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CAPTAIN SAMUEL RANSOM, of English
descent, came to Canaan, Litchfield county, Conn., about 1755, where he married May 6, 1756, Esther, daughier of
Daniel and Rachel (Kingsbury) Laurence, who was fourth in descent from John Laurence, of Wisset, England, the emigrant,
who came in 1630, and died in Groton, Mass., in 1669. His son, Enoch, was in King Philip's war and badly wounded
in the Indian fight July 29, 1694. He was also in King William's war, 1702, and a prisoner. He married Ruth, daughter
of John Whitney, who came over in the ship Elizabeth and Ann in 1635. He was a member of Captain John Mason's company
in King Philip's war. Esther Laurence's mother, Rachel Kingsbury, was third in descent from Henry Kingsbury, born
in England in 1615. Samuel Ransom after his marriage bought much land in Canaan, Conn., became prominent and held
offices of trust, but a restless spirit soon moved him to sell everything and move his family to the new land of
promise in the Wyoming valley in August, 1773, settling in Plymodth township. In August, 1776, congress authorized
the raising of two companies in the Wyoming valley, and Robert Durhee and Samuel Ransom were commissioned captains.
Captain Ransom enlisted west of the Susquehanna the Second Independent Co., attached to the Connecticut line. On
December 12, 1766, the companies were ordered to join Washington. With Captain Ransom marched his son, George Palmer
Ranson, aged fourteen, (who served during the war, and was once taken a prisoner to Canada, where he escaped) and
his son-in-law, Timothy Hopkins. The company was in the battles of Brandywine, Millstone, Germantown. Roundbrook,
and lesser engagements, and wintered at Morristown. In 1778, Captain Ransom resigned to help defend his home against
the British and Indians. He reached Forty Fort the morning of the Wyoming massacre, and reported as volunteer aid
to Gen, Butler, He fell in the thickest of the fight. His body had a musket shot through the thigh, was covered
with gashes, and his head was cut off. He is buried with the other victims (among them his brother-in-law, Rufus
Laurence) near the granite monument which marks the battle field. His name heads the list of the slain. His family
fled with the refugees, but returned, only to become involved in the disputes between the Connecticut settlers
and the state authorities. His children, all but one born in Canaan, were Sarah (Mrs. Timothy Hopkins), who died
young; Sibil, married Ira Stephens, captain in the revolution; Lois, married Stephen Bidlock; Louisa, married Arthur
Frink; Mary, married Samuel Franklin, a brother to Col. John Franklin; George Palmer Ransom; Samuel, married Mary
Neobett, settled on a farm of 400 acres two miles below Tioga Centre, built on his land the first school house
and the first tavern of the town, he was drowned crossing the river in 1807; William, who came to Tioga county
in 1784, bought one thousand acres of land on Pipe creek and accumulated a large fortune. On his land was set out
the first apple orchard of the county. He was a lumberman and furnished many masts for the government in the war
of 1812. He died in 1822, aged 56. He married Rachel, daughter of James Brooks and Mary Johnson. His eldest son,
Ira, married Sarah, daughter of Miles Forman, of Nichols. Two sons, Miles Forman Ranson, of Webster, and David,
of Vancouver, B. C., with their sons, are the only descendants of this worthy couple bearing the name. Miles Forman
Ransom married Adelaide Lent, of Dutch descent, her ancestors were among the first settlers of New York. Her great-great-grandfather
and great-grandfather were killed at the taking of Montgomery, L. I., in the revolution. Her grandfather, John
Lent, enlisted when fourteen in the patriot army at Peekskill, N. Y. Another son of Ira Ransom, Col. Hyatt C. Ransom,
was a graduate of West Point and died in Jeffersonvile, 1874. Ira Ransom's daughters are Mrs. Patterson, of Flint,
Mich.; Mrs. John Nicol, of Tioga Centre; Mrs. Tower, of Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. J. C. Latimer, of Tioga Centre.
William Ransom's son, Benjamin, married Lucy Frost; Charles, married Hope M. Talcott; Sybil, marries Henry Light;
Rachel, married David Willis; Mary J., married Gilbert Strang; Printice, married Fannie Thurston; Harriet, married
Asa G. Jackson. "William, married Angeline Martin, lived at Tioga Center, and was long one of the best known,
most prominent, and most highly respected citizens of the county." He died February 7, 1883.
