History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 91

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932

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Its present organization is Joseph W. O'Donnell, Captain ; Wm. F. Ford, First Lieutenant ; Wm. M. Philleo, Second Lieutenant,-the first two of whom have held their offices sinee the formation of the company, with an interval of one year. The roll now embraces 80 members.

POST BACON, NO. 53, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Post Bacon, No. 53, was organized as one of the Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, Oet. 24, 1867, its members being composed entirely of veterans of the late war. Its first commander was Peter Claesgens. He was followed by D. C. Stoddard, and his successor was N. W. Palmer. D. C. Stoddard was re-elected the following year, and after him John Peattie. Warren E. Day succeeded Commander Peattie, and was followed by Elijah Woodward. Wm. H. Bright next held the command, and the present Commander is Harvey D. Taleott.

The walls of Post Baeon Hall are hung with battle-flags that have done service, and all of them bear the marks of battle. The Post has established a reputation for charity as well as valor. It has contributed a considerable sum to the Soldiers' Home, and has been liberal in its gifts to the yellow-fever sufferers.

POST H. H. CURRAN, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Post H. H. Curran, No. 146, was organized April 26, 1875, and is composed of members who were formerly con- nected with Post Baeon. Having been in existence but three years, it has had but three Commanders, the first having been William Wright, the second Peter Claesgens,

Photo, by Muudy.

E.S.Barnum

EZRA SMITH BARNUM was born in Danbury, Conn., June 21, 1792, and there resided until 1809. He was son of Ezra and Jerusha Barnum, of Danbury, Conn. His education from books while young was obtained at odd spells at a woman's school in Danbury, "and completed in Utica, in 1809, by attending for one quarter the evening school kept by old Master William Hayes." With his brother-in-law, Levi Comstock, to whom he had been indentured as an apprentice at the shoemaking, tanning, and currier business, he left his native place, June 8, 1809, in a lumber wagon for Utica, reaching his destination June 16, and finding a village of some fifteen hundred inhabitants. During this term of service, which expired in 1812, he received only an allowance of thirty-five dollars a year for clothes and spending-money, leaving the balance against him financially when he began life as a master workman. The year previous to the expiration of his apprenticeship Mr. Barnum paid a visit to his parents at Danbury, and on his return went to Buffalo, where he worked at his trade only a short time before the breaking ont of the war with Great Britain, when, in response to a call for minute-men, he volunteered, and was at the first taking of Fort Erie. Subsequently he kept a boot and shoe store at Fort George for a short time, but on account of ill bealth returned to Utica. About this time Buffalo, then only a small village, was burned and he did not go back.

From this time until he retired from active business Mr. Barnum was in business relations, at different times, with David P. Hoyt, Wm. Gear, Zebulon Everson, Robert Jones, and with his sons in Barnum's Bazar. In the year 1832, thinking to improve his health, he bought some sixty-seven acres of land in the vicinity of East Street, and turned his attention to farming, but after a few years engaged in the grocery and confectionery business, succeeding Everson & Bryant, ou the corner of Genesee and Catharine Streets.

In the year 1849 he first visited Europe for his health and for business pur- poses, and while there instituted an importing business, which is still carried on by his sons, S. O. Barnum, of Buffalo, and Samnel Barnum, of Chicago. A second visit to Europe was made in 1852, in company with Mr. Theodore S. Faxton and friends. In all his business transactions he retained the confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and was highly esteemed for his manly and unostentatious ways, his strict integrity in all his dealings, and for his great kindness of heart to those in need.

