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 pre?minent in their own and many other states. V.6 > Part 36
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ing until 1913, when he was compelled to build again. This time instead of adding more stories to the same building, he extended three stories to Noxen street, connecting with the old building. This new edition is constructed of concrete and brick reinforced with steel, equipped throughout with the Grinell Automatic Sprinkler System, making it as fire-proof as possible. The building is ideal for manufacturing purposes, getting light and air from three sides, and has access from two streets. It is one of the best manu- facturing plants in the city ; has a floor space of about thirty-five thousand square feet and gives employment to over one hundred hands. In the year 1910 the business was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and from that time has been going under the name of Schmeer's Paper Box Company, Incor- porated. The business is owned entirely by Mr. Henry Schmeer and children, all of whom have stock in same. The officers are: President, Mr. Henry Schmeer ; vice- president, Mr. George J. Schmeer; gen- eral manager, Mr. Henry P. Schmeer; secretary, Mr. William N. Schmeer ; treasurer, Mr. Charles F. Schmeer. His political allegiance is given to the Repub- lican party, but he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is a mem- ber of the First English Lutheran Church, with which he has been active for over a quarter of a century. He is also identified with the Citizens' Club, Angler's Club, South Bay Club House, De Forrest Ang- ling Association and the Chamber of Com- merce.
In 1873 Mr. Schmeer was united in marriage to Julia Meyers, of Syracuse, and they had seven children, two daugh- ters, Julia and Stella, and five sons, George J., Henry P., William N., Robert, and Charles F. Robert died in the year 1880 at the age of eight months, his was
the first grave in Woodlawn Cemetery. Julia died in 1887 at the age of sixteen years and six months. William N. was married to Theresa Vischer in 1907 and they have one daughter, Stella Florence Schmeer, age eight years. Henry P. Schmeer was united in marriage to Bertha Herbrich in 1903, no children, his wife died in 1914. George J. Schmeer was married to Caroline Hack in 1898 and they had one son, born 1915, who died in infancy. Miss Stella Schmeer was mar- ried, in 1914, to Mr. Stanley Kingsbury.
Character and ability will come to the front anywhere, a truth which is manifest in the life of Mr. Schmeer, starting out for himself at the early age of thirteen years he has gradually advanced until to-day he occupies an enviable position in industrial circles.
WINKWORTH, Edwin David, Enterprising Citizen.
While the great Solvay Process Com- pany is one of the wonders of the com- mercial world in the magnitude of its business, its proudest achievement is the perfection of its organization and the opportunity it offers for men to develop the peculiar talent they may possess. When but a lad of sixteen years fresh from high school, Mr. Winkworth entered the employ of that company and for twenty-three years he has known no other. He is a son of John W. and Anna S. Winkworth, his father a veteran of the Civil War, his service performed with the Ninth Regiment New York Heavy Artil- lery.
Edwin D. Winkworth was born at Geddes, Onondaga county, New York, January 1, 1877, and was educated in grammar and high schools. In 1893 he entered the employ of the Solvay Process Company and with that company and the
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Omódmando
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Semet Solvay Company has passed the. years which have since intervened. Dur- ing those years he has served in various capacities, now being assistant secretary of the company and manager of the sales department. Busy as his life has been Mr. Winkworth has been active in com- munity affairs and in social life. He is president of the West End Citizens' Im- provement Association, president of the West End Citizens' Club, member of the Citizens' and Rotary clubs of Syracuse, Central City Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Syracuse Lodge, No. 31, Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of West Genesee Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. In political faith he is a Republican.
Mr. Winkworth married in Syracuse, August 30, 1905, Prudence Mary Brind- ley, daughter of Joseph and Prudence Brindley. They are the parents of three children : Laura, born July 28, 1906; Ed- ward, March 18, 1908; Eleanor, January 29, 1912.
MELDRAM, John Charles, Attorney-at-Law.
A practitioner at the Onondaga county bar since his graduation from law school in 1878 Mr. Meldram has won honorable standing at that bar, and to his profes- sional work has given his entire time and energy. He is a son of John James Mel- dram, and a grandson of James Meldram, who came in 1820 from Leeds, England, to the United States, and died in Syra- cuse, New York, in 1890, aged eighty- nine years, having conducted a meat busi- ness for fifty years, his shop being on Warren street where the Snow building now stands. John James Meldram, who died in Syracuse, April 28, 1893, was for many years engaged in the public service as deputy sheriff ; United States deputy marshal; under sheriff, sheriff and court
crier. He married Sarah Lavina Willard, who died in February, 1899, daughter of William W. Willard, who died in 1876, senior member of the jewelry firm of Wil- lard & Hawley, of Syracuse.
