USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 97
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Wilcox, the late Roswell, was born in the town of Ulysses, near Taughannock Falls, March 7, 1828, was educated in the common schools and Trumansburgh Academy, and followed farming. December 29, 1853, he married Cornelia, daughter of Smith Norton, of his native town, and they had two children: Fred E., born August 5, 1855, died June 21, 1888, and Flora C., who married George H. Fowler, of this town ; they have two children: Lulu M., and Harry S. Mr. Fowler is a manufacturer of wagons, agricultural articles, etc., and is also a coal dealer at Taughannock Falls under the firm name of G. H. Fowler & Co. Mr. Wilcox died January 19, 1886. He gave the
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right of way through his farm to the Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre Railroad in 1872, and he was the first station agent at Taughannock Falls; also kept the first post-office there. His father, Elisha, was born September 28, 1804, and was a pioneer of the town. Mrs. Wilcox's father, Smith Norton, was born in New Jersey, February 18, 1792, and came here when a boy with his parents. He married Abigail Hildreth, and they had ten children: Hannah, Jerusha, Jane, Malissa, Christine, Jehiel, Jonathan, Statia A., Cornelia and Clara. The father, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, died June 6, 1880, and the mother August 31, 1877.
Whitlock, Charles E., was born in the town of Ithaca, February 12, 1855. Abram B. Whitlock, the father of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in October, 1832. He was only six years of age when his parents moved into this county and settled in the village of Ithaca, where Abram was reared and educated in the old Lancasterian School. His first occupation was that of a clerk in Scribner's drug store, and having ability as a musician he followed it as a profession. About 1867 he was appointed agent for the United States Express Company, a position which he held up to the time of his death, which occurred March 25, 1887. He was a member of Fidelity Lodge, F. & A. M., and also of the St. Augustine Commandery. He was the father of two children, one of whom died in infancy, the other was our subject. Charles was educated in the old Ithaca Academy, and after leaving school he fol- lowed in his father's footsteps and was six years in the drug business, first with W. S. Mandeville and afterwards with Gauntlett & Brooks. In 1877 he was made the clerk of the United States Express Company under his father, a position which he held for twelve years, and then went to Syracuse to take the position of cashier in the National Express Company, where he was employed for two years, and on Janu- ary 1, 1893, he was appointed agent for the Ithaca office of the National Company. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge No. 51, F. & A. M., Eagle Chapter, Ithaca Coun- cil, St. Augustine Commandery, and also of the Knights of Pythias. He was twice married, first in 1878 to Alberta Goldsmid, who died in 1884, leaving one daughter. He married again in 1887 Ella McCarthy, of Watertown, N. Y. They also have one daughter.
Williams, Barnum R., who for thirty or more years has been identified with vari- ous business and political interests of Tompkins county, was a native of Herkimer county, born March 14, 1836. His parents were Ralph and Matilda (Taylor) Will- iams, and of their four children he was the youngest. He was brought up on a farm and from early youth had to earn his own way in life. In 1853 he came to Groton and attended the academy, his brother being its principal at that time, and later on our subject taught a winter term of school. Still later he worked as a machinist in the Separator shop, where he remained until 1862, then going to Ithaca, where he was employed in the office of the county clerk, Mr. Delano. Three months afterward he purchased an interest in the Tompkins County Democrat, which he conducted un- til February, 1863, and then united that paper with the American Citizen, which he published under the name of Citizen and Democrat. The name, however, was sub- sequently changed to Ithaca Democrat, by which it is still known. Mr. Williams continued with the paper until 1872, then retired, and for three years was chief of the Ithaca police, then bookkeeper for Reynolds & Lang, and then became deputy county clerk during Mr. Partenheimer's term of office. During his residence in Ithaca Mr.
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Williams was five years clerk of the village, and four years chief of the Fire Depart- ment, and in connection served one year as president of the State Firemen's Associa- tion. In 1887 he returned to Groton and became secretary of the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Company, which latter position he still holds. Mr. Williams has al- ways been a firm Democrat, and as such received the nomination for the shrievalty in 1890. The standing majority against his party in the county is about 1200, and although defeated at the polls the majority against him was only about 600, he carry- ing two districts of the strong Republican town of Groton. For three years Mr. Will- iams was a member of the Board of Education of Groton village. In 1859 he married Rosa K. Noble, of Auburn, and they have one child by adoption.
