Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 86

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 86

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Clark, Jesse, was a captain in the Revolution and served throughout the war. His devoted wife was with him during much of his army life and two of their children were born in camp. Her name was Sarah Foote, and she was a cousin of that fa- mous statesman, Solomon Foote, United States senator. Soon after the close of the war Captain Clark brought his family and settled near where Groton is situated, and here the pioneer bought 640 acres of land. He built a grist mill on Fall Creek, and was the leading man of the region. His children were: Eli, Cynthia, Sally, Millie,

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Jesse, who became a prominent Seneca county lawyer ; was a Van Buren elector, and was elevated to the supreme bench; John, whose son Solomon has attained fame in the legal profession in Arkansas; Charles, Alma, Tryphena, Ruth, who lives in La Porte, Ind., and who caused to be built the noted Ruth Sabin's Home; Mrs. Sabin, the last of the eleven, died February 28, 1894, aged ninety-two years. Chauncey, who practiced law forty years in Wayne county. The pioneer and his wife both died in Groton. They were generous contributors to all good causes. Charles, son of Jesse, was born in Lee, Mass., in 1803, and was three years of age when the family came to this region. His wife was Sophronia Phelps, daughter of Judge Phelps, of Preble, Cortland county. They had six children: Franklin B., Chauncey, Martin, captain of Co. H, 23d N. Y. Vol Inf., in the late war, a lawyer, who was accidentally killed while returning from the service; Tryphena, Henrietta, who married Erasmus Ball, a cashier of a bank in Indiana; and Baldwin P., a farmer of Groton. Charles was a farmer. He died in 1860 and his wife in 1890. Franklin B. Clark was born in Groton, February 14, 1833, and March 31, 1860, married Jane, daughter of James and Nancy Spence of McLean. They have had children as follows: Helen, Charles M., Frank E., and Irving (both died young), Josephine N., and Irving D. Franklin B. is a farmer and resides on the old homestead, a farm of 172 acres. He is a strong Republican.

Cooper, John A. D., was born in Olive, Ulster county, March 21, 1815. Hisfather, Charles, was a native of Connecticut, who came to Ulster county, and was a nail maker by trade, though he chiefly followed farming. He married Betsey North, by whom he had eight children, Of thesc John was the fifth child. He lived with his parents till nearly the time of his father's death, and married Mandana, daughter of Luther Heath, of Dryden in 1854. He continued to live in a house on the same farm with his father, he buying the place, and later selling his father four acres, where he lived till within a year of his death. Our subject has one child by his first wife, a daughter, who is married and lives in Brookton. His wife died in 1859 and he mar- ried second Mrs. Emily L. Hill, of Candor. He has been a member of the Baptist church for fifty years, and an active worker therein. He is a Republican.

Curtis, David W., was born in Newfield, November 6, 1822. His grandfather, Amasa Curtis, and family moved from Orange county, N. Y., to Newfield in 1816, and settled on the farm where he lived till his death in 1837. David W., the present owner of the homestead, learned the mason's trade, but has chiefly followed farming, owning several farms besides the homestead, in all 675 acres. In 1845 he married Amelia Hine, who came from England with her parents in 1834, settling in Newfield, where her father was a blacksmith and farmer. Mr. Curtis is a Republican, and all the family from the grandparents down have been and are in faith Presbyterians.

Crawford, Alpheus, was born in Ithaca, September 4, 1818. His father, H. B. Crawford, was a native of Hopewell, Orange county, born May 26, 1792, and he was .a harness and boot and shoe maker. He also bought a farm, part of which is now owned by our subject, and in 1817 he married Maria Rowe, of Montgomery, Orange county, by whom he had four children. Of these our subject was the oldest. The latter married, December 22, 1844, Matilda J. Stamp, of Auburn, and they had eight children, one of whom died at the age of thirty-three years. All are married save two, one son, from whom they have not heard in fifteen years, and the oldest

FAMILY SKETCHES.

daughter, who remains with her parents. In politics Mr. Crawford is Democratic. Alpheus Crawford died February 19, 1894.

