USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878 > Part 83
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WARNICK & BROWN. (No. 86 Genesee Street.)
The original of this establishment was put in operation in 1837 by Warnick & Bryan, with a force of two or three workmen. Since 1853 the firm has been Warniek & Brown. The total number of hands now employed, including men and boys, aggregates about 80. Five traveling agents are kept on the road, and the sales of cigars arc 1,500,000 annually. The firm manufacture every description of tobacco, cigars, and snuff, excepting plug-tobacco. The * raw material for the various grades of smoking and chew- ing tobacco is purchased in Kentucky, the cigar-lcaf in New York.
The market is principally in the State of New York.
In addition to those enumerated, there are extensive manufactures of various descriptions, such as breweries, flour-mills, sash-, door-, and blind-, and furniture-factories, and innumerable establishments which the limited space allotted to general manufactures compels us to omit. Among others there is quite an extensive oil-cloth manu- factory, situated on the corner of Cornelia and Columbia Streets, of which we had intended to give a brief descrip- tion, but, for reasons best known to himself, Mr. Pomeroy declined to furnish the necessary information for the pur- posc.
Extensive wholesale and retail mercantile houses are found in various parts of the city, engaged in every variety of trade usually carried on in the larger towns, and the number of ordinary retail establishments is very great for a city of 35,000 people. We should have been glad to make mention of many other business enterprises had the plan and scope of our work permitted, but, for reasons that will be obvious, we have confined ourselves as much as possible to the legitimate purposes of a history of Oneida County, inserting brief descriptions only of a small number of the more extensive and important manufactures.
CITY BUILDINGS.
The buildings belonging to the city are a city hall, public library, eity hospital, police station, two engine-houses, and one hose depot. The public library building is described in connection with the city schools.
CITY HALL.
This building was ereeted by a commission named in the special act for its erection, between the years 1850 and 1856, from designs by Mr. Upjohn, the well-known archi- tect of New York. The approximate total cost was $80,000.
It is constructed of light-colored brick, something after the Romanesque style, and has a lofty tower at the northeast angle. The building has two lofty stories above the base- ment, and is occupied for city purposes, and by the United States District Court and clerk's office. Previous to the construction of the new police station, there were a series of cells fitted up in the basement for the safc-keeping of prisoners sent up by the recorder's court. These have been supplanted by the new ones.
The eloek in the tower was constructed by Messrs. La- fever & Beary, of New York. The bell, weighing about 3500 pounds, is from the foundry of Jones & Co., Troy, N. Y. The fire-alarm is attached to this bell. The clock dials are of European manufacture, and about six feet in diameter. They are illuminated at night.
CITY HOSPITAL.
This building was also erected by a commission in 1855-56, and was originally calculated for a hospital and work-house. The total cost has been about $12,000. It is three stories in height, with a wing of two stories on the south. Its capacity is equal to the accommodation of fifty patients, though only a portion of the building is at present fitted up. It occupies a fine site on the corner of Mohawk and South Streets, and is supplied with gas and city water. The material used in its construction is red brick.
Rooms have also been fitted up for the confinement of prisoners from the recorder's court, and for women and children awaiting trial, and witnesses detained who are unable to furnish bail.
POLICE STATION.
This fine and commodious building, adjoining the city hall on Pearl Street, was erected in 1877-78, at a total cost of about $10,000. It is used exclusively by the police department and the recorder's court. The basement is fitted up with ten cells for prisoners, and there are three above for another class. The building is constructed of red brick, with stone trimmings, and is a model one of its kind.
The following additional figures are from the annual re- port of the Fire and Police Commissioners for 1877. The stated cost of the new police station-house is less in this than the amount shown on the books of the city elerk, which is owing probably to the fact that the building was not entirely completed at the date of the report.
" PROPERTY .- Prior to the organization of the Fire and Police Commission, the city rented all the houses of the fire department, except the hose depot, but since then the houses of No. 2 and No. 4 have been built by the city, and only Nos. 1 and 3 are now rented by the board, and it is hoped that the city will soon build two new houses.
