USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 82
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 82
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 82
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 82
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George L. Woolsey, enl. March 31, 1864 ; disch. June 8, 1865. John 11. Wilkins, enl. March 29, 1864; disch. Jnne 8, 1865. Wm. T. White, enl. March 31, 1864 ; disch. June 8, 1865. Florentine A. Whitcomb, enl. March 1, 1865; disch. Jnue 8, 1865. Charles W. Wheeler, enl. March 29, 1864; absent, sick.
Discharged. Robert F. Stewart, capt ; mnisl. March 31, 1864; wounded Juve 17, 1864 ; disch. June 6, 1865, on account of wounds.
George W. Cook, Ist lient .; must. March 31, 1864 ; pro, to adjutant of regiment Dec. 12, 1864 ; disch. June 8, 1865.
Wm. E. Bogart, 2d lieut .; must. Dec. 12, 1861; disch. May 1, 1865, for disab. S. G. Il. Musgrave, 1st sergt .; end. March 17, 1864; disch. Sept. 12, 1864; pro. to 2d lient., Co. 11, 179th N. Y. Vols. ; mustered ont June 8, 1865.
Elward Lonnsberry, enl. Ang. 31, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1864; pro. to Ist lient.
Co. B, 179th N. Y. Vols .; mu-tered ont June 8, 1865.
Isaac Hildreth, enl. March 21, 1864; disch. Dee. 7, 1864, for disability. Byron lodge, enl. March 31, 1861; disch. Jan. 9, 1865, for disability. James A. Harris, enl. March 31, 1864; disch. Jan. 16, 1865, for disability. Franklin Cornell, enl. March 11, 1864; disch. April 31, 1865, for disability. Jolin Hall, enl. April 9, 1864; disch. May 15, 1863, for disability.
Samuel A. Chapman, enl. March 27, 1864; disch. May 19, 1865, by General Order.
Died.
James B. Bonker, 2d lieut. ; must. April 22, 1864; wounded in action, Sept. 30, 1864; died at Washington, D. C., Oct. 17, 1864, of said womuls.
Charles Sickler, enl. March 26, 1864; killed in action, June 17, 1861, near Petersburg, Va.
Daniel O. Ormsby, enl. March 30, 1864; wounded in action, June 17, 1864; died June 24, 1864, of said wounds.
George W. Joiner, enl. March 21, 1864; died Ang. 23, 1864, of disease.
l'anlding Vincent, enl. March 31, 1864 ; died Ang. 7, 1864, of disease.
James 11. Brown, enl. March 31, 1864; died of grape-shot wounds, June 29, 1864.
Sammel Hemingway, enl. March 28, 1864; died July 17, 1864.
Israel R. Graves, enl. March 26, 1864; wounded in action, June 17, 1861; died Ang. 27, 1864, of said wound.
Win. T. Clark, eul. March 29, 1864; died Ang 18, 1861, of disease. Henry Chubb, enl. March 28, 1864; died Sept. 7, 1864, of disease. Henry Soles, enl. March 31, 1864; died Ang. 8, 1864, of disease. Peter O. Greer, enl. Sept. 1, 1861; died Dec. 22, 1861, of disease. Daniel J. Kenney, enl. Sept. 3, 1864; died Jan. 2, 1865, of disease. lomer D. Alcott, enl. Feb. 12, 1861; died Sept. 4, 1>64, of disease. Smith Q. McMasters, enl. Sept. 1, 1864; killed in action April 2, 1865, in front of' Petersburg, Va. Thomas C. Chapman, col. March 31, 1864; died Jan. 12, 1865, while a prisoner nt Salisbury, N. C.
-
Sammel Il. Laue, enl. March 19, 1864; died Feb. 1, 1865, on furlough. David II. June, enl. Feb. 15, 18+4; died March 17, 1865, of disease.
Deserters.
