Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 25

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

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8.00 P. M. Old Time Reception at the Casino.

The following list shows the formation and the companies in the line of the parade :

Capt. W. W. Lindsay, Marshal.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Band, sixteen men.

Custer Post, G. A. R., eighty men.

General Barry Post, G. A. R., No. 248, seventy-five men.

Keeley Club of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, seventy men.

L. H. Balcom Assistant Marshal.

Hammondsport Cornet Band, sixteen men.

Royal Arcanum, Chapter No. 344, of Bath, forty men.

Knights of the Maccabees, No. 71, of Bath, forty men.

Boy's Society, " Character Builders of St. Thomas church," forty-two in line, led by Rev. B. S. Sanderson.

Wm. J. H. Richardson, Assistant Marshal.

Prattsburgh Cornet Band, fourteen men.

Bath Fire Department, Chief McNamara, First Assistant Cotton, Second Assistant Parker.

Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, twenty six men, Foreman A. L. Lilley.

Hook and Ladder truck gaily decorated and carrying a log hut with Indians, representing 1793 at one end, while at the other end was a boat containing four little girls representative of the year 1893.

Samuel E. Wilkes, Assistant Marshal.

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Cohocton Cornet Band, twenty men.

Edwin Cook Hose Company, twenty-eight men, Foreman John Donahe.

Hose Company's cart completely covered with flowers, and two little children riding on top dressed in Continental costume.

Hacks containing Mayor Gould, Trustees Smith, Phillips, Aber and Sutton, City Attorney Waldo and Clerk Shannon.

Hoxie W. Smith, Assistant Marshal, followed by a long division rep- resenting the business interests of the Town and Village.

Personnel of the several committees under whose division the celebra- tion was arranged and most successfully managed :

General Committee :

Gen. W. W. Averell, W. W. Allen, R E. Robie, A. J. McCall, H. W. Bowes, J. F. Little, O. H. Smith, Abram Beekman, W. E. Howell, J. F. Parkhurst, R. R. Lyon, James R. Kingsley, Rev. M. N. Preston, Rev. B. S. Sanderson, Rev M. C. Dean, Rev. V. P. Mather, Rev. J. J. Gleason , Rev. B. W. Swain. Gen. Averell was Chairman of the Committee, and James R. Kingsley, Secretary. Sub-committees :-

Invitations-A. J. McCall.

Reception of Guests-Augustus de Peyster.

Entertainment-Abram Beekman.

Literary Exercises-John F. Little. Finance-Reuben R. Lyon.

Decorating Village-John McNamara.

Schools-Clarence Willis.

Procession and Bands-William H. Hallock.

Evening Reception-Augustus de Peyster.

Publication and Printing-John Underhill.

In their preparations the Committee were given most valued assist- ance by the Ladies' Committee, made up as follows :

Executive Committee-Mrs. James Lyon, Chairman ; Mrs. Ansel J. McCall, Mrs. Wm. Rumsey, Mrs. George W. Hallock, Mrs. J. F. Park- hurst, Mrs. B. F. Young, Mrs. M. Rumsey Miller, Mrs. Agustus de Peyster, Mrs. John Davenport, Mrs. W. W. Averell; Miss Jeanette M. Hodgman, Sec'y.

If W Perine

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Invitations-Mrs. Thomas J. Whiting.

Reception and Care of Guests-Mrs. William H. Nichols. .

Entertainment, Seats and Grounds-Miss Katharine Bowes.

Literary Exercises-Miss Mamie McBeath.

Finance-Mrs. Charles F. Kingsley.

Decoration of Village and Grounds-Mrs. Abram Beekman.

Schools-Miss Anna Freeman.

Procession and Bands-Mrs. Alfred Case.

Evening Reception-The Executive Committee.

Publication and Printing -- Miss Cassie W. Hull.

As a business and manufacturing center Bath has attracted little attention in commercial circles. True, mercantile interests are now and in the past have been sufficiently represented, and there has always been enough of competition to prevent the possibilities of monopoly. In the early history of the town, General McClure and some of his asso- ciates were very active in starting and maintaining manufacturing enter- prises, yet indifferent results were the reward of their best efforts, and later generations have shown only a passive interest in building up Bath with factories. And it is also true that many of the present busi- ness men, bankers and capitalists have generously contributed money to various manufacturing industries, but the results generally have been discouraging rather than satisfactory.

