History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 96

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 96
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 96
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 96
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 96

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).

Horseheads and formed a partnership with Dr. O. S. Green- man. Still, however, taking a deep interest in the subject of education, he was elected school commissioner for Che- mung County in 1875, receiving the largest majority in the town of Horseheads that had ever been given a candi- date.

He was married, Sept. 1, 1870, to a former pupil, Miss Saretta A. Ludlow, of Penn Yan. They have had four children, Rho S., Julia M., Robert F., and Walter W.

Dr. Bush is an earnest Mason, and has been honored by his brethren by being elected Eminent Commander of Jeru- salem Commandery, High Priest of Horseheads Chapter, R. A. M., and Master of Horseheads Lodge, F. and A. M. Still keeping up an interest in military matters, he is major of the One Hundred and Tenth Battalion, National Guard, State of New York.

JOSEPH LIVESAY.

Gershom Livesay, father of our subject, was a native of France, born in 1770. He came to America with his father about 1773, and located in Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., where his father died, but Gershom remained there until he was twenty-one years of age, in the indentured service of Judge Wheeler; on attaining his majority he removed (in 1792) to old Tioga County, locating seven miles west of Newtown (now Elmira), at a settlement formerly known as Sing Sing. He there squatted upon a large tract of land, but only succeeded in acquiring title to a small portion of it,-228 acres. Jan. 29, 1796, he married a widow lady, Mrs. Hannah Silsby, of Elmira. She was born in Pough- keepsie, N. Y., in 1771, and died Sept. 11, 1842. Gershom Livesay departed this life Sept. 24, 1862, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Their children were

Charles Livesay, born Dec. 15, 1797 ; died in 1868.

George Livesay, born March 9, 1800 ; still living.

Judah Livesay, born Dec. 7, 1803; died in 1870.

Joseph Livesay, born Sept. 6, 1806; subject of this notice.

Jonathan Livesay, born May 27, 1809 ; died in 1867.

James Livesay, born Nov. 7, 1811 ; still living.

Rebecca Livesay, born Dec. 12, 1815 ; died, aged about thirty-seven years.

George and James are residents of Lenawee Co., Mich., whither they removed with their father in 1835.

Joseph Livesay spent his youth and early manhood upon his father's farm. April 28, 1831, he embarked for him- self, without capital, but with willing hands and a firm re- solve to make himself a home. He took farms in the neighborhood, which he worked upon shares. His first purchase of land was 62 acres, in June, 1835, of the Goble heirs, in the town of Big Flats. October 29 of the same year he married Sally Bennett, the eldest daughter of the late Comfort Bennett. She was born Oct. 20, 1814. They commenced housekeeping April 10, 1836, and have main- tained their fireside and roof-tree through the forty-two intervening years. The record of their two sons and five daughters is as follows: George W., born July 25, 1839 ; Ellen, born June 1, 1841 ; Clarinda, born June 16, 1843; Morris B., born Aug. 22, 1846 ; Sally, born June 29, 1849 ;

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Belle, born Nov. 24, 1853; and Kate S., born June 10, 1860. George and Morris died when quite young, and Clarinda at the age of fifteen years. Ellen married (Oet. 18, 1860) David D. Reynolds, of Horseheads. Belle married Mr. G. E. Reed, of Elmira, July 12, 1876. Sally, unmarried aud an invalid, and Kate, the youngest, are both living at home with their parents.

Mr. Livesay made his residence in Big Flats from 1836 to 1870, when he removed to Horseheads, where he culti- vates a small farm in the suburbs of the village; the re- mainder of his acreage, embracing about 760 acres in Big Flats and 240 aeres in the town of Elmira,-near the Water- Cure on the east hill,-being operated by tenants.

Mr. Livesay is one of the very few remaining early resi- dents of this valley, and has been identified with its interests, its growth and prosperity, for uearly a half-century. He was born in what is now known as the town of Big Flats, and his whole life has been passed in this vicinity. Al- though never a politician or office-seeker, he has held various town offices ; he was a school trustee for thirty-one years, pathmaster for thirty-two years in Big Flats, and a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the village of Horseheads. He was one of the original charter members of the old Chemung County Agricultural Society, and one of the prime movers in the institution of its fairs. He always took an active interest in everything pertaining to agricul- ture, particularly in the improvement in stock, and intro- duced the first thoroughbred bull into his town. In re- ligious faith he is a Universalist, and in politics a Democrat. He is still hale and hearty, and is enjoying a comfortable competence, as well as the respect and esteem of the com- munity where he lives.

