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 31
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 31
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Soon after his marriage Mr. Bailey located upon the tract of land where he. now makes his home. It is one hundred and fifty-five acres in extent, and the attention and care which the owner be- stows upon it have made of it one of the most productive in the town.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey there have been born three children, of whom we make the following mention: Mary E., who was born August 28, 1870, is a well educated young lady, and in 1889 was married to John Carman, a resident of Bradford, N. Y. Ella M., born December 28, 1873, also attended the schools of this locality, and in 1893, after completing her education, was married to Clifford Boyce; their home is in Wayne. Lena S. was born September 24, 1877, and is at home with her parents.
Mr. Bailey adheres to the principles of Democ- racy, which appeal to him the most strongly. He seeks to instill into his neighbors the idea that im- provement in any direction is for the public good, and while the incumbent of the office of Excise Commissioner for several years rendered efficient and satisfactory service.
AMES RUSSELL WEBSTER. For more than a half-century the subject of this article has been numbered among the citizens of Waterloo, to which place (then an insignificant hamlet) he came in the year 1842, and of which he has since been a highly honored resi-
dent. For twenty-five years he was engaged in the coal business, and at intervals he made ex- tensive purchases of western grain and stock. aggregating within a few years five hundred thousand bushels of wheat, and four hundred thousand barrels of salt. In lumber, wool, sheep and tallow, he has also been a large dealer.
The family to which our subject belongs is one of the largest in the United States, and has liad among its members many men of prominence, in- cluding Daniel and Noah Webster. The first of the name to settle in Ontario County, N. Y .; was James Webster, who in 1812 removed from Litchfield, Conn., and settled near Oaks Corners. He was of direct Scotch descent, and was the last of six generations that resided in Connecticut. After coming to New York, he served as a Dea- con in the Baptist Church of Phelps for many years.
The father of our subject, James, was a son of the original founder of the family in Ontario County, and was a farmer by occupation, which calling he followed in Phelps for many years. He was a man of firm religious convictions, and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. His wife, Sabrina Catlin, was born in Litchfield, Conn., and died in Phelps in 1820; her father, Isaac Catlin, was of English parentage. Our subject's father attained an advanced age, passing away in 1868, at the age of ninety. His imme- diate family comprised four sons and two daugh- ters, the eldest of whom is the subject of this sketch. Catlin, another son, was a life-long resi- dent of Phelps, where he served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for a long time. The otlier children are Chauncey L., a retired farmer living near Phelps; Walter B., a resident of Nebraska: Julia Ann, wife of Oscar Hartwell, of Nebraska; and Anna, who married J. Young, of Phelps.
Our subject was born in Phelps,, Ontario Count- ty, N. Y., January 20, 1812. The early years of his life were passed on his father's farm, and the rudiments of his education were obtained in the common schools of Phelps. Afterward he was a student in an academy, and later attended one of the best military schools of that day. In youth he was engaged considerably in military service,
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and was one of the participants in the reception to General La Fayette in his memorable trip through this section. At one time he was Adju- tant of the rifle regiment of Ontario and Yates Counties, which was composed of one thousand men, and which at the last general training at Canandaigua was pronounced one of the best regiments in the state.
In 1827 Mr. Webster married Miss Elizabeth N. Mnllander, who died in Waterloo, December 20, 1889, sixty-two years after their marriage. She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. Six children blessed their union, name- ly: James, deceased; John N. C .; Charles D., deceased; Ann, who is her father's housekeeper, and affectionately cares for him in his declining years; Sabrina, deceased; and Mary G., wife of J. Y. Moore, of Johnstown, N. Y.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Webster removed to the town of Perry, Wyoming County, where he engaged in farming, and also had other im- portant interests, including a fur trade with the Indians in Canada, and extensive real-estate and building transactions. At one time he owned a section of land one mile square, where the city of Kalamazoo, Mich., now stands. In 1842 he came to Waterloo, where lie still resides. Through the exercise of good judgment as well as unerring wisdom and stanch integrity, he accumulated a valuable property, and is now numbered among the wealthy men of the village.
