Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 116

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 116

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years. Matthew Rogers was a wheelwright and built the first mill in Troupsburg. He was town clerk twenty-two years and postmaster for many years at Troupsburg. He died February 19, 1884, aged seventy-three years, and she April 15, 1872, aged fifty-nine years. William J. Rogers has always followed farming, and in 1864 he married Eliza, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Anderson) Mahoney, by whom he had these children: Florence A., wife of Frank Sherman, a manufacturer; Henry M., farmer and carpenter; Anna E., who died in 1887, aged fifteen years ; James B., who enlisted in 1891 in the regular army, and was in attendance at West Point Military Academy; he was drowned on Hudson river, while out with a skating party January 24, 1892, aged eighteen years; Edward E., farmer; Mary E., teacher ; Bernard A., who died in infancy; Margaret, Dora V., and Genevieve. Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney were natives of Ireland and came to America during the war of 1812 and settled in Canada and from there to Buffalo. He was at the battle of Lundy's Lane in the war of 1812. He also served in Co. H, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, in which he enlisted in the fall of 1861, at sixty-four years of age, and was honorably discharged the fall of 1863 on account of sickness. He died in Bellevue Hospital, New York city, in 1874. Mrs. Mahoney died March 10, 1888. In 1861 Mr. Rogers enlisted in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged September 14, 1864. He was in first and second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettys- burg, Snow Flake Mt., etc., and escaped without a wound.

Sherwood, Franklin Dennis, was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., De- cember 25, 1841, the third son of a family of eight children of James Sherwood, a Baptist minister. James Sherwood, the grandfather of Franklin D., was a soldier of the war of the Revolution, and after the war settled at Kinderhook, where he made his home until about 1820 when he brought his family to Pulteney in this county, and the family have ever since remained in Steuben county. In 1840, James Sherwood moved to Wheeler and lived there two years and then bought a farm in South Cam- eron where he spent the balance of his days, and died in 1851. Salina Sackett, the mother of Franklin D., was a native of Pulteney, and died at thirty-eight years of age. Franklin D. was given a good common school education, and at Dundee Academy, Lima Seminary and Alfred University. He settled in Hornellsville where he became interested in the mercantile business and conducted a store for nine years, when he engaged in the carriage business for seven years. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of the county, and at the expiration of his term he devoted his attention to the manufacture of acetate of lime and wood alcohol in Allegany county, a business he is still engaged in. He was one of the organizers of the Citizen's Na- tional Bank, of which he is now a director. In 1877 he became interested in the drug business with George T. Reed & Co. He was one of the founders of the White Goods factory of which he is the president. He is also vice-president of the Horn- ellsville Electric St. R. R. Co. Besides filling the office of sheriff, in the fall of 1891 he was elected senator of the 27th district, and his seat with that body was contested on the ground of being one of the city park commisssioners, and the seat was given to Walker, although he was elected by a majority of over 1,600. He was also alder- man from the 3d Ward for two years. In 1895 he became interested in the hotel property, now known as the Hotel Sherwood, the leading hotel of this city. In 1872 he married Catherine, daughter of David Conderman, by whom he had one child, Kate, who is a student of Hornellsville academy.

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Sutton, Marvin O., was born in Marion, Wayne county, N. Y., April 25, 1836, son of Jason and Amanda (Case) Sutton, he a native of Homer, N. Y .. and she of Mar- ion, N. Y. The grandfather spent his last days in Homer, N. Y. Jason Sutton, father of Marvin, went to Palmyra, thence to Rochester, and finally settled in Marion, but died in Tioga county in 1881, and his wife died in 1854. He was a tailor by trade. Marvin O. was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. He is a wagon-maker by trade, and lived in Tioga county, Pa., and in 1882 came to Wood- hull, purchased fifty-seven acres of land, and makes a specialty of tobacco raising. December 4, 1859, he married Susan M. Smith, a native of Charleston, Tioga county, Pa., by whom he had three children: Ellen, George H., and Charles W. Mr. Sutton enlisted in Co. H, 45th Pa. Vols., and served fourteen months, and lost his fore- finger in an explosion at Otter Island, S. C., by a Harper's Ferry musket.

