CHARLES E. DAVIS: CONTINUED FROM CHEMUNG COUNTY NY BIOGRAPHIES PART THREE:
On the 2d of February, 1879, in Scran-
ton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Davis was married
to Miss Ida Armstrong, whose birth oc-
curred in Brooklyn, New York, in 1856.
She was a daughter of Robert J. and Re-
becca A. (Quackenbush) Armstrong, both of
whom were residents of Scranton. Her
father was a general foreman of the Dixon
Locomotive Works for many years and pre-
vious to that time was an engineer on the
Lackawanna road. He was born January 24, 1829,
and his wife was born July 8, 1835. They became
the parents of ten chil-
dren, of whom seven are yet living and all
are residents of Pennsylvania or New Jer-
sey, with the exception of Mrs. Davis and
Mary E., the wife of Thomas J. Fisher, of
Corning, New York. Mrs. Davis acquired
her education in the public schools of Brook-
lyn, and by her marriage has become the
mother of two children: May Adel, who was
born January 23, 1880, is a graduate of public
school No. 5. Esther Ida, who was
born September 23, 1881, died in Novem-
ber, 1900.
Mr. Davis is a stanch Republican when
questions of state and national importance
are involved, but at local elections does not
regard party lines. He contributes to the
support of the First Baptist church, of which
his wife and daughters are members. He
belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and has held offices in the local
division. Since 1889, he has redided at No.
869 Magee street, where he has a pleasant
home that stands as a monument to his in-
dustry and well directed efforts. Advance-
ment has come to him in recognition of his
ability and fidelity and he is to-day one of
the most trusted and capable engineers in the
service of Lackawanna Railroad Com-
pany.
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DAVID C. JAYNES:
David C. Jaynes, a farmer and black-
smith, of the town of Erin, resides in the
northwestern portion of that
town and his postoffice is Cayuta,
Schuyler county. His birth occurred
August 24, 1847, on the old home-
stead, which is still his place of residence.
His father, Timothy Janes, was born in
Cayuta Jauary 14, 1816, and was a son of
David Jaynes, who there conducted a hotel,
but about the time of the mariage of his
son Timothy he came to the town of Erin
and purchased the farm upon which David
C. Jaynes is now living. In the town of
Veteran on the 18th of March, 1841, the
Rev. Henry Hulett pronounced the marriage
ceremony which made Timothy Jaynes and
Delilah Hallenbeck man and wife. The
lady was born April 17, 1816, in Fulton,
Schoharie county, New York, and during her
early girlhood had been brought to the
town of Erin by her parents, John and Mary
Hallenbeck, who were among the first set-
tlers of that locality. Soon after the mar-
riage of the parents of our subject they
removed to the farm where Mr. Jaynes made his
home throughout his remaining days.
He passed away May 13, 1899, at the age of eighty-
four years, and his wife was called
to her final rest June 1, 1877. In his
political views Mr. Jaynes was a Democrat,
but never sought the rewards of offices for
party fealty. In religious faith he was a
Baptist, although he did not hold member-
ship with any church. Unto him and his wife
were born four children; Eliza D., the wife of
Andrew Cowan, of the town of
Erin; Sylvester, who married Lucy Os-
borne and lives in the town of Cayuta;
David, of this review; and Henry, who mar-
ried Malissa Treat and resides in the town of
newfield, Tompkins county, New York.
Upon his father's farm David C. Jaynes spent
his boyhood days and in the public schools
of the neighborhood mastered the branches of
English learning usually taught in such
institutions. On attaining his ma-
jority he started out in life on his own ac-
count and as a companion and helpmate for
the journey of life he chose Miss Lettis
Wood, the wedding being celebrated in Os-
wego, Tioga county, June 23, 1869. The
lady was born in Caroline township, Tioga county,
and was a daughter of William and Lydia (Talmage)
Wood. Our subject and his wife began their
domestic life upon the farm which is now their home.
