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| Horace Greeley. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 2, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1872.
A CAREFULLY COMPILED RECORD OF INTERESTING EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Fine Weather In January, But Two Severe Blizzards In March—A Full Week Without Mails—The Memorable Greeley Campaign Recalled—Contract for Building the Present First Baptist Church Edifice—Young Man Killed In Port Watson-St.—Political Matters—Many Brief Newsy Items.
(These historical and reminiscent sketches of Cortland events began with the year 1868, and will cover a period of a quarter century, one year's events appearing in each issue The entire series will form a valuable record and be very interesting reading.)
The year 1872 was made memorable by one of the most remarkable political campaigns ever seen in the United States. Horace Greeley, the founder of the Tribune, who for years had fought and abused the Democratic party, not only in his paper but in all his public speeches, by a strange combination became the Democratic candidate for president. Early in the year those Republicans who were dissatisfied with the party and with the anticipated renomination of U. S. Grant, met in Cincinnati and nominated Mr. Greeley for president and B. Gratz Brown for vice-president. They adopted the name of Liberal Republicans. The Democrats were extremely anxious to defeat Gen. Grant, and while a large minority were decidedly opposed to nominating or endorsing Mr. Greeley, the national convention of that party placed his name at the head of the ticket. Then followed a singular campaign in every town and hamlet prominent Republicans espoused the Greeley cause, and had the Democrats voted solidly for him he would have been elected without a doubt. But Mr. Greeley was too objectionable to the rank and file of the Democracy, and the result was that he secured only 47 electoral votes to 286 for Gen. Grant. Soon after the election Mr. Greeley died, it is said, of a broken heart.
BROKE HIS NECK.
On the 25th of June a young man named Winfield Blaney, who resided in Homer, met a tragic death in Cortland. He was on his way to attend a camp meeting, which was held about where the park is now located, east of the river, and while riding in an open buggy down Port Watson-st. he was run into by two young men named Julian and Wilbur H. Hicks, who where racing on horseback. Mr. Blaney was thrown from the buggy and killed instantly, his neck being broken.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A VILLAGE TRUSTEE.
At a coroner's inquest held to inquire into the cause of the death of Winfield S. Blaney, Arnold Stafford, a trustee of the village, was giving evidence before the jury when he was taken suddenly ill. He was taken to the reception room of Sheriff John D. Benton, where he died within three minutes.
BLIZZARDS.
In March two very severe blizzards swept over Central New York, the first lasting three days, March 11, 12 and 13. The thermometer ranged from 5 to 10 degrees below zero, and the wind blew almost a hurricane the entire three days.
The S. & B. railroad possessed no such methods for cleaning the track, as are now employed, and as the snow was deep, trains were stalled, Cortland receiving no mail from Monday evening until Thursday evening.
This was followed by another storm beginning March 24 and lasting nearly a week. On this occasion no mail trains passed over the road from Tuesday until the next Monday morning. The Syracuse Standard commented upon the storm as follows: The railroad men have some large stories to tell concerning the snow in Cortland county. Drifts were in some cases on a level with the tops of the cars. the employees stepping from the car tops upon the snow. Many trains were stalled at Homer, one of which had forty passengers on board. Some went to hotels, while others slept in the cars and procured their board as best suited their convenience.
THE NEW RAILROAD.
A local paper of date Jan. 9, 1871, comments upon the near completion of the Ithaca and Cortland railroad as follows: "The open, mild weather is very favorable for labor on the railroads now in process of construction to Cortland. Tomorrow the track will be laid on the Ithaca & Cortland road to the crossing on Tompkins-st. and passengers will there take the cars for the present. It is the intention of the directors to complete the road to South Main-st. as rapidly as possible. On the road from Truxton, cars will be running to Mill-st. (now Clinton-ave.) crossing ere this week closes. The rails to-day are being laid across the farm of A. D. Blodgett, and the bridge will tomorrow be ready for the stringers. It is the intention of the directors to construct to the four corners on Railroad-st., east of the Syracuse & Binghamton depot, and then issue a timetable for the running of passenger and freight trains. In a few days, therefore, we shall have the satisfaction of chronicling the daily arrival of trains into our prosperous city from the north, south, north east and south west."
February 6 passengers were taken to South Main-st.
On the 25th of January, 1872, a free excursion was run on the road from Cortland to DeRuyter, and a large crowd went to that place.
Hilton R. Rouse was appointed station agent of the Western Midland railroad at Cortland.
KILLED BY A TRAIN.
