USA > New York > Schuyler County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 12
USA > New York > Seneca County > Portrait and biographical record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 12
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GEN. AUGUSTUS DECATUR AYRES.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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GEN. AUGUSTUS D. AYRES.
EN. AUGUSTUS DECATUR AYRES, late ! Mrs. Welby Carlton, of Hinsdale; and Frank. a of Romulus, outlived the allotted time of hardware dealer of Hinsdale, and the only male member of the family now living to carry the naine down to posterity. The parents of our subject died on the old homestead. man, dying full of years and honors Sep- tember 8, 1885, at the age of seventy-six. His parents, Zebulon and Sarah (Scudder) Ayres, were natives of New Jersey, coming to New York General Ayres, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son of the family, and retained the old homestead, buying out the other heirs. Septem- ber 24, 1862, the General was married to Belle E. Hannah, sister of Francis H. Hannah, and daughter of Elihu L. and Anna (McCann) Han- nah, of St. Clair, Mich. Mrs. Ayres was born at Erie, Pa., but at the time of her marriage to General Ayres was living with relatives in Ne- braska City. There were no children born of this union. in 1815. They settled on a five-hundred-acre tract, and the original homestead is still in the family. Zebulon Ayres was born at Providence, N. J., January 22, 1775, and his wife, Sarah Scudder, was born in that state December 20, 1780. They were united in marriage December 31, 1803, and became the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom one daughter, Mrs. Nancy Hall- nalı, is the only one living. The eldest child, Eliza Maria, died in infancy. Sally Marie died at the age of twenty-two years. Augustus De- As a land surveyor the General surveyed many farms in Seneca County. He was a member of the old military national guard, being an officer in his company, and was raised to the rank of Brigadier-General in the state troops by Governor Macy. In politics he was first a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party allied him- self with it, and remained a faithful adherent un- til liis death. He was in bearing modest and un- assuming, but his worth was appreciated by the public, and he was kept more or less in public view. His father and mother were recognized as pillars of the Presbyterian Church, and he took up the work where they left off, and was a worthy catur is our subject. Richard Scudder died in the year 1842, aged thirty-two, leaving no fam- ily. Louise married Denton Gurnee, of Rom- ulus, and died when about eighty years of age; she had one daughter, now Mrs. Charles A. Munn. Rebecca married Isaac Allen, and died in 1870. Nancy married Francis H. Han- nah, who resided in Hinsdale, Ill., but who car- ried on a lumber business in Chicago. He died in 1887, and the widow still resides in Hinsdale. They had three daugliters. Josiah died at the age of nine years. Anson G. died at Hinsdale, Ill., in 1894, leaving two children: Mary Louise,
3
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
successor to worthy workers. He contributed to the building of the church at Romulus, and was one of the first to select and pay for a pew when the church was completed. This seat is still re- tained as a family relic. He was a member of this church for fifty years.
There was none of the sluggard in the compo- sition of General Ayres, as he was always at work and kept at it to the end. The last thing he did before the closing of life's drama was to visit the reapers in the field to oversee some nec- essary repairs. The farm on which he resided contained one hundred and forty acres, and be- sides this he was also a stockholder in the rail- road at the time of its building. Until the last he retained full control of his business affairs, and when his light went out the feeling of gloom was perceptible in the entire community. The foot- prints he left on the sands of time are worthy of being followed by the generations to follow him.
ARRISON CHAMBERLAIN is recognized as one of the most enterprising business men of Seneca Falls. He has been connected with its industries for many years, and in all his undertakings has been successful, being at the present time proprietor of the National Yeast Factory, Director of the Exchange National Bank, owner of the Seneca Falls Woolen Mills (now leased to Hugh Sheridan), also of two flouring- mills, besides other valuable property, including two farms in the town of Seneca Falls, and one in Fayette. His fine dwelling on Cayuga Street is a model of convenience and comfort. He was born in the town of Seneca Falls, January 12, 1837, and is third in a family of nine children born to Jacob P. and Catharine (Kuney ) Cham- berlain, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. John Chamberlain, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of
Massachusetts, of English descent, his ancestors emigrating from England at a very early day.
