History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 177

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 177
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 177
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 177
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 177

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).

Corporate honors were conferred upon the village in 1836, the act of incorporation having been passed on the 13th of May of that year. At the first village election held at the house of William G. Crandall, June 7, 1836, the following persons were elected to the offices placed opposite their names respectively :

Trustees, Hiram W. Jackson, William Skellenger, John G. Henry, Edwin H. Downs, William L. Noble ; Assessors, David Lee, Josiah C. Robinson, Sydney S. Decker ; Clerk, Sylvester Hazen ; Treasurer, Peter Tracy ; Constable and Collector, Alexander Clauharty.

The subjoined list includes the names of all those who have been presidents of the corporation from 1836 to 1878, inclusive :

Hiram W. Jackson, Jacob Walker, William Bunyan, Jacob Walker, E. M. Lyon, Charles Cook (5 years), HIal- sey Lord, Jonathan P. Couch, Sydney S. Decker, E. H. Goodwin, George W. Jackson (2 years), Charles Cook (3 years), S. T. Brewer (2 years), George Corwin, Minor T. Brodrick, R. P. Beebe, M. T. Brodrick (2 years), Adam G. Campbell, John I. Lawrence, Charles Cook, Freeman D. Goodwin, Myron H. Weaver, Charles W. Clauharty,* Jeremiah McGuire (elected May 5, 1868, at which time the office was made elective by the voters of the village), Minor T. Brodrick (5 years), Wyatt C. Gillespie, Elbert P. Cook, Charles W. Clauharty, Wyatt C. Gillespie, Charles W. Clauharty.

The present officers of the village are :

President, Charles W. Clauharty ; Trustees, James Arm- strong, George Corwin, Herman L. Dunham, Joseph Young; Assessors, H. L. Estabrook, Phineas C. Campbell, William Dean ; Treasurer, Elbert P. Cook ; Collector, Alvah J. Quigley ; Clerk, Lucius M. Conklin.

RELIGIOUS.

Religious liberty-the absolute separation of Church and State-has become realized all over this land far beyond the conception, and still more the execution, of a similar separa- tion in any European Protestant country. This and the political equality of all creeds, in principle and in appli- cation, constitutes one of the cardinal and salient traits of American communities. Religious freedom and inde- pendence were almost paramount to all other aims and ob- jeets which were had in view by the primitive emigrants to America (the forefathers of the pioneers of this and other scetions within the scope of our work). Puritans, Hugue-

# Elected at regular annual meeting in April, 1865, and served until May 5 following, when first elcetion under the amended charter was held.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

nots, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers came here with the purpose of establishing and enjoying the freedom of religious convictions. Thus this principle, from the first, has become the corner-stone of American general and local civility ; and jealously are watched all endeavors to subvert religious independence to political ends.

The religious history of Havana comprises one of the most interesting chapters in its annals. At an early period religious meetings were held, and long before the financial condition of its citizens would enable them to erect houses of worship, private dwelling-houses, barns, and school-houses were used, which were in keeping with the humility of the services offered. The contrast between those times and to- day is marked. Progressing apace with secular concerns, religious institutions have flourished, the humble places of meeting in the past have been superseded by costly church edifices, and religious organizations have assumed positions beyond financial wants. It would be difficult to give pre- cedence, in point of time, to any particular denomination, for careful rescarch has developed the fact that at least two organizations were contemporaneous in their existence, and the result of the labors of all proportionally beneficial in the community.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HAVANA

was organized in 1829. On the first page of the records of the society is the subjoined, relative to its organization :

" In compliance with a request duly presented to the Presbytery of Bath, by sundry persons residing in the vil- lage of Havana, Tioga County, New York, and its vicinity, said Presbytery appointed Rev. Eleazur Lathrop and Samuel White a committee to organize, in due form, a Presbyterian Church in that placc. On the 18th day of February, 1829, said committee, in pursuance of their appointment, visited said place and organized a church by the name and style of the ' First Presbyterian Church of Havana.'"

The constituent members were Flavel Gaylord, Wm. P. Lce, Charles G. Judd, Cyrus Hickox, Lewis B. Butler, Jonathan P. Couch, Stephen P. Butler, Stephen Gavit, Garrett V. Compton, Abigail Gaylord, Elizabeth Lee, Han- nah Denton, Elizabeth Cummings, Alice Hibbard, Harriet Dresser, and Lovicy Butler, by letter from sister-churches ; Wm. T. Jackson, John Compton, Eliza Cleveland, Mary Compton, and Margaret Cornell, on examination.

