USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 22
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
George T. Spencer became a member of the county bar, and took up his residence in Corning in 1841. He was in the Legislature in 1857 ; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867, and county judge from 1872 to 1877. Other early members of the bar and in prac- tice in Corning were William Irvine, who came in 1849, and who was elected to Congress in 1858. He was colonel of a cavalry regiment during the late war, and was made adjutant-general in 1865. Joseph Herron was an active lawyer at Corning from 1847 to 1856, and was district attorney two years, begining in 1854. John Maynard came to Corning about 1850, and practiced until his death in 1865. He was elected district attorney in 1856. Henry G. Cotton began his law prac- tlce at Centerville but soon moved to the village, when he became part- ner with Thomas A. Johnson. Later on he moved to Illinois. John P. Shapley succeeded to Judge Johnson's practice when the latter was elected to the Supreme bench in 1847. Mr. Shapley died about 1850. Henry Sherwood lived and practiced law in Corning from 1860 to 1870. He was in the Legislature in 1862. He died in 1875. Alvin F. Payne was partner to Mr. Sherwood, and practiced in Corning from 1863 to 1868, when he moved to New York. Charles H. Berry came to Corn- ing and began law practice about 1850, but five years later went to Minnesota. C. N. Waterman, who eventually became judge of the Su- preme Court of Minnesota, practiced in Corning from 1851 to 1853, being partner with Mr. Berry. Isaac C. Herridon became a member of the Corning bar about 1855 ; George N. Middlebrook came about 1850; Azariah Longuell in 1864 ; George R. Graves in 1860. Other practic- ing attorneys of the same place, though of later date, were Jacob H. Wolcott, William K. Logie, A. Hadden, E. B. Ross, John W. Brown and C. D. Baker, none of whose names now appears on the court calender.
Andrew G. Chatfield was one of the first lawyers at Addison; was member of assembly four terms, 1839, '40, '41, and '46, and was elected district attorney in 1845. F. E. R. Cornell was also a former lawyer at the same village, and, like Mr. Chatfield, afterward removed to Minne- sota, where both became prominent. Ferral C. Dininny, John W. Dininny, and James Durkin are also to be mentioned among the pioneer lawyers of Addison.
In Hornellsville one of the earliest and most prominent members
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
of the legal profession was William M. Hawley, a native of Delaware county, born February 13, 1802. Mr. Hawley acquired his legal edu- cation in the office of George Miles, of Allegany county, and in 1837 came to Hornellsville to practice law. He is remembered as a strong, conscientious, and perfectly candid lawyer ; a formidable legal oppo- nent yet never boastful of his victories. In January, 1846, Mr. Hawley was appointed first judge of Steuben county, but was succeeded by David McMaster in 1847. In the fall of this year Judge Hawley was elected to the State Senate from this county, and served one year in that capacity. Returning to Hornellsville our subject resumed practice and continued till about the time of his death, February 9, 1869.
John K. Hale was for more than twenty years the leader of the Hor- nellsville bar, and was, moreover, one of the pioneers of his profession in the western part of the county. Mr. Hale was a native of Maine, a typical down-easter, it is said, and was keen, bright, straightforward and reliable. Coming to this county, he located first at Addison, and from there came to Hornellsville in 1836. He was State Senator in 1856-57, but soon after his term expired he moved west.
Thomas J. Reynolds came to Hornellsville in 1819, and if his legal practice began at that time, he was the undoubted pioneer of the pro- fession in the town. Later on he was partner with Mr. Hale, and after- wards with R. L. Brundage. Mr. Reynolds is remembered as a natural rather than an educated lawyer, yet bright, interesting and a worthy foe in legal contest. With his legal practice Mr. Reynolds engaged in lum- bering and succeeded in accumulating a competency.
R. L. Brundage became a member of the Hornellsville bar in 1846. He was born in New Jersey and came with his parents to Bath in 1824, thence moved to Greenwood in 1830. Mr. Brundage read law with John K. Hale, at Hornellsville, and was admitted to practice in 1846. In 1852 he was elected district attorney, and after the expiration of his term was employed by the Erie Railroad Company.