John Charles Meldram, son of John James and Sarah Lavina (Willard) Mel- dram, was born in Syracuse, New York, July 20, 1856. After completing the pub- lic school courses in grammar and high schools of Syracuse, he began the study of law, taking the full course at Albany Law School from whence he was gradu- ated LL. B. class of 1878. He was at once admitted to the Onondaga bar and began practice in Syracuse practically alone until 1884. He then formed a law partnership with the late William James, that association continuing until 1889. He continued alone until about 1907, when the present partnership with Frank R. Lennox was entered into. The firm prac- tices as Meldram & Lennox, with offices 923-931 University Building, Syracuse. Their practice is an extensive one, con- ducted in all State and Federal courts. Mr. Meldram is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Citizens' Club, The An- glers' Club of Onondaga, the Anglers' As- sociation of Onondaga, and the Onondaga County Bar Association.
He married in Syracuse, in July, 1881, Nellie E., daughter of Griffith Nelson and Emily A. (Costello) Griffith. Mr. and Mrs. Meldram have four children: Frank John, born November 10, 1882; Leo Griffith, April 29, 1888; Marjorie, De- cember 16, 1889; Emily Lavina, March 10, 1893.
EDWARDS, Oliver Murray, Manufacturer, Inventor.
The Edwards family, represented in the present generation by Oliver M. Edwards, inventor and manufacturer, of Syracuse, claims as its ancestor Talmage Edwards,
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who, accompanied by his brother, Daniel Edwards, came to this country from the border of Wales and England before the Revolutionary War, locating, probably, in the State of Connecticut, from whence Talmage Edwards removed to New York State and later to Johnstown, where he established the heavy glove business which later grew to be the local industry and remains so to this day. The tradition is that Daniel Edwards died during the period of the Revolutionary War, the fact remaining that he was not heard from afterward. The following was copied from the Johnstown "Republican," issue of October 19, 1895 :
The manufacture of gloves in this vicinity (Johnstown, New York) dates back many years and to-day there are thousands of people em- ployed in this industry in Johnstown. It is esti- mated that no less than 30,000 are employed in this business in the Cayadutta valley. Tal- mage Edwards, a downeast Yankee, had learned the art of dressing deer skins and of making moccasins, mittens and leather breeches. He began in a small way in a little house erected by him at the corner of William and Mont- gomery streets in Johnstown, on the site of the present residence of Everett M. Kennedy. In the course of time others became interested in the dressing of leather and its manufacture, and the business has increased until now there are 250 concerns in Fulton county making gloves. The sales of the product of the glove industry in Fulton county aggregate nearly $10,000,000 annually.
John Edwards, the first of the line here- in recorded of whom we have authentic record, was born in 1781, and when two years of age accompanied his parents to Johnstown, New York, removing thence from Dutchess county, New York. He served as jailor of Fulton county from 1806 to 1812, and was elected to Congress in 1836. He married and among his chil- dren was Daniel, of whom further.
Daniel Edwards, son of John Edwards, was born in 1804, in Johnstown, New York, and later became a very prominent citizen of that place. He married Sally
Maria Wells, daughter of Eleazer Wells, of Johnstown, who owned and occupied the Sir William Johnson estate at Johns- town, which has recently been sold to the State of New York. Among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards was Eleazer Wells, of whom further.
