Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 113

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 113

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Nye, Edwin R., was born in Locke, June 7, 1842, the son of Washington and Mary Nve. He was brought up on the farm where he lived until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, then moved to Groton and for the next four years engaged in the livery business. In 1871 he purchased from Doctor Goodyear the large block now known as the Odd Fellows Hall building, the upper portion of which was formerly occupied for public purposes. In 1884 Mr. Nye built the rink in the rear of the block, and in 1892 remodeled it and arranged its interior for an opera house, the opening entertainments being given there in December of that year. After this the Odd Fellows became established occupants of the upper portion of the building on Main street. March 15, 1863, Edwin R. Nye married Alice H., daughter of John Green. Of this marriage seven children have been born.

Nixon, William J., was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 16, 1838, and came to this country in 1856, first locating in New Jersey, and later in the town of Hector, Schuyler county. He was educated in the public schools of this country, and Septem- ber 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 89th N. Y. Volunteers, was wounded in the battle of Antietam, and honorably discharged January 20, 1863. January 20, 1864, he married Rachel A. Smith of Ulysses, and they have had two children, Clara M. and Ina M., the latter dying aged four months. Elias Smith, Mrs. Noxon's father, was born in New Jersey in 1780, coming to this town in 1803, He married Rachel Skinner of his native State, and they had nine children: Charity, Sally, Christopher, James S., Clarissa, Watson A., Susan M., Rachel A., and Minerva P. Mr. Nixon has a deed dating back to May 28, 1818. Elias Smith located on the farm in 1807. Mr. Nixon is a member of Treman Post No. 572 G. A. R .; he is one of the representative men of the town, and also deals in agricultural implements and fertilizers.

Nelson, Robert C., was born in Dryden, December 5, 1819. His father, Robert Nel- son, came from Orange county in 1812 and settled on lot sventy-six. Robert Nelson was educated in the common schools and finished at the select school in Dryden. At the age of thirty he married Louisa Card of this town. In 1849 he bought a farm of John Southworth of 100 acres. Our subject is one of the leading farmers of this town, where he is known as a man of high character and integrity, interested in educational and religious matters and in leading events of the day, and is known as a practical and successful farmer.

McLallen, James G., was born in the town of Ulysses, at Trumansburgh, May 25, 1860, was educated in the public schools of that place, with one year in Cornell Uni- versity, and is by occupation an accountant. September 10, 1884, he married Susic Osborn, of his native place, by whom he had three children : Grover J., Osborn, and Jane. His father, Grover Judson McLallen, was born here, December 11, 1834, and October 14, 1857, lie married Cordelia H. Corey, of the town of Ulysses, and they had three children : Jesse, who died in infancy ; James G. and Ella C. His grandfather,

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James, was born October 12, 1800, and became a merchant here. His great-grand- father, John McLallen, was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., December 25, 1773, and came to Trumansburgh with his brother-in-law, Abner Treman, in 1792. He built the first tavern in this town, Trumansburgh, near the creek, where M. R. Bennett's livery stables are now. It was a log structure. The first postoffice was established in it. He married Mary King, and it is believed on good authority, that this was the first wedding in the town.

Moe, R. Palmer, was born in Groton, September 18, 1824. He was reared on a farm, but during his early life he worked at other occupations. In 1848 he married Harriet, daughter of Lewis Jones of McLean. Mrs. Moe died November 23, 1892. For ten years after his marriage Palmer Moe worked his father's farm, and afterwards spent two years in Allegany county. He then returned to Groton, and bought the Prescott Pierce farm, located south of Groton village, where he now resides. Eugene Benton Moe is a son by adoption of Palmer Moe.

Moe, John, was a native of Connecticut, who moved to Genoa at a very early date, and thence to Lansing. His twelve children were as follows: Robert, Marcus, Mary, James, John, Roderick, Lucas, Anna, Susan, Sally, Hiram and Phoebe. Robert married Lois Knapp and settled in Groton on the farm now owned by his son, R. Augustus Moe. The children of Robert and Lois Moe were as follows: Leonard, Ann who married Sheldon Castle, John who died in 1893, Phoebe who married Prescott Pierce, R. Palmer, of Groton, R. Augustus, of Groton, and Charles, who died aged four years. Robert died in 1869, aged eighty years, and his wife Lois died in 1862. R. Augustus Moe, who purchased from his father, and still occupies, the old homestead farm, was born July 3, 1827, and at the age of twenty-four married Maria, daughter of Daniel Dimon. They had two children, both now deceased. Maria Moe died in 1857, and in 1858 he married second, Atha, daughter of David Stoddard, and of this union there is one child, Florence, wife of Avery Guyon.

