USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 53
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REV. WILLIAM H. KING, A. M., D. D., who for twenty-seven years filled the pastorate of the Baptist church in Owego, was a native of Otsego county, N. Y., born October 8, 1820, and was the son of William King, an Otsego county farmer. William was educated at Franklin, Delaware county. Madison university in 1857 conferred on him the degree of A. M., and that of D. D. in 1867. Mr. King came to Waverly in 1843 and began teaching, and while thus engaged also began to preach. In 1849 he was regularly ordained a clergyman of the Baptist church, and accepted a pastorate at Athens, Pa. In March, 1854, Dr. King was called to the pastorate of the Owego Baptist church, then begin- ning the longest term in that capacity in this connection with the history of any church in the village by any pastor. In 1881 Dr. King resigned his pastorate and afterward lived in quiet and com-
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fortable retirement in Owego until his death, August 10, 1896. Dr. King's wife was Hannah M. Tozer. Their children are Will- iam A. King, a manufacturer of paints, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and George A. King, president of the King Harness Company of Owego.
JOHN T. GREENLEAF, founder and active manager of the institu- tion known throughout the state as Glenmary Home, was born in Owego January 26, 1847, and was the son of John M. Greenleaf, one of the old and substantial merchants of the county seat half a century and more ago. Dr. Greenleaf was educated in the Owego academy, after which he read medicine under the direction of Dr. Lovejoy. He then attended lectures in the New York Homeopa- thic medical college and was graduated and admitted to practice on March 2, 1867. He began professional life at Candor but after six months removed to the county seat and became a resident physician. In the latter part of 1888 Dr. Greenleaf conceived the idea of establishing a home for insane persons which should be conducted on purely homeopathic principles, and in association with Dr. E. E. Snyder and Daniel Johnson he founded the insti- tution over which he now has supervision, and which is recognized by all of the authorities controlling the insane of the state. In addition to his duties at the home, Dr. Greenleaf has an earnest interest in all which pertains to the welfare of Owego and the county at large. For many years he has been a member of the board of education and has been a factor in establishing a high standard of excellence in the village schools. He is independent in politics with democratic tendencies. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Greenleaf has been thrice married, but has no children.
AARON PUTNAM STORRS, who is mentioned among the old busi- ness men of the county seat, was born in Mansfield, Conn., Sep- tember 18, 1812, and was the son of Rev. Samuel Porter and Sally Putnam Storrs. Aaron came to Owego in 1827, in company with his uncle, Rev. Aaron Putnam. He attended school and prepared for college, but relinquished his original intention and in 1835
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opened a hardware and drug store in the village. The firm was Allen & Storrs, and their place of business was on the corner where now stands the large store of A. P. Storrs & Co. The various changes in partnership which took place during Mr. Storrs' long business career in Owego are told in the village chapter and need not be repeated here, and it is sufficient simply to say, as the older merchants of Owego have many times said, that Aaron P. Storrs was looked upon as one of the most honorable, straightforward and capable business men who ever engaged in mercantile trade in the county ; that he was a man of sterling worth and integrity, generous and public-spirited, with an open hand and purse for every worthy cause. Mr. Storrs was in active business to the time of his death, September 9, 1888. In politics he was a whig and abolitionist and later a firm republican. Early in life he became a member of the Presbyterian church, and at the time of his death had been an elder for thirty years. His wife, with whom he was married in 1842, was Francis Camp, sister to the late George Sid- ney Camp. Their children were Ida F., John Gardner, who died in 1875 ; Aaron Putnam, a business man of Owego ; Laura W., wife of George I. Hansel.
