History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 50

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Stephen Magee, private, Ist Art., Co. E; eul. Sept. 25, 1861, three years ; lied at Alexandria, Va., Feb. 9, 1863.

Cornelins Ocorr, private, 1GIst Inf .; enl. Sept. 20, 1862, three years; died at Bath, March 7, 1865.

Julin Clark, private, 107th Inf. ; enl. Feb. 25, 1862, three years; died at Bath, Ang. 25, 1862.

Ferdinand Nellis, sergt., 34th Inf .; enl. May 18, 1861, three years ; re-enl. 1863, in Ist Vet. Cav. ; died at Andersonville, Feb. 1865.

Cornelins Voorhis, private, 78th Inf. ; enl. Feb. 16, 1862, three years; re-enl. in 2d N. Y. Art., 1863; died at City Point, June 28, 1864.

William Reamer, private, 16th II. Art. ; eul. Jan. 5, 1864, three years.

Isaac Green, Ist lient., 1st N. Y. Batt .; enl. Jan. 19, 1864, three years. William Cooper, private, 189th Inf. ; ent. Sept. 13, 1864, Que year.

John James, private, 22d C'av. ; three years.

John Herman.

Thomas D. Flynn, private; enl. July 15, 1863, three years.

David Van Wie, private; enl. July 15, 1863, three years.

Harvey Payne, Jr., private; enl. July 15, 1863, three years.

John C. Vail, priv .; enl. Sept. 7, 1863, three years; sub. for George Rend, drafted.

Israel L. Barber, private ; enl. Sept. 9, 1863, three years ; sub. for Gilbert Stew- art, draftedl.

Wm. Brooks, private; enl. Sept. 9, 1863, three years ; sub. for Daniel Dorsey (colored ), dratted.

Thos. G. Horton, priv. ; enl. Sept. s, 1863, three years; sub. for Wm. King, drafted Wni. Hornin. priv. ; enl. Sept. 9, 1863, three years; sub. for Albert Thomas, drafted. David N. Morrison, private, 189th Inf .; enl. Aug. 18, 1864, one year.

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

William B. McCay, private, 16Ist Inf .; enl. Sept. 8, 1863, three years; sob. for Clarence Perine, drafted ; pro, to Ist lient., 161-t Inf.

Parley Cole, priv. ; enl. Feb. 15, 1865, three years ; suh, for Win. MeFee, drafted. Julin Richardson, Jr., corp., Ist II. Art. : enl. Feb. 7, 1864, three years.

Welcome Richardson, private, 107th N. Y. Regt. ; en1. Aug. 5, 1862, three years; wounded at the battle of Gettysburg ; discharged.

William Barnes Mason, private, Itilst N. Y. Regt., Co. F; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years; disch. Sept. 20, 1865.

Arthur MeGniggan, private, 1G1st Regt .; enl. Ang. 21, 1862, three years: disch. Sept. 20, 1×65.

Robert Hansvoort, capt., 107th Regt .; enl. Inly, 1862, three years.

John J. Layman, capt., 107th Regt .; enl. July, 1862.

William Rumsey, Ist lieut .; enl. Oct. 17, 1861, three years; pro. to capt. and asst. adj .- gen., Sept. 12, 1863; maj., Sept. 9, 1864; lient,-col., March 16, 1865; wounded at Fair Oaks. May 31, 1862; must. out Sept. 1865.

Dr. Ira P. Smith, act, asst, surg., regular army, Ang. 17, 1862, to Sept. 24, 1×64.

NAVAL RECORD.

Gilbert Higgins, enl. May 8, 1864, one year; Colorado.

Edward Stillman, enl. May 8, 1864, one year ; Colorado.

Phineas Towle, asst. paymaster ; eul. Aug. 22. 1862, four years; Vanderbilt and Brooklyn.

Charles Brother, private, marine corps ; enl. Aug. 1862, four years; Vanderbilt and Hartford.

Theodore Harris, private, marine corps ; enl. Aug. 1862, four years ; Vanderbilt. Josiah II. Gregg, private, marine corps ; enl. Aug. 1862, four years; Vanderbilt and Brooklyn.

W'm. Ingersoll, private, marine corps ; enl. Aug. 1862, four years; Vanderbilt.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

COL. IRA DAVENPORT.

