REUNION OF THE 76TH N. Y. VOL. REGIMENT IN McLEAN, N. Y.

76th N. Y. Vol. Regiment faded battle flag, or colors.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 10, 1890.

Reunion of the Association of the 76th Regiment.

   The survivors of the 76th N. Y. Regiment met at McLean, N. Y., on Thursday last, Oct. 2nd, it being the twenty-ninth anniversary of the organization of the regiment. It was a pleasant day and the attendance was large in view of the fact that but few of the original members were left at the close of the war. The number has since been decreasing. Late years the members have taken their families with them to attend these annual meetings, and while only about sixty-five of the veterans were present, the number including their families and honorary members was over one hundred. The people of McLean showed that they had not forgotten war times and gave the association a pleasant reception and free entertainment.

   At the morning meeting Truxton was fixed upon as the place for the next reunion, and officers were elected as follows:

   President—E. D. Van Slyck, of Hamilton, N. Y.

   Vice-Presidents— Freeman Schermerhorn of Truxton, Dr. W. J. Brown of

Newark Valley, D. M. Perry of Washington, N. J., and Franklin Bliss of Richford, N. Y.

   Secretary—Wm. J. Mantanye of Cortland.

   Treasurer—A. Sager of Cortland.

   Executive Committee—Freeman Schermerhorn and Dr. J. C. Nelson of Truxton, B. F. Taylor and A. P. Smith of Cortland, and R. G. Davidson of McLean.

   In the afternoon a public meeting was held on the lawn of Mr. D. W. Rowley, which was presided over by the outgoing president, Lucius Davis. The old Regimental Flag was present, and though dilapidated with age and service received hearty greetings. After an invocation by Rev. E. R. Wade and music by Dryden band, an address of welcome from the citizens was delivered by Geo. B. Davis, Esq., of Ithaca, to which W. J. Mantanye responded in behalf of the Association. Then followed reading of letters and telegrams from absent comrades, and the address of the day by Hon. John T. Davidson of Elmira, formerly a resident of McLean and Cortland. The pleasure of meeting old comrades and friends was great, but was somewhat saddened by the thoughts of losses by death during the year—six have passed on to the silent bivouac in the last year.

   The following resolutions were reported by the committee and passed at the afternoon meeting:

   WHEREAS, Since our last reunion this Association has lost the following named members: Ira C. Potter, Norman G. Harmon, Delos V. Caldwell, Uri Hutchings, W. H. Mosher, and Ralph E. Tucker, worthy comrades and esteemed friends, whom death has mustered out, and who now sleep in soldiers graves.

   Resolved, That in the death of these comrades this Association has lost some of its most valued members, who gave good and valiant service to our country in her hour of need, and who always maintained the honor and fidelity of true soldiers.

   Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the minutes, and the memory of our late comrades cherished by us until we are called to enjoy with them the rewards beyond the grave.

   S. M. BYRAM,

   T. H. MCCLENTHON,

   E. A. MEAD,

   Committee.

   Resolved, That the members of this Association extend a vote of thanks to Messrs. J. T. Davidson and Geo. B. Davis, for their able addresses, to the citizens of McLean for the royal manner in which they have entertained us; to the Dryden Cornet Band for its inspiring music; and to Mr. D. W. Rowley for the kind offer of his house and grounds which we have used for our meeting.

   D. R. MONTGOMERY,

   D. C. BEERS,

   MARTIN EDGCOMB,

   Committee.

   Mr. H. M. Kellogg, formerly of the 55th Ohio Regiment now an honorary member of the Association of the 76th, met an old schoolmate of thirty-five years ago in the reunion at McLean. Mr. James Youngs, of Albion, N. Y., one of the 76th men, in passing along the street in Cortland on his way to McLean, saw the name "H. M. Kellogg" over the doorway and stopped in to see if it was his old friend of school days and found that it was. As both were going to the reunion they there met and exchanged the stories of their lives.

Section of 1894 map.

Improving the First Ward.

   Messrs. George Allport and architect H. W. Beardsley having purchased a tract of 37 1/2 acres of land situated to the north of Tompkins street and extending to Prospect street and the works of the Cortland Water Company, have caused a survey and map of the same to be made and opened up one hundred and fifty-one desirable building lots in the first ward. A street opening off Tompkins has been laid out through to Prospect street, said street being eighty-six feet wide at its intersection with Tompkins and will be of a uniform width of seventy feet from a short distance from Tompkins. About half way northward on the said street there is a fork making two streets through to Prospect. The present Water street is continued through to Prospect, also a street has been laid out to the east of the proposed principal street from Tompkins to Prospect, both of which are sixty feet wide. Provisions have been made for the accommodation of a street railway through the main street, which the prospectors speedily intend to have continued northward until it intersects Groton Avenue, thus opening the way for the belt line of the future. With the opening of said street material benefit will result to the public generally, aside from offering a most attractive pleasure drive.

   Aside from a few lots adjoining Tompkins street, the general survey is 60x120 feet—those first mentioned being 150 feet deep. With the opening up of this large tract in the first ward it would be in order to cultivate the germs for a park, there being an abundance of natural elements for such an enterprise and stranger things have sprung into existence from courting futurity. The enterprise of the young men at the head of this scheme is commendable and with other events of late date are most encouraging omens for the coming year for a continuance of Cortland's prosperity.

Erie & Central New York R. R.

