Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 99

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 99

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

the originators of the G. A. R. Post of this town, and has filled all the offices of the order, except commander. He was married in 1853 to Eiiza Lee, daughter of Dr. J. S. Lee, of the drug firm of Lee & Woodard in Ithaca. They have one son, Edward Carleton Tichenor, a lawyer of Ithaca, and one daughter.

Tarbell, Thomas B., was born in Delaware county, N. Y., March 21, 1800, his parents coming from Southern Vermont and the parent stock back four generations from Saxony. Lydia Miller was born in East Lansing, March 12, 1804, her father, Joseph Miller, coming from New Jersey. He owned a very large tract of land running north and south from the road leading west from the Baptist church and was the owner of slaves until about 1790. A descendant of his last one freed is now (1894) living in Ithaca. Thomas B. Tarbell and Lydia Miller were married October 15, 1823, at East Lansing. The issue of that marriage was thirteen children, ten boys and three girls. The first child a daughter, then eight boys in line, the seventh, born May 16, 1838, in the west part of Groton, N. Y., was called Doctor Tarbell. Young Doctor like all the rest of the children, was brought up on a farm, going to school winters and working on the farm at home or for neighbors in the summer. In 1857 he started out for additional educational advantages and attended the fall term in Homer Academy, hiring a room and boarding himself, his whole expense for this term, room, books, provisions, etc., being $18.15. He taught the winter term (1857-58) in the first district north of Peruville and the following fall attended again at Homer, and returned and taught in his own, known as the Benson district, teaching and attending school alternately until 1861, when he was in school at Ithaca, expecting to enter Union College in September in the class of 1865. But when Fort Sumter was fired upon in April, 1861, he volunteered as a private in Company A, Second Regiment, the first military organization to leave Tompkins county. Early in May he was made sergeant; in November, 1861, second lieutenant; in February, 1862, first lieutenant, and as such volunteered to lead a forlorn hope of one hundred men across the Chickahominy River in front of Richmond on June 2, 1862, to drive the enemy's sharpshooters back so that General Woodbury's engineers could work on a new bridge which was needed by Mcclellan's army, north of Richmond. The day was successful, Lieutenant Tarbell, with a squad of his men, escorted Woodbury during the day back nearly one-half mile in the enemy's country. There was where he won his captaincy from President Lincoln in United States Volunteers, which was given him in October, 1862. At Malvern Hill, July 4, he was called by General Newton to serve on his staff. He had been with his company at Bull Run, July, 1861, and in all its skirmishes and battles through the Peninsular campaign. From now on he served as a staff officer with General Newton at South Mountain, Crampton's Pass, Maryland, and Antietam, till November, then with General David A. Russell, Third Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps, till March, 1863, when by order he was sent to General Whipple's division, Third Corps, and was with him at Chancellors- ville, May, 1863, where General Whipple's division was so terribly slaughtered, General Whipple being mortally wounded. Captain Tarbell was the only member of the staff not wounded or killed. The remnant of General Whipple's division being divided among the other two divisions of the Third Corps, Captain Tarbell was sent to Third Corps headquarters early in June. He served with General Sickles in the Maryland and Pennsylvania campaigns and rode with him on the Gettysburg battle

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ground July 1, 1863. The story of the part the Third Corps took in that memorable engagement fills a bright page in history and is too well known to need a word here. Captain Tarbell served with the Third Corps till it was disbanded. He was then assigned to the Cavalry Corps, serving with Generals Chapman, Wells, and Wilson through all the campaigns in the summer of 1864. He was captured by Mosby, September 21, 1864, near Winchester, Va., and sent to Libby Prison, from there October 10, to Salisbury, N. C., October 15, transferred to Danville Prison, February 18, retransferred to Libby, where he suffered, as only Union prisoners know, all the torments of cold, filth, hunger and disease. When parolled February 22, 1865, he telegraphed his confidential clerk, Professor S. B. Howe, " Out of prison. Purgatory has no terrors." On arriving at Annapolis, Captain Tarbell was granted a thirty day leave of absence, Although he was captured September 21, his friends in the North had no tidings from him till in January, 1865, and for a long time mourned him as dead. Captain Tarbell married Mary L. Conant, March 14, 1865, at Peru- ville while enjoying his thirty day leave of absence. He was officially declared exchanged March 28, and ordered to report to General Sheridan for duty, on expira- tion of leave of absence. On his way to the army he stopped a few days in Washı- ington and was present in Ford's Theatre on the night of the assassination of President Lincoln, April 14, 1865. He received a commission as major by brevet in United States Volunteers, for meritorious services. He left the United States service in August, 1865. After Cornell University opened in 1868, he attended five terms; was elected county clerk of Tompkins county in 1870, and re-elected 1873. He is now engaged in the life insurance business, representing the Equitable Life Assurance Society as general agent and has a very large range of duties. He is a total abstainer, using neither tobacco or liquor. In religion he was raised a Baptist, in politics a Republican, a scholar of Greeley's New York Tribune. His home is now with his family at No. 10 North Geneva street, Ithaca.

