History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 143

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 143
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 143
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 143
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

James A., the subject of this sketeh, was the sixth son and eighth child, born at Watertown, N. Y., March 8, 1814. Entered a store at Cazenovia, N. Y., at the age of thirteen, with a cousin by the name of William M. Burr, and in 1841 was married to Miss Charlotte Lyon, of Rochester; in 1844 moved to Ludlowville, N. Y., and was clerk for his brother, Henry L. Burr, for four years, and then, in company with Mr. H. B. Lord, bought the stock in trade, and carried on business, under the firm-name of Lord & Burr, until 1866, and until 1870 with other part- ners ; did always a heavy business ; then sold out goods, and since that has owned and run a grist-mill until the summer of 1878; in the year 1867 turned his attention to build- ing a brick bloek of stores and fitting up wood bloek ; also built quite a number of dwelling-houses (ten), all of which was not profitable pecuniarily, yet helped to build up and improve the place. Fine water-powers are to be found there, and are now for sale.

James A. Burr was one of the first Abolitionists of the Garrisonian stamp, when the subjeet was first broached at Cazenovia, and kept his faith unwaveringly until the last chain was broken. Also was for total abstinence from all that could intoxicate, from the first discussion of the sub- jeet in this county, and was eo-helper with Mr. Benjamin Joy (deceased ), who formerly lived in Ludlowville, N. Y., who was an apostle of temperance for forty years, and was one of six that formed the town of Lansing Temperance Society fifty-two years since, and is still in existence. The town of Lansing has had no lieenses granted for sixteen years,-a temperanee town largely through the labors of Hon. Benjamin Joy and James A. Burr.

In religious belief, at eighteen was a full convert to Christianity of the purity and glorious character of Christ and his mission upon earth ; that He and the apostles insti- tuted but one church, and that included all believers, with- out any reference to their theology or private belief. But the only basis was " love God with all the heart and your neighbors as yourselves." For this reason James always ignored all divisions and sects, of whatever name or nature, as the antipodes of Christianity as primitively ordained, and its worst enemies.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

In politics always a reformer, sympathized with Repub- licans while slavery existed, also temperance ; last, but not least, that the Greenback theory and its success is the best remedy from social and financial ruin.

James A. Burr's first wife died in December, 1866, without children; he was married in October, 1870, to Miss H. S. Steadman, of Newport, R. I., and have a son and daughter named Emily Thorp Burr, born May 10, 1875, and James A. Burr, Jr., born March 25, 1877.

Mr. Burr has been for forty-five years a great enemy to the use of tobacco in any and every form, as pernicious always, physically and morally, and a curse to the world, like intoxicating drinks and chattel slavery.

J. BRUYN BOGARDUS.

Jacob E. Bogardus, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1784. He was the oldest in the family of two children of Everadus Bogardus, of Holland deseent, who was a de- scendant of Everadus, who came to this country from Holland in 1633. About the year 1834, he removed from Ulster County and settled in Lansing, on a farm which he purchased of the Conrad heirs. Here he lived till his death, which occurred April 9, 1859, aged seventy five. He was regarded one of the most prominent men of Lansing. He was county superintendent of the poor for three years, and was one of the presidential electors from this distriet when James K. Polk was elected President.

J. B. Bogardus was born in Ellenville, Ulster Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1820. He was the second in the family of eight children. All are now living in Lansing, except one sister, who resides in Michigan.

He spent his youth on his father's farm ; was educated in the common schools of Tompkins and Ulster Counties.

On Feb. 5, 1845, he married Hannah E., daughter of Thomas and Hannah George, of Dryden. The result of this union was one son,-Everadus G., born March 28, 1846 (married Vietoria, daughter of Andrew Teeter, of Lansing).

After J. Bruyn had attained his majority, he worked for his father nine years on the farm, and then commenced life for himself. At present he has a farm of 150 acres, with fine buildings, a view of which may be seen elsewhere.

He has been assessor for several years; has been super- visor of his town.

In politics, a Democrat. In religious sentiment, a Meth- odist, his wife having been a member of that church for the past thirty years.

BENSON BUCK.

The grandfather, Benjamin Buck, one of a family of seventeen children of Daniel and Anna (Denton) Buck, was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 21, 1762. In 1805 he, with his family of twelve children, eame from Great Bend, Penna., and settled in Lansing, on lot 80. After he settled here three more children were born to them.

