Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 42

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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Mr. Renchan in politics has been a Republican since the formation of that party, and a staunch supporter of its measures. Has never been an aspirant for public place or honors, but during the great civil war he was active in his support of the government, and worked untiringly with others in securing volunteers to fill his town's quota, giving liberally of his means for paying bounties and buying substi- tutes.

Mr. Renchan united with the Methodist church of Wheeler Center about fifty years ago, and has been a liberal supporter of the same all these years. Our subject is a noble example of the self-made man. Commencing life with absolutely no advan- tages such as are enjoyed by the great majority of the youth of our country, he has hewn his way to a success that is highly creditable, and has been attained only by the most determined effort and untiring industry, and now at the advanced age of eighty-one years is a most remarkably well-preserved man, and in the possession of his faculties to a wonderful degree.

Mr. and Mrs. Renchan have had but one child that has grown to maturity, a son, Charles M., whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. By adoption, when she was seven months old, Mr. Renchan has a daughter, Dell, who is now the wife of C. C. Cook, agent of the D., L. & W. R. R. at Kanonah, Steuben county, N. Y.

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

DWIGHT A. FULLER.

DWIGHT A. FULLER was born in the village of Cazenovia, Madison county, on the 28th day of June, 1815. His young life was spent in the same vicinity and at the little hamlet called New Woodstock, where he learned the trade of tanner. In sell- ing the product of the tannery young Fuller frequently visited the Chemung valley, Elmira, Corning and Addison being the principal points for trade. At the village first named he saw an opportunity to start a leather business and at once made prepara- tions to move there, but when he arrived he found the field had been taken in the meantime, and not caring to enter into competition, and declining an offer of a part- nership, he came to Corning. This was in 1846, from which year to the time of his death, with the exception of a single year, he was a resident of Corning or its immediate vicinity, and was identified with the best interests and history of the growing village.

However, in Corning Mr. Fuller did not follow his trade to any considerable extent, as in 1847 he became connected with the grocery business, and continued it until his store was burned in the disastrous fire of May, 1850. This was a serious loss to him, as well as to many other local merchants, and we next find him landlord of the old Western House, then the principal hotel of the village, standing at the corner of State and Market streets. This hotel was succeeded by the Terrett House on the same site, of which Mr. Fuller was also proprietor until about 1857, when he sold out and moved to Illinois. After a year in the West, during which time he was engaged in business as commission merchant, he returned to Corning and opened a grocery in the Cowley block, and for several years afterward was an active merchant of the vil- lage, and was also one of the proprietors of the old Arcade.

In 1865 George W. Fuller leased the Dickinson House, throughout the period of its history the leading hotel of the village and subsequent city. Mr. Fuller, our sub- ject, took an earnest interest in the success of the house and gave much attention to its management. About the year 1870 he became the owner of the well-known Fuller farm, now within the city limits, on which he afterward lived, supplying the hotel with products of the farm. In fact these properties were managed together in the common interest of the owners; and we may truthfully add that in no family in Corning has there been shown more devoted loyalty among its members than in the Fuller household. The interest of one has been the common interest of all, there- fore, when on May 18, 1890, the destroyer invaded the home circle and removed the head of the family the blow came upon the surviving members with unusual severity, although at the time of his death Mr. Fuller had passed the allotted "three score years and ten."

Although a man of naturally quiet and conservative habits, Dwight A. Fuller was known for many years as one of the most genial, hospitable and generous landlords in the Southern Tier. In the capacity of host and entertainer he showed to the best advantage, yet within the sacred precincts of home his true and loyal nature was fully displayed. He was public spirited and generous, especially kind to the poor, and many indeed were the occasions on which he gave relief to distressed applicants of which the public never heard. He was also much interested in Corning and its institutions, and while he was an influential man in local affairs he never sought

BIOGRAPHICAL.

political preferment. However, in 1860, he was appointed postmaster by President Buchanan, succeeding the late Charles C. B. Walker, holding office one year, and being in turn succeeded by Col. C. H. Thompson.

In 1839 Dwight A. Fuller was married to Jane Merrick, of New Woodstock. Of their six children only two are now living, George W. Fuller and Dwight L. Fuller, owners and proprietors of the Dickinson House. Their aged mother is also a mem- ber of the household and is cheerfully furnished with everything that can in any way contribute to her personal comfort.

