Good example for spelling nitpickers.
In the Elmira, Chemung, NY city directories the same Lanphear appears with three different spellings.In 1889 it’s Dillon LANPHEAR, brakeman, boarding at 302 Washington Av., in 1890 his occupation is the same, but he’s Dillon LAMPHEAR boarding at 1316 Baldwin. Then, in 1891, 92 & 93 he’s Dillon LAMPHERE, brakeman, boarding at 1216 Baldwin, 617 Lake, and 505 Baldwin respectively.Same directory in 1890 Ambrose (NMI) LANPHIER and is a tobacconist at 986 Magee, and in 1891 is a tobacco cutter. In 1892 and 93, he’s Ambrose S. LAMPHIER, engineer, at 986 Magee and is joined by Nellie LAMPHIER, domestic, who boards at 986 Magee. The Elmira city directory is one of Ancestry.com’s free databases (7-10-00.) I also searched for Landphier, Lampher and Lanphere with no result.