EDWARD A. MAYOR, who came to Owego in April, 1861, and be- gan the practice of dentistry, was a native of Lausanne, Switzer- land, born February 2, 1836. His grandfather was Matthias Louis Mayor, one of the most noted surgeons of Europe and who wrote no less than thirty-seven standard medical and surgical works. He was a recognized authority on all subjects in his profession, and he was so highly regarded by medical men that his life was made the subject of a special work from the pen of Dr. Munaret, a distinguished physician of Paris. The late Prof. Agassiz, the distinguished naturalist, was the nephew of Dr. Matthias Mayor. Charles Louis Mayor, father of Edward A. Mayor, was also a physician of prominence and the author of several valuable medi- cal works. In 1849 he came to this country and located at Berk- shire, remaining there until the fall of 1857 when he returned to Europe, where he died. In his family were four children, of whom Edward is the only one now in the United States. He was thir-
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teen years old when his father came to Berkshire, and acquired his early education both in Lausanne and in this country. He studied dental surgery in the colleges at Baltimore and Philadel- phia, and was graduated at the latter. He came to Owego in 1861 and has ever since been a resident of the village, and in the active practice of his profession. However, in 1869, Dr. Mayor returned to Europe and visited the home of his childhood. On October 18, 1864, Edward A. Mayor was married with Mary L., daughter of the late Henry W. Camp, of Owego. Of this marriage four chil- dren have been born : William E., now associated with his father in dental practice ; Lena, Marie (married April 21, 1897, to B. W. Loring, Jr.), and Eugenie Mayor.
THOMAS IVES CHATFIELD was born in Great Barrington, Mass., September 16, 1818, and when old enough was apprenticed to and learned the baker's trade. In March 1839, he came to Owego and was employed as journeyman baker for a time but soon succeeded to the business formerly carried on by. Mr. Worthington. He afterwards engaged in the grocery business and was one of the leading merchants of the village during the long period of his suc- cessful career. Mr. Chatfield died in Owego May 2, 1884. In politics he was an ardent republican and held a high position in the councils of the party in the county. In 1853 he was elected to the Assembly, and was a candidate for the state treasurership in 1869. He was village trustee four years and village supervisor three years. He represented this district in the state senate. He was connected with the county agricultural society for many years, and was its treasurer. Above all these considerations was the general esteem in which he was held by his fellow men, and his deatlı was regarded as a public loss to Owego. Mr. Chatfield was twice married. His first wife was Mary Bundy, with whom he married November 9, 1841, and by whom he had one child, who died at the age of seven years. His second wife was Lucy B. Goodrich, with whom he was married June 22, 1858. Of their two children, only one is living-Thomas Ives Chatfield, Jr. He was educated in the high school of Owego, Yale University and Col- umbia Law school, and is now practising law in New York city.
W A.Fergusson & Co.
Hvad. Chatfield
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THOMAS A., AND WILLIAM COREY were the sons of Thomas G. Corey who came from Providence, R. I., about the year 1805, and settled in what is now the town of Starkey, Yates county. Here the pioneer spent his after life, a substantial farmer and respected citizen. The sons, Thomas A. and William Corey left home and settled in Halsey Valley. Thomas A., in 1831, and William in 1833 ; and with the subsequent events of Tioga town, both as citi- zens and farmers, these sons had much to do. Thomas married with Catharine Lott, and by her had two children, viz : William Harrison Corey, who for about fifty years has been in some man- ner identified with business and political history in Owego, and who since 1881 has been station agent of the D., L. & W. R. R. company in the village ; and Mary Corey, who married with John Brown, a merchant doing business in Owego. About 1880 Thomas Corey returned to Yates county where he died in 1891. William Corey, who now lives in Waverly, married with Wealthy A. Hub- bard and by her had two children, Horace and Lionel Corey, the former now in Chicago and the latter in Waverly.
ISAAC LOTT came from Coxsackie to Halsey Valley in 1828, and from that time to his death in 1860 was a farmer of the old town of Tioga. In his family the children were Isaac, Gideon, Sarah, Catharine and Harriet Lott.
SIMEON NICHOLS, a veteran both of the revolution and of the war of 1812, came from near Hartford, Conn., and settled on Coxe's patent, although he had not nor did he claim any title to the land ; . but he was of that class of pioneers who were honestly endeavor- ing to make a beginning in life, and in the light of subsequent events it is fair to assume that Mr. Nichols' hopes were realized, for he became firmly established and was one of the solid men of Owego in later years. He raised to maturity nine children, all of whom, except Simeon, Jr., William, and two sisters, removed to Michigan. Simeon, Jr., was born in Owego in 1796, the year in which the family came to town, and was a farmer, although in the early history of the town he was one of the best pilots on the river. Like his father, Simeon had a large family, and was mar- ried twice. His first children were : George, Charles, Justus,
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Olivia, Rachel, and Ann ; and by his second marriage (his wife was Mary Billings) the children were Washington and Enoch. All of his children except Justus, Washington, and Enoch are now dead. George Nichols, the oldest son, was born on the south side of the river, near the big island, and his life was spent in that locality. He married Marinda Fox, and had one child, Robert Nichols. He is remembered as one of the best business men of the town in his day. In 1888, George Nichols bought the "Red Mills," up the creek, in Owego, and they are now a part of his large estate. In 1890 Robert started a large feed store in the village. In 1890 George and Robert Nichols built the Lackawanna Avenue feed mill, which was moved to the present location near the Lehigh station in 1895, and enlarged and greatly improved. George Nichols died in 1893. The Lackawanna Avenue mill was built by George and Robert, but the subsequent purchase of store and the removal of the mill was conducted by Robert, the present manager of the estate. The store (No. 165 Main street, Owego village,) was purchased in 1894.
