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A View of Owego in 1845Appearing here are four letters written in 1845 from Owego, Tioga County, NY by members of the Isaac Lillie family to their children in Cincinnati OH. I purchased the letters on e-bay hoping they might yield some clue as to what was happening in Owego at the time that my g-g-grandfather, James S. Griffing (age 22 at the time), was attending the Owego Academy and preparing himself to enter Wesleyan University the following year. I knew that Isaac Lillie had been a former schoolteacher and surveyor in Owego and that his wife, the former Rachel Neeley [Neely], was a relative of Augusta Goodrich's neighbor. Though disappointed in the quantity of the local news contained in the letters, as usual I found many interesting strings to pull. I have highlighted the interesting facts about Owego in blue font. Isaac Lillie's death is announced in a letter from Augusta to her husband, Rev. James Griffing, dated September 25, 1864 on the following web page: The Time of Teeth Chattering is Coming The four stampless letters included in this collection were all addressed to Cincinnati OH and postmarked in Owego NY in 1845. The letters were either written by Isaac Lillie (1788-1864), his wife Rachel (Nealy) Lillie (1795-1849), or their son James Edward Lillie (1833-1901). Each letter was directed to Isaac's son, John Hoyt Lillie (1813-1903), eldest child of his first marriage to Julia Ann Hoyt (1790-@1820). At the time that these letters were written in 1845, John H. Lillie resided in Cincinnati OH with his wife Charlotte (Curtis) Lillie (@1814-@1884) and their four year-old son Gilbert B. Lillie. Also living in the same household with them was Catherine ("Caty") Lillie, the 17 year-old daughter of Isaac Lillie and his second wife Rachel. These letters were all written from the Isaac Lillie residence on the north side of Front street, east of William street in the village of Owego NY.
January 1, 1845 Dear children, We wish you all a happy new year. As for health, we are all well except your mother who has been very sick. She, I believe, is regaining her health. She sat up in a chair to day for half an hour. She took a violent cold while attending the funeral of Joseph Bell's [1] about three weeks ago. It came very near proving fatal. While she was so very sick, she wished Catherine to remain where she was for her brother was just the man, right every way, so she tells Mrs. Lovejoy [2] & Mrs. Pumpelly [3] her mind was perfectly calm on that point. She also said the same to me. I have been with your mother constantly day and night. She has had the very best attendance. Remember we must all die. It is a law of God. Of course the law is a just one. Then be calm and quiet. If your parents or friends are called away before you, be prepared, then death will have no terrors. Your mother and Edward went a visiting to their friends in the Lake country. They found Prudence and her family well, also Mr. Crandal [4] and his family at Auburn. They visited the state prison. After their return we took a journey to the Butternuts. Found our friends well but a great many of my old acquaintances had gone down to the tomb. It was very sickly and has been for two years. No one can give any reason for it. Four died while we were there. I have rented out the Grocery except a part of the cellar, the back lower and upper rooms for a Jeweller or watch store for $80.00, the upper room over where I kept grocery to Esq. Johnson [5] for a justice office $30.00, front room to S. B. Leonard [6] for post office $100.00, so I get ($210.00) two hundred and ten dollars a year paid monthly. Business is very dull here -- very little lumbering doing in part [because] the pine timber is mostly gone. People begin to turn their attention to farming. Crops were good last summer of all kinds except potatoes. They were blasted. Your mother has just waked up. I wrote the above while she was asleep. She feels exhausted in sleeping so long. We do not let her sleep but short naps. Catherine, you must be kind and good to your sister Charlotte, your brother and little Bub. I believe you are. Your brother writes that you are a good girl. Charlotte, your mother says she has the greatest respect for you [and] wishes you to be a mother and sister to Catherine. Edward attends school. He makes good progress. [He] rises early, gets his lessons, and helps me get wood. He says you must send that watch. January 2d. I could not finish my letter yesterday or thought not best. Sarah Lillie sat up with your mother last night. She rested very well [and] feels rather better to day. [She] drank a little rice tea. I send Catherine two dollars for change. Get such things as she wants [and] charge the same to me. Write immediately on the receipt of this. This from your father, -- Isaac Lillie J[ohn] Lillie, C[harlotte] Lillie, C[atherine] Lillie
