USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 30
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Independent Engine company, No. 5, was organized December 29, 1853. Wave hose disbanded November 6, 1854, and many of its members joined Independents. The latter disbanded in 1855. However, on December 11, 1854, Wave hose company reorganized, and continued in existence until March 26, 1860, and again dis- solved.
303
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
Young America Independent Engine Co., No. 6, was organized in June, 1857, but disbanded during the war.
Defiance Hook and Ladder company was organized January 14, 1859, and during the summer and fall of 1861, the village erected the building standing on the south side of Front street, opposite Church street, which is still used for fire department purposes. In the fall of 1865, this company disbanded, but reorganized Sep- tember 7.
Defiance Junior Hook and Ladder Co., No. 5, was organized in the fall of 1860, and disbanded in 1865.
Wave Hose company was revived and reorganized March 26, 1860.
"The Owego Fire Department " was incorporated by an act of the legislature, passed April 17, 1862, and its management thereby became vested in a board of trustees, constituted as follows : Charles Ogden and Jonathan S. Houk, of Susquehanna No. 1; William H. S. Bean and John W. Kennedy, of Wave No. 2; Edward Forman and Edward Legg, of Croton No. 3; and Ham- lin Jones and George A. Madill of Defiance No. 5. The trustees organized by electing George A. Madill, president ; Charles Ogden, vice-president ; Wm. H. S. Bean, secretary, and Edward Forman, treasurer.
From this time the affairs of the department were established on a more secure and permanent basis, and later years were a period of advancement until the Owego fire department came to be regarded among the best volunteer organizations of its kind in the state, a reputation fully upheld and maintained to the present day.
Ahwaga Steam Fire Engine company was organized May 9, 1866, and on June 10, following, the first steamer arrived in Owego. It was a second class Amoskeag, and cost $4,500.
Tioga Hose company No. 7 was organized September 13, 1869, and disbanded in 1874.
Eagle Hose company No. 4, was organized May 16, 1870, and occupied the same room with Ahwaga No. 6. Eagle Hose dis- banded in 1873, and the company was at once (July 15) reorganized by George B. Purple. Eagle Hose has since been in existence, but
304
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
under changed conditions. In 1886 the company resolved into Protectives No. 4, one of the most efficient branches of the depart- ment.
In June, 1874, the village purchased the Earsley lot in Talcott street, and moved to it a large frame building for use as quarters for Croton Engine company. A new hose cart was purchased for a reorganized company, which was effected July 7, 1874. This, too, has been one of the enduring companies of the local depart- ment and is still in existence.
The interior of the engine house in Main street was seriously injured by fire in the morning of February 1, 1874. The work of repairing was completed in November following.
Ahwaga Steam Fire Engine company, old organization, dis- banded in the fall of 1877, and October 2, following was reor- ganized, and now known as No. 6, is a part of the present fire de- partment.
Thus the fire department of Owego comprises six well drilled and equipped companies, known respectively, as Susquehanna No. 1, Wave No. 2, Croton No. 3, Protectives No. 4, Defiance Hook and Ladder No. 5, and Ahwaga No. 6.
The officers of the department are Ellis M. Crandell, chief en- gineer ; Michael J. Sweeney, 1st assistant engineer ; B. N. Hub- bard, 2d assistant engineer ; Frank S. Bloodgood, treasurer ; Owen T. Moloney, secretary.
The chief engineers of the department have been as follows :
1844-45-John J. Taylor. 1855-Thos. Farrington. 1877-Richard Loader. 1846-Nathaniel W. Davis.
1856-57-Sylvenus Fox. 1878-81-George B. Purple. 1847-Sylvenus Fox. 1858-60-Nath'l W. Davis. 1882-Frank M. Baker. 1848-Thos. I. Chatfield. 1861-John C. Laning. 1883-84-Albert H. Keeler.
1849-51 -- Jos. S. DeWitt.
1862-64-Wm. Smyth. 1885-88 -- Fred S. Hodge.
1852 George H. Smith. 1865-69 -- Jos. S. De Witt. 1889-90-Otis S. Beach.
John C. Laning. 1870-73-Chas. F. Hill. 1891-92-Eugene F. Barton.
ยง John C. Laning. 1873-74 -E. H. House.
1893 -- James J. Leahy.
1853 Benj. F. Tracy. 1875-Albert H. Keeler. 1854-Dr. Ezra B. Sprague. 1876-Chas. M. Hay wood.
1894-95 -- Chas. B. Dugan. 1896 -- Ellis M. Crandell.
CEMETERIES .- A way back in the pioneer days of the town, and about the time James McMaster conveyed to the trustees of Owego Settlement the park tract, the inhabitants started a little burying ground on the site afterward used in part for the old academy.