Moe, Hiram, was worn in Cayuga county in 1803, and died in Tompkins county in 1849. He was an early physician of the northern part of this county, living for many years in Lansing, where he enjoyed an extensive practice. He was married three times. Erastus C. Moe, remembered as an able medical practitioner in Lansing, Groton and Ithaca, and particularly for his acknowledged skill in surgery, was one of the sons of Dr. Hiram Moe, and was born in Lansing in 1823. He was educated at Groton and Cortland, and studied medicine at Geneva, attending the Geneva Medical College and also the Buffalo Medical College, graduating from the latter. After years of residence and practice at Ludlowville, East Lansing and Groton, Dr. Moe went to Ithaca in 1872, and there he died April 17, 1876. His wife was Polly, daughter of Ebenezer Allen of Lansing, by whom he had two children, Ida, now the wife of Rev. Thomas A. Edwards of Gloucester, Mass. and Hiram G., cashier of the First National Bank of Groton. She died at Ithaca May 17, 1873. Hiram G. Moe was elected cashier of the First National Bank March 14, 1890. His wife, whom he married in May, 1872, was Ella, daughter of Eliphalet Hall, and they have no children. Mr. Moe is prominently identified with the Baptist Church, being one of its board of trustees, and also deacon.

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McAllaster, B. R., was born in Newfield, October 18, 1816. David, his father, was a native of Vermont, who came to this county in 1814. He was a physician and mar- ried Polly Thomas of Vermont, by whom he had five children, our subject being the second. The latter has always been a farmer. He served three years in the Rebellion in the 109th N. Y. Volunteers, under Col. B. F. Tracey, late secretary of the navy, and escaped without a wound. He married Prudence L. Barger of Cayuga county and they had five children : David K., Harriet L., Ellen, Frank and Charles. Harriet and Charles are deceased. Mrs. McAllaster died in March, 1893, aged seventy-three years. Our subject is a member of the G. A. R., Gregg Post. He has held the office of road commissioner seven years, and has been supervisor three terms. In politics he is Republican.

Morgan, Philip, was born in New Jersey in 1823, a son of Enoch, who came from Belvidere, N. J., with his family and settled in the town of Groton sixty years ago, in 1833. Of his family of nine children, only three survive. Enoch was a successful and industrious farmer, and a life of toil was rewarded with a fair competency. Philip was ten years of age when his parents settled here. He was brought up on a farm, and at the age of thirty began his own career, being now the owner of a good eighty-acre farm about three miles east of Groton village. At the age of about forty years Mr. Morgan married Sebra A. Seager. Mr. Morgan is a Democrat in politics.

Meaker, Reuben, was born in the town of Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Pa., March 16, 1823, and was there educated in the district schools, which he attended winters, and to this he has added by reading and observation. He married at the age of twenty, Elsie B., daughter of John Montgomery of Athens, Pa., and they were the parents of eight children, five now living. Our subject is or the Republican side in politics, and also takes an active interest in the educational question as well as religious matters, having been a member of the M. E. Church for fifty-five years. In 1868 he came to the town of Danby, where he bought what was known as the Charles Hill farm of 102 acres, on which he now lives, devoting his attention to the raising of hay, grain and stock. He is one of the solid men of the county, and practical and successful in his work.

Mount, Robert Newton, who for thirty years was well known as a teacher in the public schools of Tompkins aud Cayuga counties, was a native of Groton, born June 10, 1843, a son of William Dye and Eliza Mount, both of the latter being pioneers of Dryden and Groton. Robert N. was brought up to work in his father's tannery and currier shop, and on the farm, and he lived at home until the summer of 1862. Then, on August 9, he enlisted in Company F, 109th N. Y. Volunteers, as a musician, and followed the fortunes of his regiment and the famous Ninth Corps until June 22, 1865, when he was mustered out of service. At Spottsylvania while carrying a stretcher he was disabled for life, though he served with his regiment until it was finally discharged from service. Our subject was educated in the common and select schools, also the Groton Academy. Thus equipped he began a career of teaching that continued for thirty years, and he only retired from that occupation in 1888. He owns a good farm iu the south part of Groton. In 1874 Mr. Mount married Annette, daughter of Nelson

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Morgan, the latter being the son of pioneer Evan Morgan. Robert N. and Annette Mount have one son, Nelson Morgan Mount.