and Little Bub
Double-Click on the scanned images of these pages to see the original hand-writing. [1] Joseph Bell lived near the Isaac Lillie family in Owego at the time of the 1840 Census. His tombstone in Evergreen Cemetery gives his death date as 11 December 1844 (aged 38). His wife, the former Rebecca Campbell, died 2 November 1887 and lies buried by his side. The couple were married in Owego in October 1833 by the Rev. Mr. Charles White, pastor of the Owego Presbyterian Church. [2] "Mrs. Lovejoy" was probably the former Lydia Abbey Pumpelly, the wife of Dr. Ezekiel Lovejoy, and the daughter of James Pumpelly (1776-1845) and Mary (Pixley) Tinkham (1777-1848). Dr. Lovejoy's office was in the east wing of his residence on the opposite side of Front Street from James Pumpelly's residence. [3] "Mrs. Pumpelly" is unidentified though it may have been Mary (Pixley) Pumpelly, wife of James Pumpelly. [4] Possibly 35 year-old Harry Crandall who worked at the State Prison in Auburn. Harry's wife was Ann E. Crandall. They lived at 70 North Street in Auburn NY in 1857. [5] "Esq. Johnson's identity is unconfirmed but it may have been attorney Robert Charles Johnson, who came to Owego in 1830 and formed a law partnership with Thomas Farrington. Robert C. Johnson, with his cousin Charles F. Johnson, financed many early manufacturing industries in Owego NY. Robert C. Johnson was, for a time, married to Mary Eliza Pumpelly, the daughter of James Pumpelly. [6] Stephen B. Leonard served as postmaster of Owego from 1816 to 1820, and from 1844 to 1849. From this letter, we learn that Leonard kept his post office in Lillie's former grocery store at the northeast corner of Front and Lake Streets. February 8, 1845 Dear Child, After a long and a verry severe fit of sickness, it has pleased god who rules all things agreeable to his own will to raise your Mother and enable me to write to my Dear Catherine once more; in the first of my sickness I have but verry little recollection about any thing that was gowing on. I suppose if I had not had the best of attention from friends and Doctors, I could not have lived; your Father did not leave me scarcely day nor night for weeks; he took a great deal of care of me; and so did all that took care of me. Your cousin Lib N[ealy]. left her sowing and came and staid with me and helped to take care of me untill your cousin Elizabeth Smith [7] came; and; she came and helped to take care of me untill I could take care of my self. I am quite feeble yet. Mrs. Pufer is with me and has been this nine weeks; she does all the work about house and will untill I get better. We received your letters with the greatest pleasure and thank you all; and I hope you will write often so that if I live I will not be so uneasy about you all. I wish you would send me a paper once in too weeks and be punctual about it. I received a letter last evening from Prue [Prudence?] and she wishes to hear from you verry mutch. Shall tell her as I stated in your letter that you are contented and a good girl. I think I shall. P and her family are verry well and wish to be remembered to you all; every one that speaks of you wishes to be remembered to you. I am glad to hear that you are growing more healthy. I think you cannot be home sick by that. Do try to improve your time in school. Write all about your studies and what school you attend in your next [letter], and [say] when you think of visiting Owegoe. Catherine, your mother loves you verry mutsh and wants to see you, but I am verry happy to hear that you are a good girl and contented. It gives me great pleasure, and I do not dispair of seeing you yet; and if we meet no more in this world, may the God of Heaven protect you in this world and prepare you and your mother to meet in a better world than this is the sincere and constant prayer of your mother. R. Lillie to Catherine R. Lillie And now dear Charlotte and John a few imperfect lines to you. My heart is lifted in gratitude to God and that continually for the kind feelings you exsprest concerning Edward and Caty. I hope if I do not live that you will be a mother to my children for I place the most implisit confidence in you both that you would protect them as your own. I wish in your next [letter] I might hear something about your friends. So no more at present, but remain your affectionate mother, -- R. Lillie Dear children. We