John I1. Brooks, enl. March 29, 1864; deserted April 26, 1861, ut Elmira. Wm. Barbour, enl. March 31, 1861; deserted April 26, 1864, at Elmim. Win. Mitchell, enl. March 29, 1864; deserted April 26, 1864, at Elmira. Imnes McGuire, enl. March 31, 1864; deserted April 26, 1864, at Elmir i. Timothy Mahoney, enl. March 29, 1861 : deserted April 26, 1864, at Elmira. Marens Moon, enl. March 31, 1864; deserted April 26, 1864, at Elmira. William Robinson, March 21, 1861; deserted April 26, I. 64, at Elmira. John Thompson, enl. March 29, 1864; deserted April 29, 1861, at Elmira. William Minier, onl. March 14, 1861; desorted April 28, 1861, at Elmira. Alexander P. Campbell, enl. March 31, 1864 ; deserted April 26, 1861, at Elmira. James Bognie, ent. March 29, 1864; deserted April 26, ISGI, at Elmica. Jolin Fox, eul. March 28, 1861; deserted April 26, 1864, at Ehuira.
Company G.t
llenry J. Messing, capt .; must. in July 20, 1861; must, ont June 8, 1865. Rupert A. Budworth, enl. May 20, 1865 ; absout, sick ; no d.sch. given. Dennis Dempsey, ent. June 1, ISGJ ; disch. June 8, 1865.
Thomas Dopson, erl. June 1, 1865.
Silas llarrington, enl. May 31, 1865 ; disch. Joue 8, 1865,
Lyman A. Slight, enl. May 31, 1865; woumled ; disch. June 8, 1865. James 11. Day, enpt. ; must. in July 20, 1864 ; disch. by order of Sec. of War, on account of disab., Jan. 31, 1865. W'm. J. Hemstreet, Ist lient. ; must. in July 20, 1864 ; disch. by order of See of War, May 15, 1865.
t Officers and men wlm enlisted in Elmira.
304
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
Palmer R. Avery, enl. May 20, 1864; died Sept. 12, 1864, of disease. Solomon Leonard, Jr., enl. June 4, 1864 ; died Aug. 24, 1864, of wounds. Charles Ashton, enl. May 28, 1864 ; deserted Aug. 19, 1864. Noah Leith, enl. June 1, 1864; deserted Oct. 12, 1864. John Smith, enl. June 1, 1864; deserted Ang. 17, 1864. James Wilson, enl. May 28, 1864; deserted Ang. 10, 1864.
Company H .*
Giles H. Holden, capt .; must. in Sept. 13, 1864; must. out June 8, 1865. Fritz E. Culver, Ist lieut .; must in Sept. 13, 1864; must. out June 8, 1865.
William Shackelton, sergt .; eul. Sept. 9, 1864 ; wounded, no date given ; disch. June 8, 1865.
John Devlin, corp .; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; dischi. June 8, 1865. Andrew Brown, mus .; enl. Sept. 9, 1864; disch. June 8, 1865. James 11. Applegate, private; enl. Sept. 8, 1864 ; wonuded, no date given. Wilmot Griffin, private; enl. Sept. 8, 1864; absent, sick ; no disch. given. Isaac Smith, private ; enl. Sept. 9, 1864 ; disch. June 9, 1865. Jesse Warner, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864; disch. June 9, 1865.
Josiah Belknap, private; enl. Sept. 5, 1864; disch. May 17, 1865. David A. Van Gorder, private ; enl. Ang. 17, 1864 ; disch. by Sec. of War, no date given.
S. G. H. Musgrave, 2d lieut. ; must. in Sept. 13, 1864; trans, and pro. to capt. of Co. E, May 18, 1865; disch. June 8, 1865.
George Proper, private; enl. May 16, 1864; died Nov. 26, 1864. Michael Burns, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. Charles Boyer, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. Lebee Darius, private ; enl. Sept. 6, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. John Dalton, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. John Demott, private; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; deserted Sept. 14, 1864. Dennis Dwyer, private; enl. Sept. 7, 1864 ; deserted Sept. 14, 1864. Michael Ferguson, private ; ent. Aug. 4, 1864; deserted Dec. 10, 1865. Edward lloward, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. John Hues, private; enl. Sept. 9, 1864; desert d Sept. 13, 1864. Robert Hunt, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1864 ; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. Edward Murphy, private ; enl. Aug. 20, 1864 ; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. Peter Sullivan, private; enl. Ang. 10, 1864; deserted Sept. 13, 1864. John Write, private; enl. Sept. 10, 1854; deserted Sept. 13, 1864.
1ST VETERAN CAVALRY.
Andrew T. Davis, corp., Co. A ; enl. June 1, 1863; killed June 5, 1864, near Staunton. Va.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
ASHLAND.