CHAPTER LV.

SOUTHPORT.

THIS town is located in the southwest corner of the county, and received its name with regard to its geographi- eal location and the fact that it is partly bordering on Chemung River. The surface of the town is mostly lilly upland, integrated by the deep valleys of the streams. Chemung River, which forms part of the northern boun- dary, is the principal stream, and is bordered by broad, fertile, alluvial flats. Seely Creek receives as its tribu- taries, Smith, Bird, and Mud Lick Creeks, which, with itself, finally empties into the Chemung, in the town of Ashland. Hendy Creek flows along the north border. The area of the town is 28,969 aeres. The soil upon the hills is a slaty loam, and in the valleys a fine quality of gravelly loam .*

Within the present limits of the town are included parts of the Wells and Holbrook Purchase of Nov. 6, 1788; Cutting Tract, patent issued to A. Bummerfield and Joseph Edsall, Oct. 31, 1788 ; Seely Tract to Nathaniel Seely, Jr., James Seely, Abner Hetfield, Samuel Edsall, and Aaron

Seely, 2553 acres, Nov. 3, 1788; Patent No. 113, to Abraham Miller and Lebbeus Hammond (issued to James R. Smith ), Oct. 27, 1788, 1000 acres ; Christian Minier, Patent No. 117, Oet. 28, 1788; Watson Patent (now ealled Lawrence Tract), Sept. 16, 1802, 19,927 acres ; and several other patents for smaller tracts, among which, issued in 1788, were No. 103 to Thomas King, issued to Abra- ham Hardenburg; No. 124 to Jabez and John Culver ; No. 102 to John Weir; No. 105 to Daniel De Witt; No. 111 to James Garlinghouse (620 acres); No. 190 to James Dunton; No. 107 to Albert Foster; No. 119 to John Harris; and No. 120 to John Williams.

Concerning Seely Creek, Rev. Clark Brown, in a chroni- cle entitled " A Topographical Description of Newtown, in the State of New York," written in August, 1803, has the following: "Seely's Creek, so called, is a much smaller stream than Newtown Creek. Its course is by the cast side of the mountain already described (Mount Zoar), which lies in the west of the village (Elwira, then New- town). It empties into the Tioga River at the south part of the town (now Ashland). It is called Seely's Creek in consequence of a number of families by the name of Seely originally settling near it. The land east of it, on which the settlements and improvements are, is excellent."

THE SETTLEMENT

of the town was commenced by the Millers, Griswolds, and McHenrys. Judge Abraham Millert came in from Northampton Co., Pa., in the spring of 1788. He was a man above the average pioneer in intellectual qualifications, and, recognizing this fact, Governor Clinton appointed him the first judge of old Tioga County, the commission bear- ing date Feb. 17, 1791. Judge Miller has served as a colonel in the Revolutionary army, and thus combined the noble virtue of patriotism to his many other excellent traits of character. John Miller, elder son of Abraham, was appointed judge of Tioga County April 3, 1807, and was, like his father, a prominent citizen. He moved to the town of Elmira, and was subsequently a member of As- sembly.

From a work published by J. B. Wilkinsont in 1840 we quote the following : "Southport, which is a beautiful and extended plain ou the south side of the Chemung, and the central part immediately opposite Elmira, was set- tled the first and second years after the settlement of the north side by Judge Caleb Baker, who still lives upon the sod that received its first cultivation from himself, John and Timothy Smith, Solomou Bovier, Lebbens Hammond, Esq., William Jenkins, Esq. (still living), Rufus Baldwin, still farther down the river, Parson Jabez Culver, a Congrega- tional minister, Lebbeus Tubbs, the father of Mrs. Ham- mond, Judge Abraham Miller, and Samuel Middangh." The description of the town in the above is correct, but Mr. Wilkinson errs in asserting priority of settlement for Judge Baker, whose arrival was subsequent to that of Judge Miller and David Griswold nearly two years, and both Lebbeus Tubbs and Lebbens Hammond were at least contemporary with Judge Baker.