John Baldwin was another of the early lawyers of Hornellsville. He read law and entered the legal profession in Livingston county, and came to Hornellsville in 1835. At one time he was partner with Will- iam M. Hawley, but an untimely death cut short a career of usefulness and undoubted honor in the profession. Mr. Baldwin died in 1843.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Harlo Hakes, senior member of the bar in Hornellsville, was a na- tive of Delaware county, born September 23, 1823. His elementary and legal education was acquired principally in Delaware county, yet he finished his law studies with Judge Harris, of Albany, and also in the Albany Law School. He was admitted to practice in 1853, and in the same year came to Hornellsville, where he has since resided. Among his political holdings, the first of note was a term in the Assembly in 1856; district attorney one term, beginning January 1, 1863 ; appointment in 1867 as registrar in bankruptcy for the 29th congressional district ; elected county judge in 1883, and again in 1889, but retired in 1893 by reason of the age limitation. However, Judge Hakes still continues in active practice.
Horace Bemis was for many years one of the most popular lawyers of Hornellsville, and who, outside of professional life, was an active figure in both State and county politics. Mr. Bemis was a native of Vermont and acquired his legal education in that State. He was admitted to practice in New York State in 1851, and in that year came to Hornells- ville. Politically, Horace Bemis was a strong Republican, and as such represented the third Steuben district in the Assembly in 1863 and 1865. In 1868 he was presidential elector for this congressional dis . trict on the Republican ticket.
James H. Stevens, who for several years was the law partner of Judge Hakes, was born in Dansville in 1821, and was admitted to the bar in 1852, after a thorough general and legal education. He came to Hor- nellsville in 1853.
Among the other practicing attorneys of Hornellsville, who are worthy of mention as formerly members of the county bar, were Will- iam E. Bonham, of the old firm of Bonham, Near & Platt, and who represented the third Steuben district in the Assembly in 1864 and '65 ; and who also practiced for a time in Bath. There was also Daniel L. Benton, who was district attorney from 1881 to 1884. There was also Rodney Dennis, strong, bright, capable and honest, and who served one term of county school commissioner, beginning in 1865. His untimely death ended a useful and interesting career. Henry N. Platt is also to be mentioned in the same connection, though he does not appear to have figured much outside of professional life.
farmers Ht Stevens for
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
The Present Bar .- In both personal character and professional ability the bench and bar of Steuben county always held distinction, and did our space permit the subject would be entitled to more extended notice. Under such limitation, however, our record will only include personal mention of the members of the present bar of the county ; in which de- termination we are supported by the profession in general, and its younger representatives in particular, who have yet to make their life records, and who fell that extended mention belongs more appropriately to the close of labor than to its beginning.
In Steuben county there is a great variety of business interests, and hence there is a fair prospect of success on the part of any energetic lawyer ; and while the legal business ordinarily centers at the county seat, in Steuben the seat of justice happens to be located in a compara- tively small municipality, which offers less inducement to a lawyer than either Corning or Hornellsville, while, from a business point of view, Addison, Canisteo, Wayland and Hammondsport are rivals of Bath.
The lawyers of the county seat at the present time are M. Rumsey Miller, Charles L. Kingsley, James R. Kingsley, C. F. Kingsley, John F. Little, Reuben R. Lyon, Robert M. Lyon, Ansel J. McCall, James McCall, L. D. Miller, Humphrey McMaster, W. H. Nichols, J. F. Park- hurst, R. E. Robie, Thomas Shannon, Clarence Willis, Lucius Waldo, Francis B. Wood. In Addison the attorneys are H. D. Baldwin, D. M. Darwin and H. W. Sanford. The Adrian attorney is J. D. Millard. At Atlanta are counsellors Isaac N. Baker and F. B. Beecher. In Avoca are Earle W. Bozard and A. M. Spooner. In Bradford the resident lawyer is Albert J. Wright. Emmet B. Rose practices at Campbell. Canisteo has five attorneys, A. H. Burrell, A. M. Burrell, A. W. Burrell, F. H. Robinson (county judge), and Eli Soule. The attorneys of Co- hocton are Samuel J. Depew and C. W. Stanton.
Lawyers of Corning .- Daniel F. Brown, Warren J. Cheney, Edwin C. English, A. S. Kendall, Wm. F. McNamara, Ellsworth D. Mills, Egbert Shoemaker, George T. Spencer, Wm. J. Tully, Francis A. Williams, Leslie W. Wellington, Francis C. Williams.