McClure, J. Otis, was born in Ithaca, October 26, 1859, the third son of G. C. McClure. J. Otis was educated in the common schools and Ithaca Academy, and his first occupation was as clerk in the drug store of Gauntlett & Brooks, with whom he remained fourteen years. December 7, 1889, he established a copartnership with John A. Fisher of Ithaca, and bought the drug store on the corner of State and Plain streets, where they have a fine brick store with twenty-five feet front and seventy feet in depth, carrying a full line of drugs and chemicals, patent medicines, toilet articles and stationery. Mr. McClure is a Republican, but not an aspirant for public office. He is a member of Tornado Hook and Ladder Company, joined in 1878, and was first assist- ant one year. He married in January, 1891, Jennie E., daughter of the late Luke V. Maurice, a contractor and builder of Ithaca. They have one daughter.

Merrill, Jason P., was born in Caroline, May 29, 1846, a son of Alvin Merrill, a native of Tioga county, who settled in Tompkins county in 1823. Jason P. is the oldest and only son of seven children, five now living. He was educated in the common schools and in the old Lancasterian school and Ithaca Academy, after leaving which he learned telegraphy, and was the first operative employed by the D. L. & W. Railroad Company in this town. He followed this until 1884, when he was elected justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket, and re-elected in 1888. He was acting recorder of the city from its organization until February, 1893. He was justice of the peace in the town of Caroline from 1875 to 1880. He came to Ithaca in 1880. Judge Merrill began his carreer as an artist at an early age, inheriti g his artistic taste from his grandfather. Although he never took a drawing lesson in his life, his sketches and cartoons have attracted attention throughout the country. He has been offered a position as an artist on the New York World, but preferred to remain in this city. His cartoons show great originality and ingenuity. He married in 1868 Ida L., daughter of Davis Baldwin, of Danby. They have two sons, Lynn, a designer of Stanford's Novelty Works, Ithaca; and Charles, a student of the public school.

Mockford, Richard, was born in Winchester, England, October 13, 1839, where he was educated and learned the trade of a miller. He started for the United States August 1, 1860, landing in New York on the 13th of the same month. He became a merchant in the flour and feed business, also keeping a bakery, and on May 12, 1864, he married Mary Gilbert, formerly of Phelps, Ontario county, and they have had two children : Spencer G., and Ida M. The former died at the age of twenty-one years and eight months, esteemed by all who knew him. The daughter resides at home. Mr. Mockford came to Trumansburgh to reside in 1878, doing a fine business in jewelry and notions.

Marshall, E. H., was born in November 14, 1859, in the town of Enfield, and was educated in the town of Angelica in the district schools, finishing by a course under Porfessor L. C. Foster at the Ithaca High School. March 18, 1886, he married Rose, daughter of Conrad Whitlock, by whom he has two sons. In 1886 he bought the Willis farm of sixty-three acres on which he raises grain and hay, making a spe-

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cialty of tobacco. He takes the Republican side in politics and is actively interested in educational matters, being now trustee of the school in district No. 3. Mr. Marshall is known in his neighborliood as an active, energetic business man of ability.

Morgan, Thomas, who for forty years was the owner and proprietor of the famed " Elm Tree House" at McLean, was the son of William G. and Fanny (White) Morgan and the grandson of pioneer Evan Morgan, who settled in Lansing previous to 1800. In 1843 Thomas Morgan married Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Benton. In 1844 he bought from the Rowley estate the old Groton hotel, which he kept a year then sold. In 1849 he bought the Elm Tree House, enlarged it, and was its owner until the winter of1888-89. Feb. 20, 1890, he died. Daniel W. Rowley was born Sep- tember 11, 1841. When about a year old his father died, and while still a child his mother died, after which he was taken into the family of Thomas Morgan, where he lived for several years, then started out to make his own way in life. For two years he conducted two markets in Cortland, after which he was proprietor of the Elm Tree House in McLean for a little time. After three years on a farm he again kept hotel for three years, this time the Junction House at Freeville. The following eleven years he spent at farming, and in 1889 he came to Groton to live, where he has been very active and successful in business life. He is a Democrat, but has alway declined office. Feb- ruary 26, 1867, he married Ruth, daughter of John P. Hart. They have no children, though in their family lives Mary Hart, a young lady who has been a member of the household since she was an infant. Washington Rowley, father of Daniel W., was born at Lexington, Dutchess county, and came to Virgil at an early day. His wife was Phoebe Benton, by whom he had four children, A. B. Rowley, of Syracuse ; Helen, wife of A J. Pettis; Nathan, who died, aged four years, and Daniel W. About 1840 Washington Rowley went to Groton village and bought and became proprietor of the Groton House. Two years later he died. John P. Hart, father of Mrs. D. W. Rowley, was a son of Amos Hart, and was born January 25, 1816. On December 17, 1840, he married Eliza Boynton, and had eight children, Helen, who died aged twenty-one years ; Ruth, wife of D. W. Rowley; George, of Dryden ; Ada, who died young ; Nancy, who married William De Couders; A. J., of McLean, and Laura, wife of Jerome Fitz. John P. Hart died July 23, 1870, and his wife May 30, 1888.

