor for a year (1865) ; he has been alderman from the seventh ward; is a trustee of the City Hospital, of the Auburn Savings Bank, of the Central Presbyterian Church, of the Fort Hill Cemetery Association, and of the Cayuga County Historical Society of which he was secreatry and treasurer for a number of years. He is also a member of the City Club and of the Masonic fraternity in which he is a Knight Templar. He took a great inter- est in the rifle practice of the old Forty-Ninth Regiment and held the rank of first lieutenant on the staff of General Chedell and subsequently the rank of captain and inspector of rifle practice. He resigned from the brigade staff in 1875, but continued as in- spector of rifle practice, and his team, in competition at Creed- more, carried off the prize against sharpshooters from New York and Brooklyn.
David M. Dunning married Alice J., daughter of Charles B. Hutchinson. They have seven children living, namely, Alice M., Charlotte, Mary G., David M. Jr., Edith E., Amy L., Charles H.
WILBUR B. BARNES, contractor and builder is one of Auburn's best known business men. He was born in this city and educated in the local schools. When he entered upon the active duties of life he became a partner with his father, D. W. Barnes, who estab-
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lished the present business in 1843. In 1883 the firm became D. W. Barnes & Son, and so continued until August, 1906, when the senior partner retired and W. B. Barnes became sole proprietor. This house has played a very prominent part in building the City of Auburn, having erected many of its finest edifices besides scores of other buildings. The Government building, the Theological Seminary, the High School building, the First Baptist Church, several of the public school buildings, and many of the finest resi- dences in the city were erected by them.
Mr. Wilbur B. Barnes has taken an active part in the public affairs of Auburn and has served three terms as supervisor from the fifth ward, was commissioner of police and of charities for four years, and when the Republican party needed a strong candidate for mayor in 1902, Mr. Barnes was induced to accept the nomination. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the City Club.
Wilbur B. Barnes married Violet Wigand of Auburn. They have a family of four children, namely: Willola, wife of Dr. Stanley R. Meaker; Florence, Karl and Bernice. Mr. Barnes' parents were David W. and Phoebe (Barker) Barnes. The family is one of the oldest living in Auburn to-day. It is also one of the most highly respected.
C. E. ALMY, assistant superintendent of the D. M. Osborne Works has been connected with this important industrial enterprise for twenty-five years. He has worked up from a clerk to the posi- tion of assistant superintendent of the works. Mr. Almy has a practical knowledge of the business, and this with his ability as a manager has made his services of inestimable value to the corpora- tion. He is a descendant of one of the oldest Holland families in the state and is one of Auburn's enterprising and substantial citi- zens. At the present Mr. Almy is a member of the Board of Educa- tion. He was elected to fill out an unexpired term and then re- elected to a full term of three years, in May, 1907. His parents
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were Henry and Hulda M. (Sharpsteen) Almy. Henry Almy was a native of Washington County, N. Y. The Sharpsteens were residents of Dutchess County for generations. Mr. Almy married Frances R. Calhoun and they have three sons: Henry C., Willis E. and Robert L. Almy.
J. LEWIS GRANT, superintendent of the Water Board of Auburn, is a native of Toronto, Canada, but has resided in Auburn since 1860. He was educated in this city and has been connected with the water works since 1878. He was made superintendent July 1, 1894, and under his regime the City of Auburn has had a splendid water service. The city gets its water supply from Owasco Lake, a distance of two and one-half miles, and there are two pumping stations at the lake. Auburn has many miles of water mains, and it requires a large force of employees under Mr. Grant's supervision to cater successfully to the needs of the public.
Mr. Grant married Aella B., daughter of M. S. Cuykendall of Auburn. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Mr. Grant's father was superintendent of the Northern Railway of Canada, and of the Lake Shore for many years, after which he was connected with the Merchants Union Express. J. Lewis Grant is a member of the Business Men's Association and of the Universalist church of which he has been treasurer for nineteen years. He is also a member of the City Club and was its treasurer for fourteen years.
SELAH CORNWELL TALLMAN was born in the town of Scipio, Cayuga County, N. Y., December 20, 1855. After completing his literary studies at the Auburn High School he learned stenography by study from text books, and attaining proficiency took a position with C. Altman & Company, manufacturers of agricultural ma- chinery, Canton, Ohio. This was in 1878, and he remained with that house for a year and a half, when he went to Syracuse as private
-
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secretary to William A. Sweet. His next position brought him back to Auburn in the employ of Sheldon & Company the axle manufacturers with whom he remained two years. In 1881, he re- ceived the appointment of official stenographer of the County Court and Surrogate's Court and served in that capacity for twelve years, until 1893. During part of that time he served also as extra court reporter in the United States and the Supreme Court of the State of New York. At that time also Mr. Tallman was engaged in business for himself. He sold the Remington and Smith-Premier typewriters, and carried on an extensive portrait- copying establishment in partnership with the late W. I. Bennett, under the firm name of S. C. Tallman & Company.
