Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 116

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 116

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Griswold, Clarence, was born in Spencer, Tioga county, January 28, 1861, and re- ceived his education in the common schools, finishing at the Cortland Normal School. At the age of twenty-two he married Adelaide Glazier, daughter of Joseph A. Glazier

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of Cortland. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have had four children : Earl, Grace, Ina and Iva. In 1890 he bought the Israel Hunting property on lot thirty-nine, comprising 115 acres, on which he raises hay, grain, etc., and makes a specialty of dairying. In politics our subject is a Republican, and has served in various town offices, being always identified with the best interests of the place.

Glenzier, John J., was born near Hesse Cassel, Germany, May 30, 1834, and came to this country in 1854. He learned the cabinetmaker's trade in his native land and followed that trade in New York city until November of that same year. That month he moved to Tompkins county, following his trade in Newfield until March, 1855. He was then employed by Justice Denning, and in 1859 became a partner under the firm name of Denning & Glenzier. This partnership existed until June 1, 1861, and then Mr. Glenzier embarked in the general grocery and provision business. The first store was located on the corner of West State and Westford streets, under the firm name of Glenzier & Kiper. In 1863 Mr. Kiper sold his interest to Samuel D. Sawyer, and the firm of Sawyer & Glenzier has become one of the most popular in the city. Mr. Glenzier is a Democrat in politics, and has held the office of alderman of the First Ward two years, and in 1876 was elected school commissioner of this district, and has held the office ever since. He is a member of the Congregational Church, in which he is a deacon. He is also a member of the Board of Health. He was married in 1865 to Antoinette Kiper, a native of Ludlowville, and they have no children.

Garrett, Charles C., was born in Ithaca, December 2, 1857, and is a son of Gilbert T. Garrett, for many years a boat builder of this town. Charles was educated in the public schools of this city, and after leaving school entered the West End Drug store. He became a competent pharmacist and for a number of years has been the head clerk in White & Burdick's drug store. He is prominent in the different Masonic organiza- tions, and in January, 1893, was made the first assistant engineer of the Ithaca Fire Department.

Gardner, Ira M., was born on a farm in the town of Newfield, January 2, 1819, a son of Thomas S., a native of Newark, N. J., born April 12, 1789. The latter learned the cooper's trade, and in 1812 moved to Tompkins county and took up a farm of sixty- four acres in Newfield, the land being then a wilderness, and Mr. Gardner suf- fered all the hardships of a pioneer in making the place into a horne. His first crops he carried nine miles to the village to be ground, and his first house was a log cabin, his second house being erected in 1835. He married in New Jersey in 1812, Abbey Earl, of Newark, and they had six children, only two now living : Aaron E., of Michi- gan ; and Ira M., our subject. Thomas S. died June 14, 1851. The early life of Ira was spent on the homestead. At the age of seventeen he came to Ithaca to learn the mason's trade with Isaac Randolph, with whom he remained about nine years. In 1845 he began business for himself. and since that time he has built and been employed on many of the moet important buildings of the city. He was the mason for the con- struction of the first two buildings of Cornell and was employed on Sibley College, also the Cascadilla Place, the Baptist Church, the Dunning Block, the Grant Block, Hibbard Block, also being employed in the construction of the Gas Works, the Water

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Works and a large number of fine residences in this city. He is a Republican and was assessor in 1878-79-80. December 3, 1843, he married Mary A., daughter of Samuel Hill, a native of England, who came to this country in 1819 and settled in Ithaca. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have had six children, three now living: Edward T., Mrs. George Pollay, and Emma, widow of Cassius Taber.

George, William F., was born in the town of Alexandria, Jefferson county, February 3, 1861, the oldest son of James J., also a native of that county. Our subject was edu- cated in the public schools of Redwood, and at the age of eighteen went to clerk in the station of the Utica and Black River Railroad at Redwood. Three years later he started to learn the trade of glassmaker, first as helper, then gatherer, and rose to be a journeyman blower in 1884. In 1882 he removed to Ithaca, where he entered the em- ploy of the Ithaca Glass Company, and then spent one season at Monongahela City, since which time he has resided in Ithaca. He is a Democrat, and in 1893 was elected alderman of the Third Ward, which office he now holds. He is the chief preceptor of Local Assembly No. 300, K. of L. In 1882 he married Jennie Pickert of Redwood, and they have five children. In 1883 Mr. George established a store at 51 Hancock street, which he still conducts, the stock consisting of groceries and provisions, bake- stuffs and workingmen's clothes.

