USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume III > Part 26
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(VI) John Warner, son of John H. Dy- gert, was born February 3. 1835, at Fort Plain, Montgomery county, New York. Like his brother, he worked on his father's farm when a boy and afterward as clerk in his
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father's store. He made some money in the boating business, and built boats in partner- ship with his brother Adam De Witt. In 1860, as told above, he engaged in business with his father. From 1863 to 1865 he acted as deputy sheriff. He was drafted in the draft of 1863. but paid his $300 and stayed at home to look after the rebels there. In 1865 he went to the Pennsylvania oil fields. but was eventually unsuccessful and returned to his former home, where he again became in- terested in boats, and accumulated another small fortune. In 1869 he engaged with H. M. Barker and others in the forwarding busi- ness in Buffalo. Since 1889 he has resided in Phoenix and has followed various occupations since then, being now an inspector for the state of New York on the barge canal work. He married, March 22, 1871, at Auburn. New York, Charlotte S. Lee, a widow. She died July 8, 1883. and is buried in the Rural cemetery at Phoenix. They had one child. Harriet Augusta, born December 25. 1878, married, February 7, 1900, at the Methodist Episcopal church, Phoenix. New York, E. Le- Roy Wyckoff. of Groton, New York, now residing at Aurora, New York, where they are conducting a large poultry farm. They have one child, a son, Paul Dygert Wyckoff. Ida Lee, daughter of his wife by her first marriage, married a retired farmer, Alvin Wyckoff, an uncle of E. LeRoy Wyckoff, and resides at Union Springs. New York.
(VI) Anna Maria, daughter of John H. Dygert, was born September 27. 1837, in the town of Lysander, New York. She was edu- cated in the public and private schools and taught several years in Sandy Creek and Phoenix. She also taught elocution and pen- manship. After the death of her mother. she became housekeeper for her father and since 1890 she has performed a similar task for her brother, H. Amenzo, and is unmar- ried. The data for this history, not left in writing by her father, was largely furnished by her, she having visited the old farm in the town of Canajoharie with him, and having been told and shown by him.
(VI) Harriet Noteman. daughter of John H. Dygert, was born June 2. 1840, on the old farm in Schroeppel. and was educated in the Phoenix schools. For a time she was com- positor on the newspaper edited by Mrs. Fran- ces Tucker. She died of consumption, March IO, 1861, unmarried. and was buried in the
old cemetery at Phoenix. but the remains have been removed to the family lot in Rural cemetery.
(VI) Mary .A., daughter of John H. Dy- gert, was born November 6, 1842, on the old farm in Schroeppel. After graduating from the public schools she taught several years at Sandy Creek and Schroeppel. After her father's death she made her home in Roches- ter, where after her sister Kittie's death, she remained to care for the children. She died unmarried, April 2. 1903, at Rochester, and is buried in the family lot at Phoenix. She was of a domestic and studious nature, a great reader, and her mind was a storehouse of fact and fiction. If the family or her brothers or sisters wanted any information it was "Aunt Mate" who furnished it.
(\1) H. Amenzo, son of John H. Dygert. was born on his father's farm, near Phoenix. Oswego county, New York, June 17. 1845. His first teacher was Augusta Schenck, who afterward became the wife of Professor Eg- gleston. of Fulton, New York. He was seven years of age when his father removed to the village of Phoenix. and there he attended the district and select schools of the village. Dur- ing a part of this time his attendance was confined to the winter months. as during the summer he was engaged with other boys in the piling of staves for E. F. Gould. where he earned his first shilling, and assisting his father in the latter's grocery store. Later he became a student at the Ames Business Col- lege at Syracuse, from which he was gradu- ated in the spring of 1864. In the fall of the same years he was appointed by the board of education as an assistant teacher at the school in Phoenix. He had studied telegraphy while at the business college, and Dr. Conger. a member of the board of education. induced him to resign his position and assume charge as telegraph operator in the telegraph office. which was located in the drug store conducted by him, and while so employed he took the message announcing the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln. In connection with this duty he also attended to the work of the drug store. and was thus employed until early in 1868. The summer of this year was spent by Mr. Dygert in assisting Captain James Barnes in making the preliminary survey for what is now the Syracuse Northern Railroad, a branch of the R. W. & O. During 186) and a portion of 1870 he was employed by 11. & M.