305
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
Here, too, if tradition be true, once stood a little meeting-house, built before the settlers were numerous enough to exercise denom- inational preference, and built because they were taught to keep sacred the Sabbath day and knew it was right to meet for public worship. Therefore it was only natural that the large plat of ground around the meeting house should be used for burial pur- poses. In later years, after Charles Pumpelly sold a lot to the trustees of the Presbyterian society, in 1817, the church yard in rear of the edifice was niade a cemetery, to which were removed many of the bodies formerly buried in the Court street lot ; but not all were removed, for in still later years the pupils of the acad- emy occasionally discovered human bones which had in some man- ner come to the surface. After this the trustees caused a quantity of earth to be spread over the ground to cover up any other exposed bones.
The churchyard was the village burying ground until Evergreen cemetery tract was purchased and laid out, in 1851 and years fol- lowing. This beautiful "silent city " is situated on a command- ing eminence in the north part of the village, overlooking east and west the charming valley of the Susquehanna, while away to the north stretches the delightful sloping lands bordering on Owego creek. About the same time-possibly a few years earlier-the parish of St. Patrick's church opened a cemetery at the foot of the hill and not far distant from the entrance to Evergreen, but in later years the church officiary secured other and more suitable grounds for a cemetery, across the creek in the town of Tioga.
COBURN FREE LIBRARY .- More than half a century before the legislature incorporated this worthy institution, a good library was maintained in the old district school, which stood on the site of the present Temple street grammar school building, and when the dis- trict became a part of the consolidated union district both build- ing and library were village property. Thus was established the Free Academy library, the books being kept in the Temple street building for several years afterward.
The Owego Library Association was formed with the approval of John M. Parker, Justice of the Supreme court, December 1, 1873, with Henry B. Napier, Frank M. Baker, William A. Smyth,
306
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Charles P. Starr and LeRoy W. Kingman, board of managers. On organization these officers were elected : William Smyth, president ; J. B. Brush, vice-president ; Frank M. Baker, chair- man of board of managers ; Henry B. Napier, treasurer ; LeRoy W. Kingman, secretary.
Under the law, and by authority of an act of the legislature, the association became entitled to receive twenty-five per cent of the excise moneys for library purposes, and the same has ever since been applied to this use although the association has passed out of existence. On December 5, 1873, the board of school com- missioners transferred the books of the academy library to the association, and they were thereupon removed from the Temple street building to the rooms of the association, in James Bishop's building, in North avenue, near Main street. As the efforts to sustain a free public library and reading room were not properly encouraged and sustained by the public, the library association, in August, 1875, returned the books, etc., to the school commission- ers, who again assumed control of the library property and re- moved it to the residence of Mrs. E. Daniels, in Main street. Here the library was kept until the completion of the new court house, and the removal thereto of the county clerk's books and records, upon which the school commissioners removed the library to the clerk's office building in Court street, where it has ever since been maintained.
The Coburn Free Library was incorporated by an act of the legislature, passed and approved February 18, 1895, and by which the board of school commissioners, and Aaron P. Storrs and H. Austin Clark, were created a body corporate and politic, by the name of the "Coburn Free Library at Owego," with power to sue and be sued, to receive and hold money, property, and bequests, for the purposes implied by the creating act.
By his will the late Andrew Coburn, of Owego, left the income of his estate to the use of his brother, George W. Coburn, of Chi- cago, and his wife, for life, and after their death to be used in founding a free library in Owego, to be known as the "Andrew Coburn Library." It was the desire of the testator that the Owego free library should be changed and the whole merged into one
307
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
large library, but as the village library was not incorporated, the change was impossible, hence the act constituting the corporation. The board of school commissioners in 1895 comprised Friend G. Newell, John T. Greenleaf, John B. Stanbrough, William H. Ellis, Watson L. Hoskins and James M. Hastings. Aaron P. Storrs and H. Austin Clark were the executors of Andrew Coburn's will.
Andrew Coburn was born October 24, 1821, in Warren, Bradford county, Penna. He was a son of Andrew Coburn, and his mother's maiden name was Maria W. D. Case. Mr. Coburn resided with his parents at Warren until the death of his father, in 1839. The following year Mrs. Coburn and her five children came to Owego to reside, which place continued to be Mr. Coburn's home until his death, November 25, 1894, except a temporary residence in the south. Mr. Coburn in early life commenced the study of law with the late Judge John M. Parker, but was obliged to abandon it on account of his health. For many years, in company with his brother, Ebenezer, he conducted a photograph gallery in Owego. He was one of the first members of the board of school commis- sioners named in the act establishing the union school system, and was afterward elected for two terms of three years each, in 1865 and 1868. He was also clerk of said board for several years, and was greatly interested in educational and religious institutions. At the time of his death he was an elder in the First Presbyterian church, having held that office since 1877. He never married.
