Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 46

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 46

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JEROME B. MALTBY.

JEROME B. MALTBY, the third of five children of Curtis and Caroline (White) Maltby, was born in the town of Orange, Schuyler county, N. Y., on the 19th day of June, 1841. During his youth Mr. Maltby enjoyed the usual restrictions of farm life and shared the misfortunes of the average boy as to educational opportunities. Having attained manhood, in 1862 he went west intending to permanently locate; after crossing the plains with an emigrant train he worked at gold mining in Idaho and spent one winter in San Francisco-saving from his earnings about thirteen hundred dollars. Returning east in 1864 he entered the milling business with A, Richmond at Millport, Chemung county, N. Y. A year later he came to Corning and purchased a third interest in the mercantile business then conducted by his brothers Charles R. and Erastus C. Maltby; at this time the wholesale grocery house of C. R. Maltby & Bros., was established and was continued until 1878, when Erastus C. Maltby retired. A few years previous Charles R. Maltby located in New York city for the purpose of dealing directly with importers and producers This change left the responsibility of the entire business in Corning with Jerome B. Maltby, to whose untiring efforts and judicious management the healthy financial condition of the firm is largely due. The Maltby firm has the only exclusively wholesale grocery and provision house in Corning; in the face of direct competition with the largest firms in the country, business has steadily increased and extends throughout South- ern New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Mr. Maltby is identified with all public measures for the advancement of local in- terests and in all worthy enterprises is regarded as public spirited and generous; for charitable works he has an open hand. He has held the office of village trustee and treasurer, and has for many years been a vestryman of Christ Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Maltby is a Republican, but conservative in his views and expressions. A retiring nature, briefness of speech and conciseness of expression are his chief characteristics, and his business sense and forethought are notable. His position as president of the Southern Tier Wholesale Grocers' Association is evidence of the esteem in which Jerome B. Maltby is held in business circles.

HENRY BALDWIN.

COL. HENRY BALDWIN, whose sudden and startling death occurred Sunday morning December 15, 1895, was born in Lawrenceville, Tioga county, Pa., November 2, 1831. He was the third son of Rufus and Pamelia (Wombough) Baldwin, thus descending from the two most prominent pioneer families of the Canisteo valley. He had advantages for a fairly good education and graduated from the Albany Law School in 1854, being admitted to the practice of his chosen profession soon after attaining to his majority. Besides his law practice he engaged in several business enterprises and generally pushed to a successful conclusion all his undertakings. In 1856 he married Miss Arabella Bliss of Hornellsville, N. Y. His wife died in 1863. Mr. Baldwin did not remarry.

In 1858 he founded the Addison " Advertiser," and was associated for some time in its management with Mr. E. M. Johnson, finally disposing of his interest in the paper to Mr. Johnson.

In 1861 Mr. Baldwin enlisted in the defense of the Union and raised the first com- pany that went to the front from Addison, of which he was made captain. It was afterwards known as Co. E, of the 134th Regiment, N. Y. State Vols. Mr. Baldwin served with credit to himself and led his company through the battles of Ball's Bluff, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, the seven days battles before Richmond, and first and second battles of Fredericksburg, besides being in many lesser engagements. On his return to Addison at the expiration of the term of his enlistment, he was active and helpful in securing recruits to fill Steuben county's quota as called for by the government.

The close of the war found Mr. Baldwin in a crippled financial condition, but with his natural energy and a determination to regain what he had lost, he engaged in new enterprises and was eminently successful.

Under the old military system of the State he became colonel of the 106th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y. This regiment took part in the suppression of the great railroad strike in 1877 and the onerous duties incident to this service being so well performed that the regiment and its commander received special favorable mention in general orders.

In politics Col. Baldwin was a lifelong consistent Democrat, and he often served his party and the people as village trustee, and also as supervisor of his town six terms. So popular was he among his fellow members of the board that he was chosen

BIOGRAPHICAL.

chairman of that body for one term, filling that position with marked ability and great fairness. In 1885 he was chosen sheriff of the strong Republican county of Steuben, being elected by a handsome plurality. During his term as sheriff his health became much impaired and after he left the office he lived a more quiet life, busying himself in looking after his many interests in and about Addison.

Col. Baldwin was a communicant of the Episcopal church of Addison, was devoted to it and its services, and was quick and generous in response to her calls upon him.