" The estimated value of all the houses belonging to the departments in charge of the Commission is :
" No. 2 engine-house. $5,500
No. 4 6,000
Hose depot 7,500
Police station-house .. 7,000
Total real estate $26,000
Photo. by Mundy.
John garancia
JOHN J. FRANCIS was a descendant upon his father's sido of an old Welsh family. His grandfather was an officer of rank in the British navy, who, having been an extensive traveler, was so well pleased with America, and confident of its future commercial growth, that he resigned his lucrative and honorable commission, and settled in Utica at an early day. Among his children was William Francis, father of the subject of this sketch. A man of strong characteristics, good judgment, and general intelligence. He figured among Utica's early financiers; was one of the first trustees of the Savings Bank of Utica. He was a devout Baptist, at the same time liberal towards those whose views differed from his own. Throughout his entire life, in his domestic, political, commercial, and religious relations, he had the universal respect and estecm of his fellow-citizens.
Thomas and Eleanor James, the maternal grandparents of John J. Francis, were both natives of North Wales. Upon their departure for this new country, a large number of their friends and neighbors joined in giving them a farewell dinner. They landed in Philadel- phia. It had been their intention to proceed to Kentucky, but Mr. James' death occurring ten days after their arrival, his widow, with her family, settled in Utica, in 1798. With the comfortable fortune left her, she did much towards alleviating the wants of the new Welsh settlers of Oncida County. At her decease she left 61 living descend- ants.
Of the eight children born unto William and Eleanor Francis, John J. was the third. Ile was born Nov. 6, 1808. He received a good academic education, was a zealous reader, and well informed upon all subjects. He learned his father's trade, that of carpenter and joiner, at the latter's request and under his supervision ; but he early devel- oped a taste for a different pursuit. He naturally inherited a retiring disposition. His judgment was sound and good. He was far-secing, and many sought the benefit of his counsel. He carly beeame prom- inent among the extensive builders of his native city. He assisted in the creation of various companies and business organizations, among thom the Packet, Screw, and Insurance. He was also one of the projectors of the strect railroad company in the eastern part of
the city. He became carly identified with the Utica Mechanics' Asso- ciation, and was one of its first life members. It was as a dealer in real estate that he was most actively and widely known. He bought, improved, and sold, during his busy life, a large quantity of real es- tate; and upon past, present, or future valuations his judgment was unsurpassed. In 1845 he was elected a vestryman of Trinity Church, which trust he filled conscientiously and industriously from that time until his death. For many years he was chairman of the committee on real estate.
In 1854 he was appointed, together with J. Watson Williams, E. A. Wetmore, Thomas Hopper, E. A. Graham, and John Dagwell, one of the commissioners of the building of the city hall. Through- out his entire business career, his honor and integrity were never questioned. He was a member of the board of trustees of the House of the Good Shepherd, from its first organizatiou in 1872, and a mem- ber of the building committee during the construction of the building.
In 1835 he married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late John A. Russ, long and favorably known here. In his domestic life, Mr. Fran- cis was a kind husband, a tender parent, and a firm friend. Ilis widow and three children, Helen G., Daniel J., and Cornelia M .. still survive him. His son is an enterprising merchant of Syracuse, N. Y.
Mr. Francis was a great lover of nature. Bryant's poems were among his favorites. It was his custom to take long walks, for exer- cise and pleasure, amidst the green fields, the sloping hills, and beau- tiful valleys. There were few places of interest in his native county with which he was not familiar. He thought no walk too long to se- cure the first wild-flowers of spring, and the trailing arbutus in its season.
He passed from earth, May 5, 1877, so peacefully and gently that he seemed to exemplify the truth of the poet's words,-
"Sure the last end of the good man is peace. How calm his exit 1 Night dews fall not more calmly on the ground, Nor weary, worn-ont winds expire so soft."