Mr. Barnum bore an important part in public affairs during his sixty-eight years' residence in Utica. He was first elected as constable, collector, and coroner in 1817, and while holding these offices was appointed sheriff, and, with- out his knowledge, justice of the peace. Concerning this appointment, he was wont to say "he liad never heen able to find ont who was so kind as to recom- mend him to Governor Yates for the office; that he had little claim to educa- tion and none to law, but he had some idea of justice." He was re-elected from term to term until he had served seventeen years, and declined further to be a candidate; and it is a fact worthy of note in the summation of his career as justice, that only two cases were appealed from his decision, one of which was affirmed by the higher courts. On retiring from the justiceship, in 1835, Mr. Barnum was appointed deputy United States marshal and commissioner of deeds. In one or the other of these various offices he served over thirty years. He was several years alderman, first in 1832. Was chosen one of the directors of the Oneida Bank upon its organization in 1836, and was at the time of his death, February, 1878, the only member of the original board still in service. He attended during his connection with that bank about four thousand meetings of the directors, and was one year president and two years

vice-president of the board. He was for forty-two years a member of the Me- chanics' Association, and one of the subscribers to the Old Hall Fund; was one of the original subscribers to the Clinton Liberal Institute Fund, and a mem- ber of the first board of trustees, and every year for forty-five years until his death. He was one of the original subscribers to the Utica Academy Fund. His name appears on the roll of one of the first fire companies formed in Utica, and when Utica was set off from Whitestown, Mr. Barnum assisted in running out and establishing the boundaries of the village. The line, on what is now Kimball Street, was run through a forest so dense that a path had to be cleared with an axe to enable the signal flag to be seen at the distance of half a chain.

In politics Mr. Barnum always adhered to the Democratie party, and during General Lafayette's triumphal tour through this country, in 1824-25, he was a member of the Utica committee sent to Whitesboro' to meet the com- mittee from the West having the general and his son (George Wasbington Lafayette) in charge. Mr. Barnum says, in speaking of this incident, “we brought the party to Utica through a new street just opened, which in honor of the general was called Fayette Street."

Twenty-five years afterwards he met George Washington Lafayette in Paris, presented bim with the plans of the Washington Monument, and visited General Lafayette's Monument in the cemetery of Pippis.

Besides a life of stirring business activity and success, and honorable puhlic service, there remains to add long and eminent service and high honors in the order of Free and Accepted Masons. He was first elected a member of Utica Lodge, No. 47, F. and A. M., in January, 1817 ; was one of the first to take the four chapter degrees of Oneida Chapter, No. 57, of Royal Arch Masons, in March, 1817. He joined Utica Council, No. 28, of Royal and Select Masters soon after its organization. In February, 1823, Utica Encampment, No. 7 (now Utica Commandery, No. 3), of Knights Templar was chartered, with Sir Richard Sanger Illustrions Grand Master, and among those elected to mem- bership was Ezra S. Barnum. In the bodies named he was early inducted into official position, having held almost all of the offices connected with tbem, and also nearly all the offices of the Grand Chapter, R. A. M., of New York, and twice to the office of Grand High Priest. He held also nearly every office of the Grand Commandery, K. T., of the State, of which body he was Grand Master, 1835-41 inclusive, together with several offices in the old Grand Council of High Priests. In 1838, Mr. Barnum's Masonie merits were furtber recognized by his election to the office of Very Eminent Grand Sword- Bearer in the General Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, at the Encampment held at Boston ; which office he filled for six years, and was advanced to Junior Warden, in 1847 Senior Warden, and in 1853 Very Eminent Grand Captain-General. In all these positions it is recorded that Mr. Barnum served with distinguished ability and fidelity. Medals, certificates, and complimentary resolutions testify to the appreciation of his services by the various bodies. At the age of eighty-five he was an attendant at the meetings of the Masonic bodies of the city. His church connections were always with the Universalist denomination.

In the year 1815, May 6, he married Miss Mary, danghter of John and Jane Ostrom, of Utica. Sbe was born March 5, 1793, and died July 2, 1875. Their children are: Stephen O., Richard (deceased), George (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Jane (deceased), wife of D. V. W. Golden (deceased), Samuel, Mary, Ezra (killed at Chicago during a fire), Eliza C., wife of I. C. McIntosh.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and its present Commander, Thomas M. Davies. Though sınall in numbers, the Post is in a very flourishing eon- dition. Like Post Bacon, it is composed entirely of vet- erans.