Jacob P. Chamberlain moved from Cortland, N. Y., to Waterloo, then to the town of Varick. where he taught school a number of years, and where he bought and operated a farm. While living in Varick, he married Catharine Kuney, a daughter of Frederick Kuney, who was of Ger- man descent. Subsequently he moved to a farm in Seneca Falls, and soon after, becoming inter- ested in the industries of the village, moved here and made it his home until the time of his death, in the fall of 1878.
Harrison Chamberlain was reared on the home farm, and received his primary education in the public schools of the village of Seneca Falls. Later he attended Mynderse Academy, pursuing the academical course, and then entered Genesee College, in Livingston County, from which he was graduated in 1859. Returning to his home in Seneca Falls, he assisted his father, who was then proprietor of the Phoenix Woolen Mills. and continued with him until 1864, when his father sold the mill. He then took his father's interest in the large flouring-mill, and in connection car- ried on a wholesale business in flour until the mills burned. Rebuilding the mill, he continued to operate it until 1878, when he disposed of his interest and took entire charge of the business of the National Yeast Company, which was es- tablished in July, 1870, its projector being Henry Seymour, who for many years was engaged in trade in Seneca Falls. Having been connected with a distillery in early life, and gaining a knowledge of fermentation, Mr. Seymour experi- mented considerably in manufacturing yeast cakes before opening his factory, discovering a formula which secured marvelous results in the leavening properties of the yeast cake, and the length of time this element was retained in the product.
Advanced in years, Mr. Seymour could not put the energy in the business necessary, and so in- duced his son-in-law, Mr. Chamberlain, to enter the business as a partner, the firm becoming Sey- mour & Chamberlain. The latter gave vigor to the business, and within a few months the facili- ties of the factory were entirely inadequate to fill
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the demand for the product. October 1, 1870, a location was secured. and in twenty days from that date a brick building, 32xSo feet, three stories high, besides basement, together with a wing 18x32 feet, of same height, was erected. The business of the firm increased rapidly, and other additions to the building were made, yet the demand taxed the facilities to their utmost. A slight falling off in the demand was occasioned by the general depression of 1876-77, but in 1878, when Mr. Chamberlain again assumed active management of the business, increased sales con- tinued up to 1890, when a precarious condi- tion of trade faced all manufacturers of dry-hop yeast. The Vienna, or soft, yeast, even before this, very largely controlled the city consump- tion, and, being quick and convenient in its action, had acquired a powerful hold. Its success had encouraged the investment of large capital by others, and soon there were several other large companies on the market with a similar soft yeast. The dry-hop yeast, though in many respects pro- ducing a better bread, could not mect this com- petition, and as a result it has been largely forced out of the field. The only prospect of revival, or of continuing the trade, depends on the suc- cess of experiments that shall demonstrate the practicability of uniting in this form of fermenta- tion the excellent qualities of the dry-hop with the quick and immediate action of the soft yeast.
Mr. Chamberlain is the owner of the large woolen-mills here, which he leases to Hugh Sher- idan, and he also owns two malthouses and a storehouse. He assisted in the organization of the Exchange National Bank of Seneca Falls, and was its President for five years. This bank is the successor of the National Exchange Bank, which in February,. 1885, decided to go out of business. On the 25th of February of that year, the bank building was purchased at auction by Mr. Chamberlain for $28,050. The bank was . then re-organized, with Mr. Chamberlain as Pres- ident, and it has enjoyed prosperity during its entire existence, being regarded as the leading bank of the county. Although retired from the Presidency, he still retains his stock, and is one of the Directors of the bank.
In 1868 Mr. Chamberlain married Miss Ophe- lia G. Seymour, a daughter of Henry and Susan Seymour, of Seneca Falls. To them were born four children, two sons and two daughters, name- ly: John P .; Willis T., who died in 1886; Mary D. and Alice F. In politics Mr. Chamberlain is a stanch Republican, taking an active part in political affairs, and for several years was a mem- ber of the Republican State Committee. Upon all subjects of general interest Mr. Chamberlain is well versed.
