Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 95

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 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Chauncey, Nancy, Diantha, Delaney, Cordancy, Samantha, John F., Hannah, Howells, Ann Catharine and Rachael. The father died in 1870 and the mother in 1846. Mrs. King's father was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Kirkendall, John S., M. D., was born in the town of Danby, January 31, 1854, a son of Samuel Kirkendall, a farmer. Our subject was educated in the common schools and Ithaca Academy, and at the age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine in the drug store of George W. Schuyler, going from there to Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, where he spent one year, then to the Cleveland Homeopathic College, where he spent two years. He graduated from Cleveland College in 1880, commenc- ing practice with Dr. David White, in Ithaca. Here he remained till August, 1883, and then went to New York, where he was with Drs. Agnew and Webster, making a special study of eye and ear work, at the New York Polyclinic. In January of the following year he returned to Ithaca and resumed practice, occupying a foremost po- sition in the practice of his profession. Five months of the year 1890 he spent in Moorefield's Eye and Ear Hospital in London, England. In 1886-87 he held the of- fice of village trustee, and in 1887 was appointed by President Cleveland pension ex- aminer for this district, and was reappointed under the present administration. December 8, 1881, he married Sarah M. Johnson, of Jacksonville, by whom he has one daughter. In August, 1893, he gave up his general practice and now devotes his time exclusively to his specialty, that of the eye and ear.

Willson Herbert G., was born in the city of Ithaca, March 16, 1865, the youngest son of Wm. W. Willson (see biography). Herbert was educated in the common schools and Ithaca High School, and after leaving school he went into his father's store, where he remained until March 15, 1893, when he bought the hat store of Geo. W. Culver at No, 64 E. State street, where he has since conducted a business. He has a fine store, with twenty-six feet front and fifty feet deep. He carries a complete line of hats, furs, trunks and satchels, and is a representative of "Knox, the Hatter " of New York. Mr. Willson is a member of the Presbyterian church, and an active member of the Y. M. C. A. of this city. He was married in 1889, on October 2, to Donna L., daughter of William Frear (see biography).

Wheeler, Levi J., was born in Farmer Village, April 23, 1844; was educated in the public schools, removed to Trumansburgh in the fall of 1861, and embarked in the mercantile business first as clerk and afterwards on his own account. This he con- tinued until 1884. In 1885 he established the banking house of L. J. Wheeler & Co., and has since carried on the banking business with much success. Mr. Wheeler has been prominent in all public enterprises in Trumansburgh, having been instrumental in the erection of the new Union School and Academy building, and is still president of the Board of Education.

Young, Ezra, jr., was born in Ulysses, November 21, 1860. He was educated in the public schools, and began clerking in his father's store at the age of twelve years, In 1888 he bought a half interest in the business, which he has conducted since in his father's absence in Florida. November ?, 1889, he married Grace Fulmer, of his native town, and they have one son, Lawrence, born January 16, 1891. Mr. Young's father, Ezra, sr., was born in Putnam county in 1823, was a merchant in New York city for a time, then came to Trumansburgh about 1858. He married Mary Willis, of

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Ulysses, and they had five children: Ezra, jr., Arthur, William, Paul and Grace. The family resides in Orlanda, Fla. Ezra Young, jr., is a member of Taughannock Lodge No. 20, I. O. O. F., of Trumansburgh.

Yaple, J. J., was born in Caroline, February 18, 1834, and has followed farming from his boyhood, working at home with his father until he began for himself. This he did in the spring of 1855, working for over eight years by the month, and then working three years for Edward Hungerford. About three years previous to this he bought a farm, which he now lives on, consisting of 112 acres. In 1863 he married Mary, daughter of Smith Head of this town, and they have had two children: Affie M., a teacher in Caroline and a graduate of the Ithaca High School, who has taught eight terms; and Frank S., who resides at home.