About the middle of September a young man named Webster was walking on the railroad track near the first bridge in the northern part of the village, when a passenger train approached. The engineer saw him and sounded an alarm by blowing the whistle. Young Webster, instead of stepping to one side, attempted to run across the bridge in advance of the train, when he was struck by the locomotive and received injuries which caused his death within an hour.
CONTRACT FOR BUILDING BAPTIST CHURCH.
In June the Baptist society let the contract for building the present brick structure, corner of Railroad and Church-sts., to Cyrus G. Straat for the sum of $26,950, to be completed by the first of November, 1873. The old church was moved off the present site to the vacant grounds north, and was used as a place of worship until the new church was completed. In commenting upon the new edifice the DEMOCRAT said: "The new church will be of brick, with two towers, one of which will support a spire 180 feet high."
POLITICAL MATTERS.
The supervisors elected in the several towns in the county in February, 1871, were as follows: Cincinnatus, Henry M. Kingman, Dem., Cortland, S. E. Welch, Rep.; Cuyler, Alexander Dunce, Rep.; Freetown, Clifton W. Wiles, Dem., 2 majority; Harford, Wilbur J. Baker, Dem., 1 majority; Homer, Vernon T. Stone, Rep.; Marathon, Wm. A. Bentley, Rep., 50 majority; Lapeer, Royal Johnson, Rep.; Preble, M. Van Hoesen; Scott, Cyrus S. Kellogg, Rep.; Solon, John Wheeler, Dem.; Taylor, Irv Phelps, Rep.; Truxton, J. C. Nelson, Dem.; Virgil, Roswell M. Price, Dem., 17 majority; Willett, Ogden Burlingame, Rep., 55 majority.
At the McGrawville charter election held March 19, the following officers were chosen: President, Orson A Kinney; trustees, Lucien C. Warner, I. Youngs Carr; assessor, Alvin Rankin; treasurer, D. W. Carr; collector, Edward E. Harvey.
On May 10, A. P. Smith, J. C. Atwater, R. T. Peck and D. E. Whitmore were elected delegates from Cortland county to the Republican state convention.
Ira L. Little was the delegate chosen from this county to the Democratic convention.
Col. Frank Place was president of the Grant and Wilson club of Cortland, and Judge W. H. Shankland was president of the Greeley and Brown club.
The Greeley and Brown club at McGrawville was controlled by Curtis L. Kinney, president, and Daniel S. Lamont, secretary.
At the Republican county convention held September 12, the following ticket was nominated: Member of assembly, Geo. W. Phillips; county treasurer, Alexander S. Waters; justice of sessions, A. W. Ange; coroner, Dr. H. C. Hendricks.
The Liberal Republicans and Democrats united on the following ticket: Member of assembly, W. H. Shankland; treasurer, Peter G. Moore; justice of sessions, R. W. Bourne; coroner, J. C. Nelson.
A Democratic mass meeting was held in Cortland on the afternoon of October 17, the speakers being Hon. Francis Kernan and Gov. John T. Hoffman. The same speakers addressed a meeting at Homer in the evening.
At the election in November Cortland county gave 1,129 majority for Grant.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Cortland fire department: Chief engineer, John D. Benton; first assistant, W. W. Gale; second assistant, H. R. Rouse; secretary, I. H. Palmer; treasurer, L. D. Garrison.
First National bank, elected Jan. 9: President, Thomas Keator; vice-president, Hiram Crandall; directors, Thomas Keator, Hiram Crandall, Samuel Keator, O. F. Forbes, M. Van Hoesen, D. C. Squires, E. C. Carley, Rob't Purvis, Arthur Holmes, J. H. Holmes, R. B. Smith, C. D. Hart, Ransom Warren.
Elon Encampment, No. 59, I. O. O. F., June 16: C. P., J. T. Hart; H. P., D. Sanders; S. W., I. N. Hicks; scribe, O. U. Kellogg; treasurer, Isaac Miller; J. W., C. H. Gillett.
BRIEF MENTIONS.
E. P. Slafter, at that time a well known business man of Cortland, was in February chosen president of the Cortland County Sunday school association.
The Central New York M. E. conference was held in Cortland in 1872, the following local appointment being made: Cortland, A. Roe; McGrawville, G. C. Wood; Virgil, S. A. Luce.
Peter Hitchcock, who was sentenced in July, 1869, to three years in Auburn state prison, as was stated in the yearly events of 1869, was released in March, 1872, on account of good behavior.
