Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 94

Author: Hewett, Waterman Thomas, 1846-1921; Selkreg, John H
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1194

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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

the hills of Caroline, with the good dominie. Those social reforms which came into prominence during his lifetime, temperance and abolition, had, as was fitting, his most earnest advocacy. He proclaimed and talked against the drink evil, when to do so was to run counter to the current of general thought and practice, even among the educated and moral class of that community. And so with slavery; while its apologists had the chief seats in the synagogue, it met with his most unqualified condemnation. While the cause of temperance made great advances during his life, becoming popular instead of being a term of derision, abolition was still a by- word and reproach at the time of his death in 1853. Of his ten children, seven sur- vived him.

Lawrence, Azel, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., December 31, 1822. His father came to Tompkins in 1835. Azel Lawrence was educated in the common schools to which he has added through life by reading and close observation and is pre-emi- nently a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-seven he married Mary A., daughter of Isaac S. Smith, who was a very prominent contractor and builder in the town. They are the parents of one daughter, Mrs. May I. Elston, of Ithaca. In 1855 he bought the Isaac S. Smith farm of 110 acres, raising hay, grain and stock. He takes the Democratic side in politics and an active interest in educa- tional and religious matters. Our subject is one of the leading and substantial men of his town, of conservative character and recognized integrity. He has been a di-, rector in the Dryden and Groton Fire Insurance Company for twelve years, and is identified with the best interests of the town.

Lormor, James, Sr., was born in the town of Dryden, August 4, 1818, and was ed- ucated in the common schools, after leaving which he went to farming, which he has made his life business, being known throughout his town as a successful and practi- cal farmer. At the age of twenty-six he was married to Lorinda Hamblin, who died in 1853 leaving two children, and in 1855 he married Minerva E. Hopkins. They have had four children, three of whom are now living, two sons and one daughter, James E., William H. and Isabella H. Those who have passed away are Margaret C., the eldest, Mary E., and one son, Lee H. In 1862 he bought what was known as the Godfrey property of sixty-five acres; in 1870 he bought the Bradshaw property of seventy acres, and in 1872 he bought the Carpenter place on South Hill of seventy acres, and in 1878 he bought a beautiful residence in the village of Dryden, where he now resides. He also owns a farm in Virgil, Cortland county. Our subject is one of the substantial men of his town, being respected for his energy and ability.

Lormor, Robert H., was born in Dryden June 10, 1845. His father, William Lor- mor, came to the town of Dryden in 1826, and settled at Malloryville, where he bought a farm and remained for thirty-eight years. Robert H. was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. At the age of thirty-one he married Loretta Givens, and they are the parents of one son, A. T. Lormor. In 1885 he bought the Thomas Givens property of 110 acres, raising hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of dairying. Our subject is known throughout his town as a conservative, independent man, taking an intelligent interest in church and school matters, and identified in advancing the best interests of his town.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Lang, John B., was born in Stockport, Columbia county, N. Y., December 22, 1833. When about two years old his parents moved into the State of Massachusetts, town of Great Barrington, where his boyhood days were spent and his education acquired. At the age of seventeen years he was apprenticed to learn the machinist trade at New Hartford, Conn. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he returned to Great Barrington where he worked at his trade for afew months, then accepted a position with the Curtis Calendar Clock Co., of Hartford, Conn., with whom he remained three years in Hartford and one year in New York city. He then went to Pittsfield, Mass., where he remained working at his trade until 1865, when he removed to Ith- aca, and formed a partnership with James S. Reynolds in a general foundry and machine business, under the firm name of Reynolds & Lang, which business has continued ever since. In 1870 the firm commenced the manufacture of steam engines in connection with their other business, and now make the building of engines a spe- cialty. Mr. Lang is a Republican and served the then village of Ithaca four years as trustee. He is now the president of the local board of the Central City Building and Loan Association (of Syracuse, N. Y.), and is a trustee of the First Baptist Church ; also secretary of the East Lawn Cemetery, and a trustee of Y. M. C. A. In 1856 he was made a Mason in Daskam Lodge No. 84, and is now a member of Hobasco Lodge No. 716 this city. Mr. Lang married Frances G. Patterson, of Glastonbury, Conn. Three children have been born to them, of which one, Bessie G., is now liv- ing ; is sixteen years of age, and a student of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music.

