Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 100

Author: Hewett, Waterman Thomas, 1846-1921; Selkreg, John H
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1194

USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Speed, Robert Goodloe Harper, was born in Caroline, July 5, 1845. Dr. Joseph Speed, the grandfather of Robert, had ten children, of whom James Richard, our subject's father, was the seventh, being born in Caroline March 20, 1815, educated

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in Cortland Academy and studied law in Ithaca, practicing, however, but a short time and returning to the farm. He was killed by lightning in 1854. He was a trustee of the People's College, which was finally merged into Cornell University. He married Frances C. Peters of Ithaca, by whom he had six children, Mary Caro- line, Richard Peters, Robert, Henry Linn, Jessie Harper and Sallie Peters, the last four of whom and the mother are now living. Of these Robert was the third. He was educated at Cortland Academy at Homer, and Cornell University, graduating in the classical course at the academy in 1867, and with the class of "71 at Cornell University with the degree of Ph. B. Soon after leaving college he was elected school commissioner, first on the Republican ticket and afterwards on the Liberal. Republican with the endorsement of the Democratic and Prohibition parties, serving six years, and in 1884 he was elected supervisor of the town, serving four years. For the past five years Mr. Speed has been justice of the peace. He is still a Republi- can, but too independent to be a strong partisan. In October, 1872, he married Romelia Van Pelt, daughter of L. D. Van Pelt, of Dryden, and they have five chil- dren. The oldest son, Robert L., is now a sophomore in Cornell; Bessie F. is a graduate of Ithaca High School, where Mary H. is now a student, and Lorenzo and Emma are at home. Mr. Speed is a charter member of Caroline Lodge No. 681, F. and A. M. ; a member of Eagle Chapter No. 58; a member of the Grange, and of the I. O. G. T. He is a director in the Town and County Insurance Company, and also in the County Agricultural Society. He built the Caroline Cheese Factory in 1868 and still owns it.

Space, Thomas, was born in the town of Dryden in 1814. Hisfather, Jacob Space, was one of the oldest settlers of the town, coming here in 1805. Thomas Space married, at the age of thirty, Laura Griswold, who died in 1847, and in 1849 he mar- ried Lydia J., daughter of Gardner West, and their children, five in number, Thomas R., Frank G., Belle C., Fred D. and Eugene, four survive, Frank G. having died the 4th of March, 1889. In 1841 Thomas Space bought part of the Mathew Griswold farm, thirty-five acres, and in 1851 a portion of the John Tyler farm; also in 1864 the A. J. Cord farm, and in 1880 a part of the Abram Butts farm, having in con- nection with his sons about 260 acres, on which they produce large crops of hay, grain, etc., and keep a large dairy, he having turned over most of the management to his sons, who are representative young farmers in their town and men of ability. The family is one of the oldest in the town.

Fiske, Asa Severance, got into this world March 2, 1833, at Strongsville, Ohio. His father was Deacon David, and his mother Laura Severance. They returning to Shelburne, Mass., he was brought up there, passed through the common schools, and prepared for college at the Ames Academy in that town. In 1851 he entered Am- herst College, graduated in 1855 A. B., A. M. in 1857, tutor in 1857-8, licensed to preach in 1857 by the Franklin County Congregational Association, was ordained and settled as first pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church, St. Paul, Minne- sota in 1859, and was chaplain of the State Senate in 1859-60. In the fall of 1861 he became chaplain of the 4th Minn. Vol. Infantry, and in the winter went to the field with his regiment, served with it for a year and a half, and was then transferred by special order of Gen. Grant to service in the department of Freedmen and Refugees in the military district of Memphis. Thence was sent North by Gen. Grant to aid

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in organizing the Bureau of Freedmen's Affairs. In varied work in this interest at Washington and on the Mississippi river from Memphis to Natchez, he was occupied until the close of the war. In 1865 he was settled at Rockville, Conn., where he re- mained five years, the church nearly doubling its membership during his pastorate. From that church he was called to St. Peter's Presbyterian Church of Rochester, N. Y., where he remained for five years, paying off a debt of $30,000. In 1875 he was called to a pastorate in San Francisco, Cal., where he remained for nine years, and in 1884 was called to the Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, where he is still the pastor. He received the honorary title of D. D. from Hamilton College in 1891. In 1860 he married Elizabeth Worthington Hand, of Madison, Conn. His two daughters are Zoë Worthington and Christabel Forsythe, and an infant son, Edward Severance, lies in the family lot in the cemetery at Shelburne Falls, Mass. The Ithaca church has grown during the nine and one-half years of this pastorate from 380 to 660 mcm- bers, and a subscription has been made of about $52,000 for the erection of a new church edifice. Of the present members of the church, 430 have united with it un- der the present pastorate.