Eleazer Wells Edwards, son of Daniel and Sally Maria (Wells) Edwards, was born in Johnstown, New York, April 17, 1838, died in Syracuse, New York, where he had resided for many years, November 25, 19II. His father was for many years a merchant in Johnstown, and on his re- tirement from business in 1863, the son succeeded the father, continuing the busi- ness which had been founded in 1832. In 1889 Eleazer W. Edwards removed to Syracuse, accompanied by his son, Oliver M. Edwards, who had recently been taken into partnership in the Johnstown store. Another son of Eleazer W. Edwards, Daniel M. Edwards, who had been oper- ating a store at Gloversville, had pre- ceded them to Syracuse and there pur- chased the old Milton S. Price store. The Syracuse firm was established under the style of E. W. Edwards & Sons, compris- ing Eleazer W. Edwards and his two sons, O. M. and D. M. Edwards. Eleazer W. Edwards was an elder of the South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse. He was a member of the Citizens' Club; St. Patrick's Lodge, No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, of Johnstown ; the Masonic Vet- erans' Association of Syracuse, and was one of the trustees of the Auburn Theo- logical Seminary. His business, church, and personal relations gathered around him a large circle of friends, and he was considered a type of Christian manhood, belonging to the old school in which honesty, integrity and character were considered paramount essentials in busi- ness life. Mr. Edwards was deeply inter- ested in his business, and his inherent honesty and sincerity built up an exten-
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SM. Edwards
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sive business, growing out of the general confidence felt in him by the public. He was deeply attached to his family and of domestic tendencies. He endeared him- self to all who came in contact with him, had a host of friends and was not known to have a single enemy. His deeply re- ligious nature led him to take an unusual interest in church work, and he was among the most valuable citizens of the city. He did not seek a part in the public life in official capacity, but his share in the development of all which made for progress and civilization was very large. To an unusual degree charitable, his heart and purse were ever open to the call of genuine distress.
Mr. Edwards married, October 11, 1859, at Ephrata, New York, Amy Murray, born September 17, 1835, in that town, and died in Syracuse, December 29, 1914. They were the parents of two children : Oliver Murray, of whom further; Daniel M., an extensive dry goods merchant of Syracuse and Rochester, New York.
Oliver Murray Edwards, son of Eleazer Wells and Amy (Murray) Edwards, was born at Ephrata, New York, October 20, 1862. He received his education at the academy of Johnstown, Fort Edward In- stitute, and Boys' Academy of Albany, all of New York. His early life was passed amid agreeable and inspiring surroundings, and he was taught those principles which establish men in the hearts of their fel- lows. He had a mechanical genius, and, resigning from the dry goods firm of E. W. Edwards & Sons, turned his atten- tion to the development of devices for the improvement of articles already on the market and also made many new inven- tions which have entered largely into use. Among his most important produc- tions may be mentioned the Edwards Window Fixtures and Extension Plat- form Trap Doors for railroad cars, now
in universal use on both steam and elec- tric cars throughout the world. He engaged in the manufacture of these and other products of his invention, and in producing the well known Omeco line of padlocks and steel office furniture and bank and battleship furniture. He is president of the O. M. Edwards Company, Incorporated, which is now conducting a very extensive business. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is associated with Central City Command- ery, No. 25, Knights Templar, of Syra- cuse, New York, and Ziyara Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Utica, New York. He is connected with many clubs of busi- ness and social character, including the Citizens, Century, City, Masonic Temple, Technology, Onondaga Golf and Coun- try, Sedgwick Farm, and Automobile Club, of Syracuse ; the South Bay, Stony Island, Fulton Chain Yacht, New York Railroad, Central Railroad and Trans- portation clubs. His home in Syracuse is located on James street, and he also has a camp in the Adirondacks, called "Paomnyc" at Eagle Bay on Fourth Lake of Fulton Chain.
Mr. Edwards married, in Johnstown, February 3, 1886, Josephine Adele Riton, and they have six children : Joseph Jean, born January 8, 1887; Eleazer Wells, born July 11, 1889, died September 13, 1915; Amy Murray, born August 27, 1891 ; Harold, born September 28, 1893; Oliver, born December 29, 1896; Helen Louise, born December 8, 1898.
NICHOLS, Erwin George,
Attorney-at-Law.
"The name Nichols (an abbreviation of Nicholas) is of purely patrician origin, having been invented by the
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Alexandro-Egyptian dynasty as a Cog- nomen for princes," (Patronymica Brit- tanica). By degrees the brevet acquired the permanence of a surname, eventuat- ing in the historic Nicholas family of Europe which has given the church two Popes, besides a long line of nobility. The branch of this celebrated and ancient family from which Erwin George Nichols, of Syracuse, descends settled near Berne, in Switzerland, from whence they came to the United States. His great-grandfather, John Nichols, fought with the Swiss Highlanders in the Na- poleonic wars and in each generation the family in all its branches have displayed high qualities of leadership in whatever station placed. Livingston county, New York, was the early seat of this branch of the family.