The first elders werc Flavel Gaylord and Charles G. Judd ; first trustees, elected at a meeting held March 9, 1829, Wm. P. Lee, Calvin Cooley, Jr., Myron Collins, David Lee, Wm. T. Jackson, John D. Downs, and John P. Cornell ; first pastor (called in 1829), Rev. James Boyle.

The first church building was erected in 1832, and was used until the completion of their present edifice, in 1845. The seating-capacity of the house of worship is for 300 persons ; value of church property, $7000 ; present Trus- tees, W. C. Gillespie, A. O. Whittemore, H. H. Huntington, S. B. Shearer, Edwin Weller, M. M. Mead, James F. Hall ; Elders, Wm. T. Jackson, H. H. Huntington, and Edwin Weller ; membership, 78; number of teachers and scholars in Sunday-school, 120 ; Superintendent, E. Weller ; church temporarily without a pastor ; last incumbent, Rev. H. W. Congdon.

TIIE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HAVANA.

This church had its origin in a class formed as early, probably, as 1820, although we have no definite data through which we can state for a certainty the precise date of the beginning of Methodism in the village. The society proper was formed in 1829, and legally incorporated in 1835. The first trustees of the society were Elijah White, Silas E. Ayres, William Skellenger, E. H. Goodwin, Jacob Walker. The pastor at the time of the incorporation was Rev. M. Champion; who the first one who served the society was no records exist to show. Meetings were held in the school-house until 1832, when the present edifice was erected. It has since undergone material changes and re- pairs, but is the same old house that has served the con- gregation for the past forty-six years. The present value of church property is $9500. The present trustees are Freeman D. Goodwin, L. M. Conklin, Alpheus Keyser, James Ellsworth, and William Crum ; pastor, Rev. C. M. Gardner,* who is in his fourth year, and is an efficient min- ister and able preacher. Membership, 42 probationers and 190 full members ; number of teachers and scholars in the Sabbath-school, 179 ; Superintendent, L. M. Conklin. Both church and Sabbath-school are reported in a prosperous and flourishing condition.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HAVANA

was organized April 10, 1856, by the election of the fol- lowing wardens and vestrymen, namely : William Skellen- ger and Adam G. Campbell, Wardens ; Charles Cook, Edwin H. Downs, George T. Hinman, M.D., Archibald Campbell, Calvin Van Dusen, Orville Harris, Seth L. King, and Robert P. Beebe, Vestrymen. Efforts had been made some years previous to organize an Episcopal Church, but no definite action had been taken until the date above given. The church edifice was commenced in 1853, and the corner- stone was laid on the 22d of August of that year. The lot was donated by Charles Cook, and the sacred structure erected by him at a cost of $12,000. Its dimensions are 40 feet wide by 74 feet long, measuring from the front door to the chancel window. The interior decorations are both beautiful and artistic, the frescoing having been done by artists from Rome, as also was the painting of the win- dows. At the time of its completion there were few, if any, sacred edifices in this country more beautifully deco- rated. In architectural appearance it is not surpassed by any similar edifice in the southern tier of counties. The building enjoys a fine location, at the head of South Street, and is an ornament to the village, and an imperishable monument to the munificence of the donator. The edifiee was consecrated to the service of Almighty God by the Right Rev. A. C. Coxe, bishop of the western diocese of New York, Sept. 26, 1871.

The church society was legally incorporated on the 28th of June, 1856, and became self-sustaining in 1859. The first rector was the Rev. Peter S. Ruth ; the present in- cumbent, the Rev. Noble Palmer. Among its rectors have

* This gentleman was born in the town of Southport, Chemung Co., where his father, Daniel Gardner, Esq., was a pioneer and a prominent citizen.

Photo. by Crum.

N. L. Estabrook

Rev. Hobart Estabrook, great-grandfather of H. L. Estabrook, born in 1716, was a son of Rev. Robert Esta- brook, of Canterbury; he graduated at New Haven in 1736, and was ordained Nov. 20, 1745. Hc died at Millington, Conn., Jan. 28, 1766, aged fifty years, and in the twentieth year of his ministry. By his first wife, Hannah Williams, of Mansfield, he had two daughters, who both died young. His second wife was Jerusha Chancey, daughter of Rev. Isaac Chancey, of Hadley, Mass., by whom he had three sons and one daughter, viz. : Hobart, who died at Lebanon, N. H., Oct. 8, 1839, aged ninety-one years; Samuel, who died at Milford, Conn., Oct. 26, 1776, aged twenty-six years; Chancey, who died Oct. 6, 1776, at East Chester, Conn., aged nineteen years ; and Jerusha, wife of Rev. Robert Robbins, who died at Colchester, Conn.

