History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 160

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 160
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 160
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 160
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 160

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).

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 ready always to do a kindness. He had a strong sympathy with young men who, like himself, were obliged to struggle with privations and to surmount obstaeles in the commencement of their career. Many iustanees 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, integrity, or of straightforward diligence and thrift, met from him only the most severe reprehension. If actual misfortune 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 charac- ter, keen in seeing through the facts of matters with whieh 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 meu of his cast of character, 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."

DUNCAN S. MAGEE,

of Watkins, N. Y., eldest son of John Magee and Arabella Steuart Magee, was born at Bath, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1831. At an early age he engaged in business with his father, in various extensive enterprises, and entered at onee upon an

active and successful business career. In the purchase and improvement of the Blossburg and Corning Railroad, and in the purchase and development of coal lands in Tioga Co., Pa., he was cspecially prominent. The opening of the Fall Brook coal mines is due in a great mcasure to his foresight as a business man, and the introduction and ex- tensive use of the celebrated " Blossburg coal" which fol- lowed the development of those mincs were largely the result of his pioneer labors in that useful and important branch of production and commerce. He was closely identified with the politics of the State of New York ; was for several years a member of the Democratic State Com- mittee, and was always prominent in the counsels of his party.

He was married in 1853 to Catherine E. Gansevoort, daughter of Dr. Ten Eyck Gansevoort. Their only chil- dren were Arabella S., now Mrs. Alfred L. Edwards, of Hudson, N. Y., and Helen G., now Mrs. Lewis Edwards, of New York City.

Soon after his marriage he removed to Corning, N. Y., thence to Watkins, Schuyler Co., N. Y., where he resided until his death, May 8, 1869, in the thirty-eighth year of his age. The business interests of those localities were largely promoted by his sagacity and enterprise, and his death at so early an age was justly regarded as a great calamity and public loss to the community in which he resided.

It was said of Duncan S. Magee, by one who knew him intimately, " The many virtues and noble qualities of his head and heart gave him a strong hold upon the respeet and esteem of all who knew him. The grasp of his mind was remarkable, and he was able, with ease, to form and carry out plans of great scope and intricacy. His success was not due alone to his ability. Animated by enlarged and generous purposes, his mental vigor was not weakened or contracted by narrow or selfish views."

Few men have accomplished so much of general utility as he did in so short a time.

JUDGE OLIVER P. IIURD.

This gentleman was born in Burdett, town of Heetor, Schuyler Co., N. Y., Dec. 11, 1838, the eldest child of William A. and Jane Hurd. His father was a native of Clinton, Middlesex Co., Conn .; his mother, of Lodi, Sen- eca Co., N. Y. She was a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Neal.

The Hurd family trace their origin to Caleb Leet Hurd, one of three brothers who emigrated to this country from Wales. His great-grandfather was born in Wales, Jan. 23, 1753, and was married, May 4, 1775, to Mary Gris- wold, by whom he had thirteen children. His son, Elias, Judge Hurd's grandfather, was born April 6, 1780, and died Nov. 25, 1840. After his marriage, William A. Hurd, father of the judge, settled on a farm in Burdett, where he still resides. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed it for many years. Judge Hurd received his edueation in the common schools, the Ovid Academy, Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and Genesee College. After leaving college,

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PHOTOS BY R.D. CRUM.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

commenced the study of law with John J. Van Allen, at Watkins, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1864.

In August, 1864, received an appointment of clerk in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury under William P. Fessenden. Remained there one year. Returned to Watkins in August, 1865, and opened a law-office in Wat- kins, and has since continued there the practice of his pro- fession. He was elected to the office of district attorney in the fall of 1867, and held the office one term. Was elected county judge in the fall of 1876, and is the present incumbent of that office. He was married, March, 1865, to Cynthia A. Disbro. They have had three children, two of whom, viz., Harvey C. and Clara W., died in infancy. William D. resides at home. Mrs. Hurd died in the month of September, 1869. The judge was again married Dec. 28, 1871, to Louisa C. Boyd, daughter of Storm Van Der . Zee Boyd, of. Albany. By her he has three children, viz., Hebe L., Oliver P., Jr., and Jennie Boyd. In politics the judge is Republican.

