Most Popular Man in Town
Bainbridge Republican, Mar. 20, 1895
The winds have ceased and the roaring, howling noise of strife and discussion has quieted. The storm of the popular man contest has abated; when the calm came and tranquility reigned, the coupons were counted. For the past six weeks the Republican has been sought eagerly and the voting of coupons has been going on zealously. Friday night, March 15th, the contest closed and there was a surprisingly large number of votes polled, which indicates the interest taken in the contest. The coupons were counted, according to which Abe L. Bevier is the most popular man in town. John R. Kirby takes second place, Joseph Spohn third, and Henry Bernheart fourth.
The contest closed with the following count of those having the highest numbers of coupons:
Abe L. Bevier, 2413; John R. Kirby, 2263; Joe Spohn, 1998; Henry Bernhart, 1892.
There were thirty-two contestants, all of whom ran well. Mr. Bevier took the lead the second week after the commencement of the contest and remained at the top to the finish. John R. Kirby clerk in the First National Bank, and who certainly is very popular among both ladies and gentlemen held second place for the last four issues of the paper. Mr. Kirby is 21 years of age and is a graduate of the Bainbridge Union School. He is a member of the class of '92, since which time he has been connected with the Bank. He has a very bright and promising future before him. Joe Spohn, the popular deputy sheriff, has many friends as the large number of votes will show.
Mr. Bevier, the winner in the popular man contest, is the proprietor of the Park Hotel and Chief of the Bainbridge Fire Department. Mr. Bevier came to Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] in 1889. He purchased the hotel property of Homer Anderson and at once set at work to establish a hostelry bearing all the excellent features which would be a credit to the village of Bainbridge. The fact that the Park Hotel has attained the reputation of a well appointed and first-class hotel in every particular is evidenced by the prosperity which Mr. Bevier is meeting. Since his identification with Bainbridge he has been a loyal and progressive citizen and among the foremost toward instilling and formulating the bravery and daring which are characteristics of the Bainbridge Fire companies. He was chief of the department in '92 and '93 and re-elected again in '95.
Abe L. Bevier was born Jan. 9, 1857, in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY]. His father was Abram Bevier, who was a strong Republican and Abolitionist during the times when politics figured to a great degree in the shaping of the destiny of the country. His early ancestors were Louis and Henry Bevier, who were driven out of France during the persecution of the Huguenots. He was educated at the old Seward Institute at Florida, Orange county, till the age of 18, when he was sent to Colorado to discharge a government position, among the Utes Indians. He remained there for three years, then returned to Binghamton, and was foreman in the cigar factory of Geo. Kent & Co., also a partner with Chas. E. Hinds, in the soda industry till his removal to Bainbridge. He was married in 1879, to his second cousin, Miss Lillian Russell, who is his present wife. While in Binghamton Mr. Bevier was a member of the 20th Separate company and the Fountain Chemical Hose co. He was a member of the rifle team which won for the company the gatling gun in Creedmore. He was also prominent in athletics; being a member of the famous Argonaut crew. Mr. Bevier is a leading member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Red Men and is popular with all organization with which he identifies himself.
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