Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 114

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 114

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Miller, Ephraim, was born in the town of Enfield, September 7, 1845, and was edu- cated in the common schools and at the old academy at Trumansburgh. He has always followed farming. February 14, 1867, he married Minerva E. Sherwood of the town of Ulysses, and they have two daughters, Edith A. and Inez L. Edith married John Belew, a grocery merchant at Sheldrake, Seneca county. Mr. Miller's father, Jonathan L., was born in New Jersey, and came to Enfield with his parents in an early day. He married Cyrene Gould of that town, and they had seven children : Ephraim, Amelia A., now Mrs. Ouderdown of this town; Joshua S., who married Ella Workman of the town of Enfield; Sula E., now Mrs. Balcome, of Hillsdale, Mich., Eva and Ella (twins), Eva, now Mrs Fletcher of Enfield, and Ella, now Mrs. George of Enfield.

Miller, Peter, was born in what is now Monroe county, Pa., in 1821, the son of Andrew Miller, who came to Lansing with his family in 1823, settling on 140 acies in that town, where he spent his life. By his wife, Hannah Snyder, he had fourteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. They are: Mary, deceased, wife of Daniel Leary of Genoa ; John, Andrew, Christian, Melcher, Peter, Simon, Henry, Daniel, Lucy, deceased, wife of Girard Green of Genoa ; Sarah, widow of Henry De Camp of Lansing ; J. J., Lavina, wife of James Tarbell of West Groton; Hannah, widow of David Raynor, of Locke, Cayuga county. The parents died October 12, 1866, and February 14, 1848, respectively. The grandfather of our subject was Christian Miller, of Pennsylvania, who lived to be 112 years old. Peter Miller was reared on the farm, where he remained until his majority, working for his father. He then hired out to his

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father for a year, and then took charge of the place on his own account for eight years, during which he bought a farm of fifty acres in Genoa, Cayuga county, adjoining, on which he moved and began farming. He now owns 112 acres. In 1851 he mar- ried Louisa, daughter of Jacob D. and Susanna (Bowker) Ross, cf Lansing, where she was born October 16, 1832. John Bowker, the pioneer settler in Lansing was her grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children ; Andrew Jacob, born in 1851, who married Frances Johnson, and has one child, Cora ; and Emma, born in 1861, wife of Charles Williams. They have two children : Pearl and Paul. Andrew J. and family live on the farm of our subject, which the son manages for his father. He has at dif- ferent times been engaged in the mercantile world, before settling down to the farm, having resided in Oswego, Auburn, Michigan, etc. Both father and son are Republicans.

McKellar, Duncan, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, December 10, 1814, and came to the United States and settled in Tompkins county in 1839. He bought the Josiah Weeks property of 292 acres, raising hay, grain and stock and making a specialty of dairying. Our subject is one of the leading and substantial farmers in his town, where he is recognized as a man of sterling worth and integrity, whose life has proven his word to be as good as his bond.

Loomis, Simon, was born in the town to Groton, December 7, 1825, educated in the district school, and at an early age learned the trade of mason, also carrying on a farm. In 1866 he moved into the town of Danby and bought what was known as the David Van Inwagen farm of twenty-two acres, which he has made a beautiful place. In 1873 he married Evelyn R. Watkins of Danby, who bore him two daughters and one son. Mr. Loomis is a Republican, and a member of the Congregational church of Danby, and is recognized as a man of sterling worth in his town.

Leary, Frank H., was born in Ithaca, October 3, 1861, son of Cornelius Leary, a coal merchant, who has been a resident of this city for over forty years. Frank was edu- cated at Ithaca High School and Cornell University, graduating from the latter in June. 1882. He began the study of law in 1879 with Perry G. Ellsworth, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1882. He has always been an earnest worker in the Demo- crat party, and was a delegate to the State Convention in 1889. He is the present chairman of the Democrat County Committee. He married, October 26, 1887, Helen I. Brenan of Au Sable Forks, Essex county, and they have two sons.

Little, John, was born July 30, 1812. His father, Robert Little, came from New Jersey in 1810, and was among the earliest settlers in the northeast part of the town of Danby, and in connection with Richard Van Etten bought a wood lot of 114 acres. He was educated in the common schools, but was soon forced to go to work clearing up his father's farm, the country being new. At the age of twenty-eight he married Lydia A. Hedges, who died in 1843, and afterwards Amanda Youngs, and they are the parents of two children. In 1843 he exchanged the old homestead farm with his brother for the farm where he now resides, having sixty acres of some of the best farm land in Danby. His daughter, Cora L., married in 1885, Frank D. Fuller, and they have one son and a daughter, Claude D., and Viola L.

