lUN 11 m4 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Shelf_.Al.K3 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. fi:9t Mi t'i'.j AUBURN, N. Y. ITS FACI i n r\ i D. MORRIS KURTZ. -K»- >i^FULLY 4. ILLUSTKATEB.* -K$S — PUBLISHED BY THE KURTZ PUBLISHING 00. 1884. Copyright by THE KURTZ PUBLISHING 00-, 1884. \fW. J. MOREf^,- PRINTER AND HINDKR', AUBURN. N. Y. PREFACE. The object in writing AuBtiRN, N. Y., Its Fa('ILities and Resources, has been to show the rise, growth and progress of Auburn ; its importance as a centre of manufacture and commerce; its attractiveness as a place of residence and the advantages it offers as a location for manufacturing enterprises. The aboriginal history of this locality is full of interest, but does not, in the opinion of the publishers, come within the province of a work of this character, and did it, I would be unable to cope with the subject. It has received the attention of men of ability, however, and a work by the able writers and scholars, Dr. Charles Hawley and General John S. Clark, botli life-long residents of this city, ' is now in press and will soon be issued. While I have not attempted to give a his- tory of Auburn in detail, I have endeavored to sketch a comprehensive outline of its history from the earliest settlement down to the present time, showing its growth and the causes leading to this growth — simply noting its progress and the development of its resources. Considerable space has been devoted to the Auburn Theological Seminary and the Auburn State Prison, and the other public build- ings, grounds and works have received due attention. The material for this part of the work was drawn largely from Henry Hall's "History of Auburn," (pub- lished in 1869 and acknowledged to be the most accurate, and, in fact, the only complete history of Auburn ever written) and the '"History of Cayuga County," by Elliott G. Storke, (1879). The facts given in these two works were carefully com- pared, and when a contradiction was discovered the error was traced and corrected. Hence I believe the historical facts presented in the following pages are accurate and reliable. The chapters devoted to the "Manufacturing Interests " and " General Business Interests'" will be found to contain much of interest not only to the resident of Au- burn but to the general I'eader abroad. Nearly all of the short sketches appearing in these chapters were written by gentlemen employed by the publishers for this purpose. They were instructed to be careful and make no statements that would not bear investigation and could not be substantiated, and especially to be accurate in regard to the historical facts and dates given ; and I believe these instructions were strictly observed. IV PREFACE. The pretense is not made that every manufacturing and mercantile establish- ment in Auburn has been reviewed in these chapters, but it is claimed that very few important enterprises have been neglected. For reasons of their own, the publishers have been pleased to omit the sketches relating to the large axle manu- factories of Sheldon & Co., in the Auburn Prison and on Sheldon Avenue ; the shoe manufactories of Dunn, Barber & Co., in the Auburn Prison and on Garden street ; the hollow ware manufactory of Jones & Merritt, Auburn Prison ; the hame manufactory of Hayden & Boyd, Auburn Prison, and several smaller con- cerns (manufacturing and mercantile), for which I can only express sorrow. But I believe the work, as a whole, will be considered very complete, and hope it will serve the purpose contemplated — that the pen and pencil sketches contained herein may attract the attention of possible investors to this beautiful city, as well as prove interesting to all into whose hands they come. D. M. K. Auburn, N. Y., May, 1884. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Auburn in 1884. A Description of the City on the Hills — Its Location and Surroundings. CHAPTER II. History of Auburn. Formation of Cayuga County — The Military Land Grant — The Town of Aurelius — Its Settlement and the Founding Therein of the City of Auburn. CHAPTER III. History of Auburn. Hardenburgh's Corners — Rivalry Between the "Corners" and Clarksville — Hardenburgh's Corners Grows Rapidly and is Chosen as a Location for the County Seat. CHAPTER IV. History of Auburn. Hardenburgh's Cornel's Named Auburn — -Pi'ogress of the Village Under its New Name — Auburn in 1810 — Five Years Later. CHAPTER V. History of Auburn. Its Incorporation as a Village and the Consequent Improvements — The Building of the State Prison and General Progress — Auburn in 1835. CHAPTER VI. History of Auburn. The Year 1836 and its Promises of a Bright Future — The Panic of 1837 — Slowly Recovering from the Effects of the Panic. CHAPTP]R VII. History of Auburn. Auburn Chartered as a City — Brighter Days and Rapid Progress — The City in 1869. CHAPTER VIII. History of Auburn. The Prosperity Following the War of the Rebellion — The Reaction of 1873 — The Decade from 1873 to 1883. VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. The Theolo(5I(^al Seminary. A Description of the Auburn Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church of Central and Western New York — Its History. CHAPTER X. The Auburn Prison. A History and Description of this Celebrated Penal Institution — The State Asylum for Insane Criminals. CHAPTER XI. The Wheeler Rifles. The State Armory and the Military Organization Occupying It — The Second Separate Company, 7th Brigade, 4th Division, N. G. S. N. Y. CHAPTER XII. Other Public Buildings, Grounds and Works. The City Hall and the County Buildings — The Cayuga Asylum for Destitute Children — The Cemeteries — The Water Works, Gas and Steam Heating Works. CHAPTER XIII. A Pew Facts. Regarding Auburn as a Place of Residence and as a Location for Manu- facturing Enterprises — The Churches, Schools, Libraries, Newspapers, Banks, &c. CHAPTER XIV. Manufacturing Interests. The D. M. Osborne & Co. Works — The Largest Manufactory of Har- vesting Machinery in the World — A City Within Itself. CHAPTER XV. Manufacturing Interests The E. D. (^lapp Enterprises — The E. D. Clapp Manufacturing (Jo. and the E. D. (!lapp Wagon Co. — Two Great Manufactories. CHAPTER XVI. Manufacturing Interests. The Auburn Manufacturing Co. — The Largest Manufacturers of Agri- cultural Hand Implements in the World. CHAPTER XVII. Manufacturing Interests. A. W. Stevens & Son's Thresher and Farm Engine Manufactory — A Successful Enterprise. CHAPTER XVIII. Manufacturi.mg Interests. The Empire Wringer Co. — The Birdsall Co. — Two Important (-ontri- butors to the Wealth of the City. CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER XIX. Manufacturing Interests. Josiah Barber & Son's Carpet Manufactory — The Auburn Button Co. — The Logan Silk Mills. CHAPTER XX. Manufacturing Interests. The Auburn "Woolen Co. — The Canoga Woolen Co. — Nye & Wait's Car- pet Manufactory — Woodcock & Co., the Machinists. CHAPTER XXI. Manufacturing Interests. The Auburn Tool Co. — David Wadsworth & Son, Scythe Manufacturers — C. W. Conklin, Boiler Manufacturer — Auburn Iron Works. CHAPTER XXII. Manufacturing Interests. W. W. Crane, the Iron Pounder and Machinist — Shapley & Peters, Ma- chinists — Isaac W. Quick, Reapers and Mowers — Auburn Agricultur- al Works. CHAPTER XXIII. Manufacturing Interests. William Sutcliffe, the Brewer — The Auburn Mills — J. A. Cook, Oil Man- ufacturer and Dealer — White & Rowe, Carriage Builders — M. J. Schicht. Box Maker. CHAPTER XXIV. Manufacturing Interests. Peat & Klinkert, Furniture Manufacturers and Dealers — The Stone Mill — John M. Hurd, agent — Wills, Home & Co. — Charles J. Schweinfurth — A. P. McDonough. CHAPTER XXV. Manufacturing Interests. Gurdon S. Panning, Brewer and Maltster — D. P. G. & W. 0. Everts & Co. — James A. Stevens — Augustus Rothery — John Elliott — James Holmes — William Koenig. CHAPTER XXVI. General Business Interests. The Auburn Eye and Ear Hospital— The Auburn Paper Co.— Manning, Howland & Clarke — Irven Shoemaker — Walter Bray — H. D. Wlkin. CHAPTER XXVII. General Business Interests. The Auburn Copying House— The Boston Store— Driggs, Phillips & Co. —Fred H. Powell— Henry L. Adams— J. M. Elliott— J. L. Baker. CHAPTER XXVIII. General Business Interests. The New Era in Auburn Real Estate — A. W. Lawton's Real Estate and Insurance Agency — Barker, Griswold & Co. viir CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIX. General Business Interests. Sketches of Two Successful Men — John E. Allen, Proprietor of the Os- borne House — James C. Stout, the Contractor and Builder. CHAPTER XXX. Cteneral Business Interests. Watson, Cox & Co. — Weeks, Cossura & Co. — TenEyck & Co. — C. A. Por- ter — L. Marshall. CHAPTER XXXI. General Business Interests. Lyon, Elliott & Bloom— Ward & Tompkins— W. J. Sutton— Three Well- Known Genesee-street Houses. CHAPTER XXXII. General Business Interests. Ingalls & Co. — The Singer Sewing Machine Co. — The Auburn Copying Co. — Frederick Allen. CHAPTER XXXIII. General Business Interests. A. E. Swartout — John W. Rice — Alex. McCrea — Henry 1). Barto — Four Widely-Known Business Men. CHAPTER XXX IV. General Business Interests. David W. Barnes — William C. Burgess — The Auburn Portrait ( 'o. — Mitchell J. Cameron. CHAPTER XXXV. General Business Interests. J. Henry Ivison — Charles Carpenter & Son — Charles H. Sagar — Henry W. Brixius — Green & Wicks — John K. Tallman — S. C, Tallman &. Co. — Or- lando S. ('lark. AUBURN, N. Y. ITS FACILITIE AND RESOURCES, CHAPTER I. AUBURN IN 1884. A Description of the City on the Hills — Its Location and Surroundings. AMONG the great chain of lakes in the central part of the State of New York, the Owasco, although one of the smallest, is probably the greatest in jwint of commercial value, by reason of the immense water power it affords. — The country surrounding is much broken by a succession of hills and dales that are the chief characteristics in the topography of the entire lake region. On the emi- nences that bound the basin of the Owasco Lake on the north, at the point where the outlet, breaking through the hills, leaps down a succession of natural and artificial waterfalls and affords a water power that in many respects is the most magnificent in the State, is planted the City of Auburn. Covering an area three miles square. Auburn, with its wide and shaded streets, handsome residences, massive public and private buildings, and immense manufac- tories, is certainly one of the most attractive, as it is one of the most prosperous cities in Western New York. The Owasco Outlet, at a distance of two miles from the lake, runs into the city with a northerly course, makes an abrupt curve in the heart of the town and runs out directly westward, having turned on its way, the 10 AUBURN, X. Y., ITS wheels of many busy factories. The ground descends toward the outlet in ever)' part of the city proper, and a large portion of the town lies in the valley of the stream, which is spanned by numerous bridges. The streets are laid out with con- siderable though not entire regularity, among the residences the blocks being rect- angular in shape, while in the business portion they are polygons of every descrip- tion. Genesee street, the principal business thoroughfare, starts on the hill in the east, dips down into the valley of the outlet, crosses the Owasco, ascends the western hill, and then descends into the valley again still farther west. The plain upon the bold hill that bounds the valley on the north and east contains some fine residences and important public institutions, among them the Theological Semi- nary, but is generally occupied by the dwellings of the growing raanufcicturing population, while surrounding the beautiful eminence in the southwestern part of the city known as Fort Hill, whose groves and green sides aided the landscape gardeners in an extraordinary degi-ee, are built the elegant mansions of the wealthy manufacturers and capitalists. The northern part of the city, lying in the valley, is brought into prominence through the location here of the massive structures occupied by the State Prison, but also contains many large mercantile buildings and a number of attractive houses. " The residences of the place," wrote Henry Hall in 1869, " are, for the most part, solid and elegant structures of brick and wood, and stand in the midst of lawns, conservatories, fountains, choice shrubbery and other evidences of taste. The business blocks are massive cut stone and brick edifices, with handsome fronts and interior-;, and are generally four stories high. The public buildings and works are of superior finish and archi- tecture. Auburn fully maintains the reputation for beauty accorded to her mod- est little namesake in Europe,* despite the ugliness of ancient I'ookeries in some of the older streets and the drawbacks in this direction that attend an extensive manufacturing town." And this description still answers, with the exception of such modern improvements as have only sei'ved to beautify the city. Bows of handsome elms, maples, poplars and sycamores adorn every street ; from all parts of the city rise the tall spires of uniformly elegant church edifices ; and the vis- itor Ls at once impressed by the strange combination of all the life and bustle of a busy manufacturing town with the beauty and attractiveness of a rural city of homes exclusively. The population of Auburn is about 20,000, but it presents the appearance of a city of much larger size. Its stores and shops rival those of neighboring cities of greater pretensions, and its manufactories rank among the first in their respective lines of industry, some of them, indeed, being acknowledged as the largest of their kind in the world. A densely populated farming region, widely known for natural beauty and productiveness of soil, surrounds the city and furnishes it with a large trade. Auburn is situated near the centre of Cayuga County, in latitude N. 42 deg. 53 min., and longitude deg. 53 min, E. fi'om Washington, This county lies about equi-distant from Albany on the east and Buffalo on the west. It is the eastern- most of the lake counties, having Skancateles Luike on its eastern boundary, Owasco Lake in the interior, and Cayuga Lake upon the west, with Lake Ontario on its northern boundary. The counties of Oswego, Onondaga and Cortland bound it on the cast, Tompkins on the south, and Seneca and Wayne on the west. It extends from north to south a distance of 55 miles, with an average breadth of about 14 miles. The distance from Auburn to Syracuse is 2C miles; to Albany ♦See chapter IV, "ILiidt-nburgh's Corners named Auburn.* FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 11 GENESEE STREET, LOOKING EAST FROM STATE, 174 miles; to New York, 318 miles; to Boston, 374 miles. From Auburn to Roch- ester the distance is 78 miles; to Buffalo, 174 miles; to Chicago, 685 miles. To the city of Philadelphia, via Southern Central Railroad, it is 374 miles, and to Washington by the same route, the distance is 400 miles. The neighborhood of beautiful lakes, whose waters teem with delicious fish and which are surrounded by the most inspiring scenery, add largely to the attractive- ness of Auburn as a place of residence. The Owasco, but two miles distant, al- though having an extreme width of only one and a quarter miles and a length of ten and three-quarter miles, is one of the prettiest in the great chain of lakes and affords a delightful retreat during the hot summer months. On its banks are built many neat cottages, the occupants of which while away the summer days in yacht- 12 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS ing and other kindred enjoyments. Skaneatelcs Lake, about twelve miles south- east, is another pretty little lake noted for its picturesqueness, while twelve miles west lies the far-famed Cayuga, 40 miles long and from one to three miles wide. On Cayuga Lake is the noted summer resort. Sheldrake Point; the pretty little village of Aurora, with its Military Academy and Wells College for young ladies; the celebrated Taghanic F'alls — and at the foot of the lake is the large and beauti- ful village of Ithaca, where is located the great Cornell University. And a few miles farther west lies Seneca, made famous by its Watkins Glen, and the elegant summer hotel at Long Point. All these equally delightful resorts being easy of access, Auburnians have such unfailing means of relaxation and pleasure that the location of their city may, indeed, be considered an enviable one. Here was the home of William II. Seward, whose name goes down to posterity with that of Abraham Lincoln, the mai-tyr, and Thaddeus Stevens, the great com- moner. And here, too, when the site of Auburn was simply the Indian village of Wasco, in the midst of a wilderness, was born the Indian sachem, Logan, known among his people as Tah-gah-jute. " Who is there to mourji for Logan ? Not one." These, the concluding words of his last speech to the white men and bis brothers in council, for the beauty and force of which he is so celebrated, are graven upon a monument standing in the beautiful cemetery now occupying the site of a fort that two hundred years or more before was occupied by the forefathers of this illustrious pagan. What changes have been wrought in the flight of time 1 CHAPTER II. History of Auburn. FORMATION OF CAYUGA COUNTY — THE MILITARY LAND GRANT — THE TOWN OF AURELIUS — ITS SETTLEMENT AND THE FOUNDING THEREIN OF THE CITY OF AUBURN. CAYUGA COUNTY, of which Auburn is the capital, was fonncd from Onon- daga, March 8, 1799. The first general subdivision of the western part of New York state into townships took i)lace in 1789. All Western New York was then denominated — in honor of an eminent General of the Revolution — I\Iont- gomery County, the name it bore in colonial times (Tryon) having been discarded. In the sub-division of the county, the principal part of what is now Cayuga County was embraced within the limits of the town of Batavia. The towns of Aurelius and Milton were erected therefrom January 27, 1789, the former compris- ing all of the last named county north of an east and west line passing through the southern part of the village of Union Sjjrings; and the latter, the present towns of Genoa, Locke and Summerhill. The title to the whole territory owned by the Cayuga Iroquois was purchased February 25, 1789, and the State govern- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 13 ment, through Hon. Simeon DeWitt, the Surveyor General, was fast surveying and accurately mapping the country; the humbled Iroquois nations were begin- ning to retire from their broad territories ; the doom of the red man was foretold, and henceforth that fair land which had been the hunting ground of his people for ages past, was to bo be the home of his white " brothei-." The county of Herkimer was erected from jMontgomery, February 16, 1791, and on March 5, 1794, Onondaga was formed from a part of Herkimer. On the day following the erection of Cayuga from Onondaga — March 8, 1799 — the only town- ships of the present Cayuga County were Aurelius (so-named after Sextus Aurelius Victor, the celebrated Roman historian whom the Emperor Constantius made con- sul,) Milton, Scipio and Sempronius. The first settlement within the present limits of Cayuga County was made in 1789 at Aurora, by Roswell Franklin, from Wyoming, and the subsequent influx of emigrants into the county was very rapid. In 1800, twelve years after the first settler had fixed his home here, Cayuga County had 15,097 inhabitants, the accession thus averaging for eleven years over 1,200 per year; while Onondaga had then but 7,698. The tendency of emigration is thus seen to have been to the "lake region," the reputation of which for health and fertility had been widely circulated by the officers and soldiers of Sullivan's army, whose reports were confirmed by the subsctiuent surveyors and land seekers. The law of the United States Congress, passed on the 16th day of September, 1776, pursuant to a report of the Board of War, providing for the enlistment of eighty-eight battalions of men to carry on the then lately declared war for inde- pendence, enacted that all officers and soldiers who should remain in the service till the close of the war or till discharged by Congress, and the representatives of such as should be slain by the enemy, should be entitled to receive from the Gov- ernment, upon the ratification of a treaty of peace, a grant of the United States' lands in Ohio, or a bounty. It was provided that privates should receive 100 acres of land, and officers in proportion to their rank ; the Major-General's bounty be- ing fixed at 1,100 acres. An act of the New York Legislature of March 20, 1781, authorizing the formation of two regiments for the defense of the State frontier, promised the members of these regiments a bounty of land equal to five times their United States grant, and in addition to the same. At the close of the war an arrangement was perfected by the State by which the New York soldiers were permitted to relinquish their claim upon the United States bounty and to receive double grants in one parcel located in their own territory. Peace having been declared, the volunteers of New York demanded their bounties. But, as the In- dian title to the unsettled lands was not yet extinguished, a delay ensued. The troops became clamorous, and on May 15, 1786, the Surveyor General was directed to lay out a number of townships in the northern part of the state to satisfy their claims. These lands, comprising what is known as the old military tract, were located in Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties. At this time the wonderful re- ports brought home by the soldiers sent out into the Cayuga and Seneca counties to punish the Indians — of the extraordinary loveliness and fertility of the regions about the seven lakes, and the majesty and commercial value of the forests that covered them — began to be generally noised abroad. Hearing this, speculators who were holding large numbers of soldiers' claims, induced the State authorities to defer their final settlement until an opportunity could be afforded of buying the Indian right to the more favored districts in the interior. This right was acquired^ as previously stated, in 1789. The Surveyor-General was then directed to locate the bounty lands in the Indian territories. One million eight hundred thousand 14 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS acres were ordered to be set aside for the object, and to be surveyed into townships containing 100 lots of 600 acres each. Each lot the size of the share of a private was to be subject to a tax of 48 shillings to discharge the expense of the survey. The Onondaga Military Tract, as it was for many years known (embracing the pres- ent counties of Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga and Cortland, and portions of Wayne, Steuben and Oswego), was accordingly laid out and mapped witliout further delay by General Simeon Do Witt and his associates, Abraham Hardenbui'gh and Moses De Witt. At a meeting of the commissioners of the land office, held in the city of New York, July 3, 1790, twenty-five townships were reported as surveyed and a map was submitted for approval and accepted. Governor George Clinton being present, named and immbered the townships, Aurelius being numbered 8. The town lots were then distributed to those claiming them under the law, by ballot. This balloting was carried on at intervals for about two years, at the end of which time all obligations of the State for the payment of bounties in land had been dis- charged. In the meantime the whole of the State lying west of the military tract had passed into private hands by purchase of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and was being offered for sale by the proprietors. A farm might tlien be bought anywhere in the interior of New York. The only obstacle to immediate settlement was the dense and almost trackless forest that overspread the country. It was im- passible to penetrate this wilderness by other means than the Indian trails and the streams and lakes. The trails, however, being widened by hewing out the trees, a torrent of emigration set in to every part of the interior, and the forest was rap- idly peopled with sturdy Englishmen and Dutchmen. The pioneers were largely composed of veterans of the Revolution, yet thousands caine from New England, driven out by the effect of the suppression of Shay's rebellion in 1780, and at- tracted by rumors of the beauty and fertility of this favored region; and many also came from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The town of Aurelius came prominently into notice in this era of general settle- ment, and attracted emigration from places as far distant as Maryland, Massachu- setts and Connecticut, being, with the neighboring town of Scipio, well known as abounding in rich soils, magnificent scenery and unusual facilities for the suc- cessful prosecution of farming and manufacturing. The circumstances which con- stitute the first historical record of Auburn relate to six town lots in Aui'clius. They are designated by the Surveyor General, upon his map of the original town- ships of Aurelius, by the numbers 37, 38, 40, 47, 50 and 57, and are arranged in three tiers, the first two mentioned comprising the northern ; the next two the mid- dle, and the last two the southern tier. Lot No. 37, in the northwest section of the plot, became the property of Robert Dill, who held and improved it, though before his purchase it had passed through several hands from the soldier to whom it had been awarded. His title is dated December 12, 1791 ; he sold in 1790 to Amos and Gideon Tyler, 100 acres each from this lot, the former paying £40 and the latter £80 for their respective purchases. Lot No. 38, in the northeast corner, was pur- chased after the completion of the survey, on I'ebruary 27, 1789, by Garrett Van- Wagener. The sum paid for it is not stated, tlic title having also previously passed through several hands. Noah Olmstead, Jr., bought the south half of this lot in December, 1794, paying for it £120 (about $2 per acre.) Five hundred acres of lot No. 46, in the western part, was bought by Robert Dill for $1,200, and 100 acres lying in the southeast corner of the lot, in what is now the heart of the city of Auburn, was bought by William Bostvvick, in 1794, for $750. Lot No. 47, in the FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 15 southeastern section, was purchased by John L. Hardenburgh, who paid £90 for his purchase— about 75 cents per acre. The bond he gave for the purchase money is dated February 20, 1792, and a receipt of its full payment is dated July 17, fol- fowing. Lot No. 50, in the southwest corner, became by grant the property of Nicholas Avery, who sold it to Edward Cumpston for twenty pounds sterling. On September 23. 1790, the title was vested by deed in Jeremiah Van Rensselaer — to whom the patent was issued — and Abraham Ten Eyek. Stephen N. Bayard bought the lot next, but sold part of his interest in it in June, 1792, to Eldad ^ Steel, and the balance, in July, 1792, to Bethel 6. Steel. Lot No. 57 was awarded to Colonel Peter Gansevoort, who retained the farm till he knew its value, and sold it in January, 1805, to Samuel Swift for |4,000. Among the deputy surveyors engaged under the direction of the Surveyor-Gen- eral and his assistants in surveying and mapping the townships in the Onondaga Military Tract was Captain John L. Hardenburgh, of Ulster County — a tall, swarthy officer, of Dutch descent, who was distinguished no less for gallantry in his regiment (the Second New York), while on Sullivan's expedition against the Seneca and Cayuga Indians, than for his ability as a surveyor. He was called in the discharge of his official duties to various parts of the military tract, and ac- quired a thorough acquaintance with its resources and character. With the wild valley in lot No. 47, Aurelius, he was particularly impressed. It was buried in dense woods, and unfavorable to immediate occupation from its swamps, but the immense water power of the Owasco River, arrested his attention. The stream, draining the Owasco Lake and the surrounding country, was a rapid for miles, abounding in little cascades and falls, while its current was full and strong, afford- ing facilities for manufacturing that were incomparable. The deputy surveyor, dreaming already of the future city, resolved to secure the water power by pur- chase of the adjacent lands, and found, if possible, a settlement at this point. Finding, upon balloting for bounties, in 1790, that the grants to which he was himself entitled were located in Fabius and Cicero, he sought out the assignees of Lot No. 47, and made a trade with them by which he became the proprietor of a tract embracing water privileges which promised to be the most valuable on the stream. Fitted by his vigorous habits and iron frame for a pioneer's life, ("aptain John L. Hardenburgh, the founder of Auburn, came into the township of Aurelius. early in 1793, and took possession of his farm, which was easily accessible by means of a rude wagon track or trail * that ran through the woods directly by the spot. He brought with him into the wilderness one child, a daughter, and two negro slaves, Harry and Kate Freeman. Undetermined, at first, where to build, he spent several days examining the valley, sleeping at night under the trees, and, at length, choosing a spot of dry ground near the road where it ci'ossed the Owasco, he engaged Gilbert Goodrich, a neighboring settler, to build him a cabin, the slave Harry in the meanwhile beginning to make a clearing. As soon as possible, after becoming settled in his new home in the woods. Captain Harden- burgh began the work of biiilding a grist mill. Throwing across the Owasco a stout log dam,f he employed two men from a neighboring settlement to build the mill, which was soon complete and running. It was built of logs, and covered * The old Genesee road, which entered the township from the northccstand crossing the site of Auburn very nearly upon the line of East and West Genesee streets, ran in a crooked man- ner westerly to Cayuga Lake. + A few rods above the present stone dam cf th3 Lewis mill. 16 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS with boughs, and contained one run of stone capable of grinding twelve bushels, of grain per day. Hitherto the nearest mill had been at Seneca Falls, or at Lud- lowville, now in Tompkins County, and the journey to either place over the forest roads, by plodding ox teams, was long and toilsome in the extreme. The erection of tlie new mill upon theOwaseo was, therefore, hailed with joy by the surrounding settlers, who speedily became its customers. The little mill more than realized the expectations of its builder, exercising from the outset the most important in- fluences on the destinies of the valley, and performing for Captain Hardcnburgh an essential service, bringing his property into notice and making his farm a sort of centre, residence at which was soon desii-able for business purposes. And thus was founded the city of Auburn. CHAPTER III. History of Auburn. HARDENBURGH'S CORNERS — RIVALRY BETWEEN THE '^CORNERS" AND CLARKSVILLE — HARDENBURGH'S CORNERS GROWS RAP- IDLY AND IS CHOSEN AS A LOCATION FOR THE COUNTY SEAT. THE INDIANS were the only occupants of the site of Auburn when Captain Hardenburgh settled, but settlers were now arriving in the township, and as the Captain extended the hospitalities of his house to every new comer, the nucleus of a village was soon gathered here, and the aborigines disappeared. The woods in the Owasco Valley were stocked with all kinds of game, and the in- habitants were compelled for yeai"s to practice constant watchfulness in order to in- sure the safety of their families and of their flocks and crops. Deer, squirrels, bears and wolves roamed the forest in almost incredible numbere, and wild fowl, foxes, rabbits and raccoons existed in myriads. The cranberry swamp north of an Indian village near Ilardenburgh's cabin, was a favorite retreat for large animals. But the wilderness contained no animals that were more dreaded, at first, than the wolves, for they were gaunt, powerful, red-haired beasts, hideous in appearance and dangerous as enemies, inspiring such terror by their numbers that some of the first residents of the township built their cabins, for the sake of security, without doors, making the windows, with the aid of a ladder, serve all the pur[)oses of en- trance and exit. Panthei"s