The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 8, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1890.
INTERESTING LOCAL EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Democrats Elect Ten Supervisors—The Griswold Murder Trial—Marriage of Several People Now Prominent in Cortland— Happenings Briefly Told.
These historical sketches will close with two more issues of the DEMOCRAT, and when completed, those who have preserved the entire series from January 1 will have a history covering a quarter of a century which will in after years be of greater value than ten times the cost of their subscription to this paper. That these sketches have been appreciated is shown by the many personal expressions of commendation from old and new subscribers, not a few of the latter announcing their intention to become permanent readers of the DEMOCRAT, as they find much other matter of exceeding interest in its columns from week to week.
OF A POLITICAL NATURE.
The Democrats did a noble work at the February town meetings in 1890, electing ten of the fifteen supervisors in the county. Cincinnatus returned T. E. Dye, knowing him to be a safe man to represent that town on the board. George C. Hubbard was so exceedingly popular in Cortland that he overcame a heavy adverse majority, this being the greatest surprise of the day. Freetown elected Horace Martin, and Harford gave a majority vote for J. C. Edmonds, both sterling Democrats. Myron N. Pierce won out in Marathon, and Preble elected Seth Hobart, still a wise counselor in the Democratic party. The news from Solon announced the election of Henry Kelly, and Truxton followed with the choice of Peter D. Muller. The Democrats of Virgil worked nobly for W. A. Holton, who was elected by a safe majority, and Wlllet returned Wilson Greene.
A change of two votes would have given the Democracy two more supervisors, W. W. Parker, the Republican candidate in Lapeer, receiving only one majority, and Oscar P. Miner in Taylor squeezed through by the same bare majority of one. The other Republicans elected were, Henry Howes from Cuyler, A. H. Bennett from Homer, and E. W. Childs from Scott.
The annual charter election in Cortland was more than usually exciting, the chief bone of contention being the office of police justice, which had been created under the new village charter the year previous, and this was the first election at which the office was to be filled. The Republicans nominated Enos E. Mellon and the Democratic candidate was Chas. S. Bull, the latter being elected by the narrow majority of 15. At the same election Daniel E. Smith was chosen president over C. E. Van Brocklin.
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| S. S. Knox. |
During the fall campaign the Democrats put up a stiff fight for Judge S. S. Knox, their candidate for member of assembly, who was pitted against R. T. Peck. The Republican county convention was held September 8, A. E. Brainard, the present sheriff of the county, being one of the secretaries and the following ticket was placed in nomination: Member of assembly, R. T. Peck; county treasurer, A. S. Brown; coroner, W. J. Moore; justice of sessions, Lewis Bouton. Mr. Bouton later withdrew his name and Frank E. Price, then of Virgil, was named in his place.
The Democratic convention was held a few days later, with I. H. Palmer chairman, and the following ticket was nominated: Member of assembly, S. S. Knox; county treasurer, R. R. Maybury; justice of sessions, Theron C. Brown.
At the November election R. T. Peck received 3,143 votes in the county, and S. S. Knox 3,049, Mr. Peck's majority being 94. Mr. Peck's expenses, as sworn to and filed, were $450.00, and Mr. Knox's $116,19.
A PERPLEXING SUIT.
One day in January a lad named Winters was standing in front of the Cortland House smoking a cigarette. Another boy named Wetherel came along and asked for a cigarette. Young Winters refused and Wetherel attempted to put his hands in Winters' pocket, when the latter jerked his arm away, striking a large plate glass and breaking it. The parents of the Wetherel boy declined to pay the damage because it was Winters' arm that struck the glass, and the parents of the Winters boy also declined to settle on the ground that the Wetherel boy caused their son to strike the glass. It was a knotty problem, and Delos Bauder finally sued the parents of both boys to recover the damages, the case being tried before Justice Bouton and a jury. The verdict exonerated the Winters boy, giving a judgment of $45 against the parents of young Wetherel.
TRIAL OF ROBERT W. GRISWOLD.
