USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Cortland County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Yates County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of Central New York : embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties, Volume III > Part 6
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Mr. Baird is a Republican, and while a resident of Elmira served as committeeman of the Third Ward, as well as alderman for two terms. He and his family are active members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is past master of Friendship Lodge, No. 153, F. and A. M .; New Jerusalem Chapter, No. 47; Royal Arch Masons; St. Omer's Commandery, No. 13, K. T., Elmira; Corning Consistory, 32nd degree, A. A. S. R., and in May, 1932, was made an honorary member of Jesse L. Cooley Lodge No. 966, F. and A. M., of Elmira, New York, and served several years as secretary, being its first secretary. He also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Tioga County Sportsmen's Association.
Major Thomas Baird, great grandfather of Leon J. Baird, set- tled in Tioga County more than a century ago.
William E. Allen .- As sheriff of Tioga County, William E. Allen, deceased, was among Owego's best known citizens and most popular public officials. He was born here August 3, 1867, the son of Edward E. and Sarah Amanda (Haner) Allen, and a descend- ant in the fifth generation of the Revolutionary officer, Elias Allen.
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Ebenezer Allen, father of Elias, was born in Massachusetts in 1730. In 1760 he married Mahetabel Dana, of Massachusetts. Their first son was Elias. He married Amy Atwood, who was born in 1767. In 1806 Elias, his wife and six children, came to Owego and settled on the present site of North Avenue and Chest- nut Street. The fifth child born to them was David Atwood Allen, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He married Sarah M. Allison, who was born in 1814. They were the parents of ten children, their fifth child being Edward E. Allen, born October 2, 1838. The homestead of David Atwood Allen was in the northern part of the village and was known as Allen's Glen.
William E. Allen attended the public schools of Owego, and as a young man learned the trade of carriage blacksmithing with the firm of Moore & Ross. Following this apprenticeship he was employed for a time in Dean's tannery. Mr. Allen became a mem- ber of the Owego police force in 1893, and served continuously until 1907, at which time he was appointed chief of police. He served in the latter capacity until 1913, and in that year was elected sheriff of Tioga County, and gave the county one of the best administrations it ever had. Upon the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Allen removed to Johnson City, where he was asso- ciated with the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, Inc. He died in that city March 10, 1929, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Owego.
In 1892 Mr. Allen married Miss Emma Cummings, of Owego. She was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Wil- liam and Ellen (Murphy) Cummings. Before her marriage Mrs. Allen was a teacher in the schools of Bradford County, Pennsyl- vania. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen: 1. Irene, married James Harold Tobin, of Waverly, New York. They have a daughter, Marjorie Allen Tobin, who attends Cornell Univer- sity, class of 1934. They live at Ithaca. 2. Marjorie, married Wal- ter Joseph Relihan, of Owego. They have two children, Mary Virginia and Walter Joseph, Jr. They live at Binghamton.
Mr. Allen was a life long Republican and took an active inter- est in politics and local affairs. He was affiliated with Regal Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Sansanna Loft, Improved Order of Red Men.
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Mr. Allen was an enthusiastic sportsman, and especially en- joyed hunting. He was one of the founders of the "Hoo Hoo" Club, and served as its first president. Its members spent each fall vacation over a period of many years on hunting expeditions in the Adirondack Mountains.
Hon. Fred A. Wilkins .- One of the best known men of Cort- land County is Fred A. Wilkins, who is mayor of the City of Cortland. He was born at Ithaca, New York, October 10, 1866, the son of Robert C. and Harriet A. (Johnson) Wilkins.
Robert C. Wilkins was a native of England. He came to the United States when eighteen years of age and settled on a farm near Lansing, in Tompkins County. In 1888 he removed to Cort- land, where he spent many years in the employ of Wickwire Brothers as night watchman. He died in 1931 at the age of nine- ty-three years and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ithaca. His wife was born at Lansing, New York, and died in 1931. Mr. Wilkins was a Democrat and held membership in the Baptist Church. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins: 1. Clarence E., real estate, lives at Cortland. 2. Fred A., the sub- ject of this sketch. 3. Mildred, married Lewis E. Blackmere, lives at Binghamton, New York. 4. Ina, married Page Benjamin, lives at Binghamton.
