Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 104

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 104

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Sullivan, Charles W., was born in the town of Caroline, April 18, 1852. David, the father of our subject, was also a native of the county, born in the town of Lansing, October 6, 1812. He was a contractor and farmer, and was only a child when his parents moved into the town of Caroline. David was the father of three children ; Abram C., of Union City, Michigan, Mrs. Mary A. Iwan, of Union City, and Charles, our subject. David C. died June 10, 1891. With the exception of one year spent in Michigan, he has always been a resident of the county. He was educated in the com- mon schools of his native town, and as soon as he was old enough began working. In 1872 he moved to Ithaca, where, for fifteen years, he has been engaged in various wood working establishments and as a carpenter. In 1877 he took his first contract, and since that time has erected sixteen of the finest residences of the city, many of them from his own designs. He also does repair work. Mr. Sullivan is reporter of the Knights of Honor of this city, a position he has held for nine years, and is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias. His beautiful residence, at 85 Cascadilla street, was erected in 1874 from his own design. September 28, 1871. he married Susie N. Nor- wood, of Caroline, and they have two children, Edward C. and Flora B.

Smith, William F .-- Christopher Smith was born in Hunterdon, N. J., in 1750, and came to Hector (then in Tompkins county) as early as 1798, where he died. His chil- dren were John, Elias, Christiann (Mrs. Travis), Mary (Mrs. Robinson), James, Isaiah, Peter and William. John was a captain in the State militia, and with his company was called out in the war of 1812, on the Niagara frontier. Isaiah was a major- general in the State militia, and served as colonel in the war of 1812 on Niagara frontier. Peter Smith, born June 9, 1777, married Clarissa, daughter of David Fithin and Mary (Haines) Halsey, March 7, 1799, and settled in Ulysses in 1802. Mrs. Smith was born February 24, 1778. Their children were Fithen Halsey; Lucinda, born August 20, 1802, died July 2, 1805; Polly P. (Mrs. Watson Aldridge), born August 26, 1804, died September 10, 1873 ; Charity, born July 10, 1806, died November 3, 1807; William, born January 12, 1809, died May 17, 1889 ; Jared H., born March 10, 1811, died January 7, 1891; Henry C., born April 14, 1813, died in Wisconsin ; Elias A., born March 7, 1816, and Harriet W. (Mrs. Peter Wicks), born March 7, 1818. Mr. Peter Smith died in June, 1858. Fithen Halsey Smith, born March 1, 1800, died May 14, 1875. October 30, 1825, he married Betsey Curry, who was born March 14, 1802, and who died May 15, 1886. They settled in Enfield in 1826, but late in life removed to Covert, Seneca county. He was a self-educated man, taught school for many years,

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and was long school commissioner of Enfield. His children were Clara S. (Mrs. Frances Hallenbeck), born November 11, 1826; Nancy M. (Mrs, Sidney P. Stevenson), born August 20, 1828 ; Harris A., born January 22, 1830; William F. and Elizabeth S. (Mrs. Lyman Ostrom), twins, born July 9, 1834, and Viola L., born May 26, 1836, died June 4, 1855. William F. Smith married, February 12, 1858, Mary B. Farrar, of Mas- sachusetts, who was born November 12, 1830, died September 14, 1891. Their children are Anna E. (Mrs. H. Knappenberger), of Illinois; Samuel Frederick, born September 24, 1862, married Mary Smiley ; Ellen F. (Mrs. George A. Kresga) ; Harriet Halsey, born February 24, 1867, died July 21, 1888; Charles F., born May 7, 1868, married Myrtie E. Rolfe in August, 1892; and William Herbert, born April 22, 1875, married Anna Belle Kresga. Mr. Smith began teaching school when eighteen years of age, and continued until 1890, three years of this time in Connecticut and two in Ithaca. He has been justice of the peace sixteen years, and was supervisor of Enfield one term.

Snyder, Ernest, was born in the town of Dryden, March 2, 1844. His father, Peter T. Snyder, was one of the earliest settlers in the town, being born in 1808, and lived to the age of sixty-six, following the occupation of farming. Ernest Snyder received his education in the common school and is a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-four he married Ida, daughter of Wm. Nixon, who passed away in 1885, and in 1890 he married Olive, daughter of Jacob Seaman. He had three children by his first wife : Carrie M., Eva May, and Ina Belle. In 1887 he bought the homestead and his father's estate of eighty-six acres, which has been in the family for sixty-one years. Our subject is one of the substantial men in his town, taking an active interest in educational matters, and recognized as a man of sterling integrity and high character.