FREEMASONRY IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

The history of Freemasonry in Oneida County earries us baek to the year 1796. At that date Horeb Chapter, of Royal Arch Masons, was formed and holden at Whites- town, with Caleb B. Merrill, Jedediah Sanger, and George Kassaek as its principal offieers. It continued in existenee until 1842, and Nathaniel Caulking was for many years one of its leading members.

In 1802 Craft Masonry flourished in Oneida County, and the following lodges were then in existence: Amicable Lodge, Whitestown ; Western Star Lodge, Bridgewater ; Roman Lodge, Rome; Federal Lodge, Paris. The second named of which has a continued existenee to the present day.

In the city of Utica there are three lodges, namely : Utiea Lodge,. No. 47; Oriental Lodge, No. 224; and Faxton Lodge, No. 697.

Utica Lodge, No. 47, was organized, in 1816, by au- thority of a warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of New York, and signed by De Witt Clinton, Grand Master; Martin Hoffman, Deputy Grand Master; Cadwallader D. Colden, Senior Grand Warden ; Elisha Gilbert, Junior Grand Warden. Among the petitioners for the foregoing warrant were Montgomery Hunt, Thomas Walker, Asahel Seward, Walter Fleming, and Levi Comstock. In 1825 the lodge formed part of the procession on the oeeasion of the opening of the Erie Canal, when His Exeelleney, Gov- ernor De Witt Clinton, visited the brethren.

Its first officers were Montgomery Hunt, Master; Ephraim Hart, Senior Warden ; Thomas Walker, Junior Warden. Its present principal officers are William E. Hopkins, Master ; Eugene B. Hastings, Senior Warden ; Elon G. Brown, Junior Warden.

Oriental, Lodge, No. 224, was formed and constituted in 1851. Prominent among its founders was Philemon Lyon, a man of unblemished reputation, and honored by all for his integrity and Christian eharaeter. He was ardent in all things pertaining to the welfare of the eraft, and his influence and example were felt in the growth and progress of the organization. The publie aets performed by the craft in the eity, and participated in by this lodge, were the laying of the corner-stone of the City Hall, the Utiea Orphan Asylum, and the celebration of the laying of the first Atlantie eable. Its contributions have been liberal to enterprises designed to promote the welfare of Masonry in the State.

Its first officers were Philemon Lyon, Master; Edward Eames, Senior Warden ; Erastus G. Perkins, Junior Warden. Its present principal officers are Elizur Russell, Master; J. Sehechl, Senior Warden ; E. L. Akehurst, Junior Warden.

Faxton Lodge, No. 697, named in honor of an old Ma- son, Hon. Theodore S. Faxton, was formed and constituted in 1870. Its membership was composed of brethren who had gained experience by long practice in official positions in the other lodges. At its organization it met with de-

eided sueeess, numbers of influential citizens having identi- fied themselves with it. The recent acquisitions are mainly composed of younger inen, who by their energy contribute materially to its growth. Its first officers were Wm. C. Seranton, Master ; Judson B. Andrews, Senior Warden; Henry H. Cooper, Junior Warden. Its present principal officers are Edward Lawson, Master ; F. S. Cur- tiss, Senior Warden ; John A. Roberts, Junior Warden.

Oneida Chapter, No. 57, of Royal Arch Masons, was organized in 1817. Its first officers were Thomas Walker, High-Priest ; Asahel Seward, King; Walter Fleming, Seribe ; who were assisted by the leading Masons of that period in building up the Chapter. Ezra S. Cozier was one of its most active and useful members, who became noted in the history of Royal Arch Masons in the State, and who filled the highest offices with honor and eredit. He was eleeted Grand High-Priest of the Grand Chapter of the State in 1831, and was at a later date sueeeeded by Ezra S. Barnum in 1846-47, and by Rees G. Williams in 1871- 72, each of whom were members of Oneida Chapter. Its present principal offieers are M. A. Lewis, High-Priest ; Elon G. Brown, King; Wm. E. Hopkins, Seribe.