THE territory that now constitutes the town of Ashland was originally included in the old town of Chemung, sub- sequently in Elmira (as Newtown), and then in Southport, from parts of which towns it was formed by aet of the Legislature in 1867. It lies upon the south border of the county, on both sides of Chemung River. The soil in the valleys is a fine quality of gravelly loam, while upon the hills it is of a slaty nature, well adapted to the cultivation of tobacco. The streams are Seely, Goldsmith, South, and Bently Creeks, which are all tributaries of the Chemung River.
The town is made historically famous as having been the scene of a battle between General Sullivan and the Indians, during the memorable campaign of 1779. The locality of this engagement is an irregular elevation called " Hog Back," now ineluded in the farms of Messrs. James Car- penter and William Lowman. Tradition has it that the Indians escaped up the river with slight loss, and were not pursucd. On a recent map, the location is erroneously marked " battle-ground of 1812," but as the nearest ap- proach of the British to this point was Buffalo, the error is apparent.
THE SETTLEMENT
of the town as now constituted was commenced in 1788, by Green Bently, who was immediately followed by the
Wellses, Ebenezer Green, and others, mentioned in the his- tory of Wellsburg, farther on. Isaac Baldwin and Henry, his brother, the farmer, who settled on the present site of Lowmanville, came in at about the same time as Bently ; some elaim a priority of settlement for him, which is not sufficiently authenticated to make it historically definite. Abner Kelsey arrived in 1789, and about two years after- wards rceeived a patent for 460 aeres of land, upon which Thomas Decker, Charles E. Coffey, and others now reside. This instrument bears date March 2, 1791.
About the year 1800, Jaeob Comfort came in, and soon thercafter, David Burt.
In 1804, Jesse Carpenter, father of James Carpenter, came in from Orange Co., N. Y., and settled on the farm now owned by Jacob Lowman, a short distance from the present residence of James. The children of Jesse Car- penter now residents of this county, besides James, are George E., wholesale dry-goods and notions merchant, of Elmira; Edward S. and William S., old and respected citi- zens of Big Flats.
James Mitehell, father of Jacob W. Mitchell (who was born in the old homestead in 1809), eame in about 1800. Others who came about the same time, or soon afterwards, were Samuel Middaugh, - Gardner, Judge Caleb Baker, the pionecr sehool-teacher, who taught school at Wellsburg, but was a resident of the town of Southport. Below Wells- burg, on the south side of the river, settled James McKean, uncle of Hon. Samuel McKean, some years sinee United States Senator from Bradford Co., Pa., Elias Middaugh, Elder Roswell Goff, the pioneer preacher and first pastor of the Baptist Church at Wellsburg, in 1790, Deacon Thomas Keeney, and others.
About opposite Wellsburg were the Baldwins, before mentioned, John Hillman, Wilkes Jenkins, who settled there in 1790, and in 1799 removed to the town of Elmira, and permanently settled on the place on which his son Archibald still lives.
Colonel Solomon L. Smith, father of Jud Smith, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and a pioneer of this county.} Jud Smith is a farmer, stock-raiser, and lumberman, and owns about six hundred aeres of land. Solomon L. was supervisor for twelve successive years, and afterwards sev- eral years in Southport. Jud was supervisor of Ashland in all six years. C. M. Stringer, son of John H. Stringer, was born in Chemung County in 1828, and is therefore one of the old settlers. Ferdinand Coffey, father of Charles E. Coffey, came in at a later date and settled where the latter now resides. The Mathews family were among the very early settlers. Several members of this family have been prominent citizens, and some are still residents of the town and county.
The first house erected within the present limits of the town was by Green Bently, on the banks of the creek that now bears his name, near the village of Wellsburg, in the spring of 1789.
The first birth was that of Eunice, daughter of Abner Kelsey, who was born March 16, 1789. She married Jacob Decker, and raised a family of three sons and three
# Officers and men who enlisted in Elmira.
t See history of the town of Southport, town officers, etc.
R.l. Bockwork
١١٢٦٤٤٠
Susan Fischler Lockwood
LOCK WOOD
ST 0
R.E.
R. C. LOCKWOOD STORE, STORE HOUSE, COAL YARD AND PLANING MILL.
RESIDENCE OF R.C. LOCKWOOD, WELLSBURG, N.Y.
LITH BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILADA
305
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
daughters, of whom all but one survive. She died March 21, 1864, aged seventy-five years eleven months and five days, and her remains are interred in the old Baptist church- yard at Wellsburg.