WILLIAM H. WAIT

was born in Hoosic, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., July 26, 1842, the only son of Nathan and Maria Wait. His father was twice married. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Millerman, he had one child, Betsey, who is deceased. The first wife died in Hoosic. He married for his second wife Maria Bowers, and William H. is their only child. Nathan Wait was engaged extensively in cotton manufac- ture in Hoosic, and accumulated a handsome property for those days. He moved from Hoosic, and settled in Hector, then Tompkins County. Served as justice of the peace in Hector a number of years, and was a number of times elected to the office of justice of sessions. He was first a Whig, then Republican, and always took an active part in local politics. He died, at his residence in Hector, Oct. 23, 1863. His widow still resides at the old homestead in that town.

William H. Wait received his education in the distriet schools of the neighborhood, and in the select school at Peach Orchard under the instruction of Professor John A. Gillett. He was married, March 7, 1872, to Mary E. Wickham, daughter of George C. and Martha Wickham, of Hector. Mrs. Wait was born Oct. 19, 1843. . They have had three children, viz. : Nathan M., born Jan. 9, 1873, died Jan. 26, 1877 ; George C., born July 4, 1874; Esther W., born Sept. 16, 1876. In the fall of 1873, Mr. Wait was elected treasurer of Schuyler County. He purchased a place in Watkins, and resides there. He was re-elected to the office in the fall of 1876, and is its present incum- bent. The portraits of Mr. Wait and his father, Nathan Wait, appear on other pages of this work.

IION. MYRON II. WEAVER

was born in Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y., March 21, 1821, the eldest child of Solomon D. and Elizabeth C. Weaver. Josiah Weaver, his great-grandfather, was a native of Con-

necticut, and served as sergeant under General Stark, in the Revolutionary war, and died at the advanced age of ninety-six. His grandfather, James Weaver, was born in Connecticut, Feb. 14, 1771. His wife was Anna Davis, and her family was one of the first to settle in the town of Reading. She was born in Saratoga, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1777. The family moved from Connecticut, and settled in Saratoga in 1791. In the fall of 1823 they re- moved to Reading, and both grandfather and grandmother died there ; the former Aug. 13, 1863, the latter Oct. 25, 1865.

Solomon D. Wcaver, his father, was born in Saratoga, N. Y., Oct. 21, 1796 ; married Feb. 23, 1820, to Elizabeth C. Gamble, who was born June 21, 1800, at Pine Plains, Dutehess Co., N. Y. Their children were Myron II. ; Llewellyn J., born July 3, 1823; Louis S., born Dec. 15, 1824; George S., born July 9, 1826; Hellen E., born Sept. 4, 1829. Llewellyn died Oct. 15, 1861, at Williams- burg, N. Y .; Hellen E. at Dover, N. H., Jan. 16, 1870 ; Louis S. at Omaha, Jan. 17, 1873. George S. Weaver is a lumber merchant, residing in Albany, N. Y. The father moved from Saratoga to Dryden, Tompkins Co .; thence to Penn Yan, Yates Co., March 20, 1817. Here, in com- pany with the late George Sherman, he engaged in the flouring and lumber business, in what is known as Sherman & Weaver's Hollow, near Penn Yan. Remained there twelve years; then moved to Branchport, Yates Co., where he con- tinued in the lumber trade up to the year 1874. He still resides therc. His wife died July 8, 1862.

