Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 109

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 109

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).

Willis, Morris S., of Lansing, was born in Enfield in 1848, the son of John H. and Caroline (Marshall) Willis. His grandparents were John and Mary (Sivalls) Willis, natives of New Rochelle, N. Y., who came to Tompkins county in 1838, and settled in Enfield. They raised three children : William, James and John. The latter learned the harnessmaker's trade, which he followed about two years, then went back to the farm. At the death of his father, in 1847, he continued farming on a portion of the homestead. His mother died in October, 1848. He married in September, 1843, Caroline Marshall, by whom he had one child, Morris S. The latter was educated at the Angelica Academy, and at the age of twenty returned to the farm and worked with his father about ten years. He then rented a farm for five years on shares, the last year of which he met with an accident which disabled him for physical labor for about four years, and from which he has never fully recovered. In 1886 he purchased a farm of 150 acres with fine, large and commodious buildings, and a stream of water flowing near the buildings, affording sufficient power to grind grain for food and saw wood. Here Mr. Willis has ever since resided. He married, December 12, 1877, Ella, daughter of Stephen Kennedy of Ithaca. She died September 16, 1883, and he married second December 6, 1888, Louisa (Norton) Drake, daughter of Jonathan and Emma Norton, natives of Lansing. Mr. Willis's parents reside with him. He is a member of the Grange, and in politics is a Republican.

Wright, Charles L., was born in the town of Danby, November 22, 1828, and is the son of Charles W. Wright, who came to this town about 1812, and was among the early settlers in the town. Our subject received his education at the district schools, to which he has added through life by intelligent reading and observation. After leaving school he took up farming, and at the age of twenty-three married Phoebe Dakin,

191

FAMILY SKETCHES.

daughter of Percy Dakin, of the town of Danby. She died in 1860, leaving one child, Phoebe O. Mr. Wright married again in 1863, Lydia A., daughter of Thompson Keithline, of Windom, Pa., who bore to him three children. In 1848 Mr. Wright bought the old homestead, and in 1866 bought what was known as the Robbins Wright property, having 145 acres of some of the best farm lands in the county. Mr. Wright is one of Danby's most prominent men.

White, David, M. D., was born in Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., June 20, 1834, a son of James White a farmer. The doctor was educated in the academy and high school of his native town. He began the study of medicine in 1855 in the office of Dr. J. O. Hill of Farmer Village, with whom he remained two years and then entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, graduating in February, 1859. After spending one year with Dr. Hill he practiced two years in Danby and one year in Trumansburgh. In May, 1864, he came to Ithaca where he has ever since been located. He was mar- ried in 1860 to Antoinette J. Crandall of Delaware county. They have three children.

Williams, Nathan, of Lansing, was born October 23, 1847, the son of Egbert Wil- liams of this town, born June 10, 1817, in a log cabin, where now stands the fine resi- dence of our subject. He spent his whole life in Lansing. He was bound out to do farm work until he was sixteen, when he began for himself. He worked on shares for a few years, when he purchased a small tract of timber land, which he cleared and sold, then bought another farm on which he lived three years, when he sold and moved to a larger one, where he resided five years, during which time he purchased a half interest in a saw mill. Two years later he purchased his partner's interest in the mill. This he conducted eight years, then sold the mill. He finally bought the homestead farm of fifty acres, and here spent the remainder of his days. During war time he took an active part in securing recruits for the Union army. He was justice of the peace, assessor, notary public, etc. He married Louise, daughter of Echobit Beardsley of Newfield, and they raised seven children: Ann Eliza, Nathan, Frank, died at four ; Margarette, Estira C., Charles E. and Egbert A. (deceased). The father died in June, 1889, and the mother in April, 1892. Our subject was educated in the common and high schools, and remained with his father until he was twenty-one. when he began for himself by operating one of his father's farms, where he remained ten years. He then went to Maryland, but after two years he returned to Lansing and soon after rented a store in East Genoa and engaged in the general mercantile business for two years. He sold and engaged as traveling salesman four years, when he turned his attention again to farming. After his father's death he removed to Groton and followed carpentry for a year, when he purchased a bakery in this place which he conducted two years, then sold in 1893 and purchased the old homestead, on which he now resides. He married first in 1867 Laura A., daughter of Charles Francis of Groton, and they had three chil- dren : Alida M., born in 1870, wife of Alvin B. Teeter of Groton ; Lillie B., born in 1872, wife of John Betts of Groton ; and Charles F., born in 1876. Mrs. Williams died in 1884, and he married second Edith M., daughter of Charles and Mary Ann Fritts of Ludlowville. She was born September 12, 1861. Our subject is an Odd Fellow and a Republican. Mrs. Williams's mother died October 15, 1879. Five months later her father was instantly killed by being caught by a belt and thrown on to a circular saw.

