History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 73

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 73
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 73
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 73
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 73

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).

Carriers, John D. King, Judson L. Cornell, John G. Carpenter, William P. Roosa, John B. Beman, E. J. Rccd, John Moriarty (substitute).

THE BOARD OF HEALTHI.

In 1869 the Common Council adopted sections 95, 96, 97, and 98 of the city ordinances in reference to health.

At a meeting of the Common Council, Monday evening, Aug. 19, 1872, " Dr. Hart, from the Board of Health, appeared and made statement to filthy condition of the canal and Railroad Avenue, and sundry other matters per- taining to the sanitary condition of the city." Then, in July, 1873, the following record appears : " Complaints .- To the Board of Health : The undersigned respectfully calls attention to nuisance on north side of river-bank, Water Street, and most earnestly requests that measures be adopted for its immediate abatement,-the stagnant water and ac- cumulation of filth greatly endangering lives and health. (Signed) Booth, Dounce, Rose & Co., Gridley & Daven- port, and others." By resolution the members of the Com- mon Council have provided duties for a Board of Health, and authorized the collection of the cost of removing or abatement of nuisance from parties on whose premises it may be found, and in case of failure to pay they may be sued by the city attorney, etc. These provisions were adopted in March, 1874.

The Health Department of 1878 is as follows : Health Officer, Dr. Clarence M. Spaulding; Assistants, Dr. P. W. Flood, Dr. Charles P. Godfrey.

The salary of the health officer was fixed at $400 per annum, April 2, 1877.

THE ELMIRA FARMERS' CLUB

was organized Dec. 14, 1869, by George W. Hoffman, W. A. Armstrong, James McCann, Charles Heller, Lewis Fitch,

Photo. by Larkin.

W. A.Armstrong

Samuel A. Chapman, Scely P. Chapman, John Bridgeman, Samuel Carr, and Daniel E. Howell, all practical farmers who loved their vocation and thoroughly understood it, who had watched all the processes of farming and noted cvery

Number of carriers

Letters returned to office.

274

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

fact of value, and who were ready and willing to impart to each other the knowledge they had gathered.

To William Armstrong, with his clear head and apt pen, the club owes much ; but the sterling judgment and care- ful observation, practical deductions and philosophy of suc- cess was shared by most if not all of the members enu- merated.

To the ordinary observer a farmers' club is little more than a name, but this is a praiseworthy exception. It takes rank, of course, from the manner in which its dis- cussions are conducted, and from the reports we are justi- fied in saying that the practical and thorough knowledge exhibited constitute it rather a school than a place of dis- play of theory ; for the lessons are and have been by men unused to the power of language or public speech, furnish- ing literally but the skeletons, which only an accomplished secretary, like Armstrong, with native skill and eultured pen, could cover with the living flesh of his expres- sions and the leaping blood of his humor, that gave the thought form and comeliness to look upon and instructive to listen to. The first gathering was around a wood-stove, in a wagon-shop lighted with a single tallow-candle. George W. Hoffman was elected president, and William A. Arm- strong secretary, which positions have always been held by these gentlemen.

Mr. Hoffman is president of the New York State Agri- cultural Society, and Mr. Armstrong chief editor of the Husbandman, influential and well known.

Library : In 1871 a library was started by the club, which now contains 2000 volumes, embracing every de- partment of literature, but being especially rich in works on agriculture. This is the result of voluntary contribu- tions by the club.

In 1873 the club erected its present hall, a substantial and showy two-story building, with a fine tower and lofty flag-staff. The second story, or hall, is for public meetings, with the library in an alcove off from the main room.

The ground-floor and basement is occupied by the print- ing establishment of The Husbandman,* an agricultural weekly newspaper, started in 1874 by a member of the club. In the editorial department Mr. Armstrong is as- sisted by Mr. J. S. Van Duzer.

The club publishes annual volumes containing reports of its discussions by Mr. Armstrong, and much additional information. The Elmira Farmers' Club illustrates the truth that brains are quite as valuable in farmers as in any other association of life, that their activity is the measure of success in this as in other fields.

CEMETERIES.

