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 28
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 28
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years he has been a Master Mason, and for thirty years a Royal Arch Mason. He has always been interested in public affairs, and for four years served as Postmaster of Moreland, besides filling various town offices.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett three children were born: Epliraim J., a graduate of Union College and now Cashier of the Valley Bank at Phoenix, Ariz .: Oscar C., a student in Alfred Seminary, and who is now conducting the home farm; and Burton G., a graduate of the business college of Rochester, who is now holding a responsible po- sition with the Northwestern Life Insurance Com- pany. Politically Mr. Bennett is a Democrat.
5 OHN CRANE, a retired farmer living in the village of Catharine, was born August 16, 1814, in Seneca County, N. V., and is a so11 of David and Polly ( Whitney) Crane, and the grandson of Belden Crane, who was of Eng- lish descent. When our subject was but five years of age the family removed to Tompkins County and located in the town of Hector, where the father purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming. Thirteen years later he removed to Schuyler County and purchased a farm in the town of Catharine, and here our subject re- mained, assisting in the cultivation of the farm until thirty-two years of age. On the 6th of De- cember, 1846, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Sidney, who was born in the town of Newfield, Tompkins County, but which was then a part of Chemung County. By this union there were born four children, two of whom are now living: Cora, the wife of Myron Hewitt, a farmer in the town of Catharine; and David B., a merchant in the village of Catharine, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
After their marriage Mr. Crane still remained
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on the home farm, which he operated, on account of the fact that his father was incapacitated by age from taking charge of the work. On the death of the father, he sold his interest in the estate and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land east of Catharine, which was his home until IS91. That year he sold out and re- moved to the village of Catharine, where he has since lived a retired life. In politics he was orig- inally a Henry Clay Whig, with which party he voted until its dissolution, when he became a Republican, and has since voted that party's ticket. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crane have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years. He has been a Master Mason for many years, holding membership with Myrtle Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M. For the past four years Mr. Crane lias been disabled from any ac- tive work by the rheumatisin, but he bears his afflictions with Christian fortitude and with the blessed assurance that in the "home over there" he will be free from pain.
Zebulon Crane, the great-grandfather of our subject, removed to this locality from Tompkins County in 1814, and for many years was en- gaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his brother, Judge Samuel Crane. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and were men of high Christian character and in- tegrity. It is a remarkable fact that no member of the Crane family was ever arrested for any crime. They have always been honest, God-fear- ing men and women, and have lived in such a manner as to win the respect and confidence of all those with whom they were brought in contact.
( ESSE SNOOK. In the list of manufactur- ing enterprises that have contributed to the prosperity of Seneca County and to the ad- vancement of its material interests, mention should be made of the Waterloo Wagon Com-
pany, Limited, one of the flourishing concerns of the village of Waterloo. The plant is a large one, and the products may be found on sale in the principal markets of the United States. The success of the firm and its enviable reputation among dealers and the retail trade are due, in no small degree, to the efforts of Mr. Snook, who is Treasurer of the company, and who, through all the years of his connection with the enterprise, has labored to promote the quality of workman- ship and reliability of the products.
In the town of Newton, Essex County, N. J., the subject of this article was born in 1830. His parents, William and Elizabeth ( Drake) Snook, were also natives of New Jersey, where they were reared and married. In the year IS31 they removed to Seneca County and settled in the village of Waterloo, in which place the father, who was a miller by occupation, found work in the gristmill of Thomas Fatzinger, continuing with that gentleman for sixteen years. His death occurred in I850, when he was forty-nine years of age, and his wife, who survived him many years, passed away in 1873, at the age of seven- ty-one. Both were devoted members of the Bap- tist Church. He was of German descent, while she traced her lineage, through her father, Dan- iel Drake, to English ancestors.