# For alterations in the boundary of the town, etc., see " Civil Or- ganization."

+ See also under the head of " Bench and Bar of Chemung."

# Author of the " Annals of Binghamton."

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

The subjoined is furnished by Mr. A. D. Griswold, a grandson of David Griswold ; and while we do not dispute its authenticity, yet we are of the opinion that David stayed with his father in Chemung for about two years after the arrival of the family there in 1787. " In the spring of 1787, David Griswold, a soldier, and afterwards a pensioner, of the Revolution, a native of Connecticut, of English descent, came up the river to Southport, with his wife and daughter Mary (who afterwards married Benjamin Smith), and his sons Thomas and David, the latter an infant, born at Tioga Point, Jan. 1, 1787. His father, Elijah Griswold, with three sons and three daughters, settled at Chemung, two miles east of Wellsburg. Another brother, Elijah, came with David, and settled where his venerable son James now lives. David built a saw-mill and a grist-mill on his farm, bringing the water of Seely Creek, more than a mile, by means of a dam, on land now owned by L. B. Smith. Previous to this wheat was ground on an oak stump hollowed out for that purpose, on land now owned by G. A. Goff. His first wife, Sallie, having died, David Griswold married Mrs. Jane Stull, whose father, John Durham, kept a ferry at Elizabethtown, N. J., aeross which Washington was rowed. Their daughters, Nancy and Sally, were married to Abner and Richard Hetfield, respectively, and their sons, John and Jonas, own the farm."

In 1787, Timothy Smith was living on Seely's Tract, 600 acres of which was granted to him in 1791, and he built on land now owned by Elias Snell. The barn was dated 1799, and now stands on the south side of the road.

His sons, Solomon L. Smith, Job Smith, Uriah Smith, a physician of sueeessful practice till 1862, and Archibald and his daughters, Elizabeth Satterlee, Hannah Lowe, and Abbey Chapman, are represented now by numerous de- scendants in the valley. One daughter, Susan, was never married.

Timothy Smith was accompanied by four brothers, all men of tall stature,-one six feet four inches,-and their descendants made the Smiths numerous at a very early date. They came from Orange County. J. L. Smith is a son of one of the brothers,-John.

In the south part of the town, one of the most promi- nent of the early settlers was Philo Jones, who came from Norwalk, Conn., at the solicitation of his brother, the Rev. Simeon R. Jones, an early and noted Presbyterian elergy- man, who came to Elmira as early as 1803, and was in Bradford Co., Pa., prior to that time .* Mr. Philo Jones arrived in Elmira in 1806, and removed to Southport in 1817, and settled on the place now occupied by his son, Simeon R. Jones. He held several offices of importance in the town, notably those of Supervisor in 1839-40, and Justice of the Peace in 1857. He also served two terms in the State Assembly in 1849-50. Mr. Jones was born in Norwalk, Conn., June 25, 1791, and died in Southport, Feb. 24, 1872. His children now living are Albert, a retired merehant of Elmira; Simeon R., who resides on the old homestead ; Finla M., postmaster at Seely Crcek ; Philo, who lives in Caton, Steuben Co., N. Y .; Julia S. and Laura J., both reside near the homestead in this town.

Among others who settled in this part of the town were Archibald Marvin and Dr. A. Gates White, who came in 1802 and settled,-the former below Pinc Woods, and owned the present site of the hamlet ; the latter at Webb's Mills. Archibald Marvin's daughter, Mrs. Robert Beck- with, is still on the old homestead, and Seth Marvin, one of his sons, is a resident of the town. General Scth Marvin, father of Archibald, was with the surveyors in 1788, and purchased a large tract, where Seely Creek, Webb's Mills, and Pine City are now located,-a part of the Wells & Holbrook Patent. John Wheeler Pedrick came to Elmira about 1797, and was the first shoemaker there. He settled in Southport in 1802, and bought a lot between those of A. Marvin and Dr. A. G. White, on part of which two of his grandsons, Nathan and E. C. Pedrick, now reside, and on the other part, H. F. Wells and others occupy. John Kelley bought a tract on the State line in 1800.