Selover, Elnathan W., was born in the town of Covert, Seneca county, March 12, 1837. He moved to Tompkins county in 1873, and in 1875 he bought the Welch farm of J. C. Nelson, and here he now resides, keeping a dairy which produces about forty quarts per day. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and takes quite an active interest in educational matters and the general events of the day. He married at the age of thirty, Helen, daughter of J. C. Nelson, and has a son and a daughter, both of whom are now at home and assist in managing the farm.

Searles, Marcus Williamson, was born in Lansing, October 19, 1833, a son of Walter, a native of Tioga county. born in 1808, who at the age of twenty-one came to Lansing where he worked at farming for a time, then engaged as boatman on the Erie Canal, which he followed twelve years. After retiring from the boat business he bought the farm of 103 acres, which our subject now owns. His wife was Mary, daughter of Marcus Williamson, by whom he had six children : Cornelius, Mark W., William, Mary Ann, Mortimer, and W. Monroe. William enlisted in the 51st Regiment N. Y. Vol- unteers in 1861, and was killed at the battle of Fredricksburg, December 13, 1862. He died in June, 1879, and his widow still survives at the age of eighty-eight. Our sub- ject's grandfather was Daniel Searles of Tioga county, who married Polly Galpin, by whom he had seven children. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Marcus William- son was in the Revolution, serving seven years. Marcus Williamson Searles was edu-

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cated in the common schools and remained on the home farm till the age of twenty-five, when he worked for himself on rented land for three years. For the next five seasons by the month on a farm, for two years on shares, and the next two years he devoted to railroading. He then removed to Orleans county and engaged in farming for eight years, when he returned to Lansing and bought the home- stead, where he has since remained. In 1888 he bought another farm of seventy-seven acres. In March, 1862, he married Nancy M., daughter of Jacob and Letty (Wood) Bower of Lansing, born in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Searles have had six children: William F., born October, 1863; Sherman, born in September, 1865; Susan, born in December, 1870; Adella and Adelbert, twins, born in December, 1872; Charles, born in June, 1878.

Smith, William J., was born in the town of Dryden, August 30, 1821. His father, John Smith, came to the town about 1790, from Stroudsburg, Pa. William J. was educated in the common schools and finished at the Ithaca Academy. At the age of forty-eight he married Pamelia, daughter of Spencer Apgar, of Dryden, and they are the parents of three children, two sons, Horatio S., and William A., and one daughter, Susie. He takes an active interest in temperance principles and has been prominently identified in his county's affairs, being elected sheriff in the fall of 1878. In 1870 he bought what was known as the Amon Apgar property of twenty-eight acres, which adjoined the old homestead and he now has 118 acres of some of the best land in the town, raising hay, grain and stock, and paying some attention to dairying. He is recognized in his town as a conservative, independent citizen, taking considerable interest in school and church matters, and in advancing the best interests of his town.

Sheldon, E., was born in Columbia county, N. Y., January 2, 1819, and came to Dryden in 1854. He was educated in the common schools and is a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-two he married Laney, daughter of F Rote, of Columbia county, and they are the parents of seven children. In 1856 he bought the John Southworth property, now owned by his son Benjamin; in 1872 he bought the Jesse Tappan property ; 1874 the Ed. Wheeler property ; in 1878 the Tom Mack prop- erty, and in 1891 the Jacob Updike property, having 230 acres in all, and raising hay, grain and stock, and making potatoes a specialty. Our subject is one of the largest farmers in his town, identified in advancing its best interests and is recognized as a practical and successful farmer.

Sutfin, James G., was born in Dryden April 20, 1838. His father was W. H. Sutfin, came from New Jersey about 1825, and settled on lot twenty-seven. Our subject was educated in the common schools, but is pre-eminently a self-made and self-educated man. At the age of twenty-one he married Helen A. M. Skillings, daughter of W. W. Skillings of Dryden, and they are the parents of two children, one son, E. J. Sutfin, and one daughter, Mrs. Anna M. Sager. In 1861 he bought the W. W. Skillings prop- erty of 100 acres, and in 1871 he bought another portion of that estate. In 1875 he bought part of the Luddington estate; in 1880 the C. J. Wheeler farm ; and in 1892 he purchased and inherited another portion of the Skillings estate, which has been in the possession of the family since 1836. He has 186 acres of some of the finest farm

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land in Dryden, raising hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of dairying. He takes the Republican side in politics and an intelligent interest in educational and religious matters, being trustee of his school district, and is known in his town as a practical and successful farmer.