Andrew Coburn to the present time is Owego's greatest bene- factor. By his last will and testament, after properly providing for his kinsmen and those who cared for him in his declining years, he gave the remainder of his property, about twenty thou- sand dollars, for a free public library, which, as he directed, has been incorporated (Chap. 22, Laws of 1895.) This corporation will receive, upon the death of Mr. Coburn's brother, the above legacy, which will be appreciated by the people of Owego, and be a last- ing monument to his memory. In a quiet and unpretentious way, in perfect keeping with Mr. Coburn's nature, he has done with his property, that which he so often expressed as his desire, namely, "To benefit the rising generations and do the greatest good to the greatest number."
308
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
BANKING IN OWEGO. - On May 21, 1836, the old Bank of Owego, with a capital of $200,000, was incorporated by the legislature ; and for the purpose of receiving subscriptions to the stock the act designated a committee comprising Henry McCormick, Anson Higbee, Daniel S. Dickinson, Henry W. Camp, John Jackson, Otis Lincoln, Samuel Barager, Stephen Strong, and Arthur Yates. On the organization of the board of directors, Gurdon Hewitt was chosen president and a Mr. Babcock cashier of the bank, but later on Jonathan Platt became president and Mr. Hewitt cashier, hold- ing those positions several years. William Pumpelly succeeded Mr. Platt as president, and was, in turn, succeeded by Mr. Hewitt, who came into the management a second time about 1853 or '54. Lyman Truman was the last president of the bank, elected in 1856, and continued as such until the old institution finally merged in the First National Bank, of which he was the first president.
The bank began business on the second floor of Gurdon Hewitt's store, on the south side of Front street, but after a short time moved across to a frame building which stood on the site now occupied by the Tioga National bank, which was burned in the fire of 1849. Then the bank at once began the erection of a brick building at the corner of Front and Church streets, and in the meantime did business in one of the front rooms of cashier James Wright's house, the same now occupied by Gurdon Hewitt. After several years the bank was removed to the building then recently vacated by the Bank of Tioga, where it continued throughout the period of its existence, and where its successor, the First National, still does business.
The First National Bank of Owego, No. 1019, the direct out- growth of the old Bank of Owego, was organized under the na- tional banking act January 6, 1865; capital, $100,000. The directors were Arba Campbell, Lyman Truman, Gurdon Hewitt, John B. Brush, Orin Truman, Thomas M. Nichols, William P. Stone, George B. Goodrich, John B. G. Babcock, and George Truman. The offi- cers were Lyman Truman, president, and John B. Brush, cashier.
Mr. Truman was president of the bank until his death, March 21, 1881, and was succeeded by his brother, George Truman, the present president, Mr. Brush was cashier until May 10, 1880,
309
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
then succeeded by Orin Truman, who died September 30, 1885. William S. Truman was then elected to the cashiership.
The First National has for years been regarded as one of the safe and well conducted financial institutions of the southern tier, and its record discloses a remarkable freedom from disaster. It has a present surplus of $20,000, while the undivided profit account is $13,000. But, best of all, this bank, during the period of its his- tory, has paid back to stockholders in extra dividends seventy-five per cent of its capital.
The present officers are George Truman, president ; William H. Ellis, vice-president ; William S. Truman. cashier ; and directors, Gurdon Hewitt, William H. Ellis, S. W. Leach, George Truman, William S. Truman, Frederick C. Hewitt, Gilbert T. Truman, Orin T. Gorman, George Truman, Jr.
The Bank of Tioga, an associated free bank, was organized and opened its doors for business in Owego village, June 14, 1856, with a capital of $100.000. John J. Taylor was its first president and continued in that position so long as the bank was in active busi- ness. James Wright was the cashier, but was eventually suc- ceeded by Charles Platt. Late in his history Mr. Taylor's stock was purchased by Mr. Platt, whereupon Mr. Taylor retired from the presidency.
The association filed articles of incorporation June 18, 1856, and named as corporators : James Wright, John J. Taylor, Thomas I. Chatfield, Jonathan Platt, Hiram Smith, Edwin A. Booth, Lorin Booth, Franklin Slosson, F. E. Platt, H. N. Hubbard, Robert Cam- eron, J. J. Springsteen, W. Ransom, James B. House, John Cameron, Charles Platt, and C. F. Wells.
