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| Samuel Jones Tilden. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 2, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1876.
A CAREFULLY COMPILED RECORD OF INTERESTING EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Exciting Political Campaign—The Presidential Strife Decided by an 8 to 7 Commission—Centennial Tea Party an Event of Much Interest—Verdict of $1,900 Against the Gas Co.—Election Echoes—Officers Chosen—Lengthy Epitome of Interesting Events.
(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.)
As the years pass by in our series of historical events we approach that stage of action which brings to view some of the people who are still prominent in local affairs, and this history will become more and more familiar with each succeeding issue.
The year 1876 was one of the most exciting politically that was ever experienced in this country. The Republican candidate for president was Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Democratic candidate was Samuel J. Tilden, who had acquired much fame as a reformer while governor of New York. On the night of election the returns indicated the choice of Mr. Tilden without a doubt, and Democrats celebrated all over the union. Zack Chandler was chairman of the Republican national committee, and by his orders the Republicans the following day claimed the election of Mr. Hayes. Chandler's scheme was to secure two or three electoral votes in Florida and Louisiana, and for a time it appeared as if blood would be shed over the contest. Wiser counsels prevailed, and finally a commission of fifteen prominent senators, congressmen and judges was chosen to decide who should be president. While the Democrats universally claimed that Mr. Tilden was lawfully elected, and many Republicans honestly believed likewise, the commission decided by a vote of 8 to 7 that Mr. Hayes was entitled to the office.
CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER.
At a term of supreme court held in April, 1876, Alonzo D. Potter, who had been indicted for shooting his brother Samuel C. Potter in Truxton the October previous, was brought to trial. The case had aroused considerable interest, not only in Truxton, but throughout the county. District Attorney B. T. Wright, assisted by C. M. Case, conducted the prosecution, and Potter was defended by W. H. Warren and H. C. Miner. After a lengthy trial the jury, after being out thirteen hours, brought in a verdict of manslaughter in the third degree. Potter was given a sentence of four years in Auburn prison.
CENTENNIAL TEA PARTY.
Probably many present residents of Cortland remember the Centennial tea party, a prominent social event participated in by hundreds of the village people, held in Taylor hall April 5 and 6. A most prominent feature of the affair was the representation of the thirteen original states in booths, and many of the matrons and assistants are still well known in Cortland.
The matrons in charge of the Connecticut and Rhode Island booth were Mrs. C. P. Walrad, Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. F. Gould, with Mrs. F. A. Hamilton, Mrs. S. Keator and Mrs. A. M. Knapp as assistants.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, matrons Mrs. D. Sanders, Miss Martha Roe, Miss. V. Stephens; assistants Mr. and Mrs. Fitz Boynton, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Hulbert, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hall.
New York, matron Mrs. H. P. Goodrich.
New Jersey, matrons Mrs. A. D. Blodgett, Mrs. H. F. Benton, Mrs. J. D. Beach; assistants Jennie Benton, Nellie Beach and Kittie Edwards.
Pennsylvania, matrons Mrs. H. Givens and Mrs. Wm. Brown.
Virginia, matrons Mrs. C. W. Carter, and Mrs. I. N. Perry; assistants J. Hopkins as Pocahontus, and Eugene Smith as an Indian chief.
North Carolina, matrons Mrs. B. A. Benedict and Mrs. Mary Stilson.
South Carolina, matrons Mrs. George Folger and Miss U. Ives.
Georgia, matrons Mrs. L. D. Garrison, Mrs. A. F. Tanner and Mrs. Geo. Arnold.
Delaware was represented by Mrs. F. Smith and Mrs. R. A. Randall.
Some of the characters represented at the ball were as follows George Washington, Dr, H. T. Dana; Martha Washington, Mrs. W. P. Randall; Mrs. Bingham, Mrs. Wm. H. Twiss; Lady Sterling, Miss M. F. Hendrick; Mrs. Alex. Hamilton, Mrs. J. E. Eggleston; Gen. Clinton, J. A. Graham; Gen. Lincoln, J. E. Eggleston; Mr. Sherman, C. P. Walrad; Fisher Ames, C. W. Collins; Baron Steuben, Prof. J. M. Milne. The net receipts were $450, which were used towards the purchase of a new library for the Presbyterian Sunday school.
HEAVY VERDICT.