The trial of Robert W. Griswold, charged with the murder of Dennis O'Shea at Preble, the particulars of which were given last week, took place in April before Judge Walter Lloyd Smith, District Attorney H. L. Bronson conducting the prosecution, assisted by Judge J. E. Eggleston, and Franklin Pierce and Hon. O. U. Kellogg defending the prisoner. The jurors before whom the case was tried were: John Kirkup, J. S. Lord, Homer; Edgar Parker, Lapeer; Wilbur Holmes, Henry Knickerbocker, Cincinnatus; Judson Hill, Wilbur Sanders, Cortland; Merritt Smith, Taylor; Joseph H. Lyon, Cuyler; George Moore, Virgil; William Young, Marathon; A. E. Ingersoll, Willet. Griswold was convicted of manslaughter and received a sentence of fifteen years in Auburn prison.
MARRIAGES.
January 1, by Rev. J. A. Robinson, Edward Keator and Miss Harriet L. Jones, both of Cortland. December 26, 1889, by Rev. A. J. Walworth, Miles J. Peck of Cortland, and Miss Gertrude Smith of Solon. January 22, by Rev. Alphonso Benton, Arthur F. Stilton and Miss Louise Benton, both of Cortland. June 30, at Ithaca, by Rev. Father Evans, Joseph J. Reider and Miss Nellie E. Raycroft. June 23, by Rev. E. A. McMaster, D. W Van Hoesen of Cortland, and Miss Libbie V. Gross of McLean. August 28, by Rev. W. B. Clark, A. M. Jewett and Miss Clara L. Smith. August 17, at DeRuyter, by Rev. L. R. Swinney, Dr. Phillip M. Neary and Miss Bertha A. Payne, now of Cortland. September 8, by Rev. W. B. Clarke, C. H. V. Elliott and Miss Mary D. Rogers. October 22, by Rev. W. L. Bates, Jerome Wheeler and Mrs. Emily R. Gross.
FOR THE FIREMEN.
The foreman of Hitchcock Hose company was W. T. Linderman; of Water Witch Steamer & Hose company, John Lyttil; of Orris Hose company, N. J. Peck; of Emeralds, Daniel Reilly.
On the evening of January 24 the members of Orris Hose company held a banquet at the Cortland House, followed by a feast of speeches, A. Sager being chairman of the gathering.
HEAVY STORMS.
The year 1890 was a great year for severe storms in Cortland and vicinity, more damage arising from these causes than for the entire ten years following.
On the 12th of June the village of Willet was the scene of a disastrous flood caused by the bursting of a rain cloud, several buildings being swept from their foundations, and much other damage being done.
Sunday, August 3, this village was visited by a storm of rain and lightning, several houses being struck by the electric fluid, but none were burned.
On the 21st of August a cyclone struck the village, blowing down trees, unroofing houses, breaking wires and doing great damage generally. The roof of Taylor hall block was blown off and considerable damage done by water. A store house owned by the Hitchcock Manufacturing company was completely wrecked.
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| Orris U. Kellogg. |
SHORT STORIES.
On the last day of the previous year, while a safe belonging to Judge S. S. Knox was being moved down the stairway in the county clerk's building the rope broke and the safe went down end over end, finally landing bottom upwards. Several of the iron steps were broken.
Joel Call, father of Duane E. and Dewitt Call and of Mrs. A. B. Nelson, died January 2. He had been court crier for some time, and he was succeeded by Norman Harmon.
The following persons composed the Baptist church choir early in the year: Mrs. L. Crandall, soprano; Mrs. Julia F. Twiss, alto; Chas. F. Brown, tenor; Frank Starr, bass.
Hon. O. U. Kellogg lost a colt in January, for which he had been offered $1,000.
The firm of Hubbard & Buck was dissolved in January, Mr. Hubbard disposing of his interest to Henry D. Rose.
The great failure of Messrs. P. H. & D. McGraw at McGrawville occurred January 25. The liabilities were found to be $92,598.50, and the actual assets $19,038.36.
Several of the present mail carriers were appointed in 1890 by Postmaster Ballard, the list at that time being as follows: Theo. Sheeley, Samuel Palmer, Chas. W. Fleming, I. Dan Lester, Pat Lyons.
The law firm of Kellogg & Van Hoesen was formed in February.
The firm of Day & Forrest was dissolved, Mr. Forrest retiring.
The establishment of the city hospital was first agitated in February, 1890, and in March a committee was appointed to investigate the matter.