Ira Davenport was born at Spencertown, Columbia Co., N. Y., on the 20th day of September, 1795, and died at Bath, N. Y., May 2, 1868, in the seventy-third year of his age. His life was one of active business enterprise, begin- ning in early boyhood and attaining practical results rarely realized as the fruit of one's own unaided exertions. He probably obtained his first ideas of mercantile life, to which he began early to devote himself with so much assiduity, in his father's store, who was a merchant at Spencertown, and had also an interest in a store at Harpersfield, Delaware Co. To this latter place he was sent as a clerk at the age of fourteen, and remained till he had attained his majority. His plan of future business, on his own account, seems to have been devised while he was gaining this practical ex- perience ; for we find him at once, in the year 1815, start- ing out for himself to the western portion of the county of Stenben, in the then backwoods settlement of Canisteo, now the town of Hornellsville,-named by Col. Davenport after Judge Hornell, who was one of the earliest settlers, -and taking with him his first wagon-load of goods, a dis- tance of three hundred miles through a newly-settled coun- try. On his arrival he was the first merchant in the place, and he built with his own hands the store in which he sold his first goods. By such enterprise Col. Davenport laid the foundation of his future ample fortune. Few young mer- chants in these days, we fear, would be content to call such a beginning " commencing business." But, as might have been expected, a youth of such courage brought persever- ance, economy, and untiring industry to add to his little capital ; and, as to these qualities were added integrity, strong, shrewd sense, and first-rate business talents, he was soon in the full tide of success. The career of Col. Daven- port as a merchant at Hornellsville embraced a period of

about thirty-two years, during which he was engaged in all the leading business enterprises of the times. While car- rying on mercantile business at that place, he had stores at Baker's Bridge, Angelica, Burns, Canisteo, North Almond, Hammondsport, Dansville, Almond, and Independence. Hle was also a partner in a mercantile house and in a coal company in the city of New York, and was largely engaged in running lumber and arks down the river from Hornells- ville. It is said that he and Hon. John Arnot, of Elmira, were almost the only survivors, at the time of their death, of the men who, in the early days, were largely engaged in arking grain. He removed to Bath in 1847, where he re- sided the remainder of his life.

While through most of his life he was chiefly conspicuous as the enterprising and successful business man, he will only be known to posterity as the founder of THE DAVENPORT HIOME FOR ORPHAN GIRLS. This institution was the con- summation of a purpose long since formed. Unostentatious as he was, and totally indifferent to popularity, he was yet a man of deeper sympathy than many others whose philan- thropy is trumpeted to the world. The condition of friendless and destitute female orphan children had ex- cited his profoundest commiseration, and the admirable institution which bears his name is a proof that his pity was not left to exhaust itself in mere emotions. He began to erect a building designed for children of this class in 1861. In 1863 the corporation was organized, and the first orphan was received July 19, 1864. There are now sixty children in the Home, enjoying all the benefits of a genial Christian home, and a more cheery family can hardly be found in any of the benevolent institutions of the work.

Col. Davenport conveyed to the Home sixty-five acres of the beautiful Cameron farm, in the village of Bath, which, with the massive structure of stone and iron which forms the main building, cannot be valued at less than seventy- five thousand dollars. He besides in his lifetime endowed it with funds to the amount of one hundred thousand dol- lars, to which his brother, Mr. Charles Davenport, has added thirty thousand dollars. Col. Davenport also made a bequest to the Home in his will of fifty thousand dollars more. At the time of his death additions to the building were in process of erection, which were subsequently completed.

If the future management of the Home shall follow the spirit in which it has been inaugurated, and its usefulness shall be developed to an extent commensurate with the munificence of its endowment,-as there is reason to believe from the test of' experience thus far will be the case,-fu- ture ages will not fail to honor the memory of the founder till stone and iron shall crumble. Orphaned little ones will come forward, generation alter generation, to bless the fatherly spirit which was mindful of them before their lives began. And when centuries shall have passed away, and this good year of grace become one of the dates of antiquity, may there not be wanting the happy voices of children rescued from want and dishonor ( if such evils must needs burden the earth so long) to sing on yonder hill-side the simple songs which their benefactor loved so well to hear !

Col. Davenport married, in 1824, Lydia, eldest daughter

Ja Davenport

Magel

187

TOWN OF BATH.

of the late Hon. Dugald Cameron, of Bath, who died up- wards of thirty years ago. Two sons and two daughters survive him,-John and Ira Davenport, Mrs. Christina D. Rogers, wife of IIon. Sherman S. Rogers, of Buffalo, and Fanny D. Watermau, wife of J. W. Waterman, Esq., of Detroit, Mich. One son, Dugald C. Davenport, died Feb- ruary, 1852, at St. Thomas, W. E., and one daughter, Mrs. Eliza D. Waterman, Dec. 28, 1865, at Detroit, Mich.