Col. Baldwin was made a Mason early in life and ever took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the order. He was a member of Addison Union Lodge No. 118, F. & A. M., Addison Chapter No. 146, R. A. M., De Molay Commandery Knights Templar, Hornellsville, N. Y., and Corning Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons.

He was a volunteer fireman, being a charter member of Phoenix Company, and an honorary member of Baldwin Hook and Ladder Co., which was named in his honor. In his associations of every kind, with high and low, rich and poor, Henry Baldwin was always courteous, kind, and considerate. Public spirited beyond most of his townsmen he was always ready to assist with liberality any and all enterprises that promised to benefit the town in which he had spent the most of his life.

In the death of Col. Henry Baldwin Addison lost one of her most prominent and highly respected citizens, the people a warm friend, the church a sincere worshiper and his family a loving brother and devoted friend.

NELSON COWAN.

NELSON COWAN, one of the earliest settlers and most prominent men of Corning, Steuben county, was born in Spring Mills (now Springport), Cayuga county, N. Y , July 2, 1816, and first came to the town of Gibson in 1836. In 1838 he settled there, and for thirty years was engaged in boating and boat building, carrying on during that period an extensive and successful business. His boat carried the first cargo of coal that was sent from Blossburg to Albany, the shipment being consigned to Erastus Corning for the rolling mills at Troy. He also brought from there the first iron for the Corning and Blossburg Railroad, prior to the construction of which coal was hauled by teams from Blossburg. Mr. Cowan subsequently became largely in- terested in the operation of coal mines, and with Hon. F. C. Dininny, now of Elmira, developed mines in the Pittston (Pa.) region which proved a source of wealth to all who were identified with them. He continued this business for twenty-five years, or until February, 1889, when he sold his interest to the Butler Mine Company, making what was said at the time one of the largest transfers of mining property on record, a property widely known as the Schooley and Boston purchase. From early life to March 1, 1889, Mr. Cowan was actively and successfully engaged in business, and throughout his long career won the confidence, esteem, and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He then retired, and died on June 25 of that year at the age of nearly seventy-three.

While engaged in these various industries Mr. Cowan was also keenly interested in the social and political welfare of his town and county. He was supervisor of the town of Corning for four years during the war of the Rebellion, and in that capacity

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

paid to every soldier the authorized bounty. At the same time he had sixty-five canal boats with which he supplied much of the coal then used in the interior of the State. He was prominently identified with every movement which had for its object the advancement of the community.

Mr. Cowan was married on July 17, 1838, to Miss Emaline A. Whitney, who was born in Stamford, Conn., November 4, 1818, and who lived in Danby, Tompkins connty, N. Y., at the time of their marriage. For over fifty years she was a resi- dent of Gibson, where with her husband she led a very quiet life, and where her many good deeds and charitable acts will long survive her. She died January 30, 1889. Their only child, Adelia M., born February 3, 1842, was married on October 17, 1859, to John Tupper, son of Dr. Archelaus Tupper, and a prominent young man of Corning, who died October 29, 1872. Her death occurred April 30, 1894. Their children were Emma B., born October 30, 1860; Luella M., born April 15, 1862, mar- ried C. L. Schonleber on December 5, 1894; Ida, born April 15, 1865; Nelson W., born September 17, 1867, died January 17, 1895; Benjamin Strever, born March 5, 1870. Emma B. Cowan was married November 26, 1879, to R. F. Park, and has chil- dren William Nelson, born August 5, 1883; Robert Lynton, born September 15, 1889; and Laura Belle, born November 18, 1893. Ida Cowan, on January 29, 1890, mar- ried George B. Walsh, and has one son, G. Lauriston, born October 6, 1894. Ben- jamin S. Cowan married, April 24, 1889, Miss Kate Rose, by whom he has two children: Clara Hazel, born July 7, 1890, and Virgil Benjamin, born September 29, 1892. Nelson Cowan reared as his own the five children of his only child, Mrs. Adelia M. Tupper, and also a nephew of his wife, William W. Whitney, who was born September 17, 1853, and who married Priscilla Mead, of Caton, N. Y., by whom he has four children: Frank L., born April 25 1873; Kate M., born March 26, 1875; Emma B., born February 14, 1881; and Luella, born November 27, 1888.