S. J. Parmiter came to Cortland in February from Oswego, and opened a repair shop.
Richard Morris began trucking for himself in February.
During 1890 the Western Union Telegraph company refused to pay its corporation tax, amounting to $26.33, and President Palmer brought a suit to recover, and was successful.
On the 29th of March Jerome Baker, a resident of Homer, committed suicide by cutting his throat from ear to ear.
W. H. Morgan, in company with Mr. Gale, first opened his harness shop in Railroad-st. in April.
Ollie Ingraham bought the Messenger House April 2, 1890, paying $26,000 for it, turning in his stock of drugs for $8,000.
In April James C. Sager was appointed chief of police.
A big fire in DeRuyter, N. Y., April 24 destroyed fifteen buildings at a loss of $50,000.
April 19 a man named Frank Hotchkiss, an employee of Wickwire Bros., fell down an elevator shaft, a distance of twenty feet, and died from the injuries.
T. H. Wickwire and John Suggett were appointed members of the local board of the Normal school in May.
The enumerators for Cortland at the last national census in 1890 were: Daniel M. Geer, Eugene M. White. Henry Watrous, Joshua D. Bliss, Reuben Reynolds, Francis H. Forshee, Arthur M. Millard.
The present handsome parochial residence of St. Mary's church was built in 1890.
Floyd Birdlebough, a son of Jos. R. Birdlebough, was drowned in the Erie canal at Canastota June 30.
Warner Rood became manager of the Opera House in July.
O. C. Smith and Wm. McKinney became partners with D. F. Wallace in July.
The firm of Mager & Stoker was dissolved in July, Mr. Mager, Charles Corcoran and Albert B. White forming the firm of G. J. Mager & Co.
W. G. Mead first came to Cortland in August, 1890, and engaged in the jewelry business.
August 1 George Guerdon Horton committed suicide by swallowing laudanum. He was employed at the Hitchcock shops.
Hugh O'Neill, who was sent to state's prison for burning the wagon shop in Railroad St., was pardoned by Gov. Hill after serving seventeen months of his five years.
The Cortland Forging company was organized in February.
C. B. Warren of McGrawville sold his stock of drugs and groceries to C. D. Fish.
The Homer-ave. M. E. church was first recognized by the conference in 1890, Rev. C. E. Hamilton being sent as the first pastor. The first trustees were: C. B. Hitchcock, A. Sager, W. B. Stoppard, three years; A. H. Watkiss, S. E. Curtis, B. LaBarr, two years; A. Ranney, S. S. Stearns, L. H. Corning, one year.
G. P. Hollenbeck sold out his boot and wallpaper business to Haven & Meads.
Pan-American Work Ahead of Schedule.
BUFFALO, June 4.—All of the main buildings of the Pan-American exposition, which is to take place here in 1901, will be completed by October. The foundations have all been laid and a large force of carpenters and builders will be placed at work to rush the buildings to completion. The excavations for the canals and lagoons have been completed, with but few exceptions, and the entire exposition work is advanced far in excess of the time schedule outlined when work was started.
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| General Joseph Wheeler. |
General Wheeler Will Be Retired.
WASHINGTON, June 7.—It is said at the war department that General Wheeler will be given no military assignment under his commission as brigadier general of regulars, but that he will be placed on the retired list within the next few days. This plan of action, it is said, is in accordance with an understanding reached between the president and General Wheeler.
An Honorable Appointment.
On Saturday last M. W. Charles W. Mead, grand master of Masonic fraternity in New York state, appointed Hon. S. S. Knox of Cortland district deputy grand master of the twenty-seventh district, comprising Cortland, Onondaga and Madison counties. The appointment is especially pleasing to the members of the order in Cortland, as Judge Knox is universally popular and eminently well qualified to grace that or any other position in the order, having been a member for more than a third of a century. There are 26 lodges within the limits of the district, and the deputy is expected to visit each lodge at least once during the year.
Candidate for President.
In these days of political agitation it is gratifying to know that Cortland has a candidate for president. At a meeting of representatives of the several fire companies, held Tuesday evening, it was decided to present Judge Eggleston's name for president of the State Firemen's association, at the annual meeting in Syracuse next August. It seems very certain that he will be elected, as assurances of support have been received from many cities in the state. Judge Eggleston is popular with the firemen everywhere, and Cortland will be pleased with his promotion to the highest office in the association.