Ostrander, Ervin, was born in Jasper, March 24, 1841, son of John and Mary A. (Babcock) Ostrander, he a native of Coxsackie, Greene county, and his wife of the same county. They came to Jasper in 1841, where he died January 25, 1888. Ervin Ostrander was reared on what is known as the Spaulding farm. May 16, 1866, he married Kate, daughter of Lewis and Abigail (Eastman) Huntington, natives of Greene county and Tompkins county, respectively. John Huntington, father of Lewis, died in Greene county, N. Y. The father of Abigail Eastman died in Alle- gany county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander have two sons; Walter E., born May 18, 1867, who married Eva, daughter of John Carter, and was educated in Canisteo; and Merritt E., born June 11, 1870, and was educated in the common schools and Canisteo Academy.

May, Henry R., was born in Bath, Steuben county, in 1828, son of James May, a native of Connecticut, who came to this county about 1815 and raised and reared a family of three sons and one daughter. He was a chair maker and died in 1872, aged eighty-two years. When twenty-one years of age Henry R. May began civil engi- neering and followed it in the west about eight years, and in 1858 came to Corning where he was conductor on the Erie railroad from that date until 1886, when he es- tablished his present business as manufacturer and dealer in confectionery.

Patton, John Edwin Ruthven, was born in the town of Otsego, Otsego county, N. Y., May 4, 1826. John Patton (Paton), his father, was born in Perthshire, Scot- land, in 1778, and came to this country in 1800, and died in January, 1863. He married Aurelia Kibbe, born in Monson, Mass., September 23, 1785, and died in Otsego, N. Y., January 26, 1875. Her father, Jacob Kibbe, with two brothers served during the whole Revolutionary war. They had eight children, four of whom are living; one son, David, of the 44th Wis. Vols., dying in the service at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864. John E. R. was educated in the common schools and Clinton Liberal Institute. In 1847 he engaged in teaching, which he followed until 1852, when he went to Cali- fornia via Nicaragua, where he was engaged as special writer on the Democratic State Journal of Sacramento, the Golden Era, Pacific Banner, and the California Temperance Organ, the first temperance paper published on the Pacific coast. Re- turning in 1853 via Panama, he studied dentistry with Dr. E. P. Byram, of Coopers- town, N. Y., and the next year engaged in the practice of his profession at Waverly, N. Y. He was also editor of the Waverly Advocate, superintendent of schools, and

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coroner of Tioga county. In 1859 he removed to Owego, N. Y., where he continued the practice of his profession. He became a member of the New York State Militia in 1857, and was successively, third, second and first sergeant in the 44th Regiment, May 24, 1859, he was commissioned by Governor Morgan second lieutenant in the 50th Regiment. In May, 1861, after the breaking out of the war and two companies (Captains Catlin and Barstow) had been sent from Owego, he was instrumental in organizing a company, and was commissioned, July 16, 1861, as captain of it in the 50th Regt., N. Y. S. M. On the 16th of July its services were tendered to Governor Morgan, and as indicating the general nature of public opinion as to the duration of the struggle just entered upon, the following extract from the reply may not be amiss:

Adjutant-General's Office, Albany, N. Y., July 22, 1861. Capt. J. E. R. Patton, 50th Regt., N. V. S. M. :

SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of yours of the 16th inst. containing a tender of the services of your company to the Governor. We have no means of knowing whether any further requisition will be made on this State for troops,-as New York has already furnished a much larger force than has been asked for, it does not seem probable that any additional call will be made on her for some time to come.

(Signed)

D. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Genl.

Bull Run was fought the day before, the "On to Richmond" cry was answered, members of Congress and others rode out as on a gala day to see the back- bone of the rebellion broken, and one of them at least turned up in Richmond a prisoner, and the vision of the rebellion suppressed in 100 days vanished. July 23, on receipt of news of the result of the battle another tender of the company was made, and on the 14th of August it enlisted for three years or during the war, and singularly enough became Co. I, 50th Regt., N. Y. Vol. Engineers, in which he was commissioned captain by Governor Morgan, July 26, 1861. The position of lieuten- ant-colonel was offered to him by Col. C. B. Stuart, who raised the regiment as an independent one, but he preferred to remain with his company, and did so and served with it in Virginia in 1861, and through the Peninsular Campaign, and the seven days' fighting before Richmond, ending at Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. Being wholly disabled he was given his discharge on a surgeon's certificate July 18, 1852, at Harrison's Landing, Va. July 15, 1863, he was appointed captain by President Lincoln in the Veteran Reserve Corps, U. S. A., retaining his rank in the regular service, being equivalent to a promotion of two or three grades from the volunteer service. To entitle him to the appointment a certificate of his services in the field was required and was furnished as follows:

Headquarters 50th Regt., N. Y. V. Engrs.,

Camp near Falmouth Va., June 6, 1863.