313
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" Value of apparatus, horses, furniture, cte. :
"Steamers, hose-carts, truck, etc. $18,970.00
Fourteen horses and harness ...
4,005.00
Hose, tools, etc ...
5,284.00
Depot of supplies ... 125.26
Furniture, fixtures, etc .. 1,383.85
Fire-aların telegraph ..
1,600.00
Furniture, equipments, ete., of police office. Total.
450.00
Add value of real estate
$31,818.11 26,000.00
Total amount of property belonging to police and fire departments ..
$57,818.11"
UTICA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The citizens of Utica began at a very carly day to pro- vide for the prevention and extinguishment of fires. The village was originally incorporated in 1798, and it is prob- able that a " Fire Company" was organized soon after. At any rate, we find in a notice of the fire which destroyed the trading-house of John Post, in February, 1804, a pub- lished card from the trustees of the village, in which they present " their warm thanks to the fire company" for their exertions on that occasion.
There is no record of the proceedings of the village trustees from 1798 to 1805, and consequently no informa- tion can readily be obtained of any legislation or action on this subject.
In 1805 the village received a new charter, and we find that immediate steps were taken by the trustees to organize a fire department. Wells were ordered dug, and pumps and fire utensils were procured. Twenty-five able-bodied men were appointed firemen, who were exercised on the last Saturday of every month, and firemen were selected to take charge of the hooks and ladders. The firemen were selected from among the lawyers and merchants, and were exempt from military duty. An ordinance was passed in the year 1805, requiring the owner of every dwelling, store, or workshop to keep hung up in a conspicuous place one or more leathern fire-buckets, of the capacity of eight quarts, ready at all times for instant usc.
The first officers of the fire company of 1805 were Gur- don Burchard, captain ; John Hooker and Moses Bagg, lieutenants ; and E. B. Shearman, clerk. The company wore painted hats, lettered and numbered. It would appear also that the village was then in possession of a hand-engine, or purchased one about that date. In December, 1805, a volunteer night-watch was organized, as will appear from the following document, which we transcribe from Dr. Bagg's work :
" UTICA, Dee'r 10, 1805.
"We, the subscribers, esteeming a Night Watch in the Village of Utica as necessary to guard us against the dangers of fire, do hereby associate ourselves for that purpose, and mutually pledge our honor to each other to act during the winter ensuing as good and faithful watchmen, under the direction and superintendenee of the Trustees of said village."
Signed by 98 citizens.
These watchmen were distributed in squads of five or six, and patroled the two principal streets. Paid watchmen were employed first in 1810. Benjamin Payne, a tailor, was one of the carly captains of the " Utica Fire Company."
In 1809 a lot for an engine-house was given by the Bleceker family, and an attempt was made to sell the en- gine then in use, but did not succeed. The same year
$500 was voted for various purposes, a portion of which was for the engine-house.
Under the third charter, obtained in 1817, the fire de- partment was reorganized and increased in numbers and efficiency, and engineers and fire-wardens were appointed in cach ward. Two companies of firemen were organized, containing in the aggregate 40 men.
In the days of hand-engines and a volunteer department the most famous " machine" in Utica was the old " Red Jacket," which was built by L. Button & Co., of Water- ford, N. Y., for an independent company in Utica. Bob Chapman, now of Waterloo, Iowa, was her first foreman. She was in use in Utiea about two years, when she was sold to the fire department of Chicago, and became Red Jacket, No. 4. In 1865 she was purchased for the fire department of Waterloo, Iowa, by her old foreman, Chapman, and was recently in good condition in that city, and capable of doing excellent work. She was warranted when built to be the most powerful hand-engine in the Union, and her record is something wonderful. Captain Chapman states, in a cor- respondence on the subject, that she has thrown a stream over the First Presbyterian Church spire, in Utica, a height of 210 feet ; and in Albany a horizontal stream of 225 feet. In New York, manned by the Chicago boys, she surpassed anything before seen in that city.