The death of Col. Davenport was not an unexpected event, although his iron constitution had so long baffled a fatal termination of his disease that it was hoped he might be spared to witness the completion of the noble under- taking to which he had dedicated the later years of his life. The final attack of his disease was of great severity, and he was taken away in a few hours.

Col. Davenport's two sons, Messrs. John and Ira Daven- port, succeeded him as the responsible managers of his charities ; and while it would not suit their wishes were we to dwell in detail upon the manner in which they have acted, not only in regard to the express trusts committed to them, but also in forwarding other undertakings for the public good, as to which no filial obligation could be felt, it will suffice to remark that the designs of their father have been carried by them on the way towards perfect completion, with a loyalty to the wishes of the founder, and with a liberality on their part, which has made the Davenport Home for orphan girls a model of well-devised and effect- ively-managed charity.

HON. JOHN MAGEE.

John Magee, of Watkins, N. Y., formerly of Bath, N. Y., was born near Easton, Northampton Co., P'a., Sept. 3; 1794. Ilis parents, Henry Magee and Sarah Mulhollon Magee, came to this country from County Antrim, in the north of Ireland, about the year 1784. Henry Magee was a descendant from an ancient family of note, often mentioned in the early history of Ireland. He was a first cousin of the late Rev. William Magee, D.D., Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, who is extensively known as an author.

In 1805, John Magee, with his parents, removed to Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y., where his mother died Oct. 12, 1805. In 1808, the family, consisting of the father and five children, -Rebecca, John, Hugh, Thomas J., and Mary,-removed to Michigan, and settled in the vicinity of Detroit.

In May, 1812, John Magee, with his father and brother Ilugh, enlisted at Detroit, in the rifle-company of Captain A. de Quindra. This company went immediately into active service, had several skirmishes with the Indians, and took part in the battle of Brownstown on the 8th of August of that year. His company, belonging to the command of General Ifull, was surrendered, with his army, to the British forces, under General Broek, on the 16th of the same month. He remained a prisoner, on parole, until January, 1813, when he was sent, with the captured troops, to St. Catherines, C. W., and thence across the country to Fort George. Iu the following month of March,

obtaining his release, he joined Major Cyrenius Chapin's command of mounted rangers. In the mean time, Forts Erie and George had been taken by the American forces, under General Dearborn ; and the British army, in their retreat, had scattered their supplies over the country. Major Chapin's command were engaged in gathering up these supplies, and in making other foraging expeditions, in the region lying between the Lakes Erie and Ontario. He was again taken prisoner at the battle of Beaver Dams, near St. Catharines, in June, 1813. Finding his confine- ment excessively irksome, he determined to escape; and though dissuaded by his commanding officer from making the attempt, he obtained possession of his horse, and set out at full speed across the lines towards Fort George, under a shower of bullets from the guard. On the way, a small boy begged so earnestly to be permitted to ride behind him, and take his chances for escape, that he allowed him to do so; but the poor lad was killed by the fire of the sentinels ; his own clothes were riddled by their balls ; his horse was wounded and fell under him, though not until he had reached General Dearborn's pickets; and gaining the fort with but slight injury, he reported to the officer in command the disaster at Beaver Dams. , That officer did not fail to avail himself of the courage and address which this young soldier had exhibited. He was immediately appointed as a messenger, to carry dis- patches for the government between Fort Niagara and Washington, and to points along the frontier. This duty, attended as it was by many hardships and perils, he dis- charged with a degree of skill and endurance rarely equaled. On one occasion, when dispatches of great importance were forwarded by him to the Department of War, at Washing- ton, he continued in the saddle for forty-eight hours, pro- curing fresh horses from time to time, until he reached Northumberland, Pa., when, becoming completely ex- hausted, he obtained a reliable person to proceed to Washington with the papers, and to obtain the requisite answers, which, as soon as they reached him, he conveyed to General Wilkinson, then in command. On arriving at headquarters, the general refused to believe that he could possibly have been to Washington in the short time that had elapsed, until he had received and read the answers to his communications, when, eying John with astonish- ment, he mentally expressed his admiration, and, proceed- ing to his military chest, he presented to him five hun- dred dollars in gold. This money was not made " the germ of his subsequent fortune" (as has been repeatedly stated), but was generously given, every dollar of it, to poor widows with needy children, whose husbands had been killed by the Indians. Leaving the service of the government, in the spring of 1816, John, in company with his brother Jefferson, made the journey from Buffalo to Bath, Steuben Co., on foot ; their road for a good part of the distance being only a path designated by marked trees.

