USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 27
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street (named in allusion to James Hill) in May, 1870 ; East ave- nue, originally known as "the mountain road," in September, 1840. Franklin street was so named by Hiram A. Beebe in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
BUILDING UP THE HAMLET .- Returning again to the period of pioneer history, it is proper to recall the names of some other of the early settlers on lot number twenty-three and its inmediate vicinity, the location in which the hamlet was established. In 1790 Emanuel Deuel settled in the north part of the village tract, and during the same year Captain Lemuel Brown came from Berk- shire county, Mass., and built the first tannery in the settlement, and one of the first in the Susquehanna valley. In 1791 Mason Webster, from Lenox, Mass., settled here. He died in 1854. Dr. Samuel Tinkham, the first physician, came in 1792, and Captain Mason Wattles, the pioneer merchant, in the same year. Captain Luke Bates came about the same time, possibly a year later, and in 1795 built the first tavern, that sure index of village settlement.
From undoubted authority it is known that in 1791 the settle- ment contained but six families, and during the next seven years the number must have increased nearly threefold, as in 1798, Guy Maxwell, assessor, noted nineteen houses, nearly all of which were built of logs. However, the then few residents determined to build up a village, and through the efforts of the leaders, James McMaster was persuaded, in consideration of ten pounds, to con- vey to Captain Mason Wattles, John McQuigg and Luke Bates, as "Trustees of Owego Settlement," a tract of land containing a little more than three acres for the purpose of a park.
The present village park, on which stands the court house, with the lands taken for Park and Court streets, together with the lands now occupied by the jail and sheriff's residence, the old clerk's office, and the old academy building, comprise substantially the three acres deeded to the trustees. Tracing briefly the subse- quent history of the park, we learn that on September 4, 1813, Eleazer Dana and John H. Avery succeeded trustees Bates and McQuigg, and on the removal of Captain Wattles from Owego, General Anson Camp was chosen his successor. That portion of the park tract occupied by the jail and clerk's office was conveyed by
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the trustees to the county, October 29, 1822, while the academy lot was in the same manner deeded to the trustees of that institution, April 8, 1828. Still later, on January 9, 1871, the citizens of Owego consented that the village deed to the county the public square for the exclusive purpose of a court house. The site was adopted by the supervisors, January 12, 1871; the legislature authorized the transfer January 20, 1871, and on February 14, following, the con- veyance was made.
OLD OWEGO MERCHANTS AND BUSINESS MEN .- When Captain Mason Wattles opened the first store in Owego, his stock in trade was limited to such merchandise as was actually necessary to the settlers. Goods and wares of all kinds were brought up the river from towns in Pennsylvania, and payment was made in lumber rafted down in spring and fall. The Susquehanna was the only outlet to this locality until the construction of the Owego and Ithaca road in 1808, and then Owego as a commercial centre began to assume a position of some prominence among the growing trade villages of this part of the state. After that road was completed large quantities of salt, plaster, and other commodities were brought down Cayuga lake by boat, thence drawn by team to Owego, and here loaded on arks and shipped down the river to market. The old turnpike was daily thronged with loaded wagons, and it is said that as many as eight hundred teams passed over the road in a single day. However, after the Erie canal was com- pleted all merchandise for Owego came by canal from New York to Cayuga lake and thence to Ithaca by boat ; thence was hauled with teams to Owego. The merchants travelled by stage, but mer- chandise was transported via Albany and the canal.
In Owego, as the surrounding country began to be settled, stores were built as the demand for them seemed to suggest. The early merchants were speculators, purchasing and dealing in lum- ber, salt, wheat, plaster, pot and pearl ashes, and much of their time in rafting season was spent on the river. The majority of them were successful, and from small beginnings accumulated fortunes, while a few were unfortunate and lost their entire capital.
The first stores in Owego were built on the river bank, and the
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water's edge was constantly lined with arks, which were loaded with wheat from "spouts" above. . A road extended along the shore, and was reached by alleys between the stores from the main street to the river bank. These alleys were private property, but after the fire of 1849 the ground was entirely covered with new brick buildings, and the former evidences of carly village life were forever obliterated.
The construction of the old horse railroad between Owego and Ithaca lessened travel on the turnpike. The road was built down through the park and extended up Front street beyond Church street and then turned to the right, down the bank of the river and thence down stream as far as was necessary to transfer the goods from the car to the arks.
