CORTLAND'S ROMANOV

The Cortland News, Friday, February 2, 1883.

Cortland’s Romanov.

   When but four months old, Mr. John Gaffney, who lately and for some time past has been an employee of the Cortland Wagon Company in the capacity of contractor in the paint department, was, with an older brother, after the death of his father in California, brought from there to Syracuse by an uncle, and placed in the Orphan's Home. This was done without the knowledge or consent of his mother.

   While a mere lad he left Syracuse, and, shifting for himself, has so successfully fought the battle of life as to gain an excellent reputation as an intelligent, earnest, honest and willing worker, with none of the vices that characterize the young men of to-day.

   His mother for twenty years has had no knowledge of the whereabouts of either of her children. Having meantime come into possession of a goodly share of this world's goods, she desired to know more about her exiled boys, and if alive, to help them should they be in need.

   Knowing, from hearsay, that his father was dead, and supposing his mother, also, to be, one can imagine John's surprise, as well as joy, when a gentleman upon entering his department one day last fall told him that his mother was waiting without to see him. As he expressed it, "It went through me like an electric shock."

   After getting acquainted with her son, she returned to her home in the valley of the Sacramento, not, however, until he had promised to go to California and make her home his own. Last Saturday morning, Mr. Gaffney left for his new home, where we trust he will find happiness and prosperity.

Adam Forepaugh Circus Poster

B. R. Carpenter landscape painting

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The district schools open next Monday, Feb. 5.

   J. C. Carmichael & Co. will soon remove to the third store of the Standard block.

   Workmen are engaged in putting the rooms for the postoffice in shape for occupation [Standard block].

   Mrs. Middaugh is erecting a house on Prospect street, which is intended for a boarding-house.

   During the month of January the Cortland postoffice issued 207 money orders, calling for $1,941.97, and paid 154 orders, amounting to $2,131.31.

   The Water-Witch Engine Company will enjoy a dance at Taylor Hall on the evening of the 13th inst. The supper will be given at Firemen's Hall from 6 P. M. to 2 A. M. Dance tickets, $1. Supper, 25 cents.

   Mr. Asa H. Wilcox, a well-known resident of Cortland previous to 1853, and until 1865 of Marcellus, and since then of Syracuse, died in that city on Monday, Jan. 29, of paralysis of the brain. The remains were brought to Cortland on Tuesday for burial. His age was 65 years.

   Adam Forepaugh, the great circus manager, intends to favor this section with a visit the coming season from his great show. He sends us an advance courier in the shape of a large magnificent colored lithograph by the famous artist, Matt Morgan, representing an oriental pageant entitled “Lallah Rookh's Departure from Delhi."

   State Superintendent Gilmour has sent his check for about $4,200, the amount necessary to pay the miscellaneous bills and the teachers— Profs. Hoose, Stowell and Sornberger, and Misses Rase, Cole and Saunders and Mrs. Halbert—who taught in the Normal school during the term when it was "closed" by the Superintendent. The remaining bills will be paid when there is sufficient money in the treasury to meet them.

   The winter term of the Y. M. C. A. evening schools closed last week. Classes were taught civil government, bookkeeping, penmanship, and three grades of arithmetic. Forty-five pupils registered. The following persons taught classes: Rev. J. A. Robinson, Miss Hattie Burdick, Messrs. S. J. Sornberger, E. D. Mineah, J. A. Jayne, and A. W. Smith. Though there were of necessity several changes of teachers, the term was a successful one.

   The owners of driven wells in Marathon who were recently sued by Andrews & Bro. under the Green patent have nearly all decided to defend. Messrs. Duell & Benedict have been retained by the following named defendants: A. G. Smith, T. L. Corwin, R. R. Maybury, Lyman Tiffany, A. C. Rohbacher, C. D. Meacham, Edgar Meacham, Benjamin Jones, David Hunt, Perry Gardner, Wm. Gardner, and the Marathon Agricultural Society. The defendants are well known as men of the highest standing and respectability, and evidently mean business. Messrs. Waters & Tuttle are attorneys for the complainant.

   Mr. Howard C. Webb, late of the Homer Republican, has been engaged as telegraph editor on the New Haven, Conn. Daily News.

   The Cortland Wagon Company has purchased a tract of timber land just west of Walden, and will erect a large saw-mill.—Bing. Rep.

   Mr. Luther White, dentist, has just finished for the upper jaw of a lady customer a solid gold plate, which is an exceedingly beautiful specimen of skillful workmanship. When a woman comes at us with that kind of jaw we shall stand and take it.

   Mr. Alonzo Bowen, of Homer, better known as "A. Bowen, business," was arrested Tuesday for drunkenness. Justice Bierce discharged him. He was re-arrested on the charge of vagrancy, and the justice committed him to the county poor-house.

   Sheriff Borthwick has made the following additional appointments: For undersheriff, Austin L. Dickinson, of Freetown; deputy sheriffs: John Connie, Truxton; Wm. Shirley, Homer; Aaron Perry, Cincinnatus; Edwin Burdick, Scott; Sherman L. Wood, Freetown; Michael Cahill, Cortland.

   Mr. A. Mahan keeps the instrumental pot boiling in his usual lively manner, the organs and pianos for which he is agent making abiding places for themselves in households innumerable. And his sewing-machines can be found all over the country; their buyers play the game of  “holdfast" when once they get possession of them.