Mr. Jaynes owns a fifty-acre tract which formerly be-
longed to his father, having purchased the share of
the other heirs in this property. The old house
was destroyed by fire and he has since erected
a pleasant residence. In 1868 he cast his first
presidential vote and has always been identified
with the Democratic party. In 1881 he was elected
justice of the peace and has served continuously in
that office to the present time, and of all the cases
that he has tried not one has ever been appealed,
showing that the public regard him as a most
fair and impartial man. He became a member of
Southern Light Lodge, No. 725, F. & A.M., and has
served as its junior deacon. While he never learned
the trade, he possesses much mechanical
genius and can do carpenter work and black-
smithing as well as farming. He built the house in
which he lives and for about a quar-
ter of a century has carried on blacksmithing,
having the shop upon his farm and doing the
work for his neighbors. His attention
is mostly given to his business affairs, and
his unremitting diligence has been the
source of success which he well merits.
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THOMAS H REIDY:
This well known conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad, has been in the employ of that company since the 9th of
July 1884, and is one of the most obliging and painstaking men in
the service. A native of Chemung county, he was born at West
Junction, August 20, 1867, and is a son of John and Anna (Jordam)
Reidy, who were born, reared and educated in Ireland. After coming
to this country the father worked as a section hadn on the railroad,
and made his home in this county for about forthy years, dying here
May 2, 1899, at the age of sixty-five years. his wife departed this
life on the 9th of February, 1895. They were the parents of eight
children, but four died in early childhood. Those still living are
John, a fireman on the Delaware, Lacakawanna & Western Railroad, and
a resident of Elmira; Thomas H. our subject; and Anna and Margaret,
who make there home with our subject.
To a limited extent Thomas H. Reidy attended the common school
near Horseheads during his boyhood, but is really a self-educated as
well as a self-made man. At the age of fifteen years he began his
railroad career as a section hand at West Junction, but at the end
of fourteen months was given the position of flagman on the road,
and was on the rounds for four years. He was then on a fast freight
two years, and later was in the passenger service, remaining with the
company in tht capacity until promoted to conductor September 20,
1893. He has been very successful since going upon the road,
earning his own promotions gradually, and is t0-day one of the most
trusted employes of the company. He began life under adverse
circumstances, having to walk from his home in Horseheads to Elmira
to obtain work, but he has always made the most of his
opportunities, and well deserves the success that he has achieved.
In 1888 he took up his residence in Elmira, and has since built a
comfortable modern dwelling, which is now his home.
Mr. Reidy was married in 1895 to Miss Elizabeth Kelley, of East
Buffalo, who was born in New York, in 1872. Her father, Michael
Kelley followed railroading,farming and merchandising at different
times during his active business life. but is now living retired in
Hornellsville, New York. His children are James a passenger
conductor on the Lehigh Valley Railroad and a resident of Buffalo;
Martin, yardmaster for the Illinois Central Railroad at chicago;
William, a fireman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad
and a resident of Buffalo; Margaret, Anna and Jane, who are all
married and living in East Buffalo; and Elizabeth, wife of our
subject. Mr. and Mrs. Reidy have three children: Edward J., John
T. and Marie.
Mr. Reidy is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its
principles, but takes no active part in politics aside from voting.
He is an honored member of Division No. 374, Order of Railroad
Conductors, and is a communicant of the Catholic church.
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JAMES M. VANDUZER:
The eldest son of William Van Duzer, was born at Unionville, in the
town of Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y. on the 15th day of August, 1812.
His mother was Sally M., the daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Wheeler,
of Mount Eve, Orange County,-an extensive land-ownder and the one of
the most prominent men of his locality.
Christopher Van Duzer, of Warwick, who was a captain in the
Revolutionary war, was his grandfather.
In June, 1824, he moved with his father into Chemung County,
then Tioga, and settled upon the Ridge Road, in the town of Veteran,
on what has so long been known as the VanDuzer farm, where he
resided almost continuously furing his business life.
