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 22
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 22
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The subject of this sketch was born June 8, 1855, in Altay, where he was reared. After com- pleting his education in the common schools, he entered Starkey Academy, and after carrying on his studies there for a time, he returned to the home farm and assisted his father in carrying on farmi work until his marriage, which was cele- brated January 12, 1881, Miss Emina L. LaFever
becoming his wife. She was born in Catta- raugus County, N. Y., in 1855, and was the daughter of Russell K. and Emily A. (Wilber) LaFever.
For three years after liis union Mr. Bigelow lived within one mile of Altay, but as it became advisable to make a change at the end of tliat time, he took up his abode on his present estate, which is the old home farm. As before stated, it is two hundred acres in extent, and is de- voted mainly to breeding Jersey cattle. It is known far and wide as the Tobahanna Stock Farm, and on it Mr. Bigelow has about twenty head of fine cattle. He manufactures a very fine quality of butter, which is sold almost exclusively in Roch- ester and the larger cities. It is known through- out this entire section, and every pound bears Mr. Bigelow's initials. In addition to this branch of farming, he also raises a large amount of grain, which he uses mainly in feeding his stock.
To our subject and his excellent wife there have been born two children, Bertha L. and Maude E. Mr. Bigelow takes an active part in all affairs of local interest, and is especially prom- inent in school matters, and is now serving as Trustee of his district. In politics he never fails to support candidates of the Republican party. Socially he belongs to Lamoka Lodge No. 463, F. & A. M., and is Junior Warden of liis lodge.
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Mr. Bigelow is both modest and unassuming, making friends of all with whom he comes in contact, and he is counted one of the progress- ive citizens of Schuyler County.
ESSE T. OWEN, M. D., has practiced med- icine in Lodi for fifteen years, and is one of the oldest physicians in the place. He was born in Brighton, Livingston County, Mich., February 22, 1849, and is now in the prime of life. His parents were Herman C. and Irene (Franklin) Owen, natives of New York, of that part which is now known as Schuyler County. They were the parents of five children, of whom four lived to maturity. Cynthia, the eldest daugh- ter, married Jeremiah Batcheler, a prominent stock-raiser of Livingston County, Mich. Jesse T. is next in order. John is a resident of How- ell, Mich .; and Susan, the widow of James Sillo- way, is a resident of Warren County, Tenn. Herman Owen was a farmer, and died in Michi- gan, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife also died many years ago, while Jesse was still a small lad.
Dr. Owen, our subject, was only thirteen years of age when he came to New York to reside with his uncle, Judge Franklin, of Ovid, where he re- ceived a fair academical education. While still very young he began the study of medicine, with Dr. Lewis Post, of Lodi, as preceptor, and fin- ished with Dr. William Murray, of Albany. He entered the medical department of Union Uni- versity at Albany, and graduated in the Class of 73. Later he entered into practice at South Worcester, Otsego County, and in 1880 came to Lodi, where he has since resided. In connection with his medical career he has carried on a drug business very successfully, and has won a sub- stantial success. All through his career he has
displayed those qualities of patience, courage and an indomitable perseverance that win anywhere. As a boy he would work at anything lie could find to do, even while attending school. Later on he taught school, thereby paying his way through college, and when he graduated he had $2,000 saved, with which to commence his life work.
In 1874 Dr. Owen married Miss Lavella, the daughter of Isha W. Blackwell, the inventor and manufacturer of a very practical and successful clover huller .
Politically Dr. Owen is a Democrat, but has never held or aspired to any elective office, as his profession and its kindred interests have absorbed all his energies. He is a Mason, and is associ- ciated with his fellow-practitioners in the Otsego County Medical Society. By strict attention to business he accumulated not a little property; he owns a farm near Lodi, which he conducts, and is also the owner of considerable property in the village. As he looks back and recalls the diffi- culties that he has overcome, Dr. Owen has rea- son to felicitate himself over the large measure of professional and pecuniary success that has crowned his labors.
BARNET MAYNARD. The firm of Maynard & Barnes have won an enviable standing in the village of Waterloo for the careful and efficient manner in which they have conducted their large and growing business, dis- posing, as they do, of great quantities of groceries and provisions to the people of Waterloo and vi- cinity, and collecting and shipping to the outside world a large amount of the produce that the ca- pable agriculturists of Seneca County present for sale.
