History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 91

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 91

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Orsamus Dibble opened a store about 1832,

and after four or five years Nathan Robinson be- came his partner and continued such two or three years. In April, 1849, Dibble sold to Charles E. and Norman Parker, brothers, from Billerica, Mass., who, in the fall of the same year, pur- chased of Mrs. Hamilton the old Knapp stores, corner of Mill and Main streets, and as successors to Col. O. M. Welch, added the hat and ready- made clothing business to their general trade. In 1851, they sold their goods to Henry Willson and the block to E. P. K. Smith, and purchased the Moravia tannery of Wm. H. Harrington. In 1857, C. E. Parker, having disposed of the tan- nery, resumed mercantile business. In 1863, he sold his goods to W. D. Bennett, and engaged in real estate business and the sale of oil territory. In 1865, he purchased a stock of goods of Henry Cutler, Jr., and in 1866 removed to Pittsfield, Mass. In 1871, he purchased the interest of C. S. Jennings, in the firm of Jennings Bros , and immediately transferred his interest to his son, C. A. Parker ; and the business, which was begun in August, 1864, by Henry and C. S. Jennings, brothers, who, in May, 1867, sold to G. & H. M. Jewett an interest which they re- purchased in May, 1869, has since been conduct- ed under the name of fennings & Parker.

John Marvin, from Butternuts, did business some years previous to 1840, in which year he furnished eggs for the "egg war" during the Tyler campaign, and closed a year or two after. H. B. Hewitt, from New York, a native of Sem- pronius, was engaged in mercantile business here. He sold to Everson Bros. in 1855. Guernsey Jewett, who was clerk in the store of George W. Jewett in 1831, commenced business for himself in 1844. A. B. Hale came in from Scipio in 1841 and opened a hardware store, which, with the exception of one kept a short time about 1838 or '39, by Wm. B. Ray, who kept nothing but tinware, was the first of its kind in the village. Hale sold his stock in the spring of 1875 to Webb J. Greenfield, who had been his partner since April Ist, 1870, and who admitted Fred. B. Heald to partnership the same spring. In the spring of 1877 Greenfield sold his interest to J. H. Holden, and the business has since been conducted under the name of Heald & Holden.

G. Jewett commenced business as general merchant in 1839. In 1847 he admitted D. L.

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TOWN OF MORAVIA.

Wood, who retired in 1854. In 1860, Capt. Jo- siah P. Jewett, a nephew, became a partner. He entered the army in September, 1862, and was wounded and taken prisoner in Louisiana, in March, 1863. He was paroled after about thirty days' imprisonment and returned home, but lived only ten days after arriving there. In August, 1864, Mr. Jewett sold to C. S. & Henry Jennings, and in March, 1867, he and his son, Henry M. Jewett, bought an interest in the business, and the firm became Jewett, Jennings & Co. In May, 1869, the Jewetts sold to the Jennings, and, in company with Theo. C. Jewett, formed the present firm of G. Fewett & Sons.

Morgan L. Everson commenced the dry goods business in 1855, in company with B. F. & Terry Everson, under the name of Everson Bros. In 1865, B. F. sold his interest to the remaining partners. In 1871, M. L. sold his interest to Hector H. Tuthill, when the firm became and still remains Everson & Tuthill, who do a general merchandise business. The Eversons are na- tives of Moravia. Tuthill is a native of Orange county, but had previously resided in this town some four or five years, and prior to that in Sem- pronius. In 1872, Morgan L. Everson bought John L. Parker's interest in the firm of Warren & Co., which then became Warren & Everson. After six months, Warren sold his interest to Isaac Butler, who, at the expiration of one year, sold to his partner, M. L. Everson, who con- tinued the business a year, when he took in as partner Capt. E. C. Pulver, who retired at the expiration of a year, since which time Mr. Ever- son has conducted the grocery business alone.

J. D. Clark commenced the boot and shoe business in 1858. In 1868 he admitted Marshal Downing to partnership, and, after twenty-two months, sold his remaining interest to Downing, who continued three or four years. About a year after selling to Downing, Clark resumed business in company with Gideon F. Morey, who sold his interest September Ist, 1876, to J. J. Moore, who remained some eighteen months, when Clark bought his interest and admitted his son, Par- tello S., who have since done business under the name of f. D. Clark & Son.

Andrew Perry commenced the boot and shoe business about 1858. July Ist, 1868, his son, Irving, bought a half interest, which he sold back to his father at the expiration of two and

one-half years. July Ist, 1872, Irving again bought a half interest, which, January Ist, 1877, again reverted to his father, who still continues the business. A. Colony, dealer in groceries, notions and fancy goods, commenced business in 1861.

