Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 108

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 108

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).

183

FAMILY SKETCHES.

February 1, 1830. December 20, 1876, he married Isabell Monfort, and they reside at Peruville.

Mead, Benjamin Franklin, was born in Caroline, July 7, 1823, a son of Dr. Daniel L. Mead, who came to Groton in 1813, and thence went to Slaterville in 1820, being the first physician in the section. He practiced his profession for forty years until 1860, and owned the place where our subject now resides. He married in 1812, in West- chester, N. Y., Priscilla Perry, a native of Greenwich, Conn., who came to Westchester when young. They had nine children, of whom B. F. Mead was the fifth, he now be- ing seventy years of age. He followed carpentry and building from early life to 1860, since which time he has lived retired. He built a great many buildings in the town, and especially in Slaterville, and he now owns and has worked the farm now occupied by himself, keeping a house-keeper, lie never having married. He supports the Re- publican party, though he has never aspired to public office.

Morgan, Howard, was born on the old homestead south of Waterburg, in Ulysses, February 23, 1832. He was educated in the public schools, and is a farmer by occupa- tion. May 27, 1857, he married Jane Bower, daughter of David and Jane Bower, of Ulysses. Mr. Morgan's father, William Morgan, was born in the town of Alabama, Gencsee county, N. Y., September 7, 1795, and married Betsey Atwater, of Trumans- burg, N. Y. She was born September 15, 1802, and they had three children : David, who died in infancy, Willis H., and Howard. William Morgan, grandfather of our subject, was born in Wales, Great Britain, and came to the United States at an early day. The ancestry of the family were Welsh and Scotch.

McCormick, Walter, was born in the city of Ithaca, October 25, 1854, a son of Michael McCormick, who has been a resident here since 1840. Walter was educated in the public schools and Ithaca Academy, after leaving which he entered the dry goods store of Hawkins, Finch & Co., with whom he was employed as a clerk for three years. He then formed a partnership with Patrick Conway, which continued three years, when our subject sold his interest to Mr. Conway and followed the meat business for a year. He then went into a retail liquor store on South Cayuga street, remaining five years. He next went into a foundry and machine shop at Waverly, the firm being Francis & McCormick, which concern existed one year, then Mr. McCor- mick sold his interest and returned to Ithaca in 1883, buying the St. John Hotel. He conducted the hotel, on the south side of the street, nine years, and in 1892 he bought the American House, at the corner of State and Fulton streets, where he has since been engaged in business, having a fine hotel of seventeen rooms and every conven- ience for the traveling public. He is a Democrat in politics, and has always been an active worker in the party. In 1892 he was elected alderman of the First Ward. Hc is a member of the street commission and lighting commission. He was acting mayor of the city for three months during the illness of Mayor Bouton. In 1878 our subject married Ellen Dugan, of Pennsylvania, and they have five children.

Montgomery, Dr. J. J., was born in the town of Dryden, May 5, 1843. His father, J. W. Montgomery, M. D., came from Stillwater, Saratoga county, about 1825. He was educated at the Dryden Academy under Professor Graves. After leaving school

184

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

he entered the United States army and was attached to the medical service, after leav- ing which he graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York in 1867 ; then returned to Dryden and entered into regular practice. He is a Republican in politics, and is now one of the coroners of the county, and takes an active interest in educational and religious matters. There has been a physician by this name in the town for seventy years. His father, Hon. J. W. Montgomery, was a very prominent man in his town, being member of assembly in 1845, and through the war took an active part in raising men and means to send to the front, neglecting his own business to push those matters. His son, taking up his father's practice, has become widely known in the profession, and is also prominently identified in the interests of his town.

Miller, Thomas G., is a native of Scotland, born in 1850, and came to America with his parents in 1853. His father, Thomas, settled in Ithaca, where he was employed as a mechanic. He was the father of five children, of which our subject was the fourth. He was educated in the Ithaca Academy and the old Lancasterian school, after leaving which he went into the store of Andrus, McChain & Co., where he was employed till 1878. That year he formed a partnership with Frank J. Enz, and they established a general wholesale paper warehouse, and now conduct a paper mill. Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has advanced to the Commandery. In 1876 he married Ella Preston, of the town of Caroline, and they have two sons in the High School and a daughter, Ada.

