The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 30, 1899.
HARFORD MILLS.
A History of the Town and Its Early Settler», and Mention of Many Who are To-day Prominent as Men or Residents.
In our last issue we endeavored briefly to recall the early history of the town of Harford, and to mention some of those who at the present time represent their town in the every day affairs of life. We now desire to speak more fully of Harford Mills, a flourishing hamlet situated within the town of Harford, but separated by a distance of two miles.
The village of Harford Mills was formed away back in the early '80's and is a very pretty and prosperous village. It is situated about two miles south of Harford and in some respects superior to the parent village. The business of the place consists of two stores, carrying a heavy line of goods, one blacksmith shop, one hotel, one grist mill, railroad station, wagon shop, two feed stores and a saw mill. The valley at this point is narrow, the hills on either side rising to a considerable height.
A brief history of the early settlers of Harford, which was given last week, included those who in the early days managed the affairs of the town and by their untiring efforts and great perseverance paved the way for the present era of prosperity.
H. C. GRAY.
We speak with great pleasure of H. C. Gray, at present a retired resident of the Mills. Mr. Gray was born in Virgil in 1827. At an early age his father removed to Gridley Hollow, where for many years he conducted the mill and stores. In this business he was assisted by his son, H. C. Gray. In 1849 H. C. Gray came to Harford and purchased the mill property which he successfully ran until 1860, when on account of ill health Mr. Gray sold the mill and has since lived a retired life at his pleasant home in this village. His winters are frequently spent in California and Florida. Mr. Gray has been very successful in business and has accumulated considerable property. He is an uncle of D. P. Wallace and Alex Mahan of Cortland.
MRS. F. MAHAN.
Mrs. F. Mahan, widow of Frank Mahan, is one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Harford Mills. For the past eight or nine years Mrs. Mahan has been an invalid, but despite her bodily suffering she still maintains the same cheerful disposition which has characterized her through life. Mrs. Mahan is an aunt of Alex. Mahan and D. F. Wallace of Cortland. She has been a constant reader of the DEMOCRAT for over thirty years.
KEELS & SAXTON.
Among the business men of the present time we speak with pride of Keels & Saxton, who are both life-long residents of the town of Harford. Messrs. Keels & Saxton are both gentlemen of experience, having served as clerk for several years. In 1895 this firm purchased the extensive stock of H. P. Chappuis, who had conducted the business in Harford Mills for several years. Mr. Keels was appointed postmaster during the McKinley administration and is giving excellent satisfaction to both parties. Mr. Saxton is also very popular and enjoys a well earned reputation. The firm carries a full line of dry goods, groceries, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes and farm implements. They enjoy a large and rapidly increasing trade.
L. E. HAY.
Prominent among the business men of this county we desire to speak of L. E. Hay, who now conducts a general store at Harford Mills. Mr. Hay was born in Virgil in 1832. His early education was obtained at the schools of his native town, where he resided until 1860, when he came to Harford Mills and purchased the saw and planing mill. In 1870 Mr. Hay opened the store which he still conducts. For several years he has held the office of postmaster. He deals extensively in farm produce, especially potatoes and cabbage. He also has the sale of coal, salt, fertilizers, etc., at that station. By careful attention to business Mr. Hay has built up a large and prosperous trade.
FRANK M. BURKE.
Frank M. Burke, the genial landlord of the Harford Mills hotel, was a former resident of Cortland and located in Harford Mills June 1, 1896. The firm was then Burke & Bailey. The firm continued for about two years, when Mr. Bailey retired and Mr. Burke has since conducted the house. The building is a commodious and substantial structure and was built during the prosperous days of Harford, at the time when the railroad was first opened. A first class table is maintained under the supervision of Mrs. Burke. Dances are frequently held and draw an immense crowd from the surrounding towns.
DR. J. E. LEONARD.
Dr. J. E. Leonard is a life-long resident of Harford and was born about 1864. His early education was obtained at the schools of his native town. At an early age he developed a desire for the study of medicine and at the conclusion of his school life entered the Long Island college hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he graduated with honors in 1889. He at once located in Harford Mills and began the practice of medicine. He now enjoys a large and increasing practice and is very successful as a physician. The doctor is a strong Republican and prominent in the county.
C. W. HARRINGTON.
Among the business men of Harford we speak with pleasure of C. W. Harrington. Mr. Harrington was born in Richford, Tioga county, in 1841, and came to Harford Mills in 1865 and at once opened a harness shop, which he still conducts. During the war of 1861 Mr. Harrington enlisted in Co. B., 109 Regiment, N. Y. Vols., under Colonel Benjamin P. Tracy, who afterwards became secretary of the navy. Mr. Harrington, when a young man, learned his trade of Chas. H. Wheaton, who at that time conducted an extensive harness business at Homer. Mr. Wheaton's shop was then located in the old Mechanic hall, which will be remembered by many readers of the DEMOCRAT. In politics Mr. Harrington is a Republican and has frequently held offices of trust in his town.