M. Downing came in from Milan and com- menced the jewelry business in September, 1864. May 13th, 1868, he added boots and shoes to his stock, and took in as partner John D. Clark, whose interest he bought two years later. In 1871, Benjamin Downing, his father, became a partner and continued till his death, July 28th, 1874, since which time Mr. Downing has carried on the business alone.

Fred Small commenced the hardware business in the spring of 1870. He was associated as partner with David Barney six months of that year ; and with John A. Knowlton and C. S. Jennings, each of whom remained in that con- nection about a year, the former from January, 1871, and the latter from December Ist, 1871. December Ist, 1872, Lodawick H. Adams be- came a partner, and the firm then became and still remains Small & Adams.

M. P. Collins and his son, F. W., commenced business as clothiers and dealers in hats, caps, boots and shoes, in 1871. August 3d, 1876, they sold a third interest to M. O. Jennings, and the firm then became and still remains Collins & Fennings. L. M. Townsend, dealer in books, stationery and frames, commenced business in December, 1871. L. Black, dealer in clothing, furnishing goods, hats and caps, commenced business in 1873. J. M. Harris commenced the drug business in 1873. February 12th, 1877, Geo. A. Edmonds was admitted to partnership, under the name of Harris & Edmonds, who are still doing business. S. M. Warren commenced the grocery and crockery business in 1874. In January, 1877, S. L. Tice became a partner, and the name has since been Warren & Tice. O. E. Armstrong, jeweler, came in from Coudersport, Pennsylvania, and commenced business in July, 1875. Brown Bros., (L. W. & F. B.,) bakers and confectioners, commenced business October Ist, 1876, at which time they bought out James S. Wolsey, who carried on the business several years .. G. A. Shimer, dealer in fancy and fur- nishing goods, commenced business October 20th, 1876.

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VILLAGE OF MORAVIA.

I. S. Amerman & Son, (W. J.,) general mer- chants, commenced business in May, 1877. W. J. came in from Syracuse. I. S. is a resident of Skaneateles. M. L. Jennings & Bro., general merchants, commenced business June ist, 1877. Gco. B. Clary, jeweler, a native of Auburn, came in from Cairo, Illinois, and commenced business in June, 1877. John P. Wood & Co., (Grace Wood, ) dealers in books and stationery ; John V. Peacock, furniture dealer, from Corning, Steu- ben county ; and E. F. Butterfield & Co., (Fred. S. Hawley,) druggists, commenced business in Sep- tember, 1877. Butterfield is a resident of Roch- ester. Hawley came in from Syracuse. W. A. Goodwin, druggist, commenced business Octo- ber ist, 1877, in company with G. F. Butler, whose interest he bought after about six months. John Wood, jeweler, from Venice, commenced business, which he carries on under the name of Austin Wood, in February, 1878. E. R. Wands, confectioner, from Madison county, and f. f. & C. P. Moore, boot and shoe dealers, from Bing- hamton, commenced business April ist, 1878. De Witt C. Henry, proprietor of the 99 cent store, from Auburn, commenced business in July, 1878.

POSTMASTERS .- The first postmaster was Dea- con John Stoyell, Sr., who was appointed about 1800, and held the office till about 1812. The first mails were carried by Jabez Long Bottom, and from 1817 to 1825, by Bliss Furbush, on horse-back, once a week. Rowland Day suc- ceeded Stoyell to the office and held if till 1823, when he took his seat in Congress, and was suc- ceeded in the office by his brother Frank Day, who held it during his brother's Congressional term, till 1825, when the latter was reelected. He was succeeded by Samuel E. Day, who held the office several years. Henry Day was post- master under Tyler. Leonard O. Aiken held it two years under Tyler's administration, and was succeeded by Orsamus Dibble, who held it one year. Isaac Cady next held it about four years. A. B. Hale was appointed in 1849, and held it till 1853, when Rowland Day was appoint- ed. Wm. Wade held the office a short time, and was succeeded by Chas. R. Aiken. Wright Tourtellotte held the office from 1856 to '60, and was succeeded by Hiram H. Alley, who held it about six years. Henry Cutler next held it till April, 1869, when Elias Mead was appointed and has held it continuously since.

PHYSICIANS. -- The first physician was James Stoyell, brother of John and Amos Stoyell. Ile came in 1790, practiced five or six years, then removed to Horseheads and died there.