   Mr. Dwight Miller has lately put a new large [horse-drawn] omnibus on the route between Homer and Cortland. It is a strong, well built, handsome looking vehicle, and is the work of the Cortland Omnibus Company. Two of the loveliest landscape paintings we have ever seen ornament the sides, and are testimonials of the skill of our townsman, Mr. B. R. Carpenter.

   Things are getting more and more lively in the lower part of the town. On Monday three fights occurred, in each of which several persons were engaged. No serious damage was done to any of the participants, more's the pity. Another argument in favor of a special police force. We hope that the trustees will recommend, at the next election, that special policemen be appointed, and thus give the people a chance to decide whether order or disorder shall prevail in our streets.

   A meeting of the local board of the Normal school was held on Monday evening, at which the resignation of Miss Emily E. Cole from the principalship of the primary department was accepted and the appointment of Miss Mary L. Roberts, of Binghamton, to that position, was recommended. For eleven years Mist Cole has had charge of that department, and her administration has been characterized for its fidelity to the interests of the school; for able, earnest, unceasing effort to promote the advancement of her pupils; in short, she has been a remarkably successful teacher. Miss Roberts has, for the past five consecutive years, been principal of Ward school No. 2 of the city of Binghamton, and first assistant for the two and a half years previous. She is thoroughly acquainted with the most advanced theories and practices of normal school work. The highest educational authorities of Binghamton recommend her as the most successful teacher of primary work they ever knew.

Chicago.

[located between South Cortland and McLean, N. Y.--CC editor]

Correspondence of THE NEWS.

Jan. 29, 1883.

   Mr. Fred Frost has purchased 14 acres of land of Mr. Charles Baldwin. Consideration, $700.

   Miss Mary Hunt has been engaged to teach our school next summer.

   Prof. I. B. Haskins' school closes Feb. 9.

   Mr. Warren Davis is at work for the Bangs Bros., Cortland.

   The postoffice at Chicago will doubtless be discontinued this spring.

   There was to have been a spelling match at the Chicago school-house, last Friday evening, between the McLean and Chicago schools, but through fear of the results, the McLean school chose to stay at home. Our scholars hope they will not call it a tie as they have chosen to before. The school was spelled down by Roscoe Lamont, of Cortland.

   Mr. Judson Gager has been confined to the house, most of the time, for the past four weeks. Having cut one of his fingers, he caught cold in it, and dressed it with green salve, and it is thought it was poisoned by the same. He is doubtless laid up for the winter.

OBITUARY.

   In Norwalk, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1883, Mrs. Nancy Arnold, wife of Dr. Ira Babcock, aged 72 years.

   By the death of Mrs. Babcock there passes to the "better country" the last of a family of seven sisters, daughters of the late Philip Arnold, an early resident of East Scott. Mrs. Babcock was well known to many in this vicinity, her girlhood and a portion of her married life having been spent in this county.

   Soon after her marriage to Dr. Babcock she accompanied her husband to Oregon, whither they were sent by the American Board of Missions. Here they labored for some time among the Indians, only leaving the country as their lives became endangered by the hostility of the natives, which soon after their departure terminated in a massacre of the few remaining whites.

   On their returning voyage Mr. and Mrs. Babcock remained some time upon the Sandwich Islands, where was born to them their second daughter, Harriet Newell. Afterward they resided at different periods in Scott, also at Avoca and Bath, Steuben county. From the latter place, about twenty-five years ago they moved to Norwalk, Ohio, where they have since resided; Dr. Babcock being well known as an eminent physician and surgeon of northern Ohio.

   Mrs. Babcock was the mother of five children, four of whom are now living. In August, 1882, in company with her husband, she visited her native county for the last time; spending a few days in Cortland with her niece, Mrs. Henry W. Beal. In October following, she had a severe attack of hemorrhage of the lungs, a disease to which she had been subject for the past ten years. From this she partially recovered, and on New Year's day went to the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Cheney, where she was taken violently ill, and from which she was not removed until her death.

   At an early age Mrs. Babcock became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose interests and institutions she ever held sacred, adorning her Christian profession by her daily life. Peculiarly amiable in disposition, with a word of comfort for the sorrowing, and encouragement for the weak, Mrs. Babcock's life, if not perfect, was at least worthy of imitation by many. A large circle of friends mourns her departure, but she has "fought the good fight, she has kept the faith" and has gone to enjoy an inheritance incorruptible, we trust, in the Kingdom of God.

Com.

The Ice Harvest.

   ALBANY, Jan. 29.—The ice harvest along the Hudson river is now drawing to a close. It is conceded that the yield will be nearly three million tons, one of the largest harvests, if not the largest, ever taken from the Hudson. Not as many new houses were built last fall as the previous one, still those contracted are quite large and increase the storing capacity in the neighborhood of 200,000 tons. The ice gathered is from eight to twenty inches thick, and owing to the low condition of the river when it froze, is clear as crystal. The housing, this year, cost from four to seven cents less per ton than last year. Notwithstanding the cry of a short crop last winter, 100,000 tons remained unsold at the beginning of the year. Nearly 50,000 tons of this was gathered in 1880 and held for a good market, but little ice being stacked.

Recommended:

Lallah Rookh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lallah_Rookh