Mabee, Theodore, was born April 15, 1835, in the village of Ithaca. He was edu- cated in the district schools and at the age of twenty-two he married Rebecca S., daughter of Ira Martin of Danby, by whom he had three sons, one of whom now resides on the homestead place, and assists in carrying on the farm, Our subject is Democratic in politics, taking an intelligent interest in the general events of the day, and is known as a man of high ability. He holds the position of treasurer of the school, and has resided on his present farm of ninety-eight acres for the last five years, moving from a farm in Spencer, of 258 acres, which is now carried on by one of his sons. Mr. Mabee makes a specialty of the dairy and milk business, handling about 200 quarts of milk per day.

Meeks, C. E., was born in the town of Berkshire, October 30, 1864. In his early life he worked at farming, but for the past six years he has been in the butcher business

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in Brookton, for one year working in the Asylum for the Insane, and about a year and a half he was in the Cortland wagon shops. December 18, 1888, he married Susan C. White of the town of Newark, and they have two children, Gertie J. and Edmund. Mr. Meeks is town clerk of Caroline, having been elected on the Democratic ticket.

Mitchell, Frank, was born December 11, 1831, educated in the district schools, and gave his attention to farming with his father, who settled in Tompkins county in 1802, and who helped to erect the first frame house in the city of Ithaca. At the age of twenty-eight Frank M. married Anna A., daughter of Elias Taylor, of Boston Mass., and soon afterwards bought the farm where he now lives. He is a Republican in poli- tics, taking an active interest in educational and religious matters, and keeping well posted on all the events of the day.

Munroe, George E., was born in the town of Dryden, March 7, 1845. His father, William Munroe, came from the Mohawk valley in 1820, and married Catharine, daugh- ter of Marcus Edgecombe, of Cortland. Our subject was educated in the Ithaca Acad- emy, and finished at the Albany Normal School, from which he graduated in 1865. Afterwards he taught school for fifteen years, and then took up the study of law with Milo C. Goodrich. In 1880 he opened a law office, and has followed his profession ever since, having been justice of sessions and local magistrate thirteen years. At the age of twenty-two he married Mary A., daughter of Henry Grant, of Caroline, and they were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, now deceased.

Mabee, Charles C., was born in the town of Danby, August 13, 1850. His father was among the early settlers of the town. He enlisted in the 137th N. Y. Volunteers, and went to the front at once, participating in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania and others, up to the time of Gettysburg, where he was killed. His son, our subject, received his education in the district schools of his town and finished at the Ithaca Academy, under Professor Ginn. After leaving school he returned to the farm, where he now resides. At the age of twenty-four he married Mary E., daughter of Samuel Drew, of Poughkeepsie, and they have one daughter, Fannie E. Mr. Mabee is a Democrat in politics, and has served his town as school trustee for several years. His farm comprises 103 acres of some of the best land in the locality, on which the crops are hay and grain chiefly, and he also raises stock.

Mack, William, was born in the town of Ulysses, November 3, 1832. The father of William was Daniel Mack, a son of Nathaniel, from whom the Mack settlement of the town of Ulysses was named. He conducted a distillery there for many years, and was the owner of what is now the Du Bois farm, which is a mile square. Daniel was a boat builder by trade and died in 1862, aged fifty-four years. William was educated in the common schools, and followed farming until the age of sixteen. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for forty-three years. In 1873 he re- moved to Ithaca, and in 1874 went into partnership with J. S. Granger in the dry goods business, in which he was engaged for three years, then returned to his trade. This he followed till 1893, when he gave it up, and October 1 of that year established the Lyceum Billiard Room on West State street, the place containing six tables, and is

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finely fitted up. He is a Republican in politics, and for three terms was overseer of the poor. He is a member of Sidney Post G. A. R., No. 41, having served three years with the 109th N. Y. Volunteers during the war. In November, 1853, he married Catharine Carr, a native of England, and they have four daughters.