In 1893, J. K. Tallman, Mr. S. C. Tallman's father, died. He had conducted an undertaking establishment and a large livery business at Nos. 17-25 Dill street. S. C. Tallman took up the undertaking department of the establishment in partnership with his brother Humphrey A. Tallman, under the name of H. A. & S. C. Tallman. Humphrey A. Tallman died in April, 1898, and Mr. Tallman purchased his interest in the business and has since con- ducted both branches of the establishment, and employs about twenty-five men and nearly half a hundred horses, besides auto- moblies. His turnouts are as fine as any in this part of the country. The undertaking establishment was moved to Clark street in Febru- ary, 1906.
In 1878, S. C. Tallman married Tillie C. Bradford, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have two sons, J. Bradford, and Carl Cornwell Tallman. His parents were John K. and Mary (Cornwell) Tallman.
Mr. Tallman is one of the most public spirited and progressive men in Auburn, and is identified with many of its best business and social organizations, including the Business Men's Association, the Historical Society, the City Club, the Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Auburn Automobile Club, of which he is president. He is also a director of the New York State Automobile Association,
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and an honorary member of the Onondaga County Undertakers, Association. He is and has been for several years a trustee of Fort Hill Cemetery.
C. F. BALDWIN, treasurer of the Eagle Wagon Works is a native of the town of Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y., and was educated in the Auburn High School. After spending a year in the Internal Revenue office, he entered the employ of the D. M. Osborne Com- pany and remained with that company for twenty-four years. He began as timekeeper and was treasurer when the business was sold out to the International Harvester Company. In 1905, the Eagle Wagon Works was formed, and since that date Mr. Baldwin has been its treasurer. He is a director of the Cayuga County Savings Bank and served for one year on the Board of Education, and is a member of the City Hospital Association.
C. F. Baldwin married Fannie R. Elliott, and they have two children, Amy E. and Elliott N. Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin's parents were William N. and Lavina (Foote) Baldwin. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Jared Foote.
CAPTAIN EDGAR STILSON JENNINGS, of the Wheeler Rifles entered the National Guard service as a private in the Second Separate Company on March 3, 1891. He was promoted as follows : corporal, May 19, 1894; sergeant, May 9, 1896; first sergeant, April 30, 1898; second lieutenant, May 4, 1899; first lieutenant, June 22, 1899, and captain, June 15, 1904.
In the armies of the United States, he is listed as First Sergeant Company M., Third Regiment, New York Volunteers, May 1, 1898; Second Lieutenant, June 21, 1898; First Lieutenant, November 1I, 1898 to December 2, 1898. He is a member of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American War, and Past Commander of the Auburn Post Spanish-American War Veterans.
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HON. W. C. BURGESS, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Wegman Piano Company, has been a lifelong resident of Auburn, where he was born and educated. Prior to 1887, he was engaged in the music business, first in Ithaca and then in Auburn. In 1887, he became associated with Wegman & Hen- ning, who had established a piano business in Ithaca in 1882. A conjunction of that firm and Mr. Burgess resulted in the formation of the house of Wegman & Co., in Auburn, in 1887. In 1889, Mr. Henning retired and in 1894 the Wegman Piano Company was incorporated. This company gives employment to a force ranging from seventy-five to eighty workmen and mechanics. Their plant has a street frontage of two hundred and sixty-six feet and is three hundred feet deep. Their pianos are shipped all over the world and they turn out about one thousand two hundred annually. The Wegman Piano Company was incorporated in March, 1894, and Mr. Burgess became general manager in 1895. Under his manage- ment the enterprise has been very successful.
Besides managing one of the large industrial plants of Auburn, Mr. Burgess has also taken an active part in the public affairs of the city. He has been supervisor of the second ward, commissioner of excise, alderman from the second ward for five years and mayor two years. He was elected mayor in November, 1901, and admin- istered the affairs of that office during the years 1902 and 1903. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and of the City Club. He has twice served as Exalted Ruler of Auburn Lodge No. 474, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is now District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for Cen- tral New York.
W. C. Burgess married Carrie Heiser, and they have four daugh- ters: Lila, now Mrs. Harrison G. Sells; Edna, now Mrs. LeRoy Porter: Helen M., and Inez. Mr. Burgess' parents were Robert O., and Helen M. (Carr) Burgess.
