USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume II > Part 11
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On June 24. 1911, Mr. Beebe was married to Miss D. Mertice Sessions, a daughter of Frederick W. and L. Isadore Sessions of Utica.
GEORGE II. GRAHAM.
George II. Graham, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Oris- kany Malleable Iron Company of Oriskany, has for many years been prominent as a manufacturer and the continued success of the enterprise with which he is connected is evidence of his practical business ability. He belongs to one of the old families of Oneida county and was born at Oriskany, May 21, 1844. a son of George and Jane Graham. The father was also a native of Oriskany and was born in 1811. After obtaining his preliminary education he engaged in the boot and shoe business at Oriskany. He secured a contraet to build one mile of the Erie eanal and after the completion of the work was appointed superintendent of the Oriskany district, in which position he served for a num- ber of years. In partnership with John A. Folts he built the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railway from Waterville to East Hamilton, New York, and also satisfactorily completed a contract on the West Shore Railroad. He took an active part in polities and was justice of the peace at Whitestown for forty years, serving during a part of the time as "side" judge. He was also a member of the state legislature and was supervisor of Whitestown for eight years, being one of the most prominent and useful men of the township. Ile died in 1898. The grandfather of our subject, William Graham, came to Whitestown from Scotland in 1810 and at Oriskany started the first power loom in Oneida county for weaving cloth. This was in 1811, a year after his arrival, and he narrowly escaped being mobbed on various occasions by the hand weavers, who strongly resented the introduction of machinery.
Mr. Graham of this review attended the public schools of Oriskany and after growing to manhood was engaged on publie works in New York state and Canada. Ile graded yards for the New York Central Railroad at De Witt,
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New York, and assisted in the construction of the Welland canal. In 1879 he returned to Whitestown and was appointed superintendent and general man- ager of the Oriskany Malleable Iron Company, a concern with which he has ever since been identified. This foundry was established in 1865 by A. B. Buell, who conducted it for a number of years and then turned it over to his nephews. In 1879 the works were acquired by a new company known as the Oriskany Malleable Iron Company, the officers being: George Graham, presi- dent : William F. Walbran, secretary and treasurer; and buther G. Williams, M. W. Eastman and George HI. Graham as additional members of the board of directors. The capital stock of the company was originally eight thousand dollars but in 1>85 the plant was moved to its present location and the capital stock was increased to forty-one thousand dollars, where it has since remained, the surplus earnings meeting all demands of expansion. This is one of the thoroughly successful manufacturing establishments of Oneida county and its continued prosperity has been due in an important degree to the good busi- ness management displayed at all times by Mr. Graham.
In 1852 Mr. Graham was married to Miss Fannie Murphy, of Oriskany. and they have two daughters: Annis, who assists her father in his business; and Mrs. Jean C. Gayer, of Fulton, New York. Fraternally Mr. Graham is iden- tified with Oriskany Lodge. No. 799, F. & A. M. Ile takes the interest of a wide-awake eitizen in public affairs and for two years past has served as super- visor. Hle previously served as supervisor seven years-from 1895 to 1902. Successful in business, he is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is held by his associates and acquaintances, as he attained his present position of in- fluence through his own ability and energy and not through assistance from others Ile has prospered financially and is a worthy deseendant of a family to whose name he has added dignity and honor.
ISRAEL BUTLER.
Israel Butler, who during the years of an aetive business life was engaged first in farming and afterward in the sale of pumps in Camden, was born in Pennsylvania, November 27, 1825, a son of Micajah and Arabella (Snow) But- ler. His father was a farmer by occupation and removed to Camden, Oneida county, during the early boyhood of his son Israel. Ilere he also devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits with which he was eonneeted up to the time of his death. His study of the political questions of the day led him to give his support to the republican party and his religious faith was ex- pressed in his membership in and support of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was also a worthy representative. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Micajah Butler there were six children, namely: Seth, deceased; Israel ; Cyrus, a resident of Oklahoma; Oliver, of Oregon: Janet, the deceased wife of George Webb, of Camden; and John. of Oneida. New York.
In the schools of Camden Israel Butler pursued his education. He was reared to the occupation of farming and no event of special importanee oe-
Israel Butter
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eurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood and youth. After putting aside his text-books his entire attention was given to general agricultural pursuits for a number of years, but at length he removed to the village of Camden where he engaged in business as a dealer in pumps. As the years passed by he prospered in his undertaking, saving from his earnings a sufficient amount to enable him to live retired in later life.
