USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 2 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
SHERWOOD, Hon. George, Clergyman, Legislator.
In the life of the late Hon. George Sherwood, of Binghamton, New York, there were elements of greatness because of the use he made of his talents and opportunities, and because of his fulfill- ment of his duty as a man in relation to his fellowmen, and as a citizen in relation to his State and country, and last, but not least, as a minister of the Gospel. Place and preferment were never solicited by him, and partisan connections were con- sistently avoided, yet honors were con- ferred upon him by his fellow citizens which have eluded the covetous grasp of those who have formed parties to attain them. The space he filled in the com- munity in which he lived was wide and influential. His family was an ancient and honorable one.
Thomas Sherwood, of "Sherwood For- est," England, was born in 1586, and died at Fairfield, Fairfield county, Connecticut, in October, 1655. He came from Ipswich, England, in April, 1634, in the ship "Francis," with his wife, Alice, and four children-Ann, Rose, Thomas and Re- becca. He is first heard of here as a resident of Massachusetts, but he was in Fairfield county as early as 1645. He is mentioned in the first volume of the Colo- nial Records as having bought land in
Fairfield county in 1653. By his first wife, Alice, he had eight children, and by his second wife, Mary Fitch, he had four, the names of all being (not in order of birth): Jane Thomasine, Margaret Sarah, Hannah, Rose, Thomas, Rebecca, Ste- phen, Matthew, Mary, Ruth, Abigail and Isaac.
Isaac Sherwood, son of Thomas and Mary (Fitch) Sherwood, was born in 1655, and died in 1739. He had land grants at Eastchester, New York. In 1678 he was of Rye, New York, and in 1687, of Westport, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Jackson, and had chil- dren : Daniel, Isaac, John, David, Abigail, Thomas and Elizabeth.
Thomas Sherwood, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Jackson) Sherwood, died at Albany, New York, August 5, 1756, in the French and Indian War, in which he was captain of Whitney's company. He married Eleanor Churchill, of Green Farms, Connecticut, who died October I, 1754.
John Sherwood, son of Thomas and Eleanor (Churchill) Sherwood, married, March 24, 1761, Mary Gorham. Chil- dren: Asa, of further mention; Levi, born June 17, 1764; Ellen, February 23, 1766; Abigail, November 18, 1770; John, September 10, 1773; Hezekiah, twin of John ; Hannah, July 28, 1776.
Asa Sherwood, son of John and Mary (Gorham) Sherwood, was born July 4, 1762. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tion, enlisting at Fairfield, Connecticut, February 1, 1777; was also in the Second Connecticut Regiment, under Colonel Swift, and in the Fourth Connecticut, under Colonel Meigs. He married Molly Phillips, daughter of a New York City merchant, who had also a son in the Con- tinental army, captured by the British and confined in one of the prison ships, but finally released through the influence of the father. Children: Isaac, William,
100
George Sherwood
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Asa, David, Gorham, John, Sally and Nabby.
Isaac Sherwood, son of Asa and Molly (Phillips) Sherwood, was born probably at Guilford, New York; married Amy Budlong, of Cassville, New York. Chil- dren: Johanna, married Frank Ursley, and lived at Waverly; Ira, married Mary Wallace, and lived at Genegantslet, New York; Asa, died young; Mary, married William Thomas, and lived at Pontoosuc, Illinois ; Eliza, married David Leach, and lived at Webster, Illinois; Stephen, mar- ried Clara Babcock, and lived at Greene ; Sarah, married Albert Sprague, and lived at Binghamton; George, whose name is at the head of this sketch; Amy, mar- ried Myron Stanton, and lived at Greene ; Lucy, married Joseph Bixby, and lived at Waverly; Sophronia, married Thomas Cowan, and lived at Port Crane ; Daniel, died in infancy ; Mandana, married Edwin Adams, and lived at Binghamton ; David, married Rosanna Warner, and lived at Greene.