DR. JOHN NICOL, son of John and
Margaret (Mann) Nicol, was born July 4, 1830, near Edinburgh, Scotland, and was educated at the celebrated university
of Edinburgh, where he was graduated in 1852. He has passed many years of his life in lecturing on practical pharmacy,
chemistry and physiology, and his lectures have a world-wide reputation. The doctor has also made photography a
special study, is a contributor to many photographic journals, and is an expert in aerial photography, and draws
plans for taking these photographs. He was married, first, with Elizabeth Urquhart in 1860. They have five sons,
John D., Robert (of the L. V. R. R.), at Sayre, James (an exporter in Liverpool), Frank, of Edinburgh, and William,
of Queensland. Dr. Nicol married F. Elizabeth, daughter of Ira and Sally (Forman) Ransom, of this county, in Scotland,
in 1877. In 1885 they came to America and made their home in Chicago, Ill. In 1890 they changed their residence
to Tioga Center, the birthplace of Mrs. Nicol, and they have since resided there. Before his second marriage Dr.
Nicol passed twelve years of his life in the West Indies, returning to Scotland about 1870.
LEWIS LOUNSBURY, son of Timothy
and Hannah (French) Lounsbury, was born February 21, 1794, in Bethany, Conn. He was married with Charry, daughter
of Amos and (Wheeler) Clark, in 1816. Children: Clark, born August 4, 1818, married Mary J. Howland, (their children
are Cornelia (Mrs. Dr. Newell), and Harriet A.); Lewis, Jr., born December 18, 1820, married Mary E. Casterline;
children: Anson B., John L. and Amy); Esther (deceased) born May 19, 1823, married Joshua Grimes; Frank; Moses
L.; Charry (Mrs. Orrin T. Smith); Rev. Harvey; Mary born Februany 28, 1828, and married Andrew Stettler, (their
children are Alice (Mrs. George Signor), and Ella (Mrs. George Best); Allen, born June 7, 1830, married Cornelia
Hill; children: Wales and Anna (Mrs. George Taylor); George, (born August 30, 1834, who by his first wife, Julia
Tanner, had two children, Fred and Newell); Sheldon, born November 6, 1838, married Sarah Moe and had three children,
Clarence, Emma and Ralph. Cornélia Lounsbury, elder daughter of Clark and Mary Jane Lounsbury, born Oct.
4, 1860, married Dr. Albert Arthur Newell of Penfield, Pa., born Feb. 3, 1854. One child, William Howland Newell,
born June 7, 1893, died May 28, 1894. Harriet Agnes Lounsbury, sister of Cornelia, was born June 6, 1863.
DANIEL LOUNSBURY, brother of Lewis,
born February 17, 1796, married Sarah Wooden. Their children were Laura (Mrs. Lester Hall) (deceased); David, (deceased);
Lucy (first Mrs. George Barker, second Mrs. David Campbell).
REV. HARVEY LOUNSBURY, son of
Lewis and Charry (Clark) Lounsbury, was born November 25, 1825, in this town, and married Rachel, daughter of Abram
and Rachel (Doremus) Wortendyke, on April 27, 1857. Their children are Newton A., born October 18, 1858, (whose
children are Harvey, Bertha M., Ira B., Daniel P. and Isla B.); Lewis H., born November 7, 1860; Allen D., born
July 2. 1864; Mary E., born January 28, 1865, died November 11, 1880. Mr. Lounsbury was educated principally at
Tioga Center, and in 1843 was ordained as minister of the Wesleyan Methodist church and has been a diligent and
faithful worker in the Master's vineyard.
JOEL FARNHAM was a native of Wyoming,
Pa., and was there at the time of the historic Indian massacre. In or near 1794 he located upon the old Faraham
homestead off road 12, and died there, aged 84 years. His widow died August 30, 1862, aged 85. Mr. Farniham was
also an early settler in this town. He made spinning wheels and was perhaps the first manufacturer of the town.
He also did wool carding and wood turning. His son, Frederick A., born in 1820, married Agnes L. Barclay, settled
on the homestead and carried on the same business as his father and was also a farmer. He died Fejruary 21, 1887,
aged 68 years. His widow lives in Owego. Among their children were Joel S., Alice L. (Mrs. G. H. Day), of Union
Center, N. Y.; Elisha W., of Chicago, Ill., and Herbert A. Farnham, born November 15, 1855. Herbert acquired a
common school education, married Anna, daughter of Almeron and Hila (Johnson) Corwin, who died December 11, 1886,
leaving one son, Frederick A. By his second wife, Elnora, daughter of William Day, married in 1892, Mr. Farnham
has two children, Elsie M. and Lawrence. He is also in a small way carrying on the business which his grandfather
and father did and has a cider mill also. Mr. Farnham is a justice of the peace and a prosperous farmer.
