USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 68
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J. MILTON BUTLER was born at Sauquoit, July 9, 1827. He was prepared for college very early in life, and entered Hamilton College in 1844, graduating
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
in 1848. His first business enterprise was in the establishment of S. A. Millard & Company, manufacturers of farming implements in Clayville, but he only remained there a short time, and then entered the Oneida County Bank at Utica, as a bookkeeper. In 1854 he was made teller, and in the succeeding year was made cashier, which position he held until 1887, when he was made president. He was a most careful banker, and had methods peculiarly his own to guard the interests of his bank. It is said that he never allowed a cus- tomer to overdraw his account, but if a check of a customer, who was tinan- cially responsible, was presented, which would overdraw that customer's ac- count, Mr. Butler deposited his own check to the credit of the customer, so as to make the check good, and then notified the customer what he had done, thus putting the customer under such obligations to Mr. Butler that it was incumbent upon him to make the check good at the earliest possible moment. The capital of the Oneida County Bank was $125,000, but under Mr. Butler's excellent management the surplus was two or three times the amount of its capital. He ruled the bank as he pleased, and it was referred to generally as "Butler's Bank." Mr. Butler never married, and the large fortune which he had accumulated at his death went to collaterals.
BUSINESS MEN
JOHN C. DEVEREUX-Among the business men of the county who assisted in shaping its destines was John C. Devereux, who settled in Utica as early as 1802, where he became a merchant, soon taking as a partner his brother, Nicholas. Mr. Devereux was public-spirited, did much for charity, was recog- nized as one of the foremost citizens of the community, and left an enviable reputation to posterity.
NICHOLAS DEVEREUX, the brother of John C. Devereux, came to Utica in 1806, and first entered the store of his brother as a clerk, but afterwards be- came a partner. Mr. Devereux afterward dissolved partnership with his brother,. and formed a partnership with George L. Truesdale, the firm being known as Nicholas Devereux & Company.
Mr. Devereux became largely interested in the Holland Land Company, and gave much of his time to the development of and dealing in real estate. He was also interested in several banks in Utica, was a director of the Utica Steam Woolen Mills, and a manager of the New York State Asylum. He died at his residence on Chancellor Square, December 29, 1855.
SPENCER KELLOGG-Another man who held a prominent position in the city of Utica was Spencer Kellogg. He was born in Massachusetts, but came to Utica to live in 1824, and conducted a dry goods store in that city. He was -- prominent in business, and at one time was mayor of the city. He was an early advocate of the freedom of slaves. He was a deacon of the First Presby- terian church, and a courageous and indefatigable worker for that which he deemed for the good of humanity. At the breaking out of the cholera in 1832, he braved any danger to care for those who required attention. Two of Mr.
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Kellogg's sons became prominent business men in Utica. Palmer V. Kellogg was a manufacturer of clothing, and his business was located on Franklin Square in Utica. He conducted a very large factory, but finally transferred his business to Chicago, and died while a resident of that city.
CHARLES C. KELLOGG became a dealer in lumber, and with Charles Downer, built up a large lumber business. The same establishment is still carried on by worthy successors, the sons of Mr. Kellogg, and is known as the Charles C. Kellogg & Sons Company.
ALEXANDER B. JOHNSON was one of the principal business men and finan- ciers of Utica for half a century. He was an Englishman by birth. It is said of him that he drew a charter for an insurance company in Utica which was so adroit that it permitted the carrying on of a bank as well as an insurance com- pany. He was really the controlling element in the Utica Insurance Com- pany, which caused so much litigation and furnished precedents for many legal conflicts in insurance law that have been since followed in the courts. Mr. Johnson was president of the Ontario Branch Bank; had large interests in manufactories and other kinds of business. He manifested great financial ability in his affairs, was exact in business, shrewd and careful, but was ready in granting to others their rights.
SAMUEL FARWELL was born May 19, 1795, in Herkimer county. He had learned the trade of a mason, but early in life became a contractor and followed that most of his life. He was a builder of railroads and other public works. Under contract he supplied ties and timber to several railroads in the state of New York, among them the Syracuse & Auburn, Mohawk-Hudson, and Hudson & Berkshires. He had contracts in connection with many other works, but the one which identified him most closely with the county of Oneida was his contract for the construction of the Utica & Black River railroad, which was built between 1854 and 1856. He also assisted in building the Flint & Pere Marquette railroad in Michigan, and was its president at one time. Un- fortunately Mr. Farwell had guaranteed a large issue of bonds of this road, and in a financial depression these bonds became due and the railroad could not pay them. This caused Mr. Farwell great financial loss. After his death, however, the condition of the railroad improved to such an extent, that had he lived but a few years he would have been, in all probability, a very wealthy man.