Hon. George Sherwood, son of Isaac and Amy (Budlong) Sherwood, was born in McDonough, Chenango county, New York, January 18, 1821, and died in Bing- hamton, New York, May 24, 1903. He was the owner of a quantity of land in Binghamton, where he was a farmer and prominent citizen. Prior to the Civil War he was a sincere Abolitionist. He was for many years a leading member and local preacher of the First Baptist Church. He was baptized by the late Rev. R. A. Washburn into the fellow- ship of the Baptist church, at Genegant- slet Corners (now extinct or merged into other Baptist churches), and later was a member of the church at Upper Lisle. He removed to the town of Windsor, Broome county, in 1857, and was a member of the Baptist church in that place. In 1865 he came to Binghamton
and became a member of the First Bap- tist Church, where he served faithfully and was an honored and valued member. In 1894, on the organization of the Park Avenue Church, he became a constituent member of it. In all of his church life, of more than three score years, he was an earnest and faithful laborer in the Master's service, and was ever ready to do any work that he could to promote the interest of the church and to advance the cause of Christ. To this end he con- tributed liberally of his money, time and talents, of which he was abundantly re- sourceful. In him his pastor always found a true, wise and helpful counselor, and he was ever ready to render all the assistance that lay in his power. He was a fluent and earnest speaker, and very often occupied the pulpits of the pastor- less churches in a very acceptable man- ner. He was kind and good to the aged and infirm, and often conducted religious services in the homes of those who were unable to attend church. He was a man of strong and deep convictions, ever battling for the right, and yet he always did this in a quiet and unassuming, yet firm and impressive manner. His Chris- tian home life in the family was delight- ful and winning, and his children now look back upon it with sweet pleasure and the kindliest remembrances.
In public life he was most highly respected and admired, and his integrity was never questioned in any manner, for he always lived above reproach, and was as consistent, firm and true in all his public duties and the matters entrusted to him as he was in his private and church life. He held the office of supervisor of his town when the present County Poor House was erected, and was one of the committee in charge of that work. He represented his county in the State Legis- lature for the years 1873-74-75. There
IOI
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was the crowning work of his life, for in that body, through his earnest, heroic and indefatigable efforts, he secured the passage of the bill, and the appropriation from the State, that gave to this section of New York State the Susquehanna Valley Home, of Binghamton, for orphan and destitute children, one of the worthiest institutions of its kind in the country. When others said to him he could never succeed in accomplishing these measures, he only worked the harder and adopted other methods, and was untiring in his efforts to carry out his long cherished plans, and he left no stone unturned, but from the Governor and the leading politicians of both parties, down to the individual members, he con- tinued his persistent and unceasing efforts until they were crowned with ab- solute success. In this matter, as in all others in which he was interested, he had the respect and confidence of the leaders in the Legislature. They felt that he was right, and they admired his perseverance, his courtesy, his energy and his integrity of character. He succeeded in his efforts, and was one of the trustees of the home from that time until his death. He was a recognized leader in the temperance cause, and was much sought for to make addresses to the public on this subject far and wide. He was always very earnest, entertaining and interesting in his addresses, and it was a pleasure to listen to him.
Mr. Sherwood married, April 8, 1849, Mary Ann Jeffords, born February 17, 1828, died November 28, 1906, a daughter of Allen Cleveland and Ann Eliza (Robin- son) Jeffords; granddaughter of Amasa Jeffords, born at Woodstock, Connecti- cut, in 1748, married (first) Sally Cleve- land, (second) Sarah Clifford ; and great- granddaughter of John Jeffords, a soldier at the battle of Bunker Hill, in 1775, and whose father was killed in the French and
Indian War. Children: 1. Florence, who married, June 25, 1874, Charles Emery Bliss (see Bliss line forward), and has a son, George C. S., born April 18, 1877, at Towanda, Pennsylvania, who is engaged in the wholesale dry goods business at Binghamton, and married, June 25, 1902, Katherine Shieder, and has children: Emery, Robert Leon and Barbara Ruth. 2. Viola, who was for twenty years a teacher in the grammar schools of Bing- hamton, being at the time of her death principal of the Main Street Grammar School. She was an earnest worker in the First Baptist Church. For years and up to the time of her death she taught one of the largest classes in the Sunday school and exerted a marked influence on the young people with whom she came in contact. She died July 1, 1903. 3. Judge Carl G., a resident of South Dakota, where he has been prominent in political affairs, serving as State Senator and member of the first constitutional convention, and is now a judge of the Circuit Court; mar- ried, February 10, 1885, Nellie Fountain, and has had children: George Fountain, Harry Allen (deceased), Mary Carlton and Dolly Viola. 4. William J., married, October 31, 1902, Iona May Bills, and has had: Nellie, Mason William (deceased), and Harold. 5. Grace Eliza, born in Binghamton, married September 1, 1898, Charles F. Parker, born September II, 1871, and has children : Harry Sherwood and Carl Sherwood.
(The Bliss Line).
The Bliss family is believed to be the same as the Blois family of Normandy, gradually modified in spelling to Bloys, Blysse, Blisse, and in America to Bliss. The family has been in England, how- ever, since the Norman Conquest, but is not numerous and never has been. The coat-of-arms borne by the Bliss and Bloys families is the same: Sable, a bend vaire,
102
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
between two fleurs-de-lis or. Crest: A hand holding a bundle of arrows. Motto: Semper sursam. The ancient family tradition represents the seat of the Bliss family in the south of England, and be- longing to the yeomanry, though at various times some of the family were knighted.
