USA > New York > Tioga County > Owego > Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy and finally Owego > Part 17
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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
Richard H. Sackett and his brother. John J. Sackett, built and conducted for many years a woollen mill at Can- dor, where John J. Sackett also kept a general store for a long time. John J. Sackett was sheriff of Tioga county in 1846. He died at Candor.
Richard H. Sackett removed to Owe- go in 1864 and purchased the house built by Henry L. Bean on the south side of Front street, opposite Ross street, now owned by Fayette S. Curtis, and he died there in 1876.
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LATHAM A. BURROWS.
Latham A. Burrows, who was for several years a leading citizen of the village of Owego, was a son of Rev. Roswell Burrows and was born Aug. 30, 1752, at Groton, Conn.
The first member of the Burrows family in America of whom there is any record was Robert Burrows, who was at Wethersfield, Conn., in 1641, and afterward at New London. His son. John Burrows, had a son also named John Burrows. A son of the last named John Burrows was Rev. Silas Burrows, who was pastor of the Second Baptist church at Gro- ton, Conn., where. he labored sixty- three years and where he died in 1815.
Rev. Roswell Burrows, son of Rev. Silas Burrows, was born at Grotoll Sept. 2, 1768. At the age of 17 he joined the Second Baptist church of Groton. At 38 years of age he was or- dained to the ministry. He soon after- ward made a missionary tour through western New York, travelling on horse- back about 1,300 miles and finding what is now Buffalo, where there was not then a soul professing religion of any name. He preached afterward at Preston, Conn., and Rocky Point, R. I., and later succeeded his father at Groton, Conn., in 1818, as pastor of the Second Baptist church. His wife was Jerusha Avery, daughter of Latham Avery. She died Nov. 3. 1838. In her reminiscences, published not long since in the Gazette, Mrs. Harriet G. Tinkham mentions Mr. Burrows as th- first Baptist minister she remembered ever hearing preach in Owego.
Latham A. Burrows served for a time as an officer in the war of 1812-13.
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He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1816. He married Sarah Lester, daughter of Christopher Les- ter, of Groton, in November, 1816. She died Nov. 11, 1860, in Buffalo.
In 1819, judge Burrows came to Owc. go. From Feb. 11, 1821, to Jan. 1, 1822, he was county clerk of Broome county, which county included Owego and other towns now in Tioga county from 1806 until 1822. From 1824 to 1827, in- clusive, he was an associate judge of Tioga county. In 1827 he was elected first judge of the court of common pleas, and he was the first professional lawyer who sat on the common pleas bench in this county. He was the rep- resentative of the sixth district in the state senate from 1824 to 1828.
In December, 1828, judge Burrows engaged in the general mercantile bus- iness. His store was in the old Laning tavern, which had been occupied by Col. Amos Martin. His store was af- terward on the south side of Front street, where Buckbee, Peterson, Wood & Co.'s store is now. In 1839 he removed into one of the stores in the Rollin block.
Judge Burrows at one time lived on the west side of Park street. In 1831 he purchased the lot at the northeast corner of Front and Church streets. on which he built the brick residence now owned and occupied by Frederick C. Hewitt.
During his mercantile career judge Burrows was president of Owego vil- lage from 1836 to 1839. inclusive. He saw some military service, having in 1817 been commissioned captain of one of the companies in the 53d New York regiment of infantry. He was one of the first trusteesofthe Owego academy
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in 1828. He removed in 1839 to Rocli- ester, where he engaged in the bank- ing business. In 1844 he removed to Buffalo, where he was in the real es- tate business all the rest of his life. He died Sept. 25, 1855.
The children of Latham A. and Sarah (Lester) Burrows were as follows:
1. Latham A. Burrows, Jr., born June 5, 1819, at Owego. He was grad- uated from Brown university and studied law in New York city. He died 7 Sept., 1847, at Buffalo. He was unmarried.
2. Roswell L. Burrows, born March 12, 1821, at Owego. Married Maria W. French 6 Jan., 1848. He died 15 Feb., 1897, at Buffalo. She is still living in that city.
