USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 68
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elected supervisor for the town of Caroline, Tompkins county, in 1876, and was re-elected the next year, running both times on an independent ticket. Mr. Howe continued to be a greenbacker until 1888, when he "stumped " Tioga county for Benjamin Har- rison. He was elected supervisor for Candor on the republican ticket in 1873 and re-elected in 1874. He was elected member of as- sembly in 1893 and re-elected the following year. When a resident of Tompkins county Mr. Howe " stumped " it one year for temper- ance and the county voted his way, the only time in its history. Mr. Howe is a member of Candor lodge, F. & A. M. He is prom- inent in temperance work and is a "grand lecturer." He is a member of the Congregational church.
DENNISON BOOTH, the second son of Orange Francis Booth and Lucy (Hart) Booth, . is of the fifth generation of the Booths of this country, being a descendant of Sir Richard Booth, of England. His father, Orange Francis, was a son of Josepli Booth, of Farm- ington, Conn., who was a son of Nathan Booth, who was the son of Robert Booth, and he, Robert, was the son of Sir Richard Booth of England. Dennison Booth was born March 13, 1809, at the homestead in Candor, received his early education in the schools at Candor, and remained with his father until twenty-eight years of age, assisting him in his lumber interests during these early years. He made three trips down the Susquehanna, carrying the sawed lumber to tide-water markets. In 1832 he married Cynthia Bacon, daughter of John Bacon, of Candor, who died shortly after- wards. He married, the second time, on January 5, 1837. Mirzie Cordelia Blakeslee, daughter of Obed Blakeslee, of Genoa, N. Y., a revolutionary soldier from Connecticut. Three children were born to them, Wakefield, born June 14, 1838, who served in the late war in Co. K., 26th Regt., N. Y. Vols .; Freeman, born August 11, 1840, married Emma G. Stevens, of Lansing, N. Y., in 1868, and settled on his farn in Candor ; Irving Denman, born November 19, 1843, married Esthier Wickham Shaw, of Middletown, N. Y., in 1869, now resides in Elmira, N. Y. Mr. Dennison Booth in early life was a democrat, but later became a republican, he was at the first republican convention in Tioga county, and has been offered
4
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several political offices by his party, but he has always declined, preferring to lead the quiet life of a farmer. He is an active inem- ber of the Farmington Congregational society.
IRVING D. BOOTH, son of Dennison and Mirza C. (Blakeslee) Booth, born in Candor, November 19, 1843, was educated at M. S. Con- verse's private school in Elmira, and in 1863 became clerk in the hardware store of William Brown, of Elmira. After one year had passed Mr. Brown sold to A. Rose, and Mr. Booth was with this firm until 1866, when he entered the firm of Ayrault, Rose & Co. In 1872 the firm was changed to Booth, Dounce, Rose & Co., Mr. Booth becoming the leading member. Later, closing his connec- tion with that business, Mr. Booth established the wholesale store 011 Railroad avenue, where he is now located, for the sale of heavy hardware in 1875, and he has built up a successful and increasing trade, employing numerous men. In 1869 he married Esther Wickhanı Shaw, of Middletown, N. Y. His children are Dr. Arthur W. Booth, a physician of Elmira ; Wilfrid I. Booth, of Johnson & Bootlı ; Miss Mabel, and Irving D. Booth, Jr. He served as city supervisor two terms, alderman, from 1st ward, two terms, and has been fire commissioner for the past eight years and is still serv- ing in that capacity. He is vice-president of the Century Club of Elmira, and a trustee of Park church.