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A. H. HAMILTON, pharmaceutical chemist, microscopist and hand writing expert, is one of the most widely known citizens of Auburn, because of his connection with many celebrated cases that have attracted much public interest, and because of his success along the different lines of his attainments. He was born at Weeds- port, Cayuga County, N. Y., and received his preliminary educa- tion in the schools of his native place. He then took a course in Columbia College, making specialties of chemistry and micro- scopy in addition to pharmacy. In 1885 he came to Auburn and in 1887, purchased the business long known as Steel's Drug Store. The business was founded in 1817, and was conducted for many years by Dr. Richard Steel, who sold out to his son Joseph Steel, from whom it passed into the hands of A. H. Hamilton.
Besides conducting a thoroughly up-to-date drug store, Mr. Hamilton makes a specialty of chemical and microscopical work, and has a private laboratory and consulting room designed especially for his expert work in which he has a deservedly high reputation. He is also recognized by the courts as one of the ablest, if not the ablest handwriting expert in this country. Letters from eminent lawyers accord to him the credit of being the ablest and most reliable writing expert yet seen in the courts. His system of tests differs very materially from those usually employed, and is far more accurate and convincing. He has placed the subject in the list of sciences, a dignity it never possessed until he founded it upon principles and rules. His method is to make the theory of the case come to and harmonize with the established facts, and not, as is too often done, force the facts to a desired theory.
FRED G. TEN EYCK, proprietor of the Auburn Leather Goods Company, and manufacturer of a general line of leather packings, is a native of Auburn, and prior to starting his present business in 1904, was connected with the Leather & Brass Maunfacturing Company. In February, 1907, he moved into the new plant which
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he now occupies on Mill street, and has enlarged his operations, adding new lines, and opening an art and fancy leather department in which he carries on the manufacture of leather goods for interior decorating, ladies' wear, purses and a great variety of fancy articles in leather. Vests for automobile owners, chauffeurs and men engaged in outdoor pastimes or business, are a unibue departure in leather goods. All his goods are high class, and have attained such popu- larity on the market that his factory is kept running full time filling special orders. The factory consists of a three-story brick building sixty by sixty feet in dimensions.
Fred G. Ten Eyck's parents were James H. and Lida A. (Good- win) Ten Eyck. His father died, May 14, 1907; his mother is still living. He married Anna Jane Donley, and they have one daughter, Ruth G. Ten Eyck. Mr. Ten Eyck is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a genial as well as an active business man.
MICHAEL GRANEY, Freight agent, N. Y. C. & H. R. R. at Auburn, has been connected with the railroad business in this city for over thirty years. He is widely known to be one of the most trustworthy and able men engaged in furthering the traffic interests, in a practi- cal capacity, in this state. He has vastly improved the system here in Auburn since assuming charge in 1899. Under his supervision the new freight house was built in 1905, and the new station in 1905-6. The new freight house is of brick and is five hundred by forty feet in dimensions. About the same time the yards were enlarged, and the improvements in buildings and yards cost about $300,000. Mr. Graney is a public spirited and progressive citizen and is highly regarded in Auburn. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and a director of the Auburn Business Men's Associa- tion. He is always in the front rank of those who have the city's interests in view and lends his aid to all creditable enterprises. Mr. Graney's family consists of his wife, formerly Miss Agnes Cullen, and two sons, Paul, aged thirteen, and John, aged ten.
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W. THOMAS WOOLEY, city engineer of Auburn, is a native of Albany, N. Y., where he was born January 15, 1877. He attended the public and high school of his native city, and later the Rensse- laer Polytechnic Institute, class of 1900,graduating as civil engineer, also taking a degree as an architect. After his graduation he was engaged for a time as consulting engineer upon large contract works more specifically where engineering was a feature. On January 3, 1908, he was appointed City Engineer of Auburn, by Mayor Koenig, who desired to secure the very best talent obtainable for this important position. Mr. Wooley is one of the founders of the Albany Society of Civil Engineers, secretary of the University Club of Albany, a member of the Masonic fraternity, secretary of the West Garden City Realty Company of New York, and a member of the Theta Xi, his college fraternity; also of the City Club of Auburn, N. Y. He was architectural draughtsman at the state capital in the office of Isaac G. Perry, and with Hines, his successor, in the same capacity and also as assistant structural engineer.
His family is an old one in New York State, and of honorable and representative antecedents.