Wortman, Jacob, was born in Enfield, February 2, 1823. His business career be- gan in 1859, when, in company with George Britenbecker, he opened a small meat market in the Clinton block on North Cayuga street. In 1865 he removed to No. 16 N. Aurora street, where he has since been located. In 1879 Mr. Wortman associated with him his son, L. S. Wortman, who is now proprietor of their extensive business, the senior member having retired to his home on the east shore of Cayuga Lake. In 1874 he was elected a member of the Board of Education, a position he held many years, a great share of the time chairman of the Building Committee. He was also in 1882 village trustee from the second ward. His son, L. S. Wortman, is one of the representative business men of this city, and prominent in politics. He is a member of Hobasco Lodge No. 716, F. & A. M. He married in 1875 Lizzie Decker, of Ithaca, N. Y., and they are the parents of two children: Edwin, a student in the High School ; and Bessie. The mother of L. S. was a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Starr, the first Baptist minister in this county, preaching at Lake Ridge.
Wager, Mrs. Frances M., widow of Benjamin Wager, was born in Newfield, Feb- ruary 14, 1820, a daughter of Philip and Sally (Bloom) Le Bar, her great-grandfather, Ephraim Bloom, having been one of the first white settlers in Lansing. Our subject attended the district schools, and in 1853 married Benjamin Wager, born February 24, 1810, and they moved to Lansing and settled on the farm which Mrs. Wager now owns. Mr. Wager's parents were old settlers in this section, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, having been the first to settle on the farm of our subject. Mr. Wager died in February, 1874. They had one child, Frances M., wife of George Cox, of Newfield. She was born December 4, 1859. Mr. Wager had five children by a former marriage: Prometheus, born December 31, 1834; George, born March 14, 1837; Mary A., born November 9, 1839; John, born April 25, 1842; Helen A., born in December, 1845. Prometheus was a lieutenant in the war, and died of fever in the service. Frances Cox has three children: Wager, Fannie L., and George. Mrs. Wager is a sprightly and well-preserved old lady, living alone and doing all her own work. She has a beautiful farm of sixty-five acres, commanding a fine view of Cayuga Lake. Prometheus and John completed their education in Cazenovia. Mary A. received her education and graduated at Alfred Seminary, Allegany county, N. Y. George at home district school. Frances studied at Howland College, Union Springs, N. Y., completing her musical education at the Conservatory of Musie, Bos- ton.
Watson, George Milton, was born in the town of Dryden, July 11, 1853. His father, George E. Watson, was formerly engaged in making butter packages, wash
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tubs and pails in the village of Malloryville, which business is now carried on by his son. Our subject at the age of twenty-seven married Hattie E. George, daughter of Joel B. George, of Freeville, and they are the parents of two children: Edith L. and Bessie C. Mr. Watson takes an active interest in temperance work, and also in edu- cational and religious matters. He is an energetic business man and is recognized in his community as a conservative citizen of ability and high principles. He re- ceived his education in the common schools and finished at the Falley Seminary at Fulton, N. Y., and at the Normal School at Cortland, N. Y.
Wheeler, D. T., was born in the town of Dryden, November 24, 1855, and was edu- cated in the Dryden Union School, and afterwards took a course of instruction in Lowell's Business College at Binghamton. After leaving school he went to work in the mercantile trade, and in 1889 went into business for himself, and now carries the largest line of dry goods and general merchandise in the town of Dryden. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Carrie Gaston, daughter of Edmund Gaston, of the town of Dryden, and they are the parents of two children, one daughter, Georgia, and one son, Meritt. He takes the Republican side in politics, also an active interest in educational and religious matters, being interested in the advancement of his town and being recognized as a conservative and substantial citizen.
