My Genealogy Hound

HUGH DUFFEY. This enterprising citizen of Cortland village, through his connection with the Cortland Wagon Co., as vice-president and superintendent, has the direction and personal supervision of one of the most flourishing manufactories of Central New York, whose product is known in all quarters of the globe. Mr. Duffey is abundantly qualified to fill this or any similar position, for his life has been spent in factories and in following mechanical arts. He is practical, and has a shrewd eye for improvements and new adaptations in machinery.

Mr. Duffey was born in Wyoming County, this state, near Portage Bridge over the Genesee River, June 10, 1840. At sixteen years of age he apprenticed himself to the machinist’s trade, working at the Buffalo Steam Engine Works, where he served a four years’ apprenticeship. He then turned his attention to engineering, and having become thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of that occupation, he went to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1861, to take charge of a line of boats that plied from that port during the war. In 1865 he returned to Buffalo and took charge of the Brundage Horse-nail Works, and when the plant removed to Middletown, N. Y., he became a partner in the concern, and still kept with it, having entire charge of the manufacturing. The plant was finally moved to Cortland, N. Y., and the firm name was changed to the Cortland Horse-nail Manufacturing Co. Mr. Duffey accompanied the company to Cortland, and remained with them until 1879, when he sold his interest so as to devote his entire time and attention to the Cortland Wagon Co.

The foundations for the present success of the Cortland Wagon Co. were laid in a humble way in 1864 by the present head of the concern, Lawrence J. Fitzgerald. In that year this last-named gentleman came to Cortland, and began to make wagons, most of the work being done by himself; five years later the business had grown to such proportions that a partner in the person of O. C. Gee was taken into the business, and as Fitzgerald & Gee they flourished until 1872, when Mr. Gee sold his share to C. W. Kinne, and the resulting firm bought a new place on Railroad Street, and erected thereon a large plant to accommodate the increase in their business, necessitated by the ever-increasing demand for the far-famed wagon product. The entire supervision and care of the establishment having devolved upon Mr. Fitzgerald in 1877, by the death of Mr. Kinne, he set about placing the affairs of the company in better shape, so that the business might be handled with more expedition and accuracy. Accordingly, the Cortland Wagon Co. was incorporated in the last months of 1878, and on January 1, 1879, with Mr. Fitzgerald as president, and Mr. Duffey, our subject, as vice-president, assumed charge of the entire plant and business. Seven years later, Mr. F. Cy Straat was elected secretary and treasurer of the company, and at this time attends to the office work and financial affairs. Mr. Fitzgerald has charge of the business policy of the company, and exercises a general supervision over all the outside territory. Mr. Duffey, himself, has the important post of superintendent, and looks after all the details of the manufacturing.

In 1881, the output having increased from 4,500 vehicles in 1877 to 8,000 in 1880, a splendid factory, with a capacity of about 30,000 vehicles per year, had been built by degrees, and was then in use. In 1884 the product went up to 12,000 vehicles, and in 1888 mounted still higher to the enormous aggregate of 27,000, which included wagons, carriages, carts, sleighs, etc. In 1888 the company met severe losses in the destruction of their factory by fire, but it was quickly replaced the following summer with a new and better plant, and the work of turning out finished equipages was hardly interrupted. At the same time a factory was constructed at Brantford, Canada, of which Mr. Duffey is president and general manager, to supply the Canadian trade, that had grown to large proportions. The Cortland factory covers nine acres of ground, is heavily built of brick and stone according to plans approved by the best insurance authorities, and is considered by those in a position to know to be one of the best arranged and most completely equipped plants of its kind in existence. The buildings, which are mainly three stories in height, are all connected, and are admirably lighted and ventilated; the company’s own electric light plant supplies the necessary artificial light, while exhaust steam is utilized for keeping the interior air at an equable and even temperature. The large repository, finished handsomely in natural wood, with vaulted ceilings and ornate staircases, has not an equal in the state. The company has, besides its main factory in Cortland and branch in Brantford, Canada, an immense brick factory building at Auburn Park, Chicago, which is used as a warehouse for the Western trade, and also a branch warehouse in London, England. The company’s product embraces almost everything in the vehicle line, from a light dog-cart to a heavy drag, coach or victoria. As a side product, they are also manufacturing the Diana bicycle. The prosperity of Cortland village is in a large measure dependent on the money drawn to Cortland and paid out to the company’s four or five hundred employees.

Mr. Duffey is active and vigorous in the prosecution of various enterprises that have proved beneficial in more ways than one to Cortland and the surrounding country. He is found ready and willing to undertake new projects, but is still conservative enough to withhold his support from visionary and wild-cat schemes. He is a director of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. that operates the electric line of railway between the two villages, thus serving to join and unify their interests. Mr. Duffey is a firm friend of education, and as a member of the local board of the State Normal School has exhibited his lively interest in schools and things scholastic. He represented this section as one of the commissioners at the World’s Fair, and did all in his power to attract favorable attention to Cortland County and her products. It is unnecessary for the publishers of this book to add much concerning Mr. Duffey’s political attachments, for to all who are acquainted in the least with the politics of Cortland County he is known as a stanch, uncompromising and aggressive Democrat, who occupies so influential a position in his party organization that any township or county convention that has not him as one of the members would seem sadly out of place, and inadequate for the work for which it was called. He has been a hard worker in the cause of Democracy, and has seen all grades of political service, from precinct elections to state and national conventions. His record is clean, and altogether commensurate with the integrity of his successful business life. He is broad and liberal in his ideas, but balances this with a slight conservatism in action. He is esteemed and respected by thousands of acquaintances as one of nature’s noblemen, and is one of whom Cortland County may well be proud. On a previous page is shown Mr. Duffey’s portrait.*

*An engraving was included in the original printed volume.