Lobdell, Denton M., was born July 31, 1838, a son of Henry Lobdell, of Goshen, Orange county, born in 1795, and in 1826 came to East Lansing with his family, where he bought a farm. His wife was Dorothy Denton, of Orange county, by whom he had six ehildren: Caroline, Amelia, Ebenezer, Stephen I., Jacob, and Denton. The grandfather of the latter was Ebenezer Lobdell, a native of England, who came to America and settled in Orange county. He raised ten children: Ebenezer, Jona- than, Nathan, Isaac, Henry, Mary, Deborah, Minerva, Annie, and Chloe. Denton was reared to farm life, and at the age of sixteen he, with his brother, rented and conducted their father's farm. At the age of twenty-three he bought a farm in East Lansing, sold the farm three years later, and interested himself in the manufacture of brick in Groton. A year later (1868) he sold his interest there and bought the farm where he has since resided. He married in 1861 Melissa (born in 1841) daughter of Edwin G. and Cordelia Morgan, of South Lansing, They had five children: Charles, born in 1862; Dorothy, born in 1865, wife of Jason Newman, of North Lansing ; Arthur, born in 1867; Ruth A., born in 1872; and Bertha, born in 1876. Mrs. Lob- dell died in March, 1879, and in 1882 he married Catharine, daughter of Calvin and Caroline De Camp, of Lansing. Mr. Lobdell is a Free Mason and a Democrat.

Lyon, Nelson E., is the suecessor of the old firm of Lord & Burr, whose business as general merchants was founded about 1830. He has resided in Ludlowville since 1868. He was born in Wetumpka, Ala., January 10, 1838, a son of Isaac and Fran- ces (Smith) Lyon. Isaac was a native of New York and moved to Alabama in 1836, where he was engaged in the banking business. He died in Rochester, N. Y., in 1839, and his widow married second Wells Southworth, of West Springfield, Mass., where they went to reside, Nelson E. remaining with his stepfather until the age of thirteen. He was educated at Westfield, Mass., Academy, Northwest Grammar School in Philadelphia, Pa., and the academy at Norristown, Pa., after which he en- gaged in the jewelry business in Rochester, N. Y. In 1858 he accepted a position as actuary of the City Fire Insurance Company of New Haven, Conn., remaining there about two years; from thence he went to St. Louis, Mo., and again engaged in the jewelry business. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861 he removed to New York city, which place he made his home for the following five years, during 1861 and 1862 furnishing army supplies to the war department for different sections of the United States. In the fall of 1862 he fitted out an expedition to the Pacific coast of South America, taking divers and diving gear from Boston, the object being to locate

FAMILY SKETCHES.

the treasure of the ship Leocadia, which was wrecked off the coast of Ecuador in the year 1801, having on board a large amount of Peruvian specie en route for Old Spain. The wreck was located by means of a son of one of the divers, who dove on the ves- sel in 1812. The expedition was afterward extended on to the pearl fishing banks of Salango, off the coast of Ecuador, in 1863. The following year he returned via the Isthmus of Panama, and on the voyage, while off the coast of Florida, their vessel (the Northern Light) was chased by a confederate cruiser (the Florida) and nar- rowly escaped capture. On returning to the United States he settled in Lambert- ville, N. J., in the jewelry business, and in 1868 removed to Ludlowville, N. Y., where he has since resided, and succeeded to the general merchandise business of Lord & Burr. In 1873 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and has held that office continuously ever since. He has also served as notary public for nearly the same length of time. In 1884 he was appointed postmaster under the administration of Grover Cleveland. In politics he is a Democrat, and for many years a member of the Executive Committee of the county organization. He is also a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In 1865 he married Lucie R., daughter of General Adams C. and Abby Davis, of Lambertville, N. J. Their children are: Frances R., Elizabeth 1)., and Lucie E., the latter of whom was married to Newton D. Chapman, M. D., of Ludlow- ville, N. Y., in 1893.

Wyckoff, Jesse, the pioneer of this family in Lansing, was born December 15, 1785, and his wife, Susanna Brown, was born May 25, 1789. Their children were as fol- lows: John, Ira, Levi, and Anna. Ira was born October 25, 1812, and died June 12, 1884. He married Julia Ann Ozmun, and their children were: William O., John, Levi, Ai, Ira Alvin, Julia Ann, wife of Tompson Metzgar, Sylvester, Henry, Charles H., and Susie. His wife died February 23, 1871, and he married second Cristina Metzgar, by whom he had four children: Louie B., Frank, George, and Jesse. Charles H. Wyckoff is well known throughout Tompkins county as an extensive and successful poulterer. He was born in Lansing, October 9, 1851, the son of Ira Wyckoff of that town. At the age of fifteen he left the farm and learned the machin- ist's trade, at which he worked about twelve years. Leaving his trade he then es- tablished a marble business at Ludlowville, which he conducted about two years, and then established a milk route in Ithaca. In March, 1881, Mr. Wyckoff bought the Fisher farm in Groton and came here to reside. In connection with his farm work he began studying the subject of poultry raising, and in 1883 began that enterprise, starting with a flock of less than 100 fowls. Being successful he increased the capac- ity of his yards, until finally he raised from 1,500 to 2,000 chickens, all thoroughbred White Leghorns, and now operates a highly successful business, both in the line of general farming and poultry raising. September 25, 1814, he married Lillie Ida, daughter of James and Nancy Bidwell, of Uhrichsville, O., and they have one son, Elmer Leroy.