Gen. Judson Kilpatrick, who at that time acquired national fame as a lecturer, had a thrilling experience on Thursday, January 21. He was advertised to speak in Cortland on the evening of that day, and unfortunately for him a severe blizzard swept over the country at that time. He reached Binghamton about noon, and finding no trains could run on the Syracuse road he hired a team to bring him to this place. He telegraphed ahead for a change of horses at Whitney Point, but when he arrived at the latter place the storm was so severe that the liveryman refused to allow their horses to be taken out. The Binghamton driver hesitated to come any further, but Gen. Kilpatrick cried "On to Cortland!" and at 7:55 he arrived here, beginning his lecture on time at 8 o'clock. The writer well remembers when he drove through Lisle and the many predictions that he would not reach Cortland that day.
April 9 fire destroyed a machine shop and foundry belonging to Hall & Van Bergen, situated just east of the Syracuse & Binghamton railroad depot.
Vesta lodge, No. 255, I. O. O F., celebrated the 53d anniversary of the order April 26, with a parade, dinner, speeches, music, etc.
About May 1 Wesley Hooker, who is still an honored citizen of this village, purchased the Cortland Weekly Journal and the Cortland Standard, designing to consolidate the two offices. This was done shortly afterwards.
That building was carried on to a large extent in 1872 is proven by the following statement of a correspondent for an out-of-town paper of date May 28: "One who has counted says that thirty new houses are in process of construction in Cortland to-day, and more are to be added to the list daily; and to this is to be added the extensive carriage manufacturing shops of Messrs. Fitzgerald & Kinne, and the large three-story brick block of Messrs. Smith & Chamberlain, which are now in progress."
A brakeman named Adelbert Arnold of South Cortland was killed on the Syracuse & Binghamton railroad at Killawog in June, falling from a freight train. His head and one arm were severed from his body.
Cortland had a great celebration on the fourth of July, the then famous Summer corps of Syracuse taking part in the parade. The Cortland fire companies also appeared in new uniforms. The oration was delivered by Chas. E. Fitch of Syracuse.
In July Isaac W. Brown bought the Sackett L. Wright place, corner of Tompkins and Calvert, (now James)-sts., for $4,300.
Marriages took place during 1872 as follows: July 31, Dr. J . H. Hoose to Miss Helen K. Hubbard; Sept. 3, Chas. W. Stoker to Miss S Addie Watrous; Sept. 18, W. J. Mantanye to Miss Emma S. Cloyes.
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| Gov. William S. Taylor. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
What would happen if forty million Boers should declare war on a quarter of a million Englishmen?
As details dribble in from South Africa, the Boer victories in every maneuver and battle are really enlarged though scantily told by English censors.
The action of Taylor, while in the governor's chair in Kentucky in summoning armed men to Frankfort, is rapidly convincing the country that Mr. Goebel was not far from right when he denounced Republican corruption and intimidation at the election.
It is estimated that the ship subsidy bill will grant altogether $18,000,000 to a single line of steamers for ships that are already built. It would be cheaper for the United States to build new ships and to give them away as premiums with every deposit of the national funds.
By its action on the Roberts case, the Republican House of Representatives has gone a long way towards establishing a reputation for recklessness and deliberate disregard of the rights of others. And this despite the fact that it was just as easy to exclude Mr. Roberts by constitutional means.
Dispatches from Paris and Berlin tell of the reception of Dr. Leyds by the French and German ministers, and of his presence at state dinners given by President Loubet and Emperor William. He has also been officially received by Russia, Holland, Belgium, and Portugal. Yet the U. S. State department asserts that no Boer diplomat will be received here, because the Transvaal is not independent and is not qualified to send ministers abroad.
Governor Goebel.
The murderous tactics of Kentucky Republicans to endeavor to seat Taylor as governor culminated Tuesday morning in an attempt to assassinate Goebel which has placed the latter at death's door, if he is not dead when the DEMOCRAT reaches its readers. Taylor and the Republicans have control of the state militia and endeavored with its aid to prevent the legislature from convening, either in the capitol or elsewhere. They were, however, frustrated in this and the report of the contest committee, which on Tuesday night declared Goebel the duly elected governor, was adopted by a majority of the members of the legislature by signature on Wednesday night and the wounded man was propped up in bed and the oath administered, making him governor of Kentucky.
While in the chair as governor, Taylor had brought the state troops to Frankfort and after the shooting he adjourned the legislature to meet next Tuesday at London, Ky., a town in the mountainous Republican district where the life of no Democrat would be safe.