WILLIAM W. ADAMS.

WILLIAM W. ADAMS, mayor of Corning, was born in the town of Otsego, Otsego county, August 14, 1843. He came to Corning with his parents in 1850, where he acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of the Fall Brook Railway Company, where by close application to his duties he was advanced in standing, now occupying the position of general store- keeper and chief accountant in the motive power department. He has been vice- president of the Hood Furnace and Supply Company since its organization, and is also a director of the Corning Loan Association.

Mr. Adams is a member and one of the trustees of the First Presbyterian church. He has always been an active Republican, believing firmly in the party and its prin- ciples. Although not an aspirant for political honors, he was tendered the nomina- tion for mayor at the city convention in 1894, and after some hesitation was induced to accept. As mayor he has been careful, conservative and conscientious, not shirk- ing any responsibility, and having at heart only the interests of the city, regardless of party.

On the 6th of January, 1870, William W. Adams was married to Frances E. De Wolf, only daughter of Hiram De Wolf, one of the pioneers of Corning.

Q. W. WELLINGTON.

QUINCY WINTHROP WELLINGTON, who for more than thirty years has been known in banking and business circles in the Southern Tier, was a native of the old historic town of Moriah, Essex county, N. Y., born December 27, 1832. His father was Samuel Barney Wellington, a native of Vermont, born September 7, 1805, and his mother was Amelia Green, born in Saratoga county, June 29, 1813. Samuel and Amelia were the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth.

Samuel B. Wellington was a lumberman and that pursuit brought him from Ver- mont into Essex county, N. Y., and still later, in 1849, he moved his family to Tioga, Pa., where he afterward lived and died. During the long course of his business life, Mr. Wellington accumulated three fortunes, but just as frequently reverses came and swept them away, and he died possessed of little means, yet was ever known as a man

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

of straightforward honesty and integrity. Quincy W. Wellington, the subject of this sketch, attended school until he was fourteen years old, and then found a position as clerk in a store in Tioga. He was employed in this manner until 1852, when he formed a partnership with C. W. Etz, under the style of Etz & Wellington, general merchants. He lived in Tioga until the death of his father, on March 1, 1854, then sold out his interest and moved to Corning. For three or four years he was employed as clerk in the office of the Erie railroad company, and in 1859 became clerk and book- keeper in the George Washington bank. Three years later, in 1862, our young man left the bank and in partnership with Samuel Russell, jr., organized Q. W. Welling- ton & Co.'s Bank, which has withstood the ravages of time and financial disaster and panic, and to-day stands among the most solid and safe financial institutions of this State. Its capital is $100,000, with a surplus and undivided profits amounting to $145,000 additional. In 1866 Mr. Russell retired from the firm and Mr. Wellington continued its management as sole owner until 1884, when his son, Benjamin Wick- ham Wellington, became his active partner. According to the report of the condi- tion at the close of business, September 28, 1895, the resources of the bank amounted to the sum of $929,000, and the deposit account aggregates almost $690,000.

At first the business of the Wellington bank was necessarily small, but by careful investments and good judgment, the owner's means increased, and the field of opera- tion became enlarged until it extended throughout the county and even beyond its borders, and Quincy W. Wellington soon became known as one of the most success- ful business men and bankers of the region. Although constantly occupied with the affairs of the bank, our subject has nevertheless found time for other duties than purely personal concerns, and has given substantial co-operation to every enterprise which tended to promote the interests of the town and county. Unselfish and un- stinted have been his contributions for all public purposes, and no deserving charity ever appealed to him in vain. Although a firm Republican in political preference, Mr. Wellington has not taken an active part in that field of action, yet is well in- formed on all the leading questions of the day. He is a regular attendant at Christ church and one of the vestry. On the 13th day of May, 1857, Quincy W. Wellington was married to Matilda B. Wickham, the daughter of Benjamin C. Wickham, of Tioga, Pa. Of this marriage six children have been born, viz: Benjamin W., now partner with his father; Catherine Amelia, of Corning; Samuel Barney, who died in infancy; Adalaide Louise, wife of Alanson Bigelow Houghton; Sarah Etz, of Corn- ing ; and Emily Clara, who died in infancy.