Williams, C. D., was born in the town of Virgil, August 19, 1847, and was educated in the common and graded schools. After leaving school he learned the marble cut- ter's trade, which he followed at the bench for eighteen years, doing business for him- self. In 1872 he came to the town of Dryden and established a marble and granite works, importing his own stock, and also handling all varieties of native stone, and having also a large plant at Trumansburgh. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Emma A. Trapp, daughter of Jesse Trapp, of Virgil, and they have two sons: George and Charles, jr. He takes the Republican side in politics, and although he has passed a very busy business life, he has found time to take an active interest in religious and educational matters, having been a member of the Board of Education of Dryden for the past ten years. The eldest son, George, first graduated from the Dryden High School, and evincing talent in elocution he then went to the New Eng- land Conservatory of Music and Elocution at Boston, from which he graduated in June, 1894, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Wheeler, Seth, was born in Boston in 1756, and died in 1827. When nineteen years of age he enlisted in the Revolutionary War and served all through the war. When he came home he went to New Hampshire and took up a farm and married a lady from Boston by the name of Rebecca Elliot. They moved to Dryden in 1804, and had a family of ten children. They came with three horses and a yoke of oxen, two covered wagons, and were twenty-one days on the road; his farm being near Dryden Springs. Their oldest child, Rebecca, married a man by the name of Elisaph San- ford, who stood on the first church steeple in Dryden and swung a jug over his head after the church was raised, later moving to Steuben, where he died, leaving a large family. The next, Betsey, married Jared Todd in West Dryden, raised a large fam- ily, and moved to Miehigan. Susan married a Mr. Courtright from Owego, moved to Ohio, died, and left three daughters. Lucy married Mr. Petigrew, they both died in Owego, leaving one son; a daughter of this son married Frank Cornell, of Ithaca. Seth married but left no children. Enos married a Miss Blair, had nine children,
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who are all settled not far from Dryden. Polly never married, and died at Dryden. John married Eliza Blair, had eight children, and died in Seneca county. Selinda married Marsden Blair, he died a number of years ago; she is still living at the age of ninety-five years. Anna married Anson Cook, moved to Michigan, where both died, leaving two daughters. Elliot B. Wheeler, son of Enos, who is seventy-six years old, lives two and one-half miles north of McLean. He married first Mary Jane Lormor, of Dryden, and second Sarah Crittenden, youngest daughter of Asa Crittenden. Orrin married Mary Bartholomew, of Dryden; he is dead. They had one son, with whom his mother is living. Delany married Leonard Griswold, of Dryden, both living. Emory married Elizabeth Stewart, they live in Dryden. El- son lost his first wife, then married Sarah Brigham; live in Dryden. Edson, the twin brother of Elson, is dead. Almon married a Miss Stewart, and lives not far from Elmira with his daughter, his wife being dead. Ambros married and lives near Marathon, N. Y. Dora Ann married Daniel Bartholomew, they live in Dry- den village.
Wolcott, George, jr., was born in Caroline, January 13, 1836. He is the son of George Wolcott, sr., a descendant of the purest Anglo-Saxon English. The father moved into this country when quite young, locating at Mott's Corners, now Brook- ton. He was a carpenter by trade, and held many local offices, being justice of the peace and school trustee for many terms. The mother of the subject of our sketch was Sarah A. Reede, a Scotchwoman. George and Sarah had ten children, of which George, jr., is the sixth. He acquired his education by his own efforts, paying his way at first at the old Ithaca Academy by working at the carpenter trade with his father, and later by teaching school. At Lincoln's first call for troops, on April 20, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company I of the afterward famous 32d N. Y. Infan- try. At the battle of West Point he was promoted on the field from sergeant to sec- ond lieutenant by Colonel Mathewson, and after the seven days battle was again promoted to first lieutenant. At the end of his term of enlistment failing health compelled him to relinquish his very bright prospects in a military career. Return- ing to Caroline he followed the mercantile business, and afterwards that of carpen- ter and builder. About fifteen years ago he bought a farm and has since been prin- cipally engaged in farming. His wife, Julia A., whom he married in 1863, is the daughter of Hon. Peter Lounsbery, a descendant of the original German colonists, and Harriet Cantine, a descendant of the French Huguenots, a collateral relative of the Counts Cantine of France. They have one child, Clarence R., a lawyer of Ithaca. He, after acquiring a thorough education by the assistance of his father, took up the business of stenography, but only used it as a stepping stone to something better. He studied in the office of the Hon. S. D. Halliday, of Ithaca, and has been in active and successful practice for four years. Mrs. Wolcott is a poetess of considerable reputation, having taken prizes against many contestants, and having publislied prose and poetry in many periodicals. All the family are connected with the Con- gregational church at Brookton, of which Mr. Wolcott has been clerk and treasurer for years. He has also been school trustee many terms. He is an active member of the G. A. R., having been commander of David Ireland Post two years.