Thomas Bliss, progenitor of the Amer- ican family, lived at Belstone Parish, Devonshire, England. He is supposed to have been born about 1555-60, and he died about 1636. Little is known of him except that he was a wealthy landowner, and was a Puritan, perscuted on account of his faith by civil and religious author- ities, under the direction of the infamous Archbishop Laud; that he was mal- treated, impoverished and imprisoned. When the parliament of 1628 assembled, Puritans, or Roundheads, as they were called by the Cavaliers, or Tories, accom- panied the members to London. Two of the sons of Thomas Bliss, Jonathan and Thomas, rode from Devonshire on iron- grey horses, and remained for some time -long enough, anyhow, for the king's officers and spies to mark them, and from that time they, with others who had gone on the same errand to the capital, were marked for destruction. The Bliss brothers were fined a thousand pounds for their nonconformity, and thrown into prison, where they lay for weeks. Even their venerable father was dragged through the streets with the greatest in- dignities. On another occasion the offi- cers of the high commission seized all their horses and all their sheep except one poor ewe, that in its fright ran into the house and took refuge under a bed. At another time the three sons of Thomas Bliss, with a dozen Puritans, were led through the market place in Okehampton, with ropes around their necks, and also fined heavily. On another occasion Thomas was arrested and thrown into
prison with his son Jonathan, who even- tually died from the hardships and abuse of the churchmen. At another time the king's officers seized the cattle of the family and most of their household goods, some of which were highly valued for their age and beauty, and as heirlooms, having been for centuries in the family. In fact, the family being so impoverished by constant persecution, was unable to pay the fines and secure the release of both father and son from prison, so the young man remained and the father's fine was paid. At Easter the young man received thirty-five lashes. After the father died, his widow lived with their daughter, whose husband, Sir John Cal- cliffe, was a communicant of the Church of England, in good standing. The rem- nant of the estate was divided among the three sons, who were advised to go to America to escape further persecution. Thomas and George feared to wait for Jonathan, who was ill in prison, and they left England in the fall of 1635 with their families. Thomas, son of Jonathan, and grandson of Thomas Bliss, remained in England until his father died, and then he also came to America, settling near his uncle of the same name. At various times the sister of the immigrants sent to the brothers boxes of shoes, clothing and articles that could not be procured in the colonies, and it is through her letters, long preserved in the original but now lost, that knowledge of the family was handed down from generation to generation. Children of Thomas Bliss: Jonathan, died in England, 1635-36; Thomas, of further mention; Elizabeth, married Sir John Calcliffe, of Belstone; George, born 1591, died August 31, 1687, settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, and later at Sand- wich in that province, and at Newport, Rhode Island ; Mary.
Thomas Bliss, son of Thomas Bliss, the immigrant, was born at Belstone, Devon-
103
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
shire, England, about 1585, and died in 1639. He married in England, about 1612, Margaret Lawrence, born about 1594, died August 29, 1684. After the death of her husband, she managed the affairs of the family with great prudence and judgment. Children: Ann, born in England, married Robert Chapman, of Saybrook, Connecticut; Mary, married Joseph Parsons; Thomas; Nathaniel; Lawrence; Samuel, born in 1624; Sarah, born in Boston, 1635; Elizabeth, born in Boston in 1637, married Myles Morgan, founder of Springfield ; Hannah, born at Hartford, 1639; John, of further mention.
John Bliss, son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Lawrence) Bliss, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1640, and died September 10, 1702. He removed to Northampton in 1672, and was there through his sister's trial for witchcraft. He removed to Springfield in 1685, and soon afterward to Longmeadow, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married, October 7, 1667, Patience Burt, born August 18, 1645, died October 25, 1732, a daughter of Henry Burt, of Springfield. Children: John, born Sep- tember 7, 1669; Nathaniel, January 26, 1671; Thomas, of further mention; Jo- seph, 1676; Hannah, November 16, 1678; Henry, August 15, 1681 ; Ebenezer, 1683.
Thomas Bliss, son of John and Patience (Burt) Bliss, was born at Longmeadow, October 29, 1673, died there, August 12, 1758. He married, May 27, 1714, Mary Macranny, born November 2, 1690, died March 30, 1761, daughter of William and Margaret Macranny. Children, born at Longmeadow: Mary, December 4, 1715 ; Thomas, May 3, 1719; Henry, December 5, 1722; Henry, of further mention. The first Henry died young.