ABNER G. HILL, son of Aipheus
and Almira (Gillett) Hill, was born December 15, 1840, in Otsego county. When about ten years old his parents removed
to Wayne county, Pa., where he acquired a good common school education. After leaving school he worked for his
father in lumbering for about six years, when he enlisted in Co. F, 50th Pa. Engineers, and served three years
and eleven months. He then returned to Wayne county and engaged in head-sawing. In 1870 he came to Tioga Centre,
which has since been his home, and made head-sawing his business. He was married in 1868 to Anna, daughter of Albert
Stone. Their only child, Edith, born December 1, 1872, married Thomas Holbert, and has two children. Mr. Hill,
on June 3, 1885, married second Hattie, daughter of Cornelius and Rachel (Brooks) Smith. Mr. Hill has mingled much
in local affairs. He was town clerk of Manchester, Wayne county, for five years, was four times elected justice
of the peace at Tioga Centre, was appointed in 1884, again elected in 1886, and has since held that office. Mr.
Hill has been a member of the Masonic lodge at Hancock, N. Y., for thirty years, and for eighteen years has been
a member of Tioga lodge of Odd Fellows. For ten years he has belonged to the Knights of Honor.
SYLVESTER FARNHAM, son of pioneer
Joel Farnham who is so prominently mentioned in the history of the town of Tioga., was born August 9, 1798, and
died in Tioga September 22, 1873. He was the eldest child in the pioneer's family, a farmer and lumberman, and
was well known on the Susquehanna for many- years during the rafting period. His business life was successful and
in the county he was a man of influence and worth. His wife was Patience Wood, daughter of Capt. Peter and Sarah
(Standish) Wood, and seventh lineal descendant of the noted Myles Standish, the Puritan Captain. Their children
were George Anson, an infant daughter who died unnamed, Enos Slosson, Francis Leroy, Sarah Emily and Andrew Oliver
Farnham.
ENOS SLOSSON FARNHAM, second son
of the pioneer, was born in Tioga, January 22, 1825, and died June 21, 1895. He was well educated for a boy of
his time and his business life was spent on the old home farm and as merchant at Dryden, partner with his brother-in-law,
the late Jeremiah W. Dwight, one of the best men of Tompkins county. However, in 1863 Mr. Farnham returned to the
farm, but was afterward connected with important business interests elsewhere. He was an earnest republican, and
for three years held the office of county superintendent of the poor, yet, all through his career his zeal was
more for the party's interest than his own. On October 16, 1849, Mr. Farnham was married with Clarissa Venina,
daughter of Elijah and Olive (Standish) Dwight. Children: LeRoy Dwight, Olive Patience, Mary Rebecca, and Hattie
Venina Farnham.
LEROY DWIGHT FARNHAM, M. D., born
Tioga, N. Y., July 24, 1850; married November 7, 1878, Coralyn P. Thompson, daughter of the late Jerome Thompson
of Candor, N. Y. She is of Connecticut lineage, and a "Daughter of the American Revolution." LeRoy D.,
was taken by his parents to Dryden, where he attended the common schools and Dryden academy until he was nearly
13 years old. Then he removed to Tioga, his birth place, where for several years he worked on the farm in summer
and attended - the district school in the winter. In 1866 he prepared for college at the Owego academy. In 1869
the academy was abandoned-and he went with his teacher and a number of other students preparing for college, to
the Oswego Normal school, where he remained three years and was gradua.ted from the classical department in 1872.
He began the study of medicine the same year. In 1873 he went to Candor, as principal of the Candor free academy
and continued until 1878. The winters of the last three years were spent in attending medical lectures at the college
of physicians and surgeons of New York city, from which institution he was graduated as doctor of medicine March
1, 1878. After graduating, he returned to Candor and after completing the academic year, began the practice of
his profession. He quickly built up a large clientage, but finding that the country work was making inroads upon
his health, sold the home and business and went to New York and took a post-graduate course in the post graduate
and polyclinic medical schools. Not yet - satisfied with his professional attainments, in September, 1884, he sailed
for Germany where he spent the years 1884 and 1885 in the study of medicine in the hospitals of Berlin and Vienna.
In the spring of 1886, he again took up the practice of medicine in Binghamton. He has been president of Tioga
county medical society and of the Broome county medical society; president of the Binghamton academy of medicine
; is a member of the New York state medical association, ex-member of the American medical association; was a member
of the tenth international congress at Berlin; is now consulting surgeon of the Binghamton city hospital; charter
member of the Binghamton academy of science, and also a member of Binghamton, Dobson and athletic clubs; member
of Otseningo lodge, F. & A. M., Binghamton chapter royal- arch masons, Malta commandery knights templar; of
the New York society of Mayflower descendants. Dr. and Mrs. Farnham have one child, Dwight Thompson Farnham, born
at Candor, October 15, 1881.
LODOWICK LIGHT was descended from
a very old High-German family, his name having been originally Ludwig von Licht. He came to America with two brothers,
some years prior to the revolution, - settling at first in New York city, and afterward in the town of Bedford,
Westchester county, - where at the commencement of the revolution he had large tanneries - and a shoe factory.