Erwin George Nichols is a son of John E. and Sarah E. Nichols, now living retired at Avon, New York, grandson of Smith Nichols, and great-grandson of John Nichols, the Swiss soldier. Erwin G. Nichols was born at Avon, Livingston county, New York, September 8, 1856. He passed through the various public school grades and was graduated from Avon High School, class of "04." He then entered Syracuse University, Col- lege of Liberal Arts, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Philosophy, class of "08," and from the University Law School, Bachelor of Laws, class of "10." He was at once admitted to the Onondaga county bar and has been in continuous practice of his profession since that year as a member of the well known and highly regarded law firm of Wiles, Neily & Nichols, with offices at No. 540-46 Gurney Building, Syracuse.
Mr. Nichols is a Republican in politics ; member of Park Central Presbyterian Church, Syracuse; Phi Delta Phi frater- nity ; the various bar associations of the
city ; Central City Lodge, No. 305, Free and Accepted Masons, and all bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, hold- ing all degrees up to and including the thirty-second of Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix, Council Princes of Jerusalem and Consistory. His clubs are the Citizens', City, University, Bellevue Country, all of Syracuse. Although in practice but a few years, Mr. Nichols has demonstrated his fitness for the profes- sion he chose and has gained a large degree of public favor.
MOREY, John Everts,
Journalist.
Journalism in Rochester and the name Morey have been synonymous terms for well on to three-quarters of a century, John Everts Morey, father and son, rep- resenting two generations of the family owning and publishing the Rochester "Daily Advertiser," consolidated with the Rochester "Union" in 1856, the "Union and Advertiser," the Rochester "Herald," and the "Evening Times."
John Everts Morey, Sr., was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1821, died in Rochester, New York, September II, 1890. He was thrown on his own resources at the age of eleven years, learned the trade of printer, came to Rochester and became one of the promi- nent figures in Western New York jour- nalism. He became owner of the Roches- ter "Daily Advertiser" and was its pub- lisher until 1856 when a consolidation was effected with the Rochester "Union." The new paper the "Union and Adver- tiser" was successfully conducted under the business management of John E. Morey until 1885, when he sold his inter- ests and retired, being sixty-four years of age. He died in Rochester five years later. He married Ann Maria Smith,
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born at New London, Connecticut, in :822.
From 1874 until the retirement of Mr. Morey, Sr., in 1885, father and son were contemporaries in the journalistic field, and both interested in the ownership as well as in the management of the "Union and Advertiser." When the senior with- drew the junior Morey continued as a large owner in the Rochester "Herald" until 1895, and since 1901 he has been principal owner of the "Evening Times," president of the Evening Times Company and general manager. There is no posi- tion in a newspaper office he has not filled from press boy to editor and man- ager. Journalism has been his life work and he has never been led astray by the allurements of political office, holding to the chief tenet of the school of journalism in which he was trained that independ- ence was an editor's chief duty to his readers and must be preserved from such obligations as the acceptance of office imposed. Independence and progressive- ness have marked his course and he is one of the best exponents of modern journalism. The "Evening Times" is one of the leading journals of Western New York and in every page breathes the high purpose of its leading spirit, John E. Morey, Jr.
John Everts Morey, Jr., was born in Rochester, New York, November 22, 1856. He has spent his life in his native city and since his eighteenth year has been connected with newspaper work. After courses in Rochester private schools he entered DeGraffs Military Academy, completing a four-year course in 1874. He was naturally attracted to the business in which his honored father was so conspicuous, and at the age of eighteen he entered the office of the "Union and Advertiser," beginning at the
bottom of the ladder. Three years later, in 1877, so rapidly had he advanced, he was admitted to a part ownership. He took an active part in the development of the paper during the next eight years, but in 1885 both Mr. Morey senior and junior sold their interests in the "Union and Advertiser," the elder man retiring from active business. John E. Morey, Jr., at once purchased a large interest in the Rochester "Herald," became its busi- ness manager and for ten years con- tinued in that capacity. In 1895 the "Herald" was sold to a Democratic syndi- cate, Mr. Morey retiring from the paper with the sale of his stock. He was not concerted as owner with any of the city journals for the next five years, but in 1901 again entered the field of journalism as purchaser of the "Evening Times," which has since attained high rank under his able management. He is president and general manager of the Evening Times Company, and gives to the paper and its interests his entire time and energy. He is one of the best known figures in Western New York journalism, and is highly esteemed both within and without his own particular field of activity. He is a member of Frank R. Lawrence Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the Genesee Valley Club, the Rochester Athletic Club and several purely professional associations.