Sickmon, George B., was born in the town of Dryden, May 7, 1864. His father, Sanford Sickmon, was for many years a prominent farmer in the town, and is now a resident of McLean. Our subject was educated in the common schools, finishing in the McLean graded, and also the Cortland Normal schools. He commenced teaching in 1883 in the district school at Dryden, and taught two years at McLean. He is now teaching his fifth year at Freeville Graded School; which has under his principalship become the leading village school of this county and now has a daily attendance of 100. He is one of the prominent men in his town, taking great interest in political, educa- tional and religious matters, and is now president of the Teachers' Association of the Second Commissioner's District of Tompkins county, which office he has held for several years. He was candidate for school commissioner in his district in 1893, receiving a majority of eighty -five male votes, and losing his election to a lady candidate. He is a man of high standing and education, always ready to aid in anything that will elevate mankind or be for the interest of the community, and fearless in denouncing evil. He stands a friend to the needy and distressed, bearing the respect of all of his towns- people.

Sisson, P. F., was born in Seneca Falls October 6, 1839, a son of Philip Sisson, a native of this county, born in Danby in 1808, and from here, after reaching his ma- jority, he went west for a short time. He next located in Seneca Falls. He is a builder by trade, but since 1868 he has owned a farm on the bank of Cayuga Lake. Of his eight children our subject was the oldest son. He was educated in Seneca Falls Academy after leaving which he was for one year a clerk in the post-office at Seneca Falls. After spending six months in Chicago and one year in New York he came, in 1862, to Ithaca, engaging in boat-building which he followed two years. He was then in the manufactory of Mr. Hickson nine years. Then R. B. Williams, W. L. Bostwick and Mr. Sisson went into the sash and blind business, which existed for two years, then Mr. Williams dropped out, and it was conducted by the remaining partners for two years. It was then turned over to the Ithaca Organ & Piano Company, of which Mr. Sisson was secretary and treasurer eight years. He was five years with the re- ceiver, George R. Williams, and on August 1, 1889, he bought the merchant tailoring establishment of H. K. Jones, and now employs seventeen hands, carrying a very com- plete line of goods. He is experienced in tailoring and does a successful business. Mr. Sisson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Eagle Chapter, St. Augustine Com- mandery. He is a Republican, and has been president of the village of Ithaca. In 1864 Mr. Sisson married Eliza S. Hill of Ithaca, and they have three children.

Sweet, Galusha C., was born in the town of Virgil, November 24, 1849, and was edu- cated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and observation. After leaving school he learned the marble-cutter's trade, which he fol- lowed for four years and then learned the carriage-maker's trade about ten years.

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In 1882 he came to the village of Dryden and went into the undertaker's business, soon taking the lead in his line and receiving calls from Ithaca, Cortland, Virgil, Harford, and Harford Mills as the director of the obsequies of the dead. Our subject has acquired a wide and well deserved reputation throughout the country. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Miss Hattie Williams, daughter of the late W H. Williams of the town of Virgil, who died in January, 1888. and they have two children, Miss Lida and Miss Allie. Mr. Sweet takes the Republican side in politics and an active interest in educational and religious matters.

Sanford, Lyman, deceased, was born March 29, 1813, in the town of Dryden and with his father, Lyman Sanford, was one of the earliest settlers of the town. At the age of thirty he married Nancy Hutchings, and they were the parents of six children. The daughters, Jeanette, De Ette and Alice and the son, Frank, are now living on the old homestead. Lyman Sanford was one of the leading men in his town, an honor- able, upright man whose word was as good as his bond, and known and recognized as a practical and successful farmer.

Sandwick, Wm. H., was born in the town of Moravia, June 1, 1862, and was educated in the graded schools. His father, John Sandwick, was a well-known tanner and currier of that town. Our subject came to the village of Dryden in 1877 and en- gaged in Rockwell's Woolen Factory, which business he followed for three years, and in 1880 engaged in the barber's business in a small way, which by energy and business ability he has been able to increase and fix up a store carrying a fine line of gent's fur- nishing goods, tobacco, cigars and confectionery, with tonsorial parlors in connection with his store. He was appointed postmaster October 1, 1893. At the age of twenty he married Miss Nellie M. Givens, daughter of Darius Givens, and they have three children, Mildred, Mabel and Florence. Mr. Sandwick was one of the instigators in the establishing of the water works in this village.