EDWIN A. BOOTH, son of Orange F. and Lucy Hart Booth, was born in the town of Candor, January 25, 1821, and has lived here ever since. March 22, 1849, he married Mary H., daughter of Har- vey Potter, of Candor. They have one child, Mary A., born March 16, 1865, and married with John P. Fiebig, of the firm of Fiebig & Hart, proprietors of the blanket factory. Mr. Booth received his preliminary education in the Candor school and completed it in the busy marts of trade. Finishing school, he engaged in the lumber business and later in farming. In 1861, he engaged in the mer- cantile business with Asa M. Potter. This partnership existed for three years when Mr. Booth sold out. Mr. Booth then became the silent partner in the firm of Potter & Roos, doing a mercantile bus- iness in Owego. This continued for abont eight years. Twenty-
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two years ago he again embarked in the mercantile business in Candor, this time with E. S. Williams, his present partner, and in the store they now occupy. Mr. Booth's father was one of the first white settlers in the town of Candor. He emigrated from his birth- place, Farmington, now New Britain, Conn., in 1803 or 1804. He was born March 5, 1782. Mr. Booth's mother was born in Stock- bridge, Berkshire county, Mass., in June, 1788, moving with her parents to Candor about 1796, having first lived a short time in Broome county. Orange Booth and Lucy Hart were married in 1806 and were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living : Ed- win A., Dennison, born March 13, 1809, living in the town of Candor; Orange, born October 16, 1816, also living in the town of Candor ; Lucy, born October 20, 1823, widow of Henry Gilbert and living in Elmira. Mr. Booth is a democrat in politics and was elected assessor in 1852-3-4. In 1862 he was elected supervisor for Can- dor and re-elected in 1865-6-8-9. In 1872, during the Greeley cam- paign, he was a candidate for the assembly, but was defeated. Mr. Booth is a member of the Congregational church.
ENOCH S. WILLIAMS, son of Enoch S. and Rachel (Hull) Williams, was born in Newark Valley, January 16. 1832. He married July 15, 1852, Martha S. Legg, daughter of Leonard Legg, of Speeds- ville. Two children were born to them, Ida E., born July 6, 1853, married Lewis R. Hoff, August 7, 1878, died September 17, 1880 ; Frank J., born August 18, 1855, died September 27, 1856. Mrs. Williams died March 1, 1890, and, February 14, 1894, Mr. Williams married Grace E., daughter of Andrew Tucker. Mr. Williams came to Candor in 1856 and engaged in the tailoring business. Twenty years ago he formed a partnership with E. A. Booth in the mer- cantile business which continues at the present time. Mr. Williams was town clerk five years and was supervisor for six years. At one time he ran for member of assembly on the democratic ticket, but was defeated. He was appointed postmaster at Candor by Presi- dent Cleveland at the beginning of his second term. Mr. Williams is a member of the Candor Masonic lodge, Malta Commandery, Knights Templar, of Binghamton, and of the Owego chapter. He is also a member of Veritas lodge, I. O. O. F., of Candor, and is trustee, and the secretary and treasurer of the cemetery association.
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JOHN W. MCCARTY, merchant of Candor, was born September 7, 1835, in Catharine, Schuyler county, N. Y. He was the son of John and Laura (Frost) McCarty. His grandparents, Joseph and Mary McCarty, moved from New Jersey to near the head of Seneca Lake in 1804, where they died in 1845-6. His grandparents, Joseph and Lucy (Couch) Frost, moved from Redding, Connecti- cut, to Catharine in 1803. They followed the only road leading from Newtown (now Elmira) to the head of Seneca Lake. This road was opened by Sullivan's army when he made his celebrated expedition into that country to expel the Indians. Joseph Frost was a revolutionary soldier and pensioner ; two of his brothers died on a British prison-ship in New York harbor. He died in 1844 in his 91st year ; his wife died in 1843 in her 86th year. It was in February, 1852, that John W. McCarty came to Candor and be- came a clerk for his brother-in-law, Jerome Thompson. In 1856 he was admitted to a partnership in the store, where he has con- tinued in business until the present time. His father, John McCarty, and his brother, Francis A. McCarty, were formerly partners in the store. William J. Payne is now associated with him in business under the firm name of McCarty & Payne. Mr. McCarty built the present brick store in 1874. November 8, 1860, he was married with Eliza J., daughter of Selah and Julia (Potter) Hart. Her grandfather, Abel Hart, removed from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, to Candor in 1795, and located on the " Hart home- stead lot " as now known. In politics Mr. McCarty is a republi- can, and cast his first vote for Fremont and Dayton. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church. He has been vice-president of the First National bank of Candor for about thirty years, and is now president of "The Wands Glove Co.," of Candor, N. Y.
WILLIS G. BOSTWICK, son of Thomas Bostwick and Hannah Prince, was born September 30, 1861 in Bradford county, Pa. When four years old his parents moved to Tioga county, locating at Gibson's Corners, where Willis remained till he was twenty- one years old. November 19, 1884, he married Emma Briggs, of
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Nichols. One child, Roy, aged ten years, was born to them. Eight years ago Mr. Bostwick moved to Candor village, where he is now engaged in the produce, hay and lumber business. Mr. Bostwick is a member of Candor lodge of Odd Fellows, and one of the sub- stantial men of the village.