Previous to 1834 sidewalks were unknown in Owego, and only an occasional flat stone was laid in front of either store or dwell- ing for the convenience of pedestrians. The first walk was that in front of James Dougherty's premises, in Lake street, but about the same time walks were laid in front of the residences of James and Harmon Pumpelly in Front street.
The first brick building erected was a double store, on the bank of the river, opposite the present Ahwaga Hall. It was built and owned by Jonathan Platt and David Turner, comprising the firm of Platt & Turner, who occupied half of it, while Gurdon Hewitt occupied the other half. At the time its construction was begun there was no brick building in this part of the state and much doubt was expressed as to its safety when completed. It was looked upon as a doubtful experiment and the local wiseacres fully believed that the winter frosts would disturb the foundations and that the whole structure would come tumbling to the ground. But it stood the storms and frosts of all years down to 1849, and then, with all the business portion of the village, was destroyed by fire.
Captain Mason Wattles was the first merchant in Owego, and was the owner of a large portion of the land whereon now stands the business part of the village. Where his store stood is a ques- tion of doubt, but was probably on the river bank just below Church street. He owned the entire square now bounded by
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Front, Lake, Main and Court streets, except the academy and jail lots. He also owned an acre lot at the east corner of Main street and North avenue, and another acre at the east corner of Lake and Front streets. He owned the tier of lots on both sides of Front street between Church and Paige streets, and many other lots in the residence part of the village. Captain Wattles was an active, energetic business man, prominently identified with the early history of the village, and wealthy for the period. Never- theless his business life here was unfortunate, and his property was sold by the sheriff in February, 1799. He then practised law for a time, was associate judge of Broome county from 1807 to 1812 and clerk of the same county from February 18, 1811, to Nov- ember 9, 1812. His house stood on the south side of Main street, a short distance east of North avenue. Captain Wattles removed from Owego to New York, where he died, in 1819.
Thomas Duane was the second merchant. He built a store and dwelling on the bank of the river a short distance east of Lake street. It was a frame building with a "lean-to, " and painted yellow. Mr. Duane came to the village in 1800, and with him also came a young man named Archibald White, who was for a short time his clerk. John Laning was afterward Mr. Duane's clerk. Mr. Duane originally came from Kingston, N. Y., and for many years lived in the east part of the village. Mr. White married with Nancy, daughter of Dr. Elisha Ely, of Owego, (settled here 1798), and their daughter, Maria P., married with Elihu Parmen- ter. Mr. White died of yellow fever in New York city. Harry Duane, son of Thomas, was also an early village merchant, and one of the firm of McQuigg & Dnane. They were in business from 1812 to 1822, on the west side of Lake street, two doors front Front.
John Hollenback, the son of George Hollenback, of Mill Creek, Penna., came to Owego in 1801 or '2, and began a general mercan- tile business on the south side of Front street, above Lake street. He was a man of frugal habits, but of great business capacity. He frequently slept in the store, his bed being a side of sole leather. In 1813 or '14 he had a lease of the Montezuma and Onondaga salt works, and in the year last mentioned had all the salt that
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was in the market in arks on the river at Port Deposit, Md. It was held at from $16 to $20 a barrel, and had the war continued a few months longer, his profits would have been very large, but the declaration of peace cost our enterprising merchant about $20,000. Soon afterward Mr. Hollenback opened a hardware and tin store in James Pumpelly's building on the north side of Front street, west of Paige street. The upper part of the building was used as a printing office by Stephen B. Leonard. About 1832 Mr. Hollenback moved to Judge Drake's store in Front street, op- posite Lake, and soon afterward to Main street, opposite North avenue. In 1840 he removed to the Camp store, below the bridge in Front street, and soon afterward to Charles Pumpelly's old store, opposite the Owego hotel, where he was in business at the time of his death, June 13, 1847. John Hollenback by his will left the greater portion of his property to his nephew, the late George W. Hollenback, who for many years had almost entire charge of his uncle's extensive lumber business on the river.