DAVID V. W. GOLDEN and J. B. WELLS-Among the retail merchants who stood out in the past as the most prominent were David V. W. Golden and John B. Wells. Mr. Golden was first a clerk, and then became interested with Eugene Swartwout in the dry goods business. He was a man of great energy, and kept an excellent class of goods. After the dissolution of the partnership he conducted a store at 83 Genesee street for many years, which was con- sidered one of the very best of its kind in the city. Mr. Golden was a fancier of fine horses, and frequently would be seen driving spirited horses in the
DAVID V. W. GOLDEN Merchant
CHARLES MILLAR Merchant
GEORGE WILEY Manufacturer
EPIIRAIM CHAMBERLAIN Manufacturer
ROBERT MIDDLETON Manufacturer
SOME PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN OF UTICA
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
streets; he also took great pleasure in driving them upon the tracks for his own amusement. He resided in the old Sanger house in the village of New Hartford, and it was his custom to drive back and forth twice a day to the store. It was often his boast that he could pass from his house to his store in twelve minutes. On one occasion, while driving one of his favorite horses upon the track to exhibit him to a friend who was riding with him, the horse became unmanageable, and the occupants were -thrown from the carriage. Mr. Golden's leg was broken, and the bone was shattered so badly that it pro- truded through the flesh. He was taken home, blood posoning set in, and he died much lamented by his fellow merchants.
JOHN B. WELLS came to Utica in 1839, and entered the dry goods store of A. L. & H. Wells. Soon after he formed a partnership with Lewis Bailey, and commenced business for himself. This partnership existed until 1846, when he commenced business for himself. The writer has heard Mr. Wells say that when he had been in business six years no man had ever presented a bill to him; that he made it a rule to pay for everything he bought at the time he purchased it. The following incident is related of Mr. Wells. At one time he was in New York at a wholesale establishment, and purchased a very large bill of goods. His method of doing business was so rapid that he astonished the young man who was waiting upon him, and when he had completed his purchase the young man said to him, "Mr. Wells, you have purchased a very large bill, and it will be necessary for you to go to the office to see about credit." Mr. Wells replied, "Young man, who has said anything about credit ? The money is in my pocket to pay the bill." The place of business of Mr. Wells was at 78 Genesee street. While he was yet in the prime of life he took as partners his son and John S. Capron. The store was extended until the establishment occupied four stores on Genesee street, from 77 to 81 inclusive. Mr. Wells died November 17, 1891, leaving a good fortune to each one of his children, and a most enviable name as a merchant and as a man. In his life- time he was a liberal contributor to religious and charitable purposes, but he generally observed the proverb that "his left hand should not know what his right hand did." Under a corporation the former business establishment of Mr. Wells has been continued by his son, Mr. Capron and Edgar B. Odell, and the establishment is among the oldest of any kind in the city of Utica.
ABIJAH J. WILLIAMS, one of the foremost manufacturers and business men of Utica, was born in Oriskany, July 13, 1806; he came to Utica about 1845, and commenced manufacturing cotton mill findings. His unusual ability and industry built up a substantial business within a short time. He was also connected with the banks of Utica, the Empire Woolen Mills at Clayville, the Skenandoa Cotton Mills and the Utica Steam Cotton Mill. In his business affairs he was so successful that he acquired a large fortune, and at his death, August 5, 1886, he left not only a fortune to each of his children, but sub- stantial sums to many distant and needy relatives and to charities.