Gray, Almon, was born in Connecticut February 19, 1824, and came to Tompkins county in 1851. His father, Rufus Gray, came in 1849 and settled on lot seventy-five. Almon Gray 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 Sarah, daughter of Robert Lawrence of Patterson, Putnam county. In 1886 he bought the Wesley Hurd property of 133 acres, raising hay, grain and stock. Our subject, in connection with his father, has been a prominent contractor and builder, erecting some of the finest buildings in the town. He takes the Republican side in politics, and an active intelli - gent interest in school and church affairs, having been connected with the Ellis Hollow M. E. church for forty years. He takes a prominent part in the events of the town, and is known as a man of sterling worth and high integrity.

Graves, the late Orange S., was born in Delaware county, N. Y., July 4, 1804, and was educated in the public schools, coming to Seneca county with his parents at the age of ten years. September 18, 1842, he married Mrs. Sarah Hopkins of Trumans- burgh, whose maiden name was Pease, and they had three daughters: Julia, now Mrs. Gregory of Ithaca; Frances, now Mrs. Leggett, of Covert; and Laura H., now Mrs. Gillett of Ithaca. Mr. Graves died April 11, 1873. Mrs. Graves's first husband was John S. Hopkins of Ithaca, by whom she had one daughter who died in infancy. Mr. Hopkins died in October, 1841. Sylvanus, father of Orange S. Graves, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Graves moved from Seneca to Trumansburgh about 1850.

Galloup, Ernest G., the enterprising and well known merchant of McLean, was born in Farmer, Seneca county, November 23, 1849. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Galloup, and the second of their five children. Ernest learned the druggist's trade in the store of his uncle at Lodi, with whom he worked three years. In 1871 he

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came to McLean, where he opened a drug store, and in the course of the next five years added teas and coffees and a few groceries, which was followed a few years later by a full line of the latter, together with other merchandise, and for better accon mo- dations moved to his present location in 1880. He also dealt extensively in coal, plas- ter and phosphates, but in 1880 discontinued the latter branch and became a general undertaker and funeral director. Mr. Galloup also handles annually thousands of fence posts. He is one of the trustees of McLean M. E. Church, and for ten years has been superintendent of the Sunday school. In 1873 Mr. Galloup married Miss J. J. King, daughter of B. D. King of Moravia, and they had one child, Bera, who died at the age of nine years. Our subject is interested in local and county affairs and is a strong Republican. He has been delegate to the county conventions and has also served as county committeeman for his town.

Gould, Lotan H., was born in Trumansburgh, December 19, 1850. He was educated in the public schools and Trumansburgh Academy, and in early life assisted in his father's planing mill, and finally succeeded to the business. He is now a contractor and builder, and his business is expanding and prosperous. February 19, 1875 he mar- ried Julia F. Ash, formerly of Fairfield, Conn., and they have two children : Lotan E., and Grace D. Mr. Gould's father, Joseph, was born in Hector, Schuyler county, July 28, 1821, and was a contractor and builder. December 1, 1847, he married Emeline G. Pease of Trumansburgh, and they had one son, Lotan H. Mr. Gould died July 23, 1879, and his wife resides with her son. The grandfather, Abel, was born January 23, 1798, in Greenfield, Conn. Mr. Gould is a member of Trumansburgh Lodge No. 157, F. & A. M. Mr. Gould's grandfather, on his mother's side, Allen Pease, was born in Enfield, Conn., June 18, 1792, and came to this region at an early day. Mr. Gould's great-grandfather, Simeon Pease, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Gale, William, an early settler of Groton, came from Fairfield county, Conn., and married Polly Welch, who bore him these children : John P., Betsey, James, Maria, Peter B., Samuel S. and Hannah. Mrs. Gale died August 16, 1822, in Locke, the family having moved to Cayuga county. The second wife of William was Lydia Smith, by whom he had these children : Zenas S., who died in October, 1883; William W., Mary and Eliza, who died young; Thirza Jane, wife of C. B. Green ; Amelia D., now in Michigan ; Manly P. and Mary E., wife of Daniel McIntosh of Locke. William Gale died April 11, 1850, and his wife March 13, 1872. Manly P., son of William, was born in Groton April 5, 1835, and until sixteen years of age lived on the farm. In 1851 he came to Groton and learned the trade of wagonmaking with B. & J. Williams, and since that time has been connected with this important industry in the village, being now a contractor for certain work in connection with the Groton Carriage Company. His partner is F. B. Sawyer, the firm name being Gale & Swayer. Mr. Gale has served his town in various offices, notably those of trustee and member of the Board of Educa- tion. September 16, 1858, he married Mary M., daughter of David Backus, and they have two children ; Ella and Walter, the latter a clerk in the First National Bank of Groton, and also one of the shoe firm of Stevens & Gale of this village. Ella Gale was educated at the Groton Academy and Union School and graduated from the Cortland Normal School. She taught school for six months on Long Island and for eight and a