Cannon, J. D., was born in Connecticut, December 21, 1819. In early life he was employed as clerk in various stores, continuing from the age of sixteen to thirty-six. He then gave up this calling and began farming and speculating in farms, having owned in Cortland, Tompkins and Broome counties no less than twenty-three farms, though he owns at present only the one on which he lives, located near Slaterville Springs, and known as the Boice farm. This consists of fifty acres, which cost him $4,000. In 1847 our subject married Celinda E., daughter of David Hunt, of Towan- da, Pa., and has two daughters living, both married and living near their parents. Mrs. Cannon died September 30, 1890. Mr. Cannon was educated in the common schools of Cannonsville, Delaware county, and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison.

Corcoran, Edward M., was corn in Queens county, Ireland, September 6, 1846, and came to this country in 1863. From Brooklyn, August 18, 1864, he enlisted in Co. M, 13th Heavy Artillery New York Vols., was mustered in at Fort Ringgold, Va., and ordered for duty to Kurrituck, Dismal Swamp, N. C., afterwards to Point of Rocks, Va. This branch of the artillery was attached to the Naval Brigade, doing water guard duty on the rivers in Virginia and North Carolina. They also took part in the operations against Fort Fisher, under Admiral Porter and General Butler in Decem- ber, 1864. After the fall of Richmond they went to that place and conveyed Alex. H. Stephens and Secretary of War Mallory of the Confederacy, to Fortress Monroe, when Mr. Corcoran stood guard over Vice-President Stephens. He afterwards guarded the prisoners surrendered by General Lee at Appomattox, at Newport News, and was honorably discharged July 12, 1865, at Hart's Island. He then went to Penn Yan, Yates county, and learned the machinist's trade, came to Trumansburgh in 1868, and entered the employ of Gregg & Co., where he remained five years. May 12, 1870, he married Elizabeth O'Neil, of Farmer Village, who died on November 30, 1893. Their children, all living, are in number four sons and four daughters: Dora E., Mary E., William H. and Edward B. (twins), Angelo, Margaret, Isabel E., and Jo- seph Hendrick, all live in Trumansburgh except Dora E., who married Daniel J. Egan, of Boston, where they live. Mr. Corcoran is a past commander of Treman Post No. 572 G. A. R., at Trumansburgh, which post he helped to organize, and was the first charter member. During 1872-'73-'74 he was in the employ of the Silsby Steam Fire Engine Mfg. Co., at Seneca Falls, but on account of ill health left their employ. In 1875 he engaged in the grocery business in this town on Main street, where he contin- ues. He and family are members of St. James Catholic church.

Corey, the late Jesse G., was born in Herkimer county in 1805, and came to Groton when a child, where he was educated. He came to Ulysses when a young man and located at Jacksonville, where he carried on farming. He married first Harriet Ford of Jacksonville, by whom he had two children: William, who married Mary Town, of Batavia, and Cordelia, who married Grover J. McLallen, of this town. Mrs. Co- rey died in 1867, and he married second, in 1869, Emily B. Church, of Ovid. He re- tired from active business in 1860 and came to reside in Trumansburgh. Here he died June 16, 1873. Mrs. Corey's father, Asa, was born in Dutchess county in 1786, and married Catherine Hayet, of his native place, and their children were as follows.

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

George, Mary, Emily B., Charles and Jane. Mr. Church died in 1850 and his wife in 1858. Mrs. Corey is the only surviving member of the family.

Crutts, Edwin, was born in Dryden, January 31, 1836. His father, Jacob Crutts, was also born in the county in 1819. The family originally came from New Jersey, the grandfather, Jacob Crutts, being the original settler in 1800. Edwin Crutts was educated in the common schools and finished at the High School in Ithaca under Prof. S. D. Carr. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Ellen Whipple, daugh- ter of Solomon Whipple, of Barton, Tioga county, N. Y., and they have three daugh- ters: Mrs. Alice L. Mix, Misses Emma L. and Ella P. Crutts. In 1891 he inherited part of his father's estate of 175 acres. In 1889 he bought the Henry Sayles property in Varna, also owns in common with his brother three other farms and village property in Varna and the Varna grist mills. Our subject is one of the largest farmers in his town, taking an active interest in educational and religious matters, and is recognized as a man of sterling integrity and worth.