ALDIS A. ROBINSON was born in Candor May 7, 1821. His father Joel, was a Vermonter, and his mother Celia Whitaker, was born in Connecticut, but moved to Barton, Vermont. Mr. Robinson's father came to Candor in 1816 and passed the remainder of his life here. Of eight children Aldis is the only one living. He married Sarah D., daughter of William Little, of Candor, in November, 1855. Mrs. Robinson died July 9, 1896. Mr. Robinson received his education in the district school at Candor, and when twenty years of age went west. He was in Laporte, Indiana, two or three years and then traveled southward. In 1845 he started with a party of emigrants to cross the Rocky Mountains to Oregon. The journey occupied five months, and the caravan was the first to take wagons across the Cascade Mountains into the Willamette Valley. There were in this caravan eighty wagons, each drawn by from four to six yokes of oxen, and from twelve to fifteen men on horseback, Mr. Robinson being one of the horsemen. The party encountered many Indians ; some hostiles, some peaceful. Mr. Robinson was quartermaster of a volunteer regiment in Oregon, organized to fight the Cayuse Indians for the massacre of Dr. Whitman's family and eleven other persons. This was before Oregon was organized as a territory. The territorial government was organized in 1848, and Mr. Robinson acted as clerk of the leg- islature which formed the constitution. In 1850 he returned via. the Isthmus of Panama to Candor, where he served as postmaster and United States assistant assessor under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. Mr. Robinson is engaged in insurance, the present making his thirty-first year in that business.
MAJOR ABRAM H. KROM, son of Peter I. and Jane Elizabeth (Her- mance) Krom, was born in the town of Tioga April 22, 1837, the same year that his parents removed thither from Ulster county.
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Peter Krom, great grandfather of Major Krom, was a soldier of the revolution, and Petrns Brink, grandfather of Peter I. Krom, was also in the same war. The musket and bayonet carried by his grandfather in his service is now owned by Major Krom. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Jacob Hermance, of Warwarsing. Ulster county. Abram was educated at the Candor and Waverly academies, and was intending to engage in the study of law, but his plans changed when the civil war brought his patriotism to a white heat, and he enlisted to fight for the union. This was in August, 1861. His company was Co. G., of the famous Fifth N. Y. Cavalry. (This regiment was named in honor of Senator Har- ris of Albany, and known as the first Ira Harris Guards.) Major Krom must have displayed marked soldierly qualities, for by a flat- tering vote he was chosen captain at the organization of the com- pany. Captain Krom was mustered into service at Staten Island on October 9, 1861. From this time until the close of the war Cap- tain (later Major) Krom was prominently identified with the bril- liant deeds with which the record of this regiment is filled. "No braver soldier went from Tioga county." The Fifth passed the first winter in "Camp Harris" near Annapolis, and Co. G. was color company. During their stay in this camp Captain Krom com- menced the long list of his acts of daring bravery by personally capturing four prisoners, the first ones taken by the regiment. In March, 1862, Co. G. and two other companies while on a recon- noissance captured five prisoners, which began a rapid series of gallant achievements (under the command of Captain Krom) of the three companies commanded by him, which won laurels for all con- cerned. This was in the retreat down the Shenandoah and when on picket duty they had been abandoned by the retreating army. from which they were cut off by the rebels. The command was three days and nights engaged in baffling the enemy and in cross- ing the Potomac into union lines, crossing and recrossing the mountain ranges to accomplish this. Joining Gen. Banks' army and again advancing up the Shenandoah Captain Krom was on reconnoitering service in command of the picket line, and falling sick. he was absent a month on sick leave returning before the battle at Culpepper C. H., on July 8, in which he took part. He
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rejoined the regiment near Winchester, Va. Captain Krom and his company served as a body guard for General Banks when his army crossed the Blue Ridge into Eastern Virginia. When Gen. Pope reached Bull Run Captain Krom was chosen to rush impor- tant dispatches to Washington, and with a telegrapher he skillfully passed the rebel lines and safely reached Alexandria, from whence the dispatches were sent to the war department. The intense ex- citement of that important campaign made the captain so ill that he was ordered to stay in Washington, but he rejoined his regi- ment on October 8, and took part in the brilliant operations in Vir- ginia then beginning. Once in this campaign Captain Krom, while commanding a detachment of the brigade, swam across the Shen- andoah with his company and captured an important rebel camp. From December 1, 1862, until February 18, '63, he held the impor- tant position of commander of the fifteen miles of picket