He was a soldier in the revolutionary war, serving as a "minute man" and also saw actual service at the
battle of White Plains. His old flint-lock musket is still in possession of the family of Mrs. Henry G. Light,
as is also a chair in which General Washington sat when he stayed over night with Lodowick Light in Bedford during
the war. After the close of the war, he, with Jesse Miller, took up a tract of 1,000 acres of land, extending east
from the vifiage of Smithboro for nearly two miles, and north from the Susquehanna river (that being the southern
boundary) to what is now known as Halsey Valley, which was known as the "Light & Miller Tract." He
moved his family to this location in June, 1790. - Here he also built a tannery and shoe factory, with a number
of saw mills in the neighborhood, and carried on a large business. He was made loan officer, a very important office
at that time, and during the whole of his life in Tioga county was a justice of the peace, and was known familiarly
as "Squire" Light. In this capacity he performed many marriage ceremonies, and many laughable stories
are still told in the family concerning the fees he received, etc. Henry G. Light, his grandson, succeeded to the
homestead. By his wife, Martha Seely, he had several children, of whom Harry married Sybil Ransom, lived his life
on the old farm and had seven children: Ransom, Eli, George, Edwin Charles, Sarah and Henry G. Light. The latter
was always a resident of the town, dying August 26, 1887, aged 56. He married Louisa, daughter of Absalom and Maria
(Moss) Adams. They had six children: Anna, Della, liarry (deceased), William (deceased), Nellie (deceased), and
Maggie.
LEONARD PERRY, son of Nathaniel
and Mary Ann (Hart) Perry, was born January 8, 1821, in Caroline, Tompkins county. His father moved to Tioga county
when Leonard was quite young, and, later, to Athens, Pa., where Leonard gained a common-school education. After
leaving school he engaged in lumbering and farming and which have since been his vocations. He has lived in the
town since he was of age. - He was commissioner of highways two terms, collector and assessor (for six years),
town auditor, and school trustee and collector for many years and has held other local offices; and always when
nominated was elected. Mr. Perry was a member of the Baptist church of Smithboro. He was married March 30, 1843,
with Miss Clarissa, daughter of Waite and Rachel (Newman) Smith, who was born September 9, 1822. Children: Albert
H., born February 7, 1845, married Frances Duryea, December 24, 1867. They had three children, all deceased. Mrs.
Perry died and Leonard Perry married, second, Martha Farnum. They had one child, Kittie A., died an infant; Mary
Dell Perry, born January 30, 1851, married George Eckert February 16, 1876. Children: Mertie L., born November
27, 1877; Robin, born in 1882. Elizabeth L. Perry, born November 20, 1857, married John P. Swartwood. She had two
children: Florence C., born in 1882; S. Leonard, born in 1888. Nathaniel Perry and his wife, the pioneers of this
quite numerous family were people who served their day and generation well. They had seven children: Julia Ann,
born January 2, 1817, married Charles Masten; John James, born March 17, 1819, died in 1824; Leonard, Albert A.,
Chauncey, born October 28, 1826, married Tracy Ann Manning; Sarah E., born January 22, 1829, married George Smith;
Milo M., born March 3, 1831, a soldier in the late war, married Amanda Babcock.
ALBERT A. PERRY, son of Nathaniel
and Mary Ann (Hart) Perry, was born on March 31, 1824, and was educated in the common schools of Athens, Pa. He
learned the carpenter's trade of Wilham G. Dean, for whom he worked three years, then he was in the fanning mill
business three years. He was for the next twelve years engaged in contracting and building. Later, and for 27 years,
he was employed by the Erie railroad as a carpenter and cabinet maker. He then purchased a farm and was a farmer
for seventeen years. Returning to Smithboro in 1886, he has since devoted himself to small fruit culture and market
gardening. His home is located on the- knoll at Smithboro and has an extensive view of the Susquehanna valley.
Mr. Perry married November 12, 1846, Susan E. Foster, born October 31, 1829. Of their eight children these survive:
Henrietta A., born July 23, 1848, married Edward Wescott, February 10, 1867, (they had one child, Clarence P.,
died at four years); Hanson S., born March 11, 1855, married Ella A. Smith, September 20, 1874, (they have one
child, Minnie L., born 1875); Jesse L., born October 9, 1862, married R. F. Ohswaldt, September 10, 1880. Four
children: Susie, Frank P., Ida (deceased), Agnes; Ella A., born February 11, 1868, married in 1889, L. G. Drake,
photographer of Elmira; Chester D., born October 15, 1873, married October 5, 1896, Nellie Stinson.