I hereby recommend Capt. John E. R. Patton, late of this Regt., and who was honorably discharged the service on surgeons' certificate of disability, in July, 1862, as being capable of rendering good service in the Invalid Corps, and worthy of being thus provided for. Capt. Patton served zealously and faithfully for about one year, when his failing health compelled him to retire.

WM. H. PETTES, Lt .- Col. Comdg. 50th Reg. N. Y. V. Engrs. (Endorsement.) Hd. Qrs. Engr. Brigade near Falmouth, Va., June 6, 1863. Not

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having been in command of this brigade during the service of Capt. Patton in it, I of course cannot testify personally as to his merit. I can state, however, that I have full confidence in the recommendation of Lt .- Col. Pettes now Comdg. the 50th N. Y. Vol. Engrs. H. W. BENHAM, Brig. Genl. Comdg.

This service took him into ten or twelve different States of the Union, and much of the duty was of a delicate and important nature. He was also in service at the prison posts of Rock Island and Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and during part of the winter of 1864 he had command of his regiment, the Eleventh Vet. Res., at those posts. His health being permanently impaired, he was honorably discharged July 31, 1864. March 1, 1865, he bought a farm of 220 acres in the town of Hornellsville, where he has since made his home. In 1883 and '84 he and his son John E. visited New York, Philadelphia and Washington, spending most of the winter in the latter place. The following summer with his son Charles he went to Europe, spending most of the time in Scotland, visiting the birthplace of his father and other places of interest. He became a member of the Sons of Temperance in 1849, of Otsego Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F., in 1851, of Rural Amity No. 70, F. & A. M., Athens, Pa., in 1854; and is also a member of Post Doty, G. A. R., Hornellsville, and Arkport Grange. During his army and other experiences he was necessarily thrown in con- tact with many now prominent in American history and among those whom he has met officially or socially have been Generals Sheridan, Logan, Rosecrans, Slocum, Arthur (President), Benham, Gresham; Admiral Thatcher of the navy, Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, Senators Preston, King and F. M. Cockrell of Missouri, and others, who without exception left the impression of not only sterling worth in their official position but as being men of courteous manner and kindly natures. He mar- ried, November 28, 1851, Sarah Maria Noble, daughter of William Taylor and Chris- tine Brower Noble of Newark Valley, N. Y., granddaughter of Capt. David Noble of Pittsfield, Mass., who organized and equipped a company at his own expense in the Revolutionary war, and was "at the evacuation of Boston in 1776, and died at Skeensborough, N. Y., August 5, 1776. Her maternal grandfather, William Bogar- dus Brower of Long Island, also served throughout the Revolutionary war. They have five children, Christina Sophie, educated at Claverack College and Hudson River Institute, who resides at home. John Edwin, educated at Alfred University, and Cortland Normal School, who after spending some time in the west now resides at home, and conducts the farm. Charles Joshua, educated at Alfred University, and Cortland Normal School. He is a practicing lawyer of Hermosa, Custer county, South Dakata, and a member of the State Legislature. He married, December 26, 1890, Alta A. Tucker of Illinois, and has one child, Edwin J. J. Sarah Janette, educated at Alfred University, and Cortland School, who is a teacher in Lincoln School, Hornellsville; and Eva Marion, who died June 13, 1865, at Hornellsville, N. Y., twenty-one months of age.

Ferry, Mrs. Mary M., is the widow of the late John Wesley Ferry, son of John Ferry, one of the pioneers of Almond. J. W. Ferry was born at Almond, Steuben county in 1834. His sympathies were with the Republican party, but he sought no political preferment, being too busily engaged with his farming interests and stock dealing. He was farming at Tuscarora at the time of his death, which occurred July 22, 1892. In 1885 he married Mary M., daughter of William Bennett, of

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Hornellsville, who died April 21, 1878, having been a farmer, and extensively en- gaged in the lumber business in Michigan at one time. His father, Thomas Ben- nett, was one of the first settlers of Hornellsville, where he kept hotel for many years. Mrs. Ferry became a resident of Addison in 1893, and has one son, John W., born in 1886. J. W. Ferry had two children, Lester and Lena, at the time of his marriage with Mary M. Bennett, who are both living; his son in Tuscarora, and his daughter in Hornellsville.