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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Lamberson, Royal V., president of Cayuga Lake Salt Company, whose plant is located on the shore of Cayuga Lake at the mouth of Salmon Creek, and a resident of Ludlowville, was born in Allegany county, January 28, 1856. He is a son of Jere- miah Lamberson, formerly of Fairfield, Herkimer county. He was educated in the common schools until twelve years of age, when he went to Union School at Warsaw, where he remained three years. During his vacations he worked in a planing mill piling headings. At fifteen he entered a store as clerk; three years later went to Chi- cago, Ill., as clerk in a wholesale jewelry store, where he remained three years. One of these years he acted as traveling salesman. He then returned to Wyoming county and embarked in the cheese factory business. This he followed for seven years, at the expiration of which time he was sole proprietor of three factories. The first one he went in debt for. He next interested himself in the salt business, and with other gen- tlemen erected the Pearl Salt Works at Pearl Creek, N. Y., in 1884. Of these works he was superintendent, and five years later sold his interest to his partners. He then spent some time in search of a location for another salt plant. In 1891, in company with Mr. Oliver, he made a careful study of the geological survey and located the pres- ent site. The careful study and good judgment exerted by Mr. Lamberson in locating their present site clearly demonstrates him to be a master in his line. They immedi- ately began operations by sinking their wells and erecting their offices, our subject as president, A. L. White, vice-president, W. W. Clute, secretary and treasurer. He mar- ried, in 1890, Jennie Herrington, of Rochester, N. Y., and they had one child, Jennie Louise, born June, 1892. He is a Republican, is a gentleman of high social standing. His ancestors were of the Mohawk Dutch and early settlers in America.

Lane, Mrs. Eliza, an old, well-known and highly respected lady, is a native of Lansing, born November 19, 1811, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Lowder) Shaver, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania respectively, who came to Lansing about 1809 and set- tled on what is called West Hill, where they reared a family of twelve children, Benja- min, Hannah, Sophia, Eliza, Phoebe, Martha, Lucy, Julia, Irena, Mary, George and Diana, all of whom grew to maturity except Benjamin, who died aged two years Of this large family but three are left, Eliza, Irena, wife of Robert Lane, of Lansing ; Diana, wife of John Van Marter. of Cayuga county. The parents died in 1854 and 1867 respectively. Daniel and Mary Lowder were the grandparents of our subject, on her mother's side. Mrs. Eliza Lane was reared and educated in her native town. She went to Allegany county and lived a year with her sister at the age of seventeen, during which she taught school six months, then returned home and engaged in spin- ning, at which she was an adept. The following year she began to learn the tailor's trade, receiving her board for her work. This trade she followed many years, spinning during the summer and tailoring during the winters. In September, 1831, she married William Lane, a native of Lansing, born September 22, 1810. He was a son of Daniel and Betsey (Robinson) Lane, of Long Island, who came to Lansing at an early date. Mr. Lane was one of thirteen children, and was of an enterprising and energetic nature. In 1832 his father gave him sixty-five acres of land, on which he and his wife settled. They were very prosperous, and Mr. Lane left at his death 525 acres of land. He always took an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his town

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and county. He was a Republican, and was deacon in the Christian Church in Groton for twenty years, and was a man of sterling qualities, kind and generous, and at his death, which occurred March 12, 1877, a host of friends mourned him. Mr. and Mrs. Lane had four children : Delilah, born November 13, 1831, wife of Philip Schafer, of Genoa; Araminta, born June 2, 1838, wife of Leander Durfee, of Lansing ; William Henry, born May 13, 1842; Daniel, born September 2, 1844. William Henry was drowned in the Missouri river on New Year's night in 1886, falling through an air hole while crossing the ice. Mrs. Lane's farm, where she now lives, is conducted by her son-in-law, Mr. Durfee. It consists of 200 acress, and is a well-equipped farm. Por- tions of the original large farm of 525 acres have been set aside at various times and given to her children.