192

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Wade, Edwin R., was born in Sempronius, Cayuga county (now Niles), July 27, 1822, of New England ancestry, the grandfather, Major Amos Wade, having served in a regiment of colonial troops at the battle of Quebec, and fought in the War of the Rev- olution at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was the father of seventeen sons and one daughter. The father of our subject, Ebenezer, studied for the ministry and was one of the earliest advocates of Congregationalism. He removed to Cayuga county in 1810, and continued his ministry till his death, August 16, 1864. He married Hannah Flower, a native of Connecticut, by whom he had ten children. One was scalded to death, an infant, nine reached adult age, and only two-our subject and a sister, Mehitable C. Ammerman of Owasco-are living. Edward R. Wade was educated in the public schools, and has always been an ardent student of Republicanism, but like his ancestors has been a clergyman. He was for two years at Plainville, and at Enfield Centre two years, making his home at McLean. In 1867 he bought the property where the factory was located, and has always made his home here. During the war he worked hard in the recruiting service. In politics he has always been at heart a Republican and has held many offices of honor and trust. He was for two years supervisor of Niles, elected third time and refused to qualify. He was supervisor of the town of Dryden, elected · by the union of the Democrats and Liberal Republicans. He has also served in State and county conventions. Elder Wade has been twice married, first in 1842 to Eliza- beth Forbush, who died one year and ten months later. His second marriage occurred December 5, 1845, to Abigail M. Mosher, and they had one daughter, who married Rev. S. Edwin Koons of La Porte, Iowa. Mrs. Wade is deceased.

Willson, William H., was born in Ithaca, November 12, 1840, the oldest son of seven children of William H. Willson, sr. The father was a native of New York city, born in 1810, and settled in Ithaca, in company with M. Hawkins. He was employed in the manufactory for a few years and then returned to New York, where he remained, and shortly after settled in Ithaca. Here he followed the hatmaker's trade until 1860. That year he went to Lockport where he spent four years, and then to Hornellsville where he was in business for four years, and then spent five years in the same busi- ness ; he then returned to Ithaca, where he spent the balance of his days. He died in August, 1892. In politics a staunch Democrat, he filled the office of town collector. He was a member of the Episcopal church. The mother of our subject, Rachael Ann Bradford, was also a native of New York city. She died in 1887, at seventy-six years of age. The early life of our subject was spent in Ithaca, where he was educated in the common schools and in 1861 went to Lockport, remaining but a year, when he was burned out. From there he went to Buffalo where for four years he acted as a commercial traveler for a wholesale firm. He was five years with a New York firm and then returned to his native town, where he established the hat and fur store, which he has ever since conducted, on the south side of State street. He carries a full line of hats, furs, robes, blankets, trunks, umbrellas, etc. Mr. Willson is a Democrat, and has been a hard worker for his party. He has been appointed member of the Health Board, city collector, and school collector. He has also been a delegate to numerous State conventions and a member of the county committee for fifteen years, of which he has been secretary part of the time. He is a member of the First Presbyterian

193

FAMILY SKETCHES.

church. Mr. Willson owns a summer cottage at McKinneys, where he spends his vacation. He married, July 11, 1860, Ellen M., daughter of the late Joseph C. Burritt, and they have two sons.

Vorhis, F. C., was born in Spencer, Tioga county, August 24, 1861. Andrew C., his father, was a native of Spencer also, where he followed farming until 1877, at which, time he bought the old grist mill at Brookton, and was in partnership with his brother for two years, then from 1879 to 1887 he was sole proprietor. After this he was succeeded by his two sons, the business being conducted under the firm name of Vorhis Brothers. This continued till April 1, 1893. The old mill burning down January 28, 1889, they sold the water dam to Frederick Bates, and he built the new mill now stand- ing on the old site. The firm was afterwards Bates, Vorhis & Company for a year then the Vorhis boys in 1890 bought out Mr. Bates's interest, and since 1893 our sub- ject has conducted the business himself, buying out his brother. The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels of flour each day, fifty barrels of buckwheat in the same time. They will run another mill in connection soon. Mr. Vorhis is a member of the Congregational church, and in politics he is Democratic.