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Wandell. dealers in dry goods and groceries : the remainder of the latter year he worked for Kenyon Potter & Company, druggists of Syracuse ; a year and a quarter was then spent in the employ of C. E. Hutchinson, who con- bined a drug store with the telgraph office and the postoffice. In 1872 and 1873 Mr. Dygert held the office of head clerk in the office of F. David, canal collector, and in April. 1874, he was appointed postmaster at Phoenix, succeeding C. E. Hutchinson, who resigned. He purchased the postoffice fix- tures, which at that time were the personal property of the postmaster, and the telegraph line running from Phoenix to Lamson's on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rail- road, which had originally been built by pri- vate subscription, but had passed into the possession of Mr. Hutchinson. Mr. Dygert served as postmaster until September. 1885, when he was succeeded by a Democrat ap- pointed by President Grover Cleveland. The campaign of this year, 1885. in Oswego coun- ty, was a hotly contested one, there being four candidates for the nomination for county clerk. Every one of them asked Mr. Dygert for his support, promising him the position of deputy if successful at the polls. This is inside history, but shows what was thought of Mr. Dygert's influence. In the campaign of 1883 for member of assembly, Mr. Dygert canvassed the second assembly district with and for G. M. Sweet who was elected that and the following year. January 1, 1886, he entered upon the duties of a searcher, or abstract clerk in the Oswego county clerk's office under county clerk John Oli- phant; the latter died when his term was about half expired, and David B. Hill, the Democratic governor, appointed John H. Mackin to the vacancy, Mr. Dygert being the only Republican whom Mr. Mackin retained in office. T. M. Costello, the next head of this office and who was afterwards member of assembly for Oswego county, also retained Mr. Dygert in office, and the latter held this post altogether for a period of six years. In 1892 he became associated in a business part- nership with his cousin, F. H. Fox, and they opened the Yates Hotel Pharmacy, adjoining the Yates Hotel in Syracuse on the west. This business was conducted very successfully until the spring of 1806, when they sold out to George E. Thrope. For three years Mr. Dy- gert served as relief clerk in various drug
stores, and June 12, 1899, bought from the heirs of Dr. Conger the drug store which had been conducted by him for so many years, and with whom Mr. Dygert had first entered this business. Since that time he has carried on the business at the old location. Canal street. Phoenix, and from a small store, which had been allowed to run down, he has de- veloped it into a first class county store, with a large stock of goods.
As a leader in various directions, Mr. Dy- gert early showed decided qualifications. In the campaign of 1860 he was captain of a Little Giant Club and took his company to Little Utica, where they had charge of a pole raising for Mr. Dunham. In the summer of 1863 he accompanied the supervisor of the town on a canal boat to Oswego with a num- ber of drafted and enlisted men.
As a very young lad he had learned to set type, and worked for a time as printer's devil on the Phoenix newspaper, of which W. W. Stericker was editor. In the sum- mer of 1863 he was clerk in the dry goods store of Hart & Fish, in Phoenix. Soon after the Central Knife Company was organized, he was elected as president of the corporation. and was chairman of the committee which drew up the by-laws under which it was op- erated. He has served as the president of a number of local political clubs, between 1876 and 1884. He was a member of the county committee in the hotly contested campaign of the latter year, and was alternate delegate to the National convention held at Chicago, which nominated James G. Blaine for presi- dent. He would have been a delegate to the Republican National convention of 1888, which nominated Benjamin Harrison, but gave way for an older man who was a large con- tributor to the campaign fund. It was re- gretted that Mr. Dygert was not named, as the man who was named failed to attend. Mr. Dygert was also a delegate to the Re- publican state convention, which assembled at Saratoga, New York, September 14, 1887, at which General, then Colonel. F. D. Grant, was nominated for secretary of state. For many years he was chairman of the town com- mittee and delegate to almost all of the dis- trict and county conventions between 1870 and 1892, acting very frequently as secre- tary. In the county convention at Pulaski, 1891, he was a candidate for county clerk but withdrew in favor of Mr. Pentelaw who was
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nominated. Mr. Dygert, with another gentle- man, was appointed to escort the nominee be- fore the convention. After the nominee for county clerk had accepted the nomination tendered him, Mr. Dygert was asked to address the convention, which he did and earned well merited applause. He was the leading candidate for the deputy clerkship, but finding that his political opponents were de- laying this matter, he withdrew from the field. This was the reason of his leaving the town and engaging in business in Syracuse.