Utiea Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar, was or- ganized in 1823. Its first officers were Richard Sanger, Grand Master; Elijah F. Willey, Generalissimo ; Thomas Latimore, Captain-General. Its present principal offieers are Joseph A. Johnson, Commander; John H. Douglas, Generalissimo ; John H. Cunningham, Captain-General.

The history of this organization during the past twenty years has been one of progress and sueeess, and the roll of its membership has been inereased by the acquisition of leading citizens from adjacent parts of the State. In 1825 the sword worn by Baron Steuben during the Revolution- ary war was presented to the Commandery, and is still preserved as a valued memento among its archives.

Utica Council, No. 28, of Royal and Selcet Masters, was organized in 1866. Its first officers were Rees G. Williams, T. I. M .; Theodore W. Bolles, I. D. M .; Charles B. Foster, I. P. C. of W. Its present prineipal officers are Edward B. Cash, T. I. M .; Edward Lawson, I. D. M .; A. I. Simmons, I. P. C. of W. .

Yah-nun-dah-sis .- Lodge of Perfection (Scottish Rite) was organized in 1872. Its first officers were Theodore W. Bolles, T. P. G. M .; Daniel N. Crouse, D. G. M .; Harvey Barnard, S. G. W. ; James II. Howe, J. G. W. Its present principal officers are Theodore W. Bolles, T. I. G. M .; James H. Howe, D. G. M .; James HI. Brand, S. G. W .; Thomas M. Davies, J. G. W.

Ezra S. Barnum Chapter of Rose Croix .- This Chapter was chartered in 1878. It meets the second Wed- nesday of every month, and is in a flourishing condition.

The Ziyara Temple, or Ancient Order of the Nobles of the Mystie Shrine, meets regularly in February, May, Oe- tober, and December. Its present offieers are Frazier W. Hurlburt, 32°, Ill. G. P .; Taliesin Evans, 32º, Ill. C. R .; Edward A. Tallman, 32º, Ill. A. R. ; Charles B. Foster, 14°, Ill. H. P. and P. ; Theodore W. Bolles, 32º, Ill. O. G.

Ezra S. Barnum, whom we have already mentioned as having been honored with the highest offices in the State,

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was conspicuous for his devotion to the interests of Masonry for a period of sixty years. During the anti-Masonic times, when storms and trials in dark and troublous days over- shadowed the fraternity, Ezra S. Barnum was one of the few who remained steadfast and upheld the integrity of the craft. His funeral obsequies, which occurred in February, 1878, were attended by the highest Masonic dignitaries in the State.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.

This order, which has attained great strength in the State, regards Utica as one of its strongholds. Its oldest organization in this city is Oneida Lodge, No. 70, which may be regarded as the parent lodge from which all others in the western portion of the State have sprung. There are in the city five Lodges, two Encampments, and two Daugh- ters of Rebekah Lodges, beside one Degree Lodge. Oneida Lodge, the oldest, obtained its charter May 21, 1842. The following year Skenandoa Lodge, No. 95, was organized, its charter bearing date Oct. 13, 1843. Schuyler Lodge, No. 147, was chartered May 27, 1845, and Central City Lodge, May 6, 1846. There is also Allemania Lodge, No. 186. The Tri-Mount Encampment, No. 24, was chartered Aug. 25, 1845, and the Steuben Encampment, No. 57, April, 1871. All these organizations are in a flourishing condition.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

This order was founded in Washington, D. C., about fifteen years since, and in a comparatively short time has attained a membership of over 100,000. It has two Lodges in Utica,-Utica City Lodge, No. 59, and Excelsior Lodge, No. 118. The first Lodge was instituted Aug. 5, 1871. Prominent among its founders were A. R. Mckenzie, James E. Hall, R. U. Owens, G. J. Buchanan, and O. A. Buen- ham. The object of the order is the promotion of friend- ship, benevolence, and brotherly love.