Hobart Estabrook, father of H. L., was born May 9, 1787, at East Haddam, Conn. He married, May 16, 1809, Asenath, daughter of Robert Harvey, of the same place. Their family consisted of ten children,-cight sons and two daughters,-of whom but four are now living, viz. : Ralph H., who resides at Stevens' Point, Wis .; George W., residing in Andover, N. H .; Robert C., located in Newfield, N. Y .; and Herman L., the subject of this sketeh. Oct. 11, 1827, being appointed agent and attorney by Seth P. Beers, commissioner of the Connecticut School Fund, in the fall of that year he removed to New- field, Tompkins Co., N. Y., to take charge of the sixteen- thousand-aere traet of land belonging to the State of Connecticut, from the sales of which $200,000 were realized while he was agent. He resided in Newfield until 1865, when he removed to Havana, N. Y., where he con- tinued until his death, which occurred May 18, 1872.

Mrs. Estabrook survived him, her demise occurring Feb. 25, 1877. Mr. Estabrook served in the Connceticut militia, as sergeant in the 24th Regiment in 1811, and as captain in the 3d Regiment in 1817.

Herman L. Estabrook was born, Jan. 27, 1825, at East Haddam, Conn., the eighth child of Hobart and Asenath Estabrook. With his parents he went to New- field, N. Y., in 1827, and resided there until his marriage, March 1, 1854, to Emeline A., daughter of Solomon Booth, of Catharine, N. Y., by whom he had two children, -William B., born Jan. 27, 1856, and Frances A., born Feb. 22, 1858, the latter of whom died at the age of three years. He followed farming until he came to Havana, in 1858, and the two succeeding years was engaged in the mercantile business. With the exception of three years spent on the old homestead in Newfield, he has resided in Havana ever since his first coming to the place.

In 1872, on the death of his father, he was appointed agent of the Newfield lands of the Connectieut School Fund. He has held various town and corporation offices, having served as trustee, assessor, ete. In the fall of 1876 he was the Democratic candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated,-the county usually giving about six hundred Republican majority. He was appointed sheriff of Schuyler County, Dee. 19, 1876, by Governor Tilden, vice John Wood, deccased, and served one year, the balance of the term. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined that organization in 1853, and holding membership in Myrtle Lodge, Watkins Chapter, St. Omer's Com- mandery, and the Corning Consistory. He is also a mem- ber of the independent order of Odd-Fellows, both of the Havana Lodge and the Thayandanegca Eneampment.

6-49

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

been those who have subsequently attained eminenee in the church, notably Charles Edward Cheney, present bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church in Chicago. The present church officers are I. M. Lyon and Charles Prince, War- dens ; Willis H. Tracy, Mason N. Weed, Frank Dickinson, William K. Kecler, Vestrymen ; T. R. Palmer, Clerk.

Number of communicants, 77; teachers and scholars in the Sunday-school, 42 ; Superintendent, Rev. Noble Palmer.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAVANA

was organized April 10, 1869, by Rev. H. E. Ford. There were seven constituent members, namely : Armenia Quick, Catharine Martin, Andrew Crandall, Emma C. Ganung, Sarah Whitford, Fidelia Clauharty, and Thankful P. Cook. The first preachers were Revs. H. E. Ford and George Balcom, who filled the pulpit about six months each. The first regular pastor was Rev. M. U. Holmes, who took charge of the church in January, 1870. The first church officers were E. W. Cook, L. C. Crandall, and Jacob Yaple, Deacons ; F. A. Ganung, G. W. Hall, E. W. Cook, E. T. Merritt, M. T. Brodrick, and - Whitford, Trustees ; George Balcom, Clerk.

The church edifice was crected by E. W. Cook, and by him donated to the society. It was completed in 1873, and dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Armitage, of New York, on the 14th of January of the same year. The building is of briek, of pleasing architectural design, and handsome inte- rior finish. It is comfortably furnished, and will seat about 500 persons. The church property is valued at $40,000. The present officers are E. W. Cook, S. A. Clauharty, and Amos Barber, Deacons ; M. T. Brodriek, James K. Young, Buel S. Sackett, Elbert P. Cook, George M. Post, and George Corwin, Trustees; I. J. Bassett, Clerk. Pastor, Rev. George A. Starkweather ; membership, 175; number of teachers and scholars in Sunday-school, 163; Superin- tendent, Prof. Hill; number of volumes in library, 175; Librarian, Isaac Miller.