Saylor, Cynthia, was born in Tompkins county, December 1, 1829, was married in 1852, to Sampson George, who was born in Yorkshire, England. Their home was on a farm until Mr. George's death, June 18, 1890. Since that time Mrs. George has resided in Independence, Ia.

Simons, William A., was born in Dryden, September 2, 1848. His father, Adam, with his grandfather, Benjamin Simons, came to Dryden in 1808, and settled un lot 67, where their descendants now reside and which has been in the family for the past eighty-six years. William A. Simons received his education in the common schools to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. He married at the age of twenty-four, Helen S. Cole, daughter of Joseph Cole, who passed away March 17, 1890. Our subject is one of the progressive intelligent men of his town, where he is identified in the leading events of his day and is recognized as a man of sterling worth and character and as a practical farmer.

Schenck, Amasa Dana, a well known native of Lansing, was born February 3, 1843, a son of Edward Hunt Schenck, of Easton, Pa., born in 1802, who came to this town about 1823, and engaged in a cabinet shop near East Lansing, where he remained several years, and later married his employer's daughter, Mary Miller, by whom he had eight children, six of whom are now living: George, Paulina, wife of Anson Howser; Sarah, wife of Harvey De Camp; Amasa D., Ellen, wife of George W.

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Allen ; and Alice, wife of Edgar F. Tallmadge. The father died August 14, 1867, and the mother May 22, 1892. Amasa D. was educated in East Lansing district school, and at the age of fifteen began the vocation of his father, in company with his brother, that of painting, and this trade he followed until 1822, when he bought a farm and has since followed farming. October 14, 1861, he enlisted im Company G, Tenth New York Cavalry at East Lansing. He served until 1864, then re-enlisted in the field, and served till the close of the war. He participated in the following battles: Brandy Station, Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville, Snieker's Gap, Gettysburg, Sheperdstown, Culpepper, Travillian Station, Cold Harbor, Sulphur Springs, and St. Mary's Church. He received gun shot wound through wrist, at Sulphur Springs, October 12, 1863. He was also wounded at St. Mary's Church, June 24, 1864, musket ball passing through right eye and coming out just in front of left ear. After the loss of his eye it was six months before he was able to do light duty. He was mustered out June 7, 1865. In 1873 he married Susannah, daughter of Jacob and Marietta Ross, of Lansing, and they have two children: Stella B., born June 6, 1875, and Floyd R., born January 11, 1881. Mr. Sehenek is a G. A. R. man, of Lodge 334, and is a Republican in politics.

Snyder, Philip S., was born in the town of Dryden, October 4, 1840. His father, Ira Snyder, and his grandfather, Henry Snyder, were among the earliest settlers in the town, Henry Snyder coming into the town in 1800, and settling on lot 53. Philip received his education in the common schools and is a self-educated man. At the age of thirty he married Nancy Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, of Dryden. In politics he takes the Republican side. In 1887 he bought what was known as the Burton Smith property of sixty-four acres and makes a specialty of raising stock and sheep. Our subject is one of the substantial farmers in his town, taking a prominent part in advancing its best interests, and is a conservative, independent man.