Fred A. Wilkins is a graduate of the public schools of Lansing and until the age of eighteen years was identified with his fath- er's farming interests. When he moved to Cortland in 1886 he entered the employ of Wickwire Brothers as a worker in the spooling department. He was subsequently appointed superin- tendent of the weaving department, then superintendent of the wire department, and later foreman of the wire drawing depart- ment. In 1902 he assumed his present duties as superintendent of the latter department.
On June 21, 1919, Mr. Wilkins was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Mix, born at Chenango Forks, New York, September 19, 1874, the daughter of Eli and Grace (Lee) Mix. Both are de-
FRED A. WILKINS
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ceased and are buried at Cortland. Mrs. Wilkins is a graduate of Cortland Normal School, attended Cornell University, and was a teacher in the public schools for twenty-three years before her marriage.
Mr. Wilkins is identified with the Republican party in politics. He served as alderman of the Second Ward during 1921-25, and in 1926 was appointed mayor of Cortland to fill out an unexpired term. In 1928 he was elected to that office for a two year period, and re-elected 1931.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is affiliated with B. P. O. Elks.
Fred Blair Parker .- As superintendent of the Owego public schools, Fred Blair Parker is widely known and highly esteemed throughout Tioga County. He is a native of New York, born at Albion, March 16, 1895, the son of Jesse G. and Grace L. (Blair) Parker.
Jesse G. Parker and his wife are natives of Albion. He has recently engaged in general farming after a number of years as an extensive buyer and shipper of cattle. Mr. Parker is a Repub- lican, a member of the Universalist Church and belongs to the Farm Bureau. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have two children: 1. Mattie, married Earl J. Sullivan, lives at Albion. 2. Fred Blair, the sub- ject of this sketch.
Fred Blair Parker is a graduate of Albion High School. Dur- ing 1914-16 he was a teacher at Barre Center, New York, and in the following year was graduated from Geneseo Normal School. He then was appointed principal at North Tonawanda, New York, and was serving in that capacity at the time of his enlistment for service in the World War. Mr. Parker was a private in the 319th Field Signal Battalion. After the close of the war he resumed his work at North Tonawanda, and in 1920 entered New York State College for Teachers at Albany, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1921. In the fall of that year he came to Owego as principal of the Academy. He received the appointment
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of superintendent of city schools in 1930 after receiving the de- gree of Master of Arts at the University of California in 1929. He had obtained a year's leave of absence to study in California.
On July 6, 1932, Mr. Parker married Miss Marian Ewing, a native of Ontario, Canada, born February 26, 1906. She is a graduate of Master Park High School and Buffalo State Teachers' College, class of 1928. At the time of her marriage she was a teacher of Home Making at the Owego Free Academy. She is the daughter of Edmund and Mary Ewing, natives of Canada, and residents of Buffalo.
Mr. Parker is a Republican, a member of the Universalist Church at Albion, and has the following lodge and club affilia- tions: Friendship Lodge, No. 153, F. and A. M .; B. P. O. Elks; Kappa Delta Rho fraternity; Rotary Club, president during 1930- 1931; and New York State Teachers Association. His wife is a member of Trinity Methodist Church at Buffalo.
Ivan C. Purple .- Widely known throughout Tioga County as editor and owner of the "Tioga County Herald" at Newark Val- ley is Mr. Purple. He was born at Harford, Cortland County, September 8, 1871, the son of James D. and Jerusha (Wilcox) Pur- ple.
James D. Purple was a native of Smithville, Chenango County, and died at Newark Valley in 1914. His wife was also born in the town of Smithville and died in 1904. He was a carpenter and farmer. Politically, he was a Republican and served as justice of the peace. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church. There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Purple: 1. Gil- bert E., retired, former publisher of the Tioga County Herald, lives at Newark Valley. 2. Evelyn, married Rev. Farley Porter, lives at Sodus, New York. 3, Ivan C., the subject of this sketch.
