History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 132

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 132

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The subject of this sketch spent his early years on his father's farm in Cortland county, New York. His primary education was acquired at the district schools of the neighborhood, and he later attended Oxford Academy, Oxford, New York, in which institution he graduated at the age of sixteen. He then began to teach in the schools of his native county, and at the age of nineteen entered the sophomore class of Union College in Schenectady, remaining there until the close of the junior year, in 1861. The war spirit was strongly felt at Union College, which contained about one hundred Southern students, who left in a body at the first outbreak of hostilities. The majority of the Northern students and some of the professors enlisted in the Union service. Among the former was Robert B. Smith, who abandoned his studies and enlisted as a lieutenant in the Sixteenth New York Independent Battery, which command at once proceeded to the front. The Six- teenth Battery was attached to the Eighteenth Army Corps, and served in the Armies of the Potomac and the James. For good service Lieutenant Smith was transferred by order of General Butler to the command of Battery F, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, which command he filled until the expiration of his term of three years' service. He then returned to his home and began the study of medi- cine under Dr. S. H. French, of Lisle, New York. In 1866 he graduated at Long Island College Hospital, with the degree of M. D., and immediately afterwards married Ellen A., a daughter of William Vrooman Share, of Lisle, New York.

Mrs. Smith is descended from one of the oldest Dutch families in the United

1001

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

States. Prior to 1670 three brothers by the name of Vrooman came to this country from Holland, one of whom, Hendrick Meese Vrooman, settled at Schenectady, New York, in 1677. The family has figured prominently in the Colonial history of New York state. At the Schenectady Massacre, on the night of February 9, 1690, two of the family were killed and three carried captives to Canada. The fifth in descent from the original settler was William Vrooman Share, born May 29, 1816; he married Lucetta Dunbar Hine, February 7, 1838, and died on January 29, 1861. Their only daughter, Ellen A. Share, was born at Lafayette, New York, April 13, 1840, and was married to Dr. Robert Bruce Smith, August 2, 1866.

Dr. Smith removed to Tioga, Pennsylvania, the year of his marriage, and pur- chased property on Broad street, which continues as the family residence up to the present. Dr. Smith has three children, viz: Winifred, born August 12, 1868, who graduated from Elmira College in the class of 1891, was preceptress of the Wellsboro High School for two years, and has also taken a post-graduate course at Yale College; Charles Russell, born September 20, 1870, who graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in the class of 1894, and is now pursuing a course in medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, and George Vrooman, born May 10, 1874, who was also a member of the class of 1894 at Union College, and is now a law student at Yale. George V. has a decided talent for archaeological research, and possesses one of the most interesting and valuable individual collec- tions of Indian relics in this section of Pennsylvania. On coming to Tioga Dr. Smith entered immediately upon the practice of his profession, which he has pur- sued with marked success for the past thirty years, being now the senior practicing physician in Tioga borough. In 1883 Union College conferred upon him the degree of M. A. Aside from his prominence and success as a physician, Dr. Smith is also recognized as one of the foremost citizens of Tioga county. He is a stanch Demo- crat, unswerving in his adherence to the principles of his party, and a man of wide influence in the community. In 1878 he was the Democratic nominee for Con- gress in this district, and proved himself an able and effective campaigner. The Republican majority of the district was, however, too large for him to overcome, and his opponent was elected. Dr. Smith has established a fair reputation as a public speaker, having spoken on many prominent occasions, particularly during commemorative exercises of days and events connected with the Rebellion. He is recognized as an authority on expert medical testimony, and his long experience as a physician and surgeon has made his presence of great value in consultation. He is one of the consulting surgeons of the Cottage State Hospital, at Blossburg, and was president of the board of pension examiners of Tioga county about three years. He has been burgess of Tioga for two terms, and has repeatedly served as councilman and school director of the borough. As president of the board of health, he has been efficient in promoting the excellent sanitary condition of the town. Dr. Smith is a member of Etz Post, No. 401, G. A. R., and is also Master of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M. He has been closely identified with the growth of Tioga, and on all occasions contributed liberally towards the social and material development of the community.