Mr. Dygert is gifted musically and was for a long time a member of the local musical association known as the Strauss Club. While not a professional in this art, he took part in a double quartette which sang the "Soldier's Farewell" at a musical convention held in the rink in Oswego conducted by the celebrated conductor, Carl Zehran, of Boston. He also sang a part in the cantata of "Esther." and has sung in the chorus of many musical pro- ductions. His literary ability is undoubted. He has written some poetry and has served as correspondent for a number of papers. He resides with his sister in an unassuming house in Phoenix. He is a member of the Congre- gational church, with which he affiliated while living in Oswego. For many years he has been chairman of the board of trustees of the Phoenix church. He was chairman of the building committee that erected the parson- age, to which purpose he was a liberal dona- tor and contributed the last one hundred dol- lars necessary to pay off the mortgage. Ile has served as clerk of the Church Society connected with the church, has long been a member of the executive committee and for two years president of The Independent Helpers, the largest, and most helpful society connected with the church. As vice-president of the Business Men's Association, he has rendered excellent service. Mr. Dygert is a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason. His fraternal affiliations are as follows: Cal- limachus Lodge, No. 369, Free and Accepted Masons, Phoenix, New York: Oswego River Chapter, No. 270, R. A. M., Phoenix, New York ; Lake Ontario Commandery, No. 32. K. T., Oswego, New York ; Lake Ontario Consis- tory. No. 12, S. P. R. S., Oswego, New York; Phoenix Chapter, No. 172, Order Eastern Star, Phoenix, New York. He also had conferred upon him the ninety degrees of the "Egyptian Masonic Rite of Memphis" and
has a certificate signed by Darius Wilson, ninety-six degree grand master. He was sec- retary of both lodge and chapter for many years, and has now served as treasurer of the lodge for a long period. As worthy chief templar of the Phoenix Lodge of Good Temp- lars and as delegate to the county lodge, and other meetings of the order. he has been highly honored. On his way to the Republi- can national convention at Chicago in 1884. which nominated James G. Blaine for presi- dent. Mr. Dygert had the unique experience of a train all to himself from Syracuse to Suspension Bridge, sleeper, buffet car, colored waiter, etc., etc. Few private persons have such an experience. On Saturday. Septem- ber 16, 1911, he was an honored guest at a breakfast given to the Hon. William Howard Taft, president of the United States, given by the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, at the Onondaga, the leading hotel of Syracuse, New York. Mr. Dygert has never married.
( VI) Catharine (or Kittie, as she was mostly known), daughter of John H. Dygert, was born February 18, 1848, on the old farm in the town of Schroeppel. She also attended the public and select schools of Phoenix. She was a young lady of attractive face and pleas- ant manners and was a favorite with the young people of her acquaintance. She mar- ried. October 18, 1870, George Herbert Butts, son of Milton T. Butts, a farmer of Phoenix. New York. She lived quite a number of Wears at Rochester, New York, where her husband was an express messenger. also sec- retary of a large building and loan associa- tion. She died April 29. 1893, at her home in Rochester, and is buried in the Dygert family lot at Phoenix, New York. She left two children : Irma and Vance Helmer. Irma was born August 18, 1872, on the Butts river farm, town of Schroeppel, and was married December 25, 1895, at Brockport, New York. to William Speck, an employee of the Roch- ester street railway. They now live on a farm near Lyons, New York. She has two children : Catharine Dygert and Elinor Starin Speck. Vance Helmer Butts was born Oc- tober 18, 1878, at Syracuse, New York. He is employed at the knife works, at Perrv, New York, as superintendent of a room. He mar- ried, August 30. 1903. at Castile, New York, Maude J. Coleman. They have one child, Herbert Coleman Butts, born September 15, 1005. They live at Perry, New York.
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(VI) William Henry, son of John H. Dy- ert, was born October 12, 1850, on the old farm, died September 16, 1852, buried on the old farm.
In early New England records
MOSS there are many of the name of Moss, Morss and Morse, with va- riations of spelling, the most prominent being William, Anthony. Joseph, Samuel and John, who immigrated early in the seventeenth cen- tury, and their descendants. The name Moss was early found among the Jews, the Celtic Irish and the Saxon Nations of the Continent, and the name De Mors was known in Ger- many as early as the year 1200. Hugo de Mors, who lived in England in 1358, and was honored by George III. with a diplo- matic commission, was probably descended from the German family. The name ap- peared in the records of Suffolk county, Eng- land, in 1589, about the same time in Essex county, and also became common in Nor- folk county. Of those who emigrated to New England in early days none were more highly honored by their fellows than John Moss, who is believed to have been a member of a family of high standing in England, on ac- count of his high attainments and evident cul- ture. The family has included many educa- tors, ministers and men of the learned pro- fessions, and the name has always stood for good citizenship.