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half years in Moravia. In the fall of 1892, as a candidate of the Prohibition party Miss Gale was elected county school commissioner of the second Tompkins county dis- trict, and she qualified and entered on her duties January 1, 1893.

Francis, Gilbert, son of Pioneer Richard Francis, was born in Groton (on Jackson Hill) July 17, 1826, was brought up to farm life and work, and except for a few ternis spent in teaching school, has devoted his whole attention to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-one he began for himself, but the greater part of his his life has been spent on the old home farm. In 1889 Mr. Francis married Lucinda Tyler of Richford, and they have one son, Gilbert Tyler Francis. In politics he is a Republican, and was once elected justice of the peace, but not desiring the office declined to qualify. He is connected with the McLean Universalist Church, and has held the office of trustee therein.

Hall, John L., was born February 10, 1844, in the town of Danby and was educated in the district school, to which he has added by reading and close observation. He mar- ried at the age of twenty-two Fannie M., daughter of Almond Pitts, of East Charles- ton, Tioga county, Pa., by whom he has had two children, a son and a daughter. He is Republican in his political views, and has held the office of school trustee for eight years. In 1868 he bought a farm of 100 acres where he now lives, and on which he raises large quantities of grain, hay and stock. Our subject is known as a conservative man of high principles and as a man who takes a great interest in the welfare of his town, being one of the leading members of the old Farmer's Club, of which he was pre- siding officer for several years.

Fulkerson, Samuel C., was born in West Dryden, July 19, 1823. His father, Chap- man Fulkerson, was born in New Jersey and came to the town of Lansing with the first settlers. He came to Dryden about 1812 and was drafted in the war of that time, but being a married, sent a substitute and taking his own team to draw provisions for the continental army, and assisting in various ways. Samuel C. was educated in the common schools to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-six he married Lucinda Hill, daughter of Joseph Hill, of Dryden, and they are the parents of five children : three sons and two daughters, James, Joseph and Elias and Sarah and Esther. In 1852 he bought the Andrew Hill property of 100 acres, which he exchanged for Wm. Minah's in 1864. In 1871 he bought the R. J. Lany homestead which he now occupies. In 1889 he bought sixty-eight acres of the Oliver Cady estate and be also owns a farm of sixteen acres in Marion, Linn county, Iowa. Our subject is one of the prominent men of his town being recognized as a man of sterling worth and integrity.

Fowler, Eli, deceased, was born near Cayuga Lake in the town of Ulysses, February 22, 1819. He was educated in the schools of that day and was a teacher and farmer. February 12, 1843, he married Mary M. Carman, formerly of Orange county. She came here with her parents when five years of age, and Mr. and Mrs. Fowler had two children : Elizabeth and George H. Miss Fowler lives at home, and the son, who resides at the Falls station, married Flora Wilcox, and has two children. Mr. Fowler died October 6, 1885. Mrs. Fowler's father, John Carman, was born in Orange county,

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and married Bethia Bloomer, of his native county. Ten children were born of this union, as follows : Robert, William, Anna, Haschel, Cornelius, George, Andrew, Mar- tha, Caroline and Mary M. Mr. Carman died about 1867, and his wife the same year. Mr. Carman's father, John C., was a soldier in the Revolution.