Myron H. Weaver lived with his grandmother Weed to the age of thirteen. He was clerk for W. H. & F. H. Proudy, dry goods, and for Gamby & Lapham, druggists. Was three years a partner with W. S. Eaton and E. H. Goodrich, in general merchandising, at Branchport. Thereafter with his uncle, James H. Gamby, for three years, and his brother, S. S. Weaver, he continued the business. In 1848 he bought out his brother's interest, and from that time to 1863 carried on the business by him- self. He moved to Havana in May of that year, where, in company with Thomas Perrin, he dealt extensively in square timber. At the end of three years, selling his in- terest to Mr. Perrin, he went to East Saginaw, where he continued to carry on the same trade for four years. Re- turning to Havana, he carried on a general mercantile trade there for seven years. In the fall of 1876 he was elected to the office of county clerk, and is its present incumbent. He served as supervisor of the town of Jerusalem, Yates Co .; postmaster at Branchport four years; nominated by the Whigs for Assembly in 1851, but was defeated. In 1856 received the nomination from the Republicans, but declined it. Was appointed Presidential Elector-Lincoln and Jolison-for the Twenty-sixth Congressional District. In 1875, elected supervisor of the town of Montour. He was married Nov. 20, 1845, to Mary Elizabeth Briggs, who was born Feb. 24, 1823, at Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Their children are as follows: Myron Dwight, born Feb. 6, 1847, died Nov. 13, 1848 ; Edwin Goodrich, born March 7, 1848, died Dec. 25, 1848; Cora Susan, born Sept. 19, 1862, died July 26, 1863 ; Mary Cornelia, born Sept. 7, 1849, died Jan. 10, 1866; George Sherman,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

born Sept. 5, 1851, clerk in the surveyor's department, Custom-House, New York City ; Dwight Edward, born March 29, 1856, living at home; S. Dunham, born July 4, 1858, also living at home.

BENJAMIN WESTON WOODWARD.

Judge Woodward is of English descent. His grand- father, John Woodward, Sr., was educated for a physician ; but after his marriage to Sarah, daughter of John Venn, a gentleman of the county of Devon, he passed some years upon a farmi, and subsequently became a merchant in Lon- don, from whence, in April, 1823, he came to America. Both his own and his wife's families were well descended, and their lineage is traced back many generations,-of the latter family, five generations of the name of Venn having inhabited the same house during a period of over two hun- dred and fifty years, and the estates still remain in the family.

The great-grandfather of John Woodward, Sr. (Benjamin Woodward), was a country gentleman of the county of Chester, England, who in 1650 raised a regiment in the service of Oliver Cromwell, and passed into Ireland, where, after the war, he received a considerable grant of land as a reward for his services, a portion of which still re- mains in the family estate, and is known as the demesne of Drumbarrow, county of West Meath.

Benjamin, a son of Major Benjamin Woodward, and grandfather of John Woodward, Sr., married Judith, a sister of Sir John Meredith, by whom he had three chil- dren, the second of whom, Benjamin by name, was the father of John Woodward, Sr., and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketeh. He afterwards became a whole- sale wine merchant in Dublin, and married Elizabeth Grant, a nieee of the Right Hon. Thomas Waite, then Secretary of State, in Dublin. The latter part of her school days were spent under the tutelage of Hannah More; she was a lady of superior education, great piety, and a devoted member of the Church of England. Her husband died in 1816, and a few years later she, with several of her sons and their families, came to America and settled in Tomp- kins Co., N. Y.,-herself and her sons John and Henry locating at Peach Orchard, in Hector. There she secured the organization of a parish known as Trinity Church, Hector, and with her own means built a neat little chapel, and contributed largely for many years to the support of its rector. The little chapel yet remains (1878), though much out of repair, and rapidly going to decay. In the family lot adjoining lie buried the remains of that esteemed and remarkable lady, who died at the residence of her grand- son, Captain John Woodward, in Hector, April, 1848, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. She left many of her manuscripts and writings upon moral and religious sub- jects, some of which have been printed. Her son, John Woodward, was for many years justice of the peace at Hector, at the same time cultivating his farm. Of his large family only three sons now survive, namely : William Woodward, M.D., of Big Flats; Henry, of Frankfort, Mich. ; and Rev. Charles Woodward, of Rochester, Minn.

John,* the eldest son, married Mary Peck, whose family migrated to New York from Connecticut. They had six children, all of whom are now living,-John H., a lawyer and county judge at Portland, Oregon ; Benjamin Weston, residing at Watkins, Schuyler Co., N. Y .; Harriet .A. Woodward, M.D., of Albany, N. Y .; Charles M. Wood- ward, of Tecumseh, Mich .; Arthur C., of Watkins, N. Y .; and Mary L., wife of Oliver H. Budd, of Hector. They all had the advantages of a good common-school education, but their parents were unable to give them further facilities. The two elder sons, therefore, determined to pursue a more advanced course of study, preparatory to the profession they had already chosen,-the law. By their own earnings, from teaching and other resources, they finally reached the object of their desirc,-John H. being admitted to the bar as an attorney and counselor, in 1860, and Benjamin W. five years later, having meanwhile pursued a full classical . course at Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., from which in- stitution he was graduated July 17, 1862, receiving the first Cobb prize medal for the best English essay.