When he first settled in Veteran, there were only about ten
acres of cleared land upon the farm, and only one or two frame
houses between it and Horseheads.
He was for a few years-1838 to 1843-engaged in the lumber
business in the town of Southport, first with Sylvester Sexton, and
afterwards with Colonel Eli Wheeler, there until 1872, when his
health compelled him to relinquish active business, and he moved to
the village of horseheads, where he died, on the 5th of August, 1876.
He was married to Louisa turner, the eldest daughter of Harvey
Turner, Dec 31, 1840, who, with two sons, survive him.
For thirty years he was an active and public-spirited citizen.
he served his town several terms as an assessor, and was for many
years postmaster of the Veteran postoffice, established by his
father soon after moving into this county, and which, in the days of
stage-coaches, was quite and important centre for the country round
about it.
In 1850 he was elected Superintendent of the Poor for Chemung
County on the Democratic ticket, and served three years. Being an
ardent Free-Soil Democrat, he early joined the Republican party, and
ran as its candidate for sheriff on the first regular county ticket
put in nomination in 1856, but was defeated.
After the passage of the act of 1857, creating a county board
of commissuiners of excise, he was appointed by Judge North, in May
of that year, one of the Excise Commissioners for Chemung County,
and performed the duties of that office until January, 1861, when
his term expired.
When the war of Rebellion broke out, he was an enthusiastic
supporter of the Government, and, though exempt from military duty,
at his own expense sent a man into the army, and was among the most
active of his townsmen in his efforts to have his town fill every
quota called for; and it was a matter of great pride to him that no
draft was ever made in the town of Veteran.
On the passage of the internal revenue law in 1861, he wa
appointed one of the assistant assessors of his district, and had
the towns of Veteran, Catlin, Horseheads, and Big Flats under his
supervision until 1867. By the reduction of the internal revenue
service and consolidation of the districts, his office was
discontinued.
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JOHN D WILLIAMS:
John D. Williams was born in Elmira, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1820. His
father, was William Williams,-a nativeof Wales,-came to America in
the year 1801, settling first in Canterbury, Orange Co., N.Y., then
removing to Elmira (1818), where he soon after married Stella H.,
daughter of John Durham, one of the early settlers, and for many
years under-sheriff at the old log court-house.
Mr. Williams received a fair common -school education and at
the age of sixteen commenced learning the trade of a tanner and
currier with his father, with whom he continued until the reacing
his majority. In 1844, owing to lameness produced by exposer to
water, he was compelled to abandon his trade and pursue other
vocations. In 1852 he married Mary J. daughter of E.L. Hoffman of
Fort Plain, N.Y., who, together with and infant son, died in 1854.
In 1856 he was appointed clerk in the canal collector's office
at horseheads, and in 1857, appointed collector in place of W.B.
Calhoun, removed from the state.
In June, 1858, he received the appointment of collector of tolls
on the Junction Canal, holding that position for six years.
In 1860 he married Adaline, youngest daughter of Henry Saylor,
of Hector, Tompkins Co., N.Y.
He was tendered the position of paymaster at the Elmira Iron
and Steel Rolling-Mills in 1864, and has continuously since held
that place.
In the Masonie fraternity Mr. Williams has been zealous and
active, receiving the first degree in 1856, and the thirty-third and
last degree in 1871, holding in the mean time the position of
presiding officer in every body of the York rite.
It is only due to Mr. Williams to say that in his official act,
in all places of trust and responsibility, characteristic of him are
his sterling integrity, business ability, and a will to carry
forward to successful completion any enterprise he undertakes-
justice to all, and unsullied motives.
in politics he was originally an old-line silver-gray Henry
Clay Whig; was somewhat connected with the Know-Nothing party; was
an ardent supporter of the Union during the late Rebellion, and a
memeber of the Republican party.
In 1875 he was elected supervisor of the Third Ward of the
city, and re-elected each year since that time.
I also have a photo of him if you like:o)
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