New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
A NURSERY OF ACHIEVEMENT
STRANGE STORY OF A FARM THAT GROWS
MEN

STRANGE STORY OF A FARM THAT GROWS
MEN.
EXTRAORDINARY CROP OF ONE GENERATION
HOW A SINGLE VILLAGE PRODUCES EMINENT
AND SUCCESSFUL PEoPLE-rHE AMAZING
LIST OF ITS POLITICIANS, PREACHERS,
SENATORS. CABINET MINISTER'S. GOV
FRNoRs, GENERALS, JUDGES, BIsH-
OPS, MINsTREaS, ENGINEERS
GREAT EXECUTIVES. MIN OF
LETTERS AND SCIENCE AND
VAST FORTUNES.
Close by the southern border Of NewforK, ana almost
exactly midway from eastern 10 western edge ol the
State quiet village sits the right bank OF the sus
Quehanna River, looking across toward neighoorhg
Pennsylvania. The Susquehsnna here broad and beau
tiful. though shallow eneis the eastern ehd oil the
village with a sweeping bend and flows leisurely
through the hDwn past admired disorder OF MIS- 10
the point but little further west, where II aDahdohs
The long inde tson Of its course and makes psoiute
turn southwark 10 the sea. In lovely scene OF hDs
and Of clear yreams hurrying TO the bright river, OF
fair valleys rrh In herds OF shining skies and
deep mists OF summer nights, unfangly foretellins
brilliant days. lie the longehbowered streets OF the
vilagefor its fathers Of taste and planted
sadc trees fe ely that II Is govelke. as much
any Mormon town Of Idaho Utah. A bald spot
for its shops and Offices two three banks. the chief
hotel the academy the courthouse and the Jail. Above
and below the business quarter distributed Impair
tally the homes Of the residents, with their trim door
yards and ntermngled with them here and there few
Of larger dimensions with looks OF old fashioned dig
nifty. tell not untly that they longsettIed seats Of
culture and gentle MANNERS
Such Is the village of Owego, mist undeservedly so
little known to fame that il "Toga Co." be not
IFS iLpIy IN he Ia
to place not wholly unheardof-for which reason
as for Others, it would do well to abandon the modern
misleading corruption of its lte and its proper
melOdious Indian name Ahwaga. quiet village, nat
naptly said TO 5t7 its river bank "Sedet aeter
numque sedebit' : 1t does not much rise STIR but
sits sleeps. In earlier days II strove somewhat with
neighborng rivals, Elmira and Bnghamton, for suprem
Of the southern tier having then greater popu
latiOn and perhaps better outlooas than either Of
these. II reached out somewhat for trade, and tiled
little 10 establish manufactures that should bring
| In inhabitants; but they who cared for these
things had not capital and they who had capital cared
not for the things that not much accomplished
though the town abounded In wealth above lis fellows
Much faith rested In public works-extension Of
the Chenango Canal. In paricuar-faith and works
long since alike futile and abandoned. Now Its former
rivals have q TO be cities" Of six and seven
times its size, and Owego has given up to them the
prize of material! things contented apparently for itself
TO breed men.
For such Is he singular distinction Of this obscure
village that in a most amazing manner in degree
or proportion probably without parallel anywhere it
produces who become famous deserve fame. or
reach prominent places, and the highest or near the
highest That is open 10 those of their calling.
| There Is no manner known to me Of computing the
proportion Of such men which village like this might
expect under the law Of averages probably 1t would
10 fraction Of a What then, Is TO be
thought of this little Owego, capital of almost the
smallest and least important rural county OF New
York, with It's handful Of 5000 people which counts
its Generals Cabinet Ministers, United States Senator'S
Congressman, Governors. State officials. Bishops Judges
Of the great courts college presidents professo
men Of letters, Of science eminent lawyers great
executives engineers, men high IN the staff and line
Of Army and Navy, possessors Of the most enormous
| modern fortune-perhaps literally by scores.
| The wonder will increase when the particulars Of
this most extraordinary list display the mutfsrlous
| activity of some whose names contained In it,
Mr.. Thomas c. Platt. for example, most widely
| famed perhaps. OF men born and bred In Owego, Is
known throughout the country the most prominent
| political manager OF the day. and probably the best
skilled, most capable and most powerful But he has
| been Representative In Congress. and United states
Senator he Is president of the United States Express
Company Of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company Of
| two railways, and Of bank. In short Mr.. Platts
various Offices and employments distributed among his
tOwnsmen would of themselves equip Owego citizens
with more places Of influence, dignity, or profit.
than ordinarily fall 10 the share Of small rural villages.
| But Owego can well afford 10 reckon Mr.. Platt's
| political prominence only. OF business success
supreme suacess the bewildering scale Of these
tmes-she offers the most striking examples. The list
of tremendous fortunes that the rounds Of the
newspapers periodically. beginning with the Wander
bilts Asor etc. contains generally about ten
| Two OF these always John d. and William Rookie
| feller. and they Qwego boys.
| The Tioga County bar has had remarkable success.
| For purely professional distinction the first place
should no doubt be assigned to the late George Sidney
Camp great lawyer. according TO other great lawyers,
who the only fit judges. man Of profound learn
ing and strong grasp Of principles and details. II
upon his brief that the Fske will case decided
against Cornell University. Mr.. Camp was e-long
invalid and little known beyond the professional circle
in which he gained narrow but truly eminent fame.
Among the older Owego lawyers others who acquired
professional reputation considerably beyond their own
| neighborhood John J. Taylor, member OF the
| famous Yale class Of 1920. Representative in Con
| gress from his district in 1953-54 Democratic can
didate for Lieutenant Governor, and delegate from
| Tioga to the Constitutional Convention Of 1s45-46
and the late Joh, VI. Parker, man of fine accom-.
| plshment and raging character, who succeeded Mr.
Taylor in Congress, where be served two terms from
1855 To 1883 inclusive. and afterward upon the
| bench Of the supreme Court Of the State The
judicial seat which lie dignfed is occupied BY his son
Judge Charles E. Parker. in his second term OF
Office as Justice of the supreme Court, where he
preserves unspoe his inheritance Of good repute for
ability and devotion to the public service The
! present Judges younger brother. Colonel Frank II
Parker, L. s. A.. hes spent his life with credit In tile
! Army. and is nONT Leutenant-Coonel Of Ordnance
commanding at W:uervliet Arsenal. The late Judge
stephen Strong represented the district in Congress in
| l545-'47. The late Judge Thomas Harrington was
state Treasurer in In245 and I546'47, ard Adiutant
| General Of the state in ls45.
| But perhaps the most striking fortunes Of Owego
lawyers have been those which beel the members OF
| single legal firm. among whom, Just before the out
break OF the War in 1861 were BENJAMIN F. Tracy
| Gilbert G.. Walker. and Isaac 5. Catin. Mr.. Tracy