Ivan C. Purple was reared on a farm and attended the district schools. He was graduated in 1890 from Greene High School and in that year came to Newark Valley as associate editor of the "Tioga County Herald." He filled that position until 1908 and
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then accepted the same position on the "Owego Daily Free Press," at Owego. In the following year the publication was moved to Waverly, New York, and Mr. Purple continued as associate editor until 1911. He then purchased the "Tioga County Herald" from Sherman & Worden, and since that date has successfully man- aged the paper.
In 1901 Mr. Purple was united in marriage with Miss Angeline Gleason, of Cortland, New York, born June 4, 1876, the daughter of Henry and Harriet (Patrick) Gleason, natives of Cortland County. Mr. Gleason was for many years secretary and manager of the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company at Cortland. He died in 1900 and his widow lives at Newark Valley. He was a Repub- lican and held membership in the Methodist Church. Mrs. Purple is a graduate of Newark Valley High School and Cortland Normal School, and was a teacher at Newark Valley High School for three years before her marriage. She holds membership in the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution and Order of Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Purple have one son, Donald G., born September 16, 1903. He is a graduate of the Medical School of the University of Buffalo, and is engaged in practice at Corning, New York. He married Miss Bess Schmidlin, of Buffalo, and they have a daugh- ter, Barbara Sue, born in May, 1930.
Mr. Purple is a Republican, and is affiliated with Newark Valley Lodge No. 614, F. and A. M., and B. P. O. Elks, of Owego.
Stephen B. Howland, who is treasurer of Howland Bros. Com- pany, Inc., of Berkshire, is recognized as one of the able and highly successful business men of Tioga County. He was born at Lisle, Broome County, October 25, 1882, the son of George S. and Sarah (House) Howland.
George S. Howland was a native of Broome County, born at Nanticoke. He died in 1883 and is buried at Lisle. His wife, born at Truxton, died in 1920. Throughout his life Mr. Howland was a farmer and he died at the age of thirty-six years. Politi- cally, he was a Republican. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Howland: 1. Herbert S., lives at Berkshire, where he is president of Howland Bros. Company, Inc. 2. Edwin G., lives at Berkshire, where he is secretary of the company. 3. William, who died in 1882. 4. Stephen B., the subject of this sketch.
After attending the public schools of Lisle and Dresserville, Stephen B. Howland entered the employ of his brother, Herbert S. Howland, who at that time owned a machine shop at Dresser- ville, New York. After five years he came to Berkshire with his brother, Herbert S., and engaged in general machine work in a shop now owned by Edward Jewett. Two years later they erected a shop for the manufacture of keg headings for the Wickwire Mills of Cortland. Gradually, the business grew, and Edwin How- land became associated with the enterprise. They also conducted a lumber business until 1918, when their mills were destroyed by fire and they built another plant and gradually went into the man- ufacturing business. In 1926 the plant was again destroyed by fire and they built the present factory and the business was incor- porated at that time. They are extensive furniture manufactur- ers and also furnish finished stock of various kinds to be used in the chairs and tables manufactured by Stackmore & Company, of Owego. The business caters to a wholesale trade and direct to stores, having salesmen on the road. Thirty-five men are em- ployed in their plant which covers 22,000 square feet of floor space. Officers are: Herbert S. Howland, president; F. L. Ald- rich, vice-president; Stephen B. Howland, treasurer, and Edwin G. Howland, secretary.
On October 25, 1911, Mr. Howland was united in marriage with Miss Cora Leona Allen, born at Newark Valley, February 23, 1886, the daughter of James and Clarissa (Johnson) Allen. They were born in Tompkins and Tioga Counties, respectively. Mr. Allen died in 1928 and is buried at Berkshire, where his widow resides. Mr. and Mrs. Howland are the parents of three sons: 1. James George, born September 16, 1912. 2. Charles William, born Jan- uary 27, 1915. 3. Wallace Allen, born January 30, 1921.