JOHN D. MURRAY, Superintendent of Industries at Auburn Prison, is a native of Scotland, and a member of the historic Murray clan, whose fame in the annals of Scotland equals that of Bruce or Wallace. Mr. Murray has been a resident of Cayuga County since 1871, and for a number of years was a salesman for the old hardware firm of Terrell, Johnson & Co. After severing his connection with this house he engaged with Choate Brothers as bookkeeper with whom he also remained a number of years. He then in 1897 received an appointment in Auburn Prison as an officer and in May, 1892, was promoted to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Industries for the prison, and in 1903 was further promoted to the superintendency. In the year 1907, Mr. Murray sustained a severe bereavement through the death of his eldest son, Douglas Murray,
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and then two days later of his daughter Grace, a very popular and accomplished school teacher in Auburn. Douglas Murray at the time of his death was in the employ of the Government at Washington. He was well and favorably known as a member of the Bulletin staff here for a number of years, which he left to accept a position in Washington in the stereotyping department of the public printer. He died in Washington. Mr. Murray has three children living, namely: William M., John D. Jr., and Isabella. He is a member of the Elks and is accredited with being one of the most efficient public officials connected with Auburn Prison.
ALFRED C. THOMPSON was born in Norwich, Conn., March 12, 1867. After completing the common school studies, he took a business and commercial course at Baltic, Conn. In 1884 he entered the Norwich (Conn.) Free Academy, graduating in 1888. During his academic course he was manager of the baseball nine, captain of the football team, and president of his class. In 1888 he entered Yale College. While at college he played center on his class football team, rowed on his class crew at New London, and won his "Y" as a member of the '91 Yale-Mott Haven team. Also, during his college course he studied law one year with Hon. W. C. Robinson and Hon. E. J. Phelps, both professors in Yale. He also studied military science and received a cadet- ship. He was graduated from Yale with honors in 1892. During the summer of 1899, he took a course in psychology, biology, pedagogy and anthropology at Clarke University (Worcester, Mass.) and holds the university's certificate for the work done. During the summer of 1900 he took a course in psychology, peda- gogy and political economy in "Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat," Munich, Germany. He also attended the Twentieth Century Lecture Course in Boston during the winters of 1902-3 and com- pleted a course in Sloyd with Mr. Gustaf Larsson at the Sloyd training school, Boston. Mr. Thompson has held the following
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school positions: Principal of Hopkins Academy, Hadley, Mass ;. principal of Rutland, (Vermont) High School; superintendent of schools, Palmer, Mass .; superintendent of schools, Wakefield and Lynnfield, Mass., and is now superintendent of schools, Auburn, N. Y. Mr. Thompson has traveled extensively in his own country, in the British Isles, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria-Hungary, the German Empire, Belgium and the Netherlands. He has appeared upon the lecture platform and has done considerable literary work. In 1896, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Lina Mariane Cook, at Hadley, Mass. Two daughters have been born to them, Mariane and Elizabeth. The latter died May 9, 1905.
W. R. MEAKER was born in the town of Owasco, Cayuga County, N. Y., and received his early education in the public schools. He then learned the trade of plumber with J. Harrington, with whom he remained fifteen years, after which he started in business for himself in 1897. The firm, at first, was Meaker & Donovan, but at the end of the first year Mr. Meaker bought out his partner and has since conducted the business alone. Mr. Meaker's parents were Ellis and Mary E. (Bray) Meaker. Ellis Meaker was a native of Owasco and his father was one of the early settlers of Cayuga County. W. R. Meaker married Anna Connor and they have two children, Gertrude and Alice. Mr. Meaker is a member of the Masonic Order, of the Elks, and of the Masonic Club.
GEORGE H. LEONARD was born in Seneca County but has resided in Auburn since 1893. He was educated in St. John's Military School, Manlius, N. Y., and Cornell Law School, graduating from the latter with the class of 1893. He was admitted to the bar in 1894, but chose to follow a business career. He has, however, given a great deal of attention to military affairs and has been a member of the National Guard for fifteen years. He is at present
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battalion adjutant under Colonel William M. Wilson. When the War with Spain broke out in the spring of 1898, he went to the front, as an enlisted man, with the Third Regiment, New York Volunteers, which was assigned to the Second Army Corps. He received his first lieutenant's commission in 1899. In 1904, Lieutenant Leonard embarked in the automobile business, and conducts one of the best garages in the state. He is a member of the City Club and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1893, Lieutenant Leonard married Sarah Frantz. They have two children, Marjorie and Virginia.
DR. A. J. TUXILL, veterinary surgeon of Auburn. is a native of England. He received his education at the University of New York, and secured his degree of V. S., in 1894. Dr. Tuxill then commenced the practice of his profession in Ontario and Onondaga counties. In 1899 he opened an office in Auburn and has since practised here, enjoying a large and lucrative clientele. Dr. Tuxill married Miss Metta Parsons, a graduate of the Auburn City Hos- pital class of '99, and they have two children, Mary Jennie, born April 16, 1903, and Beulah Parsons, born Feb. 24, 1907. Mrs. Tuxill comes from an old Monroe County family the "Whitbesks," whose ancestors came over in the Mayflower. Her grandfather upon her mother's side took part in the great Chicago fire in which he lost his life. Her ancestors were noted for their longevity and prominence in local affairs.
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