ILLIAM M. FOLLET, M. D., a homeo- pathic physician and surgeon at Seneca Falls, is a native of the village, born Au- gust 25, 1861, and is a son of Gilbert Follet. The latter, born in Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1833, was there reared to manhood, learn- ing the trade of a carpenter and joiner. Subse- quently he came to Seneca Falls, where lie was engaged as a contractor and builder for a number of years, and later moved to a farm two miles from the village, where he now lives a retired life. He married Miss Margaret McWilliams, who was born in the town of Seneca Falls, and was a daughter of Samuel McWilliams, a native of New York, but of Scotch descent. She died on the farm in 1892. The Follets are of English descent, the grandfather of our subject emigrating from England and locating near Albany, N. Y. To Gilbert and Margaret Follet were born two children: William M., our subject; and Mary B., the wife of Herbert S. Wilbur, an attorney at Rochester, N. Y.
In early childhood our subject removed with his parents to the farm where he grew to man- hood. His early education was gleaned in the district schools, and later he entered Seneca Falls Academy, where he finished the course. On leaving school, he read medicine for a time, and
156
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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then took a three-years course at Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery, from which he was graduated in 1887. After graduating he served in the homeopathic hospital in Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery, and later in the homeopathic hospital at Buffalo, N. Y. From the latter place he went to Geneva, N. Y., where for one year he took charge of the practice of Dr. N. B. Cobert, who was ill. He then opened an office in Rochester, where he remained six months, and then returned to his old home at Seneca Falls, where he has since engaged in gen- eral practice, and has been highly successful.
Dr. Follet was married, December 26, ISSS, to Miss Julia A. Uhilhorn, of New York City. The Doctor is a member of the Seneca County Homeo- pathic Medical Society; of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society; of the Rochester Homeopathic Association, and of the Central New York Homeopathic Medical Society. For three terms Dr. Follet served as Health Officer of the village of Seneca Falls, two years as physician of the town of Seneca Falls, and one term as Coun- ty Physician. He is a skillful physician, and has a large and constantly growing practice. He re- sides on Cayuga Street, one of the principal resi- dent streets of the village.
no AVID A. LAMB. One of the most note- worthy establishments in Altay, Schuyler County, is the manufactory of which Mr. Lamb is the proprietor. Here is manufactured a large variety of baskets, which he can guarantee to his customers for superiority of material, style and durability. He is well known for his enter- prise, energy and push, and richly deserves the large measure of popularity and prosperity which he now enjoys. He was born in Wayne, Steu- ben County, this state, January 7, 1831, and is
the son of John R. and Eunice C. (Stone) Lamb, bothi natives of this state. The father is deceased, passing from this life when in his sixty-fifth year. Mrs. Lamb still survives and is now ad- vanced in years.
Our subject was three years of age wlien his parents removed to the town of Pulteney, Steuben County, where he lived until in his seventeenth year. He then returned to Wayne and made his home there until 1861, when we find him en route for Vates County, where he worked out for some twenty months. At the expiration of that time, however, he again returned to Wayne and invested his earnings in a tract of seventy-five acres of land, and was there industriously en- gaged in farming until the spring of 1877. That year he sold out his farming interests and came to Altay, where he built a shingle-mill, operating the same for the following six years. As he was then offered a good price for liis plant, he sold out and erected a factory, which he superintended until the spring of 1891. That year he engaged in the manufacture of baskets, in which business he is now quite extensively engaged. He possesses the confidence and patronage of a discriminating pub- lic, and his unremitting industry and energy, as well as his upright dealing, liave made his house a thoroughly reliable one.
Mr. Lamb was married in Wayne, on Christ- mas Day, 1853, to Miss Sylvia Jacobus, who was born in that place December 23, 1833. The lat- ter's parents, John and Sarah (Bennett) Jacobus, were born, respectively, in New Jersey and New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Lamb were granted two children. Henry, born August 4, 1856, was foreman of the switch-yards of Winona, Minn .. and was accidentally killed July 3, IS95. He left a wife, Eva (Shattuck ) Lamb, and two chil- dren, Leon and Lena. Sarah Lamb, the other member of the household, was born in Milo, Yates County, N. Y., July 1, 1861. She became the wife of Frank E. Gregory, and died Novem- ber 26, 1885, leaving two children, Cleda L. and Sarah, the latter of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Lamb is a valued member of the Altay Baptist Church and takes an active part in its various meetings.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
As a citizen, our subject is public-spirited and has done much for the best interests of the com minity. He is a Republican in politics, and on this ticket was elected Assessor and Excise Com- missioner.