Mr. Maynard was born in the town of Water-
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loo September 30, 1858, and is the son of Samuel Stewart and Lucretia ( Bonnell) Maynard. On his mother's side he is a grandson of Henry Bon- nell. His father, who is a native of this state, was born in Seneca County in 1835, and lived to be only forty-three years of age. He was one of the honest yeomanry of the land, and followed farining as an occupation. His wife, who sur- vives him, makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch. His grandfather was one of the pioneers of the town of Waterloo, and from him have come many of the strong and sturdy traits of his Scotch-Irish origin. The mother of our subject, who was of English extraction, had three children, of whom Barnet was the only son. Mary A. is now the wife of Joseph Barnes, a part- ner of the firm of Maynard & Barnes. His other sister, Edith L., is still at home.
Mr. Maynard, of whom this sketch is written, passed his youth upon his father's farm, attending the district school and closing his school career with three years in the Waterloo High School. With ready self-reliance, he turned his attention to school teaching, and after the death of his father remained at home and assumed the care of the family and the charge of the farm. He was very busy and earnestly engaged until October, 1894, when he felt that he was entitled to a less vigorous and exhaustive occupation. Accord- ingly, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Barnes, he purchased the grocery store of A. C. Reed & Co. The firm is carrying a large and well assorted stock of goods, is doing a good business, and its future prospects seem very hopeful.
Mr. Maynard has taken an active part in political affairs, affiliating with the Republican party, and has been called to positions of respon- sibility. While serving as Assessor of the town of Waterloo, having been elected in 1893, he was elected Supervisor of the same town. He is still young, and may confidently look forward to higher positions in the near future.
Mr. Maynard has an interest in two well culti- vated farms, one of seventy acres in the town of Junius, and the other of one hundred and four- teen acres in the town of Waterloo, and both
have good buildings upon them. The larger farm is the old family homestead, and at the present time both are rented to capable tenants, but are closely supervised by Mr. Maynard. The subject of this sketch lias never married. He is still a young man, and his friends and neighbors "hope for better things."
A LONZO H. TERWILLIGER is senior mem- ber of the firm of A. H. Terwilliger & Son, at Waterloo, who are engaged in the sale of lumber, lath, shingles, mouldings, cements, sewer pipes, wall plaster and hard and soft coal, in which line a large trade is carried on among the people of the village.
In politics Mr. Terwilliger is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in local matters. He has served for two years as Trustee of the village of Waterloo, and is a Trustee in the Waterloo Library and Historical Society. Aside from other interests, he is a stockholder and Director in the First National Bank of Waterloo. He and his family are prominent members of the Epis- copal Church of this village.
AVID B. CRANE, a merchant at Catharine, and general agent for The Aultman Com-' 00 pany of Canton, Ohio, is a son of John Crane, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He was born on the old homestead in the town of Catharine, November 7, 1853, and re- mained on the home farm until eleven years of
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age, when he came to the village and entered the public schools, there receiving his education. He remained with his parents and assisted his fa- ther with the farmn work until twenty-three years of age. In February, 1877, he began in life for himself in the farm-implement business at Catlı- arine, continuing in that line in connection with farming until 1884, after which he devoted his entire time and attention to the trade, with the exception of a short time spent as a traveling salesman for the Fleming Manufacturing Com-
pany at Ft. Wayne, Ind. In 1889 he gave up the implement business and went into the em- ploy of the Western Wheel Scraper Company of Aurora, Ill., with which he remained four years as special agent and expert operator, introducing the machines, and traveling in the Western and Southern States. In 1893 he engaged with the Climax Road Machine Company of Marathon, N. Y., having as his territory eastern Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. After remaining with that company until December, 1894, he accepted the general agency of The Aultman Company of Canton, Ohio. Although making his home in Catharine, he is almost continually on the road, but has a vacation of two months each year.