3. Sarah Ann Burrows, born 2 Feb., 1823, at Owego. She lived in Buffalo and died Aug. 6, 1848, at Parma, N. Y., where she was visiting. She was un- married.
4. Jerusha A. Burrows,born 9 Sept., 1825. Married W. H. H. Newman, of Buffalo, in 1849. They are both still living in Buffalo.
5. Mary J. Burrows, born 14 May. 1827, at Owego. Married D. K. Robin- son, of Buffalo, in 1849. He died in Nov., 1887, at Ashville, N. C., and she 26 Jan., 1907, at Buffalo.
6. George W. Burrows,born 22 Feb., 1830, at Owego. Died 14 May, 1830.
7. Lucy Burrows, born 13 Feb., 1833, at Owego. Married W. R. Cop- pock, of Buffalo, in April, 1858. He died 9 Sept., 1897, at Marshalltown, Iowa, and she is still living at Buffalo. S. Margaret W. Burrows, born 15 June, 1837, at Owego. Died Feb. 11. 1838.
DAVID THURSTON.
One of the early residents at Owego was David Thurston, who came here in 1812 from New Hampshire. He was a grandson of Benjamin Thurston, who was a descendant of Daniel Thurston, of Newberry, Mass., and son of David
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Thurston, who was one of the first set- tlers of Marlboro, N. H., as early as 1777 and who lived several years at Leominster, Mass.
David Thurston, the son, was born Oct. 17, 1768, at Leominster. He mar- ried Fanny Darling, daughter of Rev. David Darling, of Keene, N. H. He was a farmer and when he came to Owego he lived on the south side of the river on the farm which lies west of the highway which goes over the hill to the Montrose turnpike and south of the road from Owego to Nich- ols. Later he lived in the house known as the "haunted house," near the mouth of the Hollenback creek and later on the north side of North avenue, where he conducted a board- ing house for twenty-five years or more. He was one of seven persons who united to form the first Methodist church at Owego. He died Jan. 16, 1858. aged 90 years. His wife died Jan. 3. 1860. His father, David Thurston, came to live with him at Owego, and he also died here Aug. 6, 1826, and he was also 90 years old at the time of his death.
The children of David and Fanny (Darling) Thurston were as follows:
1. Fanny Thurston, born 27 June, 1809, at Marlboro, N. H. Married Printice Ransom, of Owego, 19 Oct .. 1830. She died 18 July, 1902, and he 15 Oct., 1889, at lowa City, la.
2. Nancy Thurston, born 4 Dec .. 1812, at Marlboro, N. H. Died 9 May. 1814, at Owego.
3. Nancy Darling Thurston, born 24 March, 1814, at Owego. She was graduated from Cazenovia seminary and taught school many years in New York, Mississippi, and Mobile, Ala- bama, where she was married 6 Feb .. 1864, to Drury Thompson, a grandson of Gen. Elijah Clark of Revolutionary
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history. She died 31 Aug., 1SS6, at Mobile, Alabama.
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4. Geo. Waldo Thurston. born 19 April, 1816, at Owego. Married Mary Ann Collins of New York city. He died 6 Aug., 1895, at Owego. and she 31 Dec., 1897.
5. Rev. David Whitney Thurston. born 8 April, 1818, at Owego. Married Elizabeth S. Brown. He died 21 Dec., 1900, in Syracuse. N. Y.
6. John Metcalf Thurston, born 16 Oct., 1520, at Owego. Married first, in 1850. Sarah Wood, and second, 30 April, 1860, Persis Wright. He is still living at Utica, N. Y.
7. Mary Almeda Thurston, born 10 Feb., 1823, Married first Anson Gar- rison, of Cold Spring, N. Y. He died 7 Feb., 1851, at Owego. She married second, 28 Jan., 187S, Rev. Benjamin Pomeroy, of the Troy, N. Y., M. E. con- ference.
8. Col. James Sidney Thurston. born 14 Oct., 1825, at Owego. Married Phebe Ann VanBunschoten. She died 5 Jan., 1599, at Albany, N. Y.
