History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 74

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 74
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 74
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 74
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 74

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).

In the fall of 1865 he was appointed chief clerk in the general superintendent's office, at New York, which position he occupied under the various administrations of the road until 1872, when he was appointed assistant superintendent of transportation, and first located at New York, and after- wards at Jersey City; and in April, 1877, received the appointment of superintendent of the Susquehanna division of the Erie Railway, with office at Elmira, N. Y., where he now resides.

UTICA, ITHACA AND ELMIRA RAILWAY

consolidation with the Cortland and Horseheads Rail- ways, from Cortland to Ithaca, in 1872, and throughout in 1875.

The inception of the road by Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, was open to the country about Ithaca, his native place, and gave growth and prosperity to the small villages along the line, and proved a more expensive work than was anticipated; and his financial embarrass- ment brought the road into the hands of the public after Mr. Cornell had expended about $1,000,000 of his private means upon it. The line of the road, Cortland (Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Junction), New York, to Elmira, New York, 72 miles, siding and other tracks 7 miles, gauge 4 feet 82 inches, rail (iron and steel) 56 to 60 pounds. The object of this road was to supply a direct northeast outlet for the bituminous coal of the Blossburg Mines to its most important markets,-Central and Eastern New York.

This coal is now reached at Corning, on the Erie, where it is delivered by the. Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim Railroad, the tonnage of which has reached as high as 1,000,000 in one year. The greater part of this coal, after July, 1876, has been delivered, at Elmira, directly to the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, by completion of the Elmira State Line Road, which connects with the Tioga Railroad, of Pennsylvania. The operations, Dec. 14, 1875 (the date of opening the road), to April 14, 1876, show gross earnings as follows :

Passenger.

$33,763.84

Freight ..

70,635.52

Mail and Express. 9,786.00

Other ...

4,671.09

Total.

$118,856.45

Operating expense.

64,514.25

Net earnings

$54,342.20

At this rate the net earnings for the year would be over $160,000. The annual charges amount to $105,000 gold. The excess of earnings over interest account has for the

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

last year been applied to construction account. The above earnings are exclusive of the coal traffic.

The directors appointed May 10, 1878, are Gco. J. Rice, Joseplı Radbourn, D. D. Reynolds, of Horscheads; E. K. Goodnow, D. A. Lindley, Henry W. Poor, of New York ; R. T. Turner, S. T. Reynolds, of Elmira ; Jas. H. Rad- bourn, of Erin ; Wm. S. Copeland, of Cortland ; Franklin C. Cornell, of Ithaca ; A. A. Marsh, of New York ; Wm. P. Rogers, of Brooklyn ; each of whom is a stockholder, owning stock in the company in his own right.

Article 6 of the Articles of Association says, " The fol- lowing-named persons shall be the first officers of this company," etc. George James Rice, President ; Joseph Radbourn, Vice-President and General Superintendent ; M. W. Serat, General Passenger Agent and General Freight Agent ; D. S. Greenough, Secretary ; M. W. Serat, Treas- urer ; M. A. Smith, Auditor.

The road passed into the hands of bondholders Nov. 1, 1877, and was sold to a new company organized May 11, 1878. The new company is operating the road.

The following roads are leased by the Northern Central Railway Company, and operated by that company, rolling stock furnished by lessees :

The Chemung Railway .- This company was organized May 14, 1845, and the road opened in 1849. It extends from Elmira Junction, N. Y., to Watkins, N. Y., 17.36 miles, with 4.40 miles of sidings. It was leased May 10, 1872, to the Northern Central Railway Company for ninety- nine years, that company having reserved a controlling in- terest.

Elmira and Williamsport Railroad .- This company was chartered as the Williams and Elmira Railway Com- pany, June 9, 1832, and the road completed Sept. 9, 1854. It extends from Williamsport, Pa., to Elmira, N. Y., 75.45 miles, with 22.43 miles sidings. It was reorganized under its present title Feb. 29, 1860, and leased May 1, 1863, for ninety-nine years.

Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Road. This com- pany was chartered as the Canandaigua and Corning Rail- road Company, May 14, 1845, and the road opened Sept. 15, 1851. It was reorganized under its present title Feb. 18, 1859, and leased to the Erie Railway Company, Jan. 1, 1859, for twenty years, and by that company leased to the Northern Central Railway Company, Oct. 1, 1866. The road extends from Watkins, N. Y., to Canandaigua, N. Y., 46.7 miles, with 10.25 miles of sidings.