Stoddard, David, born November 5, 1773, a native and former resident of Litchfield, Conn., settled in Otselic, Chenango county, in 1803, and his wife died October 11, 1813, after which the. pioneer divided his farm among his three sous and then came to Gro- ton, where he purchased a farm of 300 acres. In 1815 he married Lois Cobb, daughter of one of Groton's pioneers, and by this marriage he had these children : Ida, born in September 1816, died in 1866; Ira, born in 1820, died in Salisbury rebel prison in 1864; Isa, who married Alanso Durfee of Groton; Iren, born August 13, 1825; Iva, born July 5, 1828, died September 6, 1864 ; Irena, born December 4, 1830, married Charles Francis, and lives on the old home farm in Groton; Athelia, who became the wife of Augustus Moe. Iren Stoddard married Fanny, daughter of Frederick Miller of Groton, and his six children : Fay L., Giles M., Omar C., Frank A., Edward and Jerome, all of whom live in Groton. Giles M. Stoddard was born September 22, 1854, and was educated at the Groton Academy and Union Free school. He read law with W. W. Hare and was admitted to the bar in May, 1879. Mr. Stoddard is a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party in this part of the county. He was candidate for the office of district attorney in 1884. He has twice been president of the village and member of the School Board three terms. February 7, 1888, he was appointed postmaster at

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Groton village. In 1882 Mr. Stoddard married Maude, daughter of Solomon Loomis of Groton, and they have one child, Leola.

Stewart, Olin L., was born in the town of Newfield, January 24, 1852, the youngest son of Horace S. Stewart. He was educated in the common schools, and after leaving same was engaged with his brother in the tobacco business. In 1871 he went to Cort- land where he established a cigar manufactory, which he conducted for two years. Returning to Ithaca he was one year in the employ of his brother, and for one year was in partnership with him. In 1880 he established a bottling business in this city, to which he added by the purchase of the Bartholomew Agency of Schwartz, and from this start he has built up the present large and extensive establishment at 16 South Aurora street. He is also agent for the Standard Brewing Co., of Rochester. Mr. Stewart is a Democrat in politics, and in 1892 he was elected alderman of the second ward of the city. He is a member of Hobasco Lodge No. 716, F. & A. M., and a mem- ber of the K. of P. Lodge No. 89. He was married in April, 1890, to Eva Jarvis of Ithaca.

Synnott, Rev. S. H., was born in St. John, N. B., was educated in the University of New Brunswick and in the General Theological Seminary in New York City. He acted as assistant in St. Peter's church in New York city for a year and a half, and his first rectorship was at Cooperstown, Otsego Co., N. Y., where he staid seven years. From there he went to St. Paul's church, Poughkeepsie, where he was the rector for seventeen years, coming to Ithaca in 1885 as rector of St. John's church. In 1891 he was elected librarian by the trustees of the Cornell City Library, making him ex-officio trustee of the University. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, F. & A. M., Eagle Chap- ter, St. Augustine Commandery and Knights of Pythias, and chaplain of the blue lodge. In 1863 he married Alice T. Worthington of Cooperstown, and they have one child, the wife of E. A. Pattison of Troy, N. Y.

Smith, William Hazlitt, was born in Hector, September 24, 1853, a son of Jeremy Smith. He prepared for college at Starkey Seminary and entered Cornell University in the fall of 1869, graduating in June, 1873 with the degree of A. B. He taught Latin and Greek one year in Ithaca Academy, and then entered the law office of King & Montgomery at Ithaca, was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1876 and formed a part- nership January 1, 1877, with his brother Simeon, which existed until May, 1885. He then opened an office for himself and has since been alone, doing a general practice, but making a specialty of real estate transactions. He is a Democrat, and a member of Fidelity Lodge F. & A. M., and also of the R. A. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1881 he married Celia Mattison of this county, and they have one daughter. Mrs. Smith is recently the inventor and patentee of the cloth tabby cat and other animals, which have been on the market for the past two years and have been very popular.