Manning, Julius (deceased), was born in the town of Danby in 1842, was educated in the district schools, and at the age of thirty married Sarah G., daughter of Charles G. Keeler, of the town of Danby. They had four children, three of whom are now living. The oldest, Anna B., died early in 1893, when nearly eighteen years of age, a beautiful girl who was called away when just stepping into womanhood. Mr. Man- ning was a Republican in politics, and also gave an intelligent interest to educational and church matters. In 1866 be bought of his grandfather, William Davis, a farm of seventy-five acres, where the family now live. Our subject died suddenly in the spring of 1883, leaving a wife and four small children, and regretted by all with whom he had been associated. Mrs. Manning has displayed remarkable business talents and energy, and has carried on the farm successfully since the death of her husband.

Mineab, N. H., the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Dryden, Septem- ber 22, 1835. His father, Wm. C. Mineah, was one of the early settlers, and a promi- nent man in his town. N. H. Mineah was educated in the common schools, and is a good practical business man. At the age of twenty-nine he married Cordelia, daughter of Nelson Morgan of Groton, and they are the parents of one daughter, Annett Louise, who married B. La Vern Buck of East Lansing, October 20, 1887. In 1861 he bought the property known as the Samuel Fulkerson farm of 100 acres. He takes the Re- publican side in politics and an active interest in church and school matters. He is known throughout his town as a practical and successful farmer.

McCutchan, William and Newton R., were the sons of Robt. McCutchan, who came to the town of Dryden in 1807, and settled on lot forty-two, where his sons now re- side, owning the homestead in common. The boys were educated in the common

185

FAMILY SKETCHES.

schools, but were self-made men. At the age of fifty-five Newton married Alvina Morris, daughter of Levi Morris of Ithaca. The brothers have 164 acres of some of the best farm lands in the town, raising hay, grain and stock, paying special attention to dairying. They are recognized in their town as substantial, conservative farmers, men of ability and high integrity, whose lives have proven their word to be as good as their bond. The family came from Glasgow, Scotland, and settled in Saratoga county, N.Y. The grandfather, George McCutchan, served in the continental army for six years, and Robert McCutchan took part in the war of 1812. The sons inherited the best of the Scottish traits.

McKee, Samuel, was born in the town of Dryden, November 23, 1839. His father, John McKee, was one of the early settlers, and came to Dryden in 1801, when only four years old. John McKee was married in 1835 to Martha Cunningham, daughter of Samuel Cunningham of North Ireland. They cleared up the farm where our sub- ject now resides. Samuel received his education in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. After leaving school he re- turned to his father's farm and at the age of twenty-one married Jennie Sharp, daughter of John Sharp of Dryden, and they are the parents of two children, Mrs. Wm. H. Lormor and James E. He takes the Republican side in politics and an active interest in educational and religious matters. Our subject is a conservative independent man, and is recognized as a successful and practical farmer.

Mitchell, William L., was born in the town of Ithaca, March 7, 1825. His early education was acquired at the district schools, with a course at the Ithaca Academy under Prof. W. S. Burt. In 1846, at the age of twenty-one, he took charge of the con- struction of the first telegraph line between New York and Philadelphia, under the late Hon. Ezra Cornell and his associates. In 1847 he married Emily Steenburg, daughter of Hoffman Steenburg of Ithaca, by whom he had one daughter, now Mrs. Samuel Barnes of White Plains, N. Y. Mrs. Emily Mitchell died October 11, 1848, and in 1849 he married Susan T. Bradley, daughter of Hemingway H. Bradley of the town of Enfield, who bore him four children, two of whom are now living, Ella B. Cochran, now residing in Montclair, New Jersey, and Cora B. Hegeman, now residing at Middle Falls, Washington county, N. Y. Mr. Mitchell is independent in politics as he is in all his views, taking an active interest in the events of the day and in the promotion of education and religion.

Mineah, John H., was born in the town of Dryden, April 17, 1826. His father, William C. Mineah, was one of the earliest settlers in the town, and with his grand- father took up part of lot sixteen, part of which is still in the family. J. H. Mineah was educated in the common schools, but is a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of thirty he married Martha, daughter of Leonard Longcoy of Dundee, Yates county, N. Y., and they are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters. Two sons, W. L. Mineah of Haddam, Kansas, and Fred E. Mineah in this county, are now living. In 1855 he bought the Ambrose Hill property of 108 acres; in 1864 he bought part of the De Groff estate ; in 1876 part of the Henry Teeter estate, having 138 acres of some of the best farm lands in the town. Our subject is one of the

186

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

prominent men in his town, taking an interest in the leading events of the day, and is a director in the Fire Insurance Company of Dryden and Groton, and is a practical and successful farmer.