Henry Bliss, son of Thomas and Mary (Macranny) Bliss, was born August 21, 1726, died February 7-8, 1761. He was a farmer at Longmeadow. He married
Ruby Brewer, of Lebanon (published December 22, 1749). The widow and children removed, in 1765, to Lebanon, Connecticut, and afterward to Bernards- ton, Massachusetts. Children: Thomas, born December 7, 1750; Solomon, No- vember 8, 1751 ; Calvin, of further men- tion ; Henry, June 7, 1757; Huldah, July 2, 1759.
Calvin Bliss, son of Henry and Ruby (Brewer) Bliss, was born at Colerain, Massachusetts, May 14, 1754, died in Oc- tober, 1849. He was a farmer at Bernards- ton, and about 1800 removed to Shore- ham, Addison county, Vermont. He was a soldier in the Revolution in Captain Ephraim Chapin's company, Colonel Rug- gles Woodbury's regiment, August 17, 1777, and is said to have held a commis- sion in Washington's army. He mar- ried, June 26, 1777, Ruth Janes, born May II, 1756-57, daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Field) Janes, of Northfield, Vermont. Children : Ruby, born 1778; Philomela, June 1I, 1782; Huldah ; Solo- mon, of further mention; Martha, Sep- tember 15, 1788; Ruth, June 10, 1790; Mehitable, May 17, 1792; Calvin, May 14, 1794; Henry, March 27, 1796; Oliver Brewster, July 6, 1799.
Solomon Bliss, son of Calvin and Ruth (Janes) Bliss, was born April 9, 1786, and died at Willet, New York, June 6, 1861. He settled at Preston, Chenango county, New York. He married, January 1, 1808, Anna Packer, born at Guilford, Vermont, June 30, 1786, died at Henderson, New York, January 14, 1866. Children : Eunice P., born July 28, 1809; Amanda P., July 5, 1813, died young; Lydia J., January II, 1815; Ruth, January 11, 1817; Joshua P., at Preston, April 29, 1818; Ruth C., July 17, 1820; Calvin J., of further men- tion ; Ira G., July 27, 1824.
Calvin J. Bliss, son of Solomon and Anna (Packer) Bliss, was born at Pres- ton, New York, May 22, 1822, and settled
104
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in Willet, Cortland county, New York; he married, September 18, 1850, Betsey A. Landers, of Willet. Children : Charles Emery, of further mention ; Cora L., born September 9, 1870, at Binghamton, died August 9, 1871.
Charles Emery Bliss, son of Calvin J. and Betsey A. (Landers) Bliss, was born at Willet, July 5, 1851, and was educated in the public schools of Binghamton and in the academy. For a number of years he was in the dry goods business, then followed a few years on the farm, when he again returned to the dry goods busi- ness at Binghamton. He was deacon of the Baptist church and superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. His death occurred, July 30, 1900. He mar- ried Florence, daughter of the Hon. George Sherwood, as previously men- tioned.
FOWLER, Albert Perry,
Lawyer, Financier, Useful Citizen.
The story that follows of the life of Albert Perry Fowler, lawyer, banker, and business man of Syracuse, New York, will be told in great part in the words of his friends and intimates, for as during his lifetime his fellows were ever seeking to bestow upon him some new trust and responsibility as evidence of their confi- dence, so in death he was a man they vied in honoring. The forty-seven years of his life were marked by achievement in quality and in measure such as few men attain to in a long lifetime, and he passed to his long rest amid the general grief of men of high and important station, who mourned the death of one upon whom they leaned, whose worth they had appre- ciated, and whom they had come to hold in loving affection. It had been one of his strongest characteristics that, con- fronted by necessity for action, he pur- sued the course he decided upon with
every nerve and every energy bent upon its completion, and when the critical con- dition of his health was made clear to him, he dropped his work and journeyed south in search of new strength. But instead of improving his condition became worse, and from Southern Pines, North Carolina, he hastened to New York for medical treatment, and for three weeks battled against his unseen foe in a New York hospital, resisting defeat with all the power of his mind and body until May 20, 1915, when he succumbed to his disease. There was no department of the life of the city of Syracuse that did not lose something in his passing, for his service was wide and his influence all pervasive.
Albert Perry Fowler was a son of Albert and Janette (Perry) Fowler, his father a resident of Onondaga Valley, New York, well known in business circles in Syracuse, where he was long connected with the wholesale dry goods firm of D. McCarthy & Company. Albert Perry Fowler was born at Onondaga Valley, November 6, 1867, died in Post-Graduate Hospital, New York City, May 20, 1915.
