Ebenezer Goodhue Ranney was born in Summerhill on June 7, 1830. He was one of three sons born to Samuel Ranney and Lydia Goodhue, and he was the youngest. The oldest child of the family was a daughter who died in childhood, so Ebenezer never knew his sister. His oldest brother Henry was about eighteen when Ebenezer was born and likely had one foot out the door, ready to begin his own life in the wide world. Henry was one of the first teachers at the Cortland Academy, and he acquired several farms through his hard work and thrift. Eventually his land speculation led him out west where he did well for himself. Brother Elijah may have been even more frugal than Henry. He acquired a farm and later sold it to move to Minnesota where he became wealthy through his real estate dealings. Ebenezer paid attention to what his older brothers were doing and he, too, invested in real estate in the rapidly expanding western frontier, though he remained in New York. He amassed a fortune through his frugality and wise investments, and that would allow him to render a significant difference in his community, particularly in the lives of women who found themselves with no means of support in their waning years.
Ebenezer married Harriett Sophie Kinney in 1859, and they lived in Summerhill. He worked hard at farming there until about 1864 when he bought a farm on the Scott Road. In 1865, Harriett and Ebenezer welcomed their only child, a daughter they named Harriett but called Hattie. Research yielded little about Hattie, though we do know that she graduated from the Homer Academy in 1884 and attended Cornell. The family stayed on the Scott Road until around 1891 when they moved to 23 Cayuga Street in the village of Homer. They were members of the Congregational Church, and Ebenezer was a deacon there for more than fifty years. Harriet battled poor health for several years, even making visits to the sanitarium in Auburn. In 1894, Ebenezer and Hattie took a trip to New Hampshire to visit friends, leaving Harriet in the care of the Reverand E.C. Olney family. Unexpectedly, she became seriously ill, and though a telegraph was sent to her family, they did not receive the message in time to return before her death. Undoubtedly father and daughter felt their loss keenly, but death was not yet done with the family. One year and four days after the death of her mother, Hattie, too, was gone. Clues from several sources tell us that her death occurred after an operation, but a full account was not found. In 1902, Ebenezer gave a gift to the Congregational Church to install new windows “in loving memory of my dear daughter, Harriet A. Ranney.”
About a year after Harriet’s death, and just a few months after Hattie’s, Ebenezer remarried. His second wife was Carrie Barker. Together Ebenezer and Carrie would step up when a need arose in the community, and that action would make a lasting impact. The Cortland County Home for Aged Women had been brought into existence in 1891 through the foresight and generosity of Elizabeth Atwater Brewster, but by 1909, the number of women who needed a place to live in the sunset years of their lives had exceeded the number which could be housed at the Home for Aged Women. It was evident that more room was necessary to continue to provide a cozy home for these deserving ladies. Ebenezer Ranney had amassed a fortune through his investments and frugality, so he was in a position to provide assistance.
The original small houses that were the genesis for the Home for Aged Women were replaced by a magnificent brick structure, the plans of which were “wonderfully well arranged by Mrs. Ranney.” The home was constructed with every modern convenience, including “perfect heating and plumbing.” In addition to the fabulous gift from Ebenezer and Carrie Ranney, various community members contributed to the beauty of the home by outfitting the rooms with beautiful furnishings. Historically speaking, a woman was not employed outside of the home and had no means to take care of herself after the death of her husband. Sometimes her children would open their homes to their aging mother, but sometimes a woman outlived her children, or sometimes she’d never had any. The Home for Aged Women was an important institution that addressed the needs of women who were left homeless and poverty stricken at the end of their lives, and it was a solution which made their final years comfortable.
The dedication of the newly constructed and thoroughly modern Home for Aged Women was held on June 7, 1910, Ebenezer’s eightieth birthday. Based on Ebenezer’s remarks recorded on the day of the dedication, he believed that individuals were under a commitment to serve the community in whatever way they could. The generous gift of Ebenezer and Carrie was part of their belief in a world where those more fortunate had a duty to help those who were not as fortunate. All individuals could contribute in some way to the betterment of their community. Every bit of help provided to those in need made the community better and stronger.
Ebenezer and Carrie seemed to be a good match despite an age difference of thirty-three years. His humility and humor complemented her amiable and kindly disposition. Both were deeply committed to their faith, which they lived through their generous and, at times anonymous, contributions to the community they were enveloped in.
In 1913, Carrie, who had been in poor health for a couple of years, underwent surgery for chronic appendicitis and the removal of a tumor. She seemed well for a few days after her surgery, but complications developed, and she died nine days after her operation. She was fifty years old at the time of her death. All who knew Carrie grieved for the loss, but Ebenezer and her mother were the most affected.
In his final years, Ebenezer was cared for by Cecilia B. Ranney, Carrie’s sister. She was married to Ebenezer’s nephew Arthur, the son of his brother Elijah. When he died in 1925, he left an estate worth $800,000. That translates to nearly $15 million today! In his will, Ebenezer left his house on Cayuga Street to Cecilia, and he left numerous generous bequests to people, organizations, and his church. As was his wont to be frugal and to invest wisely, many of his bequests had stipulations that they be invested with only interest being utilized.
The Cortland County Home for Aged Women, now known as the Elizabeth Brewster House, is a fine example of what can be accomplished when a community unites behind a goal of helping those less fortunate. It takes empathy, kindness, and compassion to bring forth a solution to problems which face society, and over the years, our community has included a host of citizens who cared deeply about making life better for those who traditionally cannot help themselves. This ability to come together to help others is still a strong part of our community today.
If you are so inclined to make a trip to Glenwood Cemetery, there you will find Ebenezer, Harriet, Carrie, and Hattie, all lie there at rest for the ages. It might be nice to pause a moment and thank them for their contributions to our community. ~By Tabitha Scoville, CCHS Director