Other early settlers in various parts of the town were John McFienry, who came in about 1790. His son, Abra- ham, was born on the farm now owned by John D. Miller, in 1797, and died on the same place in 1846. Miller, Guy P., and Julia, now the wife of Shelden Tense, of Whitehall, Washington Co., N. Y., were all born in Southport. Wm. Fitzsimmons, who was with Sullivan in his expedition of 1779, came into the town to settle about 1790. John Fitzsimmons came about one year later. Davis Fitzsim- mons was born on the old homestead in 1805.

Daniel Beekwith settled on the farm now occupied by the widow and family of his son John, in 1793. Daniel Beckwith died July 30, 1844, John Beckwith, Aug. 17, 1877. Jude, Guy, and Ida are his only children. Peter Stryker, father of Abraham Stryker, came in about 1795. Valentine Strouse came with his parents and their large family of children, from Easton, Pa., in 1827. Charles Evans came in from Delaware in 1825, and settled on the farm now occupied by Solomon L. Smith. Charles Dense arrived from Orange Co., N. Y., in February, 1829. Phi- letus P. Rathbun came in 1831, and settled near the Cor- ners, where he has since resided.

INITIAL EVENTS.

The first house erected within the present limits of the town was by Abraham Miller, in the spring of 1790.

The first saw-mill was built by Colonel Abraham Miller, on a branch of Seely Creek, as early as 1798.

The first grist-mill, by David Griswold, about the years 1799-1800.

The first factory was that for the manufacture of wool, erected by Silas Billings, in 1821-22, and sold to Solomon L. Smith about 1823-24.1

The first distillery was erected by Solomon L. Smith, about the year 1820. He manufactured his whisky from both rye and eorn.

The first school-house was erected about the year 1800, in the Griswold neighborhood. One was erected near the present residence of Draper Nichols, in the southern part of the town, in 1806.

The first church edifiee was the Presbyterian, built about

See under head of " Presbyterian Church" in history of Elmira.

t See under head of "Southport Post-office."

PHOTO BYJ.E. LARRIN.

MRS. JOHN D. MILLER

PHOTO. BY J.E. LARKIN.

JOHN D. MILLER.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN D. MILLER, SOUTHPORT, NEW YORK .

LITH. BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILADA

PHOTO. BY J.E.LARKIN

millen Wochenny

PHOTO BY J.E.LARKIN.

Angeline Me Heury ( DECEASED.) .

RESIDENCE OF MILLER MS HENRY, SOUTHPORT, NEW YORK.

LITw . Br L. H. EVERTS, PHILACA.

PHOTO BY J. E. LARKIN.

PHOTO. BY J.E.LARKIN

Daniel Dalrymple

Emily Dalrymple

RESIDENCE OF DANIEL DALRYMPLE, SOUTHPORT, CHEMUNG CO N. Y.

LITH. BY L. H.EVERTS. PHILADA.

351

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

the year 1820, and destroyed by fire in 1831. It stood on the river-road, on the farm now occupied by James Gris- wold.

The first store was kept by Samuel Gibson, at Webb's Mills, in 1835.

The first tragedy in the town was the murder of James Kelley, by a youth of eighteen years named George Lucas, June 19, 1820. The shooting was done in a corn field, near the present site of the barus of Allen Cooper.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

Southport was formed from Elmira, April 16, 1822, and a part of Ashland was taken off in April, 1867. The boundaries as described in the act by which the town was erected are as follows : " All that part of Elmira lying south of a line beginning on the pre-emption line at the corner of lots Nos. 54 and 55 of the subdivision of Watrous' large traet in said town ; thenee south 88° east to the southeast corner of lot 95, in said subdivision ; thenee northerly to the southwest corner of lot 103, in said subdivision ; thence north 80° 30' east to the Tioga River ; thence down the same as it runs to the head of Davis Island; thence down the ehan- nel on the southerly side of said island ; thence down the river to the head of Big Island; thence on a line through said island which divides the farms on the east and west sides of said island, to the lower part thereof; thence down the middle of the river to the head of Rummerfield's Island ; thence down the channel of the river on the south side of said island and Carpenter's Island to the Chemung line." The area of the town is 28,969 acres.