Brought to Waterloo at the age of one year, our subject has known no other home than this vil- lage. In boyhood he attended the public schools here, but at the age of twelve left school and be- gan to work in the Waterloo Woolen Mills. Later he was with his father in Thomas Fatz- inger's mills, remaining there for many years after the death of his father. In 1867, forming a partnership with two other citizens of Waterloo, he began in the malting business as a member of the firm of Mickley, Snook & Fatzinger. They carried on a large trade, principally with New York and Philadelphia markets, but after some years he sold his interest in the concern.
In 1882 Mr. Snook aided in the organization of the Waterloo Wagon Company, Limited, of which, since 1887, he has been Treasurer. For four years or more he has been a stockholder in the Waterloo Organ and Piano Company. He is
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the owner of one hundred acres situated in the town of Fayette, and all of which is under excel- lent cultivation. While he has never displayed any partisanship in politics, he is known as a ; pronounced and loyal Republican, one who is de- voted to the welfare and success of his party.
His business affairs have occupied his attention to the exclusion of public matters, and he lias never been prevailed upon to accept official posi- tion, though for three years he served as School Trustee and aided considerably in advancing the interests of the Waterloo schools.
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JAMES K. KING, M. D.
WILLIAM E. LEFFINGWELL.
12
MUSS ENGEWALT
THE GLEN SPRINGS SANITARIUM
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
307 : /.
JAMES KOSSUTH KING, M. D.
AMES KOSSUTH KING, M. D., PH. D., " anywhere near. it do not hesitate to recommend is President and Medical Superintendent of it to their patients. Consequently its guests are of a most superior class, as might be expected when they come by the direction of such emni- nent physicians as Charles L. Dana, M. Allen Starr, Alfred L. Loomis and Edward G. Jane- way. E. M. Moore, a noted physician of Roch- ester, is very active in directing patronage to this institution, which is entirely suited to the needs of many of his patients. The Glen Springs Sanitarium at Watkins. No man can occupy this position without possess- ing those qualities that are worthy of public at- tention, and justify for him a place among the prominent men of the county. Such a man is Dr. King. He was born in Troy, N. Y., and was graduated from the medical department of Col- umbia College, New York City, in the Class of '77. After his formal graduation he spent six Dr. King was married, in December, 1890, to Miss May Warner, daughter of Gen. Willard Warner, now a resident of Chattanooga, Tenn. The Doctor and his wife' have one daughter. In politics Dr. King has always been a stanch Re- publican. months in several of the celebrated hospitals of that city, gaining valuable experience. When he was thirty years of age lie established himself in practice at Clifton Springs, where he remained until the year 1884. Then, feeling a noble anx- iety to improve himself in his profession, he went abroad, where he was engaged for two years studying the work of the masters in the great hospitals of Edinburgh, London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin. The last six months of this time he was in the Rotunda Hospital of Dublin.
In 1890 Dr. King, with William E. Leffingwell and Dr. E. D. Leffingwell, established The Glen Springs Sanitarium, which is the leading institu- tion of the kind in the state, the extensive grounds and the ample buildings affording accom- modations for more than two hundred guests. Dr. King is Medical Superintendent, and is ably assisted by those engaged with him in this great enterprise. It has won a high position in the re- . gard of the most advanced and scientific medical men of the surrounding country, and many of. the leading physicians whose field of practice lies ;
ILLIAM E. LEFFINGWELL, the man- ager and principal proprietor of The Glen Springs Sanitarium, was the youngest son of Dr. Elisha Leffingwell, a distinguished physi- cian of western New York, and was born at Au- rora, on Cayuga Lake, July 10, 1855. He pre- pared for college in Cayuga Lake Academy, and entered Cornell University in September, 1871, in the Class of '75. but left before graduation to continue his studies in the collegiate department
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of the Polytechnic Institute in the city of Brook - lyn. With the financial department of this in- stitution he became connected in 1875, remaining over seven years.
In the summer of ISS2, the sanitarium at Dans- ville having been destroyed by fire, Mr. Leffing- well was invited to assist his brothers and cousin in the organization of a new institution (now known as the Jackson Sanitarium), and of this, for several years, he was Treasurer and Manager. - In January, IS90, happening to visit the site of the present establishment at Watkins, he became convinced that, with its singular variety of valu- able mineral springs and magnificent situation, overlooking Seneca Lake, it was an ideal place for a great health resort, and with Dr. James K. King, Dr. E. D. Leffingwell and other associates, he founded Tlie Glen Springs Sanitarium, of which he is the manager and principal owner.
