USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume II > Part 16
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The first sixteen years of his life William Morgan French passed under the parental roof in his village, acquiring education in the public school. After laying aside his text-books he went to Utica where he obtained employment in George Tracy's book store. He remained there for five years, at the ex- piration of which period he became associated with H. H. Roberts in the gen- eral book business in Utica. In 1857 Mr. French returned to New Hartford and engaged in agricultural pursuits with which he continued to be identified
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until the opening of the Civil war, when he went to Washington, to be em- ployed in the quartermaster's office during all of the period of hostilities. Mr. French, who is now living in merited retirement, was during the latter years of his business activity engaged in the canning business, having been superin- tendent of several factories in various parts of the country.
On the Ist of June, 1854, at the age of twenty-five years, Mr. French was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Randall Palmer, also of New Hartford, and a granddaughter of Thomas R. and Ruth (Thomas) Palmer. They were the parents of two sons, William Storrs and George Babcock.
Mr. French and his family are Presbyterians. Politically he is a republican and has always been quite active in civic affairs, was justice of the peace for twenty-five years and secretary of the republican county committee for ten; he also served at one time as clerk of the board of supervisors. Although he has now retired from all public activities he still takes a keen interest in the affairs of the community with which he has been so closely identified for the greater part of a century, during which time he has contributed his quota toward its development and upbuilding.
HAROLD MASON KING.
Harold Mason King, president of the village of Waterville and proprietor of the Waterville Steam Mill, in which connection he is engaged in dealing in grain, feed and tlour and also in coal, was born in Oriskany, April 17, 1870, a son of Major Alonzo I. and Amelia J. Tibbetts. King, who are mentioned on another page of this work. lle was the eldest of a family of four children and in 1883 accompanied his parents on their removal to Waterville, where he has since resided. ITis education, began in the public schools elsewhere, was here continued to the time of his graduation from the high school with the class of I>>9. He then entered the employ of Charles Green Son Brainard & Company, bankers and extensive dealers in hops. His position was that of bookkeeper and he remained with the house four years, at the end of which time he resigned to engage in business on his own account in 1893. Here he began dealing in coal, grain, feed and flour and is now operating the Waterville Steam Mill of which he is the owner. Ilis business is successfully managed and the close attention which he gives to the interests of trade has brought him a creditable and gratifying profit.
Mr. King has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Helen Hubbard, a daughter of George M. and Myra (Scott) Hubbard, who are mentioned else- where in this volume. There was one child of that marriage, Marian, who died in 1902 in her fourth year. The mother passed away in 1903 and Mr. King has since wedded May Evelyn Collins, of Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel A. and Evelyn (Terry) Collins. The children of the second marriage are Ilarold Collins, Helen Evelyn and Lawrence Terry, the last two being twins. IJelen died September 24, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. King hold membership in the Presbyterian church of which he is a trustee. Ile belongs to the Sanger-
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field Country Club, the Pickwick Club and the Waterville Grange, and is also a member of Sanger Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M. He is also secretary of the Tri-State Feed Dealers Association comprising the retail feed dealers of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In polities he has been active as a sup- porter of the republican party since attaining his majority and for three years served as president of the board of water commissioners, while at the present writing he is serving for the third term as president of the village board, in which connection he is giving to his fellow citizens a public-spirited, practical and progressive administration that has wrought for good along many lines.
MORTON BURGET COOMBS.
One of the well known residents of New Hartford is Morton Burget Coombs, who for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Oneida county, but from which he retired eight years ago. Mr. Coombs is a native of this county, his birth having occurred at the town of Trenton on the 30th of March. 1842, and a son of Orville and Mary (Irving) Coombs. The father, who was a well known and successful farmer of Trenton, for more than fifty years was engaged in surveying, having followed this vocation until very late in life.
Reared upon the homestead where he was born Morton B. Coombs obtained his preliminary education in the district schools of his township, after the com- pletion of which he entered the seminary at Whitestown, where he pursued his studies until he had attained the age of nineteen years. Laying aside his text-books in 1861 he returned to the old homestead, in the cultivation of which he engaged until 1901, at which time he retired and removed to New Ilartford where he still continues to reside. Mr. Coombs has met with most gratifying success in his various ventures and as a result has become interested in many of the banking institutions of the county, as well as in different in- dustries. Ile is a director of the banks located at Holland Patent and Remsen.
Mr. Coombs gives his political support to the men and measures he deems best adapted to meet the exigencies of the situation, regardless of party affilia- tion. IIe has never taken an active part in municipal affairs as a candidate for office, not being an aspirant to publie honors or the emoluments of office. Nevertheless he is regarded as one of the publie-spirited and enterprising citizens of Trenton, as was his father who contributes freely of his time and strength in the upbuilding and developing of the community.
PHIL S. SPAULDING.