Of this large family only three are now living, one in Min- nesota, one in Iowa, and one in Kansas. He (Benjamin) died Feb. 4, 1851, aged eighty-eight years. Asahel, the

father of Benson, was ten years of age when he came here. He remained at home until after his marriage at the age of twenty-four. He married Betsey, daughter of Theophilus Case, of New Jersey. He had nine children, namely : Lucy, Philena, Floretta, Benson, Hiram, Cemantha, Jerome, Samuel, and Julia, only three of whom are now living,- Benson and Samuel in Tompkins County, and Floretta in Michigan. Asahel died Nov. 26, 1866, aged seventy-one years. Benson lived on his father's farm till he was twenty- three years of age.

His education was limited to the common schools of Lansing, attending winters and working on the farm sum- mers. On Feb. 6, 1851, he married Laura, daughter of Benjamin and Eunice Jaekson, of Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y. She was born August 12, 1831. By this union three children were born to them, viz. : Lucy E., born Oct. 7, 1851 (married Lucian B. Mead, of Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y.); B. Lavern, born Feb. 11, 1856; and Leroy A., born Aug. 5, 1868. After his marriage he purchased the Allen homestead of one hundred and twenty aeres, and here he commenced life.

He erected all the present buildings on his place, a view of which may be seen on the pages of this work. In politics he is a Republican. Both he and his wife have been consistent members of the Baptist Church for twenty- two years. The family are highly esteemed in the com- munity in which they live.

WILLIAM TEETER.

Among the prominent pioneers of Lansing township was Henry Teeter, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came from near Easton, Penna., in the year 1790. His family consisted of a wife and seven children. They experienced great difficulties on their journey. On arriv- ing at Ithaca, there being no roads north, the family and goods were taken in a small boat to what was called Bevone's Landing, and the horses and cattle were led and driven along the beach of the lake (Cayuga). On arriving there they constructed rude sleighs to draw their goods to their destination, about a mile east of the lake. Here he pur- chased a farm of wild land, and with the help of his chil- dren sueeeeded in clearing it up and paying for it. By honesty and striet industry his sons became owners of good farms, and were classed among the most respected and wealthy citizens of the town. Daniel, the son of Henry Teeter, was eleven years of age when his parents came to Lansing. He lived with them until his marriage, when he was twenty-five years of age. The homestead was left to him for his share. The first year after his marriage his father, who was then keeping a public-house on the farm, met with a very sad misfortune. His house caught fire and burned, and his wife was eonsumed in the flames.

Daniel cleared up his farm and reared a family of ten children, who became owners of large farms, and were among the leading citizens of the town. He lived to be ninety years old, and was honored and respected by all who knew him.

Willian, son of Daniel Teeter, was born July 16, 1808.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

He spent his youth on his father's farm, and when seven- teen years of age he took entire charge of the farm for several years. For ten years he was engaged in boating, also the building of boats. In 1833 he married Sarah,. daughter of Henry Miller, of Lansing. The result of this union was Lovina (married James Bloom, of Lansing), Semantha (married Luther English, of Dryden), Ada (married Darling English, of Dryden), Jane (married John Kenny), William H., Corila, Perlina, Truman, and Earl. In politics Mr. Teeter has always been a Democrat. In religious sentiment he is a Methodist.

Mr. Teeter is regarded as one of the most successful farmers of his town, aud is honored and respected by a large cirele of friends.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

NEWFIELD.

LITTLE more than three-quarters of a century has elapsed since the first settlement was made in the territory now em- braced within the limits of the town of Newfield. It was, as near as ean now be ascertained, about the year 1800 when the first white settler arrived,

" And boldly reared the gloomy cabin wall Of rude, misshapen logs amid the forest tall."

What marvelous changes have since been wrought ! The expedients of the pioneer have been succeeded by the perma- nent improvements of the yeoman, whose intention it was to leave his remains to moulder under the sod he tilled, or, perhaps, of the son, who, born in the town, reverently wishes to linger around the grave of his father. Even of the latter few, very few, remain. Those of the second generation have nearly all departed, and the third enjoy the fruits of the providence and industry of their fathers, and of their own enterprise and care. Fancy lingers momen- tarily on the developments of less than fourscore years. Where once the forest stood now appears the well-cultivated farm, and the one-time barren hill-sides are now rendered fertile and productive by the skillful cultivation of the modern husbandman. As we pass from farm to farm what do we see ? Instead of a log cabin, twelve by fifteen feet, erected in the midst of a forest, the eye beholds a beautiful and well-cultivated grange, a fine, commodious, and con- venient dwelling, with everything attractive around ; flowers and vines without, and not infrequently a piano within, and a wife or a daughter who possesses not only the requisite culinary education, but also sufficient literary and intellec- tual knowledge, so as to be able to give sweet music to the wearied tiller of the soil after the arduous labors of the day are ended. Surely a creditable comparison with the by-gone times. But let it not be forgotten that to the pio- neer is due the greater sharc, perhaps, of the credit of these excellent changes.