EPHRAIM LODGE, NO. 41, O. K. S. B.

This lodge was organized and instituted into the Order K. S. B., under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of District No. 1, April 23,.1873, with the following officers : S. Mitchell, W. A. ; Simon Stein, W. N. ; A. Z. Heyman, Secretary ; and Joseph Wineberg, W. Ct. The principles of the order are similar to those of other secret orders of a benevolent nature. It has also an insurance provision, the widow and orphans of deceased members receiving the sum of $1000, for which each member is assessed. There are also other benevolent provisions for the assistance of mem- bers. The present officers are S. Mitchell, President; Z. Zandlospky, Vice-President ; Edward Jackson, Secretary ; and S. Stein, Treasurer. The Lodge is at present in a flourishing condition.

ONEIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The charter of the Oneida Historical Society bears date Sept. 18, 1878, though the society was organized prior to that date. Among the names inscribed upon its record as members and founders are Horatio Seymour, C. W. Hutcli- inson, M. M. Jones, Alexander Seward, Francis Kernan, Win. J. Bacon, John F. Seymour, Roscoe Conkling, Dr.

John Gray, Ellis H. Roberts, Alexander S. Johnson, M. M. Bagg, and many other residents of Oneida County. The charter states the society to have been formed for " histori- cal and literary purposes, and the particular business shall be the discovery, collection, preservation, and publication of the history, historical records of and data relating to the territory or distriets of country formerly occupied or claimed by the Oneida and Mohawk tribes or nations of Indians ; the collection and preservation of books, newspapers, pam- phlets, maps, genealogies, portraits, paintings, relics, and manuscript letters, journals, surveys, field-books, and any and all other articles and other materials which may estab- lish or illustrate sueli history, or the growth and progress of population, wealth, education, agriculture, arts, science, manufactures, trade, and commerce in said territory or dis- trict." The Oneida Historical Society took the initiative steps in celebrating the battle of Oriskany, which was one of the most desperate and sanguinary, as well as one of the most important battles of the Revolution. This battle was fought Aug. 6, 1777, and the memorable centennial ceremonies which commemorated tlie event occurred Aug. 6, 1877. The society holds its meetings in commodious rooms placed at its disposal in the new library building in the city of Utica. The apartments are fire-proof, and well calculated to preserve the valuable archives and relics which are rapidly filling its cases. Its officers are : President, Horatio Seymour ; 1st Vice-President, C. W. Hutchinson ; 2d Vice-President, Alexander Seward ; 3d Vice-President, Edward Huntington ; Corresponding Secretary, Morven M. Jones ; Recording Secretary, S. N. Dexter North ; Treas- urer, Robert S. Williams.

UTICA LAW LIBRARY AND BAR ASSOCIATION.

The Utica Law Library and Bar Association was incor- porated on the 19th day of December, 1876, the object of the Association being the founding, continuing, and per- petuating of a law library in accordance with an act of the Legislature bearing upon the subject. Its founders were Nicholas Kernan, H. J. Cookinham, A. C. Coxe, R. W. McIncrow, E. H. Risley, J. R. Swan, Jr., W. B. Sutton, L. B. Root, and Addison C. Miller. Through the efforts of the Association a general term will hereafter be held in Utica, their fine library, comprising nearly 4000 volumes, having aided materially in bringing about that result.

The present directors of the Association are Addison C. Miller, N. E. Kernan, Henry J. Cookinham, Alfred C. Coxe, Richard W. MeIncrow, Wm. B. Sutton, L. H. Bab- cock, Lynott B. Root, and Joseph R. Swan, Jr.

