Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 89

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 89

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Hazlitt, William H., was born in Sussex county, N. J., October 2, 1816, and came with his parents to this State when he was seven years old. They first located in Danby and afterwards in Mecklenburg in Schuyler county, where he was educated in the public schools and became one of that county's enterprising farmers. He mar- ried first Elizabeth Johnson, formerly of New Jersey, and second Rachel Atwater, of Trumansburgh. James, father of William H., was born in New Jersey about 1780, and married Mary Branes, by whom he had ten children: John, David, Anna, Mary A., William H., Abram, Sarah, Matilda, James, and one who died young. In 1823 the family came to this State and located as above, being nine days on the journey. James Hazlitt died about 1866 and his wife in 1855. Mrs. Hazlitt's father, Elijah At- water, was born near New Haven, Conn., April 4, 1790, and came with his parents to. this State when a boy. April 3, 1814, he married Sally Hitchcock, of Catharine, Schuyler county, and they had eight children: Caroline D., David, Russell, Sarah L. Lyman, William Y., Rachel O., and Martha M. Mr. Atwater was a leading man in this community, having been member of assembly one term, justice of the peace many years, and filled other offices. He died November 10, 1851, and his wife June 19, 1871. Mr. Hazlitt has been a produce dealer and commission merchant here for twenty years, and is steward and trustee of the M. E. church, of which he and wife are members.

Hedges, Elijah C., deceased, was born in Caroline, February 11, 1838, and was ed- ucated in the district schools. At the age of twenty-four he married Charlotte H. Teeter, daughter of Isaac Teeter, who bore him three children: Mrs. John Elyea, of Danby : Isaac, of Kansas City ; and Lamont, who lives at home. Mr. Hedges was a Democrat

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and took an active interest in educational and religious matters. He had been in fail- ing health for some years, so he left the farm and bought a residence in the town of Ithaca, but failed to recover his health, and passed away in November, 1883. After his death Mrs. Hedges took the management of the farm into her hands, and has achieved a merited success.

Davey, George W., was born in Somersetshire, England, March 6, 1826. He was the youngest of nine children, and came to this country with his parents, John and Elizabeth Davey, in 1830 and settled in Auburn, N. Y. Thence the family moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., in 1831, at which place his father and mother lived to the advanced ages of eighty and sixty-seven years respectively, and his brother John to the age of eighty-two. The only surviving members of the family are George, his sister Eliza- beth, of Marcellus, and his brother Edward, who is a prosperous carriage manufac- turer at Medina, N. Y., now eighty years of age. In 1842 George went to Canada and one year later thence to Newport, N. Y., where he learned the trade of carriage painting. In 1847 he came to Groton to work for Allen & Carpenter, carriage mak- ers. Since that time Mr. Davey has been a resident of Groton village, and has de- voted himself almost continuously to his trade until quite recently. In 1870 he be- came a member of the carriage manufacturing firm of Hicks, Adams & Davey, of Groton. This partnership was dissolved four years later. Mr. Davey was an ardent anti-slavery man, and later found himself at home in the Republican party. August 22, 1849, he married Mary Eliza, daughter of Stephen F. and Lora (Stowell) Barrows, who came from New England in 1824. Mr. Barrows was a farmer and wagon mak- er. He was one of the founders and first deacons of the Congregational Church. He died December 31, 1854, and his wife March 1, 1888. One son and three daugh- ters survived them, Paddock, Mary, Sarah and Wealthea. Mr. and Mrs. Davey have three children: Eva, who married D. H. Naramore, resides in Alexandria, Va. ; Mer- ton L., a contracting carriage trimmer at Whitney's Point, N. Y. ; and Vernon L., superintendent of schools at East Orange, N. J. The latter was educated at the Groton Academy and Cornell University, graduating in 1875; was principal of Gro- ton Union School (formerly Groton Academy) three years, during which time the first graduating course was adopted. He went to East Orange in 1878 as principal of the public school, and has since been elected superintendent of the East Orange schools. G. W. Davey was early identified with the prosperity of Groton. He helped re-establish and maintain Groton Academy, which had been sold at sheriff's sale, and was for many year's a trustee of that institution. He was one of the founders and first trustees of the Groton Rural Cemetery Association. In 1864, while its president, he invented and patented a " Weed Eradicator," which is still used in many places, for clearing walks and avenues of weeds by means of horse power. He is also a stockholder in the National Bank, and one of the charter members of the Groton Iron Bridge Co., and Crandall Typewriter Co., of Groton. He also aided in erecting the Congregational house of worship. Mr. Davey has been a Sunday school worker from his youth, and in recent years has entered heartily into special Sunday school work outside of his own town-organizing town associations in Tompkins county, while president of its county association, and adddressing Sunday schools in this and other counties.

