Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 49

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 49

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Van Order, Lyman H., was born in the town of Howard July 31, 1850, son of Lewis Van Order, an old and respected citizen of the town of Howard. Lewis Van Order came to Catlin, Chemung Co., from Ithaca, and later came to the farm now occu- pied by Lyman H., in the town of Howard, consisting of 150 acres, He married Eunice Armstrong, by whom he had four children: Walter and James (who died in infancy), and Lyman H. and Hattie. Lyman H. is a farmer. He married Franc McGonegal, of Avoca. They have two children: Fred and Jessie, Mr. Van Order is a Republican.

Ranger, Henry R., was born on a farm in the town of Howard, Steuben county, November 20, 1834, son of Jason Ranger, a native of Vermont, born in Rutland county, January 21, 1801, and who came to New York State in 1818. He was em- ployed on the construction of the Erie Canal, and made his home with a Mr. Can- field, who was a resident of what is now Fremont. He afterward took up farming in the town of Howard, and after a few years moved on what was Bullard Hill, where Henry was born. In 1837 he moved on a farm on Big Creek where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred April 2, 1863. The mother of Henry R., Miranda Rice Ranger, was a native of Massachusetts. She died June 11, 1851. They were the parents of six daughters and four sons. Henry, the second son, was given a common school education and remained with his parents until 1853, and then en- gaged with other farmers for five years. In 1859 he bought a farm in the town of Howard which he conducted until 1866, then sold it and bought 150 acres on Great Lot No. 12 in the town of Hornellsville. In politics Mr. Ranger is a Republican, and in 1888 was elected assessor, which office he held two years. He was married in 1859 to Betsey, daughter of Gen. Daniel Bennett of Howard. One son, Curt D., was born to them, who conducts the homestead farm. Mrs. Ranger died January 22, 1882, at forty-two years of age. Curt D. was born June 5, 1864, educated in the common schools and Alfred University, and married, March, 1886, M. Antoinette Nicholson. They have two children: Frank E. and Harold.

Davidson, Adam, came to the United States from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1870, and was first located in Rochester, N. Y. He had acquired a proficiency in his busi- ness, and in the spring of 1877 he removed to Elmira where he was a member of the

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firm of Dey Bros. & Davidson for five years. In the spring of 1881 the above firm bought out the firm of Martin Adsit & Co., in Hornellsville, and after one year Mr. Davidson bought out the interests of Dey Bros , and conducted the business alone until 1885 when he was joined by his brother, Alexander Davidson, and the firm of Adam Davidson & Bro. is the leader of the dry goods trade of this city. Alexander came to this country in 1873, and was employed in Rochester in the mercantile line until the date of his coming to Hornellsville in 1882. The senior member of the firm is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A. Adam is the vice-president of the Business Men's Association. Alexander is one of the officers of the Presbyterian Church.

Beekman, Abram, was born in New York city, December 26, 1829, and in 1852 he came to Steuben county and located in Bath and established his present business of manufacturing sash, doors and blinds, which he has continued up to the present time. In 1889 he was elected president of the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank, which position he still holds, and he is also president of the Bath Loan Association, and a member of the Board of Education since its organization in 1868. In 1861 he mar- ried Sarah Mckay, daughter of John W. Fowler, by whom he had five children: George N., J. Fowler, Edgar, Cornelius, and Lydia Parker.

Burch, Orrin H., was born in Andes, Delaware county, N. Y., March 24, 1819, the fourth son of Jesse Burch who was a native of Vermont and died in Hornellsville, Steuben county, and was buried in Hope Cemetery, May 10, 1872, at ninety-three years of age. Sally Palmer, the mother of Orrin, was a native of New York State, and died in 1854. Mr. Burch was educated in the common school and made his home with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he came to Steuben county and was employed for three years with Amos Colwell of Hornellsville. In 1847 he bought seventy five acres on lot 10, in the town of Hornellsville, which was covered with oak and pine. He has cleared this land and added to it until he has now 125 acres of one of the best farms of this section. The principal products are grain and hay. He is a member of the M. E. church and has been one of its offi- cers. In 1843 he married Lucy Dyer of this town, who died in October, 1861, by whom he had eight children, three of whom are living: Amasa, a manufacturer of Columbus, Ohio; Lester, a farmer of Hornellsville; and Rosina wife of Leander Nicholson of Canandaigua. Mr. Burch married, second, Susan Swarts Smith, sister of Ross H. Swarts.

