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| William H. Clark. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 11, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1886.
INTERESTING LOCAL EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Suicide at the Messenger House—An Intensely Cold Spell in January—Great Fourth of July Celebration—Political Pointers—Marriages—Local News in Brief.
Except for good natured political contests at village and state elections, nothing occurred in Cortland during the year 1886 to create any great excitement. The people of the village were on their good behavior from January to December, and they have continued to grow in grace up to the present time, their conduct meeting the approbation of the state legislature to such an extent that they were presented a city charter during this year of our Lord 1900. For several years previous to 1886 politics had played but little part at village elections, but at the instigation of Wm. H. Clark of the Standard, whose political influence was 99 per cent greater than it is at the present time, a straight Republican ticket was nominated as follows: President, A. Mahan; trustees, Frank H. Cobb and Wm. H. Newton; assessor, Beman S. Conger; collector, B. D. Bentley; treasurer, Fitz Boynton; school commissioners, Wm. D. Tuttle, L. D. C. Hopkins and Chas. E. Selover. This action forced the Democrats to nominate a ticket which they did as follows: President, Gershom W. Bradford; trustees, Arthur B. Nelson and Harvey H. Greenman; assessor, Samuel Freeman; collector, S. H. Elwell. The Democrats endorsed the nominees for school commissioners of the Prohibition party, whose full ticket was as follows: President, Caleb B. Hitchcock; trustees, Emmett A. Fish and John A. White; assessor, J. D. Keeler; collector, Benj. Burchard; treasurer, C. W. Collins; school commissioners, Emmett A. Fish, Dr. E. B. Nash and Randolph Beard. "Gersh" Bradford was as popular in those days as he is at the present time, and although the Republican majority was in the hundreds in Cortland, "Gersh" squeezed through by the narrow majority of three, the Prohibitionists casting 255 votes for Caleb B. Hitchcock. With the exception of president, the Republicans elected their ticket.
At the February town meetings the Democrats "came within one" of capturing the board of supervisors, electing seven out of fifteen. One has but to glance over the personal of the board of 1886 to realize what a change fourteen short years makes in the lives of men. At that time Hubert T. Bushnell, the supervisor from Harford, conducted a store in that town, which he had bought about the first of February of Samuel N. Holden, and now he is clerk of Cortland county. Mr. Holden, who then resided in Harford, enjoys the honor of being the first mayor of the city of Cortland. A. S. Brown came as the representative from the hills of Solon, and this same genial A. S. Brown holds the honorable position of postmaster at Cortland. Truly some men are great, and others have greatness thrust upon them. Taylor was represented by Dr. Jerome Angel, a sterling Democrat who afterwards moved to Cortland, where he died in the fall of 1896. From Cuyler came Hon. B. F. Lee, a most capable gentleman whose only failing was a strong taint of Republicanism, which clings to him still.
Dr. H. T. Dana was the Democratic candidate for supervisor in this town, but the Republican majority was too strong to overcome, Delos McGraw being the successful candidate. Strange as it may seem at the present day, Fred W. Kingsbury was the Prohibition nominee for supervisor, and he received 221 votes.
Dr. Angel's opponent in Taylor was Oscar P. Miner, who now lives in Cortland, Angel receiving 110 votes to 115 for Miner.
As the general election approached the three parties lined up as follows:
Republican ticket—Member of assembly, W. D. Tisdale, who was nominated on the thirteenth ballot, receiving 48 votes to 20 for C. A. Brooks and 16 for H. P. Andrews; justice of sessions, Frank E. Price.
Democratic ticket—Member of assembly, W. W. Salisbury; justice of sessions, Rosma Blodgett.
Prohibition ticket—Member of assembly, Caleb B. Hitchcock; member of congress, Dr. Jerome Angel.
NOTES FOR THE FIREMEN.
The firemen of Cortland have always borne an honorable record, and in our quarter century of historical events we have endeavored to do them justice by recording all firemanic matters in brief. The department officers for 1886 were as follows: Chief, R. A. Smith; first assistant, C. S. Strowbridge; second assistant, R. D. Woodford; secretary, A. M. Delevan; treasurer, A. Sager. Mr. Sager was evidently very popular with the b'hoys [sic], as for many years he held the office of treasurer or some other responsible position.
The foreman of Emerald Hose company was James A. Dowd; of Excelsior Hook & Ladder company, Thomas Button; of Orris Hose company, A. R. Peck.