The first town-meeting was held at the house of John Ware, on the 14th of May, 1822, at which the subjoined list of officers was elected, namely : Solomon L. Smith, Supervisor ; William Wells, Clerk ; John W. Knapp, Wm. Jenkins, and Samuel Strong, Assessors ; John L. Smith, Platt Bennett, and Samuel Strong, Commissioners of High- ways; William Benson, James B. Goff, and Platt Bennitt, Inspectors of Common Schools; William Jenkins, William C. Ware, and Jacob Miller, Commissioners of Common Schools ; John Fitzsimmons and John L. Smith, Overseers of the Poor; Nathaniel Knapp, Collector; Aaron Brown and Nathaniel Knapp, Constables ; Samuel Strong and John L. Smith, Fence- Viewers ; John Ware, Poundkeeper ; Samuel Middaugh, John Bovier, John Fitzsimmons, John Sly, Wm. K. Knapp, Philo Jones, Thomas Comfort, and Jeremiah Coleman, Overseers of Highways.

At the first town meeting it was

" Voted to authorize the town clerk to purchase books to the amount of five dollars, for the purpose of keeping the town-records."

" Voted that the sum of $25 be raised for the support of the poor of this town."

" Voted that all hogs weighing less than 80 pounds, that shall be found in any inclosure, that the owner of the same shall pay the occupant of said inelosure, if the fence be good and lawful, 25 cents per head."

" Voted to give 50 cents for every fox-sealp."

Annexed we give a list of the supervisors and town clerks who have served the town from 1822 to 1878, in- clusive ; and the justices of the peace from 1830.

Supervisors, Solomon L. Smith (5 ye William Wells, Solomon L. Smith (4 years), John L. Smith, Solo- mou L. Smith, Jacob Miller (2 years), Albert A. Beck- with (2 years), Philo Jones (2 years ), David Howell, James Griswold, Lewis Miller, Solomon L. Smith (3 years), Tread- well O. Seudder, Solomon L. Smith, Lewis Miller, Richard Baker, John Baldwin, Jr., Richard Baker, Charles Evans (3 years), James Griswold, Jud Smith (2 years), Ed- mund Miller, William T. Post (2 years), Edmund Miller (3 years), H. F. Wells, Edmund Miller (8 years), Wil- liam Brown, Miller McHenry (3 years), John Brown (2 years).

Town Clerks, William Wells, Henry Baldwin, John L. Smith (8 years), George Hyde, David Howell (3 years), Isaac L. Wells, David Howell (2 years), Nathan Boynton, Nathaniel Seeley (2 years), John Baldwin, Jr. (6 years), Hiram T. Smith (4 years), Miller McHenry (3 years), Charles A. Eckensberger, Miller McHenry (3 years), Charles A. Eekensberger (2 years), Harvey Smith, Charles A. Eckensberger, John Bryant, Charles A. Eckensberger, Charles W. Evans (8 years), Philetus P. Rathbun, Charles W. Evans (4 years), E. C. Pedrick.

Justices of the Peace, James Griswold, Samuel Giles, Abraham Stryker, George W. Miller (vacancy), William Lowe, James Griswold, William McClure, David Brewer, Wmn. T. Knapp, Edmund Miller, William McClure, George W. Miller, II. W. Atkins, Shepard Miller, John Baldwin, Jr., George W. Miller, H. W. Atkins, Warren K. Hopkins, Festus A. Webb (vacancy), John Baldwin, Jr., Timothy T. Brown, Ezra Canfield (vacancy), Abner Wells, Hiram Roushey (vacancy ), William Webb, Andrew Hancock (vacancy), Abner Wells, Thomas Maxwell, Hiram Roushey, Wright Dunham, Mark A. Burt, R. S. Perine, Philo Jones, Hiram Roushey, Andrew Middaugh (vacancy), Iliram Middaugh (long term), Thomas Maxwell (vacancy), Mark A. Burt, James Griswold, William Webb (vacancy), Charles Evans, Win. K. Shepard, George W. Roberts, Nathan Nichols, Charles Evans, David Mc Whorter, Mark A. Burt, Nathan B. Nichols, Cornelius B. Putman (va- cancy), Charles Evans, James M. Edsall, Cornelius W. Putman, H. B. Knapp, Wm. T. Bower (vacancy), Lewis B. Smith, Isaiah V. Mapes, George W. Cooper, Charles Evans, Nathan Pedrick, Isaiah V. Mapes,-the last four present incumbents (1878).