In 1893 Mr. Crane established his present mercantile business at Catharine, which is in charge of his wife, who has proved her ability by making the store a success, attending to the buy- ing and all the details of the business. In 1892 Mr. Crane was elected Justice of the Peace, which position he still holds, and he has held other local offices besides. For some years he has been School Trustee, taking an active interest in all educational matters, and has been instrumental in bringing the schools of Catharine to their present high standard. His interest in educa- tional matters has been intensified by practical experience in the schoolroom. At the age of twenty he began teaching in the district school, following that profession for five years, and since his marriage has taught two terms. In politics he has always been a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for R. B. Hayes.
Mr. Crane was married at Catharine to Jane
Millspaugh, a native of Catharine, born April 17, IS53, and a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Scott) Millspaugh. Her father is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the town, and is still living on the old homestead. By this union two children have been born, George B. and Willie C. Since eighteen years of age Mr. Crane has been a member of Highland Grange No. 22, of Catharine, in which order lie lias been active. He has also been an active member of the Good Templars, and has served that order as County Deputy.
OHN J. LANE, baggage agent for the Fall Brook Railroad, and agent for the Fall Brook Coal Company at Watkins, was born in Mill Port, Chemung County, September 4, 1834, and is a son of George and Harriet (Justin) Lane. His father was born in Oneida County, N. Y., and there grew to manhood. By trade he was a contractor, and engaged in work on the various canals of the state, including the Chemung Canal. Later he became largely interested in canal prop- erty and boats. He died suddenly of apoplexy at Weedsport, where he was buried.
Our subject spent his boyhicod at Mill Port, and remained under the parental roof until after he attained his majority. He received but a lim- ited education in the public schools of his native village, and in his youth worked in a mill at that place. At the age of twenty-two he came to Watkins and took a position as clerk in a grocery store, where he remained fifteen years. In 1869 lie was employed in the Collector's office at Wat- kins, and in 1874 was appointed Collector of the port, which position he retained for two years. In 1876 he entered the employ of the Fall Brook Coal Company, and seven years later came to Watkins as baggage agent, which position he still retains. For the past nine years he has been
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in the coal business, handling upon an average a thousand tons of hard and soft coal per year.
On the 7th of July, 1859, Mr. Lane was mar- ried, in the town of Reading, to Mary E. Abbott, a native of that town, and a daughter of James A. and Betsey ( Benham) Abbott. Her parents were early settlers in that town, and were among its most highly respected citizens. By this union two children were born: George J., who resides in Worcester, Mass., where he is engaged in the publishing business; and Lottie L., the wife of John Wallerson, of Reading, Pa., a retired capi- talist and prominent man of that place.
In his younger days Mr. Lane was connected with the Presbyterian Church, and still attends its services, though not holding membership with it. Twenty-five years ago he became a Master Mason in Jefferson Lodge No. 332, at Watkins, and has been prominently identified with the or- der since that time. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan. A good business man and a most worthy citizen, he enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community in which he lives.
NDREW JOSHUA ALLEMAN, M. D., of MacDougall, was born September 27, 1828, the day on which Andrew Johnson was elected President, and is consequently a Demo- crat. A native of Seneca County, he stands emi- nent among the many sons of that section who have achieved fame and fortune. His parents, Jacob and Nancy A. (Newstetter) Alleman, were both from Pennsylvania, the former from the neighborhood of Harrisburg. They settled in the town of Fayette in 1807, upon a farin about four miles south of Waterloo.
Jacob Alleman did not confine his energies to
the farm, but in company with a Mr. Lucas built and operated the Fayette Mills, although he re- sided upon the farm, where he died in IS35, aged fifty-four years. Mrs. Alleman survived her hus- band until her eighty-fifth year, her death occur- ring in Waterloo. This worthy couple were charter members of Zion's Lutheran Church in Fayette, of which they were steady supporters until their death. Ten children blessed their union, all of whom attained maturity, but only one of them is living besides the Doctor, Joseph D. Alleman, of South Waterloo. The others died at varying ages, consumption causing the death of most of them.