Cleflin, Edwin J., was born in the town of Parishville, St. Lawrence county, August 24, 1843, the oldest of a family of four children of Francis T. Cleflin, a native of Massachusetts, who came to this State when a young man. He was a mechanic, and died October 11, 1855, in Canton, St. Lawrence county. Edwin was given such education as could be obtained winters in the common schools, and worked at farm- ing until the breaking out of the war. August 11, 1862, at the age of eighteen he enlisted as Joel E. Cleflin, in Co. A of the 142d Regiment N. Y. Vols., and served with Col. N. M. Curtis until July 17, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. While in service and acting as carpenter he was injured by a stick of timber, and this was followed by an attack of typhoid fever and chronic diarrhea, which kept him from further service. He returned to St. Lawrence county

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

and was employed in the door factory at Potsdam until 1870. He spent the winter of 1870 in Vergennes, Vermont, and in the spring of 1871 came to Almond, where he remained until December, 1871. He then located in Hornellsville. He was em- ployed with the McConnells about three months, and then entered the employ of William Richardson, with whom he was engaged until 1876. In 1876 he was elected collector of School District No. 7, and re-elected for six successive terms. In 1879 he was elected town collector on the Republican ticket. His only other office was constable, one of the first city officers appointed in 1888. He also served on the election board of the Sixth ward for fifteen years. In 1883 he engaged in the gen- eral collecting business and added dealing in real estate shortly after. He now de- votes his time to court, real estate and fire insurance business. He was married, August 31, 1865, to Miss Eliza J. Tenny. They have two children: Arthur L., stock- keeper in the Pullman service at Hoboken, N. J .; Elmer E. is a clerk in Davidson Brothers' store in Hornellsville.

Cummings, Robert F., was born in Williamsport, Pa., in 1847. Entered the em- ploy of the Fall Brook Coal Company, at Fall Brook, Pa., when sixteen years of age. Filled successively the positions of chief clerk in the cashier's office, paymaster, and for eight years was superintendent of the lumber department. In 1886 he engaged in the lumber business on his own account as a partner in the firm of Drake, Cum- mings & Co., with mills at Blossburg, Pa., and office at Corning, N.Y. Removed to Corning in 1889 and took the position of lumber agent for the Fall Brook Railway Company, still retaining his interest in the firm of Drake, Cummings & Co.

Carpenter, Dr. Edwin J., was born in the town of Thurston in 1864, son of U. A. Carpenter, of Bath. He obtained a literary education at Bath, and graduated from Buffalo University in 1891, and has been practicing in Corning since. He is a mem- ber of the A. O. D. Medical Society of Buffalo, and the Corning Academy of Medi- cine. Was elected one of the coroners of Steuben county at the fall election of 1894, for a term of three years.

Cotton, William H., was born in Hartford, Washington county, July 17, 1833, son of Thomas Cotton, who was also born in Hartford in 1793, and was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He married Clara, daughter of Daniel Pierce, and they were the parents of six children: Zina, Phoebe, Norman, Charlotte, William H., and Willard H. Mr. Cotton cnme to the town of Dansville when thirteen years of age, worked on a farm for a time, and then went into the lumber business, which he followed for twelve years; then came to Avoca in 1872, taking up farming again and dealing in produce. He has been postmaster for about a year and a half, and was appointed under Cleveland. He married Mariett Lyon, of South Dansville, and his present wife is Maggie Rolph, of Kanona, and they have one daughter, Clara Bell. Mr. Cotton has filled the office of highway commissioner and assessor for three terms, and commissioner of excise for two terms. He is a member of Avoca Lodge No. 673, F. & A. M., and also of Wallace Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 519.

Cadogan, Charles, was born in Canisteo, September 10, 1838. He received a com- mercial school education, and entered the store of Ely & Brown, on the southeast corner of Main and Broad streets, in Hornellsville, devoted to the sale of groceries exclusively. Mr. Cadogan remained with Ely & Brown about five years, then for

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twelve years he was in the employ of the Erie Railroad, most of the time as general yardmaster in the Erie yards at Hornellsville. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Cadogan asso- ciated himself with J. W. Nicholson and succeeded to the business established by Ely & Brown, and for nineteen years the firm of Cadogan & Nicholson carried on a successful mercantile business. In October, 1887, Mr. Cadogan was elected president of the Citizens' National Bank, which position he now holds.