At the October term of supreme court a suit was tried between Geo. Maybury, plaintiff, and the Cortland & Homer Gas Light Co., defendant. The company had caused a ditch to be dug in Greenbush-st., and stretched a rope across the street as a warning. The plaintiff resided at Solon, and in driving along the street collided with the rope, and was thrown from the wagon to the ground. He secured a verdict against the company of $1,900.
KILLED IN AN ALTERCATION.
One evening In May Wm. Costello of Cortland went to Blodgett Mills with several friends to see Wm. McDugan, who was injured the night before. They went down on a hand car, and on their return stopped near what was known as the Sand Bank House. They became engaged in an altercation in which Costello was pounded over the head by Robert J. Morris, receiving injuries from which he died next morning.
POLITICAL MATTERS.
The Democrats of Cortland county did nobly at the town meetings in February, electing nine supervisors in fifteen. Scott, that stronghold of Republicanism went Democratic by 73 majority, and even Taylor elected the entire Democratic ticket. The supervisors elect, with the majorities in nearly every town, were as follows: Cincinnatus, F. M. Benjamin, Dem., 70; Cortlandville, Delos McGraw, Rep., 242; Cuyler, Henry D. Waters, Rep., Freetown, Wm. H. Caldwell, Dem., 11; Harford, Samuel H. Steele, Rep., 16; Homer, S. McC. Barber, Rep., 215; Lapeer, Wm. E. Hunt. Dem, 8; Marathon, E. Clark Carley, Rep., 85; Preble, Anderson Francisco, Dem., 8; Scott, John B. Cottrell, Dem., 73; Solon, Harvey J. Stone, Dem., 41; Taylor, C. L. Cotton, Dem., 44; Truxton, Dr. J. C. Nelson, Dem., 9; Virgil, R. M. Price, Dem., 69; Willet, Ogden Burlingame, Rep.
Cortland charter election: President, Jas. C. Carmichael; trustees, L. J. Fitzgerald, Emmett A. Fish; assessor, Moses Rowley; treasurer, Fitz Boynton; collector, Byron D. Bentley.
Homer charter election: Trustees, A. Hobart. J. H. Van Hoesen, John J. Murray, Newell Jones, D. B. Corey; clerk, J. C. Atwater; treasurer, S. McC. Barber [sic].
A Tilden and Hendricks club was organized in Cortland with the following officers: President, H. J. Messenger ; vice presidents, W. H. Shankland, Hugh Duffey, I. H. Palmer, E. M. Hulbert, G. H. Arnold, Jonathan Hubbard, Geo. L. Warren, Hugh McKevitt, Daniel Van Hoesen, George Miller, J. B. Lamont, D. F. Wallace, B. B. Morehouse; secretary, S. S. Knox; treasurer, J. C. Putman; executive committee, Wm. H. Warren B. B. Jones, Riley Champlin, Otis Smith, James M. Smith, J. R. Hathaway.
Republican county ticket: Member of assembly, Delos McGraw; sheriff H. G. Borthwick, nominated on the twelfth ballot; county clerk, W. S. Maycumber, nominated on tenth ballot; district attorney, B. A. Benedict; superintendent of poor, Silas Blanchard.
Prohibition ticket: Member of assembly, Dr. H. A. Bolles; sheriff, David R. Price; county clerk, R. B. Fletcher; district attorney, W. P. Robinson.
Democratic county ticket: Member of assembly, John H. Hicok; sheriff, James M. Smith; county clerk, B. B. Jones; district attorney, I. H. Palmer; justice of sessions, Wm. E. Hunt; coroner, Dr. H. T. Dana.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
National Bank: President, Jas. S. Squires; vice-president, Geo. L. Cole; cashier, B. B. Woodworth.
Homer fire department: Chief, S. McC. Barber; assistant chief, J. C. Atwater; secretary, J. J. Arnold; treasurer, G. W. Cottrell.
Cortland Horse Nail Manufacturing Co.: President, Chauncey Keator; treasurer, Wm. Newkirk; treasurer and superintendent, Hugh Duffy.
First National Bank: President Thos. Keator; vice-president, E. Keator; cashier, Fitz Boynton.
Cortland commandery, No. 50, K. T., April 28: Commander, W. H. Crane; generalissimo, A. Fisher; captain general, Geo. L. Warren; probate, H. T. Dana; senior warden, R. E. Hill; junior warden, M. A. Brewer; treasurer, Jonathan Hubbard; recorder, H. R. Rouse.