Mr. Morey married, February 8, 1877, Alice R. Gage, daughter of George W. Gage, of Fredonia, New York. Their only son, Frank G. Morey, died in early childhood. The family home is at Avon, New York, a beautiful stone mansion of the style of eighty years ago, built on a well situated tract, five hundred and eighty feet front, a bower of horticultural beauty in which the soul of its owner delights.
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WOODBURN, Hiram H.,
Enterprising Citizen, Public Official.
Hiram H. Woodburn, of Binghamton, New York, is one of those men who have had success attend the efforts which they have strenuously made, and which have enabled them to rise from a comparatively humble place to a position of prominence in the community, commanding the respect and esteem of all who knew them. His keen discernment and marked enter- prise have long been recognized as salient characteristics in his career, and yet his life has never been narrowed by concentration of his energies on one point. On the contrary he is known as a broad-minded, public-spirited man, who has kept in touch with those concerns of vital interest to his city and State, labor- ing entirely for public progress in many ways and especially for the moral devel- opment of the community. He stands to-day a strong man-strong in his honor, strong in his good name, and strong in what he has accomplished, not only in the life of individual gain but for the benefit of his fellow-men, in whom his interest is deep and sincere. He is a representa- tive of an ancient family.
Woodburn is an ancient surname of England and Scotland, derived from the name of a locality. During the persecu- tions of the Scotch Presbyterians by the English in 1685, John Furgushall and George Woodburn were shot to death by Nisbet and his party. On their grave- stone in Finnick, Scotland, is written: "When bloody prelates, once this nation's pest, contrived that curs'd self-contradic- tory test, these men for Christ did suffer martyrdom. And here their blood lies waiting till he comes." A branch of the Woodburn family went from Scotland to Ulster, North of Ireland. The New Eng- land Woodburns are probably all de- scended from John Woodburn, who was
born in Scotland or Ireland about 1700, and came with the Scotch-Irish to Lon- donderry, New Hampshire, a few years after the settlement of 1718. With him came a brother David. Another immi- grant came with the Scotch-Irish to Penn- sylvania. They were from the same section as the New Hampshire Wood- burns. As neither branch had lived long in Ireland, and as there were very few of them judging from the records, it is fair to suppose that the New Hampshire and Pennsylvania settlers were closely related, possibly brothers. The family scattered throughout the State. In 1790, according to the first Federal census, there were seven heads of families named Woodburn.
George Woodburn, great-grandfather of Hiram H. Woodburn, was born Sep- tember 13, 1722. He married Mary Cul- bert, born September 13, 1736. They were the parents of Naphtali, of whom further.
Naphtali Woodburn, grandfather of Hiram H. Woodburn, was born Decem- ber 30, 1768. He married and was the father of Naphtali, of whom further.
Naphtali Woodburn, father of Hiram H. Woodburn, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and died in 1871. He was a farmer, and was one of the first to enter the Union army at the time of the out- break of the Civil War. He was in active service until the battle of Petersburg, when he was severely wounded and in- capacitated for further active duty. In 1871 he removed with his family to Tioga county, New York, where his death occurred. He married Elizabeth Havens, also born in Pennsylvania, and they had children : Clarence, although only a young lad when the Civil War broke out, enlisted, was wounded at Gettysburg, and is now deceased; Olive, married, and lives at LaGrange, Illinois; Hiram H., whose name heads this sketch.
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Heraus. It. Woodburn .
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Hiram H. Woodburn was born in Rome, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1866. He was but five years of age when he was brought to New York by his parents, and his early years were spent in Tioga county, where he acquired his education in the public schools. In 1882 he came to Bingham- ton, New York, being in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, starting as a water boy. He soon proved his ability, and at the end of two years entered the service of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company, where he was a brakeman on a passenger train. From this position h^ was placed in that of conductor on pas- senger trains, an almost unheard of pro- motion, as the conductors of passenger trains have always been drawn from the ranks of the freight car conductors. He was one of the youngest men ever en- trusted by the company with the respon- · sible duties of a passenger conductor. He was in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Company for a period of twenty-five years, lacking one month, his run being between Binghamton and Albany.
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