The first death is said to have been that of Stephen Kent, but the date is not given, nor could the most diligent in- quiry ascertain the fact.
The first tavern was kept by William Baldwin in a prim- itive log house, which stood on the opposite side of the river from Wellsburg. This was as early as 1798.
The first saw-mill was built by Isaac Baldwin, on the site of the mill now operated by C. B. Goodwin, at Low- manville. The date of this is fixed by the best authorities at about the year 1800.
The first school was taught by Caleb Baker, in a primi- tive log house that stood on the site of the present Baptist grave-yard about the year 1803-4.
The first church edifiee was that erected by the Baptist society in 1812. It is a wooden building, and has lost its original identity by the rebuilding and repairing it received in 1860. Its peculiar architecture attests the venerable antiquity it enjoys.
The first burying-ground was the one referred to above as the Baptist grave-yard, which was purchased by the Bap- tist Society of Henry Wells, for the sum of fifty eents, Jan- uary 4, 1812. It originally contained " 3 rods and 5 poles." It has sinee been added to, and is now known as the " Wells- burg Cemetery." In it repose the ashes of many of the old pioneers, notably those of Judge Henry Wells, the donor of the lot, and his wife ; Nathan Roberts and wife, interred in 1813 and 1818 respectively ; Joanna Parshall, aunt of Asa Parshall, of Chemung; Richard Comfort and Charity, his wife ; James Roberts and Mary, his wife ; Da- vid Bush and Hannah, his wife; Mary A., daughter of Keziah Bently, and many others. " Alpheus Gillett, a soldier of the Revolution, died 20th June, 1841, aged 81, 5, 9," is an inscription upon one of the old stones. "May they rest in peace !"
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
Aslıland was legally constituted a town April 25, 1867, and was the last town organized in the county. The town- meeting was held May 14, 1867, at the Wellsburg Ex- change, at which the following gentlemen were elected to the offices placed opposite to their names respectively : Supervisor, Richard C. Lockwood ; Town Clerk, William E. Halstead; Justices of the I'cace, Lyman L. Lowman and Hiram Roushey ; Commissioners of Highways, Alfred Searles and George Rogers; Overseers of the Poor, Reuben E. Moss and John Fincher; Collector, William Hanmer ; Assessors, James Carpenter and Israel O. Scudder ; Con- stables, William Hanmer, Roswell R. Moss, William Wood- house, Michael Roushey, and Lawrence Mathews. The only two gentlenien who have occupied the position of supervisor have been R. C. Lockwood and Jud Smith,- the former the first four, the tenth, and the twelfth years, and the latter from the fifth to the ninth inelusive and the eleventh years. The town elerks have been William C. Halstead the first nine years, and William S. Sprague the last three years.
Justices of the Peace, David Sweet, Lyman L. Lowman (vacancy), Reuben E. Moss, Lyman L. Lowman, Wm. C. Halstead (vacancy), Reuben E. Moss, Hiram Roushey (vacancy), Elisha Knapp, Lafayette Harrington, Reuben E. Moss, Michael B. Roushey, Edmund Griswold, James Carpenter, John L. Myers, and E. W. Howell (vacaney).
The town officers for the year 1878 are: Supervisor, R. C. Lockwood ; Town Clerk, James S. Sprague; Com- missioners of Highways, Alfred Searles, George W. Rogers, and William Hanmer; Assessors, James Carpenter, Israel O. Seudder, and O. T. Comfort; Overseers of the Poor, Isaae Bennett and George Fishler ; Collector, Joseph S. Wilcox ; Constables, Joseph S. Wilcox, Samuel Mitchell, I. H. Johnson, and A. B. Merriam ; Auditors, Wm. Low- man, R. B. Coleman, and S. D. Herman ; Excise Commis- sioner, Daniel H. Gillett.