Mr. Leffingwell has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, and has been District Deputy Grand Master of the Twentieth Masonic District in the state of New York.
AWSON PONTIUS well deserves represent- tation in this volume, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. He resides in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, and is well and widely known throughout its bounds as a progressive and enter- prising farmer and stock-raiser. Mr. Pontius was born in this town, September 13, 1845, and was here reared to manhood and educated in the schools which were carried on in the district.
The parents of our subject were Philip and Susan (Crobaugh) Pontius, the former a native of Fayette, while the latter was born in Cumber- land County, Pa. Philip Pontius was a farmer by occupation, and the first piece of property
which he purchased, in 1850, consisted of one hundred and fifty-six acres. This estate is 110w owned by his son, our subject, and is one of the best cultivated tracts in the town.
Thie parental family consisted of four children, of whom the eldest, Ellen, married John N. Kipp, and makes her home in this town; Lawson, of this history, was the second-born; Christopher C. is a fariner in the town of Romulus; and Lu- cinda, now Mrs. Charles E. Berry, makes her home in Seneca Falls. Her husband is also the owner of a valuable tract of land in the town of Fayette. Although taking an active interest in the success of the Democratic party, whose can- didates he always supported, the fatlier of our subject was never desirous of holding office. He departed this life in February, 1879, while his good wife survived until 1882, passing away in March of that year.
As stated above, our subject was reared on the farmi which he now occupies, under the careful training of his father learning to become a thorough agriculturist, and early in life was com- petent to take charge of affairs. He was mar- ried, January 19, 1866, to Miss Mary C. Lusk, tlien living in Waterloo, but whose birth occurred about 1845, in the town of Fayette. She is the daugliter of William A. and Elizabeth A. ('Thorpe) Lusk, well-to-do residents of this lo- cality. To Mr. and Mrs. Pontius there have been born two children. Philip S., whose birth occurred in the town of Romulus, July 6, 1872, is a well educated young man, completing his studies in the Geneva High School. Paul T. was born in the town of Fayette, October 2, 1878.
At one time Pliilip Pontius owned a tract of one hundred and seventy acres, located in the town of Romulus, besides property in the village of South Waterloo, which he sold for $3,000. He was truly self-made, and was well known and highly respected throughout the county. In the use of his money he was very generous, and lost considerable by going security for other people.
After his marriage our subject lived on tlie farm in the town of Romulus for a period. of four years, working it on shares for his father. At the expiration of that time he moved
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upon the old homestead, and has continued to make it his abiding-place ever since. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Pontius is connected with the West Fayette Tile Works, with which he became associated in the spring of 1895. He is a man of superior business ability, and, with a fertile mind directing industrious hands, he has achieved success. In politics he is a Democrat, and for twelve years in succession filled the office of Justice of the Peace. During that time his decisions were always sustained, and no case was ever appealed. Socially he belongs to Rose Hill Lodge, P. of H., and became a member of Kendaia Grange in the town of Romulus, in which he filled many of the chairs.
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LAVIUS W. NORTHRUP, who is engaged in a general commission business at Beaver Dams, is a representative of one of the old families of Dutchess County. He was born in that county September 17, 1840, being one of a family of twelve children born to Ora and Eliza (Ward) Northrup, both born in 1801, the former in Dutchess County, and the latter in Seneca County. The father, who was a highly respected citizen of Dutchess County, and who for some years was Justice of the Peace, died in 1853. The Northrup family were of English origin and were among the early settlers of Dutchess County, Solomon Northrup, the grandfather of our sub- ject, being a native of that county. He was a large farmer, and on their marriage gave to his twelve children $1,000 apiece, besides leaving considerable money at the time of his death.