THOMAS G. HAWKES.

ABOUT the middle of the sixteenth century, during the dark and unfortunate period of the Reformation, in which all Western Europe was swept by a succession of re- ligious wars, strifes and contentions, and in which Protestant Christians were intol- erantly treated and prosecuted and frequently burned, Thomas Hawkes suffered death at the stake. His gravest offense against the papal authority and decree was a deep-seated conviction of right, a sincere Christian faith, and an upright Christian example by which both faith and life were evinced; and nowhere was his character

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

more strikingly manifested than in the noble defense of his course when arraigned before both the bishop and the earl. His trial was the hollow mockery of justice which marked the era: he was condemned, and on the 10th day of June, A. D. 1555, was put to the stake. Mediaeval history informs us that Thomas Hawkes, the martyr, was of Saxon origin, born in Essex, " in calling and profession a courtier, brought up daintily, and like a gentleman."

One hundred and twenty years after this event (in 1726) John Hawkes, the settler, direct descendant from Thomas Hawkes, the martyr, left Worcestershire, England, and invested largely in lands in Ireland. He founded Monteen Castle, in County Cork, a noted estate in later years, and here he lived in affluence and comfort, one of the landed gentry. The settler had three sons, John, Charles, and William, and one daughter, Katherine.

John Hawkes, eldest son of the settler, was born at Monteen Castle in the year 1727, and afterward became the owner of large estates in County Cork, one being Surmount, on which some of his descendants have ever since lived. He attained addi- tional prominence as a captain of the Supplementary Yeoman Corps, an organization admirably equipped and liberally supported, yet serving without compensation. From this connection John Hawkes was dignified with the title of captain. He, too, lived in ease and affluence and was a man of education and dignified bearing. Indeed, pride without vanity, refined tastes, and dignity of demeanor, have been dominant traits of character in the Hawkes family in Ireland from the time of the settler to the present owner of Surmount. The martyr was a man of refined culture and learning. Capt. John Hawkes was twice married; first to Abagail, daughter of Henry Prettie, esq., and neice of Sir John Mead of the town of Kinsale. She bore him one daugh- ter, Katherine.1 His second marriage was with Bridget, eldest daughter of Samuel Wakeley, alderman of the city of Cork.2 Four sons and five daughters were the issue of this marriage, among whom Samuel, father to Quale Welsted Hawkes, was the fourth child.

Samuel Hawkes married Sally Penrose, fourth daughter of Samuel and Mary (Randall) Penrose, of Waterford, County Cork, both representatives of families of position and influence among the gentry of Ireland. 3 To Samuel and Sally Penrose Hawkes were born nine sons and two daughters, Quayle Welsted being the sixth son and seventh child. Samuel Hawkes founded Hawkemount, another noted estate in County Cork, where his life was passed, and where he reared his large and interest- ing family.

Quayle Welsted Hawkes, present owner of Surmount, was born in County Cork eighty-four years ago, yet despite his age is still a splendid specimen of physical manhood, also retaining much of his former mental vigor, and still delights to follow the hunt, showing all the apparent zeal of half a century ago He married Jane Gib- bons, second daughter of Thomas Gibbons, banker, of Fitz William Square, Dublin. The issue of this marriage was nine sons and four daughters, all of whom, save two,

1 Katherine Hawks married Herbet Gillman, esq., whose daughter Ellen married Sir Samuel Moore.

2 Bridget Wakely's mother, Sarah Hale, was second daughter to Sir Matthew Hale, chief justice of the Court of King's Bench; he was born at Alderley, County Gloucester, 1609.

3 See "Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland."

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

are now living. In order of birth they are as follows: Samuel, a highly educated and successful physician of Wansted, a suburb of London, and who died May 21, 1891; Sarah Anne, Thomas Gibbons (of Corning, N. Y.), Quayle Welsted, Devonsher Penrose, John Gibbons, Henry, John Pim Penrose, Catherine Chamney (deceased), William, Richard Welsted, Mary Gibbons and Elizabeth Lombard.