received your letter with great pleasure. We were afraid that the news of the sickness of your mother would make Catherine uneasy and homesick. But it appears from your letter that you all kept calm and quiet, hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. The winter has been very mild, but little cold till February sat in. Business is very dull -- a complete stagnation [and] I believe it will remain so. What I shall do, I know not. Since I rented, I have been confined to the house nursing [your mother]. Edward attends school [and] gets along well. His health is poor. He depends upon the watch [and] wants to go to Cincinnatti in the spring but will not cross the lake. [He] says he intends to go by land. I hardly know what to write as you get the principal news through the colums of the [Owego] Advertiser. While I think of it, Mrs. Arnold, alias the widow Turner, [8] sends her best respects and wishes to be remembered by you all. Edward, her son, attends school with the Rev. Mr. White [9]. Mr. Headly [10] -- once our [Owego] Academy teacher -- went to your place last fall. Perhaps he has called upon you. I see below that your mother requests Catherine to write to Caty McBeth [11]. She had better write what you write to Caty in the letters you write to us. It will save postage which is no small item for a girl to pay. Write on the receipt of this. -- Isaac Lillie Owego, February 8th 1845 To John, Charlotte, Catherine, little Bub Lillie Caty, Do write to Caty McBeth soon. She wishes you to and let her know all the particulars concerning you; and let her now if you have received any papers from her and Mag. They have both sent to you. A great deal of love to you from your Aunt Maples and family; and from all the friends at the Butternuts. Charles Nealy [12] sends his love to you; and all the friends at Union. Fy and Crain [13] is married; Sarah is not yet but I do not now how soon she may be. One word more. Kiss Dear little Bub for us all and tell him when his grand Pa and his uncle Edy comes, grand ma will send him some thing verry nice. Lil wishes to be remembered with much respect to all and wants you to write to her with out fail. And tell her all about maters and things. Mr. and Mrs. Crandel thought of writing to you when I was their last fall; gave me a Bible for you. I wished to send it by Mr. Headly but could not see him and other things I should have sent. Your afectionate Mother, -- R. L[illie]
Double-Click on the scanned images of these pages to see the original hand-writing. [7] Elizabeth Smith's identity not yet confirmed. [8] Deborah Arnold (born about 1806) was the wife of Dr. John H. Arnold, an Owego physician. Deborah's first husband was David Turner (1793-1842). Deborah and David Turner's son, Edward C. Turner (born 1 February 1830, died 9 January 1896), was a student in the preparatory department at Wabash University in Crawfordsville IN for three school years (between 1844-7). He did not receive a college degree from the university. One of the school's catalogue's claims that Edward boarded with Dr. Charles White, the 2nd President of Wabash College who was also a former resident of Owego NY. Edward eventually settled in Flint MI where he engaged in the banking and lumber industries. Source: Wabash University Archives and History of Genesee County MI. According to Kingman's book Early Owego, Mr. David Turner lived "on the north side of Front Street, a little east of William street, in a white house... He died there April 30, 1842, aged 48 years." He retired from business in 1835 after having become severely crippled by a wound. [9] The Rev. Mr. Charles White, an 1821 graduate of Dartmouth College, was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Owego in the 1830's. He was the 2nd President of Wabash College, serving from 1841 to 1861.
[10] According to Kingman's book Early Owego, Isaac B. Headley was "a college graduate and was most of his life engaged in the banking business. He came to Owego when 27 years of age, and was from 1837 to 1844 principal of the Owego academy. He died January 20, 1854, in the island of St. Thomas where he was living for the benefit of his health, aged 44 years. He was a brother of Joel Tyler Headley, the historian, who was also a teacher at the Owego academy, as well as their sister, Mrs. Irene Headley." He is listed among a number of lecturers at the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association in Cincinnati during 1845-6. I don't know whether he went there simply to deliver a lecture or whether he relocated permanently. [12] Probably Charles Nealy of Tioga, Tioga County NY, born about 1825.