While Mr. Webster has gained a competency, yet his life has been a very unselfish one, and while enriching himself he has also blessed and helped many others. Among the young men whom he assisted to start in life, was Ezra Cor- nell, of Ithaca, to whom his timely assistance was most fortunate. While living in Perry, he manufactured on his own farm, to which he moved for that purpose, the brick used in the construction of the beautiful Presbyterian Church of that place. He also superintended and built this church from his own means, and donated the same to the congregation at Perry. In IS51 he assisted in erecting the Waterloo Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the Building Com- mittee, giving $1,000 or more to the structure.
Mr. Webster was present at the unveiling of the statue of liis kinsman, Daniel Webster, at Concord, N. H., in 1892, and was a distinguished guest of the committee. Politically he is a Re- publican. In 1836 and 1840 hie voted for Will- iam Henry Harrison, and in later times hie cast liis ballot for Benjamin Harrison, A man of patriotic impulses, and realizing the value of the services rendered the Union by the soldiers in the Civil War, he has used his influence in behalf of pensioners, and has been to Washington ten times in their behalf. Mr. Webster was a strong Aboli- tionist, and has labored for the colored race for over sixty years. In 1887-88 he was Vice-Presi- dent of the Republican State Convention. The vigor of mind and body which he still enjoys is largely due to his habits of temperance, sobriety and right living. His form is as erect, his eyes as bright, his mind as clear and his step as elas- tic as though he were but sixty years of age.
2 ELOS L. HEATH, M. D., is a well known physician and surgeon of Seneca Falls. He was born in Ithaca, Tompkins County, N. Y., April 11, 1828, and is a son of Hiram H. and Clarissa H. (Barnaby) Heath. His father was born in Harpersfield, Delaware County, N. Y., January 9, 1802, and died February 9, 1895, in Louisa County, Va., where he had removed some years before and bought a farm of three hundred acres. His widow, who is still living in that county, is in her eighty-ninth year. David Heath, the grandfather of our subject, was a na- tive of New York, but was of English descent.
The subject of this sketch was one of eight children born to his parents, five of whom are still living. His boyhood and youth were spent in Ithaca and Auburn, N. Y., where he attended the public schools and later those of Seneca Falls, to which place his parents had removed. After
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leaving school he went to work on a farm, but as he had made up his mind to enter the medical profession he soon afterward went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and entered the medical department of the university of that place, from which he graduated in March, 1853. Returning to Seneca Falls after his graduation, Dr. Heath entered into practice, remaining here but a short time, however, and then locating at Ridgeway, Lenawee County, Mich., where he was successfully engaged in practice at the beginning of the war. In Novem- ber, 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, and, joining his regiment, went with it to the front just before the battle of Fredericksburg. After the battle lie took charge of the hospital at Aquia Creek, in Virginia, and later was ordered to Newport News, where, in March, 1863, he was taken sick with typhoid fever. He was sent to the hospital at Baltimore, Md., and on his recovery went to Glasgow, Ky., having been commissioned Sur- geon of the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry. He was in Burnside's expedition to East Tennes- see, and was in Knoxville at the time it was be- sieged by Longstreet. While there he was ap- pointed Chief Operating Surgeon of his division, which position he held as long as he remained in the army. Later his command joined Sherman at Red Clay, Ga., and he participated in all the battles in which his command was engaged in the campaign to Atlanta. The Doctor was within a few feet of General McPherson when he was killed.
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Again succumbing to sickness, the Doctor was given a leave of absence, and after remaining at home twenty days returned to his regiment. He was ordered to appear before an examining board at Cincinnati, where he was declared unfit for duty, and was sent to the officers' hospital, re- maining there about three months. At the close of the war he returned to Ridgeway, Mich., and later removed to Grand Rapids, where for six months he was in partnership with Dr. J. D. Bevier. The three following years were spent in Tecumseh, that state, and from there he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and engaged in business and in the practice of his profession for about seven
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years. From Brooklyn he went to Hackensack, N. J., and in the fall of 1887 returned to Seneca Falls, where he has since continued to reside and practice his profession.
I11 1854 Dr. Heath married Miss Mary J. Peck. of Ridgeway, Mich., and a daughter of James Peck. They have one son, Harry, who is en- gaged in business in New York City, but who lives in Brooklyn. Mrs. Heath is a member of the Episcopal Church. Fraternally the Doctor is a Mason, and in politics is a Republican.
