“David Booth Beers came to Ithaca from Hobart, Delaware Co, N.Y., in 1817. He soon after began the erection of the dwelling now owned and occupied by Chauncey C. Tolles, meanwhile residing at the old ‘Tompkins House.’ Nov. 14, 1817, he bought from John A. Collier the premises at the northwest corner of Aurora and State Streets, now owned by Jeremy Smith. The lot was then occupied by a small wooden building. Here with Nathan Herrick as partner, he pursued for one year the business of a merchant. The partnership was suddenly terminated by the death of Mr. Beers, on the 22nd of December, 1819, after a brief illness, resulting from an injury received at the burning of Miles Seymour’s black-smith shop. This was the first fatal ccasualty in the fire-service of Ithaca.”  

History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York, Philadelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1879, 404.