Newman, Andrew J., was born in Sidney, Delaware county, N. Y., in 1835, son of Francis A., who was a native of Oswego county, whose father, Rev. Bishop A. New- man, was a prominent divine, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Francis A. Newman, jr., served in the war of 1812, and in 1816 married Miss Alger, and re- mained in Otsego county until 1819; there his wife died and left three children: Asseneth, Filinda and William; after which he married his second wife, Sarah Per- hamas, by whom he had three children: John W., Peter, and Andrew J. In 1855 he came to Steuben county and settled in the town of Wayland near Loon Lake, and engaged in farming. Peter first settled in Cohocton, where he engaged in the lum- ber business, and later settled in Wallace. Andrew J. has been for many years an extensiver buyer and shipper of live stock, having also extensive farming interests, and for twelve years he carried on a market in Hornellsville, In 1888 he settled in the western part of the town of Cohocton. For nearly thirty-seven years he has been an official member of the Loon Lake M. E. church, and for nineteen years superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He married Catherine Mehlenbacher, by whom he had five children: Mary (Mrs. Frank Small), Samuel W., Charles P., Gertrude, and Floyd W.

Howe, William L., and George W., proprietors and editors of the Prattsburg News, are the sons of the late Paul C. Howe, who was the founder, and editor to the time of his death, of this paper. Paul C., the only son of Rudolphus Howe, was born at Tripknock Corners, in the town of Cohocton, Steuben county, November 26, 1823, and upon the death of his mother when he was about seven years of age, he, and a younger sister, Emily, became members of the family of his father's sister, Mrs. Harvey Downs of Prattsburg, where he was reared on a farm. He was edu- cated in the Franklin Academy, and quite early in life became a teacher, and later engaged in farming and lumbering. For a time he was engaged in the mercantile business in the village of Prattsburg, but unfortunately lost all by fire, after which he erected a stone block on the same site and resumed business. December 12, 1872, he issued the first number of the Prattsburg News, and henceforth was known and recognized in a new capacity. When a young man he joined the Lyceum, which for several years was one of the valuable features of Prattsburg, and there Mr. Howe developed that fluency of speech and pen, which was one of his best known charac- teristics. Politically, Mr. Howe was a Whig, but one of the first to identify himself with the Republican party upon its organization, and was always active in looking after the interests of that party. He was one of the first to give his time for the good of his country in its sore need by enlisting and organizing a company, which went out a hundred strong. He was practically interested in agricultural pursuits, and was one of the original members and organizers of the Prattsburg Grange, hav- ing been actively identified with its work in the county, as well as at home. He was

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called upon in various ways to serve the people, and, whether individually or on public occasions, he promptly responded. At the close of the war he became an effi- cient pension agent, and as such will be gratefully remembered by numerous house- holds in this vicinity. He was elected and ordained one of the ruling elders of the Presbyterian church, which office he held at the time of his death. He was also one of the commissioners to the General Assembly at the reunion in Pittsburg in 1870, being elected by the Presbytery of Steuben. In April, 1848, he married Miss Abitha S. Alderman of Prattsburg, and they reared three sons and four daughters. Mr. Howe died February 26, 1886; his wife survives him. Since the death of their father, William L. and George W., under the name of P. C. Howe's Sons, have ably continued the publication of the Prattsburg News, and have added to their plant a steam power and large late improved cylinder press. The following, relative to the Prattsburg News, is from the pen of Hon. John M. Francis: "The Prattsburg, N. Y., News was published by the late Paul C. Howe about a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Howe pushed the enterprise to success, overcoming discouraging obstacles, and working on to the end with a faith that never faltered. On his decease, several years ago, the interest passed into the hands of his two sons, W. L. and G. W. Howe -both indefatigable workers and 'chips of the old block.' And their efforts have been crowned with steady and progressive prosperity. The News takes rank among the best of country weeklies, bearing in each issue the news of the week, with local intelligence from villages, hamlets and neighborhoods, all of that section of Northern Steuben and Southern Yates and Ontario counties. The Messrs. Howe may well be proud of their journalistic achievements, as worthy successors of their indefatigable father. The Troy Times sends greeting to them from inspirations of personal inter- est, the ties of nativity, and refreshing recollections of long ago, with its best wishes for continued prosperity. The local paper marks the progressive developments of its town and section, and from this point of view the citizens of Prattsburg may felicitate themselves upon the journalistic advances and creditable presentation of their wideawake News."