Weed, William M., was born in Danby, February 14, 1821. His father, Munson Weed, came to this town in 1818, and laid the foundation of his education in the old
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school house. At the age of twenty-three he married Fannie Spaulding, daughter of James Spaulding, of Danby. He is a Republican in politics, and takes an active and intelligent interest in school and religious matters. Mr. and Mrs. Weed are the par- ents of four children, two sons, Henry C. and Charles J., and two daughters, Mrs. Velma L. Hutchings and Mrs. Libbie I. Patchen. In 1845 he bought a part of his father's farm, and has since bought 100 acres which he added to his other estate, having 153 acres, on which he resides and raises large amounts of hay, grain and stock. Our subject is recognized in his town as a man of sterling worth, and as a practical and successful farmer.
Woodworth, Jonathan, a native of Wales, seeking a home on the new continent, finally made a settlement in New London, Conn. By education he was a surveyor and navigator. Previous to his settlement in Connecticut he was a sea captain and came to America in that capacity. The first attempt of immigration and settlement of Tompkins county, of which we have any authentic record, was in the year 1788. In June of that year a party of explorers, with the flats at the head of Cayuga Lake as an objective point, headed by Jonathan Woodworth and accompanied by his two sons, Nehemiah and Charles, left their home, and finding the present site of Ithaca a desirable location, made a settlement there. Mr. Woodworth with his two sons sur- veyed Tompkins and a few adjacent counties, and he also surveyed a portion of the western part of Pennsylvania. His son, Jonathan Parker Woodworth, born June 15. 1775, was a Baptist clergyman, and preached for many years in different parts of Tompkins county, especially in Enfield and Newfield. He purchased land in Ulysses. near Willow Creek, about 1824, which was afterward owned by his son, David Wood- worth, and which constitutes the farm now owned by Alfred B. Woodworth. He died July 7, 1860. David Woodworth was born in the town of Covert. August 29, 1801. and was married to Betsey J. Bates, September 6, 1827. Betsey J. Bates was born January 25, 1808, in Stamford, Conn., and removed with her parents to the town of Ulysses in 1816.
Blackman Brothers .- John K., and Charles L.,-are sons of Solomon K. Blackman, who was a native of the county and a farmer and stock dealer of Speedsville. John K. was educated in the common schools, while Charles received his academic educa- tion at Cortland Normal School, teaching eleven terms in Tioga and Tompkins count- ties. After he left teaching he was for three years employed by Hillyer & Hartley, New Brighton, Staten Island, and then came to Ithaca, where he and his brother (who had been engaged in the same business in Williamsport, Pa., with his uncle, L. L. Stearns) formed a partnership in February, 1888, buying out the grocery of L. S. McWhorter, which they have since conducted. The brothers are Democrats in politics, and members of the church (Presbyterian and Episcopahan respectively). John is a member of Hobasco Lodge, and married in January, 1888, Margaretta Post, of Shickshinny, Pa. Thdy have one daughter, one and a half years old.
Bentley & Eaton .- This firm is composed of Ephraim J. Bentley and William M. Eaten. Mr. Bentley is a native of Tioga county, Pa., and came to this county May 10, 1877. His early life had been spent as a clerk in a store in his native place. IIe left his father's farm at the age of fifteen years and has been in the mercantile busi- ness ever since. After coming to Ithaca he established a general store on Cayuga street below the present location, and in 1889 he built a large frame block fifty feet
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square, three stories, using the ground floor for their extensive business, one half the store being used for their retail business, and the other part for storage purposes. Mr. Bentley was joined in partnership by Mr. Eaton in 1889, and the firm of Bentley & Eaton has ever since been one of the most prosperous in the city. They carry a full line of dry goods, groceries and provisions, meats, oilcloths, and also conduct a general headquarters for farmers, with large and commodious refrigerators for stor- ing butter, eggs, etc. Mr. Bentley has never taken any active interest in politics, but is a Republican. He is a member of Ithaca Lodge I. O. O. F. In 1888 he mar- ried Anna Munroe, of Westehester county. William M. Eaton was born in the town of Ithaca, January 23, 1862, a son of William Eaton, who was also a native of the county. William was educated at Cornell University, class of '83, and acted as clerk in Mr. Bentley's store three years, also was for five years a traveler for J. C. Stowell & Son. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge F. & A. M., also of the I. O. O. F., and of the Encampment.