were rarely seen, yet no man durst venture into the lonely i)arts of the woods without his gun, for feai- of meeting them. So great was originally the abundance of game in the township of Aurelius tliat the early settlers depended i)rincipally upon the chase for animal food. The town government of Aurelius was not yet organized and put into operation, owing to the great size of the township and the lack of inhabitants, and on the first Tuesday of April, 1794, the first town meeting was held at the house of Cap- tain Hardenburgh. The settlers, a sturdy, weatherbeaten band, gathered in the log cabin and selected their supervisor, town clerk, committee on schools, over- seers of highways, constables, pathmasters, fence-viewers, collector and pound- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 17 keeper. It took nearly the whole population of the town to fill the offices. With the organization of the town government, however, improvements began making that made Aurelius more safe and attractive to settlers, and the influx of emi- grants began that has resulted in a population that cannot find enough oifices to be filled. The direct result of the operations of Captain Hardenburgh's mill, was an accu- mulation of settlers about the junction of the two roads there, which was called Hardenburgh's Corners. The point had become a jirofitable centre for merchants, and in 1795 James O'Brien came to the farm, erected a little log house, and opened the first regular store in the place. He was soon followed by others, in- cluding Dr. Samuel Crosset, the first physician; and in 1796, Samuel Bristol came to the Corners and opened the first public house. During this year, too, the first institution of learning was opened in a little log house. These advantages natur- ally attracted greater attention to the settlement, more people came in, and the building of a village of importance here then became an assured fact. Jehiel Clark, of Ballston Springs, Saratoga County, settled on the Owasco Creek on Lot 45, in 1795, and immediately constructed a log dam, alongside of which, in 1798, he built saw and grist mills. The latter, which contained two runs of stone, was built with a massive frame, capable of defying the ravages of centuries, and its heavy beams may this day be seen in the mills of John S. Bristol, on Aiirelius avenue. Mr. Clark made an effort to start a city at this point, and at one time seemed in a fair way to succeed, for the nucleus of a community was quickly formed in the vicinity, which became known as Clarksville. Several roads which were built to open up easy access to the mills themselves, made the farm quite an important place. Hardenburgh and Clark were both vigorous and enterprising men, and between them there was a sharp rivalry as to whicii should draw to his locality the greatest number of settlers and secure the most business. But their rivalry only resulted in mutual benefit, and the two villages soon became one in fact, and then in name. Every road leading to Westei-n New York, in 1800, was choked with emigrants, bound to the military lands and the Valley of the Genesee, large numbers of whom settled by the side of the old Genesee trail, as they were able to obtain suitable farms. The oak openings in the present town of Aurelius, and the fertile towns to the South, were then competing strongly for settlers with the densely wooded and otherwise unfavored valley of the Owasco. The cleared ground at the Corners did not, at this time, exceed 150 acres, and the cultivated ground was embraced by a few small gardens. A succession of ridges, bogs and rills, a dismal and dangerous swamp, and stagnant pools scattered everywhere throiighout the woods, did not make the place a paradise, although the surrounding scenery Avas wild and imj^os- ing. The roads were always wet, and winter was the best time to travel, cold weather always stimulating emigration. In the summer, the road through the Corners was the worst between Utica and Canandaigua, 'a reputation which it sus- tained for thirty years. It was a source of great discomfort both to travelers and residents, and in conjunction with the wet lands exercised an unfavorable influ- ence on the place. The latter, indeed, came near proving fatal to the embryo city, many settlers being so prejudiced by them against the locality as to refuse to come here at all, and some, once established, afterward going away. Bristol's tavern, on the knoll, and Bostwick's, embowered among the trees, Hardenburgh's and Clark's grist mills, Hyde's tannery, Crossett's, O'Brien's and Bristol's stores, Burt's ashery, Goodrich's tavern and about a dozen log farm houses, formed the 18 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS germ of the future city. And despite the unfavorable condition of tliinsjs, otlier settlers begun to locate here. Stages were, in 1800, running over the old Genesee road once a week, and during this year a post-office was established at the Corners, with a mail every fortnight. The inhabitants of the settlement were so augmented in numbers by 1803, that they extended a call to the Rev. David Higgins, of Haddam, Conn., who as a missionary had been holding religious services every four weeks at Aurelius, Cay- uga, Grover's Settlement and Hardenburgh's Corners, to officiate hei-c regularly. The call was accepted and the reverend gentleman came here to live. The con- struction of the great Genesee road, or Seneca turnpike, in 1802 and 1803, (for a quarter of a century the principal channel of trade and communication across the State of New York,) wafted many fresh settlers to the little hamlet, and a number of improvements were to be seen at Hardenburgh's Corners. The gig mill was superceded in 1802 by a story-and-a-half frame building containing a run of stone capable of grinding thirty bushels of grain daily; in 1803, another run of stone was added, increasing the capacity to 130 bushels daily, and in 1804, Colonel Harden- burgh also built a fulling mill. Thus each year showed a marked progress. For several years after the organization of the original Cayuga County, the vil- lage of Aurora, which was then central and nearest to the most populous towns, was its capital. Though not designated by law as the county seat, it was the placi3 in which the courts were held and the supervisors convened, and was gener- ally regarded as the leading market town of the county. The jail of the district was located at Canandaigua, although there was for a long time a log building at Cayuga that was used for the imprisonment of debtors. The growth and extent of the county necessitating a division of its territory, a law was passed in 1804, reduc- ing it to nearly its present size. Through the influence of Amos Rathbun, of Seipio, and .John Grover, of Aurelius, both Federalists, and then members of the Legislature, the law was made to contain a provision for the erection of the court house and jail of the newly-defined county at the village of Sherwood's Corners, under the direction of three commissioners, to defray the expenses of which the supervisors were to raise, by tax, the sum of $1,.'500. A warm controversy arose in the county over this action of the Legislature. The inconvenience of travel to Sherwood's Corners, which was far one side of the territorial centre of the county, and of the principal lines of inter-communication, led all the other villages to oppose the location of the county buildings there, and to assert their own claims to the honor of the county seat. Jehiel Clark, among others, advocated the ei'ection of the Court House at Clarksville; but Hardenburgh's Corners, Cayuga, Lavanna and Aurora each stoutly contested for the prize. The three commissioners never acted under the law of 1804, further than to designate a site for the building at Sherwcxjd's. The law was revoked and on the IGth day of May, 1805, Hon. Ed- ward Savage, f)f Washington county, Hon. James Burt, of Orange County, (both then State Senators,) and Hon. James Hildreth, of Montgomery County, were ap- pointed to explore Cayuga County, and decide the location of its capital. The commissioners discharged this duty the June following, and Hardenburgh's Corners was chosen the county scat for its eentrality, its position in the highways of travel, and its prosi)ectivc importance. The commissioners only required that one acre of land should be donated for the site of the public buildings. They selected a location on William Bostwick's farm, and Dr. Burt, Henry Ammerman, John H. Cumpston and Daniel Hyde agreed that the State should receive a deed for it, which j)roniise was in due time fulfilled. The southern towns were exceedingly FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 19 dissatisfied at the location of tlie county seat on the Owaseo, and their supervisors, by refusing to appropriate suitable funds, delayed the building- of the Court House seTeral yeai-s. The citizens of the Cornere, however, began the constxuction of the building with their own resources, and then procured the passage of a law impos- ing a fine of $250 upon every supervisor refusing to levy taxes when legally re- quired. They then sued six of the obstreperous officials under the law, and a com- promise was thus effected. The money was raised to finish the court house and the work was completed in 1809 under the supervision of John Grover, Stephen Chase and Noah Olmstead, at an expense of $10,000. It was a strong, wooden edifice, two stories high, and was painted white. The jail and jailor's apartments were contained in the lower story, the walls of which were built of huge upright logs, united with heavy iron spikes. The lawn in front of the building, which stood a few feet behind the site of the present Court House, was a convenient and popular place for public meetings, and "Court House Green," as it was then called, was often thus used in pleasant weather. CHAPTER IV. History of Auburn. HARDENBURGH'S CORNERS NAMED AUBURN— PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGE UNDER ITS NEW NAME— AUBURN IN 1810— FIVE YEARS LATER. WHEN the State Commissioners had signified to the citizens of Har- denburgh's Corners their intention to constitute this place the county seat, the propriety of a more dignified and manageable name for the village was suggested, and the subject was agitated. At a jmblic meeting of the inhabitants, assembled for a decision of the question, a variety of views were disclosed, and the matter was referred to a committee consisting of Dr. Ellis, Dr. Samuel Crosset and .Moses Sawyer. Dr. Crosset suggested the adoption of the name "Auburn," which the committee Avas disposed to accept, and accordingly reported to the meeting. But the prototype of the poet's Auburn, which was situ- ated in the county of Longford, Ireland, in a parish or curacy held by his uncle, twelve miles north of the railroad that traverses the island from Galway to Dub- lin, and just east of the river Shannon, was not only the loveliest, but the most neg- lected village of the beautiful plain upon which it stood. Colonel Hardenburgh and several others therefore opposed the adoption of the Committee's report on the ground thiit the name "Auburn" was synonymous with " deserted village," and would injure the place. In lieii of Auburn, they suggested the names " Har- denburgh," and "Mount Maria." Captain Edward Wheeler liked none of these, but was in favor of calling the place "Centre." After a strong debate "Auburn," was finally chosen by a very large majority, and although a meeting was subse- quently called to induce the people to I'everse this decision, no departure was per- mitted from their first action. 20 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS Rapid growth at Hardenburgh's Corners, or Auburn, as it must now be called, began with the designation of the village as the capital of the county, the erection of the public buildings and the removal here of the archives. These wei"e impor- tant measures, and they overturned a settled but adverse condition of things in the county. A strong corps of lawyers, who expected to reside at the county scat, where- ever it might be, was attracted hither, and the village gained through them wealth, influence and a valuable class of citizens. Since 1804. the village had been in re- ceipt of a serai-weekly mail, but in 1808 the postal facilities were increased by a daily mail. During this year, too, was established the first newspaper, the West- ern Federalist, by Henry and James Pace, two Englishmen, who had commenced the publication of the Gazette a.t Aurora two years previously, but, being starved out by the removal of the county seat, brought their whole office to Aubiu-n, as being a more profitable field of operation. The Western Federalist was printed on coarse blue paper, ten inches wide, by fifteen long, and was issued weekly. Seventeen little manufacturing establishments, scattered along the banks of the Owaseo Outlet in 1810, betokened the progress of local improvements. But the best illustration of the progress made by the village, is furnished by the fol- lowing description written by DeWitt Clinton, who visited Auburn at this time: "Auburn derives its name from Goldsmith. It contains three tan- neries, three distilleries, one coachmaker, two watchmakers, six merchants, three shoemakers, two potasheries, two wagon makers, three blacksmiths, two chairmakers. three saddlers, three physicians, a Presbyterian clergyman, and an incorporated library of two hundred and twenty volumes. It is the county town, and has about ninety houses, three law oifices, a post office, the court house and the County Clerk's office. It is a fine growing place and is indebted to its hy- draulic works and the court house for its prosperity. There are sixt^^en lawyers in Cayuga County. Auburn has no church. The court house is used for divine wor- ship. It is situated on the outlet of Owaseo Lake, on numbers forty-six and for- ty-seven, Aurelius. One hundred acres of forty-six belong to William Bostwick, inn-keeper, and the remainder to Robert Dill. The former has asked t, were the results of 1810. By the winter of 1817 the south wing was in readiness for the ro;:eption of criminals, of whom fifty-three were then re- ceived from the jails of adjacent counties to aid the work of construction. Eighty- seven more were received in 1818 for the same purpose, and during this year the State Commissioners on construction ti'ansferred the government of the jirison to a Board of Inspectors appointed by the Jjegislature, consisting of Hon. Elijah Mil- ler, Hon. John H. Beach, James Glover, Archy Kasson, and George Casey. Wil- FACULTIES AND RESOURCES. 43 Ham Brittin was by this board appointed the first agent and keeper of the prison. Authority for the employment of convict labor in building the prison was confer- red on the State Commissioners in April, 1817, both to relieve the crowded jails and to save the wages of free workmen. The practice was, however, a source of annoyance frojn the start. The criminals having unrestniined intercourse with the workmen and mechanics, notwithstanding the presence of the guards, infected them with sympatliy lor tne panijhment and privations the former were endur- ing and le.: to the most turbulent an I riotous actions on the part of both. An in- cident of the spring of 1821 exhibits the extent of the evil alluied to. It having become necessary to punish three disobedient convicts by whipping, and the keep- ers refusing to perform the repulsive task, a blaccsmicn by tlio name of Thomp- son vv-as, one Saturday eve, Cdlle I in t ) do cne work. Ad wnipped the men, was paid for the job, and theii left the prison for his home in the valley. As he passed through the prison gate he was seized by a crowd of furious laborers, tarred from head to foot, and borns througn the streets astride a rail. The ringleader of the mob, with a hen under his arm. walked by the side of the unfortunate Thompson, .•'.nd plucking haudiuls of leathers from the screaming fowl, stuck them to the blacksmith's tarry cj:'.t. i'nis shocking affair was condignly punished as a riot. On the otiier hanu the convicts, stimulatei by this outside sympathy, learned to be rebellious, transgresse.i the rulco of the shop at every opportunity, set fire to the l)uii(iings aim (lest-oyed their work whenever they dared. Fearful insurrec- tions in other prisons were not then uncommon; and the citizens of Auburn were, at this stage of the case, oppressed with the fear that they might be called on to encounter an irruption of criminals into the town. This sense of insecurity among the citizens resulted in the organization of the prison guard, (afterward known as the Auburn Guard,) in 1820, which was armed and equipped by the State, and provided with an armory in the upper story of the stone building built upon and within the front wall of the prison, in the northern part, to which en- trance was had from the street by means of a staircase. The eflicient conduct of this corps in times of danger, and especially during the burning of the north wing of the prison in November, 1820, when it was called upon to march the convicts to their cells at the point of the bayonet ; and increased discipline in the prison itself, soon removed every apprehension in Auburn of the convicts breaking out and mak- ing a descent upon the village. The malice of the prisoners, however, led to an- other precautionary measure, ^. e., the formation in the same year of a fire com- pany among the citizens, attached to the prison. The engine which this company used was purchased by the State and was kept in the lower story of the prison armory, a door, since walled up, being then opened through the outside wall to enable citizens to use the machine whenever necessary to suppress fires in the vil- lage. The prison went rapidly forward till 1828, when the massive main hall and wings, extensive wooden workshops, and an inclosing stone wall twenty feet high, had been completed, at a cost of $400,000. " Copper John," made in Auburn by John D. Cray, surmounted the pinnacle of the central building. The north wing, which had been fashioned to effect the solitary and silent confi:ie.nent of the prisoners, upon the plan devised by Mr. Brittin, then contained one hundred and eighty-five cells only. These cells were seven feet long, the same high, three and a half feet wide and were separated by walls of solid masonery one foot thick ; they were each provided with a ventilator and secured by strong, iron-bound wooden doors, with grated openings. They were arranged in a block five stories high — access to 44 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS the different stories being had by stairs and galleries running along the face and sides of the block — standing within an inclosed building, which it touched only at the roof. An area ten feet wide lay thus between the cells and outer walls, the patrols posted on which were enabled to detect the slightest movements of the prisoners and foil all theii- attempts to escape or to communicate with each other. The south wing was not, in 1828, much used. It contained a large number of rooms, holding from two to twenty men each, but upon completion of the north wing, the men were all taken out and subjected to solitary confinement in that wing, and the other fell into disuse, and was subsequently rebuilt on the new plan. An enlargement to the prison grounds was made necessary in 1834 by the growth of the institution. In Mav of that year the title to twelve acres and a fraction of the land lying between Factory (now Wall street) and the outlet west of the pris- on buildings, was acquired by the State, and soon after an area 500 feet square was inclosed and shops built upon it. Further improvements and erections were added to the prison froni time to time until it attained its present massive proportions. The change from iijdiscriminate confinement was made for the first time in America at the Auburn prison. The ijjain building and south wing, which were finished in 1818, contained sixty-one double cells and twenty-eight apartments, holding from ten to twenty each, jnto which the convicts were put as fast as they arrived. Women were also received here from the first, and they were confined in- discriminately in a large room in the south wing. Workshops had been erected in 1819-20 and the men were employed in them at custom work. The north wing be- ing constructed on the plan previously described, permitted the locking up of the convicts at night in sepai-ate and solitary cells, between which there was no chance of communication without the certainty of detection and punishment, and from which it was impossible to escape. This change was accordingly made early in 1831, and separation at night was attended with hard labor during the day in large shops, in a compulsory silence that was maintained by the presence of vigilant keepers who were empowered to inflict lashes for every offense against order or the rules. Upon the death of William Brittin, the first agent of the prison and the designer of the arrangement of solitary cells, in 1831, Captain Elam Lynds, a vet- eran of the war of 1813, who had lent his aid to the perfection of the new system, gucceeded to that position. Captain Lynds was a soldierly man and a strict disci- plarian, and it was he who introduced the plan of marching the convicts to and from the shops, (invented by John D. Cray,) in single files with the lock step. He encouraged the use of the whip to maintain a i)erfect submission to the rules, and took every step allowed by law to make the uistitution a terror to evil doers.. Among other things he substituted the practice of serving the convicts' meals in theii- cells for the previous custom of marching them to a common mess-room and giving them their rations there. This change created discontent among the men, as at the common tabU; they often shared their food with each other, thus equaliz- ing the wants of large and smaU eaters. They could not do this in the cell sys- tem, and suffered from hunger. All complaints made in consequence were an- swered with the argument that the crimes of the convicts deserved the severest punishment, which it was not their keeper's business to mitigate. The classification of criminals was a nu^asure also authorized in the spring of 1831, in imitation of the plan pursued by the authorities of a Phihi(leli)hia prison. The criminals were to be separated into three classes, with different degrees of pun- ishment. The most dangerous and impenitent, those particularly who were serv- ing out a second or third sentence, composed the first class, which was doomed FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 45 to constant confinement in silent and solitary cells, with no companion but their own thoughts and, if the keeper saw fit to allow it, their Bible. The second class was to be selected from the less incorrigible offenders and alternately placed in soli- tary confinement and allowed to labor as a reci-eation. The third afid most hope- ful set was to be permitted to work out the sentence of hard labor by day and se- clusion by night, as had previously been the case with all. The second and third classes, however, were united as a third class. The separation of the first class from the body of the convicts took {)lace on Christmas day of 1821. P^ighty-three of the most hardened prisoners were committed to silence and solitude in cells where they might neither see nor hear any but distant and chance occurrences, and where they were never visited except by the physician or chaplain, or by a con- vict bearing the stated meal. The punishment of these men was dreadful, and in less than a year five of the eighty-three had died, one became an idiot, and another, when his door was opened for some chance purpose, dashed himself headlong from the gallery into the fearful area below. The balance, iJvith haggard looks and de- spairing voices, begged pitifully to be taken back to the shops and set to work. The Assembly of New York in 1824 appointed Samuel H. Hopkins, George Tib- bits, and Stephen Allen to consider the whole subject of punishment and prisons in the State, and report suitable amendments to the existing system, for the consid- eration of the Legislatui'e. The committee spent the ensuing summer in the task, during which it sent Captain Lynds off to New England to look up and study the prison systems prevailing in that region and ascertain their advantages. The com- mittee's report was laid before the Legislature in January, 1825. and contained sev- eral important suggestions, chief among which was a recommendation for the re- peal of the solitary confinement law, based upon the injurious effects of such con- finement on its subject. The expense of maintaining the convicts in idleness was another important consideration, and the committee therefore urged that every convict should be employed at hard labor for the sake of both economy and health. The Legislature accordingly sent the inmates of the solitary cells back to work and the famous Auburn system, which has made it and this city celebrated through- out the world, then began to receive a careful trial. As the State could not, with advantage, or without exciting the dangerous cry of monopoly, manufacture on its own account, it was contrived that the labor of the convicts in the state prisons should be leased to contractors, who shoiild pay therefor a reasonable and stated sum. The convicts at first performed custona work, but in 1821 the first contract in the Auburn prison had been let to Samuel C. Dunham, who took five men and began the manufacture of tools. Between this time and 1828 contracts were let for a cooper shop, tailor shop, shoe shop, machine shop, hame shop and cabinet shop. The introduction of the contract system was attended with considerable embarrassment. The increased discipline of the pris )n necessary to prevent con- victs maliciously spoiling their work was distasteful to the public, and the competi- tion between convict and free labor was still more so, all who employed it losing popularity. The whole system of convict labor, thei'efore, fell into disrepute, which lasted nearly twenty years. The outside public, influenced by distoi'ted and exaggerated accounts of the cru- elties practiced in the prison, became much excited, and the influence of the popu- lar sentiment penetrated the thick walls of the prison itself and led to the positive refusal of some of the officers to inflict upon certain convicts the punishment de- manded of them. This humanity was, however, exceptional; the rule being a ready compliance on the part of subordinates, with the exactions of their supei'i- 46 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS orj. In December, 1825, a female convict died, as was alleged, from the effects of brutal whipping, leading to the appointment of a legislative committee of in- vestigation, which resulted in a change in the agency of the prison. Gershom Powers then became the agent, and taking the middle ground between the extremes of bnity and severity, the prudence and wisdom of his administration won popular approval, while the discipline and efficiency of the prison was fully maintained. The practice of admitting visitors to the j^rison was encouraged, avenues being so arranged that visitors could pass around the entire establishment without being seen, and look down, through openings in a partition wall, upon the operations of the shops. Two benefits were claimed for this — a satisfaction of the public suspi- cion and a secret scrutiny of the interior affairs of the prison, the latter leading to a more faithful discharge by subordinates of their duties. . Mr. Powers was elec- ted to Congress in the fall of 1838, and the prison for the ten years from 1838 to 1838 was very satisfactorily managed by Levi Lewis and John Garrow. At this latter date Captain Lynds, to the great surprise and indignation of the people, was again appointed agent. He at one 3 signalized his advent by the introduction of very obnoxious changes. The table system of feeding the convicts was abolished, and he even took from them knives and forks, compelling them to eat with their Angers. The indignatiim of the people was kindled ; public meetings were held ; the board of inspectors were besieged with petitions and remonstrances and Cap- tain Lynds was indicted by the Grand Jury for inhumanity. The excitement was aggravated by the suffocation of a prisoner, who could not, under the new order of things, satisfy his hunger, and who, in a hasty attempt to steal and swallow a piece of meat, was strangled. The public was not to be withstood and Captain Lynds resigned as well as some of the inspectors. Dr. Noyes Palmer took the post of agent on March 9, 1889, and renewed the table system of feeding, settling, thereby, fi'om that date, a vexatious question. The use of the " cat-o-nine-tails " was also abolished about this time, in consequence of the death, from whipping, of a con- vict who, it was claimed, had feigned sickness to avoid labor. The excitement which grew out of it led to the substitution of the shower bath, yoke, paddling and other forms of punishment. Popular opposition to convict labor at Auburn, as well as other prisons, has al- ways caused more or less discussion of the subject, and it is yet far from settle- ment. This opposition sprang up with the origin of the institution among the mechanics of Auburn and other villages, who dreaded, and did actually at the very flr.st, suffer a loss of their business. The cooper, shoe, tailor and cabinet shops, as early as 1835, injured a large number of industrious mechanics in Auburn, and obliged many of them to embark in new modes of earning a support. In justice to the tradesmen, various attempts were made to protect their interests, but the State could not afford to sustain prisoners in idleness, nor could mechanics with- stand the competition. A resolution, therefore, passed the Legislature in 1885 di- recting the agent here to report on the probability and i)rofit of carrying on in the prison the manufacture of such articles as were then furnished to the Uuited States exclusively by importation. The manufacture of one such article (silk) was authorized definitely. John Garrow, then agent of the prison, did not see fit to commence the business, however, and the matter rested till 1841. In May of that year Henry Polhemus, the successor of Mr. Garrow, began the silk business as an experiment, and resolved to give it a fair and impartial examination. He did so, and the test was continued for three or four years, the immber of men employed in the silk shop at one time ranging as high as forty, but the pursuit proved to be FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 47 unrenuinerative and was abandoned. By 1845, however, it was believed the ne- cessity for any legislative protection had jiassed, and that the mechanic interest had adjusted itself to the situation and was no longer ranged in opposition to the " economical and reasonable system of the Auburn prison." It then went into un- molested operation, and to the present day agents of all grades of ability, of differ- ent temperaments, and of all political creeds have conducted the Auburn prison with unvarying success, achieving for its peculiar principles a lasting fame. Twenty States or more have adopted the Auburn system in their prisons, and vari- ous foreign nations have erected establishments in close imitation to them. No system more economical has yet been discovered, nor has any been found which, when well carried out, better answers the great end of punishment. Nevertheless the subject is now again receiving legislative attention and the result cannot be foreshadowed. The Auburn prison is situated on the west side of State street, bordering the Owasco outlet on th? south and Wall street on the north, and is arranged in the form of a parallelogram, one thousand feet from east to west, with a breadth of five hundred feet. The stone walls surrounding the prison buildings, which are all stone and brick structures, vary from four to five feet in thickness, and on State street are fourteen feet - eight inches high; on Wall street they vary from twenty to twenty-six feet ; the west wall from twenty-eight to thirty-one feet; sou^h wall, inside, thirty feet six inches, outside, thirty-five to fifty-one feet. The walls are surmounted by a wide stone coping, bordered by an iron hand-rail, and on this coping during the day the guards patrol over designated sections, bearing loaded rifles. The central