   Our citizens are enthusiastic over the possibility of having a railroad to give us quick connections with the outside world. A meeting was held at the Gothic House Tuesday evening when Lewis S. Hayes, president of the proposed road, stated the object of the meeting, which, briefly, is as follows: That the right of way be secured through the towns of Pitcher and Otselic so as to connect the railroad graded from Cortland to Cincinnatus with the Auburn branch of the O. & W. at Otselic Center; also that the towns along the Auburn discontinue the suits brought against the O. & W., when the O. & W. will turn over the roadbed to the new company.

   Mr. Hayes stated that a contract had been entered into with a New York banking firm who are to furnish the money to build the road, equip it with rolling stock and everything necessary to put it in shape for business.

   As matters have reached that point where the right of way must be secured at once to have the project succeed, Hon. D. B Parce, C. G. Perkins, S. R. Hill, E. M. Loomis and S. Ryan were elected as a committee to confer with property owners along the line of this town.—Otselic Herald.

Explosion of a Locomotive.

   OSWEGO, N. Y., Oct. 8.—As the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg train from the east, due here at 9:35 P. M. was standing at the station at Mexico, the crown sheet of the locomotive blew out. Fireman Harry Hudson of Brockville, Ont., who was in the cab, was horribly burned and scalded and will die. Martin Wells, of Randallsville, N. Y. and Andrew Hunt of Norwood, N. Y., brakemen, were also terribly scalded, but whether their injuries are fatal is not known. The injured men were brought to the hospital in this city. Engineer John Chase was in the station at the time and escaped injury.

Woodstock Torched.

(Special to the DEMOCRAT.)

   WOODSTOCK, Madison Co., Oct. 9.—At 2 P. M. to-day, fire was discovered in the upper floor of Jaqueth's general store occupied by William Gunn, as a rake manufactory, which spread rapidly to Rider's hardware store and S. Hayes' boot and boot store, consuming the meat market, sweeping everything from the corner west to Dr. Smith's office.

   A large portion of the goods were removed but in a damaged condition. The flames were under control shortly after 4 o'clock, but no rational estimate of damage can be obtained.

St. Mary's Parochial Residence.

   The preliminary arrangements attending the erection of a new Parochial residence of St. Mary's parish having been completed, workmen began excavating for the foundation walls this week. Mr. John Mayer has the contract for the mason work and Mr. Nathaniel Mager, jr., the wood work for the new edifice, the ground dimensions of which are 48x65 feet. When completed it will be not only an imposing but an ornamental building adding materially to the attractiveness of North Main street. The exterior will be of brick with Ohio white sand stone trimmings, two full stories and mansard above the basement. The interior will be finished in hard wood and the chambers in pine.

New Electric Light Plant.

   The foundation for the new electric light plant is being prepared just west of the tracks adjoining the works of the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company on Elm street. The building will be one story high of triangular shape with a sixty-foot front on the street. Nothing but the two engines and dynamos will be contained in the building. Power is to be furnished by conducting steam under the street from the boiler house opposite, together with the under ground extension of the main line shaft attached to the one hundred horse-power engine situated in the basement of the wood working department which will also furnish power to the arc, store and house lights. Our representative was authorized to state that upon completion of the plant, the lights will run all night, which will be appreciated by private patrons of the company, as well as the public generally. Also that the facilities of the new plant will be double that of the present.

Death of Benjamin Watrous.

   By the death of Mr. Benjamin Watrous, at 2 A. M., Tuesday, is removed one of the eldest residents of this county and, as near as can be learned, the last pioneer settler of Freetown, this county. Mr. Watrous' father, Austin Watrous, removed from Saybrook, Conn., in 1813, purchasing one hundred and five acres on lot number 12, which at that time was entirely covered with a heavy growth of timber.

  The subject of this sketch was father of a large family, the wife and several of the children having departed this life previous to the death of the father. Five members of the family are still living: Benjamin Watrous of California, Austin Watrous of Lorings Station, Edgar Watrous, a resident of the State of Maine, Mrs. Daniel Eastman of Truxton, and Mrs. Andrew Bean of Freetown. Deceased was an uncle to Mr. J. L. Watrous of this village, and father to the late Mrs. Clinton Rindge.

  Brief services were held yesterday at the residence of his son, Austin, at Lorings Station, and the remains borne to Freetown, where appropriate services were held at the church at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.

Daughters of Rebecca.

   For some time the subject of instituting a lodge of Daughters of Rebecca, I. O. O. F., has been under discussion. Friday evening Grand Master W. R. Spooner, of New York, duly installed a lodge hereafter to be known as Bright Light Lodge, No. 121, Daughters of Rebecca, I. O. O. F. There were ninety two members of the lodge at its organization and the following ladies were installed and appointed officers for the present term:

   N. G.—Mrs. Frank H. Cobb.

   V. G.—Mrs. Adelbert H. Watkins.

   R. S.—Mrs. George E. Ingraham.

   P. S.—Mrs. Henry C. Beebe.

   Treas.—Mrs. Daniel Geer.

   Chap.—Mrs. George D. Griffith.

   R. S. N. G.— Mrs. William P. Robinson.

   L. S. N. G.—Mrs. William J. Perkins.

   R. S. V. G.— Mrs. Elmer M Williams

   L. S. V. G.—Mrs. E. J. Hopkins.

   W.—Mrs. A. B. Filsinger.

   C—Mrs. A. N. Green.

   Altar—Mrs. James E. Briggs and Mrs. Robert H. Beard.

   O. S. G. —Mrs. R. E. Caldwell.

   I. S. G.—Miss Anna Blackmer.

   The lodge will meet on the first and third Monday evenings of each month in the J. L. Lewis lodge rooms.