1894 Biographies

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    WILLIAM SHANLY is now the oldest hotel-keeper in Binghamton, N. Y., having been the proprietor of the Lewis House in this city for nearly twenty years --- a long experience at one stand in these changeful times. He was born July 29, 1839, in the town of Hunter, Greene County, N. Y., a son of John and Catherine Shanly. The father was a tanner, an excellent workman, and followed his trade in Greene, Delaware, and Sullivan Counties, being superintendent of many of the tanneries in which he was employed. He died at the age of eighty years in Sullivan County, and his wife was of about the same age at her death. Of their nine children, seven are now living. The father was a strict member of the Catholic church and a Democrat in politics.

    As William was approaching manhood, he began to engage in farming in Delaware County, working out by the month for about three years, receiving at first but ten dollars per month. In 1860 he entered a machine-shop at Newburg, N. Y., as an apprentice to learn the trade of machinist, and continued in this occupation for about six years. He first engaged in hotel business at Hancock, Delaware County, N. Y., where he kept the Western Hotel for about seven years. In the month of May, 1874, he removed to the city of Binghamton, and on the fifteenth day of June following took possession of the Lewis House, where he has carried on a prosperous and successful business. In 1880 he remodelled, renovated, and entirely refurnished the house, adding to it another story, and can now boast of having one of the best equipped hotels in the city. When Mr. Shanly was twenty-nine years of age, he was married to Miss Adelia Golden, a woman of untiring energy and housewifely qualities, who ably assisted her husband in his chosen vocation. She died in 1887 from an attack of pneumonia. He has been equally fortunate in his second matrimonial venture, having married in 1893 Miss Elizabeth Lyon, of Albany, N. Y., a lady of much cultivation and many graces of character. He and his accomplished wife are devoted members of the Roman Catholic church, and are among the foremost in their liberal bounty to its charitable organizations.

    Mr. Shanly is a strong Democrat of the old school, and may be counted on always to cast his vote for his party's ticket. He is a useful member of the Board of Water Commissioners of Binghamton, and is a well-known and respected citizen. He gives to the Lewis House his own personal supervision; and so homelike are its comforts, and so attentive is the proprietor to the personal wants of his patrons, that he seldom fails in receiving a second visit from the guests once entertained. Mr. Shanly's enterprise and abilities are duly appreciated by the people of Binghamton, with whose interests he has so thoroughly identified himself. By his own industry and thrift he has attained his present position, and well deserves the cordial esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen.

Source: pages 165-166.

    CHARLES E. SMITH, a useful and esteemed citizen of Binghamton, N. Y., comes from a long line of American patriots. It would seem from the family records that they were original settlers in Long Island, and of German descent. The first authentic history shows that John Smith, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier of the Revolution, and that the grandfather, John Smith, Jr., served in the War of 1812, and, being captured by the British, was kept prisoner for some time. When peace was declared and he had returned to his home, he moved from Long Island to Pennsylvania, into a portion of the country which was an almost unbroken wilderness. He went there with teams, and with his axe cut his way through the woods to make a road. He followed the trade of house carpenter, but found it exceedingly difficult to succeed, as there was but very little call for his services in that section; and he often had to travel ten and fifteen miles to find employment. He had sold his farm on Long Island, hoping to better his condition by going into the new country of Pennsylvania. He died at the age of eighty-seven. His father, the Revolutionary hero, died at the age of ninety-three.

    John H. Smith, son of John Smith, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1829, and became one of the prominent men of the town of Sherman. He was for ten years Tax Collector of the place, and has filled different local offices. He served his country faithfully in the late Civil War. He married Miss Sarah Travis, who was born at Hale's Eddy, Delaware County, N. Y., and died when her son Charles E. was five months old. Her father, Gilbert Travis, was a pioneer on the banks of the Delaware River in New York State, and lived in the troublous times when they had to keep watch at night against the wolves and the equally dangerous Indian, who haunted their settlements. His wife was Miss Katherine Whittaker, of an old and well-known family of the State of New York.

    Charles E., son of John H. and Sarah (Travis) Smith, was born at Sherman, Wayne County, Pa., May 12, 1857, and received his elementary education in the district school of his county, and later attended the academy at Deposit, N. Y. Leaving school, he engaged as clerk in a store at Starch, Pa. He subsequently received the appointment of Postmaster at Sherman, Pa., and held the office during the four years' administration of President Hayes. He came to the city of Binghamton, N. Y., in the year 1881, and entered with C. D. Middlebrook as salesman in the wholesale and retail lumber yard, where for the past three years he has been foreman, with a force of twelve men under him. Since residing in Binghamton, Mr. Smith has twice held the office of official Inspector of Elections, and was elected Alderman for the years of 1892-93, to represent the First Ward, by the largest majority ever polled in that ward. He served on the Committees of Ordinance, Printing, and Fire. While he was a resident of Sherman, he was Treasurer of the town, resigning that position when he removed to Binghamton.

    On April 10, 1878, Mr. Smith married Miss Della Greenmun, daughter of Charles Greenmun, of Sherman, Pa., for many years Justice of the Peace, and now Postmaster of that place. Her family have been identified with that town for over eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had four children born to them, of whom only two survive; namely, May E. and Frederick Arthur. Mr. Smith built for himself in 1887 a handsome residence, No. 35 Prospect Street. Politically, he is a Democrat, earnestly believing in the principles and traditions of the party, which he is ever ready faithfully to defend and to uphold. In his religious opinions he follows the faith of the Baptist church. In the fraternal orders Mr. Smith is a member of Thompson Lodge, No. 866, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Thompson, Pa., and of Wamsutta Tribe, No. 37, Improved Order of Red Men in Binghamton. Since his residence in Binghamton Mr. Smith has proved himself a worthy and upright citizen, and both in the civic and business interests of the city has shown commendable activity and energy.

Source: pages 664-665.

All biographies are from Biographical Review - The Leading Citizens of Broome County, New York
Boston - Biographical Review Publishing Company - 1894
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