The Potato Ball Question.
(For The Democrat.)
In your issue of last week the question is asked, "why potatoes do not grow balls upon the tops as they have formerly done?" The reason is this; The potato has been so long propagated by the tuber that nature has, so to speak, acquiesced in the habit and ceased to grow seed upon the vines.
I long since observed that those kinds which had been longest propagated by the tuber were least inclined to furnish balls upon the vines. If you will raise some fresh potatoes from the balls you will get those that will grow balls in abundance. Several years ago I planted some seed from the balls. They required careful attention, and the first year the tubers averaged no larger than hazel nuts. It took about three years' planting to bring them up to fair size. But I got some new varieties which grew thriftily and furnished an abundance of balls upon the tops for several years.
Propagation by the tuber is not reproduction, but simply a division of the plant, and the species must be preserved by reproduction from the seed or it will sooner or later deteriorate and run out.
It is analogous to raising willow or poplar from cuttings stuck in the earth. It is said that the "Lombardy poplar'' was first propagated here by slips brought from the East, and while it has grown magnificent trees, it has never matured seed upon its boughs in this country. H. O. J.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Fighting in the Philippines seems to be more lively since the close of the war.
If the Filipino rebellion to now merely the warfare of bandits, it appears to be more costly in American life than was the original conflict.
One day Paul Kruger is captured; the next he is dead. The truth probably is that Oom Paul is trekking to some safe place of refuge.
Frauds in Cuba! Our exposition building at Paris unsafe! If our affairs abroad are all at sixes and sevens there is probably something the matter at home.
Advices from London indicate that the Boer jig is about up. It is only once in a while that the right triumphs, anyway. The wrong is always strong, mores the pity.
A national ticket headed with "Bryan and Milne" would take like wildfire in Cortland county, and we mistrust Otsego would give such a ticket a tremendous vote.
It has probably not occurred to anybody to doubt that the anti-canteen bill is a bid for votes; a measure that is of a piece with the general Republican scheme to humbug the people.
Democrats may well feel elated. The opposing factions of the past are united, Hill and Tammany pulling side by side and all for the end most dear to the rank and file of the party, Bryan and bi-metalism.
In its closing hours, the senate is showing censurable extravagance. Neither the appropriation of $5,000,000 for the St. Louis Exposition nor the first appropriation of $200,000 for a Memorial bridge at Washington to cost $5,000,000 more can be justified as proper expenditures of public money.
The expense to the state of the numerous investigations into New York city departments is becoming quite enormous. The examination of the district attorney's office just closed, it is estimated, will cost the state $50,000. Whether the state or city gets an adequate return for this is a matter of serious consideration.
The resolutions adopted by the New York state convention Tuesday are what every Democrat can stand by. In instructing for William J. Bryan, the convention instructed for the man who is the personification of the Chicago platform. In swearing allegiance to the Kansas City platform, it allies with what will be the Chicago platform plus later issues.
The Cortland county delegation at the state convention was that elected at the county convention, J. M. Milne, E. W. Hyatt and Dr. B. Kenyon, except that Dr. Kenyon was unable to go on account of the severe illness of a patient and Alternate F. C. Parsons took his place. That Dr. Milne is the right man to head our county committee was amply proven by what he obtained for this county from the state convention. Dr. Milne was one of the committee on resolutions and one of the sub-committee of five which drafted them. Cortland county has a presidential elector Edwin Duffey, and an alternate delegate to the Kansas City convention, F. C. Parsons.
The question whether a person's name must be on the assessment roll before he can be considered a taxpayer frequently comes up in political discussion, and sometimes it gets into court, as it has in the case of the president of the village of Charlotte. Generally speaking a taxpayer is one who pays taxes, whether he does it directly or through some corporation in in which he holds an interest. A man's name may not be on the assessment rolls yet, as a stockholder in corporations or as part owner or leaseholder of property in other control, he may pay more annually to the support of government than many a citizen whose name is upon the rolls. In instances where the law requires a name to be on the assessment rolls before the owner of it can vote or hold an office the requirements must he respected, but the assessments rolls do not include all who actually are taxpayers.