Owegoe Dear Caty, As an opportunity ofered I improve the same in writing a few lines to you to let you know that we are all as well as usual and I hope you are the same. I feel afraid that you are disappointed in not seaing your Father this fall. My Dear Child, you cannot bea more disappointed in not seing him than I am in not seing you, as my life has been spared to se an other fall and to witness an other birth day on which you was born. Time is on the wing and flies swiftly away and soon will whirl us in to eternity. But if we are prepared when we [get] the somens here to bid adieu to all thats near and dear, all will be well. I felt happy to hear you express your self in the way and manner you did to Miss Hand [14] concerning the will of God, oh child, when we can give up all our friends and our selves and have no will of our own and desire the will of God should be done. Then we will be happy. And I do feel confident Catherine that you pray for a heart of perfec submission to the will of our Heavenly Father. Do above all things get wisdom. Be a good girl and shunn all vice and walk in the strate and narrow path and it will lead you to happiness and to Heaven. I still hope I shall live to se you in this world but if here on earth we meete no more, I trust we will met in Heaven. Pray to God that we may be spared to se each other again and your mother will do the same. This from your Mother, -- R. Lillie To C.R. Lillie Dear children. You must all write to Edward a letter and not amore to us unless you wish him to tell his Father or me some thing about you all. He thinks hard of all but Sister Charlotte. He says he loves her verry much and he will write to her soon. He wants John to send him a watch and a horse and he wants a letter soon. Wants to se Gilbert verry much. Dear John and Charlotte, A word to you and I will close. I still will hope that Caty is not a berthon to you as your Father thinks you will send her home when you get sick of her and she be comes burthen some to you all. I hope that she will be a good and obedient girl. With her Father's consent, I make this request to you and your wife to get C[aty] a verry good Brasha or Cashmeer shawl worth fifteen dollars or more for if she was home I shoud get it for her my self and a good dress of silk if you plese. And your Father will pay all exspences and for all she wants if she spends the winter with you. I hope you will let Caty take mucick lesons and pa[i]nting. Your Father promised your Aunt Maples [15] that [she] might have those privileges and you would attend to that your self. It will not ingure her other studies your Aunt says in the least. This letter I commenced writing in hopes to send it by Mr. Lacy but I think he must have left with out calling again. Our friends are all well here. Your Uncle M. is with us and will be always for ought I know. I feel verry anxious to se you and Caty in particular, but I must [not] think about it to much for it is not [good] for my health to think about you to mutch. If Caty is not contented and trouble some, send her home. I feel at times as I cannot live with out her but I seak her happiness more than my own. I wish you would write often for I want to hear from you all once a month at least. The friends that wishes to be remembered to you all are to numerous to mention. Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Platt [16] in particular I mention. Write soon to Edward and tell him what you would like to have us know. Tell Gilbert Grand Ma will fetch him some thing verry nice when she comes. This from your Mother, R. Lillie Owego, October 19th 1845 Dear children, Why do you not write? Have you forgotten us? I hope not. I hope you will write often. As for news, I have nothing of importance except what you get through the colums of the [Owego] Advertiser. We are well as usual, and if we have no bad luck you may expect a visit from us next spring. This from your father, -- Isaac Lillie Caty, write to Mag and Hat Stiles [17] soon. Dear Brother [John], I do not wish you to send my horse. When I come I will expect my horse and watch. This from your brother Edward Lillie.
Double-Click on the scanned images of these pages to see the original hand-writing. [15] Aunt Maples [16] Mrs. Platt was probably Mrs. Jonathan Platt, the former Betsy Goodrich -- sister of Silas Goodrich and the daughter of Eliakim Goodrich. Jonathan Platt lived until 1857; his wife Betsy lived until 1878. At the time that these letters were written, Jonathan Platt and his wife lived in a handsome residence on the west side of Owego Creek which Mr. Platt called "Glen Betsy." The Platt's sold the property in 1853 and it later became known as "Vesper Cliff." [17] The names are probably Maggie and Hattie Stiles but their identity is not yet confirmed.