The Doctor, who lived at home until twenty- one years of age, was educated at Waterloo Acad- emy under Mr. Gibson, who was then Principal, but who later became pastor of the Episcopal Church at Utica. Front 1850 until 1853 he staid with Dr. Phelps, of Rochester, N. Y., until the death of that skilled physician from cholera. in the year last mentioned. Later he studied with O. S. Patterson, of Waterloo, and subsequently took a course in Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. He took another course at Gen- eva Medical College, it being the last year of that institution at Geneva. In the latter part of 1854 he received his diploma from the University of New York City, and immediately commenced to practice at Fayette. In 1858 he hung out his shingle here, and here he has since resided. His practice has constantly grown, and honors have been showered upon him. He is ex-President of the Seneca County Medical Society, a member of the Western New York Medical Society, and has been the subject of eulogistic articles in the Medical County History and the Medical Men's History of the County.
In 1860, when the diphtheria epidemic ravaged the country, the Doctor attained national fame by his success in treating the disease. After the battle of the Wilderness he was in charge of the Government hospital at Alexandria. Of late years Dr. Alleman has devoted his spare time to the scientific raising of fruit upon his ninety-acre farmı, where a variety of small fruits bear testi- mony to the success of his efforts in that direction.
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William R., April 16, 1864; J. J., November 19, 1867; and an infant whose birth and death oc- curred November 18, 1872. All reside on the homestead save John and J. J., who have been engaged in newspaper work.
The parents of Otis R. Corbett were Chester Corbett and Sallie (La Fever) Corbett, both representatives of pioneer families, whose enter- prise laid the foundation of present prosperity. The father of Sallie, Lewis La Fever, was a Dea- con and a licensed preacher in the initial Baptist Church of the town, while Chester Corbett was of the first Methodist membership. He and his father, Asaph Corbett, settled on the lake-side farm in Reading in 1812, coming to this place from the town of Catharine, where they were tax-payers in 1804. The father of Asaph was Robert Corbett, who died at Corbettsville, near Binghamton, having reached that locality from
Milford, Mass., where a Robert Corbett was a pioneer, taking part, according to the records of the place, in King Philip's War of 1676. "Burke's Landed Gentry" states that there are in England thirteen county families of the name of Corbett, and adds: "The Corbets or Corbetts have been situated in the counties of Salop, Mer- ionethi and Worcester for many generations. The family is one of the few male lines which trace back to a race of the same name in Normandy. of whom was Hugli Corbet (or Corbeau ) living in 1040. He had four sons, Hugh, Roger, Rob- ert and . Reginald. Roger came over with Will- iam the Conqueror and founded the English fam- ily." In "Walford's County Families," a men- tion of the Corbetts contains the following state- ment: "Moreton Corbet Castle, the ancient fam- ily residence, was burnt in the Civil Wars and is a beautiful ruin."
MRS. JAMES O'DANIELS.
JAMES O'DANIELS.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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JAMES O'DANIELS.
AMES O'DANIELS. Our subject has ar- rived at that age when the dignity of years spent in active and productive labor exenipts him from the weariness of toil at the present time. He is now recognized as one of the prominent and wealthy retired farmers living in the beauti- ful village of Watkins. The estate of which he is still the owner comprises ninety-two acres in the town of Reading, to which he gives his per- sonal supervision.
Our subject was born in Chester, Orange Coun- ty, February 26, 1820, to John R. and Elizabeth (Dense) O'Daniels, also natives of Orange Coun- ty. They were well-to-do people, and the father followed farm pursuits during the greater part of his life. When their son James was quite young they removed to Yates County, where he was reared to mature years amid rural scenes. Like the youth of that day, hie acquired his education mainly in the schools of the district, and was thoroughly trained to a full knowledge of farm work.
When ready to begin in life for himself, Mr. O'Daniels went to Genesee County, this state, where he purchased a tract of land, residing thereon for a period of three years. At the end of that time he disposed of this property, and went to Middletown, Orange County, where he was engaged in selling stoves for some three years and a-half. He then turned his attention to gardening and the nursery business in that
village, carrying this on with good results until the fall of 1859. During his residence there he was also engaged in speculating to some extent.
In the year 1859 Mr. O' Daniels went to Athens, Pa., in the vicinity of which place he purchased a tract of land, which he was engaged in culti- vating for seven years. On selling out, he went to Dundee, Yates County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, residing there until 1869, when he came to Schuyler County. Upon locat- ing here he bought property in the town of Read- ing, on which he lived until 1891, and that year removed to Watkins, where he is now living a retired life.