building, fronting State street, is 387 feet wide and 56 feet high. It is occupied by the office of the agent and wsirden, the clerk and the superintendent, the dwelling for the warden and the main and keepers' hall. The workshops and interior buildings are arranged in the form of a hollow square, in- closing a spacious courtyard, in which are walks and drives leading to the several shops. The , interior shops and buildings are separated by a driveway from the outer walls, and the cells occupy the intermediate space in both wings, facing to- ward the outer walls which are supplied with windows affording light and the means of ventilation. The cells are constructed of solid masonry and are three feet eight inches wide, seven feet long and seven feet in height. From each cell ventilating tubes extend to and connect with pipes in the roof, effecting thorough ventilation. There are 830 cells in the north wing and its extension and 442 in the south wing — a total of 1272 cells — which are arranged in five tiers, access being obtained by galleries. The mess-room is 67 x 110 feet in dimension, with a seating capacity for 1,243, and the chapel is of the same size and capacity. Ample ar- rangements have been perfected for extinguishing fires and the sanitary condition of the prison is excellent. The convict's life begins with an entry upon the books of the prison of his name, age, nativity and occupation. The physician examines him, recording his full description, and robed in a striped suit, he is then shaven and shorn and con- ducted to his cell. Assigned to a trade, he at once loses his individuality in the workshops. The daily routine of the prison begins at dawn by the gathering of the keepers and guards in the keepers' hall, from which at a given signal, they pro- ceed to the galleries and walls and prepare to open the prison. The guards that have kept watch during the night in the whitewashed halls retire. A bell wakes the men, and the keepers, passing through the galleries, unlock the cells of the e ).np my which they severally command. As they return down the galleries they 48 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS unlatch the doors in order ; the prisoners throw open the doors as the keepers pass, step out, and fall intt) their place in the long file, forming in the area. After breakfast in the mess room, at tables so arranged that the men all look i:i o.ie direction, in order that they may not exchange either signs or words, they are marched to the shops and employed at hard labor during the day under the super- intendence of the contractors or their employes, the keepers being always present. Half an hour is allowed for dinner. No conversation or intercommunication i< allo-wed between the prisoners except by special permission, and then only in the presence of a keeper. The men are thus completely isolated and friend^ sometimes work for months in the same biailding, without a suspicion of the fact. At the approach of night the consnets are marched di- rectly to their cells, in which they are safely secured before the gath- ering shades of evening make it possible for any to secrete them- selves and escape. On Sunday there is religious instruction to such converts as choose in the chapel. Divine service is also held there and those that desire may draw books fi-om the large prison library. Offenders against good order are pun- ished according to their extent, the Superintendent of Prisons being at liberty to employ any method of discipline which he may deem best, but severe physical discipline is very seldom required. The prevailing sentiment among the convicts is strongly in favor of good order as the best means of seciii-ing their own c iinfort and lessening their terms of confinement. For twenty-eight years, from 1818 to 1840, the control and manage.neat of the prisons was invested in a board of five local inspectors, appjinte I for twj yeirs by the Senate, on the nomination of the Governor. These inspsjetors appjinte 1 all the subordinate officers of the prisons, and directed their general management. By the Constitution of 1846 this plan of government was changed and the prisons of the State were placed in charge of three state inspectors, !ioldi:ig their offices for three years, one of whom annually retired and a successfir was chosen. Grave abuses in the management of tlio prisons led the Legislature, in 1870, to appoint a committee of i iVc>stigition t) proLo to the bottom the prison affairs of the State. The ranilt Wd> a ehan^j in the Constitution providing that the care of the prisons should be confided to one supei- intendent, who was to appoint the wardens, physicians and chaplains, (removable at bis pleasure) ; the eompti-ollor appointed the clerk and ti.e several wardens ap- pointed the subordinates in their respective prisons and were held responsible for the internal administration. This plan worked admirHhly and the government of the prisons since has been very satisfactory. The number of officers now in ch:u'ge of Auburn prison is 01, viz. : One agent and warden, (John S. Lanehart). one pliysician. (Lyman C. Congdon), one clia[>- lain. (Rev. William Searls). one clerk, one j)iineipal keejier, one store keeper, one kitchen keeper, one hall keej)er, one ya"d master tuid engineer, thirty-two keepers, one sergeant of the guard, and nineteen guards. THE STATE ASYLUM FOR INSANE CRIMINALS This institution is located in the rear of and adjoining the prison. and occupies a tract of land containing about eight acres, fronting on Wall street and enclosed on all sides by a stone wall twelve feet high. The original structure was commenced in 1837, and opened for the recep- tion of patients February 2, 1859. It then comprised a center or administration building, with a wing on either side for patients, accommudating about forty cacli. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 49 An additional wing was subsequently attached to the west end of the building, making the total capacity of the asylum 160. The front of tlie building was then of stone and the rear of brick, the whole presenting an imposing structure, con- sisting of a central building, 44x60 feet, three stories and a basement, with wings on either side, 120 feet in length, and terminating in their extremities in a transept 66 x 25 feet. The wings and transepts had each two stories and a basement. In 1873, an enlargement was commenced, being a con- tinuation of the hJouth transept of the west wing, except that it was wider. It is ab )ut 100 feet long and terminates in a transept, which is about 75 feet in length, corresponding in external appearance to the original structure. It e.)mprises three stories, in the lower one of which are located the pa- tients' kitchen employes, dining-room, store rooms, &c., and a small ward for working patients. On the first floor of the central building are located the offices, reception room and dispensaiy ; the second and third floor coinjirise the superin- tendent's apartments, and the basement is occupied for a business office, waiting rcora, kitchen, &c. The wings and transepts are set apart entirely for the use of patients. In the rear of the central building and connected with it by a corridor, is a two story brick structure, t)0x40 feet, in the lower story of which are located the bakery and dormitories for the employes who are not occupied in the wards; the btcond story contains the chapel, serving room, store room for goods and the officers' quarters. The outbuildings, excepting the coal shed, are of brick, and comprise a laundry, boiler house, repair shop, meat and ice house, barn and wagon house, green house and piggery. The institutioti was created as an asylum for insane convicts and received only that class of patients up to 1869, when its corporate name was changed by the Legislature to that of "State Asylum for Insane Criminals," the object of the change being to provide for the confinement therein of an additional class, name- ly, the criminal insane, i. e. "persons accused of arson, murder, or attempt at murder, who shall have been acquitted on the ground of insanity." By the same act, provision was made whereby persons of this class could be transferred to this institution from the other asyh'ms of the State, The institution was an experiment, being the first and only one of the kind then or now in the United States. Its present standard, as a hospital for the criminal insane, not only proves its utility, but has demonstrated the complete success of the experiment. Its scope and aim is the protection of society from the violence of dangerous lunatics, the relieving of the inmates of ordinary asylums from con- tact with objectionable associates, and, at the same time, to secure kind care and proper treatment for the insane of the criminal class. The buildings used for the confinement of insane convicts are in the same general inclosure as the prison proper, to the west of which they are located, being separ- ated therefrom by a high wall. The grounds surrounding them are beautifully laid out and are adorned with trees and shrubbery. 50 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS VIEW OF STATE ARMORY AT AUBURN. CHAPTER XI. The Wheeler Rifles. THE STATE ARMORY AND THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION OCCU- PYING IT — THE SECOND SKPARATE COMPANY, 7TII BRIGADE, 4TII DIVISION. N. G. S. N. Y. TIIK Stall' Armory, on Water street, between r— THE CoMETERlES— THE WA- TER WORKS, GAS ANDvSTEAM ILLVriXG WORKS. AMONG the other public buildiigs w )rl:hy of note arc the City Ha,ll, and the County buildings. The City Hall, an old-fashioned two-story stone structure, occupied by the municipal government, stands at the junction of Market and Franklin streets, and was erected in 183o-7 at a cost of $30,000. The building was authorized by the following resolution, passed July 7, 1835, by the Board of Trustees of the village: '' Remh-fd, That the trustees proceed to erect a building for a market and public hall, on the site })urcliased for that purpose (of Allen Warden) said building to be 105 feet by 45 feet, the Iirst story to be of cut 54 AUBURN, X. i'.. ITS stone, the second story to be of natural faced stone, except the corners and the win- dow caps and sills, which shall be cut; said building to be furnished with a cupola suitable to hang a bell in of 500 pounds: the whole to be finished in the modern style of Grecian architecture." The lower stor,y was provided with stalls for the butchers and the upper was finished as an exhibition hall. A village ordinance re- quired all the butchers to rent stalls in the building "and expose their meats for sale there. Vegetable wagons wt'i-c required to rendezvous on the sides of the square in front of the town hall until 9 o'clock a. m. A village officer styled tlie clerk of the market, was appointed to enforce the market laws and bring suits for their non observance. T'he market system continued in force in Auburn until 1845, when John E. Patten, having with great boldness opened a market in another place in the village, a question arose as to the soundness ()f the town ordinances on this subject. In a lawsuit brought by the trustees against Mr. Patten, the courts declaimed these ordinances invalid and the butchers soon afterward left the market, which was then for several ye.irs unused, except occasionally for the packing of pork. The stalls were subsequently removed and the building fitted up for a school." For the past ten or twelve years the entire building has been occupied by the municipal government.- The lower story now contains the Recorder's Court room and orBce; police headquarters — station-house and chief of police's office; of- fices of the (commissioners of Charities and Police, City Treasurer and Boards of Health and Excise. The upper story contains the Council I'oom, the offices of the Mayor and City Clerk, the City Court Room and City Judge's office and the offices of the Street Superintendent, City Surveyor and Assessor. The headquarters of the Fire Department are in the large three story brick building in the rear of and adjoining the City Hall. T'he County buildings, consisting of the court house, jail and county clerk's building, are all situated at the corner of Genesee and Court streets. The court house was erected in 18::J6 at a cost ot about $80,000, and is of a style of architec- ture similar to the city hall, except that it is surmounted by a very large dome. In the rear of the court house is the jail, also a two-stoi-y stone structure. It was built ia 1833, " after which the old jail built in the court house in imitation of the En^-lish, was discontinued." The County Clerk's building is a handsome three story brick structure adjacent to the court house and jail and was erected in 1882, when the small one-story stone structure occupied for the purpose since 1814 was demolished. The Cavuga Asylum for Destitute Children occupies a pleasant site, ornamented with shade trees and shrubbery, on Owasco street, between Walnut and Bradford. It is a fine three story brick building with a wing, containing comfortable school rooms, well ventilated dormitories and other necessary apartments. "The original asylum was opened in 1852 in a wooden house on the east side of James street, by means of the imtiring and benevolent exertions of Mrs. Harriet T. Pitney, a lady whose long experience and devotion to the cause of .Sunday schools convinced her of the urgent necessity of a home in Auburn for orphan children and whose convictions led her to undertake its establishment." The present site of the asylum was purchased in 1854 and the brick buildings erected in 1857-8, but many improvements have since been made. The asylum was incorporated in 1852, its object as stated in the act of incorporation being " to provide a temporary home for orphan, half orphan and destitute children, supply their necessities, promote their mcjral, intellectual and religious improveinent, and fit thera-for situ- ations of usefulness." Its corporate power, as regards its control, are vested in a FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 55 board of nine male trustees, and as regards the appropriation of its income, the care and management of its internal and domestic concerns, in a board of female managers, consisting of a first, second and third directress, a treasurer, a secreta- ry, and twenty-seven other female managei's, residing at the time of their election or appointment in the County of Cayuga. The managers are empowered to gov- ern the children committed to their care and prescribe the course of their instruc- tion and management to the same extent and with the same rights as exist in the case of natural guardians; "to bind out such children to some suitable employ- ment in the same manner as overseers of the poor are authorized to bind poor and indigent children," but to see that provision is made whereby they shall be secui-ed " an education proper and fitting to the condition and circumstances in life of such a child, and instruction in mechanical or agricultui-al pursuits." The amend- ed act authorizes the Board of Supervisors " to instruct the superintendents of the poor * * * to annually contract with the managers of said asylum, to board and clothe all children thrown on the county for support, who are of a proper age to receive its benefits, at a price not exceeding eighty cents each per week," and the board of supervisors are "authorized to levy and collect annually, in advance, in the same manner as other county charges are levied and collected, such sums of money for the above purpose as they may deem necessary and expedient." Arti- cle IX of the by-laws provides, that "no person shall be considered eligible to the office of superintendent who is not a professed believer in the doctrines of the Bible and competent to give religious instruction to the children, abstaining also from all sectarian influence." The school law of the city of Auburn, passed June 10, 1875, authorized the Board of Education to employ a teacher or teachers in the Asylum for Destitute Children of said city, and to pay therefor out of the public school fund, in like manner as other teachers are paid; and said board is autliorized to supply said asylum with fuel for school purposes, in like manner as other schools are supplied; and the said board shall have the same care, oversight and direction of said school as of the other public schools of said city ; but nothing in this act shall be construed to give the Board of Education any conti'ol over the raana 'ce- ment of said asylum except as herein provided. The Cayuga Asylum is a most worthy institution and a credit to the city. The Board of Managers issue monthly a paper called The Orphan's Friend, wliich is a great assistance to the asylum in enlisting the sympathy and aid of the public, while it gives information to the friends abroad of its management and the history of the children committed to its care. The cemeteries of Auburn are five in number. Fort Hill, one of the most beau- tiful cemeteries in the country, was consecrated on the 7th of July, 1852. It occu- pies the bold eminence in the south-western part of the city that is supposed to have been the location of an old Indian fort more than two hundred years ago. "The rude old embankment, overgrown with turf, (believed to be the remains of this fort) was carefully preserved. Upon a slight mound in the center of the fort, which had long attracted public attention, and was supposed to be the remains of an ancient earthen altar, there was erected in 1852. through the e£fortsof oneof the trustees, a monument, fifty-six feet high, of dark limestone, as a mark of respect to the memory of the celebrated Tah-gah-jute, or Logan. The northern face of this shaft, bears a marble slab with the inscription, ' Who is there to mourn for Lo- gan?' " The e?ra3tery is laid out in winding, drives and walks and is an attractive point of interest to visitors. St. Joseph's Cemetery (Catholic) contains 85 acres of la-i 1. L)cit3l at the foot of Owasco Lake, about two miles from the city. It isalso 50 AUBURN, N. Y.. ITS an attractive spot, visited by many people. The Sonle Cemetery is located in the adjoining town of Sennett, and was recently willed to the city by Lyman Soule. The old North and State street cemeteries are about filled with graves and it will be but a short time until burial in them will bo discontinued, except by the rela- tives of families having lots there. The Auburn Water Works Company was incorporated Ajiril 19, 1859, with a capital stock of $100,000 which was subsequently increased to $150,000. The or- ganization was not perfected, however, until December, 1863, and construction was delayed until 1864, by reason of the difficulty experienced in obtaining a suitable location with sufficient elevation for reservoirs. At this time at- tention was directed to the Holly system of water works, which resulted in the abandonment of the idea of using reservoirs. With this obstacle overcome, active operations were begun in April, 1864, and prosecuted with such vigor that by De- cember of that year water was distributed through 32,930 feet of mains, travers- ing the city through the pi-incipal streets. The source of supply is tiie Owasco lake and the outlet one mile down to the pump works and dam, which are on a level with the lake and about a mile distant from the center of the city. Pipes are now being laid, however, out into the lake a distance of 200 feet, through which is expected to be drawn a supply of water more pui-e than that now consumed. In connection with the Holly system, which has been found to answer all demands made upon it, there is a fire alarm telegraph line, having twenty-six stations, from all of which analarm can be instantly conveyed to the engineer at the works. Theoi'di- nary average daily pressure maintained in the mains is forty pounds to the square inch, but with the reserve power at hand no difficulty is experienced in obtaining a pressure of thrice that amount. The analysis of the water flowing from the Owasco is as follows: chloride of potassium, 0.39 grains; sulphate of potassa, 0.32; sulphate of soda, 0.37; sulphate of lime, 0.01; carbonate of lime, 5.43; carbonate of magnesia, 1,57; silicia, 0.16; oxide of iron and alumina, trace; organic matter, 1.28 — total per gallon, 9.53 grains. This shows it to be of excellent qiuility and of purity almost unequalled. The Auburn Gas Light Company was originally incorporated December 4, 1848, the capital stock being fixed at $20,000, but the delays usual with new enterprises deferred the regular organization of the company until January 14, 1850. A site for the works was then secured south of the prison dam, and in the summer of 1850 buildings were erected, mains laid through the principal streets and gas turned on during that year. Refuse of whale oil was first used in the manufacture^, but it was soon succeeded by rosin, which produced a heavy gas of great illuminating power. In 1861 the use of rosin was discontinued, in response to the general de- mand for cheaper gas, and new works were erected for the manufacture of coal gas. The success of the company from that time forward has been uninterrupted. The original capital has been increased with the growth of the business and now amounts t(; $150,000. Dividends have been and are regularly paid, and tlie gas stock is V" profitable investment. The Auburn Steam Heating Co., Limited. vva<; incorporated June 6, 1878. A one story brick building, 50x32 fceo indime.iuons, was erected on the outlet in the rear of tlie Cayuga County National Bank, into which the company placed six fif- teen-foot boilers. Tlie object of the company was to introduce the Holly system of steam heating into [jublic and private buildings. Mains were laid and the eom- l)any liave been supplying steam lieat to jiatiM.is since the; fall of 1878. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 57 CHAPTER XIII. A Few Facts REGARDING AUBURN AS A PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND AS A LO- CATION FOR MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES— THE CHURCHES, SCHOOLS. LIBRARIES, NEWSPAPERS, BANKS, ETC. THE iittractions of Auburn as a place of residence are manifold. The beauty of the city and its surroundings is acknowledged. The wide streets, uni- formly shaded by rows of maples, elms and sycamores, set out by i^ublic spirited citizens when the city was yet in its infancy, command the admiration of every visitor. The buildings, public and private, attract attention as being of a superior kind, and the homes of the people are characterized by a neatness and order that indicate a thrift and intelligence not always found in towns with a large manufacturing population. The numerous churches, schools, newspapers and libra- ries are indicative of the deep interest taken in the moral, religious and educational wel- fare of the city by its inhabitants; and the Cayuga Asylum for Destitute Children, the A uburn City Hospital, the Home for the Friendless (sustained by voluntary contri- butions for the relief of the aged and respectable poor since 1864) and the Society to Promote the Interests of Working Women, are each suggestive of the benevolence of the citizens. The amusement-loving part of the population are entertained at the Academy of Music and the Opera House by the better class of travelling theat- rical and musical combinations, while those otherwise inclined find relief from the toil and turmoil of busy life in the many religious, social, secret and other socie- ties that abound. Auburn enjoys all the advantages of the free postal delivery system; street cars, omnibuses and an excellent system of "hacks" afford easy ac- cess to all parts of the city, and, in fact, it possesses nearly all the advantages of the larger cities without many of their disadvantages. The climate is in no great respect dissimilar to that which is common to all parts of Western New York. " The winds prevail from the north and west, these bring cool, clear weather but are generally preceded by heavy storms. The south winds are wet and chilling. The temjjerature of the atmosphere varies from 24 degrees below zero to the extreme of 100 above, passing over an annual range of about 124 degrees." The average temperature is warmer than the average of the State; sudden and severe changes are not uncommon, the thermometer indicating often a difference of thirty degrees in twelve hours. The average time from the blos- souring of the apple tree to the first killing frost is said to be about one hundred and seventy-five days. The health of the city is remarkable. For the year ending March 1, 1883, the number of deaths was 469; for the year ending March 1, 1884, the number of deaths was 399 — a decrease of 70. The death rate during the year ending March 1, 1883, based on a population of 25,000, was 18.76 per 1,000, while the death rate during the year ending March 1, 1884, based on a population of 26,000, was but 15.03 per 1,000. This decrease is largely due to the increased sanitary precaution instituted by the Board of Health. The municipal administration is vested in a Mayor and Common Council com- 58 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS posed of ten AUlermen, each of whom represents one of the ten wards into which the city is divided. Auburn is as well and economically governed as any city in the United States, and the progressive, liberal policy adopted is decidedly in favor of manufacturers, and tends, consequently, to the advancement of the best interests of the city. From the Mayor's annual message, delivered March 10, 1884, it is learned that the bonded indebtedness of the city at this time is $490,000, of which $460,000 is the balance of a debt of $500, 000 incurred in the purchase of stock in the Southern Central Railway. * * * The assessed valuation of the real estate of the city in 1883 was $8,582,790, and the personal property, $1,291,505. Total as- sessed valuation of real and personal property, $9,854,295. The amount of the city tax levy was $149,714, and the county tax, $94,024.77. The assessment on this property has been equal to $23.91 on the thousand. Deducting $10,000 raised for the payment of city bonds, becoming due, and $10,000 raised for paving purposes and the amount of the city tax for 1883 and the preceding year would be very nearly the same. An examination and comparison of the assessment rolls for 1882 and 1883, shows that the valuation of the real estate of the city has increased $483,340. * * * The city tax budget for 1883 was $150,583.35, of which sum there has been collected $149,780.78, of which there has been credited to the sever- al funds the following amovints: education $44,335.64; fire department, $5,000; water, $19,000; lamps, $17,000; jxilice, $10,500; health, $1,000; bridge, $2,000; hose house, Fulton street, $2,000; paving, $10,000; Soule cemetery, $1,213.33; bonded debt, 10,000; interest on debt, $1,500; streets, $14,000; contingent, $12,- 231.14 — total $149,780.78. There was remaining in the contingent fund, March 1, 1883, $5,657.76; recorder's fines received during the year, $3,178.22; city judge's fees, $560.90; board of excise for licenses, $9,787.21; for fees and percent- age on taxes, $566.83; interest on deposits in bank, $1,126.76; arrears of taxes, show licenses, &c, $2,702.80; city tax of 1883 collected for contingent fund, $12,- 231.14 — total credited to fund, $35,811.58. Amount orders of council paid from fund, $34,811.58. Balance in contingent fund, March 1, 1884, $1,663.41; bal- ance in water fund, $300 ; balance in paving fund, $2,799.01; balance in lamp fund, $6,439.51; balance in police fund, $7,496.36; balance in street fund, $9.50 ; balance in Soule cemetery fund, $324.86 ; balance in interest on debt fund, $750; balance in bonded debt fund, $10,900 — total balance in treasury, $29,763.30. In addition to the sum of $149,780.78 of city tax of 1883 collected, there were received by the treasurer from excise and other sources. f23, 580.44, making a total of $173,361.22. Adding balance in treasury March 1, 1883, $25,561.18, making a total of $198,922.40, and deducting balance in treasury Mareli 1, 1884, $29,763.30, shows the total city expenditure tor the current year to have been $169,159.10. The police department consists of a chief and captain of police and thirteen patrolmen; the force, as a body, will compare favorably with any similar body of men in appearance and discipline. The fire de- partment is as efficient as any volunteer department can be, and is regarded witli much favor by the citizens. Seven hose companies and one hook and ladder com- pany afford, it is claimed, ample protection against fire. There are 297 fire hy- drants scattered throughout the city, and the service of the water works (the Hol- ley system) is entirely satisfactory; and with the attention given to the fire alarm telegraph, confidence is felt in the ability of the department to cope with all conllugrations. The facilities possessed by Auburn for the transaction of all business are unex- ceptionable. The banks are seven in number, viz., the First National l>ank, or- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 59 ganized in 1884, capital $300,000; National Bank of Auburn, originally estab- lished in 1817 as the Bank of Auburn and organized as a National Bank in 1865, capital $200,099; Cayuga County National, organized in 1833, reorganized in 1885, capital $200,000; National Exchange Bank, organized in 1865, capital $200,- 000; the banking house ef William H. Seward & Co. originally organized in 1860 capital not stated ; the Cayuga County Savings Bank, organized in 1865, and the Auburn Savings Bank established in 1849. The transportation facilities afforded by the New York Central and Hudson River and the Southern Central Railroads, with their extensive connections, enable the manufacturers and merchants to compete with any city in the country, and the freight rates given by these roads to shippers here are highly satisfactory. The express system is also conducted on a liberal scale in the matter of facilities and rates, by the American and United States Express Companies, and the telegraph and telephone service is as complete as is required. There are seventeen churches in Auburn, viz., the Calvary Presbyterian, junc- tion of Franklin and Capitol streets; Central Presbyterian, William near Genesee; Church of Christ, Division street near Wall ; church of the Holy Family (Roman Catholic), North street near Chapel : First Baptist, Genesee street, opposite Cayu- ga County National Bank; First Methodist, on Exchange street; First Presbyter- ian, North street, corner of Franklin; First Universalist, South street, corner of Lincoln; Second Baptist, Uwasco street, corner of Genesee; Second Presbyterian, South street near Lincoln ; St. Alphonsus (German Roman Catholic), Water street near North; St. John's (Episcopal), East Genesee street, corner of Fulton; St. Luke's (German Protestant) Seminary avenue, near Franklin ; St. Mary's (Roman Catholic), Clark street, corner of Green; St. Peter's (Episcopal), Genesee street, near James ; Wall street Methodist, Wall street, corner of Washington ; and Zion's church (colored). No. 9 Washington street. These churches are all stone or brick edifices of pleasing architecture, and all have large memberships. The First Bap- tist Church Society are now building an elegant new edifice on the corner of Gen- esee and James streets, and when tliis is completed, their old edifice will be sold. The view of the new First Baptist Church, presented on another page, will serve as an excellent illustration of Auburn church architecture in general. In educational facilities Auburn otters advantages that are unsurpassed by any city of a comparative size in this country. The public school system of this city has attained a high state of perfection, and the private schools merit the fullest ap- probation. The public schools are divided into three departments. Primary, Gram" mar and High School, and these are each subdivided into four years or grades. Thus a pupil may enter the first grade at the age of six years and graduate from the high school twelve years later. The courses in the high school are both aca- demic and classic. There are twelve public school buildings in the city, in which are employed 7/ teachers, with an average daily attendance of 2,544 pupils, not in- cluding the Orphan Asylum school. The estimated enrollment in private and pa- rochial schools for the year 1883 was 1,200. The estimated real value of property used for school purposes is $105,000. The total cost of the schools for the year ending July 31, 1883, was $55,335.27, of which sum about $16,000 went to the ac- count of buildifig and permanent improvements, and $32,027.50 was the cost for teachers and superintendent. The control and management of the public schools is vested in a Board of Education consisting of nine Commissioners, to whom the fullest power is given by the school law passed June 10, 1875, and the government of the schools is characterized by a liberal and progressive policy that must steadily •enhance their value. 