Mr. Goebel, as soon as he was assured that he was legally Governor of Kentucky, took prompt action regarding the military arm of the service. Two orders were quickly prepared for his signature, the first of which discharged Adjutant General Daniel Colfer from office and appointed General J. B. Castleman of Louisville as his successor. The second was directed to the commanders of the militia now stationed in Frankfort, directing them to return to their homes. The latter, up to the time of going to press, had been obeyed by but about three hundred of the troops and the outcome is hard to guess. One thing, however, is certain, the Democrats have maintained the most orderly methods and whatever lawlessness there has been is at the doors of Republicans.
The Way We Look at it Yet.
If the Groton City correspondent will only glance over my article of the 12th, she will quickly convince herself that there was no criticism of Mr. Webster in it.
As her remarks about our possessions leads me to think that she views the matter in the same light as the ''powers that be," with the indulgence of the DEMOCRAT, I would like to ask her and the public a few questions;
Do you think that paying to Spain a sum of money for an island or islands, inhabitants included, after we had with the help of said inhabitants in an open battle defeated them, constitutes a divine right to the islands?
Did not accepting the help of the natives to whip the Spanish constitute them our allies?
Then to the eye of a Christian nation are they to be treated on their own soil like rebels, if they refuse to exchange the yoke of our master for that of another?
There are 990,000 old and disabled soldiers drawing pensions aggregating $140,000,000 who fought that slavery might not exist under our flag, but McKinley has ordered it raised over an island in the east where slavery is enforced and he has promised their owners to protect them.
Have you heard Senator Foraker or any of the Grand Army make a protest about this government sanctioning slavery? Do you remember the howl the above gentleman made a few years ago when Grover Cleveland proposed to return a few bundles of old confederate flags to the South?
The same flag floats over a chief who this government is paying $12,000 a year to support his harem of many wives and yet they have just turned Roberts out of Congress because he had three of a kind. "Consistency thou are a jewel."
If McKinley can only manage now to raise the American flag over a cannibal island he will have three of a kind that would do a poker player good to see. [Unsigned.]
Church Organization at Harford Dissolved.
The Tioga County Herald in its last issue gives the following information in regard to the disbanding of the Congregational society at Harford:
We understand that the few remaining Congregationalists at Harford have decided to give up their church organization, sell their building and unite with the Methodist church of that village. About thirty years ago the Congregationalists there rebuilt their church, and for a number of years maintained a resident minister Later, regular services were conducted there by the pastors of the Richford church, but for some years past no regular services have been held. The change is due to the fact that nearly all the families prominent in the church have moved away or died, leaving no one to carry on the work. At the meeting of the Susquehanna association in this village last spring, the claims of the little church were presented by Miss Moore, and upon request of the Association, Rev. Mr. Clayton of Binghamton, went there later and looked over the situation, but it was decided that there was no use of trying to again build up the church organization.
HERE AND THERE.
We had genuine grip weather last week.
Our exchanges report that the wages of farm hands will be unusually high the coming season.
The early robin fiend will soon get in his work in Cortland, having reached South Oxford.
Our obituary column announces the death of three persons whose combined ages amount to 255 years.
Is there a colder spot on earth during a strong north-wester than the corner by the First Baptist church?
Cortland county will receive this year from the state, public money for the schools to amount of $23,493.85.
If we get one hundred days of sleighing this winter, it is certain that winter will be obliged to linger in the lap of spring.
A. H. Watkins, who removed his dry goods business from Cortland to Homer a year or so ago, will close out April 1.
Cortland will be right in the game next season, as usual. The people of this town like baseball, and they are bound to have it.
Rev. U. S. Milburn, pastor of the Universalist church will speak Sunday evening upon "Capital Punishment: Should it be Abolished."
Simon Stahl, of the Cortland Beef company's works, fell down an elevator shaft last Saturday and was considerably bruised by the fall.
The first shipment of ice from Little York was received by the Cortland Beef company Wednesday, a train of ten car loads arriving on that day.
The Lackawanna railroad is one of the five in the United States that has fully complied with the law requiring the use of automatic couplers on all cars.
The local politicians are uneasy because of the fact that there will be no town meetings this year. Like Othello, their February "occupation is gone."
A regular meeting of the board of managers of the Hospital association will be held at the hospital Monday afternoon next, February fifth, at three o'clock.
The price of horses is advancing, and those who held the idea that horses were a thing of the past have changed their minds. This is partly accounted for by the large purchase of American horses for the British army.
No man on earth is to so great an extent constantly at the mercy of both friends and enemies as the editor of a newspaper. He must get much of the information concerning transpiring events second or third handed, or not at all.
The large sale of extra DEMOCRATS during the past four weeks is a sure sign that this paper is exceedingly popular, and that the people know a good thing when they see it. New yearly subscribers are also coming this way at a rapid rate.
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