As a youth of seventeen years he was graduated from the Onondaga Academy, and at that time took the entrance exami- nations for Cornell University, deferring matriculation, however, until 1887, gradu- ating in 1891. His college course was a most favorable indication of the useful- ness of his later career, for in addition to holding satisfactory grade in his classes he entered extensively into the many branches of college life, winning particu- lar honors in literary fields. He was elected to membership in the Delta Up- silon fraternity, and served as editor of the "Cornell Sun," the daily college paper, was on the staff of the "Cornellian," the annual, and during his senior year was editor-in-chief of the "Era," the weekly publication. After graduation, with the
105
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
degree of Bachelor of Arts, he entered the law offices of Knapp, Nottingham & Andrews, the members of the firm being Judge Martin A. Knapp, Edwin Notting- ham, and Justice William S. Andrews, and was admitted to the bar in 1893. Soon afterward he became a partner of Alfred W. Wilkinson, under the name of Wilkinson & Fowler, Mr. Wilkinson sub- sequently moving to New York City, where he is a well known and successful patent attorney. In 1897 Mr. Fowler and Justice Leonard C. Crouch formed the firm of Fowler & Crouch, Irving Dil- laye Vann, son of Judge Irving G. Vann, being later taken into the firm, which became Fowler, Crouch & Vann. This it remained until Mr. Crouch was elected to the bench of the Supreme Court, and then, upon the admission of Mr. Crouch's brother-in-law, the firm title changed to Fowler, Vann & Paine. All through the years of his law practice, even while handling responsibilities that had no bear- ing upon his profession, Mr. Fowler was everywhere recognized as a leader of the Onondaga county bar. He accepted and faithfully administered the trusteeship of many large estates and was also the legal representative and manager of the estates of several of the best known men of the region, including the late E. B. Judson, Simon D. Paddock, and Myron C. Mer- riman. George W. O'Brien, president of the Onondaga County Bar Association, wrote of Mr. Fowler's legal career : "Albert P. Fowler stood high in the legal profession in this city and county. He was greatly respected, not only among the lawyers but in business circles. He was democratic, maintained the highest ideals, and observed the strictest integ- rity. Whatever his task, it was performed with enthusiasm and with thoroughness."
From the time his associates first ob- served his innate and unusually brilliant
business ability his services were in great and constant demand. For more than ten years he was a director of the First Na- tional Bank, serving as vice-president for nearly five years, was general counsel for the bank, and one of the most active of its officers. He was a director of the Onondaga Pottery Company, was one of the organizers and directors of the Syra- cuse Dry Goods Company, which concern succeeded D. McCarthy & Company, his father's firm, was a director of the Onon- daga Hotel Corporation, and was identi- fied with the New Process Gear Company and the Frazer & Jones Company. He was an influential member of the Syra- cuse Chamber of Commerce, and of this organization was a director, vice-presi- dent, and chairman of the executive com- mittee. He brought to the work of the chamber a resistless enthusiasm and a sturdy pride in the commercial standing of his city, and his wise discretion and sound business judgment were of great value in shaping the policy of the Cham- ber of Commerce. In an outline of Mr. Fowler's notable business accomplish- ments there must be mentioned his re- ceivership of the American Exchange Na- tional Bank, the liquidation of whose affairs was a complicated and lengthy matter, entailing protracted litigation.
Mr. Fowler's support and generous aid were always at the disposal of those of the city's institutions whose aims were high and whose existence brought credit to the city. He led in the fund raising campaign for the Hospital of the Good Shepherd, was a loyal friend to the Syra- cuse Free Dispensary, and urged the or- ganization of the Central Hospital Coun- cil until that projected body became a re- ality. He was also conspicuously en- gaged in the work of the Associated Char- ities during its period of reorganization a few years before his death. Of his life
106
alfredoright 1
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and his services to his city Douglas E. Petit, treasurer of the Onondaga County Savings Bank, wrote:
I regarded Albert P. Fowler as one of the most useful, if not the most useful citizen of Syra- cuse during the past decade. We owe the Onondaga Hotel to him more than any other person. He injected life into the Chamber of Commerce when it was moribund and made it an effective organization. He was the life of the hospital campaign. These are only a few of the things that he did. He was always ready to help in any public enterprise, provided he could keep in the background. He disliked the limelight. For that reason the people of Syra- cuse do not generally know the debt they owe to him. He gave of himself freely-too freely for his own good. His private life was without reproach. His friendship was something to be proud of, because it was not lightly given. He will be sincerely mourned.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.