In Greenwood Silas Kellogg is the only practicing lawyer, while Hammondsport has three, Walter Drew, James G. Sebring and Monroe Wheeler.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Hornellsville .- Milo M. Acker, Hiram A. Baker, Charles E. Beard, Wesley Brown, Shirley E. Brown, Wm. C. Bingham, Wm. S. Charles, Lewis H. Clark, Chas. J. Clark, James H. Clancy, Charles Conderman, Chas. A. Dolson, J. B. Finch, John M. Finch, Adelbert Ferry, John Griffin, Harlo Hakes, Homer Holliday, Miles W. Hawley, Frank Kelley, W. S. Newman, Irvin W. Near, George N. Orcutt, Warren W. Oxx, De Merville Page, Murray E. Page, James A. Parsons, Fay P. Rathbun, James H. Stevens, jr., C. W. Stevens, J. E. B. Santee, J. F. Wetmore, Elbert M. Worth.
W. A. Dawson is in practice at Kanona; J. S. Tobias at Painted Post ; James Flaherty and J. K. Smith at Prattsburg ; E. T. Hollis and P. Masten at Woodhull, and C. C. Bill, W. W. Clark and Henry V. Pratt at Wayland.
CHAPTER XV.
THE PRESS.
It is surprising, when searching our libraries, to discover how little has been written of the "Art preservative of all Arts," and the educator of all educators. While printing has been the chronicler of all arts, profes- sions and learning, it has recorded so little of its own history as to leave even the story of its first invention and application wrapped in mystery and doubt ; and we only know that from the old " Ramage press," which Faust and Franklin used, capable of producing only a hundred impres- sions per hour, we have now the ponderous machine which turns out one thousand printed papers per minute.
In glancing over the pages of history we discover the gradual devel- opment in the arts and sciences; we notice they go hand in hand-one discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts leads to others continually, and the results of the last few centuries show that observations of no apparent use led to the most important discoveries and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold the theory of gravitation and its relation to the solar system; the discovery
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of the polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the mariner's compass ; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog led to the numerous applications of galvanic electricity ; the observation of the expansive force of steam led to the construction and application of the steam engine; the observation of the influence of light on the chloride of silver led to the art of photography; the observation of the communication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the invention of the telephone; the impressions cut in the smooth bark of the beech tree led to the art of printing-the art which transmits to posterity a record to all that is valuable to the world.
Thus is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. Gradually has he advanced from a state of barbarism and ignorance to a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute dominion over all elements, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened manhood he can exclaim with Cowper :
I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute ; From the center all 'round to the sea I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
The printing office has well been called the "Poor Boy's College," and has proven a better school to many; has graduated more intellect and turned it into useful, practical channels, awakened more active, de- voted thought, than almost any alma mater. Many a dunce has passed through the universities with no tangible proof of fitness other than his insensible piece of parchment, called the " sheepskin." There is some- thing in the very atmosphere of the printing office calculated to awaken the mind to activity and inspire a thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stan- hope, Beranger, Thiers, Greeley, Taylor, and a host of other names illustrious in the world of letters and science, have been gems in the diadem of typography, and owe their success to the influence of a print- ing office.
The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelli- gence, civilization and progress of the community in which it is pub- lished, and its files are the footprints of the advancement and refinement of the period of its publication ; and the printing office is now deemed as essential as the school house or church. In a great measure it has
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
taken the place of the rostrum and the professor's chair, and become the great teacher. No party, organization, enterprise or calling is now considered perfect with its " organ "-the newspaper.
The history of the press in Steuben county dates back to the year 1796, the same in which the county itself was created and organized. Charles Williamson furnished the idea and the means by which the Bath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser first proclaimed the attractions of the region to the outside world, and William Kersey and James Edie managed the editorial and mechanical departments of the publication. However, this paper continued publication only about four years, and passed out of existence about the time Captain Williamson closed his relations with the Pulteney associates.
The second newspaper of the county seat was the Steuben and Alle- gany Patriot, the first number of which appeared in December, 1816, under the control of Capt. Benjamin Smead. " The Patriot," says Mr. Richardson,1 " remained in the Smead family up to April 4, 1849, when it passed into the hands of William C. Rhodes, who continued its pub- lication as the Steuben Farmers' Advocate." The office and plant were burned January 30, 1857. Mr. Rhodes sold the good will of the paper to P. S. Donahe; who, on May 31, 1857, resumed publication, Ansel J. McCall filling the editorial chair. However, in the summer of 1860, A. L. Underhill became owner of the Advocate, and the office and paper were subjected to radical changes, resulting in a greatly improved condition. This paper is still owned and published by members of the Underhill family, although on the 16th of September, 1895, it passed into the management of a corporate company, with a capital of $10,000. The Advocate is one of the truest exponents of Democratic principles in Steuben county, and is, as well, one of its strongest papers.