Flavius W. was but eight years of age when his father died, and but twelve years old when the family removed to Ehnira, N. Y., where for a time he was employed as a clerk in a boot and shoe store. In the public schools of his native
place, and also at Elmira, he obtained a good English education. After the age of fifteen, his elder brothers having married, the care of the family and widowed mother devolved, to a great extent, upon him. When eighteen he rented a farını near the city, which he operated with reasonable success for four years, when he gave up farming and entered a shoe store as clerk. After remaining in that capacity one year, he engaged in the boot and shoe trade for himself, in which he continued three years. On account of failing health, he was compelled to give up the business, and for the succeeding four years was engaged as a traveling salesman for a boot and shoe house.
October 7, 1869, while engaged in traveling, our subject married Miss Josephine Seaman, a native of Dutchess County, born August 18, 1845, and a daughter of Egbert C. and Eliza (Van Wagner) Seaman. The latter was a sister of William Van Wagner, the "learned black- smith " of Poughkeepsie, and also of James Van Wagner, the " Beecher of the West," who was for years pastor of the Congregational Church at Sedalia, Mo., and while there was called to Texas to establish the first Congregational Church in that state. He was an eloquent man, and one season, while Henry Ward Beecher was absent, Mr. Van Wagner filled his Brooklyn pulpit. By our subject's marriage three sons and one daugh- ter were born: Evelyn I., the wife of Prof. I. C. Corbett, Professor of Horticulture and Forestry in the West Virginia University at Morgantown; Leonard E., who is still at home, and who is interested in business with his father; Arthur H., a student in the medical department of Columbia College, New York City; and Seaman F., who is a student at Cook's Academy, and who proposes to adopt the profession of law.
After his marriage, our subject located in El- mira, but after traveling two years again en- gaged in business for himself. Two years later he sold out, and in 1874 removed to Beaver Dams, where he purchased a stock of boots and shoes and continued in business until 1880, when he sold out and again took up traveling, this time for a wholesale grocery house. With the latter
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establishment he remained two years, and then for ten years was with the Robert Seaman Con- pany, of New York. At the expiration of that time, although not severing his connection with the New York house, he engaged in his present business, making a specialty of handling wool and general farin produce, buying and shipping 'all the wool from this part of the county. He also handles in large quantities apples, pota- toes and butter.
Mr. and Mrs. Northrup are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a strong temper- ance man, having at times been connected with the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars. He is also identified with the Knights of Honor, and in each society mentioned has held an official position. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln.
I SAAC JOLLY is a prominent and wealthy farmer of Seneca County, and his beautiful home, with its trees and flowers, proclaims to the stranger that it is the abode of culture and refinement. His fine estate is located in the town of Fayette, in which locality he was born, May 17, 1831. His parents were William and Emily (Austin ) Jolly. His grandfather, who bore the name of Isaac, came to Seneca County from the Keystone State in an early day. The latter was a farmer by occupation and was married in Penn- sylvania to a lady of Dutch descent. He came to this county poor indeed, but so successful was he in his farming ventures that at his death he was the proud possessor of one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land, besides having consider- able money in the bank.
During the boyhood days of our subject his father was unable to send him to school very regu- larly, hence his education was somewhat limited.
On one occasion, when it became necessary for him to have an arithmetic, he went to work and cut a quantity of wood from the unimproved farın, and, being given half of this, sold it and thus obtained the money to buy the needed book.
Our subject remained at home aiding his father until after attaining his majority, when, Septem- ber 7, 1852, he was married to Miss Rebecca Leddick, the daughter of Samuel and Cornelia Leddick. Her birth occurred in the town of Fayette, April 15, 1834. She was of great assist- ance to her husband, and aided him very materi- ally in obtaining his present high standing in the community. For two summers after his marriage our subject worked out for $18 per month, and then, receiving a good offer to conduct a farmi on shares, accepted it, and for three years and a-half received a good portion of the crops from an estate of one hundred and sixty acres. In this manner he saved quite a snug little sum of money, with which he purchased from the other heirs a portion of the old homestead. Later he disposed of this tract and invested his means in one hun- dred and twenty-three acres, located near the old place. In order to do this he was obliged to go in debt over $6,000, but upon selling the property two years later he found that he had not only miade enough money to pay for the land, but had cleared $6,500. ‹
"Mr. Jolly then bought the one hundred and thirty and one-quarter acres in this town which he still owns. The land is improved with the best class of buildings, among the most notice- able of which is a fine large barn, which was erected in August, 1893, to replace the one which had been destroyed by fire a short time before. In all, Mr. Jolly works four hundred and twenty acres of farming land, though he does not own the whole amount.