WILLIAM LOWELL, a son of Daniel A. and Mary Lowell, was born October 21, 1804, and obtained a common school education. His father was a hatter and he

1002

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

also learned that trade. Early in the thirties his parents, his brother Martin and himself, and Thomas and Herbert Hollis, came from Bainbridge, New York, to the village of Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. They were all hatters, and erected for their business place the main building now occupied by Paul Kraiss' furniture store. On February 7, 1832, Mr. Lowell married Rebecca Preston. She was born May 21, 1810, and became the mother of four children, viz: Orlando B., David A., May A. and William A., all of whom are dead. Mr. Lowell worked as a hatter until he purchased the old Goodrich Hotel, which he carried on for a num- ber of years. Shortly before his death, which occurred April 3, 1848, he sold out and retired. He was appointed postmaster of Tioga in 1846 and held the office until 1848. His wife died June 7, 1852.

ORLANDO B. LOWELL, eldest son of William and Rebecca Lowell, was born in Tioga, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1832. He was educated in the common schools and in the Wellsboro Academy, and subsequently clerked in a store at Elmira, New York, four years. He then embarked in the mercantile business in Tioga with Charles O. Etz, the firm being Etz & Lowell, in which he remained two years, and then entered the employ of T. L. Baldwin & Company, for whom he clerked five years. About 1866 Mr. Lowell bought the interest of H. F. Wells in the tannery of Johnston & Wells, of Tioga, and also became interested in several other tanneries in the county. The firm in Tioga became Johnston & Lowell, and afterwards Lowell & Company. Finally the New York partner failed, carrying down the business with him. After retiring from the tannery business Mr. Lowell devoted his attention to the cultivation of his 600-acre farm situated a mile north of Tioga borough, and known as the old Jacob Prutsman farm. While paying due attention to diversified crops, he devoted himself principally to the raising of tobacco and the breeding of Hambletonian horses. He was a thorough business man and brought business principles to bear upon every detail of his farm work. Possessing untiring energy, a clear, well-balanced mind, and good executive ability, he usually succeeded in whatever he undertook, and was regarded as one of the best farmers in Tioga county. Mr. Lowell was twice married. His first wife was Laura Schieffelin, a daughter of Jacob Schieffelin. She died September 18, 1866. On November 18, 1869, he married Mrs. Sarah M. Etz, widow of Lieut. Charles O. Etz, of Company D, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was killed by a shell at the battle of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. Etz Post, No. 401, G. A. R., of Tioga, was named in his honor. Mrs. Lowell is a daughter of Samuel B. and Amelia (Green) Wellington, and was born in West Moriah, Essex county, New York, December 6, 1834. She came with her parents to Tioga in 1845, and was married to Charles O. Etz, November 18, 1852. She was postmistress of Tioga from 1863 to 1868. By her marriage to Mr. Lowell was born one daughter, Laura, a graduate of Elmira College. In politics, Mr. Lowell was an ardent Republican, was a member of the borough council of Tioga five years, and burgess from 1874 to 1876. He also served as a school director. He died June 19, 1896, of Bright's disease, and his death. was sincerely mourned by the people of the community wherein his whole life had been passed.

H. E. SMITH was born in Sidney, Delaware county, New York, November 4, 1811. His father, Samuel Smith, was a native of Bennington, Vermont, and as a

1003

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

boy witnessed the battle of Bennington, fought during the Revolution. Samuel married Lucy Greenslit, and during the closing years of the last century removed to Sidney, New York, where he spent the remainder of his life. H. E. was reared. in Sidney, and when a young man went to Oneonta to learn the boot and shoe trade, remaining there until his removal to Tioga, Pennsylvania, in February, 1839. Upon his arrival in that borough, he embarked in the boot and shoe business, which he carried on in his own name until 1854, when the firm became H. E. Smith & Son, his son, Henry N., taking an interest in the business. In 1856 the latter removed to Buffalo, and September 29, 1859, his brother, C. E., became a member of the firm, the title remaining the same up to the present. Mr. Smith was married January 6, 1831, to Lucy M. Mantor, a daughter of Thomas and Mehitable Mantor. She was born November 25, 1813. This venerable couple, who recently celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary, are the parents of four children, viz: Maria L., widow of Dr. H. H. Borden; Henry N., a resident of New York City; C. E., and Julia E., wife of C. J. Wheeler, of Wellsboro. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Republican. He was a member of the first borough council, and also served in that body from 1862 to 1865, and again in 1873. He has also served as a justice of the peace and township treasurer, and has been prominent in every undertaking calcu- lated to forward the welfare and prosperity of the borough.