Ilis first employment was cutting cordwood for Capt. William Bull at twenty-five cents per cord. It had been a result of the removals of his father's family, the want of schools, and other privations met in the newly-settled state of the country, that he had entered upon the work of life almost destitute of education. This deficiency he deeply

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

tele, and applied himself very earnestly to supply by reading and study. During the years 1 -16-17 be engaged in fartu- ing with his brother-in 'aw. Adam Haverling,-a peut of' the time at a compensation of eight del'ar, per month.

In the spring of ISI> he was detoxi to the office of w astable and collecter of the town of Bath, aud in 1519 he was appointed to the office of deputy sherif" under Gevre MeCure. the duties of which he continued to dis- charge autil 152). lu the year 1>2) he was appointed marsha' for the county of Stenben to take the ceusas.

On the och of January, 1590. he was married to Sarah MeBurvey, daughter of Hoy. Thomas MeBarney. She died May 13. 152S. laving u children.

The ariums daties of marshal he ferforu el svueral'y on fixa, traveri z a territory which extenderi to Ontario Conuty ou the worth, to Livingston Courty ou the west. ani to Tompkins C'ourty on the east, embracing a territory more than double the present limits of Steuben County. Uyou the completion if bis report he reveived the public thanks of the authorities for we remarkable Githuiles audi devarsey of bis returus, sermuyaniel by a handsome ky of tabl över In the year 1521 the offer of high- sheriff dewyming vacant by the death of Hetty Schriver. he was appointed in his pixee. In 1823, when a change in the cwestimation of the Siste took phee, the office of high-sheet", which had previously been waterred by a ondei' WE api' meut. berame d'exrive, and he was then chosen by the grupie to that croce, and servei til is26. During the last years of his Hits he referred to au elmu-tive still standing within the Rules of the vidge of Watkins. w'ich marked the bow isty-line between the ouu ties of Stechen aud Tompkins vador whie Ne hai more than war malel in the vishs fir fugitives from justice, who WWie discharging the duties of lis note, he engrund with caracteridie publie spirit in esta "ishing line's of mail- couches between the principal tom's of Southwestern New York au! Harrisburg. Philand p 's. Retimve, ami Was- lasten. In tilis Tranch of business be was associated with les y of stages, which were ve great pelle tri ty as this period, he became san s'y impressed with the inger- tanve of mimi facilities, in the pouci u of which be

M: Magee was brought forwant by lis :".w-citisnes as a

sidersb'e maj rity, and was agui a successcal can triste for the cime cce.

Paring boch these terms in Congress be tik a premi- nein positi . General Jackson, w . x the presidential chair, magaried him as a may .f .xira ri-

his confidentis' Hiond sad advise. He che coated him uyou tupermut questions, audi Sind Vis a xat iu his cabinet, which Mr. Magve, however, der" .

M: Mayer www muriel t Anddella Steuart. Feb. 22. 1S31. az Washeston. She died at Watkins, May In, 1.64.

a i Hebe P. Magve, and om'y two of whom are now Living.

vis. Gen. George J. Mare. of Watkins. and Mrs. Hebe P. Ellsworth.

In 1531 the Steuben County Bank was established. Mr Magee was chosen its first presi leut, and evinced much Ail and fidelity iu conducting its adairs until his death. a period of thirty- seven years.

During his resideme at Rath, Mr. Magve was one of the projevters of the New York ami Erie Railroad. and devoted hin'? with charteteristic energy to the carrying forward of that great enterprise, strously anticipating as he did its great inEnence in the devel peut of the resources of the "S. atheru Tier" counties of the State and its general utility. He was associated with J. hu AAruot. Coustaut Cook. Charles Cook. J. H. Chedel, and J. S. T. Stranahan in construct- ing the road from Binghamton westerly to Horneilsville.

Mr. Magee was the projector and largely instrumental in the building of the Co hoct u Valley Railroad from Coru- ing to Babaly a work in which the interests of the citizens of Steuben Courty were immediately concerned. His ef- forts ant persual steridees in its behalf are well known among his neighbors the older citiseus of the: courty.

lu 1531 he became interested in the Blossburg and Corning Bailand, which was chieds indekted to his ener- getic co-operation for its completion. At that period the owl business had assumed bet little imy staace in the Tioga Valley. Mr. Mazee male his first purchase of eval laads in 1-39. ani opeled the mines ac Fall Back in the sime year. Eutering uyun this new geldi with his ustal resoh :- tien and sageity, creating besides which, to other minds, might have appeared insorununtable, he sun found this work growing so rapidly upon his hands as to demand bis constant attention, and his later years were chicay de- voted to its prosecution.