Two children were born to our subject and his wife, namely: Sarah Lavinia, who died when eleven years of age: and Fred, born November 4, 1867. The latter is active, wide-awake and well educated, and a man of tentperate habits, using neither tobacco in any form nor intoxicating drink. December 25, 1888, he married Miss Cora, the daughter of Henry Lahr. To them have been
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born a daughter and two sons: Jessie, Frank and Alva. Our subject's son aids in the operation of the home farm, and so manages affairs that the best results are reached. In addition to this the latter gives some time and attention to raising hogs, which he ships to the city markets. In politics he is a Democrat, as is also our subject, whose first Presidential vote was cast for Franklin Pierce, in IS52.
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A ç NDREW JACKSON BARTLETT, who re- sides in the town of Romulus, is a well known citizen of Seneca County, and is one of its most enterprising mien. For many years he has been identified with the Grange move- ment, and is at present County Deputy of that organization, taking an active part in all its pro- ceedings. Several of the best Granges in the county were organized by him in 1874. He was also one of the organizers of the insurance com- pany in 1876, at which time he was elected Secre- tary, and has discharged the duties of the office until the present time, a period of nineteen years. Much of the success of the company is due to his untiring energy and the persistency with which he has pushed the enterprise. In addition to farming and the management of the insurance business, since 1883 he has been engaged in selling agricultural implements, keeping good stock of all kinds upon his farm and selling at prices that cannot be met by competitors.
Mr. Bartlett is a native of Seneca County, born October 30, 1832. His early life was spent upon the home farm, and his education was received in the common schools of Geneva and Ovid Acad- emy. When eighteen years of age he began life for himself, working at anything that his hand could find to do, but soon he engaged in the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed for sev-
eral years in connection with farming. From 1857 to 1860 he was engaged in the photograph business in Waterloo and Romulus, in which line he was fairly successful. In 1862 he removed to his present place of residence, which has now been his home for a third of a century. In 1865 he was engaged at work as a carpenter, a trade which he followed more or less for several years. In connection with farming he has been engaged for some years in the breeding of Hambletonian horses.
On the 30th of October, 1861, Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage with Miss Nancy A. Coryell, by whom he had six children, namely: Abigail A., at home; Emma L., who died in infancy: Mary J., the wife of Frank Osborne; John C., who died in infancy; Ebenezer S., who died when thirteen years of age; and Rosalie, at home. In politics Mr. Bartlett is a Democrat; since 1865 he has been a Justice of the Peace continuously, and twice was elected to the office of Justice of Ses- sions. He is a member of the Board of Health, and is Inspector of Elections. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. As a citizen he is universally esteemed and has the confidence of the community in which he resides, as is attested by his long continuance in the office of Justice of the Peace.
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OBERT ROSS STEELE. The Steele fam- ily have a right to the title of American citi- zens, as their ancestors came to this country - prior to the Revolutionary War. John and Mar- garet Steele, the grandparents of the subject of this sketch, died about 1780, in Somerset Count- ty, N. J., and it is supposed they emigrated to this country from Ireland. They had three chil- dren: Jolin, born in 1750; Esther, in 1770; and Alexander, the father of our subject. He was
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born in Somerset County, N. J., December 25, 1757, and married Nancy Scudders, of Essex County, N. J. They took up their residence in Readington, Hunterdon County, and the fruits of this union were nine children. of whom Rob- ert R. was the youngest, he having been born at that place December 12, 1805.
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