GEORGE H. WILEY was for many years connected with manufactories in Utica, and has ever been considered one of the most substantial and able manu-
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facturers that the city has produced. He was born in Massachusetts and edu- cated in the east, obtaining a knowledge of manufacturing there, and in 1852 was engaged as superintendent of the Utica Steam Cotton Mills. His ability in conducting a mill was such that its business was rapidly increased, until it became one of the largest establishments of the kind in the state. Mr. Wiley was also connected with the Mohawk Valley Mills, as that was substantially under the same management as the other mills. He was interested in the Wil- lowvale Bleachery, and his knowledge of manufacturing of cotton in its vari- ous forms was of great benefit to the management of all these institutions. It may be said of Mr. Wiley that his capacity and judgment were so good, that anything in the line of manufacturing which he advocated was sure to be successful. He died in Utica, leaving a large circle of friends who sincerely mourned his death.
ROBERT MIDDLETON, a Scotchman by birth, came to Utica in 1857, to take charge of the Utica Woolen Mills, which, up to that time, had not been suc- cessful. With such a man at the head of the financial department as Theodore S. Faxton, and Mr. Middleton as the practical manufacturing head of the concern, it is not surprising that the mill was soon made a success. The char- acter of the goods was such that they would compete with any imported goods of the same kind. As an illustration of the confidence of the public in the management of Mr. Faxton and Mr. Middleton, we give the following: On September 6, 1871, the entire plant, including a great quantity of manufactured goods, and goods in process of manufacture, was destroyed by fire, and even then the stock of the corporation could not be bought at par. Mr. Middleton succeeded Mr. Faxton as president of the company, and after his death his son, Walter D. Middleton, succeeded to the presidency, but finally the business was sold to others, and the present head of the concern is J. Fred Maynard.
EPHRAIM CHAMBERLAIN was born at Burlington, Otsego county, January 2, 1825. He removed to Utica in 1845, and became a bookkeeper in a cotton factory about 1849; in 1854 was made treasurer of the company, and a few years later became secretary as well as treasurer; in 1889 he became vice presi- dent, and in 1890 president. Mr. Chamberlain illustrates the saying that a man who learns self denial and devotes himself to duty goes to the front in his vocation, where his competitors, who have not learned that lesson, have failed. Mr. Chamberlain was interested in many of the large industries in Utica; was a director and vice president of the Oneida National Bank; a trustee of the Savings Bank of Utica, and was connected with many other associations and clubs of the city. He died in Utica, leaving a substantial fortune and an enviable reputation.
THOMAS HOPPER was born in Utica, January 31, 1807. He was educated in Utica schools, and for a time was a merchant, but finally devoted himself largely to real estate. He lived in New York for about ten years. He was one of the originators of the water works system of the city of Utica, and was president of that organization for many years. He was also an organizer of
JOHN C. DEVEREUX Merchant
ALEXANDER B. JOHNSON Capitalist
JOIIN B. WELLS Merchant
ADDISON C. MILLER Lawyer and banker
SPENCER KELLOGG Manufacturer
THOMAS HOPPER President of the Utica Water Works Compauy
SOME PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN OF UTICA
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the Utica Cemetery Association. Mr. Hopper had invested largely in the stock of the Utica Water Works Company, and it became very valuable after his death. The success of the water company as a financial enterprise was largely due to the ability and good judgment of Mr. Hopper. He was a care- ful, fair business man, and an excellent citizen and neighbor.
CHARLES MILLAR, another of the foremost business men of Utica, gave his time to railroading, manufacturing, and dealing in dairy and farming sup- plies and other metals. Mr. Millar was for about six years superintendent of the Utica & Black River Railroad, and as such proved a most efficient officer. He established the house of Charles Millar & Son, now a corporation, which has continued to increase its business since Mr. Millar's death, and is now one of the foremost establishments in the city of Utica.
JOHN THORN and ISAAC MAYNARD were brothers-in-law, and acted in con- nection with each other in business affairs for many years in Utica, being suc- cessful in everything they undertook. They were Englishmen by birth. John Thorn was born in England, December 6, 1811, and worked in that country as an apprentice for a manufacturer of soap and candles. He came to Utica in October, 1832, and engaged to work for Boyd & Chamberlain as a soap and candlemaker. He then bought an interest in the business. He afterward took as a partner Isaac Maynard. The firm of Thorn & Maynard carried on busi- ness of several different kinds in Utica during their entire lives. They also became interested in business in Chicago. They were interested in the Utica & Black River railroad, Mr. Thorn being its president and Mr. Maynard its treasurer. They also were directors in the Utica City National Bank. Mr. Thorn was a director of the Globe Woolen Mills, and was interested in other large industries in Utica. He had no children. He left a large estate, some of which went to charities, and the balance to collateral relatives. Mr. Maynard was connected with John Thorn in substantially all his enterprises; was a director of a number of the corporations of Utica and vicinity, accumulated a large fortune, and left a family able and worthy to care for it.