Van Iderstine, James, was born in Caroline February 26, 1826. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked about four years, but being hurt while at his work, he was compelled to give it up, and take up farming. His first purchase was on Bald Hill, near Mott's Corners, now known as Brookton. This he sold and bought his present place of eighty-seven acres, which he devotes to general farming. In 1853 he married Caroline Yaple, daughter of Harris Yaple, and they have had three children : Arthur L., Bertha A., and Cora G., the latter being the only one at home. Mr. Van Iderstine is a member of the Grange and in politics is a Democrat.

Underwood, George E., was born in Groton, September 19, 1842. His father, Isaac Underwood, M.D., was a physician and farmer in the town, raising a family of nine children, and spending his life there, dying at the age of eighty-eight years. George E. was educated in the common schools and finished in the Groton Academy under Professor Baldwin. At the age of twenty-six he married Maru Morris, daughter of Zimri Morris of Lansing. He takes the Republican side in politics, and has served as justice of the peace for the past eleven years. He has taken an active interest in educational and religious matters, having been trustee of his church for the past fifteen years and being prominently identified in advancing the best interests of his town. In 1889 he inherited the farm property known as the Zimri Morris property of sixty acres, and the residence in the village. Our subject is one of the prominent citizens in his village, a man of sterling worth and integrity, who has proven by his life that his word is as good as his bond.

Van Orman, Myron, was born November 1, 1840, was educated in the district schools and finished at the Lancasterian School under Professor D. L. Burt. He is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in school and political matters. His father lived on the same homestead during his life time. He was born May 11, 1811, and died January 29, 1890. Mr. Van Orman has a beautiful farm lying at the foot of Buttermilk Falls, on which he raises large quantities of vegetables and makes a specialty of Havana

194

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

tobacco, which he buys and sells, handling most of the crops raised in his neighbor- hood. Mr. Van Orman's grandfather came to the town of Ithaca about 1790, and first bought a military title from a soldier of the Judge Gere farm, but the title proving faulty, he took a journey to Albany on horseback, and returning home he gave up his first purchase and removed to the east side, taking up the apple trees on the judge's farm, and resetting them on the farm where he spent his life.

Tibbetts, J. Warren, was born in Athens, Pa., August 20, 1843, a son of Dr. Aaron Tibbetts, the leading physician of Danby for over forty years. J. W. was the second son of the family of two children ; Frank E. Tibbetts is a lawyer of Ithaca. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools and at Eastman's Business College at Pough- keepsie. He was not yet eighteen years old when the war broke out, and August 27, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, of the First Cavalry, for three months. He served

his three months and was taken sick and brought home from Alexandria, Va., by Hon. Ezra Cornell. He re-enlisted in 1862 in the 109th New York Regiment, known as General Tracey's, and served till the close of the war. Mr. Tibbetts participated in thirty-one of the leading battles. After his return he engaged with the civil engineer- ing corps that laid out the line of the G. I. and S. Railroad, and the following fall went to Eastman's College. In the fall of 1867 he went to Pond Eddy, Sullivan county, N. Y., where he engaged in the mercantile business, and made his home there twelve years. In 1879 he returned to Ithaca, where he engaged in the manufacture of paints, oils and colors. In 1885 he was elected sheriff of Tompkins county, and is now serving his second term, being elected again in 1891. Mr. Tibbetts married in 1869 Annie L., daughter of Rodman Fuller, a merchant of Pond Eddy. They have two children, Lucy F., a registry clerk in the post-office, and Alice H., student in the Grammar School.

Townsend, Andrew J., was born in the town of Ithaca, March 15, 1843, and was educated in the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he married Mary, daughter of John Scott, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. Mr. Townsend is Democratic in politics, and takes an active interest in educational matters, having been school trustee for two years. He gives his attention chiefly to the milk business, hand- ling about 120 quarts daily. He has a farm of 120 acres, and raises large quantities of grain and hay. His father was born in the town of Ithaca in 1815, and spent his life in this town, keeping a grocery store for a number of years.