(I) John Moss [whose name sometimes ap- pears as Mosse] was of New Haven. The first four generations of his race spelled the name Moss, and many of his descendants have retained this spelling to the present day, although the majority of them have adopted Morse. The exact date of his birth is un- known, some authorities giving it as near 1619, while others claim he was one hundred and three years old at the time of his death, in 1707. He was one of the noble band who founded New Ilaven. Connecticut, and was inuch esteemed for his high quality of cour- age, his excellent judgment in matters relat- ing to the common welfare, his firmness of character, his piety and perseverance. His advice and counsel were sought by the wisest and holiest men of his day, and he was in the highest sense a godly Puritan, ready to perform his full duty at all times. His fel- low citizens honored him in many ways, and he was one of the most prominent men of
New Haven at the time of its settlement. He was one of the members of the first gen- eral court in 1639-40, and was often called upon to advocate a case in the civil courts : on the union of New Haven with Connecti- cut he was repeatedly sent to the general court at Hartford, and was appointed a mag- istrate. When part of New Haven was set apart as Wallingford, March 11, 1669. he became one of the committee to manage all the plantation affairs of the latter place. the other members being Samuel Street, John Brockett, Abraham Doolittle. They were to dispose and distribute the allotments in such equal manner as was best suited to the con- dition of the place and the inhabitants there- of, and to use the best means in their power to secure a fit man to dispense the word of God. The name of John Moss was promin- ently identified with all the leading measures of the village of Wallingford, and he was assigned the second home lot, near the south end of Main street, on the east side. He was prominent in both state and church affairs. and was well fitted by natural ability and experience to take his place among the rulers of the new town. Children born to John Moss : John, baptized January 11, 1639, died young ; Samuel, born April 4, 1641 ; Abigail. April 10, 1642; Rev. Joseph, November 6. 1643: Ephraim, November 6, 1645, probably died young ; Mary. April 11, 1647: Mercy, baptized April 1, 1649, lived in New Haven : John; October 12, 1650; Elizabeth, October 12, 1652: Hester, June 16, 1654; Isaac, July I, 1655, died in 1659.
(II) John (2), sixth son of John ( 1) Moss, was born October 12, 1650, in New Haven, and was one of the first settlers of Walling- ford, where he was active in civil affairs, and died March 31, 1717. He owned a farm on Ten-mile Hill, one on Honeypot Brook, and another on Busby Hill, amounting to over 500 acres. He married, December 12, 1676. Martha, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Scudder) Lothrop, born in 1657, died Sep- tember 21, 1719. She was administratrix of her husband's estate, with her eldest son. Children : Mary, Esther, Samuel, John, Mar- tha, Solomon, Isaac, Mary, Israel, Benja- min.
(III) Sergeant Isaac Moss, fifth son of John (2) and Martha (Lothrop) Moss, was born July 6, 1693, in Wallingford, and resided in the adjoining town of Cheshire, where he
R. G. ORoss
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died October I, 1750. His will, dated New Cheshire, June 6. 1747, disposed of extensive landed property. He married ( first) May 2, 1717. Hannah Royce, born November 6, 1696, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Porter) Royce, and died March 31, 1737. He married (sec- ond) October 14. 1738. Keziah, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (French) Bowers, born March 2, 1699, in Wallingford, who died Oc- tober 1. 1750. Children of first marriage : Ezel (probably Ezekial, not mentioned in his father's will ) : Heman, died young ; Hannah ; Ebenezer, died young; Isaac ; Heman; Jesse ; Mehitable : Elihu. Of the second marriage : Ebenezer, Jabez and Kezialı.
(IV) Captain Jesse Moss, sixth son of Ser- geant Isaac and Hannah ( Royce) Moss, was born March 10, 1729. in Cheshire, and resided on the paternal homestead on Ten-mile River, where he was a farmer, and died March 20, 1793. He was a soldier of the revolution, serving first as a corporal in Captain Street Hall's company from July 12 to December 19, 1775, and was present at the evacuation of Boston by the British in 1776. In 1777 he was a captain under Lieutenant-Colonel J. Baldwin, of the Tenth Militia Regiment, which recruited the American army on the North river and served at Fishkill. He married, Jan- uary 25, 1753. Mary, daughter of Benjamin (son of John (2), son of John ( I) and Abi- gail ( Cole) Moss). She was born October 23, 1731, in Cheshire, died August 19, 1819. Children : Hannah, Joel, Jesse, Reuben, Job. Mary, Isaac Bowers, Lothrop, Clarinda, died young, Rufus. Emanuel, Mary Clarinda.