Dr. S. J. Sornberger was captain of the Protective Police, and Webster Young lieutenant.
The contract for building the Emerald Hose company block was let to Messrs. Dalton & Deverease in the spring, and on the 13th of August the block was dedicated.
A series of three hose races was arranged between the Emeralds and the J. D. Serviss Co. of Amsterdam for the championship of New York state. The first race came off in Cortland August 29 and was won by the Emeralds in 411 seconds; the second was run at Amsterdam, the J. D. Serviss Co. winning.
MARRIAGES.
Of the marriages recorded in the local press in 1886 we reproduce the following: February 24, by Rev. J. L. Robertson, Chas. E. Van Brocklin and Miss Anne Dana. March 17, at McGrawville, by Rev. W. D. Fox, Fred H. Maricle and Miss Carrie E. Totman. September 7, by Rev. John Arthur, Edward Alley and Miss Elizabeth Newkirk. October 20, by Rev. W. H. Annable, Jay Peck and Miss Hattie E. Pendleton, both of Cortland. December 8, at Minneapolis, Minn., Jas. A. Jayne of Cortland and Miss Lillian J. Clark of Minneapolis.
CATHOLIC FAIR.
The Catholic society held a very successful fair in the Mammoth [roller skating] rink June 1 to June 5, the receipts amounting to about $3,000. Miss Jennie Sheridan and Miss Annie Hayes contested for a diamond ring, Miss Sheridan raising $330, and Miss Hayes $165.75. Other prizes were awarded as follows: Cutter, M. D. Woodford; gold bracelet, Miss Kittie McDonald; bonnet, Miss Mary Ryan; gent's silk hat, Edwin Duffey; hose nozzle, Water Witch Engine company; silk umbrella, James Dowd.
NEWS BRIEFLY TOLD.
The officers of the Congregational Sunday school for that year were: Superintendent, A. E. Buck; assistants, Frank Place and Mrs. B. T. Wright; secretary, C. E. Thompson; treasurer, J. E Briggs; librarian, F. J. Doubleday. Nearly all these officers are still connected with the same school, but serving in different capacity.
With the beginning of the year Sheriff G. S. Van Hoesen assumed the duties of his office, appointing John Miller undersheriff, with William Shirley of Homer and Adam Hilsinger of Marathon deputy sheriffs; Wm. H. Morgan also became county clerk January 1, his deputy being R. W. Bourne.
Early in January C. F. Wickwire sold his trotting mare ''Winnie Wick" to a Boston gentleman for $2,000.
On the evening of the 5th of January an organization was perfected, known as the Cortland Temperance Union, with the following officers: President, Dr. E. B. Nash; vice presidents, L. S. Hayes, H. F. Benton, Harrison Wells, A. W. Gates, C. B. Hitchcock, A. Cane, Dr. F. D. Reese, C. W. Collins, W. B. Stoppard, A. L. Cole; secretary, H. M. Kellogg; treasurer, J. D. Keeler.
Along about the middle of January, 1886, central New York was visited by an unusually cold spell of weather, the thermometer running down as low as 22 below in Cortland, 38 below at Cazenovia. and 44 below at Eaton, Madison county,
James Dowd and A. J. McSweeney opened a grocery store at 7 Port Watson-st. in January.
During the month of January S. D. Freer bought of Howard & Co. the grocery store near the D., L. & W. depot.
On the 18th of January an exciting foot race took place in North Main-st. for a purse of $10, between Fred Hilligus and Will. Riley. The distance was 100 yards, and the race was won by Hilligus.
On the first of April, A. M. Perry of Cincinnatus leased the Dexter House in Cortland for a period of five years.
Cortland people rejoiced over the reduction in the price of gas to $2.50 a thousand on the first of February.
C. E. Van Brocklin, who now holds the responsible position of bank examiner, purchased a half interest in the hat, cap and gents' furnishing business of H. H. Pudney & Co. in February.
Charles Stoker sold his interest in the Cortland Box Loop Co. to David H. Brown in March.
On the 3rd of March Miss Grace Stevenson was run down by a horse at the corner of Main-st. and Groton-ave. and seriously hurt.
T. H. Wickwire was president of the county agricultural society in 1886.
On the 4th of March Hugh Duffey, the retiring president of Cortland village, gave a banquet to the trustees and a few other friends at B. F. Taylor's hotel.
A serious accident occurred April 9 at the foundry of Cooper Bros., when a flask containing about a ton of sand fell upon Frank Crandall. He was badly injured, but survived.