The earliest burial-place was on the land of Stephen Tuthill, near the present junction of Sullivan and Water Streets. Grave-stones were visible until within a few years. The remains of bodies buried there were never removed. Dr. Joseph Hinchman was the first person buried there,-1802. He was the father of Mrs. Judge Avery and grandfather of Judge Avery, the first county judge of Tioga County under the constitution of 1846, and

the author of a history of the Susquehanna Valley. The above continued to be the burial-place until the purchase of the Second Street cemetery, in 1838, the first interment in the latter being Mrs. Dr. E. L. Hart, in May, 1839. The lot-owners still continued to bury in the former (Bap- tist Church cemetery) occasionally. Of late years the grounds have been cleared of the tangled growth, and now put on a more attractive appearance. This provision an- swered for the dead of the city until 1858, when the neces- sity became imperative that a new cemetery should be laid out within easy reach of the city. Measures were taken by enterprising citizens and the members of the Board of Trustees, of which Frank Hall was president, to bring the object about.

WOODLAWN .- In the winter of 1858, Messrs. Strang, Thurston, and Baker moved for the undertaking of pro- viding a new cemetery, and obtained the privilege from the Legislature to loan $10,000 for this purpose on the part of the village corporation. The vote for the tax came up at the special spring election separately, and, amid close oppo- sition, was carried by only twenty-two majority. Other prominent citizens became interested, Frank Hall, president of the village, Simeon Benjamin, John I. Nicks, and Asher Tyler furthering the cause with much zeal. The Board of Trustees resolved themselves into a committee immediately, to secure a proper location, who appointed a committee of selection, consisting of Frank Hall, John I. Nicks, Nathan Baker, and John Hill. They proceeded to examine a por- tion of Edmund Miller's farm, in Southport, surrounding a natural pond, Geo. W. Hoffman's farm, a broken, roll- ing piece of ground, with a pond of living spring-water, a favorite resort with some, and Simeon Benjamin's Pick- away Grounds (Fifth Ward), and a portion of East Hill, belonging to Mrs. Arnot; and finally the old Heller farm, of fifty acres, which was regarded as eligible both in price and location.

The purchase-money was between $4000 and $5000. Mr. Daniels was employed to lay out the cemetery, and it was immediately inclosed with a substantial fenee.

The walks and drives were arranged after the serpentine order, with shade and ornamental trees, and shrubbery suitably located for shade and ornamentation.

There are now about ninety-eight acres belonging to the cemetery. About 1250 lots have been sold ; about 3000 have been buried here, exclusive of 2996 Rebel soldiers, who are at the north part of the grounds, and 128 Union soldiers in a place to themselves.

There is a deposit of sand underlying a part of the ground that has afforded as high as $2000 per annum rev- enue ; this, however, depends on the demand for sand. From this revenue and the sale of lots the cemetery has become a paying investment, having been able to save suffi- cient to purchase additional 32} aeres, at $1000 per acre, besides meeting all other expenses.

In 1868 the property was estimated at $25,000 ; probably not more than one-third of the present grounds was then laid out into lots and disposed of. The name given to this new cemetery is "Woodlawn." The grounds are being adorned, and there is no reason why " Woodlawn" should not excite as much admiration as "Mount Auburn," of

# See chapter on the Press of Chemung County.

Photo. by Van Aken,

WILLIAM HOFFMAN was born in the town of Northumber- land, county of the same name, in the State of Pennsylvania, Sept. 7, 1780. He was of German parentage, and inherited from them much of that industry, self-perseverance, and energy which led him in early life to strike out for himself, afterwards leading him to success and position, where first was naught but danger, trial, and discouragement.

In the year 1799 young Hoffman made a trip on foot from his home to the then "far west," Geneva, where he worked at his trade, as a hatter, for a few months, and in the fall of the same year returned home.

In the spring of 1800, placing his seanty effects in a boat, he struck up the beautiful Susquehanna into the quieter waters of the Chemung,-not then as now, their banks free and open, with cultured fields and busy villages teeming into varied life scattered along,-but, rather, the little boat, with the young man's all, cut its almost unfrequented way, propelled by the strong arm of hopeful youth, amidst comparatively untried seenes, into the very primeval solitude of the wilderness itself. Reaching the Chemung valley, he selected Newtown (now Elmira) for the scene of his future struggles. He was absolutely poor, but full of that ardent hope and invineible determination of spirit which have ever been the marked characteristics of his life.

Possessed of a good trade, a strong and vigorous constitu- tion, industrious habits, frugality and temperance, incorrupti- ble integrity, and deep, unchanging love of country that constitutes the true American citizen, he boldly looked the world in the face, and earnestly commenced the struggles incident to pioneer life.