Among the early business men who by their works and acts, by their enterprise, progressiveness and industry, helped to lay the foundation for future success and prosperity in which the whole town was benefited, was that bearing the surname Pumpelly. John Pumpelly, the immediate ancestor of the family in Owego, served with honor as a soldier in the American army during the last French and Indian war, and was at the side of the gallant Wolfe when he fell mortally wounded before the walls of Quebec, in 1759. In the month of May, 1802, John Pumpelly, his wife, and five of their children, James, Harmon, William, Harriet (who married with David McQuigg), and Maria (afterward Mrs. Abner Beers), removed from Salisbury, Conn., to Beers's settlement, in Tompkins county, N. Y. Here John Pumpelly died in 1820, aged ninety-three years.
James Pumpelly, eldest son of John, born at Salisbury, Conn., December 20, 1775, was a surveyor and came to Owego in 1802. He surveyed into lots of two acres each the land whereon the vil- lage was subsequently built up. He then surveyed the West-half township into lots of 143 acres each, being assisted in this work by his younger brothers, William and Harmon. Subsequently
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Mr. Pumpelly became agent for large tracts of land in Owego and elsewhere in the vicinity, owned by non-resident proprietors, and as well invested largely in lands on his own account. Indeed, he was for many years regarded as one of the most extensive opera- tors in the region, and also as one of the most enterprising men of the county ; and it was chiefly through his efforts, assisted by able associates, that Owego attained so great a prominence among the villages of the state during the early years of the century. He was the first village president after incorporation, in 1827, and held that office five consecutive years. He was member of assem- bly for Broome county in 1810 (Owego then being in that county), and it was largely through his influence that the first academy building was erected, in 1827. He was the first president of the board of trustees of that institution, and held the office several years. James Pumpelly died in Owego, October 4, 1844, leaving two sons, George J. and Frederick H. Pumpelly ; and two daugh- ters, Mrs. Ezekiel Lovejoy and Mrs. William H. Platt.
Charles Pumpelly was born at Salisbury, Conn., in 1780, and came to Owego in the winter of 1802-3. He was a lumberman and merchant, an extensive business man and successful dealer. Moreover, he was interested in all the public measures proposed for the welfare of the village and its people, and earnestly support- ed them with his means and influence. He was supervisor of the town in 1809 and '10, and also from 1821 to 1824, inclusive. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1821, and repre- sented Tioga county in the assembly in 1825. He died in Owego, January 6, 1855.
William Pumpelly came to Owego in 1805 and was in the em- ploy of his brother in surveying the McMaster half-township and other tracts. About 1815 he began business in the village, suc- cessor to Sparrow & Crocker, and continued until 1844, when he retired. He was born in Salisbury, Conn., June 17, 1789, and died in Owego, November 17, 1876. His sons are John Pumpelly, of Albany, and Professor Raphael Pumpelly, a distinguished geolo- gist and mineralogist, of Newport, Rhode Island.
Harmon Pumpelly was born at Salisbury, Conn., August 1, 1795, and came to Owego from Tompkins county. He also assisted his
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brother James in land surveying in this locality, but later engaged in lumbering, at which he amassed a fortune. He, too, was a prominent factor in early life in the town and village, and was one of the first board of trustees of the corporation, and was re- elected four times. In 1835 he was president of the village. In 1841 he removed to Albany, and was a prominent figure in finan- cial circles. He died there September 29, 1882.
Col. David Pixley was one of the foremost men of the county during the pioneer period of its history. His title was real, and his military honors were earned on the battlefields of the revolu- tion. His commission as colonel in the colonial army bore the date of July 1, 1775, and also bore the famous signature of John Hancock. Col. Pixley first came to the Chenango river in 1786 as one of six commissioners representing. Massachusetts sent to ex- tinguish the Indian title to the Boston purchase. He came to Owego in 1791, at the age of 51 years, and from that time to liis death, August 25, 1807, he was identified with many of the prom- inent events of the county history. He built the first tavern in Tioga county, on the west side of Owego creek ; and the old build- ing still stands. He also built the first grist mill in the vicinity, west of the creek, near the old Indian spring. In 1802 Col. Pixley sold his interests in Tioga and removed to the Owego settlement, where he died.