Mr. Butler was twice married. He first wedded Miss Eunice Simmons and following her demise was married, on the 24th of April, 1878, to Miss Mary Wilson, a daughter of Sylvanus and Beulah (Doolittle) Wilson, of Camden, Oneida county, New York. The parents were both natives of Connecticut and the father followed the occupation of farming as a life work. When a young man he left New England and established his home near Camden, New York, where he owned and cultivated a good traet of land. In his later years he removed to the village and lived retired, enjoying the rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved. His political support was given to the republican party and he filled the office of constable at an early day. He was a life long member of the Congregational church and for about thirty years served as one of the church trustees. ITis family numbered two daughters, Sarah, now deceased, and Mary, who was born in Camden, December 1, 1829. She was educated in the schools of this village and here gave her hand in marriage to Israel Butler. They adopted a daughter, Harriett. She is now the wife of E. E. Clark, of New York city, and the mother of two children, Ray Butler and May Louisa Clark, twins, who were born July 24, 1903. The daughter, however, died about three months later, passing away on the 15th of November of that year.
The death of Mr. Butler occurred June 19, 1908, when he was in the eighty- third year of his age. From the organization of the republican party he had been one of its staneh supporters and had been a lifelong member of the Methi- odist Episcopal church. His entire career was in harmony with its principles and an upright life made his record in many respects worthy of emulation. Mrs. Butler still survives at the age of eighty-two years and is highly esteemed throughout the community, having many friends among young and old, rich and poor.
JAMES DOMINICK CORCORAN.
The history of business development in Rome commands that mention should be made of James Dominiek Corcoran, who for a long period played an im- portant part in the commercial progress of the city. He was also very active in the public life of the community and in office displayed qualities that proved him well worthy of the trust that was reposed in him.
Mr. Corcoran was a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, born February 26, 1849. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth Corcoran, brought their family to the new world when he was but a few months old and located in Rome. There the boy at the usual age entered the public schools and completed his
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education in the old academy. Home training taught him the value of in- dustry, perseverance and integrity. Before he was twenty-one years of age he became associated with his father in conducting a retail grocery store and gristmill on the Erie canal near Jay street. He was connected with that busi- ness for a number of years and at the same time conducted a flour and feed store on West Dominick street from 1884 until 1890. He displayed sound judgment and keen discernment in business affairs and was seldom, if ever, at fault in matters of judgment. Moreover, his persistent purpose enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook and not only in business affairs but in public life as well he left his impress be- cause of the practical methods which he pursued in the attainment of any object.
Mr. Corcoran was long recognized as one of the leaders of the democracy in Oneida county. Ilis interest in politics was manifest even before he attained his majority and when he was but twenty-one years of age the third ward elected him its representative on the board of supervisors. The capability and effectiveness of his service are shown in the fact that he was elected nine dif- ferent years. during which time he served on various important committees. In 1876 he was made the democratic nominee for the office of county superin- tendent of the poor and while he was defeated his personal popularity was such that he ran several hundred votes ahead of the support given to the Tilden and Hendricks electoral ticket. In 1877 he was his party's nominee for member of the assembly from the third district, his opponent being the IIon. C. D. Prescott, who won the victory by a majority of only seventy-five, although the normal republican majority was much greater. At different times he acted as chairman of the board of supervisors. Governor Robinson appointed Mr. Corcoran as canal collector for the years 1878-9. That he was very popular among the people who knew him best is shown in the fact that in 1884 he was chosen alderman of the third ward without opposition. It was largely due to his efforts as chairman of the street committee of the common council that the houses in the city were renumbered and street signs put up, for at that time there was no regular system of numbering. Mr. Corcoran made a careful and painstaking investigation of various systems in vogue in different cities and decided that what is known as the Philadelphia plan was the best and seeured its adoption here. After the renumbering had been accomplished and the street signs had been placed in position Mr. Cor- eoran made application to the postmaster general for the establishment of the free mail delivery system in Rome. This was done with the result that the carriers made their first trips on July 1, 1887. For several years he served as chairman of the democratie city committee and was always active in the work of the party. From President Cleveland he received the appointment of postmaster of Rome, which position he filled from 1885 until 1889. Follow- ing his retirement from the position of postmaster Mr. Corcoran engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, having in 1891 in company with J. C. Smith erected the Smith-Corcoran block on West Dominick street. He was a farsighted business man, determined in the execution of his plans and his sound judgment and reliable methods were factors in his success.
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In 1887 Mr. Corcoran was united in marriage to Miss Agnes A. George, a daughter of William and Elizabeth George, of Rome, and they have become the parents of three children, James D., Elizabeth and Mary, who with the mother still survive. Mr. Corcoran was a communicant of St. Peter's church and was a member of Branch No. 107, of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion, and of the Knights of Columbus. Those who knew him well-and he had a very wide acquaintance-spoke of his many manly virtues and the high principles which at all times dominated his life, causing his death, which occurred on the 2d of March, 1906, to be deeply regretted. His whole life his- tory was as an open book that all might read and upon many a page were written valuable lessons.
DENIS FRANCIS HOWE.