line. The Ira Harris Guards operated with the army of the Potomac in the Chancellorsville campaign. Captain Krom, then acting as major, was wounded while dispersing a rebel force on May 3, by two bul- lets, one passing through one of his legs, and the other, which is still carried in his head, wounding him under the right eye. These wounds kept him in a hospital during the Gettysburg campaign, and still are painful reminders of his army experiences. On returnl- ing to duty he was made assistant-inspector-general of the brigade, and acted as inspector-general until October 8, 1863, when he re- quested to be relieved. He acted as major, however, until Decem- ber, 1863, when he was commissioned. During the Mine Run operations of the army of the Potomac, commencing on Novem- ber 26, 1863, the cavalry was stationed along the upper fords of of the Rapidan. Captain Krom with his battalion held Raccoon ford, repulsing many attempts of the enemy to cross the river, for which he received honorable mention in the official reports of the battle. In the winter of '63-4, while on recruiting service at home the major enlisted 300 recruits for his regiment. In 1864, before the campaign opened, all dismounted men of the Third cav- alry division (nearly 2,000) were organized into a provisional com - mand nnder Major Krom. With this command he guarded wagon trains and prisoners, and held the left of our line of battle at Spott-
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sylvania C. H., and the right at Cold Harbor. When Early threatened Washington in 1864, Major Krom's command was or- dered there, where he rejoined his regiment, as the whole of the 3rd cavalry division was ordered to join Sheridan in the Shenan- doah valley. On the 12th of September, he assumed command of his regiment, and from that time until the close of his service there was scarcely a day in which the regiment was not under fire. On the 19th of September, when Sheridan's army advanced on the rebel position along the Occoquan Creek, Major Krom was given command of the advance on the Berryville pike, which was the center of our line and held the key to the enemy's position. About 2 o'clock a. m. the major with his command struck the mouth of the ravine through which the pike leads to the crest of the bluffs, and on which the enemy lay behind earthworks. The mouth of the ravine was heavily barricaded by felling trees across, making the road impassable, and affording a good shelter for the enemy to de- fend the entrance of the pass. The major at once threw a flank- ing force around the barricade, set the pioneers to work and in a short time had the road passable for both troops and artillery. He then charged with his command up through the ravine to the rebel position on the crest and gained a position which he held (in spite of several furious attempts to dislodge him) until reinforcements came up and forced the rebels to retire. From the position thus gained our artillery could reach a large part of the rebel line. On this day the major led his regiment in five distinct charges against infantry, during which occurred some of the most desperate fight- ing of the war. . On September 26, the Third cavalry division, with Custer's brigade, moved up the valley to Staunton, from which point Gen. Custer was ordered to report to Averill's division and assume its command, and Major Krom on September 27, was or- dered to escort him. On the way a desperate fight occurred be- tween the regiment and a strong body of rebel cavalry and infantry, but the major succeeded in getting the general safely through. On September 28, the major and his command rejoined the division near Waynesboro, where he delivered dispatches from Gen. Sheri- dan to Gen. Wilson ordering him to return immediately to the army with his command. On October 6, when Sheridan was fall-
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ing back down the valley, Major Krom commanded the rear guard, consisting of the 5th N. Y. cavalry and 18th Pa. cavalry. Tworebel brigades nearly surrounded his command, but the major ordered a charge and succeeded in cutting his way out. Annoyed at the fre- quent heavy attacks upon his rear guard, on October 9 Gen. Sheridan ordered his cavalry to give the enemy a lesson that would make them more respectful. The Third cavalry division under Gen. Custer was ordered up the back road and Merritt's division up the pike. Major Krom was ordered to take the advance of the Third division. As soon as he struck the rebel pickets he charged them vigorously and drove them to their brigade camp, where he took up position along Tom's brook, and waited for the rest of the divi- sion to come up (which they very soon did). As soon as Gen. Cus- ter could place his division in order for battle he ordered the advance with the Fifth N. Y. in the center on the road leading over the hill where the enemy's artillery was in position and his reserve troops stationed. Major Krom led his men in a charge up the hill and gained its top, driving the enemy back upon his reserves. Then Gen. Custer came up with the Third N. J. cavalry, which he had held in reserve, and completed the rout of the enemy, who fled in confusion. In this action Major Krom captured two pieces of ar- tillery and received a