Elon encampment, I. O. O. F: C. P., C. E. Ingalls; H. P., M. S. Bierce; S. W. Isaac Miller; scribe, F. G. Kinney; treasurer, D. Sanders: J. W., J. E. Peckham.
Water Witch hose company, December 4: President, J. R. Hathaway; foreman, W. H. Crane; assistant, E. M. Keator; secretary, Sackett L. Wright; treasurer, Otis C. Smith; pipeman, Thomas Mulligan; assistant, A. D. Wallace.
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Co.: Foreman, I. N. Perry; first assistant, Geo. A. Grossman; second assistant, John H. Phelps; secretary, Frank Bosworth; treasurer, W. P. Robinson; property clerk, J. P. Loucks.
MARRIAGES.
February 8, M. Stanley Bierce and Miss Kittie M. Stinson, both of Cortland; February 8, Ernest M. Hulbert and Miss Etta A. Hulbert, both of Cortland; February 10, Frank J. Collier and Miss Lydia Van Buskirk, both of Preble.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
It was in 1876 that Virgil held a centennial celebration on the 4th of July. Probably that town never has had so great a crowd within its borders at any one time as was assembled on that day. The program in brief was as follows: Prayer, Nathan Bouton; reading Declaration of Independence, Dr. F. Hyde of Cortland; oration, Hon. M. Frank of Washington, D. C.; toasts were responded to by the following gentlemen: A. P. Smith, E. P. Slafter. Horace L. Bronson, Wm. H. Clark, Lewis Bouton and Jas. S. Squires.
LEGAL FIGHT OVER DRIVEN WELLS.
Probably many of the present day remember the excitement aroused by the claim of Wm. D. Andrews & Bro. of New York for royalty on all driven wells. So strong was the feeling in Cortland that a public meeting was held over which Horatio Ballard presided as chairman, and H. F. Benton served as secretary. A large number of citizens agreed to pay $5 each to contest the claim, and the following committee was appointed to attend to the matter: H. F. Benton, S. E. Welch, C. W. Collins, H. F. Shirley, C. W. Kinne, B. B. Jones, J. M. Smith, C. P. Walrad, Delos Bauder, Dr. Hyde and Madison Woodruff. Over one hundred signed the agreement.
BRIEF MENTIONS.
Early in January C. F. Wickwire took out letters patent for an improved corn popper.
On the 9th of January a very heavy rain caused a flood, which carried away a dam and bulkhead at John Luce's mill in Virgil.
At a general term of supreme court in Albany the following attorneys were admitted to the bar: Wm. D. Tuttle, John W. Suggett, W. P. Robinson and Rufus T. Peck.
W. N. Brockway began the manufacture of wagons in Homer in February.
The Cortland Soldiers' Monumental association was organized in 1876, and an effort was made to raise $5,000 for a monument.
Clayton E. Rowley was conductor on the U., I. & E. railroad.
At the February town meetings the following towns voted for [liquor] license, the figures denoting the majority. Cortland was nearly a tie, while Homer went strong for license: Cortlandville 12, Cincinnatus, Marathon 71, Preble 60, Homer 112, Solon, Scott 38, Truxton 21, Virgil and Willet.
In March bonds to raise money to pay for the new county clerk's office were sold to the Cortland savings bank at 2 1/2 per cent premium.
Wickwire Bros. disposed of their hardware business in March to Col. Frank Place and H. M. Kellogg.
A special meeting of the board of supervisors was held March 1 to make an effort to change the location of the clerk's office, but the vote was 9 to 5 in favor of the present location [Main Street, Cortland—CC Editor].
E. F. Jennings formed a co-partnership with A. Sager early in the year.
In April Hon. O. U. Kellogg sold the Sherman farm north of the county house to Thomas Keator. He shortly afterwards exchanged a farm west of the village for the Risley farm, which he now occupies.
Lewis G. Viele took the contract to build the new clerk's office for $15,000.
In May the village bought a third class [Shelby] rotary steamer for about $5,000. It was first tested May 22 of that year.
May 6, Mrs. Wm. Borden of Preble was burned to death, her clothing taking fire while she was making soap.
The gauge on the D., L. & W. railroad was changed from six feet to four feet eight inches on the 27th of May.
Centennial exercises at the Normal school were held June 2, and the event drew an immense crowd. During the day a tree was transplanted, under the roots of which was placed a box containing the local newspapers, a photograph of Dr. J. H. House, names of the faculty, names of local board, list of students, and a copy of the program of the day.
A large number of Cortland people attended the centennial exposition at Philadelphia during the summer.