Mr. Hoffman at first carried on the hat business here. His first little shop, in years long gone by, was just where Hubbell's furniture store now is. A little case contained all his stoek in trade,-a half-dozen hats and as many caps, maybe,-made for rough service, for what else would the rough pioneers wear ? That same little hat case which, perhaps, was the foundation of his after-success, is treasured by revering descendants among the precious heirlooms that he left behind,-saered mementoes of his earliest struggles, and eloquent of his worth.

But while the most careful attention was given to business and personal prosperity, the best interests of the little eom- inunity of which he had become a member were by no means overlooked or forgotten. To his energetic and self-sacrifieing efforts, in common with the noble spirits who acted in unison with him, the county, as such, owes its existence. The first

church in Elmira was erected by his assistance and determined public spirit. He was ever noted for his liberality in aiding to ereet public buildings, and was ever a true and steadfast friend in works of local improvement. The greater portion of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. His extensive farm might be said at one time to have been a " model one," and was patterned after by others. He introduced in this county what came to be known as the " Hoffman Corn," which was peculiarly profitable of culture hereabouts. The farm owned by Mr. Hoffman forms, in 1878, a part of the beautiful city of Elmira, extending from what is now Walnut Street far above the old family homestead on Water Street. He was poor when he took it, and it was not until many years of the hardest labor and untiring industry that he was able to pay for his land, which he originally bargained for at higher rates than did most of his neighbors; but with an honesty that charae- terized his whole life, he eventually fulfilled every requirement upon him. For more than a half-century Mr. Hoffman con- tributed to the growth and development of the county, and took a leading part in its affairs, whose life was a career of action, vicissitudes, and success. He was a wise counselor, an ardent worker in every good enterprise, a staneh friend, and a strong supporter of good morals and religious institutions.

He married Peggy Smith, sister of the late Dr. Uriah Smith and Solomon L. Smith, March 28, 1805, who died Nov. 11, 1805, leaving an infant daughter, Peggy Smith Hoffman, born Nov. 11, 1805. March 2, 1809, he married Sally Smith, of Southport, who was born Feb. 3, 1786, in Orange Co., N. Y., and was brought, when only three years of age, by her parents to Che- mung County. The mode of moving from one place to another in the pioneer days was so different from that nowadays, that this instance will quite well illustrate the contrast. The children were placed in baskets, one being suspended on eachı side of the horse, and in this novel way Mrs. Hoffman was brought to her new home, where she grew to womanhood, was married, and raised a family of children. She did her part well; was a woman exemplary in all her ways, and instilled into the minds of her children all that makes truc manhood and womanhood. She died Dec. 7, 1865. Their children are by this marriage: John S., born July 2, 1811 ; Jacob, born July 28, 1814, murdered by the Cayuse Indians, in Oregon, Nov. 29, 1847; William, Jr., born April 6, 1817, died Nov. 11, 1876 ; Joseph, born Aug. 16, 1819; George W., born Feb. 9, 1822; and Col. Henry C. Hoffman, born Jan. 14, 1827.

Photo. by Larkin.

3. Robinson

JOHN M. ROBINSON was born at Windliam, Grecne Co., N. Y., Feb. 23, 1814. He was next to the youngest in a family of four sons and one daughter of Captain Eli P. Robinson and Mary (Saxton) Robinson, the former a native of Windham, Conn., and a lineal descendant of Jolin Robinson, one of the emigrants on the " Mayflower," in 1620. Captain Robinson was a man highly esteemed by his fellow- citizens, liberally educated, was for many years a justice of the peace and general conveyancer. As a teacher, gave special attention to the early education of his children. He was a captain in the war of 1812-14, and took part in the defense of Sacket's Harbor and Brooklyn Heights.

His wife was a woman of rare virtues and womanly qualities, and during the war in which her husband was a soldier traveled on horseback through the neighbor- hoods in her vicinity to gather material for the comfort of needy soldiers.

Of their children, Hon. Lucius Robinson is the present Governor of New York State; elected 1876. Mr. John M. Robinson attended school more or less until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he was apprenticed until he should become of age to Mr. Humphrey Potter, to learn the cabinet business, and during these years he received one more year's schooling.