Lormor, Jackson, was born in the town of Dryden, June 20, 1831, and was the son of Thomas Lormor, who came to the town of Dryden in 1812. Jackson Lormor was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-four be married Martha J. Sperry, who passed away in 1863. In 1867 be married Lucy J. Sperry, daughter of Zina B. Sperry, and they are the parents of one son, Z. B. Lormor, who is now a student of elocution and vocal and instrumental music at the New England Conservatory of Music at Bos- ton, Mass. In 1870 he bought the Sperry farm of eighty-two acres, having now 175 acres and raising hay, grain and stock. Our subject takes an active interest in temper- ance, educational and religious principles, and has been school trustee for six years. He is identified with advancing the best interests of his town, where he is recognized as a practical and successful farmer and a man of sterling worth.

Lormor, George W., was born in Newark Valley, Tioga county, January 2, 1840, and came to Dryden village in 1868, and in 1893 bought and exchanged village property for the D. S. Messenger farm of sixty seven acres, raising hay, grain and stock and making a specialty of dairying. George W. Lormor received his education in the com- mon schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-three he married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of William Wilson, and they have one son, Harold W. He takes the Republican side in politics and has held various offices in the town, keeping well posted on the leading questions of the day, and identified in advancing the best interests of his town, where he is recognized as a man of sterling worth and high integrity.

Kerst, John, was born in Halseyville, August 1, 1843. He was educated in the public schools and has been a general merchant since the age of nineteen. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, 6th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. Volunteers, and participated in the following battles : Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Spottslyvania Court House. He was honorably discharged from the hospital at Philadelphia for disability at the close of the war. February 15, 1861, he married Adeline Decker, formerly of Greene county, and they have three children : M. Loraine, Nettie P., and Mabel E. The former married John Jehu of Ludlowville; Nettie P. married Olin Miller of Jacksonville and has one daughter, Elizabeth A. Isaac, father of John Kerst, was born in Berks county, Pa., March 10, 1811, and came to Halseyville in 1835, where he acted as miller for

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Judge Halsey for two years. He then went back to his former home, returning how- ever, after two and a half years, and worked the mill on shares. In 1840 he married Catharine Belknap of this town, and they had eight children : Chauncey, William, John, Clinton, who died in infancy ; Louisa J., Mary, George, and Frank. Mrs. Kerst died February 6, 1885. Isaac Decker, father of Mrs. Kerst, was born in Greene county and married Clarissa Thorpe of Greene county. Their seven children were : Justus, Daniel, Adeline, Frederick, Edwin, Emily L., and Thorpe. Our subject is a member of Sidney Post No. 41, G. A. R. of Ithaca.

King, Frank, was born in the town of Danby, October 13, 1815, and moved into Ithaca township about 1840. He was educated in the district schools and at an early age gave his entire attention to farming, buying several adjoining farms, until he now owns about 300 acres, all in one piece. Mr. King married, at the age of twenty-eight, Mary, daughter of George Everhart of Newfield, and they have five children, three sons and two daughters, now living at home. Mr. King is a Democrat in politics, and is at present serving as assessor, having also been trustee of the school for a number of years. He is a member of the State Street M. E. Church of Ithaca, to which he is a liberal supporter.

King, Charles F., was born in the town of Dryden, February 12, 1837. His father, R. C. King, came from the town of Lansing to Dryden in 1836 and bought farm lot 14, which he afterwards sold and returned to Lansing. Our subject was educated at the Groton Academy. At the age of thirty he was married to Melissa Snyder, daughter of Jeremiah Snyder, and they are the parents of one son, Nolan A., and one daughter, Maggie. He takes the Republican side in politics and is interested in educational and religious matters. In 1872 he bought the James Lormor property, and also the Alvah Carr property of eighty- seven acres, on which he raises large amounts of hay, grain, and stock, making a specialty of dairying. Our subject is a conservative and inde- pendent citizen, and is recognized as a practical and successful farmer.

Krum, Henry S., was born in the town of Caroline, March 12, 1839. He was the oldest of six children, and always remained at home with his parents until his marriage, at which time he moved to his present farm, which is located on the road from Slater- ville Springs to Brookton and consists of sixty acres of fine farming land, for which he paid in 1860, $6,000 in cash. In 1865 he married Mrs. Martha A. Landon, a widow, with one child, four years of age. They have never had any children. Mrs. Krum's daughter is now a teacher in Ithaca. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglass. He has been commissioner of highways for three terms in succession. He is a Mason of Caroline Lodge No 681.