LORENZO DAVISON.

LORENZO DAVISON was the third of a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and was born in the town of Tyrone, Schuyler county, N. Y., March 23, 1824. His father, Lewis Davison, migrated from New Jersey to Schuyler county when quite young, and there met and married Jemima Gannon, who had moved from Orange county, N. Y. They cleared the farm upon which they raised their large family, and endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Lorenzo remained on the parental homestead until he reached his majority, attending school during the winters when opportunity permitted, not to exceed three months a year. While pur- suing his studies he walked to and from the country school house a considerable dis- tance over rough and hilly roads. Upon leaving the family home he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed successfully for six years.

In the spring of 1851 Mr. Davison came to Canisteo, Steuben county, and at once erected a large steam lumber, shingle and planing mill on the bank of the Canisteo River, near the site of the present Erie depot. This was the first planing mill ope- rated in Steuben county west of Corning, and continued operations but four years, when it was burned and rebuilt. In 1862 he formed a copartnership with L. A.

LORENZO DAVISON.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Waldo, and engaged quite extensively in the lumber, stave, shingle and mercantile business, owning and operating three separate mills. This firm continued for eighteen years, when the partnership was dissolved. Since then Mr. Davison has carried on the lumber and mercantile business to a greater or less extent. During his whole life he has also been largely engaged in farming, owning at present a val- uable farm in the fertile Canisteo valley, about one mile east of the village.

Mr. Davison is a Republican and has always taken a keen though quiet interest in political affairs. He has never sought public office, yet in 1873, at the earnest solici- tation of his many friends, he was elected president of Canisteo village. He has been a prominent member of Morning Star Lodge No. 65, F. and A. M., since 1862, and an active and leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1868. He is also president of the Canisteo Cemetery Association, and towards all charitable and business projects he has always been a liberal contributor.

On October 3, 1850, Mr. Davison was united in marriage to Miss Louise Jackson, daughter of Josiah and Betsey Jackson, of Attay, N. Y., who died June 23, 1855. Their two children died in infancy. On November 22, 1856, he was married, second, to Miss Martha Carter, daughter of the Rev. Chauncey and Maria Carter, of Canis- teo. The result of this union was five children: Ida L., born August 26, 1859; George A., born October 1, 1861, died June 7, 1862; Hiland T., born March 25, 1863, died December 4, 1864; Ella M., born June 14, 1865; and Milton W., born July 2, 1867.

CONSTANT COOK.

CONSTANT COOK, the son of Philip and Clarissa (Hatch) Cook, was born in Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y., on November 10, 1797, and there with his father passed the earlier years of his life upon a farm. On Christmas day, 1819, he married Maria Whitney, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Whitney, formerly of Fairfield county, Conn. In April, 1820, Mr. Cook removed to Cohocton, in this county, where for a time he engaged in farming; but soon became interested with the late John Magee of Watkins in numerous mail and passenger routes and laid the foundation for the fortunes which these two men subsequently built up. About the year 1840, Mr. Cook was appointed one of the judges of Steuben county, an office which he filled for a term of three years. In 1843, Judge Cook removed to Bath, and engaged in com- mercial pursuits with Mr. Magee, but their attention was soon drawn to that great work, the construction of the Erie railroad, and in company with others took the contract for the building of the road from Binghamton to Corning. Subsequently, with Hon. John Magee, he projected and built the Buffalo, New York and Corning railroad from Corning to Buffalo by way of Batavia and Attica. Still later he pro- jected the Bloss Coal Company, located at Arnot, near Blossburgh, Pa. During the last twenty years of his life, Judge Cook became widely known for his banking house at Bath, which, early in the war, was converted into a national bank, and soon took rank with the soundest and most successful institutions of the kind in the State. About six years previous to his death, he donated thirty thousand dollars toward the erection of a new Episcopal church in the village of Bath, and the result of this gen-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

erous gift is now seen in one of the most commodious and beautiful church edifices in the diocese of Western New York. The death of Judge Cook occurred on Feb- ruary 24, 1874. Of eight children, three only survived him, Henry H. Cook of New York city, Mrs. L. D. Hodgman and Edwin C. Cook. Mrs. Cook died September 10, 1890.