AFRICAN UNION PROTESTANT CHURCH OF HAVANA was organized with 17 constituent members in 1870. Their house of worship was erected in 1869, will scat about 200 persons, and is valued at $2000. The first trustees were George Strong, Albert Lowery, HI. V. Prime, J. S. Gil- bert, and H. Williams. The present pastor is Rev. N. E. Collins, of Elmira ; membership, 15 ; Sunday-sehool scho- lars, 10 ; present trustees, George Strong, George Dove, Charles Darrow, and John Jackson.

The churches of Havana are generally supplied with effi- cient and earnest pastors, who are ably sustained in their work by the members of their flocks, respectively. Com- parative statistics of the various churches show a fair in- crease in membership, and an earnest fellowship which is commendable. Very little sectarian bitterness is observable, an unusual harmony apparently existing between the dif- ferent seets. This is as it should be, for perfect fraternity among Protestant religious denominations is much to be desired, as in the unity of the sects is involved their per- petuity.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

There was a time in the history of the village of Havana .when it seemed as though its prosperity, in a manufactur-

ing point of view, was assured. The general depression in business and financial circles of late years has, however, left its impress here as elsewhere, and the busy hum of ma- chinery is comparatively unheard. A few years since, and the side of the hill in the east part of the village was eov- ered with manufactories, but the " hard times" and the de- vastation of fire have left but few traces of its former indus- trial importance. The only landmark of the past that now remains is the old Major Skellenger furnace, which went into operation many years ago, but like its sister-industries could not pass through the financial crisis that character- ized the lustrum commencing in 1873.

Among the establishments that have acquired a time- honored history are the Decker Flouring-Mills, which were erected about the year 1802 or 1803, by Bowers & Kimball. The mill, as at first built, was a thirty feet square one and one-half story building, which is now in- cluded in the present structure. After a few years, Mr. Kimball retired from the original eopartnership, and Mr. Bowers continued sole proprietor for a time. Afterwards a man by the name of Wood bought a half-interest in the property, and the firm-style was changed to Bowers & Wood. This continued until 1835, when William T. Jackson pur- chased the entire property, improved it materially, and three years thereafter sold it to Simon Deeker. In 1840, Mr. Decker altered and improved the property, and in 1852-53 erected the present mills, which he operated until 1866, when he sold them to the present proprietors, E. A. Dun- ham & Brother. There are now four runs of stone, and the annual product of the mills is about 25,000 bushels per annum. There is also a plaster-mill connected, which grinds 250 tons a year.

The Woolen-Mill erected near the flouring-mills, and using the same water-power, was built by William T. Jack- son in 1836, and by him sold to Simon and Sydney G. Decker in 1838. It was originally used as a linseed-oil factory, subsequently converted into a sash-, door-, and blind-factory, and operated as such by Henry Lybolt and others until 1867, when Mr. Decker put in the necessary machinery for the manufacture of wool. It is not now in operation, but the machinery is still there, and when times will warrant it will doubtless start up again. The woolen- mill now operated by Amos Barber was erected by Major William Skellenger about the same time that he built the foundry on the hill. The woolen-mill property was sold by Mr. Skellenger's heirs to Mr. Barber. The factory turns out a good quality of woolen eloth and does considerable carding.

The Schuyler Stoneware- Work's occupy the site of the glass-works, erected by Charles Cook, about 1845, but never used for the purpose for which they were built. The prop- erty was purchased by A. O. Whittemore, and by him eou- verted into a factory for the manufacture of all kinds of stone-ware. The old building was destroyed by fire in December, 1862, and by the following February the present structure was ready to put into operation. It is still run- ning. Capital invested, $10,000; hands employed, 10.

The Montour Iron- Works were built by Captain Hill, for Charles Cook, in 1850. In 1867, A. O. Whittemore and G. W. Hall leased the premises of the Cook estate, and

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

continued the manufacture of steam-engines, mill-gear, etc., and established a general job-work department, as at present conducted. On the 1st of February, 1878, Mr. Hall retired, and Mr. Whittemore became sole proprietor. Capital in- vested, $20,000 ; hands employed, 10.

Cook's Agricultural Works were erected by Charles Cook in 1854, and designed as a part of the manual labor department of the People's College. The building was never used as a manufactory during Mr. Cook's lifetime, but was converted into an agricultural works by his brother, E. W. Cook, in 1869-70, and operated as such under the firm-name of Cook & Hathaway. The building is now owned by E. P. Cook, and the north part of it is used by the " Hall Manufacturing Company," for the man- ufacture of bench-vises, etc. The south part is used as a carriage-manufactory by M. L. Stockley, being one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the county.