Skillings, S. M., was born in the town of Dryden, March ?, 1835. His father, Wm. W. Skillings, was one of the earliest settlers in the town, and settled on lot No. 4. He afterwards bought part of lot 15, where S. M. Skillings now resides. The latter was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of thirty he married Sophia, daughter of B. C. Fulkerson, of Dryden, who passed away in 1877. The had one son, Fay. In 1889 he married Sarah, daughter of James Giles. In 1873 he bought the homestead of eighty acres where he now lives, raising hay, grain and stock. He takes the Re- publican side in politics, and an interest in school and church matters. Our subject 15 a conservative, independent citizen, well posted on the leading issues of the day and taking an active part in advancing the best interests of the town.

Stephens, Philip, was born in Alsace, Germany, February 12, 1819, and came to America in 1837, first locating in New York, where he remained two years, then moved to Ulster county and followed various employments till 1842. That year he removed to Ithaca and established a market and butchering business. For many years he did a wholesale and shipping business, especially in pork. He was first lo- cated on State street, where the Alhambra now is, and from there moved opposite the Tompkins County Bank, where he occupied a small building for a time, until he was burned out; then he moved to the corner of Tioga and State streets. In 1850 he moved to East State street, where he bought the store he has since occupied. Mr. Stephens is a member of the I. O. O. F. Ithaca Lodge. He was married to Eliza- beth Ketchen, of Enfield, and they have one son and two daughters.

Sisson, Edward, was born in Lavana, Cayuga county, October 18, 1818; was edu- cated in the public schools until he was about sixteen years old, and then learned the mason's trade with his brother, which he followed six years. He then learned the moulder's trade, which he followed since, and in the employ of one concern, Gregg & Co., since 1857 as foreman moulder. December 3, 1847, he married Ann Ilewitt, formerly of Genoa, Cayuga county, N. Y. They have had four children: Carrie, Hattie, Nellie and Ella. Carrie married Edwin R. Williams, and has three children : Anna, Albert S., and Nellie. Hattie died at the age of thirteen years. Nellie died

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at the age of four years, and Ella resides at home with her parents. Mr. Sisson's father, Isaac, was born in 1775, and was an attorney. He married Ruth Devol of his native place. They came to Cayuga county in 1806. They had ten children: Patience, Eliza, Hannah, George, Eunice, Isaac, Joseph, Edward, Clinton, and Caro- line. He was appointed judge by Gov. Bouck in 1843, and served in that office until it was made elective, about 1846. He was offered the nomination of first judge of the county, but declined. He died May 13, 1862, and his wife July 11, 1843. Mr. Sisson has been village trustee one year. He is a member of Trumansburgh Lodge No. 157 F. & A. M., and Fidelity Chapter No. 77, R. A. M. The ancestry of this family is English and French.

Smith, Henry, of Lansing, was born in Hoglanburg, N. Y., March 10, 1834. His father died when our subject was six years of age, and with his mother and stepfather he moved to Canada. When cight years old he went to live with James Doran, and there remained until he was twenty, when he went to Rochester and engaged on a farm for six months, then on the N. Y. C. Railroad for six months, and then operated a pressed brick machine. He then went to Brighton and tended locks on the canal; thence to Penfield, and there engaged in the nursery, which he followed five years. Later he purchased fifty acres near Aurora and engaged in farming for a time. Then he came to Genoa and purchased another farm, where he lived for some five years. In 1869 he removed to Lansing and bought the farm of one hundred and forty acres, where he now lives. He married in. November, 1859, Elsie, daughter of Deacon Hanford and Elsie Smith. She died in 1879. He afterward married Han- nah W. Field, of Auburn. They have had four children: Amelia Pearl, Henry F., Julius La Motte, and Elsie May. Mr. Smith is a Granger and a Republican. The farm he now owns was purchased by Samuel Smith, the great-grandfather of Mr. Smith's present wife, in 1803.