The hand-engines were used until the advent of the " steamer," after which their use was gradually abandoned.
One of the most noted organizations of the fire depart- ment was the old Rescue Hook-and-Ladder Company, or- ganized in 1857.
The first steamer brought to Utica was a "Silsby," in 1863, now No. 3. In 1865 two additional ones were pur- chased, now Nos. 2 and 4, and the last one was purchased in 1875.
The present fire department was organized in 1874, with a total force of 59 men, the same as at present. Two of the steamers now in use are of the Silsby pattern, and two were manufactured by Cole Brothers, of Pawtucket, R. I.
The following statements are taken from the annual re- port for 1877 :
STATEMENT OF THE VALUE OF PROPERTY IN USE BY THE FIRE DE- PARTMENT, APRIL 1, 1877.
Real Estate.
House of Steamer No. 2, John Street. $5,500
House of Steamer No. 4, Fayette Street 6,000
Hose depot, No. 25 Cooper Street. 7,500
Total .$19,000
Apparatus.
Stemmer No. 1. $4,550
Steamer No. 2.
4,000
Stemmer No. 3. 4,000
Steamer No. 4 .. 3,500
No. 1 Hose-Cart 200
No. 2 Hose-Cart 500
No. 3 Hose-Cart
250
No. 4 Ilose-Cart
700
Hook and Ladder No. 1
700
Two old hose-carts
200
Supply-wagon 130
Four-horse sleighs with racks
210
Total $18.970
Fifteen horses
$3.360
Seven sets double harness
615
Total $1,005
40
314
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
3500 feet of hose @ $1.10 per foot. $3,850
1500 feet of hose (@) .65 per foot. 975
2900 feet of hose @@ .15 per foot. 435
Fixtures, tools, and rivets. 24
Total .$5,284
Supply department,-coal, vitriol, telegraph-poles, etc. $125.26
Furniture and fixtures. 1383.85
Fire-alarm telegraph.
1100.00
RECAPITULATION.
Real estate. $19,000.00
Apparatus 18,970.00
Ilorses and harness. 4,005.00
Hose, tools, fixtures, etc .. 5,284.00
Supply department. 125.26
Furniture, fixtures, ete 1,383.85
Fire-alarm telegraph ..
1,100.00
Total. .$49,868.11
STATEMENT OF FIRES AND LOSSES BY FIRE, IN THE CITY OF UTICA, FROM 1870 TO APRIL 1, 1877.
1870-No. of fires, 16; No. of alarms, 13; losses, $136,050.
1871-No. of fires, 23; No. of alarms, 10; losses, $326,350.
1872-No. of fires, 24; No. of alarms, 9; losses, $104,834.
1873-No. of fires, 33; No. of alarms, 7; losses, $87,250.
1874-No. of fires, 36; No. of alarms, 13; losses, $55,436.
1875-No. of fires, 34; No. of alarms, 20; losses, $40,889.
1876-No. of fires, 49; No. of alarms, 16; losses, $28,985.
TELEGRAPH ALARM.
All the engine-houses, with the truek-house and poliee- station, and houses of chief engineer and chairman of this board are connected by telegraph, aud by another line twenty-six alarm-boxes in different parts of the city are connected with the police-station. All the police and official members of the Fire Department have keys to these boxes, and a key is left with some responsible person living near each box. An alarm from a street box goes only to the poliee-station, and from there is sent to all the other houses, but an alarm from either house goes to all the others. The following table shows the location and number of each box :
No. Ward.
1. Bagg's Hotel 1
1-2. Broad Street Bridge .. 1
2. Corner of Whitesboro' aud Charles Streets.
2-1. Corner of Liberty and Burehard Streets. 2
2-3. Canal Street, near Potter's Bridge, 2
3. Corner of Fayette and State Streets, 3
3-1. No. 3 Steamer-House and Police-Office. 3
3-2. Corner of State and William Streets. 3
3-4. Corner of Genesee and Oswego Streets 3
3-5. Corner of Plant and Francis Streets. 3 4. Corner of Park Avenue and Clark Place
4
4-1. No. 2 Steamer-House.