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Duryec, Richard, was born in Schnectady, N. Y., April 26, 1818, and came to the town of Dryden in 1850. Hc received his education in the common schools, but is a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-one he married Rachel Cuykendall, of Skaneateles, who died in 1846, leaving one son, John M. In 1847 he married Eliza, daughter of W. H. Sutfin, and they are the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Mary J. Simons, and Mrs. Aurelia Hanshaw. In 1866 he bought the other in- terest in the Sutfin estate of 115 acres, on which he has built one of the handsomest residences in town. Our subject is one of the substantial men of his town, where he is recognized as a man of sterling worth and integrity, and as a practical and success- ful farmer.

Dorn, Alexander, was born November 8, 1808. He came from Dutchess county about 1825 and settled in the south part of the town, where he lived and reared ten sons, and three daughters, and died in 1876. Wesley Dorn, his son, was born in Danby February 29, 1840; he was educated in the common schools, where he laid the foundation of a solid education, which he has supplemented through life by reading and observation. At the age of twenty-five he married Sarah J., daughter of Ensign Dorn, who died in 1879, leaving two children, one now surviving, Jennie E. Logan. He married second. in 1884, Saloma E. Bogardus, daughter of Calvin Bogardus, of the town of Caroline, and they have one daughter, Mabel E. In 1885 he bought what was known as the Norton farm, having sixty-five acres, where he has built one of the handsomest residences in Danby. Our subject is a conservative, independent man, recognized throughout his town as a practical and successfulfarmer.

Estabrook, Robert C., was born in East Haddam, Conn., April 26, 1810. In his earlier years he was a surveyor and a farmer, living at home with his father, Hobart Estabrook, who settled in Tompkins county, in 1827, in Pony Hollow, the farm con- taining about 500 acres. His father's object in coming here was the sale of a tract of 16,019 acres of land which the school fund of Connecticut had a claim on, and Mr. Estabrook never moved back. Our subject moved from Pony Hollow to Newfield village in 1860, and now has a place of thirty-two acres and lives a retired life. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church; was married, January 5, 1833, to Polly M. Smith, by whom he has had seven children, five surviving. Their golden wedding was celebrated January 5, 1883. Mr. Estabrook is a Republican, and has served his town as assessor and justice of the peace.

Field, Elisha, was born in the town of New Haven, Conn., December 30, 1788, and came with his wife and family to Lansing, Tompkins county, in 1823. He was a far- mer and an ingenious mechanic, and settled in the southern part of Lansing. The descendants of Mr. Field were quite numerous in the county. His children were: Hester Ann, born December 28, 1810; Susan, born January 6, 1813; Elizabeth, born March 18, 1815; Sarah, born April 27, 1817; Alanson, born July 4, 1819; Selden L., born September 11, 1821: Henry M., born October 2, 1824; Samuel B., born January 30, 1827. Elisha Field died in 1864, and his wife about four years later. Susan married James D. Egbert; Elizabeth married Joseph Apgar; Sarah married Buell J. Smith and now lives in Maryland; Alanson maried Maria Terpenning, March 24, 1842, who was a daughter of J. T. Terpenning, formerly of Ulster county; Selden L. married Eliza Personius; Samuel B. married Katherine Tichenor. The descendants of Alanson Field were Elisha; Peter E., a merehant of Binghamton, N. Y .; Mary I.,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

wife of Leroy Jenks, of Groton ; Henry M., of Lansing; Lina L., wife of Edward M. Avery ; Ella J., wife of Charles A. Hart, of McLean ; and Florence J., who died aged two years. Elisha Field, who for more than twenty-seven years has lived in Groton, was born in Lansing, April 1, 1843. He was brought up on a farm and was educated in the common schools of his town and also in the Ithaca Academy. In 1866 he came to Groton and worked as a mechanic for more than eight years in the shops of Perrigo & Avery and Charles Perrigo & Co. For five years Mr. Field was in the mercantile business in Groton, and in 1879 was employed as draftsman by the Groton Bridge Co., with which he has ever since been connected. On May 19, 1868, he married Martha A., daughter of Aaron and Caroline Woodbury. They have two children : Carrie M. and George R., both graduates from Groton Union School; later George R. was employed for three years in the engineering department of the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Co., and now holds a responsible position in the Risdon Iron and Locomotive Works of San Francisco, Cal. Elisha Field was for many years a mem- ber of the Board of Education, and is well known in the municipal affairs of Groton village, having held several of its important offices.