At the close of his apprenticeship, in the year 1835, he came to Horseheads and took charge of a cabinet manu- facturing business where he remained for one year, and in

1836 settled in the then village of Elmira and established a chair-manufactory on a small scale. From this beginning, he about the year 1839 added the cabinet-making and sub- sequently a general furniture business, which branches of business he has continued until the time of writing this sketch. By economy and industry, with a will to do, and a business sagacity not uncommon among self-made business men, Mr. Robinson has gradually extended his business from sales only reaching a few hundred dollars annually to those now amounting to seventy-five thousand, and passed through the days when each manufacturer cut his own tim- ber in the wood, and by a long and tedious process prepared it for the various departments of work,-a wide contrast with 1878, when machinery for the manufacture of almost every article has made rapid strides, and taken the place of the rude tools of a half-century ago.

In his early days Mr. Robinson was a member of the Whig party, and was identified with the Republican party upon its formation. He has never been solicitous of polit- ical preferment, but closely allied to a business life.

In the year 1836, May 4, he married Nancy, daughter of Jacob Satterly, of Jamesville, Onondaga Co., N. Y. She was born September, 1814.

Their children are Julia, wife of E. P. Bement, of El- mira, William, Sarah (deceased), Mary, George, and Lucius D. Of these sons, William and George are associated with their father in business.

275

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Boston, " Greenwood," of New York, or " Laurel Hill," of Philadelphia.

The ceremony inaugurating " Woodlawn Cemetery" took place Oct. 11, 1858. Dr. Murdoch delivered the address. The cemetery commissioners are Stephen MeDonald, J. Davis Baldwin, and Geo. Hoffman ; Nathaniel Baker, Superintendent ; Charles Abbot, Sexton.

THE FERRY.

The first mode of passage aeross the Chemung River was by scow-boat and skiff, at the foot of Conongue Street. This method was practiced until the building of the first bridge at the foot of Lake Street. The charter for this was granted April 16, 1823. The erection took place soon after, and was finished and opened for crossing during the year. It was a long bridge, with heavy timbers laid from pier to pier for the superstrueture, strong and durable, built by John Spieer, Stephen Tuthill, and Robert Covell. This was torn down and replaced by a frame bridge and piers, roofed over. J. H. Gallagher was the superintendent of the building. This was burned in 1850. The corporators of the building numbered about 600.

The same company rebuilt the bridge in 1850, aided by an insurance of $6000 on the one burned. In 1863 it was overhauled and repaired, but the big freshet of 1865, March 17, undermined the only stone pier, and a long section at the Southport end fell and was carried down the river. Lyman Covell was President of the Bridge Com- pany twenty-four years, and was succeeded by Edmund Miller, of Southport.

The Main Street Bridge Company was organized in 1853, and a charter granted for its building to benefit the real estate in the Fifth Ward. The company kept up the bridge until 1862, when it was sold at sheriff's sale, and reorgan- ized. Moses Cole was the builder of the structure. In March, 1865, the trestle-work over the island was taken out by a freshet. This was repaired. In March, 1866, the first span (at the First Ward) was burned. Both bridge companies were consolidated in 1865. The original pro- jectors of the Main Street bridge were Samuel B. Strang, Tracy Beadle, William T. Post, and A. C. Ely.

The old toll-gatherer-" Papa Dean"-was a man of huge proportions, and occupied a toll-house at the end of the bridge ; he invariably dressed in gray, and donned a peculiar old white hat. Although regarded faithful in his performance of duty, the boys frequently avoided the con- tribution by climbing over the fence that guarded the cn- tranee ; he was never censured for this, however.

IRON BRIDGES.

By Legislative enactment, in 1872, the city of Elmira was authorized, with the assent of the tax-payers, to bond itself in the sum of $120,000 for the purpose of building two iron bridges to span the Chemung River, at the foot of Lake and Main Streets respectively ; Hon. Asher Tyler, Hon. William T. Post, Hon. John Arnot, Jr., Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, and Robert M. MeDowell, Esq., were commis- sioners appointed to execute the work ; Casper S. Decker was subsequently appointed by the Common Couneil in place of Mr. Tyler, who declined to serve. The commissioners