In this work it has not been thought advisable to mention by name the merchants of Bath; they need no such advertisement to display their wares as nearly all are patrons of the local press. However, we may mention, among manufacturing interests, the harness and saddle factory, started about 1890 by Fred Morris, but now and since July, 1893, operated by the Bath Harness Company. Another industry worthy of note is the Smith & Griegson Shoe Company, whose plant was destroyed by an unfortunate fire during the spring of 1895. The business of the company, however, was at once established and con- tinued.

Among the fixed manufacturing industries of the village may be mentioned the planing mills and general wood working establishments of Abram Beekman, and also William H. and Robert J. Davison, the firm being also extensive contractors and builders. Joy's steam flouring mill

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may also be mentioned in the same connection. Messrs. Hardenbrook & Co. formerly operated a large foundry and machine shop, among their specialties being stoves, plows and general castings. The old plant occupied by Loomis & McMath as a wagon factory is now owned by Willliam Allen. The Applebee Horse Collar factory has moved to Corning, and the Bath Jacket Can Manufacturing Company, after dis- asters, went out of business.

The record of the banking institutions shows in more favorable light so far at least as substantial results and capable management is con- cerned. The pioneer financial concern of Bath was the old Steuben County Bank, incorporated by the Legislature March 9, 1832, the di- rectors being John Magee, president, and William W. McCoy, Reuben Robie, Edward Howell, Constant Cook, James Faulkner, Andrew B. Dickinson, Chauncey Hoffman, Charles Butler, Henry S. Williams, Henry B. Gibson, Ansel St. John, and William S. Hubbell, directors. The bank first opened for business, October 24, 1832, in the old Land Office building, but in 1833 moved to the new bank building erected for its use, and where it afterward continued throughout the period of its useful and successful career. The presidents, in succession, were John Magee, William W. McCoy, John Magee, D. C. Howell, Ambrose S. Howell, D. C. Howell, and William E. Howell. During the time of the last mentioned president, the bank went into voluntary liquidation and soon passed out of existence.

George W. Hallock's bank was established January I, 1849, and for a period of nearly half a century has been known among the safe finan- cial institutions of the State. William H. Hallock became partner with the founder in 1879, a relation which was maintained to the death of the latter, February 10, 1895. The bank, however, is continued on the same safe basis established by Mr. Hallock many years ago. It is now owned by Mary H. and William H. Hallock. The latter is now cashier ; John M. Farr, assistant cashier, and C. E. Bennett, teller.

The present First National Bank of Bath was originally organized as The Bank of Bath, April 11, 1854, with a capital of $50,000. Constant Cook was its president, and H. H. Cook, cashier, by both of whom its affairs were managed, and successfully although frequent changes in location were made. However, in 1858, the business was removed to

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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

the new bank building at the corner of Steuben and Liberty streets. On the 14th of December, 1863, the State charter was dissolved and the bank at once reorganized under the name of First National Bank of Bath (No. 153) with a capital of $50,000 (soon afterward increased to $100,000). The first officers were Constant Cook, president ; H. H. Cook, cashier, both of whom, with L. D. Hodgman, E. C. Cook and W. W. Allen composed the board of directors. Judge Cook died on the 24th of February, 1874, and in April following Henry H. Cook was elected to the presidency. At this time, also, W. W. Allen was ap- pointed cashier, which offices they hold at the present time. The direc- tors are H. H. Cook, L. D. Hodgman, E. C. Cook, M. R. Miller and W. W. Allen. This bank has a surplus of nearly $45,000. No com- ment upon its management or business is required at the hands of the writer, for the First National Bank of Bath is too well known in bank- ing circles and in the business world to suggest even the desirability of compliment.

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Bath opened its doors for busi- ness January 1, 1880, the owners and managers forming a partnership, comprising J. F. Parkhurst, Abram Beekman, Thomas R. Rutherford, William M. Nichols, and Frank Campbell. The present partners and owners are Messrs. Beekman, Parkhurst, and Campbell. This is a private banking house, safe and reliable, and enjoys a full share of public confidence.