gunshot wound in the bowels. The last bat- tle in which he major was engaged was at Cedar Creek, Va., on the 19th of October, 1864, where Sheridan's army was driven from its position in the morning and the enemy forced back in total rout at night. From this battle Major Krom came out with a long list of captured property, numbering 22 pieces of artillery, 14 cassions, 1 battery wagon, 17 army wagons, 6 spring wagons and ambulances, 83 sets of artillery harness, 98 horses and 67 mules, with many pris- oners and several battle flags. On the 21st of October, 1864, the ma- jor's term of service having expired, he was honorably discharged and returned to civil life. The whole military life of Major Krom reflects luster on the service, and some of the most important cap- tures of the war, among them artillery, stores and supplies, were made by his command. In a work of this kind it is impossible to give a detailed account of the major's many personal deeds of valor, or of the numerous "honorable mentions " his superior officers gave
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him, but justice demands that we should say what we have said. Mrs. Krom, to whom the major was married on January 27, 1864, is of sterling pioneer stock. Her maiden name was Rachel J. Potter. Her parents were Captain Harvey and Mary (Hart) Pot- ter, and her maternal grandfather was Capt. Abel Hart, whose wife was the first white child born in Tioga county. Their chil- dren are Julia HI. (Mrs. Edwin F. Woodford of Binghamton), born July 2, 1866 ; Jane E. (Mrs. Lewis Tuttle of Candor), born Feb- ruary 8, 1869 ; Edwin H., born August 13, 1873 ; May M., born May 27, 1875, died July 20, 1896. Major Krom's record as a citizen is as honorable as is that of his martial life. "His influence has been for great good in the town of Candor," and in church and social circles he ranks high. He is a member and the clerk of the Candor board of education and is now serving his third three-year term as county superintendent of the poor. He is a valued mem- ber of the local lodge of Free Masons and of the Grand Army Post, of which he was the first commander.
URBAN P. SPAULDING was born in the town of Spencer, June 20, 1833. He is a son of Joseph and Maria (Palmer) Spaulding. When thirteen years old he left home and became a stage driver and afterward a stage agent, spending the time in western New York and Ohio. He then engaged in the wholesale tobacco trade in Binghamton until 1864, when he came to Candor, there buying and operating until 1876 a grist mill. Since that time he has been engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Spaulding married Esther Washburn in April, 1854. Two children were born to them : Stella, in 1856, who died in February, 1896, and A. M., born in 1858 and now living in Candor.
JOHN CALVIN DIXON was born November 12, 1831, in Otsego county. His family moved to Candor when he was eleven years old, where Mr. Dixon passed his life until his death, which oc- curred August 1, 1896. On Christmas day, 1856, Mr. Dixen mar- ried Sarah Frances, daughter of Daniel Hart, of Candor. One child, Frank, was born December 26, 1859, and died June 7, 1884. Dr. Dixon was educated at Hobart college, Geneva, N. Y., and at
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the Albany medical college, from which he was graduated Decem- ber 26, 1854. He enlisted in the 9th Minnesota regiment and was commissioned its assistant surgeon September 22, 1863. After the close of the war lie commenced the practice of medicine in Candor and continued it until his death. He was a valued member of the Knights of Honor and of the Episcopal church.
ROMEO W. ST. CLAIR, A. M., M. D., son of Dennis Moffett, born in Spencer, on August 16, 1842, was adopted by James Wallace, and by an act of the legislature his surname was changed to St. Clair. During the civil war he enlisted in the 130th New York (Ist N. Y. Dragoons) and served as telegrapher to McClellan's staff, was wounded seven times and made three balloon ascensions while in service. Educated at Yale, he was graduated in 1866. Then, reading medicine with Drs. W. P. Hill and Anstin Flint in New York city, he was graduated in chemistry from Bellevue college in 1872, and as M. D. in 1874. He immediately began practice at Rossville, Staten Island, and some years later located in Brooklyn. He took post-graduate courses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and at Heidelberg, Germany, and has made specialties of diseases of women and children and medical electricity. In 1872 Dr. St. Clair married Emeline Wallace, daugh- ter of James Wallace, and upon her death, he relinquished practice and made his home in Candor. Of his two children, one, Eleanor W., is living. He is a chapter mason, and is a member and one of the staff of the state commander of the G. A. R. He has had extensive foreign travel and has visited the leading medical schools and museums of Europe. He invented the electric battery which bears his name, and is the author of two books on electricity. He has given much attention to gathering Indian relics, minerals and curiosities. He has been offered $30,000 for his present collection, and sold a former one to P. T. Barnum for $20,000.
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