Politically, Mr. Howland is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Congregational Church.
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HISTORY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
Robert C. Patch .- Associated with the business interests of Tioga County for many years, Robert C. Patch is a prominent cit- izen of Berkshire, where he was born November 10, 1867. He is the son of William J. and Evelyn (Goodrich) Patch.
William J. Patch was born at Worcester, Massachusetts. He was educated there and as a young man located at Richford, Tioga County, where he had extensive farming interests. He was also engaged in the milling business. He was a Republican and served as supervisor of Richford. Mr. Patch died December 18, 1878, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Berkshire. His wife was born in Tompkins County and is also deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Patch were born seven children: 1. Josephine E., unmar- ried, lives at Berkshire. 2. Mary L., unmarried, lives at Berk- shire. 3. Janette, who died in 1893, was the wife of Lyman J. Carnes. 4. Henry W., who died in 1914. 5. Edward A., died 1924. 6. Harriet, married Charles D. Mayor. Both are deceased. 7. Robert C., the subject of this sketch.
Robert C. Patch grew up at Richford and attended the district school. He remained on the old homestead until 1884 and in that year entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad as assist- ant station agent at Berkshire. He was soon appointed agent and served in that capacity until 1913. Mr. Patch has since been interested in the builders supply and coal business.
Mr. Patch was married (first) June 30, 1891, to Miss Eliza- beth H. Loveland, of Arkport, New York, the daughter of Henry B. and Nancy (Hurlburt) Loveland, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. She died October 23, 1907, and is buried at Berkshire. To Mr. and Mrs. Patch were born the following children: 1. Evelyn, born August 17, 1892, died May 21, 1912. 2. William Johnson, born December 22, 1893, died August 3, 1895. 3. Helen, born September 25, 1895, married William Simson, lives at Pocatello, Idaho. They have a daughter, Elizabeth Ann. 4. Rob- ert Buckingham, born October 12, 1897, is manager of the Cham- pion Shoe Machinery Company at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He married Miss Elizabeth Landon and they have a daughter, Mary Jane. 5. Darthea Jeanatte, born June 13, 1899, died in infancy. 6. Marjorie H., born January 20, 1901, married Henry H. Hornsby,
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lives at Lexington, Kentucky. They have a daughter, Marcia Ellen. 7. Harriet M., born January 10, 1904, a teacher at Oswego High School. 8. Elizabeth Loveland, born October 7, 1905, a grad- uate nurse, lives at Cooperstown, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Patch married (second), January 14, 1909, Miss Miriam Payne, of Newark Valley, born May 26, 1883. She is the daughter of Frederick Henry and Emma (Andrews) Payne. Mr. Payne was born at Berkshire, May 21, 1857, and died September 16, 1915. His wife was born at Newark Valley, August 21, 1857, and died March 3, 1926. He was a Democrat and had served as postmaster of Berkshire. He and his wife were members of the Congrega- tional Church, and he belonged to the Masonic Lodge. To Mr. and Mrs. Patch were born ten children, as follows: 1. Emily Alathea, born March 23, 1910, attends Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. 2. Henry Andrews, born February 23, 1912, a graduate of Bordenstown (New Jersey) Military Academy, is associated in business with his father. 3. Bradley Junius, born October 3, 1913, attends Cor- nell University. 4. Merrill Frederick, born November 9, 1914, attends Berkshire High School. 5. Barbara June, born February 22, 1917. 6. Roger Scranton, born August 3, 1918. 7. Mary Jose- phine, born July 5, 1920. 8. David Whipple, born October 17, 1922. 9. William Johnson, born March 15, 1924. 10. Betsy Constance, born November 19, 1925.