Foster, Luther C., was born in Granville, Bradford county, Pa., the son of the Rev. Peregrine P. Foster, a Baptist minister and farmer. Our subject was educated at Farmington Seminary, Farmington, O. For two winters he taught district schools and then went to Tennessee, where he taught a private school four and a half years, from 1848 to 1853, when he returned to New York State, locating in Elmira. In 1855 he was appointed principal of school No. 1, which position he held for twenty years. When he entered upon his principalship there were only thirty-three pupils in atten- dance; when he left, the attendance was 1,100, including two branch schools under his supervision. In 1875 he was employed to take the position of superintendent of instruction of the public schools of Ithaca, which position he has since held. He at once reorganized the school system, and the Ithaca Academy became the Ithaca High School. In 1886-87 he served a term as president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Mr. Foster is a member of the Masonic fraternity with Fidelity Lodge No. 51 F. & A. M. He married, in 1854, Charlotte Lindsay, of El- mira, and they have six children.

Green, William La Mar, was born in the town of Lock, Cayuga county, in 1840, a son of Wilson and Eunice (Mead) Green, born in Genoa. The grandfather, Willlam, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1789, who canie to Genoa while a young man, with his wife, Susan Fay, and settled on a piece of land, which he cleared. He was the owner of vast tracts of land before his death, which was at the ripe age of ninety, his wife surviving him only a year and a half. Of their nine children, the father of our subject was the oldest. He was a farmer and a speculator in live stock. He had five children, as follows: Amy, who died young ; Althea, wife of M. E. Bower, of Ge- noa; Wilson La Mott (deceased); William L. ; and Watson La Vern, of Lock, who died about 1865. Our subject attended the district schools while young, working on the farm at the same time. At the age of twenty-two he married (in 1862) Almira M., daughter of Isaac and Sally (Osmun) Davis, old residents of Lansing, and they have had two children : Agnes, wife of Bert Mosely, of Genoa; and William L., born in 1874, who resides with his parents. Our subject's mother died in 1878. William L. bought a farm of 110 acres on lot 51 soon after his marriage, where he has ever since lived. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Griswold, Luther, was born August 27, 1822, in the town of Dryden and is a de- scendant of Edward, who settled in the town in 1802 and who received a grant from New York State as a reward for his services in the Revolutionary war, in which he was wounded. He selected lot 39, taking up a section of 640 acres, which embraces the northeast corner of Dryden village, the site of the present church edifices. Chas. Griswold, the father of our subject, was born February 19, 1793, and was killed by the falling of a tree March 19, 1834. His son Luther was educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-six he married Miss Lucy Foote, who passed away in 1862, and in 1863 he married Miss Marietta Mineah, and they have three children, Mrs. Celia Mcclintock, Mrs. Grace L. Goodrich, and Miss Minnnie M. Griswold. Our subject takes the Democratic side in politics since 1872, and has served as su- pervisor from 1861 to 1865, having been assessor for several terms previous. He has been president of the Agricultural Society of Dryden and a director in the Dryden and Groton Fire Insurance Co. Luther Griswold now resides on part of the old homestead, taking possession in 1849, and in 1850 he bought with his brother Leonard part of the John McGraw property of 50 acres. In 1871 he bought the Abram Butts property, having 175 acres, and raising hay, etc., and making a specialty of fine fruits.

Gregory, O. H., was born in Berkshire, Tioga county, October 22, 1818, and came with his parents to this town when an infant. His father, Henry G., was a clerk in the store of General Huntington, at Ithaca, for about six years, then nroved on to the farm of his father-in-law at Owego, where he died in 1824. Our subject was educa- ted in the common schools and lived with his grandfather on the farm until the age of sixteen. In 1834 he located in Ithaca, and was for three years a clerk in the store of L. H. Culver, then went into the employ of his uncle, W. T. Huntington, and had charge of his brewery for seven years. In 1844 he established a restaurant, buying out the interest of Anson Braman, of the firm of Braman & Rice. Rice & Gregory conducted this for several years, and then Mr. Gregory became the sole proprietor. In 1861 he bought a store at 18 East State street, which he fitted up for a restaurant and conducted until 1872, when he sold to the father of George F. Simpson, and since 1872 he has lived a retired life. In 1875 he was elected a director of the Savings Bank, and at the death of Mr. Curran in 1879, Mr. Gregory was elected treasurer of the bank, which position he filled for four and a half years, then resigned on account of ill health. At the election of officers in 1884 he was made vice-president, which place he held to the time of his death. In 1843 our subjeet married Mary L. Martin, of Ithaca. They had no children. On the death of Mr. Curran, who was one of the commissioners on railroad bonding, Mr. Gregory was appointed in his stead, holding that position at the time of his death, which occurred on the 29th day of De- cember, 1893. He was also at the time of his death bonding commissioner of the town, on the Ithaca and Athens Railroad, and the Geneva and Ithaca Railroad, and president of the Board of Paving Commissioners, of the city of Ithaca. Mr. Gregory was a Republican in politics.