This bank began business in the building now occupied as Brock- way's printing office, on the south side of Front street, but later on removed to the building erected for its use on the north side of the street, now owned by the First National bank. The Bank of Tioga was not a specially profitable financial institution, and was finally merged into the National Union Bank, which also had only a brief existence and suspended business.
The Tioga National bank was organized in January, 1865, with a capital of $100,000, and began business April 1, following. The
310
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
first board of directors comprised Thomas C. Platt, Daniel M. Pitcher, Aaron P. Storrs, Thomas I. Chatfield, William S. Lincoln, John F. Brown, Luther B. West, Frederick E. Platt, and Charles Platt. The first officers were Thomas C. Platt, president ; Wm. S. Lincoln, vice-president, and Frederick E. Platt, cashier. H. Austin Clark succeeded Mr. Lincoln as vice-president, but no other change has been made in the personnel of the management of the bank.
This bank has also become one of the safe institutions of Owego, and has done a successful business from the day its doors were first opened to the public. The undivided profit account has a credit of $12,000 ; the surplus is $20,000, and during its history the bank has paid $250,000 in dividends. The present directors are Thomas C. Platt, H. Austin Clark, S. B. Davidge. Aaron P. Storrs, A. W. Clinton, George Truman, Jr., Frank M. Baker, Eli W. Stone, and Frederick E. Platt.
The Owego National Bank, No. 2996, was organized May 29, 1883, with the following board of directors : George B. Goodrich, Charles E. Parker, Charles C. Ely, Dr. Carlton R. Heaton, Albert J. Kenyon, Rev. William H. King, James Hill, Ransom B. Dean, Benj. F. Tracy, J. B. Winters, Dr. Warren L. Ayer, Elijah B. Waldo, and Clarence A. Thompson. The officers then elected were George B. Goodrich, president ; Charles E. Parker, vice- president ; Dr. C. R. Heaton, second vice-president ; Clarence A. Thompson, cashier.
The bank opened its doors in August, 1883, in Lake street, near Front, and from that time until the present has conducted busi- ness. Mr. Goodrich was president until his death, in 1885, and Judge Parker was elected to fill the vacancy January 12, 1886. He was succeeded by Daniel M. Pitcher, January 10, 1888. Ran- som B. Dean was elected vice-president in place of Judge Parker, and was, in turn, succeeded by James Davidge in January, 1890. May 31, 1890, cashier Clarence A. Thompson was superseded by A. H. Upton, who held the position seven months, and was fol- lowed, in January, 1891, by Edward O. Eldredge.
The present directors are Daniel M. Pitcher, James Davidge, Dr. Warren L. Ayer, H. Austin Clark, W. N. Richards, E. B.
311
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
Waldo, J. F. De Groat, and Edward O. Eldredge. The officers are D. M. Pitcher, president ; James Davidge, vice-president ; E. O. Eldredge, cashier. The bank's capital has always been 850,000. The present surplus and undivided profit account is $15,000.
ECCLESIASTICAL .- As early as the year 1790 Revs. Nathan Kerr and Joshua Hart were appointed by the New York general assem- bly of the Presbyterian church to preach the gospel in the south- western portion of the state. Tradition has it that one or both of these worthy missionary laborers visited Owego in that year, but no record of their services is found, nor is the place of the early meetings knowu to any present resident. It is known, however, that soon after James McMaster deeded the park tract to the trus- tees the inhabitants united their efforts and constructed a little log meeting-house about on the site of the old academy building, and here public worship was maintained at the general expense for several years, until a society was regularly organized. During the period from 1790 to 1803, several other missionary ministers visited the settlement, and prominent among them was Rev. Seth Williston, who became settled pastor of the first religious organi- zation.
The First Presbyterian Church of Owego was the outgrowth of the primitive services and meetings referred to in the preced- ing paragraph, although it was not until the year 1817 that any formal church organization was effected, and then Congregational both in form and government. The first society organiztion was made August 7, 1810, and Solomon Jones, Caleb Leach, Abraham Hoagland, William Camp, James Pumpelly and Eleazer Dana were chosen trustees. On July 24, 1817, the informal society be- came a regular organization of the Congregational church, with eleven constituent members. under the care of the presbytery of Cayuga, after August, 1817, and was so continued until the creation of the presbytery of Tioga. In July, 1831, the church abandoned its Congregational form and became Presbyterian. The early ser- vices were held at the schoolhouse in Main street, near McMaster, but in 1819 a small church edifice was erected at the northeast corner of Temple street and North avenue. This building was torn down in 1854, and in its place was built the large, ample edi-
312
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
fice now occupied by the society. Near it stands the session house, while in rear is the old church yard wherein lie buried the remains of many of the pioneers, both of village and town, the founders of the church and of other substantial institutions of the region. The pastors, ministers and supplys of this church from its earliest history to the present time have been as follows:
1790-1803, Nathan Kerr, Joshua Hart, Seth Williston: 1803, William Clark ; 1810, Daniel Loring ; 1817, Hezekiah May, 1818- 27, Horatio Lombard ; 1827-31, Aaron Putnam ; 1832-41, Charles White ; 1842-46, Samuel C. Wilcox ; 1846-47, Seth Williston, D.D .; 1847-55, Philip C. Hay, D.D .; 1855-56, Samuel H. Cox, D.D .; 1857- 64, Samuel H. Hall ; 1864-69, Solon Cobb ; 1870-75, Samuel T. Clark : 1876-82, L. Allen Ostrander ; 1883-85, William H. Gill ; 1885-96, Alexander Cameron Mackenzie.