Scribner, Eliphalet E., was born in Fulton, Oswego county, April 1, 1862. His parents were James A. and Helen Scribner. His paternal ancestor was the oldest son of John Scribner, who was a cousin of Charles Scribner, the founder of the pub- lishing house of that name. His maternal ancestor was the daughter of Isaac R. and Eliza Parkhurst. His grandfather Parkhurst was a descendant of the family of that name in England. His father was the youngest son of Baron Parkhurst, of Scotch descent. His father lost his life in the defense of his country at Falmouth, Va., in the late war, and his mother died a few weeks later, leaving his sister and himself orphans at an early age. He and his sister were placed under the guardian- ship of their maternal grandparents. He received his education in the public schools of Oswego, and was graduated from the Normal school in June, 1882, the next year entering Cornell University, which he was, however, compelled to leave ere he finished his course, owing to a severe attack of malarial fever. While in the college he was actively engaged in athletics, and was a prominent member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. He is a member of Trumansburgh Lodge No. 157 F. & A. M., and of Fidelity Chapter No. 77, R. A. M., also of St. Augustine Commandery No. 38 K. T. August 2, 1887, he married Eloise R. Hedden, of Heddens, Tompkins Co .. N. Y., who was educated at Wells College, and is the daughter of Wright A. and Loesa Hedden, and a granddaughter of Reuben Harvey and Mary Wager, one of the oldest families in this part of the county. Professor Scribner began teaching in

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a district school at the age of sixteen, and has been principal and superintendent during the past seven years, having during that time served as principal of the Union school at Alexandria Bay, Jefferson county, N. Y., Parish Academy, and in Trumansburgh for the past three years, where his success has been very flattering.

Brotherton, George, was born in Sherman, Fairfield county, Conn., Septem- ber 21, 1826, was educated in the public schools, and in early life was a boot and shoemaker. In 1855 he turned his attention to farming, which he has since followed, having a portable engine for saw-mill work. The family came to reside in this county in 1850, and February 24 of that year he married Annah M. Griffin, formerly of Roxbury, Delaware county, by whom he had three sons, William C., Frank L., and Charles H. William C. married first Frances L. Smith, of this town, and second Susie M. King, also of this town. They have one daughter, Mora M. Frank L. was also twice married, first to Mary Beeman, by whom he had two children, Eugenie and Laura. His second wife was Mary Medes of Cortland, by whom he has two daugh- ters, Beulah and Flossie. Charles H. married Mary Hines of the town of Danby, and they have four sons and a daughter: Frank, Ray, Ralph C., Merritt, and Alice H. Mr. Brotherton's father, Zalmon, was born in Southport, Conn., about 1793 and was twice married, first to a Miss Pepper, by whom he had four children, and second to Rebecca Joyce, of his native place, by whom he had nine children: George, as above noted, David, Mary, Edwin, James, Flora, Betsey, Cordelia and Pamelia (twins). Mrs. Brotherton's father, H. B. Griffin, was born in Westchester county about 1802, and married Rachael Jenkins, of Roxbury, Delaware county, by whom he had ten children: William, Lewis, Mary, John, Annah M., Jacob, Leonard C., Tre- man, Phoebe A., and W. Munson. Mr. Griffin died in 1858 and his wife about 1877. Mrs. Brotherton's grandfather, Benjamin Griffin, was a soldier in the Revolution. The ancestry of the family is English and French.

Baldwin, Asa, one of the pioneers of Groton, was a native of Connecticut. His father's family consisted of four sons and two daughters, the former being: Daniel, William, Cyrus and Heman. The latter married Lucinda Brown, and had eight children : Helen, Benjamin, Carlos, Newton, Chauncey, Charles, William and Mary. Heman died in April, 1845, his widow surviving him. He was a successful farmer, leaving a good property, was a Republican, and a man of influence in the town. Newton was born August 5, 1842, and was reared on the farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. C, 76th N. Y. Vols., veteranized, and served three years and eleven months. At South Mountain he was wounded in the eye; was captured at the Wilderness, and confined for ten months and eleven days in the prison pens of Andersonville, Dans- ville, Salisbury, Charleston and Florence. He was finally paroled and exchanged, and rejoined his regiment, the 147th New York, he having been transferred to that command during his imprisonment. Returning at length to Groton, Mr. Baldwin became a carpenter and farmer, and has ever since been a resident of the town. In 1886 he was elected justice of the peace and re-elected in 1887 and 1891. In 1886 he was appointed postmaster at McLean, which office he held till the latter part of 1893. He was also constable of the town eight or nine years. In 1884 he married Mary, daughter of Vincent Hanchett, and they have two children.