Metzgar, Andrew, was born in Genoa, May 17, 1826, one of fifteen children of Jonas and Mary (Merwin) Metzgar. His father was a blacksmith and farmer, and Andrew was brought up to farm work. At the age of twenty-one he began life for himself, with no capital save his own determination to succeed. He is now the owner of a good farm in Groton, the buildings of which are substantial and attractive. In Janu- ary, 1853, Mr. Metzgar married Harriet N., daughter of Amza and Susan (Sp oner) Armstrong, of which marriage there were two children : Norman, who died in 1882, and Edgar G., who now lives at home with his parents. Amza Armstrong was a native of Goshen, Orange county, and came with his father, Moses, to Genoa at a very early day. They located in Groton on the farm now owned by Andrew Metzgar. Amza married Susan Spooner, and had nine children : Albert, Delilah, Harriet N., Czarina Louisa (wife of Lyman Perrigo) ; Sarah Jane, Emily, Lucina A., Mary E., and one who died in infancy. Amza Armstrong was born July 1, 1795, and died February 26, 1875. His wife, Susan Spooner, was born June 24, 1798, and died February 27, 1887. They were married May 1, 1825.

Mount, William Dye, a native of New Jersey came in 1828 to the town of Dryden, bringing with him his young wife to whom he had then been recently married. A short time afterward he moved to Lansing and became foreman of the tannery of John O. Christie, he being a practical tanner and currier. Five years later he returned to Dryden, but soon after (1837) located permanently at Peruville, where lie became a man of much influence in town and church affairs, successful in business, and where he continued to reside until the time of his death, August 27, 1887. In 1854 he was one of the organizers of the Republican party in the town, and in the next year was elected justice of the peace and thereafter held that office for a period of twenty-four years. In 1859 and the three succeeding years, and again in 1869 he was elected supervisor of Groton. He was prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal church for more than sixty years, and was a member of what was known as the First Methodist Episcopal church of Groton and Dryden, after removing to Peruville, and continued an active and supporting connection with the society to the time of his death. He had seven children, four of whom are now living, viz. : William S., Joseph, James H., and Robert N. Joseph and James live in Peruville, and Robert N. upon a farm in the town of Groton. Joseph is unmarried; James H. married Martha, daughter of Ed- ward D. Larned, and granddaughter of Sylvanus Larned, long and prominently connected with the affairs of Groton. Robert N. married Annette, daughter of Nelson Morgan, a life-long resident of the town. William E. Mount was the third child of the pioneer just mentioned, born in Dryden September 15, 1834, and moved with the family to Peruville in 1837. In 1852 he was apprenticed to the joiner's trade which he learned thoroughly,' and was educated at Groton Academy and the Conference Seminary at Caz- enovia. He worked at his trade several years and taught school about twelve years. During the summer of 1862 he enlisted about fifty men in Company F, 109th Regiment,

187

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and in consideration of this service was elected its captain. After serving thirty- three months, Captain Mount was mustered out of service with his command, June 5, 1865. Returning home he worked at his trade and taught school until 1882, when he moved to Groton village. In 1878, and again in 1882 our subject was elected justice of the peace of the town. On October 10, 1865, Mr. Mount was married to Barbara L., daughter of James and Barbara Giles of Dryden. Three children have been born of the marriage, two of whom are now living, William Dye Mount, assistant professor in Brown University; and Joseph, who also is teaching school. James Giles was born in Orange county, September 14, 1800, and was one of ten children of Isaiah and Sarah Giles, the latter being the pioneer heads of a family who settled in Lansing in 1802, but who soon afterward moved to Dryden. James Giles married Barbara Raymer, and to them these children were born: Lavilla, who married Arad S. Beach ; Mary, who married Alanson Burlingame ; Marcella, who married W. S. Brown; Susan A., the wife of A. M. Ford ; Barbara L., wife of Captain W. E. Mount; John J., of Freeville ; Sarah E., now Mrs. S. Skillings ; and Nancy, wife of E. Hanford. James Giles was a successful farmer, an active and useful citizen, one of the first to introduce and use improved machinery in farm work, and the inventor of the churn thermom- eter. His death occurred October 11, 1890, his wife having died three years before, November 21, 1887.