Farmer, William E., was born in Steuben county, September 19, 1841, and has lived in Newfield since infancy. He worked at his trade of harnessmaking for ten years, then engaged in the hardware business in 1871, which he has conducted ever since, being the oldest firm on the street, having a very large storc, and carrying everything in the hardware line. In 1868 he married Thirza Westmiller, cf Lansing, and they have two children : Myrtie M. and Maude A. Our subject has served as town clerk for seven years, and has also served on the School Board. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

Fuller, Wilson A., was born in Delaware county, December 1, 1830. He was edu- cated in the public schools, but owing to the death of his father when Wilson was nineteen, he and his mother moved to this section, where he had a variety of occupa- tions, and finally learned the painter's trade, which he followed many years, but for ten years has been a retail grocer. He married, in 1851, S. Antoinette Teed, of Tru- mansburgh, by whom he had one son, Truman R., who resides in New York. Mrs. Fuller died in 1882, and he married second Anna Daley, of Auburn, who died in 1889. In 1861 Mr. Fuller enlisted in Company F, 75th N. Y. Volunteers, and was promoted second sergeant. Through losses in nineteen battles the regiment was consolidated into a battalion, and he was made orderly sergeant. He participated in all the battles and was honorably discharged at the close of the war.

Fish, George, was born in Groton, Conn., in 1798, and at the age of nineteen came to this town, where he married Clarissa, daughter of Richard Francis, a lady noted for her influence for good in the community. Their children were: Harriet and Clarissa, both of whom died young; Hobart, who moved to Wisconsin ; Mary, who married Samuel Crittenden ; Lucinda, who married George H. Mineah; James, who died in 1863; and Edwin. George Fish was an influential man in public affairs and died in 1882, his wife some years later. For several years he was supervisor, poormaster, etc., and was a strong Whig and Republican. On the occasion of the raising of the frame for the mill at La Fayette, Mr. Fish was called upon to christen the building, in accord- ance with the customs of the period. This happened on the day on which the Marquis de La Fayette was at Auburn, and being fired by the spirit of the occasion he named the mill the " La Fayette." Edwin Fish was born in Groton, March 20, 1839, worked on a farm till 1861, and in September of that year enlisted in Company C, 76th Regi- ment, and was promoted to sergeant. He served twenty months and was then dis- charged on account of disabilities contracted at the south. For three years he lived in Iowa, and then returned to this town, where he has lived since. June 1, 1870, he mar- ried Rowena E. Dean, and they have one child, Gilbert Francis Fish.

Fish, Charles H., was born in the town of Enfield, May 4, 1832. He was educated in the public schools and learned the mason's trade, which he has followed most of his life until he retired two years ago. January 5, 1854, he married Lorinda Terry, of

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Trumansburgh, and they have eight children: Lucy C., Lizzie, Cora M., Bertha K., Charles B., Kittie T., Fra and A. De Vere. Lucy C. married George Northrup; Lizzie married Henry Weed, and has one daughter, Lola ; Bertha K. married Arthur D. Stout, of Farmers ; Fra married Charles Voorhees of Elmira, and has two children, Hamilton and George. Mr. Fish's father, John R., was born in Delaware county, April 23, 1805, and married Charlotte Harvey, of Enfield, and had seven children : Lydia, Marinda, Charles H., Reuben H., J. Corey, Rosina and Florence B. In September, 1863, Charles H. enlisted in Company M, 21st N. Y. Calvary, was wounded near Martinsburg, in the Shenandoah Valley, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war.

Freeman, Lyman D., was born in the village of Etna, July 3, 1823. His father, Thomas D. Freeman, was among the early settlers. Our subject was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. After leaving school he learned the trade of carding wool and dressing cloth. But for the past thirty-nine years he has engaged in the business of moving buildings, and his reputation soon became so well established that his services were in demand over the entire county. He is deeply interested in temperance principles and educational and religious matters. In 1869 he bought what was known as the Robt. Mccutcheon prop- erty of thirty-one acres. In 1882 he bought the Michael Van Derhoff property of forty acres. In 1854 he bought a building in Etna of Harvey H. Harris and erected a a fine house, where he now resides. At he age of thirty-seven he married Catherine, Mccutcheon, daughter of Robt. Mccutcheon, and they are the parents of one son, Orria R. Freeman. Our subject is known throughout his town as a man of unswerving integrity, a man whose life has proven his word to be as good as his bond.

Fish, Cary B., was born in the town of Danby, July 28, 1865. John B. Fish, the father of our subject, was also a native of the county, born in Enfield June 11, 1829, and he followed farming nearly all of his life. He died December 16, 1892. He was the father of two sons, Dr. Wilbur G. Fish of Ithaca, and Cary B., our subject. The The boyhood of the latter was spent in Danby and he was educated in the common schools, the Ithaca High School and Cornell University, graduating with the degree LL. D. in the class of 1889. He was with J. A. Ellston for four or five years, and in December, 1892, he opened an office on the second floor of 22 State street, where he has since been in practice. In politics Mr. Fish is a Republican and was clerk of the Board of Supervisors during the years '88 and '89. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Fidelity Lodge, Eagle Chapter, and Ithaca Council, St Augustine Comman- dery and of the Damascus Temple of Rochester. Mr. Fish practiced a year in Denver previous to opening an office here.