Alex. Mahan held his second musical convention early in June.
Dr. J. M. Milne and Dr. S. J. Sornberger resigned as teachers in the Cortland Normal school.
A young man named Henry Howe of McLean was fatally injured on July 4 by the explosion of a cannon.
Anthony Nix of Truxton was killed at Preble July 5 while attempting to board a moving coal train.
W. K. Niver was appointed superintendent of the Syracuse & Binghamton railroad in July.
The organ in the First Baptist church was built in October, 1876.
On October 3, Frank H. Cobb and Miss Florence A. Walworth were married by Rev. W. M. Kincaid.
Early on the morning of December 2 a barn belonging to C. Van Alstine, located on North Church-st., was burned.
M. Van Hoesen was elected chairman of the board of supervisors in November, and R. W. Bourne clerk.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The ticket at the head of this column was nominated on an implied platform of progress in municipal affairs.
With a city charter Cortland will continue to progress. Without it, paving, etc., must stop and needed sewers may not be laid.
From President Holden to Mayor Holden is but a step; the signature of Gov. Roosevelt to the city charter bill will make the transformation.
The division of the house last Saturday evening at the mass meeting was very unequal. Five to one is hardly giving the opposition a fair show.
To progress or not, that's the question. A vote for the ticket at the head of this column is a vote to put Cortland in her proper class—with the cities of the state.
Figures will sometimes lie, but the aggregation furnished by Hon. D. W. Van Hoesen at the mass meeting Saturday evening were so truthful as to stagger the little circle of city charter opponents at the right of the stage.
As village president, Samuel N. Holden has been tried and has not been found wanting. Whether he is president or mayor after the middle of March, he will devote the same attention to the welfare of the village that he has during the past year.
Vernon Skeele, the Democratic candidate for trustee in the Fourth ward, is a gentleman who will carefully guard the interests of his constituents. He is a business man, and as such will bring business methods into the duties which will devolve upon him as trustee or alderman.
The DEMOCRAT aims to be fair to friend and foe alike, but candor compels us to say that in all the flow of oratory [concern over loss of liquor prohibition by referendum—CC Ed.] against the city charter bill Saturday evening, not a single argument was advanced, not even by the astute attorneys nor the versatile clergyman, against its passage. They almost wanted a city charter, but were anxious that it should come just a little later. "Why this haste?" was their only slogan.
At the two meetings held by the opponents of the city charter previous to Saturday evening, the only objection raised was that no local option privilege [liquor referendum] was allowed. At the Opera House meeting that issue was dropped entirely, not the slightest reference being made to local option by any speaker on the opposition side of the question. This change of front would indicate that sincerity is at a discount with the antis.
The Village Ticket.
The ticket placed at the head of this page is not strictly a Democratic ticket; it might more properly be called a city charter ticket, but the candidates were placed in nomination by the delegates regularly elected at the Democratic ward caucuses and therefore will receive the hearty support of this paper. As a rule the DEMOCRAT is opposed to fusion by the Democratic party with any faction of the Republican party or with the regular organization; but the situation in Cortland just at the present time seems to warrant the abandonment of party issues for the welfare of what will soon be the City of Cortland.
At the Citizens convention held in Fireman's hall on the evening of February 20. a ticket was placed in nomination, and every candidate on the ticket is an opponent of the city charter. They were nominated with the express understanding that they would oppose all progress in municipal government, if perchance they should be elected.
While there was apparently no possible chance for the election of the citizen's ticket, the people who are in favor of the city charter believed that with a division of the advocates of that measure there might be danger of the election of officers who would, by virtue of the change in government which is one of the certainties, be elevated to the greater responsibilities arising from such change
The leaders of both parties came to an amicable agreement upon a ticket and the regularly elected delegates to both the Democratic and Republican conventions nominated one and the same ticket without a dissenting voice.
Under these circumstances we heartily endorse the ticket, which will be elected March 13th without a shadow of doubt, unless the city charier bill becomes a law previous to that time, in which event there will be no election of officers, as the bill is to take effect immediately upon its passage.
[Republican] Samuel N. Holden, the candidate for president, has served the people of Cortland in that capacity during the past year, and no man in that position has more carefully guarded the interests of the village than Mr. Holden. He is a careful business man and he brings the same principles into play as an official that he does in his own affairs.
Edwin M. Yager, the candidate for trustee in the Second ward, is a Republican and is well qualified to succeed Mr. White, who moves out of the village.