Daniel Wood, father of Ex-Gov. John Wood, of Illinois, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. He came in from Orange county about 1795, and settled two miles east of Moravia, on a lot granted him for military services, where he remained till his death, about 1841, at the age of 92. He practiced in difficult cases some ten or twelve years, but received no compensation therefor.

Silas Holbrook was licensed to practice by the County Judge in September, 1797, and joined the County Medical Society, August 7th, 1806. He settled upon a farm one mile north of Moravia, and practiced a few years. He afterwards removed to the Sand Beach at the foot of Owasco Lake, and died there.

David Annable settled in Moravia, in 1806, and joined the County Medical Society August 7th of that year. He had an extensive practice here till about 1830, when he removed to Beards- ley's Corners, in Tompkins county, and died there of apoplexy not long afterwards. He built the old north brick tavern in 1814.

Thos. L. Hewitt was licensed to practice in May, 1808, by the County Judge, and became a member of the County Medical Society the 8th of that month and year.

Royal N. Powers and Lemuel Powers, broth- ers, and uncles of Dr. Cyrus Powers, of Moravia, studied medicine with Dr. Annable, and joined the County Medical Society, the former August 4th, 1808, and the latter August 6th, 1812, but they did not practice long here. Royal N. re- moved to Mississippi and died there about 1825. Lemuel practiced several years at Beardsley's Corners, then removed to Ohio, where he died about 1833.

Ichabod Benton came in from Ulster county about 1810 or '11, and practiced some three years with Dr. Annable, with whom he previously studied. Levi S. Goodrich joined the County Medical Society November 2d, 1815, about which time he came here from Vermont. He prac- ticed about three years with Dr. Annable, and re- moved to Howard, Steuben county, where he died about 1870. Gershom Jayne studied with Dr. Annable, and was licensed to practice May 7th,

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TOWN OF MORAVIA.

1812. After a short practice he removed to Ohio, where he became successful, and died there a few years ago. Richard S. Satterlee commenced practice with Dr. Annable about 1820, and con- tinued till 1824, when he removed to Green Bay, Mich., where he became and has since continued to be a surgeon in the army. He is now Surgeon General in New York. Dr. Chatterton practiced from 1820 to '24. He lived two and one-half miles north of Moravia. Chas. E. Ford com- menced practice here in 1820, and continued about ten years, when he went west. Jeremiah B. Whiting joined the County Medical Society February 2d, 1826, and practiced in the north part of the town till 1832, when he removed to Michigan. He was from Dutchess county. Grove Gage, from DeRuyter, came in about 1822, and practiced some three years with Dr. Annable, with whom he finished his studies. He removed to Chautauqua county, near Fredonia, where he is now living. Jared Wheeler joined the County Medical Society November Ist, 1821, and practiced here a year or two. Lucius Lilley joined the County Medical Society August 7th, 1828, and practiced till about 1832, when he re- moved to Monroe county, which he represented in the Assembly in 1841, and where he soon after died of consumption.

Wm. W. Alley came to Moravia from Sullivan county with his father, in 1805, and in 1828, hav- ing prepared himself by study, he commenced the practice of medicine, subsequently conform- ing his practice to the principles of homeopathy, which system he still practices.

Hilem Bennett, who joined the County Medi- cal Society August 7th, 1828, while residing in Fleming, commenced practice in Moravia in that year, and continued till 1845, when he removed to Rochester, where he practiced till his death. He was an early convert to homeopathy. Silas N. Hall became a member of the County Medi- cal Society November 5th, 1818, and commenced practice in Moravia about 1835, continuing till about 1840, when he removed to McLean, Tompkins county. He came here from Mont- ville, where he had previously practiced. Dr. Derbyshire moved in from Montville about 1828, and practiced some three years. George W. Branch, who joined the County Medical Society June 6th, 1844, practiced here from about 1836 to '49, when he removed to Mount Morris. He

now resides at Nunda. Elias Branch came in from Venice in 1838, and practiced some three years, when he removed to Mount Morris, where he now lives.

Dr. Cator, the second convert to homeopathy in Cayuga County, came in from Sempronius and practiced from 1839 till the fall of 1842, when he removed to Syracuse and introduced the new system of medicine in Onondaga county. E. P. K. Smith, a student of Bennett's, being left, by the removal of the latter to Rochester, without a preceptor, turned his attention to the study of homeopathy, which he practiced from 1841 till 1862,when he removed to Auburn, where he died some four years ago.

Cyrus Powers, a native of Sempronius, settled in Moravia and commenced practice in 1845, in which year he became a member of the County Medical Society. He has since practiced here, with the exception of two years spent in Ameri- can and foreign travel, and four years' service as army surgeon in the war of the Rebellion. Dr. Powers is a gentleman of culture, good scholastic attainments, and a skillful physician.