Thomas Gibbons Hawkes was born at Surmount, September 25, 1846. He was educated at Queen's College, city of Cork, where he remained two years, studying civil engineering, but before his course was completed, impelled by love of adventure and a desire to visit the United States, he came to New York in company with a former classmate, who was then purser on the steamer. Landing in the city, our young man was possessed of just ten pounds; half of which he was obliged to spend to replace his overcoat which he had the misfortune to lose. He was pleased with the city and the business manner of its people and looked about earnestly for em- ployment but found none. He then determined to return home, and accordingly went to the steamer to arrange for his passage when chance brought him into acquaintance with John Hoare, then senior partner in the firm of Hoare & Dailey, practical glass-cutters doing business in the city in connection with the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company. 'This meeting resulted in the employment of young Hawkes in the works of the firm, in the capacity of draughtsman, with whom he remained until 1868, when he came to Corning with the company. However, after the removal Mr. Hawkes continued with Mr. Hoare's cutting department until 1880, as employee, though during a portion of the time he had an interest in the business. Indeed, this young man was so constitued by nature that he could not long rest satisfied in the position of draughtsman. He proved faithful to every duty assigned him and when not otherwise engaged it was his custom to take the product of the shops and sell to the trade in large cities. More than this, he became thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the art of glass cutting, in which direction there seems to have been an inherent trait in his character.

Digressing briefly from the general narrative, the statement may be made that Thomas Hawkes, of Dudley, was one of the most prominent of the old Midland glass masters, for whom the claim is made, says the Pottery Gazette (an English trade journal), that he was the first to introduce deep cut glass into England. It was "Hawkes of Dudley" who built the three grand gas chandeliers which attracted so much attention at the once famous Highbury Barn dancing rooms. From the "History of glass making in Staffordshire" we learn that in 1805, Thomas, George . and Abiathar Hawkes were glass manufacturers; also that "Abiathar was a candi- date for Dudley prior to the first election in 1832, but retired from the field. Thomas Hawkes was M. P. for Dudley, February, 1834-July, 1845, when he resigned." In explaining their retirement from business life, the Gazette says: "T. Hawkes, Dud- ley, worked three works in that town. His family have been absorbed in the aris- tocracy, and trade now knows them not. Thomas was the last of three brothers." We need only add that the brothers Hawkes of Dudley were related to the an- cestors of Thomas G. Hawkes, of Corning. Their arms and crest were the same.

In the year 1880 Mr. Hawkes became proprietor of a glass cutting works in the vil- lage of Corning, beginning in a small way for his means were limited, and this was his first venture in a comparatively new field of action and one in which success de- pended alike on careful management and superior quality of product; and in the

BIOGRAPHICAL.

light of subsequent results we may well say that he made no mistake in judgment when he chose his pursuit and undertook its supervision in every department. A substantial fortune is the reward of his industry and business capacity, while the fact that the " Hawkes goods" in rich and deep cut glass are known and received as standard almost throughout the world, establishes a character for probity and integ- rity which is priceless. It is a known fact, too, with the trade that the output of T. G. Hawkes & Co. requires no examination whatever on the part of the purchaser. It is not surprising, therefore, that the shop which in 1880 employed less than twenty workmen has enlarged in fifteen years to furnish almost constant employment to nearly two hundred and fifty men. As evidence of the perfection attained in the manufacture of rich glass wares in these shops, the statement may be made that at the famous Paris Exposition in 1889, in competition with the world, the Hawkes ex- hibit was awarded the grand prize. Many of the pieces comprising that display were purchased by the nobility of Europe, and several of them by members of royal families. Two other noted pieces of glassware, the product of the Hawkes shops, which have attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic, were the crystal bowls described in the Pottery Gazette as the "finest pieces yet made by any manufacturer, and for beauty and perfection of cutting they are unexcelled." One of these bowls was owned and highly prized by the late George W. Childs, philanthropist and jour- nalist.