Newfield is located in the southwest corner of the county, its geographical centre being about six miles from Ithaca. The surface is hilly, and in the centre is much broken, the ridges being from four hundred to six hundred feet above

the valleys, and the summit level of them from fifteen hundred to sixteen hundred feet above tide-water. The soil is a gravelly loam of good quality, underlaid with slate and lime.

The town is generally well watered ; numerous living springs, having their sources in the hills, run through nearly every section of the town. The principal streams are Cayuta Creek, which drains the southern part of the town, and the inlet of Cayuga Lake, which drains the northern part. The valleys of these streams are commonly narrow, and bordered by deep hill-sides. A portion of the western part of the town is sparsely settled, and compara- tively uncultivated. The general sanitary advantages of the town are excellent. Its area is 34,892 acres, of which about 25,500 acres are cultivated.

THE SETTLEMENT

of the town was commenced by James Thomas, who settled on the old Newtown Road, near Pony Hollow, about the year 1800. Where Mr. Thomas eame from, or whither he removed, are facts not now known, as none of his descendants reside in the town. Following Thomas, within a year or two came Joseph Chambers, who settled on the farm now occupied by Augustus Brown. In 1804, John White arrived. He was the father of Sarah, wife of Stephen T. Brown, Esq. ; of Harriet, wife of Joseph Homet, of Wil- liamsport ; and of Lydia, wife of Artemus Hurd, of Painted Post. About contemporary with John White was David Linderman, who came in from Orange Co., N. Y., and set- tled on the farm now occupied by Curtis Protts. He was accompanied by his wife and an infant son,-the latter, Harvey Linderman, now a resident of Newfield village, and one of the oldest living settlers of the town.

Richard Seabring* had command of a company in the Revolutionary army from its commencement to its close. Died in Newfield in 1821, in the eighty-third year of his age. Cornelius, his son, emigrated from Northumber- land Co., Pa., in about the year 1802 to Lansing, Tomp- kins Co., where he remained until the 15th day of April, 1804, when he removed to Newfield. This was aecon- plished by loading on a " wood-sled" all of this world's goods he possessed, together with his family, and attaching thereto a yoke of oxen and one horse, and a part of the way, by the aid of " blazed" trees, making his way to what has ever since been known as the Seabring settlement. When the mail was carried from Ithaea to Elmira once a week, on horseback, he was postmaster. He was several times elected supervisor of the town, and kept the first hotel ever kept there. He owned. and occupied the farm on which he first located until 1824, when he sold it to his son Samuel, who owned and occupied it until 1871, when he (Samuel) died. Since his death it has been occupied by his son, Cornelius H.

Cornelius Seabring died Oct. 18, 1844, in the seventy- third year of his age.

In 1805, Barnabas Gibbs, father of John C. Gibbs, came in and settled on the John P. Hazen farm. The Gibbs' spent one winter in the town of Dryden prior to

# Some members of this family spell the name without the "a."

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permanently settling in Newfield. John C. was about three years of age when his parents settled here, and he has spent all his life, execpt those three years, within a mile of where he now lives. He occupied the Alvah Davis farm for many years. One of his daughters, Mary A., married J. B. Albright, who now lives on the adjoining farm ; the other daughter, Sarah A., married Ira Stewart, of Speneer, Tioga Co., N. Y. Mr. Gibbs is one of the oldest pioneers of the town.

Philip Le Bar came in from Pennsylvania, but immedi- atcly from Lansing, this county in 1806. It is here perti- nent to state that several of the carly settlers of the town first located in what is now Lansing ; but the owners of the land put too large a price on it, so that they found it expedient to purchase in Newfield.

Jonathan Compton eame in about 1806, and settled on the farm at present occupied by Edgar Brown.