Knapp, Cyrus, was born in Greene county, N. Y., August 17, 1830, and came to the town of Dryden in 1834, with his father, Newcomb Knapp. Cyrus Knapp laid the foundation of his education in the old log school house, but is pre- eminently a self-edu- cated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-eight he married Helen Wilson, daughter of Henry Wilson, and they are the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. In 1860 Newcomb Knapp passed away and Cyrus inherited and purchased the homestead property. In 1874 he bought part of the Tyler estate, and in 1882 he

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bought part of the Thomas Pew farm, having 143 acres on which he raises hay, grain, and stock, making a specialty of dairying and potatoes. Our subject is one of the leading farmers in his town, taking a deep interest in educational and religious mat- ters. He has been assessor in his town for nine years and is a man of sterling integ- rity and high worth.

King, Edmund A., was born in Cayuga county in 1837, a son of Philander King, a native of Genoa, born in 1806. The grandparents, David and Rachel King, were natives of Pennsylvania, coming to Cayuga county about 1800. They had eight chil- dren, Philander being the second. The latter was a farmer, also a practicing physician at Genoa. His wife was Emeline Wightman, by whom he had eight children : David Philander, Edwin A., Louisa, Rachel, Emma, Francis, and Addie. He died in 1889, and his wife in 1892. Edmund A. was reared to farm life, and attended the Ithaca Academy until about twenty-three, when he returned to Genoa in 1861, and engaged in the business of growing fruit. Here he lived until 1880, then bought the farm of 198 acres on which he now lives. He has fifty-three acres of grapes, twenty-four acres of plums, fourteen acres of peaches, four acres of raspberries, and a small portion devoted to general farming. In 1861 he married Mary Jennings, of Genoa, who died in 1869, and in February, 1871, he married Jane Jennings, sister of his first wife. She died in 1884. They had three children : Verne, born in 1872; Edmund A., jr., born in 1875; Mamie E, born in 1877, died in 1884. In 1886 Mr. King married third Mary Benson, of Lansing, by whom he has had two children : Mamie, born in 1887, and Claud, born in 1892. His oldest son conducts a fruit farm in Lansing, his wife being Etta Davis, daughter of Calvin Davis, of West Groton. Mrs. King is a daughter of Charles and Mary Benson.

Jefferson, Theodore T., an old and prominent resident of Lansing, was born in Ulysses in 1828, a son of Benjamin Jefferson, a boatman on Cayuga Lake, who married Betsey Cold, and had four children : Sanford, Clinton, Theodore T., and Marvin. His wife died in 1831, and he married second Sophia Earl, by whom he had four children : Alvira, Emeline, Adaline, and Firman, the latter killed in the Rebellion. Mr. Jefferson died about 1875. Theodore T. came with his parents to Lansing in 1839. He re- niained on the farm until the age of twenty, then engaged as boatman on the canal, be- tween his place and New York city, following this about twelve years. He then re- turned to farming, which he has ever since followed. In 1876 he bought a place of eighty-eight acres to which he has since added, and now owns about 100 acres, the farm sloping towards Cayuga Lake. On this farm the Mormon, Brigham Young, lived in his boyhood days, attending the district school in the neighborhood. In 1848 Mr. Jefferson married Eliza, daughter of George and Margaret (Houtz) Bunnell, and they had three children, John, Frank, and Ida (deceased). Mrs. Jefferson died in 1891. John married Augusta Morey of Lansing, by whom he has one son, Clarence B. Frank was educated in the common schools, and has made his home with his parents. He and his brother bought the old homestead in 1886, and they make grape culture a specialty. In 1878 Frank married Lucy A. King, of Groton. Both Mr. Jefferson and his sons are Democrats.

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Johnson, Frederick D., was born in the town of Ulysses in 1852, a son of Daniel, who was a native of Orange county, born in Newburg in 1818. He bought a tract of land about Taughannock Falls, where he built the first hotel at that resort, and where he made his home, dying in 1885. The mother of our subject, Sarah Lee, was a de- scendant of Jefferson Lee of Revolutionary fame. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of six children, five surviving. Our subject acquired his education in the com- mon schools and the Ithaca Academy, and his first business venture was as proprietor of a general store at Jacksonville, which he conducted three years. In 1879 he came to Ithaca. He was for six months book-keeper for H. B. Tillottson, becoming the proprietor after his failure. For a number of years he conducted this store, then sold out and was engaged with Mr. Reed for four years. January 17, 1893, he became a partner with Sherman Collins in his shoe store on State street, where he is at the present time. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and in 1892 was elected alderman from the Fourth Ward. He is a member of Hobasco Lodge F. & A. M. In 1872 he married Marie S. Follet of Ulysses and they have two daughters.