THE CITY OF CORNING .- On the 26th day of October, 1825, that great thoroughfare of travel and traffic-the Erie canal-was completed and opened for its intended use, and great and immediate benefit ac- crued to the towns and villages along its route. During the ten years next following this event, the legislature was constantly besieged with applications for charters and for pecuniary assistance in the interest of other similar enterprises, nearly all of which were intended to be auxil- iary and tributary to the canal first mentioned, and to cross the State from north to south, penetrating the vast lumber tracts of Southern New York and the unlimited coal fields of Northern Pennsylvania. Capital- ists and merchants in Albany and New York, and also in the more prominent manufacturing centers of New England, were desirous that these lateral waterways should be established, for they eagerly sought

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

both coal and lumber for business and speculative purposes, which commodities were not provided by the main canal. In 1825 the Dela- ware and Hudson Canal company was chartered, and in 1828 the canal itself was opened. This brought southern products to Rondout, on the Hudson, affording partial relief, yet still another inlet was needed.

While the canal last mentioned was in process of construction, a prop- osition was laid before the legislature contemplating another canal, ex- tending southward from the head of Seneca lake into the extensive coal and lumber fields of Northern Pennsylvania, by way of the Chemung and Tioga rivers, but the scheme nearly failed through the adverse posi- tion taken by Col. Samuel Young who seemed to have authority to pass upon the necessity or desirability of the enterprise. However, at this juncture, Captain Vincent Conklin took his team of horses and drew a fine load of Blossburg coal to Albany in order to satisfy the doubtful mind as to the value of the coal deposit of that region. In Albany the redoubtable Conklin found an interested listener in Edwin Cresswell, editor of the Argus, and the result was an earnest advocacy of the canal project on the part of that paper. Better yet, on the 15th of April, 1829, a bill was passed authorizing the construction of the Chemung canal, extending from Watkins to Elmira, with a navigable feeder, or branch, between Horseheads and Knoxville. The work of construction was at once begun, and was completed in 1833, and by it, and other public enterprises soon afterward carried to successful completion, the village and city of Corning became a possibility. Without them it is doubtful if the original hamlet would ever have been more than a cross- roads settlement.

This great consummation attained, public attention was soon attracted to the vicinity of the canal terminus on the southwest. The Conhocton, the Canisteo, the Tuscarora and the Tioga brought here their rafts of superior quality lumber, while the Tioga contributed in addition both lumber and coal, all of which found ready cash markets in the east. These things naturally drew attention to our locality, and it is not sur- prising that Albany capitalists sought investments in so promising a field.

The operations of the Corning Company were no less important as factors in early municipal history than was the the canal, yet the com-

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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

pany followed the canal and was dependent upon it just as later improv- ments were the outgrowth of the land operations. It was the combina- tion of all these elements that laid the foundation upon which the mu- nicipal structure was subsequently built, improved and enlarged ; and to-day we note the result in one of the most metropolitan yet cosmo- politan cities in interior New York, built up and firmly established, well ordered and situated, and containing all the requisites for future advanced prosperity.

The Corning Company was formed in 1835, in Albany, and comprised in its membership Erastus Corning, Thomas W. Olcott, Joseph Fellows, Watts Sherman, Hiram Bostwick, Ansel Bascom, Bowen Whiting, William A. Bradley and Levin I. Gilliss, who associated for the purpose of acquiring and developing lands in this State, particularly in Steuben county, and for such other speculative purposes as were desirable. The company first purchased at Painted Post, but their title failed, and they next obtained 340 acres of land on the west side of the Chemung, with- in the present city limits. It was at first thought the selection of land made by the company was unfortunate, being on the west side of the river, but whether so or not the location proved most fortunate for sub- sequent interests as bridges were built and thus the whole town was benefited.

Indeed these first years of village history witnessed many improve- ments and wonderful changes, and in 1836 there was sufficient impor- tance in the settlement to warrant a name for the hamlet. It was called Corning, in honorable allusion to Erastus Corning, founder in fact of the company and one of the chief promoters of the enterprise. The purchase tract was surveyed and laid out into lots, and all needful things were provided to build up a progressive settlement. However, one of the first acts of the company was to ascertain the possibility of a successful line of railroad between the canal terminus and the rich Bloss- burg coal fields. To be sure, the Tioga river afforded moderate facili- ties for transportation at certain periods, yet it proved a somewhat slow and occasionally unreliable thoroughfare of traffic. To overcome the objections a survey was made to the State line, up the valley of the river, and being practicable the energetic company constructed the road to that point, and there joined with the road built by a similar company

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

of Pennsylvania operators. In 1839 the first locomotive traversed the Tioga valley, and the future success and growth of our little village became assured.