WELLSBURG
is a thriving incorporated village situated in the northeast part of the town, on the south bank of the Chemung River, and on the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad. Its site is among the earliest settled spots in the county, the first pioneer, Green Bentley, having located thereon in the year 1788. He was immediately followed by Ebenezer Green, and the following year by Abner Wells and sons,- Abner, Henry, and Benjamin,-who came from Orange Co., N. Y. Henry became the most prominent represent- ative of the Wells family, having been elected sheriff of the county, and also one of its judges. Several members of the family in the third generation are still residents of the town and county. Cotemporary with the Wells' came Abijah Batterson, Samuel Westbrook, Abraham Bennett, Asa Burnham, Abiel Fry, and Thomas Keeney, all of whom settled at or near the present village. Following these came Stephen H. Brown, father of Horace Brown, from Orange Co., N. Y., in 1806; Jacob Smith, in 1807 ; Aaron Brown, father of T. T. Brown, from Morris Co., N. J., in 1816 ; George Fishler came in 1835. After the settlers had got fairly located improvements were com- meneed.
The first store was opened by Abner and Henry Wells, probably about the year 1792. They kept a small general store, primitive both in style and stock. A store was soon afterwards opencl on the opposite side of the river by Isaac Baldwin.
The first tavern in the village was opened by one of the Baldwins, but the first regular hotel was kept by Henry C. Wells.
The first saw-mill was erected by David Brewer, about 1830. It stood about twelve rods south of the bridge on Bently Creek. The first grist-mill was that built by Cal- vin and James West and Miles Roberts, as given elsewhere.
The first church society was the Baptist, which was reg- ularly organized in 1790. They also creeted the first place of publie worship, which was raised on the 12th of June, 1812.
The first school-house was a small log structure, built about 1803.
As soon as these moral material improvements were fairly under way, the village increased in general prosperity. In
39
306
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
the old Gazettecr of New York, published in 1842, we find that " Wellsburg is a village in the town of Southport, in Chemung County ; is an agricultural settlement ; contains one Baptist church, one store, one tavern, and fifteen or twenty dwellings." On the building of the Erie Railroad through the place in 1849-50, the village received an im- petus which was very beneficial. The manufacturing inter- ests of the village are few, but of an excellent quality. Subjoined we give a brief description of them.
WELLSBURG TANNERY
was erected by David & C. S. Decker in 1859, and con- tinued under that firm for about one year, when the last- named gentleman retired, leaving David Decker in sole possession of the establishment, as at present. The tannery is operated by steam; has all the modern improved ma- chinery ; employs 17 hands, and is capable of tanning 14,000 city-slaughtered hides per annum.
WELLSBURG STEAM PLANING-MILL
was crected by R. C. Lockwood in 1859. It has remained in his possession from that time to the present. Its ca- pacity is 500,000 feet a year, and gives employment to six men. Its proprietor is one of the most enterprising men of the village.
WELLSBURG STEAM FLOURING AND SAW-MILLS
were erected by Calvin and James West and Miles Roberts in 1864-65. The grist-mill has four runs of stone, and manufactures 3500 barrels of merchant work and 30,000 bushels of custom per annum. The present proprietor is James P. O'Bryan, who purchased the property in 1870.
THE FISHLER HOUSE
ranks among the best hotels in Chemung County. Its proprietor, J. V. Fishler, first erected a hotel on the pres- ent site in 1850, which stood there until destroyed by fire in 1857. The present house was built in 1866, and is in every sense a first-class house. Most of the time, until April last, Mr. Fishler rented the premises, but has rc- cently refitted and refurnished the house, so that it is now an ornament to the village, a pleasure to the traveling public, and a credit to himself.
VILLAGE INCORPORATION.
On the 28th of August, 1872, an election was held at the Wellsburg Exchange, to vote on the question of incor- porating the village under the special act of the Legislature, passed for such purposes. The vote resulted in a majority for incorporation. At the first election the following gen- tlemen were chosen to fill the offices placed after their names : James P. O'Bryan, President; William Hanmer, William C. Halstead, Benjamin Herman, Trustees ; Hiram W. Young, Treasurer ; Stephen D. Herman, Collector ; William C. Halstead, Matthew Fincher, Inspectors of Elec- tion. The presidents of the village from 1873 to 1878, inclusive, have been James P. O'Bryan, 1873-74 ; William C. Halstead, 1875 ; Uri Smith, 1876 ; Benjamin Herman, 1878; James P. O'Bryan, 1878.
The present village officiary consists of the following :
Abraham Boyce, James Bradway, Isaac Bennett, and Abner Watson, Trustees ; A. I. Decker, Clerk ; James P. Hapeman, Treasurer ; George Hanmer, Collector; Elijah Knapp, Police Justice.