Townsend, Jabez B., was born December 25, 1867, educated in the district schools and finished at the old Ithaca Academy. The father and grandfather of our subject were among the early settlers of the town of Ithaca. After leaving school Mr. Town- send bought a milk route in Ithaca, handling about 250 quarts per day. At the age of twenty-one he married Carrie B. Jewell, daughter of John Jewell, of the town of Danby, and they have had one daughter, Norma, aged five years, and one son, Lynn, aged three years. In 1892 Mr. Townsend bought the John Jewell farm of 114 acres, on which he now lives, and which is devoted chiefly to dairying. He is independent in his political views, and was elected collector of the town in 1893.

195

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Titus, C. A., was born in Ovid, Seneca county, May 6, 1856; was educated in the district schools, and finished under Professor Williams at the old Ithaca Academy. He then gave his attention to farming, moving into the town of Ithaca in 1877, and in 1884 he bought the Daniel A. Wood place, which comprises 244 acres, lying about a miles west of the city of Ithaca. This is chiefly a dairy farm, and produces about 300 quarts of milk per day. Mr. Titus is a Republican in his politics, and takes general and intelligent interest in educational and religious matters.

Tyler, Cyrus, was born in Lebanon, Wayne Co., Pa., August 25, 1838, and came to the town of Dryden with his father, Stephen Tyler, in the same year, and now resides on the farm which his father cleared, and which has been in the possession of the fam- ily for the past sixty-one years. Cyrus Tyler laid the foundation of his education in the old log school house, but is pre-eminently a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-four he married Likinda L. Givens, daughter of Samuel Givens, and they are the parents of two children, Irving and Locey. Irving Tyler was a young man of brilliant promise, but was cut off at the age of twenty-four in the prime of young manhood. Mr. Tyler takes the Republican side in politics and has held various offices. He has been a member of the Etna Baptist Church for the past sixteen years. In 1862 he bought the Walter Knapp property of sixty acres; in 1867 he bought the old homestead of forty acres, and in 1869 inherited twenty-five acres of his father's estate, having 125 acres and raising large quantities of hay and potatoes, of which he makes a specialty.

Trew, Samuel W., was born in England, August 24, 1833, and at the age of eleven years he came to Ithaca, where he was educated in the Lancastrian School. He went into Treman's foundry and machine works and became an expert machinist and engineer. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company F, 75th N. Y. Volunteers, and served from August 9, 1861, till November, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. He was shot through the thigh while in service. After returning home he again took up farming in Danby, buying a place of 107 acres, which he later sold and bought a farm of Albert H. Martin, consisting of eighty-two acres, which he now owns. He married at the age of thirty-seven, Anice Aldrich, daughter of Watson Aldrich of Ulysses. His wife died in 1881, and he married second Mary E. Hollister, of Danby. He is a Republican and takes an active interest in politics and educational matters. He is a member of the M. E. church at Danby.

Tailby, John, was born in Lincolnshire, England, October 28, 1841, and came with his parents to this country in 1851, locating near Trumansburgh. He was educated in the common schools, and has always been a farmer. June 30, 1862, he married Helen M. Swartwout, of Perry City, Schuyler county, and they have seven children living : Francis A., William E., Edith A., Mary E., J. Arthur, Georgiana H., and Arlo. William E. married Mary E. Shuler, of Owego; Mary E. married Fred Rappalye, of Farmer, Seneca county, and they have a daughter, Grace T .; Mr. Tailby's father, William, was born at the old homestead in England in 1807 and married Maria Woodward, of his his native place. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters : William, Mary A., John, Edward, William 2d, Charles, George W., Mary A. 2d, Anna M. and Eliza J.

196

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Mr. Tailby died in 1884, and his wife in 1868. Mrs. Tailby's father, Vanardus Swart- out, was born in this county in 1798 and married twice, first Sarah J. Smith by whom he had three children: Addison, Sarah J. and Robert. He married second Mary Jeffery, of his native county, and they had nine children : Augustus J., Vanardus, Gustavus A., Caroline M., Robert, Mary E., Helen M., Julia A., and Cynthia M. Mr. Swartwout died in 1872, and his wife survives, aged eighty-four years. He was a member of the State Assembly several terms, and his father, Robert Swartwout, was a county judge of Schuyler county, and a member of Congress. Mr. Tailby enlisted January 28, 1864, in Company A, 89th N. Y. Volunteers, and was honorably discharged October 12, 1865. He is a member of Truman Post, No. 572 G. A. R., of Trumansburgh.