Metzgar, Caspar, who for many years was known as one of Groton's enterprising farmers, was born in Cayuga county, a son of Jonas and Mary (Merwin) Metzgar. Caspar married Esther, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Newman, and had eleven children, as follows: Serepta, wife of Henry Smith; Satira, wife of Matt H. Stevens; Amelia; Newman; Margaret,, wife of King Wildman; Almena; Miles; Frank E. ; Horton; Leo, who lives on the homestead farm; Flora, wife of Hosea Curtis. Cas-

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

par died in Groton, January 23, 1883, and his wife died in February, 1873. Frank E. Metzgar was born in Groton, September 5, 1853, and has lived on his present farm for the past eighteen years. The buildings he himself erected, and though contain- ing only sixty-two acres it is among the most desirable in Groton. October 26, 1875, Frank E. married Susie, daughter of Ira and Julia Ann (Ozmun) Wyckoff, and they have had four children.

Egbert, Peter V., a native of Lansing, born February 19, 1836, was a son of John C., a native of New Jersey, born in 1794, who came to Tompkins county at an early day with his parents, James and Elizabeth (Cool) Egbert, of New Jersey, who reared seven children. Of these John C. was the oldest. He was reared to farm life, but was a natural mechanic, and throughout his life did much work in that line. He was also engaged for many years in the Inmber business, and furnished material for many of the early buildings in the vicinity and in Cayuga county. He married Azuba Wickham, of Cayuga county, by whom he had six children. William J., John M., Peter V., Sally Ann, wife of Zenas Tichenor, of Lansing, Cynthia, and Azuba, who died aged twenty. Mr. Egbert took an active part in the affairs of his town and county, particularly in its military affairs of that date, being colonel of a rifle regi- ment. He died in 1870, and his wife about five years later. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools until the age of sixteen, when he and his brother William went to California, in 1852, via the Isthmus of Panama; was de- tained two weeks in Panama, and after four days at sea was caught in a gale and wrecked, but by persistent bailing by the passengers and crew were enabled to reach the port of Acapulco, Mex., and four days later resumed their journey. Over forty of the four hundred passengers died during the gale and were dropped in the sea. They remained in California three years, during which time they engaged in ranch- ing, threshing, etc., having shipped a ten horse power threshing machine around Cape Horn, which arrived at San Franciseo several months later and which, as far as known, was the first large thresher in the State, and which earned for its owners over three thousand five hundred dollars in gold, as a result of its first season's use. Mr. Egbert, in 1856, married Elizabeth Teeter, daughter of John and Julia (Bloom) Teeter, of Lansing, and they have five children: Charles M., born in 1859; Clella M,, wife of J. D. Raymond, of Ithaca; Jolin T., who married Amadella Townley; Mary Alice, wife of La Verne Main, of Lansingville; and Willis R. The subject of this sketch, after marrying, bought and sold several farms in this county, and one in Cayuga county, on which he lived six years, also lived in South Jersey three years, and in 1872 made a trip overland to California. In the fall of 1872 he bought his present farm, where he has since remained. Mr. Egbert is of English ancestry, who were among the very early settlers in and about New York.

Kimple, John, who died January 12, 1851, wa an early settler on the lake shore in the town of Lansing, and there he established a good farm, coming from New Jersey. His wife, Elizabeth, died March 20, 1850. Their children were William and John, both of whom are dead; Sylvester, who lives in Lima, N. Y .; Daniel, who died young; Rachael, who married Alex Gray. William Kimple lived in Lansing, and later moved to West Groton. December 22, 1820, he married Mary, daughter of John H. Houpt. She was born June 14, 1791 in Lansing. Their children were Pythena, wife of Lewis Cutter; Elizabeth Ann, and Henry N. William died January 16, 1887,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

aged ninety years, and his wife Mary died June 6, 1870, aged seventy-nine years. John N. Houpt (father of Wm. Kimple's wife, Mary Houpt) was born in New Jersey, moved from there on to a farm on the east side of Cayuga Lake in the town of Lansing about 1798. Mr. Houpt married Ann Snyder and died at the age of ninety years; Ann (Snyder) Houpt died in the year 1796. Henry N., youngest child of William and Mary, was born May 6, 1839, and has always lived on a farm. In April, 1861, he bought the Henry Carter farm, west of West Groton village. November 29, 1860, Mr. Kimple married Ellen S., daughter of Daniel S. and Saphronia Swazey, pioneers of Groton. They have no children.