Miller, William Henry, was born in Trenton, Oneida county, in 1848, a son of Major Henry Miller of that town. His early education was derived in the common school, private instruction, and at Mechanicsville Academy. He spent two years in Clinton Liberal Institute and was one of the first students at Cornell, a special student in the class of '71-'72, really the first student of that school of Architecture. He began work in Ithaca in 1873, his first design being President Andrew D. White's residence. Since that time, he was architect of Barnes Hall, the Law School, and the University Library building. In Ithaca he designed the Savings Bank building, the Baptist and Congre- gational churches, also the Unitarian church, of which he was organist for several years. He has done much work out of the city, and his work can be found in Canada and fifteen States. Mr. Miller is a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity at Cornell, and of the Masonic Fraternity. He married in 1876, Emma, daughter of Henry Halsey, of Ithaca, and they have four children.

Miller, Irving C., is a native of Lansing, born July 18, 1835, a son of Frederick H. Miller, also a native of Lansing, born July 17, 1805. The latter spent his life in farm- ing, remaining with his parents till the age of twenty-one, then beginning for himself on a portion of his father's farm at first. ITis wife was Alvira N. Ingersoll, of Kinder- hook, N. Y. Their five children were : Martha E., wife of Benoni Head; Dwight, Russell P., Irving C., and Henrietta, wife of James D. Smith. Mr. Miller died in 1869, aged sixty-four. His wife died in 1875, aged sixty-nine. Henry Miller, grandfather of Irving C., was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Lansing where he acquired considerable property, owning and operating a distillery, a grocery, and a cabinet shop all on his farm. He reared ten children. Irving C., our subject, lived on the home- stead until the age of twenty-one, then hired to his father by the month, and after the death of the latter, he and one of his brothers bought two-thirds of the home farm, the

188

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

remaining third being held by his mother. Three years later they divided the property and Irving came to the farm where he now lives. In 1868 he married Esther Loomis, who was born in 1844 in Groton, a daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Armstrong) Loomis. Solomon was a native of Hartford, Conn., born in 1798, who early came to Groton. He served in the war of 1812 and died in 1884, aged eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one child, Clara Alvira, born October, 3, 1880.

Morris, Charles L., was born July 21, 1868, in the town of Ithaca, where he was educated. In early manhood he married Emma F., daughter of James Hanshaw of the town of Dryden, and they have had one son. Mr. Morris is a Democrat in politics and takes an active interest in both politics and educational matters. He is one of the most successful young farmers of the locality, raising large quantities of hay, grain and stock and is recognized as an active and energetic young man who is bound to succeed.

Moore, William H., was born in the town of Dryden, April 26, 1840, and was edu- cated in Homer and Cortland. After leaving school he took up the shoe trade, coming to Dryden, April 1, 1861. In 1869 he established a business of his own in the manu- facture of custom made boots and shoes, together with a general retail trade which he now carries on. His grandfather, Dr. Zopher Moore, came from Vermont and was one of the early settlers of Virgil, Cortland county, being the first postmaster and prac- ticing physician of that place. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Maria Pond, daughter of Timothy Pond of Virgil, late of Dryden, and they are the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living, three daughters and one son. The eldest, a son, Charles L. Moore, at the age of twenty-one obtained a position as superintendent salesman in a large retail shoe house in Cortland, N. Y. where near the end of three years he was taken with typhoid malarial fever brought on by over work, came home and died five days later, September 13, 1888. The eldest daughter, Hattie E. Moore, at the age of eighteen entered upon the voca- tion of teacher. At the end of three years learning the millinery business which she now carries on. Anna E. Moore, the second daughter, after leaving school and learning the millinery business, at the age of eighteen married Mr. E. B. Briggs, two years later, spring of 1894, removing to Solomon City, Kansas, where she now resides. Victoria, Moore, youngest daughter, after graduating from Dryden Union School and Academy, at the age of sixteen entered Ithaca Conservatory of Music, taking up the study of elo- cution. After taking two terms, spring of 1894, entering the school of oratory con- nected with the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. where she now is. Our subject has spent a life time in the town in which he now lives and has always been known as an active upright business man and has found time to take a deep interest in educational matters.