LEWIS LAWRENCE was born in Otsego county, December 21, 1806, and came to Utica to reside in 1848. He commenced business in Utica as a builder, succeeding from the start, although he had no means at the beginning. In 1834 he became a dealer in lumber, and continued this business for over twenty- five years. He became interested in building a railroad south from Utica, and in 1865 became its president. The road was called the Utica, Chenango & Sus- quehanna Valley railroad, and was afterwards leased by the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western railroad. Mr. Lawrence was interested in many other enter- prises, and was a liberal giver for religious and charitable purposes. In 1886 his health failed, and he died at the cottage of his son on Fourth Lake, Sep- tember 8, of the same year.
GEORGE LUTHER DICKINSON-Among the other successful business men of Utica, but in a different line, was George Luther Dickinson, who was born in
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New Hartford, February 27, 1816. He came to Utica at the age of 14, and entered the drug store of Alfred Hitchcock. He afterwards formed a part- nership with George D. Foster, under the firm name of Dickinson & Foster, but after a while Mr. Foster retired, and Mr. Dickinson took as partners E. D. and Miles C. Comstock, the firm being known as Dickinson, Comstock & Com- pany. Mr. Dickinson died February 28, 1868, having been in business at 117 Genesee street for 38 years. The Comstocks continued the business under the name of Comstock Brothers for a number of years, but on their death the business was closed out. The establishment was that of wholesale groceries and drugs.
DOMINICK LYNCH-One of the earliest of the prominent business men of Rome was Dominick Lynch. In 1786 he acquired by public auction sale a large amount of real estate, which is now the business portion of Rome. He laid out a town and called it Lynchville. In 1800 he conveyed to the county the two parks on North James street, and also the lot upon which the court- house and jail now stand. For a time the hamlet was called Lynchville, in honor of Mr. Lynch, but the inhabitants did not relish this name, and it soon passed away. Mr. Lynch, it is claimed, opposed some advances that were pro- posed by other residents of Rome which prevented their locating there, and drove them to Utica. He was for many years one of the foremost citizens of Rome and of the county, and he left his impress upon the community. His descendants were a son, known as Dominick Lynch, No. 2; a grandson, G. Har- rison Lynch, for many years a prominent lawyer of Rome, and a great grand- son, G. Harrison Lynch, who resided at Rome until recently, when he took up his residence in Utica. This is one of the old respected families of Oneida county.
HENRY HUNTINGTON was one of the men of Rome who early made his im- press upon the county. He was one of the directors of the first bank organ- ized in Utica, and in 1812 became its president, which position he held until 1845, when he was succeeded by Benjamin N. Huntington, who, except for one year, held the position until 1876.
EDWARD HUNTINGTON was also a citizen of whom Rome may justly be proud. He was born in the village of Rome in 1817, and was educated as a civil engineer, being employed on the Utica and Schenectady railroad and also upon the Erie canal. On the death of his father he gave up his professional career, and took charge of the large estate left by his father, which required his almost un- divided attention. Mr. Huntington gave much time to public affairs, was in- terested in schools, charitable work and churches; was president of the Rome Savings Bank and the Rome Exchange Bank. In politics he was a Whig, then a Republican. He served in the State Constitutional Convention of 1846, and held several other political offices. He died at Rome, April 17, 1881.
GORDON N. BISSELL settled in Rome in 1837, coming from Onondaga county to carry out a contract which he had for the construction of the Black River
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DOMINICK LYNCH One of the first residents of Rome and for whom it was named Lynchville. Picture from an oil painting by Gilbert Stewart
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MRS. DOMINICK LYNCH From an oil painting by Gilbert Stewart
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canal. He went to North Western and opened a dry goods store there. In 1843 he returned to Rome, and became a partner with Benjamin M. Leonard in the drug business. After the death of his partner he gave his son an in- terest in the business, and it was carried on under the name of G. N. Bissell & Son. In 1883 Mr. Bissell retired from business. He was a man of good standing in the community, had carried on a successful business, and is well remembered by all his fellow-citizens.
