| Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York by
John H. Selkreg, 1894; Published: D. Mason & Co. Part III - Family Sketches |
|
| Washington Rowley 1-6.1227
Albertus Benton Rowley 1-7.7357 Nathan Rowley 1-7.7359 Daniel W Rowley 1-7.7358 |
MORGAN, Thomas, who for forty years was the owner and
proprietor of the famed "Elm Tree House" at McLean, was the
son of William G. and Fanny (WHITE) MORGAN and the grandson of pioneer
Evan MORGAN, who settled in Lansing previous to 1800. In 1843 Thomas
MORGAN married Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth BENTON.
In 1844 he bought from the ROWLEY estate the old Groton hotel, which he
kept a year then sold. In 1849 he bought the Elm Tree House, enlarged
it, and was its owner until the winter of 1888-89. Feb. 20, 1890, he
died.
Daniel W. ROWLEY was born September 11, 1841. When about a year old his father died, and while still a child his mother died, after which he was taken into the family of Thomas MORGAN, where he lived for several years, then started out to make his own way in life. For two years he conducted two markets in Cortland, after which he was proprietor of the Elm Tree House in McLean for a little time. After three years on a farm he again kept hotel for three years, this time the Junction House at Freeville. The following eleven years he spent at farming, and in 1889 he came to Groton to live, where he has been very active and successful in business life. He is a Democrat, but has always declined office. February 26, 1867, he married Ruth, daughter of John P. HART. They have no children, though in their family lives Mary HART, a young lady who has been a member of the household since she was an infant. Washington ROWLEY, father of Daniel W., was born at Lexington, Dutchess county, and came to Virgil at an early day. His wife was Phoebe BENTON, by whom he had four children, A. B. ROWLEY, of Syracuse; Helen, wife of A. J. PETTIS; Nathan, who died, aged four years, and Daniel W. About 1840 Washington ROWLEY went to Groton village and bought and became proprietor of the Groton House. Two years later he died. John P. HART, father of Mrs. D. W. ROWLEY, was a son of Amos HART, and was born January 25, 1816. On December 17, 1840, he married Eliza BOYNTON, and had eight children, Helen, who died aged twenty-one years; Ruth, wife of D. W. ROWLEY; George, of Dryden; Ada, who died young; Nancy, who married William DE COUDERS; A. J., of McLean, and Laura, wife of Jerome FITZ. John P. HART died July 23, 1870, and his wife May 30, 1888. |
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Modified April 16, 2008