Denis Francis Howe, secretary of the Utica Chamber of Commerce, is a native of this city, born November 9, 1869, a son of Denis Francis and Elizabeth (Cogley) Howe. He received his early education in the Assumption Academy, of Utiea and upon leaving school entered the office of the Saturday Globe as artist and writer. He continued with this paper for twenty years, passing through every department and becoming thoroughly acquainted with news- paper work. He gained an enviable reputation as a writer and his contact with business men gave him a knowledge of business affairs much beyond that possessed by the ordinary individual. Since July, 1910, he has most acceptably filled the office of secretary of the chamber of commerce.
On April 28, 1908, Mr. Howe was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bene- diet O'Reilly of this city. By virtue of his services in the war between the United States and Spain he is a member of the United Spanish War Veterans. A man of pleasing social characteristies and sound practical training, he is remarkably well informed concerning the industrial and commercial resources of Utica and central New York and is proving one of the most wide-awake, efficient and progressive secretaries the chamber of commerce has known.
FREDERICK BLANCHARD ADAMS.
Although one of the younger members of the Utica bar, Frederick Blanch- ard Adams has established himself in a ereditable position as a member of the legal profession in Utica, having already gained a reputation as an able lawyer that many an older practitioner might well envy. He was born in this eity October 19, 1875, his parents being Chambers II. and Mary (Farnum) Adams. The family is an old one in New York. The paternal grandfather was born in Rensselaer county, whence he removed to Oneida county, so that Chambers H. Adams was born in Utica. For the past thirty-seven years the father of
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our subject has been a member of the Utica fire department and is now its captain.
After completing a course in the publie schools and spending one term as a student in the high school of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1893, Frederick B. Adams entered the Utica Free Academy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. He next matriculated in Yale University, where he completed a four years' course in 1901. This served as a broad basis on which to rest the professional learning which was acquired in two years' at- tendance at the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903. In June of the same year he was admitted to the bar and, returning to Utica. opened offices in his native city, where he has now for eight years successfully followed his profession. His careful preparation is one of the strong points in his growing success. He has a keen, rapid, logical mind, a ready capacity for hard work, and combines with those qualities elo- quence of language, a strong personality, an excellent presence, an earnest, dignified manner and marked strength of character, together with a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles.
T. JAMES OWENS, M. D.
Dr. T. James Owens, whose demise occurred in Utica on the 28th of Sep- tember, 1904, was for twenty-seven years successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Oneida county but spent the last four years of his life in honorable retirement. Ilis birth occurred in Trenton, this county, on the 30th of September, 1846. his parents being Thomas H. and Jane (Griffith) Owens, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Steuben, New York. Thomas II. Owens emigrated to this country in early manhood and here turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits.
T. James Owens lost his father when but fourteen years of age and was thus early thrown upon his own resources. IIe obtained his. primary education in Trenton and subsequently entered Whitestown Seminary, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1869. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was engaged as an instructor at Alder Creek and in the old Holland Patent Academy. In the fall of 1870 he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Crane, of Holland Patent; he then went to Ann Arbor where he studied six months in the medical department of the University of Michigan, whence he returned to Holland Patent, to again resume his studies for six months under Dr. Crane, and in 1873 was graduated from Bellevue Medical College of New York city. Locating at Steuben, he practiced his profession for many years and afterward removed to Remsen. where he remained an active practitioner until failing health obliged him to abandon his work in 1900. Like all country physicians, he was not a specialist but had an extensive general practice, rid- ing over the country from morning until night and doing good wherever the opportunity arose. His labors as a surgeon were attended with exeellent
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results. In October, 1902, he took up his abode in Utica, where he made his home until called to his final rest.
In 1875 Dr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Mannie A. Treat, of Ilolland Patent, New York, her father being Silas K. Treat, a native of Tren- ton, this state, who followed farming at Holland Patent. Her paternal grand- father, Amos Treat, came to Trenton from Connectieut and was likewise engaged in agricultural pursuits at Holland Patent.
Dr. Owens was ever a stanch republican in polities and stood high in the local ranks of the party. He acted for two years as town clerk of Steuben and in 1881 and 1882 represented that town as supervisor, serving on several important committees. In 1883 he was chosen assemblyman from the fourth Oneida district, being the first one to be elected to the house from that district. In that year he was chairman of the fish and game committee and likewise served on the committee on military affairs and railroads, etc. In 1884 he was reeleeted to the assembly and served on the same committees. Ilis record in the legislature was a most creditable one and proved that the confidenee of his constituents had not been misplaced. For a number of years he was a member of the republican county committee. In 1896 lie passed the civil service exami- nation for the position of assistant commissioner of agriculture, a state office to which he was immediately appointed. His division, the fourth, comprised eight counties, with headquarters in Utiea. During Harrison's administration Dr. Owens served as pension examiner for this distriet.