Mr. Patch is a Republican, a member of the Congregational Church, and is affiliated with Speedsville Lodge, No. 265, F. and A. M. His wife is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Burnett C. Rawley, a successful and well known merchant at Richford, is highly esteemed throughout Tioga County. He was born here, August 12, 1876, the son of Hiram B. and Helen (Free- land) Rawley.
Hiram B. Rawley was born at Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York, October 23, 1844, and died at Richford, June 11, 1930. He was reared and educated at Cobleskill and Solon, New York, and in 1869 came to Richford to establish a general mercantile
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business. He became most successful and in 1905 his son, Burnett C., became associated with the enterprise. The elder Mr. Rawley was identified with the store at the time of his death. He was a Republican, served as town clerk for fifteen years, and in 1908 was appointed supervisor of Richford to succeed the late Edgar F. Belden. During the following year Mr. Rawley was elected to the office. He was public spirited and throughout his business career took an active interest in community affairs. He presented to the village of Richford a tract of land in 1917, which has been used as a public playground and athletic field. Mr. Rawley was a Republican and held membership in the Congregational Church. He also was vice-president of the First National Bank of Newark Valley. His wife was born at Speedsville, New York, September 23, 1853, and died February 14, 1925. Both are buried at Rich- ford. Their only child was Burnett C., the subject of this sketch.
Burnett C. Rawley grew up at Richford and attended the pub- lic schools. He also is a graduate of the Riley Business College, at Binghamton. As mentioned above, he has always been identi- fied with the business which was established so many years ago by his father. He also is engaged in the commercial printing business.
Mr. Rawley was married November 26, 1903, to Miss Vera Inez Allen, of Richford, born March 21, 1882, the daughter of J. W. and Isabel (Cleveland) Allen. She is a graduate of Newark Valley High School. Her parents were natives of Broome and Cayuga counties, respectively. He died April 12, 1930, and his wife died July 9, 1909. They are buried at Berkshire. In early life Mr. Allen was interested in the lumber business and operated sawmills in northern Pennsylvania, central New York, and Vir- ginia. He located at Richford in 1872, and established a mercan- tile business under the firm name of Allen & Wilbur. It was later reorganized as Finch & Allen, and then as Smith, Allen & Finch. In the latter part of his business career Mr. Allen was identified with Allen & Mclachlan. He served as supervisor of Richford during 1894-97, and also held the office of postmaster. He was a deacon and trustee of the Congregational Church, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Rawley have been born three children: 1. Rus- sell Burnett, born March 20, 1908, clerk to the principal and of the school board of Newark Valley Centralized School. He mar- ried Miss Mary Darmody, of Berkshire. 2. Roger Allen, born December 12, 1910, connected with the Westinghouse Electric & Supply Company, at Syracuse, New York. 3. Ruth Eloise, born January 2, 1905, married R. L. Geer, lives at Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Rawley has always been a Republican. He is a member of Richford Congregational Church. He belongs to the Tioga County Farm Bureau.
Lincoln L. Watkins, of Richford is supreme court stenog- rapher of the Sixth New York Judicial District. He has been in the United States and New York State Civil Service for twen- ty-five years. He also owns and operates several large farms. He was born at Richford, February 15, 1889, the son of Amos G. and Sarah Jane (Hoover) Watkins.
Amos G. Watkins lived at Richford throughout his life and served as justice of the peace there for thirty-five years. He was a farmer and also had extensive real estate interests. He died November 4, 1914, and his wife, who was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, died January 15, 1929. They are buried at Richford. To Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were born three sons: 1. Amos G., who died in 1929. 2. Lincoln L., the subject of this sketch. 3. Raymond L., farmer, lives at Berkshire.