NATHANIEL and ROBERT LEONARD,
brothers, came from Vermont to this county at a very early day. Nathaniel purchased land in the eastern part of
Nichols near Hyatt's ferry, and here he conducted lumbering and farming, reared fifteen children and passed the
remainder of his life. Chauncey Leonard, son of Nathaniel, born in Nichols in 1815, married Mary A., a daughter
of James Gould, and was a farmer in Nichols all of his life. He had twelve children. He died in 1882, and his widow
in 1883. George Leonard, son of Chauneey, was alsoborn in Nichols on March 30, 1839. He married Mary Prothers in
1858, and located his home at Tioga Center. By trade a stone mason, he has also conducted lumbering and been a
pilot of lumber rafts on,the Susquehanna. He has been chosen to fill local and town offices, and has served as
highway commissioner and as town collector of taxes. Two of his five children are living; John E. Leonard, M. D.,
of Harford Mills, and Ella (Mrs. P. R. Canyon), of Lestershire. Mr. Leonard enlisted on August 11, 1862, in Co.
I., 109th New York Vols., and was in all of the numerous and bloody engagements in which his regiment took part
during his term of service (among them being the battle. of the Wilderness, Fairfax C. H., and North Anna river)
except when he was ill with typhoid fever from August, 1864, to March, 1865. Mr. Leonard was severely wounded in
front of Fort Hell on April 2, 1865, in both an arm and a leg by a bursting shell. Taken from the field to the
hospital at Alexandria, Va., he was there mustered out of service on June 5, 1865.
PETER ROSS, son of William Ross,
was of Scotch descent, and born August 7, 1795, in Saratoga county, N. Y. William Ross, his father, was one of
the early settlers of that county and was there before the revolution. Peter was in the war of 1812. He married
Ruby Knowlton, and in 1827 they moved with an ox team from Saratoga county to the town of Tioga, where be bought
a farm of 300 acres, which is on the elevation still known as "Ross Hill," where he was ever a farmer.
He died in 1871 and his wife in 1883. They had one son, Ellis H., born November 15, 1819, married Sally A., daughter
of Jacob and Mary (Young) Smith. Ellis succeeded to the old farm, and was a man well known. He died in May, 1882.
His widow resides at Tioga Center. They had two children, J. Warren, born March 16, 1847, married Fanny J., daughter
of Sidney Coleman, and settled on the old homestead. In connection with farming Mr. Ross has been a commercial
traveler and is now in the employ of the Eureka Mower Company, of Utica. He was a candidate for member of assembly
in 1894 on the democratic ticket, and has a wide acquaintance in the county. His two sons are Harold E. and Earl
Dudley.
GEORGE C. HORTON, son of Benjamin,
born June 2, 1791, married Hannah Courtright (born November 25, 1797), on February 23, 1812. Benjamin Horton was
an early settler and farmer in Nichols. George C. Horton settled in Tioga on the farm now owned by Theodore Horton,
of Owego, in or near 1812. He took up a few acres at first, but built a log hut or house, and commenced to clear
up his land. By thrift and industry he kept adding to his farm until he had 800 acres in one body at the time of
his death, in 1863. He used to put his grist on the back of his cow and lead her to mill. Of his thirteen children
five are living, Hannah (Mrs. Ephraim Goodrich), Erneline M. (Mrs. Emanuel Ennis), Gurdon H., Isaac S., and Abram.
Gurdon Horton married Mary Goodrich, and has two children, Fred, and Fanny (Mrs. James Vandermark, of Wiltonville).
Isaac S. Horton married Harriet P. Wallis, who died in 1876. They had one son, George W. Abram married Ivah Booth,
and has one daughter, Erma. Daniel B., another son, married Julia A. Hanna, daughter of John, and died October
4, 1879. Three of his children are living, John, Charles, and Ada F. (Mrs. E. S. Dexter).
PETER PARIS came from Cohoes Falls,
N. Y., to the town of Tioga about 1810 with his family and settled in the eastern part where he developed a fine
farm. He married a Miss Coiwell. They had nine children, of whom Stephen married Lucy Steele and settled at Tioga
Center. He was a stone mason, a farmer and a lumber-. man, He had eleven children, among them, John Paris, born
October 10, 1830, in. 1853, married Amanda, daughter of Stephen Green, and settled at Tioga Center where he has
been both a lumberman and a farmer. Tn 1863 he enlisted in Co. C., 109th New York regiment, and engaged in the
battles of the Wilderness, COld Harbor, North Anna River, Spottsylvania, Gaines Mills, etc. He was wounded by a
minie ball in front of Petersburg. Captured by rebels he was kept in rigorous confinement for four months. He weighed
200 pounds when taken, and only 140 pounds when released in October, 1864. He was then taken to a hospital at Annapolis
City, Md., where he was discharged in June, 1865. His wife died in 1885. Children: Charles, born in 1855, died
in 1885; Perlina (Mrs. Delos Goodenough, of Nichols), Lucy (Mrs. David Brooks, of Binghamton) Lucina (Mrs. Bennett,
of Watkins), Stephen (deceased), lived at Owego and had quite a reputation as a violin player; Edwin, of Lambs
Station, Pa.