Phil S. Spaulding, an active politician and prominent resident of Whites- boro who for eight years has held the position of postmaster, was born in Columbus, New York, on the 28th of February, 1868. His parents were Stephen T. and Martha (Brownell) Spaulding, members of old New York
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families but of Scotch extraction. The father, who was a well known con- tracting mason, was long identified with the building interests of his vicinity.
Reared at home the boyhood and youth of Phil S. Spaulding were very similar to those of other boys of his time and circumstances, his early eduea- tion being acquired in the public schools, following which he attended the academy at New Berlin, New York. In 1888 he came to Whitesboro where he has resided continuously ever sinee, during practically all of which period he has been in public service. He was foreman of public works for four years and foreman for the Mohawk Valley trolley bridge at Herkimer. Mr. Spaulding finds pleasure in owning and driving good horses. He is very domestic in his private life and derives his greatest comfort around the family fireside and in the enjoyment of good books.
Mr. Spaulding was married in 1891 to Miss Ellen Hinkston, a daughter of William and Jennie Hinkston of this eity and both himself and wife are affiliated with the Episcopal church and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Spaulding has taken an active interest in polities giving his support to the candidates of the republican party. He is very popular with his constitueney and has several times been sent as a delegate to conventions in addition to which he served as town elerk for six years and collector for one term. His record as a public official and politician has been above question, while his discharge of the responsibilities connected with his present office have met with the unqualified approval of the general public as is attested by his long period of service. He is highly regarded in the eom- munity generally both as a publie official and private eitizen and has made and retained the friendship of the best people of the town during the twenty-three years of his residence.
ROBERT ALLAN.
Robert Allan is yet well remembered by many of the older residents of Camden and Oneida county, where for a time he was engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits. Much of his life, however, was devoted to artistie designing, which he followed both in Scotland and in New York city. He was born in the town of Kilbarean, in Ayrshire, Scotland, May 13, 1821, a son of Robert and Ann (Love) Allan, both of whom were natives of the land of hills and heather. The father, who there engaged in the manufacture of shawls, located in New York on coming to the United States, but died a week after his arrival. He was a man of high intellectual attainments and possessed mueh poetical talent. Both he and his wife were identified with the Society of Free Thinkers. Mrs. Allan passed away in Scotland when her son Robert was but three years of age. The other son and daughters of the household, Margaret, William and Agnes. are also deceased.
Robert Allan pursued his edneation in Scotland and from early youth was associated more or less closely with manufacturing interests. His artistie
Robert Allan Jr.
Robert allan
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skill was developed along the line of designing and he was employed as de- signer in a large shawl factory of Glasgow until 1840, when, at the age of nine- teen years, he crossed the Atlantic to New York city and became a designer of carpets. He also showed his artistic skill as a painter of pictures for many years. About 1850 he came to Camden, Oneida county, and for a time owned and cultivated a farm in this part of the state, but eventually returned to New York city, his death occurring in Yonkers, on the 27th of October, 1886.
On the 2d of January, 1851, Mr. Allan was united in marriage to Miss Eliza J. Cady, a daughter of Frederick and Phebe (Hloag) Cady, of New York city. Mrs. Allan was born in Sehoharie county, New York, February 29, 1824, and has therefore passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey. Her father died when she was a little girl of but three years. She was edu- cated in Camden, to which place the family removed during her early girl- hood. Iler father was born near Duanesburg, New York, and made farming his life work, thus providing for the support of his family. Both he and his wife held membership in the Christian church. Mrs. Cady was also a native of the Empire state, her birth having occurred in Charleston, Montgomery county. Eliza J. Cady was twenty-six years of age when she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Allan. Their only child, Robert Allan, Jr., was born in Brooklyn, New York, October 5, 1852, and died February 4, 1908. He was educated in the schools of Camden, in Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College, and after attaining his majority engaged in teaching school at Tren- ton, New York, and in Westchester county. Subsequently he took up his abode on the home farm in Camden, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he held membership in the Congregational church. He served as a school trustee and the cause of education ever found in him a stalwart champion. Like his father, he was a valued citizen of the community. Both father and son enjoyed the high regard and warm friendship of those with whom they came in contact and the name of Allan in Camden and Oneida county was a synonym for honorable, upright manhood.
MANUEL ACKLER.
Through his connection with the commercial activities of New Hartford, Manuel Ackler, who first located here in 1896, has become one of the well known residents of this township. Mr. Aekler is a native of New York, hav- ing been born in Herkimer county, on the 26th of April, 1861, and a son of David and Mary (Ediek) Ackler.