Lincoln L. Watkins attended the public schools of Newark Valley, Phillips Exeter Academy and Binghamton School of Busi- ness. He also took the LaSalle course of Accounting and Busi- ness Administration, the course of the American Instituteof Bank- ing, and in 1912 received the degree of LL. B. at the University of Buffalo. During 1907-08 he had been secretary to the division engineer of the State of New York, at Syracuse, and in the follow- ing year served as clerk and stenographer in the New York State Barge Canal department at Schenectady, New York. From Au- gust, 1909 to 1910, he was clerk in the Chinese Exclusion Service
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at Richford, Vermont. From 1910 until 1914 he was secretary and a member of the United States Immigration Board of Special Inquiry at Buffalo, and during the following two years was United States Naturalization examiner for New York City, forty-five counties of New York State and part of New Jersey. In March, 1916, he became deputy clerk in the New York State Court of Claims at Albany, and in 1920 assumed the duties of Supreme Court stenographer of the Sixth New York Judicial District.
Mr. Watkins is a Republican. He is a member of the Tioga County, New York State and American Bar associations. He is also a member of Delta Chi fraternity, a member of Tioga County Sportsmen's Association and Cortland County Sportsmen's Asso- ciation.
Frank B. Tracy .- A member of a distinguished family of New York, Frank B. Tracy, of Apalachin, Tioga County, is a repre- sentative citizen of the community in which he has spent his entire life. He was born at Owego, February 7, 1856, the son of Gen. Benjamin Franklin and Delinva (Catlin) Tracy.
Gen. Benjamin Franklin Tracy was born April 26, 1830, in the town of Owego, Tioga County, New York, and died August 6, 1915. He received his education in the common schools, and at Owego Free Academy. At the age of nineteen, he began the study of law in the offices of Davis & Warner at Owego and was admit- ted to the bar in May, 1851. When only eighteen years old, rep- resented his town in county conventions as a "free-soiler." In November, 1853, he ran for District Attorney of Tioga County on the Whig ticket and was elected, and again was elected in 1856. In 1861, Mr. Tracy was elected to the Assembly. He was made chairman of the Railroad Committee and later of a Special Com- mittee on Precedence of Legislation, which virtually directed the course of business of the Legislature. He was also a member of the Judiciary Committee and chairman of the Republican Caucus. Mr. Tracy was designated, July 22, 1862, to raise a regiment in the district which included the counties of Broome, Tioga, and
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Tompkins. Early in August he reported the regiment (109th New York Volunteers) full, and was assigned to the command as col- onel. He immediately asked for the authority to raise another regiment, which was granted, and on the 22nd of August, just one month after he had entered on the work, he reported his second regiment (137th New York Volunteers) as being also full. He asked permission to raise a third, but this was not granted. August 27, 1862, the 109th New York Volunteers was mustered in, and he was commissioned a colonel of that regiment. Proceed- ing to Washington, it was first assigned to duty in connection with the defenses of Washington, and later in northern Virginia. Sub- sequently it was assigned to the Ninth Army Corps. At the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May, General Hartranft's brigade was on the extreme right and saw some of the heaviest fighting of the day. Under the hot fire of the enemy, which was sheltered in works, a portion of the advancing line gave way. Colonel Tracy's regiment halted, whereupon the colonel seized the colors and led his men forward. For this act of heroism he was dec- orated with a Congressional Medal of Honor. Soon after Colonel Tracy was prostrated by sickness and sent to the hospital, and finally tendered his resignation. And by the autumn he had par- tially regained his strength, and was commissioned anew as colonel of the 127th United States Volunteers. Later he was as- signed to the command of the important post at Elmira, compris- ing the prison camp and the draft rendezvous. Colonel Tracy remained at this post until the close of the war, when he resigned, having been brevetted Brigadier General. On July 1, 1865, Gen- eral Tracy entered the law firm of Benedict, Burr and Benedict in New York City. In February, 1866, he removed his family to Brooklyn. October 1, 1866, General Tracy was appointed United States Attorney for the eastern district of New York. During that time he broke up the Whiskey Ring in New York and Kings counties, and was the author of the "Internal Revenue Law," which was passed by Congress, in 1868, putting a tax of $1.10 per gallon on whiskey, which was a law until the passage of the "Vol- stead Act." In March, 1873, he resigned from that office, and practiced law in Brooklyn and New York. In the latter part of
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