Music Festival Week—11th to 10th of June—at Cortland Opera House—Bulletin.
Monday morning, May 11th.—Ticket sale opens at Mahan's.
Monday evening—Opening session of festival at 7:30 for organization and rehearsal.
Wednesday evening, 14th —First grand concert by the great festival choir and Mme. Patti Barill, the eminent, prima dona soprano; Alfred A. Farland, champion banjoist; Prof. Conrad Becker, violinist; and Becker String Quartet.
Thursday evening, 14th.—Second grand concert. Earl Gulick, the wonderful boy soprano; Miss Alice Thurlow, the charming young contralto; and Alfred A. Farland, the banjoist, will assist the festival choir.
Friday evening, 15th.—Third and last grand concert. Miss Hildegarde Hoffman, the distinguished prima dona soprano; Miss Alice Thurlow, contralto; Mr. J. C. Wilcox, the noted baritone, and other fine attractions in addition to the chorus work, which will be exceptionally fine at all the concerts.
There will be no material difference in the three concerts as to merit and they will all be of the highest order of excellence surpassing in some respects any former concerts given in Cortland.
HERE AND THERE.
Don't throw paper into the streets.
[Bicycle] side path badges are safe things to possess.
Mahan's music festival will begin Monday evening next.
We are all thankful for what rain has fallen the past week.
Odd Fellows were as thick as bees about town Monday evening.
There are no indications that Cortland will celebrate the Fourth.
S. S. Stearns has become associated with A. A. Sprague in the coal business.
Hon. D. W. Van Hoesen is building a summer cottage at Little York lake.
Messrs. Maxson & Starin are enlarging their coal facilities near the D., L. &. W. depot.
The Cortland & Homer Gas company is preparing to lay larger mains through Homer-ave.
A large number of Cortland people are buying their next winter's supply of coal, the price being $4 a ton.
The price of hay is advancing, owing to indications of a light crop, on account of continued dry weather.
The Cortland hospital cleared over $200 from the benefit at the park last Friday afternoon and evening.
Six fine dining-room and two office chairs have been presented to the hospital by L. S. Hayes. The gift was a timely and very acceptable one.
Twenty-seven candidates were initiated at Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., Monday evening. A large number of visiting brethren from out of town were present.
Many young ladies of the city may be seen as early as 5 o'clock in the morning riding over the pavements on their wheels, taking a healthful ride when the air is pure and delightfully cool.
The Knights of Columbus will run an excursion to Lake Side park, Onondaga lake on Saturday, June 23. The fare for the round trip, including admission to a vaudeville entertainment, will be only 99 cents.
Revs. W. J. Howell of Cortland and W. F. Kettle of Homer pulled about every fish from Little York lake Tuesday. They secured brain food at the expense of the many who frequent that favorite resort.
Prof. J. Edward Banta of the Cortland Normal school has been tendered the appointment of principal of the High school at Binghamton, at a salary of $2,300 a year. He has not yet decided whether he will accept.
On Wednesday, May 30, Mr. Floyd G. Miller and Miss Josie Hawley were united in marriage by the Rev. O. L. Torrey of Lapeer. The bride and groom are popular young people of Marathon, and congratulations were extended upon all sides.
G. Frank Jones, who has for some time been engaged in the coal business at Homer, will on Monday next open a lunch room and cigar store in the Graham block, Cortland, one door south of Graham's drug store, and will keep the same open day and night.
In the "Diamond Pickups," a column which is making the Syracuse Journal famous in the baseball circles, we find the following: "That Cortland team is going to make it warm for the State leaguers. The Wagonmakers are climbing up the ladder at a steady gait."
Miss Maggie Waite, the well known medium of California, will hold a grand test séance in Good Templar hall Sunday evening at 8 o'clock. To the spiritualists Miss. Waite needs no endorsement, as her work has convinced the most skeptical. Skeptics specially invited. Admission ten cents.
God bless the ladies of the Tabernacle Baptist church at Utica, who have adopted the practice almost unanimously of removing their hats in church. It is believed that the movement will be followed in other churches. The Cortland Opera house adopted it long ago, much to the satisfaction of both gentlemen and ladies, and why should not the custom prevail in all our Cortland churches?
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