He was an exemplary Mason, having joined the fraternity in 1868, and also followed the teachings of the Presbyterian church. Ile led an earnest and consistent Christian life. It is our duty to mark our appreciation of such a man-a man true in every relation of life, faithful to every trust. His widow, who resides at No. 262 Oneida street in Utiea, enjoys the high regard and esteem of a large cirele of frieuds.
EDWARD PETER JORDAN.
One of the more recent acquisitions to the legal fraternity of Utica is Edward Peter Jordan, who has been engaged in the practice of his profession in this eity since 1908. Mr. Jordan was born in West Winfield, Herkimer county, New York, on the 3d of April, 1883, and is a son of Moses E. and Jennie (Mullaney) Jordan.
Edward Peter Jordan was reared in his native town attending the public schools and graduating from West Winfield Academy. After the completion of the course he matriculated at Hamilton College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1905. When he left college he entered the law office of Dunmore, Sholes, Ferris & Foley, being admitted to the bar in March, 1908.
Ever sinee attaining his majority Mr. Jordan has participated in all polit- ieal activities, giving his support to the candidates of the democratic party. Four years ago he was made secretary of the democratic general committee
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
and at the present time he is chairman of that body. In 1909 he was elected justice of the peace from which office he resigned on the Ist of February, 1911, to accept the position of attorney for state comptroller in Oneida county.
In 1911 Edward P. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Alice Margaret Loftus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Loftus of Deansboro, Oneida county, New York.
Fraternally Mr. Jordan is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, Im- proved Order of Red Men and the Knights of the Maccabees. He was formerly a member of the New York National Guard. Although a very young man during the brief period of his public career, Mr. Jordan has held positions of considerable responsibility, the duties of which he has most creditably discharged.
SALVATORE PELLETTIERI.
Judging by his success in business and also in politics. Salvatore Pellettieri may safely be declared one of the highly popular citizens of Utica. Ile is a man of large experience, an extensive traveler and he possesses practical knowl- edge of human nature. Ile is of a genial and accommodating disposition and financially has assisted many promising young men by starting them in busi- ness. He was born at Laurenzana. Baselicato, Italy, March 3, 1858, a son of Rocco V. Pellettieri. In 1867 he came to l'tica, New York, and for several years gained his livelihood as a street musician. Ile then spent five years in company with a brother in an orchestra on Ohio and Mississippi river steam- ers, in the course of which time he made many interesting observations and be- came well acquainted with the manners and customs of the best class of Amer- ican people. lle traveled for some time through various parts of the country as member of Lake Brothers Minstrel Troupe of Little Falls, New York, and then returned to Italy and served the regular term of enlistment in the Seventh Bersaglira at the city of Palermo. Sicily. Ile was also for eighteen months a member of the royal police at Aderno. Province of Catania. Italy. Finding that conditions were not as favorable for financial advancement in the old country as in America, he returned to Utica and for about five years was employed in a furniture factory. In 1886 he opened a commission house and grocery on Kossuth avenue, which he managed very successfully. This business he dis- posed of to his nephews in 1900 and it is now condneted under the title of R. Perretta & Company. After spending three years in the liquor business at 31- 33 Bleecker street, Mr. Pellettieri bought an interest in the Star Theater, which he conducted about two years. Ile next opened a furniture store at 425 Bleecker street and on the 1st of September, 1908. he moved the furniture business to 536 Bleecker street where he makes use of a three-story building known as the Pellettieri Block. all of which is occupied by his business, consisting of a complete line of household furniture.
In 1887 Mr. Pellettieri was married to Miss Mary A Jones, a native of Newton. Wales, who died in 1904. Her body reposes in St. Agnes cemetery. Ttiea. Mr. Pellettieri has been for many years prominent in fraternal and
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beneficiary organizations. He was a charter member of the Eagles at Utica, charter member, organizer and first president for two years of the Progressive Aid Society, incorporator and first president of the Family Aid Society and also organizer, ineorporator and first president of the Laurenzana Aid Society, membership of which is limited to natives of Laurenzana, Italy. He is also a charter member of the Corn Hill Benefit Association.
In politics Mr. Pellettieri takes a lively interest. He has served as member of the Republican National League and as delegate to various party conven- tions. In 1905 he was a candidate for alderman from the fifth ward but was defeated. However, he is not a man to yield to obstacles and he was elected alderman in 1907, serving with general acceptance to the people, on the com- mittees of publie buildings, fire and police departments and bridges. It is said that he is the first Italian born citizen that has been elected alderman in New York state. Mr. Pellettieri has been successful in business and now enjoys the results of many years of energetic application, in the course of which he was able to be of practical aid to his countrymen and also to en- hance his own reputation as a public-spirited and progressive citizen. IIe was reared in the folds of the Catholic church but is recognized as tolerant and liberal in views and contributions to other churches and is a member of Mount Carmel church.
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