JAS. H. HINDS.
Jas. H. Hinds, one of the oldest residents of Harford Mills, enjoys the distinction of "Judge," having for four years served his town as justice of the peace. He is a man of sound judgment and makes an excellent official.
VINCENT PHOENIX.
Among the recent additions to the business interests of Harford Mills we find Vincent Phoenix, who until recently has been a resident of Richford. Mr. Phoenix now conducts a grocery store and barber shop in rooms in the hotel building.
BENJAMIN C. MYERS.
Benjamin C. Myers has for several years owned and conducted the grist mill at Harford Mills. The mill is well equipped with machinery and does a nourishing business.
WM. ROSE.
Wm. Rose, for many years a resident of the town, now conducts a blacksmith and general repair shop.
CHAS. BRINK.
Chas. Brink is one of the representative young men of the place and has for several years occupied the responsible position of station agent at Harford Mills. He is also one of the justices of the town and deservedly popular.
PROMINENT FARMERS.
Among the prominent farmers of the town of Harford who are nearby residents of Harford Mills, we desire to mention Garry Smith, who owns a beautiful farm just outside the village limits, Henry Dornberg, Chas. Davis, Oliver Duell, John Sears, J. Wilcox, David Wilcox, Edward Wilcox, Wallace Shaver, Simeon Rockerfellow, Henry Vincent, Rosmy Blodgett.
BUTTER FACTORY.
A butter factory is conducted by Andrew Jennings and receives daily a large amount of milk. The butter is put up in prints and finds a ready market.
CHURCHES.
For many years previous to 1872 religious services were held at Harford Mills in private houses and school houses, two denominations having quite a strong following—Christian and Methodist. In the year above mentioned a pretty, though small church edifice was erected, which is now owned by eight citizens of the place, the larger share being controlled by H. C. Gray, and the use of it for religious purposes is given by the owners.
ROSMY BLODGETT.
Rosmy Blodgett was born in Lapeer in 1847. His early education was obtained at the Marathon union school and academy. At the close of his school life he was engaged in farming with his father for several years. In 1877 Mr. Blodgett came to Harford and purchased the farm upon which he now resides. This tract was then almost an unbroken forest but by perseverance Mr. Blodgett has cleared up the land and erected substantial buildings. The farm is now under a good degree of cultivation. Mr. Blodgett is a prominent Democrat. He has held the office of justice of sessions four terms, and is now a notary public. He is well and favorably known about this and surrounding counties.
STERRY CLARK.
Sterry Clark was born in 1836 at Newark Valley, Tioga county, and has lived in Virgil or Harford since six years of age. The farm upon which Mr. Clark resides was formerly the property of his father, but was purchased by Sterry 33 years ago. A large portion of the farm was covered with timber. This has been converted into lumber and shipped to various points, and the farm put under a good degree of cultivation. Mr. Clark is the father of seven children, namely, Wm. J. Clark, Amber Clark, now Mrs. L. F. Rounds of Cortland, Mahala Clark and Alela Clark, who are twins aged 21, Anna Clark, aged 18, Mary Jane Clark, 16, and Grover Clark, aged 13. These children are all born musicians of wonderful ability. They have appeared upon the stage before they were six years of age and have given concerts throughout Central New York. They play upon all varieties of instruments and are also vocalists of a high order. They are largely sought after by churches and societies wishing a first class moral entertainment, and always draw large houses wherever they appear.
SHERMAN MORSE.
Sherman Morse was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, about 1850 and settled in Harford about 1878. He owns a well kept and productive farm on the road leading to Marathon and is a prominent man in the town. For four terms Mr. Morse has held the office of assessor, to the satisfaction of his townsmen. Mr. Morse has recently been appointed school trustee to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of O. L. Hill, which honor he greatly appreciates.
L. FELLOWS.
L. Fellows was born in Truxton in 1844 and resided there until eight years of age. He then, with his parents, removed to Preble. In 1856 Mr. Fellows removed to Harford Mills and in 1872 purchased the farm known as the Seymour Hyde farm. Mr. Fellows has by industry converted this farm, which was then largely a forest, into one of the most productive farms in Tioga county. Mr. Fellows also owns the farm formerly owned by his father in Robinson Hollow, and is a highly respected and influential citizen. Although a resident of Tioga county, Mr. Fellows business interests are all at the Mills and he is therefore numbered among her respected citizens.
H. J. WALKER.
H. J. Walker was born in Harford, then Virgil, in 1833. For 25 years Mr. Walker owned the farm known as the Ballard farm, and for four years the farm which he at present occupies about two miles east of Harford Mills. Altogether Mr. Walker owns 240 acres and is a big prosperous farmer.