Soon after his admission to the practice of the law Ben- jamin W. Woodward located at Watkins, N. Y., where he still resides. In 1866, at the early age of twenty-nine years, he was chosen judge of the county of Schuyler, which position he filled four years. On retiring from this office Judge Woodward associated with himself in the legal business Charles M. Woodward, his cousin, and son of Dr. William Woodward, of Big Flats, which copartnership still continues, and has the reputation of being one of the lead- ing law firms of the Sixth Judicial district.

In July, 1864, he married Helen E., daughter of the late D. H. Pitcher, a near relative of the late Lieutenant- Governor Pitcher, and had six children, viz .: Robertson Pitcher, Thomas Carleton, Georgianna, John Meredith, and Helen Pitcher,-one son, Benjamin Brooke, having dicd Nov. 18, 1876.

MARTIN J. SUNDERLIN

was born in the town of Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y., April 11, 1833, the third child and eldest son of Dellazon J. and Louisa Sunderlin. His father was born February, 1809, in Putnam Co., N. Y .; studied law with Judge Lewis John, of Penn Yan, and practiced law in Yates County, ranking among the best lawyers in his locality for more than thirty years. He died Sept. 8, 1878.

Martin J. Sunderlin, except two terms at the Dundee Academy, received a common-school education ; studied law with his father ; was admitted to the bar June 2, 1856, at the city of Auburn, N. Y. In December of the same year formed a law partnership with his father, which continued till February, 1864. At that time, on account of his health,

# John Woodward, father of Judge Woodward, was a farmer at Hector, and for many years was connected with the agricultural so- cieties of Tompkins and Schuyler Counties, for two years being pres- ident of the latter organization. He engaged but little in politics, and held no office, except that of supervisor of the town of Hector for two years. He died at his residence in Hector, in August, 1865, aged fifty-two years.

593

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

left the practice of his profession and went on to a farm in Barrington.

April 1, 1872, he moved to Watkins, and opened a law- office there May 11, 1874, in partnership with Charles W. Davis, which continued till October, 1876. Formed part-

M.J. Sunderline 11

nership with Ambrose C. Pike, under the firm-name of Sunderlin & Pike, December, 1876, which partnership still continues.

Mr. Sunderlin was united in marriage, Nov. 18, 1876, to Eliza J. Sharp, daughter of Stephen and Susan A. Sharp, of Starkey, Yates Co. They have no children.

In politics, Mr. Sunderlin is identified with the Demo- cratie party, and is an active worker. In his profession he ranks among the first in his locality.

SIMEON L. ROOD.

the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Sand- gate, Bennington Co., Vt., on the 19th day of March, 1804. Both parents from the State of Connecticut. At the age of eleven years he was apprenticed to the book-binding business in the city of Troy, N. Y.

In the spring of 1817, being then thirteen years old, he left his employer without leave, but for good and sufficient cause, traveled on foot with his pack on his back to the town of Cato, in the northern part of Cayuga County.

The following five years he worked by the month at farm- ing and on the Eric Canal in its construction in the summer season, and at chopping fallow in the winter. Not having attended school a single day since leaving the parental roof in the fall of 1822, he procured Pike's arithmetic, Kirk- ham's grammar, Cobb's spelling-book, an English reader,

paper, pencil, and inkstand, and equipped himself for going to school at an expense of $4.50, which he paid in chop- ping maple-wood at thirty-two cents a cord and boarding himself, walking two miles morning and evening in going to and from his work. Thus equipped he attended a country

S. L. TGood

district school during that and the following winter, doing chores night and morning and working one day in the week for his board. On the 24th of March, 1825, he was married to Miss Cynthia Ladow, and settled on a small farm which he rented in the town of Conquest, Cayuga Co. For the following six years, during which time he resided as above, he was honored with various town offices, such as school commissioner, assessor, constable, etc.