Reference to the railroad statistics of the State discloses the fact that this road was built by the " Tioga Coal, Iron Mining and Manufactur- ing Company," connecting the bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania with the Chemung canal, but gives the year of organization as 1841. However, in 1852, the road was sold and the name changed to Corning and Blossburg railroad. It is the same more recently known as the Blossburg, Corning and Tioga railroad, the "Cowanesque Branch," and also as the Fall Brook road. In 1840 the preliminary surveys for the Erie railroad were made in this vicinity, yet ten years passed before the road was in fact completed. In the expectation that this line was to be immediately built local capital invested largely, and the delay which followed worked disaster to all business interests. The road, however, was completed to Corning in January, 1850. Two years later the Buffalo, Corning and New York railroad (now Rochester division of the Erie) was completed to Corning, affording additional facilities through the Conhocton valley. Still later railway lines, which have added to the general advancement of local interests, were the Syracuse, Geneva and Corning, chartered in 1875, and opened in 1877 ; the Del- aware, Lackawanna and Western, opened in 1882; and the Addison and Pennsylvania, also opened in 1882. The old Corning and Olean Company was chartered in 1852, with a capital of $850,000, but the road was never built.

Returning to purely local history, let us briefly note some of the prominent factors in the development of early interests. Col. H. W. Bostwick was of course active in the operations of the Corning company, and was its resident manager. Other enterprising residents were Dr. William Turbell, Lawyer Thomas A. Johnson, Laurin, P. J. and Wm. M. Mallory, Major S. B. Denton, Nelson L. Somers, H. G. Phelps, B. P. Bailey, John A. Parcell, B. W. Payne, Daniel G. Comstock, George T. Spencer, E. P. Rogers, S. T. Hayt, Hiram Pritchard, Wm. J. Arnold, Charles Clark and others.

Previous to 1840 the hamlet had no post- office nearer than Center- ville, but in the year mentioned Postmaster Philo P. Hubbell kindly

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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

moved the Painted Post office to Corning. In 1841 the name of the . office was changed to Corning and Major S. B. Denton was appointed postmaster. Also in 1840 Charles Adams contributed greatly to local interests in establishing a newspaper, called the Corning and Blossburg Advocate. The second paper was the Corning Sun, founded in 1853 by Mark M. Pomeroy and P. C. Van Gelder. Churches were erected and religious societies were organized, the village Presbyterian in 1842, and the second of the same denomination three years later. The Prot- estant Episcopal church followed in 1854, while the Methodist Episco- pal workers were in the field as early as 1839. The Baptist and Cath- olics were here about the same time, 1842.

In 1842, according to a reprinted article from the Corning and Bloss- burg Advocate, the village contained about 500 inhabitants, and was considered " a smart town," but the failure of the first Erie railroad en- terprise had a depressing effect on all local interests and some of them suffered seriously. The road was completed to Corning from the east in December, 1849, but at that time, notwithstanding all adverse events, the local population had increased to 1,300, and the village had been regularly incorporated.

Referring again to the article in the Advocate, we learn that the law- yers of the village in 1842 were Johnson & Covell, George T. Spencer, and also Col. H. W. Bostwick, the latter president and attorney of the Corning Company and constantly engaged in furthering the interests of his principals rather than occupied in general legal practice. Terbell & Brownell were physicians, the former being also proprietor of a drug store which has since been continued by some member of the family. S. B. Denton kept a shoe store, and was also at one time proprietor of the old Corning House, a well known hostelry standing on the site now occupied by the Dickinson House. H. H. Wyman was the village liv- eryman.

The old Bank of Corning was then in successful operation, having be- gan business January 12, 1839, under a hundred-year charter, yet its existence covered a period of less than thirty years. However, it out- lived by more than a year the Corning Company which dissolved in 1855. Jared A. Redfield was a dry goods merchant, and Loveland & Arnold were in the same line of trade. Bailey & Gray kept a stock of

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general merchandise, while L. Davenport was hatter, but later on opened a book store. Charles Clark was builder and contractor, and some of the structures built by him are still standing, though most of the frame business buildings have been removed by fire or the ever progressing hand of man. G. W. Hanmer kept general store, C. H. Powers was the jeweler, and Loomis, Fuller & Co. kept a large supply of boots, shoes and leather. James B. Lower was a manufacturer of cars and did an extensive business in the village. David Baker was the brickmaker, and his product is still discernible in many of the older buildings of the vicinity.