Mosso, C. A., was born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, October 3, 1854, and laid the foundation of his education in the common schools, but is a self-educated and self- made man. At the age of twenty he married Emma Fitts, and they are the parents of three sons : Edd, Louie, and Lee. At an early age our subject evinced a decided mechanical talent, whichi he developed for several years. In 1882 he discovered a pro- cess for tempering steel, revolutionizing the system of 3,000 years. The process has been subjected to the severest tests before the scientific men of the country, and in every case has met the expectations of the inventor. C. A. Mosso is recognized as a citizen of high business ability, taking a prominent part in advancing the best interests of his town.

Manning, David, was born in the town of Ithaca, December 29, 1808, and acquired his early education in the district schools. After receiving the training which the schools of that date afforded he gave his attention to farming, and soon took a promi- nent position in his neighborhood, as a leading and successful farmer. He married Maria, daughter of John Morris of the town Lansing. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and attends the Methodist Church at Varna, to which he contributes largely.

Moran, Frank, one of Lansing's prominent and successful farmers, was born in Genoa, Cayuga county, in 1852, a son of Frank Moran, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his wife, Honora, at the age of about thirty, coming direct to Syra- cuse, where he engaged in the garden and truck business, later being engaged in con- struction work for the railroad, and finally purchasing a small place in North Lansing. They had five children : Thomas, Elnora, Mary, Frank and Margaret. Mr. Moran died at the home of our subject, April 4, 1888, and the widow now lives on the farm with her son. Our subject was educated in the common schools and at the age of twelve began farm work, which he continued twelve years. For the next three years he en- gaged in various enterprises, and went to Kansas, remaining a year, then on account of poor health returned to Lansing and engaged in construction work on the Midland Railroad. This he followed till the road was completed, when he took charge of seven miles of the road lying between North Lansing and Asbury stations, which position he held three years. In 1852 he bought a place of fifty acres, and in 1890 bought another tract of fifty-three acres adjoining, on which he does a general farming business, being also interested in dairying to some extent. His mother and sister Mary live with him, and he has by strict attention to business accumulated a fine property.

Mitchell, John Wilson, is one of Lansing's successful and influential residents. He was born in 1851 on the farm where he now resides, and is the son of John H. Mitchell, a native of Saratoga county, who died in Lake Ridge in 1866. The latter married Chloe M. Wilson of Genoa, who died at her son's residence in 1890. John and Ruth Mitchell, the grandparents, bought this farm in 1831, later a portion of it was owned by an

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uncle of John W., and at his death our subject became possessed of it. The place com- prises 582 acres, and is a fine farm. Mr. Mitchell attended the district schools untilthe age of sixteen, then was obliged to take charge of the farm work at home, his father having died when he was fifteen. The larger portion of his farm he leases, or causes to be worked, not taking an active part in the work himself. He is a Mason, and in politics favors the Republicans. He is one of five children, Emily J., deceased, John Wilson, Edward M., deceased, Theodore, deceased, and Mary L., wife of Thomas J. Bradford of Lake Ridge.

Moss, James H., was born in Sterling, Cayuga county, August 18, 1844. At the age of four years he went with his parents to Chemung county, where he was educated in the common schools and learned the milling business with his father. This he continued till the death of his father in 1881, when his brother, John W., and himself bought the Waterburg mills and engaged in business under the firm name of the Moss Brothers. October 1, 1889, the same was dissolved. September 20, 1888, he married Mrs. Flor- ence A. Parsons, born De Munn, of Ulysses, and they have a daughter, Fannie A. Mrs. Moss had two children by her first marriage : Oscar O. and Aurelia. John, father of James Moss, was born in Braintree, Essex county, Eng., March 16, 1819, and came to this country in 1836, learning milling at Black Rock, near Buffalo. After working in various places he began business on his own account in Sterling, Cayuga county, where he married Emily Ingersoll, by whom he had seven children : John W., James H., Mary, Edward F., Lemon B., Ruth E. and Carrie. He died October 11, 1881, and his wife survives him,

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 113

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