Latta, Elmer M., was born August 6, 1829, and educated in Orange county. At the age of twenty-one he came to Candor, where he was employed as foreman on the building of the D. L. & W. R. R., remaining with this company nine years. In 1883 he located in Ithaca, where he has ever since made his home, with the exception of a year and a half spent in Iowa. In 1858 he went into the wood working shop where Mr. Hollister now is, and in 1875 he engaged in the ice business in this town, which he followed thirteen years, and has since been in the shop. Mr. Latta is a Republi- can in politics and has held the office of trustee of the village of Ithaca during the years 1872-73-76-77-78-79. He is a member of the Park Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon and a trustee. He is also a member of the R. A., and a director of the P. C., also of the Y. M. C. A. In 1853 Mr. Latta married Louisa Hollister, of Ithaca, and they had one son, Frank E., born January 1, 1855, and graduated from the "old Ithaca Academy" in June, 1873; he was injured April 1, 1879, by being thrown from his horse, which resulted in his death three days after.

Lane, Jacob, was born in Ulster county, April 3, 1820. His father, Richard Lane, was a native of that county, and moved to Tompkins county when our subject was but six years of age. He married at the age of twenty-five Edie North, of Ulster county, and they had eight children, of whom Jacob was the third. He has always followed farming and lumbering, working at home till the age of twenty-five, when he married Sarah Hoose, a native of Caroline. They had two daughters: Frank A., who married at the age of nineteen a Mr. Charles Regodar; and Mary who married at the age of twenty-one Mr. De Witt Van Etten. Mr. Lane has been twice married ; his present wife was Elrie J. Hollister, of the town of Candor.

Lyon, Marcus, was born in Cayuga county, September 23, 1827. His early life was spent in his native county. He was educated at Yale College, graduating with the

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

class of 1852 and came to Ithaca the same year, where he began the study of law with the late Judge Boardman. He was admitted to the bar in 1854 and in 1856 was elected district attorney by a majority of over 1200, being appointed by the combined vote of a candidate supported by the Democrat and American parties and was re- elected in 1860. Soon after this Judge Lyon removed to the West, resigning his po- sition. Returning he resumed the practice of his profession, and was appointed postmaster in 1869. In 1873 he was elected county judge and twice re-elected, mak- ing twenty-one years he was connected with the judicial bench of this county. He has been prominently identified with the public schools of the county, and served one term as school commissioner for the second district. He is a member of the Ma- sonic order and a Knight Templar. He married in 1855 Susan, daughter of Philip Schuyler, and they have had five children: Philip Schuyler, a graduate of Cornell, was killed in a cable car accident in Chicago June 1, 1890; Lucy is the wife of Walter C. Kerr, of New York; Laura is the wife of Otis L. Williams, New York; Mary lives at home, and Newell is a student in Cornell University.

Lamont, John D., was born in the Highlands of Scotland, July 3, 1834, and came to the United States with his parents in 1843. His father, Peter Lamont, settled in the town of Dryden the same year, coming from Albany to Ithaca by canal boat. Our subject was educated in the common schools and finished at the Cortland Acad- emy, after leaving which he taught school winters and worked on his father's farm summers. At the age of thirty-one he was married to Miss Laura Givens, and they are the parents of one daughter, Miss Emma Lamont. In 1865 he bought what is known as the Ananias Scofield property of fifty acres, to which he afterwards added over seventy-five acres adjoining, making a beautiful farm of 127 acres. He also owns a timber lot bought of A. S. Clarke. In 1878 he erected a handsome residence which he now occupies. He is a Republican and also takes an active interest in ed- ucational and religious matters. Our subject is one of the leading men in his town, being recognized as a conservative, independent citizen and a practical and success- ful farmer.

Lewis, Lorenzo, was born in Harford, Cortland county, July 11, 1834. The family came from Vermont and settled in Cortland county. Lorenzo Lewis was educated in the common schools, but is pre-eminently a self-made and self-educated man. He bought his time when fourteen years old, giving his father $50, and came to Tomp- kins and hired out to Deacon John Tyler. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Harriet C. Hair, daughter of Joseph Hair, who passed away in 1882, and in 1889 he married Miss Clara Mespell, and they have one son, Ernest W. Lewis, and two daughters, Mrs. Nellie Colton and Grace C. Lewis. In 1854 he bought part of the Deacon Tyler farm, and in 1859 he bought the balance of the Tyler estate. In 1862 he bought part of the Olivia Tyler farm, and in 1863 he bought part of the Wm. Hubbell farm, having 122 acres, raising hay, grain and stock, and making a specialty of dairying. Our subject is one of the leading farmers in his town, identi- fied with the best interests of his town and keeping abreast of the times.