Rev. David Whitney Thurston in early life received a license to exhort and was afterward ordained a min- ister. He preached twenty years. He was an evangelist thirty years, sta- tioned at Asbury Park, N. J .. and was for several years presiding elder.
George W. Thurston was a cabinet maker. He learned his trade in Isaac B. Ogden's shop in Main street. He for many years conducted a furniture and undertaking store in a wooden building on the east side of north avenue which stood where the brick building occupied for several years by D. Beach & Co. now stands. During the civil war he was engaged about a year with a construction corps, build- ing bridges on the military railroads. Later he conducted a planing mill and lumber yard at Owego.
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Col. James S. Thurston was actively engaged in business at Owego and later was prominent in public affairs. He was in the grocery business from 1856 to 1862. When the civil war broke out he went to the front as quar- termaster of the 109th regiment. l August, 1863, he was appointed an army paymaster with the rank of ma- jor and assigned to the department of the west. In November, 1865, he was promoted to lientenant-colonel, and af- terward received the rank of colonel. In 1868 and 1870 he was business man- ager of the Elmira Advertiser. He was afterward publisher of the South- ern Tier Leader in Elmira. During his sojourn there he was twice elected an alderman. He was treasurer of the Southern Tier savings bank and super- intendent of the Nobles manufactur- ing company. In 1880 Col. Thurston was appointed superintendent of the banking department of this state. In August, 1883, he resigned and became secretary of the American loan and trust company of New York city. In January, 1886, he was again ap- pointed deputy superintendent of the banking department of this state. In October, 1901, he resigned this position and retired from public life. He has lived ever since on his farm on Lake Keuka, near Penn Yan.
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JUDGE ZIBA A. LELAND.
One of the early lawyers at Owego was Ziba A. Leland, who was born in Vermont. Soon after his graduation from college he came here and formed a law partnership with John H. Avery May 1. 1820. In 1822 he was ap- pointed a justice of the peace. Soon afterward he removed to Bath. where in 1825 he obtained some pro- fessional prominence for his untiring zeal and ability shown in the defence of a man named Douglas, who was tried for the murder of one Ives, who had attempted to arrest Douglas for a felony that he was suspected of hav- ing committed, and who, while strug- gling to escape, stabbed Ives with an ordinary pocket knife, fatally wound- ing him. Ives had no warrant for Douglas's arrest. neither was he an officer nor acting in aid of an officer. Douglas was a member of a gang of burgiars and thieves living near the Canisteo river, not far from Addison. The gang had become a terror to the whole region between Big Flats and Hornellsville, and the excited inhabi- tants thirsted for vengeance. Notwith- standing the ability with which Doug- las was defended he was convicted and hanged. In 1838 Mr. Leland was elected first judge of Steuben county and served until 1843. He represent- ed Steuben county in the asembly in 1542 and 1843. Later in life he re- moved to Auburn, where he practised law several years, and thence to Sara- toga county, where he died.
JAMES, JOHN, AND ROBERT CAMERON.
James. John, and Robert Cameron. brothers, were sons of John Cameron. a farnier, and were born in Chance-
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ford township, York county, Pa .- James in 1807, John June 25, 1814, and Robert Feb. 3, 1817.
James Cameron came to Owego about the year 1829 and was clerk in Alanson Dean's tavern. This tavern stood at the southeast corner of Main and Lake streets. It was burned in 1845 and the Central house was built on its site. Mr Dean kept the house from 1829 to 1831. He also had a store at the southwest corner of the same streets, and Mr. Cameron soon went there as a clerk. About seven years afterward he began a grocery business on his own account in a wooden store which stood at the northeast corner of Main street and North avenue. In 1838 he purchased the corner property and erected a store and dwelling house adjoining thereon. His property was burned in February, 1854. Mr. Cameron was elected a justice of the peace in 1846 and served several years. His office was in the front part of his house in Main street. He also held the office of supervisor of the town of Owego in 1843.