The marriage of our subject and Miss Mary A. Drake was celebrated in Vates County, this state, May 11, 1844. Mrs. O'Daniels was born in the town of Dix, July 5, 1820, and by her union with our subject became the mother of three children: J. Byron, who resides at Reading Center: and Mary A. and Jennie V., both of whom died when about twenty-two years of age. The wife and mother departed this life February 2, 1886, and September 22, 1891, Mr. O' Daniels was mar- ried to Mrs. Mary J. (Ketcham) O'Daniels, the widow of Francis O'Daniels, his brother. She was born in Starkey, Yates County, June 28, 1824. By her first husband she had a son, Lar- mon G., a resident of Watkins. Both our sub- ject and wife are members in excellent standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with: which
8
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they have been connected for many years. Mr. O'Daniels has always been actively interested in beneficial measures in his community, and lias been the incumbent of various local offices of trust. In politics he is a Republican.
UDGE GILBERT WILCOXEN is an attor- ney-at-law and well known citizen at Seneca Falls, where he has resided almost his entire life. He was born in the town of Smithfield, Madison County, N. Y., September 25, 1828, and his father, Alfred Wilcoxen, was born in Stratford, Conn., in 1801. Oliver S. Wilcoxen, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Connecticut, but of English ancestry. The first of the family to come to America was Tim- othy Wilcoxen, who came to this country in 1620, first locating in Massachusetts, and after- wards removing to Connecticut. Alfred Wil- coxen inarried Miss Abbie Gilbert, who was also a native of Connecticut, but who was reared in the town of Madison, Madison County, N. Y. She was the daughter of Ager Gilbert, an early settler of Madison County. In the parental fam- ily were twelve children, six sons and six daugh- ters, of whom Gilbert was third in order of birth.
The boyhood of our subject was spent in his native town, where he attended the district school. In 1839 he removed with his parents to Seneca Falls and entered the academy at this place. Desiring a better education than could be obtained in the academy, he entered Hamil- ton College and pursued the classical course, graduating therefront in 1852. On leaving col- lege, he decided to make the profession of law his life work, and with that end in view entered the office of Judge J. T. Miller, of Seneca Falls, and in 1854 was admitted to the Bar at Rochester. Having a taste, however, for literary work, he
established the Seneca Falls Reveille, which he conducted for four years, showing great ability as an editor.
In 1860 Mr. Wilcoxen commenced the practice of his profession, in which he has continued un- til the present time. He practices in all the courts in the state and also in the federal courts. As an attorney he has been successful and has acted as counsel in many important cases. In addition to his legal business, for the past fifteen years he has been President of the Seneca Falls Savings Bank. He also owns a farmi of one hun- dred acres in the town of Tyre, which is in a good state of cultivation and to which he gives his personal attention.
Mr. Wilcoxen was married, in 1859, to Miss Jane Merritt, of Seneca Falls, and a daughter of William Merritt, also of this place. Three chil- dren have been born unto them, two sons and one daughter. In politics Mr. Wilcoxen is a Democrat, and from 1872 until 1878 was County Judge and Surrogate. For three years previous to his election as Judge he served as Supervisor of his town, and in 1856 and 1857 he was col- lector of canal-toll at Seneca Falls. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. Both he and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
BRAM B. JOHNSON. The town of Rom- ulus has been the birthplace of men and women distinguished in literature, art and science, and men who have periled their lives on the field of battie, with lionor to themselves and to the country of their birth. It lias likewise produced men and women who in a quiet, simple way have passed along life's journey content to fill a small niche in the temple of fame, or, if need be, to pass to their graves unknown of men, but
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with the assurance that "up yonder" their good deeds are known and the record properly kept. Among thie latter class may be mentioned Abram B. Johnson, who was born in the town of Romulus April 2, 1832, and who from early childhood toiled early and late, earned his bread by the sweat of his brow, lived in such a manner as to win the love and respect of those with whom he was associated, and when the final summons came passed to his reward.
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