Guthrie, John, a native of Connecticut, moved to Aurora, N. Y., and at the age of twenty-one came to Groton, where he died March 16, 1846. His wife was Olive Wil- son, whom he married September 7, 1800, and they had ten children; Polly, Thank- ful, Maria, William, Nancy, Saphronia, John W., Alson, Lyman H., and Olive W. The children of Daniel S. and Saphronia (Guthrie) Swazey were: John S., who died young ; Ellen S., wife of Henry N. Kimple, and Olive W., who died in Groton, Sep- tember 8, 1887. Daniel S. Swazey died in Groton May 4, 1889. He was a farmer and a man highly respected in the town.

Krum, M. C. was born in Ulster county July 20, 1815, a son of Simon Krum, born January 9, 1793, and he was a son of Hendrick W. Krum. At the age af twenty-one Simon built a log house for himself, and in place of this there now stands a fine building. July 3, 1813, he married Catharine Coons, daughter of Michael Coons, and they had six children: M. C., Ephraim, Nathan, Sarah, Susan Jane, and Catharine. Our subject lived with his grandfather, Michael Coons, for twenty-two years. He married Louisa M., daughter of Dennis Babcock, of Dryden, and they had three children, only one now living, H. S. Krum, who resides on a farm of his own near hisfather. George L. Krum died aged thirty, leaving a widow and one child, who is now nineteen and lives in Cleveland, O. Mr. Krum is a Republican, and has served as supervisor, overseer of the poor, etc., also trustee of the church and a member of the school board in this town.

Kline, Peter, was born on the old homestead farm, one half mile north of where he now lives, June 6, 1823. His parents came to the town of Ithaca from New Jersey and bought a farm of a Mr. Cradit, who owned at that time one of the original scc- tions of the township of Ithaca, containing 600 acres. June 3, 1863, he married Em- eline. Winter, of Phillipsburgh, N. J., by whom he had four children, two now living, a son and a daughter. Mr. Kline is a Republican, and has served as assessor four- teen years. He is interested in educational matters, and recognized in his town as a man of high ability and of sterling worth. He is a member of the Congregational church of Ithaca.

Kelley, Dennis, was born in Lansing November 22, 1830, a son of John Kelley, also of Lansing, born January 9, 1795. His wife was Elizabeth Osbourne, of Lansing, born in 1802, a daughter of William and Margaret (Toane) Osbourne. They had seven children: William, Jane, John F., Mariette, Clarinda, Dennis and Lewis. The grandfather of our subject was John Kelley, a native of Orange county, who came to Lansing about 1793. Our subject lost his father when he was but eight years of age, and he then lived with his sisters for a time. At the age of twenty-four he married

LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Christiana (Ozmun) Shoemaker, who had filled the place of parents to him from his boyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley then went to farming on a small place of thirty acres belonging to Mrs. Kelley, and in 1860 he purchased fifty-seven acres more. In 1865 he sold this farm and removed to Michigan where he bought a farm, sold it the same year, and returned to Lansing with his family, with team and wagon. He bought another farm a year later, sold and purchased the North Lansing hotel, which he conducted about four years. This he sold and bought another farm of 130 acres, which he still owns. Since 1890 he has leased his farm and devoted much time to carpentry. For many years he dealt in farm machinery, etc. Mr. Kelley is a Republican, and has served as constable and assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have had three children: D. M., born March 12, 1855, a practicing physician in Brookston, Ind. ; Alma C., born August 1, 1857, wife of Daniel A. Tarbell; and Clarence W., born May 8, 1861. Mrs. Kelley died October 25, 1890, in her fifty-sixth year.

Kennedy, J. H., was born in the town of Dryden, December 11, 1838. His father was a native of Mount Pleasant, Pa., and was engaged in the business of tanner and currier. In 1835 he came to the town of Dryden and established the same business, which he followed up to the time of his decease, which occurred in 1882, Our subject was educated in the common schools of Dryden and after leaving school engaged in business with his father, the same business which he now carries on, making a spe- cialty of fine uppers and harness leather, and having an average yearly production of 20,000 sides. At the age of thirty-two he was married to Persis E. Sykes, daughter of Geo. M. Sykes, of Berkshire, Tioga county, Pa. They have four children, one son, William W., and three daughters, Carrie, Cora and Jennie. Our subject is Re- publican in politics and has been supervisor of the town for six years and chairman of the board for two years. He has also been a member of the Board of Education for several years, and is a trustee of the Presbyterian church, taking an active inter- est in educational and religious matters.