60 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS VIEW OI*' FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (NOW BUILDING), GENESEE AND .JAMES ST. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 61 The commodious rooms of the Seymour Library Association, in the handsome Auburn Savings Bank building, contain nearly 9,000 volumes. Among the many public bequests of the late James S. Seymour was one of $18,000, with residuary and the store No. 80 on the south side of Genesee street, with the lot in the rear, valued at |8,000, "for the purpose of founding a public library in the city of Au- burn." The bequest was made without any other restriction than the naming of a portion of the trustees. The Seymour I^ibrary Association was incorporated May 20, 1876, and in the following August the following officers were elected: Hon. Charles C. Dwight, President; Charles Hawley, D. D., Vice Pi-esident; James Seymour, Jr., Treasurer and B. B. Snow, Secretary. Soon after the services of William L. Poole, the librarian of Chicago, were secured, to aid in the selection of books, and the library was opened to the public on the first day of October, 1878. The library has a fixed income which exceeds the running expenses. A nominal sum is charged for enjoying its privileges, but sufficient additions will doubtless be made to its funds to make it a free library, as Mr. Seymour designed it should be. There are also a number of private libraries of considerable value in the city. Pour daily, one Sunday and four weekly newspapers receive a liberal support, both in advertisements and subscriptions. The Auburn Daily Advertiser was es- tablished in 1844 and is published every week day evening at No. 118 Genesee street by Knapp, Peck & Thomson. The Auburn, Neivs and Bulletin, published everyday (except Sunday) at Nos. 27 and 29 Clark street by William J. Moses, was estab- lished in 1870 as the Auburn Daily Bulletin and was consolidated with the Au- burn Morning News, (established in 1872) in 1879. The Evening Auburnian, pub- lished daily (except Sunday) at No. 2 Exchange street by the Auburnian Printing Company, was established in 1877. The Evening Dispatch, established in 1882, is published every week day at No. 24 Dill street by the Dispatch Printing Association, as is also the Auburn Sunday Dispatch, established in 1881, and the Weekly Dispatch, established in 1882. The Auburn Weekly Journal, established originally in 1833, is published every Wednesday by Knapp, Peck & Thomson. The Auburn Weekly News and Democrat, published by W. J. Moses, was established in 1866. The Cayuga County Independent was first issued in 1874, and is pub- lished every Thursday at No. 1 State street, by Julius A. Johnson. These journ- als are all ably conducted and zealously guard the interests of the city. A beautiful city of itself, surrounded by a country noted for its picturesqueness, Auburn certainly offers attractions that could hardly fail to interest one seeking a desirable home or a favorable location for business. The immense hydraulic power of the Owasco has not yet been fully developed, and there are many available man- ufacturing sites along its banks as well as elsewhei-e in the city. The future of the city is dependent upon its manufacturing interests, and this fact being apprecia- ted, manufacturers receive the hearty support and encouragement of the people. That Auburn possesses advantages making success in many bx-anches of manufac- ture not only possible, but probable, can be satisfactorily demonstrated to those in- quiring more fully into the subject, and the practical illustrations of the success attending manufacturing here, presented in the following chapters, should be ac- cepted as a partial demonstration. 63 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS CHAPTER XIV. Manufacturing Interests. TBB D. M. OSBORNE & CO. WORKS — THE LARGEST MANUFACTORY OP HARVESTING MACHINERY IN THE WORLD — A CITY WITHIN ITSELF. THE largest manufactory of harvesting machinery in the world, and the larg- est industrial enterprise in this city, it is eminently fitting that the first chapter on the Manufacturing Interests of Auburn should be devoted to the I). M. Osborne & Co. works, which forms such an excellent illustration of the success that has attended the establishment of manufacturing enterprise here by men of forecast, ability and capital. The history of this great manufactory, which now occupies buildings covering an area of fifteen acres, gives employment to 1,500 workmen, and produces daily more than 150 mowers, reapers and self-binding harvesters, dates back to 1858, when a company was started by David M. Osborne and 0. S. Ilolbrook for the manufacture of the Kirby reaper and mower. But twelve men were employed and 150 machines were made in that year. A brick building, 40x68 feet in dimensions, and five stories in height, was occupied. It " was regarded as a mammoth under- taking ; men wise in their own conceit but evidently ignorant of America's grain future, declared that a building of that 'great ' size and five stories high, would turn out more machines than could possibly be marketed." In this, however, the projectors of lihe enterprise did not coincide, and went unhesitatingly on with their work. The demand for their machines, which at that time represented the most improved labor saving agricultural implements yet invented, steadily in- (u-ealsed, and as steadily were the facifities for their production increased. But the following quotation from Henry Hall's "History of Auburn, " published in 1869, will best illustrate the growth of the enterprise up to that time: "The mowing machine manufactory of D. M. Osborne & Co., on Genesee street, corner of Mechanic, has no rival in its department of industry, for size or com- pleteness of appointment either in Auburn or in America. A vast pile of tali, substantial brick buildings, covering an acre and a quarter of ground, constitute the works. These buildings are seven in number. In the first of these, standing on the corner of the street, used as a machine shop prior to occupancy by the present proprietors, the business of the firm commenced. The business expanded enormously during the five years immediately following 1859. The other buildings were erected, one after the other, as the necessity for more room arose, on the tongue of land between Mechanic street and the outlet, once the site of certain carding, fulling and saw mills elsewhere described. The dimensions of the differ- ent shops, which are severally distinguished by their numbers, are as follows : No. 1, four stories high, 66x40 feet, used as an office and sample room, and containing in the second, third and fourth stories, the Morning News establishment ; No. 3, three stories in height, 59x48 feet, used as a wood shop ; No. 8, containing the FACILITIES AND EESOUECES. 63 store-house, paint shop and shipping room, four stories and a half high, 114x76 feet ; No. 4, four stories high, with two basements, 188x50 feet, used as a machine shop ; No. 5, the blacksmith shop, one story high, same ground plan as latter ; No. 6, the malleable ii-on works, 113x90 feet ; and No. 7, the foundry, 192x66 feet. The lumber yard and drying house stand opposite the works in the west side of Meclianic street. " The manufactory of the combined reaper and mower, invented by William H. Kirby, at Buffalo, in 1856, was commenced in Auburn in 1858, by David M. Osborne and 0. S. Holbrook, under the firm name of Osborne & Holbrook, for whom Orrin H. Burdick, Esq., made by contract 150 machines, employing only twelve men in the work. Mr. Holbrook parted with his interest in the business in August, 1858, which was then carried on by Cyrus C. Dennis, D. M. Osborne and Charles P. Wood, of Auburn, under the style of D. M. Osborne & Co. Two hundred mowers were built during 1858. The war then broke out, labor became scarce, and the demand for mowers great ; .and the establishment began to be en- larged. Mr. Wood retired from the partnership in 1862, and Mr. Dennis, by death, in 1866. The firm is now composed of D. M. Osborne, John H. Osborne and Orrin H. Burdick. The product of the works during 1868 was fifty-three hundred machines. The business now consumes 3,000,000 pounds of pig iron per annum, 500,000 pounds of bar iron and steel, and 400,000 feet of lumber. From 250 to 325 men are employed, who are paid monthly between eight and twelve thousand dollars. "It is the boast of the proprietors of this peerless establishment that every part of their machines, however small, is made at their own works and made well. Outside manufactories have no share in the construction of the Kirby, and the public is therefore insured against unsound wood work, inferior knives and imper- fect castings in these machines. The works are complete, a remark, it is believed, that can be made of no similar establishment in the country. The proprietors con- template a further enlargement of their manufactory the coining season, by erect- ing several brick three story stores over the outlet, fronting the bridge." This was then but one of three establishments engaged here in the same busi- ness, each with large capital, and each producing several thousand machines per year. The Cayuga Chief and the Dodge & Stevenson manufacturing companies were rivals for the trade. The latter company went into liquidation and there was then a consolidation of the Cayuga Chief with D. M. Osborne & Co., under the latter naine. This was a very judicious movement and brought under one general organization abundant capital and superior business and mechanical talent. William M. Kirby, C. Wheeler, Jr., and Orrin H. Burdick were eachdistin- tinguished for superior inventive and mechanical skill and each had given many years' attention to the improvement of mowers and reapers. It was, therefore, a strong company, financially, mechanically, and commercially. There was no lack of vigor or energy in the development of their business, and they extended it all over the United States and Canada, and into South America, Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden. Australia, and New Zealand, selling annually to foi-eign nations thousands of machines. The demand for the company's harvesting machines, upon which they were con- stantly making improvements, increased to such an unparalleled extent that en- largement followed enlargement, until in 1880 the works had attained such enor- mous proportions that the establishment, so proudly, so glowingly described by Henry Hall, ten years previously, seemed puny in comparison. At this time the 64 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS Osborne works comprised two distinct groups, one of which, known as the No. 1 Works, was in the heart of the city, while the other, designated as the No. 2 Works, was located on the New York Central Railway, near the Southern Central Railway crossing. These two groups covered more than ten acres of land, and consisted of massive four and five story brick buildings. The No. 1 Works were divided into eleven departments, as follows : Department No. t, a five story building, 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, at the corner of Genesee and Mechanic streets, occupied, the basement for the storage of hardware stock, such as nails, screws, files, baiting, &c., the fourth floor for the manufacture of wooden rake heads and the fifth floor as a store room for wood patterns and machine platforms, the intermediate floors between the basement and the fourth story, being used for the company's offices. Department No. 2, a five story building, 60x40 feet, used for general wood working and containing the most improved labor saving machinery invented for this purpose. Department No. 3, a five story building 125x75 feet, used for storing parts of machines, painting and the setting up of machines and running them at a high rate of speed by steam power for the pur- pose of thoroughly testing their strength. Department No. 4, a six-story building, 140x50, occupiefl, the first floor by three large water wheels and two very powerful rotary pumps for extinguishing fires ; the second floor by the shipping, grinding and cleaning rooms, with twenty emery wheels in operation ; third floor, for the putting together and fitting of the iron parts of machines and boring of castings — the dies and tools also made here, involving the use of several very beautiful and effective die sinking machines ; fourth floor, as a genei'al machine shop, containing all sorts of costly machinery, lathes, tools, etc. ; fifth floor, as a pattern room and place for ironing and trimming poles, neck-yokes, whilfletrces, etc. ; and the sixth floor for the storage of patterns and wood work. Department No. 5, a two story building 90x48 feet, the first floor containing ten monster re- volving tumblers or hollow cylinders in which eastings are scoured and cleaned by being kept in motion and rubbing against each other — a very pandemonium of noise — and the second floor, gigantic drop hammers, trip hammers, punches and bolt and nut machines. Department No. 6, a gen- eral blacksmith shop, 120x40 feet. Department No. 7, a bolt forging shop. 75x60 feet, containing a number of machines for making bolts, rivets, etc. Department No. 8, an immense foundry, 300 feet long and 120 feet wide, and containing three cupalas with a capacity of 60 tons of ii'on per day. In connection with this foundry, in which more than 10,000 flasks are used, is a room 70x40 in which flask patterns, forms, pattern matches, &c., are made, and adjoin- ing this building are vaults, 140x20, and 18 feet high, absolutely fire proof, in which patterns are stored. Department No. 9, a chain shop, 100x30 feet, turning out 1,500 feet of chain each day. Department No. 10, a four-story building. 150x50 feet, the first floor of which containerl 5,000 boxes or compartments for extra parts of any and every machine ever manufactured by D. M. Osborne & C'o. ; the second floor was used as a show room for specimens of all their harvesting machinery : and the third and fourth floors for the storage of wood work exti-as. Dei)artment No. 11, a building 100x40 feet, occupied by the bolt and screw cutting machinery, and adjoining this a building, 20x40 feet, in which the more than 50 tons of Babbitt's metal annually consumed was manufactured. A 300 horsepower Cor- liss engine and five water wheels, aggregating 200 hoi-sc power, or 500 horse power in all, was recjuired to drive the machinery in these No. 1 Works. The No. 2 Works comprised section and malleable iron shops, paint shops, stor- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 65 age rooms, canvass rooms, rolling mill, &c. The first floor of a four story build- ing, 220x50 feet, was occupied for the grinding of sections and malleable iron ; the second floor for the manufacture of flnger bars, cutter bars, knotters for twine binder attachments and twisters for wire binder attachments ; the third floor for setting up and running off harvesters, and the fourth floor for tempering steel and making canvass conveyors. An L of this building, 60x50 feet and three stories high, was use and fork are made may not be uninter- esting to the reader, A bar of steel of proper size is heated red hot and put un- der a press which strikes off a pattern for a hoe, in shape nearly square, with an irregular shaped piece attached to one end, which is drawn out in a die, under a trip-hammer and forms afterward the shank or neck of the hoe. After again beat- ing this square piece of steel, it is placed upon dies which are inserted in huge rolls, and as each revolution brings them together, the steel is rolled out llie de- sired thickness, but being ragged and in-egular in its shape, is afterward "cut out" at a blow in dies, under a press, of the shape and size desired. Again being FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 77 heated it is "concaved " under a drop and put into whale oil, when it is found to possess the trowel temper, so desirable in this class of tools. After grinding, the neck is crooked or bent in a form and the hoe then passes to the polishing room, where it receives its polish upon emery wheels, and is then ready to be driven into the handle. A fork pattern is also cut from the end of a bar of steel and in a machine specially designed for the purpose is " slianked," " split," and " turned out," with the necessary number of tines, which are afterward drawn out in dies under a triji hammer, "bent and formed," hardened by being immersed in oil, and tempered in molten lead; then upon emery belts in the polishing room is made ready to "hang'' upon the handle, and for the market. All these operations are performed by free skilled labor, by which more satisfactory results are obtained, and their produc- tions are free from objectionable features which arise from cheaper prison contract labor by which many of similar goods are manufactured by theii- competitors. The monthly pay roll, divided among 150 men, is about $7,000. The stock used and the mechanics employed are the best of their class and the goods produced are second to none. The company enjoy exceptional railroad facilities, special sidings connecting the warehouse with the N. Y. C. R. R. and the Southern Central, a feeder of the great Lehigh Valley R. R., while the special rates given the company, enable them to ship their goods north, east, south and west, as well as to receive their stock and material, as cheaply as any manufactory in the United States. Branch offices and warehouses have been established by the company as follows: At No. 14 Chaussee de Charleroi, Brussels, Belgium, with Geo. W. Sillcox as manager, from whence all Continental Europe is supplied. Also at No. 97 Cham- bers street. New York, Durrie & McCarty, agents, from which stock the south- ern and southwestern trade, as well as the miscellaneous export trade, receive their goods, and where a general assortment may at all times be found. The present Treasurer and Manager, Mr. Charles E. Stevens, was appointed to his responsible position in 1879, having previously served the company faith- fully in other capacities for a number of years. This promotion was a deserved compliment, and his selection has proven the wisdom of the Board of Trustees, he having exhibited qualifications of a high order, for a prudent and successful con- duct of the business, which from that time seemed to receive a new impetus, and to-day the concern ranks among the foremost industries of this busy manufactur- ing city. The superintendent of the manufacturing department, Mr. A. P. Clarke, has acted in that capacity only during the present season, but being thor- oughly acquainted with these goods, and having been for many years engaged in their manufacture, and possessing the qualifications of a thorough mechanic, he is expected to contribute much to the future prosperity of the business. The Board of Directors consists of the following gentlemen : Orlando Lewis, President ; Sereno E. Payne, Vice President; Chas. 0. Briggs, Secretary; L. W. Nye, B. A. Tuttle, E. R. Fay, James Seymour, Jr., Jos. W. Dunning, Chas. E. Thorne, each of whom have a special care and pride for the institution, devoting much of their time in its interests. Especially is this true in the case of the President, who, be- ing thoroughly conversant with the general business affairs from day to day, by his counsels and advice renders valuable assistance. From this necessarily brief statement of the works and business of this com- pany, it will be seen that in all matters of location, capital, manufacturing facili- ties, acknowledged superiority of the wares produced, and the ability and enter- prise of its management, it sustains the highest rank, and its stockholders are to be 78 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS congratulated upon their possessions and are doubtless well satisfied with the re- turns therefrom. And the citizens of Auburn may also well be proud of an insti- tution which so largely influences the prosiierity and welfare of their beautiful city. CHAPTER XVII. Manufacturing Interests. A. W. STEVENS & SON'S THRESHER AND FARM ENGINE MANU- FACTORY—A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. TO the thoughtful, intelligent person, the narration of the leading facts which have marked the growth and upbuilding of a great manufacturing enter- prise in these stirring times of business competition and rivalry, cannot but prove interesting. They suggest the possession of a vast amount of industry, sagacity and wide-reaching forethought on the part of the individuals or association who have thus pushed their ventures to pi-ominent success, and who still maintain a leading position, despite the most untiring efforts of wealthy and wide-awake congeners. Such a pleasure is afforded by a review of the events which have characterized the rise of the fine industry which is owned and operated in this city by the Messrs. A. W. Stevens & Son. In 1843, the manufacture of threshing machines was begun in a small way at Genoa, Cayuga County, by A. W. Stevens. Possessed of no small amount of mechanical skill and ingenuity, and a thorough knowledge of the elements necessary in the make-up of a successful and durable machine for threshing purposes, Mr. Stevens was able from the outset to build a thresher wliich accomplished, in a highly satisfactory manner, the work for which it was designed, and his machines rapidly became popular wherever introduced. A cardinal principle from the outset with Mr. Stevens, was to build his machines of the very best material and in the most thorough manner in all the details of their construction. This principle has never been deviated from, and the result has been that the growth of his trade has been steady from year to year and it haa been erected upon the most substantial basis. It is a fact to which this firm can point with pardonable pride, after a career extending over a period of forty-two years, that no machine ever sent out of their shops has ever been returned to them as unsuccessful. The founder of the business continued its sole owner until 1809, when his son, L. W. Stevens, was associated with him, and together they have since retained entire control and ownersliip of the industry. In 1878 the original works at Genoa were entirely destroyed by fire. At that time about 30 or 40 hands were in the employ of the Messrs. Stevens, and the yearly out-put of thresh- ers was not large. Not at all discouraged by the burning of their works, they cast about for a larger field in which to re-establish their business. The extensive buildings owned by the IMessrs. Barber, of Auburn, located on Washington street and the outlet, liad been recently vacated by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., manufac- turers of mowers and reapers. These works were leased for a term of years by A. FACILITIES AND KESOUECES. 79 "yf ^^ ?:-*■& r.. A. W. STEVENS & SON's THRESHER MANUFACTORY. W. Stevens & Son, and with a larger force of men and increased facilities in all respects, they applied themselves with renewed vigor to the manufacture of their threshers, portable engines, horse-powers and French buhr feed mills. From the first year of their establishment here the growth of their business has gone on steadily. With the increase in the volume of their trade has come no lessening of the thoroughness with which all their wares have baen constructed, and careful attention has been given, as well to the adoption of such improvements year by year, as give promise, after strictest scrutiny, of adding efficiency and merit to their machines. In addition to the general elements of careful construction on the most approved mechanical principles, and the employment of only the best workmen and materials, some of the points of superior excellence which enter into the construction of the Stevens' threshing apparatus, may be noted with ad- vantage. The frame work of the thresher is peculiar in its construction, which renders it exempt from the possibility of sagging. The machine has a wrought iron concave, and an admirable concave adjuster. The cylinder is provided with self-lining boxes, and iron-side plates, wherein the boxes are held. The cylinder box has adjusting set screws, by means of which the cylinder is adjusted end-wise and tlie end play can be taken up, so that the teeth shall not ride one anotlier and cut the grain. The 3G-inch cylinder has but 56 teeth, the cylinders of other threshers having in some cases as inany as 112 or more teeth. This feature plainly causes a larger gain in economizing power. The lowness of the feed tables makes the work of getting the grain upon them comparatively easy, and they are sufficiently roomy and strongly built to support even three men, if neces- sary. The portable engines manufactured by the Messrs. Stevens are excellent in construction and have every feature which renders them easily superior to any others manufactured for the purposes to which they are devoted. A more de- tailed description of the widely known and universally popular threshing machin- ery manufactured by the Messrs. Stevens would be a work of supererogation. 80 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS Suflfiee it to state in tliis connection, that before being sent out of the work?, every thresher is belted and operated, and every engine is fired and worked under a high pressure and heavy break, until they are entirely free and thoroughly adjusted in all respects, when they can be fully relied upon to do, in a parfeetly satisfactory manner, the work for which they are designed. The French buhr feed mill made by the Messrs. Stevens is an unusually successful mechanical contrivance. It is the generally admitted superior of all machines now manufactured for similar ser- vice. These feed mills are the acme of simplicity in their construction, being of few parts, durable, strong and complete. The stone in every mill is of genuine " French buhr new quarry," and no iron or chilled steel mill made can bear successful comparison with this machine. The Stevens feed mills are made in many sizes, the smaller being designed for individual use and the larger for busi- ness purposes. All parts of the machines manufactured by this enterprising and thorough- going firm are constructed in their fully equipped shops and foundry. This por- tion of the business is under the personal direction of the founder of the industry, who, though just approaching three-score years and ten, abates no jot of his wonted energy and activity, and is daily to be found among his operatives through working hours, guiding, instructing and efficiently directing the whole extensive mechanical affairs of the concern. The business direction of the enterprise is ably conducted by the son, Mr. L. W. Stevens, who, with a corps of clerks and book- keepers, occupies a neatly appointed office building just over the way from the Southern Central Railroad depot. The buildings originally taken possession of by the Messrs. Stevens on their advent in Auburn, consisted of the main factory and foundry, a brick structure, 300x40 feet, three stories in height, and a number of small adjoining buildings, to which several additions have been made since their occupancy of the premises, also 2 large ware houses. The ground covered by tho works roaches five or sis acres in extent. The power is supplied by the outlet, upon the immediate south bank of which the large factory building is located. From 100 to 120 men are employed, tho monthly pay-roll reaching the hand- some total of from $3,500 to $4,000. Each year there are produced at these works from 200 to 300 threshers, from 75 to 100 engines, 250 to 300 buhr stone feed mills, and a large quantity of smaller wares. In this connection it is inter- esting to note that the policy which has always been pursued by this firm, has been to manufacture each year only so many machines as might reasonably be expected to find a sale, when the natural increase of trade by the gain of new customers in already occupied territory, as well as through newly acquired territory, was taken into account. Hence no old stock is found lumbering their warehouses and de- preciating on their hands, and therefore buyers can rest assured that they get, in buying any of tho products of the Stevens' factory, nothing but the newest ma- chinery, possessing all the latest and most desirable improvements. This policy, too, has always kept tlieir factory open ; over-production has never closed their doors and sent their operatives adrift. It has been their rule to pay good wages, and keep their hands permanently employed. In this way a complete sympathy has been maintained between emj)loyers and tho employed and the most satisfac- tory results have baen obtained. Tho splendid business sue3333 which has been won by this worthy firm, for an industry modestly begun in a small out-of-the-way village, then transplanted by force of a disastsr v/hich would have overwhelmed men of smaller courage and energy to this thriving, active city, and thereafter pushed on from year to year by virtue of sound merit and large business sagacity, FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 81 to its present considerable proportions and wide-spread reputation, z-edoimd very highly to the credit of the fortunate gentlemen who have thus made for them- selves an enviable standing among the important manufacturing enterprises of the land, and secured a patronage for their wares, which bring to them exclusively, as of right it should, a pecuniary remuneration in just proportion to the large outlay of brains and industry which they have made. The fortunes of this admir- able industry are so well grounded upon sound business principles and popular appreciation, that each succeeding year should, and doubtless will, bring but re- newed growth and larger prosperity. CHAPTER XVIII. Manufacturing Interests. THE EMPIRE WRINGER CO.