UTICA MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION.

On the 19th of May, 1827, a meeting was held at John King's tavern, which stood on the corner of Washington and Liberty Streets, to form a Mechanics' Association.

After some discussion the meeting was adjourned to the next week, when a larger number came together, and formed a " Mechanics' Benevolent Society." The member- ship of the first society was confined to practical mechanics, and the chief object scems to have been to assist the poor and needy among themselves. It dragged along for several years, holding meetings occasionally and passing " good

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

resolutions," which were never put in practice until the year 1831, when it was reorganized under a new constitution, with the following officers : President, Thomas Walker; Vice-President, Kellogg Hurlburt; Sceretary, J. D. Ed- wards ; Treasurer, Zenas Wright; Directors, S. V. Oley, William Francis, James McGregor, W. C. Rogers, A. B. Williams, D. S. Porter.

The whole number of members at this time was 32.

The institution was incorporated March 30, 1833, and the original charter remains the same, except Section 5, which in the year 1863 was altered so as to allow the Asso- eiation an annual income of $5000, instead of $1000, as before.

There have been in all twenty-nine presidents of this As- sociation. Thomas Walker held the office from 1831 to 1835; Gardner Traey, from 1835 to 1837; Rudolph Snyder, from 1837 to 1843 ; and the following persons for one year each consecutively ; Ezra S. Barnum, John S. Peckham, Harvey Barnard, Levi Cozzens, S. V. Oley, Dol- phus Bennett, Otis Manchester, Grove P'enny, Dolphus Bennett, John S. Peckham, Philip Thomas, John Dagwell, Wm. C. Churchill, Theodore S. Faxton, Thomas May- nard, David P. White, George H. Wiley, Russel Wheeler, Chauncey Palmer, L. W. Rogers, S. W. Chubbuck, N. A. White, E. D. Wood, Benjamin Allen, Selden Collins, Benjamin Allen, Charles Millar, George H. Wiley, Theo- dore S. Faxton, Lewis Lawrence, and S. S. Lowery.

The Association has had but five treasurers during its existenec. Zenas Wright served from 1831 to 1833; James Murdock, from 1833 to 1850; Levi Cozzens, from 1850 to 1862; Grove Penny, from 1862 to 1867; and Wm. P. Carpenter, from 1867 to the present time.

Among the first objects which engaged the attention of the Association was the establishment of a library and reading-room. The accounts of the treasurer for 1834 inake mention of both, and in 1836 there is a charge of $101.84 taxes, "paid on library stock." A printed cata- logue of 1836 shows that the library then contained over six hundred volumes, in all departments of learning and literature. The books were kept in the law-office of J. H. Rathbone, on Broad Street, until Mechanies' Hall was built, when they were removed to what is now the furnace-room, in the second story of the old hall. The large apartment at the southwest end of the building, subsequently occupied by the Common Council, was then used for a reading-room.

In 1838 the library was sold to the Young Men's Asso- ciation. Some $200 of the purchase-money was paid, and then it seems to have passed again into the possession of the Mechanics' Association, and was finally disposed of " in lots to suit purchasers."

In 1844 a new set of officers was chosen, whose activity and energy seemed to infuse new life and vigor into the Association. The next year the third fair was held, and from that time the Association has steadily advanced.

In the second year of its existence the Association had a course of lectures from Dr. Noyes, Professor of Chemis- try in Hamilton College, for which, as appears by the treasurer's books, he was paid $69.50. The same gentle- man lectured again before the Association in 1833, 1834, and 1835. There is no record of other lectures until the

year 1851-52, when the course resulted in a loss of $23.54. From that time until the present the Association has had a course of lectures in each year, except 1855, when they were suspended for the purpose of enlarging and remodel- ing the hall. The lectures have been upon seientifie, lit- crary, and miscellaneous subjects, mostly of a popular character.

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 91

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932