GEORGE B. GOODRICH, who for a period of half a century was identified with the mercantile business in Owego, was born De- cember 1, 1816. About the time he reached his majority Mr. Goodrich formed a partnership with Charles Talcott under the firm name of G. B. Goodrich & Co., a relation which was main- tained to the time of Mr. Talcott's death in 1861. Soon after 1863 James W. Goodrich and William H. Ellis entered the firm, but the old style of G. B. Goodrich & Co. has been preserved to the present day. Mr. Goodrich died January 8, 1886, since which time James W. Goodrich and Mr. Ellis have comprised the firm. During the period of his business career, George B. Goodrich became well known throughout Tioga county and the southern tier ; and wherever known the comments of acquaintances were always in praise of his excellent business ability, straightforward honesty, and moral worth. On September 2, 1840, Mr. Goodrich was married with Sarah Talcott, by whom he had three children : Sarah Talcott, who married with William H. Ellis; James W. of Owego ; and Charlotte, who died in 1865.
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FREDERICK O. CABLE was born in Oxford, New Haven county, Conn., August 29, 1828, and was the fifth of ten children in the family of Roswell and Hannah (Chatfield) Cable. His young life was spent on his father's farm and at the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to and served four years and eight months learning the trade of carpenter and joiner. He worked as journeyman several years and on September 1, 1855, came to Owego where his brotlier, Agar E. Cable, was then living. He opened a grocery store on Lake street and after about a year and a half sold his interest to his partner, M. J. Chadburn. He then bought out the business carried on by H. W. Cornell on the site of the present Times office building where he remained three years. In the meantime he had become owner of the Central house property and soon afterward assumed its management and conducted it from 1859 to 1870. The house was by him substantially remod- eled and increased materially in its capacity. He is still its owner and also the owner of a large brick building on Lake street in rear of and attached to the hotel. After leaving the Central house Mr. Cable became a member of the firm of Davis, Corey & Co., general oyster dealers. He was its active manager and conducted the business about twelve years. In 1879 he refurnished the Central house and was its landlord for the next three years. He then leased the house and was not in active business until March 17, 1887, when he was appointed postmaster of the village. During his residence in Owego Frederick O. Cable has taken an active interest in Tioga county politics and for many years was the leader of his party in southern New York. He was on the state committee in 1882 and as a result of his efforts democracy became firmly re-established in this vicinity. He redeemed the party and gave to it four members of assembly. He was once a candidate for the assembly and in the strong republican county of Tioga came within 130 votes of election. He ran for the county clerk- ship and was defeated by only 250 votes. He was twice elected supervisor, was trustee of the state hospital thirteen years, and one of the members of the first board. Mr. Cable was a Tilden elector in 1876. He has now retired from active business and political life and gives his attention entirely to personal interests.
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In 1853 he was married with Sarah E. Davis. Seven children have been born to them, of whom only two are now living. They are Edwin O. Cable, and Sadie, the wife of Lincoln Pierce of Pelham Heights, Westchester county.