PART III.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Averill, Mrs. Helen .- Oscar J. Averill was born at Cameron, Steuben county, July 15, 1834. He was the son of Hiram and Hulda Averill and was educated at the Elmira Academy, after which he taught school for some years. In 1861 he married Helen C., daughter of Jared H. and Maria Thompson, by whom he had four chil- dren, William and Edward T. (both deceased), Mrs. George N. Beekman, and Helen Bell. Oscar J. was one of the representative men of his town, elected county clerk in 1861, United States internal revenue commissioner, and in 1881 he went to Utah and was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court of Utah. In 1883 he returned to Bath and died in Washington, December 20, 1892.

Austin, Erwin H., was born in the town of Greene, Chenango county, in 1837, son of John and Abigail (Adams) Austin, natives of Scotland and Chenango county, N. Y. John Austin came with his father, Russel, to America about 1820, and settled in Chenango county, N. Y., he then being about five years of age. Russel was a hotel- keeper, and died in 1843. The maternal grandfather, Rowland Adams, was a collier of Chenango county, and in 1840 came to Jasper, Steuben county, where he remained until 1860, and spent his last days in Troupsburg, where he died in 1861, aged eighty- seven years. His father, John Adams, from Massachusetts, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Austin was an axe maker by trade, and a soldier in the regular army, and died in 1840. Mrs. Austin still lives at Greenwood, and is the widow of Joseph Wilber, who died in 1885. Erwin H. was reared by his grand- parents, Rowland and Catherine Adams, and when fourteen years old commenced work as a farm hand, and has since followed farming. He came to Troupsburg in 1859. In 1859 he married Amy B., daughter of Joseph and Sarah Brown, of Troups- burg, who died in June, 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Austin have been born twelve chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy, and Edith May died in 1883, aged twenty-two years, and Perry in February, 1875. aged eleven months. Those living are Ida, Grace, Jennie L., Amy A., Erwin H., jr., William J. and Henry G. Mr. Austin en- listed August 19, 1862, in Company H, 161st New York Volunteers, and was honorably discharged September 21, 1865, and took part in many hard fought battles. He is a Republican, and has been assessor, and is now serving his third term as justice. He is a member of Post Bailey No. 351, G.A.R., and McLellen Lodge No. 649, F. & A. M., and has held every position in the order. He is also a member of the Troupsburg Tent No. 339, K.O.T.M. Mrs. Austin was a member of the Methodist church.

Arnold, Alex J., was born in Avoca, April 24, 1852. Lyman Arnold, his father,

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

was born in Washington county, N. Y., and came to Avoca when quite small where he engaged in farming. He married Mary McNeil, by whom he had one son, Alex J., who was educated in the schools of Avoca and Bath. He has been a farmer from early life, and now owns a farm of 140 acres within the corporation limits. He married Louisa, daughter of J. N. Bradish, by whom he had one son, Clarence B. Mr. Arnold was supervisor for three terms, and has also been president of the vil- lage He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Avoca Lodge No. 673, and is a member of the I.O.O.F.

Anmiller, George, was born in Germany, October 28, 1829, and came to the United States in 1853 and settled in Hornellsville, where he began clearing land; he re- mained there for one year, and then moved to Kanona, where he engaged in the railroad business for about three years, after which he went to Corning, and from there to Cooper's Plains, where he began work for the Rochester division of the N. Y. L. E. & W. ; from that place he came to the town of Campbell, where he bought a farm of 100 acres, which business he has followed ever since. He married Johanna Smith, of Germany, by whom he had these children: Dora, Andrew, Katie (deceased), William, Annie. In politics he is a Democrat.