The Havana Foundry and Machine-Shops were built by Major William Skellenger, about 1835. They passed through quite a checkered career and several hands, until purchased by Hull Fanton in 1872. The establishment is now closed, but will doubtless be put into operation again as soon as practicable. There is a fine water-power, good machinery, and a convenient building; in fact, everything desirable for a first-class establishment of its kind.

Weed's Plaster-Mill .- The manufacture of plaster was one of the early industries of the place. As early as 1822, David Lee and Nathan Hall had a small plaster-mill (also, a few years later, a little grist- and saw-mill). The property was afterwards purchased by Minor T. Brodrick, and by him sold to Joseph M. and Horace V. Weed, and was burned while in their possession, Dec. 13, 1876. The lat- ter gentleman rebuilt the plaster-mill in April, 1878, and now operates the same. Mr. Weed was also proprictor of the extensive flouring-mills erected by M. T. Brodrick in 1856, and sold to J. M. & H. V. Weed, Sept. 1, 1874. On the 1st of April, 1874, Joseph M. Weed retired from the copartnership, and the business of the establishment was conducted by Horace V. alone until its destruction by fire, Dec. 13, 1876.

The Estelle Yeast- Works were first established in the building erected by Charles Cook for a boarding-house, in connection with the " People's College," by Joseph M. Weed. The works now occupy a part of the site of the Weed grist-mill, and are operated by Horace V. Weed.

Cook's Steam Saw- and Planing- Mill was built by Cap- tain Hill, for Charles Cook, in 1857. It is now leased by J. B. Coryell, for sawing and planing lumber, etc. It has one upright and one slip saw, and turns out about 200,000 feet per annum.

HAVANA IN THE REBELLION.

By reference to the military history of Schuyler County, elsewhere inserted in this volume, it will be seen that no locality within the province of our work has a better record for true and noble patriotism than has Havana. At an early period in the war she exhausted her quota, and every subsequent call of the President for men was enthusiasti- eally responded to, and her patriotic citizens went fearlessly to the front to sustain the nation's honor, or to die in the

sacred cause of its defense. From the general desire to uphold the freedom of the country during the most trying period in its existence, it is not presumptuous to assert that patriotism, the genuine love of country, has become an hereditary trait in the American composition. A country born amid consternation, fear, doubt, and suffering; bap- tized in blood ; nursed in vigilance; harassed more or less by its merciless foe, Great Britain, until the final culmina- tion of wrong from the mother-country, in 1812, forever terminated the feud existing between the two countries since the Revolution. From the close of the war of 1812 until the trouble with Mexico the country enjoyed that peace and tranquillity which engenders progress, content- ment, and happiness. Nothing occurred to mar the uni- versal harmony save the troubles with the Indians, incident to the settlement of the territories, until internal dissen- sions and fratricidal strife stirred the country from centre to circumference, and culminated in the fearful civil war that marked the cpoch from 1861 to 1865. Then again shone forth in all the glory of national pride that heredi- tary patriotism and inherent heroism which are the proud characteristics of the American people. It has been aptly said that the period of the civil war was the time that tried men's souls. But the love of the old flag and the perpetuity of the grand principles of liberty and freedom as promulgated on the 4th of July, 1776, demonstrated the stern fact that the trial could be and was endured, and though father and son were compelled to fight against father and son, and brother against brother, each striving to maintain what they thought to be the correct principles of free government, the right was with the North, and right then, as ever and always, achieved a most decisive and lasting triumph. And Havana, among all the places in this broad land, stands forth with a military history pre- eminently great, cqualed by that of few, and surpassed by that of no other place in the land. If there be any to whom praise is more due than to others, it is to such men as Charles Cook, Hull Fanton, John E. Mulford, Captain Couch, Edwin Weller, and those who not only went to the front, but also used their influence to arouse the enthusiasm of the people, so that every call of the Government was no sooner made than filled, as history shows to have been the case at Havana. All honor to these men, and all honor to those who served their country in humbler sta- tions. Pcace to the ashes of those who fill unknown graves, and honor to the remains of those who repose in our cemeteries, where once every year let the people meet to scatter flowers o'er their last resting-places, and to bring the choicest gifts of Flora's treasury, as typifying the un- dying regard we entertain for the memory of those who in the hour of peril risked and lost their lives to preserve the nation's honor and to perpetuate the name our country has justly gained as being " the land of the free and the home of the brave."

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 177

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