The present officers of the Northern Central Railway are Thomas A. Scott, President; A. J. Cassatt, Vice-Presi- dent; S. W. White, Secretary; J. W. Davis, Assistant Secretary ; J. S. Leib, Treasurer; John Crowe, Auditor ; Frank Thompson, General Manager; R. Neilson, Division Superintendent; A. W. Nutt, General Freight Agent ; Wayne Mc Veagh, General Solicitor.

THE ELMIRA CAR AND MACHINE SHOPS

were built by the Erie Railway Company in 1858, destroyed by fire in 1862, and rebuilt in 1863. The total value of machinery and tools is $31,630,-machinery $23,610, tools $8020. The present number of meu employed is 122.

The average monthly expenses, for labor $4950, for ma- terial $5725, total $10,675.

It will be seen that this industry is no inconsiderable factor in the success of Elmira. The mechanics who per- form the labor for which the $4950 are expended montlily, besides circulating this large sum in the community, arc well worthy the respect of their employers as skilled work- men, and contribute largely to the real strength of good society found here; while those who furnish the material may justly be enumerated in the same way, and a consider- able part of the sum paid for material is also circulated here, to the manifest good of all.

ELDRIDGE PARK.

What Central Park is to New York, Fairmount is to Philadelphia, and the Common and public gardens are to Boston, this garden of beautiful things is to Elmira. When we reflect that the city is growing with almost un- exampled rapidity, and will soon surround the loveliest re- treats with crowding houses and places of business, we see in a new light the taste and foresight of the gentleman whose liberal hand has wrought these wonders. The pas- senger on the Erie Railroad, as he leaves Elmira for the west, passes, as he emerges into the open country, a miniature lake, a velvety lawn, with statues, fountains, magnificent drives, neat buildings and ponds. To his in- quiry, reply is made that this is Eldridge Park.

The drive to the park is through a willow-bordered avenue leading up to a broad English gateway, with its gate open ; no hostile warder warning one away from its loveliness. Passing through this gateway, we see just in front, under the shadow of a large tree, three mounds sur- rounding a jetting fountain. On two of these mounds stand white statues of the only two seasons known in this climate, and on the third the figure of a deer, which stands as if ready to seek freedom beyond the inclosure. Before us is the circular lake, of about fifteen acres in extent, en- circled by a necklace of willow-trees. Around this is a splendid drive, while right and left wind roads in most enticing curves, and views of beauty startle the eye at every step. Turning on the firmn gravel to the left, we drive past a boat lying close to the beach, where the lapping waves make a low and peaceful murmur, and delightful vistas are just through the trees, while opposite is the statue of An- dromeda, the daughter of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia ; her mother, Cassiope, boasted of beauty superior to the Nereids. As a punishment for such presumption, An- dromeda was chained to a rock in the sca, to be devoured by a sea monster. She was rescued by Perseus, who, after a desperate conflict, slew the monster, and claimed lier as his bride. This is a fine copy of a statue by Lawrence McDonald, and which belongs to Queen Victoria. It adorns the Queen's palace, at Osboruc, Isle of Wight.

Rounding the delightful curves and viewing the slopes, skirted by emerald escarpments, whence shoot at every turn sweet surprises, we pass the bowed form of another statue, " Contemplation," who, withi pensive head, seems to review the long past.

As we reach the top of the plateau we gaze off over a delightful vista of lake and trees, of flowery nooks, and white,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

gleaming statues, sparkling fountains, wild dells, beds of flowers, stately trees, and delightful arbors, and a paradise it seems before us; beyond is Sabrina, and over the trees the lake ; around us a spacious lawn inclosing another basin, where, as if floating in her boat of shells, stands the " Maid of the Mist," just risen from the sea: a veil of thinnest gauze, air-woven from the myriad drops that shoot upwards around her, half hiding her beautiful form. As we turn, a rainbow kindles the mist, as if Iris herself were hiding therc, and the maid is transformed into some aerial being.

It was an experiment, throwing these choice grounds open to the public. It is a compliment to the taste and good sense of the public that this confidence is not abused. No articles are sold within its inclosure, and one annoying drop in almost every cup of bliss is banished from here.

The street cars run to the park. The grounds comprise some two hundred acres.