Wattles, Chauncey Lathrop, of Caroline, son of Capt. Lathrop Wattles and Jerusha Surdam Wattles, his wife, was born in Virgil, Cortland county, N. Y., March 27, 1826 ; he was the eldest son in a family of five sons and seven daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Capt. Wattles removed to Caroline about 1840, and pur- chased a farm on Blackman Hill, in the south part of the town; the subject of this

189

FAMILY SKETCHES.

sketch was at that time a boy of fourteen, and he at once set about doing his share in paying for the homestead and in providing for the wants of a large and growing family. He lived at home until the farm was paid for, with suitable buildings; and until he was twenty-four years of age; he then entered the employ of Andrus & Mc- Chain, booksellers and paper-dealers of Ithaca, for whom he traveled extensively for ten years. In 1855 he purchased the farm now known as "Wattles Farm", and on which he resided from 1860 to his death, after a short illness, January 8, 1890. He married Almira J. Barker, of Tully, Cortland county, October 19, 1857; and to them were born two children, a son, Cephas B., April 11, 1863, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Mary Josephine, August 29, 1864, now the wife of James W. Reed, of Ithaca. Mr. Wattles was for more than twenty years treasurer of the Caroline Cheese Factory Association, treasurer also of the Caroline Farmers' Fire Insurance Co., and a Charter member of Caroline Lodge No. 784, F. & A. M. In politics a life long Democrat, he was four times elected supervisor of a strong Republican town. Chauncey L. Wattles united a geniality of manner with a certain benignity of countenance which stamped him as a man eminently to be trusted and respected; and he was universally trusted and respected wherever known. It is the rule that each community possesses some two or three men to whom all naturally turn, as do certain flowers to the sun ; Mr. Wattles was one of the choice few bearing this relation to the entire neighborhood. With an excellent knowledge of general affairs and a practical knowledge, gained in no easy school, he united a genial and sturdy integrity which invited confidence. In all his long lifetime in one locality, he never by act or omission forfeited the good-will or trust with which he was invested; and by his death Caroline lost one of its most valued citizens.

Welch, William M., was born in Herkimer county, January 16, 1821, and was edu- cated in the common schools. He was a son of Walter B., who moved into the town of Dryden, and afterward to Danby, where he died in 1863. William M. married, at the age of twenty-eight, a Miss Apgar, who died, and he married second, March 17, 1867, Naomi A., daughter of William Spaulding of the town of Caroline. They had four children, of whom James B., William S., and Florence A. are now living. One daughter, Philma, died aged twenty-two years. In 1869 Mr. Welch bought the Abram Gardner property of ninety-two acres, and also part of the Hutchens farm. Afterward he bought part of the Mandeville estate, and the same year purchased a portion of the Hart place, where he now lives, having 200 acres of some of the best farm land in the town, on which he raises large amounts of hay, grain and stock. Our subject is a con- servative, practical farmer, taking a deep interest in the leading events of the day.

Wood, A. B., was born in the town of Warwick, Orange county, in April, 1850, a son of Washington Wood, a farmer of that county. Our subject was educated in Warwick Academy and Cornell University, studying architecture while in Cornell, and he began the practice of his profession in Ithaca. He was the designer of the High School building, and also of many residences and store buildings. He was also the designer for the L. V. R. R. Co. north of Wilkes-Barre for fifteen years. In 1889 he formed a partnership with T. B. Campbell, since which they have built many large buildings, in- cluding the chemical laboratory at Cornell, the annex to the gymnasium, Crane's place

. 190

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

at Sheldrake, Zeta Psi Chapter House, and they are now engaged in constructing the addition to Sibley College. Mr. Wood has also acted as the representative of several fire insurance companies. He is a Republican and a member of Fidelity Lodge, Eagle Chapter, St. Augustine Commandery, F. & A. M. He married in 1876 Ella Potter of Ithaca, and they have five children.

White, D. M., was born in Monroeton, Bradford county, Pa., March 29, 1852. John, father of our subject, was born in Caroline, and was a farmer, now owning a farm in Bradford county, where he lives. He has been four times married. Our subject's mother, Sophia Mingus, daughter of John Mingus, was a native of Bradford county, Pa. D. M. was only an infant when he went to live with his grandfather, Sylvester White, and where he lived till the age of seventeen years, then he went to live with an uncle in Caroline. He worked at milling until nineteen years old, and then started out for himself, entering a machine shop in Bridgeport, Conn., where he took the place of an experienced hand, and worked five years. He next returned to Brookton for a year, and then went to Tioga county, where he worked at carpentry two years He came to Caroline where he still continued at carpentry and building for five years, and con- nected with his trade the saw mill at Brookton, which he operated nine years. Mr. White built a fine residence in this town a few years ago, in which he now resides. He is a Republican, and has served as commissioner and postmaster.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 108

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