Griswold, Benjamin, was born in Dryden, June 14, 1822. Hisfather, Nathan Gris- wold, came from Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1802. Benjamin Griswold was educated in the common schools and finished at the Dryden Academy. At the age of thirty-two he married Laura E. Hurd, daughter of James H. Hurd, of Dryden

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and they have two sons, Harvey D. and Frank, and two daughters, Mrs. Kate Bal- lard, and Miss Anna Griswold. In 1850 he bought part of his father's farm of forty- four aeres. In 1860 he bought forty-four acres of Daniel Griswold, in 1865 he bought twenty-five acres of Layette Sweetland, in 1870 he bought ninety-one acres of his father's farm; from this he sold twenty-seven aeres, leaving 175 acres that he now owns, devoted to raising hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of dairying and fine fruits, and also having a herd of grade Jersey cattle. Our subject is one of the leading farmers in his town, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious matters and in advancing the best interests of his town. He is recognized as a man of high character and sterling integrity, whose life has proven his word to be as good as his bond. His son, Hervey D. Griswold and his wife, who was Miss Fan - nie Sheldon, daughter of Edward Sheldon, are now in India as missionaries of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

Guthrie, William, son of Captain John Guthrie, the pioneer, was born on the old homestead farm (situated in the western part of Groton, now occupied by John G, Cobb), November 26, 1807. He was reared on a farm, and became a hard worker. He lived with his father until his marriage, May 1, 1833, his wife being Diana, daughter of Isaac Brown. They had three children: Olive Lavina, born April 8, 1834, who married Loomis Knapp and died in Groton; John, so named for his grandfather, the pioneer; and William Nelson, born March 13, 1845, enlisted in 1864 in the 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and killed before Petersburg in April, 1865. William Guthrie died November 3, 1846. John Guthrie was born August 19, 1838, and was brought up on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he began work for himself, and March 22, 1863, he married. He then bought the old home farm where he has since resided, and which he has brought into a state of excellent cultivation, the result of much la- bor and good judgment. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie, three of whom are now living; Floy A., wife of Frank Sovocool; John C., and Hattie B. While perhaps not one of the largest farmers of Groton, Mr. Guthrie is none the less enterprising and industrious, and a comfortable home is the result of his efforts. He is a Republican in politics, and the entire family are devoted members of the East Lansing Baptist church.

Genung, Homer, was born in the town of Dryden, November 12, 1854. His father, Benjamin Genung, was also a native of Dryden and is now seventy years of age and a resident of Ithaca. Our subject was educated in Brookton and is a graduate of the Homeopathie Hospital College of Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in March, 1884, and is now in practice at Freeville, where he settled in May, 1884. At the age of thirty-one he was married to Lena B. Stone, daughter of Albert C. Stone, and they are the parents of Albert B. Genung. Our subject isone of the leading men of his town, taking an active part in advancing its best interests and recognized as a conservative and independent citizen. As a practitioner of medicine and surgery, he is ambitious and earnest in his work, and progressive in his views.

George, A. W., was born in the old homestead, August 4, 1834. His father, John George, with two brothers, were among the original settlers in the town, and the residence and farm of ninety acres has been in the family for the past eighty years. A. W. George was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. He takes the Republican side in politics and

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

has been prominently identified in advancing the best interests of his town, having been assessor for six years, postmaster for three years, and justice of the peace for four years, receiving the nomination for the second time from the three parties, and of seven hundred votes received all but three. He was also census enumerator in 1875. At the age of twenty-three he married Ellen Primrose, and they are the pa- rents of two children, Mrs. Edith M. Wright and Elizabeth George. Our subject is recognized throughout his town as a man of sterling worth and integrity and a prac- tical and successful farmer.