The large brick building on the east side of the railroad track, now owned by the Wallace Wallpaper company, was erected in 1886 by the Hitchcock Manufacturing company.
During the summer of 1886 A. H. Schwarz was appointed superintendent of the S. & B. division of the D., L & W. railroad, a position he has since filled continuously.
On the 25th of May two lads named Willie and Fred Dillon boarded the fast train going north on the D., L. & W. road, and when the Homer-ave. crossing was reached they jumped off unceremoniously, both being seriously injured.
A gentleman named Arnold Allen, who resided about a mile west of Cortland on the McLean road, was gored by a bull and fatally injured on the 2nd of June.
The fine iron bridge which now spans the Tioughnioga river at Port Watson-st. was built in 1886.
Cortland had a great celebration on the 4th of July, the program consisting of a parade in the forenoon, an oration at 1 o'clock by Hon. Jas. E Morrison of New York, a fusilier parade in the afternoon, and a display of fireworks in the evening, the latter being witnessed by at least 8,000 people
On the night of July 4 the Arnold House caught fire and was considerably damaged by the water thrown by the fire companies. The loss was adjusted at $1,526.
The present Beaudry block was erected in 1886.
A large barn owned by P. H. McGraw, located at Polkville, was destroyed by fire July 16, together with 98 loads of new hay and $400 worth of old [hay], and many farming implements.
The Monitor, a Prohibition newspaper, was started in August, with Rev. Wm. Reddy as editor.
The building of the Franklin Hatch library block was begun in the fall by W. B. Stephenson, who was under contract to finish it by February 1.
The veteran Isaac Finn began running a cab in July of that year and has continued it ever since.
Dan Reilly and Chas. Vogel opened the market in the Emerald building, still conducted by Mr. Reilly.
A young man named Fred Otis, residing near homer, was killed at the D., L. & W. depot August 20 by falling from a car and being run over.
Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald, whose election to the state treasurership for three years was mentioned last week, entertained friends to the number of 362 at his handsome residence in Tompkins-st. on the evening of September 2.
A special election was held September 18 to vote upon an appropriation of $1,500 to be expended in widening North Main-st., north of the hospital corner. The appropriation was carried by the vote of 244 to 198.
On the first of October James Freeman, who lived on the corner of Railroad and Greenbush-sts., died at the age of 85 years. Two days later Mrs. Freeman died at the same age, and at the funeral two hearses, side by side, led the procession to the cemetery. They were members of the M. E. church, and were highly esteemed by the entire community.
John B. Dunham of Ithaca committed suicide at the Messenger House in Cortland on the night of October 14, by shooting himself. He was a traveling man and the cause of his taking his life was a mystery.
Brayton's mill in Clinton-ave was entered by burglars on the night of October 24 and $50 in money taken.
During the fall a disagreement arose between the village and the water company, with the result that all hydrants were locked by the company to prevent the firemen from attaching hose in case of fire. A public meeting was held on the evening of November 28 to consider the question, and a committee was appointed to solve the differences.
The board of supervisors organized in November with S. M. Byram chairman, and James Dougherty clerk.
During the erection of the Beaudry block Daniel D. Topping, a carpenter, fell from the second story and received injuries from which he died within three hours.
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| Ayuntamiento de Manila. |
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| Maj. Gen. Arthur MacArthur. |
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| Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis. |
Change of Command.
General Otis arrived at the Ayuntamiento in Manila at his customary hour Saturday and afterward formally transferred his command to General MacArthur.
In the afternoon accompanied by General MacArthur and his aides, he started for the transport Meade. General Otis was escorted by his old regiment, the Twentieth, and a battalion of the Fourteenth, the bands playing "Auld Lang Syne." When the General passed Fort Santiago the land battery fired a salute and then the war vessels took it up and paid their respects to the departing commander.
Marinduque island, off the south coast of Luzon, has been quietly occupied by American troops. The insurgents had evidently intended to make a fight, as a number of trenches were discovered. The main portion of the population fled to the interior, 10 miles from the capital.
The insurgent governor appeared on the scene and opened a correspondence with Colonel Hardin of the Twenty-ninth volunteer infantry. The result was that the governor surrendered four towns, and Major Case with two companies of the Twenty-ninth marched 25 miles cross country to receive the surrender.
The island of Santa Cruz, off the north coast of Luzon, has practically not been affected by the insurrection.