The present membership of the church is 400, and in the Sun- day school are 250 pupils ; superintendent, A. S. Parmelee.
The First Methodist Episcopal church of Owego dates back in its history to about the year 1813, when John Griffin formed a class for religious worship and teaching. Yet it was not until the year 1817 that the society and church organization were perfected, and five years later, during the pastorate of Elder Payne, a frame house of worship was erected at the southeast corner of Main and Academy streets. The society meetings previous to 1822 were held in the schoolhouse in Main street. The present large and comfortable brick church edifice in Main street was erected in 1870.
Previous to about 1840 this church formed a part of a circuit comprising two or more M. E. churches, under a single pastorate, and there is no certain means of learning the names of pastors of earlier date. Still, in this connection may be mentioned pastors Seth Mattison, 1818; Ebenezer Doolittle, 1819; Horace Agard, 1822 ; John D. Gilbert, 1823. The pastors since 1840 have been as follows : Robert Fox, 1840; A. J. Crandall, 1841-42; F. H. Stan- ton, 1843-44 ; Wm. Reddy, 1845 ; Wm. H. Pearne, 1846-47 ; A. J. Dana, 1848-50 ; J. M. Snyder, 1851-52 ; G. P. Porter, 1853-54; G. H. Blakeslee, 1855-56 ; B. W. Gorham, 1856-57 ; John J. Pierce, 1858; Geo. M. Peck, 1859 ; S. W. Weiss, 1860 ; G. P. Porter, 1861-62 ; D. A. Shepard, 1863; E. R. Keyes, 1864; W. B. West-
313
VILLAGE OF OWEGO.
lake, 1865-67 ; Henry Wheeler, 1868-70 ; Wm. Bixby, 1871-72 ; J. O. Woodruff, 1873-75 ; A. D. Alexander. 1876-78 ; E. W. Caswell, 1879-81 ; Geo. W. Miller, 1882-83 ; Geo. Forsyth, 1884-86 ; Wm. M. Hiller, 1887-88 ; P. R. Hawxhurst, 1889-91 ; J. F. Warner, 1892- 94 ; M. D. Fuller, 1895, the present pastor.
The Owego M. E. church, as commonly called, has 515 men- bers, and in its Sunday school are about 300 pupils ; superinten- dent, Dayton M. Sanford.
The First Baptist church of Owego was organized September 20, 1831, by thirty persons, who were assembled together in Cham- berlain's wagon shop, at the corner of Main and Park streets, on the lot where now stands Dr. Heaton's office. Early meetings of the society were held in the wagon shop, in the court house, and still later in the old Masonic hall in Front street, but in 1833 a lot was purchased from Charles Pumpelly, a portion of the present church property in Main street, whereon a little frame edifice, 40x60 feet in size, was built. This edifice was formally dedicated January 8, 1836, under the pastorate of James R. Burdick. In 1856-7 the old wood meeting house was replaced with a large brick church edifice, and the latter was remodeled and materially en- larged in 1871. The succession of pastors has been as follows : James R. Burdick, June 12, 1833 ; Alonzo Wheelock, 1836 ; Jabez S. Swan, 1837; Philetus B. Peck, who came to the pastorate in 1838, and was removed by the hand of death in 1847. He was followed by Revs. Beaver, Pratt, Morton, Post, Burlingame, and Cooley, in the order named, and in June, 1854, William H. King becanie settled pastor. He resigned in March, 1881. The next pastor was L. A. Crandall, followed by R. E. Burton, who served about four years, and was succeeded by W. A. Granger. The present pastor, Rev. Milton F. Negus, was settled October 1, 1894.
The membership of the church numbers 756 persons, and in the Sunday school is an average attendance of 160 pupils ; superin- tendent, F. G. Newell.
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.