Luckey, Henry, was born in Poughkeepsie, November 12, 1831, and came here with his parents when an infant. He was educated in the common schools, with two years at Ithaca Academy, and has always followed farming. Feburary 16, 1853, he mar- ried Susan, daughter of James Colegrove, of Ulysses, and they have one daughter,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Marietta, who married Jay C. Mott, of this town, and has two children: Mabel L. and Homer C. Robert T., father of our subject, was born in Dutchess county at the old homestead September 17, 1807. He was a well educated man, and November 12, 1829, married Barbara Du Bois, of his native town, a lady of French Huguenot na- tivity. They had one son, Henry, as noted above. He died January 1, 1839, and his widow married second William Willis, of Enfield. She died August 29, 1875. Mrs. Luckey's father, James Colegrove, was born June 22, 1806, and August 19, 1827, he married Maria Vann, who was born near New Brunswick, N. J., September 14, 1805. They had ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity: Caroline, John, Susan, and Samuel (twins), Louisa, David, and Eleanor A. Mrs. Luckey's grandfather, Samuel Vann, lived to the age of 105 years. An ancestor of Mr. Luckey was a soldier in the Revolution, and our subject owns the musket he earried in that war, together with many interesting heirlooms of the family.

Lupton, G. M., was born in the town of Dryden, August 15, 1827. His father, Nathan Lupton, came from Orange county, N. Y., about 1800 and was one of the first settlers in the town. Our subject was educated in the common schools and fin- ished at the Dryden Academy and afterwards returned to his father's farm. At the age of twenty-seven he married Caroline Weaver, daughter of Henry B. Weaver, and they are the parents of four children, three sons: Henry B., Seward G., and Ed- ward B. and one daughter, Hattie M. At the death of his father, which occurred in 1864, he inherited the Lupton homestead of 250 acres, where he now resides. In 1870 he bought what was known as the Platt Knickerbocker property of 100 acres, having 350 acres of some of the best farming land in the town. He takes the Dem- ocratic side in politics and an intelligent interest in educational and religious matters. Our subject is one of the largest farmers in his town, where he is recognized as prac- tical and successful.

Lormore, James C., was born in Newark Valley, Tioga county, N. Y., April 22. 1842, and edueated here in the common schools and finished at the Dryden High School. His father, Thomas Lormore, eame to the town of Virgil in 1857 and pur- chased the Tyler farm of one hundred acres. In 1866 he bought the Amos Lewis place to which he removed. Our subject enlisted Mareh 17, 1862, in Co. I, Seward's Infantry, N. Y. Volunteers, and served in Burnside's expedition into North Carolina, South Mountain and Antietam, Burnside's march from Maryland to Fredericksburg, and was also at the bombardments of Forts Sumter and Wagner. He went up the Shenandoah Valley with Sheridan. December 25, 1864, he left for Washington and wes incorporated in Gen. U. S. Grant's army lying between the James and Appo- mattox Rivers. He received an honorable discharge April 17, 1865. On returning home he was married to Ella Tanner, daughter of Barnham S. Tanner, of Dryden and they are the parents of one son, Eugene Lormore. He takes the Republican side in politics, and has served his town as street commissioner, overseer of the poor, etc. In the spring of 1893 he opened a ready-made clothing and gent's furnishing store, in Dryden, in which line he is the leading merchant in his town.

Luther, Orson, was born in Groton, January 1, 1833. His father, Philip Luther, eame from Dutchess county in 1802 when he was nineteen years of age. Orson Lu- ther was educated in the common sehools, to which he has added by reading and close observation. He lived on his father's farm until he was twenty-one, and then

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

married Miss Mary L. Sherwood, daughter of William Sherwood, of Varna. He left the homestead farm in 1859 and moved to Varna, living there six years, and in 1867 bought the Red Mills of Freeville, which he remodeled and soon established a well deserved reputation throughout the town and county, and remained there fifteen years. In 1881 he sold the mill and moved into the village of Freeville, where he has taken a prominent part in advancing its best interests, being president of the village. He has filled the offices of road commissioner and assessor. He is Democratic in politics, and the town being strongly Republican indicates the standing of our sub- ject, a man who deserves and retains the respect of all with whom he comes in con- tact.

