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HOWARD ELMER, OF WAVERLY, N. Y. 227
art) Bailey, of Wawayanda, N. Y., who died Sept. 4, 1882.
He d. Aug. 8, 1867. He and his wife and children were
Presbyterians.
CHILDREN,
1492. Howard Elmer,^ was b. in Wawayanda, Orange Co., N". Y.,
August 2, 1833. He prepared for college at the Ridgebury and
Goshen academies, but delicate health prevented the taking of
his course. In November, 1850, his parents moved to Waverly,
N. T., his father's brother, Nathaniel Elmer, being then the pastor
of the Presbyterian church there. Soon after removing to
Waverly, then seventeen years of age, he entered the Waverly
bank, after which he was employed in the Chemung Canal
bank, and the First National bank of Elmira. In 1864 he
organized the First National bank, of Waverly, and was its
cashier until 1868, when he became its president, which position
he held until the time of his death. In 1870 he associated
with him C. L. Anthony, of New York, James Fritcher, and
his brother Richard, of Waverly, and purchased about 1,000
acres of land, on which Sayre is now sitviated. On the death of
Mr. Anthony, a few years later, he induced the Packer family,
E. P. Wilbur, and Robert Lockhart of South Bethlehem to
assume the Anthony interest, and this resulted in the location
of the Lehigh shops at Sayre and the consequent growth and
development of that village. Mr. Elmer was a potent factor in
this development, and it was mainly to his faith in the future
of the village, his planning, his encouragement, and his inde-
fatigable efforts, that it owes its growth and prosperity.
Through his encouragement the Cayuga Wheel foundry, the
Sayre pipe foundry and Sayre steam forge was built. He also
built the Sayre and Athens water-works. For several years
past he has been president and active manager of the companies
named, and also of the Sayre Land company. He was
also the director of the Pennsylvania & New York Railroad
company and the Geneva & Sayre Railroad company, treasurer
of the Geneva & Buffalo railroad, and a trustee of the Robert
Packer hospital at Sayre. He has been a member of the
board of education of Waverly, but never held political office.
He was an ardent Republican, but not active in politics, the
work being distasteful to him.
Mr. Elmer was a man of cultui'ed literary tastes, unostentatious,
courteous, and honorable. On questions of general welfare
he was broad-minded, public-spirited, and progi'essive; and in
his death his locality lost one who labored most assiduously for
its prosperity: one whose place in the community, church, and
all good works will not readily be filled. He was one of the
trustees of the Pi'esbyterian church of this place, of which
society he has been a member for upwards of twenty years.
The pastor of the Presbyterian chui-ch at Binghamton, N. Y.,
writes, —"Howard Elmer impressed me as being a very pure,
thoughtful, and lovable spirit. He spoke of the Saviour as
One who walked with him, and of the church as an object of
love and dear desire." He m., Oct. 10, 1865, Sarah P. Perkins,
dau. of George A. and Julia A. Perkins, of Athens, Penn. No
children; res. Waverly, N. Y. He d. Sept. 9, 1892.
1493. Mary Elmer,' b. March 17, 1835; unmarried; res. Wavei'ly, Tioga
Co., N. Y.
1494. Sarah Stewart Elmer,' b. April 3, 1838; d. June 10, 1841.
1495. Emma Antoinette Elmer,' b. June 28, 1840; d. May 29, 1841.
1496. Richard Allison Elmer' (1605), b. June 16, 1842; d. Oct. 1, 1888.