Owego, December 9th 1845 Dear children, We have received your letter dated November 5th [and] also the one you sent by Mr. Lull. We all were much pleased to hear from you, and I hope Catherine has regained her health. We are all in tolerable health with a plenty of snow and good sleding. As for clothes for Catherine, I hope you will get such clothes as she may want for her comfort and standing in society. We cannot judge here what clothes are necessary for her situation. Edward attends school, learns well, [and] gets his lessons faithfully. I hope Catherine does the same. After writing the above, I went upstreet and was hailed by a man calling me Lillie. [He] said Louisa lived with him and was attending school. [He] said his name was Stevens [18] [and] lived in Stevensville, Bradford County, Penn. As she was attending school, I thought it best to let her stay [w]here she was till spring. Then if she wished to accompany us, she could. I have waited for mother to write. [I] made pens for her but she does not write but scolds at me for not writing. [She] expects every day to hear bad news from Catherine as she was sick when heard from last. Perhaps mother will write a whole letter herself. Write when you receive this. We wish to hear from Catherine. This from your father, -- Isaac Lillie December 14th Opened by me by mistake, -- John Lilley [19]
Double-Click on the scanned images of these pages to see the original hand-writing. [18] There were a large number of Stevens families living in Bradford County in 1845. Stevensville is about 15 miles east of Towanda PA and the Susquehanna River. [19] Apparently a Cincinnati resident named John Lilley took this letter at the post office and opened it by mistake, not realizing until afterwards that it was intended for John Lillie instead. This explains the inscription on the front of the letter. There were two John Lilley's living in Cincinnati at the time this letter was written. One was a 38 year-old English-born grocer and the other was a 25 year-old German-born blacksmith. It was probably the former.
Facts about Isaac Lillie and his family gleaned from internet search: 1839: Isaac Lillie, a surveyor and teacher, is among those who help form the Abolition Society in Tioga County. -- Kingman, p. 318 Isaac Lillie -- son of Jared Lillie (1759-1827) and
Susannah Tuckerman (1763-1836) Children by first marriage: Children by second marriage: John Hoyt Lillie, born 12 April 1813, Montrose,
Susquehanna Co., PA; died 30 March 1903, Los Angeles, CA. Gilbert B. Lillie, son of John and Charlotte Lillie,
born 1843 in Pennsylvania. (or 1841 in Illinois?) May have been named after Gilbert
Forsyth? See story below concerning steamboat.
GENEALOGY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN DEMING OF WETHERSFIELD Children of: Isaac Lillie, a school teacher and civil engineer, came to Owego in 1814. His father, Abraham Lillie, came at an early day from England to Boston, Massachusetts and engaged in ship building. Isaac Lillie was born at Scotland, Windham county, Connecticut, October 19, 1788. He lived at one time at Butternuts, Otsego County, NY and later at Montrose PA. After coming to Owego, Mr. Lillie surveyed much of the land in Coxe's patent. He taught school several yeas in an old school house which stood on the south side of Main Street near where the rectory of St. Paul's church now stands. When the Owego Academy was built in 1828, he was asked to take charge of the school as principal but declined to do so. He was much interested in the cause of temperance and the abolition of slavery, and he co-operated in forming the first anti-slavery society in Tioga county in 1839. As a surveyor he was naturally conversant with land values and was elected an assessor of the town of Owego in 1851 and 1854. Mr. Lillie was twice married. Of his first wife we have no record. His second wife was Rachel Nealy. She was a daughter of John Nealy, who came to Owego in April 1785, with James and Robert McMaster and William Woods from Florida NY. Her brother, David Nealy, is said to have been the second white child born in Owego. He died March 8, 1871, aged 78 years. Mr. Lillie lived during the last twenty years of his life in a house which stood on the north side of Front street, east of William street. He purchased the property in April 1833 from John Mack, of the town of Ulysses, Tompkins county. After his death this property, together with the drug store building at the northeast corner of Front and Lake streets, passed into possession of his daughter, Mrs. Deming. The dwelling house in west Front street was subsequently torn down and in its place she built the house now occupied by John Jones. Mrs. Lillie died in Owego February 2, 1849, aged 54 years. Mr. Lillie died September 23, 1854. [Should be 1864] The children of Mr. Lillie and his first wife were Susan Lillie who married Mr. Muar and lived at Scottsville NY, and John Hoyt Lillie, who was born 13 April 1813 at Montrose PA, and married Charlotte B. Curtis of Montrose. She died at Rochester NY, and he 30 March 1903 at Los Angeles CA. The children of Isaac and Rachel (Nealy) Lillie were as follows: 1. Sarah Lillie, born 4 January 1827 at Owego. Died 4 July 1838. 