organized by choosing Mr. Post for chairman, and Mr. Beecher for secretary, and immediately proceeded to get a plan for Main Street bridge, which in aeeordanee with law was laid before the City Council and approved by them. The contract for building the superstructure was secured by Whceler H. Bristol, of Owego, who sub-let it to Lord & Daniels, of Rochester; work was eommeneed in Septem- ber of that year, but the manner in which it was prose- cuted, the character of the work, and the quality of the material furnished were very unsatisfactory to the commnis- sion, and the contractor was allowed to abandon the work. The work was resumed in June following under contract with the Cincinnati Iron Bridge Company, J. W. Shipman, proprietor and manager ; Mr. William Kingsly, of Standing Stone, Pa., completed the masonry. The commission, deem- ing the sum appropriated insufficient for the construction of such bridges as would be required, advised an additional amount of $30,000, which was promptly granted by the Legislature in Mareh, 1874. Mr. Post retired from the commission and James L. Woods, Esq., succeeded him. The masonry was laid with stone from near Corning and the border of Cayuga Lake. The foundation is piles driven to a firm bearing, and sawed off below the bed of the river, well grouted and heavily timbered on the top. The super- structure is of iron, and its style, the " Whipple Trapezoidal Truss." Total length, 795 ; number of spans, five ; height of truss, twenty-three feet ; road-way, twenty feet ; two side- walks, each six feet wide; and was ready for traffie on the 15th of September, 1873.

Lake Street bridge was completed under the same com- mission, Oet. 1, the following year, and is a duplicate of the Main Street bridge with the exception that it has three spans of 182 feet cach, and the truss is twenty-six feet high ; it was built by the same company. The masonry is of lime- stone from Waterloo. Whitfield Farnum was engineer, and Peter Russell, superintendent. The bridges are of wrought iron with phoenix columns, and supposed to sustain 2000 pounds per lineal foot in addition to their own weight, with faetor five for safety. Lake Street bridge cost $65,000, and the two bridges, $149,324.

In his dealings with the commission, Mr. Shipman proved himself a gentleman, and adhered strietly to the specifica- tions, sometimes doing more than the contract called for.

THE ELMIRA GAS-LIGHT COMPANY

was incorporatea in 1852. Capital, $50,000. M. H. Arnot, President ; S. T. Arnot, Secretary, Treasurer, and Superintendent. Office, Chemung Canal Bank Building.

ELMIRA MECHANICS SOCIETY,

instituted Jan. 15, 1834. Abel Stowell, President; Norris North, Viec-President ; R. R. R. Dumars, Secretary ; J. S. French, Treasurer.

THE NEW YORK AND ERIE RAILROAD COMPANY

was chartered, New York, April 24, 1832; by charter the line of road was wholly within the State of New York. The construction of the road eommeneed in 1836, and in September, 1841, the section from Pierpont to Goshen was opencd. The State in 1836 had agreed to loan it credit to the amount of $3,000,000, to aid in building the road, and

276

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

up to February, 1844, $4,736,949 had been spent in con- struction, of which $2,599,514 was the proceeds of the State loan. On the 14th May agreed to release its claim on the road, provided the line should be completed in six years. The road was opened from the Hudson River to the lake, April 22, 1851. The charter was amended to allow the road to pass through a part of Pennsylvania on payment of $10,000 per annum.

About the 26th of May, 1875, the road passed into the hands of a receiver, and so remained until the 1st day of June, 1878, when it was sold under a decrce of foreclosure to the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad Com- pany, who took possession, and now operate the road. Under the new organization the company have commenced laying the third rail from Waverly to New York, which then will give them the narrow-gauge from New York to Buffalo; the road is in a flourishing condition. Receipts of the road in 1878 :

May. Owego. $13,521.12

Waverly

Elmira. 28,877.08 76,299.45

The present officers, agents, and employees of the Receiver of the Erie Railroad will continue to discharge the duties of their respective positions for the new company until otherwise ordered ; H. J. Jewett, President ; E. S. Bowen, General Superintendent ; John N. Abbott, General Ticket and Passenger Agent ; R. C. Vilas, General Freight Agent ; John A. Hardenburgh, General Purchasing Agent; P. P. Wright, Superintendent of Transportation ; B. W. Spencer, Treasurer ; Stephen Lettle, Auditor.

ROBERT B. CABLE

was born in New York City, March 23, 1841. His father, Stephen Cable, was a native of Litchfield Co., Conn.,

Photo. by Larkin.

RB Cable

and settled in New York while a young man, about the year 1835, where he now resides.

Robert B., at the age of fourteen, struck out into the busy world for himself, and for some four ycars was en- gaged in the provision business in his native city.

In the year 1859 he was connected with the work of constructing the Bergen Tunnel for the Erie Railway, which was the beginning of his railroad career. After the completion of the tunnel he located in Chicago in the pro- vision business, returned to the service of the Erie Rail- road in 1863, and has since then been continuously con- nected with that great thoroughfare, filling various positions in both the transportation and freight departments.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 73

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