HIRAM E. GOODRICH, son of Noah
and Harriet N. (Lane) Goodrich, was born December 31, 1847. He. is a grandson of Norman Goodrich and great-grandson
of Noah Goodrich, one of the first settlers in the town. He has always lived in what from the pioneer days has
been known as "Goodrich Settlement." By occupation he is a farmer. His father, Noah Goodrich, was justice
of the peace. from 1865 to 1893. Hiram E. Goodrich married October 20, 1870, and has four children: Fred E., John
F., Ella J., and Noah. He has been school trustee for four years.
JESSE MILLER, son of Ezra, was
an early settler and farmer in the town. His wife was Julia A. Meeker.
CHARLES T. GOODRICH, only son
of Herman N. Goodrich, was born December 7, 1852. in the town of Tioga, where he was brought up and always lived..
By occupation he is a farmer and now lives on the farm formerly owned by A. J. Goodrich, deceased. He married May
10, 1874, Mary Francis Deyo, of the town of Tioga. Children. Herman A., William N., Lucy E., Mary L., Sarah Frances,
Andrew Jackson and Ruth.
Among the early settlers in this town were James and Benjamin Brooks. Benjamin was born June 10, 1769, in Dublin,
Ireland. The Brooks family came to America first to New Jersey and, in 1789, the brothers came to this town and
located at Pipe Creek,. now Tioga Center. Benjamin married Polly Stowe, and had chil dren: Ira, born December 18,
1805; Polly, born. May 22, 1807 William, born October 8, 1808; Cornelius, born March 28, 1810.; James, born October
31, 1811 ; Sally A., born May 7, 1814; Rachel, born February 8, 1816; Johnson A., born June 2, 1818 ;. Melissa,.
born December 21, 1820; Benjamin, born July 28, 1822; Patty, born April 2, 1824; Harriet, born July 4, 1826. Cornelius
Brooks married Hannah, daughter of Josiah and Susan (Heath) Fuller, October 6, 1829, and settled at Tioga Center,
where he died July 10, 1895. His wife died February 18, 1887. He was a farmer and a lumberman and an upright man.
His seven children were: Rachel T., (Mrs. Cornelius D. Smith of Tioga Center); Harriet C. Benjamin J., George T.,
Lot M., Mary L. C. and Susan D. Lot M. Brooks was born November 18, 1841. - HO married Mary S., daughter of Edward
P. and Susan (Slocum) Robertson, on February 28, 1865 and settled at Tioga Center. His trades are bridgebuilder,
carpenter and farmer. He has two children, Angie (Mrs. DeForest McWhorter) and Fuller L.
MYRON H. POST, son of Dr. Francis
R. and Alice A. (Smith) Post, was born in Tioga Center, August 11, 1874. His education was received at the Tioga
schools and he was graduated from the Union school in 1891. The same year he entered the employ of the N. Y., L.
E. & W. railroad as telegrapher. In 1895, he was appointed extra station agent for the same road, and, in 1896
extra agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Co., and he is now operator in the railroad tower. Mr. Post is a composer
and arranger of instrumental music for bands, orchestras, etc. He married Theodora, daughter of Frank Ellison,
and has one son, Frank H. Post. The Post family originated from the Laziérs, a titled family of France.
An interesting story is connected with the change of name from Lazier to Post. In Louis XVI time (1793-1794), during
the Reign of Terror, the Laziers had their estates confiscated and had to flee the country. One Francis Lazier,
coming to America, secured a position under our government to carry mail between New York and Allegany. In those
days mail carriers were called "post men.". He married and had three sons, who, when they became old
enough, also carried mail and were called "pçst-boys" or "posts;" and in this manner
the name was changed. Some years after the war the emigrants of the Lazier family returned to France and were restored
to their estates in Burgundy, and their descendants now occupy them.
BENJAMIN J. BROOKS, son of Cornelius,
was born about 1840. He enlisted in May, 1861, at Candor in Company K., 26th Regt., N. Y. Vols. He was in several
of the most momentous engagements of the war: Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Bappahannock, Acquia Creek, Rapidan,
Bull's Bluff, Stafford Court House, Second Bull Run. In the latter battle he was wounded in the right shoulder.
He married at Homer, N. Y., October 22, 1863, Mrs.. Maria L. Ford, a daughter of Zerah and Lucy (Chapman) Tanner.