In September, 1819, the Western Republican made its first appear- ance in Bath, under the editorial control of Erastus Shepard. In No- vember, 1822, the name was changed to Steuben Republican, but after a struggling existence of less than three years (February, 1822) publi- cation was discontinued.
I The writer acknowledges access to the compilations of George W. Richardson, of Bath, in preparing the history of the local press. Mr. Richardson is regarded as undoubted authority on the subject, and has corrected many errors made by earlier historians.
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THE PRESS.
The next venture in the journalistic field was the Steuben Whig, a campaign paper published in 1828, by William M. Swaine, who after- ward published the Philadelphia Ledger. In the same year David Rumsey issued the first number of the Steuben Messenger, but in 1830 sold out to S. M. Eddy, and the latter, in turn, disposed of the paper to W. P. Angel. He changed the name to Constitutionalist, and con- tinued it until 1834, when Charles Adams became proprietor. In 1841 Adams sold to R. L. Underhill, but still later owners or persons inter- ested were M. F. Whittemore & Co., R. B. Van Valkenburgh, and George B. Richardson and John Dowe, the latter in 1843, and by whom the name was changed to Steuben Democrat. In 1844 publication was suspended, but the paper was revived in 1848 by L. J. Brush, who, in 1849, sold to George H. Bidwell, and he continued it till 1852. Next came the Primitive Christian, a religious paper, edited by Rev. Jabez Chadwick and printed by Richardson & Dowe, and issued monthly. The Rose, a literary monthly, also made its appearance in 1844. J. C. Vincent, editor, and Richardson & Dowe, printers. Mr. Vincent en- listed as a soldier in the Mexican war, upon which publication ceased.
The present Steuben Courier, the leading Republican organ of Northern Steuben county, had its origin in a newspaper founded under Whig influences, and for the special purpose of promoting the political aspirations of Henry Clay. For its conduct Henry H. Hull was called to Bath, and he associated with him M. F. Whittemore of the defunct Constitutionalist. After two years Mr. Whittemore retired, and Mr. Hull conducted the paper alone until 1856, when Charles G. Fairman took an interest and remained nine months. In 1854, when the Re- publican party was organized, the Courier advocated its principles and became its chief organ in the county. This standing it has ever since maintained, although frequent changes in ownership have been made during its subsequent history. However, in 1890, the Courier Com- pany, Limited, was formed and has since owned and conducted the paper, employing a competent editor and a full corps of assistants.
In 1854, Jennie and Caroline Rumsey founded and edited the Tem- perance Gem, procuring the assistance of the Advocate office in com- position and press work. This paper was afterward moved to Elmira. About two years afterward, on January 1, 1856, the Steuben American
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was issued by A. L. Underhill. P. S. Donahe became its owner in 1857 and merged the paper in the Farmers' Advocate. The Saturday News was established by Enos W. Barnes, who issued the first number April 25, 1868. It lived less than six months. The Tri-weekly Con- servative made its first appearance in August, 1868, under the editorial management of Charles Clute. It was a spicy little sheet, yet short lived, about equal to its cotemporary, the News. The Bath Echo was the undertaking of Clute & McCall, and was published four or five months during the year 1874. The same may also be said of the Bath Sunday News, which was published about six months, of the year 1881, by L. R. Smith & Co., the editor being A. Ellas McCall.
The Bath Plaindealer, recognized to-day as one of the best weekly family newspapers published in Steuben county, was founded in 1883, the first number being issued May 5. Its owners were A. Ellas Mc- Call, Orson L. Drew and William Black. The Plaindealer soon found its way into popular favor, yet it never courted notoriety in any respect. It is conservatively yet liberally conducted and has a large circulation. Of the original firm, Drew and Black both withdrew in 1884, since which time Mr. McCall has been sole proprietor.
The Savona Review, a bright, interesting and newsy weekly paper published at Savona by T. C. Wall was established in 1888 (May 19) by S L. Ward, and then known as the Savona Rustler.