In January, 1851, James Cameron and Charles T. Bell opened a gro- cery store in Dean & Perkins's wooden building at the southwest cor- ner of Lake and Main streets. The partnership was dissolved in Decem- ber, 1852, Mr. Cameron withdrawing from the firm. He died May 31, 1865. at Owego. He was twice married. His first wife, Adelia Dwight, died May 27, 1847, aged 38 years, and his second wife, Diana Merchant Nov. 11, 1865, aged 53 years. Mr. Cameron had one son, Rev. James Gibson Cameron, who was born Oct. 4, 1852, at Owego and
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who is now living at Baltimore, Md., where he is in charge of Cavalry mis- sion.
John and Robert Cameron both came to Owego in 1831. John Came- ron worked at the carpenter's trade in Owego until 1834 and afterward in New York city until 1838, when he re- turned and entered into partnership with his brother, James, in the gro- cery business. In 1840 he opened a grocery store which he called "The Farmers' Exchange" on the west side of North avenue, a few doors north of Main street. The next year, May 27, 1841, he married Mary Jane Cushman, daughter of Richard E. Cushman, and lived for several years in a double house, painted red, which stood on the east side of North avenue, and which occupied the ground on which Sporer, Carlson & Berry's piano store and the store south of it now stand. This house had been previously occupied by Daniel Armstrong. The family af- terward lived over the grocery store on the other side of the street.
Mr. Cameron continued the grocery business here until the great fire of September, 1849. While the fire was raging T. 1. Chatfield, whose store in Front street had been burned, came to Mr. Cameron and purchased Mr. Cameron's store and all his stock of goods except the liquors and took im- mediate possession. Later Mr. Cam- eron resumed business in Briggs's cooper shop, which stood where Ray- mond & Emery's carriage shop is now at the northwest corner of North avenue and Temple street. Later he bought and removed to the store which Wm. A. Ely had built in 1814 on the south side of Main street at the
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foot of North avenue, where he con- tinued in business until 1869, when he sold the store to Anson Decker and his goods to John Welch. The store which Mr. Chatfield had purchased from Mr. Cameron was burned in April, 1873, and on its site N. T. Bur- ton built a block of two stores, which stands there now. Mr. Cameron spent nearly all the rest of his life in Owego and died here Sept. 28, 1905, at the ad- vanced age of 91 years. His wife died Nov. 25, 1897, at Owego.
The children of John and Mary J. (Cushman) Cameron were all born at Owego as follows:
1. George F. Cameron, born 12 March, 1842. Married Mary E. Keeler at Waverly, N. Y., 28 Nov., 1865. He died 6 Sept., 1902 at Paterson, N. J.
2. Charles A. Cameron, born 12 Dec., 1843. Married Mary P. Hurlburt at Ithaca, N. Y., 8 Oct., 1865. She died in Brooklyn, N. Y., 17 Nov., 1876.
3. Calphurnia T. Cameron, born 1 Aug., 1845. Died 11 Feb., 1859, at Owego.
4. John D. Cameron, born 18 April, 1847. Married Mercy D. Dutcher at Catskill, N. Y., 3 Sept., 1872. 5. Sarah Adelia Eva Cameron. born 16 May, 1851. Died 3 June, 1857, at Owego
6. Frederick H. Cameron, born 5 Aug., 1861. Married Lizzie M. Wheaton, of Binghamton, N. Y., 29 Oct., 1893. He died 2 June, 1899, at Owego.
Robert Cameron when he came to Owego became a clerk in James Cam- eron's store, and was afterward his brother's partner. The partnership continued until 1838. In 1840 he opened a grocery store in a wooden store owned by S. S. Tinkham. the first door below the bridge in Front street. He afterward purchased property above the bridge and con-
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tinued business there until the fire of 1849. He rebuilt with brick on the same site and resumed business there. He afterward built a brick store at the northwest corner of Front and Park streets where he conducted the gro- cery business from Nov., 1859, until it was burned in October, 1867. The present brick building was subse- quently built on its site. Mr. Cameron continued the grocery business with success until compelled to retire in the summer of 1891 on account of ill health. He died March 17, 1896. Mr. Cameron married Julia E. Merchant, a sister of his brother, Robert's wife. She was born 27 Feb .. 1819, and died 6 Oct., 1889, at Owego. Their children were as follows:
1. Larue J. Cameron, born 2 Nov .. 1843. Died 1 Nov., 1894, at Owego.
2. DelRey A. Cameron, born 7 May, 1848. at Owego. Married Bessie Ryan 24 Aug., 1871.
3. Lella Inez Cameron, born 29 Nov., 1858, at Owego. Married first Charles J. G. Lapersonne and second James E. Webster. She died 28 Aug., 1906, at Owego.