The years 1809-10 were prolific in the arrival of settlers in the town. Among those who came during these years were James Todd, father of John P. and Solomon S. Todd, of this town, and of G. A. Todd, of West Danby. Mr. Todd settled on the farm now owned by the first and last named of his sons. He was a prominent man in the town ; one of the early deacons of the Presbyterian Church, and the first clerk of that body. Abraham Brown, father of Alvah, Stephen T., Hiram, and Holden T. Brown, and Nancy, widow of William Drake, arrived in 1809, and settled on the farm now owned jointly by his sons. The next year Isaac L. Smith, father of Samuel H. Smith, settled the farm now occupied by the latter. Isaae L. Smith and his father had settled in Lansing fifteen years prior to their arrival in this town. Deacon Charles Gillett arrived about the same time as Isaac L. Smith, and settled on the farm now occupied by Joseph Kellogg. He first settled in Lansing, and married a sister of Mr. Smith. Solomon Kellogg, of whose descendants several reside in the town, came in about 1811, and settled on the farm now owned by David Curtis, and oeeupied by a tenant.

From 1812 to 1815 quite an influx of settlers arrived, prominent among whom were Deacon Ebenezer Patchen, a Revolutionary hero, who was among the first in the Wind- fall settlement; Squire James Murray, father of David Murray, settled on the farm now occupied by Morgan P. Van Kirk ; Jeremiah and Stephen Green settled in the Seabring neighborhood. The Trumbulls, James Douglass, Daniel Strong, and others mentioned in the history of the Trumbull's Corners locality, came within the period above designated. William Dudley, grandfather of P. S. Dudley, came from Walesto, N. J., at an early day in the settlement of that State; subsequently to Ithaca in 1810, and to Newfield in 1816. His son, George Dudley, the first merchant of Newfield village, learned the mercantile busi- ness with Judge Gere, of Ithaea. His brother Abram, who was associated in business with him at Newfield, is now a resident of Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y.

In 1824, William Stratton settled on the farm on which is now located Stratton's Station on the Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre Railroad. His children now living in the town are Wilbor F. Stratton, on the old homestead, Mrs. P. S. Dudley, and Mrs. Andrew J. Van Kirk.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

Newfield was taken from Spencer and organized as a part of Tioga County, by the name of Cuyuta, Fcb. 22, 1811. The name was changed March 29, 1822. On the 4th of June, 1853, " all that part of the town of Newfield lying on the west side of said town, and beginning at the north line of said town, at the northeast corner of lot 4, thence along the east line of lots 4, 8, 12, 19 to 84, 51 and 52, and 9 and 10 to the south bounds of Tompkins County, shall, after Jan. 1, 1856, be annexed to and form a part of Catharines, in Chemung (now Schuyler) County."

. Owing to the fact that all the town records were destroyed in the fire at Newfield village, June 15, 1875, we are unable to procure a perfect list of the town offieers ; hence we sim- ply subjoin the names of the present incumbents :

Supervisor, Ezra Marion ; Town Clerk, S. Dudley Cook ; Justiees of the Peace, Elvin C. Thorn, Benjamin Starr, James W. Sunderland, John W. Dean; Assessors, Daniel M. Kellogg, Gilbert Stamp, Andrew J. Van Kirk; Com- missioner of Highways, Cornelius R. Sebring ; Overseer of the Poor, John Beardslee ; Collector, Frank Holmes; Aud- itors, La Fayette Cutter, Robert Alexander, Frederick R. Farmer; Inspectors of Election District No. 1, Elvin Kecne, Luther Ennis, George W. Ham; Inspectors of Election District No. 2, Augustus Brown, John Boyer, Frecman Osmond ; Constables, Hugh C. Brown, Richard Chapman, Loren Leonard, I. Newton Van Ostrand, William S. Campbell, John A. Bailey.

NEWFIELD VILLAGE

is pleasantly situated on the Cayuga Inlet, in the northeast part of the town. Its site is included in the Thomas S. Livingston Purchase, of part of which Stephen B. Munn, of New York, became owner, and for whom James Pum- pelly, of Owego, aeted as agent for the sale of lands. Eliakim Dean, father of Jefferson Dean, purchased the present site of the village about the year 1802, and al- though his residenee was in the town of Ithaca, he spent much of his time on his purchase, making improvements, ereeting mills, and otherwise developing the place.

The first saw-mill was built by Eliakim Dean, in 1809. It stood near where P. S. Dudley's upper mill now stands.

The first grist-mill in the town was erected by the same gen- tleman, in 1811, and occupied the site where Dudley's lower 'mill now is. It has been erroneously stated by French, in his " Gazetteer," and others that the first mill was built by General John Green. It was, in fact, built by Mr. Dean and operated by him a few years, then sold to General Green.