HARLES CRANE. As a tribute to the worth and character of the late Mr. Crane, formerly one of the successful farmers of Seneca County, we incorporate in the RECORD the following facts with reference to his life. He was born in Putnam County, this state, March 26, 1793, a son of Belden Crane, whose family consisted of six children, three sons and three daughters. All grew to manhood and woman- hood, but of these George is the only survivor. He is now living retired in California.
As might be expected, our subject did not have the best opportunities for gaining an education, but, being ambitious to learn, he attended school whenever the farm work perinitted, and by close application to his books became well informed. He aided his father in carrying on the home place until his marriage to Miss Susan Baets, who sur- vived her union many years.
January 12, 1869, Mr. Crane chose for his sec- ond companion Miss Annis, daughter of Eben and Martha (Austin) Hawks. Mrs. Crane was born about 1823, and was fairly well educated.
One year after attaining his majority our sub- ject came to this county, and with the means which he had saved purchased a small farm in i
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the town of Covert. He made that his home for a few years, when, receiving a good offer, he sold out and located upon the place where his widow now makes her home. This was in 1859. He was a pushing, energetic man, thrifty, and pos- sessing good business qualifications, so that he accumulated a goodly property, and at his de- , cease, in May, 1877, left his family in good cir- cumstances. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Trumansburg, which is the family burying-ground. Mr. Crane was a member in excellent standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the first of his congrega- tion to engage in benevolent work.
A Democrat in politics, our subject was always
interested in public affairs, and never let an op- portunity to vote for President go by after he was permitted to vote. During the War of 1812 he served as a private in the ranks, under the com- mand of Capt. Henry Haight, in a company of New York militia. He was a blacksmith by trade, and after coming here, in 1816, opened a shop, which he carried on in connection with farm work for a period of fifty years, and was therefore one of the pioneers in this business in Seneca County. The qualifications of mind and character which he exhibited throughout life could not fail to win the respect of those among whom he was known, and made his acquaintances life-time friends.
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THOMAS H. ARNOLD.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
339,
THOMAS HAZARD ARNOLD.
HOMAS HAZARD ARNOLD. There is an inspiration given to one in reading the history of a successful man, and such is the subject of this article. Mr. Arnold is one who, gifted with a sturdy constitution and an indomi- table and persistent will, has had abundant suc- cess, notwithstanding the fact that he had many difficulties to overcome.
to Erie County, N. Y., crossing the Hudson River at Albany on a ferry. Returning in a few months, he was employed in farm work until he was about twenty years of age, when he obtained a position in the calico works, bleaching, etc., retaining this position eight years.
When about twenty-four years of age Mr. Ar- nold was married to Miss Catharine Douglass, and to them were born four children, two of whom are now living. David B., who is well educated, is a member of a firm dealing exten- sively in builders' materials in New York City. William H. is a well-to-do farmer in the town of Tyre, and his life's sketch follows this.
Mr. Arnold was born in 1809, the fourthi in a family of six children of Solomon and Alice Ar- nold, who lived on a farin near Providence, R. I. In those early days, and on that rocky soil, farin- ing was not an especially remunerative business, and the children early learned to do for them- selves. Thomas H. began to work out at the Not entirely satisfied with his position, in the spring of 1838 Mr. Arnold again turned his face Westward, this time going by steamer to New York City. From there he went up the Hudson to Albany, by rail to Schenectady (which was as far as the New York Central extended in those days), then by packet-boat to Buffalo. From there he crossed Lake Erie and went across the state of Ohio to the river, thence by steamer age of twelve, receiving one shilling per day. At the age of fifteen, having a little surplus of his earnings, being of a self-reliant disposition and desirous of seeing something of the world, one fine May morning in the year 1824 he started for a walk of fifty miles to meet a friend in Connecticut. He arrived in the evening, somewhat footsore, but started with his friend the next morning to "go West." They drove | to St. Louis, then on the Mississippi to Alton,
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Ill. Concluding not to make an investment, however, he returned via the Ohio River to Pittsburg, then to Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and by steamer home. When one considers the state of the country more than fifty years ago, and what facilities for traveling there were in those days, it is easy to realize the effort and nerve it required to take such a journey.