JOHN CARMICHAEL came to Owego from Johnstown, N. Y., in 1819, and was jeweler, watchmaker, and repairer until 1849, when his store and goods were burned in the great fire. He continued to live in the village until his death, April 24, 1878. His first wife was Maria J., the daughter of Judge Stephen Mack. They were mar- ried December 25, 1824. Their children were Charles Stephenand Horace Mack Carmichael. John Carmichael's second wife was Harriet, daughter of Dr. Elisha and Susannah Ely. Charles S. Carmichael was born January 22, 1826, and was brought up to the jewelry and watchmaking business, as also was his brother Horace, and after the father retired from business the brothers succeeded. In April, 1855, they purchased the stock and store formerly con- ducted by O. S. Witherell, in Lake street, and were identified with local business interests until the death of Horace M. Carmichael, September 24, 1866. Charles S. Carmichael died in Owego, June 12, 1893. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Adolphus and Mar- garet Camp, (great granddaughter of Col. Asa Camp, and grand- daughter of John Camp,) with whom he was married September 23, 1863, and by whom he had three children, all daughters, and all teachers in the public schools of Owego. However, only two of them are now living. Horace M. Carmichael was born in Owego, February 8, 1829. He never married. In April, 1864, Charles S. Carmichael became a member of the firm of S. W. Hyde & Co., sash and blind makers, but in March, 1865, he succeeded the firm. He sold out at the end of five years. In 1876 he built a store on Lake street, on the site of his old jewelry store.
WILLIAM A. GALLAGHER was born near Flemingville in the north part of the town of Owego in the year 1818, and was the son of Patrick Gallagher, an early settler in that locality. William was brought up on a farm, but in early manhood went to the western part of the state and was an active business man in Cattaraugus
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county for a number of years. His efforts in life were rewarded with a good measure of success, and in 1865 he returned to Owego village and lived in comfortable retirement to the time of his death, June 10, 1868.
In the year 1804, Chauncey Woodford, eldest son of Bissell Woodford of Farmington, Conn., a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner under the act of 1832, settled in the town of Candor, in this county. He was soon followed by three brothers, Ira, Cyrus and Romeo. Romeo was twice married, his first wife being Mary Gridley of Candor, who died leaving one son, Henry, who died June 4, 1896. Romeo's second wife was Rhoda Hulburt. He settled in Owego and entered the hardware business in 1814. He died 1819, leaving a widow and two sons ; Bissell, born October 23, 1816, and Romeo, born January 3, 1820. Romeo died July 8, 1856. These brothers started a hardware and tin manufacturing business in Owego in 1837, selling out in 1854 to Storrs & Chat- field. Bissell married Mandana Fortner in 1845. To them were born three children, Adaline P., George R., and Evaline M. Romeo was married twice. His first wife, Elizabeth Martin, of Owego, died leaving one son, Charles B., who lived one year. His second wife was Augusta E. Sackett, of Candor, who died December 18, 1855, leaving a daughter, Carrie Augusta, who married Charles H. Hyde. They settled in Tacoma, Wash., in 1891. They have one son, Robert Henry.
JOSEPH OGDEN came from Orange county to Owego about 1830, driving the entire distance with a team. He bought and lived several years on a farm, but later moved to the village and took up the trade of mason, and was also a watch repairer. His chil- dren were Selina, who married with Ambrose Townsend ; Jehial, a gunsmith, who lived and died in Owego; Sarah, who married with John Gardner ; Walter, Rebecca and Charles. Walter Ogden was a small boy when his father came to Owego, and when old enough was apprenticed to learn the gunsmith's trade, as also were his brothers. Later in life Walter was a merchant and a success- ful business man .. His first wife was Mary Stroup, (of German
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parentage), by whom he had these children ; Mary, who married with Chauncey L. Raymond ; Sarah, now dead, and Elizabeth, who married with George Lainhart. His second wife was Harriet Smith, who bore him three children ; Fanny, Anna and Walter. Walter Ogden died February 25, 1879. George Lainhart, who on November 17, 1876, married Elizabeth Ogden, was partner in busi- ness with Walter Ogden, and was one of Owego's men who was the friend to all its people, and to his wide circle of acquaintance his death was regarded as a personal loss. Mr. Lainhart died in Owego, June 11, 1894.
GEORGE L. FORD canie from Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., to the town of Owego in the year 1840, and settled on a farm near Gaskill Corners, where he afterward lived nearly all his life. He was a farmer, a substantial man and worthy citizen. He died in 1891. His wife was Anna Thompson, with whom he was married in Ithaca. Their children were Lewis, Lucius, Kate, Goodsell, Mary, Charles, Frank, Frederick, Emma, and three others who died in extreme infancy. Lucius Ford, the contractor, of Owego, was the son of George L. Ford. He married with Ladorna Riker, July 31, 1879.