Townley, Richard A., was born in Groton, April 23, 1836, a son of Effingham and Fanny (Bower) Townley, and grandson of the pioneer, Richard Townley, who settled in Lansing a hundred years ago, and of whom much will be found written elsewhere among those pages. Richard A. was edueated in common schools and attended the Groton Academy. He lived at home until twenty-four years of age, and December 30, 1859, married Ellen M. Childs, of Groton. One child was born of this marriage. Mr. Townley is a successful farmer, and his farm is among the best in the eastern part of the town. William Childs eame from Massachusetts to Groton in 1812, bringing a large family of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity: Lydia, Crocker, William, Lyman, Orlando, Louisa, Samantha, Sylvester, Naney, Chloe, and Maria. William Childs, the pioneer, died February 18, 1850, and his wife, Chloe, died April 11, 1872. Orlando Childs was born May 15, 1810, lived for many years on an excellent farm southeast of Groton village, and there he died, March 14, 1891. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Adams, and to whom he was married February 20, 1854, died November 6, 1887. Their children were: Calista A., who married Ransom Smith; Almira S., who married John G. Cobb; Ellen M., wife of Richard A. Townley. Henry Adams came from Connecticut to Groton about the year 1825, and settled on the old salt road. He was a hatter by trade, but like many of Groton's early settlers gave his principal attention to farming. He died in 1852, and was survived by his wife about thirty years. Henry Adams's children were these:

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Mary, who married Orlando Childs; Sally, who married Harry Mix; David, who died in Binghamton; Leonard, who died aged twenty years; and Lydia, who became the wife of Gilbert Wilson,

Stoddard, Edward Schuyler, born in Ithaca, March 22, 1865. The Stoddard family is one of the oldest families of this country. John Stoddard, of whom our subject is ten generations removed was in 1645 a resident of Connecticut, and in tracing the family down we find them numerous and distinguished, as they can count in their relations a noted general (W. T. Sherman), and others prominent in political and social life. Edward Stoddard, the father of our subject, was born in Danby, N. Y., October 2, 1816, married September 2, 1841, Christina Maria Heath. She died August 15, 1842, and he married second Anna Eliza Schuyler, daughter of J. V. R. Schuyler, and they had four children, of whom our subject is the youngest.'

Tallmadge, Alanson, was born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, May 25, 1820, the only surviving child of five born to Seth and Bethenia Tallmadge. In 1830 the fam- ily came to West Groton, where the father was a cooper and farmer; but after a time they moved to Cayuga county, where Mr. Tallmadge died. Alanson was brought up to the cooper's trade, working at it several years, and teaching for a number of terms winters. In 1855 he bought the Gurnsey farm of eighty acres, on which he now lives. At that time it was considered unprofitable property, but Mr. Tallmadge, by good management and industry, has succeeded in making it one of the best and most productive farms in the town. The old buildings were long ago removed, and in their place are large and substantial structures. In 1843 Alanson Tallmadge mar- ried Melvina Weeks, by whom he had five children: Hanford J., of Ithaca, Edgar, of West Groton; Seymour, now in the West; Laura, wife of George Cutter; Ella M., and Lewis, of West Groton, and Chalmer, who died in infancy. Mrs. Tall- madge died July 14, 1860, and February 26, 1878, Mr. Tallmadge married widow Lorena B. Hatch, daughter of Daniel Buck of Lansing. Mr. Tallmadge is a Pro- hibitionist, and both he and his wife are members of the Lansing and Groton Bap- tist church.

Tallmadge, Edgar F., was born in Groton, January 22, 1849, and was the son of Alanson and Melvina Tallmadge. who were highly respected farmers of West Gro- ton. Until eighteen years of age Edgar lived on the farm; but then learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked during the summer and taught school during the winter. Upon two occasions he went West, remaining about a year each time ; but before returning home from his last trip he was stricken with paralysis and de- prived of the use of his limbs, About this time he began packing eggs for the mar- ket, his first season's output being about one barrel; but from this beginning the business has steadily increased until the annual shipment amounts to at least 4,000 crates. About 1883 the firm of Tallmadge Bros. was formed, and in addition to the egg business they became extensive apiarians, having now about 200 colonies of bees, their product, however, being principally extracted honey. We may say here that the business established by Edgar F. Tallmadge has been entirely successful, and an elegant home and all of its attending comforts are the reward of his industry. He married Alice Schenck, of East Lansing, and they have three children. Mr. Tall- madge is a Republican in politics, and at one time was town collector. Both he and his wife are members of the West Groton Congregational Church.

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Thompson, John C., was born in Ithaca, August 10, 1848. John L., his father, was a native of this county, born in Danby, and he has always followed farming. His wife was Julia A. Masterson, of this county, a daughter of Jacob Masterson, and they had five children, of whom our subject was the third. Our subject owns a farm of eighty-five acres, situated in Newfield. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry, Newfield Lodge, and is a Democrat in politics, being at present assessor of the town.