George, Japhus, was born in Redwood, town of Alexandria, Jefferson county, February 5, 1846, a son of Benjamin George, a native of Vermont, who was one of the oldest potash burners of those times. He was the father of twelve children, of whom our subject was the youngest. His early life was spent in Jefferson county, and he was educated in the common schools. As soon as he was old enough he went into the glass factory, first as a helper, and then as a gatherer and blower. He re- mained in the Redwood factory till 1877, when he went with the company that started the co-operative works at Blossburg, staying until the next season, when he went to Pittsburgh. In the spring of 1881 he came to Ithaca, and was first employed with Hagany. These works burned, and he became interested in the Washington Works, having ever since been employed in their factory. In 1893 Mr. George, in partner- ship with C. Shorter, of Bernhardt's Bay, patented and built a new annealing oven, which revolutionized the annealing of glass. He is a member of Alexandrian Lodge F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Aurora St. M. E. Church. He was married, February 14, 1867, to Mattie McLona, of Redwood, Jefferson county, and they have two children, Benjamin F., and Mabel. Messrs. George & Shorter have just received a patent of a muffler to protect glass being annealed while in the flattening oven.

Ganoung, William H., was born in Ulysses, October 13, 1827, was educated in the common schools, and learned the carpenter's trade. He followed carpentry and building until 1877, when he became a farmer. In politics he is a good Republican, and has filled the office of road commissioner a great many years. May 18, 1853, he married Eliza Westervelt, of this town, and they have two children: Alice A., and James H., both residing at home. James, father of William H., was born in Dutch- ess county, October 26, 1801, and came here with his parents in 1812. He married . Eliza A. Jarvis, formerly of Long Island, by whom he had five children: William H., Jonathan, Jarvis, Adeline, and Oliver B. Mr. Ganoung died July 24, 1885. His wife was born April 15, 1805, and died November 23, 1890, mourned by a bereaved family. Mrs. Ganoung's father, Isaac Green, died when she was a child. Our sub- ject's grandfather, Jonathan Ganoung, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father was a captain in the State militia.

Griffin, George, was born in Devonshire, England, and came to this country in 1870. He located first in Syracuse, where he worked for a short time at the tailor's trade, which he had learned in his native country. In 1873 he came to Ithaca, being em- ployed by C. F. Blood for ten years, and in 1883 he bought him out and has since been engaged in the business for himself at No 9 N. Tioga street. When he bought the business it was one of the oldest merchant tailoring establishments in the coun- try, having been run over thirty years. Mr. Grffin has advanced with the times and has made a decided increase in the amount of business done. He employs from fif-

FAMILY SKETCHES.

teen to twenty hands, and carries a complete line of foreign and domestic goods, and being a practical tailor has charge of all details connected with the business. Mr. Griffin is a member of the Fidelity Lodge No. 58, St Augustine Commandery No. 38. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mosher, of Cortland county, N. Y.

Graves, Mary Jane Bishop, was born in the village of Ithaca, May 13, 1829, the eldest of five children of Joel and Maria Bishop who were natives of Lansing. They soon, however, removed to Dryden, where Mr. Bishop engaged in the manufacture of guns. He was a son of Dr. James Bishop. Their children, when old enough, were sent to the village school, and Mary at an early age determined to qualify her- self for a teacher. She attended school at Homer Academy and Cazenovia Seminary for several terms, and at the age of sixteen began teaching, receiving for her first term ten shillings per week, with the privilege of "boarding around." After having taught several terms, during which time she gathered, analyzed, and arranged a specimen of each plant in the town of Dryden, she purchased a scholarship, which entitled her to a four-years course of study at Oberlin College, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two she entered the sophomore class and completed the course and graduated in three years. She taught for two years immediately after leaving her alma mater. In the summer of 1857 she married Jackson Graves, a teacher in the Pottsville (Pa.) Union Graded School. During the three years she resided there she read and stud- ied much and and sketched and painted scenes from nature. She and her husband accepted an invitation to open a select school in Dryden, N. Y., in the fall of 1860, and this developed into what was known for ten years as the Dryden Seminary. In the spring of 1861 they bought about three acres of land and erected the building now occupied by the Dryden Union Graded School, and for the next ten years our subject labored in the school room, where she had the happy faculty of inspiring her students to work for their own development, physically. mentally, and spiritually, and never failed to gain the confidence of all who knew her intimately. "Do all the good you can" was her oft-repeated sentiment. The last twenty-one years of her life were spent on the farm in the town of Danby. Her health was not good, but she accomplished more by her industry and energy than most who were blessed with more rugged constitutions. If the way was not open, she devised means to open it. The sick and afflicted among her neighbors were objects of her careful attention, and she often took the place of a "good Samaritan." At the age of fourteen she united with the M. E. church of Dryden, in which she was an active and untiring worker, especially in the Sabbath school. She passed to the other side January 21, 1892; her faith was strong and her hope bright to the last. One of her last utterances was, "I am willing to go whenever my Heavenly Father shall open the way. I have no fear of what we call death. It is only the final separation of soul and body I dread."

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 89

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