Presidente Alcala of Luzon has been tried by the military commission on a charge of conspiracy with guerrillas. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years' imprisonment at hard labor and to pay a fine of $2,000.
INGERSOLL IN ITHACA, N. Y.
The Defaulting Treasurer Greeted by a Crowd.
Charles Ingersoll, the Tompkins county defaulting treasurer, who jumped his bail on April 9 and escaped to San Francisco, where he was recaptured a few days ago, was brought to Ithaca Saturday by detectives. He was immediately lodged in jail, and the date for his trial set for Tuesday of this week. The court did not grant bail and Ingersoll was obliged to rest in jail as a common criminal. He refused to see any one.
Ingersoll was conducted across the continent by Detectives M. J. Conway and J. F. Fenwick. Clarence Wyckoff, Ingersoll's bondsman, has made every effort to catch Ingersoll, and the story which was told of Ingersoll's departure from Baltimore and his capture in London is believed to have been a clever trick to deceive Ingersoll's friends here and elsewhere.
There was a crowd at the depot when the detectives arrived with Ingersoll. They made no attempt to conceal him. He was driven at once to the county jail. Sheriff Seaman visited him in his cell and later stated that he positively refused to see anyone. The sheriff stated, however, that Ingersoll realized what was to come and was prepared for the worst.
Detective Fenwick stated that on the trip across the country Ingersoll made the officers no trouble whatever, but was very willing to return. "Ingersoll was disconsolate," said Mr. Fenwick, "and we did everything to cheer him. We gave him everything that he wished for, and traveled first class."
Wanted at Once.
A lady between the ages of 14 and 28 years. Widows without children not barred. Please write no trifling letters. All letters answered. None but ladies need answer. Object, early marriage. All stated in first correspondence. Address, EDWARD E. BACON, Groton, N. Y. [Paid ad.]
BALL AND CHAIN.
Tompkins County Prisoners are to be Employed on the Highways.
The last issue of the Ithaca Democrat gives the following report of the manner in which prisoners are to be employed in Tompkins county. As this is a subject which is being agitated to some extent in Cortland and other counties, our readers will take considerable interest in its perusal:
Two resolutions passed by the Board of Supervisors at their last session will soon be under trial. The first one directs that all prisoners under sentence in the county jail shall be employed in breaking stone. The committee appointed to put that resolution into effect is composed of Supervisors Harrington, Frost and Noxon, of this city, with Judge Almy.
The second resolution was presented by Supervisor Pearson and after hearing a report by Supervisor Harrington and a lengthy debate upon it, the resolution was adopted. It was as follows;
Resolved, That the committee on employment of prisoners be and hereby are authorized to employ said prisoners in labor upon the highways of the county, or in quarrying stone and in breaking the same; that said committee make provision of material and place for breaking stone during the winter, in their discretion, and that the necessary expense be a charge upon the county of Tompkins.
It has been suggested by Superintendent Noxon, and has been favorably thought about by the Supervisors, that the prisoners under sentence in the jail should be farmed out to the [highway] pathmasters free and that they should be shifted around from one district to another.
Supervisor Frost stated to a Journal reporter, that the questions of quarrying out stone somewhere on the lake shore by the prisoners, under an expert quarryman, shipping the stone by boat to the bank of the Inlet in this city and breaking it up for use in roadmaking, the letting out of the prisoners to make roads for outside towns, the purchase of shoes and clothing for use by the prisoners the same as is done in penitentiaries, the purchase of wheelbarrows and tools, etc., etc., had also been debated and a plan almost completed. The sheriff is expected to soon start the men under him to work.
Supervisor Harrington said, "We do not intend to charge anything for the labor of the prisoners, nor in any way allow competition with the workingmen. I have been informed that an injunction will be asked for from the court to prohibit the prisoners from working anywhere in the city.
"No, we have many places where the city will not spend a dollar, but where roads and ditches can be made or improved and for nothing; roads and ditches that are sadly needed but will not be made for many years unless made by our county jail prisoners.
"Our theory and purpose will not lessen the expenditures by the city or towns for labor at present rates of time or money one hour or one dollar. I would not myself permit any interference with present conditions, nor would any member of the committee, as far as they relate to the interests of honest and legitimate labor. Our purpose and theory should be understood before they are criticized.
"The cost of taking a prisoner to Monroe Co. Penitentiary is $15. The weekly charge for taking care of a prisoner in the Penitentiary is $1.75; in our jail $3.00. It looks as if there would be less inducement to take rooms and board in the county jail, if the rental has to be paid by breaking stone."