Charles C. Jewett, a native of Moravia, joined the County Medical Society October 12th, 1864, and practiced here during the late war. He died here in 1870, universally lamented. Van Dyke Tripp, who now resides in Onondaga county, practiced here in 1863-'4. Elias Mead, the pres- ent postmaster at Moravia, practiced here from about 1865-'9. A. B. Aiken joined the County Medical Society in January, 1869, and has since practiced here. Wm. T. Cox, a native of Moravia, came in from Milan and commenced practice in 1873. He is an allopath and is still practicing here. Frank H. Putnam came here in 1875, and joined the County Medical Society May 10th, 1876. He removed to Venice, and in 1876 to Locke, where he is now practicing. J. H. Syl- vester came from Washington, D. C., where he was clerk in the Pension Office, in 1876, and still remains. Wm. Cook came in from Butternuts about 1875, and is still practicing here.

BENCH AND BAR .- The bar of Moravia has embraced men of good ability. The first lawyer of any prominence in the town was Jonathan Hussey, who had a large and lucrative practice, connected with the titles of real estate in south- ern Cayuga.' He was a careful manager, and quite successful; but he relied less upon his own,

THOMAS McCREA.

THOMAS MCCREA was born January 2d, 1810, in Delaware County, N. Y. At an early age he came to Cayuga County, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1873, after intense suffering and a prolonged illness. He left a wife and eleven children. He was for many years connected with the house of Messrs. Miller & Co. and also with other mercantile pursuits in New York city ; later he was engaged in the coal business in Auburn. He was a highly respected citizen and one whose loss was deeply felt by a large circle of friends. In 1848. he married Miss Caroline Parmele, of Auburn. She was born in Suffield, Conn., June 9th, 1828.

Mr. McCrea belonged to the Republican party, quietly performing his duty, never aspiring to polit. ical honors. He served as Alderman several terms and is remembered as a gentleman of warm heart and generous impulses. His genial and social nature won him many friends and his excellent business qualities gained for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he had business intercourse.

JOSEPH HENRY SYLVESTER, M. D.

JOSEPH HENRY SYLVESTER was born in Vinolhover, Hancock county, Maine, January 26th, 1838. He was the oldest of nine children. His father, Joseph W. Sylvester, was a well-known sea captain in the eastern part of Maine ; and his grandfather, a mer- chant and farmer and a prominent politiclan of Hancock county. His mother, Martha A. Burgess, was the daughter of Jonathan Burgess, a sea captain and & lineal descendant of Rev. Thomas Burgess, one of the earliest Puritan ministers of Massachusetts. Dr. Sylvester wes a lineal descendant of Captain Joseph Sylvester, famous as an Indian fighter under the more famous Major Church, of Massachusetts. His early education was directed with a view of his entering the ministry; but he early exhibited a strong inter- est in philosophical and medical studies, end at the age of sixteen years he began the study of medicine. At the age of nine yeare he went to sea and followed that business until the breaking out of

JOSEPH H. SYLVESTER M. P.

the war in 1861, having advanced during that time through every grade from cabin hoy to captain. He still pursued his medical and scientific studies, and during this period he also learned to speak the French, Spanish and Italian languages, taking up Latin and Greek later in life.

At the age of eighteen years his father proposed to send him to college, on condition of his becoming a Congregational preacher. This he declined for conscientious reasons; when his father told him he must fight his own battles through lifa and acquire en edu- cation as best he could. This was the turning point in his life. Nothing daunted he adhered to his determination of soma day be- coming an M. D.

In 1861 Mr. Sylvester was among the first to offer his services to the government. and on the 25th of April ha enlisted in Company B, Second Maine Volunteers. He was soon promoted to color bearer of the regiment and served as such at the battle of Bull Run and during the Peninsula campaign. He was severely wounded at the battle of Hanover Court House, Virginia, May 25th, 1862; and was publicly commended by Brigadier General J. H. Martindale, and favorably mentioned in the report of the regimental commander, for gallantry on the field of battle. His wounda being of such a nature as to disable him for active service, in February, 1864, he was appointed by President Lincoln a Second Lieutenant of Volun- teers and assigned to prison duty at the capital. He was promoted the following year on recommendation of Secretary Stanton for his executive ability and attention to duty. During the excitement following the assassination of President Lincoln he was detailed on several importaut and confidential duties; and for several months he commanded the guard over the residence of Secretary Sewerd. on whose recommendation. in 1866. he was appointed First Lieutenant in the regular army, in which capacity he served till 1871, when he was honorably discharged.