COL. HENRY MCCORMICK.
Col. Henry McCormick, who came to Owego to live in 1814 was a grand- son of Joseph McCormick, who lived and died near the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. Joseph McCormick's widow. a Scotch woman named McDowell. came to America in 1760. Col. Henry McCormick's father, Henry McCor mick, came to America as a lieutenant in the British army at the beginning of the revolution. He was captured by the Americans and held as a pris- oner of war. Learning that his brother was serving in Washington's army, he found him, enlisted with him, and hav-
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ing received an officer's commission he fought valiantly with the conti- mental army against King George and his former comrades in arms until the colonies were made free. He was taken a prisoner at the storming of Quebec, but made a most desperate and daring escape. Soon after the close of the war he settled at Painted Post, N. Y., where he became an ex- tensive land owner and was elected to various important offices.
Col. Henry MeCormick was one of four brothers, all of whom served as officers in the war of 1812. He was born in the town of Painted Post. Stenben (then Ontario) county, N. Y., March 5, 1791. In 1808 he came to Newtown (now Elmira) where in 1812 he volunteered as a soldier in the war with Great Britain and did gallant ser- vice on the Niagara frontier. He crossed the Niagara river in command of a transport scow several times just before the disastrous battle of Queenstown, the grape shot from the British cannon on the heights strik- ing almost as thick as hailstones in and around his scow so long as it was compelled to be within the range.
It is related of Col. McCormick that he killed an Indian chief, who was shooting the colonel's men from his hiding place behind a fallen tree. The chief was very brave and refused to surender. Col. McCormick took the chief's leather pouch, in which he car- ried his bullets and flints, as a trophy, and many years afterward presented it to a nephew at Ithaca.
In 1814, at the close of the war, Col. McCormick came to Owego to live. His brother, Jacob Miller McCormick. came with him, and they began busi-
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ness here as gunsmiths. Their shop was on the south side of Main street where the rectory of St. Paul's Epis- copal church now is. There they made guns, the barrels of which they bored and finished at Matson's mills in Canawana.
Col. McCormick lived in a house which stood on the north side of Main street, about where Mrs. Asa N. Pot- ter's house now is. The house was several years afterward removed to the northwest corner of Liberty and Temple streets. About the year 1837 Col. McCormick sold the business to Jehiel Ogden, who had learned the gunsmith's trade in his shop.
The guns manufactured here before 1834 were flint lock guns. After he began making rifles with "half-stocks" Col. McCormick employed laborers, who dug out the stumps of black wal- nut trees, which had been felled years ago on the flat north of the present Tioga county fair grounds. From these stumps were made the half- stock, a new style of gun of that tinie. The roots that branched out from the base of the trees in the ground formed a natural bend, suited to the form of the breech part of the gun. without cutting across the grains of wood to form a crook, which would have rendered the breech very liable to break.
Jacob M. McCormick removed to Ithaca. Col. Henry McCormick pur- chased a farm on the south side of the river on the hill overlooking Owego village. He lived the rest of his life in a small house which still stands there and which was occupied for sey- eral years after his death by his daughter, Mrs. Delinda Shaw. Col.
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McCormick died May 22, 1874, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edward Livermore, at St. Peter, Minn., where he had spent the winter.
Col. McCormick was sheriff of Tioga county from 1828 to 1831. He was also a member of the board of trustees of Owego village in 1832 and 1833. He served in the state militia, having been commissioned captain of a com- pany in the Sixteenth regiment of ar- tillery.