Conger, Corydon W., was born in Ithaca, May 19, 1826, the second of six children of Jonathan and Thankful (Guthrie) Conger. His father was a weaver and farmer, and during the later years of his life a speculator and wool dealer. At the time Cory- don started out on his own business career the father had not the means to give him any substantial assistance, nor has he ever had any such from any source during his many ventures. In 1848 he married Mary Brown, whose father, Deacon Benoni Brown, still survives in a vigor truly wonderful, at the ripe age of ninety-six. Of this union there are three sons: Frank, born in 1849, Jay in 1854, and Benn in 1856. The black Friday of 1857 swept away the savings of nine laborious years, and the fall of values at the end of the war wiped out those of six more, but Mr. Conger is of a nature which does not resign itself to defeat, and in 1867 and 1868 we find him en- gaged in building the five miles of S. C. R. R. which lie in Groton. Having finished this he concluded to enter into what had been his lifelong coveted manner of living, and a store and small stock of goods were bought in 1870. The sons were taken in- to the concern as they became of age, and the unbroken fraternal confidence, busi- ness ability, and irreproachable integrity of the family have made "The Congers" a well known firm, one of the very few strictly cash buyers in Central New York. In. all things they have found able and enthusiastic helpers in the women of the family, Mrs. C. W. Conger, Mrs. Frank Conger (Miss Jennie Conant), Mrs. Jay Conger (Miss Florence Hathaway), and Mrs. Benn Conger (Miss Florence Buck), having acted as bookkeepers or saleswomen for a large share of the time since the marriage of the sons. Earnest attention to firm business has not prevented the Congersfrom taking eager and helpful part in matters of local interest. Mr. Conger gave great help in. originating the Groton Carriage Company and acted as its president until it was an assured succcess. The Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Co. owes its origin and success greatly to this family, who act as members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee; the Crandall Typewriter Co., the Groton Water Works, the new and commodious school building, the several churches, and the Groton fire. companies (one of which calls itself the C. W. Conger Hose Company), have benefited by the public spirit of Mr. Conger and his sons. With all his other numerous duties he has found time to fill the office of president of the Cayuga, Cortland and Tomp- kins County Fire Insurance Co. in a very acceptable manner for several years.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Frazier, Isaac J., was born in New Jersey, October 17, 1813, and with his parents moved in 1817 to Saratoga county, N. Y , where he received his early education in the common schools, which he attended winters and worked on the farm during the summer time. At the age of twenty-seven he opened a store at Dunning's Street Corners, and the same year married Dorothy Ann Usher, of Saratoga county, by whom he had six children. Of these, three survive; Sheldon Fiske Frazier, the son, enlisted in 1862 and served till the close of the war, since which he has been ordained as a minister of the M. E. church. Our subject came to this county in 1845 from Saratoga county, making the journey in a wagon and starting in the spring. The journey was remarkable, as the waters of the Mohawk River, which he was forced to cross, were very high, and the roads almost impassable. He first settled about two miles east of Ithaca, where he remained three years, then in 1848 bought what was known as the Wyatt farm, of seventy-five acres, to which he afterwards added, raising grain, hay and stock, and paying special attention to dairying. He is a Re- publican, and has been a member of the M. E. church since 1839. He is regarded as one of the foremost men of the town.

Fowler, A. H., D. D.S., was born in the town of Ulysses, January 25, 1825, son of Stephen Fowler, a mechanic of that town. The early life of our subject was spent in Trumansburgh, and his first occupation was a short apprenticeship at the tailor's trade. Upon reaching his majority he began the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. Peter Stanbrough, at Farmer Village, where after one year he began the prac- tice of the profession. In the early fifties Dr. Fowler moved to Ithaca, where he be- came a partner with Dr. Ingersoll. The years of 1856-'57 he spent in Europe, en- gaged in Paris at his profession. For eight years he practiced in Ithaca, and in 1866 moved to Rochester, returning to Ithaca in 1813, to resume a practice to which he has ever since devoted his attention. Dr. Fowler is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and also of the I. O. O. F. He married, in 1847, Jane A. Du Mont, of Ovid, who died July 3, 1890, leaving two children: Prof. Fred C. Fowler, of Cornell Uni- versity, and Lida May.