During all this time his studies had been continued. In 1866 he learned telegraphing and also hecame an accomplished mechanical draughtsman. He prepared drawings for several parties whose inventions have become famous, among them the Miller coupler and bumper now used on many railroads In 1867 he matriculated iu the medical department ef Georgetown College, D. C., from which he graduated with honors.

After leaving the army he settled in Washington, D. C., and com- menced the practice of his profession. The failure of Jay Cooke & Co. swept away his accumulated earnings, and failing health com- pelled a removal to the north. In July, 1876, he settled iu Moravia, Cayuga County, N. Y., aud entered upon a successful practice of his profession.

In 1877 ha helped to organize Company A, Forty-ninth Regiment, N. Y. S. N. G., which has gained such. an enviable notoriety in the contest for the Nevada badge; and not a little of the credit for ite reputation is dua to the soldierly experience and judgment of Dr. Sylvester

In 1867 Dr. Sylvester was united in marriage with Miss Sarah V. Veili, daughter of the late Nicholas Veili, and a cousin of General Egbert Veili. of this State. Her grandfather, John Velli, was a Colonel in the Revolutionary army; and her grandmother Veili was Katherine Knickerbocker. Her mother's people, the Rogers, in the eastern part of the State were well-known and highly respectable.

Dr. Sylvester has always been a staunch Republican. He is a Mason of high degree ; and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of several tem- perance organizations and an active worker in that cause.

MRS MARY HURLBUTT.

AMOS HURLBUTT.

AMOS HURLBUTT, son of Amos Hurl- butt, a very early settler in Genoa, Cayuga County, to which town he removed in 1798 from Groton, Connecticut, was born in 1808. In Genoa, where his father died, Amos spent the greater part of his life, engaged in farming. In 1878 he removed to the village of Moravia, where he now resides, in a beautiful home on Aurora street.

In 1833 Mr. Hurlbutt was united in mar- riage with Mary Handley, who is still living. This union has been blessed with five chil- dren, only three of whom are now living, one son, Amos J .. who'resides on the farm in Genoa, and two daughters.

[Photo by C. C. Tuthill.]

W. H. CURTIS, M. P.

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VILLAGE OF MORAVIA.

than the opinion of others, in difficult cases. He was born in 1787. He read law in the office of Judge Walter Wood, at Montville, and was admitted to practice in 1817, about which time he established himself at Moravia. He died October 9th, 1852, at the Utica Insane Asylum.

Leonard O. Aiken was born at Antrim, New Hampshire, September 14th, 1805. The follow- ing March, his father, James Aiken, removed with his family to Summer Hill. In 1821, Leon- ard, at the age of 16, began to teach in the dis- trict school ; and February 17th, 1823, he com- menced the study of law with Jonathan Hussey, of Moravia, with whom he remained one year, when he entered the office of Hon. Freeborn G. Jewett, of Skaneateles, where he pursued his studies a little less than a year. He then spent a year in study in the office of Augustus Don- elly, of Homer, and another in that of Judge Edward C. Reed of the same place. He was admitted to the Court of Common Pleas in 1828, and to the Supreme Court, July 30th of that year. He formed a partnership with Judge Townsend Ross, of Homer, with whom he re- mained till August, 1831, when he removed to Moravia, and soon after formed a partnership with Charles D. Tallman, a grandson of Judge Walter Wood, which continued about a year, when Tallman removed to his father's in Scip- ioville. He was for a short time in partnership with Nelson T. Stephens, a lawyer of acknowl- edged ability, who studied with him, and removed to California in 1850. Stephens writes in a re- cent letter, "I read law with L. O. Aiken, Esq., to whose methodical ways and careful habits in the preparation of his pleadings and causes for trial I am more indebted for any success which may have been mine, than to any other part of my education." Mr. Aiken's practice was, to a great extent, connected with litigations arising from defective titles to real property in this and adjoining towns, involving intricate legal ques- tions and laborious research. He was honored with various offices of trust, and retired from practice, with a fair competence, about 1875.

Jared M. Smith, son of Ezekiel Smith, was born March 17th, 1815. He graduated at Ham- ilton College, standing high in his class, of which he was valedictorian. He studied law with Hon. Millard Fillmore in Buffalo, and commenced prac- tice here in September, 1842. He was at one

time partner with Jonathan Hussey. He en -. deared himself by kindly acts to all with whom he came in contact, and died May 23d, 1846.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 91

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762