Davison, William H. and Robert J., are sons of William Davison, a native of county Cavan, Ireland, who came to the United States in 1846 and settled in Bath. William Davison entered the employ of Ira Davenport, sr., being a carpenter and joiner by trade, and for forty years has been one of the best known contractors and builders in Steuben county. He married Margaret Dobbin, by whom he had seven children: Sarah, Maggie, Moses, Isaac, James, William H. and Robert J. The firm of William H. and Robert J. Davison was formed in 1883, taking up and enlarging their father's business. They carry a large stock of lumber, shingles, building sup- plies, etc., besides being contractors and builders of some of the finest residences and public buildings in Bath and vicinity. They have ever been identified in ad- vancing the best interests of the town.

Downs, Simon S., was born in Canada, May 24, 1847, son of William Downs, who was a native and always a resident of Canada. He was educated in the common schools, and in 1869 he left his native home and came to Rochester, N. Y., where he made his home for ten years. In 1872 he located in Warren county, Pa., where he lived for ten years, engaged in lumbering for F. G. & D. D. Babcock. In 1882 he came to Hornellsville and was employed with L. D. Rice for one year. In the spring of 1883 he bought of Mr. Rice ninety-three acres on lot 12, where he has built a beautiful residence and made many valuable improvements. He conducts the farm as a dairy with twenty-five head of stock, and finds a market for the product in Hornellsville, where he permanently conducts a milk route. August 4, 1875 he mar- ried Laura E. Rice, of Warren, Pa., 'and they have two children, Effie M. and Mary M., both born in Warren, living at home and students in Hornellsville Free Acad- emy.

Dibble, Mrs. I. F .- Ira F. Dibble was born in Courtwright, Delaware county, N. Y., July 3, 1830. Henry Dibble, his father, was one of the old settlers of Courtwright, and in November, 1796, he married Betsey Butts, by whom he had thirteen children: Mary, Patty, Lyman, Lucy, Betsey, Alvira, Henry G., Moses B., Sallie A., Phebe, Harriet, Christopher and William M. For his second wife he married Hannah Brown, by whom he had seven children: Amy, Laura Ann, Cynthia, Harmon, Jack- son, Ira Ford, Hannah Maria, and Harriett Levantia. Ira F. Dibble was educated in the district schools of Sidney and Courtwright, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns a farm of 212 acres on the Mead's Creek road. He married Louisa W., daughter of Richard Lee, a farmer of Sidney, by whom he had six children: Estella L., now Mrs. Chas. Smith; Ira Eugene; Mary Ester, now Mrs. Harry Cham- berlain; Lesley D., Leon G., and Henry Ford, the last three at home. Mr. Dibble died in 1892, aged sixty-two years. In politics he was a Democrat.

Decker, George M., was born in Bath, December 10, 1852. H. Decker, his father, was a native of Orange county, and came to Steuben county and settled in the town

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

of Bath in 1842. He married Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Charles A. Smith, by whom he had one son, George M., and through life was identified as a farmer, and died in 1883, aged sixty-six years. George M. was educated in the common schools, and in 1879 married Mary M., daughter of Lyman Sutliff, by whom he had three children, Nora, Tillie, and Jane.

Dunham, Dr. Roy, was born in Howard, July 14, 1864. The first of this family to locate in New York State was David Dunham, his grandfather, who was born in New Jersey in 1799, and came to Monroe county in 1812, locating on a farm with his father. In 1820 he moved with his brother into the town of Howard where he lived uutil 1834, and then moved to Fremont Corners, which was then in the town of Hor- nellsville, and was then the only house in Fremont. He was for several years a local preacher of the M. E. church in Fremont, and died there in 1883. He was the father of seven children, of whom Thomas, the father of Roy, was the oldest, and was born in Fremont, August 21, 1827. In 1844 he left his father's home and in 1846 entered Alfred University, and after his graduation he was for a time engaged in lumbering, but the greater part of his life has been spent on a farm. For the last six years he has been engaged in mercantile business in the village of Canisteo. No- vember, 1850, he married Delilah J. Dunham of Warren county, Pa., by whom he had four children: Ralph, who is in business in Canisteo; Charles, who died in March, 1887, at twenty-seven years of age; Roy, and Harold. The latter died at the age of four. Roy was educated in the common schools, Canisteo Academy, and Warren High School, Warren, Pa. He followed various employments for a few years and in 1887 began the study of medicine with Dr. Ellison in Canisteo, and the same year he entered University Medical College of New York city, graduating in March, 1890, and while in New York he was for three months under private instruc- tion of Dr. Alfred L. Loomis. He was associated with Dr. Ellison for six months and then hung out his shingle in the town of Greenwood; in March, 1893, he located in Hornellsville where he has since conducted a very successful practice. He is a member of Steuben County Medical Society, and is the secretary of Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association. He is a member of Sheffield Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Warren county, Pa., and a member of Sentinel Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., of Greenwood, N. Y. October 28, 1891, he married Mary, daughter of J. J. Linderman, a commercial agent of Canisteo, by whom he had one child, Linderman Harlow Dunham, now in his third year.