The first factory was started by Samuel K. Rogers, in 1815. It was for the manufacture of cloth and for carding wool. It oeeupicd the site of Perry's saw-mill. In 1846 John T. James started an oil-cloth factory in the south part of the town, and in 1847 removed the same to the village. It is now no more.

The first store in Newfield was kept by George Dudley, father of P. S. Dudley, about 1816. It was at first a primitive affair, but gradually developed into quite a mer- cantile enterprise, under the management of the proprietor, assisted by his brother, Abram, and son, P. S. Dudley.

JOHN BEARDSLEE.

MRS. JOHN BEARDSLEE.

JOHN BEARDSLEE.

John Beardslee eomes of Scotch and German ances- try. Ichabod Beardslee, the grandfather of John, was born in Connecticut, February 9, 1767, and was married to Sarah Galpin, October 26, 1788. This union resulted in a family of eight ehildren,-five sous and three daughters, -namely : Noah, Ransom, Jonathan, Amos, Philo, Lorama, Rhoda, and Theodocia. When thirty-nine years of age Ichabod Beardslee emigrated to the town of Lansing, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, remaining in Lansing until his death, which occurred April 27, 1849.

Noalı Beardslec, father of John, was born in Connecticut, November 30, 1790, and removed with his father to Lan- sing in 1806. He learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked, in connection with farming, until within a few years of his death. In 1818 he removed to the town of New- field, and in later years engaged in lumbering. He died January 4, 1868. He was married to Catharine Osmond about the year 1810. Of this union there were born three sous and nine daughters, of whom John was the second child. He was born August 20, 1813. Being the elder sou, he was taught at an carly age the necessity of being inured to hard labor. He commenced at clearing up the farm upon which he now lives, and for several years suc- cessively has followed farming, lumbering, and making shingles. Stump pulling, thrashing, and kindred employ- ment were well caleulated to bring forth and develop in- dustrious habits in the young man, which have been of material benefit to him in after-life. The struggles of the pioneer are always great and the hardships many; but the fearless and hardy men and brave women who usually con-

stitute the little band of new-eomers in a freshly-settled country invariably overcome all obstacles and suceeed. Such was the ease with the Beardslees, whose descendants arc to-day among the most prominent citizens of the town of Newfield.

On the 5th of February, 1835, John Beardslee and Martha McCorn were united in marriage. They have had eleven children, of whom the following survive, namely : Asa H., Charles M., John W., Herman H., Ellis H., Edson E., and Ida A., now the wife of Mr. Starr. Mrs. Beardslec was born in Orange Co., New York, April 27, 1816, is of Scotch descent, and was the third of a family of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Beardslee both belong to the Presbyterian Church, of which they are cou- sistent and active members. They joined the church more than thirty years ago, and have stood faithfully among the few of its earlier members who still remain.

In polities Mr. Beardslee is a Republican, having always stood by the principles of that party. He has held the offiecs of assessor, overscer of the poor, and road commis- sioner of his town, and has always faithfully fulfilled the duties of any position to which he has been elevated. He is in every sense a self-made man, and by an industrious life and practical ceonomy has accumulated a reasonable com- potency. He justly prides himself upon the fact of having always paid his just debts, of having lived a moral and upright Christian life, and of having discharged the various domestic and public duties of life to the best of his ability. These virtues constitute the character of a true man and a worthy citizen.

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The first tavern was kept by Jeremiah Hall, about 1810. The first school-house was a log structure erected about 1805-6. It was succeeded by the old "yellow school- house," which is remembered as one of the institutions of "ye old lang syne." In it were held all sorts of public meetings, from religious worship to political gatherings.

The first church edifice was that erected by the Presby- terians in 1832.

The progress of the village has been steady. A great blow, however, fell upon it, by the terrible visitation of fire on the 15th of June, 1875, by which nearly the entire business portion of the place was destroyed. Phoenix-like it arose from its ashes, and good, substantial brick blocks now occupy the sites upon which formerly stood inferior wooden structures. The village now contains three good general stores, two hardware, one drug, and one boot and shoe store, a harness-shop, a furniture-store, two millinery establishments, a meat-market, two blacksmithies, two wagon- shops, two grist-mills (both owned and operated by P. S. Dudley, assisted by his son, George Dudley), one saw-mill, a woolen-factory, a tomb-stone manufacturing establishment, and two hotels.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 143

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112