Benedict, Thomas, was a pioneer of Homer, as he was also of Groton, where he built a carding and saw mill, and later he settled at McLean, where he died. Of his

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children, but one, John, was a lifelong resident of this town. His children were: Albert D., Emiline, wife of Henry Boynton; Esther, and David. John was a far- mer, lumberman and speculator, at which he accumulated property. Albert D., son of John, married first Betsey Hart, and by her had children as follows: John D., Esther and Julia. By his second wife, Anna Foot, he had no children. He was also a farmer and lumberman, and died April 14, 1890. John D. Benedict was born November 26, 1836, and has devoted his life to farming and lumbering. At the age of sixteen he went to Wisconsin with the determination to remain, but at the urgent request of his mother he returned to Groton, where he has since lived. In 1859 he married Frances Elizabeth Beach, by whom he had four children. She died in 1873, and he married second Betsey Brown. Mr. Benedict lives a quiet life in McLean, but is a man of influence in the locality. He is a Democrat, but not a politician.

Bogart, David P., was born in Danby, March 12, 1831, and was educated in the common schools, to which he has added by close reading and observation. After leaving school he took up carpentry, which he followed for some time, then purchased the property known as the Cristy farm in 1860, on which he erected a fine residence. At the age of twenty-eight our subject married Mary C. Teachout, by whom he has one son, George C. Mr. Bogart is a Democrat in politics, but has never aspired to polit- ical honors. He is the owner of 100 acres of fine farming lands, and gives his sole attention to home interests.

Boyer, Herman E,, of Newfield, was born December 23, 1848, a son of Isaac, who was a native of Newfield also, born in 1800, and was one of the influential men in the early settlement of the county. He followed agriculture always, and married Cath- arine Austin, of Newfield, and of their eight children our subject was the youngest. He has followed his father's occupation, and owns 260 acres of land in Newfield. He is Democratic in his political views, but has never taken an active part in politics.

Brown, Alvah D., was born in Newfield, May ?, 1849. Alvah, sr., was a native of Scranton, Pa., and came to Lansing in 1806, and to Newfield in 1808, when a child. His father, Abraham, was a hotel keeper. Alvah, sr., bought a farm of 300 acres of land, and made a specialty of the raising of cattle. February 26, 1832, he married Lydia Clark, and they were the parents of seven children. Of these Alvah was the youngest, being now forty-four years of age. The latter has followed lumbering and farming, and now owns aplace of 100 acres, as well as other places, and follows mixed farming. In 1870 he married Elizabeth Smith, by whom he has one child. He mar- ried second, in 1885 Luella Smith of this State, and they also have one child. Our subject is a member of the Grange, and has been justice of the peace, assessor, and notary public.

Babcock, George W., was born in Owego, Tioga county, April 1, 1829, a son of Samuel, who came from the vicinity of Lake George about 1815. He had six children who reached adult age, of whom our subject was the second. The latter was edu- cated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to a carriage- maker, which trade he learned and carried on business for himself for a year before reaching his majority. He followed his trade till March 12, 1852, when he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Company as car builder, locating at Elmira. He remained with the company for twenty-two years, occupying positions of responsi-

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bility. August 4, 1875, he engaged with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company to take charge of their shops for car building, wrecking, etc. Fifty men are employed in the shops under Mr. Babcock, and forty-four are on the road. In all his experi- ence in railroading he has never had an accident to one of his men. He is a Repub- lican and was the first alderman from the First Ward when Ithaca was made a city, serving two years. He was also alderman in Owego three terms. He is a Mason of De Maly Commandery of Hornellsville. In 1848 Mr. Babcock married Angeline Searles, of Owego, by whom he has one son and one daughter.

Bush, Nelson, of Newfield, was born in Orange county, August 20, 1826. His life has been spent on the farm, with which business he is familiar in all its branches, having followed it from early boyhood. His father dying when our subject was quite young, the responsibility was largely thrown on his young shoulders. Mr. Bush has been twice married, his children being, by his first wife, William Elliot, and by his second wife, Charles W., Minnie, and Nelson, jr. All reside at home. Mr. Bush is a member of the Masonic fraternity, King Hiram Lodge No. 784, and also a Granger. In politics he is a Republican.

Burton, Orrin W., wasborn in the town of Dryden, June 5, 1839. His father, Acus Burton, was born in Madison county, and came to Tompkins county in 1830 and set- tled on lot 55 and spent his life of eighty-eight years in the town. Orrin W. Burton was educated in the common school to which he added through life by reading and close observation. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F, 76th N. Y. Volunteers, and was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville; South Mountain, Antietam, the Wil- derness, Second Bull Run, Gaines' Mill, and a large number of smaller engagements. At South Mountain he received a slight wound in the hip but continued in active service. At the battle of the Wilderness he was taken prisoner and sent to Ander- sonville, being confined there for ten months. On being released his actual weight was ninety pounds. He received an honorable discharge, March 9, 1865. At the age of twenty-six he married Almira C. Stearnes, daughter of Chas. Stearnes, of Dryden, and they have two children, Orrin N. and Chas A. In 1868 he bought part of the Willey property, in 1881 he bought the Thos. Mineal farm, havingeighty-four acres, and raising hay, grain and stock. Our subject is a wellknown man in his town, respected for his sterling worth and integrity.