C. E. SMITH was born in Oneonta, Otsego county, New York, June 14, 1836, a son of H. E. and Lucy M. Smith, and grandson of Samuel Smith. After acquiring a common school education, he took a course in Alfred University, Alfred Center, New York. The years of 1857 and 1858 he spent principally in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and in traveling over what was then considered the far west. In 1859 he returned to Tioga, and on September 29, of that year, entered into part- nership with his father in the boot and shoe business, in which he has since con- tinued. The firm suffered by the fire of 1871, but notwithstanding their heavy loss at that time, have since carried on the business with success. Mr. Smith was married August 24, 1859, to Mary Thorne Miller, a daughter of Abram and Julia Miller, of Southport, New York. Their only child, Harry G., married Lena Phelps, and resides in Tioga. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Republican, has been a member of the borough council several terms, and is one of the leading citizens of Tioga.

REUBEN DAGGETT was a native of Westmoreland county, New Hampshire, and removed to Paris, Oneida county, New York, whence he came to Jackson township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1807. Here, with the assistance of his sons, Rufus, Reuben and Seth, he erected a mill, at the point since known as Daggett's Mills, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

SETH DAGGETT, a son of Reuben Daggett, was born in Westmoreland county, New Hampshire, July 3, 1790, and was seventeen years old when his father settled in this county. He assisted him in operating the mill and became one of the prominent citizens of the county, filling the office of sheriff one term. He built several saw-mills in various localities, and in 1842 came to Tioga borough and pur- chased the Willard property, and also three farms. He married Eunice Allen; of Barnstable, Massachusetts, who bore him the following children: Allen, who died in Lawrenceville, in March, 1886; George, who died in 1850; Lewis, a resident of Tioga; Clymena, deceased wife of Richard Stilwell; Minerva, widow of Daniel

1004

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Dewey; Rowena, wife of W. T. Urell, of Tioga; Mary Ann, widow of H. W. Caulk- ing, and Charlotte, deceased. Mr. Daggett died January 2, 1874, and his wife, March 22, 1864.

LEWIS DAGGETT, son of Seth Daggett, and grandson of Reuben Daggett, was born in Jackson township, Tioga county, May 5, 1816. He received a common school education and began his business life as a lumberman and farmer. In 1838 he opened a general store at Daggett's Mills, and later built a saw-mill. In 1848 he came to Tioga, subsequently removing to Chatham township, where he remained eighteen months. Returning to Tioga, he was engaged in merchandising for a number of years. In 1870 he removed to Lawrenceville, where he ran the Daggett House for a number of years, and was then succeeded by his son, W. L. In 1890 Mr. Daggett returned to Tioga, where he has since resided. On March 4, 1839, he married Ellen S. Wells, a daughter of Norman and Elizabeth Wells. Of seven children born to this union, three are living, as follows: Seth O., of Tioga; W. L., of Bellefonte, and Myrtie, wife of F. W. Fletcher, of Newberry, Lycoming county. Mrs. Daggett was born January 30, 1821, and died on June 22, 1894. In politics, he is a Republican, and in religion, a Universalist. He was appointed postmaster of Tioga in 1851, by President Fillmore, and in 1861 by President Lincoln.

SETH O. DAGGETT was born at Daggett's Mills, September 14, 1845, and is the oldest living child of Lewis Daggett. He obtained his education in the com- mon schools and at Mansfield State Normal School, and before he was sixteen years old began clerking for Sly & Alford, of Tioga. In 1862 he bought out the business, continued it four years, and then engaged in lumbering on Pine creek, which he followed one year. He next went west and spent some time in Chicago, Cincinnati and other places. In 1870 he engaged in the hotel business with his father in Lawrenceville, remaining there until 1880, when he came to Tioga and conducted the Park Hotel for a year and a half. He next ran the Kiple House, of Honesdale; then the Ryant House, of Horseheads, New York, two years; the Wilcox House, of Wellsboro, five years; the Seymour House, of Blossburg, a year, and the Stinson House, of Athens, one year. On July 1, 1890, he became proprietor of the Park Hotel, of Tioga, which he conducted till May, 1896. Mr. Daggett was married June 9, 1878, to Ella Boynton, who bore him two children, Georgia A. and Leah M. His wife died October 2, 1885; he was again married on October 19, 1893, to Katie Hymes, who has borne him one child, Aldean M. In politics, Mr. Daggett is a Republican, and is also a member of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M.