Taber, W. P., of Newfield, was born August 11, 1855, a son of Peleg Taber, who was born in Enfield in 1813, and has been a farmer all his life. In 1849 he settled on a farm of 101 acres, and in 1834 married Samantha Culver, of Enfield, by whom he had seven children, our subject being the youngest. He has followed the calling of his father, working his father's farm since the age of eighteen years. September 21, 1887, he married Mary L. Sebring, of this town, and they have two children, Ruth E. and Lawrence S. Mr. Taber is a Democrat.

Teeter, William H., was born in the town of Ithaca, December 18, 1852, on the old Teeter farm, owned by his father, Isaac Teeter. He received a district school edu- cation and has made farming his occupation. Mr. Teeter owns a farm of ninety-five acres four miles south of Ithaca-a good grain farin-and makes a specialty of to- bacco. He has four children. Minnie and Ernest by a former marriage. At the age of 35 years he married a daughter of James Oborn, of Wisconsin, and they have two children, Willis and Blanch.

Tichenor, William J., was born in the town of Hector, Tompkins county (now Schuyler) October 29, 1841, and came to reside in Ulysses with his parents when a child. He was educated in the district schools and Trumansburgh Academy. He was in the mercantile business three years and in the lumber business five years, and is now engaged in farming near the village of Trumansburgh. He is one of the town's most prosperous men, and is a trustee of the Methodist church. His first marriage occurred March 4, 1862, to Lovisa T., daughter of Ephraim S. Pratt, of

of this town. They had three children: Fred E., Huldah A. and Florence M. The son is a station agent on the Wisconsin Central Railway at the present time, and the daughters reside at home. Mr. Tichenor married the second time January 6, 1891, Mrs. Henrietta Proper, nee Collins, of Iowa. Ephraim S., father of our sub- ject, was born in Dutchess county, near Poughkeepsie, May 19, 1809, and came to Hector with his parents in 1818. December 29, 1831, he married Maria Meeks of that town, by whom he had four children: Erving C., Emily S., William J., and Benjamin F. Erving enlisted as a soldier in the late war, in Co. C, 50th Engineers, N. Y. Vols., and died at Washington, D. C., October 3, 1862. Emily S. married Eli- jah Anderson of Port Dover, Ont., where they now reside. Benjamin F. married Elizabeth Harpst, of Peoria, Ill., and they have one son, Frank H. Ephraim S. died December 27, 1889, and his wife September 17 of the same year. Our subject's first wife died September 24, 1889.

Thomas, H. D., was born in the town of Dryden December 22, 1836. Benjamin Thomas, his father, was a native of New York city, being left an orphan at an early age. He moved to Tompkins county in 1833 and took up farming. His son, H. D., worked with his father until 1861, when he and his brother took the farm at Dryden

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and worked it together till 1866. In this year he married Louisa Tripp, daughter of Daniel A. Tripp, of Harford, Cortland county, and moved to his present farm in the town of Caroline. They have three children: Charles E., Annie L. and Edith L. In politics Mr. Thomas is a Republican, though he has never aspired to public office. He has, however, served as highway commissioner one term.

Townley, Frank, one of Lansing's prominent young farmers, was born here Octo- ber 2, 1850, a son of John A., also a native of this town, born December 1, 1811. The grandfather was Lewis Townley, who came here with his parents when young. He married Hannah Alexander, by whom he had seven children, of whom the father of Frank was the second. At his father's death he came into possession of a portion of the homestead, and later bought the part on which the house where he was born stood. For fifty years it never had a death within its walls, and on this farm he reared his three children: Lewis J., Frank, and Fred A. His wife was Mary A. Godley, who still survives him. He died in 1892. Our subject was educated in the common schools until the age of about seventeen. He worked with his father until 1882, then bought the farm of ninety-four acres on lot seventy-one and began for himself. In 1881 he married Agnes, daughter of Charles G. and Fannie M. Hagin, of Lansing, and they have one child, Robin B., born January 20, 1887. Mr. Town- ley is a Republican and a member of the Lansingville Grange.