Frost, George W., was born in McDonough, Chenango county, September 23, 1842. The early life of our subject was spent on a farm in his native town. He was educated in the common schools and assisted on a farm until 1863, when he removed to Ithaca, engaging in ornamental gardening, which he followed for six months and then spent one year with Teeter & Hern, of this town. He was also two years with George P. Covert. In 1867, in partnership with William H. Covert, they bought out the business, which they conducted as a firm but four months. Mr. Frost bought out his partner and has ever since conducted the business, winning an enviable reputa- tion as a successful merchant and the leading grocer of this city. He is a staunch Republican, and in 1887 was elected supervisor of the town, and re-elected in 1888 by a greatly increased majority. In 1892 he was elected one of the two supervisors of the city, which office he filled with honor. He has been connected with the First M. E. church for twenty-six years, most of the time being an officer. Mr. Frost mar- ried, in 1869, Martha Ford, of Chenango county, and they have three children: Fran- cis P., a graduate of Cornell University, class of '93, now testing electrical apparatus at the World's Fair; Arthur B., a student, and Mary Grace.

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Francis, Richard, was born in Connecticut, and before the beginning of the present century left his native State with his father's family, and settled in Genoa. In 1800, soon after his marriage, he and his wife came to Groton, where they settled on a sev- enty-five acre tract of land, the tract now forming part of the farm of A. M. Francis. It was on a much traveled thoroughfare, and Richard opened and for many years maintained a public house, which during the war of 1812 was a general rendezvous for the militia, as it was also for the citizens of the community. Richard was ensign of the company organized in the region, all of the members of which were above the average size and height. Mr. Francis was a leading man in the town, and also a successful farmer. He took an active part in public affairs, but devoted his best time to the welfare of his family. He died about 1850, his children being as follows: Ros- well, residing in Virgil, is ninety-one years of age; Clarissa, who is famous for a re- markably retentive memory, married George Fish; Patterson, born in Groton in 1807; Richard, who died in Cortland county; James, who died young; Phoebe, who mar- ried David Whipple; Edwin, who died in Clinton county; Hadley, deceased; Gil- bert, living in Groton; and Charles, deceased. Patterson is remembered as having been an extensive farmer and saw mill operator in this part of the town. He died in 1882, and his wife in 1865. The latter was Julia, daughter of Amos Hart. Their children were Adelia, wife of T. B. Smith, and now deceased; A. Morace, of Groton, and Mary, wife of Nathan Darby. A. Morace was born August 20, 1834, and like his. father, has led the busy life of a farmer and lumberman. He married in 1862, Adelia, daughter of Joseph Fisher, of Dryden, and they have had seven children, five of whom survive. In politics Mr. Francis is a staunch Republican, and one of the lead- ers of his party in the town. He has ever refused office, yet in the party councils his. influence is felt. For four years he was county committeeman from Groton.

Fitch, William Henry, who for the last five years has filled the position of president of the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Co., was a native of Lansing, born Novem- ber 23, 1825. His parents were William R. and Aurelia (Dunning) Fitch, William R. being numbered among the prominent early lawyers of the county, and was one of the county judges several years, and represented the town for five years as supervisor, although he lived the greater part of the time on his farm. In his family were four children, of whom William H. was the youngest. Our subject was brought up on the farm, attended the district schools, and also for two years at the Groton Academy. He continued to live and work on the home farm until 1876, when he came to Groton and for three years engaged in mercantile business, then returning to the farm where he remained seven years. The farm on which he was born has been in the possession of the family since 1817. He then came again to Groton and was elected treasurer of the Bridge Company, which position he held until March 1, 1889, when he was elected its president. Mr. Fitch was originally a Democrat, but following the Van Buren presidential campaign, became identified with the Republican party. In 1872, however, he with may others in this vicinity supported Horace Greeley, returning again to the Republican ranks upon the close of that eventful struggle. For four years Mr. Fitch was justice of the peace of Lansing, and likewise served three terms as supervisor of Groton. In 1856 William H. Fitch married Fanny A., daughter of Deacon Benoni Brown, of which marriage two children, Charles C. and Clara B., have been born.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Fulkerson. Talmadge D., was born in Dryden, December 10, 1846. His father, Burnett C. Fulkerson, was born in Dryden and spent his life of eighty years in Tomp- kins county, in which he was born in 1797. At the age of twenty-two he married Parintha Sutliff, who came to Cayuga in 1804. In 1822 he took a part of his father's farm of seventy-five acres, on which he built himself a house and where his descend- ants reside to the present day. He raised a family of thirteen children, who lived to manhood and womanhood and have been prominently identified in the prosperity and development of the country. T. D. Fulkerson was cducated in the common schools, to which he added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of twenty-four he married Elerene Gaston, and they have one son, Laroy H. He- takes the Republican side in politics and an intelligent interest in church and school matters. Our subject has added to the original estate and is recognized in his town as a practical and successful farmer.