Darrin, Delmar M., is a well-known gentleman in Steuben county, and in referring to men and institutions in Western New York, much of interest can be said concern- ing his connection with the bar, and with the advancement of the thriving village of Addison. He was born in Barrington township, Yates county, N. Y., in the year 1849. His grandfather, Ira, went there from Elmira and afterwards returned to and died in that city. Mr. Darrin's father was David Darrin. The son was educated at Addison Academy and at Cornell University, graduating in 1872. He spent three years reading law in the office of Colonel Dininny, at Addison, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. Addison has been his home ever since. He has a general law practice and does considerable work in the Surrogate's Court. For several years he served as corporation counsel at Addison, and in legal affairs in general has been for years a recognized leader. For twenty-three years he has been connected with the

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local Board of Education, first as clerk, then as trustee, and at present president. It may be of interest to state here that Addison now has seven hundred pupils of school age, thirteen teachers, and two fine new buildings. Mr. Darrin has done much in helping local enterprises, and was a director in and attorney for the Water Works Company. He has been president of the Baldwin Hook and Ladder Company, and has been connected with other home organizations. Mr. Darrin has been a member of the district committee of his Assembly district for about eight years, aud in other ways has been an active Republican worker. In the Masonic fraternity he belongs to the local lodge and chapter, to St. Omer's Commandery at Elmira and to Corning Consistory, where he has taken thirty-two degrees. For several years he has been vestryman of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer at Addison. He is one of the three trustees of the Addison Free Library, and is vice-president of the Y. M. C. A. Miss Mary H. Lawson, of Plainfield, N. J., was the lady he married in 1876, and they have a son aged eighteen, and two daughters, seventeen and fifteen years old. Mr. Darrin loves his home and family and is devoted to his profession. He is one of the best lawyers in Steuben county, and possesses legal ability of a high order. He has been a good citizen, ever ready to do his part in educational and religious work, and is a gentlemen who commands the respect of the community.

Drake, D. S., is a native of Genesee county, and came to Steuben county in 1861 or 1862, and came to Corning in 1870, where he has since been interested principally in the coal mining and lumber trade. In 1872 he married Mary Tillotson of Delaware county, by whom he had two children: George Willis, born in 1876, and Frances, born in 1882. He is a director in the Corning stove works, was for two years super- visor, and is a member of the Board of Education. He is also cashier of the First National Bank of Corning.

Drake, J. A., president of the First National Bank, was born at Le Roy, N. Y., October 30, 1854, son of Franklin N. Drake, who was born in Vermont in 1817, and in 1854 purchased timber land in Cohocton and carried on an extensive lumbering business. He was also largely interested in the Blossburg coal lands, was general president of the Blossburg Coal Mining & Railroad Company, and president of the Tioga Railroad. He moved to Corning in 1867 and organized the First National Bank of Corning in 1882, being its president until his death, when he was succeeded, January, 1893, by J. A. Drake. Mr. Drake is interested in the lumbering firms of " Drake & Co.," of Corning, N. Y., "Drake, Cummings & Co." and " Drake, Lan- dus & Drake," in Pennsylvania, and is a director of the Corning Stove Works.

Davenport, Hon. Ira, was born in Hornellsville, June 28, 1841, son of Col. Ira Davenport, a native of Spencerport, Columbia county, N. Y., who came to Steuben county in 1815, and was identified as a merchant at Hornellsville for thirty-two years. In 1847 he moved to Bath, where in 1861 he began the erection of the Davenport Home for destitute female orphan children, to which he gave sixty-five acres of land and $100,000, with an endowment of $50,000 at the time of his death, which occurred May 2, 1868. In 1824 Colonel Davenport married Lydia, eldest daughter of of Hon. Dugald Cameron, and they were the parents of two sons: John and Ira. The latter has served ten years in public life, four years in the Senate, two years as comptroller, and four years in Congress, and was the Republican nominee for gov-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

ernor in 1885. In 1887 Mr. Davenport married Katherine L., daughter of Gen. George H. Sharpe. He is one of the founders and subscribers to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, also the donor of a public library to the town.