Having referred at some length to the newspapers, past and present, of the county town, we may with propriety mention those which have had an existence in the other towns of the county. In the village and town of Addison are two good representative newspaper publications, known respectively, as the Advertiser and the Record, advocates of the two great political parties of the nation, and withal interesting and in- structive family journals. In March, 1858, after several previous ineffec- tual attempts, the Addison Advertiser was brought into permanent ex- istence, and while it freely discussed all political questions, it did so from a distinctly independent standpoint. However, before a year had passed the paper became as earnestly Democratic as it was previously independent During the war the Advertiser was perfectly loyal, and so zealous was it in support of the administration that it became essen- tially Republican. In 1872 it favored the Greeley movement, and four
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THE PRESS.
years later supported Tilden. Again, in 1881, it returned to the Re- publican fold under the management of Amos Roberts, its, present owner. Many indeed have been the changes in ownership of the Ad- vertiser, and we may note them about as follows : Henry M. Johnson, founder, assisted by Col. Henry Baldwin ; Johnson, Dow & Bates, July, 1865, to January 1, 1866 ; Johnson & Roberts ; George H. Hollis, Jan- uary 30, 1873; Amos Roberts, 1881. The Addison Record was founded December 3, 1881, by O. B. Ireland, who was succeeded by F. B. Orser and George Jones, and the latter in turn by M. Kinne. On the IIth of June, 1886, C. B. Mowers, the present owner, purchased and has since conducted the paper ; and has made it the organ of the Democratic party in this part of the county.
On the 17th day of May, 1879, W. T. Coggswell issued the first number of the Avoca Advance, the first and only newspaper published in the town. It has continued to the present time and always received a fair share of the public patronage. Its successive owners have been W. T. Coggeshall, Martin A. Hoadley, Alvin Wood, Fred C. Dean, Coggeshall & Silsbee, and George C. Silsbee, the latter becoming sole owner in March, 1888.
The Canisteo Times was established January 25, 1877, in the enter- prising village of Canisteo by S. H. Jennings, and almost at once met with popular favor and generous support. On April 1, 1886, the plant was sold to F. B. Smith, who in turn disposed of it Frank A. Fay, the present editor and publisher.
The Canisteo Tidings was originally a paper of Troupsburg, estab- lished in 1890, as Farmers' Weekly, by Elmer E. Reynolds. The paper was removed to Canisteo in 1894. Potter, Mulhollen & Co. were former proprietors, but it is now owned and successfully managed by James N. Osincup and Clarence C. Proctor.
Away back in 1859 William Waite Warner started a little paper in Cohocton, the first venture of its kind in the town. It was called the . Cohocton Journal, and was a good though short lived paper. No further attempt at starting a paper was made until 1872, when H. B. Newell brought the Cohocton Herald, but he soon sold out to James C. Hewitt and the latter changed the name of the paper to Cohocton Tribune. The next owner was William A. Carpenter (in 1875) by
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whom the name was changed to Cohocton Valley Times, as now known. In 1878 Edward A. Higgins became owner, and was, in November, 1889, succeeded by S. D. Shattuck. The Times, under the careful and energetic management of editor Shattuck, is known as one of the best and most widely circulating weekly papers in the upper Conhocton region, and is in all respects an interesting family newspaper.
The Cohocton Index was moved to Cohocton village from Atlanta in 1893, but previous to that time had been published in the latter village under the name of Atlanta News. Hyatt C. Hatch was its founder and owner until 1892, when the present management was established. V. L. and R. M. Tripp are competent newspaper men, and under their united efforts the Index has taken a favorable position among the weekly publications of the county.
The Corning and Blossburg Advocate was the first venture in jour- nalism in Corning, and was established in 1840, soon after the opera- tions of the "Corning Company " had become an assured success. However, the Advocate had but a brief life in this locality, as in 1841 it passed into the hands of Henry H. Hull, and by him was united with the Steuben Courier, a newspaper of the county seat.
After the removal of the Advocate to Bath, in 1843, there was no newspaper published in Corning until 1847, when Thomas Messenger founded the Corning Journal, a paper which has been in continuous and active existence from that until the present time, and one which, throughout the long period of its history, has recorded as many public changes and events, and yet has experienced as few in its own man- agement and personnel, as any paper in the southern tier. Further- more, the Journal has been productive of as much good to every worthy interest as any newspaper of the region, and has ever been devoted to the advocacy of purity in home and public life. In July, 1851, A. W. McDowell and Dr. George W. Pratt purchased the Journal, and since April, 1853, the person last mentioned has had sole and almost con- stant charge of its conduct and management, and being practically re- lieved only within the present year. This experience and record in journalism has few equals; and to- day the newspaper guide and direc- tory retains the old pioneer name-" Corning Journal, George W. Pratt, editor and publisher." The daily edition of the Journal was begun in
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