Jacob Miller McCormick was born at Big Flats, Chemung county, in 1793. He enlisted and served in the war of 1812, leaving the army at the close of the war with a major's commission. At Ithaca he became a man of promi- nence. He owned oil, grist, and plas- ter mills, large farms, a foundry, a hardware store, and much merchan- dise. He owned the Ithaca hotel. He owned and conducted a stage route be- tween Owego and Ithaca. He was post- master many years. He was a vil- lage trustee from 1836 to 1840, and president of Ithaca village in 1840. He was the first chief engineer of the Ithaca fire department, in 1838. He died Sept. 6, 1855, at ithaca, aged 62 years.
While living in Owego, in 1821, he was appointed captain of a company of riflemen in the 53d regiment of state infantry. His wife was Cath- erine Conrad, of Lansing, N. Y., who was called the "Lady of the Lake" on account of her personal beauty and social graces.
One of Col. Henry and Jacob M. Mc- Cormick's brothers was Major Joseph McCormick, who was born April 18, 1787, in the town of Wyoming, Pa. Two years later the family removed to
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Painted Post. In March. 1806. he mar- ried Mary Hatfield. of Newtown. In 1812 he enlisted in the government service as a captain of infantry. He . fought in the battles at Tippecanoe. Queenstown Heights. Lundy's Lane.and at the blowing up of Fort Erie.and was promoted to major. He resigned his commission in the army in 1816 and engaged in the lumber and mercantile business at Lawrenceville, Pa. In 1829 he removed to Louisville, Ky., and thence in 1832 to Covington. Ind., where he engaged in farming. Later he became commander and owner of the steamer "Detroit," plying between Louisville and St.Louis and the south- ern Mississippi ports. He was after- ward elected a member of the Indiana legislature, and in 1840, 1841, and 1842 he was re-elected. He subsequently lived at Rob Roy, III., Manitowoc. Wis., and Forestville, and Ahnapee. Wis. In 1870, when s4 years of age. he was elected to the Wisconsin legis- lature and enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest person occupying a seat in that body. He died at Ahna- pee Aug .. 26, 1875, aged SS years.
Col. Henry and Elizabeth McCor- mick were the parents of two daugh- ters. The eldest. Delinda McCormick. was born at Owego May 2, 1822. She was married to William James Shaw. of Ithaca. Oct. 29. 1844. He went to California in 1549 and never returned to Owego. He died at San Francisco a few years ago. Mrs. Shaw's father and John Arnot. of Elmira, were both of Scotch descent and strong friends. After Mr. Arnot's death Mrs. Shaw went to Elmira and lived with Mrs. Arnot until her death and after that she remained in the Arnot home with
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the family of Mr. Arnot's son, Matthew 11. Arnot, and where she died Jan. 4, 1899.
Col. McCormick's younger daughter, Mary Steward McCormick, was born Feb. 13, 1828, at Owego. She was the second wife of Rev. Edward Liver- more, to whom she was married Oct. 26, 1853. He was twenty-three years rector of the Church of the Holy Com- munion at St. Peter's, Minn., and later chaplain of Kemper Hall at Kenosha, Wis., where he died May 28, 1866. She died Feb. 16, 1906, at Phoenixville, Pa.
GURDON HEWITT.
One of the most successful business men that ever lived at Owego was Gurdon Hewitt, who was a resident of the village 48 years. He was born near New London, Conn., May 5, 1790. When he was six years old his parents removed to a farm, near the village of Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y. His early life was spent on the farm, and he received his early education at the Oxford academy. His father having been ruined financially through en- dorsing some notes for a friend, Gur- don Hewitt when less than 21 years of age went to New York city in search of a clerkship, without funds and with no acquaintances in the city.
It is related that in making the trip he arranged with a man who was go- ing to Newburgh on horseback to go on the "ride and tie" plan. By this ar- rangement the owner of the horse would ride a few miles ahead and then hitch his horse at the roadside and proceed thence on foot. Mr. Hewitt would walk until he reached the place where the horse was tied, unhitch the animal, and ride for sev-
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