In September of the same year, 1838, Mr. Arnold came to Seneca County and purchased seventy-five acres of land in the town of Tyre, where he made his home for twenty-five years. Then, disposing of that tract, he purchased the place where he now resides, a farm of about one hundred and fourteen acres. Soon after moving upon this estate, in the spring of 1866, his faithful wife, the mother of his children, who had so nobly borne her part in the privation and toil in- cident to a pioneer's life, passed away. Bearing up under this sad bereavement as best he could, at the same time meeting with considerable pecuniary loss through the fault of others, he after a time again established a comfortable liome, and in 1872 was married to Miss Helen Lavinia Dunham, of the town of Tyre.
Mr. Arnold is now the only survivor of his family. His two brothers, successful business men of New York City, have passed away, as have also his sisters, who remained in Rhode Island. Besides the travels already mentioned, Mr. Arnold has been to Washington twice, to the Centennial at Philadelphia, and a number of times to New York City and his old home in Rhode Island. In the early days a liberal ed- ucation was not so easily obtained as now, but Mr. Arnold supplemented his deficiency in that respect by quite extensive reading, having a very retentive memory and quick natural intelligence, besides being a close observer. He is well known in this section, and all who have business deal- ings with him find him honorable and upright in all his methods.
Mr. Arnold voted the Whig ticket in 1832, but later he joined the ranks of the Republican party, and in 1856 supported Fremont. He has never desired to hold office, and much against his wishi he was elected Overseer of the Poor. Socially he
is a member of the Magee Grange. He has every reason to be proud of the manner in which he has worked his way up from the foot of the ladder, but is not in the least boastful of the way he has conquered Dame Fortune. Such a career is well worthy of emulation.
ILLIAM H. ARNOLD. The agricultural community of the town of Tyre has a most energetic representative in the person of Mr. Arnold, who has been in its midst for many years, or during his life of fifty-five years. He is a farmer, possessing the ideas of thrift and industry which have resulted in making him well-to-do. Mr. Arnold was born in the above town August 22, 1840, his parents being Thomas H. and Catharine (Douglass) Arnold.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, and during his boy hood attended the schools taught in the neighborhood. He has made agriculture his life vocation, and thrift and energy have made his place to bloom and blossom. January 9, 1867, Mr. Arnold was mar- ried to Miss Ella Babbitt, a native of the town of Tyre, and a lady possessing a good education. To them were granted four children: Edith, the eldest of the family, was born July 8, 1870, and died October 20, 1881; Catherine E., born Feb- ruary 21, 1872, married Paul Pene, and lives in New York City; William H. was born July 4, 1883, and is still with his parents; Amy Douglas was born September 20, 1886, and is attending the schools of the neighborhood.
In politics Mr. Arnold is independent, although he voted for Lincoln in 1864. He is much re- spected and esteemed for his sterling integrity and sound judgment, and in 1893 his fellow-citi- zens elected him Assessor of the town. As before
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stated, he is well known to the residents of Tyre, and is making considerable money in farming and stock-raising, which he has found to be very profitable.
2 OBERT CALDWELL. The town of Or- ange has upon its list of citizens many able and representative farmers, among whoni we make mention of Mr. Caldwell. He is enter- prising, and as a result has been successful in life and is now the proprietor of ninety-seven acres of land, forty of which were included in his father's farm.
Mr. Caldwell was born in County Tyrone, Ire- land, October 20, 1837, and when ten years of age crossed the deep waters of the Atlantic. His parents, William and Nancy (McFettridge) Cald- well, had come to America two years previous to this time, and, deciding to make their home in this state, settled at Sugar Hill, Schuyler County, a short distance from Robert's farm. The father was in very limited circumstances, and it was for this reason that Robert, together with three otliers of the family, was compelled to wait in his native land until a home was made ready for them in the New World. William Caldwell was successful in securing about one hundred acres of land, at the cultivation of which he worked in- dustriously, and before his death had the satis- faction of knowing his farm was one of the best cultivated in the town of Orange. He lived here until May, 1883, and at the time of his decease was in his seventy-seventh year. His widow survived him about six years, and was eighty- four years old when she departed this life.