Stephens, Clements T., was born in Ithaca in 1849, only surviving son of Philip Stephens. He was educated at the High School, Clinton, N. Y., and at Briar Cliff Military School on the Hudson. In 1878 he bought out the firm of E. C. Gregg, agri- cultural implements and seeds, and located there until the summer of 1893, when he re-

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moved to the corner of Aurora and State streets, and has changed his line from agricul- tural to stoves and house furnishings. In 1889 he bought the East Hill Coal Yard of Harmon Hill, which he still conducts, in connection with his other business. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, F. &. A. M., Eagle Chapter, Ithaca Council. St. Augustine Commandery. In 1881 he married Susan M. Hibbard, and they have one son, Fitch Hibbard Stephens, a student in the grammer school.

Stephens, Jesse W., was born in England, June 3, 1845. His father, John L., emi- grated to this country in 1849 and after spending one year in Quebec, Canada, he moved to Ithaca and with his brother, Thomas, established a marble and monumental yard on S. Tioga street. He dissolved partnership after several years and located where the grocery of J. W. Stephens now stands on State street. John E. Stephens died at the age of fifty-nine. Since J. W. was five years of age he has made his home in this town. He was educated in the old Lancastrian school and his first occupation was as a marble cutter in his father's shop. He was only sixteen years of age when the war broke out, and August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, 137th Regiment, New York Volunteers, to serve for three years or during the war. He saw service in the battle of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and other minor engagements, and was then transferred to the Twelfth Corps and from there to the Twentieth Corps, which joined Sherman in his march to the sea. He was dispatch bearer for General Geary, division commander, and General Green, brigade commander, and was discharged June 9, 1865. On his return he resumed his trade and worked on the Cornell house, also Andrew D. White's house, and did the lettering on some of the College buildings. In 1873 he established a grocery on 78 Cascadilla street, and in a few years moved to Eddy street, starting the first store there, which he afterward sold to George Frost, and returned to Cascadilla street. He sold this store on Cascadilla street and took the store left by D. B. Stewart on State street, which he conducted but a short time and sold to Moses Shepard. During this time he bought and sold several other small concerns. In 1892 lie bought out the store of his brother, George Stephens at 110 W. State street, which he conducted in connection with his Cascadilla street store. His line is groceries and dry goods and meats in winter time. In politics he is a Repub- lican and in 1887 was the candidate for alderman, taking the second nomination only four days before election and defeated by only four votes. The following year he was elected by 144 majority in a Democratic ward. For the past seven years he has been a vestryman of St. John's Episcopal church and a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Hobasco Lodge No. 716, of which he is the junior warden, Eagle Chapter, Ithaca Council, St. Augustine Commandery. He has passed all chairs of the Knights of Pythias and vice-chancellor the year of the Grand Lodge meeting in this city, and the next year was elected chancellor commander. He is a member of Sidney Post, G. A. R. He was married in Guilford, Conn., in June, 1867, to Mary Harrigan, and they are the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters.

Smith, Simeon, was born in the town of Hector, Schuyler county, N. Y., August 2, 1850. Both of his parents at the age of seventy-five years are still living and in good health at Ithaca, N. Y. He was educated at Starkey Seminary and Cornell University, graduating from the latter with honor in the class of 1873. After graduation he took

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up the study of law, spending one year in the office of Ferris & Dowe, and one year in the Albany Law School, from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar May 15, 1875. Returning to Ithaca he opened an office at once, and has ever since been in the active practice of his profession. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Smith was appointed by Governor Tilden, district attorney of Tompkins county, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of S. D. Halliday, who had been elected to the Assembly. In the fall of 1875 he was the candidate of his party for county judge, and ran largely ahead of the State ticket at the election. In 1889 he was appointed by Governor Hill, without solicitation on his part, commissioner of the State Meteorological Bureau and Weather Service, and reappointed three years later by Governor Flower. He has always been a moderate Democrat and has repeatedly represented his party in the county and State conventions. In March, 1893, he was appointed city attorney by the reform anti- license mayor.

Smith, William M., was born in Dryden in 1838, a son of William R., a native of Massachusetts, who came to this State when quite young, taking up farming, and set- tling on the place now owned by his son William, consisting of 130 acres. He mar- ried Polly Vickery of Vermont, and they had thirteen children, our subject being the eleventh. The latter married Esther Hulselander of Dryden, in 1866, and they are the parents of two children, George A. and Bert S., both residing at home with their pa- rents. Mr. Smith supports the Republican party.

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 104

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