Frear, William, was born in the town of Ulysses, August 15, 1836, the youngest son of Baltus Frear, a native of Poughkeepsie, who came to this county in 1826, and died in 1881. The latter was an active church worker, and assisted in organizing the- Presbyterian church of Trumansburgh, and also the academy there. The early life of our subject was spent on the old homestead farm, and he acquired his education in the Homer and Ithaca Academies. His first occupation was as a farmer in Ulysses, which calling he followed till in 1862. He then went to Elmira and learned the pho- tographer's trade, which he followed in Jamestown and Ithaca till 1884 and then en- gaged in the news and confectionery trade in Ithaca. In 1889 Mr. Frear devised an invention for the manufacture of popcorn balls, and in 1890 established a manufac- tory, which he has since conducted, employing ten hands in his factory and two salesmen on the road. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held office, other than trustee of the village. In 1860 he married Ann A. Hopkins, of Enfield, and they have two children living. Mr. Frear is also a member of Hobasco Lodge No. 716, Eagle Chapter No. 58, and St. Augustine Commandery No. 38.

Ferguson, Isaac P., was born in the town of Dryden, November 3, 1823. His fa- ther, Isaac Ferguson, settled on lot 48 in 1816, and was obliged to draw his wheat to Albany and sell it for fifty cents per bushel to get money to pay his taxes. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, but from force of character has added to this fund by reading and close observation. He was married at the age of thirty-one to Harriet S. Cady, daughter of the Hon. Elias W. Cady, of the town of Dryden. He takes the Democratic side in politics, but has paid the subject no attention. In the year 1846 he went into partnership with the late Hon J. W. Dwight in the mer- cantile business, which he continued for twenty-four years, then going into the coal business, also handling lumber, shingles and fertilizers. He is still engaged in this business. Our subject has through life been prominently identified with the business interests of his town, taking a leading part in advancing its material interests and finding time during his active life to attend to educational matters and the leading events of the day.

French, Edwin C., was born in Dryden, June 13, 1859, and was educated in the Graded Union School of Dryden. At the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Jennie L. Sperry, daughter of Charles J. Sperry. In the year 1879 he went into partnership

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

with his father in the general linc of hardware, and is now a member of the firm of C. French & Son. In 1887 in connection with his brother-in-law, Chas. H. Sperry, he opened a furniture store in the village of Dryden, and in 1892 he opened a branch store in the village of Moravia, and in each town stood at the head of this line in business, carrying the largest, stock and finest goods in this line in each town, their business motto being, " Attention and courtesy to all," and fine goods at a small margin of profit. Under their management they are now doing five times as much buriness as they did in 1887. While leading an active business life, Mr. French finds time to take an active interest in educational and religious matters March 1, 1894, Mr. French sold his interest in the Moravia store to his partner and became the sole proprietor of the Dryden store, and the firm of French & Son, hardware dealers, became E. C. & J. R. French.

Egbert, William Grant, was born on a farm in the town of Danby, December 28, 1868, a son of William L., also a native of Danby, who had three children, our sub- ject being the second son. The wife of William L. was Esther Grant, who is still a resident of Danby, her husband having died in June, 1881. At the age of fourteen William G. went to Syracuse, entering the university there, where he took the mu- sical course. He was a member of the Euterpe Society and was Dr. Schultze's as- sistant for two years as instructor. He then followed concert giving for a year and a half, making seven years in all which he devoted to his studies. He had his first violin at the age of eight years. He comes of a musical family, his mother being a pianist. In 1890 and 1891 our subject visited the European continent, studying in Berlin principally. He was admitted to the Royal Hochschule on first examination, and later became a pupil of Joachim. After this school he studied violin, piano, har- mony, history of music, singing, orchestration and conducting. In June, 1862, he returned and founded the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, having for the first year 125 students, and the second year considerably over 200 students. This institution is fast becoming one of the finest schools of its kind in the country, and will event- ually embrace all of the fine arts. In 1890 Mr. Egbert married Gertrude, daughter of George Walker, a banker of Emporium.

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 86

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