Johnson, Theron, was born in Virgil January 20, 1847. His father, Philo Johnson, was one of the first settlers in that town. He was educated in the common schools and finished at Harford. At the age of thirty he married Mary Hollister, daughter of Hiram Hollister, and they are the parents of three children, two sons, Frank and Hol- lister, and one daughter, Anna. In 1879 he bought the S. D. Hamblin property of ninety acres, on which he resides, raising hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of dairying. He takes the Republican side in politics and is always identified in ad- vancing the best interests of his town. He is now treasurer of the Dryden and Groton Fire Insurance Company, the treasurer of the Willow Glen Cemetery Association and a director in the Dryden Agricultural Society, and is recognized throughout the town as a conservative and independent citizen and a practical and successful farmer.

Jamison, Jackson, was born in the town of Dryden, May 24, 1824. His father, Thomas Jamison, came from Orange county about 1800 and resided on the Cramer lot which he partially cleared up, but afterwards was dispossessed, and then bought a farm about a mile and a half south. He took part in the War of 1812, going in the place of one of his neighbors who was a married man and had a family to support. Our subject was educated in the common schools, finishing at the Dryden Academy. At the age of thirty he married Miss Sarah A. Lovinor, daughter of Thomas Lovinor. He takes an active interest in temperance principles and in educational and religious matters. In 1860 he bought part of his father's estate of ninety acres, also bought a wood lot on the old homestead farm. In 1867 he built a handsome residence, in which he now lives. He is known as a conservative, independent man, and a practical and successful farmer, making a specialty of fine grade sheep,

Jones, James W., was born March 16, 1826, in the town of Ithaca. He was edu- cated in the district schools and Ithaca Academy under Professors Williams and Carr. After leaving he taught school for six years, then bought a farm, to which he has given his sole attention since. At the age of twenty-eight he married Susan Everhart, daugh- ter of John Everhart of Newfield. He is a Republican in politics, and takes an active

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interest in educational matters, having been trustee for a number of years. He has two sons and four daughters, who are all taking prominent positions in social and business life. Mr. Jones is a practical and successful farmer.

Judson, Stockton B., was born April 6, 1818, in the town of Danby, on the farm where he now lives, and where his father, Joseph, resided before him. The latter came into the town in 1797. Our subject was educated in the district schools, but from force of character and ability soon became one of the leading men of the town. At the age of thirty-eight he married Elizabeth M., daughter of E. L. Hills of Syracuse. Mr. Jud- son is a Republican, and takes an active and intelligent interest in the events of the time. He is the owner of a place of 184 acres, comprising some of the best farming lands in the town, and is a practical and successful farmer.

Jones, Heth T., was born in Ithaca, December 1, 1872, educated in the common schools, and finished at the Ithaca Academy, under Prof. S. D. Carr. Our subject is a Republican and has been inspector of elections for seven successive years, taking an active and intelligent interest in the leading events of the day. Mr. Jones has a farm of 170 acres on which he raises large quantities of grain and hay, the old homestead adjoining being also his property, he having bought the claims of the other heirs on the death of his father in 1887. He is a leading farmer in the neighborhood, and is recog- nized as a man of sound judgment and high ability.

Jenks, Anson L., was born in the town of Caroline, May 9, 1862, a son of D. B. Jenks, a native of Tioga county, who came to this locality in 1843, buying the farm now owned by Anson L. He married, fifty-one years ago, Nancy Lyman of Berkshire, Tioga county, by whom he had four children, our subject being the youngest. The latter has conducted the farm since he was seventeen years of age, his father having been an invalid for twenty-five years. He has made a specialty of raising blooded horses, and his farm is known as the Hillside Stock Farm. He has about forty head of cattle and six Percheron horses. His wife was Mary Blackman of Caroline, and they have one daughter, Anna M., now five years of age. Our subject is a Good Templar, a member of the Grange, and supports the Prohibition party. -

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 114

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