FORGE A. HANMER is a gentleman of good business ability, and at present is a successful farmer of the town of Tyrone, Schuyler County. He is well known in this lo- cality, as his birth occurred here November 14, 1849.
The parents of our subject were Lewis and Caroline ( Heist) Hanmer, natives of Tyrone, Schuyler County, where they now reside. They are farmers by occupation, and are well known and very highly esteemed in their community for their upright manner of life. . Their son George A. was reared and educated in his native county, and there were inculcated in his youthful mind the lessons usually learned by a farmer lad. He attended the early schools conducted in the dis- trict, and fitted himself for the later duties of life. Afterward he became a student at. Starkey Sem- inary, from which he was graduated with the Class of '69, and then, wishing to gain a good knowledge of business methods, he took a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, receiving a diploma from the same the following year.
Mr. Hanmer, of this history, went to Ionia County, Mich., in 1877, and remained there en- gaged in farming until the fall of that year, when he removed to Jackson County, that state. He there mnet his future wife, to whom he was mar- ried November 14, 1877. She was formerly known as Miss Cordelia A. Hicks, and was the daughter of Solomon and Christine Hicks. Her birth occurred in New York, December 12, 1858,
and, like her husband, she is well educated and conversant with all current topics of interest.
On his return to Schuyler County, in 1878. Mr. Hanmer settled in the town of Tyrone, where he has continued to reside ever since. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and is a thoroughly wide-awake and progressive citizen. His estate comprises one hundred and twenty acres, and is furnished with the latest improved machinery, and further improved by the substan- tial and commodious buildings.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hanmer there have been granted two children: Eulalia A., born October 16, 1879; and Edna, born June 11, 1881. Our subject always takes a very active part in local affairs, and is an enthusiastic supporter of Repub- lican candidates and principles.
The father of Mrs. Hanmer was born October 27, 1833, and while working in the woods on his farm, March 30, 1861, was killed. His wife, who, prior to her marriage, was known as Miss Christine Powell, was born February 2, 1833, and now makes her home in Bradford. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, of whom Mrs. Hanmer was the third in order of birth. For a full history of this family, we refer the reader to the sketch of their son, Albert Hicks, which is published on another page in this volume.
OHN E. RICHARDSON. The position of prominence held by Mr. Richardson among the attorneys of Seneca County is due to his thorough knowledge of every department of the law, and to his energetic disposition, which has permitted him to stop at nothing short of suc- cess. The village of Waterloo has been his life- long home, and here he was born September 10, 1846. His father, James K., was one of the
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
early settlers of this part of the state, and estab- lished his home in West Burlington, Otsego County, in 1817. An attorney by profession, he was a man respected in every walk of life-a fact that was shown by his selection for the seri- ous and responsible position of County Judge, he being among thie very first to be chosen for of- fice on the organization of the county.
For a time in early life, James K. Richard- son taught school in this county, and also in So- dus, Wayne County. In politics he was an old- line Whig, and when the time came for the or- ganization of the Republican party he was ac- tively associated with some of the able men of the state in its formation. Under Isaac Fuller, Clerk, he served as Deputy County Clerk, and he also held the position of District Attorney. For many years he made his home in Waterloo, and here he died in 1875, full of years and ripe with honors. His wife, Mabel, was a daughter of Quartus and Nancy Knight, and came to this village with them at the age of seven years. She died here in May, 1888, at the age of seventy-five.
The subject of this sketch is the third among five children who attained mature years, he hav- ing two sisters and two brothers. One brother, Charles E., formerly a resident of Waterloo, died here in 1892. Mr. Richardson attended the com- mon school in this village. Under Judge Ster- ling G. Hadley he gained the rudiments of his legal education, and afterward attended the law school at Albany, graduating in 1868. He then returned to Waterloo, and began the practice of law. For more than a quarter of a century he has closely applied himself to his profession, the only absence lie has had being when he was sick for eighteen mnouths.