Mr. Brooks is one of the progressive farmers of Tioga county, and is master of the Pomona grange.
JOSIAH GILE or GUILES, son of
Henry, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., and came to this town in 1836, settled near Pipe Creek and took up a lot
of wild land where he built a log house and cleared up a farm. He married Mary, daughter of Daniel Baker. They
had ten children. His son Leonard married Louise, daughter of Samuel and Diadama (Green) Cook, and about 1853 located
on the farm which he now owns and where he resides. This farm he cleared up. Of his ten children nine are living;
Samuel, of Tioga Center, married Sarah Burger ; Maritta (Mrs. W.C. Green), of Tioga Center; Lydia A. (Mrs. Gilbert
Hart), of Candor; Adelaide (Mrs. E. Merritt), of Owego; Andrew of Tioga Center (married Lydia Dewey); Adelbert,
of Tioga; Willis, of Tioga, married Emeline Cook; George, of Tioga, married Flora Bergusen. Waterman Guiles, of
Tioga Center, born November 1, 1844, enlisted in Company F., 179th New York Regt., and was in the battles of Pegram
farm and the series of etigagements before Petersburg, and was discharged June 8, 1865. He married Susan D. Brooks.
He has been a farmer since returning to civil life. In 1887 he came to Tioga Center. Mr. and Mrs. Guiles have three
children, Cornelius, Walter and Mattie. Mr. Guiles is a member of Hagadorn Post, G. A. R., of Halsey Valley.
ARIS and DOLLY HASKIN settled
near Candor. After some years he went to Indiana, where his death occurred soon after. He had four children: Aris,
Dolly (Mrs. John F. Bolster) lives at ConnOaut, Ohio; Phebe, and Elezer Haskin, who was born June 4, 1840. Elezer
had a long and faithful war record. He enlisted April, 1861, in Co. K, of the 26th New York, and participated in
the battles of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Antietam and the first battle of Fredericksburg, serving
his full term of enlistment. After his regiment was discharged, in 1863, he reenlisted in Co. F, 8th regiment,
Hancock's Veteran Corps, and was mustered out in 1866. In 1864 Mr. Haskin married Julia, daughter of Adam Fitzgerald,
of Van Ettenvifie, who died in 1881. They had five children, of whom three are living, Fred E., Harry C. and Fenton.
In 1882 Mr. Haskin married Mrs. Lydia Munn. [Mr. Munn was a soldier in Co. H, Tenth New York cavalry. Mr. and Mrs.
Munn had five children, Lelia W., Carry B., Lewis H., J. D. and Florence M.] After his second marriage Mr. Haskin
settled in Athens, where he lived tifi 1894, when he moved to Foster Valley, Tioga county, stayed there two years,
then moved to Tioga Center in April, 1896. He holds membership in Perkins Post3 No. 202, G. A. R., at Athens, Pa.,
and in Athens lodge, No. 165, of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Haskin's father was George Shafer, son of Dedrick, who came
from Orange county to Ohemung in 1826. His wife was Maria B. Chapman, daughter of Charles and Betsey Chapman. Mr.
Shafer settled in Barton, near Lockwood, and moved from there in 1871 to Schuyler, Neb., where he died in 1895.
WILLIAM J. DRAKE, son of Joseph
and. Oatharine (Willis) Drake, was born in November, 1836, in the town of Barton. His grandfather, Benjamin, was
an early settler there. William was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. March 15, 1860,
he married Emily. daughter of David S. Coleman, and in 1862 made his home at Smithboro, where he was engaged in.
the hardware trade with A. A. Swinton for a number of years. Later he was with his son, Sidney C. Drake, in a general
store comprising dry goods, groceries and hardware, and continued with him to .1888, when he retired by reason
of feeble health. He was justice of the peace for several years and postmaster of Smithboro under President Cleveland's
first administration. He was also a member of Tioga lodge, F. & A. M., and of Smithboro lodge, A. O. U. W.
He was a man of influence and highly respected. He died October 24, 1892, leaving three children, one son, Sidney
C., born April 21, 1863, who married Virginia, daughter of Jeremiah and Frances (Dunham). Hyers, and lives at Nichols,
and two daughters, Hattie M. (Mrs.. E. R. Lounsbury), and Eva D. (Mrs. A. O. Hendershot, of Berkshire).