Townley, Richard, was one of the pioneers of Lansing, having come from New Jersey and settled in the town in 1793, and is remembered as having been among the foremost of the pioneers of the county. One of his nine children was Effingham Town- ley, a native of Lansing, born in 1801 and remembered as a farmer and more particu- larly as a surveyor, in which latter capacity he gained a large acquaintance in the northern part of the county, and was regarded as one of the leading men of the town. His wife was Fanny Bower and they had a large family of children, nine of whom grew to maturity : Sarah, who married Henry Hayes; Charles A., Susan, who married Calvin Van Buskirk; Luther H., Jemima, Effingham, Richard A., Frances, who married Augustus Moe, and Mary. Effingham Townley came to Groton in 1831, and took up his residence where his son, Charles A., now resides. Here he died in the fall of 1867, and his wife in 1876. Charles A. was born February 3, 1823, and has been many years a farmer in the town. December 10, 1856, he married Susan Fulkerson, and five years later occupied the old home farm of his father, where he now resides. They have had ten children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. Townley is recognized as one of the substantial Republicans of Groton (originally he was a Whig), and has frequently been called to fill some of the important town offices. He has been one of the assessors of the town, and is now one of its excise commissioners.

Sutfin, W. E., was born in the town of Dryden, June 4, 1864. His father, W. J. Sutfin, is one of the leading farmers of the town. He was educated in the common schools and graduated from the Cortland Normal School in 1886 and taught school at McLean and other places for two years. In 1889 he bought a half interest in the gen- eral merchandise store of H. W. Roe and is now junior partner in the leading house in his town. At the age of twenty-four he married Nola C. Stone, daughter of A. C. Stone of Freeville. He takes the Republican side in politics and an intelligent interest in educational and religious matters. Mr. Sutfin is a conservative and independent citizen, taking a prominent part in advancing the interests of his town.

Stout, Jonathan, was a native of Bordentown, N. J., born January 18, 1782, and married Mary Buck Allen, who was born June 3, 1786. They settled in Dryden in 1809, and Mr. Stout participated in the war of 1812. Their children were: Charlotte, Andrew, Mary, Furman, Margaret, Abram J., Ellen, Sarah and Allen. Mr. Stout died March 9, 1846. Abram J. was born October 14, 1819, and at the age of nineteen started out to learn the blacksmith trade in Groton, and two years later had a shop of

19%

FAMILY SKETCHES.

his own. In 1846 he went to Lake Ridge, remaining two years, then bought the Ira Riggs farm, east of Groton village, where he has lived continually, with the exception of eight years residence in Cortland. He has acquired a comfortable competency. April 30, 1844, he married Julia Gibbs of Groton, and they have had one child, Jerome W., a young man of much promise, who settled in Michigan, and there died in 1890. During the period preceding the war Mr. Stout was a Democrat but a thorough Abolitionist, and assisted many fugitive slaves who came to him for refuge. Later on he became a Republican, though taking no interest in public affairs. James Gibbs, of Windsor, Conn., settled here about 1815, and became a Baptist clergyman. He married Almena Colgrove of Connecticut, and their children were : Eliza, James, Oliver, Julia, and Norman. James Gibbs was on the frontier service during the war of 1812.

Smith, Henry M., was born in Newfield, December 22, 1828. Joseph Smith, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Tompkins county when quite a young man, taking up a farm, and following this occupation all his life. His son, Henry M., lives on a part of the old homestead. He married Lizzie Pratts of Penn- sylvania, by whom he had seven children. His second wife was Catharine Miller of Pennsylvania, by whom he had five children. Mr. Smith married third, in 1863, Mary A. Singer and they have had three children. He has lost two children, one aged twenty-four and one aged twenty-seven. He has always been engaged in agriculture.

Stewart, Horace S., of Newfield, was born in Meredith, Delaware county, June 15, 1804. Nathan S., his father, moved to Tompkins county in 1811, buying a year later the place, about three miles from Newfield, which then consisted of 118 acres. His wife was Phoebe Tiffany, by whom he had eight children, our subject being the oldest. He has always followed farming and stock raising and handling. He married first in 1830, Calista Barnes, and second, in 1864, Ruth E. Crane, and he has two sons living in Ithaca, his eldest being a wholesale grocer and his youngest being a dealer in butter, who does a thriving business. Mr. Stewart has held the office of road commissioner, and is a prominent member of the M. E. church.

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 109

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