Bower, Jacob, was born in the town of Newfield October 23, 1815, a son of Jacob, a native of Pennsylvania, who always followed farming and working at his trade of making pails. He finally came to Newfield where he lived to be eighty years of age. His wife was Sophia Harris, of Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of eleven children, Jacob being the tenth. The latter married Sallie J. Hoffman, of Ca- yuga county first, and his second wife was the Widow Drake. Mr. Bower has had eight children, but five of whom are living. He is a farmer and a Democrat.

Bruce, Mathias D., was born in the town of Hector, April 29, 1816. He was edu- cated in the district schools, and after leaving school he began farming. At the age of twenty-nine he married Martha Van Vlack, daughter of Jacob Van V_ack, of En- field, by whom he has had four children. In 1847 he moved to the town of Danby and bought the farm known as the Moses Barpo farm of fifty-six acres, to which he afterwards added about 100 acres. He is a Republican in politics, having been asses-

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sor for some years. He takes an intelligent interest in educational and religious matters. Our subject is a leading man of the town, being connected with all the lo- cal enterprises of the locality. He has served as director in the Danby Mutual Fire Insurance Co. for thirty-three years, and is known as a practical and successful far- mer.

Ashton, James, was a native of White Creek, Washington county, and became a farmer and resident of Groton in 1830, locating south of the village. Here he lived twenty years, then moved to the excellent farm now occupied by his son, George W. Ashton. The wife of James was Susan Raymond, and both are remembered as highly respected residents of the town. The wife died in 1872 and James November 8, 1888, being then more than ninety years old. Their children were: George, who now owns the old homestead; Elizabeth Jane, who died in infancy; Mary R. who married Allen Hakes; Thomas K., a member of Co. K, 10th Cavalry, enlisted in 1862, captured and confined in Libby and Andersonville prisons, dying in the latter; Jenny, who married Nelson Halliday, and after his death, Charles T. Gray, and is now living in Groton; Harrison, of Auburn; Emily L., who married A. J. Baldwin; and Joseph J., who died in Virginia. Nelson Halliday and Jenny Ashton were married January 8, 1863. Their children were: Everett N., Mary Frances, and Grace Townsend, the latter being a child by adoption. Mr. Halliday died in 1870, and in 1876 his widow married Charles T. Gray.

Almy, Erastus C., was born in Enfield, May 6, 1855, was educated in the public schools and the Ithaca Academy, and has had a variety of occupations. He has been a school teacher, a traveling salesman, a farmer, postmaster at Jacksonville for the past four years, and has also conducted a general store for five years. Jan- uary 23, 1889, he married Carrie Farrington, of this town. Mr. Almy's father, Brad- ford L., was born in Ithaca, October 25, 1819, and was a mechanic and farmer by occupation. He married first Mariette Cronk, of Ulysses, by whom he had five chil- den: Bradford, William M., Eliza A., Henry C. and Erastus C. Mrs. Almy died April 9, 1864, and he married second Elizabeth Dunham, of Enfield, by whom he had one daughter, Cora M. Mr. Almy died January 12. 1892, and his wife survives him.

Albright, J. B. of Newfield, was born in New Jersey September 2, 1815. Jacob, his father, also of New Jersey, was born in 1785, and settled in Tioga county in 1827, taking up farming, which he followed up to near his death, in 1882, at the age of ninety-six years. He married Abigail Baird, of New Jersey; they had ten children. Of these our subject was the second. He followed farming and working at the lum- ber business for ten years, but has been a cripple and unable to do manual work for the past fifteen years, and for nine years has not been able to stand. In 1845 he married Mary A. Gibbs, of this county, and they have had two children, twins, Au- gustus, who died aged eighteen months, and Augustine, the latter dying at forty years of age, leaving three orphan children, the youngest being eleven years and the oldest eighteen, all living with their grandparents. In politics he is a Democrat.

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 100

Author: Hewett, Waterman Thomas, 1846-1921; Selkreg, John H Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Hewett, Waterman Thomas, 1846-1921; Selkreg, John H
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1194