DR. JACOB SCHIEFFELIN was born in New York City, April 20, 1793. His father, Jacob Schieffelin, was born in Philadelphia, August 24, 1757, and his grandfather in Germany, February 4, 1732. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native city. When but seventeen years of age he was an ensign in the militia, at twenty a captain and at twenty-one a colonel. After a thorough preparatory education, he began the study of medicine in 1810 with Dr. Onder- donk, afterward Protestant Episcopal bishop of Pennsylvania, and attended three courses of lectures at Columbia College, from which institution he graduated in 1822. He at once became a partner with his brother, H. H. Schieffelin, in the

1005

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

wholesale drug house of H. H. Schieffelin & Company, of New York. During the next five years he spent his summers in New York and his winters in Savannah, Charleston, Mobile, New Orleans and Havana, acquiring in the meantime a fair knowledge of the Spanish language. He was in command of the militia regiment in New York City that received Lafayette in 1824, and at the reception which followed he was presented to that distinguished visitor. In 1824 he went to Mexico and opened a branch store. While there he made the acquaintance of Santa Anna, then a lieutenant in the Mexican cavalry, but afterwards the celebrated commander- in-chief of the Mexican army. In 1828, having previously purchased large bodies of land in Tioga and Lycoming counties, Pennsylvania, he removed to Tioga county and located on Hill's creek, in Charleston township. In 1830 he erected a saw-mill and the following year a large frame dwelling. He later disposed of his land and in 1845 removed to Tioga borough, where he passed the remaining years of his life, dying December 27, 1880, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. Dr. Schieffelin married Elizabeth Black and reared the following named children: Clinton, who died in Los Angeles, California; Alfred, a resident of Charleston township; Elizabeth, a resident of Tioga; Laura, who married the late O. B. Lowell, of Tioga, and died in Elmira, September 18, 1866; Cornelia, who lives in Los Angeles, California; Edward G., a resident of Wellsboro and superintendent of the Stokesdale tannery; Jacob, a retired merchant of Tioga, and Mrs. Hannah Lyon, who lives in Illinois. Mrs. Schieffelin died in 1881, aged eighty-four years.

JACOB SCHIEFFELIN, youngest son of Dr. Jacob Schieffelin, was born in Charles- ton township, Tioga county, April 18, 1838, and removed with his parents to Tioga in 1845, where he grew to manhood. In 1866 he was one of the contractors who drilled the oil well on the Abiel Sly land, on Bear creek. In 1867 he established in Tioga a hardware and tinsmithing business, which he carried on with marked success until January, 1895, when he sold out to William Kimball and retired from active business. Mr. Schieffelin was married February 1, 1865, to Ella Ryon, a daughter of Charles and Susanna Gertrude (White) Ryon, and has three children, viz: Lila G., Edward E. and Jacob. Mrs. Schieffelin died in 1894, aged fifty-two years. In politics, Mr. Schieffelin is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Presbyterian church. Since arriving at manhood he has been regarded as one of the most enterprising citizens of Tioga, and every worthy project has found in him an earnest and liberal supporter. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow- citizens, as a man of sterling integrity and upright character.

W. T. URELL was born at Rath-na-leen, County Tipperary, Ireland, in May, 1832. He immigrated to the United States and settled in Tioga, Pennsylvania, in 1848, where he found employment in the store of Lewis Daggett. He after- wards served as deputy postmaster under C. G. Dennison during the presidency of Taylor and Pierce, and in 1857 was appointed postmaster by President Buchanan, a position he held until 1861. He was also postmaster during President Cleve- land's first term, resigning at that time the office of justice of the peace, which he had filled for several terms. In 1857 Mr. Urell embarked in business, confining himself to groceries, provisions, books and notions, and has to his credit a continu- ous and successful business career of nearly forty years. He owes his success in life to persistent and persevering industry, strict honesty, and sterling integrity, which