— THE BIRDSALL CO. —TWO IMPORT- ANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE WEALTH OP THE CITY. THE P^mpiro Wringer Company, through the widespread popularity of the highly useful domestic implement which it manufactures, has made its name a familar one throughout the length and breadth of this land, as well as many foreign countries, and has had an important part in extending the reputa- tion and influence of Auburn as a manufacturing centre. This enterprise had its be- ginning in 1872, when a copartnership was formed by Messrs. C. M. Howlet, II. N. Lockwood, John S. Fowler, Jacob Brinkerholf, J. N. Starin, H. V. Quick and I.i. G. Barger, for the manufacture of the Empire Clothes Wringer, according to the patents of Jacob Brinkhcrhoflf, one of the members of the firm. The building occu- pied by the concern for ten years following was located on Division street. It was a four story brick structure, 84x48 feet, and the power was supplied by the outlet. The excellence of the wares produced, .the leading feature of which the company hold exclusive control of, through the purchase of the Brinkerhoff patents, gave this wringer a strong hold upon the public wherever introduced, and the sales grew rapidly from the outset. After several changes in the proprietorship of the^busi- ness, the entire plant passed by purchase into the hands of C. M. Howlet and E. C. Denio, in December, 1876. The company became at this time an incorporated one, the capital being $04,000. C. M. Howlet was made president and manager; E. C. Denio, secretary; Jacob Brinkerhoff general sales agent; and Henry J. White, superintendent'of the works. A vacancy in the secretaryship was occasioned in 1880, by the death of E. C. Denio. His successor, H. J. Sartwell, appointed January 1st, 1881, also died a few months later. With the beginning of the succeeding year, Mr. J. F. Hemenway. who had become a considerable stockholder, was elected Secretary, and has since continued to discharge the important duties of his office in an eliicient and thor- oughly satisfactory manner. The month of January of the present year was marked by the retirement from the presidency and managership of the Empire 82 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS Wringer Company, of Mr. C. M. Howlct, who had, since the establisliment of the business, been its able head and chief stockholder. The stock formerly owned by Mr. llowlet was sold largely to Mr. F. B. Chapman, late of the Sweet Manufac- turing Company, Syracuse. Mr. Chapman also succeeded to the office of manager vacated by Mr. llowlet. Mr. Chapman bears the reputation of a shrewd llnaneier and sagacious man of business. He has liad ample experience and Avill doubtless prove a worthy successor of the highly capable officer and courteous gentleman, whom he has replaced as manager. Mr. Jacob Brinkerhoff, the patentee of the Empire Wringer, who has all along been connected in an important way with its manufacture, at the late meeting of tlie directors was elecied president of the company. Mr. Brinkerhoff 's selection to succeed Mr. Howlet, was a fitting recog- nition of the many yeai-s of faithful devotion to the well-baing of the industry with which this sketch deals. His sound practical judgment and large discretion will enable liim to conduct the affairs of his office wisely and successfully. To deal more directly with thegrowtJi of the business of tliis corporation, it may be stated that in 1876, the sale of wringers reached 26,000, and in that year also the making of folding cots and washing benches was taken up and has since devel- oped^nto an important feature of the business. All of the articles manufactured by the Empire Wringer Company have features of positive merit, which have greatly commended them to the imblic everywhere, and the demand for them has therefore been large and growing, the increase in the general business of the com- pany for the past five years liaving baen not less than 59 p.ir cent. In 1832 the business was removed from its original location to a more commodious and eligible building on Washington street, a short distance north of tlie Southern Central Railroad track. This structure consists of a new brick building 180x42 feet, four stories high, with an attractive frame structure on Washington street, evith an L addition 30x50 feet, three stories, and the ice house, 30x70 feet in dimensions. Large beer and ale vaults, with a capacity of 5,000 barrels storage, are constructed in the brewery building. The malt house is supplied with patent kilns. A 40-horse power engine furnishes the motive power. Thirteen men are given employment and 5,000 barrels of ale and lager and 60,000 bushels of malt 108 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS FANNING S BREWERY. are produced per year. The greater part of the beer and ale brewed is sold in this city. The malt produced is shipped to brewers east and south. Mr. Fanning has connected with his brewery a liquor store, doing a large and successful business, and the bottling of his beer is also done on the premises. Giving it his personal attention and guaranteeing that every product shall be first-class, his business can- not but be as successful in the future as it has been in the past. Mr. Panning is an active business man and is always to be found in his office, giving everything connected with his business his personal attention. D. P. G. & W. O. EVERTS & CO. Occupying a leading position among establishments of its class, the business of D. P. G, & W. O. Everts & Co. is entitled to a prominent jTosition by reason of the extent of the business transacted. Establishing themselves, in 1809, in the build- ing previously occupied by the Auburn Tool Co., they began the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds. The proporty on Mechanic street, near the big dam, was afterward purchased, and in 1880 the machinery and stock were removed to their new mills, where great success has been achieved. That this success is largely due to the fine facilities possessed by the firm for conducting their business it is i)rob- ably unnecessary to state, bnt the business reputation of the firm would undoubt- wlly secure for them a large trade, even did tliey not possess such an excellent es- tablishment. The firm now occupy tlircc acres of gi'ound, on which are erected one two story building, 40x80 feet in dimensions; a two-story Iwiler room and wheel house, 24xr)0 feet ; a dry house, 30x20 feet, and other smaller buildings for storage &c. Tlie first floor of the main building is occupied by the door doj)art- ment, and contains the saws and planei's employed for the purpose. Over 1,000,- 000 feet of lumber was cut here last year. The machineiy for manufacturing sash and blinds, all of the most improved labor saving character, is found on the sec- ond floor. The dry house contains a steam dning apparatus which insures the best seasoning and preparation of the wood for durable and satisfactory woik. A water wheel of 40-horse power drives the machinery, while a 20-horse j)ower engine is a valual)le auxiliary during seasons of low water and otlicr enicrgeiicics. Forty FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 109 men are given employment. The greater part of the lumber consumed is bought direct from first hands in Michigan. The product of the factory finds ready sale in this city. The firm are also contractors and builders, and by pursuing the same liberal and honest policy that made their success in the sash, door and blind busi- ness, have built up a reputation as conscientious, capable workmen, giving the most labor and best results for the money invested. The firm consist of D. P. G. and W. 0. and W. S. Evex'ts. The first two named, who are well known to the peo- ple of Auburn as builders, have been engaged in ' the business for years, and were also for a number of years connected with contracts in the State prison. All are reliable and enterprising business men and active citizens, adding not a little to the general prosperity of the city. JAMES A. STEVENS. In 1866, James A. Stevens opanod a small shop on Seminary Avenue near Gene- see street, where he carried on the work of jobbing, repairing and building wagons, carriages and sleighs. Careful attention to business, and the production of first class work only, brought the just reward of growing patronage and success. On January 1st, 1881, Mr. Stevens removed his business to its present location at Nos. 27 and 29 Water street- The building now occupied by him is a three-story brick, 44x60 feet in front, and it has a rear addition 1 1-2 stories high, 20x30 feet. Ten hands find permanent employment and about 50 fine carriages and buggies and 35 sleighs are manufactured yearly. The monthly pay-roll reaches $450. Jobbing and repairing are carried on largely, this shop being one of the best equipped and most capably conducted of its kind in the city. Sound and reliable industi'ies like this, though not widely extended in their character and proportions, have an important influence upon the general commercial prosperity of the place, and are eminently worthy of mention and commendation. AUGUSTUS ROTHERY. The business established here a few years since by Mr. Augustus Rothery, is not a new and untried venture, but the off-shoot of a highly successful business still in existence in Newark, N. J., also a branch at Mattawan, N. J. In 1826 the father of Mr. Rothery, emigrating from England, settled in Newark, and being a file cutter by trade, at once opened a manufactory on a small scale in that city. Having a thorough knowledge of the business and giving every branch his person- al supervision, the business was very successful. His sons were educated in every branch of the trade under his care, making them reliable and skillful workmen. In 1877, desiring to carry on the business on his own account, Augustus looked about for a suitable location, and on account of the many manufactories in the city selected Auburn for his future home. He opened a shop on Owaseo street in that year, with only one man to assist him, and nothing to recomend him to the trade except his pluck and abilities. But he worked hard and soon gained both patronage and reputation for first class work. In 1879 he removed his shop to Nc. 20 Hoffman street, and with each succeeding year has had the pleasui'e of see- ing his business increase and the reputation of his work spread throughout the surrounding country. The buildings now occupied by him consist of a grinding shop, 40x12 feet ; forge shop, 12x14 feet in dimensions, and the cutting shop, 20x35 feet. All ai% frame buildings, the two former one story and the latter two 110 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS stories high. A 20-horse power engine furnishes the motive power for grinding, the cutting being all done by hand. Ten men are employed and the product amounts to about $7,000 per year. All styles and kinds of files are made, special files for any kind of work being made to order. So high is the estimation in which the products of these works ai'e held, that the business has inci'eased 900 per cent, since its establishment, and is still increasing, all of which may be attributed to the knowledge enjoyed by Mr. Rothery of his business, and the strict attention paid to the quality of the work turned out. JOHN ELLIOTT. In the year 1849 the subject of this sketch moved from N. Y. City (where for five years he had been working at his trade,) to Auburn. He at once opened a man- ufactory of soap and candles, for which (the latter article more especially) there was a great demand. Being a practical workman and gifted with good business qualifi- cations, and honest withal, he soon passed his competitors and took the front rank in his business. The discovery of petroleum woi-ked a wondrous change, however, in the candle business, and as remarked by Mr. Elliott, where he once produced a hundred thousand lbs. of candles per year, he only produces at the present time about 10,000 lbs. While many CDntinued manufacturing and plac- ing on the market the large number of candles which had previously been made, and were ruined on account of the slow sale and poor demand, Mr. Elliott gradually guided his business more e5p3cially into the soap trade, and became a wholesale buyer and shipper of tallow to New York City. At the present time Mr. Elliott ships 5,000 lbs of tallow per week to the city. His business is located at No. 38 Garden street, where, in addition to his chandlery business, he purchases hide, pelts and pork. He employs four men, and his pay roll amounts to about twenty-five hundred dollars per year. In the soap business he makes a specialty of extra family soap, which is highly prized for its purity. Mr. Elliott is a genial old gentleman and an honor to the business. His goods are shipped throughout the State of New York. JAMES HOLMES. Among the applicants for the patronage of the dealers in those beverages which, entering so largely into the comfort of tKe people, have become almost a necessity to a large part of them, is Mr. James Holmes, who, establishing himself at No. 39 Garden street (in the rear of N. Y. C. R. R. depot) began bottling lager beer in 1880. Having a large acquaintance among the dealers, and being known as a careful and energetic business man, trial orders came to him, by the prompt filling of which, with the careful attention paid to the character of the article handled by him. soon caused those giving trial orders to become steady customers. During the year 1880 his business increased largely, and finding that there was a great demand for temperance drinks, he pui'chased one of the best apparatus for the manufacture of these articles, and added to his other business that of manu- facturing and bottling mineral water, soda water, ginger ale and other drinks of like character, in the manufacture and distribution of which he employs five men and three wagons. His venture has been very successful and his business is steadily in- creasing. Mr. Holmes has the latest and most improved machinery for the prompt filling of his orders, and by giving his careful attention to the selection and manu- facture of his goods he can guarantee satisfaction. His trade has grown to such an FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. Ill extent that at the present time he has not only a large patronage in the city, but a growing demand in all the surrounding villages. He has added to his machinery- one of Hogh Bro's. patent bottle washers, which cost $^00, and by the aid of which that part of the labor is greatly expedited, the machine being capable of washing eighty-five dozen bottles per hour, WILLIAM KOENIG. One of the lat«r established breweries is that of Mr. Wra. Koenig, who, erecting the large and convenient buildings now occupied by him at the corner of State street and Grant Avenue, in 1868, began to manufacture beer. Having a thorough knowledge of beer brewing, and paying strict atten- tion to the business, he has established a high reputation for the beer from his brewery. Having added the brewing of ale to that of beer during the past few months, andhis business having increased, there is no doubt but that that trying period which comes to every man's business life is past, and that the future is full of promise for him. The buildings occupied consist of the brewery, a fine three story brick structure, 30x50 feet in dimensions, and two ice houses, one 44x32 feet and the othei" 54x40 feet in dimensions, both of which are brick build- ings, two stories high. The product is 2,000 barrels of beer and ale per annum, giving employment to four men. A boiler of 20-horse "power supplies the 10- horse power engine and the pumps with steam. While the business is not the largest of its kind in the city, it is still a successful one, which does honor to its pro- prietor and helps to swell the volume of business of the city. CHAPTER XXVI. General Business Interests. THE AUBURN EYE AND EAR HOSPITAL— THE AUBURN PAPER CO- MANNING, HOWLAND &CLARK — IRVEN SHOEMAKER— WALTER BRAY — H. D. WILKIN. THE AUBURN EYE AND EAR HOSPITAL is located at the corner of South and Genesee streets, and is one of Auburn's latest and best acquisi- tions. As its name implies, it is principally intenc^ed for patients who are affected with any form of eye, ear or throat difficulties. The institution is pre- sided over by Dr. George J. West, a. surgeon of character and marked ability. His early medical and surgical training was received in the various hospitals in New York city. After having received his diploma, he associated himself with the eminent surgeon, Dr. George A. Thayer, of Binghamton, N. Y. This copart- nership continued for a number of years, during which period Dr. West gained, by perseverance and skill, a reputation as a surgeon second to none. For years he had been preparing himself for a special line of work ; and finally gave up en- 112 AUBURN N. Y., ITS AUBURN SAVINGS BANK BUILDING. tirely genei-al practice, and repaired to the New York Eye and Ear Hospital. Here he received a thoroiigh training, in everything relating to his future work. But not content even with these superior advantages, he determined to see whether the glowing i-eports concerning the advantages to be had in the hospitals of Germany were true. He accordingly visited the Royal Hospitals in Vienna, Aus- tria; Berlin, Germany; and London, England. Dr. West says of these institu- tions, "the high intellectual standing of the professors or suboi'dinate teachers, the carefulness and thoroughness of the system of instruction, combined with all possible privileges, make these in^titution-J the best in the world, not alone in the theoretical field, but also practically." This thorough training, supplementing many superior natural qualifications possessed by Dr. AYest, is the key to his suc- cess. The want of such an institution has long been felt by the citizens of Au- burn and its immediate vicinity, who hail with joy its coming. Hero the blind may receive back the blessings of sight, the deaf be made to hear. The deformi- ties of lids are obliterated. Cross eye are straightened. Destroyed eyes are re- moved and replaced by artificial glass ones. Even those who need a second pair of eyes, in the shape of eye glasses, get their wants hero supplied. Another dis- tinct feature of this institution, is the treatment of catarrh. The public gener- ally believe, and it is so taught by the medical profession at large, that for catarrh there is no cure. Dr. West asesrts that it can be cured. Patients jillow it to run riot for years; and only after some of the worst forms of eye or ear diseases are devel- oped by it, do tliey seek a physician's aid. Dr. West can be consulted daily, at his office in the Auburn Savings Bank building, on the corner of South and Genesee streets. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 113* THE AUBURN PAPER CO. This concern dates its first days back to the years when Auburn was compara- tively a small town, being one of the oldest industries of the now metropolitan like city. Thomas M. and Geoi'ge C. Skinner and Ebenezer Hoskins erected a paper mill here in 1820, but their interests were transferred to the Cayuga County bank in 1840. The subsequent lessees of the mill were L. W. Nye and Charles Eldred, who were succeeded by David S. West, Henry Ivison and Chauncey Markham. In 1840, a stock company was formed. In 1854 there was a reorganf- zation of the company with increased capital, and the business greatly enlarged. In 1858 this mill was destroyed by fire, shortly after which F. Gr. Weeks of Skan- eateles, and Clias. -J. Stupp of Auburn, came into possession of the old landmarks and business. The business in a languishing condition was carried on by them until 1874, when it was purchased by the Botsford Brothers. At that time the house was located in small quarters on Green street. These young men at once put life into the concern and trade began to increase from the first year, which increase has reached such a degx-ee of late years that at the beginning of 1883 they found it neecessary to secure larger quarters. They secured the Richardson building No. 8 South street, which is 100 feet deep with a fine basement, and was specially ar- ranged and fitted for their business. In November, 1883, they opened a retail de- partment for the sale of fine stationery. Their business includes every class of paper and stationery goods, twines, &c., but they make a specialty of manilla pa- pers. One feature of their manilla paper trade calls for special notice. At one of the mills controlled by the Auburn Paper Co., a specialty is made of No. 3 ma- nilla, noted for its extra strength. They also ship largely of straw paper to the western jobbers. Another feature of their business which is carried on extensively by them, is printed wrapping paper. In 1882 they commenced to manufacture the " Superb " butter and fruit tray, from wood pulp board. These trays in many re- spects are the finest tray in the market and ai-e meeting with great favor. The individual members of the company are John II. and James E. Botsford. MANNING, HOWLAND & CLAEK. The business conducted by the Messrs. Manning, Howland & Clark, namely, the manufacture and sale of pine, hemlock and hardwood lumber, shingles, lath, etc., is the largest of its kind in Auburn. The office and yard are situated on Seminary avenue near Genesee street, where operations were begun in 1871. In addition to the yard here, a saw-mill located at Union, Broome county, where Andrew S. Manning, the senior member of the firm resides, has been operated all along. From the timber lands owned by the firm in that section of the State, they have produced upwards of 3,000,000 feet of lumber yearly, a force of sixty men having been employed in the woods and at the mill. Besides the sale of the products of their own mill, large quantities of Western lumber are handled, and an extensive trade in pickets, mouldings, shingles, posts, etc., is carrir-d on. A specialty is made of black walnut lumber, of which a larger quantity is handled annually by this firm than other concern in this part of the State. In the yard here seven hands are employed. The immediate direction of the business is in the hands of Mr. Abel H. Clark, the other partner, Mr. II. N. Howland, being a member of the firm of C. W. Tuttle & Co., proprietors of the Auburn Iron Works, to which important enterprise Mr. Howland's attention is mainly directed. The stock car- 114 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS ried by Manning, Howland & Clark is large and complete, the business most capa- bly conducted, and the concern in all respects one of the leading, x-eliable enter- prises of this city. IRVEN SHOEMAKER. The agricultaral implement store, of which Mr. Irven Shoemaker is now the sole proprietor, was established in the fall of 1882 by the firm of Davis & Shoemaker, and by them was successfully carried on until the retirement of Mr. Davis from the firm in March of the present year. Mr. Shoemaker, who then succeeded to the individual ownership of the enterprise, though a young man, has a considera- ble acquaintance with the practical details of the special branch of trade to which he has devoted his capital and energies, and will doubtless further develop the ex- cellent business which had been built up by himself and Mr. Davis. The business occupies the main floor of the large frame and brick building located at No. 12 Franklin street, and the stock carried embraces a full line of agricultural imple- ments, wagons, sleighs and horse furnishing goods of every description. Among the specialties handled by this house are the Missouri grain drill and fertilizer, and the Champion horse rake, for which implements Mr. Shoemaker is the sole agent in Au- burn. Both of these machines have many features which render them superior to any others manufactured for similar purposes. In all respects the establishment of Mr. Shoemaker is well equipped and a credit to the pushing city in which it is locatei WALTER BRAY, Jr. In 1877, Messrs. Buckley & Co. established the business of manufacturing and selling horse clothing, harness and trunks, at No. (3G Genesee street. They con- tinued the business for two years, and in 1879 sold it to the present proprietor, Mr. Walter Bray, Jr. That Mr. Bray did not come to the trade unknown and unappre- ciated, may be judged by the steady increase in the business since he has had con- trol of it. Mr. Bray has been known to the people of Auburn and the surrround- ing country as being connected with the harness and trunk business for over thirty years in the city. Coming to Auburn in 1853, he was employed at his trade by Mr. A. V. M. Suydam, (who is still remembered by the older people of tlie city as being engaged in business here for many years,) until in 1800, when he began busi- ness on his own account. From 18G2 to 1808 he occupied the building owned by Lyman Soule, and which has since been destroyed to make room for the handsome brick structure, on the north side of Genesee street, which spans the Owasco out- let, and is arched over the Osborne Go's branch railroad. In 1868, Mr. Bray dis- posed of the business, and until the purchasing of Buckley & Go's store in 1879, was connected with Ilayden & Letchworth, wholesale dealers in saddlery hard- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. ll.-) ware. That Mr. Bray's return to active business is appreciated, it need only be said his trade has increased every year, and to-day he carries one of the largest and finest stock of harness, trunks and horse furnishing goods to be found in the city. On May first, Mr. Bray removed to the hantlsoins brick store room at No. 6 Genesee street, the building occupied having been sold to the Y. M. C. A., who will demolish it and erect a large and handsome building in its stead for their use. A native of England, Mr. Bray emigrated to this country in 1848. He first located at Utica, from there he removed to Owasco in 1848, and as has been pre- viously noticed, from the latter place to Auburn in 1853. An honest, intelligent and energetic citizen, Mr. Bray is an honor to the country of his adoption. H. D. WILKTN. The historical interest which attaches itself to the old business houses of the city, finds a subject in the ladies' furnishing goods store located at 94 Genesee street. This biisincss was established in 1859 by Mrs. H. L. Smith and conducted by her until 1878, when she was succeeded by Mr. H. D. Wilkin, the present proprietor. A full and complete line of ladies' furnishing goods, consisting of ladies' muslin and merino underwear, corsets, hosiery, laces, fine embroidery, yarns and zephyrs, are constantly to be found on his counters. All varieties of stamping are done to order, and a full stock of materials for art embroiderers are always on hand. The stock is the largest and finest in the city, devoted to this line of goods exclusively, and the large and increasing trade enjoyed by this house since its foundation, is a safe criterion by which to judge of its reliability. Four lady clerks are employed and the business is conducted on a thoroughly metropolitan style. Mr. Wilkin is a native of the flourishing city of Syracuse, where he was engaged in business before removing to Auburn. CHAPTER XXVII. General Business Interests. THE AUBURN COPYING HOUSE — THE BOSTON STORE — DRIGGS, PHILLIPS & CO. — FRED. H. POWELL— HENRY L. ADAMS — J. M. ELLIOTT — J. L. BAKER. THE AUBURN COPYING HOUSE is one of the oldest and most reliable photo-copying establishments in the country. Early in 1872, Mr. William H. Ernsberger originated the business, and in a very short time there- aftor his brother, Aaron D. Ernsberger, was taken in as a partner, but did not remain in the business more than six months, at the expiration of which time he turned over his interests to his brother, William 11. , and went west. In October, 1873, Mr. G. W. Hoffman purchased a one-lialf interest in the house, and things went on smoothly until the spring of 1875, at which time Mr. Ploffman purchased 116 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS THE AUBURN COPYING HOUSE BUILDING. tfic entire business. It will be remembered that about this time the country was laboring under a severe financial trouble, which affected all classes of business, and as this house was doing a wide-spread trade it did not escape. As a consequence, trade fell off, and things certainly looked rather dubious for Mr. Hoffman's busi- ness, more especially as his experience had been but a limited one. However, by indomitable pluck and energy, he pulled through, and to-day he is doing a very large and satisfactory amount of work. He has steadily increased his facilities. During the year 1883, his gross receipts amounted to $30,000, while in 1883. they run up to $40,000; thus it will be seen that the magnitude of this house is one of no small dimensions. He has about 50 agents traveling throughout the country, and hero at home gives employment to some 10 or 12 persons, who are constantly on the "go" in filling orders. The class of work turned out by this house is such as commends itself to the public. Not one piece of work is allowed to leave his place of business until it can stand the most thorough examination of critics, which accounts in a great measure for the suceoss attained by his agents. Mr. Hoffman is a. thorough business man, and has shown that success in any un- dertaking depends largely upon the class of work turned out. His house, a view of which is i>resented, is located at Nos. 9 and 11 Genesee street, and many people can secure jirofitable employment by canvassing for orders for the work done by this thorouglily reliable establishment, tlie reputation of which, for the best work jiroduced, is alone sufficient to command the orders of people desiring only first class work. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 117 THE BOSTON STORE. One of the finest and most complete establishments in the city, is the suit house, or as it is better known, "The Boston Store" conducted by M. & J. Madden at No. 45 Genesee street. In 1868 M. Madden, the senior member of the firm, procured the store room just vacated by I. L. Scoville. who. for many years had carried on a dry goods store at that number, and introduced the present line of trade, which consists of dry goods, carpets, and ladies' furnishing goods and suits. Pour floors are occupied by the firm in their large and success- ful business. The first floor of No. 45 is occupied in the sale of dry goods and ladies' furnishing goods; the second floor as a carpet sales room; the third floor of No. 47 for the sale of ladies' underwear, suits and cloaks, and the fourth floor in the manufacture of ladies' underwear, suits and cloaks. They are the only house in the city where a lady can be supplied with a full and complete outfit, and the advantages thus offered are fully appreciated. Being able to economize in help in the different departments, they can oflier exceptional inducements to pur- chasers of carpets, suits and dry goods. The business is completely systematized throughout. Twelve clerks are employed in the diffiei'ent departments, and twen- ty-five operators in the manufacturing department. In 1888, a copartnership was formed by M. & J. Madden. Active and courteous, their business has rapidly in- creased, and is fully deserving of the high estimation in which- it is held. DRIGGS, PHILLIPS k CO. These gentlemen own and operate two of the largest wholesale and retail lumber yards. Their place of business on Wall street near State has been used as a yard of its kind since 1869, at which time Mr. Ira Gaston was carrying on a small busi- ness. It was in 1875 that John P. Driggs & Co., (the "Co." then as now being Mr. A. B. Chamberlain,) bought out Mr. Gaston. In 1876, Mr. Edwin E. PhiUips was admitted as a partner, and the firm name changed to what it now is. The first year after Mr. Gaston left the yards, business in general was good, and the yard did its usual amount of trade that year, too ; yet the sales amounted to only about $18,000, while last year the present firm did a business of $70,000. This speaks well for the management of the concern, and is positive evidence that experienced men are at its head. The Wall street yard is a large one, having a front on that street of nearly 300 feet, with a depth of about 150 feet. This space is filled as full as possible with all the best grades of Michigan lumber, which lumber stands at the head of the trade. Six men and three teams arc constantly at work in and about the place, delivering and drawing in. Aside from the firm's large city trade in furnishing contractors' and builders' materials, they enjoy a most liberal pat- ronage from farmers, who place much confidence in Driggs, Phillips & Co.'s state- ments concerning their lumber. Although the firm makes a specialty of the i-etail trade, they are situated in such a location with their second yard, on Wall street, neai- the Southern Central railroad, as to be able to offer superior inducements to purchasers of car lots. This yard, which is a very extensive one, was purchased of James M. French, last June. As a whole, the firm of Driggs, Phillips & Co, are doing a thriving Ijusiness, and are deserving of the same. FRED H. POWELL. To secure pure and clean seeds is the first effort, and a very necessary one, ol* every farmer and gardener. On that account, a home establishment, conducted 118 AUBURN, N. V., ITS by people of reliability, is sure to receive calls from the careful buyer, and is deserving of the liberal patronage of the people. The seed store conducted by Mr. F. H. Powell at No. 23 North street, was established by his father, Mr. John F. Powell, in 1870, and during the time he continued the business his efforts were directed to establishing a reputation for the purity of the seeds sold by him, and the selection of such varieties as he thought would prove the most satisfactory to his patrons, in which he was highly successful. His son, Fred H. Powell, became a partner in 1876, having disposed of the drug store which he had carried on at No. 12 North street. The father, Mr. J. F. Powell, died in 1880, deeply mourned by his family and a large circle of acquaintances, and his son succeeded to a full con- trol of the business. He carries a full line of the purest and best selected seeds to be found in the city, for both garden and farming purposes. Three men are employed in the store, and the seeds are cleaned under the personal super- vision of Mr. Powell. A large stock of produce is also handled by Mr. Powell. Using good judgment in the selection of the seeds sold, of which a large quantity are grown for Mr. Powell's especial trade, the success of the business cannot but come up to the expectation and hope of the proprietor. HENRY L. ADAMS. The drug store conducted by Mr. Adams was started at No. 69 State street in January, 1882. Larger quarters being required for the business, which increased rapidly from the start, he secured the room now occupied at No. 65 State street, and removed his stock and fixtures to these more commodious quarters on the first day of May, 1883. Here, as before, the business has pi'oved highly success- ful, the trade having doubled since the establishment of the business. A full line of pure and reliable drugs is kept constantly on hand, and a competent pre- scription clerk is always in attendance to compound the medicines. Previous to opening his drug store in Auburn, Mr. Adams had been engaged in a drug store in Moravia, (his native place,) for five years, and gained a thorough knowl- edge of the preparation of medicines and the wants of the trade. His store is fitted up with handsome show cases filled with a careful selection of those fancy goods usually for sale in first class drug stores. Mr. Adams is a member of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association. J. M. ELLIOTT. J. M. Elliott, the well-known and successful architect, whose fine offices are lo- cated in the Seward Block, at the corner of Genesee and Exchange streets, began business in Auburn in February, 1881. Prior to his advent in this city, Mr. Elliott had a large experience in practical building and in the professional work of an architect, in Chicago, New York, and other of the principal cities. Added to the extended practical experience, Mr. Elliott possessed, in an unusual measure, the attributes of excellent taste, sound judgment and ability as a designer. With this complete equipment, the public attention and confidence were soon secured and that he rapidly advanced to a leading position in the profession was not to be wondered at. During his comparatively short residence here, Mr. Ellibtt has built up for himself a very large and growing patronage, and the many fine structures which have been ei-cctcd from his drawings, are substantial evidences of the large skill he possesses in the line of his profession. Among tlie buildings erected from plans made by Mr. Elliott might be named the fine Wheeler Block, on FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 119 William street, the elegant chapel of the Methodist church on South street, the Linnenbach block on State street, and numerous others. From plans prepared at his office, there are now nearly completed, the parsonage of the First Presbyterian church on Franklin street, and a fine residence for James A. Clary on John street. This season there are to be erected from Mr. Elliott's plans, the new building of the Young Men's Christian Association, on Genesee street, which will be, when com- pleted, the loftiest and finest public edifice in the city, a fine brick residence for Thomas Jones, on South street, an expensive house for Charles Standardt, on North street, an unique residence of red sand stone for William H. Ernsberger, at the corner of Lewis and Genesee streets, three large houses on Ross street, and numerous other structures. These examples will suffice to show the important business which Mr. Elliott has thus quickly secured in Auburn. Recently Mr. Elliott removed his office from Room No. 14 in the Seward Block, to Room No. 9, a very large and fine apartment on the second floor, until this time occupied as the private office of General C. D. MacDougall. A corps of four draughtsmen find permanent employment in the large and completely equipped office, and as circumstances require, the number is increased. In addition to the large local patronage accorded to Mr. Elliott, his reputation as a successful architect has been the means of attracting orders for fine residences from many outside points. In Jersey City, Lexington, Ky., Syracuse and many other near-by communities, as well as in far-away California, exist handsome structures, which were built from his plans. A very high standing in his profession lias been honestly won by Mr. Elliott, and a further and much wider growth of his business and reputation will certainly be gained by his worthy efforts. J. L BAKER. As a land surveyor and civil engineer, Mr. J. L. Baker is attaining an enviable reputation in this city, and his valuable services are frequently sought by parties residing at great distances. He has been engaged in this profession since 1870, giving most of his attention to farm surveying and the study of civil engineering. His success has been very gratifying, and in 1882, he was appointed to the respon- sible position of City Surveyor. During his term of office, many pieces of work requiring fine engineering skill have been completed by the city. Among the most notable work done was the building of the South street, Mac Dougall street, and Hamilton avenue sewers. The South street sewer is memorable on account of the difficulties to be overcome in putting in the sewer pipe, caused by quick- sand, and the amount of litigation over the building of this sewer. The satisfac- tory manner in which all the work constructed under Mr. Baker's supervision, and on the plans furnished by him, which fully answered the purposes for which they were intended, speaks highly for his ability. By the change of aldermen at the election of March, 1884, Mr. Baker was retired from city service, and now de- votes his entire attentions to his profession, and makes a specialty of surveying drainage work and the construction of sewers. His office is with T. J. Searls, Esq., attorney-at-law, at No. 76 and 761-2 Genesee street, over Sutton's drug store. His ability is undisputed, and with his character for integrity and reliabil- ity, must and will undoubtedly give him a large and steadily increasing clientele as the years roll by. 120 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS CHAPTER XXVIII, General Business Interests. THE NEW ERA IN AUBURN REAL ESTATE— A. W. LAWTON'S REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY— BARKER, GRISWOLD & CO. WITHIN the past two or three years there has been noticeable a decided improvement in the real estate interests of Auburn and the Owasco lake suburbs of the city. These interests, as will be readily con- ceded, are not second in importance to any other topic which properly may receive due attention in a work of this character, and it is believed that this sketch will find a careful perusal and awaken a keen interest in every citizen who is alive to the welfare of this place. While there have been erected during the time men- tioned above, many elegant residences on South, North, Genesee and others of the leading thoroughfares, generally speaking by the younger moneyed men of the place, there has been witnessed as well the putting into the market, followed by the sale and rapid improvement, of not a few of the old landed estates about the city, which for years had lain in a practically useless condition and thtis were stumbling blocks in the way of general improvement and development. The ex- ample which has thus been set before the public at large by the enterprising and energetic leaders in this movement, has had its beneficial effects upon the numy, and so it is that to-day the greatly altered appearance of many of the leading streets has been brought about, and that generally the property interests of the city were never before on a better footing. While the liberality and taste of such prominent citizens as the Sewards, Osborncs, Aliens, Woodruffs, and others have had tlieir weight in setting in motion the current which has borne along the prop- erty interests of Auburn so prosperously, there have been others to whose practical , efforts, directed by keen foresight, excellent judgment, and untiring energy, must be attributed justly no small credit for the greatly bettered state of things preva- lent at this time. While most men seem to have been endowed by dame nature with quali float ions which more or less fully fit them for the discharge of the duties of the occupation in which they are to be found seeking a livelihood, it is seldom indeed that our '"common mother " has the pleasure of finding one of her sons, so well employing the talents which she gave him. and in a direction to put tliom, with their competent exercise, into the most wide-reaching and beneficial re- sults to the whole community, as is the case with one concerning whom this sketch shall have more to present to the reader. About twelve years ago, A. W. Lawton returned to Auburn, after a considerable absence in the west, where he had given careful attention to the methods practiced by successful manipulators of real es- tate. As a yomig man, Mr. Lawton had been employed in the office of an old es- tablished dealer in real property of Auburn, and his added experience in tlic west had but served to sharpen his taste and more fully equip him for the active en- gagement in a cause wherein the handling and development of landed property should FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 121 be the leading features. For a time he acted with much success as a special agent for the old and widely known Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York, for which corporation he still holds the agency for Cayuga County, and carries on the fourth largest business in the State outside the metropolis. A copartnership was later entered into with Wm. H. Eddy, and the firm of Lawton & Eddy, with their office over the Walley drug store, at the northwest corner of State and Gene- see street, carried on for a time a large real estate and insurance business. In 1881, Mr. Lawton withdrew from this firm and took offices across the street over the Cayuga County Savings Bank. He has since been successful in building up a very large and important business as a negotiator in real estate. His work has been of undoubted value to the property interests of the city, and so of great benefit generally to the community. Aside from being merely a shrewd buyer and seller of property, Mr. Lawton is an entluisiastic believer in Auburn and its future, and of making solid and substantial improvements as rapidly as circumstances will warrant. In taking hold of a neglected property, he first assures himself that there is a possible future for it, as taking its location, cost of improvement and other important matters into account. Once decided, no amount of cold water can dash his enthusiasm. The work deemed necessary is at once undertaken. The land is cut up into lots of saleable size, streets are opened, grading is done, if needed, sidewalks are laid, sewers are constructed, and, behold, the public is in- vited to examine and buy if the terms suit. The result has been, that the pub- lic has seen, been suited and bought. It is the enthusiasm, the unfailing coui-age and untiring industry of the man, which awaken animation, inspire confidence, and ultimately effect results which at the outset seemed, if not utterly impracti- cable, at least highly problematical. The opening of the Gaylord property, on liis own personal account, the development of the Ross property in connection with Mr. E. D. Clapp, and of the Chedell estate conjointly with the late W. M. Williams, and very lately the successful disposition of the Hardenburgh property, form striking illustrations of what can be accomplished by pluck and hard work, directed by foresight and sound judgment of property values. While Mr. Law- ton has done much to improve the appearance of this city by his skillful handling and fine development of property within its borders, he has left no stone untui-ned in his efforts to bring to the favorable notice of his fellow-citizens and the public at lai'ge the advantages possessed by the shores of the beautiful lake lying just at the gates of the city, as sites for summer houses. Until within a very few years the charming hillsides of fair Owasco had I'emained almost wholly given over to the original forests, or the plow of the farmer, while upon the banks of the Seneca and Skaneatcles, the pleasant cottages of the well-to-do, or stately homes of the opulent, had been builded in numbers. The last two or three years have brought a change and now the shores of Owasco and its outlet are adorned by many elegant residences. While the old-time stately Throop mansion and the famous Sand Beach church still retain their attractiveness as objects of historical interest, the beautiful grounds and expensive homes, possessing all the taste and beauty of modern architecture, which have been reared by the Messrs. Seward, Osborne, Letchworth and others show that a new era has dawned and that great progress is yet to be made. The sincerity of Mr. Lawton's advocacy of the superior claims of Owasco's border lands over those of other- waters, is attested by the large out- lay he has made in the beautiful home and its surroundings, which he has builded upon a lofty eminence overlooking this pretty lake. Among those who have built for themselves fine homes in this near-by suburb, and have persistently 122 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS labored for the development of the beauties and property advantages of the local- ity, Mr. Lawton was a pioneer. In the fine growth achieved thus far, and the promised further development, indicated by the fact that this season are to be built fine residences for Mr. Howard Case and others, he takes an honest pleasure and pride. While giving largely of his time to the development of the these large property interests, Mr. Lawton does not by any means neglect the general affairs of his important business. He is all the time making private sales and dis- posing of property for a small army of patrons. Last season his aggregate sales of real property in Auburn reached the great total of nearly a quarter of million of dollars. Auburn would be benefited by the possession of many more citizens of as untiring energy and large public spiritedness as Mr. Lawton, and a gener- ous continuation of the public esteem and patronage is certainly richly deserved by him. BARKER, GRISWOLD & CO. The firm whose name heads this sketch, while in its present form of but I'ecent establishment, consists of individuals who have for many years been connected in the capacity of proprietors or employes of the large business enterprise of which they are to-day joint owners. Until the present year, the business now conducted by Messrs. Barker, Griswold & Co., which is the largest exclusively retail clothing manufacturing concern in Auburn and vicinity, and possibly the entire State, was carried on for a considerable period under the name of F. L. Griswold & Co. The founder of the business, the late Franklin L. Griswold, in 1833 opened a small store on Genesee street east of Noi'th street, for the manufacture and sale of men's and boys' clothing. A few years later the business was removed to 89 Gene- see street. About this time Mr. Griswold entered into a contract with the State authorities for the employment of a considerable number of convicts in the Prison at this point for the manufacture of cheap articles of clothing. This fact gave to the place of business the name of the " Prison Clothing Store." In time the adjective "old"vvas added to this designation and as the "Old Prison Clothing Store," this large and flourishing enterprise has become widely and favorably known throughout this and several neighboring counties. The store originally occupied at 89 Genesee street was about 00x22 feet. As time passed and trade increased, various additions became necessary, and the establishment is to-day, as it has been for several years past, both in point of space occupied and tlie amount of goods made and sold entirely at retail, the largest of its kind perhaps in the State. The store is a double one, both 89 and 87 being included. The original depth was greatly increased by an addition at the rear, making the west store 180 feet long, and the east store 140 feet. The frontage is about 45 feet. The basements of both stores are used for storage of reserve stock. At the rear of 89 is the large cutting room, (50x22 teot. 1 n the second and third floor of the block the manufacturing depart- ment is located. About 200 persons find employment in the making of clothing for the trade of this great store. Four cutters are employed in the custom depart- ment, and the force on duty in the salesrooms consists of fourteen men. The amount expended annually for work reaches about $30,000. During the twelve montlis ending with January 1st, 1884, about 20,000 yards of clotli were cut and manufactured into men's garments in the -shops of Jiarker, Griswold & Co., for sale in the ready made department of the business. If this amount of cloth had been made into suits it would have clothed nearly 6.000 jnen. Manufactured as it was into overcoats, trousers, vests, coats, etc.> the greater portion of which gar- FACn.ITIES AND RESOURCES. 123 ments find a separate sale, the consumers of this outfit for a single year would be nearly 20,000. This is truly a big constituency for a solely retail house. To this large business must be added the extensive patronage of the custom depart- ment, and the important and growing trade in boys' and children's garments and furnishing goods. The total annual sales of this house approximate $175,000. and the greater part of the business is done on a cash basis. As the public is al- ways interested in the personnel of a successful business firm, it is proper to state that Mr. J. L. Barker, now the head of this fine industry, is a half-brother of F. L. Griswold, the founder. He has been connected with the enterprise for thirty- four years, and for twenty one years in the capacity of a joint owner. Mr. F. H. Griswold, a son of the late F. L. Griswold, has been connected with the business for twenty-one years, and for sixteen years has owned an interest in the enter- prise. Mr. C. P. Mosher who holds the " Company" interest in the new firm, has been connected with " The Old Prison Store," for twenty years, and seven years a part owner. No enterprise with which this book has had to deal, is more firmly grounded in the popular esteem or substantially equipped for a long career of com- mercial prosperity than that of which a brief description has been given in this sketch. With ample capital, a widely extended and growing patronage, and di- rected by large experience, energy, and business sagacity, " The Old Prison Store" must continue to occupy for years to come a leading place among the important enterprises of its kind in this place and a large adjacent territory. CHAPTER XXIX. General Business Interests. SKETCHES OF TWO SUCCESSFUL MEN— JOHN E. ALLEN, PROPRIE- TOR OF THE OSBORNE HOUSE — JAMES C. STOUT, THE CON- TRACTOR AND BUILDER. AS the popular proprietor of the Osborne House at Auburn, and of the Cayuga Lake Hotel at Sheldrake on Cayuga Lake, John E. Allen has become very widely known. He came to Auburn from the near-by village of Weedsport, about 1860, to enter the former well-known dry goods firm of Van Vechten & Lyon. In 1870 Mr. Allen withdrew from mercantile pursuits and entered upon his career as a landlord, by taking possession of the Atwood House at Weedsport. Although without previous experience in this line, Mr. Allen's venture proved successful, and the reputation of the Atwood House, as an excellently managed hotel, was high. About a year and half later this house was destroyed by fire. Mr. Allen's next venture as a hotel keeper was made in the following year. On May 1st, 1872, he took possession of a large hotel at Little Falls, then called the Benton House. The name was changed by him to the Girvan House, and by this title it is still desig- nated. A large patronage was enjoyed by the Girvan House, under the proprie- torship of Mr, Allen, and his reputation as a successful hotel man was well estab- 124 AUBURX, N. Y., ITS fl^ ^--J^^' -M^ ^f ^:i :^:iiMiilli^^^^ ^ '^^ i«iiMHIll!i«15«;; 1. r ':' i^tl|:|||il;!lgMlifJi !IJ2g|«<' 'I m'Wwm'W^'Wmm M M H S-if if lli ll, A'M S fi ft S S S' 's^ '1^ J|^ ™'^ f" f 1 1 ? W f M®, M M Millr THE OSBORNE HOUSE, CORNER STATE AND WATER STREETS. lished during his stay in Little Falls, which continued until 1877, while the prac- tical experience obtained in his two ventures thus far, supplementing many natur- al qualifications, was to be of great service in later more important enterprises. In 1877, Mr. Allen leaving Little Falls, returned to Auburn, after an absence of sev- en years, to enter upon the management of tiie principal hotel of the place, namely the Osborne House. This fine hotel structure had been built in 187;:5-4 by D. M. <;)sborne, the head of the great and widely known reaper and mower manufactory located here, and was named in honor of its owner. The house stands at Uie south- west corner of State and Water streets. Its original dimensions were 50x50 feet, with a double L running back from the center of the building to Green street, a distance of 350 feet. The structure is of brick, covered with stucco, and four stories high, with French roof. Mr. Allen, on taking charge of this hotel, succeed- ed Benjamin Ashby, an old and widely known hotel keeper, the former proprietor at different periods, of the old Auburn, American, and Exchange iiotels in this city. Mr. Ashby had been in charge of the Osborne House from the time of its erection until Mr. Allen's advent in this city. With the proprietorship of JNIr. Al- len came an era of steady improvement of the building and development of the patronage of the house. In 1878 the original size of the house was greatly en- larged by the building of an extension on State street, 100 feet lon'g, and of equal height with the other jxirtion of the house. No further addition has since been re- quired to the building, the extension just described having given the house a total of llJOrinc roiins, withacapacity of 350 guests, but scarcely a year ha.s gone by with- out witnessing fine improvements in the appointment and furnisliing of the liouse. While the house throughout is exceedingly comfortable, the rooms being lai'ge, well lighted and ventilated and neatly furnished, and the halls large and airy, in certain {)articulars the Osborne House equals, if not excels, any liotel in the State, outside of the metropolis. The dining hall, a fine apartment 125x40 feet, is FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 125 a model of elegant tastefulness and unique adornment. On its walls are a number of beautifully mounted deer heads and finely prepared natural game pieces. The to- tal seating capacity of the hall, which can be made into two rooms, is 150 guests, this being the number who were seated at the fine banquet given by Mayor Wheeler to the members of the military company known as the Wheeler Rifles and their guests, on the occasion of the completion of the decoration of this attractive room, January 1st, 1883. In 1883 the fine office, reading room, and private business room of Mr. Allen, were handsomely ceiled and finished in hard wood. The billiard room and wine cafe have the present year been in the hands of the decorators and it is not too much to say that both apartments are exceedingly attractive in all their ap- pointments ; the wine cafe with its gold and silver adorned ceiling, beautiful bar appointments, and floral decorations, being one of the most handsomely fitted roomsfor similar use in the country. Among the recent important improvements of the house are the introduction of a fine steam heating apparatus, the electric light, and the fitting up of a second room for use as a billiard parlor. From these statements it will be seen that the Osborne is kept abreast of the times in all the attributes of a first-class metropolitan house. In carrying on this fine hotel the services of about forty persons are made use of by Mr. Allen. In addition to the management in such a successful manner of so excellent a house as the Osborne, Mr. Allen has greatly added to his popularity and wide acquaintance with the pub- lic by another enterprise. In the summer of 1883 he became the proprietor of the hotel and lake resort at Sheldrake-on-Cayuga, which had been opened three years previously, but had never become at all noted or largely patronized. With char- acteristic energy, Mr. Allen, soon after taking charge of this house caused it to be considerably increased in size and in his hands the place was carried on very suc- cessfully and with great satisfaction to the public for six seasons. This season the genial host of the Osborne, who has been wont for the past six summers to preside over the affairs of this charming Sheldrake resort, will be missed from that spot by his numerous former guests and admiring friends. An engagement has been entered into by Mr. Allen to conduct the summer hotel at Long Point, on tlie west shore of Seneca Lake, about sixteen miles from Geneva. This is a very de- lightful resort, possessing many points of attractiveness which are superior to those of Sheldrake. The hotel at Long Point is owned by Samuel K. Nester, a wealthy maltster of Geneva, N. Y., and an officer of the Seneca Lake Steam Navigation Company. This hotel was built in the spring of 1882, and opened to the public a few months later. The location of the house is a charming one. The point upon which the hotel is erected, extends into tlie lake many hundreds of feet from the mouth of a pleasant wooded valley. The surface of the point is very level, and de- lightful walks are to be enjoyed among the fine shade trees and along the pretty stream which runs through the property. The beach at either side of the point is clean and pebbly and the water of Seneca Lake is as pure as any in the world. The grounds contain a large summer pavilion for the use of transient guests. The hotel is a large three-story structure with slated roof and is of unique architecture. Its interior appointments are very complete and inviting, and the place is in all respects one of the most attractive in the State. The season at Long Point will open about June 15th. A fine orchestra of six pieces, under the direction of Prof. Schieht, of Auburn, will be in attendance throughout the season. The perform- ance of this orchestra formed a very delightful feature of the enjoyments to be had by the visitors to the Cayuga Lake House, and that they will prove highly attrac- tive at Long Point is not to be doubted. The grounds at Long Point are to be 126 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS illuminated by the Thomson-Houston electric light this season, and no pains or ex- pense will be spared to make a visit to this charming spot both profitable and enjoya • ble. Mr. Allen will have in his employ, all told, not less than 100 people, in the seve- ral branches of his business. The high standing in the confidence and esteem of the public which is enjoyed by Mr. Allen has been won by an honest and earnest en- deavor to cater to his patrons in a thorough and satisfactory manner. He is in every sense of the word a first-class hotel man, and the best wishes of a widespread and fast growing constituency of former and present guests will wish him the fullest measure of success in his new and larger business enterpi-ises. JAMES C. STOUT. The responsibility resting upon the one to whom the work of erecting a large and fine public building or an imposing private residence is committed, is admit- tedly important, and the satisfactory discharge of the duties arising from a trust of the kind argues the possession of brains and executive force in no small measure by the successful contractor. It is to a short outline of the career and achievements of a man of this stamp that this article will be devoted. In 1869, J. C. Stout, a young man who had mastered the practical details of the trade of carpenter and joiner, established himself in this city in the business of contractor and builder. The thorough ipanner in which the work committed to him was executed in every instance, soon won for him the highest public confidence, and from receiving or- ders for the building of small and unimportant structures, he very soon entered upon contracts for the erection of many of the finest buildings which Auburn pos- sesses. Among these structures was foremost of all, the State Armory, located on the north side of Water street, erected in 1872. A complete description of this fine building will be found in another part of this work. The prestige secured by Mr. Stout through the admirable manner in which this large undertaking was brought to a successful termination, has remained with him and greatly aided him in securing desirable and important contracts. A complete list of the many ad- mirable buildings which have been constructed by Mr. Stout would require more space than is available at this time. A few of the more important are included among the houses of George Barber on West Genesee street, James Kerr on State street, the buildings of the Auburn Manufacturing Works on Clark street, the Button factory on Logan street, the U. M. Osbrirne rolling mills and malleable iron works, the residences of J. H. Woodruff, F. P. Taber and G. W. Allen on South street, the Osborne Block on Genesee street, the Wheeler block on William street, the residences of the Messrs. Alley on North street, and the State street extension of the Osborne House. Mr. Stout has now in hand the work of constructing an extension to St. P.eter's church, and ha? recently completed the new Sunday School for the Methodist church on South street, and now has in course of erection the First Baptist church on West Genesee street. In the neighboring village of Skaneateles, exist evidences of the thorough work of Mr. Stout in the elegant residences of J. C. Willetts of that place, and D. C. Robbins, of New York, a peculiarity of the residence of Mr. Robbins l)eing that it is built entirely of wood, no plaster entering into its construction. In 187G Mr. Stout took possession of the large brick building at tlie junction of Water and Dill streets, where a great part of the woodwork for the buildings he has constructed is manufactured. Recently the four story brick building adjoin- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. ^ 127 ing that all along occupied by Mr. Stout, was vacated by the Phoonix Button Co. This also has been leased by Mr. Stout, and cabinet making on a considerable scale has been added to his former business. Stair work, doors, blinds, mantles, and other wood work requiring large skill and experience for its successful manufac- ture is produced. Orders for stair work, veneered doors, mantles, side-boards, and all kinds of interior wood-work will be promptly and satisfactorily executed and shipped to any point. The extent of the business carried on by Mr. Stout will become apparent from the statement that he employs throughout the summer months about eighty men, and in the winter about fifty men. His monthly pay-roll to mechanics alone will reach about $4,000. The fine reputation and extensive business which Mr. Stout has secured have been gained by his thorough reliability and enterprise. In achieving a business success, he has given to this handsome city many admirable structures which are a credit to his skill and taste, and add very much to the beauty of the place in which they exist. Further and growing usefulness and popularity are to be enjoyed by this worthy citizen. CHAPTER XXX. General Business Interests, WATSON, COX & CO. — WEEKS, COSSUM & CO. — TENBYCK & CO. C. A. PORTER— L. MARSHALL. THE opportunities presented the shrewd operator for rapidly making money through the fluctuation of stocks sold in open market, make stock speculation a favorite business with many people. It possesses a peculiar fascination for those having money to invest, and the fortunes that have been made by many well-known people serve to increase not only the number of those engaging in it as a business, but those indulging in it as a pastime. Although speculation has been indulged in, more or less, in the smaller cities and towns for years, opera- tions have necessarily been limited, through lack of facilities for keeping trace of the constantly changing market, which places the operator at a disadvantage ; and large transactions have been confined principally to New York and the other cities in which are located regular exchanges. Of late years, however, the amount of business going from the smaller