Allis, Henry Elisha, was born in Prattsburg in 1826, son of Josiah Allis, who was a native of Whately, Mass., born in 1778, and one of eleven children born to Col. Josiah Allis, of Whately, Mass., son of Captain Elisha, son of Ichabod, son of Cap- tain John, son of Colonel William, the founder of the family in America in 1640. Josiah Allis, father of Henry Elisha, first came to Prattsburg in 1801, returned and came again with Capt. Joel Pratt, for whom he drove three yoke of oxen. He settled on unbroken land south of the village, which he cleared and made for himself a home. He was an active pioneer and assisted in blazing and laying out the first road from Prattsburg to Bath, and from Prattsburg to Naples. He was actively in- terested in educational matters, and one of the original promoters in the building of the Franklin Academy at Prattsburg, also of the Presbyterian church of the same place. He married Mary Bull, a native of Connecticut, by whom he had six children: Emily, Jerry, Horace, Josiah, Lemira, and Henry E. He died in 1848, and his wife in 1829. Henry E. was educated in the common schools and Franklin Academy and remained at home until after the death of his father, after which he engaged in the carpenter trade and the study of architecture, and later became mas- ter builder. In 1854 he went to Chicago, Ill., where for six years he was engaged in contracting and building, and one year was spent in the car shops of the Alton railroad. He then returned to Yates county, N. Y., where he spent four years on the farm and one year in Ontario county, when he returned to Prattsburg, where he has since been engaged in farming and the breeding of blooded stock, of which Jersey cattle are his specialty. In politics Mr. Allis is a Republican, has served as town auditor, inspector of elections, and is now serving his third term as justice of the peace. In 1860 he married Charlotte J. Holcomb, who was born in Prattsburg, a daughter of Ebenezer Holcomb, by whom he had three children: Addie, wife of Charles H. Burns, of Cuba; Louie P., and Frank H., who is married and has one child, Henry E.

Armstrong, James E., the present highway commissioner, was born in Schuyler

FAMILY SKETCHES.

county in 1839, son of Benoni and Hannah Armstrong, who came to Steuben county in 1844 locating where Mr. Armstrong has since lived. The father was a lumberman and died in 1886, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Armstrong is the youngest of a family of five children. In 1867 he married Emma Hendryx of Potter county, Pa., who died in 1884. In 1893 he was elected to his present office for one year, and re-elected in 1894 for two years. He had also previously served three years. The old saw mill on his place which is still in operation was built by his father in 1846.

Allison, Chas. S., was born in England, September 16, 1843. Wm. S. Allison, his father, was engaged in the milling business. Chas. S. was educated in England and learned the merchant tailoring business at that place. In 1859 he came to the United States and settled in Bath, entering into the employ of Hiram Hess, Conklin &. Hill. In 1861 he went to Fall Brook to manage a merchant tailoring establishment at that place, and from there went to Elmira, and in the fall of 1861 enlisted in Co. C, 64th N. Y. Vol. Inft. During the war he took part in the battles of Culpepper, Mine Run, . the Wilderness, and numerous others, and through bravery on the field and merito- rious service was promoted to second lieutenant in September, 1864, and receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war with acting rank of first lieutenant. In 1868 he married Erva A. Walsh, by whom he had three children: Guy W., Chas. R. and Ethel M. Mrs. Allison died in 1884. In 1869 he came to Bath and entered into the employ of Jas. Sutherland. whom he succeeded in 1874. In 1892 he married Mrs, Clara Sutherland, daughter of Joseph Shaut. Mr. Allison is one of the leading busi- ness men of the town, serving as supervisor in 1882, and has been twice elected commander of Custer Post No. 81.

Ainsworth, Addison, was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., September 13, 1813. Isaac Ainsworth, his father, was born in Spencertown, N. Y., in 1787, and came to Pratts- burg about 180y and settled on the farm now owned by William Babcock, and at his death owned 800 acres of land. He served as constable and collector nine successive terms, when he resigned and devoted his time exclusively to farming and extensive lumbering business. He married Louisa Burton, by whom he had two children, Addison being the only one who grew to maturity. Mrs. Ainsworth died in 1815, and he married for his second wife, Sally Townsend, by whom he had six children. He died in 1840. Addison remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, and then engaged in farming, which he has successfully followed for many years, and he and his wife now live a retired life in the village of Prattsburg, where he looks after his village property. In 1837 he married Julia Ann Johnson, a native of Massachusetts, by whom he had two children: Mary Louisa and Sarah S., both deceased. 'The former became Mrs. Wilson and left one child, Edith Minnehaha, who now resides with Mr. Ainsworth and his wife in Prattsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth have been for many years members of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been one of the trustees, elder and treasurer since 1879.

Alley, Frank Bennett, was born in the village of Hornellsville, April 3, 1860, only son of the late Samuel M. Alley. He was educated in the city schools and early showed his inheritance of business enterprise and indomitable pluck by engaging in a retail store at the corner of Main and Canisteo streets. Five years later he estab- lished a wholesale department, where for eleven years his trade has had a steady and

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 46

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