John Laning, better known as General Laning, opened a store in Owego in 1803, partner with Guy Maxwell. They were also engaged in lumbering and were extensive land owners on Owego creek. Their mercantile partnership was dissolved in 1807, and four years later Gen. Laning purchased the real estate and saw mill, and continued the entire business. The store was kept in the bar room of the old Franklin House, which stood at the north- east corner of Front and Court streets. Among General Laning's clerks were Asa H. Truman, Jonathan Platt and Benjamin Dur- ham, all of whom afterward became active business men. Gen. Laning was the father of John C. Laning and Mrs. John J. Tay- lor. He was a successful business man, dealing extensively, and at one time had five hundred teams drawing plaster from Cayuga lake to Owego. His large storehouse was on the bank of the river,
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just above where the bridge now stands, and from this building the plaster was loaded into arks for shipment down the river. Gen. Laning met an accidental death in his store on February 12, 1820.
Dr. Samuel Tinkham, of whom an extended sketch will be found in the medical chapter, was for several years a merchant in Owego, his store standing on the second lot below the entrance to the bridge. Dr. Tinkham was both merchant and physician. David P. Tinkham, son of Dr. Tinkham, did a general mercantile busi- ness in the village, in a store standing at the northwest corner of Lake and Front streets.
General Oliver Huntington was the pioneer of the drug business, and, withal, one of the most substantial men in the village in his day. He was born December 22, 1771, and came to Owego as early as 1801, and was clerk for Thomas Duane. Three years later he opened a drug store at the northeast corner of Lake and Front streets, and from that time he was a permanent resident. He was also an extensive shipper on the river, dealing in produce of vari- ous kinds. He lived in a little red house on the east side of North avenue, where in later years stood James Dean's brick store. In 1812 Mr. Huntington was commissioned brigadier-general of the 41st brigade, New York infantry. In 1815 he was appointed sheriff of Broome county, and was re-appointed in 1816. Hunting- ton creek, the north boundary of the village, was named in allu- sion to Gen. Huntington. He died in Owego, November 13, 1823.
William, Nathan, Anson and Hermon Camp came to Owego from New Preston, Conn., in 1804, or '5, accompanied by their half sister (who became the wife of Stephen B. Leonard) and her mother Mrs. Sperry. William and Nathan began a general mer- cantile business, on the south side of Front street, below the bridge, and opposite Cameron's corner. Nathan died May 19, 1819, and William continued the business. He was associate judge of Broome county in 1812 and again in 1817, but on May 5, 1826, he was killed by the explosion of the boiler of the steamboat Susquehannah, at Nescopeck Falls, opposite Berwick, Penna. Na- than Camp was a man of literary tastes and founded the village library. His sons were George, Frederick and Nathan.
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Anson Camp started a pottery in the village, but later went into business as a hatter. He was active in military affairs and a prominent democratic politician. He was brigadier-general of the 41st brigade of infantry; was elected to the assembly in 1825, was president of the village in 1832 and '33, and held the office of supervisor five terms. He never married. Gen. Camp died in Owego, March 22, 1838.
Hermon Camp went from Owego to Trumansburg to take charge of a branch store opened by his brothers in 1805, and he afterward became a prominent man of Tompkins county. He was the second postmaster at Trumansburg and held the office eighteen years. He was also sheriff and member of assembly, and for sev- eral years president of the Tompkins County Bank. He died June 8, 1878.
Major Horatio Ross, who came to Owego from Frederick, Md., in 1805, and began business as a merchant, is said to have then possessed $90,000. He was accompanied by two of his sisters. and also by several slaves. He erected a large store building on Front street, and was in active business several years, but dis- aster came later on and he failed in 1818. His old store was burned in the winter of 1826-27. After the failure the store was occupied by William D. Coit, general merchant. Major Ross was deputy county clerk five years. He died in Owego in 1828.
Jonathan Platt, Jr., son of Major Jonathan Platt, was clerk in Gen- eral Laning's store in 1805, but in 1810 began business as general merchant in the building known for many years as the "Goodman Coffee House," near the corner of Front and Court streets. Among his partners in later years were Ansel Goodrich, Gurdon Hewitt, David Turner and James Ely. Mr. Platt was in active business until 1849, when he retired. In 1820, with David Turner, he built the "red mills." In local affairs he was also prominent; was vil- lage trustee at the time of incorporation in 1827, and frequently afterward, and was president of the board in 1834. He was for several years president of the old Bank of Owego. Platt & Tur- ner were extensive .dealers in lumber and grain, and built the double brick store opposite the Ahwaga house. The firm dissolved in 1835, and Mr. Ely succeeded Mr. Turner. The firm of Platt
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& Ely, among their various enterprises, conducted an iron foun- dry in company with Ephraim Leach, at Leach's Mills, in Tioga.