1
5. Corner of Bleecker and Third Streets.
5
6-1. Erie Street, Faass' store.
6-2. Kernan & Fish's lumber-yard, Eric Street 6
7. Corner of South and West Streets.
7
7-1. No. 1 Steamer-Honse.
7
8. Corner of Albany and Mary Streets.
S
8-1. City Hospital,
9
9. Globe Woolen- Mills, Court, Varick. 9
9-1. Corner of Court and Fay Streets. 9
9-2. Lunatic Asylum, Court, Whitesboro' 9
10. Corner of Blandina and First Streets. 10
GENERAL OFFICERS.
Wesley Dimbleby, Chief Engineer .* Office at Hose Depot, on Cooper Street ; residence, 124 Columbia Street ; salary, $1000 per annum.
John Peattie, 1st Assistant Engincer. Residence, 41 Brinekerhoff Avenue ; salary, $100 per annuni.
William F. Hoerlein, 2d Assistant Engineer. Residence, 38 Varick Street ; salary, $100 per annum.
THE AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COM- PANY.
The American District (or City Telegraph) was intro- duced into the city of Utica, in May, 1877, by J. B. Rich- ards, of Toledo, Ohio, representing the American District Telegraph Company, of New York City. A stock company was organized with considerable difficulty, the general opin- ion prevailing that Utica would not support any innovation on time-honored customs. R. S. Williams, Esq., was chosen president; T. G. Wood, secretary and treasurer; L. H. Lawrence making the third member of the executive com- mittee, and Thomas P. Nightingale, superintendent. Mr. Nightingale canvassed the city thoroughly, securing twenty- five subscribers, put up five miles of wire, and opened his office for business Aug. 13, two months after the enterprise was begun. The company agrce to answer any hour, day or night, calls for messengers, polieemen, fire department, carriages, and family physician. Twenty-five calls were responded to the first day.
The company has at this writing, September, 1878, nine or ten miles of wire, one hundred subseribers, and ten mes- sengers, neatly dressed, running about the streets of Utica daily, and it has become one of the most useful, necessary, and remunerative institutions in the county.
UTICA WATER-WORKS COMPANY.
Attempts were made at various times in the early history of Utica to bring a supply of water into the place, and pipes and logs were brought into use, and portions of the village and city partially supplied from springs.t At one time a line of pipe was laid from a spring near where the steam cotton-mills are uow located, and a few families sup- plied therefrom ; and there was a company called the Utiea Water-Works Company or Association still at least nomi- nally in cxistenee when the present company was organized. The present Utiea Water-Works Company was organized and incorporated Mareh 31, 1848. The original incorporators were James Watson Williams, Nicholas Devereux, Alfred Munson, Andrew S. Pond, Charles A. Mann, Horatio Seymour, Silas D. Childs, Willard Crafts, and Thomas Hopper. The capital stock was then $75,000; subse- quently at various periods inereased to $85,000, $115,000; in 1868 to $200,000 ; and in 1873 to the present aurount, $300,000. Business was eommeneed in 1849.
The water is mainly collected from the Graefenberg Springs, three miles distant, in the towu of Frankfort, Herkimer County, the seat of a noted water-cure establish- ment which was destroyed by fire a few years since. Three large reservoirs have been constructed; one near the springs and two below. The upper one was built about 1849, the middle one iu 1873, and the lower one in 1868. Their capacity is as follows :
t In the year 1800 Samuel Bardwell, Oliver Bull, Col. Benjamin Walker, and Silas Clark were associated together as the " Aqueduet" Company. Water was brought from springs on Asylum Hill and near the Oneida Brewery in logs, and a portion of the inhabitants supplied upon payment of a nominal sum.
Mr. Dimbleby has held this position for many years.