Brown, Jacob Emmons, was a native of Dryden, born September 4, 1834, the son of Jacob and Annie (Baldwin) Brown, and the youngest of their ten children. His grandfather, Daniel, was one of the pioneers of Dryden and a man of some promi- nence in that part of the county. When our subject was but three years of age his father died, and upon the marriage of his mother, Jacob E. began to work for him- self. At sixteen he hired out as a farm hand, and from that until the present time he has been a farmer. In 1861 he bought the old Ogden farm in the south part of Groton, which he has greatly developed and improved. Mr. Brown is regarded as one of the most thrifty farmers of the township. In 1861 he married Sarah A., daughter of Benjamin and Polly Ogden (both being representatives of pioneer fam- ilies in the county). Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had four children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Brown was formerly a Republican, but during recent years as an earnest advocate of temperance principles, has been identified with the Prohibition party.
Bulkly, Hill, a former resident of Fairfield, Conn., came to Venice, Cayuga county, at an early day and there his three children were born. In 1825 the family came to Groton, where both parents died. The children were Lorenzo, Lovisa and Almon. Lorenzo Bulkly was born March 3, 1817, and has always been a farmer, and now lives on the home farm which his father bought in 1825. January 1, 1846, Mr. Bulkly married Maria Wheat, who died August 7, 1848, after which (October 10, 1849) he married Juliette Coonley, by whom he had three children: Almon W., a lawyer of the Chicago bar; William H., proprietor of the barrel factory at West Groton; and Lorenzo H., of Columbus, Ohio. Lorenzo Bulkly was originally a Whig, and cast his first vote for General Harrison in 1840; later he was a Republican, and was identi- fied with that party's success. Mr. Bulkly is a member of the East Lansing Baptist church.
Butts, Michael, came from Warren county, Pa., in 1825 and settled on a farm a mile east of Dryden village. He had a family of ten children, the last two of whom were born in Dryden. The children were as follows: Susan, Margaret, Elias, Ann Maria, Isaac, Abram, Jacob, Christine, Parthenia, and Philomena. Of these only Jacob and Parthenia survive, the latter being the wife of Conrad Hammond. Jacob Butts, who is remembered among the substantial farmers of Groton, was born July
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29, 1819, and in 1848 married Mary E., daughter of Jacob Hutchins, of Virgil, and soon afterwards located in Groton on the old Robert Forsyth farm, which he then bought. Their four children were: Jacob H., Rose Ella, May Jennie. and Searles. Mary E., wife of Jacob Butts, died August 29, 1887. Mr. Butts has taken an active inter- est in town affairs and has held office. He is a Republican, and an intelligent ad- vocate of his party principles.
Bartholomew, Caleb, was born in Groton February 4, 1811. His father was Jesse Bartholomew, who came to the town of Dryden and settled at Etna April 1, 1812. He bought 180 acres of land, part of which is still in the possession of Caleb, our subject. The latter received his education in the common schools of the town, to which he has added through life by close reading and observation. He was the youngest of thirteen children, and is now the only representative of that generation left. At the age of twenty-two he married Laura W. Gaston, daughter of James Gaston, and they had five children, two sons being deceased, one dying in infancy, and Norman G. who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. The daughters are Lydia; Louise E., and Lottie M. In 1840 Mr. Bartholomew established himself in Etna, manufacturing agricultural implements, pumps and scales, which business he carries on to the present day. He has held the office of supervisor, etc., and was one of the charter members of the Groton Iron Bridge and Mfg. Co.
Brown, J. W., M. D., was born in Wyalusing, Bradford county, Pa., and is a son of D. Warren Brown. At the age of twenty-eight our subject began the study of med- icine, and after a preliminary course of one year in the University of Pennsylvania, he entered the office of his brother, Dr. C. W. Brown, of Washington, D. C. He was afterwards a student in the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, and then entered the University of Buffalo, from which he graduated in 1878. He immediately began practice in Ithaca, where he has since located. The doctor has been railroad surgeon for the Lehigh Valley company for twelve years, and is now serving his fourth term as coroner of the county. He is a Republican in poli- tics and has held the office of assessor and was for two years pension examining sur- geon. He was an enlisted soldier in the Rebellion. He is a member of the County Medical Society and one of its officers. In 1873 he married Lulu Ripley, of Titus- ville, Pa.
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