David Turner was the son of Abner Turner, one of the pioneers on Owego creek. David began business about 1818, when he pur- chased Charles Talcott's stock of goods. Mr. Talcott was at that time in business in "Cauldwell Row," on the north side of Front street. Mr. Turner died in Owego, March 30, 1861.
John R. Drake, of whom a more extended sketch will be found in the Bench and Bar chapter, came to Owego in 1809, and began business in the store in Front street previously occupied by Dr. Tinkham, adjoining the store kept by William and Nathan Camp, Later on Judge Drake built a large store further up Front street, directly opposite Lake street, and here he dealt in all commercial wares of the day, except whiskey .. In front of this store he laid the first stone sidewalk in the village, and he was one of the first merchants to use lamps for lighting his store. In 1830 he sold his drug stock to Dr. Fay, and soon afterward retired from active mercantile business. Judge Drake built the Rollin block, at the northwest corner of Lake and Front streets, in which was "Con- cert Hall." In the great fire of 1849, nine stores owned by him were burned. He also built the "Hand mills," on the south side of the river, and which he sold to his partner, James Pumpelly.
William A. Ely, for fifty years a prominent business man in Owego, began as clerk for Gen. Huntington in the drug store, but later on became a merchant in Cauldwell row. He was senior member in the well known firm of Ely Brothers, which was dis- solved in May, 1830, and was succeeded by Col. Daniel A. Ely, at the brick store in Front street, about half way between the bridge and Lake street. William A. Ely was a member of the first board of village trustees, and supervisor of the town thirteen terms. He died November 27, 1863.
Daniel Ely was for many years an active business man of the village, and was postmaster from February 4, 1842, to November 25, 1844, he having died on the day last mentioned. James Ely was born in Owego, in 1809, and was the junior member of the firm. He was supervisor four terms, and member of assembly in 1851. He removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., and died there De-
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cember 20, 1862. William and James Ely built and for several years occupied the two-story frame building on the south side of Main street, opposite North avenue. The building was afterward occupied, in succession, by John Hollenback, E. B. Hurlburt and John Cameron.
Dr. Jedediah Fay, in company with Joseph L. Lynde, opened a general store in Owego, in December, 1812, under the firm name of J. Fay & Co., at the northwest corner of Lake and Front streets, but later removed to a building erected by Dr. Fay, the same after- ward occupied by David P. Tinkham. In 1815 Lemuel Brown succeeded Mr. Lynde, but after several years the new firm failed, and Dr. Fay then took charge of Judge Drake's business. In 1830 he purchased a stock of drugs, which he removed to the store now occupied by Goodrich & Co. In 1835 Dr. Fay erected the three- story brick building on the site of Ahwaga hall, with his residence above and the old Bank of Owego on the ground floor. In the same building was his drug store, where he was in business until his death, April 23, 1848. He was succeeded by his sons George W. and Frederick J. Fay. The building was burned in 1849, and was replaced with Ahwaga hall, the first mercantile structure ยท erected after the fire.
Col. Amos Martin opened a store in Candor in 1814, and in 1816 came to Owego and occupied a home which stood on the ground now occupied by Robert Bindler's house, in Park street, the front part of which he used as a store. In 1819 he leased the old Good- man coffee house, afterward known as the Franklin house, and was both merchant and landlord. In 1823 Lewis Manning became landlord, and in 1827 Col. Martin moved his store to the building formerly occupied by J. Fay & Co. He was a merchant in Owego to the time of his death, May 14, 1835. Col. Martin built the Owego academy in 1828.
Charles Talcott, the son of Elizur Talcott, acquired his business education as clerk in Major Ross's store, but in 1816 began for himself in Cauldwell row. In 1818 he built the "yellow store " in Front street, which was burned in 1849. In 1831, George B. Good- rich began as clerk in the yellow store, and in 1837 became Mr. Talcott's partner, under the firm style of G. B. Goodrich & Co., a
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