My Genealogy Hound

DWIGHT K. CUTLER, one of the most prominent and wealthy residents of this county, residing in the town of Scott, where he is engaged in general farming, and in operating a first-class scientific dairy, is a son of Nathan W. and Ruth (Whiting) Cutler, and was born in Sempronius, Cayuga County, N. Y., April 27, 1835.

Bradley Cutler, the grandfather, was born in the State of Rhode Island, was married to Sabra Wade, and came to Sempronius with his family at an early day. He was a mason by trade, but later turned his attention to farming. He was one of the pioneer men of Cayuga County, and was successful in obtaining one of the largest farms in that section. He was a representative man in every sense; he was one of the founders and a deacon of the Baptist Church, the first building being erected on his farm, he contributing the ground and also largely to the erection of the church. He was a Democrat in early life, later a Free-Soiler and Abolitionist, then a Republican, voting for Fremont, the first candidate of that party. He was elected to most of the town offices. He can truly be called a self-made man, one who relied solely on his own judgment, made his own fortune, and was a conscientious, highly honorable citizen. He died in 1864 on his farm at the age of eighty-six, leaving a large family of sons and daughters scattered over the state and all through the West.

Nathan W. Cutler, the father, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., March 1, 1800, and married Ruth Whiting, who was born October 12, 1804. She was a daughter of Dr. Jeremiah B. Whiting, who attended academy and then graduated from a medical college and became quite a successful practitioner. He was classed among the best physicians in his part of the state, and his practice extended over Cayuga, Onondaga and Cortland Counties for a period of thirty or forty years.

He finally moved to the State of Michigan, where he died. Nathan W. Cutler was a boy yet in his ‘teens when the family came to Sempronius, and there he lived all his life, dying in 1875, his wife having been called to her Heavenly Home the year previous. He was an honored and reputable citizen of his town, who spent his time in cultivating the home place. In politics he was a Republican and filled nearly all the town offices, being assessor and justice of the peace for years. He was a deacon of the Baptist Church, founded by his father, for a long time. He was always active in church work and filled all the offices, recognizing no labor too arduous when the welfare of the church was concerned. It was zeal such as this that contributed largely to the success of that denomination. He left a family of three sons and three daughters, as follows: Myron D., who died in 1892; Charles, a farmer of Ira Station, Cayuga County; Jane A., the wife of James W. Clark, a farmer of Scott; Dwight K.; Cynthia M., deceased, wife of Volney Hawke, who died in the army — she then married Jefferson Tinker; Thalia F., who married Dorr Smith, a resident of Sempronius.

Dwight K. Cutler was raised in Sempronius and educated in the district schools of that place. He began teaching when nineteen years old, at the same time devoting his spare time to study, until he reached his twenty-third year. At that age he married Phoebe K. Wilcox, a daughter of Josiah Wilcox, and after that he farmed in the summer and taught in the winter for a period of five years, when he brought to a close his teaching career, and gave his attention exclusively to farming. He was a good educator, and is kindly spoken of by his many pupils, who remember the patience and wisdom exercised in his charge over them. In 1869 he came to Scott township, where he has since lived, still engaged in husbandry.

Besides the farm in Cayuga County, consisting of 150 acres, he owns the farm upon which he resides, containing 200 acres. The appointments about this farm are of the finest kind, the residence being a large modern structure, showing much taste and quiet elegance. The furnishings of his home are in keeping with the surroundings, everything being provided for the comfort and ease of the inmates. Quite as much care has been expended on his stables, and large buildings have been erected to accommodate his large dairy herd of forty cows; here are found all the modern appliances that go toward making a successful dairy. He has placed here a large separator of the most approved make, through which the milk is passed as soon as milked, the product being nice, fresh cream, with the by-product of milk that has the smallest trace of butter fat. The skim milk he can utilize by feeding to calves or pigs, and the cream is eventually worked into butter or cheese. The separator is operated by an engine, as is the other stationary machinery about the barn; in fact, Mr. Cutler is operating a scientific dairy, and is doing it in a highly practical manner. He is a director and vice-president of Cortland County Agricultural Society. When twenty-four years old he was elected a justice of the peace in Sempronius, and was continued in that position until he came to Scott. He has always been a strong, loyal Republican, and since he has been a resident of Scott has served two terms as supervisor and one term as county superintendent of the poor, the term lasting three years. Mr. and Mrs. Cutler are the parents of three children, all living within a few miles of the parental roof, namely: Mary E., who married Frank Hodges, a carpenter and builder of Syracuse; Alice M., the wife of Fred Vandenberg, a farmer of Scott; and X., a son who married Miss Laura Newman, and resides on his father’s farm, which he superintends. He is a prosperous, enterprising young man.