HERE AND THERE.
Eight prisoners of the Tompkins County jail were set to work on the public roads last Saturday, under the supervision of Deputy Sheriff Daniel Landon. One of the number, William Perry, made his escape Saturday afternoon, and when being pursued by Landon paid no attention to shots fired but kept right on, and at the Inlet a friend rowed him across in a skiff, allowing him to elude the officer. He was finally captured Monday afternoon in a slaughter house south of the city, and Sheriff Seamon says he will prosecute him under the penal code, so as to deter other prisoners who may be tempted to run away under similar circumstances.
A record of 3175 men who passed into our State prisons last year shows that 2609 of them had a common school education; 121 a high school education, and 76 were college graduates, while only 369 had no education at all. 2662 made statement regarding their use of intoxicating liquors; 2347 used them to excess and only 315 did not use them at all.
A minister in a certain county, says an exchange, recently startled his congregation with the following language: "Before the stewards take up the collection I want to make a few remarks. There are 200 persons in this house counting saints, sinners, crooked and straight, not including crying babies. If each person thinks my sermon worth a glass of beer or a nickel let him pay that amount. If each pays a nickel it will make a total of $10 this evening. This repeated every Sunday pays my salary. A sermon that isn't worth a nickel isn't worth coming to hear, and a person that will beat the Lord, the printer or the editor, is a goat."
The editor of an eastern paper has solved a problem which has always confronted the country newspaper, that of giving a puff to an undertaking concern. Here is the striking and original manner in which he did it: "One of the most pleasant sights we have had in this town in a long time was the artistic manner in which John Griffin, of Lawrence, buried Bill Cruger, who died since our last issue. Mr. Griffin has his trade at his fingers end, and he handled our dead citizen with an agility that was startling in its originality. He was everywhere all the time, weeping with the afflicted widow, discussing weather prospects with the farmers, and soliciting business from other attendants at the funeral. He will doubtless be able to get all the business in these parts. Before leaving for home he subscribed for this great family weekly, paying a year in advance."
"Grip's Souvenir of Cortland is distributed this week.
Two bears saw their shadows in Main-st. Monday. Six weeks more of sleighing.
D. S. Hunt and Robert Van Bergen of Tully have leased the Tully Lake Park hotel and will open it June 15.
A young son of Daniel Riordan, residing at 14 Pomeroy-st., broke both bones in his right leg last Friday while playing ball.
Ralph H. Davis will hereafter manage the Cortland end of the Syracuse Post-Standard. The name is a sufficient guarantee of good work.
The city of Cortland has secured a judgment against the Western Union Telegraph company for $58.58 for unpaid taxes for three years past.
The Medical Record, in its issue of April 28, contains an article on the "Transposition of Vital Organs," written by Dr. S. J. Sornberger of Cortland.
We need some more wood, winter has hung on so long. Can use anything up to 24-inch. An easy way to pay for your paper would be to bring us a load.
Glenn Smith, who has for some time very acceptably served as day operator at the D., L. &. W. depot, goes to Syracuse in the dispatcher's office, and is succeeded in Cortland by Daniel Hickey.
Chief Harley P. Davis of the fire department will give the laddies a run [drill] some night in the near future, when the most sprightly company will have a chance to earn five-dollars in yellow plunkers.
The first state league [baseball] game in Cortland will be played next Wednesday with Albany. The same teams will play here Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday the Troy team will play in Cortland.
Thomas Lanigan, who was appointed on the police force last week, become disgusted with pulling in ministers and others for violating the city [bicycle] laws, threw up his job and returned to his former occupation of ringing up [trolley] fares.
The thirtieth annual meeting of the county superintendents of the poor of New York state, of which association Supt. M. G. Frisbie of Cortland county is secretary and treasurer, will be held in Rome June 12, 11 and 14. Gov. Roosevelt has accepted an invitation to be present.
The piano pupils of Adelbert B. Kingsley and the vocal pupils of Adolf Dahm Peterson will give a recital in the Opera House Wednesday evening, May 16. Admission to any part of the house 25 cents. Tickets are on sale at the Candy Kitchen, and by members of the class.
A very handsome new carpet has been laid within the enclosure at the court house appropriated to attorneys and court officers, which with the chairs purchased a few weeks ago makes a cheerful appearance. The carpet was selected by District Attorney Edwin Duffey and Attorney D. W. Van Hoesen, who made a very tasty selection.
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