6
7-2. Corner of Eagle and Miller Streets.
7
7-3. Corner of Sonth and Dudley Streets.
7
6. Steam Woolen-Mill and No. 4 Steamer-House. 6
315
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Graefenborg Resorvoir
40,000,000 gallons. 228,000,000
Intermediate "
Distributing
35,000,000
Total
303,000,000
There have been put down about 35 miles of main pipes, and there are 190 publie hydrants in the city.
The water flows directly into the reservoirs without the aid of pumping-works. The height of the water-level in the distributing reservoir above the Mohawk River is about 200 feet, and about 80 feet above the highest ground within the city. A large share of the city is well supplied with good water.
The present officers of the corporation are as follows :
Thomas Hopper, President and Treasurer; Isaae May- nard, Vice-President; Charles W. Pratt, Superintendent ; Benjamin F. Ray, Secretary.
The office of the company is at No. 3 Devereux Street.
UTICA GASLIGHT COMPANY.
The company was organized and incorporated in Novem- ber, 1848.
The original incorporators were Nicholas Devereux, Silas D. Childs, Geo. S. Dana, Hamilton Spencer, Thomas R. Walker, James Watson Williams, and John F. Seymour, of Utica, and John Lee and Lemuel H. Davis, of Phila- delphia, Pa.
The capital stock is $80,000.
The first officers were Nicholas Devereux, President ; Hamilton Spencer, Secretary and Treasurer.
Thomas R. Walker has been president of the company sinee 1850, and H. H. Fish treasurer since 1851.
W. P. Fish is the present secretary and engineer.
There are thirty-one miles of mains laid in the city, and six hundred and fifty-three street lamps in use. The whole number of consumers' meters is 1560.
Capacity of the works, daily, 400,000 feet.
THE SCHOOLS OF UTICA.
The public schools of Utica are under the control of a board of six commissioners, two of whom are elected annu- ally at the regular election for city officers. The board eleets its chairman and elerk. The city treasurer is also treasurer for the school moneys. The schools are under the immediate charge of the city superintendent.
The officers at the present time are as follows :
Commissioners, David P. White, John N. Earll, Charles K. Grannis, Charles S. Symouds, William Kernan, J. C. P. Kineaid.
Superintendent, Andrew MeMillan, A.M.
The schools are elassed as PRIMARY, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED, and ACADEMY.
These are subdivided; the Primary into first and second Primary ; the Intermediate into four grades ; and the Ad- vaneed school into three departments. The course of study in the English department of the Academy requires four years, and the course preparatory to entering college the same.
HISTORICAL.
The following historical and statistical account of the schools of Utica has been prepared mostly from Professor
MeMillan's interesting article published in connection with the annual report of the city schools for 1876, and the last annual report for 1877. Considerable additional material has been collected from other sources, which, it is believed, will make the article very complete and acceptable. Utica has certainly just reason for being proud of its educational institutions, which rank among the most thorough and efficient in the State. We commence with Professor MeMillan's sketch of the early schools :
" I am not able to find the exact date of the establishment of the first school in Old Fort Schuyler, now Utica, but it was about 1789. The first schoolmaster was Joseph Dana. He was devote I to his work, and successful in its prosecution. Whether he possessed the spirit of industry in an unusual degree, or was the victim of stern, unflinching necessity, I am not informed. I only know that he was occupied in teaching not only his day school, but also a singing school even- ings in this and adjacent villages. By referring to a recent lecture delivered by Dr. M. M. Bagg, I find that Mr. Dana, owing to some difficulty, left Utica and located in the town of Westmoreland, and afterwards enlisted in the army of 1812. The building in which Mr. Dana kept his school was used also for holding religious services and other public purposes. It is yet standing, fronting Main Street, and in the rear of John J. Francis' premises on Broad Street. It is a long, low, one-storied building, and can be readily distinguished by its sharp gable roof. I regret that some of these ancient landmarks cannot be preserved as mementoes of the early history of our eity.
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