Stewart, Edwin C., was born in the town of Newfield, March 8, 1864, only son of D. B. Stewart. He was educated in the public and High School of Ithaca, and was for three years one of the proprietors of the Ithaca Cigar Manufacturing Co., after- wards conducting the John L. Whiton bakery for three years. Since 1890 he has been a member of the firm of D. B. Stewart & Co. Mr. Stewart is a Republican in politics and an active worker in the party, for four years being chairman of the Re- publican County Committee. In the fall of 1892 he was nominated by the party to represent his district in the State Assembly, and elected by a majority of 700. In legislative session 1893-94 he was a member of the Ways and Means, and Printing Committees. He offered the bill creating the State Veterinary College in Cornell, which was passed, appropriating $50,000. He also introduced the bill making ap- propriation to improve Cayuga Inlet ; a bill amending the military code in the inter- est of the Sons of Veterans; a bill permitting villages to create electric light plants, and other important measures. He is a member of Hobasco Lodge No. 716, F. & A. M., Eagle Chapter and Ithaca Council, St. Augustine Commandery. He is also a K. of P., and for eight years has been connected with the Tornado Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3.

Stout, Wilmer, was born on Salt Roads, town of Groton, November 11, 1844, a son of Abram Hart Stout, born in Dryden, who married Hannah Castle, and reared four children: Wesley, Wilmer, Algernon H. and Luther C. After his marriage he re- moved to the town of Groton and bought a small farm, which he sold later and moved to Lansing. He died in 1861, aged forty-eight, and his wife in 1889, aged seventy-four. The father of Abram was Peter Lott, and his mother was Wealthy Luther, natives of New Jersey. Wilmer was reared on the farm, and attended the district schools. He remained on the farm with his parents till the age of eighteen, when in 1862 he enlisted in Co. F, 9th Heavy Artillery, going with his company to Washington. He went from there to camp Nellie Seward, under command of

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Colonel Wellington, and they built Fort Baird. The next move was across the east- ern branch of the Potomac River to Fort Dupont, where they remained two months. He was engaged in the following battles: The Wilderness, Cold Harbor, in front of Petersburg, in front of Washington when Early made his raid, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. He was wounded at Cedar Creek, and removed to hospital at Philadelphia, where he remained about four months, when he returned to his regiment. He was discharged from McClelland's Hospital May 31, 1865, and returned home and engaged in farming, which he followed till 1872, when he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has since followed. In October, 1891, he received his commission as postmaster at Lansingville. In 1884 he married Lillian, only liv- ing daughter of William and Electa (Fuller) Miles, of Lock. She is one of six chil- dren, three of whom died in childhood. Our subject is a Republican. Mrs. Stout's family is one of the oldest in America and can be traced to the early Puritans of New England.

Snyder, George, was born on the Snyder homestead in the town of Dryden, October 16, 1842. His father, James Snyder, was a son of George Snyder, who was one of the earliest settlers in the town, coming in and settling about 1800. James Snyder, with his brother, Ira W. Snyder, owned the homestead in common and spent their lives side by side on the same property. Ira died in 1891 and James followed in 1893. James married at the age of twenty-seven, Maria Fulkerson, daughter of Josiah Fulkerson, and they were the parents of four children, three sons, George, Giles and Hiram, and one daughter, Emily J., of whom one son, George, is now living. George was educated in the common schools and finished at the Ithaca High School under Professor Williams. At the age of twenty-eight he married Sarah Albright, daughter of Jacob Albright, of Dryden. He takes the Republican side in politics and an active, intelligent interest in educational and religious matters. Our subject is a prominent man in his town, a descendant of one of the oldest families, who have always been connected with all the leading events of the town.

Sherwood, William W., was born in Groton February 14, 1832. His father, Wiliiam Sherwood, came to Dryden in 1833, and was employed in the Isaac Bishop mill, be- tween Etna and Varna. W. W. Sherwood was educated in the common schools, to which he has added through life by reading and close observation. After leaving school he went into his father's mill, and in 1858 rented a half interest in the mill, and the business was known and conducted by William and W. W. Sherwood. In 1866 he bought outright a one-half interest in the mill and at the death of William Sherwood, which occurred in 1889, the balance was purchased by W. W. Sherwood, which he afterward sold to John W. West. In 1881 he bought of Thomas R. Weed a residence in Etna, where he now resides. Also in 1889 he bought the old home- stead of fifty acres. He also owns a house and lot in Dryden village. At twenty- four years of age he married Miss Amy Gifford, daughter of Benjamin Gifford, of Dryden. They were the parents of one daughter, Miss Nellie L. Sherwood, a lovely girl, who was called away at the age of twelve years. Our subject has been com- missioner of highways in his town for three successive terms.

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Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University, Part 99

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