The early education of Manuel Aekler was acquired in the common schools of his native county, after the completion of which he entered a private school at Richfield Springs. New York. In 1883, at the age of twenty-two years, he engaged in teaching school, being identified with that vocation for four years, when he withdrew from this profession to engage in commercial pursuits, accepting a position in the plant of the Remington Bieyele Works Vol. II-9
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at Illion. lle severed his connection with this company in 1892 to become associated with his brother, Joseph II. Ackler, in the grocery business in the same town for four years, when he removed to New Hartford and opened the store which he has ever since conducted. Mr. Ackler has met with success in his venture here and is regarded as one of the substantial merchants of the town, having built up an extensive patronage.
In Richfield Springs in 1887 Mr. Ackler was united in marriage to Miss Genie Parkhurst also a native of Herkimer county and a daughter of Henry and Jennie ( Mallory ) Parkhurst.
The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Ackler is manifested through their membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is chairman of the board of trustees, while for six years he has been superintendent of the Sun- day school. Ifis political support he grants to the men and measures of the pro- hibition party, in the campaigns and progress of which he is deeply interested. Hle is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which organization he has held all of the offices, while he keeps in touch with the other grocers of Oneida county through the medium of the Retail Grocers Association of Utica, with which he is affiliated. A good citizen and competent business man, Mr. Ackler has made many friends in New Hartford during the period of his residence and both, he and Mrs. Ackler, are well regarded in the community.
JAMES ROBERT AULD.
One of the successful native sons of New Ilartford is James Robert Auld, who for twenty-three years has been engaged in horticulture and market garden- ing. His birth occurred on the 27th of March, 1>60, and he is a son of James and Mary Ann Fisher) Auld.
James Robert Auld has spent practically the entire period of his life in New Hartford, in the public schools of which he obtained his early education, following which he entered the Whitestown Seminary with which institution he was identified until 1880. After the completion of his education he returned to the family homestead. in the cultivation of which he engaged for eight years, having decided that he preferred agricultural to commercial or pro- fessional pursuits. At the expiration of that period he removed to the place where he continues to reside, engaging in raising flowers and vegetables for the market. Ile has met with gratifying success in his venture, which has proven to be most lucrative.
In New Hartford on the 27th of November, 1888, Mr. Auld was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Service, also a native of this village and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Nicholson' Servire. Two children, a son and a daugh- ter. have been born to this union: Robert James and Mary Louise.
The religious faith of the family is manifested through their membership in the First Baptist church of New Hartford, in which denomination they take an earnest and active interest, and of which Mr. Auld is one of the
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trustees. His fraternal relations are confined to his membership in the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics a republican, Mr. Auld accords his support to the men and measures of that party. A public-spirited citizen he always takes an active and help- ful interest in all municipal affairs, and is just now a member of the school board. Both Mr. Auld and his family are well known and highly regarded in the community where they reside and where the families have been known for several generations.
SAMUEL H. BEACII.
Samuel H. Beach, president of the Rome Savings Bank, occupies a lead- ing position in business and financial circles of Rome and is widely known in eentral New York as one of its substantial and progressive citizens. IIe is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born Angust 27, 1863, a son of Dr. Henry and Sarah Beach.
Being early attracted to a business life, Samuel Il. Beach entered the em- ploy of G. V. Selden, a lumber dealer of Rome, New York, at the age of six- teen years and became thoroughly acquainted with all the details of the busi- ness. In 1893 he associated with his brother Benjamin HI. and bought out Mr. Selden, the business having since been conducted under the name of the Beach Lumber Company. An intimate knowledge of the trade, large experi- enee and ample means enable the firmn to give their customers the fullest satis- faction as to priees and quality of material and an extensive and luerative patronage is the result. Mr. Beach was made a trustee of the Rome Savings Bank in 1897. Three years later he was elected vice president and since Sep- tember 17, 1907, has filled the position of president of that institution. This bank was organized in 1851 and has for many years been recognized as one of the most substantial institutions in Oneida county. Mr. Beach is also presi- dent of the Beach Lumber Company and the Rome Theater Company and was instrumental in organizing the Mutual Lumber Fire Insurance Companies, which now earry most of the lumber fire insurance in the United States. The business ability and integrity of Mr. Beach was recognized by Theodore Roose- velt when the latter was governor of New York, Mr. Beach being appointed by him in 1899 as manager of the Rome State Custodial Asylum. He was re- appointed to this position by Governor Odell in 1901 and served to the entire satisfaction of the people until 1904. He was a member of the board of educa- tion from 1901 to 1906, filling the chair as president during 1905. He has always taken a great interest in publie matters and in 1908 was appointed police and fire commissioner of the city of Rome and showed a practical know- ledge of eity affairs which resulted in marked benefit to the municipality.
On the 3d of February, 1892, Mr. Beach was married in this city to Miss Carrie A. Cornish, a daughter of Josiah and Mary Elizabeth (Fletcher) Cornish. Two children have been born to this union, Samuel H., Jr., and Priscilla Alden. The family resides in a beautiful home at 12 ) West Embargo street.