Kellogg, Joseph, was born in Newfield, November 18, 1825, a son of David, of Ver- mont, born in 1799, who came to this county when thirteen years of age with his father, Joseph, and his grandfather. The latter was an active and public spirited man, who kept a public house two miles south of the village of Newfield. David, father of our subject, married Sarah Colgrove and they had six children. Joseph worked at home until the age of twenty-eight, and in 1855 he married Samantha Ham, of Newfield, a daughter of Samuel Ham, and they have two children; the son is in Portland, Ore., and the daughter is Mrs. Tompkins, of Ithaca. He is a member of the Grange, and is a Democrat, having heid the office of road commissioner.

King, the late J. Parker, was born in Covert, Seneca county, January 25, 1822, and was educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary. He served as supervisor of Trumansburgh and the town of Ulysses several terms, and was a teacher and super- intendent of schools many years. April 12, 1849, he married Ann E. Crandall, daughter of one of the oldest residents of Trumansburgh. Mr. King came to Tru- mansburgh when three years old, from Seneca county, a member of one of the old families of that county. He died April 7, 1893. He was a true friend, a worthy hus- band, and good neighbor.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Haskin, Hiram L., was born in the town of Lansing April 27, 1858, a son of Will- iam S., who was also a native of the county, and a leading Republican of that town. Hiram L. was educated in Ithaca High school, with one year in Cornell University, class of '80, and a course in Eastman's Business College. Entering the employ of the well known drug firm of White & Burdick, in a short time hc became an efficient druggist, and in 1881 formed a copartnership with Judson B. Todd and bought the west end drug store, one of the oldest establishments in this line in the county. This store was established in 1832 by B. S. Halscy and has always been conducted by capable and enterprising men, but at no time has it been more commercially prominent, or accorded a more liberal patronage, than it has since the name of our subject became connected with it. His efforts have met with a generous apprecia- tion at the hands of the public, and to-day the west end drug store ranks well up among the most successful retail business enterprises of this county. In 1891 Mr. Haskin bought out the interest of Mr. Todd, and has since conducted the business alone. In politics he is a Democrat, has held the position of treasurer of the County Committee, and was chairman of the Young Men's Democratic Club in 1888. He has been an active member of the Fire Department ten years, is a past grand of Ithaca Lodge I. O. O. F., having passed all of the chairs, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He married in 1884, Emma Hayes, of Macon, Mo., by whom he has one daughter.

Horton, Randolph, was born at Truxton, Cortland county, N. Y., on the 23d day of September, 1850. His father, Isaac Horton, was a native of Massachusetts, while his mother, Elnora Buell, claims Truxton as the place of her nativity. Mr. Horton at the age of fifteen entered the Cazenovia Seminary, intending to pursue a course of study there, but his parents soon after removing to Cortland village he entered the famous old Cortland Academy, remaining there till the opening of the Cortland Nor- mal School; he pursued his studies in the academical department of the last named institution, graduating from the classical department at the age of twenty. He then entered Cornell University at Ithaca, and after completing his studies there returned to Cortland and commenced the study of law in the offices of Waters & Eggleston. He was admitted to practice as attorney and counselor in 1877, and at once settled in Newfield. Here he was soon after elected supervisor, which office he has filled for eleven terms and is at present the chairman of the county board. He has also been chairman of the Board of Education. His time and attention have, however, been mostly engrossed in the pursuit of his profession, which he has practiced with marked diligence and success. Recently he has formed a law copartnership with D. M. Dean, of Ithaca, and has with his family, removed to that city to residc. May 18, 1881, Mr. Horton married Adah A. Puff, daughter of J. L. Puff, a prominent mer- chant of Newfield; they have two children, Edith L., now five years of age, and Carroll R., now two years old. Mr. Horton is an Odd Fellow, and in politics a Dem- ocrat.

Dudley, P. S., was born in Newfield, May 2, 1824. George Dudley, his father, was born in the town of Ithaca, and was a son of William, who went from Wales to Bris- tol, England, then to this country, he being a blacksmith and farmer. George Dud- ley left home when a boy and became a merchant, locating in this town. .Hc mar- ried Fannie, daughter of Ira Smith, of Ulysses, and they had six children. Of these

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 95

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