As a sample of the patriotism that generally prevailed during the national struggle of 1861-65; we quote the fol- lowing from the proceedings of a special town-meeting held at the house of Charles G. Smith, Aug. 9, 1864 :

" Voted that means be raised for the payment of boun- ties to fill the quota of 200,000 men, under the last call of the President." On the ballots being counted they stood 98 for and 4 against.

The present town-officers, other than those included in the above lists, are Daniel Dalrymple, Aaron B. Beardsley, and Charles Antes, Assessors ; Emmett Holmes, Collector ; Andrew Fitzsimmons, Cornelius B. Chase, and John C. Todd, Inspectors of Eleetion, District No. 1; D. C. Beck with, S. M. Helins, and Allen Cooper, for District No. 2; Daniel Maek, Jacob Weyer, and Thomas Curran, Auditors.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

WEBB'S MILLS

is a post-village located on the Southport plank-road, in the southern part of the town. Its site is included in the old Webbs and Holbrook Patent. Among the early settlers there were Josiah Secly, as early as 1798; John W. Ped- rick, in 1803; Dr. White, about 1805; and later, Wm. Spencer Nathan, E. C. Pedrick, Festus A. and Mortimer T. Webb, I. V. Mapes and others. The place now con- tains one general store, of which M. T. and F. J. Cassada are the proprietors ; one millinery-store, one grist-mill, and one saw-mill,* operated by John Brown, Esq., two black- smith-shops, two wagon-shops, and one church of the Meth- odist Episcopal denomination, a historical sketch of which will be found under the head of " Religious" farther on. There is a resident justice of the peace, namely, Nathan Pedrick, Esq. The population of the settlement is fairly estimated at 250.

PINE CITY,

so called from the fact that its site was until within the memory of many yet living covered with pine timber, is located on the Tioga, Elmira and State Line Railroad. The first settler there was Charles Atkins, who was a cooper by trade, and came here in 1830. ITe was followed within a few months by John Egbert, who built a saw-mill. Other early settlers were the Hatches, Damon, Dorus, and Har- vey. The contents of the place may be briefly summarized as follows : two general stores, one hotel, two blacksmithics, one wagon-shop, one Baptist church, and about 200 inhab- itants. There is one resident justice of the peace, namely, I. V. Mapcs, who is also a lecturer and literary character. The post-office was established here in 1874, and Emmett HIohnes was appointed the first postmaster, and has since retained the office.

SEELY CREEK POST-OFFICE

was named after the creek upon which it is located, and the creek, as before stated, after the Seely family, that was once numerously represented in the town. It was estab- lished in 1833, and John Brownell was the first appointed to the office ; the present incumbent is Finla M. Jones, who was appointed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861. IIe is also the merchant of the place. It is on the Tioga and Elmira State Line Railroad, and is a distributing point for mail for points south.

SOUTHPORT

is a small hamlet, the village proper of that name having been annexed to Elmira as its Fifth ward. It was here that Nathaniel Seely, the pioneer hatter, settled, and opened a small shop where he made hats for the old settlers. Those of the pioneers still living will remember him as an indus- trious and practical workman. Here also is the old Pres- byterian church, erected in 1832 in place of the old Gehall edifice, which once stood on the river, and was de- stroyed by fire. The post-office here was the first in the town, having been established as early as 1827. John L. Smith was the first postmaster ; the present one, Philetus P. Rathbun.

Southport Corners also contains the site of the old woolen-factory, first started here by Silas Billings, not far from 1820. In 1825 the property passed into the hands of Solomon L. Smith, with whom Charles Evans became connected in the business soon afterwards. The old mill, which was among the first of its kind established in the county, stood for more than fifty years, until on the 25th of June, 1877, it was destroyed by fire. And thus perished a venerable landmark of the industry of the old settlers.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 96

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