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Mr. Beach is a member of the Rome Club and has served as its president. In his business he has through life been governed by the principles of honesty and fair dealing as the only sure foundation of success, and as a result his mtegrity is unquestioned. A man of sound judgment and keen insight, he also possesses executive ability of a high order and his present enviable posi- tion has not been gained through luck or accident. It is men of this class that may rightly be regarded as leaders in the mercantile and financial world.
JOSEPH EMERSON GRAHAM.
Having attained the age of ninety-two years, to Joseph Emerson Graham is accorded the honor of being one of the oldest citizens of New Hartford township. The entire life of Mr. Graham, who is a retired farmer, has been spent in Oneida county of which he is a native, except nine years in Madison county. his birth having occurred in Paris on the 20th of August, 1819. His parents were William and Ann (Burley> Graham, both of whom were old and well known residents of this county.
Reared upon a farm Joseph Emerson Graham spent his early years as did the average boy of that time who lived in the more sparsely settled communities. His preliminary education was obtained in the district schools of his town- ship, after the completion of which he attended the Sauquoit Academy and the Delancey Institute at Hampton, from which institution he received his teacher's diploma with the class of 1842, there being but three others to con- stitute the class. An ambitious youth of a family of moderate means he was compelled to earn money to supplement his course in the district schools, and during his vacations worked at such employment as he could obtain, to acquire the wherewithal to enable him to attend school in the winter. After the completion of his teacher's course he taught school in the winter and worked on a farm in the summer for nine years, during which period, by practicing the most rigid economy and self-denial, he was able to save the necessary capital to enable him to buy a farm in the town of Paris. He continued to reside upon this place until he removed to New Hartford in 1872, locating upon a small farm which he had bought and engaging in general farming.
On the 18th of March, 1845, in New Hartford was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Graham and Miss Caroline E. Hecox, a native of this village and a daughter of Obed and Emily ( Kenyon) Hlecox, and one son, Charles W., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Graham in 1846, who died in 1871, while Mrs. Graham died January 22, 1910, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Graham is worthy chief of the Good Templars and for many years was one of the vestrymen of St. Paul's Episcopal church. He has noted the rise and fall of the different polit- ical parties, the variation in their principles and their policy during his long life, but he has never affiliated with any one body, always granting his sup- port to the men and measures he felt were at the time best adapted to sub- serve the highest interests of the people at large. During his earlier years he participated in municipal affairs and served his township as highway com-
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missioner and school director, while he also acted as trustee of the village. During the entire period of his business career Mr. Graham was identified with agri- cultural pursuits and for twenty years he acted as president of the New York Farmers' Club, but for some years past has been living retired. Having lived through the greater part of the history of the American Union, Mr. Graham has been an interested observer of the wonderful development and progress of the nation which has steadily forged ahead until it has attained its first-rank position.
HON. THOMAS WHEELER.
Hon. Thomas Wheeler, who has been at the head of the coal firm of Wheeler, McQuade & Company for the past seventeen years, is now serving as postmaster of Utica. Ile is numbered among the worthy native sons of this city, his birth having here occurred on the 5th of October, 1845. He is a son of George Wheeler, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his father (John Wheeler) when very young and made his home in Utica, New York, until called to his final rest in 1858. He was engaged in the trucking business.
Thomas Wheeler attended the public schools in the acquirement of an educa- tion and when fifteen years of age entered the Utica Steam Cotton Mill, while subsequently he became an employe in the woolen mills. On the 30th of August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company A, One Ilundred and Forty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, was later pro- moted to the rank of second lieutenant and on July 25, 1865, was mustered ont. He was with the Army of the Potomac, participated in most of the battles of his regiment, was wounded at White Oak Road on the 31st of March, 1865. and was confined in the hospital till shortly before his discharge.
Returning to Utica, Mr. Wheeler followed various employments until 1870, when he was appointed patrolman on the police force. In 1873 he entered the district attorney's office under D. C. Stoddard, remaining there for about eight years. He was also chief detective for the New York Central & IHudson River Railroad Company, having charge of their detective department from Albany to Syracuse and holding this position for about eleven years. On the 1st of May, 1894, the coal firm of Wheeler, McQuade & Company was formed and our subject has since remained at the head of the enterprise, having won a gratifying measure of success in this line of activity.
On the 26th of April, 1886, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss HIelen Frances, a daughter of Lawrence Doyle, of Utica. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Areamun Chub and the Republi- can Club and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Bacon Post, G. A. R.
Politically Mr. Wheeler has always been an active republican. In 1888 he was nominated and elected county sheriff, serving until his term expired on the 31st of December, 1891. He was elected mayor of Utica on the Ist of March, 1892, and held the office from March 8, 1892, until March 13, 1894. During his term as mayor he conducted the fight against the Warren-Sebarf
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