In 1831 he removed with his family to the then town of Catlin, county of Tioga, now the town of Dix, county of Schuyler. On the division of Tioga County and the forma- tion of Chemung, in the year 1836, he was appointed by the Governor and Senate one of the associate judges of the new county of Chemung, of which Joseph L. Darling was the first judge. His associates on the bench were Jacob Westlake, of Horscheads, James Huson, of Big Flats, and Guy Hulett, of Veteran, all of whom are now dead. The term of office at that time was five years, and having served four years of the term he resigned. In 1840, at the general election, he was elected county clerk of Chemung County, and held that office two terms, at the expiration of which he removed to his farm in Dix, with a full determination not to mingle any more with publie or political life. The next eight years were spent in accordance with this determi- nation, seldom appearing in publie except as a temperance advocate, and taking no part in politics.

In 1854 the county of Schuyler was legislated into being. Without his knowledge or consent he was made the people's candidate for the judgeship, and was elected by a plurality

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

vote over Marcus Crawford and Benjamin Franklin, the party candidates, both of whom were highly-reputable lawyers of practice and experience.

Through the importunity of friends he was induced to accept the office, which he did, and entered upon its dutics on the 1st day of January, 1855, opening his office at the village of Watkins. There was at the time a strong rivalry between the villages of Watkins and Havana for the county- scat. The commissioners appointed for that purpose had fixed the location at Havana. Five of the seven towns of the county represented by their supervisors repudiated the act of the locating commissioner, refused to accept the site for the county buildings or to provide for their erection. Both parties by turns appealed to the courts and importuned the Legislature, the strife waxed warm and bitter, even descending to personal animosity, and Judge Rood, who espoused the cause of the people, and, as he claimed, stood firmly by the law of the case, was made the special target of the opposition. With but a single exception, he was the only advocate of the northern or Watkins interest before the different legislative committees having the matter in charge, and several times argued that question both before the committees of the Legislature and in the courts. In 1859 he was honored by the highest compliment in the power of the Supreme Court at general term to confer, by being tendered admittance to practice in all the courts of the State without an examination. Judge Rood was twice elected to the same office, the duties of which, as judge and surrogate, he continued to discharge to the close of the year 1852, since which time he has been and still is engaged in the active practice of his profession.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

CATHARINE.

WITHIN the limits of the original town of Catharine* were effected the earliest settlements in what now constitutes Schuyler County, and among the earliest in the old county of Tioga. But the earlier settled portion of the town has been detached, and is now included in the recently organized town of Montour, in the history of which (and of Havana) can be found much interesting data pertaining thereto. The town received its name from Catharine Montour, the celebrated half-breed queen of the Senecas, who once re- sided in this section of country, and whose residence was near Havana, formerly called " Catharinestown."

The soil is chiefly a gravelly loam intermixed with clay, of a fertile nature, and under the excellent cultivation it receives is highly productive. Cayuta Lake lies in the northeastern part of the town, and its outlet flows south into the Susquehanna. Catharine Mills Creek waters the north and west parts of the town. In the territory now included in Catharine, settlements were made a few years prior to the commencement of the present century. Through the same energy that characterized the pioneers of the other towns, the forests disappeared and fertile fields and

verdant meadows are now interspersed throughout the town. The experiences of the early settlers were similar to those in all new countries, and required indomitable enterprise to develop the natural resources the town possesscd. That it was successfully done, is shown by the present prosperity of the town, the productions of which, in some respects, are without a rival.

THE SETTLEMENT.

At and around the present villages of Catharine and Odessa the pioneers of the town located.

Johnson's Settlement .- John Mitchell, who came in the spring of 1799, was the pioneer of this section of country. He was soon followed by Josiah Hinman, from Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Conn., purchased his place on lot No. 7, in 1799, and settled thereon that year. His son, Elijah S. Hinman, and father of the present Elijah S. Hinman, came the same year, and in 1802 settled the castern half of lot No. 8.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 160

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