THE BANKING INTERESTS

of Elmira have been ably represented ever since the estab- lishment of its pioneer bank. The CHEMUNG CANAL BANK, the first banking institution in Chemung County, was organized in June, 1833, under the Safety Fund Act, with a capital of $200,000. The following were the officers at the time of its organization : J. G. McDowell, President ; Lyman Covell, Vice-President ; William Maxwell, Cashier. Of its first directory, John G. McDowell, William Max- well, Lyman Covell, Horace Mack, Elijah H. Goodwin, Levi J. Cooley, Jacob Westlake, John Jackson, Miles Covell, Augustus S. Lawrence, John Arnot, Mathew McReynolds, and Hiram Gray, all are deceased except HI. Gray and Lyman Covell. The original charter was for thirty years, on the expiration of which it was operated under the general banking law of the State of New York, until 1865, when it organized as a national bank. The latter charter was surrendercd in 1870, since which time the bank has been conducted as a banking firm, under its original name, and with the following present officers : S. T. Arnot, Vice-President ; John Arnot, Jr., Cashier ; and M. H. Arnot, Assistant Cashier. For nearly half a century have its doors been open to the public for the transaction of a general banking and exchange business.

THE BANK OF CHEMUNG was incorporated in 1849, under the State banking laws. This was the second bank- ing institution in Elmira. Until 1853 this bank and the Chemung Canal Bank were the only banks in this vicinity. It was first and for years located on Water Street, but sub- scquently was changed to the corner of Baldwin and Car- roll. Simeon Benjamin was its first president, and Tracy Beadle the first cashier. In 1865 it reorganized as a national bank, under the title of " National Bank of Che- mung." It was so continued until July 1, 1871, when it surrendered its charter as a national bank, and resuming its original name, " Bank of Chemung," was managed as a private bank by Henry W. Beadle. It closed its doors, and its existence as a bank, March 23, 1878.

THE ELMIRA BANK, the third monetary institution in the city, was established in 1853, and was located on the corner of Baldwin and Carroll Streets. D. H. Tuttle was

its first president, and Anson C. Ely its first cashier. It suspended operations in 1863, at which time it had the following management : L. J. Stancliff, President ; Edwin Eldridge, Vice-President ; Wm. F. Corey, Cashier. This bank was the predecessor of the " Second National Bank," its stock and building being purchased by the stockholders and corporators of the latter institution.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK was organized in 1863, with Simeon Benjamin as its president, and with a capital of $100,000. It original location was on the corner of Bald- win and Water Streets, but subsequently was removed to the building occupied by the Chemung Canal Bank. Its present officials are S. T. Arnot, President; John Arnot, Jr., Vice-President ; M. H. Arnot, Cashier ; Hull Fanton, S. T. Arnot, J. Arnot, Jr., M. H. Arnot, and L. Webber, Directors. This is a bank of issue as well as of exchange.

THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK was incorporated Dec. 14, 1863, and was a continuation of the old Elmira Bank. It was located in Ely's Block, on the corner of Baldwin and Carroll Streets, now occupied by F. G. Hall, banker. About 1868 it was removed to its present location, on Lake Street, near Carroll. It has a capital of $200,000, and a circulation of $192,800. Its officers at the time of organization were H. M. Partridge, President ; D. R. Pratt, Vice-President (acting President); W. F. Corey, Cashier. The first Board of Directors, who served until January, 1870, were Henry W. Rathbone, Robert Covell, Wm. S. Hatch,* David H. Tuttle,* Daniel R. Pratt, C. Preswick, Henry M. Partridge, Daniel Pratt,* and Edwin Eldridge .* After the first year D. R. Pratt succeeded to the presidency, and H. M. Partridge officiated as vice- president of this bank. At a meeting of the stockholders, held Jan. 20, 1870, it was voted to change the number of directors from nine to five. All of the directors having become disqualified by the sale of their stock, except Dan- iel Pratt and D. R. Pratt, they appointed George E. Pratt, Ransom Pratt, and Wm. Dundas to serve with them as directors. C. R. Pratt, Arthur Pratt, and C. F. Carrier were subsequently added to the board, in place respectively of Daniel and Ransom Pratt, deceased, and Wm. Dundas, who sold his interest.

Its present officers (1878) are D. R. Pratt, President ; C. R. Pratt, Vice-President ; W. F. Corey, Cashier; C. F. Carrier, Geo. E. Pratt, C. R. Pratt, Arthur Pratt, and D. R. Pratt, Directors.

THE SOUTHERN TIER SAVINGS-BANK, of Elmira, was organized March 19, 1869, and at its first meeting of stockholders Solomon L. Gillet was chosen President, David Decker and James H. Loring Vice-Presidents, H. V. Colt Secretary, and James S. Thurston Treasurer. After an existence of about nine years it suspended opera- tions, April 1, 1878. David Decker was its first President, officiating until 1876, after which time Jackson Richard- son held the office, contemporary with David Decker and Rufus King Vice-Presidents, and S. T. Reynolds Treas- urer. Its office was in the Stancliff Block, on Carroll Street.