places has caused men of foresight and enterprise to open olfices for the transaction of the business at home, and the ranks of the speculators have consequently received large accessions. Here in Auburn speculators enjoy facilities that are equalled by few of the stnaller cities and sur- passed by few of the larger ones even. The office of Watson, Cox & Co., the com- mission stock brokers at No. 83 Genesee street, is not only connected with New York by private wire, but Mr. Townsend Cox, of the firm, is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, thus giving to their patrons the same advantages they would enjoy were they in New York and on Wall street themselves. All 138 AUBURN N. Y., ITS properties dealt in at the New York Stock Exchange, local stocks and mining stocks, are bought and sold on commission by Watson, Cox & Co., who are con- stantly receiving quotations and sending orders by their private wire. This busi- ness was established by the iirm, July 28, 1879, under the Auburn Savings Bank, but their largely increased business, as well as a desire for a more prominent loca- tion, caused them, two years ago, to remove to the commodious quarters now occupied, where every facility and convenience is offered their patrons that could be desired. The members of the iirm are G. W. Watson, Townsend Cox and B. Ashby. Messrs, Watson and Ashby, who are both natives of Auburn, well and favorably known, also conduct, under the firm name of Watson «& Co., a general banking and insurance business, in the same building, while Mr. Cox resides in New York city. From the start, this house has been successful in business and has steadily risen in public esteem until now it is acknowledged to be one of the most responsible brokerage houses in Central New York. Liberal, far-seeing and enterprising gentlemen, they have won success in their business here by deserving it, and their future career is certainly filled with as bright promises. WEEKS, COSSUM & CO. In March, 1881, Forrest Gr. Weeks and Frederic Cossum entered into partner- ship in the wholesale and retail paper trade in all its branches. They believed they saw in Auburn an opening for such a house, and that their belief was well founded is proven by the success that has attended the institution from its infancy. In the spring of 1883, Mr. M. S. Cuykendall joined the two former partners, and the style of the firm was then changed to that of Weeks, Cossum & Co. When the firm was first organized, they were located at No. 21 Market street ; in 1882 they built the building they now occupy, which is a three-story brick block, 32 feet wide by GO feet in depth, and is located at 22 Market street. The ground floor is occupied by their retail store and office, and the line of goods carried in this department is complete in every particular, excepting that of library books, which they do not handle. In blank books of every description, twine, pads, no- tions, etc., their stoi-e is well filled. The wholesale department is doing a thriving business. They have constantly on the road two or more ti-aveling agents, who look after the firm's interests throughout the States of New York and Pennsylvania. This is the only house of its kind in Auburn ; and it required some superior ad- vantage at the outset, in order to cope with established houses at other points. This fii-m had these advantages in the shape of being their own manufacturers, having three large paper mills at Skaneateles, one at Manlius, and anotlior at Ful- ton, where they manufacture all grades of print and other paj)ers, The railroad facilities at Auburn being as good as could be desired, and selling pjipors of their own make principally, placed them in a position where they could successfully compete with any and all other houses, both as to price paid, quality of paper given, and time of delivery. They of coui'se hoped to receive a share of the pub- lic's patronage, but did not anticipate that in two or three short years the amount of trade they now enjoy could possibly bo brought about. It is much beyond their expectations. Each member of the Arm is a thorough business n)an, and fully understands the business they are engaged in, (the paper trade being one in which oidy experienced men can hope to be successful, because of so much compe- tition,) and it is safe to say that in a few years this firm will be in the lead of all j)aper dealers in this section of the country, in fact they are now supplying the nuijcjr portion of the newspapers throughout the State with (heir "print." FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. l'2{) TEN p:yck & CO. lu 1868, Mr. James fl. Ten Eyck conceived the idea of reproducing common photographs into larger sizes for framifig. He was one of the first to enter this business, and to test it before inve^ting any large amount of capital he made ar- rangements with an experienced photographer to do the work, while he proceeded to canvass for orders. Success was almost instantaneous, and when the summer of 1869 had arrived, it was found necessary to take in a partner, who came in the person of Mr. William S. Ten Eyck, a brother. Two years later, their father, George H.. entered the firm. In 1881, the brother, William S., died, and the business has since been conducted by the remaining partners. This business has constantly and steadily increased at such a rate that to-day the firm is giving employment to over 40 experienced artists. Aside from these 40 or more persons here engaged with Messrs. Ten Eyck & Co., they have hundreds of agents through- Out the country. Their trade even extends very extensively throughout Mexico. The work turned out by this house will annually amount to about $70,000. The elegant building occupieil by the firm is 25 feet front, 115 feet deep, and is situated in the heart of the city, at 108 (lenesee street, adjoining the First National Bank building. They occupy the third and fourth floors of the building, and tiie third floor over the bank. Having a very large western trade, a Chicago branch was established some years ago, in the fine building located at the corner of State and Washington streets. C. A. PORTER. The State street lumber yard of C. A. Porter is comparatively a new business concern. It was opened by Mr. Ten Eyck De Puy, of Rochester, N. Y., in Janu- ary, 1881, and was transferred to the present proprietor in July, 1882. Mr. Por- ter has had an experience of 14 years in all branches of the lumber trade, having been in the employ of Mr. De Puy for eight years, and for several years superin- tendent of that gentleman's immense saw mills in Canada; he has also been an ex- tensive inspector of pine lumber and timber for the Canadian and American mar- kets. This experience has so acquainted him with these branches of the business that he is enabled to give special attention to furnishing pine bill timber of the best quality for raih'oad bridges and trestles. Mr. Porter also passed about four years in the lumber business in Pennsylvania, and has special facilities for furnish- ing Pennsylvanian hemlock of the best quality at wholesale and retail. Ho has contracts with some of the largest mills in that state, and has such favorable rates 130 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS for freiened a small stock of carpets, mattings, etc., in a store about 20x30 feet, situated at the corner of Genesee and William streets. The business proved successful iniTnedi- ately, and in 1880 Mr. F. B. Tompkins entered into a copartnership with Mr. Ward, under the present firm name, the store at No. 77 Genesee street was se- cured, the stock largely increased and a rapid gi*owth of the enterprise has resulted. The main floor of the establishment of Messrs. Ward & Tompkins is a fine sales- room, 160 feet deep and 20 feet in width. In this department is kept the large and finely selected carpet stock, which embraces all grades of goods, from cheap ingrains to the best axminsters, the most expensive moquettes, body brussels, etc. The large basement salesroom contains the oil cloths, mattings, etc. The second floor of the building, which is readily accessible from the main floor by a broad and ea^y stairway ascending trom the centre of the store, contains the depart- ment devoted to upholstering goods and curtains. The arrangement of the large and varied stock in this department is very tasteful and attractive. Here one may find a very varied line of wares, from the cheapest kind of curtain to the rich- est embroidered lace and tapestry. When fully stocked, this fine store carries goods to the aggregate value of $50,000. Six salesmen are employed in the sev- eral branches. The yearly sales amount to .| UK), 000. The rapid growth" of the fine business conducted by Messrs. Ward & Tompkins indicates the fact that there existed here a pressing demand for a well-eonduetod store of the kind, and also demonstrates the possession of large business oajmcity and a special fitness for the business on the part of the gentlemen who have thus quickly gained for themselves and their venture wide public recognition and material success. The store of Messrs. Ward & Tompkins does high credit to Auburn, and justly ranks among the leading successful mercantile concerns of this fine city. WILLIAM J. SUTTON. A very familiar name among the business men who have occupied the stores on Genesee street for upwards of twenty-five years, and indeed one which through the enterprise and business sagacity of its possessor has become widely and favor- ably known in this whole community, is that which prefaces this sketch. William J. Sutton, after a practical experience of six years, beginning in 1854 in the old and favorably known drug house of John L. Thompson, Sons & Co., at Troy, FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 133 came in June, 1860, to this city. On Juno 39, 1860, he succeeded by purchase to the drug business of Dr. David L. Dodge, which was then being carried on at 99 (xenesee street. This business had been conducted prior to Dr. Dodge's proprie- torship, by George D. Wells. Associated nearly two years with Mr. Sutton at the outset was P. VV. Rhodes. In 1861 the drug and medicine business of H. G. Fow- ler, located in a store which occupied the site of the Auburn Savings Bank, corner of South and Genesee streets, was purchased by Sutton & Rhodes. The firm con- ducted both stores until the spring of 1862, when a division occurred, Mr. Sutton continuing the store at 99 Genesee street, and Mr. Rhodes assuming charge of the business purchased of Mr. Fowler. The venture of Mr. Rhodes proving unsuc- cessful, the Fowler stock was sometime afterwards purchased for sixty cents on the dollar by Mr. Sutton and combined with his stock at 107 Genesee street, to which place his business had been previously removed. An interesting fact in the business history of Auburn is recalled by a "relic '" now in the possession of Mr. Sutton. This is nothing less than a fractional currency check, bearing date November 1st, 1862. At that time silver having become very scarce, Mr. Sutton conceived the idea of having ijrinted and issued fractional currency checks to the amount of $1,000. This was the first issue of the kind made in this place. These cliecks were quite generally made use of by merchants throughout the city. After a time, similar checks were issued by Augustus Howland, President of the Auburn City Bank. Mr. Sutton then notified the public that he would redeem his checks with those of the City Bank. Only a very few of them, however, were ever pre- sented for such redemption. In 1835 Mr. Sutton removed his prosperous business to No. 107 Genesee street, after having expended a considerable sum in the refit- ting of the store. An innovation made at this time was the introduction of a marble floor, which was the first put into a business place in Auburn. Mr. Sutton continued to occupy No. 107, where he enjoyed a large and successful patronage, until the property changed hands in 1878. On May 1st of that year, he leased and took possession of the admirably located and attractive store at the southwest cor- ner of Genesee and South streets, where his business is now located. A lai-ge and varied stock is carried in this store, which is a model of neatness and attractive arrangement, and is withal one of the most popularly conducted business enter- prises of the city in which it is located, a position which has been honestly won by a worthy career extending through nearly a quarter of a century. CHAPTER XXXII. General Business Interests. INGALLS & CO. — THE SINGER SEWING MACHINE CO.— THE AUBURN COPYING CO.— FREDERICK ALLEN. THE rapid growth into public favor of the large boot and shoe store located at No. 18 North street, is due to the sagacity and enterprise shown in its management, as well as the bargains offered to the people. In 1876, Messrs. Ingalls & Co., of Boston and Syracuse, who are large buyers of bankrupt stocks of boots and shoes, opened thLs branch of their extensive business and 134 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS placed in charge of it Mr. Albert Van Tassel. He conducted the business for a time, and the plan on which it was operated being a novel one, a large trade was immediately secured. Mr. A. Robinson succeeded Mr. Van Tassel and was in turn succeeded by John Dickinson. Mr. L. W. Knight succeeded him in October. 1883. The trade, which had somewhat fallen off previous to Mr. Knight becoming manager, has increased under his skillful management, and the house is fast re- gaining the place in public favor once held by it. This store is but one of thirteen similar establishments founded by Messrs. Ingalls & Co., and in successful opera- tion at this time, of which nine are located in this State — in the following places : Troy, Utica, Rome, Syracuse, Elmira, Rochester, Watertown, Albion and Me- dina. This large and successful business was founded in Syracuse in 1874, when Mr. Ingalls purchased a large stock of goods at bankrupt sale. Not attempting to put them on the market in the usual retail way, he gave the people the benefit of the low price at which they were purchased, by opening a store and marking the stock as bankrupt, with prices accordingly. The success was phenomenal, and tak- ing advantage of the knowledge thus gained, the firm of Ingalls & Co. was formed and the business which has since gained such gigantic proportions was begun. Messrs. G. W. Ingalls and S. B. Thing, both natives of Boston, composed the firm, Mr. Ingalls having charge of the western trade with headquarters at Syracuse, and Mr. Thing the eastern trade with central office at Boston. Buying as they do, they are enabled to offer such bargains as could be secured in no other way. And that the people appreciate this, needs but to point to the successful condition of the different branches. Mr. L. W. Knight, the manager of the xVuburn house, is a courteous and active business man, and one who cannot but add to the prestige already gained. THE SINGER SEWING MACHINE CO. The crude and unsatisfactory manner in which the first sewing machines were placed on the market is still fresh in the minds of the people. In fact, many of the new companies that have sprung into existence during the past decade are still pursuing this plan of disposing of their manufactures. The machine made, it becomes necessary to sell it, and that plan by which it can soonest be placed in the consumer's hands with the least risk and cost to the manufacturer, was the one adopted. This led to the selling at large discounts to agents, they in turn selling to the consumer, and in this manner all connection between the producer and con- sumer was severed, the responsibility of the former for their machines being lim- ited to the time in which the machine was in their own hands. The abuses aris- in"- from this method of conducting the business increased so rapidly that the Sin"-er Company, the great pioneers in the field for public favor, determined that so far as their trade vvas concerned at least, it must cease. This led to the estab- lishment by them of general and sub-agencies through which the people were en- abled to deal directly with the company, every machine being guaranteed and the company being responsible for its guarantee — not the agent. And to this very liberal method of dealing with its patrons, in connection with the fact that the Sino'cr is one of the most durable and desirable machines on the market, is due the splendid success of the Singer Manufacturing Company. The high-arm oscil- latin"- shuttle machine, introduced to the trade by the Singer Company in 1881, soon compelled the acknowledgment that without a doubt it was the easiest and fast- est running, as well as the least noisy lock-stitch sewing machine made, and largely increased the reputation of this old company. These machines have been intro- FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 135 duced into the shoe factories of Auburn, and are not only giving entire satisfac- tion, but with the hundreds of others sold in this neighborhood for family use, are making new friends and sales every day. Every wearing part is made with coni- cal bearing, thus allowing all lost motion to be taken up, and in every other detail the New Singer is up to the highest standard of sewing machine manufacture. Taking all its points of excellence into consideration, it is without doubt the com- ing machine, and the fact that 2,200 sewing machines were manufactured each day during the past season by the Singer Manufacturing Co., attests the high estima- tion in which the Singers are held by the public. The Auburn branch of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, at No. 126 Genesee street, is headquarters for Cayuga County, and is managed by Mr. Cornelius B. Alliger, a gentleman well known to the people of this county, and one whom this company was very fortu- nate in securing as their representative here. A courteous and affable gentleman, it is a pleasure to at call the office over which he presides and examine the large line of sewing machines on exhibition or purchase the needles or repairs required, for not only is a full stock of everything pertaining to the sewing machine kept on hand, but the visit is made memorable by the polite treatment received at his hands. From six to ten men, with horses and wagons, are employed as sub-agents, for placing machines throughout the county under Mr. Alliger's supervision, and it is doubtless owing to his wise management that the business of the Singer Com- pany has increased so largely in this county during the past five years. Mr. Alli- ger was engaged as a keeper in the Auburn prison from 1873 until 1875, when he devoted his attention to the sale of sewing machines of the Davis pattern, but in 1879 he was offered his present position, and accepting it, has given not only satis- faction to his company but to the people of Cayuga County as well, and each suc- ceeding year will doubtless show a large increase in the sales while the Auburn branch of this great company is under his control, THE AUBURN COPYING CO. This house is located at Nos. 85 and 87 Genesee street, and is in charge of Mr. C. S. Ilutchins, who has had an experience in the photograph business of many years— 35 years ago having been a maker of ambrotypes at his old home, Augusta,. 136 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS Maine. About nine years ago this company, then under the management of C. S. and E. K. HutHniis, foninienced business in a small way, which soon grew to large proportions. About two years later, Mr. C. S. Hutchins assumed entire charge of the concern, and the affairs of the company have steadily and surely been benefit- ted each year through his able and practical management. About the time that this gentleman took the house, they moved into the quarters they now occupy, where they have a capacity for pi-inting from 225 to 300 portraits per day. In the matter of fine reproducing instruments or cameras, this company have just added something necessary for producing certain classes of work which has heretofoi-e re- (^uired two or even three enlargements before the desired size could be reached — that of the smallest miniature pictures. This hQuse has several of the very latest patented sis-foot double bellows cameras, with which they can reproduce a pic- ture the size of a pin-head to any desired size at its first enlargement. Their fa- cilities throughout are ample, and enable them to guarantee their work in every manner. Their artists are among the best in the country, being selected with the greatest care by Mr. Hutchins. Their business extends over the entire country, and quite extensively through the British provinces and Cuba. Mr. Ilutchins gives his personal attention to all the details, and is in every way a successful manager. The principal claim made by him is "that their long experience in the business, and ample facilities at command enable them to produce with ease and certainty, faithful and accurate likenesses, finished in the most pleasing and artistic manner, at pi'icesmuch lower than those of many establishments whose work is far inferior." FREDERICK ALLEN. The large trade now enjoyed by Mr. Allen at his handsome and convenient store at No. 110 Genesee street, is the outgrowth of a small business established in 1859, at No. 67 Genesee street on the corner of North street. The business was contin- ued here, increasing from year to year, until 1876, when the present place being for rent it was secured and Mr. Allen's stock removed to it. The store room occupied is filled up with handsome cases, filled with a fine selection of fancy goods, Foley's gold pens, and mathematical instruments. A full line of blank books, school and miscellaneous books, arte to be found on his shelves, also all the best manufactures of inks and writing fluids. A large and well selected circulating library is connected with the store, which, conducted as it is, has proved highly successful and satisfactory, both to the pro- pi-ietor and its patrons. Mr. Allen has conducted his store on principles that to be economical and obliging is to be successful, and the large and lucrative business now conducted by him, fully illustrates the truth of it. Mr. Allen is widely know as one of Auburn's active business men, and all objects having for its aim the city's good receive from him a hearty co-operation. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 137 CHAPTER XXXIIL General Business Interests. A. E. SW^IRTOUT— JOHN W. RICE — ALEX. McCREA — HENRY D. BARTO — FOUR WIDELY-KNOWN BUSINESS MEN. IT will be readily conceded by the impartial reader of thiS work that the large success which has been gained in less than a decade by A. E. Swartout, proprietor of the elegant and splendidly stocked clothing establishment at 75 Genesee street, entitles that gentleman to a prominent position in the ranks of the leading business representatives of this fine city. Coming here from Utica, in the fall of 1875, Mr. Swartout, then not having attained his majority, leased and put a small stock of ready made clothing into the store at No. 123 (xenesee street. By fair dealing, and the exhibition from the outset of great en- terprise and business shrewdness, qualities for which he has become noted in Cayuga County, the young merchant soon established himself and his venture in the popular esteem, and a good patronage resulted. Two years later his trade had outgrown the limited quarters at No. 123, and in 1877 the business was removed to 63 Genesee, the main floor, at first, only being made use of. Later, the second floor was secured and a fine line of boys' and children's clothmg was put into that part of the store. Trade continuing to develop, a more commodious store became necessary. Accordingly in April, 1833, the very desirable business stand in the handsome building at 75 Genesee street was taken possession of. This fine store, which is 150 feet deep, with a frontage of 30 feet, had previously been through- out refitted and elegantly decorated at large expense by Mr. Swartout. His stock was considerably increased, notably in the finer line of gentlemen's clothing and a complete stock of furnishing goods. Upon reopening his business at this place, Mr. Swartout had the pleasure of displaying to the public what was then, and still remains, one of the finest appointed clothing establislnnents in the State. Prom the beautiful full length plate windows, filled with a frequently changing and highly attractive disjjlay of fine wares, to the admirably arranged and largely stocked boys' and children's department at the rear of the large sales room, everything is handsome, neat and in perfect order. The average stock carried is about $25,000, but this figure is of course considerably increased as the trade requires. Mr. Swartout's taste and judgment in the selection of goods are widely known and need no comment. Upon his counters are to be found all the novelties and leading staple wares known to the trade. To be clad in gar- ments from this fine establishment is always to be well dressed, and at the most satisfactory terms. In the employ of this popular merchant are a corps of efficient and corteous salesmen, each of whom has a host of friends and patrons. Thus in the selection of his assistants, Mr. Swartout is equally as sagacious and fortunate as in conducting the otlier affairs of his business. In addition to the large sales- room, of which a general description lias been given, the entire basement is occu- 138 AUBURX, X. Y„ ITS swartout's clothing store. pied by reserve stock in packages, Xo stone is left unturned by this enterprising merchant in making the public familiar with his business, its location, and large resources. An attractive monthly paper is issued by him and widely circulated. He is a generous patron of the public prints, and of all projects that arc for the general welfare and interest of the community. The handsome front of his beau- tiful store, and the name of its popular proprietor have become widely familiar ih this section, and the result is a constantly growing trade, and secure commercial footing. Success thus honestly won is richly deserved, and best of all, has the largest prospects of permanence, because based on the confidence and esteem of the public at large. JOHN W. RICE. The dry goods business situated at Xo. 103 Genesee street, of which John W. Rice, as the successor of Sartwell, Ford & Rice, is now the sole proprietoi-, is un- questionably the oldest established enterprise of the kind now in existence in Auburn. The building in which the store is located, was erected in 1836 by the late J. II. Chedell. As soon as completed it was taken possession of and opened as a dry goods store by the venerable Harmon Woodruli", who is one of the FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 139 few old time merchants of Auburn, still surviving. After an occupancy of the premises of about five years, Mr. Woodruff was succeeded by Murphy & Orton. This firm in turn gave place to Goss & Sartwell. Mr. Goss, engaging in other im- portant enterprises, soon withdrew from the business, and in 1868 the firm became Sartwell, Hollister & Co. Some years prior to this date, the handling of rubbers, on a small scale, was begun by Messrs. Sartwell & Hollister, in the basement of the building in which was located the dry goods business to which this sketch is devoted. This enterprise developing rapidly, it was subsequently removed to a building on State street, in which place in 1866, the manufacture of boots and shoes was entered upon by a firm composed of H. J. Sartwell, Wadsworth Hollis- ter, D. M. Hough and E. G. Miles. This enterprise and the wholesale rubber business as well, were transferred later to a large building at 2 and 4 Genesee street. By the withdrawal fi"om the original firm of boot and shoe manufacturers of Messrs. Miles and Hollister, the firm name became Sartwell, Hough «& Go. In 1880 the boot and shoe manufactory was removed to Rochester, the firm operating the business being Sartwell, Hough & Ford, the latter gentleman being a nephew of H. J. Sartwell. In 1881, Mr. Sartwell died and the business passed then into the hands of Hough & Ford. Up to the time of Mr. Sart well's death the rubber business had continued to be operated by the firm of Sartwell & Hollister, the as- sociates of Mr. Sartwell being Messrs. H. D. Noble and A. N. Hollister, nephews of Wadsworth Hollister, the former partner of Mr. Sartwell. After the death of Mr. Sartwell, the firm became Hollister & Noble, and by these gentlemen this im- portant enterprise has since been successfully operated. The history of this busi- ness has been given somewhat in detail, as it had its origin in the original enter- prise begun at 103 Genesee street, and may properly be regarded as an outgrowth of the old established but still highly prosperous business, still located at that place, to the tracing of the more recent events in whose history the reader's atten- tion is now invited. Following the proprietorship of Sartwell, Hollister & Co. came that of Sartwell, Ford & Rice. This firm was dissolved in 1874 by the re- tirement of Sartwell, and in 1880 Mr. Ford removed to Rochester, leaving the business in the hands of the present owner, Mr. John W. Rice. This gentleman came to Auburn from Buffalo in 1872 to enter the firm of Sartwell, Ford & Rice, and he has proved a worthy successor of the many prominent and successful busi- ness men, who either as his partners, or as former owners of the store, have known and served the public satisfactorily during the nearly half century's existence of this old and popular stand. Although the last of the line of well-known mer- chants who have been connected with this store, Mr. Rice has been longer a part or sole owner of the enterprise than any of his predecessors, save Mr. Sartwell. As Mr. Rice has been one the longest identified with the business, and has had sole charge of it during these more recent years of severe competition and gen- eral business depression, the sound commercial standing, and the excellent and substantial patronage enjoyed by this store, speak highly of his capacity as a merchant and of the generally satisfactory manner in which the business is con- ducted. The stock carried is large, varied and complete, both in the staples and novelties of the trade. The store is widely known for the excellent quality and thorough reliability of all the goods sold over its counters. The premises occu- pied are the main floor, 112x22 feet, the rear portion of the second floor, and the basement. Twelve persons are employed in the several branches of the business. The salesmen are uniformly courteous and attentive, and the whole atmosphere of this store is attractive and inviting. A further growth of the large patronage 140 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS now accorded this old and widely known stand will be assured by a continuation of the present popular management. ALEX. McCREA. This gentleman is one of Auburn's old-time citizens, having been a resident here for the past 50 years. In 1833, Mr. Mc Crea came to Auburn with only a few dollars at bis command, and entered the employ of A. I. Blood, as a salesman. In a few years, enough of his earnings had been saved to enable him to enter into business for himself, which occurred in 1838. It was small, of course, at first, but not many years had elapsed ere he was doing a very large business. He is now located at No. 13 State street, where he enjoys a trade in the manufacture and disposal of all kinds of confectionery, cakes, bread and crackers, to the annual amount of about $100,000. Certainly this is a grand showing for one who started in life with nothing but what nature had endowed him with. His retail trade is very large, while his wholesale trade reaches a very satisfactory figure. The '"McCrea" crackers are noted throughout the State. He has a capacity for manufacturing 100 barrels of these goods per day. In each department of manu- facture there are experienced and well-paid workmen, who seem to be imbued with the interests of their employer, judging from the extra efforts they make to turn out work that does credit not only themselves but to Mr. IVIc Crea. The bakery is run night and day, the day being occupied by cracker baking, and the night in making bread and cakes. The ovens are the celebrated Hall patent. In this institution, Auburn has a house that does it credit as a growing and prosperous city, and Mr. Mc Crea is a citizen that any place might well be proud of: HENRY D. BARTO. The drug and medicine store of Henry D. Barto, at 81 Genesee street, is one of the best known mercantile concerns in Auburn, although established as recently as 1879. In that year, Mr. Barto i-emoved to this city from Rochester, where he had been for some time employed in the drug store of E. H. Davis. In starting a drug store in Auburn, Mr. Barto purchased new stock and fixtures, and by dealing honorably and carrying a full line of goods pertaining to his trade soon secured a good patronage. His business has steadily increased, and ranks to-day among the siiccessful establishments of the city. The sale of reserved seat tickets fin' the Academy of Music performances is in cliarge of Mr. Barto. Many people are drawn to the store through this agency and "Barto's"' is in consequence one of the busiest and most largely frequented stores on Genesee street. Knowing bow to please the public and being located so that Jiis business is brought directly to the attention of a large jiortion of the community, Mr. Barto will doubtlest* <»ntinue to hold the large pati'ouage he now enjoys^ and add to it year by year. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 141 CHAPTER XXXIV. General Business Interests. DAVID W. BARNES — WILLIAM O. BURGESS— THE AUBURN POR- TRAIT CO.— MITCHELL J. CAMERON. IN 1850 there came to Auburn a young man whose purpose vras to secure em- ployment as a stone and briek mason. He found work at the hands of Wil- liam C- Clark, a well known and successful mason and builder and set him- self diligently and industriously to learn the trade in a thorough manner. Three years later Mr. Clark decided to take a partner into his large and growing business. and David W. Barnes, his former faithful employe, became associated with him, the firm becoming Clark & Barnes. This copartnership was continued until 1875, when Mr. Clark withdrew, leaving his late associate, D. W. Barnes, in sole charge of tlie important business they had conducted jointly for twenty-two years. The record of the work accomplished by this energetic and reliable firm embraces much of the growth and upbuilding of this city. A large number of the principal pub- lic and private edifices of Auburn were erected by Clark & Barnes. Among the large contracts which were executed by them at an early period in their career, were the First National Bank building, the Seward building. Dunning & Co.'s store, and the D. A. Smith store, all built in 1868 ; and the Auburn Savings Bank, in 1869-70. Later the Libi-ary building, and Morgan Hall, of the Theological Semi- nary, were erected by this firm. The greater number of the numerous fine resi- dences which have recently been erected on South street were constructed under the direction of Mr. Barnes. Among these contracts may be mentioned the ele- gant residences of G. W. Allen, Mrs. Steele, A. A. Boyd, and the Messrs. Den. nis, and Woodruff. The fine factory building on Logan street occupied by the Auburn Button Co., and the Logan Silk Mills, was built by Mr. Barnes. An im- portant contract being accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner is the building of tiie First Baptist church, at the corner of James and West Genesee streets. Large contracts have also been executed in Slcaneateles and many other neighboring communities. The work done under Mr. Barnes' contracts has the reputation of being thorough in every instance, and his standing for reliability gained through a long and prosperous career, is well-deserved and has had its just i-eward in ample business success and the highest confidence of the public. In the direct employ of Mr. Barnes are usually from fifty to eighty men, while indirectly he gives work to as many more in the quarrying of stc:)ne and getting out of other build- ing materials. The wages paid each month amount to $3,000. In the conduct of his important business, Mr. Barnes finds an efficient assistant in his son, Wilbur B. Barnes, by whom the practical details of building are being rapidly acquired under the competent guidance of his father. In all respects the business career of David 142 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS W. Barnes has been a successful and worthy one, his labors have been of great value to this city, and to him and his son, who will probably succeed to the busi- ness, a continuation of the public confidence and patronage is fully merited. WILLIAM C. BURGESS. In the month of November, 1880, William C. Burgess, the well known music dealer of to-day, whose finely stocked and attractive store is located at No. 133, West Genesee street, came to Auburn as agent for the sale of the then not widely known Ithaca organs. The prospects for building up a successful business were not at all flattering at that time. The instruments from other manufactories than the comparatively recently established one at Ithaca were having a large sale in this city and vicinity, and the agents of those concerns wex-e wide awake and zeal- ous in their efforts to hold the terriotory. Not at all discouraged by the heavy odds against him, Mr. Burgess set himself vigorously at work, and by virtue of the high order of merit of the wares he had for sale and his shrewdness and hard work he shortly had the satisfaction of working up a fine business. During the fii-st twelve months sixty-six organs were sold and the popularity of the Ithaca instru- ment over all its competitors was well established in this section. Up to October, FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 143 1881, Mr. Burgess had carried on his business without occupying a store here. At that time, however, the Armory Block having just been completed, he secured quarters in it for use as a depot for the organs, and an office where purchasers could leave their deposits upon instruments bought on the installment plan. In December following the lines of the business were extended by putting in a stock of musical instruments and musical supplies generally. He removed to the handsome storeroom now occupied on the first of May, 1884. As the business has prospered and developed, the stock has been much added to, and Mr. Burgess' store is now one of the most completely stocked and well conducted music stores outside of the metropolis. The sale of the famous Ithaca organs has been all along the leading feature of the business, and the number finding buyers here has increased considerably each year, since they were introduced to the public of this city and vicinity. Upwards of 500 Ithaca organs have been disposed of by Mr. Burgess since his establishment in Auburn. Mr. Burgess also has the sale of the Ithaca duplex pianos, as well as of the instruments from the factories of a num- ber of other famous makers, among whom may be named Decker Brothers, Hard- man, Haines Brothers, Chickering, and Kranich & Bach. A large number of pi- anos of the several kinds handled have been sold by Mr. Burgess, but he has met with especial success in the sale of the Hardman, which has heretofore been the favorite in this locality. The popularity of the Ithaca pianos, as well as of the organs, is growing fast, and it is only a question of a short time when they will be found outstripping all competitors. Referring to the recent newspaper reports regarding the finan- cial embarrassment of the Ithaca Piano and Organ Co., Mr. Burgess stated to the writer that opei'ations had for a time been largely suspended at the factory, owing to certain changes in the manner of conducting the business, and to allow of the disposition of stock on hand which quickly accumulated after the change referred to was first set on foot, but that matters were now again in a satisfactory condi- tion and business having been resumed would be carried on hereafter in a conserv- ative and substantial manner. The high standard of the Ithaca organs and pi- anos, with which the public has become familiar, will be fully sustained, and these popular instruments are destined to a largely increased and growing yearly sale. The large success which Mr. Burgess has won, both as agent of the Ithaca Piano and Organ Co., and as a dealer in general musical supplies, shows him to be pos- sessed of no sn\all amount of business tact and energy, and a further and wider ae- quintanee with the public, and largely increased success in his ventures, should and doubtless will be attained by him. TBE AUBURN PORTRAIT CO. This Company has been doing business since 1 877, and is under the management of Robert and James Bi-uce, These gentlemen are both practical men in this business and as a result of their knowledge of its requirements the concern has flourished, and grown to a business of great magnitude. Of all the houses engaged in the repro- duction of copies of pictures of the many and various styles in this country, that of the Auburn Portrait Co. is justly entitled to a position of high rank, because of the energy displayed and thorough acquaintance of the wants of agents and the public generally. The advantage of having practical men at the head of the con- cern, enables them to select the best talent in all departments of their business. Mr. James Bruce is regarded as an artist of exceptional merit, having painted por- traits of some of the most distinguished men in the country. This Company em- 144 AUBUllN N. Y., ITS ploy a large number of artists of talent, secured at large expense. The aim of the Bruce Bros, has always been to employ in each of their various departments the best help to be obtained. Their business is exceedingly large and growing rapidly, justly because they strive for trade, having branch houses to the number of four located in as many of the cities of the south and west, and because the work turned out by them is of a superior order. The Bruce Bros, are not doing business for the sake of to-day's trade, but depend entirely upon the class of work turned out by them for their futurebusiness. Their place of business is located at Nos. 89 and 91 Genesee street, occupying the upper floors of these four story buildings, which are fitted throughout especially for their business. MITCHELL J. CAMERON. When the grim angel death enters a home, the bereaved family find the duty of preparing for burial the body of their loved one a task that is almost unbearable. But it is a duty that must be performed, and although their grief cannot be as- suaged, their feelings may be less harrowed by the knowledge that all that remains of their darling is handled tenderly and carefully by a thoughtful, I'espectable and competent gentleman making the preformance of such solemn tasks his business. The calling of a funeral director and undertaker is indeed one requiring a special aptitude, and the tact and the judgment displayed by them in the performance of their duties can only be appreciated by the sorrowing ones whom they serve. Al- though Mr. Mitchell J. Cameron has been known to the people of Auburn but a very short time, the period has been sufficient for him to become known as a gen- tleman possessing in a large degree the requisites that make the services of one following his calling acceptable. He came to this city in November of 1883 and purchased the stock and good will of Messi"s. H. P. Bender & Co., who had estab- lished themselves in this business during the spring of 1882. A thoughtful and intelligent gentleman, while not intruding with his sympathy upon those requiring his services, he showed by his actions that he respected their grief, and has con- sequently made so many friends by the kind and considerate performance of his duties that his future residence here is assured. Mr. Cameron's office and ware rooms are at No. 5 State street, where in handsome cases are shown a fine assort- ment of robes and coffin trimmings and a large stock of burial eases and caskets of all the designs manufactured. While devoting his attention more especially to the direction of funerals in this vicinity, he is also prepared to do a jobbing trade in the specialties required by undertakers, and is fully entitled to the confidence and patronage of all. He comes here well recommended, having been engaged in undertaking for the past twenty-five years in Massachusetts and New Brunswick. He was the first undertaker to intwduce embalming in the I^ower Dominions of Canada, he having graduated from the Rochester School of embalm- ing and received a diploma from Professor Renourd, the greatest ombalmer of the present age. The cordial reception Mr. Cameron has met with in this city is very gratifying to him and he will doubtless prove that the confidence placed in him has not been misplaced. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 145 CHAPTER XXXV. General Business Interests. J. HENRY IVISON — CHARLES CARPENTER & SON— CHARLES H. SA- GAR— HENRY W. BR IXIUS— GREEN & WICKS— JONH K. TALLMAN— S. C. TALLMAN & CO. —ORLANDO S. CLARK. THE book and stationery business located in the attractive store at 97 Gene- see street, which recently passed under the exclusive ownership of J. Henry Ivison, was established more than half a century ago, and has been conducted successively by eight different firms. The business was originally established by H. and J. C. Ivison, uncle and father respectively, of the present proprietor, the store at first occupied being at 80 Genesee street, where is now the restaurant of Mrs. H. B. Gilbert. Eight years later the prosperous business was removed to No. 97 Genesee street, where for forty-six years it has continued, pass- ing in that time through many changes of ownership and various stages of suc- cess, but remaining to-day the leading establishment of its kind in the city. Fol- lowing the proprietorship of the original firm, which was dissolved in 1854, owing to the removal to Ne\^ Y^ork of Henry Ivison, the business passed into the hands of J. C. Ivison & Co. This firm was succeeded by a copartnership composed of James Seymour, Jr., and Dennis Alward, who in turn gave way to A. H. Goss and C. P. Williams. From Goss & Williams it went into the hands of Williams & .Johnson, and thence to Charles P. Williams in 1863. The business was conducted by Mr. Williams until 1879, when a copartnership was formed by J. Henry Ivison and Edward S. Perry, and by these gentlemen the business was carried on until Jan- uary 1st, of the present year. Under the individual ownership of Mr. Ivison, this old stand is properly conducted and meets with a liberal patronage. A large and complete stock of books, stationery, school supplies and articles generally pertaining to this branch of trade is carried. A long and honorable career has grounded this store in the popular esteem and it is entirely safe to predict that its high standing will be fully maintained and a large increase of mercantile success attend it, under the direction of its present experienced and capable proprietor. CHARLES CARPENTER & SON. The business of Charles Carpenter & Son, hatters and furriers, located at 101 Genesee street, without doubt takes precedence as the earliest established mer- cantile enterprise now in existence in Auburn. It has been operated since 1831, either partially or entirely by some one or more members of the family, whose representatives are to-day its proprietors, and its original inception occurred a number of years prior to that date. The early firm was Garrow & Lynds. Of 146 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS the members of this copartnership, it may be said that no facts arc at hand re- garding the career of the first-named, Nathaniel Garrow, subsequent to the date of his withdrawal from the business to which this sketch is devoted. His some- time partner was Captain Elam Lynds, who became notorious as one of the earliest agents and wardens of the old prison in this city. His eccentric, not to say cruel method of dealing with refractory convicts, led to the publishing of a caustic satire entitled •'Chronicles of Gath," by a preacher of the Church of the Disciples, whose name has not been preserved from oblivion, even by his severe literary at- tack upon the quondam prison agent and hat merchant. Captain Lynds died in South Brooklyn in 1855- at the age of 71. In 1821, Garrow & Lynds were succeeded by Carpenter & Bodley. In 1835, Amos T. Carpenter, the father and grandfather, respectively of Charles and Charles H. Carpenter, the present joint owners of the business, purchased the interest of his partner, George II. Bodley. After six years of individual proprietorship, Mr. Carpenter took his son Charles, into the business, the firm becoming A. T. Carpenter & Son in 1841. In 1848 Amos T. Carpenter retired permanently. By him the store building occupied at the pres- ent time was erected in 1831, after a great fire which swept away all the buildings on the north side of Genesee street between State and North streets. Though never actively engaging in trade thereafter, Mr, Carpenter continued for many years to be a daily visitor to the store which he built and to take a lively interest in the enterprise of which for so many years he had been the active manager. He died July 3d, 1880, at the ripe old age of ninety years. After the retirement of their father in 1848, the business passed into the hands of Charles and Henry Car- penter. The firm of C. & H. Carpenter was continued until 1860, when Charles Carpent r purchased his brother's interest, and thereafter until August 1st, 1881, carried on the business alone. At that time, his son, Charles H., who had been connected with the store since 1863, was admitted to partnership with his father. The long experience in the business of the junior member of the present firm, added to the possession in large measure of the elements necessary in the make-up of a popular and successful merchant, hence made his connection with the busi- ness of great value to it. The high reputation enjoyed by this old established and well conducted house has been won by fair dealing and honorable methods gener- ally continued through a long term of years. It never enjoyed a better patronage than at the present time, and is well equipped for a further and wide career of mercantile success and usefulness. CHARLES H. SAGAR. In 1877, Charles H. Sagar, who had for several years been connected with the widely known wholesale drug house of C. W. Snow & Co., at Syracuse, came to Auburn, and forming a copartnership with S. E. Bowman, purchased the stock and fixtures of a drug business in the lower portion of the city. These were re- moved to the store at 108 Genesee street, the stock being considerably added to and greatly improved in all ways. Two years later the business, which had pros- pered well from the outset, was transferred to its present location at 109 Genesee . street. On January 1st, 1883, Mr. Bowman withdrew from the partnership, leav- ing Mr. Sagar in entire control of the growing business. The stock was further enlarged by Mr. Sagar, and his store is without doubt now carrying a larger and better selected line of pure drugs and medicines than any similar establishment in this part of the State. It has been by means of the outlay of considerable money FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 147 that so large and complete a stock has been secured, but the result has justified the wisdom of Mr. Sagar's course. The patronage accorded his store is very large and continues to grow yearly. In this store is to be found the only line of surgi- cal instruments carried by any druggist located between Syracuse and Rochester. A more complete homoeopathic pharmacy is also maintained by Mr. Sagar than is to be found elsewhere in this vicinity. In addition to the maintenance of a full and complete stock of drugs, medicines, proprietary remedies, etc., a very complete line of holiday goods, toilet articles and sundries is to be found here, and the trade in goods of this class is also important. In all respects the business con- ducted by Mr. Sagar is a well-managed and reliable enterprise, and further and wider trade and popularity are in every way merited by this store and its capable proprietor. HENRY W. BRIXIUS. One of the special industries of this city which merits a brief description is that conducted by Henry W. Brixius, at 24 Market street. After a practical experi- ence of twelve years in the employ of the late firm of D. C. & G. W. Richardson, whose large furniture business, located in the brick block at the junction of South and Exchange streets, was established at an early period in the history of Auburn, Mr. Brixius began business on his own account at the place named above in the fall of 1882. He is probably one of the most skillful upholsterers in this section of the state and his practical training, added to natural taste and judgment, gives his work a high order of merit. He has produced, to meet the requirenients of his patrons, included among whom have been not a few of the leading citjizens, much very handsome furniture. In his workshop can be found a good supply of the richest fabrics for upholstering purposes known to the trade. Two floors of the building at 24 Mai-ket street, are made use of by Mr. Brixius and his assist- ants. In the line of fine upholstering this establishment will continue to hold a leading position as against all local competition. GREEN & WICKS. The members of this rising young firm of architects, namely, Mr. B. B. Green and Mr. W. S. Wicks, having successfully completed courses of instruction in Cornell University, and availed themselves of a large amount of practical expe- rience in the office of William H. Miller, the well known architect at Ithaca, opened an office in this city in the summer of 1882, in the Cayuga County National Bank building. Since their establishment in Auburn, rapid progress in their pro- fession has been made. Numerous opportunities have been obtained for the dis- play of the skill, originality and thoroughness which are possessed in no small de- gree by the individual members, and not a few very fine structures have been reared within the city's borders, or in adjacent communities, in accordance with the drawings supplied by them. Among these may be named the elegant resi- dences of Messrs. G. W. Allen, A. A. Boyd and Mrs. C. M. Dennis, on South street ; of Mrs. H. D. Noble and Mr. C. L. Sheldon, on Genesee street ; two public school edifices, and the County Clerk's office ; the residence of Josiah C. Willetts, in Skaneateles; a large school building in Waterloo, and the residence of Judge Wilcoxen, in Seneca Falls. Plans from this office for a fine chapel house have 148 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS THE TALLMAN BUILDING, CORNER STATE AND DILL STREETS. been accepted recently by the Kappa Alpha fraternity at Cornell University, and the erection of the building will soon be begun. Along with this excellent showing for this locality the firm have also been increasing their business and reputation by the establishment of an office in Buffalo. Mr. Wicks remains in charge of the of- fice in Auburn, which in January last was removed to the new Osborne block, some doors to the cast of the Cayuga County National Bank building, while Mr. Green conducts the office in Buffalo. It is not to be doubted that the flattering success which has thus far attended Messrs. Green and Wicks, is but the precursor of further and widely increased growth and standing in their profession. JOHN K. TALLMAN. ■ The well-known liveryman and furnishing undertaker, John K. Tallman. whose office and ware rooms are situated at No. 30 State street, began his busi- ness career in Auburn in 1859, when, in connection with E. D. Clapp, the suc- cessful manufacturer and capitalist of late years, he opened a hack stand and livery stable on Garden street. In 1860, Messrs. Clapp & Tallman, as the firm was styled, purchased the stock and business of Jabez Gould, on School street, and transferred it to their Garden street concern. In 1861, they purchased of Charles Bemis, the hacks, horses, etc., which had been employed in his livery business located on State street, not far from Genesee. The Garden street business was now removed to the old Bemis stand on State state, and there Clapp & Tallman remained until 18G4. Meanwhile, in 1862, the livery business on Dill street, which had been established by Henry R. Pomeroy, was [nirchased by Clapp & Tallman, and carried on by them in connection with their State street concern. In 1804, the brick block now standing at the corner of State and Dill streets was built by Clapp & Tallman. In the upper portion of this building was begun the making on a small scale of carriages and wagons, which project later passing into tho FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 149 liands of Mr, Clapp exclusively, became the basis of the great wagon manufactur- ing enterprise of which he is the head. In 1866 this factory building was con- verted into stores, offices, etc., the manufacturing being removed to other quarters. Meanwhile the livery and hack business had been carried on and had retained its importance as the leading business of the kind in the city. In 18G8 Messrs. Clapp & Tallman made an exchange of interests, and dissolved their copartnership, the former succeeding to the entire control of the manufacturing portion of their former joint enterprises, and the latter to the hack and livery. Ii\-om this time forward until 1879, Mr. Tallman gave his entire attention to the hack and livery business and the sale of coal, as agent for the E. D. Clapp Co. In that year he purchased the interest of John H. Hubbard, of Hubbard & Searls, who for some time carried on an important undertaking business in Exchange street. The firm of Searls & Tallman, (Mr. Tallman desiring that his partner's name should take precedence owing to his large expei'ience in the business,) continued the business on Exchange street, until the spring of 1880, when Mr. Searls withdrew, and Mr. Tallman removed the business to its present quarters at 30 State street. With the assistance of experienced men he has since carried on in a very successful and thoroughly trustworthy manner the very important business to wiiich he suc- ceeded, and which by virtue of special fitness and large energy he has very much added to. The prosperous hack and livery business, whicli for some years had occupied a commodious building on Dill street, readily accessible from the rear of Mr. Tallman's ware rooms, has been of late under the competent management of his son, Humphrey A. Tallman. The equipment of this branch of Mr. Tallman's business is large and complete. In the ware rooms and stables, twelve persons find employment, and in all respects the business of Mr. Tallman is well and capably conducted. S. a TALLMAN & CO. One of the most successful photo-copying houses in this city was estab- lished as recently as 1881, by S. C. Tallman & Co., the leading member of the firm being a son of John K. Tallman, a sketch of whose eventful business career has been given. The business of S. C. Tallman & Co. occupies the whole of the upper portion of the large block at the corner of Dill and State streets, which, as previously stated, was erected in 1864 by Clapj) & Tallman, The fourth stoi-y was added expressly for the use of S. C. Tallman & Co. and the vari- ous rooms into which the lloor is divided were arranged with especial reference to the requirements of that enterprise. The development of the venture set on foot a little more than three years since by S. C. Tallman has been very rapid. At the office alone from ten to twelve persons, among them several first class ink, oil and water color artists, find constant employment, and besides much work is given out to be accomplished at the homes of individuals in various portions of the city. Orders are daily received from all over the United States, and notwithstand- ing the severe competition, and not infrequently unfair methods of some rival concerns, a fine patronage is enjoyed and the prospects for a still greater business are good. ORLANDO S. CLAKK. Having been engaged as a builder and carpenter for years in the city, and feel- ing the necessity of a depot of supplies for builders, in 1878 Mr. Clai*k estab- lished himself at No. 173 State sti-eet, whei*e he laid in a full stock of sand, linic, 150 AUBURN, N. Y., ITS cement, plaster paris, plastering hair, sewer and drain pipe, and plaster casts for ceilings. The patronage received by Mr. Clark attests the wisdom of the move. His business has been uniformly successful, and has increased largely since its establishment. He makes ^a specialty of plaster paris ornaments, terra cotta vases and chimney tops. Having the sale of the drain and sewer pipe manu- factured under the control of the National Sewer Pipe Co.'s, of Wellsville, Ohio, he is able to offer superior inducements to buyers of these goods. The buildings occupied consist of main building, 40x44 feet, two stories high, a storage building, 20x30 feet, one story high, and the stable and storage building, 30x42 feet in di- mensions, two stories high, all of which are frame buildings. The stock carried can be depended on as the best that can be produced for the money, and all manufac- tured articles for building purposes are of the latest style. Mr. Clark has a high reputation as a contractor and builder, and during the busy season employs fifty men. The success achieved by him is all due to his own efforts and ranks him among the self-made men of the city. FACILITIES AND RESOURCES. 151 INDEX. Adams Henry L., Il8 Allen John E., 123-126 Allen Frederick, 136 Auburn Agricultural Works, (J. M. Alden,) 98 Auburn Button Co 85-86 Auburn Copying House, (G. W. Hoffman,) 115-116 Auburn Eye and Ear Hospital, (Dr. G.J. West,). 111-112 Auburn Iron Works 94-95 Auburn Manufacturing Co., 73-78 Auburn Paper Co., (Botsford Bros.,) 113 Auburn Tool Co , 91-93 Auburn Woolen Co., 87-88 Baker J. L 119 Barber & Sons Josiah, 84-85 Barker, Griswold & Co., 122-123 Barnes David W., 141-142 Barto Henry D 140 Birdsall Co., The, 83-84 Bray Walter Jr., 114-115 Brixius Henry W. , 147 Bruce Bros., (Auburn Portrait Co.) 143-144 Burgess W. C, 142-143 Cameron Mitchell J., 144 Canoga Woolen Co., 88 Carpenter Charles & Son, 145-146 Clapp Manufacturing Co., The E. D 67-70 Clapp Wagon Co., The E. D 70-73 Clark Orlando S., 149-150 Cook J. A., 101-102 Conklin C. W., 94 Crane W. W., 95-96 Driggs, Phillips& Co., , 117 Elliott John, 110 Elliott J. M., 118-119 Empire Wringer Co. , 81-83 Everts & Co., D. P. G. & W. 0., 108-109 Fanning Gurdon S., 107-108 Green& Wicks 147-148 Holmes .James, 110-111 Hurd John M., 104-105 Hutchins C. S., (Auburn Copying Co.), 135-136 Ingalls & Co., 133-134 Ivison J. Henry, ..' 145 Koenig William Ill Lawton A. W 120-122 Lewis O. S., (The Stone Mill), 104 Logan Silk Mills, 86-87 Lyon, Elliott & Bloom 130-133 Madden M. & J., (The Boston Store,) 117 Manning, Howland & Clark, 113-114 Manro & Neyhart (The Auburn Mills.) 100-101 Marshall L., 130 McCrea A., 140 McDonough A, P., 106-107 153 INDEX. Nye & Wait, 88-90 Osborne & Co. Works, The D. M., 62-67 Peat & Klinkert, 103-104 Porter C. A., 129-130 Powell Fred H., 117-118 Quick Isaac W., 97-98 RiceJohnW., 138-140 Rothery Augustus W., 109-110 Sagar Chas. H., 146-147 Schicht M. J., 102-103 Schweinfurth C. J., 106 Shapley & Peters 96-97 Shoemaker Irven 114 Singer Sewing Machine Co. (Cornelius B. Alliger,) 134-135 Stevens & Son, A. W., 78-81 Stevens J. A., 109 Stout James C, 126-127 Sutcliffe William, 99-100 Sutton W. J., 132-133 Swartout A. B., 137-138 Tallman John K 148-149 Tallman S. C. & Co 149 TenEyck & Co., 129 Wadsworth David & Son 93-94 Ward & Tompkins, 132 Watson, Cox & Co,, 127-128 Weeks, Cossum & Co., 128 White & Rowe, 102 Wilkin H. D., 115 Wills, Home & Co 105-106 Woodcock & Co 91 ILLUSTRATIONS. View of Genesee street, looking east from State 11 View of the State Prison at Auburn 24 View of the Theological Seminary at Auburn 38 View of the State Armory at Auburn 50 View of First Baptist church (now building), Genesee and James streets.. 60 E. D. Clapp's shop— 1864 68 E. D. Clapp & Co.'s Works— 1869-74 69 View of the E. D. Clapp Co.'s Works— 1884 72 Centennial Exhibit of the Auburn Maiuifacturing Co 75 View of A. W. Stevens & Son's Thresher Manufactory 79 View of the Auburn Button Works and Logan Silk Mills 86 View of Nye & Wait's Carpet Factory 90 View of Tanning's Brewery 108 The Auburn Savings Bank building 112 The Auburn Copying House building 116 The Osborne House, corner of State and SVater streets 124 Swartout's Clothing Store, No. 75 Genesee street 138 The Tallman Building, corner State and Dill streets 148 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 222 043 A