To accomplish the results indicated in the preceding narrative, it must be seen that the business life of Thomas G. Hawkes has been one of constant activity, for all departments of his now extensive shops are under his immediate personal supervi- sion. Notwithstanding this, he has found time for other duties, especially those de- signed to promote the welfare of Corning and its people. A glance at the records of various local institutions discloses the fact that for two years he filled the position of chief engineer of the fire department, and that he is now an active member of the

Board of Trade, also vice-president of the City Club. He is a consistent member of Christ church, and one of its vestry. He is a strong Republican and pronounced Protectionist, yet takes part in politics only in the interest of friends. His public spiritedness, too, is undoubted, as every measure for the public good finds in him a generous friend and liberal supporter. But it is at the fireside, as well as in the office, when unburdened of care and work, that his most pleasing traits are exhibited. His devotion to parents and home and family, his pride of ancestry, his genial char- acter, his loyalty to friends, his well trained mind, his literary taste, all combine to make him one of the most interesting of companions. Indeed, the love of birthplace and parents impels Mr. Hawkes to make annual visits to Surmount, frequently accompanied with wife and children; and within a recent date he has become the owner of Inniscarra House and lands, conveniently situated between Surmount and the estate of Sir George Colthrust of Blarney Castle.

On the 15th day of June, in the year 1876, Thomas G. Hawkes was married to Charlotte Isidore, second daughter of the late Walter Bissell, of Corning. Of this marriage three children have been born: Samuel, Charlotte Jane and Alice Luella. This is not the place wherein to write of the domestic virtues of those whose lives are sketched, but if a kind and indulgent husband and parent are to be reckoned as a subject of comment, then the sweet word " home " never had better exemplification than in the household of Thomas Gibbons Hawkes.

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

JOHN HOARE.

JOHN HOARE, more familiarly known, however, among his intimate friends as Captain Hoare, was a native of Ireland, born in the city of Cork, April 12, 1822, and was the oldest but one of the large family of children of James and Mary (Courtney) Hoare. He learned the trade of glass cutting with his father in Belfast, and after- wards, at the age of twenty years, left Ireland for England, where (in Birmingham) he worked as journeyman for Rice Harris, proprietor of the old establishment at the Five Ways; also for Thomas Webb, at Wordsley; after this acting as foreman and traveling salesman for the firm of Edward Lacey & Son, of Birmingham. He was also foreman for Lloyd & Summerfield (The Park Glass Company), one of the oldest glass houses in England. In 1848 Mr. Hoare began business for himself, and in 1853 came to New York with his family, the extent of his finances on landing at Phila- delphia being just half a sovereign. However, he was one of the most skillful and experienced glass cutters then in this country, hence had no difficulty in finding a good situation. In New York he began work for E. V. Haughworth & Company on Broadway, and after one year, with five partners, formed a glass cutting firm, he, however, being the active man of the concern. After two years Mr. Hoare bought the interests of two members of the firm and then organized under the name of Hoare & Burns. This partnership continued until 1855, when our subject purchased and became proprietor of the glass cutting department of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company, buying its tools and machinery. In the same year the old and well known firm of Gould & Hoare was formed, and continued until 1861, then being succeeded by Hoare & Dailey, who were in business until 1868, when the senior partner came to Corning. However, Mr. Hoare retained for several years his business interests in New York city, at the corner of White and Elm streets, and also at Greenpoint, Long Island.

In 1868 Captain Hoare moved his glass cutting business from Brooklyn to Corning, upon the formation of the Corning Flint Glass Company, and has since been a resident of the city, although the firm still maintains an office and salesroom in New York city. The business career of our subject in Corning is too well known to re- quire any extended comment in this sketch, yet the statement must be made in full justice to him that among the men who have contributed to the establishment of the splendid industry of glass making and rich glass cutting in Corning, none is entitled to greater honor than John Hoare. In every department and detail of the art of glass cutting Captain Hoare is skilled, whether as designer or practical cutter. Indeed, in many respects he was a pioneer of the industry in America; he was the first man who turned glass in a lathe, and to-day his strongest and most formidable competitors in business are men who learned the art of designing and glass cutting in his shops and under his personal instruction. In the several exhibitions in which the Hoare wares have been displayed, they have always been awarded the highest prize. We refer especially to the State exhibits in Boston, Philadelphia and Balti- more, and in each case the prize article was presented to Mr. Hoare's principal customer in each city. At the World's Fair in Chicago, the famous Columbian Ex- hibition, in 1893, the display made by the. Hoare shops was awarded four medals, Nos. 2915, 2916, 2917 and 2918, for first, rich quality of cut glassware; second,

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 42

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