Ea 1864. Me Mauve rem ved Bom Bach to Watkins. in the courty of Schuyler. Prier to this time, in 1859 and afterwards. he ma ie extensive ;archase's of village property at the head of Se va Lake, fer :he Heation of trestle-works. basins, etc .. for the d'ivry auf shipment of cual : : the dwelllugs for his workmen ; Er Vis wn residence : ard for cher purposes. These balliings and improvements de- mout ed a very large oriay, and furnished empicymens The business interests of' the vilay revived's visitle impu'se Som the commence- ENET of these operations and these intereses Ma Magre always manifested & cordiali destre a phase in a substan- tial manner. He was a Mberal o tribute fic the purchase and improvement of the press: cemetery procadis near Warkins.

H. was an eurnes: amil faithful atienda : nyon the Pres- byacrian Church, of which be was a member and provided for the envies of the large Presbyterian church calice in

En 1867. Me. Magee was chosen a delegate to the Cea- situti ani Coveniva of the State of New York, and his just publie services were rendered as a member of that body. He shi mua live to see the work " that cumrendiua com- ri ced. bar his i fuere as a member was conservative and rausthin, mai bis .på) s were regarded with respect.

Mr Mayse died .f paralysis. a: Watkins. N. Y .. April

Constant, Look

189

TOWN OF BATH.

5, 1868, and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, in the plat of ground which he had provided and tastefully improved for his family burial-place.

John Magee was an honest man. He could not abide trickery. He never stooped to any meanness in all his varied and gigantic transactions. He always did business in a direct, honest, straightforward way. He wanted every one to come right to the point, for he was already there himself. There was no double-dealing with him. He hated shams of all kinds, pretensions, and superficial seem- ings.

He was an original and marked man. He constitutes a notable specimen of the American growth which starts from poverty and develops into wealth, statesmanship, wide per- sonal influence, and financial control.

In his intercourse with the people of all classes Mr. Magee was courteous and affable, and always ready to do a kindness. He had a strong sympathy with young men who, like himself, were obliged to struggle with privations and to surmount obstacles in the commencement of their career. Many instances of his generous assistance to such persons are remembered with gratitude. Industry, economy, and self-reliance he commended, and was ready to aid ; while idleness, wastefulness, and any lack of honesty, in- tegrity, or of straightforward diligence and thrift, met from him only the most severe reprehension. If actual misfor- tune had overtaken a man, if the real wants of the widow or the orphan reached his knowledge, his heart was ready to respond and his hand prompt to offer relief.

A statesman, second to none in the republic, writes of him as follows :

" To me he was an attractive man. He was a strong man upon those points where I feel my own weakness, and it always gave me pleasure to talk with him. Beyond any one I have known he was quick in his perceptions of char- acter, keen in seeing through the facts of matters with which he had to deal, and prompt in his action. While he was resolute in his purposes, firm in demanding his rights, he had, what is rare with men of his cast of char- acter, great charity for the weaknesses of others, and a kindly generosity in helping those who made mistakes or who fell into trouble from want of wisdom or skill. I never knew another whose sharp questionings, stern probings, and close scrutinies always ended in such liberal and generous conclusions. I have known more or less of the leading men of our country during the last thirty years. Not one of them made more marked and deep impressions upon me than John Magee."

And one of the first judges of the land says of him that " He was one of those sterling and able men whose names we are accustomed to associate with the stability and prosperity of the state, and whose weight of character far transcends the dignity of mere official position."

HON. CONSTANT COOK.

The life of this prominent citizen of Bath serves admir- ably to illustrate the success that attends upon habits of industry, self-denial, and genuine economy,-habits which

were his only capital when, sixty years since, in the first flush of his manhood, he became a resident of this county, and step by step placed himself among the most widely known business men of Western New York. It will be seen that he did not stumble upon a colossal fortune; that it was by no mere luck or chance that he became a million- aire. His was an example from which we may all learn to conquer fortune and deserve success.

Constant Cook, the son of Philip and Clarissa (Hatch) Cook, was born in Warren, Herkimer Co, N. Y., on the 10th day of November, 1797, and there with his father passed his earlier years in the work of the farm. On Christ- mas-day, 1819, he was married at Richfield, Otsego Co., to Maria Whitney, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Whit- ney. formerly of Fairfield Co., Conn.

Mrs. Cook, now a " widow of about fourscore years," still survives, active and unwearied still in those works of piety and beneficence which have greatly endeared her name to all who know her. It was an auspicious day to Mr. Cook and his fortunes that found him united to one who so nearly realized the divine ideal* of the excellent woman. So, at least, thought and felt all they who fifty years later assem- bled to celebrate the golden wedding in Bath.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826