To Mr. Richardson has come a fair share of the honors of office and the favors of his fellow-citi- zens. In 1870 he was elected Justice of the Peace, in 1876 Police Justice, in 1878 became Supervisor of the town of Waterloo (which posi- tion he held four years), and in 1886-87 was Trus- tee of the Second Ward. November 5, 1895, lie was honored by being elected to the office of County Judge and Surrogate in and for Seneca County. In politics lie has not been closely con-
fined to party, but feels himself free to act and vote for the best interests of the whole country. Vet he has bouift himself to the hearts of his own people, so that men of every shade of opinion do not hesitate to vote for him and put him for- ward as a representative man.
September 7, 1871, Mr. Richardson married Miss Allena Chamberlin, who died, leaving one son, James. His second wife was Alice, daugli- ter of William B. Mickley. In church matters he has been for some years an active and consist- ent member of the Presbyterian Church.
ON. BAXTER T. SMELZER, M. D. Of 0
the public men whom Schuyler County has given to the state, few have gained greater prominence and influence than the subject of this article, and it is therefore fitting, in a volume dedicated to the public-spirited citizens of this lo- cality, that considerable mention should be made of his life and work. Since the age of twenty-two he lias made his home in Havana, but recently he removed his family to Albany, where his official duties have required his presence much of the time for some years.
In the town of Lodi, Seneca County, Baxter T. Smelzer was born March 27, 1852, a son of Philip Smelzer, a man of pure life and high char- acter. The rudiments of our subject's education were obtained in the common schools, after which he attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., and Syracuse University. Early in life he determined upon a professional career, and, preferring the study of medicine, turned his attention to it. He was a student in the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and later entered Bellevue Hospital in New York City, from which he was graduated in 1874.
At the age of twenty-two Dr. Smelzer com-
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menced the practice of his profession in Havana, where his youthful appearance secured for him the name of the "boy doctor." However, his ability as a physician was soon recognized and his position in the profession established. His inter- est in public matters and his ability as a leader in politics were also apparent at an early period of his residence in Havana. Believing it the duty of every good citizen to give attention to all mat- ters connected with the welfare of the state, he has therefore been active in politics. A stanch Republican, he is a member of the Republican State League, was Chairman of the Central Com- mittee for several years, President of the Village Board a number of terms, member of the Board of Education for four successive terms, and Pres- ident of the board for six years.
In 1893 Dr. Smelzer was elected to represent the Twenty-seventh Senatorial District, and this office he filled with distinguished ability, his able services winning commendation from all progress- ive citizens. While a member of the Senate he was Chairman of the committee appointed to in- vestigate the State Board of Health, the result of which was a large saving to the state. It was the only committee that finished its business and miade a report in full before adjournment. . He was instrumental in the passage of various bills, one being the maintaining of the Public Health Law. He also secured the passage of several bills in the interest of the medical profession, and was chiefly instrumental in having the county agricultural societies receive an increased amount from the "Ives Pool Bill." Among his other services were the securing of a number of appro- priations for Schuyler County and a new charter for the city of Elmira. He originated the "Tu- berculosis Bill," which appointed a conimission to investigate the diseases of cattle and their general condition.
In his chosen profession Dr. Smelzer is favora- bly known throughout Schuyler and adjoining counties. His specialty has been surgery, and during the latter period of his residence in Ha- vana, owing to the numerous public demands upon his time, his attention professionally was confined almost entirely to surgery and consulta-
tion. Ile is a member of the County and State Medical Associations and the Elmira Academy of Medicine. In June, 1895, he was appointed Sec- retary of the State Board of Health, which re- sponsible position he is now filling.
In 1876 Dr. Smelzer married Miss Lucy A. Tracy, a lady of literary tastes, whose father, Peter Tracy, was one of the first Presidents of the Chemung Bank of Elmira and President of the Chemung Railroad. They are the parents of two sons. Few inen of Schuyler County have been more highly honored than Dr. Smelzer. In his profession he is able, and in his official life honorable and efficient. He is a genial and affa- ble man, one with whom it is a pleasure to meet.
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