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The parental household included twelve chil- dren, of whom five are living at the present writ- ing. Robert, who was the third in order of birth, - lived at home until a lad of fifteen years, when it was found necessary for him to make his own
way in the world. He accordingly began work- ing out for others, and in this manner accumu- lated the means with which to purchase property of his own. Soon afterward, or in April, 1873. he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza La- Fever, of Townsend. Mr. Caldwell then took possession of his present farm, of whichi forty acres, as above stated, were formerly comprised in the old homestead. On this place he erected a comfortable dwelling and commodious barn, and has placed around him most of the conveniences which make farm work a pleasure. He is quite extensively interested in the manufacture of a fine grade of chieese, having a factory located near his residence, and also devotes a good deal of attention to tlie raising of Cotswold sheep. To Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell there were born two sons: Grant, who died when two years old; and Robert Lee, who is eight years of age. In religious mat- ters the parents are members in excellent stand- ing of the Presbyterian Church at Sugar Hill, of which Mr Caldwell is Trustee. In politics he is a Republican, tried and true, and although never an aspirant for office, is always interested in the suc- cess of his party and takes great pride in pushing forward all measures set on foot for the better- ment of his community.
LEXANDER RORRISON has been very successful in all his ventures in life, and is now living retired. He has made farming his vocation, and now makes his home on a lot conveniently located one mile east of Seneca Falls. Mr. Rorrison was born in what is now South Waterloo, in the town of Fayette, May 3, 1823, to James and Mary W. (Cairns) Rorrison.
The parents of our subject were both born in Center County, Pa., and the father was ten years of age at tlie time his parents came to this state,
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the journey hither being undertaken in the year 1798. Grandfather Alexander Rorrison was the first to make his home in this section, choosing for his farm a tract of land one mile west of where the County Farm is now located. He was born April 22, 1763, in Scotland, whence he was brought to this country when a small boy by his parents, James and Peggy (Charters) Rorrison. Their home in their native land was located near Castle Douglas, the residence of the Black Doug- las, of Scottish fame. The great-grandparents were married December 23, 1756, and to them were born four children who grew to mature years, viz .: Jane, William, Mary and Alexander, the latter of whom was the grandfather of our subject. James Rorrison came to America, it is presumed, soon after the Revolutionary War. He landed at Philadelphia, Pa., and soon after- ward located in Center County, that state.
Mary Cairns, the mother of our subject, was one in a large family born to her parents, and as her father died when she was quite young, she was taken into the home of a cousin, and passed her girlhood days in the neighborhood of Bald Eagle Mountains. Her widowed mother had pur- chased a farm in the town of Fayette, this county, which adjoined the estate of our subject's grand- father. James Rorrison, Jr., however, did not meet her until going back to Center County one winter to attend school. His education had been very much neglected while a boy, and about this time a good opportunity presenting itself to at- tend school, he took advantage of it. The fol- lowing spring when he returned to his parents' home he was accompanied by Miss Mary Cairns, who rode on horseback from Center County, Pa., to her mother's farm in the town of Fayette, hav- ing as a guide the gentleman who afterward be- came her husband. She was born November 25, 1793.
In the grandparents' family were twelve chil- dren, of whom James-was the eldest. The others were named respectively Jane, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Alexander, Nancy, David, Peter, Nancy and Alexander. The parents of our sub- ject had born to them seven children, only two of whom lived to become heads of families: Alex-
ander, of this history, and Robert Bruce. The latter has been three times married, and is at pres- ent living at Gaines Station, Mich.
When the Rorrison family came to this section, the town of Fayette was in its primitive wildness. As James was the eldest son, he had to bear the brunt of the work in helping to clear the place and support the family. Game abounded plen- tifully in those early days, and he became an ex- pert shot. He later became a member of the Fayette Riflemen, and in 1812 his company, con- manded by Captain Ireland, volunteered to go to Canada. A number of the company were cap- tured on the Niagara frontier, but as James Ror- rison was acting in the capacity of steward, his duties kept him on the American side, where he was comparatively safe. During the campaign of 1814 his company went to Ft. Erie, which they helped to defend. For his services during this time Mr. Rorrison was given a grant of land in Arkansas.
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