Among the financial institutions of the city is the private

* Since deceased.

Photo. by Van Aken.

Richmond Jones

RICHMOND JONES was born in Bloomfield, Essex Co., N. J., September 4, 1811.

His great-grandfather Jones emigrated from Wales with his six brothers, and are supposed to have settled at different places in the United States.

His grandfather, Elijah Jones, lived and was married in Norwalk, Conn., to Hannah Raymond, of a distinguished family; was a messenger of dispatches in the Revolutionary war for General Washington, and served until its close, at about which time he first settled in New Jersey; and sub- sequently, in the year 1798, eame and settled in Newtown (now Elmira) with his family, which at that time and after- wards consisted of seventeen children, fourteen of whom lived to an average age of sixty-five years. The religious tenets of the family of Jones are Presbyterian, and its members have taken leading parts in establishing churches in that denomina- tion ; and particularly characteristic of the family is its upright- ness, honesty, general intelligenec, devout Christian principles, and liberal opinions on all matters relative to any enterprise tending to educate and elevate the rising generation, and to . build up and improve the country, and a strong advocaey of temperance principles.

Of this large family of children, the Rev. Simeon R. Jones, a very prominent clergyman, was eldest son, and was probably the first settled minister in Elmira. He lived to do very much good, and spent nearly his whole life in the Chemung valley, was chaplain in the war of 1812-14, and died at about the age of eighty-four.

Joel Jones, father of the subject of this narrative, was third son of the family ; was married before leaving New Jersey to Mary Munnward, a lady belonging to one of the most wealthy and influential families of that State; settled in Elmira in the year 1814; was a mechanic by occupation, and served as an elder of the Presbyterian Church for some thirty years. Dicd at the age of seventy-five, December 10, 1863. His wife died January 10, 1863.

Mr. Jones spent his boyhood days mostly at school, in the best schools of Elmira. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk in the store of Joseph Viall, where he first became impressed with the idea of leading a mercantile life. At the age of twenty he established business for himself in Tioga Co., Pa., and also engaged largely in the manufacture of lumber, and dealing in the same at Daggett's Mills, and at Wellsville, N. Y. Both in his mercantile business and lumber manufae- turing he was successful. While at Wellsville he was in partnership with Mr. Bradley as lumber merchants, shipping to Albany, Troy, and New York. About the year 1849, Mr. Jones, retaining his interests in Pennsylvania and New York, went to New York and opened an office as a jobber in lumber, which he continued for some three years, and returned to Elmira, where he has since resided, engaging still in the lumber business as a buyer and shipper. In connection with this business, he has engaged largely in real estate operations, mostly in the city of Elmira. Mr. Jones, although not solie- itous of office, has been an ardent supporter of first the Whig party, and afterwards the Republican party, and is well read in all the current topics of the day.

HIe is a man of strict honesty, of mueh consideration in the management of his business affairs, and prompt in the fulfill- ment of his least obligations. In the year 1843, October 24, he married Miss Sarah Ann, second daughter of Col. Ambrose Millard, of Tioga, Pa. The family is of Scoteh descent on her mother's side (Gordon), and on the paternal side of English descent.

They have two children,-Aliee L., wife of Horace R. Halloek, of Detroit, Mich., and Millard R. Jones, a practicing attorney in New York. Mr. Jones had six brothers, one of whom-Isaae Ward-was prominently identified in New York as a grain and flour commission mereliant for some twenty years, and was killed while attempting to pass from one car to another on the New Jersey Central in the year 1861, December 3.

Photo. by Larkin.

ARCHIBALD JENKINS was born in the town of Ashland (formerly Newtown), Nov. 12, 1792. His father, Wilkes Jenkins, youngest son of John Jenkins, came to that town, about the close of the Revolutionary war, from the Wyo- ming Valley, where his father, during the celebrated and bloody massacre at that place, had a fort of his own, and in which the Jenkins family remained secure during that terrible onslaught. Wilkes Jenkins settled in Chemung County while a young man ; married, about the year 1780, Sarah Weair, a native of New Jersey, but a resident of Newtown at the time of the marriage ; settled on the farm where the subject of this narrative now resides about the ycar 1799 ; raised a family of three children,-Zina, Ar- chibald, and Nancy. The two daughters-Mrs. Henry Baldwin and Mrs. Jonathan Jenkins-are deceased. The father died in 1838; the mother in 1797.