Dr. James Cutler practiced medicine in Knoxville, which place then rivaled Corning. Later on, however, the village founded by Judge Knox became a suburb to rapidly growing and constantly extending Corning, and finally was absorbed by the city incorporation. It now constitutes the Fifth ward, and is, withal, the largest and most impor- tant outlying district of the municipality. However, for the purposes of this outline narrative Knoxville will be treated as a part of Corning.

The old and well known firm of W. & F. Thornton dealt in dry goods ; W. B. Scudder had a stock of general merchandise; W. & J. Treverton, and also J. F. Geen sold paints, oils and glazier's goods ; D. R. Davis was the village barber ; M. J. Pace made and sold bakestuffs ; J. S. Jamison taught writing school; Pew & Paddleford were livery- men ; N. L. Somer & Co. sold hardware; W. L. Waller dealt in dry goods; and H. G. Phelps and H. Pritchard were proprietors of the local flour and grist mills. Over in Knoxville Dyer Ford sold groceries and patent medicines ; D. J. Shaw dealt in dry goods and Yankee notions, but later on built and opened the Corning Exchange.

Such, substantially, was the condition of mercantile interests in the village half a century ago, but succeeding years worked wonderful changes. Within the next ten years, following 1842, the village suf- fered severe losses by fire and many of the best business places were completely destroyed. These disasters led to the formation of fire com- panies as a partial means of preventing still further conflagrations and their consequent loss, and the liberality of the business men was sorely taxed to provide fire apparatus, which could not be purchased at the expense of the town at large. Having a population of about 1,200 in

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1848, many public improvements were necessary, and the town showed little inclination to pay an expense from which persons outside the vil- lage received no direct benefit. Therefore the interested citizens deter- mined to produre an order of incorporation.

The petitioners were Horace G. Phelps, James C. Davis and Joseph Herron, who made application to the Court of Sessions on the 3Ist of August, 1848, and on the 6th of September, following, Judge McMaster granted the order of incorporation, subject to ratification by the electors of the incorporated district. The election for this purpose was held on the 25th of October, and the result showed 118 votes for and 5 against the proposition.

The first election of village officers was held January 12, 1849, and resulted as follows : Horace G. Phelps, Laurin Mallory, George T. Spencer, Aaron H. Foster and James S. Robinson, trustees. On the organization of the board, Mr. Mallory was chosen president, and Thomas Messenger, clerk. However, in 1858, the powers of the muni- cipal body were increased through charter enactment, after which time the office of president became elective instead of appointive.

The village trustees, under the first order of incorporation, were nec- essarily compelled to inaugurate many public improvements. They were the legislative and executive power of a municipality of 1,300 inhabitants, and with mercantile and manufacturing interests of greater importance than is usual in such villages. The highways were in great need of attention, and sidewalks must be laid and lights provided. Soon after- ward the Erie railway was completed to the village and police protec- tion was imperative. About the same time the locality was visited with a series of disastrous fires, by which many of their prominent business blocks were destroyed. So seriously was the loss felt in the community that the trustees, on the fourth of January, 1851, adopted a resolution by which a regular fire department was organized; and within one week from that time Rescue Fire Co. No. I, and Rescue Hose Co. No. I, also Rough and Ready Fire Co. No 2, and Rough and Ready Hose Co. No. 2, were brought into existence, and soon afterward equipped with the necessary apparatus for extinguishing fires. The name Rough and Ready was changed to Neptune, and in 1857, Alliance Hook and Ladder Co. was organized. This was the nucleus of the present fire

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department of the city, an organization surpassed by none and equaled by few among the volunteer organizations of the State.

In 1862 the department was incorporated under the State laws, and upon organization Alfred Jones was elected president, and George W. Pratt, secretary. As the village and subsequent city enlarged both in population and business importance, so, also, was the department in- creased in members and efficiency, until it was a distinct branch of mu - nicipal government, controlled by a full board of officers, as follows : Marvin Olcott, president; G. D. Gorton, secretary ; W. L. McGeorge, treasurer. The chief engineer is F. L. Clute; Ist asst., W. H. Christie ; 2d asst., J. Lazarus. The fire wardens are W. B. Walker, E. B. Sey- mour and D. F. Fero.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 25

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