1006

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

have won for him the respect and confidence of the community in which he has lived for nearly half a century. Mr. Urell united with the Presbyterian church about 1860. He married Rowena Daggett, a daughter of Maj. Seth Daggett, to which union have been born five children, all natives of Tioga, viz: Robert Emmett, born June 4, 1851; Charles Allen, October 16, 1852; Mary Lottie, November 4, 1864; Tom Moore, May 3, 1857, and Richard Daggett, June 19, 1859. Robert E. married Eva Squire, only child of Aaron Squire, June 21, 1893. Mary L. mar- ried H. L. Baldwin, a lawyer of Tioga, June 26, 1884, and has two daughters, Marguerite and Dorothy. Tom M. married Maud Babcock, a daughter of F. G. and Frances L. Babcock, of Tioga, October 12, 1893. Richard D. remained at home until 1887 and then took charge of the Brooklyn Hotel, which he has since purchased and still conducts. He married Emma VanGorder, who has borne him two children, Nona, deceased, and Walter. With the exception of a few years the three elder sons have been and are the efficient assistants of their father in the mercantile business. The whole family have been life-long Democrats and have taken an active interest in promoting the success of the principles and measures of that party. Robert E., especially, has been prominent in local politics. He believes in free trade and advocates the single tax theory on land values as the only means to insure and preserve the equal rights of all men to a fair share of the land. He was the Democratic county chairman in 1890, and his party's nominee for state senator in the Twenty-fifth district in 1892. Though unable to overcome the large Republi- can majority he made a vigorous and creditable canvass.

STEPHEN C. ALFORD was born in Connecticut, in 1817, and removed with his parents to Bainbridge, New York, at an early age. About 1831 he came to Tioga, Pennsylvania, and began clerking for A. C. Bush, with whom he remained several years. In 1855 he embarked in merchandising in partnership with Abiel Sly, and the firm of Sly & Alford continued in business for seven years. Mr. Alford mar- ried Ruth Lindsey, a daughter of David B. Lindsey. She was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, in 1824, and is still living. She became the mother of two children: James, who died in 1862, and H. S., of Tioga. Mr. Alford died in January, 1871, after a residence in Tioga of some forty years.

H. S. ALFORD, only living child of Stephen C. and Ruth Alford, was born in Tioga, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1855. He received a good English education, and subsequently found employment with the Erie Railroad Company, serving as assistant telegraph operator under J. Dillistin, whom he succeeded in 1883, as ticket and freight agent of the Erie Company in Tioga, a position he still holds. He is also a member of the firm of Alford & Inscho, coal dealers. Mr. Alford was married September 30, 1880, to Mary E. Doane, a daughter of Jesse B. Doane, and has one daughter, Bessie. In politics, Mr. Alford is a Republican, and is also con- nected with Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M .; Phoenix Lodge, No. 933, K. of H., and Tioga Tent, No. 176, K. O. T. M. In the discharge of the duties of his position, Mr. Alford has proven not only loyal to the interests of the railroad company, but has made himself deservedly popular with the traveling public by his uniform kindness and courtesy.

JONAS, GALUSHA PUTNAM was born in New York state, in 1810. In early life he was a millwright and built several of the first mills erected in northeastern

1007

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

New York. In 1849 he came to Tioga, Pennsylvania, where he continued to follow the same business up to 1886, when he retired from active labor. He was married in Essex county, New York, to Sophia Havens, who became the mother of three children, as follows: George Stevenson and Mrs. R. S. Hickok, both residents of Buffalo, and John H., a lawyer of Tioga. Mr. Putnam died in 1893, and his wife, in 1886, in the seventy-second year of her age.

PHILO TULLER, druggist, was born in Butler, Wayne county, New York, Octo- ber 26, 1827, a son of Worden and Elizabeth (Olmstead) Tuller. His father settled in Wayne county at an early day, but afterwards removed to Hastings county, Ontario, Canada, where he passed the remainder of his life. Philo received a com- mon school education and at the age of eighteen began learning the cabinet-making trade in Lyons, Wayne county, New York. In 1851 he came to Tioga, where he carried on the cabinet-making business until 1860. From 1862 until after the war, Mr. Tuller was employed by the government in the construction department. He then returned to Tioga and embarked in the drug business, which he has carried on successfully for the past thirty years. On December 14, 1850, he married Harriet Mack. In politics, Mr. Tuller is a Republican; was one of the signers of the petition asking for the corporation of Tioga borough; served in the council in 1866, 1871 and 1872; was a justice of the peace from 1867 to 1870; postmaster of Tioga from 1868 to 1885, and was elected burgess in February, 1897. During a residence of nearly half a century in Tioga, Mr. Tuller has been identified with every movement for the upbuilding of the community. To a successful and hon- orable business career, he has added the reputation of a public-spirited citizen. In his business he has kept pace with the times, and has a well-stocked store, especially attractive in its interior arrangement.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 132

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454