Lormor, Andrew W., was born in the town of Dryden, July 7, 1835. His father, Thomas Lormor, came to the county in 1812 and in 1815 bought the property of John Lawrence, of New York city, consisting of 106 acres, where his son now resides. Thomas Lormor died in 1874 at the age of eighty-two years, a man of ability and strict integrity. Andrew W. Lormor was educated in the common schools and is a self-educated and self-made man. At the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Har- riet Ford, daughter of Major Ford, of Peruville, Tompkins county. They have three children, one son, Thomas M., and two daughters, Mrs. Ernest W. Hanford, of Ith- aca, and Miss Nellie Lormor. He takes a decided interest in temperance principles, and also in educational and religious matters. He is a practical and successful far- mer, making a specialty of dairying.

Lathrop, Joseph A., was born in Cayuga county, February 8, 1853, and came to Tompkins in 1893. In 1892 he bought the Daniel Bills farm of sixty-eight acres, on which he makes a specialty of dairying, running a De Laval cream and milk separa- tor and a Babcock milk tester, and has just built a model dairy room, and produces fancy Jersey butter from a pure Jersey herd. At the age of thirty-six he married Jennie, daughter of John W. Burr, of Dryden, and they are the parents of one son, Fred B. Our subject is one of the most progressive and intelligent farmers of his town, taking an active part in advancing its best interests.

Landon, Albert H., was born in Brookton, May 14, 1856. In early life he followed farming with his father, Sextus B. Landon, and at the age of eighteen started for himself, learning the trade of millwright, at which he worked for seventeen years. He has built a fine residence in Brookton, and on October 1, 1892, he married Cora B. Ault, daughter of Freeman Ault, of Elmira, the wedding taking place in his own home. Mr. Landon has never aspired to political office, but is a Republican in politics.

Lamont, A. B., was born in the town of Dryden, October 16, 1855. His father, A. B. Lamont, was also born in the town of Dryden, March 10, 1830. He spent his life as a farmer, where his son now resides. The family originally came from Edin- burgh, Scotland. Our subject was educated in the common schools and finished at the Union School, of Moravia At the age of eighteen he married Alice M. Hubbard, daughter of W. B. Hubbard, and they are the parents of three children, two sons, Lee H., and Chas T., and one daughter, Louise P. Lamont. He takes the Demo- cratic side in politics, and an active interest in school and church matters. He is one of the prominent farmers of his vicinity, having 200 acres of fine farm land, and raising large quantities of hay, grain and stock. The family inherit from their

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Scotch ancestry the trait of thrift, and are known as conservative and independent mmen.

Luce, George N., was born in Lansing, October 20, 1839, the son of Israel Luce, also of this town, who was born in 1802, and was a millwright and carpenter. The latter was a prominent man in the town, and held various offices of trust. He was also colonel in the State militia. He married first Lemira Comfort, by whom he had these children: Emeline, who died young, Eleanor (deceased), James, Catharine (de- ceased), Warren, Sarah and Franklin. Franklin was a soldier and died in Libby prison. He married second Catharine, a sister of his first wife, and they had these children : Matilda, George N., Mary, Martha, Chauncey, Emma and Willis. Israel died in 1883, and his wife in 1893. He was a son of Franklin Luce, one of the pioneer settlers of this town. George N. Luce was educated in the common schools, and remained on the farm until the age of twenty-seven, when he began for himself, and in 1871 he bought the place of seventy-five acres on which he has since lived. In 1866 he married Rebecca M. Teeter. Mrs. Luce's mother died September 19, 1891, at the age of seventy-six years, mourned by all who knew her. Our subject and wife have had five children: Hattie E., born October 6, 1867, wife of Alson E. Buck, of Lansing ; Maggie M., born May 31, 1874, died young; Frank, born May 11, 1878, died in in- fancy; George R., born April 23, 1883; and William A., born November 14, 1885. Mr. Luce is a Prohibitionist in politics, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