(V) Rev. Reuben Moss, third son of Cap- tain Jesse and Mary (Moss) Moss, was born June 11, 1759. in Cheshire. He entered the revolutionary army at the age of sixteen years, serving as waiter to his father, but subse- quently enlisted as a soldier of the line, and was discharged in 1783. On leaving the army he began his studies in preparation for the ministry, and made very rapid progress at Yale, where he ontstripped many of his class- mates, and graduated with honors in 1787. In 1792 he was ordained as pastor of the Con- gregational church at Ware, Massachusetts. where he continued sixteen years, and died February 17, 1800. He married, at Stoning- ton, Connecticut, October 15. 1795, Esther. daughter of William and Esther (Williams) Cheesebrough, born there August 26, 1776. Children : Lazarus (named later, Ephraim
Cheesebrough1), Mary Esther, George Wash- ington, Tirzah, William Cheesebrough, Jesse Lothrop, Reuben E.
(VI) Reuben E., youngest child of Rev. Reuben and Esther (Cheesebrough ) Moss, was born September 1, 1807, in Ware, and was but two years of age when his father died. The widowed mother returned with her children to her girlhood home in Ston- ington, and the son was reared in that town and North Stonington. Being forced early to maintain himself, he was employed in a cotton factory and was later a bookkeeper and clerk in a country store. He assisted in the defense of Stonington, in 1814, by making cartridges for the regiment which was com- manded by Colonel William Randall, whose daughter, then unborn, ultimately became his wife. During his twentieth year he was pro- prietor of a store at Portersville in the town of Groton, New London county. In the mean- time he had not neglected the improvement of his mind, and by private study and the instruc- tion of private tutors had made great advance- ment in human knowledge. At the age of four years hie was able to read and write, and at eighteen years had passed far beyond the ordinary knowledge of his times, including the mastery of surveying. Ile was also a member of one of the first Sunday schools es- tablished in America. In 1829 he went to New York City and became a partner with his elder brother, under the title of E. C. & R. E. Moss, manufacturing and retail drug- gists. The elder partner died in 1842, and the junior continued the business on the same site, at Grand and Cannon streets, until he removed to Chemung county in 1860. He was widely known in New York City, and was often called "Dr. Moss." He was active in Sunday school work, and was a trustee of Dr. MacLane's church on Madison avenue. He resided at No. 4 Cannon street, then a desirable residence locality, until after 1850. and then built a house on Gates avenue, Brooklyn. between Bedford and Franklin ave- nnes, where he owned twelve city lots. While residing there he was active in work of the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church. He served as inspector of elections and commis- sioner of deeds, and was a private and sub- sequently captain in the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, New York militia. being subsequently major of the Two Hun- dred and Sixty-fourth Regiment. He was
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elected lieutenant-colonel of the latter body, but was prevented from acceptance by the illness and subsequent death of his broth- er. He was a member of the volunteer fire department, and saw hard service in the great fire of 1835, and a member and treasurer of the Independent Corps Veteran Artillery, which was limited to seventy-six members. He was active in suppressing the Astor Place riots, caused by the rivalry between two prom- inent actors of the day. This military organi- zation possessed several field pieces, and the loading and pointing of one of these in sight of the rioters caused them to disperse.
Having acquired a competence, Mr. Moss sought a quiet home in the rural regions, and in 1860 purchased a farm on Maple avenue. near Wellsburg, New York, then in the town of Southport. now Ashland, Chemung county. He immediately became prominent in the af- fairs of the town, and while a school trustee planted the beautiful trees which now give valuable shade to one of the schoolhouses. He organized a Sunday school, of which he was long superintendent, and in which mem- bers of his family were teachers. For twenty- five years he was a justice of the peace, which made him a member of the board of town au- ditors, and also served as excise commis- sioner. In 1885 he was elected a justice of sessions, and in that capacity acted as an asso- ciate of the presiding judge upon the bench. In 1895 he sold his farm and removed to the city of Elmira, establishing a home on Hoff- man street, where he died October 26, 1896. He was the possessor of a large and well- selected library, and was always a student. keeping abreast of modern progress. He took a wide mental view, was a thinker and fine conversationalist, well versed in English clas- ics, and fond of the works of leading poets. In early life he was a Whig, and naturally became a member of the Republican party upon its organization. Among the first sub- scribers of the New York Tribune, he kept files of that paper and also the Independent for reference.
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