Renchan, Charles M., is the leading lumber manufacturer and dealer of this part of the country, and owns the largest and best equipped saw and planing mills in Western New York. In connection with his mill is a feed mill, and since 1882 he has dealth largely in sash, doors, blinds, and glass, and is also a dealer in agricultural implements. His education was begun in the common schools, and when fourteen years of age entered the school at Bath, and when seventeen years of age, entered the Rochester Business University, after which he studied law two years in Bath, and in 1872 was called home by his father to take an interest with him in his large farm and lumber manufacturing business, he having full control of the business from the beginning. In 1878 he purchased from his father the lumber interest, and in 1881 took as partner, W. W. Allen of Bath, and the company was known as C. M. henchan & Co., and they purchased two other large mills, and carried on an exten- sive business, their pay roll running some months as high as $9,000. In 1885 they lost one mill by fire, and the same year a division was made, he retaining the Wheeler property. From 1881 to 1888 he resided in Bath, and was elected village trustee the first six months there, and from 1888 to 1890 he was general superintend- ent of the construction work on the Kanona & Prattsburg railroad, furnishing a large

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portion of the timber. During 1890 to 1893 he erected, by contract, some large plan- ing mills in Buffalo, N. Y., and Pennsylvania, and later engaged in contracting and building in Rochester, N. Y. In 1893 he returned to Wheeler and resumed his busi- ness. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Bath, an honorary member of the Edwin Cook Hose Company in Bath, and while residing there was a member of the Buffalo City Commercial Travelers' Club. In December, 1878, he married Leona M., daughter of Dr. Reuben F. Parkhill of Howard, by whom he had one child, Minnie. George Renchan, father of Charles M., was born in Wheeler. September 23, 1814, where he still resides on his large farm of 355 acres. He erected many saw mills throughout the county, and in 1852 erected the mill now operated by his son, which is known as Renchan Mills. He trained for forty years in the State militia, was promoted along the line to captain, and during the late war was enrolling officer. He married Sarah Rose of Wheeler.

Fowler .- Among the early settlers of Cohocton should be mentioned the name of Adijah Fowler, who was born in West Winfield, N. Y., March 12, 1782, and was a farmer at Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., until 1816, when he moved to North Cohocton, Steuben county, N. Y., and engaged in farming, and the renting of oxen, cows and sheep, of which he rented to the early settlers of Cohocton and all the neighboring towns. He was a friend to the needy, and an enterprising man in building up the town, at which place he died in January, 1849, leaving a family of seven children of which Samuel G. Fowler was the only son who spent his life in York State; who lived at North Cohocton the whole of his life, with the exception of the years from 1864 until 1872 when he lived in Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., where he went to educate his children. He was a farmer and owned some 600 acres of land and was an active business man, and contributed liberally to erect the M. E. church edifice in 1846 and was an active member of said church; and was a trustee of the Union School when the school building was erected in the year 1874; and was justice of the peace for a number of years. He died in the year 1877, and left a family of four children: Noyes K., Franklin C., George S., and Benjamin A., of whom Noyes K. and George S. are the only sons residing in York State, both being farmers; the former residing at North Cohocton and the latter at Atlanta, N. Y. Franklin C.'s home being in Spartanburg, S. C., and Benjamin A.'s home in Chicago, Ill. All these children of Samuel G. are honorable citizens and held positions of public trust in the town; Noyes K. being the present justice of the peace, which position he has held for a number of terms.

Shaut, Albert, was born in Herkimer county, November 11, 1842. George Shaut, his father, came to Avoca, Steuben county, about 1852, and settled near the village. He was a farmer by occupation and still resides in Steuben county. He married May, daughter of Joseph Bowers of Herkimer village, by whom he had these chil- dren: Albert, Sarah C., May J., and Orlando. Albert was educated in the towns of Wheeler and Avoca, and started in life as a farmer, after which he went to peddling tin, from this to hardware dealing, and has been in the grist mill business for fifteen years, and owns a mill which was first established about forty-five years ago, and which has a capacity of 500 bushels of wheat, etc., every twenty-four hours. He marrried Lucretia M., daughter of George Fox of Montgomery county, by whom he

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 116

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180