Mr. Jenkins spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and at school, and in the year 1824, Jan. 22, married Bethiah, daughter of Stephen Jenkins, of Wyoming Valley, Pa.

His life has been spent as an active, industrious tiller of the soil, by which means he secured a sufficient com- petence for himself and family, and at one time in middle life owned and carried on some five hundred acres of land, a part of which he has cleared of its original forest. Quite a young lad at the beginning of the present century, he has

lived to watch the progress of civilization since the red man contended with the white settlers for supremacy in the Chemung Valley ; to see the various improvements of the century ; to make more easy and almost do away en- tirely with manual labor; to see schools, churches, and societies established; and in all these things has done his part with a liberal hand and a willing mind, and with that integrity and uprightness that has been characteristic of him during his long and eventful career.

He offered his services in the war of 1812; but the war closed and he did no active service.

He has lived during the administration of every Presi- dent of the United States down to 1878. Formerly a stanch member of the Democratic party, joined the Re- publican party upon its formation, and supported firmly its principles, and always opposed human bondage.

His children are Wilkes W., born Nov. 30, 1824; mar- ricd Miss D. M. Sharpe, of Tunkhannock, Pa .; resides in the town of Elmira.

Jonathan H., born Aug. 15, 1827 ; married Sarah Searles, of Southport ; resides in the town of Ashland.

Henry B., born Nov. 11, 1829; married Esther Mary, daughter of Dr. Hovey Everitt, of the town of Chemung, this county, and resides with his father upon the old homestead.

279

Chemung Valeur

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

BANKING-HOUSE OF FRANCIS G. HALL, located on the eor- ner of Baldwin and Carroll Streets. It was established May 1, 1865. Mr. Hall is the suceessor of the firm of Smith & Hall, and conducts a general banking business.

The latest organized bank is the FARMERS' AND MECHAN- ICS' BANK, located on Water Street, west of Baldwin. It was organized in 1876. Its business is at present (1878) managed by L. M. Smith, President, and H. L. Baeon, Cashier.

AUTHORS.

The following is a brief account of those who by their pen have done what they eould to benefit mankind. Many of them have attained an enviable name, and others have started on the road to. fame. As a faithful historian it is our duty to make this brief record.

" The Lyre of Tioga," written by Almira Thompson, daughter of General Matthew Carpenter, in the fall of 1829. This was a saered drama on the book of Esther ; showing, besides familiarity with the text, an intimate acquaintance with the views of contemporaneous writers, by which the writer was enabled to portray the characters to infinite ad- vantage. The writer indulged in lighter poems oeeasionally, sometimes satirical, sometimes pathetic; an instance of this latter is found in the lines on the death of Dr. Satterlee, a brief extract from which is given :

" With anguish rent, the dying man To heaven raised his eye : His quivering lips a prayer began, His bosom heaved a sigh :

"To Him who hears the ravens cry- Who hears the sinner pray ; Respect Thy Word, O God, and be My weeping widow's stay !"

DR. DAVID MURDOCK was always ready to tell a story, or add new coloring to passing events as seen in his kalei- doscope, a fine illustration of which he has left us in the romanec of " The Dutch Dominie of the Katskills," written in 1861, and tinted with Revolutionary incidents.

J. O. TOWNER wrote " Schedayne of Kotonah," a satirical composition, of purely loeal application, embracing the Con- necticut and Pennsylvania controversy.

The " Widow Bedott Papers," by MRS. FRANCES M. WHITCHER, whose husband was rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, were written towards the close of 1856. Joseph C. Neal, the well-known author of "Charcoal Sketelies," was struck by the originality and elcarness of the first series (of letters), when submitted among the mass of eontribu- tions which crowd a weekly newspaper. It was searccly in print before the author's name began to be asked by sub- seribers, casual readers, and brother-cditors, some of whom attributed them to Mr. Neal himself. They eould scarcely be made to believe that the sketehes, so full of humor, so remarkable for minute observation of human nature, were the work of an unpracticed pen. The world is now familiar with the characters ; they abound everywhere, although these were all found and deseribed in Elmira. Mrs. Ma- guire's account of Deacon Whipple will be an everlasting sermon on that hypocritical class who profess to have such " consarn fur the welfare o' Zion."

MISS C. THURSTON is the author of " Home Pleasures," published by the American Tract Society. Miss Thurston eame from Andover, Mass., to New York, in 1827, and to Elmira in 1844, and began her seminary in 1847. Her position as a teacher inspired her to write this work as a guide in the choice of pleasures. The style of the work is colloquial ; its principles may be inferred from the character of the publishers.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 74

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