W. W. PARKER.
Among the prominent people of Harford, who have retired from active business we find W. W. Parker, a man well and favorably known in this county. Mr. Parker was for many years an active farmer, but now lives in a comfortable home in Harford Mills, enjoying to fullest extent the fruits of his early labor.
JOHN FOSTER.
John Foster, one of the venerable residents of Harford, still lives near the village of Harford Mills and recalls the early history of the county with great accuracy. For the last few months his health has been poor and he remains about the house most of the time.
C. R. JENNINGS.
C. R. Jennings now owns and occupies the Jennings homestead, which is situated about two miles east of Harford. This farm was formerly the property of Ransom Jennings, and earlier owned by his father, Harry Jennings. This property formerly comprised 640 acres, but various sections have been sold until at the death of Ransom only 373 acres remained. This has been equally divided among the three children, C. E. Jennings, Mrs. Dr. Butterfield of Binghamton and Mrs. Frank Tarbox of Harford Mills.
WM. FOSTER.
Wm. Foster, who has for over seventy years resided in Harford, is now in feeble health. Until recently Mr. Foster has been a strong, robust man, and is a highly respected citizen. He resides upon a farm just east of the village limits.
HERE AND THERE.
C. E. Snyder has been appointed master mechanic of the Cortland & Homer Traction company.
The supervisors and assessors of the several towns in Cortland county must meet next Monday and make out a trial jury list for the next three years.
"In the beginning God created the heaven and earth." Then he made the editors, the liberal advertiser and prompt paying subscribers, and it was good. The next day a blizzard set in and he created the man who doesn't believe in advertising, and another who didn't trade with his home paper. Then he rested. The devil then got into the moulding room and created the fellow who takes the paper for years and fails to pay for it. The devil then rested, but the editor hasn't had any rest since. Domino!
John Bays of Virgil lost his pocketbook in Cortland last week.
Theodore A. Gifford of Cortland has been adjudged insane by Drs. Reese and Higgins.
Mrs. Sarah Ryan has just erected a pretty residence in Railroad-st., east of the Ellis shops.
Rev. Mr. Hammond of Newark Valley will preach in the Memorial Baptist church Sunday morning.
Albert Allport has been elected deacon of the Memorial Baptist church in place of the late Deacon Gillette, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Callahan, whose marriage in Binghamton is announced elsewhere, will reside at No. 71 Pomeroy-st.
The potato bug, which was supposed early in the season to be taking his long vacation, is now getting in his fine work.
The temperance people of Cortland will hold a picnic in Gillette's grove on the Fourth. There will be good speaking and singing, races, etc.
A new time table on the Lehigh Valley railroad went into operation last Sunday, the only changes being the running of a Sunday train each way.
It is confidently predicted that at least several packs of firecrackers will be fired in Cortland next Tuesday. They are a blessed nuisance, but we must have them.
A good place to spend Sunday and the Fourth of July is a trip to Skaneateles and return on the steamer Glen Haven or Ossahinta. The round trip is only 25 cents.
The Ellis Omnibus & Cab company shipped a carette to the city of Mexico this week. The fame of Cortland's mechanics is extending to the uttermost ends of the earth.
The D., L. & W. railroad company is causing the side track near the Wallace wallpaper block to be moved several feet nearer the building to facilitate the work of shipping.
With all its numerous expenses the Cortland Baseball association is obliged to add its mite towards paying the war debt, having last week deposited $10 for an exhibitor's license.
The large tree in front of the Graham block in Main-st. was removed last Friday and when it was learned that it was of the slippery elm variety every particle of bark was peeled in short order.
The first Cortland county man to lose his life, while serving his country in the Spanish-American war, is Deforest V. Hutchinson of Taylor, the announcement of whose death at Manila was received Tuesday.
Clayton H. Buell announces that he will conclude his Tom Howard stories in the Elmira Telegram next Sunday, but its Cortland readers will not want for something of an interesting character to take their place.
The mammoth tree in front of C. F. Brown's drug store was taken down in small sections this week. Many expressions of regret at the removal of this ancient landmark were heard as the tree was torn limb from limb.
When the property owners on Main-st. complete the laying of broad walks, as many of them are now doing, that thoroughfare will be one of the handsomest business streets in Central New York. Let your memory run back a year and as you compare the condition of the street then with the present, thank yourself that you live in a progressive town.
Messrs. Thomas & Mourin at Glen Haven will have dancing next Tuesday, with other amusements, and fireworks in the evening. Steamers will also make four trips to Skaneateles [village] and return. This will be an ideal place to spend the Fourth.
The Fourth will be a great day at Cortland park, the management arranging a dance for the afternoon and evening. Fireworks will also be exhibited in the evening, and it is expected that special attractions will be presented through the afternoon.
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