The candidate for trustee in the Fourth ward is Vernon P. Steele, a Democrat and for many years a trusted employee of the Cortland Wagon Company and a gentleman fully competent to serve his ward as trustee or alderman.
Edward H. Richards, the candidate for treasurer, is a young man who holds a responsible position in the Second National Bank, and is personally very popular.
Eugene W. Bates is the nominee for assessor and he understands the value of real estate as well as any man in Cortland.
For collector the two conventions united upon Thomas Fitzgerald, a most worthy gentleman who was for many years day watchman for the Cortland Wagon Company. He was also at one time clerk in the Buffalo post-office under the administration of President Pierce. The emoluments of the office will be of great assistance to him, and that he will perform the duties of the office satisfactory is an assured fact.
Of the candidates for school commissioners, Charles F. Brown and N. Jay Peck have been tried and have not been found wanting The people demanded their re-nomination, which of course insures their re-election. The Democratic representative for school commissioner on the ticket is Frank P. Hakes, a gentleman who takes an interest in all affairs which tend to benefit the village or schools and his selection is a most wise one.
HERE AND THERE.
When physicians are at a loss for a name to give to the cause of a person's death, they say he died from a complication of diseases.
In a neighboring town a Salvation Army advertiser wrote on a billboard, "What shall I do to be saved?" A patent medicine man came along the next day and wrote underneath "Take Carter's Little Liver Pills." Shortly afterwards the Salvation Army man noticed sacrilegious work of the medicine man and printed below, "And prepare to meet thy God.''
Muldoon's Picnic at the Opera House next Tuesday, March 6.
The annual Cortland county fair will be held August 28, 29, 30 and 31.
The Oswego and Cortland Y. M. C. A. basket ball teams will play a return game in the local gymnasium [Standard building—CC Ed.] this evening.
The members of Cortlandville grange are invited to visit MeGrawville grange tomorrow evening, and will leave Cortland on the street car at 7:10 o'clock.
Messrs Palmer & Co. have bought the stock of goods of the estate of the late H. E Andrews, at No. 117 Elm-st., and have placed Edward Doud in charge of the store at the same location.
Nearly the whole of the long wooden awning in front of the Wickwire building on the north side of Railroad-st. collapsed late yesterday afternoon from the weight of the heavy body of snow.
The worst storm of the winter, if not for several years, passed over Cortland Wednesday night, snow falling to the depth of about sixteen inches. This was followed by several hours' rain, and the result was travel well nigh impossible, either by team or by trolley car.
On account of the space necessary to give a full report of the Truck murder trial and of the discussion of the city charter bill, besides many other important news items, we are obliged to omit our usual foreign news and to somewhat abridge our correspondence. It is seldom that such a rush of important matter comes in one issue.
The next quarterly convention of the Cortland County W. C. T. U. will be held in the M. E. church at Homer on Tuesday next. The program is a very interesting one and covers every branch of the work of that organization.
Chas. H. Price, who has for many years conducted the grocery on the corner of Main-st. and Lincoln ave,, has sold the stock and good will to C. B. Smith, who takes possession at once, Mr. Price remaining with him for a time, at least. Mr. Smith is a thorough business man and a pleasant gentleman to meet, and we predict he will keep the "corner grocery" up to its popular standard.
The storm which moved down on Cortland last Sunday, and raised high jinks soon after it got here, was entitled to the dignity of a blizzard. It was not intensely cold, but it was the wind that bothered the people who went out of doors. It was a difficult matter to keep an even keel for those who were on the street Sunday evening. The wind would buff you this way and that way and then the other way until you were twisted around so that you found yourself going in almost any direction but the one you wanted to go. Pedestrians who tried to cross Church-st. at Railroad had to tack across from port to larboard and then "luff" in under the breeze. It was simply impossible to make headway in the face of the gale.
Announcement.
Owing to a greater demand for all lines of furniture we have decided to close our shoe department and devote our attention to furniture and undertaking. Our entire stock of boots, shoes and rubber goods will be sold for cash, beginning Saturday, March 3. This is not simply a clearance sale of old goods; our stock is new, complete in styles and sizes, and of strictly superior quality. We must have the money at once, so all these goods will be sold at a sacrifice. During this sale we shall reduce prices on all kinds of furniture, thus making cut bargains a twofold advantage to purchasers.
McEVOY BROTHERS, 101 Main St., Cortland, N. Y.
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