Force, Albert W., was born in Bergen county, N. J., April 29, 1834, a son of Edward B. Force, a manufacturer of woolen goods, who died when Albert was sixteen years old. The latter came to Seneca county to serve an apprenticeship at the wagonmaker's trade, which business he followed for seven years, and in 1861 he moved to Trumans- burgh, working at boat building until 1865, and then went into a machine shop, where he remained until 1870, when he moved to Ithaca and filled the position of foreman with the Ithaca Agricultural Works for fifteen years. He has followed various employ-

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ments since that time, spending the last four years in the store of Collins & Johnson. Mr. Force has been prominent among Masons in this county since June, 1855, his initia- tion having been in Farmer Lodge No. 183 in Seneca county. He has passed all the chairs in the Blue Lodge Chapter, Council and Commandery. December 28, 1858, he married Eliza J. Hopkins of Farmer, and they have two children : Edward B. of Water- loo, N. Y., and Anna Force.

Francis, Jonathan, came with his family from Vermont in 1818 and settled in the town of Danby, later removing to Ithaca, where he became a merchant and general trader, but was drowned in 1836 at Kidder's Ferry. Of their seven children, six were born in this county, the oldest, Charles C., being a native of Vermont, born in May, 1818. His early life was spent in assisting his father at his work, but at the age of fifteen he became a boatman, which pursuit he followed more or less until 1848. Dur- ing his young life Mr. Francis had become acquainted with David Stoddard, a pioneer of Groton, hence after the death of Jonathan Francis, and also of his own wife, Charles C. was induced by Mr. Stoddard to become a resident of Groton in 1849, and on May 31 of that year he married Irena Stoddard, by whom he had two children : Maria, wife of Dr, Gibbs; and David W., of Groton. His first wife, whom he married in 1842, was Maria Davenport, by whom he had two children, Orrie A. and Laura. His first wife died in 1848. Mr. Francis, during his long residence in Groton, has been regarded as one of the most enterprising of its citizens. He has never been active in political life, and in his views sides with the Prohibitionists.

French, Mrs. Sarah (Bowker), is a native of Lansing, born in January, 1838, a daughter of Madison and Sallie (Davis) Bowker, also of this town. Mr. Bowker was born March 23, 1808, and when a young man bought the farm of forty acres at Beards- ley Corners (now North Lansing), where he kept hotel for several years, also conduct- ing a grocery store. He had three children : William, deceased; Margaret, wife of John H. Ingersoll, of Iowa; and Sarah, our subject. Mr. Bowker died in 1838, aged thirty years. His wife survived him many years, and died in 1883 at the age of sev- enty-four. John Bowker, grandfather of Mrs. French, was born in Ulster county in 1771, and came to Lansing with his two brothers, Joseph and Noah, bringing their pro- visions on their backs from Owego. They cut and cleared away on the land where they settled, building themselves a log cabin, and when their stock of provisions was exhausted they had to walk to Owego for more. John bought one hundred acres of the State (where A. J. Brink now lives), where he spent the remainder of his days, growing into prominence in his town. He was the first justice and constable in the town of Milton, and was also supervisor. He was twice married. By his second wife, Jerusha Robinson, he had twelve children, and at his death, in 1855, he had 140 child- ren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The great-grandparents of our subject were Silas and Esther (Hubbs) Bowker, of Massachusetts, the former a Revolutionary soldier. The Bowker family is of Welsh ancestry. Sarah Bowker married in 1853, Johnson French, a native of Oswego county, born in 1832, a son of Thomas and Polly (Bull) French, of Canada, and they had two children : Ida, born October 26, 1857, died March 12, 1883; and Edward, born March 14, 1861. Mr. French was a farmer, and the last years of his life went to Pennsylvania to visit the oil regions, where he con-

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tracted a fever. Returning home he died seventeen days later (in February, 1863.) For many years Mrs. French conducted the farin alone, until her son was old enough to assist, and later to take charge of it. In 1886 she bought her sisters' interest in the homestead, and removed to this farm where she and her son have since resided. Mrs. French is a member of the North Lansing Baptist Church, in which she is an active worker.

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 116

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