CHARLES BEERS, who became a resident of Owego village in 1848, and who from that time to his death, December 29, 1890, was numbered among the straightforward and substantial business inen of the locality, was born in Danby, and was the son of Abner Beers, one of the early settlers of that town. The other children of Abner were Harmon, who died in Memphis, Tenn .; David, who died in New York ; Eli, who died in Danby ; Abner, who died in Owego, though his home was in Yazoo City, Mo .; Mary, who married John McNeil and moved to California ; Edward, who died in Memphis, Tenn., in 1863 ; John J., who died in Owego, and Frances, who married John Wheeler. Charles Beers was a stable keeper in Owego for many years, a self made and successful man and one who helped others that they might succeed in life. He also assisted in the erection of various church edifices in the vicinity. On September 23, 1849. Mr. Beers was married with Catharine Ganoung, daughter of Daniel Ganoung, of Ulysses, Tompkins
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county. They had one son, Charles, who died in infancy. Mrs. Beers is well known in Owego through her active interest in W. C. T. U. work. Since 1884 she has been a member of the union and has held offices of responsibility in the organization.
AARON W. STEELE was a native of Owego and was nine years old when his father, Aaron Steele, came to the town. In his busi- ness life he was both a farmer and lumberman, a successful man and one who accumulated a fair property. His wife was Marinda Ross, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had four children : Philetus, who lives on the old homestead farm ; Lesbia and An- nette L., both of whom still live on the farm, and Gregory O., a merchant in the village. Aaron W. Steele died in December, 1880, at the age of 69 years. He was a strong democrat, but not a prominent figure in political affairs. He was commissioner of highways for several years. Gregory O. Steele opened a grocery . store in Owego in 1882, but previous to that time had acquired a knowledge of the business in the employ of B. L. Truman. On October, 20, 1880, Mr. Steele married Jennie Mayor. They have two children.
ALEXANDER JOSEPH THOMAS was born in Baden, Germany, in 1835, and there was brought up and trained to the occupation of gardening generally and to the work of a florist specially. In 1866 he came to this country and worked nearly two years in Rochester, and then went to Binghamton and was gardener at the old inebri- ate asylum for four years. He then bought a small farm, worked it three years and sold out, then worked in a florist's garden five years. He came to Owego in 1879 and started at work on the . Pumpelly lot. In 1884 Mr. Thomas bought the land on which his present large and complete green-houses stand, and here he has built up a successful business ; and his success has been due to his own industry and perseverance. While living in Binghamton Mr. Thomas married Mary Colgan, who died in 1881. In Owego on January 8, 1884, he married Anna Merck, by whom he has four children,
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ELI B. DRAKE was born in the town of Vestal, November 17, 1826, and was the son of William T. Drake who came from Dutchess county to Binghamton and looked for a location on the old Brandywine creek, but he was induced to change his mind and finally went to Little Snake creek in the town of Vestal. In his family were eleven children of whom Eli and John M., moved to Owego. Eli learned the cooper's trade with Robert Service in Binghamton, then went to Susquehanna county, Pa., and run a shop about two years. He then worked on the construction of the Erie railroad between Binghamton and Owego, after which he went to Ithaca and worked on what is now the D., L. & W. rail- road construction. In 1849 he came to Owego and opened a coop- er's shop on North avenue on a site then owned by Squire Cameron. In the next year he bought the property he now occupies and has been engaged in business on the same site for almost fifty years, in fact Mr. Drake is one of the oldest business men of Owego vil- lage. He began poor and by industry and frugality has accumu- lated a good property. He has always been a democrat but has taken no active part in politics. His wife was Sarah J. Middaugh.
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CHARLES MARTIN HAYWOOD, who died in Owego village June 13, 1892, was, during the period of his business life, one of the fore- most men of the county seat. He was a leading workman and organizer among the local masonic and odd fellow bodies and was deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare of Owego and its people. He was a native of the Green Mountain state, born at Ludlow, August 16, 1833, and was the son of a farmer. At the age of sixteen he began learning the trade of marble cutting and finishing, and made his first start in business at Littleton, N. H., in 1856. Four years later he came to Owego and opened a shop and from that time on he was one of the most active men in either town or village. He was an earnest republican, and the town and village civil list will disclose the fact that his prominence in local politics often brought him before the people as a candidate for some important position, to which he was nearly always elected. His connection with the masonic and odd fellows bodies gave him a peculiar prominence in Owego, and in whatever position he was
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