Davison, Lorenzo, was born in Schuyler county, March 23, 1824, son of Lewis, who was born in New Jersey and came to the town of Tyrone, Schuyler county, and en- gaged in farming. Lewis Davison also lived in Howard, Steuben county, for a number of years. He married Jemima Gannon, by whom he had ten children. Lo- renzo was educated in the district school of his native town, one mile and a quarter from the school house to his home, on a hill, a cold long road, attending school until twenty years of age, mostly through the winter season only. He then learned the carpenter and joiner trade. At the age of twenty-six he married, first, Louisa Jack- son. He afterward married Martha, daughter of Rev. Chauncey Carter, of Canisteo. Mr. Davison has lost considerable property by fires and indorsing to help his neigh- bors, but still is considered one of the well to do men of the village. He has been president of the village, besides holding various minor town offices. Has resided in Canisteo forty-four years.

Doud, John C., was born in Truxton, Cortland county, in 1805, and came to Wheeler in 1830, where he was employed by his brother George in chopping and clearing land. Here he met Martha Olcutt, born in Pompey, Onondaga county, November 13, 1808, to whom he was married, January 1, 1832. He settled in the southwest corner of Wheeler, on a farm of one hundred acres, which was then a wilderness; he cleared it up, and resided there until his death in 1848. They had six children: Ira G., Johnnie E., Rosel W., Seth L., Martha L., and Eliza S. Rosel Doud is the owner of ninety-eight acres of land. He married Abigail Hopkins of Avoca, by whom he had one daughter, Annie E., who is the wife of John J. Hopf.

Erwin W. Scott, was born on the farm where he now resides, which consists of four hundred and thirty-five acres, son of Arthur H., grandson of Samuel, and great- grandson of Arthur Erwin, the first owner of this town. Arthur H. was the father of the following children: Mary, Eugene H., Emily, Virginia, Lizzie, Clinton, Anna, Arthur H. jr., who is the present owner of the old homestead.

Everitt, James S., was born in Chenango county, February 25, 1815, son of Jesse and Polly (Burdick) Everitt. Jesse Everitt was a native of New Jersey and came to Chenango county and thence to Steuben county in 1841, settling in Troupsburg, where he and his wife both died. James S. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to Woodhull in 1881 and now lives a retired life. Mr. Everitt and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. January 31, 1841, he mar- ried Jane Ashcraft, by whom he had three children: Henry, who married Clarissa Sanford, of Troupsburg Centre, and is a merchant and proprietor and manager of the hotel and mills at that place, also farm of eighty-seven acres at Woodhull vil- lage; James S., who was in Co. D, 61st N. Y. Vols. and died at the age of eighteen ; and Mary, wife of Henry Brady, of Woodhull. They have two children: Bertha J. and James B.

Ellas, Charles A., was born in Bath, August 28, 1848. George S. Ellas, his father, was also born in Bath, and his grandfather, Simpson Ellas, M. D., came to Bath

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from Watertown, Mass , in 1811, and was a practicing physician, having to ride over the country on horseback. George S. Ellas married Amanda D., daughter of Judge Chester Loomis, of Rushville, N. Y., and through life was identified in the mercan- tile business, and in advancing the best interests of his town. He died in 1866, in his fifty-first year. Charles A. Ellas was educated in Bath, Geneseo, and Rochester, and in 1870 established his present business of druggist, and is now carrying one of the largest and most complete lines of imported and domestic drugs in Steuben county. In 1877 he married Jennie, daughter of George G. Aber. Mr. Ellas is one of the representative business men of his town, serving as assessor for twelve years.

Ellis, Hiram, was born in the town of Dansville, Steuben county, August 26, 1857. Albert M. Ellis, the father of Hiram, was a native of Genesee county. When a young man he removed to Livingston county, and was married in Hornellsville and was engaged on a farm in Mount Morris, and was then in Burns a short time, and about 1855 located in Dansville, where he has since made his home. Hiram was the sixth of a family of ten children. He was educated in the common schools and Rogersville Academy, and remained with his father on the farm until reaching his majority. He was for twelve years engaged in farming, and March 23, 1891, he bought the hardware store of Henry Sharp in the village of Arkport where we now find him en- gaged in doing a very successful business. He is not only carrying a fine stock of shelf and heavy hardware but is an extensive dealer in farming implements, fertilizers, and wall papers. Mr. Ellis is the manager and owner of the Arkport Opera House, owner of a farm of 151 acres on the Burns Road. He was married April 16, 1879, to Miss E. L. Evans of Dansville. They have five children: Ida Florence, Edith May, Maggie Matilda, Oliver Hiram, and Sophronia Elnora.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 49

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