2. Catherine B. Lillie, born 4 October 1828 at Owego. Married Horace R. Deming 18 September 1858 at Owego. He died 7 April 1882 at Waterbury CT. 3. James Edward Lillie, born 11 September 1833 at Owego. Married Lucy Ketchum, of Corning. He died 27 May 1901 at Washington D.C. James Edward Lillie was a machinist. He lived at Corning NY and at Susquehanna PA and was later and for many years employed in the government machine shops in the ordinance department at Washington D.C. in which city he died May 28, 1901. Catherine B. Lillie married Horace R. Deming of Owego and still lives in this village. Mr. Deming was born May 1, 1829 at Bennington VT. He came to Owego in 1843 and learned the tinner's trade. He was for many years engaged in the hardware and tin business with various partners, and was afterward in the grocery business with Michael Bergin. Later he conducted a wholesale butter and cheese business in New Have CT and still engaged in the same business in Newark NJ. He died April 7, 1882 at Waterbury CT where he was conducting a wholesale flour, grain, hay, and butter business. Dr. John Hoyt Lillie had a somewhat remarkable career. In May 1832, he accompanied an uncle on a trip to Illinois, which was then in the "far west." He volunteered to take the census of Chicago, and did so, the enumeration showing the population to be 1,650 people. Later he returned to Owego where he remained until 1839. Mr. Lillie was a man of great ingenuity and had learned the trade of a watchmaker. In 1839 he built a steamboat, the second one ever constructed at this village. In the fall of that year, he and Gilbert Forsyth, with their families, started down the river in the boat, intending to go to Cincinnati, Ohio. The boat was wrecked near Wysox PA and the rest of the journey was made overland. In Cincinnati Mr. Lillie studied medicine and obtained a physician's license to practice. In 1841 he settled at Joliet, IL. He had become interested in the study of electricity, and he built a circular railroad, twelve feet in diameter, on which a miniature locomotive, designed by him, was driven by electricity. In order to obtain money with which to patent his invention, he exhibited his model and delivered public lectures. At Peoria he attracted the attention of senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri who gave him letters to Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian Institute, and other prominent men in Washington who assisted him financially. In 1850 Dr. Lillie obtained his first patent for the first electric motor, but not without some difficulty. An officer in the patent office tried to steal Dr. Lillie's claim to the invention, and he might have succeeded had not Prof. Henry made dire threats of exposure and disgrace. In order to raise money with which to develop his invention toward the point of commercial value, Dr. Lillie engaged in further lecturing tours, in one of which he met P.T. Barnum, the showman, who paid him $250 for a model of the new motor for exhibition in Barnum's New York museum. This proved unfortunate for the inventor, as the public looked upon the model in the museum more as a freak toy than as the beginning of immeasurable commercial achievements. Dr. Lillie's circular electric railroad was exhibited by the inventor at his old home in Owego in 1851. His lecture was delivered in Patch's hall, which occupied the third story of a brick block on the west side of Lake street, where the Chamberlain block now stands. On a wooden framework, supported by posts about four feet high and standing on the floor, Dr. Lillie had constructed a circular track of two continuous rails in the form of a large hoop, twelve feet in diameter over which a miniature four-wheeled truck was run. On this truck was a galvanic battery and a combination of wheels. Electric power was applied by the battery to the wheels causing them to revolve, sending the cars round and round on the circular track. In 1850 Dr, Lillie removed to Hornellsville NY where he continued his experiments. In 1860 he travelled through the country exhibiting Miss Dollie Dutton, a dwarf, and in 1863, he travelled giving exhibitions of nitrous oxide or laughing gas. In 1868 he removed from Rochester to San Francisco A and thence in 1873 to Santa Rosa. In 1876 he conducted a car of tourists to the centennial exposition at Philadelphia and in 1878 and again in 1886 he visited Europe. Upon his return in the latter year, he became a resident of Los Angeles, where he lived until his death. Our County and its People, Chapter IX, page 74: |
Rev.
Charles White, D. D.