JOHN GILBERT SMITH, son of Richard
and Oatharine (Decker) Smith, was born December 15, 1820, in Tioga. He carried on lumbering very extensively in
Tioga and was a very prominent man there. On September 21, 1845, he was married with Sally M. Lamont, by whom he
had five children, Emma Ruth (Mrs. John E. Pembleton), Lauren G., Catharine M., Allen L. and Samuel. John E. Pembleton,
son of Charles and Amanda (Ellis) Pembleton, was born November 2, 1842, in Waverly, where he was educated in the
common schools and later attended the high school of Binghamton. He afterward entered the employ of Elmer Bros.,
bankers of Waverly, staying there. five years. For the next eight years he was superintendent of the Waverly paper
mills. He then purchased a farm in Tioga and lived there until he was kicked and killed by his horse, on December
25, 1896. He married Emma Ruth, daughter of John G. and Sally M. (Allen) Smith, May 25, 1870. Their children are
Mary French (Mrs. Rev. H. Ellsworth, of Nichols), adopted; Emily Ruth, and John Gilbert. .
SAMUEL KUYKENDALL, son of Peter
and Deborah (VanDuser) Kuykendall, was born January 30, 1824, in. Phillipsport, N. Y., where he attended the common
schools until he was 15 years old. He then went. to live with his uncle, Samuel VanDuser, of Litchfield, Pa., where
he stayed until 1867, then he came to Tioga,. selling his property in Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm in Tioga;
where he resided until his death, March 26; 1893. As a business he always followed farming. On March 20, 1880,
he married Violetta, daughter of John and Violetta (Bates) Reynolds, who was born May 18, 1845, in Delaware county.
She married, second, Fred Clark, son of Asa, on January 11, 1897. He was born January 19, 1857. He has been a broker
in New York city. He married, first, Etta Hoff, in 1874, by whom he had one child, Georgia A., born June 29, 1879.
John Reynolds was born August 11, 1802. He, on January 29, 1831, married Violetta Bates, and died May 16, 1869.
His wife was born August 22, 1808, and died June 30, 1891. They had nine children: John J., born March 30, 1832;
Abby J., born September 16, 1834; Ezra E., born September 18, 1836; Lemon L., born January 9, 1839; Margaret C.,
born January 6, 1841; Nancy E., born May 25, 1843; Violetta, born May 18, 1845; Lucinda, born May 4, 1852; Sarah
M., born August 11, 1856.
WILLIAM A. LOCKE, son of Benjamin
and Elizabeth M. (Healey) Locke, was born in Providence, R. I., May 23, 1845. When 18 years old, while working
in Chenango county, he enlisted in Co. L., 20th N. Y. Cay., and participated in the important battles in front
of Petersburg, and took active part in many raids, capturing horses, destroying railroads and all kinds of other
property to weaken the enemy. He was thrown from his horse in 1864, dislocated his shoulder and was long confined
in the hospital at Portsmouth, Va. He was honorably discharged at Watertown, N. Y., July 30, 1865. Three of his
brothers were also in the war, Charles, Henry D. (wounded at Petersburg and taken prisoner), James A., of Co. I.,
114th N. Y. Vols., was kified at Sabine Cross Roads, and buried by the enemy on December 25, 1864. Mr. Locke was
married with Ann, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Newell) Baldwin, on February 9, 1860, at Truxton, Cortland county.
They have five children, Minnie S., born February 7, 1869; Arthur J., born March 7, 1876; Earl W., born June 16,
1880; Clyde, born April 17, 1884, and Goldie M., born July 3, 1885. Mr. Locke was pathmaster five years, has been
town, clerk, served as deputy sheriff, eighteen months, and was constable five years in Tompkins county. He is
adjutant of his G. A. R. post. He came to Smithboro on April 14, 1891, and is an active citizen. He is district
clerk, and is a member of both the town and the county republican committees. On arriving in Smithboro, Mr. Locke
purchased the Mansion house which he conducted for five years. In September, 1895, he sold it to E. R. Cox, and
is not now in any active business. Heis a member of the I. O. B. M. lodge and has held all the chairs. He is also
a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, was its treasurer three years and is now right supporter of the vice-grand.
PROF. IRVING F. STETLER, the capable
superintendent of the public schools of Sayre, Pa., is the son of Stokes and Ellen (Duff) Stetler, and was born
in the town of Tioga, this county, on November 28, 1860. Receiving his education at Tioga union school, Owego academy,
and Cortland normal school, he was graduated from the latter in 1885. After teaching a few months at Chenango Forks,
he was in charge of the public schools of Smithboro, N. Y., for two years, then was at Collins Center in Erie county
for two years, next taught at Nichols for five years. His success was such that in 1894 he was called to take charge
of the public schools of Sayre, where he is now located. In December, 1892 he was married with Miss Kate Sherwood
of Nichols.. Mr. Stetler's grandfather, Benjamin Stetler, came to Sayre from Pike county, Pa, about 1835, and in
two or three years moved to Elmira, N. .Y., removing from there to Tioga about fifty years ago. By a second marriage
he had seven children. His son, Stokes, was born in Pike county and came to Tioga with his father.
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