The first Le Barre came to this country from France in the year 1730. He was a French Huguenot, and came over with others during the reign of Louis XIV. He lived to be one hundred and five years old. As he settled near Philadelphia, his chil - dren married mostly among the Germans and Hollanders. He had one son and one grandson who lived to be over one hundred years old. One of his descendants, George La Barre, married one Catherine Bloom, who moved from Pennsylvania to Tompkins county with a family of six boys and one girl. After living here several years he returned, with all of his family except two (Abraham and John) to the vicin- ity of Williamsport, Pa. Abraham, who married (before coming to this county) one Anna Christina Stribi, left seven boys and three girls, of whom there are four living in the town of Lansing at the present time, viz., Jesse, Henry and James Le Barre, and Catherine Le Barre-Fish. Of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren there are seventy-five: nearly all residing in this county. John married Jane McGowan and left one son, Wm. Le Barre, who still resides in Lansing. Caleb B. was born in Lansing August 15, 1839, the son of Elijah, of Lansing, born in 1809, who was the son of Abraham Le Barre, the first settler by that name in Lansing. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Elijah married Amanda, daughter of Richard and Lydia Man- ning, of Ithaca. They reared six children: Ira, who died while young; Caleb B., Johanna, wife of Warren Miller, of Farmer, Seneca county; Amy, deceased wife of Charles Price, of Ithaca; Richard V., Lydia, wife of Theron Manning, of Ithaca. Our subject was reared to farm life, and attended the district schools until the age of fifteen, then entered the Ithaca Academy. About 1867 he, with his brother Richard, bought a farm in Dryden, which they traded some time later, and finally our subject bought the place where he now resides, aud is engaged in mixed farming and dairy- ing, having for nine years sold milk at retail in Ithaca, selling now at wholesale.

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

May 31, 1859, he married Helen, daughter of Joseph and Letitia Iredell, of Jackson- ville, N. Y., born March 6, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Le Barre have had two children : Allen E., born July 28, 1860; and Myron, born January 4, 1863. Our subject and wife are members of the Grange at Ithaca, and Mr. Le Barre is a Democrat in poli- tics. Allen E. married Laura Welch, by whom he has two children: Nellie and Her- bert; Myron married Susan Bennett, by whom he has two children, Harry and Willie.

Kirby, Jonas W., was born in Northamptonshire, England, October 8, 1828, and came to the United States at the age of sixteen, locating in the town of Caroline, and moving two months later to Ulysses. February 18, 1854, he married Martha E. Richardson, formerly of Connecticut, and they have one adopted son, Christopher M., who is a stenographer in the Fisheries Department at Washington, D. C., and is studying in the Columbia Law School of that place. Mr. Kirby's father, Thomas, was born at the old homestead in England in 1806, and married Rachel Welch, of Cas- grove, that shire, by whom he had four children: Jonas W., Reuben, Thomas and Robert. The family, except Jonas W., landed at Ithaca May 15, 1842. He died May 31, 1887, and his wife May 15, 1841. Mrs. Kirby's father, William Richardson, married Esther Barnes, of the town of Canaan, Conn., and they had six children ; Polly, Gilbert, Edward, Huldah, William and Martha E. Mrs. Kirby's mother died when the daughter was six years old. The latter lived in Dutchess county four years then came to Ulysses with Jacob Arnold, in November, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kirby were residents of the town of Caroline eleven years. He is a member of Tru- mansburgh Lodge No. 157 F. & A. M., also of Fidelity Chapter No. 77, R. A. M. and of St. Augustine Commandery of Ithaca No. 38. He has served as assessor fifteen years.

Kyle, Edmond H., M. D., was born near Pittsburg, Pa., September 27, 1848. He was educated in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, after tak- ing a private preparatory course. His degree was granted from the university in 1876, and he immediately located in Havana, where he remained but a short time and then removed to Enfield, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until Sep- tember 11, 1882, the date of his coming to Ithaca. The doctor has now an enviable reputation as a successful practitioner, and has a host of friends. He was for thrce years coroner of the county. He married in 1873 Ida A. Rice, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had four children. She died July 20, 1891.

King, Sylvester, was born in Ulysses near Willow Creek, December 1, 1826, and was educated in the schools of that day, following farming. November 17, 1849, he married Rachel King, of Greenwood, Steuben county, and they have one daughter, Addie A., who married Edward P. Boughton, of Trumansburgh, and their four chil- dren are: Harry M., Arthur E., Edward P., and Rachel K. Mr. King's father, John, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1792, and came here at an early day. He married Elizabeth Genong, of Chenangocounty, and they had ten children who grew to maturity: Jehiel, Lucy, Judah, Hiram, Orrin, Sylvester, Aaron, Orsemus, Judson and Adonirum. They came to reside in this county about 1814, where his father died in 1875 and his wife about 1870. Mrs. King's father, Jeremiah, was born in Dutch- ess county, N. Y., in 1784 and came to this countyin an early day. He married Sarah Campbell by whom he had thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity:

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 94

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