The village now contains three dry-goods stores, three groceries, one drug-store, onc hardware-store, one harness- shop, one millinery establishment, two hotels,-the " Fishler House" and the " Exchange,"-one livery-stable, three blacksmithies, one wagon-shop, one extensive tannery, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, planing-factory, three churches,-one each of the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Protestant Episcopal* denominations,-a public and a select school, the latter kept by Miss Sarah Jewel. There is also a railroad depot, telegraph and express offices ; two physicians, and four resident ministers of the gospel. The population of the village is fairly estimated at 650.
The post-office was established here at an early day, and afterwards removed two and a half miles west of the village, to the residence of James T. Strong, where it remained until 1843, when it was again restored to the village, since which time the following gentlemen have held appoint- ments as postmasters, namely : Messrs. Abner Wells, R. C. Lockwood, Mark Burt, Elias Wickoff, Colonel Salisbury, and H. W. Young, the present incumbent.
LOWMANVILLE
is a hamlet, pleasantly situated on Goldsmith Creek, about one and a half miles northeast of Wellsburg. The post-office is called Lowman, and was named after the Lowman family, which is quite numerous in the vicinity. Among the early settlers here were the Lowmans, Carpenters, John Brown, Isaac Baldwin, and others.
The first store was built by George Lowman, and kept by John Brown, in 1853. It was subsequently converted into a dwelling-house, and afterwards, in 1870, re-opened as a store by the present proprietor, Lafayette Harrington.
The first saw-mill was erected here as early as the year 1800, by Isaac Baldwin. It stood until, time-worn and decayed, it was removed to give place to a larger mill, which was built by Almon Cook, about 1838. The prop- erty finally fell into the possession of Jacob Lowman, by whom it was rebuilt and enlarged, and furnished with new machinery, in 1870. It is operated by steam and water, and is now rented by C. B. Goodwin, who is a practical miller.
The post-office was established at the present residence of George Lowman, over the Chemung line, where it was kept by John Goodwin. In 1845 it was removed to its present location, though kept in a building that is no more. For a number of years they received but a tri-weekly mail,-they now get it daily. The present postmaster is Lafayette Harrington.
Besides the mill, store, and post-office, there are a wagon- shop and a blacksmithy here, and a few houses.
RELIGIOUS.
The pioneers were generally people of strong religious sentiments ; hence public worship, and the organization of
# See under head of "Religious."
PHOTO. BY J.E.LARKIN.
JUD SMITH
RESIDENCE OF JUD
PHÓTO, BY J. E.LARKIN.
MRS.JUD SMITH .
, WELLSBURG, N. Y.
LITH BY LIN EVERTS PHILACA
JUD SMITH
was born in the town of Southport, now Ashland, Chemung Co., N. Y., April 14, 1818, and is the fourth son of Solomon L. and Julia Smith. Solo- mon L. was a son of Timothy Smith, a native of Orange Co., N. Y., and emigrated to Cedar Creek, Chemung Co., in the year 1790. Julia, the mother of our subject, was a daughter of Samuel Seeley, also a native of Orange County, and an early settler in Chemung County, who died about 1822 or 1823. Solomon L. Smith died Nov. 6, 1847. Our sub- jeet began life as a farmer at an early age, in con- nection with other business interests, such as running oil, grist, saw, plaster, carding, and clothing mills,
distillery, and hotel proprietor, with which his father was identified during his lifetime. Was married, Jan. 26, 1849, to Rebecca Mathews, daughter of James Mathews, of Southport (now Ashland) town- ship; to them were born five children, two of whom are living, viz., Uri and Emma, both of whom are married and reside in Ashland.
In polities, Mr. Smith is a Democrat ; has served the town as supervisor several terms, and in the fall of 1867 was elected sheriff of Chemung County for a term of three years, which office he filled with eredit to himself and satisfaction to the people.
VIEW FROM C. E.COFF
RESIDENCE OF CHAS
RESIDENCE, LOOKING UP THE VALLEY.
FFEY, WELLSBURG, N. Y.
LITH BY L. H EVERTS, PHILADA.
307
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
religious societies, received their attention at an early day. We find a regularly-organized Baptist Church at Wellsburg in 1789, or less than three years after the first settlement in this part of the Chemung Valley. As this was the pioneer church in all this section of country (antedating by a half-decade the old Tioga and Barton Baptist Church), it is deserving of more than a passing notice at our hands.
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