Among the other successful business men of Rome who left honored names were the Sopers, John Stryker, Alfred Ethridge, Enoch B. Armstrong, Cal- vert Comstock, Samuel B. Stevens, Samuel Wardwell, James S. Dyett, and many others.
It is well to bear in mind the fact that the business men above referred to are mostly presented as residents of the two cities, Utica and Rome, but it is noteworthy that the vast majority of them were born in the country, and had there acquired the habits of self denial, application and perseverance, which led them to leave the country for wider fields of operation. It does not follow, however, that men of ability, energy and perseverance do not reside in the coun- try towns in the same proportion to the population as in the cities. No better men are found anywhere than in the rural districts of Oneida county. These can- not all be named, but a few may be referred to as examples of the class of excel- lent, upright, prosperous business men, some of whom are and always have been found in every town within the county. Such men, for instance, as AMos O. OSBORNE of Sangerfield. He was the son of Amos Osborne, who settled in that town in 1802. He was born December 12, 1811, at Hamilton, prepared for college, and was in the class of 1836 in Yale. He was admitted to the bar in 1837, and practiced his profession in Westerfield, N. Y .; was supervisor of the town of Sangerfield in 1845-6; justice of the peace for thirteen years, while his party was in the minority, and a member of assembly in 1853. He was a director of the bank of Waterville for fifteen years, an original incorporator of Grace church in that village, and senior warden of the church for fifty- three years. He was president of the cemetery association there from its be- ginning until his death. In 1855-6 he circumnavigated the globe. He was a student of literature and science, and a member of many scientific societies. He was especially interested in geology, and was an authority on the geological formations in this county. He wrote the chapter devoted to the town of Sanger- field in Jones' Annals of Oneida County. He died September 27, 1896. Other worthy citizens of this town were SQUIRE UTLEY, SAMUEL GOODWIN and many others who might be mentioned.
. There have been men all through the county, from the day it became Oneida county, who are worthy of mention did space not forbid. Such men as N. N. PIERCE and HERBERT SHOLES of Bridgewater; JOSEPH R. THARRATT and ED- WARD C. THOMPSON of Boonville; P. C. and P. H. COSTELLO and GEORGE F. CONANT of Camden; CHARLES MCLEAN, GEORGE W. CHADWICK and JAMES ARM- STRONG of New Hartford; DAVID J. and STERLING A. MILLARD of Clayville; the HEADS, ADDINGTONS and OSBORNES of Paris Hill; in Augusta, the KNOXES and others; in Vernon, D. G. DORRANCE, the SHERMANS and Roors; in Verona, SAMUEL H. Fox and GEORGE BENEDICT; in Trenton there were such names as GUITEAU,
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MOORE, DEANGELIS, STORRS, FRENCH, WATKINS, DODGE and FARLEY. These are given simply as examples of what might be said of hundreds of citizens all over the county.
WOMEN
Many women of prominence could be mentioned who have shed luster upon the county of Oneida, and we have selected but few of these because of the great prominence of their husbands, which brought them before the public in a different way than others.
MRS. HORATIO SEYMOUR was the youngest daughter of John R. Bleecker of Albany. She was known as Mary Bleecker, and as a young lady was promi- nent in Albany society, her father being one of the foremost citizens of that county, and largely interested in real estate in Utica. She was married to Mr. Seymour May 31, 1835, and came to live in Utica. She was a woman of gentle disposition, of unusual culture and of domestic tastes. Although she was, from the position of her husband, frequently in the whirl of social life, yet her tastes led her to hold her home uppermost in her mind. She was regarded with the greatest respect by all who knew her, and her death, which occurred in 1886, was lamented by all, for every one who knew Mrs. Seymour was her friend. She left no descendants.
MRS. FRANCIS KERNAN- Miss Hannah Devereux was the wife of U. S. Senator Francis Kernan. She was the daughter of Nicholas Devereux, one of the promi- nent early merchants of Utica. She was married in 1843. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Kernan lived on the easterly side of Chancellor Square, and it was in this home that Mrs. Kernan reared her ten children. No one who was ever entertained by Mrs. Kernan could forget her cordiality and ability to entertain her guests. No social obligation, however, engrossed her attention to the sacrifice of a proper care for her home. She died at Utica, lamented by a large circle of relatives and hosts of friends.
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